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The fabulous Rae at Made-By-Rae and Dana from MADE are hosting the amazing Celebrate the Boy series! Check out their blogs for a complete list of other giveaways, and tons of Boy tutorials! To Enter: Leave a comment on this post with your favorite thing to sew for your little guy. (one entry per person, please) Please leave your email address in the comment, or enable email in your blogger profile.. 619 comments:1 – 200 of 619 Newer› Newest» Expecting baby boy in April and have been looking at your little shoes pattern for a few weeks now. Would love to win it! I already follow your blog, thanks! Great giveaway! I love making blankets and toys for my son. I love sewing little ties and suspenders for my guy. erinmalia gmail. I love making shirts the best! butler83atoldotcom I am a new follower! thanks! butler83ataoldotcom My favourite things would have to be long pants as he is tall and thin and I can make them to fit without them being miles to big around the waist or too short in the leg My favourite thing to sew for boys is pants. Quick and easy. Heidi These are so cute! I love making pants for boys. Not very original, but very functional! Thanks for the giveaway! iamkristen.martin(at)gmail(dot)com So far my favorite thing to sew for him as been quilts. Cause those have to get finished before he gets here. Everything else can wait! [email protected] My favorite things to sew for my little guys is shoes, but it's so hard to find high quality patterns... but yours are great! Thanks! hpickett183(at)hotmail(dot)com Those are adorable! So far I've been embellishing onesies and tshirts for my two little guys, but I'm looking forward to making more fun things for them. So cute! We will be welcoming our first little guy in May and I need cute boy things! knitnlit AT gmail DOT com My wee 2 and half year old is loving dressing up at the moment - so my favourite thing to sew a cape! He loves them. Love these shoe patterns - thanks. These are adorable. Your shoes are gorgeous! I haven't attempted shoes yet... I have to try. My current favorite things to make for boys are bibs. Thanks for the great giveaway! I love to make rompers! [email protected] Would love a chance to win. I think my favorite thing so far, since it is the only thing is making shoes/slippers! I'm just getting into sewing for my 2 little guys. how awesome are these! my little boy is still literally little, so burp cloths and bibs are the current projects of choice. amezina [at] hotmail [.] com I don't have my own little guy, but it seems like half my friends are having babies or just did! Several of them are boys and I've been trying to find the perfect gift to make for them so these would be great!! I just started sewing for my boys so everything is fun! I think blankets are the easiest, but I'm learning to do pants. I've never tried shoes, but this pattern is sure cute. [email protected] Love making stuff(pants, quilts) for baby grandson. Just started to walk so needs shoes, yours are so cute. dianacarofano(at)gmail(dot)com Thanks for the giveaway. i mostly make applique t's for my little boy. I love making quilts, gorgeous shoes. So far I haven't made much for my little man other than curtains for the nursery and cloth wipes... I am loving all the tutorials on how to make things for my boy though and am truly inspired! [email protected] I love making pants for muy boy! josiegresh hotmail This is such a cute bundle! I like to sew finger puppets and elastic waist pants for my son. ammieloris at hotmail dot com so far I've sewn cute warm baby boots, would love to try your pattern! Thanks! monkeyshinersbaby at yahoo Very cute! I would love a chance to win these for my grandson! Thanks! I love to make quilts or knit hats for my boys. azjocool at yahoo dot com I love making overalls for my boy. I'm currently pregnant and crocheting him a blanket. I've yet to make anything else, but I have been looking at fun crochet hats, a romper pattern from YCMT, blanket and shoe patterns. I have a busy couple months ahead of me. =) I don't have a little man of my own. But for my friends that do have a little guy, I've been making robot sheets and cute little bow ties. They seem to be a hit! Thanks! ([email protected]) My favorite thing to sew for him right now is pajamas. They can be as creative as we want. I love to sew overalls and rompers for my little guys. Also quilts and toys. I would love to win this kit-- so cute! [email protected] These are amazing little shoes! Thank you for the give away. Super cute slippers! My kiddo could never keep the store bought kind on. They were constantly kicked off! I love sewing little pants. They are super quick and I have the knack that I can whip them up in minutes. fred6383 at juno dot com i love sewing little toys for my guy, but these adorable little shoes would rock too! I don't have a boy yet, but I love sewing boyish pants for my girl. Robots are way cooler than flowers. I love making jammie pants, they are the super cutest, and so are your shoes! Thanks for the opportunity! [email protected] these are darling! i love to make quilts, but at a certain point my son might have too many =) So far my favorites are sewing them boxer briefs, pants and hats. : ) Those waffle knit nutcracker booties are too cute!! I'm expecting a boy too and would love to try my hand at these. Thank you :) zabecc(at)hotmail(dot)com Ooooooh, so cute! So far I've made a few shirts for my little fella, and will be embarking on pants and (dare I say it?) SHORTS soon. I think my favorite thing that I've sewn for my boys so far has been their Halloween costumes: lucasbeth [at] gmail [dot] com Thanks for the giveaway! I like to sew pants for my little guy! beckageatgmaildotcom I love to sew stuffed animals or monsters! This is the first time I've checked out this blog and your stuff is so cute!! I love to sew pants for my sons cloth diapered behind! Hi there, my favorite thing to make for my little boys are costumes. Nothing is more fun than watching them play make-believe! I would love to win! [email protected] How cute! I love that they are reversible, too! kaysdumbmail (at) gmail (dot) com I love making toys for my boys! Thanks for the GREAT giveaway! inthegrove5 (at) gmail (dot) com I love sewing items for babies! My favorite is to make rag quilts. :) I'm now a follower of your blog and on twitter. clickshoes [@] gmail.com I love sewing t-shirts for my boys, but have been wanting to sew my baby a pair of shoes for ages... gigihandmadebaby(at)gmail(dot)com My favorite things I've sewn for my guy are appliqued onesies and felt food! [email protected] Pants so easy so quick! [email protected] I love making fun shirts and funky ties for my little guy! [email protected] How cute. Thanks for the give away. I am expecting a new grandson in August and need to get busy. Use to make cotton knit sleepers for my own sons. [email protected] I like sewing T's for boys, so they aren't boxy and too short. Thanks for the great giveaway! claudia(at)battanibambino(dot)com I don't have a favourite yet but I've been trying to find a shoe pattern that fits well :) alisha207 at hotmail dot com Right now, I like to crochet little hats for my soon to arrive baby boy. I would love to win, as I have not found anything that I am in love with to sew for him yet. hrobbins422 at yahoo dot com My kids love lounge/pajama pants, so we have LOTS! What a generous giveaway..thank you! And I am a follower of your blog now as well :) Very cool! I love making shoes. Buffy [email protected] I love making softies for my boys! I love sewing pants for my boys! That is a tough question. I think my favorite thing is to make blankets, quilting is so much fun for me and he can always use something warm and cuddly. [email protected] How adorable! I love to sew little coloring caddies/notebook covers for my oldest boy, but would LOVE to make some of these shoes for my littlest! I love to sew stuffed animals and pants, but some lil shoes for my 16mo would be awesome. I've been too scared to try so far. Right now I am really in to making Bibs & burp clothes. I love your little shoes! Those shoes are adorable! I have a 3 year old boy and am expecting my second in June. I loved to make knit hats and baby-legs for my current son when he was younger, but really want to make more clothes and such for them both. The favorite thing I've sewn for my little guy is a patchwork quilt made from my favorite shirts of his from 0 - 12 months. :) I love to sew capes and slippers for my little guys -- Thanks for the chance to win these adorable shoes! wimseyfan(at)yahoo.com So cute! I love to make pjs! The favorite things Ive sewn for my baby boy is leggings, making cloth diapers so easy! jlj924(at)cccb(dot)edu My fave thing now is pants! Lots of them! I also love making baby shoes (although mine are not reversible). Would love to see the pattern for your shoes. jennykipawa(at)yahoo(dot)ca So far it's been blankets for snuggling up in, but I'm anxious to try some clothes... I think I'd like to try some baseball style tees! I don't have my own little one, but I have plenty of friends who are expecting and a nephew that is due in a month. These booties would be a great gift for all the new arrivals! Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite thing to make for my LO is, at this point, functional things (diapers, crib guard, etc). But we're moving into more fun things. commonthreads at me dot com I love sewing PJ's for my 9 y/o. We're hoping for another baby and I can't wait to sew for a baby again. my3djbeads at gmail dot com I'm having a little boy this spring and been having a blast making appliquéd onsies. Dinos, octopus, lions, so much fun and so quick. kcarlson1152[at]hotmail.com I love sewing upcycled baby pants! I've sacrifieced so many of my hubs tees to make those comfy stretchy britches!Thanx for the chance! i love making blankets, spit rags and have been wanting to dive into shoes!! these are sooo cute!! xo, christen [email protected] Little ties are my favorite sewing project for my little man. kimmyh18(at)hotmail(dot)com Haven't sewn much for my boys yet. Just starting to get into it. Would love to start making pants and shirts. isubuzz at hotmail dot com My little man is picky about textures so I make him pants. I don't know if it's my favorite but it is necessary! llonegan at yahoo dot com I would love to win! [email protected] I am due March 1st with my first boy and haven't sewn anything except burp rags and a nursing cover yet. I think these would be super cute and fun! [email protected] I am wanting to sew more for my grandson. So far the main thing I have done is things he can play with. I need to start making some clothing. Those shoes are so cute! I would love to give them a try! janny dot martine at gmail dot com I just started sewing boy things but love easy pants. taliastravelblog (at) gmail i recently discovered sewing baby shoes and i love it! although none of the patterns i have so far are as cute as yours. i'd love to try these out on our little one coming in may. varga . katie at gmail . com These shoes are so cute! The most recent thing I made for my little guy is one of those matchbox car play mats. Fun little project. I've also made a ball and an 'I Spy' quilt for him. I love to make my boys clothes! I was just brainstorming last night how to make a reversible baby shoe for my almost 4 month old! marknalexis06(at)gmail(dot)com Excited to find your blog! My favorite things to make for boys have been bibs and toys...that's why I'm happy to have all these new ideas from Celebrate the Boy month! Thanks for the giveaway! hilarypeterson (at) gmail (dot) com Bow ties, but I want to work on some pants. I would love to make these shoes for my sister's new baby boy. juliamarmoss(AT)gmail(DOT)com My favorite thing to make for my little boy have been pj pants, but would love to venture out more. [email protected] I love to make baby shoes! Also, I love to embroider or paint onesies. [email protected] Fantastic giveaway! I haven't sewn anything for my nephew yet but my next project will be some pj's! I love making boy jammies! oh, these are too cute! I would love to be able to make some for our baby-on-the-way as well as for baby shower gifts for friends! My favorite things to sew for my sons are quilts/blankets and toys. benjamin.and.christina(at)gmail(dot)com I love to sew any dapper looking clothing item for my little guy, and these shoes would fit right in! I love these adorable shoes :) I enjoy sewing pants for lil' boys. Oh, I l-o-v-e these shoes for my little guy... thanks! Great giveaway. I have been sewing my little guy basic pants. It's time to branch out. Thanks! kristie_keely(at)yahoo(d0t)com i am not a seamstress by any means...but i am sewing my little guys baby bedding. (he's due in April!) it's actually turning out pretty cute :) [email protected] I can make a mean pair of pants, but I am needing to branch out. This celebrate the boy is totally helping. Those are great little slippers. Favorite thing to make for little boys (since mine is all grown up!) are baby blankets/quilts, pillow cases, and, for the Mom to be, Diaper clutches & changing mats. belinda at gelhausen dot org My favorite things to sew for my boys are blankets. melaniemcmullin(at)gmail(dot)com Those are some really cute shoes!!! My favorite thing to sew for my little boy...hats! I love hats! stertz4213(at)hotmail(dot)com I'm a new sewer and love it! My favorite thing to make, so far, are Dana's knee pad pants!! Love your stuff. I would love to make all kinds of things for my boys, but right now I am working on a quilt. How sweet! I love making blankets, bean bags, and pants for my sons. winterwrens at gmail dot com Awesome giveaway, I love sewing anything I can get my hands on for sweet little boys :) savykay at yahoo dot com I've really only sewn halloween costumes for my son, but I'm ready to try more! kurtisandiva at gmail dot com I've only sewn one thing so far for my little guy: a reversible jacket that I loved making. Thanks for the chance to win! Love the shoes patterns. Wow, what a great pattern! I've never made shoes before... this would be so fun. I love sewing pants and shorts for my little guy. [email protected] Great giveaway! Right now, I can't get enough of sewing pants for my little one. Inspired by boy month, I upcycled a pair of my partners pants into super cute boy pants! These shoes are so cute! I love making sock animals for my little boy. efraz53(at)yahoo(dot)com I've received these kind of shoes as gifts and thought they looked way to hard to make on my own. Perhaps I should actually try before throwing myself out of the rink. I don't know if this throws me out of the running, but I'm not much of a pink fan...at least not everyday so I like my girls to have boy accessories. Great giveaway! kristiannasharma@ yahoo.com Right now it's ties cause that's the only thing I've really found for him but oh how he would love these! Thanks for the cute giveaway. I love to sew quilts for my boys. And pants. And hopefully soft baby shoes. :) (hint, hint) Oh gosh, I don't sew much, but I certainly try. I did make all my boys (husband included) blankets for Christmas - the material was their favorite sports teams. It was way fun! :) sethdeziATgmailDOTcom I have a 6 month old baby boy that I love making stuff for! I like to make him blankets & sleep sacks right now. I would love to win your pattern kits to make him some shoes! I make a lot of toys and pajamas for my little dude. Thanks for the giveaway! I make lots of things for my baby boy, but lately, bibs are my favorite thing to make! [email protected] Like Dana, I'd have to say: PANTS! Now that I'm cloth diapering with the second I need some bigger butted ones! awbaas at gmail Thanks for the giveaway! I love making superhero capes and jammies for my son. nettapants[at]yahoo[dot]com I love sewing toys for my little guy, but these shoes are to die for! Adorable! [email protected] Soooo cute! Thank you for the chance! I love to sew ties for my lil' guys because they love to wear them! Also comfy lounge sets. I love to make applique tie shirts for my little guy! flymelissa(at)hotmail(dot)com Such a cute and exciting giveaway! I would LOVE an excuse to start another project for my sweet boy :) If i have to pick my all time favourite project, i'd say the baby binky bunny by mmmcrafts, but i'd sew for him all day long if i could :) [email protected] I've been working on a quilt for my little guy, so these shoes would be a fun and different project! nellefarewell (at) gmail (dot) com Adorable projects-my little guy loves stuffed animals so I've made a few to add to his collection. What a great giveaway! Thank you! My little boy has yet to be born so I have been making oneies, pants and diapers! I would love to win these cute little shoes and the pattern to make more! Thank you for such great ideas! LoveBunniesAndThings at gmail these are so cute, they would make a perfect baby gift j.m.blake AT gmail DOT com Blankets and bibs, but I would love to learn to sew shoes! These are so cute! I love making pants for my little guy! terrastreasures1 at gmail.com right now its all about toys...bean bags, car caddy, stuffies... those shoes are so sweet!!!! major.kimberly at gmail dot com i love sewing little ties! [email protected] I love making blankets for my son. He has so many it's a good thing he loves them. jessica (at) homfamily (dot) com I have tried to make a pair of shoes like this for my little man but would love your cute kit. Kristen_pryor at yahoo dot com These are gorgeous, i especially love the green animals pattern. The only 'boy thing' I've made so far is a sock giraffe ( ) but hoping to get a nephew in July to make lots more boy things for. I'd make a little dressed up combo - vest, shirt, etc. :-) I love making anything Thomas the Train for my son- he loves him! These shoes are so cute and would be perfect for my other little guy! [email protected] My favorite item to sew for my boys have been flannel receiving blankets to wrap them in at the hospital, quilts and tooth monster pillows! This year I'm going to start making them clothes b/c the gals at MADE are totally inspiring me! I haven't done a ton of sewing for my little guy. I get caught up in all of the frily things to make for my friends with little girls. I would love to attempt some shoes though... Pants, pants, pants, with hats to match! I'd love to try these out, though! christina (dot) poynter (at) gmail.com my favourite thing to make for my 6 year old boy is stuffed animals/monsters. he draws the picture, we hit up michael's to purchase the felt, and then together we cut out a pattern and sew up his creations. it's such great quality time together and he ends up with a souvenir every time. I don't have a boy but I love those shoes and I have tons of friends and family who have boys and I would love to make them for gifts! My boys love the blankets I have made them. This pattern would be a great way to give some homemade goodness at baby showers, thanks for the giveaway :) darbishar(at)hotmail(dot)com I don't have a boy, but I love to sew burp cloths for baby showers. heidikittelson at gmail dot com I have only sewn one thing for guy, a romper, but I really want to make him some shoes! mcodde[at]gmail[dot]com I love sewing toys and lately Ive been working on a blanket! midgetsarah(at)hotmail(dot)com I like it when my sewing makes my boy smile. [email protected] I would love these for my baby boy! These are adorable! heidicrawford at gmail dot com i like to make comfy blankets for my boys! I like making my son boxers, or soft blankies. bfcourage at yahoo dot com I love making pants for my little boys. plannedimprovisation at gmail dot com Cute! I love them. I love making toys for babies- boys or girls! orrismb at hotmail dot com. Pajama pants and bibs...super quick, super cute and ALWAYS needed! :) heidikundin[at]yahoo[dot]com these shoes are so cute! i love sewing tie onesies and shirts for my two boys! My little one's not here yet, but I've been sewing lots of bibs and burp cloths in preparation! Oh, how I love these little shoes! Baby J is coming in April and I'd love to learn how to sew these for the little guy. So far all I'm very good at sewing are burp cloths and quilts, but it is working! EJensen.LP(at)Gmail(dot)com I don't have a boy to sew for yet but I think these shoes would be awesome on my little girl and as baby gifts. love making baby shirts.. pillow cases and cot sheets.would love to learn to make these cute shoes... I love to make my baby boy pants. Sarah skubinski at mac dot com I love making shorts and pants for my little boy greenletterday(at)yahoo(dot)com I love to make quilts and little bow ties. I love those shoes!!! I can't wait to dress my little guy. It's gonna be so much fun. [email protected] my email is [email protected] and my favorite thing to sew for my 3 little guys are quilts :) What adorable shoes. We're expecting our third boy in June (I also have a daughter, she's the oldest) and I'd love to sew some new shoes for him. I've made some applique shirts for my kids and I'm looking at sewing more once my new craft/sewing room is done. thecardrificgirl(at)yahoo(dot)ca I love making "rocker" bibs and onesies with guitars!! SO cute with a baby faux-hawk! [email protected] so cute. i made shoes for my little girl all the time, i think her brother needs some too! i mostly sew up jammies and blankets for him now. I really love sewing blankets for my little boy, and little owl teethers. So far I think he appreciates the owl teethers the most! LauraL444 at yahoo dot com I'm a new mama and my favorite things to sew for the little guy so far are diapers! You can find the cutest fabrics to tackle this job and it's so rewarding to see my creation on his little bum. Thanks for taking part in this fantastic giveaway! I love sewing blankets for my LO. Thanks for the great giveaway! [email protected] I don't have a boy yet but maybe my little one due in August will be a boy! I love sewing blankets, shoes, toys, etc for my daughters! toys! Giant stuffed toys! kathleenpoling (AT) yahoo (DOT) com A little drawstring bag for all his treasures! [email protected] I have been making little bibs and burp-rags for my kiddo. Having a great shoe pattern would be fabulous to go along with them! Thanks, angelitaduker (at) gmail (dot) com I love making shoes for my little guy. And these are the only kind he can't kick or pull off yet! I LOVE your shop!! I love making suspenders for my boys:) But your shoes would be so fun to try too:) [email protected] i love sewing overalls for my boy... but i would REALLY love to sew some of theses shoes! thanks for the chance :) erinm1979 @ gmail dot com I love making toys, stuffed animals and the like, for the little guys in my life. All my boys are big now, but I've been looking for things to sew for my baby sister's first boy. These would be perfect! kristal_shepherd at hotmail dot com Blankets!! I love making bibs and blankets!! leviandsteph at yahoo dot com Blankets!! I love making bibs and blankets!! leviandsteph at yahoo dot com I don't have a little guy yet, but my grandson is due in July. I am sewing him a little quilt and would love to add some shoes too! i most enjoy sewing my little man quilts...he has two which is probably enough, but i dont see that being enough any time soon!
THE. CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images, Tom Pennington/Getty Images, Flickr user Andy Miah THE near-total destruction of Baghdad's city zoo over the course of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was, in retrospect, a grim portent of the poor planning and disastrous mismanagement that would characterize the early years of the Iraq war. The zoo had been the largest in the Middle East before the invasion, with more than 650 animals; eight days after coalition troops arrived in the city, however, all but 35 were dead. "All the Americans would've had to do is drop off 50 men, with a few vets and a truckload of food, and they wouldn't have lost any of the animals," Lawrence Anthony, a South Africa conservationist who salvaged what was left of the zoo after the invasion, told me last year. So it's heartening to read a February 2008 cable from the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, signed by embassy staffer Greg D'Elia and released by WikiLeaks over the weekend, detailing the Baghdad zoo's resurgence as "reportedly … the most popular destination for family outings in Baghdad." As of late 2007, security in the city was still dicey enough that most of the zoo's visitors came from the immediately surrounding neighborhoods. But as the worst of the brutal sectarian violence of the preceding years ebbed, some 8,000 Baghdadis were visiting each weekend, and the zookeepers could boast of some one-of-a-kind acquisitions: [T]he Baghdad Zoo staff took particular pleasure in reclaiming for the Iraqi public the exotic animals formerly possessed by Saddam Hussein and his family. Uday's pampered cheetah is now tame enough for visitors to pet. Two of Saddam's three lions gave birth last year to three cubs each; now the Zoo has nine lions on display. The Zoo also has in its possession Saddam Hussein's former stallion, Al Abor -- "the most famous horse in Iraq," according to Mousa. Saddam Hussein rode Al Abor in countless parades and public ceremonies. The best part of the cable is its account of the zoo's "highlights and lowlights": The Baghdad Zoo also featured some primitive practices, including the daily slaughter of two donkeys to feed the lions, and some modern flourishes, such as exotic fish with an image of the Iraqi flag lasered permanently into their scales. (NOTE: These fish sport the old Iraqi flag. Zoo staff could not predict whether they will employ laser surgery to amend these now-outlawed, swimming flags. END NOTE.) Then there are the alcoholic bears: To ease the trauma of the brown bears' move from Saddam Hussein's possession into the Zoo, staff reportedly plied them with copious amounts of Arak; visitors repeated rumors that the disheveled bears continue to imbibe this powerful drink. .. THE CABLES AFRICA The Libyan frogman who couldn't swim. AMERICAS The FBI pursues a team of alleged Qatari would-be 9/11 conspirators in the United States. ASIA The rift between Washington and Beijing is deeper than either government would like you to think. The United States' secret space arms race with China. EUROPE/CAUCASUS A Croatian man tries to get back at his ex-girlfriend by telling U.S. embassy officials that she's hanging out with Osama bin Laden. Making an oil and gas deal in Russia is really complicated. MIDDLE EAST What U.S. diplomats in Cairo knew about Hosni Mubarak's human rights abuses -- and the time they did something about it. Newly appointed Egyptian Vice President Omar Suleiman is close to Mubarak and foreign intelligence agencies, but not Mubarak's son. And a lot of people seem to think Mubarak's new deputy prime minister is a bureaucratic dinosaur. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki accuses Syria and Iran of arming Iraqi militants. Yemeni strongman Ali Abdullah Saleh wants his money. U.S. diplomats doubt reforms are on the way in Jordan. THE NEWS Julian Assange is a long-shot contender for the Nobel Peace Prize, and appears on 60 Minutes. He also wants to go home. More documents leak from the sex assault case against Assange in Sweden. They include a picture you really don't want to see. Did WikiLeaks hack into New York Times reporters' email accounts? WikiLeaks' release process has become so complicated that even the papers involved don't know what's a scoop anymore. Amnesty International wants Britain to pressure the U.S. government over the treatment of Pfc. Bradley Manning. THE BIG PICTURE George W. Bush administration Assistant Attorney General Jack Goldsmith thinks Assange will be prosecuted in the United States. Joe Klein on the damage WikiLeaks has wrought. Clay Shirky has a more philosophical take. New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller and Guardian Editor in Chief Alan Rusbridger talk WikiLeaks. Forty-two percent of Americans have no idea what WikiLeaks is. KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaks seems to have rediscovered the news cycle, releasing seven cables from the U.S. Embassy in Cairo as the Egyptian government crackdown on protesters and journalists turned ugly Thursday. There's not much in them that you didn't know if you've ever read a Human Rights Watch report on Egypt, though a 2009 scene-setter for a visit by FBI Director Robert Mueller does effectively sum up the sorry state of human rights and civil liberties in Hosni Mubarak's country: Egypt's police and domestic security services continue to be dogged by persistent, credible allegations of abuse of detainees. Police brutality in Egypt against common criminals is routine and pervasive, resulting from poor training and understaff. The GOE [government of Egypt] has not yet made a serious effort to transform the police from an instrument of regime power into a public service institution, but there are indications that the government is allowing the courts increased independence to adjudicate some police brutality cases. […] The Interior Ministry uses SSIS [the State Security Investigative Services]. CHRIS KLEPONIS/AFP/Getty Images It's been a while since WikiLeaked checked in on Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's newly embattled president and a reliably interesting character in the WikiLeaks oeuvre. Most of what we've seen from Saleh in the leaked U.S. State Department cables has followed a pattern in which U.S. diplomats try to coax more counterterrorism cooperation out of the veteran strongman, while Saleh -- whose government received $155 million in military aid from the United States in 2010, twice the previous year's amount -- tries to finagle more cash and materiel out of the Americans. A newly released December 2004 State Department cable recounting a meeting between Saleh and U.S. Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski (pictured above with Saleh in a 2007 photo) is no exception. The meeting takes place a little more than a month after U.S. President George W. Bush's reelection; Saleh badly wants to meet with Bush in Washington to congratulate him personally, he tells Krajeski, and also talk about "important new developments in the region 'that can only be discussed face to face,'" according to the cable. Krajeski hems and haws a bit about this, at which point, the cable notes, "True to form, Saleh launched into a list of what he believes the U.S. owes him. 'Where is the money for the Army, and what about my spare (F-5) parts?' Saleh demanded." (The cable notes, a little acidly, that there have been reported problems with getting the Yemeni Ministry of Defense "to follow through with the necessary paperwork on parts and equipment in order to spend the 17 million USD in Yemen's [foreign military financing] account.") There's also the matter of smaller weapons, specifically the massive number of small arms being bought and sold in Yemen: Pointing out that any meetings with senior U.S. officials would quickly turn to the subject of Yemen's huge grey market in SA/LW [small arms/light weapons], insisting that he was already "cracking down" on the SA/LWs market. The conversation soon turns, inevitably, to counterterrorism, in which Saleh has been a longstanding if not unproblematic partner to the United States. Pressed on the subject of Hadi Dulqum, an arms dealer with alleged links to Al Qaeda, the cable reports [U.S. government] agrees with the Saudis, said Ambassador, adding that Dulqum's connections with AQ are too extensive for him to be simply another Yemeni arms dealer. Months later, Saleh does manage to swing a White House invite, prompting a June 2005 cable from the Sanaa embassy titled PRIORITIES FOR WASHINGTON VISIT: SALEH NEEDS TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. The cable characterizes relations with Saleh's government as "frustrating and difficult," noting that "Saleh has indicated to top advisors in the past that he believes he can pull the wool over the eyes of the [U.S. government.]" On the political front, "Saleh touts Yemen as a leader in regional reform and has committed to democratization," the cable says. "Domestically, however, he has run-out of reforms he can implement at no political cost to himself." The cable proposes "a public show of support via a greater role in public fora such as the G-8" as a possible inducement to greater democratization, but it seems that half a decade later, the upheavals in Tunisia and Egypt may have done the job more effectively. KHALED FAZAA/AFP/Getty Images THE CABLES AFRICA The last days of a Guinean strongman and his allegedly drug-trafficking son -- and a curious cocaine bust bait-and-switch. Another day, another cable about alleged central-African multi-million-dollar embezzlement -- this time in Gabon. AMERICAS The Obama administration dispatches a Florida senator to urge Spanish judge Baltasar Garzon not to pursue a torture case against Bush administration officials. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency quietly evolves into an international intelligence agency. How a Brazilian who once kidnapped a U.S. ambassador managed to get into the United States. McDonald's tries to muck up a free trade agreement in El Salvador. The Jamaican government warned U.S. officials that extraditing a local drug lord would lead to trouble. ASIA/PACIFIC Britain trains a "government death squad" in Bangladesh. Did Britain try to cheat Mauritius out of an island chain? EUROPE/CAUCASUS Inside Russia's awful prisons. Shell thinks that Ireland could become a booming offshore gas supplier -- or not. MIDDLE EAST More U.S. complaints about Egypt's lackluster military. Behind the scenes of an assassination in Dubai. THE NEWS Julian Assange claims (dubiously) to have the names of CIA moles in Arab governments. Assange signs a memoir deal worth an estimated $1.7 million -- but his estranged former spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg (who spoke at a hacker conference this week) will be on bookshelves first. The FBI pays back "Operation Payback" over PayPal attack. The Cuban government is translating and publishing the Cuba-related WikiLeaked cables -- will it translate all of them? 77 percent of Americans disapprove of WikiLeaks' cable release. Did WikiLeaks dash Zimbabwe's hopes for democracy? Hackers claim to have brought down Zimbabwean government websites in retaliation for a WikiLeaks-related lawsuit against a Harare newspaper. Assange falls out with his longtime confidants at the Guardian. Bianca Jagger is somehow involved. THE BIG PICTURE Daniel Ellsberg lawyer Floyd Abrams says Assange is no Daniel Ellsberg. Salon's Glenn Greenwald goes to war with Wired over chat logs from Assange source Bradley Manning. (More here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and basically everywhere else on the Internet.) HaikuLeaks adds to the proliferating genre of WikiLeaks-related verse. (English poetry buffs: this domain is still available.) Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images On Thursday, Julian Assange told reporters that WikiLeaks would be releasing State Department cables concerning the assassination of Hamas operative Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai in January, and he has made good on the promise with a couple of short dispatches from the U.S. embassy in Abu Dhabi. They don't offer any more insight into the still-unsolved killing, but they do paint a picture of the diplomatic conundrum the incident posed for the United Emirates and the United States.. The story was first reported 10 days later by Reuters, and as it happened, U.S. Ambassador Richard Olson was at a social event with UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed when it broke, according to one of the two embassy cables, signed by Olson. An unnamed UAE media advisor, Olson reports in the Jan. 31 cable, ." The UAE was no friend of Hamas -- the emirate's discontent with Hamas patron Iran is a recurring theme in the WikiLeaks corpus -- but its government was, of course, not exactly eager to be seen as enabling an Israeli incursion on the sovereignty of an Arab state, either. The cable describes the UAE officials' reasoning, and decision:. American officials had their own decision to make about where their loyalties were -- one documented in the second cable, signed by Olson deputy Doug Greene, several weeks later. Greene reports that UAE officials requested the embassy's help in acquiring account data for credit cards, issued by a bank in Iowa, that investigators had linked to suspects in the assassination. The request was apparently turned down, and as Haaretz reports, the State Department denied at the time that any requests had been made. "By not accepting the request," Haaretz's Yossi Melman writes, "the Obama administration harmed the Dubai investigation efforts and assisted Israel instead." The U.S. government did eventually assist in the investigation, however, identifying American companies that may have been used to finance the operation. David Silverman/Getty Images). Numbers add up to more than 681, as many detainees were subjected to more than one form of IT. ICRC stressed that all the branches of the security forces used these forms of IT and. That's the backstory to a series of U.S. State Department cables the Guardian is reporting on (but hasn't released) this morning, which allege that Queen Sirikit, Bhumibol's wife, had a hand in the 2006 coup. Samak Sundaravej, who briefly served as prime minister during the chaotic post-coup years, tells U.S. diplomats that Sirikit was indirectly "responsible for the 2006 coup d'état." .... The Guardian adds that "there is no mention in the cables of any coup involvement by King Bhumibol himself," but that they do report that shortly after the coup, "Bhumibol called the leaders of the coup to his palace for a meeting the evening after Thaksin was ousted and was 'happy, smiling throughout.'" Speculation that North Korea is aiding the Burmese junta in its aspiring nuclear program have been around for years, at least since the Far Eastern Economic Review first published an investigation on the subject in November 2003. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton publicly fretted about North Korean involvement in July 2009, and the U.N. security council accused the Hermit Kingdom of shipping centrifuge components to the Burmese junta via a series of shell companies in a report last month. These reports range from speculation to informed speculation, and the cables from the U.S. embassy in Rangoon released by WikiLeaks yesterday aren't qualitatively different, though they add a few new intriguing data points. In January 2004, an "expatriate businessman" told the embassy that he had heard rumors of a nuclear facility under construction in Magway Division along the Irawaddy River, and reported other suspicious goings-on: barges traveling up the river with building materials of a size too large for any of the industrial development projects in the area, a new airport with a landing strip so wide, the informant said, that "you could land the space shuttle on it." The following August, an informant told the embassy that "some 300 North Koreans" were in the same area, assembling missiles and building an underground facility at a secret construction site. The author of the State Department cable seems skeptical, both about the storyteller and the story ("the number of North Koreans supposedly working at this site strikes us as improbably high"), but notes that this "second-hand account of North Korean involvement with missile assembly and military construction in Magway Division generally tracks with other information Embassy Rangoon and others hve reported in various channels." North Korea has generally been suspected of helping Burma with its ballistic missile efforts, but not necessarily the actual nuclear program. So it's notable that this August 2009 cable reports a conversation with Australian Ambassador to Burma Michelle Chan, who told the U.S. embassy that her contact in the Burmese government told her the Burma-DPRK connection is not just about conventional weapons. There is a peaceful nuclear component intended to address Burma's chronic lack of electrical power generation. When Chan cited reports of a Burma-Russia agreement for development of a peaceful nuclear reactor, XXXXXXXXXXXX responded that the agreement with Russia is currently just for "software, training." The DPRK agreement is for "hardware." XXXXXXXXXXXX confirmed reports Burma's Army Chief of Staff (third highest ranking) General Thura Shwe Mann visited the DPRK last November. Asked why Thura Shwe Mann, XXXXXXXXXXXX responded, "Because he is in charge of all military activities." XXXXXXXXXXXX reportedly seemed surprised that the West might be concerned by a Burma-DPRK "peaceful" nuclear relationship. XXXXXXXXXXXX suggested that, after all, given sanctions, Burma really has "no other options" but to develop the relationship with North Korea. A couple other somewhat less conclusive cables about Burma's nuclear activities are here and here. Speculation about what exactly the Burmese junta is up to has increased since a former army major went to a Burmese pro-democracy group with a mountain of inside information on the country's nuclear agenda. Democratic Voice of Burma's thorough debriefing of the major, Sai Thein Win, is still the most authoritative account of what's going on in the isolated country. For now, most of the rest -- including these new cables -- is difficult to definitively parse one way or the other. AFP/Getty Images One of the latest WikiLeaks scoops is that Royal Dutch/Shell managed to infiltrate employees into every important Nigerian ministry, and obtain regular inside intelligence on government doings, as my colleague Beth Dickinson wrote late last night. My question is, if Shell is so capable and has Nigeria so well wired, why does it continue to be the main target of attack by local militants? This is a company that three weeks ago yet again declared force majeure to protect itself against lawsuits for non-delivery of some 125,000 barrels a day of oil because of militant attacks on its pipeline network in the country. It could take until next month to repair the Escravos-Warri pipeline, the company says. All in all, Shell produced 629,000 barrels of oil a day last year, which sounds like a lot until you consider that its facilities are capable of producing more than 1 million barrels a day. Much of that difference is accounted for by massive attacks on its installations. In 2008, Shell also had a bad year, with militants attacking and shutting down its flagship 200,000-barrel-a day Bonga oil platform. Two years before that, Shell threatened to pull out of the Niger Delta entirely after a spate of attacks on its installations resulted in numerous deaths and kidnappings. This is not meant to be snarky. But is the Nigerian government all that important in this case? Given the stakes, one does wonder if Shell is putting as much effort into infiltrating the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the group responsible for much of the mayhem. A five-year-old story by Michael Peel, the Financial Times' former Nigeria correspondent, reported that militants and others were stealing somewhere between 275,000 barrels a day and 685,000 barrels a day of oil from Shell and other pipelines, at the time worth between $1.5 billion and $4 billion a year. They were spending much of that money on weapons -- which in their business counts as reinvestment into future attacks. DAVE CLARK/AFP/Getty Images.. NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaks hasn't posted the cables yet, but the New York Times's Scott Shane has a piece out drawing from a forthcoming batch of Yemen dispatches, focusing on the United States' relationship with the wily Ali Abdullah Saleh, Yemen's president of three decades. Nothing in it is terribly surprising if you've read much about Saleh, whose attempts to capitalize on the American government's sudden interest in his country following last year's foiled Christmas Day bomb plot, which was hatched in Yemen, are notorious enough to have inspired a Saturday Night Live skit. Still, some of the best character studies in the cables thus far have been of the United States' inconvenient allies in the Middle East and the former Soviet Union -- rulers like Saleh, Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev, and Kazakhstan's Nursultan Nazarbayev -- so the piece is definitely worth a read. The WikiLeaks cables do add some interesting details to the story of Prince Muhammad bin Nayef, Saudi Arabia's intelligence chief, who has emerged since last year as an important player in counterterrorism efforts in Yemen. After al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula botched an assassination attempt on Nayef in August 2009, the Saudis, who share a sprawling border with Yemen, stepped up their cooperation with American intelligence agencies, and were instrumental in foiling AQAP's attempt to blow up two cargo planes over the United States last month. A May 2009 cable released earlier this week captures Nayef's growing sense of alarm even before the assassination attempt, in an account of a meeting between the prince and U.S. Ambassador Richard Holbrooke. Nayef tells Holbrooke, "We have a problem called Yemen." He says that Saleh's "vision of Yemen has shrunk to Sana'a," the capital city in the north, and the Yemeni president has lost what connections he had once had with the tribes that form the de facto government of Yemen's once independent and now tenuously controlled south. The Saudis, Nayef claims, have better relations with the southern tribes, and have taken matters into their own hands, financing development projects in the tribal regions that host AQAP in an effort to win Yemeni hearts and minds. I wonder how that's working out... KARIM SAHIB/AFP/Getty Images Is China through with North Korea? That's the Guardian's. FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images The latest dump of classified information stolen from the U.S. government is extraordinarily damaging to U.S. national security, but not in the way that WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, apparently intended. (If the summer leak was a gusher what does that make this latest round, a tsunami?) Assange is a garden-variety anti-American who believes that the United States is a malevolent actor which engages in all sorts of shameful secret activities that, if revealed, would discredit all aspects of American power. Prior to earlier dumps of classified material, Assange claimed that the secret files would document massive war crimes by the United States. They did not. Based on the depictions of the cables in the media (the New York Times coverage begins here, the Guardian coverage begins here, and Der Spiegel's coverage begins here, it appears the same thing is true for this latest batch. The media apparently found no instances of shameful behavior -- I am assuming that if they had done so, they would have led with those stories. Instead, the cables document that American diplomats have been doing what they are supposed to be doing: collecting information, reporting their opinions and insights back to headquarters, and trying to build international cooperation in pursuit of core American foreign-policy goals. The cables document that diplomats often relay information that would be, well, undiplomatic to say publicly. Diplomats often get foreign interlocutors to be more candid when they believe their discussions will remain confidential. Diplomats also opine on a range of topics -- the limitations of current lines of U.S. policy or the weaknesses of allies -- that would compromise an administration's effectiveness if shared with a general audience, but not because the views were dishonorable, or indicated that the United States was engaged in reprehensible behavior. Assange's damage to the United States is not in what he discovered about the past, but rather in the peril he has placed our diplomats, our friends and partners, and our policies in the future. The massive security breach has made every bilateral relationship more difficult and likely lowered the quality of diplomatic reporting. Will our interlocutors be as candid now that they have seen what happens? Ironically, Assange's attack on our diplomats has meant that our statecraft may be more dependent on cruder instruments of state power, especially brute force. (Elsewhere on FP, Dan Drezner reads the situation just as I do and notes one further likely result: an uptick in intelligence failures as the bureaucracy responds by stove piping information to prevent future espionage of this sort.) If WikiLeaks had uncovered evidence of gross misdeeds, I suppose reasonable people could debate the balance of interests the dump might have served. Outlandish claims to the contrary notwithstanding, the leaks have done nothing of the sort. Instead, they have damaged the United States and in doing so achieved no higher purpose than the damage they have done. To fervent anti-Americans, weakening the United States is an end unto itself. In wartime, we should expect enemies to seek to damage us in this way. How will President Obama respond to an enemy attack of this sort? NICHOLAS KAMM/AFP/Getty Images The new WikiLeaks documents show that Iran has been hunting for missile technology all over the world, seeking to buy gyroscopes, jet vanes and metals, and perhaps whole missiles from North Korea. But Iran also has experienced great difficulty building longer range missiles. Why? Some clues can be found in one of the most interesting documents just released, a briefing that Russian officials gave their American counterparts on Iran's progress, or lack of it. A summary of the Dec. 22, 2009 meeting was marked "secret" but tumbled out on Sunday in the reams of memos released by WikiLeaks and major news organizations. Fourteen Russian and 15 U.S. government officials compared notes that day about missile threats from Iran and North Korea. Judging by the summary, it was a lively back and forth, during which the Russians claimed the threat from Iran's missiles is not as great as some have predicted in the United States. The size and nature of the threat is important because it undergirds the U.S. plans for a multi-billion dollar ballistic missile defense system. The Russians were prepared to talk "seriously" with the U.S. group, the summary says. Their message was Iran is struggling to lengthen the range of missiles that could carry heavy loads, such as a one-ton nuclear warhead, that might threaten the region or beyond. The Russians said their basic conclusion is that "Iran's ballistic missile program continues to be directed toward developing combat ready missiles to address regional concerns," not targets like the United States. This was also the assessment made in May by the International Institute of Strategic Studies. In the December meeting, there was a sharp disagreement about the U.S. claim that North Korea sold to Iran a batch of 19 missiles, known as the BM-25. The transfer was first reported publicly in 2006; the BM-25 missile is supposedly based on a Soviet naval ballistic missile design, the R-27, known in the West as the SS-N-6. This missile was first developed in the 1960s and later modernized; it was in service in the Soviet Union until 1988. Iran has not tested any of the missiles it imported. The U.S. officials speculated that Iran may have purchased it to reverse-engineer the technology (although North Korea has been known to ship parts, expertise and manufacturing facilities as well as the missiles themselves.) The U.S. officials said photos of the Iranian space launch rocket, the Safir, show an engine which looks like the one on the R-27, as well as fuel tanks and welds that resemble it. The U.S. officials said they had received "direct evidence" of the missile transfer from North Korea to Iran. But the Russians strongly dismissed the BM-25 as a mirage, according to the summary. They said Iran would not have purchased an untested missile, and they doubted whether it even existed. "For Russia, the BM-25 is a mysterious missile," the summary says. "Russia does not think the BM-25 exists." They asked why North Korea would sell an untested missile; the Americans responded: for cash. Both the Russians and Americans acknowledged the limitations of Iran's older, liquid-fueled missiles, based on the Soviet Scud and its modifications, including the Shahab-1, Shahab-2 and Shahab-3. Both sides also seemed to agree that the Safir is not a military threat because of the small size of the payload. The key issue is Iran's pursuit of more modern and powerful solid-fuel missiles that could hit medium-range targets, such as those in the Middle East or Europe. Iran has been working on such a missile, called the Sajjil-2, which it has flight tested. (See my earlier post about it.) In the meeting, U.S. officials were more worried about this than the Russians, who said Iran continues to stumble with solid fuel technology. "In Russia's view, Iran appears to be having very serious problems with engine development," the summary says. U.S. officials countered that Iran has a decade of experience with short-range missiles using solid fuel, importing equipment from China, and could now extend it to larger missiles. The Russians said Iran was a long way from building intercontinental ballistic missiles that could hit the United States. "Russia said its bottom line is that Iran lacks appropriate structural materials for long-range systems, such as high quality aluminum," the summary says. ." At another point, the Russians said they think the North Koreans are working on a new, 100-ton capacity rocket engine using older technology, clustering the motors or stacking them. But Russia said the technology hasn't been actually spotted. AFP/Getty Images; from Iran's ISNA agency, the two-stage solid-fuel missile, Dec. 16, 2009: AFP/Getty Images WikiLeaked is FP’s blog dedicated to sorting through and making sense of the more than 250,000 State Department cables acquired by WikiLeaks.
I -, Apologetics, Bible, Capitalism, Children, Christianity, Courship, Courting, Date, Dating, Economics, Emotion, Father, Fatherlessness, Feelings, Feminism, Happiness, Happy, Husband, Jesus, Love, Marriage, Marry, Men, Narcissism, Parenting, Politics, Protector, Provider, Question, Relationships, Religion, Research, Respect, Romance, Science, Self-Centeredness, Selfishness, Sex, Sex Roles, Socialism, Theology, Wife, Women [...] course I don’t accept every jot and tittle of what the man says; but I wanted to point you to this Single Christian man’s blog, and in particular this post. Enjoy at your leisure while ‘net [...] Hello, My name is Mary. I find that when I feel very frustrated with others and that they are not “living up to the standards of Christ” God gently says to me…”I don’t want to talk about them, I want to talk about you…..you and me.” He asks me if I am sinnless so that I can cast stones. With bitter tears and anquish I cried out to God saying ” Men have cheatted on me, given me diseases that are incurable, beaten me, choked me, mentally abused me, held me hostage in cars, taken my only son from me, raped me, abandoned me in the street with nothing but the clothes on my back; after they coerced me into quiting my job to help raise their daughters that i loved as my own flesh and blood. They never even said they were sorry!!! They never cared for me at all…I was just a tool.” God’s response to me was “read 1Corinthians 13. Have you truely been loving by my standards. Have you been kind? Have you had no record of wrongs….” As I read the scripture I truely began to weep, for I saw the depth of my sin against God and man. I realized the issue was never what men were or weren’t doing for me. My real problem….was in fact always me.” Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your mind. this is the first and greatest commandment. The second is like unto it. Love your neighbor as yourself. This sums up the Law and the prophets.” I’ve stopped asking where all of the Christian men are. I just hope that God will help me be the woman I should be. I figure when God finds me loving enough he will send me the person he has for me. I’m just not ready yet…:) many blessings to you in your walk with Christ. I think it is fine to try and steer your kids in to these fields, but there is no guarantee they are going to have that bent. Also, there is no guarantee you will have 4 kids or any kids. I think it is fine to aspire to these kinds of plans, but ultimately God will direct your life and your kids’ lives. My husband and I are both in math/technical fields. We have six children. Two show aptitude for math, two are disabled, two show aptitude in other things. Life doesn’t always turn out the way you plan/expect. Just an little opinion — I don’t know a woman (godly or otherwise –especially one who has never had kids) who wouldn’t be intimidated by your whole ‘plan’. It sounds like micro-managing, and not a “we’re building this together”, more of a “this is what *I* want to do, are you on board” type of thing. Hardly welcoming words to a potential wife. From reading your posts, you seem to have good, Godly intentions, but perhaps need to soften your expectations to James 4:13-15. It’s good to have a big picture idea of how you want your life to go, but realize you may need to be flexible when God changes the details. Prov. 16:9 Keep up the good posts. I read this blog pretty often. Good words. “The reason why men work is so that they are the sole or primary breadwinners – so that they have the authority to make decisions and lead in the home.” I would disagree that men have the authority to make decisions for the family BECAUSE they are the primary bread-winners. That would suggest that if a woman happens to make more money than her husband, she is therefore the head of the household. Yet a man can make less than his wife and still lead the family. Further, God has set up the family such that the man is to be the spiritual and moral leader, regardless of his paycheck. So I would say that the man is to be the spiritual head of the household per God’s design. I believe a man should also, ideally, be the primary breadwinner. However, he need not think that if he makes less money he must therefore give up control to his wife. Making money does not make one a spiritual leader. However, a man who is leading his family will also be providing for them financially. Hi Lindsey – thank you for the rather insightful reply. Mind if I ask what OT/NT scripture do you have to support what you have written ? Btw, you might want to take give the story of David & Abigail as well as the Levitical law of what the role of a husband is as well as a wife. Please feel free to reference NT as well. Allow me to suggest that if a man is the spiritual leader – then the provider is G_D no matter what where the income / provision comes from. In addition, the head/strength of Christ is the Father, the head/strength of the man is Christ, the head/strength of the woman is man, and the head/strengt of the children is the woman. It is not about power nor inferiority nor inequality but about role, function, and order. Shalom I agree that it’s about role and responsibilities, not power or inequality. I believe the Bible has given the role of the man as being the spiritual leader of the home. Thus, that is a role that God has set up, not simply a consequence of making the most money. If “money makes right,” then whoever makes the most money is the boss, whether that’s the man, the woman, or one of the kids. But that isn’t what God says about the family. God says that the woman is to submit to her husband, that husbands are to love their wives and lead their families, and that children are to obey their parents (Ephesians 5 & 6, Titus 2, etc). I see no caveat for when someone makes more money than the father. One thing from Scripture that can shed some light on this topic is the Proverbs 31 Woman. She buys a field, plants a vineyard, and sells merchandise. Yet she does all this from home while running the household and so that her husband can become a leader in the community (he sits at the gate with the elders). We aren’t told who brings more income into the family…because it doesn’t matter. The roles wouldn’t change. The point is that women can contribute to the family income, but the husband is still the leader of the home. The dollar amount that each brings in is irrelevant. It is the man’s responsibility to see that the family is provided for. Even if he currently makes less money, he should realize that if circumstances change and she can’t work, he must make ends meet because that is his duty. It just isn’t the woman’s reposibility to earn the income like it is for the man. It is the woman’s job to see to the running of the house and care for the children (especially young children). It’s not that a man can never do dishes or sweep the floors, but it isn’t his responsibility to make sure it gets done like it is the woman’s. If a woman can earn some money while still fulfilling her role, good for her. But her primary responsibility of running the house and caring for the children must come first. One thing that often causes conflict in marriages is when the woman earns an income and believes that it therefore entitles her to usurp the role of her husband as leader. Realizing that money does not confer a right to lead is the first step to avoiding that problem. It is also useful to realize that husband and wife become one when they marry, meaning that there can be no “yours” and “mine” with their possessions. Whoever makes the money, it becomes both of theirs equally. I think you have to add that you cannot marry Democrat women. It’s not enough that they are Christian. That really means nothing, since that could mean anything. As this election showed, they are incapable of thinking about their family, or the perspective of men. They overwhelmingly chose to back candidates that are statists. To marry one would be to undermine your family and everything you work for. Wait till you see tomorrow’s 10 AM post. My meanest post yet against single women, based on exit polling data and what we know about Obama’s policies. I’m intrigued. With your help, I’ll be able to alienate all my liberal friends. It works for me! I have lots more free time to play Combat Mission: Battle for Normandy and Memoir 44. Against all single women, or just those who think that their sex life is more important than the health of the nation? Just the ones that think that their sex lives are more important than the nation AND the children. You, sir, seem to have a knack for attracting the wrong type of women. Like attracts like, wouldn’t you agree? The content in this post is throuroughly disgraceful to women, and puts Christian men to shame. Thank you for emphasizing the gospel of Christ, by the way. Since there was no mention of that, I assume that that is not a criteria for you: to have a Christian woman who has been washed and restored by the good news of Jesus. I promise you, you will know a God-fearing woman by her love and obedience to the Savior who died for her. Also, God is glorified just as beautifully through dance, painting, writing, and working in a top law firm. It is not a matter of money and separation from a culture that is in desparate need of the gospel and Jesus, it is a matter of the saints’ hearts as they further God’s Kingdom via the gifts and abilities and talents that God has endowed to all His children. THAT is what those women are most likely trying to articulate. It does not matter WHAT my children pursue, as long as they seek to glorify God, and run hard after Him with all of their hearts, minds, and strengths NO MATTER what those strengths may be. Think on that. Sincerely, A Christian woman I think that for many women, happiness and ease are more important than serving God effectively. My courting practices are designed to detect women who put their own happiness and ease above serving God effectively. I detect women who are informed and who want to do what works. The others I leave behind. Your goals for your kids are wrong-headed. Simply pray and fast every day that you kids follow God’s path. Nothing more, nothing less. What if God called one of your kids to be a missionary somewhere far away, who gets no name recognition, slaves with his family serving people far away and dies there to no publicity? What if God wanted one of your children to be a prodigal? To serve as an example to his/her siblings? Only to find the true taste of grace later in life? And here is the rub … to serve as a rebuke to your “lawful” other children who haven’t tasted grace yet? Yes, my courtship process is designed to detect people who hold your view so that I can reject them. I would not sacrifice $250,000 per child so that someone who wants to float aimlessly through life can play house using my money. That’s not what marriage is for. Marriage is to serve God, not the woman’s feelings. .” This paragraph is strongly exaggerated. Women who tell you they don’t mind your daughter being a ballet dancer are simply saying that God can use all people in whatever profession they choose. They are not *denying* you anything except the right to make all the rules without their input. If you reread that paragraph through a woman’s eyes, you should see why it upsets my friends. You come across as regarding any sort of differing opinion on your decisions as denying you the right to make those decisions. You seem to want to run a dictatorship. I don’t know any woman who would go for that. It’s scary. I’ve only responded to the parts of the post that I’ve read. “Women who tell you they don’t mind your daughter being a ballet dancer are simply saying that God can use all people in whatever profession they choose. ” I think that this is a very popular view among Christian women – they are taught things like this by pastors and in Christian literature. And what I am saying is that I am not going to sacrifice half a million dollars on two kids who will be influenced by this viewpoint. My objective in courting women is to detect this view and then reject the person who holds it. And I do this because I want to serve God more, not less. Anyone who says “God can use people equally no matter what they do” is immediately disqualified as a wife and mother, in much the same way as I would disqualify someone who supported abortion or gay marriage. They are unfit for the roles of wife and mother. They aren’t serious about making the marriage count for God, but instead are thinking of escaping from obligations and feeling happy. They want the marriage to serve the woman, and not God. Watch your qualifiers, WK. I didn’t say that God can use all people *equally* regardless of their profession. I simply said that He can use them. So a child who is a ballet dancer is not automatically a waste. She might not lead as many people to Christ as Craig, but not every body can be the hands. She will be useful nonetheless. I wouldn’t recommend the profession, but it is not the worst thing in the world if your daughter wants it. The most important problem with your words is not your view of dancing, but the tone in whoch it is said. Remember, being a leader requires you to understand the views of the other person and care enough to allow them input in the decision making process. I added that to be contrary, but I do apologize for doing so. I knew I was being mean when I did it, but I thought “it’s fun to be mean to Tracy, this will teach her a lesson”. Anyway, here’s the deal. I am male. Being male means that you have a goal of making sure that your children can make their way in the world when you are gone and in the ground. I am looking for a wife who understands what men want for their children. Most Christian women are very impractical and emotional, and they do not recognize or respect this need/goal that men have. It is important for me, given the massive tax rates, government regulations on families and parenting, cost of raising a child, etc., that at least my wife thinks that my needs and values and leadership are important. Am I making sense here? You’re making a lot of sense but I need one thing to be clarified. By “It is important for me… that at least my wife thinks that my needs and values and leadership are important.” do you mean that she accept unconditionally your plans for her and her children? What exactly would you accept as evidence of her regard for you? Also, perhaps you should consider being less assertive about your plans. Like I said before, they’re not just intimidating. They’re right out scary. Instead of saying “My wife must do this, this and that and my children must do that or else…” Try being more suggestive. Say “Would it not be better for our children if they had a better income than ballet provides?” or “Why are you opposed to leading our children towards cosmology”. That’s kinder and gentler – things you need as a leader. Meh. I offer a lot. If women want to settle for less, let them. We just had an election where 67% of unmarried women voted for free birth control pills and free abortions and gay marriage. I realize most single women don’t want to be led by a man, even if they choose him. They don’t want to respect a man. That’s fine – I can just avoid marrying women who don’t want to be led. I am understanding a lot about single women from these elections. They don’t want to be led by a man, they want men to pay for their birth control pills and abortions and they want children to be raised by single mothers and gay couples. When I meet a single woman, I assume that she holds those views, even if she denies it. And I won’t believe that she doesn’t hold those views until I see the evidence of it in her record and actions. There is a two-thirds chance that a single woman thinks that it is OK to abort a child because it is the wrong sex – and that I should have to pay for it. That’s what most single women are really like. That’s what they want. That’s what they believe. And if I am going to get married, I have to make sure that I don’t marry that. I think it is interesting that almost no women hold other women accountable for these sorts of views. Instead, I am told by everyone that I need to change, and lower my standards. I am the one who has to change. I am the one who has to just go ahead and get married to make a woman who has no respect for me happy. Right. With that attitude, you’re going to drive away the good women along with the bad ones. You do know why gentleness is important, right? Wintery, I agree with much of your assessment of single women these days. However, I would like to point out a few things about good women which I hope you know, and if you don’t sit up and pay attention. While you no doubt would bring much to the marriage table (espcially financially, if I understand you correctly), there are things a women looks for (yes, good women too) besides money and Christian character and knowledge. A woman needs to feel safe with the man she marries. Safe from outsiders who would hurt her, yes. But more importantly, she needs to feel that her heart is safe, that it will be treasured and protected. She needs a man to listen to her and still love her, even if he disagrees with her. It is one of the deepest needs for a woman to feel cherished by her man. It’s like respect is to men. Men need to feel respected in order to feel love. Women need to feel safe and protected emotionally in order to feel loved. We women do have more fragile emotions and that’s a design that God planned for us. It makes us better nurturers. Not all women are slaves to their emotions, but all of us have more sensitive emotions than the average man and we need to know that our opinions, fears, and insecurities will be listened to, taken seriously, and that none of this will cause our husband to reject, belittle, or look down on us. Until that deepest need of our hearts is met, we care little for money or other assets that a man may have. Just as you would never marry a woman who had all the right attributes, but failed to respect you, no good woman will marry a man who has all the right attributes, but fails to make her feel cherished. With that in mind, consider developing (and demonstrating to potential wives) the trait of gentleness. There may be a lot of bad women, but there are also many women out there who would be thrilled to find a strong Christian man capable of leading and providing for a family. But they will fear to submit to a man whose idea of leadership is to become a mini-dictator (or who they think may tend in that direction). A real leader inspires confidence by proving himself capable to make good decisions AND by proving the ability to properly care for those who follow him. Proving the latter (with regard to marriage) includes demonstrating gentleness and the ability to protect a woman’s more fragile emotions. The thing is, a person doesn’t have to do amazing things for God with their job. They can always do amazing things in their private life. As just one example, I am pretty sure that Wintery Knight doesn’t make much money off this blog. But Wintery, if you don’t want your money spent on unproductive pursuits then just set it aside in an account separate from all marriage funds, and tell your wife and kids that they can only have it under the conditions you set. If they want poetry, fine, but they just can’t have any of your stash. Drew, I think that is a very good compromise. The thing is that there are competent Christians who need help now to achieve rally good goals, and so I don’t want to get involved in a marriage that is going to take away from being able to help with that. I think it’s hard enough for any given Christian man to find a woman who believes in Jesus, is reasonably good-looking, is sexually undefiled, and does not vote for abortion or socialism. I personally think that it is unwise to pile a bunch of extra conditions on top of all that. Regardless of what you or your potential wife want, you can’t really force a child to take your precise path. Generally, I think it’s hard enough just to make sure they get high grades, stay off drugs, don’t delve into any dumb ideas like Calvinism or socialism, etc. You can always set standards for your children and lead them to obey God, but at the end of the day, their steps are ordered by the Lord, and not their earthly father. Teaching children to obey God in all things is paramount; setting up specific paths that you’ve determined are best for them (before they’re even born! and before you know whether they have the aptitude for them) is not. Also, it’s for God to determine how best someone glorifies Him; and it’s not for us to decide that a person in one vocation is more important than a person in another. That is certainly not a godly or Scriptural perspective, and I’m not trying to be harsh, but such an idea certainly did not come from God. This is why Jesus said that the last will be first and the first will be last. If someone becomes a gardener and lives a truly holy life, sharing the Gospel, and serving others, no one is to come behind and say that their life has not been as significant as someone who is a banker or a lawyer. Many parents who decide to order every aspect of their children’s lives discover that it can often create rebellion and actually denigrate the children’s respect for them rather than grow it. Moreover, if you disparage what is a passion of your children’s (say, creative writing), it will only breed resentment. So, that’s a gentle caution. I would have to ask, What do you think a woman as such brings to the table? You’ve said that you have a lot to offer. But certainly the Lord created women with unique gifts that you as a man do not have. Is it possible that you might have something to learn from women who question your stances on certain things? Leadership is about taking the initiative, not assuming that you’re always 100% correct. I would imagine that for a thinking woman, you might easily insult her intelligence by assuming that if she doesn’t see things your way, that she must be unlearned. Just as an occasional passerby, I can guarantee that I’m very familiar with pretty much all of the subjects you mention; but that doesn’t mean that I agree with every conclusion that you draw. Clearly individuals who marry have to be compatible values-wise, but if what you want is a thinking, reflective woman, then you’ll have to be prepared for the possibility that she is not going to see it your way all the time, and not lose respect for her because of it, or feel like simply by exercising independent thought that she’s threatening your leadership. All your comment shows is how some women express their desire to not respect husbands or submit to husbands in mystical religious language. What you really mean is this “I don’t want to do what a man says no matter how much more he knows, because my emotions are more important than truth or knowledge.” What you mean by saying that “God only knows X” is that I don’t know. And because I don’t know, I shouldn’t be able to set goals or have any authority to lead. Nor should I be allowed to prefer a woman who accepts my authority to lead above one who refuses to accept my authority to lead. That’s the bottom line. It’s not that you have a better plan to produce influential children that you want to convince me of, and arguments and evidence to persuade me that your goals are more influential. It’s that you want to deny my plan and substitute NO PLAN, and then invoke God in order to establish that. You want children to do whatever they want and say that whatever they want to do is as influential and effective as what I want them to do. Because you think that I don’t know anything about what the church needs, what the university needs, and what the public square needs, and that I have no right to lead my children to be influential in those areas for the Lord’s sake. And you think that a child who focuses on creative writing (writing fiction!) will be as influential and prosperous as one who focuses on petroleum engineering or economics or experimental science. And you dress up your desire to substitute your agenda for mine in religious language by saying that your view is God’s will and mine isn’t. Regarding your comment that you know about the things that I would ask about. In my experience, people who say that have not been able to answer the most basic questions that I ask about. So we are at a stalemate. You think that you could answer me, and I think you couldn’t. The only way to find out is for me to ask you specific questions in a situation where you have to answer without looking anything up online or in your library. But I assert that that in my experience, the vast majority of Christian women I have met are reading Harry Potter and C.S. Lewis and Stephanie Meyer and not Stephen Meyer and Thomas Sowell and William Lane Craig. And I mean 99.99% of Christian women. Wintery! Your whole response caricatures her arguments. Are you being deliberately uncharitable or is something else wrong? Her point about causing children to rebel I definitely agree with. I doubt that your style would cause them all to rebel, but probably a percentage of them. So you would need to have at least one extra kid, to take into account that at least one of them is going to start smoking pot and get into ballet dancing or something. LOL! Don’t worry, if I am really trying to influence someone, I am good at getting results. Setting up boundaries has to be tough, and then when you are doing 1-to-1 mentoring, it’s soft and gentle. Sorry for the late interruption, I was just wondering, because this is what I perceive from the sentence “the vast majority of Christian women I have met are reading … C.S. Lewis …and not Stephen Meyer and Thomas Sowell and William Lane Craig.”, but do you believe that C.S. Lewis was not an effective/serious apologist/philosopher/academic? It depends which book you’re reading. A lot of his stuff like Narnia and Mere Christianity is good for teens – to get them thinking. Miracles, The Abolition of Man, and the like are good for grown-ups. Wintery, having read most of your replies on this comment thread, I keep noticing something. You are emphasizing over and over how these women won’t submit or respect you, etc., etc. I think you are also missing the other half of the picture — husbands are supposed to love their wives as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for it. Has it occurred to you that you may have to make some sacrifices? Or is it all about your plans for your and your kids’ future? By no means am I suggesting marrying some woman who doesn’t respect you or share your goals — but in all this you seem to de-emphasize the nature of sacrificial love. It involves more than providing for your family financially. By all means have plans, but realize God may have different, better ones than you. If a woman objects to your ‘plan’ it doesn’t mean she is being emotional and not using her brain. Jesus used all kinds of people to glorify Himself: scribes, tentmakers, fisherman, tax collectors, writers, philosophers, bakers, kings, slaves, etc. Colossians 3:17 comes to mind. I think I’d be more interested in a woman reading her BIble faithfully than reading William Lane Craig *or* CS Lewis (or any any of the others) Clearly, you are frustrated by not meeting (yet) the woman you have in mind. Be sure you are taking time to examine yourself as well — being a good Godly husband involves more than being a good provider or a good planner. You also need to be cultivating the fruit of the Spirit in your life, not just accumulating knowledge for good theological arguments. Gentleness is just as important as self-control. Good luck, and I will be praying for you. What I’ve learned is that life can mess up one’s best-laid plans. I live with a number of shattered hopes and dreams, despite much prayer. About careers: We encouraged our sons to follow study and career paths that matched their abilities and their interests, so they wouldn’t be stuck in a career they’d find they hate. One son is ADHD and non-academic, so he pursued a technical qualification. Not everyone is geared to be an academic and a professional. Since I came to know the Lord after our sons were born, and my husband is an atheist, I ended up being the moral and spiritual leader and trainer in the home. Once our sons reached their teens, they were not so receptive, so I prayed for them and trusted also that the foundations I’d sown into their lives would remain firm. I used to play Focus on the Family, apologetics and sermon/ Bible-teaching tapes in the car, so they still got some input in addition to church. They are now in their mid- to late 20s. Despite all my moral and spiritual input and prayer, one turned away from the Lord when he left home and is now an anti-theist, one is lukewarm, and one, an introvert, has what one might call a quiet faith. The spiritually tepid ADHD one blames me, rather than their atheist father, for the apostasy of his brother, saying that I “pushed him too hard” (I happen to know there was a moral issue) and uses this against me when I try to encourage him to participate in e.g. a Bible study, since he’s never even read the Bible. Therefore I continually pray for the Lord to work in my sons lives, to enable them to become the men they need to be in order to be godly husbands and fathers, and I am praying for the Lord to prepare a wife for each of them, a woman who knows and loves the Lord, who will be a good, loving wife and mother. Why do I have such “low” standards, you would say? I grew up with a manipulative, bitter and controlling mother who loved me conditionally, so my home background was toxic. My dream was to have a loving, happy family, which I’d never had, but this plan unravelled seriously when I started a family and my own long-buried issues manifested. I also learned I was not in control of my life, and (although I didn’t realise it at the time) the Lord used this situation to draw me to himself. The Lord had to deal with a lot of issues in my life after I came to know him. I also had an additional new desire, namely for my husband and sons to come to know and love the Lord wholeheartedly, but over 20 years down the line, this hasn’t happened. Let me tell you again, life does not turn out the way one would like it to. One thing I would caution on, is to watch out for a spirit of domination and control, the “lord and master” syndrome. A good leader is not a controller, but rather inspires people to follow him, which is what Jesus did. I know enough women who’ve been married to domineering men who abused them emotionally. Because the Gospel often impacts the lives of those who have been hurt, the church is full of damaged people, especially men, from toxic backgrounds who have never faced, dealt with and found healing for their deep issues (which is why one also encounters the problem of spiritual abuse by some church leaders). It takes two emotionally and psychologically whole people to build a stable, loving marriage and family. Just some food for thought… Hi Wintry Well, I don’t know where to start! Firstly I think your enthusiasm for following the Lord needs to be totally commended and I really do think that the passion and commitment you demonstrate towards Him should be and doubtless is demonstrated in every detail of your day to day life following Him in closeness and obedience, delighting in Him and submitting to His every nuance and wish, to the nth degree. I would really encourage you to do this, more and even more, as I know He will draw you closer and closer. I think this degree of closeness is even part of your calling from Him and I suggest you are not only called but also chosen. If you read John’s gospel chapters 14-17 carefully you will learn to find a deep communion with Him that is rarely found. I think you have the personality type to go really deep with God. Secondly I can tell you that out there in your future will be the woman for you. Maybe not right now, but God will bring her along in His good time and you can rest in that assurance of His love for you. She is and will be your perfect mate, partner, helpmeet and friend and the only criteria I would dare to offer would be to try to marry someone who is closer to the Lord than you are, in your view. Thirdly and slightly more controversially, don’t diss all women because you’ve chatted with a few. I don’t dismiss all men because I’ve met a few who I don’t agree with! I have been a Christian for 25 years or more, I have also got a 2.1 degree from Cambridge, England in Physics and Theoretical Physics and I have done a year in Kenya as a missionary. I could argue particle physics with you or help you run an Alpha course or debate the details of Daniel’s dreams or Paul’s prayers. I can speak in tongues or prophesy, I can calm down children or teach school physics, math or chemistry. I can get on with Americans, Chinese and Brits. I can get by in French, German and Swahili. I can listen to your dreams and then challenge you with the depths of His love for me, and incidentally also His immense love for you. I can show you the man Jesus in His brown skin, black hair and sparkling eyes, the man who wouldn’t be apparent in a crowd because there was nothing in Him to make us desire Him by His appearance. I can show you Him in His glory on the sea of ice above the four wheels within wheels and the living creatures of ox, eagle, lion and man. I can paint these for you or I can relate them to the Four Gospels and link this to your personality type. Most of this I could have done before I was married (sorry I’m not available). The only question I asked about getting married was ‘who is the name in my heart, Lord?’, and I didn’t ask that of the man who was raising the questiony And I actually saw marriage in a rather uncomplimentary way at that time, as a type of dying to self because I would no longer be independent but part of some new whole and never a single one but only a half…leading to a lack of choice over my life…as I said, a kind of death, worked out daily. In the same way as I die daily in my life in Christ, so that I no longer live but Christ lives in me, so also I die that the new We might live together in oneness, in unity. I see it now as walking together in the Lord. If we disagree, we talk and pray until we are in agreement. If one of us pushes the other into something, it generally doesn’t work. As I said, you have a gift of passion in your heart for The Lord, use that to walk His ways as closely as you can, waiting for the girl who is right for you and don’t assume anything except that it will be a fabulous adventure needing tons and tons of faith, love, mercy and grace! Enjoy the ride! Blessings Ambling Saint Every woman in my church complains that there are no Christian men in the church. I attend a small church with under 100 people. There are about twenty five of us guys who are single, and about twenty of us who have never been married. Most of us fall between the ages of 29-40. Most of us have given up asking in church….first of all it makes us look like creeps, secondly….some of these women are not models of youth themselves, and lastly….we want a woman who puts God first. None of us have seen that .” That’s it exactly.
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Antonyms of abbreviate. — “abbreviate - Synonyms from Roget's A-Z Thesaurus and Roget's II”, Images related images for abbreviate - within the Configuration Editor 3 Select the country database of the layout you wish to customise for example the United Kingdom address database is selected in the screenshot below 4 Creating a New Layout If you don t want to use the settings in the Default layout you can create a completely new one If you wish you can create an application specific layout - It s fair enough to abbreviate items on a list there s no rule to say you can t But simply missing off words when they add specific detail is just plain ridiculous I don t know anyone who - For this tutorial the uBp United Base Players™ staff has chosen the left alt button as the hotkey Inside the box it will abbreviate the hotkey you chose as shown in the picture below click to enlarge Next to get your microphone settings enabled so you can hear and speak In that same window from the picture above on the Left hand Sside you will see two sections - 2007年10月3日 水 22 21 - things really don t abbreviate well One interesting thing about Okayama they seem to really like the story of Momotaro there Momotaro is a Japanese fairy tale There s a lot of related statues around the city souvenir stuff signs etc Maybe it was supposed to take place in the area After the train ride walking to Okayama Castle was a nice change of pace Also - launch of a new English language publication in the PRC the international edition of The Global Times I will call it The Global Times International just so I can abbreviate it as GT I The Global Times English web page If you are not familiar with the GT in its original Chinese the paper has garnered a reputation for a somewhat fiery brand of Chinese nationalism in its - inspire other public transportation users to get funky but instead only encourages them to stare in disgust This does not appear to abbreviate the 45 minute baggy pants dance in the least 5 I am sleepy and still coughing up lung gunk so I go to bed no picture available - Mars Project It s easier to abbreviate RMP than to keep typing saying it So I am doing Red Mars Project Lilith the artbook version It s like the second to last picture in the artbook http i192 photobucket com albums z ays T 3031 jpg Hiyoko chan is doing RMP Seth but the manga version I m not sure what that looks like but it sounds like way less armor Cloaked - Additional Reserve Materials Also Listed Examples of Difficult Citations pdf How to Abbreviate Bible Books jpg Style Checklist Familiarize Yourself With This This form will be attached to your papers to instruct you about necessary - Step 7 Is English evolving - TOOBUSY 1 main Ful - http i10 photobucket com albums a140 MightilyOats Magneto88 jpg Iron Cable doesn t abbreviate Each letter is as important as the one that preceded it Maybe more - this full time Then I discovered why they abbreviate it s o b That s what you yell when you discover you ve forgotten to mind your sidearm and it s become exposed for all the world to see - appearances of the citation BI recommends this format for subsequent appearances If 4 or more authors list 1 author and abbreviate with et al Comments to Anders Erdal - Add shortcuts to dramatically increase your productivity by 40 or more FlashType gives you the ability to Add Default Templates for your documents - - Medical Dictionary and from the impressive Acronym Finder database a variety of technical scientific and slang terms that are all abbreviated DNA including the ironic expression Do Not Abbreviate GuruNet almost always picks the most relevant sources For example when you look up the term search engine it offers you news items related to search engines from - This guy didn t know how to abbreviate horse power he came up with something that sounds like Hearse Power carry dead people fast - un domain alert per avere notifiche via mail ogni qual volta qualcuno ti linka su Twitter funziona anche se si utilizzano URL abbreviate come TinyURL Snurl o altri URL shortening service Scenario 3 Il tuo Prodotto Se vendi qualcosa potresti essere interessato a vedere e verificare quello che la gente dice e pensa del tuo prodotto Aggiungi un alert per il nome del tuo - on how I feel about the matter This post became a bit shorter than usual but this time I really tried to kind of abbreviate and make my opinion on the matter clearer and more brief Mikitty is not quite convinced you re in it for just the music - It s probably the only forum left in the world where everyone calls Nintendo Australia Nintendo of Australia and abbreviate it NoAus I hate you all Most Photogenic User of the Year Bourbang is a *** machine It s no secret that I ve been having trouble picking up in Perth and no doubt the fact that I share the city with this man adds to the difficulty Blogger of the - in mode because They were different from horrible boots which Aussies passion to abbreviate every joint terms used everyday We all know how the full world got to keep their cold feet Until recently Aussie uggs or the water Nevertheless it is assumed that I am surefire you would not in the kangaroo but I assure that this Classic Tall Ugg Boots will eternally be in - Some characters are born from other ones Wiki tan is one example of that where people started asking for her to be born after the entry for the OS tan girls was made more - a room dedicated to me Never Ever The closest I will ever have will be like a boys room with pictures of all the old time greats Gehrig and Ruth and Mantle Q To save time and prevent cramping during autographs shouldn t you abbreviate your last name to St HS I feel like I ve got a pretty solid signature Well Tommy Lasorda once pointed out about all of the big - factors of METT TC in a given situation The commander can use these or techniques of his own choosing to abbreviate the process Figure 2 5 is an example of an abbreviated MDMP outline Figure 2 5 Example of an abbreviated MDMP outline - I had to abbreviate the brilliant ending planned for this day catered yums in a film studio ABOVE in order to snag a bus back to Union Station for the last train back to Milwaukee After - abbreviate where they live by putting the first letter of the city and adding town after In addition to lacking high IQs meatheads tend to stereotype things and people completely wrong I realize gnome has used some big words correctly so he obviously can t be that stupid which makes me wonder even more why he falls into the trap of stereotyping douchbaggery - TOOBUSY 2 Full - - 9 Permanent Address Information Fill out your permanent address and telephone number Do not abbreviate using periods the pound sign or commas - See if you can guess what these stars all have in common Too random NQ I ve decided to abbreviate the NQW for brevity s sake and I went to see In The Heights last night at the Richard - sports center Foodad pointed out this gem to me The town is Milford Massachusetts and apparently they didn t want to abbreviate Catholic I bet attendance will be high at these games - 11 healthvermont go - - from Mammoth To abbreviate four days the demo was great I had the chance to ride lots of great equipment with some good friends and make more friends in the process I love snowboarding Tuesday night we put on a party at Wave Rave in conjunction with Burton thanks for the booze You had to work in the industry to get in the door and if that was the case there were - Here s Bob mounting the 5d camera to our SUV Wait until you see the footage that he captured with this Next time you decide to abbreviate make sure you know what you are abbreviating I think it s suppose to be Assembly At least I hope - 06 10 Thursday January 7 2010 0 comments Link Blackrock Spire What name Full name and abbreviate Ordinary people likes BLACKROCK SPIRE of black rock tower abbreviation is BRS because two significance plays on cent superstratum is - 933ddc8cbc5951201d3e6f40a089bea0 JPG - Your guild title needs to be less than 20 characters If you have a long name such as Colourful Neopians Painting Plain Neopets it would be best to abbreviate it maybe to CNPPN <style > a link color 3163FF font weight bold a hover color ffffff font weight bold b color 00008B u color 0000FF i color 2E37FE header background url http img88 - Input screen buttons Videos related videos for abbreviate - Abbreviation of the Day- May 26th, 2010 With pretty music and picture. *.* The music is J-pop (ish); if you don't like it, turn the volume off. Picture link: I claim no content in this video except for my ideas. This was made for entertainment purposes only. \(^o^)/ - Jen and Mike's wedding - abbreviated This is a short version of the wedding for the ADD folks (you know who you are). Stay tuned for the director's cut - complete with out-takes. - Pokemon Colosseum Part 2. Gotta Poorly Abbreviate 'em All! Today our hero is joined by the unattractive side-kick/love interest conventially named..... Love interest...... - FOR is a beautiful way to abbreviate "Forward" (ORL:) A style of phone I was "interested in" in my youth... - Learning English - Lesson Thirty (Abbreviation) In this lesson we look at abbreviation and give some examples with a little help from Mr Steve! - Word of the Day- 'Abbreviate' Just a short film, not quite illustrating the word 'abbreviate'. Thanks to CAKE for use of their sublime 'Satan is my Motor'. - Wabic - Party in Ofallon Remix of Party in The USA Wabic - Beezy, Brizzle, Big Rick ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------ Extra Tags: wabic party in ofallon lil wayne no ceiling mixtape drake forever eminem rap music amazing song remix miley cirus brad mike rick - 2009-05-16 2 Sick Monkeys - 'Abbreviate' Live at The Pheonix, Plymouth 16th May 2009. Peirced Up Promotions Anti-Eviction Benefit Gig. - Jeffs abbreviate machine 1 This video was uploaded from an Android phone. - Tennis Serve Abbreviated Tennis serve abbreviated with continental grip - Jonathan Goldstein reads abbreviated 'Superman' short Jonathan Goldstein reads a shortened version of his 'Superman' short story in Seattle, WA on 4-13-2009. This excerpt reading was also featured on Jonathan Goldstein's CBC/NPR radio program "WireTap." - EXCEL: Month abbreviation... Abbreviate the months. - Live Love Abbreviate episode 4 beanie! haley's birfday! ovary! - Destination signs abbreviating Colorado Springs Many signs for highways show the direction of travel as well as where the highway is bound for. But the sign that meant to say "Colorado Springs" is often spelled "Colo Spgs", which could be confusing to some people. - abbreviate.avi - Abbreviate Webster - 2009-03-13 2 Sick Monkeys - 'Abbreviate' Live at The Junction, Bristol, 13th March 2008 - Abbreviation fail My teacher was trying to abbreviate cumulative review - Live Love Abbreviate episode 1 Christmas Special! Link to Jeff Pianki: Link to Misha Productions: - Let's Play MSft8J - Part 1: The Family Jewels The title of the game, "Mario's Search for the 8 Jewels" is pretty long and hard to abbreviate, but luckily Nardrummer gave me this abbreviation, and it works well. As far as the title for this one goes, it's pretty bland - there wasn't much from this segment I could remember that gave much title fodder. Anyways, this hack is pretty cool. And as promised, here is the link to the SMW Central page where you can find it: Also, fun fact: In the file names of all four of the segments I've recorded of this so far, I thought it was "8 crystals", not "8 jewels", so the abbreviations for them are all wrong. Hooray for stupidity. - Abbreviation FAIL Nothing against the Cab Association that this cab and the others of it's kind belong to but please at least learn how to abbreviate properly!! Royal Cab Ass'n = Royal Cab Association. NOT THE ROYAL CAB ASSASIN!!! as I first thought when I saw them when I moved up to DC. LAWLZ - Chapter One - Abbreviate, Autobiography, Background, Column, Omit.avi - Live Love Abbreviate episode 5 Core Values! Animal Crackers! - Fur Elise (abbreviated version) Beethoven's "Fur Elise" abbreviated version - Rams vs Hornets - Epic Battle in Tacoma - Part III - Abbreviated This weekend's game between the Rams and the Hornets. I had to abbreviate the footage to fit it on YouTube... and will re-edit to remove lead-ins - and just football. Rams wan 34-6 and will play in next weekend's championship game. Both teams did a great job - Rams were on their game, though. More footage to come... plus the Lilly & Natalie post-game hi-light show with a post-game interview with the Rams Center and Defensive End, Spencer. (Corrected from earlier footage) - NEVER ABBREVIATE YOUR NAME - Writing, Publishing & Teaching Children to Write : How to Abbreviate Properly Abbreviate properly by using standard abbreviations and following the MLA style guide. Learn more about abbreviations withtips from a writing instructor in this free video on writing. Expert: Laura Minnigerode Contact: Bio: Laura Minnigerode is a writing instructor and former classroom teacher. Filmmaker: Todd Green - 2 sick monkeys - abbreviate 2 sick monkeys at conspiracy2.. sawyers kettering 3rd october 2009 - rp pp fixture trade fixture = association abbreviate - - more shtuffff on CH (yeh i abbreviate coz i can) WOOOO sorry the light is sh*t...i was too lazy to turn my lights on and please do tell me how to printscreen on a mac :D - yes i am a loser - Do You Abbreviate In Your Text Messages? - AT&T Valentine's Day Survey Do you abbreviate in your text messages? AT&T text messagers give their take. For more information, visit - Live Love Abbreviate episode 6 Spring Break! Mexican Boyfriend! Quickfire! - Abbreviate When I speak, I'm too lazy to say the entire word.. Therefore I only say the first letter of random words. Don't h me just because I'm c. - Rachel Maddow - followup on anti-gay marriage commercial The National Organization for Marriage calls their campaign "2 Million for Marrage". They abbreviate it 2M4M. Apart from being a bad abbreviation there's also a website -- -- which is pro-gay marriage. - Do Not Abbreviate - Hook this is my band doing a cover from blues traveler called Hook. It sounds pretty good i think but what you guys think? - Me Playing Linus and Lucy Abbreviated I recorded this around Christmas time -- I played it and then made a small error so I decided to abbreviate it; I still think it came out ok. I tried to play the part played by a bass player using the left hand side during the second solo section to try to sound like the real recording. Enjoy. - ... - Live Love Abbreviate episode 3 J-Term Edition! Shout outs to the fans! - Live Love Abbreviate episode 2 Special Apperance! Speeding Ticket! Money! On Twitter twitter about abbreviate Blogs & Forum blogs and forums about abbreviate “Kopsell, Larson abatement abbreviate in playoff For the added anniversary in a row, Land O' All information provided in GTL Trading forum is for information purposes only and does not constitute a legal contract between forum and any person or entity unless otherwise specified” — GTL Trading Forum - Kopsell, Larson abatement abbreviate in, “Here's another PHP function I cannot live without - I add this into my standard PHP functions include on all projects. Often when displaying text, I am forced” — PHP trim_text() function – shorten text without cutting words, “Abbreviate version: Let's see how well Tweetshrink shrinks this tweet. Abbreviate , Twitter. Type in a relevant tag, and click the button, and help organize this blog's information” — Apathy Sketchpad " Blog Archive " Abbreviate: a text, “How to abbreviate rests on Finale 2004: Young Composers Music Forum > Technological > Finale and Sibelius Help Desk. View New Content. Sponsors. Page 1 of 1. You cannot start a new topic. You cannot reply to this” — How to abbreviate rests on Finale 2004 - Young Composers, “BLOG. FORUM. SONDAGGI. GRUPPI. CALCOLATORI. SFIDE. DOMANDE+RISPOSTE. ISCRIZIONE. Testimonianza dal Club:"La cosa di cui ho più bisogno è di potermi afterwards a abbreviate night. By: cyhugg. Umore: Mi sento un'Atleta” — afterwards a abbreviate night " Club.Miadieta.it, club.miadieta.it “Home " Blogs " uggsuk's blog. Before entering into accident acknowledgment abbreviate. Posted October 28th, 2010 by uggsuk. Today's afflicted on sale abbreviate auction to abstain foreclosure, so it is best to argue with a able for advice. uggsuk's blog. Login or register” — Before entering into accident acknowledgment abbreviate, “Back to: Blog. Abbreviate – Anti-Social URL Shortening. Posted in: Crowd Favorite, Abbreviate – Anti-Social URL Shortening | (tags:” — Abbreviate – Anti-Social URL Shortening | , “/forum/?t=1617 @Bio ah I see this old thread discusses my very state to tell newbies that they shouldn't abbreviate their high school Springfield Junior High” — Wikimapia forum: Poll: Abbreviate or Spell Out???, “Let's stop using MR as the abbreviation for Market Research' and start using MRX. Voice of Vovici Blog. Current Articles | RSS Feed. X Marks the MR Spot: Abbreviate 'Market Research' as MRX” — X Marks the MR Spot: Abbreviate 'Market Research' as MRX,
Fast BuddyPress Development Working with BuddyPress on top of WordPress is a super exciting thing, it adds a whole new dimension to the platform and really demonstrates huge potential. BuddyPress like other plugins expands on the core functionality WordPress offers. Although it is important as a freelancer or company to recognise that BuddyPress unlike other plugins adds functionality of epic proportions. This tutorial aims to show you how to demonstrate a proof of concept quickly and functionally without making any best practice cardinal sins. Introduction Over the course of this tutorial we will use a combination of PHP, jQuery and WordPress functions to extend BuddyPress far enough to demonstrate a concept. Working on member profiles we will without any recourse add a link that allows users to visit a member bookmarks area. The bookmarks area will be populated with a list of bookmarks a member has decided to save whilst browsing any BuddyPress enabled site. The scope of bookmarks which can be saved will only be applied to WordPress posts for now, however you may look to build on this further and apply it to other areas of a WordPress powered web site that produces a permalink. Step 1 The Essentials We will be building upon the bp-default theme today and creating our own child theme. Below is the structure you should have created. - style.css – Some additional styles for icons, buttons and lists (this will not be discussed). - sidebar.php – We will call our widget from here. - header.php – One modification required. - functions.php – Register scripts and a apply a filter. - _inc/img/ – A number of image files to be used. - _inc/js/bookmarks.js – jQuery and AJAX. - members/single/home.php – Some PHP logic to enable the template loader. - members/single/bookmarks/ajax.php – Used for our AJAX calls. - members/single/bookmarks/loop.php – Retrieval of bookmarks via member profiles. - members/single/bookmarks/remove.php – Deletion of bookmarks via my member profile. - members/single/bookmarks/save.php – Storage of bookmarks via my member profile. - members/single/bookmarks/view.php – Hacky bookmark template loader. - members/single/bookmarks/widget.php – Called into site sidebar.php. style.css – Within style.css we need a bare minimum amount of code to allow for theme selection via wp-admin. Let’s do that now. /* Theme Name: Bookmark theme Description: Child theme from bp-default with added support for member bookmarks. Version: 1.0 Author: WPTuts Author URI: Tags: buddypress Template: bp-default */ Tags: buddypress will notify BuddyPress that we are using a BP enabled theme. Template: bp-default will instruct BuddyPress that when this theme is active to inherit its functionality from the bp-default theme unless a theme file has been modified. Within sidebar.php we need to load the widget.php. locate_template(array('members/single/bookmarks/widget.php'), true); Step 2 functions.php – Register Script Let’s go ahead and register the bookmarks.js file, it will be required on every page from here on out. In functions.php add the following. function px_bookmark_scripts() if(!is_admin()) wp_enqueue_script( 'px-scripts-functions', get_stylesheet_directory_uri() . '/_inc/js/bookmarks.js', array('jquery'), '1.0', true ); } add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts','px_bookmark_scripts'); wp_enqueue_script accepts 5 parameters. - Handle – Give your script a name. - Source – Path to your script. - Dependencies – Which scripts will your script need to function. - Version – Version number of your script. - In footer – If false your script will be loaded with wp_head. If set to true it will load with wp_footer. Browsers of our site will be able to add or remove a WordPress post to their bookmarks by clicking an anchor which reads “Add to bookmarks” or “Remove from bookmarks” located to the bottom of each post. When either anchor is clicked we will use AJAX and make a request to a PHP script. Once executed we will update the sidebar widget. Should the browser be logged in as a member of the site they can then save any “Lists of bookmarks” which are currently stored within the session and displayed in the widget. functions.php… function px_bookmark_link() global $post; if(@in_array($post->ID, $_SESSION['bookmarks'])) : $content .= 'Remove from bookmarks'; else : $content .= 'Add to bookmarks'; endif; return $content; add_filter('the_tags', 'px_bookmark_link'); This function is called at each iteration of “the loop” by utilising add_filter and the_tags as our hook. We let WordPress know that within this function we want access to items within $wp_query and consequently $post. This will allow us to retrieve the_id, the_title and the_permalink. Some logic is applied when this code executes to determine which link to show. If the user already has the item within their current session we will show a “Remove from bookmarks” anchor and vice versa. in_array() allows us to check this. in_array() will flag notices if error_reporting has that directive, we use the @ symbol to suppress these notices (hacky). Using the data returned in $post we form two anchors for adding and removing bookmarks (all data attributes important here) to be later used with our AJAX calls in bookmarks.js. For a full reference of available filters visit the codex. Step 3 Widget – Proof of Concept Now we have our link in place let’s create the widget which will appear in the sidebar at all times and will be populated or emptied on demand. The image above reflects the final states of the widget in 3 scenarios. - No bookmarks whilst being logged in or logged out. - Bookmarks currently saved in session whilst not logged in. - Bookmarks currently saved in session whilst being logged in. The next block of code is placed within widget.php and nested within HTML markup. if($_SESSION['bookmarks']) : foreach($_SESSION['bookmarks'] as $key => $value) : $keys[] = $key; $start_count = min($keys); endforeach; endif; for($i = $start_count; $i < $start_count + count($_SESSION['bookmarks']); $i++) : if($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]) : $bookmark = get_post($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]); echo ' When building this project there was a problem with session data that kept cropping up upon output. Some values were being removed but the key was persisting. Setting a $start_count later to be used when printing the session data solved this problem. The important thing to note here is how to retrieve items from $_SESSION['bookmarks'] which will be created in the next stage. At each iteration we use get_post() to query the WordPress database with the stored integer values in $_SESSION['bookmarks']. Which will return all the human readable data we need. if(is_user_logged_in()) : // Show SAVE button else : // Show "LOGIN TO SAVE" message. endif; if($_SESSION['bookmarks']) : // Show CLEAR button endif; This final piece of logic within widget.php determines which buttons and text to show alongside the widget depending on the state of the current session and also if the user is logged in or out. Step 4 Adding Bookmarks via AJAX jQuery is awesome, here we’ll use the delegate method and listen for clicks on our important anchors. We’ll check for the following items being clicked. - Anchors with a class of add-bookmark - Anchors with a class of delete-bookmark - Anchors with a class of clear-bookmarks Using hasClass we can test which item has been clicked within the delegate method and serve the desired AJAX call. Should you be building this into a larger project please consider using a pubsub pattern. var $bookmark_widget = $('#px-bookmarks'), $bookmark_form = $('#px-bookmarks form'), $bookmark_widget_list = $('#px-bookmarks .current-bookmarks'), $empty_widget = $('#px-bookmarks p'), $widget_buttons = $('#px-bookmarks .widget-buttons'), $login_notify = $('#px-bookmarks .login-notify'), // This should be changed to reflect your domain. $ajax_path = ''; First log some variables so we are not “splashing around in the DOM” too much. All DOM selectors above are located within widget.php. $(".add-bookmark, .delete-bookmark, .clear-bookmarks").delegate(this, 'click', function(e) e.preventDefault(); ); We tell jQuery to listen for click on all of the listed classes and via the callback function we will then tell it what to do. The next portions of code to be added will be placed directly after e.preventDefault(). Using preventDefault() is a smarter way of nullifying the default action when JavaScript is present. Here is some discussion surrounding preventDefault() on Stack Overflow. The next portions of code to be added will be placed directly after e.preventDefault(). var $post_id = $(this).data('post-id'), $post_name = $(this).data('post-name'), $post_href = $(this).attr('href'), $that = $(this); Once a user has clicked any of the “important anchors” we need to store the data attribute values which were attached to anchors in Step 2. This will allow us to send and retrieve the data we want. The next code can become a little verbose as we will be showing and hiding elements based on which item has been clicked, with that pre-cursor the code below is the bare minimum which will function without aesthetics in mind. However please do download the source and look to these lines. if($that.hasClass('add-bookmark')) $.ajax( url: $ajax_path + '?method=add', type: 'GET', data: 'post_id=' + $post_id, success: function(returndata) if($bookmark_widget_list.children().length === 0) // Show / hide $bookmark_widget_list.prepend(' Here we use hasClass to distinguish which item was clicked by using jQuery to search against our clicked item. Based on the outcome we setup our AJAX call a little bit differently each time. With the url and data being requested and sent each time changing slightly. Notice ?method=add appended to $ajax_path. This is the equivalent of. When adding a bookmark to the current session the only item we need to pass to our PHP code is the id of that post which was stored into the $post_id variable. When jQuery receives a successful response we then append that item to the current bookmark list within the widget area as a list item. Using $post_id, $post_name and $post_href here. When the page is refreshed the code added to widget.php in step 3 will kick in. On line 7 of the last snippet there is a small subroutine within the success method which determines if there are any list items present within the widget area. This is the previously-mentioned-slightly-verbose code which does nothing more than show and hide some DOM elements. It has been removed for readability here on Wptuts+. Moving on… if($that.hasClass('delete-bookmark')) $.ajax( url: $ajax_path + '?method=delete', type: 'GET', data: 'post_id=' + $post_id, success: function(returndata) if($bookmark_widget_list.children().length <= 1) // Show / hide $('#bookmark-'+ $post_id).remove(); } }); } Much like if($that.hasClass('add-bookmark')) here we check for items clicked that have the class of delete-bookmark. Once this subroutine has been entered the url in the AJAX call is altered slightly by sending over a different query string. Namely ?method=delete. When a successful response is returned we remove that list item from the current bookmarks stored within the widget. Applying some logic in the same fashion as the add-bookmark subroutine to determine if the item removed is going to be the final item. Based on this outcome here DOM elements are again shown or hidden. if($that.hasClass('clear-bookmarks')) $.ajax( url: $ajax_path + '?method=clear', success: function(returndata) // Show / hide $('.postmetadata .delete-bookmark').each(function(index) // Bookmark list cleared, set anchors attached to posts to default. $(this).removeClass().addClass('add-bookmark').html('Add to bookmarks'); ); } }); } The final code snippet here is used to clear all bookmarks within the widget by setting the url query string to a different method and resetting any anchors on the page to the default "Add to bookmarks" to reflect an empty $_SESSION. This is done by utilising jQuery's each method to find all occurrences of the class delete-bookmark (anchor attached to posts using add_filter) and switching it back to the default add-bookmark. Step 5 PHP Requested via AJAX Now we will create the PHP code referenced in the AJAX calls above which will be used to add, delete and clear all bookmarks from the session. Within ajax.php we will create the following 3 functions. add_bookmark() delete_bookmark() clear_bookmarks() Let's first create add_bookmark() function add_bookmark() $post_id = $_GET['post_id']; if(@!in_array($post_id, $_SESSION['bookmarks'])) : $_SESSION['bookmarks'][] = $post_id; endif; First we store the $post_id previously passed over in bookmarks.js via data: 'post_id=' + $post_id. Next we use the in_array function again to determine if this item should be added to the bookmarks session. function delete_bookmark() $post_id = $_GET['post_id']; foreach($_SESSION['bookmarks'] as $key => $value) : $keys[] = $key; endforeach; $start_count = min($keys); if(@in_array($post_id, $_SESSION['bookmarks'])) : for($i = $start_count; $i < $start_count + count($_SESSION['bookmarks']); $i++) : if($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i] === $post_id) : unset($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]); endif; endfor; endif; Within the delete_bookmark() function we again store the $post_id. Using the same technique to output our bookmarks in widget.php a $start_count is established. Next we determine if the item passed ( $post_id) exists within the bookmarks session via in_array, and unset any values that are matched. function clear_bookmark() session_start(); session_unset(); session_destroy(); Finally the clear_bookmark() function destroys all session data. We will need one more piece of code for this file to be complete. Head to the top of the file and add the following. session_start(); $method = $_GET['method']; switch($method) case "add" : add_bookmark(); break; case "delete" : delete_bookmark(); break; case "clear" : clear_bookmark(); break; We use session_start() to resume the current session. This is crucial here. Next we store the method which is sent over with url in our $.ajax calls. Based on the current value of $method we call the appropriate function. Step 6 Bookmarks on Members Profiles The files we will be dealing with for the remainder of this tutorial are listed below. - members/single/home.php – This file is a modified version of bp-default/members/single/home.php. - members/single/bookmarks/loop.php – Used to retrieve any previously saved member bookmark lists. - members/single/bookmarks/remove.php – Used to delete any saved bookmark lists. - members/single/bookmarks/save.php – Used to save any bookmark lists stored within the current session. - members/single/bookmarks/view.php – Used as a makeshift template loader. Inside home.php we will add a list item to the unordered list within the div with an id of item-nav. Using the $bp global we can quickly form the URL required. global $bp; echo ' This is one of smaller sins we make along the road to demonstrate proof of concept. However to re-iterate proof-of-concept and speedy development is the important factor here. Should we decide to expand this feature more we would look to using BuddyPress hooks. if($_GET['component'] == 'bookmarks') : locate_template(array('members/single/bookmarks/view.php'), true); Still within home.php we check against the query string which will allow us to serve custom templates. if(!$_GET['action']) : locate_template(array( 'members/single/bookmarks/loop.php'), true); elseif($_GET['action'] == 'save' && is_user_logged_in() && bp_is_home()) : locate_template(array( 'members/single/bookmarks/save.php'), true); elseif($_GET['action'] == 'remove' && is_user_logged_in() && bp_is_home()) : locate_template(array( 'members/single/bookmarks/remove.php' ), true); endif; Within view.php (our make-shift template loader) we check for 2 actions and if none has been defined we show the list of saved bookmarks. Back in step 3 some logic was added to determine which anchors to show within the widget based on the current state of $_SESSION['bookmarks'] and whether or not the user was logged in. Let's create a small table in the database which will be used to store a list of bookmarks which correspond to each member. DROP TABLE IF EXISTS `bookmarks`; CREATE TABLE `bookmarks` ( `id` int(11) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT, `user_id` int(11) NOT NULL, `created` date NOT NULL, `post_ids` text NOT NULL, `list_name` text NOT NULL, PRIMARY KEY (`id`) ) The MySQL above will create a new table with 5 fields for us to store bookmark data. Once created it's time to move into save.php. Whilst the user is accessing save.php we will present a form with a text input, here the user will be required to give a label to the list of bookmarks he or she would like to save. Once a label has been provided we will store each bookmark list as a row within the database (for later retrieval) and clear the current session. if(!$_POST['px-bookmark-list-name']) : // Present form asking to give list a name // Stage 1 elseif($_POST['px-bookmark-list-name']) : // Label supplied store to database. // Stage 2 endif; Now within stage 1 of save.php... // If form submitted but no label supplied present error. if($_POST['submit'] && !isset($_POST['px-bookmark-list-name'])) : echo ' A label is required.'; endif; // Establish the start counter if($_SESSION['bookmarks']) : foreach($_SESSION['bookmarks'] as $key => $value) : $keys[] = $key; endforeach; $start_count = min($keys); endif; // Loop over items and store in hidden form fields. for($i = $start_count; $i < $start_count + count($_SESSION['bookmarks']); $i++) : if($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i] !== NULL) : $bookmark = get_post($_SESSION['bookmarks'][$i]); echo ''; echo ''; echo ''; echo ''; endif; endfor; First we display an error if no label has been supplied. Next we use the same technique from widget.php and ajax.php to establish a start counter and iterate over the session data. Finally we output some form fields with the help of get_post. global $bp; foreach($_POST['px-post-id'] as $value) : $posts_to_save[] = $value; endforeach; $posts = serialize($posts_to_save); During stage 2 of save.php we gain access to the $bp global. We loop over the $_POST data and store posts to be saved as an array. This is then serialized and stored into the $posts variable. $list_name = $_POST['px-bookmark-list-name']; $query = $wpdb->insert( 'bookmarks', array( 'user_id' => $bp->loggedin_user->id, 'created' => current_time('mysql'), 'post_ids' => $posts, 'list_name' => $list_name ), array( '%d', // user_id '%s', // created '%s', // post_ids '%s' // list_name ) ); Next we store the label supplied by the user for this bookmark list into a variable and utilise WPDB to insert the row to the database. if($query) : echo ''; echo ''; session_start(); session_unset(); session_destroy(); else : echo ' List saved.'; echo ''; echo ''; endif; There was an error.'; echo ' Finally we check if the query was successful and unset session data, otherwise display an error. Step 7 Retrieving and Deleting Bookmarks Remember, in view.php when no particular action is set we will load loop.php. In this file $wpdb will be used to retrieve and output any bookmarks lists. global $bp; $displayed_user = $bp->displayed_user->id; $bookmark_lists = $wpdb->get_results( "SELECT * FROM bookmarks WHERE user_id = $displayed_user ORDER BY id DESC"); Using the $bp global the id of the profile being displayed is stored into the $displayed_user variable. Next we perform a query against the bookmarks table with the stored $displayed_user as a where condition. if($bookmark_lists) : foreach($bookmark_lists as $bookmark_list) : echo $bookmark_list->list_name; $post_ids = unserialize($bookmark_list->post_ids); foreach($post_ids as $post_id) : $bookmark = get_post($post_id); echo ''.$bookmark->post_title.''; endforeach; endforeach; endif; When results are returned they are displayed by looping over the data and outputting accordingly. Here we make use of unserialize to reverse the effects of serialize which was used to store bookmarks previously. We can make one more addition to the previous block of code. if(is_user_logged_in() && bp_is_home()) : echo 'Delete list'; endif; This will add an anchor to the title of each list which when clicked will pass a new action of remove along with the bookmark list id. Which leads us to our final stage... Deleting a bookmark list. Open up remove.php and let's finish this off. if(isset($_GET['action']) == 'remove' && isset($_GET['id'])) : $list_id = $_GET['id']; global $bp; $user_id = $bp->loggedin_user->id; $query = $wpdb->query("DELETE FROM bookmarks WHERE id = $list_id AND user_id = $user_id"); if($query) : echo ''; echo ''; else : echo ' List deleted.'; echo ''; echo ''; endif; endif; There was an error.'; echo ' First we make sure the action is set to remove and there is an id to build a small query with. Next we store some user data and run the query. Users should only be able to delete lists that belong to them, using $bp->loggedin_user->id helps us achieve this. Finally we serve a message depending on the outcome. Conclusion Over the course of this tutorial a number of techniques have been applied. Using jQuery, raw PHP, WordPress conventions and BuddyPress we have been able to illustrate a nice feature to be added to your social network site powered by WordPress and BuddyPress. Out of the box BuddyPress does not come with a bookmarks manager attached to member profiles and there isn't a plugin out there that functions exactly like this. A bookmarks manager is one example but this could be anything. The main goal of this tutorial was to illustrate how quickly and effectively you can hi-jack BuddyPress to demonstrate proof of concept. With some know-how this could be put together in an evening with little trouble at all. The time commitment is tangible and could be factored into a monthly maintenance contract. However if a client desired more features from the bookmarks manager such as a dashboard widget and more in-depth features you would be stepping into the realms of a plugin. Data has not been sanitised in this tutorial so please make sure if you are to place this into a "real world" environment, go through a little bit of validation before-hand. I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial and any discrepancies you may find please do leave a comment and will do my best to help you through it. Original from: Recent Comments
PREVIEW - Share it: - Tweet So we were surprised to hear Ubisoft's Ben Mattes note his preference for Prince of Persia on Wii about a month ago, when he said in a 1UP interview, "I've spent a lot of time playing [Prince of Persia] games over the last few years, and Rival Swords for the Wii is by far my favorite." Now that we've had a chance to spend a few hours with the game, we've found controls that are in some ways better and some ways worse than what we're accustomed to from the series -- and in some ways exactly the same. The movement controls, for instance -- for things like running around, climbing, jumping, and wall running -- use the Wii's analog stick and A, B, C and Z buttons, and all that works just like it does in other versions of the game. The "better" comes with triggering context specific maneuvers. When you sneak up behind someone to perform a stealth kill, it feels fantastic to flick your wrist and perform each of the individual hits that make up that kill. Similarly, when you have to do things like stick your knife into a point on the wall to hold yourself there, it's simply more fun to flick the Wii Remote than it is to push a button.. Combat is where things start to falter. Like Zelda, you flick your wrist in any direction with the Remote to attack, and repeated flicks (along with combination movements with the Nunchuck) allow you to perform combos, throws, and all your fancy attacks. As it has been throughout the series, combat in the game is a bit clumsy, so when you combine the lack of precision in the combat engine with the downgrade in precision you get by moving the Wii Remote to trigger your attack animations, it all feels a bit loose. That noted, in our time with the game, not once did we die as a result of poor combat execution, so it doesn't seem like the change is a major flaw -- at least early in the game -- but it definitely presents a significant change. The rest of the game, of course, does not, as this is a feature-for-feature port of Two Thrones with the same graphics and same everything, simply retiled Rival Swords for Wii. And that more than anything else is the trickiest selling point for the game. Since you can now pick up the GameCube version of Two Thrones cheap and play it on Wii, Rival Swords is a very tough sell at full price. Whether this version is better than the GameCube game -- apart from the price -- is a difficult call at this point. It's close, which we had our doubts about before playing it, and at least we can say with certainty that the game is still worth playing. This isn't the kind of game you bought your Wii for, but if you missed out on Two Thrones back in 2005 and want to try it now in a way that feels new, Rival Swords seems like a decent option. It's just a question of if what was worth $50 in 2005 is still worth that now. See all Prince of Persia: Rival Swords Previews > I dunnoPosted: Apr 27, 2007 12:00AM PST by thegamerfromhell777 Hmmmm I am not sure bout this one......BTW whats with the extreme cussing below?? Fuck UbisoftPosted: Mar 12, 2007 12:00AM PST by Bullet_Math Motherfucking shit merchants. These dicks ahave been nothign but a dissapointment on the Wii and its time that there licenses were revoked. Lets see how well they do on the PSP the fucking dicks An Interesting ExperimentPosted: Mar 06, 2007 12:00AM PST by Nintendoll I think it's an interesting idea to port from an older to a next-gen, however if that's the case I dont' think it should have the same selling price as say, Legend of Zelda, Rayman, Red Steel, etc.I personally haven't played the 'Cube version so I'll probably be getting it. Used, and with my employee discount. PricePosted: Mar 05, 2007 12:00AM PST by m3ds I was actually thinking of buying this game. I had never had a chance to play it on the cube, and this looked like a good way to do it, but as this interview pointed out the price is scaring me off. I might just go pick it up cheap for gamecube. I neverPosted: Mar 02, 2007 12:00AM PST by wii_man12 played the original so I don't really care if it is a remake. But I think they just did this to see if the controls could work on wii and if they can they will probably have the next POP simultaneously released with the other versions or a built from the ground up version just for the wii. I'll tell you!Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by darrinA IT'S NOT WORTH IT! Wii owners unite! Don't buy recycled crap. Anything that is also coming to PS2/PSP = garbage. Wii want games like No More Heroes, and um, Dragon Quest Swords? Wii'll get some good games eventually. Lest we forget, Smash Bros! So who cares! sounds cool but bewarePosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by extremegamer22 Prince of Persia is an amazing game and the wii controlls will probaly make it better more difficult and interesting but Farcry vengence looked like an amazing game but made the player want to kill him self because of the peice of crap port it made and the game felt dumbed down hopefuly ubisoft does not do the same for prnce of persia just because it looks kiddy dont dumb down the games Anybody know?Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by hakengaken Anybody know if this is 16x9 and progressive scan? Just wonderin'. Looks goodPosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by im_a_wiiner! As much as I'd like to hat a port like this, I'll have to admit that it does show how games can be adapted for the Wii...maybe some better 3rd party support will follow. i'm def. getting this game. Who wants to bet....Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by smuj That when 1up reviews this game they will say the camera control is broken while they say that part of the game is great in this preview. Also who wants to bet whoever reviews the game will probably suck at it. I don't care about PoP and won't buy it but am just ranting about 1up pointless fluff previews, if it's gonna suck say it now not 2 days after the game comes out. Say it to your audience and the developers so maybe some games won't suck. 1up just like all other game sites and magazines with their shining previews then reviews that say the exact opposite are one of the biggest problems with the game industry. They get gamers all hyped up about a game saying it's so great then when they review a game after you bought it on their hype they do a 180. FUCKING UNETHICAL! as for rival swordsPosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 i think it's kinda sneaky that UBI gave a new title to an old game. some customers who aren't in the know might be fooled by this. This game should be sold at a discount price of $30. I think that would be a lot more fair. NogarPosted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 I think you've got it backwards. Sony promised that the "next gen" WOULD NOT begin until the ps3 arrived on the scene. It promised better graphics than the 360 and a FULLY backwards compatible console. Nintendo, on the other hand, delivered exactly what they promised...a new way to play that would appeal to a broader audience...and sure as hell...they delivered...and then some. If it wasn't a remake of Two Thrones...Posted: Mar 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by jaredgood1 I'd be excited. The abomination that was Warrior Within killed the franchise for me for that system generation. I don't care how good Two Thrones was (and Rival Swords might be), UBI screwed things up with WW and that generation of POP titles is done for me. I'll pop in Sands of Time and wait for a new POP. This game is exactly what wii needsPosted: Feb 16, 2007 12:00AM PST by cruzer2727 this should be awesome! i wish okami was on wii and god of war....o well.. "THE WII BITCH"Posted: Feb 07, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey I dont care that the Wii dosn't appeal to everyone. I just saying Nogar why come to this page if you hate Wii. Hey hey hey, children.Posted: Feb 01, 2007 12:00AM PST by Evilpenguin556 Now now now, lets settle this dispute. Your BOTH retarded. Sony fan- get out of your ivory tower and see that the wii simply appeals to more people with its "new way to play". Nintendo Fan- You must accept that not everyone likes the wii. Some people simply find beautiful graphics more appealing than weird controls. SpamPosted: Jan 30, 2007 12:00AM PST by sol_cross_andrew ban me ban me penis monkey cockfucker Makavelli45Posted: Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM PST by n0gar Well, even if both systems sold out, the Wii would have won by the fact that they had more systems! Let's not act like you don't know this. The Wii is not kicking the 360's butt. Also, I keep thinking that you Nintendo people used to say that you are not competing with MS or Sony, so why do you keep talking about them? Nintendo had their time and now they hate Sony ONLY because they were #1. Nintendo needs to give the people what they want, not what THEY want you to have. The WII BITCHPosted: Jan 28, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey nogar your right the PS3/360 may be more "high tech" but who is beating the PS3 right now, yea thats right a little "outdated"console called the WII. The Wii BicthPosted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey nogar first off im not a faggot second off why the hell are you on this Big N page GET THE HELL OFF YOU RACIST!!!!!!!!!! Prince on the Wii:)Posted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by MOST_OF_THE_TIME This game is going to be really cool on the Wii:) I wonder how they'll utilize the Nunchuckus as well as the other controller to do all the the acrobatics:) This is going to Rock!!:) what the hell is wrong with you people....Posted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by apocalypce_3 whats wrong with the wqii. its actually pretty fun if you play but i just got a 360 cause i couldnt afford the ps3 and i got tired of waiting for the wii to come out but anyways you dont have to dis the system just becuase you dont like it. you guys are worst then children. The Wii BitchPosted: Jan 26, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 You guys are right 1up is not the site to call someone a foggot. I will step up and be the better human being. Oh yea and Nogar dont come to a Nintendo page and talk shit bitch. ddeghughfuhsPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by xbxakadscmltr360SUX 360s suck PS3s rock I Have prove find some reviews for fight night round 3 for PS3. In the review i read it said "Visually smokes every other version of the game" i know they made this game for 360 cause its at my local video store.And 360s are just the same crap as the original. They're exactly the same no new stuff. Wiis rock compared to 360s cause they have new stuff and nintendo is supposed to be getting more games.And the game sounds fun. Ive only played demos of old ones but they were fairly fun games. LOLPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by Ridl3y Are you serious? You bring down the wii because of its graphics? I like the 360, but I have seen a ps3, my friend has one. not only were the graphics nowhere near what they hyped it up to be, infact they were terrible. but the games are retarded too. =) The Wii BitchPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by Makavelli45 Hey nogar you bitch ass loser what the hell is your promble the wii kicks serious ass you stupid Nintendo hater. Why come to this page if all your going to do is spit venom about it you faggot. HeyPosted: Jan 25, 2007 12:00AM PST by n0gar I played the Wii in the store. It was ok, but got boring fast. The bullshit graphics hooked up to an HDTV revealed it's Wiikness. This system sucks. Only a woman, child, new jack or gay person would buy a Wii. Real players buy a 360 or even a PS3(overpriced). RE: Poutineman (Poutine is nasty)Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by n0gar My point for all of those Nintendo paid hype men, was that an offering like this and mostly all Wii games shows that publishers just put whatever out on the Wii because the system is a bullshit system that must have because it can only produce bullshit games. When a publisher does this, they are saying "fuck a Wii." If I were a publisher, I would put out a Wii game just to say that I did it and see what happens. I know that I would be more into systems that can allow me to do more as opposed to doing what was done last time around. Also, 1up, when are you going to put the 360 in the first slot for your platforms at the top of the page? The PS2 reign is last generation. The 360 reign is now. Let's show the world that you are not on the take. Noga...Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by zeldy14 I agree with everything else anbody but your hater ass says the wii hardware is obviously not repackaged anybody who has seen sonic or metroid on it would agree with me, and the controller beats the sh*t out of the ps3s overpriced motion controller, with no rumble n0garPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 repackaged system? The wiimote is a pretty fundamental difference. If you ask me, sony is repackaging the same old system, but with better graphics (which are inevitable in the gaming industry). YEAH EVEN SONY SHOULD RESIGNPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by RAHGAHTON@ WITH THEIR OVERPRICED PS2 YEAH RIGHT HOW FAR HAVE THEY REALLY ADVANCED WITH PS3 WELL LET ME TELL YOU IT MAKES A GOOD COMFORTABLE SEAT WHEN PLAYING YOUR WII HA HA REALLY L . O . L ITS IS THIS REALLY WHAT PS3 IS 600 WORTH IT IS NOT THATS FOR SURE. Whats up with that??Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by marksquires78 I'd rather wait a year or so for an original Prince of Persia for the Wii instead of a port from the last gen consoles. I'm sure the Wii-mote will add some thrills to the experience, but I really didn't want to see Dark Prince again in my PoP experience. That bloody depleting health crap needs to go. But it is an exciting time for the Wii it seems. Third party support is starting to come into effect and I have a feeling that this Nintendo console will have many more games to play than the old Gamecube. Woo hoo!! anyone who buys this deserves to be shotPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by Bullet_Math The GC version is dirt cheap right now and isn't a port of a GC game with less content. Ubisoft need to step their game up or stop developing for the Wii. So far we've seen nothing but crap Interested, yes, but sad tooPosted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by Ultima9999 I never played a 3D PoP. I hear they are all good, and really wanted to play them, but never got a chance. The jury is still out on this for me but if the controls pan out I can see myself picking this up. The sad part is that I love Ubisoft and while I am glad they are showing Wii support, I am a little concerned with the lack of original IPs for it. I mean is Ray Man really the best Ubisoft game to grace this new console? Red Steel was rank with a rushed production, buggy control, unpolished graphics and horrid AI, but at least it was something new and intriuging. PoP series sold a bunch of copies for the last gen consoles, I don't see this being a super hit. But it doesn't mean it wont be good....if they nail the controls. It seems that Ubisoft is still feeling out the Wii, but I don't know how long gamers can take these rehased ports until they abandon ship. ehh. . .remake for wii?Posted: Jan 24, 2007 12:00AM PST by ghanja_spawnX im sure the new Wii based controls are intuitive and add a nice new layer of depth to the game. And its nice to see a game like PoP get a little attention and retooling and get a port to a great system like Wii. But considering I've already played it, I'd really rather play a new game. Especially on Wii. I rather pitty the team that worked on this one. Like I said, I'm sure the new controls are great, but they have to realize that the gaming community is an unforgiving lot and will not care how nice the controls are. It's still the same game. Surely a small percentage will get the game on that basis, as well as a new install base that never played it. But bottom line is its a game most of us already played. Most of us will pass this one over, we want Assassins Creed. gay..Posted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by Gutarman2355 oh wow..a psp port.. i thought the Wii is getting a new PoP but i guess now. Seems like a good way to revisit the Two Thrones.Posted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by Keefman -X- But I would prefer a true follow-up. On a completely unrelated note, I find that interviews with Ubisoft people usually aren't that exciting - they tend to read like the back of a game box. Just a personal observation. mehPosted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by coldplaysux19 it looks kinda cool. I've never really gotten into PoP but this could be a good rental. Bust-a-Move Bash is where it's at though. can't wait Too much POP and too late to the partyPosted: Jan 23, 2007 12:00AM PST by Hexpane POP has been a sales flop since it hit the PS2/XBOX Not a bad game its just that no one cares. not sure what it is for everyone else but for me the Puffy pants persian just isnt a character I care about or want to play as. Then again the disney movie aladin was a huge hit, although I hated that as well) Vitals - Game: - Prince of Persia: Rival Swords - Platforms: - Wii, PSP - Genre: - Adventure - Publisher: - Ubisoft - Developer: - Ubisoft Montreal - ESRB Rating: - Rating Pending - Release Date: - 04/03/2007 - Also Known As: - N/A 1UP Editor Score: C+ Average Community Score: NA More Prince of Persia Games Prince of Persia ( XBOX 360 | NintendoDS | PC | PS3 ) Release Date: December 15, 2008 Prince of Persia Classic ( XBOX 360 | PS3 ) Release Date: June 13, 2007 Prince of Persia: Rival Swords ( Wii | PSP ) Release Date: April 03,
I have this thing where I love to have my Christmas cards ready to send out the day after Thanksgiving. I love addressing the envelopes with a Sharpie finepoint, and I love putting them into the mailbox separated by city and state (I totally do). I'm even earlier this year- Tiny Prints again blessed me by letting me design our cards for the upcoming holidays. (See our last year's card). They also have new Flip greeting cards and Circular Ornament cards. I looked and looked until I found exactly what I wanted. Do you like what I chose? It makes my heart swell. I took the photo but my beautiful friend Mishelle Lane fancied it up for me. I am so thankful for kindness and goodness. We even put a little trademark-y logo on the back, and got address labels to match. And every time I order Tiny Prints I always use the live chat feature- I ask lots of questions- even silly stuff like, I like this card but I want it for a horizontal photo, what do you suggest... etc, and I have gotten immediate assistance every single time. Lulu says "that's me!" WIN! Tiny Prints is offering a $50 gift certificate to one reader here. Open to entries in US and Canada. Check out Tiny Prints and leave a comment here to enter. Let me know what you might get with your gift certificate- baby announcement? See a holiday card that you fall in love with (like I did?) Or any comment will do- nothing is really required to enter except be sure there is a way for me to get in contact with you if you win. Extra entries: follow me on twitter, follow @tinyprints on twitter like tiny prints on facebook Fine print: Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry. I will choose one comment at random after 11:59pm next Tuesdsay 11/16. Tiny Prints provided my cards and labels, as well as the $50 gift certificate. I happen to have another giveaway this week- $200 Modern Bird gift certificate. Enter here. I've never ordered from Tiny Prints, but I've always wanted to! I love Tiny Prints!! Great giveaway. [email protected] I'm not the only one who loves Christmas cards! Sometimes it seems like I am. I love sending them and receiving them. And these? Marvelous! Nell Definitely would get Christmas cards. We're having family photos made tomorrow! ~Ashley Oh my gosh! I LOVE tiny prints and I LOVE That photo! [email protected] I "like" Tiny prints on FB :) I'm subscribed via reader [email protected] Oh, I would totally get a Christmas Card for our family - my new DSLR just arrived on Tuesday, so I'm super excited about this year's picture! I LOVE your card. I love holiday cards...seems like a lot of people don't send them anymore, but I always do. I like receiving them and watching my little card holder fill up too! I follow you on twitter, I'm @posielove And I follow you on Twitter. When I get on :) Last year - for the first time, I was too overwhelmed to do Christmas cards. And I would like to do them again this year....would totally use this for Christmas cards. I follow you through my google reader. And email. Which is probably redundant, but oh well... ;) Oh gosh, I love Tiny Prints. Since I'm a design student I am constantly drooling over their cards. I'd love to win so I can drool over them in person. :) I love that DwellStudio has partnered with TinyPrints, too. :) Your Christmas card is beautiful Steph! I would love to get Christmas photo cards this year. Last year we did a newsletter through Publisher and just sent them out through email to save money. Holiday Cards...any one of about 37 designs that I love. Love love love. I was so happy to help you out. I just loved that photo so much! Not as much as I love you, though. I love all of the folded holiday photo cards. I can't decide which to use but I would probably swoon if I won a gift certificate. I just ordered my birth announcements from them! I can't wait to order our christmas cards from them. They have so many cute ones that I can't decide which one I would choose. I would love Xmas cards! I follow you on twitter! I love cards so much I save every invitation and Christmas cards. Would love to order some nice Christmas cards or just some really pretty anytime cards. Love your design! I follow tiny prints on twitter! I "liked" tiny prints on FB! I had never been to their website but now I like what I see. I would love to have the "Be Blessed" card for our family! @themamazine I follow you on twitter! @themamazine definitely a christmas card....so many great ones! I love these cards! I know exactly what picture to use too!!! So exciting! I "liked" Tiny Prints on Facebook! Your card's are beautiful - I'll take 50 (though I suppose it would seem funny to send out cards with someone elses' picture on them.) Or maybe baby announcements this spring? No, definitely Christmas cards. The Be Blessed is beautiful but I suppose it would depend on what photo I chose first... jennifer @ beautifulcalling.ca I chose that exact card last year! Loved it! i'd order more Christmas cards with that $50! [email protected] I follow you on twitter! [email protected] I follow tinyprints on twitter! [email protected] I liked tinyprints on fb! [email protected] Oh, I totally want this! We used Tiny Prints for my first baby's birth announcements, and loved the quality of them! Now I'm a much better photographer (16 months of practice!), so I know the announcements for Baby #2 (Due in April) will be so much better! Now following Tiny Prints on twitter! @themamazine I subscribe to you via email and google reader. : ) I LOVE tiny prints. Definitely would save the GC for baby's first birthday party invites!! I ordered birth announcements from tinyprints once. They were so cute. I love your, my favorite part is the pic on the back. So sweet. I like fashionable flakes. I liked tiny prints on facebook. I followed you on twitter. I subscribe to you via google reader. And I now follow tiny prints on twitter. thanks! I'm following babysteph on Twitter. I'm also following Tiny Prints on twitter. Okay, now I feel uber-creeper. I like tiny prints on facebook now! @themamazine I love Tiny Prints! Christmas cards, ahoy! I follow you on Twitter! I like Tiny Prints on Facebook! I subscribe to your RSS feed! Christmas cards, for sure. Your photo is darling--wish I could get one like that of my Fab Four! I'm a feed subscriber. I hope I win! So fun! I love what you chose. Your photography is so moving! I love Tiny Prints! Thanks for the giveaway! I love Tiny Prints! I would so get Birthday Cards Made for my dear Hannah's next birthday! [email protected] Cool! I really like the Nostalgic cutout xmas cards! [email protected] I love your family photo. :) This post has been a great reminder for me to get started on my Christmas cards and I just sent an e-mail to my favorite photographer to schedule our photo shoot. The Tiny Print cards are amazing (I especially loved Beth's birth announcement) and I plan on ordering the Striking Band in Black cards as soon as I get my photos. :) I'm also subscribed via reader at jenniferciraolo-at-gmail-dot-com. And I follow you on Twitter - @sweetpearoses. :) Baby announcement all the way! I was SO overwhelmed with a colic baby the 1st time that announcements never even entered my mind. Because I could hear her. Quite. Clearly. Then a seizure for her on day 5. Here's to hoping there's less drama with baby #2! (And some serious coffee/wine reserves!) I would get holiday cards made. The only problem would be picking which design! I subscribe in Google Reader I follow you on twitter. Oh I love tiny prints! I'm trying to find a great Christmas/birth announcement that I can send out for our baby girl who's coming on December 15th! stefanielritz at gmail dot com I follow you on twitter! @StefSays stefanielritz at gmail dot com I follow tinyprints on twitter @StefSays I "like" tinyprints on facebook stefanielritz at gmail dot com I subscribe to your blog via google reader. stefanielritz at gmail dot com I would use it for Christmas cards...got some stuff to share this Christmas! Wow it looks lovely! I found out about tiny prints last year, but never got around to ordering anything, but I should this year! I like the Refined Reindeer card or the Heritage Holiday one. I Like Tiny Prints on FB :-) I would love a Tiny Prints gift certificate! We just made a huge move and it would be great to send out Christmas/Change of Address cards (something, that with such a major life change, we won't be able to afford this year!) Thank you! I already got my Christmas card so I would probably make little Valentines in February. :) I love Tiny Prints! I love what you chose, Steph! Your photos are gorgeous. And I love carefully writing out each address with a fine tip Sharpie too! I've never ordered from Tiny Prints, but I do love their cards. I think I'd choose Christmas cards. Or maybe announcements . . . you know, for sometime in the future ;) Your card is fantastic! I intend on ordering the joyful ornament holiday cards. I am all over their ornament cards! What a great idea. I follow you on Twitter! I follow Tiny Prints on Twitter! I like Tiny prints on Facebook! And I subscribe to your Feed! I am just starting to think about Christmas cards, so this is perfect timing. I really like the yuletide frames design. Your card looks great! I can't believe it's already time to think about Christmas cards! YIKES! Good thing you've reminded me...and thank God for Tiny Prints! I'm totally loving the Peaceful Woods print. Goes well with my new love of cutesy birds. THANK YOU for the entry, Stephanie! I just "liked" Tiny Prints on Facebook! Oh Steph...my heart. I have used Tiny Prints for the last two years and absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE them. LOVE. Anyway, I hope, hope, hope I win this as I'd really like to use them again! :D {I'm inspired to buy a Sharpie fine-tip marker. :D) I follow you on Twitter. {vanster} I also follow Tiny Prints on Twitter. I "like" Tiny Prints on Facebook. And I follow your blog via Google Reader. :) *crosses fingers* Hope I win! :D We've never done a photo card, just sent a photo along. It would be great to give it a shot! (get it?) :) Heather And I follow you in my google reader! Thanks, Heather I would totally do Christmas cards. I usually do my own but I haven't been feeling very creative lately!! I subscribe via Google Reader I'd probably go for Christmas cards, but I *might* hold off for post-Christmas birthday invitations instead! Tiny Prints has sooooooo many cute designs. :) I would totally get my christmas cards there! So many cute options! i could spend hours playing around! I would get the Christmas cards! [email protected] I liked Tiny Prints on FB! [email protected] and I follow you with Reader! [email protected] I LOVE the be blessed holiday card, so simple and lots of room for a great picture! What a fab giveaway! I absolutely love Tiny Prints. I would order my holiday cards with this great giveaway. I "like" Tiny Prints on FB your card is adorable! I would definitely order Christmas cards! I've been wanting to get Tiny Prints Christmas cards for a while, but haven't gotten around to it yet.... Thanks for the chance to win! I already follow you on Twitter, does that count for another entry? :-) ....AND I already follow your blog in my google reader... ...AND I've "liked" Tiny Prints on FB... ...AND, lastly, I'm now following them on Twitter. :-D Thanks again! Liked Tiny Prints on Facebook following you on google reader following tiny prints on twitter I would love to get some Christmas cards from there! I plan to send some out, but I'm still looking at designs. abbey with an e at gmail dot com I'd love to win! I've been seriously thinking about sending out cards this year. Great Christmas cards! My plan is to get ours printed early this year too. I like the Holiday words:Ivy design. [email protected] I love the Happy Everything card. So many amazing designs to choose from! I need to order some Christmas cards. Yay for you already having yours done. I think I would pick your exact design! bekahleger at gmail dot com i'd use it for the perfect christmas cards! thanks for the opportunity to win!! i 'liked' tiny prints on facebook! Oh gosh, the photo you chose for your cards is WONDERFUL! I'd LOVE to win this little giveaway -- such wonderful cards. [email protected] It turned out perfect! Love it. I've used them for birth announcements but never for Christmas. I need to check them out. So far Tiny Prints is the only place I have found that has a card in the style I want. See, I want a card with 8 photos on it, in the style of the Brady Bunch, because we have six kids--three boys and three girls and it would just be so cute. But I can't afford to buy them because of how many we send out. So I really hope I win. Love your cards. too cute! I'd definitely go for Christmas cards. Maybe the blessed on (haven't picked a picture yet). kjhall at nd dot alumni dot edu I follow you on twitter. kjhall at nd dot alumni dot edu Oooh I love your cards! I'd love to get some great Christmas cards :) I already follow you on twitter :) (@meagansandberg) I followed tiny prints on twitter too :) I would get holiday/second birthday cards for my daughter. Her birthday is 3 days before christmas. christy at jinxyisms dot com those look wonderful. i'd definitely use them for a baby announcement! I'm subscribed via reader, as well. I also follow you on twitter! (lyndzilla) would love to win!!! we just got our photos taken & I love the different cards tiny prints offers! i subscribe to your blog via google reader i like tiny prints on fb I would get birth announcements for my nephew who will be here soon! I'd let his mother pick the style of course, but one day, that will be my job! ;) -Lauren We used Tiny Prints for our daughters announcements and they came out beautifully. We definitely plan to order our Christmas cards through them. This GC would come in handy! love, love, love your card and the JOY card in black is so nice as well. But so many choices, I see us spending sometime working through the different styles. I follow you on Twitter I subscribed to your blog in my reader Love Tiny Prints...I'd get Christmas cards done with our family pic:) This comment has been removed by the author. would love to use this for Christmas cards this year. i follow your blog on google reader! I love what I've seen from Tiny Prints. I hope I win! megseven AT yahoo I keep creating and saving different designs for my Christmas cards. How would I ever choose which ones to actually get if I win? You have amazing taste.... that is the same style I used last year. Loved it! Hoping to get a good picture for this year over the weekend so I can make this year's cards using Tiny Prints again. How does one choose?!? I love the checkerboard chic Christmas card. I'm always looking for a card where I can use multiple photos, since it's so rare to get one that showcases all 6 of us well. Whether I win or not, that site is bookmarked for shopping. (I wish my Christmas cards were ready. That's a great tradition you have there.) I also follow you on Twitter. :-) And now I follow Tiny Prints. With enthusiasm. i never do christmas cards because i am too disorganized. it's kind of sad. your cards are beautiful. and i love that you call ivy lulu. my mom used to call me that. and lee-lee. Oh my, I need this! We have never done Christmas cards, but I totally would with something this gorgeous! Robyn ([email protected]) Ive never sent out christmas cards. If I ever do they would have to be from there. They have such great designs!! [email protected] oh my GOSH, i love your christmas cards! adorable. follow you @ShoutLaughLove and i got here through my reader feed Oh boy, lots of comments here already, but why not give it a shot! I spent some time today on the Tiny Print web site (before reading this) and wished I could justify spending over a $1 a card. Such beautiful things! I settled on their Joy card in black because it is exactly what I intend to feel this holiday season. No stress, just joy. Of course, winning this little contest might add to that joy a little ;) I just love Christmas card time. It makes my heart happy to send them and receive them. And sharpies? Well, don't tell anyone, but they are my secret addiction. When school sales happen, I buy buckets of them. All different colors, I'm not biased. :) I love tiny prints! I do follow you on Twitter :) I also follow you on Google reader! Love, love, love your Christmas card! Gorgeous! I could honestly be happy with almost all of the Tiny Prints cards - so hard to choose! saraingmire at gmail dot com I subscribe to your blog in a feedreader. :) saraingmire at gmail dot com I am a fan of Tiny Prints on Facebook. saraingmire at gmail dot com I subscribe via email!!! I love your card choice, as we are 1000 miles from our family I would probably do some sort of holiday card! I would get a Christmas card. I get them from Tiny Prints every year and LOVE them. Last year the matching address label was so cute...i love coordination. Super cute! [email protected] I follow you on twitter. :) And tiny prints, too. :) Your cards are beautiful! I would love to order some Christmas cards. I follow you on Twitter your card turned out awesome! i'd be creating some sort of holiday card to send out, too :) pulchrabliss at hotmail dot com I would LOVE to order Christmas cards! [email protected] I would order Christmas cards too. I love the photo you used. Your kids are so cute. I would definitely do baby announcements... my baby boy was born a week ago! [email protected] Love your card! The ornament cards are cool. I think I would choose one of those. [email protected] Love your card! The ornament cards are cool. I think I would choose one of those. [email protected] Love your card! The ornament cards are cool. I think I would choose one of those. [email protected] I love photo cards! Love the Happy Everything trifold and the posted wreath and so many other designs! orangetriangle2 AT yahoo Never ordered there...but I would love to try them out! your cards are gorgeous!!! i would use the win for my holiday cards :-) I LOVE that they have Thanksgiving cards! And beautiful designs too, I've been looking for them and this is the first company that I really am drawn to their designs, thank you! shannoncarman at yahoo dot com I follow Tiny Prints on twitter (@channynn). shannoncarman at yahoo dot com I follow you via twitter (@channynn). shannoncarman at yahoo dot com I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to win this! I would get Christmas cards too. WIsh I had a cool photo like this of my three. I would deff. use the gift card towards Christmas cards! [email protected] I am following you on twitter [Emmersynsmom]. [email protected] I am following Tiny Prints on twitter [Emmersynsmom]. [email protected] I liked Tiny Prints on Facebook [Allyssa Maupin]. [email protected] Would love to use Tiny Prints to make a holiday card this year! love the ornament idea - love, love, love it!! Misty C [email protected] I would choose a holiday card like the Ornament Fun in the Studio Basics line. :) scblog at hotmail dot com I would love to be able to get some special Christmas cards with the gift certificate, thanks! I follow you on twitter - idahojill I follow @tinyprints on twitter - idahojill I like tiny prints on facebook - Idaho Jill I am a happy email subscriber! I love Tiny Prints too. I'd use the certificate to get some new address labels! I also follow @tinyprints on Twitter (@melissity). Following you on Twitter (@melissity). Fan of Tiny Prints on FB!
, have demonstrated superior client service and have earned recognition from their peers and the broader community for the honor they reflect on their profession. Finding the nation’s finest financial advisors was made possible by our panel of four distinguished judges: Ronald L. DeLegge, editor, ETFGuide.com; Bill Good, chairman, Bill Good Marketing; Jay Nagdeman, president, Suasion Resources; and Stan Selbst, vice president, SmartPros Ltd. Susan Colpitts When Susan Colpitts co-founded Signature in 1994, there was something missing from the financial services landscape: the multi-family office. So she and her partner created one. “When we started, they didn’t exist—anywhere,” says Colpitts, a CPA. “It was novel at the time for a firm like ours to be owned by principals as opposed to being owned by a family. And we liked being fireable because it kept us good every day.” By any measure, Norfolk-based Signature has gone from good to great. The fee-only firm that started out with three employees and no clients now has 32 employees, offices in three cities, and $2.5 billion in assets under management. Colpitts herself manages $560 million in assets for 18 wealthy families. Why a multi-family office? Back in the 1990s, Colpitts was working as a CPA inside a boutique law firm run by Signature co-founder Anne Shumadine. The firm served a couple of very wealthy families. The problem: The complexity of managing different aspects of that level of wealth—investments, philanthropy, income taxes and estate planning—couldn’t be addressed within the framework of a law firm. “Most RIAs start out with investments and add services,” says Colpitts, 55. “We started backwards. We didn’t come at this with a preexisting notion of what investments should look like. We addressed it almost like a research project: If you could build any investment solution, how would you build it?” The partners settled on an endowment-like model with the additional requirement that it had to be tax-efficient. After the 2001-2002 downturn, they realized they needed to have access to alternative investments so they built a hedge fund solution—pooling clients’ assets to get the best managers at the best price point. In 2008, they made another adjustment by instituting a long-only equity fund. The business plan from the start was to develop Signature as a one-stop shop for, as Colpitts puts it, “the working rich.” The plan worked. Unlike many family offices, 85% of Signature’s asset base represents first-generation earned wealth. The firm’s minimum for new clients is $5 million in investable assets but Colpitts spends the majority of her time on family-office clients with more than $20 million in investable assets and complex problems. A liquidity event often brings the client to Signature’s door. “In the last several years, we’ve realized we are really good at working with the individual who has had his head down, building the business day in and day out and running that business,” says Colpitts, who holds the Personal Financial Specialist designation and started her accounting career with Price Waterhouse. “They’re not thinking about wealth. Suddenly, they sell the business and they have incredible opportunities—and a lot of decisions to make. Every client is different in that moment.” When she begins a conversation with a new family, she starts with a series of questions, including: How do you wish to be involved in philanthropy? How do you replace the paycheck? How do you make sense of the lifestyle? Notably, everyone in the firm trains with a psychologist so that they can help clients express feelings that might otherwise remain unspoken. “We’re trying to figure out what their investment personality is. They might say: ‘I don’t want to take any risk with my investments.’ If you don’t know how to open that up, it could be a door-shutting comment,” says Colpitts, whose firm also has offices in Charlottesville and Richmond. “We want to get at the root cause without putting them on a couch—keeping them in a conversation in a vein that’s comfortable but exploratory. They may have had advisory relationships before but it’s never mattered so much,” she adds. “They’ve taken the baby they birthed and grew for 20 or 25 years and converted it into a pile of money. Some can’t stand the notion of making a mistake with it because it’s so precious.” Colpitts, the go-to person at Signature for complex corporate and personal income tax structures, also frames the client’s personal balance sheet within a business context—in other words, in language that is instantly understood. “It’s a little less squishy,” she notes. As well, she helps families with other issues that might affect their lives: private aviation, personal security, public relations and household staff management. “Generally there’s a financial piece to it,” says Colpitts. “If you run a business, you would have your CFO or COO do this work. Again, there’s a business parallel.” Colpitts, who leads Signature’s client services team, is Signature’s brand builder. As the firm’s CEO Randy Webb observes: “What Susan does is challenge, engage and energize this team around the idea: If every Signature client were in a room no matter what level of wealth, they could compare their experience and the picture they paint would be the same. That’s huge. And it’s working.” Why Signature? Having been a CPA, Colpitts watched a lot of people sign a lot of things with their own unique signature. Signature clients, signature solutions, a signature firm. “It’s not that our clients have to fit into our boxes. We construct what they need and what they want and we do so in an environment of excellent planning and execution. We try to spend a lot of time just thinking in behalf of our clients,” says Colpitts. “We’re aiming before we shoot.” Lynn Faust Talk about a career of “firsts.” Not only was Lynn Faust the first female branch manager at Raymond James & Associates, she was also the first woman to serve on its executive council. With $350 million in assets under management, she is—no surprise here—one of the firm’s most successful advisors. No wonder Dennis Zank, COO of Raymond James Financial, says of Faust: “Because of her enthusiasm, professionalism, dedication and willingness to give back, we wish we had many more Lynn Fausts in our firm.” Faust, who describes herself as “driven” and “motivated,” does do things in an outsize manner. As an example, she has excelled at not just one career—but two of them. Faust, who grew up in a family of educators, taught elementary and middle school children for 12 years. After redesigning a university-level financial planning course, she decided to stick with teaching—only this time as a financial advisor. “Education is a passion of mine. It’s how I got into the business; it’s why I got into the business,” says Faust, 64. “Teaching is my natural talent. It’s taken me wherever I’ve gone.” Faust joined Waddell & Reed as a planner in 1979, then jumped to Paine Webber in 1981. A Raymond James & Associates advisor since 1988, Faust today serves 103 households with a typical account size of $2 million to $5 million. She also specializes in executive financial planning, working with senior executives in corporate settings. While she has made history at Raymond James, Faust treats her groundbreaking performance strictly as a matter of fact. As she puts it: “I wanted to be a branch manager. It was something I was qualified to do, I was asked to do, and I did it like anyone else. I don’t carry a banner. I never felt like I needed to.” As a producing branch manager, Faust for six years ran a Raymond James & Associates office in Greenville, S.C., that at its peak had 29 employees, including 16 advisors. Her chief challenge at that time: teaching employees to be organized. “I think the biggest problem in this business is putting organization into your day. There are so many multi-tasking things you have to do. Some of those things you’re going to love, some you’re not going to like doing at all. The tendency is to do only what you like to do. Eventually, you need to hire to your weakness,” says Faust, who ranked as the largest producer in her office and region while running the branch. “You’re not going to be successful without putting organization into your practice and learning to do what you like least to do first. That’s what I brought to the table.” In 2001, Faust gave up the branch to focus on her own practice with her son and business partner, Michael Faust. Ever the teacher, Faust helps clients create what she calls their “financial masterpieces of life.” When she first meets with a client, Faust starts out with a visual cue: a paper copy of a painting by Van Gogh or Matisse or another great artist that she then cuts into pieces. “The cut up pieces represent the different phases of life, different goals and objectives: education, retirement, estate planning. It’s one way I help people understand there is more to money than just paying your bills and balancing your checkbook,” says Faust, whose Greer, S.C.-based team includes four advisors and three assistants. “I never throw the pieces away. They all go into a client folder.” Faust also believes in keeping client conversations short. “Advisors frequently do not realize that adults have an attention span of 15 to 20 minutes. You need to learn that when you present a financial plan, there is no way you are going to present everything at once,” Faust says. “Before a meeting, I determine what I can accommodate in 15 minutes that will hold your attention. That’s why teaching skills are the real essence to the success I’ve had in business. Clients feel I’m connected to their needs.” “I also help clients understand how to achieve their goals. I don’t leave them out. And I use very simple explanations. Advisors as a rule tend to justify themselves by being very technical,” adds Faust, whose gold service standard includes a visit each year to all of her clients’ accountants. “I don’t think that wins the day.” Faust is nothing if not nimble, an attribute she believes that, along with teaching, underlies her success. “I’m never not energized. It’s true of anything I’ve ever done. I was not a burned out teacher. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ever done,” says Faust. “And I’m not afraid of change. If you’re not flexible, you will not be successful in this business. You can’t learn how to do it one day and do it that way for the rest of your life. That’s good for me. I’m Type A. It’s energizing. If this business is a passion for you, the way it is for me, you won’t ever want to leave it.” Lorayne Fiorillo A lot of elite advisors like to say they offer white-glove Ritz-Carlton-style service. Lorayne Fiorillo isn’t one of them. “We take the gloves off and get down and dirty,” says Fiorillo. “Need a CPA who practices before the IRS to help with an audit—on a Saturday during a blizzard? Give us a call. Buying a car and need someone to negotiate with the dealership? Give us a call. If it’s beyond our professional capabilities, we’ll find someone in our professional network that can get the job done. We’re the cavalry who brings in the big guns or brings over the chicken soup. Whatever it is, the job gets done.” Fiorillo, who heads Fiorillo Financial Strategies Group, recently marked her 25th year as an advisor, and yet she approaches each day with exuberance. It’s not unusual for her to schedule 13 client appointments in a day. “A lot can change in somebody’s life,” says Fiorillo, 55, who likes to check in with clients as often as once a month. “It’s why we talk to people constantly. Plus, it’s so enjoyable.” Clients, she says, are like snowflakes—each one different from the next. “Just because someone is 55 with two kids, you can’t put them in a box,” says Fiorillo, who manages $235 million in assets for 300 households. “It’s not one size fits all.” And neither is Fiorillo’s approach to money management. While she was one of the first to embrace professional outside money managers, she brought portfolio management in-house 10 years ago after the Internet bubble tanked. “I bought into the idea that all they do all day long is manage money; they’re better than I was,” says Fiorillo. “You know, they weren’t.” Today, she and her partner, Frank Pranio, use fundamental and technical analysis to build portfolios that include individual stocks, bonds, options and a broad array of ETFs. They also do a lot of covered call writing. “The two of us manage it. It’s like playing the piano with four hands,” says Fiorillo. “Investing with us is like hiring a custom tailor. Everything is fitted to your exact measurements and then adjusted frequently to accommodate for life’s inevitable changes. We make sure that your investments suit you perfectly.” Fiorillo originally set out to become a doctor but switched to finance because she considers it, too, a helping profession. She got her start with Prudential Securities in Charlotte, N.C., where she still has many clients. “The first time I went with Lorayne to Charlotte to meet her clientele at an event we hosted, it was like they revered her like a rock star,” says Pranio. “At the end, people came up to me and said: ‘What’s it like working with Lorayne?’ as if I was in the presence of a celebrity.” Admittedly, Fiorillo does have an outsize personality. “She’s found prospects riding the Metro North and at the opera. The fact is she loves what she does. She has that passion,” Pranio adds. “I sometimes sit here and look over at her and hear that exuberance and hear her ‘Yippees!’ She just enjoys what she does. It’s genuine.” Not surprisingly, given her energy, Fiorillo fits a lot into her life. There’s her husband, a vet, and her 15-year-old son Max. At the moment, she is working on a charity event she is sponsoring for the Mecklenburg Medical Alliance and Endowment in North Carolina. “I’m ADHD when it comes to philanthropy,” she notes. Fiorillo also hosts a cooking show, Everyone Can Cook, for her local cable TV station. And she’s working on several writing projects. One thing’s for sure, she is a communicator—and across platforms. She’s written a book, Financial Fitness in 45 Days: The Complete Guide to Shaping up Your Personal Finances. Until a few years ago, she was a personal finance columnist for Entrepreneur magazine. And when she still lived in Charlotte, she served as an on-air financial expert for a local TV station. But, clearly, her big passion is for her clients. The size of Fiorillo’s accounts are all over the place but, as she puts it: “I believe in dancing with the one that brung you. I have clients with $400,000 with me and $15 million to $20 million with me. People ask me, ‘What’s your minimum?’ It depends on how much I like you. Sometimes people really need help and they’re a nice person. I want to help them.” In addition to individuals, Fiorillo has two specialties. One is working with medical and veterinary practices, the other managing guardianships for people who have been declared incompetent. Twenty-five years out, Fiorillo says her most important achievement is “how my clients feel about me.” “One client, when she talked about working with me, said that when her CPA first introduced us, she thought I was a little weird. Now, that she has known me for 25 years, she is sure I’m weird, but I have also become her family’s most trusted advisor,” Fiorillo says. “Whenever anything goes wrong, she told me, no matter what it is, everyone says: ‘Call Lorayne.’” Victor Hazard Back in the mid-1980s, an entrepreneur named Herb D. Vest kept phoning Victor Hazard, inviting him to join a radical new start-up: a nationwide network of tax professionals who also offer investment advice. “He called several times and I said we weren’t interested. Finally, one day, I listened to him for half an hour and it seemed to make so much sense,” says Hazard, a CPA who heads Hazard Financial in Lomita, Calif. “Why not offer full financial planning? It allows you to do such a better job for your client. Why not take it to the next step?” Hazard, 69, was one of the early adopters of the pioneering business model and his practice today looks a lot like what Herb Vest envisioned 25 years ago. As H.D. Vest president and COO Roger Ochs puts it: “He’s the stereotype of the successful CPA and financial advisor who not only prepares tax returns but, more importantly, helps clients with all their financial needs. That was the vision 25 years ago, and that’s the vision today. Victor just does it better than most of us.” Hazard got his start in financial services in 1968 when he joined Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., then the world’s largest accounting firm. In 1982, he established his own CPA firm preparing taxes, audits, financial plans and financial statements for individuals and businesses. The H.D. Vest he joined in 1987 was, as he says, “hokey,” a much leaner version of today’s 4,800-advisor network. At their first meetings with Hazard, for example, Barbara and Herb Vest would make a homemade lunch in their hotel room to share in the conference venue. Potato salad was often on the menu. And when he signed up to take his first securities exam, the Vests sent a grainy video—Barbara shot it, Herb was the presenter—advising him how to pass the Series 7 test. The firm assigned Hazard the number 868 when he hooked up with Vest; that is still the number that appears on most client statements today. That, however, is about the only thing that has remained static at Hazard Financial, a full-service firm with $103 million in assets under management and an eight-person team that delivers multiple layers of service. At the top of the service tier: retirement and financial planning, tax advice and investment management. The Hazard team also offers advice in specialties such as insurance, estate planning, trust management, tax compliance, charitable giving, debt management and business planning. The firm’s tax compliance arm prepares over 1,000 corporate, fiduciary and personal income taxes each year. The firm’s growth trajectory has been strong and steady, and perhaps more importantly, it has been intentional. Hazard, for instance, heads the effort to plan for 20 high net worth families, representing 60 to 70 households. Does he want to grow that? No. “You can’t get too thin,” says Hazard, whose wife, Mary Jo, and daughters Jennifer and Jackie, work with him. “We don’t want to hire a lot more people and lose control of the personal relationship. To us, the personal relationship is everything. We decided to keep it at eight people—and that works perfectly for 20 families.” Hazard Financial clients also include families that are juggling college savings with other financial goals. Many are multi-generational clients. Notably, the Hazard family itself recently became the first to have five generations with investment accounts. Looking forward, Hazard says: “Markets are going to be more complex, no one knows the tax picture for next year, regulations require an extraordinary amount of effort, risk is everywhere and circumstances change daily. Our responsibility is to address all of the issues that managing wealth presents.” Just this past year, Hazard received the premier designation of Personal Financial Specialist from the American Institute of CPAs and daughter Jennifer recently got her mortgage loan originator’s license—part of an ongoing strategy to enhance the firm’s service quotient. Hazard’s own personal growth trajectory—applying for Medicare and Social Security—has also helped deepen the bench. “Five years ago, I applied for Medicare and found out, as most people do, that you can read up on it but you just don’t have a grasp unless you do it yourself. There’s so much that can fall through the cracks,” he says. “And there are so many different ways to deal with Social Security. There are hundreds of different options. Going through it yourself gives you a much different perspective. It’s made me a better advisor.” There is one thing that has not changed—and that is Hazard’s fundamental belief in the first credential he got: the CPA. “The one thing we focus on is having a written financial plan, and that’s what a CPA is trained to put together as opposed to someone who is more product-oriented. And here, you have someone who is trained in accounting as well as finance,” he says. “If you look at most people we compete with, they send out fliers with their 1099s saying: ‘We take no responsibility for taxes. See a tax professional.’ From Ameritrade to Merrill Lynch to Schwab, there’s always this fine print that says you’re on your own for tax,” he adds. “You won’t get that from us. You’re assured of having someone who is looking at both sides of the equation: tax advice as well as financial advice. Herb Vest got it right.” Howard Safer When some clients began to turn bearish earlier this year, Howard Safer seized the moment—launching a dialogue he calls “cliff conversations.” A lame duck Congress and the unknowns involving tax law, capital gains, income rules and estate planning—he put it all on the table in seminars and one-on-one talks. “Our role is to be the designated worrier for our clients,” says Safer, CEO of Argent Trust Company of Tennessee. “We take that to heart.” The 69-year-old Safer, well known in trust company circles, also used the opportunity to showcase two words he tends to use a lot: safety and security. “We believe trust companies are the peak of safety and security. It’s a good story to tell,” says Safer, a CPA who opened Argent Trust’s Nashville office in April. “We can do what everyone else can do, only better.” Safer has had a storied career. Early on, he served as a controller for a New York Stock Exchange public company, as chief financial officer of a substantial private company and as managing partner of a 90-person CPA and consulting firm. He went high profile, however, years, offering investment, estate and family office services. In an echo of his move from Bradford to Regions, he joined Argent when it was announced that the Morgan Keegan investment division was to be purchased by Raymond James Financial. “Our clients enjoy it most in smaller environments like Bradford. It’s where you can be the most responsive,” says Safer, whose credentials include the Personal Financial Specialist (PFS) designation. “Many of our clients wanted us to be in something smaller. Here, we can do it all and we can do it better. And what we know we absolutely can do is save millions of dollars in taxes through trusts.” Safer and daughter Mindy Hirt, vice president, oversee about $250 million in assets for 60 households. Senior investment strategist Frank Hosse rounds out the team. Hosse most recently served as chief investment officer for Regions Morgan Keegan Trust, a position he held with J.C. Bradford Trust before that. Most of the team’s clients are business owners in operations as diverse as bottle manufacturing, real estate and skating rinks. All are millionaires. Notably, most of the accounts Safer and Hirt manage are what’s known as agency accounts—not trust accounts. “There is a lot that’s misunderstood about trust companies. For one, you don’t have to have a trust to deal with a trust company. It’s a well-kept secret and that’s too bad,” says Safer. “The fact is this is a more extensive business to operate because we have more rules, regulations and auditors and, to me, that gives a high level of comfort to the investing public.” Many of Safer’s clients are multi-generational. Often, parents will ask Safer to intervene in family conflicts. “We’re the bad cop if we need to be with the next generation. They’ll tell the 28-year-old who wants to start up a business to ‘Go see Howard.’ I’ll ask for a business plan and there won’t be one. So I suggest taking a course or getting a job in that type of business,” Safer says. “It works well in protecting family assets. It doesn’t work well in terms of them liking us particularly. We get fired by the next generation half the time because we have done what we believe is best. As a trustee, that’s my judgment call. It’s what it’s all about.” Safer and Hirt have worked together for 10 years—a family dynamic that both say adds an extra dimension to the family office they operate..” Hirt adds that part of the pleasure of partnering with her father is designing creative solutions for clients. “There’s a level of excitement in terms of being able to come up with an idea that can save a thousand dollars a month by refinancing a loan or save a million dollars by creating a family limited partnership,” she notes. “Howard also taught me early on to go to a client with three bullet points. Keep it simple. A lot of things we’re dealing with are not simple concepts and it helps to present them in a digestible form.” Most firm mission statements gather dust. Not so here. Safer often quotes from Argent’s. “Argent’s mission statement involves our clients, associates and investors. We are passionate advocates for them, their heirs and their charities,” says Safer. “We’re energized when they are happier in achieving their goals. We’re fulfilled when their families live in harmony with positive values. When it’s all said and done, that’s what we’re about.” ------
We all work hard to protect our valuables. We buy insurance policies to protect our homes from theft or fire and we invest in safes to store jewelry, old coins and birth certificates. Despite this, most of us are not working hard enough to protect one of the most valuable things we own – our good name. Identity theft is on the rise nationwide and is helped along by lenders and creditors who are willing to grant thousands of dollars in credit in mere minutes with little or no proof of identity. In today’s electronic age, an ID thief can easily, and sometimes legally, tap into your personal information with just a click of the computer mouse. A few bits of personal data are a gold mine for information crooks looking to steal your identity. An impostor using personal information like your address, birthdate, Social Security or credit card number, can acquire phony credit cards, private phone lines, siphon money from your checking or savings account, get a mortgage and even give you a criminal record. Identity thieves may rummage through trash searching for discarded account statements, pre-approved credit card offers or credit receipts, search public records for your address, and even rob your mailbox. It may take a few months, but eventually you’ll start getting calls from creditors demanding payment for charges that you never made. A strange bank may call you about an overdrawn account in your name – an account you never opened. Identity theft takes months for you to detect, and sometimes years or longer to unravel. This booklet will help you guard your privacy, protect your personal information and avoid identity fraud. Chapter 1: What is Personal Information and Identity Theft? The Personal Information Trade When we wonder or worry about who might be snooping in our private affairs, we often think about the government, “Big Brother,” watching our homes, telephone calls, or travels; however, today there is another threat to our privacy in the network of commercial databases that keep personal information about each one of us. Personalization The sale, collection, and integration of personal information about consumers are new industries in the information age. There are currently over 1,000 private companies keeping comprehensive databases about individual consumers, a ten-fold increase in just five years. These companies do not engage in the “mass marketing” of products or the researching of general demographic groups. Rather, they focus on gathering as much information as possible about specific people to engage in what is sometimes called “personalization” or “personal marketing.” Technology now allows these businesses to cheaply gather information about consumers, and then sort and categorize the data, sometimes called “data mining,” to isolate specific people for “target marketing” purposes. Personal Information The information possessed by these companies goes far beyond mere demographic data. For example, a privacy lawsuit against a marketing company revealed the types of information contained in its database. Its computer files contained more than 900 tidbits of information on individual consumers dating back more than a decade. One individual’s file was reportedly 25 single-spaced pages and contained information such as her income, marital status, hobbies, medical ailments, her preferred brand of antacid tablets, whether she had dentures, and how often she had used room deodorizers, sleeping aids, and hemorrhoid remedies. The array of information available is limited only by the technology itself. Each electronically recorded transaction – from your use of credit, debit or ATM cards to your payment of mortgage or student loans – provides a glimpse into your private life. When layered on top of one another, these pieces of information create a complete picture of you as an individual. Here are a few examples of the personal information trade: One company maintains a database that operates twenty-four hours a day, gathering and processing information on 95% of American households. For a price, it will sort information based on income, lifestyle (outdoor, mechanic, intelligence, etc.), or even a profile of “ethnics who may speak their native language but do not think in that manner.” Another company offers lists of people with particular medical conditions. In 1999, it offered for sale nearly 50 lists of individuals suffering from different medical ailments. It sells the names and addresses of 427, 000 people who are clinically depressed, 1.4 million women who have yeast infections, and 1 million individuals who have diabetes. It also sells lists of people with Alzheimer’s Disease, birth defects, Parkinson’s Disease, and “physical handicaps.” A New York company offers the names of high school students according to GPA, religion, ethnicity, and SAT scores. A hospital sells the names of its patients who may be eligible for social security insurance to a lawyer. No information appears to be too personal for companies to collect or too insignificant to sell. In 1999, electronic research companies were selling unlisted phone numbers for $49, social security numbers for $49, and bank balances for $45. A company will obtain another person’s driving record for $35, trace a cell phone call for $84, or create a list of stocks, bonds, and securities for $209. This personal data is merged into a consumer tracking and information system that becomes larger every day it is sold to whomever may be interested in buying. Each piece of information gathered, stored, and sorted by these large databases represents an erosion of your right to privacy. The personal information trade also enables a special kind of telemarketing called pre-acquired account telemarketing. Pre-acquired account telemarketing occurs when a telemarketer calls you with the ability to charge your credit card or bank account already in their hand. Unlike most telemarketers, these companies have acquired the ability to charge your account for the product that they are selling before they call you. A typical telemarketing sale, not involving pre-acquired accounts, requires that you provide a credit card or other account number to the telemarketer, or that you send a check or sign a contract in a later transaction. Providing a signature or an account number – like paying cash – is a readily recognizable way for you, as the buyer, to give your consent or assent to a deal. Pre-acquired account telemarketing removes these short-hand methods for you to control when you have agreed to a purchase. Instead, the telemarketer controls the method by which you provide “consent” to the transaction, making the determination whether you have actually consented to the deal. This puts the telemarketer in a privileged position, such that he or she can charge your bank account or credit card in situations where you would never have voluntarily provided your account number to the caller. Identity Theft Identity theft occurs in a variety of ways and has different labels. Two key variations are commonly referred to by law enforcement as “true name” or “true party” frauds and “account takeover” frauds. With “true name” or “true party” fraud, the thief pretends to be you. The thief uses pieces of your identity to obtain new credit cards from banks and retailers, open checking and savings accounts, apply for loans, establish accounts with utility companies, or rent an apartment. The thief can ultimately ring up a tab worth thousands of dollars – all in your name. In an “account takeover” fraud, the thief steals your money and/or assets. The thief obtains enough personal information about you to gain access to existing credit or bank accounts. Thieves impersonating you contact creditors and banks to order additional cards on the account and have the cards sent to their address instead of yours. The thief may also file a change of address with the postal service to divert any newly ordered credit cards or checks into his or her hands. Identity theft is usually more complex than an ordinary case of credit card fraud. Armed with just one or two pieces of identifying information, such as your birth date or address, a thief can assume your financial identity, access your existing accounts, and obtain a wide range of services and benefits in your name. Identity Thieves Interviews with victims of identity theft and experts have revealed a wide range of thief profiles. Thieves may be friends, relatives, co-workers, employees at companies or organizations with personal information about you in their databanks, and, worst of all, total strangers, who gain access to your personal information through any number of means. Victims of Identity Theft Creditworthy consumers with high incomes are the preferred prey of identity thieves, but almost any of us is a potential victim. It is impossible for you to totally eliminate the possibility of falling prey to identity fraud. To lessen the chance of becoming a victim keep a tight rein on your personal information, get off telemarketing lists, stop businesses from sharing your private information, dispose of sensitive documents safely, and closely monitor your finances. Legal Protections Against Identity Theft> Under Minnesota and federal law, a person who knowingly transfers, possesses, or uses an identity that is not the person’s own, with the intent to commit, aid, or abet any unlawful activity, is guilty of felony identity theft. In Minnesota, the maximum prison term and/or fine for violating the identity theft statute varies depending on the number and type of victims and amount of money stolen. Though laws exist to help prosecute identity theft, prevention is better. The Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act establishes procedures for correcting mistakes on your credit report and requires that your record only be provided for legitimate business purposes. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from using unfair or deceptive practices to collect overdue bills that your creditor has forwarded for collection. The Fair Credit Billing Act establishes procedures for resolving billing errors on your credit card accounts. The act provides the most important protection for victims of identity theft. If you notify your card issuer at the address given for “billing inquiries” within 60 days after you receive a bill with an error, the act allows you to dispute the erroneous charge. The Truth in Lending Act limits your liability for unauthorized credit card charges on lost or stolen cards to $50 per account. If you notify your card issuer before the thief’s unauthorized use, your liability will be $0. Therefore, if a company tries to sell you a credit card “protection” against unauthorized charges, you don’t need it. The federal law already protects you from significant monetary liability. The Electronic Funds Transfer Act provides protection for all transactions using your debit card or other electronic means to debit or credit an account. It also limits your liability to $500 for unauthorized electronic fund transfers. Your Personal Information Is Not As Safe As You Think Today, personal financial information is widely accessible through a variety of sources. Identity thieves legally obtain much of the information they need. Often, additional information is obtained illegally, but at low risk and low cost. Credit Bureaus The three major credit bureaus – Experian, Equifax and Trans Union – and other credit reporting agencies, produce hundreds of millions of credit reports each year. The reports include a wealth of personal information about you including your date of birth, addresses, social security number, credit account information, public records and employment data. Credit reports are easy for unauthorized people to get. All a thief needs is your name, Social Security number and a current or previous address. Credit bureaus, to their credit, only send reports to the current address displayed on the report. However, thieves anticipate this move by sending a creditor a pre-approved credit offer using your name and the thief’s address. The credit reporting system is designed to automatically update your file, so the report is sent to the thief instead of you. The thief then has all the information they need to steal your identity Easy Access to Credit In the United States today credit is easier to obtain than ever. We expect quick loans, which enable us to grab a surprise bargain or finance an emergency. Easy credit makes for easy crime. The credit approval process often amounts to little more than matching two bits of information on an application – a name and a Social Security number – with a credit report. Social Security Numbers as Universal Identifiers When social security numbers were first issued in 1936, the federal government assured the public that use of the numbers would be limited to Social Security programs. Today, however, the social security number is the most frequently used record keeping number in the United States. Social security numbers are used for employee files, medical records, health insurance accounts, credit and banking accounts, university ID cards, and many other purposes. In fact, a social security number is now required for dependents over one year of age. Computer records have replaced paper filing systems in most organizations. Since more than one person may share the same name, accurate retrieval of information works best if each file is assigned a unique number. Many businesses and governmental agencies believe the social security number is tailor-made for this purpose. Because your social security number is frequently used as your identification number in business and government computer databases, information about you in one database is easily linked to other databases that contain different types of private information. Using your social security number as a universal identifier makes it possible for identity thieves to gain a more complete picture of your financial records and personal information. Private Information Check List What Is a Credit Bureau? A credit bureau is a clearinghouse for credit history information. Creditors provide the bureaus with information about how their customers pay their bills. The bureaus assemble this information, along with public record information obtained from courthouses around the country. Then they turn this data into a “file” on each consumer. In return, creditors can obtain credit reports about consumers who wish to open accounts with their business or organization. There are more than 1,000 local and regional credit bureaus throughout the United States. Most credit bureaus are either owned by, or are under contract with, one of the nation’s three major credit card bureaus – Experian, Trans Union and Equifax. These national agencies maintain centralized databases containing the credit records of more than 170 million Americans. Credit bureaus generate more than a half billion reports per year. What Is In a Credit Report? Credit reports are a gold mine of information about you. The report contains your name, Social Security number, address, credit payment status and employment history. A credit report also contains legal information including liens, bankruptcy and other matters of public record. Federal and state laws restrict who has access to your sensitive information and how it can be used. Anyone with a “legitimate business purpose” can gain access to your credit history, including: those considering granting you credit, landlords, insurance companies, employers and potential employers, and companies with which you have a credit account. Certain pieces of information cannot be included in your credit report: Medical information (unless you give your consent). Negative information, including a bankruptcy that is more than 10 years old. Debts that are more than seven years old. Information about your age, marital status, or race cannot be included in your report if requested by a prospective employer. Experts recommend looking at your credit report every year and before making a major purchase. Every year consumers can get a free credit report from each of the credit agencies — Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. The credit bureaus have created a centralized website, toll-free telephone number and mailing address for Minnesota consumers to order their reports. Annual reports may be requested the following way: - Logging on to: - Calling: 1-877-322-8228 - Writing: Annual Credit Report Request Service P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA., 30348-5281 If you have already received your free annual credit report, Minnesota law allows you to purchase another credit report once a year for $3 from each of the credit bureaus, separately. You are entitled to one free copy of your report each year if (1) you’re unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days, (2) you’re on welfare, or (3) your report is inaccurate because of fraud. In addition there is no charge for the report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. You may use the Credit File Request Form, located on page 23 of this booklet to order your credit report. To do so, contact one or more of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax PO Box 105851 Atlanta, GA 30348-5851 1-800-685-1111 Experian PO Box 2104 Allen, TX 75013-9595 1-888-397-3742 TransUnion PO Box 1000 Chester, PA 19022 1-800-888-4213 What Is Your Social Security Statement? Your Social Security Statement provides both a statement of past earnings and an estimate of future benefits you will receive from Social Security. The statement shows how much you’ve paid into Social Security over your working years. The statement also shows how much you can expect to receive when you retire or if you become disabled. You can also determine from the statement how much your family is entitled to receive if you die. The Social Security Administration recommends that you check your Social Security earnings at least once every three years. After that it becomes more difficult to trace the earnings. A Social Security Statement is available upon request. To get a statement, call the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). What Is on My Driving Record? Driver and Vehicle Services, a division of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, keeps records on drivers (such as driver license and driver history information), and about vehicles (such as ownership information). Information stored about you includes your name, address, social security number, physical description (height, weight, eye color), date of birth, status of your driver’s license, whether corrective lenses are needed for driving, and if you are an organ donor. In addition, a record is kept of any moving violations that you are convicted of, and whether you have medical conditions that may affect driving. Who Can Get the Information in My Driving Record? The Minnesota Department of Public Safety (DPS) enforcers, for use by insurers to investigate claims or fraud, for use by an employer to verify that you have a commercial driver’s license, or for use in legal proceedings. Most of the remaining data in your driving record is less protected. That data can be released without your consent not only to government agencies, insurers, employers and in legal proceedings for the purposes above, but also to: Auto manufacturers, for uses related to auto safety, theft, emissions, alterations, recalls, advisories, market research, and performance monitoring; Legitimate businesses, but only in the normal course of business to verify the accuracy of personal information you submitted so as to prevent fraud or recover a debt; Researchers, to publish statistical reports that do not identify individuals; Towing companies, to notify owners of towed or impounded autos; Toll companies, to operate private toll transportation facilities (if Minnesota had such facilities) Licensed private investigators or security services, for any of these purposes; or Any person who has obtained your written consent. However, if a person or business requests your driving record for a purpose other than one permitted above (by federal law), then DPS will not release your driving record unless you have expressly consented by checking a box on your license or ownership application renewal. Thus, without your consent, no commercial or business firms can access your record to add your name to direct-mail, telemarketing, or survey list. What Is in My Medical Information Report?, medications prescribed, and the results of surgery and other medical procedures. A wide range of people, in and out of the health care industry, may access your medical information. Generally, access to your records is obtained when you agree to let others see them. You probably signed a blanket waiver or general consent form at some point when you obtained medical care. When you sign such a waiver, you allow the health care provider to release your medical information to insurance companies, government agencies and others. The Medical Information Bureau (MIB) is an organization that compiles a central database of medical information. Approximately 15 million Americans and Canadians are on file in the MIBs computers. More than 750 insurance firms use the services of the MIB, primarily to obtain information about life insurance and individual health insurance policy applicants. You are entitled to a free medical record disclosure once a year. You can get a copy by calling the Medical Information Bureau toll-free at: 1-866-692-6901. For other questions or to correct your report, write to: Medical Information Bureau P.O. Box 105 Essex Stations Boston, MA 02112 Phone: (617) 426-3660 Businesses and Other Organizations With Information About You It is not just the government or creditors that collect and distribute information about you and your buying practices. Banks, insurance companies, charities and others have personal information about you that you may not want other people to know. You should compile a list of the businesses and organizations that have information about you. When forming new relationships with an organization or company, ask what will be done with your information and who will have access to it. Information is power in our society. Knowing who has what information about you allows you some control over how that information is used. Don’t hesitate to let companies and organizations know you expect them to respect your privacy. Sale of Personal Information by State and Local Governments Public records containing personal information such as homeowners’ documents, police and court records, utility records, and marriage and divorce records have always been available for sale in paper form. With the growing use of computer databases and the Internet, however, it is easier than ever to obtain these records for fraudulent use without leaving behind a paper trail. Public databases can now be accessed directly from many government computers and through commercial database vendors. Identity thieves range from old-fashioned pickpockets to sophisticated theft rings with equipment that can re-encode the magnetic strip on the back of counterfeit or stolen credit cards. In an effort to compile personal information, identity theft rings sometimes enlist cleaning people (who retrieve data from office wastebaskets), corrupt merchants (who sell credit card sales receipts), and employees of financial institutions and brokerage firms who process financial transactions. Next Page: Chapter 2: A Look at Identity Thieves
Dr. John Meadowcroft and Dr. Jaime Reynolds examine the role of Arthur Seldon (1916–2005 ) and the Liberal antecedents of the Institute of Economic Affairs. ‘I was persuaded into economic liberalism by intellectual conviction and the evidence of events and into Liberal Party sympathies because the Conservatives were too socialist and the socialists too conservative’. ‘I graduated by national insurance and state education to the LSE. There I read voraciously Lenin, Laski, Strachey, Dalton but was more influenced by Robbins, Plant and Hayek. The war and post-war siege economy, several years as editor of a trade journal, the years as an economist in industry and five years working in fruitful partnership with Ralph Harris at the IEA have reinforced the view I had acquired from a teacher that the nineteenth century was the great age of emancipation and that the classical economists were basically right.’ Arthur Seldon Capitalism (1990) ‘… we lost people from the Liberal Party who described themselves as neo-liberals of the sort of Thatcherite school. I was reading the other day that Arthur Seldon was involved in the Liberal Party in Orpington at the time of the by-election. He was typical of a certain school of Liberal who abounded in the party at that time …’ David Steel, interview in Marxism Today, October 1986 Though few Liberal Democrats would recognise him as such, Arthur Seldon was probably one of the most influential Liberal thinkers and publicists in Britain in the period from the 1950s to the 1970s. Seldon was founder Editorial Director of the Institute of Economic Affairs, the free-market think tank , which played an important role in the revival of economic liberalism that led to the global implementation of policies such as the privatisation of previously nationalised industries, the control of inflation via sound monetary policy and the application of market-oriented service regimes where public goods were provided by the state. In the UK these policies were implemented by the Conservative Government of Margaret Thatcher and its successors. This association with Thatcherism has led many Liberal Democrats to reject the notion that the ideas Seldon advocated had any connection with Liberalism. Conrad Russell, in the opening of his An Intelligent Person’s Guide to Liberalism contrasts the ‘moral’ liberalism of Roy Jenkins (of which he clearly approves) with the economic liberalism of the IEA (of which he clearly disapproves). Yet while it is true to say that Seldon’s tireless advocacy of economic liberalism had its greatest impact on the Conservative Party, rather than the Liberal Party, it is nevertheless the case that many Liberals recognised the continued relevance of economic liberalism to the Liberal cause. Jo Grimond was a regular IEA author, contributing papers to six different IEA publications, and wrote that ‘Liberals must at all times stress the virtues of the market, not only for efficiency but to enable the widest possible choice … Much of what Mrs Thatcher and Sir Keith Joseph say and do is in the mainstream of liberal philosophy.’ Certainly, Seldon, who is now eighty-eight years old and living in retirement in Kent, always saw himself as more of a liberal, or ‘conservative radical’ than a Tory. For over three decades he was an active member of the Liberal Party and only severed his connection with the party in the 1970s. Arthur Seldon, the Liberal Party and the IEA. Seldon was born on 29 May 1916. He later described his tragic and poverty-stricken childhood, upbringing and education in the East End of London, as an ‘indoctrination against capitalism’. He recalled that at the age of eight in the 1924 general election, he cheered the Labour candidate for Stepney, and booed the Conservative and Liberal cars. Seldon’s family name was Margolis, but both his parents died in the Spanish flu epidemic of 1918 and he was brought up by foster-parents (two of his elder siblings went to live with uncles, and two were sent to an orphanage). Seldon’s foster parents were Jewish refugees from Ukraine, whose family name Schaberdain was adopted by Arthur. His foster-father died in 1927. His foster-mother set up ‘shop’ in the front room of their East End home selling lisle stockings in order to pay the rent. The family were kept afloat by a £100 payment from a Friendly Society, paid for by his late foster-father’s weekly contributions of two shillings. For Seldon such enterprise and mutual insurance was a model of voluntary working-class responsibility and welfare that was to be replaced by state benefits and the ‘dependency culture’. The family fortunes improved in 1931 when his foster-mother remarried (a tailor) and they moved to the relatively middle-class suburb of Stroud Green In 1928 Seldon won a free place to Sir Henry Raine’s (Grammar) School off the Commercial Road where he was taught history in the sixth form by E. J. Hayward, a Liberal of the old school ‘whose teachings on the guild system and its replacement by industrial capitalism, with its advantages for living standards and liberties, intrigued me more than the Fabian influence of the persuasive economics master.’ Nevertheless, when he arrived at the LSE in 1934, having won a state scholarship, he seems initially to have shared the prevailing far-left attitudes of the majority of students, before joining the tiny Liberal Society. He supported the anti-Fascist protests against Sir Oswald Mosley’s march through the East End in 1936. Seldon studied and researched at the LSE from 1934 to 1941, graduating with first class honours in economics in 1937, and then becoming a research assistant to Arnold Plant. He also studied under other liberal and Liberal academics including Hayek, Lionel Robbins, Frank Paish, George Schwartz, who kept alive free-market economics in what Seldon described as ‘the hostile anti-capitalist environment of the 1930s’. It was during his time at the LSE that Seldon Anglicised his surname, apparently following advice from Arnold Plant who thought such a change wise in the light of the rise of Anti-Semitism in Europe. In 1937 the Liberal Party established a committee of inquiry into the distribution of property inspired and chaired by Elliott Dodds. It included Harcourt Johnstone, Sinclair’s right-hand man and expert on economic issues in the party leadership. Plant and Robbins were approached for their advice and they asked Seldon to write a paper on the effect of an inheritance tax. This led Dodds to ask him to draft the committee’s report 'Ownership for All' which was adopted by the party conference in 1938. In Seldon’s view, ‘the proposals for the diffusion of private property rather than its replacement by public (socialised) property raised the flag of classical liberalism for the last time in the Liberal Party’. Its questioning of public ownership and proposals for selective privatisation were denounced by the Labour Party as a violent shift in the Liberal position back to laissez-faire and individualism, at odds with both Labour and Conservative thinking on the ‘socialised sector’. Yet despite its unfashionable and ‘right-wing’ reputation, Ownership for All has stood the test of time better than many of the so-called radical tracts of the 1930s, and many of its arguments would be regarded as mainstream, if not left-wing, today. It was a radical attack on the maldistribution of wealth and property in inter-war Britain – inequalities which it described as ‘gross and shocking’. The uneven spread of property prevented equality of opportunity, wasted social resources, reduced consumer choice and menaced democracy by providing a recruiting ground for Fascism. The report rejected outright any absolute right of property and insisted on society’s right to modify laws of inheritance to reduce inequality and spread wealth. The causes of the maldistribution of property were traced to faulty laws and policies, particularly inheritance law, lack of educational opportunity for the poor, encouragement of monopolistic industrial concentration, divorce of ownership from control of companies, and indirect taxation on wage-earners in the form of tariffs, quotas and subsidies. However Ownership for All was unusual for the times in rejecting statist solutions such as planning and public ownership; it argued unashamedly for market solutions, greater competition and the extension and permeation of property ownership throughout society. It combined a positive view of freedom and economic liberal ideas in a distinctive platform for the party: The policy we have advocated is not one of ‘laissez-faire’. Quite the reverse. It would involve determined, and even drastic, State action at numerous points. Such action, however, would not take the form of Government control or management … Its main objects would be to create the legal structure in which a free economy can best function; to see that the market is efficient and honest; to outlaw restraint of trade; to break down unjust and artificial privileges; to preserve the national resources …; to maintain and expand the social services; and to place before all the opportunities of a full life hitherto open only to the rich. In a word, the Liberal view is that it is the function of the State ‘to create the conditions of liberty’… While it is unclear how far Seldon’s drafts shaped the final document, it is striking that many of the arguments and much of the style of argument anticipated his later critique of state ownership and provision and his championing of markets and competition, which essentially built on the framework laid down in Ownership for All. The Liberal Party continued to use the ‘Ownership for All’ slogan into the late 1940s. In July 1941 the Liberal Party Organisation published his pamphlet The Drift to the Corporate State, which analysed the likely effects of wartime economy measures, especially those encouraging monopoly, on the post-war economy. He was scathing about what he described as ‘the tendency in the 1930s to the formation in many basic industries of joint monopolies of employers and workers for the exploitation of consumers’. While conceding the need for some industrial concentration and planning in time of national emergency, Seldon was blunt about the potential dangers it posed: ‘it is the corporative system of industrial organisation, which is incompatible with parliamentary democracy; it is the British variant of what in Italy is called Fascism’. Where monopoly was unavoidable (‘natural monopolies’) he argued – anticipating ideas that were novel in the 1930s but have become commonplace in recent decades – that ‘public regulation may be more suitable than public ownership [and] there would appear to be no good reason for exclusive public ownership in the public utility field, where a mixed regime of private, public, and semi-public monopolies, all equally subject to regulation by Parliament or a delegated authority would be superior’. He called for ‘State action to “cleanse” industry of its avoidable monopoly; and this will involve a more active State, a State more conscious of the conditions and consequences of monopoly …’ Between 1941 and 1945 Seldon served in the army in North Africa and Italy. He married Marjorie Willett in 1948. Her father Wilfred was a formerly devout Christian who became a communist and nature writer for the Daily Worker. Up to his death in 1961, he and Seldon would debate the issues of communism versus capitalism. Marjorie was to become an active Liberal, free trader and campaigner for education vouchers in her own right. On his return to Britain after discharge from the army in 1946, he was drawn back into Liberal Party activity after attending a meeting chaired by Clement Davies at which Roy Harrod, the Keynesian economist, was a speaker. In 1947 Seldon was asked by Philip Fothergill to chair a committee on the aged. He consulted Beveridge whom he knew from LSE days, and who was, by the late 1940s, concerned that the expansion of the Welfare State was jeopardising the voluntary welfare movement and Friendly Societies. The committee’s report was unanimously endorsed by the Liberal Assembly in 1948. Arthur and Marjorie Seldon were very active in the Orpington Liberal Association in the 1950s as it began the local success that culminated in Eric Lubbock’s famous by-election victory in 1962. Both of them served as president. Marjorie organised local anti-Eden demonstrations over Suez in 1956. They had three sons, Michael, Peter and Anthony, Anthony becoming the well-known political writer and biographer of John Major and Tony Blair. For some ten years after the war, Seldon worked in industry as editor of a retailing magazine, Store, from 1946 to 1949, and then as an economic adviser in the brewing industry in an office headed by Lord Tedder, former Air Chief Marshall of the RAF, where his connections with the Liberal Party, still associated with Methodism, the non-conformist conscience and temperance, aroused some unease. The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), founded in 1955, was the brainchild of Antony Fisher and future Nobel laureate F. A. Hayek. Fisher, like its first Director, Ralph Harris, was a Conservative – the two first met at a Conservative Party meeting – though the IEA was always non-partisan, such that when Harris was raised to the peerage by the newly elected Margaret Thatcher in June 1979 he sat as a crossbencher in the Lords. However Liberals played a major part in its early days. Oliver Smedley, a free-market zealot, a vice-president of the Liberal Party and its most vocal free-trade campaigner at assemblies in the 1950s, whom Fisher knew through the Society of Individualists, played an important role in the early formation of the IEA, providing the organisation’s first offices at his business premises (and campaigning headquarters) at 24 Austin Friars in the City of London. Other Liberals, Lord Grantchester (Sir Alfred Suenson-Taylor) and Sir Oscar Hobson were on its Advisory Board, while academics associated with the Liberal Party such as Alan Peacock and Jack Wiseman were to become active in the IEA. The IEA’s first pamphlet published in 1955, on the Free Convertability of Sterling, was written by another Liberal, George Winder. In 1956 Arnold Plant recommended Seldon to Lord Grantchester who was trying to give the newly formed IEA ‘a liberal intellectual thrust’. Seldon was appointed Editorial Director of the IEA in 1957, a function he held until his retirement in 1981 and then again between 1986 and his second and final retirement in 1988. From 1959 he was also Executive Director of the IEA. Seldon’s direct involvement with the Liberal Party seems to have wound down from 1957 as the IEA, seen by some potential sponsors as a Liberal ‘front’, worked to establish its non-party credentials. Nevertheless he continued to sympathise with and vote for the Liberals for another two decades. He took part as ‘an independent economist’ in a fierce debate on health and education vouchers in the party in 1966–67, speaking at a ‘Liberalism is about Liberty’ fringe meeting at the Liberal Assembly in 1966 on ‘The Welfare State and the Economy in the 1970s’. He also wrote articles in support of vouchers in the Liberal magazine New Outlook at this time. Other proponents of vouchers or a more pluralist approach to welfare included Professors Alan Peacock and Michael Fogarty, and John Pardoe MP. The prominence in the IEA of the Liberal founders diminished in the late 1950s. Fisher and Harris found Smedley’s outspokenness a handicap in securing business funding, and with Grantchester he was gradually pushed out, although Smedley remained one of the seven ‘subscribers’ when the IEA became incorporated in 1963. Graham Hutton an ex-Fabian economist and journalist linked to the Liberals was brought in as a replacement. Smedley, Grantchester and S. W. Alexander increasingly focused their efforts on the Free Trade Union (FTU), which they took control of following a funding crisis in 1959 (and renamed it the Free Trade League). The FTU had strong connections with the Liberal Party into the 1940s and 1950s (Sinclair and Samuel were vice-presidents). It also provided a link between post-war economic liberals like Seldon, who sat on the FTU executive from 1946, and the pre-war Liberal free marketeers such as F. W. Hirst, Sir George Paish and Vivian Phillipps. Seldon, sometimes with Marjorie, was a contributor to the FTU journal The Free Trader. After the Smedley-ite takeover in 1959, its Liberal stalwarts Sir Andrew McFadyean and Deryck Abel withdrew. Smedley, Alexander and Grantchester carried on, with a rump of like-minded, mostly Liberal, free traders and anti-common-marketeers into the 1970s. Seldon was dropped from the executive in 1959, suggesting that his sympathies did not lie with the Smedley group. In contrast to the Smedley-ites hostility to the Common Market, Seldon seems to have taken a pragmatic approach to Europe, though he was critical of the level of subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy and the operation of monetary union. There is surprisingly little about Europe in his writings. The Conservative party had little appeal for Seldon until the era of Margaret Thatcher. He wrote that ‘in my lifetime the Tories have enlarged state authority by fits of absent-mindedness, and my political sympathies have been Liberal, but I prefer to think of myself as a conservative radical: conservative about preserving the principles of a good society but radical about reforming the institutions required to preserve them in a world of change.’ He did not regard the Tories as a free-market party: ‘the Conservatives in general have had an indifferent record. In the 1930s they sponsored producer protection when they abandoned free trade in 1932, introduced transport licensing, agricultural marketing boards and other ‘anti-capitalist’ restrictionist policies.’ His final break with the Liberals seems to have occurred in the 1970s though Seldon is somewhat unclear exactly when. He later recalled that he ‘retained private hopes of a Liberal revival under Jo Grimond but abandoned it when he was followed in 1967 by David Steel, a party manager with little interest in policy and, it seemed, almost no understanding of economic liberalism indicated by a remark in a Marxism Today interview about my outdated laissez-faire’. However Jeremy Thorpe not Steel succeeded Grimond in 1967, and Steel did not become leader until 1976 and the Marxism Today interview did not appear until 1986. Whenever Seldon finally broke with the Liberals, he continued to claim some of their leading figures for his ideas. When he dedicated his collected writings, to the ‘politicians who rolled back the State’, he included, alongside Thatcher, Joseph, Tebbit, Powell and other Tories, the Liberals Elliott Dodds, Jo Grimond and John Pardoe. Arthur Seldon’s liberal thought Arthur Seldon’s political philosophy was founded upon the consistent application of the principles of economic liberalism to economic, social and political problems. Seldon’s training in classical economics at the LSE instilled in him the belief that it was only a market economy that could efficiently and fairly ration scarce resources, ensure that the benefits of economic action exceeded the costs, including the opportunity costs, and co-ordinate the actions of the many individuals and firms who constituted an advanced economy. In Seldon’s view a market economy was able to perform this function because it utilised the knowledge communicated by prices generated in the marketplace. The price mechanism worked spontaneously without the need for a single co-ordinating body. The failure of socialism relative to capitalism could be explained by the economic chaos caused by the attempt to abolish markets and prices: ‘The use of the free-market pricing system explains the relative success of capitalism and the failure of socialism.’ The pricing system was the invisible hand of the market that led self-interested individuals to undertake actions that benefited others even if such altruistic outcomes were no part of their original intention. He held that not only was a market economy superior in terms of efficiency, it was also morally superior to alternative economic models because it achieved economic co-ordination without the need for an over-arching political authority that directed particular individuals to undertake certain tasks or use resources in particular ways. Seldon’s principal contribution, in his role as commissioning editor of more than 350 IEA monographs and author of twenty-eight book and monographs and 230 articles, was to apply these principles as a critique of all forms of government intervention, ranging from Marxist-Leninist state socialism to the post-war social democratic consensus, and from the provision of public goods by local authorities to national land-use planning controls. Seldon wrote: Micro-economic analysis of the prices and costs of individual goods or services and their adjustment at the margin by individual suppliers and demanders can be no less enlightening in the public than in the private sector of the economy. While accepting that markets were not perfect, Seldon sought to show that markets were almost always a more effective means of providing goods and services than via government dictat, and, moreover, such outcomes could be achieved without the need for restrictions on individual liberty that so often accompanied attempts to achieve similar outcomes by central direction. For Seldon there did not exist a category of public goods and a category of private goods to which different principles should be applied, rather there existed a whole range of goods and services that people wanted, but because resources were finite, some mechanism was needed to ensure the production of those goods for which demand was greatest at a cost that did not exceed the benefits. In Charge, Seldon set out his thesis that many public services would be delivered more efficiently and used more sparingly if users were required to pay for them at the point of delivery just as they did in the private sector. Seldon’s application of micro-economic principles to the public sector led him to develop a critique of the pathologies of democratic government that anticipated the emergence of public-choice theory. In 1960, two years before the publication of Buchanan and Tullock’s landmark work The Calculus of Consent, Seldon wrote: Representative government … at its worst … impoverishes and enfeebles the community by capitulation to articulate and persistent sections at the expense of the long-term general interest. Much so-called ‘economic policy’ can be understood only in terms of pressure from organised producers – in trade associations, trade unions or other groups. For Seldon, the tyranny of the majority that had so concerned classical liberals such as John Stuart Mill and Alexis de Tocqueville had been realised in the ability of organised minorities to extract special privileges (rents) from government at the expense of the unorganised majority. The political muscle of French and German farmers, British coal miners and American steel producers meant that through a combination of subsidy and protection these groups were allocated privileges that far exceeded the market value of their economic contribution. The result of the ability of such groups to capture the political process for their own advantage was not only the unfair transfer of resources via political means (rent-seeking), but distortions of the price system that impoverished society as a whole because it led producers to misallocate capital in response to distorted price signals. One of Seldon’s most original contributions was his application of the principles of public-choice theory to analyse of the role of producer interests in education in the defeat of the Thatcher Government’s attempt to introduce education vouchers, a subject close to his heart. In The Riddle of the Voucher, Seldon argued that the combined power of teacher unions and civil servants in the Department of Education had prevented the implementation of a policy that was supported by ministers and many politicians, academics and parents. Arthur Seldon and Liberal Party politics One of the most intriguing questions of British political history is why the economic counter-revolution led by Seldon and the IEA had its greatest impact on the Conservative Party rather than on the Liberal Party. Economic liberalism had long been a cornerstone of the Liberal Party; the party had been formed from the coalition of Whigs, Radicals and Peelites united by Peel’s repeal of the Corn Laws, and the raison d’être of many of those who had kept the party alive from the 1920s to the 1950s was to preserve the spirit and natural home of free trade. Indeed, there seems good reason to believe that in the mid-1950s the great majority of economic liberals were to be found in the Liberal rather than Conservative Party. The story of the adoption of economic liberalism by the Conservative Party is the story of how the economic liberals came into the ascendancy in that party as they were simultaneously marginalised in the Liberal Party. While at certain elections, notably 1929 and 1945, the appeal of the Liberal Party had inclined to the centre-left, up until the 1960s the Liberal Party was still the party of economic liberalism, the open economy and free markets. It was under the leadership of Jo Grimond after 1957 that the party shifted to the centre-left, despite the fact that Grimond himself had strong economic liberal sympathies and for much of his early career was an outspoken critic of the post-war consensus from the economic right; Grimond’s political strategy of replacing Labour as the principal anti-Conservative force in British politics led him to emphasis the more ‘progressive’ aspects of party policy. This, combined with Community Politics and growing local-government strength, attracted a new generation of party supporter and activist with little sympathy for the economic liberal traditions of the party. Grimond was succeeded by Jeremy Thorpe who had long been an opponent of the economic liberal wing of the party, but probably the crucial break with economic liberalism came with the election of David Steel as party leader in 1976. Steel, who described himself as a Keynesian Liberal, was intent on positioning the Liberal Party as the centre-left alternative to the extremes of left and right deemed to be presented by the Labour and Conservative parties. As the Liberal Party went into alliance with the SDP in 1981 and reacted against economic liberalism à la Thatcher, with its apparent rejection of much of the Liberal/Keynes/Beveridge welfare heritage, any prospects of an economic liberal revival within the party quickly evaporated. The conversion of the Conservative Party to economic liberalism can be dated to the 1975 election of Margaret Thatcher to the party leadership. Thatcher was the leader of a relatively small faction within the Conservative Party which had long advocated the adoption of monetarist policies and greater individual freedom in the economic sphere as the solution to Britain’s relative economic decline. On election to the party leadership she set out her belief in ‘a free society with power well distributed amongst the citizens and not concentrated in the hands of the state. And the power supported by a wide distribution of private property amongst citizens and subjects and not in the hands of the state’. It should be noted that while economic liberalism was extremely influential within the Conservative Party during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, it never achieved the level of orthodoxy that is sometimes portrayed. The early Thatcher cabinets contained a number of ‘wets’ in senior posts, while Michael Heseltine’s famous declaration as President of the Board of Trade at the 1992 Conservative conference that he would intervene in the economy ‘before breakfast, before lunch, before dinner and before tea’ was indicative of the hostility to economic liberalism that endured amongst large swathes of the Conservative Party. Conclusion While today the economic liberalism espoused by Arthur Seldon and the IEA is most closely associated with Thatcherism and the Conservative Party, many of the economic liberal policies pursued by the Thatcher and Major governments would have been recognised as within the mainstream of liberalism by previous generations of Liberals and by members of continental European Liberal parties. It is open to question what would have happened to the Liberal Party and to UK public policy had the economic liberal counter-revolution occurred within Liberal rather than Conservative ranks. Certainly, it may have been possible that economic liberalism could have been combined with social liberalism to form the basis of a truly libertarian movement, rather than with the social conservatism of the Tory Party. What is clear is that the long-standing practical and intellectual links between Arthur Seldon and the IEA and the Liberal Party are indisputable. Jaime Reynolds is guest-editor of this Special Issue.
Self-managed superannuation funds: A statistical overview 2008-09 is available in Portable Document Format (PDF). Download a PDF of Self-managed superannuation funds: A statistical overview 2008-09 (NAT 74068, PDF, 644 KB). Purpose As part of the Super System Review (the Review), A Statistical Summary of Self Managed Superannuation Funds was released on 12 December 2009. The majority of the Self Managed Superannuation Funds (SMSFs) information included in that paper was sourced from both publicly available and previously unpublished ATO data. This publication updates the Super System Review statistical summary using 2008-09 year data. We propose to provide annual updates. Where appropriate, we refer to Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) data for comparisons to the SMSF sector. Background The ATO began regulating SMSFs in the 2000 financial year under the regulatory framework of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SIS Act). For information on what constitutes an SMSF and the ATO's regulatory role, go to Traditionally, SMSF data was collected on the super fund income tax return. From 2008, a new SMSF annual return (SAR) was developed to enhance regulation of SMSFs and collect more reliable data. Generally the data for this overview has been collected from: The SMSF sector remains the largest sector of the Australian superannuation industry, with 99% of the number of funds and over 30% of the $1.23 trillion total super assets1. At 30 June 2010, there were around 425,000 SMSFs and almost $387 billion in assets.2 There were also approximately 810,000 members in the SMSF sector, about 7% of roughly 11.6 million members in Australian super funds.3 The data shows the SMSF sector responds to government initiatives or changing economic circumstances, particularly in relation to total asset holdings and shifts in asset types held. This is not inconsistent with the general view that SMSF trustees establish SMSFs for control and flexibility. Such observations take into account that 2010 data is not yet included in the majority of this overview's analysis. In recent years there has been a trend for members of new SMSFs to be from younger age groups than those of the total SMSF member population. Overall, SMSF members compared to non-SMSF fund members tend to be older and have both higher average balances and higher average taxable incomes. SMSFs directly invested 76% of their assets, mainly in cash and term deposits and Australian listed shares (a total of almost 59%). Estimates of the return on assets for the SMSF sector show negative returns for 2007-08 and 2008-09. This is consistent with the total super industry, although the size of the negative returns was smaller for SMSFs. Estimates of the operating expense ratio of SMSFs shows a direct relationship with the asset size of the SMSF. In the five years to 30 June 2010, SMSFs have been the fastest growing sector of the Australian superannuation industry. During this period total super assets grew by 60%, while SMSF assets grew by 122%.4The SMSF sector contributed the largest proportion with 46% of the total 60% growth in super assets. Graph 1 shows the breakdown of the 60% growth in total super asset by fund type, based on APRA data. Graph 1: Proportion of 5 Year Total Superannuation Growth by fund type The overall growth in SMSF asset holdings can be attributed to continued establishment of new SMSFs, increase in contributions and net rollovers into SMSFs, and investment earnings (SMSF investment performance is discussed later). Between the years ended 30 June 2005 to 30 June 2010, SMSF numbers have grown by 47% (see appendix 1 table 3). Graph 2 shows the most significant growth (13%) occurred in the year ended June 2007, coinciding with the introduction of the government's Superannuation Simplification measures.5 By 2009 the growth rate had dropped to 2006 levels, most likely influenced by global economic circumstances. SMSF numbers stabilised in 2010, reflecting the improvement in community confidence. Graph 2: Growth in the number of SMSFs from 2005 to 2010 Over this period, net establishment of new funds (establishments less wind ups) averaged over 25,000 a year (or approximately 2,100 a month) while wind ups averaged over 5,000 a year. Overall, net establishments show a similar pattern as total fund numbers as establishments peaked in 2007 and windups peaked in 2009. Despite the continued establishment of new SMSFs, the majority of SMSF funds have existed for over 10 years (41.8%) with 20.4% having existed for three years or less (see appendix 1, table 4). Over the five year period to 30 June 2009, contributions to the SMSF sector averaged $32.5 billion a year (member $23.6 billion, employer $8.9 billion, see appendix 1, table 1). Contributions peaked in the year ended 30 June 2007. This was the same year the Super Simplification measures abolished reasonable benefit limits and introduced a $1 million transitional contribution limit. SMSF member contributions consistently exceeded employer contributions during this five year period by approximately three to one. Since 2007, annual employer contribution amounts to SMSFs have remained relatively constant. In comparison, the amount of member contributions have varied from 84% of contributions made in 2007, to 69% and 63% in 2008 and 2009 respectively (see appendix 1, table 1). Over the five years, most member contributions have been to SMSFs with assets worth between $500,000 and $5 million. Employer contributions have been spread mostly across SMSFs with assets worth between $200,000 and $2 million. This is particularly evident in the years ended 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2009 (see appendix 1, table 1). Graph 3 compares contributions to SMSFs proportionately to all super fund contributions for the years ended 30 June 2005 to 30 June 2009 as reported by APRA.6 It shows contributions to SMSFs over the five years have generally remained under 30% of total super contributions. In 2007 however, the surge in member contributions saw SMSF contributions increase to 41% of total contributions. Overall, for the five years to 30 June 2009, the proportion of member contributions to SMSFs have generally trended upwards. Note that more recent events and data from the year ended 30 June 2010 onwards are not included in this overview. It is anticipated that government initiatives such as the halving of the caps on concessional contributions introduced from the year ended 30 June 2010 will slow the growth trend in member contributions. Graph 3: Contributions to SMSFs as a percentage of Total Australian superannuation contributions (member, employer and total) For the five years to 30 June 2009, the $50.4 billion rolled into SMSFs consistently exceeded the $14.2 billion rolled out of SMSFs (see appendix 1, table 2). On average it is reported over $10.1 billion is rolled into SMSFs and $2.8 billion is rolled out of SMSFs annually. ATO data does not distinguish between amounts rolled between SMSFs and that rolled to or from non-SMSFs. However, the net result is an inward rollover amount of $36.1 billion over the five years. Graph 4 shows inward rollovers trended upwards at a faster rate than outward rollovers, particularly up to the year ended 30 June 2008, and levelled off in 2009. Graph 4: Total SMSF rollovers The overall net inflow into SMSFs was $142.9 billion during the five years to 30 June 2009. Graph 5 shows that in all years, this is predominantly attributable to contributions made to SMSFs and in particular the surge in contributions in the year ended 30 June 2007. Net transfers and benefits have tended to have limited impact on total SMSF flows. Up to 2007, annual net flows directly reflected the amount of contributions received. In the two years after 2007 however, benefit payments trended upwards at a faster rate, affecting total net flows. Prior to 2007, benefit payments as a percentage of total contributions were between 30-40% (2004-2006), while after 2007, they were between 55-60% (2008-2009).7 Graph 5: Breakdown of SMSF fund flows SMSFs can be established with either a corporate trustee (where all members of the SMSF are directors of the corporate trustee) or with individual trustees (where all members of the SMSF are trustees). At 31 December 2010, around 73% of SMSFs had individual trustees rather than a corporate trustee (see appendix 1, table 5). Graph 6 shows that in recent years there was a noticeable shift away from corporate trustees, with almost 90% of newly registered SMSFs in the year ended 30 June 2010 established with individual trustees. Graph 6: SMSF trustee structure For the year ended 30 June 2009, almost 70% of SMSFs reported they were solely in the accumulation phase, whereas just over 30% reported they were making pension payments to some or all members and so considered to be in the pension phase.8 Those SMSFs which commenced pension payments in 2009 had, on average, been established for at least five years. Of SMSFs commencing pension payments in 2009, almost 49% were over five years old, less than 39% were less than two years old and almost 11% were operating in their first year.9 All SMSFs must have their financial accounts and compliance with the SIS Act audited annually by an approved auditor. Hence, approved auditors play a key role in ensuring SMSF compliance with regulatory obligations. At 30 June 2008, it is estimated there were over 11,000 approved auditors, who conducted about 33 audits on average in the year ended 30 June 2009.10 Of these, 39% performed less than five SMSF audits in 2009. There are however, early indicators of a shift towards approved auditors performing the audit of larger numbers of SMSFs (see appendix 1, table 6). In the year ended 30 June 2009, approximately 15% of approved auditors were reported as also providing other services for SMSF clients such as a tax agent, accountant or financial advisor or administrator. Tax agents and accountants also play a significant role in the SMSF sector. As at December 2010, SMSFs were serviced by around 16,300 different tax agents or accountants, with approximately 83% of all SMSFs registered with a tax agent. However, 98% of SMSF annual returns are lodged by a tax agent.11 Tax agents and accountants have on average 21 registered SMSF clients. The majority have only a small number, with 62% having 10 or less and 21% (or 3,410) a single SMSF client. In contrast, 4% or 630 tax agents and accountants have registered more than 100 SMSFs (see appendix 1, table 7). At 30 June 2010, there were about 810,000 members in the SMSF sector, of whom 54% were male and 46% female. Generally, female members tended to be younger than male members, with a higher percentage falling within all age groups, apart from those 65 and over where males exceeded females by almost 6% (see appendix 1, table 8). Approximately 68% of SMSFs had two members, almost 23% were single member SMSFs and about 4% had either three or four members.12 At 30 June 2009, almost 25% of SMSF members received pension payments, including members who were fully or partially in the pension phase.13 At 30 June 2010, 74% of SMSF members were aged 35 to 64, while just over 80% of SMSF members were older than 45 years of age (see appendix 1, table 8).14 Recently established SMSFs tend to have younger members than the total SMSF member population. Graph 7 shows that of the almost 6,500 SMSFs established in the June 2010 quarter,15 7.5% of members were aged over 65. In comparison, over 20% of the total SMSF member population were aged 65 and over at June 2010. In the June 2010 quarter, members below 35 years of age represented almost 11% as compared to over 5% for the whole SMSF member population. In addition 65% of members of these newly established SMSFs were less than 55 years of age compared to almost 46% of members of all SMSFs. Graph 7: Proportion of SMSF members by age range In the non-SMSF sector only 3% of account holders are over 65, while in the SMSF sector only 6.1% of members are under 35 years of age (see appendix 1, table 9).16 Graph 8 provides a comparison of SMSF and non-SMSF member ages at June 2009. In the SMSF sector 67% of members were over 50 years of age compared to 23% of members in the non-SMSF sector.17 In contrast, there was a higher proportion of members below 50 years of age who held accounts in the non-SMSF sector (76%), with just over 33% of SMSF members in this age range. Graph 8: Age distribution of SMSF members and non-SMSF members as at June 2009 The average taxable income of all SMSF members in the year ended 30 June 2009 was almost $86,500. Those aged 35 to 59 had the highest average taxable income of over $100,000 (see appendix 1, table 9). The average taxable income of all other age groups is below $71,000, with members over 65 having the lowest average taxable income of less than $60,000. SMSF members of all ages had a higher average taxable income in 2009 than non SMSF members which was just over $48,900 (see appendix 1 table 9). Graph 9 shows SMSF trustees aged 35 to 49 had the most significant difference in average taxable income, earning $110,000 compared to non-SMSF members with below $60,000. For the 35 and under age ranges and those aged 60 and over the difference is relatively consistent. Graph 9: Average taxable income of SMSF members and non-SMSF members by age range At 30 June 2009, the average SMSF member balance was $439,000 (see appendix 1, table 10), which is almost 20 times the size of the average account balance of non-SMSFs of approximately $22,000.18 Graph 10 shows that as SMSF members age, their balances increase and their taxable incomes decrease. The average SMSF member balances range from over $50,000 for members under 35 to over $708,000 for those over 65 (see appendix 1, table 9). While the average balance of SMSF members over 60 increases, the proportion of members in the older age ranges declines. The largest proportion of members were aged 50 to 59 with an average balance of just over $440,000. Graph 10: 2009 Taxable income and average balance of SMSF members by age range Graph 11 shows that over the five years to 30 June 2009, average SMSF member account balances have grown steadily, peaking with almost $477,000 in 2007 before falling by 7.9% in 2009 to around $439,000. Graph 11: SMSF and SMSF member asset sizes Over the five years to 30 June 2009, the proportion of members with less than $100,000 asset balances decreased from 35% to 25%. Those with asset balances over $1 million rose from 5% to 10% (see appendix 1, table 11). Graph 12 shows there was a general shift in member accounts towards the larger asset ranges over the five years. The majority of members hold assets of between $100,000 and $500,000 (48.5%). The proportion of members in this range has remained relatively constant over the five year period. Graph 12: SMSF member asset sizes over 5 years A comparison however, of the three years ended 30 June 2007 to 30 June 2009 in Graph 13, shows the proportion of member balances within assets ranges below $500,000 rose, while the proportion above $500,000 declined. Graph 13: SMSF member asset sizes over 3 years SMSF assets sustained a five year growth period to 30 June 2009, peaking in the year ended 30 June 2007 to almost $912,000, then falling 8.4% to almost $836,000 by 30 June 2009 (see appendix 1, table 10). This compares to the median SMSF asset size by 30 June 2009 of approximately $471,000 (over $509,000 and $493,000 for 2007 and 2008 respectively). The difference between the average and median asset figures reflects the number of SMSFs with over $1m in assets (25% in 2009). As mentioned previously in relation to total SMSF asset growth, the fall in average and median SMSF assets (2008 and 2009) coincided with the global economic downturn. At 30 June 2009, 49% of SMSFs had assets between $200,000 and $1 million (see appendix 1, table 11). Generally over the years ended 30 June 2005 to 30 June 2009, the proportion of SMSF assets across asset ranges follow a very similar pattern to that of SMSF members. Graph 14 shows that for the five year period, the proportion of SMSFs holding assets of less than $500,000 fell, while the proportion of SMSFs holding greater than $500,000 in assets rose. Graph 14: SMSF asset sizes over 5 years In contrast, Graph 15 compares the latest three years ended 30 June 2007 to 30 June 2009. The proportion of SMSFs with assets below $1 million rose (except those holding less than $50,000) while the proportion with assets above $1 million declined. Graph 15: SMSF asset sizes over 3 years At 30 June 2009, the two most significant SMSF asset holdings were in Australian listed shares (29.2%) and cash and term deposits (29.7%) (see appendix 1, table 13). Graph 16 shows that 58.9% of all SMSF assets were directly invested in these two asset classes. Graph 16: SMSF asset allocation Graph 17 compares the significant shifts of all SMSF asset holdings between the years ended 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2009. Generally over the two years there was a shift away from listed trusts, other managed investments and listed shares towards cash and term deposits and real property (both non-residential and residential). In contrast, there was a corresponding increase in the proportion of SMSFs holding investments in cash and term deposits, listed shares, non-residential property and other assets in particular. Interestingly for listed shares, there was a clear reversal of the shifts in the proportion of assets held and the proportion of SMSFs holding those assets. This indicates that there was an overall reduction in the value of holdings of listed shares over the two years, however more SMSFs invested in listed shares. This was probably a response to economic trends. Graph 17: 2008 to 2009 Percentage change of total SMSF assets and of SMSF population holding assets by asset type As at 30 June 2009, 76% of the SMSF sector assets were reported as directly invested by the SMSF with just under 20% invested in trusts and managed investment structures. The remaining investments held included overseas and miscellaneous assets such as collectibles or other assets (see appendix 1, table 13). The SMSF asset types were allocated relatively evenly across the SMSFs asset ranges (see appendix 1 table 14). Note that smaller SMSFs were more likely to hold cash and term deposits than larger funds. Larger funds turned towards Australian listed shares and held a relatively larger proportion of non-residential real property and unlisted trusts. Comparing SMSFs in the accumulation phase to the pension phase, just over 30% of SMSFs in the pension phase held almost 49% of reported assets for the year ended 30 June 2009.19 In 2009, SMSFs reporting in the pension phase had very similar assets to SMSFs in the accumulation phase (see appendix 1 table 15). The only obvious change was SMSFs in the pension phase had slightly less property and slightly more listed trust and listed share assets. As at 30 June 2009, just below 11% of SMSFs reported holding all of their investments in one asset class, representing approximately only 5% of all SMSF assets (see appendix 1 table 16). Smaller SMSFs were more likely to hold only one asset class (35% of those with less than $50,000 in assets). This is consistent with the fact that smaller SMSFs held the highest proportion of assets in cash and term deposits, almost 52% for those with less than $50,000 in assets (see appendix 1 table 14). Less than 7% of SMSFs which fall within each asset range over $500,000 hold only one class of asset, (see appendix 1, table 17) indicating that as funds grow, there was a clear tendency to spread investments. Care must be taken when using SMSF performance figures, particularly when making comparisons, as SMSF statistical data reported before 2008 is not necessarily reliable. While the methodology used to estimate SMSF performance resembles APRA's, the data collected is not the same. Notwithstanding, the estimated return on assets (ROA) for SMSFs was positive for the year ended 30 June 2007. This was followed by negative returns in the years ended 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2009 (16.7%, -6.3% and -6.7% respectively).20 Comparisons to APRA regulated funds of more than four members showed the same trend for the three years (14.5%, -8.15 and -11.7% respectively).21 Graph 18 shows that for the years ended 30 June 2008 and 30 June 2009, most SMSFs experienced a negative ROA (almost 70% of SMSFs in 2008 and almost 72% in 2009). In both years, the highest proportion of SMSFs had ROA of -20% or less. Graph 18: SMSF return on assets in 2008 and 2009 The estimated SMSF ROA shows a direct relationship between SMSF sizes and asset ranges. The larger the SMSF the more improved the ROA (see appendix 1, table 12). Graph 19 shows the estimated average ROA by the SMSF size for the years ended 30 June 2007 to 30 June 2009. Overall, in 2009 the ROA for SMSFs was generally less than 2008 for all size ranges (apart from the $1 million to $2 million range). The continued negative performance in the estimated SMSF ROA in 2009 coincides with the downturn in the world economy. Graph 19: SMSF return on assets by fund size As with estimated SMSF investment performance data, care must be taken when using the operating expense ratio figures as comparisons may not be meaningful. SMSF statistical data reported before 2008 is not necessarily reliable and while the methodology used to estimate the operating expense ratio is as close as possible to APRA's, the data collected is not the same (see appendix 2). Notwithstanding, the estimated average operating expense ratio of SMSFs fell from 0.72%, to 0.67% and 0.57% over the years ended 30 June 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively.22 Average SMSF operating expenses in 2009 were almost $5,300 compared to approximately $6,000 and $6,400 in 2007 and 2008 respectively. SMSFs with less than $50,000 in assets had a 7% average operating expense ratio compared to SMSFs with more than $500,000 in assets that had an average of less than 1% (see appendix 1, table 19). As can be expected, graph 20 shows the estimated operating expense ratio for SMSFs declined in direct proportion to the increased size of the funds. Graph 20: SMSF operating expense ratio by fund size The majority of SMSFs had an estimated operating expense ratio of less than 1% (64.5% of SMSFs in 2009), the highest proportion (almost 36% in 2009) had an estimated operating expense ratio of 0.25% or less (see appendix 1, table 20). Approved auditors play a major role in regulating SMSFs. In the year ended 30 June 2009 the average audit fee was $656.23 Average audit fees varied significantly. For those approved auditors reported as providing other services, their average fee was $942 compared to $612 for those who only completed the SMSF audit (see appendix 1, table 21). In the year ended 30 June 2009, over 50% of SMSFs paid less than $500 to approved auditors for audit fees, while almost 4% paid $2,000 or more. Approved auditors are required to submit to the ATO, as part of the annual audit, Auditor Contravention Reports (ACRs) that disclose SMSF contraventions according to ATO reporting guidelines. These range from administrative contraventions to more serious contraventions, such as breaches in relation to investment in in-house assets. Overall, the percentage of the SMSF population with ACRs from the year ended 30 June 2004 to 30 June 2009 audit years has remained relatively stable at approximately 2% of all SMSFs each year.24 There were 8,126 SMSFs that had ACRs lodged containing 17,866 contraventions in the year ended 30 June 2010. Just under half of these contraventions were reported as rectified. The most common reported contraventions were loans or financial assistance to members (20%), while in-house assets and separation of assets constitute 17% and almost 14% respectively. In monetary terms, these two contraventions represent over 25% and 28% respectively of the reported contraventions up to 2010 (see appendix 1, table 23). The demographic of SMSFs with ACRs generally align with the SMSF population. Analysis shows there is no correlation between the receipt of an ACR and the SMSF asset size, SMSF income range, years since establishment or the structure of the SMSF. This table illustrates the total value of contributions to SMSFs during each financial year and the mean and median amounts over those periods, along with contributions by fund size. These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. To ensure consistency, the Total Contributions figures used are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the total value of rollovers into and out of SMSFs during each financial year and the mean and median amount over those periods and by fund size. These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. To ensure consistency, the Total Rollover figures used are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the: These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. To ensure consistency, the figures used in this table are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the age distribution of SMSFs, based on years since their establishment date. This table illustrates the trustee structure (either corporate or individual trustees) of the SMSF population at 31 December 2010 plus new registrations for the years 30 June 2008 to 2010. This table illustrates the proportion of approved auditors to the number of audits they performed within the years 30 June 2007 to 2010. These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. This table illustrates the distribution of tax agents by the number of SMSFs registered as their clients at 31 December 2010. This table illustrates the approximate age and gender distribution of SMSF members at 30 June 2010, along with the age distribution of members of SMSFs established in the June 2010 quarter. The age ranges in this table align with those reported in self-managed super fund statistical reports. This is an estimate based on Australian Business Register (ABR) data. To ensure consistency, the percentages of members used for all SMSFs are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the approximate age and gender distribution of SMSF members at 30 June 2009, along with the average and median account balances. It also compares SMSF members' average taxable income to non-SMSF members' average taxable income. The age ranges in this table align with those as reported in APRA's Annual Superannuation Bulletin. This is an estimate based on Australian Business Register (ABR) data. This table illustrates the average and median SMSF fund asset sizes and member account balances at the end of each financial year. These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. To ensure consistency, the average figures used in this table are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the approximate distribution of SMSFs by fund asset sizes and by members account balances at the end of each financial year. These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. To ensure consistency, the percentages used in this table are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the average ROA of SMSFs by asset size. The ROA is calculated by determining the net earnings, and comparing this to average assets during the financial year to determine the percentage return on assets. This table illustrates the value and proportion of assets held by the SMSF population for each type of asset listed on the 2009 SMSF annual return as well as the mean and median value. It follows that SMSFs will have different asset allocations in individual cases. These figures are estimates based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. To ensure consistency, the total monetary amounts used in this table are those reported in the Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 (available at). This table illustrates the proportion of SMSF assets held for each type of asset listed on the 2009 SMSF annual return by the asset size of SMSFs. This table illustrates the proportion of assets held by accumulation and pension phase SMSFs, for each type of asset listed on the 2009 SMSF annual return. This table illustrates the distribution of SMSFs that have 50% or more of their assets by value invested in one particular asset class. For example, 41% of SMSFs hold 80% of their assets in one particular asset class, representing 28.5% of total SMSF assets. This table illustrates, by fund size, the distribution of SMSFs that have 50% or more of their assets by value invested in one particular asset class. This table illustrates, by asset class, the distribution of SMSFs that have 50% or more of their assets by value invested in that asset class. This table illustrates average SMSF operating expense ratios by fund size. The operating expenses of an SMSF are calculated using various deduction labels from its income tax return. The total is then compared to its average assets to get a ratio of expenses to assets. This table illustrates the distribution of SMSFs across various ranges of operating expense ratios. This table illustrates average and median SMSF audit fees reported in 2009. It also distinguishes SMSFs whose auditors performed additional services for the fund and those who only performed the audit service. These figures are estimated based on SMSF income tax and regulatory return form data. This table illustrates the proportion of SMSFs that are within certain audit fee ranges for the years 30 June 2008 and 2009. This table illustrates the general type of contraventions that have been reported since the start of contravention reporting in 2005 (up to 30 June 2010) by approved auditors to the ATO. Data limitations and differences in methodologies impact the analysis of SMSFs and any comparison of SMSF with non-SMSF sectors. Prior to the development of the SAR for the 2008 and later income years, there were concerns about the reliability of certain statistical information reported on the annual superannuation fund return form. In 2010 the ATO moved to a new Integrated Core Processing (ICP) system for collection and handling of its data holdings which has impacted on the reproduction of certain historical SMSF data. We will continue to improve the methodologies of reporting SMSF information, which may result in changes to figures in the future. Differences in methodologies can include: 1 APRA 2010, APRA September 2010 Quarterly Superannuation Performance, 9 December 2010, (see table 'Key statistics', p7). 2 ATO 2010, Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010 3 Australian Bureau of Statistics 2007, Employment Arrangements, retirement and Superannuation, Apr to Jul 2007 (Re-issue), Cat. No. 6361.0, ABS, Canberra, p.16. 4 APRA 2011 and APRA 2006, APRA June 2006 Quarterly Superannuation Performance, 28 September 2006 (see table 'Key statistics', p.7), APRA June 2010 Quarterly Superannuation Performance, 9 September 2010 (see table 'Key statistics', p.7). 5 In 2006 Government announced major reforms known as Superannuation Simplification which included a suite of measures aimed to simplify complexities faced by retirees, improve retirement incomes and provide greater flexibility. 6 APRA 2010, APRA September 2010 Quarterly Superannuation Performance, 9 December 2010, (see table 'Financial Performance - Trends', p.28). 7 ATO 2010, Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010. 8 Based on 2009 SAR lodged data. 9 Based on 2009 SAR lodged data and ABR data. 10 Based on 2008 SAR lodged data. 11 Based on 2009 SAR lodged data. 12 ATO 2010, Self-managed super fund statistical report, December 2010. 13 Based on 2009 SAR lodged data. 14 Age ranges used as per ATO 2010, Self-managed super fund statistical report, for comparison purposes. 15 ATO 2010, Self-managed super fund statistical report, June 2010. 16 Age ranges used as produced in the APRA Annual Superannuation Bulletin, for comparison between members of SMSF and members of non-SMSF funds. 17 APRA 2009, Annual Superannuation Bulletin, APRA statistics, 10 February 2010. 18 APRA 2009, Annual Superannuation Bulletin, APRA statistics 2010 (Table 11, pg 39). 19 Based on 2009 SAR lodgments. 20 Calculations based on SMSF 2007 return and 2008 and 2009 SAR reported data. 21 APRA 2009, Annual Superannuation Bulletin, APRA statistics, June 2010. 22 Calculations based on 2007 SMSF return and 2008 and 2009 SAR reported data. 23 As reported on the 2009 SAR lodgments. 24 As per ATO ACR data as at June 2010. Last Modified: Thursday, 7)
Like. Thinking about self-managed super. Setting up an SMSF. Managing your fund's investments You need to manage your fund's investments in the best interests of fund members and in accordance with the law. Your investments must be separate from the personal and business affairs of fund members, including yourself. Accepting contributions You can accept money contributions for your members from various sources but there are some restrictions, mostly depending on the member's age and whether they've exceeded the contribution caps. Generally you can't accept an asset as a contribution from a member, though there are some exceptions. Reporting, record keeping and administration As a trustee you'll have a number of administrative obligations - for example, you'll need to arrange an annual audit of your fund, keep appropriate records and report to us on the fund's operation. Accessing your super Accessing the super in your SMSF to pay benefits is generally only allowed when a member reaches what's called their 'preservation age' and meets one of the specified conditions of release - for example, they retire. There are very limited circumstances, such as death or terminal illness, where a member's super can be accessed before this. There are significant penalties for unlawfully releasing super benefits. Understanding tax and SMSFs The income of your SMSF is generally taxed at a concessional rate of 15%. To be entitled to this rate your fund has to be a 'complying fund' that follows the laws and rules for SMSFs. Winding up an SMSF At some point you may need to wind up your SMSF. This could happen if all the members and trustees have left the SMSF or all the benefits have been paid out of the fund. Self-managed super funds - home Overview Accepting contributions and rollovers Reporting, record keeping and administration Managing your own super is a big responsibility. There are strict rules that govern how you can use a self-managed super fund (SMSF), how you can invest your money and when you can get at it. Before deciding whether to manage your own super, think about the following. Consider your options and seek professional advice If you're not confident you can get a better result from an SMSF, you may be better off with a different type of fund. Make sure you have enough assets, time and skills To establish a competitive fund you need considerable super savings available to invest and be willing to put your own effort into managing the fund. At times you might need to consult with professionals and advisers, which adds to the cost of managing your fund. Understand the risks and laws All financial decisions carry risk, so it's important to think carefully about your investment options to balance the level of risk against the level of financial return. You also need to be sure your super investments are legal. For more information, refer to Thinking about self-managed super. If you set up an SMSF, you're in charge - you make your own investment decisions and you're responsible for complying with the law. Or you can put your super in a large super fund where it's pooled with the super of other members and professionally managed by the trustees of the fund. Most people invest their super this way. It's an important decision and the best approach for you depends on your personal situation, so we recommend you see a qualified and licensed professional to help you decide. Financial advisers, tax agents and accountants can help you understand what's involved and advise on the best option. If you decide to set up an SMSF, make sure it's for the right reason: saving for your retirement. Don't set up an SMSF to try to get early access to your super, or to buy a holiday home or artworks to decorate your house. These things generally don't comply with super law, and schemes to get early access to super are usually illegal and fraudulent. You'll need the money, time and skills to: As a trustee of an SMSF, your main responsibility is to ensure you've invested your fund's money appropriately, so ask yourself: If you're not confident you can get a better result, you may be better off leaving it to super professionals. Costs of setting up and running an SMSF To establish a viable SMSF that's competitive with large funds you'll need around $200,000 in super savings. Your ongoing costs will be around $2,000 to run a median-sized fund each year, including $180 each year for an annual supervisory levy. If you set or join an SMSF, you'll also need to have adequate life insurance in case you die or you're unable to work because of an illness or accident. There can be a big variation in the cost of setting up and running a fund. It depends on the cost of the professional accounting services you use and the cost of tax, audit and legal advice you obtain to run the fund. Life insurance can also be expensive compared to the large funds: they buy group policies that enable them to offer life insurance benefits (for illness or accident) at relatively low cost. Think carefully about your investment options and how to manage the associated risks. You need to consider: Avoid risking all your retirement savings in one or a few investments. By spreading your investments (diversifying) you can help control the total risk of your investment portfolio. Super funds, including SMSFs, receive significant tax concessions as an incentive for members to save for their retirement. However, you need to follow the tax and super laws to receive these concessions. If you decide to set up an SMSF, you're legally responsible for all the decisions made, even if you get professional advice. When you set up an SMSF you become a trustee (or the director of a company that is a trustee). What it means to be a trustee A trustee is responsible for running the fund and acting in the best interests of the members. As a trustee you need to manage the fund and its investments separately from your own affairs. How your SMSF is regulated We administer the relevant super laws for SMSFs, work with you to help you meet your obligations and verify compliance, but we don't provide financial or investment advice. Laws, rules and consequences You're also responsible for running the fund according to its trust deed and the super laws. If you don't, the tax concessions that normally apply to your super may be affected and you may face penalties. Your fund must be run for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits for the members. Steps to setting up an SMSF Your SMSF needs to be set up correctly so that it's eligible for tax concessions, can pay benefits and is as easy as possible to administer. Here are the steps to setting up your fund: For more information, refer to: When you set up an SMSF, you take on the role of either a:. We expect you to: All trustees and directors are equally responsible for managing the fund and making decisions - even if one takes a more active role in its day-to-day running. For more information, refer to Setting up a self-managed super fund (NAT 71923). The. As an SMSF trustee, you must act according to your fund's trust deed and the super and tax laws. If there's a conflict between the super laws and the trust deed, the law overrides the trust deed. At the heart of the super laws is a principle called the 'sole purpose test'. This means your fund needs to be maintained for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to, we regulate SMSFs to ensure they comply with the super law. Failing to comply is known as a contravention of the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993 (SISA) or Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Regulations 1994 (SISR). Our aim is to improve compliance and help you manage your SMSF. We do this through education, fund reviews and client services. Where we find that you're genuinely making an effort to meet your obligations, we'll work with you to rectify any breaches. Early access to super is illegal Schemes that try to get your super money out of existing funds early are illegal and fraudulent. If you participate in one of these schemes you risk of having to pay heavy tax and legal penalties. You also won't be eligible for any compensation under super law if your super fund suffers from fraudulent conduct or theft. Consequences of failing to comply If you fail to perform your duties according to the laws, the tax concessions that normally apply to your super may be affected and you may face penalties. We will take a firm approach with you if you fail to make a genuine effort to comply, or if you set out to deliberately avoid meeting your legal obligations. Depending on the severity of the breach, we may: If we consider that the assets of your fund are at risk, we can take action to protect them. This may include: It's a good idea to use SMSF professionals to help you. For example: Many SMSF professionals also offer packages or kits to make the process easier. If you buy a package or kit, make sure the trust deed complies with the latest changes to the law and is specific to your fund, its objectives and the members' circumstances. If you use an SMSF professional to help you set up your fund, you're still responsible for making sure it's done correctly. For more information, refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032). You can check: You can choose one of the following structures for your fund: Your choice of trustee will make a difference to the way you administer your fund and the types of benefits it can pay, so you need to make sure it suits your circumstances. We recommend you discuss your trustee options with an SMSF professional. If your fund has individual trustees, it's an SMSF if all of the following apply: If your fund has a corporate trustee, it's an SMSF if all of the following apply: Single member funds It's possible for you to set up your fund with only one member. If you have a corporate trustee for a single member fund: You can also have two individuals as trustees. One trustee needs to be the member and the other needs to be either:: Generally, members under 18 years of age can't be trustees of a super fund. A parent or guardian can be a trustee for a member who's under 18 years of age and does not have a legal personal representative. A company can't be a trustee if: Penalties can apply if you act as a trustee while disqualified. 'Australian superannuation fund'. For more information, refer to Residency of self-managed super funds.. For more information, refer to Setting up a self-managed super fund (NAT 71923).. For more information about trustee declarations or to obtain one, refer to Trustee declaration (NAT 71089). When a member joins your fund, record their TFN. You'll need to provide each trustee's or director's TFN when you register the fund with us. If a member hasn't quoted their TFN: For more information about TFNs and how we tax contributions, refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032).. The fund's bank account needs to be kept separate from each of the trustees' individual bank accounts and any related employers' bank accounts. Once your fund is legally established and all trustees have signed a trustee declaration, you need to register your fund with us. When registering your fund, you can: You can register: Electing for your fund to be regulated For your fund to be a complying fund and receive tax concessions, you need to elect for it to be regulated and comply with the super laws. Non-regulated funds aren't entitled to tax concessions, and the members' employers (and the members who are self-employed) can't claim deductions for contributions they make to the fund. You need to make the election within 60 days of establishing your SMSF (generally your fund is established once the trust deed has been signed and the first contribution is made). Getting a TFN and ABN We allocate a tax file number (TFN) and Australian business number (ABN) to all funds that register with us. Once we've given you an ABN, we place some of your fund's details on the Australian Business Register. Funds with an ABN are also included on Super Fund Lookup. Other super funds can use Super Fund Lookup to check whether your fund is a complying fund for transferring super benefits. Your details may not appear on Super Fund Lookup for up to seven days while we undertake registration checks. Other super funds will not transfer super benefits while your fund's details are not on Super Fund Lookup. Illegal early release Early access to super is illegal. A newly registered SMSF will not automatically show as a complying fund in Super Fund Lookup. Instead it will show a status of 'Registered - status not determined'. This status indicates that the fund has not been operational for long and has not provided enough information for the ATO to determine its compliance status. Such a fund has not been issued with a notice of compliance (NOC) as it has not yet lodged its first SMSF annual tax return. This means additional checks will need to occur before any APRA-regulated fund will process a rollover benefit payment to an SMSF with this status. Registering for GST You need to register the fund for goods and services tax (GST) if its annual GST turnover is more than $75,000. Your fund needs to have an ABN to register for GST. Most SMSFs don't have to register for GST because SMSFs mainly make input-taxed sales, and these don't count towards your GST turnover. See Goods and services tax for more information. We regulate SMSFs. All other funds are regulated by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA). For more information about our role and how we work with you and others to regulate your fund, refer to How your self-managed super fund is regulated (NAT 714. One of your key responsibilities as a trustee is managing your fund's investments. Your investment decisions should be designed to protect and increase your members' benefits for retirement. Your investment strategy You invest according to your written investment strategy. This sets out your fund's investment objectives and how you plan to achieve them. It takes into account the personal circumstances of all the fund members, including their age and risk tolerance., 'arm's length' basis and don't buy assets from, or lend money to, fund members (or other related parties). Generally, your fund can't borrow money. Ownership and protection of assets You need to manage your fund's investments separately from the personal or business investments of members, including yourself. This includes ensuring that the fund has clear ownership of its investment assets. The sole purpose test The fund's investments are for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to members - there can't be any pre-retirement benefits to members or related parties (such as letting members use an investment asset). Investing in collectables and personal use assets From 1 July 2011, all collectables and personal use assets purchased by SMSFs will have to comply with tightened legislative standards. The ATO checks that you manage your investments in accordance with the super laws and will help you understand your responsibilities, but we don't provide financial or investment advice. For more information: When preparing your investment strategy, you need to consider: While the super laws don't tell you what you can and can't invest in, they do set out certain investment restrictions you need to comply with. Make your investments on a commercial, 'arm's length' basis and don't buy assets from, or lend money to, fund members (or other related parties). Any time your SMSF makes an investment, it needs to be made and maintained on a strict commercial basis. This is referred to as an 'arm's length investment'. The purchase and sale price of fund assets should always reflect a true market value for the asset, and the income from assets held by your fund should always reflect a true market rate of return. Unless an exception applies, trustees generally can't: The investment restrictions are some of the most important rules you need to comply with under the super laws. If you don't, we may impose significant penalties. We recommend you speak to an SMSF professional to make sure your investments comply with the law. For more information about the investment rules, including the limited exceptions under the super laws, refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032). One of your trustee responsibilities is to ensure the assets of the fund are protected. To protect fund assets in the event of a creditor dispute, and prevent costly legal action to prove who owns them, assets should be recorded in a way that: Fund assets (other than money) should be held in the name of either: The assets can't be held in the name of a trustee or member as an individual. Your SMSF needs to meet the sole purpose test to be eligible for the tax concessions normally available to super funds. This means your fund needs to be maintained for the sole purpose of providing retirement benefits to your members, or to their dependants if a member dies before retirement. If you or any party directly or indirectly obtain a financial benefit when making investment decisions and arrangements (other than increasing the return to your fund), it's likely your fund will not meet the sole purpose test. When investing in collectables such as art or wine, you need to make sure that SMSF members don't have use of, or access to, the assets of the SMSF. The most common breaches of the sole purpose test are: Tightened legislative standards apply to SMSFs investing in collectables and personal use assets. This is to ensure SMSF investments do not give rise to a current day benefit and that such investments are made for genuine retirement purposes. These standards apply to all new investments from 1 July 2011, with all existing holdings of collectables and personal use assets to comply with these standards or be disposed of by 1 July 2016. Contravening the sole purpose test is very serious and may lead to trustees facing civil and criminal penalties (in addition to the fund losing its concessional tax treatment). For more information on the new legislative standards, refer to New regulations for self-managed super fund investments. For more information about the investment rules, including the limited exceptions under the super laws, refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032). A contribution is a payment made to your fund in the form of money or an asset other than money (called an 'in specie' contribution). Provided the governing rules of your fund allow it, your SMSF can generally accept: You need to properly document contributions and rollovers - including the amount, type and breakdown of components - and allocate them to the fund members' accounts within 28 days of the end of the month in which you received them. Allowable contributions There are minimum standards for accepting contributions. This is to ensure contributions are made for retirement purposes only. Whether a contribution is allowable depends on: These are minimum standards - the trust deed of your fund may have more rules around accepting contributions. In specie contributions In specie contributions are contributions to your fund in the form of an asset, rather than money or cash. Generally, you can't intentionally acquire assets (including in specie contributions) from related parties of your fund. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, such as listed securities and business real property acquired at market value. Rollovers and transfers A rollover is when a member transfers some or all of their existing super to your fund. For more information refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032). There are two broad types of contributions - mandated employer contributions and non-mandated contributions. The amount of contributions made for a member is subject to contributions caps. Mandated employer contributions Mandated employer contributions are those made by an employer under a law or an industrial agreement for the benefit of a fund member. They include super guarantee contributions. You can accept mandated employer contributions for members at any time, regardless of their age or the number of hours they're working at that time. Non-mandated contributions Non-mandated contributions include: Whether you can accept a non-mandated contribution depends on the member's age and circumstances. For example, for members under 65 years of age, you can generally accept all types of contributions (subject to the relevant contribution caps), but for members 75 and over you can't accept any non-mandated contributions. For some types of contributions you can only accept the contribution if the member quotes their tax file number (TFN). Contribution caps Contribution caps apply to contributions made for a fund member in a financial year. Contributions that are within the caps generally receive significant tax concessions. There are different caps for: The caps are indexed annually. The contribution caps are listed in Key superannuation rates and thresholds. For more information about contribution caps and allowable contributions, refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032). In specie contributions are contributions to your fund in the form of an asset, rather than money or cash. Generally, you can't intentionally acquire assets (including in specie contributions) from related parties of your fund. However, there are some significant exceptions to this rule, including: For more information about acquiring assets from related parties, see Managing your fund's investments. A member's super benefits can generally be rolled over or transferred within the super system with their consent. If you accept a rollover of benefits from another super fund, that fund can ask you to show that your fund is a complying fund before processing your request. For a current listing of regulated complying super funds, visit Super Fund Lookup at For more information about the reporting requirements for rolling over or transferring benefits, see Paying benefits to members. Employment termination payments Most employment termination payments (previously known as eligible termination payments) can no longer be rolled over into super. However, some transitional arrangements apply. Generally, transitional termination payments are employment termination payments received after 1 July 2007 that an employee was entitled to receive in an employment contract that existed before 10 May 2006. Transitional termination payments need to be made before 1 July 2012 and can be contributed or rolled over into a super fund. As a trustee of your SMSF you need to: As a trustee of an SMSF, you're required to appoint an approved, independent auditor to audit your fund each year, at least 30 days before the auditor must give a report to the trustee. The auditor report must be given to the trustee by the day before the fund is required to lodge its SMSF annual return. Your auditor is required to: You should appoint your auditor early to allow enough time to do the audit and lodge the SMSF annual return on time. An audit is still required even if no contributions or payments were made in that income year. Before an auditor can start to audit, you or your SMSF professional need to prepare information about your accounts and transactions for the previous financial year. This information is then sent to the approved auditor. All SMSFs need to lodge an SMSF annual return with us each year, in order to: The lodgment and (where applicable) payment dates are: You can't lodge the SMSF annual return until the audit of your SMSF has been finalised, as information from the audit report is required to complete the regulatory information in the return. Failure to lodge your SMSF annual return by the due date can result in penalties and the loss of your SMSF's tax concessions. To download the SMSF annual return (NAT 71226) and instructions (NAT 71606), refer to Self-managed superannuation fund annual return. Newly registered self-managed super funds If your fund is newly registered but has not begun operating, you may not have to lodge an annual return or pay the supervisory levy of $180. You can ask us to cancel the ABN, which can be re-registered when the fund has assets that are set aside for the benefit of members. If the fund has now received a contribution or a rollover amount, you can notify us in writing or by fax on 1300 550 356 advising us that the SMSF: Write to us at: Australian Taxation Office PO Box 1128 Penrith NSW 2740 Amending your SMSF annual return To amend any part of your SMSF annual return, you need to lodge a complete amended return: You can't request amendments via written correspondence or by using the form Request for amendment of income tax return lodged by tax professionals (NAT 71837). The SMSF annual return is more than an income tax return. You also provide important regulatory information and contributions information about each member. This information is inter-related - changing one label on the form is likely to require labels in other sections of the form to be amended too. For this reason we need you to always complete the form in full, not just the parts you want to amend, and provide contributions information for all members, not just the member whose contributions you need to change. For example, suppose an SMSF annual return overstates the employer contributions reported for one of its two members by $1,000 due to an arithmetic error made when preparing the return. To correct the error a new annual return is lodged reporting all information as previously reported, but with amendments to: You can obtain a paper version of the SMSF annual return (NAT 71226) by: When rolling over benefits and current year contributions, you need to complete a Rollover benefits statement (NAT 70944) and provide copies to the receiving fund (or funds) and the member whose benefits are being rolled over. The Rollover benefits statement allows the receiving fund to: You need to check that the rollover is to a complying fund. You can download a copy of the Rollover benefits statement (NAT 70944) and the accompanying instructions How to complete a rollover benefits statement (NAT 70945). You can check whether the receiving fund is a regulated complying super fund using Super Fund Lookup at One of your responsibilities as a trustee of an SMSF is to keep proper and accurate tax and super records to manage your fund efficiently. It's a good idea to take minutes of all investment decisions, including: If, as one of the fund's trustees, you invest the SMSF's money in an investment that fails, the other trustees could take action against you for failing to be diligent in your duties. However, if your investment decision was recorded in meeting minutes that were signed by the other trustees, you will have a record to show the other trustees agreed with your actions. You need to make certain records available to your fund's approved auditor when they audit your fund each year. You may also need to provide accurate records to the ATO if we ask to see them. You need to keep the following records for a minimum of five years: You need to keep the following records for a minimum of 10 years: Don't forget that income tax record-keeping requirements also need your attention - especially documents on deductions, capital gains tax and losses. As a trustee of an SMSF, you need to notify us within 28 days if there is a change in: You also need to notify us within 28 days if the fund is being wound up. To tell us about changes to your SMSF, either: You can't use the SMSF annual return to tell us about a change in the structure of your SMSF. The super in your fund is intended for your members' retirement and generally can't be accessed until then. Preserved and non-preserved benefits Most of the super held in your fund will be in the form of preserved benefits. These must be preserved in the fund until the law and your fund's trust deed allows them to be paid. Preservation age Preservation age is generally the age that a person can access their super benefits. permit early access to super benefits before a member reaches their preservation age, but these occur only in limited circumstances, such as terminal illness or permanent incapacity. Paying benefits Payment of benefits is usually as a lump sum or an income stream (that is, a pension). If a benefit is unlawfully released, the ATO may apply significant penalties to you, your SMSF and the recipient of the early release. All contributions made by or on behalf of a member, and all earnings for the period after 30 June 1999, are preserved benefits. Employer eligible termination payments (before 1 July 2007) rolled over into a super fund are also preserved benefits. Preserved benefits may be cashed voluntarily only if a condition of release is met and then subject to any cashing restrictions imposed by the super laws. Cashing restrictions tell you what form the benefits need to be taken in. There are two other types of benefits: Preservation age is generally the age that you can access your super benefits. A person's preservation age depends on their date of birth, as set out in the following table. Several of the conditions of release require that the member has reached their preservation age. Conditions of release are the events your member needs to satisfy to withdraw benefits from their super fund. The conditions of release are also subject to the rules of your SMSF (as set out in the trust deed). It's possible that a benefit may be payable under the super laws, but can't be paid under the rules of your SMSF. The most common conditions of release for paying out benefits are: There are a number of other circumstances in which benefits can be released, such as incapacity, severe financial hardship, temporary residents leaving Australia, terminal illness or injury, and terminating gainful employment. Some of these permit early access to benefits before reaching preservation age. There are specific rules for each of these and some have restrictions on the way the benefits can be cashed. Generally, rollovers or transfers to other super funds don't require a condition of release to be satisfied, subject to the governing rules of your SMSF. However, money rolled over from an employer into a super fund (before 1 July 2007) is preserved and can generally be cashed once the member reaches preservation age and meets a condition of release. Early access or release of preserved benefits and restricted non-preserved benefits is permitted in very limited circumstances and may include: For information about releasing super early under severe financial hardship, on compassionate grounds, permanent or temporary incapacity or due to a terminal medical condition, contact your super fund first. You can also refer to Conditions of release to access your super before retirement (including natural disasters). For more information about APRA and early-release applications: Trustees should consider their obligations when allowing/considering early access such as: Setting up or using an SMSF to gain improper early access to super is illegal. If a benefit is unlawfully released, the ATO may apply significant penalties to you, your SMSF and the recipient of the early release. Beware of promoters who claim they can help you access your retirement benefits, such as for buying a house, car or a holiday or for solving your financial problems. These schemes are illegal and there are severe penalties if you access your super before you're legally entitled to. For more information, refer to Running a self-managed super fund (NAT 11032). For more detailed information about access to benefits on compassionate grounds contact the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) Infoline on 1300 131 060. Benefits from a super fund may generally be paid as a lump sum, income stream (pension) or annuity, provided the member has satisfied a condition of release (for example, retirement). When paying benefits you may have administrative obligations such as withholding tax or obtaining an actuary's certificate. Income streams Income streams need to be either account-based or non account-based. Account-based income streams have the following general characteristics: A new account-based transition to retirement income stream may be started on or after 1 July 2007. These income streams need to meet the standards of ordinary account-based income streams but are also required to have a maximum annual payment limit of 10% of the account balance. Commutations of these pensions can't be taken in cash except in limited circumstances. Non account-based income streams have the following general characteristics: Before starting to pay any income stream, we recommend that you seek the advice of a professional such as an accountant, financial planner or actuary. PAYG withholding and administrative obligations You may have to withhold tax from benefit payments. This happens if the payment is to a member less than 60 years of age, or to a member 60 years of age or more and the benefit is from an untaxed source. If you have to withhold tax from a benefit payment to a member, you need to: You don't need to provide a payment summary if the payment is a lump sum because the member has a terminal illness or injury. If you're paying income streams to members, you can claim a tax exemption for fund income that is related to paying the fund's current pension liabilities. To do this you may need a certificate from an actuary to work out the amount of exempt income from assets that support the pension payments. SMSFs are subject to income tax but receive concessional treatment, provided they are complying funds. A complying SMSF's assessable income is generally taxed at a rate of 15%, while for a non-complying fund the rate is 45%. The most common types of assessable income for complying SMSFs are: However, certain types of SMSF income are taxed at different rates:. Certain contributions received by a complying SMSF are included in its assessable income and are usually taxed as part of the SMSF's income at 15%. These 'assessable contributions' include:. For more information, refer to Self-managed super funds and tax exemptions on pension assets. Your SMSF's assessable income includes any net capital gains, under the capital gains tax (CGT) provisions. A net capital gain is: Complying SMSFs are entitled to a CGT discount of one-third, if the relevant asset was. For more information, refer to Capital gains tax essentials. Member assets A member may decide to sell an asset to generate cash to make contributions to your super fund, or contribute assets rather than cash to your super fund - known as an 'in specie' contribution. In either situation, the member will trigger a capital gains tax (CGT) event when they sell or transfer the asset. This means the member may have to pay CGT. Non-arm's length income is taxed at 45%. SMSFs are required to invest on a commercial, 'arm's length' basis. The purchase and sale price of fund assets should always reflect a true market value for the asset, and the income from assets held by your fund should always reflect a true market rate of return. SMSFs generally can't: Broadly, an amount of ordinary income or statutory income is non-arm's length income of a complying SMSF if: Like other taxpayer entities, a complying SMSF is entitled to deduct from its assessable income any losses or outgoings that are: Expenses that a complying SMSF can deduct include: Losses and outgoings relating to exempt current pension income are generally not deductible because they are incurred in earning exempt income. If you carry on an enterprise, you must register for GST if your GST turnover is $75,000 or more. However, most SMSFs don't have to register for GST because most SMSFs mainly make input-taxed supplies, which don't count towards your GST turnover. Input taxed supplies include financial supplies and supplies of residential premises by way of rent or sale. However, you may choose to register for GST. In deciding whether to register voluntarily, you should consider: Your SMSF must register for GST if it makes supplies, other than input-taxed supplies, that exceed the GST turnover of $75,000. For more information, refer to GST and financial supplies for self managed super funds. To wind up your SMSF you need to: There are a number of reasons why you might need to wind up your SMSF: In some cases you'll be able to pay benefits to members when you wind up your SMSF. In other cases the members won't be able to, or won't want to, take their benefits so you'll need to roll them over to another super fund. Once the fund is wound up, it can't be reactivated. For more information, refer to Winding up a self-managed super fund (NAT 8107). You need to let us know within 28 days of the fund being wound up. You need to do this in writing and include: Send your letter to: Australian Taxation Office PO Box 3578 ALBURY NSW 2640 You need to make sure that: If you've wound up your fund and haven't met a condition of release, you can't access your super. Your super needs to be rolled over into another complying super fund. There are serious penalties for using your super before you are legally allowed. There may be capital gains tax implications on the disposal of assets when you are paying benefits or rolling over benefits to another fund. For more information, refer to Capital gains tax essentials. When winding up your fund you still need to have an audit completed before you can lodge your annual return. You need to lodge your SMSF annual return and complete all labels at item 9, 'Was the fund wound up during the income year?' You must also finalise payment of any outstanding tax liabilities at this time and lodge any outstanding returns from previous years. For more information, refer to Self managed superannuation fund annual return instructions (NAT 71606). If you need to lodge a return for any year before 2008, call us on 13 10 20 for help. It's important to wind up your fund correctly. If you don't lodge the required reports it's likely our compliance team will contact you to do so. If you fail to carry out these responsibilities, you may be selected for further compliance activities. You may also be subject to penalties. Confirmation of your wound up fund To confirm that you've met all of your tax responsibilities, we'll send you a letter stating that we have: Don't close your SMSF bank accounts until you've received this confirmation from us - otherwise you won't be able to bank any refund you're entitled to. Last Modified: Thursday, 28)
Abstract Background Early childhood is critical to the development of lifelong food habits. Given the high proportion of children with inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption, identification of modifiable factors associated with higher consumption may be useful in developing interventions to address this public health issue. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of the home food environment that are associated with higher fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of Australian preschool children. Methods A cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted with 396 parents of 3 to 5 year-old children attending 30 preschools within the Hunter region, New South Wales, Australia., family eating policies and family mealtime practices. Characteristics of the home food environment that showed evidence of an association with children's fruit and vegetable consumption in simple regression models were entered into a backwards stepwise multiple regression analysis. The multiple regression analysis used generalised linear mixed models, controlled for parental education, household income and child gender, and was adjusted for the correlation between children's fruit and vegetable consumption within a preschool. Results The multiple regression analysis found positive associations between children's fruit and vegetable consumption and parental fruit and vegetable intake (p = 0.005), fruit and vegetable availability (p = 0.006) and accessibility (p = 0.012), the number of occasions each day that parents provided their child with fruit and vegetables (p < 0.001), and allowing children to eat only at set meal times all or most of the time (p = 0.006). Combined, these characteristics of the home food environment accounted for 48% of the variation in the child's fruit and vegetable score. Conclusions This study identified a range of modifiable characteristics within the home food environment that are associated with fruit and vegetable consumption among preschool children. Such characteristics could be considered potential targets for interventions to promote intake among children of this age. Background Adequate consumption of fruit and vegetables provides children with essential nutrients for healthy growth and development [1] and may displace the consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods associated with childhood overweight and obesity [2-6]. Given that childhood diet is a significant determinant of adult diet [7] and higher fruit and vegetable consumption in childhood is associated with decreased risk of adult chronic disease [8,9], the benefits of adequate childhood fruit and vegetable consumption appear to extend throughout the lifespan. Despite this, internationally, a high proportion of children have inadequate fruit and vegetable intake [10,11]. Identifying factors associated with higher childhood fruit and vegetable consumption may assist in the development of interventions to address this public health issue. Many factors influence the foods that children eat: the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of their families [10,11]; their individual preferences and genetic predispositions [12,13]; psychosocial factors [14]; and characteristics of their environment [15,16]. Given the amount of time children spend in the home, this environment represents a potentially promising setting in which to improve young children's fruit and vegetable consumption. Rosenkranz's ecological model of the home food environment hypothesises that child diet in this setting is influenced by three domains: built and natural environments; political and economic environments; and socio-cultural environments [17]. Of these, those most proximal to a child's life, such as home accessibility and availability of foods (built and natural environments) and parental diet, parenting practices and rules, and family eating patterns (socio-cultural environments) may be most amenable to intervention. As such, research investigating associations between these characteristics of the home environment and children's fruit and vegetable consumption is warranted. Studies of school-aged children have found parental fruit and vegetable intake and the accessibility and availability of fruit and vegetables in the home [12,15,16] to be consistently associated with children's consumption. However, research involving children of preschool age (children aged 3 to 5 years [18]) is limited. For example, a 2007 systematic review that included environmental correlates of children's fruit and vegetable intake identified just three studies involving children of preschool-age, compared with 30 studies involving children aged 5-18 years [16], while a more recent systematic review only included studies of children aged 6 years and older [15]. The factors influencing dietary habits in early childhood be may distinct from those affecting school-aged children, due to preschoolers' earlier developmental stage and greater dependence on their family [15]. The few studies that have investigated associations between such factors and fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children found positive associations with parental fruit and vegetable intake [19-21] and parental role-modeling [22]; and negative associations with eating in front of the television [23] and parental pressure to eat [21,23]. However, only a minority of these studies, have used both a comprehensive or validated assessment of child fruit and vegetable consumption and multivariate analyses to isolate the effect of individual variables and control for the influence of socio-demographic characteristics [20,21]. As such, this study sought to address these limitations, and identify characteristics of the home food environment associated with fruit and vegetable consumption in a sample of Australian preschool children. Methods Design A cross-sectional survey of parents of preschool-aged children was conducted via Computer Assisted Telephone Interview (CATI). Ethical approval The data for the present study forms the baseline dataset for a cluster randomised controlled trial of a telephone-based intervention to increase fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool children [24]. Ethical approval for the broader trial was obtained from the Human Research Ethics Committees of the University of Newcastle (Ref No. H-2008-0410) and the Hunter New England Area Health Service (Ref No. 08/10/15/5.09). Sample Study participants were parents of 3 to 5 year-old children attending non-government preschools within the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. Almost 90% of preschools within New South Wales are either privately run or run by the community [25]. All participants had previously volunteered to participate in a telephone-based randomised controlled trial of a fruit and vegetable intervention [24]. Preschools were ineligible if they provided children with meals, if they catered exclusively for children with special needs, were government preschools (as the conduct of this research was not approved in these institutions) or if they had participated in child healthy eating research projects within the prior six months. Parents were eligible if they resided with their preschool child for at least 4 days per week and were responsible for their child's meals and snacks at least half of the time. If children had dietary restrictions that were incompatible with the Australian Dietary Guidelines for fruit and vegetable consumption (as determined by an Accrediting Practicing Dietitian), their parents were deemed ineligible. Recruitment Recruitment procedures are described in detail elsewhere [24] and are based on a systematic review identifying effective strategies for recruiting parents for study participation through schools [26]. Briefly, all eligible preschools within the study area were invited to participate. At consenting preschools, a research assistant distributed study information and consent forms to parents as they dropped off or picked up their child. Parents indicated their consent by ticking a box on the consent form and returning it to a drop box at the preschool. Recruitment of preschools began in February 2010 and recruitment of parents began in March 2010 and was conducted over a 6-month period. The consent form contained questions about the parent's residential suburb, the child's age, gender, and usual fruit and vegetable consumption (average number of serves per day). In order to assess bias due to selective non-participation, parents who did not wish to participate in the study were encouraged to also complete a consent form with this information and return it to the preschool. Data Collection Consenting parents were contacted to complete a telephone survey via CATI delivered by telephone interviewers experienced in conducting health-related interviews. The survey was conducted from April to October 2010. Parents were instructed to answer with respect to their preschool-aged child. If they had more than one child aged 3 to 5 years, they were instructed to select the child who would have the next birthday. Measures Participant characteristics The survey included items to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of parents and children. Parents were asked their age, gender, highest level of education and annual household income and whether they identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and were asked to report their child's date of birth and gender. Items were sourced from population health surveys [27]. Parents were also asked the number of days per week that they resided with their child, and how often they were responsible for providing their child with meals and snacks (always, most of the time, half of the time, seldom, never). Children's fruit and vegetable intake Participants also completed the fruit and vegetable subscale of the Children's Dietary Questionnaire (CDQ) [28]. This subscale requires parents to report the variety and frequency of fruit and vegetables consumed by their child over the past 24 hours and past 7 days. This tool includes potatoes and sweet potatoes in the assessment of vegetable consumption, but parents are specifically instructed not to include hot chips. Fruit and vegetable juices are excluded from most (3 out of 4) questions assessing the frequency and variety of fruit intake, with the exception of the number of occasions of fruit or vegetable consumption over the past 24 hours. The subscale score ranges from 0 to 28 and a score of 14 or more suggests that the child has intake patterns consistent with fruit and vegetable dietary guidelines [28]. Changes on this score could arise from a range of possible changes to children's fruit and vegetable consumption patterns, for example, a one-point increase could result from eating an additional type of fruit or vegetable, or eating fruit or vegetable at an additional occasion in the previous 24 hours. This subscale has been established as reliable in comparable samples of preschoolers (intracorrelation coefficient = 0.75), and has been established as valid against a 7-day dietary checklist in a sample of school-aged children (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.58) [28]. Characteristics of the home food environment Characteristics of the home food environment were assessed within seven domains: Parental role-modeling of fruit and vegetable consumption, pressure to eat, parental provision of fruit and vegetables, fruit and vegetable availability, fruit and vegetable accessibility, mealtime practices and family eating policies. Where possible, items were taken from existing validated measures of the home food environment including The Healthy Home Survey [29], The Child Feeding Questionnaire [30] and The National Nutrition Survey [31]. Where known, the reliability and validity of items are provided alongside each item. Study items with unknown psychometric properties are also identified. a) Parental role-modeling of fruit and vegetable consumption Items from the National Nutrition Survey were included to assess the average number of serves of fruit and vegetables consumed each day by parents [31]. Answers to these questions have been positively associated with objective biomarkers of fruit and vegetable intake including α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin and red-cell folate [32]. A lack of existing role-modeling items that were specific to fruit and vegetable consumption, quantitative, and targeted at parents of preschool children led the study team to develop two items to assess this. Specifically, parents were asked separate questions regarding the number of times they had consumed fruits, and the number of times they had consumed vegetables, in front of their child on the previous day. The validity of these items is unknown. b) Pressure to eat The 'Pressure to Eat' subscale from Birch's Child Feeding Questionnaire was included to measure the extent to which parents try to control the amount and type of food eaten by their child [30]. Scores range from 1 to 5 and a higher score indicates more pressure. The four-item scale has been shown to be internally consistent (Cronbach's alpha = 0.70) and reliability estimates for the four items of this subscale are 0.19-0.52 [30]. c) Parental provision of fruit and vegetables As no items or scales could be identified that measured the extent to which parents provided their children with fruit and vegetables, two questions were developed specifically for this study, and as such their psychometric properties are unknown. Separate questions were asked regarding the number of occasions on the previous day that the parent provided the child with fruits and with vegetables. d) Availability of fruit and vegetables in the home As no appropriate measure of home fruit and vegetable availability that was brief, suitable for telephone data collection, and appropriate for use within an Australian sample could be sourced, to assess this, parents were read a list of 19 commonly consumed fruits and 24 commonly consumed vegetables from the Children's Dietary Questionnaire. Fruit and vegetables could be available in any form: fresh, tinned, frozen or dried. Parents were asked to identify those that they had in their home at that time and the number of varieties of fruits and vegetables were then summed. The validity and reliability of this item are unknown. e) Accessibility of fruit and vegetables in the home Accessibility was assessed by asking whether fruit and vegetables in the home were stored in a form that facilitated their consumption, for example, washed and chopped. The vegetable item was taken from the Healthy Home Survey (item reliability, kappa = 0.57, item validity, kappa = 0.43) [29]. The reliability and validity of the Healthy Home survey items were established in a study of 85 American families with 3 to 8 year-old children by having 50% of the sample re-do the survey one week after the first administration, and by a home-visit to 95% of participants [29]. As there was no equivalent item for fruit, this was adapted from the vegetable item, specifically: Do you have any ready to eat fresh fruit on a shelf in the refrigerator or on the kitchen counter now, for example, fruit you have washed or chopped to make ready to eat, like bunches of grapes, berries, or oranges? f) Mealtime practices The extent to which the family was adopting mealtime practices that encouraged child fruit and vegetable consumption was measured using items from the Healthy Home Survey. Items taken from this survey included the location where most meals are eaten, the number of days per week the family sits at a table to eat dinner together, and the number of days per week the child eats dinner in front of the television (Item reliability kappa = 0.73-0.80) [29]. g) Family eating policies Questions from the Healthy Home Survey were also included to assess the extent to which parents adopted eating policies that encouraged fruit and vegetable consumption. On a five-point likert scale ('all of the time' to 'never') parents recalled the frequency with which they did each of the following: ask their child to eat everything on their plate at dinner; restrict dessert if their child does not eat the food on their plate at dinner; reward their child with desserts, snacks or confectionary if they finish their dinner; allow their child to eat only at set meal times; and allow their child to help him/herself to snacks when at home (Item reliability kappa = 0.40-0.75) [29]. Analysis All analyses were conducted using SAS 9.2 (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. Where quantitative items were used to collect information about environmental characteristics relating to fruits and vegetables separately, these totals were summed to form a single variable, for example, parental intake, parental role-modeling, fruit and vegetable availability within the home and parental providing behaviour. Similarly, the two accessibility items were combined into a single item indicating whether both fruit and vegetables were stored in a ready-to-eat format or whether fruit, or vegetables, or both fruit and vegetables were not stored in this way. Consistent with previous research on Australian parents of preschoolers [33] parental education was dichotomised into 'university educated' and 'other', and annual household income was split into less than $100,000 and $100,000 or more. Categorical variables used to assess eating policies were recoded dichotomously, whereby "all of the time" and "most of the time" responses were combined to reflect consistent adoption of these policies, and "some of the time", "rarely" and "never" were also combined. Non-normal continuous variables (days per week the family eats dinner together at a table, days per week the child eats dinner in front of the television) were treated as dichotomous categorical variables. The cut points were set at the frequencies with which the highest levels of children's fruit and vegetable consumption have previously been associated [34-37]. Therefore the number of days per week the family eats dinner together at a table was split into 7 days and less than 7 days, and the number of days per week the child eats dinner in front of the television was split into 0 days and 1 or more days. Similarly, the location where most meals were eaten was recoded into 'table' and 'other' [38]. A series of simple regression models were run investigating the association between each characteristic of the home food environment and children's fruit and vegetable consumption. Simple regression models also investigated socio-demographic characteristics for which associations with children's fruit or vegetable intake had previously been found; parental education [10], household income [39], child gender [19] and child age [19]. As numerous simple regression models were being tested, a Bonferroni adjustment was applied to the p-value (0.003) to account for the increased likelihood of type one error [40]. As evidence suggests fruit and vegetable consumption varies between children attending different childcare centres [41], all regression analyses used generalised linear mixed models (Proc Mixed) with a random intercept term to adjust for the correlation of measurements within a preschool. A screening criterion of p < 0.25 was adopted to determine which variables would be included in the multiple regression analysis. A criterion of p < 0.25 was used as evidence suggests that adopting the traditional threshold (p < 0.05) can exclude variables of known importance [42,43]. A backwards stepwise approach was used to determine the final multiple regression model with the least significant characteristic of the home food environment removed and the analysis re-run until only significant variables remained. Socio-demographic variables that satisfied the screening criterion (p < 0.25) were controlled for in the multiple regression model (i.e. they were included in the stepwise process and retained in the final model). Results The sample consisted of 396 parents, recruited from 30 preschools across the Hunter region. Of the 57 preschools within the sampling frame, 30 consented, 19 were ineligible, seven refused to participate and one could not be contacted. Children from approximately 2,200 families attended the 30 preschools, and 417 parents consented to participate, with a further 178 returning a form indicating that they did not consent to participate. Of the consenters, ten refused to participate when contacted to complete the survey, six were ineligible and five could not be contacted, resulting in a total of 396 parents providing data for the analysis. The study sample and the characteristics of their home food environments are described in Table 1. There were no significant differences between participants and those non-consenters who returned a form with respect to child age, gender, daily serves of fruit or vegetables, or level of disadvantage based on residential postcode [44]. However, only a small proportion (approximately 10%) of the families who did not participate returned a completed consent form. In comparison with a regionally representative sample of children aged 2 to 4 years, a similar proportion of children in this study consumed at least one serve of fruit per day, but a higher proportion of children in the study consumed at least two serves of vegetables per day [45]. Most parents (99%) lived with their child 7 days a week and most (74%) reported that they were 'always' responsible for their child's meals and snacks, with 22% and 5% reporting they were responsible 'most of the time' and 'half of the time' respectively. Parents consumed an average of five serves of fruit and vegetables each day and consumption levels approximated that of female adults of a similar age within the region [45]. On average, parents ate fruit and vegetables in front of their children more than two occasions per day and provided their children with fruit and vegetables more than three times a day. While, on average, households had almost 22 different types of fruit and vegetables available in the house, fewer than half of those households (39%) kept both fruit and vegetables in a ready-to-eat, accessible format. On average, families ate together at a table 5.6 days a week (with 57% eating together 7 days a week) and children ate dinner in front of the television on an average of 2.2 days a week (with 47% not doing this at all, i.e. 0 days per week). The majority of families (87%) ate most meals at a table. Although 59% of parents indicated that they would restrict dessert 'most' or 'all of the time' when their child did not eat their dinner, 29% rewarded their child with dessert for finishing dinner. Only 4% of parents allowed their child to access snacks themselves. The mean score for the fruit and vegetable subscale for children within the study was 14.8 (sd 4.6). Table 2 displays the strength of the associations between children's fruit and vegetable score and characteristics of the home food environment and socio-demographic characteristics in simple and multiple regression models. Simple regression analysis found statistically significant positive associations (p < 0.003) between children's fruit and vegetable consumption and the following factors: parental fruit and vegetable intake; occasions per day where parents role-model fruit and vegetable consumption; provision of fruit or vegetables to children; variety of fruit and vegetables available in the home; keeping fruit and vegetables in a ready-to-eat format (e.g. washed and chopped); and only allowing children to eat at set meal times. Twelve characteristics of the home food environment had a p-value less than 0.25 in the simple regression models and were entered into the backward stepwise regression along with parental education, household income and child gender. The assumptions of multiple regression were tested and found to be acceptable. The regression coefficients, 95% confidence intervals and p-values for the five significant variables (p < 0.05) that were retained in the final regression model are shown in the final two columns of Table 2. Multiple regression analysis indicated that higher fruit and vegetable consumption in children was significantly associated with: higher fruit and vegetable intake in parents, more frequent provision of fruit and vegetables to children throughout the day, having a wider variety of fruits and vegetables available in the home, having fruit and vegetables stored in a ready-to-eat format, and generally only allowing children to eat at set mealtimes. These variables remained significant despite controlling for parental education, household income and the gender of the child. This model of the characteristics of the home food environments accounted for 48% of the variation in the child's fruit and vegetable score. The regression coefficients suggest that, all other factors held constant, each additional occasion that parents provide their children with fruit or vegetables throughout the day is associated with an average an increase in children's fruit and vegetable score of 1.80 points, and that ensuring that children generally only eat at set mealtimes is associated with an average increase of 1.00 points in the fruit and vegetable score. The coefficients of the remaining three significant variables within the model ranged from 0.12 to 0.90. Discussion This study is one of only a handful of studies examining associations between characteristics of the home food environment and the fruit and vegetable consumption of preschool-aged children, and among the first to investigate these relationships through multiple regression analysis and with a reliable and valid measure of fruit and vegetable intake. The study found that greater fruit and vegetable consumption in children was positively associated with parent's own fruit and vegetable consumption; the frequency with which parents provide these foods to their child; the availability and accessibility of these foods in the home; and with maintaining set mealtimes. Such findings provide insights into factors that influence young children's vegetable and fruit intake. The positive association between child and parent fruit and vegetable intake is supported by studies involving preschool-aged children [19-21] as well as older children and adolescents [14,18,48,49] and supports previous recommendations that modification of parent diet be a key strategy for interventions targeting children's eating habits [5,19,21,38,46]. A lack of significant association between child fruit and vegetable intake and parental consumption of these foods in front of their children, however, suggests that the influence of parental role-modeling is complex [47,48]. Further research investigating the mechanisms by which parental intake may influence child consumption may yield important insights for intervention. A unique aspect of this study was the examination of parental provision of fruit and vegetables as a correlate of child consumption. Although the reported positive association is somewhat intuitive for children of this age, the finding accentuates the critical role that parents play in facilitating fruit and vegetable consumption through provision of these foods. Within the study sample at least, the findings also suggest that there is considerable scope to further improve child fruit and vegetable intake through encouraging more frequent provision. On average, parents provided fruit or vegetables to their child on 3.2 occasions per day, with dinner being the most prevalent occasion for serving vegetables, and morning tea the most prevalent occasion for serving fruit. Given that it is recommended that children of this age have three meals and two to three small snacks daily [49], introducing fruit and vegetables at additional occasions throughout the day, particularly the provision of vegetables for morning or afternoon teas, could represent an effective intervention strategy. Further, the findings of this, and other studies with older children [50,51] demonstrate a greater likelihood for children to eat fruits and vegetable if they are stored at home in a ready-to-eat form. As preparation time is a commonly cited barrier to fruit and vegetable consumption [52,53], having ready-to-eat fruit and vegetables on hand may increase the likelihood of parents feeding their preschool child these foods rather than convenient, pre-packaged, snack foods. As only 39% of parents in this study reported storing fruit and vegetables in this way, strategies that make it easier for parents to purchase, prepare and store ready-to-eat fruits and vegetables are needed and likely to facilitate increased parent provision of these foods to their child. These findings should be considered in the context of the study limitations. First, this data is cross-sectional, precluding conclusions regarding causality. Further research is warranted to determine if these associations are evident in longitudinal research, and if changes to such characteristics mediate the changes to child fruit and vegetable intake following intervention. Second, use of parent volunteers may have introduced selection-bias as study participants may not be representative of the broader population from which they were drawn. Compared to a random sample of 764 mothers of 2 to 5 year-olds in the broader study region, parents in this study were more educated (47% vs 36% with a university education) and from higher income households (41% vs 20% earning over $100,000 per year) [33] and their children had higher levels of vegetable consumption than a regionally representative sample of children aged 2 to 4 years [45]. The strength of the associations found in this study is therefore unknown among families from less advantaged backgrounds. Furthermore, most participants identified themselves as the parent that was primarily responsible for feeding their child, and only 4% of the participants were fathers, most likely due to fathers being less likely to drop children at childcare [54] and being less likely to have primary responsibility for food within the household [55]. This may restrict the generalisability of study findings to mothers, and the primary food provider, rather than parents more broadly. The inclusion of measures of the home food environment with unknown validity and reliability is a further limitation of this research and further research is required to develop and refine appropriate measures suitable for population-based investigation. Finally, this research examined the combined consumption of fruit and vegetables. The analyses did not allow for the identification of the relative associations of environmental characteristics with fruit and vegetable intake separately [56]. Future research should seek to address these limitations. Conclusions The study findings suggest that a range of factors within the home food environment appear to be associated with young children's fruit and vegetable intake. The final regression model which included parental intake and parental provision of fruit and vegetables to their children, the availability and accessibility of fruit and vegetables in the home and having set mealtimes accounted for almost half of the variation in children's fruit and vegetable consumption. Such results suggest that there are modifiable factors within the home environment that may be appropriate targets for future interventions aimed at increasing fruit and vegetable consumption in preschool-aged children to address this substantial public health problem. Competing interests The authors declare that they have no competing interests. Authors' contributions Author RW led the development of this manuscript. Authors RW, EC and LW determined the research design and the measures to be used. All authors decided upon the analyses conducted, and contributed to, read and approved the final version of this manuscript. Acknowledgements This project was funded by a Cancer Institute New South Wales grant with author LW receiving salary support from this institution. In-kind support was provided by Hunter New England Population Health and infrastructure support was provided by The Hunter Medical Research Institute. References Smith A, Kellet E, Schmerlaib Y: The Australian guide to healthy eating: Background information for nutrition educators. Canberra Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services; 1998. Lin B, Morrison RM: Higher fruit consumption linked with lower body mass index. Food review 2002, 25(3):28-32. Tohill BC: Dietary intake of fruit and vegetables and management of body weight. World Health Organization; 2005. 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Genetic variation in the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene is likely to be particularly important for phenotypes associated with function of the prefrontal cortex (PFC), such as cognition (Dickinson and Elvevag, 2009). Neuroimaging studies confirm that the COMT Val158Met (rs4680) polymorphism affects human prefrontal cortical function, and as such is strongly associated with differences in neural process underlying cognitive output (Dennis et al., 2010; Mier et al., 2009). However, these findings do not necessarily imply any change in cognition. A recent meta-analysis observed no significant effect of the Val158Met single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on frontal cognitive tasks (Barnett et al., 2008). Nevertheless, some studies have indicated that this association might be specific to developmental stage (Barnett et al., 2007; Dumontheil et al., 2011; Raz et al., 2011). Thus further examination of COMT genetic variation is required for a better understanding of its role in a wider range of cognitive functions during development. Relatively little is known about the role of COMT in cognition in children (Diamond et al., 2004; Dumontheil et al., 2011), and specifically in relation to developmental stages, such as puberty (Barnett et al., 2007). The cognitive effects attributable to COMT activity may depend on developmental stage because structural and functional changes occur in the PFC during adolescence (Casey et al., 2000; De Luca et al., 2003; Rubia et al., 2000; Supekar et al., 2010); cognitive functions performed by the PFC in adults may be governed by different or more diffuse circuits in children. If so, then COMT variation may have little effect on cognitive performance during childhood, but a stronger effect in adolescence. Moreover, increases in the level of reproductive hormones such as estrogen during puberty can down-regulate COMT transcription and lead to a sex difference in COMT activity, and therefore to a different effect of COMT on cognition in boys and girls (Tunbridge, 2010). Among 8-year-old children from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) cohort Val158Met polymorphism was reported to have a larger effect on verbal IQ in pubertal children when compared with prepubertal children (Barnett et al., 2007). A recent study of 6–20-year-olds also suggests the role of development in the effect of COMT Val158Met polymorphism on working memory, specifically that visuospatial working memory capacity exhibited an age by genotype interaction, with a benefit of the Met allele (rs4680) emerging after 10 years of age (Dumontheil et al., 2011). However, these studies were cross-sectional in design, so did not investigate the genetic effect on cognition in the same children at different developmental stages. Despite strong evidence for the biological importance of several COMT SNPs (Nackley et al., 2006) little is known about associations with cognition of any loci other than Val158Met. A functional three-SNP haplotype consists of Val158Met (rs4680) and two synonymous SNPs (rs6269 and rs4818): ValA/ValA, ValA/Met, ValA/ValB or Met/Met, ValB/Met, and ValB/ValB are diplotypes ranked from highest to lowest according to COMT enzyme activity. This haplotype exerts a major influence on the level of COMT expression and enzyme activity (Nackley et al., 2006) and has previously been shown to have a curvilinear association with measures of verbal inhibition and working memory (Barnett et al., 2009). Previous studies have also reported associations between rs165599 (located near the 3′UTR region) (Burdick et al., 2007; Chan et al., 2005), and rs737865 (located in intron 1) (Diaz-Asper et al., 2008; Liao et al., 2009) and cognitive function. These SNPs appear to be functional, with rs737865 G (=C) allele and rs165599 G (=C) allele being associated with lower expression of COMT mRNA in the human brain (Bray et al., 2003). In the present study we include the Nackley's haplotype (rs6269–rs4818–rs4680) and the two functional SNPs, rs737865 and rs165599, to characterize better the combined effects of variation in the COMT gene on cognitive function. Using data from the British 1946 birth cohort we aimed: (1) to investigate the effect of the five COMT SNPs on cognitive function in the same boys and girls at two time-points (age 8 and 15 year follow-ups); (2) to test whether pubertal stage of cohort members established at the second assessment (age 15 years) modifies any observed associations. The Medical Research Council (MRC) National Survey of Health and Development (NSHD) (also known as the British 1946 birth cohort) is a socially stratified birth cohort of 5362 individuals (2547 women and 2815 men), who have been followed up since their birth in 1946 with regular data collections (Wadsworth et al., 2003). Blood samples were collected from 2756 members at age 53 years. Every survey member with information on at least one cognitive test (phenotype indicator) at both age 8 and age 15 years and DNA genotyped for COMT SNPs was included in the descriptive analysis (n = 1029 boys and 1048 girls). Survey members with available DNA had higher cognitive scores on all cognitive tests at ages 8 and 15 years than those without genetic information; but were not different with respect to pubertal stage at age 15 years (p = 0.35) or social class of origin (p = 0.52). The results of comparing those with DNA and those without on cognitive tests measures are presented in Supplementary Table 1. Ethical approval for this research was obtained from the North Thames Multi-Centre Research Ethics Committee, and from relevant local research ethics committees in the survey areas. Informed consent was given by all respondents. Children were assessed by teachers in a school setting at ages 8 and 15 years using tests devised by the National Foundation for Educational Research (Pigeon and Douglas, 1964; Pigeon et al., 1968). At age 8 years these were: (1) reading comprehension (selecting appropriate words to complete 35 sentences); (2) word reading (ability to read and pronounce 50 words); (3) vocabulary (ability to explain the meaning of the same 50 words); and (4) picture intelligence, consisting of a 60-item non-verbal reasoning test. At age 15 years these were: (1) Alice Heim Group Ability Test (AH4), a 130 item timed test, with separate verbal (analogies, comprehension, and numerical reasoning) and non-verbal (matching, spatial analysis, and non-verbal reasoning sections) tests; (2) The Watts-Vernon Reading Test, a test of reading comprehension requiring the participant to select appropriate words to complete 35 sentences; (3) A 47-item mathematics test, requiring the use of arithmetic, geometry, trigonometry, and algebra. All scores reported in the results were standardised within the sample included in this analysis to a mean of 0 and a standard deviation of 1. At age 15 years, pubertal development in boys was classified at school by a physician based on the development of genitalia, presence of pubic hair, axillary hair and voice broken. Those with infantile genitalia or early adolescent genitalia, but no pubic or axillary hair and voice not broken were classified as prepubescent, all others as pubescent. Age at menarche was used as the marker of pubertal stage for girls, and was obtained from mothers’ reports in 1961. This information was used to construct a binary variable for pubertal status distinguishing between those who had menarche by age 15 (pubescent) and those who did not (prepubescent). The majority of the participants (89% of boys and 90% of girls) had reached pubertal status by age 15. DNA was extracted and purified from whole blood using the Puregene DNA Isolation Kit (Flowgen, Leicestershire, UK) according to the manufacturer's protocol. The five SNPs, rs737865, rs6269, rs4818, rs4680 and rs165599, were typed by using the KASPar system by KBioscience, UK (). The integrity of the genotyping was checked by genotyping frequency, concordance of duplicates and Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE). The call rates for the genotyped SNPs were 97.8–99.2%, with >95% concordance between duplicate samples and there was no evidence of deviation from HWE (p > 0.05). The programme PLINK v1.07 was used for haplotype analysis (Purcell et al., 2007). The haplotype frequencies (rs6269–rs4818–rs4680) were similar to those reported in the original paper (Nackley et al., 2006): GGG (=ValA)–40.8%, ACA (=Met)–50.8%, ACG (=ValB)–7.8%, all others–0.6%. The survey members were then assigned to one of six possible diplotypes (i.e., the pair of haplotypes) using a ‘phase’ option (Table 1): ValA/ValA, ValA/Met, ValA/ValB or Met/Met, ValB/Met, and ValB/ValB. Of the five genotyped COMT SNPs, the central three, rs6269, rs4818 and rs4680, were in high linkage disequilibrium (LD): r2 = 0.72 for rs6269–rs4680 and rs4818–rs4680; and r2 = 0.97 for rs6269–rs4818. In contrast, the LD between the three SNPs in the haplotype block and the other two SNPs was low (all r2 < 0.38). We therefore chose to separately test associations between cognitive scores and rs737865 and rs165599 and with the three-SNP haplotype. First, linear regression was used to test for associations between rs737865, rs165599 genotypes (under an additive model), the three-SNP haplotype and the cognitive measures. In addition, curvilinear regression was used to test for associations between the three-SNP haplotype and the cognitive measures. Analyses were performed separately for boys and girls, and the sex-by-genotype interaction term was fitted to test for sex differences. At age 15 years, analyses were also stratified by pubertal stage, and the puberty-by-genotype interaction term was fitted to test differences between pubertal and pre-pubertal groups. The effect of COMT genotypes on global cognitive function in a longitudinal context was examined using structural equation modelling (SEM) (Schumacker and Lomax, 2004). Model estimation was performed with Mplus version 6 (Muthen and Muthen, 2007). The model fit was evaluated with recommended fit indices (Hu and Bentler, 1999): the Tucker–Lewis index (TLI), the root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), and the comparative fit index (CFI). A graphical depiction of the model is shown in Fig. 2. The measurement part of the SEM model represents overall cognitive function at ages 8 and 15 years. The structural part includes direct paths from the COMT genotype to cognition at age 8 and age 15. We fitted the model using multiple group analysis (Byrne, 2004). In the final analytic model, the factor loadings of global cognition factors were constrained to be invariant across gender groups, whereas the path coefficients from COMT genotype to cognition were freely estimated. The item intercepts were freely estimated in both groups because the main parameters of interest are path coefficients, hence invariance of factor loadings are sufficient (see (Gregorich, 2006), for a detailed discussion on level of measurement invariance). We performed the Wald χ2 test of parameter equalities for gender group differences in the structural regression paths. Since SNPs associations were examined in multiple group SEM with cognition modelled as a latent variable, it was important to examine whether the measures of cognition were comparable across the gender groups (Byrne, 2004; Meredith, 1993). Two confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) models with different degrees of measurement parameter restrictions were specified in order to assess the extent to which the validity of the comparison of path coefficients across groups held. The baseline model tested configural invariance where latent global cognition variable had the same number of factor indicators, i.e. same number of items representing specific test domains in male and female groups. In this model, the factor loadings across gender groups were freely estimated. This model was a prerequisite for testing the next step, the metric invariance, where the factor loadings were constrained to be equal across groups. The measurement invariance in factor loadings ensures that the global cognition construct has the same substantive meaning across gender groups, thus warranting valid comparison of regression path coefficients in the SEM model. Then model fit indices of the two models were compared to evaluate the degree of measurement invariance of the loading parameters in the models. We used the same range of the above-mentioned fit indices to investigate models of measurement invariance. The restrictive model is preferred if the fit indices are not significantly inferior compared to that of the less restrictive model. In terms of the RMSEA, the change should be less than .015 (Chen, 2007). For CFI, the change should be less than .01 in CFI (Chen, 2007; Cheung and Rensvold, 2001). We also presented the TLI and Chi-square as overall tests for goodness of fit (Marsh et al., 1998). A Bonferroni correction was applied in an attempt to address the issue of multiple testing. The total number of independent tests was 15 (two individual SNPs plus one haplotype in two gender groups at two ages plus three tests [two SNPs and one haplotype] for pubertal status at age 15 in boys only). We did not treat each cognitive test as independent as they were highly inter-correlated (r = 0.6–0.9). This approach to inferences on independent tests required that the conservative α-level of 0.0033 to be used as the significance level for robust inferences. Descriptive statistics for the phenotype measures and genetic data, by sex, are presented in Table 1. The results of association analysis between the COMT SNPs and cognitive traits at age 8 and 15 years are presented separately for boys and girls in Table 2. There were no associations between rs737865, or rs165599 or diplotype and cognitive measures at age 8 years in either boys or girls. The regression analysis for cognition at age 15 years identified associations between rs737865 and AH4 verbal ability (β = −0.106, SE = 0.049, p = 0.031), and reading comprehension (β = −0.098, SE = 0.049, p = 0.044), but only in boys (Fig. 1). Boys with CC genotype had higher scores than those–carriers of T allele (both p's < 0.05). None of the findings survived p-value correction for multiple testing (α-level = 0.0033). There were no associations between this SNP and level of cognitive functions in girls. Sex differences were tested by interaction terms but found not to be statistically significant at α-level of 0.0033: p for sex interaction = 0.13 and 0.09 for verbal ability and reading comprehension, respectively. There were no associations between diplotypes and any of the individual cognitive tests at age 15 years using linear (Table 2) or curvilinear (Supplementary Table 2) regression models. The effect of pubertal stage on the associations between rs737865 and reading comprehension and verbal ability was then tested. In boys, we observed the similar effects of the SNP on verbal ability (β = −0.123, SE = 0.051, p = 0.016) and reading comprehension (β = −0.110, SE = 0.051, p = 0.031) in those who reached puberty by age 15 years. There were no associations between rs737865 and either verbal ability (β = 0.062, SE = 0.124, p = 0.62) or reading comprehension (β = −0.026, SE = 0.127, p = 0.84) in prepubescent boys. There was no statistically significant difference between prepubescent and pubescent groups: p-values for the puberty interaction tests were 0.18 and 0.17 for verbal ability and reading comprehension respectively. We tested for the longitudinal effect of COMT rs737865, rs165599 and diplotype on cognition using SEM model for boys and girls (Fig. 2 for rs737865). Individual cognitive tests were modelled as components of global cognition at both ages. Results of modelling to test for measurement invariance of global cognitive measures showed that the less restrictive model demonstrated a good fit to the data (chi2 = 512.944, df = 34, CFI = 0.980, TLI = 0.968, RMSEA = 0.080). The second model with more restrictive equal factor loadings across gender groups showed even better fit indices due to model parsimony (chi2 = 560.089, df = 40, CFI = 0.979, TLI = 0.970, RMSEA = 0.076), supporting the invariance of factor loadings across gender groups. This provided a sufficient condition for comparison of the COMT SNP association with global cognitive measures across both genders. A multiple group SEM model was fitted with rs737865 as predictor of the global cognition (TLI = 0.971, CFI = 0.979, RMSEA = 0.065). The results of the SEM estimation suggested the effect of rs737865 on general cognition at age 15 in boys only (Table 3; Fig. 2), although the results of the Wald test for gender group differences in the structural regression paths were non-significant (χ2 = 2.19, p = 0.14). Stratified analysis showed that the association between rs737865 and global cognition at age 15 was significant in pubescent (β = −0.11, SE = 0.05, p = 0.037), but not in prepubescent (β = −0.01, SE = 0.16, p = 0.96) boys, although the Wald test revealed that the differences by developmental stage were not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.34, p = 0.56). The results of the SEMs for rs165599 and diplotype provided no evidence for the association with cognitive function at age 8 or 15 years (Table 3). After correcting for multiple testing, the present study failed to demonstrate a significant effect of the five COMT SNPs on cognition in boys and girls at ages 8 and 15 years, providing little evidence that COMT variation can have an effect on cognitive abilities in childhood and adolescence. However, several limitations should be taken into account when interpreting the present findings. Losses to follow-up and missing data are unavoidable in long running birth cohort studies such as the NSHD. There were differences in cognitive measures between those with DNA and those without DNA. This potentially could lead to underestimation of the effect of the COMT gene on cognition. However, that would be the case if the association operates differently in those with lower scores of cognitive abilities. We did not formally test for population stratification; however the 1946 birth cohort represents the general population of Britain of the middle of 20th century, which is of white Caucasian origin. The strength of the study is its representative large sample. Yet, given the small number of prepubescent adolescents, there might still not be enough power to detect the small effect of the COMT individual SNPs or diplotypes in the groups stratified by pubertal status at age 15 years. In light of the possibility of the Type II error, the present results should be interpreted with caution. Indeed, the effect sizes of the original regressions were small (<1% of the common variance), and the results did not withstand correction for multiple testing. Another strength of the study is the longitudinal analysis of the COMT gene in cognitive function using the SEM approach. The SEM approach allows for greater precision in phenotype measurement due to correction for measurement error in the cognitive outcomes, which may otherwise have reduced the statistical power to detect any robust associations with these genes (van der Sluis et al., 2012) Before applying Bonferroni correction for multiple testing, only one COMT SNP, rs737865, was associated with verbal cognition in pubescent boys at age 15. Therefore, our finding did not confirm the results in the ALSPAC cohort showing a significant effect of COMT rs4680 on verbal IQ in pubescent boys (Barnett et al., 2007). The results of the analysis of COMT diplotypes on cognitive functions in children were not statistically significant and did not confirm the previous findings of curvilinear association between COMT diplotypes and cognition in ALSPAC cohort (Barnett et al., 2008). We believe that testing for the effect of the COMT gene on various cognitive abilities is important for several reasons. It has been demonstrated that COMT protein has the strongest effect on the dopamine neurotransmission in the PFC, the brain region that plays an important role in a wide variety of cognitive functions, including cognitive control and IQ (Green et al., 2012). Moreover, performances on diverse tests of cognitive function tend to correlate; this underlying covariance represents general cognitive ability (‘g’). It is therefore logical that COMT could affect general intelligence as well as specific executive tasks (Duncan et al., 2000) In our study, we were able to test the effect of the COMT gene on cognitive abilities at different developmental stages. It has been reported, that the heritability of general cognitive ability increases significantly and linearly from childhood through young adulthood (Haworth et al., 2010). In line with this observation, a recent study of 6–20-year-olds showed that visuospatial working memory capacity exhibited an age by genotype interaction with a benefit of the Met allele emerges during adolescence (Dumontheil et al., 2011). The level of a reproductive hormone oestrogen, which down-regulates COMT transcription (Xie et al., 1999), increases during puberty in girls. This suggests that adolescence is an important developmental period, when the sex difference in COMT activity emerges (Xie et al., 1999), and the effect of COMT on cognitive abilities between boys and girls differentiates. Therefore, adolescence can be an important period when the sex difference in COMT activity emerges, and the effect of COMT on cognition between boys and girls differentiates. However, our study was not able to confirm the effect of COMT variation in adolescent girls or boys at age 15. It remains unclear whether the previously reported age-specific effect may be due to puberty. The puberty-by-gene interaction effects were not significant in boys, and there is a lack of power in our study since the group of prepubescent boys is small. On the other hand, many developmental changes may occur between ages 8 and 15 years, and young people are exposed to influences from many environmental factors. Therefore, we cannot exclude possible genotype-environment interaction on cognition. Recently, epigenetic mechanism for the interaction of the COMT with lifetime stress has been discovered: the greater stress led to lower methylation of the Val158 that was related to reduced cortical efficiency during a cognitive task (Ursini et al., 2011). Future studies will need to address these issues by employing longitudinal designs, using repeated measures of cognitive functions, and exploring the effects of specific DNA variants in interaction with environmental factors on trajectory of changes across cognitive development. In conclusion, the present longitudinal study provides some evidence that COMT variation may affect cognitive function in a sex or developmental stage-specific manner. Further studies are necessary in order to make stronger conclusions. References The following are the supplementary data to this article: (mmc1.docx) We wish to thank all the survey members for their participation. This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust [to M.R., P.B.J., D.G, and T.J.C.], Medical Research Council [to D.G., M.R.], and the Department of Health (NIHR) [Career Scientist Award to T.J.C.]. Dr. Barnett is an employee of Cambridge Cognition, Ltd.; and she is also a co-inventor on patent PCT/GB2005/003279 (methods for assessing psychotic disorders). Prof. Jones has received research grant support from GlaxoSmithKline; he has received a speaker's honorarium from Eli Lilly; and he is a co-inventor on patent PCT/GB2005/003279 (methods for assessing psychotic disorders). Drs. Gaysina, Xu, Croudace, Wong and Richards report no competing interests. Previous Document: Relationship between DNA damage in sperm after ex vivo exposure and abnormal embryo development in t... 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Sponsor Institute of Historical Research Publication A Topographical Dictionary of Wales Author Samuel Lewis Year published 1849 Supporting documents Preface Pages 56-69 Citation Show another format: BHO MLA Turabian Chicago MARC21 Wikipedia 'Llangybi - Llaniestyn', A Topographical Dictionary of Wales (1849), pp. 56-69. URL: Date accessed: 18 May 2013. Add to my bookshelf Highlight (Min 3 characters) Contents Llangybi (Llan-Gybi) Llangybi (Llan-Gybi) Llangynhaval (Llan-Gynhafal) Llangynider (Llan-Gynidr) Llangyniew (Llan-Gynyw) Llangynog (Llan-Gynog) Llangynog (Llan-Gynog) Llangyvelach (Llan-Gyfelach) Llanhamllêch, or Llan-Amllêch (Llan-Ammwlch) Llanharan Llanhary (Llan-Arau) Llanhowel (Llan-Howel) Llanidan (Llan-Idan) Llanidloes (Llan-Idloes) Llaniestyn (Llan-Iestyn) Llaniestyn (Llan-Iestyn) LLANGYBI (LLAN-GYBI), a parish, in the union of Pwllheli, hundred of Eivionydd, county of Carnarvon, North Wales, 5 miles (N. E. by N.) from Pwllheli; containing 726 inhabitants. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cybi, an eminent British saint, who flourished towards the close of the sixth century, is pleasantly situated in the south-western part of the county, and nearly in the centre of the promontory that separates Cardigan bay from the bay of Carnarvon. It is bounded on the north by the parishes of Llanelhairn and Clynnog, on the south by the parish of Llanarmon, on the east by those of Llanvihangel-y-Pennant and Llanystyndwy, and on the west by that of Carngiwch; and comprises 4306 acres, of which 1705 are arable, 2571 meadow and pasture, and 30 woodland, consisting principally of oak, ash, and larch. The soil, to a considerable extent, is moist and gravelly, producing chiefly barley, oats, and potatoes; the lands are mostly inclosed, and in a good state of cultivation. The surface is generally level, and the surrounding scenery is pleasingly diversified, comprising some fine views of the adjacent country, which is watered by several small streams, and abounds with varied and picturesque beauty. In the parish is the residence of Trallwyn; also an old mansion named Glasfryn, lately restored, and now inhabited. The Carnarvon and Pwllheli turnpikeroad runs through the parish, which has also good cross-roads. The living is a rectory, with that of Llanarmon annexed, rated in the king's books at £15.3.4.; present net income, £450; patron, the Bishop of Bangor. The tithes of Llangybi have been commuted for a rent-charge of £226. 10. The church is a spacious structure, consisting of a nave, chancel, and north aisle, and measuring fifty-nine feet in length and seventeen and a half in breadth; in 1828 it underwent a thorough repair, the roof being raised and new windows inserted, and it is now one of the best ecclesiastical edifices in this part of the county. There are places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists and Independents, and three Sunday schools. An almshouse was founded in 1760, by William Price, Esq., of Rhiwlas, who endowed it with a rentcharge payable out of the estate of Pentyrch Uchâv, for six poor men, who receive £1 per quarter, with a sufficient allowance of fuel, and are nominated by Rice Thomas, Esq., of Coed Helen, heir of the founder: the six houses are substantially built of stone, but the almspeople do not reside in them, letting them to the parish officers at 25s. each. The Rev. Evan Griffith, in 1724, bequeathed £100, directing the proceeds to be annually distributed among the poor of this parish and Llanarmon. Near the church is a fine chalybeate spring, called Fynnon Gybi, inclosed with a stone wall, and having stone seats round it; the water was formerly in great repute for its efficacy in the cure of scorbutic complaints, and is still found beneficial in chronic cases. On the summit of Garn Pentyrch, or Garn Llangybi, a high conical hill, is a very extensive and perfect ancient British encampment. LLANGYBI (LLAN-GYBI), a parish, in the union of Lampeter, Upper division of the hundred of Moythen, county of Cardigan, South Wales, 4 miles (N. N. E.)from Lampeter; containing 274 inhabitants. It lies upon the road from Lampeter to Trêgaron; and is bounded on the north by the parish of Llandewy-Brevi, on the south by that of Bettws-Bledrws, on the east by that of LlanvairClydogan, and on the west by the chapelry of Gartheli, in Llandewy-Brevi. The lands, which are watered by the river Dulas, are in general inclosed, and the soil is tolerably fertile, producing good barley and oats. The place constituted a prebend in the ancient collegiate church of Llandewy-Brevi, rated in the king's books at £1. 6. 8. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty; net income, £60; patrons, alternately, Lord Carrington and Captain G. L. Vaughan, the impropriators, whose tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £90. The church, dedicated to St. Cybi, is a small edifice, consisting only of a nave and chancel. There are places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists, Independents, and Presbyterians: the last is supposed to be the most ancient congregation of dissenters in the principality, having first assembled here about the year 1663. Two Sunday schools are supported by the Independents, and one by the Methodists. On a hill above the river Teivy is a large intrenchment, called Castell Goedtrêv; it gives name to the farm on which it is situated. LLANGYNHAVAL (LLAN-GYNHAFAL), a parish, in the union and hundred of Ruthin, county of Denbigh, North Wales, 4 miles (N. by E.) from Ruthin; containing 502 inhabitants. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cynhaval, who flourished about the beginning of the seventh century, is situated in the rich and fertile Vale of Clwyd, and sheltered by the fine range of mountains which bounds the vale and parish on the east. It is traversed by the road from Ruthin to Holywell, and bounded on the north by the parish of Llangwyvan, on the south by that of Llanbedr, on the east by that of Kîlken, and on the west by the parishes of Llanynys and Llanychan. It comprises by admeasurement 2300 acres, of which 1000 are mountainous, and nearly all the remainder arable. The scenery is diversified and highly picturesque, and the views over the adjacent country abound with interesting features. A very considerable portion of the parish is uninclosed and uncultivated, but of the rest the soil is sandy, and the chief produce is barley. Among the many gentlemen's seats sprinkled over the Vale of Clwyd, that of Plâs-Draw, situated in this parish, is considered the most beautiful; PlâsIssa, also, a modern mansion, is elegantly built. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £15. 15.; patron, the Bishop of Bangor: the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £400, and there is a glebe of thirteen acres and a half, valued at £20 per annum; also a glebe-house. The church is a neat whitewashed edifice, sixty feet long and forty-two wide, and contains 400 sittings; it occupies a pleasant situation in the centre of the parish, and commands an extensive and beautiful view of the vale. There is a place of worship for Calvinistic Methodists. A Church school is supported, and two Sunday schools; one of these latter is in connexion with the Church, and the other with the Calvinistic body. Thomas Roberts bequeathed £43 to the poor, Edward Wynn £20, Strange Pedler £10, and John Doulben £10, which, together with some smaller benefactions, have been invested in the purchase of a portion of land called Gevel-y-Pwll, producing £7. 7. per annum. William Wynne, in 1723, left the interest of £100, which is now paid out of a large farm called Plâsynllan, and applied towards the support of the above-mentioned day school; and a few other annual charities of small amount, together with the produce of the land already named, are distributed on St. Thomas's day and Good Friday among the poor. In the chain of hills by which the parish is bounded on the east, the highest, called Moel Vammau, is surmounted by a column erected to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the accession of George III. LLANGYNIDER (LLAN-GYNIDR), a parish, in the union and hundred of Crickhowel, county of Brecknock, South Wales, 4 miles (N. W.) from Crickhowel; containing 2775 inhabitants, of whom 2110 are in the hamlet of Blaen, 542 in that of Vro, and 123 in the hamlet of Dyfryn. This place derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cynyd, or Cynydr, who lived in religious seclusion in Glamorgan, in the sixth century, and in commemoration of whom a festival was annually celebrated here, on the 1st of August. In ancient records it is frequently called "Llan-Gynyd-EglwysYail," from the Yail, a small stream that passed near the church; and "Llan-Gynyd-Eglwys-Vesey," from an old chapel, of which the ruins were formerly visible on the bank of the Crawnon, about two miles from the village. The parish extends from the southern bank of the Usk to the confines of Monmouthshire and Glamorgan, and is bounded on the north by that river, which separates it from the parish of Llanvihangel-Cwm-Dû. On the south-west it is bounded by the river Romney, which divides it from the parish of Gellygaer, in the county of Glamorgan; on the south by the parish of Bedwelty, in the shire of Monmouth; and on the west by the parish of Llanthetty. It comprises by recent admeasurement 13,992 acres, of which about 8000 are mountain land affording pasturage to large flocks of sheep, and the remainder inclosed arable and pasture, with some wood. The adjacent country is finely varied, in some parts beautifully picturesque; and the view of the mountains by which the parish is surrounded is strikingly beautiful: among these, the lofty conical mountain called the Sugar Loaf, on the border and within the limits of Monmouth, and the Irvol, or Hirvoel, commonly called Durvoel, in the adjoining parish of Llanthetty, partly clothed with larch-trees of stately growth, are prominent and interesting features. The soil is light, inclining in some parts to gravel, and in others well adapted for wheat and barley, the latter of which is produced of superior quality. In the mountain district bordering on the counties of Monmouth and Glamorgan, and from six to nine miles distant from the parish church, a vast increase of population has taken place, occasioned by the residence of miners and colliers belonging to works situated in the adjoining parishes. The parish abounds with iron-ore, coal, and limestone; and on the river Romney are some iron-works, conducted by the Bute Iron Company, and giving employment to between 300 and 400 men. The Brecknock and Abergavenny canal, extending from Pontymoel, near Pontypool, in Monmouthshire, to Brecknock, traverses the lower part of the parish, and on its banks is a wharf for lime and coal. The tramroad commonly called the Trivel Road, communicating with the canal at Tàlybont, in the parish of Llanthetty, passes along the Trivel mountain in this parish; and the lower part of Llangynider is traversed by the turnpike-road leading from Llangattock to Brecknock. Fairs are annually held in the village, by prescriptive right, on April 20th, October 7th, December 1st, and the Wednesday before Christmas-day. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £13. 14. 7.; present net income, £418; patron, the Duke of Beaufort. The church, a plain small edifice, situated in the hamlet of Vro, consists of a nave and chancel, and contains about 240 sittings: the parsonage-house was erected at the expense of the Rev. William Davies, the incumbent. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists; a day school in connexion with the Church, built by Mr. Bailey, M.P.; and about twelve Sunday schools, one of which is conducted on Church principles. Mrs. Frances Griffiths, in 1761, left £10, the interest of which is divided annually, on Easter-eve, among the poor not receiving parochial relief; and Miss Sarah Prytherch, in 1787, bequeathed £8 per annum, payable out of a farm in the parish, to be distributed on the first of January, by the minister and churchwardens. It is believed that a Roman vicinal road from Caerphilly to Bedwelty, and thence over Bedwelty common, upon which are manifest and unequivocal traces of a causeway, leading through the mines of Bryn Oer to Llanvrynach, in the Vale of Usk, passed along the high ridge of the Trivel Ddû mountain, in the parish. On this mountain, some time ago, a celt was found, which was in the possession of the late Archdeacon Payne. Near the source of the river Romney is a ford called Rhŷd-y-Milwyr, or "the soldiers' ford," but from what circumstance it obtained that appellation is unknown. On the Trivel Glâs mountain is a large natural cavern, termed Stabl Vawr, or "the great stable," above which is a large heap of stones, most probably raised as a beacon, as, upon examination, no sepulchral deposit was found beneath it, denoting it a cairn. Tradition points out the site of an ancient castle near the high road to Brecknock; but nothing of its history is recorded, and probably it was only a lodge for the residence of a forester under the lords of Trêtower castle. LLANGYNIEW (LLAN-GYNYW), a parish, in the union of Llanvyllin, Lower division of the hundred of Mathraval, county of Montgomery, North Wales, 2 miles (N. by W.) from LlanvairCaereinion; containing 647 inhabitants. It derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cynyw, an eminent British saint, who flourished in the sixth century, and was son of Gwynlliw, and brother of Catwg the Wise. That it is of remote antiquity is quite evident from the numerous British encampments, apparently of the very earliest character, which are scattered over the hills in various parts of the parish; and that it was two vales is the spot where the ancient Roman that had been occupied by the Romans. On the opposite side of the river, in a wood called Gwern Ddû, is a circular intrenchment; and in a field beyond it is a circular mount: both these.ys, the best era of Welsh poetry, composed on those occasions some of their finest odes, of which many are preserved in the Welsh Archæology. After the removal of the seat of government to Castell Powys, the palace of Mathraval, which was deserted by the Princes of Powys, fell into the possession of Robert Vipont, a powerful baron in high favour with John, King of England, who rebuilt, or at least repaired and fortified, the ancient castle. In 1212, Llewelyn ab Iorwerth, Prince of North Wales, having made an incursion into Powysland, invested the castle here,. At the same time, in order to prevent any similar attempt on the part of that prince, the king ordered the castle to be burnt to the ground, since which period it has been in ruins. The parish is situated nearly in the centre of the county,, and separate this parish from the parishes of Llanvihangel and Meivod. It extends nearly four miles in length, and from a mile and a half to three miles in breadth; and comprises by admeasurement 4440 acres, of which, by computation, 1300 are arable, 1600 pasture, 1060 meadow, and the remainder woodland. Nearly three-fourths of the lands are old inclosures; the rest was inclosed under the provisions of an act obtained in 1810, which extended also to the adjoining parish of LlanvairCaereinion, and part of that of Castle-Caereinion. The surface is greatly undulated, rising in many places into hills of considerable elevation; and the scenery, which is strikingly diversified, is enriched in several parts with woods of luxuriant growth, and enlivened by the branches of the river Vyrnwy. At Mathraval Fridd and Park are not less than 350 acres of woodland, containing some of the finest oaktrees in the county, which is much celebrated for that species of timber: many of the young trees, not more than nine inches in girth at the butt, are sixty feet in height, and for cleaving are thought to be among the best in the kingdom; while those of more mature growth are unrivalled in the stateliness of their appearance, forming a majestic feature in the scenery of the place. From several of the hills, which are generally of conical form, are some noble and magnificent views over the surrounding country, comprehending the most picturesque portion of the district called Powysland. From the summit of Penyborth, in the hamlet of Cynhinva, more especially, is a prospect remarkable for its extent and grandeur. Towards the east are seen the open and fertile plains of Salop, soil in the arable land is loamy, in the meadow loamy and alluvial, and clayey in the pasture and woodland; the chief produce of the parish is oats, barley, wheat, peas, and butter and cheese. There are several small turbaries, which formerly supplied the inhabitants with fuel, but that. The parish contains four corn-mills, in each of which about three hands are employed. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £5. 13. 4.; present net income, £336, with a glebe-house; patron, the Bishop of St. Asaph. The church, dedicated to St. Cyniw, and situated at the eastern extremity of the parish, near the bank of the Banwy, is a venerable structure in the early style of English architecture, measuring forty-nine feet by twenty-one, and containing 177 sittings. It has the remains of the ancient screen and rood-loft, embellished with some exquisite carvings in oak, and in the east window are some small remains of stained glass; the old font, which is of large dimensions, is still preserved. In the churchyard are six venerable yew-trees. There are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic Methodists; a Church day school, and three Sunday schools, one of which is in connexion with the Church. Some minor charitable donations and bequests have been made by various individuals, the produce arising from which, amounting to £6. 16., is annually distributed in small sums among the poor of the parish; but the principal bequest, a rent-charge of £5, by Samuel Home, in 1804, is partly distributed in coal, on St. Thomas's day. inclosed area is about two acres in extent, and each side of it about 120 yards in length; at the north-eastern angle, which impends over the river, is a lofty exploratory mount, on which probably was a castelet, commanding a full view up and down the vale. Several relics of antiquity have been dug up amid the ruins near this spot, among which were some tiles having protuberances at one extremity, apparently to connect them, also some silver dishes, an old sword, and some silver coins. Within the area is a farmhouse, situated near the mount, and which, together with the greater part of the hamlet of Mathraval, belongs to the Powis estate. In the eastern part of the parish are the remains of two other encampments, forming, with Mathraval, an equilateral triangle, each of the sides of which is about a mile in length. One of these encampments, which are thought to be of British origin, is situated on a conical hill called Garthen, in the hamlet of Llangyniew, and appears to have been surrounded with three ramparts of earth and two fosses, inclosing a circular area 70 yards in diameter within the inner wall, and 140 yards in diameter within the outer. The other occupies the summit of a hill in Mathraval Fridd, and comprises an elliptical area conformable to the shape of the hill, seventy-two yards in the longer, and forty-four yards in the shorter, diameter. It is encircled adjacent country. There is a very powerful spring in the parish, strongly impregnated with sulphur. The Rev. Dr. Evans, rector of Llanymynech, and canon of St. Asaph, was born in this parish, and was buried in the church, where a marble tablet was erected to his memory. He was a distinguished Welsh scholar and critic, and assisted Dr. Burney in writing his History of Music, and Mr. Edward Jones in his collection of Welsh airs. Among his papers was." LLANGYNOG (LLAN-GYNOG), a parish, in the union and hundred of Builth, county of Brecknock, South Wales, 3½ miles (S. S. W.) from Builth; containing 54 inhabitants. It derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cynog, an eminent British saint, who suffered martyrdom about the close of the fifth century. The parish is situated in the northern portion of the county, on the turnpike-road leading from Brecknock to Builth; and is bounded on the north by the parish of Llanddewi'r-Cwm, on the south by that of Gwenddwr, on the east by the county of Radnor, and on the west by the lofty range of the Eppynt hills. It comprises about 2000 acres, 1000 of which are comprehended in a dreary and mountainous tract extending beyond the confines of the parish, and the remainder consists of about one-sixth arable, the same of woodland, and two-thirds of meadow and pasture. The soil is poor, producing only a little oats and barley; the farmers depend chiefly on the rearing of sheep and a few hardy cattle, for which the hilly grounds afford but inferior pasture. The Eppynt hills are partly within the parish; and from their summits extensive views are obtained over the adjacent country: the immediate neighbourhood, through which runs the small river Dihonwy, exhibits only wild and mountainous scenery. The living is a perpetual curacy, endowed with £800 royal bounty; net income, £69; patron, the Bishop of St. David's. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £44, payable to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The church, an ancient, mean edifice, possessing no claim to architectural notice, stands a little eastward from the mountain road between Brecknock and Builth, on the brow of the Eppynt hills, in a very bleak situation, sheltered only by some larch and fir trees by which the churchyard is surrounded. It is a remarkably small church, measuring only thirtyone feet and a half, by seventeen feet. LLANGYNOG (LLAN-GYNOG), a parish, in the union, and Upper division of the hundred, of Llanvyllin, county of Montgomery, North Wales, 8 miles (N. W.) from Llanvyllin; containing 516 inhabitants. This parish derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Cynog, the eldest of the sons of Brychan, Prince of Brycheiniog; he suffered martyrdom in the fifth century, was buried at Merthyr-Cynog, in the county of Brecknock, and was canonized after his death. It is bounded on the north and east by the county of Denbigh, on the south by the parish of Hîrnant, on the west by that of Pennant; and comprises by admeasurement 974a. 3r. 22p. of cultivated land, and by computation 2500 acres of common or waste. The village is beautifully situated on the turnpike-road from Llanvyllin to Bala, in a pleasing but narrow vale, watered by the river Tanat, and sheltered by lofty mountains: there is a bridge over the stream, on the line of the turnpike-road. The scenery is strikingly diversified, abounding with features of picturesque beauty, and of rugged grandeur; and the views over the adjacent country, on the east comprising part of Denbighshire, and on the west part of Merioneth, from which latter the parish is separated by the fine range of the Berwyn mountains, are interesting and extensive. In the mountainous district of the parish are mines of lead, quarries of slate, and other mineral works. The soil is in general fertile in the agricultural part, producing good crops of wheat, barley, oats, and grass; and peat, which forms the principal fuel of the inhabitants, is found in abundance. The lead-mines, which are the property of the Earl of Powis, have been worked for about a century, and were productive of immense profit to an ancestor of the present owner.. In the centre of the vein was a breadth of five yards of clean ore, so pure as to be immediately conveyed from the mine to the smelting-house, exclusively of a breadth of several feet on each side, which, being mixed with spar, required previous dressing to prepare it for smelting. The vein has been worked to a depth of more than ninety yards, and during a period of forty years yielded upon the average about 4000 tons of ore annually, producing to its proprietor a clear yearly revenue of £20,000. About the commencement of the present century this mine, the working of which had been for some time discontinued as the influx of water rendered it impracticable, was leased by a company who drove a level beneath the mine, neglected. Of late years, however, the old shaft having been reopened, the mine has produced about one hundred tons of ore annually: the machinery employed is driven by a stream of water, brought from a distance of seven miles at a very considerable expense. At Craig-y-Gribbin, in the parish, are some quarries of excellent blue slate, of a strong and durable quality, in raising which about three persons are at present occupied. From the veins of quartz that pervade the entire mass of the rock in which they are quarried, they exhibit a rough surface; and some of the slabs contain beautiful cubes of mundic. These slates are procured for the supply of the neighbouring districts, and a small, employing about twenty-six persons, from which great numbers of slates of similar quality are obtained, and brought down the steep declivity of the rock in sledges containing about five cwt. each, with extreme danger to the persons engaged in this arduous task. When the sledge is loaded, and drawn to the edge of the declivity, the conductor sits upon it, passing over his shoulders a rope which is fastened at each extremity to the front, and being also assisted with a pole. Then raising his feet from the ground, he begins his descent down a narrow winding path, guiding the sledge by opposing his feet to the projecting points of the rock, which would divert it from its course; governing its accumulating velocity by pressing firmly with his feet upon the ground; and sustaining the weight of the carriage by the rope that passes over his shoulders. Sometimes the guide, passing the rope over his shoulders as in the former case, instead of sitting upon the front of the sledge, descends backwards;. The parish contains a woollen manufactory, in which about three persons are employed; and fairs are annually held in the village on May 6th, August 9th, and September 3rd. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £4. 8. 11½.; patron, the Bishop of St. Asaph: the tithes have been commuted for £140 payable to the rector, and £2. 5. to the parish-clerk; and a glebe-house is attached to the benefice, together with a glebe of six acres and a quarter, valued at £10 per annum. The church, rebuilt in 1790, is fortyeight feet long and twenty broad, and contains 160 sittings. There are places of worship for Independents and Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists; a day school, established in 1847 by some dissenters in the neighbourhood; and four Sunday schools, one of them in connexion with the Church. Evan Jones, in 1797, gave the interest of £20 in support of a school, and also bequeathed a house for its use; if no school should be held, he directed the proceeds to be distributed among the poor. Elizabeth Lloyd, in 1730, left a rent-charge of £2, a moiety to be distributed among the poor of this parish, and the other moiety among those of Pennant; the sum is accordingly so disposed of, in small sums, every Easter Monday. A brass celt was found near the village, some time since. The parish contains a mining level called Ogov, or "the cave," driven under a vast depth of slaty rock, and which appears to have long ceased to be recognised as a work of art. LLANGYVELACH (LLAN-GYFELACH), a parish, in the union, and partly within the limits of the borough, of Swansea, and partly in the hundred of Llangyvelach, county of Glamorgan, South Wales, 4 miles (N. by W.) from Swansea; comprising the townships of Higher and Lower Clâs, Upper and Lower Mawr, Upper and Lower Pen Derwi, and Upper and Lower Rhwngdwy Clydach; and containing 9394. The parish is situated in a district abounding with mineral wealth; it is more than ten miles in length, and in many parts six in breadth, comprising 27,305 acres, of which 7223 are common or waste land. It includes the western side of the Swansea valley, or Vale of Tawe, from a short distance above Swansea up to Pontardawe, and stretches from that side of the valley as its basis away to the confines of Carmarthenshire. Upon the base-line lie Morriston, a place of some size, Clydach, and Pontardawe: the first presents the aspect of a manufacturing population, but at Clydach and Pontardawe, though there are works at or near each, rural features predominate. The village of Llangyvelach lies westward of this baseline, and towards the Carmarthen border the surface is mountainous. Clasemont, the property of Sir John Morris, Bart., has been taken down; and the only seat now deserving notice, within the limits of the parish, is Penlle'rgaer, an elegant residence. The principal mineral production is coal, which is procured in large quantities, and the working of which affords employment to a great part of the population. The copper-works established here for the manufacture of ore imported for the purpose, and the collieries, are conducted by different companies on a very extensive scale, the former furnishing occupation to more than 1500, and the latter to 2000, men. The Pontardawe tin-works are situated in a pleasant part of the vale, a little below the village of that name, and are now the property of John Parsons, Esq., of Graig Cottage. They were erected about fourteen years since, at a considerable outlay, and the number of persons employed is about 140; the make is about 2000 boxes of tin-plates per month, and the wages, which are all paid in cash, exceed, with incidentals, £500 monthly. The Swansea canal intersects the parish, in its course up the western bank of the river Tawe. In 1847 an act was passed authorizing the construction of a railway from Nantmelyn, in the parish, to Ynis-y-Mond, in the parish of Cadoxton, to be called the Swansea and Amman Junction Railway: it will consist of a main line of nearly four miles and a half, with above two miles of branches. A fair is held on March 1st in the village of Llangyvelach, in which petty sessions for the hundred also take place. The living is a vicarage, rated in the king's books at £9. 14. 9½., and in the patronage of the Bishop of St. David's: the tithes have been commuted for £1050, of which £845 are payable to the impropriator, and £205 to the vicar. The church, dedicated to St. Cyvelach, is a very neat and compact structure, consisting of a nave and chancel, the former rebuilt a short time ago: the old tower, which still remains, is detached from the present, as it was from the former, edifice, standing at a short distance from the nave: in the sepulchral chapel belonging to the family of Penlle'rgaer, is an elegant cenotaph of black marble. The situation of parish-clerk is worth from £70 to £100 per annum, arising chiefly from a charge of two shillings and sixpence upon each plough used on every farm in the parish; it is in the gift of the Bishop. At Morriston is a separate incumbency; and another has been lately founded at Clydach, under the act 6th and 7th Victoria, cap. 37: the latter is in the gift of the Crown and the Bishop, alternately; net income, £150. There are places of worship for Independents, Baptists, Particular Baptists, Calvinistic Methodists, and Unitarians. Day schools are held in different parts, in connexion with the Church; and the parish contains eighteen Sunday schools, four of them conducted on Church principles. Lewis Thomas, in the year 1642, left a messuage and tenement called Tîr Bâch, and also a sum of £20, the produce to be annually divided on Christmas-eve among the poor not receiving parochial aid: the piece of land contains about ten acres, with a small cottage, but is not worth more than about £5 per annum; and nothing has been received from the property since the early part of the present century, when it is said to have been taken possession of by a descendant of the testator. In 1733, Mary Williams bequeathed a rent-charge of £2 for erecting and maintaining a free school, in the parcel of Rhwngdwy Clydach, and the sum was paid to a schoolmaster at Gellyonen until 1808, since which time nothing has been received, though a school was built by subscription in the place named by the testatrix. Mary Rogers, in 1789, gave £500, the interest to be expended in clothing six men, and an equal number of women, at Christmas, and the residue then left to be retained by the minister for his trouble in seeing the trust performed; the fund is vested in the three per cent. reduced annuities, yielding an interest of £19. 13. 6., of which £12 are allotted to the clothing of three poor men and women in each division of the parish, and the remainder is paid to the vicar. Thomas Price, of Penlle'rgaer, bequeathed a rentcharge of £4 on a farm called Abergwenlais, the amount to be distributed among the poor on Christmas-eve and Good Friday, and he likewise charged the land with an annual payment of £4. 10. for instructing ten children. A few other small charities have been either lost or are unproductive; among which are a bequest by Alexander Amyas of £40, in 1773; a grant of £20 by one of the Penderry family; and another rent-charge, variously stated at £2, and £7. 10., on a tenement called Havod, in the parish of Bettws, county of Carmarthen. Penlle'rgaer, near the western confines of the parish, is the only place besides Loughor having any claim to be regarded as the site of the Roman station Leucarum; its claim consists partly in its appellation, which may be translated "the camp summit," and partly in the discovery of fragments of ancient walls, in a situation likely to have been chosen by the Romans for a military post. Near the top of Mynydd Maen Coch, in the parish, is a stone circle called Carn Llêchart, in a state of almost perfect preservation.—See Morriston, Clâs, &c. LLANHAMLLÊCH, or LLAN-AMLLÊCH (LLAN-AMMWLCH), a parish, consisting of two divisions, Lower and Upper, in the hundred of Pencelly, union and county of Brecknock, South Wales, 3 miles (S. E. by E.) from Brecknock; containing 324 inhabitants, of whom 211 are in the hamlet of Llanhamllêch, or Lower division, and 113 in that of Llêchvaen, or the Upper division. The name of this parish, signifying the "church on many flat stones," is in allusion to the strata of the rock on which the church is built, and the fragments of slate with which the churchyard abounds. The greater portion of the parish, together with the advowson of the living, formed part of the possessions of Sir John Walbeoffe, one of the companions of Bernard Newmarch in his conquest of the ancient principality of Brecknock, and remained in the hands of the descendants of that family till it became extinct. In the reign of James I., the manor and living became the property of the Powells, with whom they have since continued. This parish, which comprises about 1130 acres, is beautifully situated on the north bank of the river Usk, and on the turnpike-road from Brecon to Crickhowel, which passes through the village: on the west it is bounded by the Brynŷch brook. The lands are chiefly arable; but there are some good meadows near the Usk, affording excellent pasturage for cattle. The soil, composed of clay and gravel, is tolerably fertile, and the inhabitants are principally employed in agricultural pursuits. The scenery is richly diversified and highly picturesque: the river, in many parts of its winding course, forms a beautiful feature in the landscape; and the distant views embrace many objects of romantic grandeur, among which are the Brecknockshire Beacons, and the Sugar Loaf and other mountains in the county of Monmouth. Peterstone Court, a spacious and well-built mansion, is situated near the site of the old residence of the Norman family of Walbeoffe, in grounds ornamented with a stately avenue of elms and a small group of oak-trees. The Hay railway, from Brecknock to the rich agricultural districts of Herefordshire, runs through the northern part of the parish. The living is a rectory, rated in the king's books at £6. 1. 8; patron, the Rev. Thomas Powell: the tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £255, and there is a glebe of forty acres, valued at £40 per annum. The tithes were charged by a member of the Walbeoffe family with the payment of nine shillings annually to the priory of Malvern, which, upon the dissolution of that establishment, was received by the crown. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, and supposed to have been originally founded by one of the Walbeoffes, was, with the exception of the old tower, rebuilt by a parochial rate in 1802, and is a neat plain edifice, consisting of a nave and chancel: the chancel was formerly filled with raised tombs, which, since the rebuilding of the church, have been placed on a level with the pavement. The tower is embattled, and is a fine specimen of the later style of English architecture, though not elaborately ornamented, and from every point of view forms a highly interesting object. The churchyard is remarkably picturesque, and is adorned with some fine yew-trees, several of which, though of great age, are flourishing in full vigour. The old parsonage-house appears to be of very ancient date, probably coeval with the settlement of the first Norman family, for besides the Norman arches that constitute the doorways, and the stone mullions of the windows, several stones have been found in the walls, ornamented with the Norman or Saxon scrolls, and on one of them is an inscription in the Saxon character, of which the word "Meridic" is legible. In the hamlet of Llêchvaen was a chapel of ease, which fell down about a century since, and has not been rebuilt; the central situation of the parochial church, and its sufficiency of accommodation, rendering it unnecessary. There is a place of worship in Llêchvaen for Calvinistic Methodists, with a Sunday school held in it. The Peterstone estate is charged by Miss Walbeoffe with the yearly payment of £2. 8., which is regularly distributed among the poor of the parish; and a bequest of £3 per annum, by the same lady, is charged on lands in the parish of Llanvrynach, for apprenticing a child from this place every second year with a premium of £6. On a farm called Mannest, in the parish, and upon the summit of an eminence that overlooks the villages of Llanhamllêch, Llanvigan, and Llanvrynach, and commands a very extensive prospect over the fertile Vale of Usk, are the remains of a cist-vaen, under an aged yew-tree, and surrounded with stones apparently from a dispersed cairn, under which it had been concealed for many ages: at what period it was opened is not known. It consists of three upright stones, two forming the sides, about five feet in length, and one at the end, about three feet wide: the whole height does not exceed three feet from the ground. By some writers this relic has been supposed to be of Druidical origin, and by others to be the remains of a hermit's cell: by topographers it is usually designated Tŷ Illtyd, or St. Illtyd's hermitage. The crosses and characters appear to be nothing more than the rude efforts of pilgrims and visiters to leave some memorial of themselves behind, by inscribing the initials of their names, and other devices, on the stones of the monument. The parish was anciently crossed by the Roman Via Julia Montana. LLANHARAN, a parish, in the poor-law union of Bridgend and Cowbridge, hundred of Cowbridge, county of Glamorgan, South Wales, 6 miles (N. by E.) from Cowbridge; containing 306 inhabitants. This parish is situated under the southern declivity of a ridge of hills; near the South Wales railway, and on the road from Bridgend to Llantrissent, Merthyr-Tydvil, and Cardiff. It is bounded on the north by Peterstone-super-Montem, on the south by Llanilid, on the east by Llantrissent, and by St. Bride's Minor on the west. The surface is undulated and hilly, and the high grounds command good views, comprehending the Bristol Channel, and the adjacent country intersected by the river Ely; the soil in many parts is gravelly, in others peaty and boggy, and most kinds of agricultural produce are raised. Llanharan House is a handsome modern mansion, situated under the shelter of a lofty ridge of hills, with a south-eastern aspect; the grounds are richly wooded, and present an agreeable irregularity of surface, embracing much pleasing scenery: from the upper part of the house are obtained extensive and interesting prospects. In Llanharan House is a valuable collection of Welsh manuscripts, formed by Llewelyn Sion, an eminent bard of Glamorgan, illustrative of the system of bardism, preserved in the Gorsedd Morganwg, in which he presided in 1580. Llanelay is a good residence of a mixed style of architecture, situated on the bank of the river Ely, and sheltered on the north by the lofty hill of Garth. Craig Matthew, a venerable structure, was formerly the seat of the Matthews, and afterwards of the Gibbons. The parish abounds with mineral wealth, and several of the inhabitants are employed in some collieries, which are chiefly worked for the supply of the immediate vicinity; limestone is found in great quantities, and lead and iron ores have been discovered: magnesian limestone in one place lies above the coal, which rises again beyond it to the south. The living is a rectory, consolidated with the rectory of Llanilid: the church, which is dedicated to St. Julius and St. Aaron, is thirty-four feet long and fifteen wide, and contains about ninety sittings. Mrs. Mary Lougher left £60 to the poor of the parish, but only £15 of the sum are now available; £100 were bequeathed by the late Mr. Gibbon, of Newton House, near Cowbridge, and £120 by the late Dr. Hoare, Principal of Jesus College, Oxford: the income arising from these bequests, £12. 1., is annually distributed among the poor. LLANHARY (LLAN-ARAU), a parish, in the union of Bridgend and Cowbridge, hundred of Cowbridge, county of Glamorgan, South Wales, 4 miles (N. N. E.) from Cowbridge; containing 268 inhabitants. The lands of the parish are generally inclosed, and in a good state of cultivation; and a portion of its substrata consists of coal of good quality, which is worked for the supply of the immediate neighbourhood. The living is a discharged rectory, rated in the king's books at £5. 12. 8½.; present net-income, £120; patron, E. Ballard, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. Arau. There is a place of worship for Independents; also a dameschool in connexion with the Church, and two Sunday schools, one of them conducted on Church principles, and the other belonging to the Independent body. Mr. Gibbon, of Newton House, near Cowbridge, bequeathed £200, the interest of which is annually distributed among the poor, shortly after Christmas; being a portion of a benefaction of £500 left by that gentleman, the residue of which he directed to be divided equally among the parishes of Llanharan, Llantrissent, and Llanblethian. LLANHOWEL (LLAN-HOWEL), a parish, in the union of Haverfordwest, hundred of Dewisland, county of Pembroke, South Wales, 4½ miles (E. by N.) from St. David's; containing 160 inhabitants. It is situated in the north-western part of the county, nearly in the centre of a peninsula stretching into St. George's Channel, and terminating in the promontory called St. David's Head. The living is a discharged vicarage, with that of Llandeloy annexed; patrons and impropriators, the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral of St. David's. The tithes of Llanhowel have been commuted for £67 payable to the impropriators, and £42 payable to the vicar: the vicar's glebe comprises eighty-one acres, valued at £60 per annum. The church, dedicated to St. Hoel, presents no details of importance. LLANIDAN (LLAN-IDAN), a parish, in the union of Carnarvon, hundred of Menai, county of Anglesey, North Wales, 7 miles (S. W. by W.) from Bangor; containing, exclusively of the chapelry of Llanvair-y-Cwmmwd, 1370 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the western shore of the Menai strait, was in ancient times one of the principal stations of the Druids, being included in a large district, in which the arch-druid, the sub-druid, and other priests of that order had their abode. From this circumstance are derived the names of the several hamlets of the parish, of which Tre'r Dryw was the seat of the arch-druid; Tre'r Beirdd, that of the bards; Bôdowyr, the residence of Druidical priests; and Bôd Drudan, a habitation of the Druids. Suetonius Paulinus, who entirely destroyed the authority of these priests in Britain, is said to have landed his forces at Porthamel, not far from this place, at a spot still called Pant yr Ysgraf, or "the valley of skiffs," from his having transported his infantry across the Menai in flat-bottomed boats. Being, however, almost immediately compelled to retreat by the insurrection under Boadicea, the Roman general was unable to make any permanent settlement here; nor have any remains undoubtedly Roman, either of this or a later period, been discovered, with the exception only of a few coins that have been occasionally dug up in the neighbourhood. The parish comprises 4001 acres, of which 30 acres are common or waste. The lands, with some trifling exceptions, are inclosed, and in a good state of cultivation. Limestone abounds in the parish, the quarrying and burning of which afford employment to several of the inhabitants, great quantities being prepared for manure, and shipped in the Menai, to be conveyed coastwise to Liverpool and other places. Llanidan Hall, a seat of Lord Boston's, commands fine prospects. At Bryn Siencyn, near the strait, in the parish, fairs are held on March 11th, April 14th, September 13th, October 12th, and November 12th. The living is a discharged vicarage, with the perpetual curacies of Llanddaniel-Vab, Llanedwen, and Llanvair-y-Cwmmwd annexed, rated in the king's books at £10; present net income, £292: one-third of the great tithes belongs to the vicar, and the remainder to Lord Boston, who is patron. The church, dedicated to St. Nidan, was appropriated to the convent of Bethgelart; its revenues shared the fate of that establishment in 1535, and the advowson was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Edward Downam and Peter Ashton. In 1605 those grantees sold the advowson to Richard Prytherch of Myvyrian, whose daughter conveyed it by marriage to the Llwyds of Lligwy, on the extinction of which family it was purchased, with the rest of their estates, by Lord Uxbridge, who bequeathed it to the father of the present Lord Boston. The present church was erected only a few years ago, at some distance from the former edifice; it cost upwards of £600, and is apparently of substantial construction, but is much inferior in style to the old building. The latter, which has been for the most part demolished, was an interesting church, and one of the most important religious structures in the isle of Anglesey. Its situation, also, was somewhat peculiar, it being erected in an inclosure almost circular, surrounded by "tall ancestral trees," and immediately behind the mansion of Lord Boston, from which it was not twenty yards distant. The reasons assigned for its desertion were, that it required so much reparation as to make it more advantageous to raise a new edifice; and next, that the population having shifted to the spot called Bryn Siencyn, it was desirable to choose a site for the new church in that part of the parish. There are several places of worship for dissenters; a Church day school, at Bryn Siencyn; and three Sunday schools, all of them belonging to the dissenters. The Rev. Henry Rowlands, in 1616, bequeathed to the poor a rent-charge of 8s. on his estate of Plâs Gwyn, besides which there are some small rent-charges amounting to about as much more, and a few charitable donations and bequests; principally a sum of £1 paid annually by Lord Boston, and a similar amount from a bequest by an unknown donor to be divided among twenty old men. Two small charities have been lost. Of the Druidical antiquities with which the parish abounded, and of which so exact an account has been given by Mr. Rowlands in his "Mona Antiqua Restaurata," but very few are at present in any tolerable state of preservation, and of many there are scarcely any vestiges. The spacious grove and temple of Tre 'r Dryw are now hardly distinguishable; and only a few of the stones that formed the sacraria are remaining to mark out the site: Bryn Gwyn, the grand consistory of the Druidical administration, a circular cavity 180 feet in diameter, was surrounded originally by an immense rampart of earth and stones, and had near it a circle of stones, one of which, now forming part of the gable of a dwellinghouse, is above twelve feet in height and of proportionate bulk. Tre 'r Beirdd, "the seat of the bards," has been almost entirely demolished, the materials having been used for building; its site is now occupied by two small tenements. Bôdowyr contains a cromlech, supported on several upright stones, in a tolerably perfect state, but the circle has been removed. Trêvrŷ has only three upright stones remaining, at a great distance from each other; the foundations have been removed, and the site was levelled by the plough in 1827. Tan Ben y Cevn remains in an entire state, though concealed from observation by the brambles with which it is overspread. Two upright stones only are left at Llŷslew; and of numerous others, noticed by Mr. Rowlands, not the slightest vestiges can be traced. Caer Lêb, or "the moated intrenchment," supposed to have been the residence of the arch-druid, is in good preservation, and forms a quadrangular area, defended by a double rampart, with a broad intervening ditch, and surrounded on the outside by a ditch of smaller dimensions; within the area are foundations of square and circular buildings. It is now doubted whether Caer Lêb be not a Roman encampment; and it is asserted that a paved road, similar to a Roman road in construction, runs by the north-eastern side of the work, and across the adjoining common towards the Menai; the road lies about three feet below the soil, and has been of late exposed in several places. Castell Idris, built on the summit of a rock, and defended on the accessible sides by three walls in the form of a crescent, is a fortress of British origin, but of later date than the time of the Druids; it is a place of great strength and in good preservation, though overgrown with brambles, and concealed by a young plantation of forest-trees. The Rev. Henry Rowlands, already mentioned, author of the "Mona Antiqua Restaurata," published in 1723, was vicar of the parish at the time he wrote that work. LLANIDLOES (LLAN-IDLOES), a borough, market-town, and parish, and, jointly with Newtown, the head of a poor-law union, in the Upper division of the hundred of Llanidloes, county of Montgomery, North Wales, 26½ miles (S. W.) from Welshpool, 22 (W. S. W.) from Montgomery, and 193 (W. N. W.) from London; containing 4261 inhabitants, of whom 2742 are in the borough. This parish, which is of considerable extent, derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Idloes, an eminent British saint, who flourished about the middle of the sixth century. The town is situated in a fertile vale, watered by the river Severn, which has its source within the parish, and almost surrounded by hills of moderate elevation, some of them crowned with thriving plantations, and others richly cultivated. The scenery of the vale is beautifully picturesque, and the banks of the river are enlivened with some pleasant villas and handsome residences: the hills that surround the town form a striking contrast to the barren heights seen in the distance, among which the great mountain of Plinlimmon, partly within the limits of the parish, forms a conspicuous and interesting feature. Llanidloes occupies a favourable site on the southern bank of the Severn, and on the turnpike-road from Shrewsbury through Newtown to Aberystwith. It consists principally of two spacious streets, intersecting each other nearly at right angles, and has been improved and enlarged by the erection of several respectable houses. On the western side, and in a picturesque situation near the vicarage-house, is a stone bridge of one arch over the river; and another handsome stone bridge of three arches has been erected, at an expense of £3000, over the same river, near the place where it receives the tributary stream of the Clywedog, which, after flowing some distance through the parish, falls into the Severn. The inhabitants are amply supplied with water. The approaches to the town are remarkably fine, especially that from Aberystwith, and the environs abound with features of rural simplicity and romantic beauty. On the road leading from Aberystwith, having passed over a bridge about two miles from Llanidloes, is a genteel house, called Glandulas, the grounds belonging to which are planted with a variety of fir, lime, elm, chestnut, beech, and other trees; a beautiful trout-stream flowing close to the house. Upon the south side is Maenol, a very handsome large house, erected in the Elizabethan style, and forming an ornamental feature in the scenery; and immediately bordering on the town is Glandwr, a beautiful residence, having grounds disposed with great taste, and planted with trees, flowering-shrubs, and annuals. Dôl Llŷs, in the parish, commands a delightful view of the Vale of Severn, with the windings of the river and the rich and finely varied scenery on its banks, terminated by the high mountains in the distance. Mount Severn, an elevated and truly romantic spot, overlooking the river, which winds beautifully below the house, commands an interesting view of the picturesque cottage of Nant-y-Brace, embosomed in the trees that crown the opposite bank. There are some pleasing views to the south-east, and in many parts of the neighbourhood are fine prospects over the adjacent country, which is richly diversified. Besides the Severn, the Clywedog and the Dulas water the parish; and about two miles from the town, on the road to Trêveglwys, is a spacious pool called Llyn Ebyr, extending over a surface of about fifty acres, and abounding with pike, eels, and perch; it is frequented by wild fowl, and during the summer season is the resort of parties of pleasure, for whose accommodation several boats, belonging to gentlemen in the vicinity, are kept upon the pool. The manufacture of flannel has been established from a very early period in this town, which sixty years ago was the only place in the county where that material was made, the produce being conveyed by packhorses to the market of Welshpool for sale. Since that period, however, it has been outrivalled by Newtown, which, within the last five and forty years, has obtained great eminence in the production of flannel of a finer texture, though probably less durable, than that of Llanidloes. The manufacture here has, notwithstanding, continued to increase, and there are at present six carding-mills within the limits of the parish, and eighteen fulling-mills, and nearly 35,000 spindles constantly in operation in the town and neighbourhood, affording employment to considerably more than 2000 hands. All the spinning and weaving were formerly carried on in private houses and cottages, but of late years eight or nine factories have been erected, in which most of the same kind of work is now done, and three of which are very superior buildings. About 300 pieces of flannel, averaging in length 150 yards each, are manufactured here, and sent every fortnight to the market at Newtown, held every alternate Thursday. There are several malt-houses and kilns in the town and its vicinity, as well as tanneries and corn-mills. The market is held on Saturday, and is abundantly supplied with wool, grain, and provisions of every kind. The market-house, or town-hall, an ancient edifice of timber and plaster, is situated in the centre of the town; but it is little used at present, in consequence of a very spacious hall having been built, near the Trewythen Arms hotel, in the second story of which the wool-market is kept, whilst below are the shambles, butter-market, &c. Fairs take place annually on the second Saturday in February, the first Saturday in April, on May 11th, the Saturday next preceding the 24th of June, on July 17th, the second Saturday in September, the first Friday in October, the 28th of that month, and the Saturday before December 16th. Sheep-fairs are also held every Thursday from the 26th of May to the 26th of June inclusive, which are attended by shepherds of both North and South Wales. The town received its first charter of incorporation from John de Charlton, lord of Powys, in the 18th year of the reign of Edward III., and obtained other successive charters, the last of which was granted by John Tiptoft, lord of Powys, in the 26th year of Henry VI. Under these charters, which have been lost, or destroyed by accident, the government was vested in a mayor, recorder, and an indefinite number of aldermen and burgesses, assisted by a coroner, two serjeants-at-mace, and other officers. The mayor was elected by the burgesses annually at the court leet of the lord of the manor, in the first week after Michaelmas, and might, if he chose to qualify, act as a magistrate within the borough, but was not ex officio a justice of the peace: the recorder was appointed by the lord of the manor, and held his office for life. By the act 5th and 6th of Wm. IV., c. 76, the corporation is styled the "Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses," and consists of a mayor, four aldermen, and twelve councillors, together forming the council of the borough, of which the municipal and parliamentary boundaries are identical. The council elect the mayor annually on Novembervember 1st, one-third going out of office every year. Aldermen and councillors must have each a property qualification of £500, or be rated at £15 annual value.clerk, treasurer, and other officers on Nov. 9th. The elective franchise was granted in the 27th of Henry VIII., when Llanidloes was constituted a contributory borough to Montgomery; and it exercised that privilege till the year 1728, when, together with Llanvyllin and Welshpool, it was disfranchised by a vote of the House of Commons, which restricted the right of election to the burgesses of Montgomery alone. This resolution being directly at variance with a previous one in 1680, by which the right had been confirmed, the burgesses, by the statute of the 28th of George III., were granted the power of asserting their claim to vote for a member for Montgomery before any future committee of the House, and of making any appeal, within twelve calendar months, against any subsequent decision. The act for "Amending the Representation of the People," in 1832, restored the franchise to the borough, in common with others in the county which had been deprived of it; and it is now one of the five that contribute with Montgomery in the return of a representative to parliament. The right of voting is vested in every male person of full age occupying, either as owner, or as tenant under the same landlord, a house or other premises in the borough of the annual value of not less than £10, provided he be capable of registering as the act directs: the present number of tenements of this value within the limits of the borough, which were somewhat confined by the Boundary Act, and are minutely detailed in the Appendix to this work, is 113. Llanidloes is also a polling-place in the election of a parliamentary representative for the shire. The county magistrates and county coroner exercise jurisdiction within the town, and the former hold a petty-session for the hundred on the first Monday in every month. The powers of the county debtcourt of Llanidloes, established in 1847, extend over the parishes of Llanidloes, Llangurig, and Trêveglwys. A court baron for the manor of Arustley, the jurisdiction of which extends over the hundred, takes place every third Monday, for the recovery of debts and determining of actions under the amount of £2, by process similar to that of the supreme courts at Westminster. The parish is bounded on the north by that of Trêveglwys; on the south by the parishes of Llangurig and St. Harmon, the latter of which is in Radnorshire; on the east by that of Llandinam; and on the west by Llanbadarn-Vawr, in the county of Cardigan. It comprises by admeasurement 17,278 acres, of which 4078 are sheep-walks, and the remainder inclosed land, consisting of arable and pasture. The surface being hilly, and in some parts mountainous, the soil is various, though generally fertile, producing wheat, oats, and barley; the lower grounds, which are tolerably well wooded with oak, fir, and other trees, are in a good state of cultivation, and the declivities of the hills afford pasturage to numerous flocks of sheep. In 1816 an act of parliament called the "Arustley Inclosure Act" was obtained for improving the common and waste in the vicinity, under the provisions of which considerable portions of land in this parish have been inclosed, and are now under cultivation. Lead-ore has been found, and some mines were formerly worked, but not with sufficient advantage to remunerate the adventurers, and they were consequently discontinued: the hills abound with coarse slate, and in the vicinity are some quarries of stone of good quality for building. The living is a discharged vicarage, rated in the king's books at £4. 3. 4.; present net income, £151, with a glebe-house; patron, the Bishop of Bangor; impropriators, the Dean and Chapter of Bangor, Sir W. W. Wynn, Bart., and the Vicar of Llangurig. The church, dedicated to St. Idloes, was originally founded towards the close of the fifth, or at the beginning of the sixth century. The present structure consists of a nave and aisle, with a tower more ancient than either. The aisle was built about 200 years since, and is separated from the nave by brought hither from the abbey of Cwm Hîr, in the county of Radnor, and the date upon one of the shields (1542) corresponds with the time of the dissolution of that establishment. amounting to £1600: a new set of bells was hung in the tower, in 1825, at a cost of £200. The area is very spacious, and there is a small gallery; the sittings will accommodate 550 or 600 persons. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, and Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists; a National day and Sunday school, for boys and girls; and fourteen Sunday schools for children and adults, supported by the dissenters. The Rev. Dr. David Lloyd bequeathed a rent-charge of £2. 12., to be apportioned out in bread on Sundays to the poor. Catherine Lloyd left £100, with which, and its accumulated interest, two properties, called Tŷ'n-y-Vron, and Crowlwm, were purchased; the one containing twenty-nine acres and a quarter, to which an inclosure allotment of twenty-one acres was subsequently added, and the other ten and a half acres, afterwards increased by an allotment of eleven acres and threequarters; the whole now producing a rent of £33. 15., which is appropriated towards the support of the National school. A rent-charge of £14 by the Rev. Dr. Jenkin Bowen, of Welford, Gloucestershire, and another of £2. 10. by Evan Glynne, of Glynne, are distributed among the poor. Within the limits of the parish is partly included the lofty mountain of Plinlimmon, or, more properly, Pumlum, that on the higher peak being pyramidal, commercial importance, while the Wye and the Rheidiol surpass all other rivers in Britain for the Llanidloes. The Wye rises from two powerful springs on the south-eastern side of the mountain, and, after a long circuitous course, falls into the Severn below Chepstow. The Rheidiol has its source in the pool of Llygad Rheidiol, and falls into the Irish Sea at Aberystwith; the Llyvnant issues from a pool called Glâs Lyn. The height of the mountain is 2463 feet. At Melin Velindre, on the route to Plinlimmon, is a romantic cataract; and near the sheep-farm of Blaen Havren the Severn rolls its waters over a lofty ledge of slate rocks, in which they have formed gullies of various picturesque shapes. LLANIESTYN (LLAN-IESTYN), a parish, in the union of Bangor and Beaumaris, partly in the hundred of Tyndaethwy, and partly within the liberties of the borough of Beaumaris, county of Anglesey, North Wales, 3½ miles (N. W. by N.) from Beaumaris; containing 275 inhabitants, of whom 129 are in the former, and 146 in the latter, portion. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church to St. Iestyn or Iestin, son of Geraint, is situated nearly in the centre of the promontory separating Beaumaris Roads from the Irish Sea, and comprises a small tract of land, the greater part of which is inclosed and cultivated. The perpetual curacy, annexed to that of Llangoed. The church was granted in 1243, by Prince Llewelyn, to the priory that he had recently founded at Llanvaes, to which establishment it belonged at the Dissolution. The present building is for the most part of the fifteenth century; it is one of the plainest churches in the island of Anglesey, and consists only of a nave, or single aisle, but contains two highly interesting relics, namely, a sculptured slab commemorating the saint after whom the church is named, and a remarkably curious font probably of the twelfth century. The slab, which is now, for better preservation, placed vertically in the wall, is of the fourteenth century, being some centuries after the time of the saint; and is surpassed in antiquarian value by few monumental effigies in Wales. It is of curious workmanship, and bears. The inscription on the slab, in old characters, has been variously read by different antiquaries, but the following is the tenour, as correctly given by the Hon. Daines Barrington, and adopted by Mr. Pennant: "Hic jacet Sanctus Yestinus, cui Gwenllian, Filia Madoc et Gryffyt ap Gwilym, optulit in oblacoem istam imaginem p. salute animarum s." The monument is noticed by Rowlands, in his "Mona Antiqua Restaurata," and an account of it was read before the Society of Antiquaries, in 1776, and published in the fifth volume of the Archæologia: an accurate engraving of it, also, with two views of the font, is comprised in the Archæologia Cambrensis for October 1847. The income arising from a few small charitable donations and bequests amounting to £24, which have been vested in the purchase of land, and produce a rental of £2. 2., is annually distributed among the poor; and the parish has erected three cottages upon another portion of the land so bought, which, with one before existing on it, are given to poor families to live in rent-free. LLANIESTYN (LLAN-IESTYN), a parish, in the union of Pwllheli, principally in the hundred of Dinllaen, and partly in that of Gaflogion, in the Lleyn division of the county of Carnarvon, North Wales, 8 miles (W. by S.) from Pwllheli; containing 1090 inhabitants. This parish, which derives its name from the dedication of its church, is pleasantly situated at the head of a small valley opening towards the south, near the south-western extremity of the county, almost in the centre of the great headland that separates the bay of Carnarvon from that of Cardigan. It is bounded on the southeast by the parishes of Llangian and Bottwnog, and on the north-west by those of Tydweiliog and Penllêch; and comprises about 4500 acres, nearly equally divided between arable and pasture land. The scenery, though bare of wood, is interesting and picturesque, being greatly diversified with hill and dale; and the soil, some of which is light earth and other parts heavy clay, produces chiefly barley and oats. In the mountainous part of the parish are some appearances of lead-ore and nikel, but the veins are not of sufficient extent to promise remuneration to the adventurer, and no works have been opened. The village is seated at the base of Carn Madryn, a lofty, barren, isolated hill, which was formerly one of the strongholds of Roderic and Maelgwyn, sons of Owain Gwynedd, to whom this part of the principality belonged. The summit of the hill was once surrounded by a wall, still traceable in its whole circuit, and remaining in some parts to the height of several feet; within the area are foundations of circular buildings, and near the base of the mountain are the remains of numerous circular and quadrilateral buildings, the walls of which are in many instances tolerably perfect. The upper part of the mountain is supposed to have been occupied by the chieftains during their sojourn in this stronghold, and the base by their vassals and subsidiary forces, who, during times of invasion, came hither with their cattle for security. The living is a rectory, with the perpetual curacies of Bôdverin, Llandegwining, and Penllêch annexed, rated in the king's books at £21. 3. 9.; present net income, £595, with a glebe-house; patron, the Bishop of Bangor. The tithes of the parish have been commuted for a rent-charge of £371, with a glebe of 23a. 2r. 31p., valued at £30 per annum. The church, dedicated to St. Iestyn, is a spacious and handsome structure, partly in the later Norman, and partly in the early English style of architecture, consisting of a nave, south aisle, and chancel, the whole seventyeight feet long and forty-two broad, and containing about 500 sittings. The aisle is separated from the nave by a range of pentagonal pillars and circular arches, and is lighted by a series of elegant lancetshaped windows: some fragments still remain of the exquisitely carved oak screen that divided the chancel from the nave. The pulpit and the reading-desk are attached, the former to the northern, and the latter to the southern, wall. There are two places of worship for Calvinistic Methodists, and one for Independents; a day school; and four Sunday schools, three of which belong to the dissenters. The rental of a tenement bequeathed by Roger Jones, in 1621, and now producing £13 per annum, is distributed among the poor at Christmas: there is also a sum of 12s. 6d., a portion of £5 interest, payable on a turnpike-bond of the trustees of the Conway road; and about a similar sum from an ancient rent-charge, disposed of in like manner. Double-click menu [ Cancel ] Site journal - Usability survey - Subscribe - Contact us - Privacy & Cookies - Terms of use About - RSS - Stats Copyright © 2012 University of London & History of Parliament Trust - All rights reserved Design - Crave Ltd Partners
Sponsor History of Parliament Trust Publication Historical Collections of Private Passages of State: Volume 2: 1629-38 Author Rushworth, John Year published 1721 Pages 717-745 Citation Show another format: BHO MLA Turabian Chicago MARC21 Wikipedia 'Historical Collections: 1638 (1 of 5)', Historical Collections of Private Passages of State: Volume 2: 1629-38 (1721), pp. 717-745. URL: Date accessed: 18 May 2013. Add to my bookshelf Highlight (Min 3 characters) Contents Historical Collections For the Year 1638. Instructions for Captain William Legg, concerning the Ordnance, Arms, and Provisions sent to Kingston upon Hull. Instructions from His Majesty's Council to the Lord Justice-Clerk, whom they have ordained to go to Court for His Majesty' Service. Footnotes The Arch-Bishop of Canterbury's Diary. April 29. The Tumults in Scotland about the Service Book offered to be brought in, began July 23. 1637. and continued increasing by fits, and hath now brought that Kingdom in danger. No question but there is a great concurrence between them and the Puritan Party here in England; there was great aim there to destroy me in the King's Opinion, &c. May 26. Saturday, James Lord Marquess Hamilton fet forth, as the King's Commissioner, to appease the Tumults in Scotland. God prosper him for God and the King. June, My Visitation then began of Merton College in Oxford, by my Visitors, was adjourned to my own hearing, again upon October 2. October 2, 3, 4. I sat upon this Business these three days, and adjourned it till July 1. Inter boras primam & tertiam, Lambeth. The Warden appeared very soul. October 19. News was brought to us, as we sat in the Star-Chamber, that the Queen-Mother of France was landed at Harwich; many and great apprehensions upon this Business. October 31.The Queen came into London, so to St.James's November 13. The Agreement between me and A. S. & c November 21. Wednesday, The General Assembly inScotland began to fit. November 29. Thursday; The Proclamation issued out ford dissolving of the Great Assembly in Scotland, under pain of Treason. December 20. They fat notwithstanding, and made many strange Acts till December 20, which was Thursday, and then they rose; but have indicted another Assembly against July next. February 10. My Book against Fisher the Jesuit was Printed, and this day, being Sunday, I delivered a Copy to his Majesty. Tuesday, Feb. 21. That Night I dreamed that K. C. was to be married to a Minister's Widow, and that I was called upon to do it: No Service Book could be found; and in my own Book, which I had, I could not find the Order for Marriage. At Whitehall, April 6. Present: The King's most Excellent Majesty. New-England. 'His Majesty and the Board taking into consideration the frequent resort to New-England, of divers Person ill-affected to the Religion established in the Church of England, and to the good and peaceable Government of this State. However, upon the humble Petition of the Merchants, Passengers, and Owners of Ships now bound for New-England, and upon the Reasons by them representedto the Board, His Majesty was graciously pleased at this time to free them from a late Restraint, and to set them at liberty to proceed on in their intended Voyage. Nevertheless His Majesty well knowing the factious disposition of the People (for a great part of them) in that Plantation, and how unfit and unworthy they are of any Support or Countenance from hence, in respect of the great Disorders and want of Government amongst them; where of sundry and great Complaints have been presented to the Board, and made appear to be true, by those that being well-affected, both for Religion and Government, have suffered much loss in their Estates by the unruly Factious Party, did think fit and Order, That Mr. Attorney General shall forthwith draw up a Proclamation, expressing his Majesty's Royal Pleasure to prohibit all Merchants, Masters, and Owners of Ships from henceforth to set forth any Ship, or Ships, with Passengers for New-England, till they first obtained special Licence on that behalf, from such of the Lords of His Majesty's most Honourable Privy-Council, as are appointed for the Business of Foreign Plantations by special Commission. April 15. Ministers and Tythes in adjacent Parishes to London 'Whereas an humble Petition was this day read at the Board unto the King's most excellent Majesty in the Names of the Parsons, Vicars, and Curats of the adjacent Places to the City of London, namely, of St. Margarets Westminster, St. Clements Danes, St. Giles in the Fields, St. James Clarkenwel, St. Leonard Shoreditch, St. Martins in the Fields, St. Mary Newington, in Southwark, St. Magdalen Bermondsey, St. Saviours Southwark, St. Kath. Tower, Lambeth, and St. Olaves in Southwark; Shewing unto His Majesty the great increase of New-Buildings of late Years, erected in the Petitioners 'several Parishes; and that the number of People is now so much augmented, that the said Livings are for the present incompetent and in no proportion meet for the discharge of so great Cures, some of the Petitioners receiving no Tithe at all, the rest far short of that which of right ought to be paid unto them; that great numbers of Parishioners in the aforesaid Parishes, now living in Houses, lately built upon that Ground which heretofore hath paid Tithes and other Rights (to the said several Churches) pay now to the Petitoners, either nothing, or but 2 d. at Easter, and 3 d. at the most, besides the Obventions of small value; and therefore humbly besought his Majesty, amidst His Gracious Thoughts towards the Clergy of London, to take the Case of the Parishioners into His Princely Care, and to take some course for the better maintenance of the Petitioners, and for the establishing of their Right. And whereas by former Order hath the said Parsons, Vicars, and Curats, and also the Church-Wardens, and divers of the principal Parishioners of the said Parishes appeared this day before His Majesty and their Lordships, in whose hearing and presence, the said Petition being again read, they the said Clergy, and Church-Wardens, and Parishioners, alleadged themselves to be no way authorized thereunto. It was thereupon by His Majesty ordered, That the said Clergy should forthwith prepare their Submissions respectively. And that the Church-Wardens and Vestry-Men of the aforesaid several Parishes, should with like diligence and expedition assemble their Parishioners; and communicating the Petition of the said Clergy unto them, withall acquaint them with His Majesty's Pleasure touching their Submission; and they the Parishioners by Writing, signed with their hands, fully to authorize their several Vestry-Men, or Church-Wardens, to return unto His Majesty their Answer therein. And that both the said Clergy, as also the Vestry-Men, or Church-Wardens of each Parish so authorized, fail not to give their attendance, with their said Submissions and Authorizations, upon Sunday the 6th of May next. Whereof all Parties are required hereby to take notice, and to govern themselves accordingly. May the 4th. Another Order of the Lords of the Council concerning St. Gregory's Church. 'This day upon consideration, as well of the Petition of the Parishioners of St. Gregories, as of certain Articles propounded by the Parishioners of St. Gregory's aforesaid, to the Parishioners of Christs-Church, and of others propounded by the Parishioners of Christs-Church to those of St. Gregory's, concerning the accommodating the Parishioners of St.Gregory's in the West end of Christ-Church, for the exercising of Divine Service there. It was by the Board ordered, 'That the Parishioners of St.Gregory's shall place no Pews in Christ-Church, but such as shall be moveable, to the end that Burials may not be hindered, when those of Christ-Church have occasion to bury there. 'That for the said Parishioners of St. Gregory's coming in and going, they shall make use of the West Doors only. 'That they shall depart and leave the said West end of the Church at the Feast of St.John Baptist, which shall be in the Year of Our Lord God 1641. 'That those of St.Gregory's shall leave the Church as they found it, and as well repaired in all respects, ordinary use and wearing excepted. 'That those of St. Gregory's shall have liberty to bury ten of their Parishioners every Year (if there be occasion) within the West end of Christ-Church, for that they have no other place where to bury their Dead. 'That the Parishioners of Christ-Church and St. Gregory's shall from time to time submit themselves to the Arbitrement and Commands of the Lord Bishop of London and his Succesors for the composing of all Differences which shall arise between the said Parishioners. 'And lastly; Their Lordships do hereby order and require, That the Church-Wardens, Common-Council-Men, and Sidemen, as well of the Parish of St.Gregory's, as of that of Christ-Church shall subscribe to the performance of all the aforesaid Articles; and that such their Subscription, together with this their Lordships Order, shall oblige respectively both the one and the other side to the due performance of the same, and every part thereof. And upon this Subscription, which is forthwith required, those of Christ-Church, shall presently deliver the Keys of that part of the Church to those of St. Gregory's. Hereof as well the Parishioners of Christ-Church, as those of St.Gregory's, are to take notice, and conform themselves accordingly. At the Court at Whitehall, May 6. A further Order concerning Tithes as to the Out-Parishes. 'This day Information was given to His Majesty and the Board, That where His Majesty's Order of the of April last, touching the Submission of fixteen of the Out-Parishes in the Suburbs of London, and the Liberties of Westminster, unto His Majesty and the Board, concerning the Increase of Maintenance to their Ministers, in such manner as other Parishes within the City of London had done, 'was published within the Parish Church of St. Giles in the Fields, upon Ascension day last past; That one George Winder, qualifying himself a Messenger Extraordinary of His Majesty's Chamber, did, in the midst of a great Assembly of the Parishioners, who then seemed inclinable to return unto His Majesty a modest and respective Answer to His Pleasure signified unto them, did in a most uncivil and insolent manner affront Mr. Dr. Heywood, one of His Majesty's Chaplains in Ordinary, Parson of the said Parish, and Lawrence Whitaker Esq; one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, an Inhabitant in the said Parish, when they delivered the Points of the said Order to the Assembly, and perswaded them to submission therein required, whereby, and by his peremptory carriage, and affirming of untruths, the Votes of the said Parishioners were diverted from giving such satisfaction to His Majesty's Propostions as were expected. It was therefore ordered by His Majesty and the Board, That the Lord Chamberlain of His Majesty's Houshold should be prayed and required to call the said George Winder before him, and examine him touching the said Offence; and if he found it to be as was informed, that he should then take such order for his Punishment, either by taking from him the countenace of his pretened Service, or otherwise, as his Lordship shall find his Offence to deserve. August 19. Unconformable Ministers. 'Whereas it is observed, That such Ministers who are unconformable to the Discipline and Ceremonies of the Church here, have and do frequently transport themselves to the Summer-Islands, and other his Majesty's Plantations abroad, where they take liberty to nourish and preserve their Factious and Schismatical Humours, to the seducing and abuse of his Majesty's Subjects, and the hindrance of that good Conformity and Unity in the Church, which His Majesty is careful and desirous to establish throughout his Dominions. We are therefore in His Majesty's Name, and by His express Command, hereby to pray and require your (fn. 1) Lordship to take a present and strict Order, That no Clergy-Men be from hence-forth suffered to go over into the Summer-Islands, but such only as shall have approbation in that behalf, from Our very good Lords, the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury his Grace, and the Lord Bishop of London. And that for all such of them as are already gone thither, without such Approbation, that you cause them forthwith to be remanded back hither. And so expecting a good account hereof from your Lordship, we bid you very heartily farewel. Arms and Ammunition at Hull. 'You are, with the Assistance and Attestation of the Mayor of the said Town for the time being, to take a particular view and tale of the respective Provisions that shall be there landed, and which are committed, by the Office of the Ordnance, to John Spencer, one of His Majesty's Gunners, and the several Masters of the Ships wherein they were sent, comparing the Indentures with the Charge of 'the Indentures, and accordingly give a Discharge to such as transported them, and not otherwise. You are also, with the like Assistance and Attestation, to take a particular view and tale of the respective Provisions, being 800 Musquets compleat, and 2000 Pikes, and all other Provisions which are to be brought out of the Low-Countries by Sir Jacob Ashley; and you are to indent, as well for what you receive from the Low-Countries, as for what you receive out of the Ships from the Tower, and to send your Indenture for all the said Provisions into the Office of the Ordnance. You shall take care that all the said Provisions be lodged in a convenient and safe Store-house, and in such order and decency, that the same may not only be freed from all danger and detriment, but be ready upon all occasions; to which purpose you are to keep particular Memorials, or Lifts, of the Place and Order wherein each nature of the Provisions committed to the charge is placed. You, with the assistance of the Mayor, are to sell Powder, Match, and Musquet-shot only, (and no other Provisions in your Charge at Hull ) to such Persons of the said Towns or Counties thereabouts, as shall bring Certificate from one or more of the Deputy-Lieutenants of the said Counties, or of the Mayor, and two other Magistrates of any Corporation respectively, That the said Buyers are fit and responsible Persons to be furnished with such Munitions. You are to keep a particular account of the Sale of all, or any the said Provisions, expressing therein to whom, at what time, and at what rates the same are sold; and the Accompt to be returned to the Office of the Ordnance, and the hands of your self and the Mayor of the said place, at which time the said Certificates of the Deputy-Lieutenants, and the Magistrates, is likewise to be delivered into the Office, and an acknowledgment under the hands of the Party or Parties that shall buy any of the said Provisions, what he hath received, and what he hath paid. When any considerable proportion of Powder, Match or Musquet-shot shall be sold, you are to give such timely notice to the Master of the Ordnance, that supply accordingly may be returned unto you. The Monies proceeding from such Sales, is to be from time to time delivered to such Persons as the Lord Treasurer shall appoint to receive the same from you. As for the issuing or disposing of any other part of the said Provisions committed to your trust, besides Powder, Match, and Musquet-shot, you are to receive further Orders and Instructions, either from his Majesty, the Lords of the Council, or Master of the Ordnance. You having received your Munition from hence, and those Arms from Holland, and disposed of them in such safety as aforesaid, shall repair to Newcastle with the Engineer; and if Sir Jacob Ashley shall not be come to Hull, you shall notwithstanding go to Newcastle, and dispatch there according to your further Instructions concerning that Town, leaving Mr. Leonard Pinkney, the Bearer hereof, to attend Sir Jacob Ashley's arrival, and to receive the Arms by him brought thither, and to dispose of them as you shall direct before you go. 'During which time of your absence at Newcastle, you shall depute such as you shall think fit; who with the attestation of the Mayor, according to the former Instructions, shall issue and make sale of such Powder, Match, and Musquet-shot as is ordered and warranted as aforesaid until your return. 'You are likewise to take knowledge, That upon signification of your Letter, his Majesty is pleased, for the better encouragement of the Inhabitants, to fortisy the Town, to lend them six DemiCulverings of Iron, with their Field-Carriages, mounted upon unshod Wheels, with Ladles and Spunges belonging to them; they indenting for the same with the Master and Office of the Ordnance, according to course. 'You are further to certify the Master of the Ordnance, what stores of Ordnance and other Munition have bin formerly in charge at Hull. 'And lastly; In regard that neither the Provisions that shall come from the Tower to Hull, nor those out of the Low-Countries, can be stowed without Mony, Men, and Labour, you are to advise with the Mayor touching the Hire usually given to Labourers there; and those you imploy, to give them Wages accordingly; and the same course you shall take at Newcastle. And to enable you thereunto, you shall receive 300l. by John Spencer; whereof you are to render an Accompt of your several Disbursements, subscribed by the several Persons whom you imploy, attested by the respective Mayors of Hull and Newcastle. As also out of the said Monies, to pay to Thomas Heath such Monies as he shall necessarily disburse for his Majesty's Service in stowing or issuing of the Munition or Arms upon Certificate thereof, subscribed by the Magistrates of the Town. September 30. Letters to the L. Lieutenants of Northumberland, &c. Whereas his Majesty hath bin graciously pleased of his Princely Care and Providence for the preservation of the publick Peace and Safety of his People, and for the better strengthening of the Northern Parts of this his Majesty's Kingdom, to send to the Towns of Kingston upon Hull and Newcastle, Arms, Powder, Shot, Match, Bullet, and other Munition; to the end that such of his Majesty's Subjects of this Kingdom as are desirous to furnish themselves with such Provisions for their own proper use, or for the use of Towns or Places in this Kingdom, may for their Mony be there-with supplied. Whereof We have thought good hereby to give your Lordship notice, That your Lordship let that County, and the Corporations in the same, know his Majesty's Care of their Good, and that you may make further use of it for the advancement of his Majesty's Service as there shall be occasion. And so we bid, &c. The Qu. Mother of France comes to England. October the last, Mary de Medicis, the Queen Mother of France, came to London, and so to St.James's. The People were generally Malecontent at her coming, and wish'd her farther off; for they did not like her Train and Followers, which had often been observed to bring the Sword or Pestilence, so that she was beheld as some Meteor of ill signification. Nor was one of these Calamities thought more the effect of her Fortune than Inclination, for her restless and uncessant Spirit was prone to embroil all wheresoever the came. Her impetuous banding and combining with Monsieur the Duke of Orleans, and the improperity of that enterprise, made France too hot for her, and drave her, in the Year 1631, to Brussels, where the Cardinal D'Infanta treated her a while with most honourable Caresses and Respects; but Flanders, which at first seemed her Place of Refuge, became afterwards her greatest Danger, she being (as her own Manifesto sets forth) so hunted and pursued with continual Imprecations and Curses there, as she began to fear some violence to her Person; so that quitting that Country, she betook her self to the Protection of the Prince of Orange 1637. Long she stayed not there, but having received an invitation from the Queen her Daughter, resorted hither. November 12. A Hearing appointd of divers Business hetwixt the Ld. Deputy and Council of Ireland, and the Ld. Chancellor. 'Upon the motion of the Lord Vicount Wentworth, Lord Deputy General for His Majesty in the Kingdom of Ireland; it was this day ordered by his Majesty, with the Advice of the Board, That on Tuesday sevennight next, at two of the Clock in the Afternoon, at the Council Chamber in Whitehall, being the 12th of this present Month of November, the Cause concerning the Charge sent unto his Majesty by the Lord Deputy and Council of State of the Kingdom of Ireland, against the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, for divers undue Proceedings and Misdemanours in that Kingdom: As also the Cause of Appeal by the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, against a Decree made by the said Lord Deputy and his Majesty's Council of that Kingdom, and a Review thereof desired by the said Lord Chancellor shall be heard: Whereof all the Parties concerned therein are to take notice, and prepare themselves with their Counsel learned, and to attend accordingly. And in regard the Charge against the said Lord Chancellor doth consist of many several parts: To the end his Lordship may be better prepared for such things as shall come in debate at the time aforesaid (having reference to the said Charge) he is to take notice, that there will be then first insisted upon these Particulars following; viz. The Lord Chancellor delivering the Negative Voice of the Nobility against the Contribution for the Army. Article against the Lord Chancellor in the Cause between Mary Fitzgerald, Plantiff, and John Fitzgerald, Defendant. Misdemeanors in Jacob 's Cause. Lord Chancellor's Misdemeanors and Irregularities inthe Cause between Dr. Medcalf, Plantiff, and George Harpool and others, Defendants. Novemb. 3. To pay Shipmoney in Arrears. Whereas upon a late Examination of the Account of the Shipmoney taken by Us in the presence of his Majesty, to be levied upon the Writs issued in the Year 1637, not withstanding the continual calling upon you, the Sherriff of the last Year, by this Board, by his Majesty's special Command, it appeareth there is yet left an Arrear of We have therefore thought fit hereby, according to his Majesty's special Command, to require you the Sheriff for the last Year, with all possible speed, upon pain of his Majesty's displeasure, and a severe proceeding to be had against you, to pay unto Sir William Russel, Knight, Treasurer of the Navy, so much of the said Arrear as you have already collected and not paid in, and to assess, levy and collect by Distress or otherwise, according to the tenor of the said Writ issued in the Year 1637, the residue of the said Arrear remaining unassessed, unlevied or uncollected; to pay in the same with all possible speed, as aforesaid: For which purpose We do require and authorize you the present Sheriff, to give Warrant and Authority to you the Sheriff of the last Year, for the assessing, levying, and collecting as aforesaid, of the said Arrears; as also to give like Warrant and Authority to such other meet Persons as you the Sheriff for the last Year shall present and nominate unto you the present High-Sheriff, either jointly or severally, to be imploied in this Service by you the Sheriff of the last Year, from whom only his Majesty doth expect an Account thereof for your own time. Of performance of all which, you, or either of you, may not fail, as you tender the good Opinion of his Majesty and this Board, at your perils. And you the Sheriff for the last Year are to collect and pay in all the said Arrears to Sir William Russel by the beginning of Candlemass Term: Or else you are to attend his Majesty and the Board the second Sunday of that Term, to give an Account why the same is not levied and paid in. And so, &c. Dated ult.Novemb. 1638. Decemb. 5. 1638. Knighthood. William Coke, Esq; one of his Majesty's Justices of Peace for the County of Nottingham, having by his under-writing of 25l. sit that the said Sum of 25l. be reduced to 5l. And do accordingly will and require you, that the said Mr. Coke, having paid the said Sum of 5l. be discharged of the overplus of the said Fine returned upon him insuper upon the Account of Sir Jervis Cliston, Knight and Baronet, Collector of the said Monies for the Fines of Knighthood in the said County of Nottingham. And for so doing this shall be your Warrant. December 16. 1638. To find Horse and Arms. 'This day, his Majesty being present in Council, was pleased in his Provident and Princely Care for the Safety and Defence of the Realm, to take into Consideration amongest other Particulars, the making compleat, and increasing all that conveniently may be, the number of Horse in every County, as a most important part of the Strength of the Kingdom. And for the better advancing and purting in execution thereof, it was taken into deliberation what proportion of Lands and Estate within the County ought to be chargeable with the finding of Horse; and upon mature advice thought fit and resolved, That every person having Lands of Inheritance of the clear yearly value of two hundred or three hundred pounds per Ann. within the County, or other Estate equivalent thereunto, should be chargeable with a Horse, viz. two hundred pounds per Annum with a Light Horse, and three hundred pounds per Annum with a Lance, at the discretion of the Lord-Lieutenant of that County for the time being. And whereas it was now like wise taken into consideration that the sparing of some Persons doth open a gap to excuses and backwardness in others; to the weakning both of Horse and Foot. And for that by Letters under his Majesty's Roial Signature, bearing date 24th day of May, And by a Minute of Letters from the Board, sent together with his Majesty's said Letters to the Lords Lieutenants of every County, it appeared that his Majesty's pleasure was then declared and signified to be, That no Man's Purse should be spared in these Services, upon any Excuse or Pretence what soever; And that his own Servants, and those that attend him in Court, should be priviledged only, and spared from personal and actual Duties, but their Lands and Revenues to be as liable as any others to the Charge of finding Arms in those Counties where the same to lie. It was therefore (according to his Majesty's express will and pleasure now again Declared) Resolved and Ordered, That the Direction and Command given on that behalf, by his Majesty's former Letters, should be pursued and put in Execution by the Lords Lieutenants of every County. And that the like Rule should be held and observed as well concerning the Persons as the Lands and Revenues, of all and every the Ministers and Officers of any his Majesty's Courts of Justice, or any others that pretend Privilege by reason of any relation to his Majesty's Service, or dependance upon any great Officer in respect of his Place and Office, which however it was not so particularly expressed in his Majesty's former Letters, yet (as his Majesty was now pleased to observe and declare) the same was necessarily implied; for that if none of his own Servants were to be priviledged and exempted in their Lands and Estates from being chargeable with Arms, much less was it intendedthat the Ministers and Officers of any of his Courts of Justice, or any other pretending Privilege by his Majesty's Service, or by dependence upon any great Officers in respect of their Offices, should in a like case have any great Priviledge or exemption allowed them. Hereof a Copy is to be forthwith sent to the Lord Lieutenant of every County. Sir William Russel's Accompt of Moneys received upon the Ship-money Writs which issued out An. 1637. The Charge of Sir William Russel, and Sir Henry Vane, Knights, Treasurers of his Majesty's Navy, touching the Moneys by them received of the several Sheriffs hereafter named, and by them levied by virtue of his Majesty's Writs, issued out of the high Court of Chancery in the 14th Year of his Majesty's Reign, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of divers Ships for the defence of this Realm, and paid over by them the said Sheriffs unto the said Sir William Russel, and Sir Henry Vane, by virtue of a special Commission under the great Seal; Dated the day of in the said 14th Year of his Majesty's Reign, Aunoque Dom' 1638. And by Order from the Board to be by them expended and disbursed in and about the said Service. Imprimis, the said Sir William Russel, and Sir Henry Vane, are charged with the sum of five thousand and sive hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Berks, Oxford, Buckingham, and Bedford, as followeth, viz. With one thousand four hundred and fifty pounds received of the Sheriff of the County of Berks. With one thousand and three hundred pounds receiv'd of the Sheriff of the County of Oxford; with one thousand six hundred and fifty pounds received of the Sheriff of the County of Bedford, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 450 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, The sum of four thousand eight hundred and fifty pounds by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of Cornwal and Devon, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand eight hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Dorset and Somerset, and of the Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of Bristol, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand eight hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Glocester and Wilts, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 350 Tuns for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand eight hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Southampton, Surry, Sussex, and Cinque Ports there, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand eight hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Cambridg, Huntingdon, and Northampton, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 350 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand nine hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of Chester, Derby, Stafford, and Lancaster, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two thousand pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Northumberland, and Duresme, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of five thousand and five hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Essex and Kent, and Cinque-Ports there, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 450 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of five thousand and five hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of Sussolk and Norfolk, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 450 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of three thousand three hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of Hertford and Middlesex, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 250 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand nine hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of Lincoln, Rutland and Leicester, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of three thousand five hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of Monmouth, Hereford, and Salop, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 300 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of five thousand five hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the several Counties of York, and Nottingham, for and towards the setting out and furnishing of one Ship of 450 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two thousand seven hundred pounds, by them received of the Sheriffs of the Counties of Warwick and Worcester, for and towards the setting out and furnishing one Ship of 200 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, The said Sir William Russel charged with the sum of five thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Dorset, for and towards the setting out and furnishing one Ship of 500 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Duresme, for and towards the setting out and furnishing one Ship of 200 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of five thousand five hundred pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Glocester, for and towards the setting out and furnishing one Ship of 550 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of six thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Southampton, for and towards the setting out and furnishing one Ship of 600 Tuns, for the service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of three thousand five hundred pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Hereford, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 350 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Hertford, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Huntington, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of two hundred Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of eight thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Kent, and Cinque-Ports in Kent, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 800 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Lancaster, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 400 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four thousand five hundred pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Leicester, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 450 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of eight thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Lincoln, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 800 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of five thousand pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Middlesex, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 500 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, The said Sir William Russel and Sir Henry Vane, are charged with the sum of one hundred threescore and eight pounds, by him received of the Sheriff of the County of Anglesey, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 100 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two hundred and sixteen pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Carnarvon, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 100 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of four hundred twenty and four pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Denbigh, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 100 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two hundred sixteen pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Flint, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 100 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of three hundred twenty and two pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Montgomery, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 100 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of one hundred fifty and four pound, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Merioneth, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 100 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of three hundred threescore and one pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Brecknock, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two hundred forty and eight pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Cardigan, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of three hundred and one pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Carmarthen, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of five hundred forty and seven pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Glamorgan, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of two hundred threescore pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Pembroke, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. Item, With the sum of one hundred fourscore and three pounds, by them received of the Sheriff of the County of Radnor, for and towards the setting forth and furnishing of one Ship of 150 Tuns, for the Service aforesaid. This Accompt coming to our hands, we thought meet to present it for the Reader's more particular satisfaction. Affairs in Scotland. Now we beg leave for a while to make a step into Scotland, to give an Account of the Transactions of Affairs in that Kingdom since the Month of December in the preceding Year 1637. The Scots begin their Year always with the Month of January, according to Foreign stile; so the first thing that offers it self in order of Times is, That his Majesty sent the Earl of Roxborough, Lord Privy-Seal (then at the Court in England ) to Scotland, with certain Instructions to the Council, who were to meet at Dalkeith, to consider of the Disordered Affairs of that Kingdom. And the Council removed the Session [or Term] from Linlithgow to Sterling, twenty four miles from Edinburgh, to the end the Multitudes might be dispersed, under pain of Treason; but nevertheless they came in great Tumults to Sterling also, and the Earl of Traquaire, Lord Treasurer of that Kingdom, being newly returned back from the King, went with the rest of the Council to Sterling, where they caused a Proclamation to be made for the dispersing of the huge and dangerous Tumults there assembled, and to assure the King's Subjects of his Majesty's sincerity towards the Religion Established in that Kingdom, and caused the Proclamation to that purpose (following) to be made publick accordingly. Charles by the Grace of God, King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To Our Lovits, &c. Our Sheriffs in that Part conjunctly and severally, specially constituted, greeting. A Proclamation to beat down Superstition. The King hath ordained a Common-Prayer Book. Forasmuch as We, out of Our Princely Care of maintenance of the true Religion already professed, and for beating down of all superstition, having ordained a Book of Common-Prayer to be compiled for the general Use and edification of our Subjects, withing our Ancient kingdom of Scotland: The same was accordingly done. In the framing whereof We took great care and pains, so as nothing past therein but what was seen and approved by Us, before the same was either divulged or printed; assuring all Our loving Subjects, That not only Our intention is, but even the very Book will be a ready means to maintain the True Religion already professed, and beat out all superstition, of which We in Our own time do not doubt in a fair course to satisfy our good Subjects: But having seen and considered some Petitions and Declarations given in to Our Council against the said Book, and late Canons of the Church, We find Our Royal Authority much injured thereby, both in the Matter and in the Carriage thereof; whereby We conceive these of Our Nobility, Gentry, Burroughs, Ministers, and others, who kept and assisted these Meetings and Convocations, for contriving and forming the said Petitions, or who have subscribed the same, to deserve and be liable to Our high Censure, both in their Persons and fortunes, as having convened themselves, without either Our Consent or Authority; yet because We believe, That what they have done herein, is out of a preposterous zeal, and not out of any Disloyalty or disaffection to Soveraignty, We are graciously pleased, so far forth as concerns these Meetings, for consulting or subscribing of these Petitions, or presenting the same to any judge or Judges in OuO said kingdom, to dispense therewith, and with what may be their fault or Error therein, to all such as upon Signification or Declaration of Our Pleasure, shall retire themselves as becometh good and dutiful Subjects: To which purpose Our Will and Pleasure is, and We charge you straightly, and command, That these Letters seen, incontinent you pass, and in Our name and Authority, make intimation hereof to all Our Lieges and Subjects, by open Proclamation, at all places needful, wherethrough none pretend ignorance thereof; and therewith also that you in Our Name and Authority, discharge all such Convocations and Meetings in time coming, under the pain of Treason. And also that you command, charge, and inhibit all Our Lieges and Subjects, That none of them presume, nor take in hand, to resort nor repair to Our Burgh of Sterling, nor to no other Burgh where Our Council and Session fits, till first they declare their Cause of coming to Our Council, and procure their Warrant to that effect. And further, That you charge and command all sunory Probosts, Bailiffs, and Magistrates, within every Burgh, That they and every one of them, have special care and regard to see this Our Royal Will and Pleasure really and dutifully obeyed in all Points, and that no violation thereof be suffered within their Bounds, under all highest Pain, Crime, and Offence, that they may commit against us in that behalf. As also that you command and charge all and sundry Noblemen, Barons, Ministers, and Burroughs, who are not actually Indwellers within this Our Burgh, and are not of the Number of the Lords of Our Pridy Council and Session, and Members thereof, and are already within this Our Burgh, that they and every one of them, remove themselves, and depart and pass forth out of Our said Burgh, and return not again without the Warrant aforesaid, within six hours atter the publication hereof, under the said pain of Treason. And as concerning any Petitions that shall hereafter be given Us, upon this or any other Subject, We are likewise pleased to declare, We will not shut Our Ears therefrom, so that neither the form nor matter be prejudicial to Our Regal Authority; the which to do, We commit to you, conjunctly and leberally, Our full Power by these Our Letters, delivering the same by you duly execute and indorsed again to the Bearer. Given under Our Signet at Sterling, the 19th day of February, and of Our Reign the 13th year, 1638. Per Actum Secreti Concilii. Upon the publishing of this Proclamation, it met with this Protestation. For God and the King February 19. We Noblemen, Barons, Ministers, Burgers, appointed to attend his Majesty's Answer to our humble Petition and Complaint, and to prefer new Grievances, and to do what else may lawfully conduce to our humble Desires; That whereupon the 23rd of September last, we presented a Supplication to Your Lordships, and another upon the 18th of October last; and also a new Bill relative to the former upon the 19th of December last, and did therein humbly remonstrate our just Exceptions against the Service-Book, and Book of Canons; and also against the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of this Kingdom, as the Contrivers, Maintainers, and Vrgers thereof, and against thier sitting as our Judges, until the Cause be decided; earnestly supplicating withal, to be freed and delivered from the these and all other Innovations of that kind, introduced against the laudable laws of this Kingdom, as that of the High Commission, and other Evils particularly mentioned, and generally contained in our foresaid Supplications and Complaints; and that this our Party Delinquent against our Religion and Laws, may be taken order with, and those pressing Grievances may be taken order with, and redressed according to the Laws of this Kingdom, as by our said Supplications and Complaints doth more largely appear; With the which, on the 19th of December last, we gave in a Declinator against the Arch-Bishops and Bishops as our Parties, who by consequence could not be our Judges: whereupon your Lordships did declare, by Your Act at Dalketih, the said 19th of December, That You would present our Petitions to His Majesty's Royal Consideration, and that without prejudice of the Declinator given in by us the said Supplicants, whereupon we should be heard at time and place convenient, and in the mean time should receive no prejudice, as the said Act in itself beareth. And whereas we your Lordships Supplicants, with a great deal of patience, and hope also grounded on sundry promises, were expecting an Answer to these our humble Desires, and having learned that upon some Directions of his Majesty anent our Supplicatios and Complaints unto your Lordships of the secret Council, your Lordships admits to the consulting and judging anent our Supplications, and his Majesty's Answer thereunto; the Arch-Bishops and Bishops our direct Parties, contrary to our first Declinator propounded at Dalkeith, and now renewed at Sterling; and contrary to your Lordships Act aforesaid at Dalkeith, and contrary to our Religion, and Laws, and humble Supplications; therefore left our silence be prejudicial to this so important a Cause, as concerns God's Glory and Worship, our Religion, Salvation, the Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, or derogatory to the former Supplications and Complaints, or unanswerable to the trust of our Commission; out of our bounden duty to our God, our King and native Country, we are forced to take Instruments in Notaries Hands, of your Lordships refusal to admit our Declinator, or remove these our Parties, and to protest in manner following. First, That we may have our immediate recourse to our Sacred Soveraign, to present our Grievances, and in a legal way to prosecute the same before the ordinary competent Judges, Civil or Ecclesiastical, without any Offence offered by us, or taken by your Lordships. Secondly, We protest that the Arch-Bishops and Bishops, our Parties complained upon, cannot be reputed or esteemed Lawful Judges, to sit in any Judicatory in this Kingdom, Civil or Ecclesiastical, upon any of the Supplicants, until after lawful Trial judicially, they purge themselves of such Crimes as we have already laid to their charge, offering to prove the same whensoever his Sacred Majesty shall please to give us audience. Thirdly, We protest no Act nor Proclamation to follow thereupon, past, or to be past in Council or out of Council, in presence of the Arch-Bishops and Bishops, whom we have already declined to be our Judges, shall be any ways prejudicial to us the Supplicants, our Persons, Estates, lawful Meetings, Proceedings or Pursuits. Fourthly, We protest that neither we, nor any whose Heart the Lord shall move to join with us in these our Supplications, against the aforesaid Innovations, shall incur any danger in Life, Lands, or any Political or Ecclesiastical Pains, for not observing such Acts, Books, Canons, Rites, Judicatures, Proclamations introduced without or against the Acts of General Assemblies, or Acts of Parliament, the Statutes of this Kingdom, but that it shall be lawful to us or them to use our selves in Matters of Religion, of the External Worship of God and Polity of the Church, according to the Word of God, and laudable Constitutions of this Church and Kingdom, conform to his Majesty's Declaration the 9th of December last. Fifthly, Seeing by the legal and submissive way of our former Supplications, all those who take these Innovations to heart, have bin kept calm, and carried themselves in a quiet manner in hopes of redress; We protest that if any Inconvenience shall fall out, which we pray the Lord to prevent, upon the pressing of any the foresaid Innovations or Evils, specially or generally contained in our former Supplications and Complaints, and upon your Lordships refusal, to take order there anent, the same be not imputed unto us, who most humbly seek all things to be reformed by an Order. Sixthly, We protest that these our Requests, proceeding from Conscience, and adue respect to his Majesty's Honour, do tend to no other end, but to the preservation of the true Resormed Religion, the Laws and Liberties of his Majesty's most ancient Kingdom, and satisfaction of our most humble Desires contained in our Supplication and Complaint, according to his Majesty's accustomed Goodness and Justice; from which we do certainly expect that his Sacred Majesty will provide and grant such Remedy to our just Petitions and Complaints, as may be expected from so gracious a King towards his most Loyal and Dutiful Subjects, calling for redress of so pressing Grievances, and praying to God that his Majesty may long and prosperously reign over us. After this their Protestation, they did erect a great number of Tables (as they called them); in Edinburgh four Principals, one of the Nobility, another of the Gentry, a third of the Burroughs, and a fourth of the Ministers. And the Gentry had many subordinate Tables, according to their several Shires. These several Tables did consult of what they thought sit to be propounded at the General Table, which consisted of several Commissioners chosen from the other four Tables. And from this time they proceeded in framing and subscribing of their Covenant; concerning which, faith Dr. Belcanqual, the reputed Penman of the King's Declaration, That the first Dung that which from these Stables was thrown upon the Face of Authority and Government, was that lewd Covenant and seditious Band annexed unto it; which followeth in these words. The Consession forts of Person, in the year 1590, by a new Ordinance of Council, at the desire of the General Assembly; with a General Band for maintenance of the True Religion, and the Kings Person, and now subscribed in the Year 1638, by us Noblemen, Barons, Gentlemen, Bugesses, Ministers, and Commons under subscribing; to gether with our Resolution and Promises for the Causes after specified, to maintain the said True Religion, and the Kings Majesty, according to the Consession aforesaid, and Acts of Parliament; the Tenure whereof here followeth. We all, and every one of Us under written, do protest, That after long and due examination of our own Consciences in Matters of True and False Religion, are now throughly resolved of the Truth, by the Word and Spirit of God; and therefore We believe with Our Hands, and constantly affirm before God and the whole World, That this only is the true Christian Faith and Religion, pleasing God, and bringing Salvation to Man, which now is by the Mercy of God revealed to the World by the preaching of the bleassed Evangel. And received, believed, and defended by many and sundry notable Kirks and Relams, but chiefly by the Kirk of Scotland, the King's Majesty, and three Estates of this Realm, as God's Eternal Truth, and only Ground of Our Salvation; as more particularly is expressed in the Consession of Our Faith, established and publickly confirmed by sundry Acts of Parliament; and now of a long time hath bin openly prosessed by the King's Majesty, and whole Body of this Realm, both in Burgh and Land. To the which Consession, consuted by the Word of God, and Kirk of Scotland. But in special, We detest and refuse Rights, proph Langauage; with his Processions and blasphemous Letany, and multitude of Advocates or Mediators; his manifold Orders, Auricular Consession; his desperate and uncertain Repentance; his general and doubtsome Faith; his Satisfactions of Men for their Sins; his Justification by Works, Opus Operatum, Works of Supererrogation, Merits, Pardons, Peregrinations and Stations: His Holy Water, baptizing of Bells, conjuring of Spirits, Crossing, Saning, Anointing, Conjuring, Hallowing of God's good Creatures, with the Superstitious Opinion joined therewith. His wordly Monarchy, and wicked Hierarchy; his three solemn Vows, with all his shavelings of sundry forts; his erroneous and bloody Decrees made at Trent, with all the Subscribers & Our selves willingly in Doctrine, Religion, Faith, Discipline, and Use Out won Consciences, minding thereby, first under the External Claok of Religion, to corrupt and subvert secretly God's True Religion within the Kirk; and afterwards, when time may serve, to become open Enemies and Persecuters Justicie among us, we protest and promise with Our Hearts under the same Oath hand Writ, and pains, that We shall defend his Person and Authority, with out Goods, Bodies, and Lives, in the defence of Christ his Evangel, Libertis of Our Country, Ministration of Justice, and Punishment of Iniquity, against all Enemies within this Realm, or without, as We desire Outarty and Superstition: Or of the Papistical Kirk, as Act. 3. Act. 31. Part. 1. Act. 23. Part 11. Act. 114. Part. 12. of King James the 6th. That Papistry and Superstition may be utterly suppressed, according to the intention of the Acts of Parliament reported in Act. 5. Part. 20. King James the 6th. And to that end they ordained all Papists and Priests to be punished by manifold Civil and Ecclesiastical Pains, as Adversaries to God's True Religion preached, and by Law established within this Realm, Act. 24 Part 3. K. James 6. and as Idolaters, Act. 104. Part 7. K. James 6. but also in particular, (by and attour the Confession of Faith) do abolish and condemn the Pope's Authority and Jurisdiction out of this Land, and ordains the Mainteiners thereof to be punished, Act 2. Parl. 1. Act 51. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 114. Parl. 12. of K. James 6. do condemn the Pope's erroneous Doctrine, or any other erroneous Doctrine repugnant to any of the Articles of the true and Christian Religion publickly preached, and by Law established in this Realm; and ordains the Spreaders or Makers of Books or Libels, or Letters or Writs of that nature, to be punished: Act 46. Parl. 3. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. K. Jam. 6. do condemn all Baptism conform to the Pope's Kirk, and the Idolatry of the Mass; and ordains all Sayers, wilful Hearers, and Concealers of the Mass, the Mainteiners and Resetters of the Priests, Jesuites, traffiquing. K. Jam. 6. do condemn the Monuments and Dregs of by-gane Idolatry; as going to Crosses, observing the Festival Days of Saints, and such other Superstitious and Papistical Rites, to the dishonour of God, contempt of true Religion, and fostring of great Errors among the People, and ordains the users of them to be punished for the second fault as Idolaters: Act 104. Parl. 7. K. Jam. 6.. Jam. 6. ratified by Act 4. K. Charles. So that Act 6. Parl. 1. and Act 68. Parl. 6. of K. Jam. 6. administred) of God 1560, specified also in the first Parliament of K. Jam. 6. 6. declares, That there is no other face of Kirk, nor other face of Religion, than was presently at that time by the favour of God established within this Realm, which therefore is ever stiled God's true Religion, Christ's true Religion, the true and Christian Religion, and a perfect Religion. Which by manifold Acts of Parliament, all within this Realm are bound to prosess to subscribe the Articles thereof, the Confession of Faith, to recant all Doctrine and Errors repugnant to any of the said Articles, Act 4. &9. Parl. 1. Act 45, 46, 47. Parl. 3. Act 71. Parl. 6. Act 106. Parl. 7. Act 24. Parl. 11. Act 123. Parl. 12. Act 194. & 197. Parl. 14. of King James 6. And all Magistrates, Sheriffs, &c. on the one part, are or Jained to search, apprehend, and punish all Contraveners: For instance, Act 5. Parl. 1. Act 104. Parl. 7. Act 25. Parl. 11. K. Jam. 6. And that, notwith standing 6. On the other part, in Act 47. Parl. 3. K. James 6. Soveraign Lord's Authority, and at the uttermost of their Power to fortifie, assist and maintain the true Preachers and Professors of Christ's Religion, against whatsoever Enemies and Gainstanders of the same: and namely, against all such of whatsoever Nation, Estate, or Degree they be of, that have joined and bound themselves, or have assited, or assists, to set forward and execute the cruel Decrees of Trent, contrary to the Preachers and true Professors of the Word of God, which is repeated word by word in the Articles of pacification at Pearth the 23d Feb. 1572, approved by Parliament the last of April 1573, ratified in Parliament 1578, and related Act 123. Parl. 12. of King James 6. with this addition, That they are bound to resist all treasonable Uproars and Hostilities raised against the true Religion, the King's Majesty and the true Professors. 'Like-as all Lieges are bound to maintain the King's Majesty's Roial Person and Authority, the Authority of Parliaments, without which neither any Laws or lawful Judicatories can be established, Act 130. Act 131. Parl. 8. K. James 6. and the Subjects Liberties, who ought only to live and be governed by the King's Laws, the common Laws of this Realm allenarly, Act 48. Parl. 3. K. James 1. Act 79. Parl. 6. K. James 4. repeated in Act 131. Parl. 8. K. James 6. which if they be innovated or prejudged, the Commission anent the Union of the two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, which is the sole Act of 17. Parl. k. James 6. declares such confusion would ensue, as this Realm could be no more a free Monarchy: because by the fundamental Laws, ancient Priviledges, Offices and Liberties of this Kingdom, not only the Princely Authority of his Majesty's Roial Descent hath been these many Ages maintained, also the Peoples, & 14 Act of K. James 6. & 4 Act of King Charles, That all Kings and Princes at their Coronation and Reception of their Trincely Authority, shall make their faithful Promise by their Solemn Oath in the Presence of the Eternal God, That during the whole time of their Lives they shall serve the same Eternal God to the utmost of their Power, according as he hath required in his most holy Wordy contained in the Old and New Testaments, and according to the same Word shall maintain the true Religion of Christ Jesus, the Preachingof his holy Word, the due and right Ministration of the Sacraments now received and preached within this Realm (according to the Confession of Faith immediately preceding;) and shall abolish and gain said publick Catechisms, and which had bin for many Years with ablessing from Heaven Preached and Professed in this Kirk and Kingdom, as God's undoubted Truth, grounded only upon his written Word: The other Cause was for maintaining the King's Majesty, his Person and Estate; The true Worship of God and the King's Authority being fo straight, Burgesles, Ministers, and Commons under subseribing, Protections, Do hereby profess, and before God, his Angels, and the World solemnly declare, that with our whole Hearts we agree and resolve all the days of our life constantly to adhere unto, and to defend the foresaid true Religion, and forbearing the practice of all Novations, already introduced in the matters of the Worship of God, or apporbation of teh Corruptions of the publick Government of the Kirk, or civil Places and Power of Kirnmen, till they be tried and allowed in free Assemblies, and in Paliaments, to labour by all means lawful to recover the Purity and Liberty of the Gospel, as it was established and prosessed before teh aforesaid Novations: And because after due examination We plainly perceive, and undoubtedly believe, that the Innovations and Evils contained in our Supplications, Complaints and PRotestations have no warrant of the Word of God, are contrary to the Articles of the aforesaid Consessions, to the intention and meaning of the blessed Reformers of Religion in this Land, to the above written Acts of Parliament, and do sensibly tend to the reestablishing of the Popish Religion and Tyranny, and to the subversion and ruin of the true Reformed Religion, and of our Liberties, Laws and Estates; We also declare, that the aforesaid Consessions are to be interpreted, and ought to be understood of the aforesaid Novations and Evils, no less than if every one of them had bin expressed in the foresaid Consessions; and that we are obliged to detest and abhor them, amongst other particular Heads of Papistry abjured therein; And therefore from the knowledge and Conscience of our Duty to God, to our King and Country, without any worldly respect or inducement, so far as humane infirmity will suffer, wishing a further measure of the Grace of God for this effect, We promise and swear by the great Name of the Lord our God, To continue in the prosession and obedience of the aforesaid Religion; That we shall desend the same, adn any thing another, in the same Cause of maintaining the true Religion, and his Majesty's Authority, with our best Counsels, our selves soul Aspersions of Rebellion, Combination, or what else our Adversaries from their Craft and Malice would put upon Us, seeing what We do is so well warranted, and ariseth from an unseigned desire to maintain the True Worship of God, the Majesty of Our King, and the Peace of the Kingdom, for the common happiness of Our selves and Posterity. And because We cannot look for a Blessing from God upon Our Proceedings, except with Our Prosession and Subscription, We join such a Life and Conversation as beseemeth Christians, who have renewed their Covenant with God; We therefore faithfully promise, for Our Selves, Our Followers, and all other under Us, both in publick, in Our particular Families, and personal Carriage, to endeavour to keep Our selves unseigned Resolution, as we shall answer to Jesus Christ in the great Day, and under the pain of God's everlasting Wrath, and of Insamy, and of loss of all Honour and Respect in this World: Most humbly beseeching the Lord to strengthen Us by his Holy Spirit for this end, and to bless Our Desires and Proceedings with a happy Success, that Religion and Reighteousness may flourish in the Land, to the Glory of God, the Honour of Our King, and Peace and Comfort of Us all. 'In Witness whereof We have subscribed with Our Hands all the Premises, &c. This Covenant was no sooner framed, but it so took, as it was presently sworn, first at Edinburgh, in the Month of February 1638 Scottish style, and then every-where through the Country, to be subscribed according to the Example of those in Edinburgh. K. D. p. 7. It is observed i teh King's Declaration, That whereas the Band annexed to the former Consession, was made in defence of the King's Authority and Person, with their Fortunes, Bodies, and Lives, in defence of the Gospel of Christ, and Liberties of the Kingdom, &c. But to this Covenant (faith the Declaration ) they have added a mutual Defence of one another, and made against all Persons whatsoever, who shall oppose them in their Courses, not excepting the King himself; neither was the King's consent to this their New Covenant ever granted, nor ever so much as once asked. The Proclamation dated Feb. 19, and published at Sterling, was so far from giving satisfaction, that it produced greater consusion; for it met with a Protestation sent from those of the Tables, who not withstanding the Proclamation, continued to sit. Whereupon the Council appointed a solemn Meeting to be upon the first of March at Sterling, for the examining of Things, that they might send their Advice to Court. When the first of March came, the Lord Chancellor sent his Excuse, the rest of the Bishops declined to come, except Bishop Brechin: Nevertheless the Lords of the Council went on, and continued consulting and debating four days together; the issue of which was, to send Sir John Hamilton, the Justice Clerk, to the King with Instructions, to this effect. 'In the first place you are to receive from the Clerk of the Council, all the Acts past since Our meeting upon the 1st of March instant. 'Item, You have to represent to his Majesty, That the Diet of Council was appointed to be solemnly kept, by the Advice of the Lord Chancellor, and Remanant Lords of the Clergy being at Edinburgh for the time, who assured Us, That they should keep the Diet precisely; but at Our meeting at Sterling, We received a Letter of Excuse from the Lord Chancellor, which forces Us to proceed without his Lordships presence, or any others of the Lords of the Clergy, except the Bishop of Brechin, who attended Us three days, but removed before the closing of Our Opinions anent the Business. Item, 'That immediately after We had resolved to direct you with a Letter of Trust to his Majesty, We did send Our Letter to the Lord Chancellor, acquainting him with Our Proceedings, and desiring him to consider thereof; and if he approved the same, to Sign them, and to cause the Remanant Lords of the Clergy nearest unto him, and namely the Bishop of Brechine, who was an Ear and Eye-Witness to our Consultations, to sign the same, and by their Letter to His Majesty, to signify their Approbation thereof; or if his Lordship did find some other way more convenient for His Majesty's Honour, and the Peace of the Country, that his Lordship-by his Letter to the Lord Treasurer or Privy-Seal, would acquaint them therewith, to the effect they might convene the Council for consulting thereabout. Item, 'That you shew His Majesty, That His Majesty's Councils, all in one Voice, find, That the Causes of the general Combustions in the Country, are the Fears apprehended of Innovation of Religion and Discipline of the Kirk, (established by the Laws of the Kingdom) by occasion of the Service-Book, Book of Canons, and High-Commission, and from the Introduction thereof, contrary to, or without Warrant of the Laws of the Kingdom. Item, 'You are to present to His Majesty, Our humble Opinion, that seeing, and as We conceive the Service-Book, Book of Canons and High-Commission (as it is set down) are the occasion of this Combustion; and that the Subjects offer themselves upon peril of their Lives, to clear, That the said Service-Book, and others aforesaid, contain divers Points contrary to the Religion presently processed, and Laws of the Kingdom, in matter and manner of Introduction, that the Lords think it expedient that it be represented to his Majesty's gracious Consideration, if His Majesty may be pleased to declare, as an Act of His singular Justice, That He will take Trial of His Subjects Grievances, and the Reasons thereof, in his own Time, and in His own Way, according to the Laws of this Kingdom; and that His Majesty may be pleased graciously to declare, That in the mean time he will not press nor urge His Subjects therewith, notwithstanding any Act of Warrant made in the contrary. 'And in case his Majesty shall be graciously pleased to approve of our humble Opinions, you are thereafter to present to his Majesty's gracious and wise Consideration, if it shall not be sitting to consult his Majesty's Council, or some such of them as he shall be pleased to call to himself, or allow to be sent from the Table, both about the Time and way of doing it. 'And if his Majesty (as God forbid) shall dislike of what we have conceived most conducing to his Majesty's Service, and Peace of the Kingdom, you are to urge, by all teh Arguments you can, That his Majesty do not determine upon any other Course, until some at least of his Council from this, be heard to give the Reasons of their Opinions: And in this case you are likewise to present to his Majesty's Consideration, if it shall not be sitting and necessary to call for his Informers, together with some of his Council, that in his own presence he may hear the Reasons of both informations fully debated. 'You shall likewise shew his Majesty, That this Council having taken to their Consideration what further was to be done for composing and setling of the present Combustion within that Kingdom, and dissipating of the Convocations and Gatherings within the same, seeing Proclamations are already made and published, discharging all such Convocations and unlawful Meetings; the Lords after debating, find they can do no further than is already done herein, until his Majesty's Pleasure be returned to this our humble Remonstrance. Signed, These Instructions being transmitted to the Lords of the Clergy, were returned signed as follows. These Instructions were seconded by a private Letter to the King signed by Traquair and Roxborough, to the effect following. Most Sacred Soveraign,Although the miserable Estate of this poor Kingdom, will be sufficiently under stood by your Majesty from this Gentleman Sir John Hamilton's Relation; yet we conceive our selves ina special manner bound and obliged to represent what we conceive does so nearly concern your Majesty's Honour and Service; and therefore give us leave truly and faithfully to tell your Majesty, That since the last Proclamation, the fear of Innovation fo Religion is so apprehended by all sorts of Subjects, from all Corners of this kingdom, that there is nothing to be seen here but a general Combustion, and all men strengthening them selves by subscribing Bands, and by all other means, for refusing of that which they seem so much to fear. This is come to such a height, and daily like to encrease more and more, that we see not a probability of Force or Power within this Kingdom to repress this Fury, except your Majesty may be graciously pleased, by some Act of your own, to secure them of that which they seem so much to apprehend by the inbringing of the Books of Common-Prayer, and Canons. The way which the Subjects have taken, and daily go about in the prosecution of their Business is inexcusable, and no ways agreeable to the Duty of good Subjects. But your Majesty is wisely to consider what is the best and safest couse for your own Honour, and Peace of your Government: And since Religion is pretended to be the Cause of all, if it shall not be a safe Course to free them at this time from Fears, by which means the wiser sort will be satisfied, and so your Majesty enabled, with less pain or trouble, to overtake the Insolencies of any who shall be found to have kicked against Authority. We are the rather moved at this time be of this Opinion, That having found it the Opinion, not only of those to whom your Majesty wrote in particular, (except of the Marquess of Huntley, who as yet is not come from the North) but of most of the Noblemen, and Men of respect within this Kindgom. We find few or none well satisfied with the Business, or to whom we dare advise your Majesty to trust in the prosecution thereof; and if any have or shall inform your Majesty to the contrary, give us leave humbly to intreat your Majesty to be pleased to call them before your Self, that in our presence you may hear the Reasons of both Informations fully debated. So praying God to grant your Majesty many happy days, and full contentment in all your Roial Designs, we humbly take our leave, and rest, Your Majesty's humble Servants,and faithful Subjects,Traquaire,Roxborough. Sterling, March 5. 1638. There was also a publick Letter written by the Council to the Marquess, dated at Sterling the 5th of March, sent by Sir John Hamilton, informing the Marquets, 'That they did find the Subjects Fears and 'Stirs to increase since the last Proclamation, and appointed the Council to meet then to consult upon the growth of publick Evils, and Remedies thereof. After the Council had spent four days in advising, they resolved to send Sir John Hamilton, one of their number, with a Letter from them to his Majesty, to whom they have imparted their Opinions and Reasons of the same Publick Ills, and Remedies of the same, to be represented to his Sacred Majesty, because the Business is so weighty and important, that in their Opinion the Peace of the Country was never in so great hazard; they have thought fit to recommend the Business to your Lordships consideration. Signed by the same Privy-Councellors, whose Hands were to Sir John Hamilton 's Instructions. After Sir John Hamilton 's arrival at the Court at Whitehall, and having presented to his Majesty what was committed to his trust and care, his Majesty consulted with his Inward Council, as to the Scottish Affairs, and resolved to send Marquess Hamilton as High-Commissioner to Scotland for that Service, hoping by such an Authority to quiet the Fury of the People; and Sir John Hamilton was immediately dispatched again to Scotland, to give notice of the King's Resolution, and that his Majesty's Pleasure should be further known when his High-Commissioner came down. The Covenanters not long after the Lord Justice Clerk his arrival at Court, made their Application to the Scotish Lords then at Court, complaining of the Privy-Council for harsh usage; and withal sent up their Grievances, signed by Rothes, Cassils, Montrose, to the effect following. 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As a moderator on the Beesource bee forum, I hear these questions often, so I thought I would address them here. I will try to add more from time to time. ____________________________________ I've been handling queens off and on since 1974. Since I started rearing queens in 2004 I've been handling hundreds of them a year. I've never been stung by a queen. Jay Smith, a beekeeper who reared thousands of queens a year for decades, said he was only stung by one once and he said she stung him right where he had squished a queen earlier and he though she thought it was a queen. Can they? Yes. Will they? Extremely doubtful. The few people who I've met who say they've been stung by a queen say it didn't hurt as bad as a worker. With the queen laying 1,000 to 3,000 eggs a day and bees living about six weeks, there are ALWAYS some dead bees in front of the hive. Often you don't see them because they are in the weeds or grass. A LOT of dead bees (piles of them) might be cause for concern because it may be a sign of pesticide poisoning or some other problem. But some are normal. This question seems to come up a lot. The question is usually something like "should I put 9 or 10 frames in my supers?" or "should I put 9 or 10 frames in my brood boxes?" My answer for the brood boxes is that I put 11 in. At least in a ten frame box. I shave the ends down in order to do this and I do it because it's the spacing the bees use if you let them. But 10 will do. They should be tightly together in the center, and not spaced out evenly. They are already further apart than the bees would prefer and spacing them any further usually results in burr comb or even an extra comb in between the frames. The theory of doing 9 in the brood box is that there will be more cluster space, less swarming and less rolling of bees. The reality, in my experience, is that it requires more bees to keep the brood warm, the surface of the combs is more irregular and this causes more rolling of the bees when removing frames. This irregularity is due to the fact that honey storage comb can vary in thickness but brood comb is always the same thickness. The results are that where they have honey and you have 9 frames, they have extra room to fill and they fill it with honey. If they have brood then it is not as fat as the honey. I tried 9 frames in the brood nest and was not impressed. I now have eight frame boxes and I have 9 frames in them (which requires shaving the end bars down). At 11 in a ten-frame box you get very flat consistent comb and you get smaller cell size more easily. My answer for the supers is that ONCE THEY ARE DRAWN you can put 9 or even 8 in the ten frame supers with good effect as the combs will just be thicker. But when it's bare foundation, the bees will often mess up the comb if you space it more than ten. Ten frames of bare foundation should always be tightly together in the middle of either a super or a brood box in order to prevent the bees from attempting to build a comb between the foundations instead of on them. With eight frame boxes you can do seven drawn combs or even six. A related issue is messed up combs. Some of this is genetics. Some bees build straight parallel combs no matter what you do. Some will burr things up every which way no matter what you do. But there are things you can do to stack the deck. Some of it is giving them the freedom to mess it up. Push all the frames tightly together. Those spacers on the frames are there for a reason. Use them. Do not space the frames evenly in the box. When you have undrawn foundation, do NOT space less frames in a box. Bees, if they don't like your foundation (and they never do really) and if you give them the room (by spacing the combs more than 1 3/8" apart) will try to build a comb between two frames rather than build it on your foundation. So pushing it together makes the space between the foundations small enough to discourage this, as it's not enough room for a brood comb. Some of it is that they don't like you deciding their cell sizes etc. They will build their own comb with much more enthusiasm than they will build foundation. So they try to avoid building on the foundation. One solution is to stop using foundation and go foundationless. Another is to get foundation that is closer to what they wanted to build. 5.4mm standard foundation is much larger than typical natural worker brood comb. 4.9mm is closer. They usually don't like plastic much. The solution to getting them to draw it is to give it to them when they need to draw comb. Don't give them wax foundation mixed with plastic foundation or they will ignore the plastic and draw the wax. Buy the wax coated plastic so they will accept it better. Spray some syrup on it or syrup with essential oils like Honey Bee Healthy, to cover the smell of the plastic. Once they've licked it clean they tend to accept it better. Sometimes they will still mess it up. Used equipment has been a controversial subject for more than a century. AFB (American Foulbrood) is still an issue but used to be an even bigger issue. The only real concern about used equipment is AFB. AFB spores live virtually forever (longer than us anyway) and infected equipment is probably one of the contributing factors to getting AFB. Many people with AFB just burn the equipment. Some scorch it. Some boil it in lye. Some "fry" it in paraffin and gum rosin. So the issue usually is that you have at your disposal (either free or cheap) used equipment. Cleaning up from mice isn't too complicated. Just leave it out in the rain until it smells ok. Cleaning up from wax moths is just cutting out the webs (which are hard for the bees to remove) and scraping off the cocoons. If combs are dry and brittle, let the bees fix them, they will be fine. If they are dusty, the bees will clean them up. The real risk is AFB. If you have old brood comb, I would look for scale in the bottom of the cells which would indicate AFB. If there is scale, you'll have to take the threat of AFB pretty serious. Some would just burn at that point. So, assuming you find no scale then what do you do? I can't tell you what to do as it is always a risk and if you get AFB I don't want you blaming me. But I'll tell you what I do. I've always gotten mine from sources I believed to be honest, usually very cheap or free and just used the equipment with nothing done to it. I've never gotten AFB in my hives. Now that I'm dipping my equipment, I would dip any used equipment, since I have the wherewithal. The problem with answering this question is that it will depend on your location. There is a big difference in the issues faced by a beekeeper in South Georgia or Southern California, compared to one in Northern Minnesota or Anchorage Alaska. So I can only give a generalization and call on my own experience in the middle of the country. I'm in Southeast Nebraska and used to be in Western Nebraska and the front range of the Rockies. So this advice is pretty useful in that range of climates. Reduce the space. There is no reason to have extra empty space in a hive in the winter in the North. Any box that is empty combs or foundation I would pull off for the winter. Block the mice. Mice can devastate a hive. Make sure if you have bottom entrances that you have mouseguards on. A piece of #4 hardware cloth works well for this. Remove excluders. If you use excluders they need to be off before winter sets in. A queen can get stuck on the other side of the excluder and die in cold weather. Make sure you have some kind of top entrance. I like all top entrances and no bottom entrances, but regardless you need at least a small one for release of moist air so you don't get condensation on the lid and so the bees can get out when the snow is deep or there are too many dead bees on the bottom board. Commonly people ask if the heat won't all escape. Heat is seldom the issue it's the condensation dripping on the bees that usually kills bees in winter. Make sure they have enough stores. In my part of the country with Italian bees you need the hive to weigh about 150 pounds for good insurance for the winter. They probably will get by on 100 pounds, but they could also burn through that in the spring rearing brood and come up short. Any less than 100 pounds would worry me a lot. The time to feed is when the weather is still warm as they won't take syrup after it gets cold. Once you hit the target weight there is no need to feed anymore. Usually a 150 pound hive around here is two deep ten frame boxes, or three medium ten frame boxes or four medium eight frame boxes, mostly full of honey. I have only wrapped once and was not favorably impressed, but if it's the norm for beekeepers where you live you might want to consider it. The normal wrap is 15# roofing felt as it provides some heat gain on sunny days. I found this sealed in too much moisture. Other wraps are wax impregnated cardboard that leaves an airspace around the hive. This seems like a wiser choice for the moisture issue. Avoid the temptation to think that heating a normal strong hive is helpful. It's really not. Thick insulation is not either. Don't move them indoors, they need to fly. Don't pile bales of straw around as it will just attract the mice. A wind break is nice if you can provide one. According to Brother Adam he had bees he knew flew five miles or more to gather Heather nectar. According to Huber, he marked workers, took them different distances and released them and looked for them to turn back up at the hive. He said they always found their way back when they were 1 1/2 miles from the hive, but past that they didn't. He also says, and it makes sense, that it would depend on the foraging available. It also seems to vary by bee size. Brother Adam says his native Apis Mellifera mellifera, which were smaller, flew the five miles to get the Heather, but the Italians he replaced them with, which were larger, would not. Dee Lusby says her small cell bees, after regression, came back with totally different pollens than before and that based on the blooms and the spread of flora that depend on pollination she's confident that the small cell bees forage much further than the large cell bees. This would be consistent with Brother Adam's observations. I don't think anyone really knows. They fly to DCAs (Drone Congregation Areas) and there are certain topographical clues they look for as well as pheromone trails in order to find one. DCAs are usually at a place where a tree row meets a tree row. The research seems to show that drones fly to the nearest DCA. The location, being dependant on the terrain and the amount of other hives nearby, the distance is hard to predict. Most of the scientists, however, say they fly, on the average, a shorter distance than the queens. As with many questions with bees, it's such a variable thing to start with; it's hard to say. According to Jay Smith, who tried an island for his mating yard, and he says the queens flew at least as far as two miles. Some estimates I've seen are as much as four or five miles. But I've also heard beekeepers who say they've seen matings (as evidenced by drone comets and the queen returning to the mating nuc) that occurred right in the beeyard. The problem with this question is it assumes the bees will stay on the 1 acre. They will forage the surrounding 8,000 acres. This is a difficult question to have a distinct answer to. Even in a given place it varies from year to year depending on the nectar flow which depends on the timing of the rain and the early and late frosts. In a place with really good forage (like the middle of 8,000 acres of sweet clover) it may be almost impossible to have too many hives there during a flow. But in general most rural locations in areas where there are the typical farm crops of corn, beans, alfalfa etc. about 20 hives in one place is usually the economic threshold where after that the competition will cost you honey. Try increasing the number of hives gradually until you see too much competition and honey crops decreasing. The standard answer is two. I'll say two to four. Less than two and you don't have resources to resolve typical beekeeping issues like queenlessness, suspected queenlessness, laying workers etc. More than four is a bit much for a beginning beekeeper to keep up with. Some years 200 pounds. Some years they will eat 200 pounds of sugar and make nothing. Most likely, most years it will be somewhere in between. It is impossible to say. "Where should I put my hive?" The problem is there isn't a simple answer. But in a list of decreasing importance I would pick these criteria with a willingness to sacrifice the less important ones altogether if they don't work out: Safety. It's essential to have the hive where they are not a threat to animals who are chained or penned up and can't flee if they are attacked, or where they are likely to be a threat to passerbys who don't know there are hives there. If the hive is going to be close to a path that people walk you need to have a fence or something to get the bees up over the people's heads. For the safety of the bees they should be where cattle won't rub on them and knock them over, horses won't knock them over and bears can't get to them. Convenient access. It's essential to have the hive where the beekeeper can drive right up to it. Carrying full supers that could weigh from 90 pounds (deep) down to 48 pounds (eight frame medium) any distance is too much work. The same for bringing beekeeping equipment and feed to the hives. You may have to feed as much as 50 pounds or more of syrup to each hive and carrying it any distance is not practical. Also you will learn a lot more about bees with a hive in your backyard than a hive 20 miles away at a friend's house. Also a yard a mile or two from home will get much better care than one 60 miles from Good forage. If you have a lot of options, then go for a place with lots of forage. Sweet clover, alfalfa being grown for seed, tulip poplars etc. can make the difference between bumper crops of 200 pounds or more of honey per hive and barely scraping a living. But keep in mind the bees will not only be foraging the space you own, they will be foraging the 8,000 acres around the hives. Not in your way. I think it's important the hive does not interfere with anyone's life much. In other words, don't put it right next to a well used path where, in a dearth and in a bad mood, the bees may harass or sting someone or anywhere else where you are likely to wish they weren't there. Full sun. I find hives in full sun have fewer problems with diseases and pests and make more honey. All things being equal, I'd go for full sun. The only advantage to putting them in the shade is that you get to work them in the shade. Out of the wind. It's nice to have them where the cold winter wind doesn't blow on them so hard and the wind is less likely to blow them over or blow off the lids. This isn't my number one requirement, but if a place is available that has a windbreak it's nice. This usually precludes putting them at the very top of a hill. Not in a low-lying area. I don't care if they are somewhere in the middle, but I'd rather not have them where the dew and the fog and the cold settle and I really don't want them where I have to move them if there's a threat of a flood. If you live in a very hot climate, mid afternoon shade might be a nice to have, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it. In the end, bees are very adaptable. They really don't care, so make sure it's convenient for you, and if it's not too hard to provide, try to meet some of the other criteria. It's doubtful you'll have a place that meets all of the criteria listed above. Beekeepers always seems to want to know what to plant for their bees. Just make sure you understand that your bees will not just work the flowers on your land. They will be foraging a 2 mile radius which is 8,000 acres. It's difficult, unless you own that 8,000 acres, to plant enough to make a crop. But it's not hard to plant things that will fill out the year for the bees. The times of need in the hives is early (February to April), late (September to the killing frost) and during drought (which is usually mid summer around here and requires plants that will bloom when there is little rain). So I would focus on plants to fill those gaps. A variety of honey plants in general will tend to fill more gaps than focusing on only one or two plants. It certainly doesn't hurt to plant some sweet clover (both yellow and white as they bloom at different times) and some white Dutch clover and some birdsfoot trefoil and some borage and some anise hyssop and some tulip poplars and some black locust, but these don't tend to fill those early and late gaps, but do tend to make some honey and MAY fill a gap. Early plants that provide pollen are red maples, pussy willows, elms, crocuses, redbud, wild plums, choke cherries and other fruit trees. Dandelions are always good to have around. You can pick the dried heads from people whose lawns are full of them. Just pluck them and put them in a grocery sack and take them home and scatter them. Chicory and goldenrod often bloom in a drought and will bloom usually from about July until a killing frost. Asters are a good late blooming plant. The main thing to keep in mind, though, is that you're just trying to fill the gaps, not trying to create a crop. The use of queen excluders has been controversial among beekeepers since the early days of their existence. I quit using them very early in my beekeeping. The bees did not want to go through them and they did not want to work the supers on the other side of them. They seemed very unnatural and constraining to me. I think they are handy to have around for things like queen rearing or a desperate attempt to find a queen, but I don't commonly use them. The reasoning for using them: The queen will be easier to find if I can narrow down the area I have to look. But I find the area I have to look is pretty narrow. I seldom find her other than where the highest concentration of bees is and that usually narrows it to a few frames. But this is a good reason if you need to find the queen often. In queen rearing this can be once a week or so and a queen excluder can save you some time. Preventing brood in the supers. The only reasons I've seen a queen lay in the supers are, that she ran out of room in the brood nest, therefore she would have swarmed if she couldn't, or she wanted room to lay drones and there is no drone comb in the brood nest. If you don't want brood in the supers, give them some drone comb in the brood nest and you will have made great strides in this regard. Also, if you use all the same size box, you'll have no problem IF she lays in the "supers" putting those frames back down in the brood nest, and if you use no chemicals, you can steal a frame of honey from there to fill out your super. If you want to use them If you want to use an excluder, remember you have to get the bees going through it. Using all the same sized boxes, again, will help in this regard as you can put a couple of frames of open brood above the excluder (being careful not to get the queen of course) and get them going through the excluder. When they are working the super you can put them back down in the brood nest. Another option (especially if you don't have the same sized boxes) is to leave out the excluder until they are working the first super and then put it in (again making sure the queen is below it and the drones have a way out the top somewhere). "Beginning beekeepers should not attempt to use queen excluders to prevent brood in supers. However they probably should have one excluder on hand to use as an aide in either finding the queen or restricting her access to frames that the beekeeper must want to move elsewhere" -The How-To-Do-It book of Beekeeping, Richard Taylor The question comes up all the time on beekeeping forums: "Are my bees queenless?" The symptoms leading to this question vary greatly and the time of year for the question varies greatly, but it is a very important question to get an answer to and is sometimes remarkably more complex that it appears. The most likely cause for the question is a lack of eggs and brood. Many beginning beekeepers couldn't find a queen if you marked, her, clipped her and put her on one frame for them to find her, and even an experienced beekeeper in a well populated hive on a given day may have trouble finding one. So not seeing her doesn't prove anything. Not seeing eggs and brood is an important clue, but it doesn't mean that there is not a queen. It means there is not a laying queen and has not been one for a while. But there very well may be a virgin queen that is not laying yet.. The problem is if the new queen flew out to mate and didn't make it back, and the hive is truly queenless, the hive looks the same. No eggs, no brood, not even any capped brood. So how do you answer the question? You give them a frame of brood with eggs and see what they do. If you have a queen cell in a couple of days, then they are queenless. You can either get a queen for them or let them raise that one. Another problem is when you find a few eggs and a few larvae and they are very scattered. This is sometimes due to laying workers but the bees have still kept up with removing the drone eggs from the worker cells, except for a few. But what if it's a new queen that is just starting to lay? Usually she will lay in a patch and not scattered all over. Laying workers require a lot more effort to deal with.". Another clue that there probably is a queen who is about to start laying, is to look for a patch of empty cells surrounded by nectar, in the cluster, where they have cleared a spot for her to lay. A grouchy hive is often a sign they are queenless or a lethargic hive. But you still need to look for eggs and larvae. The bottom line is that queenlessness is difficult to diagnose definitively. A combination of several of these symptoms (lack of eggs and brood, queenless roar, lethargy or anger) tends to convince me. But only one or two, I give them a frame of open brood with eggs and see what happens. Of course this illustrates why you need more than one hive. There are several questions to do with this. One is "how often should I requeen?" Beekeepers have many opinions on this ranging from twice a year to never. I tend to let them requeen themselves, but then I have a handle on swarming and I do requeen if they are too defensive or are not doing well. The second question is "how do I requeen?" This may involve several questions such as "what do I do if I can't find the old queen?" or "how do I know they will accept the new queen?" I have not had good luck releasing a queen if they have a queen. About the only way to do this is if you raise your own queens and you introduce a cell or a virgin queen with a lot of smoke to cover her appearance in the hive. That way it is more likely to be perceived as a supersedure by the bees. Otherwise you need to remove the old queen in order to introduce a new laying queen. If you absolutely can't find the old queen and you absolutely think you need to introduce the new one, I'd use a push in cage. All in all it's the most reliable method anyway. A standard candy release usually works fine if there aren't any complications (such as laying workers, angry hive, already rejected a queen, been queenless a long time, can't find the old queen etc.). This is where you uncork the candy end of the cage, (or in the case of the California cages, you add the plastic tube that has the candy in it) and you put the cage in the hive and wait for the bees to eat the candy and release the queen. It is advantageous to acceptance to release the attendants in the queen cage, but if you are a beginner you may find that intimidating. A Queen Muff (from Brushy Mt.) will help much in this as you can do all of your manipulations in a situation where the queen can't fly off on you. If you catch the queen and put her head in the cage she will usually run back in. This is the most reliable release for a laying queen. The concept of this is to give the queen some newly emerged attendants, who will accept her since they have never had any other queen, some food and a place to lay. Once she is a laying queen with attendants the hive will usually accept her without protest. Making a Push In Cage Most people make these about 4 inches square (10 cm). I prefer to make them bigger. The larger they are the easier it is to get some honey (so she doesn't starve) some open cells (so she has a place to lay) and some emerging brood (so she has attendants). I like mine about 5 by 10 inches (12.5cm by 25cm). Cut some #8 hardware cloth (8 wires to an inch or 1/8" wire cloth) 6 1/2" by 11 1/2" (about 16cm by 29cm). Pull off the first three wires all the way around leaving 3/8" wires sticking out with no cross wires. This is to push into the comb so that the bees can't get under easily. Now come in 3/4" from the corners (three more wires) and make a cut 3/4" in (3 more wires) on all four corners. It really doesn't matter from which direction, but you're going to fold it around the corner. Fold the 3/4" edge over. A board or the sharp edge of a table is helpful in doing this. Fold the 3/4" corners over. You now have a box with no bottom that is 3/4 inch tall and 5 by 10 inches. Using a Push in Cage Find a comb with emerging brood. This comb is bees who are fuzzy and struggling to get out of a cell they have just chewed open. A bee with its head sticking out of a cell is emerging brood. A bee with its behind sticking out of a cell is a nurse bee feeding a larvae or a house bee cleaning a cell. Shake (if the comb is strong enough) or brush all of the bees off of the comb. Release the queen on one side of the comb where there is emerging brood and some open honey. Put the cage over her so that it has both honey and emerging brood in it. Some open cells are nice too. Push the cage into the comb. It should stick up about 3/8" above the comb to make room for the queen to move around. Make room in the hive for this frame plus the 3/8". Some will have enough space and some will have to have a frame removed, but you need to have the frame with the push in cage and then 3/8" space between the cage and the comb on the next frame so that bees have access to the cage to meet the queen and feed them if they like. Come back in four days and release the queen by removing the cage. If you need to keep queens that come in cages with attendants and candy, you can minimize the stress by keeping them in a cool (like 70 F) dark (like a closet) quiet (like a closet or the basement) place and give them a drop of water everyday so they can digest the candy and they will usually keep for a couple of weeks if they weren't too stressed to start with and the attendants are healthy. Give them a drop as soon as you receive them and one a day after that. If the candy looks like it will run out, you might have to give them a drop of honey and a drop of water every day. If all the attendants are dead they will need new attendants. Obviously if there was a "right" answer, there would only be one kind of foundation. The reason there is not is that beekeepers have different preferences and different philosophies and different experiences. Let's get a little terminology out of the way. With wax, about the only thicknesses I see available now are "Medium Brood", "Surplus" and "Thin Surplus". "Medium Brood" does NOT mean it goes in medium frames. It means it is of medium thickness. Surplus is thin and "Thin Surplus" is even thinner. Surplus is for comb honey. Brood foundation. The thing the bees like the most, is no foundation. Foundationless frames are the best accepted, and the most natural. They have many advantages from the Varroa control of smaller cells, to being able to cut out queen cells from a comb without worrying about hitting a wire or having plastic in the middle of the comb stop you. The thing the bees like next, is wax foundation. They can rework it to what they want. But the closer it is to what they want the better it will be accepted. I'd say, with unregressed ("normal") bees 5.1mm would be the best accepted, as that seems to be what they want to build. Dadant sells this. 4.9mm would be next and 5.4mm last. But I want the 4.9mm for the Varroa control aspect. So one aspect of foundation is the material (wax or plastic) and another is the size of the cell. The other issue with wax foundation is reinforcement. DuraComb and DuraGilt have a smooth plastic core. This works well until the bees strip the wax off to use somewhere else or the wax moths eat down to the plastic. Then the bees won't rebuild on the plastic. Wires are often used in wax foundation. Some foundation comes with vertical wires in it and people use it as is. Some comes with none and some people wire it with horizontal wires. The wires slow down the process of the foundation sagging. The material the bees seem to like the least and the beekeepers seem to like the most is plastic. The wax moths can't destroy the foundation (although they CAN destroy the comb). The bees can't rework the size very easily. Sizes of plastic vary from 5.4mm down to 4.95mm. It is available as sheets of plastic foundation or fully molded frames with foundation. Fully drawn comb is also available in plastic. PermaComb (5.0mm equivalent cell size) is available in mediums and Honey Super Cell (4.9mm equivalent cell size) is available in deeps. Foundation for supers. The fully drawn comb is certainly an advantage here (once the bees have accepted and used it) as the bees have only to store the nectar and don't have to build any comb. The wax moths can't touch it nor can the small hive beetles. The various plastic frames and plastic foundation are the same as the ones available for brood, with the additional use by some of drone comb (easier to extract) and Honey Super Cell's 6.0mm cell size with a fake egg in the bottom of the cell. The fake egg supposedly fools the queen so she won't lay in it. The 6.0mm also discourages the queen as it's not quite a drone size (6.6mm) nor a worker size (4.4mm to 5.4mm) so she doesn't like to lay in it. For comb honey, there is surplus and thin surplus. This is so the comb honey will be easy to chew and not have a thick core in the middle. It is available from most manufactures. Walter T. Kelley has it in 7/11 which, again, is a size the queen doesn't like to lay in so you can forgo the excluder and not get brood in the supers. Kinds of frames. There are different kinds of frames and many of the foundations were planned to be used in one or the other of them. You can usually adapt either way, but you may want to take this into account when ordering frames and when ordering foundations. Top bars come in grooved, wedge, and split (split is available from Walter T. Kelley). The grooved are usually used with plastic or with a wax tube fastener. I prefer them to the wedge. I can attach a lot more foundation a lot more reliably (so that it doesn't fall out) with a wax tube fastener than a wedge. The wedge type has a cleat that breaks off and is nailed into the frame to hold the foundation. The split is usually used for comb honey. The foundation is just dropped down into the split onto a solid bottom bar and put in the hive without nailing at all. Bottom bars come in split, grooved and solid. I prefer solid, as the wax moths won't get into them. But your foundation may not fit with a solid bottom bar (depending on what you buy). The split ones are not very strong and always seem to break the first time I try to clean them up and put new foundation in them. Grooved are usually used for plastic so that the plastic foundation snaps into the frame. Plastic one-piece frames. These eliminate all the issues, other than acceptance and cutting out queen cells. No frames to build. The foundation obviously fits since it's already in there. If you buy Mann Lake PF-120s (medium depth) or PF-100s (deep depth) they are 4.95mm cell size so you get the advantage of small cell. They are cheap (in large lots they are $1 each last I saw). There is no wiring to do and they are well accepted by the bees. An inner cover was invented to create an air space to cut down on condensation on the cover. The original ones were made of cloth but over time the wooden ones took over. In the North the problem with winter is condensation and most of that is on the lid. The warm moist air from the cluster hits the cold lid, condenses and drips down on the cluster. An inner cover was designed to prevent this. Over the years, many other uses have been found for them. You can put an inverted jar over the hole to feed. You can put wet (just harvested and extracted) supers over them to get the bees to clean them up. You can put a porter bee escape in the hole to get the bees out of a super (I've never had much luck with this). You can double screen the hole and use it between a nuc above and a hive below in the spring or fall to help the nuc stay warm. (This has not worked well for me in the winter due to condensation). Can I not use an inner cover? If you use migratory covers, you won't need one and probably don't want one. If you use a telescopic cover it will keep the cover from getting glued down with propolis. It's difficult to remove a telescopic cover that is propolized down to the box with no inner cover as there is no where to get your hive tool in to pry it apart. If you have a telescopic cover, I recommend you use the inner cover. If you live in the north and want to use migratory covers, make sure there is some kind of top entrance (you can cut a notch in the cover to make one. See Brushy Mt. migratory covers for an example) and put some Styrofoam on top of the lid with a brick on top of the Styrofoam. The Styrofoam will keep the lid from being as cold and the vent at the top (through the notch) will allow the moist air out. Smells are always best investigated. They are very subjective and therefore it's best for you to see it for yourself to associate that smell with that occurrence. The most common smell that people get worried about is the smell of goldenrod honey ripening. This happens sometimes between summer and fall. To me, it smells like old gym socks. Some people say it smells like butterscotch. Most people think it smells sour. Some people hate the taste of goldenrod honey. Once it's ripe, though, it does not smell like gym socks anymore and, in my opinion, is quite tasty. But I like strong flavored honey. Some people will pay a premium. I hardly ever get any, though, as I leave it for the bees for winter feed unless they get a bumper crop. If you smell the smell of rotting meat, I would investigate. Sometimes you have piles of dead bees from a pesticide kill or robbing. Sometimes you have a brood disease. It's worth investigating to see what the cause is. All of them. Read every beekeeping book you can get your hands on. But my favorites are the old ABC XYZ of Bee Culture, Langstroth's Hive and the Honey Bee and the ones that I've posted on my classic bee books page. In addition if you're past all the beekeeping books and want to know even more, all of Eva Crane's books are fascinating. For a beginner's book for beekeeping, Backyard Beekeeping by Kim Flottom is very good and simple. There has been much speculation by beekeepers for many centuries on this. I suppose at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century there was probably the most agreement. Italians were pretty much what everyone wanted. Now there are just as many who want Carniolans or Caucasians or Buckfasts or Russians. I see more variation from hive to hive than race to race. I'd say the best breeds of bees are the ones that are surviving around you. That's what I'm raising. But if you want to buy some queens, the issues are how well they do in your climate (for instance Italians are probably better adapted to the South and Carniolans are better adapted to the North), and health (hygienic behavior, tracheal mite resistance, Varroa mite resistance etc.). Another panicked posting several times a year will involve a lot of bees flying. This is usually interpreted by the new beekeeper as either a swarm or robbing. A swarm does put a lot of bees in the air, but in this case they are just hovering around the hive. If the bees seem happy and organized and not frantic and fighting on the landing board, and especially if it's short-lived and on a sunny afternoon, then it's probably just young bees orienting for the first time. Look for signs of wrestling or fighting on the landing board to rule out robbing. If there are no signs of robbing, this is the sign of a healthy hive. If the hovering bees seem to be leaving a trail of bees as they fly off, then it's probably a swarm gathering in one of your trees. Typically beekeepers call this bearding because it often looks like the hive has a beard. Causes are heat, congestion and lack of ventilation. Make sure they have room and ventilation and don't worry about it. Bees bearding is like people sweating. It's what bees do when they are hot. It's good to cover the bases and then accept it. If you were sweating you'd take what steps were reasonable (turn on the fan, open the window, take off your sweater, drink lots of water) and then you'd accept that it's just hot. With the bees, make sure they have top and bottom ventilation, (open the bottom entrance, remove the tray if you have a SBB, prop open the top box, slide a super back to make a gap) make sure they have enough room (put supers on as needed) and don't worry about it. Bearding is not proof they are about to swarm. It's proof they are hot. I think lack of ventilation contributes to an "overcrowding swarm" but it's not the only cause and it's nothing to be concerned about if you've taken care of the bees having ventilation and room. A few times a year some new beekeeper wants to know what the bees are doing line dancing (rhythmically swaying) on the landing board. This is called "washboarding" and actually no one knows why they do it, but they do. Personally I think it's a social dance. Perhaps even a thanksgiving dance. The problem with an electric one is that the bees will find themselves fighting the ventilator. The bees have a very efficient cooling system already. I think you're much better off to just give them some ventilation top and bottom and let them control it. __________________________________ Michael Bush Bush Bees Home
The,[1] the warrior is back, as brutal as ever and distinctly better-armed. The primary function of any civilization is to restrain human excess, and even Slavic socialism served a civilizing mission in this regard. But as the restraints of contemporary civilization recede and noncompetitive cultures fracture, victim-states often do not have the forces, and the self-emasculated West does not possess the will, to control the new warrior class arising in so many disparate parts of the world. We have entered an age in which entire nations are subject to dispossession, starvation, rape, and murder on a scale approaching genocide--not at the hands of a conquering foreign power but under the guns of their neighbors. Paramilitary warriors--thugs whose talent for violence blossoms in civil war--defy legitimate governments and increasingly end up leading governments they have overturned. This is a new age of warlords, from Somalia to Myanmar/Burma, from Afghanistan to Yugoslavia. In Georgia an ex-convict has become a kingmaker, and in Azerbaijan a warlord who marched on the capitol with a handful of wheezing armored vehicles became prime minister. In Chechnya, on the northern slopes of the Caucasus, a renegade general carved out the world's first state run entirely by gangsters--not the figurative gangsters of high Stalinism, but genuine black marketeers, murderers, drug dealers, and pimps.[2] Their warriors are the source of power for these chieftains, and the will of the populace, enervated and fickle, matters little when it matters at all. This article will briefly consider who these new warriors are in terms of their social and psychological origins, and will examine the environment in which they operate. The objective is to provide an intellectual passport into the warrior's sullen world for US military officers and defense analysts, who, given their cultural and professional conditioning, would much rather deal with more conventional threats. This is an alert message from a very dark place. Most warriors emerge from four social pools which exist in some form in all significant cultures. These pools produce warriors who differ in their individual implacability and redeemability. This differentiation is key to understanding warriors--who outwardly may appear identical to one another--and helps identify human centers of gravity within warrior bands or movements.,[3] and no future. With gun in hand and the spittle of nationalist ideology dripping from his mouth, today's warrior murders those who once slighted him, seizes the women who avoided him, and plunders that which he would never otherwise have possessed. Initially, the totemic effect of a uniform, however shabby and incomplete,[4] and the half-understood rhetoric of a cause lend him a notion of personal dignity he never sensed before, but his dedication to the cause is rarely as enduring as his taste for spoils. He will, however, cling to his empowering military garb. For the new warrior class, many of whose members possess no skills marketable in peace, the end of fighting means the end of the good times. The longer the fighting continues, the more irredeemable this warrior becomes. And. Although some second-pool warriors can ultimately be gathered back into society, the average warrior who takes up a Kalashnikov at age 13 is probably not going to settle down to finish out his secondary school education ten years later without a powerful incentive.. Although these warriors are the easiest to reintegrate into civil structures--especially if their experience of violence is relatively brief--some of these men, too, will develop a taste for blood and war's profits. These warriors are the most individualized psychologically, and their redeemability will depend on character, cultural context, and the depth of any personal loss, as well as on standard characteristics such as goal achievement in their conflict and perceived postwar opportunities for jobs and other societal rewards.. The greatest, although not the only, contemporary source of military men who have degenerated into warriors is the former Soviet Union. Whether veterans of Afghanistan or simply officers who lost their positions in post-collapse cutbacks, Russian and other former-Soviet military men currently serve as mercenaries or volunteers (often one and the same thing) in the moral wasteland of Yugoslavia and on multiple sides in conflicts throughout the former Soviet Union. These warriors are especially dangerous not only because their skills heighten the level of bloodshed, but also because they provide a nucleus of internationally available mercenaries for future conflicts. Given that most civil wars begin with the actions of a small fraction of the population (as little as one percent might actively participate in or support the initial violence),[5] any rabid assembly of militants with cash will be able to recruit mercenary forces with ease and spark "tribal" strife that will make the brutality of Africa in the 1960s seem like some sort of Quaker peaceable kingdom. Paradoxically, while the warrior seeks to hold society out of equilibrium for his own profit, he thus prevents society from offering him any alternative to the warrior life. In our century of massive postwar demobilizations, most receiving governments retained sufficient structure to absorb and assist their ex-soldiers. Helpfully, the soldiers of the great armies of the West rarely tasted war's spoils as does the warrior; rather, soldiers experienced war's sacrificial side. But the broken states in which warriors currently control the balance of power do not have the infrastructure to receive veterans and help them rebuild their lives. In many cases, the warrior's roots have been torn up and, since he is talented only at violence, his loyalty has focused on his warlord, his band of fellow warriors, or, simply, on himself.[6] Even should the miracle of peace descend on the ruins of Yugoslavia, the survivor states will be unable to constructively absorb all of the warriors who have fallen away from civilized norms--and the warriors themselves often will have no real interest in being absorbed. In the Caucasus and Afghanistan, in Nicaragua and Haiti, warriors without wars will create problems for a generation. In the centuries before the rise of modern professional armies, the European world often faced the problem of the warrior deprived of war. In the 16th century--another age of shattered belief systems--disbanded imperial armies spread syphilis and banditry across the continent, and the next century's Thirty Years War--waged largely by warriors and not by soldiers as we know them--saw the constant disbanding and reformation of armies, with the Soldateska growing ever more vicious, unruly, and merciless.[7] Arguably modern Europe's greatest trauma, the Thirty Years War formally ended in 1648, but its warriors continued to disrupt the continent until they found other wars in which to die, were hacked to death by vengeful peasants, or were hunted down like beasts by authorities who finally had caught their breath. Today's warriors have a tremendous advantage over their antique brethren in the struggle for survival, however: the West's pathetic, if endearing, concern for human life, even when that life belongs to a murderer of epic achievement. For the US soldier, vaccinated with moral and behavioral codes, the warrior is a formidable enemy. Euro-American soldiers in general learn a highly stylized, ritualized form of warfare, with both written and customary rules. We are at our best fighting organized soldieries who attempt a symmetrical response. But warriors respond asymmetrically, leaving us in the role of redcoats marching into an Indian-dominated wilderness. Despite the valiant and skilled performance of the US Army Rangers, our most significant combat encounter in Mogadishu looks just like Braddock's defeat--and Russian regulars were recently "Little Big Horned" in Tajikistan by tribesmen who slipped across the Afghan border. While the US Army could rapidly devastate any band of warriors on a battlefield, few warlords will be foolish enough to accept such a challenge. Warriors usually stand and fight only when they know or believe they have an overwhelming advantage. Instead, they snipe, ambush, mislead, and betray, attempting to fool the constrained soldiers confronting them into alienating the local population or allies, while otherwise simply hunkering down and trying to outlast the organized military forces pitted against them. US soldiers are unprepared for the absolute mercilessness of which modern warriors are capable, and are discouraged or forbidden by their civilian masters and their own customs from taking the kind of measures that might be effective against members of the warrior class. The US experience with warriors in Somalia has not been a happy one, but the disastrous UN experience in Yugoslavia has been worse.[8] Imagining they can negotiate with governments to control warrior excesses, the United Nations and other well-intentioned organizations plead with the men-in-suits in Belgrade, Zagreb, and Sarajevo to come to terms with one another. But the war in Bosnia and adjacent regions already has degenerated to a point where many local commanders obey only orders which flatter them. Should a peace treaty ever come to signature, the only way to make it work will be for those forces loyal to the central authorities to hunt down, disarm, and if necessary kill their former comrades-in-arms who refuse to comply with the peace terms. Even then, "freedom fighters," bandits, and terrorists will haunt the mountain passes and the urban alleys for years to come. On the West Bank of the Jordan and in Gaza, the newly legitimized Palestinian authorities face formidable problems with two lost generations, unskilled or de-skilled, whose heroes answer offers of dialog with terror and for whom compromise appears equivalent to prostitution. Without the Intifada, many Palestinians, from teenagers to the chronologically mature, have no core rationale for their lives. At a virtually immeasurable cultural remove, Irish Republican Army terrorists are heroes only until the counties of Northern Ireland find peace. In Sri Lanka, many Tamil rebels will never be able to return to productive lives in a settled society--nor will many of the Khmer Rouge, Philippine communists, Angola's UNITA rebels, or any of Africa's other clan-based warriors masquerading behind the rank and trappings of true soldiers.[9] Even in the United States, urban gang members exhibit warrior traits and may be equally impossible to reconcile to civilized order as it is generally valued in Euro-America. For the warrior, peace is the least-desirable state of affairs, and he is inclined to fight on in the absence of a direct, credible threat to his life. As long as the warrior believes he can survive on the outside of any new peace, he will view a continuation of warfare through criminal means as the most attractive alternative. And there is good reason for the warrior to decline to lay down his arms--the most persistent and ruthless warriors ultimately receive the best terms from struggling governments. Indeed, they sometimes manage to overthrow those governments and seize power when the governments tumble into crisis after failing to deliver fundamental welfare and security to the population.[10] In addition to those warriors whose educations--however rudimentary--were interrupted, men who fall into the warrior class in adulthood often find their new situation far more pleasant than the manual labor for subsistence wages or chronic unemployment to which peace had condemned them. The warrior milieu allows pathetic misfits to lead lives of waking fantasy and remarkable liberties. Unlike organized militaries, paramilitary bands do not adhere to rigorous training schedules, and when they need privies, they simply roust out the locals at gunpoint and tell them where to dig. In the Yugoslav ruins, for instance, many of the patriotic volunteers (identical, whether Serb, Croat, or Bosnian Muslim) find that war gives them leisure, choice, and recognition, as well as a camaraderie they never knew in the past. The unemployed Lumpenproletarier from Mostar or Belgrade can suddenly identify with the action-video heroes he and his comrades admire between raids on villages where only women, children, and old men remain. In Armenia, during a period of crisis for Nagorno-Karabakh, I encountered a local volunteer who had dyed his uniform black and who proudly wore a large homemade swastika on his breast pocket, even though his people had suffered this century's first genocide.[11] The Russian mercenaries who rent out their resentment over failed lives almost invariably seek to pattern themselves after Hollywood heroes, and even Somalia's warlords adorn themselves with Anglo nicknames such as "Jess" or "Morgan."[12] This transfer of misunderstood totems between cultures has a vastly more powerful negative effect on our world than the accepted logic of human behavior allows. But, then, we have entered an age of passion and illogic, an era of the rejection of "scientific" order. That is exactly what the pandemic of nationalism and fundamentalism is about. We are in an instinctive, intuitive phase of history, and such times demand common symbols that lend identity and reduce the need for more intellectualized forms of communication. Once, warriors wore runic marks or crosses on their tunics--today, they wear T-shirts with Madonna's image (it is almost too obvious to observe that one madonna seems to be as good as another for humanity). If there are two cultural artifacts in any given bunker in the Bosnian hills, they are likely to be a blond nude tear-out and a picture of Sylvester Stallone as Rambo.[13] Many warriors, guilty of unspeakable crimes, develop such a histrionic self-image that they will drop just about any task to pose for a journalist's camera--the photograph is a totem of immortality in the warrior's belief system, which is why warriors will sometimes take the apparently illogical step of allowing snapshots of their atrocities. In Renaissance Europe (and Europe may soon find itself in need of another renaissance), the typical Landsknecht wanted money, loot, women, and drink. His modern counterpart also wants to be a star.[14] Worldwide, the new warrior class already numbers in the millions.[15]. Warrior-mercenaries always moved. Irishmen fought for France, Scots for Sweden, and the Germans sold their unwashed swordarms to everyone from Palermo to Poland. But today's improved travel means allow warriors deprived of "their" war to fly or drive to the next promising misfortune. Mujahedeen from Afghanistan, recently adored by Americans, have turned up in Azerbaijan,[16] and Russian brawlers with military educations are fighting in Bosnia, Croatia, Georgia, Nagorno-Karabakh, Tajikistan, and as enforcers for the internationalizing Russian mafia. One of the most intriguing characters I've met in the Caucasus was an ethnic-Armenian citizen of Lebanon who had been trained by the PLO in the Bekaa Valley to fight Turkic Azeris in Karabagh. The Azeri warriors he faced have been trained by entrepreneurial Russians, exasperated Turks, and reportedly by Iranians and Israelis.[17] In Bosnia, mustered out Warsaw Pact soldiers serve in the same loosely organized units as adventure-seeking Germans and Frenchmen.[18] In this regard, it might be in the interests of surrounding countries to let the fighting in Bosnia stew on: when that pot cools there is going to be a lot of unattractive spillage. Yugoslavia and the wars on Russia's crumpled frontiers are vast training grounds for the warriors who will not be content without a conflict somewhere. While most warriors will attempt to maintain their privileges of violence on their own territory, within their own linguistic groups, the overall number of warriors is growing so quickly that even a small percentage migrating from trouble spot to trouble spot could present a destabilizing factor with which we have yet to reckon..[19] There are quite a few realistic steps we might take to gain a better grasp on these inevitable, if unwanted, opponents. First, we should begin to build an aggregate data base that is not rigidly compartmented by country and region. We may deploy to the country where Warlord X has carved out his fief, or we may meet him or his warriors on the soil of a third-party state.[20] The future may create allegiances and alliances which will confound us, but if we start now to identify likely players, that drab, laborious, critical labor may pay significant dividends one day. As a minimum, if we start files on warrior chieftains now, we will have richer background files on a number of eventual heads of state. Such a data base will be a tough sell in a time of shrinking staffs and disappearing budgets, and analysts, accustomed to the luxury of intellectual routine, will rebel against its challenge and uncertainty. But in practical terms, studying potential opponents of this nature now will pay off on two counts: first, when we fight we will be more likely to know whom we're fighting; second, the process of compiling such a data base will build human expertise in this largely neglected field.[21] We also need to struggle against our American tendency to focus on hardware and bean-counting to attack the more difficult and subtle problems posed by human behavior and regional history. For instance, to begin to identify the many fuses under the Caucasus powderkeg, you have to understand that Christian Armenians, Muslim (and other) Kurds, and Arabs ally together because of their mutual legacy of hatred toward Turks. The Israelis support Turkic peoples because Arabs support the Christians (and because the Israelis are drawn to Caspian oil). The Iranians see the Armenians as allies against the Turks, but are torn because Azeri Turks are Shi'a Muslims.[22] And the Russians want everybody out who doesn't "belong." Many of these alignments surprise US planners and leaders because we don't study the hard stuff. If electronic collection means can't acquire it, we pretend we don't need it--until we find ourselves in downtown Mogadishu with everybody shooting at us. We need to commit more of our training time to warrior threats. But first we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions. Do we have the strength of will, as a military and as a nation, to defeat an enemy who has nothing to lose? When we face warriors, we. Are we able to engage in and sustain the level of sheer violence it can take to eradicate this kind of threat? To date, the Somalia experience says "No.". Combatting warriors will force us to ask fundamental questions about ourselves as well as about our national and individual identities and values. But the kind of warfare we are witnessing now and will see increasingly in the future raises even more basic issues, challenging many of the assumptions in which liberal Western culture indulges. Yugoslavia alone raises issues that have challenged philosophers and college freshmen since the first professor faced a student. What is man's nature? Are we really the children of Rousseau and of Benetton ads, waiting only for evil governments to collapse so that our peaceable, cotton-candy natures can reveal themselves? Or are we killing animals self-organized into the disciplinary structures of civilization because the alternative is mutual, anarchic annihilation? What of all that self-hobbling rhetoric about the moral equivalency of all cultures? Isn't it possible that a culture (or religion or form of government) that provides a functional combination of individual and collective security with personal liberties really does deserve to be taken more seriously than and emulated above a culture that glorifies corruption, persecutes nonbelievers, lets gunmen rule, and enslaves its women? Is all human life truly sacred, no matter what crimes the individual or his collective may commit? Until we are able to answer such questions confidently, the members of the new warrior class will simply laugh at us and keep on killing. NOTES 1. See Samuel P. Huntington, "The Clash of Civilizations," Foreign Affairs, 72 (Summer 1993), 22-49, for a brilliant, courageous analysis of this metastasizing cultural crisis. Huntington was subsequently attacked in print by whole tribes of pygmies, none of whom made a dent in his thesis. See also my article, "Vanity and the Bonfires of the 'isms," Parameters, 23 (Autumn 1993), 39-50. 2. For background on the Chechens, see Marie Bennigsen Broxup, ed., The North Caucasus Barrier (London: Hurst and Company, 1992), or, for a fascinating historical perspective, Sh. V. Megrelidze, Zakavkaze v Russko-Turetskoy Voine (Tbilisi: Metsniyereba, 1972). In fairness, it must be noted that the peoples of the North Caucasus generally view Djokar Dudayev's Grosny government in a markedly positive light, crediting him as a patriot and capable organizer, as was brought home to me by Dr. Zaur Dydymov, the energetic and talented Head of the Juridical Department of the Daghestan Republic Council of Ministers. 3. As a draft of this article circulated, nothing excited so much comment as this phrase. In general, the otherwise positive puritanism of the US officer corps and Foreign Service cripples our ability to understand some starkly fundamental human motivations. We fear the hurricane of biology nearly as much as we distrust intuition, barricade ourselves behind the quantifiable, and practice Jomini even as we quote poor translations of Clausewitz (US officers have no sense of Clausewitz's Promethean Romanticism but sense that there's nonetheless some sort of uncomfortable darkness about the guy). Confronted with "rape cultures," such as those of Slavic Orthodoxy or Sub-Saharan Africa, we recoil to concentrate on the local traits that bear a reassuring resemblance to our own behavioral structures--not on the crucial differences. 4. The government of Croatia chose the US Battle Dress Uniform for its military, not least for its evocative associations. A visit to the provisional military museum in downtown Zagreb provides a wealth of stimulating images, among them the World War II Croatian military's aping of Wehrmacht uniforms (Bundeswehr dress uniforms are still in vogue), and the 1990s look for front line and COMMZ, the all-American BDU. The reasons for such choices and tendential shifts are worth another article, at least. 5. For a classic study of how the bold, ruthless few drive the many, see Joachim C. Fest, Hitler, Volume One, Der Aufsteig (Frankfurt/M: Verlag Ullstein, 1973). Also, the various writings of Sebastian Haffner on the rise and appeal of National Socialism; Elias Canetti, Masse und Macht; any serious work on the 1917 Bolshevik coup. Sociopolitical earthquakes, from the Reformation to the American Revolution, rarely have the active support of even one percent of the population in their germinal phases. The majority of military coups in the non-competitive world also involve far less than one percent of the population in their mechanisms. For nonpolitical, nonmilitary examples of the tyranny of tiny, self-absorbed minorities over the mass, consider the impoundment of own cultural upper register by various activist groups. Intriguingly, current research in the field of complexity offers a scientific demonstration of how the activity of seemingly inconsequential variables can spark immeasurably disproportionate reactions. 6. Especially for US Army officers and diplomats, this century's great forgotten revolution and civil war--the Mexican experience--merits study. An entry-level work is Ramon Eduardo Ruiz, The Great Rebellion, Mexico, 1905-1924 (New York: W. W. Norton, 1980). For a superb group portrait of "warriors," read Mariano Azuela's out-of-print novel, The Underdogs, which provides remarkable insights into how Mexico's revolutionary warriors degenerated. 7. Ricarda Huch, Der Dreissigjaehrige Krieg (Frankfurt/M: Insel Verlag, 1912, 1914). Although Huch--the only major German historian to defy Hitler--is stylistically out of fashion, this monumental work presents the richest picture ever encountered by this author of how extended wars infected with a religious (read also "nationalist or ethnic") bias can annihilate moral and social orders. No one who has read this work could fail to be haunted by its images. Also, Golo Mann, Wallenstein (Frankfurt/M: S. Fischer Verlag GmbH, 1971), or, for English-only readers, the classic, and classically restrained, study by C. V. Wedgwood, The Thirty Years War (London: Johnathan Cape, 1938). A study of the Thirty Years War is essential to understanding modern continental Europe, why Euro-Americans make war in such a stylized fashion, and why we are so nonplussed by events in former Yugoslavia. 8. Personal conversations with UNPROFOR and UNHCR officers in Croatia, January-February 1994. 9. For a striking, highly readable, and provocative account, see Robert D. Kaplan, "The Coming Anarchy," The Atlantic Monthly, February 1994. Kaplan is willing to take physical and intellectual risks most American journalists shun. His book, Balkan Ghosts, offers a fine, quick introduction to a region we will still fail to understand after US troops have been there for a decade or two. 10. This happened in 1993, in Azerbaijan, with the Huseinov coup, although the primary coupmaker has been marginalized for now. 11. Many Armenian Fidayeen militiamen wear black uniforms with white Armenian crosses--a very different matter. 12. For the best reporting that came out of the US intervention in Somalia, see the series of articles by Sean Naylor, then by Katherine McIntire, in Army Times, between January and March 1993. These two reporters avoided the Mogadishu trap and went down-country to get the story the remainder of the media missed. Their work represents remarkable journalism from an often-overlooked source. 13. See the extensive 1992 and 1993 reporting by Der Spiegel, with its frequent character studies of the participants in the latest Balkan War. 14. Again, this is the sort of motivational issue with which US officers and analysts are ill-prepared to cope. Prisoners of rationalism at its most pedestrian, we are simply not alert to the "irrational" cultures and individuals covering most of this planet. 15. A country-by-country assessment of extant and potential warriors yields round numbers well into the millions--at the most conservative count. Not only are many African military establishments filled with warriors and not soldiers as we know them (see Kaplan again), but the pools of potential warriors in the former Soviet empire and in China reach into the tens of millions. 16. See Hurriyet, Istanbul, 23 December 1993, "Turkey to lift the arms embargo against Azerbaijan." Also, from the Armenian side, SNARK reports of 16 December 1993; Radio Yerevan (Azeri broadcast), 31 January 1994; Aragil Electronic News Bulletin, 10 February 1994, all Yerevan. 17. Multiple reports, Russian, Azeri, Armenian, and Turkish press. 18. Der Spiegel, as above. 19. For an incisive survey of the historical dimensions of the problem, see Great Powers And Little Wars, ed. A. Hamish Ion and E. J. Errington (Westport, Conn.: Praeger, 1993). 20. A daintily ignored aspect of this is that ethnic cleansing works as a solution to ethno-national competition. For all the attendant misery, the expulsion of ethnic Germans from East Prussia, Pomerania, Silesia, and Czechoslovakia after 1945 brought regional stability, as did the post-World War I expulsion of the Greeks from Anatolia. From the dispersion of the Jewish people by Roman legionnaires to the near-extermination of the Plains Indians, history is swollen with examples of brutal ethnic cleansing that ultimately accomplished its purpose--making the world safe for ethnocracy. Just because something is loathsome doesn't mean it isn't effective. 21. Given the fluid nature of the warrior problem, this may appear to be an impossible mission--yet, there is no practical alternative. 22. Magda Neiman, Armyanye (St. Petersburg: 1898); S. T. Zolyan and G. K. Mirzoyan, Nagorney Karabakh i Vokryg Nyevo (Yerevan: 1991); Artem Ohandjanian, Armenien (Wien: Boehlau, 1989); the classic Deutschland und Armenien, 1914-1918, Samlung Diplomatischer Aktenstuecke, assembled by Dr. Johannes Lepsius (Potsdam: Tempelverlag, 1919); W. E. D. Allen and Paul Muratoff, Caucasian Battlefields (Cambridge, Eng.: Cambridge Univ. Press, 1953); Christopher J. Walker, Armenia (New York: St. Martin's Press, 1980); Ronald Grigor Suny, Looking Toward Ararat (Bloomington: Indiana Univ. Press, 1993); Christopher J. Walker, ed., Armenia and Karabagh (London: Minority Rights Publications, 1991); Audrey L. Altstadt, The Azerbaijani Turks, (Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Press, 1992). After all of the scholarly studies, this aspect of the Trans-Caucasian problem was best brought home to me by an Iranian diplomat who gave me a lift into Yerevan from the airport at one in the morning in the summer of 1992. He needed help carrying his diplomatic pouches. Delighted to speak with a US citizen, he repeatedly stressed the importance of "telling the Armenian story" in the West. In so much of the world, the political situation is vastly more complex than the vanity of the Department of State allows., Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Turkey, as well as various West European countries. He has published five books, as well as dozens of articles and essays on military and international concerns. This is his third article for Parameters. Reviewed 26 February 1998. Please send comments or corrections to [email protected].
Printable Campus Map Initially built as a church in 1853 and renovated by the University in 1903, Alford Auditorium has served the University in several capacities, such as a gymnasium, chapel, and theatre. The building with its newer annex now functions as classrooms and faculty offices. The Apple Technology Resource Center was renovated in 1998 to further strengthen Cedarville’s position as a national leader in instructional technology. The 24,000-square-foot facility houses six general classrooms, a 40-station general-use computer laboratory, a videoconferencing center, a computerized testing room, student lounges, and 17 offices. New electronic media facilities were added in 2004. These include four studios: a recording studio outfitted with a Mackie D8B and 2496 hard disc recording system, a television studio/control room equipped with three digital video cameras and “green screen” wall, a broadcast studio, and an audio computer studio. Apple also houses the department of social work faculty offices. The construction of the 66,000-square-foot, two-story library served as the cornerstone of the University’s 1987 centennial celebration. This structure brings together the latest information technologies for higher learning and provides general study and specialized seating for over 800 students. Designed to house a collection of up to 250,000 volumes, the library also contains the MediaPLEX, the Curriculum Materials Center, computer and media-supported classrooms, a variety of individual and group study facilities, and the University archives. The library collection consists of approximately 275,000 print, media, and digital items, including almost 1,000 journal subscriptions in print form, more than 9,000 e-journal subscriptions, and more than 53,000 e-books. As a member of OhioLINK, a cooperative of 90 institutional libraries, students and faculty have access to more than 12,000,000 unique titles through a centralized computer catalog with on-campus delivery. In addition, through OCLC, the Online Computer Library Center, the library has access to more than 236,000,000 books and other library materials in more than 72,000 libraries in all 50 states and 170 foreign countries. Situated on Cedar Lake, this innovative 59,000-square-foot structure supports Cedarville’s Bible minor — which grounds students in God’s Word — as well as the 10 Bible programs that prepare them for vocational ministry. The center includes a technology-equipped homiletics lab, two lecture halls, 14 classrooms, accessible faculty offices, email stations, a multimedia lab, and a 36-station computer lab, along with a lounge, gallery, and vending areas. The building also houses the University’s academic enrichment center, which provides courses, programs, services, and events to cultivate academic success. It includes tutoring, first-year programming, disability services, workshops, consultations, and exploratory support. The 120,000-square-foot Dixon Ministry Center, completed in 1996, includes the Jeremiah Chapel, the Christian ministries division, the department of music and worship, and seven classrooms. The 3,400-seat chapel is the site of daily chapel services that bring the University family together for worship and instruction from God’s Word. The department of music and worship facilities include 15 instructional studios, 20 practice rooms, four rehearsal halls, a piano pedagogy suite, a piano laboratory, a computer laboratory, three specialized classrooms, a large conference room, and a beautiful 250-seat recital hall. This facility demonstrates the University’s firm commitment to providing a quality Christian education in the sciences. This 95,000-square-foot, three-story academic center is home to the department of science and mathematics and the Elmer W. Engstrom Department of Engineering and Computer Science. It contains 10 classrooms, including a 200-seat auditorium, 10 independent study laboratories, five conference rooms, 36 discipline-specific laboratories, 50 offices, and several lounges. The building also contains a 40-station general-use computer laboratory and features video and data connectivity in all offices, classrooms, and laboratories. Special features include three computer-equipped classrooms, a 16-inch reflecting telescope, an audio visual learning laboratory, an engine test cell, five electronic circuit laboratories, and a wind tunnel with an 18-inch test chamber. The 8,800-square-foot Engineering Projects Laboratory was opened in 2005 and houses a projects lab complete with a machine shop, welding area, ventilated paint and fiberglass booth, wood shop, and bays for up to six projects. The single-story steel building also features a multipurpose conference room and six faculty offices. Hartman Hall is home to theatre faculty offices and houses a conference room for the department of art, design, and theatre. A full-scale restoration of this historic home was completed in 2012. The newly constructed Health Sciences Center is home to the schools of nursing and pharmacy as well as the Center for Bioethics. This facility houses state-of-the-art classrooms and research and clinical laboratories, including one of the best simulation centers in the country. It also includes numerous student collaboration rooms and comfortable lounges for group interaction and individual study and relaxation. Opened in 1987 and featuring the latest in instructional technology, the George Milner Business Administration Building contains nine general classrooms, two computer classrooms, the trading center, the center for business innovation, and faculty offices for the school of business administration. This facility, renovated in 2002, includes a graphic design lab, writing center, multimedia lab, three computer classrooms, seven general classrooms, and faculty offices. Offices for alumni relations, marketing, creative services, advancement, and information technology are also located in this building. Tyler also holds the Computer Assistance Center. Ambassador Hall serves as office space for the department of english, language, and modern literature. This facility houses offices for the college of extended learning and the Center for Teaching and Learning, which works with faculty to create effective instructional solutions. This historic facility was renamed Founders Hall on Centennial Charter Day, January 26, 1987. Today this stately structure serves as Cedarville’s administrative and academic headquarters with offices for the president, provost, and academic vice president. The Human Resource Center houses the administrative offices of human resources. Formerly the home of the University’s medical clinic, Patterson Hall now provides faculty office space for the department of media and applied communications. The Service Center houses various offices and facilities for the Maintenance, Grounds, Custodial Services, and Campus Safety departments. Providing classrooms and offices, Williams Hall serves as the home of the academic departments of education, psychology, and English, literature, and modern languages. Constructed in 1981, the Callan Athletic Center includes the Stranahan Gymnasium, which seats nearly 3,000 fans and serves as the competition venue for basketball and volleyball programs, along with providing space for a variety of athletic team practices, intramural sports, and many other recreational activities. The entire facility features three full-length basketball courts, five volleyball courts, 10 badminton courts, nine team and generaluse locker rooms, an athletics laundry facility, and a state-of-the-art athletics training room complex. The renovated second floor, opened in January 2003, includes six classrooms, an exercise science lab, and offices for coaches and faculty in the department of kinesiology and allied health. The Doden Field House is the largest section of the Recreation Center, added in 2003. This 60,000-square-foot area can host four basketball, volleyball, and tennis courts or two indoor soccer courts. It also includes three batting cages, a 200-meter track, and bleachers seating 1,000 spectators. The track is used for individual walking/jogging as well as for high school and college indoor track competitions. Cedarville’s annual commencement is held in the Field House, accomodating nearly 7,000 attendees. The men's golf program is enhanced with the opening of a new driving range and practice facility on the northwest side of the Cedarville University campus. It's all part of the athletics complex that includes baseball, softball, soccer, and track and. Fields used for intramural sports such as flag football, soccer, and softball. Added in 2003, the Fitness Center is an open, inviting area featuring a 40-foot indoor climbing wall, capturing the attention of all who enter. This section of the Recreation Center also includes three racquetball courts, a 2,200-square-foot exercise studio, a varsity athletics free weight room, a 2,000-square-foot general use free weight room, 28 Nautilus strength training machines, 50 cardio machines, and a recreation equipment room. The nine tennis courts are located on the north end of campus. The venue opened in 1996 and includes one group of six courts with three lighted adjoining courts all featuring a Latex-ite color coating and cushion surface. University Medical Services provides ambulatory health care with a staff that consists of physicians and nurses. University Medical Services offers many health care services such as preventative care, illness care, wellness education, over-the-counter medications, allergy injection management, laboratory services, prescription medications, rehabilitation treatment, and an insurance claim service. Brock Hall is more than a building; it is a community of men who are lively, inviting, and full of tradition. There is a vibrant spirit and spirituality among the men of Brock. Brock Hall has a lounge on the second floor with a big-screen TV, which is often full on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and packed on Monday nights! Men of all ages enjoy Brock's unique culture, community, and the lifelong memories that are made. Brock Hall is home to nearly 200 men. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room holds two students. View the RD's profile Room Floor Plan Faith Hall is a welcoming community for female students of all ages. As a smaller option, it provides residents with more opportunities to get to know each other. Faith also has an open courtyard in the center of the facility. The coed lounge with a fireplace provides a fun and cozy place to study or hang out with friends. Faith is composed of a tight-knit community of girls that enjoy many planned and impromptu activities. Faith Hall is home to nearly 120 female students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live in units of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. View the RD's profile East Room Floor Plan West Room Floor Plan Johnson Hall is home to female students of all ages. The variety of ages allows new students to gain understanding and experience from upperclassmen while bringing energy and excitement to the dorm! There are study lounges and TV lounges on each floor for relaxing or hanging out with friends. Johnson Hall shares a coed lounge, the Green Center, with St. Clair Hall. The Green Center has clusters of furniture for hanging out and playing games with friends, pool and Ping-Pong tables, a fireplace, and vending machines. Johnson Hall is home to nearly 130 students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. Lawlor Hall is a popular choice for male students on campus. It is centrally located near the other residence halls and close to the Dixon Ministry Center. The unit-style living encourages camaraderie among the men that live there. As a Lawlor man, you will have opportunities to participate in Lawlor Palooza, the historic Lawlor-Hill football game, Lawlor (K)night, outdoor grill events, and much more. The coed lounge has a big-screen TV, kitchenette, and pool table. Lawlor Hall is home to nearly 300 male students. Each unit consists of four double rooms and a small common lounge area. Two units are connected by a shared bathroom consisting of four showers, four sinks, and two toilets. Each unit has an outdoor entrance that opens up to the parking lot. Maddox Hall is built around a completely enclosed courtyard that is used for dorm events and personal relaxation. The combination of new and returning students contributes to the unique family culture and excitement of this community. The coed lounge with kitchen and fireplace is a popular place for groups of students to meet and hang out in on weekends and weeknights. The study lounge also provides a quiet place to study. The Maddox-Printy powder-puff game each fall is a great way to get involved! Maddox is home to approximately 230 female students of all ages. As a unit-style dorm, each unit of Maddox has four bedrooms with two girls per room, a double bathroom, and a common lounge area. Each unit has an outdoor entrance that opens up to the courtyard. McChesney Hall draws a lot of students for its spacious rooms and proximity to the athletic and student centers. It attracts students of all ages that desire to create lifelong friendships. There is much pride for McChesney Hall among its male residents. McChesney Hall shares a coed lounge, the Miter Center, with McKinney Hall. The Miter Center has Ping-Pong and pool tables, along with couches, tables, a fireplace, and vending machines to create an environment for groups of students to study in or just have fun. McChesney Hall is home to nearly 130 students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. McKinney Hall is a primarily upperclassman dorm in the center of our residence halls. The study lounge and TV lounge on the ends of the floors provide opportunities for fellowship without leaving the building. McKinney Hall shares a code lounge, the Miter Center, with McChesney Hall. The Miter Center has Ping-Pong and pool tables, couches, tables, a fireplace, and vending machines to create an environment for groups of students to study in or just have fun. McKinney Hall is home to nearly 130 students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. Murphy Hall has a good representation of students of all ages. There is a study lounge on the first floor and the TV lounge in the center of the second floor. Located on the northwest side of campus, Murphy Hall is the closest dorm to the field house and the athletic fields. It is also very close to the Stevens Student Center. Murphy Hall also shares a code lounge, the Younger Center, with Rickard. Murphy Hall is home to over 150 female students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 25 students and share two common bathrooms on each floor. Each room houses two students. Printy Hall is a great place for freshman girls to live. The unit-style of the dorm promotes intentional community. Living in a unit together provides the potential to develop fast, close, and lasting relationships among students. The energy and excitement of new students at annual events such as Printy Wars or the powder-puff football game generate lasting memories. The coed lounge and kitchen are popular hangout spots. Printy also has a TV lounge on the first floor. Printy Hall is a unit- or suite-style dorm home to nearly 300 female students. Each unit consists of four double rooms in each unit and a common lounge area. Two units share a bathroom consisting of four showers, four sinks, and two toilets. Each unit has an outdoor entrance that opens up to the parking lot. Rickard Hall invites students of all ages. Many men choose to live in Rickard for a few years. The rooms are some of the largest on campus. It also has a study lounge on the first floor and the TV lounge in the center of the second floor. Located on the northwest side of campus, Rickard Hall is the closest dorm to the field house and the athletic fields. It is also very close to the Stevens Student Center. Favorite Rickard traditions include MANWEEK and the whiffle ball tournament. Rickard Hall shares a coed lounge, the Younger Center, with Murphy. Rickard Hall is home to over 150 male students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 25 students and share two common bathrooms on each floor. Each room houses two students. Shrubsole House is located at the west end of campus. It is home to 11 men sharing five double rooms and one single room. It is a fun, close-knit community. There is a full kitchen, living room with fireplace, a spacious yard, front patio, back deck with grill, and two bathrooms. The residents of this building tend to be upperclassmen. It has been known as “The Batt Cave” after the inaugural RA. There is also parking for all residents and the Stevens Student Center and Health Sciences Center are just a short walk away. First Floor Plan Second Floor Plan St. Clair is a vibrant living community where there is never a dull moment. Its proximity to the sand volleyball court, tennis courts, and intramural and varsity athletic fields draws many students. It is a great community that encourages holistic growth in college men. There are TV lounges and study lounges at the ends of the halls. St. Clair shares a coed lounge, the Green Center, with Johnson Hall. The Green Center has clusters of furniture for hanging out, games, pool and Ping-Pong tables, as well as a fireplace and vending machines. St. Clair Hall is home to nearly 130 male students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. View the RD's profile Room Floor Plan. The Hill is both the oldest and newest men’s residence hall on campus. It was originally built in 1976 as four buildings: Marshall, Carr, Rogers, and Palmer. A complete renovation was completed in 2011. Rogers, Marshall, and Carr make up the main, larger building of The Hill. Palmer Hall, an adjacent building, features rooms for 20 students. The Hill has a generous cross section of students from all classes. The Lodge — the central part of the residence facilities — features open spaces, exposed beams, and amenities. This multistory coed lounge includes a kitchenette, pool table, TV, eating area, and fireplace. Additional places to hang out include the academic conference room, the private reading room, and a lounge in Rogers. Hillians enjoy the traditional Lawlor-Hill football game, Hill Spill, and the Dishonors Day Awards. When the weather allows, the outdoor patio with a grill is a great place to relax and enjoy community. The Hill is home to over 200 male students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. View the RD's profile Carr Room Floor Plan Marshall Room Floor Plan Palmer Room Floor Plan Rogers Room Floor Plan Willetts Hall has a cross section of all ages of students. It has three floors of rooms with study and TV lounges on the ends of the floors. There are two TV lounges that have a very homey feel that provide a relaxing environment. The girls in Willetts Hall enjoy attending many dorm events and spending time socializing within the halls. Groups of coed students enjoy hanging out in the kitchen and lounge located at the main entrance of the building. As the largest women’s residence hall, Willetts Hall is home to nearly 350 female students. As a traditional hall-style dorm, students live on halls of approximately 20–25 students and share common bathrooms in the center of each floor. Each room houses two students. View the RD's profile Central Room Floor Plan North/South Room Floor Plan © Copyright 2013 Cedarville University · 251 N. Main St · Cedarville, OH 45314 USA · 1-800-CEDARVILLE (233-2784) · 1-937-766-7700 Web Disclaimer · Privacy Statement ·
Baby #3 is well on his/her way. Sorry for the creepy ultrasound picture…but it’s the law of blogging-you-are-pregnant…you must share the ultrasound picture. I’m due March 19th…so I’ll have 3 babies born in March…so every March we’ll be the party house and sick of cake. :) We are really excited…I’m not feeling ready for 3 kids, but it will come. To celebrate I started a baby quilt that I’m not quite sure about: I’m trying to jump out of my color comfort zone…but it might be a mistake. I’ll show you even if it is...unless it's really bad. 183 comments: Wow! Congratulations to you! :) Yeah for you, Allison! What happy news. :) Happy news, congrats to you! That's wonderful! Congratulations to you and your family!! Congrats! Congratulations! Start thinking pink. Congratulations!! Three is a lot of fun! For me, the adjustment to the third was surprisingly easier than adjusting to two, so I'm hoping the same is true for you! Congratulations! Congrats! That's so exciting. Congratulations. Congratulations! Three is a great number :) Congrats!!! As a mom of three I can tell you it is crazy and awesome and everything in between. Congrats!! Congratulations! Three is terrific .. hope you're feeling okay. The pictures are really neat .. I don't have any from any of my kids :( fantastic news!!! congrats!!! How exciting. Congrats, Allison! How Exciting! A BIG congratulations to you and yours! Congrats! And who gets sick of cake?!! Congrats! Exciting news :) My dear friend has 3 April babies - it makes for a really fun month! Congratulations! Can't wait to hear more. Congratulations, Allison :) Congratulations ... three is a great number...I enjoyed it so much I now have 4! Love the untrasound photos ... priceless. Hugs, Sharon Congratulations! Congratulations!!! Wonderful news! :) Our family's always sick of cake in July and September... four people's birthdays each of those months! Congratulations! CONGRATS! Congratulations!! Congrats! hey congratulations allison! i'm due march 14 so i'm right there with ya. hope you're feeling ok. will you find out baby's gender? i'm taking a poll on my blog - we never find out but i kinda want to this time ... hmmm! Oh yay! Babies are such blessings. Although, I am happy it's you and not me...I already have 3 ;) (all boys!!!) Wishing you a healthy and easy~going pregnancy! Oh, and I have no doubts that the quilt you are working on will be fabulous. Smiles~Beth Woo hoo! Congratulations! Here's to lots of cake! Congratulations Allison and family! Congratulations! Congrats! Speaking as the mom of 3, it's totally awesome! Congratulations. At our house we had 3 birthdays in July and one in June, all within 31 days. Got it all out of the way in the summer. Congrats! My Siblings and I are all September babies with me finishing up the month of celebration. My little one was born March 13th this year. Yes, the ultrasound pics is a must lol! Wow! Congratulations! Congratulations!! Threes the charm!! Love the picture...someday your child will laugh at that! Take care! P Congratulations!!! Congratulations to you and your family! Hope you have a smooth pregnancy! Congratulations!!!! Congratulations! all 3 of my children were born in July (within 10 days), and that is exactly how we feel! Party, party, party, cake, cake, cake! My birthday is in August, and by that time, everyone is too sick of birthdays to care! =) Congratulations! And those pictures are so cool! Makes it so much more "real" somehow doesn't it? Congrats! Three is not much different to two. I'm sure your quilt will look great. Have faith! {{{hugs}}} Julia i love creepy ultrasound pictures! Congratulations! What wonderful news! Congratulations to the 5 of you :) Here's to many beautiful baby quilts! Congratulations! Also, it can't be really bad. You will make it work. And if you don't, it's still a learning experience and sharing helps make sure we all learn a little bit. :-) Congratulations, this will be a special baby. Felicitations! A third child is a blessing, which we must remind ourselves of when we are tired!! Wishing you a peaceful pregnancy ♥ Wahoooo! Congratulations! What a blessing! Congrats!! I have two boys under three and know I'm not ready for a third, but I'm starting to get baby fever!! (Ticking biological clock?) Maybe I'll just live vicariously through you and all the other bloggers having babies soon. Good luck with your pregnancy!! :) Congrats! I remember being pregnant with #3 as a bit overwhelming (two little children to take care of), but his babyhood was wonderful (two little helpers to fetch, carry, and clean up!) I am glad it is you and not me, as I have had six, and the youngest is now 16 (but I also run a daycare of eleven children!!) Take good care of yourself!! You know that only you can, and your whole family is depending on you. Best wishes! Wow! Congrats! That is such happy news. :) Congratulations! How fun to have a larger family! Here's to a safe and uneventful pregnancy! Congratulations on #3! Babies are such a blessing. Do you wait until the birth to find out the gender? three is a great number, I had a boy then two girls just 18 mo apart. My youngest daughter just had her first, a boy and two girls, TRIPLETS! It is a bit overwhelming right now but will be oh so much fun in a year or so! Поздравляю!!! Congratulations xxx Congrats! Congratulations to you and your family. I have 3 and it's wonderful. Many blessings to you. Congrats! I was looking forward to a March baby at this time last year and now have a sweet six-month-old sleeping in her crib. We have two March kids now so it'll be a party month! YAY Allison..... it will either be 3 boys or a little sister who will never be able to date with two older brothers :) Congratulations to you and your family. I have five children, four boys and one girl,and I am very happy with my family... With love Katri Congratulations! Congratulations! Both my babies were born in June with 5days between. I have almost finished my sons quilt he is three months now, just sewing the last of the binding. Yay! Congratulations! You'll be ready (or have to be) when he/she is born! Are you feeling well? Congratulations! Being a mum of three myself I'm a huge supporter of the three-child family! It's tiring but lots of fun! Wishing you a very happy pregnancy! Congratulations, Allison ! Congratulations Allison, three is a nice number!! Congratulations, Allison! This is wonderful news! Hope it's smooth sailing all the way to March! Congratulations! So exciting I'm one of 7 - my oldest bro is Oct (honeymoon!), I'm Feb, the other 5 are ALL March.....yep! Fun! Congratulations! That's lovely news :-) Congrats and hugs! MMMmmm cske! Congratulations! Congrats to you and the family !!! All the best people are born in March :) Congratultions to you all! Seems to be something in the blogging waters! I really want three or four kids, more the merrier, right?! Congratulations Allison!! I am so happy for you. hugs. Trish Congratulations Allison!!! I am thrilled for you and your growing family. Isn't it amazing the age we live in when we can SEE our baby growing!!! How amazing is that? I wish you more delights and joy than you ever thought your heart could hold!!! Congratulations!!! Wonderful news to wake up to :) Congratulations to you and your family! What a wonderful time March will be. Awe, congratulations! How fun....hope all goes very well this pregnancy for you. =) Ohhh Allison congratulations!!! We have three children and it's a whole lot more fun than two :-) Wishing you a smooth and happy pregnancy. Leigh Congratulations!!! Hope everything goes well and you are feeling good!! From my experience, the first 2 kids are the hardest, #3 and #4 (you probly don't want to think about that) were much easier to get used to. You're already in the routine and have all the baby stuff you need, and depending on the ages of the others, you can get at least a little help from them. Looking forward to seeing your "out of your comfort zone color" quilt! Parabéns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! três é uma boa conta, felicidades aos cinco!!!!!! How exciting!! Congratulations xx Congrats to you! 3 babies is a good number. Can't wait to see the quilt! aww! So exciting! Congratulations! Congratulations!!!! March is a good month, as you already know! Congratulations!!!! How exciting =D I can't wait to see how your quilt turns out =D Congratulations!!! I'm due in March with baby #2. I hope you are feeling well. I've got my fabrics pulled and an idea what I want to do, but I'm haven't found the motivation to actually start a quilt for this little one. Can't wait to see what you make!! Congratulations!! So happy for you! More reasons to make more of your beautiful quilts and hopefully we get to see!:) Congratulations!! You must have some great summers to have three kids born in March ;) hahahaha I love creepy ultrasounds, it just highlights how special babies are and how amazing the whole process is. Take it easy, Lucy x Congratulations! My daughter's birthday is in March, so when my sons due date was March 1st my mom said you have to have him in February, so they don't have the same month for birthdays! He was born Feb. 28th! Congratulations!!! How exiting and surely you will sew baby quilts and baby cloths! Warm thoughts and sunny wishes from Greece! Teje Congratulations to you and your family! Awww, new baby!!! Congrats to your family :):) Congratulations!! Congratulations! the 3rd is the bonus! My best friend just found out she is pregnant with number 3 and she is 43! She is still in shock since she has a 3yr. and an 13 month old. I say better in your 40's than not at all!!! Can't wait to see the new quilt! CONGRATULATIONS!!! Can't wait hearing more about this and seeing all of the fun projects you'll make for baby #3. :) CONGRATS! Can't wait to see the new baby's quilt! :) Congratulations! What wonderful news!!! Wishing you all the best! What happy news! Congrats! Congratulations! We added baby #3 to our family in May. Your little one will bring so much joy. Congrats to all of you! What a happy house you will have every March celebrating multiple birthdays. Again...Congrats! Congrats! We have three grown kids, all 18 months apart. Wouldn't want it any other way! YAY!!!!!congrats :) I have 3 and all of their b-days are within 30days of each other. Just remember cake can be frozen :) lol -annabelle Congratulations!! :0( She looks just like you! Of course I am kidding. My daughter is also due in March. Must be something in the water. Congratulations! I'm due with my second on March 17. My son's third birthday is 6 days after that. So I'm right there with you with the March birthdays. :-) I don't think your ultrasound pic is creepy. I think the really creepy ones are of the face. :-) Congratulations to you and your family, there is nothing like a new baby to remind you of what matters most! I am a mom of 9...and really after 3 i could of have kept on going and then reality hit and I realized that it was not just a baby, but it was 18 more years of raising kids and so we quit. That said, I loved those years and every other phase of mothering too...beware they go so fast and then they are gone. Congratulations! (And my sister has the exact same due date!) Congratulations, Allison! We have several March birthdays also. Hope you are feeling well and please show the quilt...your things are always great! Congratulations to you! My third child arrived last week. Things have definitely changed around here, but for the better. Of course starting out with twins kind of makes the third a little bit easier. ;) I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes well and I can't wait to see your quilt, I am sure it will be amazing! FUN! My three boys are all born in February and you're right...you will be sick of cake! We have a huge birthday bash for everyone in between the birthdays. Be prepared for everyone to do backwards math on March minus 9 months :) Congrats I am pregnant with my fifth and my due date is April 6. My fourth's due date was the 7th of April. So I could possibly have two kids with the exact birthday just three years a part- it'll be interesting to see what happens. All the best. What a blessing! My family has three January birthdays. So the holiday season just seems to run from Thanksgiving to February. Very sick of cake by then! Congratulations! March is a great month. My daughter and I were both born in March. Did you plan this timing? All 3 in March. A co-worker had 3 boys born in June. 2 on the same day 2 years apart and the 3rd one was born a year later and one day. They planned it that way and the 3rd one didn't cooperate momma said. ;o) Congratulations! I couldn't talk the husband into a third :( Send the leftover cake to my house! Wonderful news! Congratulations! By the way, I love the peeks of color I see in your baby quilt beginnings. Congrats! I too have 3 birthdays in March and yes, you will be sick of cake by the end! It's fun though! Congratulations! What fabulous news! My best advice for going from two to three...be ready to switch from man to man to zone defense. :) Congratulations.....such happy news! Congratulations and it is NOT a creepy picture at all. Congratulations! It's a doddle 2/3 children, you're already in the zone so number 3 just fits right on in. We hardly noticed our third he just blended in with the rest of the chaos! And d'you know a more placid contented person I've yet to meet, so no worries (he's nearly 21 now)! I'm not sure about that leaving your colour comfort zone, that is seriously scary! ♥ congrats. Your last one isn't very old is he? We had 6 in 11 years. Good on you. Look forward to seeing the quilt. congrats!! I'm due the 21st (well, 19th by my sono) but I think we have the same doc!! :) COngratulations! That is so exciting! 3. . . what an adventure! Congrats to you!! 3 is fun, you learn how to be outnumbered :) Encouragement from a perfect stranger: I found going from 2 to 3 kids WAY easier than going from 1 to 2. I totally love your site and your quilts and your voice. Congratulations on your growing family! Congratulations!! So excited for you and your family! Congrats on your new addition. I am expecting #4 on March 12th :) Congratulations! So exciting! Congratulations!!!! Mazel Tov!!! How exciting......wishing you and your family so much joy!!! congrats! shut the front door! congratulations, that's awesome! Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing the great news!! Praying everything goes well for you. Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! Oh congrats! It will be wonderful once you get used to it! Congratulations!! 3 gets easier a little while later....afterwards....but it will!! Promise...one with 3 boys....it will! When I found out I was pregnant last time I was so happy and then I found out it would be a March bday and I cried our immediate family has 7!!! March birthdays!!!! No one looks forward to March or the weight loss after. CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR BABY !!!!!!!!! It's wonderful being a mother of 3, do not know what you're going to have fun Blessings to you Congratulations! I have three little ones as well, and I am so glad that we decided to have three. Our kids are born in March, April, and May. I think the Spring is a wonderful time for birthdays! Congrats! My first 3 are May babies and my last is April. It does make it a busy month to have so many birthdays in one month. Oh, our anniversary is in May also. So fun! Awww, congratulations! Wonderful news! I have always been sorry I didn't have #3. Congrats! I wish you every happiness and an enjoyable pregnancy too. Absolutely thrilled for you & your family. Just love your website, patterns & especially you! Congrats on your wonderful news, Nancy Congrats!! I love that 2012 the year for babies to be born. I hope to be joining in sometime soon! :) Congratulations! Oh how exciting for you. That's funny you're stacking them all into one month of the year that way. My birthday is Jan 10th and my twins were born on Jan 15th. My oldest son had his first child on Aug 29th 4 yrs ago and his 2nd child was just born 4 weeks ago on Aug 30th. lol Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your happy news! Congrats!!! I have to say that going from 2 to 3 kids was easier than 1 to 2 for me! How exciting for you!!! Congratulations!! I have 3 kids with birthdays in September so we have just gotten through another year of birthdays:) It was good when they were younger though as we could just have a huge "combined" party but they don't want to do that anymore. Congratulations!!! Hi Allison. Congratulations on your pregnancy.I am also 4 months pregnant! I feel pretty tired and my job as school teacher spends almost all of my energy, so I have almost abandoned the patchwork. I loved seeing your ultrasound. I wish you a peaceful and happy pregnancy. Many kisses from Granada, Spain, from espiralcaracola.blogspot.com Congrats...show us your quilt either way. If it's not to your liking send it to 100 quilts for kids. Congratulations! Babies are God's most precious blessings. Congrats! We are a Sept birthday house (and with back to school stuff and Christmas looming, a broke house) so I was very happy when my youngest son was born in July! lol Congratulations on baby #3! I'm super jealous... I've been trying to talk David into having another one for a year now. Please tell Jay to talk to him! LOL! Are you hoping for a boy or girl? Happy news to you! Congrats! =) Here's hoping you don't have too much morning sickness... How wonderful! Children are a great gift and a great adventure! I hope you are feeling okay? :o) Darice mummyx8 what big news~ your house will be the party house every March! Congratulations - March is a great month for birthdays! And I did the same thing, only with November. I have 3 in the first week. We're awfully sick of cake come the second week. Happy news! Congratulations:) I was not aware of the ultrasound posting law--noone tells me these things! :) I suppose I still have time though, my 1st is due in Jan. Congrats! hmmm, I just realized that the hubs bday is in feb, mine's St. Patty's day, so we'll have 3 months in a row of bdays! Congratulations to you and your family! that is amazing news!! Congrats to ya!!! Congratulations! Not sure how I missed this post but so glad I decided to read back from your most recent post! Congratulations on baby #3! We have three and our two daughters each have three! Good things happen in threes! And I love seeing ultrasound photos so post away! Congratulations to you and your family!! That's so exciting! I just had our #3 in June and it hasn't been as much harder than having 2 as I expected - still an adjustment, but not as bad - I had another boy though, and I've heard girls can be a bit more of a handful. Best wishes! Can't wait to see what you do with the quilt - regardless! congrats!!! we welcomed #3 2 months ago and it's been great... and interesting! LOL Congratulations!!!! Congratulation on baby #3! Congratulations!!! Always so exciting to find out about a new baby! In my family, we have 7 birthdays in September! Soooo fun, so crazy and SO MUCH CAKE!! Happy, healthy wishes for you and that new baby!! Holy cow!! How did I miss this post?!?! Congrats Allison! The boys must be so excited! Maybe it will be a little girl. Every little girl needs two strong big brothers to protect her! Congrats again! Can't wait to see what quilts you dream up for this little one! Jenn Congratulations. I had my 3 sons all in June. Get all the Birthdays over in one month. Congratulations! Fantastic news. congrats! my first and only child (at least so far) was born this March 19th and in our country this is also Father's day, so it's double party! i hope all goes well in your pregnancy! yeiii for March babies! Ha ha, I understand the sick of cake comment! We have 3 birthdays in Jan and one Dec 30th. We're always trying new ideas: candybar cake(with a styrofoam base in the center), rice krispy cake, cheesecake, etc. Anything for a little variety in those 30 days with 4 birthdays! :-) You are amazing, but don't feel guilty taking it easy when you need to. You deserve it.
Let Your Life Be a Counter-Friction to Stop the Machine I. photo: Saint Huck%?" This is more preparation for the already in-motion depopulation of the planet Earth. When the 99% are approaching the annihilation point, and starving, desperate actions will begin. The "insurgency", "civil war", and "raging anger" will be met with deadly force and the "useless eaters" will be eliminated. This won't stop till the population of the planet is back at about two billion peasants serving the 1% who hold all the means of sustenance. Mark my words. MEL Melenns, a few minutes ago I commented with words similar to yours on yesterday's post "Someday I Want to Own a Yacht." When George H. "Daddy" Bush was defeated in his bid for a second term he announced he was going to dedicate the rest of his life to solving the most serious threat to mankind -- population growth. This, he said, had been the great motivating force of his entire life. Those of us who wrote him off as a bungling fool, as a man without convictions who in his obsession to stop population growth went ahead and had 5 or 6 kids -- we were the fools. He was not talking about reducing births. Bush and those like him, his fellow corporate-crimminal despots, are aware of the destruction being done to mother earth. They too want to leave a more beautiful planet to their privileged descendants. For them, just under 2 billion slaves is probably manageable. That means about 5 billion human beings have to go. That is what we are up against. We have now seen the NEW WORLD ORDER that Bush 41 always talked about, and 99% of us are on our way to the bottom if we are not already there. And forget the civil war. In order to have a civil war you need two sides that are somewhat closely matched. The US military has more firepower and other military infrastructure than the militaries of all other nations combined. A civil war, if it ever started, would end in minutes. When he returns from Hawaii, Obama will sign his NDAA that subjects Americans to be apprehended by military, denied due process, and shipped to gulags at home and abroad. raydelcamino, as for civil war, you're right, and we should all hope it never comes to that. Civil wars haven't had a good track record, no matter what the circumstances, because even when the names change and the death and destruction are over, the same sort of people seem to wind up on top again. At this moment humanity seems to be entering an era unlike anything experienced before. Up to now, great, violent change has been confined to specific areas, but the current crisis is befalling the entire planet, and it's doubtful any small clique will be able to keep the lid on and stave off disaster for themselves, as well as for the rest of us, without a more equitable political arrangement and some redistribution of wealth. After completing their monumental, multi-volume history of the world, the Durants were asked the simplistic "What are the lessons of history?" I can only remember two: 1) inflation is continual and 2) wealth concentrates and must be redistributed at intervals if the game is to go on. Hopefully this happens before the losers kick over the poker table and the fight starts. Violent change cannot continue to be "confined to specific areas" because the 1% have more resources to use against the 99% than they ever had before. Just as the Mexican police and military will never match the fire power of the drug lords, there is no government anywhere in the world that can match the firepower of the 1%. "Just as the Mexican police and military will never match the fire power of the drug lords" Maybe the various local drug cartels outgun the local poltizi in any one area, but they are vastly inferior in manpower AND weaponry compared to the Mexican military, which can bring to focus thousands of troops and weapons to a threat. Its all about money, control and a weak central govt. The reality is that the Mexican state has been in low level civil war and rebellion since its inception, they never consolidated their central power. Ha!!! that was good ...great explanation. If the goal is depopulation then why are the republicans so against any sort of population control -- birth control, abortion, etc.? If you look back into the history of various countries, you find the citizens reaching the edge of the cliff, and having to decide whether to meekly topple over, or turn around and fight for their lives. It's pretty obvious we're being shoved to the edge of that cliff, and "they"'re preparing in advance for when that life or death decision is reached. We've only begun the journey to the edge. There's still a long way to go, and a whole lot more suffering to endure along the way. But rest assured, we will get there, eventually. The greatest secret they have to keep under lock is Global Warming. If the public figures that one out -- and its imminent threat -- it will be over. Climate change is hardly a secret. The only flaw in this magificent piece was that the author didn't acknowledge what you also don't want to admit--that while there is a global elite calling the shots, they are aided by that 1/3 of the public that always supports the Right, and my that 90% that won't do anything until everyone else does. It IS true that the public has no idea how serious the climate crisis is. Perhaps it's FINALLY time to "occupy" the sidewalks in front of corporate officers houses and the sidewalks in front of their churches among other places. Confront them with specific things such as "XXXXX Kills Children in Somecountry by discharging chemicals into local water supplies" or "XXXX is a mass murderer - His company _______________" Let these scumbags feel public shame... let them explain to their children why people are calling them murderers and criminals... Shame them to the point that they won't appear in public. Call them out. Send them massive mailings from as many real people as possible indicting them of their crimes against humanity. Take out full page newspaper ads detailing their crimes. Holding a sit-in in front of a police line does little to nothing other than play the game by the rules THEY define. Agree re occupying their personal space -- but you won't create "shame" ... Rather it will be more like outrage and retaliation. Corporate executives have private police forces AND the "public" police AND the military working for them. My son-in-law works for an outfit that provides 24/7 security for corporate executives and he tells me its a rapidly growing industry. Show up at the entrance to their gated communities and the police line will be there in a New York minute. Right. No one sits in "in front of a police line"--rather they choose appropriate targets and shortly the police arrive to protect the elite. Yeah, they just tried this approach in Eugene, with predictable results: HB ---- the only problem with your suggestion is that these people are psychopaths. They cannot feel shame. They have no conscience. They will simply continue in their drive to dominate. Shame is not a concept that they comprehend. dh There is an alternate interpretation of the facts reported here about arming local police departments. They used to carry 0.38 cal revolvers, which were not as effective in dropping an assailant as the 9mm Glock automatics which most of them carry now. Thanks to the gun culture in this country, assault rifles seem to be proliferating. So even with a Glock, what cop would want to go up agains a guy with an assault rifle? Just a few weeks ago, where I live (in south central IN) the police went to a house to serve an arrest warrent. When they went to the basement where the guy was, he started shooting at them with an assault rifle. They were pinned down in the basement for several hours. By the time the incident was over, several police departments and the state police had men there, along with at least one swat team. That is the kind of thing police in lots of places face these days. Who would begrudge them weapons at least as lethal as those carried by the "perps?" Congress purposely didn't renew the assault weapons ban in 2004 in order to enhance the military industrial complex's weapon sales. Assault weapons don't "seem to be proliferating", they ARE everywhere in the US, play a part in most high-profile shootings (think Virginia Tech and Congresswoman Giffords, for example) and have continued to be one of the strongest US exports. Why do you think things are so bad in Mexico? Mexico is overrun with US-supplied assault weapons. Everything you wrote is correct. But what I wrote is also correct. We are writing about different things. The local cops where I live (south of Indianapolis) are often out-gunned by the guys running meth labs. The fact that the weapons the cops are now getting can be used to pacify crowds does not change that. SHEEP: Your apologia for uniformed authority figures in no way explains: 1. The tank (and other military gear, like drones) 2. The camps Nice try at setting up a new martial equivalence, and/or lowering the bar on those indignities which a so-called free society will be obliged to tolerate. That is what I would call an extreme but exceptional case. The reason I say this is that I have seen one too many individuals bringing up stories like this and such stories are usually a slippery slope towards justifying ruthless cops using bigger guns against defenseless citizens. One question to ask oneself is this. How many citizens who are arrested out of a 100 would carry anything close to an assault rifle? And what do cops really stand to gain by carrying assault rifles and dangerous chemicals to be used against protesters trying to fight for a better today and tomorrow especially when those same cops might have had a better career to go for had our system been more geared towards peace rather than war and aggression? This is what they face these days? But in the real world, crime rates have been going down. Do you really believe the cops in Fargo need tanks to do drug busts? What an interesting name you've chosen, sheepherder "But obviously the Homeland Security crowd was already thinking ahead and planning for a time when such armor and weapons would be necessary to “maintain security” and “uphold law and order” on the home front." Is it really too much of a leap to imagine that the government is reacting to events that it is projecting may happen? Could it be that the government has done studies of the future economies, populations, environmental crises, food and water scarcities, migration pressures, and internal strife caused by all these factors? Do we really believe that the various global pressures that are steadily mounting will just be taken care of and we will simply adjust to what comes? (I know, many still do). We will adjust in some regards but the severity of problems caused by 7 billion people (and rapidly rising) may very well overtake all efforts that our cleverness can muster. And isn't it prudent and wise to consider that our system is not very resilient and start preparing ourselves and our communities? ..." I like this and appreciate the author's courage in stating her feelings. Not too many have the courage to get out of their heads for even a short while and check in with the deeper part of their nature - their feelings. Anyway, it speaks to me in a different way than, "I think," or "I believe," or "I know." Bravo! We better hope climate change makes humans extinct before the 1% tortures and kills off the rest of us. The !% have had too much help from the 99% in moving us toward human extinction that a revolutions late (wouldn't succed anyway); only a global catastrophe of some sort now might prevent extinction a bit later (100yrs max!) I'm just afraid we haven't learned, never do; need DNA upgrade; calling all Aliens! TED: Your post is reasonable and sensible. However, it turns the issue in question to one primarily hinged upon population numbers as opposed to: 1. Unfair laws, and a progressive cutting of civil liberties 2. Slanted distribution that's insured that the upper 1% receive a highly disproportionate share of collective resources & privileges 3. The overall emphasis on control of citizens (in such items as spying on emails, pre-emptively infiltrating "Leftist" events, and upping the ante on punishing whistle blower) In other words, your post attempts to turn these controls into benign care & concern for citizens. That is NOT the objective, although it's certainly the pretext. Siouxrose: My post was incomplete and I can see how it could be misconstrued. That does not mean I attempted to turn the controls into benign care. The government is behaving as power behaves and I am not attaching any more meaning to it than that. What I meant is that the government is fully aware of all the events that are conspiring to hit us (as many already have) and is reacting to those events, real or perceived. That they over-react is the nature of power, especially when it senses that things may get out of hand and that its existence is threatened. The issues you enumerated are true, but the fact is that 7 billion people (and growing - let's not forget this) have a huge impact on everything. I'm not trying to implicate the 7 billion, just pointing out the levered effect of that many people. In short, my intent was, and is, to shed some light on the government's reasoning and why they may be turning up the heat. Part of it is that they feel threatened. The other part is out of a sense of paternalistic "care" on their part (not that I believe it is good). On the third paragraph, I disagree that all 7 billion people are at fault. Each nation is different and even within nations, usage of resources varies. Jennifer: I didn't fault anyone. Can we please leave the word "fault" in our pockets for a little while and see the larger picture? Seven billion people (and rapidly growing) is a huge number. Most of those people want to be like you and me, and many of those are becoming like you and me. I'm not passing judgment on the 7 billion people, I'm simply pointing out a driving factor in the pressures this poor little planet is feeling and the effect that 7 billion hungry people have. And if it's only 3 billion people who are the main cause, then it's 3 billion people. My point is that we have a huge problem and a large part of the solution lies with dealing with population...and, yes, with our consumption and waste. The rest of my point is in my response to Siouxrose. Ted, thank you for clarifying. It makes more sense now although I have no way of knowing for sure as to how many of the 7b people are hungry and the extent to which they are hungry. Learning to be less materialistic and practicing it in my daily life, I have come to prefer prevention and training for all strategies more than the "feed the poor" bandaid "solutions". I would never tell the poor to be less materialistic btw. Excellent article. The reference to Threau is also reminiscent of the impassioned speech that was given by Mario Savio during the Free Speech movement on the campus of the Univ. of California at Berkeley: "Bodies upon the gears"." Sproul Hall Steps, December 2, 1964 Agreed, excellent article, one definitely worth passing around! Quite appropriate to invoke Thoreau here, whose ideas inspired Gandhi, who in turn had an influence on Rev.MLK and others. Also, powerful quote in your comment from the "Bodies upon the gears" speech. There's this cartoon I once came across, where Gandhi is saying to Martin Luther King, "The funny thing about assassins, Dr. King, is that they imagine they've killed you!" The oligarchy's pro-life plan is to breed more workers. Their pro-death plan is to kill workers when they are no longer productive. Considering how badly the pro-life crowd treats the fetus after it is born, the model parallels that of poultry and hog operations. The elite want to turn the citizen into a consumer. And replace the citizen with their new-born son named Corporate citizenship. This new citizen will receive all the rights and protections that his daddy Wall Street can buy for him. We citizens just become one more consumer on the road to globalization. Hoa binh It is impossible to over react to the necrophilia being inflicted on the earth and all it populations human, animal and plant by the useless 1% and stupid thugs who work for them in armies and police forces. I have heard so many unable to understand the insanity of it all and the only person I know who has addressed the full measure of it is Mary Daly especially in Gyn/Ecology. Seals are now dying from radiation sickness in Alaska while Obama pushes power plants in South America, Republicans are trying to take down the head of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency because he actually wants to regulate though they need to all be dismantled. Scientists taking a brid flu that didn't infect humans and engineering it to kill humans. Brilliant! And now complaining they are being prohibited from sharing information on how to do this. The US pushing for War in Iran, the Tar Sands, the deep water destruction and the load of radioactive crap heading for the West Coast. I could go on and on. Greed isn't enough of an explanation, a poisoned environment will kill without notice of bank accounts. No, only the necrophiliac religion that is patriarchy, fueled and powered by technological capitalism, can explain the sheer sadistic madness of the sadistic madmen who rule the planet and have always hated women and nature, a suicidal hatred. The machine is the monster built by patriarchy, Mary Shelly first oracle of feminism, Mary Daly most important seer. I hear you Artemix, but the concepts you raise are highly threatening (and alien) to the majority of male (and a few female) posters. It's a shame, really, as they think all the things that ail society can be changed through the political and economic arenas. I've been recommending Riane Eisler lately, but you're right, Mary Daly is another excellent source. Peace. Sioux, how can the rest of us, lacking your spiritual and psychic powers, be sure which posters are male and female? For a long time I believed you were a Nordic male in S. Dakota posing as a Native American female shaman in Florida. I don't know what to think anymore. I admit you know the regulars here better than I, but apart from trolls, I haven't come across many commenters who seemed threatened by anything but corporate dictatorship and environmental catastrophe. The progressive humanism here doesn't seemed confined to politics and economics either. I could be wrong. Or you could be losing your mind. Are you okay? Have some posters been mean to you while I've been gone? I am sure I speak for other CD posters in saying that we see many friends, acquaintances and strangers losing their minds slowly as they continue to deny what is very apparent. Although posting our most recent observations on CD is often as painful for us as it is for many readers, we hope the fact-based information we attempt to convey will set us all free and prove to be the preferred alternative to succumbing to emotion-based groupthink. As long as Sioux's and other posters comments continue to inspire, the characteristics of posters should continue to be left to the imaginations of all CD readers. Very well said. I wholeheartedly agree that we must all do our best to stick to debating the facts and not allow anything to get personal lest a discussion ever get heated to the point of turning into a war zone. I appreciate reading your thoughtful posts. Thank you and happy new year. I'd like to weigh in on this and I am going to try not to implicate any single individual. There are many good people here, though, I really wish we could all just come out of our closets and use our real names. Trust goes a long way toward keeping some civility and honesty. Having said that, we are all feeling the heat of a frigged-up situation. These are truly Orwellian times and it's hard to know who to trust. And through all this, is it any wonder that we would contradict ourselves at times or seem confused or say things that don't really come out right? What I'm saying is that if the Left ever truly wants to have a hint of a prayer, we have to stop beating the shit out of each other for being human. We have to learn patience and respect. That doesn't mean we have to like each other or agree with everything others say, but I see many on the Left as being self-righteous absolutists. And these people share my beliefs! Trust is a tenuous thing, even more so in tenuous times. How can we ever expect to get anywhere if we don't do the things that build trust? Again, I'm not saying this in response to anyone in particular, just that your post, GollyGee, seemed like a good point to insert my nose. Rant over. ..." though, I really wish we could all just come out of our closets and use our real names." "Trust is a tenuous thing, even more so in tenuous times." Irony check! Or something darker...? Irony? Don't think so. It's merely a positive feedback loop either way, and we can build trust or continue to tear it down. Something darker? Not in this case, but the feeling is understandable. The format here is not amenable to communicating privately, which would go a long way toward building some real trust. A few posters here have decided to post with our real names in the open. In my case, it tends to keep me honest and less snarky. And by the way, if you think posting with a pseudonym keeps you hidden from the baddies, you're fooling yourself. If Anonymous can hack into "secure" sites, so can the government. Oh well, not my problem. I agree that posting with a pseudonym does not guarantee privacy. It is somewhat questionable that if everyone were to sign on with real names the baddies would go. You make a good case for the need to sign up with real names to minimize rudeness as much as possible. I have seen some posters on various forums ask for requiring people to post with their real names. I have no problem with that myself as I chose to post with my real name. Furthermore, I believe that it could put the issue of "multiple signups" to rest. However, since I also respect people's rights to privacy, I can only assume that people want to speak out and contribute but are afraid that outsiders such as their employers, certain relatives, or even pols themselves will look them up all too easily and use that knowledge against them. As for "communicating privately", someone told me that there used to exist a "hidden" option for doing so once signed on. I never saw it myself. It could help build trust or maybe not. I find it best to try to keep conversations polite even on disagreements. I cannot guarantee that it will automatically help build trust but it should keep the tensions down at the very least. "And for that epic confrontation—if it ever occurs—officers can now summon a new $256,643 armored truck, complete with a rotating turret.” That's a tank which only needs a suitable weapon in the turret. I wonder how well it would work as a bookmobile? Would the rotating turret be a good reading nook? Security from what? Security for whom? Leo Tolstoy had a theory that the primary reason a country keeps a standing army is to protect the government from the people. Good critique, but it seems to me that the proper word would be friction, not "counter-friction". Counter-friction would be lubrication. I know the phrase goes back to Thoreau's civil disobedience, but it is awkward as is the original essay in this particular metaphor. If anyone can offer a clear logical account of the segment of Thoreau's argument from friction to counter-friction, I would be impressed. Seems better to use clear contemporary language and un-muddled metaphors. Also, does this actually mean the writer is refusing to pay taxes or just asking others to do so. This is the most powerful tool available to stop the machine, but easier to propose than exemplify. Only a massive tax revolt stands a chance of bringing down the corporate military empire of the 1%. But where is the unity, where are the leaders, where is the support system? "We stand at a crossroads. Each of us must make up our own minds, in our own time. How much longer will we continue to docilely feed the machine our tax dollars, and march peacefully where they lead us?" I think the point was more like this: As a part owner of your government, through the payment of your taxes, don't you think you should "march" like you own it? Second, because the Fed is a private-public partnership, with the major banks essentially owning the right to print US Dollars sans constraints, if the IRS didn't receive a dime for 2012, the banks would just continue to tally up those Debt-Notes called US Dollars, and fire up those printing presses in response (and vigorously implement the US provisions of the NDAA soon to be signed by our President into law.) In other words, the fastest way for the masses to live in 1940 Germany, as the author describes, would be for the masses to stop paying taxes. I'm afraid you're right about the tax revolt not having any immediate impact but in the long term it will scare away 80% of the nations with whom we trade (China, Japn, Korea, Canada and others we run a trade deficit with and pay with US Treasury notes). Eventually, the 1% will find that it will hurt. A massive tax revolt will leave the IRS with inadequate personnel for enforcement. If the wage earner claims a high no. of deductions and cuts his withholding to a minimum, he doesn't have to file a return because he'll won't get a refund. I think the tax revolt idea along with the consumer refusing to buy anything but necessities, driving less, cutting off cable TV and cell phones is bound to have a marked effect. These are the only tools we have to fight the 1%. Let 'm drink oil!
updated copyright year Remove code-duplication in fsl-util.4th vs. fsl-util.fs. Also install fsl-util.fs . Bench macht auch fft-bench Android floating point stuff Fixes for Windows Gforth on Android native including install Added terminal server as socket example Library prefix is libgf for non-conflicting names Added lib prefix to library files Android library build Makefile changes to compile libraries Slightly improved $substitute to allow arguments on the stack Better separation of different architectures on the same machine Added -> recognizer to replace TO and IS Added ." recognizer Added postpone test, added smartdots.fs to list of sources Build process for Android improved Added --with-arch option to install a Gforth with a specific suffix - allows non-conflicting install with 32 and 64 bits. All non-arch files are shared with the two installs Getting closer to Android libcc.fs support Gforth for Android package into the right place for install directories Cross-compile tag installation Debian distribution creation Fixed last bug in threading Include Lm32 assembler&gforth-ec support when building distribution tarballs updated copyright years better tested quotations moved kernel_fi install place to libdir Renamed kforth into gforthker, added better heuristics on head? Added a kforth script to do the doc generation in a cross compiling environment Cross compilation made simpler - Android example works Fixed static superinstruction generation Workaround broken --no-dynamic to build Gforth even though Recognizer included added str-exec.fs to distributed files Moved installdir definitions above users. Bug report by Zbigniew Baniewski Gforth now also builds and installs without emacs (untested). Bug report by Gerald Wodni updated copyright years Changed path.fs to use string.fs to fix buffer overflow bug Added files for OpenSuSE build service keep envos.fs from being included in distribution tarballs. add mips/check_prim.c to the list distributed sources added ARM disassembler (contributed by Andreas Bolka) some fixes in the ARM assembler (contributed by Andreas Bolka) ARM assembler and disassembler are now distributed FCOPYSIGN now works with the strangely ordered floats on ARM C-based EC improved a lot updated copyright years added test and compat files for ]] ... [[ (macros.fs) optimized postpone-literal and friends started on prelude concept preludes can be built, but are not yet performed comment for r1.444: CVS files are now no longer installed. The remaining use of CVSDIRS was for installing directories, so that part was renamed and cleaned up. Makefile.in Merged Aleksej's makefile cleanups updated copyright years; related changes in administrative files Common idiom for makefile.dos/os2 Moved blank file into distributabe sources Moved r8c no_dist files to dist files Added errors.fs file in arch/r8c to distrubited files added .DELETE_ON_ERROR target for better behaviour on build errors Fixed typo for make uninstall install.TAGS bugfix set special skipcode for power architecture to work with gcc-3.[34] worked around HP/UX awk limitations by replacing awk script with gforth script put some workarounds for specific boxes into testall and testdist Fixed vmgen problem Fixed a few more builddir and other issues Improved testall and testdist (only partially tested) Fixed various bugs related to builddir!=srcdir prims2x0.6.2.fs is now installed avoid extra make for check updated testdist and testall The libcc-named stuff is now build before checking (it's not a check) The libcc-named stuff is only built and installed if libtool exists Makefile bugfix fixed some portability issues for MIPS fixed some portability issues for old platforms Fixed unused Makefile macros re-enabled installation of vmgen updated NEWS.vmgen NEWS.vmgen.future contains stuff that's not yet for NEWS.vmgen (not installed) now the use of MKDIR-PARENTS in libcc is tested Moved mkdir.fs to the normal sources (no longer a libcc.fs based file) Added Aleksej's Makefile patch added cstr.fs mkdir.fs C interface files more Solaris portability fixes another Solaris portability fix fixed documentation bugs Only those libcc files are processed for which the libraries exist The Makefile now uses an EMACS variable Eliminated most compilation warnings install gforth.el, too (suggested by Aleksej Saushev <[email protected]>) Try to make old libffi.fs work again distribute autogen.sh, too (Bug report from M. Edward (Ed) Borasky) Fixed libtool invocation in Makefile for Mac OS X anti-dependence of engine on kernel is now set by configure (if a preforth exists) Cleanup of improved build process Fixed build process. Try to get C compiler with options to work Fix for libcc.fs Fix a few building bugs fixed some bugs so "make install" works (DESTDIR still probably buggy) builds .la files on install (untested and probably broken wrt DESTDIR) added check-libcc-named target and perform it on make check The libcc-path now also contains the common libcc-named directory reworked initialization of libcc to happen on every boot added MAKE-PATH (for making an empty path to paths.fs Use make, not sh, variable interpolation syntax for bindir Another use of PREFORTH added missing (anti-)dependence removed all references to local libltdl Bugfix: make and make dist don't need pre-installed Gforth FORCE_REG_UNNECESSARY now defined automatically and used better documentation bugfix make dist now also distributes libtldl (untested) added "make maintainer-clean" (untested, and without autogen.sh for libltdl) Various "clean" targets now also clean libtldl added support for building with included libltdl missing: building with installed libltdl including ltdl in the distributed files CPPFLAGS are now used by the Makefiles bugfix in libcc.fs OPEN-LIB now can open libraries without extension and the library's symbols become global libltdl from libtool-2.2 or higher required (will be included soon) Made sure that a distribution is possible BUILD-FROM-SCRATCH now uses autogen.sh realclean now also cleans directories disabled automatic calling of gforth --diag deleted bootstrap target (hopefully for good). 'make realclean' should now make it real clean Fixed doc generating problem. minor Makefile.in bugfix Building on i386 works again added some missing engine dependencies make clean now removes the various $(OPT)-generated files removed some debugging output fixed some endless recursions Now make automatically tries a set of OPT settings after another until one is found that works. This is a pretty bad hack. Now we can use BUGGY_LONG_LONG again, as follows: make OPT=-noll OPTDEFINES= OPTOBJECTS=dblsub.o Minor bugfix bugfix <[email protected]> and cleanup Added stack comments to complex.fs Added glossary entries to regexp (but no documentation chapter) DESTDIR is now not in the INCLUDED-FILES of the installed gforth.fi install TAGS are now created correctly (untested). OPEN-FILE with W/O no longer creates or truncates files (probably bugfix) compatibility file for old code missing Bugfix in Makefile.in Inserted attribution and Copyright for ftester stuff into ttester.fs Include COPYING.LIB because of the ftester stuff split test/ttester.fs off from test/tester.fs. added support for ftester-style approximate matching. added support for approximate matching on shared-stack systems (RXRX}T etc.). gforth.el: changes for byte-compiling (from Darren Bane, see <>) Makefile.in: generate and install gforth.elc minor fixes suggested by Aleksej Saushev Don't try to distribute doc/texinfo.tex (deleted) Bugfix for <> (mostly from Darren Bane) enhanced 'make checkdoc' checkone now doesn't compare #line lines removed debugging tracer in BUILD-FROM-SCRATCH configure M4 automatically m4 is now called throug make variable M4 added struct0x.fs to dist Optimize ?BRANCH and friends with conbranch_opt (configure variable) Some work on Gforth NXT last potential problem with line editing fixed documentation changes Updates in Makefile.in to reflect newer autoconf usage Distribution and installation of libcc stuff libcc header files are now found automatically Disabled vmgen installation added missing dependency documentation changes libcc.fs is now in gforth.fi documentation changes Some stuff to get closer to run Gforth on NXT C-based Gforth EC starts to work added new files to make dist changed benchmarking code (use Gforth instead of GNU time) more assembler comment syntax variants added missing dependency for running autoheader Removed stupid machpc.fs regeneration in Makefile.in make dist patch from Josh Message-ID: <20070301220740.GA32518@qualdan> added new files to package nicer onebench output more changes for SELinux black magic Started with Gforth EC NXT updated copyright years ans-report.fs now reports CfV extensions updated Makefile.ins with engine/longlong.h dependencies Integrated and documented the PowerPC assembler. Makefile: undid change requiring gforth-fast to build first other changes for packaging added POST_INSTALL etc. tags Updated NEWS files to 2006-05-07 minor documentation changes Added texi2dvi[4a2ps] check Fixed maxdepth_.s glossary entry Multitasker for R8C running light in background moved chains.fs from KERN_SRC to EC_SRC R8C files added to distribution Build-ec setting at the right place R8C data region cleanup build-ec execution flag set Automatic fixpath Build script for EC Small changes dependence on envos.fs added Environment OS from $host_os R8C changes Better output when there are no performance problems Docdist improvement Another small fix Generate fast prim first stamp-h dependency added DESTDIR support (see Make manual or GNU standards) however, .INCLUDED is still wrong at the moment make dist fixes in makefile problems with path separator on cygwin (now Unix-like again) added compat/execute-parsing.fs updated the copyright year on many files added FSF copyright header to complex.fs fft.fs regexp-test.fs regexp.fs added fsl-util.fs to update-copyright-blacklist Added access words for wyde and tetrabyte (w/t@/!) Added complex words and fft Added some floating point primitives "..." renamed PARSE-WORD into PARSE-NAME added some test(dis)asm files to distribution Added --diag switch converted command-line editing to use xchars some bugfixes updated copyright years for files changed in 2004 moved files without distribution terms from ARCHS to ARCHS_NO_DIST added test/deferred.fs (public domain) to update-copyright-blacklist Fixed install for amd64 implemented deferred words proposal (and adapted documentation accordingly). Added # as decimal prefix disgdb.fs is now always compiled in and checks at run-time if it works added dis-gdb.fs and related changes minor changes added Athlon64 benchmark result added depth-changes.fs and hook for that in kernel/input.fs made ~~ work in interpret state documented clearstacks. cleaned up exboot.fs (allowed by the SHIFT-ARGS change) eliminated ARG# in favour of SHIFT-ARGS; related cleanups and doc changes fixed some Makefile bugs fixed gforth-native bug (branch target resolution) fixed "make dist" bug (arch/misc/optcmove.fs now included) Documentation changes added make target primtest more primtests fixed some gforth-native bugs workaround for finish-code problem activated gforth-native again some gforth-native bugfixes and changes more work on stack caching Now the _fast.i files are included for gforth-fast and gforth-native factored out some generating stuff from the makefile into gfgen added rules for generating engine/*-fast.i (not used yet) stack caching works now (at least for make check) the main change is to the optimize_... stuff in main.c also restricted static optimization area to basic blocks minor bugfixes use @INSTALL_SCRIPT@ Applied NetBSD patches submitted by Hubert Feyrer IA64 refinements (dynamic native code generation) ARM support (but FP is broken on the iPAQ, and icache flush is missing) made no_dynamic_default and skipcode configuration variables worked around fixed some minor bugs added configure option --enable-prof a bit Gforth EC work Changed Windows distribution to contain PDF instead of PostScript file Added pdf target for the documents added amd64 architecture changed some generic settings minor changes) added callback stuff to fflib.fs removed legacy flag (different usage is sufficient) made superinstructions compatible with conditional compilation of primitives (in Gforth; don't use conditional compilation in vmgen). fixed Windows PATHSEP bug Makefile now tolerates ";" as PATHSEP eliminatd some warnings Inclusion of ffcall stuff High level stuff missing Some fixes to makedist and a few changes to wf.fs) preparing for new approach to static superinstructions fixed bug in 386 disassembler (fucompp) minor cleanup bugfix (paper format) added doc/vmgen.1 (contributed by Eric Schwartz) updated version number documentation changes minor changes updated copyright years added copyright messages to a lot of files removed some obsolete or non-source files bug workaround (cygwin signal blocking) minor changes minor changes minor changes documentation installation updates Documentation changes (new: The Input Stream (gforth), Stack growth direction (Vmgen) minor fixes updated ChangeLog and BUGS now gforth-itc is installed and uninstalled documentation changes portability changes bugfixes in prims2x.fs, kernel/int.fs fixed some portability bugs and other minor bugs some changes for cygwin replaced configure variable EXE with EXEEXT (provided by autoconf by default) minor changes added test cases for f>str-rdp undid changes to copyright notices Updated copyright notices Added stack effects to kernel/input.fs eliminated all greedy static superinstruction stuff (we will use something else for static superinstructions eventually) eliminated PRIMTABLE PREPARE-PEEPHOLE-TABLE PEEPHOLE-OPT COMPILE-PRIM) Made 4stack port of Gforth EC work again Fixed look problem Added benchmarking of all engines restored the old engine/prim_lab.i format (for vmgen compatibility) introduced engine/prim_grp.i for the new use First inclusion of group-based primitive tokens (no reordering happend yet) some fixes to make make dist work bugfixes to make building outside srcdir work minor prims2x.fs bugfix (for vmgen-ex) vmgen-ex[2] bugfix made CODE and ;CODE work again refined BUILD-FROM-SCRATCH "make check" now checks all engines and some variations bugfix in forget-dyncode). New file test/float.fs FROUND-OFFSET now defined without f** bugfix in signals (disabled SA_ONSTACK in most cases to allow graceful_exit).? Getting ready for the Vmgen release New snapshot dates, various documentation changes, Makefile and configure fixes prims2x.fs now outputs #line directives at the end of the user C code documentation changes Documentation changes vmgen documentation changes documentation changes added quotes.fs in Makefile.in added regression test for signal on broken execute (not working on Linux-PPC) new error message and code for ticking compile-only words bug workaround for gforth binary (dynamic superinsts produced wrong code for ?dup-0=-branch). fixed Makefile bugs (to get BUILD-FROM-SCRATCH running again) Differentiate between threaded code and xts in gforth-ditc and in gforthmi Added benchmark result (superinstructions) for 600 MHz Athlon Made cross work again with superinstructions (requires larger dictionary) default dictionary size 1M cells machine-specific stuff for dynamic superinstructions is now in machine.h support for dynamic superinstructions for Alpha added dynamic superinstructions (currently for direct threading on 386, without checking for other platforms) Added tags generation for vi small changes on httpd for EuroForth paper Added navigation button generation via Gimp to wf Made nccomp from Lars Krueger work at least somehow simpy inlclude startup.fs in prims2x if needed cleanup, so BUILD-FROM-SCRATCH (should) works BUILDFORTH more comment minor changes vmgen-related changes in Makefile fixed FORTHB/prims2x breakage removed lit_plus added peeprules.vmg as a place to put superinstructions testdist now also tests vmgen-ex set of changes to use gforth0.5.0 to build right out of the cvs sources Made peephole a configurable option First steps to get peephole optimizing into cross profiling now outputs subsequences continued block profiling good start at profiling for peephole optimization backtrace now also works for calls done with CALL added C and primitive support for peeophole optimization added test for COMPARE more peephole optimization stuff fixed bug (?; might also be due to an Emacs change) in prim.TAGS generation. bugfix in alias? (length related) NEXTNAME can now also handle long names added FREE-MEM-VAR bugfix (complete?): backtrace-rp0 now is restored in interpret process-file in prims2x.fs now takes two xts various other chnages in prims2x.fs Improved Win32-based distribution (iss.sh generates a setup script for inno setup). make bindist now makes sunsite-compliant package names updated lsm prims2x now works on the Alpha SEE now displays anonymous words as <###> (where ### is the xt) added CONST-DOES> rewrote large parts of prims2x.fs to become more flexible (not restricted to 2 stacks, factored out common code for the stacks, etc.). Changes in other files to go with the prims2x.fs changes Added new input handling (OO approach). Only available if capability new-input is true (so setting that to false in machpc.fs gets you the old input handling back). make uninstall now deletes gforth-fast-$VERSION add kernel.TAGS dependency and target in the Makefile changed FSF address in copyright messages updated copyright dates in many files (not in ec-related files) bugfix (loadfilename# must be set before process-args) minor changes fixed bug about directory in prim.TAGS (untested) added initial ia64 support (thanks to Andreas Schwab) Fixed #fill-bytes for nested inputs Improved font highlighting Dirty fix for exboot correction (for DOS) fixed a bug updated BUGS file factored out .strings from .included documentation changes snapshot work Changed prim syntax to not make a difference between blanks and tabs. Stack effects are now surrounded by parentheses. added 386 asm and disasm BUILD-FROM-SCRATCH work with previous version of Gforth (almost automatic) Made make dist work again fixed doc bugs When building gforth.fi, there is now an exception frame after including exceptions.fs (through exboot.fs), providing decent error messages.. texinfo.tex from texinfo-4.0 various changes for texinfo-4.0 (which reports more bugs and warnings). Added engine dependencies to main Makefile Improved color highlighting Install new files, too Some corrections to httpd Started cross compiler documentation Made 4stack, 8086, and MISC Gforth-EC work again throw is now more well-behaved during initialization and before loading exceptions.fs added support for generating html straight out of makeinfo (you need v4.0 for this, so it's commented out at the moment. Unlike texi2html, the html output from makeinfo is a single monolithic file; not too great..) Bug-fix (Well, I think so..) If you do a "make" and then "su root" and "make install" and then return to non-root, the install would leave 2 files in the source tree that were owned by root - very impolite. The files were: -- gforth.fi (I solve this problem by deleting gforth.fi after an install. I think gforth.fi after an install refers to the install directory so this is a good thing to do anyway) -- prim.TAGS (because "make all" doesn't generate prim.TAGS, but "make install" does, therefore it ends up being owned by root. I couldn't see a clean way to fix this in the Makefile. I'd use "chmod --reference" to just fix up the protection but this option is GNU-specific. My backup solution was to add TAGS to the list in the doc: target, which seemed reasonable/consistent). took exception handling out of the kernel into exceptions.fs added inline exception handling (TRY...RECOVER...ENDTRY) added exception handling without affecting sp or fp (PROTECT...ENDPROTECT) context is now a DEFERed word various small bugfixes added name index to docs and support for info-lookup to gforth.el minor doc changes added engine option --appl-image and gforthmi option --application minor objects.fs changes bug fixes gforth now produces exit code 1 if it has an error in batch processing make check is now less verbose Added kernel/pass.fs Dependencies: special.fs out, quotes.fs in Changed FORTHPATH starting with ~+ instead of . Changed -O4 to -O3, since that's the highest really supported optimization for GCC (O4 is undefined) Added i686 to configure file. Added control of forth and c comments of new prims2x.fs. FORTHK now uses $(ENGINE). gforth (non-fast) now uses a plain threading scheme, making error positions more accurate minor changes prepared for snapshot, fixed some buglets moved signal handling into a new file signals.c minor changes to window size handling?) Improved dump information for magic Added code in cross.fs to support new magic Fixed makefile problem with cp (cp -p to preserve date) there is now a debugging version of the engine that maintains ip and rp in global variables (to allow backtrace on signals). The debugging engine is called gforth and the original engine is called gforth-fast. fixed Makefile bug (engine/Makefile is now remade when necessary) fixed siteinit.fs-related problems Install process fixes for DOS and OS/2 EC primitive count fixed EC relocate problem fixed doc/gforth.txt is not included in the dist adjusted man page fixed a few small problems (mainly with bindist) Fixed Makefile.in for empty emacssitelispdir variable fixed some bugs and problems new solution for make dist fixed a bug in generating magic Separated distribution Makefile (works only with gmake) Changes to make gforth run on DOS and Win32 (I hope it's not broken by the latest Makefile.in changes) Some minor tweaks fixed some problems (mainly for separate source and build dirs) gforthmi is now generated from gforthmi.in by configure fixed several installation bugs in Makefile.in) Made Makefile.in dist-able (removed the two outdated files) updated dates in copyright messages inserted copyright messages in most files that did not have them removed outdated files engine/32bit.h engine/strsig.c updated NEWS file added doc/gforth.txt to distributed files. removed f0 fixed problem with dependence on config.h.in (not well tested). Removed the make -C parts for other makes. Also tried to avoid multiple right side % rules for same reason. Fixed config.bat (no startup.dos, no history.dos) Fixed a lot of problems from the wordlist structure change (I hope we had not omitted the "wordlist-id" in the first place). fixed "make clean" removed config.h.in from .cvsignore. changed deletion of html/ tree changed document structure a bit) Several fixes and typos I forgot to check in until recently Documentation additions (not completed) Default path now has "." in front Worked a bit on the documentation fixed handling of "." in open-path-file (now also works with "." from the path) fixed some bugs in arch/power/machine.h make targets now use --die-on-signal Added missing doers.fs and getdoers.fs Mega-Patch; lots of changes Added some Benchres entries fixed small bugs in Makefile and arch/mips/machine.h LEAVE fix in see.fs one dvi: entry too much in Makefile.in renaming and fix in debug.fs Bug fixes, consistency improvements, added lib.fs jwilke's changes: Moved many files to other directories renamed many files other changes unknown to me. doku change bumped the version number to 0.3.1 gforth-makeimage now makes an executable file and uses $GFORTH documentation changes fixed bug involving locals and recurse fixed bug in Makefile.in added outfile flushing before error message fixed Makefile.in typo Improved DOS/OS/2 support fixed some portability problems of Makefile.in Added DOS-gforth-makeimage Changes for DOS fixed a few Makefile bugs (make clean) renamed blocks.fs:flush-file into flush-blocks fixed bell bug (now flushes the output) documentation changes fixed key? problem on Win32 Minor fixes. documentation changes: added chapter on image files; added concept index bug fixes added PRIM_VERSION to primitives checksum computation. added and documented environmental queries return-stack-cells, stack-cells, and floating-stack. fixed make test for 64-bit machines. fixed another marker/locals bug. fixed convsize bug (now sizes >2048M are possible). changed default sizes to be more cache-friendly.. bumped version number to 0.2.9. added --offset-image option, comp-image.fs, and changed Makefile to make a relocatable image gforth.fi from two nonrelocatable images. added UNDER+. fixed a few bugs changed version number to 0.2.1 Added ans-report.fs objects.fs Some fixes to make it run on non-Unix systems fixed some small Makefile bugs Replaced config.guess config.sub with versions from Autoconf 2.10 added FORTHSIZES configuration variable checked and fixed "make bindist" and "make clean" added --version and --help small bugfix Fixed problems with different search methods. Hash now doesn't patch it's own search method into vocabularies anymore. First try to port gforth to OS/2 Some bugfixes Made PATHSEP a configure variable "make dist" now works minor bugfixes made path separator OS-dependent (';' for non-Unix) renamed use-file to open-blocks reintroduced FUZZ (for non-Unix) Documentation changes Building in a dir different from the srcdir now works a few bug fixes Steps to make 0.2.0 dist-ready. fixed bugs in code.fs added primitive threading-method fixed create-interpret/compile such that "' word >body" works as expected documented some defining words SPECIAL: to create special "state-smart" words minor changes make dist now consistent with new files improved mmul (both dblsub and primitive.fs replacement) Corrected ( so that it eats multiline comments in files (as recommended by ANS Forth) Fixed two shellscript bugs in configure.in and Makefile.in. the GCC variable is now conserved across config.status runs restore-input now works only within one input source and complains otherwise make test now works from scratch final touches on the system documentation requirements and Performance). make clean & co. now work as advertised Some documentation changes Added benchmark results Tried to work around if clause in Makefile.in Small bugfix in sokoban added site-int.fs and, more importantly, support for it. Fixed bugs in SPARC CACHE_FLUSH fixed a bug in the unit conversion in main.c "make bench" now also works on 64-bit machines documentation improvements some documentation changes added make targets "bench" and "uninstall" strerror.c to SOURCES make targets bindist and binonlydist configure now checks the cell size and chooses the image accordingly fixed a few bugs and documented others added required and require added [ENDIF] added MARKER small changes in configure.in and Makefile FORCE_REG stuff to decstation.h added man page * added configure mode for DOS-Makefile: configure -target=i386-<anythinh>-msdos<anyversion> creates Makefile for DOS. * checked in some mminor changes which never were checked in. * added special startup file for DOS * Changed package a bit * New INSTALL file * hash.fs didn't do a good job with 'cold. added package target to Makefile.in some documentation changes * Promised, but forgotten Makefile changes *!!!
>> Very interesting, as always. I like some of it, but not other bits. I would like the library a lot lighter. White glossy wood. Brighter carpet, lighter furniture. To me the black and dark are very oppressive. The hall and the library are almost too big. They look like a hotel, not a house. But then, I live in a tiny house, so everything seems HUGE! loved your insight on this home... home psychology... what a cool major that would be... my favorite room was the kitchen... loved it me thinks this couple has some great but simple meals prepared there with the freshest of ingredients. Another great job Dr. Webb ! Home Psychology 101...can I sign up Mrs. Webb? You'd be the best professor I ever had!!!!!! This house is so interesting. The kitchen is my favorite room but I love the library. I like the rug and the leather. Every room can't be seagrass and white slipcovers. LOL Although, in your hands it would indeed be perfectly done. Can't wait for your library post. A house shrink - Dr. Webb it is! Great imagination. Too bad the 'burbs of Houston are so dull. You are "spot on" about brown leather sofas, orange floors, honkin' TVs - it's the average home of Houston: yuk! I would absolutely KILL for the yard(s). And, the kitchen - swoon worthy. Thanks as always for the eye candy. I love the glossy black staircase and the study!! So unexpected!! It's a very serious, elegant look--but to me, it's a little disjointed from the rest of the house. The kitchen and nook look like they belong in a different house---especially with the large clock which is almost humourous---quite the opposite of those dark oil paintings and daunting law books. I think she did get some help from a designer. But with a short-leash and in a very "controlled" fashion. ;) Fun read!! So glad I took a break from my nightly Olympics marathon to read this post and enjoy the home! So fun to imagine the couple you've described. Hope you don't come to my house via the miracle of the internet - My decorating philosophy is a honkin' TV in every room! Joni, I think you are right on! I am a Realtor... totally agree..so much on the MLS.. so boring.. we agents try to encourage the sellers as MUCH as possible to re-vamp so our pics INVITE the public in...GREAT POST .. I do like the breakfast room..I am of the more casual sort.. I did like the collection of chairs.. Dear Joni, I think you are spot on! I can't imagine having a house full of children and no TV - so definitely empty nesters. My favorite room was the breakfast room - gorgeous. But the black library with white slipcovers and seagrass would be stunning - so would bright red leather chairs with nickel nailheads, white flokati rugs. Very fun! Yeah, I've been waiting for your next post. Again, you did not disappoint. While I am all too familiar with MLS, we've owned 11 houses so far, they were not in such stately homes. I had some comfort in our first house when I realized that huge gorgeous homes were not necessarily so gorgeous inside. I'd want to eat with the homeowners in the kitchen on that big beautiful farm table. I also love the breakfast room. I agree that the house is a little disjointed, but obviously very much to the owners personality. Lovely indeed! Can I eat my meal in the library? Or actually can I just live in the library? It looks so cozy- I dont think I would ever come out of there! The kitchen is my favorite! Love it!!! You gave me quite the chuckle reading through your analysis. Hope your class isn't full, professor....I want in too!!! :) I think the house, garden and rooms were created by the owners with things collected throughout their life, either from family or bought impulsively. I think I see acedemics...maybe literature or law, but I see a professor here. I am reminded of a home here...the wife was European and a gourmet and the food was...lasagna with spinach pasta the wife had made and with a cream sauce... I want to go here...often. I want a casual meal in the kitchen and dinner in the dining room. And I want to see what books they read. This was delicious. Joni, you and I are two of a kind. Your description of the process that you go through when finding real estate gems is EXACTLY what I do when I find an intriguing listing. I am always speculating on why people are moving...and I love to solve the mystery. Great post! This is definitely a house of empty nesters. No children anywhere to be seen...so no grandchildren yet. It is too dark and not pulled together enough for my taste, yet there are some beautiful touches and I love that rock crystal chandelier. In fact, I like most of their lighting. I wonder why there are no pictures of the bedrooms? I adore the kitchen but it seems disjointed from the rest of the decor to me. The kitchen seems in tune with the exterior of the house and the gardens, while the rest of the interior seems separate in feel. The front garden area is simply wonderful! Joni, very well done. I do this all the time. Like you, I pore over the upscale realtor's websites, and so much of it is just this neo-palladian-tuscan meets wedding cake confection I just cannot stand. This was a Normandy breath of fresh air. I'm over the moon about that front garden. I despise cookie cutter front yards of all grass and azaleas and crepe myrtle (not that I hate those plants. don't forget publicdata.com in your little arsenal of research! You little Lois Lane you! Still, I think you forgot the part where there is no front door because no one is coming to see the man who defended the biggest criminals of the century and how they are moving to Darfur to atone for their ill-gotten gains! (rant mode disengaged) Fabulous post, I love your home psychology game - you're good at it! Loved the house, even though it's about five houses rolled into one with very little continuity from room to room. They don't care, because when they built it they incorporated little bits of all of the places they've lived in and loved over they years. You see...they lived abroad for many years, he's a writer and she majored in art history, they met in Moscow, never had children, they're selling the house because moving back to the U.S. just isn't what they thought it would be. They miss their eccentric European friends, they're going back. Oh my...I'm liking this game you've created. I am absolutely cracking up! I found this house on HAR a few weeks ago and was dumfounded myself- I checked out owners on HCAD also (did I really think I would know them???!!!). The kitchen is amazingly unique... the breakfast room looks like a Salem, Massachusetts diorama (think "Bewitched" set- Ugh!). Joni- I call HAR surfing a "sport"- it drives the realtors crazy! Nothing unique or "mysterious" about their job anymore. How much fun to check out how other people live and decorate. Keep "surfing" my friend because I love all of your clever postings!!! Joni, I love the library and the door in the kitchen! You are right, this house is so atypical Houston. The garden is really unusual. Looking forward to your library posts. I've always wanted one of my own :-) LOVE th kitchen and the glossy paint hall and library. Gorgeous. Beautiful exposition on this home, it made my lunch thoroughly worthwhile! That is one unusual home, but it's fun to see such a unique space. I was expecting Vincent Price to be sitting in the library in one of those huge leather wing chairs! All that black paint intriques me--they're brave to coat the entire room with it. I agree with you about white slipcovers--it needs some light. I'd like the library better if the bookcases were slightly smaller/lower so the walls could be dark but the bookcases and window trim could be cream or white. Great post, as usual!! Interesting to imagine the house decorated by totally different hands. What a different vibe it would give off. A house can (and should) show the owner's personality and these homeowner's are indeed intriguing, Professor Webb. Nothing more boring than a professionally decorated house that reveals nothing about the people living there. What a Great Place! Loaded with personality and I'm with you, love the kitchen and breakfast area. I would say the owners are comfortable in their skin! Great post and photo's. Thanks! Love the house. So different-I love it when people take risks and they pay off. Especially like the dark hall and library, BUT as the new owner you'd probably have to repaint the entry hall unless you had a huge art collection- the paintings make it work. LOVE the architecture and gardens and that fabulous kitchen. Yes, the decor is 'off,' but the good bones are there. Such potential! And your psychological profile sounds spot on to me! -Lana Love it! You are spot on! I wish there was a close up of the kitchen sink... that kitchen was my favorite room, the pantry door, the lived-in feel... it's simply divine. You are right about 'no designer'... a designer couldn't mismatch that perfectly if they tried. That top picture is so sad... the diagonal arrangement of the rug and furniture makes me crazy and those 'high water' window treatments are soooo sad. You can tell they were like "what are we going to do with these arch top windows?" Great post! erika Ka-pow! Knockout post....love slipping into someone else shoes like that. Yea, I played real estate agent for a while and there are so many pottery barn blahs without personality... but this house is something else. the kitchen is wonderful...the library is cool, but felt like a Havard Club. Just not my taste. The gardens are sweet and no grass to mow! Hot damn. love it. Great post Joni, you made my morning. Ha! Fun post...scary, but fun. I know it's all public info, but Yowza! Loving the architecture and the outside...they even have bananas! Is that common in Houston? Not loving all of the interiors...really don't like the wall treatment. But some gorgeous rugs....and a lovely, comfortable kitchen indeed! wow, I love that entry area and the front yard - magical!!! The other interiors are lovely if not quite my taste. YOu need to go tour the home and pretend you are on the market! That way you can see the upstairs and further test your diganosis! I love the library. As a Midwesterner, I'm guessing it's all about cool and dark — the opposite of Houston outside the windows. If you are not familiar with it, David Hicks' library was very dark, though quite small, so it is much more cozy. We have bookcases in almost every room in our house: white in a pale guest room, cherry in my husband's "study" with dark gary walls (Woodcut by Benj Moore) and a black bookcase in my sitting room which has dark furniture, red walls and green trim. Can't wait for your library post. I have files and books devoted to the subject in prep for turning the family room into the main library. I think of the other ones as branch libraries. I remember seeing this house when it first came on the market. It makes you feel like you're in a little French or English village, not in the center of Houston. I also love the glossy black staircase and the kitchen. Oh Joni, what a great post. That top photo is just so sad. All too typical, unfortunately, of what the average McMansion owner thinks is great. I sense that the husband was involved in this design via the horrible brown leather pieces and that the wifey did the window treatments after getting a quote from a real designer for actual window treatments. I love the 2nd home, especially the landscaping and the kitchen. For some reason the kitchen reminds me of the Weasley's kitchen in Harry Potter - I think it is the long table.. Wonderful post, Joni. I definitely think there's a psychology to homes and decorating. The kitchen and breakfast room are wonderful and look very authentic. Great find on Houston's mls! If you had a library that big you might not leave even to get your Starbucks! Love the snooping - keep it up. Jackie I wanted to post before reading the other comments, so as not to be further swayed in my analysis (shrink hat on). He is a Commander/Demander. He may walk soft but it isn't a stick he carries rather a cannon. The one slain never saw it coming and never dies rather left with ruin. She knows the game. She plays it well. She loves art, music and is eclectic in her life, as you correctly assume. She is a mystery. She is quiet and busy. Living on her own terms, as does he; a good match, odd match but it works for them...at least for mow. The house is definitely a designers work. A reflection of him with a soft indulgence for her in pink and eclectic. I agree, they don't entertain formally. Perhaps they entertain close friends individually and for a purpose, but not the typical diner club. I can't think of a more mis-matched room than that dining room. Looks as though NO one every goes in there and if they do it's family. They let the designer make the curtains, throw up a sconce or two, but nothing more. They may have cocktails with friends in the library or her room, but it would be rare I think. The entry way was HIS and she won the right to arrange the stair artwork and family (?) portraits. Education is important to them. She lives in parts of the mansion and might be happier in a cottage on the lake in Austin with a large music studio and vast walls to display art. I hope they priced that house a bit below market. Obviously He cares little for what his neighbors may think and certainly makes no nod to tradition or propriety, as he IS the Joneses. Fun game this House Psychology. This post was a thrill for me. I was a sociology major in school, with an emphasis on psychology. I once did a paper on how I could read a person's character and personality from seeing their home. I got an A as I remember and it is still a *game* I play even now. This is a sophisticated couple but not snobbish at all. They appreciate art, music and the theater and travel quite a bit. They are comfortabel with themselves, each other, their closest friends and family. They love their home. It is their haven and respite from the world. Well educated and well read, with a good sense of whimsy thrown into the mix. They adore Europe and have traveled (Perhaps lived there for a time) there extensively but love being home best. They love good food and cook at home quite a bit. Never afraid to try something new and always have a delicious wine to compliment the courses. It is a well loved and lived in home. Each new ding and stain just reflects a life well lived. Nothing is too frou frou not to be lived wit. Family pieces have been passed down from generations and still admired. I adore all the dark colors but that is just me. I know many who disagree with that. I find them soothing and cozy, no matter the season. The kitchen is to die for and is stylish yet a true home kitchen. I loved the beginning of the post. So many home I see on the realtors lists look the same. I swear they all shop at the same stores. Look here...I have &^*&^$ amount of dollars, now show me 4 rooms and I will take thenm all. No thougt or personal style involved. I have known so many who have done just that. of course, they come here and I know my home makes them dizzy. I have heard the statements, "How did you know thus would go with that?" or "My, you do like strabge things don't you?" a time or two. I love a home that has been put together over years, not weeks. These homewoners did just that... Many huge homes here are on the market because the people just overextended themselves. Many have little furniture in them at all. They bought the big house and had no money to make it a home. Thank you for another wonderful post Joni! I loved it. Love, Sue What a fun post! You had me laughing out loud at being a web detective; I partake in the same sort of "snooping." The first room you showed was truly awful. Definitely a la "Rooms to Go." Love, love, love the Normandy house. I agree with those who think a designer was involved, but maybe that's because I'm unable to put anything together on my own. My favorites from the house were the rug and curtains in the living room and that beautiful piano (or perhaps it's a harpsichord or virginal - how cool would that be?). And that library... wow, oh wow. I love all the dark paneling - think they're very much in keeping with the period of the house. The only things I didn't care for were the window treatments in the dining room and the stain color in the kitchen. But, honestly, I could move right in and not change a thing and still be in heaven. Thanks for sharing! This was a fun and interesting post. As much as I love this house -- I was more intriqued with your mention of your interior doors painted black. I could hardly sleep last night, thinking about that. Could you share some photos of your black doors? This might be my next design project in my home! Thanks, -shirl Very interesting. House number one says divorce to me, or bachelor. Maybe it's sexist of me, but no woman I know would ever pick those Superbowl couches. And I agree with everyone who thinks someone involved with number 2 has an affection for things European. I'm amazed the house is only 4 years old. It has a very individual personality, and it seems hard to imagine that people would put that time in and then move on. But I still think it could be the product of a great collaboration between designer and homeowner and landscape architect. Has anyone checked with Vervoordt? In any case, while it is a bit noir, I love it, and the magical garden leavens the subdued tone of the house. Well, you KNOW I was gonna love all that gloss and gild! Completely LOVE the foyer/staircase/library. WEll, not huge on the library furnishings/carpet, but everything else is quite enjoyable. I'll be the voice of dissent here..... I think they worked with a designer, however,kept him/her on an as per need basis, but the relationship fizzled towards the end. There aren't enough 'touches' to make it look professionally done through and through, but I have a strong feeling that someone who knew a thing or two about finishes and hanging artwork came in :) Just my .02 Andrea V. Fascinating and fabulous post as usual. I love the library also - especially love how dark it is which surprises me as I'm usually into more light. What I can never understand is why new homeowners can't see past the paint selection on the walls or the existing furniture. Come on people if you don't like the red living room you can always paint it! My favorite is the exterior with the crushed stone pathways. I know that staging homes is a very big business and there are definitely many homeowners who really could use this service. However, this home doesn't need any staging IMO. It looks comfortable, well used and loved. Look at that kitchen! Lovely style and feels like you're in the middle of the Provence! But with a bit of American style also!, lol... Very interesting post, Joni. I believe you are very close in your idea of the owners. I spotted that fabric swatch too. She wants to lighten the mood with some updating of the room, perhaps. I wonder, too, why they are selling. A young couple in our development is selling their home, that is only about 4 years old. It's a gorgeous home, pool, pool house, recreation room/bar in lower level. I had an odd idea they would not live there long, from the beginning and guessed the reason it's selling before I heard about it. Divorce is the reason for it being on the market. Not decorated/furnished at all. It is a home/house built for partying. We believe one of them wasn't a partier. Alas, it's on the market. Just some neighborhood "gossip" from, Pat PLEASE tell me why I can't hang my dining room mirror horizontally. I have a very long buffet and hanging it horizontally works but after your commetn I wonder.... Okay Joni, I'm ready for you to set up an analysis blog for interiors! We can send in our photos of our home and be "analyzed". Sort of a house horoscope! What FUN that would be for US! When I saw the FIRST photo, I feared you thought it a room worth investigating and worried you'd "lost your touch". Relief that it was not so. :) As for your assessment, in THAT price bracket, it's hard to tell if the rooms truly reflect the owners or what the owners WANT us to think about them. But it's fun to hypothesize! Exquisite. Joni, you should give the link for the listing and save us the hassle of going through house after house to find this beauty. I enjoyed your assessment. I am curious about your "paint doors black" comment. I am contemplating such a thing. Can you recommend a paint color and sheen please? Dee Hi Joni, I was referring in my post to the photo of the first room - the lovely brown sofas and chairs et al - I think I must have made it sound like I thought there were 2 houses... You are the first designer to post on my website. I may be finished driving again for awhile; today I went to Calico Corners to pick up some samples for my living room... You should have seen my tractor when I was driving over the road. The bunk had custom bedspread, lovely sheets and a feather bed. Many pillows. The other drivers (very few actually saw it) loved it, even the men. It was a fabulous adventure and I miss it a lot. I loved the freedom of it. You get to spend a great deal of time by yourself, and that works for me. I listened to a lot of books on tape and a lot of NPR. I didn't make enough to afford XM Radio, but found I really didn't need it. I love driving - still do and if someone needs for me to drive them I'm ready. I was driving the wheels off my car and just decided one day to get a commercial driver's license (CDL) because I like big trucks. After a couple of months of school and living with my trainer in a space the size of a small walk-in closet for 6 weeks I was off on my own as a solo driver. I went to 42 states in 2 years. I designed rooms in my mind and buildings to build in the future. The best part may be that NO ONE can micro-manage you. That is something that just makes me crazy. And the older I get the crazier it makes me. love that glossy block woodwork in the library and entry- it's a brave and bold move, and it completely works. the faux finish above the wood in the entry, not so much but hey- it's not my house. love the crashed stone on the exterior paths as well- so perfect. and joni- you have a great ey for detail- the french door hardware is lovely. in a photo, i doubt i would have noticed, but as a designer, i know that's the kind of thing that in person makes a room special... I think you are right about them not socializing much. The front of the home looks as though they are trying to hide from the rest of the world. The entrance is pure wow factor and it connects to the style of the library perfectly, they might not have had an interior designer work on these two rooms but they for sure had custom wood work done by a specialist. Upon seeing the drawing room I got the feeling that yes this was all passed down in the family...... the house, furniture, etc., and it almost seems like there is someone that is dictating that they leave everything alone, possilby the person who passed the furniture to them? I also see a couple of modern paintings in the drawing room, so someone is trying to express something? I think the kitchen and breakfast area was done by a designer. In Tennessee designers are always doing a mix match of chairs in the breakfast areas. Also the sweedish farm look and modern lighting strays from the classic english antiques and style they have in the rest of the home. One thing for sure is that when you step onto this property you truly go back in time. Lovely post. Wow, what a difference from the usual ugly brown stuff, and so much nicer than the staged decor you see everywhere. I love all the art, and the antique furniture. I would love to cook and share a meal in that kitchen. And I love that library, although I do see how the seagrass and white upholstered pieces would be an improvement. Thanks for the tour! xoxo, Mary Loved this post!!! That first room looks like an ad staged for Costco or something. Awful. Anyway, this was a fascinating read! Thanks. I love beautiful rooms through the eyes of an "unprofessional" photographer (whether from a real estate agent or you) because the rooms seem more real, somehow. Like another reader, I'd love to see the bedrooms! And I agree with you about the seagrass and white in that library. My opinion is that if she's looking at fabric samples, there is not a divorce-- wouldn't that be the last thing on your mind? Maybe he got a business opportunity they couldn't pass up to spend a couple of years in France or London? Or the 130 year old mansion they've always been madly in love with FINALLY went on the market and they just have to get in there and renovate it... I often wonder why people sell their beautiful houses as well. I really don't have a strong opinion on this one - I'd say they are probably moving because the house is filled with personal touches - and that's not something you just tire of. I will say that I DO think that a designer was consulted for this house - probably one they've worked with before on other houses. That would explain some of the outdated upholstery - the clients didn't want to redo that stuff just then when they were first moving in. Several things make me think this - but most of all is the rug in the living room. It's from Stark. Also, the kitchen is very well done. Very efficient - and done for someone who likes to cook - but I still see a designer's touch there. I think this is a really really cool house. The entryway and library make me think of the game "Clue" - it's very very English Manor. But the other parts are softer... it's interesting. I think you should pitch this as a show on TV... "the House Psychologists: What Your Home Says About You". I'd watch!! The couple that owns this wonderful home loves Europe, especially the gardens. They have been married for awhile and have blended their unique tastes and personalities. They have also learned the art of compromise. His rooms are the entry way and library. Hers are the kitchen and breakfast room. He likes order and symentry, she is more carefree and whimsical. She is sentimental and will recover those sofa's over and over through the years. She also has a lot of wedding present looking candle sticks around. He loves the more traditional paintings, she has collected the more modern pieces. The dining room was also inherited. That is a room only used on holidays. This is so much fun. Thanks for my daily respite. There is something so wonderful about the written word in your hands. I love the library!!! Interesting house! But what's with the sound-proof room? They seem to have extreme privacy already - If they don't entertain much and even have a recognizable front door - why does he need to hide his conversations from his partner? hmmm..... I love perusing the MLS, lots of beautiful interiors on the Los Angeles MLS. I could never describe them as well as you do though. As always, an interesting and informative post. That kitchen is wonderful, the entry and kitchen alone would sell that home. That is a grande hallway! And that library! wow Love your blog...I'm a Texan, too.... Uh oh! I have a horizontal mirror in my dining room! I'll get that changed ASAP. (Please don't hold it against me . . .) Angela P. Absolutely, I will be doing one of my "hooked on houses" drive-bys....discretely hanging out the SUV window and snapping photos. Sigh. Priced at $3,250,000, it's obviously worth every penny. No Tuscan-inspired, faux stucco, concrete lions at the entrance, Houston builder's special for me. J, you are such a good read. Isnt it refreshing to see a one in a million home thats not sooo cookie cutter boring? This one is a sparkler, for sure. Lisa coastal Nest Fascinating article on the Kennedys...impressive research. However, with all due respect... ...". Wow, harsh! This is someone's home--very hurtful if this post was pointed out to them. IMO. "Jane" - actually that comment was about 90 percent of the houses in HOuston, so that's a lot of hurt people. I only showed that picture because of the leather furniture. If the owners didn't want their house up for scrutiny, I suspect they wouldn't have it on the internet. And trust me, by the looks of it, I don't think they really care about their decor that much. Most people really don't and have a sense of humor about their lack of decor. But - you have a point, I do try not to be overly insensitive in my criticisms - but this is MY blog where I express my opinions about decor and like I said, the image was obtained publically. I'm going to guess that both of these people are tall! I find this house pretty overwhelming - lots of oversized things. I have a pretty typical suburban 4-bedroom house in NW Houston. It's pretty hard to do much with it. (I did take out the corner bar in the family room!!) I love your pictures! but I'm curious...why never hang a mirror horizontally? I totally agree that in some spaces vertical is ABSOLUTELY the way to go...but to say "People, do NOT hang your mirror horizontally! Ever! NEVER!"? Isn't that a bit much? Is there some stylistic/design logic of which I'm unaware? I love going through all the pictures, and I absolutely love your blog! I am so glad my dear friend, Laurie told me about it! It's fun to surmise about their life. Connie/puddin07 Another great blog - I could spend all day looking at the beautiful pictures you've taken or have found to describe your design sensibilities and tastes. I too love that dining room, but alas, hubby would be rather upset if I decided to paint all our bungalow's natural woodwork high-gloss ebony. What a beautiful home though, and in such a lovely neighborhood too! I hate the humidity of Houston, but to live in that house, in that neighborhood, with that garden - I might just learn to deal with it! Great post! i will tell you, the owner (man) designed and built that house, head to toe. the wife did add some touches with her own antiques and furniture. notice in the kitchen that there are no "toe kicks," true to the era. im loving the descriptions of the owners- no they did not meet in moscow and is a second marriage for both. they also have 5 kids between them, and you're right, no grandkids! ages range from 18-28. the husband is extremely brilliant... i will leave the rest to your imagination and not spoil the fun! :) "Katie- from August 18th"- you are wrong about all of the above- COSTCO? really? your opinion about the seagrass is fine..but the rest is wrong :) but you can keep guessing! ... i dont think the owners would even know what costco is. probably never been inside one? in the words of everyone's favorite, Paris Hilton, "what's a walmart?" wait!!!!! She is NOT talking about the beautiful house being like Costco - she is talking about the 1st picture of the ugly house!!!! Not the house in River Oaks. Go back to the blog and you will see - that first room is from a home in Bellaire. hahahah!!! And I think I know who one of the Anons is! thanks so much - this is fun. Joni Joni...I love your imagination and your eloquence. I too, look at the Atlanta MLS and am so discouraged by what I see "designers" do. It all looks the same. Big furniture, no character, matchy-matchy...uggghhh. The black staircase is beautiful...I would love to do that, but my husband would croak! Hi everyone! I really appreciate your website, I'll be back soon! Tell me what you think of my writings on hypnosis. your hose is very beautiful and interior design is a very great & your web site help for us thanks! moving to texas , You have a very interesting way of expressing yourself, which I like and as much as I can see so do other, visitors. Keep up the good work with such relevant information..
Posted by ent lawyer at 6:45: Its Britney, bitch! I wonder what JLo would say about this... Shouldn't Eve get back to her shift at Subway or whatever she does these days? Not that they couldn't find someone to mimic her, but the song sounds like Britney. Thanks, Enty! I actually like Eve. I think she's a good MC. I used to constantly listen to her Scorpion album when I was in grad school. However, I've heard this song and it sounds exactly like Brit's normal speaking voice. It probably is her "singing" with heavy auto tune. I know some people think Britney might be MV, but I think her singing voice sounds a lot like her normal voice (same with JLo). I also can't imagine paying someone to sing that poorly. Just my opinion. Is Enty toying with an MV reveal? Fishing for clicks from us old-timers? FINE. Let's talk MV here today, if y'all want.... I do believe there is some heavy MV hinting in all the Britney items. Then again, ur-Enty supposedly liked Britney, right? I'm not disagreeing, but the first thing I thought of when this came to light: Remeber when Britney went cray cray and was hanging out with Sam Lutfi? She recorded a whole album during that mess! Wouldn't Sam have said something by now if it wasn't her? That being said, this is nothing new. C+C Music Factory got in trouble back in the day for using that skinny model to lip sync instead of correctly crediting the zaftig former Weather Girl who really sang all the female parts on their tracks. And now Britney is on so many meds she probably wouldn't even realize if the voice that ends up on the track isn't hers GMG, that's the problem I have with Brit or JLo being MV---If it's either of them, their trashy-sounding (sorry) real voices are layered over the other singer. I never thought MV was Britney. There's the footage of her singing as a child plus stuff like her on Ellen going door to door singing Christmas Carols. She has never had the best voice & they inflate the hell out of it, but it's her neither the less. I always thought it was JLO. The only part that is iffy for me is the fake accent part. The rest sound like Brit. I'm more interested in who that guy is Brit went to dinner with last night! Really? I feel like there's more blatant hinting with regard to JLo. He makes comments about her "carefully crafted image" etc. @VIP - I think Sam would've. He's out to destroy anyone he can for a buck it seems. Also remember during that time she kept speaking in a British accent to the paps. It sounds like her to me, and her vocal part is pretty minor in the song anyways so I don't get why it's a big deal. Britney sounded like Britney back on Mickey Mouse Club. I really don't think she is MV. I guess Eve is half correct, since the song is almost all auto tune, as well as Britney's attempt at an English accent. The song really sucks. I don't know about the song, but I don't think it's her in that photo @Lotta, Britney had that horrible reality show for a short time. She attempted that accent often. It's her. I was shocked that someone thought it was a good idea to add it to the song. So, Eve said she heard something from someone sometime that may or may not be true. I think someone just wants to get their own name back out there. I do think its Britney. She only has a couple of lines to sing. It would be more trouble than its worth to have a 'cover up'. Sounds just like her too. Like when she sang Happy birthday to L.A. Reid on X Factor. They said on the radio this morning that Eve had said it was not her voice in the British part. Then Brit's camp replied that she did "sing". They didn't argue about the speaking part. I think it sounds just like her. That sounds like her regular voice. Where's Shelly? @Rickatoo - it's 30% her, and the rest is makeup, lighting, and photoshop. She looks fantastic in the video, but again, makeup, lighting, and digital enhancement. She looks like Hellraiser in that picture. No one ever agrees with me, and I know Enty says MV is NOT foreign-born--But let me just say, again, that when Shania Twain first hit so HUGE (pre-internet, practically), I saw old beauty pageant VHS footage of her singing in a talent competition from just a few years before. I immediately perked up aghast and thought, 'THAT is NOT the same voice!' It was stunningly different to me. I had already noticed that she was a BAD lip-syncher in her videos, so my spidey-sense was all over ST. At the time, I assumed it must just be studio magic covering her real mediocre voice. Because of that footage though, and my reaction way-back-when, I can't help but 'hope' I was right, and Enty if lying about MV being American. I still think Jlo is mv.....Britney is barely singing on the song anyways. Hey libby if you think Shania Twain is MV I don't have a problem with that. I don't think MV is either JLo or Britney because of the things I've seen & heard from both (speaking voice/singing voice, etc). I know everyone thinks it's JLo and it could be but I don't think so. Definitely not Brit Brit, she sounds like herself even if everything is heavily dubbed & auto-tuned & lip synched these days. Ah Amber, sadly everything Britney is only 30% her these days, even her brain. :( Shania use to make the bar rounds up here in Canada (around 92ish - IIRC) before she hit the big time...I wish I'd seen her now! Hunter, I agree. I have no idea who MV is, but I realllly do not think it is Britney. I also don't think it is J.Lo. It would kind of suck if it was Shania. I swear I saw her on a show (CBS Sunday Morning, I think), talking about some duet cd. It showed her singing live, trying to record something, and she sounded the same. Haha, Rickatoo, I was thinking the same thing! Anyway, I never thought MV was Brit Brit. I hope she isn't. I think MV is a fake blind. Not that it hasn't happened. Just not at the scale Enty described. Plus, we now know he's a probate attorney. Can't imagine that he represented on that case. There was a clue that the first and last name of MV had 13 letters. JLo and Brit fit. Shania does not. That is why we are all stuck on Brit and JLo. What about Rihanna for MV? Mv was married and has kids so its rhi rhi @renoblondee I can see that, I was listening to it yesterday & the singing part sounds like her, without a doubt, but the speaking part "ya gotta turn this shit up", I can see that being someone else's voice, it doesn't really sound like her. And the "it's Britney, bitch" sounds like it was copy/pasted directly from that song she did a few years ago Britney is so overrated. I really don't understand her huge following. There's so little singing in the Britney part, I wouldn't be surprised if it was or wasn't her. It sounds like Britney's voice to me. I didn't know Eve was like that. If MV was a fake blind item, that would completely discredit CDAN in its entirety. And Enty is definitely not a probate attorney. I completely thought MV was Shania until the whole born in America clue. Since then, I think the clues lead to J. Lo. I kind of feel bad that this is how Eve is staying relevant. What happened to her? I remember the whole Sean Penn visiting her in jail, and then she dropped off the face of the planet. Anyone have deets? @Puggle, I'm familiar with her pink wig/fake accent days but this one sounds different on the song to me. I don't think it's not her voice, I can just see how other people like Eve wouldn't believe it. I can't believe people would take someone liked EVE's word for it anyway. I mean, where has she been? It's like if Tiffany came out of the woodwork to slam Beyonce's lip scandal! @B Profane. Did you not read that NY Post article that investigated and found that he handled Wills and Probate. Thing is, I think MV is fiction. I still spent a lot of time trying to figure it out and nothing fits perfectly. I still enjoy the site. I just take it with a grain of salt. So should everyone, given the disclaimer. @B.profane- I'm afraid we already discussed that topic earlier this week. You're too late. Ok for the regular posters here, what/where is this MV blind item you guys are all referring too? @pump, check out the sidebar and look for the tag labeled MV. There are several posts under that tag so you'll have to go back to get to the original blind item. @pump There were several posts, but this is the original: I have said several times I think MV is Mary J. Blige and I get no feedback from the CDAN community on that one. Am I completely off base? Everything fits IMO. I saw Mary J perform live on Idol once, dueting with Taylor Hicks. Very odd performance, but she was singing. Oh brother. Not the NY Post article again. Land Manatee- that would certainly be a big deal and it's an intriguing idea. I think, whether we want to admit it or not, the most popular MV guesses are singers we don't like for whatever reason. No one will stand up for J-Lo, but Mary is a well-liked (over-rated) and distinguished (drama queen) artist. My personal reason for not thinking it's likely is I've seen enough live performances with the runs and the bends and squats and crazy windmill arms to think she's not faking it. @libby. Just because J-Lo is (probably) Enty's MV, doesn't mean Shania can't be one too! "@B Profane. Did you not read that NY Post article that investigated and found that he handled Wills and Probate." Yes, I read it. It's been discussed many times. That article is fake. I mean, it's the frickin' Post, fer chrissake. The consensus is that that article is complete bull. Well, obviously, some want to believe what they want to believe. Consensus? I don't know. The whole Timmy/Shimmy thing drove a bunch of people away. I see absolutely no proof that anything Enty says is true. He even says it could be fiction. Even if he believes it to be true, it's gossip and subject to embellishment and the game of telephone. I have been reading this site since the MV thing and commenting occasionally. I don't think MV is real. Still enjoy it. Not sure why people get so defensive over someone they don't know... I just read an interview with Bonnie McKee who said she wrote and sang on Britney's newest album. "I see absolutely no proof that anything Enty says is true." You have not been reading closely enough. Someone connected with CDAN managed to get Donal Logue to do a long segment on AM radio. Someone had very timely, very inside info about Estella Warren's meltdown two years ago. Just for giggles, if there was an actual entertainment law attorney who had worked in the music business, been involved in a major beef with the Scientologists and worked in the reality show industry...would you believe that the MV blind item was legit? Or would you rather believe in massive coincidences and years of deliberate, detailed hoaxing. @B. Profane - I can't keep all the details straight, but in your former scenario...Said entertainment lawyer that worked in the music business AND reality...Remember Diddy's Making The Band? Association with Diddy would put him near Jennifer Lopez who is Co$. We all know how Co$ will pump any amount of money into upholding an image. You're right. I haven't been reading every comment thread because I don't have time. Not saying he doesn't have any contacts (though they all seem to be Canadian), but he didn't come through on several things. I assume you're referring to the aborted radio show that he asked people to donate money towards? I just don't buy the MV thing. If J-lo and Brit are the most popular guesses, it doesn't make sense. Neither are known for their singing and haven't changed a bit. I wonder why eve cldnt keep her big mouth shut? Who really cares if it was her ir not? Leave brit be, she has enough problems! @auntliddy - sometimes people say things like that because they think it'll make the relevant and interesting. It gets the attention focused on them because they're able to share something "juicy". Same goes for one-uppers! Hey @Caralw - I don't think anyone, save Jax, knows who Enty is but the general consensus is by outing him will cause this site to cease, and nobody wants that. IMO, and many others, Enty was sending that Post "reporter" on a wild goose chase. It was published under "opinion" on the Post either the day of or after April 1st. The "reporter" only cared to chase Enty down after the Himmmm media blowup. It makes perfect sense to me. None of us take everything here as truth, but it's damn entertaining. So every time a poster brings up that inane NYPost "article", I am dumbfounded. Think about it: if Enty had granted an honest interview, he'd be signing this site's death warrant. Please let it go. it is a shitty song, regardless of whether brit brit actually sang or not. it is a shitty song, regardless of whether brit brit actually sang or not. I just want to say that mv/enty/cdan speculation threads are my favorite. That is all. Shanks isn't foreign born.......I thought she was born here and just grew up in canadaland. LOVE this guess! I effing hate her. Shanks=shania autocorrect STAYS Land Manatee, interesting guess! I don't think it's J.Lo or Britney, so it's nice to hear another possibility. I can't believe people are still discussing whether Britney really sings on her recordings. It's obvious that all of her songs are heavily manipulated in the studio and/or have supporting tracks from other singers. Anyone who's seen Crossroads (Yes, I love bad movies, and I'm not ashamed to admit it!) knows that she has a pretty but very weak voice, and she needs a lot of "help." Some of the singers they get to help her out don't even sound anything like her. Who cares. Pop music is so auto-tuned and processed now you could argue that nobody really sings anymore. When I saw Eve say that on WWHL I screamed "MV" at my tv. I wanted to believe it was JLO, but when Enty said it would rock the industry I thought it would have to be Brit Brit. Shanks Twain's birth name is Eileen Edwards. 13 letters!!!!!!!!!! With all due respect, I am not trying to "out" Enty's true identity. I don't really care who he is, tbh. I hardly think expressing some healthy skepticism in the comments section could do that. I didn't bring up MV. I just expressed that I don't believe that particular blind. YMMV. @Lunaire- Bonnie did background vocals. Thats what she meant. She did them on Katy's records as well. @B.Profane- what do u mean it would discredit Enty? There's a friggin disclaimer at the bottom of this website that basically says half of what you read here is fiction and the product of Enty's imagination. Its insanely obvious that a lot of the blinds are made up. Shania came from a disadvantaged background. I don't think she could have afforded good voice lessons until well after her dinner theatre and pageant days. If you listen to her in interviews, you can sense the intelligence there. She looks quite a bit different from when she was young. She's definitely had surgery here and there (like most entertainers). I think her voice has been strengthened by working with voice coaches, who help singers to make the most of their natural talents. Jax once said that enty has never truly hidden who he is...and it's not surprising which celebrities pop up here over and over. I fucking LOVE will.i.am. If you have never seen his appearance on Graham Norton with Miriam Margolyes, do yourself a favor and watch it. i dont think its here 100% on the song at all just the hook and the video all she does is that turn and stare look shes not all there man Amen, Tuesday, Amen. Good Lord, a little detective work and you too can find out who Enty is and who he/she connects to and all the rest of it. It's the readers and the ever changing community who make Enty successful. Interesting Read/Interview What do you all think? Which clue debunks my guess? Would love to hear your take on this! @Agent...exactly. @ Libby - as much as I would like to back you up, I've seen a couple of old Shania Twain videos (one of her singing at some Canadian mountain resort) and it sounds like an earlier, not quite so polished version of her. @ CeeJay - Shania spells Eileen with two L's. Eilleen. Makes me seem like a Shania fan, but I'm not, honestly, although I did see a "Behind the Music" show or something like that with her once, and she seemed to have a human head. I think MV is J-Lousy. I mean J-Lo. That's Britney Bitch. even the britsh part is her. She was speaking British the whole 2007 era with her pink wig. Nobody remembers that. So this MV thing. What is it in short version The person doesnt sing in their own song? I tried to read it and I didnt understood nothing lol @CeeJay-Shania was born in Ontario. I might be missing something here but I don't understand why everyone is guessing either J.Lo or Britney for MV? They are both piss-poor singers. I would think that if the industry was going to concoct this whole lie, they would want someone with actual talent to stand in for MV. If you're gonna fake it, why not hire someone who's really good? It's pretty clear that Enty doesn't care about having his identity revealed. CDAN has bashed COS so fiercely and doggedly, he had to have known that the clams would crack the anonymity of the blog (although I suspect he was already on their Known Enemies list). I like the MJB guess. Also, it's Britney. Sounds just like her. For newer readers who may have missed this. MV stands for Milli Vanilli...they were the 90s group who won numerous Grammies for vocal performances that it was later revealed they had not done. I have long thought that the music industry nor the general public would be in shock to discover that JLO or Britney didn't sing on their records...or received a lot of help via atuo tune and electronic genius. Mary J Blige...now that would be huge. LandManatee, great research !! Ha! It's not Britney, it sounds just like the voice double that she's always used, that's why it sounds like what we think is her. Eve said it with a smirk and eyebrow raise, like she was sharing gossip. Enty's absolutely right, she has inside knowledge, inside gossip, and was repeating the rumor. Britney's a fake, and I don't give a damn. Her double should be paid though. Come on Brits Dad! Cough it up! The NY Post article about Enty was filled with misinformation provided by Enty to throw everyone off the trail. Like he's going to say, here's my i.d, my work address, my home address, my social security number, to the whole fing world so that CDAN has to end, and again, his career is ended? Enty's smarter than that people, come on! So Enty produces a fake bar card? That's a felony. If he's that cunning, why do people doubt he can make this shit up? It's brilliant. Oh and CO$? They have bigger fish to fry. His comments are nothing compared to the articles from Tampa that he posted. I saw Mary j live a few yrs back back and I'm telling you now she sang her ass off. Amazing powerfull n beautiful voice gave me goosebumps . No way is she M.V . no way
Your Turn Giuliana Rancic is in the news again and not because she suddenly decided she was going to eat. She says that she always puts her husband first and her baby second. So, what about you? Baby first or significant other first? Giuliana Rancic is in the news again and not because she suddenly decided she was going to eat. She says that she always puts her husband first and her baby second. So, what about you? Baby first or significant other: Do you really have to choose? Nothing wrong with that! Happy parents, happy baby. Don't people say to greet your spouse first before anyone else? It doesn't mean she doesn't love that baby of hers! I don't have any babies but I don't see anything wrong with putting your hubby first. I'm totally BUMMED I missed B's hissy fit yesterday. I have to do something about this thing here I call work. Hubby first, kids second, especially now that they're older. Speaking as someone who is not married and without kids, I feel like you have to put the baby first, at least until it gets to a certain age. I heard some relationship advice once from a man who is on his second marriage (he got it right the second time around; been with second wife for 30 years). He said that in his first marriage, he and his wife each gave 50%. But that left 50% of their needs unmet. In his second marriage, he and his wife both give 100%, and all of their needs are met The problem with my marriage was my husband put himself first, always. No kids yet, but a happy marriage begets a happy family. How is it putting your kids first if you aren't getting along with their other parent? The times that I was unhappiest as a kid were when I feared my parents getting a divorce or when there was discord. I remember reading about a survey years ago...where a bunch of women and men were asked the same question. The asked if a house was burning and you could only save one, would it be your husband or your children? You can't save both. Almost 100% of the women said they'd save their children and most of the men said they'd save their wives/S.O. The explanation the men gave for choosing their wives over their children...a majority said they would be devastated, but could still have more children with their wives. I think it's about balance. Obviously you need to put the baby first, at least for the first little while because that baby depends on you to stay alive ! You don't need to neglect your significant other in the process. Parenting is a team effort, anyway. But obviously I'm speaking as someone who doesn't have nannies on staff full time. I'm not even sure what she means but It was a little hard to have a conversation with my husband with our daughter crying in the background. How do you make a hungry baby wait just to finish the rest of a story? Without knowing the context it's hard to say. Are we talking about if only 1 person gets to eat its the husband and not the baby? Ha ha or if the husband wants a blow job but really she should be changing the babies poopy diaper? If do than boo to her. But if she means she gets a sitter twice a week so she can go have time with her husband Good for her. I guess it depends on how old her kids are also. Minor one and two so that kind of changes things Kids first, always IMHO If people took better care of their children in our society( love nurturing being connected) then our society wouldnt be in the shithole it is. Look at all these postings on CDAN: cheating cheating cheating...so relationships come and go...kids are yours FOREVER. Shameful toothy celebutards I meant to say I can so relate;-) I put my husband first but if someone was pointing a gun at my family, I would save my children. I have neither so I can't really speak/judge her. But I feel like when the child is an infant it should be hubby first, how can you provide a good environment for your child if you live in an unhappy house? Especially when it goes from being just the two of you to now a baby that demands so much time and attention (not a bad thing!). And just because you want to put your significant other first does not mean the baby is totally neglected either, obviously in a loving home everyone involved is receiving the love and attention they need and deserve. :-( Its a problem I wish I had. I dont have either a husband or kids and am now at the age where both are impossible to get. Giuliana is lying though--its herself she puts first just like J Ho and the kardasssions and all the other celeb moms. None of them ever raise their kids anyway--they have nannies for that.. Look around the Hollywood/celebrity types. Perhaps if the adults didn't let the kids run the show (looking at the Lohans for starters) the family wouldn't be such a mess. I have to say the child first, granted I have a toddler so there is no real choice. I think my husband would probably say the same thing. As he gets older though that may change. Happy child=happy parents (in my house). Auto correct is an asshole. I mean mine are 1 and 2, not minor I also think it's a matter of balance--young children, esp. babies & toddlers, are totally dependent on their parents and require a lot of time and attention, but you do still both have to make time for each other and your marriage, because if you two are miserable, you'll end up making the kid(s) miserable as well. Kids need more hands-on physical care, whereas adults can presumably take care of themselves in that regard, but need to have their emotional & sexual needs fulfilled. I'm guessing that part of the reason for the big split between men and women in the example given above is that women think in terms of their kids being helpless compared to their spouse, and needing Mom to save them, whereas the SO is an adult who might be able to make his/her own way out. I don't see it as a question of loving one more or less than the other, but of loving them in different ways, and distributing your available resources (time, money, hands-on attention, etc.) differently. In the burning house example, no matter what, you're going to lose someone and be totally devastated, so it's not a good scenario either way. (It just occurred to me that perhaps marriage or its equivalent and childrearing might qualify as the ultimate in socialism in a weird way--you know, "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs." Yes, I'm weird to think of it that way, but what the hell... ;-) Full Giuliana.” @mikey were we married to the same selfish shit ? This is kind of a ridiculous question. Caring for your spouse and caring for your baby are not mutually exclusive. And the example Giuliana gave wasn't as if she ignores the baby to give her marriage attention. This is what she said: …." @VIPBlonde - that is the same advice my gf's mom gave us. She didn't nail it until hubs #4 though, but they are going on 25 years now. well, that's because she is a vain, vapid, insecure idiot. Husbands should be fairly self-sufficient and once the both of you make the decision to have a raise a child (please note here, Giuliana, I say child and not 'status symbol', 'accessory' or 'ratings booster') then you both should be committed to putting this dependent and helpless being first. That being said, I get what she's saying.. 100% reasonable Baby first! First of all, because they can't take care of themselves, obviously. Secondly, because you can explain to your husband why the baby gets more attention, and he can comprehend it. Baby's not old enough to understand "I am not the center of the universe" yet. But that can (and probably should) change as the baby grows up and becomes more independent. My husband and I love each other to pieces, and still manage to eat normally. This is a bogus excuse for her being so unhealthy. She was scary skinny long before the baby. MISCH, ha, but I'm afraid there's more than one out there. Huh, I think some of you may be taking her statement out of context. I am pretty confident she is not neglecting the child. I think some people forget when they have children that you need to have that "special" time with your significant other as well and I don't mean 5 minutes of sex. Always putting the child before your significant other is just asking for trouble in my humble opinion. You need to make time for all and sometimes its baby first and sometimes its hubby first. I'm with nothanksdarlin. Depends on context! I would say kids first, but nourishing a marriage is important too. If it was food/milk/presents etc- kids! Burning building- kids! she was talking in general form, not a newborn baby FFS. I kinda agree with, it's not about looking hot 24/7 or greeting him with a daily beej at the door. Yes, this line of questioning always annoys me. Why do u have to choose? Of course hubby and u first, u r the foundation, but its whoever needs the love and attention at the time. And if the adults needs have to be thwarted, so be it! Its called being a grownup. I always put my kids first. My husband always puts himself first. I always come last. Husbands come and go. Children are forever. Lola All other things being equal, spouse first, child second. Of course things are rarely equal. Kids are only with you for a short time. Unless you're raising dysfunctional leeches who can't get off the tit. Putting kids first sets them up for failure once they leave the nest. Some are quite surprised at work when they realize their little piss-ant whines don't effect anything. Just haven't seen much success with kids first. Entitlement, parasitic lifestyle is not pretty. I usually put myself first. This is why I don't have children. *L* I always put the cat first. If my husband were the sort of man who expected to be put before his own children, I wouldn't have married him. Selfish people make crappy parents. I have a son about the same age as G's. We both put him first, he's an infant, he can't speak, he can't tell us whats wrong, we're his everything. Our foundation is strong enough to do so. You can put your baby first and still not neglect each. G and her husband went off for some alone time without the baby, while I can understand that works for some people, we'd rather spend any free time we have off work together as a family, a baby grows up so fast, its so fleeting, you need to cherish your moments. I am child-free but I agree with her. Marriage, then kids-gotta keep the communication open and agree on how you are going to raise the child. Equation said: "Kids are only with you for a short time. Unless you're raising dysfunctional leeches who can't get off the tit. Putting kids first sets them up for failure once they leave the nest". jax" Jessi said: "I think some people forget when they have children that you need to have that "special" time with your significant other as well and I don't mean 5 minutes of sex. Always putting the child before your significant other is just asking for trouble in my humble opinion". Lotta said: ". adsum said: ". I say ALL OF THIS/\ /\ /\ /\ /\! My wife and i discussed this lots before we even got married. We saw so many relationships (my own parent's for example) put all energy and focus on the kids. Guess what? Eighteen years later when the kids leave the nest - there is no more marriage left. It will disappear in that time if the kids are the main focus. Doesn't make fr very happy adult children or family as a whole when your parents get divorced when you are in college "because there is nothing left". My wife and I are the cake. Our child and any future children we may be blessed to have are bonus icing on our cake. Our job is to love them, prepare them for the world, and hopefully raise positive human beings. then let then go out into the world. We will then still have our cake - and can run our cake around the world traveling and taking cruises, and having a good ol' time! We will send our well adjusted kids postcards from the road! ;-) what J said. It's a baby. Baby first. You and husband are adults and can care for yourselves/delay gratification. I agree with jax. I'm seeing a lot of the same thing with my friends and my husband and I have already speculated who may or may not make it. It's sad, really. ITA with Jolene and auntliddy. IT's not mutually exclusive. It's like a seesaw, sometimes the kiddo is up and needs the attention, sometimes it's the relationship. As long as everyone is along for the ride it can work for everybody. I see this as less about who is getting attention on a minute-by-minute basis (of course a baby has needs that must be met) and more about how you structure your family in general. My relationship with my husband is the foundation our family is built on, and our family is only as strong as that foundation. We love our daughter to bits, but she is *one part* of our family, not the end-all-be-all of it. Hubby and I are full-fledged people with our own needs and wants, and while we obviously take great care of our daughter and see to all her needs, she doesn't get to completely subsume everything about us. Yes, that means some things get sacrificed for her (sleeping in, going out frequently) but it doesn't mean she gets to run *everything* Happy, fulfilled parents with a great, loving relationship provide a rock solid foundation for a kid to grow on, and models what healthy, happy people in a good relationship looks like. And I agree with what other posters have said - giving attention to a child to the exclusion of all else, including your own needs and happiness - does no favors for the kid. Children also need to learn delayed gratification (NOT talking about basic needs here, talking about wants) and to learn they are *part* of a group and the greater society, and what they can do to be good members, not just what everyone around them can do to make it all about them. Otherwise, it is one hell of a rude awakening when they go out into the real world. It seems obvious (at least to me) but I frequently see couples who drop all interests and hobbies once they have kids and make every last single thing about the kid. THey don't go out as a couple, they don't carve out time for themselves, they don't even have adult conversations about things besides the kids, they let the kids run everything. It isn't turning out happily for anyone involved, kids or parents. it's crap- she comes first, above anyone, she is a total narcissist. There isn't one magic formula that works for every family. For me it has been, kids, then husband, but as the kids are getting a little older we are able to re-focus on our relationship. And once I started making more effort to get MY needs met, everyone has been happier. @Xander, completely agree! Next weekend me and my hubby are going to Atlantic City overnight, does that mean we are neglecting our two kids? No! They will stay with their aunt who loves them and we will get time together to be a couple. We need to keep our connection strong not only for our sake but for the kids too. I want them to grow up in a happy, loving home and have an example of what a happy marriage is. My husband & I couldn't have children, but from what I have observed people do need to put their relationship first. That doesn't mean children are neglected, just that children will grow up & leave & if the primary relationship isn't nurtured there are two miserable, disconnected people sharing a house instead of sharing a life. They then go out & take their misery out on the world. In my first marriage I put my child first. That was an excuse to not deal with my husband. Honestly, when our dog died, I knew it was OK for me to leave. My son is fine, he's doing great. I am now remarried and I put my new husband 'first'. That came out wrong. I am making my marriage a priority. Partly because I love him to bits, but partly because I want my son to see what a healthy marriage looks like. WE are the parents, the partners, the ones to are together forever. The children are the children. They have a sitter and we go out. They go to bed and we stay up and watch TV and have popcorn. THEY do NOT call the shots in our family. We make decisions as a team and present ourselves as such. We take care of each other, and our kid, too. He sees how we treat each other, and it's all good. He's learning how to be a good husband, even at his young age. It's a beautiful thing, really. @Jolene Jolene Thanks for putting up the whole quote it makes more sense now. But what I really think she meant was she puts herself first over the baby. It's great her husband helps out & takes care of feedings when she has the Oscars to go to, but she basically said she puts her needs, like getting sleep, over getting up with the baby every single night. I don't think she meant that she'd save her husband over her kid in a house fire. She meant that when the parents are happy and have a healthy relationship, the kid will reap the rewards and be happy and healthy. The best thing you can do for your kid is provide them a happy home. Good for her. Wasn't Bill Rancic an out gay man before he went on the apprentice? @Unknown, in a weird way, that would be awesome! "She says that she always puts her husband first and her baby second. " Wished more women were like her.I can understand people's loyalty to their animals.A dog will run into a burning building to save its' master.A woman will let her husband die Friday,bury him Sunday and start dating Monday becoz after all she needs to move on with her life...with that insurance check. Giuliana is just creating a sound byte. Let's face it, all of us who are parents and married/in a relationship know that you should do whatever works best that day. You can't go through your life following some "strategy." Sometimes your kids MUST come first. Sometimes your spouse MUST come first. And SOMETIMES you MUST put YOURSELF first. We all do the best we can and hope for the best. My daughter first. She's 18. My new husband knew that her well-being and sports activities that involve weekend travel (college and national level) would be my priority and accepted that before our wedding. Husband 1st. Kids2nd. If the bond you have with your spouse is not strong enough the pressure of kids will end your marriage. I know more people who had dated for years and were married for years before having a baby and by the time the kid turned 2 they were divorced. That first 2 years with your 1st born is hard. Spouse first, children next. The children grow up and leave the nest. If you've not developed a life without them you've got nothing left when they're gone. Big plus is children see a couple devoted to each other and (hopefully) look for the same type of relationship one day. My husband and I *both* put the little guy first. But we still find little ways to let each other know how much we like each other and even miss each other. We were together for 7 years before we got married and married for 5 years before we decided to have a baby. I think we both realize that 18 years will go by in a flash and we'd better enjoy the time with our boy as much as we can. We'll still have the rest of our lives with each other. What Jessi, Xander, Jax, and a lot of you said! Marriage first. Your kids grow up and leave to start their own families. Your spouse is with you forever (hopefully). Stupid misogyny. Husbands are ADULTS. You should put your kids first. Jeebus. I put my husband first because without him there would be no babies. My sons are not neglected in any way. We are teaching them how to have a good relationship with a partner. I agree with Jax and others about what happens to marriages when kids come first---end of marriage. I think a lot of people use their kids to ignore the problems in their marriages. Married for 15 years and the kids came first when they were little. Husband is a grown up for god's sake. We discussed all of this well before we even got married. Now that they're older we have more time to do adult things w/o kids. Your children only want to be with you for such a short time. If you're with the right guy you'll agree on this and put kids first while they're young. If your husband is jealous of the time you spend with HIS children, he's an asshole. Why can't my SO save his own ass in the burning house? I hate the idea that a woman has to choose one over the other when one is perfectly capable of getting his fat ass up out of a chair leaving the beer and game on the TV behind to save himself. And I would feel that way if my child was over a certain age and capable of doing the same thing. Babies take a lot of time and attention from everyone in the family especially in the first few months when everything is new and confusing. I would always choose sleep over a date night. This all may explain why I am a single parent. Should men apply that logic to women as well? Any woman can pop a baby out for a man.Hell,some women give you kids you don't even want!!! I think society consider men expendable (women and children first,captain goes down with the ship). Children first. The dynamic of a relationship changes when a tiny HUMAN BEING enters the picture. Things cannot be exactly the same, IMO. Time and energy MUST be split between all parties. The lions share of it goes to the little one who cannot fend for themselves. A healthy relationship will withstand the shift in emotion and energy. Mature adults will do what it takes to nurture the relationship AND the child simultaneously. Guilianas child is 5 months old. A bit selfish, IMO, to b speaking about the relationship in contrast to the needs of such a young baby. :^( Just my opinion though. But I am speaking as a woman of limited resources. She is not. Her reality is much different than mine. God, Family, Career..husband/wife always should come first. This question thoroughly annoys me. That is all. It is a loaded question. Too broad. Too black or white. Something like this has to b broken up into mini scenarios in order for a REAL discussion to occur. I have seen marriages die after the children became more self sufficient because the parents forgot to take time on their relationship while the kids were growing up. It varies from couple to couple obviously but remember what created those kids in the first place. Your love for one another. Life is a balance but couples (parents) need couple time away from children and there is nothing badly selfish about that. We are childless by choice, the Opster and me. What an incredibly weird thing for Giuliana Ranic, of all people, to say. She never shut up for, like, two years about how all she wanted in life was a baby. If you read any of her interviews from before her son was born it is a constant stream of "I want a baby, I want a baby, I want a baby, I WANT A BABY!!!" And now thats he actually has a baby, she says she puts her husband first. Huh? Maybe she is feeling let-down by motherhood. A baby comes first, always, but that doesn't mean you can't go away for a weekend once in a while. She could've worded that better IMO, especially after all the shit she went through to get that kid. Maybe she's over compensating for some sort of neglect..hmm. OT, she has a flat head, seriously I noticed it today on Fashion Police(don't judge, I like watching people meaner than me) and her forehead is like, an inch high. Weird. why can't both be first? and yourself second? a baby has needs that they can't take care of themselves, and a relationship needs to be healthy for life to be happy, but why do you need to choose? Poorly worded my turn. Her actual statement, noted within the comments, was quite reasonable.
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We have been working closely with Provo Craft for sometime and have an agreement that we will support the Hello Thursday release efforts by showcasing cuts and projects from the new Cartridges. Our readers find it very helpful to see completed projects before making decisions on cartridge purchases. Do you work for Provo Craft? We are not employed by Provo Craft. How do I get free stuff to giveaway on my blog? The old saying that nothing is free is very true. Our sponsors provide materials for us to showcase but it is a ton of work and a very large time commitment to continually provide new projects that highlight the specific collections. Also, not everything given away is given to us by a sponsor - we provide some giveaways ourselves. I would love to get on the list of free products from various companies. How do I get on that list? Well, in all honesty, there is no such list. Many companies will do test groups or focus groups. These companies pay attention to online communities and message boards as well. We do not know how these individuals are chosen. How can I go to the CHA (Craft and Hobby Association) Convention? There are two parts to CHA - the trade show for industry professionals and the Consumer Super Show that is open to the public. You can check out all the details by clicking HERE. How do you pick which paper companies you want to show on the blog? It's a very technical approach. We work with the best of the best! We want to show you products from the leaders in the paper crafting industry, as well as highlight some of the smaller companies that you may not have seen before. Quality, freshness, as well as the themes companies offer are also very important. Can you put my blinkie on your blog? Because Everyday Cricut is a sponsored blog, we reserve as much space as possible for our sponsors. We add blinkies of guest designers and contributors on occasion but for for the most part all the blinkies are for our sponsors or our personal blogs were you can get any more inspiration, tips, techniques, and most importantly exposure to some amazing product and companies! Can I put your blinkie on my blog? Yes you can! It's simple and we greatly appreciate the support. How do I put your blinkie on my blog? To add our blinkie to your blog--simply copy the html code provided on the right sidebar (under our blinkie) and paste it into your blog (blogger folks do this by adding a gadget). It's pretty simple and we greatly appreciate the support. It puts a smile on our face every time we see our blinkie living on one of your blogs! How are your winners chosen? To ensure that out giveaways are fair and everyone has the same opportunity to win, we use random number generator (random.org) to assist us in choosing the winners. How are your guest designers chosen? We are very fortunate to be part of such a talented group of paper crafters. In choosing our guest designers, our goal is to have individuals who offer unique perspectives and approaches to paper crafting. We also really love it when they happen to big Cricut fans. Where do I find the winner's list? The winners for each week are posted on Sunday for the previous week. Also, on the left hand side is a banner that says "Winners". Click on that to see the list of winners. Where did you get your ATG adhesive guns from? We have purchased our ATG guns and tape from various on line retailers. One of the most popular resources is framingsupplies.com. Is Tammy not a part of the blog anymore? Tammy is no longer working with us here at Everyday Cricut. She was presented with an wonderful opportunity to develop a project for the Gypsy so left to pursue that opportunity. We wish her the best of luck! She continues to share on her personal blog. Subscribe to Everyday Cricut to learn more about ways to use the Cricut in your cardmaking and scrapbooking! 570 comments:«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 570 Newer› Newest» OMG!!! LOVE the REtro Veggie Paper! I am in a soup swap and that would be so darling. I love all the cut out veggies too!! YUMMMMMMMY!!! Thanks so much! I love to see your creations! The paper is wonderful. I'd love your mom's soup recipe! Thanks again! ~Libby C I love your site. You are so creative. i have a question. I saw this site at JTPC.info about Make the cut! What do you know about that? It said that you dont need to buy cartridges. That would save some money. Just looking for some advice. Thanks, Sarah I would have sooooo much fun with this! I'm crossing my fingers! Thanks, [email protected] I would so love that Cricut Cake machine! I can think of so many ways to use it. Thank you for the daily cricut ideas. I save them and plan to use many of them. You are so creative! Thanks for sharing with us. eljay I'm really hoping I win the Cricut Cake Machine! I can't really afford to buy it at this time, and it would help me so much! I love to make fabulous cakes for my daughter and her friends, as well as extra-special treats for her class at school! I'd also like to begin my own cake making business since I'm a single mom, and it would be a great way to earn money while at home with my daughter - and she could even help! Can't wait to try out this fabulous machine!!! I would love to have the Cricut cake machine. I saw it at the CHA show in Anaheim, CA. It was fun to decorate the cupcakes from the fondant cut outs. Thanks for showing what the cake carts can do with paper! [email protected] I saw your statement...great giveaway guys....well, I'm a guy, a grampa, and a crafer. I would love to wim you cricut cake machine and cartridge. Grampa's craft too, and what a great way to surprise the grandchildren,...and other family members too. Got my fingers crossed...here's hoping. I love your blog. I keep everyone of them in a file on my computer as you always have such cute ideas and the video's you put on there are a wonderful help. You help put the fun in my crafting. This is exciting! I just found your website and it is very inspiring. The Cricut Cake machine can turn the boring cake into a masterpiece. Thanks for making it FUN! OH MY my husband is going to just die! You guys have taken my two most favorite things in the whole world and combined them!!! I really would love to win the cake machine Im a Stay At Home Mom and a Army wife tring to not go crazy at home while hes away! Gosh Om so excited!! Have a blessed weekend all! Michelle [email protected] WOW!! What an awesome give away and what fun one can have with the winnings. Thank you for the opportunity! I just got my first cricut, and I am loving it. I really like all the great ideas. I currently own a regular personal Cricut and an Expression. I love them both. It would be awesome to win the new Cricut Cake Machine ! I love the cartridges that have been designed to go with it too. They would be great for cakes and for paper on cards and in scrapbooks too. Every time I think I'm getting close to having all of the Cricut stuff I want or "need" more new things are introduced and I "have to have" them too. I love my Cricuts ! It would be awesome to win the Cricut Cake Machine ! I have a "baby bug" and an Expression and love them both. The Cake Machine is a great idea, and the cartridges designed for use with it are pretty impressive. They'd work great with paper for cards and scrapbook pages too. Are you kidding? As a foodie, I can have my "cake" without the calories! I just came across your site what geat projects! I love the car card and so many of the Chirstmas projects. I teach preschool and would love to be able to decorate cakes and cupcakes for all our parties. I would love to win a cricut cake machine. It looks like it would be so fun to use. This would be another opprotunity to do crafting and make cakes at the same time with my grand daughter. AndreaGen Can't wait till Wed. I'll be up at midnight to order my machine. I have to work the next day but won't be able to sleep. Doing an hourly count down now. Every one at work just laugh's at me. thanks for all your time and creations. Laura What an opportunity to be able to win the Cricut Cake Machine. It looks great and my granddaughters would love my attempts! I don't need a cricut cake. I want one and thats more important. Its stress free that way. Joy your stuff is so entertaining. Thank you for making me smile everyday! I would love the Cricut Cake to make cakes for my grand-children and other people I love! Thanks for the opportunity to win! I love to see your projects and would really love to have the cricut cake to make cakes for my friends and family. [email protected] Please count me in! I would love to win the Cricut Cake machine. I would love to win anything but winning the cricut cake would be amazing. Would have to take up cake decorating. My mother was a cake decorator. Wish they would have had this then. Just joined Everyday Cricut - am excited and would LOVE to win the Cricut Cake machine. Looking forward to many new ideas:) I hadn't heard about the Cricut Cake machine until I visited your website. I must have been under a rock. I'd love to take up a new hobby... cake decorating. My name is Debbie and I am addicted to Cricut! I have Cricut, Expression, Design Center, Gypsy and anything with the little Cricut on the box! I would love love to own the Cake Cricut becasue I can do anything with a Cricut and I could have so much fun with by Grandkids making cakes, cupcakes and fun stuff. I have learned so much from your website and love all the great tips I get on your videos. Keep it up...we love you! Thanks for sharing your creativity and for the wonderful giveaways! OMG! I have to have the Cricut Cake, PLEASE!!!! I am a cake decorator and originally had intentions for my expression for using it to cut cake designs. Instead I got hooked on scrapbbooking and card making. Now I can't use it for cake decorating because it's not food safe. I can't justify buying another Cricut since mine is only a few months old. I really want the Cricut Cake. It will make a big difference in my life. :-) Why should I win well I am just getting into the cake decorating business and this machine will give me the edge needed to help my business get off the ground. I love what can be done with this machine. Ann [email protected] I'm a grandmother, who works with my granddaughter, (while Mom works)trying to teach her useful things to make life exciting. Crafting, sewing, baking, and all kinds of Girl Scout work (she is a Juliette, a scout working independly)..She has done school project on my cricut, and a cricut cake would be a great chance to learn more and make donations with her scout work. Love this site. Would like to win because I am an avid cardmaker and scrapbooker. Thanks for the chance to win !!! Love your site too !! I am semi-retired and love to craft for church,home, and different centers. Winning a cake cricut who be unbelieveable! I love cakes, circut and scrappin. What could be better. MIMI I would love to win this even tho i already have the expression (i LOVE it). The new cake carts are so cool. I probably have to decide on just one instead of all of them! Thanks for the opportunity! SM THANK YOU sooo much for this website!! I am new to it and think it is the greatest website for Cricut ideas! i would love to have a cartage as i just ordered the cricut cake and i have been making cakes for years Since I'm the designated office baker the Cricut Cake would give me so many more options as far as decorating. With a full time job and family this would be an AWESOME way for me to save on time, while still being able to produce wonderfully decorated cakes. love the possibilities with the cake machine love the opportunity to win. Maybe some day it will be my time. Who knows could be this time. You are a great site. I just borrowed my friends Old West cartridge and loved it more then I thought I would. The letters are so much fun. I hope I win my own. Also thank you for the the sample pages you send they are inspiring I Love the site and all the helpful tips. I love anything Cricut. I am crossing my fingers. I just viewed your guest contribution on Hallmark Ladybugs and I love the card you made. I will be making that for sure. Of course I then went to your website and I love it. So many wonderful card samples. Thank you so much, Renee P Thank you for sharing your great ideas in your blog. You give me inspiration to complete my own projects. I would love any of these cartridges. I love using my cricut to make my pages more complete LOVING IT ALL... I just learned about Everyday Cricut from Scrapguys blog. What a find. Thanks Scrapguy.... I just love the AK cart, it is perfect for so many occasions. Thanks for all the great ideas Judy Staie Your giveaways are awesome! Looking forward to this week! I am excited to follow each day. New to your site and LOVE IT! Great Job. marimarr Been following your site for several weeks and love it. Thanks for getting me back to using my Cricut as it has been in the closet collecting dust! Had forgot how much fun it is! Would love to receive your give away! Love, Love, Love this site. Have had my Cricut for a little over a year and have always been so intimidated by it, but this site has really helped with a lot of my questions...love the stuff you create! Would love to win anything from Everyday Cricut becuase you always have the best! I loved the Jillibean Soup card using the lemon paper. Have tried to find it, but can't can you tell me where I can get it? Also, any tutorials on card and envelope making. I can do the cards OK, but when it comes to making the envelope, the cards never fit....I must be missing something! Thanks for always being so on top of your game....fantastic site! Thank you for all your great ideas! I look forward to my daily emails from you. I especially liked Scraapguys video yesterday. I enjoy getting your daily emails and looking at all the wonderful ideas. May 1 is my birthday and I love to scrapbook, so I hope I'm a winner :-) Thanks for all the great ideas! This is a fun site I am glad I found it. I always enjoy your daily emails. Thanks for sharing your designs and ideas. Hugs Carolyn I look forward to seeing your project everyday and it is never a let down! Thanks for sharing your talents with us! You have such wonderful ideas! So many great ideas, so little time! Work is really getting in the way of my creative pursuits!! I love you blog & enjoy reading it each day. It is full of useful information. The free give -a-ways aren't bad either. Good luck to everyone This is such a great site especially for the Cricut. Here's to winning!!! I love your ideas!! Hope I win! I love following your blog. Love your ideas! I wish I could win something!!! I love getting the e-mails & card ideas every day!! Jean Heming I just love everything about this site.I can't wait to check my email to see what I have from Cricut. Always new designs with such lovely use of wonderful paper and new cartridges. Luv it luv it. Thank you so much for your Everyday Cricut, I look so forward to the new and beautiful cards. Very excited that Anna Griffith is the sponsor for this week, she is my favorite. Julie These are fantastic thanks for sharing [email protected] Just a note to say thanks for the nice things you all do to making scrapping fun. Not every day you find give aways. Even though I have not won (would like to)you all are awesome. Love, love, love the Cricut! Have you guys ever thougt about making a MAGAZINE for the Cricut? I think it would be great to have so many designs in one place!!! Thanks for all you do!!! Love, love, love the Cricut! Have you guys ever thougt about making a MAGAZINE for the Cricut? I think it would be great to have so many designs in one place!!! Thanks for all you do!!! I can't say enough about this great card. I love pink and green! I love Heidi's papers! I love the cartridge you used with the card. I don't have one but maybe someday I will. Thanks again for the great card design! love the card, and miss my mom she would have loved it too! pink was her favorite color. Keep up the great cards. Love your creations--love your blog-- love to scrap--love, love, love life! The Mother's Day card made with Cricut Cake was really pretty. I loved the flower and the color combination you used. I love seeing your ideas! Love your prizes! How fun! Hope I win. I have lots of plans and ideas...Eljay Hi - I received a Cricut as a gift last month. And I love getting the tips & project ideas from you guys. It's really been a big help in learning the ropes. Keep it up! [email protected] Pretty, pretty card. I love all your creations! Thank you for all these great ideas! I bought my Cricut Expression last year and I have been building up my collection of carts! I love it all!!! Thanks. Look forward to viewing your creations evry day. Such a great card!I love all of your creations. Receiving your emails and seeing the cards and layouts are such a pick-me-up to my day! Thanks, Charlotte What a great source for wonderful ideas! Thanks so much!! Thanks for the "manly" card. They can really be a mental block sometimes. Love your card. Everyday I look forward to your email with the card of the day. Always an inspiration! Oh my goodness! So many great new ideas for cards! I love your website and definitely will be "borrowing" many of your card ideas! :) What a beautiful layout! I love how you used the 'leftovers' to finish off the layout. Very original and pretty, it really gives me inspiration!! I love the filigree on this card. What a neat cartridge! You all have such talent. I LOVE the paper/colors you used in the layout and the embellishments are awesome! Wow, I love thursday's scrapbook pages. I really like the colors and I like how you are using leftover pieces to avoid waste. Great ideas. Friday's card was very unique! I look forward each day to my Everyday Cricut email to see what is new. Thanks! Love to see new creations to follow What a brautiful Mother's Day card! I am amazed at the beautiful images on the Cake Carts. I was thinking it would be strictly to use for cakes only. I am so hooked on the Cricut and I love the daily ideas. I absolutely love your site and can't wait to see it everyday...I get lots of fantastic ideas from you,,,,keep up the good work. p.s. I would love to win my choice of a cricut cartridge. Thanks again. I love my Cricut and your website. You have so many great ideas. Thanks for doing such a great job. Susie Creative, talented, inspirationial,fun. Thank you Creative, talented, inspirationial and fun. Thank you What cute graduation things! I'll have to share with my niece. Thanks! I love your cards; they are so beautiful! ♥ Wow - a chance to win an Expression. I love the layouts that you show! I think the thing I love most about your site is all the videos -they are so informative. I learn something new constantly. [email protected] Old crafter says I would love to win a Cricut machine of any kind. I watch them on TV and in all the blogs I find. They are just so nice for us older people with arthritis. Keep up the good work. Love the card and the colors used! Carm I love everything about this site. The layouts, the cards, the tips, the way you use different cartridges, & all of the creative ideas. Thanks so much! carlascraftycreations--Okla. Good Morning, I am a teacher and have a self-contain classroom. Our students love making simple cards. We would like to make kits and sell during lunch time to fund our cooking and crafts. I truly hope I win as it takes alot of time to kit cards up for 8 students on a 6 by 12. Also with us selling card kits at lunch, it will take a dedication of time to finish. Please share any ideas for simple card that would be fun and that would bring great joy to our students to say, "I made this" Thanks for such a cool site too V. Bland Nevada OMG! Just discovered you site today. LOVE IT! I will def. be here to get creative ideas. Yay! My daughter recommended this site and so far, it's great. I love the tutorials with the option to watch the video too. Thanks My daughter recommended this site and so far, it's great. I love the tutorials with the option to watch the video too. Thanks Holy Kazam! I just found your blog and what an amazing giveaway! I love your videos on YouTube, I've been checking them out quite a bit lately! So now I'm a blog follower too! Yippee!! I can't believe I just now gfound this site! I am so excited, I will have to pass it on to my husband who spoils me and buys my cricut stuff before I ask for it. Im going to check out the whole site now. If I win the expression I will bring it to work, so the ladies who hands don't work anymore and continue to create. I work at a nursing home. Thanks for this opportunity! Love your beautiful creations, keep up the good work! [email protected] Would love to win one of the prizes. Have never won anything and this would be fantastic. Love your blog. Look forward to reading them always. All Dolled Up, with everywhere to go!! Cutest ever. Love the video how to. Thanks for sharing. Dawn Great blog..Great creations.. I love the "all dolled up" card. I is a really cute card for any little girl. Thanks for the idea. Can't wait to start getting emails from this blog! So many wonderful new ideas and creations! Hi Monday how is everyone? just trying to win again I'm really into your web-site I have learned so much and added so many skills to my stamping. It's great to learn the many different ways of using my cricut. I'm still using my old Personal Electronic circut and would love to win and upgrade to being able to cut 12X12 paper instead of 6X12. Keep up the great work! Mary [email protected] Thanks so much. Lovely to see your creations. Your voice sounds like you really enjoy what you do. I will cross my fingers for winnings. Thanks Marcie Hello, I'm am brand spanking new at this blogging and scrapping and such. I have had a cricket for a year and never used it. I used it a couple of weeks ago and I'm sooooo hooked on it. I like both your video and project section and the detail in which you have published them. Very informative. I'm just so excited to find sites like yours. Thanks so much. Fran Thanks for all the great ideas! Thanks for the chance to win a candy!!! From Ushuaia, "the end of the world", Argentina... Hugs, ma.Irene Love your blog. I especially like the video portion. I learn with visual aids. Thank you for sharing all your craftiness with the rest of us. I just joined and am LOVING all the great tips and ideas. Hope I will be able to use some of them in the very near future! Love the new Paperdoll designs! So cute! Perfect for all of us with little girls! You all are doing an amazing job! Thanks for all you do! Would love to win! Another Great Give away, one day I will win, sure hope it's before I get to old to use it. HaHa Love you work [email protected] that's deeolson at tds dot net Hope to win I do visit every day and love this site. Love,love your cards. They get my creative side going and make me want to do more. I would also love to have an Expression machine. Wow what we could do with that. But just keep the stuff coming as we love it. I would love to win one of your prizes. I have alot of scrapping ahead of me and need all the help I can get:-) Love these blogs and all the help they give!! Will tell me my customers about this site. So many new Cricut users want a class to learn more. Would love a chance to win an Expressions machine as well. Wow! I am new to Cricut and wouldn't be able to do anything without your sites! Thank you so much for the inspiration!! I can't wait to get started!!!! I do have a question. I already have a few cartridges and am having trouble finding all that's available on them. What's the best way to organize what's on the cartridges? I have a new (first, can you tell?!) granddaughter and am anxious to spoil her rotten with scrapbooks, cards, and hopefully, eventually, cakes! How do I keep my sanity with so many choices on each cartridge?! Thanks so much for your guidance!!!! love giveaways never win but still love them non the less.Great site. Great blog. I can't pick what is the best. From tips to ideas to just getting inspired. It's all the best I just discovered your blog and I can't wait to see all the things you do with the Cricut. I bought the Cricut Expressions a couple of months ago and have been happy with it. However, I'd love to get more ideas using some of my cartridges. Thanks. My GRANDdaughter (age 7) and I have so much fun together on the Cricut! It really helps bring out her creativity!!! We would love to win! Thanks for all your great ideas! I just ordered the Cricut Create however I wanted to make cards and now that I look at the info more I am wondering if it will allow me to make cards since the paper size it uses is smaller? Anyone have one and using it to make cards? Cute Layout! I love the Pooh and Friends cartridge. Thanks for the ideas. Love this blog, just bought my cricut and love, love, love it. I'm so excited to see your website. I know I am going to enjoy it so much. Thanks for the opportunity to enter and win! Annette Terrific gifts! Inspiring videos. Thanks for the opportunity! I am a Preschool Teacher and we are nearing the end of the school year. I have used my Cricut for lots of theme projects! I have done the Alphabet across one wall in my Room thanks to my Cricut! Thank you for all of the inspiration, your site is Awesome! Appreciate all your ideas. Keep them coming. Grandma Judy Ellen Wow. I am a new Cricut user and I love all your ideas. Thank you for all the time you spend to help all of us with projects and ideas. Huggy Bug I just love everything about this site...I would like to win anything concerning scrapping.Thanks so much for sharing your talent with us... I am a new cricut owner. I love all the new cartridges and would love to have them, especially Cindy Loo. I love your site, it's a great place to get inspired. Love what you did with the Toy Story and Cindy Lou layout. Great Blog! I will be visiting often. Phyllis Love you site. Great place to get ideas and inspiration. And it doesn' hurt that you give away wonderful "goodies" The mini monster looks darling. The layout of your husband is wonderful Joy! Great job on the guy layout...that is sometimes a challenge! This is my first week with "Everyday Cricut". I've been inspired. Thanks for all the great ideas. Margo You're doing great. Keep up the good work! Love your site...no really :) Just bought my cricut and would love to win! I need to get my create juices going.. Thanks Much~Michelle Just joined - looking forward to seeing more of your amazing layouts! Can't wait to see more from the Toy Story cartridge!! Happy Scrappin!! Teri I love your blog. It would be great to win the some cartridges so I can start my craft corner I am completely new to cricut.I just found this site - thanks - I cannot wait to get learning how to use my cricut expression. I had sizzix with lots of dies, that I just sent with my missionary friend to South Africa. It will be perfect for her there as she doesn't always have access to electric and so on. She was thrilled. It was my 30th wedding anniversary when I did this, and I found a great deal on the expression and my hubby said, "Happy Anniversary." So, of course I ordered it right away. It arrived today - so I am looking for great resources and found your site. I'll need to find good deals on cartridges , software and how to's and more! Suggestions for a cricut beginner? Jeanne Would be awesome to win and be able to add these to my scrapbooking collection....Your creations are beautiful and inspiring!!! Thanks! [email protected] This is my first time visiting tis site. I LOVE it. Can't wait to see what's on here tomorrow. Man, would I just love creating with either of these! Thanks for the opportunity of winning! Dian cute card, tfs. ria I want to win one cartridge, on june 15th is my birthday, could be the perfect present for me. i love this blog i visit daily Melanie, you have a great projects I love getting new ideas from such creative people!! Thanks for all your creations! I love getting new ideas from such creative people!! Thanks for all your creations! So excited. Love your cards. Crossing my fingers and toes!!! Would love to win Nuesery Rhymes or Give a Hoot! Very excited about finding this site. Love the cards and am always interested in cards and scrapbook layouts. Would love to win the Give a Hoot and Nursery Rhymes! A chance to win Give a Hoot or Nursery Rhymes would be great!! Love this site!! I've done a lot of scrapbooking and now have the Cricut expressions. Have a lot to learn. Wish there were classes for the expression!!!! It's great getting ideas from this site, keep them coming!! So much Fun!!!!! Thanks, LindaH Hi there. back in the cutting mode again.. would be so nice to win something.. Love your projects... You gals ROCK.. Well I have just joined your mailing list and so excited to be able to learn to use my circuit for so many things!! Thank you Diana I am just learning and am looking forward to lots of ideas for using my Cricut. I love the bear card. I hope the New Cricut Lite cartridges come to Canada at a reasonalbe price. I look so forward to your everyday emails! They are GREAT!!!!! Cool cards! Great job. The It's OWL right card is charming! I just found out about this vlog and i will be telling all my friends tomorrow when we get together for play group. Thanks for you hard work and great ideas. Aleece This is a great site. Thanks! I have just discovered your videos on youtube and find them very helpful. I really have no idea what a blog is or how it works so you will have to forgive me. All of this technology is confusing (definitely not English!):) You do an amazing job of detailed explanation and I would like to thank you for the tips on where to find the products you are using! Just found your site. Really creative stuff!! I'm fairly new and this site is great! Your ideas are awesome. Thank you Everyday Cricut. I now receive your emails and have gotten some great ideas. I am new to the cricut world, as I only received me. I have only the two cartridges that came with the machine and one other, Paper Pups, but am excited about all the opportunities. Also your ideas on the website are inspirational and remind me to be creative. I would also love to submit for the free cartridge - Just for cards. I would love to increase my cartridges to four and expand my horizons. Thank you again. Yvette I absolutely love this page. My kids are now grown and I'm just catching up on photos at all ages. I have tons of beach photos so this is perfect! Today is my 33rd anniversary to the most wonderful man who lets me be creative! Would love to win!!! Love all the cards and creative ideas you post. A friend just let me know about your site, this is awesome! This really inspires me to ue my cricut more. The "Mini Cards" are a great idea for quick gift cards or hostess gifts, etc. I would love to win the Cricut Cake carts to help increase my cuts for cardmaking. Love all that you create with the various carts. Keep up the good work. Thanks. just came back, been away from your site for awhile, love Marthas stuff the card is really nice do i have to have a google acct. to enter ?? would love to win Love the card, I love the simplicity but elegance of the butterfly. I am just beginning to make cards and the site gives me so much encouragement and ideas! Love Everyday Cricut. Look forward to each day's postings. Gives me lots of ideas and encourages me to experiment. I scrap lift a lot of the ideas! Talented artists. This is awesome!! Thanks, Michelle Smith I would love to win this for my mother's birthday!! Your website and ideas are always so AWESOME! I would love the cricut cake machine! looks like so much fun!! Fingers crossed!!
Love Among the Ruins Romantic archeologist, prizewinning dog breeder, energetic socialite, and full-time free spirit—heiress Iris Love remains a true New York original. One of the stock characters of the 1930s screwball comedy was the madcap heiress—the daring, dauntless debutante who kept a leopard as a pet, led a scavenger hunt in search of The Forgotten Man, or jilted an upstanding fiancé in favor of a former, less reputable beau. Freed from the financial concerns that constrain most people's behavior, those indulged and irrepressible daughters of the upper class acted out a shared national fantasy during the Great Depression, their giddy but good-natured misadventures giving the public a lift during a decade of economic woe and global menace. If there is anyone who today personifies that same blithe and daffy spirit, it is surely Iris Love, for decades a lively presence in New York and international society. Born to great wealth and privilege during the depths of the Depression, Love improbably became a celebrated archeologist, rising to professional prominence unsought by the glamour-girl debs of her youth. Yet all the while she has retained the freewheeling love of a good time undreamed of by the career-obsessed generation that followed her. She insists that the only two criteria for her easily bestowed friendship are that you like to drink (Grey Goose vodka for her, because, she says, that bird is sacred to Aphrodite) and that her dogs like you. At 69, the trim, blond Love still possesses the gamine charm and tomboyish self-assurance reminiscent of that pluperfect portrayer of the madcap heiress, Katharine Hepburn. Love can be found seemingly everywhere that the rich, famous, accomplished, and enlightened gather, from Chinese New Year's with Eileen and I.M. Pei to an audience with the teenage Tibetan-born Living Buddha in India to cruising the Turkish coast with Evelyn and Leonard Lauder. Indeed, she can be said to suffer from what Andy Warhol called "social disease," and is mentioned no fewer than nine times in the artist's candid diaries, the definitive chronicle of seventies and eighties café society. Often Warhol records Love showing up at parties in costume—matching cowgirl outfits with her then steady companion, gossip columnist Liz Smith, at the Houston premiere of Urban Cowboy, a kilt at C.Z. Guest's Christmas Eve dinner on Long Island, and on other occasions wearing a toga in which she performed Greek dances. And not long after the attack on the World Trade Center, Love attended a birthday party near Ground Zero dressed as Uncle Sam and was waved through by security guards when they saw her patriotic getup. The most improbable encounters seem to occur regularly in Love's broadband magnetic field. Among the many jet-set visitors in the early seventies to her reputation-making Knidos dig in Turkey were Mick and Bianca Jagger. During a 1989 visit to Poland with Johnson & Johnson heiress Barbara Piasecka Johnson, Love successfully urged her friend to invest in the faltering Gdansk shipyard, to the delight of another Polish friend, Lech Walesa. As a prizewinning dog breeder, Love is the first to acknowledge that the spectacular genes in her own pedigree have decisively shaped her life. A direct descendant of both the explorer Captain James Cook and founding father Alexander Hamilton on her English and Scotch-Irish father's side, and of the "Our Crowd" Guggenheim and Josephthal dynasties on her German-Jewish mother's side, she displays many of the traits that brought those forebears to prominence. From Capt. Cook, Love says, she derives her peripatetic nature and dogged urge for discovery, and from her Guggenheim antecedents an uncanny instinct for digging profitably in the earth. And from both branches of her family Love has inherited a buoyant positivism that endears her to a wide and wildly varied circle of friends. According to her longtime pal Laura Maioglio, owner of New York's landmark Barbetta restaurant and wife of Nobel Prize biologist Günter Blobel, "Iris has such an incredible enthusiasm and love of life that everyone around her begins to feel the same way." "I'm very optimistic and always have been," Love admits. "I follow Greek philosophy in that you have to have a balance—in order to combat evil you must have good, to recognize that someone is tall, someone must be short, to understand sweet, there must be sour." Although she was raised as an Episcopalian, this superstitious, amulet-toting pantheist is perhaps best described as an equal-opportunity pagan. Love's greatest claim to fame came more than 30 years ago, when she scored one of the most dramatic coups in 20th-century archeology, a science known for a glacially slow pace only rarely punctuated by stupendous finds such as King Tut's tomb. She and her international team of archeologists rediscovered the long-lost Temple of Aphrodite at Knidos, on the Anatolian coast of southwest Turkey. Love, who cherishes a deep personal identification with the Greek goddess of love, views the enterprise with religious fervor. The remains of the ruined sanctuary, which once held the famous white Parian marble statue of Aphrodite sculpted by Praxiteles in the fifth century b.c., had been among the most elusive of ancient sites, and one of the most renowned. By the first century A.D., Pliny the Elder was able to write, "With this statue Praxiteles made Knidos a famous city." In our own time, however, some scholars have proposed that the temple might not have been located in Knidos at all. But Love felt otherwise, based on her characteristic blend of sound scholarship and quasi-mystical intuition. "I knew, having read the ancient literary sources, that the Temple of Aphrodite must be circular, which was unique for the Greeks," Love explains. "I based it on what Pliny the Elder says, that 'Aphrodite stands in her temple in such a way that she is equally admirable from every angle.' To be equally admirable from every angle, it'd have to be circular." With the Turkish archeologist Askidil Akarca, a granddaughter of the last sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Love sailed from Bodrum (ancient Halicarnassus) down the coast of Asia Minor to Knidos, now called Tekir by the Turks. "I was sitting on the prow of the caïque," Love recalls, "and suddenly a school of dolphins—which are sacred to Aphrodite—appeared and escorted us into the Bay of Knidos. It was August third, two days after my birthday, and I thought, This is a great present. And when I saw Knidos itself, somehow I knew that this was part of my destiny." Love got permits from the Turkish government for the dig, raised the money for the operation, and began excavating on a promising site atop a bluff overlooking the Aegean. There she worked over the next three summers, teaching at various colleges during the academic year. Her great breakthrough came on July 20, 1969, an epochal day she sees as a preordained conjunction of the cosmic and the familial— which is very much how she views the world as a whole. "On Sunday the rest of my team was in camp listening on the transistor radio to man taking his first steps on the moon," she reminisces. "I set off with a Swiss archeologist named Rolf Stucky, who was also a mountain climber, to try to see the site literally as the crow flies. Rolf pulled me up the side of a terrace and from there I was able to look down, and to my astonishment I saw a circular spill of foundation fill, which I knew had to be the Temple of Aphrodite as Pliny described it." Descending to the site itself, Love and her team began excavating and, as she recalls, "We set the trench, and within two hours the first course of the temple came up—it was marble and circular." Subsequently they found the base of the statue as well as fragments of a hand, a finger, and drapery that could well have come from the legendary statue. News of the discovery quickly made international headlines, but Love saw the timing of the simultaneous events as far from coincidental. "My great-uncle, Daniel Guggenheim, and his brothers—including Uncle Solomon, who founded the museum—had made their money digging in the earth for minerals, mining copper in Colorado and developing Alaska during the Gold Rush," Love relates. . "Archeologists and literati had searched for the Temple of Aphrodite at Knidos for over two hundred and fifty years," she continues. "That it should be discovered by a woman whose last name was Love, and that Aphrodite, goddess of love, was worshiped in conjunction with the Moon, and that it happened on the very same day that man landed on the Moon—isn't that too much of an amazing coincidence?" Having made her great find, however, Love no longer pursued her work with such single-minded passion. "Iris put Knidos on the map and trained a number of students," says one archeologist friend summing up Love's accomplishments and her standing in the profession today. "We all like her, but she's been so inactive in archeology for so many years now that she's had no impact on the field since the seventies." Love's current great passion is dachshunds, and she is regarded as the country's foremost breeder and trainer of the German "badger hounds." Her standard smooth-coated dachshunds won the best-of-breed category at New York City's Westminster Dog Show in 1996 and 1999. She is also known for the celebrity-packed dog party she throws before the event each February at Tavern on the Green for her fellow fanciers and the dachshunds that own them. Canines have always been a part of Love's life, and as she puts it, "I was raised by a Scottie, a boxer, and twelve Skye terriers, perhaps because the Loves originally came from the Isle of Skye. The boxer was my second governess. If I went swimming she went swimming, if I went canoeing she would swim out to the canoe." Love's mother, who was on the board of the ASPCA, adopted a dachshund which she named the Baron Heinrich Schultz von Kraut. "I was in Italy," Love recalls, "And I thought, 'Of all the breeds, how could Mummy possibly adopt a dachshund?' They are so strange-looking, and from an engineering standpoint they're almost impossible. And when I came back from Italy, it took exactly twenty minutes for the Baron Heinrich to totally enchant me, and I have been a dachshund fancier ever since." For the sake of her dogs, Love divides her time between her Upper East Side apartment and a house in the Green Mountains of Vermont, where most of her 42 dachshunds live full time. Iris Cornelia Love was born in 1933 at 713 Park Avenue, a townhouse just a few blocks from where she now lives. Her parents—the stockbroker Cornelius Ruxton Love Jr. and Audrey Barbara Josephthal, an heiress to the New York private securities firm Josephthal & Co., and to the Guggenheim fortune—met on a proverbial slow boat to China and married after a long courtship. The Love house was loaded with superb works of art, many of which her father acquired in China. "I grew up eating at a table Daddy had made from a Coromandel screen from the Summer Palace, which he had turned on its side and covered with glass," Love remembers. Ruxton and Audrey Love were voracious and discerning art lovers who amassed Italian bronzes, Duncan Phyfe furniture, and fine collections of Napoleonic vermeil and early-19th-century Paul Storr silver. Ruxton Love developed a passion for Napoleonic relics—including a suite of chairs from Malmaison, the emperor's campaign desk by Odiot, and the nécessaires of Joséphine and her daughter Hortense, by Biennais—many of which Iris found for him during her travels in Europe. The couple were also pioneering collectors of Benin bronzes and Gandharan sculpture, decades before those esoteric treasures became fashionable, and many of their best pieces have been given to museums in his memory. Audrey Love, who is now 97, still lives on Park Avenue, a few blocks away from the younger of her two daughters. Apart from her parents' love of beautiful objets, another formative influence on Iris was her childhood caretaker. "I had a wonderful English governess, Katie Wray, who had also brought up my mother, and she had had a classical education," Love says. ." Wray also took her young charge to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where Iris fell in love with the Etruscan Warriors, a trio of monumental terra cottas collected by the museum between 1915 and 1921 and long among its most striking treasures. Love's education was both exceedingly proper and intellectually stimulating: "First I went to a kindergarten whose name I now question. It was called The Yard." Later on she attended the academically demanding Brearley School on Manhattan's Upper East Side, and at 15 she was sent off to the tony Madeira School in the Washington, D.C., suburb of McLean, Virginia. Then came Smith College, where her professors included the redoubtable Phyllis Williams Lehmann, an expert in ancient Greek art of whom Love still speaks with reverence. Among Love's contemporaries at Smith was the young and very troubled Sylvia Plath. "I knew her quite well," she recalls, "because she kept trying to commit suicide and was kept back until she wound up in my class. In truth, neither her poetry nor her ideas were acceptable to me at that time because I was very much interested in classical literature and art. But she absolutely fascinated me as a person, because I have never understood why anyone would wish to kill herself, especially at such a young age. Suicide to me is the easy way out." Her junior year abroad in Italy, where she studied at the University of Florence with the eminent archeologist Ranuccio Bianchi Bandinelli and frequented the city's Museo Archeologico, was a revelation. She became even more fascinated by the Etruscans, on weekends visiting archeological sites of that mysterious pre-Roman civilization and other cities with major Etruscan collections. In the process she developed a sharp eye for the real thing, and after returning to New York, went to the Metropolitan to revisit her beloved Etruscan Warriors, on which she was writing her bachelor's thesis. With her new expertise in Etruscan art, Love was horrified to realize "there was something terribly wrong" with the statues, and was proved right in 1961 when the pieces were exposed as fakes manufactured in an Orvieto workshop by the forger Alfredo Adolfo Fioravanti, who proudly confirmed his fraudulent authorship. Love claims she told the Met's director, James Rorimer, of her impending exposé, but he beat her to the punch by giving The New York Times the story—which did not mention Love—the day before her paper was to be published. After graduating with honors from Smith, Love went on to study classical archeology at New York University's postgraduate Institute of Fine Arts. She stopped just short of her doctorate because, although having completed her coursework, she felt unable to write the dissertation. ("I can barely write my own name," she ruefully admits.) Certainly her lack of scholarly publications has been an impediment to her being taken seriously in some professional circles. But "publish or perish" held no real terror for the financially independent heiress. "God bless my grandmother," Love declares, referring to the trust fund from Edyth Guggenheim Josephthal that has largely underwritten her unorthodox career, "because I probably could never have become an archeologist without her." To a great extent, Love is a spiritual descendant of the trailblazing 19th-century German archeologist Heinrich Schliemann, the rediscoverer of Troy, who used his own considerable fortune to finance his digs. Schliemann was also an incurable romantic and inveterate fabulist who felt compelled to associate every site he worked on and every object he found with a famous mythical figure. "Though I am not an admirer of Schliemann, who probably destroyed more evidence than he discovered in his excavations," Love says, "I believe, as he did, that within every legend or myth is a seed of truth. For the last twelve years I've been working on a book about the Odyssey, roughly titled—to steal a line from Frank Sinatra— 'The Odyssey, My Way.' What I have been trying to do is demonstrate from a factual point of view what it might have been that Odysseus encountered. I'm trying to find that seed of truth." Undiscovered Country We asked Iris Love what she would consider the five most important discoveries yet to be made (not ranked in order of importance): 1 The statue of APHRODITE EUPLOIA, by the great fourth-century sculptor Praxiteles; also known as the Aphrodite of Knidos or the Knidia. She dates from circa 350 b.c., was considered the most beautiful work of art in antiquity, and at one time was counted among the seven wonders of the ancient world. 2 The Opening of the MAUSOLEUM OF THE QIN EMPEROR SHIH HUANG-TI. Located near the ancient capital of Xianyang, the mausoleum was sealed when the Emperor died in 210 b.c. Ancient Chinese literary sources say that the ceiling is adorned with diamonds of greater and lesser brilliance, to represent the stars and constellations. Flowing quicksilver represents the two great rivers of China: the Huang, or Yellow River, and the Yangtze. Only a small part of the surrounding area has been excavated, and Chinese archeologists have recovered life-sized ceramic figures of courtiers and soldiers. The Emperor believed if he didn't kill his army, (as emperors often did) they'd serve his son and preserve his dynasty, so he replicated the army and the magistrates and courtiers in pottery and bronze. 3 Finding AN ANCIENT GREEK OR ROMAN LIBRARY would be one of the most spectacular discoveries in the world. We have very little ancient literature and yet it influenced the entire Western world. There is a Greek and Roman library—at Herculaneum, near Pompeii, in the villa of the Papyri. This was discovered in the late 18th century and some of the papers were deciphered. Pompeii, which was buried under pumice and volcanic ash, is relatively easy to excavate, but Herculaneum's ash mixed with rain and steam and became somewhat solidified—it's a very difficult excavation. 4 AN INTACT EGYPTIAN TOMB OF ANY OF THE GREAT PHARAOHS OF THE NEW KINGDOM (1650-1085 B.C.). This would be a spectacular discovery. If you think of what came from a very small tomb from a very insignificant boy pharaoh, Tutankamen, imagine what we would find from a great pharaoh—it truly boggles the imagination. 5 A GREEK MONUMENTAL WALL PAINTING FROM THE SEVENTH TO FOURTH CENTURIES B.C. It would be exceptional to find a painting by a great fourth-century master like Apelles, court painter to Alexander the Great; or Nessos, from the seventh century. Although there are Minoan and Mycenean wall paintings, not one Greek wall painting that we know of survives. The only clues are the reflections we see in vase painting or Etruscan tomb painting. Zeuxis, a fourth-century b.c. painter, was known for his highlighting and shading. The literature says he painted grapes that could deceive birds. Martin Filler wrote about London architecture and antiques shops in the last issue of Departures.
Mr Michael L'Estrange, Secretary Address to the National Press Club, Canberra, 27 September 2006 Responding to Twenty-First Century Challenges: DFAT in a Changing World • Australian foreign and trade policy reflects Australia's interests and values as well as our history and our geography • Today, I would like to focus on how these influences relate to the current priorities of Australian foreign and trade policy • And I would also like to address some remarks to the modern capabilities in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade which help to advance the interests and aspirations that underpin Australian foreign and trade policy – those interests and aspirations are defined by the government of the day – they give the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, or DFAT to give it is everyday title, its points of reference and its benchmarks for effectiveness; their development and implementation are the focus of our policy advice; and their purposes are a key determinant in the allocation of our resources. A Modern Organisation To Meet Modern Challenges • Earlier this year, on 2 February to be precise as I signed and dated my first papers for the day, I suddenly realised I was older than I felt – that was because it dawned on me that it was 25 years to the day since I joined the Australian Public Service, as a graduate recruit in the International Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet • The Australian Public Service I joined at that time was very different to the one that exists today – and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a very different organisation as well • Today, whole-of-government realities and modernised management practices have fundamentally changed the way that the Australian Public Service operates – and DFAT has been at the cutting edge of these changes – that is because DFAT is so intricately involved in the wide-ranging policy implications of increasing globalisation and because across so many areas of national policy - from security issues to national economic competitiveness to many others - the interaction between domestic and international considerations is more active and porous than ever before. • In response to these new realities, DFAT has adapted and modernised its structures, its work practices and its resource allocation in ways which, I believe, make it extremely well equipped to meet its responsibilities. • DFAT today is a flexible organisation operating in a complex international environment – our Australia-based staff number just over 2000 officers of whom around a quarter are posted overseas at any one time – those postings include 87 Embassies, High Commissions, Consulates and Multilateral Missions in 74 States – the Department now operates in 61 different currencies – and on an annual basis around 11% of our Australia-based officers are rotated to overseas assignments. • In all the areas of their responsibilities, whether it be diplomatic and security issues, or the welfare of Australians overseas, or opportunities for Australian exports and investment, or international policy benchmarking generally, DFAT officers in Australia and overseas require a more diverse set of skills than ever before – so, in our recruitment and training strategies, our purpose - and I believe our achievement - is to develop DFAT officers with modern diplomatic skills, not of an effete or arcane kind but of a practical, hard-nosed and outcomes-oriented kind focused on policy issues of highest relevance to Australia and with particular skills in areas such as international security, regional relationships, international law, trade and economics, financial administration, client services and project management : this means having DFAT officers with informed good judgement, policy and analytical depth, carefully focused activism and high quality advocacy skills : and it means having officers with personal qualities to support Australians in times of emergency or grief and to cope themselves with the pressures that they and their families are under on a regular basis in many parts of the world. • I believe that DFAT as an organisation and DFAT's officers themselves are meeting these many challenges with appropriately high standards of skill, professionalism and commitment • The modern capabilities of DFAT need to take account of the fact that the demands that our portfolio generates are often unpredictable and call for immediate response – for example, in the year that ended in June this year, DFAT activated crisis contingency plans following the London bombings in July 2005, the Bali bombings in October 2005, and the civil unrest in the Solomon Islands and East Timor in April/May this year : and we sent specialist consular teams twelve times to assist with consular crises overseas. • The recent Lebanon crisis highlighted the modern need for flexibility within DFAT as an organisation – DFAT led a multi-agency operation which included Defence, DIMA, Centrelink and others – that operation oversaw the evacuation of around 5,200 Australians and 1,200 other foreign nationals from a war zone located 15,000 kilometres from Australia : it was an operation that also successfully brought over 4,600 Australians home by air immediately after their evacuation from Lebanon – in managing the DFAT resources to support this consular emergency, flexibility was the key in relation to both our Australia-based and overseas-based staff : we deployed 92 additional officers to support the work of our missions in Beirut, Nicosia, Ankara, Amman and Tel Aviv : while 357 Canberra-based DFAT staff drawn from many areas of the Department worked on crisis management during the Lebanon emergency through the 24-hour crisis centre, the logistics co-ordination centre and the consular operations centre. Advancing Policy Priorities • The capabilities within DFAT to which I have referred are directed to meeting the policy challenges we face in a modern, dynamic and effective way. • At the core of that policy challenge lies the diversity of Australia's international engagements, with clear priorities in the Asia-Pacific region and with broader interests that are global • Australia is pursuing both its regional engagements and its wider global interests in the context of an international environment that has fundamentally changed • Overlaying some of the familiar historical patterns of strategic competition between states that remain clearly apparent around the world there are two new realities that have transformed the international environment and the pursuit of Australian interests in it. • The first is the reality of global terrorism – a reality highlighted in the terrorist attacks in the United States on 11 September 2001 and in other attacks that have followed in Indonesia, Turkey, Spain, Britain, Egypt, Jordan and elsewhere – the reality of modern terrorism poses a qualitatively new challenge to international security and constitutes a new kind of extremist threat : one that is global in its reach, utterly ruthless in its intent, indiscriminate in its targeting, rigidly ideological in its perversion of religion and its rejection of pluralism, democracy and tolerance, committed to inflicting as much loss of life and dislocation as possible, and constrained only by its access to weapons with maximum destructive effect. • The second transforming influence on the international environment is the reality of economic globalisation, that process of market-driven interaction and integration between economies which is being driven by the unprecedented movement of goods, services, capital and people across borders and by the ongoing revolution in innovation and commercialisation. • There is, in my view, no alternative framework of ideas or action which provides any comparable record of practical gains to that of globalisation in generating higher levels of economic growth and in alleviating global poverty – more countries are participating in the global economy than ever before and hundreds of millions of people in developed and developing economies alike have benefited as a result – all of the world's great and emerging powers, including India and China, are committed to the market-led dynamic underpinning modern economic globalisation. They are beneficiaries of globalisation as well as important drivers of it. • The forces accelerating globalisation bring with them challenges as well as benefits – challenges such as the illegal movement of people, finance, weapons and drugs – challenges such as the grievances of states which have not, for various reasons, had access to the full benefits of globalisation; and – challenges such as the accentuated threats posed by pandemics and environmental issues. • These are substantive challenges that demand practical and sustained responses – they demand effective international co-operation to stem illegal movements across borders : they require dismantling the international trade barriers that prevent developing countries making progress down the path of export-led growth : and they require effective, targeted development assistance programs which promote economic growth, improve governance and address the real needs of people. • One of the great challenges currently facing the international community is the erosion of capacity among particular states which creates weakness and vulnerability, and potentially makes such states failing or failed ones. • There are those who argue that this erosion of state capacity to deliver security or economic opportunity is somehow a direct consequence of globalisation, and in particular of some states being unable to access its full benefits. • This proposition is, in my view, fundamentally flawed – failed and rogue states are not the inevitable consequence of globalisation – they are a consequence of ineffective and often corrupt governance, or a self-defeating economic introversion, or a dependency culture, or perceived grievances against modernity, or extremist ideologies, or some combination of these influences. Complementarity between Australia's Global and Regional Interests • The transforming impact of global terrorism and economic globalisation on the international system has had the effect of significantly increasing the complementarity between Australia's global interests and our regional ones – just as there are interlocking regional and global networks of economic interaction, so too there are interlocking regional and global networks of terrorism, weapons proliferation and extremist ideologies. • Australian foreign policy has always engaged elements of both regional and global interests – but the interaction between them is now closer than it has ever been – and that reality is clearly reflected in DFAT's pursuit of the priorities of Australian foreign and trade policy. • One such priority is focused on counter-terrorism - and in this context the work of DFAT is directed at developing capabilities within and between governments as well as communities to deter terrorist attacks and to strengthen the mainstream consensus in order to further erode, and eventually eliminate, the appeal of violent extremism • Terrorism clearly has both global connections and regional manifestations – and Australia's counter-terrorist strategies address both these realities : globally, Australia is doing so through on-the-ground commitments to countering terrorist challenges in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan as well as through activist Australian involvement in multilateral diplomacy to address terrorist threats and their bases of support : and regionally, Australian counter-terrorism priorities are focused very effectively on co-operation with countries from India across South-East Asia to Fiji on issues such as border management, transport security, transnational crime, people smuggling, money laundering and promoting interfaith dialogue, pluralism and tolerance. • Another key priority for the Department relates to countering the proliferation of weapons which undermines both global and regional security. • Australia's counter-proliferation strategies again address both these dimensions – globally, we do so working with others in the international community to meet the challenge posed by the nuclear brinkmanship of Iran and North Korea and through promoting arms limitation agreements and effective export controls – and regionally, Australian counter-proliferation policy enhances co-operative arrangements to inhibit international trafficking in illegal weapon technologies and to limit the proliferation of small weapons in particular. • DFAT is also intently focused on Australia's developing relationships with the great and emerging powers of the Asia-Pacific region, and in particular with the United States, Japan, China and India – these relationships clearly embrace global as well as regional dimensions. • We have important but different relationships with each of these countries – we have a strong, close and expanding alliance relationship of critical significance with the United States: an alliance, as the Prime Minister said yesterday, of interests as well as values – we have a broadening scope of very significant security and economic cooperation with Japan reflecting Japan's own changing view of its role in the world – we have an important and fast-developing relationship with China which we are keen to advance in an ambitious and clear-eyed way : ambitious in terms of the important and expanding interests which Australia and China share in areas such as bilateral trade and investment, regional security dialogue and regional institutions, : and clear-eyed in terms of the different priorities we have on particular issues as a result of different histories, different processes and different values – and we also have significant new and expanding associations of common interest with India across a range of important bilateral, regional and global economic and security issues. • Australia's interests in these key relationships with the United States, China, Japan and India are importantly affected by the changing character of the relationships between each of them - and particularly between the United States and China, Japan and China and the United States and India. • But Australia's relationships with these major powers of the Asia-Pacific region are not the product of zero sum considerations – in fact, the opposite is the case – for example, over recent years, in a period when Australia's alliance relationship with the United States has never been closer or stronger, our engagement with the countries of the Asia-Pacific region and with the region's institutions has never been more intensive or productive. • Another priority issue for DFAT which again engages both regional and global dimensions relates to the pursuit of Australian trade policy interests in the liberalisation of trade and investment flows – globally we pursue this liberalisation objective through the processes of the World Trade Organisation and, in particular, the negotiations in the Doha Round – regionally we pursue it through trade facilitation and through addressing structural 'behind the borders' impediments to freer trade and investment flows, and – bilaterally we work to advance Australian interests through particular liberalising initiatives such as free trade agreements and other facilitating arrangements. • As a Department, we are also clearly focused on a range of other vitally important international issues where Australian interests engage both global and regional dimensions. Those issues include: – the alleviation of global poverty and the role of aid, debt relief and liberalised trade access in delivering the most effective outcomes – the challenges posed to the international community by weak, vulnerable, failing and failed states – responses to climate change, and – contingency planning in relation to avian flu and the spread of HIV/AIDS. • The Australian Government's responsibilities in relation to the safety and welfare of Australians overseas constitute another priority for DFAT which directly engages global and regional dimensions – these consular responsibilities are not defined by geography – they are as relevant in our region as they are beyond it – our support services to Australians overseas continue to increase : with DFAT in the year to June this year providing assistance in just under 16,000 substantial consular cases involving Australians overseas and responding to many minor ones as well : with our regularly updated travel advisories now covering 152 destinations : and with the Department issuing over 1.2 million passports to eligible Australians in 2005-06. Regional Engagement • The interaction between global and regional issues in Australian foreign and trade policy is more intense than ever before but it is not symmetrical – Australia pursues a wide range of important bilateral and institutional interests in the Asia-Pacific region not because they are reflections of broader global trends but because of their significance in their own right. • Australia's bilateral relationships throughout South-East Asia are more diverse, realistic and productive than they have ever been – this is reflected across the board – it is reflected in trade and investment – it is reflected in the important free trade agreements which Australia has negotiated with the United States, Singapore and Thailand, the further FTAs we are negotiating with China, Malaysia and ASEAN, and in the negotiations on an FTA that we hope can commence with Japan in the near future – it is reflected in the extensive bilateral and regional cooperation on counter-terrorism, on counter-proliferation and on issues such as maritime security – it is reflected in the clear focus of Australia's development assistance programs on the Asia-Pacific region – and it is also reflected in people-to-people contact where Australian linkages in South-East Asia are more extensive and expansive than ever as a result of tourism, employment, education and the diverse connections established between national and community organisations. • These dimensions of Australia's engagement in South-East Asia are clearly highlighted in Australia's relationship with Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim majority country and the world's third largest democracy. – commercial links have been further strengthened by the agreement in 2005 between both governments to establish a Trade and Investment Framework agreement – our shared security interests are the focus of the ongoing negotiations on a framework agreement for security co-operation – the extensive and highly effective bilateral co-operation on counter-terrorism, is reflected at various levels of agency interaction as well as in the Bali Process on People Smuggling and the Regional Interfaith Dialogue – the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Reconstruction and Development that was established after the 2004 tsunami has contributed significantly to helping re-build communities, promote economic growth and develop new ties of association and friendship between the people of both countries – and there is a highly productive co-operation between Australia and Indonesia in regional institutions such as APEC, the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum. • Our shared interests with Indonesia are, therefore, strong and growing • Clearly there are some issues on which Australian and Indonesian perspectives differ – that reality reflects the fact that each country has its own traditions, its own values, its own priorities and its own challenges – our differences need to be recognised but managed in the context of the broad and expanding common ground we share – they also need to be managed in the context of a modern bilateral relationship in which the capacity to achieve good outcomes to the mutual benefit of both countries has never been greater. • The Pacific region presents a range of different but also critically important challenges for Australian policy – the key challenge is to work in co-operation with Pacific Island governments and with the institutions of the region to enhance good governance, sustainable development and economic growth – this entails a focus on law and order, humanitarian assistance and effective governance mechanisms – it also entails addressing the challenges of structural development, the impact of transnational crime and the enhancement of strong, accountable national institutions. • In the pursuit of these priorities, development assistance in its broad dimension is a necessary but, in its own right, not a sufficient condition for good governance, sustainable development and economic growth – an indispensable additional element is that regional states need to assume responsibility themselves for addressing the root causes of the challenges they face – Australia's development assistance programs and the work of Australian officials on the ground in the Pacific - including our police, our defence force personnel, our diplomats, our aid workers and our other officials working in line positions - are clearly directed to this objective – this is especially the case in those countries, such as the Solomon Islands, East Timor and Papua New Guinea where Australian development assistance and other resources are allocated in a particularly intensive way to advance mutually agreed objectives. • In addition to our bilateral relationships, another critical dimension of Australia's regional engagement concerns our involvement in regional institutions – from Australia's perspective, the pre-eminent regional institution, by virtue of its membership and mandate, is APEC : Australia hosts APEC next year with the Leaders meeting in Sydney in September and a series of Ministerial meetings around Australia leading up to it : this will be a vitally important process for APEC's future following on this year's meeting in November in Vietnam : and its scope will include important dimensions of APEC's future work program including trade facilitation, structural reforms, human security issues, regional contingency planning and other priorities. • While APEC constitutes a pre-eminent focus for Australia's regional institutional engagement, there are other established and emerging forums to enhance regional co-operation – these include the East Asia Summit processes and the ASEAN Regional Forum, in both of which Australia is an active participant – there is also the ASEAN Plus Three process (including China, Japan and South Korea) – in the Pacific, there is the Pacific Islands Forum – and a range of other formal and informal associations of interest throughout the Asia-Pacific region. • The challenge of this diversifying structure of regional institutional architecture is to encourage the minimisation of unnecessary duplication and the development of constructive and complementary dimensions of regional responses to regional challenges. Conclusion • The final point I wish to make today relates to values and foreign policy. • In the context of modern global terrorism and the accelerating globalisation to which I have referred today, I believe that the values which underpin Australian foreign and trade policy are particularly well suited to the challenges of the times – in promoting priorities such as good governance, transparency, accountability, democratic freedoms, the rule of law, economic openness, market competitiveness and practical support to enhance the capacity of states to benefit from economic globalisation, Australia is not only being true to the values it believes in itself and we are not only effectively pursuing our own prospects in an increasingly competitive international environment : we are doing more than that : by encouraging and actively helping other states to do the same, we are also advancing our wider interests and responsibilities in promoting stability, in supporting economic development and in countering extremism in our own region and in the wider world as well.
1975 Major League Baseball season > 1975 World Series Cincinnati Reds postseason > 1975 World Series Boston Red Sox postseason > 1975 World Series World Series > 1975 World Series Sections Agriculture Applied sciences Arts Belief Business Chronology Culture Education Environment Geography Health History Humanities Language Law Life Mathematics Nature People Politics Science Society Technology The 1975 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the Boston Red Sox (AL) and Cincinnati Reds (NL). It has been ranked by ESPN as the second-greatest World Series ever played.[1] Cincinnati won the series four games to three.½ games over the Baltimore Orioles then defeated the three-time defending World Series champion Oakland A's, three games to none, in the American League Championship Series.. NL Cincinnati Reds (4) vs. AL Boston Red Sox (3) †: postponed from October 18 due to rain Saturday, October 11, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts's first run on a single by Carl Yastrzemski. From then on in the seventh,. Sunday, October 12, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. Tuesday, October 14, 1975 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.To close out the inning Will McEnaney would enter. popped out, but Joe Morgan knocked in Geronimo with the winning run by hitting a deep fly to center over a drawn in outfield. Wednesday, October 15, 1975 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. Thursday, October 16, 1975 at Riverfront Stadium in Cincinnati, Oh. Tuesday, October 21, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts This game would go down as one of the greatest games not only in World Series and post-season.[9] Both,.[10] left, and Foster gunned down Doyle, who tagged up and attempted to score. McEnaney then retired Petrocelli, ending the jam. Doyle would later admit Pesky's Pole in just. ).[11] The game was ranked Number 1 in MLB Network's 20 Greatest Games.[9] Wednesday, October 22, 1975 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts.) SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB +-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+ Ed Armbrister 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 .000 .667 .000 0 | 65 12 0 .185 .454 3 Johnny Bench 7 29 5 6 2 0 1 4 2 4 .207 .258 .379 0 | 530 150 28 .283 .878 11 Jack Billingham 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 65 7 0 .108 .313 0 Pedro Borbón 3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 24 7 0 .292 .625 0 Clay Carroll 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 19 0 0 .000 .000 0 #Darrel Chaney 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 160 35 2 .219 .574 3 Dave Concepción 7 28 3 5 1 0 1 4 0 1 .179 .200 .321 3 | 507 139 5 .274 .679 33 *Terry Crowley 2 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .500 .500 .500 0 | 71 19 1 .268 .728 0 *Pat Darcy 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 47 4 0 .085 .191 0 *Dan Driessen 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 210 59 7 .281 .814 10 Rawly Eastwick 5 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 15 1 0 .067 .133 0 George Foster 7 29 1 8 1 0 0 2 1 1 .276 .300 .310 1 | 463 139 23 .300 .875 2 *César Gerónimo 7 25 3 7 0 1 2 3 3 5 .280 .357 .600 0 | 501 129 6 .257 .690 13 *Ken Griffey 7 26 4 7 3 1 0 4 4 2 .269 .367 .462 2 | 463 141 4 .305 .793 16 Don Gullett 3 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 .286 .286 .286 0 | 62 14 0 .226 .520 0 *Will McEnaney 5 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1.000 1.000 1.000 0 | 14 0 0 .000 .000 0 *Joe Morgan 7 27 4 7 1 0 0 3 5 1 .259 .364 .296 2 | 498 163 17 .327 .974 67 Gary Nolan 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 68 12 0 .176 .474 0 #Fred Norman 2 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 60 7 0 .117 .292 0 Tony Pérez 7 28 4 5 0 0 3 7 3 9 .179 .258 .500 1 | 511 144 20 .282 .816 1 Merv Rettenmund 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 .000 .000 .000 0 | 188 45 2 .239 .669 5 #Pete Rose 7 27 3 10 1 1 0 2 5 1 .370 .485 .481 0 | 662 210 7 .317 .838 0 +-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+ Total 7 244 29 59 9 3 7 29 25 30 .242 .315 .389 9 |5203 1430 124 .275 .753 168 * - bats left-handed, # - switch hits, ? - unknown, else - bats right-handed A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year. SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON Player G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO BA OBP SLG SB | AB H HR BA OPS SB +-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+ Juan Beníquez 3 8 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 .125 .222 .125 0 | 254 74 2 .291 .760 7 Rick Burleson 7 24 1 7 1 0 0 2 4 2 .292 .393 .333 0 | 580 146 6 .252 .634 8 Jim Burton 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 *Bernie Carbo 4 7 3 3 1 0 2 4 1 1 .429 .500 1.42 0 | 319 82 15 .257 .892 2 Reggie Cleveland 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0 *Cecil Cooper 5 19 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 3 .053 .050 .105 0 | 305 95 14 .311 .899 1 *Denny Doyle 7 30 3 8 1 1 0 0 2 1 .267 .312 .367 0 |+325 97 4 .298 .742 5 Dick Drago 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 Dwight Evans 7 24 3 7 1 1 1 5 3 4 .292 .393 .542 0 | 412 113 13 .274 .809 3 Carlton Fisk 7 25 5 6 0 0 2 4 7 7 .240 .406 .480 0 | 263 87 10 .331 .923 4 Doug Griffin 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 287 69 1 .240 .560 2 *Bill Lee 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .167 .167 .167 0 | 0 0 0 0 *Fred Lynn 7 25 3 7 1 0 1 5 3 5 .280 .345 .440 0 | 528 175 21 .331 .967 10 *Rick Miller 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 108 21 0 .194 .557 3 Bob Montgomery 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 195 44 2 .226 .559 1 #Roger Moret 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 Rico Petrocelli 7 26 3 8 1 0 0 4 3 6 .308 .379 .346 0 | 402 96 7 .239 .644 0 Dick Pole 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 Diego Seguí 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 Luis Tiant 3 8 2 2 0 0 0 0 2 4 .250 .400 .250 0 | 1 0 0 .000 .000 0 Jim Willoughby 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 | 0 0 0 0 Rick Wise 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 0 | 0 0 0 0 *Carl Yastrzemski 7 29 7 9 0 0 0 4 4 1 .310 .382 .310 0 | 543 146 14 .269 .776 8 +-------------------+-+---+--+--+--+--+--+---+--+--+-----+-----+-----+---+----+----+---+-----+-----+---+ Total 7 239 30 60 7 2 6 30 30 40 .251 .333 .372 0 |4522 1245 134 .275 .761 66 SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON Player G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV +-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+ *Don Gullett 3 4.34 1-1 0 0 18.2 19 9 10 15 | 15-4 160 2.42 1.15 98 Jack Billingham 3 1.00 0-0 0 0 9.0 8 1 5 7 | 15-10 208 4.11 1.43 79 Rawly Eastwick 5 2.25 2-0 1 0 8.0 6 2 3 4 | 5-3 90 2.60 1.13 61 22 *Will McEnaney 5 2.70 0-0 1 0 6.2 3 2 2 5 | 5-2 91 2.47 1.26 48 15 Gary Nolan 2 6.00 0-0 0 0 6.0 6 4 1 2 | 15-9 211 3.16 1.10 74 Clay Carroll 5 3.18 1-0 0 0 5.2 4 2 2 3 | 7-5 96 2.62 1.30 44 7 Pat Darcy 2 4.50 0-1 0 0 4.0 3 2 2 1 | 11-5 131 3.58 1.48 46 1 *Fred Norman 2 9.00 0-1 0 0 4.0 8 4 3 2 | 12-4 188 3.73 1.31 119 Pedro Borbón 3 6.00 0-0 0 0 3.0 3 2 2 1 | 9-5 125 2.95 1.33 29 5 +-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+ Total 3.88 4-3 2 0 65.0 60 28 30 40 | 94-47 1300 3.37 1.310 598 50 * - throws left-handed, ? - unknown, else - throws right-handed A + before season totals indicates the player was with multiple teams this year. SERIES STATS | REGULAR SEASON Player G ERA W-L SV CG IP H ER BB SO | W-L IP ERA WHIP SO SV +-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+ Luis Tiant 3 3.60 2-0 0 2 25.0 25 10 8 12 | 18-14 260 4.02 1.28 142 *Bill Lee 2 3.14 0-0 0 0 14.1 12 5 3 7 | 17-9 260 3.95 1.32 78 Reggie Cleveland 3 6.75 0-1 0 0 6.2 7 5 3 5 | 13-9 171 4.43 1.32 78 Jim Willoughby 3 0.00 0-1 0 0 6.1 3 0 0 2 | 5-2 48 3.54 1.28 29 8 Rick Wise 2 8.44 1-0 0 0 5.1 6 5 2 2 | 19-12 255 3.95 1.31 141 Dick Drago 2 2.25 0-1 0 0 4.0 3 1 1 1 | 2-2 73 3.84 1.38 43 15 *Roger Moret 3 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.2 2 0 3 1 | 14-3 145 3.60 1.43 80 1 Diego Seguí 1 0.00 0-0 0 0 1.0 0 0 0 0 | 2-5 71 4.82 1.61 45 6 *Jim Burton 2 9.00 0-1 0 0 1.0 1 1 3 0 | 1-2 53 2.89 1.45 39 1 Dick Pole 1 inf 0-0 0 0 0.0 0 1 2 0 | 4-6 90 4.42 1.49 42 +-------------------+-+-----+---+--+--+----+--+--+--+---+------+----+-----+-----+---+--+ Total 3.86 3-4 0 2 65.1 59 28 25 30 | 95-64 1426 3.98 1.360 717 31 NBC broadcast the Series on television and radio, with Curt Gowdy and Joe Garagiola alternating play-by-play along with team announcers Dick Stockton and Ned Martin (Red Sox) and Marty Brennaman (Reds) and Tony Kubek doing color commentary.. 1975 World Series, Game 6: Reds @ Red Sox Cincinnati Reds 6 at Boston Red Sox 7, F/12 -- Home runs by rookie Fred Lynn, pinch-hitter Bernie Carbo and the Reds' George Foster made this back-and-forth ... 1975 World Series Games 6 And 7 Highlights And Commentary All rights reserved by MLB. Just sharing with my friends.Cemmentary by Peter Gammons Boston Globe Reporter, Curt Gowdy, Rick Petricelli, Fred Lynn, Carlton F... NBC Joe Garagiola Jack Buck Joe Morgan Jim Rice Henry Kissinger 1975 World Series Reds Red Sox Here is something that no one has ever seen about this great World Series.... like Jack Buck waiting for the "live call". 1975 World Series Game 6 All rights to ESPN and MLB. Bernie Carbo and Carlton Fisk let the Red Sox breathe easy for at least one more night here in game 6. "Boston Red Sox" Manager Goes Nuts In "1975 World Series" Game 3 In Cincinnati! Boston Red Sox Manager Darrell Johnson goes nuts after umpire Larry Barnett doesn't call interference on a play involving Carl... 1975 World Series Carlton Fisk homerun Game 6 Read more about Carlton Fisk and the 1975 World Series:. 1975 World Series closing credits Originally aired Tuesday, October 21, 1975 during Game 6 of the 1975 World Series. 1975 World Series slideshow - Cincinnati Reds vs. Boston Red Sox - Luis Tiant - Joe Morgan Curt Gowdy promotes Saturday Night Live during 1975 World Series During a pitching change in the bottom of the 7th inning of Game 1 of the '75 Series Curt Gowdy reads a promo live on the air about NBC's Saturday Night's de... 1975 World Series Game 6 Carlton Fisk Home Run Here it I don't own this video. Mlb and the red sox do. No copyright intended. 21 news items Boston Globe Martinsburg Journal Oops, we seem to be having trouble contacting Twitter You can talk about 1975 World Series with people all over the world in our discussions. 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. _1<< ABS piping is easier to work with and less expensive than metal piping. It also doesn't rot, rust, or corrode. These ceiling tiles are specially designed to improve sound quality and reduce noise levels. ADA-compliant showers are designed to allow individuals with disabilities greater freedom to access the shower. Some showers are made so a wheelchair can roll in, and some are designed for transferring to a seat in the shower. The Adirondack style (1890s-present) embraces rustic, natural, often made of bark-covered logs or simple planks. Adjustable shelving systems involve open wire shelves that can be adjusted to suit your individual needs. A power tool for painting that uses high pressure to force paint through a small tip very quickly. A device that helps you to eliminate squeaks in floors by placing nails at the right depth and breaking them off below the floor's surface. A paint that has an oil base. Alkyd paint is extremely durable and easy to clean; however, it requires mineral spirits to remove. American country style that stresses antiques and folk art, basically pieces and fabrics from America's past. The Southwest look blends the colors and styles of the Native American cultures and the west. The ADA is a law signed in 1990 that requires buildings and businesses to provide equal accessibility for individuals with disabilities. A color scheme using colors that are located next to each other on the color wheel. A type of bolt used to anchor or mount something securely. A narrow paintbrush that is angled to allow more control in corners and other tight areas. A wardrobe that has drawers and shelves. It can be used for either clothing or as an entertainment center. The Art Deco Style (1918-1939) is fashion-oriented and influenced by primitive art and cubism. The Art Nouveau style (circa 1900) was the first new style not using any historical reference was based on flowing lines of leaves and vines and influenced by Japanese art. The Arts and Crafts style (circa 1900) uses simple designs executed in natural wood. Emphasized hand craftsmanship, quality materials, and strong, clean lines. A stiff bristled broom that is designed for working with asphalt. A tool with a handle and a long, sharp pointed end used for punching holes into things like wood or leather. Awning windows are hinged at the top and swing outward via a crank or lever. The gravity-operated valve that controls the flow of water into the toilet tank. Baseboards are the finish strips between the floor and the wall and range in width from 3 to 18 inches. _25<< Bauhaus design (1919-1933) is based on unifying art and technology. Little ornamentation. Function, form, and materials (metal tubing, glass, and other technological, machine-made materials) most important. A bay window is a large picture window that projects outside the walls of the building. A line of caulk that has been applied to a seam. Use a finger or tool to smooth out the bead to seal the surface. A form of paneling, traditionally made of wood, with tongue-and-groove boards running the height of the panels. Also called wainscoting. Boots, the rubber seals that are around the electric service and plumbing vent pipes, air vents, and exhaust fan flashing. A type of nail with a very small head used for securing molding. Most towns or counties require a permit to build on or change a property. During different stages of the job and at its completion, the work is inspected to ensure that it meets the building codes. A thick block of wood made from laminating several strips of wood together. Butcher blocks are often used as a cutting surface. The fat end of a shingle. A faucet with a cartridge filter built in to filter drinking water. _36<< Commonly used before 1960 for the vertical drain, vent stacks, and sometimes the horizontal drain lines. Cast iron is durable, but can rust over time. Caulk is a filler material that seals a crack where two nonmoving components meet, such as where a house’s siding meets the exterior window trim. The housing for the electrical wiring that provides power to ceiling light and fan fixtures. Cellulose insulation is an organic, loose-fill material made from recycled paper. It has to be chemically treated to resist attack from moisture and pests. Moisture absorption can make cellulose heavier, causing it to become compacted and lose its insulative value. Chimney pots are decorative flues that sit on top of the chimney in older homes and in Tudor or Medieval styled homes. A glazed floral fabric often used in the English Country style. A chip brush is a small paintbrush used to paint in tight spaces. Protective switches that enable you to fix short circuits without turning off the power A combination primer/sealer seals the surface material and allows the finish paint to have a strong bond. A color scheme made up of colors that are at the opposite ends of the color wheel. Compression fittings are used to bond two pipes made of different materials. The fittings also allow the water flow to be turned off to a single faucet instead of having to turn the water off in the entire house. Contemporary design combines influences, trends, and new technologies without strict adherence to any one design philosophy. A special carpeting tool shaped like a cookie cutter. Twist it back and forth in a circular motion to make the cut. Copper pipe is long lasting and resistant to corrosion, and so it is commonly used pipe in water supply lines. It costs more than plastic but it lasts and lasts! There are two common types of copper pipe: rigid copper and flexible copper. The mechanism that allows double-hung windows to open easily, stay open (without a stick propping them up), and shut. You countersink a screw by driving it in below the surface of the wood. CPVC (chlorinated polyvinyl chloride) pipe has PVC's strength but is heat-resistant, which makes it acceptable in many regions for use on interior supply lines. Decorative embroidery made by manipulating wool yarn in designs and patterns. Curing paint is the process of the paint taking its final shape. Curing happens after the paint dries and until the curing is complete the painted surface can still be damaged. The curtain heading is the top of the curtain that attaches to the curtain rod. A paint that has been mixed to make a specific color that the customer has requested. Cutting in is the process of painting the edges of the wall (or other surface to be painted) before painting the rest of the wall with the larger brush or roller. A chemical that destroys the smooth, glossy finish on a surface so that the surface is rougher, allowing the paint to grip the surface. An artificial canopy, usually in a half round, which is draped above a bed in place of a headboard. Distressing is the process of making a piece of furniture look artificially aged by adding nicks and scratches to the finish. The dormer valley is the point at which the dormer meets the rest of the roofline. Pleats, ribbon, welting, and other trim as might be used by a dressmaker. A drop cloth is a piece of fabric or plastic that is used to protect items from paint or splatter. _66<< A large machine used for sanding floors that is roughly the size of a lawn mower. The damage caused by a fungus that eats away at wood causing extensive damage. Drywall is a construction material that is made of plasterboard in the center with a heavy paper on the outside. Drywall is used to finish the walls in most houses made since the mid-1960s. Dye lot refers to the color pass that is used to make a certain batch of tiles or wallpaper rolls. There can be color variations from dye lot to dye lot even though the pattern name and number do not change. A smaller hand-held disc sander, to refinish the perimeter of the room and inside closets. A paint finish that is often used for decorative finishes because it provides a low luster. A substance that has the ability to remain flexible after drying and won’t crack when weather changes. Electrical tape is used to secure the electrical connections and to keep the wires attached to each other. A houses energy envelope refers to the seal within which the homes heating and cooling is maintained. English Manor House is a decorating style that uses traditional furnishings and florals to capture the feel of an old English manor. The faucet aerator forces water though a fine mesh to increase the force with which the water comes out of the faucet. The aerator lets you use less water while still maintaining the same force. A painting technique that employs different styles and techniques to give a wall more interest than a standard flat finish. To feather the edges means to apply the materials (paint, drywall compound, and so on) so that it’s thinner on the edges to allow it to blend into the surrounding material. Fiberglass insulation is the most common type of insulation and is available as either batts or loose fill. It is relatively inexpensive, and the batts are very easy to install. It is non-flammable and resists damage from water. The fixture base is the part of a ceiling lighting/fan fixture that contains the wiring. The fixture base secures to the ceiling box to provide electricity to the fixture. The valve at the bottom of the toilet tank that controls the flow of water into the tank. Roof flashing creates watertight connections between the roofing and items that penetrate it, including plumbing pipes, furnace flues, skylights, and chimneys. An opaque latex paint finish that works great on interior walls and ceilings. _85<< A float is a board with a handle that smoothes thick compounds such as concrete. The floatball is a ball that is inside the toilet tank that prevents the tank from overflowing. When the water level rises, the floatball rises which shuts off the water supply. The flush lever is the part on the outside of the toilet tank that you push to cause the toilet to flush. The flush lever rod connects the flush lever and controls the flapper valve or tankball. The flush valve is the controlling mechanism for the flush lever on a toilet tank. The soldering paste used to sweat copper pipes. This is the point of visual reference to which the eye always returns—a home base. The French country look embraces the warmth and grace of the Provence region for France. French country has the warmth of American country but its furnishings tend to have a less homespun feel. Furring strips are narrow strips of wood used to raise the surface, level the surface, or otherwise smooth out a rough surface to prepare it for paneling. Galvanized steel pipe is common in older homes for supply lines and branch drain lines. Galvanized pipe is strong, but only lasts 50 years. The Gothic Revival style (1851-1914) emphasized natural materials and was usually used in large pieces. A swirling geometric pattern common in Greek design. _98<< Pliers that can be adjusted to fit the size and shape of pipe fitting that you want to turn. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) was developed to help keep people from getting shocked by electricity. The easiest way to think of a GFCI is to remember that a normal circuit breaker protects property, while a GFCI protects people. A hacksaw is a saw consisting of a fine toothed blade in a frame and is used to cut through metal. Half-drop patterns repeat at the ceiling line on every other strip and the design tends to run diagonally. It requires 3 strips of wallpaper to repeat the vertical design. A half-drop match is a straight match that has been split in half. The bar at the top of a set of mini blinds. The header bar contains the mountings for the blinds themselves as well as the mechanical pieces for adjusting the blinds. A kind of tape used in laying carpet. The adhesive is melted into place to create a tight seal. The banded part of a paintbrush. A decorating style (1980-1990s) that emphasizes exploitation and exposure of elements of science and technology for home use. Shows the construction of the interior. Uses industrial materials for the home. Electronic and space age details important. A paint finish that has a shiny, polished look. It’s also stain resistant and very scrubbable. Design styles created before the 1800s. A hole saw is a ring-shaped saw that connects to a drill and is used to create holes. A way of sealing a home's energy envelope to keep the heat and cool inside the house and the elements out. Hopper windows are hinged at the bottom and swing inward. A small paint roller roughly the size and shape of a hot dog. are electronic devices that measure the infrared light and are often used in motion sensing security devices. The intake valve controls the amount of water that enters the toilet tank. _116<< Jalousie windows are made of a series of horizontal glass slats that are joined so that all the glass slats open or close together when the crank is turned. Unfortunately, the cracks between the windowpanes don't allow for air infiltration. The wood lath is installed with gaps, called keys, between each piece of lath. The plaster was forced between spaced lath, and this keying action holds the plaster in place. The part of the latch that goes into the edge of the door. Latex glazing putty is used for sealing window glass into frames. Thin strips of wood used as a base for applying plaster. The strips are installed next to each other, separated by gaps. The plaster is forced between spaced lath. A light box is a fixture mounted to the ceiling to hold a flat light fixture, usually fluorescent. A very durable flooring material made from natural products, such as linseed oil, cork or wood dust, and tree resins. Not to be confused with vinyl sheet flooring. The oil of the flax seed plant, which is used in paint, varnish, lacquer and in the making of linoleum. A product that is used to make asphalt more water proof and less porous. The part of a door look that is attached to the face of the door. Loose fill insulation is made out of small chunks of fibers; this insulation type is also known as blown insulation because it is installed with a giant blower hose. A drill bit that is used for drilling through masonry. Mastic is a type of adhesive used to bond items where waterproofing is important. The top rail of the bottom sash and the bottom rail of the upper sash meet and are slanted and weather-stripped to form a tight seal between the rails. Triangular metal glazing points the small pieces used to hold a glass pane in position until you apply the glazing putty. A sensor that uses microwaves to detect motion. A chemical that will actually kill the fungus that causes mildew. A solvent made from petroleum and used primarily as paint thinner. _135<< The term molding refers to larger and typically more ornamental finish strips. A piece of hardware used to anchor drapery rods into hollow walls. The molly bolt includes an anchor plug and a screw with sides that spread out behind the wall to hold it in place. Mortar is the bonding mixture that is used to cement bricks and stones together. A mortise is a shallow recess in a wood frame to seat a piece of hardware flush with the wood. The metal brace that lays across a ceiling box and to which you mount a fixture base. A multiple drop match is the most complex pattern match. It can take four or more strips to repeat the vertical design. A good example of this is a dense paisley pattern. A short tool with a blunt pointed tip that is used for pushing the head of a nail or brad into wood. Low- to high-pile carpets have a nap. You have to put the patch in so that the nap runs in the same direction; otherwise, it will look different from the rest of the carpet. The NEC is the legally defined code that determines how electricity and electrical fixtures need to be used to ensure safety. The NFPA is an organization created to establish rules and guidelines that will help to prevent fires. A natural bristle brush is a paintbrush that uses hairs from animals. They are the best brushes for oil-based paints and varnishes. A series of traditional geometric designs used on Navajo blankets. Some floor paints (epoxy, for one) look fabulous and hold up to wear but are slippery when painted on concrete, even when they’re dry. Reduce the risk of slipping by adding nonslip silicate to the paint before you roll it on. A solid covering that does not allow light to penetrate. The outlet pipe is the pipe that connects the toilet tank to the bowl. Mounting a blind or shade to the outside of the window casing to provide better light filtering. A substance that is packed into a faucet through which the water flows. The paint finish determines how bright or shiny the paint looks when it dries. Paint finishes range from flat, which absorbs light but isn’t easily cleaned, to scrubbable, stain-resistant glosses that reflect light. A paint guard is a plastic tool used to block paint from reaching the walls or surrounding surfaces. It is usually held in one hand while the paint is applied with the other. A solvent that is used as a cleaner or to thin down oil-based paint. A door that has molding to create multiple panels on the surface. A piece of wood that separates the tracks of the upper and lower sash of a window. The repeat is the vertical distance between one point on the pattern and where the identical point appears again vertically. A patch that is used to cover the gap in a hole in drywall. The solid patch has an adhesive background that sticks to the wall surrounding the hole. A permanent furnace filter is a washable filter used to block debris from entering the furnace. PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) is the newest pipe for residential use. Approved in many regions of the country, PEX is easy to install because it cuts easily, is flexible, and uses compression fittings. However, more permanent connections require a special crimping tool. A pilot hole is a starter hole made by drilling. Using pilot holes prevents the screw or nails from causing damage to the wall. A plaster washer is a thin metal disk that increases the size of the head of a drywall screw so that it doesn’t pull through the plaster. _165<< A vertical guide created by hanging a weighted string from the ceiling. The plumber’s snake has a long tightly coiled wire attached to a handle. This coiled wire can slither down the pipes clearing blockages and even pulling out the obstruction. A plumbing tool that is used to loosen clogs by using suction to dislodge the clog. A type of insulating material made of polystyrene foam. This foam is waterproof. Popcorn ceilings are textured, acoustic ceilings that are sprayed on and resemble popcorn or cottage cheese when they dry. To prime a surface means to apply a primer and/or sealer to the surface to seal the surface and provide the best bond for the paint. A tool used to apply a paste or compound to a surface. The shape of the tool allows control over how much materials is applied and how thickly. This white or cream-colored pipe is the most commonly used pipe for drain lines. It’s strong, untouchable by chemicals, and seems to last forever! The rating and diameter is stamped right on the pipe. A rabbet groove is part of a window frame that has a groove cut into it to hold glass panels. A rake is the part of a paint tray that allows you to roll off the excess paint on a paint roller. _177<< This push-type wallpaper-scraping tool (about 3 to 4 inches wide) looks like a putty knife but has a slot for replaceable blades so that you always have a sharp edge. A reciprocating saw moves in an upright piston-like manner. It is used for cutting almost any material given the proper blade. Leftover pieces of fabric, carpet, or other flooring. To patch a carpet you will need to cut out the damaged spot and replace it with remnants that you saved when the carpet was installed. Flooring products that come in vinyl, polyurethane, linoleum, cork, and rubber materials. These floors are resilient because they are more durable and more easily cleaned than traditional floor materials. The amount of insulation provided by various materials. The part of the piece of the roof that lies at the ridges and over the edges of the shingles. The vertical board behind the step, which fits up to the underside of the tread. _186<< The metal frame on a paint roller onto which the roller cover slides. The piece that slides over the roller cage on a paint roller. The roller cover is the part that actually holds the paint. Roof flashing creates a watertight seal wherever the roof meets an upright — such as around plumbing pipes, furnace flues, skylights, and chimneys. A tool that is used for scraping ice off roofs. A faucet that has a ball mechanism inside which controls water flow and temperature. The first inspection on a remodeling project which occurs while everything is still at the rough-in stage of progress. If each flush doesn’t end with a gurgle but instead continues with a hissing sound, with water running into the toilet bowl, you have a run-on toilet. A narrow paintbrush used to paint trim and molding. The most popular paint sheen, which is a good choice for woodwork, walls, doors, and hallways. Schedule 40 PVC is strong enough for residential drain lines, but check with your plumbing inspector first. Schedule 80 PVC is sometimes used for cold-water supply lines, but it isn’t allowed in some regions because it isn’t suitable for hot water. A seam iron is a tool for heating the heat-activated tape the holds the two carpet pieces together. wallpaper roller A seat bolt is a heavy bolt used to hold the toilet seat to the toilet base. Outdoor security lights use infrared or microwave sensors to light up whenever someone or something passes within a certain range. A screw that taps (makes a hole) all by itself, with no need to drill a starter hole first. A shiny paint finish that is scrubbable and good for moldings, doors, windows, kitchens, and baths. A sewer rodding machine is an industrial strength auger that is motor driven and can push its way through touch sewer lines. The design combines the elegance of English Country living with the comfortable casualness of a California lifestyle. A decorating (1830-1850) style that utilizes designs that are plain in appearance, stripped to bare essentials (few turnings, no decorations. The showerhead aerator forces water though a fine mesh to increase the force with which the water comes out of the showerhead. The aerator lets you use less water while still maintaining the same force. A sink trap is a plumbing connection that is bent at such an angle as to capture items that might have fallen down the drain allowing you a final chance to retrieve them before they disappear down the pipes. Sliding windows open horizontally and bypass each other in separate tracks mounted on the header jamb and sill. The amount of fall or collapse in mortar or concrete. Snap-off screws are designed so that the heads literally snap off below the surface of the floor to allow you to repair squeaks in the flooring without leaving a visible sign. The flat boards under a roof's overhang. Pipefittings that have been soldered to seal the connection. Spade bit is an inexpensive wood-boring instrument that looks like a paddle with a triangular point on the end. Spalling is when chips and chunks break off a surface, such as concrete, usually caused by weathering. Brick that has popped out of the wall 1. Rubber or neoprene cording that holds screening material in a window or door frame. 2. Ribbon-like finishing piece that holds in sheets of cane on furniture. Looks like a pastry cutter with a convex roller on one end and a concave roller on the other end. Use this to push spline into the grooves around a window or door frame. A small mechanical piece at the end of an airless paint sprayer's spray gun. The spray tip is the small hole through which the paint is dispersed. Spring clips hold the glass panes in place in steel casement windows. The spud nut holds the spud washer in place. Seals the gap between the flush valve and bowl. The long vertical slotted strips fastened to the wall to attach the shelves in a wire based shelving system. The unmovable upright on a sliding glass door. A straight across match is a type of wallpaper pattern that starts over at the ceiling line. This means that the design has to match the strips on either side. These take more planning than random matches, but they are not typically complex patterns. Sweating copper pipe is a term used to describe the soldering of copper pipe. A piece of cloth that is coated in a sticky (tacky) substance so that dust and particles stick to it. Tack cloths are used to remove any debris before painting or sealing a project. The tank bolts that connect the bottom of the tank to the toilet base, and each bolt has a rubber gasket between the bolt head and the tank to stop water from leaking. The spud washer seals the gap between the flush valve and bowl. The tankball lifts out of the drain when the flush handle is moved, allowing the tank to fill with water. It should settle back into place with the water level is restored. The tankball rod controls the tankball which controls the water flow in the toilet tank. A tapestry is a fabric that has a pattern created by weaving or by needlepoint. A pole that attaches to short-handled tools like paint rollers. The pole allows the handle to be extended to the desired length. A television mirror is a type of surface, on a television screen, that converts to a standard mirror when the television is not turned on. Like a dye lot, the tile run is the batch of tiles that was manufactured at a specific time. The color and pattern can vary slightly between tile runs. To toenail a shingle means to drive the roofing nails at an angle. A toggle bolt has a mechanism that folds up so that it can be pushed through a regular drill hole, but when it is fastened the toggle opens up to clamp to the back side of the wall. A fabric with a solid background and pastoral scenes printed in a solid color. Track lighting is a long flexible mount that attaches to a single ceiling box and allows you to mount and direct lighting multiple fixtures exactly where you want it. The 18th century style is created by combining fabrics and patterns that would have been available at the time. The horizontal board on the top of a step. Trim is an umbrella term for any kind of finish strip applied around openings to conceal surface or angle joints and raw edges where drywall meets doorways, windows, floors, and ceilings. A trowel is a tool used for applying mortar. TSP (tri-sodium phosphate) is an alkaline cleaning material. TSP-PF is a phosphate-free version. A tube cutter is a tool for cutting pipe. Tuckpointing is the process of repairing the mortar on a brick wall. Is a form of mineral solvent used for cleaning and breaking down oil-based products. A form of filler that activates when you combine the two materials together creating a hard finish. Type K is a thicker type of rigid copper pipe and is used in outdoor and drain applications. Type L is a thicker type of rigid copper pipe and is used in outdoor and drain applications. Type M is the thinnest type of rigid copper pipe, but it is strong enough for most homes. The usable yield is the amount of wallpaper that will actually go on the wall. The type and size of pattern repeat reduces the amount of wallpaper that you can actually use. Vinyl composition tile. Commercial floor tiles made from chips of colored vinyl and compressed into solid sheets. These sheets are heated and then cut into 12" squares. Vent flashing is installed around (you guessed it) the vents on your roof. The flashing is typically made of metal and has a rubber grommet around the edge. Vintage materials are those from an earlier time. Vintage materials can be anything from clothing from the 1940s to antique furniture to old advertisements. A tool to measure the voltage emanating from a wire or appliance. A form of wood paneling that comes about halfway up the wall. Often built from beadboard. A flat-bottomed paintbrush, usually 3-5 inches wide, used for painting the large main areas of a wall. Wallboard clips are fasteners for attaching a wallboard patch to an existing wall. Wallpaper remover: Although warm water may do the trick (and is certainly priced right), you can turn to commercial wallpaper removal solvents if you need to. A tool that is used to push air bubbles out of wallpaper while it is being applied. A tool used for applying steam to wall coverings so that they peel off the wall. A weatherproofing seal for exterior electric fixtures. Weather-stripping is material that seals the cracks between moving components, such as the crack where a window sash meets the frame or stop. A tool for cutting glass. The horizontal and vertical trim that holds the window sash. The moveable parts of a window. The trim along the inside of the window frame. A wire nut is a small plastic fastener that can be twisted over the ends of wires to create a connection without soldering. Plaster is installed over strips of wood called wood laths. A product that is used to fill defects in wood, such as nail holes. Iron that has been forged into decorative and utilitarian objects.
>>: Lately, here, in the United States, a number of prominent conservatives and lobbyists have sought to maintain that the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution was intended by the Founding Fathers to empower the average man to maintain a private cache of weapons, so as to preserve himself against the tyranny of the State !! Amazing as such claptrap sounds, they insist that this is what their "2nd Amendment Right" consists of and, so, they abjure anything that might interfere with their private ownership of whatever weapon strikes their fancy. I have to say that these people advocating this perverted interpretation of the US 2nd Amendment are certainly "fringe" elements of our society, that they have it entirely backwards, and that they are, themselves, the kind of dangerously psychopathic people who should and would fail any licensure test, if we had a proper licensure test, for the privilege of owning and operating firearms. These people, like the former senate candidate, Sharon Engle, of Nevada, completely misunderstand the 2nd Amendment. That constitutional provision empowers the States, by and through the fact that their citizens may own firearms, to raise "militias" in defense of the States and of the Nation. But the 2nd Amendment does NOT empower private citizens to harbor weapons for the purpose of attacking the government at any level, nor for protecting themselves from having to submit to the enforcement of the law. Those paranoid personalities and other psychopaths who believe otherwise shall surely go the way of Timothy McVeigh. But their vocal opposition is no reason at all to avoid repealing and replacing the 2nd Amendment with a public policy and a regime much more appropriate to the 21st century than the late 18th century. While I agree with your analysis, I do not agree with your conclusion in the final paragraph. The second amendment cannot be repealed as a practical matter, and any attempt to do so would merely be a huge fight for nothing. What can be done far more easily is to pass legislation to regulate or eliminate certain types of firearms in the civilian sector. The second amendment does not prohibit this, as restrictions have long been permitted by the courts on certain weapons. What appears impractical to the point of an impossibility, today, will not seem so in due time, as long as we maintain our determination. See, fight against slavery, for women's rights, for LGBT rights, for disabled persons' rights, etc., etc. The idea of a "right" to own weapons in an modern society is just crazy. Only in America, today, is this craziness still in evidence. This, too, will pass. Unfortunately for those who wish to see a repeal of the Second Amendment, advocating for such a course of action is an absolute non-starter. The thing is so deeply ingrained in the American psyche that you might just as effectively be calling for the abolition of religion. In order to effect massive cultural change, smaller steps must be taken, realpolitik practiced, and compromises arrived at. Abolitionism was preceded by slave codes, the legalization of homosexual marriage by the decriminalization of homosexual acts, etc. Please consider supporting the "responsible gun owners" who crop up everywhere to oppose suggestions of bans and repeal; I think that even those who hate gun culture can agree with them that a responsible, restrained gun culture would be a vast improvement on the mess that exists now. . I see your point, but the consequences of repeal would be disastrous. Even if the libertarian faction were to accept a forfeiture of firearms*, the problem of many millions of illegal guns would become much worse than it is now; Brazil is the model for such a scenario, and it's not a good situation down there at all. As with the war on drugs, the continuing criminalization of prostitution, and the example of Prohibition, a "war on guns" would, in the current historical scenario, be extraordinarily costly and disastrously divisive, and may ultimately cause more harm than good. Effective regulation of hazards that aren't universal evils (and no, Virginia, much as we might personally dislike them, they are not a universal evil) is what free and civilized countries do. I don't believe that incremental change need ultimately be toothless. To the contrary, I believe that strong, meaningful measures are possible (if not terribly likely), but not without a lot of give and take on both sides. *which is flat-out not going to happen. A more likely scenario: the survivalist/militia fantasy of rising up in armed rebellion against a "tyrannical" government would be realized; there would virtually be a second civil war. The general population has always relied on "the fringe" to defend their personal liberties. As George Orwell pointed out, people sleep peacefully in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf. On the contrary. We don't rely on the "fringe" but on the STATE. The "fringe" are precisely those callous psychopaths who love guns, hate gays, and wish to preserve a "right" to do battle with the government, so that they won't have to submit themselves to the greater authority of the community, as a whole. Orwell was talking from the point of view of someone fighting totalitarianism. We democrats believe that the authority of the State derives ultimately from the consent of the governed. When the governed irrecovably deny any government their consent (cf., Syria, today), the regime falls. Orwell's vision of an infinitely massive, pervasive, all-encompassing and insurmountable State is completely unrealistic, as it envisions that the State can govern without the consent of the governed. Not everything is relative ! Actually, the consequences of repeal would be very salutary and equally straight-forward: For no one is suggesting that private gun ownership be completely eliminated. Rather, we're saying that gun ownership should not be considered a right of citizenship, but a privilege for which one must apply and demonstrate merit. In order to make this change of policy effective, it will be necessary to phase it in over a period of time, to educate the people about the new regime, and the begin requiring everyone who has guns today to come forward with them and to demonstrate that they meet the necessary criteria. Considerable peer pressure can be placed through community organizations, churches and the like to encourage people to abide by the new regime. With time, the number of guns in circulation will be reduced through normal attrition, and criminals and lunatics will see their guns eliminated. Anyone found carrying or harboring a gun without a proper license would lose that weapon plus face a stiff fine, at a minimum, plus/minus jail time at the discretion of a judge. In time, the new regime would encourage people not to think of purchasing weapons, as doing so would expose them to significant difficulty and possible liability. The 50% of murders caused by family members on each other, their friends and neighbors with handguns, etc., would begin to diminish, and the public would feel encouraged about the new regime. Of course, there would still be criminals seeking guns, but the likelihood that they would find one would be greatly diminished and the killing effectiveness of those they found along with it. The article makes this point about the experience in the UK quite effectively. Brazil continues to be a largely unregulated, third world nation with a comparatively weak state and a very large and open border with other nations. You cannot compare OECD nations with Brazil. I think a lot of the gun control controversy boils down to what the economists call the 'fallacy of composition'. The idea is, what might make sense for an individual to do, doesn't work when everybody does it. A simple example is, you're in a crowd watching a parade. You can't see, so you stand on your tiptoes. That's fine as long as you're the only one doing it, but if everyone else around also stands tiptoe, then you and they are worse off because you can see no better than before, and to have to stand that way is uncomfortable and tiring. In the same way, it might make sense for an individual to own a gun (though even that is doubtful), but if everyone owns one, he and they are actually less safe, because a certain proportion of the population is irresponsible, impulsive, criminal or crazy. Even if that proportion is tiny, guns amplify their power of dealing death so much that it puts everyone at risk. That's why, when the criminals own guns, it's important for all people to own guns to reduce the power of criminals. It may be more tiring, but at least the playing field is level. Unfortunately, it's naive to think that we can somehow remove all the guns from circulation. Any attempt to try will only succeed in removing them from the hands of law-abiding citizens. The criminals will not let them go. While your sentiments obviously have an appealing logic of their own, their are only that: Your sentiments. The reality is quite the opposite. In every society where gun ownership is tightly controlled by the State, murder and other forms of violence are far less in evidence and criminality overall much reduced in comparison with the situation in the West, especially in America, where guns are every day, everyone can also be a "gun-slinger", and murder is still a significant problem. Time to wake up and smell the coffee ! How do other nations manage it, then? How is it Britain and Australia aren't being overrun by criminals with guns, in spite of having strong gun controls? You're basically counseling despair. You're saying that guns are so widespread in our society that the only solution is more guns. But the more widespread guns are, the more guns will make their way into the hands of the irresponsible, impulsive, criminal or crazy, and guns favor the offense. Although I have most often sided with NdiliMfumu's positions on subjects, I have to take your side here. What (S)he espouses is a desirable but utopian goal that I can see little hope of achieving in a reasonable amount of time. On the other hand, his opponents generally are those buying into the false portrayal of the American "Wild West." They refuse to see, much less understand, the "socialistic" aspects of joint action, and to overestimate the effect of the "lone gunslinger/sheriff." The gun is not an "equalizer" if it pits a good person with poor vision and hand eye coordination against a well trained or coordinated criminal or crazy gunman. They view cooperation as bad because they refuse to acknowledge the American institutions of barn raising, welcome wagon, quilting be and other [to them socialist/communist] community actions that were the true backbone of American development. The roots of Americas problems appears to be lack of accurate historical knowledge and poor critical thinking skills. The right-wing GOP is still intent on further subverting education by substituting Bible for science and history, mythology for health care, and voodoo [thank you GHW Bush] for economics. Where you and NdiliMfumu fail is in assuming that what ails America is a fairly simple and easily overcome problem. The false history and the mythology of America has been inculcated for more than a century and there is still a large and well funded opposition to exposing the truth and fixing the problem. I wish it were otherwise. So yes, small incremental steps with lots of education are going to be required. The present dire economic situation, largely the creation of the GOP, could lead to a second great depression. If that happens, we may just, if fortunate, find it leading to a second Democrat New Deal and banishment of the FOX/GOP/TEA Party from government for at least a generation. If we are really, really lucky, FOX will sink like the Titanic and take the TEA Party Faction in the undertow! Did outlawing drugs in America prevent their use? Or send money to the cartels in South America who supply the black market? I can't remember the name of a single individual who died in the Oklahoma city bombing, but I can still see Timothy McVeigh's mugshot. Why do we glorify the criminals (see the jaw-dropping number of copycat crimes that occur in the wake of a shooting) and marginalize the victims? A change in that media paradigm would do more than any ban on gun ownership. Who glorifies these shooters? Maybe some shooting freaks. Are you trying to quash the First Amendment in order to facilitate the false interpretation of the Second Amendment?. You continue to confuse fame for infamy, and really in a most sentimentalist manner. The victims of terrorism and other abuse are remembered by us all through the moniker given to the place and/or the date on which they suffered, e.g., 9/11. But attempting to remember or to focus on the victims individually by name is a hopeless exercise in mnemonics. We remember the perpetrators much more easily than the victims by name, precisely because there is (typically) only one such principal perpetrator, no matter how many victims there are. Even with respect to 9/11, we remember Osama's name but have already forgetten the names of the 19 terrorists who committed the crime. Our ready recollection of the names of egregious criminals does NOT constitute or result from "glorification" of those criminals but, rather, from the shock and the infamy of their crimes. This is what you're confusing. The media has to sell its wares (copy, internet clicks, etc.), or else it will not survive. This is only natural. Again, something you don't understand. If some proto-terrorist somewhere feels excited by seeing the name of Al-Qaeda in print and feels proud of what that organization accomplished in its heyday, he will doubtlessly also feel dismay and discouraged by the fact of Osama's death and the continuing dismembering of Al Qaeda's hierarchy in Pakistan and elsewhere. Merely publicizing these facts cannot be deemed to be "glorifying" them. It's much more important that we continue to have a vibrant and free press than that we take any steps at all to limit how they might characterize events, so as to suit some particular political objective or other. If you don't agree, I suggest that you move to Syria, Iran or China, where the press is decidedly more limited than in the US. The gun ownership has been glorified and their benefits to society and personal security much exaggerated. To some extent gun ownership has been unconsciously entangled with American exceptionalism and maybe that's why it's so hard to convince American people to give it up. When thing touches your pride, real or perceived, people normally go to great length to protect it, rationally or irrationally. The recent horrifying catastrophe that occurred in Connecticut should oblige us to take a deeper look at the values of the society we live in at large, and what sort of people emerge from it consequently. Or perhaps this will be like every other tragedy that takes place; a temporary buzz is created by mass media that soon fades as we continually trudge down the same blind-folded competitive, individualistic, dog-eat-dog paradigm that we live in that inevitably leads to more events like such.. If we felt those children as a part of ourselves, as members of our family, for example- we wouldn't be able to forget about it. It would haunt us continually, and force us to research the root of this illness that has spread into our consciousness and allows us to perceive such events as a random "hiccup" of our society, and not as a complete value-system disorder. Acts of insane violence have always been with us. To turn the insanity of a single person into a wholesale murder tragedy it needs advanced assault weaponry (One-Man-WMDs): semiautomatic guns in combination with high velocity rounds and large-capacity magazines. Only this creates the 'efficiency' to allow large death tolls of a scale as seen now. Support a renewal of the -2004 lifted- assault weapon ban. Assault weapons aren't covered by the Second Amendment.. J_Mac08: "(It's erroneous to think) that the causal issue of such events is the availability of guns and not the seriously distorted psychological conditions and values we allow to run rampant thought our media outlets, public schools, and society in general. Guns are the means to the end of an action ...". This might be so. Much was written about the 'ideal society' with the 'ideal' people.'. This said, I think that the Sandy Hook shooting-massacre is part of a very apparent gun-law problem in our country, whereby a mother can train her (then under-aged) son in the use of semi-automatic assault weapons, while being fully aware that he sufferers from 'social awkwardness' characterized by significant difficulties in social adaptation and interaction. "Adam Lanza has been a weird kid since we were five years old," a former classmate of his wrote on Twitter. Nancy Lanza taught her son how to shoot and shared with him freely her gun collection that he would eventually use to devastating effect. Nancy Lanza was not an 'angel' within the meaning of your 'ideal' social requirement. She is rather described as what 'insiders' call a "survivalist" - or a "gun-freak" as ordinary Americans termed this 'addiction'. Nancy Lanza is believed to have owned at least five firearms, including the powerful semiautomatic Bushmaster .223 rifle, used by her son Adam in his attack on children from the kindergarten at Sandy Hook. He also carried two semi-automatic handguns. Not living in the wilderness with bears and cougars to protect against, this is a lot of assault guns for a single woman ... who isn't accidentally a Chicago gangster boss. Thus, Nancy Lanza and her sociopathic son were maybe "addicts" in the sense used in your post, but these two "gun-addicted" people, mother and son, could only act as they did because her social environment "thought nothing of it". Instead, Nancy Lanza was a registered Republican (supposedly a NRA member) and her equally gun-fanatic acquaintances presumably recited the "Second Amendment" five times a day as a quasi-alibi for the fast approaching 'insane' doings of the partially home-schooled Adam Lanza . . . very similar to certain fanatic religious believers who perform Salah Prayers five times a day . . . before going out to mass-kill in a fanatically pursued act of suicide bombing. la.výritý: '." Where do you think those evil, murderer qualities come from? Is it a matter of sheer genetic luck; programed into our nature and can't be altered by the environment our society creates for itself? (who's in charge of mass media, public school systems, etc.? Do you think they're really concerned about developing a "whole human being" through the individualistic content and examples of war-fare and hatred towards the fellow man that they provide for us continually?) It makes sense why this thought pattern would be pushed- as it wouldn't obligate us to take a serious look at the values that are ruling and molding our society to this day. The idea that our behavior as human beings is naturally "evil" or "predetermined by our genes" is a complete scientific fallacy. It's impossible to discuss our genetic/behavioral expressions outside of the context of the environment those genes are molded and shaped from. If baby's eyes aren't give the appropriate conditions for optic development (if they are left in darkness for the first year of their life), their neural components of vision would atrophy and the baby would remain blind forever. The same example can be applied to the conditions/environment we need to provide our children and society with in order for us to have a "whole" human society that doesn't consume and destroy itself. The fact that we dispose of 1/3 of the food we produce here in the U.S while approx. 3 billion people are dying of starvation and preventable disease in the world is just an expression of what kind of paradigm our "free market society" has created for us. Revelations such as the Sandy Hook tragedy and many others happening all over the world today should once again, oblige us to re-evaluate the values that surround and influence us constantly. It's time for us as a society to feel the responsibility of such tragic events, and rapidly start building new values for ourselves- at least to demand and expect them. We can't depend on the current governance of our political/economic systems for any public discourse or change for us as a society. We have to build it from the grass-roots up, and more and more people are starting become aware of the ground workings of the mass media and the current education system- of what their intentions and incentives are of operation. Connection and Mutual Concern are the values that are needed for us to thrive as a society. It's also the same values we see see in Nature- through the various interconnected and interdependent functioning systems we see on all levels of life in the world... except in us humans.. It's up to us to demand, create, and push such values through our own public discourse as a society that is fed up with cancerous values that are the root source of all the troubles we see around us today.. True. And what are the conditions that create derailed individuals with sociopathic personalities? Shouldn't that be more of an issue than banning one of the means by which they murdered tens of children? We can't solve the root of a problem by putting a band-aid on one of the symptoms, we need to dig deeper into the causal factors of such mindsets and behavior- and that's the value system that permeates our society. I hope that through such conversations as this we can come to a mutual understanding and feeling of what's most important for us as a species in general- and not to continue with methods and legislative adjustments we've tried in the past that have had no affect on the state of our humility and humanity towards each other as a species.. Guns don't kill people, they just make it easier for people to kill people.. I completely agree. Repeal and replace the 2nd Amendment with a fully modern regime of gun regulation. The second amendment intended that civilians have weaponry equal in force to that of military personnel. The right to have a musket, instead of a sword, was to ensure a level playing field against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. In this vein, the current situation is in line with the intentions of the Second Amendment and requires no corrections. I don't under stand what you mean. Are you, indeed, saying that today American civilians must have "weaponry equal in force to that of the US military", like missile-carrying drones and submarines equipped with ballistic rockets loaded with nuke heads? Yes, he and the NRA extremists mean just that. In my experience they will never admit to any limitation on armaments available to "the citizens" however justifiable. They always use the "opening wedge or slippery slope" argument. They fantasize that the legions of the NRA could actually defeat the US army, Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy [each of whose 10 attack groups has power equal to the total French military power]. We are a nation of over 350 million with the rights to do a lot of things unrestricted, or where there are restrictions in place, we know there often isn't sufficient enforcement and continue as we see fit anyways. I believe this inflates a lot of the stats about accidents, crimes and so forth in comparison to other countries. Nonetheless, these horrific crimes demand a response. However, what will it take to guarantee this does not happen again? I look at the TSA and their tactics. The terrorists have used the elderly and children before. So any flying now done within the US requires removal of shoes, body and bag scan, possibility of interrogation separated from your family (kids too), testing of baby bottles for bomb residue, strict restrictions on liquids carried. Ok, but that is just flying. Does there not exist countless other opportunities for terrorists to attack? If that is the level of security required to protect us, we then need to dramatically roll out that standard across the nation to all our vulnerable areas. I look at domestic abuse and rape. I believe the data and the horrendous nature of those crimes demands a response, but what restrictions can you put in place to prevent those crimes from happening? There is room to tighten gun control. No one should be demanding gun rights right now, and if guns aren't the problem, the ball is in the gun owners' court to willingly cooperate with greater restrictions to ensure that guns don't fall into the wrong hands and to provide people with a greater sense of security. Any increase in restrictions will be meaningless without the appropriate increase in enforcement, and the decision makers must look at the data to determine the effectiveness of whatever restrictions are on the table. I believe that dramatic increases in any restrictions will only yield small increases in our "perception" of security and safety. The answer to the conundrum that baffles you is to change our culture of lusting after guns, first, and then to change our laws which make gun-ownership into a right of citizenship, instead of what it should be, a privilege merited by a showing of physical and mental good health and competence in owning and operating a firearm. In almost all other countries in the world, there is no "constitutional right" to own a gun. In fact, in most places, it's entirely illegal to own firearms under any circumstances. We need to get to that same place, here, in the USA. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, should not become unhinged. OK, so let's regulate the militia. Let's make sure that anyone who owns a powerful gun understands how to use it properly. And is psychlogically fit to own one. I think people need to be honest with themselves. The media as well as many of the posters here are quoting nationwide violence, gun death and homicide statistics. The reason why we are all posting here isn’t because 10,000 people were killed last year, the vast majority of which were street crime and drug related, it is because 27 people, 20 of them children, were killed randomly by a madman. The motivations of a madman are not the same as those of a street criminal or a drunken spouse so the remedy for each should be different as well. Restricting ownership/access or implementing a prohibition entirely oversimplifies the possible solutions and ignores the separate underlying problems which ultimately lead to violence. What's wrong with doing both?? Why not make gun-ownership a privilege, rather than a right of citizenship? AND do everything necessary and reasonable to ensure that the mentally ill are found, registered with a mental health provider and well-treated?? AND do everything to countermand the disgusting perversity of American's obsession with virtualied gun violence, otherwise known as "action flicks"?? Why not? It's quite simple, Gnostic Liberal, sociopaths have always been with us, as arsonists and as murderers. But only in combination with semi-automatic guns and extended high volume magazines, these sociopaths are able to turn into walk-in mass murderers 'out of convenience'. As a gun owner, I support President Obama’s call for a change in how we regulate guns, and our societies’ relationship with guns. Second Amendment Right proponents who will not work to prevent this type of act have no ground to stand on. NONE. The victims of the Newton, Connecticut tragedy, and many others like it, have been permanently denied their life and all rights. Their families and communities devastated. Any argument that it is the gunman, not the gun that is at fault is totally vapid and irrational. Perhaps a place to start this change is to simply outlaw, without loopholes, the sale and possession, of assault weapons. Then confiscate, and destroy all assault weapons in private position. This would include all automatic weapons and semi-automatic side-arms. Ammunition clips holding more than 4 rounds would be subject to the same. This would not prevent this type of tragedy, but would help prevent its magnitude. As for all with a survivalist bent, if you can’t make it with your revolver and four-round hunting clip, you will not make it in any case. Bottom line: my right to keep and bear arms is just not worth this type of tragedy. Michael Bain Glorieta, New Mexico I fully agree -:) Our hearts are truly broken.To imagine such carnage is awful enough. A balance must be struck between gun right and peoples' safety. Now is the time to act, otherwise there will more of this heartrending occurrences as derangement seems to be in the increase. American citizens have offered prayers after the massacre of innocent school children. Are prayers good enough to deal with the basic malady? It has been reported that over 10,000 people have been killed in USA during this year and this statistics speaks for itself. One feels so much for the near and dear one of those killed, particularly the children. This however, may not be the last of such shootings. Issues involved here are essentially social and are also about frustration among people. They are quite complex and only one of them is easy availability of guns. Why should the killer kill his mother? Is it that an individual’s anger against the society or the government or against no one in particular cannot be expressed except by using a gun and taking lives of innocent people? But more important question is why do people think that they can solve their problems, whatever they may be, by resorting to violence? American citizens themselves have to seriously ponder whether the guns are really required by them for self- protection. Sociopaths have always been with us, as arsonists and as murderers. But only in combination with semi-automatic guns and extended high volume magazines, these sociopaths are able to turn into walk-in mass murderers 'out of convenience'. " How funny and realistic you are with your examples, dude! I've no words to express myself now! Using chaotic societies to legitimate the right of a disturbed killer to buy (and use) Sig Sauers, Glocks and Bushmasters! Let's hear the kids laughing on your "sarcasm"! ... (one eternity of silence) ... ;) The Nazis turned an armed 'militia', the infamous Nazi-SA, against the state and the people and, thus, managed to subdue the rest of the society. This speaks rather against gun-ownership of private militias gun associations. My deepest condolences go to the people affected by this tragic incidence. Hope that there are sufficient loves to overcome such violence. I don't understand why people are upset. We (the US) are a gun culture. Just last week a federal court ruled in Chicago that a law passed by a duly elected government was not valid in the face of people who want to carry deadly force into public spaces. It is our most sacred right, above life, liberty, etc. That right comes with a price. So embrace your culture and accept that public gun fights are what our Constitution is about. Either that, or we've reached the point where all interpretations of the Second Amendment have been reduced to the absurd, and that gun control is no longer a legal issue. It can only be served by repealing the Second Amendment. I don't like this option, but the gun advocates seem to want to make it the only option. "The less weapons in a society, the hardest it is to get a weapon, the stiffer the sentences for weapon possession... the less innocent people will die" Patently untrue. The rifle looks like this? Is that a serious argument? Firearms don't frighten people to death. The only things that matter are caliber, cartridge, rate of fire, and magazine capacity. Perpetuating the populist idiocy that dangerousness is something that can readily be perceived is the kind of thing I'd expect from the headline writers of the New York Daily News, not The Economist. What will we have next from you, a Scary Looking Weapons Ban Bill? There is a correlation. The weapon in question is typical of assault weapons. It shoots relatively small bullets at high velocity, the cartridges are loaded in clips (those used by the shooter held 30 rounds) which can be changed quickly, it is semiautomatic fire, which can fire rounds in quick succession. The shooter had hundreds of rounds with him, and could have killed many more had police not arrived promptly. Nothing about the appearance of the weapon affects caliber, cartridge, rate of fire, and magazine capacity, which is what I said mattered. Basing arguments or laws on appearance is like replacing the plastic in a toaster with wood and thinking it makes healthier toast. I think you missed Handworn's argument. For example An old wooden stock M1 garand could be considered only "slightly less lethal" because it has a smaller clip capacity but in reality it is just as effective as the weapon used by the shooter. The Bushmaster, an M4 variant, looks like something from an action movie and easily frightens those less informed and who support such "scary weapon" legislation. Laws that have or are proposed to regulate assault weapons are not based on appearance. They are based on appearance to the extent that they're not based on making the gun more deadly. To quote from the Wikipedia article on the Assault Weapons Ban that expired in '04, an assault weapon is defined as one of a number of specific semiautomatic rifles and: ." Exactly two of these have anything to do with making the gun more deadly: magazine capacity and detachable magazines. Grenade launchers are ridiculous; rifle grenades are impossible to get and not used in shootings. Folding stock, because it might take care of concealable rifles? Oh, well, I guess that takes care of the 90% of gun homicides that take place with pistols, even more concealable. Barrel shroud? That's something to put on machine guns to keep them handleable when the barrel overheats, and machine guns, having been highly restricted since 1934, aren't covered by the ban. The only possible reason to include the features apart from the magazine-related ones I mentioned is that they make the gun scary-looking. Which is truly stupid. Why worry about the appearance? I think the appearance tell us a lot about the person buying it, and their intent. I'm no expert, but I'd expect an M1 (or equivalent)to be of more interest to a gun enthusiast than a Bushmaster. It's a larger calibre, so more stopping power for the hunter, and longer barrelled, so presumably more accurate. So why did Adam and/or his mother by an M4/AR15 alike ? Why spend $1000 odd on this weapon, instead of $700 odd on an M1 alike ? It's lighter and shorter, easier to conceal, can be waved around with one hand, and it LOOKS SCARY. The very fact that anyone would want one of these, to my mind, should disqualify them owning any firearm at all. I horror at the thought, but a properly motivated person with a knife could have killed just as many children at that school. Most people posting here are Anti-Gun Owner and the same with the Economist. If bad guys really want to get guns to do harm to innocent people there is nothing you can do to stop that. They can just go buy it from the black market or steal them and do their thing. Look at the Mexican drug cartel in the US for an example. If you remove all guns from responsible citizen and the bad guys will have the upper hands and do anything they want. The problem we had here was a mental guy kills his mother and uses her guns to kills innocent kids. She even knew that her son had a problem and she quit her job to watch over him. She should have sent him to a mental health facility. If there were a security officer at the school that day we would not loose any lives. Budget cuts??? America needs to stop giving away free money to other countries, bombing other countries and use that money for the safety, health care and education for their own people You are correct, where there is a will there is a way so those determined to have a gun, no matter how strict the laws, will find a way. But this is not about making it impossible to get guns, or to eliminate these cases, it’s about being realistic and doing practical things that will reduce cases like this. Your argument is akin to saying we can't stop car accidents, so why bother with seatbelts and airbags! I don't want to take your hunting rifle, and if a warm gun makes you sleep better, then a sane licensing system nationwide should allow you a hand gun for personal protection. But please explain why you or any private citizen needs a semi-automatic assault weapon, or clips that hold 30 rounds or more. Do you think bambi is going to fight back? Gun doesn’t go around killing people. It’s a mentally ills person that use it to kills people. That was the main problem. His mother was blind to see and think her son is safe and she should have never trained him to use guns. He should have been in a mental institution. It doesn't matter how many rounds a clip can hold in a gun, or a knife to stab children in China, or a guy strapping himself with bomb in the Middle East. Its craziness in a person you can't prevent. Of course Bambi is not going to fight back and it was very sad that it had happen. That was either a dumb question or a complete troll. The Bambi comment was facetious so I apologize, however I'm still no clearer on why a huntsman or any other private citizen would need an assault weapon or a clip containing 30 or more rounds. Yes people do the killing, and it’s clear this individual had mental issues; however you take the guns out of the equation how much damage could he have done? The case in China used a knife, which would not have allowed the individual in Newtown to even gain access the school as you can't shoot off a lock with a kitchen knife. To be perfectly frank I just don't understand why those who defend the 2nd amendment are so opposed to legitimate gun control. Simple straight forward licensing would not impede your right to hunt, but might limit some of who you call the "crazies" getting their hands on lethal weapons. What is so wrong with that? There is nothing wrong with it except that gun owners resist having any responsibility go with their 'freedom'. Mass shootings by wackos, like plane crashes, are rare in a nation of 300 million plus. Like plane crashes, its horrifying because so many die at once. But your chances of dying in a mass shooting are very very very very very small. Once again, the focus is taken away from our nation's real tragedy. Gang violence. That is where youth are dying in appalling numbers every day. The focus should be on understanding and attempting to change the culture of inner cities. Mass shootings tend to occur in rich, white, liberal neighborhoods by the spawn of rich, white liberals. Introspection by those people should be encouraged to understand why. But don't hold your breath. They will blame others for their problems..
Case [1] "It's been quite a year," thought Tom Moline." On top of their normal efforts at hunger advocacy and education on campus, the twenty students in the Hunger Concerns group were spending the entire academic year conducting an extensive study of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa. Tom's girlfriend, Karen Lindstrom, had proposed the idea after she returned from a semester-abroad program in Tanzania last spring. With tears of joy and sorrow, she had described for the group the beauty and suffering of the people and land. Wracked by AIDS, drought, and political unrest, the nations in the region are also fighting a losing war against hunger and malnutrition. While modest gains have been made for the more than 800 million people in the world that are chronically malnourished, sub-Saharan Africa is the only region in the world where the number of hungry people is actually increasing. It was not hard for Karen to persuade the group to focus attention on this problem and so they decided to devote one of their two meetings per month to this study. In the fall, Karen and Tom led three meetings examining root causes of hunger in various forms of powerlessness wrought by poverty, war, and drought. [2] What Tom had not expected was the special attention the group would give to the potential which biotechnology poses for improving food security in the region. This came about for two reasons. One was the participation of Adam Paulsen in the group. Majoring in economics and management, Adam had spent last summer as an intern in the Technology Cooperation Division of Monsanto. Recognized, and often vilified, as a global leader in the field of agricultural biotechnology, Monsanto has also been quietly working with agricultural researchers around the world to genetically modify crops that are important for subsistence farmers. For example, Monsanto researchers have collaborated with governmental and non-governmental research organizations to develop virus-resistant potatoes in Mexico, "golden mustard" rich in beta-carotene in India, and virus-resistant papaya in Southeast Asia. [3] In December, Adam gave a presentation to the group that focused on the role Monsanto has played in developing virus-resistant sweet potatoes for Kenya. Sweet potatoes are grown widely in Kenya and other developing nations because they are nutritious and can be stored beneath the ground until they need to be harvested. The problem, however, is that pests and diseases can reduce yields by up to 80 percent. Following extensive research and development that began in 1991, the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) began field tests of genetically modified sweet potatoes in 2001. Adam concluded his presentation by emphasizing what an important impact this genetically modified (GM) crop could have on food security for subsistence farmers. Even if losses were only cut in half, that would still represent a huge increase in food for people who are too poor to buy the food they need. [4] The second reason the group wound up learning more about the potential biotechnology poses for increasing food production in Kenya was because a new member joined the group. Josephine Omondi, a first-year international student, had read an announcement about Adam's presentation in the campus newsletter and knew right away that she had to attend. She was, after all, a daughter of one of the scientists engaged in biotechnology research at the KARI laboratories in Nairobi. Struggling with homesickness, Josephine was eager to be among people that cared about her country. She was also impressed with the accuracy of Adam's presentation and struck up an immediate friendship with him when they discovered they both knew Florence Wambugu, the Kenyan researcher that had initiated the sweet potato project and had worked in Monsanto's labs in St. Louis. [5] Naturally, Josephine had much to offer the group. A month after Adam's presentation, she provided a summary of other biotechnology projects in Kenya. In one case, tissue culture techniques are being employed to develop banana varieties free of viruses and other diseases that plague small and large-scale banana plantations. In another case, cloning techniques are being utilized to produce more hearty and productive chrysanthemum varieties, a plant that harbors a chemical, pyrethrum, that functions as a natural insecticide. Kenya grows nearly half the global supply of pyrethrum, which is converted elsewhere into environmentally-friendly mosquito repellants and insecticides.1 [6] Josephine reserved the majority of her remarks, however, for two projects that involve the development of herbicide- and insect-resistant varieties of maize (corn). Every year stem-boring insects and a weed named Striga decimate up to 60 percent of Kenya's maize harvest.2 Nearly 50 percent of the food Kenyans consume is maize, but maize production is falling. While the population of East Africa grew by 20 percent from 1989 to 1998, maize harvests actually declined during this period.3 Josephine stressed that this is one of the main reasons the number of hungry people is increasing in her country. As a result, Kenyan researchers are working in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) to develop corn varieties that can resist Striga and combat stem-borers. With pride, Josephine told the group that both projects are showing signs of success. In January 2002, KARI scientists announced they had developed maize varieties from a mutant that is naturally resistant to a herbicide which is highly effective against Striga. In a cost-effective process, farmers would recoverthe small cost of seeds coated with the herbicide through yield increases of up to 400 percent.4 [7] On the other front, Josephine announced that significant progress was also being made between CIMMYT and KARI in efforts to genetically engineer "Bt" varieties of Kenyan maize that would incorporate the gene that produces Bacillus thuringiensis, a natural insecticide that is used widely by organic farmers. Josephine concluded her remarks by saying how proud she was of her father and the fact that poor subsistence farmers in Kenya are starting to benefit from the fruits of biotechnology, long enjoyed only by farmers in wealthy nations. [8] A few days after Josephine's presentation, two members of the Hunger Concerns group asked if they could meet with Tom since he was serving as the group's coordinator. As an environmental studies major, Kelly Ernst is an ardent advocate of organic farming and a strident critic of industrial approaches to agriculture. As much as she respected Josephine, she expressed to Tom her deep concerns that Kenya was embarking on a path that was unwise ecologically and economically. She wanted to have a chance to tell the group about the ways organic farming methods can combat the challenges posed by stem-borers and Striga. [9] Similarly, Terra Fielding thought it was important that the Hunger Concerns group be made aware of the biosafety and human health risks associated with genetically modified (GM) crops. Like Terra, Tom was also a biology major so he understood her concerns about the inadvertent creation of herbicide-resistant "superweeds" and the likelihood that insects would eventually develop resistance to Bt through prolonged exposure. He also understood Terra's concern that it would be nearly impossible to label GM crops produced in Kenya since most food goes directly from the field to the table. As a result, few Kenyans would be able to make an informed decision about whether or not to eat genetically-engineered foods. Convinced that both sets of concerns were significant, Tom invited Kelly and Terra to give presentations in February and March. [10] The wheels came off during the meeting in April, however. At the end of a discussion Tom was facilitating about how the group might share with the rest of the college what they had learned about hunger in sub-Saharan Africa, Kelly Ernst brought a different matter to the attention of the group: a plea to join an international campaign by Greenpeace to ban GM crops. In the murmurs of assent and disapproval that followed, Kelly pressed ahead. She explained that she had learned about the campaign through her participation in the Environmental Concerns group on campus. They had decided to sign on to the campaign and were now actively encouraging other groups on campus to join the cause as well. Reiterating her respect for Josephine and the work of her father in Kenya, Kelly nevertheless stressed that Kenya could achieve its food security through organic farming techniques rather than the "magic bullet" of GM crops, which she argued pose huge risks to the well-being of the planet as well as the welfare of Kenyans. [11] Before Tom could open his mouth, Josephine offered a counter proposal. Angry yet composed, she said she fully expected the group to vote down Kelly's proposal, but that she would not be satisfied with that alone. Instead, she suggested that a fitting conclusion to their study this year would be for the group to submit an article for the college newspaper explaining the benefits that responsible use of agricultural biotechnology poses for achieving food security in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Kenya. [12] A veritable riot of discussion ensued among the twenty students. The group appeared to be evenly divided over the two proposals. Since the meeting had already run well past its normal ending time, Tom suggested that they think about both proposals and then come to the next meeting prepared to make a decision. Everybody seemed grateful for the chance to think about it for a while, especially Tom and Karen. II [13] Three days later, an intense conversation was taking place at a corner table after dinner in the cafeteria. [14] "Come on, Adam. You're the one that told us people are hungry because they are too poor to buy the food they need," said Kelly. "I can tell you right now that there is plenty of food in the world; we just need to distribute it better. If we quit feeding 60 percent of our grain in this country to animals, there would be plenty of food for everyone." [15] "That may be true, Kelly, but we don't live in some ideal world where we can wave a magic wand and make food land on the tables of people in Africa. A decent food distribution infrastructure doesn't exist within most of the countries. Moreover, most people in sub-Saharan Africa are so poor they couldn't afford to buy our grain. And even if we just gave it away, all we would do is impoverish local farmers in Africa because there is no way they could compete with our free food. Until these countries get on their feet and can trade in the global marketplace, the best thing we can do for their economic development is to promote agricultural production in their countries. Genetically modified crops are just one part of a mix of strategies that Kenyans are adopting to increase food supplies. They have to be able to feed themselves." [16] "Yes, Africans need to feed themselves," said Kelly, "but I just don't think that they need to follow our high-tech approach to agriculture. Look at what industrial agriculture has done to our own country. We're still losing topsoil faster than we can replenish it. Pesticides and fertilizers are still fouling our streams and groundwater. Massive monocultures only make crops more susceptible to plant diseases and pests. At the same time, these monocultures are destroying biodiversity. Our industrial approach to agriculture is living off of biological capital that we are not replacing. Our system of agriculture is not sustainable. Why in God's name would we want to see others appropriate it?" [17] "But that's not what we're talking about," Adam replied. "The vast majority of farmers in the region are farming a one hectare plot of land that amounts to less than 2.5 acres. They're not buying tractors. They're not using fertilizer. They're not buying herbicides. They can't afford those things. Instead, women and children spend most of their days weeding between rows, picking bugs off of plants, or hauling precious water. The cheapest and most important technology they can afford is improved seed that can survive in poor soils and resist weeds and pests. You heard Josephine's report. Think of the positive impact that all of those projects are going to have for poor farmers in Kenya." [18] Kelly shook her head. "Come on, Adam. Farmers have been fighting with the weather, poor soils, and pests forever. How do you think we survived without modern farming methods? It can be done. We know how to protect soil fertility through crop rotations and letting ground rest for a fallow period. We also know how to intercrop in ways that cut down on plant diseases and pests. I can show you a great article in WorldWatch magazine that demonstrates how organic farmers in Kenya are defeating stem-borers and combating Striga. In many cases they have cut crop losses down to 5 percent. All without genetic engineering and all the dangers that come with it." [19] Finally Karen broke in. "But if that knowledge is so wide-spread, why are there so many hungry people in Kenya? I've been to the region. Most farmers I saw already practice some form of intercropping, but they can't afford to let their land rest for a fallow period because there are too many mouths to feed. They're caught in a vicious downward spiral. Until their yields improve, the soils will continue to become more degraded and less fertile." [20] Adam and Kelly both nodded their heads, but for different reasons. The conversation seemed to end where it began; with more disagreement than agreement. III [21] Later that night, Tom was in the library talking with Terra about their Entomology exam the next day. It didn't take long for Terra to make the connections between the material they were studying and her concerns about Bt crops in Kenya. "Tom, we both know what has happened with chemical insecticide applications. After a period of time, the few insects that have an ability to resist the insecticide survive and reproduce. Then you wind up with an insecticide that is no longer effective against pests that are resistant to it. Bt crops present an even more likely scenario for eventual resistance because the insecticide is not sprayed on the crop every now and then. Instead, Bt is manufactured in every cell of the plant and is constantly present, which means pests are constantly exposed. While this will have a devastating effect on those insects that don't have a natural resistance to Bt, eventually those that do will reproduce and a new class of Bt-resistant insects will return to munch away on the crop. This would be devastating for organic farmers because Bt is one of the few natural insecticides they can use and still claim to be organic." [22] "I hear you, Terra. But I know that Bt farmers in the U.S. are instructed by the seed distributors to plant refuges around their Bt crops so that some pests will not be exposed to Bt and will breed with the others that are exposed, thus compromising the genetic advantage that others may have." [23] "That's true, Tom, but it's my understanding that farmers are not planting big enough refuges. The stuff I've read suggests that if you're planting 100 acres in soybeans, 30 acres should be left in non-Bt soybeans. But it doesn't appear that farmers are doing that. And that's here in the States. How reasonable is it to expect a poor, uneducated farmer in East Africa to understand the need for a refuge and also to resist the temptation to plant all of the land in Bt corn in order to raise the yield?" [24] As fate would have it, Josephine happened to walk by just as Terra was posing her question to Tom. In response, she fired off several questions of her own. "Are you suggesting Kenyan farmers are less intelligent than U.S. farmers, Terra? Do you think we cannot teach our farmers how to use these new gifts in a wise way? Haven't farmers in this country learned from mistakes they have made? Is it not possible that we too can learn from any mistakes we make?" [25] "Josephine, those are good questions. It's just that we're talking about two very different agricultural situations. Here you have less than two million farmers feeding 280 million people. With a high literacy rate, a huge agricultural extension system, e-mail, and computers, it is relatively easy to provide farmers with the information they need. But you said during your presentation that 70 percent of Kenya's 30 million people are engaged in farming. Do you really think you can teach all of those people how to properly utilize Bt crops?" [26] "First of all, U.S. farmers do not provide all of the food in this country. Where do you think our morning coffee and bananas come from? Rich nations import food every day from developing nations, which have to raise cash crops in order to import other things they need in order to develop, or to pay debts to rich nations. You speak in sweeping generalizations. Obviously not every farmer in Kenya will start planting Bt corn tomorrow. Obviously my government will recognize the need to educate farmers about the misuse of Bt and equip them to do so. We care about the environment and have good policies in place to protect it. We are not fools, Terra. We are concerned about the biosafety of Kenya." [27] Trying to take some of the heat off of Terra, Tom asked a question he knew she wanted to ask. "What about the dangers to human health, Josephine? The Europeans are so concerned they have established a moratorium on all new patents of genetically-engineered foods and have introduced GM labeling requirements. While we haven't done that here in the U.S., many are concerned about severe allergic reactions that could be caused by foods made from GM crops. Plus, we just don't know what will happen over the long term as these genes interact or mutate. Isn't it wise to be more cautious and go slowly?" [28] There was nothing slow about Josephine's reply. "Tom, we are concerned about the health and well-being of our people. But there is one thing that you people don't understand. We view risks related to agricultural biotechnology differently. It is reasonable to be concerned about the possible allergenicity of GM crops, and we test for these, but we are not faced primarily with concerns about allergic reactions in Kenya. We are faced with declining food supplies and growing numbers of hungry people. As Terra said, our situations are different. As a result, we view the possible risks and benefits differently. The people of Kenya should be able to decide these matters for themselves. We are tired of other people deciding what is best for us. The colonial era is over. You people need to get used to it." [29] With that, Josephine left as suddenly as she had arrived. Worn out and reflective, both Tom and Terra decided to return to studying for their exam the next day. IV [30] On Friday night, Karen and Tom got together for their weekly date. They decided to have dinner at a local restaurant that had fairly private booths. After Karen's semester in Tanzania last spring, they had learned to cherish the time they spent together. Eventually they started talking about the decision the Hunger Concerns group would have to make next week. After Karen summarized her conversation with Kelly and Adam, Tom described the exchange he and Terra had with Josephine. [31] Karen said, "You know, I realize that these environmental and health issues are important, but I'm surprised that no one else seems willing to step back and ask whether anyone should be doing genetic engineering in the first place. Who are we to mess with God's creation? What makes us think we can improve on what God has made?" [32] "But Karen," Tom replied, "human beings have been mixing genes ever since we figured out how to breed animals or graft branches onto apple trees. We didn't know we were engaged in genetic manipulation, but now we know more about the science of genetics, and that has led to these new technologies. One of the reasons we can support six billion people on this planet is because scientists during the Green Revolution used their God-given intelligence to develop hybrid stocks of rice, corn, and other cereal crops that boosted yields significantly. They achieved most of their success by cross-breeding plants, but that takes a long time and it is a fairly inexact process. Various biotechnologies including genetic engineering make it possible for us to reduce the time it takes to develop new varieties, and they also enable us to transfer only the genes we want into the host species. The first Green Revolution passed by Africa, but this second biotechnology revolution could pay huge dividends for countries in Africa." [33] "I understand all of that, Tom. I guess what worries me is that all of this high science will perpetuate the myth that we are masters of the universe with some God-given mandate to transform nature in our image. We have got to quit viewing nature as a machine that we can take apart and put back together. Nature is more than the sum of its parts. This mechanistic mindset has left us with all sorts of major ecological problems. The only reason hybrid seeds produced so much food during the Green Revolution is because we poured tons of fertilizer on them and kept them alive with irrigation water. And what was the result? We produced lots of grain but also huge amounts of water pollution and waterlogged soils. We have more imagination than foresight. And so we wind up developing another technological fix to get us out of the problem our last technological innovation produced. Instead, we need to figure out how to live in harmony with nature. Rather than be independent, we need to realize our ecological interdependence. We are made from the dust of the universe and to the dust of the earth we will return." [34] "Huh, I wonder if anyone would recognize you as a religion major, Karen? I agree that our scientific and technological abilities have outpaced our wisdom in their use, but does that mean we can't learn from our mistakes? Ultimately, aren't technologies just means that we put to the service of the ends we want to pursue? Why can't we use genetic engineering to end hunger? Why would God give us the brains to map and manipulate genomes if God didn't think we could use that knowledge to better care for creation? Scientists are already developing the next wave of products that will give us inexpensive ways to vaccinate people in developing nations from debilitating diseases with foods like bananas that carry the vaccine. We will also be able to make food more nutritious for those that get precious little. Aren't those good things, Karen?" [35] Karen, a bit defensive and edging toward the other side of the horseshoe-shaped booth, said, "Look Tom, the way we live is just not sustainable. It scares me to see people in China, and Mexico, and Kenya all following us down the same unsustainable road. There has got to be a better way. Kelly is right. Human beings lived more sustainably in the past than we do now. We need to learn from indigenous peoples how to live in harmony with the earth. But instead, we seem to be tempting them to adopt our expensive and inappropriate technologies. It just doesn't seem right to encourage developing nations like Kenya to make huge investments in biotechnology when less expensive solutions might better address their needs. I really do have my doubts about the ability to teach farmers how to use these new seeds wisely. I've been there, Tom. Farmers trade seeds freely and will always follow a strategy that will produce the most food in the short-term because people are hungry now. Eventually, whatever gains are achieved by biotechnology will be lost as weeds and insects become resistant or the soils just give out entirely from overuse. But I am really struggling with this vote next week because I also know that we should not be making decisions for other people. They should be making decisions for themselves. Josephine is my friend. I don't want to insult her. But I really do think Kenya is heading down the wrong road." [36] "So how are you going to vote next week, Karen?" [37] "I don't know, Tom. Maybe I just won't show up. How are you going to vote?" Commentary [38] This commentary offers background information on global food security, agricultural biotechnology, and genetically modified organisms before it turns to general concerns about genetically modified crops and specific ethical questions raised by the case. Food Security [39] The nations of the world made significant gains in social development during the latter half of the 20th century. Since 1960, life expectancy has risen by one third in developing nations, child mortality has been cut in half, the percentage of people who have access to clean water has more than doubled, and the total enrollment in primary schools has increased by nearly two- thirds. Similar progress has been made in achieving a greater measure of food security. Even though the world's population has more than doubled since 1960, food production grew at a slightly faster rate so that today per capita food availability is up 24 percent. More importantly, the proportion of people who suffer from food insecurity has been cut in half from 37 percent in 1969 to 18 percent in 1995.5 [40] According to the International Food Policy Research Institute, the world currently produces enough food to meet the basic needs for each of the planet's six billion people. Nevertheless, more than 800 million people suffer from food insecurity. For various reasons, one out of every eight human beings on the planet cannot produce or purchase the food they need to lead healthy, productive lives. One out of every three preschool-age children in developing nations is either malnourished or severely underweight.6 Of these, 14 million children become blind each year due to Vitamin A deficiency. Every day, 40,000 people die of illnesses related to their poor diets.7 [41] Food security is particularly dire in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only region in the world where hunger has been increasing rather than decreasing. Since 1970, the number ofmalnourished people has increased as the amount of food produced per person has declined.8 According to the United Nations Development Programme, half of the 673 million people living in sub-Saharan Africa at the beginning of the 21st century are living in absolute poverty on less than $1 a day.9 Not surprisingly, one third of the people are undernourished. In the eastern portion of this region, nearly half of the children suffer from stunted growth as a result of their inadequate diets, and that percentage is increasing.10 In Kenya, 23 percent of children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition.11 [42] Several factors contribute to food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. Drought, inadequate water supplies, and crop losses to pests and disease have devastating impacts on the amount of food that is available. Less obvious factors, however, often have a greater impact on food supply. Too frequently, governments in the region spend valuable resources on weapons, which are then used in civil or regional conflicts that displace people and reduce food production. In addition, many governments-hamstrung by international debt obligations-have pursued economic development strategies that bypass subsistence farmers and focus on the production of cash crops for export. As a result, a few countries produce significant amounts of food, but it is shipped to wealthier nations and is not available for local consumption. Storage and transportation limitations also result in inefficient distribution of surpluses when they are produced within nations in the region.12 [43] Poverty is another significant factor. Globally, the gap between the rich and the poor is enormous. For example, the $1,010 average annual purchasing power of a Kenyan pales in comparison with the $31,910 available to a citizen of the United States.13 Poor people in developing nations typically spend 50-80 percent of their incomes for food, in comparison to the 10-15 percent that people spend in the United States or the European Union.14 Thus, while food may be available for purchase, fluctuating market conditions often drive prices up to unaffordable levels. In addition, poverty limits the amount of resources a farmer can purchase to "improve" his or her land and increase yields. Instead, soils are worked without rest in order to produce food for people who already have too little to eat. [44] One way to deal with diminished food supplies or high prices is through the ability to grow your own food. Over 70 percent of the people living in sub-Saharan Africa are subsistence farmers, but the amount of land available per person has been declining over the last thirty years. While the concentration of land in the hands of a few for export cropping plays an important role in this problem, the primary problem is population growth in the region. As population has grown, less arable land and food is available per person. In 1970, Asia, Latin America, and Africa all had similar population growth rates. Since then Asia has cut its rate of growth by 25 percent, and Latin America has cut its rate by 20 percent.15 In contrast, sub-Saharan Africa still has a very high population growth rate, a high fertility rate, and an age structure where 44 percent of its population is under the age of fifteen. As a result, the United Nations projects that the region's population will more than double by 2050, even after taking into account the devastating impact that AIDS will continue to have on many countries.16 [45] Local food production will need to increase substantially in the next few decades in order to meet the 133 percent projected growth of the population in sub-Saharan Africa. Currently, food aid donations from donor countries only represent 1.1 percent of the food supply. The region produces 83 percent of its own food and imports the rest.17 Given the limited financial resources of these nations, increasing imports is not a viable strategy for the future. Instead, greater efforts must be made to stimulate agricultural production within the region, particularly among subsistence farmers. Unlike Asia, however, increased production will not likely be achieved through the irrigation of fields and the application of fertilizer. Most farmers in the region are simply too poor to afford these expensive inputs. Instead, the main effort has been to improve the least expensive input: seeds. [46] A great deal of public and private research is focused on developing new crop varieties that are resistant to drought, pests, and disease and are also hearty enough to thrive in poor soils.18 While the vast majority of this research utilizes traditional plant-breeding methods, nations like Kenya and South Africa are actively researching ways that the appropriate use of biotechnology can also increase agricultural yields. These nations, and a growing list of others, agree with a recent statement by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization: [47]…. It [genetic engineering] could lead to higher yields on marginal lands in countries that today cannot grow enough food to feed their people. 19 Agricultural Biotechnology [48] The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) defines biotechnology as "any technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use."20 The modification of living organisms is not an entirely new development, however. Human beings have been grafting branches onto fruit trees and breeding animals for desired traits since the advent of agriculture 10,000 years ago. Recent advances in the fields of molecular biology and genetics, however, considerably magnify the power of human beings to understand and transform living organisms. [49] The cells of every living thing contain genes that determine the function and appearance of the organism. Each cell contains thousands of genes. Remarkably, there is very little difference in the estimated number of genes in plant cells (26,000) and human cells (30,000). Within each cell, clusters of these genes are grouped together in long chains called chromosomes. Working in isolation or in combination, these genes and chromosomes determine the appearance, composition, and functions of an organism. The complete list of genes and chromosomes in a particular species is called the genome.21 [50] Like their predecessors, plant breeders and other agricultural scientists are making use of this rapidly growing body of knowledge to manipulate the genetic composition of crops and livestock, albeit with unprecedented powers. Since the case focuses only on genetically modified crops, this commentary will examine briefly the use in Africa of the five most common applications of biotechnology to plant breeding through the use of tissue culture, marker-assisted selection, genetic engineering, genomics, and bioinformatics.22 [51] Tissue culture techniques enable researchers to develop whole plants from a single cell, or a small cluster of cells. After scientists isolate the cell of a plant that is disease-free or particularly hearty, they then use cloning techniques to produce large numbers of these plants in vitro, in a petri dish. When the plants reach sufficient maturity in the laboratory, they are transplanted into agricultural settings where farmers can enjoy the benefits of crops that are more hearty or disease-free. In the case, Josephine describes accurately Kenyan successes in this area with regard to bananas and the plants that produce pyrethrum. This attempt to micro-propagate crops via tissue cultures constitutes approximately 52 percent of the activities in the 37 African countries engaged in various forms of biotechnology research.23 [52] Marker-assisted selection techniques enable researchers to identify desirable genes in a plant's genome. The identification and tracking of these genes speeds up the process of conventional cross-breeding and reduces the number of unwanted genes that are transferred. The effort to develop insect-resistant maize in Kenya uses this technology to identify local varieties of maize that have greater measures of natural resistance to insects and disease. South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Côte d'Ivoire are all building laboratories to conduct this form of research. 24 [53] Genetic engineering involves the direct transfer of genetic material between organisms. Whereas conventional crossbreeding transfers genetic material in a more indirect and less efficient manner through the traditional propagation of plants, genetic engineering enables researchers to transfer specific genes directly into the genome of a plant in vitro. Originally, scientists used "gene guns" to shoot genetic material into cells. Increasingly, researchers are using a naturally occurring plant pathogen, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, to transfer genes more successfully and selectively into cells. Eventually, Josephine's father intends to make use of this technology to "engineer" local varieties of maize that will include a gene from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a naturally occurring bacterium that interferes with the digestive systems of insects that chew or burrow into plants. Recent reports from South Africa indicate thatsmallholder farmers who have planted a Bt variety of cotton have experienced "great success."25 [54] Genomics is the study of how all the genes in an organism work individually or together to express various traits. The interaction of multiple genes is highly complex and studies aimed at discerning these relationships require significant computing power. Bioinformatics moves this research a step further by taking this genomic information and exploring the ways it may be relevant to understanding the gene content and gene order of similar organisms. For example, researchers recently announced that they had successfully mapped the genomes of two different rice varieties.26 This information will likely produce improvements in rice yields, but researchers drawing on the new discipline of bioinformatics will also explore similarities between rice and other cereal crops that have not yet been mapped. Nations like Kenya, however, have not yet engaged in these two forms of biotechnology research because of the high cost associated with the required computing capacity. Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture [55] The first genetically modified organisms were developed for industry and medicine, not agriculture. In 1972, a researcher working for General Electric engineered a microbe that fed upon spilled crude oil, transforming the oil into a more benign substance. When a patent was applied for the organism, the case made its way ultimately to the U.S. Supreme Court, which in 1980 ruled that a patent could be awarded for the modification of a living organism. One year earlier, scientists had managed to splice the gene that produces human growth hormone into a bacterium, thus creating a new way to produce this vital hormone.27 [56] In 1994, Calgene introduced the Flavr-Savr tomato. It was the first commercially produced, genetically modified food product. Engineered to stay on the vine longer, develop more flavor, and last longer on grocery shelves, consumers rejected the product not primarily because it was genetically modified, but rather because it was too expensive and did not taste any better than ordinary tomatoes.28 [57] By 1996, the first generation of genetically modified (GM) crops was approved for planting in six countries. These crops included varieties of corn, soybeans, cotton, and canola that had been engineered to resist pests or to tolerate some herbicides. Virus resistance was also incorporated into some tomato, potato, and tobacco varieties. [58] Farmers in the United States quickly embraced these genetically modified varieties because they reduced the cost of pesticide and herbicide applications, and in some cases also increased yields substantially. In 1996, 3.6 million acres were planted in GM crops. By 2000 that number had grown to 75 million acres and constituted 69 percent of the world's production of GM crops.29 According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2002 spring survey, 74 percent of the nation's soybeans, 71 percent of cotton, and 32 percent of the corn crop were planted in genetically engineered varieties, an increase of approximately 5 percent over 2001 levels.30 [59] Among other developed nations, Canada produced 7 percent of the world's GM crops in 2000, though Australia, France, and Spain also had plantings.31 In developing nations, crop area planted in GM varieties grew by over 50 percent between 1999 and 2000.32 Argentina produced 23 percent of the global total in 2000, along with China, South Africa, Mexico, and Uruguay.33 [60] In Kenya, no GM crops have been approved for commercial planting, though the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) received government permission in 2001 to field test genetically modified sweet potatoes that had been developed in cooperation with Monsanto.34 In addition, funding from the Novartis Foundation for Sustainable Development is supporting research KARI is conducting in partnership with the International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center (CIMYYT) to develop disease and insect-resistant varieties of maize, including Bt maize.35 A similar funding relationship with the Rockefeller Foundation is supporting research to develop varieties of maize from a mutant type that is naturally resistant to a herbicide thatis highly effective against Striga, a weed that devastates much of Kenya's maize crop each year.36 Striga infests approximately 2040 million hectares of farmlandin sub-Saharan Africa and reduces yields for an estimated 100 million farmers by 20-80 percent.37 General Concerns about Genetically Modified (GM) Crops [61] The relatively sudden and significant growth of GM crops around the world has raised various social, economic, and environmental concerns. People in developed and developing countries are concerned about threats these crops may pose to human health and the environment. In addition, many fear that large agribusiness corporations will gain even greater financial control of agriculture and limit the options of small-scale farmers. Finally, some are also raising theological questions about the appropriateness of genetic engineering. [62] Food Safety and Human Health. Some critics of GM foods in the United States disagree with the government's stance that genetically engineered food products are "substantially equivalent" to foods derived from conventional plant breeding. Whereas traditional plant breeders attempt to achieve expression of genetic material within a species, genetic engineering enables researchers to introduce genetic material from other species, families, or even kingdoms. Because researchers can move genes from one life form into any other, critics are concerned about creating novel organisms that have no evolutionary history. Their concern is that we do not know whatimpact these new products will have on human health because they have never existed before.38 [63] Proponents of genetically engineered foods argue that genetic modification is much more precise and less random than the methods employed in traditional plant breeding. Whereas most genetically engineered foods have involved the transfer of one or two genes into the host, traditional crossbreeding results in the transfer of thousands of genes. Proponents also note that GM crops have not been proven to harm human health since they were approved for use in 1996. Because the United States does not require the labeling of genetically engineered foods, most consumers are not aware that more than half of the products on most grocery store shelves are made, at least in part, from products derived from GM crops. To date, no serious human health problems have been attributed to GM crops.39 Critics are not as sanguine about this brief track record and argue that it is not possible to know the health effects of GM crops because their related food products are not labeled. [64] The potential allergenicity of genetically modified foods is a concern that is shared by both critics and proponents of the technology. It is possible that new genetic material may carry with it substances that could trigger serious human allergic reactions. Proponents, however, are more confident than critics that these potential allergens can be identified in the testing process. As a case in point, they note that researchers working for Pioneer Seeds scuttled a project when they discovered that a genetically engineered varietyof soybeans carried the gene that produces severe allergic reactions associated with Brazil nuts.40 Critics, however, point to the StarLink corn controversy as evidence of how potentially dangerous products can easily slip into the human food supply. Federal officials had only allowed StarLink corn to be used as an animal feed because tests were inconclusive with regard to the dangers it posed for human consumption. In September 2000, however, StarLink corn was found first in a popular bran of taco shells and later in other consumer goods. These findings prompted several product recalls and cost Aventis, the producer of StarLink, over $1 billion.41 [65] More recently the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration levied a $250,000 fine against ProdiGene Inc. for allowing genetically engineered corn to contaminate approximately 500,000 bushels of soybeans. ProdiGene had genetically engineered the corn to produce a protein that serves as a pig vaccine. When the test crop failed, ProdiGene plowed under the GM corn and planted food grade soybeans. When ProdiGene harvested the soybeans federal inspectors discovered that some of the genetically engineered corn had grown amidst the soybeans. Under federal law, genetically engineered substances that have not been approved for human consumption must be removed from the food chain. The $250,000 fine helped to reimburse the federal government for the cost of destroying the contaminated soybeans that were fortunately all contained in a storage facility in Nebraska. ProdiGenealso was required to post a $1 million bond in order to pay for any similar problems in the future.42 [66] Another food safety issue involves the use of marker genes that are resistant to certain antibiotics. The concern is that these marker genes, which are transferred in almost all successful genetic engineering projects, may stimulate the appearance of bacteria resistant to common antibiotics.43 Proponents acknowledge that concerns exist and are working on ways to either remove the marker genes from the finished product, or to develop new and harmless markers. Proponents also acknowledge that it may be necessary to eliminate the first generation of antibiotic markers through regulation.44 [67] Finally, critics also claim that genetic engineering may lower the nutritional quality of some foods. For example, one variety of GM soybeans has lowerlevels of isoflavones, which researchers think may protect women from some forms of cancer.45 Proponents of genetically modified foods, meanwhile, are busy trumpeting the "second wave" of GM crops that actually increase the nutritional value of various foods. For example, Swiss researchers working in collaboration with the Rockefeller Foundation, have produced "Golden Rice," a genetically engineered rice that is rich in beta carotene and will help to combat Vitamin A deficiency in the developing world. [68] Biosafety and Environmental Harm. Moving from human health to environmental safety, many critics of GM crops believe that this use of agricultural biotechnology promotes an industrialized approach to agriculture that has produced significant ecological harm. Kelly summarizes these concerns well in the case. Crops that have been genetically engineered to be resistant to certain types of herbicide make it possible for farmers to continue to spray these chemicals on their fields. In addition, GM crops allow farmers to continue monocropping practices (planting huge tracts of land in one crop variety), which actually exacerbate pest and disease problems and diminish biodiversity. Just as widespread and excessive use of herbicides led to resistant insects, critics argue that insects eventually will become resistant to the second wave of herbicides in GM crops. They believe that farmers need to be turning to a more sustainable form of agriculture that utilizes fewer chemicals and incorporates strip and inter-cropping methodologies that diminish crop losses due to pests and disease.46 [69] Proponents of GM crops are sympathetic to the monocropping critique and agree that farmers need to adopt more sustainable approaches to agriculture, but they argue that there is no reason why GM crops cannot be incorporated in other planting schemes. In addition, they suggest that biodiversity can be supported through GM crops that are developed from varieties that thrive in particular ecological niches. In contrast to the Green Revolution where hybrids were taken from one part of the world and planted in another, GM crops can be tailored to indigenous varieties that have other desirable properties. On the herbicide front, proponents argue that GM crops make it possible to use less toxic herbicides than before, thus lowering the risks to consumers. They also point to ecological benefits of the newest generation of herbicides which degrade quickly when exposed to sunlight and do not build up in groundwater.47 Critics, however, dispute these claims and point to evidence that herbicides are toxic tonon-target species, harm soil fertility, and also may have adverse effects on human health.48 [70] Just as critics are convinced that insects will develop resistance to herbicides, so also are they certain that insects will develop resistance to Bt crops. Terra makes this point in the case. It is one thing to spray insecticides on crops at various times during the growing season; it is another thing for insects to be constantly exposed to Bt since it is expressed through every cell in the plant, every hour of the day. While the GM crop will have a devastating impact on most target insects, some will eventually survive with a resistance to Bt. Proponents acknowledge that this is a serious concern. As is the case with herbicides, however, there are different variants of Bt that may continue to be effective against partially resistant insects. In addition, proponents note that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now requires farmers planting Bt crops to plant refuges of non-Bt crops so that exposed insects can mate with others that have not been exposed, thus reducing the growth of Bt-resistant insects. These refuges should equal 20 percent of the cropped area. Critics argue that this percentage is too low and that regulations do not sufficiently stipulate where these refuges should be in relation to Bt crops.49 [71] Critics are also concerned about the impact Bt could have on non-target species like helpful insects, birds, and bees. In May 1999, researchers at Cornell University published a study suggesting that Bt pollen was leading to increased mortality among monarch butterflies. This research ignited a firestorm of controversy that prompted further studies by critics and proponents of GM crops. One of the complicating factors is that an uncommon variety of Bt corn was used in both the laboratory and field tests. Produced by Novartis, the pollen from this type was 40-50 times more potent than other Bt corn varieties, but it represented less than 2 percent of the Bt corn crop in 2000. When other factors were taken into account, proponents concluded that monarch butterflies have a much greater chance of being harmed through the application of conventional insecticides than they do through exposure to Bt corn pollen. Critics, however, point to other studies that indicate Bt can adversely harm beneficial insect predators and compromise soil fertility.50 [72] Both critics and proponents are concerned about unintended gene flow between GM crops and related plants in the wild. In many cases it is possible for genes, including transplanted genes, to be spread through the normal cross-pollination of plants. Whether assisted by the wind or pollen-carrying insects, cross-fertilization could result in the creation of herbicide-resistant superweeds. Proponents of GM crops acknowledge that this could happen, but they note that the weed would only be resistant to one type of herbicide, not the many others that are available to farmers. As a result, they argue that herbicide-resistant superweeds could be controlled and eliminated over a period of time. Critics are also concerned, however, that undesired gene flow could "contaminate" the genetic integrity of organic crops or indigenous varieties. This would be devastating to organic farmers who trade on their guarantee to consumers that organic produce has not been genetically engineered. Proponents argue that this legitimate concern could be remedied with relatively simple regulations or guidelines governing the location of organic and genetically engineered crops. Similarly, they argue that care must be taken to avoid the spread of genes into unmodified varieties of the crop.51 [73] Agribusiness and Economic Justice. Shifting to another arena of concern, many critics fear that GM crops will further expand the gap between the rich and the poor in both developed and developing countries. Clearly the first generation of GM crops has been profit-driven rather than need-based. Crops that are herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant have been developed for and marketed to relatively wealthy, large-scale, industrial farmers.52 To date, the benefits from these crops have largely accrued to these large producers and not to small subsistence farmers or even consumers. Proponents, however, argue that agricultural biotechnologies are scale-neutral. Because the technology is in the seed, expensive and time-consuming inputs are not required. As a result, small farmers can experience the same benefits as large farmers. In addition, proponents point to the emerging role public sector institutions are playing in bringing the benefits of agricultural biotechnology to developing countries. Partnerships like those described above between KARI, CIMMYT, and various governmental and non-governmental funding sources indicate that the next generation of GM crops should have more direct benefits for subsistence farmers and consumers in developing nations. [74] While these partnerships in the public sector are developing, there is no doubt that major biotech corporations like Monsanto have grown more powerful as a result of the consolidation that has taken place in the seed and chemical industries. For example, in 1998, Monsanto purchased DeKalb Genetics Corporation, the second largest seed corn company in the United States. One year later, Monsanto merged with Pharmacia & Upjohn, a major pharmaceutical conglomerate. A similar merger took place between Dow Chemical Corporation and Pioneer Seeds.53 The result of this consolidation is the vertical integration of the seed and chemical industries. Today, a company like Monsanto not only sells chemical herbicides; it also sells seed for crops that have been genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide. In addition, Monsanto requires farmers to sign a contract that prohibits them from cleaning and storing a portion of their GM crop to use as seed for the following year. All of these factors lead critics to fear that the only ones who will benefit from GM crops are rich corporations and wealthy farmers who can afford to pay these fees. Critics in developing nations are particularly concerned about the prohibition against keeping a portion of this year's harvest as seed stock for the next. They see this as a means of making farmers in developing nations dependent upon expensive seed they need to purchase from powerful agribusiness corporations.54 [75] Proponents acknowledge these concerns but claim that there is nothing about them that is unique to GM crops. Every form of technology has a price, and that cost will always be easier to bear if one has a greater measure of wealth. They note, however, that farmers throughout the United States have seen the financial wisdom in planting GM crops and they see no reason why farmers in developing nations would not reach the same conclusion if the circumstances warrant. Proponents also note that subsistence farmers in developing nations will increasingly have access to free or inexpensive GM seed that has been produced through partnerships in the public sector. They also tend to shrug off the prohibition regarding seed storage because this practice has been largely abandoned in developed nations that grow primarily hybrid crop varieties. Harvested hybrid seed can be stored for later planting, but it is not as productive as the original seed that was purchased from a dealer. As farmers invest in mechanized agriculture, GM seed becomes just another cost variable that has to be considered in the business called agriculture. Critics, however, bemoan the loss of family farms that has followed the mechanization of agriculture. [76] The seed storage issue reflects broader concerns about the ownership of genetic material. For example, some developing nations have accused major biotech corporations of committing genetic "piracy." They claim that employees of these corporations have collected genetic material in these countries without permission and then have ferried them back to laboratories in the United States and Europe where they have been studied, genetically modified, and patented. In response to these and other concerns related to intellectual property rights, an international Convention on Biological Diversity was negotiated in 1992. The convention legally guarantees that all nations, including developing countries, have full legal control of "indigenous germplasm."55 It also enables developing countries to seek remuneration for commercial products derived from the nation's genetic resources. Proponents of GM crops affirm the legal protections that the convention affords developing nations and note that the development of GM crops has flourished in the United States because of the strong legal framework that protects intellectual property rights. At the same time, proponents acknowledge that the payment of royalties related to these rights or patents can drive up the cost of GM crops and thus slow down the speed by which this technology can come to the assistance of subsistence farmers.56 [77] Theological Concerns. In addition to the economic and legal issues related to patenting genetic information and owning novel forms of life, some are also raising theological questions about genetic engineering. One set of concerns revolves around the commodification of life. Critics suggest that it is not appropriate for human beings to assert ownership over living organisms and the processes of life that God has created. This concern has reached a fever pitch in recent years during debates surrounding cloning research and the therapeutic potential of human stem cells derived from embryonic tissue. For many, the sanctity of human life is at stake. Fears abound that parents will seek to "design" their children through genetic modification, or that embryonic tissue will be used as a "factory" to produce "spare parts." [78] While this debate has raged primarily in the field of medical research, some critics of GM crops offer similar arguments. In the case, Karen gives voice to one of these concerns when she suggests that we need to stop viewing nature as a machine that can be taken apart and reassembled in other ways. Ecofeminist philosophers and theologians argue that such a mechanistic mindset allows human beings to objectify and, therefore, dominate nature in the same way that women and slaves have been objectified and oppressed. Some proponents of genetic engineering acknowledge this danger but argue that the science and techniques of agricultural biotechnology can increase respect for nature rather than diminish it. As human beings learn more about the genetic foundations of life, it becomes clearer how all forms of life are interconnected. For proponents of GM crops, agricultural biotechnology is just a neutral means that can be put to the service of either good or ill ends. Critics, however, warn that those with power always use technologies to protect their privilege and increase their control. [79] Another set of theological concerns revolves around the argument that genetic engineering is "unnatural" because it transfers genetic material across species boundaries in ways that do not occur in nature. Researchers are revealing, however, that "lower" organisms like bacteria do not have the same genetic stability as "higher" organisms that have evolved very slowly over time. In bacteria, change often occurs by the spontaneous transfer of genes from one bacterium to another of a different species.57 Thus, specie boundaries may not be as fixed as has been previously thought. Another example can be found in the Pacific Yew tree that produces taxol, a chemical that is useful in fighting breast cancer. Recently, researchers discovered that a fungus that often grows on Yew trees also produces the chemical. Apparently the fungus gained this ability through a natural transfer of genes across species and even genera boundaries from the tree to the fungus.58 [80] Appeals to "natural" foods also run into problems when closer scrutiny is brought to bear on the history of modern crops. For example, the vast majority of the grain that is harvested in the world is the product of modern hybrids. These hybrid crops consist of varieties that could not cross-breed without human assistance. In fact, traditional plant breeders have used a variety of high-tech means to develop these hybrids, including exposure to low-level radiation and various chemicals in order to generate desired mutations. After the desired traits are achieved, cloning techniques have been utilized to develop the plant material and to bring the new product to markets. None of this could have occurred "naturally," if by that one means without human intervention, and yet the products of this work are growing in virtually every farm field. Given the long history of human intervention in nature via agriculture, it is hard to draw a clear line between what constitutes natural and unnatural food.59 [81] This leads to a third, related area of theological concern: With what authority, and to what extent, should human beings intervene in the world that God has made? It is clear from Genesis 2 that Adam, the first human creature, is given the task of tending and keeping the Garden of Eden which God has created. In addition, Adam is allowed to name the animals that God has made. Does that mean that human beings should see their role primarily as passive stewards or caretakers of God's creation? In Genesis 1, human beings are created in the image of God (imago dei) and are told to subdue the earth and have dominion over it. Does this mean that human beings, like God, are also creators of life and have been given the intelligence to use this gift wisely in the exercise of human dominion? [82] Answers to these two questions hinge on what it means to be created in the image of God. Some argue that human beings are substantially like God in the sense that we possess qualities we ascribe to the divine, like the capacity for rational thought, moral action, or creative activity. These distinctive features confer a greater degree of sanctity to human life and set us apart from other creatures-if not above them. Others argue that creation in the image of God has less to do with being substantially different from other forms of life, and more to do with the relationality of God to creation. In contrast to substantialist views which often set human beings above other creatures, the relational conception of being created in the image of God seeks to set humanity in a proper relationship of service and devotion to other creatures and to God. Modeled after the patterns of relationship exemplified in Christ, human relationships to nature are to be characterized by sacrificial love and earthly service.60 [83] It is not necessary to choose between one of these two conceptions of what it means to be created in the image of God, but it is important to see how they function in current debates surrounding genetic engineering. Proponents of genetic engineering draw on the substantialist conception when they describe the technology as simply an outgrowth of the capacities for intelligence and creativity with which God has endowed human beings. At the same time, critics draw upon the same substantialist tradition to protect the sanctity of human life from genetic manipulation. More attention, however, needs to be given to the relevance of the relational tradition to debates surrounding genetic engineering. Is it possible that human beings could wield this tool not as a means to garner wealth or wield power over others, but rather as a means to improve the lives of others? Is it possible to use genetic engineering to feed the hungry, heal the sick, and otherwise to redeem a broken world? Certainly many proponents of genetic engineering in the non-profit sector believe this very strongly. [84] Finally, another theological issue related to genetic engineering has to do with the ignorance of human beings as well as the power of sin and evil. Many critics of genetic engineering believe that all sorts of mischief and harm could result from the misuse of this new and powerful technology. In the medical arena, some forecast an inevitable slide down a slippery slope into a moral morass where human dignity is assaulted on all sides. In agriculture, many fear that human ignorance could produce catastrophic ecological problems as human beings design and release into the "wild" novel organisms that have no evolutionary history. [85] There is no doubt that human technological inventions have been used intentionally to perpetrate great evil in the world, particularly in the last century. It is also abundantly clear that human foresight has not anticipated enormous problems associated, for example, with the introduction of exotic species in foreign lands or the disposal of high-level nuclear waste. The question, however, is whether human beings can learn from these mistakes and organize their societies so that these dangers are lessened and problems are averted. Certainly most democratic societies have been able to regulate various technologies so that harm has been minimized and good has been produced. Is there reason to believe that the same cannot be done with regard to genetic engineering? Specific Ethical Questions [86] Beyond this review of general concerns about GM crops and genetic engineering are specific ethical questions raised by the case. These questions are organized around the four ecojustice norms that have been discussed in this volume. [87] Sufficiency. At the heart of this case is the growing problem of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa. It is clear that many people in this region simply do not have enough to eat. In the case, however, Kelly suggests that the world produces enough food to provide everyone with an adequate diet. Is she right? [88] As noted earlier, studies by the International Food Policy and Research Institute indicate that the world does produce enough food to provide everyone in the world with a modest diet. Moreover, the Institute projects that global food production should keep pace with population growth between 2000-2020. So, technically, Kelly is right. Currently, there is enough food for everyone-so long as people would be satisfied by a simple vegetarian diet with very little meat consumption. The reality, however, is that meat consumption is on the rise around the world, particularly among people in developing nations that have subsisted primarily on vegetarian diets that often lack protein.61 Thus, while it appears that a balanced vegetarian diet for all might be possible, and even desirable from a health standpoint, it is not a very realistic possibility. In addition, Adam raises a series of persuasive arguments that further challenge Kelly's claim that food just needs to be distributed better. At a time when donor nations only supply 1.1 percent of the food in sub-Saharan Africa, it is very unrealistic to think that existing distribution systems could be "ramped up" to provide the region with the food it needs. [89] Does that mean, however, that GM crops represent a "magic bullet" when it comes to increasing food supplies in the region? Will GM crops end hunger in sub-Saharan Africa? It is important to note that neither Adam nor Josephine make this claim in the case; Kelly does. Instead, Adam argues that GM crops should be part of a "mix" of agricultural strategies that will be employed to increase food production and reduce hunger in the region. When stem-borers and Striga decimate up to 60 percent of the annual maize harvest, herbicide- and insect-resistant varieties could significantly increase the food supply. One of the problems not mentioned in the case, however, is that maize production is also very taxing on soils. This could be remedied, to some extent, by rotating maize with nitrogen-fixing, leguminous crops. [90] In the end, the primary drain on soil fertility is the heavy pressure which population growth puts on agricultural production. Until population growth declines to levels similar to those in Asia or Latin America, food insecurity will persist in sub-Saharan Africa. One of the keys to achieving this goal is reducing the rate of infant and child mortality. When so many children die in childhood due to poor diets, parents continue to have several children with the hope that some will survive to care for them in their old age. When more children survive childhood, fertility rates decline. Thus, one of the keys to reducing population growth is increasing food security for children. Other keys include reducing maternal mortality, increasing access to a full range of reproductive health services including modern means of family planning, increasing educational and literacy levels, and removing various cultural and legal barriers that constrain the choices of women and girl children. [91] A third question raised by the sufficiency norm has to do with the dangers GM crops might pose to human health. Does Kenya have adequate policies and institutions in place to test GM crops and protect the health of its citizens? The short answer to this question is no. While the nation does have a rather substantial set of biosafety regulations, government officials have not developed similar public health regulations. One of the reasons for this is because Kenya is still in the research stage and does not yet have any GM crops growing in its fields. Thus, regulations have not yet been developed because there are no GM food products available for consumers. Nevertheless, even when products like GM sweet potatoes or maize do become available, it is likely that Kenya may still not develop highly restrictive public health regulations. This is because the Ministry of Health faces what it perceives to be much more immediate threats to public health from large-scale outbreaks of malaria, polio, and HIV-AIDS. The potential allergenicity of GM crops pales in comparison to the real devastation wrought by these diseases. In addition, it is likely that officials will continue to focus on more mundane problems that contaminate food products like inadequate refrigeration or the unsanitary storage and preparation of food. 62In the end, people who are hungry tend to assess food safety risks differently from those who are well fed. Hassan Adamu, Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria, summarizes this position well in the following excerpt from an op-ed piece published in The Washington We do not want to be denied this technology [agricultural biotechnology] because of a misguided notion that we do not understand the dangers and future consequences. We understand…. that they have the right to impose their values on us. The harsh reality is that, without the help of agricultural biotechnology, many will not live.63 [92] Despite Adamu's passionate plea, other leaders in Africa are not as supportive of genetically modified crops. During the food emergency that brought over 30 million people in sub-Saharan Africa to the brink of starvation in 2002, President Levy Mwanawasa of Zambia rejected a shipment of genetically modified food aid furnished by the U.N. World Food Programme. Drawing on a report produced by a team of Zambian scientists, and appealing to the precautionaryprinciple, Mwanawasa said, "We will rather starve than give something toxic [to our citizens.]"64 In addition to concerns about the impact that GM food may have on human health, Mwanawasa also expressed concern that the GM maize might contaminate Zambia's local maize production in the future. Given Josephine's ardent support for agricultural biotechnology in the case, it is important to note that not all Africans share her confidence about the benefits of GM crops. [93] Sustainability. If, however, Kenyans downplay the dangers posed to human beings by GM crops, how likely is it that the nation will develop policies and regulatory bodies to address biosafety and protect the environment? [94] In fact, Kenya does have serious biosafety policies on the books. Prompted by the work that Florence Wambugu did on GM sweet potatoes in collaboration with Monsanto in the early 1990s, these policies were developed with substantial financial assistance furnished by the government of the Netherlands, the World Bank, the U.S. Agency for International Development, and the United Nations Environment Programme. The Regulations and Guidelines for Biosafety in Biotechnology in Kenya establish laboratory standards and other containment safeguards for the handling of genetically modified organisms. In addition, the regulatory document applies more rigorous biosafety standards to GM crops than it does to crops that have not been genetically modified. In general, Kenya's extensive regulations reflect a very cautious approach to GM products.65 [95] The problem, however, is that although Kenya has a strong biosafety policy on paper, the administrative means to implement and enforce the policy are weak. The National Biosafety Committee (NBC) was established in 1996 to govern the importation, testing, and commercial release of genetically modified organisms, but limited resources have hampered its effectiveness. In 2001, the NBC employed only one full-time staff person and had to borrow funds to do its work from Kenya's National Council for Science and Technology.66 One of the consequences of this inadequate regulatory capacity has been a delay in conducting field tests on Wambugu's GM sweet potatoes. Clearly much progress needs to be achieved on this front before such tests take place on varieties of maize that have been genetically modified to be insect- or herbicide-resistant. It is important to note, however, that KARI and CIMMYT are both well aware of the biosafety dangers related to the development of these GM crops and are engaged in studies todetermine, for example, the appropriate size and placement of refuges for Bt varieties of maize.67 Because much of KARI's work is supported by grants from foreign donors, necessary biosafety research will be conducted and made available to the NBC. The problem is that the NBC currently lacks the resources to make timely decisions after it receives the data. [96] Another concern in the case has to do with the ecological consequences of industrial agriculture. Karen disagrees with Tom's glowing account of the Green Revolution. While it produced food to feed more than two billion people during the latter half of the 20th century, it did so only by exacting a heavy ecological toll.68 It also had a major impact on the distribution of wealth and income in developing nations. As a result, Karen is concerned about Tom's view that GM crops could have a tremendous impact on increasing food supply in sub-Saharan Africa. Karen fears that GM crops in Kenya may open the floodgates to industrial agriculture and create more problems than it solves. [97] The question, however, is whether this is likely to happen. With the significant poverty and the small landholdings of the over 70 percent of Kenyans who are subsistence farmers, it is hard to see how the ecologically damaging practices of the Green Revolution could have a significant impact in the near future. The cost of fertilizers, herbicides, or irrigation put these practices out of reach for most farmers in Kenya. If anything, most of the ecological degradation of Kenya's agricultural land is due to intensive cropping and stressed soils. Yield increases from GM crops might relieve some of this pressure, although much relief is not likely since food production needs to increase in order to meet demand. [98] This raises a third question related to the sustainability norm. Can organic farming methods achieve the same results as GM crops? Certainly Kelly believes that this is the case, and there is some research to support her view. On the Striga front, some farmers in East Africa have suppressed the weed by planting leguminous tree crops during the dry season from February to April. Since Striga is most voracious in fields that have been consistently planted in maize and thus have depleted soil, the nitrogen-fixing trees help to replenish the soil in their brief three months of life before they are pulled up prior to maize planting. Farmers report reducing Striga infestations by over 90 percent with this method of weed control. A bonus is that theuprooted, young trees provide a nutritious feed for those farmers who also have some livestock.69 [99] A similar organic strategy has been employed in Kenya to combat stem-borers. In this "push-pull" approach, silver leaf desmodium and molasses grass are grown amidst the maize. These plants have properties that repel stem-borers toward the edges of the field where other plants like Napier grass and Sudan grass attract the bugs and then trap their larvae in sticky substances produced by the plants. When this method is employed, farmers have been able to reduce losses to stemborers from 40 percent to less than 5 percent. In addition, silver leaf desmodium helps to combat Striga infestation, thus further raising yields.70 [100] Results like these indicate that agroecological methods associated with organic farming may offer a less expensive and more sustainable approach to insect and pest control than those achieved through the expensive development of GM crops and the purchase of their seed. Agroecology utilizes ecological principles to design and manage sustainable and resource-conserving agricultural systems. It draws upon indigenous knowledge and resources to develop farming strategies that rely on biodiversity and the synergy among crops, animals, and soils.71 More research in this area is definitely justified. [101] It is not clear, however, that agroecological farming techniques and GM crops need to be viewed as opposing or exclusive alternatives. Some researchers argue that these organic techniques are not as effective in different ecological niches in East Africa. Nor, in some areas, do farmers feel they have the luxury to fallow their fields during the dry season.72 In these contexts, GM crops might be able to raise yields where they are desperately needed. It is also not likely that the seeds for these crops will be very expensive since they are being produced through research in the public and non-profit sectors. Still, it is certainly the case that more serious ecological problems could result from the use of GM crops in Kenya, and even though donors are currently footing the bill for most of the research, agricultural biotechnology requires a more substantial financial investment than agroecological approaches. [102] Participation. The source of funding for GM crop research in Kenya raises an important question related to the participation norm. Are biotechnology and GM crops being forced on the people of Kenya? [103] Given the history of colonialism in Africa, this question is not unreasonable, but in this case it would not appear warranted. Kenya's Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) began experimenting with tissue culture and micropropagation in the 1980s. A few years later, one of KARI's researchers, Florence Wambugu, was awarded a three-year post-doctoral fellowship by the U.S. Agency for International Development to study how sweet potatoes could be genetically modified to be resistant to feathery mottle virus. Even though this research was conducted in Monsanto's laboratory facilities, and the company provided substantial assistance to the project long after Wambugu's fellowship ended, it is clearly the case that this groundbreaking work in GM crop research was initiated by a Kenyan to benefit the people of her country.73 In addition, the funding for GM crop research in Kenya has come almost entirely through public sector institutions rather than private corporate sources. Even the Novartis funds that support the insect-resistant maize project are being provided from a foundation for sustainable development that is legally and financially separate from the Novartis Corporation. Thus, it does not appear that transnational biotechnology corporations are manipulating Kenya, but it is true that the country's openness to biotechnology and GM crops may open doors to the sale of privately-developed GM products in the future. [104] Josephine, however, might turn the colonialism argument around and apply it to Greenpeace's campaign to ban GM crops. Specifically, Greenpeace International urges people around the world to "write to your local and national politicians demanding that your government ban the growing of genetically engineered crops in your country."74 Though Josephine does not pose the question, is this well-intentioned effort to protect the environment and the health of human beings a form of paternalism or neocolonialism? Does the Greenpeace campaign exert undue pressure on the people of Kenya and perhaps provoke a lack of confidence in Kenyan authorities, or does it merely urge Kenyans to use the democratic powers at their disposal to express their concerns? It is not clear how these questions should be answered, but the participation norm requires reflection about them. [105] The concern about paternalism also arises with regard to a set of questions about appropriate technology. Are GM crops an "appropriate" agricultural technology for the people of Kenya? Genetic engineering and other forms of agricultural biotechnology are very sophisticated and expensive. Is such a "high-tech" approach to agriculture "appropriate" given the status of a developing nation like Kenya? Is it realistic to expect that undereducated and impoverished subsistence farmers will have the capacities and the resources to properly manage GM crops, for example through the appropriate use of refuges? [106] In the case, Josephine responds aggressively to concerns like these when she overhears Terra's conversation with Tom. She asserts that Kenya will do what it takes to educate farmers about the proper use of GM crops, and it is true that KARI is designing farmer-training strategies as a part of the insect-resistant maize project.75 Compared to other countries in sub-Saharan Africa, Kenya has very high rates of adult literacy. In 2000, 89 percent of men and 76 percent of women were literate. At the same time, only 26 percent of boys and 22 percent of girls are enrolled in secondary education.76 Thus, while literacy is high, the level of education is low. The hunger and poverty among many Kenyans, however, may be the most significant impediment to the responsible use of GM crops. In a situation where hunger is on the rise, how likely is it that subsistence farmers will plant 20 percent of their fields in non-Bt maize if they see that the Bt varieties are producing substantially higher yields? [107] This is a fair question. The norm of participation supports people making decisions that affect their lives, but in this case the immediate threat of hunger and malnutrition may limit the range of their choices. At the same time, GM crops have the potential to significantly reduce the amount of time that women and children spend weeding, picking bugs off of plants, and scaring birds away. Organic farming methods would require even larger investments of time. This is time children could use to attend more school or that women could use to increase their literacy or to engage in other activities that might increase family income and confer a slightly greater degree of security and independence. Aspects of the participation norm cut both ways. [108] Solidarity. Among other things, the ecojustice norm of solidarity is concerned about the equitable distribution of the burdens and benefits associated with GM crops. If problems emerge in Kenya, who will bear the costs? If GM crops are finally approved for planting, who will receive most of the benefits? [109] Thus far, critics argue that the benefits of GM crops in developed nations have accrued only to biotech corporations through higher sales and to large-scale farmers through lower production costs. Moreover, critics claim that the dangers GM crops pose to human health and biosafety are dumped on consumers who do not fully understand the risks associated with GM crops and the food products that are derived from them. It is not clear that the same could be said for the production of GM crops in Kenya where these crops are being developed through partnerships in the non-profit and public sectors. Researchers expect to make these products available at little cost to farmers and few corporations will earn much money off the sale of these seeds. Thus, the benefits from GM crops should accrue to a larger percentage of people in Kenya because 70 percent of the population is engaged in subsistence agriculture. Like developed nations, however, food safety problems could affect all consumers and a case could be made that this would be more severe in a nation like Kenya where it would be very difficult to adequately label GM crop products that often move directly from the field to the dinner table. [110] Another aspect of solidarity involves supporting others in their struggles. Josephine does not explicitly appeal to this norm in the case, but some members of the Hunger Concerns group are probably wondering whether they should just support Josephine's proposal as a way to show respect to her and to the self-determination of the Kenyan people. There is much to commend this stance and, ultimately, it might be ethically preferable. One of the dangers, however, is that Josephine's colleagues may squelch their moral qualms and simply "pass the buck" ethically to the Kenyans. Karen seems close to making this decision, despite her serious social, ecological, and theological concerns about GM crops. Friendship requires support and respect, but it also thrives on honesty. Conclusion [111] Tom and Karen face a difficult choice, as do the other members of the Hunger Concerns group. Next week they will have to decide if the group should join the Greenpeace campaign to ban GM crops or whether it wants to submit an article for the campus newspaper supporting the responsible use of GM crops to bolster food security in Kenya. While convenient, skipping the meeting would just dodge the ethical issues at stake. As students consider these alternatives and others, the goods associated with solidarity need to be put into dialogue with the harms to ecological sustainability and human health that could result from the development of GM crops in Kenya. Similarly, these potential harms also need to be weighed against the real harms that are the result of an insufficient food supply. The problem of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa is only getting worse, not better. © Orbis Books Printed by permission. © December 2003 Journal of Lutheran Ethics (JLE) Volume 3, Issue 12 1 Florence Wambugu, Modifying Africa: How biotechnology can benefit the poor and hungry; a case study from Kenya (Nairobi, Kenya, 2001), pp. 22-44. 2 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest: Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops (New York: CABI Publishing, 2001), p. 103. 3 Ibid., p. 101. 4 Susan Mabonga, "Centre finds new way to curb weed," Biosafety News, (Nairobi), No. 28, January 2002, pp. 1, 3. 5 Klaus M. Leisinger, et al., Six Billion and Counting: Population and Food Security in the 21st Century (Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2002), pp. 4-6. I am indebted to Todd Benson, an old friend and staff member at the International Food Policy Research Institute, for better understanding issues related to food security in sub-Saharan Africa. 6 Ibid, p. 57. 7 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention: World Hunger and the Global Controversy over GM Crops (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), p. 61. 8 Klaus M. Leisinger, et al., Six Billion and Counting, p. 8. 9 Ibid, p. x. Globally, the World Bank estimates that 1.3 billion people are trying to survive on $1 a day. Another two billion people are trying to get by on only $2 a day. Half of the world's population is trying to live on $2 a day or less. 10 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest: Biotechnology, Breeding and Seed Systems for African Crops (New York: CABI Publishing, 2001), pp. 30-31. 11 The World Bank Group, "Kenya at a Glance," accessed on-line April 9, 2002:. 12 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest, p. 29. See also, Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, pp. 59-67. I am indebted to Gary Toenniessen at the Rockefeller Foundation for his wise counsel as I began to research ethical implications of genetically modified crops in sub-Saharan Africa. 13 Population Reference Bureau, 2001 World Population Data Sheet, book edition (Washington, DC: Population Reference Bureau, 2001), pp. 3-4. I am indebted to Dick Hoehn at Bread for the World Institute for helping me better understand the root causes of hunger in sub-Saharan Africa. 14 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, pp. 106-107. 15 Ibid. 16 Population Reference Bureau, 2001 World Population Data Sheet, p. 2. 17 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest, p. 33. 18 Ibid, p. 7, 21. 19 Food and Agriculture Organization, Statement on Biotechnology, accessed on-line April 9, 2002:. 20 United Nations Environment Programme, Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, accessed on-line April 9, 2002:. 21 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 33. 22 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest, pp. 59-66. 23 Ibid, p. 67. 24 International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center and The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Annual Report 2000: Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) Project,, IRMA Project Document, No. 4, September 2001, pp. 1-12. 25 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest, p. 65. 26 Nicholas Wade, "Experts Say They Have Key to Rice Genes," The New York Times, accessed on-line April 5, 2002: (registration required). 27 Daniel Charles, Lords of the Harvest: Biotech, Big Money, and the Future of Food (Cambridge, MA: Perseus Publishing, 2001), p. 10 28 Ibid, p. 139. 29 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Marc J. Cohen, "Rich and Poor Country Perspectives on Biotechnology," in The Future of Food: Biotechnology Markets and Policies in an International Setting, P. Pardey, ed., (Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 2001), pp. 34-35. See also, Bill Lambrecht, Dinner at the New Gene Café: How Genetic Engineering is Changing What We Eat, How We Live, and the Global Politics of Food (New York: St, Martin's Press, 2001), p. 7. 30 Philip Brasher, "American Farmers Planting More Biotech Crops This Year Despite International Resistance," accessed on line March 29, 2002:. 31 Robert L. Paarlberg, The Politics of Precaution: Genetically Modified Crops in Developing Countries (Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2001), p. 3. 32 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Marc J. Cohen, "Rich and Poor Country Perspectives on Biotechnology," in The Future of Food, p. 34. 33 Robert L. Paarlberg, The Politics of Precaution, p. 3. 34 J. DeVries and G. Toenniessen, Securing the Harvest, p. 68. I am indebted to Jill Montgomery, director of Technology Cooperation at Monsanto, for better understanding how Monsanto has assisted biotechnology research and subsistence agriculture in Kenya. 35 International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center and The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Annual Report 2000: Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) Project, pp. 1-12. 36 Susan Mabonga, "Centre finds new way to curb weed," Biosafety News, (Nairobi), No. 28, January 2002, pgs. 1, 3. 37 Debbie Weiss, "New Witchweed-fighting method, developed by CIMMYT and Weismann Institute, to become public in July," Today in AgBioView, July 10, 2002, accessed on line July 12, 2002:. 38 Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture: The Myths, Environmental Risks, and Alternatives (Oakland, CA: Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, 2001), pp. 16-17. Concerns about the dangers GM crops could pose to human and ecological health lead many critics to invoke the "precautionary principle" in their arguments. For more information about this important concept, see sections of the case and commentary for the preceding case, "Chlorine Sunrise?" 39 Daniel Charles, Lords of the Harvest, pp. 303-304. 40 Bill Lambrecht, Dinner at the New Gene Café, pp. 46-47. 41 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 90. 42 Environmental News Service, "ProdiGene Fined for Biotechnology Blunders," accessed on-line December 10, 2002:. 43 Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, p. 19. 44 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 140-141. 45 Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, p. 19. 46 Ibid, p. 20. 47 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 44-45. 48 Miguel A. Altieri, i>Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, pp. 22-23. 49 See Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 45-46 and Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, pp. 26-29. 50 See Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 47-49 and Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, pp. 29-31. See also Daniel Charles, Lords of the Harvest, pp. 247-248; Bill Lambrecht, Dinner at the New Gene Café, pp. 78-82; and Alan McHughen, Pandora's Picnic Basket: The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods (New York: Oxford University Press, 2000), p. 190. 51 See Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, p. 49-50 and Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, pp. 23-25. Controversy erupted in 2002 after the prestigious scientific journal, Nature, published a study by scientists claiming that gene flow had occurred between GM maize and indigenous varieties of maize in Mexico. Since Mexico is the birthplace of maize, this study ignited alarm and produced a backlash against GM crops. In the spring of 2002, however, Nature announced that it should not have published the study because the study's methodology was flawed. See Carol Kaesuk Yoon, "Journal Raises Doubts on Biotech Study," The New York Times, April 5, 2002, accessed on-line April 5, 2002: (registration required).05CORN.html 52 Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, p. 4. 53 Bill Lambrecht, Dinner at the New Gene Café, pp. 113-123. 54 Opposition reached a fevered pitch when the Delta and Pine Land Company announced that they had developed a "technology protection system" that would render seeds sterile. The company pointed out that this would end concerns about the creation of superweeds through undesired gene flow, but opponents dubbed the technology as "the terminator" and viewed it as a diabolical means to make farmers entirely dependent on seed companies for their most valuable input, seed. When Monsanto considered purchasing Delta and Pine Land in 1999, Monsanto bowed to public pressure and declared that it would not market the new seed technology if it acquired the company. In the end, it did not. See Bill Lambrecht, Dinner at the New Gene Café, pp. 113-123. 55 Robert L. Paarlberg, The Politics of Precaution, pp. 16-17. 56 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, pp. 123-126. 57 Ibid, pp. 33-34. 58 Richard Manning, Food's Frontier: The Next Green Revolution (New York: North Point Press, 2000), p. 195. 59 Ibid, 194. See also, Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, pp. 80-81. 60 See Douglas John Hall, Imaging God: Dominion as Stewardship (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1986), pp. 89-116; and The Steward: A Biblical Symbol Come of Age (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1990). 61 Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Ebbe Schiøler, Seeds of Contention, pp. 73-75. 62 Robert L. Paarlberg, The Politics of Precaution, pp. 58-59. 63 Hassan Adamu, "We'll feed our people as we see fit," The Washington Post, (September 11, 2000), p. A23; cited by Per Pinstrup-Andersen and Marc J. Cohen, "Rich and Poor Country Perspectives on Biotechnology," in The Future of Food, p. 20. 64 James Lamont, "U.N. Withdraws Maize Food Aid From Zambia," Financial Times (Johannesburg), December 10, 2002. Reprinted in Today in AgBioView, accessed on-line December 11, 2002:. 65 Robert L. Paarlberg, The Politics of Precaution, pp. 50-54. 66 Ibid. 67 International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center and The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Annual Report 2000: Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) Project, pp. 15-16. 68 For a brief summary, see a section devoted to the rise of dysfunctional farming in Brian Halweil, "Farming in the Public Interest," in State of the World 2002 (New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2002), pp. 53-57. 69 Brian Halweil, "Biotech, African Corn, and the Vampire Weed," WorldWatch, (September/October 2001), Vol. 14, No. 5, pp. 28-29. 70 Ibid., p. 29. 71 Miguel A. Altieri, Genetic Engineering in Agriculture, pp. 35-47. 72 These observations are based on remarks made by researchers from sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, and the United States in response to a presentation by Brian Halweil at a conference I attended in Washington, DC on March 6, 2002. The conference was sponsored by Bread for the World Institute and was titled, Agricultural Biotechnology: Can it Help Reduce Hunger in Africa? 73 Florence Wambugu, Modifying Africa: How biotechnology can benefit the poor and hungry; a case study from Kenya, (Nairobi, Kenya, 2001), pp. 16-17; 45-54. 74 Greenpeace International.. Accessed on-line: April 19, 2002. 75 International Maize and Wheat and Improvement Center and The Kenya Agricultural Research Institute, Annual Report 2000: Insect Resistant Maize for Africa (IRMA) Project, pp. 23-33. 76 Population Reference Bureau, "Country Fact Sheet: Kenya," accessed on-line April 19, 2002:
January 2006 - 31 Jan 2006 Denmark: ECHR rules against Danish closed-shop agreements. - 31 Jan 2006 Italy: Dispute over 1,000 white-collar redundancies at Fiat Late 2005 and early 2006 has seen conflict and negotiations over how 1,000 surplus white-collar staff are to be made redundant at Fiat, the Italian motor manufacturing group. Fiat management and trade union have asked for the workers, mostly aged over 50, to be placed on a long mobilityscheme, providing income support until they reach retirement age, while the government has proposed a special programme of labour market reintegration. - 31 Jan 2006 EU Countries: Les relations professionnelles dans le secteur de l’agriculture Le secteur de l'agriculture, qui emploie environ 5 % de la main-d’œuvre de l’Union européenne (et un pourcentage nettement plus élevé dans les nouveaux États membres et les pays candidats), connaît actuellement d’importantes modifications structurelles, notamment en raison de la réforme de la politique agricole commune et du récent élargissement de l’Union vers l’est. La présente étude examine les relations professionnelles dans le secteur agricole de l’Union européenne (plus la Bulgarie, la Norvège et la Roumanie) et, plus particulièrement, en ce qui concerne l’emploi et les salaires, les lois et règlements sectoriels, les partenaires sociaux, les négociations collectives, les autres formes de dialogue social et de consultation, les conflits et les litiges. On y relève que les relations professionnelles dans ce secteur sont particulières, notamment en raison du niveau élevé d’activité indépendante et, généralement, de la faible proportion de salariés. - 30 Jan 2006 Slovenia: Unions protest against government's reform programme On 26 November 2005, trade unions jointly organised the largest demonstrations since Slovenia independence, in opposition to the government’s reform programme. The core and most controversial part of the programme is the introduction of a flat tax rate, which the trade unions and many other NGOs totally reject. Unions also argue that talks over a new tripartite social agreement for 2006-9 are pointless if the government persists with the introduction of the flat tax rate. - 30 Jan 2006 Sweden: Power station collective agreement reached following strike In December 2005, the social partners in the Swedish power station industry concluded a new collective agreement, following lengthy negotiations, mediation, and strike and sympathy actions. They key issue in dispute was the right of the Swedish Electricians’ Union (SEF) to take industrial action against new firms entering the industry. - 30 Jan 2006 Romania: New rules adopted on unemployment benefits and employment promotion In late 2005, the Romanian government introduced new rules aimed at granting unemployment benefits in a more equitable manner, depending on the length of the contribution period, and at enhancing employment promotion measures. - 30 Jan 2006 Spain: Controversial workforce-reduction agreement signed at SEAT Following lengthy negotiations and workforce mobilisations, in December 2005 Spain's SEAT motor company signed an agreement with the UGT and CC.OO trade unions that aims to tackle current problems at the firm though various measures, including the redundancy of 660 workers out of a workforce of some 13,000. The signatories see the deal as a comprise to avoid greater evils. However, the agreement has proved controversial. - 26 Jan 2006 Spain: Industrial relations in the specialised retail sector Specialised retail outlets represent a highly diverse and feminised sector characterised by low pay and unsocial working hours. Although the sector employs a large number of workers, they are poorly represented by collective bargaining and trade union representation is very low. - 26 Jan 2006 Netherlands: Positive response to proposed Services Directive The proposed Services Directive has caused a stir in several European countries. European trade unions, especially in France, have made sure that the European Parliament drastically amends the Services Directive by the end of 2005. The main argument against the Services Directive is that it will lead to social dumping. In the Netherlands, however, the response to the proposed Services Directive has been generally positive. The unions and Dutch government alike are committed to the recommendation put forward by the Social and Economic Council (Sociaal Economische Raad, SER). - 26 Jan 2006 Slovakia: Social partners push for changes in sickness insurance Since 2004, employers must pay wage compensation to employees for the first 10 calendar days of their temporary sickness absence. The government has proposed further changes to employees’ sickness insurance with the aim of decreasing the compulsory contributions of employers. The intended changes mean that employers will pay less social insurance but will have to pay wage compensation for up to 14 days. However, the social partners have criticised and rejected the intended changes; as a result, the government has revised the original proposal for changes. - 26 Jan 2006 France: Assessment of health insurance system post-reform In late November 2005, the French Parliament passed the 2006 Social Security Finance Act (Loi de financement de la Sécurité), which is a component of the August 2004 Health Insurance Reform Act. The legislation is designed to end the deficit in the social security system by 2008. - 26 Jan 2006 France: New initiatives for company restructuring The creation of a new inter-departmental body in October 2005 was the second of two recent initiatives aimed at providing a framework for company restructuring in France. The first initiative involved the endorsement by the Economic and Social Council of its recommendations on the outsourcing of work. The primary motivation behind these initiatives is to emphasise the need for ensuring better monitoring of restructuring, while mitigating its negative economic and social consequences. - 26 Jan 2006 Belgium: Wages restraint and innovation key to boost economy Two influential bodies responsible for monitoring the Belgian economy and for advising on economic policy - the Central Economic Council (de Centrale Raad voor het Bedrijfsleven) and the National Bank - have recently expressed their dissatisfaction with the competitiveness of the Belgian economy. As a result, they have called for, among other measures, a reinforced policy of wage restraint and a greater focus on innovation. In the latter policy area, from 2006 onwards, there will be a new tax benefit for companies which reward employees who come up with innovative ideas. - 26 Jan 2006 Czech Republic: Migration of Czech workers poses risk of brain drain In recent years, research in the Czech Republic has focused on the potential impact of the country’s entry into the EU on the migration of highly qualified Czech workers to foreign countries. While foreign migration of qualified Czech labour may, on the one hand, help increase the competitiveness of the Czech economy, there are concerns that it could destabilise certain economic sectors. - 26 Jan 2006 Poland: State retains control over 15 privatised companies The Polish Ministry of the State Treasury’s aspirations with respect to retaining some control over privatised enterprises are about to go through the final stage of legislation. The Ministry has published a draft regulation concerning a list of companies of key importance to the public interest or security. In essence, the regulation will identify 15 companies where the government would hold a gold veto. This is not the first time that State Treasury prerogatives in relation to companies being sold to private investors are being defined. - 26 Jan 2006 Poland: Role of Crafts Association in shaping industrial relations The Polish Crafts Association is a national organisation, in existence since 1933. It has a dual structure, which is based on the 1989 Crafts Act. The association amalgamates chambers of crafts and commerce, which are self-governed, and also carries out the tasks of an employer confederation, as defined by the Employers’ Organisations Act of May 1991. Moreover, it unites those entities that are not self-governing. This dual character is particularly reflected in the association’s industrial relations. - 26 Jan 2006 Latvia: Unions call for renewed social dialogue The practice of social dialogue has fallen off in Latvia recently, following the break-down of discussions between the government and the social partners on critical socio-economic issues. Following an initiative from the social partners, a trilateral agreement had been concluded which explicitly defined the rights of the parties and extended the field of influence for social dialogue. However, this did not improve the situation. Despite these failures, the Free Trade Union Confederation of Latvia continues to press the government on the issue of renewing the operations of the social dialogue institutions. - 26 Jan 2006 Latvia: Emigration of Latvian workers continues to increase Since Latvia’s accession to the European Union, Latvian businesses and workers have been making use of the provisions of the four freedoms, i.e. free movement of goods, services, persons and capital within the EU. This has had both positive and negative effects. While Latvian workers have proved to be competitive in the labour markets of other European countries, this has raised concerns among local trade unions. Meanwhile, Latvian employers are starting to witness labour force deficits due to the increasing levels of emigration. - 26 Jan 2006 Bulgaria: Social dialogue develops in healthcare sector Compared with many other sectors in Bulgaria, social dialogue and collective bargaining in healthcare is relatively well developed at all levels. There is, for example, a Sectoral Council for Tripartite Cooperation in Healthcare, which negotiates collective agreements and acts as a forum for cooperation. In early 2006, new collective agreements are being negotiated at sectoral and municipal levels, against a background of continuing healthcare reform. - 26 Jan 2006 Latvia: Police trade union established Following amendments to the relevant legislation, it became legal for Latvian police officers to establish and join trade unions from 1 January 2006. The Latvian United Police Trade Union (LAPA), which had been under preparation for some time, was officially founded a few days later. The impetus to create the union was provided largely by a long-running dispute over the benefits to which police officers are entitled . - 26 Jan 2006 Poland: Good results at KGHM prompt pay demands The recent good financial performance of KGHM, a major Polish copper producer, has prompted employees to seek a share of the increased profits. In December 2005, the Copper Industry Workers Trade Union (ZZPPM) initiated a collective dispute, calling for a 10% general pay increase and the reallocation of a third of the workforce to higher pay brackets. - 25 Jan 2006 United Kingdom: Employers' responses to employee consultation Regulations examined Research published in late 2005 suggests that UK employers are responding more actively to the introduction of the Information and Consultation of Employees Regulations than previously thought. - 25 Jan 2006 France: Results of workplace elections in state education sector In December 2005, teaching staff in French state primary and secondary schools elected their representatives on various national and local consultative bodies. The Unitary Union Federation (FSU) remained the best supported trade union overall, with nearly 47% of the vote. Turn-out fell to 61.4% from 65.9% in the previous elections in 2002 - 25 Jan 2006 EU Level: progressing the revision of the working time Directive, possible work on the draft temporary agency work Directive and a continuing focus on the Lisbon strategy for growth and jobs. - 25 Jan 2006 EU Level: Commission launches measures to help inclusion of people with disabilities In early December 2005, the European Day of Disabled People was marked by an EU conference on Living together in society. The European Commission used this opportunity to put forward concrete measures designed to improve the lives of people with disabilities in the EU and to present a new Communication on the situation of disabled people in the enlarged Union. - 25 Jan 2006 EU Level: Commission issues policy plan on legal migration In December 2005, the European Commission issued a new policy plan on legal migration to the EU. The plan sets out the Commission’s future policy intentions on this issue in the areas of legislative proposals, non-legislative tools, the integration of immigrants and enhanced cooperation with countries of origin. - 25 Jan 2006 EU Level: Worldwide CSR agreement signed at Arcelor In September 2005, the Luxembourg-based steel multinational, Arcelor, concluded a worldwide agreement on corporate social responsibility (CSR) with international trade union organisations. The agreement - the first such accord in the steel sector - covers fundamental social rights, health and safety, the environment, social dialogue, communication and the management of industrial and economic change. - 25 Jan 2006 Estonia: Social partners sign minimum wage agreement for 2006 At the end of December 2005, the Estonian social partners signed a national minimum wage agreement for 2006, which will result in an increase of 11.5%. The first attempts to start negotiations were made by trade unions in May, but employers froze the talks several times on various grounds. - 25 Jan 2006 Finland: Finland’s largest union begins operations A merger process involving six public sector trade unions affiliated to the SAK confederation came to a close in January 2006 when the new Trade Union for the Public and Welfare Sectors (JHL) became fully functional. JHL is now Finland's largest union, with over 230,000 members. Its foundation was largely a reaction to the outsourcing of public sector jobs to the private sector. JHL represents workers in both these sectors and hopes that this will help it control the privatisation process. - 25 Jan 2006 Austria: Union opposes privatisation of postal services In January 2006, the Austrian government agreed to sell off 49% of the state’s shares in the Austrian Post Company by summer 2006. These privatisation plans have met with harsh criticism from the Union of Post and Telecommunications Employees (GPF) and the parliamentary opposition. They argue that the company is not ready for privatisation and fear further large-scale staff cuts as well as a dilution of postal services across the country. However, protest actions organised by GPF appear unlikely to delay the privatisation process. - 25 Jan 2006 Hungary: New conflict of lawsrules introduced Hungary officially harmonised its law with the Rome Convention with respect to individual employment contracts in 2001. However, the wording of the Hungarian rules on which law applies where both the employer and the employee are Hungarian but the habitual place of work is another country has led to some controversy and debatable rulings by the courts. New legislation that came into force on 1 January 2006 aims to remedy this problem. - 11 Jan 2006 Poland: Entrepreneurship Council Looking to Position the Employers’ Lobby in the Post-Election Political Landscape From its inception in 2002, Poland's Entrepreneurship Council has been seeking the formulation of a cohesive political agenda for its 11 member employers' organisations. After the autumn 2005 general election and the installation of a minority Law and Justice (PiS) cabinet, the Entrepreneurship Council's leaders are faced with the task of redefining the role of employers on Poland’s political scene. - 11 Jan 2006 France: 46-day strike at Marseilles Transport Authority After 46 days of industrial action, Marseilles transport authority employees voted to suspend the strike that had started on 3 October 2005, and was called to protest against the contracting out of public services to a private company. Throughout this tense struggle, the management of the Marseilles Transport Authority supported by Marseilles city council, did not want to yield any ground, and made a number of attempts to thwart the strike. - 11 Jan 2006 Germany: Federal Labour Court strengthens employers’ commitment to collective agreements In December 2005, the Federal Labour Court ruled that employers are obliged to pay wage increases even if they left the employers’ association before the collective agreement in question was finalised. This rule applies to all individual employment contracts that, for their working conditions and wage rates, rely on those in the most recently agreed collective standards provided that the individual employment contract was concluded after 1 January 2002. - 11 Jan 2006 Poland: Trade Unions Contribute to Removal of LOT Chair A conflict between trade unions and the chair of LOT Polish Airlines, which had been escalating for months, culminated in December 2005 with the dismissal of the latter. - 11 Jan 2006 Poland: Miners' pensions controversy affects Polish Confederation of Private Employers In December 2005, the Polish Confederation of Private Employers Lewiatan (PKPP Lewiatan) asked the Constitutional Tribunal to examine whether recent legislation on pensions for miners is constitutional - a move criticised by all the mining trade unions. The National Copper Ore Mining Section of NSZZ Solidarność, representing employees of the KGHM mining company, adopted an unusual form of protest; it called on KGHM’s directors to discontinue contributions to PKPP Lewiatan. - 11 Jan 2006 Poland: Future of Dolna Odra power complex is uncertainfor the employees . - 11 Jan 2006 Estonia: A wage agreement signed between the government and TALO At the very end of 2005, the government and the TALO trade union confederation finally managed to conclude a wage agreement for employees with higher education working in the public sector for 2006. It concerns rises in overall wage funds and wage conditions in domains of different ministries. The parties handle these minimum wage provisions as a collective agreement. - 11 Jan 2006 Slovakia: Trade. - 11 Jan 2006 Italy: Cgil, Cisl and Uil united against proposed EU BolkesteinDirective In December 2005, representatives of Italy’s three main trade union confederations, Cgil, Cisl and Uil met to discuss how to respond to some of the proposals in the draft EU Directive on services in the internal market (the BolkesteinDirective), which they consider detrimental to workers’ rights and to the European social model. The three confederations expressed their full support for a major demonstration called for February 2006 by the European Trade Union Confederation. - 11 Jan 2006 Italy: The social partners signed a Manifesto for the development of Italy’s Mezzogiorno On 17 December 2005 the Italian social partners and the regional institutions met in Reggio Calabria and signed a Manifesto for the development of Italy’s Mezzogiorno to fight the decline of the country’s economy by re-launching the development of Southern regions. The document contains proposals and common commitments on several issues: companies and labour; development of the infrastructures; urban re-qualification; enhancement and strengthening of the educational structures; valorisation of tourist sites and re-launch of tourism. - 11 Jan 2006 Austria: Supreme Court of Justice judges bank’s agreement hoppingas lawful In a decision of December 2005, the Supreme Court of Justice (OGH) ruled that a move of Austria’s BA-CA bank corporation from the savings banks employers’ association to the commercial banks association was lawful. The main aim of this move was to change over from the savings banks collective agreement to the - from the bank’s point of view - cheaper commercial banks agreement. The union side expressed its disappointment over this decision and warns of copying such practices of agreement hoppingby other employers. - 11 Jan 2006 Finland: Rulings issued in bargaining disputes at Are and Uponor Two Finnish companies, Are and Uponor, attempted in early 2005 to start applying different sectoral collective agreements by changing their employers’ organisation affiliation. These initiatives were contested and referred by unions to the Labour Court, which issued its rulings in October and November 2005. Uponor was allowed by the Court to change agreements while Are was not. Both cases were finally decided by establishing which agreement first bound the employer. Neither the company's sector of production nor the level of trade union representation were seen as reasons to uphold the old agreements, as had been hoped by unions. - 11 Jan 2006 Hungary: Wage agreements in the public sector for 2006 Following the central wage agreement for 2006 in December, a series of agreements have been concluded on public employees’ salaries. - 11 Jan 2006 Hungary: Sectoral collective agreement signed in the construction industry Three employers’ associations and two trade union federations in the industry signed the sectoral collective agreement on 16 November 2005. The agreement, which includes a wage tariff system as well, will come into force when the Minister of Employment and Labour promulgates his decision on extension. - 11 Jan 2006 Sweden: Commission proposes right to full time employment A Government Commissioner handed over a proposal for new Swedish legislation concerning the right to full-time employment, valid for the whole labour market, 30 November 2005. - 11 Jan 2006 Norway: New agreement for an inclusive working life In December 2005 the social partner organisations and national authorities in Norway signed a new agreement for an inclusive working life. As such the efforts to reduce sickness absence will continue. At the same time greater efforts will be made to make older people stay longer in employment, and improve the labour market situation of immigrants and other vulnerable groups. - 11 Jan 2006 Hungary: New governmental guideline on bogus contracts The Minister of Employment and Labour and the Minister of Finance jointly issued a new guideline on the qualification of contracts for work performance - 11 Jan 2006 Malta: Denim announced the closure of its operations in Malta The Denim Services Group of Companies announced it was closing its Maltese factories and laying off about 850 employees. The General Workers’ Union showed its concern that there are other manufacturing enterprises which will soon be facing similar problems. - 11 Jan 2006 EU Level: New EU industrial relations dictionary At the end of November 2005, the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions launched a new European industrial relations dictionary, which aims to provide a clear insight into the workings of industrial relations at European level. - 11 Jan 2006 Spain: Strike in the private health sector in Madrid due to collective bargaining disagreement Workers of the private health sector of the Community of Madrid went on a three-day strike in mid-December to demand equal pay and working time to those of public health workers, following a disagreement in the collective bargaining between the trade unions and the employers' associations of the sector. - 11 Jan 2006 Spain: Workforce reduction plan agreed at Seat In December 2005, the UGT and CC.OO trade unions reached a controversial agreement with the Seat car company on a workforce adjustment plan involving 660 redundancies in Spain, in the framework of a transnational reorganisation of the Volkswagen group. - 11 Jan 2006 Denmark: Lidl signs new collective agreement in Denmark Lidl, the German discount supermarket chain with more than 6,000 stores in a number of European countries, concluded a collective agreement with Denmark's United Federation of Workers (3F) in January 2006. Lidl had already signed agreements with the HK/Commerce union in November 2004. - 10 Jan 2006 Austria: Government plans to abolish permanent tenure for civil servants In December 2005, Austria's conservative-populist government announced plans to abolish the permanent tenure of appointment that applies to public employees, and thus their absolute protection against dismissal. The proposals would establish in the civil service a single category of public employee, employed on a private-law basis with uniform service regulations. A draft bill on the issue should be presented early in 2006. Trade unions are strongly opposed, raising questions about the quality of public services and the constitutionality of uniform service regulations, as well as expressing concern about the future independence from political interference of civil servants, especially judges. - 10 Jan 2006 Hungary: Three-year central agreement reached on minimum wage rises and pay policy guidelines In late November 2005, the Hungarian social partners and government agreed on new minimum wage rates, the gradual introduction of a three-tier minimum wage system, and recommendations to lower-level negotiators on annual wage increases. The agreement includes not only increases and recommendations for 2006 but also a medium-term plan for minimum wage increases and pay policy guidelines over 2006-8. - 10 Jan 2006 Norway: Nordic trade unions' international activities examined A report published in Norway in 2005 finds significant variations in the international work carried out by Nordic trade unions. Most unions do engage in international activity - and report increased time spent on such activities - but only a minority of unions engage in large-scale efforts, measured in time dedicated or the number of issues covered. International trade union organisations at the Nordic and European levels play an important role in the international activities of Nordic trade unions. - 10 Jan 2006 United Kingdom: Academics vote in favour of new university and college union In December 2005 it was announced that a ballot of the members of the further and higher education unions NATFHE and AUT had resulted in the approval of the planned merger between the two organisations to create the University and College Union. - 10 Jan 2006 EU Level: 2006 is European Year of workers’ mobility 2006 has been designated as European Year of workers’ mobility as part of a drive to encourage employment mobility within the EU. The European Commission launched, in December 2005, a website containing all relevant information on mobility and EU mobility events and actions over the coming year. - 06 Jan 2006 Slovenia: Rail workers’ trade unions divided over restructuring In 2005, the Slovenian government has been considering a further restructuring of the Slovenian Railways Holding Company (HSZ). At present, there are three rail companies, dealing with infrastructure, passenger transport and freight transport respectively, with the latter two undergoing partial privatisation. Railway workers' trade unions are split over the issue - apparently reflecting the diverging interests of their members - with some favouring the current situation and others calling for a return to a single unified rail company. - 06 Jan 2006 Slovenia: Strikes held on railways In November 2005, several short strikes were organised by the Railway Traffic Union of Slovenia (SZPS) and some smaller rail trade unions. The strikes appeared to relate both to current plans to restructure the Slovenian Railways Holding Company and to demands for better working conditions. The majority of rail unions opposed the strikes. - 05 Jan 2006 Latvia: Trade unions seek to boost membership Trade union density in Latvia is only around 15.5% and unions have severe problems in organising in a number of sectors. However, during 2005, unions have made renewed efforts to increase their membership, publicise their activities, put forward demands and expand to new areas, assisted in some respects by financing from EU funds. - 05 Jan 2006 Netherlands: Calls for reinstatement of public maternity benefits for self-employed In late 2005, the Dutch Trade Union Federation (FNV) and the Dutch Federation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MKB-Nederland) called for the reinstatement of a public maternity benefit scheme for self-employed people. The scheme was abolished in 2004, with the idea being that it could be replaced by private insurance arrangements. However, in practice insurers have reportedly declined many applications and self-employed people have been deterred by high premiums. At the request of parliament, the government has also consulted the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Dutch Equal Treatment Commission about whether it was entitled under international and EU law to abolish the maternity benefits. - 04 Jan 2006 Spain: Fatal accident reignites debate over safety in construction A serious accident in November 2005, resulting in the death of six workers involved in the construction of a motorway in Andalusia, has led to a major debate on the relationship between occupational risk prevention and employment conditions in the Spanish construction sector. Trade unions called a protest work stoppage and have linked the high industrial accident rate in construction to the sector's high levels of subcontracting, temporary employment and overtime working. - 04 Jan 2006 France: Draft agreement reached on promoting employment of older workers Negotiations among the French social partners on promoting employment for older workers opened in February 2005 and resulted in a draft national intersectoral agreement in October. Measures agreed include a new form of fixed-term contract for workers over the age of 57. However, the trade unions have reservations, especially as linked negotiations on retirement for workers with arduous working conditions and on unemployment insurance are still under way, while the government is preparing a plan for the employment of older workers. - 04 Jan 2006 Poland: Enterprise-level social dialogue in 2005 assessed Based on recent research, this article examines social dialogue at the level of individual enterprises in Poland, as of 2005. It finds that issues such as trade union presence and employee representation depend strongly on company size, sector of activity and form of ownership (ie public or private). In general, trade unions face a very difficult situation in the private sector (especially in services) and among smaller enterprises. - 04 Jan 2006 Italy: New collective agreement reached for telecommunications sector In December 2005, trade unions and employers in the Italian telecommunications sector signed a draft collective agreement for the 2005-8 period. The industry's 120,000 workers will now be asked to approve the new agreement in workplace assemblies. The deal introduces numerous changes, notably an extension of its coverage to include call-centre companies and the introduction of new rules on subcontracting and outsourcing. Both sides have expressed their satisfaction with the draft agreement, although worries have been voiced concerning the issue of market regulation and the role of the Guarantee Authority for Telecommunications.
This post is part of the “Marketing That Works” Ideas Contest, showcasing 20 of the most innovative marketing ideas from the blogosphere’s up and coming marketers. If you like the post, please show your support for the contestant by tweeting, liking, sharing, and commenting below! We’ve all been there. In a queue. Waiting. You’re watching everyone else get served and asking yourself, why can’t they make this faster? Why can’t they put more staff on? Why is my time being wasted in this queue? You might be surprised to learn that the time you spend waiting in that queue has been mathematically calculated. That’s right. That place where you’re waiting knows exactly how long you will spend on hold, or standing in line and they balance that time against customer satisfaction levels… The Simple Truth About Customer Satisfaction meet their expectations. They are really satisfied when you exceed their expectations but the simple truth behind happy customers is how well you set their expectations in the first place. Let me explain this marketing plan in more detail. A Little Bit Of Little Goes A Long, Long Way First up, let’s get the mathematics out of the way. Queuing theory is the study of queues. It sounds exciting doesn’t it? And you thought your job was boring. But in fact, queuing theory can tell us a lot of quite interesting information like fast your customers rock up to a queue, how long they have to wait and how quickly they are being served. You can probably see that all these things are a pretty good indicator of how well your whole service delivery process is working. In 1961 John Little realised that to reduce the length of a queue, you need to slow arrivals and you need to speed exits up. It sounds obvious doesn’t it? Little’s Law tells you how to reduce the size of your queue and it innovated a new way of thinking about the mechanisms of service delivery. But what if you could make customers happy about being in the queue. The Secret To Making Your Customers Queue Happily Clearly it’s important to look for way to improve your service delivery process. While you’re doing that you can improve customer satisfaction levels by simply changing your customers’ perception of waiting. Let them know how long they will have to wait. Have you ever been on hold and heard the robot lady tell you that you are 5th in the queue and your waiting time is approximately 7minutes. Or the same voice telling you that the average waiting time right now is 17minutes. This is the information you use to decide to hang on or hang up – and thus your expectations are defined. When your call gets answered in 11minutes, you’re delighted! Or you take a ticket and you see a big counter on the wall, calling the next number in the queue. You can see the progress being made and how quickly the numbers are changing, and from this you can work out how long you have to wait. There is no queue jumping either. It’s an orderly (if boring) wait for service. Of course letting your customers know how long they can expect to wait will only work in your favour if the wait time is within their “acceptable wait” time for the value you offer. Give your customers something to do while they are waiting. This one is the secret gem of great customer satisfaction because it allows customers to become engaged in the process. And that helps them become connected to the outcome. They’re part of the results and that gives them a spot at the start of the tickertape parade that is their buying experience. Regardless of whether you have a physical store, or you are online, never under-estimate the power of being part of the process in terms of customer satisfaction levels, even if it’s at a seemingly trivial level. What it means in real life… If you often have customers waiting in a physical location, look for ways to take any randomness out of the waiting process. Uncertainty causes anxiety, which leads all the way to angry customers! Structure is the key. By adding some structure and surety to your customers wait time you will definitely boost your customer satisfaction levels. - Acknowledge customers on arrival and let them know if there is a wait time - Use a ticketing system that lets customer move around while maintaining their “spot” - Take waiting customers past interesting (and distracting) displays - Invite customers to participate in questionnaires or competitions while they wait What it means online… Even if you don’t have customers forming a literal queue, a virtual queue can quite easily form when you’re busy. Well done you if you’re busy but when you work online, it’s easy to miss the signals that your customers are getting annoyed…. Until they’ve gone to your competitor. Transparency is the key. When you let your customers see that something is happening, you’re giving them the free set of steak knives of customer satisfaction. - Look for non-essential milestones you can bring forward to get the ball rolling - Create a delivery schedule so your customers know when they’ll hear from you - Break your service into smaller segments and get customer involvement at each stage - Regularly get in touch and keep your customers in the loop Improving Customer Service Is Only Half The Solution While you might prefer to pull out your eyelashes than read about the mathematics of queuing theory, you should be looking for ways to shorten your queue and delight your customers with amazing, personal, diligent customer service. After you’ve improved your service delivery to the best it can possibly be, you can sky rocket their customer satisfaction by accurately setting expectations and helping them define what “satisfied” means. When you do that, your customers will be happy before you deliver a single thing. Do you think you can rock your customers’ world?. { 69 comments… read them below or add one } Great Article! Setting expectations is such an important part of good business. Too many people over promise and under deliver… Instead just say, “You’re going to have to wait 3 minutes… Go get a cup of coffee and then we’ll get you a solution.” Thanks, Ryan H. Belinda! Great stuff! When I started reading I thought this one going to be about that service-debacle copyblogger covered (omg, that was painful lol – ) I’m pleased it was about queue theory, and it was extremely enlightening. There are many things I could apply from this. I tend to focus on clarity, and see the deeper roots of any expression, and to me the deeper roots of this is a “focus on making the customers journey more joyful”. If someone is focused on making the customers journey more joyful, they would basically HAVE to apply some queue theory eventually So thank you, for helping me make my clients journey better, Belinda. You rock! Hey Jason. Enlightening is fantastic feedback – thank you! I love your idea about making the journey more *joyful* (doesn’t gamification follow this idea?) . Having been on many, many driving holidays as a child I always used to hear “the journey is just as important as the destination” (closely followed with “stop complaining” Some customers will let the journey form their opinion of your service. Some will only care about the solution you leave them with. To make sure you capture the loyalty of both groups you should place your focus on both. Keep bringing joy Jason! My pleasure, and childhood wisdom is powerful As for the two groups you outlined, I’d wager that if you were to take the ones who “only care about the solution” and put another solution in front of them with an understanbly more enjoyable journey… they WOULD join the first group Just a hunch Ryze up! I actually think that the Copyblogger reference is related. If memory serves, that post suggests that most disputes can be easily resolved with kindness – or good manners. I resent waiting in a queue FAR less when I receive great customer service and attention (and even an apology for having to wait) once I’m at the teller. If you can mitigate the more frustrating (and often unavoidable) parts of doing business with a sunny disposition, exceptional products and services, and an acknowledgement of that frustration, I think you’re in good shape. Agreed Ruth! Well said. Kindness helps so much Thanks for the story (and acknowledgment) And for the record, I wasn’t saying it wasn’t related, I just meant I’d read the copyblogger thing, and the intro paragraph felt very similar , my pre-conceived notions were doing their thing lol. Yep I absolutely agree Ruth. Good (and timely) manners can help take you the distance and that’s the potential simplicity behind this idea. You don’t have to have expensive ticketing systems. What every service delivery process needs is to keep your customers’ needs front and centre. Thanks for commenting! Great post Belinda! Although I don’t have an actual queue that people have to wait it, it did get me thinking about my biz & what I can do to give my customers a better experience when it comes to waiting on services or coaching. I always contact everyone with a personal email after they purchase something & let them know when they can expect it, but I never considered giving them something to do while they wait. So my plan is to link them to awesome info on my blog that has to do with what they’re looking for from me so they can be reading on that until we have our coaching session or they get one of my programs. Thanks so much for the idea! That’s a fantastic application Meagan. I have a similar “virtual” queue and might just pinch your ‘read these related blogs’ idea! By personalising the information you are pointing them to, so that it’s relevant to their scenario, you are also personalising your service which is a win-win! Thanks for sharing your thoughts! You’re welcome & pinch away! Someone should have told to John Little that to reduce queues you just have to have more employers, or faster ones. I see your point and it’s interesting but if I don’t know if a customer needs and wants something else than a quick answer. I mean while letting him know how much time he has to wait for an answer is correct being entertained might just make him angry. That’s why those who provide an answer in minutes, at least online, are at the top of their business. Provided the answer received comes from someone who knows what he’s talking about. WWhat do you think? Ooh, that’s a great thought, hypnodude. I think really knowing your customers/clients especially works hand-in-hand with this idea. One customer could have the patience of Job and be willing to have some fun throughout the process, but another customer might want it and want it *now*. You’d definitely have to pinpoint the type of customer you’re working with, and the kind of relationship you have with them, in order to really be successful with this. Plus, I also agree that it’s important to establish where you stand right away and provide an answer from the get-go, first. Like you said Belinda, it’s about defining expectations. Thanks Tanya. You’re right, actually on the net I don’t have customers but just readers anyway knowing your audience is surely the first thing to do and then act accordingly for a mutual satisfaction. Belinda, what an awesome idea! Takes me back to waiting on the phone for tech support. This is something I can really use, at the very least in my author/writer interactions. I’m always beta reading novel manuscripts for friends, but I’m also always doing a million things at once. I feel just awful during the times I keep them waiting in their “queue” for long periods of time, so I see now that it would be great for me to work on ideas to keep them engaged while I’m still working on it. Even lately I’ve done it on an unconscious level, giving a writer friend small updates on my thoughts while I work on the larger project as a whole. I’m excited to look at this in different ways though, see how else and in what other areas business-wise I can apply this. Thanks for a super post! I really enjoyed it. Great application Tanya. I think that if a client has to chase me up then I’ve failed because I didn’t get them a clear roadmap or I’m not sticking to my roadmap. Just chatting to them about their project shows them that you’re doing something which is a bridge over the empty “what’s going on” void that leads to frustration. Thanks for sharing your experience. I’d love to learn any new ways you find to apply the idea! Hey hypnodude, Knowing your customers’ pain points is really important if you are going to deliver outstanding service. In the scenario you detailed it sounds like time is a critical factor. If your customers need a quick answer you should do everything in your power to provide it. If you can’t then you’re already fighting an uphill battle and will have to work extra hard to keep your customers onside. Allocating more resources isn’t always the most efficient solution (or possible) so having a plan to ensure your customers are still delighted, using the resources you have, can still lead you to a great outcome. As you said, if a customer has to wait you should tell them straight away, and how long — so they can set their expectations. If he solution they get is exactly what they want then the wait won’t seem so important. If it’s not, then it will become a big part of their recollection. This is where you might include an offer or guarantee as part of your service delivery. If you don’t get an answer in X or you’re not satisfied, we’ll give you BLAH. This will help balance any feelings of frustration because you are actively demonstrating your commitment to achieving their outcome. But time isn’t critical to every customer. Nor budget. I’ve had customers wait months for my services which means I have to understand what their primary concern is and make sure that’s what I’m also focused on. This kind of virtual queue is much like Meagan’s scenario, which is an opportunity to engage them in other areas of your service delivery while they wait. Wow that was a long one. Let me know what you think. You’re right Belinda, everything is correct. However some times lowering earnings a bit and allocating more resources can with time give much better results through a great customer service. A satisfied customer is always the best possible promotion. At least in the real world, it might be different on the net though. Thanks for your answer. You make an excellent point hypnodude – about potentially reducing profits to ensure your service delivery is all it needs to be. A satisfied customers *are* the best promotion and word of mouth marketing be a poooowerful beast. Hi Belinda, I have never put much thought into queue theory before but I guess it makes a lot of sense. But wait….does this mean there is some clever reason behind so many telephone queues using that annoying version of Greensleeves? lol Thanks – Jay Haha! Greensleeves, no but “your call will be answered in 3 minutes”, yes. Hmmm unless they need to you to be a little bit INSANE by the time they answer in which case Greensleeves, yes! This is a great article Belinda. As I get older (and I’m probably showing my age) I have become a stickler for customer service and this article reminds me of my most recent experiences receiving terrible customer service. I’ve had some pretty interesting real-life examples of customer service gone wrong over the last couple of months, most notably by telecommunication companies. Perhaps that won’t come as any surprise to anyone but in both cases, they should have been unavoidable. Just this week, I had lunch in a cafe and let’s just say this particular business owner clearly does not understand the concept of lifetime customer – and it was all over 50 cents. If I was the cafe owner I would have written off the 50 cents but in my mind this particular business owner is far more short-sighted that I am. It’s his loss because I now have a perception in my mind of how this business owner conducts and operates his business. It’s such a shame because it didn’t need to be this way. Anyway this article is a great reminder for anyone working online or offline that service delivery is so important to ensure your customers/readers/followers etc receive te best possible customer service experience you can give them. Thanks for sharing your experience Shae. It sounds painful! Customer service has always been important but thanks to social media we can share poor customer service with more people than ever before. Some businesses still don’t have their head around that and they suffer for it. Online or offline, good service delivery is our basic expectation! Great work Belinda! A few really good points, I sent it off to a client who I think will get some good tips from it. Thanks for sharing it Chris. I hope they can pick out some nuggets to improve their service delivery. Great post! I can see this applying to my emails. It can take a week or two to get back to people sometimes, I need an auto responder that lets them know that I am not ignoring them personally, I just have too many emails! Thanks Serena. I’m glad you were able to pick out some useful points for your business. I think an auto responder is a great idea! I’ve been on the receiving end of one telling me that the person I was trying to contact only checked their emails at 10am and 4pm. It made me realise that my timeline wasn’t necessarily everyone’s and made me much more patient. Thanks for leaving a comment. Feel free to share this with your coaching network! I don’t know if the auto responder is a good idea. I came across with one in the past and it looked a bit silly. It was a live chat auto responder, so you can imagine, how useful it was. But for the automatic email responding is a good idea. Yeah those live chat auto responders can be as annoying as hell! When it comes to email responders, I love to put a bit of personality into it so the reader (who has taken the time to email me) doesn’t feel put off by the fact my computer is talking to them. I appreciate it when other people do the same, which links nicely to Cassie’s post! Great article Belinda. I agree making people happy (whether business, marketing or relationships!) is all about setting expectations. If you can set the right expectation, and communicate effectively, you’re probably in the top 2% of customer service. Tanya and I had a comment thread going yesterday about how to keep track of contacts. I think services like Hootsuite and Aweber help. The key is probably to automate as much as possible, but of course, we then have our “A” list contacts/clients and prospects that deserve more personalised attention. My challenge is how to keep track of them. It’s when people fall through the cracks they end up waiting too long for a reply and then they justifiably feel your customer service and attention is bad. At the moment I’m with Jason Fonceca in that I use Excel to track as much as possible. I’ve tried Zoho and Outlook but both seem too wieldy as CRM systems. I think Icontact is probably one of the best ways to manage your prospects but at $200pcm + it’s expensive and you’d need sufficient online income to warrant an investment of this magnitude. Good luck in the competition! Hey Cassie – thanks for sharing your thoughts! I use CapsuleCRM to manage my contacts and I love it. It’s social media friendly, affordable (I think it’s even free up to 500 contacts), has a task manager and integrates with Google Apps. But I still need a structured service delivery process that guides me through the various stages and reminds me to do things like explain my creative process, notify clients of milestones and follow up with progress notifications. As great as business support tools are, they are only as strong as your service delivery process (IMHO . Service delivery process priority duly noted, and couldn’t agree more! Thanks for the CRM suggestion – I love anything that syncs with Google apps and social media so will check it out. It might be just what’s needed, and great to have it recommended by you. Jeez I hope I didn’t sound like a school marm in my last comment. “Now remember everyone, you must have a process!” I’d love to get your impression of Capsule once you have a look! Tell it like it is girl!! Thanks for the shout-out Cassie I also liked your IContact suggestion, I’ve not tried it, but it sounds interesting Maybe I’ll design a Ryze Contacts system at the right time, with the right collaborators Hey Jason, Belinda recommended CapsuleCRM which is free so I’m going to check that out. It syncs with Google Apps so is probably the one for me (without so much as a first date! LOL!). Maybe the whole community will pick it up I just checked all the pricing and features (for CapsuleCRM) and the fancy integration comes with the Professional edition which is $12 p/month. But the free version has quite a bit of space and all the other functionality (like cases, opps, tasks, and the email dropbox). PS I don’t earn a commission from these guys! Thanks for this Belinda. To me it’s pretty much always good to promote things you believe in with good intentions. If you somehow manage to acquire income by doing so, more power to you. Some people start judging as soon as *money* is ever involved. Well, I prefer people to get paid for doing (and promoting) what they love. Keep doing your thing Belinda. You rock. I’ll have to check CapsuleCRM out too, thanks Belinda for the recommendation! Even if doesn’t come with a commission for you. Ha. Love this article. It does sound obvious and yet so many sites/shops/companies don’t do it! Even as a writer I have to manage expectations: - Scoping the project carefully so that I never have to up my quote - Breaking the project into chunks so that the client never has to wait too long - Giving the client clear instructions of what to do while they are waiting (gathering assets, reviewing content etc). - Always slightly under promising on timings to that I can hopefully over deliver. Great post Belinda, I agree with Jason, you rock! I’m feeling the love guys! Thanks for sharing your key points Kate. I think as freelancers we have to pay special attention to managing our client expectations. We don’t have a shop or fancy office (well I don’t anyway) and our credibility is built on our reputation. That reputation is created by the clients we leave behind us. I wonder if online businesses do this better — because we rely so heavily on other ways to build a strong relationship with our clients. Do bricks and mortar make businesses lazy? I’d love your thoughts…. That’s an interesting thought, Belinda! I really do think that online businesses and entrepreneurs have more of a mind for this because you’re right in that we rely so heavily on reputation, and new methods, to do a lot of the work for us. Not all bricks and mortar businesses are lazy of course, but I’m sure they have more of a tendency to lean in that direction. Especially in the area of new technologies that might not necessarily be their expertise, but could benefit their business – and their customers. I agree Tanya. I would hate to make a blanket generalisation but I think there is a certain image/status/message that comes with a bricks and mortar business. Even if it’s a simple office. It lends itself to saying “I’ve done well enough to have this space so you can trust me” but it also says “Now you’re in my world you have to follow my process….” I imagine it becomes harder to remain flexible to your market’s needs. I expect the ideas behind queuing theory would become even more important – as the service delivery process comes with more risk [higher overheads etc]. Hmmm *brain spinning off in new directions* Belinda, you went way beyond, “Have good customer service” in this in-depth piece. You covered just enough queuing theory to be helpful without being boring. I love it when a website gives me different ways to get help–phone, email, chat. And when I have to engage in back-and-forth email, I most like the firms that let me stick with one person. I’m really impressed with companies that follow up to make sure everything worked out; AWeber did that for me recently, and I was genuinely pleased. We are all in the business of service, whether it’s hard goods, digital goods, or processes that we are selling. Good luck in the contest! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Joel! You allude to a important side effect of setting your customer expectations and that’s the feeling of safety. Fear and uncertainty are extremely powerful emotions that can quick destabilize your service delivery. On the other hand when your customers understand your process, know how long they might have wait or deal with the same person, they have a greater sense of surety and safety in your (seemingly more) capable hands. That’s definitely worth the effort. definitely appreciate it. Hey Lacey, sorry about that – this one got stuck in spam, too, but I’ve rescued it, and I’ll watch closely to make sure your comments don’t get lost in the future. As for first-time blogging advice, have you download my book, Engagement from Scratch!? (for free?) I will second this. Danny’s book, Engagement From Scratch is a WEALTH of information and can SKYROCKET almost any blog endeavour. I highly recommend the chapter on Business Models — it changed my life And I will third that! I’m finding Engagement From Scratch SO valuable. I got so excited, I had to stop right in the middle and write down all these new ideas flooding into my head…and only just now realized I still have more to read! It’s awesome, well worth the read. I am not surprised about this Danny Iny EFS love-fest. It is simply pure quality, accessible to anyone with a PC. Great article Belinda, with some terrific insights. I would just say that there is another lens that can be brought to bare on this subject that might help to tie it all together. That is Queuing as a barometer of how well your organisation delivers your marketing plan. Let’s be clear, by marketing plan I mean everything that it takes put your product or service into the hands of your target consumer. Your whole organisation from operations and finance to marketing and administration should be aligned to the promises you make in the brands you deliver through the products you put in the market. Activities that involve queuing are where the rubber hits the road where brand promise is turned into operational capability. Consider, you sell tools. they’re great tools but they have a failure rate like everything else, yet you’ve done some amazeballs market research and found that this is the single biggest factor in decisions to buy by your target market. Accordingly you make the brand promise that no one will have more than 1 hour of down time through tool failure if they use your tools. That same market research has allowed you to put your return centres within 1 hour of the average + 2.5 st deviations from your target market. Sadly, last week you shipped a bad batch of tools to one location that sold like hot cakes but were defective leading to many returns at the same centre at the same time. So when you applied your erlang formulas to staffing the customer service centre did you take into account what promises had to be kept and how they were likely to be broken given your organisation’s structure and capability? Queuing is an opportunity to turn belief in the brand promises into the truth of the delivery of those promises. Again – love the article, well though out piece. Thanks for leaving such a well thought out response Simon. I love your line explaining that “Activities that involve queuing are where the rubber hits the road where brand promise is turned into operational capability.” You are so right! Your business is absolutely judged on your performance at the client end of your marketing process, and those judgements impact your entire brand. Great example too. It goes to show how much science there is behind process mechanism [in whatever form they take] and how you can use those numbers to work out things like the viability of your brand promises. Thanks for commenting! Something to think about! Thx! Great article. Sometimes it’s the simple things that are often overlooked! My personal opinion about queues is that as long as I can see some sort of progression, I can be understanding and tolerant of a long queue. It is very dependent on the service/product i’m queuing for though. Medicare for example; I don’t really want to be there, but I want some money back, so i’ll wait, staring patiently at the ticket number up on the screen and constantly rechecking my ticket. It’s not really a nice atmosphere either…..government department, sick people, noisy kids with runny noses…get me out of here!!!! On the other hand, waiting for my morning coffee when the coffee shop is busy, is very different. I REALLY want my coffee, and most mornings I’d probably crawl over broken glass to get to that fresh espresso goodness!! You can also see that the shop is full of people, and you can see the barista busting out coffee after coffee like a well oiled machine, so you know that you’ll be served soon, and that your coffee isn’t too far away after that. One thing I really like about where I get my coffee, is that they have an SMS ordering system. I can send my order over while I’m still at my desk at work, and then by the time I walk over the road, my coffee is waiting for me (or at least I’ve managed to jump the big queue of people lining up to place an order, which in itself is almost as satisfying as the coffee!)! McDonalds is a good example of customer expectation and satisfaction when it comes to queues and waiting. Back in the day, there was rarely a wait on anything, as they had burgers lined up under the heat lamps ready to roll. But now everything is ‘made to order’ (at least everything is ‘assembled to order’ anyway) and there is a wait associated with it. People managed to adjust to the wait, because they were getting a better quality product (or at least the illusion of one) by waiting for it to be made (assembled). Very busy McDonald ‘restaurants’ (such as Milton, near Suncorp Statium) have employed an ‘order while you queue’ system, where employees will approach you while you’re queuing to be served at the counter and take your order with a mobile device and give you a ticket number. Then all you need to do is get to the counter and pay for your order. Usually by this time your order is nearly ready. They’ve made queuing an efficient process! Another example I find excellent (and it’s kind of still a queue), is after i’ve made a purchase online, you get the standard email of “thanks for your order”, but it’s really good when the online store has a logistics system that keeps you in the loop every step of the way: “your payment has been processed”, “your order is being picked”, “your order has been dispatched, here’s your tracking number”. There’s nothing worse than placing an order and sitting around for 2 weeks wondering if it’s on it’s way or if there’s been some sort of delay. Simple things make the experience more satisfying and will ensure return business! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Ben, and your examples. They are queuing theory in action! You make a great point about how much patient you are willing to be weighing up with the value you see in the end goal. You really love your coffee! The government agency are undoubtedly aware that their system chokes up and isn’t enormously pleasant to be in, which is why the ticketing system is crucial for them, so you can measure your progress (and be more patient). The coffee SMS ordering is very smart. You’re effectively queuing at your desk but you certainly don’t feel like it. This also has the benefit of showing the people waiting in the traditional queue that they can access a short cut next time, which kind of says “Hey, do you wanna be in this VIP club over here? You can!” There are loads of awesome subconscious messages being sent out. And finally, the tracking mechanisms is pure genius. I can actually watch my packages travel the world! Customer service reps are never bothered with the tedious questions of “where’s my package? When will it be delivered?” and you know what? It’s kind of exciting to watch the progression. Maybe that’s just me? Thanks again for sharing these examples. As you highlighted, they completely transform your experience as a customer so for any business, it’s worth pondering ways you can work on making that queue time more productive and/or enjoyable. A very well put together posting, the content had me reading about being distracted during waiting times which is in itself a boring subject, however, I had completed the article before I was aware how much I read. It was as if the writer really was following Little’s Law in copy write terms. hehe the secret work of subheadings! Thanks for leaving such positive feedback Clare. A great post Belinda but it had me thinking when was the last time I actually had to queue. It was probably a mere 5mins in the PO prior to Christmas so not really even enough to get me agitated. So much of what I require is organised online these days and hubby does the grocery shop, so no queues in the supermarket for me! Ah you are lucky to have a queue-less life! I know you own and run an extremely successful (and therefore busy) virtual assistant agency. I’d love to know how you handle your own service queues? Do clients ever have to wait for your services or does that go against your whole business value proposition? don’tcha just hate queues! Almost as much as my hate for banks. Although the wait at my bank is nolonger the mind numbingly brutal chore it once was. My bank now has comfortable seating, a tv on and the time seams to pass quickly. You have time to stop, rest your feet and enjoy the air conditioning, whilst checking out whats happening on facebook! Great post Belinda. Thanks for leaving a comment Louisa with such a lovely example of queuing theory in action! You are right – who likes waiting? Smart banks are totally onto this and you touched on a really important way they changed your perception — you aren’t queueing, you’re enjoying a rest stop. And this can be applied to other industries. Not just ones with nice aircon Making the waiting time productive (in addition to keeping customers informed at every turn) can really help make this shift in perspective. Thanks again! Belinda – I like the part about delighting the customer before you’ve delivered anything. I think that’s an important point that a lot of people forget. Thanks for the great post! Thanks Tom! I firmly believe that your customer service experience begins well before you even talk to a customer, which is why good marketing is so important to your bottom line. From the very first contact point you have to help set the right expectations so everything that follows builds on that great first impression. Good luck in the comp! Great article Belinda. I can use this information on my websites and, since I just got back from a homeowner’s Board-related meeting, I thought about the different customers we have here in our community and how we can institute your tips in relating to them as well. Great job. I’m sharing with my tribe(s)! Thanks Carol. I am glad it was so timely for you. And thank you for sharing it with your tribes! Customer service can also be measurably improved as customer service reps are trained and trusted to deal with customer concerns at all levels. In other words, when a customer makes contact with the rep, is the rep appropriately equipped to define, address, and solve the customer’s problem, or will they be limited in what there are “allowed” to say or do (at their level in the chain)? How often are we told (during our own customer service encounters), “I will have to send this up the chain to perhaps eventually remedy the situation?” Let us, as CEO’s, empower our support personnel for the sake of prompt and efficient customer satisfaction. “Good” and “fine” are not good enough; we must strive for “magical” and “delightful” customer service encounters and experiences. This approach will notably increase brand equity. Great point Tony. Would just add that empowering your staff in this way leads to greater employee satisfaction, retention and productivity, effectively seeding a virtuous cycle that accelerates the gains in brand equity. { 4 trackbacks }
Lane Johnson and D.J. Fluker were selected high in the draft, but both have troubling flaws in pass protection according to Word of Muth. 28 Jul 2005 by Al Bogdan and Vivek Ramgopal Also check out last week's look at the AFC West and NFC West. Lines come from VegasInsider.com. O/U: 8.5 2004 Record: 6-10 2005 Home Opponents: WAS, PHI, NYG, ARI, DET, DEN, KC, STL 2005 Away Opponents: SD, SF, OAK, SEA, PHI, NYG, WAS, CAR Vivek: So we have Drew Bledsoe reunited with Bill Parcells, the team signs Jason Ferguson and shifts to a 3-4 defense, and all of a sudden this is supposed to be a .500+ team? I just don't see it. This is a good up and coming team with Julius Jones in the backfield and Roy Williams hitting everything in sight in the secondary, but Dallas is a year away. Its success depends on the development of first round defensive ends Demarcus Ware (who may move to the linebacker spot in the new 3-4 defense) and Marcus Spears. With change to a 3-4 scheme, Parcells is effectively reducing the role of Greg Ellis, his leading sack man for the past four seasons. I am curious to see how he and veteran La'Roi Glover handle this. What does Bledsoe have around him on the outside? Whatever it is, he will have to find it quickly as the not so fleet footed Bledsoe will have the aging Marco Rivera and Larry Allen protecting him. The Buffalo offensive line wasn't the only factor in opposing defenses sacking Bledsoe almost three times per game during his tenure there. That is the whole key to Bledsoe's success --give him time, and he will produce. Keyshawn Johnson, Terry Glenn, and Quincy Morgan are all nice pieces, but will not be able to bring Bledsoe back to his form from six years ago. Add in the fact that all three are coming off of surgeries, and that cannot make Bledsoe feel too confident. Tight end Jason Whitten might be Bledsoe's most reliable weapon, similar to what he had in New England with Ben Coates. I might be being too harsh on this team, but out of division games against the Broncos, Chiefs, Rams, Raiders, Charger,s and Panthers do not hurt my case. A year from now I'll take the over but for 2005, I'm predicting a .500 record and the UNDER. Al: Finally, some serious disagreement between us. I'm expecting Dallas to be one of the top teams in the NFC and possibly the favorite to be playing in February if Terrell Owens isn't lining up wide in Philadelphia for a full season. There are a lot of reasons, other than the personnel upgrades, to expect Dallas' offense to significantly improve this year. (For more details, read the Dallas (written by yours truly) and San Diego chapters of the top-selling football book on Amazon.com). As is pointed out in much more detail in the book, Dallas was terrible passing the ball on third down last year. Even a moderate improvement in that category could lead to significant overall improvement in the team's offense. Also, Vinny Testeverde was atrocious in the fourth quarter last season. With a younger quarterback than Vinny behind center, Dallas could expect to have more consistency in game performance across all four quarters from Bledsoe than they got from Testeverde. I am concerned about the secondary, which was Dallas' weak link last year. Their starters should be improved with the additions of Anthony Henry and Aaron Glenn, but I have serious concerns about the depth behind those starters. If Henry, Glenn, or Terrence Newman gets injured, things could get ugly real fast in Dallas. In any event, this team should go at least 9-7, even if they don't reach the Super Bowl contender status that I'm expecting from them. OVER. O/U: 11 2004 Record: 13-3 2005 Home Opponents: SF, OAK, SD, DAL, GB, SEA, NYG, WAS 2005 Away Opponents: ATL, KC, DAL, DEN, WAS, NYG, STL, ARI Vivek: T.O. isn't the only one who has to take care of his family this year. I have a down payment and wedding to plan for, and if Terrell Owens doesn't suit up for the Eagles, I'll have to keep my day job because I am sticking with the Eagles this year. T.O. or no T.O, This team is a regular in the NFC title game, and the secondary of Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown and Michael Lewis can ensure that the Eagles will not need to score 30 points to win. This will essentially be the same defensive unit went to the Super Bowl last year, minus a handful of players who did not make much of an impact. If the defense can execute Jim Johnson's pressure filled schemes, you should see a something along the lines of last year's 17 interceptions and 47 sacks. Even with a first place schedule, this team can approach last year's win total. OVER. Al: This team has won at least 11 games for five straight years. The presence or absence of Owens probably will be the difference between this team having a tough run in the playoffs, or having a cake walk to another NFC Championship. Last year's Super Bowl team is returning virtually intact. The only off-season departure of any significance was Jermane Mayberry who left for New Orleans. But the Eagles have a replacement waiting in the wings with last year's first round pick Shawn Andrews. Add in the best secondary and special teams in football and there's just no way I could take the under here. OVER. O/U: 6.5 2004 Record: 6-10 2005 Home Opponents: ARI, STL, DEN, WAS, MIN, PHI, DAL, KC 2005 Away Opponents: NO, SD, DAL, SF, SEA, PHI, WAS, OAK Vivek: 698 and 860 yards in the past two seasons. Does that sound like #1 receiver stats to you? Plaxico Burress missed five games last year, so even projecting his stats across a full season gives you a hair over 1,000. The combo of Burress and Amani Toomer is an upgrade from last year, but not one that would vault Eli Manning into the top half of NFL quarterbacks. You know that your 2004 wide receiver corps struggled when Ron Dayne found the end zone (1) more often than the top two receivers (0). Nobody ever knows what to expect from Jeremy Shockey, so the Giants cannot depend on him as a safety net for Manning. And if Jim Miller is slow to heal from hip surgery, the Giants will be forced to go with the reality star Jesse Palmer or husband-of-a-reality-star Tim Hasselbeck. New tackles Kareem McKenzie and Bob Whitfield should, however, help sure up an offensive line that allowed 52 sacks last year. Can Tiki Barber pile up the same yards with defenses not as concerned with Manning? He averaged 91 yards rushing and receiving for the final five games of last season (versus 150 the rest of the year) and more alarming was his four fumbles during that span. The Giants would have to give the ball to rookie Brandon Jacobs, who looks more like Julius Peppers than a running back, if Barber goes down. Towards the end of last season, Al played "What would Ernie Accorsi do?" and wrote, ." Well, Al was ten for ten on those guys, and the Giants build around them by signing Antonio Pierce in addition to McKenzie and Whitfield on the o-line. The losses of Norman Hand, Omar Stoutmire, Ike Hilliard and Terry Cousin will have a minimal impact. OVER. Al: It's all about Eli this year in New York. As I've mentioned elsewhere -- yes, I wrote this chapter in the book as well -- the Giants have brought in new personnel to improve every one of their weaknesses from last season save one -- starting quarterback. If Manning is the quarterback this season that he was against Pittsburgh in Week 15, the Giants will be championship contenders. If Manning is the quarterback that he was against Baltimore in Week 14, Tim Hasselbeck will become the most talked about backup quarterback in the history of sports radio. I'll split the difference and say Manning plays like he did against Dallas and Cincinnati in Weeks 16 and 17: right around league average. As long as Eli doesn't stop them, this Giant team should make the playoffs or at least be in contention for a spot until the last week of the season. OVER. O/U: 7.5 2004 Record: 6-10 2005 Home Opponents: CHI, SEA, SF, PHI, OAK, SD, DAL, NYG 2005 Away Opponents: DAL, DEN, KC, NYG, TB, STL, ARI, PHI Vivek: Al, make sure to temper your enthusiasm a bit after last year's Skins' love fest. Sorry for the cheap shot. I'll note that I also predicted the demise of Curtis Martin last year. The nation's capitol did have a good offseason in terms of made for television drama -- the drafting of a quarterback of the future when the head coach had given his endorsement for the incumbent, two star players departing for "greener" pastures and what plotline would be complete without an assault/weapons charge for last year's star rookie. While the potential of the 2005 players might be greater than last season, this team took a big step backwards in terms of on-field talent. Patrick Ramsey only had three wins in his half season of starting, so barring a Drew Brees-like resurgence, how long until Joe Gibbs hands the ball over to Jason Campbell? And even if he does, what weapons does he have on the field with him in the aerial game? Newcomers Santana Moss and David Patten are nice second and third receivers, but cannot carry this passing game. To say that the 2004 offense never got in synch is an understatement. All season the offense looked confused, especially on third downs, an anomaly for a team with a featured back the caliber of Clinton Portis. The Skins converted less than a third of their third down attempts, which can be linked to Portis's drop of 1.7 yards per carry from his other two seasons in the league. Joe Bugel will have to simplify the offense in order to reduce the training camp errors. The team's best cover corner, Fred Smoot, jumped ship from a Redskins team that has gone downward since his arrival there, finishing a total of 12 games under .500 his four seasons. Linebacker Antonio Pierce followed suit and headed up I-95 to Giants stadium. Because of Dan Snyder's earlier open-wallet policies, the Redskins have limited resources to replace their offseason losses. Almost a quarter of the 2005 cap is allocated to players who are not on the roster or who will not see much action. The return of LaVar Arrington (we think) should soften those blows, but do not expect a defense that will mirror last year's. The odds makers are being pretty generous with this line, so definitely the UNDER. Al: Don't worry Viv, I'm not making the same mistake twice. Washington appears to be the weakest team in the division. While their fellow teams in 6-10 land spent their offseason adding to their team through free agency and the draft improving their team's weaknesses, the Redskins went around trading away their one effective offensive player to give them less cap space with which to improve the rest of the squad. The defense has seen departures, injuries and legal troubles this off-season, but very few additions. On offense, Casey Rabach and a returning Jon Jansen should lead to an improvement in the running game, but Washington has replaced the departed Laveraneus Coles and, according to a report on Redskins.com, Rod Gardner with Santana Moss and David Patten. At best it's wheel spinning for the sake of salary cap inflexibility. At worst, one of the league's five worst passing offenses from 2004 will find itself sliding even further down the rankings this year. Is there anything I like about Washington this season? Sure. Robert Royal is my fantasy sleeper TE of the year. He finished last season with four touchdowns in Washington's last five games. With an increased role in the offense, Royal is a great pick as a #2 TE in leagues where you're forced to carry a backup. UNDER. O/U: 10.5 2004 Record: 14-2 2005 Home Opponents: OAK, SD, BUF, IND, NO, NYJ, TB, MIA 2005 Road Opponents: CAR, PIT, ATL, DEN, MIA, KC, BUF, NYJ Al: We're completely into uncharted territory here. Only one other team has won at least 14 games in consecutive seasons like New England has: the 1985 and 1986 Chicago Bears. The next year for Chicago was the strike year, when they still managed to pull of 11 victories. The Bears kept it going into 1988, winning 12 games. What does this mean for New England? Absolutely nothing. I want to go under, but I just can't do it. Sure, you have to wonder how the team will do after losing both their coordinators. But the personnel is just as good, if not better than it was last year, despite the departures of Tedy Bruschi and Ty Law. The wide receiver corps is deeper than ever with the additions of David Terrell and Tim Dwight. That should make up for the inevitable decline of Corey Dillon as he turns 31 after logging a career-high number of carries last year. The offensive line is back pretty much intact from last year, possibly improved with the addition of first round pick Logan Mankins. The biggest question marks are on defense, where Bruschi is done for the year and Law is out looking for a job elsewhere. But the secondary was effective without Law for most of last season, and New England has brought in a number of linebackers to fill in for Bruschi as well as Ted Johnson, who surprised the team by retiring today. It would be nice for the Patriots if Chad Brown could stay on the field for a full 16 games for the first time since 2001, but even if he doesn't, newcomer Monty Beisel should be effective, at least on pass coverage. The schedule looks tough, but the Patriots are still the toughest team any of their opponents will play this year. I'm glad this line isn't a half point higher. OVER. Vivek: Have we all learned yet not to bet against Bill Belichick? The Patriots will probably slot in Deion Branch in the secondary to replace Ty Law and Patrick Pass at linebacker for Teddy Bruschi. Ok, there was sarcasm there, but how many of you would have believed that Troy Brown would make a greater impact on defense than offense last year? We are all waiting to see how Belichick will do without his right-hand men, Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis, and that might be Belichick's greatest personnel loss during his years in New England. So how do you beat the Patriots? You cannot stack their schedule with playoff teams, as New England has compiled a 16-1 record against playoff teams during the past two seasons. You cannot rattle Tom Brady unless maybe you bring back Tara Reid into the picture. And Bridget Moynihan may be the only one who can break through the offensive line to get to Brady. Last year the Steelers handed the Pats their worst loss when Corey Dillon sat out with a thigh injury. If Dillon misses an extended period of time, Brady and the Patriots will find life a little harder. Al is more confident about the WR crew than I am. Branch, Givens, and Terrell should not be a comforting sight if Brady has to revert to the shorter passing game from 2003. Tight end Ben Watson, who lost his 2004 campaign to a knee injury, would have to develop into a deep threat quickly. On the defensive side, the Pats will slot in free agent signees Brown and Beisel while Bruschi sits this season out recovering from his stroke. Brown help will keep the pass rush at the top of the league, having averaged almost three a game last season. Law was the only other significant defensive loss, but Asante Samuel is emerging as a solid corner. Another 13-14 win season is within reach. OVER. O/U: 9 2004 Record: 10-6 2005 Home Opponents: MIA, JAC, TB, SD, NO, OAK, NE, BUF 2005 Road Opponents: KC, BAL, BUF, ATL, CAR, DEN, NE, MIA Vivek: This Jets team is one of the hardest to predict in the league, one that could end the Patriots' run as the toast of the AFC or one that could fall flat without its leader Chad Pennington. After Pennington's rotator cuff surgery, there is still an outside chance that Jay Fiedler opens the season as the starter. Regardless of whether or not he will be under center in Week 1, Pennington has missed all of the offseason workouts with new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and his downfield attack. Heimerdinger's offense requires a quarterback with good arm strength and that's not Pennington's game. The return of Laveranues Coles and potential comeback of Wayne Chrebet will mean nothing if Pennington's shoulder does not allow the team to be aggressive. A few interceptions downfield, and Jets fans might not miss Paul Hackett's play calling so much. Curtis Martin has to slow down one of these years, and this might be the one. Martin could miss last year's starting right tackle Kareem McKenzie, with an unproven Adrian Jones now in that spot. At least if anything does happen to Martin, Derrick Blaylock can easily step in as a different style runner. The Jets made huge strides in 2004, but regressed this offseason. Pardon the pun, but the team is thin at the tackle spot after Dewayne Robertson. The defection of nose tackle Jason Ferguson will not only hurt Robertson, but also rising linebacking stars Eric Barton and Jonathan Vilma. Opposing teams had to devote multiple offensive linemen to take care of Ferguson, but now they can focus their efforts elsewhere. I am not sold on Pennington's shoulder, and for that reason, I'll take the disappointing UNDER. Al: What are you talking about Viv? This team is deep everywhere. So deep that they could spend their first draft pick this year on a kicker! (Yes, Mike Nugent bashing by Football Outsiders. Big shock there.) Seriously, though, I agree that the Jets didn't do enough to fill the hole left by McKenzie. The Jets had one of the best offensive lines in the league last year according to the new and improved adjusted line yards. They were third in the league running behind right tackle and the best in the league running outside the right tackle. Now, a lot of that has to do with Kevin Mawae's amazing pulling, but McKenzie has to be given some of the credit as well. With an unproven right tackle, you have to expect the Jets rushing numbers to decrease, especially to that side of the line. I really like the Blalock signing, though. He was in the top 10 in DPAR and top 5 in DVOA last year and had a positive DVOA in 2003, albeit in limited playing time. (DVOA and DPAR explained here.) He'll more than make up for the departure of LaMont Jordan and should end up with a good number of carries backing up and eventually sharing time with the sure-to-decline Curtis Martin. That road schedule is sick. I wouldn't pencil in a single victory. The Jets aren't going to reach 10 wins without going at least 4-4 on the road, and with this schedule I just don't see it. Especially if The Chad misses more than a game or two with his inevitable annual injury. UNDER. O/U: 8 2004 Record: 9-7 2005 Home Opponents: HOU, ATL, MIA, NYJ, KC, CAR, NE, DEN 2005 Road Opponents: TB, NO, OAK, NE, SD, MIA, CIN, NYJ Vivek: Run, defend, and protect young quarterback J.P. Losman. The game plan is pretty simple for the Bills in 2005. Willis McGahee gets his long awaited full-time starting job in 2005. He may not, however, put up the eye popping numbers that he did as the starter last year with this downgraded offensive line. Other than quarterback, the only other position that will feel a drop-off from last year is the offensive tackle spot after Jonas Jennings signed with the 49ers. McGahee needs to run between the tackles, and we will wait to see if Mike Gandy and Mike Williams can step it up. I like the pickup of Kelly Holcomb to back him up if head coach Mike Mularkey feels the need to sit Losman for a bit. Losman will have a good group of receivers around him, though. Eric Moulds pulled in 88 catches last year, and the Bills will finally end their efforts to make Josh Reed a solid #2 wideout with the push of Lee Evans and rookie Roscoe Parrish. This team was very close to the playoffs last year, and I think Buffalo will be competitive again this year, but it is hard to take the over with the Jets and Pats on the schedule for four games. UNDER. Al: Why do odds makers think this team will do worse than last year? The loss of Drew Bledsoe and Travis Henry? I can understand the hesitation to wager that a team with essentially a rookie quarterback will have a winning season. However, J.P. Losman is unlikely to decide the fate of this team. Not when virtually the entire defense, number one in DVOA last year, is coming back for 2005 and they have a running back that PFP 2005 projects to finish among the NFL's top five in rushing yards. The Bills' road schedule is much easier than the Jets' looks to be. As you'll read sometime in the next few weeks, I'm not sold on Tampa, New Orleans is perpetually mediocre, and I think Oakland will still struggle, especially on defense, despite their recent additions. If Buffalo can win those games and squeak one road victory out against a division rival or either San Diego or Cincinnati, they'd be 4-4 on the road and half way to hitting the over/under number. Should be an easy OVER. O/U: 6 2004 Record: 4-12 2005 Home Opponents: DEN, CAR, KC, ATL, NE, BUF, NYJ, TEN 2005 Road Opponents: NYJ, BUF, TB, NO, CLE, OAK, SD, NE Vivek: Grass Valley, California. There, I got that obligatory Ricky Williams joke out of the way. Gus Frerote or A.J. Feeley? Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams? Marty Booker or David Boston? If you like camp position battles, then this will be a fun team to watch. Frerote, Brown and Booker should be the opening day starters, and those are all the right calls. Feeley has proved nothing as a starter in the NFL, and Williams is nowhere near the physical shape that he was in two years ago (not to mention the mental shape). With all the offensive struggles from last year, the defense carried this team (if you can say "carried" for a team that won four games). The Dolphins went out and signed pass rushers Kevin Carter and Vonnie Holliday, but will miss corner Patrick Surtain. Opposing quarterbacks will light up when they see an aging Sam Madison and unproven Mario Edwards and Reggie Howard lined up against wide receivers. UNDER. Al: Maybe I'm in the minority, but I'm expecting the Dolphins to be at least mediocre this year. Williams has been knocked on more than one occasion on this site. But after Williams has had a year to recover from the wear and tear of two 380+ carry seasons, and with Brown sharing the backfield, Miami could actually have a decent running attack. Of course, this team will only go as far on offense as their line will take them. The Miami offensive line has been awful, finishing at or near the bottom of our offensive line rankings for the past two years. Stockar McDougle will be an upgrade over John St. Clair on the right side of the line. Sprinkle in a little more Vernon Carey and a little less Wade Smith, and maybe this won't be the worst offensive line in football. On defense, the Dolphins has as deep of a defensive line as you'll find anywhere in the league. They have two lines worth of starters on their team. An effective rotation will keep the linemen on the wrong side of 30 like Jason Taylor, Keith Traylor, and Carter fresh and more effective. The secondary was effective last year and should remain so despite the losses of Surtain to free agency and Will Poole to injury. Miami has the easiest road schedule of any of their division rivals. If they can find a way to go just .500 at home, this team should be able to squeak out 7 wins. OVER. Next week: AFC North and NFC North. 38 comments, Last at 20 Nov 2011, 4:17pm by Bet in Vegas Am I the only one that thinks the Jets should sign Jeff George? Yeah, probably. But really... Jay Fiedler? I'm very surprised the Redskins over/under was so high and the Giants were so low. If I were to set them myself, I'd probably go with five for Washington and eight for the Giants. I'm a Dolphin fan, and feel that they should be able to win 6 or so games. I think there was a lot of "give up" on the team last year. They seemed to play a little better with Bates coaching. The QB play was pretty bad. Frerotte should be able to turn it up a notch. The Dolphins go from no running backs, to 3 (Brown, Williams and Gordon). They still have lots of solid veterans on defense. I see no reason why they won't be much more competitive than they were last year. 6 seems a little low for the Dolphins line. Dolfans are pretty high on this season. Any thoughts to why it's 6 games? For the record Mario Edwards has been in the league since 2000. I thinks it's safe to say he's proven how much value he has. 6 seems a little low for the Dolphins line. Dolfans are pretty high on this season. Any thoughts to why it’s 6 games? To balance out the betting. You've got to balance Dolfans who would bet the over on a 14.5 line, with (New England) fans of other (Patriots) teams who would take the under on 4. I wouldn't be hugely surprised by anything from 3 to 9 wins from this Miami team, so 6 seems as good a place as any to start the line at. The Jets have been one of the best road teams for quite some time now. Heimerdinger adjusts his playcalling and schemes. He's not a square-peg-into-a-round-hole kinda guy. He'll attack defenses in different manners on a week-to-week basis. You'll see in due time. Chad Pennington can throw the deep ball. He threw the best pass in the NFL last season. Check out the AFC Wild Card game vs San Diego. Any thoughts to why it’s 6 games? Probably because most people don't think they'll make it. I'd bet the under, for sure. I think 0-8 at home is a real possibility. Am I the only one that thinks the Jets should sign Jeff George? I am sure a certain ESPN.com columnist from the Atlanta area agrees with you. RE: 6 The best pass in the nfl last year was an 80 yd td bomb from culpepper to moss that traveled about 65 in the air in detroit. But the jets pass was in a higher stakes game so i see your point. But for pure artistry i'll go with the minnesota pass. The Jets have been one of the best road teams for quite some time now. Heimerdinger adjusts his playcalling and schemes. The first part might be true. I don't feel like looking it up. But it's a little early to suggest how Heimerdinger is going to handle the Jets, considering he just joined the team this year. Let them play before crowning the new offensive coordinator as an improvement. It won't take much to be an improvement over Paul Hackett. Paul Hackett managed to direct the Jets' offense to the playoffs, then to a playoff win on the road. That puts him ahead of 28 other offensive coordinators last year, including Heimerdinger. You may argue that the success was not Hackett's, and you may blame him for the loss in Pittsburgh. But Herm Edwards was on the sideline in Pittsburgh, too, piddling away the chance to move closer for that last FG attempt, and he still can overrule his OC. Don't pin all your hopes on Heimerdinger. I think Lavernio, Laverana, Lavern.. well, Coles and McCarens and Curtis Martin are going to help Heimerdinger make a splash right away. He has some weapons. Look out Pats ! & for those of you that weren't watching the Jets every week -Hackett was awful. Painful to sit through... good quarter back coach, but I seriousely question if he will ever be an OC again. Sometimes I wonder how Curtis Martin must feel, knowing that if he wasn't traded away from the Pats he could of had a couple of superbowl rings now... The Cowboys won't be a playoff team unless Drew Bledsoe suddenly improves to mediocre. His passing DVOA was -0.2% and VOA was -6.4%. Testaverde was 3.2% and -0.3% respectively. Incredibly, Testaverde was a better runner too with a DVOA of -12.3% and VOA of -18%. Bledsoe's numbers were -41.5% and -42%. And Bledsoe had superior receivers in Buffalo. Looks like I'll enjoy another season of laughing at Cowboy fans. Go Eagles! Heimerdinger has run two distinctly different types of offenses in Tennessee, so there is no reason to think he's inflexible about fitting a scheme to his personnel. (Of course, anyone who has watched Bill Parcell's post-1990 career would say the same about him, but for some reason every commentator's brain seemed to freeze right after the victory over Buffalo.) And for what it's worth, I think that Pennington is going to succeed far better in a vertical offense than he is given credit for. He spent his entire career at Marshall out of the shotgun and throwing the bomb to Randy Moss. He throws a good deep ball, and he hit on them with a high frequency last year (everyone remembers the Moss pass against San Diego, but Pennington was deadly early in the season with strikes downfield). The routes he struggles most with are deep intermediate routes, deep outs and comebacks, but even then he shows an ability to complete them. On deep passes outside the hash, Pennington tends to put a hump in the ball, with the result that the receiver is the only player able to make a play on the ball. It assures that there won't be any yac, but he can throw those routes for completions. Maybe I'll be proved wrong, but I think Pennington is going to be a much better fit than people give him credit for. I'm not so sure the Bills had better receivers. Yes, they had good 1 and 2 receivers, but they had the worst 3 and 4 receivers in the league, no pass catching tight end to speak of, and no backs who were receiving threats out of the backfield. The Cowboys have three receivers that fit their roles well, and they have one of the best pass catching tight ends in the league (and if for whatever reason they end up re-signing Richie Anderson, they'll have a quality safety outlet). The Cowboys have a much better ability to attack all parts of the field with their passing personnel than Buffalo did. OK, Al, you've penciled in the annual injury to CP. Three other QB's with no injuries? What are the chances of that? If TB is one, who is his backup? What do you think their record becomes then? I think you are entirely too locked in on last years news. Looks like I’ll enjoy another season of laughing at Cowboy fans. Go Eagles! The football The football gods do not look kindly upon childish gloating. See a) the Eagles' playoff frustrations for almost half a century; and b) the link. Consider yourself warned, mortal! A man is shot and nearly killed, and you're telling a football fan it's his fault for being rude? This is classless, tasteless, offensive, and worst of all, not funny in any way. I'm surprised at the lack of outrage (thus far) at the Patriots' low O/U. You guys (Pats fans) just so used to be underestimated that you no longer bat an eye when you get a 10.5 O/U, or some bored columnist launches into one of those "Payton > Brady" articles? For the 2-time defending champs, winners of 14+ both times, with no major personel losses, and a proven ability to overcome injuries, to get an expectation of hardly enough wins for a wildcard spot seems low. Then again, pretty much every O/U line tends to err towards the side of caution, with no team really low or high, for obvious (gambling-related) reaons. And it's not like the casinos are in the business of losing money. When gauged against the Eagles' 11, I think it is pretty fair. When the one good team in a horrible confrence is only pegged at 11 wins, then a good team in a conference full of competitive teams only getting a half-game demotion is a pretty nice endorsement. Also, the "no major personell loss" forgets the coaching staff and the brutal schedule of the first month. Re: 20, 21 Since when does losing both starting inside LBs not constitute a significant personnel loss? And that assumes Richard Seymour is ready to play before the start of the season--something that doesn't look like a guarantee at this point. Not to mention losing both the O and D coordinators. Having said all that, I still like the over. 10.5 is pretty low for NE until proven otherwise. I agree that O/U usually bunches toward the mean a little too much. Fact is, most seasons there are at least a couple 13-3 and 3-13 teams. At least. Considering the Jets road schedule and the uncertainty surrounding Pennington's shoulder injury, I like the UNDER here. Still don't understand why Buffalo gets no respect. Their D and special teams look outstanding. Admittedly their offense looks unsettled, but I still like the OVER. Washington at 7.5 wins O/U ??? The writer must be on crack or something. They just lost key parts of their D, and their offense still sucks. They'll be lucky to win 6 games again. I have a suspicion the Football Giants will exceed their meager 6.5 O/U. I think their offense will improve--that Eli will develop. Re: Pats O/U Also remember that the bookies offer different odds depending on which one of the Over and Under you take... Heck, I think the reason the O/U for the Pats is so low is because they simply can't pick NE sweeping Buffalo, Indianapolis, and the Jets again. That, and the NFC South looks like a better division than the NFC West. Then again, I think the NFC South has just as much potential to implode just like the NFC West, with Carolina the only team I'd put any trust in. So maybe it will be another cakewalk season for the Pats. Al, you’ve penciled in the annual injury to CP. Three other QB’s with no injuries? What are the chances of that? If TB is one, who is his backup? What do you think their record becomes then? I think you are entirely too locked in on last years news. Chad's never played a full season and is coming into camp with a reconstructed rotator cuff. His offensive line took a huge hit in the off-season with the loss of McKenzie. Not pencilling in an injury for him would seem foolhardy. Will New England be hurt if Tom Brady goes down with an injury? Most likely. But Brady has played in every Patriot game since becoming the starter in 2001. New England has ranked 5th, 12th and 8th in adjusted sack rate the past three seasons. Could Brady get hurt and miss the entire season? Of course. But there's little evidence to believe that it's more likely to happen to him than anyone else in the league. Any one else around the league? Anyone, in you estimation, besides CP. Wouldn't you think the odds for Brady getting injured would be going up? Certainly the league odds put him in the "lucky, so far" category. Heck, I think the reason the O/U for the Pats is so low is because they simply can’t pick NE sweeping Buffalo, Indianapolis, and the Jets again. That, and the NFC South looks like a better division than the NFC West. Indy isn't in the AFC East any more, though at times it seems like it is. billvv (#27 )-- Well, this consideration is only the East divisions. Of the 8 current pencilled-in QB starters, two (Losman, Manning) are second-year starters who should have the health of the young. Two (McNabb, Bledsoe) missed substantial time from big injuries, but otherwise were pretty steady as starters. Two (Frerotte, Ramsey) are widely believed not to really matter if they start or not, since they're essentially replacement-level anyway. Brady hasn't missed a start in 68 straight games, despite playing with a shoulder separation in much of 2002. And then there's Chad Pennington, who if he starts every game this season, it would be the first time. Chad Pennington in the only QB in the combined Eastern divisions who both routinely misses games, and actually makes a difference if he starts. It's not a gratuitous dig to pencil in CP for his annual injury; it's a perfectly valid dig based on his performance over 4 years, compared to other QBs in the East. "His offensive line took a huge hit in the off-season with the loss of McKenzie". How do you know? Seems to me the Jets have him replaced already, and since no one knows what the future will bring -- this may not be such a "huge hit." Last year the offensive line took a "huge hit" with the sudden retirement of Dave Szott, but then in came Pete Kendall and the "hit" in reality became an upgrade at the position. I wonder how many people thought it was a "huge hit" to the Pats when Bledsoe got hurt. In steps Brady, and the rest is history. Let Ricky Williams be the expert on "huge hits"... as for me, I'll watch the game and see what happens. That's why you play the game ! As a dig, I'm fine with the humor of it. As fact, that you can expect an injury of a player, even a penciled injury, I have a problem with it. Also, he has recovered his form each time, unlike Bledsoe. You can call Favre lucky and Pennington unlucky, but you can't expect an outcome for either. While the concern about Pennington's recovery from shoulder surgery is certainly valid, I don't think there's any particular reason to conclude that he's injury prone. The "never played a full season" line is a little silly inasmuch as the games missed in 2002 were not due to injury. He played 14 games that year without incident. So we're talking about two injuries, which may or may not have been flukey bad luck. The fact is that there's really no way of knowing. We do know, however, that he has no history of injuries prior to reaching the pros and that neither recent injury is of the degenerative (e.g., knees, back) or recurring (e.g., hamstring, achilles) kind. So if his shoulder is fully healed from the surgery I don't think he's at any greater injury risk than any other QB. Football is a collision sport, and a player's ability to avoid injury generally amounts to luck and knowing how to take or avoid a hit. However, in CP's case, I'd be concerned about the health of his rotator cuff, as it sounds like something that's caused by his throwing motion. Will Carroll did some more writing on this, and I recall he said that a rotaror cuff isn't as bad for a QB as it is for a pitcher, but we'll see. I just wanted to point out that the 1989-1990 49ers also had consecutive 14-2 seasons, like the current Patriots and the '85-'86 Bears. Like the Bears, I don't think any conclusions can be drawn from those Niners teams (who subsequently had seasons of 10,14,10,13,11,12,13,and 12 wins). Among other things, the NFC West was fairly weak during most years of the Niners great run of the 80's and 90's. Though like New England (and unlike the Bears), they had pretty good consistency at the quaterback position... Taking the over for the Cowboys is almost as much of a gimme as the over on the Chiefs Interesting that both the Eagles and Patriots ended up under the Vegas projections. I guess the numbers weren't that far off after all. Re: 2005 Over-Unders: East. Re: 2005 Over-Unders: East Divisions Well it was worth it, that I can say! Good Job lads! Post new comment
For a long time, hibernation has been associated with proprietary operating systems. Now, the feature has started taking the front row in GNU/Linux systems too. What’s more, it’s fast, flexible and is a real time saver! Introduction Software hibernation or suspend-to-disk is a very productive operating system feature. It has many advantages over a cold system start or reboot. Not only does the hibernated system load up faster, the user also gets back to his previous session without much effort. This is important because of the time the user saves by avoiding the need to set up a work session again. So, how is hibernation different? It is different because it saves the contents of the RAM (Random Access Memory) into some non-volatile storage medium before shutting down the system. Consequently, when the system boots up again, the operating system loads the suspended image from disk to get back to the previously stored session. Software suspend, as hibernation is popularly known in Linux systems, has evolved a lot in present day kernels. It is constantly getting more and more stable and useful. Some implementations are available in the kernel while one is available as a patch that can be applied to the 2.4 or the 2.6 series. This article is meant to introduce you to the implementations available and the features that they provide. Not only does the hibernated system load up faster, the user also gets back to his previous session without much effort History and available methods in Linux The history of software suspend in Linux can be traced to Gabor Kuti and Pavel Machek who developed a patch for the 2.2 series known as swsusp. It was probably an abbreviation for swap suspend as the snapshot image was written to the active swap partition of the system. Gabor used to maintain these patches on his personal page. The code base for this patch became the basis for three different implementations that we have today: swsusp, suspend2 and uswsusp. swsusp was first incorporated in the 2.5.18 kernel. It subsequently became a part of the 2.6 stable release. Later, a fork of swsusp, known as pmdisk evolved. The difference between swsusp and pmdisk was that the latter’s code was much cleaner and well structured. Moreover, while swsusp used the /proc interface, pmdisk used the /sys interface. pmdisk cleanups were eventually merged into the swsusp code base. Among all the available methods, the one that generates the maximum excitement is suspend2 by Nigel Cunningham. It introduces some important changes in the way the snapshot image is handled and is also noticeably faster. suspend2 is currently available as a patch for 2.4 and 2.6 kernels and will hopefully be merged into the mainline kernels in future. Also worth mentioning is uswsusp, abbreviation for userland-swsusp. It is an implementation of an interface for software suspend in the user space. All kernels starting from 2.6.17 have uswsusp merged in them. The module gives access to software suspend functionalities by exposing common file operation methods that can be used to operate on a character device. This is only useful for developers who would like to write their software suspend applications in user space and hence I won’t delve into this topic in detail here. swsusp How swsusp works swsusp works by taking a snapshot of the contents of the RAM. This snapshot or suspend image is copied and then saved in an atomic operation fashion to the active swap partition. Upon rebooting, if a valid image signature is found on the active swap, the image is loaded and the snapshot transferred back to memory. This gets back the saved state to the user. The following illustration shows the sequence in simple terms: - User requests for software suspend - All the running processes are given the suspendsignal - The devices are frozen so that they don’t change the system state when the snapshot is taken - The memory image is atomically copied with interrupts disabled - Frozen devices are awakened so that the image can be written - The image is written to swap - Devices are suspended and the system powered off The resume process involves just the inverse of the above steps. Configuration and running Configuring and running swsusp is a breeze since it is a part of the 2.6 vanilla kernel. If swsusp has not been compiled in your running kernel, you will have to enable it and recompile your kernel. It is always a good idea to compile a fresh stable version instead of tinkering with the running version because that way you always have a backup with you. To enable swsusp, bring up the kernel configuration window: $cd /your/linuxsourcedir $make xconfig Enable Software Suspend under Power Management Options as shown in figure 1. You can optionally add your swap partition path in Default resume partition. This step appends a resume parameter to the kernel section in grub.conf. You may also enable Encrypt suspend image that would encrypt the image stored in the swap partition. The key that is used for encryption is stored temporarily and deleted after resuming. swsusp will not work with Symmetric Multi Processing (SMP) enabled in your kernel. So, you will have to disable Symmetric Multi Processing_support under _Processor types and features to enable the swsusp module as shown in figure 2. As swsusp uses the AES module to encrypt the suspend image, you will have to select Cryptographic API and AES cipher algorithms as built-ins into the kernel (not as modules as they won’t be loaded). Refer to figure 3. `swsusp` will not work with Symmetric Multi Processing (SMP) enabled in your kernel Now compile your kernel and if the compilation succeeds, install your kernel. $make $make modules_install $make install You should also check whether a resume parameter has been appended to the newly installed kernel’s entry in grub.conf. If not, you can add it manually as resume=/your/swappartition. (Refer to figure 4) The default location of grub.conf is /etc. It may be different for your system. Finally, to hibernate, type the following command : $echo platform > /sys/power/disk; echo disk > /sys/power/state If everything is fine, your system should enter the hibernate process and after saving the image should power off. You should again restart your system to find out if it really worked. The boot sequence should load the suspended image and get back to your previous session. There are a few other important points worth mentioning: - To limit the suspend image size to N bytes, type: $echo N > /sys/power/image_size where N is the number in bytes. - Instead of using echo platform, you may use echo shutdownto hibernate your system. (Refer to the command above) - If the system becomes too slow after a resume, you may try turning off the swap and then turning it on again: $swapoff -a $swapon -a - You may try a SysVInit patch that would enable you to suspend using: $shutdown -z now The patch is available here - Append the noresumeparameter to your kernel if you would like to boot normally but be warned that something might go wrong! suspend2 How suspend2 works The fundamentals behind the working of swsusp and suspend2 are almost the same. However, there are some major differences in the way suspend2 does things and the flexibility it provides to the user. suspend2 first saves the lru (least recently used) pages in memory to the disk backstore, then does an atomic copy of the rest of the memory and then saves that. Since it is not doing an atomic copy of the whole of the memory, the process becomes much faster than swsusp and the image size is not limited to just half of the memory. The module sees to it that once we start saving the page lists, no pages are added or deleted, hence maintaining the integrity of the saved data. To summarize the steps: - User requests for system hibernation suspend2waits for the number of processes in their critical paths to reach zero - New processes are prevented from entering states that can cause deadlocks or inconsistent states - The page cache is saved to disk - Drivers are suspended and the processor state is saved - The rest of the memory is atomically copied and then saved to disk - The system is shut down The resume process is just the opposite of the above steps. Configuration and running To enable suspend2, you will have to patch and compile your kernel. Patches for many versions are available on the suspend2 downloads page. However the stable version is suspend-2.2.5 for 2.6.16.9 kernel. Using the stable release reduces the chances of breaking the kernel compilation. First of all, you need to apply the suspend2 patches using the apply script supplied. $tar -jxvf linux-2.6.16.9.tar.bz2 $tar -jxvf suspend2-2.2.5-for-kernel-2.6.16.9.tar.bz2 $cd linux-2.6.16.9 $../suspend2-2.2.5-for-kernel-2.6.16.9/apply If you have other patches on your kernel (such as the mm patch), chances are that the apply script will fail. In that case, patching the files individually would be a good idea. The patch file that refuses has to be manually applied by looking through the diff file and replacing code at the right places. After patching, you will have to configure your kernel. As shown in figure 5, enable Suspend2 under Power Management Options. From the options that show up in the Option window, enable File Writer and Swap Writer. You may ignore the rest of the options but feel free to go through their descriptions. By default, suspend2 uses the LFZ modules for compression and encryption which may be built into the kernel by selecting Cryptographic API and LFZ compression algorithm under Cryptographic Options. Once you are done selecting all other modules relevant to your system, compile your new kernel and install it. suspend2 gives you the flexibility to choose the location to save the suspend image. You can either choose the file writer or the swap writer for this purpose. While the filewriter can save the image to a normal file, the swap writer can save the image either to a swap partition or to a swap file. Unlike swsusp, suspend2 can write to any swap partition! It need not be the system’s active swap partition. I’ll cover the above three steps one by one. Unlike swsusp, suspend2 can write to any swap partition! It need not be the system’s active swap partition - Writing to a normal file: First of all create a file that is at least equal in size to your system RAM. Here, I create a 512 MB file called suspend-image. $dd if=/dev/zero bs=1M count=512 >> suspend-image Next supply this file to the suspend2 filewriter target. $echo suspend-image > /proc/suspend2/filewriter_target Finally, you will have to get the actual physical offset of this file and append it to the kernel section in grub’s configuration file (grub.conf). $cat /proc/suspend2/resume2 The above command gave me the following output: file:/dev/hda5:0x3c000 So I need to append resume2=file:/dev/hda5:0x3c000 in my grub.conf. (Refer figure 7). Don’t just copy-paste the above output as it will definitely be different for your system. - Writing to a swap partition: This is the easiest of them all and is recommended for first timers. You just need to append your swap partition path to the resume2parameter for your kernel. Find out your swap partition: $/sbin/fdisk -l | grep "swap" and edit grub.conf accordingly. (Refer to figure 8) - Writing to a swap file: The steps to this are similar to writing to a normal file except that here, you create a swap file instead of a normal one. To summarize: $ dd if=/dev/zero bs=1M count=512 >> swap-suspend-image $ /sbin/mkswap swap-suspend-image 512 $ sync $ swapon swap-suspend-image The output of the following command tells you what to append to the resume2 parameter. $cat /proc/suspend2/headerlocations The following output was obtained: For swap partitions, simply use the format: resume2=swap:/dev/hda1. For swapfile `/home/bandan/PTPRO/FSM/swap-su`, use resume2=swap:/dev/hda2:0x1d92678 The second output is what you would append in grub.conf. After choosing from the filewriter and the swapwriter (a combination of both is also possible), you should take a look at the hibernate script. This is a shell script that greatly simplifies the hibernation sequence. Get the latest version from the suspend2 Downloads page.The script is available as RPM, SRPM, deb or tar.gz. Choose one of them and install it. By default, it should install in /usr/local/sbin. If you use initrd (common in redhat distributions), you need to tell it about suspend2. Open the mkinitrd script in a file editor and go below the line that says: echo "echo Mounted /proc filesystem" >> $RCFILE Add the following: echo "echo > /proc/suspend2/do_resume" >> $RCFILE The default location of mkinitrd is /sbin. The advantage of suspend2 lies in the flexibility it offers. A set of configuration files are provided by default in /etc/hibernate. Hopefully, suspend2 will work “out of the box” but it is always a good idea to go through these configuration files if you want to tweak suspend2 to get the best out of it. Here is a brief summary of all the configuration files suspend2 offers. The verbose commented sections give a detailed explanation of all the available options. blacklisted-modules: Lists all the modules that have been reported to cause problems while suspending or resuming. hibernate.conf: The file actually read when the hibernate script is executed. disk.conf: Used when using the hibernate script to suspend using swsusp. common.conf: Includes list of common configurable options. ram.conf: Used when suspending to RAM instead of disk. (useful for laptops) suspend2.conf: Configurable options for suspending to disk with suspend2. Now all you have left to do is reboot into your new kernel. Keep a close eye on the system output while booting up. You should see something like Suspend2 enabled. Finally to hibernate, simply type the following as root: $/usr/local/sbin/hibernate The system should enter the hibernate sequence and shutdown. Reboot again to check everything is fine. If you are having problems with the filewriter, you may switch to the swap writer instead. It is usually convenient to try suspending to the swap partition first because that’s the easiest. Then, you may try suspending to a normal file or a swap file. If the hibernate script doesn’t work for you for any reason, you should try the following: $/usr/local/sbin/hibernate --bug-report > suspend-debug Go through the contents of suspend-debug and see what went wrong. The most important information will be towards the end of the file. If you find its contents meaningless, you would be better off sending it to the suspend2 mailing list. Most probably, someone will help you out. Eye candy Not only does suspend2 work differently, you can also make it look different. You have the option of a text based user interface or a graphical interface to show during the hibernate sequence. Download and install the Suspend2-User-UI package from suspend2 website. Additionally, obtain a theme from here and extract it to /etc/splash. Create a symbolic link to it and name it as suspend2. $ mkdir /etc/splash (in case it does not exist) $ cd /etc/splash && tar -zxf theme.tar.gz $ ln -s theme/ suspend2 Add the appropriate entry in suspend2.conf depending on what user interface you would like to have. For text UI ProcSetting userui_program /usr/local/sbin/suspend2ui_text For Graphical UI ProcSetting userui_program /usr/local/sbin/suspend2ui_fbsplash Now hibernate and see if everything goes as expected. If not, you can use the --bug-report option with hibernate to diagnose the problem. hibernate’s log file also provides a lot of information about what went wrong. Its default location is /var/log/hibernate.log. Some tips and tricks - Using the power button to suspend: First of all, make sure you have compiled your kernel with acpi support. Then install acpid and add it to the default run level. $ rc-update add acpid default Edit /etc/acpi/default.sh as follows: #!/bin/sh # Default acpi script that takes an entry for all actions set $* group=${1/\/*/} action=${1/*\//} case "$group" in button) case "$action" in power) /usr/sbin/hibernate & ;; *) logger "ACPI action $action is not defined" ;; esac ;; *) logger "ACPI group $group / action $action is not defined" ;; esac - If you would like to reboot instead of shutting down your system, simply press “R” during the suspend process. Conclusion suspend2 clearly seems to be the successor to swsusp. It provides a lot more features than any other available method and is also very configurable. It allows you to store the suspended image almost anywhere. A more interesting feature which is in the TODO list is suspending to a NFS share! However, kerneltrap reports Nigel as saying that he will devote less time to suspend2 which may prevent its merging into the vanilla kernel. The three different methods available target three different types of users. If you just want your system to hibernate and have no desire to tinker with your kernel, swsusp is definitely for you. On the contrary, suspend2 gives you greater speed and flexibility. If you are one of those who fancies writing his own userspace program, go for uswsusp. Get set and take your pick! Distros that already come with Hibernate I just wanted to mention that for many users, Hibernate on GNU/Linux can be even easier. (Especially of interest to those who consider switching from Windows or the Mac and might be scared off by lengthy walkthroughs like this.) gNewSense () and Ubuntu () both come with Hibernate already configured. So, for the user it's just a matter of clicking "Shut Down" -> "Hibernate". (I'm sure there are others too, but these are the ones I know.) Distros that already come with Hibernate Debian Etch (Testing still) also has the hibernate built in. It worked out of the box for me on my Thinkpad (R51) Distro's that come with Hibernate openSUSE 10.2 has it enabled by default too (I haven't tried it yet though), what I don't understand is this: swsusp will not work with Symmetric Multi Processing (SMP) enabled in your kernel But openSUSE has 2.6.18 with SMP as default kernel Mac Suspend Techniques I hear the mack is always updating changes in ram to the hybernation partition so that when a hybernation action is called for there is less writing necessary. I'd really like to see this functionality brought to Linux. -Joe Baker Distros that already come with Hibernate Tried nearly all recent versions of Ubuntu to try out the Hibernate feature..works like crap. Went back to Windows just bcoz I wanted this feature rather than waiting for Ok, Linux booting now. thanks thanks It was raining heavily with It was raining heavily with lightning while my lengthy fortran code had been running on my dekstop pc for about a day, I simply hybernated Ubuntu and once the rain stopped I was able to continue from where it's left, This is a very useful feature which really worked and helped me, I'm wondering what'll happen if I unplug the computer after hybernating, I'll see if writes the current state to the RAM or to the Harddisk. I'm assuming the latter is true. Wanted to say thank you! I know this probably wasn't the most up to date article on Linux hibernation, but it worked perfectly for me. Followed the swsup method. I'm running SW 12.1 on a Toshiba Satellite MX40 series. Worked like a charm.
USC §119(e) of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/582,357 filed Jun. 23, 2004. Two copies of the sequence listing (Copy 1 and Copy 2) and a computer readable form (CRF) of the sequence listing, all on CD-ROMs, each containing the file named SEQUENCE_LISTING.txt, which is approximately 901,120 Bytes (measured in MS-WINDOWS), are herein incorporated by reference. The invention relates generally to plant molecular biology and more particularly to the expression of isopentenyl transferase genes in plants under the control of cell cycle promoters that function in plants. One of the goals of plant genetic engineering is to produce plants with agronomically important characteristics or traits. Recent advances in genetic engineering have provided the requisite tools to transform plants to contain and express foreign genes. Particularly desirable traits or qualities of interest for plant genetic engineering include but are not limited to resistance to insects and other pests and disease-causing agents, tolerances to herbicides, enhanced stability, yield, yield stability, shelf-life, environmental tolerances, and nutritional enhancements. The technological advances in plant transformation and regeneration have enabled researchers to take pieces of DNA, such as a gene or genes from a heterologous source, or a native source, and incorporate the exogenous DNA into the plant\'s genome. The gene or gene(s) can then be expressed in the plant cell to exhibit the added characteristic(s) or trait(s). In one approach, expression of a novel gene that is not normally expressed in a particular plant or plant tissue confers a desired phenotypic effect(s). Plant growth and development is controlled by a diverse array of phytohormones in response to endogenous signals and environmental cues. These molecules include auxins, gibberellins, ethylene, cytokinins, abscisic acid, brassinosteroids, oligosaccharides, jasmonates, salicylic acid, and polyamines. In recent years, the large-scale sequencing of plant genomes, together with extensive molecular, genetic and biochemical studies, has led to the elucidation of the biosynthetic pathways for cytokinin biosynthesis. This in turn has allowed for new approaches to crop improvement by manipulating the expression of genes regulating the plant hormone biosynthesis through novel combination of gene expression elements and structural genes. Prior work has shown through both forward and reverse genetic analyses that plant hormonal regulation is highly complex. This has made it difficult to develop transgenic plants with improved agronomic traits but without deleterious pleiotropic effects. Isopentenyl transferase (IPT) is a gene that was first isolated from Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA. It was shown that expression of IPT in transgenic plants resulted in elevated cytokinin accumulation, which was accompanied by morphological alterations of transgenic plants. Expression of IPT in an entire plant has phenotypes that are not advantageous, causing dwarfing, reduced leaf area, and thicker stems (Hlinkova, E., et al., Biologia Plantarum, Vol. 41: 25-37, 1998). Expression in entire plants also leads to stunting, loss of apical dominance, reduction in root initiation and growth, either acceleration or prolonged delayed senescence in leaves (depending on growth conditions), adventitious shoot formation from unwounded leaf veins and petioles, altered nutrient distribution, and abnormal tissue development in stems (Li, et al., Dev Biol 153: 386-395, 1992). When IPT is constitutively expressed at high level through either the CaMV 35S promoter or the native IPT promoter, the transgenic plants would develop severely retarded shooty morphology and would fail to root (Klee et al., Ann Rev Plant Phys 38:467-486, 1987). Whole plants transformed with IPT genes with weaker or controlled expression, such as the promoter of heat shock protein genes, also display the effects of cytokinin overproduction, such as uncontrolled axillary bud growth as a result of the loss of apical dominance, the development of small, rounded or curling leaves, and the retardation of root formation (Medford et al., Plant Cell 1:403-413, 1989; Schmulling et al., FEBS Letters 249:401-406, 1989; Smigocki, PNAS 85: 5131-5135, 1991; Hewelt et al., Plant J 6: 879-891, 1994; Smart et al., Plant Cell 647-656, 1991; Van Loven et al., J Exp Bot 44: 1671-1678, 1993; Faiss et al., Plant J 12: 401-425, 1997). It was also shown that low level of constitutive IPT expression, such as that directed by a heat shock promoter under non-inductive conditions, would be sufficient to induce abnormal plant growth and development (Medford et al., Plant Cell 1:403-413 1989; Smigocki, PNAS 85: 5131-5135, 1991). Remarkably, such deleterious pleiotrophs occurred even when some seemingly tissue or organ specific promoters were used to drive the IPT expression in plants. For example, when an auxin-inducible bidirectional promoter from the soybean SAUR gene was used to drive the expression of IPT in transgenic tobacco plants, the transgene-produced cytokinin was present in a tissue- and organ-specific manner. Yet the localized overproduction of cytokinins still resulted in a number of morphological and physiological off-types, including stunting, loss of apical dominance, reduction in root initiation and growth, abnormal leaf development, adventitious shoot formation from unwounded leaf veins and petioles, altered nutrient distribution, and abnormal tissue development in stems (Li, et al., Dev Biol 153: 386-395, 1992). When IPT was specifically expressed in developing seeds using a highly specific seed promoter, no seed size increase was observed (Roeckel et al., Transgenic Res 6:133-141, 1997). We show that, despite these and other teachings against expression of IPT in plants, the expression under certain cell cycle regulated promoters leads to advantageous phenotypes. In accordance with the present invention, it has been found. In accordance with one aspect of the invention transgenic plants expressing a cytokinin biosynthetic protein under the control of a cell cycle regulated promoter are provided wherein the plants exhibit at least one phenotypic trait selected from the group consisting of accelerated plant growth, increased organ size, increased organ number, increased reproductive organ number, increased seed size, increased silique number, and/or increased seed number when compared to a plant of the same species not expressing such cytokinin biosynthetic protein under the control of a cell cycle regulated promoter. In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, recombinant DNA polynucleotides comprising a cell cycle regulated promoter that functions in plants operably linked to a DNA polynucleotide which encodes a protein involved in cytokinin biosynthesis are provided. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, cell cycle regulated promoters are provided. More particularly, such promoters are identified from the 5′ upstream region of the family of cyclin genes, such as the promoter regions selected from the group consisting of the CycD3 and CycB1 genes. Also provided are recombinant DNA polynucleotides encoding a protein that are similar to an isopentenyl transferase, encodes a protein that is substantially identical to, or hybridizes to a nucleic acid encoding, a protein selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, 2, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 22-359. Also provided are recombinant DNA molecules with combinations of cyclin promoters and DNA polynucleotides encoding an isopentyl transferase and transgenic plants containing such a recombinant DNA molecule. FIG. 1 shows a northern blot of the expression levels in roots, flowers, and leaves of plants containing in their genome an IPT gene under the control of CycD3, CycB1, and CDC2a. ACT is shown as loading control to show each lane is loaded with an equivalent amount of RNA. FIG. 2 shows the expression in leaf of plants with different copy numbers of transgene containing IPT under the control of different promoters. Quantitation was done using Taqman. FIG. 3 shows the number of plants created with each transgene (panel A), and the percent survival of the plants (panel B). FIG. 4 is a visual representation of the problems of expression of IPT in non-dividing cells. Panels A (left) illustrates the observed phenotype of a plant when a largely constitutive promoter is used (E35S) in accordance with the constructs of the present invention. Panel B (right) shows the observed phenotype when a less constitutive promoter is used, but one that allows expression in non-dividing cells (AtCDC2a). FIG. 5 shows the increased canopy size of plants transformed with CycD3::IPT compared to wild type. FIG. 6 shows the mature plant size of plants transformed with CycD3::IPT compared to wild type. FIG. 7 shows the relative seed size of plants transformed with different promoters driving IPT. FIG. 8 shows a map of plasmid pMON66507. This plasmid was the base vector for many plasmids used herein and contains the portions required for propagation in bacteria and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in plants. The E35S promoter was removed and a number of different cyclin promoters and CDC2a promoter were added to this vector to create many of the vectors created herein, see examples. It has been discovered. Isopentyl transferase (IPT) is a gene involved in cytokinin biosynthesis that may be isolated from many species. One particular IPT is a gene isolated from Agrobacterium tumefaciens T-DNA. It has been shown that expression of IPT in transgenic plants resulted in elevated cytokinin accumulation, which was accompanied by morphological alterations of transgenic plants. Constitutive expression of IPT in an entire plant exhibits phenotypes that are not advantageous for a growing crop. Herein it is shown that the expression of IPT under the regulatory control of a cell cycle regulated promoter whose expression is predominantly in dividing cells of the plant provides advantageous phenotypes directed to yield that are useful for a growing crop plant. “Isopentyl transferase” or “isopentenyl transferase” or “IPT” or “ipt” as used herein includes any enzyme that catalyzes the reaction of adenosine 5′-monphosphate or adenosine 5;-triphosphate and dimethylallyl disphosphate to N6-(Δ2-isopentenyl)adenosine 5′-phosphate, including but not limited to all isopentenyl transferase/dimethylallyl transferase from all sources including plants, animals, and microbes (Buchanan, et al., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Plants, Courier Companies, Inc., USA, ISBN 0-943088-39-9; Haberer and Kieber, Plant Physiology 128:354 (2002)). “Isopentyl transferase” or “isopentenyl transferase” or “IPT” or “ipt” also includes any enzyme that increases cytokinin levels through a pathway which includes zeatinriboside-5′-monphosphate (ZMP) (Astot, et al., PNAS 97:14778-14883, 2000). Examples of IPT and IPT-like proteins that are within the scope of the invention include SEQ ID NOs: 2, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 22-359, and any protein related thereto, or any nucleotide sequence encoding such a protein including such nucleotide sequences that would hybridize to any of SEQ ID Nos: 1, 14, 16, 18 and 20 under stringent conditions as described hereinafter. IPT genes expected to function in the invention include, but are not limited to, for example, proteins which contain the motif found in many IPT genes, such as PF01715 are also expected to function in the invention. These latter motifs are from Pfam which describes IPT and IPPT as follows: IPT or isopentenyl transferase/dimethylallyl transferase synthesizes isopentenyladensosine 5′-monophosphate, a cytokinin that induces shoot formation on host plants infected with the Ti plasmid. IPPT). Pfam is a large collection of multiple sequence alignments and hidden Markov models covering many common protein families. Pfam version 12.0 (January 2004) contains alignments and models for 7316 protein families, based on the Swissprot 42.5 and SP-TrEMBL 25.6 protein sequence databases. “Promoter,” as used herein, refers to a DNA polynucleotide that binds an RNA polymerase (either directly or indirectly through another transcription factors) and promotes transcription of a downstream DNA polynucleotide. The downstream DNA polynucleotide can be transcribed into an RNA that has function, such as rRNA, RNAi, dsRNA, or tRNA. Often, the RNA produced is a hetero-nuclear (hn) RNA that has introns which are spliced out to produce an mRNA (messenger RNA). A “plant promoter” is a native or non-native promoter that is functional in plant cells A cell cycle regulated promoter is a promoter that is regulated in its expression during the cell cycle. Cell cycle regulated promoters, as used herein, are further characterized in that they express an operably linked polynucleotide at their highest levels in actively dividing cells as compared to non-dividing cells. Preferably, cell cycle regulated promoters of the present invention are characterized by a reduction of about 20%-about 30% in the expression level of an operably linked polynucleotide in non-dividing cells. More preferably, a cell cycle regulated promoter of the present invention has an expression pattern wherein 10% or less of the expression of an operably linked polynucleotide can be attributed to non-dividing cells. The promoters herein encompass not only the sequences of the cell cycle regulated promoters described herein, but sequences that hybridize (as defined hereinafter) to at least one of the cell cycle regulated promoter sequences provided herein and operative fragments thereof, that function as plant promoters in the same or similar manner. In particularly preferred embodiments, the cell cycle regulated promoter is a promoter isolated from a member of the cyclin gene family. Specific cyclin promoters include those selected from the group consisting of the promoters identified herein as CycD3 (SEQ ID NO:8) or CycB1 (SEQ ID NO:5), both Arabidopsis promoters. The term “cyclin” refers to a regulatory protein, comprising a protein domain of about 100 amino acids known as the “cyclin box”. The cyclin box is the binding site for cyclin-dependent kinases, allowing the cyclin to exert its regulatory effect on the kinase activity of the CDKs. A cyclin box can be identified by comparing the amino acid sequence of the protein with known cyclin boxes. An amino acid sequence identified as a cyclin box on the basis of sequence comparison should possess at least the 5 conserved residues required for cyclin activity R(97), D(126), L(144), K(155), and E(185) (indicated positions are from the sequence of CYCD2 from Arabidopsis thaliana) at equivalent positions. (See, e.g., Soni et al., Plant Cell, 7:85-103 (1995) and Renaudin et al., Plant Molecular Biology, 32:1003-1018 (1996)) (R=arginine, D=aspartic acid, L=leucine, K=lysine, and E=glutamic acid). Cyclin promoters are those promoters that drive the expression of cyclin genes at specific times within each cell cycle in the organism in which they occur, for example, plants. Specific cyclin promoters include those of specific cyclin genes, for example see the sequence listing and examples. Cell cycle progression requires the activation of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) whose catalytic activity and substrate specificity are determined by cyclins and by other regulatory proteins (Hilde et al., Plant Molecular Biology, 43:583-593, 2000; Marcel and Murray, Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 4:44-49, 2002). The activity of the CDK-cyclin complexes is activated and deactivated at specific points in the cell cycle. Certain CDK-cyclin complexes are activated at the G1-S transition and trigger the start of DNA replication. Different CDK-cyclin complexes are activated at the G2/M transition and induce mitosis leading to cell division. As used herein, cell division control (CDC) genes are genes that control cell division, and are differently expressed during cell division. Promoters isolated from a CDC genes of specific types, for example, CDC2a (SEQ ID NO: 11) do not have expression patterns that provide high level expression predominantly in dividing cells. A first nucleic acid or protein sequence displays “substantial identity” or “substantial similarity” to a reference nucleic acid sequence or protein if, when optimally aligned (with appropriate nucleotide or amino acid insertions or deletions totaling less than 20 percent of the reference sequence over the window of comparison) with the other nucleic acid (or its complementary strand) or protein, there is at least about 60% nucleotide sequence equivalence, even better would be 70%, preferably at least about 80% equivalence, more preferably at least about 85% equivalence, and most preferably at least about 90% equivalence over a comparison window of at least 20 nucleotide or amino acid positions, preferably at least 50 nucleotide or amino acid positions, more preferably at least 100 nucleotide or amino acid positions, and most preferably over the entire length of the first nucleic acid or protein. Optimal alignment of sequences for aligning a comparison window may be conducted by the local homology algorithm(s), preferably by computerized implementations of these algorithms (which can be found in, for example, Wisconsin Genetics Software Package Release 7.0, Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Dr., Madison, Wis.). The reference nucleic acid may be a full-length molecule or a portion of a longer molecule. Alternatively, two nucleic acids have substantial identity if one hybridizes to the other under stringent conditions. Appropriate hybridization conditions can be determined empirically, or can be estimated based, for example, on the relative G+C content of the probe and the number of mismatches between the probe and target sequence, if known. Hybridization conditions can be adjusted as desired by varying, for example, the temperature of hybridizing or the salt concentration (Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, 2nd Edition, Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989). The term “recombinant DNAs” or “recombinant DNA molecules” as used herein means DNAs that contains a genetically engineered modification through manipulation via mutagenesis, restriction enzymes, and the like. The polynucleotide itself can come from either naturally occurring sources or can be created in the laboratory. It can also include all vectors created by DNA engineering, for example, all the DNA molecules included herein designated by pMON. For example, it can include molecules containing naturally occurring DNA or cDNA, or DNA molecules of synthetic origin in a plasmid, or isolated DNA. A “recombinant” polynucleotide or “recombinant DNA molecule” can be made by an artificial combination of two otherwise separated segments of a polynucleotide, e.g., by chemical synthesis or by the manipulation of isolated segments of polynucleotides by genetic engineering techniques. Techniques for nucleic-acid manipulation are well-known (see, e.g., Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Plainview, N.Y. (1989); and Ausubel et al., Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons, New York, N.Y. (1988). The terms “recombinant DNA construct”, “recombinant vector”, “expression vector” or “expression cassette” refer to any agent such as a plasmid, cosmid, virus, BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome), autonomously replicating polynucleotide, phage, or linear or circular single-stranded or double-stranded DNA or RNA polynucleotide, derived from any source, capable of genomic integration or autonomous replication, comprising a DNA molecule in which one or more DNA polynucleotides have been linked in a functionally operative manner. Hybridization conditions are dependent on the sequence of the polynucleotide and will be different in different circumstances. As used herein “stringent conditions” are selected to be about 5° C. lower than the thermal melting point (Tm) for the specific polynucleotide at a defined ionic strength and pH. The “thermal melting point” is the temperature (under defined ionic strength and pH) at which 50% of a target molecule hybridizes to a completely complementary molecule. Appropriate stringent, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. For example, the salt concentration in the wash step can be selected from a low stringent condition of about 2.0×SSC at 50° C. to a high stringency of about 0.2×SSC at 50° C. In addition, the temperature in the wash step can be increased from low stringent conditions at room temperature, about 22° C., to high stringent conditions at about 65° C. Both temperature and salt concentration may be varied, or either the temperature or the salt concentration may be held constant while the other variable is changed. For the purposes of this disclosure, stringent conditions include at least one wash in 2.0×SSC at a temperature of at least about 50° C. for 20 minutes, or equivalent conditions. A first polynucleotide is “operably linked” with a second polynucleotide when the polynucleotides are so arranged that the first polynucleotide affects the function of the second polynucleotide. Often, the two polynucleotides are part of a single contiguous polynucleotide molecule and sometimes are adjacent. For example, a promoter is operably linked to a gene if the promoter regulates or mediates transcription of the gene. A promoter is “naturally operably linked” to a structural gene if the promoter drives the transcription of the structural gene in the genome of an organism when said promoter and said structural gene are in their native locations within said genome. “Heterologous” sequence refers to a sequence which originates from a foreign source or species or, if from the same source or species, is modified from its original form; for example, a gene from a fungus being expressed in a plant; or a gene from the same species present under a different promoter, or a promoter driving the expression of a gene or RNA in a non-native location within the genome. An “isolated” nucleic acid sequence or DNA molecule. “Native” refers to a naturally occurring (“wild-type”) nucleic acid sequence. In a preferred embodiment, the instant invention comprises a transgenic plant comprising a recombinant DNA molecule having a cell cycle regulated promoter operably linked to a cytokinin biosynthetic enzyme. The plant may be a monocotyledonous plant or dicotyledonous, and includes but is not limited to corn, soybean, Arabidopsis, cotton, wheat, rice, and canola. Recombinant DNA molecules of the instant invention can be transformed into a many commercially useful plants. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a transgenic plant expressing the desired protein is to be produced. In this case the desired protein may be operably linked to particular promoter controlling expression in a cell cycle regulated way.. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten, platinum, and preferably, gold.. Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may be used to transform virtually any plant species. Examples of species that have been transformed by microprojectile bombardment include monocot species such as maize (PCT Publication WO 95/06128), barley, wheat (U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), rice, oat, rye, sugarcane, and sorghum; as well as a number of dicots including tobacco, soybean (U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,783, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), sunflower, peanut, cotton, tomato, and legumes in general (U.S. Pat. No. 5,563,055, specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety).. The regeneration, development, and cultivation of plants from various transformed explants. The regeneration, development and cultivation of plants from single plant protoplast transformants or from various transformed explants is well known in the art. See generally, Maliga et al., Methods in Plant Molecular Biology, Cold Spring Harbor Press (1995); Weissbach and Weissbach, In: Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif. (1988). Plants of the present invention can be part of or generated from a breeding program, and may also be reproduced using apomixis. Methods for the production of apomictic plants are known in the art. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,811,636. The transgenic plant prepared in accordance with the invention may be of any generation, including a fertile or sterile R0 transgenic plant as well as seeds thereof, and hybrid seed wherein the seed comprises a cell cycle regulated promoter operably linked to a cytokinin biosynthetic enzyme, e.g. isopentyl transferase. Also included within the invention are progeny plants of any generation of such a fertile R0 transgenic plant as well as seed of a progeny plant. Another aspect of the present invention relates to methods for obtaining a nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleotide sequence of the present invention. One method for obtaining a nucleic acid molecule encoding all or a substantial portion of the amino acid sequence of a protein encoded on the same gene as the sequences described herein would be: (a) probing a cDNA or genomic library with a hybridization probe comprising a nucleotide sequence encoding all or a substantial portion of a DNA, cDNA, or RNA molecule described herein (b) identifying a DNA clone that hybridizes under stringent conditions to the hybridization probe; (c) isolating the DNA clone identified in step (b); and (d) sequencing the cDNA or genomic fragment that comprises the clone isolated in step (c). The IPT gene (SEQ ID NO: 1 and 2) of 720 bp from Agrobacterium tumefaciens was amplified by PCR from plasmid pMON38210, using two primers that introduced a NcoI site at the 5′ end and an EcoRI site at the 3′ end of the amplified gene. The two primer sequences are CGCGGCCCATGGATCTGCGTCTAATTTTCGGTCCAAC (Seq ID NO: 3) and CGGCGCGAATTCTAATACATTCCGAATGGATGACCTT (Seq ID NO: 4). The promoter of Arabidopsis CycB1 (Seq ID NO: 5) was cloned by using the upstream DNA polynucleotide sequence of CycB1 from the genomic clone with Genbank number AL035601. Two primers were designed to amplify from the total genomic DNA the 1550 bp fragment immediately upstream from the ATG start codon, introducing a PacI site at the 5′ end and a NcoI site at the 3′ end. The two primer sequences are CGCGGCTTAATTAAGAGCAATAACAGTGTGTGAGGCATT (SEQ ID NO: 6) and CGGCGCCCATGGTCTTAGTGTTCTCTTCTCTTTCTCTC (SEQ ID NO: 7). To clone the promoter of Arabidopsis CycD3 (SEQ ID NO: 8), the upstream sequence of 1500 bp was determined from the genomic contig AL161585 (Genbank), which was then cloned by PCR using two primers that introduced a Pad site at the 5′ end and a NcoI site at the 3′ end. The primer sequences are: CGCGGCTTAATTAAGCATTATGCGGGAGCAAAGGTAAGT (SEQ ID NO: 9) and CGGCGCCCATGGTGGGGGACTAAACTCAAGAATGAGAA (SEQ ID NO: 10). Similarly, to clone the promoter of CDC2a (SEQ ID NO: 11) from Arabidopsis, the corresponding 1400 bp upstream sequence was determined from AL132963 (Genbank number), and amplified from genomic DNA using two primers, introducing a AscI site at the 5′ end and a NcoI site at the 3′ end. The two primer sequences are: CGCGGCGGCGCGCCATATATATTATTATATAAATATAAC (SEQ ID NO: 12) and CGCGGCCCATGGTTTCCTGAATAATAAAGCTGAAG (SEQ ID NO: 13). To construct the binary vector of IPT driven by the constitutive 35S promoter, the binary vector pMON23450 was linearized with NcoI and EcoRI, followed by ligation with the NcoI-EcoRI IPT fragment. The resulting vector was named pMON66507 (FIG. 8), in which the IPT gene is under the control of an enhanced 35S promoter (e35S). To put the IPT gene under the control of the CycB1 promoter, pMON66507 was digested with PacI and NcoI to release the e35S promoter, which was then replace by the PacI-NcoI P_CycB1 fragment. The resulting vector was named as pMON66508. Similarly, the PacI-NcoI P_CycD3 fragment was used to replace the e35S promoter in pMON66507 to generate the plasmid pMON66509, in which the IPT gene is under the control of the CycD3 promoter. To construct the IPT gene under the control of P_CDC2a, the amplified P_CDC2a fragment was digested with AscI and NcoI and ligated to pMON66507 that had the e35S promoter released by AscI and NcoI. The resulting plasmid was named as pMON66510. The constructed binary expression vectors from Example 1 were used to transform Arabidopsis thaliana, ecotype Columbia using an Agrobacterium mediated procedure. Transformants were selected on kanamycin MS plates and thirty two independent transformation events were transferred to potted soil in growth chamber and grown to maturity for seed harvest. Expression of the IPT transgene was monitored at the transcript level using Taqman analysis. Plant Growth Seeds of the transgenic plants were sowed in potted soil along with wild-type plants (controls), and were vernalized at 4° C. for three days before moving to a growth chamber. The plants were grown under the following conditions: at 22° C., 24 hours constant light with light intensity of 170-200 μm Einstein m−2s−1, and a humidity of 70%. Plants were also grown under short day conditions, with 10 hours of light period. Plants were fertilized twice a week using Peters 20-20-20 fertilizer (in half strength) from Hummert International, Earth City, Mo.). RT-PCR Analysis Total RNA was prepared from roots, rosette leaves and flowers of Arabidopsis plants using Trizol reagent from Life Technologies (Gibco BRL, Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md. U.S.A.). The RNA was then treated with DNAse and column purified. All samples were adjusted to same concentration based on spectrophotometer readings. 2.4 μg of total RNA was used to synthesize the first strand cDNA in a 20 μl reaction with SuperScript II-RT Kit (Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, Md.) according to the manufacture\'s procedure. An aliquot of 1 μl of the synthesized cDNA was used as template for PCR reaction (a total volume of 50 μl), using gene-specific primers. The reactions were limited to 20 cycles so the amplifications were still in linear range. The amplified PCR products were resolved on agarose gels and photographed. Real-Time PCR (Taqman) Analysis Two hole punches, or a piece of the youngest leaf tip approximately 1-cm long, were sampled from each Arabidopsis thaliana plant. The sampled tissue was placed in 96 well format boxes (1.1 ml micro tubes, VWR, Cat# 20901-027) with 4 mm parylene-coated stir balls (V&P Scientific, Cat#725E-1) on dry ice. Equal volumes of nucleic acid purification lysis solution (ABI, Cat#. 4305895) and Phosphate Buffered Saline (Life Technologies, Cat # 12394-011) were added. 0.40 ml of the Lysis buffer/PBS mixture (1:1 of 2×ABI Nucleic acid purification lysis solution and LifeTech Ca—Mg free 1×PBS) was added to each well, then tightly cap the tubes. The tissue was homogenized by shaking the samples with a Qiagen MixerMill—MM300 (Qiagen, Cat# 85110) for 5 minutes at 30 rev/sec. Particulate matter was removed using a 96 well QiaFilter (Qiagen, Cat# 10020). Genomic DNA was prepared using the Automated Nucleic Acid Workstation from Applied Biosystems (ABI, Cat#6700). 25 μl PCR reactions were prepared using the ABI 2× SYBR-Green PCR Master Mix, (ABI, Cat# 4304437) and 10 μl of template DNA prepared on the ABI6700. Primers used were purchased from Life Technologies and were used at the same concentration in all experiments. Real-time thermo cycling was performed on the ABI 7700 with standard cycling conditions of: 50° C. for 2 minutes, 95° C. for 10 minutes, and 40 cycles of 95° C. for 20 seconds, 60° C. for 1 minute. Standard data analysis procedures were followed for baseline adjustment then the data was screened for two-fold standard deviation of variance. Results of these analysis are discussed below. IPT was differentially expressed among different promoters in transgenic plants. Gene Expression Results. Four promoters were used to drive the expression of IPT in transgenic Arabidopsis plants, CycD3, CycB1, CDC2a, as well as the constitutive e35S promoter. The CycB1 promoter, P_CycB1, is expressed at the G2/M phase. The CycD3 promoter, P_CycD3, is expressed throughout the cell cycle in dividing cells. Both P_CycB1 and P_CycD3 are therefore cell cycle promoters. CDC2a, encoding a cyclin-dependent kinase, is constitutively expressed throughout the cell cycle, and is expressed in certain non-dividing cells. We conducted a semi-quantitative RT-PCR assay on the expression patterns of these genes in wild-type Arabidopsis plants. As is shown in FIG. 1, CycD3 and CycB1 were most abundantly expressed in flower and root tissues, but were expressed at much reduced level in expanding leaves, with CycB1 only showing trace amount of leaf expression. In contrast, CDC2a was expressed at about same but relatively low level in the different tissues. Because expanding leaves have been shown to only have trace cell division activity, these results confirm that CDC2a expression is not tightly correlated with cell division. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing IPT under the direction of the four different promoters were generated. Given the fact that all the promoters are capable of directing at least low levels of gene expression in leaves, we conducted transgene expression assays using the young leaf tissues from the transgenic plants. FIG. 2 shows the real-time quantitative RT-PCR, as well as the copy number determination (Taqman) of multiple independent transgenic plants expressing IPT from the four promoters. It is apparent that the strong promoter e35S led to high level IPT expression, while the promoters of CycD3, CycB1 and CDC2a resulted in significantly reduced expression. A comparison of the expression levels of the transgene driven by the promoters of CycB1, CycD3 and CDC2a showed that plants containing P_CycD3::IPT had the highest leaf expression level, whereas that of P_CycB1::IPT had the lowest. In the latter case, the one plant with a single copy of the transgene showing relatively high level of IPT expression is likely a result of transgene positional effect. Interestingly, although the CDC2a promoter is stronger than that of CycD3 in directing transcription in leaves (FIG. 1), the expression of IPT driven by CDC2a promoter was much lower than that driven by CycD3 promoter in the leaf tissues (FIGS. 2C and D); furthermore, while the IPT expression level of transgenic events driven by the promoter of CycD3 appeared to be positively correlated with the copy number of the transgene per genome, with more copies having higher level of transgene expression (FIG. 2C), all the transgenic plants expressing IPT driven by the CDC2a promoter contained only one copy of the transgene. This could at least partly suggest that high level of IPT expression by CDC2a promoter was deleterious, and only those with lower copy and thus lower expression had survived. Four independent transgenic events expressing IPT from the CDC2a promoter were advanced and their progeny analyzed for expression and transgene copy number. It was shown that 2 out of the 4 events resulted in progenies segregating 1:1 for 1 vs. 0 copy transgene, while the other two events had the majority of the progenies containing only one copy of the transgene, with a few plants missing the transgene (data not shown), which further suggest that, not only high level IPT by the CDC2a promoter was deleterious to the plant growth, but also the deleterious effect appeared to take place at gametophytic stage, resulting in the high occurrence of negative segregants. Methods Seed Size Analysis To determine the seed size of different transgenic plants, about 50 transgenic seeds (V2 and V3) were dispersed evenly in an area of about 0.5 cm in diameter on a flat surface, along with wild-type controls. Magnified Images were then taken and the image size in pixels was determined using the Image-Plus™ software. Four samples for each seed set were used in the analysis, and statistical significance of the seed size variation was determined by T-test. A high throughput screen was also developed internally to determine the Arabidopsis seed size. The software is a UNIX command line image processing program that automatically segments images containing touching seeds, screens out non-seed subjects, and then measures the areas of seeds on TIF images. Using this program, seeds from about 600 independent transgenic events involving 21 vectors were assayed for seed size compared to wild-type controls. The Arabidopsis with cyclin promoters operably linked to IPT showed increased seed size. Detailed analysis is discussed in the results section of this example. Canopy Size/Vegetative Growth Rate Determination. Transgenic plants, along with wild-type controls, were arranged in Latin Square, with 12 plants for each genotype, and grown under uniform conditions. At days 25, 32 and 42, images were taken for each plants, and the canopy size of the one-dimensional image was determined with the Image-Plus software. Statistical significance of size variation was determined using T-test. The growth rate for a given genotype was determined by comparing the percentage of canopy size variation of that genotype to wild-type among different growth stages. The Arabidopsis with cyclin promoters operably linked to IPT showed increased canopy size/growth rate. Detailed analysis is discussed in the results section of this example. Analysis of Other Plant Seed Weight Components. When siliques were starting to turn yellow, individual plants were placed within transparent plastic cones to prevent tangling and thus facilitate seed collection. At maturity, both siliques and seeds were harvested and naturally dried for quantitative analysis, including seed weight per plant, silique number per plant and silique length. For silique length, 50 siliques were randomly selected from each plant, and the means were used for comparison. The Arabidopsis with cyclin promoters operably linked to IPT showed increased seed weight. Detailed analysis is discussed in the results section of this example. Results. IPT Expression in Non-Dividing Cells LED to Abnormal Plant Growth and Development. The deleterious effect of non-specific IPT expression was manifested throughout the plant life cycle. When the transgenic seeds were plated on selection medium, seeds transformed with E35S::IPT and P_CDC2a::IPT exhibited much lower shoot regeneration rates when compared to those transformed with P_CycD3::IPT and P_CycB1::IPT. As is shown in FIG. 3A, with similar effort for each transgene, while we were able to generate more than 250 independent transgenic shoots transformed with P_CycB1::IPT (bar 2) and P_CycD3::IPT (bar 3), only 4 events for E35S::IPT (bar 1) and 50 events for P_CDC2a::IPT (bar 4) were generated. Furthermore, as is shown in FIG. 3B, the regenerated transgenic shoots survived differently, with E35S::IPT shoots (bar 1) having only one survive to maturity, which turned out to be the event with the lowest IPT expression; for P_CDC2a::IPT plants, only 25% of the shoots were able to grow to maturity (bar 4). In contrast, over 95% of the transgenic shoots of P_CycB1::IPT (bar 2) and P_CycD3::IPT (bar 3) developed and grew to maturity. The pleiotropic effect of the transgenes E35S::IPT involved a number of abnormalities (FIG. 4, Panel A), including the lack of root development, severely retarded shoot growth, extensive leaf curling and reproductive arrest. Most of the plants died before the flowering stage. A similar, though less severe, phenomenon was also observed for the transgenic plants of P_CDC2a::IPT, with one third of the seedlings failed to set seeds as a result of retarded plant growth and development (FIG. 4, Panel B). Remarkably, the deleterious effect of P_CDC2a driven IPT expression became apparent at very early stages of plant development, as all the kanamycin resistant seedlings had very low level of IPT expression (FIG. 2). On the other hand, over 95% of the transgenic plants of P_CycB1::IPT (FIG. 3B, bar 2) and P_CycD3::IPT (bar 3) were developmentally normal throughout their life cycle (FIG. 6). It has been shown previously that transgenic expression of IPT by various promoters resulted in deleterious pleiotropic effects on plant growth and development, the inventors reasoned that such pleiotrophs were likely due to the ectopic expression of IPT and consequently forced division in cells that were not committed to proper patterning after cell mass increase. Several lines of evidence from this study suggested that uncontrolled expression pattern, rather than the level of expression, was indeed a cause of the deleterious effect of the transgene on plant growth and development. First, a survey of the IPT transgene expression levels and the normality of plant growth and development when using the four different promoters showed that the transgenic plants were able to tolerate much higher level of IPT expression when the transgene was driven by the cell cycle-specific promoters P_CycD3 and P_CycB1 than that driven by non-specific promoters 35S and P_CDC2a (Table 1). TABLE 1 Promoter-dependent leaf transgene RNA level and normal plant development. Event Highest Highest exp w/ Transgene number expression normal develop P_e35S::IPT 4 882.00 0.02 P_CDC2a::IPT 32 0.11 0.11 P_CycB1::IPT 32 0.48 0.48 P_CycD3::IPT 32 3.99 3.99 Thus while only at very low level of IPT expression that the transgenic plants harboring E35S::IPT could grow and develop normally, they would display normal plant growth and development even at 200 folds increase in IPT expression when driven by the CycD3 promoter, suggesting not only that plant development is very sensitive to uncontrolled pattern of IPT expression, but also that the cells that had been programmed for cell division are a primary natural target of cytokinin for growth regulation, and can tolerate high levels of transgene expression without disrupting the subsequent organ patterning and formation. Taking together, these results demonstrated that cytokinin expression in non-dividing cells in plants as shown by the IPT expression by P_CDC2a, had a pleiotropic effect, leading to abnormal plant growth and development. In contrast, cell cycle-specific IPT expression, directed by the promoters P_CycB1 and P_CycD3, were able to effectively eliminate the deleterious effects associated with uncontrolled IPT expression, and even at relatively high transgene expression level, the transgenic plants were able to grow and develop much like the wild-type plants. Cyclin-Dependent IPT Expression led to Accelerated Plant Growth Rate The inventors further examined the effect of IPT expression from the different promoters used in this study on plant growth rate. The inventors wanted to determine whether amplified cytokinin expression in the natural cyclin-expressing cells would also lead to accelerated plant growth rate. To this end, the inventors conducted an experiment to quantify the morphological variations of transgenic plants compared to wild-type controls in the course of plant life cycle. FIG. 5 shows the accelerated plant growth rate of a typical transgenic plant of P_CycD3::IPT compared to a typical wild-type control plant. For example, at the age of 32 days, the transgenic plants of P_CycD3::IPT exhibited a critically significant (P<0.01) canopy size increase by 35% over that of the wild-type control (FIG. 5). Size comparison of leaves of the same position showed that the transgenic leaves were much larger than the wild-type control (FIG. 5A, lower panel). Noticeably, the degrees of canopy size increase varied along the growth stages, with the largest increase after about one month plant growth, and the increase declining at flowering. Thus the canopy size increase over wild-type control was 28%, 32% and 18% when measured at days 25, 32 and 42 after sowing, respectively (FIG. 5B It was previously shown that, although the constitutive CycD2 expression could accelerate the growth rate of transgenic tobacco plants, the transgenic plants flowered earlier than the non-transformed plants, resulting in plants that are similar in size and overall productivity as compared to the wild-type controls at maturity. The inventors examined the organ size, organ number and overall plant productivity of transgenic Arabidopsis plants expressing IPT from the cell cycle-specific promoters. In contrast to over-expression of CycD2 by the 35S promoter, cell cycle-specific IPT expression, while accelerating the plant growth rate, did not alter the timing of developmental stages, with the transgenic plants flowering at the same time as the wild-type controls (FIG. 5A). Furthermore, by comparing to the wild-type control, It is clear that the transgenic plants, while developing normally, showed an overall enhanced productivity, including increased leaf size/vegetative mass (FIGS. 5A and B), increased plant height, increased branch number, increased flower and silique number (FIG. 6). The inventors further examine all the transgenic events for the size of seeds, an organ in which CycD3, CycB1 and CDC2a in their native forms all express in wild-type Arabidopsis plants, and the size of which is mainly determined by cell cycle and the resulting cell number. The inventors developed an automated seed size (seed image area in pixels) screen and assayed the seed size of all the 70 independent transgenic lines that had been advanced, including 29 transgenic events of P_CycB1::IPT, 30 of P_CycD3::IPT, 10 of P_CDC2a::IPT, and 1 of E35S::IPT. A power calculation has determined that, at high detection power of 95%, our standard operation protocol would be capable of detecting 9% seed size difference at critically significant level (P<0.01). Using 10% as the cut-off value, the inventors showed (FIG. 7) that 72% of the P_CycB1::IPT events and 63% of the P_CycD3::IPT events exhibited significant seed size increase, ranging from 10% to 70% size increase over wild-type controls. In contrast, none of the P_CDC2a::IPT nor E35S::IPT events exhibited significant seed size increase. These results demonstrate that the amplified expression of cytokinin in dividing cells not only eliminated the deleterious pleiotrophs associated with ectopic cytokinin expression, but also accelerated target organ growth and size with high phenotypic penetrance. The improvement of multiple attributes of the transgenic plants expressing IPT from the cell cycle-specific promoters, including increased silique/seed number and increased seed size, has led to the increased seed production of the transgenic plants. A GATEWAY™ Destination (Invitrogen Life Technologies, Carlsbad, Calif.) plant expression vector, pMON65154, was constructed for use in preparation of constructs comprising recombinant polynucleotides for corn transformation. The elements of the expression vector are summarized in Table 2 below. Generally, pMON65154 comprises a selectable marker expression cassette comprising a Cauliflower Mosaic Virus 35S promoter operably linked to a gene encoding neomycin phosphotransferase II (nptII). The 3′ region of the selectable marker expression cassette comprises the 3′ region of the Agrobacterium tumefaciense nopaline synthase gene (nos) followed 3′ by the 3′ region of the potato proteinase inhibitor II (pinII) gene. The plasmid pMON 65154 further comprises a plant expression cassette into which a gene of interest may be inserted using GATEWAY™ cloning methods. The GATEWAY™ cloning cassette is flanked 5′ by a rice actin 1 promoter, exon and intron and flanked 3′ by the 3′ region of the potato pinII gene. Using GATEWAY™ methods, the cloning cassette may be replaced with a gene of interest. The vector pMON65154, and derivatives thereof comprising a gene of interest, are particularly useful in methods of plant transformation via direct DNA delivery, such as microprojectile bombardment. TABLE 2 Elements of Plasmid pMON65154 FUNCTION ELEMENT REFERENCE Plant gene of interest Rice actin 1 promoter, for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,876 expression cassette or other Rice actin 1 exon 1, intron 1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,876 plant promoter enhancer, for example Gene of interest insertion Download full PDF for full patent description/claims.You can also Monitor Keywords and Search for tracking patents relating to this Transgenic plants expressing cytokinin biosynthetic genes and methods of use therefor patent application.Patent Applications in related categories: 20130117892 -. ... ### Other recent patent applications listed under the agent Snr Denton US LLP:
I’ve been writing about the possibility of hyperinflation, if there is ever a run on Treasury bonds. My argument has been, Treasuries are the New & Improved Toxic Assets, a termite-riddled house waiting to collapse. If and when there is a run on them, money will flow to a safe haven, which I am predicting will be commodities. As a byproduct of this sell off in Treasuries and buy up of commodities, consumer prices will rise catastrophically in a hyperinflationary event—and the dollar will be left dead on the highway like roadkill. This scenario got me thinking about the last time there was a panicked run-up in commodities: The stagflation of the 1970’s in the United States, specifically the period 1979–1983. Oil nearly doubled in price, gold and silver went hyperbolic. Gas shortages were rampant—the situation almost got to the point where the government considered rationing gasoline. In fact, ration cards were printed—that’s how bad things got. Because of the Oil Shock, the inflation index rose to a peak of 15%—yet unemployment also exploded, reaching almost 11%. This combination of unemployment and inflation was what gave the period its name—stagflation: “Stagnant inflation”. Because of the Oil Shock, the inflation index rose to a peak of 15%—yet unemployment also exploded, reaching almost 11%. This combination of unemployment and inflation was what gave the period its name—stagflation: “Stagnant inflation”. Thinking about this period, I asked myself a simple question: Could the ‘79 Oil Shock, and subsequent bout of stagflation, be better understood as a period of incipient hyperinflation? And if so, what lessons could it teach us about today? First, a bit of history:. This event naturally led to oil prices ballooning, from a nominal average of $15 per barrel in 1978, to $25 per barrel in 1979 (data is here). This had a profound impact on inflation throughout the American and world economies. Up to the overthrow of the Shah, the U.S. inflation index had been at a moderate-to-high plateau. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) averaged 6.5% during all of 1977 and for the first third of 1978. But in the lead-up to the Revolution and the subsequent overthrow of the Shah, inflation got in high gear: For the rest of 1978, inflation averaged 8.13%, and by March of ‘79—two months after the Iranian oil supply was disrupted—inflation was tracking at over 10% annually. By the end of 1979, average inflation for the year was 11.22%, and by March of 1980, inflation was peaking just shy of 15% (data is here.) That was also the winter when gold and silver took off in parallel speculative jags that reached all-time highs—that winter was retrospectively the peak of inflation in the United States. Keep that date in mind: March of 1980. Annualized inflation: 15%. Though the inflation index was rising, unemployment hardly budged for a full year after the Oil Shock. Unemployment was at 5.9% when the Shah was overthrown in January of ‘79. And during the rest of ‘79—even though oil prices skyrocketed and the attendant inflation swept the economy—U.S. unemployment was more or less steady at or below 6%— —until 1980: Starting that winter, unemployment bumped up to 6.9%, and it didn't look back. Unemployment would eventually reach a plateau of 10%, and stay at that plateau for a whole year (July 1982 to June 1983), peaking at 10.8% in November of ‘82. Though unemployment would slowly fall, it wouldn’t be until September of 1987—almost nine years after the start of the crisis—before it reached its pre-Oil Shock level of 5.9% (unemployment data is here). But during those years—nearly a decade, really—of staggering unemployment, what happened to inflation? Well, in a word, it got a stake driven through its black heart—but like all scary movies, it was a close call. Inflation got killed as dead as Dillinger because of the measures taken by Paul Volcker, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. As can be seen by the chart, up until Volcker was named Fed Chairman in August of ‘79, Federal Reserve interest rate policy was playing a game of catch-up with inflation—and inflation was winning. But in October of ‘79, Volcker raised the Fed funds rate to 12% in the so-called “Saturday Night Special”—and then kept on raising them. Volcker kept the Fed funds rate up above 15% for most of 1980 and ‘81, peaking at 19.1%. That’s right: 19.1%. It shocks the senses to look at that number, and then compare it to the current Fed funds rate of 0.25%. From the graphic, it’s crystal clear that unemployment jumped up as a result of the first harsh taste of Volcker rates—in January, three months after the first interest rate hit, unemployment jumped to 6.3%, held steady there through the winter, then jumped to 6.9% in April and 7.5% in May. Then it just kept on climbing after that. Essentially, Volcker induced a severe recession, in order to beat back inflation. There’s really no other way to look at it. Like a doctor administering chemotherapy, Volcker hiked interest rates high enough to kill the cancerous inflation—but he also killed business investment as well, during his reign of double-digit interest rates. But all’s well that ends well—eventually, when inflation was safely taken care of, the Fed lowered its funds rate: Investment returned, the economy picked up, unemployment went down. And inflation? It went into remission, after Dr. Paul’s tough medicine. Since the stagflation period and its successful treatment, inflation as measured by the CPI numbers has been basically a non-issue. Now, let’s double-back to take a closer look at what happened back in 1979, and how it might compare to our situation today in 2010: (A quick note on terms—by the word “inflation”, I mean two distinct things: One is the macro-economic event whereby prices rise, due to the expansion of both the economy and the credit environment, which bids up the prices of consumables. This sense is used in opposition to the other three macro-economic events, deflation, disinflation, and hyperinflation. The other meaning of the word “inflation”—or what I sometimes call the inflation index or sometimes the CPI number—is simply the actual percentage rise in prices in an economy, regardless of whether the cause is inflationary or hyperinflationary.) The cause of the rampant inflation of ‘79–‘81 was an oil shock. It wasn’t that the economy was overheating, and consumables (labor and commodities) were being bid up in a growing economy coupled with an expansionary credit environment. Rather, commodities were rising against the dollar—the market was turning on the dollar, and determining that every day, it was worth less vis-à-vis commodities. What was happening was that, in a very real sense, the dollar was going into a death spiral, when Paul Volcker implemented his psychotically aggressive interest rates. What was happening was that, in a very real sense, the dollar was going into a death spiral, when Paul Volcker implemented his psychotically aggressive interest rates. Note how money supply played no role whatsoever in the inflationary period 1978–1983. Consider the following table: Increase in the money supply was both inverse to high inflation levels some years (like Jan. ‘75) and inverse to relatively low inflation levels in other years (like Jan. ‘77). But it also tracked high inflation levels other years (Jan. ‘82) as well as low inflation levels in still other years (Jan. ‘86).. When inflation was indisputably on the rampage—1980—money supply had increased by a mere 8.34%: The low end of the curve. Yet inflation that year was over 13%—even in the teeth of Volcker’s medicine.. Had Volcker not applied his medicine, ever-spiraling commodity prices would have sent inflationary tsunamis throughout the U.S. economy—until eventually, there would have been a run on the dollar. If CPI numbers had ever crossed 20% or 25% or some other psychologically important (and so far unknown) number, then it would have been Game Over for the dollar—Zimbabwe/Weimar absurdities would not have been far behind, because there would have been a complete loss of faith in the dollar: After all, a fiat currency is only as strong as the belief it inspires in its holders. The conclusion is therefore obvious: Paul Volcker prevented hyperinflation from happening in the United States. Had inflation continued rising unabated, the dollar would have collapsed—which would have meant the collapse of the U.S. economy, much as the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. If Paul Volcker were a rock star, then I'd be a screaming 15 year-old girl—Tall Paul is my hero. One cannot overstate the political will and strength of character it must have taken for Paul Volcker to resist all the calls to cut interest rates—which were a hysterical clamor, at the time. Had he caved, the Cold War would not have been won, and so our world would be much, much different—for the worse. Those like myself who know this, know how much we owe him—which is why we respect him. As far as I am concerned, he ought to have a white marble statue thirty feet high, placed prominently on the Mall in Washington, D.C., eye to eye with the other great heroes of the Republic. He earned it. Now, let’s ask ourselves: Was this near-catastrophe Paul Volcker saved us from back in 1979 really a case of incipient hyperinflation? Many people have been using a throwaway line I wrote as a definition of hyperinflation: “Hyperinflation is the loss of faith in the currency.” If I do say so myself, it’s a nice line—but it’s inaccurate. Hyperinflation is a severe price distortion, that eventually leads to a loss of faith in the currency. In every hyperinflationary event, CPI numbers rise as the prices of consumer necessities rise. Their prices rise for different reasons—which for this discussion are myriad and irrelevant. But what is relevant is, eventually, such price rises skewer the overall economy. One of the key distortions that hyperinflation inflicts is price distortions on assets, be they equities, bonds or real-estate. By creating a run-up in consumer prices, hyperinflation imbalances the whole of the economy, making bonds, equities and real assets less valuable. This effect has been observed in every undisputed hyperinflationary episode. So apart from the severe rise in CPI numbers between ‘79 and ‘82, was there such a hyperinflationary fall in asset prices in the United States?”. (By the way, this gives lie to the notion common among money supply fetishists that “there aren’t enough dollars in the economy to ever start hyperinflation”—of course there are enough dollars: We saw it in ‘79. Money supply has got nothing to do with hyperinflation. Where there is a shortage or need for a good or commodity, the economy will rebalance itself to meet this new demand. In simple terms, people will somehow always find the cash to purchase their necessities, whatsoever price those necessities might reach. And if the market—for whatever reason—determines that a currency is worth consistently less against the same amount of commodities, then that currency is circling the hyperinflationary drain. The central bank need not inject more money to bring about this end—it can happen without recourse to money printing, or any other central bank or governmental measure.) Now all of this history is well and good—but how does it apply to the situation we find ourselves in today, in 2010? Very simple: I have been arguing that Treasury bonds are in a bubble, as they have become the New & Improved Toxic Assets. I have further argued that, at some point in the future, the markets will realize that Treasuries will never be repayed, and if they are, they will be repaid in debased dollars. Therefore, I have argued that when such a realization occurred, the markets would begin exiting Treasuries, and go to commodities as a safe haven. Contrast this with 1979: At the start of the ’79 Oil Shock, commodity prices rose because dollars were chasing commodities. These dollars weren’t fleeing from Treasury bonds—if they left Treasuries, it was simply as a byproduct of going towards commodities. As more and more dollars went towards commodities, those commodities bid themselves up, creating inflation. So in a practical sense, the period we are living in now and the period just before the Oil Shock are identical: In both cases, dollars were poised to chase after commodities, following a triggering event. In ‘79, it was the fall of the Shah. In 2010, we are waiting for our moment to exit Treasuries. Therefore, one can look at the events of ’79–’82 as a dress rehearsal for what I think will happen today, and in the immediate future, if and when the Treasury bond bubble pops: Like in ‘79, there will be a crisis that will trigger a run on commodities. Like ’79, the inflation index will start to pick up. Like ‘79, this will create hyperinflationary distortions in the American economy, which will be seen at least initially as “stagflation”. In my previous writings, I had originally thought that, when the moment arrived when markets lost faith in Treasury bonds, commodities would go hyperbolic immediately, or within a very short time frame. However, studying the events of ‘79 more closely, I realize I was wrong: I now no longer think commodity prices will spike hyperbolically and in a reduced time frame. I now think commodity prices—and CPI numbers—will rise initially at an accelerated clip, say at an annualized rate of 5–6% in the first month. But here is the tragedy: Increased inflation will not be perceived—at least not at first—as anything to get into a twist over. Each subsequent month will see an inflationary rise at a slightly faster pace, adding a percent or two a month to the annualized rate—but at least at first, not only will this not be perceived as anything worrisome, it will be considered a good thing: Because of the current deflationary recession we are in, any pick up in the inflation index will be interpreted as a pick up in the overall economy. Eventually, however, as inflation continues to rise but the jobs market doesn’t really improve, the current American economy will wake up and find it has reached the exact same point that was reached back in March of 1980—a 15% annual inflation rate. But here is the key difference: Ben Bernanke and the Federal Reserve cannot raise rates to reign in incipient hyperinflation, like Volcker did in ‘79.. Bernanke doesn’t realize that inflation is a symptom that can augur many things. He is convinced that inflation means growth—the opposite of deflation. So all his liquidity windows, all his cash infusions to prop up the Too Big To Fail banks and their bankster operators, QE, QE-lite, the forthcoming QE2—all of it is being carried out by Bernanke so as to cause inflation. He is convinced that inflation will signal that the economy is recovering, and that the Federal Debt will be inflated away, and therefore not break the Federal government finances. He believes that rising prices will mean that the U.S. economy is about to be saved. This is why Bernanke is set up to take a hit from hyperinflation: If and when there is a run on Treasuries, and a subsequent run up of commodities, at least initially, the Federal Reserve under Ben Bernanke will not only do nothing, they will encourage this situation. The Fed and its current leadership will interpret this rise in the CPI number as an indication that “We are on the road to recovery!” We are not: The first hint of commodity prices rising as the Treasury markets begin to fade will be an indication that hyperinflation is on its way. And by the time we get to our March 1980 moment—by the time we get to 15% annualized inflation index—it will be over. The next stop will be Zimbabwe. Well, this is a very BLEAK picture. But - if possible - the situation of Mr Bernanke is even WORSE than that described above. This is because the measures of unemployment of the present ARE NOT the same of the measures of thirty years ago ... today the unemployment is ALREADY FAR ABOVE 10% IF MEASURED WITH THE STANDARDS OF THIRTY YEARS AGO ... Gonzalo, I've really enjoyed reading your series on hyperinflation but you've lost me here on the comparison to '79. Volker is certainly hero as far as recent U.S. history is concerned (and it's a shame that he doesn't have a stronger voice in the current administration) but let's not lionize him as the savior of the free world. You haven't made a convincing case that we were on the edge of the abyss in 79-80. Why would 20% + inflation in the early 80's been the end of the world? What were the alternatives to the U.S. $ at the time? Remember winning the Cold War was an enormous objective. This objective had far more clarity than say winning the "war on terrorism" of today. My guess is prolonging inflation in the 80's would have been bad but not disasterous. We would have muddled through. Our economy at the time - even with sharply accelerating inflation - was still far more productive than the economy in the USSR. The baby boomer generation was starting to move into their working prime. Perhaps stubbornly high oil prices would have pushed us more quickly to energy alternatives. Perhaps Reagan would have been a one-termer. I don't see how basic history would have changed. Capital would have found productive inputs. That last point segways to our current problem - accumulated years (or even decades perhaps) of applying our excess capital (essentially the boomer generation savings) into unproductive inputs. The first bubble - the tech craze - was the least damaging. Author Michael Lewis has writen a pretty good case that the bubble actually boosted productivity in a number of ways - remember Global Crossing wrapping the world in fiber optic cables? Anyway, we decided to move our capital into housing. Unless you open a farm, a house provides little net value-added to the economy, no matter how many garages you have. Instead of writing that off, we passed that hot potato to the U.S. Treasury. Meanwhile, the U.S. Treasury was busy collecting its own inventory of useless junk - counterproductive wars, counterproductive health plans, etc. We've "consolidated" all are credit card loans to one place. Given that capital now moves at the speed of light - literally - this is unprecedented in world history. It's certainly much different that 1979. As Spengler predicted, politics eventually destroys the money system. Well written. One thing I would add to Bernanke's psyche is that he is not only trying to cause inflation, but he is trying to induce a wealth effect by driving up equity and asset prices. Clearly this has thus far not worked, as outflows from equity mutual funds have been non-stop and housing overhang is resulting in a resumed price decline. Thanks for your clear thoughts. Great article. I have to agree with you 100%. I wrote something just the other day saying pretty much the same thing, just not as eloquently as you did. crack-up-boom.blogspot.com It is going to be very ugly when everything starts pouring into commodities. God help us all. Gonzalo, This scenario is extremely plausible. I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "Bernanke thoroughly believes that only liquidity injections and cheap money can save the economy—he is looking for inflation". As Bill Gross told us in August 2009: "Reflating nominal GDP by inflating asset prices is the fundamental, yet infrequently acknowledged, goal of policymakers. If they can do that, then employment and economic stability may ultimately follow." I emphasize that Gross used the words IF and MAY, not when and will! -Dave John Hussman's Aug. 23, 2010 commentary "Why Quantitative Easing is Likely to Trigger a Collapse of the U.S. Dollar" on this topic was excellent. Hussman: "My impression is that Ben Bernanke has little sense of the damage he is about to provoke. A central banker who talks about throwing money from helicopters is not only arrogant but foolish." Later in the commentary, Hussman: ." The emphasis in capitals is mine. -Dave Right on Gonzalo. That was a bomb of an article. Gonzalo: It's great to hear you reference this period in our history..... I was a floor broker at the CEC and a partner at a small boutique IB/TH.... I lived that period at my trading desk in lower Manhattan and in the silver, gold and sugar rings at the CEC in the WTC at the COMEX and the NYCS&C Exch. Those were truly memorable times and I reference them regularly as a parallel to this state of affairs we're in today.... In this latest post, I believe that you have articulated some adjustments in the synthesis of your theoretical forecasts, that fall much more in line with my own. Correct me if I'm wrong.... However, I see you moving more towards the hyper-inflationary scenario in the deflationary context school of thought. That is precisely what I have positioned myself for in the markets. I wholeheartedly agree with you that treasuries are bubblelicious. Gold, silver and sugar (I consider sugar to be the agricultural currency) are undervalued. And equities as a matter of fact and not perception, are well overvalued. I'm not going to touch oil for reasons that I can't go into at the moment, however, I do anticipate that the price of oil will move much higher later in the cycle. To those who have a blind spot to your measured and well thought out theories, all I can say is GOOD LUCK.... Best regards, Econolicious Well said. Even now we can watch the price of silver as reflecting exactly what you are arguing. _____________________________ Greenspan Hint: The Federal Reserve System Fraud is in fact much worse than what Ron Paul envisioned: "Most Effective Stimulus Now Would Be Rising Stocks" Is the FOMC Playing the Stock Market? _____________________________ Gonzalo, In my opinion the oil supply played a key role in helping Paul Volcker fight back inflation. I'm going out on a limb here, I don't have the numbers to back this up, but at the beginning of the 80s the world still had plenty of untapped supplies, starting with Saudi Arabia. The USA used their political pull to nudge Saudi Arabia, as well as other befriended Middle East states, to produce more, which was instrumental in diminishing the pressure on commodities and reinforcing the faith in the dollar. Later on, the North Sea discoveries were also a huge factor in helping the western world, especially the UK, fuel a new economic boom. In other words, Paul Volcker could count on the fact that the oil supply disruption were temporary and politically induced. There was no "peak" situation in any commodity like today, no peak oil, no peak gold, no peak copper or iridium... It's absolutely not the same for Bernanke now. On the contrary, the constraints on the oil supply are now almost entirely geological, and we know that in the coming years world oil production will gradually decline. It is very unlikely that new discoveries will save the Western economies at the 11th hour. Gonzalo, disappointed you didn't mention that Volcker was one of the 'advisers' that took the US off the gold standard and started the mess in the first place ! Vincent said: "...in the coming years world oil production will gradually decline. It is very unlikely that new discoveries will save the Western economies at the 11th hour." I think you're right Vincent that oil will no longer be available "cheap" - not necessarily because there couldn't be new discoveries but because $150 oil was an ominous warning that world demand is increasing faster than supply. We could avoid the disaster at that 11th hour by recognizing NOW that the price of oil will surely go up; and setting federal policy to encourage us toward alternatives (rather than waiting for the regular demand/supply forces to bring about that change). The good news is that when oil-based energy triples in price, from where it is now (ie, $10 gasoline), then virtually all alternatives will become viable. [Based on this I see a $300-$400 ceiling on oil.] The bad news is that the US is at the very bottom in creating a *stable-energy-policy* (one that isn't blocked by politics or changed every 2-4 years). I view a well-thought-out AND *stable-energy-policy* to be MORE IMPORTANT than almost all other issues facing our economy. If all US consumers of oil-based-energy knew that oil would gradually become less viable as an energy choice (perhaps every 3 months there could be a small tax-increase on each barrel of oil extracted/imported, over a 10-year period), then individuals and businesses would develop their plans accordingly. There would be no need for CAFE standards, or other heavy-handed methods. With a known energy policy, consumers would know how choose, and capitalists could do what they do best: be capitalists! [Note: I prefer government "encouragement" in the form of gradually-implemented taxes, rather than passing out subsidies chosen by bureaucrats that have no capitalist incentive (and possibly corrupt motives).] Alas, it will probably not happen that way, I expect to see a disaster (either/both of dollar-destruction and war) long before the US adopts a "stable-energy-policy". -Dave PS - my apologies for getting a bit off-subject. Two comments on currency: Consumers tend to have little plastic printing presses in their back pockets. An expectation of price hikes on commodities will probably send a lot of us to Costco, to stock up using our credit cards. The collective balance on those cards will then be an asset which the card issuers can leverage for further cash flow. This might result in some sudden inflationary events; the first crowd-sourced devaluation, if you will. It's also interesting to consider USPS "forever" stamps as portable, exchangeable, commodity-backed currency. Their nominal price hasn't gone up much, recently, but I could imagine people using them to store some small amount of value. It's probably of academic interest that postage stamps are backed by a commodity service rather than a commodity good, and a service tied so closely to transportation fuel prices. It's very interesting that the USPS chose to de-couple from the US dollar when they did. Where's Mish...? :-) I like the poster above who suggested the imperative and 'clarity' we had in 'winning' the Cold War... We spent a lot of money, that's for certain. But in the context of of the old Soviet Union, vs. the New & improved FSB, what did we win? In terms of their still-existing partnerships with 'terrorists' (like Iran & Syria), and fellow travelers (like Red China), what have we 'won'? The Russians still have nuclear weapons - and other armaments that are equal or superior to ours. And they're building... We didn't 'win' anything. And the Russians are still 'Soviets' in many aspects. And Putin still runs the country. Another piece of re-written history that needs to be un-re-written and put back in its proper context... I disagree with you not one iota. "Tall Paul" deserved a tremendous amount of credit. However, you failed to mention the name of Ronald Reagan once much less B. H. Obama. President Reagan backed Volker throughout this entire period and took the political heat. On t he other hand you have the "annointed one". David St. Louis Comparing the remains of the US today to the 1970s may be optimistic. Problem with this analysis is that there was no oil supply shock. The dollar price of oil increased but the gold/oil ratio (the real price of oil) was fairly steady at between 1/13 and 1/15. So the reason the oil price doubled is because the gold price doubled. The price of gold pulled the price of oil up with it. The exact same thing is going on today. Gonzalo, your thesis that a selloff of US Treasuries will lead to a commodity bubble should be tested against the more recent history in 2007 and 2008. At that time, we had a commodity bubble with oil prices approaching $150 per barrel. There are people who believe that the following collapse of commodity prices (oil prices fell all the way down to $40 per barrel) was initiated by Paulson and Bernanke in order to prevent a Dollar hyperinflation. Regardless whether true or not, the fact is, that oil prices did collapse (even gold fell 20%) and money started to flow into US Treasuries. The Treasury bubble is still going on with no end in sight. The question therefore is: If Treasuries sellout and money flows again into commodities, why can the trick of 2008 not be repeated and a huge sellout of commodities be forced upon the market? It would be enough to convince a few large hedge funds to sell out their commodity positions. That is was happened in 2008. I don't think that commodities would have gone any further than they did and it is not clear to me that Volcker's actions were completely necessary. Gold price rose, reflecting a loss of faith in the dollar--this much is true. However, the gold price hit its (up to that time) all-time intraday high of $875/oz at which point the US treasury obligations were fully backed by the bullion that the US held. At that point, the US was solvent again, and with short rates at 19% it was extremely tempting to leave gold and move back into treasuries, which is what happened. If interest rates had been somewhat lower, the situation would have been the same. The key event was the pricing of gold at a level sufficient to back US obligations. Of course, now those obligations are so large compared to the gold held by the US (which is unknown without an audit) so the same fix will occur at a presently unknown gold price. While I think you've made an admirable attempt here, it seems to me that you're taking the relevant context too narrowly to get a full picture. It seems to me that, while the oil may have been a catalyst, there were far more basic reasons for the occurrence of stagflation in the '70s and '80s, namely the fact that this was the start of the period in which American manufacturing could no longer compete with Asian companies, where the US capitalist class was taking its investment capital. This could not be fixed, however, because of the - at the time - counterproductive labor unions, which prevented wage adjustments and other changes that might've made american businesses more competitive, and because of US subsidization of the car industry through gas price subsidies etc., which allowed US auto makers to ignore the fact that their cars were obsolete. In this and similar ways, protectionism and unions caused the stagflation.. But while the problem today is still the fact that US manufacturing cannot compete, this is no longer because of labor, as we know that the US worker has not had an inflation-adjusted wage increase since the mid-70s.. The problem lies entirely with the capitalists who are no longer interested in making sure their consumers earn wages which they can then use to buy goods with, and in stead asked Greenspan to make it happen that US consumers could borrow and fund their consumption that way, which he promptly did. Anyway, parts (higher-educated workers) of the US workforce are still competitive, and other parts have become more or less competitive by now, so I don't think hyperinflation would've been a very likely outcome, but it seems to me that the stagflation From The Perspective of the (lower) Middle Class has never really abated, but it is only in the last few years or so that people have started noticing this - a fact that is absolutely pathetic. As for now, I doubt that inflation will really happen, as all the QE has not led to a marked increase in M1/M2, and it is disadvantageous in the extreme for the rich to own a devaluating currency. Huh? what gold, backing what dollar? have you not learned that Nixon got mad at France in 71 and abandoned the gold standard, refusing to honor the pledge to exchange gold for dollars at the rate of $35 per once. Best I know, that policy is still in effect. if the truth is your best friend, why did'nt you post my comments on the federal reserve? are you in denial? its ok, you figure you will be squashed if you naysay the fed. but just for youself - try to identify the shareholders of the fed. It's the best kept secret since dealy plaza. Don't forget that some of the PM leaps up were connected to the Hunt's efforts at cornering the silver market. They might have made it and the price of silver hit the moon but the exchange rules were changed which shot down both silver and gold. If that large-economy cheating didn't happen, it's interesting to speculate what might have happened. "In simple terms, people will somehow always find the cash to purchase their necessities, whatsoever price those necessities might reach." Can you please explain your rationale for this statement? Exactly what is the "somehow" people use to find cash to buy necessities when they are unemployed and their bennies have run out. Inflation can only persist if the consumer has money to spend. Reality check Gonzalo, the consumer is ALREADY BK. Prices go up any more, people will not buy at those prices, necessity or not. They will steal it, they won;t be ABLE to buy it. Deflation all the way my friend. RE Deflation all the way to where? The problem with the deflationists' argument for me is that I have never heard a convincing outcome to the deflationary period. Please, could a deflationista describe what they see is the endgame to the deflationary period, if it isn't hyper-intflation/currency death? Thankyou in advance In the late 1970's Gold nearly doubled from around $400.00 after the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan. Also, one of the largest mines and source for Gold in the late 1970s went on strike in South Africa. Important to note that gold ownership by citizens had been restricted or outlawed by the government until the mid 1970s. This means the rise in gold was in part due to the US government leagalization of gold ownership in the 1970s. Mr. Volker was indeed lucky to be in the right place at the right time to receive credit for the Gold and Silver commodity bubble burst. The true market value of Gold at the 1980 peak was about $80-125.00 based on the government deficit figures. The government deficit caught up and surpassed gold in the late 1990s. Except for extreme events or supply disruption that occurred during the late 1970s, add about $100 to the price of Gold for every 1 trillion dollars added to the government deficit based on the governments current high credit rating. As stated in another post above, the Hunt Brothers helped Silver rise to about $50.00 before it collapsed. Anonymous said: "Please, could a deflationista describe what they see is the endgame to the deflationary period..." I don't consider myself a "deflationist", nor am I sure what it means, but I'll try answering the question "How can a nation escape a deflationary spiral?" If a nation has little or no debt, then it is much easier to end deflation, but in that case it is unlikely that such a nation would ever fall into the deflationary pit. The nation could borrow and use that to pay down private debt. If a nation owns some particular natural resource (gold, oil, timber, etc), then that wealth could be used to pay down private debt. War may be the most common endgame for those nations that can actually pull off a "win" of such war. War works because the government can successfully pull-off things like wage-price freezes, rationing, ceasing private wealth/property, restricting flow of money, and dozens of other things that seem anathema to today's citizenry. -Dave My take away; get out of I bonds. Thanks! You can't think of any other outcome to credit collapse than hyper-inflation? Was the outcome of the Great Depression a hyperinflation in Amerika? Hyperinflation is the anomaly rather than the norm. Generally in deflationary depressions goods simply disappear from the marketplace as the money supply disappears. Anyhow, hyperinflation may occur once Da Goobermint starts passing out free money to J6P as they do for the banksters, but until then if prices go up to the moon, people will simply stop buying, necessity or not. They don't have the MONEY. That is the simple truth. RE Hyperinflation is economically defined as a minimum monthly inflation rate of 50%. In the world's greatest hyperinflationary event - post-WWII Hungary - prices doubled every 13 1/2 hours. Even the recent Zimbabwean hyperinflation 'only' experienced price doubling every five days. Hyperinflation is not a relative thing. It either is, or it isn't. Using the strictest of definitions, 1979 was no more hyperinflationary than was 1937. That said, there's no reason to believe that hyperinflation will by-pass the U.S. under current monetary and socio-political conditions. Thank you so much for these recent articles, they have given me great insight into things I have come to only recently. In response to RE, during the Great Depression the U.S. dollar was a gold backed currency. Today, it is a pure fiat currency, meaning that it requires the public's faith in order to have any value. That's why we didn't have hyperinflation then. Hyperinflation will happen here because it's impossible for the government to pay off its debts. This is not widely recognized yet. Once it is recognized, the flight out of bonds will begin, and that money will go straight into commodities. Deflationists believe this money will go straight into the U.S. dollar, which makes absolutely no sense to me. And quite frankly, I don't see how anyone who follows the economy, and the philosophy of the Federal Reserve Bank, could possibly believe such a thing. After all, bonds are just promises to pay dollars. The Fed is not going to default on its debt. No way in hell. They will print. You explain hyperinflation better than anyone else I've read, and I've read a lot of people's work on the subject. Excellent! The US dollar may be the beneficiary of large capital flow. Most debt in the US and on other balance sheets is denominated in US dollars. This moutain of debt could act as a huge synthetic short against certain tangible items leading to a rush to dollars to service public and private debt. The massive wave of US dollar creation may be partly a final step to dollarize the world or leave the world few alternatives due to US dollar related debt. Gonzalo, I hope you read the comments on your blog. I'm posting this comment instead of sending you an email. I've read your posts the past few weeks about hyperinflation, the treasury bubble, and now stagflation, and I think you are dead on target. I agree with everything you have said -- except your assessment of Glenn Beck. :) Ironically, I think you and he would agree with each other on many, if not most, things. Having lived also in S America during highly inflationary times, having seen the consequences of both military and socialist governments, and knowing the resulting civil unrest, I share many of your perspectives. I am beginning to wonder if we are now seeing the early stages of commodity hyperinflation. I am a commodities trader, and despite that with every tick higher I make money, I am genuinely alarmed that commodities are back in bubble territory very much like 2008 again. Just look at the weekly charts for corn, soybeans, sugar, coffee, and cotton. They are going parabolic! I expect each day to see these commodity bubbles collapse and prices crash back to earth, but each day, they move higher and higher. Instead of prices reaching a zenith and tumbling back to earth, they are ACCELERATING higher, not lower! Other commodities, especially agricultural commodities, are rocketing higher almost every day. So are commodities not traded in the futures exchanges. Even commodities that were trending downward (lumber, cocoa, natural gas) have now reversed and are trending higher again. I don't know of any commodity futures that are trending lower except for crude oil, which is only down 3 days. Corn, sugar, cotton, coffee, orange juice, soybeans, soybean oil, soybean meal, live cattle, milk, lean hog, oats, gold, silver, palladium, platinum, copper, and rice are all trending higher. Many are rising at parabolic rates. Just look at the charts! Why not post those weekly charts here? They would help to make your case! I find it hard to believe that ALL these commodities are all facing strong demand with limited supplies simultaneously. I can't help but wonder if some of the QE money being funneled through the primary dealers is also finding its way into commodities. This is likely to accelerate even faster when the bond/treasury bubble(s) pops. It makes me very nervous to see where this is headed. When I read your articles a few weeks ago on ZH and here, something clicked in my head and I had an "aha" moment. I think you are absolutely correct and with the very rapid rise in commodity prices over these past few months, I am beginning to wonder if we're seeing it in its early stages right now. I also remember reading some months back an article suggesting that we could see hyperinflation in some assets while we are simultaneously seeing debt-based deflation of other assets (eg., real estate) and paper assets (bonds, stocks). Sound familiar? Commodity inflation (bad enough) or hyperinflation (much worse), the author suggested, would kill pricing power of businesses, thus plunging many into insolvency, while consequently leading to even higher unemployment. (By the way, the effect on employment would be a subject that I would like to know more about in the Allende government. What was the impact of hyperinflation on unemployment?) Keep up the insightful writing! Thanks for having the courage to share it with the rest of us! Hasta entonces, amigo! To RE.... Why the hell does the price of gold keep going up if people have no money? Food aint gotten any cheaper either... Lol who the hell is this Anon who states the price of gold went up in 1971 because the Feds allowed gold ownership again... That has to be the single stupidest thing I ever read. Hello! The price of gold went up because we went to a fiat currency and Nixon turned down France's request to turn in their dollars for gold. We renigged on the Bretton Woods agreement! Ya think... Maybe... Just maybe that had a bit to do with it? Wow! S Benard said it...commodities are already going up and have been since May or June of this year. Meanwhile the long end of the curve is beginning to steepen with the /ZB futures down 3 of the last 4 weeks. food for thought. @Neil That the Fed will continue to print, of this I have no doubt. They have been doing it for well onto 2 years now, with no hyperinflation. What the Fed will NOT do is distribute free money to anyone but the PDs, who will not hand out the money to anybody else. So unless and until Da Goobermint pulls a China and FORCES the banks to lend and FORCES biznesses to take the loans, the notional currency simply never goes into circulation. When one of these factors changes you can get your hyperinflation, but at the moment its not politically possible to do that here inthe FSofA. Anyhow, I wrote a longer explanation of this over on Reverse Engineering. The article is too long to fit in this response field. RE Very good article, Thanks. My comment is that faith in the dollar and thus price of commodity could rise very quickly instead of gradually 1. at that time the Feb kept rasing interest rate to chase after inflation rate. Today it's likely the Feb will keep it low even if CPI starts to go up 2. at that time dollar = oil. Today countires starts to sell their oil in other currencies. 3. Today we have China Having lived through that period running a family petroleum distributor biz (and saddled with an MBA), there is a need for clarification on what was what back then. Note the following differences: 1. When people saw that they could get a 2 year CD at 18%, they believed like he** in the $. This is the MOST important point. Wouldn't you like that now from a stable bank? 2. The US had a manufacturing base. In NC/SC, most county seats had their traffic jams at 3:30 when the 1st shift got off. 3. Moral Malaise Carter got run out of town by Reagan. 4. Remember that price controls existed on oil and gasoline. Reagan dumped them and gasoline/ heating oil doubled in price in a year, going from 60 cents to $1.20. 4. Derivatives? We don't need no stinking derivatives. Yes, there was some CBOE hedging. How gauche and unsophisticated. 5. The mainstream press was nothing like what it is now. They WANT us to suffer now. 6. FICA was 1% when JC got elected - Democrat legislation in the late 70s ramped it to the 15.3% level. 7. There were local businesses and full service gas stations. Now we have WalMart and pump your own, bitchez. 8. Prez Ford actually had red/white buttons printed saying "WIN" - Whip Inflation Now". It was around 5% then. The Man From Plains got it to 15% or so. Ho hum. The bottom line was that no one felt that the US was going down the tubes. Well, just my thoughts, I don't think the commodity prices have been rising during the last several months from people slowly and surely running from dollar, but mostly from equity linked trades(stocks are to go up, they also trade to bet commodity go up) or actual belivers of V shaped economy. I believe the event in Iran back in 1979 was a surprise to everyone, it was really a shock. On the other hand, US treasury, Fed, and banks throwing around US debt is not a secret and it has been going around for many months. Even governments around the world are worried about defending dollar. I am afraid that once we see the possibility of an auction failure, the run will be a sudden and large one. And I wonder whether everyone will run to commodities. There are good currencies out there with a lot of trade vol, these just have to be "safer" than the previously so called safest US assets. NZ, AU, NOK, and a few others might qualify, even Yen. Ag commodities continue to go parabolic Sunday evening. I remembered whose article I read about some assets were inflating while others were deflating. It was Gordon Long, who also has posted to ZH. You guys on on the same page! ...and from what I'm seeing of real estate and ag commodities, the markets are too! CFTC COT report from Friday indicates that USD shorts are increasing their bets. No small wonder! Hey S Benard— Busy arguing abortion. As I've said, e-mail me any time. GL I have a question: is there a measure people can look at to see how many dollars have been created by the Federal Reserve? Would that be MB, as explained on Wikipedia? It seems to me that the effects of fractional-reserve banking should not affect our faith in the value of a dollar, so measures of the money supply that include those effects (M2 among others) don't tell us whether the dollar is being debased or not. I understand that a panic can occur based on a widely-held belief that the Fed will debase the currency in the future, even if the Fed hasn't actually done so at all yet, but I'd like to be able to watch what the Fed actually does, if that's possible. Karen, The Fed has been sneaky about debasing the dollar—I'll have a post in a couple of days. Meanwhile, the best way to figure out how the Fed is debasing the dollar is to look at its balance sheet. In the "Termite-Riddled House" post, I linked to a very good interactive graph the shows the composition of the Fed's balance sheet through time. Hope this helps. Specific questions, do feel free to e-mail me. GL It should be noted that inflation was a windfall to homeowners in the 1970's as the value of their homes soared and the dollar value of their mortgages remained unchanged. Business who invested in capital goods to grow businesses in this period also benefited. We have been brainwashed to believe that inflation is a wholly negative phenomenon,rather than a phenomenon that has winners and losers. Volker's fight against inflation help set the stage for the debt laden strait jacket the US and the rest of the world is now facing. The fight against inflation was won at the cost of high unemployment which undermined the bargaining power of labour to demand fair wages. The nail in the coffin of inflation was augmented by the outsourcing of american jobs and the importation of cheap foreign goods. The engine of growth for the American and world economies for the past several years has been debt, both private and public. This debt will only be repaid if economies create jobs to repay this debt. Inflation ensures that those holding cash put the money to work either by buying assets or investing in businesses. trishflanagan - I think it is impossible to say that true hyperinflation is anything but awful. It leads very quickly to a barter economy, and one in which some people (farmers) can do OK but others (government employees) have to come to the black market with nothing but their (nearly worthless) stuff to trade. I read a book about inflation (The Economics of High Inflation, by Paul Beckerman, 1992) that did a bad job of explaining its causes but a good job explaining why it is bad. Mr. Beckerman certainly convinced me. His points: (1) People avoid holding money. Many buy hard assets like gold, silver, foreign currencies, and artworks. That money is totally nonproductive. Others buy stocks, which is not as bad, but when people do this they spend a lot more time juggling their accounts and investments, because they have to buy and sell stocks all the time to pay the bills. They also experience a lot more anxiety, especially if stock prices are volatile. (2) High inflation tends to be unpredictable. The higher the average value, the higher is the variability. That leads to difficulty in planning, which leads to avoidance of long-term loans, which makes financing big projects very difficult. Big projects are therefore postponed or abandoned, which shrinks economic activity. (3) High inflation affects different goods and services differently, distorting relative prices and leading to the misallocation of resources. So lenders and borrowers cannot escape uncertainty by agreeing to "real value" inflation-adjusted repayment terms, because if the borrowing business doesn't have enough pricing power it won't be able to repay the loan. (4) High inflation increases conflict and reduces trust, damaging social cohesion. Loans tend to end up being unfair in one direction or the other, causing resentment in the loser. Different interest groups (business, labor) also try to protect themselves by lobbying government for special treatment, which when granted always hurts the other parties. Sorry for the long post! GL - Thanks, I'll look forward to that post! I hope you will clarify whether everything is reflected in that balance sheet, including currency. If so, that seems kind of scary. Reverse Engineer's Deflation all the way is nonsense. If Americans won't have the cash to buy things which are dirt cheap in the stores you think the Chinese will not either? Neil:"In response to RE, during the Great Depression the U.S. dollar was a gold backed currency.": Uhh, no it wasn't, after 1933, when FDR took the US off the gold standard. It's the end of 2012, and it isn't happening. I don't doubt the fact that hyperinflation is likely, but it seems like the status quo can be maintained for a long time. Kicking the can down the road seems to be the policy of the government for now..
From Our Magazines More On The Website Our History Magazines Subscriber Services HistoryNetShop.com It was bitter cold with a foot of snow on the ground and no moonlight the night of January 24, 1945, as the green GIs of the 42nd 'Rainbow Division's 222nd Infantry Regiment strained to see the enemy. But a low ground fog covering the firebreak between their positions in the Ohlungen Forest and the Haguenau Forest before them made this an almost useless exercise. More chillingly, they could hear sounds from the woods beyond, sounds of tramping feet and loud talking. Water turned to ice in the bottoms of their foxholes. Anxiety built as they waited for the unseen enemy to come swarming out of the woods. By January 1945, Adolf Hitler's Ardennes offensive was faltering, and in a last-ditch effort to break through Allied lines, the Führer scraped together what forces he could to launch an offensive into Alsace. Earlier German attacks in the area had created two small salients above and below Strasbourg and had forced the U.S. Seventh Army back on an arm that pivoted on Bischwiller, not far from the Rhine River, and extended northwest along the Moder River. German plans called for a pincer movement to be launched from each of these two salients. It was hoped that this attack would either cut off Haguenau northeast of the Moder, or so seriously threaten it that the Americans in the city would withdraw back to open country, where the panzers could make quick work of them. In order to cut off Haguenau, however, the Germans would have to destroy American positions in the Ohlungen Forest. Poised to strike the 222nd were elements of the 25th Panzergrenadier, 47th Volksgrenadier and 7th Fallschirmjäger divisions. The 42nd Division had arrived in France only a week before and was just becoming acclimated to combat conditions. Some of the 222nd's companies had fought in a few small engagements, but the bulk of the regiment's men were untried. After withdrawing behind the Moder on January 21, the regiment's commander, Colonel Henry L. Luongo, had spread his men along five defensive positions. From west to east, these were: a series of low hills on the left of the line, the town of Neubourg, the Mill d'Uhrbruck, the edge of the Ohlungen Forest where it formed an arc opposite the Moder's entry point into the Haguenau Forest, and finally, the town of Schweighausen on the right flank of the regimental front. By the evening of the 24th Luongo's men were as ready as they could be. The Germans made no secret of their preparations as they hollered to each other in tones that to the scared GIs sounded half drunk. This particular portion of the forest stretched in an arc overlooking a suspected German bridging site. The left-flank squad of Company F prepared to give covering fire to its left supporting the 1st Platoon of Company E, which was dug in around the base of the arc. At 1800, German artillery fire hit Schweighausen, then Neubourg. It eventually spread to the entire length of the regiment's line. At Neubourg and on Company K's front, the Germans threw not only artillery shells but also Nebelwerfer rockets that cut low, flaming trails through the fog. This fire continued relentlessly for an hour and a half, then slackened. Veterans later recalled that the night was filled with periods, often 20 minutes long, of intense artillery barrages. Despite the darkness, the German artillery fire, which had been preregistered on important points along the line, was very effective. Major Donald J. Downard, the 2nd Battalion's commander, moved his command post (CP) to a cellar at 1930, and at 2146 Major Walter J. Fellenz reported to Luongo that his 1st Battalion CP had taken a direct hit. Against this barrage, the 222nd's supporting artillery was unable to respond because darkness and woods prevented observation. During the first hour of the barrage almost all the regiment's phone lines were knocked out and their radios proved to be ineffective in the woods. At about 2015, the men of Company E heard the Germans advancing toward the firebreak, shouting as they ran. Sergeant Arthur Innes' heavy machine gun on the western end of the arc of woods, and that of Sergeant John Murch on the eastern end, fired at the Germans as they came out of the forest. Sergeant John O'Laughlin poured mortar shells on them, and Sergeant Charles Hunt, with a light machine gun, shot down the few who got as far as the firebreak. Company E's commander, Lieutenant George A. Carroll, quickly moved his supporting platoon up a previously reconnoitered trail to positions below the arc. The reinforcements' firepower, combined with that of the platoon already in position, was overwhelming. A half hour of this punishment was enough for the Germans, and they pulled back to the safety of the Haguenau Forest. The men of Company E, however, had little time to catch their breath. At 2045 Panzergrenadiers struck with force at the Mill d'Uhrbruck. Swarming past the mill and into the woods, they began to advance up a knoll to the southeast, where Company E had its mortar and machine-gun strongpoint. Although the Company E men killed dozens of Germans, they were quickly overwhelmed. Lieutenant Richard B. Break gathered men from the right, where the pressure had eased up, and led them in a counterattack to save the men at the strongpoint. Break's force was thrown back three times. By this time the Germans had taken control of the mill and the knolls behind it and were pouring into the woods beyond. Company K's right flank was hit even harder. Lieutenant John Berg, leader of the 2nd Platoon on the company's right, went back through the mounting artillery barrage to report to the company CP. He was never heard from again. Sergeant Chambers, now in charge of the platoon, redistributed what ammunition remained. He was left with only 22 men to defend this important sector. Lieutenant Wilson C. Harper sent over three men from his 3rd Platoon to help Chambers. At the height of the artillery barrage, the desperate sergeant phoned for additional reinforcements and ammunition, saying they could not hold out much longer. Soon after he called, the line went dead. A full company of Germans who came in under cover of an artillery and mortar barrage attacked the GIs in foxholes near the mill. When the artillery started to lift, the 2nd Platoon was struck first on the flanks and then in the center. The Germans overran several foxholes and the two light machine guns on the right. Noting their silence, Chambers sent a runner back to the company CP with a call for help and then pulled his men back from the woods' edge to the road. There they tried to form a skirmish line but were unsuccessful. Chambers decided to fall back to the CP, get reinforcements and then counterattack. The few remaining GIs crawled westward in the road ditch. When heavy fire came from their front, they tried to move back eastward but ran into additional fire. They then made a torturous and painfully slow withdrawal through the woods to the southwest, through ever-increasing numbers of Germans. Eventually they made it out of the woods to Uhlweller and then back to the company CP at Neubourg. They left behind 11 men who were either killed or taken prisoner. Although Chambers' decision to withdraw had left a gap in the line, he had little choice, with only 10 men and almost no ammunition, no mortar or machine-gun support and no communications with his company CP or other friendly units. As Chambers and the 2nd Platoon pulled back, they were unaware that Company K was trying to assist them. Harper knew that the three men he had sent over earlier were inadequate, and soon after the attack started he took six more and headed off in the direction of the 2nd Platoon. The six reinforcements, however, could not find the 2nd Platoon, so they returned to their CP. After the phone lines went out, Lieutenant Carlyle Woelfer, commander of Company K, went to find out for himself what was happening on his right flank and, if possible, to regain contact with Company E. With Staff Sgt. Daniel A. Towse and Pfc Edmund C. Sheppard, he set out from the CP in a jeep pulling a trailer loaded with ammunition. Shortly after starting, the jeep broke down and their radio set went dead, so the men proceeded on foot. When they reached the 1st Platoon, they found an intense firefight in progress between GIs and Volksgrenadiers who were threatening to advance from a grove in the middle of the firebreak. Mortar fire from the sand pit and Company M machine-gun fire prevented their advance. During the heaviest artillery barrage, Lieutenant Otto Yanke, commanding Company M's heavy machine-gun platoon, had gone out into the firebreak to repair and move the phone wires that ran between the two guns covering the grove. Yanke kept control of his platoon throughout the fight with the Germans. He was constantly on the move from one gun to the other giving orders and calming nerves. He kept the easternmost gun in position throughout the night, even when the riflemen to its right had withdrawn. He pulled his third gun from the edge of the woods and placed it where it could fire down the road to the east should the Germans try to move on Neubourg from that direction. Meanwhile, Woelfer sent a runner back to the battalion CP with the report that Neubourg and Company K's left were still intact. The lieutenant was fortunate enough to find an M8 Greyhound armored car of the 813th Tank Destroyer Battalion on the outskirts of Neubourg. He commandeered it and, along with Towse and Sheppard, started down the road eastward. As they came into the area the 2nd Platoon had abandoned, they ran into a volley of small-arms fire, and replied with machine-gun fire. Then Woelfer called out in German, promising to cease firing. One German, reportedly a company commander, stepped forward and surrendered. He had with him maps that revealed details of the German plan. When they had gone another 300 yards down the road, they saw a German machine-gun squad crawling up a furrow toward the left side of the road, trying to get into position to fire. Woelfer and Towse shot four. Two others came forward with their hands up. Moving 200 yards farther down the road they came under fire from another machine-gun nest on the right side of the road. The two prisoners on the M8 began to wave their arms as if signaling to their comrades. Woelfer called out to the Germans in the woods to come out and surrender but received no reply. Then he threw a grenade in front of the machine-gun nest, but its occupants still said nothing, nor did they fire, so Woelfer and Sheppard went in after them, Sheppard going to the left, Woelfer to the right. As Woelfer came up on a little rise behind the gun, lifting his submachine gun to fire, he saw Sheppard suddenly appear in front of the German gun, saw him raise his rifle, heard the report as the Germans fired and saw Sheppard fall–killed instantly. Woelfer then set upon the Germans with his submachine gun, killing the three-man crew. By now the M8 was out of ammunition and one of its tires was flat. Woelfer and his little group found that the woods where the 2nd Platoon had been were now full of Germans and that there was no hope of getting through to Company E. But from the sound of firing, they knew that fighting was still going on somewhere to the east. Just before midnight, they headed back toward Neubourg to organize a detachment to reinforce the flank they had found so badly battered. Shortly after their penetration at the Mill d'Uhrbruck, the Germans struck again, this time on the right flank of Company E. Although the tiny American force was able to kill many of them, the company had already shifted much of its strength to meet the counterattack on its left, which weakened the squad holding the company's right flank. The Germans took advantage of this weakness, broke through the firebreak and entered the woods beyond. Staff Sergeant Arthur Jones, manning the heavy machine gun on the left end of the arc of woods, used up five boxes of ammunition before his gun jammed. As he was attempting to clear it, several Germans attacked his dugout, forcing him and his men to retreat. They eventually were able to fight their way back toward Schweighausen. Sergeant John Munch and his crew on the right end of the arc fired 18 boxes of ammunition before they, too, had to withdraw. Soon afterward, Lieutenant Merrill, commanding the 2nd Platoon, Company F, withdrew those men he could to the outskirts of Schweighausen to regroup for a counterattack on the Ohlungen Forest, which was now full of Germans. The six men of Merrill's left flank squad were overrun and never heard from again. The middle of the 222nd's line had been broken. Company E was entirely cut off. Company K's right and F's left were badly beaten up, and communications were out. Of the 55 men who had made up the three platoons in the area of the attack only hours before, three had been killed, 25 were missing (either captured or dead) and six were wounded. Sergeant Decaline of Company E, whose arm had been torn by shrapnel, was sent back to Ohlungen. At about 0230, as the men despaired of ever receiving help, Lieutenant George Carroll decided that holding Company E's present position was hopeless. The Germans seemed to have forgotten about them as they moved on farther into the woods, and Carroll took advantage of this lull to lead his men, about half the original company, back through the woods to the south. In two groups they made their way back to Ohlungen, fighting off Germans as they went. Company E had no further role in the battle. For the rest of the night, the 222nd fought to contain the breakthrough. The right of the line, at Schweighausen, continued to hold. The strongest pressure on the town came from the west as German paratroopers moved up through the Haguenau Forest and came down through the wedge that had been driven between Companies E and F. After the 2nd Platoon had been pulled back, Captain Al Truscott of Company H sent 2nd Lt. Klare Moyer, with a heavy weapons platoon, into the neck of the woods to re-establish the line. Twice they pushed 100 yards into the woods, but both times were forced to withdraw. Then Lieutenant Merrill, having reorganized his platoon and gathered all the extra men that Company F could spare, set out to clear part of the neck of woods north of the Neubourg-Schweighausen road. There they ran into heavy fire. Two men were killed, one missing and several wounded. When German artillery zeroed in on them, they withdrew back to the town. It was quiet until daylight, the Germans having been slowed down not only by Lieutenants Moyer's and Merrill's counterattacks, but also by Company G striking from the south. Sergeant Decaline, sent back earlier to the battalion aid station, had gone first to the battalion CP and reported the news of Company E's plight. Major Downard, seeing how excited Decaline was and the seriousness of his wounds, discounted his report but decided to send Company G, in reserve, to close the gap and re-establish the line. He ordered Captain Jere F. Palmes, Company G commander, to take his men up through the forest, follow the creek that cut across its southeastern corner, cross the creek and attack the Germans to the north. If Company G had followed this route it might have contacted Company E and helped to check the flow of Germans across the firebreak. But the breakthrough was already too well established, and by the time Company G was on its way many of the Germans who had broken through were already chasing the retreating platoon from Company F eastward toward Schweighausen. Evidently they meant to attack Schweighausen immediately, without waiting for their right flank to be secured by the capture of Uhlweller and the high ground outside Ohlungen. But Company G failed to follow its assigned route, and instead of coming upon that part of the German penetration, which they had been ordered to attack, they encountered one equally if not more threatening. Although they failed to accomplish their original mission, they did a great deal to stem the German advance on Schweighausen. Soon after 2000, Company G was moving through the woods with its 3rd Platoon on the left, 1st on the right and four scouts leading each platoon. They came to a clearing 150 yards across. As the first scouts reached the edge of the woods on the other side, they touched off a tremendous German volley. Two of the scouts were instantly killed, and the advance platoons were pinned down by four machine guns and a company of riflemen. Mortar fire now zeroed in on them as they lay exposed in the snow in the clearing. Captain Palmes ordered an attack. As Tech. Sgt. Sigman Poskus stood up to lead the 3rd Platoon forward, a mortar shell killed him. Nevertheless, his men moved up. To their right, Tech. Sgt. Mike Walters led his 1st Platoon. They crawled into firing positions and poured flanking fire into the Germans. By moving forward, both platoons helped pull the company out of a hopeless position. After five hours, Palmes ordered a withdrawal to Ohlungen. They brought back with them four dead and 19 wounded. After the battle 67 German dead were found in the area of the engagement. Meanwhile, at Neubourg, a small group of GIs fought to stop the German assault there. Shortly before midnight, when Woelfer came back from his raid, he met a group of 25 men from the 1st Platoon, Company L. Captain Harold Bugno, the 3rd Battalion's executive officer, led the platoon. Bugno commandeered an armored car and started down the road toward the Mill d'Uhrbruck. The captain led the men on the left side of the car while the platoon sergeant, Staff Sgt. Othal J. Fletcher, led the men on the right. Their mission was to re-establish Company K's right flank and, if possible, get through to Company E. They proceeded to Sergeant Roger A. Peck's machine-gun position along the Schweighausen-Neubourg road on the left of Company K, where they were told Germans were ahead. Fanning out from either side of the armored car, the patrol moved on but had only gone a little way when they were fired upon. They had stumbled on a platoon of Germans advancing on Neubourg. After an hour and a half of fighting, 16 Germans came out yelling Kamarad! The rest either had been killed or wounded or had retreated. The prisoners were sent to the rear and the platoon moved on toward a machine gun Sergeant Fletcher could hear firing in the distance–probably in Company E's area. They had gone about 300 yards when they saw a group of Germans dressed in white ahead of them in the woods. For 45 minutes the German force, about 30 men, tried to break through Bugno's American skirmish line. Private Herman J. Bergeth saw Privates Franklin Van Nest and Joe A. McGraw and one other GI engaged in hand-to-hand combat in a ditch with several Germans. According to Bergeth, Van Nest, a big man, was wielding a knife as large as a Roman short sword. They seemed to have won their struggle when a couple of German grenades were tossed into the ditch, wounding both men. Germans firing submachine guns came in on the left, threatening to outflank the Americans. Private Robert Owen killed four before Bugno withdrew his men to the site of their earlier fight, where they would be supported by Peck's machine gun. There they managed to stop the German advance. Although wounded, Van Nest and McGraw refused to retreat and continued to kill the few Germans who tried to advance. When word came from battalion of a possible tank attack from the direction of the Mill d'Uhrbruck, Bugno sent back for bazookas. No tanks came, but German voices were heard. Then, German artillery fire began falling on them. Realizing that they had been zeroed in, Bugno ordered his men to retire. As they stood up to retreat, artillery rounds killed Bugno, McGraw and Van Nest. The rest fell back, several of them wounded by shrapnel. They could hold out no longer, but they had done their job. They had blunted the German effort toward Neubourg. Company I, meanwhile, had its own troubles stopping attempts by the 104th Volksgrenadiers to flank Neubourg from the west. Groups of German infantry tried throughout the night to knock out the machine guns of the 1st Platoon, Company M, and to crack the line of foxholes that guarded the open ground beyond the town. At the time of the main attack on the Ohlungen Forest, after the artillery barrage, the Volksgrenadiers opened fire with machine guns from the river, and then, bellowing at each other, started to attack. One of the M8s on the western outskirts of Neubourg added its fire to that of the Company M machine guns and mortars, and after a prolonged hammering broke up the assault. But even while the Volksgrenadiers were attempting to flank Neubourg from the west and Panzergrenadiers were trying to break through Captain Bugno's men and flank the town from the east, other Germans drove south through the forest toward Uhlweller. Here, as on the other end of the line, the German plan misfired. If the Volksgrenadiers were less than aggressive in their assault, the paratroopers and Panzergrenadiers were foolhardy. The paratroopers attacked Schweighausen before securing their right by taking the high ground near Ohlungen, and as a consequence were held up by Company G. The Panzergrenadiers advanced toward Uhlweller. They were stopped by a company from the 1st Battalion, which, like Company G, failed in its assigned mission but instead accomplished something of greater value. The reserve 1st Battalion had been alerted at 2050 and prepared to send elements out from Ohlungen to check German attempts to break out of the forest to the south. At midnight, Major Walter Fellenz received orders to send a company to sweep the woods up to the Mill d'Uhrbruck and to plug the gap there. Unsure of exactly what was happening, he believed that the western end of the forest could be cleared and that Company K's sector could be restored–which he ordered Company B to do. Company B moved out of Ohlungen shortly after midnight on the road toward Uhlweller, but turned off to the right just before reaching the town, taking the road leading up through the woods to the Mill d'Uhrbruck. It moved through the woods, with an advance platoon led by scouts on either side of the road. The scouts came to the edge of the woods and moved in slowly. Suddenly, there was a burst of machine-gun fire, followed by a volley of small-arms fire that grew in intensity as a second machine gun joined the first, pinning down Company B. Because the machine guns were able to fire up the rising fields on either side of the company, the GIs were unable to move into flanking positions. After nearly an hour of exchanging fire, Company B advanced. Second Lieutenant George A. Jackson took five men from his 2nd Platoon and, under covering fire, moved up into the woods to the west of the road. They found the German machine guns positioned close together on the opposite side of the road. Jackson and his men ran across the road, moved up behind the two machine guns and opened fire from a distance of about 25 yards. Then they charged. A bullet nicked the top of Jackson's head but he kept going until he was on top of the machine-gun nest. Staff Sergeant Darwin C. Freeman ran forward firing his rifle until it jammed. Then he clubbed one German with the rifle butt. All seven Germans manning the machine guns were killed. The company was now free to fan out and move into the woods. They had lost eight men killed and 15 wounded during the attack. Later they counted 50 dead Germans in the woods. The 222nd Infantry had effectively stopped the German breakthrough, established a line along the German bulge and, in spite of rumors that Neubourg had fallen, retained control of the important crossroads town. At 1030 on January 25, reinforcements arrived and began to push forward beyond the line that Captain Bugno and the Company L platoon had defended, and which Company K now held with Company B on its right, while Major Fellenz's 1st Battalion held the southern edge of the forest. Shortly after daybreak Fellenz sent part of Company A up to dig in on Company B's right. The line then extended south along the edge of the woods, where Company G had dug in after its fight on the previous night. The rest of the 1st Battalion was deployed with Company D and the balance of Company A defending Ohlungen, while Company C defended the nearby high ground. Although the Germans had forced their way down to the southwest corner of Schweighausen, Companies F and H still held the town. Early in the morning the commander of the 314th Infantry, which had been ordered to come to the support of the 222nd, arrived at the regiment's headquarters in Keffendorf. He planned to send two companies of his 3rd Battalion, supported by three tanks, along the same route that Company B had taken the night before. These two companies would sweep up from the southwest corner of the forest to re-establish the line around the Mill d'Uhrbruck. He also planned to send elements of his 1st Battalion down the road from Ohlungen to Schweighausen, pass along the western outskirts of the town, move through Company F and re-establish the line's right flank. Meanwhile, the 68th Armored Infantry Battalion, 14th Armored Division, which had arrived at Ohlungen shortly after daybreak, was to attack the southeast corner of the forest and drive up to the center of the original line. It was hoped that this three-pronged attack would restore the 222nd's positions and halt any further German attempts to outflank Haguenau. Companies I and K, of the 314th, moved directly to Neubourg, then out to the line Bugno had held, and formed up for an attack. This line bent south from a draw situated halfway between Neubourg and the Mill d'Uhrbruck that cut from the firebreak south into the woods, almost to the road. There, on the east side of a little bridge over the draw, were placed the two Company M machine guns that had been employed throughout the night farther to the east. The guns formed part of a thin defensive line that included a platoon of riflemen drawn from the 3rd Platoon, Company K, and the remains of Captain Bugno's battered Company L platoon. The veterans of the previous night's action greeted the newcomers with silent gratitude. Company I, off to the north side of the road, and Company K, to the south of the road, looked on as the men of the 314th shoved off into the woods toward the Mill d'Uhrbruck. About 200 yards from the mill they encountered heavy German fire. After fighting for about an hour and a half the 314th withdrew to a line that ran south from a point midway between the draw and the mill. While not linking up with the 1st Battalion, they hit the Germans near the mill so hard that they prevented them from launching their own attack. The two companies dug in and established new positions around noon, tying in with the 222nd's Company B. The two Company M machine guns and the 3rd Platoon, Company K, which had been forced to pull back when Bugno withdrew, were now able to return to their original positions. The unit's history summed up the action: We took a mauling, but held our ground. We had proved that the Americans could fight with a cold passion and a fury even without that unlimited supply of material which so many believe is responsible for American success in battle. This article was written by Allyn Vannoy and originally appeared in the February 2001 issue of World War II magazine. For more great articles subscribe to World War II magazine today! [...] Operation Norwind For those of you that do not know. The Battle of the Bulge 9The Watch on the Rhine) weas but one of two attacks that Hitler planned. The other Operation norwind took place in early January. They attecked south to Alcase and Strasborg. At first there was some success. But it too faltered. Check out the URL below. HistoryNet ? Operation Nordwind: U.S. Army's 42nd Infantry Division Stood its Ground During Wo… [...] I hit pay dirt! I always heard that my uncle PFc Walter Neef was wounded at the bulge but could never place the 42nd div there. I am grateful and he is still alive! My father was in the 42nd Infantry, what is the Indianhead symbol?? Ms. Weimar: You may have garbled information. The Indianhead patch (It has an Indian head with warbonnet in profile, on a white star, on a black shield)belongs to the US 2nd Infantry Division, which had the 9th, 23rd & 38th Infantry Regiments. It is a regular army unit and exists today, located in Korea. This is great. My father served in the 42nd division during WWII and to the best of my knowledge was part of Task Force Linden. While I have no idea which regiment/company/platoon he was in, having this level of detail available for some of the battles helps me relive his experiences. Thanks I served in Compamy "B" 222nd Infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division in WWII. Some of the information in this account is not quite right. "B" 222nd Inf. moved from Ohlungen to Uhlwiller just after 0100 Hours we moved towards the forest in two columns. Upon reaching the forest we were to form a skirmish line and move thru the Ohlungen Forest. I was the forth man in the right hand column. When the first man was about 25 yards from the trees I had a feeling that things were not right so I hit the ground. In just seconds the night looked like the Fourth of July as three German machine guns opened up. One firing into the field to the right of the roadway. A second firing into the field to the left of the roadway. The third was spraying both sides of the roadway. Had I not been on the ground I might not be writing this. The others had not hit the ground and were either wounded (15) or killed (8) that morning. Much of our story was never told because our Company Commander Capt. William Mueller quarantined every one so his error in forming the skirmish line at the forest line instead of our move out of Uhlwiller. The 222nd Infantry received the "Presidential Unit Citation" for this action. I was awarded the Bronze Star for my part in this operation. The remaining information is factual, Lou Kramer, "B" 222nd Inf. 42nd Rainbow Division. hello Louis nice to talk to you. I was in the 222nd Co K 3rd bat 42nd Rainbow div, I never heard about the Presidential Unit Citation until I read from you, is this something I must apply for.were you at the occupation of Austria in 1945? I also served with the 262nd with the 66th panther div. I served under Gen Collins, Gen Kramer under Patton I was in from 43 to 46. France, Germany, Belgium, Austria. please get back to me, thank you stay well. tootie Lt. Debenedetto, The Presidential Unit Citation was awarded posthumously 10 Jan 2001. If you cannot find a copy of the award or other documents pertaining to the citation, simply provide me with an email address and I will forward copies of those documents to you. Hello my grandfather was in the 42nd Rainbow Div. and I was wondering if any of you guys know of how to get any information on him? His name was Roy Prado the only info I could find on him was his discharge papers, which doesn't tell me much. They said most of the service records for WWII vets was burned in a fire back in the 70's. If any of you guys know of any information on him or where I can obtain such information it would be much appreciated. He passed away back in 2010 and when I would ask him about some of his war stories he would mention certain things about Hagenau forest. I still have his Rainbow shoulder patch along with other memorabilia he acquired throughout his service. Thanks for your service guys! I read Mr. Kramers comments and I wonder If you could recall what artillery battalion supported "b" co. My dad was a forward observer for the 392nd "B " battery. He was attached to the 222nd, but he can't recall which companys they followed. I would be grateful for any information you might have. Thank you. Craig, Officially the 222nd Infantry Regiment was assigned to the Seventh Army, VI Army Group, VI Corps, 42nd "Rainbow" Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion as of 24 Dec 1944. This assignment is what we now know as "Task Force Linden." That appears to have been the case until it changed to the XXI Corps effective 25 Mar 1945. I found a "Detachment" effective from 2 Apr 1945 to 8 Apr 1945 wherein they were attached to the 12th US Armored Division "The Hellcats." The next record I have shows a change to the XV Corps, effective from 19 Apr 1945 to 21 Apr 1945. Task Force Linden was dissolved, effective 6 Feb 1945. Hopefully this information can help narrow down your efforts to identify the particular Artillery Battalion. David, Thanks for the info. Dad was in the 392nd FA btn. B batt. He carried the radio and called in fire commands while following a Captain in the 222nd. Unfortunately he can't remember the captain's name or what company/regiment he was in. That's why I was wondering if anyone knew which artillery battalions/ batteries supported which infantry regiment/ companies during this particular time. If I was able to drop some names maybe it would jog his memory. I'm trying to get as much information as I can written down so this history isn't lost. Thanks, Craig Hello, My family lives in the mill Neubourg since the early 1900s. During the war a soldier named Raleigh Rollins of the 42nd Rainbow Division 3nd Battalion 222nd regiment? /? came to my grandmother from the rubble of the mill for the shield. Does anyone know the place and have pictures during the war? My father and I restore a Dodge WC52. Does the 3nd batalion there were dodges WC52? Do you have any details on the fighting that took place on the front of moder? Sincerely Cédric Cedric, you can go to the website of the 42nd Rainbow Division or simply search "Task Force Linden" and obtain some detailed accounts of the fighting that took place on 24 Jan 1945 through 25 Jan 1945. You will find some very detailed accounts by looking at "Operation Nordwind: U.S. Army's 42nd Infantry Division Stood its Ground During World War II" as well. The article was originally published by World War II magazine. Published Online 31 Aug 2006. The 222nd Infantry Regiment established a front that ran from Neubourg to the town of Schweighausen. Maybe that will help? My Father, Gordon I Shold(deceased 1983)was a "pioneer" for the 22nd inf, first in Co E, and then 3rd btl, hq co. "Pioneers" were a PC way of saying you will be no man's land, between the lines, advancing to clerar land mines/boobytraps or setting land mines on a withdrawl. He was awarded the bronze star for setting a road block(land mines)under fire the night of Jan 24, 1945 near Neuborg. He was at the liberation of Dachau and was later wounded near Garmish at the end of the war looking for SS in the mountains. I have a number of pictures of his service and a pass personally signed by Harold Bugno, mentioned in this article, when they were in Oklahoma for training before shipping out. Would like to contact anyone whose father/grandfather/uncle/etc may have served with my Dad then. Thanks, Dick Shold Madison, Wi Richard, My Uncle was in 'F' Company, 222nd Infantry Regiment. He was KIA on 25 Jan 1945 but I'd definitely like to contact you or any of the men who served during the battle of Alsace. I set up an email address exclusively for this purpose at [email protected]. Thanks. My uncle is the Harold Bugno that you're referring to. I don't know a lot about him other than what I have researched but would love to contact you and possibly get a copy of the signed pass. My e-mail is [email protected] thought it would be printed in my post above, but was not. This is for Cedric Schalck. Sadly, Raleigh Rollins died 2 weeks ago at the age of 87. He was in touch with your family, having brought his family to your mill and home 2 times in the past 25 years. I believe your family has his address in Georgia, or leave your email address here and we will gladly respond. Please give your family our regards. Sadly Raleigh Rollins died 2 weeks ago at the age of 87. His family visited your family home and the mill where that ferocious battle was fought , 2 times in 25 years. If you have any other questions please leave your email address, or write to his address . or leave your address. How is Claudine? We hope your family is well Thanks for the article. My dad was in Company B of the 222nd. He was awarded the bronze star for taking over and maning a machine gun position. He has never ever talked about that battle or for that matter any of the other battles he took part in. He is now 87 years of age and in ill health. This is for k.r.luckey My Email adress is [email protected] My father, Anthony Nicosia, also fought in the 222nd Inf., although I don't recall what Company he was assigned. He passed a number of years ago, however if anyone recalls having served with him or had a family member who did I would enjoy hearing from you. Also my Mom turns 80 years young this year, and if anyone can assist me in how I can obtain a copy of the Presidential Unit Citation I would like to give it to her for her birthday. TO LOU KRAMER This may make an interesting book — can you call me 703 845-2383 or e-mail [email protected] My father, James Wade Vines (Jay) was in the 42nd division. He rarely spoke of his service but I remember when I was about 10 a war buddy of his came for a visit. Dad told me that the reason that the man's face was scarred was that he was wounded in a battle while crossing a large clearing in the woods. After the battle was over the were checking for wounded comrades and they noticed that this man was alive and they got him back to an aid station. Later he would enter into Dachau, but he didn't want to talk about that much. My Grandmother told us of that when we asked later. Dad passed away in 2007 at age 90. If anyone has any more articles on the 42nd and it's battles I would appreciate a pointer in that direction. Thanks, [email protected] My father, Thomas Skaggs Jr., was a machine gunner in Company E. He and two others were captured in the wee hours of the 25th having exhausted all machine gun rounds and down to last shot in the 45s. They had held off all night without ever getting order to retreat. He was liberated from Stalag IXB 2-27-45. Dad died in 1987 after a great later life. Hi Steven, My father Charles R. Venneman, from Chillicothe, Missouri was very good friends with a Thomas Skaggs. They were both in the 14th Armored Division, but were separated. Dad was injured on January 13th and shipped to a hospital in England. My Dad has had me do a search for his friend, and I just came across this letter while doing research for my daughter on World War II. Is it possible that your father was my Dad's friend. I just read to him what you wrote and it saddened him. I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks very much, Tamera I'm sorry – I meant to say Thomas Skaggs, Jr was liberated from Stalag 9B on April 2nd, not in February. I'd love to hear from anyone who knows how to discover battalion or platoon he was with. He was a heavy machine gunner. S.Skaggs(at)louisville.edu Thanks! My father, Quentin Naumann, served in the 222nd Company H in the mortar platoon. He led the platoon, and at some point was briefly the Company commander and at times the Company Executive Officer, but maybe that was during the occupation. He passed away in June 2008. He did not speak much about the war, or of Dachau, until recent years when we pressed, and even then not about the grit, blood, fear, horrors, pains. If anybody knew him or if your father served with him, I would like to hear from you. Thanks. my uncle sgt leslie parker mccormick was killed 1-12-1945 in alsace france. I never got to meet him but always wondered how he died. any info would be appreciated. I had a great uncle in the 222nd infantry 42 division his name was claro cadena and was killed in action 1-24-45. No one in the family knows if this article was the actual fight he was in. I say this is it. thanks post note: Claro Cadena I dont know his company…would like any survivors who may have known him get in contact with me at [email protected] thank you I've created a 42nd Rainbow ID Facebook page honoring my Grandfather, and those he served with. Please join us: My Grandfather was Company G, Commander, Jere Palmes who was KIA shortly after this action. This is a awesome account of the 222nd's battle history and my Grandfather's unit. Ironically or due to genetics, I ended up getting comissioned as a infantry officer (USA) and spent my duty in Germany / Bosnia / Kosovo. Thanks for the info. Sui Sponte Dear Lance my father John Klisz served with your grand father during this battle. He always spoke of your grand father as the best soldier he ever new. He was so impressed with your grandpa and his bravery that he named his second son,my brother Gerald after your grandfather .I would lone to hear from you someday.Tom Klisz Lance, my grandfather, Gene Norman, also served in Company G and fought in this action, apparently under the command of your grandfather. Thanks for sharing. Always on the look out for information from other brothers in arms. My father "Wimpy" Tom Padilla also served with the 222nd. He passed away in 1992 To P Naumann, My father Charles "rocky" Lorrekovich also served in the 222nd Company H in a heavy weapon platoon. He was a Tech. SGT. Don't know if they knew each other. Do you? Trent Just discovered your reply. And I just spoke with David Walker who was part of the same Company H, and the same platoon as my father, Quentin Naumann. David said theirs was the 3 Mortar platoon if I understood correctly. I suppose records exist somewhere with which we could figure out if "Rocky" served alongside Quentin Naumann, David Walker, and I should add, Morris Eisenstein. My father, Stefan "Steve" Munsing, was with Companies A and C of the 222nd according to the records I've seen. He carried a machine gun. He was wounded in Alsace, so I'm not sure if he was on this action–he was in on the liberation of Dachau, and what he would only describe as some "really rough"fighting against SS units in the mountains approaching Austria. After the war he was in the Occupation forces and then moved on to other government work. He passed on in 1995–I'd be interested if anyone has any records that place what companies he was in. Anyone can write me at : [email protected] Like many of you, my dad wouldn't talk much about the war. He liked Clark. He did say of officers in general that most cared only about their own record and didn't care too much about who got killed along the way, so he probably witnessed some of the wrong moves if not at the Hagenau then in the Voges. All the best. My great Uncle, Antonio "Tony" Weber served with the 42nd during their entire European campaign. He earned 3 Bronze Stars during his deplyment. He didn't talk about his war experience. Uncle Tony passed away in his hometown of nevada, MO, last week at the age of 91. He was a great, great man. I'd like to know more about him if anybody out there might remember him. The 42nd, apparently was a true representation of the great generation. KK My grandfather Carley C. White served with the 42nd in WWII. He never talked about it, I am interested in more information on what all he experienced. My great uncle Forest Reynolds was a rifleman in Co. K 222nd Infantry Reg. Any info anyone had about him would be very much appreciated. He died in 1995 in Alabama, where he was from. We have the regimental book and the division book somewhere, my Dad recently moved so there is till a lot of stuff in boxes. My dad Eldon A. Sumrall served in Company K, 222nd. [email protected] My father, Eldon A. Sumrall, was in Co. K 222nd, has it on his license plate. Still going strong. I am looking for any information about my Uncle. I'm hoping maybe your father can help me. His name was Edward M. Kennedy, he was a second Lieutenant in the 42nd Infantry. 222d company K When he cam back from Germany he told my mom, his little sister about the liberation of the concentration camp.. To my knowledge it was the only time he spoke of it…my mother remembers few very gruesome details. My Uncle died a few years back and took his memories of Germany with him. Neither my mother or his own children ever heard about what happened in Germany outside of a small article regarding his receiving the Silver Star. Last week I was visiting my Mom and she handed me a box of jewelry. It was jewelry that my uncle Ed had collected in Germany and he gave it all to her. She in turn passed it on to me and asked me to find out anything I could about it.. Outside of his actions in Furth, Germany I know little else about my Uncle. I would like to find out anything else that I can about him if possible. I appreciate any information you can give me. Teresa Slack My father Ted Baker, now 86 years old, fought in Alsace with the Linden Task Force. I'm currently typing and posting on a blog his writings about his WWII army days. I bumped into your site while verifying some spellings of places around Haguenau. The blog may be of historical interest to some of your readers. Here's the address: @ Jean Baker, Thank you for the link to your Dad's blog. I thoroughly enjoyed it and bookmarked it for future visits. Please pass on my thanks to him for sharing his memories in such a pleasant recollection and for his service! nam named after one of his buddys. If anybody knows of him or some other war details of co. F it would be great to hear some of the stories they might have been told.My dad passed away in 2002,but he is still my hero. @ Herman Roberson, my Uncle, Lenard Hughes, was in 'F' Company too. Unfortunately he died 25 Jan 1945. You can contact me directly at [email protected]. My dad is Glenn H. Willis from Magnolia, Arkansas. He was there in Hagenau, Germany on January 24, 1945. He is still living at 89 years old. If anyone knows him or a man named Pt. Vermillion please let me know. looking for anyone who served with Lavern Weiser from the 42nd rainbow division 222. I was in the 222 reg 42nd Rainbow div at the battle of the bulge in 1945 under Gen. Collins, I would like to get this award before I pass I am 86 years old, if you need more info you can contact me any time. I also served under Gen Kramer with the 262 reg 66th div and Gen. Patton with the Red Ball Express I was a T5 with a field commission to 1st Lt Purple Heart and a the bronze Star and occupation Vienna Austria and others thanking you in advance help me get my award of the presidential unit citation I was in the 222reg 42nd rainbow div. 1945 I served with Gen Collins at the battle of the budge at Alsace, and Ardenness for more info please contact me thanking you hello David i would like to send you my life storey, i need your address My daddy, Henry C. Frame, was in the 222nd in WWII, does anyone remember him or his friend Marvin Barton, they were at Dauchau also. Both of these men are alive and well. Daddy lives in Chapel Hill, TN and Mr. barton lives in Tiff City Mo. I would love to be able to tell my dad that some of his friends are out there. my e-mail is [email protected] To whom it may concerne, Looking for anyone who served with my father Sergeant George Walkers at the 250th Battery, 42nd Inf. Div. in Salzburg 1945/46. He returned to the States 6th of February 1946 Recently I have had the honor to meet COL (ret) T.R. Mackechnie. I was told he served with the 42nd. I fail to find the words that describe my deep respect for him, and all those who fought then. Thank you. Here is a link to a map that COL Mackechnie drew depicting where the 42nd Inf Rainbow Div served during WWII. Enjoy. I just learned from my father that he was wounded during this battle. He had never talked about it until he found this article. Up to now all the stories have been just that… stories. They were the things movies were made of. Knowing my father was there, and reading what was happening has put things in an entirely different light. I am so grateful for the "kids" who sacrificed so much. Hello Dave I would like you to resend those documents on the presidential unit citation, I lost them when my computer was hit by over voltage. thanking you in advance tootie Keith, I have an ORIGINAL copy of that map as well as many pictures, original ribbons, post cards, etc. My grandfather was a member of Company G, 232nd Infantry, 42nd Rainbow Division and was MIA for 31 days from 1/5/45 until 2/8/45 during the battles in what was then called Austria. His service was a duty to him and he lived with nightmares for many years, to me, his service made him a hero in my eyes. He dies in 2002 of lung problems. In his will he left me his photo albums and artifacts from the war, and next to my children and husband it is my most prized possession. I was the only person he ever discussed his experiences. Lance, my grandfather, Gene Norman, also served in Company G and fought in this action, apparently under the command of your grandfather. Thanks for sharing. Always on the look out for information from other brothers in arms. Do any of you know PFC Birney T. Chic Havey? He was in the 42nd Division 222nd AT Company. He earned the Silver Star 2Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. Chic is from St. Louis, Missouri. He has told me all about Task Force Linden. One more bit of Info on Chic Havey A german pilot flew really low and clipped a truck and crashed cut the pilots body in half but was wearing a carabou white coat. Chic took it of the upper torso which had no blood on it and used it the rest of the war as a pillow. His Silver Star Citation refrences PVT Dickey and PVT Crews
Hotels Near International Convention Centre (ICC) Hotels Near International Convention Centre (ICC) - Birmingham England Hotels Near International Convention Centre (ICC) are listed below in the order of their distance. Search for cheap and discount hotel rates near International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham England for your upcoming individual or group travel. We list the best motels and hotels close to International Convention Centre (ICC) so you can review the Birmingham England hotels below and find the perfect lodging. Need 5+ Rooms for a group? Save with Birmingham England Group Hotel Deals The International Convention Centre (abbreviated to ICC) is a major conference venue in central Birmingham, England. The centre includes Symphony Hall and it faces Centenary Square. The building has another entrance leading to the canals of Birmingham. The Convention Quarter area, which includes Brindleyplace, is located directly opposite the building on the other side of the canal. It is part of the NEC group. The building was designed by Percy Thomas Partnership and Renton Howard Wood Levin. The foundation stone was laid by Jacques Delors as a start of another 4 years and 5 months of construction. In all, over 1,500 workers helped construct the building. Over 60,000 cubic metres of concrete were used. The site was opened on June 12, 1991 by Queen Elizabeth II. Funds of £49. Rooms Check-In 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9+ International Convention Centre (ICC) Hotels + Motels Hyatt Regency Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 2 Bridge St., Birmingham, B12JZ United Kingdom (GBR) (Convention Center) Hyatt Regency Birmingham is a modern, luxury hotel in the centre of Birmingham, within walking distance of Broad Street and Brindley Place, the city’s vibrant nightlife district. Hyatt is one of the few hotels in Birmingham that combines a central location for business and leisure with a full complement of amenities. From spacious guestrooms to the exclusive Presidential Suite, our hotel in Birmingham offers an ample range of luxury rooms and suites, all commanding breathtaking views of the city or the Canal. Attractions : Hyatt Regency Birmingham is located in the heart of the City and is linked by bridge link to the International Convention Centre (ICC).A Few steps from the hotel you will find the Bullring & Mailbox Shopping Centres, Brindley place & the famous Broad Street where an array of restaurants are situ ~0.02 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) The Crowne Plaza Birmingham City Centre in Birmingham +1-800-997-5148 Central Sq. Holliday St., Birmingham, B11HH United Kingdom (GBR) ~0.15 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Jurys Inn Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 245 Broad St., Birmingham, B12HQ United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Jurys Inn Birmingham is a newly refurbished contemporary hotel situated in Birmingham City Centre on Broad Street. The hotel is just a few minutes walk from the National Indoor Arena (NIA), International Convention Centre (ICC), Symphony Hall and the Bullring Shopping Centre. The hotel is also less than 10 minutes walk from New Street, Moor Street and Snow Hill train stations and less than 20 minutes by car or train to the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and Birmingham Airport. Attractions : Sea Life Centre,ICC,NIA,Brindley Place,Mail Box Shopping centre, Bullring Shopping Centre ~0.15 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Copthorne Hotel Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 Paradise Circus, Birmingham, B33HJ United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) The Copthorne Hotel Birmingham overlooks Centenary Square and provides convenient access to Birmingham city centre and the National Exhibition Centre. Guests will appreciate the warm welcome. Attractions : National Indoor Arena, National Exhibition Centre, International Convention Centre, Sea Life Centre, Cadbury World, Millennium Point, The Symphony Hall, The Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, Birmingham Botanical Gardens. ~0.21 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Ramada Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-997-5148 160 Wharfside St., Birmingham, B11RL United Kingdom (GBR) ~0.22 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham Brindley Place in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 1 Brunswick Sq., Birmingham, B12HW United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) The Hilton Garden Inn Birmingham is situated in the prestigious Brindleyplace canal area just off Broad Street within minute of the National Inddor Arena (NIA), International Convention Centre (ICC),Symphony Hall and the shopping centres of the Bull Ring and Jewellery Quarter. The hotel boasts 238 evolution rooms which feature complimentary wired and wireless internet, secure printing within the on site business centre. Attractions : Cadbury WorldSealife CentreBotanical GardensBull Ring shopping centreMailboxNational Indoor ArenaSymphony HallInternational Convention CentreJewellery QuarterNational Exhibition centre Website ~0.25 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Broad Street in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 300 Broad St., Birmingham, B151SU United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Welcome to our Hampton by Hilton® Birmingham Broad Street hotel. Ideally located in the heart of the UK's second city center, this hotel offers on-site car parking and is just a short walk from the International Convention Center and the National Indoor Arena. Situated in one of the busiest areas in the city, we offer proximity to many corporate offices such as Deutsche Bank, Kraft Foods and BBC. We're also close to many tourist attractions including the Jewelry Quarter and Museum, Cadbury World, Millennium Point, Botanical Gardens and Sealife Center. Attractions : International convention centre (ICC), National Exhibtion centre (NEC), Sea life centre, Museums and art galleries, Bullring SHopping Centre ~0.32 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Holiday Inn Express Birmingham City in Birmingham +1-800-997-5148 65 Lionel St., Birmingham, B31JE United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Our hotel has 120 bedrooms made up of a mixture of twin (2 single beds) double (double bed with sofa) and accessible rooms (for wheelchair users. All rooms have tea and coffee making facilities. All rooms have a TV with channels 1 - 5 sky sports and local radio channels. All rates include continental breakfast with two hot items. We also have 2 meeting rooms available for hire. The costs are £200.00 full day. This includes three sets of teas and coffees during the day, bottles of still and sparkling water, mints and biscuits. Attractions : Local attractions include bullring shopping centre which is approximately 10 minutes walk away. Broad Street which is the main street for clubs and bars is also a 10 minute walk away. The museum and art gallery are also located a short walk away. There are also attractions like Cadbury World and the ~0.35 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Comfort Inn Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 Station St., Birmingham, B54DY United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Located in the heart of Birmingham just a stone’s throw from New Street Station and the Bullring Shopping Centre, The Comfort Inn Birmingham is ideal for both business and leisure travelers. This charming Victorian building with its original pull cage lift offers 40 ensuite bedrooms all equipped with tea/coffee making facilities, TV, Desk and lamp, and Wi-Fi.After a long day of work or shopping, guests can enjoy a drink at the hotel’s Station Bar open 11am -11pm, located on the premises.The hotel offers a full english breakfast which is cooked to order. Attractions : Bullring shopping centre, New Street Train station, Theatres, ICC and NIA,Bars and Shops with city centre Website ~0.42 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Radisson Blu Hotel Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 12 Holloway Circus, Birmingham, B11BT United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Welcome to Birmingham. 9 mile journey to Birmingham International Airport offering excellent connections to all world wide locations. The hotel offers valet parking to the local NCP directly behind the hotel, subject to availability. Attractions : The ICCThe NECThe NIABirmingham HippodromeCadburys WorldBirmingham Airport ~0.43 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Ramada Encore Birmingham City Centre in Bimingham +1-800-997-5148 Ernest St. / Holloway Head, Bimingham, B11NS United Kingdom (GBR) ~0.44 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Hotel Du Vin Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 25 Church St., Birmingham, B32NR United Kingdom (GBR) ~0.45 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 Smallbrook, Birmingham, B54EW United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Welcome 630 people in Holiday Inn Birmingham City Centre's 14 modern meeting rooms. Attractions : Jewellery Quarter (1.0MI)Warwick Castle (26.0MI)Cadbury World (7.0MI)Drayton Manor (18.0MI)Birmingham National Exhibition Centre (8.0MI)Bull Ring (0.0MI)International Convention Centre (0.2MI)National Indoor Arena (0.2MI)Birmingham Symphony Hall (0.2MI)Stratford U ~0.46 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Ibis Birmingham City Centre in Birmingham +1-800-997-5148 Ladywell Walk, Birmingham, B54ST United Kingdom (GBR) Ibis Birmingham City Centre hotel is a budget hotel located in central Birmingham. Your hotel booking puts you close to the Chinese Quarter and the Arcadian Centre. The hotel has 159 contemporary guest rooms, all with air conditioning, satellite TV and internet access. The Chilli Bar serves snacks and light meals 24 hours a day, while the bar is a the perfect spot for a nightcap. The hotel is a 3 minute walk from Birmingham New Street station, and the 5 meeting rooms can welcome up to 120. Attractions : BULLRING SHOPPING CENTRE, SEALIFE CENTRE, CADBURY WORLD, CHINATOWN, ICC, NEC, NIA ~0.56 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Hotel La Tour in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 Albert St., Birmingham, B55JE United Kingdom (GBR) ~0.95 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) The Paragon Hotel Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 145 Alcester St., Birmingham, B120PJ United Kingdom (GBR) (Suburban) The is one of the largest and best conference venues in Birmingham. Attractions : City Centre, Cadburys World, Drayton Manor, Bullring ~1.12 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Quality Hotel Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-997-5148 166 Hagley Rd., Birmingham, b169nz United Kingdom (GBR) The landscaped gardens of the Quality Hotel Birmingham will provide you with some tranquility within the hustle and bustle of Birmingham. The hotel is in a perfect location if you are heading for Birmingham International Airport or the NEC.When you stay at the Quality Hotel Birmingham, you can enjoy a meal at our Pavilion Restaurant or choose from an array of cocktails in the Terrace Bar. All of our hotel rooms include free satellite television and you can park at the hotel free of charge. Room service is also available. Attractions : Jewellery Quarter1.2m / 2.0km NEAlexander Sports Stadium3.7m / 6.0km NBelfry Golf Club9.9m / 16.0km ENational Indoor Arena0.6m / 1.0km NBirmingham City Center0.9m / 1.5km SBarber Institution0.6m / 1.0km WIronbridge24.9m / 40.0km NWCotswolds17.4m / 28.0km SNational Exhibition ~1.36 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Crowne Plaza Birmingham City in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 Central Sq., Birmingham, B11HH United Kingdom (GBR) ~1.39 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Ibis Birmingham Bordesley Circus in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 1 Bordesley Park Rd., Birmingham, B100PD United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Attractions : birmingham city centre, sea life centre and calbury walk ~1.56 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Clarion Collection Birmingham in Birmingham +1-800-997-5148 263 Hagley Rd., Birmingham, B169NA United Kingdom (GBR) (Suburban) The Clarion Collection Birmingham is a newly refurbished 4-star hotel located less than two miles from Birmingham City Centre and Edgbaston Cricket Ground, and within easy reach of a host of exciting attractions. Ideal for both the business and leisure traveller, guests can take advantage of the Clarion Collection Birmingham’s extensive facilities and the services of the hotel’s experienced team, who are always happy to help.Guests of the Clarion CollectionBirmingham will enjoy dining in the Headingly restaurant, which specialises in grill cuisine. Attractions : Bullring Shopping Centre3.3m / 5.3km EInternational Convention Ctr1.5m / 2.4km EAlexandra Theatre2.4m / 3.9km EBirmingham Museum1.8m / 2.9km EMerry Hill Shopping Centre7.0m / 11.3km WNational Indoor Arena2.1m / 3.4km EBirmingham Repertory Theatre2.0m / 3.2km EEdgbaston Cricket G ~1.58 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Campanile Hotel in Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 Chester St., Birmingham, B64be United Kingdom (GBR) (Downtown-City Center) Located just outside Birmingham City Centre, 111 bedroom Campanile Hotel is perfect for business and leisure guests. Offering free Wi-Fi and free Car Parking, this hotel is ideal for peace and quiet after a long day. We offer 5 meeting rooms with great package to suit budget and requirements, with space up to 200. The hotel has recently undergone a refurbishment between January - March 2013. Attractions : Birmingham City Centre, Cadburys World, SeaLife Centre, ThinkTank Museum, Drayton Manor ~1.58 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Star City in Birmingham +1-800-230-4134 Cuckoo Rd. Heartlands Pkwy., Birmingham, B75SB United Kingdom (GBR) Website ~2.66 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Park Inn by Radisson Birmingham West M5 J1 in West Bromwich +1-800-997-5148 Birmingham Rd. M5 Jct 1, West Bromwich, B706TU United Kingdom (GBR) ~3.81 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Ramada Birmingham Oldbury in Oldbury Birmingham +1-800-997-5149 Wolverhampton Rd., Oldbury Birmingham, B694RJ United Kingdom (GBR) The warmest of welcomes awaits you at the Ramada Birmingham Oldbury Hotel and Conference Centre, a stylish Oldbury Hotel in Dudley where top quality facilities and luxury accommodation in Oldbury are combined with the very best in customer service so that you can start relaxing from the very moment you arrive.Bathed in a palette of luxurious golds and yellows, this stunning property is one of the finest hotels in Dudley Birmingham evoking subtle images of the East, accentuating the richness of its inspired design while adding a unique visual appeal to all public areas. Attractions : Cadbury Worldsea life centreBirnmingham Bullring ~4.13 Miles from International Convention Centre (ICC) Bridge House Hotel in Acocks Green +1-800-230-4134 49 Sherbourne Rd., Acocks Green, B276DX United Kingdom (GBR) (Suburban) A Family run hotel in the south of Birmingham with easy access to both NEC and Birmingham Airport. Next to Acocks Green station with convenient access to New Street station from London-Liverpool-Manchester-Edinburgh. Easy access from motorways M1 and M6. All Bedrooms are En Suite with Tea/Coffee making facilities,TV and a Hair Dryer. Close to Birmingham city centre and International Airport,NEC,Edgbaston Cricket Ground,Cadbury World, Birmingham and Aston Villa Football Clubs, Bull Ring Shopping Centre,Jewellery Quarter and Touchwood shopping centre in Solihull. 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After obtaining Ph.Ds from both the University of Pennsylvania in Biomedical Engineering and from the Medical school of the University of Colorado (1967), Dov Jaron collaborated on the development of the intra-aortic balloon pump with heart surgeon Adrian Konforwitz. This device, which improves the circulation of those who have suffered from a heart attack or who have problems coming off the oxygenator used during surgery, is now owned by nearly every hospital. Computer modeling was central to his development of the intra-aortic balloon pump and he continued to design an engineering model that predicts various properties of the cardiovascular system and he made simulation packages for others. Jaron initiated the Biomedical Engineering program at the University of Rhode Island (1973) and built up the education program at the Biomedical and Engineering Science Institute at Drexel University as its Director(1980). He directed the division of Biological and Critical Positions and the Engineering Director to the National Science Center (1991) and was in charge of the Biomedical Technology program at the NIH (1996), where he organized a conference convincing the NIH of the importance of biomedical engineering to research in biology and medicine. Jaron also served as President of the IEEE EMBS. Subsequently, he returned to Drexel, which was now the school of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems, as the Calhoun distinguished professor of engineering and medicine. He is currently working on a Navy-funded protective suit for pilots, in which he simulates the effect of G stress on gas transport and recirculation in the microcirculation to integrate with his hemodynamic model. Jaron foresees the incorporation of the chemical effects of drug therapy in the computer modeling of the cardiovascular system. DOV JARON: An Interview Conducted by Frederik Nebeker, IEEE History Center, 12 October 1999 Interview # 371:Dov Jaron, an oral history conducted in 1999 by Frederik Nebeker, IEEE History Center, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. Interview: Dov JaronInterviewer: Frederik NebekerDate: 12 October 1999Place: Atlanta, Georgia Nebeker: Can you tell me where and when you were born, and a little about your family? Jaron: My family immigrated to Israel from Lithuania in Europe in the late twenties. They came as part of the pioneers’ movement to work the land and to settle the country. We settled the country. I was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. It was Palestine in 1935. I went to school in Israel, and went to the army and did my service. It was rather unsettled times there after the war. Yes, they were. How did that affect you personally? The British army had what they called a Jewish Brigade, and my father volunteered to fight in the War, and he went to Europe to Italy with the Allied forces. He was away for almost five years during the war. Can you remember the war itself? I can remember it very well. I remember when Rommel was advancing in Northern Africa and getting closer to Egypt. He got into Egypt, or very close anyway. Yes. Clearly we were very, very concerned because we started hearing what was happening in Europe. Did you have brothers and sisters? Yes, I had one brother. Those were very tough times. Then of course in 1948 the country got its independence. I was thirteen at the time, living in Tel Aviv. Was there any fighting there in 1948? Yes, as a matter of fact. We actually lived in a suburb of the city, and I remember there was an armament factory within a half of a mile from our house. I remember attacks on that factory and planes diving right over our house to hit the factory. It was not very pleasant. You never knew whether the bombs were actually going to fall where they were supposed to fall. But I was fairly young at that time. Your father came through World War II fine? Yes, he returned from the War. Not very many people returned, but he did. Did your education get disrupted? Actually it was not disrupted. Schools went on and they functioned normally. There were some disruptions, but not very serious. Was Hebrew the language of the schools? Yes. After I finished school, just like any other male and female citizen, I went into the armed services. What year was that? I was eighteen, so that would have been in 1953. I spent two years in the military. My service in the military was not very difficult because I was in a special branch of the military, which was divided into groups of about thirty or forty and sent to settlements along the border. In those days the country tried to settle the border, and those were locations that guarded the border. We were sent to one of those settlements, and I spent basically three years there. What was your position in the army? I was a Private. I guess it was infantry. In those days you really did not distinguish, except that we had a very small Air Force, but that was it. Your MOS (military occupation specialty), the job that they are trained for, could be a technician or infantry. Private First Class. An all-purpose soldier. But you were not into technical—radar or anything? No, just regular service, regular infantry. Some of my friends lost their lives during that period. There was fighting? There was fighting in 1956, and some of my best friends never came back from the fighting. Then I decided I had had enough of rural life. The settlements basically were agricultural settlements. They were kibbutzim. You served what was required, and then went to the University? I served what was required, and then I stayed on past that for a couple of extra years. It was not in the army; I had just become a member of that settlement. Was it a kibbutz that you were born on? No, I was born in the city. You must have felt some attachment to that kibbutz? There was a lot of pain in experience in those days. People felt the need to contribute to the settlement of the country. People were very idealistic then. Not so much now. You were there for three or four years? I was there almost four years. Then you went to the University? Then I went to the Technion. I went to Technion and spent only one year there, and then came to this country. How did that come about? I just wanted to see the world. Without an intention to immigrate? No, not at all. I stayed here, and I got my first degree, my Bachelor’s Degree, at the University of Denver in Electrical Engineering. How did you choose electrical engineering? I thought it was a very interesting profession. Some people were ham radio operators or had a father who was an engineer. Actually I was studying music as a hobby in those days before I went to the University. Now that you ask me, actually the reason I chose engineering was because in high school we had a teacher who taught us physics and mathematics, and he was absolutely the most fantastic teacher I ever had. What was his name? Do you remember? Sometimes with these inspirational teachers it is nice to give them the recognition they deserve. His last name was Mr. Shamir. I do not remember his first name. He was very inspiring, and I really loved the subjects. Everybody who took classes with him felt the same way. He was a very unusual teacher. That is sort of what got me interested. How did you end up at the University of Denver? I had some distant family there. That is a sad story because the University of Denver closed its Engineering College about four, five, or six years after I graduated, then they reopened it about ten years ago. How was your education at the University of Denver? It was good. Some of the teachers were very good there, and some of them were not. It was not a high-powered research university, particularly not in engineering. From there I went to the University of Pennsylvania. While I was an undergraduate student I worked as an electronics technician at the Medical Center of the University of Colorado in Denver. I worked for a psychiatrist named Sidney Margolin, who was actually trained under Freud, and did what was called psychophysiology. He lived in New York for many years and treated some of the most famous movie stars as a psychiatrist, then he decided he had enough of the city life and moved to Denver to be on the faculty. He was an electronics nut. He had the first electronics system to measure psychological responses. Dr. Offner built it for him. Do you know what sort of psychological responses? Yes. ECG, EKG, galvanic response—any electrical response that is measured today, he had the first unit that did that. I maintained this unit for him. It was built with tubes and all done by hand. That is interesting. Thelma Estrin got her start in the field by maintaining the ECG machine. This seems to be your entry into biomedical engineering, working on such a machine. This was what got me interested. When I graduated with my Bachelor’s Degree, NIH just funded three universities that started biomedical engineering programs: Johns Hopkins, The University of Pennsylvania, and the University of Rochester. The program at Rochester was directed by one of Herman Schwan’s students, Ed Carstensen. Talbott was at Johns Hopkins, he also was one of the pioneers in biomedical engineering, but he died very young. I do not know if his name was ever mentioned, or if Schwan has ever mentioned him. Yes, I know the name. I found out that NIH funded those three training programs, so I applied to all three of them and was accepted at all three institutions with fellowship offers. So how did you choose Pennsylvania? I looked at what each university offered, and felt that the University of Pennsylvania would give me the best variety, the broadest possible education. Talbot, who ran Johns Hopkins program, was in charge of the student seminars at Penn. He came every two weeks to Pennsylvania and gave the most thought-provoking seminars that I ever experienced. Each student had to do a project, had to read papers. There was a lot of preparation for those seminars. He was conducting this seminar at Penn on a regular basis? Basically what he did was to assign us papers, and then he would write up a set of questions that we should think about while reading the papers. Then we would make presentations and have discussions at those seminars. It was very interesting. Some of the luminaries in the field were there. Schwan was there and David Geselowitz was there, and some other people who are no longer there. Jack Reid may have been there when you were there? Yes. Jack Reid was a student back then. I hired Jack Reid when I was director of the Institute at Drexel. I finished my Ph.D. at the University of Pennsylvania. What was your thesis work? My thesis was on cardiac pacemaker electrodes. What years were you a graduate student? Before I went to the University of Pennsylvania, I received a special fellowship to the University of Colorado Medical School—not as a medical student but to the graduate school. I studied biophysics and biochemistry there for one year. Was that a degree program or just course work? Just course work. I just felt I needed some biological background before I went into biomedical engineering. Your undergraduate Bachelor’s of Engineering was strictly general? Strictly general. But you got interested in biomedical applications. Because I was an electronics technician, I felt that I needed a year of extra training, which I did. Then I applied to those universities. So it does not surprise me then to hear that you were accepted at all three places because you had the engineering degree plus training. Plus I graduated with honors with my Bachelor’s degree. I think that is why I was accepted at all the institutions. What years were you were a graduate? I got my Ph.D. in 1967. This was very early for pacemakers. Very early for pacemakers. The electronics was fairly straightforward; not necessarily miniaturized the way it is right now. It was a fixed rate pacemaker. Were these implantable pacemakers you were working on? Yes. What people did not know was the reaction of the electrodes with tissues and how that affects the pacemakers. Were you concerned with the long-term interaction of tissue and electrodes? Yes, that is right. But I was looking basically at the electrical properties of the interface between pacemakers and the electrodes. The physics of what is going on with the tissue and electrodes? Exactly. Actually Banu Onaral continued some of that work, but she worked on electrodes in general, not necessarily pacemaker electrodes. She was looking at lower frequency responses. I was looking at higher frequency properties of the interface. How did you study that interface? Did you have some system? I studied using frequency domain and time domain studies. With what tissue? How did you actually get measurement? I did bench and theoretical studies, then I did patient studies. What kind of tissue was available for the bench studies? Just saline for the bench studies. I do not remember whether I did any actual tissue studies. I do not think we did. That would have been fairly complicated, short of using animals. We did not have animal facilities in the department. We would have had to go to the vet school. We just went directly to patients and I studied them. You developed a theoretical explanation of what is going on, and then measured this in the lab and with patients? Yes, precisely. How do you feel, looking back on that work? It was better work than many of my students are doing these days. I think the quality of the work that is done right now in graduate school is somewhat lower than it used to be. Did you work closely with Schwan? Yes. I worked basically with three people. I worked with Schwan, David Geselowitz and I worked with a cardiologist by the name of Stanley Brilles. Jack Reid mentioned a cardiologist. No, he mentioned somebody else. Claude Joyner? No, not Claude Joyner. The reason Geselowitz was interested is because Geselowitz did a lot of modeling of the heart as an electrical generator, and trying to figure out the electrical properties of the heart from surface potentials. You mean the surface of the body? Yes, from measurement on the surface of the body. If you have a generator inside the body, it generates potentials on the surface. You can measure the potential on the surface of the body. The question is, from the surface of the body, can you deduce what happens to the generator representing the heart. That is done to a certain extent with electrocardiography—that is what electrocardiography is all about. But electrocardiography has serious limitations. He was trying to figure out whether there is a better way of getting more information about the generator. With a pacemaker, we knew exactly the properties of those generators. We knew exactly what the current of the pacemaker is, what the voltage is, so we tried to measure surface potentials and relate those surface potentials to the pacemaker as a generator. That sounds like a completely different problem from the electrodes. Yes. I worked on both. I see. But your thesis was the electrodes? I wrote up both projects. Both. How self-directed was this work? Were you deciding what problems to attack? The general problem was given to me, but the approach was pretty much self-directed. It was my own approach. Nebeker: Were your results much noticed? Yes, in regular written literature. That was a long time ago. There have been many other advances since then. Nebeker: I remember being told how important it was to understand electrodes in these systems. I’m sure those results were valuable. Yes. You got your Ph.D. in 1967. What did you do then? I then went to work with a heart surgeon by the name of Adrian Kantrowitz at Intra-aortic balloon pump development, Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. The reason I went to work with him was that he had just received a very large grant from the NIH to build and test heart assist devices. The pacemaker is an electrical generator, not a heart assist device. A heart assist device is a mechanical device. Together we developed the intra-aortic balloon pump. The intra-aortic balloon pump is a plastic balloon, maybe 20 centimeters long, mounted at the end of a hollow catheter, which is introduced through the femoral artery all the way through the descending thoracic aorta. That is the vessel where all the blood is pumped from the left ventricle. The balloon is inflated and deflated in synchrony with the heart. When the heart begins to pump blood, to eject blood, you deflate the balloon, thereby creating a lower lobe low resistance, making it easier for the heart to pump the blood. When the ejection period of the heart is finished and the aortic valve closes, the balloon is inflated, which displaces the blood to the periphery, but more importantly towards the heart. The coronary vessels get all their blood supply during the time when the heart is relaxed, which is the time that the balloon is inflating. You are prefusing the heart itself as well as the periphery. What you are achieving by that is increasing the blood supply to the heart, which in the case of a heart attack is a problem; and also increasing the blood supply to the periphery; and reducing the workload on the heart, making it easier for the heart to recover. This is for people with weak hearts for some reason? Yes, after a severe heart attack. Or people who cannot come off the heart-lung oxygenator, used during surgery, to improve circulation. This is now used clinically throughout the world. It seems like an auxiliary heart that is pumping. That is exactly what it is. It is like an auxiliary heart. It is like a third chamber. The way you synchronize it to the heart is you pick up the electrocardiogram and use it to time the balloon. With every heartbeat, when the heart pumps the balloon is inflated and when the heart relaxes the balloon is deflated. With the cardiac surgeon that you were working with, your job was the electronics of the synchronizing? I had a theory to get the optimized effects from the balloon. I did a lot of simulation. I see, of exactly how and when you would inflate. That’s right. And how much. So I had to study the cardiovascular system. Did you actually make a mathematical model of what was going on? I sure did, absolutely. Was this before the days when you would simulate on the computer? No, we used a computer. It was just a different computer—a much slower computer. Maybe with punched cards or something like that. Actually it was. I am trying to remember the first machine we had. I remember we bought a PDP-15, DEC PDP-15. It was the machine that came after the PDP-9, and it did not last very long. It was not a very good machine. I think it was in the mid ‘60s that the first of the mini computers came out. Right, the Link 8. That made a big difference to a lot of the scientists and engineers. For the first time they could have their own computer. The PDP-15 was not a personal computer. It occupied a room this big. Right. But still in the laboratory as opposed to the mainframe that the university would have. That’s right. How long did you work with Kontrowitz? I worked with him from 1967 until the end of 1972. In 1970 we moved the whole laboratory to Detroit. Why was that? He was not getting the support he needed where he was. The hospital was not really research oriented enough. We moved the whole thing to the Sinai Hospital in Detroit. I was in Detroit for three years. Had anything like the intra-aortic balloon been done before? No. This was completely new? Actually, the concept was first proposed by a man named Mollopolus. He was not in Greece at that time; he was doing work in the United States. He didn’t really develop it. It is interesting, because Kantrowitz has a brother by the name of Arthur Kantrowitz, who is a very famous physicist. He worked at AVCO at the time. They had both been discussing the idea, and he had tried to develop the same device through AVCO. Adrian Kontrowitz, whom I worked for, developed it in his own laboratory. Adrian Kontrowitz did the first test on patients. You worked with him in actually building this device? That is right, exactly. We actually made the balloons. We made everything, tested it on animals extensively, and then used it on patients. How did this development process go? How did it go when you first tested it in animals? Did it work initially? It worked from the beginning. The theory behind it was very sound. We just had to make sure that it was as effective as we wanted it to be. We were concerned about any interactions with the blood. Also, it sounds like a very difficult placement. No, it was not very difficult. There is quite a distance there between where you are inserting it and where it is residing, right? You have a catheter that is carrying the airflow to inflate the balloons? Helium. Because we had to move the gas flow very fast, so we had to use the lowest density gas as possible, so we used helium. The problem with animals was that at first we started using normal animals. When you have a normal heart, it is not very effective. We realized that the heart had to be in failure. We induced failure in the animals, and that is when it started being effective. Do you remember the first human trial? I do remember the first human trials because I spent a lot of nights at the hospital. Were there major problems initially? The real problem was the control unit that we used was basically an oscilloscope. We had to synchronize the valves, which controlled the inflation and deflation cycles using an oscilloscope. Everything was very big and all custom made. Was it hand-synchronization? No. We picked up the signal on the oscilloscope, and then we synchronized the balloon from output of the oscilloscope. Are you turning the dials or is somebody turning the dials? We had to turn dials to time it correctly, absolutely. It was not an automatic system picking it up? No, even now it is not automatic. It is much more sophisticated now, but it is not completely automatic. If you have a regular heartbeat, it is fine. But those patients do not have a regular heartbeat. It takes an eye to see where you should… That is right. One of the problems was to try and find a way so that it can operate automatically, so you do not need the human intervention. If you inflate a balloon while the aortic valve is too open, that actually could do much more damage because now you are all of a sudden increasing the load immensely on the heart. Was it possible to detect the opening and closing of that valve? Only through the EKG. What year was this that you were first using the device? It was 1968. We had done maybe five or six or seven patients, and the word began to spread around and people started calling us. We got a call from the family of President Eisenhower to come with our device because he was hospitalized with a bad heart. His physician vetoed it; he did not want us to come. In an even more interesting instance, a physician on a trip to Sicily was hospitalized with a heart attack there, and he was deteriorating very quickly. His son, who was also a physician, knew of our work, and he called us and asked us to fly over to Sicily with our equipment and assist the heart. That was over Memorial weekend or something like that. At that time I did not have my American citizenship yet; I just did not see any reason to get it. What we did was to organize basically a small hospital and ship it to Sicily. I pulled out my Israeli passport and realized it had expired. So on Memorial Day, I flew to Chicago and I knocked on the door of the Embassy in the middle of a holiday and told them what was happening, and they renewed my passport. I flew back to Detroit and we packed everything. The son had a lot of influence with the Air Force, so he had the Air Force fly compressed helium to Sicily by special jet. We got on a plane in Detroit and flew to New York where he was meeting us and was taking us from there to Italy. Were you traveling with your equipment? We were traveling with our equipment. I was the engineer and Kantrowitz was the physician. The son met us in New York, and he said, “You know something, my father is improving. So I am going to save the money.” So we turned around and flew back to Detroit. When we landed in Detroit, we got a telephone call that his father had died. It may have been a day later. Had we been there, we might have been able to save him. How did the technique then spread? Did some company take up manufacturing? That is right. Were you involved in that? Actually, we tried to commercialize it through one company, and that company failed miserably in marketing it. There was another competitor who picked it up. The company that is selling most of the balloons right now is called Datascope in New Jersey. Did you and Kantrowitz have patents on it? We had patents, but it is very easy to get around a patent. Did several companies develop it once it had been shown that this was an effective technique? Several companies tried. Then various other companies bought them. It was sort of a chain reaction. But Datascope is really the major manufacturer of intra-aortic balloon pumps. This is widely used now? Widely used, yes. Almost every hospital now has it. It must have been gratifying right out of your Ph.D. to do very important work like that. It was very gratifying. I moved to Detroit in 1971 and then left in 1973. I went to the University of Rhode Island. I felt that I really wanted to go back to academia. I went to the University of Rhode Island where I joined the Electrical Engineering Department there. Did they have a program in biomedical engineering? They did not. I started the program. Basically they brought me in to start a program there that was an option of the electrical engineering program. They do not have a medical school there, so I started collaborating with medical schools and hospitals. The program started growing very substantially. I continued my research. I still worked together with Kantrowitz while I was there doing some simulation work. Still on the intra-aortic pump? Yes. I was sort of switching my work, changing gradually to look at the cardiovascular system in general, trying to simulate the cardiovascular system, looking at how it functions in normal state and in disease. Sort of an engineering model of the cardiovascular system? Yes. That is right. How blood flows and how the vessels react. I spent seven years there at the University of Rhode Island. Were there other faculty members who got into biomedical engineering? Yes. We brought some faculty members in, and there were other faculty members there. The university was very supportive for a long time. You got quite a few students? Yes, I had quite a few students. Your work in this period was the cardiovascular system? Yes that is right, and has remained that way pretty much. How do you go about that work? Is it largely theoretical? A lot of it is theoretical, and it was combined with animal experiments. I worked with Rhode Island Hospital, where we did tests on animals. Did you get some mathematical model that would allow you to predict what would happen under certain conditions? Yes. We studied the various properties, but you cannot really study in a living system because of so many variables. If you can validate the model under certain conditions, you have the expectations that it would also work under other conditions, but you cannot really duplicate them in the laboratory. So you could predict various properties of the system. You were trying to model healthy systems? Healthy systems at the beginning, and then later on I started simulations. I am still working on that. This is not something that you do in a day or a year. Right. Is this something that was developed into some standard piece of software, some simulation package that others could look at? I have quite a few simulation packages, and other people have used it. I will tell you in a second about it. I left the University of Rhode Island because I was offered to direct the Biomedical and Engineering and Science Institute, and I have been there since 1980. So I left the University of Rhode Island and I moved to Philadelphia and started working at Drexel University. I built up a very strong educational program there. What was at Drexel before you arrived? Drexel had an institute before I arrived, and they had one of the earliest biomedical engineering programs in the country. It started in 1958 with a grant from the NIH. The purpose of that program was to take physicians and convert them into engineers. If I remember correctly, the first one was Dr. Dowd. It was not very successful because it is very difficult to take somebody who was not brought up in the engineering culture and try to get the person to think in that way. It really did not continue for very long as that kind of a program. It sort of limped along until 1980 when I came, and I really rebuilt that program. They had a couple of faculty members in biomedical engineering? Until the early ‘70s, it was an option in electrical engineering. It was actually a program initially; it was not an institute. Then it was established as an interdisciplinary institute. I am not exactly sure what year that happened but it was sometime in the early ‘70s. Hun Sun was director of the program for a while, then Dick Beard was director for just a couple of years. Then it sort of went without a head for a couple of years until they recruited me. There were a couple of people on the faculty in that area when you arrived? Yes, on the faculty of electrical engineering. So the institute was within the Electrical Engineering Department? The program sort of followed Electrical Engineering, then it became an interdisciplinary institute and it was moved above or out of the Electrical Engineering Department and added other faculty members who were interested in it. Although there were really almost no other faculty members that participated in the teaching program, except from Electrical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering. When I came I started recruiting more faculty members. We did not have our own tenure slots. I was the only person who was appointed full time, but my tenure still resided in Electrical Engineering. We had a dozen or so faculty members who had either taught a little bit in the program or had some research interests in the program. I started building the graduate program. We did not have any undergraduate program. Within a fairly short time, maybe six or seven years, the number of our graduate students rose from the teens to about 120. The research funding that we were getting when I came was like $200,000 or $300,000 total for the institute, and we built it up to about two or three million dollars a year. It went very, very well. How long did you direct the institute? In 1991 I decided I needed a sabbatical, and I went to the National Science Foundation for two years on leave. One of the first things that I did when I became director was hire two professors. We received a very large endowment called The Calhoun Endowment, named after Ernest Calhoun, that allowed us to hire one individual, and that was Jack Reid. I brought Jack Reid to the Institute. When we were searching for the individual, we came up with two final candidates, both of them were very good: Jack Reid and Vernon Newhouse. We went to the president and asked what should we do. The president said, “Bring them both aboard.” He came up with a named position for Vernon Newhouse, and Jack Reid became the Calhoun professor. After eleven years as director, in 1991 I went to the National Science Foundation, where I was the Director of the Division of Biological and Critical Systems in the Engineering Directorate. Jack Reid became the Acting Director while I was away. At NSF were you a program officer overseeing grants? Division Director. I had ten programs under me. I was Division Director, not a program officer. Some of the programs that were under my direction were the Biomedical Engineering program, technology program, Biochemical Engineering program, Research to Aid Persons with Disability program, and I also had the Earthquake Engineering Research programs and the Environmental programs. Before I left, I convinced the Assistant Director for Engineering to create a new division, which became the Bioengineering in Environmental Systems, and all the earthquake programs moved to another division, because I just did not see how those were related to the rest of the division. Why did you want such a job? It sounds like full time administration. It was. You were a researcher? I was both a researcher and an administrator. I guess you had become more of an administrator at Drexel? Yes, I did a lot of administration at Drexel. It was a major responsibility to manage the Institute. I just wanted to have some reprieve from the Drexel environment for a while, and I found it very, very interesting. It was very rewarding and I learned a great deal. I did a lot of good, too, at NSF. I had a lot of accomplishments there, not the least of them was to change the division which became Bioengineering and Environmental Systems, elevating bioengineering and making it much better known within the NSF. I returned to Drexel in 1993 as head of the Institute again. Four years later, in 1996, I decided I needed another sabbatical, so I went on leave to the NIH. At the NIH I was in charge of the Biomedical Technology program at the National Center for Research Resources and Associate Director of the Center. Is this a very similar job to the NSF one? No, it was quite different. It was also administrative. You are administering grants, is that right? No. I was managing the overall program. You were managing the research at NIH ? No, I did not do any research. Neither did I do any research at NSF. But at NIH, I also had people working for me who managed the grants that they awarded. It was similar in the terms of the responsibilities, but in terms of funding the program was five times as large as the NSF program. When I was Division Director at NSF, my whole division had maybe $40 or $45 million, but the Biomedical Engineering part of it had only like $20 million. At NIH, I was in charge of over $100 million, which was a lot more. And that is biomedical engineering? It was called biomedical technology, but a lot of what we funded was biomedical engineering. Give me some sense of where the funding is coming from in biomedical engineering generally. NIH must be one of the main players in this. NSF… NSF is a very small player in biomedical engineering. The total funding of biomedical engineering by NSF is probably on the order of $25 million today. And NIH today? NIH is very, very difficult to estimate. As a matter of fact, a study was done before I came there and we did another study again. If you take the definition of NIH for biomedical engineering, then NIH funded biomedical engineering research to the tune of about $400 million, roughly. But that may be a little bit exaggerated because of the way they count the money and the way they define what is biomedical engineering. Maybe if we could cut it by about 40% or so, I think a better figure may be about $250 to $300 million. Is there any estimate of how much industry is putting into biomedical engineering? That is very, very difficult to estimate. What about the Whitaker Foundation? The Whitaker Foundation is putting in a lot of money. Any estimate of how much? I think this year they are talking about making grants in the amount of $60 or $70 million. That is a lot of money. I am just trying to get some rough idea. Are there any other major players or funders in biomedical engineering? There are some other foundations that have funded a little bit. The Kellogg Foundation funded some biomedical engineering from time to time. There is certainly a good deal of university support for all these faculty positions. But the research typically is funded from outside. Right. I suppose there are some hospitals that have funded biomedical engineering from the in clinical income, but this is diminishing because of the reimbursement system. The hospitals are pressed to make ends meet as it is, let alone to fund additional research. Were you living in Washington or that area? I commuted. I came back to Philadelphia on weekends. I had an apartment in Washington. How long did you work at NIH? A little over two years. Again, I had some very major accomplishments, not the least one of them was to put together a major conference in biomedical engineering that really, I think, changed NIH’s view of biomedical engineering. Most of the people at NIH had never thought of biomedical engineering as a serious contributor to basic research in biology and medicine. They look at biomedical engineering sort of as a service profession—you tell biomedical engineering what you want to build and they build it for you. I think that having that major symposium in 1998 was really a major step for NIH. Was that in the Washington area? It was in Bethesda. Did you bring in top people from around the world? Top people. Some were from around the world but mostly from the United States. We ran all kinds of special sessions. To interest other people at NIH in this work? To interest other people at NIH, and to make recommendations to NIH as to what needs to be done. As a result, NIH started looking at how applications are reviewed at NIH, and the fact that it is really difficult for biomedical engineering applications to get funded. They are changing that now, which is a very major change. Of course, there is now legislation on the Hill to start a new institute. I do not think that legislation will make it, but this is the second year now in a row, and there is much more support in Congress for it right now. An institute for biomedical engineering? It is called the Institute for Bioimaging and Bioengineering. The previous year there were two bills in Congress, one for an imaging institute and the other one for a biomedical engineering center. Did you advocate that there would be such an institute when you were at NIH? Working for the government, you are not allowed to advocate anything like that. It is illegal. Once you are out of the government, you can advocate all you want. I was opposed to the Center because I think the Center is really not going to do very much. The way the name of the institute is being proposed is flawed because imaging is really part of biomedical engineering. The reason it was done that way is because imaging research has been advocated by the radiology community. The radiology community feels that they are not getting their fair share of grant support, and they are very, very strong and have a lot of money. Bioengineers are not very rich, so they do not have the same lobbying power that radiologists do. So the two committees agreed at least for a compromise, which generated much more support in Congress, but I still do not think it is going to fly because Varmus is opposed to this. But of course, Varmus is leaving NIH at the end of the year, so that may change things all together - who knows. Radiology is a well-established branch of medicine, and as you say, very large. What have been the relations between the two fields of radiology and biomedical engineering, academically and otherwise? Professionally are they completely separate? I can tell you that you work very closely with radiology departments. It depends. In many institutions there is a close synergy between biomedical engineering and radiology—the two communities work very closely together and they benefit from each other. In some institutions that is not the case at all. You cannot make any generalizations. Radiology goes back to the turn of the century. You have to think of it in terms of those who do research in radiology and those who just provide clinical service. The ones who just provide clinical service do not care where all the innovations come from, they do not care who thought of those ideas, they don’t care who first proposed the MRI or developed ultrasound, etc. This is all done by biomedical engineers. But as a clinician, you use the equipment and that is it. As a researcher, if you want to make advances in the field, you have to work together with engineers. Have the people who have been making advances in radiology technique been members of the IEEE EMBS for example? Some of them, but not all of them. Ever since I was president of the EMBS I have pointed out the very serious problem that the EMBS focuses only on those professionals whose roots are in electrical engineering. Biomedical engineering has become much more than electrical engineering oriented. As a matter of fact, the majority of biomedical engineers right now do not even know what an electrical engineering circuit is, probably. There are many more mechanical, chemical, information, computer, materials… I predicted it ever since I became president of the society, and I have urged the society to move more and more in that direction. But it is very difficult to do. I think that there is some attempt to do something along these lines, but I just do not know how successful it is. It seems some of these areas like radiology, maybe ultrasound is another example, are so large that it is a little bit hard to keep those professionals in a more general society like the EMBS, when there are plenty of people in that more specific field to fill journals and conferences and so on. Since you are talking about radiology, The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) has probably 60,000 or 70,000 members, maybe not quite that many, but that is certainly the order of magnitude of participants in the RSNA meeting which takes place in Chicago every year. Within radiology, some of them specialize in ultrasound, some of them specialize in MRI. The ultrasound people have their own Society and the MRI have their own. But they all come to the RSNA meeting because that is where they see all the new things that are happening. I do not know why it is, but in general in engineering you do not see that. People look at their very narrow area and do not try to look at the bigger picture. I suppose that people who are in one type of imaging are more likely to be interested in other types of medical imaging, and therefore would be interested in going to a radiology conference that presents these different types. Whereas, biomedical engineering in general is so diverse that it may be difficult to attract people who do not care at all about prosthesis or wheelchairs, or these very different areas I do not know; it is hard to say. I know radiologists who use only imaging technique. They converge on that one meeting even though at that meeting they will go into sessions in their particular imaging area. The meeting is so global and is so broad in nature that people want to come there. I suppose the rationale for having a society with a broader range is that the techniques can be transferred to some extent. There is some benefit to being a member, and seeing that in cardiology they are using ultrasound for this or they are using this sensor for that and maybe we can do a similar thing in neurology. A rationale is that there is transfer of techniques, and if you are an electrical engineer you can see how in this other area of biomedicine techniques are being used, and maybe that can be transferred into something that you are interested in. I think that the same thing is true in engineering. You can listen to talks which are not necessarily in your area and get ideas that may be applicable to your own area. Right, so that is the rationale for having a large meeting. Sure it is a rationale. As someone who has been president of EMBS, you must feel that there are things to be gained from being a member of a more general society rather than a very narrow specialty. Yes. I think that you learn a great deal from what other people do and you come up with ideas you never thought could be applicable to your own specialty. We are well into the 1990s because we talked about your NIH tenure. And then you returned to Drexel after that. Are you head of the institute? No. Banu Onoral is now. The Institute was converted into a school. The Institute was called the Biomedical Engineering and Science Institute, and the new school is called The School of Biomedical Engineering, Science, and Health Systems. Calhoun distinguished professor of engineering and medicine, so I am a professor now. Are you still doing research in cardiovascular science? Yes, I am beginning to build up my research again. When I was with NIH I was able to do very little research. I had my last Ph.D. student finish just when I came back. During the years, in addition to looking at the cardiovascular system I did some research on cardiovascular responses to acceleration stress—G stress with pilots. I was working on developing a special protective suit that would give pilots more protection than the standard G suit that exists today. I have been expanding my research to look at gas transport in the recirculation and to integrate this information with my hemodynamic model. Where is the gas? In the microcirculation. This is all done by simulation, modeling, and comparison with experiments. Is NASA or the Air Force interested in that? The Navy funded it. The Navy has more airplanes that the Air Force. I did not know that until I started getting funding from them. Any comments you care to make about biomedical engineering in general in this country? Biomedical engineering in general is changing very rapidly and dramatically. It started as an extension of electrical engineering, but that is no longer the case. It is a discipline that has grown and has matured. It includes areas which relate to chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials, and now it is looking not only at the overall system but more and more at the micro level and how to integrate the knowledge that we find at the micro level to the properties of the entire system. In the past we were looking just at what we could measure in a very gross fashion and try to understand it from that point of view. Right now we are looking at the molecular and cellular levels and trying to understand the whole system based on what is happening at these levels. There are also the new capabilities of acting at that level using implantable devices and microelectronics. Correct. We are entering a new era. When we finish sequencing the genome, we will begin to understand how the genes relate to proteins and how they relate to cell function, how the cells behave, how tissues behave, and finally how whole organs and the organism behaves. I think the only people that will really be able to piece that picture together are biomedical engineers. The way scientists study something is by what is called the reductionist approach. They break a system down into its smallest components and concentrate on the very small components. Engineers try to integrate. Biomedical engineers who understand the living system should be able to integrate all those functions and begin to understand how the whole system works. Right. The engineer is typically concerned with an overall performance and how that is achieved. Up to now we did not know how the components behaved. We are now beginning to understand how some of the components of the system behave. Knowing how the components behave is not necessarily going to tell you how the whole system behaves because of nonlinearities, because of chaos, because of other factors that enter into play. Scientists, biologists, or chemists, or what have you, are not really trained to be able to put all of those components together into a coherent system. What is the prospect right now in your own area of cardiovascular modeling of getting a satisfactory model of it that works under a wide range of conditions? The prospects are very good. There are some people who are actually now putting together a mechanical and electrical model of the heart, and they are able to explain a great deal and predict behavior, and then suggest drug therapy. These models actually incorporate how chemical effects occur? That is right, exactly. In the history of physics, there have been certain areas where physics adequately explained what was going on. One could take billiard balls or something like that and predict if you have a ball moving at this speed and this arrangement what is going to happen. Do you think that with cardiovascular modeling we are getting close to that kind of understanding? At a certain level. But I think that in order to make sense of all the information that we are gaining right now from biological research, we will have to have much more extensive modeling and simulation. It is the integration of all these many components and effects and so on in a very complex system that the engineers are particularly good at. Precisely. I think that is where the engineering is going to play an even more important role than it has played in the past. Anything else that you would care to comment on? I had lots of things to say, but I am sort of running out of steam. Thank you for the interview.
Like TeleNav and TiPb on Facebook for a chance to win 30 free one-year AT&T Navigator subscriptions! Giving!] There are 128 comments. Add yours. I think that having this Navigator is going to be great. Being in the Fire and Rescue for the past 10 years, this will give me the better ability to have great directions to be able to get to my location and give my driver better location to where to go. I am looking forward to getting this service wether I get the chance to win or not. Great job by all involved. Thanks I will be touring grad schools this summer. Would love to have it for that! See! TiPb and TeleNav can help with my college career! I would love to use it when I go to New York City. Contests are great, but not quite geek enough for this one Rarely use facebook so a post about a phone blog Wouldnt be bueno, but Didn't notice option#2(darn reading while driving.)....With this app I wouldn't have to also use maps while driving to Cleveland Ohio from Florida Going on a trip to Canada! I would travel to TN with the family. Good times. I dont have facebook or tweeter account but all the same nothing wrong in trying. Hope i can be picked for a change. What? No love for Verizon iPhone users? Telenav has an app for that too - which I have... it's better than TomTom, but not as good as a Garmin Nuvi :) I'll use it to take a road trip across the country! On a nice long vacation I like road trips (and both facebook pages). Gimme gimme please. kthanx. I want to get Telenav to take me away from where I am,,,, anywhere else. headed to Cali in August! Take me there!!! How I'm gonna use it is to get me to different job interviews in ares I dont know how to travel through. Since im on the job hunt. It would be priceless to me.... I would see if it would take me geocaching... Road trip to Sturgis! I am planning a trip to see Hearst Castle and this would really help me get there!! I'm planning on using this to help me not get lost. We spent over 1.5 hours trying to find an iHOP in new jersey. This thing would of helped :( Oh well. It would get great use. Thanks for the great site. I am currently planning trips from Cincinnati to Florida for the final two Space Shuttle Launches. Then afterward, this summer I am going to be travelling out west to Wyoming and on to Oregon, then south through Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and Utah to do a lot of photography before heading home. I think Telenav would be an excellent addition to my journeys! I'd love to use it anywhere. I get lost in the closet if the light are off. Use it on road trips this summer! - best part is it entertains my daughters in the car. I would love to use TeleNav to help me brave the drive from here to Washington, DC and help me maneuver through that traffic nightmare! I would love to use telenav to find my way around college, which I'm starting next fall! Oklahoma State! Going to NYC! Thanks Jalan this is really great fbdceaek.re: Maps can you send specifics where it is not updated on your phone but is updated on your PND?re: routing what do you mean by web based web planning and saving routes? I'm assuming that you've tried our online preplanning and My Favorites?re: traffic we've got coverage in most of the major metropolitan areas where our customers live/work and where there tends to be the most traffic. Are there specific cities where you don't feel the coverage is adequate? This fbdceaek is always helpful. Also one of the key differences between our traffic rerouting and most PNDs is that it is specific for your route vs. just providing a traffic summary of the area around you. It's proactive and specific to traffic along your route. Many of our customers see this as a big benefit.re: feature updates this is a valid point and we're always working on ensuring that customers are quickly made aware of new version updates. What version of our service are you currently using? I can make sure you have the latest that is available for that device.Thanks again for all of your fbdceaek on this topic as well as others. Mike, congratulations! That is the cerorct answer. Please send me ([email protected]) your phone model, carrier and number and we'll set you up with your one-year subscription. I'm from small town North Dakota and I go to St. Louis 3 times a year to see in laws and friends, gonna make it soooooooo much easier to get around!! Just "liked" Telenav. Already have "liked" TiPB for a long time! Going to Maui and would love to have Telenav on board! I'm a GPS addict, but my wife wouldn't go for $10 a month right now. Boston! I live in Alaska, Yes, Alaska and when traveling on our rural roads thrhugot out alaska and Canada the roads are rarely marked. You could be in the next town before really knowing if you are heading in the right direction, and most often than not you have taken the wrong road. Not to mention if you go to one of our bigger cities like anchorage or fairbanks where the signage is also horrific you could be going the wrong direction in no time, which makes it all worse when I am in all senses of the phrase directionally & navigtionally challenged!! Then when my 3 little angles realized our long ride to Anchorage or Fairbanks is about to get longer than it already is they just HAVE to mention that mommy is lost AGAIN!! or you should have turned when I said mom! which is my 16 year olds favorite phrase to say after we get back on track.Thanks for the chance to try and get the telenav.DEM I am moving to Los Angeles soon and I have no idea where I am going!! I travel a great deal for work in emergency management. Not having to rent a GPS with the car will help! I need to win because I get utrned around very easily and your app is great. I am planning a trip this summer and this app will help me get where I want to go without getting lost. I would love for Telenav to take me somewhere far far away from the evil clutches of my Sith boss. I will even take a vacation to the ice planet Hoth! GET ME OUTTA HERE! Im goona use it to find me some cool geocache locations in ONTARIO!! I am going to use it to get home because I am so bad with directions! To the moon I will use it to take me anywhere and everywhere!!!! Liked both!! Would use this to drive us all over the SE and Midwest for my husband's cycling races! Great giveaway! I will use the App to help me navigate the streets of Detroit! and possibly to stalk Eminem! Just Kidding Marshall! :) Buck I live in Boston and although I've been living here for about three years now, I still get lost whenever and wherever I am! I will use the App to find my way around the city... and not getting lost on my way home! my son is in a soccer team and we travel from city to city on weekends to play this will be great I'm traveling to the West Coast...I'm going to LA & Las Vegas in a couple of months & this would really be handy. THANKS!! I want to take my wife to the midwest and south to tour Major League Baseball Stadiums - Would love to use app to not only help us navigate and to assist with great places to stay and eat. Love road food. Use it on a 50th birthday trip to San Antonio. I will use TeleNav to find my way to ATV trails in Kentucky! ATV trails are a tad bit tricky to find when your traveling in the middle of no where with no where to stop and ask for directions! Since my wife takes our GPS unit all the time and I'm stuck with Google Maps. This would be FANTASTIC!! Lost!? Lost is my middle name! I have a road nabrey that no matter how often I drive down it I almost always go the wrong way on it there is never a good time or place to turn around on it so I end up miles and mile out of my way. This is just one example I have many, many stories of being lost. This GPS would be awesome (especially since I have a 15 year old daughter who is following in my footsteps when it comes to directionally challenged.) I'll be using TeleNav to take the ( then ) wife and I to the airport for our honeymoon :) I'd be lucky to get a copy of Telenav. Working in production means i spend a tonnof time on the road and a quality GPS app could be a lifesaver taking me all across the cities I travel to!!! I plan to use Telenav to explore Wisconsin via motorcycle this summer. This would be a great tool. I would use this app to take me everywhere. I just came from Android to iPhone and I must say that I miss Google Navigator. I actually got lost yesterday haha. I actually have just received my drivers permit and I need to start learning the roads.. This app would be quite helpful to have. :) I will also be going to a rural part of Georgia over the summer to see my father and no one knows the way...last time it took us (my family) quite a few hours to find the house out in the middle of no where. Thank you for allowing me to toss my name in. :) -Brian Will be driving from Florida to California next month, I would love to use TeleNav. Thanks! Driving around everyday just gets me lost in this crazy city...I so need this. im not trying to sound like a kiss ass or anything but i have difficulty getting around town... i came from the big city of los angeles... and moved out here to the country side of orlando florida a year ago and i have no idea where to get anywhere here.... not used to living out here... definitly couldnt get anywhere with the verizon iphone cuz i would always b hanging up to use the maps app...this is everyday for me because i have to constantly call my friends and have them stay on the line while i use the maps app...(gets very frustrating with really bad turn by turn directions) but this would actually help me alot in getting around the city of orlando.... i would love to use teleNav on my GSM iphone 4... I have been unemployed for 10 months and I would use AT&T Navigator on my iPhone 4 to find employers I could interview with Nationwide and locally here in dallas to make sure I am never late for my interviews because I would get lost:. This would help me GET THE JOB!! Thanks Oh man this would be so awesome for my amazing 180 mile commute :/ I have and love my iPhone, but navigation stinks on it. I have to keep my Droid so I can use Google maps navigation. I travel all over north TX doing pre purchase inspections and have to use nav to get around. I would love to try the telenav navigation. I plan on using the TeleNav App to help me find my way around Toronto Canada for my wife's friend's wedding. I've never visited Toronto, and want to be able to find all of the great attractions. Navigation on iPhone sucks. Period. And driving in and out of freeways, interstates and city streets ain't easy with very little guidance. How about showing some love, Telenav+TiPb? :) Really would love this for appraising new home subdivisions since my Garmin is out of date. I would use Telenav to drive to visit my parents, my children, and my other relatives - none of whom live within a thousand miles of me. I agree also, Telenav just doesn't make sense when the rest of the GPS MARKET is not charging you a mlnohty fee. Consider how you also have to have a data plan to also use Telenav and if you don't have any service in your area you'd be screwed. Telenav just needs to get with the program and start offering map packages and charge SEPERATELY for online services like traffic and other things of that nature.Biggest complaint is how this came as the default GPS program for Tmobile HD2 users if they wanna use one what is compatible with NaviPanel. I had to flash my rom to a different version so I could use CoPilot (which I then discovered was TOTAL CRAP ALSO UGH!!!!). So at the moment I'm just living with it. Eventually I'll just go for TomTom or Garmin XT or iGo or NaviGon because as you can see you got way better choices to go for .. Telenav will take me to Florida, which is 1,120 miles away to see my mom and grandmother!! I am actually going to drive down in the summer. This would help tons!!! I currently live in Delaware!! I'm also driving to georgia in a few months for my family member's Marine core graduation, as well as Virginia to visit other family. Lots of traveling! :) I would be very grateful!! I love Telenav. I loved it with Sprint, and I love it more as a iPhone app. My travels in Texas are much easier with Telenav. I would use Telenav on my iPhone to find warmer weather in the southern states. I would have a better handle on traffic delays in Chicago and construction. I would use TeleNav to go soooo many places. First - I'd use it to find a car dealership to buy a new car. Then I'd take that new car on a trip across the country for me and my new wife. I'd use it to take us to Arizona, where my grandparents lived and are buried - I've never been to their graves. Then perhaps - on to LA to see the stars! Big fan of TiPb n iPhone. I regularly use gps apps for my travelling, but wished I had a better one than MapQuest or waze. Would love to have ATT navigator. I can go places :) I would use it to make trips back and forth from college in Idaho to visit my family in Mississippi!! The B. Stands for Burns btw! Telenav will take me safely to the East Coast on my upcoming vacation! After receiving the subscription from you guys, i'd use it as my guide to California to visit the Apple Headquarters and possibly see Steve Jobs himself :P in my dreams... I plan to see if I can really jet ski from Japan to China like Google Maps says. I'll use TeleNav to guide me! :P I would use TeleNav to take my mother and sister on our first family vacation in years. I would use TeleNav to replace our old, WAY out of date and bulky TomTom on a trip back home to Washington D.C. I haven't been there since before I joined the Air Force 28 years ago. Now that I'm retired...I have the time to go. Thanks! I love the app, but I wish it was a tad bit smarter. Couldn't find "Allen Road" from my contacts or manual entry, but it knew "Allen Rd" just fine. I could use telenav to tale me to Florida next week for a music festival! Telenav would have fun. I need TeleNav to take me some place warm. Miami would work. This Michigan winter just won't quit. I've been dying to try out telenav, but I just can't shell out the money for it. This summer, I'm flying down to Fort Hood with a buddy in the army. He put his car in storage down there before he shipped out to Afghanistan. We're driving the car to Louisiana to see a friend, then driving it back up to Maryland. It'll be my first huge road trip, and I'm kinda dreading it. A quality GPS unit would make all the difference! I will use this to travel this summer as I am a photographer and it will help me get to some of the harder places to find to photograph. I'll let it take me anywhere as long as it doesnt direct me into a lake! I will use it for traveling with the family, fishing trips, and work! My Garmin just bit the dust. I'd use TeleNav as a replacement while traveling for business. I would use it mostly around town, but I have a long road trip from Chicago to Sarasota in June that I would love to use it on. Thanks! Need it mostly for my kids! They have absolutely NO sense of direction! ROAD TRIP!!!! this will help with not getting lost on road trips!!! and finding gas stations before we have no gas on said road trips. I plan on using Telenav to get me around town. I am in college and am trying to learn the roads so having something like TeleNav would be amazing. I have tried the free trial and it was amazing but I just couldn't afford it. I used it to get home over Christmas break and even when I made a wrong turn it quickly corrected the route and got me back on my way. I also used it in a recent trip to Disney, so basically it would be used to keep me from getting lost while I adjust to a new city. I've "liked" TiPb on facebook for a long time already! If I won, I'd use it to guide me to my friend's house in New Mexico. My friend has been sick for a long time, and I haven't been able to get down theor to visit him. I would love to have this I am a traveling salesman and don't really like the navigon app for driving. And this would give me a solid chance to try this service out after already spending 50 bucks on nav apps that just don't do what I need them to do. Team Jailbreak Tipb We are going to Maui. This would be great. I'll use telenav to find Waldo. I would use Telenav to get to almost anyplace in this big city of Dallas. I've lived here for 8 years and still get lost. My wife and I are taking a couple of trips this summer, one to the Smokies, and one to the Cascades. I intend to use Telenav for these! I'll use it to help me get to Origins this year in Ohio. I'm going to use Telenav to navigate through Southern California...it's where I live and despite living here my entire life I still get lost :) I am a truck driver and I would use the Navagation from AT&T for locating my pick up and drop off spots. Telenav and AT&T are both excellent companies, together they will have the best navigation service there is! Moving to San Diego soon, and will need to know how to find my way around town. I'm going to use it to help me get to my family vacation hotel in Siesta Key, Fl I will use TeleNav to shuttle my son to his many soccer games this summer. I love the TeleNav web interface! i do a lot of biking and this would come in handy. i also, tour with my band and we all have bad senses of direction!!! in fact, i just got lost while typing this message. I'm going to use telenav to help me relocate to a new state for my first job after I graduate college next month! I am going to use TeleNav while traveling across the US with my family! Can't wait to get going and can't wait to win!! I would use it for my vacation to fl in June. Taking new son to Disney! Road Trip with kids! Last year we drove from Baltimore to Tallahassee and Sarasota FL for spring break. This year we plan to go north! Better navigation would be awesome! After having driven 3,000 miles across the US getting here safely thanks to my Sprint Android phone using Google Nav and Sprint Navigation(Telenav) I switched to AT&T and the iPhone, now I find myself lacking any decent navigation, 3,000 miles from home in a place I don't understand =[ I would use telenav to get me to Deal's Gap. I ride a motorcycle and every year I take leave from my job in the military and travel to some of the best riding in the country. My iphone is my music player and telenav would turn it into my GPS as well. Two years ago I had a crappy Samsung that had the ATT navigator free. It was awesome to be able to use the app to go on the trip but not worth staying on the Samsung. Now that I have the best phone out there, I'd use the telenav app to get where I need to go. I would use Telnav to find new places to photograph! I'm about 30 minutes south of Los Angeles in Long Beach. Having TeleNav would give me another good reason to explore L.A. I would use TeleNav to take me somewhere warmer that I could relax! Thanks for the great promotion and the great reading here at TiPb. You all rock. I'm gonna use it to go to Disney Land this fall with my fam. Also heading up to MI for a wedding and NC to see some friends! Drive to California... I would use TeleNav to help me navigate through this crazy Atlanta traffic. HELP! Thanks TIPB! I would use it when I am stuck in traffic and need an alternate route. Also when I am traveling to see family. I would use TeleNav to take me to across the country on my dream trip to Disneyland! i would use telenav when i drive to MA from NY this summer! I would use it to show my Android friends how lame their GPS is. Maybe we could find our way around Baltimore/DC in July when we visit our daughter at Ft Meade i'm gonna drive to the keys, please guide my way! I'm retired now, so I've got plenty of time to drive all over. I don't want to get lost! I would really love to use TeleNav to take me to all 30 MLB ballparks this summer! I'll use telenav to get to my friends graduation. I'm in California and he's graduating at the airforce academy I. Colorado. Road trip! I would drive to see each of my family members across the country this summer, which would be great! Maryland, Florida, Ohio, Nevada, and Georgia! Winning this would make it much easier! I just got an email stating that I won! Yay! I won too @nicole Telenav will take me to little grass valley reservoir, CA HAH! What a fun contest Christina Anyways, just like enreyove before me, I'd love this why!?Hubby has a GPS in his cell phone and it's the best thing Ever! And, I don't get to use it nearly enough; if I'm lucky a couple times a month. Usually during errands on the weekend, when I don't need it at all. But, just to feel good we let us talk our way around town.As a not-at-home-school family we're going to parks, museums, coops, field trips on a daily basis throughout the state with new destinations every other day or so. IF I had this on my cellphone I wouldn't get lost the average 3-4 times a week, stuck in traffic for hours, or waste anymore precious gas. My littlest one just said Mama, you get lost many times every single day Today, we tried to go to an amusement park and I had google maps printed out; but that did NOT work, because just like noted above they're not always wrong. In my experience, I've banned mapquest about 3 years ago, because they were notoriously wrong. Also, as forgetful as I am I always fail to map out and print return directions. Believe me, I've lost much gas, sanity and time, simply because the return trip due to multiple highway exits/entrances, one-way streets, and multiple-lanes-that-I-can't-turn-because-I-didn't-see-the-street-coming-and-I'm-in-the-wrong-lane roads always get me off track.I'm always driving in circles. I've even mastered the quickest, hopefully safest, K-turn on the tightest roads and U-turns on the big ones. As for traffic jams: 7 miles from New Haven, we have the states worse highway bottleneck which can clog up traffic for hours for a 5-15 min. drive. When we took separate cars: Daddy, 1 daughter and me in one; Hubby & 2 other daughters in another, we were coming home from Newport, RI which should've been a 1.5 hour drive; took use close to 3.5 hours, but hubby got to navigate his detour and was home in less than 2 hours. We obviously lost him, and missed his exit; but even when he called by cell; we couldn't guarantee we'd know how to get home.In New Haven and NYC (which we visit ~ 2 times a month), we need detours for traffic jams and alternative routes to find parking. One convenient time, we parked and had the GPS lead our way by foot to the museum and restaurant of choice. Oh what I would do to have this luxury every single day. Add the fact that I have a bad memory and always seem to recall the wrong landmarks I can never stray off one-set of directions. So, a detour is my worse enemy. Especially because the signs never seem to get me to where I needed to go. We had so much road construction in New Haven this summer, and 3 of my girls' camps were in the center of the city oh, how I dreaded those days!Last, we leave SO much earlier than necessary to compensate for my driving, just to make things on time. For all the reasons above, we didn't have the best reputation for being on time much, even allotting what I thought more than enough time in the first place.Geez my 9 yo is reading over my shoulder and sighing Mama you can write forever about this topic . So, I might as well stop now. If I don't win, just seeing how much time, energy, gas money I wasted these past 3 months it may be an investment I have to make hopefully not Fortunately, my girls have mastered car games, and can read and write incredibly-neat in a car well, as you can see we're in it ALL the time
The big list of iOS 6 features >>IMAGE. There are 188 comments. Add yours. The maps is a cool new feature. Everything elsr is ok. I would like the native msgn app to be changed. There should be a quick reply pop up option like bitesms. I hope you realize that Apple's new Maps app is actually LESS functional than the new version of Google's app that was demonstrated on an iPad last week! You can say goodbye to public transportation routes, bike routes, pedestrian routes, OFFLINE MAPS, street view, and GLOBAL COVERAGE! You just better pray that Apple approves Google's new Maps app, or you're screwed... be nice if it was in the store but honestly, i've never had occasion to use any of the things you mention. so not a loss really. Do you know how many people actually use all of those features? Most people use maps to get driving directions. Usually only cities like New York have large amounts of people that use bike/walking directions. The new app actually dows have pedestrian dorections. Street view is cool but not necessary. And global coverage will affect a lot of people (outside the US) but from my understanding, the only thing they don't get would be turn by turn (voice) directions. Apple's app is definitely missing features, but all (at least most) of the really important ones are there. And they will definitely be adding back certain features over time. My point is that we're not 'screwed' Actually people in every major city in the world rely on public transit, biking directions. That's...I don't know...maybe a lot of people? I can say in Chicago, Google Maps public transit directions are invaluable, and I used them every day. Not everyone drives a car, which doesn't make sense in the city. Again...I'd say that's a LOT of people who are screwed. And Street view has more practical value than "Flyover 3D Mode" or whatever it's called. I agree. I'm in Milwaukee and to go downtown you really don't want to drive. Plus people with disabilitys don't drive so public transpertation is very valuable. People are doing more walking today, it's healthier and a lot better for our envirorment. More importantly, Google maps is not going away. It will not be the stock map service on ios but is will remain available as an app and as a web service. Not sure if you live in a major city but I used this feature all the time in Charlotte as well as manhattan I can answer your question: John lives in a parallel universe (Earth-2?) where cities have been deserted and everybody lives out in the boonies. This is all happened after the zombie apocalypse. Actually apple is in trouble because if these new maps are not as accurate as google maps a lot of people will switch to other platform. And unfortunately they are not accurate at this moment. I mean other countries as there are many others besides The USA Good luck with that story. RUMADBRO?! I can’t believe it but I’ve found myself looking at android phones since this announcement… I am a big apple fan and have always defended iOS against the haters, always agreed with the gradual update policy rather than complete re-design and have accepted some of the short comings because it all ‘just works’. But I think Android with ICS is getting pretty good now as are some of the top end handsets. I wasn’t overly impressed with the iphone 4s (it’s the first iphone I decided not to get), the new ipad also didn’t wow me enough to upgrade my older ipad and now with this iOS release, are apple slipping or am I just too picky?? Maybe I need to take a punt at Android, if its bad then I’ll be back and I’ll appreciate my i-devices again so much more! You'll be back :) Trust me I tried it ;) I guess I just don't need to upgrade OS and hardware every year. I upgraded from the 2010 MBA to the 2011 MBA mainly for the lighted keyboard and it was worth it. I upgraded from the iPad 1 to the iPad 2 for the speed increase and again it was worth it. But really, software updates have not been enough to upgrade for yet. I'd need to see videos included in Photo Stream before moving up the software. This is basically a list of things that Android has had for months/ years. Make sure to check out a top of the range droid on the latest OS and you will see its years ahead of Apple. You'll be back. I also own a HTC One X (probably the best Android phone...except the s3 that will be available this year). I went back to my iPhone like that. "Android did it" gets really old because yes, they did it. However getting a high end "droid" doesn't feel like I'm light years ahead...it feels like I'm beta testing. The only difference now between iOS and Android is this: Google pushes out features as soon as they can. You deal with the bugs and whine to google to fix them. Apple polishes and polishes until it's shiny. You can try the switch. You'll find yourself coming back though...especially if you own more than one Apple product. I just came back from trying to switch to android. The thing that bugged me most was the storage space for apps, even switching apps to my SD card i kept finding i'd run out or get that annoying message saying it was low, Android still has a way to go before it's as smooth as the iPhone. spoofs it on internal. drive with hotlinks ... On gingerbread the protocol was updated to move2sd+ which works in a similar way... If you just switched its a shame both options have been around for a year, even if you have a very old phone ... ..( the original move2sd did suck! and Google should have anticipate this problem and come out in front of it rather than having users like yourself. Get lost when there was s simple effective fix... Or maybe you should have gone to a developer forum ( like xda )or just Google and did a search..... With all the hackers on an open platform ;didn't it occur to you that it was solved ? spoons it on internal. drive with hotlinks Apple must be polishing a turd then because I've yet to see it shine that well in my use of iOS... "However getting a high end "droid" doesn't feel like I'm light years ahead...it feels like I'm beta testing. That's actually pretty well-phrased. I'm a long-term Android user and vastly prefer it to iOS, but Android does have kind of an experimental, "hey, let's see if this works" feel to it. That might actually be part of the draw for me, actually. I'm definitely an Apple fan for the simple reason that the IPhone, IPad and IPod Touch are blind accessible right out of the box since they include the VoiceOver screen reader. There are similar options for Android devices admittedly, but while a few of them are even free none of them are included out of the box and quite frankly I wasn't impressed with them when I tried them. One in particular kept telling me I had new voicemail and text messages every five seconds when I quite clearly had none. So far I've never had those or indeed any issues with either of my IDevices. I own an IPod Touch and an IPhone, which some might consider overkill since it means that in a way I have two IPods. But I got the Touch before the IPhone since I figured it would be a good way to ease myself into learning the IOS interface without having to worry about the possibility of accidentally rejecting calls or something in the first few weeks. Of course looking back now i realize that might have been an absurd worry considering the way the IOS interface works with Voice Over. Ya know, I agree. I started with android and I had 3 different droids eventually leading to my iPhone when it was released on verizon. I've been very happy with my phone but I cant help oogling over how much fun it is to play with an android and how much they have improved since I had it a year and a half ago! When iOS 6 was released, I was let down because almost everything released, I had on my crappy droid eris over 2 years ago. As a tech junkie, I need development and I feel like apple is really slowing down on that process. The things that keep me from switching: 1. My mom, sister, 2 best friends and gf all have iPhones (plus a few more close friends) 2. The iPhone just works. Androids tend to slow down or get a little buggy. iPhone just keeps on ticking (personal opinion) 3. iTunes backs EVERYTHING up. Android backs up some things. If you do a master reset, youll have lots of fun trying to get it all back the way you had it. 4. With iOS, I dont have to worry about having too many apps open and slowing down the memory. 5. Androids make me phone hungry and i tend to upgrade between 2 and 4 times a year (I have 5 lines on my account) Time to Jailbreak. You'll love it, trust me. Wait, the good days arent over, 4S was an incremental upgrade and wait until the end of the year for 5. iOS will get better. There are major UI changes in iOS 6 that Apple didn't show off. Sure.. If iPhone 5 is like the leaks. 4" screen by going 16:9 and not wider. Box shaped case. It will not impress, just 4" to say 4" not really larger. Almost the same shape except taller. I would have gone for the Rumored iPhone 5 from last year, it was much better looking and shaped. This years rumored device is not exciting. Hope to see something better, I'm due for an update and skipped 4S. it will be LTE and that alone will make it sell. And most people are like imore readers that need the new look at me toy and want change because they are bored. Yeah, like what? Yeah I thought like that to last year. And went through two months of hell. Had three different phones that were horrible. Both hardware and most of all software. and support from google was... o wait they had little to no support what so ever. But hey to each his own. Believe-me even with ICS and nice phone Android just don't work as well as iOS. I tried and with exception of maps, customization and multitasking experience everything else is better on iOS. I think that you will be back. Wait iPhone 5 if you can. They may surprise with nice hardware enhancements. But, Aldo, what does that tell you about the Apple devices that you have now: the iPhone and iPad? After a year or more of use, they are still doing the job you need and you saw no need to replace them. That speaks volumes about the quality of what you have. As for other platforms, I've found that "cool" on the surface (no pun intended) doesn't necessarily mean useful and reliable on the inside. In any case, all the best to you! Am I the only one overjoyed with iTunes Match now streaming rather than just downloading!!! This is a massive improvement. I wish they would have announced that they were upping the 25,000 song limit for iTunes Match. Can't sign up. 48K+ songs in my library. Where's the RIAA when you need them? 25k song limit for a paid service whose only advantage is that you do not have to upload songs if they already exist on the server? And you can only use via ios or iTunes? I'll take google music or amazon cloud. i agree. already uploaded 18k songs, still barely use it but it's free. not monthly charges and considering how little i use it that's a big plus. How the hell do you spend 48 thousand dollars on music? The reason why this doesn't look like much is that Apple wasted tons of time and staff recreating google maps. As soon as the map rumors started swirling, it was cleat that if they were true, the resources Apple would need to put into it would be overwhelming, which means less for everything else. The new maps has pretty eyecandy to mask that it is missing usuability features of the current maps app. Everything else is little incremental things: siri searches for more things, tweaks to the maps app, etc. Ho hum. if he bought them he most likely wouldn't be trying to "itunes match" them... don't need to buy them all off itunes. I've got maybe half that amount but my large collection is mostly my collection combined with my father's huge collection all ripped before iphones existed. I actually started ripping my stuff like many people before anyone was selling hard drive players. i was playing them off my computer in my apartment. Then an ipod was just a hope. He's clearly saying he has 48k FILES in his library... not that he spent $48k ON those files. I just want you to be aware that it's a 25,000 uploaded song limit. Matched songs don't count. I'm sure you'll be fine. A few questions came to me while reading...if you could please gives more details on them... Custom vibrations for alerts - what do you call "alerts" exactly? Clock alarms, countdown, reminders, etc? International language and local search (Canada, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Korean, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China) - Does the local search mean that services like map & directions, businesses, restaurante, etc is now available in all these countries? This Siri features were not accesible with iOS 5. And an estra question. I haven't read this one in your article at all, but elsewhere, maybe someone could clarify this. Is there a way in iOS 6 to set custom ringtones to specific apps? (OS- based, and no like Whatsapp, which lets you choose between their app's sounds). Thank you to evyone for any help. I appreciate this update more probably because I left my 4S and went Windows Phone 7 but came right back to ios. Don't get me wrong, WP7 is a great OS but it is not for me. Their deep integration, live tiles and navigation are fantastic. But it is still a new OS , thus making it vunarable to bugs and annoyances over time. Same went for iOS pre 3.2 hence always jail breaking. iOS has now matured into a Solid mobile platform where these additional features are just a fine refinement of the existing platform and a beatiful harmony of hardware and software, something Android has failed to achieve to this date. Don't get me wrong, the HTC One X is by far the best Android device to date, yes still better than the Galaxy III, but that's for another day. I feel shafted with no lube over the fact the turn by turn won't be available on the iPhone 4. Also a few other features won't be available either. To say I'm p#ssed off is an understatement. Though I'm not forced to update my phone it won't being long. I have no job and can't afford a £37 pound a month contract. Nor can I afford to pay over £400 for a new phone. Apple is starting to p#ss me off. Apple are a business. Why would they not want to sell new products? Times are hard, sure, but if you don't have a job and therefore can't afford a new iPhone then that's that. No point moaning about Apple wanting to make money. You haven't got turn-by-turn at the moment and you haven't got the other features you say won't be supported on the iPhone 4 so it's not like you got the phone for those features. I'd quite like the newer bigger, more powerful, more feature-loaded car that my current car manufacturer has just brought out. But I can't afford it. I'm not going to start being p#ssed at that manufacturer for doing that though. Typical conservative response. There iPhone 4 can definitely handle the upgrade but Apple chose to not include it out of greed. There are other reasons to upgrade to an iPhone 5 other trying to cripple the iPhone 4 to do it. Not everything a business does solely for profit is a good idea. One of these days you guys will see that. He's saying that the guy got what he paid for and shouldn't expect a lifetime of free features just because he wants them. The purpose of a business is to make money not give handouts. If they put all the new features on all of the old devices everyone would buy cheaper older devices or not upgrade at all. Which equals them losing money. "Typical conservative response"? Such a rediculous attitude toward a simply logical statement. Don't by what you can't afford and eventually those that sale it will make it affordable, in order to bring it back into demand. Wow, there's and interesting concept!!! You can have very useable turn by turn on an iPhone4 - there are apps for that. Loads of 'em. As a fellow iPhone 4 user, I get where you are coming from. But I always go back to "It didn't have it when I bought it" Not to mention the biggest factor -- The iPhone 4 will be the "free" phone come iOS launch. iOS 6 to support iPhone 3GS and up If you want Maps with free turn-by-turn directions, you could always just pick up any 4-year old Android phone; since, you know, they've had it all along.... :P One of the most important reason why people are pissed because iPhone 4 didn't get the turn-by-turn is that it's not much of a difference between iPhone 4 and 4s. It's the same phone with siri and better camera. Not a reason to upgrade for most people. The performance of the CPU & GPU of the A5 processor in the iPhone 4S compared to the A4 in the iPhone is quite significant. Nevermind the fact that the antenna system on the iP4S is improved upon compared to the iP4. So no, the iPhone 4S is not just an iPhone 4 with Siri and a better camera. ...and if you genuinely believe that the "VAST PERFORMANCE DIFFERENCE" between the 4s and the 4 is what is required to support something as resource hungry as "turn by turn navigation", well, you're an idiot. A very simple improvement would be allowing us to add custom words to the dictionary. I'm sick of writing friends names and auto-correct kicking in and I have to type it three times etc. If I not mistaking your comment, you can add custom words in the keyboard section under settings. I have a ton of them that I use not only for names but shortcuts too. And the custom words now sync via iCloud. Very nice feature! I'm thrilled with the 'Do Not Disturb' feature! It's actually a suggestion I (among, I'm sure, many, many others) had sent to Apple. Since we no longer have a home phone, I hate turning my phone off at night, or if I take a nap during the day. Now I won't have to! I always figured that's what the off button was for. I guess that I know now though eh. The problem with the Off button is that it also stops emergency phone calls...my parents are in their 70's, I can't afford to miss a call from them or my brother...so...no off button for me, ever. I may never read this forum again, but I have to say... Epic egg on face moment for Anthony, there Cant agree more with @Aldo. With great success with iDevices, Apple is one.. no, 3 steps behind competitors and just watching and start copying them. They dont want revolution now. What a shame! Hardware-software optimization? Yes, it worked before but these days competitors like Samsung getting knows how to optimize their better hardware (than apple) with Android. And as long as I know, Samsung and Google are making their own operating system and device like Apple, Apple will gradually lose their position. In my opinion in 5 years, Samsung and Google will take the popularity which now Apple have. Come on Apple, I really loved you guys. Please dont be settled down. What are talking about? Please be specific. What hardware optimization are you talking about? In what way are they "3 steps behind"? Apple always late to add very BASIC and ESSENTIAL features to iOS which their competitors have them long time ago. Such as folder system, multitasking (even it is not true multitasking), notification center and so on. They sit back and watch what Android do first and if it looks great they implement to iOS. They are sayng it is because they want to make it perfect and stable but that cant be an excuse. I am for sure sometime later Apple will add "widget" and "quick-access button" (for the WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS and etc) on the notification center which Android had from long time ago and they will say "wow it just works", oh also they will escape from SMALL 3.7 inch screen to follow competitors. Apple lost how to innovate, they are so afraid to do revolutionary thngs. I bought all generations of iPhones, iPads, Macbook Pros bucause Apple was so creative and revolutionary which make me to feel pleasant when using them. It is time to think again how they approach when they make iOS or iDevices. So changing the screen size because their customers want it makes them copy android? of all the other things he mentioned, you selectively picked the screen-size. Attach a photo to an email, every mobile device can do it except for iOS5, iOS6 will have it and they think it is the best in the world. having signature for each email account, WP7 has this, it's like they polished it and it is so shiny that you will be blinded just by looking at it. that's what the guy is saying. love the ios 6 but only thing is no maps loves for iphone4 this just absurd for me but ı wait for publıc release but ı am realy upset for maps for iphone4 because ı am ok with no siri for but maps we waith for this... iPhone4 will get maps - just not turn-by-turn - no biggie - there are apps for that. the hell do consumer gotta pay for an app when the iphone4 handle the processing? are you that retarded? there's an app for everything that iOS6 do, if that's the case, apple doesn't need to lift a finger. the 4s isnt light speed ahead of the 4. No, I'm not intellectually challenged at all. I'd question your thinking abilities after reading your reply... there are free turn by turn nav apps out there. If you'd bothered to look, you might find one you like. But that would preclude you from incessant whining that you're not getting something you could have had all along had you bothered to take the time to find it. smh. I'll admit that I wasn't overly impressed with everything shown. It would be a great 5.X release but not sure it's enough to be a full X.0 release. That's really all they were able to come up with in a whole year??? What actually does make me upset is the features that were selectively made unavailable on the older hardware. For example, no FaceTime over cellular for iPhone 4... really? I plan on getting the new iPhone in the fall anyway, but there is no technical reason why that wouldn't work on a 4. It's stuff like that that makes me shake my head. Not everyone can afford to upgrade. I can understand being disappointed that some cool features in iOS 6 won't be functional for iPhone 4, iPad 1 and older devices. I can't understand being angry or upset or p#ssed, as one poster above put it. In some cases, there are definitely technical reasons why a particular feature doesn't work (e.g., the iPad 1 only having 256mb available to the OS is a big limitation now.) In other cases, the features give a competitive advantage for newer Apple devices over the latest Android devices and even over older Apple devices. The iPhone 4 will soon be 2 generations behind. The iPad 1 already is. The iPhone 3GS is 3 generations behind. It isn't reasonable to expect every feature of iOS 6 to be made available on older hardware, especially when Apple wants customers to have reasons to upgrade. At least iPhone 4 users CAN upgrade to most of iOS 6. Most of the Android phones that are less than a year old STILL don't have ICS, and many of those never will. How's that for fair? "It would be a great 5.X release but not sure it's enough to be a full X.0 release." This, I agree with. Perhpas this is all a clever scheme in order to wow us with the "New iPhone" in October. I can't help but think that we will see major updates then. These are major updates.. No offence, other than Maps, what's so major about this release? SERIOUSLY WHEN ARE THEY GONNA ADD LOCAL SEARCH IN THE ENGLAND!?!?!?!?!? You mean like they just have? I'm not exactly sure, but does the new iPhone support LTE? Sorry I'm a new b lol Thanks Hopefully it will. And hopefully we'll get a bigger screen as well but, we'll just have to wait until fall to see for sure. Because you know apple...always changing things last second haha i think verizon and At&T said that no more smartphones will be released without LTE and with sprint paying to expand to LTE i don't see how it can't. Hopefully the new iPhone is more than a stretched iPhone 4 otherwise it will be a huge disappointment Downloading from App Store doesn't kick you out anymore and you also don't have to keep entering your password for app updates... This is really nice! You didn't have to keep entering your password for app updates before, there's an option in settings where you can choose how often you have to enter your password :) @Esme where exactly is it in the settings? im kind of new to this haha I'm curious where that option is hiding. That option is for the password to lock your phone, not apple ID password I just wish they hadn't screwed the pooch so bad on the maps.... the only way I'm upgrading and not migrating to Android as soon as my contract is up, is if Google releases a GOOD (not web wrapper) app of Maps and it's actually approved, which I can't see Apple allowing. I am a non-Japanese person living in Japan and I live and DIE by those maps being comprehensive and in English, and the data sources disclosed so far are horrid and lacking in a single English version of the Japanese names. So much this! I'm the same, here in Japan. The iPhone 3G was my first phone ever and I got it for exactly 2 reasons: browsing the net and google maps. I will either not bother updating to iOS 6 or I may be forced to jump ship. I also love street view and use it all the time to find businesses since the streets here are so chaotic. I can't imagine not having google maps on my phone. 3D flyovers or 3D views entirely are of no interest. Love the satellite views and public transportation routes. I guess I'll have to wait and see. I was really looking forward to upgrading from my current iPhone4 too this fall but now... Looks like Apple needs to step up their game. I have just moved to iPhone 4S from Android, and although IOS "just works", it lacks a lot of basic features that are native to Android. The new ICS on Android puts to rest any past complaints about lag and instability on Android devices, and people must be buying into it, as the new Samsung Galaxy SIII will be the best selling phone at launch of all time. I would really like to stay with iPhone, and believe me I am not bashing, but IOS6 is just a minor update, and seems to put Apple further behind. I have read the forums on this site for a long time, and since IOS was announced it seems as though a LOT of people are considering a switch to Android. If they go with one of the new ICS phones, this may not be a bad idea. To say this is a SMALL update is a bit of an exaggeration. this update was obviously to more closely integrate Mac OSX with iOS. A feat that has yet to be done by any other cell phone maker. All part of the close nit system that Apple has in place. If you have a windows computer and no other apple devices, yes this is a SMALL update. If your rockin a mac and other apple tech, this is a HUGE update. I am looking forward to many of these smaller features to more closely integrate my Mac with my iPhone with my iPad with My apple TV. A clock app for the iPad. It's the little things that make me happy... I noticed Bluetooth settings now quicker to get to... If only I could ask Siri to turn Bluetooth on and off, that would be cool... I am not liking this at all. Someone said it right this should be an improvement to ios5. I believe the reason for not allowing the iPhone 4 to not get these is Verizon and the amount of unlimited data packages out there with a 4 on them. Myself included. I also cannot believe that I will still be interrupted while I am on a phone call by a text or some other meaningless notification. I shouldnt have to put everything on silent or no vibrate to not be bothered. It should "just work" that way. That was a basic function of a "dumb" phone! I am seriously considering goin back to android. Apple has let me down for sure. You forgot song for alarm tones, which you can see right in the graphic above. Oh come on now. You cant make a list and put every minor part of each upgrade as an upgrade in itself just for the sake of total new items. As an example, listing each league in sports as an extra enhancement is BS.Its all under one upgrade : Siri & Sport. Why not just list any and all new commands from Siri and make the iOS the one with over 50,000 new features? :lol: :twisted: Sigh.. All I really wanted is a voice unlock for my phone so Siri is useful. I hate that I have to unlock my phone by looking at it and putting in my code when I get a new message etc.. Kind of defeats the purpose when using Siri for texting while driving. Seems like it should already be there.. After reading all the comments I think I'm the only one that likes it. Oh well simple mind simple pleasures LOL You're not the only one. I like it. It's what I was expecting. Still wanting that simultaneous display of 2 apps. There isn't that much left to do but refine. Smartphone functionality has reached the point where they are serving their customers very well, and not only that, there aren't any low hanging fruit left after 5 years of intense evolution and refinement. So improvements today and in the future will have less and less bang for the buck. (When transactional memory comes, maybe that'll spark a new evolution of apps and performance, but software development is slow slow slow compared to hardware). As for the posts, you have to remember that at least half of them, if not the majority, are troll posts. This is a tradition for Apple updates of any kind. When ever and iOS or iPhone update comes, there will be backlash and troll posts touting how Apple has failed and they are going to move over to competitor phones. It happened for iOS 5, iOS 4, and iOS 3, iOS 2 and even iOS 1. Good point didn't think about that. Under safari, "Full Screen video in landscape" is incorrect and is rather "Full Screen browsing in landscape". At first I was a little disappointed but after using it on my iPad for half a day I'm starting to like it. It's not everything I wanted, widgets would have blown my mind. But it's still nice. I realize it's only a beta, but how are you finding the performance at this stage? The iPhone copied every single one of these features from Android 1.0, right down the phone dialer, complete with numbers and letters on the keys. and so android has copied any phone that has ever had numbers and letters on the keys.........makes sense? No man, Android had everything FIRST. Everyone else just copied Android. Hell, even people who made maps back colonial American times copied Google Maps. Good one :D Dude. Check out Pre-iPhone Android (Looked clearly like a Blackberry clone) and Post-iPhone Android (Looks like and iPhone clone). And it went into "development", change of plans (copying iPhone OS), AFTER the iPhone. Plus, it lacked things like Core Animation. Android has never lacked anything!! Any enhancements to Parental Controls? I have to say I was very pleased with all of the updates and upgrades. Also, there are some new Emoji icons. I think some of you are missing the point. A lot of the new features are hidden as APIs. Devs will be able to bring us so much more than what we've seen here from Apple. They take pride in the fact their devs have more power here. Apple is more than just a phone. With an iPhone you get the Apple ecosystem. Anything on my phone I can play on my TV or stereo. With this update I can be looking at a website on my Mac and grab my phone and continue reading on the go. I can play games with Mac users. The amount of effort they're putting into tying everything together is astounding. Windows isn't even doing this outside of the Xbox. Android can't come close. Sure, I can mess with apps that do somewhat what I'm looking for if I install this and that, click here, oops - restart the phone, set these settings if that case exists, etc. With Apple, I turn on HomeSharing. That's it. I'm an IT guy by day, I make a lot of money off the consistency at which Microsoft throws errors. When I'm at home I don't want to tweak anything. I don't want to root anything. I don't want to mess with my router's settings. I'm sick of playing with that stuff, I just want it to work. I just want to play music on my stereo, to play a game with my brother in Illinois, to show my girlfriend a YouTube video on the TV or share a webpage with her on her iPad. With Apple I can just do that. Go get Android's latest. Play with your ICS. It better be worth it, cause you're not getting the next update. Have fun being disconnected. Still no GROUP sms or send files via bluetooth to other devices :-( Turn group messaging on in settings. It's been there for a while. Time/date info for pictures? Timestamp every text message? Too much to ask for? No Siri NASCAR, Formula 1 or Rolex Sports cars series integration? BOOO!!! Did they at least upgrade her voice to sound more female? Doubt it. How bout a method to turn off all that extra Facebook sharing crap I don't want? Wasn't mentioned. :-) With the new iOS 6 update, you will have the ability to chose what Facebook syncing is allowed. I'm sure most of us don't want our 300+ friends birthdays and phone numbers and other info saved into our iPhones. The $20 upgrade to Mountain Lion is killer. Microsoft can't even come close to touching that. I was getting ready to say that. $20 for Mountain Lion is WAAAAAAAY better than $200 for Windows 7. Who the hell pays $200 for Windows 7?! O_o Does iOS6 have any better Parental Controls? At least be able to password protect Setting or many be Wi-Fi. I would like to be able to change the DNS servers on the Network Adapters for OpenDNS, instead of each Wi-Fi network. Is there a way to change DNS on Cellular Data? Don't know about DNS, but for parental controls, there's Guided Access, which basically locks down usage so kids can only use a single app. What about passworded apps like Facebook and twitter email etc. So the original iPad and iPod touch generations prior to 4th cannot be upgraded to iOS 6? They become obsolete?? ummm where have you been lately? iPad 1 was obsolete in the beginning of 2011. iPod touch 1, and 2nd generation were obsolete in 2010. the third generation touch was obsolete beginning of this year. sorry for my english i have one question ... will the iOS 6 update be OTA or trough itunes? We don't know yet but I would guess over the air when it is released. You can update it on the air, it said so on wwdc In calendars, you can now share your entire calendar with others right from the app. No more going to iCloud.com to do do. You did not list one of the best new features in Safari. Search right from the address bar, with results showing up as you type with best match and results from Google, History and other areas. You can skip the Google screen completely by passing all the ads and select the result you want right from the drop down choices in the address line(search box). Are you sure that's not only in Mountain Lion? Apple has this all planned out. They're not going to waste ground breaking updates on software (all though maps is pretty sick) when they release a new re-designed phone because they know people will buy. In 2013 when they release the an Iphone 5S with the same form factor they will focus more on software to sell. This year, they will make the new iphone so sexy that no one will care that the OS looks basically the same because the new design will sell. Next year they will probably update the UI a bit more to make it more atteactive on that end when the phone design remains the same. Thats what I think anyway. only feature I like is the different signature for different email addresses! i have 5 email accounts on my ipad 3 and having one sig. suck total ass. It would be nice if replied/fowarded emails would sync with Exchange ... meaning that when I reply to an email on the ipad, Exchange/outlook will know that I have replied to it. Right now, ipad shows I replied but Exchange/Outlook think I haven't. I still see no wifi toggle in the notifications center. I think the idea is that the iphone / ipad battery lasts long enough for you to keep wifi and bluetooth on continuously. I do that, have about 5 hours of usage a day and still have over 40% battery at the end of the day. The wifi/bluetooth/everything toggles of Android phones are necessary because the code is inefficient enough to burn through giant batteries in hours. Apple's idea is to make the manual fumbling of phone settings unnecessary. Will we ever see MAP for Bluetooth? I'm convinced it will never happen. At least not until Apple builds an iCar. Yup, it's on the list. Android phones from 2008 all have FREE turn-by-turn Nav, but Apple claims the iPhone 4 can't handle it, so only the iPhone 4S and 5 will receive that feature? LAWL!! :D That new Maps app code must be a real hog... I wonder what "New iPod app" entails. I hope any change doesn't throw the baby out with the bathwater. They just redesigned the color scheme of the app and voulume control bar as far as I can tell Pretty much, just linked a screenshot. not a fan of the color scheme. man i hope keeping the original color scheme is optional. Nice feature list. Too bad those features won't be available for all iOS devices. I love how Apple poked fun at Android for being so fragmented with different OS versions on different devices, then said "Oh, by the way, many new features won't work on anything but the 4S or the new iPad." Reminds me of the line from the old cartoon Dr Katz: "Look how much it takes to bore me" That's a long list, signifying very little of any interest. New Emoji Another minor update I don't see listed here is the ability to "Message" a web address from Safari. I realize it's minor and has been available on other OSs forever, but nonetheless, the lack of it prior to iOS 6 drove me nuts. Nice list, I do like all the Siri & Map improvements. I still would like to see a live clock and weather app, showing the real time and real temp outside. Maybe even make the weather app light and dark for day and night. Kind of like the jailbreak options. Looking forward to the update. Man I can just here the fandroids now. " Big deal we have had this for years". We've had that for years". lol "iOS is just getting that now". It's funny as hell. The weather app got a redesign too. hmmm, does the new wallpaper from the ios6 background included in the features? Coming from android ( HTC Sensation ) I feel cheated because all the IOS updates are old comparing them to a old top android. Apple is ok but I feel it's just missing something and idk what that is. I think anyone that's had a android, meaning 1ghz and up ( not that 600mhz crap ) maybe feel the same way. I will be going back ASAP!!! iPhone is cool just not for me. Unfortunately I don't see a feature I've been wanting ever since my first iPhone, which is the ability to view metadata on photos. I've got well over 1,000 photos on my iPhone, and it would be nice to know at least the dates of when those photos were taken. You'd think it would be relatively simple for Apple to incorporate this feature into the Photos app--just provide a little "i" icon in the corner of each photo; tap it and the photo flips over to reveal the metadata. I know I can view the metadata after downloading the photos to my Mac, but I want to be able to view it on my iPhone!!! You can view all photo metadata in Apple's iPhoto app (there is an 'i' button to press when viewing any photo). I agree. While not in the OS there's an app called "ExifWizard" that does this nicely. I agree with a lot of statements being made on here about some features that some are so excited about have already been released on WIN7 and Android. My main concern is 4G every carriers network is be bogged down with all these 3G iPhones. I want speed. I would also like the ability to change my fonts like I used to with my Blackberry, even Android had the ability to change fonts or even download apps that would allow you to change fonts. I know it may seem petty but we all have little things we miss if we switched from one smartphone operating system to another. +1 Noticed inside the App Store, that it no longer sends you to a new page when you want to view the changes to new updates, instead, tapping "View More" will expand the field and show the changes. Super convenient! Out of their expansive list of over 200 "new" features... the only ones that stand out for me are sharing calenders (finally) and getting notes and reminders in iCloud. The latter is way overdue, it actually should have been there from the get-go. I should be able to just jump on my computer and update notes and see them sync right back to the phone. Let's not forget folks in all the criticisms that there are people on this planet that living in refuge camps not knowing how they will survive another day. Think about this when you complain about not having a certain feature work a certain way on a PHONE! i'm really exicted that siri is finally fully functional in the UK at last no more "sorry i can only look for buisness in the united states and when using US english" All this rubbish anouit my iphone 4 wont get turn by turn firections..listem..to me ...just get TOMTOM from app store its far better than ios6 turn by turn... cheers TC01 It's actually the same thing... Tomtom made Apple's turn-by-turn. The only difference is that Apple's maps are prettier and include some additional features. Knowing Apple, it will probably run a lot smoother than any other turn-by-turn app in the App Store also, upon its final release this fall. Also, enough with the debate. Android provides a lot more features, but they don't work as well. Apple provides fewer features that all run smoothly and reliably and integrate with their other products seemlessly. Make your choice. I don't think this was mentioned but in the App store now you don't get kicked out after you click install. It keeps you in the App store to do more shopping. Also if you already have an app installed you don't need to put your password in to do an update for that app. No need to leave my Jailbreak iOS 5 still will not allow AT&T customers to turn off 3G. In remote areas, on the fringe of 3G coverage, this means NO coverage because the hand off to Edge doesn't work properly. I'm sure hoping they put that 3G on/off switch back in for AT&T customers with this upgrade. Not what you mean by this, Is it an Iphone 4 or 4s, I have a Iphone 3GS (yes Still using it)Running on AT&T (oh man Do I Hate them) running the latest version of IOS 5.1.1, and I am able to disable 3G Service and run off the slower edge services even in the "Remote" Rural Lands around Oregon...... Do the iMessage unifications mean that if somebody sends a message to my phone number (not my email address, or my Apple ID, but my phone number), it will show up on my Wifi iPad or on my MBP? The fact that it doesn't currently has always struck me as somewhere between hackish and stupid, given that this problem has been solved for years by Google Voice or even by XMPP. Photo upload is safari is nice. Is the bluetooth control a top menu now...i saw it on the keynote, but wondering if its in the beta? meh, the vast majority of additions do not interest me. the crippling of mapping as we now know it is a very very very dumb move. It's all political but obviously, Apple doesn't think people need all the basic features we now know and expect from Google maps. But, hey, let's add 3D maps (a red herring) to deflect from the lack of features. i am long overdue for a hardware upgrade. several things nixed me getting the iPhone. the biggest and most important component is the screen size. this puny 4 inch screen is not really an upgrade. apple will be marketing a larger screen when in fact it's only taller. a 4 inch screen from 3.5 inconsequential. I have an iPad 3, iPod touch 3 gen, and the Samsung Galaxy I. I cant stand the GI, if I see the engineers and software developers, I would have to exhibit a great deal of self control not to throw my phone Samsung at them. There is no dang support from Google whatsoever, the OS is heavily fragmented, apps run in the background robbing your device of system resources, battery, and performance even after you kill them. They keep coming back like a zombie. Yet, I have solidified that I MUST have a larger screen on my mobile device. It must be at leat 4.5 inches, even 5. This was the primary reason to eliminate the iPhone 5. Everything else is incidental. I hope come October, HTC creates a smartphone that has an external SD card not internal because that's we preventing me from getting it. An external SD card is a must with Android because you will need to frequntely wipe out your device because it'll cause you issues if you dont. Are they ever going to make an iOS were you will be able to send attachments straight from the mail app (not having to download a third party app)? Just wondering. I would really like that! I'm sorry, I meant documents. Hey do iOS 6 support iphone4s? Just because you love oranges doesn't mean apples are gross. Basically get the phone that works for you. With that said I love iPhone for the simple and easy user friendly layout. I also love Android for the cool features. iPhone is just my preference but that doesn't make me loathe an Android. We are talking about a phone. TROLLS GET A LIFE!! When Steve Jobs described the iPhone as "your life in your pocket" he wasn't kidding. The smartphone and technology is taking over. Any news on Parental Controls? Can we have more 'control' yet? Just finished reading this exhaustive thread. You are all so spoiled. I'm old enough to remember rotary dial phones. The iPhone still leaves me in awe even with its "failures". Be glad you have this technology. I find it hard to be snobbish. Has apple opened up the Bluetooth stack yet to allow pairing with Bluetooth GPS? This is my biggest issue now that email signatures have been dealt with. This is also why Android is looking better to me everyday. I want one device that will do it all and I spend a lot of time in remote areas. Assisted GPS is brutal. It' not GPS. Why can't Apple just do the simple things well like they used to... These things should be simple to do: i) Addresses in iCal should link directly with the new maps app so you don't have to type in the address into another sat nav app each time. ii) Designate airplane mode to save battery life... ie from 12am - 6am iii) A simple way to turn off Bluetooth iv) ABILITY TO CHANGE 'READ' TEXT MESSAGES BACK TO 'UNREAD'!!!! WHY IS IT SO HARD APPLE? Thanks for posting this! I'm even more excited about iOS 6 now. I had no idea about some of the small things that were changed that I'm excited about. Wow, nice comprehensive post! Quick question, anys chance they added the ability to delete apps from the spotlight search (with a swipe) or added the ability to sort apps by name (instead of the standard 'by size') under settings ->general->usage to make it easier to find the apps you want to delete? Wait so we aren't gonna be able to go under settings -> general -> software update and upload iOS 6... We are going to have to buy on the app store? I mean I was just wondering but a couple of posts said "it would be nice if it wasn't in the store. From what it sounds like it is a big update jump like from 4 to 5 but that was all under settings -> general -> software update-> But this jump sounds like we are gonna have to pay. Is that right? I mean I can afford something like that because so far I don't think I could wait until fall. Oh well.:) The most basic of features that is still absent, but available on Windows phones is the ability to attach a document - other than a photo, to an email thread. Simple, but powerful item that's been neglected. . How do i make my song my ringtone? i can't figure it out
Rush Limbaugh loves iMore! Today on his talk show Rush Limbaugh was asked to name some of his favorite tech sites, and guess which site he named first? You're absolutely right, our very own iMore! Here's the excerpt from Limbaugh's blog:. Thank you! For the complete transcript, check out the link below. Source: Rush Limbaugh There are 170 comments. Add yours. Was just about to make a forum thread on this. Heard it today while at work. i don't think that is an endorsement you want lol Explain please. Because Rush is disliked by many people. Some would consider his endorsement to be a negative. Personally, I think Rush is a nut, but I don't know much about him. Recognition from a high-profile figure like that is always very cool though, and him mentioning the site can only help the community grow, in my opinion. Grow the community with fringe, right wing ditto heads? That will be great for imore. / sarc I can't disagree, but more people means more revenue, which means more contests and giveaways and cool stuff! We can only hope there isn't a huge influx of Rush Followers, but judging from a lot of these comments, a lot of them are already here. I'll try to keep looking on the bright side though haha. Im usually a lurker. Have been for about two years now but this app makes it crazy NOT to post. But with all that said i may not agree with Rush on his political views but atleast he has good taste in tech You are right about the app. I am posting more than ever. You'd be surprised how many of us have been here for quite some time, and how much better we get along if we aren't calling each other names. /notatallsarc If you like Rush so much why don't you listen to his show? You're kidding,right?! And a shout out to The Beard as well, our Mobile Nations community is hitting it big with people, awesome! Let's make it bigger, let's make it everyone's go to hub for all things tech! thats awesome how a genius like that got some of his inspiration from a awesome website just imagine what if that was steve jobs if he never had known about imore then he wouldnt have inspirition that lead to apple which led to pixar which lead to other people inventions. so imagine if rush limbaugh gets his inspiration from he what if someone else get his inspiration from rush who known maybe that person can be the next steve jobs Things I can't: 1. Even HAHA! +1 You are *PROUD* to be mentioned by Rush Limbaugh? Time to find a new web site... More listeners than any other talk radio show in the country. What's not to be proud of? I'm sorry, I didn't know that the entire Internet required any of its denizens to be liberal progressives. I must have missed that memo when I applied.... "Oh no, the owner of this site likes someone who's political views I don't agree with. Time to hate them!" The owner of this site apparently has no idea who Limbaugh even is, only that he has a lot of mindless drones listening to him. This is not a liberal-conservative thing. The man is an insensitive racist. Not exactly role-model material. It just seems to me that any company that would be proud to be associated with someone as divisive as he is might want to reconsider their position if they don't want to risk alienating a portion of their customers. A portion is going to be alienated regardless of position. Rush just tells it like it is, and liberals can't stand it. If making crap up, falsifying information and spinning people into hysterics is telling it like it is - please shut that garbage off. So true, while publicity is always good, Rush Limbaugh is a racist, far far right wing propagandist. Interesting to see there are so many people here that are fans or are duped by his BS. Please link directly to a reliable source that supports this claim. >>>The man is an insensitive racist. Liberal meme. You sound like "other cell phone platform" zealots who come here having never touched Apple products just to tell us how wrong we are for finding Apple products actually meet our needs quite well. Me thinks you don't know what a meme is. Rush Limbaugh is a pill popping, polarizing, blabbering bag of shit. Fact. Not exactly someone who you want an endorsement from. I'm fully cognizant of what a meme is. And you are equally guilty of perpetuating a false one with your profane tirade. Lol little sensitive in defending Rush I see. Funny. Funny is you. Not really. Bigotry is unbecoming. There are plenty of good people out there is this world to listen to, pretending a vile racist like Limbaugh isn't one, only makes me question those that still support him. Why must you inject racism into discourse when you don't hear what you want? Seems to be a pretty common denominator for a lot of people. Assume racism regardless of context and loudly force that opinion on others huh? Right - Im a bigot because I cant stand a bigot. And sorry -throwing a hissy fit because someone is insulting your favorite show is silly. Relax - you can still be in his fan club with his secret code ring. LOL... and iMore mad you a modertaor? ROFL! Edit: BTW, Olan Mills called - they want their avatar back. =p It's pretty obvious where the sensitivities lie with your aggressive language and tone. Sounds like you might be getting ready to hurt some people. Maybe we should have you checked out? It is for the good of the collective if you get a psyche eval. "Insensitive racist"? Ha! Rush is not racist; insensitive or otherwise. Only in bizzaro world.. With the Progressive Liberal Socialist Left it sure is A Bizzaro World you live in. But hey never said I had the corner on Crazy and you all just prove it. Sad part is for as much as he drives you all nuts he will be laughing all the way to the Bank. That's the part that truly screws up their minds. Oh BTW have a nice life.:-) Please link directly to a reliable source that supports this claim. (edited to clarify request was directed at redbeard) Whether you agree politically or not, being mentioned by Rush can only make more traffic for imore. I personally want to see the site grow, don't you? I mean, I personally think the huffington post is crap, but I would be happy if they were asked about a tech site they loved and imore was the first one mentioned. I love Rush and I love iMore! Two of my favorites coming together! He's always been a huge Apple fan and its great to know his favorite site is mine too. Pretty cool I believe. Yeah Rush isn't necessarily but I listen to the guy all the time and he is pretty big and this is good I believe. Just to head off childish political squabbles before they happen: I live in Canada. I don't get American radio. Frankly, Amercian politics are opaque to me. We have like 8 parties, a non-elected senate, and Quebec makes Canada seem sane by comparison. Not everything is political (shocking, I know). If someone loves a certain sports team, brand of ice-cream, or the Avengers more than the JLA, that can exist outside their political beliefs. Dessert and comic books, like iMore, are inclusive and for everyone. One thing I am really happy about: If we're arguing over radio show hosts, we've fixed so many other problems that we should consider ourselves really, really lucky. (Kind of like when we argue about the word "pasta" being allowed on menus in Quebec!) Well said. That said, you should still be aware that Rush Limbaugh is a profoundly divisive and polarizing figure. This isn't merely arguing over a radio host: Limbaugh is widely considered on both left and right to have set the agenda for the conservative movement, and a great many people believe that he is a major figure in shaping the political discourse in America. It's really a bigger deal than you seem to think. I'm not saying you should be ungracious when a celebrity or public figure endorses the site; acknowledging such praise is a fine thing and does you credit. However, you should be aware if the guy you're thanking is someone reviled by many and considered a racist and sexist and bigoted ass. I merely bring this to your attention so you understand the context of the objections you see here. Thanking someone indicates nothing more or less than that we were raised manners. Ironically, something that Rush does NOT have. Typically, anyway. Thanking him directly is mannerable. Thanking him publicly and advertising his endorsement is closer to bragging and second-cousin to reciprocation. It should be no surprise that this reaction would follow - especially considering, as the commenter said, what a divisive figure Mr. Limbaugh is. Either way, congrats on what I assume was national recognition. We do this with every major media outlet that mentions or features us, from CNN to NPR to G4. (I think Howard Stern once? Might have been Android Central?) It would worry me if we started to try and judge the relative merits of large scale media properties. Blanket policies kind of protect everyone involved. No agendas that way (other than thanking people for promoting us.) I don't think you've got an agenda. I just think the response was predictable - especially since CNN is a collective of journalists while Limbaugh is kind of a one man show. There is an added level of ...separation between his methods and that of certain other journalistic entities. That may sound like Partisan-man talking but I think it's more like pointing out the difference between a newspaper and a tabloid. And as a semi-public figure, its a good thing to stay on his good side. Say something he disagrees with, and the next thing you know he'll be equating you with Hitler. You posting about Rush Limbaugh may not be politically motivated, but If you don't know that Rush Limbaugh is political I don't know what to say. It's not a brand of ice cream or a movie. He's by definition a political talk show host. You're not responsible for the stuff he says but he's political. How many Canadian political commentators do you know well? :) Fair point, which applies to my comment, as well. Who cares if people like him or not? Not everyone likes everyone but it's still cool that he mentioned iMore.com as a site he enjoys reading. This is true. IMore is a popular site And this is a good indication that Mobile Nations has managed to do things well enough to get this kind of main stream recognition. For that, I congratulate the team. Congratulations. Rush's endorsement doesn't help... Hey, free press is good press. Congrats Rene And iMore crew. Apparently the iMore app cuts off comments with the "and" sign in them. Wow!0, Congrats!. That's cool to be acknowledge for great work. Lol, I hate Rush Limbaugh for a variety of reasons, but would you just look at all the comments on this post? Clearly he has been good for iMore business. And that is never a bad thing. Lol Excellent Rene. I am very happy for you and the entire staff the makes iMore run with you as the Captain of the ship. CONGRATS! Gross. "Rush Limbaugh loves iMore!" ...and who doesn't? :-D I know, right?! Nice PR. Rush is finally right about something! See -- this, people! This! If you don't like the guy, at least now there's something you can agree on! The most listen to radio talk show in the US endorsed iMore...that's awesome. Left or Right we all love iMore!! I feel sorry for the Communists, Anarchists, Democrats and Socialists that are getting upset because of this post. You people are acting like Rene was happy that Charles Manson endorsed iMore. Rush Limbaugh is like any other radio host that is right on some things, wrong on others. Either way, iMore gets a more diverse audience. Get a life, Leftists. +1 + 1,000,000 Spoken like a true ditto head! You are a great example of our failing education system. +infinity You mean the failing education system that is run by Orthodox Christians, Hardline Republicans, Right-Wingers, and Libertarians? ...oh wait, sorry, THAT failing education system you speak of is run by Communists, Leftists, Socialists, and the rest of the Rainbow coalition that you can see festering at every college campus. Leave it to a reich winger to trivialize a college education simply because higher education does not teach about intelligent design in physics class. LOL! There's a reason you clowns are fading away. Get smacked in the presidential election - lose house and senate seats. And the funniest thing of all - the clowns who lead your party think they lost because they arent fringe enough and should be more conservative?!?! WTF. Good luck winning any election going forward. Lets take away the votes of the people not on government support Nd see who actually won. Because someone doesn't hold the same political and social belief system as you has nothing to do with the education system. Unless you mean this person failed to be indoctrinated in the progressive education system. So apparently someone else's beliefs weren't forced hard enough on people for you? Spoken like a true Fascist. What a douche. I'd tell you to stop participating in the destruction of this country by pitting American against American, but then...nah, shut up. Yes, democrats belong in the same category as anarchists and communists. Step slowly away from the talk radio. Its not his political views that are the most offensive thing about him, right-wingers deserve a say as much as anyone. Its that he is basically a self-parody at this point, with an act designed to incite hate and fear in his listeners. He acts like what he's doing is for some greater good to the country, but all he's really trying to do is amass a loyal army of semi-paranoid and insecure people who need to hear his reassuring voice interspersed with advertisements every day. That's OK too, but its when people take this form of political entertainment seriously, and actually believe that the president is a nazi or wants to kill your grandmother, it becomes a problem. I usually hang out on Android Central but stopped in after checking out Crackberry and the launch of the Z10 today. No iphone but tons of Apple gear. I may have to stop in more often now that I know Rush is a fan! He was using Apple gear when most of us thought Apple was a fruit company like Forrest did. Are you kidding... they would be ok with Charles Manson endorsing imore... Lol you're actually right. The average Leftist would be happier with a serial killer endorsing iMore than any right-wing talk host, which goes to show you the depravity of Cultural Marxism. LOL says lots about Rush that people would rather see an endorsement by a serial killer than him. You right wing nazi's would be happy too. LOL! Conservatives can barely spell Marxist much less tell you why calling every democrat a marxist is complete silliness. I see you repeatedly calling people sociliasts, marxists and facists. Which is it? Cant be all of them. But wait! According to what I learned from rush they are all the same thing! I didn't attend a university because they are for elite liberal Marxist fascists, so all my facts come from radio. I bet Rush'll be amused when he reads all the vitriol from the leftist posters who've obviously never listened to him and just go by what they've heard about him on MSNBC. Hilarious! Congrats to Rene and iMore for the recognition. 20 million people just heard about your site! I don't need to listen to more than a few minutes of old Sen. McCarthy tapes to know what a moron he was and how dangerous he was to this country. But then again, I have a high IQ. Yikes. You'd learn something from the man if you actually listened, because he was quite right. Rush is a lot of things. Right isnt one of them. Thats like me spewing that Rachel Maddow is right - would you accept that? At least she has a college education and isnt a druggy. Oh great. Let's see if maybe we can get Sarah Palin or Ann Coulter on board... Crazies come in three, right? It would be ironic since Ann Coulter once referred to Canada as America Jr. Would you like her support too Rene? And the left wing sociopaths are out in force at the very mention of Rush Limbaugh. The histrionics & panic that are created at the drop of a hat when Rush's name comes up are always comical. Looks like you're suffering from projection.. Pretty sad.. Exactly...can liberals even afford Apple products :) :) :) They mostly buy them to look rich and hip in front of other Liberals. Just another thing that Rush told the truth about. Rush loves Apple - where else would he go for great information! I love Rush. He is a very bright man and should be admired by all. Sincerely, Gary Jones, Grand Dragon of the KKK. Ladies and gentlemen, your average Leftist, so devoid of creativity and morality that he could only think to name himself after a mentally-ill pornstar. As for the KKK, they hate Rush. Rush is a sellout to them. As opposed to naming yourself a city? Yes - you truly are a creative person aintcha. Sorry - tried to make it sound all stupid and folksy like Palin - did you understand? LOL Wow, had me going there Jenna. Was convinced you were the recently deceased Democrat Senator Robert Byrd, Grand Kleagle of the KKK. (edited for clarity) Rush, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. all have it wrong-- it's not a about right/left wing. A bird needs two wings to fly. Our nations focus should always be about the well-being of all its citizens (racists included). I don't like the guy personally; but the again I don't like anyone that lumps people together based on pre-determined prejudices based on color, social standing or economic backgrounds. But I can still appreciate the fact that a site I love and frequent has gotten national recognition from a show that has such a following as his. So rock on iMore!!! "Polarizing" is correct, but that's to be expected and is 100% fine. Political philosophies are just inherently that way, and it's the push/pull of them is what we need. I'd be more concerned if one viewpoint completely took over and ruled for an extended period of time. The time of the lefties will pass and the righties will come back, and vice versa. It's the natural biorythym we all love. That said, the guy is FAR from racist and labeling him as such is completely evil. while I'm sure many actually believe it to be the case (and why wouldn't they, we have a steady diet of people treating it as fact), but others would say it simply to demonize the guy. Politically right to the core? Absolutely. Racist? You got to be kidding. Worst blogpost in the history of iMore. Just what imore needs: more irrational zealots. Well there's always Tuaw, The Unofficial Apple Weblog. The irrational zealots are already here it seems, looking at the degenerates who are getting upset at Rene for simply thanking somebody for more readers. LOL Because if Rene received props from Rachel Maddow you wouldnt be on here spewing right wing, nazi hate speech. Whoops - too late. Oh Lord people, give me a break. Who really cares? Does Rush liking the site make it anymore less of a great site? A celebrity likes the site, good for the imore team. If you stopped visiting a website because Rush or any other celebrity said they liked it (and have no affliation with it) then you are an idiot. You are surprised? People on the left claim the title of tolerance but are anything but when you disagree with their viewpoint. Several posts here show that and everyone but the left knows it. It's a tech site people. Limbaugh has given away more Apple gear that most of you own. What have you done? Gotta go watch zero dark thirty on my ipad 4! America! FUCK YEAH!! And how many responses from THE LEFT do NOT "show that"? Do those factor into your conclusion or are you as intolerant as the finger you're pointing? I am a lot of things but intolerant is not one of them. Just pointing out the facts. Look at which posts call names, etc. And nobody on the left reigns them in. We can agree to disagree. I would have no problem watching Rachel Maddow in fact, my college aged daughter likes to watch her. I would have no problem with anyone endorsing imore. I can think for myself. And who has reined in the Rush supporters who have gone too far? How many of the more moderates posts were by "The Left" but got no credit from you or those like you, as being equally representative of the other side? Hell, I acknowledged one of Rene's points with regard to my own comments and those like mine. But that doesn't stop your side from painting us all with the same brush, without similarly judging your own side. I mean, really, how many conservative extremists in this conversation have YOU "rein[ed] in"? I may not have agreed with the other side's point of view, but I stand behind the WAY that I disagreed with them. If anything is wrong with discussions like this, it's not THAT we disagree but HOW we express that disagreement. Hopefully, we can agree on that. I do not really have a side. Help me out. If you really think the name calling etc on this article have been even close to equal you have made my point. Almost all the name calling on this blog has been one sided. I saw one post calling Sandra Fluke a whore. All post should be moderate so why should moderate posts from the left be applauded? Because they are rare? A first year law school graduate from Georgetown averages $165,000 a year. She can buy her own birth control. Now that she is earning and getting hit with taxes, let's see if she changes her tune. I make a very good living and do not expect the government to do anything for me except protect us from invasion and to stay out of my way- not too much to ask for the amount my wife and I pay to the federal treasury. But no, I did not condone Rush calling her slut or any name calling period. Where is the left when people call Sarah Palin the "c" word or make fun of her special needs son? Yeah crickets! As the father of two daughters, it turned my stomach. Leftists are a depraved bunch that wouldn't let a Christian dial 9/11 for them if they were bleeding out on the street. They're more intolerant than the people they demonize. LOL How come when anyone calls a right wing nazi out on being a bigot - the first thing they say is they are intolerant? Yes yes - I am intolerant of bigots. Which makes me a bigot against bigots. Holy sh!t. Look at this masterpiece of hyperbole. I'm a republican, and I'll continue to read iMore in spite of Limbaugh's endorsement You must be an actual conservative and not a neo-con monkey like we've seen post. Good for you sir. Please try and restore some sense to your party. They have been hijacked. Excellent, politics aside it's awesome to be endorsed by one of the largest names in radio... That being said, I love Rush, good for you Rene! Who's Rush Limbaugh? Congrats on the Z10 Kevin! Almost checked it out at ATT today but had a dental appointment...ouch... Thanks!! Go check it out tomorrow. He's a shill that works for the powers that be to pit Americans like the froth-mouthed Leftists against the equally obedient Right-Wing to form a neverending, destabilizing battle between the two, while the top brass gets away with murder and theft of every country in the world. It's like Fox News: which is controlled-opposition to CNN. Kevin, You dont know who Rush is because you dont have the decisive, hate filled political rhetoric we have here in the states where right wingers put gun reticals up over other politicians districts and call for second amendment solutions to things or think only certain types of rapes are legitimate rapes. You should thank your lucky stars Canada politics isnt like the states. Rush is RIGHT! Rush is Reich! Fixed. Wow you don't sound biased whatsoever...both ends of the spectrum are full of nut jobs. Thanks RUSH now I know about imore -- never heard of it before -- aloha imore! Good grief. With so many advertisers dropping their ad spend from Rush's show (even BP of poisoning-the-Gulf fame!), for you to be proud of this is insane.... Wow, you're proud of some odd things Rene. I don't see Rene putting ads on Limbaugh's show, do you? No matter what you think about Limbaugh, iMore just got more readers from that mention, and Rene probably will see the stats show an uptake in readership, which is a good thing for anybody who frequents this site. The fact that you guys can't see this and just say "oh good" shows that you're as crazed as the other side you hate. No, I don't see that, which is why I didn't say that. For Rene to be proud to be mentioned by Limbaugh, who has driven off advertisers who don't want to be associated with his baseless attacks and lies speaks volumes about the man. But I guess you think Sandra Fluke had it coming? You were implying that Rene was putting himself in a bad spot since nobody wants to be seen advertising with Rush, which is entirely different from what Rene was trying to do, which is thank Rush for the boost in readership. Oh and I just looked up this Sandra Fluke you were talking about since I had no idea what you meant and no, my tax dollars aren't going towards subsidizing women's birth control, so yeah, she is a degenerate for even suggesting that. If some little whore wants to get laid for free, she better think twice and get a job to pay for it. The state should be supporting women if they become good mothers to healthy, intelligent children, not supporting women who think they have a right to an unlimited supply of pills and condoms for their mindless one-night stands. And your rant is enough for me to see why Rush is your hero. Good day. Never listened to Rush in my life. Nice rebuttal by the way. You really showed me, lol. "lol". Oh dear. You don't really deserve a rebuttal. Misogynists usually don't. Again, good day. There's a difference between a misogynist and a realist. Nobody has the right to birth control. Despite that same birth control medicine having actual medicinal value outside of birth control. You do realize women take birth control p;ills for things other than birth control right? LOL Do you even know any women ffs? Dude, get educated. Are you telling me it is OK for you to have your Viagra covered by medical insurance so that pathetic thing you call "the little fireman" gets a chubby, yet birth control isn't? Stop before you right......better yet, go away. You can't be that stupid. Most of these comments are impenetrable to me -- probably like me rattling off a bunch of Canadian controversies to you. (Pastagate? Mr. TPS?) I'm proud of iMore. Everything else is baggage people brought here, and has nothing to do with me or this site. I appreciate everyone who reads, listens, or watches us. I appreciate your time and attention. I value it more than anything else. If all you have in common is your enthusiasm for Apple's products, that's enough for me. Every other belief and viewpoint is your business. I don't think anyone wants me or us to start arbitration on that. :) We link back to every major media mention of the site. I don't recall it ever being problematic until now. But if we hadn't done it, and someone noticed, and made a stink about it, wouldn't that be equally problematic? Wouldn't that be called out as biased, or an agenda, or whatever else people get accused of? I thank everyone for their feedback, I just really don't know what to do about the incredible extremism of it :-/ I'm just gonna crack open a Stella and watch some Corner Gas and call it a day! Stella Artois is from Belgium :) I know that, I just don't have anything else in the fridge! Just ignore it, really. Nothing you can say will ease the minds of those who have always had an agenda. I just hope this thread is a lesson to the apolitical types who think they should be choosing one of the "sides" fed to them by the media. Rush is the man! Closer to two men actually Congrats! Heard it today. It's a shame he is such a polarizing figure. At least he had good taste in tech sites. :-) This. Whoops! I posted a comment before reading everything I needed to. My mistake; hopefully it won't occur again. I'm Australian so, like Rene, this guy is only a name to me and I don't care about the controversies (frankly, half of what comes out of America, left or right, sounds nutty to most of the rest of the world). But hey, I heartily agree with him! iMore is one of 3 or 4 tech sites I frequent and because of their judicious reporting the only one I really trust. If a rumour is not on iMore I'm confident it's just hot air - the smelly kind. Congratulations Rene and the iMore team. I love iMore as much as the next guy, but I have absolutely no use for Mount Rushmore. He is the biggest P...Of...S in the world. Congrats to Rene and staff being mentioned on a national radio show; this should help with traffic. Too bad the show means little to people in the US unless they like to hear someone's child-like agenda, day, after day, day after day. Don't listen to all the negativity Rene, there is a lot of ignorance out there. The fact is Rush has the most listened to talk show in America and has had for years. Usually averages over 14 million listeners per week. Now maybe you will get the number 2 most listened to talk show in America to mention iMore, that would be Sean Hannity. Keep up the good work! Rene I hope you see now just a little bit the craziness that comes with anything about American politics. Rush is no more radical than leftist commentators who have advocated for the assassination of political leaders they don't agree with. It might be a good idea to check on these facts before you post news like this again. Note I'm not saying don't post it. Just be aware of the ridiculous outcry to follow. Look at it this way. Apple, like most all tech companies by the way, is a very leftist leaning organization. It is by matter of their location in states like California (Commifornia you might say) that these companies align themselves this way. But if a large portion of Apple's customer base knew that a lying, racist adulterer like Al Gore was on Apple's board, you can guarantee they'd not be Apple customers. Now Al Gore can be all those things if he wishes. Such is the price freedom commands. But Apple would take a financial hit if it was widely known. Lucky for them few people pay attention to the makeup of corporate boards. See how easy it is? No diss to Rene to iMore. But for those who DO know about Limbaugh but don't expect him to divide a geek nation like this, take another look. Sure, there are extreme people on both sides but let's keep in-mind what it is that people are reacting to. The man makes outrageous comments for the ratings and exposure. Whatever his political leanings, he is too close to a shock jock for those familiar with him to act like this is proof of liberal, left, or Lucille Ball's "intolerance." That's too close to a pet peeve of mine - when people blame the person who is hitting back instead of the one who started the fight. It's too bad that iMore is in the middle of it, but this should blow over soon. Plenty of iMore users will never click on this discussion. Good for them. Yeah, His Right! Imore is a Good and Techie Website to Go! Go for Imore! That endorsement is not even worthy of an article. And why not? He's an avid Apple user. I'd think he would know his stuff. Oh, or is it because you don't agree with him politically? How astute. Yeah, some celebrity endorsements are best left to just those who heard them. I mean, I wouldn't go flaunting that Kim Jong Un is a fan of my work. Can I just say I found this site by Rush Lumbaugh's endorsement? Never heard of it before and now I'm interested. I even bookmarked it today. You're welcome. Welcome to iMore... be sure to check out the iMore forums too. +2 Farmdreads! To call Rush a pig is an insult to pigs. So congrats Rene, even swine love iMore! Is there any endorsement you WON'T lap up? How about if Bashar Hafez al-Assad said iMore was the bomb? Who cares if he's killing countless people? He loves iMore! Whoop! Rene - Congratulations on the shout-out. That's awesome! If it's not iMore, it's not iMore!!! I'm not sure he's the kinda guy you wanna be proud of... Can't believe I'm actually saying this, but Rush Limbaugh mentioning iMore is a huge step forward in the advertising department. Probably brought so much traffic to this website. I'm not a Rush fan, but those are all the sites that I get my apple news everyday. I was listening to him while in the car today, I was going to call in and tell him iMore was #1 also. Thanks to Rush, I went to your great site, bookmarked and downloaded this app for my iPod Touch. Great review for the iPad Mini I will purchase in the near future. Thanks! If you're going to have someone blow your horn, it might as well be the biggest blowhard out there. I may not agree with him, but its good promo for iMore. OMG, we can do better than Rush, please!!! We want intelligent people to endorse iMore. lol If you want to be associated with sexist, racist claptrap then go ahead and really promote it. Imore is bigger and better than this ignoramus to really care if he likes you or not.
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Julie at The Intrepid Thread asked me to put together a bundle for her shop, and I couldn't resist! Putting together fabrics is my favorite part! I've really been drawn to purple lately, so here is the bundle I came up with, the Cool Breeze bundle! You can find it as a fat quarter bundle and a half yard bundle! Cool Breeze Bundle @ The Intrepid Thread!, a photo by jenib320 on Flickr. We've got a Cool Breeze Fat Quarter Bundle to give away to one of you! To enter: Just leave a comment! For a second entry, head on over to Julie's shop, then come back here and leave another comment with your favorite item or bundle! :) International entries are welcome! Make sure your email address is viewable in your profile or you include it in your comment. Giveaway will be open until Monday at 5pm CST. Winner will be chosen with random.org. Good luck & Happy Friday! **Giveaway is now closed!** I love Intrepid Thread! And your bundle is gorgeous! What a beautiful fabric bundle! My favorite right now is the woodlands bundle in blue! As for my favorite item, I'd have to go with the teeny mushrooms in A Walk in the Woods. So adorable! I'm loving the Poetica. Love the Seafoam in that. Yum. Oh my ... am in love with the bundle! We just moved into a new house and am thinking about doing our bedroom in purple ... So the bundle will get used for sure! Wow what gorgeous fabric!! Love it! Thanks. Thanks for doing this. Intrepid Thread has the best website now. Love the large pictures. Love the purples in there! Great bundle Purple is my fav color. . and this bundle is lovely! loving purple these days too!! beautiful bundle! thanks for sharing!! [email protected] Love the Flea Market Fancy :-) Great bundle. I think I need help in grouping. Contrast is the hard part for me. Does it count I just got some FMF from Julie? I la la lovely it! Another line that I'm loving is the pezzy prints. . YUM. Thanks for the giveaway my dear. Love the purples and aquas together! My new favorite combination at the moment! [email protected] Love it Happy birthday again! great bundle choices! So Pretty! I love it all, but especially Poetica Serenade. I love most of the things in Julie's shop, i'm an avid shopper there :) I have always loved purple. When I was a little girl, my room had purple carpet! The Cool Breeze bundle is beautiful. this would be a perfect housewarming gift for one of my good friends!! [email protected] Beautiful bundle, cute Bunny and gotta love a girl that celebrates her birthday all week! Happy Birthday! Cabana blooms it awesome!! great bundle! i always struggle to add purples to the stash but your stack looks great together. And im really loving the Summerlove collection. Julies Summerlove in Blue Crush is perfect! [email protected] These fabrics are gorgeous. Happy Brithday, mine is next Wednesday! i just love that woodland tales bundle in blue. I love the purples in this bundle! Thanks for the giveaway! the intrepid thread is new to me - yeah!! I love the cream to curry yellow bundle - so sweet! thanks again! [email protected] and over at Intrepid Thread it's a toss up between Lucy's Crab Shack and Peak Hour! I love the color pallette. I'm not usually attracted to purple combos. This is a lovely grouping! [email protected] I've been drooling over this fabric for a while now. I just made a big purchase but I really want this still. What a beautiful bundle!! Cosmos or Poetica are my favorite. I don't know which is my fave! I like A Walk in the Woods and Fruit Slice best at this moment. That will change in an hour :) I love this site. I really like the Summersville designs, which you don't see anywhere else and several of the soon to be released lines. I need to shop. Happy Birthday! Thanks for the chance to win this great bundle! That bundle is so pretty! Thanks for the chance! :) Nice work! I think cool breeze is a perfect name for this :) Thanks for the chance to win! ellen ehystead (at) gmail (dot) com My favorite bundle in the shop is Fruit Slice! Love the bright colors! This bundle is beautiful, purple is my favorite color! I'm torn between the Fruit Slice bundle and the Impressions bundle in her shop. Thanks again for the chance! This is such a pretty bundle! Thanks for the chance to win :) Oh my your bundle you put together is gorgeous..PURPLE is my fav! [email protected] And I am loving flea market fancy. I am really hoping to talk the hubby into letting me buy some soon!! lol Love the Cool Breeze colors - they are my very favorite! Have a great rest of your birthday week. [email protected] What a gorgeous bundle! What a wonderful fabric collection..I see your large star tutorial in those colors, now I will dream about it.Great giveaway! Thanks Jeni! I love her new cabana collection! I think my favorite bundle from intrepid thread is the Maya bundle, I love all of the primary colors :) Thanks again, ellen ehystead (at) gmail (dot) com I LOVE this bundle - it is one of my favorite faberic bundles I have seen in a while. Thank you for pulling it together (and for the chance to win it!). Gorgeous bundle Jeni! Thanks for the chance to win :) My favourite is the Poetica - sweet melody! [email protected] OMG! I LOVE those colors together. Happy birthday to you, mine is next week and I am treating myself to some more fabric :-) wowzers! that is an amazing bundle of color--I love it! I need more fabric! I've been destashing but hoarding is so much more fun. The Poetica complete collection at Intrepid Threads really caught my eye! I also really like the Impressions blue and teal bundle. So much fabric, so little time! OH, the new Flock line is very difficult to resist!! Amazing fabrics...I like the purples with the aquas. Great choices! Cosmos 1/2 yard bundle in Vermillion, that's what I would get, if I had that much money. Wait, how much was it? I never would have thought to pair purple with aqua, but it is lovely! Thanks for a chance at some of this yummy fabric! MGM love it I want those yellows in the cream to curry bundle Thanks for the chance to win:) I am loving purples and teals lately, too:) If I had to choose one bundle from Intrepid Threads it would be Cream to Curry. thanks for the chance! I am also in love with the "Hello Pligrim" fabrics:) They are so Spring like and vibrant!!! my purples are severely lacking - and this is a beautiful bundle! Beautiful bundle. It needs to become a quilt draped on a porch swing. I really love the 2nd print in this stack...off to find its name :) -annabelle Love the colors! Thanks for the chance to win! Figures...I really liked the Sommersville Town in Coal by Lucie Summers...and it's out of stock...for now only, I hope. Woodland Tails in Green half yard bundle really caught my eye! I think I'd pick that or any one of the charm packs as my favorite item. MGM What a beautiful bundle! Thank you for the chance to win. Great bundle, I love the cool colors! I love the bundle you've put together. Thanks for a chance to win. LOVE the bundle you put together. I'm really into blues and purples right now. Throw in some lime green and I'm a happy camper. I love The Intrepid Thread shop. Cosmos is my favourite line at the moment. Must get some!!! My favorite line at Julie's shop is the Summerville in the section 'coming soon'. Such lovely colors and designs! i'm really digging the maya fat quarter bundle from julie's shop! I'm loving the Summerlove fat quarter bundle! All those pale blues and oranges are so pretty! Just beautiful! Thanks for the chance to win! I Love Intrepid Thread they have such high quality fabric I ordered the Poetica fat quarter bundle earlier this month and was very excited how beautiful the fabric was when it arrived, cant wait to use it! I will defiantly be buying more and would absolutely love to win this fabulous bundle you have put together using the fabric lines they carry! [email protected] hanks for the giveaway! And Happy Birthday. Favorite fabric collection is A Walk In The Woods by Aneela Hoey for Moda. You know, I'm not a big fan of purple but lately I'm drawn to deep shades of plum I love The Intrepid Thread. Cabana Blooms is my favorite new line in the shop. I love the tangerine bundle I am loving the Pezzy Prints right now! Thanks for another great giveaway Jeni. I hope you have had a wonderful birthday week and that you have been spoiled like you are spoiling us! Cool Breeze looks wonderful! I love the special attention Julie gives you, even when she was on vacation she tried to help me out. Love the giveaway! This is a dreamy bundle - oh! would I love to win it!! Thanks for the chance!! Cabana Blooms - Paisley in Grey really caught my eye. It's so pretty! Cool Breezeeee makes me feel fine! Exploring all the Jasmine in my Minnnnnnd. LOVE. XOXO. Is there a bad bundle?? I love them all like they are my kids! Don't make me choose...but I have to say I can't wait for Nightshade to come out! :) How cute!! Beautiful! I would love to win this. : ) Poetica - Serenade in Daylight is the name it, lovely print. And i'm also loving Cocoon - Large Butterfly in Stone, Large Floral in Stone,Butterfly in Bamboo, Damask in Hyacinth, Cocoon in Lead all coming in April......and Lucy's Crab Shack is just the cutest with text prints and plaids love them. thank you both :) -annabelle I really love this Poetica print that julie has in her shop, I just ordered a few pink FQs and this wouold fit right in :-) Oooh, and I love the Summerlove bundle. Such gorgeous colors! Gorgeous bundle! I would love to add it to my stash! Oooooo. That's a VERY beautiful bundle. Happy Birthday/week! It's my birthday week too :) I just bought a ton of Riley Blake Peak Hour from Julie, I have been waiting for it to come out since I heard about it in November. Love it, it will be perfect for my boys' big boy bed quilts. I love the purples! This bundle is so aptly named and beautiful! Thank you for the chance to win. My favorite bundle would be Cosmos in azure. I love that collection! Purple is on my radar right now - beautiful. What a beautiful bundle! Thanks for a chance to win! :) Fantastic colors! Thank you for a chance to win. Dutch hugs Your bundle is beautiful - you have a real gift for creating color combos! Thanks for the chance to win and Happy Birthday!! Thi si an absolutely gorgeous bundle! Love it! Thanks so much for a chance to win! Thank yo for chance to win. http//richardquilts.blogspot.com I love in the coming soon section the Santa clause is coming to town. http//richardquilts.blogspot.com I just found the Peak Hours - Ads fabric. It is just adorable - classified ad for trucks and vehicles - perfect for a little boy quilt!!! The Intrepid Thread is one of my favorite places to shop. Bundles are my weakness and she's got a lot of great ones. My other favorite (besides yours) would be Summerlove -In Blue Crush. :) I've been to Julie's shop ( don't know if that was very wise, I ended up rather greedy LOL) I esp. love the new line 'vintage modern', fantastic colors and designs. Have a great weekend, My favorite in Julie's shop is the Flock complete fat quarter collection! Great picks! Love these cool, bright colors! I like the Impressions - Fat Quarter Bundle in Blue and Teal. Very cool colors! :) I love the poetica bundle! thanks for the chance! I have a purple lovin' daughter, this could be the start of a new quilt for her. Love this bundle!! So pretty :) I love your blog, thanks for sharing the giveaway! I love the Maya & Fruit Slice bundles :) I'm loving the Summerlove - Half Yard Bundle In Blue Crush by Pat Bravo. I love the Poetica bundle in Seafoam Symphony also! Love these aqua/purple bundles! Thanks for a chance to win! What a gorgeous bundle you have put together! So lovely! What a great bundle! I love all shades of purple. VISITED JULIE! MY FAVORITE BUNDLE IS "A WALK IN THE WOODS"! THANK YOU FOR SHARING A GREAT GIVEAWAY! [email protected] Love the colors! I LOVE the poetica in seafoam symphony bundle! I just love anything by Pat Bravo. SWEET SWEET GIVEAWAY! THANK YOU FOR A CHANCE TO WIN! HAPPY STITCHING! [email protected] Love this bundle and LOVE Julie's shop! I'm so glad she opened up. You've picked some great purples. I'd love to find a project for them. Kathie l in Allentown I love the new Flock fabric. I recently made a quilt with his Pear Tree line and loved the fabrics. Kathie L I Allentown My stash is particularly lacking purple- which is strange, since it is my favorite color! What a great bundle! I love The Intrepid Thread. This bundle is gorgeous! Thank you for the chance to win. I love the purples in the collection! My favorite fabric is the Power Pop Confetti in Freesia! So spring! Wow Jeni, you put together such a beautiful bundle! Thanks for the great giveaway! Greetings from Switzerland Beautiful color palette! Thanks for the giveaway! You put together a really beautiful bundle. Today was my first visit to The Intrepid Thread and I'm hooked! Gorgeous bundle, they would definitely enhance my stash :) Great giveaway! Love the fabrics, and love this shop. Great customer service! I LOVE your site! :) I like the "peak hour" line~ I would get some of that! Happy birthday week! As I was organizing my fabric this week, I thought, "Gee, I have very little purple." :) Thanks for the great giveaway. I love the new Kate Spain line, Good Fortune. Love this fabric and would love to win this bundle! Steffany [email protected] Love the fabrics, and love this shop. Great customer service! Pretty purples! I don't have much of that color in my stash, this would be perfect to add. What fantastic choices! Like Spring mist Happy birthday week, and happy friday too! Cute bundle :) I'm loving the Summerlove bundle over at the Intrepid Thread. My favorite bundle in the shop would be the fruit slice, I think. So many lovely bundles at the Intrepid Thread, so difficult to choose. My current favourites are the yellow FQ bundle From Cream to Curry and the Poetica FQ bundle in Seafoam Symphony, but that might change next time I am shopping! The customer service from Julie is excellent, I cannot recommend her store highly enough! Love those colors!!! I really like the Alpine Wonderland I wouldn't have thought to put the purple and teal together - but this stack is gorgeous! Thanks for the great giveaway and happy birthday! I like the peak hour line!!! perfect for my boys :) Wow!! thank you, This is a beautiful bundle you have put together for us....stunning!! Pick me! ESCOLHA PERFEITA DAS CORES AMEI.OBRIGADA. [email protected] I think I'll pick Summer Love. It's just that they are all wonderful.... Nice. I need more purple fabrics. My purple stash is looking pathetic! Your purples speak to me, birthday girl! I LOVE Peak Hour - Ads in Grey. I just placed an order with Julie and I didn't know this fabric was available. Guess I will have to place another order...bummer! :) Thanks for another great giveaway! The Cool Breeze FQ bundle inspired by you is my fave bundle. Now I sound like a suck-up! :P I'm looking forward to getting some of Lu Summer's new fabric - Summersville Ooh, yum. My stash is low on purple, so I'd love to win this! Happy birthday!! Love the "feathers"! OMG that is a lovely bundle. I am really digging the turquoise /mint colour at the moment and purple is great with it. This bundle is too peaceful and serene. I really LOVE this patterns and color combinations. Maybe i´ll be lucky today??? Thank you!! Eu estou no amor por POÉTICA. [email protected] I love the Desert Daydreams bundle! I love purple! Thank you giveaway! greetings from Hungary! I love woodlands bundle. very ,very nice. That's a really beautiful collection of fabrics! (clumsy.chord(at)gmail.com) What a great bundle; love that Poetica in there; thanks for chance! Happy B'day too! (marshudson at comcast dot net) I have really been crushing on Fruit Slice by Khristian A. Howell lately...so that is my favorite bundle. I love the name for this pretty bundle. Very fitting. I've made several orders from Intrepid Thread (and wish I could order a lot more). I'm loving Poetica, A Walk in the Woods, and FMF right now. Thanks (marshudson at comcast dot net) I really like Summer Love. Purple is one of my favorite colours :) Happy birthday to you!!!! Lovely fabrics!!! My stash is very thin on purples so this bundle would be a great addition! Thanks for the chance to win. My favourite bundle might be the Cream to Curry yellow bundles. I love yellow, but seem never to buy much of it. (clumsy.chord(at)gmail.com) I'm really liking "Summerlove" in Julie's shop ;) You know I think your bundle is my favourite, either that or Verona - Main in Grey. love that bundle! and my little girl looks super cute in purple! I like lots of things at The Intrepid Thread but today my favorite is the Fruit Slice bundle. Gorgeous! Oh golly gee, I hope I am lucky today, I haven't won anything in forever and this is one fine looking giveaway. thanks love the lucy's crab shack collection What a great combination: You and Julie. I love your sense of color and Julie is my favorite favorite fabric lady. Beautiful bundle with some of my favorite colors. Thank you!
Home / News & Polls / Search Results /. Wednesday, February 13, 2013 New York, NY – When it comes to food and beverage packaging, consumers are most likely to pay more for value-added features that relate to freshness and sustainability. This is the latest finding from a global study conducted by Ipsos InnoQuest.. Tuesday, December 18, 2012 Vancouver, B.C. – It is that time of the year again and retailers are all wondering how they will fair in the 2012 holiday shopping season. In this fourth annual Holiday Shopping Study, Ipsos Reid investigates British Columbians’ attitudes toward holiday shopping and their specific holiday shopping behaviours, including those items shoppers are jotting down on their shopping and wish lists. Friday, November 16, 2012 Vancouver, B.C. — Living close to the U.S. border provides many British Columbians with ample opportunities for cross-border shopping. According to a recent study by Ipsos Reid conducted in the fall of 2012, two-thirds of British Columbians (66%) have gone shopping across the U.S. border within the past year. Wednesday, November 14, 2012 New York, NY – To help clients win in market, Ipsos InnoQuest has developed a new Innovation Performance Framework that identifies nine drivers critical to innovation success. By using the Innovation Performance Framework as a guide, marketers will be able to focus – and control –the factors most likely to impact the success of their innovations.. Tuesday, October 16, 2012 New York, NY –To help marketers better gauge the success potential of their latest innovations, Ipsos InnoQuest, the innovation and forecasting experts at Ipsos, has developed a new Archetype IQ System for classifying consumer packaged goods innovations into 12 Archetype profiles.... Wednesday, April 25, 2012 Vancouver, BC – Retailers' activities in helping to preserve and protect the environment are visibly still very relevant to British Columbians. According to a recent study by Ipsos Reid conducted in the spring of 2012, a large majority (71%) say that retailers' actions are either very or somewhat important in deciding where to shop. The importance placed on this aspect of a retailer's performance has remained high each time it has been tested (67% in 2011; 72% in 2010; and 74% in 2009).. Monday, March 19, 2012 Paris, France - Ipsos is further specializing its marketing research services. To address the challenges clients face in today’s global marketplace, the research firm has just launched Ipsos InnoQuest, a new global practice of Ipsos Marketing which will focus exclusively on providing innovation and forecasting solutions to clients. Lauren Demar will serve as Global CEO for Ipsos InnoQuest. Wednesday, February 08, 2012 Vancouver, BC – An Ipsos Reid survey in British Columbia, conducted on behalf of ICBC, shows that most vehicle buyers are not readily thinking of “safety” when making a vehicle purchase decision. Instead, “price” and “fuel efficiency” are of greater top-of-mind consideration.. Monday, December 12, 2011 New York, NY – Nearly half of Americans (45%) say that quality is the factor that most influences their car-buying decision, according to a new telephone survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of CarMax. Among those who had purchased a car, 45% select quality as having the most impact on their decision, an increase of 8% since 2010. While quality was also the top factor last year, it was selected by less than four in ten (37%).. Wednesday, November 09, 2011 Vancouver, BC — In its third annual Holiday Shopping Study, Ipsos Reid investigates holiday shopping behaviours, including which latest technology products British Columbians are jotting down on their holiday shopping and wish lists.. Thursday, October 06, 2011 Synovate was acquired by Ipsos in October 2011. The research discussed in this press release was conducted prior to the acquisition, using Synovate’s research policies and methodologies. Wednesday, September 14, 2011 New York, NY – The top benefits parents want their children to receive from eating healthy foods relate to heart health, reduced risk of disease, brain development and immunity. This is the latest finding from a global study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods. Monday, September 12, 2011 Wednesday, July 20, 2011 Toronto, ON – Eight in ten (80%) residents of Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and Halifax agree that they feel like they’re being ‘cheated by companies that appear to be selling ice cream when they’re not’, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of the Dairy Farmers of Canada. New York, NY - While the majority of global consumers still perceive store brands to be the same as or better than national brands, a one year trend analysis indicates that their positive perceptions toward store brands may be starting to decline slightly. This is the latest finding from a study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods. Monday, May 30, 2011. Wednesday, March 09, 2011 New York, NY – PayPal is helping to drive sales for most merchants who offer the payment service, according to a new Ipsos Public Affairs poll conducted on behalf of PayPal. Among online merchants who are able to track their sales say sales have increased an average of 18 percent since adding PayPal’s Express Checkout service. Eight in ten (83 percent) merchants have noticed a bump in sales, while just 17 percent say they haven’t noticed an increase.. Wednesday, December 01, 2010 Toronto, ON – Canadians don’t know when they’ve been had, as eight in ten (78%) admit they don’t know how to tell if they’ve purchased a counterfeit item, according to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Microsoft. Just two in ten (22%) say they know how to tell if they’ve purchased such an item. Men (25%) are more likely than women (18%) to say they know how to spot a fake, as are younger adults (30%) when compared to middle-aged (22%) or older (14%) Canadians. Most (68%) Canadians recognize that the counterfeit-goods market is a billion-dollar industry worldwide. Friday, November 12, 2010 Montreal, QC – Newly released research conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of McDonalds Canada reveals that a large majority of Canadians are daily coffee consumers, drinking the beverage both at home and the workplace or school, as well as regularly in cafés and restaurants. Thursday, November 11, 2010 New York, NY – Four in five adults (79%) believe that being able to charge their devices wirelessly would make their lives easier, according to a new Ipsos poll conducted on behalf of Duracell, a leading manufacturer of high-performance alkaline batteries. The survey shows that women are even more enthusiastic about charging their devices wirelessly than are men, as 82% of women agree – including 49% who completely agree – compared to 76% of men. Wednesday, November 10, 2010 Toronto, ON – As Canada slowly works its way out of the recession, Canadians who own or lease vehicles are starting to think about their trade-in possibilities. A new Ipsos Reid poll, conducted on behalf of Canadian Black Book, has found that almost half (49%) ‘agree’ (20% strongly/29% somewhat) that they would like to get a new vehicle and one in ten (13%) ‘agree’ (3% strongly/9% somewhat) that they are planning to trade their vehicle before the end of this year. Canadians have shown their patience during the recession as four in ten (43%) Canadians, overall, ‘agree’ (16% strongly/28% somewhat) that the state of the economy has forced them to hold on to their current vehicle longer than they would like. Monday, November 01, 2010 Toronto, ON – As the holiday season slowly approaches, Canadians are beginning to think about gift giving and receiving but fewer than half say they actually enjoy buying gifts for family and friends according to a new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Future Shop. Two in five (44%) Canadians say they ‘sometimes like the process of buying gifts, but sometimes it can be difficult and stressful’ while 9% ‘hardly ever enjoy buying gifts for family or friends’ as it is usually difficult and stressful. Friday, October 29, 2010 New York, N.Y. – Over one in three (37%) online shoppers are planning to shop on Black Friday, according to a new Ipsos Public Affairs telephone survey conducted on behalf of Offers.com.. Wednesday, October 27, 2010 Toronto, ON – The introduction of the Harmonized Sales Tax has been widely unpopular throughout the province and has affected the cost of a range of goods and services. One such issue has been whether the price of a resale home that has been previously occupied, as opposed to a newly constructed home, has been affected by the HST. When asked whether the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) apply to the purchase price of a resale home, over half (56%) of Ontarians said ‘yes’ according to a new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of the Ontario Real Estate Association. An equal of proportion of men and women (56%) think the HST applies to the purchase price of a resale home. The majority (55%) of Ontarians between the ages of 18-34 as well as 35-54 agree, as do almost six in ten (59%) of those 55 and over. Seven in ten (71%) of residents in Northern Ontario say ‘yes’ too, as do 59% of those in the South West and East, 54% in the Greater Toronto Area and just half (51%) of those in Central Ontario. Ontarians with kids are more likely to believe the HST applies to the purchase price of a resale home compared to 56% of those without kids in their household. Tuesday, October 26, 2010 Toronto, ON – A new Ipsos Reid study of accessories purchases in Canada shows that on items such as sunglasses, wallets, watches and jewelry, the spending habits of Canadians varies by product, gender and season. In particular, the Ipsos Reid Canadian Accessories Tracker shows some very defined differences between the ways and the amounts men and women spend in this segment., September 30, 2010 New York, NY – Thinking about factors that influence their car-buying decision, Americans are most likely to say quality has the greatest impact, according to a new telephone survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of CarMax. More than a third of Americans who have purchased a vehicle say quality has the greatest influence on their car-buying decision (37%), followed by price (28%) and safety (22%). Americans are far less likely to say environmental factors (6%) or resale value (4%) is the main influence on their vehicle purchase.. Wednesday, July 28, 2010 New York, NY – Consumer interest in food and beverages that offer better digestive health, increased energy, weight loss, and healthy blood sugar levels is greater than or similar to interest in vitamins and supplements that provide the same health and wellness benefits. This is the latest finding from a global study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods..” Wednesday, June 23, 2010 Chicago, IL – How can non-grocery retail marketers create meal ideas and inspire shoppers in their aisles? Donna Wydra, Senior Vice President with Ipsos Marketing’s U.S. shopper insight practice will be probing that topic at the 10th annual IIR Shopper Insights in Action Conference, being held July 11-14 in Chicago. Wydra will be co-presenting with Liz Mohr, Shopper Insights and Analytics Director at ConAgra Foods. The presentation will examine consumer attitudes and behaviors and help inform the shopper marketing decisions of non-grocery retailers. Tuesday, April 13, 2010 Vancouver, BC – Ipsos Reid's 2010 Excellence in Retailing Study conducted jointly with Shelfspace – The Association for Retail Entrepreneurs, reveals that a retailer's customer service goes a long way to win over potential customers in BC. Wednesday, April 07, 2010 New York, NY – Consumers from around the world feel strongly that store brands are the same as, or better than, national brands at providing a variety of benefits. This is the latest finding from a study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods. Tuesday, March 23, 2010 Vancouver, BC – Results from Ipsos Reid's 2010 Retailers and the Environment Study reveals that fewer British Columbians view a retailer's environmental actions as a key factor in choosing where they shop compared to two years ago. Monday, November 23, 2009 Vancouver, BC – 'Tis the season for opening wallets for gifts, entertainment, travel, and celebrations, but will shoppers' spending change during the holiday given the current state of economy? To find out, Ipsos Reid launched a new study to examine the purchase behaviour of adult British Columbians when it comes to shopping during the 2009 holiday season. Thursday, August 13, 2009 New York, NY - Value is a top priority when purchasing consumer packaged goods products, according to findings from a study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods. When asked what thoughts crossed their minds when making decisions to purchase food, household and personal products on their most recent grocery shopping trip, almost two-thirds (64%) of global consumers indicated value for the money. Thursday, July 16, 2009 New York, NY - A recent study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods shows that while global consumers do not find the consumer packaged goods sector to be particularly innovative, there is high demand for new food, household and personal products in the market. Thursday, June 11, 2009 New York, NY – A new study conducted by Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods indicates that global consumers have readjusted their priorities regarding food products. Fresher ingredients. Increased health benefits. More environmentally friendly packaging. These are the top priorities global consumers are placing on food companies. Thursday, April 30, 2009 New York, NY – Consumers around the world are more wary of trying new consumer goods products when they sense the economy is slowing down. This is the finding of a recent Ipsos Marketing, Consumer Goods study on global consumer attitudes and behavior that covered 18 countries around the world. In fact, more than half of global consumers shy away from new grocery, personal and household products during an economic downturn.. Wednesday, February 04, 2009 New York, NY – While car buyers regard price as a top consideration, roughly a quarter (23%) say that their worst mistake when purchasing a car was overpaying for a new car that quickly depreciated in value, according to a new survey of over 1,000 U.S. adults conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of CarMax. Monday, December 08, 2008 Toronto, ON – According to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Wal-Mart Canada, nearly one-half of Canadians intend to do more of their Christmas shopping at Wal-Mart this year than last. More specifically, 43% intend to shop more at Wal-Mart this Christmas than last year, while two in ten (20%) intend to shop at Wal-Mart about the same amount this year as they did last year.. Monday, September 15, 2008 Toronto, ON – A new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of National PR/GE reveals that nearly three in ten Canadians (28%) consider themselves to be laundry “experts” – they know exactly how much water and soap to use and can remove every stain on their family's clothing.. Thursday, July 03, 2008 Calgary, AB - The supply, price, and environmental costs of electricity are increasingly important issues across Canada. Consumers can become more energy efficient and potentially reduce costs by using Smart Meters, which track how much and when electricity is used in their homes. As part of a new study, Energy and the Internet, Ipsos Reid investigated Canadians’ awareness and interest in Smart Meter technology. Thursday, June 26, 2008 Toronto, ON – It appears that there are few limits as to how online Canadians like to enjoy their computer games. A new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of Microsoft has found that one in five Canadian men (17%) has played a computer game in the nude. A smaller percentage of women (9%) have done the same. Wednesday, June 25, 2008 Toronto, ON – It appears that Ontarians are not ready to compromise when it comes to their ice cream. According to a new poll conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of the Dairy Farmers of Ontario, nine in ten (88%) Ontarians say that it’s important (59% “very important”/29% “somewhat important”) that the ice cream they buy from the dairy freezer is “real ice cream made from milk and not a frozen dessert made from vegetable oils”. As well, nearly all Ontarians (96%) say that they prefer to serve real ice cream to their children, rather than a frozen dessert made from vegetable oils.. Tuesday, March 04, 2008 Toronto, ON – A new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Hewlett Packard finds that no matter the size of their small or medium-sized business, a majority (59%) of SMB owners say that branding their business is a ‘priority’ (28% very high/31% somewhat high). In fact, just two in ten (18%) say it’s ‘not a priority at all’, while one quarter (23%) would say it’s ‘not much of a priority’. Furthermore, two thirds (66%) agree (27% strongly/39% somewhat) that developing and then marketing that brand is a priority for their business. Thursday, August 30, 2007 The Topline results for this poll are now available for download.. Friday, February 23, 2007 Toronto, On – Nearly all Canadians (96%) say they would likely try to save energy if it “just involved simple changes in their day-to-day household activities”, according to a new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of Tide Coldwater Detergent. But many Canadians don’t realise the significant household energy savings they can gain by washing their clothes in cold water rather than warm water: most (68%) estimate that they could save less than 75% of household energy used per load by using cold water over warm. Friday, November 03, 2006 Toronto, ON – A new Ipsos Reid survey conducted on behalf of LG Electronics Canada asked Canadians about their attitudes towards cell phones. Thursday, October 12, 2006 Toronto, ON - Canadian Tire Financial Services will soon be offering new financial services and products in two test markets--Calgary, Alberta and Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. A new Ipsos Reid survey of adult residents of Calgary and Kitchener-Waterloo adults finds that residents think it's important that Canadians are not limited to just traditional banks (89% in Calgary and 90% in Kitchener-Waterloo). Moreover, most would be interested in obtaining financial services and products at an institution other than a traditional bank (63% in Calgary and 69% in Kitchener-Waterloo). Wednesday, October 11, 2006 New York, NY – To help consumer products manufacturers make better decisions about which products to include in their product lineups, Ipsos Insight has introduced Line Evolution™, a proprietary line optimization solution that takes into account consumer need states, retail space limitations, and the reality of stock outages. Monday, July 31, 2006 Toronto, ON - According to a new survey conducted by Ipsos Reid on behalf of SC Johnson, strong majorities of Canadians like a clean home and a clean shower, but they certainly would like to be able to spend less time cleaning and would appreciate any help they can get in making their chores easier. Friday, July 21, 2006 New York, NY— Leading survey-based market research firm Ipsos Insight today unveiled its new InnoTrack tool, which measures how well a new product has performed in the market—domestic or global—versus expectations. Unlike syndicated services, InnoTrack sheds light on why products perform the way they do by identifying consumer motivations and deterrents to trial and repeat., May 15, 2006 New York, NY — Leading survey-based market research firm Ipsos today unveiled its new Product Precision™ product testing system, which features data-driven direction and consulting for developing successful new products, enhancing existing products, and making smart decisions about cost reductions. Product Precision addresses business issues that arise throughout the product lifecycle, using test designs tailored to the client’s specific business objectives, whether measuring the success of a new product, improving product performance, assessing reformulation risk, or reducing costs. Thursday, October 06, 2005 New York, NY — Ipsos Insight, the flagship marketing research division of Ipsos in the U.S., announced that David Nemiah has joined the company’s consumer products research division as Vice President, Global Equity & Branding. Friday, June 17, 2005 New York, NY — Ipsos-Insight, the flagship marketing research division of Ipsos in the U.S., announced that Becki Meyer has joined the company’s Consumer Products Division as Vice President in its Cincinnati office. Meyer will lead the Ipsos-Insight teams providing strategic marketing research support and consulting to leading packaged goods clients. Monday, January 17, 2005 Vancouver, BC — An Ipsos-Reid survey conducted on behalf of Coast Capital Savings shows that Canadians 19–55 are heavy financial transactors, making 43.3 transactions per month, on average. Chequing account holders in this age group currently pay $21.50 per month, on average, in service fees on their main chequing account. A large minority (40%) feel that the fees charged on their main chequing account are unfair.
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Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine and its Relation to Chinese Herbal Medicine Ayurveda, the ancient tradition of India, is often translated as the "science of life," but this is a poor representation of the term. Science refers to a method of study that was developed long after Ayurveda; reading Ayurvedic texts, one sees a religious document rather than a scientific one. In the book Oriental Medicine: An Illustrated Guide to the Asian Arts of Healing, an ancient etymological definition is given: It is called ayurveda because it tells us (vedayati) which substances, qualities, and actions are life-enhancing (ayusya) and which are not. In other words, Ayurveda is an instruction for enhancing life. Ayurvedic medicine has some relevance to Chinese traditional medicine. Both systems are instructional, rather than scientific, and are fundamentally aimed at enhancing life. Both are additionally focused at treatment of specific diseases that plagued ancient societies for centuries. Nearly half of the most commonly-used herbs in each of these two Asian medical systems (India and China) are the same or similar and their actions are described in somewhat overlapping terms. For example, in both systems, herbs are described according to the symptoms they treat, their warming or cooling nature, and their influence on the body humors. What differs is the basic set of categories of disharmony: the diagnostic and therapeutic groupings. In traditional Chinese medicine the correspondence systems of yin and yang and the five elements have a strong influence, as do the depictions of certain bodily humors (qi, blood, moisture, and essence), and the internal organ systems (zangfu). In Ayurvedic medicine, although the total system is quite complex, there is a dominance of the three dosha (tridosha) system: kapha, pitta, vata (also called vayu). These three function within a body that is described primarily in terms of stages of transformation (following the path of ingested food as it is converted into essential substances that comprise the body) rather than by physical structures and functional organs. The reliance on a triad of influences on health and disease sometimes forces Ayurvedic medicine into a relatively simplistic system, which has had the effect of strangling its development compared to Chinese medicine. Several books on Ayurvedic medicine that have been presented to the West expend most of their pages on classifying individuals and their symptoms into these three groupings, and then present foods, herbs, physical therapies that are classified primarily by their effects on the three doshas. As stated by P. Kutumbiah in his book Ancient Indian Medicine: "The doctrine of the tridosha plays an important role in ancient Indian medicine. It is the basis of its diagnosis, pathology, and therapeutics. A correct appreciation of it is, therefore, essential for a proper understanding of Indian medicine....In the later medical works, it underwent great elaboration owing to the influence of the cosmological speculations and consequently suffered much violence to make it fall in line with them." The enforced alignment with so-called "cosmological speculations" was a problem that also affected Chinese medicine, where the five element and six qi (environmental influences) systems had a stifling effect because everything was forced to fit, even when reason and experience indicated otherwise. Chinese medicine made an escape from its philosophical binds through constantly reworking of the basic system by strong-minded and experienced commentators. Ayurvedic medicine did not have a similar transformation, and so it struggles with certain inconsistencies that date back to a much earlier age without having been addressed, at least in any preserved writings, in the interim. Ayurvedic, Chinese, and other traditional systems are today yielding their theoretical and experiential frameworks to investigation by modern scientific techniques, applied mainly for the purpose of illustrating the effectiveness of remedies that have been developed over the centuries. In this context, the underlying theoretical framework fades away, and the tested substances become the focus of a new international effort at preventive health care and disease treatment. Herbal formulas developed today rely on a combination of traditional and modern indications for the use of the medicinal materials. The Chinese and Ayurvedic medical systems each rely heavily on a pair of texts that are revered as statements of all the fundamental principles within the tradition. In the Chinese system, these texts are the Suwen (Basic Questions) and Lingshu (Spiritual Pivot), which together form the Huangdi Neijing (Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine), written around 100 B.C. Although both of these Chinese texts are referenced by subsequent authors of Chinese medical works, the Suwen is considered the principal text, laying out such basic theories as the five elements, application of acupuncture, and the cause and progression of diseases. In the Ayurvedic system, the two texts are the Caraka Samhita (Compendium of Caraka; also spelled Charaka) and the Susruta Samhita (Compendium of Susruta), both estimated to have been written around 100 A.D. These are huge volumes, many times the size of the Chinese works (an English translation of the two Indian texts runs 2,700 pages, while the translation of the two Chinese texts runs only 600 pages). The Susruta, though it contains a diversity of information, is mostly known as a text on surgery; the Caraka, by contrast, is relied upon as the primary source for information about basic Ayurvedic theory and about herbal medicine. Therefore, it is the quoted source book for virtually any discussion of Indian herbs and, in that sense, it may be likened to the Suwen of the Chinese tradition.A 5-volume translation of the Caraka Samhita, revised for publication in 1996, is available from India. However, just as occurs in the Chinese writings, quotes from the Caraka are to be found in virtually every text and few practitioners outside of India go back to the original work to study the principles. It should be briefly mentioned that there is a third Indian text that is usually grouped with Caraka and Susruta. Caraka accomplished the final synthesis of Indian medicine, and Susruta that of surgery. Their works have thereafter held undisputed sway in Indian medicine up to the present time. The Indian medical writers after Caraka and Susruta were only their imitators and abstractors. No real original work was accomplished after them." The Chinese Suwen and Indian Caraka each present steps to take in one's daily life to promote health; they also describe causes of disease (such as environmental, dietary, and emotional factors), present information about specific diseases and disease progression, and offer therapeutic measures. Whereas the Suwen mainly recommends acupuncture as the therapy to be used for diseases, the Caraka mainly presents herbs, oil massages, and enemas. In that aspect, the Caraka is comparable to a different pair of Chinese books, the Shanghan Lun (Treatise on Diseases Caused by Cold Pathogens) and Jingui Yaolue (Miscellaneous Diseases and Their Treatment). Those texts mainly present herbal therapies. The use of therapeutic massage (with specific oils according to the disorder being treated) and heavy reliance on enemas (usually made with an oil base) is unique to the Ayurvedic system; application of oils internally and topically, is often referred to in recent books as oleation. For information about herbs and their properties, the Chinese have relied heavily on the work of Li Shizhen in his 16th century compendium Bencao Gangmu (Grand Compendium of Herbs) at least until the 20th century, when numerous revised Materia Medica books appeared. Li's work is part of a continuous tradition of revised and expanded Materia Medica dating back to the Shennong Bencao Jing (Herbal Classic of Shennong) that was written around 100 A.D. The Chinese herbal tradition is traced in a modern book called History of Medicine: Pharmaceutics, by Paul Unschuld. A portion of the contents of the Bencao Gangmu (only that involving plant materials) was translated into English, with commentaries about current conditions in China at the end of the 19th century by Smith and Stuart, in their book Chinese Herbal Medicine. Ayurvedic medicine has not had as rich a tradition of Materia Medica works, with much reliance placed still on the contents of the Caraka. In 1908, Dr. K. M. Nadkarnia published a two-volume Indian Materia Medica, a guide to Ayurveda that is still considered the standard text. Comparable to the Smith and Stuart book in the timing of its publication, it combines information from ancient traditional practices, current Ayurvedic practices, and reports from Europeans (such as analysis of active constituents, pharmacology, and European uses of the same herbs). Unlike the Chinese Materia Medica books, this Indian text makes no references to previous works on Indian herbs, does not outline any history of the development of the drugs, does not indicate when an herb was introduced into practice, and, except for occasional references to Caraka, doesn't quote earlier authors on Ayurvedic medicine, except for those working right around the time of its publication, mainly R.N. Chopra. The proper translation and understanding of the key element of the Ayurvedic tradition, the tridosha, remains at the heart of making Ayurveda accessible to those who did not grow up with and assiduously study this field. As to understanding the tridosha system, in the introduction to the Indian Materia Medica, this is offered: The doshas-vayu, pitta, and kapha-constitute the tripod on which Ayurveda stands. To understand their theory perfectly and correctly is by itself a long and arduous study. The subject being a very complicated one, it cannot be explained within a few pages. Also, it has been defined by different experts in different ways, but the basic principles to which they all point to are the same. This comment is followed by concerns about translation of tridosha terms to English, taken from an address on Hindu Medicine given at the Hindu University in Benaras (ca. 1920): The theory of vayu, pitta, and kapha was also a great discovery, which, unfortunately, has been much misunderstood by Western scholars judging by the wrong mercenary translations, rendering these terms as wind, bile, and phlegm. The proper explanation of this theory will take up a treatise by itself, but let me observe here in passing that the word vayu does not imply wind in Ayurvedic literature, but comprehends [encompasses] all the phenomena which come under the functions of the central and sympathetic nervous systems; that the word pitta does not essentially mean bile, but signifies the functions of thermogenesis or heat production and metabolism, comprehending in its scope the process of digestion, coloration of blood [e.g., production of red blood cells], and formation of various secretions and excretions which are either the means or the ends of tissue combustion [catabolism], and that the word kapha does not mean phlegm but is used primarily to imply the function of thermo-taxis or heat regulation and secondarily formation of the various preservative fluids, e.g., mucus, synovia, etc., though the crude products of pitta and kapha have been sometimes called by these names [bile and phlegm, respectively].... These concerns about translation are comparable to those that arise with the Chinese system, in which, for example, the use of modern names for internal organs seems inappropriate to the depiction of traditional organ systems (e.g., pi translated as spleen, or shen translated as kidney); similarly, the off-hand translation of qi as energy leads to all kinds of misunderstandings, even among practitioners. Dr. Nadkarni, after further expressing regret that the full theory cannot be expounded for want of space, states the following about the tridosha system: To be more explicit, I may add that these principles, known as vayu, pitta, and kapha, occur in two forms: 1. An invisible or essential form, which mainly guide the physiological processes pertaining to them naturally; 2. A crude or visible form, the products (as secretions or excretions) of those processes induced by these essential terms. The relation between the two forms is very close, so that the derangement of the essential form of one principle gives rise at once to increased or morbid secretions and excretions of that principle. The failure to recognize the difference between these two forms of the principles has given rise to the erroneous rendering of pitta as bile and kapha as phlegm. The rendering of vayu as wind is preposterous.... The two forms of the doshas, essential and crude, may be likened (very roughly) to the connection in the Chinese system between an element and its associated manifestation. For example, there are the associations of wood (the underlying element) with wind, liver, and tendon (its manifestations); or of the earth element with dampness, spleen, and muscles, etc. The situation may also be likened to the understanding of the six qi described in Chinese medicine (fire, cold, damp, wind, dryness, and moisture): there is the influence of these factors on the body and there is the corresponding manifestation of disease. Thus, for example, heat (fire) adversely influences the body, and can eventually yield a fire syndrome, which might manifest as fever, inflammation, dark colored discharge, or other characteristics defined by the tradition. The influence is one thing and the syndrome is another thing, but they can be described by the same term (in the example: fire). In a parallel manner, the Ayurvedic system describes an influence-one or more of vayu, pitta, and kapha-and there are the material results of those influences, which might be referred to as humors, secretions, and excretions. These two-influence and manifestation-are easily confused, and it is seen in the Ayurvedic medical literature that the flow of thought back and forth between these two aspects leads one to easily forget which is the focus of concern. Further, as occurs in both the Chinese and Ayurvedic systems, each of these influences is not solely pathological, despite the frequent reference to their role in pathology. They are pathological when there is an excess or deficiency or some other type of deviation from normal (such as imbalanced level or inappropriate interaction between any two); otherwise, they are essential to life. In fact, in the traditional Ayurvedic system, when vayu, kapha, and pitta are in their normal measure they are called dhatus (supporters of the body), while they are called doshas (faults) if they are producing imbalance. So it is that one can become disoriented by considering a fundamental entity, defined by a single word such as feng (in China) or vayu (in India), as being both essential and pathological, a causative factor and a result, a symbol and a manifestation. As to the idea that translating vayu as wind is preposterous, one can understand the terminology conundrum by reading the description of this dosha in the primary text on Ayurveda, the Caraka Samhita. On the one hand, vayu is described this way: When moving in the world in an excited state, without doubt, vayu, and lightning to fall down on the earth. It causes excess of virtues, absence of virtues, and contrariety of virtues in respect of the six seasons. It causes failure of crops. It produces disease and plagues. It destroys many objects. This description sounds like wind as we all know it, at least as it occurs in hurricanes and tornadoes (it is only so destructive in the "excited state"). When describing vayu as an aspect of the human body, it takes on a different form. Here is the description of its favorable side, when not "excited" (the parenthetical statements being clarifications included by the translators):. The idea that wind encompasses all the functions of the central nervous system, as Nadkarni has explained in semi-modern terminology to his audience, doesn't seem to fit all that well with the above description. The Caraka Samhita continues: When excited within the body, vayuaction, cheerlessness, and delusions. It destroys life. Here, the agitation of mind, injury to senses, and the development of various mental states and delusions that result from agitated wind seems consistent with a role of the central nervous system. Still, the translation term for vayu as wind is probably as good as one can do to capture this diverse traditional concept that clearly go beyond what we know the central nervous system to encompass. The term wind in Chinese medicine is equally problematic; it also has some connections with the central nervous system (wind diseases often involve involuntary muscular conditions and abnormal sensory conditions, which are related to central nervous system activity), perhaps more so than in the Indian system. Vayu, unlike pitta and kapha, has its own chapter in the Caraka Samhita; in fact, it has two full chapters. It is the condition that requires the most explanation, and did so even in ancient times. The description of pitta as bile is actually the one that goes most against the grain. This translation, first made centuries ago, has its origins in ancient Greek medicine, which influenced European medicine and its terminology until the 19th century. According to the Greek tradition, there were three humors in the body: blood, phlegm, and bile (which could be subdivided into two forms: yellow and black). The term bile was simply carried over to explain the Indian system; in both traditional systems, it was associated with burning sensation and feverish condition, though that is nearly the full extent of the connection. For those who have experience with traditional Chinese medicine, the term "fire" fits better than bile as a description for pitta, and it is sometimes used by writers as a substitute term for bile (as in the current work). In the Ayurvedic system, there is a subdivision of pitta, called agni, which is often translated as digestive fire. Here again, the term fire seems to be acceptable. Phlegm is the term used for the Chinese concept tan; it works reasonably well in that system if one is willing to expand the definition of phlegm considerably beyond its generally accepted applications in the West. The term phlegm also fits kapha sufficiently to be usable, though it remains far from ideal. So long as one understands that the translation terms are applicable to broad traditional concepts rather than limited modern definitions, one should be able to make use of them in communicating among practitioners, if not in easily describing the system to patients. The translation problems aside, it is unfortunate that even when time and space permits, the elaboration of the concept of the three doshas does not come out much more clearly, as anyone can realize by reading several Ayurvedic texts. However, that is also the case with some Chinese concepts like qi, which have so many depictions-sometimes contradicting one another-that it is difficult to pin down any particular meaning. One eventually learns how to make clinical use of these terms and the concepts behind them through regular study of the available literature. To sum up tridosha in a few words, one of the leading Western authorities on Ayurveda, Robert Svoboda, in his book Ayurveda: Life, Health and Longevity, has said this: The three doshas are invisible forces that can be demonstrated in the body only by inference. Comparisons with the wind, bile, and phlegm of Hippocratic medicine ignore their non-physical character. Wind, bile, phlegm, and other bodily constituents are merely the vehicles of the three doshas, substances that carry these forces and through which display their qualities and perform their actions....The. The famous Chinese physician Li Gao (Li Dongyuan; 1180-1251 AD) believed that most diseases that arise internally are linked to weakness of the stomach/spleen system. This system, first and foremost, involves the digestive processes. Li's most famous remedy, Ginseng and Astragalus Combination (Buzhong Yiqi Tang) has the property of improving digestive function, enhancing the nutritive status of the body, and treating a wide range of disorders secondary to the lack of adequate qi and blood. Similarly, in the Ayurvedic system, the Caraka states that digestive system problems are the root of disease. Here is a description by Rob Svoboda: How the doshas affect the body and mind is expressed in a verse from Caraka: 'The balance and aggravation of the doshas is at all times due to the relative strength or weakness of the digestive fire. Therefore, one must always protect the digestive fire, and prohibit all activities which might weaken it.' All diseases are due to angimandya-weakness of the digestive fire [angi = digestive fire, mandya = weakness], with the exception of one condition, in which the fire becomes exceptionally intense. Prajnaparadha [prajna = mental alertness, wisdom; paradha = failing, impairment, violation of] is a sort of weakness of the mental digestion, which is transmitted via various paths to the body. The body's digestive fire is normal when there is normal desire for food, no discomfort after eating, no belching and no heaviness or other symptoms during digestion; when a sense of well-being and satisfaction occurs [after a meal]; and when all wastes have normal consistency, do not contain undigested food, and are excreted at normal times. The mind's digestive fire should be examined in a similar way, prajnaparadha is clearly indicative of weak mental digestion. Like all fires, the body's digestive fire changes from moment to moment. It becomes weak as a result of: overuse of cold and liquid substances, especially ice water, especially in winter; overeating or undereating; overconsumption of heavy food, such as meat; eating before the previous meal has been digested; improper food combining; restraint of natural reflex urges, which cause vata to move in improper directions; disturbances of sleep; consumption of food to which one is not habituated; consumption of food at the wrong time (according to the seasons, the climate, one's age and health, and so on); overactivity (especially sexual) or underactivity; and mental causes, especially envy, fear, anger, greed, anguish, wretchedness, misery, and sorrow. Students of Chinese medicine will recognize immediately most of the prohibitions and cautions, such as concerns about cold (weakening spleen and kidney yang), too much liquid (causing spleen dampness), excessive sexual activity (depleting essence), and the role of the emotions in causing disease. In the Ayurvedic system there may be even more emphasis than in the Chinese system on the importance of food in attaining and maintaining health. There is also the concern about restraint of natural urges, which coincides with or contradicts Taoist approaches, depending on the author of the Taoist instructions and the particular urge under consideration. An immediate adverse result of such factors as digestive fire weakness, dietary improprieties, and the other things that affect food digestion (such as emotions, type of food, amount eaten), is the production of ama. This term refers to something that is incomplete, unprocessed, raw. The implication is that incompletely digested food materials can pass out of the digestive system and travel through the body, causing all kinds of diseases. The Chinese tradition has a similar concept: undigested food produces a pathological phlegm that can cause many diseases, including cardiovascular blockage, mental derangement (from "phlegm-mist" blocking the orifices), and joint pain, to mention a few. Indeed, Chinese writers have suggested that when there are strange, difficult to diagnose, or difficult to treat diseases, it is a sign that pathological phlegm is involved. Another formula developed by Li Gao, Pinellia and Gastrodia Combination (Banxia Baizhu Tianma Tang), is specifically aimed at treating the results of phlegm accumulation from undigested food. It is indicated for recurrent headaches and vertigo, compulsive sleeping after eating, weakness of hands and feet, hypertension associated with gastrointestinal weakness, headache and vertigo due to hypotension, abdominal distention, gastroptosis, sinusitis, cold hands and feet, heavy feeling in the legs, anemia, and fatigue. The formula is comprised primarily of digestive aids and tonics for the spleen. In the Chinese system, properly digested food produces normal qi and blood that promotes health; in the Ayurvedic system, it produces rasa, which has the same function, helping to form healthy blood. The improperly digested food produces pathological phlegm (kapha) and accumulated mass (ama) that is a source of disease. A number of spicy herbs, such as ginger, cardamom, atractylodes, citrus, pogostemon, and raphanus are used by Chinese physicians to enliven the stomach function, promote complete digestion of food, and alleviate food stagnation. To an even greater extent, the Indian system relies on spicy herbs, including a variety of peppers (especially long pepper and black pepper), cumins, asafoetida, basil, and turmeric to stimulate the digestive fire, calm the overproduction and agitation of kapha, and prevent the accumulation of ama. In the Chinese system, but not in the Ayurvedic system, sweet herbs, such as ginseng, astragalus, jujube, maltose, and licorice, are utilized to benefit the functions of the spleen, which represents an important aspect of the digestive system. Indeed, as an indicator of divergence between the Chinese and Ayurvedic herb approaches to this problem, in Ayurvedic formulas, one Indian herb, ashwaganda, commonly takes the place of all of these sweet Chinese herbs, yet it has a bitter quality rather than being sweet. Investigating the overlap and divergence between herb selection and treatment strategies for these two systems can inspire practitioners to broaden their understanding of traditional medical principles and also help to alert them to the exceptions to the seemingly solid rules that are laid down in the ancient texts. While some diseases are of short duration and mainly affect one part of the body, others progress to affect additional parts of the body and can eventually engulf the entire organism. In early Chinese texts, especially the Neijing and the Shanghan Lun, very detailed accounts of disease progression are given. The concept of six disease stages (taiyang, shaoyang, yangming, taiyin, shaoyin, and jueyin) is associated with the impact of cold pathogenic factors. This classification was later joined by four disease stages (wei, qi, ying, xue) associated with hot pathogenic factors. The idea of disease stages has directed the Chinese thinking about diagnosing and treating diseases with herbs. In the Ayurvedic system, the concept of disease progression is somewhat different. As described by Rob Svoboda: "Weakness of the digestive fire is the root cause of all diseases, vata is the chief cause of the development of all diseases, and ama is the principal nourisher of disease." The primary stages are accumulation, aggravation, and overflow: Accumulation: As a result of exposure to causative factors, one or more of the doshas accumulates in its seat: kapha in the stomach, pitta in the small intestine, and vata in the colon. Each produces its own characteristic symptoms: doshas are easiest to remove from the system at this stage. Aggravation: In this stage, which literally means rage, the doshas continue to increase and put pressure on their reservoirs, intensifying the symptoms they have produced. It is still fairly easy to remove the doshas even at this stage, but while treating them, their reservoir organs, which have been stressed by their ire, need also to be strengthened. The doshas do not always accumulate before they become enraged; if the causes are strong enough, aggravation may occur directly. Overflow: If aggravation is permitted to proceed unchecked, the doshas escape their homes, wandering about the body like vagabonds, searching for a place to camp. All the previous symptoms worsen, and kapha may produce vomiting, pitta may produce diarrhea, and vata may produce colicky pain in the colon and painful defecation, with the liberation of copious quantities of gas. Overflow can also occur without previous accumulation or aggravation of the doshas in their reservoir organs if they are displaced by the force of aggravated vata, which may be directly disturbed by exposure to strong imbalancing causes, such as excessive desire (especially sexual), sleeplessness, excessive talking and activity (especially on an empty stomach), sudden vomiting or diarrhea (particularly if self-induced), intense joy or sadness, and the restraint of any of the natural reflex urges. Following these initial stages, if the disease is not properly treated, the doshas will find a location where they can concentrate themselves, and will then begin to transform the normal body functions and structures into a seriously diseased condition. The disease will then manifest the specific symptoms according to: the constitution of the individual; the way the disease progressed; and any factors that currently influence the body or mind. Localization, manifestation, and specialization of the disease process are the final three stages in the Ayurvedic system of six disease stages. For the herbalist, perhaps the important thing to know about the herbs and the doshas (or the physical manifestations of the doshas) is that vata is cold and dry in nature, kapha is cold and moist in nature, and pitta is hot and moist in nature. By analyzing the symptoms and constitution of the patient, one determines the prevalence of each of the physical manifestations of the doshas (and the degree of influence exerted by the non-material aspects of each of the doshas), and selects herbs or prepared herbal formulas to harmonize the influences and correct the physical imbalances, based on the characteristics of the herbal materials. So long as one is careful not to rigidly link Indian and Chinese traditional ideas, it is possible to make reasonable comparisons of the properties of herbs and their therapeutic actions. For example, rather than describing excess and deficiency conditions, as done in the Chinese system, the Ayurvedic system tends to depict, on the one hand, excitation or disturbance ("vitiation"), and, on the other hand, what might be termed sluggishness of the doshas. Still, these imbalances correspond, in practice, with the Chinese excess and deficiency concepts. These linkages are roughly as follows: Overall, pitta and vata are especially distinguished in the Indian system by the hot versus cold properties. Vata and kapha are distinguished in the Indian system primarily by the dry versus moist properties. An example of an herb used essentially the same way in the two traditional medical systems is asafoetida. The strongly fragrant spice is considered in both systems to be very warming (China: chill-dispelling; India: increases pitta), and to resolve accumulation of stagnated fluids (China: dispels moisture and phlegm; India: releases kapha). These similarities in application are found in many of the spicy, warm herbs that promote digestive functions. Asparagus root is an example of an herb that is described in similar ways but used differently in the two systems. It is relied upon in the Chinese tradition to nourish yin and clear heat. The Indian description corresponds well: it is used to increase kapha (moist, cool) and reduce pitta (hot). However, in India, asparagus is frequently used as an aphrodisiac, and said to invigorate vata, but it is not reported to have such effects in the Chinese system. Indeed, in the Indian Materia Medica, herbalists are reminded to distinguish the white and black types of musli, one being a variety of asparagus (safed musli) and the other being curculigo (kali musli), both used as aphrodisiacs and considered similar in nature. In the Chinese systems, these two herbs would be contrasted: asparagus for nourishing yin and cooling heat and curculigo for invigorating yang and dispelling cold. The difference between the Ayurvedic and Chinese analysis of asparagus is based on the somewhat unique concept of vata, which is invigorating yet cold. A therapeutic approach that has become very important in the practice of modern Chinese medicine, vitalizing blood circulation, was first promoted heavily by Wang Qingren, in the early part of the 19th century. While the concept of treating disease by getting rid of blood stasis and promoting circulation was present earlier in the Chinese medical system, it was not particularly emphasized other than for treatment of injuries (including the result of difficult childbirth). During the Jin-Yuan period, when there were four competing schools of thought about the main causes of disease and corresponding methods of treatment, the problems addressed were stomach/spleen deficiency (Li Gao's approach, as mentioned above), yin deficiency, yang deficiency, and fire excess; blood stasis was not among the concerns. Treatment of blood stasis has become a central feature of much of the Chinese herbal research and clinical applications related to chronic disease. In the practice of Ayurveda, stimulation of blood circulation and treatment of "static blood" does not show up as a major concern of internal medicine, though the ubiquitous massage therapy has the effect of invigorating blood circulation. Unlike the Chinese system, reform work was not carried out in the Ayurvedic field, so the shift seen in the Chinese system to address blood stasis is still not a central concern in the Ayurvedic system. Nonetheless, some of the traditional Ayurvedic herbs that are widely used, such as arjun, myrrh, and turmeric, are categorized by the Chinese as blood-vitalizing herbs and contribute this effect incidentally to what is traditionally described in the medical system. One of the dominant descriptions of herb properties in both the Chinese and Ayurvedic systems is based on the taste of the herbs. The taste groups are similar in the Ayurvedic and Chinese systems: Ayurvedic: sweet, sour, salty, pungent (acrid), bitter, and astringent Chinese: sweet, sour, salty, pungent (acrid), bitter, and bland The difference is that the Ayurvedic system has shown no interest in bland-tasting herbs, which was a category developed in the Chinese system centuries after the initial five tastes had been the standard, but Ayurvedic medicine has a strong interest in the astringent taste. In Chinese herbal medicine, there is a small group of astringent herbs listed, but their tastes are described as sour or bitter, rarely as astringent. In fact, for most of the practice of Chinese medicine, only two of the astringent herbs are repeatedly used, schizandra and cornus, both being very sour (contributing an astringent action via the puckery sour quality). Only in the case of diarrhea do the Chinese rely on such highly astringent tasting herbs as pomegranate rind (adopted from Indian practice via Sumatra), and this herb is mentioned in Oriental Materia Medica as having an astringent taste. According to the Ayurvedic approach, the tastes contribute the following effects to herbs: In order to influence the doshas, one usually combines certain tastes together within a formula, as follows: Thus, for example, if a patient has agitation of vata, and insufficiency of the kapha and pitta, involving a weak digestive function and stiffness of the joints, the herbalist would combine (or select a formula containing) sweet, sour, and salty agents, with a small amount of pungent taste. Taste is only one of the qualities that herbalists in India rely upon (other qualities include cooling or heating, heavy or light); however, aside from the individual properties and traditional indications of herbs, this aspect is probably the most important. There are differing opinions about the action of each of the herbs on the doshas. For many herbs, the doshic effects are not formally recorded and can only be implied by an interpretation of the tastes and the symptomatic effects of the herbs. Also, there is some diversity in translating to English the two basic actions of herbs on the doshas: haram (interpreted as reducing, calming, removing, etc.) and karam (interpreted as supporting, supplementing, increasing, etc.). For the presentation here, the following terms for the influence of herbs on the doshas have been selected to have a positive connotation (consistent with the favorable action of the herbs) and to fit the differing characteristics of the individual doshas: In addition, it may be stated that an herb balances two doshas, or all three doshas. Balancing refers to coordination of their functions so as to produce a healthier condition, or reducing one and increasing another to attain the desired levels. For many herbs, the action on the doshas is not mentioned in their description, possibly because it is not thought that the action of the herb on the doshas is a significant factor in determining how it will be used. In both the Indian and Chinese traditions, one can describe three basic phases in the historical development of understanding of how herbs contribute to human health. First, there is the ancient period in which herbs have symbolic significance as well as specific therapeutic attributes. The therapeutic attributes were based on observation of nature and interpretation of those observations in terms of relatively simple systems of categorization. This ancient period extended until the development of the investigative techniques associated with modern science. The next period was that of early science, which affected India and China, as well as most of the rest of the world, during the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. During this period crude analysis of herbs could be carried out, the idea of reporting specific medical cases or collecting many case histories of similar nature arose, and herbal medicines were described in terms of botanical names, constituents, and reported use for diseases defined by modern medicine. The third period, which we are now working within, involves the development of advanced scientific analysis, with the ability to find individual chemical constituents, test them in controlled laboratory experiments, and then attempt the difficult task of validating traditional claims by clinical trials. In the context of this book, in which traditional medicine is the primary focus, the ancient views are of particular interest. The book Garden of Life (by Naveen Patnaik; 1993 Aquarian Books, New Delhi and London), offers some insights into the traditional concepts and the development of the key Indian herbs as foods, spices, and/or medicines. Here are some quotations for selected herbs: Ayurvedic herbs are often prescribed in combinations, typically involving 2-8 herbs, though numerous very large formulas are recorded in the ancient texts. Rejuvenating preparations are called rasayanas, corresponding, roughly, to the Chinese concept of restorative formulas that nourish the kidney and liver, replenish the yin, blood, and essence, and tonify the qi. For example, here is the way in which the myrobalans fruits are prescribed as rasayanas in Caraka Samhita: After the food from the previous meal is completely digested, take one fruit of chebulic myrobalan; before the next meal take two fruits of beleric myrobalan; and just after meals four fruits of emblic myrobalan. All these fruits should be taken with honey or ghee. The rasayana of the three myrobalans (triphala) should be taken for a whole year....Another preparation of triphala rasayana is as follows: take a thin new iron leaf and keep it laved with the paste of the three myrobalans for a whole day and night. Take out the paste the next day and use it with honey and water. When the medicine is digested, one should take such food as is mixed with copious quantity of ghee and milk. From the use of this rasayana for a full year, one becomes free from decrepitude and disease and lives for a hundred years. Another preparation of triphala rasayana is as follows: the three myrobalans should be used with licorice powder or with bamboo manna reduced to powder, or with powder of long pepper, or with honey and ghee, or with sugar [other additions are gold, acorus, rock salt]....If used for a full year, any of these rasayanas would sharpen the understanding and the memory, and infuse strength. It would impart longevity. It is deserving of high praise. The references to use of honey and ghee have parallels with the Chinese system of formulation. Jujube fruits and honey were long used in the Chinese system as the sticky substrate to produce pills and are credited, along with the tea ingredient maltose (sugar derived from barley grain), with the property of benefiting the digestion as well as making the medicine easier to take. Where the Indians use ghee (clarified butter made by heating it and removing the foam that forms on top and the sediment that settles to the bottom), the Chinese used rice porridge. Both have mucilaginous, protective, and therapy-enhancing effects. The Indian use of ghee may have become standard because this substance is especially protective for the stomach and intestines against the spicy effect of the herbs that are frequently relied on to strengthen the digestive fire. Additionally, the Ayurvedic system strongly emphasizes use of oils: for massage, in enemas, to irrigate the sinuses, and to be consumed in the diet as a means of healing, especially for calming vata (as Svoboda stated: vata is the chief cause of the development of all diseases). The Chinese describe the use of porridge both to protect the stomach against the cold action of certain herb and mineral drugs and also as a means of enhancing the production of qi by the stomach. As mentioned earlier, the Chinese system is particularly partial to sweet-tasting substances (which includes the grains), as a way of tonifying the body. A well-nourished body is able to fend off external wind and also prevent the development of internal wind. In the Ayurvedic system, a well-oiled body is able to accomplish the same. In modern practice of Ayurvedic medicine, herbs are prepared in tablets or capsules and neither honey nor ghee is usually included. Persons who have sensitive digestive systems might consider consuming a small amount of one or both of these substances, or others that have similar qualities (e.g., milk, yogurt; preferably warmed to room temperature) when utilizing spicy combinations, such as those aimed at invigorating the digestive fire and reducing accumulation of phlegm. As indicated above in the description of a rasayana, even the non-spicy myrobalans fruits were said to be improved by adding honey or ghee. For those who wish to follow this tradition, the method is to use about 1/3 teaspoon of one of these substances with each dose of the modern tableted or encapsulated formulas, such as the famous Triphala. When taken three times daily, the total amount of honey or ghee is one teaspoon, or about 3 grams, a small amount (for those concerned about sugar or fat content). In the Indian texts, taking rice along with herbs is also mentioned; often, the rice is mixed with milk, honey or sugar, and ghee (ordinary butter can be used instead of ghee, which has a much longer shelf life and can be preserved at room temperature). In our own culture, where there is such an excess of sugars and fats, it may seem odd to recommend these things medicinally, but the recommended accompanying diet is dominated by lentils and vegetables, making simple sugars, butter, and milk or yoghurt a welcome addition that has no adverse effects in moderation. During the past twenty-five years, numerous schools of Chinese medicine have opened in the West, and there has been a vast movement to get this type of medical therapy accepted. Currently, in the U.S., 36 states license, certify, or at least formally allow the practice of acupuncturists as health professionals. Three things made this development possible: These circumstances have not arisen with Ayurvedic medicine. Although Ayurvedic dietary principles are easily taught through books and classes, these are not interpreted as a medical practice by other medical professions. The main part of Ayurvedic medical practice that is recognized as a medical intervention is herbal prescribing. Herbs are an internal medicine that corresponds somewhat closely to the use of drugs. In fact, most practitioners of herbal medicine, as a means of conveying that their herbs are likely to work, point to the fact that a large percentage of modern drugs are either derived from herbs directly or are synthetic versions of drugs that were originally derived from herbs. Therefore, bringing herbal prescribing to the West as a primary practice, as would be necessary for the Ayurvedic system encounters significant difficulties. There is considerable resistance to it from medical authorities. Acupuncturists added herbal prescribing as a secondary practice after a certain acceptance of acupuncture was already in place. Although there are a large number of people from India in the U.S., there are no large Indian communities like those found in the Chinatowns. Therefore, there aren't the communities for traditional Ayurvedic doctors to work in. The government of India has shown no interest in promoting the sales of Ayurvedic medicines abroad nor in having foreigners come to India to study Ayurvedic medicine (sufficient numbers of foreigners come to India for other aspects of their culture, but the main Ayurvedic colleges, which are government sponsored, are basically off-limits to foreigners). Increasingly, plants collected for making Ayurvedic medicines are becoming endangered through over collection with lack of adequate cultivation, especially in the mountainous regions. As a result of these various circumstances, there are very few teachers of Ayurvedic medicine in the U.S., no formal licensing of Ayurvedic practitioners, and only a few small schools that teach this medical tradition (the main one is Dr. Vasant Lad's school in New Mexico). The herbs are imported in relatively small quantities (compared to the amounts of Chinese herbs that are imported) by a few companies, which either market to a small group of health professionals (mainly naturopathic physicians) or direct to the public or both. Examples of Herbs Used in Both Ayurvedic and Chinese Medicine TERMS USED TO DESCRIBE THE ACTION OF HERBS
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How do you define Rehabilitation and Advanced Care services? My facility is already accredited with The Joint Commission for LTC, what does mean to me? I’m a current customer, and am interested in achieving the new certification--Can we add it at any point during the accreditation cycle? Can I choose to pursue certification without accreditation? What are the compliance track record requirements for the new accreditation and certification standards? What are the compliance track record requirements for the new accreditation and certification standards? What happens if my organization doesn’t “pass” the certification, does it impact my accreditation status? If we achieve certification, will we receive a separate certificate along with our accreditation certificate? Will there be performance measurement requirements for the new accreditation and certification? What’s the cost?. See the following: Joint Commission Quality Reports give the public information on the safety and quality of care at the more than 18,000 accredited health care organizations. Quality Reports are available online through Quality Check® at qualitycheck.org. Quality Reports include: No. Health care organizations, programs, and services voluntarily pursue accreditation and certification. Joint Commission surveyors visit accredited health care organizations a minimum of once every 39 months (two years for laboratories) to evaluate standards compliance. This visit is called a survey. All regular Joint Commission accreditation surveys are unannounced. Joint Commission surveyors are highly trained experts who are doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, laboratory medical technologists, and other health care professionals. The Joint Commission is the only health care accrediting body that requires its surveyors be certified. During the survey, surveyors select patients randomly and use their medical records as a roadmap to evaluate standards compliance. As surveyors trace a patient’s experience in a health care organization, they talk to the doctors, nurses, and other staff who interacted with the patient. Surveyors also observe doctors and nurses providing care, and often speak to the patients themselves. Joint Commission accreditation does not begin and end with the on-site survey. It is a continuous process. Every time a nurse double-checks a patient’s identification before administering a medication, every time a surgical team calls a" time out" to verify they agree they’re about to perform the correct procedure, at the correct site, on the correct patient, they live and breathe the accreditation process. Every three months, hospitals submit data to the Joint Commission on how they treat conditions such as heart attack care and pneumonia – data that is available to the public and updated quarterly on qualitycheck.org. Every year, organizations evaluate their ongoing standards compliance through a periodic performance review. Joint Commission accreditation is woven into the fabric of a health care organization’s operations.. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public through the provision of health care accreditation and related services that support performance improvement in health care organizations. The Joint Commission evaluates and accredits more than. Q. Who should our organization contact to obtain our certificate of accreditation? And what if we want to obtain additional copies? A. Each organization receives one free certificate of accreditation. If you have questions about your certificate or wish to order additional copies contact Business Coordinator Jean Sponzilli, at (630) 792-5862. Q. How often and under what circumstances will the Quality Report change? A. The accreditation, demographic and National Patient Safety Goal information will be updated when there are changes. The National Quality Improvement Goal information for hospitals is updated quarterly. Q. Can my organization “hotlink” to Quality Report on the Quality Check Web site? A. Yes. Each Quality Report has a unique URL that will display in your web browser’s address bar. If your organization has questions about this, please contact Internet/Intranet Communications Manager Frank Barancyk, at (630) 792-5182. Q. What are National Patient Safety Goals and why are they important? A. National Patient Safety Goals are a series of specific actions that accredited organizations are required to take in order to prevent medical errors such as miscommunication among caregivers, unsafe use of infusion pumps, and medication mix-ups. A panel of national safety experts has determined that taking these simple, proven steps will reduce the frequency of devastating medical errors. Q. Does the Joint Commission need to approve my organization’s advertisement or news release? A. No. Your organization is not required to send its ad or news release to the Joint Commission. However, our Department of Communications will be happy to review your promotional materials and answer any questions you may have. If your organization has questions, please contact Speakers Bureau and Professional Relations Coordinator Denise Tucker at (630) 792-5633. Q. Hospital X got a minus on a measure – what does that mean? A. A Minus is used to show that the hospital has performed below the target range/value. Using statistical formulas, the individual hospital’s result is compared to the target range/value. If the hospital result for the measure/measure set was statistically below the target range/value, the hospital receives a Minus. Q. Hospital X got a check mark on a measure – what does that mean? A. A Check is used to show that the hospital has performed the same as the target range/value. Using statistical formulas, the individual hospital’s result is compared to the target range/value. If the hospital result for the measure/measure set was statistically similar to the target range/value, the hospital receives a Check. Q. Hospital X got a plus on a measure – what does that mean? A. A Plus is used to show that the hospital has performed better than the target range/value. Using statistical formulas, the individual hospital’s result is compared to the target range/value. If the hospital result for the measure/measure set was statistically better than the target range/value, the hospital receives a Plus. Q. Hospital X got a star on a measure – what does that mean? A. A star means that for that measure, the hospital achieved the best compliance possible with that measure. Q. Is Hospital Y better than Hospital X because it got a plus on a measure and Hospital X did not? A. Not necessarily. The measures are reported on one specific aspect of care. The care patients receive at a hospital depends on many different factors. The Quality Report is one tool to assist individuals in selecting health care services. Individuals should discuss the Quality Report and its contents with their health care providers to help them make informed choices. Q. What is the Pantone Matching System (PMS) color of the Gold Seal of Approval® ? A. The Gold Seal of Approval® is reproduced using a four-color process. A one-color version of the Gold Seal of Approval® is available in the online version of this publicity kit. The one-color version uses Pantone color 117. Q. May our organization hotlink to the Joint Commission’s Website so our community can learn more about the importance of accreditation? A. Yes, your organization may link to the Joint Commission’s home page,. If your organization has questions about this, please contact the Associate Director of Web Communications Frank Barancyk, at (630) 792-5182 . Q. May our organization use a quote from a Joint Commission surveyor? A. No. Your organization may not use verbal or written quotes from a Joint Commission surveyor or survey team. Sample news releases are included in this publicity kit and quotes from Joint Commission Executive Directors are provided that may be used in your organization’s promotional materials. Your organization may talk about the survey process in general, such as the composition of the survey team, the number of days the surveyors were on-site, and the scope of the review. No. Your organization is not required to send its ad or news release to The Joint Commission. However, the Joint Commission’s Department of Communications will be happy to review your organization’s promotional materials and answer any questions. If your organization has questions, please contact Speakers Bureau and Professional Relations Coordinator Denise Tucker, at (630) 792-5633 or [email protected]. No. Remind your organization’s key audiences to look for the Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® when selecting Disease-Specific Care and Health Care Staffing Services. No. Your organization may not use verbal or written quotes from a Joint Commission reviewer. Sample news releases are included in this publicity kit that provide quotes from Joint Commission executive directors that may be used in your organization’s promotional materials. Your organization may talk about the on-site review process in general, such as the composition of the review team, the number of days the reviewers were on-site, and the scope of the review. Yes, your organization may link to the Joint Commission’s home page,. If there are questions about this, please contact Internet/Intranet Communications Manager, Frank Barancyk, at (630) 792-5182 or [email protected]. The Gold Seal of Approval® is reproduced using a four-color process. A one-color version of the Gold Seal of Approval® is available in the online version of this publicity kit. It uses PMS 117. No. Your organization may use any color on printed materials (defined to include newspaper advertisements, Yellow Page listings, stationery, business cards, fliers, brochures, newsletters, posters, tent cards and promotional items such as coffee mugs and T-shirts). A special line-art version of the Gold Seal of Approval® may be downloaded from The Joint Commission Web site. RSS, Rich Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication, is a method of distributing news headlines and other content on the Web. A news reader combines content from many Web sources and for display. A podcatcher is an application you can use to subscribe to podcasts; the podcatcher automatically downloads podcasts as they are posted to a site. Podcatchers can also transfer downloaded podcast files to a portable media player. There are many free readers and podcatchers that display RSS available on the internet. Simply paste the RSS link into a news reader or podcatcher. Accreditation is a periodic external evaluation by recognized experts that provides impartial evidence of the quality of care, treatment or services delivered to the individuals you serve. Preparing for accreditation affords your organization the opportunity for an in-depth review of safety and care delivery processes. Achieving accreditation is a visible demonstration to those you serve, their families, your staff and community of your organization’s ongoing commitment to safe, high quality care, treatment or services. How long you take to get ready for accreditation is up to you. You can move forward at your own pace. Most Joint Commission accredited organizations take about 4-6 months to evaluate themselves and/or establish new policies and procedures before they are ready for their survey. As the application for accreditation is good for 12 months, this gives you time to review the accreditation requirements and make sure your organization is ready before our surveyor(s) arrive. Also, your first survey is a “scheduled” one, which means you’ll know the exact date we’ll be arriving – and that date will be based on when you tell us you think you’ll be ready. A Joint Commission accreditation period is three years. We divide your fees across this three year period using an annual fee. There is also a survey fee in the first year, as that is when we incur the most costs to send surveyor(s) to visit you. So you’ll pay about 60% of your total accreditation costs in the first year and about 20% each the next two years. All costs are included in those fees, so there are no extra charges for surveyor travel, etc. As an example, a small organization would pay about $1,689 in annual fees every year, plus a survey fee of around $2,835 in the year we do the on-site survey. Your actual cost will depend on several factors such as the number of locations you have and the volume of individuals you serve. You can get an estimate by calling (630) 792-5115; or you can calculate it yourself by using our pricing worksheet available on this web page. We understand that the road to accreditation often has its challenges, but we also offer a wide variety of resources to assist you. These include a Behavioral Health Accreditation Team for the early steps, such as helping you find a mentor organization to talk to; a dedicated Account Executive for your organization, who will help you through the application and pre-survey process; and a Standards Help Desk, just to help clarify and answer questions about the accreditation requirements. You’ll find their contact information under “Quick Links,” or see the Resource Directory in our “Guide to Joint Commission Behavioral Health Accreditation,” also available on this web page. The first step for most organizations is to contact us to get free trial access to our accreditation requirements, and to use the sorting feature(s) to determine which of the requirements in the manual you’ll need to be in compliance with by the time of survey. This will let you conduct an analysis to see how close you are to compliance with the requirements and give you an idea of how much preparation time you’ll need. You may also wish to review our “Guide to Joint Commission Behavioral Health Accreditation,” available on this web page, which explains the accreditation process in depth. The key issue is when you feel you will be ready for your survey. A new organization will need to be surveyed within 12 months of submitting their application and deposit. But we will do our best to schedule your survey on or after the month you indicate on the application as your “ready date”. We also allow you to tell us specific dates when you don’t want us to come. Most organizations request to be surveyed 3-9 months after they have submitted their application, to give themselves time to prepare. But we can also be responsive to short turn-around times for those who wish to be surveyed quickly. If there are major changes at your organization, such as a merger, acquisition, or other major change in services/programs provided, location(s), capacity, or corporate structure, you’ll need to contact us within 30 days. We do not automatically transfer accreditation to new owners. Usually, we will extend your accreditation until we can determine if the change is major enough to warrant a special extension survey. Failure to notify us of major changes to your organization can result in a loss of accreditation. The Joint Commission does not require a “track record” for Behavioral Health Care organizations. We do expect that you will be in compliance with all the accreditation requirements by the time of your survey, but we will not review previous compliance. If you or anyone else wishes to register a complaint about an accredited organization, complete our online “Quality Incident Report Form”, or call 800-994-6610. They are available for purchase on our sister-site,. A complimentary copy will also be sent to your organization upon receipt of your application and a deposit towards your accreditation fees, and we also offer a free trial of our online accreditation manual to anyone who is interested in reviewing the requirements prior to sending in their application. If you are considering behavioral health accreditation and would like a free trial of our online accreditation manual, please call us at (630) 792-5771. Visit, where you can search our database for a complete listing of all Joint Commission accredited organizations, and review their latest quality reports. According to the CDC, once you get vaccinated, your body makes protective antibodies in about two weeks. However, children younger than 9 years old who are being vaccinated for the first time need a second dose 4 or more weeks later in order to be protected. CDC has stated that the ability of the seasonal flu vaccine to protect a person depends on at least two things: 1) the age and health of the person getting the vaccine, and 2) the similarity or ''match'' between the virus strains in the vaccine and those being spread in the community. Keep in mind that vaccine effectiveness is not 100%, and some people can still get the flu. For instance, some older people and people with certain chronic illnesses might develop less immunity than healthy young adults after vaccination. However, even for these high-risk individuals, the seasonal flu vaccine still can provide protection against getting severe complications from seasonal flu. The Joint Commission requires in standard IC.02.04.01 that the hospital ''annually evaluates vaccination rates and the reasons given for declining the influenza vaccination''. How the hospital chooses to collect that information, whether through signed declinations, staff surveys, focus groups or other means is up to the individual hospital. However the organization chooses to collect that information, the organization should evaluate their compliance with HIPAA, state law and organizational policy. That said, there is a difference between asking for personal information and compelling people to answer personal information. Making sure that individuals are given information about why you are gathering this information, what it will be used for and giving them an option not to provide personal information is undoubtedly a good practice. No. The Joint Commission does not require declinations from individuals refusing influenza vaccination. For Critical Access Hospitals, Hospitals, and Long Term Care facilities, the Joint Commission does require that organizations collect and evaluate reasons health care workers do not get vaccinated in order to improve the organization’s health care worker influenza program. It does benefit ALL health care settings to understand why their health care workers do not get vaccinated in order to protect their patients, residents, or individuals served. However, the CDC’s Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009 H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel posted on October 14, 2009, states To improve adherence, vaccination should be offered to healthcare personnel free of charge and during working hours. Vaccination campaigns with incentives such as lotteries with prizes should be considered. Healthcare facilities should require personnel who refuse vaccination to complete a declination form. (Accessed 10/16/09) The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) will also be releasing further guidance within the next several weeks. View the OSHA statement from October 14, 2009. (Accessed 10/16/09). If they have laboratory confirmation of H1N1 influenza, CDC recommends there is no need for vaccination. Again, the important point is laboratory confirmed H1N1. Critical Access Hospitals, Hospitals, and Long Term Care facilities have a standard specific to Healthcare Worker Influenza Vaccination Programs (See standard IC.02.04.01). Other health care settings, such as Ambulatory Care, Home Health Care, Laboratory, and Behavioral Health Care (for example, day care and residential) settings do not have specific standards; however, as part of their infection prevention and control activities these organizations need to assess their risks and take actions to protect their patients and health care workers (See standards IC.01.03.01 and IC.02.01.01). In 2006, The Joint Commission announced a new infection control standard requiring accredited hospitals, critical access hospitals, and long term care facilities to offer influenza vaccinations to health care workers, including licensed independent practitioners and volunteers. The Joint Commission developed the standard in response to recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) making the reduction of influenza transmission from health care professionals to patients a top priority in the United States. The Joint Commission standard IC.02.04.01 requires Critical Access Hospitals, Hospitals, and Long Term Care facilities to do the following: Health care staffing services are eligible for Joint Commission certification if they:. Certification is awarded for two years. The review will be based on: The certification process will consist primarily of two key elements – compliance with set standards and performance measurement. A standard is a statement that defines the performance expectations, structures, or processes that must be substantially in place in an organization or service to enhance quality of care. For more information see Standard FAQs. Performance measurement in health care represents what is done and how well it is done. Performance measurement utilizes performance measures, which are quantitative tools (known as measures or indicators) that are reported as a rate, ratio or percentage. A performance measure provides an indication of an organization’s or service’s performance in relation to a specified process or outcome. 30: An on-site review, which allows the Joint Commission to evaluate factors relevant to the certification process Organizations wishing to become certified should contact the Joint Commission at 630.792.5291 to request access to the electronic. Accountability measures are quality measures that meet four criteria that produce the greatest positive impact on patient outcomes when hospitals demonstrate improvement on them. The criteria for classifying accountability measures include: These criteria are based on The Joint Commission’s experience implementing and evaluating the outcomes of quality measures for more than a decade. The criteria provide a more rational approach to the process of collecting and reporting quality data. The Joint Commission wants to help hospitals improve performance on accountability measures in an effort to promote excellence in the delivery of care and maximize health outcomes, and in anticipation of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services incentive payments that become effective in 2013. The Joint Commission will eliminate measures that do not work well, include performance on accountability measures in accreditation standards and include only accountability measures in the ORYX program.: The Joint Commission will actively engage the field to determine how performance on the accountability measures will be assessed. Performance assessment on accountability measures will not begin before January 1, 2012. Based upon The Joint Commission’s experience with standardized hospital quality measures, the conceptual framework for the categorization of the current measures was limited. It focused on process measures because they account for the majority of the measures currently in use. Since outcome measures have additional scientific challenges surrounding the need for case mix adjustment, additional criteria for evaluation need to be established. Evaluation of the measures currently used for public reporting purposes is complete. The Joint Commission is now evaluating the remaining sets of hospital core measures that meet ORYX performance measure reporting requirements (e.g., perinatal care and hospital based inpatient psychiatric services). Measures that do not meet the accountability measures criteria can still prove to be a valuable source of information to hospitals. These measures are also currently used by other initiatives as standardized performance measures for assessing and reporting on hospital performance. The Joint Commission currently is considering a variety of innovative approaches to integrating hospital performance on the accountability measures into its survey and accreditation activities. To promote improved performance on accountability measures, and help hospitals prepare for the increasing reliance on attaining high performance on quality measures. The Joint Commission will be engaging accredited hospitals through focus groups and online surveys over the next few months. As of March 2010, accountability measures have already been integrated into the information reported on Quality Check.™ Starting with the third quarter 2009 core measure data, only accountability measures are being used to calculate the overall performance rate for each measure set. However, the categorization of the measures into accountability and non-accountability measures will not affect individual measure information reported on Quality Check. Accountability measures also will be integrated into the Priority Focus Process and The Joint Commission’s Strategic Surveillance System (S3) Performance Risk Assessment beginning with the July release of the S3 Performance Risk Assessment. In these tools, accountability measures will be weighted differently (i.e., higher) than non-accountability measures. When a hospital’s performance on an accountability measure is determined to be unsatisfactory, one (1) point will continue to be assigned to each of the related Priority Focus Areas (PFAs) and Clinical/Service Groups (CSGs). When performance on a non-accountability measure is determined to be unsatisfactory, 0.33 point will be assigned to each of the related PFAs and CSGs. In the future, The Joint Commission will only adopt accountability measures for use in its ORYX initiative. The Joint Commission has classified 22 of its 28 hospital core measures as accountability measures. These measures are aligned with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services measures and include the children’s asthma care measures which are reported on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Hospital Compare Web site. For a list of both the accountability and non-accountability measures see the June 23, 2010 special issue of Joint Commission Online. Additional information on accountability measures can be found in the June 23, 2010 special issue of Joint Commission Online and the June 23, 2010 on-line issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, “Accountability Measures: Using Measurement to Promote Quality Improvement.” Additional information will be posted on The Joint Commission’s Web site and in the August 2010 issue of Joint Commission Perspectives. All 28 measures were vetted against the four evaluation criteria. To learn more about the criteria and which of the six measures did not meet the criteria for accountability measures, see the June 23, 2010 online issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, “Accountability Measures: Using Measurement to Promote Quality Improvement,” of which Mark R. Chassin, M.D., M.P.P., M.P.H., president, The Joint Commission, is the lead author. It is important to recognize that the purpose of the Sentinel Event Policy is to promote improvement in patient safety, not to regulate practice. The parameters defining these sentinel events were intentionally selected to identify only the most extreme cases—those that should never occur. On those rare occasions when these limits are reached, it is clear that a root cause analysis is appropriate to identify the systems factors that allowed such a significant variation to occur. This is in contrast to practice guidelines and regulations that set limits on the acceptable range of practice variation. It applies to both. Most fluoroscopic x-ray equipment can provide an estimate of the total (cumulative) dose that would have resulted to a point on the skin if the x-ray beam was stationary during the complete procedure. Such an estimate is derived from the fluoroscopic technique factors and the total fluoroscopic exposure time, including any image recording, or from built-in dosimetry systems found on some newer equipment. However, these systems, known as dose-area-product meters (DAP meters) or some similar term, do not directly provide skin dose information without further knowledge of the sizes of the x-ray beam during the entire procedure. The relationship between cumulative skin dose and peak skin dose is highly variable, as has been demonstrated in a number of publications. However, for purposes of estimating peak dose, one could establish a “trigger” for reporting peak skin dose based on a fraction, say 75%, of the cumulative skin dose. Further recommendations for monitoring, recording and patient follow-up for high dose imaging procedures are available from the FDA at. As it relates to fluoroscopy, the specification of “1500 rads to a single field” refers to a location on the skin through which the fluoroscopic beam is directed. The issue here is the magnitude of the dose to that portion of the skin that receives the maximum or peak skin dose. This may be the situation that results from using several different x-ray beam projections or fields-of-view whose beam areas on the patient’s skin overlap in a specific location to produce a region of highest radiation dose. In fluoroscopically-guided interventional procedures, many different projections or x-ray beam directions are often used, with many overlapping fields-of-view or imaged areas. No; monitoring “life-time dose” is neither practical nor necessary with respect to fluoroscopic procedures. While tissue damage from radiation is dependent on the total (cumulative) dose delivered over time, we recognize that skin sensitivity is, to a degree, repairable and that monitoring cumulative dose over a period of six months to a year would be reasonable. The intent here is the same as requiring a root cause analysis for a wrong site surgery. The fact of a wrong site delivery of radiotherapy carries implications of system problems that should be understood and, as appropriate, redesigned. With regard to “minor variations,” it is recognized that as with any process, there will be some degree of common cause variation, which is within the range of acceptability for that procedure. Any variation from the intended field of treatment that is within the range considered by the medical physics community as acceptable would not be considered by the Joint Commission to be a reviewable sentinel event. A variation greater than that, i.e., a special cause variation, should be managed as a sentinel event. Additional detail on this topic is available from the NRC for radiopharmaceuticals and the FDA for radiation-generating equipment. It refers to the total planned dose. This new “reviewable sentinel event” does not mandate any measurement activities that are not expected as part of the usual standard of practice for fluoroscopy and radiotherapy. One of the main reasons for adding this event to the Joint Commission’s list of reviewable sentinel events was to raise awareness of the severity of the associated outcomes—often overlooked or unrecognized because of the delay in their appearance. That said, routine monitoring of the parameters identified in this new sentinel event definition would be an appropriate patient safety precaution. edit In some cases, a broken needle or screw fragment is recognized at the time of surgery and a clinical judgment is made to leave the fragment in the patient. That decision is based on an assessment of the relative risks of leaving it in versus removing it. It would therefore not be considered an unintentionally retained foreign object. A retained sponge after a vaginal delivery is a reviewable sentinel event. The new language in the definition of reviewable sentinel events is, “Unintended retention of a foreign object in a patient after surgery or other procedure.” Note that it says “other procedure” not “other invasive procedure.” Vaginal delivery in the hospital is not an “invasive” procedure, but it is a procedure. More to the point, a retained sponge in this circumstance is indicative of the same underlying systemic problems that could cause other “retained foreign body” situations. “After surgery” is any time after completion of the skin closure; even if the patient is still in the OR under anesthesia. The decision to define “after surgery” as the completion of skin closure was based on the premise that a failure to identify and correct an unintended retention of a foreign object prior to that point in the procedure represents a significant system failure, which requires analysis and redesign. It also places the patient at additional risk by virtue of extending the surgical procedure and time under anesthesia. No. S3 is provided at no additional cost and serves as a value-added benefit for our accredited customers. The goal is to eventually spread this concept of S3 to all of The Joint Commission’s accreditation programs S. There are several benefits to S3.. S3 uses data The Joint Commission currently has, which includes past survey findings, ORYX® core measure data, data from the Office of Quality Monitoring (complaints and non-self reported sentinel events), data from an organization’s electronic application, and HCAHPS data. S3 is a suite of information tools. The first available tool within the S3 application is the Performance Risk Assessment (PRA) tool. This tool assesses potential internal system opportunities and undertake opportunities for improvement, set priorities for attention. We will electronically invoice your organization’s fees. Annual fees will be sent to your extranet in January of each year. The on site survey/review billing will be posted to your extranet approximately 1-5 days following event completion. Regardless of survey or review findings, payment is due upon receipt of your invoice. Please contact our Collections Coordinator at (630) 792-5192 for further details. All organizations will be electronically billed an annual fee. As a returning customer, you will be able to locate estimated fees on your extranet. New customers may call the Pricing Unit at (630) 792-5115 or send an e-mail message to: [email protected] to request a fee estimate. No deposit is required for current customers. New customers must remit a $1,700 non-refundable, non-transferable deposit for all Accreditation and HCSS Certification Programs. New customers seeking DSC certification that are already currently accredited by The Joint Commission are not required to submit a deposit. The deposit is not deducted from the invoice amount you received. All open deposits are reflected on the lower part of your invoice. A deposit (credit) balance will be applied to your invoice within 72 hours of billing and will be reflected on your subscription billing site. Please call us at 630-792-5662, if you have questions regarding your deposit. No. As an initial customer, only a deposit is required. A new customer’s annual fee is based on the calendar quarter when the application is submitted. Accreditation and Certification on-site fees are generally invoiced 1-5 days following event completion. Yes. You may pay your deposit online by navigating to the “What’s Due” tab on the extranet, then select “Pay my Deposit”. All billing may be paid directly from your extranet’s subscription billing site. The Joint Commission accepts Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, Discover and electronic check payments. Please call us at (630) 792-5662 if you need assistance or wish to make payment over the telephone. Checks for deposits, annual and on site fees should be made payable to: The Joint Commission. Invoice and customer numbers are listed in the upper right portion of our invoice documents. Please write your invoice number on your remittance stub or on the memo line of your check. Mail your payments to: The Joint Commission P. O. Box 92775 Chicago, IL 60675-2775 The Joint Commission P. O. Box 92775 Chicago, IL 60675-2775 In general, accreditation annual fees are based on the programs/services/volumes and sites where you provide service. Certification annual fees are based on the number of diseases and types of certification. On-site fees are generally based on the number of surveyors or reviewers and total days spent at your site(s). We publish the upcoming year's pricing schedule on the extranet in December, each year. Annual fees are non-refundable and non-transferable. On-site fees are billed for surveys or reviews performed. In addition, an organization will be assessed a 1-day per surveyor fee for each accreditation program if the organization refuses a survey or review when the team arrives on-site. Payment for annual fees is due upon receipt of your invoice. Failure to make payment will result in a denial of accreditation or certification. Delinquent accounts may be forwarded to our collection agency and the accreditation denial status will appear on Quality Check. Your CEO and Billing Contact will be provided with a login and password to your organization's extranet. Copies of invoices prior to 2006 will not be available on your extranet site. In addition, if you selected paper invoices for mailing, your invoices will also not display on the extranet. The Joint Commission’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures program recognizes accredited hospitals that attain excellence in accountability measure performance. Recognition in the program is based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the previous calendar year. This year’s recognition program is based on data that were reported for 2011. The data report on evidence-based clinical processes that are shown to be the best treatments for certain conditions, including heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma care, inpatient psychiatric services, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and stroke. As follows: Inclusion on the list is based on an aggregation of accountability measure data reported to The Joint Commission during the previous calendar year. For example, this year’s program is based on data that were reported for 2011. Top Performers target for every accountability measure for which it reports data to The Joint Commission, excluding any measures with less than 30 eligible cases or patients. For more information, see the section below on eligibility criteria. Top Performers are notified of their recognition approximately one week before the publication of The Joint Commission’s annual report. Top Performers receive a certificate of recognition and are recognized on The Joint Commission’s Quality Check website, and in the “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report. The following is the specific eligibility criteria for Joint Commission-accredited hospitals reporting data during 2011 on one or more core measure sets with accountability measures. There are two levels of evaluation criteria: the first for recognition designation; and the second for individual core measure set designation. Eligibility criteria for recognition designation (both criteria must be met) Criteria 1: Reported accountability measure composite rate is greater than or equal to 95 percent. Divide the sum of all the reported accountability measure numerators by the sum of all the reported accountability measure denominators. This calculation must meet or exceed 95 percent. Criteria 2: Reported accountability measure rates for each individual measure are greater than or equal to 95 percent. For each individual reported accountability measure, divide the numerator by the denominator. Each of these calculations must meet or exceed 95 percent. Eligibility criteria for individual core measure set designation (both criteria must be met for each core measure set to be independently considered) Criteria 1: Reported composite rate for all accountability measures within a particular core measure set is greater than or equal to 95 percent. Using only the accountability measures within a particular measure set, divide the sum of all the reported numerators by the sum of all the reported denominators. This calculation must meet or exceed 95 percent. Criteria 2: Reported accountability measure rates for each individual measure within the core measure set are greater than or equal to 95 percent. For each individual reported accountability measure within a particular core measure set, divide the numerator by the denominator. Each of these calculations must meet or exceed 95 percent. No, hospitals are not required to send in an application. Eligibility is determined using data that hospitals already transmit to The Joint Commission through the ORYX® program. Critical access hospitals that elect to report accountability measure data to The Joint Commission are also eligible. Recognition as a Top Performer is based on the total number of accountability measures reported by each hospital, regardless of whether the hospital transmits data on one measure set or several measure sets. Also, each year’s recipients are identified using the previous year’s ORYX data. The recipients honored in 2012 were selected based on data they submitted for 2011. This year (which is 2012, but is for data submitted in calendar year 2011), 620 hospitals are being honored as Top Performers on Key Quality Measures. Of that number, 26 percent are rural hospitals, 45 percent are non-profit hospitals, and 49 percent have between 100 and 300 beds. Major teaching hospitals account for 5 percent of the recipients, and 5 percent are critical access hospitals. The program launched in September 2011. Recognition of Top Performers occurs in the fall of each year and coincides with the publication of The Joint Commission’s “Improving America’s Hospitals” annual report. There may be one or more reasons for this. Although you may have 95 percent in a particular measure set, you may have failed to achieve 95 percent on the composite; or, you may have failed to achieve 95 percent on each and every reported accountability measure in the measure set. You may have failed to collect data for four calendar quarters for the measures within that particular measure set; or, you may have had fewer than 30 total cases for the measures associated with that particular set. Excellent care is something all patients expect and deserve and all hospitals work to achieve. It is not an easy goal to reach; it takes the knowledge, teamwork and dedication of the entire hospital staff. To help hospitals achieve this goal, The Joint Commission has undertaken a multifaceted accountability measures initiative that seeks to enhance patient care by helping hospitals improve their performance on key measures and identify target areas for improvement. The Joint Commission launched this initiative – the Top Performers on Key Quality Measures program – to honor those hospitals that consistently demonstrate excellent performance on evidence-based process of care measures. This program is intended to encourage hospitals to consistently improve their performance on accountability measures by publicly recognizing those that ultimately achieve excellence in this arena. The Joint Commission has taken many steps to help hospitals improve their performance on accountability measures, including integrating accountability measures into the accreditation standards (effective January 1, 2012), redesigning the ORYX performance measure reports, and making changes to the S3 program and the Priority Focus Process. Also, in April 2011, The Joint Commission launched its Core Measure Solution Exchange™, a web-based platform where accredited organizations can share practices and proven tools related to improving performance on core measures. The Exchange is an interactive forum designed to facilitate peer-to-peer communication. For organizations that have worked to improve their core measure performance, it is an opportunity to share their success and be recognized for their accomplishments. For organizations looking to improve, it is an opportunity to see what their peers have tried and what has actually worked. The Exchange is available via your organization’s Joint Commission Connect extranet under Quality Improvement Tools. If you need access to your organization’s Connect extranet, talk to your accreditation account executive or your organization’s accreditation liaison. There is typically a six month delay from the time the hospital collects and submits the data to the performance measurement system and it is then received by The Joint Commission. This year, freestanding psychiatric hospitals or hospitals with inpatient psychiatric units are being recognized as Top Performers for the first time. Reporting on the inpatient psychiatric services measure set was not required until January 2011, so 2011 was the first year that these data became available for the Top Performer program designation. Rehabilitation hospitals are not eligible for Top Performer designation at this time. Currently, rehabilitation hospitals do not submit data on core measures, which include measures designated as accountability measures. Rather, they submit data on what are known as non-core measures. However, effective January 1, 2013, The Joint Commission will suspend ORYX performance measure reporting requirements for accredited inpatient rehabilitation facilities (IRFs). It is The Joint Commission’s intent to support and build upon the emerging national measurement priorities and the move to the use of standardized federally mandated performance measures for IRFs (when those measures are identified and implemented). For the multiple antipsychotic medications measure (HBIPS-4), improvement is indicated by a decrease in the rate. In calculating the accountability composite, it is important that all of the individual measures indicate improvement in the same direction. For this measure, where a decrease in the rate is desired, the number of denominator cases minus the number of numerator cases will be used in the accountability composite. This converts the rate so that it can be used in the composite with the majority of accountability measures where an increase in the rate is desired. Seasonal measures, such as immunizations, are included if two calendar quarters of data exist for the calendar year under consideration. For example, for the influenza vaccination measure (PN-7), the denominator includes patients discharged during October, November, December, January, February, or March. The quarters that would have to exist within the calendar year would be both the first quarter (January, February, and March) and the fourth quarter (October, November, and December). First, we encourage you to contact your performance measurement system. You may also send an e-mail to [email protected] or call (630) 792-5085. The Top Performers program uses evidence-based performance measures that have undergone rigorous development and testing to ensure data integrity. These measures cover eight conditions: heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia, surgical care, children’s asthma, inpatient psychiatric services, venous thromboembolism (VTE), and stroke. Other recognition programs or hospital comparisons may use other measures, metrics, or data, or rely on a hospital’s reputation as a determination of achievement. In 2010, The Joint Commission began categorizing its process performance measures into accountability and non-accountability measures. The approach places more emphasis on an organization’s performance on accountability measures – quality measures that meet four criteria designed to identify measures that produce the greatest positive impact on patient outcomes when hospitals demonstrate improvement: research, proximity, accuracy and adverse effects. Non-accountability measures are suitable for secondary uses, such as exploration or learning within individual health care organizations, and are good advice in terms of appropriate patient care. Going forward, The Joint Commission is only adopting accountability measures for its ORYX program. For more information, see Facts about accountability measures. The heart attack care core measure set started out at a relatively higher rate than other measure sets. This may be best described as a ceiling effect, with improvement more challenging for some organizations because of the already high rate. Although the physical restraint (HBIPS-2) and seclusion (HBIPS-3) measures in the inpatient psychiatric services measure set are accountability measures, they have been excluded from the Top Performer calculation since they are both ratio measures (i.e., calculations only include process measures reported as proportions). Ratio measures do not reflect the number of people (as for proportion measures), but rather the number of psychiatric inpatient days. The number of inpatient days in the denominator is usually a large number, so including it in the composite would unduly weight the composite toward ratio measures. Additionally, the multiple antipsychotic medication measure (HBIPS-4) is a measure where a decrease in the rate is the desirable direction of improvement; therefore, this measure is included in the Top Performer calculation by using the denominator of the measure minus the numerator (rather than using the numerator). Since 20 new measures were added to the Top Performers program this year, many of the hospitals that were Top Performers last year missed the performance threshold on one or more of these new measures. Of the 162 hospitals that were Top Performers last year but not this year, 87 were part of the 583 hospitals that missed Top Performer status by one measure. We involved our customers, unaccredited providers, payers, and hospital referral sources in the overall redesign process. Customers provided feedback on standards through online surveys and participated in pilot on-site surveys. Additionally, focused calls were conducted with select customers to gain in-depth perspective on proposed program enhancements. This year, there are 290 for profit hospitals, 279 not-for-profit hospitals, and 51 government hospitals recognized as Top Performers. Since the inception of the Top Performers program in 2011, more for-profit hospitals than not-for-profit hospitals have been recognized as Top Performers. Three accountability measure sets were added in the calculation for this year’s Top Performers program – inpatient psychiatric services, stroke and venous throboembolism (VTE). The Joint Commission recognizes that the industry has changed. Long term care organizations are providing more complex care to patients and residents and are being asked to demonstrate competency in these specialized areas. One of the key program enhancements includes the ability to pursue additional certification of specialty services in addition to accreditation. Other program enhancements include: Achieving accreditation with specialty certification can help your organization in many ways including: We require that your organization has served at least 5 patients or residents (regardless of how long your facility has been in operation) and has at least two active patients or residents at the time of your survey. For certification, we require the 5 patients served and 2 active patients all have had a 3 day or more hospitalization, and been admitted to a Nursing and Rehabilitation Center within 30 days of discharge from the hospital. Call us for additional questions about the eligibility of your specific services or patients at 630.792.5052. A program or service that provides goal-directed, time-limited, medically complex care or rehabilitative services to patients recently hospitalized. The goal of rehabilitation and advanced care is to help transition the patient from an acute care setting to a lower level of care setting or a return to their home. Examples of rehabilitation and advanced care include post-operative care, orthopedic or cardiac rehabilitation, respiratory care, and wound care. Your dedicated Account Executive will work with you to discuss your options based upon your upcoming resurvey date. They can also talk to you about the benefits of the new products and how we will help make the overall transition easy for you. For customers currently accredited under the LT2, Medicare-Medicaid based option, you will move from a one day survey to a two or three day on-site survey, depending on if you choose to pursue certification (and based upon the ADC of your facility). For providers accredited under the traditional model who choose to pursue certification, your survey length will increase by one day. We encourage you to contact your Account Executive to discuss your specific needs. Please talk to your Account Executive to discuss your specific needs and learn the options for pursuing certification for your organization. No. Certification builds upon the newly reinvented foundational accreditation framework and, therefore, is a required part of the process. certification standards will be available in prepublication form on our website on January 7, 2013. There is no compliance track record requirement the first time an organization elects the optional certification. Once an organization has achieved certification, continuous compliance, including a demonstrated track record of compliance, will be required to retain certification. No. If a provider does not meet certification standards, the accreditation status is not affected; however, certification would not be awarded. Yes, there will be an additional certificate and designation on Quality Check. Joint Commission standards currently require measuring the performance of processes that support care and using that data to make improvements. These standards require long term care organizations to collect data on performance improvements identified by leaders, the use of restraints, behavior management and treatment, quality control activities, significant medication errors, significant adverse drug reactions, and resident perception of the safety and quality of care treatment and services. In addition, nursing facilities should consider collecting data on staff opinions and needs, staff perceptions of risk to individuals, staff suggestions for improving resident safety, and staff willingness to report adverse events. The certification standards require the organization to collect data relevant to the unanticipated outcomes in care, patient readmission to the hospital, emergency department or other post acute setting and data relevant to information reviewed with patients and family following the patients discharge from the organization. This information will be reviewed as part of the evaluation of the facilities performance improvement processes during the onsite survey. Accreditation fees include an on-site survey fee and annual fee, both based upon your “average daily census” and services provided. The average accreditation annual fee for an organization serving approximately 100 patients or residents each day is $2300. The average on-site survey fee for a nursing home of the same volume is $3315 (this is due in the year of the on-site survey). Certification adds one day to your on-site survey length. This fee is $970. Additionally, certification adds a flat fee of $250 to your annual fee. 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No. 85,265 IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF THE STATE OF KANSAS STATE OF KANSAS, Appellant, v. STEVEN EUGENE BOX, Appellee. SYLLABUS BY THE COURT 1. The general rule that warrantless searches and seizures are unreasonable has five exceptions: (1) consent; (2) hot pursuit; (3) incident to a lawful arrest; (4) stop and frisk; and (5) probable cause to search with exigent circumstances. 2. The cases of Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752, 23 L. Ed. 2d 685, 89 S. Ct. 2034, reh. denied 396 U.S. 869 (1969) and State v. Tygart, 215 Kan. 409, 524 P.2d 753 (1974), are construed and applied to the specific facts of this case. Appeal from Johnson District Court; PETER V. RUDDICK, judge. Opinion filed December 22, 2000. Reversed and remanded with directions. Steven J. Obermeier and Dionne Scherff, assistant district attorneys, Paul J. Morrison, district attorney, and Carla J. Stovall, attorney general, for appellant. No appearance by appellee. Before LEWIS, P.J., RULON, J., and GLENN D. SCHIFFNER, District Judge, assigned. RULON, J.: The State filed an interlocutory appeal from the trial court's decision granting defendant Steven E. Box's motion to suppress evidence. We reverse and remand for further proceedings. The facts are virtually undisputed and are as follows: Defendant was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and a misdemeanor, obstruction of legal process. Defendant filed a motion to suppress the evidence alleging he did not consent to the search and the search was not justified as a search incident to arrest. The State responded by asserting the search was authorized by consent and under K.S.A. 22-2501, a search incident to defendant's arrest. At the suppression hearing, Michael Bussell, an officer with the Lenexa Police Department, testified he stopped a Caprice driven by defendant because the car displayed a tag registered to a different vehicle. After Bussell explained the reason for the stop to defendant, defendant was unable to provide a driver's license or proof of insurance. When Bussell requested defendant's name and date of birth, defendant advised his name was Damon Williams. A record check revealed Damon Williams had been arrested for narcotics and was a gang affiliate. For safety reasons Bussell requested a backup officer. A passenger in the front seat was identified as Walter Laura. A record check advised that Laura had prior narcotics and weapons convictions. Laura was paralyzed from the waist down. Bussell noticed a wallet in the ashtray, which had not been there when he initially approached the car. Bussell had defendant exit and stand to the rear of the car. Bussell suspected that defendant was lying and wanted to search the vehicle to get the wallet and anything illegal. Bussell advised defendant (who Bussell still knew only as Damon Williams), that his driver's license was suspended and asked if there was anything illegal inside the car. When defendant responded negatively, Bussell requested consent to search the car, and defendant consented. Fred Farris, another officer with the Lenexa Police Department, arrived as Bussell asked for consent to search the car. The female passenger in the back seat was told to exit the car. Laura was not told to exit the vehicle because he did not have his wheelchair. Bussell did not make Laura sit on the ground because it was cold and rainy outside. When Bussell noticed the car had controls for acceleration and braking on the steering column, he asked Laura who owned the car. Laura advised that his cousin who was incarcerated gave the car to Laura for his care and custody. Bussell asked Laura if he could search the car and Laura agreed. None of the three occupants in the car could provide registration for the stopped vehicle. Bussell searched the contents of the billfold, which indicated the driver's correct identity was defendant. A record check indicated defendant had an outstanding warrant for his arrest. Farris informed Bussell that defendant showed Farris the scar from a prior gunshot wound. Defendant was arrested and handcuffed. A record check on the female passenger disclosed that she had provided fictitious identification. After the officers discovered her correct identity, she was arrested and taken into custody on outstanding arrest warrants. Because of defendant's and Laura's criminal histories, Bussell continued his search of the vehicle in the immediate areas where defendant had been seated and where Laura still was seated. When Bussell realized the glove compartment was locked, he asked for the key several times. Defendant stated he did not know about the key and Laura stated he had never been inside the glove compartment. A decorative bullet hanging from a key chain in the ignition heightened Bussell's suspicion that defendant or Laura could possess a gun. Although Bussell made a very cursory pat-down for bulges in Laura's pants, Bussell was concerned for officer safety and wanted to search the glove compartment for a weapon due to Laura's close proximity to it. Bussell also believed the vehicle's registration would be in the glove compartment. Farris testified he asked Laura for the key to the glove compartment because defendant admitted that he had a prior gun injury, and had been involved in drug activity. The officers knew that Laura was paralyzed because of a gunshot injury. Based upon the officers' experience, drugs and weapons usually coincided. The officers believed it was inappropriate to have Laura sit on the grass in the cold and rain, but were uncomfortable leaving Laura in the car because Laura could readily access the glove compartment. While Bussell held his arm over Laura's torso, Farris took a screwdriver from the floorboard and used it to pry the glove compartment open. Inside was a loaded 9 millimeter handgun. When Farris told defendant they found a gun in the glove compartment, defendant immediately admitted it was his gun. Farris advised defendant not to say anything else until they arrived at the police station where defendant would be given an opportunity to make a statement. When one of the passengers advised the officers the car contained drugs, it was towed to the police station where it could be searched further out of the inclement weather. The key to the glove compartment was eventually found in a crease in the front seat. Subsequently, the district court found the consent to search the vehicle did not extend to the locked glove compartment. The court further found the search was not a search incident to arrest because the officers were not searching for fruits or instrumentalities of the crime for which defendant was arrested. The trial court found officer safety did not justify the search because the defendant was outside of the car when placed under arrest, and there was little evidence to support concern for officer safety regarding Laura. The court ultimately found the search of the glove compartment was not authorized and suppressed the evidence. The State dismissed the obstruction of legal process charge and filed this interlocutory appeal. The State has the burden of proof to show that a search and seizure was lawful. If the facts are not in dispute, the question of whether to suppress is a question of law which is subject to unlimited appellate review. State v. Rexroat, 266 Kan. 50, 53, 966 P.2d 666 (1998). The State claims the defendant's motion to suppress should not have been granted because the search was incident to defendant's arrest. However, the State does not appeal the trial court's finding regarding consent. Furthermore, the State acknowledges Kansas has not addressed whether an officer is permitted to open a locked glove compartment during a search incident to arrest. The general rule that warrantless searches and seizures are unreasonable has five exceptions: (1) consent; (2) hot pursuit; (3) incident to a lawful arrest; (4) stop and frisk; and (5) probable cause to search with exigent circumstances. State v. Sanders, 5 Kan. App. 2d 189, 195, 614 P.2d 998 (1980). K.S.A. 22-2501, the statutory authorization for a search incident to arrest,." We begin our analysis with a review of Chimel v. California, 395 U.S. 752, 23 L. Ed. 2d 685, 89 S. Ct. 2034, reh. denied 396 U.S. 869 (1969). Law enforcement officers arrested Chimel at his residence with a warrant for a burglary, searched the entire house, and confiscated numerous items from rooms other than the room where Chimel had been arrested. The Chimel Court held that the scope of the search was unconstitutional because it went beyond Chimel's person and areas where a weapon could have been retrieved or where evidence could have been destroyed or concealed. 395 U.S. at 768. The Chimel Court held the concept of search incident to arrest was justified based upon officer safety and the rule for a search incident to arrest should be governed by the rule of Terry v. Ohio, 392 U.S. 1, 20, L. Ed. 2d 889, 88 S. Ct. 1868 (1968), authorizing a frisk for weapons. 395 U.S. 762-63. The Chimel Court further concluded the scope of such searches "must be 'strictly tied to and justified by' the circumstances which rendered its initiation permissible." 395 U.S. at 762 (quoting Terry, 392 U.S. at 19). Under such a rule, no justification existed to routinely search rooms other than the room where an arrest occurred or through closed or concealed drawers or areas in that room, and a search incident to arrest is not justified where it is remote in time or place from the arrest. 395 U.S. at 764. Following Chimel, our legislature enacted K.S.A. 22-2501. Additionally, our Supreme Court adopted six factors, based on existing federal and state case law, for a trial court to consider in deciding a motion to suppress evidence regarding the reasonableness of the scope of a vehicle search incident to a valid arrest. State v. Tygart, 215 Kan. 409, Syl. ¶ 2, 524 P.2d 753 (1974). The Tygart six factors are: (1) the closeness of the vehicle to the place of arrest, (2) the probability that seizable items related to the crime were inside the vehicle, (3) the amount of elapsed time between the arrest and the search, (4) the departure of the arrestee from the vehicle, (5) the vehicle was used in connection with the crime, and (6) the character of the place of the arrest, i.e., public area, business premises or private home. Other factors could bear upon the issue, and no single factor by itself was decisive. 215 Kan. at 412. Following Chimel, the United States Supreme Court decided New York v. Belton, 453 U.S. 454, 69 L. Ed. 2d 768, 101 S. Ct. 2860, reh. denied 453 U.S. 950 (1981). In Belton, the officer stopped a vehicle for excessive speeding; Belton was one of four occupants in the vehicle. None of the occupants owned the vehicle. Because the officer smelled burnt marijuana and saw an envelope on the floor of the car marked "'Supergold,'" which the officer associated with marijuana, all occupants were arrested for possession of marijuana and ordered out of the car. The officer picked up the envelope, found it contained marijuana, and searched the passenger compartment of the car. The officer found Belton's jacket in the back seat, unzipped a pocket, and discovered cocaine. Belton was indicted for possession of cocaine. Because articles inside the vehicle's passenger compartment are generally within the areas where an arrestee might reach to retrieve a weapon or evidence, the Belton Court held that an officer who has lawfully arrested an occupant of a vehicle may, as a contemporaneous incident of that arrest, search the passenger compartment of that vehicle and examine the contents of any open or closed containers found within the passenger compartment. 453 U.S. at 460-61. A "'container'" was defined to include closed or open glove compartments and consoles but not trunks. 453 U.S. at 460, n. 4. The justification for searching containers was "not that the arrestee has no privacy interest in the container, but that the lawful custodial arrest justified the infringement of any privacy interest the arrestee may have." 453 U.S. at 461. The Belton Court held that the search of Belton's jacket was an area within his immediate control and within the meaning of the Chimel decision; thus, the search was constitutional. 453 U.S. at 462. Kansas courts have applied Belton in upholding the scope of a search incident to an arrest. State v. Deskins, 234 Kan. 529, 543, 673 P.2d 1174 (1983); State v. White, 230 Kan. 679, 680, 640 P.2d 1231 (1982); State v. Croft, 6 Kan. App. 2d 821, 823, 635 P.2d 972 (1981). The first case to discuss K.S.A. 22-2501, Chimel, and Belton, was State v. Press, 9 Kan. App. 2d 589, 592-95, 685 P.2d 887, rev. denied 236 Kan. 877 (1984). In Press, defendant was arrested for driving under the influence, handcuffed, and placed in the front seat of the patrol car with the seat belt fastened before the officer searched the passenger compartment of the defendant's vehicle. After finding marijuana, the officer searched the trunk, finding more marijuana. The trial court found that the officer conducted a general search of the entire vehicle when there was no possibility defendant could have destroyed evidence while handcuffed in the patrol car. The State appealed the trial court's decision to suppress the evidence from the search. The Press court noted some jurisdictions interpreted Belton broadly, that is, a court need only find that an article was within the passenger compartment; if so, it is deemed to have been within the arrestee's immediate control. The Press court further noted other jurisdictions have interpreted Belton narrowly, that is, each custodial arrest of the occupant of a vehicle must be evaluated to determine whether an article was within the arrestee's immediate control. Under the narrow interpretation, Belton did not apply to searches if the defendant was arrested, handcuffed, and seated in the back seat of an officer's car without a realistic possibility of access to the vehicle. 9 Kan. App. 2d at 594-95. The Press court held that Kansas adopted the broader interpretation of Belton. 9 Kan. App. 2d at 595-97. Here, the State requests this court to adopt the bright line interpretations of Belton from other jurisdictions regarding a search of a locked glove compartment incident to an arrest. The State relies upon State v. Hanna, 173 Ariz. 30, 839 P.2d 450 (Ct. App. 1992), cert. denied 507 U.S. 997 (1993), and United States v. McCrady, 774 F.2d 868 (8th Cir. 1985). For us, the primary question is whether Kansas should extend Belton to apply to locked glove compartments. Although the Tenth Circuit has not addressed the search of a locked glove compartment, it has discussed the extent of Belton. In United States v. Cotton, 751 F.2d 1146 (10th Cir. 1985), officers stopped a car driven by defendant because defendant and the car matched a description from a radio broadcast regarding a stolen vehicle. Defendant argued Chimel and Belton did not apply because he had been taken out of the car, arrested, and handcuffed before the other officer searched the passenger compartment of his vehicle and found a bag containing blank titles, VIN plates, and keys. After discussing Belton and the relaxation of the exclusionary rule for vehicles, the Cotton court held the challenged search was conducted incident to a lawful arrest and was reasonable under the totality of the circumstances even though the arrestee was outside the vehicle and handcuffed when the vehicle was searched. 751 F.2d 1147-50. Later, the Tenth Circuit distinguished Cotton in U.S. v. Lugo, 978 F.2d 631 (10th Cir. 1992). In Lugo, after Lugo was arrested for traffic charges, handcuffed, and transported to jail, an officer inventoried the contents of the truck even though it was not going to be towed. The arresting officer reached inside a door panel that had been pulled away and found two bricks of cocaine. The Lugo court noted the rationale of Belton is that the inside of a vehicle is an area which an arrestee might reach to retrieve a weapon or evidence. Therefore, the court stated, it follows that the warrantless search incident to arrest is illegal if the search is remote in time or place from the arrest because no exigency exists. The Lugo court concluded the defendant was not a threat after being taken from the scene and the Belton rationale had evaporated. Belton was found inapplicable to the facts and the warrantless search was not justifiable. 978 F.2d 633-35. Clearly, the Tenth Circuit in Lugo rejected the analysis used by the Eighth Circuit in McCrady and limited the Belton bright line rule. If the bright line rule of Belton has no limitations, as in McCrady, the six Tygart factors are no longer controlling. Yet, Kansas courts reverted to the Tygart factors after acknowledging that Kansas follows Belton. See State v. McClain, 258 Kan. 176, 183-84, 899 P.2d 993 (1995); State v. Van Wey, 18 Kan. App. 2d 260, 261-62, 850 P.2d 283 (1983). The trial court here found it was more reasonable for the officers to remove Laura from the vehicle. Both officers testified they did not want to subject Laura to sitting on the grass in the cold and rain. Yet, they feared leaving Laura in the vehicle within close proximity of the locked glove compartment where a weapon could be concealed. So, the officers chose to search the glove compartment with Laura in the front seat. Another alternative would have been to call for another officer. However, these officers indicated they were on the street because the bad weather had patrol vehicles working traffic accidents. The last alternative was to allow Laura to remain in the car without searching the glove compartment. "Certainly it would be unreasonable to require that police officers take unnecessary risks in the performance of their duties." Terry, 392 U.S. at 23. We conclude under Chimel, Tygart, and K.S.A. 22-2501, the officer's safety after the arrest of defendant and the female passenger outweighed defendant's privacy interest in the locked glove compartment, because Laura was not under arrest or handcuffed and remained in the car and in close proximity to the locked glove compartment. Under such circumstances, exigent circumstances existed for the warrantless search. Under Chimel, the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution requires the government to show that the exigencies of the circumstances made a warrantless search imperative. Considering the totality of the unique circumstances, we conclude the officers articulated a reasonable basis for concern about their safety after the arrest of defendant and the female passenger, and officer safety is an authorized purpose for a search incident to an arrest under K.S.A. 22-2501(a). Our holding here is specifically based upon Chimel and Tygart and the unique facts of this case and not based on the bright line rule of Belton and Press. We reverse and remand for further proceedings. END
Drum on the Romney’s Continued Willingness to Lie about His Tax Plan Kevin Drum: Lies, Damn Lies, and Mitt Romney’s Tax Plan. We all struggle trying to explain why Mitt Romney’s tax plan is….inconsistent with reality. Here’s another crack at unpacking the basics behind the famous TPC study that originally made this point. It’s actually pretty simple: [snip basic arithmetic] reasonable assumptions under which his plan can work, and he obviously knows it. But he keeps saying it anyway. If that’s not a lie, what is? I’m not sure I see any way around the “L” word here. It’s a knowing falsehood, spoken with the hope of deceiving. shcb? You’ve been pretty limber in the past at construing things I call “lies” as being some other sort of thing notquiteactuallyalie. Is there a better word for what Romney’s doing here? October 12th, 2012 at 6:47 pm .” – Matt Taibbi Read more: October 13th, 2012 at 9:58 am It’s easy to explain, Drum is lying. No surprise there. “Harvey Rosen gave it a shot, but succeeded only by assuming wildly implausible growth estimates.” I just read Rosen’s report, he is assuming 3% growth rates, not wildly Implausible. Liberals, as usual, are using a basically static model, the TPC report does have some dynamics built into it but assumes people “people work the same amount, save the same amount, and invest the same amount,” whatever the tax rate, according to Rosen. Another item pointed out by the Weekly Standard is “it assumes tax reform must pay for repealing Obamacare’s tax hikes, rather than assuming that the repeal of Obamacare’s spending will pay for repealing the tax hikes.” Drum says “But wait! What about the economic growth this will unleash? That’s mostly mythical” really? Mythical? It worked when JFK and Reagan tried it, was that mythical? October 13th, 2012 at 10:54 am Actually, I’d consider it extremely surprising if Drum is lying. I’ve been reading all his public blog posts for some time now (averaging several posts a day since at least 2003), and he’s always struck me as extraordinarily honest. I’ve never seen him post about something where I actually feel like I have a good grasp already of what he’s talking about without feeling like yeah, he did a really honest job of summing up that issue. During that same time I’ve pretty regularly seen you say things that I’m reasonably certain are, if not knowingly dishonest, at least ill-informed and wrong to the point of negligence. So, if I’ve got a situation where Drum says one thing (“Rosen made implausible growth assumptions”) and you say another (“Rosen is assuming 3% growth rates, not wildly implausible”), I think Drum’s credibility outweighs yours by a substantial amount. Also, this gets back to the whole notion of relevant expertise that we’ve discussed before. You reading Rosen’s paper does not qualify you as an expert on whether Rosen’s assumptions are plausible. Think about the standards employed at Wikipedia: It isn’t enough that you, shcb, find Rosen’s assumptions plausible. The question is, are there people with relevant expertise in the field of economics and tax policy who find Rosen’s assumptions plausible? Drum is not only saying that Rosen is bonkers because he (Drum) thinks he is. He also is willing to cite others, including others with relevant expertise, who go into detail about why Rosen’s argument is bonkers. See for example this article by Josh Barro: Barro makes some specific criticisms of Rosen’s paper. What do you think of those criticisms? Are you willing to engage with them in an intellectually honest way? Are you willing to find public writings by people with recognized expertise who articulate the positions you hold about why Barro is wrong and Rosen is right, and give us those sources so we can investigate for ourselves? You’re correct in one sense, at least: It is easy to explain this by asserting that Drum is lying. It’s super easy. I would offer that in fact, it’s the ease of that explanation that makes it so appealing to you. It’s way, way easier to believe that you are correct, and someone who disagrees with you is wrong, and just go cherrypick some evidence that seems to support that, than it is to actually try to reach an objective, informed, quasi-judicial judgement. But here’s the thing: The easy approach also makes it easy to be, and remain, wrong. I believe that’s what you’re doing here. October 13th, 2012 at 8:34 pm Drum is lying, or at least to the degree it is considered lying here. If drum says (as he did) that the the rate of growth would have to be at an implausible rate versus the rate of growth would have to be at the implausible rate of 3% a rational person would say the first statement is at least deceptive. Here that seems to be good enough to be called a lie. Read Rosen’s paper, it’s only 17 pages, you’ve probably read 3 times that reading other people’s critiques. There are enough variables in Rosen’s paper (justifiable variables) that if you are talking to an uninformed audience you can turn it around any way you want, but Drum lied, it doesn’t matter how much of a man crush you have on him I read the Barro piece, but alas I’m not qualified to comment on it, I would offer experts to rebut Barro, but I’m not qualified to understand what they have to say either. I wish I were qualified to understand what I read in the Rosen paper but since I don’t have a degree in economics I’m not. It is a good thing Drum’s journalism degree makes him qualified to comment on economics. I wonder how professor Rosen teaches his students since they don’t yet have economics degrees, without that degree they aren’t qualified to understand any papers written by Rosen, that’s gotta be tough. I wonder how Rosen got his degree since once upon a time he wasn’t qualified to understand economics or papers written on the subject even though he was only days away from earning a degree. October 13th, 2012 at 9:06 pm You say you have always found Drum credible and yet you won’t read a 17 page paper to see if the author was using a 3% growth rate. Exactly what did you do to establish Drum’s credibility? October 14th, 2012 at 7:25 am I answered that question above: I established Drum’s credibility by reading his copious online output for the last 9 years. And while I didn’t read the whole thing closely, I did at least dip into the Rosen paper. But it’s important to recognize that reading Rosen’s paper is insufficient to evaluate its claims. Of COURSE the paper itself is going to sound internally self-consistent, and for someone without relevant expertise who looks only at the paper itself (especially someone motivated to find it credible, by virtue of his identification with Team Romney) it’s going to seem compelling. That’s the whole point of the paper: To make its argument appear to be internally self-consistent and compelling. It reminds me of a profile I read of Whitfield Diffie in Wired back when that magazine was cool. (In 1994, I just discovered, after googling up the article.) Diffie is walking through a security products tradeshow with the Wired reporter: “At another booth he is offered a chance to try out an encryption-equipped walkie-talkie. ‘Presumably, we’ll discover it works just fine,” says Diffie, refusing the demo.’” If you really want to buy a particular type of car, walking onto the showroom floor and asking a salesman to explain its features is not a particularly good way to evaluate buying it. It’s the same thing with economic arguments. I guess you could make the case that reading Rosen’s paper is more like taking the car for an actual test drive, which probably is something you should do at some point before buying. But if you’re not also test-driving other cars for comparison, you’re still not being a very smart consumer. And yeah, reading the reviews written by people with a vested interest in nudging your choice this way or that (like, reading car magazines that are going to shill for whichever car manufacturer is buying their back cover ad) is perilous, too. Which is why it’s important to identify people whom you believe have intelligence and integrity, and whose opinions you’ve evaluated over time to get a sense of their relative authority. October 14th, 2012 at 12:12 pm Just reading someone doesn’t establish credibility, have you periodically, independently verified his facts or assertions? Now Drum isn’t any more qualified to offer his opinion than you or I about anything but journalism according to the required qualifications you’ve stated for me so why would you find him credible for anything but journalism? That is all he has a degree in. for that matter do we even know he read Rosen’s paper? Or has he just taken the word of someone that wrote about someone that wrote about someone that read it, like you just did? The issue here is simply is Drum lying, is seems all Drum has done is read Rosen’s paper, or read what someone else said about it. If you haven’t studied it yourself aren’t you doing the same thing with Drum’s assessment of the paper? You want me to provide a list of experts that agree with Rosen, what would that prove? If we can’t understand the paper enough to see if he based his analysis on 3% growth then how are we going to know that we can trust others on either side? I’ve never understood this mentality that I can’t do it myself, only someone better than me can do it, how do you ever get better yourself with that attitude? Rosen seems to believe the most important factor in determining if the Romney plan is viable is if tax rates are kept at the Bush rates or revert back to Clinton rates, since, quite sensibly the more efficient way of promoting an increase of economic growth is the lowering of taxes and the lower the starting point the more effective the program will be. It isn’t much of a savings if the store raises process of the product 10% the day before it lowers them 8%. He uses 3% because the Diamond study used 5%, so Rosen figures that if the 2012 law is replaced with the 2013 law the 3% will offset some of those gains, pretty conservative in my estimation. Here’s one of his footnotes Okay, I’m not an economist, I was warned, and indeed I only vaguely understand what he is talking about. But, I sure feel he is more credible than Drum. Rosen has stuck his neck out, he has offered his sources, someone can look it up and call his bluff it that is what it is. Drum just said the rate of growth was unreasonable but didn’t say how or why. He just hopes we don’t ask those questions, and why should we? He’s Drum, and quite credible, he’s been writing for years. But back to Drum’s assertion that Rosen needs unreasonable growth to justify Romney’s plan (the lie) it sure seems .25 where others have suggested the number should be almost twice that or maybe even 4 times is not unreasonable by any stretch of the imagination. So show me in Rosen’s paper where he is using unrealistic growth to validate his conclusion, or show me where Drum has shown Rosen to use unrealistic growth in anything more than an unsubstantiated assertion. At some point you are going to have to realize your man crush has been sleeping around behind your back and lying about it. October 14th, 2012 at 2:50 pm See, this kind of response is why I don’t find you credible. You’re playing a game here, pretending to be addressing the issue, but actually just trying to score points that you think are clever. It’s boring, because for someone who isn’t as emotionally invested as you are in your being correct, it’s obvious what you’re doing. October 14th, 2012 at 3:46 pm I’m addressing the issue it just isn’t an issue you are comfortable with because it might cause you to have to rethink a relationship you have had with Drum for 9 years. You said Romney is lying about his plan, you are basing this on an analysis of Drum, I am saying his analysis is wrong and have given my reasons. In this case my point is fairly well defined, is Rosen overestimating growth. If I am right it shows Drum is lying, or he didn’t bother to read a fairly short report before he made some pretty harsh criticisms. Either doesn’t bode well for someone you quote on a regular basis. I’m not being cute other than to add a little levity for the sake of levity. Enkidu misquotes me, you constantly bring up this idea that if a person doesn’t have a degree in a subject they aren’t qualified to analyze it (except it doesn’t seem to apply to you or anyone that agrees with you), you want to talk about games! Those are the games you guys play, and it sucks. You don’t want to play games? Fine, tell me where Rosen is over estimating growth, as Drum is asserting, call Drum, ask him, see what his response is, dime to a dollar he has none. Drum made the statement, I think he is wrong, prove me wrong. Short, non boring, prove me wrong. October 14th, 2012 at 5:25 pm :-) October 14th, 2012 at 5:27 pm Why? What’s in it for me to attempt to “prove you wrong”? Especially given your evident unwillingness to ever subject yourself to falsifiability? Actually, set that aside. Let’s pretend you actually were willing to subject your beliefs to being falsified by evidence I might be able to accumulate and present to you. Why should I bother to do that? How do I benefit from the expenditure of effort required to have a chance of changing your mind? October 14th, 2012 at 8:53 pm You’re absolutely correct, there is nothing for you to gain by taking on my challenge. If I’m right and Drum is lying you loose respect for someone you have respected for almost a decade. If I’m wrong Drum has done nothing to increase his standing and I’m pretty low on your respect list to start with so dropping me much more than a notch or two is all that is possible. I routinely do these little tests on both the people I agree with and those I disagree with, I don’t know a better way to weed out undesirables on either side. It is just part of due diligence. I saw how hard it was for you with the Gleick incident, you’re better off not knowing. October 14th, 2012 at 9:04 pm Heh. It’s still a game, but that move wasn’t bad. Well played, sir! October 15th, 2012 at 5:18 am Of course it’s a game, everything in life is a game. Marriage, war, raising children, business, politics, they are all games, with games played inside those games. Some are just more important than others. Our little game is about as important as two old friends playing checkers down by the lake, but even those can get heated and seem the most important game in the world in the moment. To be continued I’m sure… October 15th, 2012 at 9:49 am Just to point out the facts again, shcb… but I usually quote you verbatim, provide the link and just point and laugh (it’s a hobby). I read the bloomburg piece when it came out, then the MJ piece when jbc linked to it. So Rmoney’s big tax bamboozle keeps citing these “6 studies” (not use of quotes, it is an exact quote, not a paraphrase, often denoting a ‘loose’ interpretation of the source material). Those six ‘studies’ are: 1) a blog post from the AEI (a right wing ‘think’ tank) 2) a blog post 3) WSJournal op ed 4) a blog post 5) a thin paper from the the Heritage Foundation (a right wing ‘think’ tank) 6) yet another blog post (which actually turns out to be the most substantial treatment of the issues and claims) Forgive me for seeming cynical and posting this on a blog, but are we really sure US tax policy ‘studies’ should be this paper thin and transparently partisan? Most analysis says Rmoney’s tax plan is a pig in a poke. Smart shoppers aren’t buying their mystery meat. The math just doesn’t add up without taxamagical growth fairy pixie dust. It hasn’t worked in the past and sure isn’t going to work now. They’ll blow up the New Deal and explode the deficit at the same time. Maybe that war in Iran will be treated as some sort of super-duper-stimulus. Hey, catching a bullet for the homeland is a job ya know. Here let’s just listen to Mitt in his own words: The Rmoney Plan: Say Anything (the gullible and the malinformed will lap it up) October 15th, 2012 at 10:03 am When even Chris Wallace is calling this bullshit, you have to start to wonder… October 15th, 2012 at 10:25 am Are you saying Romney is citing these 6 blog posts/studies on some official Romney web site? US tax policy will be decided in congress not a blog, but really what is the difference if a qualified person gives his opinion in a blog or a more formal paper? At this point anyway. I mean you are basing your opinion on a Mother Jones piece, right? Isn’t that a left wing blog/magazine? Doesn’t mean they are wrong does it? October 15th, 2012 at 11:55 am As another wag put it: Mitt Romney has a secret plan to end the deficit! Do we, really need to roll the tape of the Romney campaign using this exact phrase? Really? Would you, say, believe they used the phrase if, say, the vice presidential candidate says it? Would that be a spokesperson that could possibly change your mind? No. As usual your sequencing is wrong (at least for me) I read the Bloomberg piece before the Mother Jones blog post. I am fully aware that MJ has a agenda and they are proud to say so (unlike, say, fox ‘news’, which I linked to up above btw) jbc, you know the way this ends don’t you Charlie Brown? Let me know if you need me to find that video of the Romney/Ryan campaign talking about those Six Very Serious Studies! only some of which we paid for… in the mean time enjoy these videos har har har! October 15th, 2012 at 7:59 pm Since you read the Bloomberg article I assume you followed the links in it and read all the documents it is criticizing. October 16th, 2012 at 5:41 am I wonder why Barro didn’t state what economic growth rate Brill used to turn Romney’s plan from a deficit to a surplus was, and where that information came from, in case you missed it: I also wonder why the links on the Bloomberg site just go back to a Bloomberg site, not to the original documents, probably just my tablet. October 16th, 2012 at 10:49 am I read most of the links, at least the bits that weren’t behind the paywall Sounds like you skipped the TPC ‘study’ Bottom line, iirc, to make Rmoney’s 20% cut for everyone work, you have to remove all deductions from everyone making over $100,000. All. Think that is going to happen? Not on your life. magical confidence fairy makes tax cuts pay for themselves! malarkey If tax cuts pay for themselves why did bush double the US debt (yes yes, almost) Obama came in with a real deficit of around $1.4 Trillion (once we got the two off-the-books wars in the budget, etc [*note, that is a pretty big etc, remember 2008? hmmm?]) The budget deficit is down to less than $1.1 Trillion. Gov growth under Obama is slower than almost every President of the modern era. Gov jobs are down, not up. Down. Up is not flat, down is not taxamagical. 2+2≠ purple Most analysis finds the Rmoney tax plan to be full of candy, but no spinach. Just ask Chris Wallace, or is he in the tank for Obama as well? October 16th, 2012 at 4:12 pm Yes I’ve read the TPS report (little Office Space humor) and no, most economists don’t think it is hokum, most left wing pundits and economists think it is hokum because they are using static models. As Brill points out static really only works for small changes to tax law, it really doesn’t work there either, but the difference between static and dynamic are so small it doesn’t make much difference. But when you are talking about a major change as we are here static just doesn’t work. Professor Rosen reminds us in his paper of Phil Gramm asking the Joint Committee on Taxation to produce an estimate of the revenue consequences of a 100% tax on income. The JCT said there would be a huge increase in revenue because they figured people would continue to work without pay… okay. October 19th, 2012 at 11:47 pm As far as the subject of the article goes, to me it seems prima facie that Romney lies about most everything, because that’s his role. (Obama doesn’t strike me as any better unfortunately.) @jcb, to save me the nine years of work, do you have any examples on tap where Drum actually made an economic prediction, with specifics, such as “if bill X passes by April then by December the unemployment rate will be no more than Y unless we have unrelated problem Z over in Japan” …or, somesuch specific future-thing. shcb is theorizing that Drum is a journalist, who reports on stuff, but doesn’t really know econ (i.e. the theory thereof), and you are saying that Drum seems to be pretty darn smart and honest. But to my mind, if he’s good on econ, he ought to be reporting testable predictions. Off-topic somwhat: shcb and jcb and anybody else that cares to jump in, what sort of policy *does* lead to more-rapid economic growth? You may stipulate other conditions if needed, e.g. that our policy must be tuned to be competitive relative to the policies in other countries, or that the size of the workforce must exceed the size of the kids & retirees & unemployed (or fall within some kind of parameters or whatever). Point being…. Most of the people who are repubs say that the way to solve the 20 trillion in debt we’re gonna have in 2016 is to cut spending and boost growth, from the 1.5% we’ve seen the past three years to more like 3% assumed here. Most of the people who are repubs say to also cut spending (but they pick different places) while raising taxes — Obama mainly targets the wealthy with his oh-so-classy style of class warfare based on nebulous fairness-is-what-I-say-it-is dogma, but other dems are less divisive and say we need to raise taxes in general, usually with an eye to keeping the tax-structure progressive-slash-liberal and to reducing corporate loopholes and such. The banter between jcb and shcb pretty much blows past what I think is the key question: how *do* we get from 2% up to 4% annual growth? Drum says it’s impossible (or at least — impossible under the Mitt plan). Rosen asserts it’s easy (or at least — easy under some specific assumptions). But please note that I’m *not* trying to reopen the discussion of Rosen/Drum/Barro, or even Romney/Obama. That’s been covered, above. I’m trying to ask what *is* the sort of policies that folks here consider likely to work, if the goal is boosting economic growth (which tends to be, but is not always, also a decrease in unemployment). Feel free to cite your favorite econ authorities, or not, as you wish.
User Score 8.1 out of 10 Generally favorable reviews- based on 505 Ratings User score distribution: - Positive: 419 out of 505 - Mixed: 33 out of 505 - Negative: 53 out of 505 Review this game - User score - Most active - By date - Most helpful - Most Clicked - Sep 18, 201210 - Oct 18, 20124Let me say this right off the bat: Borderlands 2 is not a bad game. Borderlands 2 is NOT a bad game! On the surface, Borderlands 2 is a very good-looking, witty, polished shooter that seems like it would deliver everything the first game had to deliver, and some more. However, beneath that charming exterior lies an extreeeeeemely slow and repetitive shooter that makes anyone with a working gag reflex to put the game down and play with Microsoft Excel instead. I loved the first Borderlands, I would play and play before sleep (and then not go to sleep), I loved the gameplay; the RPG and the First Person Shooter combination was unlike anything I ever seen, I remember thinking that Borderlands was everything I wanted Fallout 3 to be. So, what went wrong with the sequel? First of all, do you recall the tutorial section of the first Borderlands where Claptrap escorts you around the bandit camp? That section took around 15 minutes and the game threw you into an open world, giving you a few quests to start yourself off. In Borderlands 2, someone thought it would be a marvelous idea to expand that 15 minutes of tutorial into a span of 2 hours, 2 mundane hours of you going through the same, boring, ice environment, listening to that poor excuse of a "funny little robot" called Claptrap yelling in your ear through the whole thing. I don't know about you, but I didn't find any gameplay in Borderlands 2 before reaching Sanctuary fun in any way shape or form. Gameplay remains the same as the first Borderlands: Shoot and loot, there are tons of different guns with different stats, you can swap them in and out at any time in your inventory, you can equip different shields and grenade mods too, for those who have played the first game, this will feel familiar to you. Speaking of shoot and loot, the shooting is the main course of the game, it begins to feel repetitive and boring killing the same type of enemy over and over and over, with the occasional "badass" enemy or miniboss thrown in to slow you down, looting remains the same; you go to anything that has a green light and mash the loot button to loot stuff, although, 99% of the time, you won't find anything that's better than what you currently have and you'll end up selling the loot instead, which begs the question of why not just have cash as loot instead in the first place if it's not going to be better items. My main complaint about Borderlands 2 is how slow the game feels, quests seems to drag on and on over long stretches of maps that feels longer than they should be, and to make maters worse, the quest rewards don't seem to be ever worth it; let me give you an example: I'm level 25 and I need 15k EXP to reach level 26, I look up some quests on the billboard that are around level 23 to level 25, and how much EXP do they give? 1000 EXP? Are you kidding me? That's not even 10% of what I need to reach the next level! The enemies barely give any EXP worth mentioning, so in the end, it's all just a huge waste of time. In the first game, you would be rewarded EXP for completing challenges, so maybe that's why this game feels so slow in the leveling compared to the first, I don't mind the "Badass Tokens" system they implemented in this one for completing challenges, but why can't we have EXP on top of that? My final gripe of this game is the so-called "humor". I'll be honest, I didn't find the humor in the first game funny, but the writing was tolerable, in Borderlands 2, the developers seemed so pleased with themselves that they decided to rub the humor in so hard that it will forever leave a shameful imprint of claptrap on your face. I watched a stream of someone playing the game for the first time and as soon as the "0 as a number" appeared in the intro, about 15 people in the chat went "Lol, that is so clever!" ... Not... really... It was kind of uncomfortable to witness and I was surprised my brain didn't slip out of my nostrils to escape further humiliation. In conclusion, I would say that Borderlands 2 is not worth £40 (I paid £60 for the Collector's Edition...), maybe pick it up at £15 if you really want to, but I say stick with the first game, if you haven't played the first one and you're really aching for a quirky, first person shooter with RPG elements, then I say definitely pick this up.… -. - - Sep 19, 201210, 20129 - Oct 2, 20120. - The game is improved in almost every area. However the AI is terrible. You can shoot people whilst other enemies stand oblivious just a few metres away. Claptrap is as annoying as ever and the humour is really childish. Guns are great though and lots of fun to be had with all the different designs. - - Its Borderlands, not different from the first one much, though the weapons are a little more diverse and the plot gets going quicker which is good being the first one was a little too spaced between the fun moments. The problem I have with the game is that you see a camp of baddies, you shoot one and they all go nuts, you kill them, you move forward and more baddies spawn, repeat a thousand times more add some boss battles and you got the whole game. But its still enjoyable, just as Skyrim was good for at least 50 hours before you realized that you are just stuck in a loop, and by then you got your moneys worth unlike most games released.… Expand - Nov 28, 20127 23, 201210 - Sep 19, 20129.… Expand - Nov 12, 20120 - Dec 9, 20126I am having a love / hate relationship with Borderlands 2. On one hand, I'm enjoying it enough to continue playing it after three weeks already, and I'm only about half way through, but on the other hand, all too often I'm finding that playing it is more of a chore than it is fun. Yes, it's great that there are so many varieties of weapons and shields but, well, there are so many that it's a bit mind boggling to sift through it all. Mostly I just pick up everything I find and then sell most of it all off at the next ammo dump. And the mission are so long, so very very long, that it takes upwards of three to five hours just to get from point A to point B in a side mission, that is if you want to waste the enemies instead of just trying to charge your way through them. When you finally complete the quest, it doesn't feel rewarding, instead it's just a relief that the mission is finally over. There are other nuisances such as picking up items that will change the look of your automobile that hog your backpack space when who cares what your stupid automobile looks like; that's such a minor part of the game anyway. No matter what others say, don't believe them otherwise: this is a really hard game to get through solo. If you're not playing with friends online, you will repeatedly find yourself outnumbered in frantic episodes of insanity during which you don't even know what's shooting at you and you will die again and again, and each time you die it's going to cost you some of that loot that you spent hours picking up. With all of this combined I found myself all too often just wishing the mission I was on was over already so I could get on to something else, and the problem is you can't skip the side missions, that's impossible, if you do you won't be leveled up enough to play the main storyline. Yet, on the other hand, with all of this frustration going against it, I'm still coming back to it and playing it because it at least has it's good moments, unlike Dead Island, and the visuals along with the humor is just enough to keep things going by a hair.… Expand -. - - Jan 16, 20136I know that I'm probably going to cause a lot crap on here, but I wasn't that impressed with Borderlands 2. I have played the original, and wasn't that impressed with it either. But after reading up on this game, and seeing new stuff I thought I would give it a try. Now its by no means a bad game, but I just found it to be average not that special. I don't know if its because im over saturated on first person shooters or what, but I played it for a while and eventually traded it in. The graphics were colorful, the humor was great, but online play for me was rocky. I kept getting kicked off, and the massive update that I had to install took better part of three hours to download before I could even get online. Also I think the balance is off when it comes to the enemies. I was level 7, fighting level 5 enemies and they were proving to be difficult,(and at one time actually killed me) now I'm two levels ahead but can't seem to drop them. However I fought a boss that was higher than me and held my own eventually beating him. Overall if Gearbox would fix the balance issues, the laggy online play, and maybe spice the gameplay the next Borderlands could be a awesome game. But as it stands right now, I won't be going back anytime soon..… Expand - Come on guys, I really understand that a lot of you LOVE this game, but everyone giving it a 10 is just unrealistic. I generally give this game an 8. It was a very good game to me. It does what it sets out to do and that is to give players a worth while first person shooter experience with a comic side to it. I have mixed feelings about the cell shading. On one side of the coin, it gives the game that "comic book" feel and makes it more fictional and really sets the environment up, On the other side, its a "been there, done that" easy way to texture. I really wish someone would come up with a new way to sell comic book style games without using cell shading, its quite predictable.. On another negative note, the game was sorely repetitive. Go here, kill that, loot this, get reward, rinse and repeat. Now that i got all the negative out of the way, this game was a wonderful time waster. When I was bored I knew i could turn on BL2 and have a good, ol' fashioned killing spree and be rewarded for it. The main story line was good, not great, but good enough that I wanted to complete it. They expanded on the dialogue from the first game in a comically gritty way and in more than one occasion I would burst out laughing at a funny quip or witty sentence. I also really liked how they made the bad guy believe he was the good guy. A good reversal complex on the bad guy added to his anger when you succeed because according to him "bad guys are supposed to lose". One thing I would have love to see added to the game is a romance section. While I know this sounds a little ridiculous to some, I think it would have given the main character a little more drive to complete his goal other than "Just because he/she's a vault hunter". Please don't confuse "romance" with "interactive romance" for I know that wouldn't fit into the genre. A scripted romance would have gone a long way in giving me more motive in my humble opinion.… Expand - An amazing addition to the original Borderlands 2. While I enjoy this game, I will say Borderlands 1 was far superior. Borderlands 2 simply lacks the comedy that was found in the first installation of this series. It almost appears as if the game went from lowbrow sex puns, plays-on-words, and generally lowbrow witty humor to douchebag humor. Like high-five frat house humor. I totally screwed that chick, brah! Oh my god, dude! That's like totally awesome! *body five* Christ, 2k. I'll still give your game a 7, but you dropped the ball on your writing this time around. Rehire the first team and fire your current one.… - Dec 30, 20127 - Sep 18, 201210An absolutely amazing game. Borderlands 2 improves on everything found in Borderlands, from the brilliant writing to the ridiculous number of guns while adding in a plethora of new features. An absolute must have game. - Sep 19, 20129 - Borderlands 2 will give you a lasting appeal that is equivalent to 10 modern games, and it's not just because of the huge amount of missions. It's everything else that will bring you back again, and again. - - Nov 21, 20126Didnt like this game. Everything seemed good, but the story was all over the place and a game needs a decent story, you never connect with any characters and its just a crazy shooter which didnt impress me. I didnt hate the game but didnt complete it and got bored quickly. - I can stand the positive critic this game recieves from non-hardcore players. This game will dissapoint hardcore Borderlands players like me. Let's start of with the positive stuff: the game has gotten a nice graphical upgrade, the shooting feels more satisfying, and has a better storie (mostly), you've heart about this enough in other review. Let's get to the bad; the original charmed me with it's non-linearity, the nice atmosphere, the replayability and the unending variating loot. Everything has been downgraded in the sequel. -Non-linearity: Let's say, the story is pretty much forced trough your throat, especially at the beginning. -Atmosphere: There is a lot more variation in the environment, it's never mindblowing, like the original with it's wide landscapes. -Loot: Let just say, from the technical side, it has been downgraded a lot. The differencation between the manufacturers is nice but it gets really gimmicky also, the differencation within a manufacturer has pretty much dissapeared. For example: It's almost like there's only one Tedoire SMG, of course there are small extras like elemental modifiders, etc. but that's it. -Replayability: The SP gets pretty annoying after a playtrough or 2 and there's no neverending loot variation anymore. That's it, I know this review is pretty much useless because the hardcore BL1 players where this was ment for, have bought this game for sure :|… game gave me something the first lacked : storyline. This game is great if you played the first and wanted plot this is the game for you, a drastic improvement over the first. Enjoyable multiplayer and second playthrough is actually really challenging. -! - Jan 13, 20136 - Apr 15, 20136I'll give this game a 6 for three reasons...awesome looting/diverse weapon designs, fun characters (handsome jack is a pretty great villain) and its got a pretty gorgeous world. Now I'm not a jagged gamer by any means but i cannot ignore the awfulness of the AI in this game. it isn't just terrible, it's completely broken all together. You can shoot someone twice and they'll usually come after you but sometimes they'll just stop attacking and go to normal patrol mode like nothing happened. WTF is that? How does that happen? I mean really that is a huge flaw...and what I dont get is that this wasn't really an issue with BL1 so how does it exist in this one? I really wish this didn't happen because it makes me want to take the disk out and play something else whenever the damn enemy just ignores the fact that he just got shot three seconds ago and go back to walking around like a moron. there should be a caution level in this game like in the elder scrolls or fallout. when you engage the enemy and then disappear from sight there should be a few minute caution level where everyone runs around trying to find the guy, but instead they just go back to what they were doing...just awful awful awful game combat design. real shame too cause the rest of the game is perfect.… Expand - Borderlands 2 is no bad game by any stretch its cel shaded graphics are smoother, more crisp and sharper than the original although cel shaded graphics are not to everybody's liking. I understand what people are saying about the loot and quests being long and arduous and not worthwhile, the loot complaints are quite petty to say hte least, I'd be more concerned with the AI who in the 1st installment were quite ruthless but fair while in this its almost non-existent you can practically walk up to an enemy and look them in the eye before they take any action and then worse still after a short firefight the others will stop shooting and walk on?! The only time the AI seem to be on the ball is in boss fights, although the melee psycho's seem to work well cowering after taking a melee hit or two but otherwise unfinished is probably right in terms of the AI. One of the more irritating things is the inability to get out of the water if you fall in, amazingly enough your moon jumping from the first one has been toned down a slight bit but still big leaps are possible but if you land in the water you somehow can't get out which is quite hard to believe and frustratingly stupid as all you can do is respawn… Expand - Oct 19, 201210 - Borderlands 2 is a more refined version of Borderlands. Essentially, if you liked Borderlands, you will probably like Borderlands 2. The gameplay is very similar, but there have been a lot of small improvements that really change a lot(the biggest improvement to me is that you can walk over ammo or money on the ground and automatically pick it up instead of having to click on it.) The one noticeable flaw for me was in multiplayer. The flaw is that the loot is still shared loot. If you are playing as a sniper character and playing with strangers, you have a very negligible chance of being able to pick up any loot whatsoever. It's not a gamebreaking flaw, by any means, but I would have liked to see individual loot in the multiplayer.… Expand -. - Feb 18, 20137 - This game is fun as hell. No matter if solo or coop i really enjoy this game when i play it with all the stuff, you can do in this game. The Cel Shading Look of this game really has style and the humour is great. - Oct 2, 201210 - Expands and improves everything from the original game. The story is amazing, and it is also an absolute ball to shoot everything. There might as well be 12 separate classes with all the customization options. Buy this game. - May 13, 20138.… Collapse - Oct 2, 201210 - Nov 13, 201210 29, 201210This game should definetly be a contender for GOTY. Great story and characters, hilarious side missions and Easter eggs and just fun to play. The only reason you shouldn't buy it is if you hate fun. - Sep 19, 20121010This game is basically flawless, super fun and instantly addicting! Right when you start the customization and additions to the first borderlands are apparent it was tough to improve but gearbox did it. -10Game is fun and a joy to play. If you had fun with the first game you should get this and if you haven't played the first game then you should still get this game. - Sep 23, 20129…. - May 7, 20137"Borderlands 2 is a really fun game to play with friends but isn't as different from Borderlands 1." I don't mean that in a bad thing but if you dislike the first Borderlands, Borderlands 2 maybe a turn off after the first half of the game. Borderlands 2 is an action/shooter WRPG and a shoot and loot type game. You got 4 character classes, one other character class as DLC. I thought the 4 playerable character were a bit of a disappointment as I thought there could of been more characters classes in 2 then from the first game. Sure you got the one extra character, the Mechromancer but i don't see the value in paying more. There're multiple and randomly generated guns each with there own type of weapon and stats to fit anyone's play style. When your base level progresses, you can upgrade a skill level that gives small bonuses to your character class. Pretty much, The Borderlands series is more like Diablo 2 but with guns which is a great idea for a concept if executed well. I can understand being a console game but it would been nice to have control of player stats then having stats done for you. The major improvements to Borderlands 2 is its presentation. The game is much more funnier. Characters are interesting giving them voiced dialog, there're are bunch of references from the late 80s and modern times. The villain, Handsome Jack is everywhere and controls most Pandora, the current plant that series takes place one. You play as one of the Vault Hunters to open the other secret Vault and put a stop to Handsome Jack's evil deeds by joining the resistances against him. You'll see meet characters from the first game specially the previous Vault Hunts that will fight with you. The presentation to Borderlands 2 is greatly improved as well as the quest that I found tedious and annoying from the first game. The only newest feature when it comes too gameplay is the new element called Slag. Once Slag is placed on the enemy, any normal weapon will do 3 times amount of damage and much more with stat bonuses and critic hits. Other then that, its still the same game as the first one with slightly great improvements to the presentation.… Expand - Nov 9, 201210... - Fun game, built mainly for the co-op, could use more of a story and plot. Haven't really spent much time with this one, though I doubt I'll be striving for the end, already running into frustrating scenarios... Started off as the Assassin class, no sniper-rifle in sight, and I'm already level 5. - Oct 29, 201210 31, 20129 - Borderlands... - Dec 1, 20120Great game when it works, but what's the point when the game is so riddled with glitches, the game is unplayable? Unless you like to waste your time building characters only to have your hard work deleted, avoid this game. Gearbox Software is a joke. They have no idea how to fix the glitch and when you visit their forums, they greet you with a particularly offensive brand of Programmer's Superiority Complex. What do they care? They have our money. They shouldn't get yours. They won't get mine again.… Expand -10Beautiful game, my source of fun during these useless fall months besides running. There is witty and colorful gameplay, and it is such a nice feeling when you find that awesome gun. The characters and NPCs are amazing as well. - Nov 16, 20121010, 20129 - This is probably one of the better loot grabbing RPG's I have ever played. The graphics are nicely done, but are not for everyone. The game play is great with PLENTY of customization! This game is EASILY worth your money! - -.
GREAT? Will you STILL chose to IGNORE the statements of over 250 people? Will you STILL chose to COVER UP a fraud currently standing at 375 MILLION EUROS? HOW much do you get paid by Resort Properties to turn a blind eye? Is it REALLY enough to EASE your conscience? And to the RDO, what do you have to say? Will you STILL ignore the fact that one of your BIGGEST members, indeed one of your LEADING spokespeople for the RDO and the timeshare industry, MR MARK CUSHWAY has being indicted for his involvement in a MULTI MILLION EURO FRAUD? Really, WHAT MORE NEEDS TO HAPPEN? HOW MUCH MORE PROOF DO YOU NEED? Maybe when ALBERTO GARCIA and the RDO are also indicted because of their involvement in this SCAM my questions will be answered………. Oh, and MR GARCIA in case you can’t find this PUBLIC document here is the letter from the State Prosecutor AND an extract from the OFFICIAL document listing the people who have been indicted. Dear Mrs Wilson We too have been conned out of our life savings by this company. The upset and stress this has caused has been at times unbearable. All we want is to get out money back and get our lives back on track. We believed like everyone else that these people were our friends and never believed they could rip us off in such a cruel and calculated way – how do these people sleep at night? What if their parents had been conned out of their life savings? Someone has to put a stop to this and I hope with enough people coming together we can get these crooks closed down for good. Our nightmare began in 2008 with a telephone call offering us 1 week’s holiday with Resort Properties in Tenerife at the Hollywood Mirage. This was with the condition of attending a presentation whilst we were there. Confident of our ability to resist their sales talk we agreed. Once there a sales rep. Called Gordon McClennan visited us to make an appointment at their sales office. The presentation lasted about 6 hours. At the onset we made it very clear we would not buy anything, his reply was that he did not want to sell us any time share, but that he could show us a way to make some money. This involved buying several weeks in their properties with the assurance they would be resold in a year or two at a good profit. All the doubts and queries we raised were answered in such a way it did seem possible to double our money. The sales manager Carl joined the meeting and re-enforced the advantages of the deal. Finance was quickly arranged with Barclays Partner Finance for £25,000. We were told they would push the sales through, saying until the resale they would not get their commission. A few days later having spent our supposed holiday time worrying about what we had committed to, we returned to the sales office to cancel the agreement. We expected some unpleasantness but that they would have to agree. Gordon said he understood our concerns but he would speak to his manager Carl to see if he could offer us a very special deal not available to everybody. This turned out to be the original deal plus one week 2 in a City Paradiso apartment. Plus they would give us a free apartment week at Hollywood mirage to be sold by them as a priority to pay the finance whilst the other properties were sold. We agreed and Barclays finance loaned another £23,000. We were told we could bank all the weeks with them or use them. They would rent the weeks from us for promotional use or to other owners wanting extra weeks. During our meetings with Carl and Gordon we were made to feel they believed in their product and genuinely wanted us to make money with them. We had stated we have family commitments in Australia so needed money for air fares on a regular basis and were worried the deal may prevent this again we were reassured we would have more not less money in one to two years time. When we returned to Tenerife thirteen months, no money had been earned from apartment rental nor anything sold. The same sales rep Gordon met us and arranged an appointment. They we were told that due to the world economic climate no sales were likely to take place other than for a small fraction of their value involving us losing most of our money. He said he could rescue the situation and safeguard our money and even make us more. This involved them buying back our weeks, except the City and selling us another city week, telling us two weeks were a much more attractive selling proposition, that potential buyers would prefer. With the balance from the six weeks this would still cost £25,000. Believing we had to do this in order not to lose our money we agreed. Again Barclay Finance gave the loan. The fact that Gordon had taken us out to lunch with his wife, took us out for evening drinks and introduced us to his young son made it impossible to believe he was cheating us. He even gave us his personal mobile number. We were made to feel he personally wanted us to make money for us and our family. By now we had spent £70,500. When Silver Point took over Resort Properties business they were the only ones to contact us saying our contract would be unchanged and the sales would go ahead. We tried to contact Gordon several times at the office but were always told he was out and he would ring us back. We later found out he did not work for Silver Point. When we returned to Tenerife in August 2011, a rep from Silver point called at our apartment and said we must make an appointment with her for our own sakes. At this appointment she told us that all resales had been stopped and the only way we would be able to sell in 2014/2015 when resales started again was if we joined their Registry, this involved access to many more holidays not just the few Paradiso accessed, making it a much more attractive product. We made it very clear we had no more money to spend but were told this deal would let us get our money back with profit in the future. Once again we felt we had no choice but to agree. The fee they stated was £25,000 but they would take the wk at Hollywood Mirage and Beverley Hills we still had, they gave us 1 week at Palm Beach, then the deal would cost us £12,000. This involved continuing maintenance payments. Again Barclay Finance agreed the loan; at no time in all the deals were any representative from bank or finance company present. Due to the very high rate of interest charged by the finance company all the loans were paid off using our savings. Now instead of myself retiring I have to continue working as the security of our savings has gone. This is causing problems with my physical health and I have to take antidepressants as a result of all the stress. This business is almost always on our minds and at times causes stress in our relationship. Our total spend has been £82,500 plus all the maintenance fees which we never received any projections for. Keith Great news about Resort Properties. Let’s hope that these guys get exactly what they deserve. Looks like the dogs are barking now Mr Garcia! I know from the many comments I have received that you were all following my conversation with Mark Cushway on yesterday the 19th April. Obviously what I had posted hit the right spot with Mr Cushway because he finally responded! And it definitely rattled a few cages elsewhere because this morning the whole thread was removed due to “legal reasons” What a shame because after what I have to admit was a somewhat sarcastic response to his first comment (which I felt was just another attempt to fob us all off) I was delighted when he posted his “direct” contact number and pledged to deal with my case personally. I informed him that my lawyer would contact him immediately and felt happy that at last we seemed to be getting somewhere. However my happiness was somewhat premature! My lawyer did call him on his “direct” number, which is actually a direct line to his secretary who informed my lawyer that he wouldn’t be back in the office until Monday!! So looks like his heartfelt plea of innocence and his public declaration that all complaints would be dealt with by him personally with speed and efficiency can wait until Monday. I will keep you all posted!! This is Fantastic news, well done all that has been involved. Silver Point/Resort Properties, RDO & Garcia stand up and be counted. Misrepresentation by Resort Properties/Silverpoint. I write on behalf of my wife and myself. We were first introduced to Resort Properties by having “won” a holiday in one of their resorts which we realised when we arrived there was conditional upon accepting a presentation from Resort Properties. Now we cannot escape the very strong feeling that we have been conned out of our savings as follows:- 1. At the above first meeting in September 2000 we were coerced into purchasing 6 time share weeks as an investment having been told that by buying 6 we got them at well below market value so would be able to be sold by them at a considerable profit. We signed an agreement that enabled Resort Properties to hold the certificates for all the units to facilitate their resale. We did not “need” any of these weeks but understood that we should dispose of them quite quickly. None of these assurances were included in the paperwork we received. All subsequent meetings we were persuaded to attend we were assured would only take a morning out of our holiday but invariably we were held there for at least 8 hours. In June 2001 we were told that 4 of the weeks had been sold at a small profit so we bought 5 more weeks. At no time were we told the names of buyers and, although advised of the proceeds of sale, we had no way of checking on this. We now realize this was just a bait to reel us more securely into their system because in October 2001 we took their advice to sign an agreement considerably reducing the asking price for each week to less than we had paid for them. Further we later discovered that we were liable for the payment of the maintenance fees on all the apartment weeks we now owned. 2. Early in 2002, we are not sure of the precise date we were again coerced into buying a 2 bedroom apartment, Island, in Club Paradiso. We were persuaded by their offering us their acceptance of our time share holdings as part payment as a way of reducing our maintenance costs and the assurance that if we owned a 2 bedroom unit we should always be able to take 2 weeks holiday in a 1 bedroom unit thereby saving on maintenance costs. This assurance was honoured for 1 year only after which we were told we could no longer have this exchange, so clearly they lied to us because we now understand that 1 Island membership is considered to be equal to 2 City memberships. (City = 1 bedroom entitlement). 3. We were coerced, yet again, in October 2007 into converting our interest in Club Paradiso from an Island to 2 City holdings at a cost of £13,950. We were advised that :- a City was in greater demand than an Island so would sell more easily; that Cities were currently selling at £30,000 and were appreciating in value at a steady rate; that Resort Properties would start doing resales of Club Paradiso interests in 2 years time. We therefore accepted that there would be a considerable increase in maintenance fees but believed that we should be able to dispose of our 2 City holdings in 2009 for at least £60,000. None of these promises were confirmed in the paperwork. In 2009 we were told that resales were not yet being undertaken but the situation would be reviewed in 2 years time. 4. At no time at any of our meetings with Resort Properties representatives were we given a realistic estimate of the escalating costs of maintenance fees nor were we advised of our cancellation rights during the cooling off period, on the contrary we believed that we might loose our deposit if we did not complete the purchase within the specified time. We had been put under considerable pressure to pay the deposit immediately. 5. Early last year we received a letter from Silverpoint advising us that they had taken over Resort Properties and extolling the many ways in which they would be giving us a better service than we had from Resort Properties. We then wrote to them by email asking them to sell our 2 Cities. We were advised that they could not yet deal with resales but the situation would be reviewed in 2 years time, so no change. We now believe that this was not a takeover but just a change of name. We did not receive any advice of the “take over” from Resort Properties. It would seem that Resort Properties/Silverpoint intend that we should never be able to rescind the contract for the 2 Cities so we have no other option but to refer to the court. 6. When we first met Resort Properties I was 69 and my wife 68, now we are both 80. We have spent £50,000 at Resort Properties and received about £5,000 for the few sales they obtained and we must have spent nearly £10,000 on maintenance fees. This is NOT what I would call a good investment. NOTHING they have promised us about this investment has materialized – in fact it’s the complete opposite – it has just become a financial burden around our necks We were cajoled, pressured and lied to at every turn. We now believe that people should be warned about Resort Properties/Silverpoint. Do not believe the reps/managers when they tell you that your purchase is an investment – I have first-hand experience that it isn’t. Make sure ALL the verbal promises that they make you are written into the contract If they refuse to include the verbal promises in the contract then DO NOT SIGN ANYTHING. I have Jack We want to share our experience with Resort Properties and hope it acts as a warning to others. We feel very strongly that the misrepresentation and duplicity we experienced at the hands of the Resort Properties sales team needs to be stopped so that others do not suffer like we have. We both attended what we were told would be a “brief meeting” in early 2006. During October 2006 my wife returned on her own to ascertain the state of our investment NOTHING we were promised about this “investment” has materialised. We had to take out an extended mortgage to pay for it and it has not realised us one single penny. Words cannot adequately describe the feelings that we are left with. They do not answer our phone calls or emails and we are left with worthless paper and a high annual maintenance bill. NEVER sign any contract with these people unless EVERYTHING they have promised you is written clearly in the contract John We were offered a holiday in Feb 2008 with Resort Properties at their Palm Beach Club in Playa de las Americas, whilst there, one of the holiday conditions was for us to speak with one of their agents., this we did. This meeting lasted from 10am to 5pm, at the start they requested to see our Credir Cards to prove that we had something “concrete” with us (which they kept so that we could not leave). During this meeting we were offered the chance of an “investment” in Palm Beach Resort, which we considered but decided that the amount of money was too large, but after a further 8 hours trundling round their other properties and being talked to, we were brain weary and to get away we agreed to a reduced amount of investment, imagine our surprise when we received timeshare documents in return for £1,000.00 deposit taken by credit card there and then, we told them that we were no longer interested in them, but we had no choice… even in which apartment or time of year and nothing was said about how to use them, or that we would have to pay maintenance on them, and nothing was mentioned about a cooling-off period. During our meeting we were told that if we made this investment we would be able to return the following year to get our money back plus interest. This experience left me extremely upset, but they had me over a barrel and we had to pay a further £14,000.00 when we got home to England. Determined to get our money back we returned the following year only to be told that as the market had fallen we could not get anything back and we were the proud owners of 4 “timeshare weeks”. However… we could invest further into their next project “Paradise Club” which involved a finance agreement with Barclays for £40,000.00. Again having kept us for over 8 hours we signed up, just to get out of the room. I then had the most traumatic night and the next morning after reading through the papers I found a “get-out clause” and wrote letters to the agents there and their head office and also to Barclays Finance to cancel all agreements that we had been pressured in to. Having heard nothing further from Palm Beach Club it was a surprise to us when Silverpoint stared to write to us asking questions about our timeshare weeks, no one had informed us of the take-over of the company. Having regularly paid the maintenance money to Palm Beach it was a puzzle as to what Silverpoint was talking about. Again neither Silverpoint nor Resort Properties informed us about the takeover. As a result of our dealings with Resort Properties I have suffered a breakdown, we have taken £15,000.00 from our life savings AND we are over £1,000.00 worse off every year by having to pay the maintenance money. This was not an investment – we haven’t seen a single penny At a later date when i tried to speak at the reception desk in Palm Beach, for help, none was forthcoming and they told me to speak with Resort Property management, but they were not available as their offices were deserted. The worst part was when we received the certificate 29 months later we found that we were committed until 2036 and as we are age 70 and 79 this debt would be passed on to our family, to whom it would come as a complete shock. As a result of our dealings with Resort Properties we feel weak and frail and unable to trust anyone. Of course all the verbal assurances regarding our “investment” are nowhere to be seen in our contracts. We want to warn people NOT to sign ANYTHING with this company until you have had time to read the contract in full and make sure everything you have been promised is in there. Don’t let the sales people bully you and even if they keep you there for hours just walk away. I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through what we have gone through Derek In February 2009 I was offered a promotion week at Resort Properties Tenerife. I was sold timeshare weeks as an “investment”, I was told by the sales person and his superior that they would cost £25,000. I advised them that I could not afford this but they offered to arrange a loan with Barclays Bank which I accepted. It was arranged that i would return in a year’s time when they would sell the properties for £25,000 and i would be left with one property as a profit. When I returned the following February 2010 I was told that they could not sell the properties but they stated that they had a solution. I was sold a penthouse for £10,000 and they took back all the weeks except one. I agreed to buy the second week as Debbie Tervit (sales person), was to arrange rental of the property and this lease of £1,200 would help to cover the costs of maintenance. This did not happen! I visited the resort in October 2010 on an RCI week. Debbie stated that she would put the weeks up for sale as she had advised me in February 2010 to come out of RCI points. When i returned to the resort in March 2011 I was advised by Debbie Tervit that the properties had been taken over by “Silverpoint”. This was the first time I had been informed of the “Silverpoint” ownership. I was advised by Debbie that Silverpoint were only selling properties that were in the system and my weeks were not in the system. She tried to sell me another deal with Silverpoint, which I refused, since then no further contact has been made. I now realise that what I was told was all lies. I invested my capital in good faith, I then had to sell my house quickly at a loss to pay the loan. This whole experience has been a nightmare and even thinking about it makes me very emotional and angry both with myself and Resort Properties. I hope your blog warns everyone against these people and at the very least makes them get everything they are told IN WRITING – I wouldn’t want anyone to suffer like we have. Elizabeth Our unfortunate history with Resort Properties began in July 2006 when staying at Beverley Hills. We were approached by Mr Stephen Coster and invited to Hollywood Mirage. We spent most of that day being cleverly persuaded that, although happy with our holiday arrangements, to buy one of their Time Share Apartments. Their sales pitch was very powerful—” we would have so much freedom to holiday anywhere, at very little expense”! We were again contacted the next day. Mr Coster told us that we could be “lucky enough” to be given a chance to enter their “re-sale, buy to sell scheme” This was usually only offered to members who had owned one of their Time Shares for at least one year—in our case they would make an exception! Manager Barry Fox was involved too in assuring us that this was a very good “make a profit deal” They would sell us 5 apartments– “easy to sell—and we would almost certainly be back next year to purchase more.” £18,626 was required. After spending another day in their offices we finally agreed. When the agreement was drawn up Barry Fox had kindly given us 8 apartments. Little did we realise till to late, that this was to their advantage not ours! Maintenance was hardly mentioned and we eventually needed to pay £3,056 for 2007 and £3,056 in 2008 With none being sold by October 2007 we returned to Tenerife They then managed to sell one for £2,500, after hours spent complaining of our distress and problems with money. The sales team’s answer to our problem was to offer an opportunity to buy into their “flagship” venture Paradiso! We were very reluctant to do so. We wanted our money back, not more properties. Their sales technique was so powerful we almost went ahead. We were able to cancel the agreement with Barclays Partner Finance before we left Tenerife feeling very depressed and ill with worry. After many anxious phone calls, they sold one other unit at the reduced price of £1,500 in January 2008 In October2008 we again went to Tenerife where the pressure to buy into Paradiso was resumed. Stephen Coster, maybe Barry and another man Bruce together with manager Carl Jenkins, assured us that the way to make a profit on the money spent was to own a Paradiso Apartment. They would buy back our remaining six apartments for £750 each and we could use the ‘princely ‘ sum of £4,500 for a Barclay loan monthly repayment until the apartment would be sold within two years. In October 2009 they tried to sell us another week as nothing was happening with the ONE week saying, “TWO weeks will be easier to sell to rich Americans !” Over the past five years we have made numerous calls. Their duplicitous behavior has left us worried and depressed. We feel quite desperate at the money we owe and are expected to pay in maintenance. I hope our dealings with this company act as a warning to others – do not trust anything they say unless you have it in writing. The “investment” we were sold is just a terrible financial burden which we regret every single day and we hope that in joining the legal proceedings we will at least get out money back and be released from this stress. LK This is a true and honest account of my dealings with Resort Properties. This company has lied and cheated me over a period of 13 years. None of their promises have ever amounted to anything and in posting this message I hope I can warn others. NEVER sign anything on the day – no matter how long they hold you or how convincing their “this is a one-time offer” pitch is. ALWAYS take the contract away and ALWAYS make sure the verbal promises which they make you are in the contract – if they are not the WALK AWAY. 1st of November 1998 I was persuaded to purchase G401 Duplex apartment in Beverly Hills Club by our rep John Borrows and S. Lewis for 5850£ with an investment portfolio of 10 various apartments at a price of 19454£ to be resold at a profit within 12 months. They were eventually sold for 11723.25£ a loss of 7730.75£ 15th of March 2000 I was sold J702 Beverly Hills Heights for 6525£ by John Borrows with a promise to sell for 12000£ to help to recover the above loss of 7730.75£, but unfortunately he was not able to sell it and I was left with it. Once again in March 2002 John Borrows made a very special deal at 16000£ for an Island apartment in the un built Paramount. Because I purchase off plan I was told it was half price. 24th of September 2002 another half price deal on a City apartment for 9385£, as they were now planning to resell in 2 years at not less than 20000£. 8th of March 2003 another good deal on a City apartment for 9385£ for which they paid me 3000£ for my Beverly Hills Club G401 apartment, as it was their policy to keep Club Paradiso clients separate now – Ref Barry Fox, still with the promise to sell after 2 years. Mark Rowe became our rep in October 2006 and after spending 6 hours in the office scribbling various examples on pads of paper exchanging Cities for Islands at a cost of £25253 financed through Barclays Partner finance . I now had 2 Islands (T.O. J. Perry) resales now still in 2 yrs time, and was told “don’t worry what completions say – they don’t know the sales time scales.” 12 of March 2007. Mark Rowe and Kevin Hewitt again spent 10 hours in the office to be “persuaded” to buy another Island with a resale package to pay for the £25000 cost. Mark Rowe now is going to be in his office in charge of selling the new Jamaica Resort in conjunction with the Paramount so he would personally look after selling our Club Paradiso units as soon as Jamaica sales began. The resale package never happened of Club Paradiso resales. 30th of October 2007 Mark Rowe and John Exley about 8 hours in the office again swapping units around, exchanging, promising quick sales now that Isalnds were swapped up for an Ocean apartment + another cost of only 12762£. Now I really did not know what I owned but it would still be resold within 2 years – the magic but illusive 2 years! 12 of March 2008 G. Teirnan and Mark Rowe 6 more hours in the office now sold “resale package” of 25000£, which later turned out to be a rental package on which maintenance would be charged of about 3457£ for a year 2009. Forced to have another Barclays Partner finance loan account 12 of October 2008 a very traumatic visit to the office – still no resales. Stuart O’Dell and another were pressurising us. I found out the above rental package had not happened and demanded it was sold before the year ended to avoid a large maintenance bill. After much heated talking Carl Jenkins (Manager) was called to the table and said that the only way to get rid of the Ocean apartment he would change it for an Island Platinum with the boat. My wife by now was in tears because she was forced into a loan as I had one already. This would cost her 16352£ but the good news was that he would sell all the rental package before the end of the year, we could rent the boat out for 7000£ a week for the next 2 years, so the loan was paid for at the end of 2 years, and he would [personally see that we are No 10 on the resale list. Of course the boat has never been rented out but one of the units was sold and the unsold one was a subject to a solicitors’ letter to me to pay the maintenance fee. When I inquired why it was not sold I was told it was listed in somebody else’s will. After many phone calls and e-mails I was finally reimbursed when Debbie Zamora sold it + the maintenance fee. My wife’s loan with Barclays Partner Finance started on the 28th of October 2008. October the 10th 2011. We have escaped for 3 years, having a phone call from Karen Day on arrival in Paramount as she was now my personal dedicated Silverpoint Rep and only she would look after me. I told her that I was not going to part with any more money, she replied:”I am not going to sell you anything, just explain Silverpoint to you”. Next day up in the office she explained Silverpoint was nothing to do with Resort Properties, it was an entirely new company and concept and Resort Properties had refused to give Silverpoint the client list unless they paid £5000000 (in true Resort Properties style). Karen Day said: “I don´t know anything about you and about what you own”, I said that I owe 2 Islands and 2 Islands Platinum. “Oh my God! You´ve got a boat! Silverpoint don´t want boats as they are just rotting in the water and by the end of next year a repair/maintenance bill of about 12000£ will be sent to any owner, I must get you out of this now. The way out is to swap The Island Platinum for 2 Cities. This is a good mix – 2 Islands and 2 Cities as the maintenance on 2 Cities will be less than an Island Platinum. This will also help with resales, now the only problem with this is all Paramount and Club Paradiso units sold from this time on will have “the registry collection” included” (Some wonderful new rip off I have not yet found how to access or use) “The problem is that when I come to resell your units in 2014 who do you think will want to pay the same price for your units as those with the registry collection, not many or anyone. So to change your Island Platinum to 2 Cities and join all 4 units onto the same playing field to be sold in 2014 with the registry collection. I can do this for 30.000£, we will give you a rental of 3500£ for a Hollywood Mirage Club unit and a credit card with 3500£ from Silverpoint Vacation Club. You can have a Silverpoint Company loan from HMC Ltd for £12785 and the rest from Barclays Partner Finance for 17215£” The monies promised did not come on the dates stated. I phoned “my personal dedicated rep” only to get a Spanish answer phone, then I phoned 3 times to the office asking her to phone me. She did not bother so I e-mailed Jane Burton, the completions officer, requesting my payment, – no answer. I e-mailed a stronger second request to which I finally received a cheque payment 3 weeks later. By now the credit card promised for January 2012 was 6 weeks overdue so I e-mailed Jane Burton again strongly requesting final payment, to which she replied that she would send a cheque as they were having trouble with the card company. The cheque has finally arrived on the 5th of April 2012. Looking back on 13 years dealing with Resort Properties/Silverpoint, after Silverpoint took over a lot of faces behind desks were the same: Barry Fox, Stuart O´Dell and even John Borrows, who had retired some years before from Resort Properties. Wandered through to join a reps negotiations and good old Mark Cushway was still CEO. So not much had changed in a new company.What do I think of Resort Properties/Silverpoint that once they get you in the loop they promise you an investment with good returns, they lie, cheat, do not intend to resell. They force people to get loans to give Silverpoint money with no cost to themselves, they intimidate people by threatening not to sell if you don´t keep doing their scams. They specifically target older people and are ruthless in their tactics. I have never seen a contract or any legal document specific to my dealings. I believe them to be fraudulent in most cases and criminal in many and law breakers. R & M In February 2008 we went to Hollywood Mirage. We were invited to an ‘interview’ with Matthew Harper. In no uncertain terms my daughter and I both stressed that I was not going to purchase a time-share under any circumstances. Once he realised that I was not interested, he said that he might be able to make a special offer. He left us and returned having spoken to someone to get authorisation to make this special offer. It appeared that it involved in my investing some money in return for which I would be given time-share apartments which would be put up for sale and I would receive the cost of the apartments plus 15% interest within 8 months to a year. It was made clear to us that other people had benefited from this arrangement. In fact we were taken to some superior apartments where we were told that one person had been able to afford to purchase an apartment there by buying apartments and trading up, ie buying and selling and receiving interest on his investment each time He asked how much I could afford to invest to which I said I could afford £10,000. As a result I was given documents relating to three time-share apartments – two weeks in Hollywood Mirage and one in Beverley Hills. Matthew Harper said that he would see me in the following February (2009) and, as I had no intention of returning to Tenerife, I was puzzled as to why he assumed that I would return. Matthew Harper then handed me over to a person who rushed me through several documents which I signed. I also paid a deposit of £1000. When I returned home I paid the balance of £9,248 I received £1,500 which I was told represented rental, and through inter flora a plant from Matthew Harper with a card say ‘Best wishes. Matthew Harper’.. In January 2009 I paid maintenance fees totalling £1,110.71. At my initial meeting I was not told that I would have to pay maintenance fees, nor how much their maintenance fees were. I had a phone call asking for details of my return to Tenerife in February 2009. I said that I would not be returning to Tenerife as I had only invested money in order to gain interest of 15%. I was told that the purpose of the visit was to discuss the selling price of the apartments. The sum of £10,000 was suggested and I agreed although it was less than I had paid originally, and it did not take the maintenance fees I had paid into consideration. In December 2009 and January 2010 I paid maintenance fees again and a ‘payment fee’ totalling £1416.73. February 2010 I received an Agreement to List for Resale form. I did not understand why it was necessary as my original agreement with Matthew Harper was that I bought in order to sell. I had no intention of using the apartments. There were several clauses in the Agreement to List for Resale form which was unknown to me before I received it, but I signed it and returned it to Resort Properties. In October 2010 I wrote to Resort Properties asking if they would put them up for sale at a much-reduced price of £2000 each as I did not want to continue to pay maintenance fees for weeks I only bought as an investment. In February 2011 I paid maintenance fees again totalling £1031.16 because the weeks were still not sold. March 2011 I sought legal advice and my case is now progressing against Resort Properties. This company and its representatives lied when they told me I was buying an “investment” and I believe they were fully aware of this when they convinced me to part with my money. Just like everyone else all this has turned out to be is a financial burden and I would warn anyone against dealing with this company. VO This statement is a true record of my dealings with Resort Properties. Like so many others on your blog we have suffered both financially and emotionally at the hands of these people. I hope everyone reading this blog takes warning – do not trust anything this company or its representatives tell you – they are not selling investments – far from it – the whole “investment” sales pitch is just a deliberated and pre orchestrated scam designed to get as much money out of you as possible. As for the “friendly” banter – do not get sucked in – once they have squeezed as much cash out of you as they possibly can you are abandoned. How do these people sleep at night? What if someone did this to their families? July 2008 My wife and I booked into Beverly Hills Club (BHC) through a holiday-share company called “Freedom Vacation” who was based in Los Cristianos. We had bought a membership from this company for a fee of £11,000. (13,200. € approx). We were in possession of a fax and email giving details of this one week break at BHC. On arrival at the airport we approached a BHC / Resort Properties representative who could not find our booking details for transfer to the resort. We had to make our own way to BHC. On arrival at BHC reception around 10.30pm we were informed that we were not booked in and they had no information about us. We were confused as we showed them the papers we had showing booking. We were allocated a room for the night as they would get a member of the sales team to check our booking the following morning. The next morning a Mr Gordon… (Scottish man) visited us and said We We In the year 2005 my wife and I holidayed at the Hollywood Mirage as part of an RCI exchange. During this time we were approached by a representative of Resort Properties and invited to a sales presentation at the resort. During the presentation we were persuaded to purchase certain properties as an investment for the future. During this period we purchased three (3) properties valued at eight thousand five hundred and one pounds (8,501 pounds) In order to complete the sale we were charged 500 pounds deposit payable on the day of purchase. The deposit was paid on my credit card. The transaction took place in the sales office of resort properties and the outstanding the amount of 8.001 pounds was duly paid. In 2007 we revisited Hollywood Mirage and again attended a sales presentation, where we were introduced to the sales person Lena Jorgenson. Lena explained during the presentation that the next step was to invest in the Club Paradiso. Using the already owned weeks. It wasstipulated that this would be a good investment for the future, and would come at the right time to help with my pension plans. Lena explained that the new investment in the Club Paradiso would cost 25,000 pounds. But that this could be recovered after two (2) years with interest. Showing some reluctance at such a large amount Lena called her manager to the table, an American/Canadian chap called Morris/Maurice. The sales manager explained that upon completion of the two new sites in Jamacia and Dubai a resales office would be opened and that units presently held could be sold at a reasonable profit. After her manager had left the table Lena re-iterated what he had said concerning the resales office. It was with this thought in mind that I decided to purchase the product. Later that evening Lena took my wife and I to dinner and again stated that the resales office would open after a period of two (2) years. In fact I recall her exact words and I quote them verbatum “Untill The resales department is open and until we achieve your resale I will not receive any commission for the sale”. This finally persuaded me to continue with the purchase. Later in the week, prior to our leaving the resort week had an appointment with the completions manager in his office. During the meeting I asked him the question concerning the resales department. He again confirmed that the department would be set up within the period stipulated (2 Years). We left the meeting satisfied. However the reality of it all is has now caught up with us. Nothing which they promised verbally has happened, there has been no “investment”, no “returns” and no “guaranteed sales” Our reality is that the bank loan and the maintenance payments have left us financially drained and struggling to make payments on time. In fact I have had to pay this year fees in three instalments. Both my wife and I feel betrayed by these people who we trusted at the time. We are angry that they could do this to hard working people. My health has also suffered due to the stress incurred, I now have to take medication for high blood pressure and stomach problems, none of which I had before all this occurred. The illness has caused me to take time off work causing further financial constraints. Despite repeated phone calls to Resort Properties over the last 3 to 4 years and despite writing to them I have not received any form of satisfactory answers from their resale department. They have recently written to me to say that a resales department “may open in 2015” but that there are no guarantees! James The following is a summary of our involvement with Resort Properties. In November 2006 we had a holiday in Tenerife at The Beverly Hill Heights in Los Cristianos. During our stay we attended a presentation on Holiday ownership conducted by Paul Salih of Resort Properties. We arrived at 10 o’clock in the morning. Paul was pleasant and asked us about our family and holiday likes and aspirations. Mr Salih spent a long time describing the product and its benefits. The presentation went on and he wasn’t making much headway with us as we didn’t want to buy anything and we explained that we had bought a time share week at the Island Residence Club, Golden Sands, Malta. He then proceeded to tell us that if we were lucky he might be able to do a special deal as the Island Residence Club in Malta was a sister company. This meant he may be able to offer us a chance of a membership in their elite club – ‘Club Paradiso’. He explained the concept and the resorts available and those which were in progress. However, it was getting late in the year and he didn’t know if there would still be any availability to do this “Special deal”. He then went off and spoke to somebody else in an office somewhere within the building. We began to get a little agitated and he was gone for quite some while. When he eventually came back to us he told us that he had been able to pull a few strings due to our association with their sister company. The way it would work would be beneficial to all of us: the company, him and us. The cost would be £25,000 which apparently was a very good price, but it was NOT ours to keep although during the intervening period we would have the use of the Club Paradiso membership as though it was ours. However, in 2 ½ to 3yrs when the market had grown (he didn’t know when exactly), he would contact us and invite us out for a week’s holiday and we would sell it back to them for a minimum of what we had paid or, more likely, a profit for us of up to £10,000. Mr Salih was quite insistent and very firmly said Dealings with Resort Properties during the period 2008 – 2012 In 2008 following a telephone ‘cold call’ we agreed to make a visit to Tenerife with free accommodation in one of Resort Properties Hotels in Tenerife on the understanding that we would attend a properties presentation whilst staying in the hotel. The visit was arranged for August 2008 and on arrival a time was agreed for my wife and I to meet with one of their sales representatives, Mr Jamie Chanon. At the first meeting the presentation started with the properties owned by the company both in Tenerife and other locations identified with the opportunities of owning time share and ‘Club Paradiso’. As we had owned timeshare in Scotland since the 1980’s we told Jamie that we were aware of the potential advantages and exchange opportunities with companies like RCI which we had used for a number of years but did not consider timeshare as an opportunity to increase in unit value for future resale so our decision would need to be made in the light of what a purchase in Tenerife had to offer in terms of us using this for family holidays in Tenerife as using exchange companies was increasingly expensive once the yearly maintenance charges and repayment costs of any loan were taken into account. At this stage Jamie changed tack and told us of a purchase scheme which allowed us to purchase a number of properties and showed us examples of clients who had bought six properties with the intention of selling them back to Resort Properties at a later date of typically one year. This buy back scheme worked on a principle of buying a number of properties which were split between studio, one bed and two bed units at a cost of £25,000. Financing was available over a 10 year period through Barclays and all we needed to do to start the purchase process was to leave a deposit of £1000 but this would be returned once the £25,000 had been paid through Barclay or any other finance deal arranged by ourselves or any other funding source we adopted. The properties had to be held for a minimum of 6 months following the purchase date at which time we would contact Resort Properties and they would market the properties on our behalf and that all clients who had done this to-date had all sold the properties purchased via the scheme and had all made a reasonable profit (£4,000 was quoted) on the purchases. It was also stated that there would be no maintenance payment invoiced during the first year of ownership. This first meeting took approximately 4 hours. Having requested time to consider what was being offered and the implications of such an undertaking. Another meeting was arranged for later that week. At the second meeting I had a number of questions for Jamie (his responses are in blue) which included: On the basis of the information given and having thought over this option we decided to go ahead with the intention of reselling these back after the 6 month time specified Return Visit 2009 We met again with Jamie to discuss the non-sale of any of the properties within the portfolio by Resort Properties. We were informed at this meeting that the units had gone on sale but that the market was ‘flat’ and as such we would probably not be able to sell all of the 6 units if any within the immediate future. Having asked what would happen in such changes in the market at the first meeting in one of my questions above ( 8 ) and given a commitment by the company, it was suggested that I could either sell these privately, allow friends and family to use these on a payment basis for a week or two weeks or at least charge them the cost of maintenance until such time as the market improved. At no stage during this discussion was it offered that Resort Properties would attempt to rent these out on my behalf in an effort to reduce the financial implication of not selling these properties as they had said would happen. An option of looking at transferring to a Club Paradiso property was mentioned with the difference in price paid by us. At this stage and following a heated discussion where I told Jamie I was extremely unhappy that they had not lived up to their commitment but that I was now expected to pay more money which would leave us with 1 week of the lowest exchange type of Club Paradiso Holiday in exchange for our £25,000 investment and would add another £18,000 for us to finance and to us this seemed like an opportunity for Resort Properties to get the six units back and an additional payment. Jamie informed me that he took offence at my statement and on that note we left the meeting. A second meeting was then arranged by the company. The offer of changing to Paradiso was again offered and this time the offer was that each of the current units in the portfolio would be purchased from us for £690 per unit and that the free unit that we were given as part of the original purchase would be returned to them. This would free us from our commitment for the 7 current units we were, however still responsible for the maintenance of these units should they not be sold prior to the next maintenance period. At no stage were we told how they would dispose of these 7 weeks but must assume that they marketed them at the current market rate and not at the rate that the bought them back from us. With the offer to purchase paradise we would not need to pay maintenance for the first year. We were also informed that the Paradiso weeks were still being sold and that these were being sold to clients from Russians who wanted an entry route into Europe. If we wished Resort Properties would resell the unit on our behalf after a year. Having discussed this with my wife we agreed to do this with the need to borrow an additional £18,000+ to get us through the next 12 months with a fixed loan period which would not change in a market that fluctuates on a daily basis. We took out a loan for the additional monies involved but this produced a problem after the first 6 month non-payment period ended with Barclays maintained they were not informed by Resort Properties, who arranged the loan on our behalf, that we wished to pay over 10 years. They therefor wanted a payment of approximately £900 per month until such time as the £18,000 plus interest was paid. At this stage as paying £900 plus the £360 from the initial loan was not a viable option we decided to cash in some of the shares that I had purchased with my retirement pension to pay off this second loan in total but retain the first loan. Since our last visit nothing they promised us with regards the “investment” we were sold has materialised. Having committed some £43,000 all I am now left with is a loan on which I still owe £20,000. We have seen nothing of the returns they promised us. These people coerced me into believing that what I was purchasing was an investment – right from the outset they knew I didn’t want to own more timeshare weeks – I made it very clear I had no use for them. I feel very bitter that I allowed myself to get trapped by these people and I hope that my letter acts as a warning to others. Having received an invitation to take a promotional holiday at The Hollywood Mirage Resort in February 2008 we attended what turned out to be a day-long sales presentation. The lady we met was introduced as ‘Sue’. As was always the case at subsequent meetings, the presentation started off with what became a lengthy description of personal background information with family photographs etc. As the day progressed, we were bombarded with information and optimistic forecasts of returns on our potential investments. We were led to believe that figures in the region of 20% profit on our investment were achievable on resale. We were also taken on a tour of various types and sizes of apartments on the complex. Having agreed to sign on for a range of 7 apartments, we were also provided with a celebratory meal after which we met with Sue and her husband Frank who later took us back to the complex in their car. We understand that Sue, further to being injured in a fall, subsequently left the company and returned to the UK. Our next visit to The Hollywood Mirage was in April 2009 when we met their Representative, Matthew Lowe. At this presentation, which also lasted well into late afternoon, we were told that it had not been possible to release the properties for resale? We were told that Resort Properties would, however, be prepared to buy back our weeks if we agreed to invest in their ‘exclusive’ Paradiso product. The Paradiso scheme apparently offered extremely high quality holiday accommodation, and again offered the benefit of excellent levels of returns on the investment within a period of up to 2 years. We were taken to see the apartments at their nearby Paramount complex. Further to that visit and what was a very persuasive and convincing sales pitch, we agreed to make a purchase as described. In October 2010, we again visited the offices of Resort Properties where we met a female Representative called Jo. We were again invited to look through numerous and varied family photograph albums, and to admire a selection of trophies she had won for being the most successful sales person etc. Jo also told us that she was engaged to be married to one of their Managers, whose name was, we believe, David. We eventually arrived at the point of the meeting when we were to discuss our Paradiso membership. We were again advised that Paradiso memberships had not yet been released for resale! We were however assured by her Manager, David, that due to our circumstances, our membership would be given a ‘high priority’ when re-selling started. During a further visit to Tenerife in July 2011, we arranged a face-to-face meeting with Mr Alan Goode ( the person we had been calling and emailing since our last visit) to yet again discuss our Paradiso membership. Mr Goode’s colleague, a Mrs Shirley Spinks, also attended this meeting. Jointly, they confirmed that resale of this product had yet to begin. However, they did offer us an ‘AGREEMENT TO LIST FOR RESALE’ for the sum of £15,000.00. They stated that this would still not guarantee if (or when) they would be in a position to re-sell our membership. Because the Barclays Partner Finance loan for our Paradiso investment, (not taking into account the loan interest), was for the sum of £22964.00., this latest ‘offer’ represented a further loss of £7964.00. This despite the fact we had previously been assured we could expect a healthy return on our investment We therefore decided to decline. So, here we are. Like everyone else we were coerced into buying what we thought was an investment – but the reality is that its just one big scam. Our experiences with Resort Properties has not only left us with a huge financial burden it has also caused us a great deal of stress, worry and concern. My husband’s health has been so badly affected by all this that he has had to seek medical attention We wouldn’t want anyone to suffer like we have and I hope our dealings with this company act as a warning to others. DO NOT BELIEVE ANYTHING THIS COMPANY TELLS YOU. We were first contacted via telephone to inform us that we had won a week’s holiday in the Beverly Hills Club. This was a free week, all we had to do was pay for our flights. During this weeks holiday we were asked to attend a presentation that lasted the whole day. This was carried out by a lady called Angela, who used a great deal of emotional pressure towards both my wife and myself, by making my wife feel as though she would be failing her husband who had worked hard all his life, by denying him the pleasure of regular holidays. At the same time I should be doing all I could to provide my wife with the luxury of having regular holidays to look forward too, and wouldn’t I feel as though I was a financial failure if I couldn’t provide this “Investment Portfolio” costing £31,000 for her. We were told that we were in a privileged position by being offered property, because these were in great demand and that these properties were increasing in value, so we would make money out of them as an investment long term. We felt that we were prevented from leaving the building until a deal had been made. We purchased a property in Hollywood Mirage, we were never told about the “Cancelation rights”, and we paid £6,630 deposit on the day. We were told that if we no longer needed to use the weeks allocated, that our family could use them, alternatively we could inform Resort Properties that we did not wish to use these weeks and that they would let the properties out on our behalf. I was led to believe that this money would be forwarded on to us. Most of the verbal guarantees given were not written on our paperwork. When I asked why these guarantees were not written down, I was informed it was for “Members protection” because if all the benefits were known outside of the membership the value of the properties would be affected and the profits would disappear. We were told that “non-members” could rent our free weeks, but they would not have the same benefits as the members. The implication was that “non-members” would pay inflated prices for the use of our apartments, and this was how members would make profits. There was never any discussion of a contract being in existence for letting our properties. We were also given an expected resale value of our properties. There was never any representative from any bank or financial institution when our purchase was made, and we were not asked to provide any information to aid our finance application, such as income or any other outstanding loans ect. We were just granted the loan straight away. Any sales that were made on our behalf were a direct result of a subsequent purchase or as referred to by Resort Properties as an “upgrade” (adding to our Portfolio), so we were never able to dispose of any of the properties. During a resale we were not given details of any prospective buyer, nor any amounts of money offered. The only information we received from Resort Properties was an amount that they had secured on our behalf, this was always much less than the purchase price. We were persuaded in to another investment so we could recover some of our money back. This costs us £26,000 and put on Barclays Partner Finance We are a retired couple on a pension, and we are now plagued by the worry of an outstanding debt of £308 per month in the form of a loan taken out with Barclays financial Services. This was a 10 year loan, now with six years left to run. Additionally… an annual maintenance charge on our properties of £2,000 per annum, due every December made up of payments in € and pounds. Both myself and my wife have suffered from stress and anxiety ever since our encounter with Resort Properties. They have undermined our ability to manage our finances because of the stories and lies that they have fed us. We are now questioning each other’s ability to manage our own finances. Prior to this, we were a financial capable and debt free couple. In November 2011 Silverpoint notified us that they were now the owner of the company and that they would be dealing with everything. We have never had anything from Resort Properties to tell us that they were being taken over by Silverpoint. We have spent over £57,000 with Resort Properties and that money was to return us a profit. If we had known this was to be our destiny… ie being in debt and paying such a large sum of annual monies, we would NEVER have purchased these so called “investment portfolios”. Thanks to Resort Properties… they have made our lives miserable, with worry, debt and stress. We first encountered Resort Properties in October 2006 and were invited to a meeting with a timeshare representative. We were persuaded to purchase timeshare weeks in Beverley Hills Club and Hollywood Mirage Club as we were assured this would make a good investment for us. The total purchase price was £13630. These properties’ weeks were sold in 2007 for £2750. Therefore a big loss was incurred of £11460. On a later holiday at Hollywood Mirage in March 2007 we were told if we sold our Beverley Hills (Hollywood Mirage weeks we could buy an excellent investment in Club Paradiso for £24868). But this was not the case although we managed to pay the maintenance fees. We made a further purchase in November 208 for £24950 because we were told this would be another great investment. These properties would sell easily, salesman Mr. Paul Fowler said, and the recession would not affect timeshare purchases. We had debts of around £25000 which we are still paying for the finance plus the continual worry of the debt and the maintenance fees. In November 2011 were made what seemed to be a good offer to purchase an apartment in Beverley Hills which the company could rent out. We had never previously been told that our timeshare weeks could be rented out! If we did this the investment of £11800 would be returned in 2015. The salesman who conducted this meeting was Mr Stuart O’Dell, who told us that only the capital would be repaid and that was the only way they would list for sale our Paradiso weeks. We made this purchase in good faith and believed the salesmen when they said they were good investments. We now know these promises were total lies and there is no way that Resort Properties will refund any monies. Verbal guarantees were given by salesmen and when we asked why these guarantees were not included in the contracts, we were told: “Don’t worry, this is normal and OK practice”. We felt certain amount of pressure was put on us to purchase weeks and were told there is good for client to purchase this product for investment. Regarding the purchase of 2 weeks in Paramount/Paradiso we were told the company could sell this in the range between £27000-£72000 for 1 and 2 weeks accordingly. In 2011 we were informed that Silverpoint had taken over the running of timeshare Resort Properties. Resort Properties did not even extend the courtesy of writing to us to mention the takeover. At no time during of any of these meetings was a financial representative present. Obviously our finances are now much poorer thanks to Resort Properties. When I first encountered resort sales we were aged 62 and 60 and now we are 68 and 66 and still have the worry of paying off these debts, to us the maintenance fees and the likelihood that they will raise each year. Several times we purchased products after being told that if we sold we could then dispose of unwanted products.In all we have spent around £73000 in dealings with Resort Properties, mainly because of their downright lies. PR I have been conned and blackmailed into buying timeshares and holiday club membership by Resort Properties, now known as Silverpoint. The problems started in 2007 when I was enticed, by Resort Properties, into buying timeshares for the purpose of making profit. Profit from rental of some of those timeshares and profit from the quick re-sales of the remaining timeshares. Those profits did not materialise and I soon realised that I was making big financial losses and stood to make even further, unending, financial losses. Resort Properties used the realisation of my financial predicament to blackmail me into buying membership of the Paradiso holiday club, by exchanging some of the timeshares, at a huge loss, and paying yet another large membership fee to release me from some of my timeshare ownerships. Having fallen victim to their deceptions I am now unable to free myself from either the remaining timeshares or the club membership and face years of annual service I. maintenance costs which I neither want nor can afford. My story: In 2007, I was contacted by Resort Properties and was offered a promotional holiday in Tenerife. I took up the offer and went on holiday, with two of my children. In accepting the holiday I understood that I was obliged and agreed to sit through a presentation by Resort Properties. I knew that the presentation would be about buying a timeshare or something akin to it. However, I was neither interested in timeshares nor wanted to afford the cost of such. Therefore, on the day I had to attend the presentation I was resolved not to buy a timeshare or join any holiday club. However, I met with Debbie Parkinson, the Resort Properties Sales Representative, and she was very pleasant and talked through the timeshare arrangements. I think she soon realised that I was not interested in joining. It is my recollection that she was suggesting that the cost of timeshare ownership varied but for the sort of timeshare that she thought I might be interested in, the purchase cost, was about £25,000. After some lunch I was introduced to other representatives of Resort Properties who suggested that instead of buying a timeshare there were other arrangements that I might be interested in. They suggested that I should go into business with Resort Properties with a view to making substantial profits in short time; a short time being within the next year. The suggestion was that they would sell me a package of properties at a very low price and they would rent them out to other customers. The rental fee would then be shared between me and Resort Properties. They showed me various documents that supported their argument that I would make significant profits, enough money to cover the initial outlay, in buying the package, and thereafter I could expect to continue to make substantial profits. This seemed an interesting proposal. The Sales Office Manager, Mr. Gerald Tiernan, then took a keen interest in me and finally persuaded me to invest with Resort Properties. I was impressed by his claims to have made lots of money for lots of clients and he showed me portfolio’s to support his claims and said a Unfortunately in October 2008 – I attended a presentation at Resort Properties The presentation started at approximately 10am and finished at 17.00hrs. During the presentation it was stated that at worst I would get all my money back in two years, in actual fact the proceeds of the sale of my timeshare holdings would make a profit and that I was purchasing at a much lower price than the real retail/resale price through Resort Properties, therefore over two years the minimum I would make would be £3,000 – this is the value that the rep (Mr Mel Parker) told me that renting my weeks out for the first year would make. Mr Mel Parker also told me that if I decided to keep them and rent them every year I was guaranteed to rent them out and make a profit over the maintenance fee. I was told that the resale company of Resort Properties was set up because people’s lives change and for one reason or another owners wanted to come out of their timeshare agreement and that desire to be a member of either Hollywood Mirage or Beverly Hills Club was such that Resort Properties was a £60,000,000 a year business and I would have no problem reselling the timeshare holding that I was about to purchase. I was also told that Resort Properties had a number of prospective clients for my timeshare holding, willing to rent the weeks on a try before you buy basis. Every year since this purchase (2008) Resort Properties have sent me a letter asking me to place any of my un-used timeshare weeks in the “Participation Program” in order to promote the resorts to prospective clients. During the presentation the representatives would not take no for an answer, turning my fears of investing a large amount of money round and stating that any fears would not happen. At one point I felt I would never get get away from the presentation unless I agreed to buy, there was also the fact that on arrival at the Hollywood Mirage my family and I were only checked in for 6 nights, not the 7 previously stated at the time of booking, and as this was my first time in Tenerife I was unsure of what would happen if we were turned out of the hotel. I pointed this out to the representative at the start of the presentation only to be told that this could be sorted out later. After stating that I did not have the funds to finance this “Buy to let Program” the representative stated that this was not a problem as they (Resort Properties) could set up the finance agreement for me, and all that I needed was a valid credit card. At this point I did not meet with any representative of the Bank/finance company nor at any point in the future did I meet anyone representing this finance, the only other question that was asked was: “do you own your home or is it rented”! After one year of ownership of my timeshare holdings, I was told that the trading conditions in Resale of timeshare had turned very difficult and it was highly unlikely that Resort Properties could sell my timeshare, but sales in timeshare at the Club Paradiso were selling very well and they traded the 5 that I owned at the Beverly Hills Club and Hollywood Mirage for one unit at the Paradiso for an additional fee of £13,000. After stating that I could not afford this and that I just wanted to sell the 5 that I already had, they told me that I would have to drop the resale price from £20,000 to 15,000, when I asked if I could speak to Mr Mel Parker I was told that he had left the company. Nothing this company has promised me has materialized. I haven’t received one single penny from what they assured me was a “sound Investment” Out of desperation I have dropped the resale price several times and still nothing has happened. All I have been left with are weeks I don’t want and the burden of maintenance fees I can’t afford. How can these people be allowed to keep doing this to so many people? And how many more people do they need to rip off?? PB My wife and I visited Beverley Hills Club on a RCI exchange. This was early 2001, whilst there we were pestered to attend a meeting with a man, his first name was Peri. Having introduced himself, he proceeded to explain the virtues of owning apartments for the purpose of investment, showing us other clients portfolios, who were supposedly making huge profits. Having recently been made redundant I had money which I was looking to invest, after about 5 hours, in which time we were fed and offered drinks, we entered into an agreement to buy 4 units of various sizes and we were assured that these were popular and could be sold quickly at a profit. The following year we didn’t visit Tenerife and didn’t receive any feed back in that time, until 2002/2003 when we used 1 of our apartments at Hollywood Mirage Club, we made enquiries about our investment, and we were told they were still waiting to be sold?. Later that year we were contacted by telephone at home by a Mr John Burrows, who said Peri had left the company and that he was taking over our investment, in 2004 we again visited Resort Properties and saw John Burrows. In 2004 we were persuaded to make another purchase of around £10,000 believing that this would be the only way we could recover anything from our previous investment. Time went on. In 2005 we parted with a further £16,000 this was for a Paradiso City Unit – Mr John Burrows persuaded us to trade some of our apartments in for a new luxury one in the Paradiso, which we did and were told that the Americans love, at no point were the value of our trade-in apartments mentioned, only the final payment that we would have to find. Again, we believed that this was the only option available to us. We felt that if we didn’t take their “offer” we would lose everything. During 2006 and 2007 we parted with another £23,000, believing from Mark Rowe that the “upgrades” we were buying would sell much quicker. OF COURSE NOTHING SOLD. In 2011 Joanne Taylor saw us and explained (threatened) that if we didn’t change to Silverpoint that our children would inherit our debts ie. Maintenance fees until the year 2050! She said this would be done but not until a further £13,900 was paid and the maintenance on the previous purchases of 860.00€ was also paid. This was very upsetting for me and my wife… but we didn’t want our lovely children burdened with what we had bought. This amount of money was done by equity release! Now we are both retired and living on our pensions, this has been very strenuous for both of us and now we have a debt on our lovely home which we did not have prior to this ordeal. P J We wish to inform you about our dealings with Resort Properties which we feel have been grossly missold/misrepresented to us. Through these misrepresentations and promises to resell we have been sold seven units and currently own five. It was never our intention to own more than one property. We bought our first timeshare in January 2001 which after a couple of years we converted (through Crown Resorts) into RCI points. It turned out that these points included some pure points on which maintenance had to be paid to RCI. On visiting Resort Properties in March 2007 we end up in the sales office and expressed our displeasure at having to pay maintenance on the pure points. They suggest the solution is to sell us two more units and they would get rid of our points on our original unit and give us points (without any pure points) on one of the new units. This was to be the unit to be retained by us and the other two were to be sold. No sales are made and we are now paying maintenance on three units. Come March 2008 and we are visiting Resort Properties again (no lessons learnt yet). We complain that nothing is sold and the recession is blamed. However the answer is to buy three more units at low prices plus Paradiso (City Level). The impression we got was that the units would sell easier at the low levels given. And Paradiso which we would never have normally considered to buy because it was well out of our league was taken up because the salesman repeatedly said “trust me, trust me – I will sell it for you by 2010 if not before”. Looking back it was noticeable that our rough notes giving the low prices for the units were taken from us and that these prices never appeared on the official paperwork. At this stage we now have seven units. Our maintenance bill to date is over £11000 which with the purchase of the units has almost wiped out what little savings we had. I repeat – It was never our intention to own more than one property. We bought more units as an “investment” on the promises that they would be all sold AT A PROFIT before 2010 Like everyone else this “investment” has just left us with the heavy burden of the maintenance fees on the 7 units we have. To anyone reading this BB In April 2008 we went on a promotional weeks holiday to Beverley Hills Resort. Shortly after we arrived we were contacted by Guy Japhet (I think the spelling is correct) of Resort Properties with an appointment time. The interview commenced early in the morning and continued until after 5PM at night. We were absolutely adamant that we were not interested in having a timeshare week and after some hours of persistent and persuasive arguments we believe he finally realised we were not to be persuaded. He then said certain investment opportunities were available to some people and at this point his manager was brought in who said we could take part in this scheme. The investment was in 7 weeks in the Hollywood Mirage and Beverley Hills Resorts in Los Cristianos, at a cost of £25,000. Guy Japhet then told us that he had several clients who came back each year to buy and sell weeks and that the following year he would sell 6 of our weeks at a profit. So that would cover the cost of the 7th week which we would keep or better still upgrade to Club Paradiso. By this time we were so confident of the sincerity of Guy Japhet and trusted his ability to sell the weeks the following year that we agreed to purchase, to sweeten the pill we were told that we would only be able to use our week the following year 2009 because Resort Properties would use the other 6 to rent out at 750£ per week making of total of £3750 which would cover the first year loan repayments. They also told us that the maintenance payments were paid for 2009. The loan was then secured very quickly with the Barclays Partner Finance over the phone which involved the questions about our finances. At no time was a bank representative present. During the rest of the holiday we were invited to lunch with Guy’s family. When the cooling off period had expired we were sent a potted plant as “a thank you”. He also told us that he would not receive his commission until 6 weeks would be sold. The following year 2009 we had a phone call from Guy Japhet to find out what was happening and if we were going to Tenerife. We went in August that year and once again we were given an appointment to see Guy. The appointment again lasted most of the day. Due to the economic conditions we understood that the value of our weeks had dropped to a very low price at about £500 per week and below. It was also impressed on us that the best cause of action was to buy Club Paradiso for a further 10 or 20 thousand pounds. Because upmarket timeshares held their value and were easier or sell, after discussing with his manager, Guy informed us that unfortunately there were no £10,000 weeks for sale and it would be a £20,000 week. At this stage Barclays was not prepared to increase a loan for a further £20,000, nevertheless they made us understand that if we were not to buy this week were going to lose a lot of money. We signed the contract but after a further consideration we decided against it and cancelled within the time limit. This prompted several phone calls from Resort Properties trying to persuade us to change our mind but we did not do it. We also received offers for some of our timeshare weeks the week after we came home from our holiday but because of the low amounts we wrote to say that we were not interested in selling until the sales price rose. With hindsight if we had known then what we know we would have accepted the sales offer. The first maintenance fees were paid in January 2010 and that when we realised how high they were. Since January 2010 we have tried several ways to try and sell or get rid of our 7 weeks, we even wrote to Resort Properties/Silverpoints trying to give up our weeks for nothing but to no avail. Our current financial position is very precarious having paid off the loan in full. We no longer have the savings behind us and the annual maintenance fees are very draining. We have had many sleepless nights worrying about our timeshare weeks and the money we have lost. Our ages in April 2008 were 66 and 65 and our current ages are 70 and 69 respectively and we never believed at this age we would have been persuaded to part with our savings only to be left with the worry and financial burden of the maintenance fees on weeks we never even wanted. Also below is the note which were slipped under the door of our apartment in August 2009 the night after our session in the Sales Suite. WG My wife and I were approached on the street and told of a nice complex which dealt with holidays and they took us to Hollywood Mirage. This was in February 2004. We were met by Angela Brooke. We told her we were not interested if it was timeshare. She replied: “If you wish to invest, 15% can be earned in a year.” She offered to introduce us to a client who had agreed to invest and he had made 15%. The whole meeting took over 4hrs and in the end we agreed to invest a total of £15,000. It was a verbal agreement and we trusted her. But there was no written word. She asked for a deposit of £2,000 put on a credit card and we had to pay the rest when back home using bankers draft. We cannot remember her saying that there was a cooling off period which we would have done had the contract been seen before arriving home. It showed 6 timeshare apartments. This had not been mentioned at all. We were not told of any rental agreement or that we could use the weeks ourselves. When I rang Angela Brooke she said we shall be selling them over the next few months after which there will be a profit of 15%. After 3 months one was sold and we received just under £2,000 as they took 25% from the amount. Months later there were no sales and when we complained to Angela Brook she said “Recession” but asked us to come back giving us a free week to discuss the situation and then said “Sorry, we have let you down but she could remedy this” – upgrade to Paramount – money back put against a City which would be 5,000£ more. She also pointed out that we would be responsible for the maintenance for each of the 5 remaining items. This worried us as she said that the maintenance would go up each year. She said a City (basic) would sell as it was a Paramount, so we proceeded under pressure. There was a great pressure and we felt threatened. We were told we would be silly to lose money when we could get it back when the City was sold. When we returned in 2005 later to stay in the Paramount we asked her for resales but she stalled saying it might be in 2007 when Jamaica is up and running. But there was always an excuse. And in 2007 it became 2009, then 2011 and now 2015. In 2009 we asked for resales and she said that the City would not sell (despite saying that it would when we bought it). She said that the Island would be better as there were 2 weeks etc and Jamaica, Dubai (when ready) were for 2 weeks. We were offered a package of a loan of £15,000 through Barclays Partner Finance and we would get 10,000£ cheque so we agreed. Barry Fox said our Island was increasing all the time and the latest value was £62,000 Eventually we settled this hoping to avoid early settlement charges but we had some. Barry Fox was involved and he approved the deal. We realised it was his proposal not Angela Brooke’s. Angela Brooke left to be married and was pregnant so we were passed over to two other male reps but we cannot remember their names. The maintenance has gone up and up and in 2012 it was £598 but next year it will be more. Our next maintenance is due in January, the 1st 2013. We found out that the Resort Properties was now Silverpoint when we tried to book a week in the Paramount. Eventually our phone call prompted a letter. We were unable to book the Paramount because it was full. Barclays Partner Finance loan form was not filled in by us and I was over 72 years of age when we were accepted by Barclays Partner Finance. No Barclays Partner Finance representative was present when we signed. We are both pensioners and our life saving have been eroded, and we have been lied to by Resort Properties as a so called Investment. We would never have done anything like this over a long term period. The promised resales have never materialised and we wish we had never stayed in Resort Properties in the first place. Maintenance costs have gone up more than what they said which was in line with Spanish inflation. We are certainly worse off both financially and health-wise. My wife particularly worries about the fee we need to pay from 2013 onwards. We were persuaded that we needed to upgrade each time to make resale easy. We still have not got a date because I do not believe 2015 is true. We have spent in excess of £25,000 and haven’t received one single penny from our “investment” KS In the August 2008, having recently been made redundant, I received a telephone call from a marketing company inviting me to holiday in Tenerife at a discounted cost for one week and the only stipulation they requested was that I attend a meeting with a rep at Resort Properties. I accepted this condition of a cheap holiday and my partner and I flew out for one week in February 2009 staying at Beverly Heights resort. On the 4th February a Resort Properties rep by the name of Matt Harper escorted us to their sales office and begun telling us about timeshares that we could purchase. I explained that my partner was on long time sick and that that she was claiming incapacity benefit and that having been made redundant last year, I was working for a temporary agency working as a driver on a minimum wage and that some weeks I would not be working due to lack of work. I explained that we did not take regular holiday due to other personal commitments which we had to fulfil. Matt accepted that we would not be at all interested in purchasing a timeshare and started to discuss to us a “client” he had that would regularly come over to see him and purchase 20/30 properties at a vastly reduced price at between £ 200.00/£ 300.00 each and showed us his account and how much money he was managing for him. Again, we were not interested as we knew that the monthly income we were getting, and no savings in our bank account, we would never be able to raise thousands of pounds needed to finance this particular arrangement. At this point, Matt knew that we could not afford this and that we were not interested in joining him. A few moments later Matt brought over his manager and explained to her in front of us our circumstances, he iterated that we do not take holidays, that we have personal commitments which do not allow us to travel, that we did not have the finance in which to purchase any timeshares in that my partner was claiming incapacity benefit and I was working temporary, some weeks working, some weeks not. She explained to Matt that there was an option that he had not mentioned to me and that was that they could arrange through Barclay´s Bank a loan of £ 25000.00 whereby they would issue me six apartments. They explained the process of this deal both Matt and his manager explained that Resort Properties were not allowed to keep “distressed stock” and that as a way around the legal process they would allocate me six timeshare units on the understanding that they would buy these properties back from me within 12 months ( 18 months at the latest ). They would give me £ 3750.00 to cover the repayments and that they would, once accepted, transfer the debt to a company that would charge a lesser interest so that the £ 3750.00 would cover the repayments. They told me that they would sell all six properties with possibly a small amount of profit at the end of twelve months as a thank you and that I could then repeat the process for further year with them, again stressing to me that I would never have to worry about maintenance fees as they would sell the properties before maintenance was due. I was still sceptical about this process as I knew that my credit rating was not good as I was on a very low wage and that there was very little equity available in my property. Matt´s manager insisted on putting an application for credit to Barclay´s just to see if they would accept me as she said I We were first introduced to Resort Properties in 2002 when after visiting their offices at the Beverly Hill Heights and after being pressurised for some 6 hours we purchased one week in one bed deluxe apartment at the Hollywood Mirage Resort. The total cost was £8295.00 we had to pay a deposit of £2095.00 and we finally got away at 5.00pm that day. We were invited back to their office several days later and persuaded to invest by purchasing two studios at the Beverley Hills Club Resort. This would then give us a return on our investment within two years of 20% which would help offset the cost of our timeshare at the Hollywood Mirage. The purchase price for this investment was £4594.00 and again we were had to pay a deposite on the day of £1148.00. These studios was eventually sold for £1250.00 each less Resort Properties commission of 25% thus giving us a loss of £2719.00 plus we had to pay £432.00 in maintenance fees. On our next visit to our timeshare apartment and after many hours again in their offices we were persuaded to a second week at the Hollywood Mirage so that we could enjoy a two week holiday instead of just one week. Again we had to pay £5045.00 and a deposite on the day of £1040.00. When we revisited the Hollywood Mirage for our annual holiday in 2004 we again found ourselves inside the Resort Properties office and this time after many hours of browbeating they persuaded us to purchase two weeks in the same apartment since we had to move apartments at the end of our first week . In order to achieve this we firstly had to purchase their two weeks and then Resort Properties would then sell our existing timeshare and take 25% for this services so in order to get away from these pressure sales people we agreed and paid a total of £9631.00 for the new arrangement and again we had to pay a deposite on the day of £1000.00. When our old timeshare weeks were sold we received just £1950.00 for something we had paid £13,340.00 for some 2 years ago. We then returned to Tenerife in March 2005 which was a free promotional week at the Beverley Hills Club but again we found ourselves in the Resort Properties office for just an “update” on changes. This time and again under immense duress we were persuaded to invest this time in a more saleable 2 weeks in a one bed apartment at the BHC Resort (Beverley Hills Club).They again told us that we would make at least a 25% profit on the deal all within 18 months guaranteed. We again whilst trying to get some of our money back off Resort Properties and to get out of this pressure cooker environment made the purchase at a cost of £5700.00 with again having to pay a deposite on the day of £1700.00. And there’s more:- We returned to Tenerife for our annual two week holiday at the Hollywood Mirage in September 2005 and again found ourselves in the dreadful place the Resort Properties Office. This time the sales pitch involved the “Club Paradiso”. Again all we wanted was to get some of our moneys back from Resort Properties and the way forward in order to achieve this was to join the brand new 5 Star Club Paradiso scheme. The 5 star system would guarantee we would get all our money back since the projected value of a “City” membership would be in the region of £35,000.00 due to the immense interest with the USA market and the resale office should be open well within the next 12 months. So bearing in mind we were at the time having to pay 4 weeks maintenance fees for our existing timeshare we decided to take a chance once again and believe what we were told and joined Club Paradiso at an entry level of a one bed City for one week. The price was £12,950.00 and again we had to pay a deposite on the day of £500.00. We were also told that our existing time share ownership would go towards this purchase price so this was why we only got £950.00 per week from this resale. The years past but alas the Resort Properties Club Paradiso resale Dept. never opened. Then in 2009 again we found ourselves in the Resort Properties office once again trying to find out what is happening to all their promises and we were assured that the resale’s would commence well within the next 6 to 9 months but when it does we would find ourselves at the bottom of the Club Paradiso sales. We only owned a one bed apartment catering for only two people but the best resale apartment was the two bed “Island” apartment since this caters for 4 people. Therefore if we wanted our investment return sooner we need to upgrade to an Island. The resale value of an Island would be in the region of £45,000.00. The cost of the upgrade would be £12,950.00 but seeing that this would be sold well within the next 12 months for £45,000.00+ the debt would be cleared by this time next year. We explained to the sales rep. that we had already invested all of our retirement saving into Resort Properties and we had no more moneys lift to upgrade. The solution they offered was a loan from Barclays Finance at £160.00 per month for 10 years and Resort Properties would give us the 1st Years contributions up front. Thus when the Island is sold well within this 12 month period we would be in a position to pay off this loan and receive a large profit from the sale. We were absolutely assured the resale dept would both be open and the disposal of the timeshare would be complete well within the 12 month period. The people involved with all this actions were as follows:- We decided as a last resort to go ahead with this purchase and accepted the loan facility offered by Barclays Finance for £12,950.00 Again no resale dept. ever opened and we are now left with a debt of £12,950.00 at £160.00 per month for another 7.5 years. This crippling loan for a 71 year old on a pension since Resort properties have removed all our life savings is very distressing and causes us a lot of financial problems. Resort Properties have one way an another taken a total of £51,713.00 , all our life savings over the last 10 years and have left us penniless. The last straw to all of this was when we received a letter informing us that a company called SilverPoint had taken over ownership of Resort Properties and that Resort Properties no longer existed although it appears the same personal are working in the same offices in Tenerife. GD Dear Mrs Wilson Im sure you will have seen Alberto Garcia’s latest post on mindtimeshare.me blog. In it he makes gross misrepresentations about our company. We know for fact that if we try to get him to issue our response on his web site we know he won’t do it so please can you post our response to him on your web site? Dear Mr Garcia We are highly amused by your recent posting on your web site. We still cannot believe the lengths you will go to cover up the fraudulent activities of the Timeshare Companies which you work for. You claim to be a “Registered Consumer Association” so please, tell us where you are registered because we cannot find you anywhere? Our lawyers have contacted the Consumer Association here in Spain and they haven’t heard of you either? Resort Properties/Silverpoint is currently being investigated for one of the biggest timeshare frauds EVER and you still make no mention of it on your blog – why? Surely as a “Registered Consumer Association” you would be more than happy to warn the general public about their well-documented fraudulent activities? Anyone who googles Resort Properties/Silverpoint will see a whole host of warnings about this company but on your blog NOTHING – why? Take a look at the FACTS about Resort Properties/Silverpoint. Currently there are: This a lot of VERY UNHAPPY CONSUMERS so why isn’t it mentioned on your blog? I will tell you why. Because Mr Garcia we know that you are paid by the “Big Guns” in the timeshare industry to cover up their fraudulent activities. You are not a “Consumer Association” you are just a guy who gets paid a lot of money by the crooks of the timeshare industry to cover up their dirty dealings. HUNDREDS of consumers have been ripped off by Resort Properties/Silverpoint and when companies like ours try to help these people, and I mean really help them by showing them how they can join the proceedings against the companies which have ripped them off what do you do? You don’t applaud them for their efforts; you don’t direct your unhappy consumers to them so that they can help them too, you just post a load of lies on your blog warning AGAINST the very companies that can help them. You really are the lowest of the low. You are not working in the best interests of the consumer; you work for the Timeshare Companies and their “self-regulatory” board – the RDO and all you do is COVER UP one scam after another. You know Resort Properties/Silverpoint is ripping people off every single day, you know about the pending legal claims against the company so WHY isn’t it mentioned on your blog. I think we all know the answer to that question. To anyone reading this then DO NOT believe a word Alberto Garcia says, DO NOT believe anything he posts on his blog. This man is a liar. Dear Mrs Wilson Please post our dealings with Resort Properties/Silver points in order to WARN OTHERS about this company and the scam they are running. As you will read our story began back in 2007 and sadly is similar to your other readers. However, what your readers may be interested to know is that even today, as we grow close to finding a solution to our problems through a company willing to help us fight them do we find that they continue to harass us, bombard us with lies and then add insult to injury by offering to LIST OUR WEEKS FOR RESALE OR GIVE US EVEN MORE WORTHLESS RESALE WEEKS – that’s their solution! We first visited Resort Properties in Tenerife in May 2007 and were sold a portfolio of timeshare weeks having been given an assurance that we would make at LEAST a 15% profit when they re-sold them for us. We were both very reluctant to purchase, but, after hours and hours of relentless hard sell we agreed to proceed. We were asked for a credit card deposit of 1000 pounds, which we gave. We were given the receipt and were told this would not be cashed as the sale was to be finance funded. In 2007 there had been no re-sales and were told that we needed to” trade up” to a Paradiso City Level and 1 week in Holiday Mirage to effect a sale.. For this we had to pay a further 12,500 pounds each. Each time we upgraded we saw no evidence of exact prices or individual units to enable us to make an informed decision regarding these transactions nor given any forecasts of future maintenance charges. The sales pitch was always about the future sale of what we owned, always supposed to be at a profit. The last time we saw a rep., August 2011 we were invited along to discuss membership of Silverpoint who had taken over Resort Properties. We were told that we had to join Silverpoint otherwise we would lose everything. This would be at a cost to us of £9,000 Paid via a finance provided by Barclays Partner Finance, costing £200 per month. The deposit of £738 was provided by Silverpoint in-house finance at £23.26 per month. We were also told that in January 2012 we would receive a Silverpoint Credit Card which would already have £3,000 cash loaded on to it. This could be used to help pay the finance until Resale’s would commence in 2015, then we should recover DOUBLE our money or more. The rep we saw bought in his manager Mr Peter Walbridge, who arranged all of the above. Of course nothing he told us came to anything – we have never received a penny from this “investment” Having re-mortgaged our house to fund all of this PLUS crippling monthly finance payments PLUS the burden of the annual maintenance fees on weeks we didn’t even want to say we were desperate was an understatement. In the middle of 2011 we were contacted by a company in Tenerife who claimed they could help resolve our problems with Resort Properties. Having been so badly ripped off by Resort Properties/Silverpoints we were reluctant to trust anyone else but as we had lost so much already we thought why not – for the cost of a flight what did we have to lose? In November 2011 we went to Tenerife and met the company who claimed to be able to help us and to our utter relief we could see this was a genuine company. They had in depth knowledge of the sales tricks and pressure Resort Properties used to con innocent people out of their life savings and we were introduced to other victims of this pre-orchestrated swindle. Whilst we were saddened by other people’s terrible stories, some far worse than ours, it was a relief to see that we were not on our own. During our trip to Tenerife we found that over 200 people were already being represented in court and that another 250 people were waiting to have their cases prepared against Resort Properties/Silverpoints and we were happy to add our names to that list. The company in Tenerife works with 16 Lawyers in both Tenerife and Gran Canaria, all of which you can check out and I was shown evidence of the cases which they had already prepared, again all this could be confirmed by court references. On our return home we were contacted directly by our appointed lawyer and were happy and relieved that something very positive was happening. Our lawyer reviewed our case and confirmed that that he would begin CRIMINAL proceedings against Resort Properties on our behalf. In September 2012 we decided to return to Tenerife and stay at Hollywood Mirage – we had paid the maintenance for that week and weren’t going to waste it. However, prior to arriving we were called by Leanne Mortimer to say that she would like to see us. I knew what this would be about. My lawyer had warned that if I went over they would try to persuade me to drop the case against them – other clients of his had experienced similar harassment and intimidation techniques and he warned me to be on my guard. I told Leanne Mortimer that I would NOT be going to see her that I had nothing to say but she insisted on coming to see me and out of curiosity I decided to see what she had to say. During her 90 minute visit it was evident that Leanne Mortimer wasn’t here to help me, she was here to dish as much dirt as possible about the company helping me and in doing so try to persuade me to drop my criminal case against Resort Properties. She said she knew the company I was dealing with very well, that they were crooks and that they would never win a case against Resort Properties. To everyone reading this I can assure you that this company is totally legitimate and that I have direct access to the lawyer representing me in court. I eventually told Leanne that I wasn’t interested in what she had to say and that if they wanted me to drop the case all they had to do was PAY ME MY MONEY BACK – THE FULL 90.000 POUNDS WHICH THEY CONNED ME OUT OF – it was that simple. She said she didn’t have the authority to make those kinds of decisions and told me I must go to see David Taylor the Sales Director. Out of curiosity this is exactly what I did. Again during this meeting David Taylor said the same as Leanne Mortimer that the company I was using to prepare my case against Resort Properties/Silverpoints were crooks and that they would never win a case against Resort Properties. Again when I politely pointed out that I wasn’t interested in what he had to say and that I would gladly stop my criminal proceedings if they just gave me my money back surprising David Taylor agreed and left the office to confirm this in writing. Below is the letter he gave me. As you will see it is just another fob off, another empty promise to list my weeks for resale – the same fob off they have been giving me since 2007. Needless to say I was appalled and I am looking forward to my day in court. These people must be stopped. To anyone else taking legal action against them do not listen to their lies, do not let them intimidate you and do not fall for their promises again. UNLESS THEY OFFER TO GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY BACK IN FULL IN WRITING WITHOUT ANY CONDITIONS stay well away and let your lawyers do what they do best – make criminals pay for their crimes. Finally let me tell you that during the meetings with both Leanne Mortimer and David Taylor I had video recording equipment. I knew that these people would lie to me again and try to cheat me so I took precautions. Both video recordings are now in the hands of my lawyer who will include them in my case against Resort Properties/Silver points. The evidence on them is extremely incriminating not only for Resort Properties/Silverpoints but also for Leanne Mortimer and David Taylor. I have asked my lawyer to add both these people to the ongoing criminal investigation against Resort Properties/Silverpoints Please keep us up to date with what is going on as we are in the same boat regarding what we consider a mis-selling of timeshares to us as an ‘investment’ after an 8 hour sales pitch wore us down. We’ve done everything we can think of to get rid of the timeshares, even offering to give the weeks back for free, but they won’t accept that option either… some investment and confidence they have in the fantastic property resale values. We’ve subsequently discovered that the properties that we wer sold were what ‘they’ call distressed, and never likely to sell. The cheek of it is, they tried to sell us something else the following year, and we nearly fell for it as it was a way of ‘cutting our losses’ with 1 scheme only to pay an extra 20K to invest in another, and then they would have taken the properties back. One of the reasons we were caught out is because we do have a lovely timeshare in Malta, which is fixed term (28 years) and a fixed maintenance at less than half the price at Beverly Hills… I’m guessing the timeshare owners club at the reort is keeping very quiet about what has gone on and is ongoing.
Operator: Good morning. My name is Latangie and I will. Thank you. I would now like to turn the conference over to Mr. Gerry Sweeney, President and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust. Please go ahead, sir. Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Latangie, thank you very much. Good morning, everyone, and thank you for participating in our first quarter 2012 earnings call. On today's call with me are George Johnstone, our Senior Vice President of Operations; Gabe Mainardi, our Vice President and Chief Accounting Office; Howard Sipzner, our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer; and Tom Wirth, our Executive Vice President of Portfolio Management and Investments. Prior. So, with that said, will be available to answer any other questions. First, an overall observation. General economic uncertainty we see every day is moderating the pace of the office market recovery. One day the news is good, the next day not so much. However, the general (trend line) remains positive and based on what we see at least in our markets, the office market recovery is certainly continuing. Vacancy rates continue to decline in most of our markets. First quarter leasing activity in most of our market was lower than in the fourth quarter of 2011, but generally as expected. Leasing remains our number one priority and market data supports continued confidence in our business plan. Several of our markets continue to have a tenant driven pricing dynamic, but in other markets we see encouraging signs of rental rate growth. Across the Board in all of our markets, we're still benefiting from a flight up the quality curve as our product is at the top end of available inventory. Our leasing approach remains tactical; that is in some markets we are increasing rates, lengthening lease terms and creating downward pressure on capital concessions. This approach is working well in Austin, Philadelphia CBD, and the Crescent markets in the Pennsylvania suburbs. In other markets, we're accelerating absorption through aggressively gaining market share. Results of long lease confidence, we did increase our 2012 speculative revenue target by 2% and year-to-date we have achieved 80% of this new annual target. Looking at the quarter, we had good leasing benchmarks and solid operating metrics. Most notably, our pipeline of transactions which we define as prospects have been issued proposals remains constant at 3.4 million square feet. The number and square footage or prospects touring or enquiring about our properties during the quarter average 37 companies and 400,000 square feet per week. For the quarter, these numbers were 26% greater than in the fourth quarter of 2011. So, while general market activity leasing levels were generally down we had a very good quarter of tenant enquiries and inspections have anything from our standpoint continued emergence of tenant demand and the previously mentioned flight to quality product and landlords. Our goal of having positive same-store growth for 2012 remains on track, mark-to-market leasing spreads were consistent with our 2012 business plan, albeit lower for the quarter particularly on a cash basis than our targeted run rate for the year. For the balance of the year, we expect better forward leasing spreads based upon the composition of our projected leasing activity. Concession package remain fairly steady where we are seeing higher capital costs, we are attempting to mitigate that through extended lease terms. Our TI costs for the quarter were in line with our business plan assumptions, but continue to be an area of heightened focus. George will address capital in more detail, but our CAD ratio this quarter was a solid 79%. We (all saw a) positive absorption for the portfolio this quarter. George again will touch on these operating metrics and pipeline activity in more detail, but from an operating standpoint we are pleased with the quarter and more importantly with the continued improvement in overall tone and velocity of our tenant traffic. By looking at our balance sheet, we remain extremely liquid with no near term debt maturities. Additionally, with the exception of $100 million that remains floating, we are completely insulated from any floating rate interest risk. Continued NOI improvement augmented by our investment strategy will continue our EBITDA deleveraging program. We closed the quarter with $334 million of cash and securities on hand as a result of early asset sales and the funding of our previously announced $600 million term loan facilities. These cash balances provide the funds to return the $151.2 million balance of our 5.75% unsecured note that was due April 1. Liability management efforts continue during the quarter, and we purchased $4 million of our unsecured notes. While we incurred a slight loss on that extinguishment, it does represent our approach in effectively manage our forward liabilities, and from a debt maturity standpoint, the Company is in extraordinarily good shape and our next unsecured not is not due until November of 2014. For the quarter, we improved our net debt to gross assets to 43.7%. We have no outstanding balance on our $600 million unsecured revolving credit facility, and we also made good progress along our EBITDA improvement path on a 7.2 times ratio of net debt to annualized EBITDA. And Howard, in his presentation will review all those metrics in more detail. Cash is certainly fungible and our sources of cash have been slightly larger borrowings under our term loans and the proceeds from asset sales, our all-state joint venture and now the preferred offering. We view our cash on a net debt basis, and our bank term loan structures provide an opportunity to reduce debt with minimal breakage cost. But while the economic climate remains uncertain, it's important to maximize flexibility and liquidity. As such we plan to remain very liquid with ample financial capacity, while our portfolio transitions to higher occupancy levels, consistent NOI growth, and EBITDA improvement. Our cash balances are available for continued liability management, acquisitions and direct debt pay downs. We have a very stable and flexible debt platform where we have the option to accelerate debt prepayments or alternatively use cash from sales to redeploy in the better growth assets. In pursuit of this liquidity objective subsequent to the quarter end we took advantage of strong capital markets, through a $100 million opportunistic preferred equity issuance of 6.9% coupon preferred shares. A portion of these proceeds will fund the redemption of all of our outstanding 7.5% for Series C cumulative redeemable preferred shares. The issuance of this preferred stock at a 6.9% coupon is excellent permanent capital for our company. The coupon's extremely attractive, market demand was very strong, enabled us to upsize our offering after the launch and consequently redeem our 7.5% preferred. This issuance and related redemption cost was not in our original plan and has a near-term cost. That cost as indicated in our guidance need to be expensed from both the redemption, as well as the anticipated dividends on the net preferred issuance and will be about $0.03 per share during 2012. Looking at investments, the low interest rate environment increased visibility on leasing activity and the relative yield against real estate sectors have created a much more active bidding pool for our asset class and there is ample available capital looking for acquisition. To take advantage of that opportunity, we are increasing our sales target for 2012 from $80 million to $175 million. Our previous guidance contemplated an $80 target, occurring ratably during the year, at cap rates ranging between 7.5% and 9%. Given what we've seen thus far, we anticipate better progress than that. For example, we saw our fully leased 268,000 square foot South Lake building for $91.1 million or $340 per square foot. We also completed the disposition of a 33,000 square foot office building in Moorestown, New Jersey. We currently have over $200 million in assets either on the market for sale or in reverse inquiry discussions. These assets are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and California. Of this amount, approximately $80 million is either in buyer due diligence or buyer underwriting and bid review. To the extent that these pending $80 million of transactions close, will be a timing acceleration versus our original business plan and as a result dilutive to 2012 FFO. To put a finer point on it our $94 million of sales to-date have caused us about $0.03 per share in current year FFO versus our previous guidance, and if the property is under contract and underwriting, close on their projected timeline that will cost us roughly about another $0.01 per share versus our prior slower assumed pace. So overall, our earlier and higher sales volumes are about $0.04 dilutive to FFO in 2012. During the quarter, we did complete a small acquisition. We acquired 150,000 square foot vacant office building located in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania next to our Plymouth Meeting Executive campus. Our price was $9.1 million or $59 per square foot. We immediately commenced redevelopment with an overall budget including our acquisition cost approximating $28 million. We expect to deliver the finished building by the end of the year, stabilized by year-end 2013 and already 58% pre-leased. We expect to achieve an 11% (free and clear) return on an overall investment base about $180 per square foot. This value add acquisition was a perfect complement both from an offensive and defensive leasing standpoint to our existing 800,000 square foot inventory in Plymouth Meeting. In general, our investment approach is governed by continual balance sheet improvement and achieving a better forward growth profile. Our 2012 guidance does not contemplate any additional acquisitions, while we continue to actively evaluate range of opportunities both in our Allstate joint venture and for direct acquisitions. We would anticipate that any contemplated acquisitions will be financed through asset sales or existing cash balances. One final point, we have a land inventory of approximately $109 million, or roughly 2.2% of our asset base. Most of that land is in total for office development given the realities in some market spacing future office development last year we commenced a plan to examine all parcels for alternative and higher value uses. That process is beginning to pay-off and we recently received approvals on our Plymouth Meeting land for about 400 multifamily units. We have several additional parcels proceeding through the same process and once it is achieving new entitlements our plan would be to either sell that land or identify quality residential companies and/or institutional investors to develop the project whereby Brandywine would be an investment partner. To wrap up with some commentary on our guidance, as we did note in our press release, we issued a revised FFO range for 2012 of $1.30 to $1.35 per share. The reduction in the bottom end of the range of $0.05 is comprised of $0.03 due to the preferred offering, the $0.04 I mentioned due to the accelerated and larger sale target, offset by $0.02 of operational improvements driven by strong leasing and expense savings. At this point, George will now provide an overview of our first quarter operating activity, and then George will turn it over to Howard for a review of our financial activity. George D. Johnstone - SVP, Operations and Asset Management: Thank you, Gerry. We continue to see good levels of leasing activity during the first quarter, which has allowed us to raise certain elements of the business plan, and overall flight to quality continues as tenants seek quality landlords, buildings and locations, which has benefited our portfolio. Submarkets that continue to demonstrate recovery and improving metrics are Philadelphia CBD, the Crescent, Pennsylvania submarkets of Radnor, Conshohocken, Plymouth Meeting, and Newtown Square, along with Austin and Richmond, where rent growth and tighter capital control are becoming more the norm. Other markets, while showing some signs of improvement, remain in a buying occupancy mode. In terms of the first quarter specifically, during the quarter, we commenced 982,000 square feet of leases, including 442,000 square feet of new leases, 421,000 square feet of renewal leases, and 119,000 square feet of tenant expansions. This leasing activity resulted in positive absorption of 77,000 square feet and an occupancy percentage of 86.7%. Occupancy exceeded our business plan projection by 20 basis points after factoring in the 10 basis point decline from the sale of the South Lake building in Northern Virginia. More importantly, we are holding our year-end occupancy target of 89.4%. Retention for the quarter was 59.7%. Early termination rates exercised by a handful of tenants accounted for 1,000 basis points of lost retention. For the year tenant retention is still expected to be 57% based on 1.1 million square feet of renewals already executed, current lease negotiations and known tenant move-outs. Leasing capital for the quarter was $2.85 per square foot per lease year. Our average lease term for the quarter was 5.7 years. Regions operating under the average capital spent for the quarter were the Pennsylvania suburbs, New Jersey Delaware, Richmond and California. Philadelphia CBD and Metro D.C. continue to outpace the Company average on average lease term. Lengthening lease term and controlling capital continues to be an area of focus. Rental rate declines for the quarter were 4.3% on a GAAP basis and 14.2% on a cash basis. Philadelphia CBD, the Pennsylvania suburbs and Metro D.C., posted positive GAAP rental rate growth for quarter. Cash declines were driven by five deals rolling off leases done at the height of the market. Excluding these five deals cash declines were 6%. We do expect rental rate trends to improve from those posted in the first quarter as our business plans still contemplate the range from negative 1% to positive 2% on a GAAP basis and negative 4% to negative 7% on cash basis. Traffic for the quarter was up 26% sequentially and up 5% over last year's average quarterly traffic. The pipeline remains strong unchanged at 3.4 million square feet, 2.5 million square feet of new deals, 900,000 square feet of renewal deals. 611,000 square feet of deals are in lease negotiations with the balance all entertaining proposals. We've increased our speculative revenue target by $1 million or 2%, $35.9 million or 80% has been achieved, leaving $9 million still to be done over the balance of the year. At this time last year, we had $11 million remaining on our spent revenue target. Austin, Philadelphia, CBD, Pennsylvania suburbs, New Jersey, Delaware are all North of 80% achieved. Of the remaining $9 million to be achieved 35% is in active negotiations, 25% are entertaining proposals and 40% still needs to be sourced. These leasing assumptions and trends will translate into same-store NOI growth of 0.5% to 2.5% on GAAP basis and flat to 2% on a cash basis, both excluding early termination and other income. Leasing remains the primary focus of the regional teams, but continued examination of our contracted services, energy procurement and conservation efforts, and aggressively appealing real estate taxes will aid in reducing operating costs and improving margin. I will now turn it over to Howard for the financial review. Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: Thank you George and thank you Jerry. The first quarter 2012 income statement featured FFO available to common shares and units of $47.1 million. This compares favorably to $47.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 and $48.2 million in the first quarter 2011 given the interim sales and disposition activity. Our funds from operations or FFO per diluted share came in at $0.32, which matched analyst consensus for the quarter. Our payout ratio on the $0.15 dividend we paid in January 2012 was a very strong 46.9% and our first quarter FFO figure was high quality with termination revenue, other income, management fees, interest income, JV activity and bond buyback costs totaling $6.3 million gross or $5 million net each in line with our 2012 expectations. A few observations on the components of our first quarter performance; cash rent of $108 million was down $6 million sequentially versus the fourth quarter of 2011 due to fourth quarter and first quarter 2012 sales activity. Straight-line rent however of $6.8 million was up $1.4 million sequentially due to increased leasing activity and the associated straight-lining components. Recovery income of $19.3 million was down $1.2 million sequentially versus $20.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 due to the mild winter and again the impact of the sales. Our recovery ratio of 35.5% on expenses was in line with our expectations. Property operating expenses of $40.2 million were down $4.1 million sequentially versus $44.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 due to the aforementioned sales activity and again the mild weather this past winter. Real estate taxes were up $0.3 million or $300,000 sequentially due to a variety of minor factors. Our interest expense in the first quarter of 2012 came in at $34.1 million and represented an increase of $2.2 million sequentially versus $31.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2011. As we had double outstandings proportions of our debt on the quarter pending repayment and we also absorbed the cost of locking interest rates for the current and future periods. Our G&A at $6.1 million was in line with our expectations and with the prior quarter. In the first quarter of 2012 we had net bad debt expense of just under $800,000 included in our operating expenses and for the most part it is proportional to the increase in our overall straight-line rent activity. Compared to a year ago, the first-quarter same-store NOI increased 2.6% on a GAAP basis and decreased 0.3% on a cash basis, both excluding termination fees and other income items and in line with our expectations for the quarter. Our cash available for distribution or CAD increased sequentially to $27.8 million from $22 million and measured $0.19 per share versus $0.15 in the prior quarter. Our 78.9% first quarter 2012 CAD payout ratio is our best level of the last five quarters. EBITDA coverage ratios are off their highest levels and came in at 2.4 times interest, 2.2 times debt service, and 2.1 times fixed charges, due primarily to doubling of debt balances in the quarter and reduced exposure to floating rates. Margins remained very strong with improving occupancy levels and came in at 60.7% for NOI and 62.9% for EBITDA. As Gary noted, we are revising our 2012 FFO guidance to now be in a range of $1.30 to $1.35 per diluted share for the full year. Excluding the roughly $0.08 of historic tax credit income we’ll recognize in the third quarter of 2012 and the $0.015 of cost for the preferred share redemption we will recognize in this second quarter. Our recurring quarterly run rate for the second quarter to the fourth quarter should be in the range of $0.295 to $0.31 per diluted share. In terms of other income items for the full year we are projecting no change in our $20 million to $25 million gross figure or $14 million to $19 million net figure after expenses for basket of other items such as termination revenues, other income, management revenues, less associated expenses of net, interest income, JV income, including the now financing obligation cost featured on our income statement for the non-consolidated property in our joint venture. We don't expect any change in 2012 G&A and it will be in the total range of $24 million to $25 million. There's no change in our expectation for interest expense for the full year and we're maintaining it in the $133 million to $140 million range. The wideness is reflected of the possibility that we may end up doing some debt pay downs as the year progresses and we'll be substituting cost of those debt pay downs for the underlying interest expense. We're now projecting 175 million of total 2012 sales activity and with a higher pace and earlier activity that had a detrimental impact to our FFO, along with sales completed of about $0.04 per share. We're including the Series E preferred shares at 6.9% dividend costs going forward, offset by the repayment on May 3rd, of the $50 million Series C shares. That together with the cost of redeeming the Series C shares will be about $0.03 dilutive in 2012. As mentioned earlier, we'll recognize the $0.08 per share gross historic tax credit impact in the third quarter. This revenue component is essentially non-cash and will be excluded from our CAD calculation that reflects the second occurrence of 20% of the net proceeds realized through the historic tax credit financing in 2010 and will be recognized in the third quarter of each year from 2011 through 2015. Without anticipating any further issuance under a continuous equity offering program and no additional note buyback activity is reflected in our guidance. As a result, we see 147 million shares as our count for fully diluted shares and units outstanding for FFO calculation in 2012. Reflecting approximately $53 million of additional revenue maintaining capital expenditures for the last nine months of 2012, we see cash available for distribution per diluted share staying in the range of $0.60 to $0.70 per share as previously outlined. The 2012 guidance revision is impressive from our perspective, as we incurred $0.07 of dilution versus the prior disclosure, and only reduced our guidance $0.05, reflecting $0.02 of better and more certain operating performance. Our capital plan in 2012 is remarkable and simple. Our $284 million cash balance, not to mention $50 million of securities on hand, will cover all our needs and we do not expect to do any financings or use our credit facility this year at all. Our uses from April 1, 2012 forward totaled $446 million and are as follows. $160 million for debt repayments, $151 million of that has already been funded on April 2nd for our 2012 notes and leaves just $9 million for mortgage amortization over the course of the year. We have a variety of investment activity scheduled for the balance of 2012. It includes the $53 million of revenue maintaining capital expenditures, $103 million for revenue creating capital expenditures, lease up of vacant space and new project lease up, including such properties as Three Logan Square and 3020 Market Street, plus another $55 million for a combination of smaller various capital projects, including our Commerce Square joint venture contributions. We will pay $75 million of aggregate dividends on the common and preferred, $22 million on the common and $2 million on the preferred were already paid earlier in April, leaving 2012 remaining dividend payments of $51 million inclusive of the new Series E preferred. To fund this $446 million we are projecting the following from April 1st onwards. A $100 million of cash flow before financing investments in dividends but after interest payments, which are lumpy and tend to occur in April and May on the cycle of semiannual payments. $81 million of additional sales proceeds from the sales Jerry outlined. $47 million from net preferred stock activity, reflecting the funds we raised in the Series E offering, the cost of that offering less the $50 million we will disburse to redeem the Series C shares. We will you $218 million of our cash balance, leaving us with a projected year-end 2012 balance of about $116 million, inclusive of the $50 million of securities that will mature prior to year-end. So, our capital plan is very transparent and very clean from our perspective. Accounts receivables at 3/31/2012 had reserves of about $16.1 million, $3.4 million on $17.4 million of operating receivables or just under 20%, and $12.7 million on $123.5 million of straight-line rent receivables, as we call them, or 10.3%. We are 100% compliant on all of our credit facility and indenture covenants with 84% of our gross real estate book value unencumbered at 3/31/2012. With the refinancing of our credit facility, we are now working under the new credit facility compliance metrics, and those are all captured in our supplemental package. With that, I'll turn it back to Gerry for some additional comments. Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Thank you very much, Howard, and thank you as well, George. To conclude our prepared remarks, first quarter results were strong and consistent with our announced 2012 business plan. As evidenced by our collective commentary, we remain confident in our ability to achieve our 2012 objectives, including the increase in our spec revenue target. We remain convinced that our best growth strategy remains simply to continue outperforming our markets by leasing space. Our high quality product continues to provide a competitive advantage and we expect that advantage will accelerate as fundamentals continue to improve. Our balance sheet strategy remains very much on track, and as discussed, we have become more aggressive on our disposition target for the year, given increased visibility on suburban office valuations. So, thank you again for participating in the call. One final note, we want to mention that we will be hosting an Analyst and Investor Day on Tuesday, June 26, that tour will include presentations by our senior team, as well as a tour of our Philadelphia CBD assets. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome many of you to Philadelphia to present both the strength of our market position and the quality of our asset base and regional management teams. Invitations will be mailed out next week and we hope you can join us. We look forward to seeing you in June. With that, (Latenge) we'll be delighted to open up the floor for questions. We ask that in the interest of time, you limit yourself to one question and a follow-up. Operator: Jamie Feldman, Bank of America Merrill Lynch James Feldman - Bank of America Merrill Lynch: Can you talk a little bit more about the current leasing pipeline I guess in terms of what you have left to do for the rest of the year? Then also with the election coming people are concerned about the fiscal cliff, what's your sense of it in terms of business decision-making for the rest of the year? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Sure. George? George D. Johnstone - SVP, Operations and Asset Management: Jamie I think, as I mentioned earlier we've got $9 million of spec revenue left to achieve. That's going to require us to do just a little bit north of 1.5 square feet. The pipeline is strong its 3.4 million square feet in total, 2.5 million square feet of that are new prospects and 900,000 of renewal prospects. We feel confident that with the pipeline that we have, the conversion rates that we've demonstrated, last year our conversion was 40%, it was 31% for the first quarter, but we've got several markets that continue to kind of outperform that 40% Company average. Just in terms of one of the things we really do to track is, is the traffic that comes through our pipeline, but that tends to be a harbinger of forward leasing activity and I think even with the overall market levels being down a bit Q1 versus Q4, we were very pleased with the increase in traffic through our portfolio. Now, it's pretty much throughout our inventory, across all the markets. So, I think with the pipeline remaining constant, the number of deals that we have in negotiations, the percentage of deals that we have proposals issued for, I think we're continuing to remain very confident on our ability to achieve all these targets. James Feldman - Bank of America Merrill Lynch: I guess just bigger picture on sentiment among tenants and among decision-makers; do you sense people are getting more cautious here with the election and the economic data getting more mixed or no change? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: It’s not a big change since the last conference call. Look, certainly, the market that we're in that is the most sensitized to the federal government and its budgetary matters, as both in Northern Virginia and in Maryland. I think the decline in leasing activity in Q1 in that market is reflective of the fact that the number of tenants are on the sidelines or pausing before they make a lot of poor lease commitments so they get a better flavor for what the political climate will be going forward. Certainly, with some of the appeal processes recently issued by the federal government in terms of awarding contracts, that has a bit of a delay in the actual award of those contracts and creates more protracted timeline. When we look beyond that I don't think we are really seeing the impact of the election in our other markets. I mean, the pipeline – feedback from our leasing agents, the managing directors does not seem to indicate that people are really focusing on that political climate as a key driver in their space decision. Operator: Josh Attie, Citigroup. Josh Attie - Citigroup: Can you talk a little bit more about what the acquisition pipeline looks like and maybe even development. When you did the preferred offerings you chose to increase the cash balance instead of paying down debt or – and I guess that kind of implies that you're seeing more growth opportunities. Can you talk about that a little bit? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Certainly, I'll make a real quick overview and then Tom can you give you kind of around the horn what we are seeing on the investment side. Look I think the reason when we raised this capital that we didn't pay down the debt immediately was just to preserve complete optionality and we have as you know from our bank term loan structure a pretty flexible platform to pay down that debt as we see fit with some acceleration of cost, but minimal breakage expenses. So, I think, when we analyze where we are we've retained the optionality to apply cash to future debt pay downs or as you know this past quarter to I think some pretty good tactical liability management, and we are seeing more things on the investment side, which Tom can certainly touch on. Thomas E. Wirth - EVP, Portfolio Management and Investments: Sure. On the investment side, I think, if you look at the markets – I think that Philadelphia, Richmond tend to be slower not seeing much activity at this point. Continuing to see some activity in Austin that we monitor, that market continues to be well received when product is out there and we continue to look at the CBD and Southwest for opportunities and in Metro DC I think it's a (tale) of two storylines. We have the outside the beltway, which other than our trade, there's been very few outside the beltway trades, they've been taking longer to get done. So, we're monitoring that very closely just to see if cap rates are going to go higher out there or whether we see that nothing trades. Inside the beltway, we're still seeing a lot of good activity, and that activity in the trophy-class, there's plenty of capital out there finding that product, as well as – but some product that isn't trading at the expectations people are expecting, especially with – I think as you mentioned on the political side, we've seen rent sort of come down a little bit, we've seen it in our portfolio, we're seeing it in the district also with some negative absorption, that people are pulling product, and in some cases refinancing. So, there is some haves and have-nots. With our looking in the district and in inside the beltway markets, we are targeting that with our Allstate joint venture. So, we're certainly looking for opportunities in our targeted markets which are all inside the beltway. We're seeing some good opportunities. We're taking a look at them. Most of the things we're looking out are going to be conservative, we're not looking for a lot of leasing exposure or near-term leasing risk, and we continue to be pleased by what kind of lending you're seeing on assets inside the beltway by various institutions. Josh Attie - Citigroup: How should we think about the redeployment of the asset sale proceeds? You increased the asset sale guidance. Should we think of those proceeds as going towards sitting in cash until you can find acquisition opportunities, or would some of those proceeds go to pay down the term loan? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: I think as I mentioned in the beginning, I think we'll just keep our flexibility. We have the option of paying down certainly $100 million floating rate term loan as we choose, how it continues to track the liability market by any frictional trades we can make to look at our forward liabilities, and Tom and his team are continuing to beat the bush on investments. So, I think, those three avenues, I think, are good ones for the Company, and as situations arise that we think justified the deployment of capital will move down that path. Operator: Jordan Sadler, KeyBanc Capital. Jordan Sadler - KeyBanc Capital: I was just looking to get clarification on the asset sales. You said previously the expectation was for cap rates in the 7.5% to 9% on the $80 million you had in guidance ratable over the year. What's the blended cap rate now? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: We're looking at a range in the mid 7s to 8%. Jordan Sadler - KeyBanc Capital: Mid 7s to 8%. Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: On a blended basis, will be some lower, some high when we look at the pipeline. Jordan Sadler - KeyBanc Capital: Then separately just looking at the revenue generating CapEx and the small capital projects which include Three Logan 3020 and presumably the Plymouth Meeting asset, you guys just touched on. You talked about Plymouth Meeting, but can you walk through, where you expected overall returns embedded in guidance on the $160 million you expect to deploy from April on? Does that recall in that sort of 10% to 12% unlevered range or what? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: It's Howard. A lot of it goes to leasing of vacant space, so putting it in the context of the Three Logan, that's an asset we originally underwrote on a substantially vacant basis to yield in a 9% to 10% range for this spend or part of it that will take place in 2012 is towards meeting that goal. 3020 could be an asset that yields ultimately in excess of 10%. The development project in Plymouth Meeting an 11% return, the money that we spend in the Thomas Properties Group, Commerce Square joint venture, little bit over a 9%, with some fees on top of that. So, generally very attractive returns as you look around the landscape at where those are going. Jordan Sadler - KeyBanc Capital: My last question Gerry just looking at the cash on your balance sheet today, looks $230 million, $240 million, I think it's the number that I know was higher at quarter end, I know that you're keeping your options open, but I guess it basically seems that your option is open outside of debt repayment, which has certainty, it would mean that you've got investment opportunities that you're looking at. Can you maybe just characterize that for us? It seems like you've got potential size there and maybe just frame that up in terms of what you're seeing as the most attractive potential opportunities? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Sure, I'll take a stab at it for you. First of all, the math that Howard walked through in his commentary shows the application of a good portion of that cash during the course of the year. So, you need to be mindful of that as we look at some of the things you just inquired about in terms of Three Logan, 3020, Plymouth Meeting, We think they were good high quality capital investments to make that as those projects stabilize will develop a good rate of return. So, as we look at our net cash position, it's probably not as big as you're looking at for the end of the first quarter. So, you need to be mindful of that. We are beginning to see some more opportunities. They need to be mind, need to be worked, a lot of our transactions were focused on are off market. Look, we certainly like the structure of what we’re able to achieve with Commerce Square. We’re able to invest in a preferred position and create a good rate of return and accelerate absorption and value in an asset that we invest in. Some of the… Jordan Sadler - KeyBanc Capital: Do you expect that to be recapitalized this year? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Well the debt is -- the first piece of debt is due in 2013 at Commerce Square. So, certainly I think the partnership as the year progresses will have a number of discussion about what the best method to do that is. But that certainly looms on the near term horizon as the capital discussion that the partnership needs to have. Operator: John Guinee, Stifel Nicolaus. John Guinee - Stifel Nicolaus & Company: Gerry, you guys did an awfully impressive asset sale at Dallas station which is a miserable leasing market as we all know. Can you drill down and talk about in addition to the price per pound, the cap rate, the lease expiration schedule any early expirations they might have had and then also sort of how you looked at it on a hotel basis and what you price point was and you became a seller versus a holder? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Sure, I’d be happy be John and they are good questions. I won’t necessarily agree with your total characterization, but I understand your theme. As we looked at the time we’re in transaction, that lease that we did was going out through 2019, but had termination rates that were kicking in kind of starting in the middle part of 2016 and 2017. We did that transaction not quite at the height of the financial crisis, but pretty close to it. So there was a real urgency to get that building occupied and the structure in which we did that lease provided not just for those early termination options to give Time Warner the flexibility they required, but also provided for a fairly flat rental rate structure. So from our standpoint we have pretty much optimized the value in that asset through bringing that property to stabilization and getting the cash flow coming in once the tenants started paying cash rent. Given those termination options, given the – we thought could be a declining value investment market, at least temporarily based upon some of your observations, we thought we reach the optimal value point of that. The trade incurs about a 6.8% cap rate, $340 a square foot which we thought on both metrics were probably good value recoveries for us. It enabled us to recover profitability -- a profit on that project and our team could then devote all their resources to leasing our apparently vacant space in that market. Operator: Richard Anderson, BMO Capital Markets. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: On that Herndon deal, I guess I'm curious. Why wasn't it in guidance for your disposition target when you reported fourth quarter results, it only happened a month later? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Richard, it's a great question. I think the only thing we can tell you on that is that, literally up to 11 hour, the certainty of that execution was in question and we also in the intervening months have gotten much more confident of the depth of the sales market for the suburban asset class. So, we actually in lieu of pre-funding our $80 million original sales target within $91 million trade at Time Warner, we actually made a decision based upon the pipeline of sales velocity we saw to actually keep the $80 million and become additive to the target. So, it was an awkward timing situation for us and then with the passage of time, we just gained a lot more confidence in what we're seeing on the buy side of the market. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: Would you qualify that as a reverse inquiry trade or is that not qualified? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: No, that was not a reverse inquiry trade. That was part of a marketing program we had underway, just didn't have any visibility on it to be able to execute it. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: Second follow-up is on retention targeting still 57% for the year. Is that kind of a disappointment to you? I mean, you guys have historically seen retention targets rise over the course of the year. How do you feel about retention kind of staying for this quarter? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Rich, I think disappointing but I think a little bit of a continuum of recent trends where some of our larger corporate clients are still kind of going through this downsizing, rightsizing. You look at a tenant, still hasn't fully vacated yet, but a big impact on our retention is site tour down in the Toll Road Carter, given us back 110,000 square feet. Now, we've been successful in re-letting that space. But from a retention statistic, it has a negative impact. We've got 22 tenants north of 10,000 square feet still kind of in our will vacate column for the duration of the year. Our hope would be that we can ultimately convince some of the tenants less than 10,000 square feet to ultimately change their mind and continue to kind of work the tenant expansions, which has a positive impact on the retention calculation. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: If I could just quickly say, the $0.02 operating improvement – I know I'm on my third question, so I apologize, but a real quick – no change to your same-store range though for 2012, you're just saying top end of that range now basically? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: Yeah, I mean, that would be correct. It's a function of the additional million dollars we added to the leasing plan, the somewhat better expense profile in the first quarter and then just a lot of little stuff, but not big enough yet to move us outside the range we outlined earlier. Operator: Dave Rodgers, RBC Capital Markets. David Rodgers - RBC Capital Markets: Just talking about some of the dispositions that you had chatted about earlier in the call in the Q&A. What would cause you to kind of to maybe hit the high end of that range or could we see you increase the range again this year in terms of total disposition activity if pricing is right and would you need to see alternative investment opportunities, or you'd be happy holding more cash maybe going into the end of the year? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Look, I mean, there are two things that could drive the – towards the upper end of that guidance as we do acquisitions and we do better than we are anticipating right now on the lease executions and NOI generation during the year certainly to the extent that the sales target exceeds the 175 without having a corollary redeployment of that that would create some downward pressure for sure. David Rodgers - RBC Capital Markets: Can you quantify the impact of the mild weather maybe this quarter and then versus when you think last year first quarter to second quarter, the type of the impact that you saw this year was it anything meaningful in FFO? George D. Johnstone - SVP, Operations and Asset Management: Clearly our operating expenses were lower than we had originally projected due to the lack of snow. Also keep in mind that the snow expense for us has roughly a 60% reimbursement associated with it, so about 40% of the expense that was not incurred fell at the bottom line. David Rodgers - RBC Capital Markets: Then I guess your ability or willingness to take on more value add, I think I heard you talk about in the context of DC and I don’t know if you addressed it more broadly. But just the aggressiveness with what you might be willing to take on more value add if in fact the leasing activity does continue to pick up as you feel it might throughout the course of the year? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Well that’s purely a market-by-market analysis. I mean, as the 3020 Market acquisition was purely a value add. Its action is sub marked with a less than 5% vacancy factoring and we’re 100% leased. Plymouth Meeting, that was a unique opportunity to acquire a very well construct and design building right within the heart of our Plymouth Meeting Executive Campus. We felt though given the leasing velocity the need for tenant expansions we were saying that was a glove fit to our portfolio. When you look, you look beyond that. I think it has to be an evaluation point on what our portfolio looks like in that marketplace. For example in Southern New Jersey, or Northern Virginia where we still are facing our own internal headwinds, and have paid a very different pricing metric we would evaluate to take on any additional risk in that market. So, we like opportunities where our leasing teams and regional management teams can really create value for us through a effective buy, but I think we are very mindful of balancing that capital return with the return we will be getting from our existing assets in those markets that are probably facing the same leasing headwinds to substantial acquisitions. Operator: Michael Knott, Green Street Advisors. Michael Knott - Green Street Advisors: I'd just like to make an addendum to John Guinee's question, your commentary that that was a non-traded REIT buyer I believe. Can you guys comment on pre-rent trends in the market, it seems like the direct capital leasing costs are fairly steady, but just curious how that part of it is trending? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: Yeah, look, I think it clearly is on every tenant's wish list. Basically to cover moving costs, wiring cabling and sometimes furniture or things along those lines that they need to come out of pocket for – it ranges anywhere from one to two months per lease year depending on the market and the overall capital investment that we are making on physical improvements. We've started to see a little bit of a trend even on renewals where the introduction of free rent has now be become part of the equation, but not necessary on an every deal basis. Michael Knott - Green Street Advisors: Can you just remind us what are sort of the standard free rent periods for new and renewals? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: One or two months per lease year typically on a new deal. Michael Knott - Green Street Advisors: Then on the redevelopment asset that you bought there in the (Philly) suburbs sort of the stabilized cap rate or value per pound would be upon stabilization, if you're going to be all-in at 180 a foot and 11 yield what was the hypothetically if you were going to flip that stabilized asset in the future what's sort of the ballpark figure there, just curious out of the 180 and when compared to a stabilized value and sort of full replacement costs? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Depending upon the level of finishing the building like that, in kind of the 70% to 80% replacement cost calculation. So from that standpoint it was also a very good transaction for us. Look the property location in the Plymouth meeting market which we as we called as far as Crescent suburban class is one of the higher investment submarkets in the buildup of your region. So, we certainly think that delivering that asset is an 11% free and clear return, fully loaded creates a lot of value for the company. Michael Knott - Green Street Advisors: Last question, even though your stock has had a nice run this year it still trades about 15% below our NAV estimate. So just curious as the and to increase dispositions and not explicitly target additional acquisitions is part of you plan to get out of that box so to speak that you've been in for quite a while I would say? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: We're doing everything we can to move our stock up to at least net asset value and we think a lot of leasing activity of the last couple of years in particular last six quarters has really done a lot to move our NAV up, particularly when you take a look at the ability to fill up the empty space. So, we're very mindful of both current and intermediate term projected NAV. As a consequence, if you recall, on our last earnings discussion we talked about that with stock pricing at the levels that we're at, we certainly would not be using our ATM program, or any other equity issuances, as that would be aiding in our deleveraging plan, but certainly creating a detrimental effect on our net asset value. So we're hopeful that the continued acceleration of leasing through our portfolio will help our stock price get caught up to our current NAV and once we continue to demonstrate that we can outperform our markets and the general bias on leasing velocity in suburban office space becomes more positive, that that NAV will continue to rise in conjunction with our improved NOI. Operator: Steve Sakwa, ISI Group. Steve Sakwa - ISI Group: Just one quick question. The $50 million of securities on the balance sheet, could you tell us what those are? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: Steve, it's Howard. We looked at our cash balances and realized we had more cash than we would reasonably need in 2012, and we've taken the opportunity to purchase a number securities maturing in that instance, November 2013 others in October, some in January, just to improve the yield on the cash balances above what's available in the money market accounts. Operator: Young Ku, Wells Fargo Securities. Young Ku - Wells Fargo Securities LLC: In terms of your 2013 lease expirations you know it's still kind of early in 2012 but are there any major move outs that you guys are anticipating? George D. Johnstone - SVP, Operations and Asset Management: We have a few that we are tracking. I guess for the largest probably with Intel in our Austin operation who were currently talking to about retaining some of the space and have an identified pipeline for taking the remainder and/or potentially all of the space. It is a little bit early we have been talking to several of the 13 expirations and they are probably the most notable on the potential move out with. Young Ku - Wells Fargo Securities LLC: How big was that Intel space? George D. Johnstone - SVP, Operations and Asset Management: About 164,000 square feet. The interesting thing about the Intel space is we did a three year renewal with them at midway the height of the crises and the rest of rate that they are paying is well below existing market. So, given the pipeline of leasing activity our local team has in place that's actually one of those opportunities we are looking forward to. Young Ku - Wells Fargo Securities LLC: Just one other question about your investment opportunities. In terms of the types of products that you guys are looking for on the stabilized side, what kind of cap rate are the assets – are they trading at right now? Thomas E. Wirth - EVP, Portfolio Management and Investments: The assets we are looking at they are kind of in the – if we are looking in the district and kind of those target markets we are looking out we are seeing them in the 7% to 8% range, and inside the district, below that. There would have to be a story to tell on those type of cap rates in terms of IRR, because we are pretty much IRR driven. So, the cap rate doesn't necessarily tell the whole story, but that’s kind of where the cap rates we’re seeing are now in that market. That’s one. If you look at Austin, which is the other market where leases trades, so you can get an idea, that’s pretty much in I think 7% cap rate range. Operator: Ross Nussbaum, UBS. Ross Nussbaum - UBS: One quick question. The 110 million of land that you guys have sitting on the book, how much of that do you really think you’re going to monetize over the next year or two? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: I think we have a number of parcels under planning and approval processes for alternative uses. So, I think our target would be to do about – this is a rough word of magnitude, subject to political climate and local zoning ordinances – of about a third of that in the next couple of years. Ross Nussbaum - UBS: Roughly speaking, relative to book value, if you're going to rezoning for multi-family, do you think at the end of the day that it’s worth more than book? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: We do. Ross Nussbaum - UBS: How much more? Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Well, we’re not going to give you a number on that, Ross, but we actually think – the reason we are going down this path is we think it’s a higher best value for the land. I think as we move through the process and demonstrate some results, I think my observation will be proven out. Operator: Richard Anderson, BMO Capital Markets. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: Can you just give us, Howard, kind of a rough – I emailed you this, so with regard to this email, the preferred dividends for the second quarter and what they would be a more run rate basis? I assume that there is a lag time, so the second quarter might be a little funky. Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: The second quarter actually has a little bit of a double dividend in itself as we pay about – and all of that's captured in the guidance, we pay I think about $0.09 stub in closing out the preferred C shares, paid on the liquidation – on the redemption date. Then again subject to declaration which we obviously fully expect, the Series E shares will get their first dividend in mid-July on the regular cycle. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: So, the number should be – the second quarter should be the same in terms of preferred dividends and then you start a new in the third quarter. Is that right? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: I think the second quarter Series E dividend will be slightly elevated because it's settled on April 11, but I don't have the exact math in front of me. There is a little bit of a stub period one way or the other given its settlement date from an issuance standpoint, but nothing material. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: Do you have a full year preferred dividend number? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: That would be 6.9% of $25. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: Well, no. I mean, okay... Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: One of us could calculate. Richard Anderson - BMO Capital Markets: I got it, that's easy. You said the charge – I thought you said that the charge was about $0.015, is that right in the second quarter? Howard M. Sipzner - EVP and CFO: Yes, the write-off of the costs which have been booked to the equity section for the Series C, which are now expensed upon redemption are about $2.1 million. Operator: At this time, there are no further questions. Gerard H. Sweeney - President and CEO: Excellent. Thank you again very much for participating in the call. We look forward to seeing you at our June event. Thank you. Operator: Thank you for participating in today's conference call. You may now disconnect.
Top 100 Long Island baseball players Danny Aguilo, Elmont, P, Jr.: Tied a state record with 21 strikeouts in a no-hitter last year as a sophomore. Had a 4-2 record with 66 strikeouts in 40 innings. Chris Anderson, West Islip, P, Sr.: Part of excellent 1-2 pitching punch at West Islip. Three-year starter who was 4-1 with three saves last year. Had 41 strikeouts in 35 innings. Anthony Annunziata, Eastport/South Manor, 2B, Sr.: A senior second baseman with great range, who also hit .430 with 23 RBI. Mat Annunziata, Eastport-South Manor, 3B, Soph.: The All-State selection, who batted .440 with 6 home runs and 30 RBI. Very athletic and hits with power to all fields. He is a D-I blue chip recruit. Chris Appell, Clarke, P, Sr.: He batted .410 with 15 doubles and 21 RBI. He was also 4-0 on the mound with a 2.74 ERA and 31 K’s in 23 innings. Matt Ballone, West Babylon, 2B, Sr.: Four-year varsity starter, who hit .435 with 5 home runs and 15 stolen bases. He had three walk off hits last year and helped West Babylon win first league title in 12 years. Brian Bilello, Lynbrook, C, Sr.: All-Conference who batted .419 with 3 home runs and 29 RBI. Headed to Concordia College. Joe Booker, Port Jefferson, CF, Jr.: He slammed six home runs and drove in 25 runs as a sophomore. Nick Bottari, Shoreham-WR, 1B, Soph.: One of Long Island’s blue chip prospects, batted .500 as a freshman with 32 hits, 25 RBI, .812 slugging percentage. Patrick Bryant, Center Moriches, P, Soph.: Athletic, hard-throwing right with mid 80’s fastball, who can play any infield position. Ralph Caccavale, Plainedge, SS, Sr.: Moves from second base to shortstop where he made three errors in 104 chances. Batted .365 with 17 RBI and 15 stolen bases. James Carr, Manhasset, C, Sr.: He hit .410 with 22 hits, 10 stolen bases and 18 RBI for the Indians. Brian Castles, Sachem East, SS, Sr.: All-County selection, who batted .434 with a 523 on base percentage. Joe Chiaramonte, MacArthur, P, Sr.: He had a 5-2 record with a 1.41 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 44.2 innings pitched. Will Cheshire, MacArthur, CF, Sr.: All-County selection that batted .397 with 9 doubles and 3 triples. John Colby, Hauppauge, CF, Sr.: Quickness helps him cover a lot of ground and he batted .351 with 10 extra base hits. Among the very best OF’s on Long Island this year. Christian Colletti, South Side, P, Sr.: Struck out 55 in 44 innings with a 2.55 ERA. Transferred from Holy Trinity and flourished. Mike Columbi, Center Moriches, P, Soph.: Excellent all-around athlete that struck out 32 in 39 innings as a freshman. Terrence Connelly, Chaminade, SS, Sr. : First player in 14 years and 4th player in 86-year history of Chaminade baseball to play varsity as a sophomore. Batted .371 and made only three errors in 127 chances last season. He’ll attend UNC-Wilmington. Ryan Craig, Smithtown East, P, Sr.: Hard-throwing righty who will attend Belmont Abbey. Matt Crohan, Riverhead, P, Sr.: The 6-2, 195-pound hard-throwing lefthander, with a fastball clocked between 85-88 mph. Had a 2-1 record and a 1.50 ERA as a sophomore. Justin Cusano, Smithtown East, P, Sr.: Another of LI’s outstanding pitchers, who was 5-1 last year. Mixes three pitches and is very smart. Has committed to Adelphi. Anthony Dedona, Bethpage, C, Sr.: Finished junior season with home runs in three straight games. Had .393 average, 6 homers and 26 RBI. Joe Devito, St. John the Baptist, SS, Sr.: He batted .385 as a junior and he’s a slick fielder. Nick DiSanza, West Babylon, CF, Sr.: The four-year starter has tremendous speed, a 6.58 60-yard dash, and can play multiple positions. Will attend Odessa JC in Texas. Mark Donadio, Mt. Sinai, C, Jr.: All-State selection who batted .388 with 31 hits and 32 RBI and 20 runs scored. Mike Donadio, Mt. Sinai, SS, Jr.: All-County selection with a .373 average, 24 RBI, 22 runs scored. John Dondero, East Islip, CF, Sr.: Speedy centerfielder, who batted .370 with 22 RBI last year. Will attend Queens College. Nick Duarte, Port Washington, C, Jr.: One of Nassau’s outstanding backstops, who batted .316 last season as a sophomore. Gregg Egan, St. John the Baptist, P, Sr.: One of top pitchers in CHSAA. Opened season with 1-0 shut out of Chaminade. James English, Smithtown West, P, Sr.: The Suffolk League III Pitcher of the Year as a junior. Overpowering fastball. Jake Faraci, Plainview JFK, P, Sr.: Four-year varsity starter who had a 1.17 ERA as a junior. Brandon Fischer, Northport, P, Sr.: The righty was 5-1 with an ERA of 2.05. He’ll be the staff ace. Chris Gaffney, St. John the Baptist, C, Jr.: Considered by many to be a top defensive prospect. Quick release, blocks and receives well. Charles Galiano, Commack, C, Sr.: The All-Suffolk backstop batted .368 with 5 home runs, 12 doubles and 22 RBI. He has excellent blocking and receiving skills. Andruw Gazzola, Longwood, SS, Soph.: All-League I as a freshman, hits to all fields, batted .355 with 14 RBI. Soft hands in the infield with plus arm. Jordan Goldman, West Babylon, SS, Sr.: Rangy middle infielder with strong arm, who batted .345 last season for Suffolk League IV champions. Billy Goncalves, Eastport/South Manor, P, Sr.: The 6-5, 255-pounder slammed 4 home runs and hit .355 for the Sharks. He is also imposing on the mound. He’ll attend Dowling College. Dave Groeneveld, St. Anthony’s, 1B, Sr.: Batted .370 with two home runs as a junior. He has power to all fields. Joe Guercio, Kings Park, P, Jr.: The 6-3, 185-pound righthander finished with a 7-1 record and one save while compiling a 1.58 ERA. Struck out 47 in 53 innings. Robbie Healey, East Meadow, SS, Sr.: All-County selection, who batted .465. Excellent range and strong arm at shortstop. Matt Hinchy, Miller Place, SS, Sr.: He was hitting over .500 when his season ended due to injury. Big time athlete. Sam Ilario, West Islip, OF, Soph.: A dynamite hitter, with a .423 average and 20 RBI as a freshman. Mike Jeannetti, Island Trees, P, Sr.: He’s a three-year starter who batted .341 with 3 home runs and 18 RBI. Had a 7-3 record with 66 innings pitched, a school record, 80 strikeouts and 1.79 ERA. Cody Johnson, North Shore, P, Sr.: Recorded a 10-4 record with 114 strikeouts in 92 innings and a 1.17 ERA. Struck out 17 in a one-hit win over Manhasset. He is headed to Fordham University. Alex Katz, Herricks, P, Sr.: The hard-throwing lefty struck out 49 batters in 23.2 innings. He struck out 15 in six innings a one-hit performance over MacArthur. He is headed to St. John’s University. Nick Kaywood, MacArthur, 3B, Sr.: Led the Generals with 28 RBI and a .354 batting average. Bryce Keller, Port Washington, P, Jr.: Had a 1.89 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 37 innings and three complete games as a junior. Doug Kraeger, Kellenberg, 1B, Sr.: Power hitter at 6-3, 210 pounds, who batted .293 with 13 RBI as a junior. Will attend the University of Richmond. Alex Kucich, Friends Academy, C, Sr.: Team captain who batted .380 as a junior for Quakers. Jake Kurz, St. Anthony’s, P, Sr.: Hard-throwing righty with command of three pitches, the staff ace. Brian Lau, Oceanside, C, Jr.: Batted .295 as a sophomore and lauded for his defensive skills. David Leiderman, Bellmore JFK, 2B, Sr.: He batted .470 with 21 RBI and three game-winning hits. He is headed to Hofstra University. Vin Maietta, St. Mary’s, SS, Sr.: Sure handed middle infielder with strong arm. Range is biggest asset. Tyler Manez, Plainedge, P, Sr.: A Newsday All-Long Island second team selection, struck out 81 in 41 innings and had a 6-1 record. He will play at Elon University in North Carolina. Anthony Martelli, Valley Stream North, SS, Jr.: Leader of a young team, had three wins as a sophomore, and a .335 batting average. Lenny Martinez, Division, 2B, Sr.: Hit .309 with 18 RBI as Division earned the LI Class A title. P.J. Martino, Patchogue-Medford, P, Soph: Crafty pitcher with four pitches, who will emerge as No. 2 starter for Raiders. Louis Matarazzo, South Side, 3B, Jr.: Big time hitter with .475 average, 6 home runs and 31 RBI a year ago. Dalton McCarthy, Eastport/South Manor, 1B, Sr.: The return of 6-7, 225-pound senior first baseman, who missed all of last season, is a boost to a lineup. Ryan McCormack, Massapequa, P, Sr.: Power pitcher at 6-3 who can overpower teams. Will play at St. John’s and has much upside. Brian McKean, Connetquot, P, Jr.: Versatility a plus. Excellent righty with mid 80’s fastball and a plus curveball. Batted .346 as sophomore. Billy McLean, Wheatley, C, Soph.: Versatile player who hit .400 as a freshman. Cody McPartland, Miller Place, P, Soph.: He was 6-2 with a 1.36 ERA as a freshman. Big and strong pitcher, with mid 80’s fastball. Louis Mele, Island Trees, 3B, Jr.: Another standout for the Bulldogs who can swing it to a .400 average and play the hot corner. Steve Miller, Plainedge, 1B, Sr.: All-County selection batted .527 and set a school record for hits with 39. The big-time hitter had 4 home runs and 37 RBI and will attend York College (PA). Rob Moore, Longwood, SS, Sr.: Regarded as a natural hitter with a .377 average and 21 runs scored as a junior. Headed to pay for St. Peter’s next year. Frank Moscatiello, Rocky Point, So., P: Righty with command of three pitches, including heavy fastball and dominant curveball. Dan Muller, Garden City, OF, Sr.: He hit .392 with 12 RBI and 14 stolen bases. Mike Napolitano, Hauppauge, C, Sr.: Back from shoulder surgery and hitting with power to all fields. Quick release, one of LI’s better arms. Seth Noreman, Plainview JFK, DH, Sr.: Had Tommy John surgery but he will hit for the Hawks. Had four home runs and a .310 average as a junior. Mike O’Reilly, Shoreham-Wading River, P, Sr.: The first team Newsday All-Long Island selection compiled a 9-0 pitching record, 1.93 ERA and struck out 93 in 57 innings. He’s headed to Flagler College in Florida. Dave Palmer, East Islip, P, Soph.: The 6-4 righty is in his third year of varsity ball, with a mid 80’s fastball and excellent curveball. Jack Parenty, Holy Trinity, 2B, Sr.: CHSAA Player of the Year who batted .423 with 23 stolen bases. Four-year starter headed to Stony Brook University. Matt Phillips, Floral Park, IF, Sr.: Three-year starter and All-Conference selection who hit .414 and only struck out three times. Tyler Piccolo, Rocky Point, SS, Jr.: He batted .410 with two home runs and 18 RBI and 15 stolen bases. Lukas Pracher, Manhasset, SS, Jr.: All-County selection, smooth infielder with soft hands, who started as a freshman. T.J. Riccio, Comsewogue, C, Sr.: Excellent all-around catcher will attend New Haven. Billy Reidel, Glenn, C, Jr.: All-League selection who batted .340 with 25 RBI. Mike Rizzitello, Connetquot, C, Sr.: Hit .358 with 21 runs scored and 18 RBI as a junior. Will attend Dowling College. Kevin Roach, MacArthur, P, Sr.: Will be counted on to compliment Joe Chiaramonte in starting rotation that can win county title. Alex Robinson, Holy Trinity, Sr., P: Big lefty with a 90-plus fastball, who threw a no-hitter against St. Anthony’s while striking out 17. He was 6-1 with 70 strikeouts in 40 innings and an ERA of 1.40. He will play at University of Maryland. Billy Rombauts, East Islip, OF, Jr.: He hit .340 with 17 RBI and will be a key to the Redmen running to the Suffolk League III title. Anthony Rosati, Holy Trinity, P, Sr.: Powerful righthander transferred from St. John the Baptist and sat out his junior year. Working with former major leaguer Neal Heaton, has command of a 90-plus fastball, changeup and a curveball. He will play at St. John’s University. C.J. Schildt, Hauppauge, P, Sr.: He’ll be the staff ace after a 6-3 junior campaign with two saves and a 2.75 ERA. He also batted .427 with 35 hits and 20 RBI. Noah Shullman, Bellmore JFK, SS, Sr.: One of county leaders with .575 average and seven home runs. Joey Schultheis, Bethpage, P, Sr.: Hit .439 with 22 RBI and two home runs as a junior. Justin Schwartz, West Babylon, P, Sr.: In Eagles starting rotation since he was a freshman, Was 5-1 last year, including shut out over Hills West. Joe Siringo, Oyster Bay, P, Sr.: The hard-throwing righty pitched in back-to-back Long Island Class B championships. The Newsday All-Long Island second teamer struck out 153 batters in 74 innings and has a 15-1 overall record over two years. He is headed to Sacred Heart. Ken Skon, Lindenhurst, 1B, Sr.: He batted .508 with 24 RBI, 23 runs scored as a junior. The big hitter can hit for power to all fields. Dan Smith, Miller Place, 1B, Sr.: Led Long Island with 9 home runs and batted .476 as a junior. Harry Smith, Carey, CF, Sr.: He had four home runs and 21 RBI and a .361 average as a junior. Stephen Stafford, Plainview JFK, P, Sr.: Had a 4-1 record with a 2.13 ERA and opponents only hit .167 against him. Luke Stampfl, Hills West, P, Jr.: He had an unreal sophomore year batting .506. He added a 1.70 ERA on the hill – major prospect. Christian Stancavage, West Islip, P, Sr.: Had a 4-3 record, and all three losses were by one run. The three-year starter had a 2.15 ERA. Dylan Steigerwald, St. John the Baptist, SS, Jr.: Smooth middle infielder, with excellent range and strong arm. A defensive delight. Anthony Tesoriero, East Rockaway, 3B, Sr.: He struck out 35 in 35 innings and added a .340 batting average with 10 RBI and 19 runs scored. Tyler Theiss, Deer Park, C, Soph.: Batted .476 with 15 doubles and 23 RBI for Falcons. Cannon for an arm behind the dish. Dominic Torres, Uniondale, C, Sr.: All-County selection who batted .450 with 27 RBI as a junior. Chris Tracz, Plainview JFK, C, Soph.: A lefthanded hitting catcher with tremendous power. Rifle arm and excellent receiving skills. A D-I prospect. Frank Trimarco, Calhoun, P, Sr.: All-County selection who had a 6-1 pitching record as a junior. Ricardo Tross, Elmont, 2B, Sr.: He had a 5-2 record last season with a 2.97 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 31 innings. Chris Trotta, Seaford, 3B, Sr.: Three-year starter, who had 20 RBI, 27 hits, 15 runs scored and a .422 average. Vin Valela, Lindenhurst, 2B, Sr.: Sweet lefty swing, who batted .423 with an on base percentage of .555. Danny Vargas, Deer Park, C, Soph.: Pure hitter with power to all fields. Moved to Deer Park via Brooklyn. Watch out for this great athlete with all five tools. Tom Viverito, Calhoun, OF, Sr.: Sweet swinging outfielder, that hit .400 and added a 5-0 pitching record. Matt Vogel, Patchogue-Medford, P, Jr.: Pre-season All America selection and Newsday first team All-Long Island. Righty with 90-plus fastball and full repertoire, who had a 9-1 record and 0. 34 ERA as a sophomore. Struck out 103 batters in 61 innings. Early verbal commit to Division I powerhouse South Carolina. Max Watt, Babylon, P, Sr.: Righty Max Watt, who was 5-3 with 4 saves and a 1.98 ERA and had 69 strikeouts in 57 innings. Craig Weber, Mineola, OF, Jr.: He had 24 hits, a .421 average and 15 RBI. Two-time All-Conference selection. Alex Weingarten, Lynbrook, P, Sr.: All-Conference selection who was 5-2 with a 1.20 ERA. He went a stretch of 28 innings without giving up an earned run, including a 14 strikeout game against Lawrence. He finished the season with 66 strikeouts in 52 innings. Greg Weissert, Bay Shore, P, Jr.: Marauders top pitcher with command of four pitches and mid 80’s fastball. Versatile athlete. Greg Welch, Wantagh, OF, Sr.: He batted .422 and struck out an average of 1.5 batters per inning for the Warriors. Brad Witkowski, Lindenhurst, SS, Jr.: Had a 5-1 record as a sophomore with a 1.28 ERA and a 0.96 whip. The staff ace for sure. Steve Woods, Hills East, P, Jr.: He batted .362 as a sophomore but his contributions came on the mound with 23 strikeouts in 18 innings. Think a baseball player from your school is deserving? Email Gregg Sarra at [email protected]. Don't forget to 'catch' a list of the Top 25 catchers on Long Island, coming this Easter weekend.
UPDATE AT 3:35 P.M. -- I've added some more names to the list after the Nats announced this afternoon the signings of J.D. Martin, Matt Chico, Carlos Maldonado and Kevin Barker to minor-league contracts and spring training invitations issued to Derek Norris, Jhonatan Solano and Josh Wilkie... Since pitchers and catchers report in a mere 11 days, and since there have been some non-roster additions in the last week, this seems an appropriate time to run through the Nationals' depth chart at each position. There will still be more names added to the list in the next 11 days, as more invitations are extended to big-league camp. But hopefully this helps give everyone a good sense of where the Nats stand at the moment... CATCHER Ivan Rodriguez Wilson Ramos Jesus Flores Carlos Maldonado Derek Norris Jhonatan Solano FIRST BASE Adam LaRoche Michael Morse Matt Stairs Chris Marrero Michael Aubrey Kevin Barker SECOND BASE Danny Espinosa Jerry Hairston Alberto Gonzalez Alex Cora Brian Bixler SHORTSTOP Ian Desmond Alberto Gonzalez Jerry Hairston Alex Cora Brian Bixler THIRD BASE Ryan Zimmerman Alberto Gonzalez Jerry Hairston Alex Cora Michael Morse Brian Bixler LEFT FIELD Roger Bernadina Michael Morse Rick Ankiel Jerry Hairston Matt Stairs Laynce Nix Jeff Frazier Jonathan Van Every CENTER FIELD Nyjer Morgan Jerry Hairston Jayson Werth Roger Bernadina Rick Ankiel Laynce Nix Corey Brown Bryce Harper Jonathan Van Every RIGHT FIELD Jayson Werth Michael Morse Roger Bernadina Rick Ankiel Matt Stairs Laynce Nix Bryce Harper Corey Brown Jeff Frazier Jonathan Van Every STARTING PITCHERS Livan Hernandez Jason Marquis John Lannan Jordan Zimmermann Tom Gorzelanny Yunesky Maya Ross Detwiler Chien-Ming Wang Craig Stammen Chad Gaudin Luis Atilano Garrett Mock Brian Broderick J.D. Martin Matt Chico Shairon Martis Stephen Strasburg (injured) RELIEF PITCHERS Drew Storen Sean Burnett Tyler Clippard Todd Coffey Henry Rodriguez Doug Slaten Collin Balester Craig Stammen Chad Gaudin Cla Meredith Elvin Ramirez Cole Kimball Adam Carr Atahualpa Severino Josh Wilkie Joe Bisenius Ryan Mattheus Tim Wood 103 comments: Exactly how many players are being invited to Spring Training? In 2009, the Nats invited 89 players, and what a disasterous season ensued. In the old days, Spring Training was meant for members on the 40 man roaster, and not that much more. Maybe there should be a mini-camp between the World Series and Spring Training. I just don't see how these guys how Rizzo and Riggleman are going to get this team ready to play with so many guys vying for playing time. Where am I wrong? I'm looking forward to seeing how the team shapes up this spring. What do you see as the major battles to make a spot, Mark? Mark, looking at the depth chart, your thoughts on the rule 5 players? Any chance they make the team or do you think we try to work out trades for them or simply let them return? DCJohn: I would guess there will end up being around 60-65 players in camp. That's about normal. Most are the guys who will end up at Syracuse and Harrisburg. Since full minor-league camp doesn't usually begin until early-to-mid-March, there's nowhere for those players to be for the first couple weeks of the spring. So a couple weeks in big-league camp is good for them, even if they have no shot of making the Opening Day roster. Original Nats Fan: The biggest roster battles, to me, will be the No. 2 catcher (Ramos vs. Flores), the last spot or two in the bullpen (Balester, Rodriguez, Stammen, Gaudin, Ramirez and others) and the last spot on the bench (Gonzalez, Cora, Stairs, maybe Nix). SCNatsFan: I think both Rule 5 guys (Elvin Ramirez and Brian Broderick) face very long odds to make the Opening Day roster. Just too much depth in front of them. If either has a great spring, I could see the Nats trying to work out a trade to keep one or both. Mark: In all seriousness and with sincerity, thanks for keeping early February interesting. I'm hoping Harper gets 100% of the best rookie treatment our vets can throw at him, and that he handles it like a humble and respectful rookie. I'm hoping Corey Brown blows peoples doors off and make Rizzo really re-think his commitment to Nyjer. I'm hoping Coffey and HRod throw strikes and solidify their status as potential late innings guys. I'm hoping Espinosa shows he's ready to face MLB pitching every day. I'm hoping Pudge pulls a groin and misses a ton of time so Flores and Ramos can have a chance to show what they can do. (sorry Pudge) I'm hoping CMW at least shows enough that we can be confident that he'll pitch some decent MLB ball in 2011. And I'm hoping when the Nats play the Yankees in spring training that JMax plays 9, bangs out base hits, runs down balls has sleeps with a smile on his face all night long. To be fair Sunderland, the stock pile of guys who can play center field in a pinch suggests that Rizzo doesn't have that much faith in Morgan at all. He is more or less untradable, and he has earned a spot in Spring Training but, there seems to be a lot of back-up plans and vague rumours of trades for a replacements. Other than that I agree and will place Ramos, Espinosa and Brown atop my list of guys I am pulling for this spring. About 15 of these guys are fringe major league players whose best chance of being on a big league roster is if MLB decides to add two teams in the American League before Opening Day and bench players are needed. A couple are worse than that. Two or three pitchers are OK (if healthy) but there is no room on the 25-man roster. Those we can keep. The rest, however, it would be nice if Rizzo could trade them all for five guys off Pittsburgh's Rookie League roster and a Perogie to challenge Teddy for last place. And you say there are more names coming? I'm in agreement w/ those who think all this rosterial sclerosis impairs efforts to teach the Nats young players and their knucklehead (singular) the fundamentals of baseball. Send the rest to tour the Space Center until someone sprains a pinkie and a substitute is needed. Interesting that the Nats MLB depth chart site still has Maxwell listed. Somebody needs to do a little maintenance. The depth chart also shows Werth listed third in left field and not listed at all in center. Anyone know who is responsible for the on-line depth chart? @kingfishfarms, Ladson often makes up his own fantasy versions of the Nats roster. No one knows what he is thinking when he does that ... he mostly ends up wrong. Thanks for the answer I would X-out Stairs for any outfield position? Why would you trade Willingham then? The guy can't play the outfield period and if Riggleman puts him out there then shame on him. First base maybe ... he's just a "DH" bench pinch hitter that gets pulled for a guy who can field after he is done. thanks, Mark Those are the guys I'll keep a close watch on. There's at least some degree of real depth in every one of these lists -- with the exception of starting pitching. Not to imply that Rizzo didn't try there, but it is the 800 lb. gorilla in the room after all. I notice you only went 3 deep on the C's -- would Norris have been #4? Also, no sign of A Olbrychewski or whatever his name is! I think we'd all agree that J Max simply wasn't able to take advantage of the big league opportunities he was given....but at least he would have made the depth chart! Losing Strasborg is certainly a huge blow for 2011 and question marks abound when it comes to the SP depth chart; very fragile aspect to this team. Again, where's Olbrychewski? Anyone know if he go by Ski or Chewie? Finally, I'm not sure if the analogy is relevant here or not, but in football the amount of players practicing is inversely proportional to the quality of reps for all. The more players, the less the quality. md62red - Olbrychowski is a relief pitcher who split last season between A and AA. This is a list of organizational depth, which includes every player in the organization. Mark lists 17 players as relief pitchers, 7 or 8 of which will make the 25 man roster to start the season, another 7 that will go to AAA and the rest will likely be cut. We traded Maxwell (a AAAA/ML backup tweener) for a prospect. It's not a big deal that he isn't at the top of the organizational depth chart. DCJohn said... ...In 2009, the Nats invited 89 players, and what a disasterous season ensued. r u seriously blaming the 2009 season on the # of ST invitees???!!! SpashCity.....I know it's difficult to see via a blog, but my comments regarding Olbrychowski were purely tongue in cheek! But thanks for clarifying what an organizational depth chart is for me ;-) If Stairs makes the team, I hope MASN has a special camera on Riggs as he tries to adjust his lineup card to insert a PH without a corresponding sub at another position. So hard! Must... double... switch! Finally it would end on how all those injured arms come back. Guys like Detwiler(1-3) Marquis(2-9), Atilano(6-7), Stammen(4-4),Zimmermann(1-2), Mock(0-0) and Wang will really have to show something near 100% of rehab to start to talk about depth. Ben - I too will be pulling for Ramos, Brown and Espi and hope JFlo shows he is back and hoping Desi shows he is the SS of the future. I am hoping Maya and Detwiler have great Springs to give Rizzo & Riggs reason to ponder! To Sunderland, Pudge will do fine to mid-May and then I expect fatigue to set in just like last year. I just hope Rizzo is smart enough to anticipate this. Let's say you were a GM and had a player you weren't too happy with, but at the moment you had no better options, including trading him. Would you a) release him, b) let it be known publicly that you were looking for a replacement and keep playing him, c) publicly act like he's your starter, play him, and hope somebody will be impressed enough to take him off your hands. I think most would answer c). I question people who make the assertion that Mike Rizzo has a "commitment" or an "attachment" to Nyger Morgan. He's simply pursuing strategy c) right now. If anyone he's brought in (Brown perhaps) shows enough for him to believe that he's got someone to replace Morgan, he'll make a move. That's what smart GMs do. MZ said "...pitchers and catchers report in 11 days ...". Gotta be the best job in the world. The second best is watching big leaguers. I'm ready. Enough snow. I'm pleased to see Solano, Norris & Wilkie get NRI status for this year; A couple of weeks' work with the the big-league staff can't hurt their chances for the future (Solano & Wilkie in particular). Sorry to see that Mandel & Milone weren't included. 11 days. Ny effing J er J Jay Juliet N-Y-J-E-R Nyjer Yay. JD Martin is back. And, yes, I'm serious. That said, the point is a good, if a you-would-like -to-think-was-obvious-but-you-know-better, one. Regarding committment to Nyjer, recall that last year Nyjer never came out as a result of a double switch, the one thing he and Zimmerman had in common last year. People think the Nats might plays Bernadina in CF, but they had Bernie last year and he got time in CF only when Nyjer was hurt in August and suspended in September but Nyjer never got pulled on a double switch. If you think that was 100% Riggleman, perhaps. I think Rizzo had influence there. Maybe this year will be different. Obviously db423 you try and make the player seem as valuable as possible. But the Nats showed committment to Nyjer last year above and beyond what he deserved. That might end in a couple weeks. It might not. Sunderland -- It's late in the day but: the principal objective of the double switch is to avoid the situation where the pitcher leads off or bats early in the upcoming ABs. That way there is no reason to pinch hit and burn a reliever after a third (or two-thirds) of an inning. Morgan as the (nominal) lead-off man, bats immediately behind the pitcher's spot. So, you don't double switch and put New Hurler in the lineup immediately behind where Old Hurler would have been -- but for the switch -- leading off. Accordingly, the lead off man, i.e., Morgan, is the last guy for whom the manager would be inclined to make a switch. If Morgan was never double-switched, that's hardly surprising and means nothing about "commitment." @Theophilus: A good point, that Sunderland may have overlooked. The leadoff hitter in a starting lineup is the most immune to a double-switch, as he follows the #9 slot (usually the pitcher) in a given lineup. With the defensive improvements the Nationals could field this year, maybe Riggleman will become less likely to empty the bench with double-switch moves this season. Last year, he seemed to be constantly thinking on the defensive side of things; In 2011, the defense looks a lot less shaky in late-inning situations (RZim-Werth-LaRoche-Espinosa) than last year (RZim-Morse-Dunn-Guzman). Mark, do scouts believe Bryce Harper has the athleticism to play center field? If he could that would be pretty amazing to have the best power hitter in the game in center. Mark, do scouts believe Bryce Harper has the athleticism to play center field? I understand Rizzo, Clark, and Kline plan to try him there in Hagerstown and Potomac. The Nats do plan to have Harper working out in center field some this spring. They don't know if long-term he'll be able to play the position, but they certainly want to see how he handles it at this point. Harper in CF. Visions of ca. 1955-56, Mays, Mantle and Snider playing CF in NY. Agree with Theo!! Mantle came up as a 19 year old in 51. I am reading "The Last Boy" about Mickey. Did you guys know he made 55 errors at shortstop in C ball the year before they brought him up. Moved him to CF that spring and he wore #6 in his first few months before being sent down to Kansas City. When he came back up in August 6 had been given away and he had #7 from then on. Theophilus / BinM: Of course that makes sense the first time Riggleman double switches. It does not come into play on subsequent double switches. Regardless, IMO, Nyjer was shown well more respect and commitment from the Nats in 2010 than he earned. (That I may have overlooked! Puhlease) Ok so I am trying to be positive here....Lots of improvement in defense and athleticism. Lots of improvement by subtraction from the days of Kennedy and Guzman and Lopez and Billiard before them.....Gone are the days of Williams and Reeding and Mike B (bonds home run guy)......BUT.....Livo, Jason M. and Lannan......that is just inexcusable to go into the season with those 3 as your 1, 2, and 3 Starters.....NOBODY has a worse pitching staff than that....NOBODY! And yes those three are an improvement over 207/2008 cattle calls but this is 2011 and fans have a right to expect more than those days....a lot more and that starting pitching is just asking to be clobbered. Nyjer came in and lit this place up in '08. So maybe he had a bad year. I had a bad year once. Let's see how he does, because he is a real plus when he's on. 2009........for 5 weeks.....this is just like the people who are going to say Lannan and Jason M.....both looked OK in Sept of last year.....Morgan's body of work is consistently bad.....especially against LH pitching....Jason M is done and Lannan is OK as a # 5 not an opening day pitcher....Livo is who he is.....a long reliever who you can plug in anywhere as a rubber arm....Opening day starter...top of the rotation guy.....joke. JayB, of course as we all know it's about performance, not predictions. It's also about pitching, not solely about starters. In 2010, our team ERA of 4.13 was better than 11 other MLB clubs. Even our lousy rotation posted an ERA better than 4 other MLB clubs. So we walk into 2011 with what we have, which looks and feels more promising than 2010. Even you seem to think so. And while we may go through 2011 without a shut down ace, there does seem to be a chance that the guys in the #4 and #5 slots will be better than we had in previous years, right? So is it out of the question that we improve our team ERA in 2011? As crazy as it sounds, if our staff can give up 1 fewer earned run per week, our team ERA would improve enough that we would have placed 12th out of 30 in 2010. Now it's possible our bellpen regresses and does not pitch as well as they did in 2010. But I look up, and I do not see the sky falling. "Regarding committment to Nyjer, recall that last year Nyjer never came out as a result of a double switch" Well, since one of the points of a double switch is to push the pitcher's spot in the batting order as far away as possible, this stands to reason. Nyjer almost always was batting leadoff, so to double switch for him would have moved the pitcher's spot only one spot down. I bet if you checked every game in the whole NL for the last 10 years you probably wouldn't find a case where the player right behind the pitcher in the batting order got double-switched out of a game. Makes no sense. Sunderland, I think maye you and Jayb are looking at different skies, with different pies in them. You seem to be saying they'll be better than we've seen lately, and maybe approach .500, which is a far more likely outcome--apple pie. Jayb seems to be saying that rotation will never contend for the division, and that is his standard. Orange pie. Which you don't often see, but is actually pretty good. I know you'll both excuse me if I've inadvertently misstated either of your relative positions. When it's about pie, there are no wrong answers. Feelwood, how many games did Riggleman do only 1 double switch? The first double switch the leadoff guy pretty much never come out, sure. But after that? I'd guess we had 120 games with more than one double switch (is that a goofy estimate?). And Nyjer never got pulled. Riggleman never double switches for defensive purposes. It's always about getting the pitcher out of the game - usually because he doesn't trust the pitcher to get out of a jam, or occasionally to bring in a matchup reliever, or sometimes to pinch hit for the pitcher when a hit is needed to get a rally going. As has been mentioned before, Riggleman needs to start having more trust in his starters to work their way out of jams they have created. That might backfire on him, but really there's no other way to develop the needed toughness in the starting staff. Sink or swim. Separate the wheat from the chaff. Doing that would eliminate many double switches. And no, your estimate of 120 games with multiple double switches is way off the mark. I doubt there were 120 games with even one double switch. Second double switches are so relatively rare that it's not surprising that the the luck of the draw never resulted in Nyjer getting pulled. Oh I think well over 100 games had double switches is them....easy....and yes no bad pie in my view.....Bad Starting pitching but pie no....My point was that it is way past time to be happy with a 5-10 game improvement for Nats team that lost over 300 games in 3 years.....That starting staff clearly will not compete for a division....but it also will not provide enough improvement in record to be respectable to the rest of MLB players next winter. 2006 and 2007 we were told that they were working and spending on the farm to be ready by 2009/10 to compete and win a division in 2011....they are at least 3 years behind with that starting staff. Just holding Lerners accountable here for a bunch of bad decisions they have made and continue to make even today. They must spend on top player development, International FA, MLB FA and Draft......all at the same time....not one and then maybe the other next year.....ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Bad Starting pitching but pie no....My point was that it is way past time to be happy with a 5-10 game improvement for Nats team that lost over 300 games in 3 years.....That starting staff clearly will not compete for a division ... No, we don't know that. Last year, with soft-tossers and control artists at the top of the rotation you knew ... the continuing failures of Mock and Detwiler along with their injuries, Zimmermann recovering from TJ, Stras working his way through the minors. The complete break down of Marquis and Lannan led directly to Livo. This year? Gorzelanny is no slouch and he isn't a soft tosser. Neither is Maya. And Zimmermann is back ... are they all three questions? Sure, but far less questionable than last year's motley group. What you are missing is a bonafide ace to stabilize the rotation. That may still be acquired ... at the very least there still is Strasburg. Given both Mock and Detwiler's loss of velocity last year the injuries clearly affected them. As for Maya the rust showed. Gorzelanny is also an injury (sore arm) risk. Maybe things will be different this year. Maybe ... Maybe....that is no way to build a winning tradition.....And Maya tops out at 90 MPH...he is a bust. Rizzo misjudged the market and then cheaped out after losing out on a true hard throwing Cuban....It amazes me how some people just refuse to see facts. Do I want a better team....you bet....but I am not willing to close my eyes and live a lie. Some time ago I posted a comment concerning the 1989 Orioles, who came into the final Saturday of the season one game out of first in the AL East and finished 87-75. I said something to the effect that, "That staff had a lot of bums." I'm pretty sure no one in the rotation (Milacki, Ballard, Schmidt, D. Johnson, Harnisch) had more than 60 career wins. Actually, upon further research, they had the sixth worst ERA in the AL that year (4.00). The point being, Teddy may never win a race but it is possible to contend with very mediocre pitching. A concession: those Orioles -- back in a day when "The Oriole Way" meant something different than it does now -- had nine fewer errors than any other team in the AL. One way of looking at that: the pitchers were probably worse than their numbers indicated. Maya tops out at 93-94. But he prefers to use the Livo guile ... that's his bread and butter. He is still shaking off the rust ... let's see what he has this spring velocity wise. Its better than hoping that Wang will again average 93.7. It isn't going to happen. I suspect Maya could do that ... but he is a pitcher not a thrower. And its better to be a pitcher not a thrower. The Nats have had more than their share of just "throwers". Zimmermann missed a year w/ arm surgery; Maya missed nearly as much time as a refugee. Zimmermann had previously spent three months in a ML rotation; Maya had zero ML experience. Neither should be judged on their 2010 performance. Experience means things like noticing how the batter has changed his stance -- by a couple of inches -- from the last time you saw him. There were a couple of innings where Maya's curve ball nearly caused a batter's box spinal injury. It's really worth seeing what he can do with a Spring Training and some stability under his belt. Hope you are correct about Maya...He was supposed to hit 94-95 per what he was sold to fans as a :Major International Signing".....After close to 3 months as a professional he looked like a dud to me. We have seen so many false hopes from Nats Pitchers....Ross D is now a soft tossing Chico type....amazing what our player development program does to pitching talent. "We have seen so many false hopes from Nats Pitchers....Ross D is now a soft tossing Chico type....amazing what our player development program does to pitching talent." Someone needs to hold JayB accountable for being an idiot. If Detwiler is tossing soft, it's only when he's been hurt. Nothing to do with the player development program. Just for grins, I took a look at my scorecards for the 20 games where I kept score last season - a fairly representative random sampling of the 81 home games. Of those 20 games, 13 had no double switches by Riggleman (65%), six games had one double switch (30%), and only one game had two double switches (5%). Projected out over a 162 game season, that's 49 games with one double switch and 8 games with two. "I'd guess we had 120 games with more than one double switch" (Sunderland) "Oh I think well over 100 games had double switches is them....easy" (JayB) Dumb and Dumber! sample size error....FW...is that you ABM....as if I don't know.... Ross D whole motion was F'ed with by our PD Staff in 2008....that is when he started losing MPH and then got hurt....look it up it was widely reported.....oh and get a sign on if you are going to be so pompous...and Feel Wood, thanks for taking the time to check that. I knew I was swagging the the amount of double switches (and sort intimated that when I lobbed the 120 number out there). Hard to believe that we double switched only game out of three, but I sure ain't arguing it. If I was that far off, I'll take the Dumb and call it a day. "If I was that far off, I'll take the Dumb and call it a day." Now, *that's* accountability. Good for you, sir. Although I'm not sure that estimate isn't low. I would have guessed over half the games. I'm pretty sure there were more Curly (lineup) Shuffles than Curly W's. OTOH, blowouts generally don't encourage double-switching, so there's a big chunk out of the pool right there. Of course, my opinion plus $5 will get you a venti latte. "sample size error....FW" There are no sample size errors when the entire universe is 162. As they say in the market research biz: "You don't have to eat the whole pot of stew to know what it tastes like." All the double switches stand out because the batters brought in to pinch hit, SUCKED, and their replacements also SUCKED. I'm not as down on Riggleman on his double switches as some (most?) here. Most of the time he was trying to make something out of nothing. JayB needs to start buying his cigarettes at the supermarket. Maya was never sold as "94-95" FB. Cut-and-paste the link below: That clearly states "89-92" and, in his better moments last year, that's what he did. Here's an easier way to count it: how many games did Morse start? That will be approximately how many had the Curly Shuffle. Looking at games in August....Double Switches are running at over 50% so that would sample out to 80 games not 100.....none of us want to spend time on this to prove who is right but it is very likely more double switches than wins.... Rizzo from your link TH...."He's a terrific, poised, capable, major league-caliber pitcher," Rizzo said. "Some of the most successful organizations would like to sign him and put him directly into their rotation. We're one of them.".....I will find the 94-95 quote when I am at Jury Duty next week.....He was very rarely above 90 and sat a 88 most fastballs last year NCog -- Thanks for giving Riggleman credit for trying to make chicken salad out of . . .. The managers with the best records are the ones who did things according to conventional baseball wisdom and didn't screw up the talent they were given to work with. Scoscia's supposed to be a good manager, has had great talent for years, and last year they finished below .500. Did he turn dumb? The kid who's auditioning for the job of son-in-law said about Riggelman, "For the first time, I feel like there's an adult in charge." The idea of JayB on jury duty should encourage capital punishment advocates everywhere. Small sample size...heh...the perfect description of JayB's brain. Maya has been know to throw inside heat (direct translation from Spanish) when he needed to. That would be in the 93-94 range. Last year he averaged 89 shaking off the rust. Still better than Mock and Detwiler. In the majors and advanced leagues the ball has to have both sink and movement to be an effective fastball else its a home run. Clearly Maya trusts his breaking stuff more and so works backwards leading with that stuff and coming in later with the hard stuff. McCatty et al have to spend some time with him and get to know what he can do. He needs to learn about major league hitters, etc. I'm not saying sofa-dude is getting inside my head, but I did go to a coffee shop this afternoon and order a venti latte and some apple pie. Dang it, Sunderland! I managed to deny the pie impulse all day yesterday and now here it is in my face again this morning (as it were). mmmm....pie... Ok, so now that the big game is today, who ya got? I will be rooting for GB, but I think the Steelers win 27-13. ABM...do you ever get tired of attacking people rather than topics? Oh well on Baseball....Mark it would be very interesting to get perspective from those who have been around Nats Spring Trainings for years (like you, fans and.......well Zim I guess. What specific the changes have been accomplished since 2007 to crate a winning expectation? Baseball stuff like routines, Drills, Instruction, Fundamentals, Talent, Accountability, Peer pressures to work hard, leadership from within the clubhouse...that kind of stuff). What do you see this year that indicates winning is the focus. What does Zimm see this year and what does the team still lack as far as a winning attitude from his viewpoint...Zim is much more honest and not a tad bit pissed that Dunn and Hammer is two bromances are gone....I think he will be very willing to tell it like he sees it this spring On Football......having the whole cul de sac over.......local Giant is booming the past 48 hours, hope this helps the economy get going faster.....Steelers win....don't really care much who wins these things until Redskins get back there (never played football so I am just a fan of the game, never offer view on what is wrong with teams, do not have that perspective....baseball I have played through major college program, coached and participated my whole life..that game I know.) A couple of days late, but an interesting article in SI about best and worst team medical results. Best, White Sox and Brewers. Worst, you guessed it, but Carroll gives the Nats a mulligan due to the Expos data. Assume because the budget was absurdly low due to contraction expectation. Well, I'm liking Mexico, as they're leading the series 3-1, and Vinny Castilla was their skipper back in the day. Although, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico are historically strong in the series. Ohhhh...maybe he meant that pointy-ball game? hmmm...Doritos usually has a strong showing, and there those who favor the, um, raw appeal of the Go-Daddy entries. I don't know. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. That's why they play the commercials and all that. :-) --- Les in NC said... Ok, so now that the big game is today, who ya got? Interesting to read in the SI work about what we all knew but had no data on....that is Nats could have done much better with injuries.......Nats medical spending was most likely a big part of the problem back when we all were pointing it out in 2006-9...So was Jimbo's low spending on cheap risky players with a history of injury.....I think much has changed....I hope....still just another data point in the Lerner file on how much of this institutionalized losing approach could have been avoided or at least minimized. Just wondering how many of the NRI players have "opt-out" clauses in their contract? The clause is usually applied to a 'split-value' contract, and allows a player to become a free-agent if not added to the 40- (or 25-man) roster by a certain date. I could see Cora, Gaudin, Nix & Stairs holding that option, but wonder if there are others. BinM -- I would expect most of the NRIs are realistic about their chances of making any big league roster and are really hoping for assignment to the Dominican Summer League, including a bunk and three squares a day. Only Cora and Stairs have a chance of opening this season in Washington. Fangraphs shows that last year, the Nats pitchers spent more time on the average on the DL/games lost than any other team. Last year the Nats were second in games lost due to injury ... Cora and Stairs? Stairs can't field and Cora can't hit. I hope they have improved to the point where they won't need these guys. Still, Cora makes a good infield coach ... something Hairston doesn't have a rep for ... but Hairston is the better player. Dagnabit JayB!!!! Do learning curves not exist in your world???? Any new business starts out with a business plan and while most new businesses fail in their first three years, the ones that survive are the ones that are able to adjust their plan to the things learned in executing that plan. Understanding that one simple premise would make your additions to this blog less inane. Baseball is not a new business Njack....Learning curve is not that step for a new ownership group...that was the point of Stan K.....Lerner's are accountable for their decisions to keep Jimbo and ignore Stan's well documented advice to do things differently. Yep....So they learned. Move on. Well that was the point of the Question to Mark earlier in this post.....What signs will we see in Spring Training that the team has learned. That the focus is on sound baseball and fundementals. I know you spend time their....much more than I do so I would be interested in your view...... and I have seen some signs from last Spring that the days of Lastings and Dukes goofing off during drills with their hats on backwards are gone.....but then you watch them make well over 120 errors again last year and watch pitches look clueless bunting and Morgan being an ass.....and you have still ask yourself....what have the learned and where can you see it in the product. JayB -- To see how much the Nationals (cumulatively, including the Bowden era) have learned, compare the 2005 roster (two pitchers still in the majors, three position players -- including luminaries Nick Johnson and Jose Guillen -- who have started since leaving the team) with this year's. The only way that team won 81 games has already been explored in "Angels in the Outfield." If you had grown up as a Senators fan, you'd understand the true meaning of patience. Or have you noted how much progress Peter Angelos has made on the learning curve? (Theo suspects the baseball experience claimed on JayB's curriculum vitae was of the Negamco or Strat-o-Matic variety. Spin away, meister.) @Theophilus: I was more concerned with the possible lineup for SYR when I posed the question - If either Cora or Stairs finish Spring Training with the Nationals, I'd be very worried. Cora's not in camp just to become a future coach, he's a possible player; Meanwhile Stairs is purely a bat off the bench, offering nothing else at this point, imo. Cora would still a nice 'insurance policy' in SYR, should either Espinosa or Desmond falter or get injured, as long as he can't 'opt-out'. Riggleman & Rizzo would be short-changeing the team with either of these players moving to the 25-man roster; The Nationals don't have the kind of overall talent / depth to carry a pure PH at this point, let alone two. Not true Theo..but you are a funny guy it seems......I have struck out against Roger Clemens...twice in one game in college and played with more than a few players who had long major league careers. That is why I know this team has underperformed year after year and until very recently I hope, allowed players to expect to lose and feel good about it. No I was not a Senators fan....and proud to say so....those of you who think that is some kind of rational to enjoy bad baseball and poorly run franchises.....you sirs are a big part of the problem here in current DC baseball. JayB's learning curve is negative. He gets dumber as time goes by. I wonder if JayB saw this old video clip of Ken Griffey Jr. on MLB Network the other day. Kid was wearing his cap backwards and had a sh*t-eating grin all over his face. The Mariners should have cut him, right JayB? He was never going to make anything of himself in the game. BinM -- With all respect, I think any good team needs a LH pinch-hitter (for historical reference, see Gates Brown or Terry Crowley), to keep the other mgr from IBB-ing your No. 8 hitter (who might be Espinosa or Bernandina, guys w/ extra-base power, and both of whom would be batting LH against a RH pitcher). Last year's LH PH was Harris, who was, as I remember, 0-16 or 0-22 or something similar at one point. I think Stairs is better for the job than Ankiel. I know he didn't do much last year but am hoping he's still got some hits in his bat, and by reputation alone he would make some managers think carefully about their options. I don't think they signed Cora to send him to Syracuse -- the guy is 35 -- although I could be wrong. I don't see both Stairs and Cora making the Opening Day roster -- in both cases I would see Ankiel as the loser. Although for the first few weeks they could get by w/ 11 pitchers, not 12. (Twelve pitchers seems like such a waste of a good roster spot. You seem to end up w/ guy like Bautista who may be useful every now and then but has to be brought in, or warmed up, every day to keep osteoporosis from setting in.) We shall see. Enjoy the SB. BinM makes an interesting point....it goes to the focus of the season and cost of past failures. What is the purpose of this year. Win as much as they can and gain some respect...if so they should carry Stairs to PH. This approach hopefully will lead to a 82 win season and a great winter FA signing season going into 2012. OR is the purpose of this season to continue to try to find some young cheap controlled players that could someday be MLB contributors on a winning team...in that case they would need those spots for Rule 5 types and Maxwell types.....My question to BinM is who the 40 man roster is worth taking that risk with....Brown? I think Rizzo has been clear that he hates watching players learn at the MLB level....Rizzo hates the word Prospect....It is clear to me he is going to try to win now....get respect...he hates what happened to him this winter...everyone disrespected him......I hope they get lucky and win enough because I do not see enough young talent to make a difference...they are going to have to fix this with money, trades and FA signings. ABM are you really comparing Griffy to Milledge....I remember seeing Jr with as a 8 year old....that kid loved baseball....he had fun and played the game the right way.....you may hate me but don't say stupid stuff just to try to show me up.....Griffy vs. Milledge.....you are a dope. Theo @2:53 - You're out of bounds with that post. Counting the players from the '05 Nats remaining in MLB vs. the current roster is an inequitable comparison - not just apples to oranges, but more like apples to beef jerky. The 2005 Nationals was an aging roster, with few 'stars'; The fact that players like Schneider, Guillen, NJohnson, and a few others have survived may speak more to their actual ages in 2005, than it does to their relative skills. BinM -- I'm hoping you misunderstand me. (In addition to which, I'm not certain which is the apples and which is the jerky.) I'm saying the current roster has (A) vastly more talent and (B) vastly more potential, and the way they got there was to sacrifice immediate gratification to a long-term vision. And the current roster may well win 81 games (or not) and that part of it that moves on to 2012 and 2013 will win quite a few more than 81 games in a season. I see signs -- it's like tracking bread crumbs -- of JayB coming around. Theo....are you saying that this 40 man roster has enough talent to win more than 81 games next year? 2013? Time will tell but I do not think so. They have a lot of holes to fill......CF, LF, SS and 1B, SP and Closer all need to be addressed...where do you see the talent already with the team needed win 90 games in 2012/2013? JayB @3:48 - Who's worth either 'calling up' or keeping? - Brown is a low-level possible, as is Nix, particularly if a trade is made involving a LF or CF from the 40-man (Bernadina, Morgan, or Morse). Ankiel is a 'bubble' player in the OF mix, imo; Cora looks to be SYR-bound, unless Espinosa utterly collapses at the plate in Viera. Stairs should start the 2011 season in SYR as well (or be released), unless Riggleman demands a 2nd/3rd LH bat off the bench. I don't see any of that helping the long term development of anyone likely to help this team past this year, BinM.....I think you are going to see Cora and Stairs on the opening day roster. I think Rizzo is so mad and hurt by the likes of Lee, Zack G. and about 10 others who he had to hear them say...."Mike, I do not believe you are going to be any good any time soon...sorry I am signing with the Cubs or the O's, for less money.....that has to hurt....Rizzo will do what he can to win now with his plan R.....which I think is all he can do...but it is too late now in my view. In honor of the last week of the hot stove (hallelujah), here is a question: what are good bullpen guys worth? Seems like they are a highly valued part of the market right now - contracts to FA much higher than I would have thought in october, and some of the trades seem like they brought back some pretty good pieces. We gave up Hammer for Rodriguez (who I hadn't even heard of); Tampa gave up Bartlett for two more guys that I hadn't heard of; Balt got Reynolds for essentially David Hernandez and a lesser bullpen guy. So it seems like they have value. Do Burnett and Clippard reach that reputational level? If we packaged them together, could we get 1 good piece, like a Jake McGee, Anibal Sanchez, Gavin Floyd or Travis Wood, somebody like that? Should we, if we could (weaken a strength for a young guy with upside?) I think that I would, since we have some (unproven) but promising candidates behind them, if we could get a good young SP prospect or position player at need. If this works, it probably only works to a team really on the cusp of competing for a playoff spot. I am curious what others think. Wally -- Trading for relievers (or signing as free agents) is a crap shoot. Often they are whack jobs (F. Rodriguez)(or as difficult to maintain as tropical fish), get hurt (Cordero, Wagner), lose their confidence (Lidge as an Astro), forget where the strike zone is (Lidge as a Philly), etc. The number that are consistently good (the Riveras, Hoffmans) are few and far between. Papelbon had a 3-4 year run and now the Red Sox are itching to be rid of him. The best approach is to develop your own (Storen) or get one off the scrap heap (Capps) and try to have someone standing in line when the inevitable happens. Theo - I agree, I was just noting that other teams seem to be paying a lot for them, so should we try take advantage of the current market by trading some of ours? It is the one area that our stats from last year are impressive. Sounds like you think the market is overvaluing that segment too, so if they could get value at another position, go for it. Do I read your reply right? God I wish the stupid Super Bowl would get over so we can focus completely on baseball. Off topic - GREAT DAY IN SPORTS!! Pittsburgh 0-2
Jayson Werth returns to the lineup after sitting out last night's game with tired legs. He'll be in right field, which should provide a little less wear and tear. Bryce Harper will be responsible for covering the spacious, treacherous and hilly center field at Minute Maid Park. Gio Gonzalez gets the start, looking to duplicate Ross Detwiler's seven-inning outing from last night and take some pressure off a Nationals bullpen that has been extended nearly to the limit in recent days. As you know by now, I'm not in Houston for this series. Enjoy the game and the conversation. And like me, pray the final out is recorded before the stroke of midnight for a change... WASHINGTON NATIONALS at HOUSTON ASTROS Where: Minute Maid Park Gametime: 8:05 p.m. EDT TV: MASN2, MLB.tv Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500 AM), XM 187 Weather: Indoors NATIONALS (67 LHP Gio Gonzalez ASTROS (36-75) 2B Jose Altuve 3B Matt Downs 1B Steve Pearce RF Justin Maxwell LF J.D. Martinez C Carlos Corporan CF Brandon Barnes SS Marwin Gonzalez RHP Armando Galarraga UMPIRES HP Angel Hernandez 1B Ed Hickox 2B Chris Conroy 3B Mark Carlson 337 comments:«Oldest ‹Older 1 – 200 of 337 Newer› Newest» Oy, Hernandez is behind the dish tonight. Go, GIO! Go, NATS!! It's a beautiful day for a regulation ballgame. Let's play nine (innings, that is), and may the visitors win. :-) I wonder how the umpire rotation goes. I guess home plate moves to 3rd where there is probably less work after being behind the plate, and everyone just slides over one. Angel was at 1st last night so that makes sense. I have never watched so many scoreboards before. Brewers just went ahead of the Reds in the top of the 9th. I really want the Pirates to have a winning season but I also want every team but ours to lose more then they win for the next month or so. I am not looking for that one game playoff, I want them to start with an away games vs. the wildcard which would mean we have finished with the best record in the NL. Go Nats!! With Angel Hernandez behind the plate, memo to Gio: Be on your best behavior, come to a complete stop in a stretch, have your shoes shined to a nice buff, wear your cap straight, please tie all those loose hands on your glove, make sure you have shaved within a half-hour of first pitch, stand at full attention for the national anthem, do not step on the chalk lines, brush your teeth vertically in front, horizontally in the rear, floss carefully, make sure you have enough quarters for the parking meters and, most important of all, treat the home plate umpire with the utmost of respect. You have to. It's just a courtesy for blind people. After Mark Carlson's performance behind the plate last night, Angel Hernandez might look like the model of consistency. I'm a union guy through and through, but even I have a hard time justifying what is essentially life tenure for umpires irrespective of talent or temperment. So the same team some posters were so concerned that the Nats struggled to take 3 of 4, the Brewers, just swept the Reds. It's not WHO you're playing, it's HOW you're playing. Honestly, I think Angel has been somewhat better since MLB broke up him and Joe West. Probably not the most popular of opinions, but there are way worse when it comes to calling balls and strikes and especially ejections. He hasn't ejected a single person yet this season. That being said, if Gio so much as gives him a cockeyed glance after a bad call, he will probably get squeezed harder than a lime at a tiki bar. Remember to vote for ESPN's web gem between Trout and Roger. with 2699 votes in now Roger is leading 53% to47% or 162 votes. Here is the link Gio and Kurt: Reunited and it feels so good! (Yup, had to break out the cheezy Peaches and Herb Reference) GO GIO! GO 9 INNINGS! GO BATS!! I think Werth will be the one tonight to do the damage. Please, let's get the Offense rolling Nats! Gonat......man am I with you. Please, how about a laugher for a change? OK, I just pounded the strike zone for a while on ESPN for the Shark. All those people in LA are going to be getting home from work, or the beach, or wherever, later on, so we probably need to build a cushion. Keep at it, Insiders. check Coco's response to Trout's catch. Trout's catch was amazing, no doubt but catches like that are made more often than people realize. To be honest, I still think Bernie's catch from a year or two ago is better than any I have seen, except maybe Ichiro's wall climbing one. Carlson was awful last nigh, no pitcher on either side and most batters had a clue what was going to be called. Angel Hernandez can be no worse (though he has bee bad in the past). Shark now up 8% after 2857 votes. If you haven't vote yet do so. Gio going seven won't be much help if they have to play fourteen. Oh, and no mention yet of the fact that Gallaraga was a throw-in piece, with Wilkerson and Termell Sledge, from the Nats on the Soriano trade? NatsJack, 'It's not WHO you're playing, it's HOW you're playing.' That's what I'm worried about. I wasn't that impressed with Trout's catch at the time, and I was the first to say so. Desmond had a better play that same day. We have to score some runs. Would have loved to see Werth at the top of the lineup. As the poet Roger Miller once sang, "it’s the code of the west: heed the word of your sisters-- the code of the west, make a left turn from sin. the code of the west, keep an eye on temptation, recite the quotation that says when Satan calls your name it doesn’t matter how you played the game ‘cause all he cares about is 'did you win?'" after 2885 votes Shark up 10% About 288 botes Keep it going Great to see the Shark pulling away in the vote. Go Insiders! Grandstander -- good point about Angel and Joe. That combination was nothing but trouble. Two guys trying to impress each other with how macho they are. How were you able to find out that Angel hasn't tossed anyone this year? Is there a website that keeps track of that? Speaking of useless but fun baseball trivia, Harper's homerun trot on Saturday was the second fastest in MLB that day at 19.25 seconds. (Espi's fifth slowest at 23.54.) I just love that. Harper still has the fastest trot of the year in MLB (16.35 seconds on May 26). The kid sets records everywhere he goes. sorry voyrd hit the wrong key This was a great catch *this year* but Bernadina's catch last year was by far my favorite all-out catch of all time, even after that crazy, superman year Willie Harris had in 08. I still marvel at it when I see it in the highlights. I believe that Baseball Tonight airs at 7 PM ET. Does the poll close then or continue during the broadcast? 2959 votes still up 10%, Keep the cushion Were there also plenty of naysayers at the time who did not properly appreciate Bernie's catch? Like, were you the only one saying it at the time? :-) Zection 3, My Zofa said... I wasn't that impressed with Trout's catch at the time, and I was the first to say so. Desmond had a better play that same day. August 08, 2012 5:46 PM Dang, Trout gained a point. Back to voting. in case people forgot, still love it. didn't know armando was expos's trade bit for soriano. I think we made good use of him then. thanks for that, sofa. Okay, back to up by 10. Gotta go ice my hand and make dinner. I thought Bernie's catch last night was better than the one last year. He took a bad route to that one. Plus, the game saving situation just can't be beat - -except maybe by that perfect game saving catch by the White Sox centerfielder a few years back. And let's get serious, Trout's catch was a great catch. Just not as good as the Shark's. The Wise catch was very cool. The comments on the ESPN voting page are hilarious. CA is waking up folks, but there are now more votes from DC than from AZ. Well done! I hope in future, fans will appreciate these catches as much as we appreciate these now and the catches of previous generations. 3075 votes still 10% lead Interesting info from Amanda: Amanda Comak@acomak Chien-Ming Wang's rehab assignment has been effectively ended as he's still complaining of hip soreness. He's still on the DL. Amanda Comak@acomak Davey said he has to stay off of Drew Storen and Tyler Clippard tonight so Edwin Jackson is in the bullpen. It's his throw day. The sharks catch got a brief shout out on PTI ... GYFNG! May Gio have a happy reunion, and be lights out, with Kurt. May the game be a laugher on OUR side, and another defeat for the Astro's (they can win FRIDAY!). And may Jayson's legs hold up under him, brilliantly. GYFNG! Wow! Ejax in the bullpen! Did Comak say which member of the Nats FO kicked Wang in the hip? Yes, there is a website that tracks ejections. Here it is, you can waste a lot of time on it. ejections Also on MLB Network's Intentional Talk. The sharks catch got a brief shout out on PTI ... Is Wang going on the 60-day? Natslady, I think he just stays on the 15 day. How about the guy that broke his shoulder saving Cain's perfect game? (I think it was Cain). NatsLady.. Mets guy for Johan's game broke his shoulder Speaking of perfect games Armando Galarraga is the kid who pitched the 28 out perfect game. My favorite of the comments: Nick Piecoro@nickpiecoro"Everybody has bad at-bats -- except McCutchen." -- Kirk Gibson Voting still going went from 3132 to 3165 the last 5 minutes. Same 10 point lead. Sorry, MicheleS--knew it was someone. That was a pretty fantastic catch also. They're also arguing about votes, i.e., why all the AZ votes for Trout? Duh, I don't know - maybe because the Angels have a rookie-league affiliate there? :-) Er, make that e.g. 1a, those arguments are fun to read. People are so into it, it is hilarious. Now BBTN givingTrout more coverage, but the gap is now 12% keep it up Shark. 3197 votes Jackson, being the team player that he is, probably volunteered for BP duty. Would that he was as good a pitcher as he is a team-mate. I know, Faraz. I think they all need to get a grip. It's a fan vote on a sports network site. :-) All those people in LA are going to be getting home from work, or the beach, or wherever, later on, so we probably need to build a cushion. Keep at it, Insiders. Typical LA fans, showing up late. ;-) Come on Kyle, giving up a hit to Tim Hudson of all people. Braves lead 3-1 early in the game. I have no shame in rooting for Phillies this series. On the other hand, just keep winning our games. Good for EJax. Team Guy. OK, I just went and threw another inning at ESPN on Shark's behalf. Stay on top of it, and we should be fine. is anyone having trouble watching free game of the day over at mlb site? And EJax is a fine pitcher, best 4th starter in MLB. I sense a shark attack coming on. That thud you just heard was CMW's career. I hate to be negative, but this guy was a total waste of the Lerners' money. Error, Rizzo. A rare E-1. CMW.. No harm no foul, didn't cost us prospects, and it was the Lerner's $$$, so no one should be calling them cheap. CMW was a perfectly reasonable gamble. If all such gambles paid off, they wouldn't be gambles. Shark is officially the reigning Web Gem. This year was a loss, but the end of last season got back quite a bit of that expense, in terms of production. Boz did a piece detailing that argument, anyway, last fall I think it was. It was worth a shot--didn't pan out. Oh well. Everything that doesn't work out isn't a fail. NCN--excactly. Look at Ben Sheets. Who is to say in advance it will work? The injury in Spring Training was the end, I think. Its official just saw Shark is the reigning Web gem now. Ramirez of Milwaukee was the early show number 1. A solid play that Zim dows reggularly. Remember to vote tomorrow when the new poll is up. Michele, is the voting closed, then? I don't think so. Zofa.. They named it as the reigning gem, and not Trout. They're still taking votes. They just took a bunch of mine, anyhow. Over 3,000 total. Maybe I'll just keep voting, to tick off the Trout fans and ESPN guy. Happy to see Edwin Jackson in the bullpen and I'm sure he's a 'team guy,' but I think his bullpen assignment is more a function of this being his regular throwing day between starts. Separate issue: Anyone else having problems with MLB.tv? LOL good idea Sofa. I love Trout's play as much as anyone but Bernie's catch was better, given the situation and all. Eugene, MLB is tweeting that they are having problems with Radio & TV streams, they are working on it. Zofa, keep going, Kruk and Ravi think Trout was better.. Whatever. haha, I'm also going to vote to make the ESPN guys mad. LORD Lombo.. for once Bo holds up a stop sign and he runs threw it. Thx MischeleS. At least GameDay seems to be working. They have 3rd base coach for a reason. Lombo Porter says stop, you stop in the first inning. Never looked up. That is bad baserunning. Minute Maid Park sucks I think this place is cursed. All this wacky crappy things keep happening here. Why is it ALWAYS Angel Hernandez in the middle of these snafus? Lombo? Good grief. Well, nice SF by ALR.1-0 Uh-oh, what's up? Balk! Wow, curiouser and curiouser! Carp just said they are getting rid of that dumb hill in center field. good. As Zection3 called it last night, MicheleS, "the kitchen sink of weird." Now we hear the hill is going away next year. What's going up in its place? Condos? A swimming pool? Tanning salon? Did anybody see the balk? This park is cursed! Just a crazy call, even if it was to our advantage. Net effect -Zimm on second. What's going up in its place? Condos? A swimming pool? -------------------- Maybe a small moat, like in the steeplechase? They are going to put statues out there where the hill is. Galarraga almost put none in the strike zone, and we managed only 1 run. We swung at least 4 balls guys. What is that all about. Make him throw strikes. A walk is a good as a single. He will walk you if you let him. Lombo thought he was Bryce, or even Bernie. He's not. Watch your coach and obey him, especially in the 1st inning. Two statues: Biggio, and Jack in the Box. Well, Bernie scored on running through the stop sign Monday night, right? ;-) Ryan declined the honor, citing "the damn weirdness of the whole thing" By the wa he bakled the pitch before, and I was complaining they didn't call it. You ahve to come to a stop and he didn't 2 times in a row and was called on it the second time. Did Gio not get the message? Three pitches hung in the middle three hits already. If we had just hits balls in the middle and not swung at balls not close we would ahve score a lot more. Just curious, are you typing on a phone? Mazda sponsors the Defensive Outfield screen, and Suzuki gets a free plug. Sure is nice to see people in Nats gear at these away games. NO WAY GIO!!!! HOW AWESOME!! GIO Did what GameDay said just happen actually happen? GIO!!!!!!!! Who needs middle of the order thunder? Our pitchers can take care of themselves... We do have some good hitting pitchers. Hmmmph.... No Audio feed, on MLB At Bat...? Hmmmmph.... Now I want to know the Gallaraga/Suzuki history...Gio sticking up for his boy... Gio makes up for his 3 bad pitches in the first with a 2 run tater. He is plus 1. We still need him to go deep into this game. Well, maybe Gio can't pitch too good tonight, but Gio sure can hit good tonight! Curiouser & curiouser! Eugene, MLB says they have the problem fixed on the streaming. Swift, now he doesn't get a warning, or risk getting himself and Davey tossed. Perfect. Absolutely perfect. Det is now on the clock for a dinger.. hmmm. when will he get his. Thx, MicheleS. For Nats game the audio is now working, but not the TV. Will keep checking. I think Det needs to eat a couple sandwiches before that's possible. I like the way our pitchers protect our guys - with a BAT! Capone style! Eugene/UnkyD.. others with streaming issues: MLB@MLB UPDATE: Problem has been isolated and resolved. Every live feed across every device, if not already available, will be accessible shortly And Ryan Howard just tied it up 6-6 in the 5th inning with the Braves Off-topic but relevant: Ryan Howard's three-run shot ties Phils with Braves 6-6. Just when I think I can't love Gio more, I find out I'm wrong. And what a fun way to find out. A few more and we will have our laugher and know we can all go to bed early and happy. Whoops. Late. Again. You have to be pretty quick off the blocks to beat Michele "Usain Bolt" S. Sunshine, it's the business level high speed internet access that I have at the house. Boss pays for it. I have never seen MicheleS and Usain Bolt in the same room. Coincidence? I think NOT! My family would fall down laughing at the Usain Bolt comparisons, since I run like Stras. I've been googling, but I can't find any reference to bad blood or a beef between Gallaraga and Suzuki yet. I think he's only pitched to him once before. If anyone cares, the crack WJFK radio team just explained that on the sacrifice vs. balk, if Adam LaRoche had gotten a hit, the hit would have superseded the balk and Mr. LaRoche would have gotten the RBI. Since it was 'just' a sacrifice, the balk took precedence (because it also advanced the runner who was on first). Galarraga. One L, two Rs. @Usain Bolt: Michele, you interested in Mets-Nats game a week from Sunday, Aug. 19? I got an extra ticket, in the shade, down first base line? Eugene, that and the balk doesn't cost them an out. Zat iz zo; ezactly. And while things are slow-- The Nats have a half-off promo that includes the Braves games coming up. I got good seats, last night. TravelZoo, Nats Tix Sunshine.. I am already there! Take your mother in law.. she will love it. Such a slow tempo, the catcher is doodling in the dirt behind home plate. He has written half of Moby Dick. Wait, did Kristina just say it was "Waterless Wednesday" for the starters? WTH does that mean??? @MicheleS: No offense, but she was first call. But she's at the beach that week. OK, I went back and listened again. She said "Waterless Wednesday." If Altuve jumps to reach a high liner, but is just an inch short, is it scored an error, given that the average player would have had it? @MicheleS: Would you at least stop by Section 134 an hour or so before the game? I'm in Row double-P. In the shade. ehay, no, but Ghost would probably say if you asked Altuve he'd say he should have caught it. I kid. let this be Armando's last inning. Come on Nats. ESPN guys are talking Nats and SS during SF vs STL game. Sorry, should have used a ;-) after my Altuve question. :-) That called third strike on Bam-Bam almost hit the dirt. Where does Angel Hernandez park his guide dogs at the park when he works a game? Bryce should not argue with Angel, that will come back to haunt him somewhere down the line. Actually, thinking about it, it's not fair to not give an error to Altuve there, but then give one to Dunn when he can't reach down to get a ground ball. ;-) Lol Sunshine! Hernandez is liable to call a balk on Bryce next time around. Except for Laz and Country Buffet Boy Joe West, Worst Umpire Ever. Sunshine, very funny @ 9:15. the dirt in the RH batters box. Well, it's a pretty bad strike zone both ways. So there's that. The role of Bob Davidson tonight is being played by Angel Hernandez. Balks all around! Put them on Angel's tab. Well, at least they didn't manufacture the run by stealing that time... I can't believe it is back to a 1 run game. The Nats have 1 clutch hit and its by the pitcher. This has to turn around. Galaragga stinks. FP is not having a good game. First the phantam Suzuki/Gallarando history based on a phantom "look" that Suzuki gave him. Then the ridiculous "taking one for the team" as if ALR cares about 1 RBI vs the chance for a big inning, and then forgetting about Zim's 30 game hitting streak (if he ever knew about it), speculating that the longest hitting streaks in the teams history were by Vlad or Vidro "at least in the 20s." Carp is trying not to show him up as he corrects him, but having a tough time. What's the story with Galarraga? He's got an all-but-perfect game, has taken no-hitters into the late innings a few times, as I recall, and yet he knocks around like the PTBNL. FP is tired, it's a long season, and he hasn't been able to start partying until well after midnight this series. The pitchers has nothing he falls behinds most the hitters nd with good hitting counts we are flubbing away. Come on guys get hits. Hmmm, maybe FP isn't the only one partying... I'm not judging, I'm just saying. Oh, you just KNOW that Angel goes out clubbing. With those eyes, all the girls are keepers! umpiring is awful. But so is our hitting in this series. When do we face cole hamels again? Sure glad we got suzuk. Can't hit cant throw. HEY WAIT, EITHER CAN JESUS Secret, please leave religion out of it. Thanks. Go nat I agree. if we split this series we will look back and say we were lucky. Time to give Bryce a day off. Play Roger I wonder if those kids asked for the Harper autographed balls or that's what the Nats offered? They should have held out for a trip to DC in October and playoff tickets!! 11-6 ATL up now on the Fils. UGHH the Phils stink. Thanks for nothing. Here comes Jesus Suzuki. hope he hits him. Secret, we are still winning, so why is it that you are so negative? Just nervous I guess. I chope Gio fers bases loaded. what you do here? No reason to be nervous, look at our winning percentage! :-) He's not negative, he's the sock puppet alter ego of another poster here, who's not too popular, so he splits his neg ratings. Not a bad strategy, really, if you're committed to it. Ghost Of Steve M. said... I chope Gio fers bases loaded. August 08, 2012 9:50 PM ____________________________ Grand Salami time! hahhaha I wouldnt pitch to Gio either. His a homerun monster. LETS GO NATS. If I'm Gio, I'm sitting dead red with a new pitcher in. ehay, don't look now, but I think everybody here is drunk except us ... and I'm not so sure about us. ok now we need a big hit. LOMBO do I think you go with Tyler Moore here, but hey, that's just me. Go get 'em Lombo! Tyler more for bryce awful. that was ball 2 Not to be negative, but this is sad. Lombo lays an egg. Like I said before the at-bat, I would have pinch-hit. You have Izturis to play 2nd now. I'm visualizing ... deep. Payback. Angel Hernandez... Wow. That's just. Wow. Angel is powerful, Angel demands respect. Or he is just an ass. You called it Michele. Angel has it in for Bam-Bam. I'm surprised he hasn't run him yet. Angel hernandez has made this personal. Absolutely ridiculous. Shame on him. Those balls are unhittable and not strikes I officially take back what I said about Hernandez. Again harper called out on a ball outside the stike zone. The major leagues only need about 72 guys toumpire and we cannot find 72 good umpires in America? I find it shocking because about 50% are so inconsistent and have no clue how to call a strike, and MLB has no understanding that there is a problem in this area. It is fairly easy to fix if they wanted to. They are doing it on purpose. How can you miss so many chances? They have no energy. That is sad. Angel Hernandez has to respect the game. That was ball 4. Ball 5 was a little closer. In all seriousness is there anything the Nats can do? Like reporting that to the league... I mean this is just sick. How freeeeken unprofessional can he be ALLOWED to be????? I am fuming now. When one goes to someone's house and the host keeps offering gifts, it's only polite to accept them with thanks and grace. Nats not being very polite in Minute Maid Park. Angel Hernandez is a freaking joke. The MLB needs to get rid of some of these "veteran" umpires. They suck. Time for Davey to go postal I'm speechless, out of respect for Mark.That just wasn't fair.
The squid undergoes their infant stages of life as a Small Giant Squid. Aged 6 – 24 months old, a Small Giant Squid establishes its diet during these years, and chooses what they eat. They retain their inability to digest kelp. I have had a life-long fondness for squids, and while I cannot remember the exact year that it started, my parents have said that my first ever catch from Ye Old Fishing Vortex was a Small Giant Squid. Technically, the catch hadn’t been mine; I had yet to acquire language at that time, let alone having the strength to make it. No, it had been my father’s. I used to watch him fish with a kind of newfound wonder that renewed itself energetically every single day, and one day, he had taught me how to grasp the fishing rod. I was much smaller back then, and holding onto the rod on my own was like trying to carry an Autumn Birch Tree. Of course, I wasn’t alone, and my father did everything; I just had an excellent view. I had never been more ecstatic when we caught something, and even more so when the Small Giant Squid shot out of the water and into my father’s outstretched hand. I remember touching it, and finding the slimy, somewhat rubbery skin strange and exciting. If we had had all the time in the world, I don’t think I would have ever let go. The experience had been new, exciting, enthralling, and it opened up a new level of curiosity in my mind. My family consists of my parents and my older sister Mary-Ann. We have lived in Maraqua all our lives; although my mother and father painted themselves Maraquan Kau and Moehog, respectively, it seems that Mary-Ann and I were Maraquan from birth (she is a Buzz, and I am a Zafara). My parents knew how to play the Stock Market, and so we were comfortably rich, but never billionaires. Our house is more spacious than the average Neopian’s, and we used to employ a gardener to keep the back garden in good shape twice every week. He was the only person we ever employed, for my parents unanimously agreed to never spoil us by keeping servants. The biggest treats we ever received from our parents were on our birthday, but even then, they had to be within limits. When Mary-Ann was five, she wanted a Rainbow Fountain Faerie Doll, but she never received it, and had to be content with a Fair Maiden Usuki Doll. She enjoyed playing with it, but I know she never got over that incident; she couldn’t stop crying for the next twenty days, and every night, she would snuggle in my bed, and I had to do my duty as a caring younger sister, and not complain about how wet my fur was the following morning. I had never asked for anything as expensive as a Rainbow Fountain Faerie Doll – at least, not until I was eight. In previous years, I had requested Quiguki dolls (I always preferred them), and I suppose my parents were expecting me to ask for another. When I told them I wanted a squid farm in our back garden, they looked at me with grave faces that barely hid their surprise, and they had slowly answered me, “Yeeees, of course we’ll build a squid farm for you.” I had already been a very active fisherwoman for five years at the time of my request, and I had grown to familiarise myself with all the types of squids I had ever caught. I never kept any of them; if I fished them up, I would inspect them like a child inspects a new toy, and then throw them back into the vortex. It took only a fortnight for my parents to change the layout of the garden; before, there had been a lovely rainbow coloured border of kelp around the edges, so as to mark our territory, and in the center of the garden had been an even lovelier cluster of various plants. Everything else had been paved over with stones. My parents had planned to change the layout, so that the top half of the garden would be overrun with the pond; the paving stones were duly removed, and the pond was dug and filled. Anybody looking down from a birds-eye perspective would have been reminded of a Combo Battle Mirror, albeit the pond being a lighter hue than the terrace. I was jolly excited when I saw the completed pond for the first time – it was like a dream come true for me. I had long dreamt of keeping my own squids, yet I had never used my imagination to invent the facilities until now. I could barely wait to start putting the farm to good use, and with my rod, I returned to the vortex to catch a squid. I wish I could say that I had caught a squid and took it home with much felicity, but what really happened was that I had caught a Chaosfish. I promptly threw it back in the vortex, and forced myself to be patient. I found myself in those moments where I had caught squids aplenty before I actually needed one; Cubefish, Eyefish, Doomfish, Spectral Shrimp, Golden Mechafish, another Cubefish... those were my next catches, and with each one, I grew steadily impatient until I was at the point of a tantrum. I had never been a particularly patient person, but even I felt that events were just growing ridiculous. I could see my goal, I was so close – and yet so far. I finally succeeded with my next catch. That relieving moment was even better than the brightest diamond; I was convinced I was holding onto a gold trophy, not a Small Giant Squid; I felt as if I had just beaten a game, and was the best player in the whole of Neopia. Unsurprisingly, I named this Small Giant Squid ‘Gold’, and happily released him into his new home several hours later. My fascination for these creatures was further broadened – nobody had ever been as interested as I was, and a whole new potential was open to me. I could spend my life researching them, write numerous articles for the Neopian Times, even publish some books – I was certain I would gain fame, and be forever known as the first Neopian to research into squids. Unfortunately, my next few catches were wasted, and I quickly became prone to the boredom of owning just Gold. There were strong temptations to visit the Shop Wizard, and subsequently purchase more Small Giant Squids. I was growing desperate by the hour; Gold was becoming increasingly lonely, he needed a friend, and I didn’t want to spend Neopoints when I could easily fish them. I had other matters to deal with too; a squid’s diet still remained a great mystery to me, and everything I fed Gold seemed to be turned down. I was worried for his health; if I couldn’t find something, I would have to return him to the Vortex. Even though he had barely been in my possession for a week, I was already fond of him, and saw him as the youngest sibling in the family. Mary-Ann never really agreed with me (she thought I was weird), and while we never mentioned the subject, we both knew what she was thinking. As we grew older, I found myself more distant from my sister than I had ever been, or imagined. Our views never agreed from the day my squid farm was unveiled, for she was a practical thinker, and I knew she saw no potential in my unusual habit. I, on the other hand, was too engrossed in my own felicity, and with it came a conceited world that only I had ever taken pains to understand. I preferred this world; it was perfect, untainted, and so new, so barely understood, that I could not willingly find the entrance again, or see any nearby exits. My luck at the vortex increased again, and Gold and Silver were soon joined by Bronze, Nerkmid, Kew, twins Lunar and Cape, and Scorchstone. These names may sound peculiar, but I was only a child, and with my childish disposition, I called them after things that I found pretty. When I caught Lunar, Cape had been clinging onto her in a manner so desperate, so affectionate, that my disposition would not allow me to be cruel and force them apart, and I took them both back with me. By then, I knew that squids did not eat the same food, and it took much experimenting to figure exactly what their diets were. The problem with variety was the lack of resource, and even with my parents and Mary-Ann (reluctantly) helping me, I soon found myself struggling to keep my supplies at a sufficient level. I had already feared that I would need to spend Neopoints, and now my fears were true. My reluctance to do so was never through selfishness, but the fact that they were so hard to earn; my parents had never distributed pocket money to me or Mary-Ann, and had I been good at playing games, I would have had less of a struggle. My parents had done their part by building the farm; from now on, all responsibility was down to me alone, including food. Even though everything came cheap, it was still a burden. It was surprising how heavy and soaked a bag stuffed full of Blandfish could become, and I quickly found that swimming and carrying weights was impossible. Since then, I have had to take Mary-Ann with me on every shopping trip, and I always felt it did more damage than good to our relationship. I never cared, though; my squids were my pride and joy. They always knew when it was feeding time; they would line up against the edge of the pond, and refuse to leave until they had enough. I had caught my squids around the same time, and I assumed they were of similar ages, for they grew at exactly the same rate as each other. Soon, I had a pond full of Large Giant Squids. Large Giant Squid This is when the squid matures, and prepares itself for adult life. Aged 24 – 192 months, it also starts to tolerate kelp, although it still avoids the plant. I wish I could have dedicated all my time to my squids, but I had Neoschool to attend. I never got on with my classmates, not because they had bullied me in some shape or form, but because we had nothing to say. I wanted to talk about squids and the Ye Old Fishing Vortex; my classmates wanted to talk about Yooyuball, and which team was the best (the strongest support was for Maraqua or Darigan Citadel). Our topics of conversation just didn’t match, and so I said nothing. I had little interest in Yooyuball anyway, and until now, I still do. I had witnessed my squids changing into Large Giant Squids, and it was a fascinating process. Their pale pink skins had grown rosier, then magenta, before turning a shade of red. Their eyes just suddenly turned green one day, and when they first became actual Large Giant Squids, those eyes were a brilliant shade of jade. Their bodies were bulkier, and it amused me to see how some tentacles grew at different speeds than others, and how unbalanced they became as a result. I also noted a radical change in diet; I caught Nerkmid gently chewing on some kelp. At first, I tried to lure him away with a Cubefish, but then it struck me that he was beginning to tolerate the plant; if he could show emotions, I think he would have been curious, and certainly not sick. I kept a watchful eye over all the squids, and I discovered that they were all attempting to eat kelp, and they were all learning to tolerate the plant they had once been unable to. I speedily applied my discovery to my family, and their reactions could not have been more opposite one another; my parents were pleased for me, and I could tell it was sincere; their eyes beamed at me in the way that they always did whenever I had done something worthy to be proud of. Mary-Ann stayed silent throughout my discovery, and she had half-heartily said “congratulations” to me. That was the only word she had uttered, but I was too pleased to pay her behaviour any attention. The next day, she willingly followed me outside to the pond. Here, her demure attitude succeeded in grasping my attention, and I knew what she was thinking when she saw Kew and Cape fighting over a strand of green kelp. I dared not to try and make conversation with her; somehow, I knew she would cause heavy inflictions to both of us. She had a hypothetical grenade in her hand, and it wasn’t going to make us laugh. “Kelsey,” she said to me suddenly. “Have you ever thought about letting them go?” I was startled, shocked, and suddenly felt empty; “How could I leave them?” I cried. “They’re my family – just like you!” “That is sweet of you,” she said with a smile that I did not like. “But you’re growing up, Kelsey. You cannot stay with them forever.” Had I been older when she said this, I would have been more composed, but I was in great agitation, and somehow felt myself being flung closer to the exit of the world that I so dearly wished to remain in. I felt mute, I could say nothing. Mary-Ann was looking at me gravely and solicitously, and the pain of her words was somehow rebounding off me and into her mind too. “I’m sorry, sister, but I cannot watch you descend into this madness. Our parents should never have encouraged you.” “D – Don’t talk about them like that,” I wept. “I – I like squids, it’s –” “Hush, Kelsey, hush.” She embraced me, and I willingly hugged back; our roles had been reversed, I was the one crying, and she had to provide me with comfort. Giant Giant Squid Aged 192 – 480 months, the Giant Giant Squid is the squid’s adult life, and its growth considerably slows. A well-nourished Giant Giant Squid will spend over twenty years growing, until it becomes a Titanic Giant Squid. As the Giant Giant Squid ages, it will eventually accept kelp as an alternative source of food and nutrient. My mind remained stubborn throughout my remaining childhood years, and I could not see myself separated from my beloved squids. My temperament eventually lost all its childishness, although my matured disposition remained comfortably trapped in the squids’ world. My Quigukis were forever doomed to being stowed away in a storage box, which in turn sat in a darkened corner of my room. My happiness numbed all negative feelings, and I grew immune to pain. I felt that way anyway; when Mary-Ann left home at nineteen, I cried, but not bitterly. I was saddened, but only for the greater part of two hours. My felicity returned instantly when I visited my squids; their skin had undergone a crimson shade for a while before browning, and their eyes now gleamed like emeralds. Disappointingly, their tentacles now grew at an even pace, and I felt robbed of warmly laughing at their struggles to restore their sense of balance as they attempted to swim, in a straight line, to the surface. There were other squids in there, for I increasingly visited the Ye Old Fishing Vortex to the point where I willingly took unwanted squids from other fishers, and brought them home. Fyora, Psellia, Illusen, Ember, Siyana, Nereid, and Aethia were all Small Giant Squids when I took them home. They seemed to get along well with the others, and when I came to feeding them, their diets barely differed from the older squids, although Nereid preferred Bombfish; I had to unwillingly remove her from the pond, and my numbers dropped to fourteen. I rarely heard from Mary-Ann throughout my remaining teenage years, or indeed at the start of my early adult years. She only visited three times, and I approached her with the warmth of a sister, and the hostility of someone dear to her. She always watched me care for the squids, but she made no attempt at trying to discourage me from them. I was never bothered; I just wanted to follow happiness, and I could never see myself in a position away from my squids. I heard about Mary-Ann’s achievements; she was the proprietor and shopkeeper of a large shop, and had adopted a baby Bori and Xweetok from the Pound. I only ever saw them once, about two weeks after they had been adopted. They were sweet little beings, and I was happy for my sister, though I subsequently forgot about them again when I returned to my squids. My parents never tried to stop me from raising my squids, and I was grateful about that decision; I had already taken Mary-Ann’s advice badly, I doubt I would have been able to cope if my parents had done the same. They seemed to be pleased with what I was doing, and it increased my felicity tenfold; I developed a sanguine temper warmer than the Lost Desert, and my incapability to develop rain clouds over my head made me a better person. I began to tolerate patience much better than I had ever done, and I no longer felt the burden of following in Mary-Ann’s footsteps, and make an independent life for myself. I had my parents’ support, what more could I ask for? That was how I spent the large majority of my adult years. I only had to see the squids to make a living; my book, How To Care For Squids, was eventually published when I was thirty. It contained my lifelong work on squids, and sales went through the roof; I knew I had achieved fame. I even got a sponsorship deal on one edition of The Neopian Times. I never knew how Mary-Ann felt about my fame; I sent her a Neomail, but never received a reply. If I had known where she was living, I probably would have visited; if I had known where her shop was, I would have gone there. Even though I have nobody but my parents to talk to, I never felt lonely. My squids are always with me, and I was so far lost in their world that the exit was just a meaningless door frame; in my eyes, it was just a decoration, a pretty thing to see, but to never go through. The entrance was so far away, I couldn’t see it. I had finally lost sight of it decades ago. Titanic Giant Squid This is when the squid lives its elderly years. It is unknown how long a Titanic Giant Squid can live for. It also abandons its previous diet in favour of kelp. Titanic Giant Squids usually begin life at 480 months. As Gold and co. grew into Titanic Giant Squids, they could no longer fit the pond, and I had to let them go. They refused to leave me; I was their parent, the pond was their home, they would stay with me. Until now, they circle around my house like a living ring, and they are so large I can easily swim with them. My felicity had never ceased since the day I entered their world, and I had never been happier than to be with them. As more and more squids joined the pond, the number of Titanic Giant Squids increased. Soon, our house was surrounded not by the kelp that had been there from day one, but by my squids. We became noticeable in a way that I wanted; even with the publication of three more books, I felt that I needed to be seen with those that I dearly love. I turn fifty now, but when I look back at the forty-two years that I spent with squids, I don’t regret anything. I may not have seen Mary-Ann for the good part of thirty years, but as long as my squids remain with me, I shall stay firmly in their world. The End If you're reading this, this is my first story in the TNT! :D I hope you enjoy it!
Good Practice Guidelines American Association for Higher Education Association of American Colleges and Universities North Central Association-Commission on Institutions of Higher Education Study Findings Inform Best Practices A study by the American Productivity and Quality Center yielded 11 key findings for best practices in Educational Assessment. These findings come from the Consortium Benchmarking Study Best-in-class report. Consortium Benchmarking Study Code of Professional Responsibilities in Educational Measurement National Council on Measurement in Education Code of Professional Responsibilities in Educational Measurement. Outlines responsibilities of those who: - Administer Assessments - Score Assessments - Interpret, Use, and Communicate Assessment Results - Educate Others about Assessment - Evaluate Educational Programs and Conduct Research on Assessments Examples of Best Practices The Association of American Colleges and Universities has compiled some applied examples of best practice campus assessments for the following: - Comprehensive Mathematics Project - Honors Capstone - Independent Research in Biology - Interactive Qualifying Project - Nursing Portfolio - Portfolio Assessments - Senior Assignments in Business - Senior Assessment - Senior Capstone - Senior Integrated Design Project - Senior Seminar - Synthesis for Professional Nursing Practice Good Practice Guidlines Educational agencies and Academic researchers have come up with several ‘good practice’ guidelines for assessing student learning. Some of the most pervasive sets of guidelines are: American Association for Higher Education: Nine Principles of Good Practice for Assessing Student Learning These nine principles were developed under the auspices of the AAHE Assessment Forum with support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education with additional support for publication and dissemination from the Exxon Education Foundation. - Educational Values: The assessment of student learning begins with educational values. - Multidimensional & Longitudinal: Assessment is most effective when it reflects an understanding of learning as multidimensional, integrated, and revealed in performance over time. - Clear Purpose: Assessment works best when the programs it seeks to improve have clear, explicitly stated purposes. - Outcome Related: Assessment requires attention to outcomes but also and equally to the experiences that lead to those outcomes. - Ongoing Process: Assessment works best when it is ongoing, not episodic. Assessment is a process whose power is cumulative. - Educational Community Involvement: Assessment fosters wider improvement when representatives from across the educational community are involved. - Stems from Important Issues: Assessment makes a difference when it begins with issues of use and illuminates questions that people really care about. - One Part of the Larger Whole: Assessment is most likely to lead to improvement when it is part of a larger set of conditions that promote change. - Meeting Responsibilities: Through assessment, educators meet responsibilities to students and to the public. View more detailed explanations of each guideline. Association of American Colleges and Universities: Elements of Good Assessment Practice These eight elements describe emerging consensus among education leaders (as found by the Association of American Colleges and Universities) towards liberal learning outcomes that are essential for baccalaureate graduates. - The use of both formative assessment, for the purpose of giving feedback and making improvement, and summative assessment, for the purpose of identifying levels of attainment. - Multiple methods that include both qualitative and quantitative evidence. - Authentic methods that arise from students’ actual assignments and learning experiences, which might be both curricular and co-curricular. - Assessments that are developmental, so that students and others can observe progress toward valued outcomes, perhaps through the use of portfolios. - A focus on higher, more sophisticated knowledge and capacities rather than on more easily measured basic skills. - Faculty ownership of not just the education but also, because it is inherent to the learning process itself, the assessment of students; whether they teach major or general education courses, faculty need to create, implement, and sustain the program to educate and assess students. - Assessment as continuous, systematic, and multi-dimensional. - An ongoing, systematic process for using assessment results to improve teaching, learning, and the curriculum. These eight elements can be found in Chapter 3 of: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy North Central Association-Commission on Institutions of Higher Education’s Hallmarks of Successful Programs to Assess Student Academic Achievement NCA’s guidelines come from their 1994-1996 Handbook of Accreditation and provide suggestions for creating a good assessment program. - Flows from the institution’s mission - Has a conceptual framework - Has faculty ownership/responsibility - Has institution-wide support - Uses multiple measures - Provides feedback to students and the institution - Is cost-effective - Does not restrict or inhibit goals of access, equity, and diversity established by the institution - Leads to improvement - Includes a process for evaluating the assessment program Since the 1994 release of these hallmarks, the NCA’s handbook has been updated without inclusions of these hallmarks. However, the third handbook addition (2003) includes NCA’s current position statement on assessment which continues to advocate the key role of assessment in improving student learning. Additional information can be found at: Higher Learning Commission. (2003). Handbook of Accreditation, 3rd ed. Retrieved July 08, 2008 from: Hubba, M., & Freed, J. (2000). Learner-centered assessment on college campuses: Shifting focus from teaching to learning. Needham Heights, MA: Allyn & Bacon. North Central Association – Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. (1994). Handbook of Accreditation (1994-1996). Chicago: North Central Association. Study Findings Inform Best Practices American Productivity and Quality Center: Consortium Benchmarking Study Best-in-class Report In 1997, the American Productivity and Quality Center and the University of Maryland University College, conducted a benchmark study to investigate best practices and key trends in assessing learning outcomes. Forty-three institutions participated in the study, which yielded 11 key findings: - Good assessment plans are strategic in nature. They clarify the purposes of the assessment activities and tie each to the organization's mission, vision, and key goals. - Widespread involvement of all stakeholders, established early and maintained over time, yields an organizational culture that embraces assessment. - The adoption and implementation of an assessment plan is best begun promptly when the need is recognized and then allowed to evolve slowly. It is important to balance the need for buy-in with the time required for a sound implementation. - In-depth analysis and periodic review of the needs and interests of internal and external stakeholders drive the choice of which learning outcomes to assess and how they are assessed. - The use of multiple methods of assessment can enhance reliability. Additionally, to ensure that a process is valid and measures what it is intended to measure, each activity and instrument should be tied to its purpose and the strategy for achieving that purpose. - Integrating assessment with other ongoing performance improvement efforts within an organization enhances the long-term viability of the assessment program and its usefulness to the overall organization. - Successful organizations take a decentralized approach to assessment, pushing responsibility and ownership to those on the front lines. - Assessment is integral to learning and most effective when included as a responsibility for each member of the organization, as opposed to being an add-on effort. - The primary purpose of obtaining and reporting assessment findings is to improve the organization and, in particular, its employees' and students' learning. Accordingly, the findings are best used in non-punitive ways. - Educating those who will use the assessment data is the key to shifting the focus of assessment from the data to an overall process. - Best-practice organizations continually communicate the assessment activities and results to their constituents. Code of Professional Responsibilities in Educational Measurement Responsibilities of those who Administer Assessments Access the National Council on Measurement in Education and their entire ethics code (pdf version). (Excerpt from Section 4 of Ethics Code). Responsibilities of Those Who Score Assessments Access the National Council on Measurement in Education and their entire ethics code (pdf version). (Excerpt from Section 5 of Ethics Code). Responsibilities of Those Who Interpret, Use, and Communicate Assessment Results Access the National Council on Measurement in Education and their entire ethics code (pdf version). (Excerpt from Section 6 of Ethics Code) understandable. Responsibilities of Those Who Educate Others about Assessment Access the National Council on Measurement in Education and their entire ethics code (pdf version). (Excerpt from Section 7 of Ethics Code). Responsibilities of Those Who Evaluate Educational Programs and Conduct Research on Assessments Access the National Council on Measurement in Education and their entire ethics code (pdf version). (Excerpt from Section 8 of Ethics Code). Examples of Best Practices Comprehensive Mathematics Project: Saint Mary’s College Assessment for seniors in mathematics at Saint Mary’s is done primarily through the Senior Comprehensive Project. Each student undertakes a semester-long independent study project under the direction of a faculty advisor. Two hour-long preliminary reports are given to the entire seminar group of seniors (seven or eight) doing this project, and everyone in attendance completes a comment form after the talk. The instructor reviews these forms and returns them to the student with additional comments. The student writes a final paper (usually 25-30 pages) that is read by three faculty members and makes a public oral presentation with questioning by a faculty panel. Students are expected to be able to answer questions about any mathematics they have studied that is relevant to the topic of their independent study. In this way, the mathematics faculty emphasizes synthesis and independent learning in the senior year. In addition to knowledge and abilities in the area of mathematics, the general education outcomes most directly involved in this senior project are those dealing with oral and written communication, clear thinking about complex problems, and the ability to learn independently. Lower-level mathematics courses reinforce the development of these abilities by including writing assignments in every course, and by giving feedback to students on the precision and style of their writing. Oral presentations are also included. Upper-level mathematics courses require the foundations developed in the first two years. Synthesis of the material—connecting the pieces presented in class and recognizing the big picture, including relationships to other parts of the undergraduate experience—is accomplished by individuals and also by the group. As students write papers dealing with a sequence of technical issues, they are expected to provide connections between ideas. And as students progress through the major, they are expected to work more and more independently. The entire mathematics department is involved in these projects. Every student has an advisor, and a team of three faculty members reads the final paper and then asks questions during the oral presentation. The instructor for the senior seminar group sits on each review panel, and every faculty member in the department serves on at least two of these panels each year. At the end of the presentation, the seminar instructor conveys to the student via letter the judgment of his or her performance. When all the projects for a particular year have been concluded, the department faculty meet as a whole to assess the experience and propose any needed changes. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Honors Capstone: Hampton University The Honors Capstone at Hampton University is designed to provide an opportunity for students to synthesize their undergraduate experience. In the Capstone Seminar, students discuss research methodology while doing an in-depth study of some topic of interest. Two products are required - a report on the results of the study and an Honors Portfolio. For the independent study, the student must select a topic that is not directly related to his or her major. Because this work will be done independently, each student prepares a work schedule and sets the time for presentation, subject to the professor’s approval. The student is required to make an oral presentation of the project using appropriate technology to enhance the presentation. The Honors Portfolio consists of a minimum of three and a maximum of six pieces of work that span the student’s period of study at Hampton. Among these must be at least one piece of writing that involves research. The work in the portfolio need not be all written work. It may include video or audiotapes, art works, computer programs, or any other work that the student can successfully relate to course objectives. There must be a written prologue to the portfolio that explains why each piece is included. In order to graduate with Honors College endorsement, a student must demonstrate the following: - The ability to present ideas and communicate effectively in writing - The ability to speak effectively - The ability to analyze and synthesize a broad range of material - The ability to apply research methods to a chosen topic - The ability to reflect on experiences The capstone research project and the Honors Portfolio are evaluated with these five criteria in mind. Each student chooses a committee of three people, two members of the faculty and one peer, to evaluate both the independent study product and the Honors Portfolio. This committee reviews and critiques these products and also the public oral presentation and defense of them. The Capstone Seminar is designed as a community of learners that discusses, makes suggestions, provides feedback, and supports its members so there is a fruitful combination of individual and group dimensions to the work of the class. On the one hand, students have to take responsibility for individual research but, on the other hand, they do so with the support of a community. Furthermore, since the topic for the project is outside the student’s academic major, each student selects a mentor who has expertise in the field of that topic and receives guidance from that mentor, thus widening the range of faculty contributions to the Honors Capstone. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Independent Research in Biology: King’s College The Senior Integrated Assessment in Biological Research at King’s College differs from a typical laboratory course in that there is no designated topic or laboratory project. Students must decide on an appropriate topic based on their previous learning. There is likewise no pre-designed protocol for carrying out the project, so students must design their own. Of perhaps greatest significance in this approach is that students must, therefore, continuously resolve problems in the course of doing the project. An appropriate topic is one for which testable hypotheses can be generated. With guidance from a faculty member, the student then devises and conducts original and independent research that may provide results relevant to these hypotheses. These results are communicated in both written and oral form, with the expectation that these communications conform to the conventions of invited presentations at major conferences in the field of biology. The general education program at King’s College aims to develop seven skills in each student, skills that are conceived as transferable to any major field: critical thinking and problem solving, effective writing, technology competency, effective oral communication, quantitative reasoning, library and information literacy, and moral reasoning. As students progress from semester to semester through their undergraduate experience, these skills are reinforced and developed in both general education and major courses. Thus, the student who begins the culminating research project in biology has been rehearsing the skills required to complete it successfully all through his or her course of studies. Two other assessment exercises help prepare students for the challenges of the independent research project. Biology majors maintain a portfolio of their work in the major, and they are given frequent feedback on the contents of their portfolios by faculty advisors. There is also a sophomore- or junior-level “Diagnostic Project” that requires an oral and written report on a smaller scale than that of the senior independent research, but emphasizes the same transferable skills. In the particular case of the senior research project in biology, students are provided with a detailed list of the criteria by which their work will be judged. This list covers the oral report, the written report, critical thinking, use of the library and information technology, and the various components of quality research in the field of biology. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Interactive Qualifying Project: Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) WPI takes very seriously its responsibility to prepare its graduates to be problem solvers in an interdisciplinary and international context. In 1970, the institution adopted a project-based structure for its undergraduate programs, which consist mainly of engineering, science, and management areas. The first project, called the Sufficiency, is an independent study in some area of arts and humanities that rounds out and integrates the liberal arts dimension of the degree. The second, called the Major Qualifying Project, constitutes a senior capstone experience in the student’s major. The third, called the Interactive Qualifying Project, is a model of good practice in integrating general education and the major. A team of students completes this project, and it focuses on a complex technological problem as well as on the human and social context in which the problem and any potential solution exist. Students usually do this project, which is worth three courses, in the junior year. Its aim is to develop in students the ability to frame, study, and solve problems in ways that are technologically sound but also appropriate to the human, social, economic, and environmental context. Teamwork, communication skills, and integrative thinking figure significantly in these endeavors. In addition to these project requirements, there is a strong international dimension to the degree. WPI has fourteen Project Centers in places such as London, Venice, Bangkok, Zimbabwe, and Australia. Students who do their Interactive Qualifying Project overseas must also add intercultural sensitivity to the list of competencies to be demonstrated. WPI also recently established the Worcester Community Project Center to bring students living on campus the experience of an off-campus learning environment. Within their project parameters, student teams work with community groups to gain experience in how local governments operate, and the sponsoring agencies receive a useful product from the team’s analysis of the agency’s issue. There is a well-organized process for evaluating student performance in the Interactive Qualifying Project. Teams of faculty are recruited in the summer for paid positions where they read the reports from the student teams and rate them on a Likert scale for each of the ABET criteria (a mixture of engineering and liberal arts outcomes). The ratings on the eleven ABET criteria and narrative evaluations of the reports are then entered into a database that faculty can consult in order to improve the quality of any further projects they sponsor. Administrators use the database to design faculty development workshops related to these projects. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Nursing Portfolio: Madonna University Student nurses at Madonna University develop and maintain an educational portfolio during the four semesters of nursing courses. In the Senior Seminar in the final semester, they compose a prologue to the portfolio. In this prologue, the student makes explicit connections between the goals of general education at Madonna and the Department of Nursing program outcomes. The student also includes in the prologue a summary of the areas of most significant growth throughout his or her whole baccalaureate experience. Completion of the fourth term marks the final assessment of the student’s progress toward achieving general education goals and nursing program outcomes. The final state of the portfolio is highly organized. Students write individual essays that explicitly address the integration of relevant University general educational goals with the nursing program outcomes. Thus, nursing program outcomes, general education outcomes, and personal goals are woven together in the student’s final semester -but as a reflection on what has happened all through the previous semesters. The integration of the undergraduate experience begins when the student begins to put together the portfolio. For example, communication is one of the nursing program outcomes. The student begins with general education courses in English composition to improve the ability to write effectively. Later, a course in “foreign” culture enlightens students on ways of thinking and practicing in other cultures and facilitates the development of cultural sensitivity in communication. In the nursing program, there are courses that address therapeutic communication and communication in family and community situations that provide insights into verbal and non-verbal forms of communication. Therefore, specific communication abilities required for nursing professionals are developed by expanding and further reinforcing the communication skills that were begun in general education courses. To help the student make the link between program outcomes and general education goals, the Senior Seminar syllabus links each program outcome with the appropriate general education goal, the seminar course outcomes, and the course outcome indicators. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Portfolio Assessments: Teacher Education at Alverno College Candidates for student teaching at Alverno College engage in a portfolio assessment experience the semester before they complete their student teaching. This is a culminating experience, one toward which they have been working since the beginning of the program. The purposes of the portfolio assessment are to give candidates an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for student teaching by showing how they plan, teach, assess, and give feedback - and how they assess their own teaching. Both Alverno faculty and an educator from the P-12 sector give feedback on the portfolio. There are eight general areas of ability that the Alverno faculty identified as essential attributes to be attained by every student who graduates from the institution. For education majors, these eight attributes are clustered and aligned with the five abilities required of professional teachers. Students regularly work on lesson plan development and self assessment according to the frameworks used in the portfolios, so that they prepare for the portfolio assessment in every class they take. New learning also occurs in doing the portfolio in two ways. First, students write reflections on what each lesson shows about them as developing teachers. They also write a detailed analysis of a videotaped lesson in terms of the double list of abilities above. Second, a professional in their field publicly critiques the portfolio. In these ways, students advance from just reflecting on their own performance to a deeper understanding of effective teaching. Portfolio assessment involves all members of the education department, members of the departments that prepare secondary teachers, and professionals from local P-12 systems. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Senior Assignments in Business: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) The core of SIUE’s assessment program rests with the Senior Assignment (SRA). The SRA is defined as a scholarly engagement between student and professor that results in a product. Because the product is visible, it, and the curriculum that produced it, can be assessed. Students are observed while doing the SRA and examined on or asked to defend the product. The SRA is a culminating experience that provides a concrete experience of integration for students and an authentic indication of student learning to the faculty. The SIUE School of Business identified four sets of attributes that their graduates should possess, with each set containing five further specifications of the general attribute. Each of the graduating seniors should - Demonstrate skills acquisition - Demonstrate liberal knowledge - Possess business goals - Possess business skills. Elsewhere, the second outcome might be considered to be outside of business—an outcome for which general education faculty “out there” are responsible. At SIUE, in contrast, Business School professors are responsible for all of the outcomes listed above and are involved in teaching formal general education classes. Two kinds of student activities occur in the Business SRAs. The first is an assignment to write a memorandum to a department manager in a simulated corporation. The student must review all aspects of a complex business case—markets (domestic and international), legal aspects (court decisions, tax law), accounting and financial contexts, technology, labor relations, and so forth—a genuinely cross-functional analysis. The memorandum is expected to make recommendations in the area of the student’s specialization, after demonstrating a grasp of the total situation. Students then give an oral presentation and defense of the memorandum, and several faculty raters judge the student’s mastery of oral and written communication, application of appropriate knowledge, analytical and critical reasoning, and persuasiveness or effectiveness. The second is participation in an annual International Business Policy Competition that calls for multidisciplinary student teams to develop an analysis and a set of recommendations in response to simulated quarterly reports. As in the previous case, this simulation asks students to undertake roles and duties similar to what they will encounter after graduation. SIUE faculty use the results of each set of SRAs to improve its quality in ensuing years. For example, recent assessments have led to a plan to include a more explicit ethical dimension to the memorandum exercise. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Senior Assessment: Alverno College Division of Nursing As a general principle, all assessments of outcomes at Alverno deal with both disciplinary knowledge (the major), as well as the eight abilities to be acquired by all graduates from the College (general education). These eight abilities are: communication, analysis, problem solving, valuing, social interaction, developing a global perspective, effective citizenship, and aesthetic responsiveness. The advanced outcomes for student nurses at Alverno incorporate the preceding eight abilities. The student nurse: - Uses the nursing process within an analytic framework in meeting health needs of individuals, families, and groups - Formulates value judgments reflecting a respect for the dignity and individuality of every person - Interacts in an effective goal-directed manner - Collaborates as a member of the health team to facilitate the adaptive process - Uses adaptation theory in analyzing environmental influences - Accepts a commitment to fulfill the responsibilities of a professional practitioner in contemporary society. Typical of the kind of performance assessments embedded throughout the years of study are two senior-level assessments created by the Nursing Division that require integration of these outcomes in a manner especially appropriate to a nursing graduate. The first is an “In Basket” simulation, in which a senior nursing student takes on the role of a public health nurse preparing to go on vacation, who then gets a call dealing with possible child abuse. The student must immediately generate questions to ask during the site visit and possible interventions to be ready to implement. In addition to that call, s/he must prioritize and develop care plans for a caseload of families and assign the right personnel to manage the caseload while s/he is on vacation. The student nurse’s performance is judged by faculty, by professionals from the community, and by the student him/herself (according to previously published criteria). The second assessment assigns the task of designing a campus health fair (to be actually conducted on campus) to a group of student nurses. One of the important parts of the design is the development of the criteria that the students will use to judge the degree of success of the health fair. As above, many people provide feedback to students on their performance and, more importantly, on their self-assessments. These particular assessments are also learning experiences for students, because they simulate real professional situations and demand “on-your-feet” synthesis of abilities and knowledge. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Senior Capstone: Portland State University The general education program that Portland State adopted in 1994 requires every student to complete a six-credit senior capstone. This capstone has four main objectives: - To provide an opportunity for students to apply the expertise learned in the major to real community issues. - To give students experience working in a team context necessitating collaboration with persons from different fields of specialization - To encourage students to become actively engaged in addressing community issues - To empower students to create summation products that represent their learning and meet the needs of community partners The specific expertise from the major will obviously vary from student to student. All students, however, are expected to exhibit competence in four key areas: communication, appreciation of diversity, critical thinking, and appreciation of social responsibility. Earlier components of the general education program are designed to prepare students to perform as desired in the capstones. The freshman year focuses on inquiry skills in various disciplines; communication, both individual and in groups, is stressed in the second year; and then upper-level cluster courses enable students to apply inquiry and communication skills in a more sustained manner to a theme of their own choosing. Finally, students are provided with orientation and training materials within the capstone itself. Each capstone engages a multidisciplinary team of students, under the supervision of a faculty member and a community partner, in developing solutions to real community issues. Students have to work collaboratively with one another and with people from the community. Some 140 of these capstones are offered each year - thirty-five in each of the four quarters - so students have real possibilities of finding a topic that fits both their interests and their academic background. Through observations by faculty and community leaders, study of reflective journals by the students, and open-ended surveys and interviews, assessment results show that students claim and exhibit important learning in teamwork skills, in how to apply their learning to real life problems, and in social responsibility. Integration of the student’s entire undergraduate experience, in applying their learning to solve a real community problem, is the clear theme that emerges from student reflections on the capstone experience. The Capstone Office reports these data to the faculty, to guide course revisions, and the office uses them to plan the faculty development activities needed to improve the program. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Senior Integrated Design Project: College of Engineering, University of Hartford The College of Engineering at the University of Hartford has been engaged in deliberate efforts to integrate humanities, sciences, and social sciences into the engineering curriculum. The new senior capstone is the fifth in a series of “Integrated Learning Blocks” that begin in the freshman year. This capstone gives students the opportunity to show that they have mastered the process of solving engineering problems, while at the same time taking into account the larger human, social, political, economic, and environmental contexts. The capstone focus is an engineering problem that is studied by a team of seniors under the direction of Hartford faculty and one or more industry partners. The final product could be a new product or process or a new experiment or methodology that would be implemented in industry. The results are shown in the form of a written report that summarizes the student team’s analysis of the problem and the design solution that it proposes. The team makes an oral presentation of its report to an audience of student peers, university faculty, and representatives from business and industry. The oral and written reports must contain sections that address the social, political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the problem and its proposed solution. Students are prepared for this senior project by Integrative Learning Blocks in the previous three years of the engineering curriculum. The Freshman Block calls for collaboration between engineering and humanities faculty on the development of skills in communication, research, data evaluation, and problem analysis in small groups. In the sophomore year, the focus is on problem solving skills and discussion of ethical issues and their social context between engineering and non-engineering students. Junior year engineering courses are linked to Western Heritage courses in the all-university curriculum. Collaborative learning and team-building experiences are key parts of these preparatory learning blocks. Faculty assessment of the senior capstones is done on the basis of work carried out to satisfy the objectives and goals. The presentation part is focused on the written report and its oral presentation, as well as on observation of the process used by the student team to produce the report. Students have had feedback from faculty in previous years on the development of skills needed to succeed in the capstone. The assessment of the team's work by business and industry clients raises the level of seriousness of this capstone project in students’ minds. Engineering faculty put the results of the capstone assessments to good use in revising the structure and the teaching of the earlier Integrated Learning Blocks. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Senior Seminar: Saint Joseph’s College Saint Joseph’s College has had an interdisciplinary core curriculum since 1969; all students take the same ten team-taught general education courses (a total of 45 semester hours) throughout an eight-semester period. The final core segment in the second semester of the senior year is a three-credit seminar that engages students, individually or in small groups, in confronting some serious contemporary issue that forces them to integrate what they have learned through their majors with what they have learned in the general education core. There are four primary points on which student work is assessed. Students must: (1) study a seminar topic from at least two disciplinary perspectives; (2) include the ethical dimension of the topic in their work; (3) demonstrate the ability to do the kind of research appropriate to their topic; and (4) present the results in oral and written forms representative of senior-level work. Since these senior seminar presentations constitute both a bridge between general education and the major and also a performance that recapitulates a student’s entire undergraduate experience a great deal of attention is focused here in the institution’s assessment plan. This is where the college judges its “product.” The seminar professor makes the grading and assessment judgment for each of his or her students and also coaches students in making detailed self-assessments of their work. But at least half of the seminar presentations are also judged by a team of four or five “outside” raters: retired professors, administrative staff, and professionals from the local community. (There are rubrics created by the core faculty to help coordinate the outside ratings with the faculty ratings.) The core curriculum committee analyzes the results of each year’s assessments of the senior seminar to determine if and where changes need to be made in the freshman, sophomore, and junior years. Although the senior seminar requires more thorough research and a more professional presentation than any previous work in the core, there is ample opportunity for students to learn and to rehearse these skills at the lower levels. In the six-credit segment of the core that students take each semester, they constantly see faculty modeling interdisciplinary ways of studying topics and attending to the value dimensions of issues. In core discussion groups, students then are required to talk and write about the texts and issues in an integrative manner. Since Saint Joseph’s is a small institution, the faculty for the core are the same faculty who teach in the majors, so the common core and the majors tend to become synchronized very quickly. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy Synthesis for Professional Nursing Practice: DePaul University At DePaul University all students are required to complete a capstone course to fulfill a liberal studies general education requirement. The capstone course is designed to integrate humanities and science perspectives within the major discipline. For nursing students this course is “Synthesis for Professional Nursing Practice,” a liberal studies course taught by nursing faculty. Although the main assignment in this course deals with a nursing topic, student performance is assessed in relationship to the ten University Learning Goals for graduates: mastery of content, communication, independence and cooperation in professional practice, multicultural perspectives, religious and ethical foundations, critical and creative thinking, multiple literacies, arts and literature aesthetic, self-reflection and lifelong learning, and historical consciousness. In that way, this seminar course serves as a culmination of the student’s prior courses and includes further development in the professionalization process. One-half of the grade in the synthesis course derives from the written and oral presentations of a student’s handling of a controversial issue in professional nursing practice. In keeping with the breadth of the ten learning goals, there are clear and explicit expectations that the student presentations will include an historical perspective, an aesthetic dimension, and spiritual or cultural influences. Discussion of topics related to evidence-based practice, health policy development, ethical decision making, use of technology, and cost containment practices in managed care are some of the specific ways that university goals in the humanities and social sciences show up in these projects. Communication skills and critical thinking skills are assessed whether students are presenting or in the audience. As was stated in a recent syllabus for this synthesis course, “after participating in this course the student will be able to synthesize information on a specific controversial topic, including a historical perspective, ethical and legal issues, aesthetic and spiritual perspectives.” The nursing department developed specific assessment criteria for each of the ten learning goals, as a student of nursing would be expected to exhibit them. Assessment rubrics for these criteria are used to assess performance formally at entry into the program and at graduation, as well as throughout student coursework to give criterion-referenced feedback. The assessment process includes student self-assessment prior to faculty assessment using the same rubrics. The synthesis project thus serves both as the formal graduation assessment used to measure capstone student performance, including integration of nursing outcomes with university general education outcomes, and as the primary source of data for program evaluation. Following Excert from: Association of American Colleges and Universities. (2004). Taking Responsibility for the Quality of the Baccalaureate Degree. Washington, D.C.: Association of American Colleges and Universities. You can purchase a hard copy Or, access an electronic copy
. Could Lee happen if Barney is included in the deal? Check that from prev post. Another Scout shows up and is clocking both Yanks and Sox. so with the new CBA the Cubs could offer Demp arb and if he signs somewhere else they get picks but LAD couldnt do the same if they trade for him? @ BubbaBiscuit: I would worship Thoyer forever if they could sell high on Barney. @ BubbaBiscuit: Yeah, but I’d actually want more in return than just Lee. I started writing an article about Barney earlier today. Hopefully I’ll have it published tomorrow. He’s not a good hitter, but he’s a valuable player. I think most here already know that and even if we throw out his rWAR because DRS is way off for him, he’s still a valuable player. @ mb21: The question no one is asking….Does Zach Lee do a Harry Caray impression?? @ dylanj: correct. @ Mercurial Outfielder: I don’t think they could sell high. I think they’d be selling low on him. I just don’t think you can get in return what he’s actually worth. If they can, great, but there’s nothing wrong with league average production for leage minimum. not thrilled with spending over half our int’l budget on a 22 year old with age verification issues. but we are so desperate for impact SP talent that I can see Theo taking the chance that this guy will be MLB ready in 2 years. @ dylanj: Realistically, they had a lot higher chance of getting someone up in 2 years if they signed several guys for $100,000. You hope this guy is an elite talent because otherwise it just doesn’t seem very smart. @ mb21: I dunno, I don’t think he’ll ever draw that return, but as an add-on to Dempster or GArza, he could maybe help max out their value. He’ll never be worth more in trade than he is now. I’d do Barney & Dempster for Gould & Lee @ dylanj: Pretty sure that’s illegal in Kansas. (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) (dying laughing) @ dylanj: That’s much more fair than just for Lee. MO is just wrong about Barney. The guy is valuable and if the Cubs give him away for nothing they’re crazy. Max value is almost always right now so if that’s what you like then you want every player traded today, but there’s no reason to think Barney is going to suddenly decline. He has a higher walk rate, lower strikeout rate, more power, an even better fielder, an above average baserunner and he’s not terrible at hitting. He’s not very good, but he’s not terrible either. I don’t think the Cubs can get Lee for Dempster, but I’d definitely do Lee and Gould for Barney and Dempster. That would probably be a fair deal. @ mb21: I’m not playing down Barney’s value. Quite the opposite, in fact. But Barney is 27. He’s at his peak. It’s all age-based decline from here. So sell him while he’s playing well and can make a trade package that will net us young arms. I say sell him now because I think he’s very valuable and can help a team win now. But the Cub can’t be concerned with winning now. They need to be thinking about winning 2-3 years from now, and Barney probably won’t be nearly as valuable then as a 2B as he is now as a trade piece. I wouldn’t mind hanging on to Barney either. I’m reluctant to trade him because I don’t think you’ll get as much as he’s worth to the Cubs. @ mb21: Why hang on to something that is valuable now when you need people who will be valuable later? Sell Barney on while he’s peaking and build for later. Barney won’t be helping you in 3 years. @ Mercurial Outfielder: it depends on what you can get. Let’s say you can somehow get $10 million in value for Dempster. I’m not including Barney in that deal if the Dodgers only up that to $15 million. Barney is worth more than that. I don’t care about the Cubs winning games, but value is value. I’d much rather have the Cubs getting his value than just giving him away for much less than he’s worth. This is all speculative since we don’t know what any team would offer. We don’t know what they’d offer for Dempster or for Barney. I certainly think they should explore it. I’m not at all opposed to that. I’d look into trade Castro and anyone else not named Rizzo too. I’d want a shitload in return for Castro, but I’d do it if some team offered it. I’m just not as confident as you that the Cubs can get what he’s worth and I don’t want them making a deal for less tha he’s worth. Make sense? @ Mercurial Outfielder: You still have to field a team next year and the year after. The bottom line is that I’m open to trade him or anyone else, but I want what they’re worth. I’m not making a deal just to make a deal. The Cubs will play baseball next year and they need guys to take the field. If Barney is their starting 2nd baseman they’re doing alright. They have time to trade him. He doesn’t need to go now. The guys the Cubs should be looking to move now for whatever the best offer is are Dempster, Garza, Maholm, Soriano, Soto, Marmol and maybe a couple others. Probably not all of the, but at least 4 of them should be gone. Is Barney a Super Two? I don’t recall if we talked about that as I don’t read every word. Also, just saw TDK again. Left after the Joker’s scenes were done. Mad props to Heath Ledger, always. @ mb21: Yeah I see that, but there is what a player is worth, in the sense of absolute value, and then what a player is worth in the sense of what someone is willing to pay. I’m not sure any GM will ever be willing to pay what Barney is worth, because defense and baserunning aren’t “sexy” ways to be valuable. But They remain valuable, and Barney is as valuable right now as he will ever be in those areas, and he’s putting up decent enough offensive numbers to catch someone’s eye. Sometimes I think you have to sell a player when he reaches the point that someone is willing to give you something decent for him, even if it’s not exactly what that guys might be worth on paper. @ mb21: Again, I agree in part, but I’m not holding on to Barney just because I can’t max out his trade value. @ Rice Cube: No, he’s not a super 2. He won’t be eligible for arbitration until after next season. @ mb21: Okay, I thought he got brought up early enough to be Super Two but I stand corrected. I like the part where the Pirates want Maholm back. Maybe. @ Mercurial Outfielder: I’m not either, but I’m not giving him away either. If I’m the GM I’m not going to bend over and give away a valuable player who isn’t properly valued just because I don’t think I can get the value he’s actually worth. A win is still worth $5 million to the Cubs whether they suck or are awesome. I’d much rather take the 2 wins he’ll provide then get bent over. If you give away one player every GM around is going to be offering less than he should for other players. I don’t expect the Cubs to get what Barney is really worth because of the whole defense issue, but I also expect them to get something valuable for him. He’s a valuable player to the Cubs and if they’re going to trade him they should get something valuable in return. small sample, but tyler colvin is actually hitting lefties well this year. @ mb21: Agreed. I wouldn’t sell him off for any old thing. Something like the package DJ suggested would be the floor for me with a package deal of Dempster/Garza+Barney. I think the Cubs can maybe get the best deal for Soriano in the offseason. Nobody trusts what they see from him right now. But if this lighter bat really is the key to his offensive resurgence, his projections might improve if he can keep this up (or anywhere close) for the rest of the year. They’ll never get a good prospect, but maybe the Cubs only have to eat 80% of the $38M left to get someone to take a shot. He’s not blocking anyone, he’s not a problem in the clubhouse (in fact, his work ethic has been hailed by even people who seemingly hate him), and he’s probably the 3rd best hitter in the lineup at the moment, and they won’t get anything of any usefulness in return for the farm system. So I’m not in a rush to trade him. Someone says Zach Lee isn’t being traded for a rental. On Germano’s travel plans: I believe that any player who is traded has 3 days to report to the new team. It would seem to be in his best interest to get to the Cubs ASAP, but maybe his wife is pregnant, or something like that, and that complicates things. By the way guys, in case you didn’t notice. CUBS WIN. I know the season is shot, but have you all given up on the little victories? /nudge SVB wrote: The little victories are when they lose. Even in a shitty season where I look forward to loses and Astro wins, the Cubs still manage to disappoint me quite often. josh wrote: C- is a decent grade from me. C- = approval At the beginning of each semester I ask every student, when they introduce themselves, to tell the class something they are Excellent at. You’d be surprised how many can’t think of an answer to that question. Then I explain that Excellent = A. Most of my drops occur in the first week. I like it that way. /coughdickcough mb21 wrote: Why is DRS off for barney? @ SVB: what do you teach? @ EnricoPallazzo: I’m curious as well. I’m guessing History. @ SVB: I aks my students what they think an average grade is and what they feel it requires. And then I tell them that the B they are imagining is really a C, and that all that means is that they got everything basically right and did nothing else remotely impressive. They are usually not enamored of this stance. mb21 wrote: While I find value-based trade analyses generally useful and appreciate the work that you and others on this site do to pull them together, I’m not sure I agree with this statement. I think that you can make a pretty solid argument that the marginal value of each win can vary radically depending on where a team sits in the standings at any given point of the season, and in the case of the 2012 Cubs, that the marginal value of each win acquired from here on out would be minimal. Likewise, the cost of acquiring a win varies based not only on what players are available on the market, but also on the circumstances of the team trying to acquire it. If a team has five starting pitchers that are 4 WAR players, the value of a 3 WAR starting pitcher is minimal as there’s no room for that player to contribute. I think that this point calls into question considering whether or not we should evaluate player value on a straight line, as a 10 WAR player would seemingly be more valuable than 10 one-WAR players — you can’t have ten guys on the field. This has implications in valuing players in trades or to be signed. In the case of Barney, you could make the argument that the Cubs could bring in less value than Barney is worth in absolute terms (i.e. his projected WAR times $5 million less the projected salary obligations for the time he would be under club control) and still come out ahead. You’d need to project the marginal value of the WAR he’d contribute based on some understanding of the future success of the team over the next four years; if the return on Barney is higher than that, the Cubs come out ahead even if they ‘lose’ the trade. In this way, both teams could theoretically ‘win’ a deal. Of course, trying to calculate that would be stupid difficult, and the level of guessing that you’d have to do to get there would likely make the result garbage anyway. Which, I assume, is why people analyze player value using a straight-line valuation of WAR. So I guess it’s more an art than a science, but worth keeping in mind as we evaluate the haul from the (hopefully) impending Cubs fire sale. Hope that wasn’t overly pedantic, but I’ve been thinking about this for a while and it did seem to fit in the discussion you were having with MO. @ Mercurial Outfielder: I taught for two semesters, and didn’t have an awesome speech about what it takes to succeed in my class. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was a horrible teacher. @ EnricoPallazzo: @ josh: I teach Natural Resource Conservation, Policy Analysis, Forest Ecology, Fire Ecology, Silviculture… Maybe I should do a “Who is SVB?” post like Mish did back in March. @ josh: Most grad schools don’t seem to care about helping their grad students learn to teach. They seem much more concerned to give us all several neuroses, ensuring we will end life divorced, poorly dressed, clothed in wool and smelling of cheap coffee. @ uncle dave: My thought there is that the WAR to $$ estimate works because it looks at larger sample sizes. Maybe an extra literal win would get the Dodgers into the postseason, but if you look at just the second half of this season, it’s more difficult to say with confidence that you’re getting an actual literal win worth of improvement over what you had before by picking up Barney. But GMs have to think long term in addition to short term, or they get fleeced, so even if you’re certain that Barney nets you an actual literal win, you have to think about the consequences of trading for him v. what you’re giving up. So in some sense, the WIN = $5 million estimate may balance out when you look at the short term v. long-term needs. Dodgers may think right now, for this year in this trade, a single WIN is worth $6 and 2 would be worth $10M, but they also have to think about what they are doing to the team in buying a short-term solution. @ SVB: Actually, yeah, that was kind of cool. @ Mercurial Outfielder: That’s great, and I bet you carry it off well. I’m laughing now imaging being in the back of your class. I tried something similar once but It didn’t work as well for me because I teach in my students’ second language, so on the first day of class they were still getting used to my accent, etc. and didn’t get the nuance. @ Mercurial Outfielder: Shit-hell. I got my masters at a little tiny liberal arts college just big enough to have 1-2 nominal masters’ programs. The English degree was geared toward English teachers in the local high school system. They didn’t have GAships or any kind of teaching help at all. They hired me as an adjunct after I graduated. I literally had zero teaching experience going into that. I had no idea what I was doing and failed miserably. It was horrible. I tried to get a teaching job at a community college here in Champaign and they were kind of horrified that I’d ever been allowed in front of students. I had no real counterargument to offer. That’s why I sit in a cubicle drawing comics and writing science fiction stories instead of teaching. @ SVB: So either you’re teaching forest conservation in Bolivia or somewhere, or you’re actually Bolivian. Are you a communist? Just answer the question. Also, post a list of your communist friends so we can “talk” to them. \’50s’d @ Mercurial Outfielder: This. But it’s amazing how many schools are now looking for people with active learning/service learning experience…. I guess the good thing about being an academic fuckup is that I get to stay married and drink decent coffee? I do drink some amazing coffee. Fucking spectacular. @ josh: (dying laughing). I teach in the USA. Does that help? Mercurial Outfielder wrote: bonus points if that typo was intentional @ SVB: It definitely helps if you can teach and your students actually care about learning. In my experience it is rare to have both…but I felt that I had really good teachers when I was being edumacated. However, when I was the educator, the students weren’t as receptive. There were one or two who genuinely loved to learn but the rest were just counting the seconds until the bell rang. @ SVB: Shit. Commies are in our borders now!! GET J. EDGAR ON THE PHONE! @ josh: But you have to find me first…. @ Rice Cube: Yeah, my first semester teaching was more of the students who cared about their writing, and the second semester was more of the “chatting during class” and giving me the “fucking die already” stares type of students. In other news, today my son drew a Dalek on his Magna Doodle. Nerd begat nerd. @ Rice Cube: Shit, man, I couldn’t believe that I was a student in literature class that was a piggy-back type class. In other words, I was the only grad student and the rest were undergrads, but they were all juniors and seniors and none of them read the books for the class. They would ask me for the answers before class. I told them to eat shit in not-so-many words. I couldn’t believe the lack of discipline. Junior and senior year, to me, was when classes finally started getting interesting. @ Rice Cube: EXTERMINATE! By the way, how did Soler do? @ SVB: The things I hear like this are what have made me reconsider grad school (dying laughing) @ josh: Bolivia? Sure, and that’s part of the calculation — for the team selling prospects, I assume that valuing them based again on some assumption of future marginal value is part of the deal. This year, I think that smart and forward-looking GMs (THoyer hopefully among them) are taking note of how much money is flowing into the league as well as changes to the CBA and coming to the conclusion that wins are set to get significantly more expensive over the next few years. But I think you need to also price risk into the equation as well. You can put a value on a prospect who is in A ball, but that’s based on an aggregate future value that’s spread across the 250-odd graded prospects in all levels of the minors. The chances of getting actual value out of a guy at that level are significantly smaller than getting #2 starter value out of Ryan Dempster for the rest of this year, and you have to account for that. I think that’s part of the desire on the part of THoyer to bring in massive numbers of prospects…you have to have a lot of bodies if you’re going to be comfortable counting on any sort of production from your farm in the future. Hopefully, the Dodgers are just gonna be dumb and overpay. I still think that both teams can come out ahead, though. @ Rice Cube: Never mind…BUST @ uncle dave: I think teams are more wary about overpaying at the trade deadline than they used to be, but it only takes one GM getting desperate. @ uncle dave: The ’50s was certain communism would come from the least likely place. Also, new comic: On Zach Lee, I know he is 20, but this guy has a 5.53 OOPS… He has a 5.53 ERA so far this year through 16 starts. Just doesn’t look like the can’t miss prospect that the Dodgers might value him as…
-training camp updates I spent a few hours at Quicken Loans Arena yesterday working on a few stories, some of which you'll be seeing in the paper and online this week leading up to training camp. Most of the players have been working out for a week or more. Larry Hughes was on the court working on his jumper and he seemed to be in good shape. Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Anderson Varejao were working together. Sasha Pavlovic was there, he's put in a lot of work in Cleveland over the summer. Luke Jackson is working his way back into shape after last spring's back surgery. I've also seen Donyell Marshall and Eric Snow working out along with the rookies (Shannon Brown and Daniel Gibson) plus some of the free agents who will be in training camp. I got a tour of the re-designed front offices, which I am told Dan Gilbert spent $3 million on. The old offices were very nice and all, but Gilbert said he felt it was too much like a law office so he re-did them. Basicly, he took all the bosses who had large offices along the windows and moved them to smaller offices in the interior of the building. Then he ripped down all the walls and put the majority of the employees into desks with natural light coming from the windows. There are lots of flat screen tvs everywhere and lots of sleek conference rooms done in a basketball theme. There's even a spiral staircase with lighted glass steps that will change colors. There are lots of murals on the walls featuring teamwork themes and, as a special touch, basketball hoops on walls throughout the building. Damon Jones will be glad to find out there's a huge picture of him getting piled on after he made the shot to beat the Wizards in last season's playoffs. Downstairs the Cavs have a brand new floor (pictured, click on it for a full-size view), which is supposed to not be as reflective. Fans watching on TV complained about the new LCD boards causing moving reflections on the floor during the game. I think for the third consecutive year, the lounge for players' families and friends is being totally remodeled. Also, they've put in new underground suites that don't even have a view of the court and are under the stands. To make room, the media was booted from its long-standing courtside seats and from its media room (they gave us a much smaller one with no bathroom). Sort of tells you what the Cavs think about us, eh? They don't need us as much when things are going well. Just wanted to give you an update. Look for a story tomorrow on Anderson Varejao and one this weekend on Shannon Brown, who allowed Beacon Journal columnist Tom Reed to hang out with him and his family earlier this summer at his house near Chicago and at his old high school. ESPN Chat I did an ESPN chat this afternoon. There were only a few questions on the Cavs, but here's the transcript for those who are (mildly) interested. Scott (Salem,Il): By 2010 will Greg Oden and OJ Mayo have just as big of impact as LeBron, Carmelo, and Dwayne Wade had on their franchises and the league as a whole. Brian Windhorst: I first met Greg Oden in Vegas at Team USA traning camp in July and I was taken back. The sheer size he has is incredible and I'm someone who is used to being around 7-footers every day. I think he has the potential to be a force in the league because he could be as unguardable as Shaq in his prime. I've seen Oden on film and he appears to have all the athletic ability he needs, it just depends on hard word and seasoning. As for Mayo, I don't know as much about him. But I've heard from scouts that he's leveled off in the last year or so in terms of his development. Dave, Motown: Hey Brian Where do you see my Pistons in 2010??? Do you still see Billups, RIP, and Tay as our core then or do you see Joe D making alot of changes in the next few seasons??? Brian Windhorst: I think Prince will eventually be the Pistons franchise player. But Rip and Chauncey still have some good years left in them. The question will be what sort of contracts Joe Dumars signs them to, because they will both probably be past their primes five years from now. It may have been a mistake to trade Darko. I saw him play in Japan at the World Championships and it sure looked like he's on track to become a good post player in the league. That deal (just getting salary-cap relief in return) may haunt the Pistons Chris (Lancaster,Pa): What has Billy King done to prove he still deserve 1 job with the Sixers, let alone the president and general manager positions he's holding down now? How do you turn a respected franchise into a laughing stock in a matter of months and then have nerve to announce the signing of Alan Henderson like it's a step closer to a NBA Championship. Would it hurt to go after Bonzi Wells before Denver gets a hold of him ? Brian Windhorst: The Sixers remind me of GM. They are stuck paying for the past and too jammed up in current commitments to rip it down and build for the future. I realize much of this is Billy King's doing but it is hard to get out of it. It appears the Sixers are about to be sold. If that happens I'd expect the new owner to probably attempt to clean house. Mike PHX AZ: Hey Brian, Whats up with our SUNS for the 2010 ?????? Do you see Stoudamire leading us to the promise land ? Brian Windhorst: Mike, I wrote for ESPN today that the Suns could be in the lottery in a few years. Not because I think it will happen, but it could. I don't like selling off draft picks as they've been doing. But they do have an extra first round pick next year (the Cavs via Boston) and it will be a deep draft. I watched Amare in Vegas with Team USA and in summer league. He's got a long way to go. There is no way to predict what he'll be by the end of this season much less 2010 Jon (Indianapolis, IN): What do you think of the Cavs moves this summer? Do you think Varejao will end up being their starting PF by the end of this season? Brian Windhorst: The Cavs held down the fort and added veteran backups David Wesley and Scot Pollard. It should help their depth. of course they badly need help at point guard and I'm sure they'll be on the lookout constantly. But they feel good about the way they finished and are hopeful Larry Hughes will stay healthy. As of this moment, I'd predict them to improve slightly on their 50-32 record. J.E. Skeets (Toronto): Will Hubie Brown will be completely translucent by 2010? Brian Windhorst: J.E. is a funny guy. You hardcore basketball fans should look up his blog. As for Hubie, a few years ago someone gave him a makeover with that fancy haircut with bangs. He might consider another. But his commentary is still right on the money and I assume he'll only get smarter by 2010. Todd (Fargo): Are the Wolves the only team in history to have 7 gaurds under contract? Will this lead them to a Championship? Brian Windhorst: In history? Probably not. But they are assets. People need guards and as the season goes along they will be willing to trade for them. Kevin McHale will step back and wait for offers. But after seeing Randy Foye in Vegas I believe you've got to give that kid major minutes. Trent (LA): See any improvement by Kobe and the lakers next season? do you see them being a serious contender by 2010? Thanks Brian Windhorst: I think the Lakers have some cap space coming, which could help in the long run. They finished strong last season despite having some injury issues. If they can carry that over they have a chance to improve. It will be interesting to see if Radmanovic and his outside shooting ability will have a major impact. Casey (Laurel,MS): Hey I hope my question goes through, but I was reading the article about the Bobcats winning the championship in 2010, well even tho they MIGHT have V.C. they still need a bench and uh, Sean May isnt that good of a bench if you ask me. Brian Windhorst: Well, some of these young Bobcats have to work out and they've been carefully clutching their salary cap space to make a run in the future. Whether going after an aging Vince Carter is the answer, I'm not sure. They do need to sell tickets and I hear they have a North Carolina fan running the show now. Raymond Felton impressed me last season in fact he was right behind Chris Paul on my rookie of the year ballot. And I firmly believe Adam Morrison will be able to score in the league, even if he can't defend. There are some pieces to get excited about. Chad: Minneapolis, MN: You sated earlier that Foye needs major minutes. In 2010 who will be the best player from this past draft? Foye??? Brian Windhorst: Both Foye and Brandon Roy impressed me in Vegas Summer League. We'll have to see how these young big men like Tyrus Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge develop before we know the pick of the class. San Antonio, Texas: Brian,considering the Spurs current salary cap situation where after next only Manu, Tim and Tony Parker will be under contract. Would it be fair to say that if SA reloads with the right talent that they still could be amongst the elite in 2010? Brian Windhorst: I firmly believe the Spurs will be a serious contender for the foreseeable future. I'm giving away one of my pieces for later this week, but I really think Beno Udrih is an unknown value and the Spurs usually draft very well. Kevin(Chicago): Will the Bulls have won a championship by 2010?? Brian Windhorst: Hard to say, it depends on what they do with their young guys. They can't sign them all to deals so proper decisions have to be made. Big giving Ben Wallace that huge deal sure makes it seem like they are trying to win it all way before then. Woytek (Cracow, Poland): Is LeBron mortal lock in Cavs for whole carrer? Brian Windhorst: No, he's signed thru 2010. After that anything is possible. Are any of us mortal locks for anything? Jake (Denver): Without some production from the young bigs (Al and Perk), do the C's spin their wheels until 2010? Brian (Milwaukee): What city will the Bucks be calling 'Home" in 2010??? Brian Windhorst: Opps, took two questions. It would be nice to see some of the Celts never ending parade of new fresh faces take the step from prospect to great pro. For various reasons it hasn't happened and Danny Ainge keeps importing a new group every year. Supposedly Jefferson is healthy and has lost 30 pounds so he'd be worth watching. They must like Perkins because he just got a four-year extension, which surprised many in the league. As for Milwaukee, I love that city and there's a good tradition there. As long as Herb Kohl owns the team they will be in Wisconsin, but if he sells, Oklahoma City, Kansas City and Las Vegas are all lurking. ryan Childersburg Al: how do you think the new york knicks be like in 2010 could thy run a open court like the suns do Brian Windhorst: It depends on what happens this year. Many people think the Knicks need to blow it up and re-start with the idea of clearing cap space for 2010 when LeBron and DWade become free agents. I think the Knicks will actually be better this season by running more because that roster has depth and talent. But if they win, let's say, 38 games, it will be improvement and James Dolan will be under pressure to keep the momentum going and, thus, the massive overspending. Or Isiah's systems falls flat and he's fired and a new era is ushered in. I believe they call this a "tipping point." Adam (Philly): I dont see Cleveland ever winning a championship with Lebron. He didn't really impress me with his playoff performance, because he got a lot of lucky breaks (against the Wiz and Pistons). He just doesnt seem like to guy that you can give the ball to down 1 point and say "win me this game." Kobe Wade and Melo can do that. Brian Windhorst: I guess you didn't watch the last half of the season when LeBron led the Cavs to like 18 wins in 22 games decided by four points or less. Whether or not he can get enough help to win a title is a valid point. But it isn't a talent issue. Dave (Chicago, IL): Do you think the Magic are going to unload Keyon Dooling due to their logjam at the point? Who do you think they might get back for Dooling? You hear a lot about a Dooling for Michael Doleac swap with Miami. Any truth to that? Brian Windhorst: Keyon Dooling is worth more than that, no? David (Gainesville, GA): How will the Hawks young kids be in 2010? Brian Windhorst: Everyone keeps telling me Marvin Williams come around and I'm willing to give him time. But I'm certainly in the chorus that thought passing on Chris Paul was foolish. Josh Smith is coming around a little, he's turned into quite a shot blocker but I'd like to see more skill development. Shelden Williams has decent upside, but I think they could've done better at that spot in the draft. I guess, um, I'm not all that excited about them. Sarbjit Singh (New York): Hey Brian Where do you see Houston Rockets in 2010? Do you think they can make the championship with T-mac & Yao? Brian Windhorst: Everyone wants to know. When the they had it going two years ago they balanced those two with good outside shooters. It looks like they are going to try to go back to that because they've signed a boat load of them with the hopes that a few pan out. They play in such a meat grinder division that they really need McGrady to be healthy for an entire season to get in good position for the playoffs. It will be interesting to see how their upcoming general manager Daryl Morey, a stats-based guy, makes changes. He was the influence behind the Battier deal and I think it will work out for them. Eduardo (San Jose California): Sup playboy, How are my Clips going to be looking like in 2010? Brian Windhorst: I'm no playboy, Eduardo, I live in Cleveland. I like the Clippers. They played with confidence last season and it was refreshing to see. They are big and athletic and have a great leader in Cassell. Shaun Livingston sort of underwhelmed me at the Vegas Summer League, I really expected him to be dominant and he needs to step up to get ready to take the reigns. I liked the Tim Thomas signing as well. They appear to want to move Maggette and how that eventual deal works out could make a major impact. Yorkis (Philly): Will Danny Fortson become the Jose Canseco of the NBA and open up everyone's eyes to the steroid use that's been going on in the league for the past 20 years before 2010? Brian Windhorst: I don't know. I've been in MLB, NFL and NBA locker rooms and I can tell you NBA players have the most muscle and best bodies of them all. Perhaps it is because the NBA lends itself to more freak athletes. But let's all be honest, there are probably players using performance-enhancing stuff. How wide spread it is or if it will ever become something the league gets into isn't known right now. I think David Stern is happy no one is making a big deal about it. Steve (Seattle): What changes do the Blazers need to make to be in playoff contention by 2010? Brian Windhorst: Well the Blazers are a big bucket of change. They've gone from being a free-spending huge budget team to one that is looking for baragins and young players. If they want the makeover to be complete, they really need to move Zach Randolph and Darius Miles but that will not be easy. They are in for lots of growing pains ahead and it may take five years for them to make the right moves to become serious contenders again. Derrick Concord NC: How many african american owners will be in the NBA by 2010? Brian Windhorst: I think everyone is hoping more than one. But Bob Johnson hasn't exactly been thrilled so far with his investment in Charlotte. JB (Atl): Is it possible for ESPN writers to write about the Hawks without mentioning Paul? Stop rubbing salt in our wounds! Brian Windhorst: OK, OK. I keep getting questions from all the Hawks fans (Why don't you guys ever come to the games?). Yes, they have some potentially good young players. But the organization is a total mess from the ownership on down and they have consisently made poor decisions over the last four years or so. Until there's a change in that course then people like me are going to be skeptics. Joe (Brantford, Ontario): Hey Brian! For the first time in a long time, Raptor fans are very hopefull of this upcoming season. Where do you see them in 2010? Thanks! Brian Windhorst: Chris Bosh is someone to get excited about. I think the combo of T.J. Ford and Jose Calderon could make them a good fast-paced team and I think Bargnani will be able to contibute in some way right away. Also you have an excellent decision-maker at the top now. In fact, I think Wayne Embry should've been Exec. of the Year last year for what he did in his short time. There is reason to be excited in T.O. No reason no to hope for a serious shot at the playoffs. Brian Windhorst: Thanks for sending me all the questions. Keep coming back and reading the 2010 series for the rest of the week. There's some good stuff coming. An infamous elbow As you may have read over the weekend, Greek national team player Nikos Zisis is still pretty upset about the elbow he got from Anderson Varejao in the FIBA World Championship and wants to sue him. Considering he had to undergo surgery last week after spending a week in the hospital in Japan, it is understandable he is trying to get some measure of revenge because it isn't likely the two will ever seen each other on a basketball floor again. Based on some of my e-mail and some things I've read on message boards, I want to address a few things about this issue. I'm not smart enough to be a lawyer so I can't even begin to guess how Zisis would successfully sue Varejao considering the event happened in a country neither player lives in nor works in. However, ultra-bright University of Nebraska law student Zach Hemenway informs me this case set the precedent that an athlete could sue another athlete for something that happens outside the rules on the field of play. However even Zach doesn't exactly see how Zisis can win without direct evidence of intent and everything seems to be circumstantial. I had extended conversations in Japan with members of the Greek media. Now I must point out that these guys were hardly objective, for example they cheered from the press box, waived Greek flags during the game, and hugged and kissed players following the victory over the U.S. But they painted a picture of how Zisis and Varejao were battling back and forth. How after Zisis was angry after Varejao supposedly flopped -- and let's be honest, he's known to do that -- and how supposedly Varejao warned him not to come into the paint when he was standing there. For his part, Varejao doesn't not say he's sorry. I cannot verify the exact translation because I do not speak Portugese, but a poster at RealCavsFans says he translated this story from Brazil where Varejao said the following: "I've learned from the press what Nikos Zisis has been saying and I was surprised and sad with it. Zisis accused me of being disloyal and a bad character, he said I hit him on purpose and named me an "animal" and "murderer". I hadnt answered anything so far because I did not want to make a big deal out of it and because my conscience is clean that it was just his bad luck in that play and because I understand that he's upset at this time because of the injury. But I think Zisis has crossed the line with this thing. Because of everything he's been saying and because the way things are shaping. Now I have to watch Zisis sue me, claiming an "murderer act" by my part. It's clear to me what he really wants with all this. Zisis shoud know that bball is a contact game. It was on one of this contacts that he got hurt. It was a normal game play, but he ended up getting hurt. That is so true that the referees, and there were three of them, ruled as a normal foul and no one claimed anything at that moment. Because I saw the injury was bad I came to him to apologise but he turned his back on me. It's an absurd that he keeps blaming me. Accusing me that it was intentional. I've always been a loyal, clean player. A player that respects the opponent and that plays eyeing the ball. Last season, I had a bad injury playing for Brazil that kept me from playing for six months and I didnt have to seek for people to blame to justify my injury. I think Zisis should do the same and focus on his rehab. He should stop feeding tabloids and talking sillyness." I feel like I know Andy and his game. I know that sometimes it appears he plays absent minded, but actually I think he's fairly sharp. If you remember last season he took a shot at Rasheed Wallace and got ejected in Detroit and did it without looking like he was trying to. I've watched the Zisis video numerous times and I think that play in Detroit is comparable. I don't think Andy wanted to inflict such damage to Zisis' face and certainly he didn't mean to him him as hard as he did. But I there's a good chance he came in high with his elbow to send a message. So that makes his name mud in Greece, but after being called soft many times last season I predict Cavs fans won't mind at all. Insomnia is underrated Hopelessly jet-lagged and unable to sleep at 3 a.m., let me toss out a few thoughts.To read more or comment... Heading home Tokyo -- I haven't been in the States in three weeks, so I'm not sure how the U.S. bronze medal performance came off back home, where I'm headed now. I've written about it and talked about it a great deal. I'm not going to rehash it. It was a quality win over Argentina and it is a good basis to build on.To read more or comment... Earthquakes and Greece lightning Saitama, Japan -- Yesterday I experienced my first-ever earthquake, a 4.8er that shook me up good on the 10th floor of my hotel. Tonight I saw Team USA get rattled in a loss to Greece that pretty much ended their FIBA World Championship.To read more or comment... - 2013 (148) - 2012 (345) - 2011 (275) - 2010 (471) - 2009 (188) - 2008 (125) - 2007 (164) - 2006 (83) - 2005 (24)
A company once ran a beautiful monster of a marketing campaign. The campaign was an attempt to drive traffic to its e-commerce site. Shortly after launching the campaign, sales dropped by nearly half. Synthetic tests suggested everything was fine. Web analytics reported an increase in visits, but a huge drop in conversions across every visitor segment. It looked like the campaign had appealed to a large number of visitors who came to the site but didn’t buy anything. This excerpt is from. Management was understandably annoyed. The official response amounted to, “Don’t ever do that again, and fire the guy who did it the first time.” Fortunately, one of the company’s web operators was testing out new ways of monitoring end user performance at this time. He noticed something strange: a sudden spike in traffic, followed by the meltdown of much of the payment infrastructure on which the site depended. This payment system wasn’t part of the synthetic tests the company was running. As it turned out, the company had hit upon an incredibly successful promotion that nearly killed the system. So many people were trying to buy that the checkout page took over 20 seconds, and often didn’t load at all. Nearly all of the visitors abandoned their purchases. Once the company responded by adding servers, upgrading the payment system, and fixing some performance bottlenecks, they tripled monthly revenues. It’s one thing to know your site is working. When your synthetic tests confirm that visitors were able to retrieve a page quickly and without errors, you can be sure it’s available. While you know it’s working for your tests, however, there’s something you don’t know: is it broken for anyone, anywhere? Just because a test was successful doesn’t mean users aren’t experiencing problems: The visitor may be on a different browser or client than the test system. The visitor may be accessing a portion of the site you’re not testing, or following a navigational path you haven’t anticipated. The visitor’s network connection may be different from that used by the test for a number of reasons, including latency, packet loss, firewall issues, geographic distance, or the use of a proxy. The outage may have been so brief that it occurred in the interval between two tests. The visitor’s data—such as what he put in his shopping cart, the length of his name, the length of a storage cookie, or the number of times he hit the Back button—may cause the site to behave erratically or to break. Problems may be intermittent, with synthetic testing hitting a working component while some real users connect to a failed one. This is particularly true in a load-balanced environment: if one-third of your servers are broken, a third of your visitors will have a problem, but there’s a two-thirds chance that a synthetic test will get a correct response to its HTTP request. In other words, there are plenty of ways your site can be working and still be broken. As one seasoned IT manager put it, “Everything could be blinking green in the data center with no critical events on the monitoring tools, but the user experience was terrible: broken, slow, and significantly impacting the business.” To find and fix problems that impact actual visitors, you need to watch those visitors as they interact with your website. Real user monitoring (RUM) is a collection of technologies that capture, analyze, and report a site’s performance and availability from this perspective. RUM may involve sniffing the network connection, adding JavaScript to pages, installing agents on end user machines, or some combination thereof. For this book, we’re using a simple distinction between synthetic testing and RUM. If you collect data every time someone visits your site, it’s RUM. This means that if you have 10 times the visitors, you’ll collect 10 times the data. On the other hand, with the synthetic testing approaches we saw in the previous chapter, the amount of data that you collect has nothing to do with how busy the site is. A 10-minute test interval will give you six tests an hour, whether you have one or a thousand visitors that hour. Here’s a concrete example of RUM alongside synthetic data. Figure 10.1, “A scatterplot of page requests over time in Coradiant’s TrueSight, showing relative TCP round-trip time” shows page requests to an actual website across an hour. Each dot in the figure is an HTTP GET. The higher the dot, the greater the TCP round-trip time; the bigger the dot, the larger the request. Figure 10.1. A scatterplot of page requests over time in Coradiant’s TrueSight, showing relative TCP round-trip time While requests happen throughout the hour for which the data was collected, there are distinct stacks of dots at regular intervals. These columns of requests, which occurred at five-minute intervals, are actually synthetic tests from the Alertsite synthetic testing service, coming from Australia, Florida, and New York. Figure 10.2, “The same scatterplot in Figure 10.1, “A scatterplot of page requests over time in Coradiant’s TrueSight, showing relative TCP round-trip time”, with synthetic tests identified” highlights these five-minute intervals. The tests from each of the three locations have “bands” of latency—tests from Australia had the highest round-trip time, as we’d expect. Notice that there would have been no data on Australia without synthetic data. Also notice that the only way to discover the excessively large request (the big dot) was to watch actual visitors—there’s no way for a synthetic test to detect this. Finally, notice the dozens of requests that happen in those five minutes—an eternity of Internet time. Figure 10.2. The same scatterplot in Figure 10.1, “A scatterplot of page requests over time in Coradiant’s TrueSight, showing relative TCP round-trip time”, with synthetic tests identified Synthetic tests give you an idea of what users might experience, but RUM tells you what actually happened—whether users could accomplish the things they tried to do. In this respect, RUM is the natural complement to web analytics. However, you cannot use RUM on its own: it’s useless if users don’t visit the site, because there are no visits to analyze. We’ve already covered why you need to look at end user experience (Chapter 8, Could They Do It?: End User Experience Management), but here are some specific uses of RUM technology: Using performance records to prove you met service-level targets with customers Supporting users and resolving disputes based on a record of what actually happened Speeding up problem resolution with “first-cause” analysis to localize the issue Helping to configure and verify synthetic tests Defining testing scripts from actual user visits When a service provider and its customers argue, it’s usually because they don’t have all the facts. Instead, they resort to anecdotes and recrimination, each providing incomplete evidence to support the view that they’re right and the other is wrong. This is especially true for SaaS websites. When you’re the service provider, you need to be gentle. If you’re in the wrong, you’ll be issuing a refund and apologizing soon. If the problem is the customer’s fault, you have the opportunity to fix it and help her save face. You need to know what actually happened, which is where RUM excels. If you have reports on what the end user experience was like, you can tell subscribers precisely where delays occurred. To make the most of dispute resolution, your RUM solution must segment traffic by the application being used, by subscriber (usually the company that’s paying the bill), and by individual user. It must also generate reports by elements of latency and by type of error. By distributing this data to sales and support teams on a regular basis, you’ll be well equipped to prove that you did what you said you would. While dispute resolution normally happens with aggregate data, call centers work with individuals. If your call center has access to RUM information, call center personnel can bring up a user’s session and see what went wrong. If the problem is on the user’s side, you can add the issue to a FAQ, modify troubleshooting processes to help customers serve themselves in the future, or let the design team know where users are getting stuck, all of which will reduce call center volumes. On the other hand, if the user has encountered a legitimate problem that must be fixed, the session records will be invaluable in convincing engineering that there’s an error and helping QA to test for the problem in future releases. RUM data will seldom diagnose a problem completely—there are simply too many components in a web transaction to pinpoint the root cause by looking at web traffic. Rather, RUM will tell you where in your delivery infrastructure to look. In this respect, it is a “first-cause” rather than a root-cause approach. Consider, for example, RUM data broken down by type of request: a static image, a static page, a dynamic page, and a page that writes to the database. If there’s a sudden performance problem with dynamic pages, it’s likely that the application server is to blame. If that data is then segmented by server address and URL, you know where to start looking. This kind of segmentation is how IT operations teams solve problems naturally. When you adopt a RUM solution, you need to make it an integral part of your problem resolution workflow and escalation procedures, with the new data in order to reap all of the benefits. There are, however, emerging end-to-end passive analysis tools, like ExtraHop, that monitor not only HTTP, but other protocols as well, and can drill down into many of the backend systems behind the web tier to help with troubleshooting. When you’re developing your synthetic test strategy, you need to know what an acceptable response time is. In the previous chapter, we looked at how you can use data from web analytics to help ensure that your synthetic tests are watching the right parts of your site. RUM data can help you determine what the acceptable results should be for those tests. Imagine, for example, that you want to test the login process. You’ve got a synthetic test for that you’d like to run. You can take the RUM data for the 95th percentile of all logins, add a standard deviation, and you will have a good estimate of a “normal” performance range for that page. Chances are, however, that you’ll deploy a synthetic testing solution well before you deploy RUM, so a more likely use of RUM is to validate that your synthetic tests are working properly and that your test results match what real users are seeing. Session records provide the raw material for new tests. Because they record every HTTP transaction, you can feed them into load testing systems to test capacity. What’s more, if you share a copy of a problematic visit with the release management group, the release team can add the offending test to its regression testing process to make sure the issue is addressed in subsequent releases. Armed with thousands of measurements of individual page requests, you can answer two important questions: could visitors use the website? What were their experiences like? The first question involves problem diagnosis and dispute resolution. When someone calls with a problem, you can quickly see what happened. You can even detect and resolve a problem before she calls, because your RUM tool has seen the error occur. The second question involves segmentation and reporting. You can look across all requests of a certain type—a specific browser, a geographic region, a URL, and so on—and analyze the performance and availability of the website for capacity planning or to understand how the site’s performance affects business outcomes. Both questions are vital to your web business. To answer them, you first need to collect all those page measurements. The work you’ll need to do depends heavily on which RUM approach you use. RUM solutions vary widely, but always involve the following basic steps, as shown in Figure 10.3, “The basic steps in all RUM solutions”. Capture. The monitoring system captures page and object hits from several sources—JavaScript on a browser, a passive network tap, a load balancer, or a server and its logfiles.. These six steps seem fairly basic, but as with most monitoring technologies, the devil’s in the details. How much information the RUM solution records, and what you can do with it, depends on what information that solution collects, how it decides what’s “interesting,” and how it stores and retrieves user data. Collecting performance at the server’s side of the connection takes a bottom-up approach. First, your RUM tool gathers the individual HTTP objects, then organizes them into pages and visits, then calculates performance metrics. This is the approach many server agents, logfiles, and passive analyzers use, including those from Computer Associates, Coradiant, HP, and Tealeaf. Often, these objects have something in common that lets the RUM tool group them together. It may be a cookie unique to that visit (known as a session cookie) or some other piece of information, such as an IP address or a browser. The RUM tool uses this information to assemble all of the objects into a user’s visit. Within those objects, some are containers (such as those ending in .html) and some are components (such as those ending in .gif). This allows the RUM solution to identify where pages begin and end, though in practice, it’s hard to do this well and there are many rules and tweaks that a RUM tool uses to reassemble a user session properly. Once a RUM tool has grouped a visit into pages, it uses the timing of the various objects to determine page load time. If you’re collecting performance at the browser’s side of the connection using JavaScript, you’re recording milestones that occur as a page loads in the browser. JavaScript embedded in the page records key events, such as the start of a page or the moment that all the objects it contains have been retrieved from the server. The JavaScript then sends the timing of these milestones and some metadata about the page to a collector. With this model, you don’t need to worry about reassembling the individual objects that make up a page. In fact, you may ignore them entirely. You also won’t need to work out which sessions belong to which visitors—after all, you’re running on one visitor’s browser, so you only see one visit and can mark page requests on behalf of the service to associate them with one another. Gomez and Keynote both offer this model, and many large websites (such as Netflix, Yahoo!, Google, and Whitepages.com) have deployed homegrown client-side collection. The developers of the Netflix solution have made their work available as an open source project called Jiffy (for more information on how Netflix is instrumenting page performance, see). You may not have to choose between server-side and client-side collection. Some vendors offer a hybrid approach that collects user experience data at both the client and the server for a more complete perspective on performance. There are dozens of facts about a web page that you will want to record. All of them are useful for diagnostics, and many of them are good dimensions along which to segment data within reports. These facts include performance metrics, headers and DOM information, error conditions, page content, correlation data, and external metadata. You can track the following timing metrics for every page: The round-trip time between client and server. This is the time it takes a packet to travel across the Internet from the client to the server and back. The time to negotiate encryption (SSL, for example) if needed. The time for the client to send the server a request. The time for the server to respond to the request with a status code and the requested object (known as the first byte or host time). The time taken to redirect a browser to another object, if applicable. The time it takes to deliver the object to the client. The number of TCP segments that were lost (and had to be retransmitted) during the delivery. The number of TCP segments that arrived out of order and had to be reordered by the client. The time it takes for the browser to process the returned object—generally, the time taken to render a page. The start of a rich media component, the moment a visitor drags a map, or other timing events specific to a particular application that are recorded as part of the page’s performance. The total time taken to request, receive, and display a page. The time the visitor takes once the page is loaded, before beginning the next action. Some of this data may not be available, depending on how you’re capturing user experience. Page render time, for example, is something only client-side RUM can measure. Similarly, low-level networking statistics like TCP retransmissions aren’t visible to JavaScript running on the browser. Every web page—indeed, every HTTP object—includes request and response information in the form of headers sent between the browser and the web server. Because HTTP is an extensible protocol, the number of possible headers is unlimited. Most RUM solutions will collect the following data about the request: The browser requesting the object. The requested object. Any data the browser sent to the server. The referring URL that triggered the browser’s request. Any cookies the browser sent that it acquired on previous visits. The server’s response contains additional information about the object being delivered, which the RUM solution can capture: The kind of object that the server is returning. The size of the requested object. The server’s response (200 OK, 404, etc.). The time it takes for the browser to process the returned object—generally, the time taken to render a page. Whether the object is compressed, and if so, how. What type of object is being delivered. This helps the browser to display the object. The object itself, or specific strings within the object. Details on whether the object can be cached, and if so, for how long. Any cookies the server wants to set on the browser. Metadata is important. If the server says an object is big, but the actual object is much smaller, it’s a sign that something was lost. Similarly, an unusual MIME type may mean that content can’t be displayed on some clients. As a result, RUM tools often capture this kind of data for segmentation (“What percentage of requests are compressed?”) or to help with diagnostics. Server-side RUM tools will collect this data from actual requests, while client-side tools will assemble it from the browser’s DOM, so the metadata you can collect will depend on how you’re capturing page performance. RUM tools are on the lookout for everything from low-level network errors to bad HTTP status codes to specific content in a page. Most watch for a built-in list of error conditions. Again, the RUM approach you choose will determine which errors you can detect. In particular, client-side RUM can’t detect errors that happen before the client-side JavaScript has loaded (because the monitoring tool isn’t capturing data yet), so it’s used less often than server-side RUM for error detection. Many pages your website serves contain additional context about the content of the page. Perhaps it’s the price of a purchase, the type of subscriber (for example, “premium”), or maybe the visitor’s account number. Some RUM tools extract this kind of information from pages and associate it with a visit. With a server-side RUM tool, you specify which HTML content it should extract as it goes by, using an interface like the one shown in Figure 10.4, “Configuring content extraction in Coradiant’s TrueSight”. Every time page content matches those specifications, the RUM tool captures the content and stores it with the page. One common piece of data to extract from page content is the title of the page. Most HTML objects have a <Title> tag that provides the name of the page in plain language. This name is often different from and more readable than the page’s actual URL. Instead of talking about “page4.aspx,” you’re now discussing “the checkout page.” If you capture additional page metadata, such as the total amount spent, you can make the visit record even more relevant and tangible. Page content is also useful for segmentation, allowing you to ask questions like, “How much did sales go down for users whose transactions took longer than five seconds?” If you’re using client-side RUM collection, metadata collection happens differently. The JavaScript used for performance instrumentation can also extract information from the DOM, such as the page title or some text in the page, and include that data in its report on the page’s retrieval, just as an analytics tool records page tags. Some tools can even capture the entire page rather than just specific strings. This lets you search through pages after the fact, and is useful for problem diagnosis, particularly when problems are related to content or to user input (Figure 10.5, “Replaying an entire user visit from a complete HTML capture with Tealeaf”). Capturing all page content also lets you search across all visits for specific occurrences of a problem. We know of a case in which a disgruntled employee vandalized a site’s pages on his last day on the job. When an outraged customer first reported the problem to the call center, the company had to determine how many others had seen the changed content. Nobody knew to look for the string in question until it had happened, but being able to search through historical data to find all instances of the string of expletives the employee had left let the company defuse the situation. If you’re planning to combine your RUM data with other data sources, you may need to extract strings that will help you correlate those sources. Timing information is the most common form of correlation. It lets you line up RUM with synthetic tests and other forms of analytics, such as conversion rates. For this, the RUM tool needs to synchronize its clock with that of the other data collectors. You can then merge records of user visits by timestamp to understand how user experience affects conversions. Visit-specific information (such as session cookies) is even more useful, because it lets you associate an individual visit with other systems, such as a record of an individual visit in a WIA tool or an individual customer survey in a VOC tool. This also lets you segment individual conversions (in analytics) by the actual experience that visitor had on the site (in RUM). Personally identifiable data, such as an account number or full name, can help you track customers as they move from a website to a call center or even a retail outlet. With this data, you can bring up a visitor’s online session when he calls support or sales, and offer better service by seeing what happened, just as you do with WIA tools. Actually joining RUM data to other information in a data warehouse is quite another matter, which we’ll address in Chapter 17, Putting It All Together, but it’s wise to collect correlation information ahead of time in case you need it in the future. Some RUM packages look up the visitor’s IP address in a database and include the municipality, country, and carrier in the session log, as shown in Figure 10.6, “Additional visit metadata based on a visitor’s IP address”. While not always accurate, this gives you some insight into where users are coming from. Many of the databases used for geographic lookup also return the owner of the IP address, which will either be a company or a service provider. Service provider information helps to diagnose networking issues such as peering point congestion, since segmenting by service provider can reveal a problem that’s happening in one carrier but not others. Figure 10.7, “Extracting performance information and metadata from a page request” shows how the various elements we’ve just seen can be extracted from a page in a visit. In this figure, the delivery of a page (and its components) results in a record of the page request that includes: Performance data, such as host time, network time, and SSL latency based on the timing of specific events. Metadata from within the browser’s DOM about the visitor’s environment and the HTTP request/response. External metadata, like IP address and world time. Specific data that can be used to correlate the request with others, such as timing, address, and session cookies. Geographic and carrier information based on the IP address of the request. Data extracted from the content of the page, including the name of the page (“Checkout”), the identity of the visitor (“Bob Smith”), and the value of the page (“$158.40”). Having information on every user’s visit is tremendously useful, both for troubleshooting individual incidents and for determining whether your website is living up to its promises. When deploying a RUM tool, your first decision is how to collect all this data. Your approach to collection significantly affects what you can do with your RUM solution, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. We’ve seen that there are two major ways of collecting data: on the server side and on the client side. Server-side collection approaches include server logging, reverse proxies, and inline sniffers or passive analyzers. Client-side collection approaches include desktop agents and JavaScript instrumentation in the browser. Much of this collection technology resembles the monitoring approaches we looked at for a web analytics implementation, but it’s focused more on performance measurement. Consequently, passive analysis approaches are more common in RUM than they are in web analytics because they can collect network timing information and detect failed requests. Web server logs give you only basic information about visitor performance. You’ll have the timestamps at which each object was requested, and basic data like what was requested. You may have more advanced logging, either through specialized software or within the application server. This can tell you about key milestones of an object request, such as when the request was received, when the server responded, and when the server was finished sending the object. A logging agent sits between the server’s operating system and the application container. Some open source RUM tools, such as Glassbox, track each call to a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and can provide a detailed hierarchical analysis of an application call to see exactly which function had problems, or to determine which database table caused a slowdown. Server-side RUM tools like Symphoniq, which also rely on client-side JavaScript, can correlate end user experience with platform health, which allows them to span the gap between IT operations and end user experience. Logging agents on application servers can time requests to the application from the network, as well as database requests or other backend transactions. Most server agents are more focused on the performance of the application tier (breaking down delay by component or query) than they are on reassembling a user’s session and overall experience. Logging is essential for application administrators, and forensic analysts may require logging to detect fraud or reproduce incidents. But it’s not a popular indicator of end user experience unless it’s combined with a client-side monitoring approach. Here are some of the advantages of using server logging: It runs on the server. It can capture server health data (CPU, number of threads, memory, storage, etc.). It can get granular information on transactions within the application container/JVM. It can include backend transaction latency (such as database calls). However, server logging has some important limitations: It consumes server resources. Aggregating logfiles across servers is always problematic. A single visitor may hit multiple servers, making records incomplete. Servers have limited visibility into WAN health since they’re behind load balancers. You can’t see the ultimate rendering of the page that the end user sees. It doesn’t see CDN performance. It can’t measure mashups. When the server’s down, so are the logfiles that could otherwise tell you what broke. Reverse proxy servers are located between the web server and the client and can be used to monitor end user experience. While this approach has fallen out of favor in recent years because it adds a point of failure to infrastructure, many load balancers behave much like reverse proxies and may have a role to play in performance monitoring. A reverse proxy server terminates client requests and forwards them on to servers. Similarly, it terminates server responses and sends them to the client. It may respond to some requests, such as those for static images, on its own to offload work from the servers. Because it’s terminating connections, it is also the endpoint for SSL encryption, so it may have access to data in plain text that is encrypted on the wire. The result of reverse proxy data collection is a log of HTTP requests that resembles that of a web server, although some proxy servers offer more granular information that yields better visualization and analysis. Reverse proxy servers that record timings track milestones in a connection. The incoming request from the client, the status code response from the server, the first byte of the object the server sends, and the end of object delivery are used to calculate the performance of a page. Because a reverse proxy is between the client and the server, it can measure the network health and performance of both ends of a connection. In other words, it may have two sets of TCP round-trip time information, one representing the Internet connection to the client and one representing the LAN connection to the server. Reverse proxies are servers in the middle of a connection. Unless they have to be there, they’re probably another point of failure and delay for you to worry about. If you have a load balancer with logging capabilities, however, this may be an option you can use. Reverse proxy collection provides the following advantages: It sits in the middle of the connection, so it sees both perspectives. If the proxy is already terminating SSL, it may simplify the monitoring of encrypted traffic. It may already be in place as a load balancer. It may be able to inject JavaScript, simplifying client-side instrumentation. Some of the disadvantages of using a reverse proxy include: It introduces an additional single point of failure. It may introduce delay. It can’t see the ultimate rendering of the page to the end user. It doesn’t see CDN performance. It can’t measure mashups. It may be a point of attack or vulnerability, and represents one more server to worry about. It’s difficult to diagnose problems when the proxy is the cause. While reverse proxies actually intercept and retransmit packets across a network, there’s another way to sit between the browser and the web server that doesn’t interfere with the packets themselves: sniffing. This approach uses either a dedicated device (a tap, shown in Figure 10.8, “A network tap that makes a copy of all traffic flowing through it.”) or a spare port on a network switch (known as a SPAN port or mirror port) that makes a copy of every packet that passes through it. Collectively, these approaches are known as inline capture or passive analysis. Sniffing traffic is a common practice for networking professionals. They rely on sniffers to detect virus traffic, even when there’s no trace of an infection on a server. They use them to pinpoint Ethernet issues or to figure out which applications are running on a LAN. In fact, they use them anywhere they need to know what’s really going on across a network connection. In recent years, they’re using enhanced versions of sniffing technology to measure end user experience. This approach, called inline RUM, is sometimes referred to as passive analysis because the monitoring doesn’t generate any additional traffic on the network (as opposed to a synthetic monitoring approach, which is “active” because it generates traffic). A tap or a mirror port copies traffic indiscriminately—every packet on the active network that’s tapped is copied onto the monitoring connection. This means any inline RUM solution has to be good at blocking out nonweb traffic and at reassembling individual packets into web pages at wire speeds. To capture per-session timing, the device watches for important milestones—the start of a page request, the delivery of the last object, and so on—and uses timers and TCP/IP sequence number information to calculate latency. Because the device can see when packets arrive at and leave the server, it can measure extremely precisely. In fact, some inline RUM tools aimed at the financial industry such as SeaNet () can report trade notification timings to the microsecond. Inline RUM is precise and powerful, and sees problems even when the servers are broken or the pages aren’t loaded in a browser. It can also be expensive—we’re talking about network equipment, after all—and you probably won’t be able to use it if you don’t own your own hardware, because you’re hosted by someone else or running your application in a cloud environment. It also doesn’t see the end user’s ultimate experience, because it’s not on the browser itself. Inline devices provide the following benefits: They don’t lie: what you see on the wire is what happened. They are transparent, so there is no load on clients or servers. They do not present a point of failure in the network. You can upgrade and modify them without a maintenance window. They see performance even when the web page doesn’t load. They work for any HTTP request, even when JavaScript isn’t executing (mobile devices, RSS feeds, RESTful APIs, etc.). Of course, inline capture devices have some important shortcomings: They are more expensive than other options. They require physical deployment in a network you control. They can’t see the ultimate rendering of the page to the end user. They don’t see CDN performance. They can’t measure mashups. They have a hard time reassembling pages when the page contains RIA components such as AJAX or Flash, which may make additional HTTP requests at any time. They capture huge amounts of data, so storage may be an issue. They require a copy of the SSL key when sniffing encrypted traffic. You must ensure that security and compliance officers are OK with deployment because you’re collecting data that is potentially sensitive. One way to collect end user experience data is to put an agent on the user’s desktop. This agent can see every aspect of application use, not just for the web application, but also for other applications. Want to know if the user’s playing Minesweeper while she’s on your site? Client agents will tell you. They’ve got access to the client’s operating system, too, so agents know how healthy the network is and how much CPU resources are being used. Unfortunately, you probably can’t use them. Agents are software applications installed on client desktops. They’re used almost exclusively in enterprise applications, where they’re part of company-wide management platforms that handle everything from antivirus updates to backup systems. They sit between the operating system and the applications, watching traffic between those applications and the operating system’s resources. Aternity, for example, makes desktop agents that track traffic flows to and from applications and that summarize the data and look for exceptions before sending performance metrics back to a management console. Agents see messages flowing in and out of applications. They can watch for specific strings or for operating system events (such as a window opening or a mouse click). They can also watch for network events like a new DNS lookup or an outbound HTTP request. Agents keep track of the timing of these events, as well as key operating system metrics. Agents see everything, but you need to own the desktop to install them. If you are able to make use of agents, you can take advantage of the following: They provide the best visibility into what the user is really doing. They can see system health information (CPU, memory). Much of the instrumentation work is done by the client, so this approach scales well as the number of users grows. Agents have the following disadvantages: To use them, you will require access to the end user’s desktop, so they are a nonstarter for most Internet-facing web applications. They cannot see the network outside the end user LAN segment, so IP addressing, packet loss, etc., may be incorrect. They require different software for different operating systems (Linux, Windows, OS X, etc.). They slow down the client. Agents must be maintained by IT. JavaScript changed the web analytics industry, and now it’s transforming RUM. JavaScript-based monitoring sees what the user sees. This means it has a better view than any other web monitoring technology into the final assembly of the page, which may include client-side logic, plug-ins, and so on. It’s the only way to capture the performance of mashups and third-party content. What’s more, JavaScript code can access everything the browser knows about the session and the user. This includes data such as cookies stored from previous visits or data on the number and size of browser windows. You can use this information to augment user performance with business and visitor context. JavaScript RUM begins with page instrumentation, just as web analytics does. You insert a snippet of JavaScript into your web pages or use an inline device like a load balancer to inject the snippet into pages as they’re served. Either way, the visitor downloads a monitoring script that runs on the client. The script records milestones of page arrival, and then sends performance metrics to a collector—a third-party service, a server, or the inline device that injected the script initially. To do this, the script requests a small image and appends the message it wants to send to the collector as a series of parameters to the URL. This is similar to JavaScript used for web analytics; in this case, however, the message’s parameters contain performance and availability information. Imagine that you’re using performance monitoring service Example.com. Your JavaScript watches the page load, and at the end it determines that there were eight objects on the page and that it took 3.5 seconds (3,500 milliseconds) to load. It then sends a request similar to the following: The monitoring script doesn’t care about a response—the use of a tiny image is intended to make the response as small as possible. The RUM system now knows that a page loaded, that it had eight objects, and that it and took 3.5 seconds. The rest of the work, such as reporting, aggregation, and data storage, happens on the RUM service or appliance that received the request for the small object. Recall from our earlier discussion in Chapter 5, What Did They Do?: Web Analytics that JavaScript is an event-driven language. To instrument a page as it loads, a monitoring script starts a timer and marks off the moments when important events occur. The first important event is the moment the page loads, and to capture this, the first part of the script appears right at the top of the page. This is the “first byte” time. As the page loads, the browser generates other events, such as the onLoad event, which signifies that all objects have loaded. Simply by knowing the time the page started and ended, we can determine a useful performance measurement—how long the page took to deliver, otherwise known as network time. Most JavaScript measurement happens in a similar fashion. Using the system’s time (known as epochtime), measurements are determined by calculating the elapsed time between two events. There’s a problem, however. JavaScript is page-specific. When you load a new page, you load new JavaScript. There’s no way to start a timer on page A (when the user clicks a link) and then stop the timer on page B (when the page loads), because everything related to page A ends when page B is loaded in its place. There are good security reasons for this. If JavaScript didn’t work this way, someone who’d instrumented site A with analytics could watch everything users did for the rest of their online time, even after leaving site A. This feature of JavaScript provides security and privacy to web users at the expense of being able to monitor their page performance. Fortunately, developers have a way around the problem that doesn’t undermine security. When a user is about to leave page A in a visit, the browser fires an event ( onBeforeUnload) telling JavaScript that it’s about to get rid of the current page and load a new one. JavaScript stores the current epochtime in a cookie, which is then available for the newly loaded JavaScript on page B. JavaScript uses a cookie to store the time at which the user clicked the link. The script on page A effectively passes that start time to the script on page B, where it can be used to calculate the elapsed time—how long it took the server to receive and respond to the click that launched page B. Despite its appeal, JavaScript still has many problems. Timing through JavaScript is more complex than for other collection models that time things independently of page loads, because the JavaScript that monitors performance is itself part of the page being monitored. A recent initiative, called Episodes, addresses several of these problems. JavaScript sees everything from a user’s perspective—when it’s loaded properly—including third-party content and mashups. However, implementing it is usually vendor-specific, making switching services difficult. Furthermore, JavaScript can’t see outside the browser’s sandbox. The following are advantages to using JavaScript: It sees all objects from all locations, so it’s good for mashups and sites coming from CDNs. It sees client-side delay, so it knows when scripts or plug-ins are causing problems, and it measures “perceived render time.” It knows exactly what the components of a page are. It can instrument user actions (clicking play on a video, for example) and make them part of the timing. It works in cloud computing and managed hosting environments because there’s no need for access to servers and no hardware to install. JavaScript still has some key limitations, however: If the JavaScript isn’t loaded, you don’t get any data, so it’s not good for diagnosing problems. Power users may skip a page before JavaScript can run, resulting in gaps in monitoring. Using JavaScript increases page size and delay. It doesn’t work for documents (PDF), RSS feeds, some mobile devices, or anywhere that there’s no JavaScript being executed. Additional coding is required to instrument events beyond those in the DOM. It can’t see anything outside the browser sandbox (TCP round-trip time, out-of-order segments, public IP address, etc.). It can’t measure the server delay on the very first page of a visit because it lacks a timer from the previous page—there is no “previous page.” It must be maintained along with other software within the web page, and is subject to release cycles and QA. It may introduce some privacy concerns, similar to web analytics, causing users to block third-party scripts. An effort by Steve Souders of Google (and the author of YSlow while at Yahoo!) may address the just described issues and give us an industry-wide approach to performance monitoring for rich Internet applications. To understand Episodes, let’s first look at the limitations of JavaScript monitoring today. Many applications aren’t ready for the user at precisely the moment the browser’s onLoad event occurs. Some are ready before the onLoad event because they’ve carefully loaded what users need first. Others have additional code to execute before pages are truly complete and ready for users. In both of these cases, we require a way to report a “truly ready” event. Browsers support a limited number of timing milestones. Modern websites have unique milestones, such as the moment when video starts playing. Coders must write code to generate their own timing data to mark these milestones, so there isn’t an easy way to compare the performance of two sites. The result is many proprietary definitions of timing. There’s also no consistent way to track timing of the user’s click on the preceding page, forcing coders to resort to cookies to store click time. This is by far the biggest problem with JavaScript-based RUM today, and it’s the one Episodes fixes most cleanly. In Chapter 6, How Did They Do It?: Monitoring Web Usability we saw how stylesheets separate web design from content, making it easier for a designer to change the color of a heading across an entire site with just a single stylesheet change. Stylesheets are an example of specialization in web design: developers can code the application and make it visually appealing, while authors can focus on content. A similar problem exists with proprietary RUM approaches. The person who builds the application is not the person who’s in charge of monitoring it. The developer knows which important milestones exist in the page—the rendering of a table, the loading of a video, or small messages back to the server. At the same time, the person monitoring the application knows what he wants to watch. Unfortunately, to monitor an application with JavaScript today, many developers are forced to design not only what is monitored, but also how it’s reported back to a service for analysis. The timing of the page, the metrics to report, and the mechanism for reporting them are all intertwined in much the way content and formatting were with HTML in the early years of the Web. As Steve Souders says (), “There are drawbacks to the programmatic scripting approach. It needs to be implemented.... The switching cost is high. Actually embedding the framework may increase the page size to the point that it has a detrimental effect on performance. And programmatic scripting isn’t a viable solution for measuring competitors.” Episodes does for EUEM what stylesheets did for web design: it provides a model in which the developer defines milestones and measurements, but one in which those measurements can be collected independently by someone in charge of operations and monitoring. Figure 10.9, “How Episodes captures page timings with JavaScript” shows how Episodes works, particularly Steve Souders’ episodes.js reference application. Monitoring of a page’s performance begins when the visitor leaves page A. The monitoring script records the current time (Starttime) when the visitor clicks a link. Starttime is stored in a cookie on the browser. When page B loads, it includes a script near the start of the page. That script records the current time as soon as it runs (which approximates the first byte of the page) in the DOM (in window.postmessage), calling it “Firstbyte.” The script also retrieves the Starttime left by the previous page from the locally stored cookie. At the end of the page (the onLoad event) it records the Pageready timing. It may also record custom events the application developer wants to track (such as the start of a video). By measuring the elapsed time between these milestones, other timings (such as server time and network time) can also be calculated. All of this information is stored in window.postmessage, where any other tool can receive it. A browser plug-in could read the contents of that space and display information on timings. A synthetic testing site could grab those timings through browser puppetry and include them in a report. And a JavaScript-based RUM solution could extract the data as a string and send it back to a RUM service. Where Episodes really shines, however, is in operational efficiency. So far, the developer has simply recorded important milestones about the page’s loading in a common area. If the page changes, the developer can just move the snippets of code that generate Episodes milestones accordingly. If new functions (such as the loading of a video) need to be measured, the developer can publish these new milestones to the common area. As a result, switching RUM service providers is trivial—just change the script that assembles the milestones and sends them to the RUM service. There’s no need to change the way developers mark up the events on the pages. In the same way CSS separates the page’s meaning from its formatting, Episodes changes the page’s functional timings from the way in which they are collected and reported. Episodes proposes several standard names and timings, as shown in Table 10.1, “Episodes names and timings”. You can calculate custom timings from new milestones and these default ones. So what’s the right approach for collection? A combination of inline monitoring and a JavaScript-based programmatic script that’s compatible with the Episodes approach is the right choice for RUM. The inline device has the most visibility into what is really happening, even when pages aren’t loaded or servers aren’t working, and is invaluable for troubleshooting. The JavaScript approach shows client-side activity, as well as mashups, CDN delivery, and third-party content that closely mimics end user experience. Together, they’re unbeatable. RUM yields two kinds of data: individual visits and aggregate reports. Individual visits are great for diagnosing an issue or examining why a particular page was good for a particular user. They’re the primary use of RUM in troubleshooting and customer support environments. They usually consist of a list of pages within a visit, along with timing information; in some products, each page can be viewed as a cascade diagram of container and component load times. While looking at individual visits is useful, however, it’s important to recognize that if you worry about a problem affecting only one visitor, you may overlook a more significant, widespread issue. Aggregate calculations, on the other hand, give you a broad view of the application as a whole, as shown in Figure 10.10, “An aggregate report of host latency by city across visitor sessions in Coradiant TrueSight”. They can, for example, show you a particular metric (“host latency”) across a segment of your traffic (“the login page”, “users from Boston”, or “handled by server 10”). Figure 10.10. An aggregate report of host latency by city across visitor sessions in Coradiant TrueSight Aggregation also means making Top-N lists, which helps to prioritize your efforts by showing you the slowest, most errored, or busiest elements of your infrastructure. Finally, aggregate data is the basis for baselining, which decides what’s normal for a particular region or page, and lets you know when something is unacceptably slow or broken. Support teams, QA testers, and developers tend to use individual visit views, while aggregate data views are more often used for reporting and defusing SLA disputes. Analyzing aggregate data has to be done properly. This is the place where statistics matter—you need to look at percentiles and histograms, not just averages, to be sure you’re not missing important information or giving yourself a false sense of security. Watching end user activity does present some concerns and pitfalls to watch out for, from privacy to portability and beyond. We’ve already considered many of the privacy concerns in the section on WIA, so be sure to check there for details on data collection. Some websites store session attributes in encrypted cookies. Unfortunately, obfuscating personally identifiable information may make it hard to reassemble a user’s visit or to identify one user across several visits. Whenever the visitor changes the application state (for example, by adding something to a shopping cart) the entire encrypted cookie changes. Your development team should separate the things you need to hide (such as an account number) from the things that you don’t (such as a session ID). Better yet, store session state on the servers rather than in cookies—it’s safer and makes the cookies smaller, improving performance. This is particularly true if your sessionization relies on the information in that cookie. RUM tools may extract content from the page to add business context to a visit record. While this is less risky than collecting an entire page for replay (as we do in some WIA tools), you still need to be careful about what you’re capturing. When you implement your data collection strategy, you should ensure that someone with legal authority has reviewed it. In particular, pay attention to POST parameters, URI parameters, and cookies. You’ll need to decide on a basic approach to collection: either capture everything except what’s blocked, or block everything that’s not explicitly captured. A permissive capture strategy might, for example, tell the RUM solution to blank out the POST parameter for “password.” Unless it’s explicitly blocked, it will be stored. Permissive capture means you may accidentally collect data you shouldn’t, but it also means that a transcript of the visit will contain everything the visitor submitted, making it easier to understand what went wrong during the visit. On the other hand, a restrictive capture strategy will capture only what you tell it to. So you might, for example, collect the user’s account number, the checkout amount, and the number of items in a shopping cart. While this is the more secure approach (you won’t accidentally collect things you shouldn’t), it means you can’t go back and look for something else later on. Figure 10.11, “Configuring confidentiality policies in Coradiant TrueSight” shows an example of a restrictive capture configuration screen in a RUM tool—everything that isn’t explicitly captured has its value deleted from the visit record. We’ve looked at programmatic RUM using client-side JavaScript. More and more applications are written in browser plug-ins (like Flash and Silverlight) or even browser/desktop clients (Adobe AIR and Sun’s Java FX, for example.) The methods described here for sending messages back to a hosted RUM service work just as well for RIAs. The application developer has to create events within the application that are sent back to the service. Episodes is a good model for this because it’s easily extensible. As part of their RUM offerings, some solutions provide JavaScript tags or ActionScript libraries that can also capture multimedia data like startup time, rebuffer count, rebuffer ratio, and so on. As we’ve noted, capturing user sessions generates a tremendous amount of information, particularly if those sessions include all of the content on the page itself. If you’re planning on running your own RUM, make sure your budget includes storage. Many server-side RUM tools allow you to extract session logs so that they can be loaded into a business intelligence (BI) tool for further analysis (Figure 10.12, “Bulk data export in Coradiant’s TrueSight”). With a hosted RUM service, it’s important to understand the granularity of the offering, specifically whether it can drill down to an individual page or object, as well as the length of time that the stored information is available. Some systems only store user session information for sessions that had problems or were excessively slow. RUM data must be portable. Whatever technology you deploy, you need to be sure you can take your data and move it around. Often, this will be in the form of a flat logfile (for searching) or a data warehouse (for segmentation and sharing with other departments). With the advent of new tools for visualization and data exchange, you will often want to provide RUM in real time and in other formats. For example, if you want to stream user events to a dashboard as structured data, you’ll want a data feed of some kind, such as the one shown in Figure 10.13, “Raw data of individual object requests from a streaming API”. You may also want to overlay visitor information atop third-party visualization tools such as Google Earth, particularly if you’re trying to find a geographic pattern. For example, you may want to demonstrate that visitors who are prolific posters are in fact coming from a single region overseas and are polluting your community pages with blog spam, as is the case in Figure 10.14, “User visits showing performance and availability, visualized in Google Earth”. These kinds of export and visualization are especially important for gaining executive sponsorship and buy-in, since they present a complex pattern intuitively. When selecting a RUM solution, be sure you have access to real-time and exported data feeds. Since we’re on the topic of data warehousing, let’s look at some of the characteristics your RUM solution needs to have if it is to work well with other analytical tools. It must support regular exports so that the BI tool can extract data from it and put it into the warehouse at regular intervals. The BI tool must also be able to “recover” data it missed because of an outage. It must mark session, page, and object records with universally unique identifiers. In this way, the BI tool can tell which objects belong to which pages and which pages belong to which sessions. Without a way of understanding this relationship, the BI tool won’t be capable of drilling down from a visit to its pages and components. If the data includes custom fields (such as “password” or “shopping cart value”), the exported data must include headers that allow the BI tool to import the data cleanly, even when you create new fields or remove old ones. We’ll look at consolidating many sources of monitoring data at the end of the book, in Chapter 17, Putting It All Together. A load balancer terminates the connection with clients and reestablishes its own, more efficient connection to each server. In doing so, it presents a single IP address to the Internet, even though each server has its own address. This means that the server’s identity is opaque to monitoring tools that are deployed in front of the load balancer, including inline monitoring devices and client-side monitoring. To overcome this issue, some load balancers can insert a server identifier into the HTTP header that the RUM tool can read. This allows you to segment traffic by server even though the server’s IP address is hidden. We strongly suggest this approach, as it will allow you to narrow a problem down to a specific server much more quickly. You can use a similar technique to have the application server insert a server identifier, further enhancing your ability to troubleshoot problems. We’ve seen the maturity model for web analytics; now let’s look at the model for web monitoring. There are two parallel types of monitoring: synthetic testing and RUM. As the organization matures, its focus shifts from bottom-up, technical monitoring to top-down, user-centric monitoring. It also moves from simple page analysis to the automatic baselining and alerting of transactions, and to tying the performance and availability of the site back to analytics data about business outcomes. If you enjoyed this excerpt, buy a copy of Complete Web Monitoring.
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Top of my list of favorite restaurants! Well deserved. Every detail was well planned and executed. Lovely! 5/12/2013 12:00:00 AM High expectations met I had been wanting to dine at Charleston for a few yearsn but I had balked at paying its high price point. However, for the occasion of finishing graduate school, I figured that it was now or never. The service was perfect and the food was some of the best that I have ever had. Each dish was flavorful and properly cooked without ant flavor being too dominant over the others. Although the portion sizes are not generous, I felt that I enjoyed the food more not having to try to stuff in each oversized portion. Too many nice aspects from this experience to recount here, but suffice it say, I will be returning for my next special occasion. 5/11/2013 12:00:00 AM Best dining expericence EVER! Without question, the best dining experience EVER (in over 60 years!!). 5/4/2013 12:00:00 AM Another great experience Every visit helps lock in Charleston as our favorite restaurant in Baltimore. Attentive service from knowledgeable staff. Every one of our dishes was excellently prepared. There were four of us, and we each had four courses (not incl dessert) so we had lots to try from each of our plates. The halibut, lamb, and scallop dishes were truly noteworthy. It was one of our guest's birthday, and chef Cindy Wolf came out to the table to extend her wishes. She is warm and approachable - not always the case with other chefs. An excellent dining experience - you will not be disappointed. 5/4/2013 12:00:00 AM Wonderful eating experience! My 2 sons and I enjoyed an outstanding dining experience last night at Charleston. The service was wonderful and the food, wine and presentation was outstanding! 5/4/2013 12:00:00 AM Wonderful dinner for my wife's Wonderful dinner for my wife's birthday. She was very happy that several different people told her happy birthday throughout the evening. Food was fantastic and service was wonderful. A great experience that everyone should try at least one time. 5/3/2013 12:00:00 AM Best dining experience in Bmore. I took my parents there who are big goodies and they said it was better than restaurants they've gone to in Paris. The asparagus soup was to die for, fabulous menu, excellent wine pairings... A really special, elegant experience. 5/3/2013 12:00:00 AM Great night Menu had great variety of choices. Food presentation was excellent and boy did it taste good. Staff were friendly and professional. I highly recommend the wine pairings BUT be prepared to walk home or take a cab. Can't wait to go back again 5/2/2013 12:00:00 AM Always fabulous Nothing more to say-Charleston is the best restaurant in the city. 5/2/2013 12:00:00 AM Anniversary Dinner Taking advantage of a gift card lessened the "sticker shock" and overall it was an excellent dining experience. Exactly what one would want when celebrating a special occasion. An impressive range of food courses and wine accompaniments allowed us to sample a wide range of the menu offerings (allowing us to share twice the variety by each ordering a different set of courses). All levels of service were exemplary. We would highly recommend Charleston for that special dining occasion. 5/1/2013 12:00:00 AM Would be total 5 star but Would be total 5 star but 1) service falls off at dessert, took very long for dessert to arrive by which time coffee was stone cold. -need to serve coffee and dessert simultaneously 2); no hand towels or hand dryer in ladies room -have no alternative but to drip dry 4/27/2013 12:00:00 AM Our third time there and it Our third time there and it gets better and better! Took some friends from out of town to dinner with us, everything was beyond amazing! Can't wait for out forth trip! 4/27/2013 12:00:00 AM Outstanding in every way If Michelin were in Baltimore, this restaurant would be at the top of their list. We had trouble deciding what to order, everything on the menu sounded fabulous. Service is professional and friendly. The food is beautiful to look at and loaded with flavor. We had a drink, an incredible 4 course meal with wine pairings, tax and tip in the $350 area. Dessert is "complimentary". Yes, costly, but we felt it is worth every penny when you are ready for a very special dining experience. There are several dining rooms, we had a view of the kitchen, which I enjoyed. 4/25/2013 12:00:00 AM NEW FAVORITE! As a first-time patron, I can truly say this is my NEW FAVORITE RESTAURANT! The fried oysters were spectacular, the lamb was succulent, the lobster soup was amazing, and the desserts were to die for... OUTSTANDING! 4/25/2013 12:00:00 AM Wonderful time and absolutely Wonderful time and absolutely amazing food. The unique menu allows you to order a number of different items (all items are smaller in size and and the traditional "courses" are not observed as you can choose 3, 4, or 5 courses of whatever you would like). Expensive but more than just dinner, it is an experience! 4/23/2013 12:00:00 AM Superb Baltimore Restaurant Charleston is good on every test. Service, food and ambiance outstanding. 4/22/2013 12:00:00 AM The food was excellent, the The food was excellent, the staff attentive and friendly, and an extensive wine list. Highly recommended. 4/20/2013 12:00:00 AM While we thought everything While we thought everything was fantastic, nothing stood out. We frequent fine dining restaurants and this one was overpriced for what you recieved. We could have eaten similar quality food and recieved the same excellent service at other locations for half the price. Again, it was wonderful, but the price was not worth it. 4/20/2013 12:00:00 AM If you want to be treated If you want to be treated like a king & queen, this is the place to go! The service is top notch. Everything is explained in detail, the staff is very attentive, and each course is started with clean plates and silverware. The food is divine; even though portions are small, they are prepared with such care and quality that you want to savor each bite! Chef Cindy came out to greet her guests and is very gracious and humble. My friends told me "to eat before you come" but I didn't find that necessary. Even my 260 lb husband thought the meal was filling. Of course he ordered the 6 course meal! 4/20/2013 12:00:00 AM An amazing dinner! Was taken An amazing dinner! Was taken here for a date, and absolutely loved it! 4/19/2013 12:00:00 AM I have been to Charleston I have been to Charleston about 7 or 8 times and have previously done this survey. This is a great restaurant and the food is excellent. 4/19/2013 12:00:00 AM Superb tranquil great food Superb tranquil great food professional staff. Would recommend to any serious foodie. 4/18/2013 12:00:00 AM The service was amazing! I The service was amazing! I also enjoyed the freedom of ordering the courses any way I wanted. Next time I am in Baltimore I will be back! 4/18/2013 12:00:00 AM It was my husbands 60th birthday It was my husbands 60th birthday and it was a great place to celebrate. The staff was great and everyone wished him happy birthday. The bar tender was great. Third best cosmopolitan I have ever had. The waiter was excellent. We allowed him to pick our dinner and wine pairings for the evening. He made sure to call a taxi for us when we left and I appreciated that. Highly recommend this restaurant. 4/17/2013 12:00:00 AM This is very possibly the This is very possibly the best meal I have ever had. And I have patronized some stellar restaurants. What is for sure, is the the service here is as good as anything I have ever experienced. Simply exquisite. The food is also incredible. I recommend it highly. 4/16/2013 12:00:00 AM The overall dining experience The overall dining experience was one to remember. All of the courses were delicious and the presentations were impeccable. I would recommend The Charlston to anyone and I will be back very soon! 4/10/2013 12:00:00 AM Charleston went out of their Charleston went out of their way to make my husband's birthday dinner a memorable one. The food and service were first rate, worth the expensive price. We will definitely be returning for other special nights out and would go more frequently if we lived in Baltimore! 4/6/2013 12:00:00 AM The Best!! Outstanding! Charleston is a top notch restaurant with cuisine of the highest standard and service to match. If you are in Baltimore and need a place for a special occasion or merely to delight in all the best this earth has to offer, this is the place. Heck, if you just want a GREAT dinner go here! We enjoyed every course. The Lobster Soup was the best I have had. The wine pairings are right on for each course. The staff is professional but not stuffy .. they are enjoyable to converse with. We have eaten at many of the country's highest rated restaurants and would rank Charleston among the very top. We actally enjoyed dining at the Charleston so much that our next visit to Baltimore when depend upon having reservations. 4/6/2013 12:00:00 AM Most creative, interesting, Most creative, interesting, inventive - this is no cookie-cutter. Get with Michelin and Relais - Charleston has become one of the best restaurants in the United States! 4/5/2013 12:00:00 AM From the moment we stepped From the moment we stepped into the restaurant, the atmosphere and service was superb. Overall, an excellent dining experience to celebrate my birthday! 4/5/2013 12:00:00 AM Overall, it was another wonderful Overall, it was another wonderful experience; however, there were some minute disappointments. We were met at the door by a lady, I can only describe as "snobby". She looked at us, did not greet us and just stared at us. So, I had to "explain" that we had a reservation. Then, there was a man at another table near to us who kept using his cellular phone. It is unfortunate that the staff did not step in to ask him to refrain from using his phone. It definitely ruined the atmosphere. Fortunately, after some intense staring and comments from us, he stopped. We were also disappointed that it seemed that Tony Foreman and Cindy Wolfe, both of whom were present, did not stop by our table but stopped by the other tables. 4/4/2013 12:00:00 AM Our dinner was wonderful, Our dinner was wonderful, and the wine pairings were superb with each course. Dinner was served at a perfect pace. We did not feel rushed through dinner, but there wasn't a markable lull between courses. The service staff were all pleasant and very efficient. The desert menu lacked a little panache, but over all the experience was worth the expense. Our thanks to the Chef and staff. 4/2/2013 12:00:00 AM Took my daughter to dinner Took my daughter to dinner for her birthday. She loves the food. I also think the food is the best! We asked for a table in the bar area. The view is very nice. The food was awesome. It is a wonderful dinning experience. 4/2/2013 12:00:00 AM As good as Michelin Star restaurant We savored tastes that would satisfy any foodie. Portion size was appropriate and presentation was lovely. Selection of dishes prepared with notable ingredients of excellent quality. The restaurant's menu is like a Prix fixe menu with the price varying only by number of courses you choose, but the entire menu is eligible. You could order three entrees OR my selection: the superb artichoke soup,a spinach-pear-spicy pecan salad and exquisite entree of turbot for the same price as any other three selections. My partner selected the 3 course with wine pairings and thought every choice of wine was perfect. We had the pleasure to dine at a few Michelin star restaurants and this rivaled their excellence, in our opinion. 4/1/2013 12:00:00 AM Fabulous service! When I ordered a somewhat unusual pre-dinner cocktail, our waiter actually coordinated getting the ingredients from Charleston's sister restaurant. I couldn't believe it! And the cocktail, a pisco sour, was fantastic. My husband and I both ordered the chef's recommended menu, which included a to-die-for crawfish bisque. We'll definitely be going back! 3/30/2013 12:00:00 AM A True Gem Charleston is an experience that everyone should have at least once in their lives. Food is incredible and the wine pairings are outstanding. 3/30/2013 12:00:00 AM We had a perfect evening. We had a perfect evening. The waiter was quite attentive and the wine list very impressive and we selected a wonderful Chardonnay (Littorai) that will be our new favorite. The only real "problem" that we had was deciding on our food selections as the menu was filled with so many tempting dishes. Each of the four of was convinced that theirs was the best! The desserts were wonderful as were the little candy sampler. My only "regret" was not saving enough room to sample from the spectacular cheese table. A memorable evening from arrival to departure. 3/29/2013 12:00:00 AM Nice, in so many ways, from Nice, in so many ways, from beginning to end- Excellent service and food! 3/29/2013 12:00:00 AM We had dinner at Charleston We had dinner at Charleston on March 29, 2013 after a very special occasion and wanted it to be memorable. I was not disappointed and it exceeded all expectations. We travel all over the world and pride ourselves in minding little gem restaurants that are always memorable. Charleston was magnificent. The service was impeccable and it was so efficient and low key that you forgot about being served, everything flowed so effortlessly and beautifully. The food was out of this world, creative and all the ingredients worked so well in each course. I chose the five course with wine, and I highly recommend getting the wine selections with the courses. Chef Wolf came out and welcomed us, and it was such a classy thing to do. 5 Stars! 3/29/2013 12:00:00 AM Took my girlfriend there for Took my girlfriend there for her birthday and it was a wonderful dining experience. Excellent service and the food was cooked perfectly. We had a great time and we would definitely go back again. 3/28/2013 12:00:00 AM Charleston is absolutely wonderful. We had heard a lot about Charleston and how good every thing was, although expensive. This past Tuesday was our 30th wedding anniversary and we decided to splurge some and give them a try. Are we glad we did. From the time we walked in until we left, not one thing was less than exceptional. We were treated like Kings in every way. The food, wine, and service could not have been better. Yes, it is expensive but it's worth every penny. Charleston should be on your "bucket list". 3/26/2013 12:00:00 AM Service was Great and Attentive. Service was Great and Attentive. Atmosphere was Chic/comfortable.The food was Amazing and wine pairing was perfect! The food was great except for 2 little mistakes ( Foie Gras was slightly overcooked,and the squab was under cooked so hard to cut through) These were quickly corrected and a re-do was offered automatically without question. What impressed me even more was the owner/chef came out personally to apologize for the mishap and offered the replacement. It is seldom that you see a celeb chef in their own kitchen.This was a refreshing surprise. I had the 6 Course Menu with wine pairing, so much food! It was great, would have liked smaller portions,by the end was getting stuffed to enjoy the last couple of dishes.Amazing a must go! Wil 3/25/2013 12:00:00 AM The experience at Charleston The experience at Charleston is always wonderful. The food is different from any other restaurant and the staff treats the patrons like royalty. Of course, the customer pays for both, but it is worth it. 3/23/2013 12:00:00 AM Superb ambience and service, Superb ambience and service, with superlative food ! 3/23/2013 12:00:00 AM This is a wonderfully thought This is a wonderfully thought out, well executed restaurant. The food is exquisitely prepared with a real point of view. The staff, to a person, is about excellence in execution. It was my third or fourth visit, (I'm from Philadelphia) and I think it only gets better. 3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM Wonderful!!! From the time my boyfriend and I entered the restaurant on 21 March 2013,the service was impeccable. The food was expertly prepared and very tasty. Please make sure you have the Lobster Soup. It is beyond reproach. I love this place. My boyfriend, who is a foodie and has visited many restaurants, says that by far this was the best restaurant he's ever been to!!! Kudos to the Chef and her entire staff. True Professionals!!!!! 3/21/2013 12:00:00 AM Charleston consistently provides Charleston consistently provides the best dining experience in the Baltimore/DC area. The food is excellent, the portions are perfect, the service is attentive but not overbearing, the staff is knowledgeable and friendly and the owners regularly make rounds among the diners. It is just a superb experience all around. When the bill comes, no matter how high (and it will be high), you will feel like it was worth every penny. 3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM Larger map › Smaller map › Diners' Choice Awards Baltimore Winners American Best Ambiance Best Food Best Overall Best Service Fit for Foodies Notable Wine List Romantic Special Occasion Baltimore / Maryland Winners American Best Ambiance Best Food Best Overall Best Service Browse all American Restaurants Make a Reservation at
There’s lots of great blogging about Hamdan around the blogosphere. I was particularly impressed by the interesting thoughts at Opinio Juris and Balkinization. More Hamdan This entry was posted in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink. There’s lots of great blogging about Hamdan around the blogosphere. I was particularly impressed by the interesting thoughts at Opinio Juris and Balkinization. My main concern about Hamdan seems to be unlike anyone else’s, so maybe Professor Kerr would be kind enough to tell me whether I’m the one who’s crazy, or everyone else is crazy. If, as five Justices contended yesterday in Hamdan, 28 USC 2241(e) does not apply to pending cases, then why in the world would Congress have written an EXCEPTION to 28 USC 2241(e) that explicitly does apply to cases that are “pending on or after the date of the enactment”? It makes absolutely no sense to me. In other words, how can an exception to a rule apply to pending cases, if the rule itself does not apply to pending cases? Easy: the “exception” you identify isn’t, by its own terms, an exception to 2241(e). DTA sec. 1005(h)(2) says this: Paragraphs (2) and (3) of subsection (e) [i.e., DTA sec. 1005(e)] shall apply with respect to any claim whose review is governed by one of such paragraphs and that is pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act. However, 28 USC 2241(e) was enacted by DTA sec. 1005(e)(1), not (2) or (3). Thus, as the Court states quite clearly (slip op. 9-10), “The Act is silent about whether paragraph (1) of subsection (e) ‘shall apply’ to claims pending on the date of enactment.” Mark, 28 USC 2241(e) says:”EXCEPT as provided in section 1005 of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider … habeas corpus … or … any other action….” Standing alone, 28 USC 2241(e) clearly applies to both pending and future cases. As Justice Scalia pointed out in dissent: “the Court … cannot cite a single case in the history of Anglo-American law (before today) in which a jurisdiction-stripping provision was denied immediate effect in pending cases, absent an explicit statutory reservation.” Anyway, 28 USC 2241(e) instructs us to look at 1005 of the DTA in order to find exceptions to the denial of jurisdiction. And, we find at 1005(h)(2) that the exceptions apply “with respect to any claim … that is pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.” If the rule in the US Code does not apply to pending cases, then how could an exception to that rule apply to pending cases? It cannot, and thus 1005(h)(2) buttresses the meaning that 28 USC 2241(e) would have had standing alone, IMHO. I might add that here are additional reasons for believing the Court had no jurisdiction in this case. The Court’s rationale would require that 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) are the ONLY provisions of the DTA that apply to pending cases. There is nothing in the DTA that would distinguish 1005(e)(1) from, say, 1005(e)(4)(f) in this regard. P.S. Any chance Orin could delete the 4th and 5th comments in this thread? Andrew: There is no section (e)(4)(f) in 1005. There is a section 1005(f), but I’m not sure the relevance of that — it is not one of the three parallel jurisdiction-stripping provisions that are at the heart of 1005(e). As to the broader question: the argument goes like this. I say that the courts don’t have jurisdiction over A, B and C. I then go on to say that, regarding B and C, this act applies to all cases pending on or after the date of enactment. If the act means what you say it means (that the first part is sufficient to withdraw all jurisdiction over cases pending on or after the date of enactment), the second part becomes superfluous, because the act would already say that in the first section. Generally, statutes shouldn’t be construed in a way that makes language superfluous, because there should be a presumption that every word is meaningful. Thus, the reading is that the enumeration of B and C presupposes something not enumerated — which, by inference, is A. Ergo, Congress did not intend A to be treated in the same way as B and C, because it explicitly failed to include it when it was listing the classes of cases to which it wished the act to apply on or after the date of enactment. The court’s reading preserves a distinction that does seem embedded in the lanugage of 1005(h). At least, that’s how I understand the argument. I was initially hostile to the court’s reading, but on reflection, I begin to think they have the better side of this argument. Marghlar, thanks for your comment. Of course, you’re correct that there is no section (e)(4)(f) in 1005 of the DTA. What I meant to say is “1005(e)(4) or (f).” In a previous comment at this blog, you said, “I think Scalia had it right on the jurisdictional question, but the merits being reached, I agree with the majority.” But I don’t want to even think about the merits, because I continue to think the Court’s decision on the jurisdictional question was preposterous. In your example, you designate 1005(e)(1), 1005(e)(2), and 1005(e)(3) as A, B, and C respectively. I’m with you so far, but no farther. “A” is a jurisidiction-stripping provision. It completely strips jurisdiction from the courts regarding Guantanamo detainees. B and C, by contrast, are limited restorations of jurisdiction. “A” amends the US Code to strip all jurisdiction, but says that the exceptions are to be found in the DTA, and sure enough those exceptions are spelled out in B and C. I fail to see how there is anything “superfluous” about this interpretation. It’s the plain meaning. Even Justice Stevens acknowledged that “subsection (e)(1) strips jurisdiction while subsections (e)(2) and (e)(3) restore it.” You contend that Congress did not intend A to be treated in the same way as B and C, because A explicitly failed to include language about pending cases as it did for B and C. However, as someone else noted at SCOTUSBlog, “While Senator Levin succeeded in getting express application language removed [from "A"], he did not get express nonapplication language inserted.” More to the point, “A” is a general cancellation of jurisdiction, while “B” and “C” are listed exceptions; when a list of exceptions is provided, that list should ordinarily be deemed exclusive, under the principle of exclusio unius. And note that if those exceptions weren’t listed at all, then it’s undisputed that “A” would have applied to pending cases. My point about 1005(e)(4) and (f) is simply that it would be absurd to suppose that they apply only to future cases, and yet that’s exactly the kind of spin that the Court has put on 1005(e)(1)=A. This is merely one additional reason why I still find the Court’s opinion virtually incomprehensible. As Mark noted above, the Court said: “The Act is silent about whether paragraph (1) of subsection (e) ’shall apply’ to claims pending on the date of enactment.” Yes, and the Act is also silent about whether it applies to “chauffeurs.” P.S. The DTA says that 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) “apply with respect to any claim … that is pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.” Would anyone seriously contend that therefore 1005(e)(1) does NOT apply to claims pending on “OR AFTER” the date of enactment? Of course not. I want to be nice and polite to Justice Stevens, but IMHO this opinion is just lousy. I tend to think that there are persuasive arguments on both sides of the jurisdictional argument regarding the DTA, as the posters here have outlined above. However, I find Scalia’s abstention argument particularly persuasive. Judicial restraint should have been employed. However, that being said, the merits of this case are fascinating. One question that i have is whether the lack of presence of the accused under the UCMJ was actually joined by five Justices. Kennedy’s concurrence at page 16 talks solely about the evidentiary problems of the commissions and the last sentence of the first full paragraph on page 19 seems to sugest that he does not join the Court’s opinion regarding presence under the UCMJ. It seems fairly clear to me that this is the case, but did anyone else read the opinion in this fashion? Also, Alito’s opinion regarding what is a “regularly constituted” court under Geneva seems to rebut easily the majority’s opinion on this issue. I don’t recall Clement arguing this point at oral arguments, nor do I recall it in the government’s brief. Andrew: I’d say that e(4) and (f) are clearly very different than is (e)(1) — they both qualify all other provisions of the act. By contrast, the act contains three central jurisdictional provisions. First, it provides that, subject to enumerated exceptions, all jurisdiction is withdrawn. Second, it says that the D.C. Cir. has exclusive jurisdiciton over one class of cases. Third, it says that the D.C. Cir has exclusive jurisdiciton over a second class of cases. It then goes on to say that provisions two or three apply to all cases pending on or after the date of enactment. If you are right, and it was clear from the plain language of (1) that it applied to all cases pending on or after the date of enactment, it seems like it would be equally clear that the D.C. Cir had exclusive jurisdiction over all cases enumerated in exactly the same way. Yet Congress went ahead and defined the scope of time covered by two or three — apparently concluding that such a meaning was not unambiguous. If your reading is right, there is absolutely no reason for 1005(h) to exist at all, because that interpretation would obviously flow from (e)(2) and (3). As to what Senator Levin may have wanted, I think that it is inapppropriate for courts to consider legislative history, or any other non-textual indica of legislative intent, when interpreting statutes. So I don’t consider such data relevant to the task at hand. I’d agree that your reading is within the scope of ambiguity of the act — I just am coming around to the point of view that Justice Stevens’s reading is the better interpretation of the same ambiguity. Marghlar, you make two related points: A] Congress expressly applied 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) to pending cases because Congress believed 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) might not otherwise apply to pending cases. B] Because Congress believed that 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) might not apply to pending cases, Congress must have also believed that 1005(e)(1) might not apply to pending cases. For the sake of argument only, I will concede your point [A]. Regarding your point [B], there are very compelling textual reasons why Congress would believe that 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) might not apply to pending cases, without believing that 1005(e)(1) might not apply to pending cases. First and foremost, 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) comprise a list of exceptions to 1005(e)(1), and therefore the rule of expressio unius implies that there is no additional exception for pending cases. Congress had no similar reason to suppose that 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) would not have an exception for pending cases. But there is an issue of semantics here that your certainty seems to belie — what does it mean to say that something is an exception? I’m not sure that a definition of the effect over time/cases of a rule is necessarily an exception to that rule. One can quite logically say that A, which strips all jurisdiction, is defined over a particular class of cases; it is also subject to exceptions B and C, each defined over a different class of cases which partially overlaps with the cases in A. To the extent that A would require otherwise, B and C act as exceptions to it. However, B and C function independly of A, and only act as exceptions to it when they conflict. Hence, I’m not sure that expressio unius has the force you suppose here. Marghlar, 28 USC 2241(e) says: “EXCEPT as provided in section 1005 of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider … habeas corpus … or … any other action….” Do you deny that the exceptions referred to in that quote are expressly listed 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3)? Why wouldn’t expressio unius therefore apply so as to rule out any other exceptions? I don’t see any semantics at work here at all. Because I’m not sure that a definition of the breadth of a stripping provision is an exception to that provision. If A states a general rule, and B and C are carveouts from that rule, that doesn’t mean that A doesn’t have a defined scope. Marghlar, 28 USC 2241(e) announces that it has exceptions: “EXCEPT as provided in section 1005 of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider … habeas corpus … or … any other action….” You’re actually denying that the exceptions referred to in that quote are expressly listed at 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3)? My mind is now officially boggled. Why is this so difficult to understand? A has a defined scope, which includes a set of cases, A. B & C are enumerated exceptions to that scope. I don’t see why the defined scope of A is necessarily an “exception” to itself. Indeed, such a reading seems a bit odd. Section A either does or doesn’t apply to currently pending cases, but either way, stating what cases it does not by definition apply to is not stating an exception, it is defining a scope, I think. As a matter of set theory, we’d say that the total scope of the jurisdictional void created by the statute is the set A, minus the disjoint of the sets B and C (as defined). The exceptions for B and C need not control the content of the original set A, which is what the court was attempting to define, looking to the statute as a whole. The sticking point seems to be that you believe the court was reading in an exception to the statute. They would say they were interpreting the text of the statute, in the context of all of its provisions. Marghlar, as I pointed out at 3:58 AM, it is “undisputed” that 1005(e)(1) standing alone would have cancelled jurisdiction not only for future cases but also for pending cases. In other words, if there had been no 1005(e)(2) and 1005(e)(3) then the meaning of the statute would have been to completely cancel jurisdiction for both future and currently pending cases. No justice on the Supreme Court suggested otherwise. Are you suggesting otherwise? I’m not sure that is right. I think that the provision in 1005(h), which obviously would not exist but for the listed exceptions, provided support for the court’s reading. However, I do think that the court’s reading is within the scope of ambiguity of the act. To say that no court shall have jurisdiction of a class of cases, begs several questions. Is an appeal a case? And does shall carry a temporal implication of future effect (in can have that connotation — “I shall go to the store,” for instance, would commonly be thought of as a statement of future intent/effect. Now, I’d say that your construction would be equally plausible, if 1005(e)(1) stood by itself. (At that point, I think it is within the court’s discretion to decide either way, although I’d advise them to tread softly for prudential reasons). However, once 1005(h) enters the mix, it looks less balanced to me. Now, we have ambiguous language in the original statute, coupled with a structural reason to think that a construction other than “all cases pending on or after enactment” is to be preferred. At that point, I think Stevens’ position starts to read as a fairer construction than Scalia’s. Furthermore, Justice Stevens notes this ambiguity in his opinion (so I take issue with your assertion that no SCOTUS justice took a similar view): “The Act is silent about whether paragraph (1) of subsection (e) “shall apply” to claims pending on the date of enactment.” (Slip. Op. at 9-10). Furthermore, he holds that the “plain language” argument of Justice Scalia necessarily depends on the Bruner presumption, which he holds is inapplicable to statutes that totally withdraw jurisdiciton (rather than merely transfering it). Thus, I do think the plurality (and perhaps also Justice Kennedy, although I don’t have time to look right now) believe that the text of 1005(e)(1) is permissive of their reading. I don’t think anyone was trying to do something that would have been textually excluded by the DTA. Marghlar, you’re correct that the Court said that the “Act is silent about whether paragraph (1) of subsection (e) ‘shall apply’ to claims pending on the date of enactment.” Indeed, there was no explicit statement in the DTA that (e)(1) “shall apply” to pending claims. Likewise, there was no explicit statement in the DTA that the Act applies to “former chauffeurs.” That does not preclude a plain meaning that does apply to former chauffeurs, or a plain meaning that does apply (e)(1) to pending claims.. As Justice Scalia correctly observed, the Court “cannot cite a single case in the history of Anglo-American law (before today) in which a jurisdiction-stripping provision was denied immediate effect in pending cases, absent an explicit statutory reservation. By contrast, the cases granting such immediate effect are legion….” No court (including the Hamdan Court) has ever construed free-standing language like that in (e)(1) as not applying to pending cases. From all this, it is clear that the meaning of (e)(1) standing alone would have been to cancel jurisdiction in pending cases as well as future cases. The Court inferred an unwritten exception to (e)(1) from the language of the rest of the DTA, despite the fact that the DTA explicitly lists the precise exceptions that were intended. Oddly, neither the Court nor the dissent mentioned the blatant disregard of the expressio unius maxim. I know it’s not fashionable to delve into the legislative history, but for what it’s worth, Congress considered a version of the DTA that explicitly would have barred consideration of Hamdan’s case, and that version was not passed. That makes Mr. Hyman’s reading of the statute unreasonable. Carl Levin, a sponsor of the DTA, has repeatedly said so, and only the manufactured Congressional Record “exchange” between Kyl and Graham suggests otherwise (see the footnote in the majority opinion). Andrew (and marghlar)– Let’s ask a simple question. Why does paragraph (h) exist at all? The existence of paragraph (h) suggests that there was some reason to conclude that (e)(2) and (e)(3) did not apply to pending cases. A kind of schematic drawing of Marghlar’s logic might look like this:. Actually, the court didn’t hold anything about (e)(2) or (3), which weren’t at issue — but it’s reasoning suggests strongly that the reason we know which cases they apply to is because 1005(h) explicitly tells us so. Hence, by themselves, all three would likely be equally ambiguous over whether jurisdiciton was stripped from only newly filed cases, or over all cases, including. Is it so unambiguous? I’m not sure. First, note that the Supreme Court isn’t considering an “application for a writ of habeas corpus” — a lower court did that. Rather, they are hearing an appeal from a denial of such an application. There is a space of ambiguity there — is an appeal from an application, also an application? Furthermore, note that the word “shall” often connotes a future temporal aspect (which has historically been the subject of a presumption against retroactivity in statutes). Thus, the language does seem permissive of a reading that because courts shall not have jurisdiction, that means that they cannot gain jurisdiciton over new cases — but in cases where jurisdiction was already proper, they may continue. (The alternative usage: “no court has jurisdiciton” would connote more clearly the meaning you read in the act.) Note that (e)(2) and (e)(3) use entirely parallel language — “the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit shall have exclusive jurisdiction….” — and nevertheless, Congress clearly felt these provisions left some ambiguity about the scope of the jurisdicitonal cut-off/grant, because it included an explicit jurisdicitonal provision in subsection (h). And Justice Scalia’s reliance on precedent is somewhat besides the point — each statute must be construed on its own merits. I find it odd that an avowed formalist would champion a doctrine that creates presumptions about what stautory language means. I agree with what Justice Scalia said about statutory construction in A Matter of Interpretation: courts should construe acts neither strictly nor loosely, but fairly, to mean what they in fact say. The court looks at the act as a whole, and finds that the canon of expressio unius in fact compels the conclusion that Congress both felt that the jurisdictional grants/denials were ambiguous, and that they did not wish to treat 1005(e)(1) identically with 1005(e)(2) or (3). Thus, as I’ve repeatedly said, I don’t think the court was creating an “exception” to 1005(e)(1) — I think they were determining its proper temporal scope. Hence, I don’t think the expressio unius canon applies. But you are free to disagree, of course. Marghlar, you say that a lower court (rather than SCOTUS) is the one that “heard” or “considered” the application for the writ of habeas corpus. Even if I were to concede that you’re correct about that, it makes absolutely no difference, because in that case (e)(1) would deprive the lower court of jurisdiction, and the SCOTUS should have said so. Moreover, if the Supreme Court has in the past authoritatively stated what a term or phrase means, and then Congress subsequently uses that phrase or term in a subsequent statute, it is absurd to suppose that the Court’s meaning should not be impputed to Congress. I really think it’s unrealistic to say otherwise. Provisions such as 1005(e)(1) have been construed by the Court for ages as being applicable to pending cases. I very much doubt that even the judges in the Hamdan majority would dispute that 1005(e)(1) standing alone would have applied to pending cases. Certianly Senator Levin would not dispute that, and he was the most adamant and influential congressional opponent of the administration regarding Hamdan. Levin has stated that the reason 1005(e)(1) does not apply to pending cases is not because of its own language, but rather because there was an exception elsewhere in the DTA. Levin has.” As I’ve repeatedly said, it was highly improper for the Court (and for Levin) to infer an unwritten exception to 1005(e)(1) despite the fact that the DTA expressly listed the desired exceptions. Why this expressio unius argument did not appear in the justices’ opinions is something that I’m still trying to figure out. As a non-lawyer, I have read the above exchange with much interest, please forgive any lack of legal expertise in the questions asked. Does the argument come down to whether positive inference or negative inference is applicable when ‘express’ language is not provided on a specific issue ? Would it not be just as valid to claim, knowing the political manipulation of floor statements by both parties, that had they wanted a pending cases exception to 1005(e)(1), they would have used specific language to do so ? I find the argument that an earlier version, that had express language on pending cases, was defeated to be somewhat persuasive, but, it still leaves me to wonder why, if that was so important, the six words ‘will not apply to pending cases’ does not appear in 1005(e)(1) of the version that passed ? Doesn’t using negative inference, in this case, lend itself to the impression of legislating from the bench by adding words to legislation does not exist, whereas positive inference relies strictly on the language present ? Would it not be wiser to send the act back to Congress for clarification to correct that which is unclear ? Is there any process that would allow that avenue of action ? Please let’s not forget the cannons of statutory construction that statutes must be read as a whole and each word must have meaning. This makes the whole if e(1) were by itself argument largely irrelevant. The second you add other sections they have to be construed together. The whole argument that negative inferences cannot be drawn from statutes is also bunk. There is a long line of precedent supporting this. There are two fundamental tensions at play here: 1)Scalia’s insistence that a judicial presumption for retroactivity is superior than the negative inference; and 2)whether the language of e(1) trumps the negative inference. These are both tough questions. As to 1, Scalia is probably not the best person to rely on for giving an accurate reading of the Lindh’s majority opinion considering that he dissented and would like to see the case marginalized. Moreover, Scalia arguing that a judicial presumption trumps a reading of the plain language of a statute is a little specious given his judicial philosophy. As to 2, I think Stevens (legitimately) relied on the drafting history and floor debate to break the tie between e(1) and negative inference. Of course if you don’t like LH, you would disagree. KMAJ2, the premise of your question is that the DTA is unclear. Marghlar has made a similar argument. However, I continue to believe that an objective look at the Detainee Treatment Act shows that it is not unclear at all regarding application to pending cases. 28 USC 2241(e) says categorically: “Except as provided in section 1005 of the Detainee Treatment Act of 2005, no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider … habeas corpus … or … any other action….” Marghlar argued that this is ambiguous, but I very much disagree. Putting aside any exceptions in section 1005 of the DTA, the quoted sentence plainly should have applied in Hamdan. Why use the word “justice” if Congress did not contemplate a future Supreme Court hearing? I don’t think the quoted sentence is susceptible to application of any presumption of non-retroactivity. The only way to get around the quoted sentence is by way of exceptions in section 1005 of the DTA, and the only express exceptions in section 1005 of the DTA are (e)(2) and (e)(3). Skeptic, of course statutes must be read as a whole and each word must have meaning. This doesn’t make the whole “if e(1) were by itself” argument irrelevant. The question is whether the Court has applied a non-retroactivity exception to (e)(1), and the only way to determine that is to consider what (e)(1) would mean without any exceptions. Also, contrary to what you said, Scalia did not argue that a judicial presumption trumps a reading of the plain language of a statute. The plain language of (e)(1) is that it applies to pending cases. (e)(1) does not say that “no judge shall have jurisdiction to begin hearing or considering … habeas corpus … or … any other action.” It says that “no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider … habeas corpus … or … any other action ….” The plain language is that it applies to pending cases. Scalia merely pointed out that a long line of cases support that plain reading. Bryan, you’re correct that Congress considered a version of the DTA that explicitly would have barred consideration of Hamdan’s case, and that version was not passed. In other words, Senator Levin did succeed in getting express language removed barring Hamdan’s case, but Levin did not get express language inserted allowing Hamdan’s case to go forward. Also, you’re incorrect that the exchange between Kyl and Graham was the only indication in the record that Congress meant to bar Hamdan’s case from going forward — see notes 3 and 4 in Scalia’s opinion. Some Guy, you say that the existence of paragraph (h) suggests that there was some reason to conclude that (e)(2) and (e)(3) did not apply to pending cases. That’s true. In contrast, there was no reason to conclude that (e)(1) did not apply to pending cases, for at least three reasons: first, (e)(1)’s plain language indicates that pending cases are included; second, the courts’ precedents regarding provisions like (e)(1) say that pending cases are included; and third, the exceptions to which (e)(1) refers are expressly listed elsewhere in the DTA without mentioning any exception for pending cases. Thank you for your reply, Andrew, I apologize if it appeared I was agreeing on ambiguity. My experience in debate/argumentation, while not legally oriented, was the reason behind the statement about the defeated version being ‘somewhat persuasive’. It is also why I wondered why the inverse was not equally persuasive, the lack of ‘express’ language excluding pending cases. I agree with you that the language of the DTA is not ambiguous, it is about as straight forward, no hedge words, as language in any act can be. The line of argumentation of the majority seem to be along the post hoc ergo proptor hoc or modus ponens style, in other words, because Congress defeated one version, the passed version must mean this, which is a logical fallacy, because of the lack of express language, thus that reasoning does not necessarily hold true. That was the basis for my question of why negative inference should have held more weight than positive inference, due to the lack of express language exemping pending cases, when it could have easily been inserted if it was that strong of a point. If you think that Congress is always paying careful attention to SCOTUS precedent when drafting statutes, you have far more confidence in their abilities than I do. I certainly think the background tradition of interpretation deserves to be looked to in determing meaning, but I can’t agree that it should always be dispositive, especially when their are countervailing signals of intent running counter to the precedent. I have very little interest in what Levin said or thought — his unenacted understanding and intention have no place in the construction of a statute, because it wasn’t his intent that became law, it was the wording of the statute that he helped to shape. Furthermore, I think Stevens’ opinion was clear on the point that he didn’t think that 1005(e)(1) clearly spoke to the question presented, nor did he believe that the Bruner line of precedent should properly be extended to statutes that totally cut-off all jurisdiction, as opposed to transfering the locus of jurisdiction. Why use the word “justice” if Congress did not contemplate a future Supreme Court hearing? Because the SCOTUS can hear habeas applications directly, in some cases. See 28 U.S.C. 2241(a), 2242. Thus, the hear both “applications,” and appeals from applications. Ergo, the use of the word “Justice” is not dispositive on the question. Marghlar, you say: “Stevens’ opinion was clear on the point that he didn’t think that 1005(e)(1) clearly spoke to the question presented.” Yes, Stevens was clear, but he was wrong. Indulge me by taking another look at the Detainee Treatment Act: “[N]o….” Look at those last five words. Thus, section (e)(1) of the DTA manifestly, unambiguously, incontrovertibly applied to preenactment conduct. How can it possibly be denied? “Where the statute in question unambiguously applies to preenactment conduct, there is no conflict between the anti-retroactivity presumption and the principle that a court should apply the law in effect at the time of decision.” —Landgraf v. USI Film Products (headnote), 511 US 244 (1994). Well, a person who is currently in military custody may well continue to be in custody in the future, right? Furthermore, even if they were released the moment the act was passed, they still could try and bring an action against the U.S. for damages, which would be barred by 1005(e) if it applied only prospectively. Furthermore, the act’s language only takes effect upon its becoming law — which is when 1005(h) would make all provisions take effect. So that section would be totally consistent with a forward-looking denial jurisdiction. I think your argument fails to the degree it depends on those five words. Marghlar, you apparently would like to apply the anti-retroactivity presumption to 1005(e)(1) of the DTA, as Justice Stevens may have done, even though that presumption has never before been applied to a jurisdiction-stripping provision. Right? So, fine, let’s apply the presumption, despite SCOTUS precedent to the contrary. How can the presumption be overcome? According to the headnote in Landgraf, “Where the statute in question unambiguously applies to preenactment conduct, there is no conflict between the anti-retroactivity presumption and the principle that a court should apply the law in effect at the time of decision.” So then the question becomes whether or not 1005(e)(1) applies to preenactment conduct, right? Obviously, 1005(e)(1) applies to pre-enectment conduct. It denies federal court jurisidiction over detainees “in military custody” at the moment of enactment. Right? Does that not obviously refer to detainees who are being prosecuted for conduct that occurred prior to enactment? First, I’m not a big fan of the presumption against retroactivity, or any presumption, when it is used to thwart apparent intent. But leave that to one side. Take the following scenario. A is in military custody at Time 1. DTA is enacted at Time 2. A files a petition for habeas corpus at Time 3. Obviously barred, even though he was in custody at the moment of enactment, right? The majority is saying that the act does apply to persons in military custody at the time of enactment, when they file petitions subsequent to the Act. But if Detainee A had filed at time 1.5, the court would say that his suit is not covered by the DTA, because such a construction of 1005(e)(1) would make Section (h) an irrelevancy, which is not a favored way to construe a statute. Which part of section (h)? Section (h)(2). Marghlar, I’m aware that the Court would say all that about (h)(2), because that’s basically what the Court did in fact say, and it’s still preposterous. The Court’s theory is based on the notion that Congress had just as much reason to fear that (e)(1) wouldn’t be applied to pending cases as to fear that (e)(2) and (e)(3) wouldn’t be applied to pending cases. But that notion is false. Congress had no reason at all to fear that (e)(1) wouldn’t be applied to pending cases. The exceptions to which (e)(1) expressly refers are expressly listed elsewhere in the DTA, and that listing does not include any exception for currently pending cases. Therefore expressio unius applies, and rules out any exception for currently pending cases. You’re correct that that shouldn’t end the inquiry, because we also have to look at the temporal scope of (e)(1) itself to see if it might exclude currently pending cases. It doesn’t. The sort of language used in (e)(1) has ALWAYS been construed by the courts as applying to currently pending cases, absent a presumption of non-retroactivity. Such a presumption would be overcome in the present context, because (e)(1) explicitly applies to preenactment conduct (i.e. to aliens “currently in military custody”). Without a presumption of non-retroactivity, neither the Court nor anyone else has ever cited a single case where the words “shall have jurisdiction” were deemed to mean “shall gain jurisdiction over a new case,” as you have suggested. In sum, Congress had every reason to expect that (e)(1) would be applied to pending cases, just like jurisdiction-stripping provisions have traditionally been applied to pending cases. As Justice Scalia put it, the Court “cannot cite a single case in the history of Anglo-American law (before today) in which a jurisdiction-stripping provision was denied immediate effect in pending cases, absent an explicit statutory reservation. By contrast, the cases granting such immediate effect are legion….” Now contrast the jurisdiction-allocating paragraphs (e)(2) and (e)(3). No principle of expressio unius prevents exceptions to those two paragraphs from being implied or inferred, and that fact should have caused Congress concern that an exception for currently pending cases might be judicially implied or inferred. Indeed, as the Court mentioned at footnote 5 of its opinion in Hamdan, “The fact that courts often apply newly enacted jurisdiction-allocating statutes to pending cases merely evidences certain limited circumstances failing to meet the conditions for our generally applicable presumption against retroactivity….” (quotinga previous opinion). This fact too should have caused Congress concern that an exception for currently pending cases might be implied or inferred, due to a presumption against retroactivity. After all, neither (e)(2) nor (e)(3) explicitly applies to preenactment conduct, unlike (e)(1). I think this is a slam-dunk against jurisdiction in this case. And let’s use some common sense here. Both (e)(2) and (e)(3) are exceptions to the rule of (e)(1). Who ever heard of a rule that does not apply in certain cases, but that has exceptions applicable in those very same cases. That would be VERY weird. Don’t buy it. I don’t think it is an issue of extra-textual exceptions (which would be equally unauthorized in the case of e2 or e3). Here’s the problem. The key language of e1, e2 and e3 is entirely parallel. The language is that the courts either “Shall not have jurisdiciton” or “shall have exclusive jurisdiction.” If this language is clear, it is equally clear in both cases. And if it is clear in e2 and e3, there was no reason for h2 to ever exist. Congress clearly didn’t feel that it was clear, or there would have been no need to define a scope. Scalia says otherwise, but an analysis of the actual language and structure of the act makes his position unconvincing. The act as a whole evinces a clear understanding that the language, “shall have/not have jurisdiction,” is not considered clear in its scope. Scalia only reads differently by depending on presumptions established through case law which may be distinguishable, and regardless, the text and structure of the act are more important than the manner in which the court has previously interpreted other acts, with different texts and structures. Finally, I’d note that the two sections granting exclusive jurisdiction in certain cases to the D.C. Cir. are not titled as exceptions. All that e1 says is “except as provided in 1005″; that need not mean that other sections of 1005 can’t have independent jurisdictional force. To me, the structure of the act seems to be quite clear: e1 completely denies jurisdiction in one class of cases. e2 and e3 create exclusive jurisdiction for the D.C. Cir. over a second, partially overlapping class of cases. To the extent that these principles conflict, e1 provides that e2 and e3 take precedence. That is perfectly consistent with the language and structure of the act, I think. Marghlar, I agree that the word “shall” has the same basic meaning in each and every one of the forty (40) times it is used in the DTA. However, the basic meaning of that word does not determine whether it is being used in connection with pending cases as opposed to future cases (or in connection withany cases at all). Instead, we must look to the context in which the word “shall” is used. And, it’s not sufficient to merely look at the two or three words following the word “shall” in order to ascertain whether pending cases or future cases (or both or neither) are being discussed. The context of the word “shall” in e1 is very different from the context of the word “shall” in e2. Just to mention one of many differences, the word shall is immediately preceded by the words “no court, justice, or judge” in e1, whereas the word “shall” is immediately preceded by the words “the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit” in e2. Those prefatory words don’t determine whether pending cases (as opposed to future cases) are being discussed, nor do the two or three words following the word “shall” make that determination. The broader textual context must be considered. For example, you have overlooked a plain textual distinction: neither e2 nor e3 explicitly applies to preenactment conduct, whereas e1 does explicitly apply to preenactment conduct. Therefore e2 and e3 would be much more susceptible to the Court’s longstanding presumption against retroactivity. Hence h2. Additionally, you have overlooked another plain textual fact: e2 and e3 list exceptions to which e1 refers, and not vice versa. This is not a symmetrical situation, and therefore the text has non-symmetrical consequences. A list of express exceptions casts doubt upon — if not rules out — the existence of implied exceptions, per the expressio unius maxim. Therefore, h2 would be especially useful to rule out unwanted exceptions to e2 and e3, rather than e1. Incidentally, implied exceptions are not necessarily “extra-textual,” as you suggested. But in any event, Congress had reason to fear unwanted exceptions to e2 and e3 that are implied, inferred, or otherwise conjured up. There are solid textual reasons to believe that Congress did not have those same reasons with respect to e1. Andrew, at this point you are just repeating yourself, and making points I have already said I do not find persuasive. I see nothing in the text of e1 as compared with e2 or e3 that suggests that it should be treated differently regarding pending v. future cases (see above). LIkewise, I have told you why I don’t buy your expressio unius argument. Thus, your restating it and saying it again isn’t likely to convince me, absent something new. I didn’t say that “implied exceptions” were extra-textual — I said I don’t like extra-textual exceptions, to the degree you were suggesting any. But I would note that the text of 1005e1 is part of the text of 1005, and hence, any “implied exceptions” (although I disagree that a determination of the scope of e1 constitutes an exception to it) would be within the texual reference of e1. Thanks for a fun chat. This has really helped me refine my understanding of Hamdan and the DTA. I may still disagree with you (and you are welcome to raise new arguments that might change my mind), but I think the exchange has been very profitable. Marghlar, sure, it’s been an interesting discussion. Happy July 4, by the way. Unfortunately, you haven’t said one word as to why you find no significance in the fact that neither paragraphs e2 nor e3 explicitly applies to preenactment conduct, whereas e1 does explicitly apply to preenactment conduct. That’s a critical factor (according to the Court’s jurisprudence) in determining whether those paragraphs could or should be applied to pending cases (i.e. whether a presumption of non-retroactivity could or should be applied to those paragraphs). If one concedes that no presumption of non-retroactivity should be applied to e1, then the only way that e1 could be limited to future cases only would be by conjuring up some inferred or unwritten exception to e1, and that is clearly barred by expressio unius, since e1 already refers to a list of exceptions that is provided by e2 and e3. I really fail to see why you insist that a presumption of non-applicability to pending cases should be applied to e1. Without h2, such a presumption might well have been applied to e2 and e3, but not to e1 (e1 expressly applies to pre-enactment conduct). And, without h2, an exception for pending cases might well have been applied to e2 and e3, but not to e1 (e1 rules out exceptions beyond those expressly listed in e2 and e3). I.e., the Court wanted jurisdiction, so it took it. I see no express application to pre-enactment conduct — the provisions regard jurisdiction, not conduct. The examples you’ve adduced as a regulation of pre-enactment “conduct,” do not appear to prove that such a point is made. I said as much several times above. All the rest of your argument seems to flow from a premise that the sections are distinguishable based on their conduct. I still see no relevant distinction within the language. Furthermore, please note that I have no desire to see any presumption of anything applied as a means of interpreting e1. Rather, I want the text interpreted for its plain meaning, in context of the surrounding language and structure of the act. I think the majority’s holding can stand fairly on this ground, and you haven’t convinced me otherwise. If you want to change my mind, you’ll have to find either some affirmative indica of retroactive intent in e1 (what you’ve done so far is not persuasive), a relevant difference in the texts of e1 and e2-e3, or some explanation of h2 that makes logical sense while still according with your position. So far, you haven’t done so. Marghlar, on Monday (yesterday) at 8:40 PM, I directed your attention to subparagraph (e)(2)(A) of 28 USC 2241, which says that the denial of jurisdiction applies to detainees “currently in military custody.” In other words, the denial of jurisdiction in 1005(e)(1) applies to preenactment conduct. Apparently, you’re denying that it does. Nonetheless, 28 USC 2241(e)(2)(A) is manifest evidence of retroactive intent, it is also a manifestly relevant difference in the texts of e1 and e2-e3, and it therefore manifestly explains why h2 would apply to e2-e3 but not e1. As I said, even if 28 USC 2241(e)(2)(A) did not exist, still the DTA contains no express exception for retroactive application, and an implied exception is ruled out by expressio unius for e1 but not for e2-e3. I grant you that the DTA does not explicitly say, “Tony, David, Ruth, John, and Stephen, this Act requires you to refuse to hear or consider the Hamdan case until there’s been a final judgment from a military tribunal.” However, what the DTA does say is equivalent. Here is additional proof (though none is really needed)…. Suppose that a military commission had rendered a final decision prior to the date of enactment of the DTA. Would e3 give jurisdiction to the DC Circuit to review that final decision? e3 suggests that the answer is “yes”: “the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit shall have exclusive jurisdiction to determine the validity of any final decision rendered pursuant to Military Commission Order No. 1, dated August 31, 2005…” However, h2 says that the answer is actually “no’: “[e3] shall apply with respect to any claim whose review is governed by [such paragraph] and that is pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.” If the miltary commission reached its decision and adjourned prior to enactment of the DTA, then h2 say that e3 is inapplicable instead of applicable. So, h2 is not superfluous, and could not be superfluous regardless of how e1 is construed. Andrew, I don’t read the military custody language to refer to pre-enactment conduct, as I’ve already explained. Since that language only took effect upon enactment, it is perfectly consistent for an act that takes effect at enactment to refer to conduct currently existing at the time of enactment (and thereafter). As to your other point, I’d posit that it is likely that the “cases pending” language includes within the meaning of “pending,” “awaiting review on appeal.” It is an ambiguity, to be sure, but I think that your reading is less plausible. Marghlar, the DTA was signed by the President and went into effect on December 30, 2005 thereby immediately amending 28 USC 2241 by adding a new section (e) which said that it applied to detainees “currently in military custody.” You’re apparently asking me to believe that new section (e) applied not to the conduct which landed those detainees in custody, but only to conduct which the detainees engage in after being detained. That is an extremely farfetched interpretation, and it’s rebutted by the language of section (e) itself, which bars jurisdiction over “ANY other action against the United States or its agents relating to ANY aspect of the detention by the Department of Defense of an alien at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.” Surely, an action for wrongful imprisonment would be barred by section (e), and such an action plainly would involve preenactment conduct. Regarding the scenario I outlined in which a military commission has imposed sentence on a detainee prior to enactment of the DTA, you’re apparently suggesting that e3 and h2 give exclusive jurisdiction to the DC Circuit to review that final decision, even though h2 says that the DC Circuit doesn’t have exclusive jurisdiction over claims unless those claims were “pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.” You seem to be saying that every claim governed by e3 is “pending on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.” That’s not plausible. Surely, an action for wrongful imprisonment would be barred by section (e), and such an action plainly would involve preenactment conduct. But that is an irrelevant point. The question isn’t whether any conduct that occurred pre-enactment might give rise to a suit, it’s when the courts have jurisdiciton to hear that suit. You need to find language that suggests, not just that some facts that occurred before enactment might be the subject of a suit, but rather, that Congress wanted to strip the courts of jurisdiciton of claims already pending, not just to strip courts of any new jurisdiction that would arise after the act was passed. And no, I’m not saying that every possible claim is pending on or after the date of enactment. I’m saying that claims that are still undergoing an appeal are still pending. Obviously, claims that have been the subject of a fully-appealed judgment, and affirmed, are no longer pending. Marghlar, regarding the scenario where a military commission rendered a final decision prior to the date of enactment of the DTA, let’s also suppose that executive branch review of that decision was completed before enactment, in accordance with Military Commission Order No. 1. In that scenario, h2 modifies e3 by cancelling exclusive jurisdiction for the DC Circuit. There’s no reason why Congress should have been just as concerned about including e1 in h2. e1 should be construed on its own merits, and its language is clear. As you know, e1 also expressly covers at least some claims that involve preenactment conduct of detainees “currently in military custody.” This difference between e1 and e2-e3 is not irrelevant. If Congress enacted h2 partly in order to remove doubt about whether any preenactment conduct could be covered by e3, then Congress had no reason to use h2 in order to remove such doubts about e1. There is nothing in the language of e1 that suggests an exception for cases pending at enactment, and h2 does not suggest one. On the contrary, e1 says to look elsewhere in the DTA for exceptions to e1, and those express exceptions elsewhere in the DTA do not include any exception for pending cases. e1 says that “no court, justice, or judge shall have jurisdiction to hear or consider … habeas corpus … or … any other action….” This is broad language, and it ought to be construed on its own merits, because h2 is perfectly understandable without using it to narrow the meaning of e1. If the Court had done so, it would have arrived at a different conclusion. Now you are just repeating yourself. I wasn’t persuaded by this line of argument before, and this is not changing anything. If you want to understand why I don’t agree, read my previous posts, which have certainly elaborated the points ad nauseum. Marghlar, you previously posited that it’s likely that the “cases pending” in language in h2 includes within the meaning of “pending,” “awaiting review on appeal.” Therefore, I began my previous comment by saying, “let’s also suppose that executive branch review of that decision was completed.” That’s hardly repeating myself. Anyway, I’m glad to drop this subject now. I don’t find your defense of the Hamdan decision persuausive, and I find the Court’s treatment of the jurisdiction issue outlandish. The Court disregarded the plain meaning of e1, by reaching out to another provision (h2) that didn’t even mention e1, and the Court proceeded to puff up that other provision (h2) into an exception to e1. In so doing, the Court overturned a 50-year-old precedent (Bruner) that had instructed Congress how to strip jurisdiction. I believe the Court also disregarded the maxim of expressio unius, disregarded the effect of h2 on cases no longer pending at enactment, and disregarded the language in e1 that applies e1 to preenactment conduct. But there’s no point in going on ad nauseum.
Monday, September 3, 2012 Apply now for International Business/Marketing studies Apply here For more Information check here Sunday, June 24, 2012 Admitted students for Academic year 2012/2013 - For Hamk - University of Applied Sciences click here - For Jamk- University of Applied Sciences click here - For Mikkeli- University Of Applied Sciences click here - For Haaga Helia- University Of Applied Sciences click here - For Vaasa- University Of Applied Sciences click here DEAR TANZANIAN 2. When to make Application. 3. Required Documents. 4. Application Procedure. 5. About Entrance Examination. 6. Contents of Entrance Examination I need your comments and query to make this site more informative. Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Blog nominations Tuesday, January 10, 2012 Online Application for For Academic year 2012 Sunday, October 16, 2011 Hamk University of Applied Sciences Degree Programmes conducted in English - Automation Engineering - Business Management& Entrepreneurship (Master's Degree) - Construction Engineering - Industrial Management - International Business - Mechanical Engineering &Production Technology - Supply Chain Management & Logistics Friday, October 7, 2011 Applicant's Guide 2012 Monday, March 21, 2011 Invitation Letter for 2011 Important: In case of postal letter missing, please contact your admission office. Sunday, January 9, 2011 DEAR TANZANIAN 2. When to make Application. 3. Required Documents. 4. Application Procedure. 5. About Entrance Examination. 6. Contents of Entrance Examination I need your comments and query to make this site more informative. Saturday, January 1, 2011 Applicant's checklist 1.Apply online 3 January - 15 February 2011. 2.Send the required copies of non-Finnish educational certificates and language certificates by 25 February at 4.15 p.m Finnish time at the latest to the admission office of your first option. 3.Entrance examination invitations and decisions on eligibility are posted by mail in March. 4.Entrance examinations are arranged between 4 April and 6 May 2011. The invitations will include all the details about time, location, and special arrangements. Please note, that some polytechnics/UAs do not arrange examinations anywhere else than in Finland. 5.If you are applying with an upper secondary education completed in Finland, please inform of the changes in your grade point average by 20 May 2011 at 4.15 p.m Finnish time at the latest. 6.Results are announced on 30 May 2011 at the earliest. Please remember that posting the results takes few days. 7.All higher education admission results are announced by 19 July 2011 at the latest. 8.Confirm your study place by returning the confirmation form by 2 August 2011 at 4.15 p.m Finnish time at the latest to the higher education institution you chose as your final study place. If you do not return the form in time, you will lose your study place. 9.If you have applied with an upper secondary education completed in Finland, please attach a copy of your educational certificate(s) to the confirmation form and return them by 2 August 2011 at 4.15 pm at the latest. 10.Please remember that your admission is conditional until your original relevant certificates are checked. The University of Applied Sciences/UAS may withdraw the admission, if the applicant has given false information or has given forged documents. The application procedure varies depending on whether you plan to study at a University or at a University of Applied Sciences (UAS). To study at a University of Applied Sciences i.e. a place where practical education is imparted i.e. more professional and work oriented, application can be sent directly to the University of Applied Sciences selected or through the joint application system. A joint application system is one where in a student can list up to a maximum of 4 programs of interest. T o study at a University i.e. a place where scientific research and programs based on that are conducted, application to a Finnish university is to be sent directly to the University of interest. Also online joint application form can be filled if English is the language of preference for the degree program i.e the degree programme is conducted in English. Application Timming: Autumn 2011, Bachelor Degree Application period for programmes starting in Autumn 2011 starts on 3rd January and closes on 15 February 2011 at 4.15 p.m Finnish time. All required attachments have to be at the admissions office of the applicant's first choice polytechnic /UAS by 25 February 2011 at 4.15 p.m Tuesday, December 7, 2010 Application Period for International Master's degree programmes Dear international students, This is to remind you that the application period for the Master’s degree programmes which are conducted in English started on 15 November 2010. The application deadline is either on 17 January or 28 February 2011, depending on the programme. The programmes are : Biology of Physical Activity Corporate Environmental Management Development and International Cooperation Educational Leadership European Masters in Sport and Exercise Psychology (application deadline 10 January) Entrepreneurship in Family Business Intercultural Communication Mobile Technology and Business Nanoscience Renewable Energy Sport and Exercise Psychology Sustainable Management of Inland Aquatic Resources Links to the programme websites are available at . Best regards Elina Isännäinen (Ms) kv. asiain opintosihteeri / Foreign Student Adviser PL 35 / P.O.Box 35 FI-40014 Jyväskylän yliopisto / University of Jyväskylä Finland [email protected] p. / tel. +358 14 260 1079 Thursday, November 25, 2010 Masters level and Tuition fee Bachelor and Doctoral Degree Programmes are totally tuition free. Tuition fees are charged only in Masters level study. Here you find the list where courses and University names as well as tuition fees. This year will be the first year of tuition fee in Finland, so they have one hidden trick. Even-though you will be admitted under the role of tuition fee but they will cover it by easy scholarship given to you (it is only my idea and experience, no official announcement, you may not be given Scholarship if you are out of luck). My recommendation to Tanzanian students who want to study in Masters level in Finland, if you can manage scholarship then apply for masters level, otherwise try to take admission in Bachelor degree, come here, manage your job and migrate to masters program. And it would be easier then to get scholarship even by the recommendation of your teacher. Think my word twice while tuition fee might be 9000 euro per academic year and living cost 500 euro per month. ( But money for living depending on you because you can survive from 300-400 € per month) If you can bear your educational expenses from your family so you are warmly welcome in any time, any condition. In the upper part of this post I have written only for good student, but for those who have average grade and exhausted like me, please don't care any thing, come anyhow, it is possible to survive and stay here in any condition, as long as you want and committed for the chance you apply for. Study, Job, Scholarship Related Links Study Virtual Finland Immigration site Sunday, September 19, 2010 Important links Here is some important links for you which can help you in many aspects: 1. Train service: 2. Bus service: 3.facebook user name kakaosima Sunday, August 8, 2010 Flight and Ticket AFTER YOU GOT YOU'RE PERMIT START TO PLAN YOU'RE FLY TO HELSINKI AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Here is some thing you should know 1. Maximum weight of luggage is 23 KG for KLM pcs condition Two luggage 46kg -Turkish air line maximum 40 kg but please check it out befor hand 2. Maximum weight of Hand bag is 10 KG *No liquid/metal in hand bag Routes are normally DAR -ENTEBE-Istanbul-Helsinki (Turkish Air) DAR-AMSTERDAM-Helsinki (KLM Air line) Dar-Nairobi-Amsterdam-Helsinki (KLM Air line) Price: It cost for one way 700 USD-1500USD. This price is for KLM and Turkish air line. Return ticket is cheaper but I think no one would buy that cause validity of an air ticket is 1 year and student do not go to home country within a year. Sunday, January 31, 2010 Pre-reading material for International Business Monday, January 18, 2010 2011 List of Universities where Tanzanian student can apply this year. University of Helsinki (1640/1827) Åbo Akademi University in Turku (1918) University of Turku (1920) University of Tampere (1925) University of Jyväskylä (1866, promoted to university status in 1934) University of Oulu (1958) University of Vaasa (1968) University of Lapland in Rovaniemi (1979) Aalto University (1849/2010) University of Eastern Finland in Joensuu and Kuopio (2010) 2. List of Universities of Applied Scinces Arcada Polytechnic Central Ostrobothnia University of Applied Sciences Diaconia University of Applied Sciences EVTEK University of Applied Sciences HAAGA University of Applied Sciences HAMK University of Applied Sciences Helsinki Business Polytechnic (Helia University of Business University of Applied Sciences Pirkanmaa , University of Applied Sciences The Police College of Finland (Administered by the Ministry of the Interior) Rovaniemi University of Applied Sciences Satakunta University of Applied Sciences Savonia University of Applied Sciences Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences South Carelia University of Applied Sciences Swedish University of Applied Sciences Sydväst University of Applied Sciences Tampere University of Applied Sciences Turku University of Applied Sciences Vaasa University of Applied Sciences Åland University of Applied Sciences (in the autonomous Åland region) Please check out carefully before you make your on-line application, cause all Universities of applied sciences (UAS) can arrange entrace exams in Dar,Nairobi,Ghana or probably Finland or anywhere else as the condition may deem necessary. In Finland, Entrance Exams are conducted in Arcada, Central Ostrobothnia UAS, Jyväskylä UAS, Kymenlaakso UAS, Mikkeli UAS, Oulu UAS, Rovaniemi UAS, Saimaa UAS, Savonia UAS, Seinäjoki UAS, Tampere UAS, Turku UAS, Vaasa UAS which are Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS) Pre-reading material for Nursing 2) Questions from Marieb E. Essentials of Human Anatomy and Physiology. 9th edition, pages 1 - 132. For more information please contact the Degree Programme ([email protected] or +358 20 783 5623). Pre reading materials for Social Services Degree Programme in Social Services ENTRANCE EXAM 2010 Exam literature consists of three articles and one report, which are typical examples of material used while studying in the Degree Programme in Social Services. 1) Juha Hämäläinen: Developing social pedagogy as an academic discipline (pages 133-153). In: Anders Gustavsson & Hans-Erik Hermansson & Juha Hämäläinen (eds.): Perspectives and Theory in Social Pedagogy. Daidalos, Göteborg 2004. () 2) Articles in Infed-website (Exploring Informal Education, Lifelong Learning, and Social Action): • Introducing Informal Education () • Animation () 3) Huset Mandat Morgen: What lies ahead for the Nordic model? A discussion paper on the future of the Nordic welfare model in a global competition economy. Nordic Council of Ministers, Copenhagen 2007. () The written part of the entrance exam includes multiple choice and essay questions. The aim is to assess the capacity of the applicant to understand the contents of the exam material and to produce coherent, logical answers in English language. Therefore no specific questions e.g. on dates, figures or names of books or authors are posed unless they are clearly essential to the article or the report. Monday, January 11, 2010 Job Oppurtinities in Finland Finland is one of the most economically solvent countries in Europe. As the backbone of Nordic economy is always very strong but persistence, determination, and motivation are the key words when it comes to job searching. The Finnish labour market is highly competitive and looking for a job as a foreigner is challenging. Finland has suffered from a high unemployment rate since the economic crisis some years ago so it is not easy and not too hard to get job here in Finland. The most important tool when one needs a job here is to learn the Finnish language. Once someone has acquired a chance to come to this country, he/she must try hard to get to know the language. This is due to the fact that the official language here is Finnish. Learning Finnish is not easy, but also is not that much difficult though is somehow a challenging language in the beginning. It is somehow easy to get a job here if you can talk and understand the basics of the language. There are various ways as well as places where one can get to know the language. There are courses of Finnish language in schools and University, online learning method and through interaction with the Citizens. There are also some organizations which helps foreigners to learn the Finnish language. Having a residence permit (student visa) everyone is allowed to work a maximum for 25 hours/week. Although getting a job here is a bit challenging, but once you get one, the payment is 8-10 Euro per hour. As a student one can find a job in university research programmes, shops, paper delivering etc. Students are more likely to get suitable jobs with enough earnings during summer vacations as most of companies in Europe do employ summer workers during such period as most of their permanent workers go for summer holidays for three months. Summer jobs are easily applied through companies’ websites where they always announce for summer workers vacancies mainly during the months of December to March. Saturday, December 19, 2009 Degree Programme in International Business 2010 Entrance examination includes Structured motivation letter 10 p Assignments on provided material 30 p Mathematics and Logical Thinking 20 p Interview 40 p Total 100 p If an applicant score is less than 30 points out of 100 points in the entrance exam, an applicant is not eligible for admission. Entrance exams from the previous years are not available. Entrance examination's pre-reading materials will be out later. Monday, November 16, 2009 Applicant's Guide 2010 Hello, JAMK University of Applied Science has published Applicant's Guide 2010. Here you can find all information about admission procedure for international student in Finland. Download that in Pdf. Saturday, October 10, 2009 Friday, September 25, 2009 What is entrance exam? How much score I need? "Entrance" this word is a popular word in Finland. To entry in somewhere is entrance. So from the point of view of Tanzanian student Entrance exam is one kind of admission test only. In Finland there is no tuition fee, so they obviously want that they should give the chance to meritorious students, for that they start entrance exam. But Don't be anxious about that easy admission test. It is possible to get chance for study here in Finland if you get only 50 out of 100 marks in that entrance/admission test. So start to prepare yourself for that exam. Thursday, September 24, 2009 Degree programmes starting in spring 2010 2. Entrance examinations are held between 21 and 30 October 2009 3. Polytechnics/UAS announce the results by 27 November 2009 4. Admitted students must confirm their study places by 11 December 2009 at 4.15 pm Finnish time at the latest. Application results for degree programmes starting in spring 2010 will be sent by mail to the students by 27 November 2009 at the latest. In addition to the letter of admittance, the student will receive a confirmation form. It is imperative that the student submits the confirmation form to the higher education institution in which he/she wishes to study by 11 December 2009 at 4.15 pm Finnish time at the latest, otherwise the student will forfeit the study place. Confirmation of the study place is binding and cannot be altered or cancelled. If you have applied to several degree programmes, please wait until you have received all the admission results. Once you have received all the results, select your study place and return the confirmation form. A student forfeits his/her study place, if the confirmation form arrives at the higher education institution after the set date Entrance Examinations Schedule Autumn 2010 Thursday, September 17, 2009 Syllabus of exam Entrance Exam Letter After Application Monday, July 6, 2009 How to Apply -2 In previous sections, I told you about basic information of applying now I am resuming that. For official apply you have to log on . Remember you can do this by yourself. If you can do this, why go to others for help. In that website there is a form you have to fill it up. You can choose 4 courses at an application, it would be better to chose different courses from different universities. Most of the student wants to study in Helsinki the capital city of Finland or Tampere. If you choose university near Helsinki you have to do very well in entrance exam so decision upon you cause you are not only competing with Tanzanian students but also student of whole world For example, I admitted in JAMK university of applied science. 1604 candidate stand for entrance exam and 120 of them got chance. minimum score was 37 out of 100 for the last student admitted. I got 63. Now make an application and submit that properly you'll get a confirmation through your email address, Print out that and save that for future use.Now make a set of these papers 1.CSEE / equivalent exam's 2.ACSE/ FTC/Diploma Engineering/Other diploma in education or business/ equivalent exam's Certificates 3.Language skills Certificates, IELTS (minimum 6.0) or TOEFL score 550 pbt/79-80 ibt 4. PASSPORT and send them to your first priority university address. You'll find address in your email also in their website. (7 day need to reach Finland). I am again reminding you all papers should be certified by any notary public. Be careful about your postal address cause they'll send you invitation card of entrance exam by post, and you know the bad condition of our postal system in TZ. Now wait for Entrance exam invitation card. In next blog I'll write about entrance exam Sunday, July 5, 2009 How To Apply -1 At First gather these documents: 1.CSEE / equivalent exam's 2.ACSE/ FTC/Diploma Engineering/ equivalent exam's Certificate 3. English Language skills tests results IELTS (Minimum 6.0) or TOEFL score 550 pbt/79-80 ibt 4. PASSPORT Now make photocopy of them and certify these at any notary public (all copies must be certified). All documents should be in English form. If you have any Swahili language paper you have to translate that in English, from any government registered translating center . Now go to admissions.fi to make an online application TO BE CONTINUED Application Timing For 2011 Application period for programmes starting in September 2011 starts in Mid-January and closes in Mid-February 2011 at 4.15 pm Finnish time. All required attachments have to be at the admissions office of the applicant's first choice polytechnic /UAS by the set date in February or skills level 4 in English in the National Certificate of Language Proficiency. Please note, that Finnish means that the examination is completed in Finland. In addition upper secondary education or University degree in English completed in the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States of America, Canada, Australia or New Zealand is also accepted as a demonstration of sufficient English language skills. Education in English completed in any other country will not be accepted. Proof of language skill must be sent to the admissions office by the set date in February 2011. Please contact the admissions office of the polytechnic/UAS of your first choice in all matters relating to your application and to changes in your circumstances. News Source: Saturday, July 4, 2009 Required Documents for Tanzanian Students In Tanzania educational system a candidate require CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION EXAMINATION(CSEE.) and The Advanced Certificate off Secondary Education Examination (ACSEE), Full Technician Certificate (FTC)/Diploma in Eng, Education or Business or other relevant diploma certificates, and a Pass English Language certificate IELTS or TEOFL for applying study in Finland. So my suggestion at first collect these papers. IELTS or TOFEL became mandatory from the year 2009. IELTS is very popular and recognized world wide so my suggestion to complete IELTS instead of TOFEL.
Currently Intel does not include its virtualization extensions on all models of its chips. Its not easy to tell if a given chip does or does not have the extensions just by the name. And this holds back many different things that could be done with virtualization on desktops ( winxp mode on windows 7). I imagine, they'll probably repeat that for the next generation of virtualization. Which means there won't be as much of a demand for hardware that is aware of virtualization, so it will be expensive and hard to find for a longer period of time than normal. Yes, that is something that really sucks about Intel. They have a list of CPU features that they basically combine with itself in a cartesian product to create a product matrix, and then create individual CPUs for every square in that matrix. IOW, they are segmenting their CPU market into a thousand little niches for no good reason, other than they can. Working with AMD CPUs is so much easier. Turion for mobile, Sempron for low-end/budget desktops, Athlon/Phenom for desktops, Opteron for servers. Other than the type/speed of RAM, size of L2/L3, and number or cores on the die ... they all have the same CPU features. Even the lowly Sempron supports 64-bit and hardware virtualisation. Like Microsoft, Intel's chief competitor/enemoy is itself. Edited 2010-02-19 00:14 UTC Oh give me a break, Intel isn't pushing 32 bit processors anymore. Sure the low-end doesn't come with hardware virtualization support but you shouldn't be buying a single core celeron in the first place if you plan on running a VM. You say AMD is easier to work with but I got seriously burned by that period where they kept changing socket interfaces. AMD also takes too long to play catch-up when it comes to power efficiency. What are you talking about? Intel still makes cpus for LGA 775. Maybe you are unaware of when AMD burned everyone with their abrupt ditching of socket 939. It was only on the market for 2 years. As for power efficiency, What does AMD have to counter the Arrandale lineup? They not only use a 32nm fab but also come with impressive features like Turbo Boost, hyperthreading and hd video support. I'd consider AMD for a desktop system but Intel still wins when it comes to laptops. Intel has of late gotten into the habit of making a new socket for every chip it releases. AMD which has done a couple changes in the last few years is more stable on changing sockets. So it's basically - Intel is burning everyone with socket switches, where AMD use to. Also, per the power - Intel is pretty much only using their in-house developed Speed Step technology for power management. AMD, OTOH, is using Transmeta's LongRun technology instead. One of the big differences is how many points of power optimization are available. SpeedStep typically has 3 or 4, where LongRun has dozens. (Even if Intel upgraded SpeedStep with more than 3 or 4, it's still a drastic difference.) Not a future lineup but right now. Funny - since Arrandale is basically an updated version of the same architecture used by the Pentium:... AMD answered the Pentium with the K8, and now the K10 - available in Athlon II and all Phenom processors on market. It's also quite interesting how Intel has had to backpedal and redesign to what AMD did in K8 in order to keep up with performance. Funny stuff. Intel has Core series duals and quads w/o HW virtualization, and it is not unknown for motherboards to lack the feature, even when the chipsets have them. Meanwhile, for AMD, if you avoid Semprons and LE-series Athlons, you're good. Likewise, Intel sells many such Celerons, and many Atoms, as 32-bit only. Edited 2010-02-21 06:31 UTC Well, SPARC is an open spec, you can produce your own if you like. ;-) But really, it is sad. x86 and it's 64-bit variant are horrible inefficient things, 64-bit is a bit better I hear, but delivering cheap boxes, also for home use (large volume market), seems to be winning ? I guess we still have ARM as the last large-volume competing architecture ? The best comment I heard from a cpu engineer was that x86 is like sausage, it's great as long as you don't know what goes in to it. Yes it is true that x64 fixed a lot of the shortcomings of x86 like the relative lack of registers and of course addressing space. x86 is less efficient from an engineering point of view but Chipzilla has been able push efficiency gains through intensive R&D. It's kind of like how an advanced V8 can get better mileage than a standard v6. RISC chips still have advantages, especially when it comes to custom cpus. This can be seen by the fact that MS went with a powerpc based cpu for the 360 instead of partnering with Intel. The early 360 dev kits were actually Mac G5s with Microsoft stickers. Intel stopped making new CISC processors with the introduction of the Pentium Pro. Modern Intel processors are RISC. They use a lot of transistors in their chips to translate the CISC instructions into something their chips can handle. Sure it's all one big chip, but the x86 ISA is created by essentionally hardware emulation. If it was not for the requirement to keep compatibility with Microsoft's Operating System then x86 would of been dead a long time ago. There is no advantage to it in any way shape or form except for the advantages of being backwards compatible and people are familar with it. Modern Intel processors are RISC. No, modern x86 cpus are still CISC, yes they have a RISC-like core but it doesn't change the fact that they still come with a complex instruction set. The Itanium however is clearly a RISC cpu and is advertised as such: Edited 2010-02-23 02:42 UTC It may be that developing a new CPU costs a lot of dough, but over what time period? And how long is it sold? Are costs growing faster than the revenue? Are current competitors leaving the market? There are a lot of variables here and as long as IBM can sell chips for Xboxes and PS3s and Wiis there will be development, it just may be that the big iron ISAs are just a byproduct of that. I for one am not convinced that special CPUs are going to way of the dodo. But I'd liked to be convinced .. The one thing that IBM does that Intel and AMD dont'y do is that their chips are very heavily computer aided design. Their chips are modular and the components are easily put together to make various types of custom chips for IBM's customers. That is probably a big reason why all the modern gaming systems use PowerPC in their design. IBM is able to crank out custom designs relatively quickly. -------------------------- CPUs are fabulously expensive to create. Intel has 3-4 generations of CPU designs in their corporate pipeline at any given time. As Intel releases their newest chip they are in the process of designing the manufacturing facilities for the next generation of chips. While they are designing the manufacture facilities they are also developing and testing the next-next generation designs out in their labs. So that is why it seems like it takes so long for Intel or AMD to modify their chip designs when it turns out they were not competitive. Like the Pentium-4 and why it took so long for Intel to come out with a chip to put the hurt back on AMD... It takes _years_ of work to get a new processor design out. And what makes it worse is that as you create new and smaller processes you have to, basically, build all new production facilities. It's more cost-effective for Intel or AMD to build all-new manufacturing plant for new fab process then it is to try to retrofit or upgrade a older facility. exactly, think of POWER7 as the deluxe version with all the bells and whistles. IBM still makes lower end POWER chips that pull down technology from the highest end models. Considering they charge a huge premium for them they're at least making back their money. The real issue is that hardware is not a 20% growth business anymore, and you can't gamble against the future like companies used too. I think we're seeing a trend toward more custom systems. Oracle bought SUN and one of the key reasons seems to be specifically for the hardware as Sparc is the most common Oracle platform. Apple is pushing their own spin of mobile chips and I think they'll be gradually moving to more and more "personal" devices rather than traditional systems, but they're going "fabless" farming manufacturing out to other companies. Nvidia and VIA have always been fabless. ARM and RISC long ago switched to an "IP" model of selling the designs and letting companies find their own manufacturing. Even AMD has separated Design and Fab businesses because the cost of cutting edge Fab facilities means they have to split so other companies feel comfortable sharing the manufacturing time at "AMD's" Fab. Again, companies like IBM want to be in the manufacturing business for the control of technology, and as things consolidate that makes other people pay them to keep IBM's factories up-to-date on a regular basis. They might "lose" money on something like POWER7, but they can sell manufacturing time and technology to a die-shrink for Xboxes or Wiis and make money hand-over-fist that way. Capital investment required for the current silicon wafer technology is huge. There haven't been any huge changes in the area for a while, so basically there are fewer players who can survive the competition. I really can't wait until somebody discovers a new way to make processors that can be done in someone's basement or garage. That would really change the whole market dynamic. The demise is long overdue. Other architectures might have some niche advantages but the Sparcs, Titaniums, PowerPC and what else don't cut the cake (anymore). I work for a company that produces software that usually runs on AIX, HP or SUN. Normally between 1 and 128 processors (yes big stuff). Recently we ported to Linux on x86 as well. And then we tested the performance. X86 was up to 3 times faster than all the other stuff for a fraction of the hardware cost. Of course you still pay a lot for the support and licenses to IBM, SUN and HP but really it makes you wonder why people are still computing on special CPU's. Even in a x86 market you can achieve redundancy and hot swap hardware but maybe there are some corners where proprietary hardware is useful. Can't think of many though. It just proves that your company software works better on x86 architecture, but there is still a lot of other software that runs far better on those big iron CPUs than on x86. Oracle DB is one software that runs very well on Power & Itanium if tuned properly. And one other thing the big iron boys win in enterprise, and that's scalability. And when you combine all those things, Reliability, Availability & Scalability ( RAS ) that make those architectures shine on their own, and x86 simply can't match them, at least not yet. The things that you see coming to the x86 space, have been in big iron boxes for ages. And when you talk about big companies, they don't care they are going to pay 100k less for a box, if the $ loss per hour when that box is down is like 200k $ ( or even more ). That was actually the biggest surprise. We have customers that insert and process in excess of 100 million records per day (we use Oracle) and x86 was faster than other CPU's for a fraction of the cost, of course not the license cost for Oracle (though if performance is better you can buy less Oracle licenses, which often go per processor as you need less processors) The nature of our business is such that a downtime of a couple of hours is acceptable, so no fancy realtime failover hardware is required. All I can say is: if you buy from IBM, SUN or HP, don't do it for reputation of the CPU, do it for what they offer extra and measure the performance (or ask you software vendor for figures) That's key...you identified that you don't have to be absolutely 24/7. The savings you realize here ends up being also real savings for customers. I suspect more and more traditional "must have 24/7" customers are reconsidering their "must" position seeing the pretty huge cost differences. It's not just downtime. Can you survive an undetected bit error that corrupts data in your database? If a processor goes bad, will it silently mangle several thousands of transactions before it fails? Think of it this way: would you use RAID to store your critical data? If so, why are you expecting better error detection and recovery out of your fixed storage than out of your processor? Because failure rates of Conventional HDD far exceed those of processors The processors are replaced well before their MTBF. However, if you have a crapload of processors, that doesn't really matter. We don't have enough for that to be a problem currently, but it might be if we had thousands of CPU's. ... this is a good read and is mostly related. Well, the 80486 is NOT proprietary to Intel any more - the patents have all expired. However, many modern techniques for making an 80486 faster may still be covered under someone's patents - Intel, NexGen (now owned by AMD,) the remnants of Cyrix (now owned by VIA and AMD,) and Centaur (owned by VIA.) I think Intel is a licensee of AMD for the 64-bit extensions. "AMD licensed its x86-64 design to Intel" Like Mr. Reilly, I really like this stuff, but at this point I mainly wonder how it will end. My guess is that IBM will be the last RISC/UNIX vendor standing. Among other things (eg, performance), sharing the physical platform with the high-margin OS400 market can't hurt. So I wonder, how will it end? Clearly, UNIX's legacy decline could last decades; Unisys still sells Burroughs B5000 compatible machines (mostly emulated). But UNIX isn't as hard to migrate from, compared to MCP, and HP apparently felt comfortable enough about this to leave tru64 customers out in the cold regarding compatibility. I wonder if other commercial UNIXes will end this way, or if Oracle will be selling emulated SPARCs in 2030? Not just i5/OS (ex OS/400): Just think about mostly governmental institutions (e. g. fiscal administration) that use IBM mainframe / HPC installations for their z/OS, MVS and VM stuff. The "end of job" card has not yet been given. :-) A chance that commercial UNIXes have to survive, at last from a "usage share" point of view, is to open source them. The question of course is: Will it make sense if there's no platform, even no emulated one, where they could be run on? Nor is it likely to be given any time soon. There's nothing in the commodity market that can match what a parallel sysplex of z/OS systems can provide. When your system has to work with disastrous economy-wrecking consequences of failure, this kind of system (or other expensive high-reliability systems like Tandem, er, HP's NonStop) is what you use. ... IBM's i5/OS, OS/400, or whatever the name is this week can survive on just about any architecture, due to the virtual machine layer (TIMI) that hosts the operating system. While it was convenient for IBM to use their owm processors for their midrange division that weren't System/370-compatible, they made the transition to a modified IBM/Motorola PowerPC 620 (as the PowerPC_AS) processor and then, to the POWER series without much trouble for customers. Of course, the main problem is cooling (and the associated power requirements), which is likely why IBM will continue to produce their own processors, plus the fact that they go into their networking equipment and other systems. Virtualization isn't the only feature that keeps big-iron RISC ticking. There are a raft of RAS features built in to modern SPARC and POWER processors that just don't exist in the x86 world. So far as I can determine, neither the current Xeon nor Opteron products have ECC L2 caches, let alone the type of instruction parity and retry that's present in SPARC64 or POWER. Intel's own Itanium supports these features (as well as core-level lockstep). Producing a reliable system out of redundant unreliable parts only works insofar as faults are actually detected. x86 servers don't match up to enterprise RISC servers in this area. Intel has little incentive to add these features to Xeon, which would just result in Itanium cannibalization. AMD ought to, but isn't doing so - and they have bigger fish to fry. This niche will no doubt be dominated by IBM and Oracle for many years. Opterons have had ECC caches since the early days. It's up to the BIOS makers to enable it, though. On our Tyan motherboards, we can set a full screen of options regarding ECC for the L1/L2/L3 caches. And another screen for ECC options for the RAM. No, "Industry Standard Architecture" is a type of bus, in this regard, ISA means "instruction set architecture". We know it's expensive to develop a processor. Intel spends well over a $1 billion every three years to dig a whole in the ground for a new fab plant so they can keep producing faster chips. It's why Sun can't keep SPARC up, why even Fujitsu is finding it tough to develop and why other architectures like MIPS have fallen by the wayside. They have relied on a niche, high return market that was always going to be at risk. It's not rocket science. On the topic of x86/x64 IO virtualization: I just hope this is one step closer to a world where every user account is, really, a Virtual Machine. Each VMs "worldview" would be, optionally -- to save space and ease maintainance, a combination of a "base" system image + software maintained by an admin, and each user could alter their "system" as they see fit. Combine this with a fast enough network and accelerated video compression, then we're just a step away from having one "real" computer per household tucked away in the basement or a closet and a few relatively dumb terminals wherever we want them -- The office, the kitchen, the kids' bedrooms, the Television for media streaming... Just a little box that accepts local input, has a couple free USB ports, video and audio IO, and just enough brains to decode the compressed A/V in real time. Heck, this is basically what the OnLive gaming service hopes to do over the internet -- so it should definately be doable over a home network, maybe even the faster variants of WiFi. Being unable to share hardware, particularly the video card, is what's holding this sort of thing back -- Little Timmy needs to be able to play WOW while dad watches a video in the living room. Edited 2010-02-20 00:17 UTC I liked the article, thank you. The Big Iron ISAs are cool but it's interesting / amazing to see the other technology that these large systems have had for years that is still trickling down slowly to commodity systems. It's fascinating to learn more about the capabilities of large systems; there's a lot to learn there and the majority of folks using commodity hardware rarely get to hear about it. People perhaps think of a large, lumbering mainframe but don't realise just how advanced some of this stuff still is... I have one main quibble: Paravirtualization (or sometimes paravirtualisation in the UK) generally refers to modifications that expose virtualisation to the guest. That can involve modifications to the guest's low-level architecture dependent code or to device drivers. If the guest thinks it's talking to a real hardware device then that's still full virtualisation / emulation of that device, regardless of how the VMM is actually providing that device. So providing a host OS file to the guest as a hard drive is still actually full virtualisation unless you've installed virtualisation-aware drivers into the guest. I believe that this statement is slightly behind the state-of-the-art though I may be confused. The IO Virtualisation specs for PCI do allow a somewhat standardised way to export multiple virtual interfaces from a single PCI device. A few devices that predate this spec also defined their own ways to export multiple virtual interfaces so that similar functionality has been available for a while now. This gets used to provide safe direct hardware access to virtual machines and to unprivileged applications. It's still not that common, though, whereas I presume Big Iron makes equivalent functionality somewhat ubiquitous! The scary thing is just how far ahead the likes of IBM have been; x86 systems are still catching up to some features that have been available on IBM's large systems for decades. And that's ignoring the integration advantages of buying hardware, OS and support from one company. Not forgetting the extreme Ninja-ness of the support that the really serious vendors provide. I knew a guy whose university acquired an IBM mainframe in a competition; part of the deal involved a dedicated telephone line between the mainframe and IBM. They reconfigured storage and before they knew it they had a phonecall from IBM saying "Your mainframe says there's a problem". That's service!
From the Midwest redneck author of "The Rooster Crows at 4am!," "Lizard Poop!," and "The Philippines Expat Advisor" How to Find a Filipina Girlfriend 50 Years Your Junior The subject matter of this post deals with an older gentleman that my asawa and I met at Raymen Beach in Guimaras a few months ago. Let's call him "Roy." Roy is 75. His Filipina girlfriend, "Jill," is 25. They've been together for the past several years and have a three-year-old son together. (photo by harrisarn from Flickr) Roy's American wife died back in the States in 1981. After spending a few years in Denmark and other locations throughout the world, this Midwesterner decided to visit the Philippines back in the 1980's. He met a Filipina he had been corresponding with for some time . He arrived in Manila at 5 pm. They were married two hours later that same day at 7 pm. Now wait a minute! I immediately exclaimed to Roy that his "marriage" was not legal. He could not have obtained a "Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" in such a short time. The Philippine Government requires all foreigners to provide a "Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" from his/her embassy before filing for a marriage license. Roy quickly added that they also did not have the ten-day waiting period from the date of their civil wedding before the issuance of the marriage contract. This is also another requirement that the Philippine government demands. So in effect, their marriage was illegal. But Roy did not know that at the time. He did not care. He was anxious to start his honeymoon with his new wife. She wouldn't have sex until they were married. But the Midwest native was "married" long enough to have his "asawa" sponsor him for a Permanent Resident Visa. Since Immigration authorities did not know of the illegal status of his marriage, he obtained the visa without any difficulty. It is not valid, but Roy is not about to go to the Immigration Office in Intramuros and report that fact now. But the couple had a falling out. Since they were not legally married anyway, they split up. Roy stayed in the Philippines. He loved it here. But he was getting lonely. One day the Midwesterner was sitting all alone at the food court at the EDSA North SM Mall in Metro Manila. He saw a young cute Filipina sitting at a table, also alone. After a few minutes of exchanging glances, Roy walked over to the pretty pinay, 50 years his junior. "Jill" worked at one of the stores in the mall and was having lunch. After several luncheon dates, Roy asked Jill if she would stay with him at his home. He told her they would have separate bedrooms. She agreed, but not before the much older man asked the young Filipina's nanay (mother) permission for her daughter to go with him. Nanay gave her blessing. The separate bedroom arrangement did not last long. As Roy explained to me he had a king-sized bed and needed someone to share it with. And share it they did. A couple of years later they had a son. Roy has money. It is not his good looks and charm that snagged the senior citizen a beautiful girlfriend a half century younger than him. The age gap between the two is not unusual in the Philippines. And it does not take a lot of money to attract the much younger ladies. The perception that we foreigners are "rich" is usually enough. The American went first-class on his visit to Raymen Beach. Rented the best room at the beach resort. Rented an entire pump boat for 600 pesos (14 USD) instead of boarding one for P14 (33¢) each. Hired a jeepney for P900 (21 USD) one way instead of a cheaper multicab which costs half that price. Roy was not interested in saving money. He was only interested in impressing his girlfriend that he never intends to marry. "Why buy the milk if the cow is free?" is the old saying. But in this case, that "cow" is costing him a lot of money. So can you be like Roy and find a Filipina girlfriend 10-50 years younger than you? Absolutely. Do you have to be rich? Nope, not at all. Again, the mere perception that foreigners have money, whether they be American, Canadian, British, etc., will attract a lot of younger Filipinas to you. Plus many pinays prefer an older mature man anyway. If you approach the ladies like Roy did at a local mall in the Philippines, you probably will find many that will be receptive to chatting with you. If people call you a "dirty old man," do you really give a damn what they think? Am I judging Roy? Absolutely not. My asawa is 13 years younger than me. Does age matter? Not in the Philippines. Comments are welcomed. Please feel free to add your input. What do you think? Back in the States, lots of people would be giving him "the look" and criticizing him behind his back. While I'm sure he gets his fair share of stares in the Philippines, I did not notice anyone at the beach giving the couple much attention. What is your take on this? hi dave,i sent you an e-mail about a woman i met whom wants to have a baby with me and then i am set free with no obligations,she even will sign a notorized document by a lawyer stating that i am not financially responsable for what happens before during and after the birth of the child as she is serious and wants a baby now as she is in her 30,s.She says she loves my big kano nose and wants her kid to have blonde hair. I thought there was no jobs for expats in the ph,I may become a gigilo,wonder if i could charge for my services? Way more fun in the philippines. Got your email, Scott B. Nothing surprises me anymore in the Philippines. As we talked about before, the “old maid” age for a Filipina in this region is 30 and that comes from other Filipinas. Guess you can’t just turn off your good looks and charm, Scott. Hey, if I was a 75 yr. old widower, I would probably want to spend my remaining years in the company of a young hottie…can’t take the money with you so might as well go out with a smile on your face. But, at present, I’m just a 40 yr. old single guy that generally prefers women closer to my age so am looking in the 30-40 yr. old range (which I am throwing out there in case there are single Filipinas reading this blog. ) Yep, sure can’t blame the guy, Steve. Any single Filipinas out there looking? Send Steve a reply, I’ll vouch for him. Steve? Have you added me as a Facebook friend? You might find some FB friends that are looking for a good guy. Check my Facebook mugshot on the right side of this website. Check out this story I did some time back, Steve. Nice lady. She’s still working at SM City in Iloilo. My asawa and I see her all the time. The attitude of filipino’s have changed in the last 4 decades. Before if a filipina married a foreigner even at same age, she would be looked down on. When my wife took me to her home province in late sixtys the only 2 foreigners was the preist and me. People would come up to me and ask me to bless them. Now people come up to me and ask Hey Joe you looking for wife. Was there couple months ago and wife had bought some fish from vender and said she would buy all if he would clean them so she could dry them to bring back to states. My wife doesn’t dye her hair like most filipinos and has streaks of gray. I came outside to sit on porch and drink a cup of coffee and smoke a cig. The guy kept looking at me and finally asked my wife if I was her son inlaw. She told him no that we had been married for 46 yrs and the guy looked surprised and started apologizing to my wife. He said the only reason he asked was because alot of foreigners was marring younger woman from where he was from. I see you are well versed on Viargra Dave. I am happy to see you are adjusting to your golden years. I am sorry but I just couldn’t stop myself… dave and george it would be an enlightning article(s) on how expats with your filipina wives who have lived with you outside of philippines think and deal with these younger filipinas that covet you, the “rich” foreigners. to me, these wives of yours are golden, just for the communication part alone, you can speak to us and we get it. you dont have to explain everything. I did meet a Kano at the G-Mall Grand a couple of years ago who was 35 years older than his wife…she was 55 years old. Yep! He was 90. They seemed happy doing the snowbird thing. Cold in the States and here they come to the Philippines. She has a house here and he has a house over there. It was working out well for them. Did they get lots of stares? Sure they did!!! He was tossing out the F-Bomb all the time. It was hard not to look. hi maria,you are correct on the explaining thing which can become irritating after awhile as the explanation never makes sense,in the end everything is lost in translation.I have been enjoying spending time with a woman whom is 27 and she was a call center agent for t-mobile and took calls from the usa and actually knows alot about the different regions of the usa and now she is a teacher here and teaches english to the koreans and it is so nice to sit down and be able to talk and have her understand me and i her.She also gets it when i use sarcasm which most pinays dont understand when we are jokin a bit. Gary, you would think someone who has reached 90 would be done swearing! There’s 35 years between me and my asawa. We took 2 1/2 years to getting to know each other before we even realized there was such a gap. By that time it was too late we were already in love. Dave S. 40 years from now I may be that guy, LOL. Hi Dave: Older expats with very young Filipina women like to believe that age doesn’t matter. Among the poor, it wouldn’t matter as the pensioned retiree would become a provider for the entire family. Among the upper levels of the Filipino society, it would not be accepted. There are many postings in the internet by expats that complain about how their young wives are not invited in activities in exclusive subdivisions that they are now residing. Dave, I would have to say that, if you can not attract a younger Philippina while in the Philippines you might consider jumping into a burning fire pit or possibly suicide might also be an option. While I was there I saw an old Ugly Australian guy that had a Beautiful Philippina Wife. Things ARE Better in the Philippines Dave ! Let me try this again, George, three brown outs today for over a total of 12 hours. Hopefully I can reply before another one hits. Interesting info on how attitudes have changed over the years, George. If most of us kano’s get stares now, I can’t imagine how it was for you in the Sixties. You must have attracted a LOT of attention. Your asawa and mine must be one of only two Filipinas in the whole 7,107 islands NOT coloring their hair. My wife is 47 and has never dyed her hair. You see lolas here that must be approaching 100 with jet black dyed hair. My wife, does, however, have our nieces pull out any grey hairs they can find for her. I never see them, but I’m a 60-year-old geezer that needs glasses and contact lenses. I see a whole bunch of younger Filipinas with older guys in our area, too. When I went to Cebu some time ago, they they were overrunning the SM City there. Hey, if a single guy out there finds a younger wife and they’re compatible, I’m all for it. More power to him. Gary, I must get a dozen “male enhancement” spam offers in my personal email every day. They must know I’m in my golden years. It’s OK, Gary, My asawa gives them “the look,” Maria. I try not to stare whenever we go to SM City or Robinsons and always keep in mind my asawa has access to a very sharp bolo. You had me there for a minute, Gary. She was 55 and he was 90. Say, that’s great. Glad it’s working out for them. I was approached by an American at the SM Hypermarket awhile back and he couldn’t talk without using the F-Bomb. He drew quite a bit of attention and I got away from him as soon as I could. Oh, did I mention the guy was married to one Filipina, trying to get an annulment from her and had a girlfriend he was wanting to marry? Plus, he had been living in the Philippines without any visa extensions for over eight years. Different strokes. Scott b, too bad you lost that sarcasm edge. It took years for my asawa to catch on to my sarcasm. I can’t get away with any verbal jabs now. Glad you’ve met someone that’s easier to talk, too. That’s great and can make a relationship less frustrating. Good luck. I was thinking the same *%*$*#!!#*** blasted thing, too, Randy. Good for you, Mark G. Hey, as long as the couple are in love and are compatible, what difference does the age gap make? We only go around once in this life. Unless you’re Shirley MacLaine. Roselyn, I have no doubt that the main attraction for many of the younger, poorer ladies is the security an older man, foreigner, or well-heeled mature Filipino could offer (I met a 62 year-old Filipino man that married a 19-year-old girl after the man’s wife passed away.) Taking care of one’s family is extremely important in the Philippines and if the couple are agreeable and in love, I’m certainly not going to stand in judgement. I wasn’t aware of the postings you refer, to. Didn’t realize such a backlash was going on, interesting. Thanks again for the input, Roselyn. AS I’ve often said Triple F, a guy could have a face that looked like a dog’s rear end but still find a beautiful Filipina wife or girlfriend. It is just a fact of life here in the Philippines Dave. Expats are looked down upon by many. When Meriam and I go out she hangs on to me…Why you ask? She was told to do that by her friends. They told her I might get kidnapped, by a young Filipina. Kinda like a dog chasing a car…what would I do with a lady 25 years old??? Support her and her boyfriend? That happens more than you think. Well, Gary, that was certainly the case a couple of years ago when I was told by a Filipina at SM City in Iloilo that I was “just a foreigner here.” The “lady,” who was said to be a major in the Army, had a definite bias towards foreigners and even attacked my asawa. Here’s part one of that story. Say you’re right about that, Gary. You must have read some of the stories that I have about older foreigners meeting up with a Filipina who happens to already have a Filipino boyfriend. Filipina lures kano, who is thinking with the wrong head, and kano “boyfriend” gets robbed and killed by Filipino boyfriend. Oh, but some guys out there might be thinking “but I’m too smart for that.” Sure, and everybody in prison is innocent and the “check’s in the mail.” Hi Dave: There are expat bloggers who are married to very young Filipinas or have very young girlfriends who write about this scenario in some of their articles. Among these are those bloggers with the handle of “Matt”, “Grey Wolf”, and “Dutchpickle”. These expat bloggers seem to be very pragmatic individuals and have no illusion about the Philippines. Hi Gary: I’ve read a couple of expat postings awhile back that described very unpleasant scenarios, when native men would yell “pokpok” at their native women. This is disturbing. Gary, that or heart failure! “Among the upper levels of the Filipino society, it would not be accepted.” I have heard this too. I used to chat with a Filipina who was not part of the upper class, but was college educated and had a good job, and she and her friends did not like seeing the old kano/young Filipina relationships. They had no problem with the kano/Filipina relationships where the couple was closer in age. “older foreigners meeting up with a Filipina who happens to already have a Filipino boyfriend.” Even if you are thinking with the head above your shoulders; at the end of the day, how do you know if there is no boyfriend? or is this scenario more likely, do you think, with the older kano/younger Filipina dynamic? I had not seen that story, but she is a cutie! I think I’m one of the only people that isn’t on Facebook but I’m thinking of doing a profile there so I don’t miss out meeting someone like her. I thought I hit pay dirt the other day on CB. She owned a bar! I asked if that meant I get all the free San Migs I want and she said ‘Yes’! Unfortunately, upon viewing additional pictures, she was either a very unfortunate looking woman or not a woman. Soooo close. lol I agree with you Roselyn. My gf is 23 – and let’s just say I am not! Her family is not upper levels but they are middle class and they are very much opposed to our relationship. Unfortunately this may end our relationship since her dad says she cannot see me or speak to me again. Hard to know whether his objection is age gap, religion, or my being a kano – might be all 3. But still it is so interesting that despite this, my gf loves me and tells her dad she wants to be with me forever – and finances clearly are not the motivation. In our case, I will not let her ruin her family relationship for me, but I thought my story might add to the discussion. Of course I should also add that I am very young looking and guapo – so YMMV That is funny, Dave. Hahaha! Ok, thanks, Roselyn. I’ve seen those handles at a Yahoo forum I used to check out. Haven’t looked at it recently, guess I’ll have to go back over there and see what’s been going on. Thanks for letting me know. That IS disturbing, Roselyn. I hope I never hear anyone call my wife a “pokpok’ (prostitute) because I can assure you I will be getting in their face and will not let such a comment pass. Steve, Arvin, a neighbor I never met before, was passing by as I stood outside our door yesterday, when a big rain shower hit. He stood under a tree. I encouraged him to come over and stand under our tarp, the one we use to shield our “hot” laundry lady. He came over, lit up a cigarette and asked me where I was from. “America,” I replied. “Where at?” he asked. “Illinois, a few hours from Chicago.” I said. “I have a sister that lives in California and is married to an American. But I did not like her marrying this man. She is only 37 and he is 59. I did not like that but I am getting more used to it now.” I didn’t know this attitude existed among some of the upper levels of Filipino society, though my neighbor would be considered more middle-class. Interesting. You DON’T know, Steve. A CENOMAR, Certificate of No Marriage Record, could help weed out someone that is married, but the news accounts I read did not only apply to the older kano/younger Filipina dynamic. I just made a remark to Steve, DaveW, about my middle class neighbor, Arvin, who was very opposed to his 37-year-old sister marrying a 59-year-old American. Your gf is between a rock and a hard place. The family unit is extremely strong, as you know, and if Tatay has made a ruling, it would be hard to defy it. Frankly, this is the first time I’ve heard of any such objections. I was always under the impression that a Filipina marrying a foreigner would be welcomed, but perhaps that might only apply to some poorer families who see the marriage as an opportunity to help the family’s dire economic straits. Most Dave’s are, Dave. Thanks, Garf. Still have to watch out if you do join Facebook, Steve, since I’ve encountered some scammers in the past there. But sounds like you almost hit the jackpot, carry on, Steve, carry on. Maybe next time. Hi Dave: Let me correct one handle – “Grey Spirit” (rather catching) instead of “Grey Wolf”. I’ve lived in New Mexico too long. Hi Dave W: Your situation is rather very difficult. The Filipino father is very much respected and as independent as I was as a young woman 32 years ago when I married my Anglo-American husband, I don’t know what I could have done if my father opposed my chosen husband. I could have gotten him itoxicated with Chivas Rigal (my father’s favorite Scotch) and got him to sign his agreement on paper. When I decided to look for a wife in the Philippines I was 42, I made a rule that my wife to be must be at least 28 and have a child. Well, I am 45 and my wife is 22, what happened? It was kind of an accident, I saw her pictures on her CB profile and decided to just enjoy them for a few minutes despite her being to young and no kid. At some of these sights you can see who has been viewing your profile, she did and sent me a message. It took a while but eventually as I got to know her as much as you can via email, I realized that actually her hopes, dreams and view of the future fit in with mine, much more so that the older single mom ladies I was in contact with. Of course she wants to support her family back home in Zamboanga and yes they are poor, even by Philippines standards. She was up front from the beginning with all of this. It’s been working very well, my wife is working and will soon have her RN license and will have even better work. Most of my friends are older than me so I was wondering how my young would fit in at gatherings, dinners and such? Sure she was shy at first, then there is my friends wives, what on earth are they going to think? Well, here we are a year into this deal and I am pleasantly surprised at how well this wonderful young lady fits in, she has won them all over. In hindsight I think my friends, including their wives where not prepared for the level of respect she shows them, it is very refreshing after all. Oh, ok, thanks, Roselyn. I’ve read some stuff from Grey Spirit before. I agree, Roselyn. If the Father opposes the relationship, I honestly don’t know what DaveW’s girlfriend could do. She would be extremely hard-pressed to defy her father’s wishes. Maybe DaveW needs to find out what Tatay’s drink of choice is. Glad to hear your situation worked out very well for you, Lee. Great story. I’m sure most of my readers have to listen to their hearts and go with their gut. That’s what I did when I started writing the future Sainted Patient Wife. Despite warnings from well-meaning co-workers and my Dad, I knew she was “the One.” Thankfully, I was right. Couldn’t have found a more beautiful loving AND extremely patient wife. Nice to hear that your asawa is fitting in. Respect is important. My wife was in the States for over a year-and-half before she met any Filipina friends. She was so painfully shy. Now she has some great Filipina friends back in the States that she communicates with on a regular basis and dearly misses them. Thanks for sharing your story, Lee. Dave, Your Wife Really Is A Great LADY and Very Beautiful Also! I Have To Say That You Are A Lucky Man !! Till I Return Unfortunately, in his religion – there is no drinking. Otherwise I’d bring him a case of San Miguel or a bottle of my favorite Mount Gay rum. Flash news people,Racism is alive and well in all countrys. This is 1 reason why we fight wars. I have to agree with Roselyn. In Philippines I have noticed that people from Luzon look down on people from other islands and even people on Luzon from different province look down on each other. It is just the way they are brought up. Much less if they are married to foreigners or not. Even here in states people are brought up to look down on people from different states or race. I knew that even my parents was racist when I was growing up by the way they talked and did not want me playing with differant kids. They even tried to talk me out of getting married to a filipina because as young as I was had to get their permission to marry. After meeting my wife and being married for so long they came to realize that I made the best chose. Only one of kids that has not been divorced out of six. Even here in states you see filipinos or other races who do not like to see filipina’s married to other race. I feel it even in our circle of friends, even if they do not come out and say it, just by the way they act toward you or your wife. There are just as many racist in the Philippines as there is in the states but we just have more because of the population. Both countrys have had or still has racist laws as I see it. USA had laws on books in most states that you could not marry outside your race until Supreme Court struck it down in 65 or 66. The Philippines is just as racist as eny other country. This is why I thank they booted out the bases. Read between the lines of the speeches of the 12 politicians who voted out the bases and are still in power. I thank it is even in there 60-40 control of corporations and that even though you are legally married to a Filipina you can not own property in Philippines which can only be in her name and you inherent if she dies before you and has to be sold only to another filipino. What I am trying to get across here is that no matter what country you live in or who you are married to, you are going to run into stupid people because that is how they was brought up. Racism to me is like corruption and prostitution, it’s been around forever and will never be stamped out. My thanking is, a person or persons should be able to live or marry as they see fit no matter what other people thank or not. It is their bed, they made it so they have to sleep in it. I had that line that you are just a foriegner used on me one time. It was by a PNP that hit the side of my car with his motorcycle. He only said it one time and I dared him to repeat himself. Suddenly he was at a loss for words. Did this lady mention that there was a specimen cup and a turkey baster involved? Thats how it always ends up for me! haha! Hi Dave, I tried to resist responding to this subject but it was way too tempting. First of all age does matter! The only people that say that age doesn’t matter are the people that are defensive over their lifestyle. Oh and the guys that star on “To Catch a Predator”. I know what you guys are thinking; you are the exception and she is your soulmate. The intelligent people in this situation would openly admit that there are some challenges in their relationship. I am always laughing at the men that are blaming Filipino culture for their problems. No Einstien the problem is that you married someone that is the age of your grand daughter (well at least in the southern US) and then you complain that she is immature and clings to her family. There are so many issues involved with marrying some one 30, 40, or God forbid 50 years younger than you. Think about it; everybody looks at Hugh Hefner and laughs. He looks like a skeleton wrapped in wax paper and still manages to hook up with a new wife every few years. Does anybody have the belief that these young women are into liver spots and sagging testicles? Do you guys ever hear the stories about so and so’s cousin that went to the airport to meet her chat mate and ran away when she saw him in person? I guess the colostomy bag and oxygen tank were more attractive in the webcam. The next response I anticipate is “Your just jealous”. Haha! Nothing could be further from the truth! I had no desire to hook up with a baby momma with a tale of woe from a remote area. I was introduced to a vibrant attractive mature business woman that only wanted me for my sweet loving nature and nothing more. (yeah I know that it is hard to imagine that I am so freaking wonderful but it is true!) She has a life experience to share with me and we have some common interests. Since my wife is mature she is not jealous or insecure that a cute little gold digger will sink her hooks into me. I have had several young ladies ask me why would I marry a matrona when I could have a young lady like themselves. I ask them what do they have to offer that my wife doesn’t. I haven’t gotten a reply yet. The 75 year old married to the 25 year old with the 3 year old child is hysterical but sad to me. The wife will go from changing the diapers of the child to changing the diapers of the father. While she is diapering the old man after chili night at the VFW he will be saying age doesn’t matter right Honey? The sad part besides the visual incurred in the aforementioned statement is that odds are the child will grow up without a father. Even if he is still alive while the child is growing up chances are that the father will be a demented old zombie that has no interest in raising a child. Remember grandparents don’t always make good parents. Okay you Geritol jockeys lets hear how special and unique you are. Btw Great comments Roselyn! Sorry Tom, but I think you’re delusinonal here. Do you not understand that there are millions of people in the US, Phillipines or wherever else that believe with all their little judgmental souls that your multi-racial relationship is wrong and immoral and they too will give you logical reasons why it is fraught with problems. I am sure you don’t feel this way, but others do. 27 years ago I married an African-American woman. It was the enlightened 80s and I was surprised at the number of people who openly or secretly disapproved. Course we didn’t care and when we finally divorced, race wasn’t the issue, though my father assumed it was. So I know what you’re thinking – this has nothing to do with race, it’s about age or specifically the age gap. But it’s the same thing. Two legal adults have the right to fall in love and marry. People may arrogantly assume they know the “reasons” for the couple coming together – but often they don’t. So what age gap does the morality police think is appropriate? 5 years, 10, 20? Even Dave’s gap of 13 years, while modest in Ameican-Filipina relationships is large by Western standards. Of course, dave deliberately goaded us into the discussion by referencing a large gap of 50 years. But if it had been 20 years – would that pass muster? BTW, how do I get to join the morality police and more importantly – what do they pay Why do I say you’re delusional? Because I guarantee that people look at you and your asawa walking down the street and have the same contempt for you that you have for this couple. It’s the contempt that’s wrong – not the couple. To Dave D – I admire you for bringing up this topic. But there’s a famous Philippines expat forum that bars such topics because invariably the discussions break down. References to “To Catch a Predator” have often been cleverly used and for some reason men married to younger Filipinas take offense. Just sayin’… I may not be able to exress my opinion as eloquently as Tom R but as for me ..for a 75 year old man to marry a 25 year old girl is indecent and about the ultimate in stupidity and selfishness on the part of the silly old fool …and to father a child to the poor disilusioned girl …I dont have the words .I am 59 years old ..my wife is 45 and i will admit I had some reservations at the beginning because of our age difference. It is important to Josie that we look compatible in public and I wouldnt like that my wife would ever feel embarrased or uncomfortable to be seen with me .Of course she and all her friends and family told me I look young (but they told you that too.didn”t they )One deciding moment for me was when her daughter ..Angel.. insisted I be the one to take her to school .She beamed with pride to introduce me to her teachers and classmates .Grownups will tell you what they think you want to hear …if you want the truth ..ask a child .I dont know what the cutoff is when it comes to age difference but when I see an old western guy and a very young filipina together Im thinking …bargirl ..I feel embaressed and pity for her ….sori for being honest ………….thats my 2 bobs worth (australian expression ..Murray the kiwi understands ) ok …2 quarters worth for american friends …thats all ….. Thanks, Fearless Frank. The Sainted Patient Wife is all that and more. I appreciate the kind words and will pass them onto to her. We’re awaiting your return and wish you the best. Understood, Dave W. Since I had never heard of Mount Gay rum, and feared it might have something to do with mounting gays, I looked it up in Wikipedia and found this fascinating (to me) tidbit: “Mount Gay Rum is named for Sir John Gay Alleyne, 1st Baronet of Four Hill. Sir John Gay Alleyne was a trusted friend of JOHN SOBER, who inherited the Mount Gilboa Plantation/Distilleries from his father William Sandiford in 1747.” I just loved that “trusted friend of JOHN SOBER” part. its pouring rain in iloilo this morning at 4 am and i bet dave is in major brownout mode so we wont get any reply from dave d for a while. Yes, unfortunately you are correct, George. Racism is still thriving in the United States (i.e., church in Mississippi refuses to marry black couple) and thrives in the Philippines. Watch a black person walk around our local SM City mall in Iloilo and notice the stares he gets and people actually pointing at him and the Filipina that he is with. I’ve witnessed it many times in the past three years that we moved here. And yes, there are definite racial overtones, as you noted, regarding the United States being booted out of the Philippines. Those feelings still exist. But when China builds a military garrison in the Spratly Islands, there is a big cry for help from the government. They want more military aid and weapons from America. Some senators here even want the current VFA, Visiting Forces Agreement to be terminated. That’s fine with me. The less money the U.S. spends on foreign aid could be go to feeding homeless people in America and creating more jobs. As you stated, George, corruption and prostitution will be around forever. Look at GMA’s release on bail.And the failure of the government to arrest her again on some new charges. Does anyone honestly think corruption will be stamped out in the Philippines? If so, pass the shabu, because that’s what you must be smoking. Great insight and commentary, George, thanks so much for sharing your views. I’ll have to remember that line, Tom. Btw, I’ve had expat friends who were hit by other vehicles here and guess who always got the tickets? That’s a good one, Tom. Not meaning to offend anyone, DaveW. Just opening up what I know is an extremely sensitive topic. To be honest, other expat forums can ban the topic, that’s their personal choice. I always ask everyone placing a comment to be respectful of the other person’s viewpoint no matter how much they might disagree with it. My opinion? It really doesn’t matter to me. I understand both points of views, but if two consenting adults want to marry or be boyfriend and girlfriend (as was the case in my story) the age gap, no matter how great, isn’t really any of my business. Wow delusional and contemptous. Not yet any way. Maybe that comes with age. I have had mixed race relationships before. With that being said I still believe that everyone has a bit of racism in them. The biggest racists are usually the people crying racism. People are not the same and should celebrate their differences. You are apparently still see color as a factor in everything and cannot look at the whole picture. Hmm, I wonder if you are contempous or delusional? Hi Charlie, My wife and I almost adopted two girls from the orphanage hear until racism reared it’s ugly head. The one concern that I had was that when our two daughters became older would people would look at me like a pedophile if I were walking alone in public with them. Since a social worker decided that after a month of the children being in our home that foriegn adoption is forbidden the sisters had to return to the orphanage. Here’s a LINK to the orphanage story Tom is referring, too. And yes, racism was definitely a factor in the social worker’s decision to deny the adoption. FOUR frickin’ brownouts Sunday, Scott B, lasting a total of over 14 hours. The kids had to cover their ears a lot. We had 2 brown outs on Sunday. They lasted a total of 5 minutes each. We did have a 12 hour brown out a couple of weeks ago. Something blew up and took all day to repair. We had a big storm back in Michigan and the power was out for 3 days. Perhaps my analogy wasn’t clear. Of course the original question wasn’t about race. But I just see little difference between criticism about race, religion, gender, or age. If we celebrate differences between people of different races, creeds or religions isn’t is possible to celebrate differences in age? As to the original subjects of the post, while many people may be surprised or shocked by the 75-25 couple, I am wondering at what age it would have been OK or socially acceptable: 65-25, 55-25, 45-25, etc. And the more important question – does it matter if it is socially acceptable? Which comes back to the original point I made (though perhaps poorly). If a relationship between a Westerner and Filipina is considered socially unacceptable by some, should that matter? I assume the answer for most of us is no – that shouldn’t matter. Then why is social acceptance based on age so much more important? No doubt I am currently sensitive to this issue. You can all see by my posting above that my gf’s family is currently forcing us to end our relationship since it is “socially unacceptable” for the family. And I am far far away from 75. Dave you would think that a country that has 25 to 30 typhoons and most expensive power would wise up and come up with a way to bury those lines in the ground so that are not replacing them after every storm. But again might have to spend some of the excess money their making to put in their pockets and give customer better service. Did’t I read a while back that your island has their own power plant so they are not dropped when Manila needs more power. Well this has been an interesting discussion. As one who is married to someone 30 years younger I don’t know what I can add. Do we get disapproving looks? Certainly. Do we enjoy each others families? Yes we do. Hers accepts me and mine accepts her. Did my father have doubts about our relationship? Yes he did but so did hers. We took a long time to get to know each other and discussed many topics over the years before meeting in person. I had my doubts right up until I got to know her in person. You hear so many terrible stories I didn’t know what to expect. I feel more at home in the Philippines than I ever did in the US but I’m still not completely at ease. I guess that’s just my nature. Do I embarrass her? Probably but I spend a lot of time embarrassing myself too. Just the way things are if you know what I mean. I’m happy. She’s happy. I know our little boy is happy (usually). When he’s 18 I’ll be 73 so I plan on being around for him unless God forbid something catastrophic happens, and I plan on living every day to it’s fullest because there’s no other way to live. Anybody who has an issue with how we lead our lives or an attitude about our relationship can take note the door swings both ways, don’t let it hit you in the back side on the way out. I’ll always have a nod and a wave for you. Even if you don’t fully understand what we see in each other it’s OK you don’t have to. I was by no means writing about social acceptance. Roselyn made a good point about families with higher social standings frowning on mixed race marriages but I suspect it again becomes more of an age issue or where the initial introduction took place as to how such a relationship is viewed. I am by no means against anyones relationship nor do I pass judgement. The thing that is offensive to me is misplaced blame when everything is no longer peaches and cream. There are many considerations with any relationship. A multicultural relationship is challenging. Throw in a big age difference, a lack of worldliness, language barrier and possibly even stepchildren, you have a potential for big problems. I sincerely wish you well with whatever path your life takes. Dave Not only do you have to watch for gold diggers in Philippines and on inter-net but also here in states. My daughters father in-law is 85, filipino and was hooked up with filipina who was in her late 30 when they met with 5 kids. He was talked into marring her to get her kids to states and seeing how they was all under 18 on SS. His kids tried to talk him out off it but he would not lessen to them. To make long story short she talked him into going back to Philippines, and now he is some place in Cavite where she is from and not allowed to visit or see eny of his relatives in Iloilo. She now spend more time in states and controlls both his retirement checks. This is why my wife has change are living trust so if she go’s before me the kids get her share. Ha Ha. 14 hours isn’t so bad. Over July 4 weekend, we didn’t have power for almost 4 days after some freak storm blew through. I was out of expletives sometime during Day 2. In the States, we had an ice storm in March one time, Gary. I was lucky, my apartment didn’t lose power, but some parts of the city, Springfield, Illinois, were out of power for almost a week. That’s the longest power outage I can remember in 57 years of living in the States. We’ve had TWICE as many brown outs in Iloilo as we did in Guimaras lasting twice as long. I keep a daily record. Just another reason to move back to Guimaras. Dave W., I absolutely have no issue with any couple marrying no matter with the age difference is. Before I married Melinda, 13 years my junior, I had also received pen pal letters from Filipinas as young as 19 years of age. I was 46 at the time. They seem liked nice girls but nothing “clicked” for me like they did with Melinda. But if there would have been some chemistry I would have continued writing them despite the age gap. Pervert? Dirty old man? I really don’t care what other people think. If two people are mutually in love with other and are consenting adults, I personally see nothing wrong with it. That’s the trouble in the Philippines, as you well know, George, a lot of monies marked for infrastructure improvements go into the pockets of some corrupt officials instead. Guimaras, where we lived for over 2 years when moving to the Philippines, is building windmills and is hoping to be fully dependent on power from wind starting next year Here’s the link to that story that was recently in the news. Panay Island, where we live now and in Iloilo province, has been building coal-fired power plants to produce electricity. An order of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) that allows a coal plant operator to charge an additional 32 centavos per kilowatt hour to recover P692.304 million in commissioning and testing costs. The Iloilo chapter of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) said the additional charge is an added burden to consumers who have to pay one of the highest electricity rates in the country. (source: The Inquirer News) Yeah, that plan for new coal-fired plants is working out for us. Hi Dave: Indifference to age gaps, economic standing, religion, tribe, and race is visible in the Philippines. Indeed the Tagalogs may look down on the Bisaya from Mindanao and vice versa. In a university environment as my small university town in the U.S., the “looking down practice” are against those without a minimal degree of at least a bachelor of arts. God help a fellow professor who brought a spouse without some type of education in a university function. Inevitably, the conversation will turn to your alma mater. I witnessed an embarassing situation once in our local mall during a fashion show. The announcer took the time to introduce each beautiful young model and gave them an opportunity to state their major and class level standing. It came to a young lady that was not attending a university. The audience was quiet and the poor young lady was so embarrassed. I don’t like social gatherings so I don’t miss the “pecking order” of people. If you are not a social climber in the Philippines (or in any country), you won’t be put out if people snob you. Hi Dave: Please remove the second entry. My computer took a hi-cup and posted twice. Thanks. I’m on your side, Mark G. See my response to Dave W. As far as embarrassing my asawa goes, I’ve been doing that for over 12 years now. But I bet I’ve embarrassed her more the past three years that we’ve lived in the Philippines versus the previous nine years of marriage in the States. I appreciate everybody participating in the debate, no matter their viewpoint. It would be a boring world if we all held the same views. BROWNOUTS ????????you’re off topic again you chaps ……………..Tom … I understand where your’e coming from …you’re attempt to adopt 2 filipino kids and your concern that some might look at you as a peodophile in public with your daughters .Of course this is somthing I also considered as (Josies)our daughter is 11 years old but it hasnt been an issue…maybe I;ve aged pretty well at 59 but I have never heard any negative comments ….i understand a little tagalog …….Now please stay on topic lads hahaha ……..unless you met your young filipina during a brownout Awww, shucks, Tom, I appreciate you weighing in again. I’m a lucky guy to be married to a Filipina as most of us married to one are. What in the world Filipinas, some of the most beautiful, patient, loving and loyal women on the face of the earth see in some of us (myself included) is beyond my comprehension. Sorry about stirring up some crap guys, just wanted to shake things up a bit. I promise less controversial topics in the future but can’t guarantee I won’t write something again to stir up the pot. Sorry to hear about your daughter’s father-in-law, George. My wife knew two Filipina gold-diggers back in the States. One of them got booted back to the Philippines and has been banned from ever entering the U.S. again. Hopefully, Immigration in the States will catch up with the other loser. I would have run out of expletives, too, Steve. We’ve had some twisters back in Illinois that knocked out power for awhile but nothing that took us down for four days. That’s a frickin’ long time. I don’t like social gatherings either, Roselyn, unless there is a local fiesta. That, I can handle. Your story about the young lady who was introduced at the fashion show and was not attending university reminded me of a couple of Fil-Am organizations we had back home. Two of the organizations were loaded with doctors along with a smattering of lawyers. Everybody dressed up. It was interesting to see how the plans for their youngsters were publicly announced to much fanfare at the annual Christmas parties. I didn’t like attending them. While it was great that the kids were going on to follow in their parents’ footsteps, it seemed to me that each parent was trying to out do the other. However, I enjoyed going to the “redneck” Fil-Am Christmas party in a small Central Illinois town an hour’s drive from us. No bragging. Just lots of good food and an “Elvis” impersonator as the DJ. That was my kind of crowd. You’re welcome, Roselyn. Ahhh, Clarrie, we never stay on topic, we kind of ramble. But I understand how you might be concerned when you go to the mall with young daughters or nieces. Our 19-year-old niece went to the mall with us yesterday and I think I got more than my usual share of looks. Either that, or I’m getting more paranoid in my old age. I’m no stranger to drawing the looks. Last visit, I was accompanied to town by four of my nieces, the oldest being 19, and I didn’t have to see anyone looking at us….I could feel the stares penetrate me like laser beams from all directions. It didn’t bother me all that much but you do know that peoples thoughts were traveling full circle that day. Bahala na. Hi Dave: Elvis impersonator? I asked my husband once if we could renew our vows in a drive-in marriage window in Las Vegas or go to those small chapels with an Elvis impersonator for a wedding facilitator. To top the occasion, I thought that I would try out one of those wedding bouquet dispensers with a credit card. (We had a very traditional white wedding and I thought that it was just too stuffy, but my Fil-Am father approved.) My husband’s answer was: “no”. I guess I’ll have to find a Filipino Elvis impersonator when I get there. My husband might become mellow with age and will get the humour. It’s amazing that for a people that are usually so polite, Randy, the amount of stares a guy can get sometimes. My asawa just stares back. That puts a stop to it. I lived in Vegas for a year, Roselyn, and waited on “Elvis” one day at a store I worked in. He was employed at one of the chapels you mentioned along with a group of about another dozen or so Elvis impersonators. I even had a ride from a Filipino cabbie one day who worked as “Elvis” when he wasn’t driving his cab. But I have not seen any Elvis impersonators here yet, but I would have to imagine the Metro Manila area must have some. Good luck on getting your husband’s mind changed. I guess it must be an unwritten law of courtesy that says if you aren’t the only one staring, then it’s not impolite to stare. There are no shortages of Elvis in Tupelo, MS (Elvis’ birthplace). Every year during the Elvis Festival we have a impersonator contest that draws upwards of 20 or more impersonators from all over the USA. It’s not uncommon to have an Elvis sighting on regular occasion. I have read or heard that people in the Philippines have been shot because they was staring at someone because they thought you was giving them the evil eye. It must really be a fiesty old fart . But is there really good sex between them lol. You never know. All i can say is more power to them as long as they are happy. Take care Dave, and the guy had the good sense to brag about it? What an idiot. I read on another forum a while back where a guy was telling everyone to stay away from St. Luke’s Hospital in Mania. He was telling everyone they didn’t know how to do a DNA test. He was wanting to bring his bride and baby to the USA. Hahahaha!!!! The baby wasn’t his!!!!!!! I think you’re right, Randy. I swear I’ve seen Elvis here, Randy, but that’s only after I’ve had a few too many bottles of Red Horse. I believe that, George. Wouldn’t doubt it one bit. I don’t know, PapaDuck, and I wasn’t going to ask. He’s feisty, alright. Yep! Only in the Philippines, Gary. Dave ~ I’m sure there is one at the bottom of every bottle! Dave. Since I am from Springfield, IL, I know exactly what you are talking about with the one group so Filipinos that at one time included mostly physicians and other professionals. My asawa often was the person who did not want to attend their gatherings such as gthe Christmas party since she did not want to hear about how sucessful their children were. The relative number of physicians has declined over the yeaars, and the groups has mellowed a bit. Luckily, my wife is only four years younger than I, so we get few stares or comments in either Phils or the States. I am curious to know about the more compatible Fil-Am gruop in Central IL. Is this the group from Decatur started by Jason Lee? Jason is now president of CIPAS, so CIPAS has become a more relaxed and down-to-earth organization. Dave, you are a brave man for opening this can of worms. Good topic and good discussions; very interesting to hear all these points of view. Hi Mike, good to hear from you. There was a group out of Peoria whose meetings my asawa and myself attended. I only went once. The second visit to Peoria my wife attended without me but went one of her best friends, one of the nicest Filipinas you could ever meet. Only 36 years old but died while on the dance floor dancing with my wife. She had a heart condition. It’s 3am here now, so I have to wait and ask my asawa who is head of CIPAS now. My wife keeps in touch with her friends back in Illinois so I have to check with her. We’ve attended CIPAS meetings in the past in Springfield. I’m not a big fan of getting dressed up and going to Christmas parties to listen to a bunch of people (not all, mind you) brag in public. If things have mellowed out more now, that’s great. Thanks, Mike. I’ve got to stir up the pot occasionally. Dave. We have met many of the Phil-Ams from Peoria as they have attended the Simbang Gabi held in December of each year in Springfield – the Peroia folks seem like a good group. We usually have a a good time at the annual CIPAS picnic. Yep, been to the annual CIPAS picnic, Mike, always a good time like you stated. I really don’t know too many folks from the Peoria group. My asawa is awake now but she’s going with our niece to get some requirements for her new job at SM City. It’s like going on a scavenger hunt. My wife, Ghia, does the same thing to me, Gary. I asked her why she has to hang all over me, especially when it is 95 degrees and 95% humidity. She said that her friends warned her that some other girl might try and “snatch” me. I asked her what she thought I was going to do with another crazy Ilongga?? BTW, I just found this site and I hope that I can connect with some other expats here in Iloilo. Stuart, good to hear from you. And my Lord, who in the world could handle more than one “crazy Ilongga” in the first place? I’ve been married to one for over 12 years! Btw, Stuart, send me an email sometime through my contact page or add me on a friend on Facebook if you have FB. I’ll let you know next time we have a meeting. Long time no comment from me. I’ve been back in the US and just got back about a week ago. I was wondering if I am the only kano in the Philippines that is younger than their asawa. My wife is 8 years older than me and we’ve been married for 32 years and 4 months now. I can’t say that it’s always been roses, but I don’t think anyone that’s been married for so long can say it truthfully. As for embarrassing your spouse in public, well I do that all the time, and it has nothing to do with age. Dave I’ve got some catching up to do on your blog, so I better get started. Hey John! So you finally made it back? My wife is three and a half years older than me. She is ageing more gentley than me though. haha! Welcome back, John! Our Webmaster Supreme, Rich Pawly, said you would be returning soon. Good to hear that. I see Tom’s response and find that his asawa is also older than he is, but I would say, based on my three years living here, you guys are the exception rather than the rule. That said, back in the States, one of wife’s best friends, a great Filipina lady, is around 10 years older than her husband, a geezer of 60 like me. Age doesn’t matter. Yeah Tom I’m back and more than ever ready to make this website work. I will be updating my hotel/restaurant information this month and that will including adding more of the restaurants that have been popping up. I also hope to get updated pictures of the progress of the Ciriaco and Robinson Mall. As you may have read in my latest story posted “Deserted Destinations”, all of this progress we are doing here might not be worth a poot unless they upgrade the airport. I tried to contact Rich when I got back, but he is in Davao and not home. I didn’t get to talk to him while I was gone because no one there had Skype on there computer. I didn’t want to load something on someone’s computer either. I loved being in Texas, but I’m glad to be back here amongst my own things. We have friends back in the US and she is about 55 and he is 90, but they are both Filipino. So as you say, age doesn’t matter and neither does race evidently. From what I gather from this story, the way to get a Filipina about 50 years your junior is to basically show up and ask one of them, preferably a poor one. Probably more than 50% of the time you will find a taker. Is that what most of y’all got from the story? I personally would not mind having a much younger wife, but she would have to be mature for your age. I think I’ll try to hang onto mine for at least another 32 years though. Getting back on topic, here is a PhilStar article about age gap and marriage in the RP as it happens here too. I did meet a kano a few years ago who was 83 and had recently just got married to his 26 year old wife. But, I guess it isn’t just a foreigner thing. Man, 80, marries 21-year-old girlfriend By Eva Visperas (The Philippine Star) Rob, I posted a link to that article this morning (below). Glad to have you back, John J. As soon as I get my new eBook done and get all my errands finished (have to make a run to SM City to fax some documents to get paid for my Cherry Blossom commissions, thanks for signing up guys, and mail a birthday card to my Dad), I’ll be checking out your site. Rich lives on Skype, John. I still use my magicJack which works fine, as long as we don’t have a brown out. I met a 62-year-old Filipino several months ago at a birthday party. He’s a widower that married a 19-year-old Filipina. He left the party early. We all told him that we suspected we knew the reason he was departing early, he had that young bride at home. I think that a lot of Filipinas are in dire straits, John, and some would do almost anything to help their family, even if it met marrying someone a lot older than they are. Jobs are scarce and everyone can’t find employment overseas as over 10 million Filipinos already do. But that said, there’s no reason that romance can’t bloom. Some of the ladies like the more mature guys that are ready to settle down. Glad to hear you’re going to hang onto your asawa another 32 years. Great story, Randy. The old geezer has still got it. Thanks for the info, Rob. I read Randy’s link on the story. I wonder how long the guy will be able to keep that “spring in step” the article mentions. Thanks, again, Randy. If I were looking now in the age of facebook, I would probably get a second account for my search. I like facebook. I wouldn’t want to risk my primary account to whatever I might find looking for love. A lot of people do this. On my friend list, I have 2 dogs and a rabbit. Sometimes, you need to be a little discrete. With so many fish in the sea, I am sure I would have passed if I could not enjoy peace with my wife’s family. If a woman cannot get the blessing of the family to marry me, I would be uncomfortable. I would wonder about her relationships not only with her family but with others, including me, once the honeymoon is over. I don’t enjoy conflict. Sorry to say, I wouldn’t want a marriage with even a perfect for me woman who would want to marry me without the blessing of her family. This isn’t America guys. There are too many good women over there you can love and at the same time enjoy peace with her family. I simply would have passed and moved on if I were in that position. I simply wouldn’t have it. Funny but O so true. I am proud as I can be when I say I simply wasn’t good enough for women in the western hemisphere. No one can look down on me for having to go to another hemisphere to find someone, because I totally agree. I may be a loser, but I can’t imagine being any more happy than I am. I also enjoy the looks, giggles, and blushes I get from everyone who sees how much I adore Melyn. I think we just have to embrace our issues and enjoy whatever we can. Good point Gary. I know Melyn was told the same thing. She hung on for dear life when I visited there. I was totally unaware. I just enjoyed it. When we met some of her friends, I really enjoyed hanging out with them. She was terrified by that. When she explained why, I just told her it would be absolutely stupid for me to forget about all she had invested in our relationship and grab someone else. I had to explain to her I wouldn’t want a girl who would do that. I also told her I liked her friends because I didn’t think they would do that. She obviously wasn’t so confident in them. Five years later, I still enjoy them but they know the best they can get is a good recommendation in helping them find someone who will love them as much as I love Melyn. Wow Lee. I felt like I was reading my own story in your words. I am 51 and my wife 39. I wanted someone older, but she was just too perfect. She too in nearing her RN. Her parents are very poor even by Philippine standards. It has been a great ride. We found through Arlene Sonneborn the filipino group in Virginia IL. They are so much more down to earth. I only went to one CIPAS Christmas party and will never go again. They had assigned seating. We were seated with a bunch of little kids. The food was really bad catered food and really expensive. The Virginia group has an awesome potluck with real food. Country cooking is always better. When you get filipinos cooking out in the country, you will never go to CIPAS again. Absolutely agree about even the very young filipinos have a social maturity that we in the USA do not have. I think we share the same Facebook rabbit friend, John. That poor rabbit is the star of the show for our mutual friend, the magician, and works his tail off for the guy. Peace in the family is absolutely essential, John T. Everything is smoothed over with my wife and her family. Got lola, her Mom, some new eye glasses yesterday and everyone’s going out to Raymen Beach today. Should be fun. Lola will probably sit underneath the rented nipa hut with me and since I don’t understand much Ilongga and she understands very little English, we’ll just be smiling at each other a lot. But that’s fine. I’m looking forward to it. The best thing that could ever happened to me was my American wife divorcing me, John T. I never would have found the true love of my life if she hadn’t. And I wouldn’t be living in the Philippines, either. Life takes some pretty funny twists and turns, but I’m extremely happy with the way mine has turned out. I forgot about that assigned seating, John T. We couldn’t even sit by our close friends. I didn’t care for that arrangement at all. The Virginia group is a lot of fun with an awesome potluck, as you stated. I felt more at ease with the Virginia group and always had a lot of fun there. That’s very true, John T. My 19-year-old nieces that live with us are very mature for their age. I can depend on them and they never complain. Great girls. I asked Michelle if she would clean the keyboard keys of my computer while I was gone to SM City and asked her sister April to please mop the floor of my room, dust and clean the room for me. Both chores were done to perfection without one bit of complaining. Assigned seating? I would be doing an about face at the door! Nobody tells me where to sit, NOBODY! Well, except my mother and maybe my asawsa, of course. Yep, the assigned seating didn’t sit well with me, either, Randy. And you can bet, my asawa is the only one who can tell me where to sit, also. I am single… There you go, Steve. Hahaha… That was a quick reply. I was just reading the comments and just say that Steve was looking for a friend with almost the same age as him. I just happened to be on my website, lyah, when I approved your comment. It’s all up to Steve, now. I’ll quit interfering.
Powells.com » PowellsBooks.Blog » Guests » The What-O-Sphere? the book or the blog: "I write about body image and self-acceptance." Everyone loves that line. Having a positive body image is so important for young girls! Self-acceptance is so important for all of us! It is a great thing you do, Ms. Harding! Just as they're about to nominate me for a humanitarian award (or, you know, at least walk away with a decent impression), they ask what the title of the book is. And then I have to say it: Lessons from the Fat-o-Sphere: Quit Dieting and Declare a Truce with Your Body. Wait, the What-O-Sphere? The very first working title of the book, of which I'm still inordinately fond, was Results Not Typical. But I say "inordinately" because pretty much no one else liked it, and our agent made us think of a new one before she'd send the proposal out. Title number two — which remains on the Australian edition — was Screw Inner Beauty. The idea there is that fat women, on the rare occasions when we're told not to hate ourselves, are inevitably encouraged to focus on our "inner beauty" — the logical corollary being that outer beauty is a lost cause, what with the revolting fat and all. Marianne and I aren't interested in helping women like themselves despite whatever fat they may be carrying; we're interested in helping women like their bodies at any size. But that, admittedly, is a little high-concept — "Screw Inner Beauty" sounds more like a book of fashion and make-up tips, right? So along comes another request to think up a new title. And after a bit more brainstorming, we heard that the publisher was superkeen on the word "fatosphere" (fun fact: it only got the hyphens to make the original cover design more readable), which we and our fellow body acceptance bloggers were using to describe our little corner of the internet. How did we feel about Notes/Dispatches/Lessons from the Fatosphere? "We can't use the word 'fat,'" I said. "The women who need this book most would be mortified to buy a book with the word 'fat' in the title. And certainly, nobody's going to buy it as a gift — 'Hey, I got you this because you're fat!'" Not so long ago, even I hesitated to take a copy of Wendy Shanker's The Fat Girl's Guide to Life up to the counter at a bookstore. The last thing on earth the average fat woman wants to do is draw attention to the size of her body, even from a random cashier and only for the length of a quick transaction. I had a strong gut feeling that that title would threaten sales, for the very reasons why we needed to write the book in the first place. But I got outvoted and, in the interest of not being a pain in everyone else's butt, shut up about it. Was it the right call not to fight harder for a non-fat title? I'm still not sure, honestly. I mean, not being a pain in everyone else's butt is, generally speaking, a wise career move. I used to work in publishing and made a vow to myself 10 years ago that, if I ever made it to the other side, I would not be that whiny, clueless author who throws a tantrum over a title change or the cover art or the editing of my oh-so-precious words; I would trust the experienced professionals to do right by my book, recognizing that they'd worked just as hard as I had and wanted it to sell just as badly. And speaking of those professionals, it was pointed out to me that our fellow Penguin Group author Jen Lancaster has sure done all right for herself with titles that include the words "fat" and "big ass." (Of course, there is the whole "she's Jen Effin' Lancaster" factor working in her favor.) But I still can't help thinking of all the women who feel like I did just a few years ago, who might pick up a copy of the book in a store and take a surreptitious glance at the back cover copy or table of contents, then put it right back, too embarrassed by the thought of paying for a book with the word "fat" on the cover. Thinking about those women breaks my heart — not just because I want their money, but because I want them not to be so ashamed of that stupid little word, so controlled by it. We give it a power it actually doesn't have. Which is exactly why Marianne and I wrote the book. Also, I do want their money. There's that. Yippee for online booksellers! ÷ ÷ ÷ Kate Harding founded Kate Harding's Shapely Prose, a blog about body acceptance and the treatment of fat people in the media. Marianne Kirby is dedicated to body politics and fat acceptance. She is co-moderator of the Livejournal community Fatshionista, which has more than 2,500 members. I rather like the title and cover art of "Screw Inner Beauty"... Are whiny fans protecting your (plural) precious authorial visions allowed? IMO, having the word "fat" right there on the cover is an important step toward ending the shame. My guess is that, for every woman who is reluctant to buy a book with "fat" in the title, there are at least two who know darn well they're fat, want to stop feeling ashamed about it, and will be more likely to buy the book because it doesn't euphemize. Good old Kate Harding, she's nothing if not predictable. In the very first paragraph of this shameless plug - oops, I mean "article" - she includes links to, not only her book, but also her blog, a recent essay and - just in case you want a different edition of her book - the Australian edition! Yes folks, this is the same Kate Harding who gave her book a five-star review right here on powells.com. And the very same Kate Harding who asked her blog readers to mark "troll comments" [ie anyone who disagrees with her]on another online bookseller "not helpful", "so they get moved down the page". It must be hard work making a living out of being fat. I think it's great that the word fat is on the cover, although I do understand your reluctance to use it. But I believe having the word fat right there on the cover is a great way to publicly take back the word and rid it of its negative connotations. Right on, Kate. I understand very much the trepidation to put the word "fat" right there on the cover, but if we're going to accept the very existence of fat, and ourselves as fat people, then it's the first thing to put out there. It's a bit like dressing to pretend like we're not fat: there's not a dress, a cardigan, a pair of pants on earth that will disguise fat and trick others into believing that the fat isn't there, but by God, we're supposed to try our hardest. Part of accepting my fat has been trying to dress for my own comfort, for a bit of style, and not worry that people can see my fat. They're going to see it whether or not I wear a muu-muu or a well-fitting shirt, so I might as well wear what looks great. Same with the book: put "fat" right out there and let the content speak for itself. I'm glad you trusted your editor on the title! Having said that... though I fully intend to order it from my workplace, I do worry about the guys who work in product-receiving seeing the book, putting my name on it, and connecting me with it... like I worried when I would order exercise DVDs (I like to work out; I dislike titles that end in "away the pounds" or "off the inches", implying the only reason to exercise is soley to lose weight). Not that they would make fun of me to my face, but I fear behind-my-back giggles. Going back to my first paragraph, though, it's not like I've tricked them into believing I'm skinny, so what could the harm be? Sorry for the novel...! Thanks for the book and your website and all of the work that you do. I appreciate it very much! Hi, Kate -- Jill from B@B here. I've started describing myself as "fat" around my workplace, and it freaks people out. "You're not fat," they say -- as if they think it's what I want to hear. For all that I'm still scared to go to a doctor because I don't want to be told to go on a diet that's guaranteed to fail within 5 years, I'm finding that being able to use the word "fat" as a descriptor feels like a 20-lb. weight lifted off my shoulders. Maybe that's the easiest way for us fat women to lose weight -- just get rid of that anvil of shame. I continue to be baffled by folks who don't understand that when one publishes a book, one usually hopes to sell copies of it. Or that when one publishes things on public blogs, she is not generally ashamed when other people try to "out" her as having published those things... publicly. (Encouraging your existing readership to help support a book? THE NERVE. Why, it's almost as though you're promoting a product! How unseemly!) Aaanyway. Thrilled to hear everyone else's thoughts on using the word "fat" on the cover. I do think it is part of the ongoing reclamation of the word, and I really hope it can ultimately be helpful in that respect. So, Susan thinks you should: A) not try to help readers find your book; B) not rate your book highly (presumably you submitted a manuscript you didn't actually think was good...?); and C) not defend the culture of your OWN blog. I wonder, if you made your living as, say, a financial advisor, would she feel the need to denigrate your making a living off finance? And finally, her life is so small that she has time to worry about these things and feel she must spend time sending out her message to the world? Sad. By the way, I recently got a new doctor, and at one point in our first meeting, I said, "I suppose I should lose some weight," (you know, the old preemptive strike), to which she replied, "Well, there may not be a lot you can do about that." !!! Keep up the good work, the word IS getting out there! Of course I appreciate that authors need to promote their work. But Kate Harding is the only author I know of who has (a) given her own book a five-star review on an online bookseller or (b) asked her blog readers to mark "troll comments" on another online bookseller "not helpful", "so they get moved down the page". Perhaps, despite having reclaimed the word "fat" she's not as confident as she would have her readers believe? Susan, I suspect you are dead wrong about Kate being the only author you know to give her own book a five-star review. She's just the only one you know who openly identified herself. It's common book industry knowledge that many, many, MANY authors give themselves five-star reviews under assumed identities (in fact, there was an expose a few years back when some Amazon code got mucked up and the authors' identities were accidentally exposed). Personally, I give her props for being up-front about it. If you ever publish a book, Susan, I have a feeling Kate's actions are going to make a lot more sense to you. Try to imagine how "troll" comments feel when just anyone can pop in and take five minutes to tear down weeks/months/years of your hard work without thinking, or even reading it. Otto Vox - thanks for your comment. I was unaware of the "common book industry knowledge" about authors giving themselves five-star reviews under assumed identities. Still, that doesn't mean I would give Kate props for being upfront about posting her own five-star review here. Her actions on "trolls", and your comments, only reinforce my initial impression that "Lessons From the Fat-o-Sphere" is intended for Kate's online readership. Bullying tactics won't endear her to a broader audience, or recruit more members to the Fat Acceptance movement. Gosh Susan, I hate to quibble with you, but from where I stand it looks like Kate is already doing a fabulous job of endearing her viewpoint to a larger audience. I discovered Fat Acceptance through her blog, and in the few months since I discovered it, I've linked it to dozens of friends, as well as bought 3 copies of her book (one for myself and two as gifts). I haven't heard a single negative thing about the book, blog, or Kate herself from any of those people. Susan, I don't think Kate has ever asked that people mark negative reviews as 'unhelpful'. Instead, she asked that people mark reviews which are full of patently false information, or hateful reviews from people who have clearly NEVER READ the book. Not to speak for Kate, but I don't think at all that she's speaking of reviews which say: 'Y'know, I read this, and I was disappointed. I was hoping for more of X and less of Y, and I thought the chatty writing style was off-putting, and blah blah thoughtful commentary/criticism'. No, she's talking about: "I haven't read this, but fatties are all going to die!!1! and all the doctors at my hospital agree with me!" For example. (P.S., I loved the chatty writing style, this was just an example. <3.) I for one was thrilled to see the word fat in the cover. It is very interesting that people seem very uncomfortable when I use that word (and BTW, I loved the original title Results Not Typical. LOL.) I too have had coworkers correct me, "you're not fat!" when I am far and away very fat. "Yes I am, and it's okay," I tell people. They seem surprised, but sort of relieved too. Susan, trolls post messages that are intended to disrupt, misrepresent, inflame or simply insult others trying to meaningfully discuss a topic. Kind of like your comments. Legitimate reviews are always welcome. It's so sad that you find such pleasure in ripping down others. I feel sorry for you, truly. Farfalla & Sticky - from my reading of "Shapely Prose", I have the impression that anyone who disagrees with Kate's world-view is automatically labelled as either a "troll" or a "douchehound". I think she's peeved that she can't delete negative comments from forums like this one. Perhaps you missed her blog post on 6 May where she wrote: "Powell’s is especially trolly right now, and I’ve already corresponded with a director there, who said (totally reasonably) that deleting even the worst ones would probably draw more negative attention and cause more trouble than it’s worth." That doesn't sound like legitimate reviews are always welcome. Susan, the definition of a troll "is someone who posts controversial, inflammatory, irrelevant or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum or chat room, with the primary intent of provoking other users into an emotional response or to generally disrupt normal on-topic discussion." according to Wiki. And all Kate requested was that people mark down true "troll" comments. Unless you think she has some sort of secret code she sent only to her loyal readers, then you need to just DROP this stupid accusation you keep bringing up. Troll comments add NOTHING to discussion, and are totally obnoxious on a book review site, where the purpose is to rate the book, not spout off your own feelings on things you ASSUME are in the book. Considering how much people hate fat people and fat acceptance, I think it's perfectly reasonably to ask her blog community to help her monitor the disingenuous "ratings" the book gets NOT from people who simply did not like the book, but from true trolls. DROP IT. It is wrong for the author to encourage her blog readers to write positive reviews and to suggest that a negative review is a 'troll' whom should be degraded by negative comments. Book reviews should be objective. People expect to see objective reviews, not a subjective campaign by a small group with polarized views on an echo chamber blog. I read the book, and thought her comments on lack of correlation between health and obesity were absurd. American obesity has skyrocketed in the last 20 years. Visit Europe and notice the obvious difference in size. Is this due to genetics? Sorry, genetics don't change in 200 years. What has changed is portion size, lack of exercise, and poor choices. Yes, you may have a fat mother, father, aunt, etc however this is due to lifestyle, not your genes. SHE NEVER SAID TO MARK DOWN NEGATIVE REVIEWS! Kate merely wanted pointless, inflamatory, NON REVIEWS (ie just there to argue, didn't READ THE BOOK) to be marked down. As they should be. "Reviews" by people that didn't read the book, or don't even discuss the book, are NOT REVIEWS, and shouldn't be in a ratings system. Why is this so hard for people to grasp? While the term 'troll' has been well defined here, the author's blog definition is quite broader. Anyone who has an opposing viewpoint is deemed a troll or a dou....bag. As such, the author's blog is indeed quite polarized. This type of filtering creates a concentration where readers only expose themselves to views they already believe. The result is less opportunity to hear and understand dissent, which is a critical element of good decision making. Incidentally, I came to Kate's blog AFTER reading the book, so if it was "written for her online membership," it worked in reverse for me. I now read her blog because I read her book. vgnvxn - You are quite right in that Kate never explicitly asked her reeaders to mark down negative reviews. But on 6 May she did ask her readers to: '2) Mark troll comments “not helpful,” so they get moved down the page.' And as SNd has quite rightly pointed out, in Kate's view, *anyone* who disagrees with her is deemed a troll or a douchebag. And that includes people who have read her book and have legitimate criticisms of it. As I mentioned earlier, Kate's bullying tactics may work on her own blog, but they don't work too well on open forums like this one. vgnxn - I don't accept that Kate's tactics are legitimate "considering how much people hate fat people and fat acceptance". If her arguments had any real merit, they would stand up to criticism, and there would be no need for online bullying. I don't understand why people feel the need to keep making completely false statements about the stupid request to flag troll comments (which should be done for any book review). SNd, you are lying. There is nowhere you can point to on Kate's blog where she ever says or even implies that people disagreeing with her makes them a troll. In fact, on her comment policy she actually writes: "Polite disagreement doesn’t piss me off. Bullying does." The only people who usually complain that they are being banned for "disagreeing" at ANY blog are usually trolls, or people too wrapped up in their own privilege to ever step down from their high horse and examine their statements. Kate merely wrote "2) Mark troll comments “not helpful,” so they get moved down the page." Because... troll comments aren't helpful! Duh! Susan, if you want to make up imaginary battle in your head, that's fine, just realize that they're only in your head. Troll comments are "unhelpful" anywhere, especially in a book review, never has Kate told people that troll= mere disagreement. You and SNd have yet to provide a scrap of evidence that Kate considers trolls to be people who merely disagree. In fact, I have proven that she feels the opposite. You're obviously arguing with bad faith, and I'm pretty confident that everyone else can see that but you. vgnvxn - Actually, Kate usually describes people who disagree with her at Shapely Prose as "douchehounds" rather than trolls. For evidence, see any thread over there in which there is disagreement. she usually describes people who are being douches as douchehounds. Trolls and douchehounds are not the same. Actually, she only marks people as douchehounds (and since when is "douche" a dirty word that needs to be censored?) when they ignore the basic rights and/or dignity of human beings, or make comments which contain hate, bigotry, or other assumption that people are objects. The only reason I can think of for your claim otherwise is if you're piqued at one of your own comments being moderated. Perhaps instead of this rather pointless discussion you should examine why the comment was moderated. Was is actual useful discussion based on factual information, or was it fat-hate rhetoric established by the diet industry? The author's blog restricts nearly all opposing opinion, and takes an aggressive stance against opposition. As mentioned above, dissent is a critical part of objective discussion. Dissent does not equal 'troll' or 'douchebag'. This aggression is associated with 'seeking power' from a group mentality, which is understandable. It does, however, create an echo chamber which ultimately is negative socially (and in this case, health-wise since the absurd hypothesis that obesity and health are not realted). BTW, if your doctor doesn't agree with this hypothesis, then find another one. This is unhealthy, but in an echo chamber nobody realizes this. What a great comment, SNd! [Applauds wildly] vgnvxn - You haven't responded to my comment above where I quoted Kate's blog post about asking this site to delete "trolly" [negative] reviews of her book. And this is the same woman who writes "Polite disagreement doesn’t piss me off. Bullying does." Susan, By inserting the [negative] into the above comment, you are changing the meaning of the quote. You should be more cautious is assigning words to people who did not say them. Troll comments (as defined above by many others) are not just negative reviews, they're people who don't bother reading the book and yet still try to post nasty, bigoted comments about it or the authors. They are not helpful to anyone actually seeking to read the book, and in fact are actively misleading. Why should they clutter up the comments/reviews section? I fail to see how your claims (of what I'm not even sure anymore) have anything to do with this blog. Are you trying to accuse the author of self-promotion? Are you trying to suggest that self-promotion is somehow a bad thing? Or is it the actual premise of the book that offends you somehow? If the latter, then the discussion would be much better served if you would actually produce some sort of rational list of points of disagreement so that the discussion could proceed. Wow, this thread got big while I wasn't looking! No, I don't think anyone who disagrees with me is a "troll." However, people who refuse to engage sincerely and respectfully often argue that I'm quashing all criticism and disagreement, as opposed to kicking out people who can't behave like grown-ups. I can't really do anything about that other than shrug. Having said that, expecting me to host a debate about the merits of fat acceptance on my blog is to fundamentally misunderstand what I'm doing there. I'm not objective and don't claim to be. It is my subjective opinion, based in part on a great deal of objective evidence, that fat acceptance and Health At Every Size are preferable to self-hatred and dieting. That's obvious in pretty much everything I write on the blog -- as you've both noted, SNd and Susan -- yet you're acting as though I try to hide that. Or as though I should be ashamed of having an opinion and writing about it, and documenting many of the things that led me to that opinion, and then -- gasp! -- letting people read that opinion without offering daily reminders that HEY GUYS, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO DON'T AGREE WITH ME. We also aim to make the blog a relatively safe space for people who have long been harassed and tormented about the size of their bodies, which means cracking down on commenters who just want to do more of that. We're an anti-diet zone, so we crack down on people who want to talk about deliberate weight loss. And we're fat acceptance bloggers, so we're not interested in having the exact same discussion about how fat is unhealthy and gross 80 gazillion times. This is not censorship or silencing. This is setting our own boundaries, on our own blog. If you want to discuss why weight loss is good and fat is bad, you can go to many, many other locations on the internet to do so. You can start your own blog and argue every day about why I'm wrong, and build your own readership for that. You just can't, as they say, come into my living room and piss on the rug. Also, SNd, if you think book reviews -- on an online bookseller's site, The New York Times, wherever -- are meant to be objective, I don't really know what to tell you. The whole point of a review is to offer an opinion. It's one person's subjective response. On a site like this, you can get numerous people's subjective responses and decide for yourself whether it sounds like a book worth reading, which is terrific. But the comments I referred to as "trolly" were the ones that said flat out (I paraphrase), "I haven't read the book, but it's a load of crap." The one, and only one, I contacted Powell's about, said something along the lines of "they offer no evidence to support their claims," which is patently untrue. You might not find the evidence compelling, but it's there, and it's footnoted. Disliking a book is one thing; lying about it is another. But as I said on the blog, I found Powell's argument against deleting blatant misinformation completely reasonable, so I didn't push it. As for the self-promotion stuff, are you KIDDING ME with "authors don't give their books 5 stars"? Again, I think the problem here is assuming there's even a pretense of objectivity and/or randomness where there is none. Reviews on a site like this are no more objectively truthful than online polls. They're subjective opinions, often offered anonymously, and they're ultimately worth exactly what you paid for them. If this were some scientifically valid random sampling of average American book buyers' reactions to LFTF, you wouldn't end up with lots of "book reviews" by people who haven't read the book, any more than lots of reviews from the authors' existing fans, or the authors themselves.( Unlike a lot of the people who gave the book one star, at least I actually read it.) Asking people who read the book, enjoyed it, and have expressed a desire to help promote it to post positive reviews, or rate the ones from people who haven't read it "unhelpful," is not some unethical attempt to game the system -- and it's certainly not like I'm being furtive about it, so I really don't get this "A-ha! I've found her out!" vibe. It's pretty basic self-promotional stuff, and believe me, a lot of authors are doing it, whether they're transparent about it or not. Hey, are you ready to have your mind blown? You know those endorsements you see on book covers? They're usually from the author's personal friends, former mentors, etc., not strangers who were so moved by a random manuscript, they just had to offer a glowing quote. (Our case is actually pretty rare in that three of the blurbers weren't people we'd ever met, and only two were friends.) Blurbs don't exist to offer objective information to potential buyers, they exist to sell books. Reviews don't exist to offer objective assessments but subjective opinions -- and it's up to the reader to evaluate the reviewer's credibility and taste. (When I put my name on a 5-star review, I'm pretty sure most people can safely assume I'm biased and factor that in.) And a whole lot of blogs, including mine, don't exist solely to provide objective information to the public, but to do whatever the heck the blog-owner wants them to do. I'm pretty transparent about what I'm doing with Shapely Prose -- so it's one thing if you don't approve, but quite another to suggest I'm being disingenuous. I'm a fervent believer in body acceptance and Health at Every Size. I run a blog where diet talk is not permitted and fools are not suffered. I co-wrote a book that I sincerely hope will help readers learn to like their bodies more, no matter what size they are. And boy howdy, I want to sell as many copies of that book as possible. All of these things have been out in the open for quite some time. You want to say I've created an echo chamber, or I'm promoting dangerous ideas, hey, go nuts. (I may or may not bother arguing with you.) But if your primary argument is that I'm not sufficiently objective in arenas where objectivity is neither required nor expected by reasonable people? You might want to rethink it. Oh, and you know what? I will totally give you one point Susan: This post really is especially advertorial, even for an unapologetic self-promoter. Part of that's due to everything explained above, and part of it's due to this being my introductory post here; introducing myself often involves mentioning my blog, the book, and Fat 101 stuff I've written about a million times. (Also, I don't know if you noticed, but this blog belongs to a bookseller -- turns out my hosts have a vested interest in promoting book sales, too.) But I will grant that this post was seriously heavy on the self-links, to an arguably gauche extent. For the record, my second post, which speaks only of books I didn't write, just went up. Susan, first of all, i posted the SAME thing in my remark to you about Kate's quote on "trolly" comments, so I don't really know what you want me to say about it. you YOURSELF said "Actually, Kate usually describes people who disagree with her at Shapely Prose as "douchehounds" rather than trolls. " Kate never said to delete douchey comments, only trolls! And you yourself just said people who disagree are douches. So.. you just disproved your own point. Why are you here again? Against authors wanting their books to have fair reviews? Kate, my point about subjectivity vs. objectivety was related to the expectation that book reviews are from a normal distribution of society. Self promoting positive reviews from your blog readership distorts this assumption. I agree that reviews are inherently subjective. My point was that the sampling was not random, it was overwhelmed by your blog readers, which them distorts the overall impression people expect to see. When I read reviews, I'm assuming a standard distribution - not a distorted view based on a dedicated campaign to promote. From this perspective, I think your self promotion was somewhat unethical. Just my opinion. You might want to brush up on your data analysis skills if you think that online polling ever appropriately matches anything near a standard distribution. It's not quite the scientific method you were hoping it to be. I'd like to make three points. 1) On Kate's blog on 6 May she wrote: "Powell’s is especially trolly right now, and I’ve already corresponded with a director there, who said (totally reasonably) that deleting even the worst ones would probably draw more negative attention and cause more trouble than it’s worth." Note the reference to "worst ones" (plural). Yet Kate has just posted that she contacted Powell's about deleting "one, and only one" review. So Kate, did you ask this site to delete one negative review or more? 2) Kate is defending her five-star review of her own book because - hey! - she thinks it's a good book! I'm sure she is her own biggest fan, but perhaps she hasn't noticed that this site offers an option to provide a non-star review, which I think is a better option for an author to respond to comments or criticism. 3) I agree with SNd's point about the "distorted view based on a dedicated campaign to promote" this book. As I mentioned above, I think if the arguments in LFTF had any real merit, they would stand up to criticism, and there would be no need for Kate's disciples to swoop down on her critics, as they are doing here. The level of defensiveness displayed here makes me think that Fat Acceptance promoters aren't very confident about their belief system. Regarding book reviews: As someone who writes professional book reviews, I wish to heaven that we could come up with a different noun for the knee-jerk blurb-y snippets that pass for "reviews" on bookstore websites. The only similarity they bear to a real book review is that they have something to do with a book. SNd was right -- a REAL book review must be thorough, fair minded, and professional. Needless to say, this is not true of the "reviews" featured on bookstore websites. To conflate the two types of "review" is deeply, DEEPLY mistaken. Their intent and their thoroughness (and frequently the quality of writing) are light-years apart. Each has their value, of course, but they are very different things. I fear that careful, professional reviews will soon be seen as merely wordier, high-brow versions of the bookstore blurbs if people continue to conflate them. Please don't tar them with the same brush. I work hard on my professional writing, and I don't want to see its value denigrated. I'd imagine most first-time authors get the majority of their first big push from friends, family and social networks, meaning people who generally think at least somewhat the same. Personally if I ever publish I expect my first dozen or so reviews to come from the friends and family I've shoved copies at. When an author emerges from a grassroots movement you have to expect the people who are most excited about the subject to be the first to review, which starts the chatter necessary to move the book into mainstream markets. But these really are real people reviewing the book. It would only be unethical if the author posted reviews under multiple pseudonyms to make it look like people were reading it. In this case, people are reading it, loving it, and reviewing it. If that's a problem for you, then give copies to your friends to read and review. Maybe you'll be surprised. As a book reviewer -- that's right, I get paid to do it -- I have to say, SNd, that if you believe book reviews usually are NOT "based on a dedicated campaign to promote," I've got a nice bridge you might want to buy. Publishers send me advance copies of their books to read specifically because it is part of a dedicated campaign to promote the book. They are not trying to help me be well-read, hoping to gift the world with new insight, or trying to spark objective discussion, even though those things may happen. They are trying to sell books by promoting them with a dedicated campaign. American obesity has skyrocketed in the last 20 years. Visit Europe and notice the obvious difference in size. Is this due to genetics? Sorry, genetics don't change in 200 years. You know one really cool thing about being a scientist is when you get to witness how false some facts that "everybody knows" can be when you try to find evidence of such assertions. You just dropped three of my faves! For example, for you to be able to say that obesity has skyrocketed in the 20 years, we would need a constant, consistent measure of obesity, and that hasn't existed. Your observations of supposedly thin Europe? Visit just one or two countries, most likely major cities, throw in some classic confirmation bias and I could see why you think that. Alternatively, there are many societal-level differences between the U.S. and Europe that could explain varying rates, like longer vacations and better healthcare, and only a small fraction have to do with individual personal choices. And third, your statement of genetics is absolutely wrong. The most reliable genetic study I have seen demonstrate fat as being around 77% heritable. That, if you haven't studied evolutionary genetics is a really high rate of heredity to get by looking at inheritance of traits in populations. In addition genes CAN change with every generation. Not every change results in a new phenotype, but genes can also be turned on and off with environmental cues that have nothing to do with personal choices, aka epigenetics and phenotypic plasticity. For example: There is a whole bunch more info I could throw up here, but what is the point? Is all the info out there in favor of one thing or another? No, I would say the data isn't conclusive. But I think Kate and Mariannes's book do a good job of touching on some of the issues with messages we get about fat, it's supposed causes and how we define health. I mean really, after seeing this thread I totally understand why Kate has created the comment policy that she has over at Shapely Prose. Trust me, anyone who doesn't live in a cave has heard the drone of how supposedly fat is a moral failing and the "obesity epidemic" is going to kill us all. That Kate and readers of her blog would want to not rehash the same tired, biased arguments is a good thing. Yeah, SNd, I think that assumption that you'll get anything close to a representative sampling of the population in a forum for voluntary reviews is really misguided. For starters, the kind of people who are motivated to do a review will usually be either those who love it or hate it -- there might be thousands of people out there who thought the book was pretty OK, or not awful but not that great, but they don't care enough to bother commenting. And just as I can say, "Hey, readers, if you're so inclined, drop by the Powell's site," someone who has an axe to grind regarding me or Marianne or fat acceptance can just as easily steer a bunch of hostile reviewers over here. As I said in comments on the book page, we devote a whole chapter to encouraging people to think critically about what they read. I think if you give the nature of this forum a bit of serious thought, you'll realize that your expectation was unrealistic. So Kate, did you ask this site to delete one negative review or more? One. The response from the Powell's director spoke more generally about negative comments, hence the plural. OMG, how did this descend into bickering about what is and is not a real book review? I respect that there is a big difference between a professional review and a personal reaction posted on a bookseller's website. However, the fact that this comment thread keeps getting bogged down in arguments over definitions (e.g., "what's trolling vs douchehounding?" "what's a real review?" "what's unacceptable bias vs understandably positive reaction from a fan?") is convincing me that people are coming here to throw anything negative they can at this book in the hope of drowning out its actual content and message. To Seriously, Are you denying that obesity has not increased in 20 years? If so, you are truly showing your colors. You don't need a scientific constant measure to prove something obvious. This is pure denail. I agree with Standish. I lived 30 km outside Brussels for 10 years, and traveled EU cities and countryside. There is a tremendous difference in obesity versus North America. Portion sizes are a fraction of here, people use bicycles for transportation, less fast food, more activity. I support the Fat Acceptance effort relative to improving self esteem and eliminating discrimination, however the radical denial of some the arguements challenges this support. Jo Ann - I have been remiss in not responding to your comment about Kate making a living from being fat. You said "I wonder, if you made your living as, say, a financial advisor, would she feel the need to denigrate your making a living off finance?" I'm sure you're aware that in the fall-out from the global financial crisis, financial advisors don't have a great reputation right now, but whatever... Financial advisors in my country need university qualifications, licensing from the national regulator, and, if they want to be competitive, professional accreditation which entails ongoing professional development. You don't need any qualifications or certification to make your living by being fat. Hey SNd, I hear "pure denail" gets you high, like pure oxygen. That's what I heard. But it's zero calories so you might like it. Otto Vox - they're clearly huffing a lot of it out there in the Fat-o-Sphere. For the record, Susan, I actually make my living as a writer. Which is, in fact, a discipline that doesn't demand any particular training or certification (though I happen to have the terminal degree in the field), so you've got me there. But again, I'm thinking the problem here is expectations that have no reasonable basis. Since I don't present myself as a medical professional, a nutritionist, or anything but a writer who's read widely on the subject of fat -- and a fat person with a lot of opinions and observations based on my lived experience -- it follows that I don't actually need any of those qualifications to co-write a book that incorporates my research, opinions, and observations. It also follows that people should not look to this book for medical advice (beyond that to find a doctor who listens to you and treats you with respect), nutritional advice (beyond that to listen to your body, aim for balance, and seek professional help if you think you might have eating problems that go beyond the scope of a self-help book), or psychotherapy. Or, for that matter, pet care tips, knitting patterns, or bike repair instructions, which the book similarly does not offer. I have complete faith that the average reader is smart enough to distinguish between an M.D. and an M.F.A. Count me among those who can't believe we're still having this conversation. Yeah, Kate, "are you denying that obesity has not increased in the last 20 years?" Um, if one knows anything about double negatives,the answer to that would actually be YES. Which goes to show that apparently being a professional writer does take some skill. Kate- Your writing is a lifesaver - and an eye opener. I'm buying the book as soon as my next pay check gets in. Your post about Devouring the World is so spot on. actually SNd... as much as i hate the fact that bmi gets used as an indicator of health, it is the indicator currently used to determine if a person is obese. and has been for quite some time. of course the government did lower the bmi cut off point for obesity by two points in the late 90s. and wouldn't you know it? suddenly the number of obese people skyrocketd overnight. like magic. so yes, i'd say a scientifically constant measument of who is and who is not obese IS pretty much needed in order to determine if your statement is in fact true. and here's a fun little fact about statistics... misinterpreting them is the easiest thing in the world. the news is full of statements like "this food will make your risk of disease X drop by 30%" of course the number are more like 6.5% down to 6.3% and not considered statistically different. but hey, whatever helps you sleep at night. I was somewhat interested in buying this book, being a fat lady medically proven to be healthier than her slender husband (much to the Dr.'s chagrin). I'm really, really tired of the pejorative view directed at me when he's got the invisible minefield going on, so I thought this book might be a nice change of pace. The measured and well-written responses to what are freakishly pedantic commenters (don't these people have gyms to get to?) have pushed me over the edge. I'll be purchasing 2 copies, thank you for lighting a fire under me. I look forward to reading a thoughtful treatise on my predicament. Firefey, are you suggesting over the last 20 years that obesity has not increased? If so, you are absolutely in denial, and somewhat blind. Like i said earlier, this claim tells us more about your position than delivers a credible denial to this absurdity. Much kudos to Kate Harding for making more and more people believe in "fat" as being normal and ok. Unknowingly it was already happening for some time hence our nations kids and adults getting fatter by the year . Just Kate was intelligent enough to publish books and capitalize off it. What was a person before they were obese? Fat or overweight whatever you want to call it but being fat was the level under that. To make people comfortable with being "fat" is like throwing more gas to the fire of a widespread epidemic many face daily. Fat is fine for a bear or other animal going into long hibernation, but not for the average sedentary human being. kmbr - Good for you for being healthier than your slender husband what with his "invisible minefield" and all! And as soon as Kate's book arrives, you'll have the "data" and "evidence" to wave in his face. Kate and Marianne wrote "Lessons" just for people like you! Firefey - the BMI is a straw man. The FA movement likes to rant about the Government lowering the BMI cut-off point for obesity, but that didn't affect the growing number of people at the upper end of the scale. Good God, Susan, get a hobby or something. I can't believe how many posts you've made reciting the same boring things over and over and OVER. Okay, we GET IT. We read your posts, we get your posts, we understand your point of view. Posting another 10,000 times isn't likely to change anyone's opinion and really, don't you have anything else you could be doing? I'm still waiting for SNd or Susan to present actual evidence. Stating an opinion is not evidence. Marianne and Kate present several scientific studies, CDC findings, etc. to back up their statements in the book and on their blogs. You can find many more on blogs specifically geared towards analyzing scientific research, like Junkfood Science. If you want to counter their evidence with your own credible sources without conflict of interest (i.e. a study from a company selling a weight loss drug is not evidence; it is advertising), then it could be called a discussion. Otherwise you're wasting everyone's time, including your own. Spouting rhetoric isn't going to convince anyone, nor is name calling. Holding on to the moral panic of the last twenty years concerning weight isn't a whole lot different than those who held on so firmly to the flat-earth theory once upon a time. Science changes, and while it may be uncomfortable for those who have built their personal paradigm around ideas that are becoming scientifically obsolete, all things do change. I see JoGeek read the book and is spouting the same few tired arguements (weight loss drug capitalism distorting the facts). Reading tired answers from the same playbook. Yawn. For a trend so obvious, no support required. Pretty soon you're going to tell us Obesity isn't related to health, based on the 'scientific' evidence from the author (or a sample of one from kmbr). Rubbish. Tell me how a 300lb woman's knees and joints are going to feel at 60. Is your body really designed to bear such wieght? Have your genes magically mutated to support this? I guess JoGeek's knowledge that the beliefs of the anti-obesity camp are "becoming scientifically obsolete" was a great comfort when she decided to take up horse-riding and had to advertise on Craig's List for someone who keeps draft horses, because an ordinary horse wouldn't support her weight. I didn't make this up - see her blog "Unapologetically Fat" - March 3, 2008. What Kate says about comments on her blog and what she does are two different things. While it's understandable that a fat acceptance blog wouldn't permit anit-fat acceptance posters, Kate's zero-tolerance policy on dissent extends to all subjects. For examples, read the comments section for her post on the arrest of Henry Louis Gates. Three people expressed disagreement with her. All three were polite and reasonable. One was banned, one was threatened with being banned (she subsequently apologized), and one was told she was only being allowed to stay because she's been a valuable contributor in the past (which I guess means she usually drinks Kate's Kool-Aid). Kate's fans were all happy to pile on the intruders who dared to disagree, resulting in a junior high school "mean girls" atmosphere. It's Kate's blog, so she has a right to ban whom she wants. What I object to is the lie - that she's OK with disagreement as long as people are polite. This is simply not the case. That said, Lessons from the Fat-O-Sphere is a good book. If you want to read it but don't want to put money in Kate's pocket, you can get it from your library. As a successful dieter who has been labelled a douchehound and banned from Shapely Prose for daring to point out that I resent the "freak of nature" tag for maintaining a substantial weight loss for well over five years, I thank you for your comment, Maggie. Kate and her co-bloggers are bullies on their own turf, so it's hypocritical of her to state here that she is OK with disagreement. As for "Lessons from the Fat-O-Sphere", my public library is very short on funds - I hardly think they would buy a book which is written for such a small niche. Hey there, Susan. There are lots of fat models who make a living being fat. I'm not sure if it's hard work or not -- I bet it's harder than I think it is -- but I am sure they're pretty excited about it. I hope you get to make a living doing something you love while being yourself, too. Susan: Why would you or anyone else expect free access to another person's blog? Your constitutionally protected right of free expression does NOT extend to controlling the reaction to your speech by a private entity whose activities you have disrupted. You are free to TRY to express yourself in a private space, but if your speech violates the explicitly stated purpose or policy of that space, you CAN'T be surprised when it results in your removal. Now, there is one exception. If your removal was due to your being a member of a class that is federally protected against discrimination, you MIGHT have grounds to sue... But, I hate to break it to you, being angry because you are prohibited from expressing yourself in a private space but still WANT to voice your opinions there does NOT itself make you a member of a protected class. Another person's blog is a privately-run space therefore NO BLOG ANYWHERE OWES YOU A PODIUM. If you want to rant and rave, go out in the public street and try your luck. No really, GO, and I'll even give you a free soapbox to stand on. Your speech is constitutionally protected out THERE. Good luck with your monomania and persecution complex. I hope you get the help you need. Name *
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Cooperative Housing life is much like Greek life, requiring recruitment and offering great social networking experiences. Recruitment occurs in January, but members are inducted year-round, depending on space. Contact the Student Activities and Organizations Office (Schleman Hall, room 250) for more information at (765) 494-1231 or [email protected]. Information about cooperative housing is also available at. What if I don’t get along with my roommate? The best thing to do is to prevent roommate problems before they begin and to keep the lines of communication open throughout the “getting to know you” process. Early in the fall, establish ground rules that both you and your roommate can agree upon. Some roommates even draw up written and signed contracts! If problems do arise, talk to your floor’s resident assistant (RA) immediately. If no solutions can be found, keep in mind that changing rooms is difficult early in the semester, but is often possible between semesters. 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Purdue’s large size equals huge diversity in activities, clubs, and organizations – about 880 in all. Organizations usually revolve around an activity (like ballroom dancing), a major (like the Pre-Vet Club). Groups focusing on culture and religion abound, too. Furthermore, if we don’t have a club for your favorite activity, you, a friend, and a faculty advisor can start your own! Many clubs hold call-outs or informational meetings early in the fall. These are announced in your Mortar Board, the Exponent, on the Get Involved at Purdue online flyer board, on posters around campus, and on table notices in the residence hall dining rooms. How can I become involved in student government? Purdue Student Government (PSG) welcomes new student involvement. Visit their offices in Stewart Center (STEW), Room G-6 or contact them via their web site at. PSG frequently runs announcements in the Exponent about opportunities for involvement. You could also serve in student government within the residence hall or your college or school. What do students do on the weekend? We definitely encourage students to stay on-campus for most weekends in their first semester to help them feel more established at Purdue. A variety of plays, intercollegiate athletics, lectures, concerts, intramural contests, and other University-sponsored events are always available. Clubs, organizations, and residence halls also arrange weekend activities. Students can visit many parks, museums, and other attractions locally. Indianapolis and Chicago are within 2 hours driving distance, as well. Purdue’s 39,000-plus students even budget some weekend time for studying! What religious activities are offered at Purdue? Student religious foundations and organizations, in cooperation with the churches and synagogues of the Greater Lafayette area, offer creative and varied spiritual ministry and welcome your participation. Consult the Get Involved at Purdue site for specific information and watch the Exponent for activity notices. There is also a listing of religious organizations in the front of the Purdue University Telephone Directory. How can I become involved in recreational sports? Sign up for your housing unit’s athletic program. Off-campus students also have teams. You can sign up at the Recreational Sports Center, which coordinates a large intramural program. Non-competitive and individual activities also are available at the RSC. Group exercise classes abound. Visit their website at. If you are interested in varsity sports, contact the appropriate coach at Mackey Arena. How can I purchase athletic tickets? Information about purchasing football tickets will be mailed to you during the summer and about basketball tickets early in the fall. There is a charge for student tickets for all athletic events. If you have questions, or if your parents want to purchase tickets, contact the Athletic Ticket Office at (765) 494-3194 or toll free at (800) 497-7678. You can also visit their website at. The VIP “All Sport” Card, which gives card holders access to all regular-season home games in all sports, is available in limited quantity at various points throughout the semester, and sells out fast! How can I buy Purdue Musical Organizations (PMO) Christmas Show tickets? The ticket form for the PMO Christmas Show will be available on August 1, 2010. Tickets can be purchased starting in mid-October through Ticketmaster, by visiting the box offices within Elliott Hall, Pao Hall, or Stewart Center, or by calling the Purdue Box Office at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. Student deals are also available after Thanksgiving. Click on the FAQ link for more information:. Is public transportation available? 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We recommend that students and parents sit down during the summer and draw up a budget. Some suggested budget items include: textbooks, special items needed for classes, food, movies, clothes, laundry, grocery items, room decoration, concerts, and transportation home. In terms of the *big* bill (your tuition, fees, and housing), check for this on myPurdue under the “Financial” tab. All information will be available through the Bursar’s e-Bill service. Students will need to indicate their parents as an “Authorized User” through the e-Bill service in order for the parent to be sent an e-mailed copy of the tuition bill. When possible, your financial aid award will be credited against your Purdue bills. If aid funds remain after your account is paid, the bursar’s office will issue a check. You should plan to pay your initial expenses (books, off-campus rent, etc.) from other resources and be reimbursed when your aid check becomes available. If you have questions, call the Division of Financial Aid at (765) 494-5050 or by e-mail at. Their office is in Schleman Hall (SCHL), room 305. Many students find checking accounts (and the debit cards) convenient. Local merchants usually will accept your check from an out-of-town bank or credit union if you have a Purdue ID card. There is a PEFCU (Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union) located in the Purdue Memorial Union (PMU), room 163. In addition, several automatic teller machines are located in the Purdue Memorial Union and in the residence halls. The Union has a check cashing service located at the Cashier’s Office on the first floor. This office will cash checks for a maximum of $50 per day for a $1 transaction fee with a Purdue ID card. The residence halls employ many students. Ask for an application at your hall’s main office. Check the ads in the Exponent and the Lafayette Journal and Courier. Watch the bulletin boards in your academic area or an area in which you’d like to work. Often departments have jobs posted in their offices. Both Work-Study and non-Work-Study student job postings are available through the Division of Financial Aid’s Student Employment Service:. The Office of the Dean of Students, in Schleman Hall (SCHL), room 207 offers small loans for 30 days with no interest. Contact (765) 494-1747 or visit their web site for more information. What if I need medical attention? The Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) is a fully-accredited, primary-care outpatient facility. Services are available by appointment or walk-in. The center offers a variety of services including medical, urgent care, diagnostic X-ray and laboratory, physical therapy, counseling and psychological services, and alcohol and other drug counseling. Most services are covered by your University fees. Others, such as laboratory tests, X-rays, and physical therapy, are provided on a fee-for-service basis. The University recommends that every student be covered by health insurance, either through their parents or by purchasing Purdue-sponsored insurance. The Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) offers many services, including an Allergy & Immunization Clinic. Contact PUSH at (765) 494-6504 as soon as possible to work out the details for this or any other routine services you need. You might ask another student in the class for notes and assignments, but you need to contact the professor if you will miss a test. If you miss a class for an extended period, contact your residence hall counselor so your instructor can be notified. For extended absences (more than five days), contact the Office of the Dean of Students at (765) 494-1747. The Safe Walk Program is a service of the Purdue Student Security Patrol (PSSP), which provides an escort to and from university residences, the academic campus and the Chauncey Village area. The PSSP is staffed by students who are selected and trained by the Purdue Police Department. This free service is provided all year, 24 hours a day, and seven days a week. Contact the Safe Walk Program at (765) 494-SAFE (7233). Revised 5/28/10 Created by the USP Staff
Transcript Ron Paul: Thank you very much. It’s so nice to see you, I thought you would be all worn out from the campaign, but it’s great to see you here. The campaign continues, the campaigning for liberty will last a long time. Somebody that campaigns with me, and has for a long time, is my wife, Carol, sitting over here. But it is a delight to see an enthusiastic crowd, I’m delighted you’re here tonight, and this week, and are being involved in the Campaign for Liberty. Because, in many ways, that’s what all of us are doing and what I’ve done for a few years. And since we started this organization 4 or 5 years ago, I got to name it, and I thought, “Well, why don’t we call it something that I’ve been doing: ‘Campaign for Liberty’, that’s what we’ll call it, that is it. So that type of campaign goes on for a long time until we win, and since the world is imperfect, we’ll never have perfect liberty. But if we don’t campaign for liberty, the other side is going to keep campaigning for stateism and big government, and they are our enemy and we must stop them. Probably the best success we’ve had with the Campaign for Liberty has been the grassroots effort the Campaign for Liberty has done on making sure that we got the bill to audit the Federal Reserve System at least passed in the House of Representatives. But not only about getting the legislation passed in House, and who knows, we might still get the rest of it done in the Senate, but we don’t know. But the more important thing is calling attention to the American people to the issue of monetary policy. They’re never going to put that back in the bottle, let me tell you. The people now know the importance of the monetary policy and the Federal Reserve, thank you for all your hard work and effort on that. Ron Paul: Really, liberty is the issue, because if you understand liberty, you can apply it to everything, whether it’s civil liberty, foreign policy, monetary policy, or economic policy, it’s all very much the same. But, in order to understand how the system works, you have to understand the monetary system, because big government can’t exist without a Federal Reserve, it just wouldn’t happen. Because Congress would have to pay their bills, and with the Federal Reserve, they’re able to deceive the people, pretend that they’re not being harmful and delay their payment, and that’s what this is all about. Now, Bernanke, this weekend as usual – and as all the Federal Reserve Chairmen that I have met always say when they get into trouble and they can’t seem to get out – said, “Well, Congress has to do more”. Of course, they shouldn’t do more, they should do a lot less, that’s what they need to do. But it isn’t the Fed against the Congress, or the Congress against the Fed. The Congress created the Fed, and you know what, they can get rid of the Fed if they want to, and they should. But if there are special interest groups, as there certainly are in this country, that support the warmongering going on and the military-industrial complex, and if they had to tax the American people to pay all the bills for all the wars, just think in the last ten years, the national debt went up over 4 trillion dollars just for the wars that we have been fighting in the Middle East. And just look at the disaster in the Middle East today, 11 country embassies being demonstrated against with violence against Americans because, for some reason, they don’t like us dropping drone missiles on their countries. But this expenditure couldn’t happen, and wars couldn’t be fought if we had honest money, because the people would have to be that taxed and they would rebel and say it’s a bad investment. But it is so deceitful, and they can delay the inevitable for a long time, but that long time is coming to an end, and that’s why our work is so important right now. We have to keep plugging ahead. The same is true about domestic welfare spending, if we paid all the bills, the people would rebel and everybody would know how much it’s costing. But if you can run up the deficits, there is an absolute agreement that the Fed is going to monetize it, they’re going to buy the debt. If not, what happens, interest rates go up. Well, they can borrow for a while, but there’re not enough lenders out there, so interest rates would be higher, and this would be hard for the economy. But then all the pressure would be on the people and the Congress to cut the spending and let the people spend the money, not the government. If you look at our history, up until 1913, it was far from perfect, but the size of government didn’t have steady growth. And it was the inevitably bad year or 1913 that changed our history so dramatically: bringing in the Federal Reserve, changing the foreign policy that said that we’re going to make the world safe for democracy. They said we’ll have to fight one more war to end all wars, and you know how well that has worked out, and created and income tax. And just think of the last past 100 years. But as I have tried to say so many times and I certainly tried to point it out in Tampa, it’s all coming to an end and we should be grateful that it’s coming to an end. So the question isn’t so much about will the Keynesian, socialism, welfareism and interventionism end, it’s how it’s going to end and how many people are going to be prepared, how many of us will be out there, how many will then argue the case for sound money and personal liberty and economic liberty and a sensible foreign policy? That is what we have to have out there. Now, as I suggested in the campaign, there is no reason why we can’t have a transition. We can move from one to another, we can turn down the spigots of spending and bring our troops home and just cut back on spending and just work our way out of this. The odds aren’t very good that that’s going to happen, just this week there were efforts for a continuing resolution for 6 more months, and one thing is for sure, the party that’s in charge of the House of Representatives made sure that the military budget went up 26% on the continuing resolution. See, this is the reason why I am unconvinced that we are going to keep doing the same thing over and over again. When are we going to see that the Fed is all of a sudden going to be a good manager? We saw what the Fed did this week, I mean, they’ve been trying for 5 years to bail out a system that collapsed because they spent too much, borrowed too much, printed too much. So what did they announce this week? They announced, “Well, what we need to do is we really need to print money, and we’ve tried QE1 and QE2, now we’re going to have perpetual QE. And now we’re going to give 40 billion new dollars every month”, which is nearly half a trillion dollars every year. And if necessary, they’ll increase it, they’ll guarantee low interest rates for another three years, and then they wonder why people don’t get their confidence restored and people get confused on what to do. Well, there’s one reason why they get confused, and that is the most important thing for individuals to make decisions on business and investments, and it’s the issue of interest rates. Because, in a market economy, if the people save money, they drive the interest rates down. And the business man says, “Oh, interest rates used to be 4%, they’re now at 2%, this is the time I should invest and rebuild”. So what happens if nobody saves any money and interest rates are 0%? Then you get real mal-investment, the money is printed, passed out to the banks for free, and they can put it back into reserves and get interest paid from the Federal Reserve. Or the banks themselves, or the Federal Reserve, buys debt, and there’s no incentive to go out and invest in a risky economy because the more the Congress interferes by passing more laws and not knowing what the tax code will be, passing socialized medical programs and on and on, people don’t have their confidence restored. So this is the reason that we are going to go on like this, we do not know when it will end. It could end soon, it could end in a year or 2 or 3 years, who knows. But I believe we’re getting awfully close to this. Then, this is where our efforts have to pay off, because the campaign for liberty is actually trying to get more people to not only understand it, but at least not be hostile to freedom, because our answers can be found in freedom. Because, in so many other countries, when they have faced these crisis, they end up with dictators. And we have more dictatorial and authoritarian government than ever before. And now not only do they tell you what to smoke and drink and eat, but they’re telling you how big your coca-cola can be, how big a glass of coca-cola you can have. And it’s pretty absurd when you can’t drink raw milk and you can’t make rope out of hemp and if you have a serious medical condition that can be helped with marijuana, you get put in prison with your wheelchair and all. There’s something seriously wrong, I would say they don’t understand what liberty is all about. But obviously you do, and that’s good and that’s the good news, and there are a lot more like you out there than you ever realize, a lot more than I ever dreamed of. Because I have often made the comment that I did do a little bit of speaking, I used to practice a lot of speaking because I would go to college campuses. I used to be able to get 30 or 40 people out in one group on a college campus, but now a few more come. Now, in the old days if you were running as a conservative Republican, you’d go to a conservative campus and you’d get a nice crowd on you and you’d get all the plusses and you’d say, “Hey, this is great”. But, if you went to Berkeley and you ended up getting a big crowd there, or even the University of Texas, you would say, “Hey, you’re in Austin, you better be careful”. But now, with the freedom movement, you can go to a conservative campus and get a large crowd out, and you can go to Berkeley and get a bigger crowd out. So, that makes my point: freedom brings people together, people who believe in freedom for different reasons should all come together. We should eliminate this whole concern about diversity, whether you want to spend your money or save your money, or waste your money, in free society, you can do it. But if you waste your money, don’t go to your neighbor and say, “You have to bail me out and you have to pay more taxes”, that’s what you can’t do. But it truly does bring people together, and that’s why I think it’s so magnificent about it. Not only on the money issue, we understand it on the religious issue. Americans are pretty good, except when they get angry at certain groups and they have to bash them and say, “They’re the cause of the war” and this kind of stuff. But, in religion, we have so many different religious beliefs and we have people. Guess what, in a free society, you’re even allowed to be an atheist, we don’t put you in prison for that. But it isn’t the point I want you to believe, it is the point that you’re allowed to believe. And the other important thing is that when you legalize freedom, whether it’s personal habits or economic habits, you don’t endorse what the people do, and that’s a big difference. A lot of people will come up to me and say, “Ron, I agree with you, this drug war is horrible, but I can’t endorse people doing those things to their bodies, we have to protect them from themselves”. And I would think, yea, politicians and bureaucrats know more about protecting you against yourself than they do themselves. That doesn’t work. This whole notion that we have to depend on the government to tell us what our habits should be … but if we allow people to make these decisions, in economics it’s easy, and socially and religiously, the First Amendment, it’s a philosophy of tolerance. But tolerance is not endorsement. If you get to keep all your own money, and you gamble it away and lose it, that doesn’t mean I endorse gambling. But, like I said, though, if you have a lifestyle that punishes yourself and you suffer from it, you cannot use force to be taken care of by other people, you have to suffer the consequences. Not only should you suffer the consequences, you should also reap the benefits. What if you were frugal and you saved and you invested? You should be able to keep the fruits of your labor, and that’s why the income tax is morally wrong, you shouldn’t have an income tax. But in any society with the government that we have now and have been putting up with for so long is, instead of being the protector of private property, they destroy the concept of private property. Instead of protecting and enforcing contracts, they interfere with the contracts and put force on us and manipulate things. So they’re working perversely. You know, the constitution as well as the Coinage of 1792 says, “Don’t counterfeit”, it’s a serious offense. But what do we have, we have the Federal Reserve as the chief counterfeiter of the world. And then we have the Fed manipulating money and credit, we have people who still would like to take care of themselves: work hard, save some money, put it in the bank, earn some interest, maybe 0.5% or 1%. And Bernanke was on the air today recognizing this because he’s done it to me in the committee when I bring it up and I say, “Alright, somebody wants to save their money and they don’t want to take risks in the stock market and they want to earn a little interest and they don’t earn enough”. And he says, “Yes, but the health of the economy is more important than marking sure that everybody is taken care of. Some people will suffer”. So if you’re elderly or of a fixed income or you want to save and you can’t earn any interest – and the market rate of interest would be 5% or 6%, but that’s beside the point because ‘we have to help the economy’. Usually, the world ‘economy’ means banks and big corporations and politicians and governments and foreign interventions, that’s what it is, that’s why we have to attack this whole system. But the really good news is that a lot of people are hearing this message. You have helped to spread it, the internet spreads it, you have had numerous speakers here. You know, I was kidding the other day, but it is true that it used to be that voting by myself used to be a neat little event, at least I’d wave a flag and say, “Look here, you guys”. But now I have these guys like Justin Amash and other people that are voting with me and I can hardly be by myself at all. And there are going to be some new people. It won’t be fast enough, we have to keep doing it, but setting a standard and setting a record is very, very good because people are watching and they will be encouraged. And this is why, no matter, we must get the good people in Congress, and they have to be perseverant and stick to their guns, we have to keep working with the Campaign for Liberty, we have to change people’s minds. Ideas do have consequences, bad ideas have bad consequences. So these things are powerful, powerful weapons that we have, and we have truth on our side, which makes a big difference. If freedom is the answer, and authoritarianism is something that has been around for thousands of years and has always failed and undermined personal liberty, then maybe we do have truth on our side. We just have to energize people, we have to get their confidence back. This is what has happened to the American people, they’ve lost confidence in true freedom. They say, “Freedom is good, that’s a good thing, but you have to give up some of it to be safe. How can you have a safety net and how can you be protected against the terrorist if we didn’t have TSA?” I think that’s a little bit confused thinking and I think more Americans are beginning to understand this. But private property would solve all those problems at the airport. The people who are supposed to provide the security are the airlines, not bureaucrats that belong to labor unions and everything else. We’ve not only given up on the idea of private property and contracts and sound money, but we’ve also been careless on allowing certain small groups of people talk to the American people into believing that if you don’t support the wars and you don’t support the troops, then and you’re un-American and you’re not patriotic. Guess what, the people in active military duty have spoken, they have been very vocal, and guess what? They support the cause of liberty and they supported our campaign and they said these wars are unnecessary and not beneficial. And, of course, that’s a very good reason to just bring them home, and we could. I can’t understand the inability of us to convince more, because, to me, it seems so logical. If you’re out of money and the wars aren’t any good and they’re not constitutional; we’ve spent 4 trillion dollars we didn’t have, and we would have more peace and prosperity by having a foreign policy where we defend our country properly and constitutionally with the permission of the people through the Congress, instead of allowing the President and the United Nations and NATO to decide it. Why shouldn’t this be welcomed with open arms and say, “It’s time to bring them home”. So, the rule of law has been taken carelessly, we don’t really follow it, not many in the Congress really care about the constitution. They take the oath of office, but the worst part about it isn’t that they don’t follow the constitution, which is horrible, but they believe they’re following it. They’ve been rationalized by our education system that said, “It was never meant to be overly rigid, it has to be adaptable, we have to adapt it to modern times”. Even today, I was on an interview and we were talking about the economy and I said the economy was pretty good without a central bank back in the 19th century. And they said, “I don’t want to talk about that, that’s old fashioned, we don’t even want to go back to that”. But we do have to recognize that markets work and foreign policy works and going backwards is not the problem. What we want to do is pick up the pieces. We had a good system, we knew what we had. We have to quit doing the dumb things, because it’s so easy to figure out that we have to live within our means as individuals, and governments should have to do it and the politicians should be held responsible. But the big question is the question that always has to be asked, and for which you have to get the right answer, and that is, “What should the role of the government be?” And governments have been around for a long, long time, and governments always overstep. But, if the government would be what the constitution says it should be, it should be very limited to the protection of liberty. If you want more government, it should be local and not at the federal level, and certainly it shouldn’t be international, it shouldn’t be United Nations. But it’s been rationalized by the members of Congress and by the people, I certainly heard it and it really hurt to hear people so often say right after 9/11, “Well, it looks like we have to sacrifice our freedoms now to be safe”. The truth is, if you take an oath of office and you take an oath to be a president, you don’t swear an oath, “I’m going to keep the American people safe from here on out”. Matter of fact, if you say that, that means, “I am going to keep you safe and you’ll have no more liberty”, because that’s the only way you can be perfectly safe. So, no, you want to obey the law and you want to protect life and liberty and property and a judicial system and not much else. But we had given up on this a hundred years ago. But the magnificent story now is that, and it has been much more than I ever expected in these last 4, 5 years, there has been a tremendous surge in the interest of this. Just think that a whole new generation of young people right now are joining us. I mean, a lot of us have been fighting this for a long time and we’ve always been outnumbered. But if we can keep this energy going with the younger generation … and I’m not talking about the college graduates, I’m talking about the college student and the high school student, they know and understand this stuff. I get pretty impressed about high school students, one of them told me, “I’ve been reading about Mises and Rothbard”, and I hadn’t even heard those names until I got out of college”. But the people I meet from the younger generation are way ahead of anybody I ever met when I was in high school and college. But the needs are much greater, there was a lot of wealth left, there was a lot of momentum, and we’ve been consuming it for several decades now. There is no real wealth in this country, what you see as wealth, most of it is debt. The dollar functioned, but the dollar is debt, so it doesn’t have a real value. But, the trust in the dollar is still there, so there is always a subjective element on value, there’s still a thought around the world: “Well, the Americans have all the weapons and they have a lot of wealth, so we’re going to take their dollars” and that sort of thing. But, it could come to an end. Matter of fact, in the last 4 days since Bernanke announced this continuous QE, the dollar has gone down sharply. With this stuff going on over in the Middle East, as well as the oil prices going up, we could be getting pretty close to this. This stuff in the Middle East is really dramatized, I guess you’ve seen some of the maps on TV, they will paint each country in red that had some revolt or rebellion or demonstration against America in the last week, and there’re 11 countries right now. And they want to tell you these protests are because somebody in some place did a video that nobody has seen and nobody understands, and they say, “Oh, that’s why they hate Americans”. Well, guess what, it’s all in Arab countries that we have been taking over, we prop up the dictators, we’re on both sides of all those issues. We prop up dictators like in Egypt, give them billions and billions of dollars and pay them to be friends of Israel. And then, all of a sudden, the people rebel against that government, and so we participate in the overthrow of our puppet leader in Egypt and then somebody else comes in and, lo-and-behold, guess who’s in the rebellion, the Al-Qaida. And the Al-Qaida is in Libya as well and they’re involved in Syria. They weren’t in Iraq, but they are now. I mean, the whole thing about the foreign policy makes no sense whatsoever, we spend all that money and we’re less safe. And that can get out of hand. There’s a lot of planning done on how to manage and spread our empire, and they don’t sit down and say, “Well, let’s have a world war”, but sometimes some of those plans get out of control. What I fear the most is a false flag; something happening where one of our ships goes down or a plane goes down, and, of course, it had to be the Iranians, for sure, for certain. But then, the emotions go high. But even today, when our ambassador was killed, there were are a lot of people ready to go to war over this and never asking the serious questions. But I am convinced that if we have a sensible foreign policy, we would have more friends in the world, and I think that is important. But the neo-cons are quick to criticize and say, “Well, Ron Paul just doesn’t understand, nor does he care about, this great thing called ‘American Exceptionalism’, that we are the greatest and the best and we can tell people what to do. We could be the greatest and we could be the best and we’ve had good traits in the past, but, the one thing that we as a people have come to realize, is that if we have good traits and we do a good job and have a good economy and have sound money and a sensible foreign policy and mind our own business, guess what, others might want to copy us, they might want to emulate us. But, right now, there’s not much effort in that. I am also concerned that if there’s a false flag and things break out, what’s going to happen is we’ll go bankrupt at the same time. And if you think the map of those 11 countries expressing their anger towards us is bad right now, I think there’re going to be a lot more who have been held in check because we’ve had weaponry and we’ve had money. And my complaint has always been that we’ve always only had two options on foreign policy, 1) You do what we tell you and we’ll give you a lot of money, or 2) if you don’t do it, we’re going to give you a lot of bombs. Right now, we’re doing both to some of these countries, we’re shooting them and at the same time we’re giving them money. Why don’t we offer them this other approach based on the constitution and liberty: why don’t we offer them neither of those and just offer them friendship and trade and no money and no bombs, that’s what we need. One of the things that the freedom movement and Campaign for Liberty has being doing, is it’s being trying to get people to think of liberty as a whole, not in pieces. And liberty was chalked into pieces, and still today you have conservatives defending one part of it and liberals defending another part of it, and then it’s also mixed up by even the conservatives who might be pretty good on economics. If they get a president that’s not so conservative, they have to go along with him because it’s a partisan thing. And then, on the other side, you might have a president whose supposed to cut back on arresting people for marijuana and also have less wars, and he defies it. And then the democrats say, “Oh, we can’t challenge him at all”. What we have to do is challenge people and say, “Look, when a conservative says the right thing about economics and a liberal or somebody else says something right about civil liberties and getting the government out of our personal lives, or anybody who’d say we should have a foreign policy that makes sense … And we have coalitions in Congress now. Because there are less democrats because we have a current Democratic president, the coalitions is smaller, but the numbers of the Republicans are growing in this coalition who’re saying, “We don’t need this”. So, this is, once again, bringing people together and seeing liberty as a whole. Its one pieces, and I think that’s what we have to work on. A lot of times they want to accuse us of wanting to go back to the dark ages, but the dark ages are authoritarianism. Freedom is a relatively new idea. The history of man, when you consider the history of the universe and how many billions of years the planets and all existed, man has only been around for a short period of time. And knowledgeable man has just been around for thousands of years, when they were reflecting and writing books. So it’s a very short period of time. But the history of man making great progress and understanding how important liberty is, is very, very short. In terms of all history, it’s just a couple of seconds or couple of minutes. So, we’re really just on the cusp of understanding what this is all about and what it can bring about. But there’s only one principle that has to be followed – because our views and our desires and our preferences are all different – and that is, you can’t force other people to do your bidding if they’re not hurting you. But a lot of people will accept that, it’s easier to get them to accept that: just don’t hurt me or don’t steal my property. But then they say it’s okay for the government to do it. The government’s not allowed to initiate force against anybody, either, they can only be a participant in trying to repel force or settle disputes, but they can’t come along and say, “We’re going to use force to make other people do our bidding, even if the individual shouldn’t do it”. So it’s individuals and government that should never be able to initiate force or violence against another to bring about social or economic changes. That one rule would solve practically all our problems, I’ll tell you. But we should be very optimistic, I know there are some who say we should have done better in the campaign. Quite frankly, I think we did pretty good. Those who said we should have done significantly better, I don’t know whether they quite understand what we, as a group, are taking on. It isn’t like we’re taking on one small faction of the Republican Party and say, “Yea, we want to nudge you into being a little bit more conservative”, or something like that. We’re taking on the establishment that controls both parties. So, it’s the banking system, it’s the welfare state, it’s the military-industrial complex, it’s a lot of corporatism and subsidies that go out to so many. So I’ll say that the task is rather large so the success, I think, is very significant. But the other way you might look at it, if you’re looking for a positive sign: I don’t know how many candidates were there 4 years ago, let’s say there were 12 and let’s say there’re about 10 or 12 more this time, so there are about 20 now. There weren’t many that came in second, there were a few that dropped by the wayside that didn’t make an impact and they were done and gone and they have debt in the bank and they don’t even pay their bills. But the real excitement is from the number of people that are joining us, and that’s where we should be positive. We have so many more people now in office at all levels of government, and there are going to be a lot more added this fall. Now, that isn’t the total measurement, but it is a significant measurement. There are some people that love liberty and fight for it and write about it and say, “You know, this voting stuff doesn’t add up to too much”. But, political activism, if it had been ignored by the founders, we would still be in a pretty big mess, because they were philosophic and they were idealistic, but they took political action, too. So that’s why, I think political action is quite alright. But I want to encourage you and thank you for all that you have done. Continue to do your work and do your job. And you might ask, “What is my job?” You have to decide what your job is. The only thing I can urge you to do is try and understand the principles, understand the principles of liberty. But you’re here, you’re participating, you’re involved and we have people representing us at different levels of government. But everybody has something to do, it can be purely educational. When people come in to my office and ask, “How do I become a congressman?” I say, “Don’t even try, its okay if it happens to come along, most of it is luck”, and this sort of thing. There are a lot of uncertainties about running for office, and there is some luck in it. But, a lot of times, if they were very interested, I encourage them to by saying that I would just love to see more of them in the media, more writers, more in the newspapers, and the TV. But, even that’s getting easier, because, right now, if you look at the number of people who look at CNN for their news, most people are now getting more news off the internet on their computers than they are from CNN. So we’re already there in many ways. And everybody has different talents, some people don’t even want to do public speaking, some people enjoy it, some people want to run for office. Some people actually have a knack to make money even under these circumstances in this economy. Well, let them go make the money and let them help out the other groups. And we have a lot of supporters that way and that’s the prime goal, that they do well and understand it and they make money and they donate to these organizations. So that is pretty important. Once you discover what’s going on and you basically understand this philosophy, actually it’s a pretty uncomfortable position to put you in, because I hope you’re miserable for the rest of your life unless you’re trying to do something about it. And I do believe that the people who are informed, if they’re moral persons and they say, “We know this is a bad situation”, and if you’re directed by wanting to know the truth and spread the truth, and it’s a moral principle, you do have a greater obligation. And you know what, you’re in a group that’s only going to be probably the group that’s about 10% of the population, because you know the issues and you understand and study and you read. But most people, even those who vote, don’t think about it until the day before the elections sometimes. All this polling on who’s going to win in November, I think that’s all talk because I think a bunch of people aren’t even going to pay much attention. And, who knows, there might be something else to do that day or it might rain and they might not even show up, for that matter. But your role is very important, and that’s why I work very hard and encourage everyone on the team for Campaign for Liberty to be involved. I’m glad you’re here and want to assume some responsibility. And, of course, if you don’t have any fun doing it, it can be a real dull job. So have some fun doing it, and one thing that is fun, is being with like-minded people, isn’t that pretty neat? And, to tell you the truth, I like to be with people that are like-minded that might have a completely different attitude about what their social values are and what they want to do with their money and how they want to do it, because I can just sort of smile and say, “Well, I wouldn’t do that, that’s a pretty stupid thing to do”. But I think it’s still neat that we can bring these people together and say, “It’s freedom, it’s liberty, that’s what we’re fighting for”. Thank you very much for all your efforts, thank you. 321 responses to “Ron Paul: The Campaign Continues! We Must Stop the Enemies of Liberty!”
fig. 1. Miss Ayn Rand., Republican vice-presidential candidate, in a 2005 speech delivered at The Atlas Society–one of many lavishly funded organizations devoted to spreading the thought and philosophy of Ayn Rand (he’s since distanced himself). There are so many of these organizations it is hard to keep track. Apart from the Atlas Society, there is the Ayn Rand Institute, the Nathaniel Branden Institute, the Anthem Foundation and the Institute for Objectivist Studies.,” a typical line reads–Blakely is the noble, visionary entrepreneur who created Spanx.) fig. 2. To hell with your ‘flu shots,’ parasites.. fig. 3. Immanuel Kant: “the preeminent good which we call moral … is only possible in a rational being.” Oops. ‘morality’. fig. 4. Rationality at work. Unsurprisingly, the politicians and businessmen who admire Rand focus on such policy recommendations and are rather less familiar with, for instance,. Now there are two ways to approach Objectivism: first, and most commonly, we may tackle her edifying fiction, which portrays Manichean conflicts between heroic, intelligent ‘producers’ and parasitic ‘looters.’ The latter, mainly by force of numbers and all the vile raiments analytic vernacular) and a set of post-Randian writers–Peikoff, Kelley, and others–who have fleshed out and expanded her thought into something like a philosophical system in the traditional sense, the kind of thing that has been largely abandoned in contemporary academic philosophy. One can get a sense of the ‘system’ from a glance at the wikipedia page: there are any number of dubious inferences made, most remarkably from ‘existence’ to ‘ident. fig 5. The enlightened Dr. Yaron Brooks: “I would like to see the United States turn Fallujah into dust, and tell the Iraqis: If you’re going to continue to support the insurgents you will not have homes, you will not have schools, you will not have mosques.” The incredible conceit that Ayn Rand will figure in the history of philosophy as one of the greats–better than Kant (“corrupt”), Hegel (“nonsensical”) or Wittgenstein (“garbage”)–is not restricted to her contemporary followers: Rand, in the same 1957 interview with Mike Wallace linked above, described herself, he boldly totalitarian discourse of justified elimination, produced a scant dozen years after the end of the second world war. It is a tradition upheld by contemporary Randians: Brooks has called for unrestricted, murderous warfare in Iraq (see above); Leonard Peikoff, who originally founded the Ayn Rand Institute, calls for the “immediate end” of “terrorist states” such as Iran, not ruling out nuclear weapons, and this “regardless of the countless innocents caught in the line of fire.” statements. fig 6. Soldiers marching in Petrograd, 1917. Rand was twelve. trepidant about radical change and wary about the potential for deleterious destabilization it brings, an altogether different form of ‘conservatism’ from that of the present-day marriage of libertarian economics. fig. 7. Greatest. Human. Ever. It is true that Rand’s opponents in popular media often focus on her personal life–her exile from Russia, her ‘rational’ and. fig. 8. Robert Nozick–Another great, though lesser, human., “some. fig 8. On the set of MTV’s The Real Olympus. argume nts, at least, proof and of the results of Tarsky, Church, Alonzo; and just at the dawn of paraconsistent logic (which rejects, inter alia, that it is always true that A is A). fig. 9. Sorry, you look just like this other guy I know, “Schmidt.” Funny. Indeed the crisis in the foundations of mathematics, the work of Tarski on truth, the rejection of the law of excluded middle by Brouwer and his followers, Gödel’s proofs–the list could be multiplied–had no effect on her,. For a philosopher who prized logic, she remained utterly ignorant of it until her death, and some of her most ardent followers are determined to remain so themselves: Peikoff disparages all non-Aristotelian logic as “inherently dishonest [...] an explicit rebellion against reason and reality (and, therefore, against man and values).” “A is A” turned into a statement about the essential ‘nature’ of humankind that carries with it the full logical weight of the putative axiom. Obviously this doesn’t work: suppose we accept that “A is A” (in particular we are not dialetheists; there is certainly. fig. 10. “A is A”; therefore, you must sleep with me. (Yes, Rand basically said this.) What is difficult to understand is why we should believe that reasoning from so-called ‘first principles’ can tell us anything at all about how to build and maintain something as complex and messy as a human society, with complex social, economic, political arrangements presided over by only partially rational creatures prone to outbursts of passion, crises of confidence, and known, predictable irrationalities. Axiomatics are useful–more than useful–in many domains. Like. Another simple example. For the better part of 2,000 years rejection of the Euclidean Parallel Postulate was deemed impossible–until the discovery of non-Euclidean geometries demolished its apodictic standing. If the situation is so difficult even at the level of mathematics and geometry, the standard-bearers of objective purity in human knowledge, what hope is there of deriving monetary. fig. 11. Alan Greenspan–”Turns out selfishness actually destroys society. Who could’ve guessed?” on the left,. In this departure some optimal. fig. 12. We’re hungry, but at least the system is moral.. fig. 13. How To Win Friends and Influence People, c. 350 BCE Rejection of the Randian weltanschauung. fig. 14. The free market decided this film sucked. forthcoming. fig. 15. Great and selfless patrons of the arts, too. Or maybe we should heed Machiavelli’s warning: “Politics,” he wrote, “have no relation to morals.” He had in mind, particularly, the Borgias. The polarizing effect is indeed remarkable, and, I think, unnecessary. I regard myself as a Rand moderate on her specific economic and ethical doctrines, not lukewarm about each separate doctrine, but firmly accepting some and firmly rejecting others. Having said that, I cannot see her as a significant philosopher, because she did not support her views with arguments that can stand up to academic scrutiny. By coincidence, I posted a few thoughts on the polarization, a couple of days after you made your post but shortly before reading your post, having found it via Brian Leiter’s blog. My thoughts are here: [...] tip to an exhaustive, sprawling analysis of the Randian cult available here. Share this:Share on TumblrLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. August 27, 2012 by [...] Thanks for this essay; it’s both engaging and well-balanced. Problematically, most sustained treatments of Rand tend to come either from the converted, or (only slightly better) the recently lapsed. Given the reliably shallow philosophical bona fides of this cohort, it’s not surprising that there’s very little meat there. At the same time, most commentators of the out-of-group perspective tend to be (I would say justifiably) hostile to the point of engaging mainly through ridicule. This is warranted, but not particularly helpful to people who both lack a background in philosophy and whose first brush with political argument comes from Rand’s work. As you rightly note, it’s precisely this combination–something like base-rate ignorance combined with ready availability, which explains much of the appeal. Thanks for providing the valuable work of baloney detection! “One wonders at the type of celebration of ‘life’ that centers around satisfied joy at the perishing of so-called ‘parasites.” The above assertion is one of the earlier and more blatantly dishonest statements (though certainly not the first blatant ad hom) made in this blog post – a post overflowing with such lies, smears, and overt dishonesty. The blogger quotes Alan Greenspan, who states: “”Atlas Shrugged’ is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should.” In other words, he describes creative individuals who achieve joy and fulfillment by means of undeviating purpose and rationality. But the blog poster here chooses to lie and claim Greenspan is saying the individual’s joy and fulfillment comes *from* the perishing of the parasites. In fact he claims that Rand’s characters’ joy “centers” on those others – the joy is derived from the suffering of those others. That Miss Rand’s book is a celebration of this form of ‘joy’. This is a deliberate fabrication on the part of the blogger. It is a lie. The blogger has claimed the opposite of what Greenspan stated and what Miss Rand promotes. What he describes is what Rand identifies as “secondhandedness” – something she does not “celebrate” but in fact *condemns*! This is not an innocent error on the part of this blogger. It is a deliberate misrepresentation of Miss Rand and her philosophy. It is the creation of a straw man, which he attacks – because he cannot attack her actual philosophy. Because he cannot attack it, but does not want it to stand, he must resort to fallacies instead. He must create falsehoods – fictions – which he then pretends are Miss Rand. Why do all this – why engage in such massive dishonesty? To try to hide the truth from others. He does not want others to identify the facts – the actual ideas Miss Rand presents. So he pretends to present them and hopes others will accept his falsehoods. He hopes others will be second-handers. He hopes they will not go to the source but will instead accept his conclusions on faith. For the honest intellectual, don’t be taken in by the duplicity of Miss Rand’s enemies. Don’t rely on smears they try to pass off as ‘fact’. Don’t be a second-hander. Don’t rely on the conclusions of others. Don’t act on faith. Be independent. Be rational. Read what she *actually* wrote. Come to your own conclusions based on actual facts, not false assertions. Bypass those who would try to derail you from identifying Rand’s actual philosophy. Put simply, don’t let the dishonest men, like this blogger, dupe you. Practice reason and independent judgment. That way, whether you end up agreeing or disagreeing with Miss Rand, you will have done so on the basis of fact, reason, and your own independent judgment – not lies and faith. I think you’ve attracted your first real live member of the Rand cult, whose dialectical skill is at the level of Rand’s! How about actually dealing with what he posted instead of just calling him a cultist? B Leigh Smith – I appreciate your concern about my reading of Greenspan’s written remarks. I assure you I was not deliberately trying to misdirect readers by distorting the meaning of the quote. When Greenspan said that “parasites … perish as they should,” I found the “as they should” pregnant with meaning. The ‘should’ implied a normative dimension that placed the assertion within the context of the statement about ‘unrelenting’ justice, which immediately follows the sentence about the “celebration of life.” Given that Rand’s view is that ‘life’ has a sole and unique value, it stood to reason that the only way to properly celebrate life is to dispense a justice such that producers thrive and parasites die. This does not imply that Greenspan, or Randians generally, derive *pleasure* from the elimination of the so-called ‘unproductive’, but–however–it seems pretty clear that, for Rand, to celebrate *life*–what life intrinsically is, necessarily so– requires that those who avoid “purpose” and “reason,” that is, those who deny the essential telos of life, perish. (A situation where ‘parasites’ multiply is not one where life is being celebrated, in other words.) I cannot help but wonder how charitable you would be faced with a quote from, say, Lenin about bourgeois parasites. It is rather unnerving, in fact, how similar all this is to the discourse of the Soviet Union, which enforced “social parasitism” laws: The only difference seems to be that in one case, the State is enforcing a “productive” and “anti-parasite” eliminativist discourse, whereas for Randians, the so-called “market” performs the same function. The difference seems to be that you think this latter mechanism is moral, because the individual is putatively responsible for their own fate, entirely. This denies the existence of moral luck (). But, plainly, there is such a thing as moral luck. Therefore, this view is false. “The ‘should’ implied a normative dimension that placed the assertion within the context of the statement about ‘unrelenting’ justice,” Indeed. And the “unrelenting justice” applied to BOTH parties – those “creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality” justly earn their “joy and fulfillment”. And those “parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason” do not earn such “joy and fulfillment” but instead justly “perish”. What Miss Rand “celebrates” is virtue and its reward – the values pursued – ie “life and happiness”. Both those things are not granted automatically but must be achieved. That is the justice referenced. And if one has read Atlas Shrugged, one is quite aware of this fact. One is quite aware of her views of rationality, independence, and second-handers. To claim that Miss Rand preaches a “celebration of ‘life’ that centers around satisfied joy at the perishing of so-called ‘parasites”" is to completely and purposefully present the opposite of her entire philosophy, as expressed through her entire book. In other words, you deliberately drop the context of her entire novel in order to make that assertion, based on a brief summary presented by someone else. That is not an honest error. That is deliberate misrepresentation. It is deliberate dishonesty. “it seems pretty clear that, for Rand, to celebrate *life*–what life intrinsically is, necessarily so– requires that those who avoid “purpose” and “reason,” that is, those who deny the essential telos of life, perish.” This is false. For an individual to celebrate his life and his happiness does not require others to perish. If they indeed initiate force against him, as she makes clear, they are properly stopped. But other than that protection of his freedom, his life and happiness do not require anything of parasites, etc.. That was one of the fundamental premises of the novel. That the producer does not require anything from the parasite. That was the purpose of the strike – to show that very thing. Again, to make this claim is to completely drop the context of her entire story and philosophy as she explicitly lays it out in her novel. And, again, such a *massively* dropped context is *not* the result of an innocent error. ” It is rather unnerving, in fact, how similar all this is to the discourse of the Soviet Union, which enforced “social parasitism” laws:” And now you drop the entire point she made about the difference between voluntary human interaction and the initiation of force. You PRETEND that what she wants is the same thing as the Soviet Union wanted – that self-defense and murder are the SAME thing – because both are about “unnervingly” about ‘killing’. You purposefully evade her *entire* argument about the difference between the two and condemn her by trying to place her in the same category. This is why I say you are completely dishonest. You do not argue against Miss Rand. You do not present HER arguments and attempt to use reason against them. You manufacture falsehoods and present them as if they were hers. That is lying. And that is why I suggest anyone honestly interested in the facts about Miss Rand’s philosophy look to her actual work. That way they can independently judge her work rationally rather than accepting such lies as if they were the truth. – As to your assertions about “luck”, it is not “luck” which causes individuals to pursue “undeviating purpose” and “rationality”. Nor is it “luck” which causes individuals to “avoid purpose or reason”. These are all choices an individual makes every moment of every day in regard to reality around him. In other words, you once again present an argument which is NOT Miss Rand’s argument. Attack *it*. And then declare *her* wrong because your manufactured argument is wrong. Attacking deliberately manufactured straw men here is the problem. Presenting falsehoods in place of Miss Rand’s actual ideas is the problem. And the solution, as I’ve previously indicated, is for the honestly interested individual to view her work first hand, rather than relying upon second hand assertions – assertions which are blatantly false. Atlas Shrugged’ is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should.” Brian– I am reminded of a comment on your blog when the SEP entry was first brought up: “try to avoid introducing her name into an otherwise serious discussion anywhere on the internet, or this sort of drivel will start to surface like globs of oil on a Louisiana beach, and end up polluting everything.” B Leigh Smith– You’re putting words in my mouth here, after I explicitly said I did not think that the Randian ethic required deriving pleasure from perishing. I do say–and you agree–that Randians are perfectly fine with the suffering of ‘unproductive’ elements, that this very thing is in fact fine and quite just; I find it morally abhorrent, but I suppose we can agree to disagree. You seem also unable to understand the concept of ‘moral luck’ by your assimilation of it with the ordinary sense of ‘luck.’ While there is a distinction between acting towards x, and letting x happen, it is precisely because I do not think it makes a moral difference in this case that I contest the picture you present: in part because of ‘moral luck’, and in part because I do not view the ‘market’ as a neutral evaluative entity, but an active collusion of coercive interests. In any event, I do encourage readers to look after the primary sources and draw their own conclusions. Thank you for contributing. Oh and this statement: ““One wonders at the type of celebration of ‘life’ that centers around satisfied joy at the perishing of so-called ‘parasites.”” most certainly does more than “imply”, it actually STATES “that Greenspan, or Randians generally, derive *pleasure* from the elimination of the so-called ‘unproductive’” Now, if you want to RESCIND that original claim, then please do so. Otherwise your straw man, and the identification of it as such, stands. What would truly be remarkable, is if there were some web forum set up where professionally-trained philosophers, both pro-Rand and anti-Rand, could have it out. I’d estimate that the number of philosophers *at least reasonably* well-versed in Rand, or take her seriously enough to engage her ideas indepth, is more or less split between the pro-side and the anti-side. I make that observation merely to point out that such a web-debate wouldn’t be lopsided numbers-wise, the way the numbers are lopsided if you were to compare the number of those academic philosophers who take her seriously to that of the academic community as a whole. As we all should know, however, truth doesn’t reside in numbers of people affirming something as true. What the above blog post glaringly neglects to mention is the *academic literature on Rand*, which includes such works as Tara Smith’s “Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics” published by CUP, and Chris Matthew Sciabarra’s “Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical.” (This latter work, very extensively researched, proposes a thesis that directly contradicts one of your characterizations: that Rand ignores *context* of all things. Context is fundamental, central, and crucial to Rand’s methodology.) The amount of academic literature on Rand is small indeed, but it’s there. I think that familiarity with works such as these should be a prerequisite for entering the sort of web-debate I wishfully propose above. There is, in addition, the Ayn Rand Society – aynrandsociety.org – a professional association within the APA. Steering committee members have included Douglas Rasmussen, who (along with Douglas Den Uyl) wrote a response to Nozick, “Nozick on the Randian Argument,” in the same journal some years later, which reformulates the Randian argument along neo-Aristotelian lines. It does no one any good to pretend that such rebuttals don’t exist. There are many characterizations and claims in the blog post which mischaracterize Rand’s views on key points (the one about context already mentioned), or subtly misfire, or simply miss their mark. This is *not* to say that Rand isn’t open to well-supported criticism – like the way Rand herself mischaracterizes, subtly misfires, or simply misses her mark when discussing other philosophers – such as Kant most especially. While Rand does make the presumption to her readers of being a competent historian of philosophy, she makes next to no pretense to being a *scholarly* interpreter of such figures. That wasn’t her thing. And that is part of what diminishes any value there might be in her commentary on the history of philosophy. By the same token, if one is to make the representation of approaching Rand in a scholarly fashion, it simply won’t do not to engage the most prominent extant scholarly literature. Ask yourself whether Sciabarra or Prof. Smith would take your criticisms seriously on their scholarly merits alone, let alone the quality of the criticisms. (They would not, on either count.) It is easy to cherry-pick some of Rand’s statements that cast her in a more negative light, but if we’re going to keep the *full context,* it is only fair that the statements that cast her in a positive light also be just as prominently featured – else people are left with little idea as to why Rand really does carry the appeal that she does. If it were all about her making all kinds of philosophical claims simply on the basis of “A is A,” one would be left with the impression that she and her followers (and the aforementioned academic scholars!) aren’t all that well-versed in critical thinking. A fictional character stating that man’s rights are based on “A is A” is indeed a rhetorical approach – but one of condensing a vast set of observations, of summarizing a vast *context,* and such statements cannot be taken in isolation from their extensive *context*. All kinds of considerations come to bear on such a statement – some sort of “essentialist” view about humans having an identifiable and definable nature, that to be is to be something of a specific nature (she holds the law of identity to be a principle primarily of *metaphysics*, about the character of being qua being, and her neo/quasi-Aristotelian approach to metaphysics does not dualistically divorce metaphysics from empirical content – i.e., the law of identity has a natural and empirical aspect). Furthermore, it’s completely unfounded – and in fact contradictory to Rand’s own statements – for Nozick (and you, repeating Nozick) to ascribe to Rand the notion that “A is A” means that A cannot change. Hell, if you look at the way she quotes from Aristotle very near the end of “Atlas,” she qualifies her own view of identity the way he does: “at the same time and in the same respect.” Now, Nozick didn’t have such a thing as the Ayn Rand Lexicon at his avail back in 1971, so Rand-scholarship that seemed appropriate then would be viewed as most sloppy today given the scholarship resources that now exist (not the least of which is the Rasmussen-Den Uyl rebuttal). By the way, if you’re going to bring up Nozick, either regarding his critique of “the Randian argument” or how well his “AS&U” treatise was received by the left-leaning academic mainstream, you might as well also mention his later article on why intellectuals oppose capitalism. That may better put into context the statement in the Stanford Encyclopedia entry about the relative lack of attention her views have received in the academy given her political views. If her arguments were so pitifully bad as to be unworthy of academic attention, that’s one thing. That her arguments aren’t presented in academic format might better help to explain things here, though that doesn’t directly speak to the inherent merits of her arguments. The only issue of concern is whether her arguments are good or not. Now, people like Rasmussen and Den Uyl, who have devoted oodles of attention to Rand’s ideas, would probably say that Rand is pretty much right in the basics even if they aren’t spelled out at the level of detail that academics crave. (She wasn’t writing for that audience; she was writing at a level that the “ordinary folk” could understand, and she had this habit of condensing philosophical ideas down to their “essence” in the briefest way she could state them, as a matter of economy and attention-grabbingness. It took conversations like those she had with John Hospers to tease out all the intricate details – and I don’t think he left disappointed.) What you have in works like Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s, and Smith’s, and Sciabarra’s, are extensive and detailed workings-out of the core principles. You want a basically Randian argument for rights in fully-fleshed-out academic detail? There’s Rasmussen and Den Uyl’s “Norms of Liberty.” You want the Randian normative ethics fleshed out in academic detail? There’s Smith’s “Ayn Rand’s Normative Ethics.” You want her philosophical methodology spelled out in detail? There’s Sciabarra’s academic work, “Ayn Rand: The Russian Radical” and Leonard Peikoff’s non-academic (but fully expert on Rand) lecture series “Understanding Objectivism,” released in book form earlier this year. Now, none of this justifies the conceit you point out among some of her devotees that Rand massively supersedes all other philosophers in history save for Aristotle. As you point out, Anscombe and others were working in 1957. It is also warranted to point out that Rand, in addition to Anscombe and Foot and Veatch and others, contributed to the neo-Aristotelian revival in ethics around that time. When Rand composed her paper, “The Objectivist Ethics,” you have to consider the context of the times in which she was writing it, before virtue ethics had had its revival. In *that* context, Rand was well ahead of many of her contemporaries on some of the most important questions in ethical theory. This is *not* to say that she stands out as something really, really special over and above all the other philosophers in history (save again for Aristotle). It *is* to say that she was, in her own fashion, a serious truth-seeker doing her best in the context of her time to make systematic sense of the world almost all on her own (that is, after she parted ways with Isabel Paterson in the late ’40s), which puts her squarely in the category of “serious philosopher” – in addition to many, many other serious philosophers who also deserve to be taken seriously and studied (take note of this latter part, hardcore Rand-worshippers). This is getting long, and I don’t mean to filibuster. But I think you get the idea. I didn’t even expound further on how Rand’s “A is A” comes to bear on her argument for rights in the full philosophical context (I merely addressed her interpretation/variation on Aristotle’s formulation as far as metaphysics goes), though you could get the fleshed-out idea in places like the aforementioned “Norms of Liberty.” And I hope it gives a good idea as to why I’d love to see a bona fide webbed Rand-debate forum where “the Rand experts” could put it all on display for people to see. That would, I think, go a long way toward bridging the unfortunate gap between Rand’s widespread cultural appeal in America and her near-neglect within the academy. We cannot, as a political community (which is much broader than the academic community), have a meaningful and informed debate on the political issues of our time at the highest level unless the competing views get a full airing-out from the most qualified/expert proponents of those ideas. An academic circle-jerk won’t accomplish any such thing besides an implicit or explicit contempt for “the masses.” The flipside of the academic circle-jerk is the “average American” ignoring what the academics say (due to their “being up in those ivory towers of theory sheltered from the real world”), leading to a national political debate that is that much more impoverished, like what we’re getting on TV. What we desperately, urgently need a mutual coming-to-terms. Also, with such a forum of experts having it out, the professors who get inundated with those new students every year pushing the Randian line can direct their attention to the webbed Rand-debate forum. A win-win all around! (And why the hell hasn’t this happened already? Does the cultural acrimony over Rand need to come to a bulging, pulsating head before it does?) B Leigh Smith: it’s somewhat ambiguous whether the “at” in the sentence that’s making you froth at the mouth should really be read as a “towards” or as an “at the same time as.” In the former case, the “at” is directional, expressing the object of Randian joy: the suffering of the unproductive. In the latter case, on the other hand, the “at” is more or less indicating a position in time (in this case, contemporaneity with something else) with no implication of one being caused by the other. But even if your interpretation of McGinnis’ “at” is correct, it’s unclear what you’ve actually gained. Maybe you’ve showed that he’s got a bit of a bias, but any third grader could tell you that just by reading the picture captions. His substantive criticisms of Rand’s philosophy are utterly devastating, and your huge, flailing fuss about his remarks on Randian joy is ultimately a bunch of whiney nitpicking. You said in your first post that McGinnis “cannot attack her actual philosophy,” but that’s precisely what he did do in the rest of the post. It seems to me, rather, that you cannot defend her philosophy, and so you go on rabid tirades about some minor remark that may or may not be fallacious. Why don’t you do some philosophical heavy lifting and defend Rand from McGinnis’s withering criticisms. Let’s start with the logic. “if your interpretation of McGinnis’ “at” is correct, it’s unclear what you’ve actually gained.” What is gained is the identification of his claims as false – deliberately so. And it is gained in regard to the supposed summary of the work he is attacking. By demonstrating that the author cannot even honestly summarize the words he quotes in his own article, it calls into question all his subsequent claims about that work. I am sorry that such a demonstration does not lead you to even question his subsequent “criticisms”. As indicated, they are simply attacks upon straw men, not Miss Rand’s actual ideas. As such, they are not “substantive” let alone “devastating”. “you said in your first post that McGinnis “cannot attack her actual philosophy,” but that’s precisely what he did do in the rest of the post.” Attacking straw men is what he did. If you believe otherwise, please provide an example of what you claim is his honest and accurate presentation of one of her ideas, along with a rational refutation of it. Simply accepting his words, in contradiction to the major misrepresentation he provides early on in his work (combined with all his ad homs, mud slinging, and other blatant fallacies), is an act of faith, not reason. It is the acceptance of something in contradiction to, rather than in accord with, the facts. You claim you want to start with logic. But you begin with its opposite. It is for this very reason that I admonished those honestly interested in Miss Rand’s ideas to look to her actual work. I am sorry you did not choose to heed that rational recommendation. But dude, isn’t Atlas Shrugged an extended fantasy in which Randian geniuses get to inflict this supposedly deserved suffering on the so-called parasites? I can’t see any other way to read it, given the ending. And if so, isn’t it natural to think that Greenspan et al must really enjoy this fantasy? Obviously, dude = B Leigh Smith. I should learn to refresh before posting comments. The issue is a distraction, but frankly, I don’t know how else to read this quote. One last time: ‘Atlas Shrugged’ is a celebration of life and happiness. Justice is unrelenting. Creative individuals and undeviating purpose and rationality achieve joy and fulfillment. Parasites who persistently avoid either purpose or reason perish as they should. The novel contains a summary and exposition of her philosophy. So this is a paraphrase which conveys my reading of Greenspan’s remarks: Ayn Rand’s philosophy is a celebration of life and happiness in which an unrelenting justice is served, one that rewards the productive and disposes of the parasites. It is precisely because this justice is served that the philosophy is celebratory of what life properly is. The philosophy is celebratory, though particular individuals do not ‘celebrate’ or throw parties when the homeless die: what is celebrated in her thought is the inherent, rational justice of unproductive elements ‘perishing’. But I find the entire discourse morally odious. The egregious and monstruous simplification of the complexity of life–its hazard, illnesses, precarities, vulnerabilities, histories, the entire baggage of context–reduced to a binary, the choice between ‘using one’s reason’ and not—it is, quite properly, evil. There is no justice when so-called parasites ‘perish’. There is only the immorality of fellow man standing by and doing nothing. Elie Wiesel wrote that “the opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of beauty is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, but indifference between life and death.” The essence of duty is found in what we owe to each other. The anti-life philosophy is the denial of this duty and the justification of an indifference to death and suffering. And this is why I should bother even writing any of this. Smith- I think it points to the strength of McGinnis’ argument that you are forced to address one minute section of his lengthy discussion of Ayn Rand’s questionable philosophy. You claim to be upset that McGinnis (supposedly) “STATES” that Randians directly obtain pleasure from the suffering of the parasitic masses Rand portrays in her works. However, it is not so hard to see that you are actually a tad bit hurt over the reasonable and thought-provoking analysis that damages, no doubt, a hero of yours. If you desire to assert that the author has attacked a straw man (rather than Rand’s actual ideas), bringing up more than one insignificant example might help your cause. Of course when critiquing someone, it is not possible to present the totality of their views completely objectively-I would be more careful before pointing out a fallacy that is not to be found in this paper. On another note, a statement of yours implicates Rand to be downright stupid if we are to take your word for it. “That the producer does not require anything from the parasite. That was the purpose of the strike – to show that very thing” If, you in fact, believe that what you wrote here is true, than you take Rand to be an imbecile completely out of touch with reality, logic, and reason. How would anything the producers produce have value without the “parasitic” masses that utilize products? Being a non-parasite requires lower individuals to exist. Everything about the distinction between parasites and producers necessitates the dual existence of those who make, and those who use what is made. “The producer does not require anything from the parasite”-except for his body to overwork, his mind to manipulate, and his earnings to take. It is my belief that McGinnis wrote a very respectable and convincing article regarding an important and popular American figure. I just wish you had voiced an equally defensible response. “How would anything the producers produce have value without the “parasitic” masses that utilize products?” Apparently you believe that the individuals in Galt’s Gulch, who were neither parasites nor the “masses”, traded no values with one another. Thank you for making clear you haven’t read, let alone understood, the work and ideas you sneeringly (ie fallaciously) attack. Thank you for your display of a stream of ad homs and psychologizing in place of rational argumentation. And thank you for making clear your belief that a deliberate lie presented as the *summary* of the work the blogger attacks is merely ‘minutia’. All these things demonstrate you have no actual knowledge of Miss Rand’s ideas – but that you won’t let a little thing like a lack of facts prevent you from lashing out at that which you are ignorant. Re: the perishing of parasites. Has it occurred to Rand’s rather shrill critics that the parasites she has in mind are *not* the poor, the sick, the vulnerable, etc., but the Orren Boyles, the Balph Eubanks, the Mr. Thompsons, the James Taggarts, the Wesley Mouches, the Floyd Ferrises, the Philip and Lillian Reardens, the Robert Stadlers, et al? Sure, you might regard them as one-dimensional caricature figures (though there is a clear conflict in Stadler, who was once honorable but evades/chooses evil), but aren’t these the ones deserving of their fate? The “ordinary” people who perish in the Taggart Tunnel did *not* deserve to perish, but Rand describes the ideas they all hold to *illustrate the power of ideas* for good or for evil. Rand reportedly cried when writing out the fate of Gail Wynand. Did she enjoy watching his evasions lead to his demise? Of course not. What’s more, when you think of the above-named villains in *Atlas* when the term “parasite” is brought to mind, doesn’t that make *a lot more sense* than Rand targeting the poor, the vulnerable, etc.? Doesn’t it make it more of an interesting challenge to tear down Rand, then, as opposed to the swift and easy knock-down of a strawman? Isn’t going after the opponent’s strongest argument the essence of philosophical method and of intellectual charity? (It’s like I’m repeating myself now, but Rand has similar flaws when approaching Kant and other “villains” in the history of philosophy. Two-way street. Or, better yet, how about we walk down the street – peripatetically, if you must – in the same direction with the same goal in mind.) That said, why shouldn’t reality be its own avenger – that the Mouches and Ferrises and Thompsons perish due to their own anti-life choices/evasions? Is that not justice? And it’s not like the strikers didn’t offer them an olive branch of sorts – assuming they could sit through the entirety of Galt’s interminable speech – to allow them the opportunity to change their ways before the final collapse. If you want to blame someone for the collapse, do you look at the strikers who are withdrawing their sanction and services on terms other than what they consent to (fundamentally, that the mind be left free to function as it is [axiomatically?] supposed to), or is the blame rightly placed on those in the established power structure who endlessly evade the requirements of proper human existence? When you bash Rand, you’re by extension bashing the strikers and assigning to them the responsibility of the civilization perishing. Is that justice? (The further twist to all this is to ask whether Galt and the strikers could have accomplished their aims without going on a secret strike and not letting society know about it until nearly the end. That goes to the realism of the plot. The original premise of the plot, though, was what if the “men of the mind and of ability” (and note that Galt’s Gulch is filled with some “non-elites,” the fishwife for instance wink wink) were to go on strike, the way the laborers were carrying out strikes in the Red Decade and after on the apparent assumption that their physical labor is the prime mover of wealth-creation. The realism of the plot is a distinct issue, though; the theme of the novel is “the role of the mind in man’s existence,” and if people fail to get *that*, then they miss the whole point of the novel. Their loss.) Damn, it feels downright easy decisively defending Rand at this point. Don’t the critics have anything better? I mean, how *hard* is it to figure out that the parasites Rand has primarily in mind are the Mouches et al? Here’s a better example to harp on, if you had paid attention to the novel as Rand had expected her readers to do: As Dagny and the other heroes go to rescue Galt toward the end, she aims a gun at the heart of a rank-and-file guard blocking her way, and shoots him dead. The rationale was that this was the logically appropriate response to someone who had evaded the responsibility of thinking even when they had a gun pointed at them (aha! how does a gun make someone think, Galt asks earlier? you were paying attention there, too, right?) and had the chance to move out of the way? Question being: was shooting this guard dead *necessary* to carry out the rescue? Did Rand think this scenario through adequately? Was time too much of a factor to concern oneself with alternative measures? (Gee, it may very well have been.) Anyway, it’s easy to subject Rand to effective criticism or challenge, as long as one knows what the hell one is doing. In my experience, few seem to manage it. To do it most effectively would probably require extensive familiarity with things like Peikoff’s “Understanding Objectivism,” though at that point you do get into the problem of invoking Rand in order to deny her. I think if you’re dedicated enough to do that, you should be commended. In any event, how does one carry out a resounding, convincing criticism of whatever Rand got wrong, without thoroughly studying up on the subject? Are her critics expected to be taken seriously if they don’t even *bother* with the now-published “Understanding Objectivism” much less Peikoff’s earlier primer “OPAR”? Do we simply ignore what her best student, top-notch interpreter and chosen heir has to say? For that matter, do we one-sidedly latch onto the “hazards” part of Nathaniel Branden’s “Benefits and Hazards” essay? That doesn’t strike me as good scholarship at all. I dunno, seems like I’m shooting fish in a barrel at this point. Please prove me wrong. .” So is this why Wynand is supposed to be the hero of “The Fountainhead,” seeing as Roark turned down an integrity-compromising commission, followed by his having to close up shop? It’s all about the dollars in her value hierarchy, just because the hero traces the sign of the dollar in the air? Are you sure this is careful, nuanced analysis? I could go on and on like this, you know. Thanks for a solid peek into the world / cult of Rand, a subject which I had so far not got around to investigating for myself in such depth, and for which omission I no longer feel any significant deficiency in my self-education budget. Frankly, Randian gunk has too often popped up along side too many other dubious assertions for me to have ever bothered digging in with gusto, and the cursory forays I’ve made otherwise have only exposed simple show stoppers (for me), such as her effective hate-on for basics like empathy and cooperation, which I see as the only sound organizational core instincts we silly monkeys might hope to survive by. Now if only you could recommend the economic equivalent to your fine essay here, regarding Friedman, I’d be all set. I guess I’ll just have to do some of my own homework after all Cheers, and thanks again, great read, and really appreciated the humor too (don’t listen to those who would have you be boring, you’re doing it right). [...] Nicholas McGinnis takes down Rand, including a close look at some of her faux arguments, in “The System that Wasn’t There: Ayn Rand’s Failed Philosophy (and why it matters).” Like this:LikeBe the first to like this. from → Uncategorized ← None dare call [...] [...] for would-be GOPers, Ayn Rand and a discussion of her “philosophy”, which seems to have all of the depth and consistency of L.Ron. Hubbard’s Scientology, albeit [...] “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” -Ghandi Or, perhaps: “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” -Schopenhauer This essay contains perhaps one of the longest straw man bashings on the internet. For Ayn Rand, the axioms of Objectivism are not starting points for the deduction of a philosophy; they are, rather, what make the *induction* of general, philosophical principles possible. This assumption that philosophy must be essentially deductive is one of the major problems that mainstream academics have in understanding Objectivism. In particular, it is what afflicts Nozick’s attempted analysis of Rand’s meta-ethical argument; he is trying to understand an essentially inductive argument as a deductive one. So it is no surprise that he thinks the conclusions are unsupported. I recommend this post for more detail on my point, along with the book referenced there: No rebuttals to my comments? Nothing? I thought the blog posting was supposed to be, in the word of one clueless commenter (), “a solid peek into the world / cult of Rand”? No retractions of obvious misrepresentations? No reworkings to take into account strong criticism? This is a *philosophy* blog, is it not? We’re supposed to be learning why philosophers needn’t take Rand seriously, are we not? How can we learn when there’s no response to feedback? Are we just supposed to pretend that the existing body of Rand scholarship doesn’t exist? Only the “cultists” merit (derisory) responses? Well . . . what? I’m just amazed that, 50 years after “The Objectivist Ethics,” and nearly 70 years after *The Fountainhead*, the Rand-bashers *stil* cannot (refuse to?) demonstrate a sound understanding of what they’re bashing. When it’s explained to them that they are sloppily, incompetently, misunderstanding – in obvious ways, no less – I’ve seen many of them retreat to some formulaic sneer about how “only the cult truly understands.” Give me an effing break! “Only the cult truly understands” that the parasites are the Mouches/Thompsons/Keatings/Tooheys, or that Roark does in fact respect and practice “basics like empathy and cooperation”? I have the impression that the state of Rand interpretation was hardly even close to this bad during the time she was writing her newsletters and giving addresses, and was a well-known contemporary commentator. A few mediocre book-length critiques appeared in the decade following the Branden Break. Not understanding the power and basis of Rand’s appeal, the critics don’t bother with her for a couple decades, and neither is there much in the way of favorable commentary. But then comes a new generational wave that comes of age around the time of Sciabarra’s “Russian Radical” – the generation including Jimmy Wales – and the state of Rand scholarship has been picking up steam since. The interest in Rand didn’t die out as the critics had hoped. Listening to those very critics, you’d never be able to tell that there was a post-Sciabarra universe of Rand scholarship. Had Miss Rand been around today to observe this, I think she would say something to the effect of, “This is not an honest mistake.” So far the critics don’t seem much interested in proving such a hypothesis mistaken. Some years back, the standard formulaic sneer was that Rand wasn’t a serious enough philosopher to be taken seriously in the academy. You’d think that with the appearance of the Smith book in 2006, and with the existence and activities of the Ayn Rand Society, these folks would be responsive to new information. Just wait until the newest generational wave reads and absorbs not just Smith’s book, but also Peikoff’s “Understanding Objectivism,” previously only available to the “inner cult” in expensive recorded format. The stale academic mainstream is going to have a problem on its hands, then. Those obnoxious undergrads are going to be fortified that much more; absent effective rebuttal from the mainstream academy, more of those students will enter grad school and wreak more of their “havoc.” Now, either this will be a bad thing in virtue of Rand being a weak philosopher, or this will be a good thing in virtue of Rand being not nearly the weak philosopher the cult of Rand-bashers makes her out to be. You can thank your lucky stars that these new generational waves will also be very big on Aristotle – in virtue of fundamental methodological similarities to Rand, which may be as fundamental a criterion for assessing a philosopher’s merit as any. I, for one, don’t care to be on the losing side of history. You might want to be *damn* sure you know what you’re talking about re: “pseudophilosopher” Ayn Rand since I don’t see her conveniently going away anytime soon. (You might also consider just how truly mean-spirited and politically-motivated is the prominent blogger who directed traffic to your, um, flawed analysis. I’ve yet to see anything remotely resembling a fair, accurate, competent or objective commentary on Rand from that person in several years. It’s pathetic really given that person’s stature in the profession.) Random, I am preparing a response to several of the criticisms levied above. Please be patient; I have other responsibilities, including a small child, a dissertation, and undergraduate teaching. I will attempt to respond as best I can in the comment section. Until then, I am approving every single comment Objectivists submit (to the point where they have effectively taken over the comment section) so that readers of my piece may see the ‘other side.’ For the time being, while many critics have taken me to task for my characterization of Rand’s method as deductive, I remain unconvinced that I am wrong on this point, and the bulk of my forthcoming comments will focus on the issue. You also take me to task on my characterization of her ethics by going back to the text of her novels, and I will also have something to say here. I do note, however, that no one–either here, or on the Reddit threads dedicated to the post–has spoken to the issues I present in the section on ‘the theory of second-best’ or my more general remarks on comparative methodology, which is a well-supported inductive argument about the epistemic reliability of piece-meal versus comprehensive, ‘total’ approaches. History is not kind to ‘systems.’ With some luck, my answers will be complete by this evening. After that, I cannot promise any further contribution; life is short, and, cognizant as I am of the total intellectual production of the species to this point, I really wish to move on to other things. There remains poems of Rilke I have not encountered, novels by McCarthy, I’ve been meaning to read Deleuze, and I do not for a moment believe the study of Rand is worth dropping these things. (Incidentally, I should make it clear I do not think Rand is stupid–she seems, in effect, rather smart and clever, and certainly productive. The problem is that she–and her followers–insist on comparing her work to that of Plato, Aristotle, Kant, Hume, and so on, and if that is the comparison class, I am afraid she falls short. As we all do. There are some interesting bits of her philosophy that might be salvaged. There are people I respect working on this (e.g. in the philosophy of science; I can name some names). But if the claim is that Rand’s philosophy, as a total system, is the most important and significant piece of theorizing in several thousand years, one that could ‘solve’ almost every open problem–from induction to value theory to political philosophy–then it is obvious to me that this is complete and utter nonsense. And I have already spent far too much time even thinking about it to worry about what anonymous Randians on the internet think, or whether I have besmirched her reputation with a ‘smear’ job.) If you look at Sciabarra’s “Russian Radical” or – heaven forbid – Peikoff’s “Understanding Objectivism,” you’ll find plenty of evidence that Rand’s methodology is not deductive – that, in fact, Rand was not too keen on an induction/deduction dichotomy and that (in the tradition of Aristotle) she was (or ideally was) rigorously empirical at root. (“Dichotomy” here I mean in the dualistic sense discussed by Sciabarra. Yes, there is the plain and commonsensical and strictly logical *distinction* between a process of induction and a process of deduction. However, Rand and Peikoff stressed the cognitive-methodological need to work back and forth between inductive and deductive modes to, shall we say, keep a check on both processes. This has something to do with what Peikoff in “UO” terms the “spiral,” that is, a ongoing systematic return to the perceptual level interwoven with one’s abstract theoretical modes of reasoning. I think that any serious Rand scholar – someone on the steering committee of the Ayn Rand Society, say – would consider it unfounded (to put it gently) to ascribe to Rand this supposed deductive approach from “A is A” or the axioms. Have you read Rand’s statements on the cognitive role of axiomatic concepts? It’s in the online Lexicon, pretty easy to look up. The Lexicon, I’ll add, makes it increasingly difficult for her opponents to misrepresent her views and get away with it. Random– I do not have much time to spend on this, so I will write off-the-cuff, perhaps to your benefit (readers may take away that I am incapable of responding and take your view more seriously.) So. I am not going to read this vast and sophisticated secondary literature on Rand you cite. That’s just not going to happen. Now you may argue that I have no business writing 8,500 word opinion pieces without having done so; and you are within your rights to accordingly lower your evaluation of my intellectual seriousness or sincerity. At every point in one’s life choices must me made about how to spend one’s time. Nothing said so far has convinced me that it would be profitable to read Sciabarra or Smith or Machan. These are hours I could spend on non-classical logic or formal semantics. Or any of a dozen thinkers and subjects. It is not at all normal for a ‘philosopher’ to have a half-dozen privately funded institutes. Or to have such specific public policy recommendations that can be made sub specie aeternitatis: Rand cites no empirical research, conducts no study, gathers no data, merely asserts that she knows what monetary policy to follow. This is no way to go about the study of economics or political science. Again, nothing has been said about this argument because nothing can be said. If I fundamentally reject the idea that minimum wage laws can be evaluated from the armchair, then Rand is an intellectual curiosity at best and a useful obfuscation at worst. It is also not normal for a ‘philosopher’ to have a complete system that claims to resolve practically every major open question in metaphysics, epistemology, ethics, and political theory, and gains adherents with a closed system of self-reinforcing internal jargon that continually propounds her world-historical importance. This is the stuff of gurus and cults. There is literally no serious figure in modern intellectual history that even comes close to these kinds of grandiose claims. If you want to find someone like Dr. Brooks over at the ARI, then go to scientologists and see what they say about L. Ron Hubbard: “the greatest human that ever lived, the greatest genius to ever write,” and so on. It’s tedious. Yes, some serious philosophers have grappled with her and perhaps produced interesting, useful little bits of actual philosophy. This is an inevitable by-product of the undeserved propagation and emphasis of her ideas. A philosophy department can attract a lot of outside money by being friendly to Rand. If a few million dollars were spent promoting the thought of some half-forgotten figure–Bradley, Whitehead–I’m sure we’d find all kinds of interesting things, because we’re paying good money to clever people to find interesting things. No money accrues to Whitehead because Whitehead didn’t spend a lot of time trying to convince people that the ‘welfare state’ should be liquidated. Only in America. These sociological observations will not move you, or any of the ‘objectivists’ still reading the comment thread. Again, I hope the undecided and uncommitted think through this and reach their own conclusions. From my vantage point, it is pretty clear Rand was a smart figure who got in her own way. She might have made a decent thinker if she had any humility whatsoever. A damned waste, really. (1) Identity, Method and Logic What is the nature of the Randian argument? I’ve asserted it is a piece of deductive armchair reasoning. And further asserted that such armchair analysis cannot be expected to produce any reliable truths about the political, economical, and moral topics Rand discusses. In particular, I focused on the law of identity as exemplar of what is wrong-headed about the approach. Let me re-angle the attack. I assume the following is not controversial: a. Rand is explicit in her opposition to certain public policy. She advocates a minimalist state, implying a host of negative theses (do not enforce minimum wage laws, do not enforce child labour laws, and so on). b. Rand is very explicit that her conclusions can be “proved by means of logic which can be demonstrated to be true and necessary.” Yes, I realize the quote is from an interview, and not a ‘sophisticated’ 800-page book on Objectivism written by Serious People. Her words nevertheless have the virtue of being clear and succinct, and there is no question that she meant exactly what she said–even if it was compressed or simplified for a wide audience. But whatever was simplified in the background does not change the meaning of the words–a thesis that can be found again and again in her writings–that her conclusions are true, necessary, and logically demonstrable. Do her conclusions follow necessarily from her premises? Yes? That’s a deductive argument. Point final. Okay. Good. Now: I don’t think that, among the set of propositions that can be made about public policy in a modern western democracy there is a single logically-deducible necessary truth. Not a single one, not about health care, not about working conditions, not about safety regulations. You can’t get that from the armchair. And if you think there are, then you are quite mad. This is not rhetoric, either. I mean it. If you think that public policy is an armchair pursuit, only ideological capture could explain that fact. The kind of ideological spell that prevents useful information about the world to come in and interfere with the sinkhole of true belief. You can’t determine whether some environmental regulation or other is a good idea by reflecting on first principles. I don’t care how much metaphysical or conceptual content is smuggled in. Identity could be the most sophisticated and complex congerie of neo-Aristotelian realism mixed with whatever epistemic requirements you want to build in: it is not going to work. (If it is, as some commenters would have it, a sophisticated inductive argument, where are the experiments? What studies have objectivists conducted? What data do they cite? Oh, I can tell you right now: they proceed from how things seem to them about ‘human nature’ and ‘reality.’ If you ask them whether they think a paraconsistent logic might be an effective model of human ratiocination they would know right away that this is impossible. But you can’t know that. Not until you do the hard, boring work of, you know, science.) So, I’m sorry, the first thing I am going to do is get rid of every single public policy recommendation objectivists make. Done, gone, out the window. For all any of us know moving towards the completely minimal state recommended could inflict untold harm to millions. You don’t know, I don’t know, and, as an empirical tinkerer, it is not the kind of thing I chance with. The method is not knowledge-producing and I stand by that. You could have the correct metaphysics of identity. I don’t care. You still don’t get government out of that and some hand-waving about the ‘value of life’ and ‘human reason.’ (“Harm, psharm! There is only one morally coherent government!”–this is the essence of the dispute, perhaps). In any event, there is plenty of textual support that identity is treated a purely logical tautology sometimes and as an epistemic concept some other times, and a metaphysical truth some other times. No doubt much heavy lifting has been done to reconcile all this. In any event, I don’t care: even if Rand had her metaphysical ducks in a row, her political conclusions don’t follow. Now, these putative axioms are top-heavy and ill-considered in any event. It is claimed that they are “implicit in all knowledge, and cannot be rejected without being relied upon in the course of the attempted rejection,” (from the SEP) but then we are told that identity also means that “[an entities] characteristics constitute its identity,” (that’s Peikoff) and so already we are in significant metaphysical trouble, since such a primitive identification of identity conditions with ‘characteristics’ is completely inadequate to the problems of contingency and modality (see, for example,) and those presented by physical science (see:). In other words: yes, I can reject the axioms. Maybe something different will have to take their place as we puzzle out the metaphysics of identity, that’s fine; the point now is that these ‘axioms’ are not final or indubitable or necessary or even particularly good solutions to philosophical problems. I treated ‘A is A’ are logical because that is the only charitable thing to do: at least then it has the force of some intuition, give or take what Graham Priest might think, and it preserves the ‘necessary’ structure of the argument. But considered as a metaphysical principle it’s a complete non-starter. This is typical of her thought. (Her theory of reference is equally primitive: a concept is simply its referent, leaving us with no means to deal with e.g. substitution salva veritate in opaque contexts). She wants her conclusions to be inescapable, and dresses herself in the armature of logic and necessity, but when pressed avails herself of conceptual content that is, when not at least controversial, then obviously false. (2) Context and Morality Who are the ‘parasites’, indeed! Given the prevailing political uses to which Rand is put–and what social classes suffer from it–I cannot take seriously your exegetical work here. The upshot of the elimination of major parts of the welfare state, including public education, food stamps, and so on, would be to harm the poor, and not the morally compromised petite bourgeoisie or union bosses or whoever else is the ‘real’ target. I have no idea what you think the result of Rand’s politics is supposed to be. If her morality is the boring motivational ‘be true to yourself’, knock yourself out; I’ll be reading Stendhal meanwhile. but I cannot read all this talk of ‘parasites’ in any other way than as justification for indifference. Maybe in some alternate universe Rand opens up grand new vistas of voluntary charity and concern for the poor. In this world it is an excuse to sneer on ‘flu shots’ and food stamps. On the issue of the pursuit of money. Roark’s time in the stone quarry might be a matter of personal integrity to him–showing that there are other, higher ideals–but narratively the purpose it serves is to underscore the mediocrity of the world he is thrust in, and in the end, Roark triumphs. The arc of the story is very old. If Rand had made the bold literary choice of having Roark cut stone the remainder of his days, a testament to his moral fibre, that would be one thing. But the hero does not remain in the underworld forever: instead, he finishes on top of his gleaming skyscraper (thus moral integrity is meaningless without the chance to act on it and build something). Was I guilty of lazy writing in the paragraph you mention about McGill? Maybe a little. Rand is not the Ferengi in Star Trek and I will cop to that charge. It was vulgar. Finally, about ‘context.’ You say it is important, but I’ve quoted Rand on three occasions claiming that morality is a matter of black and white, and one of my central concerns was that, for Randians, no amount of general welfare could possibly justify exceptions to individual rights. I contrasted this to ancient virtue ethics, which certainly never conceived of public or private morality in this way, but reflected on the dispositions of character of ideally virtuous individuals: ‘imagine what so-and-so would do in this situation,’ in other words, and sometimes that might mean–I don’t know–an act of self-sacrifice, perhaps. Reflection on context is the morality, and not merely the truism that every particular moral judgement is made in some context or other. With this, I am done with this thread. The new semester starts in a week and I will begin moderating comments more heavily–and likely not reply to any further discussion. Thank you, everyone, for reading.. You sure you want to let yours truly have the last word? “I am not going to read this vast and sophisticated secondary literature on Rand you cite.” Yeah! I’m only going to read her fiction – and what other people wrote about her! And then I am going to attack her entire philosophy based on that! Why do I need to have done any other reading in order to discredit her philosophy? Regurgitating the assertions of others rather than actually reading Miss Rand’s arguments on the ideas I attack is *much* easier. I’d rather do other things with my time than actually read about that which I am attacking as false! So I simply pass off that work to others and simply quote them! Read Rand’s work in order to evaluate its truth? Are you kidding me?! First hand knowledge of that which I condemn? Who needs that?! And what do I care if you say it isn’t actually what she preached and practiced?! Like what SHE said actually matters here!! – As I said – NO honesty about Miss Rand and her ideas here. “What is the nature of the Randian argument? I’ve asserted it is a piece of deductive armchair reasoning.” No. You quoted someone else’s manufactured argument, rather than going to her and quoting her and her argument (which was the primary tactic you utilized through your whole blog post). In this case, the person you quoted claimed he had to make up this “deductive armchair” argument because she herself supposedly did not present it. Of course, this is false. So while you have indeed made an assertion, you have not made one pertaining to Miss Rand’s actual views. You have left her views unidentified and unrefuted. That is the problem with straw men – and why they are fallacies. .” Since A Random Philosopher has no links to a blog, I take it that Mr. McGinnis is actually referring to my blog post here: In my brief explanation of Rand’s ethics, I made sure to provide evidence, via links, that what I was giving was actually Rand’s view, and not some skewed misinterpretation. The politics consistent with the ethics I outline is still unregulated laissez-faire capitalism, because government robbery is not benevolence, and does not support good will among men. It forces people to reward indolence and incompetence, and produces a legislative war among pressure groups to get a big “piece of the pie” from the taxpayers. [...] The System That Wasn’t There: Ayn Rand’s Failed Philosophy by Nicholas McGinnis, from Rotman Institute Of Philosophy Share this:EmailPrintTwitterFacebookRedditStumbleUponDiggMoreLinkedInLike this:LikeBe the first to like this. This entry was posted in Bookmarks and tagged academic writing, Ayn Rand, Geza Vermes, hagiography, Herman Melville, Ray Bradbury by Ben. Bookmark the permalink. [...] “… if there were some web forum set up where professionally-trained philosophers, both pro-Rand and anti-Rand, could have it out.” i think the point Nicholas makes and which we saw in the B Leigh posts, professionally trained pro-rand(ian)s are an oxymoron and do not exist cheers bubba I’m adding a new favorite Randroid argument to my list: 1) “You disagree with me, therefore you don’t understand Rand’s ‘philosophy’.” 2) “You didn’t REALLY read her books and essays. Go read them again… you still disagree?” (defer back to 1) 3) Angry name calling (always a favorite) 4)!! “Read Rand’s disciples, they surely knew better what Rand REALLY meant.” (Last line of defense when 1,2,3 fail) Brilliantly dishonest and inconsistent argument. Sorry to dive into a musical metaphor but it’s like deriving Paganini’s compositional style by analyzing Brahms’ “Variation on the theme of Paganini”. P.S. Mr. McGinnis I beg you, pretty please, publish your essay so I can buy a hard copy of this brilliant and complete disembowelment of this pseudo-philosophy and thank you!
? { 41 comments… read them below or add one } I won’t lie, I’m super stoked that I have my own tag on your blog! Also, mouth breathers suck, I will never be able to look at Eli Manning the same again. This would sound totally callous out of context… but I was so disappointed that Peeta’s leg wound wasn’t more severe and that his leg wasn’t amputated. That was a pretty huge deal, and you’re so right that the whole hovercraft scene at the end would have been so devastating to see on the screen. HAHAHA That does sound strange out of context! But seriously, Peeta’s wound and amputation were so huge for his character and Katniss’ feelings… I wish we’d been able to see the hovercraft scene. (And remember how great it was, because as Katniss is flailing, some random Capitol guy walks by and says, “Refreshment?” Man! Wish I could’ve seen that.) Sarah, you said ALL THE THINGS I was thinking about Movie Peeta. He was so underrepresented in the film. I really liked Josh Hutcherson’s performance, and it was mostly just a matter of the good Peeta moments ending up on the cutting room floor. One of the first things I said coming out of the theater was how much I missed the hovercraft surgery scene and Katniss’s reaction to finding out he lost his leg. I’m sure the filmmakers had a reason for cutting out these poignant scenes, but for the life of me I can’t imagine why. ” it was mostly just a matter of the good Peeta moments ending up on the cutting room floor.” —Exactly. Strange, though, considering what a big character Peeta is, and the amount of scrutiny G. Ross & Co. had to know their treatment of him would undergo. “I’m sure the filmmakers had a reason for cutting out these poignant scenes, but for the life of me I can’t imagine why.” I agree, 100%. I hope in the DVD they might address that, or at least in the lead-up to Catching Fire, where they’ll have to discuss how it’s different than the book for Peeta. Danielle, loved your Gale comments. That first scene of them in the woods, when Gale MESSES UP A KILL for Katniss seemed REALLY out of character, even though he had a point that it was Reaping Day and not a good idea to carry a deer carcass into town. BUT STILL. He and Katniss were so in step in the woods, Katniss tells us so when she tries to hunt with Peeta in the arena, and they definitely deserved one good hunting scene. Also, I expected them to show more of his reactions as a viewer of the games. It’s true that the best parts from the movie were his interactions with Prim. And Sarah, I totally agree with your comments about Peeta – he ended up looking stupid at the end of the movie, unaware of the stakes and of the original plan. Also, it bothered me that they didn’t show Katniss cleaning Peeta and *trying* to address his wound. I think it was a really nice interaction and showed her weaknesses as well as her strengths, and Peeta’s strength too. That’s so true, having Katniss try to heal gave her a human side, because she was so inept. And per your first comment, I agree that Gale ruining the hunt was not really part of his character. But the books never showed Gale and Prim interacting, so getting to see that was great. So a friend on Twitter @melgotserved just introduced me to a hilarious phrase. I referred to Josh as (of course) Peeta Pocket, to which she called Liam “The Towering Inferno.” I simply had to share it here. This is a REALLY IMPRESSIVE comparison of the HG boys. I see both sides, but I’m a fangirl. I side with the jawline. #doitforthejawline THE TOWERING INFERNO! I really hope he gets the chance to live up to that in the next 2 movies. OMG. And of course you know I am also #doingitforthejawline LADIES. You’ve given me my solid LOL for the morning. (And I love a good reference to my guest blog! WOOT!) When Hipster Gale is an internet meme, can we credit Danielle for first postulating that he sits in fields and wonders about vests all emo-like? I have literally written a dissertation on what I think about the Hunger Games, The Movie: Ghost Protocol: The Sands of Time, but it bears repeating. Although I’m disappointed by the backseat that Peeta took to the development of Katniss as a BAMF in the film, there are things that I’m relieved they didn’t do. I’m glad they didn’t give Peeta the Full Lautner treatment. The tween girls would’ve been apoplectic over some shirtless action (OKAY, MAYBE I WOULD’VE BEEN, TOO), but I’m pretty glad they didn’t go there. It maintained his innocence and rightfully didn’t introduce lust into the delicate mix of real vs. imagined feelings of protectiveness and devotion. I’m relieved they didn’t take his leg at the end, although I never really expected them to. (A grave injury to said leg, though, was necessary, and I am disappointed they extricated that.) I’m relieved they gave him a few moments that gave him a spine AND made him funny and popular. And maybe my favorite moment that they left in the film? As Katniss, Effie, and Peeta are being driven from the Reaping to the train, Katniss is sitting hollow-eyed and staring into nothing, and Peeta’s sitting on the other side of the cab, looking out the window and crying. Just like in the book. So him. So well-acted. So obviously not (and never will be) the alpha in this relationship. I mean, can you imagine seeing a scene like that in any other film? I would obviously love hipster Gale credit! Also, I’m pretty sure Movie Gale was a fan of The Hunger Games before it got popular. Your comment just made me hope so badly that they give Movie Gale the TLaut treatment in the next movie! It will totally do a disservice to the book, but it will make this creeper one very happy gal. “the Hunger Games, The Movie: Ghost Protocol: The Sands of Time” *DIES* I am so with you re: not wanting the Lautner treatment. I mean, we love Peeta because he provides carbs, not so much with the shirtlessness. Okay but now I’m curious why you’re relieved they didn’t take his leg? It definitely would’ve made films 2 and 3 more difficult, but it was a HUGE thing to change, right? (honest question, not meant to be read sassy at all!) ARGH you are SO right about the moment with Peeta crying. He’s unlike most of the other YA fangirl lust objects for that (also see comments re: happy about him keeping his shirt on), god bless him. That would absolutely not happen in another film. GAH! CAN WE WATCH THIS TOGETHER PLS? I totally missed the hovercraft scene at the end. I WANTED to see Katniss going apeshit for Peeta, yanno? Well, clearly you know because you already said it yourself. The Hovercraft Scene!! It is honestly one of the most strongly imagined ones from the entire series for me. I remember when I first read it, tears streaming down my face. WHY did it have to go?? Great post! Your take on Movie Gale was spot-on. I can’t wait to see what they do with him in the next couple movies when he should have a bigger part to play. And also – LOL on the mouth breather comment! I didn’t even notice it so much on Gale but that is the EXACT reason that I was disappointed (a little) in the actor who plays Jon Snow on Game of Thrones. Jon Snow should be hot. And a mouth breather is not!! HAHA Gale and Jon Snow eh? I think there’s a blog post in there somewhere Kitty! And I’m definitely with you—in the next two movies both Peeta and Gale will have more time to grow into their characters I think. *hopes* Dude, dude. The mouthbreather-Gale? And his Eli Manning status?!? Am laugh so much. I will admit that an hour into the movie the first time around, I realized that I was MAD in love with Josh Hutcherson. Not quite ready to chip a nail catfighting Miley Cyrus for him, but, like, whoa. Given the script, he was a-ma-zing. But I was hardcore Team Peeta throughout the books. That boy knows what is up. Still, robbing him of robbing him of his leg? Not cool. It’s going to be really hard for them to compensate the emotional impact there. I could be really cynical and say it’s a Hollywood plot to sideline disabled-friendly stories, but I suspect it’s more just a victim of time limits. We’ll see how it plays out in 2013. Sob . . . so far away! Girl. I am going to be two full years older when Catching Fire comes out. I can’t even. And you’re right, I definitely think cutting the amputation was a time-limit thing, but wow. What a MAJOR change, you know? And no matter what, the fact that it eliminates a character who was disabled is definitely going to be critiqued—as it should, I think. Awareness, yay! Ever read a blog post and wish you’d written it? That totally just happened to me! You both just wrote EVERYTHING I wanted to say about the boys in the movie, especially Peeta, but couldn’t put the right words to! I just re-read the book after seeing the movie twice. Reading it again made me love Book Peeta more (!) and more aware of how Movie Peeta fell short. I don’t think it was Josh – it seemed more like it was the material he was given. Peeta had such great lines in the book, and the movie just didn’t do him justice. And, you know, I wanted more kissing. For reals. I still loved the movie, but I wanted to love Peeta more than I did. You identified exactly why that was, and THIS POST (rather than the movie) totally solidified my Peeta love. Also – Totally agree about mouth breathers. Gross. And lots of LOL-ing at this: “Movie Gale mopes in a field, painting his nails, and ponders whether or not vests have become too mainstream.” *HUGS HANNAH FOREVER* Thank you so much! I’m so glad you could relate to the post :D When Danielle sent me that comment (Gale re: vests) I about died. MAN she is funny! Team Peeta. There’s no changing my mind on that one. I was also really upset that they didn’t put the leg problem at the end. Not only does it get mentioned in the coming books, it also just shows you Katniss’s real feelings for him, even if she doesn’t know what they are herself. You are SO right Carmen. In the interviews when Peeta reveals his leg was amputated, Katniss’ reaction was completely genuine. It showed so much about her, and her feelings. We really missed that at the end of this movie, IMO. I completely agree with everything you said. I feel embarassed that I did this, but a couple of times when the camera flashed on Cato (Alexander Ludwig) staring at Katniss,- I totally thought “Aw! Peeta looks so cute!”. I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON. It’s just that Alexander Ludwig and Josh Hutcherson have similar features, though he is quite tall. I fail at life. Also, Erin’s post was the reason I started following your blog. I loved it! HAHA I don’t think mistaking Cato for Peeta would be hard to do at all! But Cato has about 12 feet on Josh, LOL. They are both QUITE easy on the eyes :) Aaaaw I’m so glad you loved Erin’s post! She is a genius, straight-up! so apparently I am stalking your archives. I haven’t read THG in years, and I forgot all that great stuff about peeta. love the cake comment and am now super bummed it didn’t make it in. though he still won me over in the movie. (lol at mouth-breather gale) I hadn’t re-read the book for about 2 years until I did for this post. I loved Peeta like, even more after reading it critically. He is such a complicated character. They just didn’t have the time to get to that, I guess :( I totally forgot to comment on this over the weekend! So I’ll make this short and sweet as I think I have the makings of my own ridic long HG movie review in the works for this week & I always feel bad about leaving walls of text in your comments. LOL. 1. Danielle’s comments on Book Gale vs. Movie Gale are so amazing it hurts. I had to read it OUT LOUD to my friend because it was so funny. And I agree so much, btw. Book Gale is way hotter (and Chris is indeed the superior Hemsworth :P). I liked the idea of actually getting to see Gale observing the Games & the conflict there, but while he got more screen time in the movie, he was much more of a presence in the books. But there’s not really you can do much about that since that presence was thanks to our being in Katniss’ head and her thinking about him. And omg, mouth-breathing! That was probably the FIRST thing I noticed about Movie Gale in the first HG trailers that came out. I was like OMG, CLOSE YOUR MOUTH. 2. PEETA, OH PEETA. I was soooo iffy about Josh Hutcherson being cast as Peeta (even though I’m Team Gale), but he completely won me over in the movie. He was so Peeta, I can’t even. All that aside, I agree so much with your review about the CHARACTER of Movie Peeta! Movie Peeta made me feel a lot of things similar to what I felt for Book Peeta, but I was definitely missing the complexity! It’s been a while since I read HG, so your detailed post brought back so much, but I do remember being more iffy about Book Peeta – and not in a bad way. It was kind of awesome to see this “nice guy” (or as my friend would say, “tofu”) sort of character who was both charismatic and nice and generally seen as “weaker” than Katniss reveal himself to be clever and savvy and in many ways as much of a fighter as Katniss (though in different ways). I remember being surprised by Book Peeta’s social deftness and even cunning, his sarcastic humor, and especially the fact that I found I didn’t know if I could trust him. It was like I had one impression of him that deepened and changed as I got to know him over the course of the book. In the movie, all of that was flattened out, and I get where that was coming from. I feel like within the movie constraints he needed to be less ambiguous and more clearly an ally to Katniss or at least more clearly sympathetic, but I miss Book Peeta’s ambiguity. AND you see, I think this flattening out thing also plays into my gripe that they didn’t give us enough on the real/not real theme. Because Peeta’s instances of showing his understanding of showmanship were taken out (i.e. the “one of them might be rich” comment), it also lessened the idea of how important showmanship is to helping you in the Games. Like the whole urgency of acting to save your life was lost for me in the movie, and I think the broader strokes used on Peeta’s character contributed to that. Also, yeah, what was UP with magically fixing his leg? Again, urgency gone. I was all – wow, Peeta’s running really well/fast away from those Mutts! I don’t recall this at all from the book. Wasn’t he limping along at this point??? OK, I need to stop because I’m writing another essay here. In short, Book Peeta > Movie Peeta but Josh Hutcherson is still the Bread King. I totally agree 100% with everything you said. Overall I liked the movie, but one of my main complaints was the loss of the complexities and subtleties of the Katniss/Peeta relationship, which is one of my absolute favorite things about the book. And I especially hated the way they made the ending so less intense and traumatic for both of them. It was all just too easy. I touched on all this in my movie recap, but you did an awesome job explaining everything in-depth. Great post! :) OK if u all remember peetas leg was ok (kind of)until a mutt bit it!!! he only lost his leg from about the knee down I must agree with you completely. The movie utterly failed to represent the emotions going on and the characters were a bit misplaced. As much as I love Liam, I believe that they should have casted someone with a bit more edge. The worst parts of the movie were when you watch and you notice they skipped something or they jump too fast from scenes. I know you have a time restraint, but the movie script could have been done with a bit more thought and consideration towards the book. All in all, the movie was okay for someone who never read the book, but for a reader, the movie completely ruined the book. I stopped by today to read your RTW, which was lovely, and end up here. You girls are all spot on! I really loved Book Gale up until the last part of Mockingjay, and I think they missed the opportunity to do more with Movie Gale. The overall complexity of the Katniss-Peeta relationship was lacking even before the ending, but I suppose they had to keep it under 3 hours. Omg I love you Peeta! I LOVE GALE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! No trying to turn this into twilight but ……. TEAM GALE 4 LIFE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly I’m not a big Gale fan…to me he’s nothing more than Katness without the compassion but I see his place in the books. My problem with it is that in the first book he really didn’t have that big of a role yet in the movie every small bit he had in the book was shown at the expense of scenes that are more important to the overall story…like Rue telling about her district which shows how bad things really are outside of district 12. In fact I could have done with a lot less Gale and more of the stuff they left out about Peeta…afterall book two deals with a little more of Gale and by book three he is actually a main character…I say there is time to do them all justice. My fear is that in the wake of Twilight they are trying to make this into a Hollywood triangle thing…which just isn’t there in the books. Does Katness have feelings for both guys…sure…but they are not the same kind of feelings and you can pick up on that throughout the books. The guys are even civil towards one another. I just hope we don’t get an attempt at Twilight and miss that the story is more about the society that Katness lives in and what her actions in the Hunger Games unleash on that society. Oh my… you nailed it! I was disappointed with both representation of Gale and Peeta in the movie. I could never quite understand Katniss’ almost emotionless response to either of the guys – but let’s face it, Gale was a hunk in the book, and movie Gale was almost superfluous and definitely not a fiercely independent mountain guy who was her equal. And Peeta… movie Peeta just wasn’t book Peeta. I didn’t particularly like book Peeta either, but he did at least play the game while grappling with the reality that Katniss didn’t really return the affection. Love your insights into the film relative to the book – both on the two leading men and the movie itself Yeah, they cut it all out; all the reasons why we fell for their love story. I am left hoping that it is a part of the bigger picture. However, fire needs to truly catch in Catching Fire. Regarding Peeta: he’s such a wonderfully complex and sometimes surreally good and true character, that while reading the books you long for his presence. The movie tried and failed to build this feeling. It achieved dissatisfaction by decreasing his presence and depth. Dissatisfaction, unfortunately, is not the same as longing. On the brighter side, I almost liked Josh’ performance. He portrayed the character from an unexpected angle that is still very likable. I truly hope that next time they’ll give him a good screenplay to work with, because I feel like he has the talent and guts to make Peeta unforgettable. its like you read my mind exactly what i thought Hi. Ok, you have voiced EXACTLY what I thought when I watched the movie, and exactly what I hate about it! Honestly I think it has to do with the casting. But what you said is true – in the book, Gale is rugged, angry in a brooding hot way. (This was my exact argument that went out via mass text the second I finished the movie – yes I tend to get way too into things;p). In the movie, Gale smiles! Easily! That’s not supposed to happen! And don’t even get me started on Peeta. I just thought he was a bumbling idiot in the movie. In the book, he doesn’t have Gale’s outward manliness per se, but he shows his courage and sincerity in an equally appealing way. Again, I think it comes down to the casting. I know that it can’t be exactly what I pictured in my head, but I really wish they would have called me before they hired a meathead and an idiot. First of all, I really enjoyed your comments and totally agree with them. I think that they did lose some of Peeta’s complexity in the movie, but I have to give Josh Hutcherson some credit. I wasn’t sure when I saw him cast that he would fit (because he just didn’t fit my vision), but he captured the personality and feel of Peeta perfectly. As you said, the interview scene(and the one right after in the window) were exactly as envisioned. I also agree that while the kiss between K/P did nothing for me, the moment after Katniss brings back the medicine and he puts it on her forehead was hot. I felt the chemistry there. My main complaint about the movie and the K/P relationship was the missing confrontation at the end. Peeta does not find out that Katniss was faking for the cameras the whole time. This is everything for what their relationship is at the beginning of Catching Fire. Since it wasn’t there, I am not sure how this will play in the next movie. I was frustrated because I felt it was a truly important scene for them. Anyways… I won’t make any judgements on Gale. There was just so little to work with. What I saw I liked, but will keep my opnions until we get to the good stuff later on. I really appreciate your comments and views. They were spot on! { 1 trackback }
Services on Demand Article Indicators Cited by SciELO Access statistics Related links Similars in SciELO Bookmark Salud Pública de México Print version ISSN 0036-3634 Salud pública Méx vol.53 n.3 Cuernavaca May./Jun. 2011 ARTÍCULO ORIGINAL Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes isolated from the middle ear of Mexican children diagnosed with acute otitis media Serotipificación de Streptococcus pneumoniae aislados de líquido de oído medio en niños mexicanos con diagnóstico de otitis media aguda. Demóstenes Gómez-Barreto, MDI; Luz Elena Espinosa de los Monteros, PhDII; Claudia López-Enríquez, MDIII; Romeo Rodríguez Suarez, MDIV; Carlos de la Torre, MDI IHospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, México, DF. México IIHospital General Dr. Manuel Gea González, México, DF. México IIIHospital Español, Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas, México, DF. México IVInstitutos Nacionales de Salud, México, DF. México ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to identify the etiology and the serotypes of S. pneumoniae (Sp) in Mexican children with acute otitis media (AOM). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study includessamples frompatientsdiagnosed with AOM at the Federico Gomez Children's Hospital of Mexico (2002-2003),with positive culture for Sp bacteriologically confirmed in middle ear fluid obtained by tympanocentesis. All Sp were serotyped. A total of 138 samples from 135 children with AOM were included. RESULTS: Sp was isolated in 72 samples from 70 children. Sixty (85.7%) were previously healthy and 10 (14.3%) were immunocompromised. The most common serotypes were 6B and 19F (16.67%), and 6 A, 14 and 23F (15.27%). CONCLUSION: The distribution of serotypes among the children with AOM in the study is similar to that reported in developing cities, and 63.9% of the isolated serotypes are found to be included in the 7-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV), 68.1% in the 10-Valent PCV and 83.3% in 13-Valent PCV. Key words: otitis media, Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotyping; Mexico RESUMEN OBJETIVO: Conocer la etiología y serotipos de S. pneumoniae (Sp) en niños mexicanos, con otitis media aguda (OMA). MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se incluyeron las muestras de pacientes con OMA del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez (2002-2003), con cultivo positivo para Sp, (bacteriológicamente confirmados en el líquido del oído medio obtenido por timpanocentesis). Todos los Sp. fueron serotipificados. Se incluyeron 138 muestras de 135 niños con OMA. RESULTADOS: Sp. se aisló en 72 muestras de 70 niños: 60 (85.7%) eran previamente sanos y 10 (14.3%) eran inmunocomprometidos. Los serotipos más frecuentes fueron 6B y 19F (16.67%), y 6 A, 14 y 23F (15.27%). CONCLUSIONES: La distribución de los serotipos en niños con otitis media aguda fue similar a la reportada en ciudades en desarrollo y se observó que 63.9% de los serotipos aislados están incluidos en la vacuna conjugada 7-valente, 68.1% en la 10-valente y 83.3% en la 13-valente. Palabras clave: otitis media, Streptococcus pneumoniae, serotipificación; México Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common infections in the world, and mainly affects children. The epidemiology of acute otitis media over the last decade has indicated a change in the course of the disease, with more children experiencing recurring episodes during their first year. Since this is one of the diseases for which antibiotics are most indicated, it has brought about changes in the susceptibility to antibiotics of the pathogenic bacteria involved, as well as changes in treatment strategies.1 The 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (7-valent PCV) has shown its efficacy in preventing the specific Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes that cause otitis, and reducing the resistance of respiratory pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics.2,3 Before the 7-valent PCV was given universally in the United States, around 7 000 000 cases of AOM caused by S. pneumoniae had been estimated.4 Due to its importance and epidemiological frequency, AOM is one of the infectious processes for which antimicrobials are most frequently prescribed, and sometimes incorrectly. This is considered to be the cause of increased anti-microbial resistance in many parts of the world.5 The pathogens that are the most common cause of AOM are Streptococcus pneumoniae (25-50%), Haemophilus influenzae (15-30%) and Moraxella catarrhalis (3-20%). Nevertheless, it was not possible to isolate any bacterial pathogen in 16% of cases or viral pathogen in 25% of cases.6,7 The leading bacterial causes of AOM in Mexico and worldwide are Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenza nontypable.8,9 Treating AOM caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae in children under the age of two has become complicated in Mexico and around the world due to decreased susceptibility to antibiotics and the increase in more virulent serotypes, such as those included in the 7-valent PCV.10 The availability of local epidemiological information about the S. pneumoniae serotypes that cause AOM is therefore needed. This epidemiological approach is of great interest as there is evidence that preventive measures can be taken once the S. pneumoniae serotypes involved in AOM are known, particularly those contained in the vaccine.3,10 Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the etiology and serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae that cause AOM in a selected group of Mexican children. Material and Methods This study was an open, observational, retrospective, cross-sectional study. Samples were included of patients diagnosed with AOM at the Federico Gomez Children's Hospital of Mexico between March 2002 and March 2003. The clinical characteristic of the patients selected was bacteriological confirmation using tympanocentesis to remove fluid from the middle ear in order to confirm the bacteriological diagnosis. The patients were clinically evaluated by an otorhinolaryngology specialist and classified by the head of otorhinolaryngology. The tympanocentesis was performed with patients who needed a bacteriological diagnosis in order to identify the bacterial etiology and determine a specific treatment. The procedure was performed by an otolaryngologist using microscopic vision. After the external auditory canal was cleaned, samples were taken using a centuria device. Informed consent from one of the parents of each patient was obtained before performing tympanocentesis. Patients excluded were those with a ruptured eardrum within 48 hours of performing tympanocentesis and those who had ventilation tubes and craniofacial deformations. Samples taken from the middle ear were cultured in sheep blood agar at 5% and chocolate agar incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours in a CO2 atmosphere at 10%. Isolation of S.pneumoniae was identified based on colonial morphology microscopy, susceptibility to optoquine and solubility in bile.11 Serotyping was performed usingthe Quellung reaction with specific pneumococcal antiserums from the Statens Serum Institute (Copenhagen, Denmark). All isolations were typed according to group and factor based on Danish nomenclature.12 Results Included were 138 samples from 135 patients diagnosed with AOM, and 135 bacterial isolations: 72 S. pneumoniae (52.2%), 44 H. influenzae nontypable (31.9%), 13 Moraxella catarrhalis (9.4%), two Staphylococcus aureus (1.4%), two Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1.4%), one E. coli (0.7%), one Streptococcus pyogenes (0.7%) and three samples without germs (2.2%). Of the 70 patients in which S. pneumoniae was isolated, 60 (85.7%) were previously healthy and 10 (14.3%) suffered from an underlying disease that made them immunocompromised. The average age of patients who had S. pneumonie isolated in their ear was 42.5 months with median of 22 months (range 5-109 months). Fifty five percent of patients were under 24 months (Table I). Two were diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and 8 were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and treated with chemotherapy. The two patients with HIV presented recurrent otitis media on two occasions. In terms of severity of the infection, of the total 72 cases of otitis, 64 (88.9%) episodes were classified as AOM, four (5.5%) as acute bilateral otitis, and four (5.5%) as recurrent otitis. The latter correspond to two samples from each of the two patients who presented two different episodes. The serotypes identified in the S. pneumoniae isolates are shown in Table II. Four of those (6B, 14, 19Fand 23 F), which were found in 46 cases (63.9%) are contained in the 7-valent PCV, five (1, 6B, 14, 19F and 23 F), in 49 cases (68.1%), are in the 10-valent PCV and six (1, 6A, 6B, 14, 19F and 23F), in 60 cases (83.3%), are in the 13-valent PCV. Discussion AOM is one of the most common infections in the world, particularly among children under the age of 2 years. The bacterial pathogens in AOM that are most frequently isolated are S. pneumoniae, H. influenza nontypable,and M. catarrhalis, with S pneumoniae being that which is the leading cause of AOM and for which there is the least possibility of a spontaneous cure.13-14 S. pneumoniae is considered to be the more likely cause of complications such as spontaneous rupture of the eardrum and may even cause loss of hearing.15 In some developing countries, AOM and its complications may cause up to 50 000 deaths a year.16 Epidemiological surveillance studies show5,6,7 that before the 7-valent PCV vaccine was introduced, S. pneumoniae was the most common pathogen isolated from fluid in the middle ear of children with AOM (47.7-53% ).17 The most frequent S. pnenumoniae serotypes in our study are: 6B, 19 F, 14, 23F and 6A. It is well known the serotypes that cause AOM worldwide vary according to a number of factors, such as age, health and geographical location.18-22 A review of the most prevalent serotypes involved in AOM in various geographical areas, including the United States ofAmerica, indicate that the most frequent ones are 6 A, 6 B, 14, 19 A, 19 F and 23 F.18-22 Of these six serotypes, four (6 B, 19 F, 14 and 23 F) coincide with the data obtained from our study. When comparing these with AOM-related serotypes in other countries, such as Costa Rica23 and Argentina, there are major differences, particularly in Costa Rica where serotypes 3 and 19F are significant. In Argentina, serotype 14 represents 53.5% of total AOM cases, in contrast to 15.2% in this study.18 In addition, in Europe,24-26 the most common serotypes are 1, 3, 6, 9V, 14, and 23F, whereas in our study we found only three of these (6,14 and 23). These examples clearly show geographical differences in the prevalence of serotypes that cause AOM. Therefore, each country or geographic region needs to conduct active epidemiological surveillance of the S. pneumoniae serotypes that cause AOM. One point of particular importance is that major changes have occurred in the pathogens that cause AOM, after the 7-valent PCV vaccine was introduced, such as a reduction in S. penumoniae and an increase in nontypable H. influenzae.27-30 Other studies have shown a decrease in the percentage of vaccine serotypes and an increase in non-vaccine serotypes (1,3, 6A, 7, 10, 11 A, 15A, 16, 19A, 20 22, 29, 31, 33 F, 35, 37, 38, 42 and nontypable serotypes).30-32 In patients vaccinated with two to four 7-valent PCV doses, the most commonly isolated serotypes causing AOM were 3, 18A and 19A.32 Serotype 19A has increased substantially as a carrier in invasive infections and in AOM. Korea, Israel and Mexico have found 19A serotypes as carriers and in invasive forms.33-35 The most common AOM Sp serotypes worldwide are 6A, 6B, 14, 19A, 19F and 23F, while serotype 3 is rare.36 A Finnish study provides evidence of AOM prevention using 7-valent PCV.3 In addition to the 7-valent PCV vaccine's protective factors, it provides a number of other benefits, including: reducing the number of consultations related to AOM, reducing the need to use ventilation tubes for recurrent otitis, lowering the resistance of bacteria to penicillin and other antibiotics and strengthening the herd effect an indirect effect that has the greatest epidemiological impact.2,28,29,37 In a recent study in children associated with an insurance company and who received four doses of 7-valent PCV vaccine, consultations related to AOM decreased 42.7% and there was a reduction in antibiotic use.29 We found in our results that of all the S. pneumoniae serotypes isolated in the fluid of the middle ear, 63.9% were contained in the 7-valent PCV, 68.1% in the 10-valent PCV and 83.3% in the 13-valent PCV. Our results could not be generalized to the entire Mexican population because in the study we only include a small group of children in a special population (Mexican children at a third level hospital, Children's Hospital of Mexico), from 2002 to 2003, before the universal 7-valent PCV was used in Mexico. Currently, there may now be new and different pneumococcal serotypes, therefore it is important to continue to conduct epidemiological studies. These results highlight the need to use S. pneumoniaeconjugate vaccines universally, however, the regional epidemiology of predominant serotypes in AOM needs to be ascertained to develop recommendations suitable to each region. The importance of implementing epidemiological surveillance procedures should also be emphasized, so as to assess the impact and benefits of anti-pneumococcal vaccination. Conclusions Identifying the local epidemiology of Streptococcus pneumonaie serotypes associated with AOM is very important to developing the best prevention and treatment practices for pneumococcal otitis. The only preventive action that may currently be taken against AOM caused by S. pneumoniae is the administration of S. pneumoniae conjugate vaccines. Our results show that in a small group of Mexican children with AOM, 63.9% of S. pneumoniae serotypes identified as causing the disease are included in the 7-valent PCV vaccine. Declaration of conflicts of interest: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. References 1. Jacobs MR. Increasing antibiotic among otitis media pathogens and their susceptibility to oral agents base on pharmacodynamic parameters. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2000; 19: S47-56. [ ] 3. Eskola J, Kilpi T, Palmut A, Jokinen J, Haapakoski J, Herva E, et al. Efficacy of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine against acute otitis media. N Engl J Med 2001; 344: 403-9. [ Links ] 4. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevention of pneumococcal disease: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR 1997;46:1-24. [ Links ] 5. McCraken GH Jr.Treatment of acute otitis media in an era of increasing microbial resistance. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1998; 17:576-9. [ Links ] 6. Klein JO. Microbiologic efficacy of antibacterial drugs for acute otitis media. Pediatr Infect Dis J 1993;12: 973-5. [ Links ] 7. Teele DW, Klein JO, Word BM, Rosner BA, Starobin S, Earle R Jr, Ertel CS, Fisch G, Michaels R, Heppen R, Strause NP; Greater Boston Otitis Media Study Group. Antimicrobial prophylaxis for infants at risk for recurrent acute otitis media. Vaccine 2000; 19 Suppl 1:S140-3. [ Links ] 8. Rodríguez RS, Sánchez C, de la Torre GC. Bacteriology and the response to treatment using erythromycin sulphametoxazol in children with acute otitis media. Bol Med Hosp Infant Mex 1987; 44: 728. [ Links ] 9. Owen J. Otitis media . N Engl J Med 2002; 347: 1169-74. [ Links ] 10. ] 11. Facklam, RR and Washington JA II. Streptococcus and related catalasenegative gram-positive cocci. In: Ballows A, Hauher WJ, Hermann KL, Isenberg HD, and Shadomy HJ (ed). Manual of clinical microbiology. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology, 1991: 238-257 [ Links ] 12. Sørensen UB.Typing of pneumococci by using 12 pooled antisera. J Clin Microbiol 1993; 31(8):2097-100. [ Links ] 13. Teele DW, Klein JO, Chase C, Menyuk, Rosner BA. Otitis media in infancy and intellectual ability, school achievement, speech, and language at age 7 years. Greater Boston Otitis Media Study Group. J Infect Dis 1990; 162(3): 685-94. [ Links ] 14. Erhardt W, Murphy M, Knirsch C. Establishing criteria for assessment of efficacy of antimicrobial agents in acute otitis media.Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2000 ;44(9):2590-2. [ Links ] 15. Leibovitz E, Serebro M, Givon-Lavi N, Greenberg D, Broides A, Leiberman A et al. Epidemiologic and microbiologic characteristics of culture-positive spontaneous otorrhea in children with acute otitis media. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2009;28(5):381-4 [ Links ] 16. Berman S. Otitis media in developing countries. Pediatrics 1995;96:126-31. [ Links ] 17. Block SL, Hendrick J, Harrison CJ,Tyler R, Smith A, Findlay R, Keegan E. Pneumococcal serotypes from acute otitis media in rural Kentucky. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2002; 9:859-965. [ Links ] 18. Hausdorff WP,Yorhers G, Dagan R, Kilpi T, Pelton SI, Cohen R, et al. Multinational Study of pneumococcal serotypes causing acute otitis media in children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2002; 21: 1008-16. [ Links ] ] 20.;18: 1322-29. [ Links ] 21. Guevara S, Soley C,Arguedas A, Porat N, Dagan R. Seasonal distribution of otitis media pathogens among Costa Rican children. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2008; 27(1):12-6 [ Links ] 22. Rodgers GL,Arguedas A, Cohen R, Dagan R. Global serotype distribution among Steptococcus pneumoniae isolates causing otitis media in children: potential implications for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Vaccine 2009; 27: 3802-10. [ Links ] 23.Arguedas A, Dagan R, Guevara S, Porat N., Soley C, Pérez A, Brilla R. Middle era fluid Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype distribution in Costa Rican children with otitis media. Pediatr Infec Dis J 2005; 24: 631-34. [ Links ] 24. Prymula P, Peeters P, Chrobok V, Kriz P, Novakova E, Kohl I, et al. Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides conjugated to protein D for prevention of acute otitis media caused by both Streptococcus pneumoniae and non- typable Haemophilus influenzae: a randomized double -blind efficacy study. Lancet 2006; 367: 270-78. [ Links ] 25. Kilpi T , Herva E, Kaijalainen T, Syrjânen R, Takala AK. Bacteriology of acute otitis media in a cohort of Finnish children followed for the first two years of life. Pediatr Infec Dis J 2001; 20: 654-62. [ Links ] 26. Gene A, Garcia-Garcia JJ, Domingo A, Wiemberg P, Palavacino E. Etiology of acute otitis media in children in hospital and sensitivity of the evolved microorganisms to antibiotics: Enferm Infect Microbiol Clin 2004; 22: 377-30. [ Links ] 27.;9:829-33. [ Links ] 28. Casey JR, Pichichero ME. Changes in frequency and pathogens causing acute otitis media in 1995 -2003. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2004;23:824-28. [ Links ] 29. Zhou F, Shefer A, Kong Y, Nuorti JP.Trends in acute otitis media related health care utilization by privately insured young children in the United States, 1997-2004. Pediatrics 2008; 121: 253-60. [ Links ] 30. Pichichero ME, Casey JR. Emergence of multiresitant serotype 19A pneumococcal strain not included in the 7-valent conjugate vaccine as an otopathogen in children. JAMA 2007; 298:1772-1778. [ Links ] 31. Pai R, Moore MR, Pilishvili T, Gertz RE, Whitney CG, Beall B,. Active Bacterial Core Surveillance Team. Post vaccine genetic structure of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19 A from children in the United States, J Infect Dis 2005. 192: 1988-95. [ Links ] 32. Infec Dis 2005; 40: 1738-44. [ Links ] 33. Choi EH, Kim SH, Eun BW, Kim SJ, Kim NH, Lee J, et al. Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in children, South Korea. Emerg Infect Dis 2008;14(2):275-81. [ Links ] 34. Espinosa-de Los Monteros LE, Jiménez-Rojas V, Aguilar-Ituarte F, Cashat-Cruz M, Reyes-López A, Rodríguez-Suárez R, Kuri-Morales P, Tapia-Conyer R, Gómez-Barreto D. Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates in healthy children attending day-care centers in 12 states in Mexico. Salud Publica Mex 2007; 49(4): 249-55. [ Links ] 35. Gomez-Barreto D, Espinosa de los Monteros LE, Lopez-Enriquez C, Jimenez Rojas V, Rodriguez Suarez R. Invasive Pneumococcal Disease in a Third Level Pediatric Hospital in Mexico City: Epidemiological Characteristics and Mortality-Related Risk Factors. Salud Publica Mex 2010; 52 (5): 391-97. [ Links ] 36. Porat N, Soley C, Marengoleine MM, Grenber D, Givon-Levin, Trefler R, et al.An international serotype 3 clones causing pediatric and invasive infections in Israel, Costa Rica and Lithuania. Pediatr Infec Dis J 2008; 27: 709-12 [ Links ] 37. Whitney CG, Farley MM, Hadler J, Harrison LH, Bennett NM, Lynfield R et al.Active Bacterial Core Surveillance of the Emerging Infections Program Network. Decline in invasive pneumococcal disease after the introduction of protein polysaccharide conjugate vaccine. N Engl J Med 2003; 348: 1733-45. [ Links ] Solicitud de sobretiros: Dr. Demóstenes Gómez Barreto Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gómez Calle Dr. Marquez 162, Col. Doctores, Mexico, DF Received on: October 15, 2010 Accepted on: April 14, 2011
you are here: choose a survey survey document chapter Publisher: U.S. Census Bureau Chapter Contents Design and Methodology: American Community Survey A corporate entity established to conduct both business and nonprofit affairs of Alaska Natives, pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-203, as amended). Twelve ANRCs are legally bounded geographic entities that cover Alaska, except for the Annette Islands Reserve (an American Indian reservation). A thirteenth ANRC represents Alaska Natives who do not live in Alaska and do not identify with any of the 12 corporations; the U.S. Census Bureau does not present data for this ANRC. Alaska Native village (ANV) A local governmental unit in Alaska that constitutes an association, band, clan, community, group, tribe, or village, recognized pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1972 (Public Law 92-203, as amended). ANVs do not have clearly defined boundaries that are easily locatable, and they often include many square miles of land used by Alaska Natives for hunting and fishing, so the U.S. Census Bureau works with officials of the Alaska Native villages and Alaska Native Regional Corporations to delineate Alaska Native village statistical areas for data presentation purposes. Alaska Native village statistical area (ANVSA) A statistical entity that represents the settled portion of an Alaska Native village for data presentation purposes. American Indian off-reservation trust land The United States holds title for specific area in trust for the benefit of an American Indian tribe (tribal trust land) or for an individual American Indian (individual trust land). Although trust land may be located on or off a reservation, the U.S. Census Bureau recognizes and tabulates data only for off-reservation trust land. Census data always associate off-reservation trust land with a specific federally recognized reservation and/or tribal government. See American Indian reservation, American Indian trust land. American Indian reservation A federal American Indian reservation is an area that has been set aside by the United States for the use of one or more federally recognized American Indian tribes. Together with off-reservation trust land, a reservation covers territory over which one or more tribes have primary governmental authority. The boundary of a federal reservation is defined by tribal treaty, agreement, executive or secretarial order, federal statute, or judicial determination. A state American Indian reservation is an area that a state government has allocated to a tribe recognized by that state, but not by the federal government. American Indian reservations are known as colonies, communities, Indian communities, Indian villages, pueblos, rancherias, ranches, reservations, reserves, and villages. See American Indian off-reservation trust land, American Indian tribal subdivision, American Indian trust land, joint use area. American Indian tribal subdivision A legal subdivision of a federally recognized American Indian reservation, off-reservation trust land, or Oklahoma tribal statistical area. These entities are internal units of self-government or administration that serve social, cultural, and/or economic purposes for American Indians living on a reservation, off-reservation trust land, or Oklahoma tribal statistical area. Tribal subdivisions are known as areas, chapters, communities, districts, and segments. The U.S. Census Bureau previously provided unpublished data for these entities for the 1980 census, which referred to them as American Indian subreservation areas. American Indian trust land An area for which the United States holds title in trust for the benefit of an American Indian tribe (tribal trust land) or for an individual American Indian (individual trust land). Trust land may be located on or off a reservation; however, the U.S. Census Bureau recognizes and tabulates data only for off-reservation trust land. See American Indian off-reservation trust land, Hawaiian home land. Barrio, barrio-pueblo Census Bureau presents the same types of Census 2000 data for these "sub-MCDs" as it does for the barrios and barrios-pueblo. Each barrio, barrio-pueblo, and subbarrio is assigned a five-digit Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code in alphabetical order within Puerto Rico. See subbarrio. Block See census block Block boundary The features that delimit a census block. The features may be visible (a street, road, stream, shoreline, power line, etc.) or invisible (a county line, city limit, property line, imaginary extension of a street or road, etc.). Generally, the boundary of a census block must include at least one addressable feature; that is, a street or road. For data tabulation, the boundary of every legal and statistical entity recognized in the U.S. Census Bureau's standard data tabulations is a block boundary. Block group (BG) A statistical subdivision of a census tract (or, prior to Census 2000, a block numbering area). A BG consists of all tabulation blocks whose numbers begin with the same digit in a census tract. For example, for Census 2000, BG 3 within a census tract includes all blocks numbered from 3000 to 3999. (A few BGs consist of a single block.) BGs generally contain between 300 and 3,000 people, with an optimum size of 1,500 people. The BG is the lowest-level geographic entity for which the U.S. Census Bureau tabulates sample data from a decennial census. See tribal block group. Block number A number assigned to each census block. *. Block numbering area (BNA) Prior to Census 2000, a statistical subdivision of a county or statistically equivalent entity, delineated by a state government agency or a U.S. Census Bureau regional census center for the purpose of grouping and numbering census blocks in counties that did not have census tracts. BNAs were discontinued for Census 2000; they were replaced by census tracts in every county and statistically equivalent entity. Borough A legally established geographic entity in Alaska, which the Census Bureau treats as statistically equivalent to a county in other states; a minor civil division in each of the five counties that comprise New York city; a type of incorporated place in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Census area A statistical entity that serves as the equivalent of a county in Alaska. Census areas are delineated cooperatively by the state of Alaska and the U.S. Census Bureau for the purpose of presenting census data for the portion of Alaska not within an organized borough, city and borough, or municipality. Census block A geographic area bounded by visible and/or invisible features shown on a map prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau. A block is the smallest geographic entity for which the Census Bureau tabulates decennial census data. See block boundary, block number. Census Bureau map Any map, in electronic or paper form, produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. Such a map usually displays the boundaries and names and/or codes of the geographic entities that the Census Bureau uses to take a census or survey, or for which the Census Bureau tabulates data, and may include both visible and invisible features, feature names, and other information appropriate to the purpose for which the map was prepared. Some Census Bureau maps display statistical data in various thematic forms. Every Census Bureau map displays a credit note showing that it was produced by the U.S. Census Bureau. Census county division (CCD) A statistical subdivision of a county, established and delineated cooperatively by the U.S. Census Bureau and state, local, and tribal officials for data presentation purposes. CCDs have been established in 21 states that do not have minor civil divisions suitable for data presentation; that is, minor civil divisions have not been legally established, do not have governmental or administrative purposes, have boundaries that are ambiguous or change frequently, and/or generally are not well known to the public. Census designated place (CDP) A geographic entity that serves as the statistical counterpart of an incorporated place for the purpose of presenting census data for an area with a concentration of population, housing, and commercial structures that is identifiable by name, but is not within an incorporated place. CDPs usually are delineated cooperatively with state, Puerto Rico, Island Area, local, and tribal officials based on U.S. Census Bureau guidelines. For Census 2000, for the first time, CDPs did not need to meet a minimum population threshold to qualify for the tabulation of census data. See place. Note: A CDP in Puerto Rico is called a comunidad or zona urbana. Census division A grouping of states and the District of Columbia, established by the U.S. Census Bureau for the presentation of census data. The nine divisions represent areas that were relatively homogeneous when they were established in 1910. The divisions are subdivisions of the four census regions. Census geography A collective term referring to the geographic entities used by the U.S. Census Bureau in its data collection and tabulation operations, including their relationships to one another. See geographic hierarchy, tabulation geography. Census map See Census Bureau map. Census region A grouping of states and the District of Columbia, established by the U.S. Census Bureau for the presentation of census data. The four regions represent areas that were relatively homogeneous when they were established in 1910 and revised in 1950. Each region is divided into two or three census divisions. Census subarea A statistical subdivision of a borough, census area, or other entity that is the statistical equivalent of a county in Alaska. A census subarea is similar to a census county division in other states. Census subareas are delineated cooperatively by the state of Alaska and the U.S. Census Bureau. Census tract A small, relatively permanent statistical subdivision of a county or statistically equivalent entity, delineated for data presentation purposes by a local group of census data users or the geographic staff of a regional census center in accordance with U.S. Census Bureau guidelines. Designed to be relatively homogeneous units with respect to population characteristics, economic status, and living conditions at the time they are established, census tracts generally contain between 1,000 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 4,000 people. Census tract boundaries are delineated with the intention of being stable over many decades, so they generally follow relatively permanent visible features. However, they may follow governmental unit boundaries and other invisible features in some instances; the boundary of a state or county (or statistically equivalent entity) is always a census tract boundary. When data are provided for American Indian entities, the boundary of a federally recognized American Indian reservation and off-reservation trust land is always the boundary of a tribal census tract. See block numbering area, tribal census tract. Census tract number A 4-digit number, which may be followed by a 2-digit decimal suffix, used to identify a census tract uniquely within a county or statistically equivalent entity. For Census 2000, census tract numbers range from 0001 to 9999, with 9400 to 9499 reserved for census tracts related to federally recognized American Indian reservations and off-reservation trust land - primarily reservations and trust land that cross county lines. Leading zeros and a suffix of ".00" usually do not appear on maps prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, and are not commonly used when referring to a particular census tract. The number "0000" in computer-readable files identifies a census tract delineated to provide complete coverage of water area in territorial seas and the Great Lakes. Central city In a metropolitan area, the largest place and, in some areas, one or more additional places that meet official standards. A few primary metropolitan statistical areas do not have a central city. Central place In an urbanized area or urban cluster, the largest incorporated place, or census designated place in some cases, and one or more additional places that meet specific criteria. For an urbanized area or urban cluster that does not contain an incorporated or census designated place, there is no central place (the title of the urbanized area or urban cluster uses the name of a minor civil division, or a local place name recognized by the Board on Geographic Names and recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey, but the name does not represent a central place). City A type of incorporated place in all states and the District of Columbia. In agreement with the state of Hawaii, the U.S. Census Bureau does not recognize the city of Honolulu for presentation of census data. In Virginia, all cities are not part of any county, and so the Census Bureau treats them as equivalent to a county for data presentation purposes, as well as treating them as places; there also is one such independent city in each of three states: Maryland, Missouri, and Nevada. In 23 states and the District of Columbia, some or all cities are not part of any minor civil division, in which case the Census Bureau treats them as county subdivisions as well as places for data presentation purposes. City and borough A legally established geographic entity in Alaska, which the U.S. Census Bureau treats as the statistical equivalent of a county in other states; also, a type of incorporated place in Alaska. This designation is new for Census 2000. Code See geographic code. Collection block The smallest area that the U.S. Census Bureau used to collect information for the decennial census. A collection block may be split by the boundary of any legal or statistical entity later recognized by the Census Bureau for census data presentation. Thus, if a collection block is split by one or more legal and/or statistical boundaries, each portion will be a separate tabulation block; if a collection block is not split, the same area may be a tabulation block. See block number, census block, tabulation block. Comunidad A census designated place in Puerto Rico that is not related to a municipio's seat of government. See census designated place, zona urbana. Congressional district (CD) One of the 435 areas from which people are elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. The CDs for which Census 2000 first provides data are those for the 106th Congress. Consolidated city The U.S. Census Bureau refers to a governmental unit for which the functions of an incorporated place and its county or minor civil division have merged as a consolidated government. If one or more other incorporated places continue to function as separate governmental units even though they are part of a consolidated government, the Census Bureau refers to the primary incorporated place as a consolidated city. Consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA) A geographic entity designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use by federal statistical agencies. An area becomes a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA) if it qualifies as a metropolitan area (MA), has a census population of 1,000,000 or more, has component parts that qualify as primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs) based on official standards, and local opinion favors the designation. CMSAs consist of whole counties except in New England, where they consist of county subdivisions (primarily cities and towns). See central city, metropolitan area, metropolitan statistical area, New England County Metropolitan Area, primary metropolitan statistical area, statistical entity. County The primary legal division of every state except Alaska and Louisiana. A number of geographic entities are not legally designated as a county, but are recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as equivalent to a county for data presentation purposes. These include the boroughs, city and boroughs, municipality, and census areas in Alaska; parishes in Louisiana; and cities that are independent of any county in Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, and Virginia. They also include the municipios in Puerto Rico, districts and islands in American Samoa, municipalities in the Northern Mariana Islands, and islands in the Virgin Islands of the United States. Because they contain no primary legal divisions, the Census Bureau treats the District of Columbia and Guam each as equivalent to a county (as well as equivalent to a state) for data presentation purposes. In American Samoa, a county is a minor civil division. County subdivision The primary legal or statistical division of a county or statistically equivalent entity. See census county division, census subarea, minor civil division, unorganized territory. Division (census geographic) See census division. Extended city See extended place. Extended place A place that contains both urban and rural territory; i.e., an incorporated place or census designated place that is partially within and partially outside of an urbanized area or urban cluster. The term is first used for Census 2000. Previously referred to as an extended city, which applied only to incorporated places, subject to very specific criteria. Geographic code A code, consisting of one or more alphanumeric or special-text characters, used to identify a geographic entity. Every geographic entity recognized by the Census Bureau is assigned one or more geographic codes. Also referred to as a geocode. Geographic entity A spatial unit of any type, legal or statistical, such as the United States, a state, county, county subdivision, place, census tract, block group, or census block. See census geography, legal entity, statistical entity. Geographic hierarchy A geographic presentation that shows the geographic entities in a superior/subordinate structure. In this system of relationships among geographic entities, each entity (except the smallest one) is subdivided into lower-order units that in turn may be subdivided further. For example, states are subdivided into counties, which are subdivided into both county subdivisions and census tracts. The Census Bureau uses three sets of hierarchies: one is based on states and counties; another on American Indian area, Alaska Native areas, and Hawaiian home lands; and a third on metropolitan or urban areas. See census geography, tabulation geography. Governmental unit (GU) A geographic entity established by legal action for the purpose of implementing specified general- or special-purpose governmental functions. Most GUs have legally established boundaries and names, and have officials (usually elected) who have the power to carry out legally prescribed functions, provide services for the residents of the GU, and raise revenues. Some GUs do not have officials or do not implement the powers that the law entitles them to; the U.S. Census Bureau refers to these entities as inactive governmental units. Hawaiian home land (HHL) An area held in trust for the benefit of native Hawaiians by the state of Hawaii, pursuant to the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act of 1920, as amended. Hawaiian home lands are a new type of geographic entity for Census 2000. Incorporated place A type of governmental unit, incorporated under state law as a city, town (except in New England, New York, and Wisconsin), borough (except in Alaska and New York), or village, generally to provide a wide array of specific governmental services for a concentration of people within legally prescribed boundaries. New for Census 2000 are "city and borough" and "municipality," which serve as both place- and county-level entities in Alaska. A few incorporated places do not have a legal description. See consolidated city, governmental unit, independent city, independent place, place. Independent city An incorporated place that is independent of - i.e., not part of - any county. All incorporated places classified as cities in Virginia are independent cities, as are Baltimore, MD; St. Louis, MO; and Carson City, NV. The U.S. Census Bureau treats an independent city as equivalent to a county and, where appropriate, as a county subdivision and as an incorporated place for data presentation purposes. Independent place In a state in which the Census Bureau recognizes minor civil divisions (MCDs), an incorporated place that is not legally part of any MCD. The Census Bureau treats an independent place as equivalent to a county subdivision and as an incorporated place for data presentation purposes. Independent places exist in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Indian reservation See American Indian reservation. Island Areas For Census 2000, several legal entities under the jurisdiction of the United States: American Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and the Virgin Islands of the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau treats these entities as equivalent to states for data presentation purposes. The term also includes several small islands in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean; the Census Bureau provides only population counts for these "U.S. Minor Outlying Islands," based on records obtained from the government agency that administers each island (most are unpopulated). Formerly referred to as the Outlying Areas. Joint use area Territory that is administered, claimed, and/or used by two or more American Indian tribes. It may consist of an overlap of territory of adjoining American Indian reservations or Oklahoma tribal statistical areas, or off-reservation trust land for one tribe that is located within the reservation of another tribe. Such territory was referred to as joint area for the 1990 census. Legal entity A geographic entity whose origin, boundary, name, and description result from charters, laws, treaties, or other administrative or governmental action, including the United States; the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas; counties and statistically equivalent legal entities; minor civil divisions; incorporated places, including consolidated cities; American Indian reservations, off-reservation trust land, and tribal subdivisions; Alaska Native Regional Corporations; Hawaiian home lands; congressional districts; state legislative districts; most voting districts; and school districts. Some legal entities, such as Hawaiian home lands, congressional districts, and voting districts, have no governmental officials or powers, but serve only as nonfunctioning administrative entities. The legal entities and their boundaries that the U.S. Census Bureau recognizes for Census 2000 are those that existed on January 1, 2000. See governmental unit, statistical entity. Metropolitan area (MA) A core areas with a large population nucleus, together with adjacent communities that have a high degree of economic and social integration with that core. (Some MAs are defined around two or more nuclei.) MAs are designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in terms of one or more counties or, in New England, county subdivisions (primarily cities and towns). The OMB defines and designates metropolitan areas based on a set of official standards that are published in the Federal Register. "Metropolitan area" is a collective term established by the OMB in 1990 to refer to metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs), consolidated metropolitan statistical areas (CMSAs), primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs), and New England County Metropolitan Areas (NECMAs). Note: In 2003, a new set of standards will go into effect, creating several new types of statistical entities and renaming others, and discontinuing the term "metropolitan area." Note: In 2003, a new set of standards will go into effect, creating several new types of statistical entities and renaming others, and discontinuing the term "metropolitan area." Metropolitan statistical area (MSA) A geographic entity designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget for use by federal statistical agencies. A metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a metropolitan area (MA) that is not closely associated with another MA. An MSA consists of one or more counties, except in New England, where MSAs are defined in terms of county subdivisions (primarily cities and towns). See central city, consolidated metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan area, New England County Metropolitan Area, primary metropolitan statistical area, statistical entity. Minor civil division (MCD) A type of governmental unit that is the primary governmental or administrative division of a county or statistically equivalent entity in many states and statistically equivalent entities. MCDs are identified by a variety of terms, such as township, town (in eight states), or district. The U.S. Census Bureau recognizes MCDs in 28 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Island Areas. In 20 states and American Samoa, all or many MCDs are active general-purpose governmental units. Many MCDs are not general-purpose governmental units, and therefore do not have elected officials to carry out legal functions; instead, they serve as nonfunctioning administrative entities. See county subdivision, governmental unit, independent place, legal entity. Municipality A legally established entity in Alaska and the Northern Mariana Islands. The U.S. Census Bureau treats this entity as the statistical equivalent of a county, and the Census Bureau also treats the municipality (Anchorage) in Alaska as an incorporated place. This designation in Alaska is new for Census 2000. Municipio A governmental unit that is the primary legal division of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Census Bureau treats a municipio as equivalent to a county in the United States for data presentation purposes. New England County Metropolitan Area (NECMA) A county-based area designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget to provide an alternative to the county subdivision-based metropolitan statistical areas and consolidated metropolitan statistical areas in New England. See central city, metropolitan area, statistical entity. Off-reservation trust land See American Indian off-reservation trust land. Oklahoma tribal statistical area (OTSA) A statistical entity identified and delineated by the U.S. Census Bureau in consultation with federally recognized American Indian tribes in Oklahoma that once had a reservation in that state. An OTSA encompasses an area that conforms to a tribe's reservation that was dissolved preceding the establishment of Oklahoma as a state in 1907. For some OTSAs, neighboring tribes agreed to modify the boundary for data presentation purposes. Referred to as a tribal jurisdiction statistical area (TJSA) for the 1990 census and by a single all-encompassing entity called the "Historic Areas of Oklahoma (excluding urbanized areas)" for the 1980 census. Outlying Areas See Island Areas. Parish A governmental unit that is the primary legal subdivision of Louisiana. The U.S. Census Bureau treats a parish as equivalent to a county in other states for data presentation purposes. Place A concentration of population either legally bounded as an incorporated place, or delineated for statistical purposes as a census designated place (in Puerto Rico, a comunidad or zona urbana). See census designated place, consolidated city, incorporated place, independent city, independent place. Primary metropolitan statistical area (PMSA) A geographic entity designated by the federal Office of Management and Budget for use by federal statistical agencies. If an area that qualifies as a metropolitan area (MA) has a census population of one million or more, two or more primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSAs) may be defined within it if they meet official standards and local opinion favors the designation. When PMSAs are established within an MA, that MA is designated a consolidated metropolitan statistical area (CMSA). See central city, consolidated metropolitan statistical area, metropolitan area, statistical entity. Pseudo-voting district (pseudo-VTD) An area for which the U.S. Census Bureau reports voting district (VTD) data, even though the boundary of the actual voting district was adjusted by the reviewing officials, for purposes of data presentation, so that it no longer matches the legally established boundary. See voting district. Public use microdata area (PUMA) A geographic entity for which the U.S. Census Bureau provides specially selected extracts of raw information from a small sample of long-form census records that are screened to protect confidentiality of census records. The extract files are referred to as public use microdata samples (PUMS). Public use microdata areas (PUMAs), which must have a minimum census population of 100,000 and cannot cross a state line, receive a 5-percent sample of the long-form records; these records are presented in state files. These PUMAs are aggregated into super-PUMAs, which must have a minimum census population of 400,000 and receive a 1-percent sample in a national file. The Census Bureau provided a 10-percent sample file each for Guam and the Virgin Islands of the United States. Data users can use these files to create their own statistical tabulations and data summaries. Region (census geographic) See census region. Rural All territory, population, and housing units located outside of urbanized areas and urban clusters. See urban. School district A geographic entity within which state, county, or local officials or the U.S. Department of Defense provides public educational services for an area's residents. The U.S. Census Bureau provides data for three types of school districts: elementary, secondary, and unified. State A primary governmental division of the United States. The U.S. Census Bureau treats the District of Columbia as the equivalent of a state for data presentation purposes. It also treats a number of entities that are not legal divisions of the United States as the equivalent of states for data presentation purposes: Puerto Rico and the Island Areas. State designated American Indian statistical area (SDAISA) A statistical entity delineated for an American Indian tribe that does not have a land base (reservation) and is recognized as a tribe by a state government, but not the federal government. State designated American Indian statistical areas (SDAISAs) are identified and delineated for the U.S. Census Bureau by a state liaison identified by the governor's office. A SDAISA generally encompasses, Oklahoma tribal statistical area, tribal designated statistical area, or Alaska Native village statistical area. SDAISAs were included with tribal designated statistical areas for the 1990 census; this designation is new for Census 2000. State legislative district (SLD) The area represented by a member of the upper or lower chamber of a state legislature (or, for Nebraska, the unicameral legislature). Statistical entity A geographic entity that is specially defined and delineated so that the U.S. Census Bureau may tabulate data for it. Statistical entities include census areas (in Alaska), census county divisions, census subareas (in Alaska), unorganized territories, census designated places, Oklahoma tribal statistical areas, tribal designated statistical areas, state designated American Indian statistical areas, Alaska Native village statistical areas, metropolitan areas, urban areas, census tracts, block groups, and census blocks. Designation as a statistical entity neither conveys nor confers legal ownership, entitlement, or jurisdictional authority. See legal entity. Subbarrio A legal subdivision of a barrio or barrio-pueblo (minor civil division) in 23 municipios in Puerto Rico. (There is no geographic entity in the United States equivalent to a subbarrio.) Census 2000 provides the same types of data for subbarrios as it does for barrios and barrios-pueblo. Each subbarrio is assigned a five-digit Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) code in alphabetical order within Puerto Rico. See barrio, barrio-pueblo; sub-MCD. Sub-MCD A legal subdivision of a minor civil division (MCD). For Census 2000, only Puerto Rico has sub-MCDs (subbarrios). Super-PUMA See public use microdata area. Tabulation block The smallest area for which the U.S. Census Bureau provides decennial census data. A tabulation block cannot be split by the boundary of any legal or statistical entity recognized by the Census Bureau for census data presentation. See block number, census block. Tabulation geography The geographic entities for which the U.S. Census Bureau tabulates and presents data. See geographic entity, geographic hierarchy. Tract See census tract. Traffic analysis zone (TAZ) A statistical entity delineated by state and/or local transportation officials for tabulating traffic-related data - especially journey-to-work and place-of-work statistics - from a decennial census. A TAZ usually consists of one or more census blocks, block groups, or census tracts. Tribal block group A block group within a tribal census tract. Where a census tract numbered in the 9400 series crosses a county line, a tribal block group may be located on both sides of that boundary. See block group, tribal census tract. Tribal census tract A census tract within a federally recognized American Indian reservation and/or off-reservation trust land. Some of these census tracts are numbered in the 9400 series, primarily if they cross a county line. See census tract, tribal block group. Tribal designated statistical area (TDSA) A statistical entity delineated for the U.S. Census Bureau by a federally recognized American Indian tribe that does not have a land base (a federally recognized reservation or off-reservation trust land). A TDSA generally encompasses a compact and contiguous area that contains a concentration of people who identify with a federally recognized American Indian tribe and in which there is structured or organized tribal activity. A TDSA may not include area within an American Indian reservation, off-reservation trust land, Oklahoma tribal statistical area, state designated American Indian statistical area, or Alaska Native village statistical area. For the 1990 census, it could not cross a state line, but it may do so for Census 2000. For the 1990 census, TDSAs included state-recognized tribes without a land base; these are now called state designated American Indian statistical areas. Tribal jurisdiction statistical area (TJSA) See Oklahoma tribal statistical area. Tribal subdivision See American Indian tribal subdivision. Trust land See American Indian trust land. United States The 50 states and the District of Columbia. Unorganized territory (UT) In a state in which the U.S. Census Bureau provides data for minor civil divisions (MCDs), the portion of a county that is not included in a legally established MCD or in an incorporated place that is independent of an MCD. For data presentation purposes, the Census Bureau recognizes such area as one or more separate county subdivisions, each designated as an unorganized territory. For Census 2000, ten states contain one or more UTs. Urban All territory, population, and housing units located within urbanized areas and urban clusters. See rural, urban area. Urban area A generic term that refers to both urbanized areas and urban clusters. This terminology is new for Census 2000. Urban cluster (UC) A densely settled area that has a census population of 2,500 to 49,999. A UC generally consists of a geographic core of block groups or blocks that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile, and adjacent block groups and blocks with at least 500 people per square mile. A UC consists of all or part of one or more incorporated places and/or census designated places; such a place(s) together with adjacent territory; or territory outside of any place. See central place, extended place, urban, urbanized area. Note: Any urban area delineated in Guam is classified as an urban cluster regardless of its population size. Note: Any urban area delineated in Guam is classified as an urban cluster regardless of its population size. Urban growth area (UGA) In Oregon, an "urban growth boundary" is delineated around each incorporated place or a group of incorporated places by state and local officials, and subsequently confirmed in state law, to control urban development. The U.S. Census Bureau refers to the resulting geographic entities as "urban growth areas" (UGAs). UGAs are new for Census 2000. ("Urban growth boundary" is a legal term; "urban growth area" is a census term.) Urbanized area (UA) A densely settled area that has a census population of at least 50,000. A UA generally consists of a geographic core of block groups or blocks that have a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile, and adjacent block groups and blocks with at least 500 people per square mile. A UA consists of all or part of one or more incorporated places and/or census designated places, and may include additional territory outside of any place. See central place, extended place, urban, urban cluster. Voting district (VTD) The generic name for a geographic entity - such as an election district, precinct, or ward - established by state, local, and tribal governments for the purpose of conducting elections. Some reviewing officials adjusted the boundaries of the voting districts (VTDs) they submitted to conform to census block boundaries for data presentation purposes, and therefore a VTD for which Census 2000 provides data might not exactly represent the legal entity; the U.S. Census Bureau refers to such VTDs as pseudo-voting districts (pseudo-VTDs). Such VTDs, as well as any territory for which state officials did not specify a status, are identified by a "P" in the VTD indicator field of the PL data file. ZIP Code area The addresses served by a 5-digit ZIP Codea - established by the U.S. Postal Service to expedite the delivery of mail. Most ZIP Codes do not have specific boundaries, and their implied boundaries do not necessarily follow clearly identifiable visible or invisible map features; also, the carrier routes for one ZIP Code may intertwine with those of one or more other ZIP Codes, and therefore this area is more conceptual than geographic. See ZIP Code tabulation area. ZIP Code tabulation area (ZCTAa) A statistical entity developed by the U.S. Census Bureau to approximate the delivery area for a U.S. Postal Service 5-digit or 3-digit ZIP Codea in the United States and Puerto Rico. A ZCTA is an aggregation of census blocks that have the same predominant ZIP Code associated with the mailing addresses in the Census Bureau's Master Address File. Thus, the Postal Service's delivery areas have been adjusted to encompass whole census blocks so that the Census Bureau can tabulate census data for the ZCTAs. For areas larger than 25 square miles for which the Census Bureau's Master Address File contained no addresses with ZIP Codes, the Census Bureau used the first 3 digits of the ZIP Code(s) that serve the area or nearby areas. For the dress rehearsal data, there are two blank spaces after such 3-digit codes; for Census 2000, there is a suffix of "XX." A water feature that could not logically be assigned to a specific ZCTA is assigned a 3-digit code followed by "HH" to indicate that the water feature could not be assigned meaningfully to any adjacent land ZCTA. ZCTAs do not include all ZIP Codes used for mail delivery. The Census Bureau first created ZCTAs for the Census 2000 dress rehearsal census. See ZIP Code area. Zona urbana In Puerto Rico, a census designated place consisting of the municipio seat of government and the adjacent built-up area. A zona urbana cannot extend across its municipio's boundary. See census designated place, comunidad. « Previous ‹Table of Contents› Next »
Dishonest Abe "Abraham was tested by circumcision, shaving his pubic hair, washing the fore-part and rear, using a toothstick, and plucking his armpits." Nothing is more essential to Islam’s credibility than Muhammad’s version of Abraham. Islam must prove that he was a Muslim, that his God was Allah, and that he worshiped in Mecca. Recognizing this, Muhammad tried desperately to make the case. We pick up the trail in Tabari's History with something that sounds like Hitler's idea of Arian supremacy. the children of Shem, the latter would enslave them." The slavery theme keeps reappearing because Muhammad used the slave trade to finance the spread of Islam. Turning Noah into a racist to justify such behavior wasn't beneath Islam’s prophet - but then again, little was. We're going to pass by Muhammad’s history lesson on the mythical tribes of Ad and Thamud. Their battles with the Almighty seemed important to Muhammad as he dedicated scores of Hadith to them. But I want to focus on the Islamic path to Abraham as it lies at the core of the prophet's deception. Tabari II:50 "Nimrod was Abraham's master and wanted him burned.... The first king who ruled over all the earth was Nimrod. There were four such kings who ruled all the earth: Nimrod, Solomon bin David, Dhu'l-Qarnain, and Nebuchadnezzar - two believers [Muslims] and two infidels." Nimrod only ruled a city-state. Solomon's kingdom only included a portion of the Middle East. Nebuchadnezzar's realm like that of Dhu'l-Qarnain, as Alexander the Great, was large, but neither ruled over the whole earth. As for two of them being Muslims - Muhammad and Allah are again mistaken. There wasn't a Muslim in the batch. According to Ishaq's Sira: Tabari II:50 "Allah desired to send Abraham as an argument against his people and as a messenger to His worshippers since there had been no messengers between Noah and Abraham except Hud and Salih [the mythical rulers of Ad and Thamud]." If that's true, there couldn't have been Muslim worshippers. A thousand years had passed with no religious communication. Allah said he destroyed the Ad and Thamud and he never suggests Abraham visited them. So in an attempt to establish a religious context for his scam, Muhammad destroyed it. The scenario he has just laid out precludes worshippers, and without them, all he has shared thus far concerning the establishment of Islamic rites and the veneration of the Ka'aba, could not have been passed along. "As time drew near, the astrologers came to Nimrod, saying, 'We have learned from our lore that a boy will be born in this city of yours who will be called Abraham. He will abandon your religion and break your idols in such and such a month and year." Muslims are attempting to bestow on Abraham, whom they view as the father of Islam, the same kind of birth announcement enjoyed by Yahshua, the founder of Christianity, but they didn't have a clue when either man actually lived. Both secular and scriptural histories tell us that Nimrod died centuries before Abraham was born. The clay tablets that were unearthed near ancient Babylon starting in the late 19th century suggest Nimrod died violently at the age of forty around 2800 B.C., two generations after the great flood. Apart from the Bible, Abraham is not as well known. Yet, archeologists have been able to confirm the Biblical accounting of when he lived by unearthing the places the Scriptures say he visited or that coexisted during his time. They have found dozens of corroborating artifacts that confirm Abraham lived between 2100 B.C. and 1950 B.C. These men were not contemporaries. Since their lives were separated by 700 years, everything Muhammad claims about them is both suspect and uninspired. Tabari II:53 "Another story about Abraham is that a star rose over Nimrod so bright that it blotted out the light of the sun and the moon. He became frightened and called the magicians, soothsayers, and prognosticators to ask about it. They said, 'A man will arise in your domain whose destiny is to destroy you and your rule.' Nimrod lived in Babylon but he left his town and moved to another, forcing all men to go with him but leaving the women. He ordered that any male child who was born should be slain." This is a blatant, although not believable, rip-off of the star of Bethlehem that directed wise men to Yahshua and of King Herod killing the male children born that year in Bethlehem. The Bible tells us that Abram, the future Abraham, was born in Ur, the great Chaldean city, to Terah. His journey to the Promised Land is detailed in Genesis 11. Muhammad says: "Some task in Babylon came up for which Nimrod could trust only Azar, the father of Abraham. He sent him to do the job, saying, 'See that you do not have intercourse with your wife.' Azar said to him, 'I am too tenacious in my religion for that.' But when he entered Babylon he visited his wife and could not control himself. He had intercourse with her and fled to a town called Ur." Tabari II:53 "When Abraham's mother found that she was in labor she went out to a cave near her house and bore Abraham. She shut the cave up on him and returned home. Later when she went to see how he had done, she found him alive, sucking his thumb. Allah placed Abraham's sustenance in it." Muhammad was abandoned by his mother at birth, so he invented this story to mimic his own childhood. Tabari II:51 "Abraham had been in the cave for fifteen months when he said to his mother, 'Take me out that I may look around.'" Why bother? After fifteen months of living in a cave, he would have been blind. "So she took him out one evening and he looked about and thought of the creation of the heavens and the earth and said, 'Verily the One who created me and fed me is my Lord - I have no other god but Him.'" Thus, an infant conceived the first pillar of Islam. But alas, the Hadith and Qur'an quickly plummet into spiritual delirium. "He looked out at the sky and saw a star. 'This is my Lord.' He followed it with his eyes until it disappeared. When it set he said, 'I do not like things that set.' Then he saw the moon rising and said, 'This is my Lord.' [Perceptive kid - Allah began his life as a moon deity.] And he followed it until it disappeared. When it set, he said, 'If my Lord did not guide me, I would have gone astray.'" A fifteen-month-old baby converts from paganism to Islam by watching the moon. Sure, why not. Like so many Islamic Traditions, these were written to provide the context the Qur'an lacks. Let's dive into the 6th surah to hear what Allah has to say: Qur'an 6:74 "When Abraham said to his sire, Azar: 'Why do you take idols for gods? I find you and your people in manifest error.' Thus We showed Abraham the visible and invisible kingdom of the heavens and earth that he might be of those who are sure and believe. So when night overshadowed him, he saw a star. Said he: 'This is my Lord.' When it set, he said: 'I do not love the setting ones.' When he saw the moon rising, he said: 'This is my Lord.' When it set, he said: 'If my Lord had not guided me I would be of the erring people who go astray.'" This is embarrassing. The conversation condemns the message. After Allah personally showed Abe his kingdom so that he might be sure, the Islamic babe turns to the sky, the source of idols, and says, "This is my Lord." What is it about Islam that turns everyone's brains to mush - Allah’s included? Qur'an 6:78 "Then when he saw the sun rising, he said: 'My Lord is surely this, the greatest of all.' So when it set, he said: 'O my people, I am through with those. Surely I have turned my face toward Him who originated the heavens and earth, and I am not a polytheist.'" The sun, the most popular pagan deity, is now god, never mind it was the moon in the preceding Tradition. After becoming an idolater, he magically turns and says he's through with idols. And after asking a star, the moon, and the sun if they were god, he says he's not a polytheist. All the context in the world, all the explanations ever written, can't undo the damage the Qur'an does to itself. Tabari explains it this way: Tabari II:51 "When day came upon Abraham and the sun rose, he saw the greatness of the sun and saw that here was something with more light than he had ever seen before. He said, 'This is my Lord! This is greater.' And when it set he exclaimed, 'O my people, I am free from all the things which you associate with Him.'" Muhammad wants us to believe that all it took to "free" this fifteen-month old baby from pagan idolatry, worshiping the sun, moon, and stars, to become a Muslim in the oneness of Allah was for the sun to set. Qur'an 6:80 "His people disputed with him." What people? Depending upon whether you believe Muhammad’s Hadith or Allah’s Qur'an, he's with his mom or dad. He's a toddler, having just emerged from a cave for the first time. "He said: 'Do you dispute with me respecting Allah? He has guided me. I do not fear those that you set up with Him, unless my Lord pleases; my Lord comprehends all things; will you not mind?'" Let me see if I can decipher this. Over the course of one brief conversation, dishonest Abe tells his father that he and his people are in manifest error, and that idolatry is bad. After visiting heaven he says that big bright shiny things are gods, and that he is not a polytheist. Then he disputes with people he has never seen about their religion. He even says that he doesn't fear their gods, unless of course, his god wants him to fear them. And, wouldn't you know it, after such drivel, he tells them to mind him. This Qur'anic passage destroys the Islamic myth of divine inspiration, for this is not some minor event in the life of Islam. Abraham is purported to be the religion's founder, and this is his moment of awakening. Qur'an 6:81 "Why should I fear what you have set up with Allah, that for which He has not sent down to you any authority." We can only assume that the Abe babe is speaking of idols his people have erected in shrines like the Ka'aba. "O my father! Why do you worship that which neither hears, nor sees, nor can in any way help you?" Even something as simple as this indicts Muhammad. It’s a rip off. As we shall see in upcoming chapters, Arabian Hanifs (monotheists) during Muhammad’s day had it figured out. They had said of the rock idols in the Ka'aba, "Why do you worship that which neither hears, nor sees, nor can help you in any way?" "Do you reject my gods, Abraham? If you do not cease this, I shall stone you." As sick as this sounds, it depicts Muslim behavior. If a son renounces Islam, his father will kill him. One of my friends, a former Muslim, had this very thing happen to him. Hearing the news, his loving father reached for his gun and fired it at his son, narrowly missing him. Mark Gabriel, who holds a Ph.D. in Islamic History, wrote a book about his experience called: Islam and Terror. Qur'an 6:83 "And this was Our argument which we gave to Abraham against his people. And We gave him Ishaq (Isaac) and Yah'qub (Jacob) [Oops. Abraham was given Isaac and Ishmael. Jacob came later]; each did We guide, and Nuh (Noah) did We guide before, and of his descendants, David and Solomon, and Job and Joseph and Moses and Aaron; and thus do We reward those who do good (following Muhammad’s example in the Sunnah). And Zachariah and Yahya (John), Isa (Jesus) and Elias; every one was of the good [i.e. Muslims]; And Ishmael and Elisha and Jonah and Lot and every one We preferred above men and jinn." One of the many problems with the Qur'an is that Allah was no brighter than Muhammad. Job was a gentile and a contemporary of Abraham. As such he could neither be Abe's descendant nor follow Solomon. I am reasonably certain that the Yathrib Jews read their scriptures correctly to Muhammad. But having a poor memory, and a heinous agenda, he got them all fouled up. I don't say that to be mean-spirited, just informative. Muhammad will convict himself of having a heinous agenda a thousand times over before we are through. As prophets go, he was pretty pathetic. Returning to the Islamicized Abraham, Ibn Ishaq tells us: Tabari II:52 "Then Abraham returned to his father Azar, having seen the right course. He had recognized his Lord." Actually, all he had done was recognize who his Lord wasn't And while that may sound picky, that's all Muhammad really did. Ultimately, he promoted the largest of the Meccan rock idols, Allah, and denounced the rest. "He was free of the religion of his people, but he did not tell them that." This, too, is revisionism for the sake of Muhammad. Allah’s Messenger kept quiet about his first "revelation" for several years. One of the most repetitive and damning indictments in the Qur'an comes from the Meccans. They recognized that Muhammad’s notion of casting the smaller Ka'aba idols aside so that the largest idol could be feared as the one true god was lunacy. A big stone was no more god than a bunch of little ones. Ishaq:38 "Every house had an idol. When Allah sent Muhammad with the message of monotheism, the Quraysh said: 'Would he make many gods into one god? This is a strange thing.'" So Muhammad, ever in character, changed the story of the great Hebrew patriarch Abraham to make his behavior seem inspired. This sorry tale is chronicled in both the Hadith and Qur'an. Tabari II:55 "His father told him, 'Abraham, we have a festival. If you go to it you will learn to like our religion.' The festival came and they went to it. On the way Abraham threw himself down and said, 'I am sick. My foot hurts.' When they went away he called to the last of them. 'I shall deal with your idols after you have gone away and turned your backs.' Abraham went to the house of the gods which was in a great hall. Opposite the entrance was a great idol, and at his side a smaller one, and next to him a smaller one, and so on." Too bad Allah didn't get out more. He would have known that in Abraham's day the Temple of Ur housed just one god - Sin - a masculine moon deity like himself. Unlike the Ka'aba, there weren't a bunch of rock idols lying around. "Azar made a living making the idols which his people worshipped, and he employed Abraham to sell them. Abraham would call out, 'Who will buy what will be of no use to him.' So they became unsellable. He would take them to the river and point their heads at it and say, 'Drink.' mocking his people. At length his mocking spread about among the inhabitants of his town, although Nimrod did not hear of it. Then when the time seemed right to Abraham to reveal to his people the error of what they were doing, and to tell them of Allah’s command and of how to pray, he glanced up at the stars and said, 'I feel sick.' They fled from him when they heard it, but Abraham had only said it to make them go away so that he could do what he wanted with their idols. When they left he went to the idols and brought them food. He said, 'Will you not eat? What is the matter? Why do you not speak?' reproaching their falsely elevated position and mocking them." If you've got one, open your Qur'an to the 37th surah. So as not to take Allah’s word out of context, let's read from the beginning, picking up the highlights as we go along. Seeing Allah as he really is will help elucidate the Islamic mystery. The peace-loving god tells his troops: "By those (angels) arranged in battle ranks who are strong in repelling and thus proclaim the Message of Allah! Verily, your Ilah (God) is one!" Thank god for small favors. Qur'an 37:6 ." In Islam, stars are used to guard against forward devils. The Islamic Ilah (God) named Allah would have us believe that he dissuades and torments "evil spirits" with physical objects. Qur'an 37:11 "Just ask their opinion (Muhammad). [Whose opinion - the stars', the rebellious evil spirits'?] Are they the more difficult to create, or the other beings We have created? Them have We created out of a sticky clay! Are they stronger as a creation? Truly dost thou marvel, while they ridicule." Nay, I dost both marvel and ridicule. Qur'an 37:13 "When they are admonished, pay no heed. When they see a Sign, [they] turn it to mockery, and incite one another to scoff. And say, 'This is nothing but evident sorcery!'" I agree. Qur'an 37:16 "What! When we die, and become dust and bones, shall we be raised up and also our fathers of old? Say (Muhammad): 'Yea, and ye shall then be humiliated: Ye, in truth; and ye will be brought low.'" I suppose some Muslim scholar thought translating the Qur'an into Elizabethan English would make it sound religious. But lo, methinks it helpeth thee not. For your sake and mine, I will continue to edit most of the archaic language out of the text. I have also made a habit of correcting much of Allah’s grammar, punctuation, verbosity, and oblique sentence structure. Qur'an 37:19 "Then will be a single cry; and behold, they will stare! They will say, 'Woe to us! This is the Day of Doom.' This you denied! Assemble the wrong-doers and their wives and the things they worshipped besides Allah, then lead them to the fierce flaming fires of Hell." Even cleaned up, the message is repulsive. Allah stoops to interrogate his captives. Qur'an 37:24 "But stop them, for they are to be questioned. 'What is the matter with you that you do not help each other.' Nay, but this day they make full submission.... 'The sentence has come against us: we shall taste the punishment.'" Remember, according to Islam, people are never given a choice. They are predestined at birth to perish in hell's fire. Thus, this questioning is for Allah’s entertainment. Qur'an 37:33 "Truly, they will all share at the Penalty of Doom. That is how We shall deal with the Mujrimun (non-Muslims). For when they were told that there is no ilah (god) but Allah, they puffed themselves up with pride and were scornful. They said: 'What, shall we give up our alihah (gods) for the sake of an insane possessed poet?'" This was "revealed" so Muhammad could lash out at the Meccans. They called him insane for turning many idols into one god. They said he was demon-possessed due to the hellish tone of his Qur'an. As you might expect, Allah didn't see it that way. Muhammad’s alter ego had but one spokesperson. If he faltered, Allah crumbled with him. Qur'an 37:37 "Nay, he has come with the truth, and he confirms the Message of the messengers before him. You shall indeed taste the grievous penalty of painful doom." Tease Muhammad and Allah will burn you. It’s the Qur'an's never-ending taunt. Qur'an 37:40 "Save the chosen slaves of Allah; For them there is a known provision: Fruits, Delights; they will be honored in the Gardens of Pleasure, on thrones facing one another. Round them will be passed a cup of pure white wine, delicious to the drinkers, free from ghoul (hurt) or intoxication, nor shall you be made mad or exhausted thereby." We've got the thrones and Allah’s special brew, now all we need are the virgins. "And with them will be Qasirat-at-Tarf (virgin females), restraining their glances (desiring none but you), with big, beautiful eyes. As if they were (sheltered) eggs, preserved." If the martyrs get virgins, what do their victims get? Qur'an 37:54 "He said: 'Would you like to look down.' He looked down and saw him in the midst of the Fire, in the depths of Hell. He said: 'You nearly caused me to perish! Had it not been for my Lord, I would have been among those brought there [the suicide bomber said to the innocent children he had blown to pieces]!'" Allah wanted the mass murderers to know: Qur'an 37:59 "Except for your former death, you shall not be punished. This is the supreme triumph! For the likes of this let us strive. That is the better entertainment." Hell's torments sound a lot like what might have occurred around a desert campfire.," Allah, Islam’s terrorist ilah proclaimed. We have finally arrived at the passage the Hadith was trying to illuminate. We wanted to find out why Abraham said he was sick and why he was playing with idols. Qur'an 37:83 "Surely among those who followed His Way (Islam) was Abraham. He came to his Lord with a sound heart. He said to his father and to his folk, 'What is that which you worship? Is it a falsehood - alihah (gods) besides Allah that you desire?'" The Qur'an didn't define what his "Way" was. Islam is supposed to be the religion of Abraham yet the Qur'an never explains what that might be. Qur'an 37:87 "'Then what is your idea about the Lord of men and jinn.' Abraham cast a glance at the Stars. And he said, 'I am indeed sick!'" Abe's question about the Lord of the worlds followed by the capitalization of "Stars" is a problem. In the Qur'an, capitalization is a tribute to deity. Second, why did Abraham need to lie to accomplish his god's agenda? One of my translations actually alters the text by adding a parenthetical to obfuscate this problem: "Surely I am sick (of your worshipping these)." Another says "sick (with plague)." Even Muhammad calls Abe a liar. Tabari II:63 "The Messenger said: 'Abraham told three lies in his life. Two of them were about Allah - his saying "I feel sick" and his saying "The chief idol is the one who did it."'" Qur'an 37:90 "They turned their backs and went away. He turned to their gods secretly and said, 'Will you not eat?' 'What is the matter with you that you don't speak?'" Deprived of place, time, and circumstance, this doesn't make sense. Where was he? Why did he go to these gods? What are their names? And since Allah never spoke or ate, the revisionist Abe is being hypocritical. The following Hadith, stolen from the Talmud, scrambles to make sense of this: Tabari II:55 "The people prepared food and placed it before the gods, saying, 'When we come back the gods will have blessed our food and we will eat.' When Abraham saw them with the food, he said, 'Will you not eat?' And when they did not answer, he said, 'What ails you that you don't speak?' Then he attacked them. He took a piece of iron and cut off each idol's extremities. Then when only the largest idol was left, he tied the axe to its hand. When the people came to get their food and saw their gods in this state, they said, 'An evildoer has done this to our gods.'" That was from Muhammad’s Sunnah by way of the Jewish Talmud. This is from Allah’s Qur'an: Qur'an 37:93 "He turned upon them secretly, attacking, striking (them) with the right hand. Then came (people) with hurried steps, and faced (him). He said: 'What! do you worship what you hew out? But Allah has created you and your handwork!'" Let's turn to the salient portion of the 21st surah, named "The Prophets," to make certain we are looking at Islam’s poison pill from all possible sides. Qur'an 21:51 "We bestowed on Abraham correctness of conduct, and well were We acquainted with him. Behold, he said to his father and his folk, 'What are these images, to which you are devoted?' They said, 'We found our fathers worshipping them.' He said, 'Indeed you have been in manifest error - you and your fathers.' They said, 'Have you brought us the truth, or are you some jester?'" This Qur'anic indulgence also emerges out of the blue without reference to the audience, place, time, or religion. Devoid of this context the passage is senseless today. Yet in Mecca, the meaning would have been crystal clear. Muhammad was being recast as Abraham. Qur'an 21:56 "He said, 'Nay, your Lord is the Lord of the heavens and earth, He created them and I am a witness to this. I have a plot for your idols and will do something against them after you go away and turn your backs.' So he broke them to pieces, (all) but the biggest of them, that they might turn to it." A second translation says: "Then he reduced them to fragments, all save the chief of them, that haply they might have recourse to it." This is one of the most incriminating verses in the Qur'an. Muhammad did this very thing. The prophet took the largest of the pagan idols of the Ka'aba - Allah - and promoted it to the exclusion of the others. He broke the smaller rock gods and elevated the Black Stone so that his people "might turn to it." It was as if the early Greeks had broken the statues of Athena, Poseidon, and Hermes so that they could worship the one true god Zeus. How was the biggest idol any more "god" than the other imposters? While I'll continue to convey Islam’s version of dishonest Abe to illustrate how Muhammad crafted his religious scam, I would be remiss if I didn't credit the prophet with his first miracle. He just pounded a nail into his own coffin. The Qur'anic story continues with these uninspired words: Qur'an 21:59 "They said, 'Who has done this to our alihah (gods)?' 'He is a mischief-monger.' 'We heard a youth talk of them called Abraham.' 'Then bring him before us that he may testify.' They said, 'Are you the one who did this?' He said: 'No, it was done by the biggest idol! Ask the other idols if they can speak!'...They were utterly shamed and confounded. 'You know they do not speak.' He said: 'What! Do you then serve besides Allah what brings no profit, nor can harm you? 'Fie [?] upon you, and upon the things that you worship besides Allah! Have you no sense.' They said, 'Burn him and protect our gods.'" Since Allah never spoke, why didn't that shame Muhammad? And why would the supposed patriarch of monotheistic Islam tell his people that a pagan god smashed lesser idols? Would that not make the idol real? Moreover, the Muhammadized Abraham called a "god" false because it "cannot harm you." The implication is that Allah is real because he's fixated on sadistic torments. That's not good. Now that we have an argument raging, it's time to reshape Abraham of Ur into the image of Muhammad of Mecca. For this we will bounce between the 37th and 21st surahs. Qur'an 37:97 "They said, 'Build him a furnace, and fling him into the blazing red-hot fire.' They then sought a plot against him, but We made them the ones most humiliated! And he said: 'Surely I fly to my lord; He will guide me.'" When the townsfolk of Mecca developed their plot and tried to burn Muhammad’s britches, he flew off to Allah in his dreams. He jumped on al-Buraq, an imaginary winged steed, half ass and half donkey (like its rider), and cruised to heaven by way of Jerusalem. Although he humiliated himself with his tale of derring-do, Muhammad also claimed that it was really the Meccans who were dashed. Qur'an 21:69 "We said, 'O Fire, be cool and safety for Abraham.' Then they sought a stratagem against him and wished to set a snare, but We made them the ones that lost most!" I know Allah loves plots, but this is ridiculous. Why would the townsfolk design a plot to snare him after they were burning him? Qur'an 21:71 "But We delivered him and Lot to the land [of Israel] which We have blessed for men and jinn." This must be a joke. Allah has blessed Israel? Was that the blessing of the PLO or Islamic Jihad? As the Islamic Abraham flees the fire, we are confronted with an odd transition and unbelievable dialog. Qur'an 37:100 "'Lord, grant me a righteous (son).' So We gave him the good news of a boy ready to suffer and forbear. Then, when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him, he said: 'Son! I see in a vision that I offer you in sacrifice: Now what is your view.' (The son) said: 'O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me, if Allah so wills, one practicing Patience and Constancy!'" Even with nine words artificially inserted into the text by the translators for clarification, this verse is bizarre. It is as if Muhammad overheard a half dozen Bible stories and tried to tie them all together in one paragraph. Over the course of five sentences he takes us from a gang of nameless people building a furnace to terrorize Abe to having him terrorize his son. And there is a significant detail missing - the son's name isn't stated because Muhammad can't decide which son should be sacrificed or even where or when the event occurred. Qur'an 37:103 "When they had surrendered (to Allah), and he had flung him on his face, We called out, 'Abraham! You have fulfilled the vision! Lo! that was a clear test. And We ransomed him with a momentous sacrifice, with a tremendous victim!'" Allah, the counterfeit god, continues to falsify history. Qur'an 37:110 "Thus do We reward the doers of good. For he was one of Our believing slaves. And We gave him the good news of the birth of Isaac, a prophet among the good ones. We blessed him and Isaac: but of their progeny are (some) that do right, and (some) that obviously do wrong." As a reward for Abraham's faithfulness, Allah predicts the birth of the son he almost sacrificed. Brilliant. Somewhere, sometime, someone may have done a worse job plagiarizing, but it's hard to imagine. The omissions, the lack of place, time, and purpose degrade one of the Bible's great events. Muhammad, I mean Allah, was trying to rip off, I mean utilize, the story of Abraham and Isaac. The original provides such a refreshing change from this drivel it's worth a quick review. First, Yahweh sets the scene and unfolds the story chronologically. Genesis chronicles the life of Abraham, the places he lived, the people he encountered, as well as the birth of his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. Yahweh had told Abraham to send Ishmael out of the Promised Land, and the boy fell out of Abraham's life and Yahweh's plans, fading into Biblical oblivion. As we approach the 22nd chapter, God tells us that Abraham was living in Beersheba. He had just returned from visiting the Philistines in Gaza. Within that context, he speaks to him about Isaac, the patriarch's miracle child from his wife Sarah, the beneficiary of the covenant. "Now it came about after these things, that Yahweh tested Abraham and called to him, 'Abraham.' 'Here I am.' Yahweh said, 'Take your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a sacrifice on one of the mountains of which I will tell you.'" The Temple in Jerusalem was built on Mount Moriah by Solomon to commemorate Abraham's faith. Yahshua would be sacrificed there to save mankind. To this day, it remains the most coveted place on earth. And it's a three-day walk, forty miles north by northwest, from Beersheba. The details of the sacrifice were extraordinarily important to Yahweh. This drama had to be played out exactly as it would happen to Yahshua. The timing was important, too. The call came 2,000 years after the fall of Adam and two thousand years before the Messiah endured the same fate. Remember, Yahweh gave us a pattern - six eras of creation followed by an era of rest. It has been nearly 2,000 years since Yahshua's sacrifice and the Scriptures tell us that 1,000 years of peace will follow his return. "So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey and took two of his young men with him along with Isaac. He split wood for the sacrifice and went to the place Yahweh had told him to go. On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw it from a distance. Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey. The lad and I will go yonder. We will worship and return to you.' Abraham took the wood for the offering and laid it on his son. He took the fire and the knife. (Fire is a metaphor for judgment and the knife is the implement of atonement.) Walking together, Isaac said, 'My father.' He answered, 'Here I am, my son.' 'I see the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the offering?' 'Yahweh will provide for himself the lamb for the offering.'" (Notice that Abraham actually answers in God’s name - I Am, or Yahweh - every time he is called.) "When they came to the place of which Yahweh had told him; Abraham arranged the altar, bound his son Isaac, and laid him on the wood. Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to sacrifice his son. But Yahweh called to him from heaven, and said, 'Abraham.' 'Here I am.' 'Do not stretch out your hand against the boy and do nothing to him for I know that you love Me, since you have not withheld your son, your only son from Me.' "Then Abraham raised his eyes and looked and saw a ram caught in the thicket by his horns; he took the ram and offered him in place of his son. 'Because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, I will greatly bless you and I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heavens...and through your descendents all the nations of the earth shall be blessed.' So Abraham returned to his men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba where Abraham lived." Real scripture sets human events in context so that we can learn something. Yahweh not only explained the nature of his relationship with man but also explained what was to come, so when it happened, we might recognize the significance. Returning to the Sira, Ishaq replays Muhammad’s fantasy in front of Nimrod rather than in the great hall of idols. After daring the gods to talk, Abraham is questioned by a king who died 700 years earlier. Tabari II:57 "'Have you seen this Allah whom you worship and whose worship you call others? Who is he.' Abraham replied, 'My Lord, Who gives life and causes death.' [The question was too tough so he did the old political side step.] Nimrod said, 'I give life and cause death.'" They chatted about this for a while and then Abraham said, "'Allah causes the sun to rise in the East, so can you make it rise in the West.' [Good thing he didn't mention the chariot thing, the angelic handholds, or the garment of luminosity.] Knowing that it was as Abraham said, Nimrod was ashamed. He gave no answer; he knew that he was not able to do that. Allah said, 'Thus was the unbeliever abashed' - that is to say, the proof was against him." Now that Muslims know that the sun does not follow Allah’s commands, shouldn't they be ashamed? Isn't the proof clearly against them? Tabari II:58 "They pushed Abraham into the furnace. Then the heavens and earth and all creatures therein except humans and jinn shouted to Allah, 'Our Lord! Abraham, the only one on your earth who worships you, is being burned in fire for your sake. Permit us to help him.'" Everybody talks to Allah except humans and demons. Who might they be? "Allah answered, 'I am his friend. I will protect him. O fire! Be coolness and peace for Abraham.'" So following this fireside chat, we read: "Imprison him in a building and cast him into Hell. ... Abraham raised his head [and contradicted most all of what we have read thus far], 'You are alone in heaven and I am alone on earth.'...Had Allah not followed the command for coolness with peace, Abraham would have frozen to death." Tabari II:62 "Abraham and Lot set out for Syria. On the way Abraham met Sarah, who was the daughter of the king of Harran." Actually, Abram left Ur for Haran traveling along the banks of the Euphrates River. He was accompanied by his father, Terah, his wife and half sister, Sarai, and his nephew, Lot. "She had criticized her people about their religion, so he married her, since he would be able to have a believing wife without having to convert her." This verse implies one becomes a Muslim by criticizing a religion. "Then Abraham went forth, a fugitive for the sake of his Lord...to practice his religion and worship safely." Why would Abe fear for his safety after being saved from the fire? And why, if he was God’s messenger, did he leave town? Shouldn't he have stayed and tried to save the Babylonians? No. Recasting Abraham was more important. Muhammad fled Mecca as a fugitive. He ran to Yathrib, today’s Medina because some pagans promised to protect him. The revisionist Abraham makes the cowardly Muhammad appear more godly. "He settled in Harran. Then he left as a fugitive and traveled to Egypt which was under the rule of one of the earliest Pharaohs." Well, not exactly. The first Egyptian ruler was probably the Scorpion King. He ruled more than five hundred years before Abraham's arrival. "Sarah was one of the best humans ever. She would not disobey Abraham in any way." That was Muhammad’s idea of a perfect woman. From Bukhari's Book of Belief:.'" Next we find that Muhammad "Islamicized" Abram's encounter with Pharaoh. The only germane insight into this affair is Pharaoh's gift of Hagar, a "Coptic" slave-girl. Flunking history, the Allah/Muhammad duo didn't know that the Coptics were centuries away from arriving on the international scene. Leaving Pharaoh, Abraham tells Sarah, "You are my sister in Allah, for in all this land there are no Muslims except ourselves." So what happened to all those scrolls and to the nations who were worshiping around Allah’s House? Some of what follows includes: "Hagar was of good appearance and Sarah gave her to Abraham, saying, 'Take her. You may take pleasure in Hagar, for I have permitted it.'" "The Messenger said, 'When you conquer Egypt treat its people well. They're kin and deserve protection.'" "Abraham left Egypt for Syria, for he was afraid of the Egyptian king and anxious about his evil ways. He settled in Beersheba in the land of Palestine, which is the desert of Syria." While most of this comes out of the Bible, it is flavored with the standard Muslim embellishments. One such addition is revealing. There was no Palestine during Abraham's life. The word was first composed by the Romans 2,100 years after Abraham died. The patriarch actually returned to Canaan, named after his great, great uncle. (Folks with King James Bibles may think Isaiah invented the name, but it's an errant translation. Isaiah 14:29 uses "pelesheth," which means: "rolling in dust." Tabari II:66 "Abraham dug a well in Beersheba and said, 'Drink from it and do not let a menstruating woman dip water from it.'" Muhammad, a sexual libertine if there ever was one, hated menstruation with a passion. As you know, he said that the reason Allah’s Stone turned from white to black was "it was fingered by menstruating women." And as sick as that sounds, this next Hadith is used by Muslims to justify brutalizing their daughters. Tabari II:72 "Sarah swore to cut something off of Hagar. ." "A menstruating woman came and dipped water from the well. Whereupon the water dried up." While I do not know the connection, the next paragraph begins: "When Allah wished to destroy Lot's people, he sent his messengers to Abraham, commanding him to leave their community. [Weren't we just told that the only two Muslims were Abe and Sarah? And Abraham was in Beersheba, not Sodom, so why ask him to leave?] They had done vile deeds which no one in the two worlds had done before, disbelieving their prophets and rejecting the good counsel which Lot brought them from their Lord. The messengers were ordered to visit Abraham and give him and Sarah tidings of the coming of Isaac and also of Jacob who was to come after him." For Islam to have any hope of being credible, the good news had to be of Ishmael not Isaac. Jacob wasn't Sarah's kid, and neither Jacob nor Isaac are of any value to Islam. At this point, the Muslim mathematicians jumped into the fray: Tabari II:68 "Abraham was sixteen when he was thrown into the fire, and Isaac was seven when he was sacrificed, while Sarah was ninety when she bore him. The place of his sacrifice was about two miles from Bayt Iliya [?]. When Sarah learned what Allah wanted with Isaac, she fell ill for two days and died on the third. Sarah was 127 when she died." Muslim math is as confused as Muslim science: 127-90=7. So much for Arabic numerals. Now we get to the important part. Tabari II:69 "After Ishmael and Isaac were born, Allah commanded Abraham to build a House for Him in which He would be worshipped and His name mentioned." This must be the House that Allah didn't build in heaven, that Adam didn't build, that Seth didn't build, that Noah didn't circumnavigate after Allah didn't raise it above the flood. "Abraham did not know exactly where he was expected to build it, since Allah had not made this clear [nor anything else], and he felt uneasy in the matter. Some scholars say that Allah sent the Sakinah to him [a rip-off of the Hebrew Shekhinah - the presence of Yahweh] to show him where to build the House. The Sakinah went with Abraham, who was also accompanied by his wife Hagar [Hagar was never Abraham's wife and Muslims know it.] and his son Ishmael, who was a small boy." The Tradition continues: "A man came to Ali bin Talib [Muhammad’s adopted son, his son-in-law, future Caliph], and said, 'Will you tell me about the House?' He replied, 'It was the first built with the blessing of the standing-place of Abraham, and whoever enters it will be safe. If you wish, I will tell you how it was built. Allah said to Abraham, "Build Me a House on earth!" Abraham felt uneasy, so He sent the Sakinah. The Sakinah is a gale-force wind with two heads, and one head followed the other until they reached Mecca and coiled up at the site of the House, the way a snake coils.'" There are some who suggest that Allah is Satan, the snake who tempted Adam. Using this metaphor to describe Allah’s presence supports that theory. But whether or not that is true, this passage is troubling. Mecca is nearly a thousand miles from Beersheba. These places are separated by rugged mountains and virtually impassible desert. There is no plausible way a hundred-year-old man, a slave girl, and a small child could have endured such a journey. And this may be why neither Muhammad nor Allah ever bothered to tell us how they accomplished the improbable voyage. Tabari II:70 "Abraham was commanded to build where the Sakinah had rested. When he had finished it except for one stone, [guess which one] the boy went away to build something else. But Abraham said, 'No, I still need one more stone, as I still order you.' So the boy went looking, and when he found one he brought it to Abraham. But Abraham had already set the Black Stone in place. He said, 'Father, who brought you this Stone?' Abraham answered, 'It was Gabriel who brought it to me from heaven.' Then the two of them finished it." And I could have sworn that Muhammad told us that the stone was brought to earth by Adam (Tabari I:298). Was he lying then, or now? Version two follows. It is also from Ali: "When he built it he went forth and left Hagar and Ishmael behind. Ishmael became very thirsty. Hagar climbed Safa to look for water but saw nothing. Then she went to Marwah, but the same thing happened. Then she returned to Safa and looked around, but could not find Ishmael. After looking seven times without success she said, 'Ishmael, you have died where I cannot see you.'" You may be wondering why she would look for water now and yet not have bothered during the three-month desert crossing. You may be wondering why she would look on the top of barren mountains rather than in a valley oasis. You may be wondering why she repeated the process seven times, endangering the life of her child. The answer is Islam. Muhammad needed to make the hajj rites religious. Even today Muslims are required to run between these mountains seven times. This explains why they do it. However, there were problems. Abraham was supposed to be the father of Islam. In this Hadith, he didn't perform any of the rites. He merely re-re-re-rebuilt the House and bailed. And the one who performed the Islamic ritual, Hagar, left Islam’s most important child alone in the desert (as did Muhammad’s mother, not so coincidentally). The sacred Meccan well of Zamzam needed Biblical credibility too, so... "The boy scraped the ground with his finger and the spring of Zamzam welled up. Hagar began to dam up the water, but Gabriel said, 'Leave it.'" In the versions that follow, we're told, "Abraham and Ishmael set out for Mecca. They took pickaxes without knowing where the house was. So Allah sent a wind, which had two wings and a head of a snake. It swept the area around the Ka'aba clear for them to build the foundations of the original House." Not on the foundations, nor to see the foundations, but to build the foundations of the original House. "This was when Allah said, 'When We prepared for Abraham the place of the House.' [Qur'an 22:26]" Since three contradictory versions were not enough: Tabari II:71 "Allah commanded Abraham to build the House and to call on humanity to perform the pilgrimage. He left Syria with his son Ishmael and his mother Hagar. Allah sent the Sakinah which had the power of speech. Abraham followed it to Mecca. When it came to the place of the House, it spun round and round and said to Abraham, 'Build on me! Build on me.' [Allah’s House was built upon a snake.] Abraham laid the foundations and raised the House, working with Ishmael until they came to the cornerstone. Abraham said, 'O my little son, find me a stone which I can put here as a sign to the people.' He brought him a stone, but Abraham did not like it. When Ishmael came back the cornerstone had already been brought and put in place." After failing math, science, and history, Islam is failing architecture. The cornerstone is the first rock laid, not the last. And cornerstones are big and rectangular. The Allah Stone is small and oval. But again, it wasn't by accident. The Scriptures refer prophetically to Yahshua as "the cornerstone" and you-know-who was desperate to be just like him. How was Abraham supposed to call humanity to this place? The valley was uninhabited. It was in the middle of a foreboding desert. The first settlement wouldn't be established for 2,500 years. Furthermore, the Islamic Abraham was piling un-hewn, un-mortared rocks in a desert ravine. The first heavy rain would have done it in. Perhaps the fifth version of Abraham in Mecca will be more rational. After circumcising Hagar, rather than cutting off her nose: Tabari II:72 "Sarah said, 'She will not live in the same town with me.' So Allah told Abraham to go to Mecca, where there was no House at the time. He took Hagar and her son and put them there.... Allah pointed out to Abraham the place to build the House [which would make Allah the snake]. .... When they reached Mecca, there was nothing there but acacia trees." If that is true, Muhammad’s earlier accounts must have been false. "The House at the time was but a hill of red clay.... When he was done, Abraham headed back to Syria.... Gabriel dug out Zamzam with his heel for Ishmael." All I can assume is that neither Muhammad nor Allah had a clue as to how the rock-pile got there. These wildly divergent explanations are preceded and followed by dozens more. It is as if Muslims think truth can be found in a pile of lies, if only the pile is big enough. The Traditions move on to recount a variety of patriarchal Meccan visits. Never mind that Mecca didn't exist. Muhammad wants us to believe in fairytales, in talking stones and trees: Tabari II:78 "And everything that heard him - stones, trees, hills, and dust said, 'Here I am, Allah, here I am.'" Continuing to give meaningless ritual religious meaning: Tabari II:81 "Abraham took Ishmael with him on the day of Tarwiyah [the 8th day of the hajj] and stayed at Mina with the Muslims who were there. He prayed with them the prayers of midday, afternoon, sunset and late evening. He spent the night and prayed the dawn prayer with them. In the morning he went out to Arafat, and he spoke to them there until sunset drew near." This Hadith goes on to detail all of the remaining hajj rituals, all of which are still performed by Muslims as if they were acting out Abraham's example. "He showed them the sacrifice-ground of Mina, then performed the sacrifice and shaved his head. From Mina he went into the crowd to show them how to perform the march around the Ka'aba. Then he took them back to Mina to show them how to throw the stones, until he had completed the pilgrimage and proclaimed it to mankind." Because the previous account was unbelievable for a myriad of reasons, not the least of which was that there were no Muslims in Mecca, Muhammad felt compelled to give it an angelic twist. Tabari II:82 "The Prophet said, 'Gabriel came to Abraham on the day of Tarwiyah and went with him to Mina, Arafat, back to Mina, threw stones, performed the sacrifice, shaved his head, and finally hurried to the House. Then Allah ordered Muhammad to 'follow the religion of Abraham.'" [Qur'an 16:123] That must mean that the religion of Abraham, Islam, can be defined as running between two desolate mountains, tossing stones at stones, shaving one's head, and walking around a rock pile. And so it would be. Even today, Islam is known for its rites and rituals rather than for its righteousness or reason. As we turn the page, we find ourselves embroiled in the mother of all disagreements. Even Muhammad and Allah are at odds: "The earliest sages of our Prophet's nation disagree about which of Abraham's two sons it was that he was commanded to sacrifice. Some say it was Isaac, while other say it was Ishmael." Mind you, these are the very same people we are reliant upon for remembering the Qur'an and passing it along orally so that other sages could jot it down. This might well explain why it is so disjointed, contradictory, and I dare say silly, (not to mention perverted, demented, and disgusting). Tabari reports: "Both statements are supported by testimony related on the authority of the Prophet. Both statements are equally sound since they both came from the Prophet. Thus only the Qur'an [which also came from the Prophet] could serve as proof that the account naming Isaac was clearly the more truthful of the two." But if that is the case, Islam falters, since it draws its legitimacy from Ishmael. Muhammad claims that he was "prophet quality" because he was a direct descendant of Ishmael. Tabari II:83 "'We ransomed him with a tremendous victim.' [Qur'an 37:107] refers to Isaac." But how can that be? In verse 104 Allah says, "We called out, 'Abraham, You have fulfilled your dream, thus do we reward the good. That was indeed a trying test.' So...We gave him the good news of Isaac." How can Abe have nearly sacrificed Isaac if the reward for fulfilling that trying test was Isaac? In version two: "'Messenger, repeat the knowledge Allah has given you about the son of the two victims.' The Messenger laughed and they said, 'Who are the two victims?' The Prophet said, 'When Abd al-Muttalib was ordered to dig Zamzam [Not Ishmael or Gabriel?], he vowed that if Allah would make it easy for him, he would sacrifice one of his sons. The choice fell upon Abdallah, but his uncles prevented it, saying, 'Ransom your son with one hundred camels.' So he did that, and Ishmael was the other victim.'" The first boy spared, Abdallah, "Slave-to-Allah," was Muhammad’s father. And as we shall soon see, he botched that story as badly as he did the other. Tabari II:84 "When Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac, Satan said, 'By Allah, if I cannot deceive the people with this, I shall never be able to do it.'" Satan not only swears by Allah, he says that the bogus connection between Abraham and Islam is his best way to fool mankind. And he was right! It’s also interesting that the deception would be over sacrifice. Judaism, Christianity, and all rational civilizations use sacrifice as the means to promote justice and maintain spiritual or societal order. Commit a crime and you will be required to sacrifice your money, your freedom, or your life. If crime is without cost, anarchy reigns. In Judaism, the sacrificial rite for the forgiveness of sin was rich in symbolism. It was based upon the "Mercy Seat" of the Ark of the Covenant. And it was connected prophetically to the blood of an unblemished lamb or dove. It’s all explained in the Torah. In Christianity, Yahshua became the perfect lamb and sacrificed himself on our behalf. But in Qur'anic Islam, there is no sacrifice. While the Sunnah perpetuates Qusayy's senseless slaughter, it's for appeasement, not atonement. There is no symbolism, no prophetic implication, and no moral reason, as forgiveness is capricious in Islam. And that is why totalitarian governments use draconian measures to maintain order. Muhammad was an amoral thief empowered by situational scriptures, so he failed to appreciate the necessity of sacrifice and he never understood the Biblical concept of sacrificial atonement. It’s why the "ransom of great sacrifice" mentioned in the Qur'an is left unexplained. Tabari II:87 "Caliph Umar said, 'I asked a former Jew, who was considered to be a great Jewish scholar before he converted to Islam. He said, 'Ishmael, by God, O Prince of Believers. The Jews know that, but they are envious of you Arabs because it was your father who was named in Allah’s command and to whom Allah ascribed such merit.' ' " Then why do you suppose the prophet said, "When Isaac grew up, Abraham had a dream in which he was told, 'Fulfill your promise that if Allah grants you a son by Sarah you will sacrifice him. [In other words: "If you give me a son I'll kill him for you."] Then he drew the knife across Isaac's throat, but the knife did not scratch him, for Allah had placed a sheet of copper on Isaac's throat. When Abraham saw it he turned him over and tried to cut him on the nape of his neck.' This confirms Allah’s Qur'an: 'When he surrendered, he flung him down upon his face.'" [Qur'an 37:103] In the next Hadith it's Ishmael: "When Abraham was alone with his son on the trail on Mt. Thabir [a mountain near Mecca], it is said he said to Ishmael, 'O my son, I saw in a dream that I was to sacrifice you. What do you think?' Ishmael told him, 'O my father, Do as you were ordered...and sharpen your knife-blade so that it will finish me off quickly.'" The tests attributed to Abraham may be the low water mark for Islam’s credibility thus far. This strand of pearls begins to unwind in Tabari's second volume, Prophets and Patriarchs: Tabari II:97 "After Allah had put Abraham to the test - when Nimrod bin Cush tried to burn him in the fire, when He commanded him to sacrifice his son after he had become old enough to walk, when He made him raise the foundations of the House, and devote himself to its rituals - after all of this, He put Abraham to the test with still further commands which He has mentioned. He said, 'And when his Lord tried Abraham with commands and he fulfilled them.' [Qur'an 2:124] The earliest scholars of the Islamic community (ummah) disagreed about the nature of these commandments with which Allah tested Abraham and which Abraham obeyed." These tests were crucial because Islam - according to Muhammad - was the result of Abraham's obedience. Yet the Qur'an is deficient - completely silent on the nature of these trials and their significance. So rather than let Allah wallow in blissful ignorance, the Companions rushed in to save the day. Tabari II:98 "Islam consists of thirty parts, and no one ever tested with this obligation carried it out, except Abraham." "'And when his Lord tried Abraham with commands' means that Allah tested him with the acts of ritual purification, five in the head and five in the body. [5+5=30] Those in the head are: trimming the mustache, rinsing the mouth, cleansing the nostrils with water, using the toothstick, and parting the hair with the fingers. Those in the body are: paring the nails, shaving the pubic hair, circumcision, plucking the armpit, and washing off traces of feces and urine." Can't be! Surely this is a misprint. There is no way that the adoptive father of the world's fastest growing religion earned the dubious honor by passing such an inane "test." Let's examine another Hadith to make sure we've got this right. "Allah’s words, 'When his Lord tried Abraham with commands.' mean that Abraham was tested by circumcision, shaving his pubic hair, washing the fore-part and rear, using a toothstick, trimming the mustache, paring nails, and plucking his armpits.'" That wasn't any better. How about this: Tabari II:99 "Abraham was tested with ten Islamic practices: rinsing the mouth, cleansing the nostrils with water, trimming the mustache, using a toothstick, plucking the armpit, paring the nails, washing finger joints, circumcision, shaving pubic hair, and washing the rear and vulva." So after adding: "bathing on Friday," a fourth version gets ritualistic with: "walking around the Ka'aba, running between Safa and Marwah, stoning pillars, and hurrying." I disdain ritual. I am, therefore, unimpressed with its justification. Ritual is a tool used by power-hungry men to condition the masses and subject them to their rule. It is a control device for the oppressor to use against the ignorant. It separates men from God and discourages rational inquiry. But no ritual has ever been this ridiculous. Tabari claims that these Hadiths somehow illuminate portions of the 2nd surah. Let's see how: Qur'an 2:118 "Those who are ignorant say: 'Why doesn't Allah speak to us Himself or show us a sign.' So said the people before them. We have indeed shown our clear signs already." Neither Allah nor Muhammad ever bothered to provide any proof of divine inspiration - no signs, no miracles, no prophecies - so this, once again, refers to the miracles of the Bible. "Lo! We have sent you (Muhammad) with the truth, a bringer of glad tidings and a warner. And you will not be asked about the companions of the Blazing Hell Fire." That's almost funny. Allah is telling Muhammad that he won't be asked about hell. Why then do you suppose hell is the Qur'an's most oft repeated subject? Qur'an 2:120 "Never will the Jews or the Christians be satisfied with you unless you follow their form of religion. Say: 'The guidance of Allah is Guidance. ... Those to whom We have given the Book read it as it ought to be read." The Qur'an cannot be true and confirm the Bible as Allah claims if Judeo-Christianity is an errant "form of religion." And at this point the Qur'an wasn't remotely complete; it wasn't even written down. Allah was therefore saying that people were doing something that simply couldn't be done. That would make him a liar. What's more, Allah was speaking to an illiterate man - one incapable of reading. "These [Jews] believe in it; and whoever disbelieves it are losers. Children of Israel, call to mind the special favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I [Allah] preferred you to all others and made you excel the nations." Muhammad was in a pickle. Without the Jews being Yahweh's chosen people, the prophets and scriptures upon which he based Islam lost their relevancy. If they were irrelevant, so was Islam. Like so much of the Qur'an, this surah provides no intelligent transition between subjects. It has rambled on about god's inability to provide a sign, to telling us that Muhammad was a warner. It flip-flops from telling him not to follow the religion of the Jews to calling the Jews God’s chosen people. Then after condemning Yahshua's mission and crucifying Muhammad’s credibility in the process, it moves to a revisionist account of the Biblical patriarch Abraham. Qur'an 2:124 "And (remember) when Abraham's Lord tried him with (certain) commands, which he fulfilled: He said: 'I will make you an Imam [Islamic leader] to the Nations.' He pleaded: 'And also Imams from my offspring!' He answered: 'But My Promise does not include evil-doers.'" The nature of the trials, or commands, which Abraham allegedly fulfilled was not listed. Considering that the passage of these trials made Abraham the father of Islam - the Imam of the nations - the omission was serious. Not surprisingly, it sent the Muslim sages scurrying for answers. Sadly, what we just reviewed was the best they could do. The Noble Qur'an translators even include this Hadith: Bukhari:V7B72N779 "I heard the Prophet saying, 'Five practices are characteristics of the Fitra [religion of Abraham]: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustaches short, clipping the nails, and depilating the hair of the armpits.'" This "religion" can't be fixed. It needs to be discarded. Every Biblical story quoted in the Qur'an was designed to make Muhammad’s unprophet-like behavior seem religious or to make Islamic rituals seem sane. The next verse was no exception. Qur'an 2:125 "Remember when We made the House a place of assembly for men and a place of safety; and the place Abraham stood to pray; and We covenanted with Abraham and Ishmael that they should sanctify My House for those who circumambulate it, use it as a retreat, bow down, prostrating themselves." Qur'an 2:126 "And remember [This is an odd command. What are they remembering this from? The Bible doesn't say anything remotely like this, and no other scriptures refer to Abraham.] Abraham said: 'My Lord, make this a City of Peace, and feed its people with fruits, such of them as believe in Allah and the Last Day.'" Even this is odd. Muhammad was verbally attacked during the entire time he preached in Mecca. As a result, he attacked Mecca militarily at the end of his career, putting him in direct opposition to the patriarch's supposed prophecy. "He said: 'As for those who reject, indulge them; soon I will compel them to the doom of the torment of Hell Fire, an evil destination!'" To compel is to induce or coerce. Why would God want to act like Satan and coerce someone into hell? Qur'an 2:127 "Remember, Abraham and Ishmael raised the foundations of the House: 'Our Lord! Accept this service from us.'" While I realize that no one was writing this stuff down, and that a short pencil is more effective than a long memory, god and his prophet ought to be able to do better. Just two verses earlier Allah said that he had made the House. Next we learn: "'Our Lord, make of us Muslims, submissive to Your (will), and of our offspring a nation of Muslims, bowing to You; and show us our place for the celebration of rites.'" Abraham died 2,600 years before the first Muslim was conned into Islam. In fact, the Arabic word for Muslim wouldn't even be coined for twenty-six centuries. Yet a nation of Muslims is how Muhammad viewed the world. The prophet saw our planet in two pieces - the Nation of Islam (called Dar us-Islam) and lands yet to submit, the House of War (called Dar us-Harb). And while Islam has been at war with itself for all of its thirteen centuries, it will continue to fight the House of War until we capitulate. Many in the Western media and most politicians claim that the war on terrorism is unlike any other because the terrorists come from many nations. Now you know the truth: the terrorists represent one nation - the Nation of Islam. Qur'an 2:129 "Our Lord, raise up in their midst a Messenger from among them who shall recite to them Your revelations, and instruct them in the Book and in wisdom and make them grow." By the time the second surah was "revealed" Muhammad had fled Mecca for the safety of Medina. Now in close proximity with Jews, he had a problem. These folks were literate, and as a result, they were harder to fool. They undoubtedly told Muhammad that he couldn't be God’s final messenger because that role belonged to the Messiah. Moreover, there were hundreds of specific prophecies regarding the Messiah, none of which he met. So what do you suppose the wannabe Messiah did? Right. He made one up. But for it to be believable, he had to revise Abraham first: Qur'an 2:130 "He who turns away from the religion of Abraham makes himself a fool with folly." Abraham did not have a religion. He had a relationship. There were no rituals, rites, prostrations, pilgrimages, or prescribed prayers. In fact, the word "religion" doesn't exist in the Torah. It can't be found even once in all of the Old Covenant. Qur'an 2:131 "When his Lord said to him, 'Be a Muslim.' he said: 'I submit [Islam] to the Lord of the worlds.'" Likewise, you won't find the words Muslim, submit, or Islam. The revisionist Abraham said, "Our Lord, make us submissive [Islam] to You and make of our seed a nation [of Muslims]. And show us our ways of worship." If Abraham received scrolls from Allah and performed the Islamic rituals, he could not have asked, "Show me the ways of worship." "You, only You, are the Relenting. Our Lord, raise up in their midst a messenger." You can almost hear Muhammad cry, "I'm that man." Jesus has been demoted and Abraham promoted so that Abe could vouch for the credentials of Muhammad and thereby silence the prophet's critics. Muhammad believes that Allah chose Islam for Abraham and his sons, especially Jacob, from whom all Jews are descended..'" Why do you suppose Yahweh trifled with Judaism and Christianity if Abe were a Muslim? And could Abraham have referred to God as Allah if the name wouldn't be invented for more than twenty centuries? Even then, it was the proper name of a pagan rock idol in Arabia, not Israel. How do you suppose Yahweh's name could have been repeated 6,868 times in the Bible if his name were really Allah? And there is no way to weasel out of this predicament. Muslims scream that "Allah" is simply the Arabic word for "God," yet that assertion is in direct conflict with the Qur'an. In this verse the Arabic word for "God" (capital "G"), "Ilah," was used three times. Alright, now that we've turned Jews into Muslims it's time to condemn them. Qur'an 2:134 "Those are people whose nation has passed away. They shall reap the fruit of what they did, They say: 'Become Jews or Christians if you would be guided.' Say (Muhammad): 'Nay! Only the Religion of Abraham the Hanif. He was not a Mushrikun [non-Muslim disbeliever].'" The Qur'an says nothing of the religion of Abraham. It only suggests prostrations and rituals - mindless drivel. Since the world's best-documented faiths are Judaism and Christianity, and their Bible introduced Abraham to the world, you'd think that Islam would at least try. But no, all we get is feeble justification for a sorry mix of pre-existing pagan rites. "Hanifs" were monotheistic poets. While they inspired Islam’s first score of surahs, they were not Muslims. We will discuss them in upcoming chapters. Qur'an 2:136 "Say (Muslims): 'We believe in Allah and that which is revealed to us and that which was revealed to Abraham, and Ishmael, and Isaac, and Jacob, and the (twelve Jewish) tribes, and that which Moses and Jesus received, and that which the prophets received from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and unto Him we have surrendered (in Islam).'" You'd think that after 1,400 years, some bright Muslim would ask, "What was revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, and Jacob?" If Allah knows, why is he keeping it a secret? Or, why not ask, "If we Muslims shouldn't make any distinction between the revelations Moses and Jesus received and those claimed by Muhammad, why was Islam necessary?" If they were without distinction this cannot be true: "If they believe as you believe they are rightly guided; but if they turn away they are in great opposition. Allah will suffice you against them." Allah says the revelations are identical - Judaism's, Christianity's, and Islam’s, and then he says "they are in great opposition." There is some good news. The Islamic god was a self-indulgent fool: Qur'an 2:138 "(Our religion is) the Baptism of Allah: And who can baptize better than Allah?" Not only is Allah a Jew, he's a Baptist. And while that's embarrassing, the symbolism is deadly for Islam. Muslims don't baptize, and that's a problem if their religion is the Baptism of Allah - especially since he's the best Baptiser. Baptism by water is the outward expression of having chosen Yahshua as one's savior. It is symbolic of receiving his Spirit - the spirit of Yahweh. While the Holy Spirit is something that the Qur'an both acknowledges and condemns, He, like the Torah, Gospels, and Yahshua, plays no part in Islam. Allah is a distant god. His spirit does not reside in man. While we turned to this surah in an effort to connect Traditions regarding Abraham to Allah’s account in the Qur'an, we have hit a veritable goldmine of Islamic blunders. This may be the most grotesque of all. Qur'an 2:139 "Say (unto the People of the Scripture [Christians and Jews]): Will you dispute with us about Allah, seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord?" Muslims, in a desperate grope for credibility, are being told that Yahweh and Allah are the same god. It is hard to imagine a more vulgar lie. Yahweh and Allah are love and lust, redemption and punishment, personal and remote, brilliant and dimwitted, peace and terror. They are as different as their scriptures. Yet this deception is essential to Islam. If Allah isn't Yahweh, Muhammad is a liar and the Qur'an is lunacy. There is no other justification for Muhammad’s reliance on Genesis and Exodus. Muslims must reconcile the irreconcilable, bridging the chasm between Yahweh's and Allah’s wholly divergent characters. It is a desperate battle for survival that Islam cannot win. The infinitesimal chance Islam had of prevailing with this ridiculous assertion evaporated when the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. The text and message on those uncorrupted scrolls rendered impossible the comprehensive corruption and conspiracy that would have been necessary to make the doctrines and gods similar, much less the same. Qur'an 2:140 "Nay! Do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or Christians? Say: Do you know better than Allah? Who is more unjust than those who conceal the testimony they received from Allah?" If this weren't so stupid it would be funny. Allah is saying that Christians and Jews call Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes, "Jews and Christians," as if they knew more about them than Allah. Well, apparently they do. Abraham wasn't strictly speaking, a Jew. He was a Chaldean from Ur as was his wife Sarah. Anyone who has bothered to read Genesis knows that. But Allah was illiterate, just like Muhammad. Reading Genesis was therefore beyond him. Ishmael was the bastard child of an Egyptian slave. He was expressly excluded from Yahweh's covenant with the Jews. No Jew or Christian would ever claim relations with him. Isaac, Abraham's miracle son, provided the link between Abraham and Jacob. Jacob was the father of the twelve tribes and was therefore a Jew - the Jew. And last time I checked, the tribes of Israel were Jews, not Christians. The first Christian wouldn't be born for twenty centuries. By this time it should be abundantly clear - Allah wasn't God. The dark spirit of Islam wasn't even sane. Qur'an 2:141 "The fools among the people will say: 'What has turned them from the Qiblah [the direction Muslims face in prayer] to which they formerly observed [facing Jerusalem]?'" Following the Satanic Verses, Ka'aba worship was on the rocks, so Muhammad had Muslims pray to a substitute shrine - the only holy site in the Bible - the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. But that didn't last because the Jews began disputing his preposterous claims of prophethood. Something had to be done. The answer was simple enough. Muslims were ordered to turn away from Jerusalem and to bow toward the House that Allah-Adam-Abraham built. "We appointed the Qiblah which you were used to, as a hard test for those who followed the Messenger. Indeed it was a momentous change, except to those guided by Allah." I don't suppose anyone bothered to ask why bowing one direction versus another in ritualistic prayer was such a tough test. I would think that twisting one's prayer blankie might be sufficient. Why go to all the trouble to twist the Torah? Qur'an 2:144 "Turn your face in the direction of the sacred Mosque [the Ka'aba]. Wherever you are, turn your faces in that direction. The people of the Book know well that this revelation is the truth from their Lord." Allah is saying that the Jews and Christians know that the Ka'aba is of paramount importance to Judeo-Christianity. Further, he is protesting that the Jews and Christians have collaborated in a massive cover-up to keep the true importance of the pagan shrine a secret. Frankly, I am stunned that something this obviously false and foolish could be considered godly by anyone. Implicit in this farce is that the Judeo-Christian focus on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem is bogus. For this to be true, the entire Bible, starting with Genesis 11 running through Revelation 22, would have to be fundamentally flawed, for virtually every page is rooted in the history of Israel, and focused on Jerusalem. To say that Jews and Christians conspired to artificially elevate the importance of Israel, Jerusalem, and the Temple at the expense of Mecca, a town that didn't even exist during the two thousand years the scriptures were being written - in all sixty-six books of the Bible - is ludicrous. Yet the stakes are unimaginably high. If Allah’s contention is wrong, then Islam’s foundation is ripped asunder. All of the corrupted Biblical accounts in the world won't help. If the Islamic connection to the Hebrew prophets and patriarchs falters, every important aspect of Muhammad’s religion fails: Allah isn't god; Muhammad isn't a prophet. And if they aren't who they claim they are, they aren't worthy of anyone's prayers, allegiance, or soul. Therein lies the tale - the ticking time bomb of Islam. There is no room for an Arab prophet with a wholly divergent message, especially one without miracles or prophecies, in the line of Hebrews. The last messenger of the scriptures is undeniably the Messiah, not Muhammad. That gave the Messenger of Islam several enormous problems. He had to claim that the Messianic prophecies were corrupted and meaningless - an impossible task. He had to ignore the fact that the Messiah Yahshua fulfilled them - a fool's folly (one sadly shared by the Jews). Then he had to somehow distort Bible stories and characters to such an extent that it made his unprophet-like behavior and ridiculous pagan rites seem religious, rational, moral, and inspired. But that led to a new problem. How does one do that without debasing the faith upon which the new religion is based? It can't be done - at least not rationally. But Islam has never been popular with rational people. It is like an acid, corroding everything it touches, eating away at the brain and heart. It corrupts men, turning them into unthinking, mindless murderers in pursuit of lustful pleasures. It causes Muslims to be so fearful of the truth, they threaten to kill anyone willing to expose their lie. Muhammad wasn't finished telling his faithful that the Jews and the Christians had collaborated in the greatest hoax in all of recorded history. Qur'an 2:146 "The people of the Book recognize him as they know their own sons; but some of them conceal the truth which they themselves know." Muhammad’s "god" is saying on behalf of his "prophet" that the Jews recognized Muhammad as the Messiah but were keeping it a secret. He was evidently counting on everyone being illiterate and naïve. And judging by the numbers of people he fooled, he may have been right. The trials and tribulations of Dishonest Abe, also known as a figment of Muhammad’s imagination, end where they began - by ripping off a well-documented Bible story. Tabari II:111 "Lot bin Haran bin Terah, son of Abraham's brother, and his people, the folks of Sodom, traveled from Babylon following their religion. They went to Syria as fugitives with Sarah. It is said that Terah, Abraham's father, went with them." Yes, Terah was Abe's dad, not Azar, like the Traditions have been insisting. And yes, they were close when they said that they left Babylon. It was actually Ur, a hundred miles south. And yes, the troop included Lot and Sarah. They were not, however, fugitives, they had no religion, and the people of Sodom were not with them. Lot would eventually live in Sodom, but that wouldn't occur for a couple of thousand miles and many years. "Terah died. Abraham, Lot and Sarah went on to Syria and then to Egypt, which was then ruled by a Pharaoh named Sinan bin Al-wan bin Ubayd bin Uwayj bin Imlaq bin Lud bin Shem bin Noah. He was the brother of Dahhak/Nimrod, who had appointed him governor of Egypt." These boys would have been so much better off if they had just stuck with the Biblical account rather than drumming up this nonsense. Truth is, they would have been better off if they had just stuck with Judaism and never perverted it into Islam - and so would we. "After this, Abraham, Lot and Sarah went back to Syria and settled in Palestine. Allah sent Lot to the people of Sodom. They were disbelievers in Allah and immoral. Allah said, 'You commit lewdness such as no creature before. You come into males, cut the roads, and commit abominations in your assemblies.'" [Qur'an 29:28] Allah, please, watch the language. They have a perfectly good word for that male thing. It’s called homosexuality. As for the lewdness, they have a word for that too. And even you should know it - as it was named after the town. But as for "cutting the roads," I'm at a loss. Fortunately, Muslim sages are ever ready to enlighten us. Tabari II:112 "Allah’s statement, 'you cut the roa' means: When the traveler, the son of the road, passed by they would block the road and perform with him that ugly deed.... Some say that they used to shorten whoever passed by. Other say that they used to break wind in their assemblies, while some said that they used to have intercourse with each other there.... Some Islamic scholars agree, while others differ. The abomination was breaking wind." I wonder if that was why Allah taught Adam about "the fart and the little fart?" It may have been why Muhammad revealed this pearl in Bukhari's Book of Wudu: Bukhari:V1B4N139 "He asked Allah’s Messenger about a person who imagined to have passed wind during the Salat prayer. Allah’s Messenger replied: 'He should not leave his Salat unless he hears sound or smells something.'" You see, Islam can be tolerant. Others say: "They would accost a rider and seize him and mount him," explains surah 29:28. Or: "Allah’s statement refers to the fact that no male jumped upon a male before the people of Lot." Then you have Muhammad’s version: "The Messenger of God said, 'And you commit abominations in your assemblies means they would cut off wayfarers and mock them, and that was the abomination that they committed.'" Horror of horrors! Being mocked was Muhammad’s curse in life. Virtually everyone he encountered berated him. The Messenger had a lot to say about Lot. Although Lot never preached a day in his life and was the furthest thing from a prophet, the temptation to transform him into a mini-Muhammad was too great to pass up. Tabari II:115 "Lot called on them to worship Allah. By Allah’s command he tried to prohibit them from doing those things which Allah disliked such as brigandage, committing lewd acts, and entering males in the posteriors. Because they persisted, he threatened them with painful doom. They rejected his admonitions, saying to him 'Bring Allah’s doom upon us, if you are telling the truth!'" I could have sworn that we've heard this story before. "At length Lot asked his Lord for help against them, since the matter was dragging on, as was their persistence in sinfulness. Then Allah - when he wanted to disgrace them and destroy them and help His Messenger Lot against them - sent Gabriel and two other angels. It had been said that the two other angels were Michael and Israfil." Every word of this was loaded, chosen specifically to distress Muhammad’s Meccan tormentors. "Mess with me and my god will get you." Tabari II:120 "Gabriel picked up their land with his wing and turned it over. He lifted it so high the inhabitants of heaven heard the crowing of roosters and the barking of dogs. He turned them upside down and rained upon them stones of clay." [Qur'an 15:74] The 15th surah says: . The dwellers of the Rock rejected the messengers." Allah is daring us to use his depiction of Sodom as a proof of his divinity. But Sodom wasn't turned upside down, it wasn't stoned with clay, nor was it ever close enough to heaven for the angelic host to hear the roosters. And the roads have long since disappeared. We know that because archeologists have found Sodom, Gomorrah, and the other cities of the plain. And guess what? They are exactly where the Bible said they would be. They were destroyed exactly when the Bible said that they were destroyed. And yes, they were buried exactly how the Bible proclaimed - under brimstone. Once again, the Bible was precisely accurate and the Muhammad/Allah team couldn't even plagiarize it without burying themselves. Some of the lowlights of the versions that follow include: Tabari II:121 "Gabriel spread out his wings and gouged out their eyes." "Then Allah took them to Syria." Which is odd because that's where we were told they were in the first place. This next one is a hoot. There are more errors than sentences. "Gabriel seized its girdle, then snatched it up so high into the sky that the angels could hear their dogs. He threw rocks at the laggards, one after the other. There were three towns called Sodom that lay between Medina and Syria. It has been mentioned that there were four million people in the town." Four thousand, maybe. They all had different names, like Gomorrah, and they were unearthed on the shores of the Dead Sea. Muhammad’s convoluted story of Lot is repeated a half dozen times in different surahs and that many times again in the Traditions. It’s no wonder it was the prophet's personal favorite. He had the opportunity to turn a nobody into a messenger whose people got pummeled because they mocked him. We leave Volume II of Tabari with these stirring words, "O Messenger! How many books did Allah reveal? He said, 'One hundred and four books. To Adam He revealed ten leaves, to Seth fifty leaves, and to Enoch thirty leaves. To Abraham he revealed ten leaves and also the Torah, Gospel, the Zabur, and the Rurqan.'" Oops. Even Allah knows better. The Torah wasn't written until the time of Moses. But what makes this statement particularly lame is that eighty-five percent of the Torah chronicles the history of people who lived after Abraham died. Tabari II:130 "I said, 'O Messenger! What were the books of Abraham.' He answered, 'They were all proverbs such as, 'O dominated, afflicted and deceived king! I did not send you to collect all the world, one part to another, rather I sent you so that I would not have to hear the cry of the oppressed.'" If they were all that feeble, it's little wonder no one other than the illiterate messenger ever read them. PRO | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 Read More:... Living 2013/05/18 11:06:06 More Community More Originals Opinions Leave a comment and start the discussion!
Randy Wolf (11-6, 3.24) vs. Paul Maholm (8-9, 4.46). DODGERS' MAGIC NUMBERS: 1 (to make playoffs), 3 (to win division) So a man goes to the doctor and says, "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." The doctor replies, "_________________________!" Random rantings and ravings about the Los Angeles Dodgers, written by a small consortium of rabid Dodger fans. With occasional comments on baseball, entertainment, pop culture and life in general. Randy Wolf (11-6, 3.24) vs. Paul Maholm (8-9, 4.46). DODGERS' MAGIC NUMBERS: 1 (to make playoffs), 3 (to win division) So a man goes to the doctor and says, "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." The doctor replies, "_________________________!"   332 comments:1 – 200 of 332 Newer› Newest» Furcal 6 Pierre 8 Manny 7 Kemp 9 Blake 5 Belliard 4 Loretta 3 Martin 2 Wolf P Ahhhhhh....GT.....eases the pain. Normally, I'd say Belliard in the lineup = Win, but Loretta may cancel that out. Glad to see E the the day off. He needs a rest. Beard Mode back, Belly 2.0 in, should more than cancel out Loretta. Should the fact that we have no clever nickname or way to reference Loretta be a clue as to how we value his contributions? By me saying that, I'm setting him up to make me so, so wrong. And I hope he does. Cubs up 2-0 on Frisco. So a man goes to the doctor and says, "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." The doctor replies, "Then stop sticking your foot in your mouth, Milton!" Second that on ethier. There were a couple of balls yesterday that he should have sent into orbit but he looked tired. Make that 3-nil to the Cubbies. Zito getting roughed up early. Braves bearing down on Hated Ones! ...the doctor replies, "No shit, now get off my foot!" Thank you! I'm here all week. Try the veal! Can we just get this one win done? I'm dying over here! ... Replies "win a fricken game so that you can clinch this. Sheesh it is the pirates for Christ's sake!!!" Mr. C- We tried the Veal yesterday! Nice. 1 vote for AC. @db Just don't have the salmon mousse. RB- Did you make it back from softball last night? Hope the beer is cold and the burgers are on by game time. Chelsea- shocked. Razorbacks- being humiliated I'm needing some serious sports mojo at this point. The doctor replies, "You've been saying that for the last three years, Mr. Schmidt. I think it's time you quit." Isn't it a little much to call them the "undefeated Falcons" when it's been only two weeks of football? Right, MLASF. It's like that a pitcher "carrying a perfect game to the 2nd inning." ^ forget the "that" Has the baseball started yet? I hope the Dodgers remember they have to face the mediocre Pirates pitching tonight. Guy walks into a doctor's office and says, "Hey doc, it hurts when I do this." Doctor says, "I'm a gynecologist." What up, peeps? Was a baserunning blunder by Furcal or a good throw? DB, Sorry to hear about Chelsea's day. Well, not really, but Arsenal was only slightly better. One win away from the top 4. @DB, Not only did I make it back, we won; I went 4-4 with 3 runs scored, and I ran for my buddy with bad knees. It was like going to the gym, only harder. Lots of beer at the pizza place, now I'm comfortably into Bud #2 watching the Blue. Don't be starting in on me now, RB! Was that a tremendous play by Wolf to get the out at first our what??? I'm awake now. FB, you looking forward to that Foreigner show? Who do you think you are, Furcal, RB? (September Furcal, I mean.) Jints go down 6-2. Go start the truck! I've got to get to Pittsburgh for a game. They just had a steamboat go past the centerfield wall. That, and I like to be alone. PNC seems like a good place for solitude. DB, I felt like September Furcal during the game, and August Furcal when I woke up this morning. A listener could have even heard the steamboat take a toot off the air horn it was so quiet in the park. Actually it has always looked like a lovely ballpark that I would love to go visit sometime. Of course, I can't really tell because it's in super blur-o-vision today - no HD. Just checking ticket prices at PNC. Seats right behind the Dodger dugout go for about 20 bucks. Even with airfare, that's cheaper than Dodger Stadium with parking. Rbnlaw, how was your daughter's volleyball game? Isn't Pierre due for his annual HR? DB, I've got the game in HD on PT. Is your cable working? I've yet to meet the man who drinks Tecate light. Thankfully. @karina, The Saints of Saint Anthony HS were victorious, defeating the Saints of Crean Lutheran South HS 3 games to 0. Daughter started in the second game and got 5 kills to begin the game. Thanks for asking. Martin with the CANNON! Cable working, RB. Charter must not have picked up Dodgers today. I cannot for the life of me figure out what their broadcast package is or isn't. RB, and with LA traffic, it's probably easier to fly all the way to Pitt than it is to get to Chavez Ravine. Belli2 with the Web Gem! Oh, Belly#2, what would we be doing without you? DB, Especially when you come from OC like me. I'm checking the schedule now. @Rbnlaw Awesome! Saint Anthony? as in Saint Anthony of Padua? Crap. We open the season vs. the Buckies. Can't go. Maybe Cincy? @karina, That's the Saint. As in San Antonio. Oooh, 2010 calendar time. Is it downloadable yet? Anyone ever been to Nats' yard? It's a beautiful park with a lot of character. I work in DC frequently so have gone a number of times. Apr 23-25. Was that...Loretta?! No, couldn't have been Loretta. Must've been Blake in disguise. Alright wolfie, make them pay for that. 3-0 going to bottom of 4th. I like this so far. ah, well... Early season Loretta! The funny thing is, Mr. C, true to form, I was typing almost that same thing you just said then had a bad keystroke that erased it all. So when I refreshed, you had said it. Rain coming back. Hurry up and get this one in, lads! Bills, that's the way to give up a long ball, when it's early and no one else is on base. Just get it out of the way like that. @db Clearly, our brains must be damaged in similar ways;) (Forgot my wolfie suit, too. Hopefully no bad juju.) @ Mr. C And the weird thing is I was going to refer to him as "Wolfie" though I honestly can't remember ever in the past calling him that. Yeah, similar drain bamage. Let's see : if we get early season Loretta-Bills, September Furcal and 2007 Russell Martin, we could be unstoppable! Raffy! Beautiful defence! Loving this infield. @ Ka(t)rina- Can we get July 2003 Manny? Per ESPN, "Sources say Rays interested in Milton Bradley." Boy, that franchise is going downhill quickly if this is part of their strategic vision. Fuck off McCutcheon, you scrawny little shitbag! Let it drop! @Rbnlaw i pray to that Saint every day of my life and my whole family is very devoted to him. Nice article from Dodgers website re" pitching prospects in postseason. Gives some Torre decision making insight. @Dusty Baker i don't know, it's up to Manny, but it really is a very nice thought. just started watching the game. What happened to Eric Collins? @db If you click through the link, Joe Maddon just lost one of the Js his travel scrabble set. (sorry, old gag but still can't resist) Nic- HOLY SHIT! I hadn't even noticed! Don't know what that says re Collins. i think the only reason i knew was because i was listening to the radio and it was Rick Monday solo. Actually Rick Monday solo would be the best alternative, if Vin is not in the equation (eg East Coast swing). Wait, I'm confused. What the hell is going on with the announcing staff? Excellent avatar, MLASF. The only way the Pirates can get fans to come is with fireworks and some band I've never heard of. hopefully they benched Eric Collins, i blame every east coast loss on him. Jeez, it's already the bottom of 6th. Quick game. I need to pick up my beer drinking speed. Yeah, Collins has been pressing...he needs a few days off to rest and think about it. "The only way the Pirates can get fans to come is with fireworks and some band I've never heard of." Just replace the band with some crappy salsa dish and you could be talking about the angels. If there would ever be a bright spot to Vinny retiring, it would be the stability brought to the announcing team. Right now, for the east coast games, we're using a guy mostly known for dropping his pants and Steve Lyons. everytime i watch a stupid softball game or little league world series game on ESPN and hear Collins i hang my head in shame. Totally hear you, Nic. But I have to ask, how much softball on ESPN are you watching? I'm pretty sure Collins is doing college football for FSN. @karina, Since I'm not Catholic, you need to fill me in on the significance of St. Anthony of Padua. DB, You misspelled "defense," and thus gave you up as a Brit. Or a Canadian posing as a Brit. My grandmother was from Newcastle and Grandfather from Glasgow. Hence, I'm also a Rangers supporter, but can do without the Toon. haha DB, it was mainly during the college softball world series. I swear, uhhhh, LOOK OVER THERE!!!! (runs) @Rbnlaw - I would suggest we hang him, but since he complimented my avi, I shall allow him to live. I believe you, Nic. I sure do... *rolls eyes* re: "defence" Haw! I didn't even notice that. I read way too many UK publications and many of my close friends are Brits, so I guess it has accidentally sunk in. But no, for better or worse, I'm a red-blooded Amurrican born and raised in Arkansas (more embarrassing to admit given Hogs performance on national TV today). @rbnlaw "...gave you up as a Brit..." Don't let that colour your judgment of him. thats not a good way to start off the inning. "Easy play for Manny." -Steiner Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Great game, RDub! HCK to the rescue. quick nobody mention anything about the pen being good. Speaking of, where's HLACK? Haven't heard much from him in awhile. @Dusty - If you are a fan of Arkansas, how good is Mustain? Does he deserve to be at least #2 on the depth chart at SC? DAMN YOU CHARLIE!!! Steiner: You know, Julius Caesar has never been stabbed once in his life? Oh wait, hang on, he's being stabbed 23 times! Argh, almost a line 'em out - throw 'em out DP Mustain is a bad apple. I think he should be #3 on depth chart. He is a stage-managed (through his dad) pouty little snot. He certainly has athletic potential, but his opportunities for success are dwindling at this point. Given Carroll's system for competition at every spot, clearly Mustain hasn't proven himself. Which, again, I think speaks mainly to his mental state and lack of preparedness and guts. Well, that certainly is different from what Mychal Thompson has said. Thank you for the info, Dusty. 100 MLASF- Also looks at the other Hogs transfer now on USC, D. Williams. He has risen to the top at his position, and has shown that doing so was possible given hard work combined with talent. Mustain has taken the opposite path. It's like an epileptic quail hunt out there. Funny, Mustain could've been the starter at UCLA for three years. @Rbnlaw he came from an aristocratic family but decided to turn himself into a Franciscan Friar. Performed on a number of miracles, like the day he multiplied bread, just like Jesus. His day is on June 13th, when Mass is celebrated. That day holy bread is distributed among devotees. In some places in my country, there are parades and fairs held on his honor. He's the Saint of lost things and impossibles and a sort of "matchmaking Saint for single ladies" for some people, there's a strong tradition to that. For example, most of my family travel to some small town to honor him, but i'm not allowed to go because i'm single and there's a weird superstition single ladies can't go there because they remain unmarried (which is very funny because i decided i'm not getting married). Bread is sanctified and you eat it when you feel the need to be closer to God or meditate. Mr. C- It's like Tim Howard pitching. What the hell? kuo is struggling out there. Dammit, Kuo. If you can't get the guy batting exactly Mendoza, you should not be pitching. Jesus jumped up christ, what is wrong, Kuo? What the HELL? Not directed at you, karina. yikes is this going to be another game of crap play? Seriously this is going to be the 4th game in a row where we have played like we dont care. Rox down 3-0 in the third @karina, Very interesting about San Antonio. Being the patron saint of lost things kind of explains my daughter's HS. Lots of "lost souls" hanging around. I'm going to turn myself into a Franciscan Friar if we can't beat these jackasses. Does Wolf look like he wants to hit Kuo? Flat Brim Reaper clap clap, clapclap Flat Brim Reaper clap clap clapclap "Does Wolf look like he wants to hit Kuo?" it looks like he wants to slice his hand off with a lightsaber. I can see Wolf and Kuo sitting there trading punches to the shoulder like 5 year olds in the back seat of a station wagon on a family trip. Bullshit! That was a strike. GET A FUCKING OUT @Karina "which is very funny because i decided i'm not getting married" That sound you hear is many hearts breaking at once. Well this is a nice little tune up game for the playoffs. Ball 3 was strike 3 [covers eyes] Get this scrawny bastard out! This all goes back to Steiner. This is ri god damn diculous Mr C- Are you covering your eyes like Karina in AC before she went in for the kill? It does, it goes back to Steiner. It's all on his fat ass and fashion forward, age inappropriate glasses. damn, why do we load the bases for their best hitter? Steiner: The Hindenburg has never collapsed in its history of flight...wait, it's collapsing right now! Oh, the humanity! Mr. C, Quick, back to the cavalier. F THIS NOISE. This is a bunch of shit. GOD FUCKING DAMMIT TO HELL FUCKING ASS SHIT DAMMIT TO HELL CRAP IN A BUCK RI-GODDAMN-DICULOUS this is a great time for our bullpen to start breaking down. You have to be kidding me. Honestly, folks, of all the playoff teams, we look the least of them the way we're playing. Good thing we're finishing against Nats, Pirates, Padres, etc., right? What if we were playing Braves or Marlins? There was really no reason to take Wolf out. Steiner: No president has ever been assassinated in Ford Theater...wait, John Wilksbooth has just killed Lincoln! There goes the Ford Theater's perfect record of living presidents! why have we only scored three runs!?! this is ridiculous. @rbnlaw were it that easy... If we were playing the Braves and Marlins, we'd probably be doing alot better than this. Everything was fine when we were playing the Giants and Rockies. Manny walks! Now the comefrombehind begins! promising... Lakeritis strikes again. Time for some Bison No. 27 Bison Mode: Engage what the hell was kemp waiting for?! Oh, c'mon Kemp, at least lift the pine off the shoulders Belly 2.0! We can rebuild him! lets go road loney!! I will never use the phrase "Bison Mode: Engage" again as it always brings bad luck. I'm not sure I've ever typed it and it led to success. Call me Steiner. Lets show Mr. 8.10 ERA something he's seen many times this season. Steiner: James Dean has never died in a car accident in his life an - wait, James Dean has just been killed in a head-on collision! The first time Dean has died in a car accident ever! I have a million of them, I can keep going. Mr. C- Ahhhh, all is right with the world now that your avatar is back in place. Come on, Road-Lo! that was NOT a strike. on the bright side the brew crew tied it up 5-5 Brewaz tied with Phiwwy. Is it possible to clinch the division berth before the generic postseason berth? Because we're on pace for that. and we load the bases for.... Oh, him. Bases loaded for JMart. Or whomever will be hitting. Rancho we should be beating fuck out of these ass clowns! Cards and Rox tied at 3 now. Ethier: It's the bottom of the 9th. Andre in. ? make him pay for that one andre. Guess LaRoche is still on our payroll. That was close STOP POPPING IT UP, ANDRE "12:00 - Donner going-away party" Nice. ill take a sac fly right here or a walked in run oh sweet, sweet walked in runs!! My arsehole is a little less clenched now. Release the hound c'mon O Dog!!! Come on, O. Talk the ball into the outfield stands. E, I want to be like you when I grow up. Rancho do you really want to be here next year, O! wow, did the fans really think that was a strike? Sammy is flowing nicely now...I was afraid the game would be over and I would only be into 2 1/2 beers. @Nic - You would think they'd be used to things not going their way. damn, should of let it hit him. Mr. C- Clearly your avatar mojo is back. the Pirates are issuing more walks than an AIDS charity. At least we weren't the only ones to misplace the strike zone! The O-Dog is loose(ish)! "Obviously it has not been a very good team." Lyons re Pie Rats. @db If it works, who am I to question it? Almost, Thome. Man, he's due. damn Charlie and his excitable voice. THOME TIME! that what thome does? Hit singles? THOME!!!! CLutch! w00t
Quote:Chapter 39 - A High Standard"Is your daughter a college student?" asked the librarian who used to give me the books on Zoya's list.The lists were always long and varied. What did Zoya not read for her paper on the Paris Commune! There were historical works and translations from the French worker poets—Pottier and Clement. She read even more books about the Patriotic War of 1812. Her imagination was fired by Kutuzov and Bagration and the battles they fought, and she would rapturously repeat whole passages from Tolstoy's War and Peace by heart. Preparing for her report on Ilya Muromets, the folklore hero, she made up a long list of rare books, which I sought out with difficulty in various libraries.It was no news to me that Zoya could work seriously, go straight to the very deepest source, to the very heart of the matter, that she could bury herself in her subject. But before Chernyshevsky she had never given herself up to any pursuit so completely and unreservedly. The day she became acquainted with Chernyshevsky was one of the most important in Zoya's life.When she came home from the lesson at which Vera Sergeyevna had told the children about Chernyshevsky's life, Zoya said, "I want to know everything about him, Mummy! And at school we've only got What Is To Be Done? Please find out what they have in your library. I should like to have a big lull biography, and the correspondence and memoirs of his contemporaries. I want to be able to picture to myself what he was like in life."A reticent girl, Zoya suddenly became talkative Apparently she needed to share every thought, ever discovery, every new spark ignited by the things she had read.She would show me an old biography of Chernyshevsky, and say, "Here it says that in his first years as a student he took no interest in anything except study. But take a look at the Latin poetry he gave his cousin ft translate: 'May justice triumph or the world perish!' Or this: 'May falsehood vanish or the heavens fall!' Could that just be by chance…? And here, from a letter to the literary critic A. N. Pypin: 'To work not for transient glory but for the eternal glory of your Fatherland and for the good of mankind—what can be higher and more desirable than this?' Mama, I won't bother you any more but just listen to this. It's a note in his diary: 'I shall gladly give up my life for the triumph of my convictions! For the triumph of freedom, equality, brotherhood and prosperity, for the destruction of poverty and sin! If 1 am convinced that my convictions are just, and that they will triumph, I will not even regret not seeing the day when they shall triumph and rule, and death itself will be sweet, not bitter, be I only convinced of this'…To think of anyone saying after that that he was only interested in study!"Once she began to read What Is To Be Done? Zoya could not tear herself away from the book. She was so absorbed in it that for the first time in her life, I think, she forgot to warm up the dinner at the usual hour. She hardly noticed me come in. For a second she gazed at me with faraway, unseeing eyes, and again bent over the book. Without disturbing her I lighted the kerosene stove, put on the soup, and took the bucket to pour water into the wash basin. It was only then that Zoya stirred, jumped up and grasped the bucket from me with the words, "I'll do it myself!"That night, after supper was over, Shura and I went to bed. When I awoke late at night, Zoya was still reading. I got up, took the book from her in silence and placed it on the shelf. Zoya looked at me guiltily and imploringly."It's difficult for me to sleep with the light, and I must be up early tomorrow," I said, knowing that only this would persuade her.In the morning Shura could not resist teasing his sister. "You know, Mummy, Zoya dived into that book as soon as she came back from school yesterday. And I saw she was lost to the world. I expect she'll soon begin sleeping on nails like Rakhmetov."Zoya said nothing, but in the evening she came home from school with a book quoting Georgi Dimitrov's words about Rakhmetov—how the Russian writer's hero had become a model for the young Bulgarian worker taking his first steps in the revolutionary movement. Dimitrov wrote how in his youth he had striven to become just as firm, strong-willed and seasoned as Rakhmetov, how he had striven to subjugate his own personal life to the great cause—the struggle for the liberation of the toilers."The Life of Chernyshevsky"—was the theme of Zoya's next essay. She read and searched tirelessly for more and more material, and frequently unearthed facts of winch I had no knowledge.Zoya described the civil (i.e., mock) execution of Chernyshevsky with laconic eloquence. The dull wet morning, the scaffold with the black post and chains, and the black board with the white letters "State Criminal," which they hung on Chernyshevsky's neck.Then, the three months of hard exhausting travel, hundreds and thousands of long endless versts. And at last Kadaya—the remote Siberian convict settlement where the tsarist government tried to extinguish "the bright torch of banished science."In one of her books Zoya found an ink drawing or rather a sketch, done by one of the political exiles, of the hut where Chernyshevsky lived. Shura, stirred by Zoya's enthusiasm, copied this sketch into her notebook, and succeeded in conveying the main thing: the despair gripping the cold deserted region. The hard line of the horizon, the marsh, the sandy wastes, a thin dwarfish forest, the crosses on the graves—all this seemed crushed by the low sullen skies; and crushed also by a terrible weight was the little hut itself, behind the walls of which one could expect neither warmth, nor comfort, nor joy.The years dragged on in loneliness…A cheerless dreary life. And the more incredible seemed the letters which Nikolai Gavrilovich Chernyshevsky wrote to his wife and children, letters full of warmth, light, tenderness and love, which took months to arrive through the night and snow.Thus passed seven long years. What a remarkable letter Chernyshevsky writes on the eve of his release to his wile Olga Sokratovna!"My dear friend, my joy, my only love and thought. I write to you on the anniversary of our wedding. My dear joy, I thank you for bringing light to my life… On the 10th of August I shall cease to be idle and useless to you and the children. By the autumn I think I shall find a place in Irkutsk, or near Irkutsk, and shall be able to work as before… Soon everything will begin to go right…From this autumn…Every word breathes the confidence and hope that they will meet soon. But instead—exile to Vilyuisk, and another thirteen long years of loneliness! The cold severe winter lasting half a year, and all round—marshland and tundra. These are the hardest years of imprisonment, not even lightened by the hope of release. There is nothing ahead. Only loneliness, and the night and snow…And then there comes to Chernyshevsky a Colonel Vinnikov who hands him the government's proposal that he should send in a petition for pardon. Release and return to his native land is the promised reward."For what should I ask pardon?" replies Chernyshevsky. "That is the question…It seems to me that I have been exiled merely because my head and the head of the chief of the gendarmerie Shuvalov vary in structure, and can one ask pardon for that? Thank you for your pains… I absolutely refuse to ask for pardon…And once again time dragged on. Day after day, year after year life ebbed away.His is an active, mighty mind which so longs to work and create, which can see so far into the future! It is his hand that wrote those wrathful and impassioned proclamaitions to the Russian peasants. It was his voice that urged Hertzen not to call to prayer in his Kololeol but to call on Russia to take up the axe. All his life he devoted to one thing, strove always towards one goal—that the oppressed should obtain freedom. Even to his bride he said once: "I do not belong to myself, I have chosen another path which threatens me with prison and exile." And this man was condemned to what was for him the most terrible torture—inactivity. He was not even allowed to shake the hand of his dying friend and bid him a word of farewell.Nekrasov was dying—the news was a cruel blow to Chernyshevsky. "If Nekrasov still breathes when you receive my letter," he wrote to Pypin, "fell him that I love him dearly as a human being, that I thank him for his kind disposition towards me, that I kiss him, that I am convinced his fame will be immortal, that Russia's love for him, the most noble, the most brilliant of all Russian poets, is eternal. I sob for him…This letter took three months to arrive—and reached Nekrasov when he was still alive. "Tell Nikolai Gavrilovich," the dying man said, "that I am very grateful to him. Now I am comforted: his words are dearer to me than those of anyone else…After twenty years of hard labour and exile Chernyshevsky at last returns to his native parts. He is full of impatience and impetuosity. He rushes on, without stopping anywhere, without giving himself an hour's rest through the whole of his long difficult journey. At last he reaches Astrakhan. And here again comes a cruel blow: Chernyshevsky is deprived of the opportunity to work. Who, what magazine will publish the articles of a "state criminal"? And again inactivity, again silence and emptiness all round.Not long before Chernyshevsky's death he was visited by the writer Korolenko. Nikolai Gavrilovich refused to be pitied, recalls Korolenko. "He always had complete control of himself, and if he suffered—and could he help suffering cruelly!—he always suffered proudly, by himself, not sharing his bitter grief with anyone."Zoya read us her essay aloud. Both Shura and I said what we thought, "Very good!" "One day," said Shura, pacing about the room, "I mean to paint a big picture. It will be called 'The Civil Execution of Chernyshevsky.'""That's what Hertzen wrote," Zoya quickly put in. "He wrote: 'Will not someone paint a picture—Chernyshevsky in the pillory?' He said that such a picture would expose—how did he put it?—would expose the obtuse scoundrels who pilloried human thought.""I can see it all," went on Shura, hardly letting her finish. "Both the girl who threw flowers to him, and the officer who shouted 'Farewell!' And I can see Chernyshevsky himself at that moment, you know, when the executioner broke the sword above his head…They have forced Chernyshevsky to his knees but all the same, you can see at once from his face that he is not conquered and never will be conquered!"The next day I had scarcely appeared at the door when Shura shouted, "Mama, Vera Sergeyevna called out Zoya! And, just think, she asked about the life and work of Chernyshevsky!""Well?""'Excellent'! 'Excellent'! The whole class listened open-mouthed. Me too, although I knew it so well already! And Vera Sergeyevna was very pleased!"Zoya received an "excellent" for her essay too."She deserved it," I said."Not half!" exclaimed Shura.One might have thought that the "excellent" would mark the completion of Zoya's work. But it was not so. Her acquaintance with Chernyshevsky, his life and his books, meant very much to Zoya. Chernyshevsky became for her a high standard of thought and deed. That was the real sum total of Zoya's work on her essay. Quote:There is a round site in the park not far from Pokrovskiye Gates with the monument to 19-th century writer and thinker Nikolai Chernyshevsky. The author of the monument is Juriy Neroda the tsarist regime to seven years of penal servitude and lifelong exile to Siberia. He wrote his famous novel "What Is to Be Done?" in the Petropavlovskaya Fortress, in the dreadful Alexeyevskiy Ravelin. Quote:What Is To Be Doneby Nikolai Chernyshevsky, 1863"About 2:30 a.m., on a dark, cloudy night, there was a sudden flash of light and the sound of a shot from the middle of the Liteiny Bridge. The night watchmen ran toward the noise and a few passers-by gathered around. But no one was there and there was nothing left on the spot from which the sound had come. It appeared that someone had shot himself, rather than shot at someone else. A few men volunteered to dive; after a while some boathooks were produced and then even a fisherman's net. They dived, searched, fished around, caught some fifty large spars, but failed to retrieve even one body. How could they? It was so dark! During those two intervening hours the body must have been washed out to sea. Go and search along the shore. There emerged, as a result, a group of "progressives" who rejected the previous proposition: "Perhaps there never was a body. Maybe it was some drunk or mischiefmaker fooling around - someone who fired a shot and then ran off. Or else, I wonder, could he be standing here right now among this bustling crowd, chuckling about the fuss he's caused."But the majority, as always when they are behaving sensibly, turned out to be "conservative" and defended their position: "What nonsense! Fooling around! No, someone put a bullet through his head and that's all there is to it!" The progressives were defeated. But, as usual, the victorious party split immediately after its victory. All right. So he blew his brains out. But why did he do it? Some of the conservatives were of the opinion that he was "dead drunk"; others argued that perhaps he had "gone broke". Someone else observed that he was simply a fool. On this view, "simply a fool", everyone was in agreement, even those who denied that he had shot himself. Indeed, whether it was someone drunk or broke who had shot himself, or some mischiefmaker who hadn't shot himself but was only playing a trick, it was still a stupid, foolish thing to do.Thus the affair on the bridge that night came to an end. The next morning in the hotel at the Moscow Railway Station it was discovered that the fool had not been fooling around at all, but really had shot himself. But in the resolution of this affair there remained one element with which even the defeated party could agree: namely, that even if someone had not been making mischief but really had shot himself, he was still a fool. This result, satisfactory for all concerned, was particularly sound precisely because of the triumph it afforded the conservatives. Indeed, if someone had merely played a prank with that shot on the bridge, then, in fact, it would still be open to question whether the person was a fool or merely a mischiefmaker. But someone who shot himself on the bridge! Who would shoot himself on a bridge? How could it happen? For what purpose? How stupid to do it on a bridge! Therefore, this someone was undoubtedly a fool.Once again doubts began to occur: someone had shot himself on a bridge. But people don't shoot themselves on bridges; therefore, he didn't shoot himself. But toward evening the staff of the hotel was summoned to the police station to identify a peaked cap that had a bullet hole in it and had been fished out of the water. Everyone confirmed that the cap was the very one the guest had been wearing. Thus he had undoubtedly shot himself; the spirit of protest and progress was decisively defeated.Everyone was in agreement that he was a "fool". But suddenly they all declared: "How shrewd to do it on a bridge! If his aim is poor, it would obviously end his suffering at once. Good thinking! If he had been wounded, he would have fallen into the water and drowned before he could regain consciousness. Yes indeed, on a bridge...very clever!"One couldn't make any sense whatever of this whole affair: he was both a fool and very clever." Quote:The fortress covers more than 300 acres with its six bastions and six courtines, two ravelins, and the wide red-brick cronwerk erected by Nicholas I. on the north. It has, within its enclosure, plenty of all kinds of accommodation for all kinds of prisoners. Nobody, except the commander of the place, knows all of theman,, Dimitri Pissareff was imprisoned for having taken up the same noble work. Compelled to abandon it in the fortress, he did not lie idle: he wrote his remarkable analysis of the “Origin of. Quote. Quote:In War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy wrote was. Quote:It was while he was in prison that his whole life changed. He first learned of the existence of the Honouranble.Homemade EducationMal”. Quote:President (interrupting Dimitrov): It is none of your business to criticize us here. Dimitrov:. I have often been reproached for not taking the highest Court in Germany seriously. That is absolutely unjustified. It is true that the supreme law for me as a Communist is the programme of the Communist International, the supreme court - the Control Commission of the Communist International. But to me as an accused man the Supreme Court of the Reich is something to be considered in all seriousness - not only in that its members possess high legal qualifications, but also because it is a highly important organism of state power, of the ruling order of society: a body Which can dispose of the highest penalties. I can say with an easy conscience that everything which I have stated to this Court and everything which I have spoken to the public is the truth and nothing but the truth. As regards my Party, which has been forced underground, I have refused to make any statements. I have always spoken with seriousness and from my inner convictions. President: I shall not permit you to indulge in Communist propaganda in this Court. You have persisted in it. If you do not refrain I shall have to prevent you from speaking. Dimitrov: I must deny absolutely the suggestion that I have pursued propagandist aims. It may be that my defence before this Court has had a certain propagandist effect. It is also possible that my conduct before this Court may serve as an example for other accused Communists. But those were not the aims of my defence. My aims were these: to refute the indictment and to refute the accusation that Dimitrov, Torgler, Popov, and Tanev, that the German Communist Party and the Communist International had anything to do with the fire. I know that no one in Bulgaria believes in our alleged complicity in the Reichstag fire. I know that everywhere else abroad hardly anyone believes that we have anything to do with it. But in Germany other conditions prevail and in Germany it is not impossible that people might believe such extraordinary assertions. For this reason I desired to prove that the. Communist Party had and has nothing whatever to do with the crime. If the question of propaganda is to be raised, then I may fairly say that many utterances made within this Court were of a propagandist character. The speeches here of Goebbels and Goering had an indirect propagandist effect favourable to Communism, but no one can reproach them for their speeches having produced such results (commotion and laughter in court). I have not only been roundly abused by the press - something to which I am completely indifferent - but my Bulgarian people have also, through me, been characterized as savage and barbarous. I have been called a suspicious character from the Balkans, and a wild Bulgarian, I cannot allow such things to pass in silence. It is true that Bulgarian fascism is savage and barbarous. But the Bulgarian workers and peasants, the Bulgarian people's intelligentsia are by no means savage or barbarous. It is true that the standard of life is not so high in the Balkans as elsewhere in Europe, but it is false to say that the people of Bulgaria are politically or mentally on a lower scale than the peoples of other countries. Our political struggle, our political aspirations are no less lofty than those of other peoples. A people which lived for five hundred years under a foreign yoke without losing its language and its national character, our working class and peasantry who have fought and are fighting against Bulgarian fascism and for Communism - such a people is not savage and barbarous. Only fascism in Bulgaria is savage and barbarous. But I ask you, in what country does not fascism bear these qualities? Quote:Rakhmetov was created by Nikolai Chernyshevsky and appeared in Chto Delat? (What is to be done?) (1862-1863) Chernyshevsky (1828-1889) was a Russian socialist, reformer, and writer; he wrote for the radical journal Contemporary. What is to be done? was his most influential work, though, giving him the reputation as a forerunner of the Russian revolutionary movement as well as a primary influence on Dostoevsky, Notes from the Underground, and Crime and Punishment. Rakhmetov is an exceptional person in many ways. Among the boatmen of the Volga Rakhmetov is known as "Nikitushka Lomof," after the legendarily huge and strong boatman hero. Rakhmetov wasn't born strong, but at age seventeen decided to improve himself, and so spent hours practicing gymnastics. Rakhmetov also spent time as a "common laborer," improving his physical strength, and feeding himself a special diet. The result was that he became exceptionally, almost superhumanly, strong. (At one point he catches the axle of a runaway wagon and holds it for long enough to stop the horses). He read widely, in philosophy, science, and literature, always trying to improve his mind and become as knowledgeable as possible. He traveled across Europe and North America, studying other languages, cultures, and peoples. The result is that Rakhmetov becomes, in the words of a critic, "the prototype of hard-headed materialism and pragmatism, of total dissatisfaction with the government, and of the self-sacrificing nobility of spirit that was the ideal of many of the radical intelligentsia." Rakhmetov is a rationalist and ascetic who prepares himself for total and complete revolution against the Czarist regime. He is, in other words, a revolutionary Doc Savage. Quote:. Quote: Berlioz was fortunate to have made his visit in 1847. After the upheavals of 1848, the final years of the Emperor’s rule were darkened still further by the spectre of revolution and conspiracy. Censorship became more prohibitive, the agents of the Third Department – the secret police – stepped up their surveillance of dissidents; private letters were routinely opened; societies were infiltrated. Among those arrested for conspiracy in 1849 was the twenty-eight year-old Dostoevskii. Along with twenty others, he was subjected to a terrifying mock execution in Semenovskii Square in the centre of St Petersburg, before being sent to Siberia. He was not allowed back to Russia until four years after Nicholas’s death. Quote:In October of 1941, still arishchevo (Moscow Oblast) on November 27, 1941. Details of the assignment and the arrest were classified for sixty years due to the fact that there was a treachery in this case.The criminal case number 16440 was declassified in 2002. The case was then reviewed by Russia's Chief Military Prosecutor Office, and it decided, that Vasily Klubkov, who betrayed Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, is not the subject for rehabilitation. According to the criminal case 16440, three Soviet combatants: Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya, Vasily Klubkov, and their commander Boris Krainov had to perform acts of sabotage on the Soviet territory occupied by the Nazis. They had the task of setting fire to houses in the village of Petrishchevo, where the Nazis were quartered. Krainov should operate in the central part of the village, Kosmodemyanskaya in the southern and Klubkov in the northern one. Krainov had carried out the task first and returned to the base. Zoya had performed her task too, as was evidenced by three tongues of flame in the southern part of Petrischevo, seen from the base. Only the northern part was not set to fire at all. According to Klubkov he was captured by two Nazi soldiers and brought into their staff. The Nazi officer threatened to kill him and Klubkov told names of Kosmodemyanskaya and Krainov, who had similar tasks to Klubkov's one. After this Kosmodemyanskaya was captured by the Nazis.[1][2]Zoya Kosmodemyanskaya was tortured and humiliated. In particular, she was undressed and beaten with rubber sticks for two or three hours by several Nazis. But Kosmodemyanskaya did not give away the names of her comrades or her real name (claiming that it was Tanya). She said: "Kill me, I'll tell you nothing" (Russian: "Убейте меня, я вам ничего не скажу"). [1] (February 16, 1942).
Our story begins several weeks ago, when a certain soon-to-be 26-year-old shyly placed his order for a certain very special birthday cake. The birthday boy was none other than my friend Eitan, he who occasionally wields imaginary pistols and shoots them off Wild West style at the dinner table, who, in the eighth grade, composed a heart-rending (and rhyme-tastic) song chronicling the sorry fate of "a baker who lived in a village, who went by the name of Mr. Concillage," he who repeatedly insists, "you really don't need to bake me a birthday cake," but with a hopeful smile and a mischievous gleam in his eye adds, "but if you do, can it have whipped cream?" and with that seals the deal. It took some prodding, dear readers, but soon Eitan's request was on the table: something cold, moist, and custardy, with a generous helping of strawberries. Eitan, his wife, Julia, Eli, and I were in the midst of an after-dinner flop on our green sofas. Our bellies were full, but our brains soldiered on to consider just what this luscious-sounding cake might look like. The word "trifle" was tossed around, fingers were pointed at the strawberry-crowned cover of April's Gourmet magazine, and soon even Julia had come to terms with the idea of a dream birthday cake conspicuously lacking in chocolate. After more Google searching than I'd like to admit, and a careful patching together of several promising recipes, I had my game plan. On Thursday night, I prepared the custard, and on Friday morning, I baked and split the cake layers, macerated the strawberries, whipped the cream and, hands literally atremble with excitement, put the whole, whopping thing together. So far, so good. Eli left work early so that he could assemble his contribution to the birthday dinner, something specially suited to Eitan's penchant for Mexican cuisine: a saucy, steaming bed of bean and cheese enchiladas. The thought of making our way over to Eitan and Julia's with both the enchiladas and a towering four-layer cake in tow tortured me with waking nightmares of a whipped cream and bean-spattered sidewalk. But never fear, we had a plan: Eli would prepare the filling and the sauce for his enchiladas and then drive me over to Eitan and Julia's with the cake securely resting on my lap. Then, we would turn around, Eli would bake his enchiladas, and we would head back out, right on schedule. Given the fact that the cake had not even threatened to crumble or tear when I delicately split two layers into four, and that our punctiliously timed baking, cooking, and delivering schedule had, thus far, gone off without a hitch, something was bound to go wrong. It was only fair. When Eitan saw the cake, his eyes grew gratifyingly wide. Julia made room in the fridge while Eli and Eitan slid the four-layered beast from the wax paper-lined baking sheet to a glass pedestal. (I only shrieked a little during the perilous transfer. I am very brave.) Eitan ran for his camera, and after a brief photo shoot, Eli and I were back on the road. We jumped from the car, and then it hit us: Eli: Do you have the keys? Jess: No, you have the keys. Eli: No, I don't. Jess: Yes, you do. I was holding the cake, you grabbed the keys, locked the front door, and stuffed them into your pocket. [Silence.] Just how it came to be that our car keys and house keys were on two separate rings that evening is not all that interesting, so I'll spare you the details. But the clock was ticking, and there we were, unsure of how we were going to get into our building, let alone our apartment, bake the enchiladas, shower, and make it back to Eitan's birthday dinner on time. Finding our keys was also, ideally, a part of the plan. We buzzed up to our neighbor Varina, and she let us in. I did such a good job, dear readers, of keeping my cool. I said not a word, rolled not an eyeball, and even smiled a little on our elevator ride up. (Though, I must admit, when Eli tried to give me a quick squeeze between the third and fourth floors, I quietly explained, "I'm not mad, but I don't want to hug you.") At Varina's place, Eli called Eitan and Julia, confirmed that they had our house keys, and sped off to retrieve them. Without missing a beat, I turned to Varina and shamelessly asked if I might shower. Varina extricated her cat from the tub, handed me a towel and, classy shower-lender that she is, even offered me a glass of wine. Good friends and neighbors are the best consolation at key-less times like these. I leapt from the shower just as the front door of our apartment, one floor below, slammed shut. Still dripping, I hurriedly waved good-bye to Varina, flew down the stairs, and found Eli sliding the enchiladas into the oven. We arrived at Eitan and Julia's exactly 45-minutes late - not bad, all things considered. Julia and Eitan were waiting for us, as were our friends Jonathan and Hila. When the six of us get together, hilarity always ensues. I mean, everyone-talking-at-once, howling-with-laughter hilarity. Last Friday night was no exception. Hila's account of a questionably sordid watch seller had us giggling in no time, especially the part about how, in a tense phone conversation with the perpetrator, she referred to Eli - my software developer husband - as her lawyer. From there, we moved on to crude hand gestures, enchilada sauce on the carpet, and some good old-fashioned marveling at our friendship and the luck that brought us together. Finally, it was show time. Eitan, despite it being his birthday, insisted that I do the honors. Smiling dopily, I cut the first slice. From the outside, the cake looked like a hulking puff of white, a few sliced strawberries perched almost comically atop the airy whipped cream. But the inside (oh the inside!) was an entirely different story. Four-layers, three pounds of strawberries, and a double recipe of custard different, to be exact. It was the most unbeautiful beautiful thing I have ever seen. I ask you, has ugly ever looked so good? I had worried that this cake would be cloyingly sweet, or that somehow or other the combination of cake, custard, berries, and cream would fall short. I need not have been concerned. Quieting the six of us is no easy task, but this cake left us in bliss-induced silence for at least a few gaping seconds. Then came the moaning, ("Ohhh... delicious...") the groaning, ("This cake is so rich!") and the scraping of the plates. Even Eli finished his slice, which is saying a lot. Jonathan decided against a second piece, but then went ahead and ate one anyway. There was finger licking, people. I was in heaven. And, most importantly, Eitan got his cake, and ate it too. Happy birthday, friend. Strawberry Custard Cassata Cake, or, Cleveland Cassata Adapted from the Strawberry Chiffon Shortcake at Smitten Kitchen, and the Strawberry Cream Cake published in the June 1997 issue of Gourmet. When Eitan first rattled off his list of ideal birthday cake qualities - cool, moist, custardy, and chock full of strawberries - a cake from my childhood in Cleveland immediately came to mind. Cassata cake. I began my research with a search for cassata cake recipes, but one after another they called for ricotta cheese instead of custard between the cake and strawberry layers. I was baffled. It was surely custard in the cakes that I remembered. With a little more digging, I found that, while the majority of cassata cakes are indeed made with ricotta, Corbo's bakery in Cleveland has long produced a custard and strawberry cassata. Their Sicilian family recipe traces back 100 years. Apparently, this cake got the attention of Chef Mario Batali who, according to this site, said, "Corbo's Bakery has the best cassata I have tried in the USA." Other bakeries and supermarkets in the Cleveland area took their cues from Corbo's and made their cassatas with custard, too. To reproduce this Cleveland classic, I grabbed the cake from one recipe, the custard from another, and did my best to piece together a cassata the way I remember it. Yes, this cake is a bit of a project in that it involves several components and takes some time to put together. But difficult it is not. To keep things manageable, you can make the custard and the cake the night before - it's best to refrigerate the cake before splitting the layers, anyway, to decrease the risk of breakage - and then just split the layers, macerate the berries, whip the cream, and assemble the next morning. For the cake layers: 2 1/4 c. cake flour 1 1/4 and 1/4 cups sugar, divided 1 T. baking powder 1 t. salt 3/4 c. cold water 1/2 c. vegetable oil 1 t. lemon zest 1 t. vanilla extract 5 large egg yolks at room temperature 8 large egg whites at room temperature 1/2 t. cream of tartar For the custard: 6 large egg yolks 1/2 c. sugar 2 c. half and half 3 T. cornstarch For the macerated strawberries: 3 lb. strawberries 2 T. sugar For the whipped cream: 2 c. chilled heavy cream 1 T. sugar Make the custard: (you can do this step the night before) Whisk together all of the custard ingredients in a saucepan. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-low heat, whisking constantly. Turn down the heat so that the mixture just simmers, and whisk until thick, 1-2 minutes. (The key words here are whisk constantly. The custard will tell you in no uncertain terms when it is done. It's like magic. One moment you can comfortably whisk your way through the liquid, and the next it is undeniably a thick custard. Cornstarch is neat like that.) Transfer the custard to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap or a round of wax paper, and cool. Then, chill custard, covered, for at least 3 hours, or up to 2 days. Bake the cakes: (you can also do this step the night before) Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line the bottoms of two 9-inch round cake pans with lightly oiled (I use cooking spray) parchment paper . Otherwise, leave the pans ungreased.. (Here is a trick for making sure you have poured an equal amount of batter into each pan: Grab two toothpicks and stick one into the center of each batter-filled pan. Then, pull them out and see if the amounts of batter on the picks line up.). (I did end up pulling off a teeny tiny bit of the top of one layer, but it didn't matter, since the cake would ultimately be covered in whipped cream.) Wrap the two cakes in plastic wrap, and refrigerate at least three hours, or overnight. Meanwhile, prepare the strawberries: Slice the strawberries thinly (but not too thinly - you want the slices thick enough so that you can really taste and feel the berries even once they are smothered by custard, cake, and whipped cream!), and place in a bowl. Sprinkle with the 2T. sugar, and stir. Allow the strawberries to macerate for 1 hour. Their juices will release and pool at the bottom of the bowl. Every so often, give them a stir. Strain the berries, reserving the released juices. When the cakes are thoroughly chilled, and thus a little sturdier, it's time to split them in two. Using a long serrated bread knife, carefully saw each layer in half. Place each layer on a wax paper-lined baking sheet or plate. Whip the cream: Whip the cream and sugar together until stiff. Assemble the cake! (I experimented with my layering technique: custard alone between the first and second layers, strawberries alone between the second and third layers, and strawberries and custard between the third an fourth layers. In the future, I'll put strawberries and custard between every layer.). Using a spatula, cover the entire cake with whipped cream. Top with either leftover macerated strawberries, or a few "raw" strawberries. (Next time, I'll go with the latter.) Chill the cake for at least 8 hours before serving, so that the cake has time to absorb the strawberry juices. Bring to cool room temperature before serving. (To transfer the cake from the baking sheet to a cake stand, use the wax paper to gently scooch the cake from one surface to the other, then tear away the visible wax paper.) 65 comments: such a funny story! i can never make layer cakes that don't topple...congrats! omg! I live in Cleveland and I love Corbos cassata cake!! I'll only eat cassata with custard!! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Hi, koshercamembert. I found these layers to be quite sturdy and just about topple-proof. I can't take any credit - it's just a darn good cake recipe! And hello, Ellen. Thanks so much for your note. It's great to hear from a Clevelander! I'm a former Cleveland girl myself, and I'm thinking that it may be up to us (and Mario Batali, of course) to spread the custard cassata gospel! The story is hilarious and well-written, but the cake looks sensational! Thank you, Linda, for your kind words about both the writing and the cake! Hi, looks like a great recipe, I'll probably try this one. I love your blog, I always pass by, you have beautiful pictures and yummy recipes :). Hello Pam, It means a lot knowing that you like what you see here enough to stop by every now and then. Thank you. This cake is definitely worth a try. Enjoy! You totally made my day today! I love you blog! You bake and cook along the same lines as I do. I was actually looking for a cassata cake recipe because I love Corbo's and wanted to try and recreate it. I am way too excited to try this recipe. I hope you never stop posting recipes. Thank you so much for what you do! Wow, Anonymous, now you're the one who has made my day. Thank you, and welcome to Sweet Amandine! As for posting recipes and stories, the pleasure is all mine. I'm thrilled that you plan on taking this recipe out for a spin. If you think of it, would you let me know how it goes? I would love to hear. Wow, I've been searching for this cake. I'm from Cleveland and Fazio's used to make this. I always had it on my birthday. Thank you. I'll make it this week. Lisa Hi, Lisa Well, I can't promise that it will be exactly the same as a Cleveland cassata, but it is certainly "in the spirit of." I'm proud to say that this cake has gotten rave reviews around here, so hopefully it will do the trick for you, too. Happy baking! (And happy birthday, if that's what you'll be celebrating with this cake.) By the way, if you would like to try this cake with a lemony twist, take a look over here. I made this for a dinner party recently... it was a tremendous hit! I, too, couldn't find a recipe for the right kind of cassata cake (the ones from my childhood were from Catalano's in Highland Heights)-- this was amazing. The outside of the cassata cakes I remember were covered in sheets of white chocolate; I couldn't re-create that in my kitchen, so I just took a vegetable peeler to a white chocolate baking bar and covered the top of the cake with white chocolate curls. Hillary - That's wonderful! You don't know how fun it is for me to know that someone out there baked this cake. And for a dinner party, no less! I'm so pleased to hear that it was a success. Thank you very, very much for reporting back. The white chocolate shavings on top sound amazing. My mom grew up in Beachwood, and she also remembers white chocolate being involved in her cassatas. She would very much appreciate your addition. If you ever want to try a lemony version of this cake, here's a recipe for you. My husband, Eli, actually prefers it over this cassata. I like them both. Another Cleveland girl here. I'm thrilled to come across an ACTUAL recipe for cassata (the right way). I cheat on mine and use Thank You brand vanilla pudding and the yellow cake that requires butter (it seems to be more dense). Kudos to you for this and thanks for helping me prove to my facebook friends that this is indeed a real cake. You rock. As a former Clevelander, I love this cake and plan to serve it at my wedding! I have been disappointed time and again away from Cleveland finding strawberry cream cakes with no custard inside. HOWEVER< I think you have forgotten an important flavor, though --I believe there is RUM EXTRACT in the Custard of my favorite version. Anonymous and Anonymous - I love that this cake has all of you Clevelanders (and former-Clevelanders) coming out of the woodwork! Anonymous #1, I can't believe that your friends ever doubted you. Sheesh. Anonymous #2 - Oh! Your wedding guests are in for a treat. I love the idea of adding some rum to the custard. I'll definitely give that a try the next time around. Thanks! I don't know if you follow The Pioneer Woman's cooking blog, but she's running a contest right now. You should sooo submit this (this is anon 1, btw). I linked this page on my fb to prove cassata is real and now have people across the country drooling in envy! Oh my, Oh my!!! I'm not exactly a former Clevelander, I am from Lorain County, born anf raised!! I hade a cassada cake for my b-day for more years than I can remember. I moved to AZ last spring and NO ONE here knows what a cassada cake is... My 16 year old son and husband even posted an ad on CraigsList trying to find a bakery that makes it in the Phoenix area - they actually had to describe it to a few local bakers, until one agreed to give it a shot. One came close but it wasn't like Ohio cassada cakes. Now, we can show them this recipe for next time. Thank so much - it is nice seeing other people, especially from Ohio who love this cake.. Glad to know that Cleveland is being represented and well. I'm on the other side of town in Maple Heights with Baraonas. We have been ordering cassata's from them for 20 years. They are the next best thing, when I don't have time to make them myself. hey, thanks so much for posting that recipe!! My mom and I have been searching and searching for a good cassata cake recipe (one without ricotta, especially), and yours was a life saver. :) Thanks alot! -"Elizabeth" Anonymous #1 - Hello, again! I missed the Pioneer Woman contest, but it's prize enough for me knowing that I'm helping to spread the Cleveland cassata gospel. Thanks for the link on Facebook. Yes, dear doubters, this cake is real. Very real, indeed. Pam Palos - Thanks for sharing your quest to find cassata in Phoenix. I guess it's up to you to show 'em how it's done. Enjoy! Crystal - I'll have to give the cassata at Baraona's a try the next time I'm in Cleveland. Thanks for the tip. Elizabeth - You're very welcome. I'm so glad that this recipe did the trick. YAY CLEVELAND! I made this for a Cleveland visit for my dad's birthday, and it was super delicious and enjoyed by all. Thanks for the recipe! I love this cake I'm makin it for a company potluck ! I'm going with roasted almonds along the sides . My cheat is vanilla pudding with whipped cream folded in. My grandparents love Cassata cake, for their 50th wedding anniversary we purchased one from a local bakery. Now that I have moved from Cleveland to California, I no longer know where I can purchase one. Of all the recipes I have reviewed, this one seems to be the most appetizing and the only one with strawberries! I am now going to make this for my anniversary. Thanks for the detailed instructions! My mother was up from Cleveland visiting last weekend ((I live in West MI now)). Her birthday is coming up next Saturday - but since i can't be with her then - I wanted to give her a special treat while she was here with us - her favorite cake - Cassata Cake! I called every single restaurant, store & bakery I could find and NO ONE knew what I was talking about! I even called the "elite" bakery in town that everyone raves about - and I had to describe the cake in detail to her - she said she's never heard of it. I had NO idea this was a Cleveland creation!!! Thank you SO much for posting your recipe!! I WISH I had found it last weekend...instead, my Mom and I came up with a cheater version. It was delicious - but I don't think compared to an ACTUAL cassata cake like yours!! I can't wait to share the recipe with her!!! Hopefully we'll be together again soon and we can make a day of this cake! THANK YOU!!! ((Oh - and i can't wait to tell everyone it's apparently from my home-town!! YAY!! One more reason Cleveland really DOES ROCK!!)) :) :) Too funny....I had no idea this was a "Cleveland" thing!! I grew up in Strongsville...and was craving a good Cassata cake. When I went online- all the recipes had ricotta cheese in them- so I was confused. I'm glad to see that I'm not alone. Thanks for posting this recipe!! I can't wait to make it for my out-of-town guests- and to tell them it's a CLEVELAND cake!!! Hey Jess! I'm trying this cake tonight for a memorial day shindig and I have a question on the custard: do you really go with no added flavor? It tasted so eggy to me that I had to add some vanilla, which worked well to balance the flavors. Happy memorial day! To all of you Clevelanders and cassata cake lovers - a belated hello and thank you for your wonderful notes and stories about the hunt for the perfect cassata! I love that I'm not the only one who gets excited about this cake. Hi, Liz. Adding some vanilla to the custard certainly sounds good to me. I've kept it plain in the past, and I haven't ever had a problem with it tasting particularly eggy. Did you whisk the mixture constantly once it was over the heat? Without constant whisking, I think you might risk getting tiny bits of cooked egg in your custard, which could account for an eggy taste. Is it possible that that's what happened? Or, perhaps your custard was perfect, and you just happen not to like the flavor of the yolks. Another option for flavoring the custard: The original custard recipe suggests adding a tablespoon of Punsch (Swedish liqueur). I hope that you enjoyed the cake, and that you're having a lovely holiday. OK, more from me on this, my first layer cake! Did you trim the layer's edges to make them even? I did, since there was some mushrooming puffiness on the top of the cakes. I threw them in a bowl with some strawberries and custard for a quick cook's trifle (to munch while preparing the cake). PS: Thanks, Jess, for your reply! It just showed up after I'd finished writing my comment! I think it's the yolky flavor rather than bits of cooked egg, since the custard came out perfectly smooth. Cheers and happy mem day! Hi Jess - greetings from NC! I just got back from a visit with my husband's family in Cleveland, and came across your blog while searching for a recipe to duplicate the cassata cake we had at Corbo's. I had run into the same ricotta problem that you and others have come across and am very grateful that you have done the work in piecing together a franken-recipe that works better! I can't wait to try this. If I get it right it will be my mother in law's birthday cake - but I'll need a few practice rounds I'm sure. =) Thank you so much for this recipe! I grew up in Cleveland, and Corbo's cassata cake has always been one of my favorite things from back home. I was about to spend the day experimenting in the kitchen to try to duplicate it, but I am very happy that I found your recipe instead. The custard and strawberries are spot on. Hi Jess, Grew up in Cleveberg too. I'm going to make this cake for my birthday next month when my folks come to visit me here in S. Cal. (Very excited to blend all these memories.) Per a previous comment. What is your instinct about what type of rum to add to the custard? Dark? Light? What proof? and When do you add the rum to the custard mixture? I grew up in the Cleveland area... we always had Cassata cakes for every occasion... happy to read your story... and find the recipe. Going to give it a whirl for my daughter's birthday. Would you put a fondant over this to make it a little fancier? My guess is that it would ruin it, but I'm just wondering your thoughts & or suggestions? Hi, all I'm just getting caught up around here and I hope I'm not too late in answering your questions. Let's get down to business: Liz - I haven't had trouble with this particular recipe puffing up, but I have had some puffiness with other layer cake recipes I have made. When it happens, I just carefully level them off with a serrated bread knife and, preferably, a turntable. It sounds like you made perfect use of the trimmings! Sherry - Thanks for your note. I'd love to hear how it went, if you think of it. Lisa - So glad this post is helpful. It has been so long since I've had Corbo's cake that I honestly can't say whether this version is a true match. But it's definitely "in the style of." Enjoy! Laura - The original recipe calls for Punsch, a Swedish liqueur, but rum sounds like a terrific substitution. I've never tried adding liqueur to my custard, so I can't speak from experience, but the original recipe has you add it once the custard has boiled and thickened, just before you chill it. I'm afraid that I have no instinct whatsoever to share with you about which rum might be best (shockingly, I've never baked with it!), but I have a feeling that you can't go wrong. If you do give it a try, I would be very grateful to hear what worked for you. Anonymous - Happy birthday to your daughter! I've never found fondant particularly appetizing, even on fancy wedding cakes, so I'm probably not the best person to ask about this. But yes, I have a feeling that it would just be too much. The pictures in this post are from the first time I ever made this cake. In subsequent bakings, i've done a much better job dressing it up. First of all, my frosting has gotten much tidier. Also, I now use just-cut, not macerated strawberries on this cake. Take a look at the lemon version of this cake, and you'll see what I mean. Thank you so much for your response... I'd decided against the fondant, afterall... wouldn't be a true cassata cake, anyway. I checked out your Lemon Cake... beautiful! For the cassata cake, do you not macerate the strawberries for the filling, either, now? I'm doing a practice one this weekend for my brother... Hi again, Anonymous. I do macerate the berries for the filling. I just leave some strawberries unmacerated (is that a word?) for the outside of the cake. I apologize for the confusion. Once I have a consistent internet connection (I'm traveling right now) I'll go back into the post and edit the recipe to make sure that everything is clear and up-to-date. Your brother is a lucky guy to get to enjoy your practice run. Let me know how it goes, if you think of it! Hello all, My name is Jazz I am from Cleveland and I am glad to have found this recipe. I had no idea that this was a cake exclusive to Cleveland or better yet to Ohio. That is why I can�t find it anywhere but Cleveland. I now reside in Georgia. Thank you so much for posting it. I love this cake. My grandmother would make this cake for my birthday every year and I have yet to find any that could top hers or even come close. My friends surprised me for my birthday with one but it was chocolate. That was a first for me. I never knew there was such a cake as a Chocolate Cassata Cake. LOL! It is suppose to have strawberries and custard in it. LOL! My friends knew it was my favorite but had never heard of it or even seen one. I was grateful for the attempt anyway. I love them. Now I plan on making one for my birthday. By the way, my birthday is January 1ST. Thank you so much. Now I can give them a piece of Cleveland. Ran across this looking for a recipe for cannoli cupcakes, and am so glad I did!!! I was raised, and still reside, in Cleveland. Corbo's desserts are absolutely the BEST in Cleveland,and the cassata cake heads the list! I am looking forward to trying this recipe, like the others, I have been unsuccessful in finding a stawberry/custard cassata recipe (the TRUE cassata, by the way...LOL). Thank you, thank you, thank you for making my day!!! I guess I am Anonymous 3...LOL OMG, I love this recipe, I am from Cleveland (Slavic Villiage) and grew up on this cake and another version with a gram cracker crust on the bottom. I moved to Bend, Oregon about 6 years ago, and when I went to a bakery they did not know what a cassata cake was??? I was sad and tried to explain it, but they looked confused. I wanted it for my wedding but had to get a traditional cake instead. I visit Cleveland every year to see my family and getting Cassata cake is always on my list to do before i leave, but thanks to this recipe, I can now make it at home. I have my Birthday and College Graduation Party coming up in June and this Recipe is sure to be a hit. I am so excited that I finally found a recipe that is perfect! I plan to use the rum in mine though. Thanks again and I will eat a piece for you! I miss Cleavland and Cassata Cake! Love this recipe, found it, printed and baked within hours...one question, the cake shriveled a little when cooling...is that normal? And that custard...really is magic... Hi there, Anonymous, Anonymous, Anonymous, and Anonymous. Thank you for your wonderful notes! I love all of the enthusiasm for this cake and for our beloved city on the lake. Anonymous from 4/27/2011: Yes, I find that the cake sometimes pulls away from the sides of the pan, but only a little. Nothing to worry about! (And yes, that custard...) Overjoyed to find this recipe! Moved to Chicago too many years ago to count. Used to get a Corbo's Cassata cake every year for my birthday and I have missed them. They make Cassata cakes here in Chicago that are basically Strawberry Shortcake. We have family coming in from Cleveland for Memorial Day weekend and I am planning to make this cake for them. Since I'm making a spaghetti sauce recipe from my husband's Sicilian aunt, this will be a great finish to dinner! Thanks again for sharing this recipe. Love and miss all things Cleveland. ;) That sounds like the perfect dinner, Donna. So great that you'll be baking up a little bit of Cleveland over there in Chicago! Enjoy! Thank you so much for this recipe! I was born and raised east of Cleveland and grew quite fond of Cassata cake (and cannolis, too!) from Corbos! I am so glad to have stumbled upon this recipe and excited to share the recipe with my husband and his family that are not familiar with one of my very favorite cakes! I currently still live in Ohio (about 1.5 hours from Cleveland) and NO ONE down here knows what it is either! Thank you! :) Hi, Anonymous. Well, you'll just have to show them what's what, right? I'm baking this cake again next week for a little friend of mine to celebrate her seventh birthday. I made it for her when she turned six, too, and she hasn't stopped talking about it all year! I just made this cake for my mothers birthday and it was divine!!! Just like we had growing up...in you guessed::: CLEVELAND!! :-) It was wonderous and beautious and I can not thank you enough. Your newest follower, Kelly Hello, Kelly. I'm so happy to hear that the cake was a success. Thank you for letting me know! I actually baked this very cake on Monday for my mother's birthday, too! Hi, I was born in Cleveland, graduated from Strongsville, then moved to the west side of Cleveland (W. 130th area). There was an Italian bakery on W. 130th across from an Italian Restaurant/Bar. The bar was The Family Trio. I can't remember the name of the bakery. It has since moved to Strongsville, I think still on W. 130th. I had my first cassada cake from there and fell in love with it. I didn't know that the cake was a local Cleveland cake. I moved to Southern Illinois and went to a local bakery and ordered a cassada cake. It had anise and ricotta in it. It was horrible! I tried to make one on my own and totally failed. I found a recipe on the internet that was similar, and have made it twice. My birthday is this Sunday and I plan on making your recipe and hope it measures up to all the good raves I've been reading. I currently live in Panama City, Florida, and it sure would be nice to have a piece of home for my birthday. Thank you for posting this! I can't wait!!!! Sue Hi, Sue. The Cleveland love that this cake has generated here in the comments section continues to blow me away! I hope this cake will be everything you want it to be. So you know, in my most recent version, I used only three layers of cake instead of four to make it a little more manageable. (You can freeze the fourth.) I put custard and strawberries between each layer. I think I like it better this way. I'll have to update the recipe. Happy birthday to you, and happy baking! OMG a have lived in Cleveland all my life and recently moved out of state and missed this cake so much. I have been searching for the recipe for awhile and stumbled upon this site Thank you for the recipe. I haven't tried it yet but the picture alone brings back memories. what do I do for high altitude? I'm sorry to say that I don't know the first thing about high altitude baking. But I did find this resource over at Creative Culinary. I'm sorry that I can't be of more help. if i wanted to cheat, what kind of box cake mix would i use? it's been a long time since i've had it and i can't remember if it was white or yellow cake. Hi, Stephanie. I'd say it's closer to a white cake than a yellow cake, but keep in mind that the cake in this recipe is a sponge cake. A cake from a mix will be denser, closer to a traditional birthday cake. That's not to say it won't work; it will just be different! JESS, I AM A BAKING FANATIC, I COULDN'T FIND THE RECIPE I USED LAST TIME I MADE CASSATA CAKE, SO I WAS DOING THE SAME THING AS YOU, SCOURING THE INTERNET TO FIND THE PERFECT RECIPE, I AM MAKING A FULL SHEET CASSATA CAKE TO FEED 30+ PEOPLE TOMORROW...SO MY BOYFRIENDS STEP FATHERS 60TH BIRTHDAY, I AM A NEW GIRLFRIEND, AND HAVE ONLY BEEN AROUND 5 MONTHS BUT LOVE LOVE LOVE BAKING, AND WAS HONORED THAT I AM BEING TRUSTED TO CREATE A DELICIOUS BIRTHDAY CAKE, HOWEVER I GET NERVOUS EVERY TIME I BAKE...WHAT IF IT ISN'T PERFECT...AND IN THIS CAKE IMPRESSING THE PARENTS...IN-FRICKING-TIMIDATING! ANYHOW YOUR STORY AND YOUR RECIPE ARE BEAUTIFUL, I BOUGHT BOXED POUND CAKE TO USE FOR THE CAKE I WAS MAKING, HOWEVER I BELIEVE I WILL TRY YOUR CAKE RECIPE AS WELL...JUST MIGHT HAVE TO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE IT TO MAKE THE AMOUNT OF CAKE I NEED TO! THANKS FOR PUTTING THIS OUT THERE! I'm excited to give this recipe a try! I remember my mother buying these cakes when I was a kid,(yes!)growing up in Warrensville in the 70's and 80's! I made this recipe yesterday for a 90th birthday. I put strawberries and custard in between every layer and drizzled a little rum on the cake layers. It was a beautiful cake visually, stayed together very well and tasted delicious. Thanks for the recipe! Thanks so much for this recipe! Like a lot of others, I am a Cleveland girl with a Sicilian background and I searched the internet for a recipe exactly like this one! We always have strawberry/custard cassata at our weddings, and I was craving one. All the other recipes I found were for chocolate and rum cassata cakes. This recipe looks just perfect! The cakes are in the oven and the custard is in the fridge, but so far everything looks wonderful. I was so excited to find this and am so thankful that you've shared this recipe!! Buon Appetito! hello! i had never made a homemade cake before and someone gave me this recipe to make for a 70th birthday coming up. well, i tried it before the party, to make sure it was tasty... it's delicious and the cake baked up soooo very nice!! now, i have to make it into a half sheet cake (12x18 in my neck of the woods, florida). i believe it is sturdy enough. just off the top of your head, do you know how many cups of batter this one recipe makes? i will only be making the one layer and splitting that; i don't think it will fit into the cake box if do any more layers than the one. following your recipe, the 9" round cake i made was over 6" high!! it was gorgeolicious! thanks for the recipe. kristi My sister wanted a Strawberry Cassata Cake for her birthday. I never made one before, and this was my chance. I used this recipe, but I found it on another site. I followed the recipe to the letter. But, along with it I made a Swiss Meringue Cream Cheese frosting also. I mixed the custard with the frosting....and baby.....you talking bout delish! I couldn't taste the entire cake until my sister cut it, but it was wonderful. Light and fluffy, the filling went really well with the strawberries. It was great. I will be adding this one to my collection of cakes. (When I was soaking the strawberries, I added a little amaretto to them along with the sugar) Hi I posted a comment last August (2011) about this cassata cake. I had forgotten the name of the bakery on W. 130th where I had my first cassata cake, I remember now, it was Rito's Bakery. I made this recipe for my birthday last year and will be making this again this year and again, and again, and again! Thank you for this wonderful recipe. Sue Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! We love cassata cake, and since we had to go gluten and dairy free in this house, I've frowned every time we drive past the local bakery (We're in Parma) I'm going to try and adapt this to be good for my son's food issues, but I'm so glad to finally find a recipe for cassata cake without ricotta! Me and my husband went to Cleveland last year for a Dolphins vs Browns game and stumbled upon Corbos Bakery.. I just want to say it was thee best Italian bakery we've ever been to! We must have spent over $50 in there that night, we brought everything back to our hotel room and devoured it all!! Everything was awesome but I can't stop thinking about that cassata cake! My birthday is in just a couple of day & I will be making myself this cake! I'll let you know how it turns out! Thanks in advance for the recipe! This is a save the day, moment. I lived in Cleveland for five years and was trying to hunt down what I enjoyed at many a party there. Thanks!
"I want a bouquet of berries!" That's what my friend Laura exclaimed when we met at the florist to talk bouquets for her upcoming wedding. "You mean...for real..or on your cake, as a separate flavors, as favors? What? What?"... Can't you just sense the panic in my voice? Lord knows I love Laura, I laugh with her, cry with her, call her crazy and yet, I never know when she is joking when she is in charge of making decisions. See, Laura has already changed her mind 3 times for her dress...after it was bought. The ceremony has been changed just about everytime the wind changed direction, the vows?...typed, backspaced, saved, erased, and started over countless times. A couple of things have remained: the groom is still "The Original One" as we have nicknamed Jason, her husband to be, and as always her group of friends has vowed to throw her into the pool after the big event. I met her while at the restaurant, she was waiting tables and quickly volunteered to be my dessert guinea pig. Laura loves to organize big parties, Halloween bashes, fundraising dinners, etc...and she is good at it. She knows to bring people together, her diplomacy is impeccable and she never loses her cool...but she ended up in the pool more times than she remembers. Over the years we have learned to let her talk and scribble away and wait a couple of days for the finalized plan. So when she said she wanted a bouquet of berries, I, on the other hand saw a big blue pool... I should have trusted her and let her finish her sentence instead. Had I paid attention, I would have noticed that she was on the phone with Old Chef telling him she did not want a wedding cake but a couple of plated desserts. There will be a mini version of Jason's favorite, Carrot Cake, made by our friend C., the other pastry chef in the group, and I would make Laura a dessert that represents her. Except nothing really "represents" Laura given her ever changing nature. I threw some ideas to her and finally drew sketches of charlottes made of thin toasted coconut ladyfingers, filled with a raspberry mousse and topped with whipped cream to evoke the white of her wedding dress and topped with berries....a bouquet of berries. One decision made, 85 of these to make for her wedding this coming Saturday. When I make charlottes at home for the family, I like to use savoiardi cookies, not that I am lazy to make my own but they remind me of my grandparents who always kept a box in their pantry. My grandma would give us some to dunk in our tea or hot chocolate and we had a contest to see who could dip the longest without the cookie disintegrate on them. My grandfather would give us some whenever the adults had Champagne so we could get a little taste. I have to admit though that eating freshly made ladyfingers ranks as high as eating freshly cooked sables or shortbreads...very high. Before you run away when you look at the recipe: once again I am a big advocate of spreading plated desserts preparationover a couple of days if you need. Make the ladyfingers one day and store them in the fridge in a tight container and tackle the mousse the next. For Laura's dessert, it was easier to make them and pipe the batter thin to mimic flower stems. The mousse base is a quick Chiboust cream where instead of the traditional Italian Meringue, whipped cream is added to a creme anglaise base and held with some gelatin. There are also two kinds of Chiboust, one with creme anglaise, one with pastry cream, I went for the former. We went for raspberries but strawberries or other would work quite well. For work production purposes I purchased frozen organic raspberries, let them thawed and mashed them before adding them to the mousse base. I like to fold the fruit base into the whipped cream and not the other way around. I find it more consistent, faster and more reliable, but you will read different directions on the subject so experience to find the one you like best. Toasted Coconut And Raspberry Charlottes: Makes 6, 3 inch wide charlottes For the ladyfingers: 1/2 cup (65 grams) cake flour 3 large eggs yolks 1/2 cup (1oo grams) sugar, divided 3 egg whites 1 teaspoon orange blossom water pinch of salt 1/2 cup to 3/4 grated coconut (both unsweet or sweet are fine) - Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. - Fit your mixer with the paddle attachment and beat the egg yolks with 1/4 cup of the sugar until thick and pale yellow at high speed for about 5 minutes. Add the orange blossom water and give the mixer another quick whirl to combine. - Transfer the batter to a bowl, and sift the cake flour over it but do not fold it in yet.Wash your mixer's bowl thoroughly before proceeding with the egg whites. - Fit your mixer with the whisk attachment and whip the egg whites until foamy. Add the pinch of salt and increase the speed and whip until soft peaks form. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar and whip until stiff peaks. Fold the whites into the egg yolk and flour mixture in three additions, mixing just until incorporated. Do not over fold or you will loose air and the cookies will turn flat. - Transfer the batter to a pastry bag fitting with narrow tip (I used Ateco #807) and pipe the batter into 6 3 inch circles first, then continue with the remaining batter to make 4 inch long ladyfingers.keeping one inch space in between them. Feel free to draw circles and lines on the parchment paper and to invert it prior to baking (so you don't get ink or pencil lines on your cookies) as a guide. - Sprinkle as little as 1/2 cup to as much as 3/4 cup of grated coconut, depending on your taste. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until the ladyfingers are firm but only slightly browned and are spongy when pressed with a finger. - Remove them from the oven and let the baking sheets cool on wire rack for a few minutes. It will be easier to remove the cookies from the parchment paper if you do so when they are still a little warm. Once lifted from the paper, let the cookies cool completely on wire racks before using them. For the raspberry mousse: 250 ml (1 cup) milk 1/4 cup (55 grams) sugar 3 egg yolks 2 tsp Chambord 2 tsp powdered gelatin + 1/4 cup cold water 1 1/2 cups frozen raspberries, thawed and mashed with a fork 3/4 cup heavy cream Sprinkle the gelatin over the water and set aside to bloom. In a medium bowl, whisk the sugar and egg yolks until pale yellow. In the meantime time, in a medium saucepan, heat the milk to boiling point. Slowly pour some of the hot milk over the egg yolks to temper them. Add the remaining milk in one steady stream, whisking well. Pour the liquid back into the saucepan, and cook over medium low heat until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from the heat, add the Chambord, raspberries and gelatin and stir until the latter is completely dissolved. Let cool to room temperature. In a large bowl or in a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, whip the cream to soft peaks. Incorporate the raspberry base in 2 additions into the cream. Use immediately. To assemble the charlottes: Place 6 rings onto a parchment line baking sheet. Line 6 rings with parchment paper, place a disk of ladyfinger cookie at the bottom and line the inside with as many fingers as will fit in them. Divide the mousse evenly in between the rings. Refrigerate until completely set. When ready to serve, unmold the charlottes and top with whipped cream and fresh berries. 97 comments: Très joli et très photogénique - en plus, j'adore les framboises :) beautiful as usual! I don't think Laura will want to change her mind after seeing and tasting such a beautiful and delicious dessert! And if she does, well, there's always the swimming pool! (Hah! Threats always work!) I LOVE raspberries, and I've not made mousse with Italian meringue before :) Perfect and amazingly beautiful, as always! Cheers, Rosa Wow, those look so beautiful! purty! so very purrtyy!! the innards look so inviting ^_^ Thankgod laura didn't change hermind about jason :-) Love the charlotte. Looks so beautiful. such a pretty dessert !! love it ;-) did you forget to mention the egg whites in the lady finger's ingredient list ? (I can only see the egg yolks) - thank you This is so elegant... And I'm sure it tastes delicious. What can I say? When I see your photos I feel like in an art gallery, all senses involved (not only for the eyes but also for your nose, your mouth and, of course, for your heart). You are really an artist. u have such amazin pics. how do u do them. r u a pro. how lucky is she to have you as a friend! charlottes are always so elegant and really do impress. beautiful work! how absolutely lovely. These are just gorgeous! :) Mmmm looks and sounds heavenly! Yummmmm I want! Beautiful! these are so delicate and feminine Helen! So lovely and perfectly ... the most beautiful little charlottes ever... A bouquet of berries is lovely!! And unique :0) Gorgeous Charlottes! Argone: I sure did forget! I rectified that. Thank you! Perhaps Laura wants the very best things for those around her or those whom she brings together. Therefore she could not make up her mind on what could make everyone happy. Maybe ask her what she wants if there's only her and "The Original One" at their wedding? That may do the trick. I think they are many who wish to live next door to you, Helen. Including I, of course. Who in their right mind would not want to be your dessert guinea pig?! Amazing ! I wouldn't mind those at my wedding, either :-) Suparna: thank you, but no I am not a pro photographer. There are so many more talented photographers out there, but thank you for the compliment! What beautiful bouquets Helen!! I'm sure Laura would be very pleased!! Wonderful Charlotte! Laura is one lucky bride to have these showing up at her wedding! They are just gorgeous and I'm sure everyone will be wowed. My daughter and I were just discussing how the most common wedding problem is bad cakes. Good thing Laura went with the best- it won't be a problem for her! beautiful pictures,as always! It's true that the freshly made ladyfingers are uncomparable. I recently made some for a cake, and I love it so much! Now I need to try your version with toasted coconut and orange blossom water. Those are beautiful bouquets! I love all the fruits you used on top! gorgeous , Helen! Uh...and you are making how many of these... 85?! cute Charlottes!!!!those ribbon were lovely too! Absolutely beautiful Helen. I discourage making lady fingers, because my technique of piping anything is always turns out to be a disastrous! Too big, too small, too fat, too thin, too long, too short. Is there such a thing as a lady finger mold? maybe in France? any encouraging tip perhaps? You know, like the one that you gave us for macarons. I am sure there are many of your reader are like me, not really that good of making lady finger, or am I alone in this one? These desserts are so beautiful! Laura is lucky to have such a talented friend as you helping out! They are gorgeous! What a lucky friend yours is! I think she can even enter the church with a plate of this charlotte, for the ultimate berry bouquet, lol! These are just the prettiest little things that I ever did see! I wish that I could make my tasty-things look half as beautiful as you do. How lovely. Sigh. Am at a loss for words Helen...but can say, maybe I wish I was getting married again...to the same man I've married but closer to where you live...if only for the sake of something as stunning as this!! LOL...what a GREAT friend you are! Helen, you have truly contributed something unique and special to the bride's wedding day. Give yourself a pat on the back for these very sweet desserts. They are 'easy on the eyes' shall we say, as I am sure the bride was. These are the sweetest things I've ever seen! Elra: as I mentionned in the instructions, it is helpful to draw lines and rounds on parchment paper and to invert it prior to baking. As far as coming flat or thin, make sure not to overfold or the cookies will deflate on you and will spread out to the side. What a lucky friend - these are just gorgeous! Literally gorgeous! --Marc Such a nice friend you are! I think you should (for her) make one that is blue - the color blue of a pool ;) You are such a maestra! Every time I visit your blog I am blown away! You are amazing! This dessert is stunning! Just georgeous!!! they look fantastic and so delicious. Really, really a great job!! Ana What a gorgeous wedding treat this while be! I love the ribbon and fresh berries! I think I was eight the first time I tasted a berry charlotte... I still remember where it was, whose house it was and everything about that lovely afternoon at our friends' house. I remember my life through food.:-) Your friend Laura sounds like she is a riot to be around. And this Charlotte dessert looks amazing!!! I wish Laura all the best! I remember the hard time I had choosing my wedding dress... And I did have some trouble with the shoes as well. ;) These are adorable, Helen - such a sweet gesture! What a yummy looking dessert! Still, I need to make or even just taste a charlotte! Beautiful job! absolutely divine! Laura's lucky to have a friend like you--those are so intricately put together and look tremendous How pretty. I'd have carried these down the aisle at my own wedding, but I doubt I would refrain from eating it before I reached the altar. :-D You had me in stitches when I read that at least the groom is still "The Original One". Thanks for the photos- this looks too pretty to eat (almost!). Seems Charlottes are getting really popular again these days and I will have to try to make one myself. Thanks! Your charlottes are super charming!! They're beautiful with the pink ribbon... Can I untie one of those? :) oh my goodness. c'est trop. anything is better with coconut, i dont care what it is. i had a good friend at my foyer in paris named charlotte, i always wanted to make her a cake and say "how many times have you been given one of these!" this would be more perfect though--c'est petit et plus comme un cadeau. You take the most delicious, beautiful pictures I have ever seen! =) Your friend is so lucky for being able to have you make this beautiful dessert for her! Simply stunning! They really do look like a basket of berries! They are so romantic and beautiful! This looks heavenly! Okay, this is just flippin' gorgeous. Again, as always. You have an amazing talent. Hmmm next time I make individual charlottes I'm going to try this ring mold method. Bouquet of Berries! I love it. Sounds like a great title for a cookbook! Perfect! You are a genius - I can't believe how well you translated her wishes into such a lovely dessert. Gorgeous pics! I'm just so in love with your food styling! and I wouldn't mind a tasting your desserts in person one day! Jaden: who knows...I might just use that title instead since we have not finalized one yet :) What a delight for the eyes! It would have tasted wonderful1 No u'e reind is not crazy but intelligent enough to get your creativity triggers fort his wonderful dessert! thanks to her! I made desserts for 260 people on Wednesday...I wish you were there to help me....This is so beautiful and if your friend changes her mind about this one...send her to me!!!! I consistently feel the need to cry when I see your creations. They're so beautiful!! i want a bouquet of berries too! so beautiful. you are a genius...so talented. i'm always so inspired by your creations, tartelette :) helen, this is gorgeous. I wish I could get married again just to incorporate these into my wedding reception!! yay for laura!!! Ali How absolutely beautiful, Helen. Laura is a lucky girl to have you as a friend. How beautiful, what a lucky bride. those are exquisitely gorgeous! so delicate! Gorgeous, I love it when a dessert (as well as a blog post) tells a good story! Simply put - GORGEOUS! Laura should be very happy about this dessert:) And she is lucky to have a friend like you:))) Those beauties truly are the prettiest dessert I have ever seen! Absolutely gorgeous photography, too. Your blog is beginning to convince me that my new "eating regimen" is terribly boring. I am so happy to see the fabric is going to good use. :) So feminine, light and colorful. By George, I think you nailed it! Oh you nailed it alright! Sounds like I would greatly enjoy Laura. I wish her a beautiful day, these desserts will be beautiful! Helen, I can't even put to words how beautiful this creation is! Seriously, what I would give to have your talent... This looks delicious!!!! I wish I was gifted in the food department!!! This looks so cute, Helen. From the time I turned vegan I haven't been able to try out much from your blog but I keep coming back for more stories and more pictures - and always go back contented:) Laura is lucky to have you making this for her! Helen! This is such a marvellous one! Let me know if Laura chages her mind just on time, and you are welcome to Istanbul for my wedding (probably on November) :))) What a beautiful view! I'm just focused, and can't move =p~ 85! And I'm the 85th commentor on this one. Friend Laura is LOVED!!! And you are a genius and St. Jean D'Arc to make all these. I'm agog... if there are any leftovers...ahem worth getting married just to get 85 of these beauties! Those look gorgeous Helen ...very very pretty ! How incredibly lucky the bride! Charlottes are amazing! Certainly an auspicious beginning to a lifetime relationship! What an absolutely incredible dessert. Stunning, really!! you are just... AMAZING! these are so perfect and teeny! what a lucky bride! Such little and sweet beauties! I love your photos Tartelette! what a BEAUTIFUL dessert and lucky bride to be! :) une merveilleuse recette sublimée par des photos superbes Rien que de regarder les photos, je me régale, je suis en train de devenir complètement accro. C'est absolument magnifique ! Congrats for the first overall winner of DMBLGIT Oct 2008. When I saw it, I knew that you'll win. It is so beautiful. i just made these charlottes but as a single cake and not as separate cakes. i had some problems (not a strange thing). I'm new at cooking and baking but not afraid to try. So for future reference I would like to ask - shouldn't lady fingers be submerged into warm milk and Chambord or some such alcohol - I'm afraid that my will be dry! And i didn't put lady fingers on the bottom:((( is it unforgettable? Iva: no, they should not submerge. They would disintegrate from being under that much liquid. If you mean lightly brushed or dipped in liquid, very little and very briefly then. Here it was not necessary because the filling softens the cake.
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The county could be looking for a new tenant for the former Dodgertown facility as soon as next month, after contract negotiations came to an impasse with the partnership now operating Vero Beach Sports Village. In a letter dated Feb. 5, Vero Beach Sports Village Vice President Craig Callan notified Indian River County Administrator Joe Baird the Verotown LLC partners will not be exercising their option to renew their contract, which ends in May 2014. Sports Village officials would like a new five-year deal once the current lease expires, but they are no further along after six months of contractual discussions with the county. “We’re continuing to fine tune what we feel is a reasonable offer to the county, but to our disappointment, our offer has not been accepted,” Callan said. County Commissioner Peter O’Bryan said he expects the county to request proposals next month to see what other groups might be interested in taking over operation of the facility. But the door is still open for a new deal with Verotown LLC. Minor League Baseball signed the original lease, which began May 1, 2009, and contained two five-year options for renewal, but MiLB began operating the facility as part of the Verotown LLC on Jan. 1, 2012. The partnership is made up of former Dodgers owner Peter O’Malley and his sister Terry O’Malley Seidler, former Dodgers pitchers Hideo Nomo and Chan Ho Park and Minor League Baseball. O’Malley is the CEO. “It doesn’t hurt to send out a request for proposals to see who else might be interested,” said O’Bryan. According to Callan and O’Bryan, there are two sticking points. Under the current lease, the county contributes to a reserve fund for capital expenditures, which Sports Village officials would like to see continued and the county at the very least wants to limit. Callan said Sports Village officials put together a projection of capital expenditures for the next five years, but the county said those numbers were too high, so Sports Village officials pared them, but still couldn’t reach an agreement. Callan said the partners could not go below $200,000 a year. The lease also requires a $300,000 liquidated damages fee if Verotown LLC were to leave early, with or without advance notice. Callan said the operating partners wanted in the new contract to instead guarantee at least four months’ notice and remove the liquidated damages penalty. Indian River County budget director Jason Brown said the liquidated damages provision is the main concern for the county. “We don’t want to go and spend more money on the facility, and then have Verotown decide it’s just not working and walk away without penalty,” Brown said. “If we are going to spend more taxpayer dollars on the facility, we want some protection on any tenant leaving, and we think the liquidated damages provides that.” Callan said the partners thought four months’ notice would be a “better than even trade” because it would save the county operating costs while giving it time to find a new tenant. According to Callan, O’Malley was concerned about the capital expenditures becoming the operating partners’ responsibility. They lease the facility for $1 a year but do not have ownership of the property. “As much as we are willing to continue and preserve the historical significance of Dodgertown, Peter O’Malley also is not interested in having significant losses that aren’t ours,” Callan said. “If we were to be responsible for capital expenditures, it’s not our facility. If we were to ever leave, it’s not our asset, so our feeling is we should not be paying for and never have paid for capital expenditures. We just want it to be status quo as it has in the past.” According to county officials, the current agreement set up a fund of more than $2 million for capital expenditures, and about $1.2 million of it has been spent. At the beginning of year six, the leasee was to match a local government contribution of $50,000 annually to replenish the account, but Verotown would be responsible for any expenditures above that. Brown said the county is willing to work with Verotown on that issue if the liquidated damages penalty is in place. Callan said the Sports Village has not made any profits yet since opening in May 2009, but operating losses have been cut by 50 percent each year, gradually going from $1 million the first year to $250,000 losses in the third year. The partnership is responsible for maintenance and upkeep that has been estimated to be $150,000 a month. The group hopes to break even this year and eventually turn a profit, but Callan said O’Malley has offered as part of the new contract discussions to reinvest any future profits back into the county-owned facility. A recent study released by the Treasure Coast Sports Commission estimated the Sports Village had a more than $21 million economic impact on Indian River County between December 2009 and Nov. 1, 2012. “With the things we’ve done in the community, with the things we’ve done to improve the facility, with the impact we’ve had on the local economy on a year-round basis, we think we’re doing all the right things, so we can’t understand why we have not been able to come to an agreement,” Callan said. Callan said O’Malley has no interest in moving elsewhere, but if the partners don’t feel like they will ever reach an agreement with the county, they could decide to pull out early and just pay the $300,000. Several projects are on hold, such as getting the rights to the name Historic Dodgertown and bringing in a national marketer to build exposure. “The whole idea for Peter O’Malley wasn’t to build a business that would work elsewhere,” Callan said. “This is a labor of love. ... If we are not able to come to terms with the county, we’ll go by the letter of the contract, so it would be up to the county — either the contract is terminated or it runs out.” County attorney Alan Polackwich said he hasn’t personally been involved in discussions with the partnership about the lease since last year, but he is going to try to put the issue before the County Commission as early as March 5. Polackwich said there has been some general discussions with other parties that might be interested in the facility, but Callan said he hasn’t heard anything back from the county since delivering notice of the nonrenewal. “Our vision is growing, and we told the county if they don’t share our vision, if they feel they have a better option, we’ll gratefully step aside,” Callan said. dlg1469 writes: To bad so sad this is going to cost the county tax payers about $1,000,000.00 per year to maintain the place if it sets empty. jbsellers writes: As usual IRC won't make a sensible decision to preserve an important part of its history. Usually takes a few $$$ spread around to make anything happen in IRC/VB. jmh#432358 writes: I really don't care about the history. The Dodgers didn't care either when they left Brooklyn. I do care about the businesses that will take a hit. The beachside hotels were packed last week with hundreds of kids here for a baseball tournament. Kiss that all good bye. TROPICALKNIGHT writes: Always tough when the businesses are dealing with mental midgets. They'd rather see the grass grow. John22 writes: Good riddance. That place has been a burden on the taxpayers for a few years now. The handouts need to stop - especially for something 98% of the taxpayers here get no use from. They are tring to get more goodies courtesy of the taxpayers it appears. Let them go and find another use for that place that isn't a burden or sell the proprty in the next few years. The Dodgers are long gone. snoozy writes: This has been a longtime coming and is not unexpected. It is time to move this public owned facility either forward with another organization or sell it outright. Vero Beach Sports Village under the current management has had five years, with millions of dollars from the public to put this operation in the black and the leasing of the property to a sister organization will not make it any better. There has to be a major change in the management and scope of operations, not a return to a situation which has not been viable for many years. THe public will have somewhere between $35-$40 million in the Sports Complex including bonding costs, operation subsidies, improvements, and purchases. That is a lot of money for a county with only 130-140 thousand residents. The commission should not be supporting this operation any longer, like any deal it has to stand on its own legs. It is time to market and advertise the availability and see who comes forward and is willing to have some real skin (dollars) in the deal. ConchDawg writes: Anyone remember Knight Armament Company? Why would county officials, who are in place to be good stewards of the taxpayers resources, not want to promote and foster a good business environment that leads to increased employment and tax revenue? ThisTooShallPass writes: "O’Bryan said the liquidated damages provision is the main concern for the county, because without the fine, that would give the partnership “ 'the green light to just leave without penalty.' " Kind of like the Dodgers did. Nothing new here. ConchDawg writes: Where did VBSV get millions of dollars? VBSV has pumped millions into a facility that was sitting empty after the Dodgers left and costing the County(taxpayers) over $100,000 per month to just sit there. Isn't it nice to have someone operating the place and putting tax dollars into the coffers, not to mention the increase in bed taxes. And ask the waitstaff around town how they like the increase in tips from all of the customers that wouldn't be here if VBSV weren't operating. John22 writes: Good point and the hotel and restaurant revenue its generated is not even in the ballpark to make sense for the taxpayers to continue funding this thing through higher taxes. This situation would only make sense if their was a bunch of other revenue coming in from other uses also and there isn't. John22 writes: lol- Heck using that reasoning lets build more taxpayer funded operations so we can create even more server tips and hotel fees. Maybe we can tax ourself into full employment with that kind of reasoning. Prospero writes: Sell it and let private enterprise develop it as a revenue generating property . VeroBeachNative writes: Turn it into a water theme park ConchDawg writes: John22 - it's investment. There is a return on what happens at the facility, city and county wide. I guess we could just stay with giving groves a tax break and solve our unemployment with picking fruit. snoozy writes: Lets see the CERTIFIED AUDIT that was required in the original lease. It will tell where the money came from and went. The commissioners have never held Vero Beach Sports Village to that requirement. I wonder why. snoozy writes: My original comments have been made for only one reason. So that the taxpayers are provided with an representative certified audit and then a decision to proceed can be made. There is no other negative reasoning beyond keeping the public apprised of the money spent and the future costs to be expected. CoachDawg is right it should be treated as an investment, but it should stand on its own legs and return more than a small percentage of funds invested to the taxpayers. I wonder what happens to the sports television rights profits, I have heard that they trickle back to minor league baseball and its parent major league baseball. These guys don't need the taxpayers money just look at what they are paying for players, and the Indian River County taxpayers don't need to subsidize these millionaires. Why doesn't a few dozen of these retired ball players put in some serious bucks and buy the place from the taxpayers and make it a showcase. They have the money, connections and know how. It was totally a privately supported operation when it was owned by the Dodgers. ConchDawg writes: sports television rights? what they are paying players? and the millions of dollars "given" to VBSV? Snoozy, remember Roseanne Roseannadanna, this is where you say "Oh Nevermind!" You still think the Dodgers are involved. They are not. And oh by the way, it's illegal to smoke that stuff. basementlife writes: Well the way things are going,,,it will make a good homeless shelter,,,,,, Thuglife writes: Good riddence. You can pay professional athletes all this money but don't want to pay for the facility. Good riddance to you!! ConchDawg writes: NO ONE IS PAYING PLAYERS!!!! This is not the Dodgers. The Dodgers are gone! There are high school and college kids and international teams playing there. Playing baseball, softball, football, soccer, lacrosse, swim teams. This is a business that brings in people from all over the country and the world to little ole Vero Beach and these people bring MONEY!!!! rjlebleu#250530 writes: Turn it into Section 8 housing with a central playground. justcommenting writes: Conchdawg seems to have an IN with this, or is one of the management of the facility. I have to lean toward agreeing with him on some points. There are college and young adults from all over the world that come to our little town. They pay good money to come, and spend good money while they are here. What is the future of these persons coming back to Vero as adults and raising families? Nobody really knows. However, there are annual trips that teams are preparing for, to our town, because of this venue, and they tell others about it. That should shed a little light about the future. Is the purchase of the facility an option? There are ball players, and other league officials who make a substantial amount of money each game as professionals, who may be interested in partnering up for a purchase. Again, is it an option? I have seen leases and negotiations, but nothing mentioning a purchase. I do think that if the county commission thinks that a different venue should be feasable to come in and run the park, that they should consider the future growth of all the amazing talent that has came to this facility. Now, with that being said, the only time I have personally been to the Village since the Dodgers left, was for the Jake Owen concert. Us Vero Beach residents, do not know what is going on at the facility, so we do not attend, and get a better picture of the positive or negative outcomes of the facility. If an agreement is made, a sign out by 43rd Ave would be nice to inform the general what is happening, and when the public is invited to attend. Not getting off the subject, but I would hope that an agreement would be settled. After 5 years of finally making a positive impact at that location, it would be a shame to have all these annual trips and big tournaments, be taken elsewhere. St Lucie is trying to bring in a second team....and we cant figure out if we want any teams at all ?? I think over the next few years, a sharp decrease in taxpayer liability should go to zero, making the Village self-sufficient, and rent should be paid, just as every other business. We gave Piper a heck of a break, for many years to come, why cant we play this out for a few more years, and see what is in store for us. It will definitely be better than sitting empty. snoozy writes: ConchDawg, why don't you ask to follow the money, the reason for the audit request, that is the least the taxpayers deserve. The remarks about smoking something obviously is your way of insulting others when you don't agree with their comments. It reflects on you more than the person to which you are directing the comment. The proposed lease sounds like a long term giveaway of tax payers dollars. The gravy train has to stop and lets hope it is now. If they don't want to invest the money to do this deal than the county should go find someone who does. The county cannot afford to continue funding this operation. Mr. Callan has been employed at this location for many, many years, long before the Sports Village, Minor League Baseball lease. He should be able to put together a group with enough money to buy the property and take it forward. It is time for some new blood to purchase the property and the taxpayers shouldn't be funding this any longer. John22 writes: Imo its like that past Piper deal - the returns aren't close to matching the costs to taxpayers. Numbers can be thrown around about economic impact but the number that needs to be scrutinized is what have the taxpayers funded compared to the extra the place brings in to help the county tax bill. Gross numbers on economic impact are always misleading and meant to mislead people usually on the cost to taxpayers of something. majesticman writes: Theres breaking news for you. Another deal negotiated by "Vertigo" Joe Baird goes sour! WHO KNEW? Remember when he lobbied for Piper to stay and had everyone, including the State of FL, throwing money at their feet. And that was a good deal...why? When will the county "get it" that Baird is a far cry from King Midas? His contract is the one that should never be renewed again! Arrogant, over rated, overpaid, drunk son of a ..... brnigurl78 writes: I SAY BUILD A HOCKEY RINK!!!!!!! IT WOULD BE PERECT FOR ALL THE SNOWBIRDS! IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME. I'D LOVE NOTHING MORE THAN TO TRAVEL ONLY 15 MIN INSTEAD OF 45-60 MIN FOR HOCKEY LOL Reginald writes: The county has proven to be a lousy property owner and business manager. And anyone who thinks there are other groups who would jump into a business relationship with those knuckleheads is just fooling themselves. Solution? Sell the facility to the O'Malley group for $10. They own it, they maintain it, put in the capital investment and pay taxes on it. If you think the place would bring more, then auction it with no reserve, no minimum. And good luck with that. VBRetired writes: Vero Beach city government is about to get out of the electric power business and it is, likewise, time to get out of ball park business. Government should not be running businesses. Business revenue goes into lots of "deep pockets" while the taxpayers continue to get ripped-off and stuck with the debt. ConchDawg writes: Television rights? What channel? I'd like to watch. Name a player being paid. Comments such as that indicate lack of knowledge of the situation or deception or loss of lucidity. snoozy writes: ConchDawg, I believe Minor League Baseball, the organization which owns Vero Beach Sport Village has an agreement regarding television rights with Major League Baseball. That may possibly be why there is no ESPN and other sports network participation on the location. The location cannot return the moneys needed without some kind of television revenue (that is what keeps most sports profitable) and it also can't depend on only being a high school sports or occasional college training facility. The uses need to be expanded to bring in more customers and more revenue. If minor or major league baseball wants to participate fine, but other multiple revenue sources will have to be developed. Have private industry expand the economic pie. There has to be other large organizations which would like to have a presence in the Sports business besides the usual baseball related companies. the_bomber_194 writes: Wow...just like PSL! Throwing money away like it was going out of style. Thanks Vertigo Joe. citizen2 writes: So far, this is the most intelligent comment I have read. citizen2 writes: If only we had a professional leader for county administrator; one whose competence includes negotiating skills, as well as effective leadership skills, we would not be having this discussion. Unfortunately, only one member of the county commission has the required negotiating skills; and it is not Mr. O'Bryan. It seems most people cannot see the forest for the trees. ConchDawg writes: Minor League Baseball does not own VBSV. You stated: "The location cannot return the moneys needed without some kind of television revenue" Not sure what data you used to arrive at that personal conclusion. There is more than high school and college. Professional teams from South Korea, Italy and China train there. Many sports teams from all over the USA and Canada representing football, soccer, lacrosse and swimming train there. Nice to have the Girls State Softball Tournament there for the next three years. Thank you Treasure Coast Sports Commission for helping to secure that influx of tourist dollars into the local economy, and during a usually slow period. The ownership is preserving an historic facility that was sitting empty for months after the Dodgers left (and costing the county a lot of money) while at the same time driving substantial dollars into the local economy. They have even stated they will put profits back into a facility they don't even own!!! It really is a win-win. rsmsem2 writes: Are you people numb in Vero. You hardly spent any money when the Dodgers were there. It was like a large Little League field. No covering on the dugouts? Amateur fields and amateur leadership which prevails. Luck paying for cutting the grass on the empty fields. Nobody's going to develop anything there you numb nutz! perspicacious writes: So far - no profits! This is more corporate favoritism. Several years ago Callan reported that they couldn't make a profit without taxpayer support. What kind of business plan is THAT? If you can't make a profit without my tax money then you shouldn't be in business. We can't afford this! And to think VBSV wants money for improvements. NO! They should sign a long-term lease, improve the property, and the improvements should revert to the County in 30 years. This is how the airport leases work. I agree - sell the property and put it back on the tax rolls..... VBRetired writes: Why do some people want Vero Beach to grow? What's wrong with a sleepy little town tucked away from commerce and traffic jams. Most people moved here to get far from the madding crowd. City Council wants to destroy taxpayers dreams of quiet retirement??? What gives? Must mean money in the pockets of those controlling the tax dollars.... kikkipop writes: Instead of the City of Vero dreaming up businesses to support, why not just give our tax dollars directly to your friends and get rid of the smoke and mirrors. Thuglife writes: Goodbye Callan. You may gratefully step aside. We no longer wish for you to siphon our tax dollars. COVB it's time for you to sell the property and get out of Sports Village business. Want to participate in the conversation? Become a subscriber today. Subscribers can read and comment on any story, anytime. Non-subscribers will only be able to view comments on select stories.
Vacation BlegMonday, February 28th, 2011 I’ve been meaning to take a real vacation for a couple years, and just haven’t gotten around to planning one. But I’m set now on taking one the first couple weeks in May. I’m also set on the general area — Central/Eastern Europe. I know I want to spend some time in Prague and Budapest, and then I’m thinking I may wind down the Dalmatian Coast, then possibly fly to Bucharest for a few days before flying back home. Prague and Budapest are the only definite destinations in all of that. Not sure yet how doable the rest is. But if any Agitatortots familiar with that part of the world have advice, recommendations, ideas, suggestions, please feel free to send them my way. I don’t speak the language in any of those countries, so I can’t get too far off the beaten path. But in the past, many of your not-in-the-guidebooks reader suggestions have been pretty great. Slovenia might be good for a libertarian: small country that broke away from Yugoslavia and has prospered as an independent country within Europe. My room-mate used to go regularly. I have always heard great things about Dubrovnik, which was remarkably preserved until the Serbs decided to shell it in 1991. I keep meaning to go, but…. If you’re going to Eastern Europe, you have to get to Tallinn. Estonia has alot of great history and cultural artifacts, of course, but the women there are amazing. You’re a single man, Radley. Go for the gold. Prague is a beautiful city for walking around. Lots of old buildings to see. (Prague is one of the few cities that was not fought over in the 20th century.) The best restaurants are in cellars, for some reason, but don’t go into the ones on Wenceslas Square – walking a block away will save you a bundle. Czech is very difficult. Other than, ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and ‘how much is it?’, don’t try to learn the language. On the weekends, Prague is overrun with German weekend trippers. Visit during the week if you can. Slovenia is my favorite foreign country. Linoge, at just went there. I will recommend that wherever you go, get the latest copy of Lonely Planet for that country. They get run down a lot for catering to hipsters, but they are the only people who assume that you are traveling self-guided, and have enough sense to figure things out by yourself. Dubrovnik is the coolest place you’ve never been to. If you get close and don’t go, you’re a fool. I was there after the Serbs shelled the place and you’d never know it happened. Don’t worry about the language. enough people speak english that you’ll do fine. Smile a lot and remember that to say hello, it’s “dober dan”. The pronounciation is different with each language, but no one will care that you’re not exactly correct. They’ll just be happy you tried. Bucharest is nice, but given the choice I would just spend more time in Dalmatia. It’s a beautiful, interesting and (relatively) cheap place. And going at the beginning of May is all to the better, as the weather will be relatively nice, but you will still encounter relatively few tourists. Tip: If you’re coming from Budapest, make your way down to Split (an entire city built into a Diocletian palace), and from there go island hopping all the way down to Dubrovnik (stopping at islands like Hvar and Korcula, among others). If you have time, dip down into Montenegro take a day trip to Cetenje and Kotor. I’m originally from Bratislava, Slovakia, so I’m always disappointed that people always plan to visit the big guys, Prague and Budapest, but skip Bratislava. My city is not a place where you need a full day, but still… Anyway, I always recommend people to take the train from Prague to Vienna and board a ship down the Danube, at least to Budapest. At least you pass Bratislava along the way, and it’s a nice, relaxing trip. May should be perfect for something like that, weather-wise. Budapest is delightful. You won’t be able to make heads or tails of the language. It’s pretty cheap to visit there. I gather you’re more of a fan of bourbon, but Hungary has terrific wine that seldom gets exported to the states; I went to a wine festival back in ’06 and had a great time. Try and find a bottle of Tokaji (excellent desert wine) while you’re there; 5 Puttonyos should cost you fifteen or twenty bucks or less; in the states it’s upwards of fifty. And delicious. No location advice, but get the Google translate app. It’s free and does pretty much every European language. Almost like having the Star Trek universal translator on your phone. Dalmatian coast is a good idea. Hvar is not as nice as Korcula (more expensive, too many parties.) Dubrovnik is full of tourists, but still well worth it. If you really want to chill out, try a smaller village – for example Supetar on the island of Brac, a short boat ride out of Split – where there is nothing to do but eat, sleep, and swim in the adriatic. Sveti Stefan should also make the list. Take a side trip up to Mostar in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Go further to Sarajevo if you’re feeling adventurous. [My wife is actually from ex-YU so I always have a local guide. She, however, recommends Rick Steve's book for the those without a native guide.] Whatever you do, when in BiH be sure to have some Cevapi. Note that you can fly in to Split and easily get on ferries, or you can fly/train to Zagreb, which is a nice city for 2/3 of a day: arrive in the morning, tour around, and they exit on the night train to Split and get on the ferries from there. Don’t spend the night in Zagreb – too expensive. Better to spend the night on the train. (Get a bunk.) Finally, if you’re going to be in Prague you should know that the region between Prague and Dresden is very interesting (as are both cities). There’s a lot of casual “hiking” to be done along the Czech-German border just outside Dresden where the Elbe river flows through some interesting sandstone formations. For example, there are nice walks out of the villages of Hohnstein and Stadt Wehlen. *pictures a beach packed with cute spotted puppies* I highly recommend Istria in Croatia – very Italian in feel because it’s a stone’s throw from Trieste – but also very economical. I had a great time in Rovinj. As an expat who’s been living in Prague for 15 years, I’d have to say it all depends on what you are looking for. The architecture in the center is really something to see, and still amazes me to this day, but can also be quite touristy. Ideally you’d probably want to maximize seeing the cool stuff with staying off the beaten path. When we go on vacation I’m more of the mind to spend the time in one place, get to know it, than to try and maximize places visited. I highly recommend Bratislava on the grounds that I once got a pork filet stuffed with bacon there. The name of the restaurant, sadly, eludes me, but it was a dish worth hunting for. Also a great meal there costs the equivalent of about 90 cents. Budapest is my favorite city to visit. I thought Prague was overrun with Western European tourists and was just ok. Former Yugoslavia is wonderful and I agree with everything Paul #9 said. I’ve heard that Bucharest is a bit too much “former Communist country” and not enough “charming former Communist country”. Sofia is supposed to be wonderful. Have a great time and know that, where ever you end up, you can do no wrong! This is about 1.5 hours outside of Prague and probably worth seeing: Spent the mid-80′s in the US Army in then-West Germany. The best beer, by far, was the Czech Budweiser Budvar. The brewery is in the Czech town of Budweis (get it?), and they offer a guided tour every day at 2. If you like bacon/heavy food + best beer in the world then Slovakia/Czech republic is hard to beat, especially if you veer just slightly off the track, just walking distance of it is enough. Bulgaria by train is also quite cool in the sense in that the countryside still looks quite Warsaw pact era, had a blast doing that. And I wouldn’t worry too much about getting off the beaten track, most people are kind and only happy to help. Plus much more fun, and not like you are likely to get raped or killed, just scammed which isn’t too bad*. As for Budapest do try the lovely proper salamis, goulash and a nice Tokay to finish it off. Also, just a thought but aren’t there some libertarian student associations there who’d be willing to trade an inspiring lecture for food/beer/sightseeing/night on the town with the locals? * Dodgy taxis around the airport being the most hard to avoid. Also helps being a man/shaved/not too small/aware of your basic scams and dodgy people. Budapest is nice. Driving is a little crazy. Tokaji wine is awesome. Lots of good looking women but it might be a little cold this time of year to really notice. They like to dance. Be careful with Palinka (fruit brandy), its like their version of Tequila. Their language is nuts, beyond a few basics, you just don’t have enough time to learn. Croatia is amazing. They have better Italian food than the Italians. Very friendly. I recommend taking a couple days to explore Dubrovnik. If you want to do some incredible diving check out dcpongo.com. The dive center is run by some really great guys. I agree with the staying in one place for a while (like a week) as opposed to cramming as many sights into a trip as possible. What I’ve noticed about Eastern Europeans in general (Poles, Hungarians, Czechs, etc.) is that they are almost always really friendly and love to party (and really love alcohol, like they really really really love the stuff). And the girls are usually much friendlier and less inhibited than most American girls. Cesky Krumlov. It’s a small, excruciatingly beautiful town a few hours south of Prague. Decent tourist infrastructure. So pretty you won’t believe it. Budvar is on the way. Don’t bother learning Czech – its basically impossible. You can hire a local guide for not too much. The Sedlec ossuary mentioned above is really cool, though the town’s not that great itself, as I recall. If you can, go to the opera in Prague. It’s cheap and super historic (I saw Don Giovanni in the theater where it premiered, the gorgeous Estates Theater!) Vienna – brats and beer, but different from the German version. There is an area called The Bermuda Triangle that is full of bars and cafes. Budapest – awesome city. If you want pictures, go up Gellert Hill for the sunset. Great views of the river and bridges. There is a fort up there with an outside bar. They have these hidden bars called kerts that are in the courtyards of old abandoned Soviet-era apartment buildings. Ask the locals where they are. We were told to look for the building behind the yellow church. And we found it. Prague – like others mentioned, good if you get away from the tourists Bratislava – very small. When I went it (2006) was full of British stag parties. Croatia (from advice I got from an acquaintance before going – this is him speaking) -I have spent most of my time in Croatia on the islands. they are a bit more rugged, untamed, relaxed, less crowded, and better swimming. Almost all the beaches are rocky but there are loads of secluded coves and uninhabited islands that are very tranquil. However if you are looking for nightlife the mainland would probably be the place to go. The obvious exception is Hvar, which is relatively busy at nghts in Hvar city, but it is a bit touristy, expensive, and the beaches on Hvar are not great. My time in Hvar was excellent, was with a good group of people and had loads of wine and fresh fish and out until two in the morning every day. However it was also at the time I was working in Kosovo making a lot of money and was willing to pay anything to finally relax and enjoy a bit of nightlife. It is not the best place to maintain a budget. On Brac there is the only sandy beach called Bol. I have not been there but hear it is very nice with a nice old town. A lot of people from Split go there which is a good sign, if the locals bother to travel there then there must be something worth visiting. Korcula is my island and is probably the best balance of being a backwater and yet having an infrastructure. However it is pretty sleepy, I have been out in Korcula city and Vela Luka many times and never really had a great night out. It is more of a place to turn the volume down and chill on a beach and walk through the vineyards. If you are looking for a party, it will be tough to find. However the landscape is very beautiful and there are plenty of old villages and scenic swimming coves. If you are looking to relax, Korcula might be the best choice. Vis is a very scenic island with a nice little main town on it that I enjoy maybe more than Hvar. It is much less crowded so it depends on luck a bit as to who is on the island at the time. I think it has the highest potential for fun but if it is empty. . . it will be a bit sleepy. However it has good swimming, good food, and is a bit cheaper than Hvar. I have not been to the other islands so I do not have any comment different than what the guidebooks would say. The Mainland The mainland is CROWDED, beaches are packed from end to end with people, you have trouble finding a place to put your towel (particuarly Makarska). It depends what you are looking for, crowds mean a lively night scene, Makarska is noisy and full of parties. Anywhere in the “Makarska Riveria” will be geared toward tourists and be much more lively, and probably relatively expensive. I have not spent much time there so I cannot comment more, only that my friends that go to Makarska are younger and looking to pick up German tourists. I am too old for that so I head for the islands. Split is worth a night however. The bars around the Palace have a pretty good atmosphere and there is a good amount of people and nightlife. It is not too touristy, not euro nightclubs, just bars where the crowd spills outside. It is a cool old town and not too expensive. Dubrovnik is beautiful as advertised. The nightlife there is pretty good because there are so many tourists but the food is no good, it is VERY expensive, and there are no beaches (though you can go to islands nearby for the day, Locrum I believe). When I have visitors I plan to go to Dubrovnik, wake up early, walk around the walls before it gets too hot, spend the afternoon in the city and have a decent dinner at a restaurant underneath the fort, just outside of the walled city (unfortunately I cannot remember its name). One day is usually enough for me. If you have the opportunity, check out Montenegro. It is not that far from Dubrovnik and their coast is beautiful as well, in a different way. Go through the bay of Kotor and stay a night or two in Budva, both places are at most three hours from Dubrovnik. Kotor is stunningly beautiful and Budva has sandy beaches and a very lively nightlife and prices in Montenegro are lower than Croatia. I like Croatia better, it is more varried and there is more to explore, but Montenegro really offers a lot for a small place. If you’re driving at all, the Plitvice Lakes are on the way from Zagreb to the coast. Brilliant! I went to Hungary and the Czech Republic a few years ago. Some points: –Amazing hiking in the Sumava. It was part of the Iron Curtain and is now national parks, so it never featured modern development. –Beautiful towns in southern Bohemia. –Beer is cheaper than water. Soda, on the other hand, is very expensive (2.5 euros for what would cost you 1.5 dollars). However, it’s made with sugar instead of corn syrup, which really makes a huge difference. –Budapest was largely destroyed in WWII, Prague was not. Prague’s castle has some really amazing historical sites. –Both cities, as well as Bratislava, have great public transit systems. However, ticket systems work like commuter rail/amtrak–you don’t have to show a ticket to get on, but if you’re caught without one by a roving inspector you will be hit with a very expensive fine. In Budapest, you must go here: After the fall of communism, the Hungarians took all the huge ugly soviet-era statues and put them in this old industrial park as sort of a memorial/f*ck you to the communist government. It’s hard to get to, but totally worth it, and one of the best/subtlest statements of human freedom I have ever seen. Best to go on a grey cloudy day. Also, if you like wine, Egri Bikaver (hungarian wine from Eger) can be amazing or awful. Also, the intercity train system is great. You can buy a ticket between two cities, get off at an intermediate point, then get back on with the same ticket a week later. There are ex-pats living in Central Europe. Anarchist Mike Gogulski is one, in Slovakia. You might look him up, he’s pretty well established there now. FYI Gene Healy used to live in Prague. If you’re staying more than 2 nights in a row in Budapest or Prague, get an apartment rather than a hotel. There are lots of good apartment search websites, and you can get a comfortable place right in the middle of things for much less than an equally comfortable hotel room in the same neighborhood. In Prague stay in Stare Mesto or the Jewish quarter, and do not miss the synagogue/cemetery tour in the latter. Also don’t miss the Obecni dum, an extraordinary example of Art Nouveau architecture. Once you’re done with the central stuff, Vysehrad is lovely and less touristed than some of the other big-draw sites. It’s worth budgeting quite a bit of time to just walk the streets with no particular destination in mind: the streetscape is a large part of the draw and the city is compact. Do go to the opera and/or a classical concert but don’t expect the quality of the music to be that great; the pleasure is in hearing music in a hallowed space. In Budapest stay on the Pest side near the river, in or on the “Kis Korut”. I second the Szoborpark recommendation. Another out-of-the-way freedom memorial place worth visiting is the cemetery where Imre Nagy is buried. At Czech restaurants order the game: the wild boar or the rabbit or the venison. They do game really well, wild boar in particular. Beer is fantastic there, as you know. The local red wine is crap but they do a very nice white called Veltlinske zelene (the Czech equivalent of the Austrian varietal Gruner Veltliner). Also, be sure to have some medovnik for dessert where it’s available: it is the best honey cake you’ll ever taste. In Hungary go to the pastry cafes and eat lots of strudel. They do strudel better than anybody else, including the Austrians who invented it. Try the poppyseed (“makos retes”) in particular. For real, cheap, down-to-earth Hungarian food go to Szent Jupat on the Buda side. When you are tired of heavy Central Euro cuisine go to Govinda on Vigyazo Ferenc utca for their quirky vegetarian buffet. Tokaji aszu is a lovely dessert wine but very sweet; for the full effect get the 6 puttonyos or, if you want to splurge, the Eszencia. Tokaji szamorodni is a nice reliable drier white. Hungarian reds can be good but are hit-or-miss– the best ones, and a lot of good whites too, are from a town called Etyek and will usually say “Etyek” or “Etyeki” in their names. I have never had a really good Egri bikaver. jb: I’ve consumed my fair share of cheap, cheap Egri Bikavér. One of my favorite memories of Budapest involves buying two bottles for 500 Forint (2.50 USD) and sitting with a girlfriend in the foundations of a long-destroyed church. Also, an important life lesson from that evening: if you don’t have a corkscrew, you can push the cork into the bottle. Echo all the comments about Slovenia. Do the capital, Ljubljana. Then go to Bled, which is absolutely picturesque. There’s a chapel in the middle of Lake Bled. Short boat ride and you’re there. Magical. Budapest is fantastic. One must-do: Gerbeaud. My favorite dessert place in the world, great view of the river to boot: Have fun! I was in Kotor and Dubrovnik in 2008. Both are beautiful and well worth the visit. In Dubrovnik be sure to check out the two “Buza” bars, which are at the top of the cliff overlooking the sea through a hole along the top of the wall. We were having beers in one enjoying the atmosphere and the amazing view when two of the Playmates from “Girls Next Door” came in with a film crew to shoot footage for the show. Marginally ok eye candy but girls who would wear impossible high heels in that rocky place don’t rate too high on the IQ scale! I thought the guys diving off the cliffs ala Acapulco were more interesting. In Kotor make the trip up the 1400 steps to the old fort, then walk the Roman-era switchbacks on the way down. Amazingly beautiful area in a rustic Yugoslavian way with cheap food, drinks and friendly people. Most everyone speaks English – I learned a little Croatian and almost never used it. I was in Prague and Budapest in 2000 and both were cheap back then. Prague was beautiful and well-preserved as the Czechs just rolled over in WWII. Budapest had a very cool Communist chic meets western capitalism vibe in 2K that’s probably gone by now, but try the smaller cities like Gyor that are off the beaten track. Beautiful and friendly country but forget Hungarian unless you can speak Finnish. A little German may help here. Dream trip now would be Turkey through the Dardanelles and Bosphorus Straits to the Black Sea. I’m dying to check out Romania and Bulgaria. It sounds like a great plan for a trip – enjoy! In Prague itself during May:, the high point of which is the performance of the Symphony of a Thousand on the 100th anniversary of Mahler’s death (May 18), and for which it sounds like they are actually going to have a thousand performers onstage, what with two orchestras, three adult choruses and two boy’s choirs involved; although I suspect what’s left of the tickets will be long gone if you wait until you get to Prague to buy them. The other concerts, less so. One of my MDs is from Romania. He once told me there is nothing worth seeing there. And just including Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and the various states of ex-Yugoslavia, you probably have more than enough for a trip of two or three weeks. I was born and raised in Budapest so I’m biased. :) Budapest, Eger and Pecs are beautiful. Gyor and Bratislava are good for that Detroit 1972 vibe. Miskolc, Salgotarjan and Ozd are excellent places to get stabbed by roving drunks at 2 AM while staring at ruined post-industrial, countryside hell. Further north, Trencin Slovakia makes for a pretty daytrip. I love me some Budapest, and Eger is fun. Prague is beautiful, but I’ve always had a more lively time in Budapest for some reason. The Dalmatian coast is lovely, and Slovenian wine is excellent. Do not miss Dubrovnik–photographer’s wet dream. I’ve not yet been to Romania or Bulgaria, but Bulgaria has good food (there used to be a Bulgarian/European restaurant on 23rd street in Crystal City when you were here, dunno if you ever went). Lonely Planet guides are musts. Let’s Go is awful, and full of lies (near as I can tell, many authors don’t visit the places but crib stuff from a local tour guide in a rush before the deadline). Sadly, most of my contacts are in Poland, and my Budapest contacts have left. Then again, you know Matt Welsh, so he can probably hook you up in that area. Ping me if you want some specifics, but sadly it’s been 10 years since I’ve been there. Prague: Bukowski’s Bar. Pretty cool little spot. Eat at Radost, right off the IP Pavlova tram/metro stop. Being a libertarian, you may want to check out the Museum of Communism, a great place to spend a few hours. Finally, not sure when you’re planning on going, but try to check out a Sparta Praha soccer or hockey game. Schedules online, cheap tickets at the gate, they basically give away delicious beer, and also I believe they play sports during the entire thing. Shoot me an email with questions. Lots of good tips have me wanting to go! When I left the Army (stationed in Germany) in 1989, the Wall was still a couple of months from coming down. I always wanted to go to Prague and Budapest, but couldn’t. East Berlin wasn’t nearly the same. :/ My best advice? Catch some episodes of “Three Sheets”, starring Zane Lamprey. s2e1: Croata s2e3: Czech Republic s4e13: Lesbos (Yeah, it’s a bit far off your track, but wouldn’t you love to write up a travelogue about your wild night with a bunch of Lesbians?) I’m looking forward to lots of your great photos, video interviews with local liberty movement folks, and future columns. You know — all that stuff that makes the trip tax deductible! Here’s Rhys’ blog about his trip to Prague: Innsbruck, Austria…there’s a free hiking club for local hotel guests that will take you on (not too strenuous) hikes with some fantastic Tyrolean views. Stay in Muhlau at the Hotel Koreth, a 20 minute walk from downtown. Say hi to Frau Kuhn, the owner, for me! Croatia is beautiful but very touristy. There are tons of Western European tourists to annoy you. I recommend Bosnia which is not only a small piece of the orient but incredibly beautiful, overlooked and cheap. Same goes for Macedonia. Kosovo is also fun and as an American you’ll be very very welcome. If you do decide to go to Croatia, head to Split for the day to see Diocletian’s palace and then take a ferry out to one of the island (the furtehr out the better) for beautiful coast, good food and better wine. Prague is also too touristy. It’s good for 2 days tops. Most commenters have focused on the transition countries. Let me put in a pitch for Germany and Denmark. In particular, in Germany, you might check out Bonn, which has a lot of uncrowded, high quality museums due to its status as the former capitol of West Germany, and Copenhagen, which is lots of fun. Plus (approximately) everyone in Denmark speaks English well. If you like rough scenery, go up to Skagen at the northern tip of Denmark, and stop by Aarhus on the way. As a beergeek I’ll suggest you check out U Fleku in Prague It’s the Czech version of a German beerhall, a bit touristy, but the black lager they make is unlike anything you have had. It’s rich like dark bread and I still try to perfect my homebrew version of this style beer. A great place to spend a Spring afternoon. Responding to Jeff’s suggestion, if you go to Copenhagen, visit Freetown Christiania, an anarchist enclave in the middle of the city. (Hash was openly sold on the streets there until 2004. Take that, drug warriors!) I second the U Fleku recommendation. Also, Hungarian food is awesome. If you go to Vienna, do not miss the Military History Museum (Heeresgeschichtliches Museum). It has, among a vast array of interesting things (a medieval manual of arms, the car in which Archduke Ferdinand was killed), the most chilling exhibit I’ve ever seen on the street fighting leading up to the Anschluss. Prague is a beautiful city. As a tourist, I didn’t mind the other tourists. Be sure to plan lots of time wandering the streets at night. There are really good groups of musicians all over the place. As music lover, you’ll love it (a reason to consider Vienna as well – a short train trip away). Budapest is a wonderful city to visit. 1) The other guys are right about the local wines. They’re great. 2) Visit the touristy stuff at least once. There are great photo ops all around, and a neat cave system under the city that you can explore. 3) Visit the Baths. 4) I can’t remember the actual name of it (someone may have mentioned it already) but there is a ‘theme park” outside of the city where they put all the old soviet era statues and such. They actually charge money for you to go in and see the old commie propaganda. It’s beautiful. So is the “south park” shirt I got with the kids all done up as Mau, Lenin, Marx, and someone else I can’t remember. Yup. Just read through some more of the comments….JB already mentioned the statue park thing. I spent a week in Belgrade at the start of the year for a recent job. I couldn’t tell you much about the city, as the majority of my time was spent in a studio working with some animators. But I can say that the people were super nice, the food was excellent, and what little I did see (pretty much just the walk between my hotel and the studio) seemed really nice. I wouldn’t hesitate to go again and check it out. As Sean mentioned, I thoroughly loved the week I spent in Slovenia… Being able to drive across the country in about three hours, spanning geography from port towns to alpine mountains to vinery hills to farmland and everything inbetween was amazing, the people were awesome, and the costs were not really all that bad (as long as you did not pay too close attention at the gas pump). And the gorges and waterfalls in that country are not to be believed… +1 on Bratislava, but the deal with it is they (random thieves) may want your car unless it’s a Lada. Food is all strangely gray like the Soviet-inspired architecture, yet surprisingly delicious (unlike the Soviet anything). People (ok, the women, yeah, I was single when i was there) are beautiful and friendly. It’s considered the red-headed stepchild of the more prosperous Czech Republic, but overall a neat experience. When I first went (by car, with Austrians, in the 90′s), the border guards obviously hadn’t seen many USA passports and one by one came and looked in the window to get a peek at me. Interesting. Go to Vienna. I know it’s a “been there done that” kind of city for lots, but it’s just got lots of character. Good beer a SiebenSternBrau. Plus there’s the Wiener Riesenrad (big ferris wheel in a Six-Flags-esque park where they play weird french hip-hop and serve beer). In Prague, have a beer in a place serving beer since the 1400s (well 1500), but still pretty old. And old clock in the town square is cool too. U Fleku. I’m going to make an argument for Bucharest. In my opinion it is the second best city in Europe (after Berlin). It could possibly be because of my personal background and interests, but Bucharest is simply fascinating. It isn’t the most beautiful city by conventional standards (though it has some stunning buildings like the Creţulescu Palace and Romanian Athenaeum), but the interplay between pre-war and Ceaușescu eras make for some very, very interesting walks. Likewise the sheer scale of the communist planning is something to behold (see, for example the Piața Victoriei or, most famousy, the Palace of the Parliament). In general, though I’m a huge fan of Eastern Europe and you can’t really go wrong there. The Dalmation coast is simply stunning and Dubrovnik is not to be missed. But it must be noted that the central, walled city, while beautiful, is one of the worst tourist ghettos around. Totally worth seeing, but incredibly busy. I found the old walled city in Kotor, Montenegro almost as nice and not as busy. As others have said a trip to Mostar, in BiH, is recommended as is Sarajevo which has a great nightlife if you’re into that kind of thing. I will also agree with the people recommending Bratislava. It’s a great little city that you should visit, especially if you’re going to be in Budapest, which I found only moderately interesting. Personally, I would leave Prague for a different trip, or connect it with other places in Central Europe (Germany, Poland) and focus on the Balkans/Eastern Europe exclusively. And ignore those recommending Scandinavia. While there are a number of good things about places like Copenhagen, they are dreadfully bland and remarkably boring for the tourist. If you can’t get laid in Prague, you should kill yourself. I have kicked around quite a bit of Eastern Europe. Budapest was amazing. I agree with staying on the Pest side of the river. Make sure you visit the Cave Monastery, pretty amazing place. Bucharest was nice, but I must admit that I had a much better time in Budapest. If you make to Bucharest, there is an amazing tourist area that is original village houses and buildings brought from all over Romania and placed together to make replica villages. Sofia was the same as Bucharest. Great place, but still not as beautiful as Budapest. If you get a chance, L’vov in Ukraine has some beautiful building and is a great place to relax. Kiev is another place I highly recommend. I lived there for a while between contracts in Iraq. If you make it to Kiev, make sure to try the borsht and visit the WWII museum. Also, the most beautiful women in the world can be found walking down Kreshatik Street in Kiev. I’ve spent a lot of time as a solo traveler in many of the places you mentioned. First, skip Bucharest. Truly a depressing city — your heart will be smashed to smithereens by the packs of stray dogs roaming the city. The only nice thing I have to say about Bucharest is that it made me truly understand the horrors of totalitarianism; the city is like a crumbling museum about the old regime, with huge blocs of identical apartment buildings and pathetic monuments to greatness. (The mock arc d’triumph is so depressing…) However, your other ideas are great and I second all the positive comments about Budapest, Prague, and Croatia. If you go to Budapest, make sure to visit the baths — I can’t think of the name of the big one, but it’s worth a visit as you can’t find anything remotely analogous in the US. The islands off the Dalmation coast are phenomenal, Dubrovnik is ridiculously beautiful (though it gets a little dull after a day or two), and Istria is springtime is amazing. Vienna’s boring, though the architecture is remarkable. And there are the most remarkable statues of war heroes, which makes sense. I actually think of Vienna, Budapest, and Bucharest as a spectrum — I found Vienna too western-ized and well put together, Bucharest too Soviet-bloc and depressing, and I thought Budapest was the perfect balance. Finally, I’ve never made it to Kosovo or Bosnia, but I’ve heard from a number of friends that they’re phenomenal places to visit. You can day-trip to Bosnia (Mostar?) from Dubrovnik. I think there must be something about cities and small countries that are recently recovering from war and calamity that translates to an insistence on enjoying life. Hope this helps. I’m coming late to your post, but I wanted to let you know that I went to Budapest last March with my girlfriend (as part of a two-week Budapest-Vienna-Salzburg-Munich-Berlin-Warsaw odyssey), and it was literally the best time of my life. Budapest was such an incredible city to explore, and in the spring parts of it can seem almost deserted (but I mean this in a good way). I don’t know if you already have a hotel booked, but if not, I highly recommend Le Meridien. It’s right on one of the main squares, and if you book it through the right source (read: Kayak), you can get a really incredible deal on what is truly a five-star hotel. Make sure to visit the Karpatia restaurant. We found it only by accident, though it turned out later that it is in fact in some of the guidebooks. It was definitely one of the best meals of our lives. Make sure to sit at the cafe in the square by St. Isztvan’s Cathedral and order the Dreher on tap. Dreher’s available everywhere there, and it’s the only beer you’ll ever need to order. And Budapest in general is pretty cheap. A pack of real Camel cigarettes was 250 Forints – roughly $1.26. Eastern Europe may very well be one of the last real gems of European travel. I would also recommend Berlin, if you get a chance. The only way I can describe it is that they have their shit together – both in the political and cultural sense – and to me it felt like kind of the perfect city. Also, Warsaw was pretty cool. The Old Town, destroyed during World War II, was completely rebuilt to the original medieval specifications, and it feels hundreds of years old. Communists were shitty designers, but they could certainly build. [...] all were so helpful with ideas last time, I figure I’ll see if you have any suggestions about a little planning quandary I’ve [...]
Nardwuar: Hello? Gauntlet: Hi, can I speak to Nardwuar please? N: This is him. G: Hi Nardwuar, this is Peter calling from the University of Calgary Gauntlet. N: How're you doing? G: I'm doing quite well, how are you doing? N: Good. Thanks for the interest. G: No problem at all. Do you mind if I ask where you are right now, just for context? N: I'm at my house in Vancouver, BC, Canada. G: Doing anything special for Mother's Day today? I've heard that you're still living with your mother? N: I'm taking my mom out for lunch, and going to get her some Harley Davidson Biker Brew Coffee that she really enjoys. G: Harley Davidson Biker Brew Coffee. I've never heard of that, I didn't realize that Harley was into the coffee industry. N: Yes, they're into that. It's everywhere, eh? Just like Yamaha in the old '80s used to be into everything. G: Seems kind of odd. Anyway, the first thing I wanted to ask you about is a quote from Scratch Records that said that the Evaporators were Canada's "indisputable best live band" and that "Nardwuar is one of the best things about Canada. Is it actually indisputable, that the Evaporators are the best live band in Canada? N: That's very nice of them to say that. Keith from Scratch records is a very nice guy, and the Evaporators have played with some of his bands over the years, so perhaps that's his firsthand knowledge. Or it's Shawn, the other guy from Scratch's knowledge as well. Shawn and Keith are also great fans of the other guys in our band. John Collins, who plays bass and is also in the New Pornographers, Dave Carswell you plays guitar and also plays in the Smugglers, because John and Dave played in a couple of tours with Superconducter, I don't know if you remember them at all. But they were Keith of Scratch records and Shawn of Scratch Records' band. So John and Dave filled in a few times. Because Superconductor were an amazing band. Also in the band was Carl, he was the singer, and Carl is now the singer of the New Pornographers, and John is in the New Pornographers. But John and Dave did a couple of tours of duty there with Superconductor, so Keith and Shawn are big fans I know at least of those guys, because they really kick it up a notch live, and they've seen that firsthand. G: As a contrast to that, I'm sure you're familiar with Chart Magazine? N: Yea… help me out a bit. G: Chart magazine – the Canadian music magazine – they do annual reviews of the Canadian Music Week on their website chartattack.com. The actual quote from the review they have this time: "Nardwuar has balls the size of Nunavut, gumption to last three lifetimes and more talent than most cities. Unfortunately, the Evaporators just aren't very good... NO one cares about anyone else in the band." N: The weird thing about that particular view, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but unfortunately the gentleman – I didn't actually find this out, Grant of the Smugglers found this out, because the Smugglers were reviewed as well – the gig that you're talking about started at 8pm, and ended at 2am, and the guy that reviewed the entire gig was there the entire night, and he later admitted to Grant of the Smugglers that he was exhausted, and just wanted to get the hell out of there. He was a big fan of a band, Death from Above, that played on that bill as well. Also on that bill were the Candidates, the High Dials, the Evaporators, the Smugglers, Death from Above. We were actually on at 1am, and believe it or not, we didn't get off stage until probably 2am. So the reviewer guy I guess unfortunately was completely wiped out, so I don't really know what would have saved him. One interesting thing about that is, he's entitled to his own opinion, is that we pulled up on stage with us Canadian heavy metal legend Thor, and Thor joined us for a couple of numbers. Unfortunately in his review, he didn't even mention that, which is kind of bizarre, since the Thor thing went out of control and haywire, for about 45 minutes. It was only supposed to be for 15 minutes, and it ended up being 45. So I'm not totally satisfied with that review in the sense that, you know it's his own opinion, but at least slag us by mentioning we had Canadian heavy metal legend Thor on stage. You don't have to try to watch the entire show, and he later talked to Grant from the Smugglers. I mean, I don't care, but Grant from the Smugglers, they got a weird review too, so Grant followed up on the guy. I just attributed it to somebody being totally tired. I mean, you're the last band on at 1am, the gig starts at 8pm, people were totally drunk. I don't know what the hell you can do. Grant of the Smugglers said that we were headlining the night, like he said "Man, you're headlining," because they went on right before us, and I said, "No Grant, we're playing clean up," you know, cleaning up the evening. So I'm not sure what anyone could have done in that situation with that reviewer. I mean, that guy's high point was several hours earlier when Death from Above played, so I don't know how anyone was going to top that. G: And with Thor coming on, he did the whole blowing up the hot air balloon, bending steel in his mouth, that sort of thing, right? N: Indeed. You sure have been digging around. G: Well, you do it for your interviews, the least I could do is pay the same respect. N: Yea, that's very nice of you, it's cool that you dug around and found those interesting tidbits. I love tidbits like that. But yes, we pulled Thor up on stage. I respect that guy's review, if he wants to say that, that's fine. And I hate to criticize someone's review, but I would say this, that he didn't seem to review the entire show because he didn't mention the Thor thing .That's all that sticks out in my mind, because the Thor thing as I said kind of went haywire, because people were drunk and grabbing him. What took 15 minutes to do in Vancouver, we did it with him once in Vancouver, took like 45 to an hour in Toronto. Our set was about half an hour as well, so it just was pretty crazy. But not including that, I don't know if you can totally take that without a grain of salt, you know? G: Recently, the band Phantom Planet had their drummer Jason Schwartzman, who also is in movies, leave because he felt his fame was overshadowing the band's music. Do you ever get the impression that now that this MuchMusic thing has really been catching on, now that you're on Much On Demand all the time, that people are coming to the Evaporators show more to see Nardwuar than to see a good punk show? N: Any way to get the kids out, I'll be happy. The only weird thing about it is that, sometimes I'll have a kid say "I didn't realize you had a band," and I'll say, "Yea, we actually started on February 20th, 1986," and then somebody will say, "Wow, I wasn't born until 1989." So it's kind of weird when that happens. Any chance that anybody comes to the gig, I'm totally happy. Any of the records that I've put out on Nardwuar the Human Serviette records – and this latest one is a Nardwuar slash Mint release in Canada, and it's on Alternative Tentacles, Jello Biafra of the Dead Kennedy's label in the United States of America – all the records have included little tidbits of interviews, so it's all been intertwined. So I'm happy if somebody comes just because they've seen me on MuchMusic, or they've heard me on CITR Radio, and I'm happy if somebody shows up because they've heard the music and know nothing about the interviews because I think it's all one giant thing. The first record I put out in 1989 had interviews on it, like interviews with Jello Biafra, as well with ex-President of the United States Gerald Ford, so it isn't just rockers, it's politicians. It's all just one giant jumble. I love it. G: So you don't really see a separation between the two? N: Not at all, because I include both in the presentation of our music, because its fun to offer something extra. When you buy an album, it's fun to have liner notes, its fun to have little interview snippets to be able to listen to as well. It's the entire package. Some people say its all about the music, and I say yea, it's a bout the music, but it's also about the packaging. I love packaging too. G: If it wasn't for the packaging, you'd see a lot more people downloading music. That's one of the main arguments I've heard from my friends is that you only get the music, none of the packaging, liner notes, everything you're talking about. N: The pathetic thing about that though, I don't think it holds too much weight because the packaging is so pathetic, that once they get it, they're like "What the fuck? There's nothing there!" You can go to Amazon.com and print off the cover, and get the credits from All Music Guide, and make your own packaging a hell of a lot better than a lot of the bands. So yes, for a lot of the bands that have really cool packaging, I think you can't really download it, but for the others, I don't think it makes any difference because people don't put any effort into it. G: You were talking about Jello Biafra before. He was in a movie in 1999 called the Widower, which I hear you had a cameo in? N: Yes, I played a donut boy. G: Your name isn't mentioned on their website, or on the IMDB reference to the movie. Are they trying to hide you? N: I don't think I had any lines. I was just in the background, although I do know that "Doot-doo-da-loot-doo" I think was dubbed in. There is actually a picture of me somewhere on my website of me as Carl the Donut boy. If you go to the Nard Gallery on my website Nardwuar.com, and there's a little search thing in Nard Gallery, type in "The Widower" or "Carl the Donut Boy" and I think that'll come up, so there is proof floating around. G: Would you ever consider doing another movie, or is that just sort of a one-off, cameo appearance? N: I was in that movie "A Girl is a Girl," put together by Reg Harkema who helped edit Hard Core Logo, and that was another cameo in a record store. And actually the Evaporators song "I'm Going To France" played during the sex scene, when a guy's cock was exposed, so I thought that was quite an honour. G: I was going through the Nard Gallery, and saw a picture of you and Jello Biafra with three albums. One of them was Mae West's Wild Christmas, but I couldn't make out what the other two were, or whether he was giving them to you or just showing them off. N: He was just showing them to us. To tell you the truth, I don't remember what the albums actually were, because I didn't get a chance to write them down. We were at his house, and he just had them floating around there. The Mae West record was an obscure record that he had got in Australia and was really really rare. But it was really neat, because we got to stay at his house and he showed us lots of his records, and I did an interview with him that you can actually listen to the most recent interview that I did with him at Nardwuar.com. And he actually put out our record, which is pretty incredible considering that in 1989, when I put him on our record, it was a compilation record I put out called "Oh God, My Mom's on Channel 10," I thought that he hated me. And he did probably hate me. But after 15 years of bugging him, we ended up on his record label, so don't give up kids. You never know what will happen. G: That's the moral of the story here? N: Things have come around and now he's a good friend. He puts out our records and still gives me interviews. G: It seems like you have that kind of effect on people. A lot of them seem to dislike you initially, and then you grow on them with your persistence. Is that something that you find happens a lot, like with Courtney Love, with Chris from Sloan, and apparantly with Jello Biafra from the Dead Kennedys? Why do you think that people have that initial "I don't know what to make of him, I don't like him all that much" reaction to you? N: I don't know. I mean, if I knew that much about myself, then I don't know if I'd be here right now because I'd probably be winning the lottery. I just act like myself. The only thing I can think of is that I do my radio show every week at CITR, the University of BC, and again you can hear clips at Nardwuar.com of my shows over the years, and having to do a show every week, you have to come up with something every week. So if someone comes back to town, you think "oh I might as well try to talk to them again. So if it doesn't work once, well maybe try again. I interviewed Henry Rollins before, and I thought the interview went pretty fun, I don't think he liked it. When the interview was over, he was like "You need to get fucked. When's the last time you were fucked?" Unfortunately, none of that got on tape. But he still said that "next time you talk to me, make sure you floss and brush your teeth, because your breath is really really intense." So the way he said "the next time," I thought that's an invitation. So he's come back to town a couple of times, and I emailed him, because he does answer his email, just go to his website or whatever, and you can hook up, that 2-13-61 website and you can hook up with him that way indirectly through his publicist, but he's always emailed back with "No. Your act is pathetic. Leave me alone, I don't want to be interviewed by you." And another time he said, "Ian MacKaye of Fugazi played me some interviews you've done. Some of that was good shit, but your act is tired and I don't want to talk to you. Please don't bug me again." Every couple years he'll tell me that when I ask him for an interview. So it doesn't always work. Some people I've been able to bug over and over, and somehow been able to win them over and get lots of good interviews out of them, and we've become good friends. But with Henry Rollins, I still want to be his friend, as Chixdiggit say, but unfortunately nothing has really come as a result. However, indirectly, he did inspire the song Salad Bar on the Evaporators' new record, because the song Salad Bar is inspired from his book Get In The Van, where he talks about when Black Flag are on tour and they're really really hungry, he can feed the whole band by going to a salad bar. And they don't just buy a plate – well, they buy a plate, and put the plate on a tray, and they use the tray basically as the plate, and then everyone eats of the tray, so they only have to buy one plate, and they just put it on a tray and it's a giant mound. So that's what the song Salad Bar is about, on the Evaporators record. G: On the new one, Ripple Rock. N: On the new one, Ripple Rock. And, if you want to see how I've related to Jello Biafra over the years, you can just pop the Evaporators CD into your computer, it's an enhanced CD, and you can watch 14 or 12 years of me talking to Jello Biafra between 1989 and 2002. It has all the video clips all included there. You can also check that out at Nardwuar.com, but it is on the CD too as an enhanced feature, which I just think is awesome, because you get videos as well. So that's an added little feature with the packaging. G: You were saying that Henry Rollins was saying your "act" was tired. Do you think of it as an act? N: I just go out and go for it. I just get excited, and sometimes my voice goes up a bit because I'm excited. It's like Henry Rollins. This is a guy that's had beer bottles thrown at his head and it hasn't bugged him at all, so who knows what he's going to do to me. So I just get excited, and I just go for it. I think some people just don't understand, you become a super faN: boy in front of these people. I mean, what else can you be but nervous? G: You do have a considerable amount of knowledge about the music scene, you've done a lot in terms of documenting the musicians that have come through Vancouver. You try to bring awareness of older Vancouver bands. Do you feel that you're a little bit underrated, for lack of a better word? Do you ever wish that you could be more respected in the journalism community? N: I do feel that I'm respected, because I've been able to do a show on CITR UBC Radio since October 1987, touch wood. I've been on the air continuously since then, so I think that certain people in the community have given me a chance, so I'm forever grateful for them for letting me do my show every Friday since October 1987. I figure if I was doing it wrong, they would have yanked me by now. But I think I'm just totally honored that I'm able to go there and just do whatever the hell I want, whether it be interviewing a porn star, a politician, a band, a conspiracy theorist guy, it's just great to be able to keep on going. I would however one day like to get my own TV show, that is a goal of my own. To be able to have my own show where the Evaporators play, and I come running out and sing the theme song, and sit behind a desk and interview 50 Cent or whatever, or go on remote and interview 50 Cent or Brian Wilson. That would be my goal. I do have that goal, I'd love to do that. G: Speaking of TV theme songs, the theme for Nard Wars is also "Nard Nest" off the newest album, is that right? N: Yes it is. Thank you for noticing that, that is amazing, and like I say, thanks for digging around for all that information. This is just amazing that you actually know all this stuff. I'm just totally blown away. G: I appreciate that. It just seems like the least I could do considering the effort you put into interviews with other artists. The question I was going to ask, though, is about the Nard Nest itself. [The Nard Nest is Nardwuar's message board on his web site,.] You seem to have a lot more contact with your fans than most artists I can think of. Do you think it's important to keep that close of a tie with your fans? N: The Nard Nest is pretty easy to respond to because there aren't a hell of a lot of posts. It was kept alive by basically two people, Fergo Overdrive and Zooey Katooie. These two girls, they posted amongst each other like 900 posts each, just back and forth, using it as their own personal message board. So when someone else posts, I feel that I should go out there and try to respond to it. Plus I love doing it, I love seeing what people want to know and little tidbits of information. There's hardly any posts, really, and that's why we wrote the song Nard Nest. If you listen to the refrain, its "There's four people online, all the time" and we don't even basically get that. I think the most we've ever had at one time was when there were eleven people on in 2002, and I don't know how that happened. I think some of that was like cookies, searching out the site. It has that thing on the bottom of the message board of how many people maximum have been on the site, and its really not a hell of a lot. But its fun responding to people, and also trying to get information from people. People help me out by giving me suggestions of things to ask people when I'm doing interviews, etc, etc. G: It looked like that came up for the Blur interview, although unfortunately it didn't look like you got to use too many of the questions before your hat was stolen. N: I did actually get to use them. I'm not sure if the entire interview is posted there – G: I think it was just the clip that aired on MuchMusic. N: What actually happened there was I showed up and Dave, the drummer, didn't seem to be too pleased with me, and as soon as I walked the room, he just started roughing me up. Ripped up my questions that I was going to ask him, threw away my hat and my glasses, and for all intents and purposes just stormed off. And I was like "Ok", and just continued on the interview with Damon and Alex, and it went totally normal, and I asked him pretty much all the questions. It was just weird how that happened. I think other people, if they had that happen, would've just fucked off and been like "Hey, I'm out of here, I'm not going to do this interview." But for me it was just like, hey, this is just a drummer, I don't want to really speak to him anyway. I wanted to talk to Damon and Alex, and when I talked to them they were totally normal. It was just bizarre. I had spoken to them before, and the interview went just fine, you can actually read that interview at Nardwuar.com, if you want to check that out. So I don't know why the guy would be angry this time. G: It's not the first time you've had stuff stolen from you though, right? There was the Sebastian Bach incident, and also at one show, apparently a couple of kids came up to you and one of them stole your hat? And you and Chris Murphy from Sloan had to tackle them and ransom it off? N: Its pretty amazing isn't it, that a guy who I interviewed in 1991, Chris from Sloan, who stormed out of the interview, ten or twelve years later ends up getting back my hat that was stolen, that he lets us stay at his house when we play in Toronto with the Evaporators, and when I had my first ever MuchMusic special, Chris was the host of it. It's just incredible that all this happened. He's just a lifesaver. I mean, that was just amazing that he was able to do that. I'm just so in debt to him for doing that. This was a guy that really didn't like me, and then all these years later he's my friend. And he's still turning me on to stuff. I mean, when we're at his house, he exposed me to the movie Office Space, which I enjoy. And also the drumming of Buddy Rich, so that was pretty cool because I never would've gotten into those things otherwise, so thank you Chris Murphy. G: If you like Office Space, there's another movie you should look into called Haiku Tunnel, I'm not sure if you would've heard of it. It's another sort of office comedy, and it's a little bit off beat. N: Do you play in a band yourself? G: Not at the moment. A few high school things, and a few local bands that went nowhere and didn't play any shows. Just more of a fan of music and movies in general. N: Had you ever heard of the Evaporators before, because we had played Calgary a few times over the years. G: The Evaporators I'd heard of but never really checked out outside of the one or two videos on the website, which to be honest I wasn't so much into. But having heard Ripple Rock it seems like a huge leap forward in terms of songwriting, I've actually liked it quite a bit more. But I haven't actually seen you guys live before, if that's what you're wondering. N: Yea, just curious, because we have actually played Calgary over the years a few times, including Alberta, going back a few years to the Highwood Music Festivals. Those were in '93 and '92, these giant festivals that they had with bands like the Muffs and Mudhoney and Social Distortion play, and I remember we played one year and our check bounced, so that was pretty funny. G: So they couldn't actually pay you for it then? N: No, not the second year. It was great exposure though. It was pretty funny too because there were bands playing at all hours of the day. There was a band Bum, who I love, from Victoria, and they played at like 8 am. They woke up out of their tent and crawled over to the stage and played, and actually there were quite a few people there to see them. Not as many as, you know, bands that played in the afternoon. G: Not a lot of that crowd is too big on the morning shows. Now, you were given a Piss Troll, is that correct? N: Yes I was. Oh my God. G: Do you still have that? N: Yes I do. It's right beside me. It was given to me by this girl Sarah, she didn't tell me if there was piss in it or not. She just said "it's a piss troll. Deal with it." I tend to believe her though, because her friend Jones, that's how I met her, is friends with this guy called Senor Amore, who is a friend of ours from Los Angeles. And Senor Amore has told us many stories about playing badminton with Lenny Kravitz and how Janet Jackson once gave him a Jackson 5 T-shirt because he went to school with Janet Jackson, so I kind of believe this Piss Troll story just because all the stuff to do with them is pretty much all true. So I haven't been able to figure out if they're liars or not. So I'm totally down with that piss troll, so it's sitting right on my desk, and hopefully its not evaporating. All the piss is not evaporating into this room. Maybe that's why I've been sick recently, hopefully the lid is on tight. G: You haven't actually checked to see if it is piss? N: No, I haven't. It's sealed up very nicely. And again, I'm amazed that you've dug around there, that's incredible. G: You have said one of your favorite things to do is smelling things. This just hasn't piqued your curiosity? N: Well I can see it now, it's just on the other side of my computer, but it's not in total view. So I think if I moved it out in front of my computer, get back to me in a couple months and I probably will have smelt it. I've just kind of got it out of sight, so maybe that's a good thing. I'd probably be picking at it right now if it was in front of me. If people are interested in hearing the Evaporators, as you hadn't heard the Evaporators, we do have theevaporators.com where people can hear clips from the new record, and the old record, and watch some of the vids and stuff like that, and visit the Nard Nest. So and .com, in case anybody's wondering what the hell's going on, so people can read about the Sebastian Bach story there. And the Courtney Love story and the Jello Biafra story. G: You and Mark Kleiner, who's now in the Mark Kleiner Power Trio used to have this fascination with the band Enuff Z'nuff. Is there any other band now that you'd like to bring up from relative obscurity into relatively less obscurity? N: Again, I am just so humbled that you have dug so deeply, and brought up a band that I love so much. Thanks so much, I mean this research you've done is amazing, I mean this is really just making me very, wow, I don't know what to say, Enuff Z'nuff. Yes, Mark Kleiner, another great name to bring up. Thank you so for reminding me about Mark Kleiner, I mean how could I ever forget about Mark Kleiner? For years I would just interview punk bands, and then one day Mark Kleiner said "Screw the punk bands, go for the true alternative." And I'm like, what are you talking about? He says "Bands like Green Day and Rancid and all that punk shit, they're getting played on the radio, they're getting played on MTV and MuchMusic. All the hair metal bands have totally died off. They are the true alternative. Why don't you interview Slik Toxik?" They were that Canadian heavy metal band, I don't know if you remember, they crashed their limo after the Juno awards. And there was a rumor that they had changed the name of their band to Slack Toxik, to capitalize on generation X, you know like slacker. So I interviewed Slik Toxik, and then it was natural to go after Warrant, and then after Warrant and all these other heavy metal bands like Skid Row and stuff, you started getting into the second-tiered, double named heavy metal bands like Danger Danger and Enuff Z'nuff. And every interview that we did, we would always refer back to Enuff Z'nuff because they seemed to have gone through the school of hard knocks. They had supported Cheap Trick all these years, and yet when the Cheap Trick tribute album came out they were knocked from it. They'd been supported by Howard Stern all these years, but then when Howard Stern finally had his movie, at last minute, who got the axe? Enuff Z'nuff. So every band we interviewed, we would always mention Enuff Z'nuff. We would even make up fake rumors about Enuff Z'nuff just to get people's reactions, all these other metal bands that we interviewed. And then one day we did interview Enuff Z'nuff, and then of course I had to throw in the lyrics "LA Guns, Enuff Z'nuff, they come to mind but that's not the stuff…" (The tape ran out at this point without me realizing it, so the rest of the conversation is lost. Basically, Nardwuar mentioned that the one thing he's consciously trying to bring back is the 8-track player, and he sells many of the Evaporators releases in this format. Following a lengthy explanation of how the 8-track works, including demonstrations highlights from Jimmy Smith's "Living It Up" on Verve records, Nardwuar realized he had to leave, and with his ever-present salutation of "Doot-doo-da-loot-doo," he was gone.)
Reflections from ASPO: Contradiction, EROI, and Future Energy Supplies Posted by David Murphy on October 28, 2009 - 10:26am Topic: Miscellaneous Tags: aspo, david murphy, gas, marcio mello, oil, original [list all tags] One subscribe. This is precisely why we need to engage the brain trusts at the USGS and places like the Colorado School of Mines, especially when the ASPO circus comes to town. These people are our acedemic leaders, movers and shakers. This is "economic geology". Anyone wonder what "economic geology" really is? What flavor of economics? Isn't "economic geology" a contradiction? A word salad? Why not engage top geologists in their field - how about top "economic" geologists? Get one of them to explain the "economics" perhaps?... Try flipping through a copy of "Economic Geology". Lots of good geology (science) but wheres the "economics"? Um! First off there are other schools than Colorado School of Mines that some of us might suggest are at least as good, if not, by some measures better. Secondly economic geology is largely what the title suggests. It teaches how to assess how much of the valuable ore is there and, depending on who is teaching it, it may get into some geostatistics, which helps predict based on current known locations and grades of ore, where to look for more. I'm thinking that, since the Denver ASPO was in Denver, then some of the local stars could have shown up. Here is a list of officers and editors at "Economic GEology" Some of these folks are local to any Denver event. Lets task them. As to CSM, not only are the extremely local to any Denver event, they make this claim: I think if such an influential institution is going to make such extrordinary claims, they have to back it up. Try walking onto the CSM campus, even into the brand new petroleum building and asking where the M. King Hubbert Center for Petroleum Studies is. A few years back I spent a Sunday afternoon in the CSM library and found that they had no hard copies of the Hubbert Center Newsletter. I did leave notes suggesting that it be added to their collection. I think PDV and Robert have a point here. The field does seem to be more about exploitation of resources rather than stewardship. If somebody in the research area had actually wanted to or had the charter to, they could have done an impartial study of resource depletion based on some rather simple models. The fact that a branch of this field is called "geostatistics" makes one think that somebody must be doing original research. But then you find that a web-site exists called . The guy who runs the site says the specialty of geostatistics consists of "voodoo statistics" and "scientific fraud". Granted, it looks like this is mainly in the context of mineral mining and perhaps petroleum extraction is not really a part of this field, but it makes you wonder what exactly constitutes research. I am curious what HO thinks about these charges. Here is a sample: Wht, Whoever wrote the quote "degrees ...investors" must be an idiot.There is no way that aggregation of words can be read in any way that makes any sense at all. I don't know about the idiot part. Yet, it indeed does kind of read like William Faulkner if Faulkner had an engineering degree. Actually the guy writes in a mix of very active voice and some passive constructions. See the language E'prime: I usually can spot E'Prime writers and to me they make perfect sense because every subject has an action and the writer leaves no ambiguity as to who said what. This guy doesn't quite make the grade -- he appears to try, yet it comes out too flowery. I wrote more here on the junk science: I leave you with more of this guy's genius takedown: "valuable ore" How do you define "valuable"? one ounce of crystaline Au vs one ounce of crystaline H20 vs one ounce of phosphorous. Which one is more "valuble"? in terms of "money" or ..? What brand of economics will you rely on to asses the value of your ore, Hobbsian? Keynsian? Miltonian? Malthusian? Hall? Will you adhere to zero-sum or will you hoard? I think "economic geology" is a word salad. "Economics" has become "politics". That is why there is no "economics" IN "Economic Geology", outside perhaps some politics. We need to work on our "system" of "valuation"; our "priorities" if you will. We've covered this point before but it might bear repeating for those that missed the discussion. Emphatic truth: there are hundreds of TCF of NG in the shale gas plays in the US. First, my model estimates we can recover, with existing technology, over 120 TCF of NG from these plays. Second, my model estimates we can recover, with existing technology, 10 TCF of NG from these plays. Both of these statements are undeniably true. No one deny the accuracy of my model. It is a proven methodology. Of course, both model results are based on a set of assumptions. All the assumptions in both models are identical. Except one: the anticipated price of NG. The first model assumes $25/mcf. The second assumes $5/mcf. No geologist or engineer can argue against my model. One can choose different price structures but this is an assumptive factor and you cannot argue its validity. It is an assumption...not a prediction. As been said before: any projection of the recovery of any commodity that does not include the associated price assumptions is a meaningless value and does not merit discussion IMHO. Mr. Mello may be right about there being 500 billion bbls of oil in the various DW trends. I see no point in debating its validity. Just accept such numbers because they are meaningless to a degree. The question is: how much of that oil is recoverable? Easy to answer actually (if you first assume that oil is actually out there). Just run an economic model using the appropriate cost estimates. And then vary the assumptive price of that future oil. At $300/bbl the recoverable reserves from these plays could be hundreds of billions of bbls (again, if they actually exist). And at $50/bbl the number could be a couple of billion bbls. And both model outcomes are correct and undeniable because they are models with price assumptions...not price predictions. My analysis has no bearing on Mr. Mello's model predicting the existence of this oil. That's another model I assume he's generated. This analysis has no bearing on anyone's model for predicting the future price of oil either. The conversation gets very messy when we try to discuss validity when the different models are lumped together to extract a prediction. We tend to lose sight of the trees for the forest IMO. I haven't been able to review all the presentations at the conference. But from what others have posted I see no obvious contradictions in as much I haven't seen the underlying assumptions. ROCKMAN, I really appreciate your no nonsense clear explanations. A few years ago I had the opportunity to work with a software company that marketed a high end scientific graphics application with advanced capabilities including GIS, CGM, Seismic data analysis (PIP), to both major and minor players in the Petroleum Industry, I had many geologists and Landsmen as customers. I often had to trouble shoot their data files so I saw a lot of proprietary information. I wish many more of them had had your grasp of the bigger picture. It might have saved them a lot of headaches. You're welcome FM. I'm not so sure it's a better grasp of the "big picture" as it is a different perspective. I tease westexas about being a crazy wildcatter. But you have to give those guys a lot of credit: stand up in front of someone and recommend they spend $10 million to drill a well that will probably be a dry hole. And then drill a dry hole and go back and ask for another $10 million to drill another prospect. Got to have nerves of steel (and complete lack of shame genes) to play that game. Explorationist have to have unbridle optimism to take on Mother Earth every day. I work on the development geology/engineering side of the fence and thus deal with more concrete data. Thus I have a much clearer picture of what is real and what's not...unlike westexas. Interesting you bring this up. I'm starting to realize that there is such a thing as a EROEI for money. Often this wall is viewed as inflation. For example flooding the US with cheap credit over the last decade primarily drove up housing prices. Perfectly good homes and decent shelter became a multiples of its former value. Very little real increase in wealth was created while the notational debt ballooned. Deep down underlying all of this there seems to be a sort of law of economics and energy. You cannot expand using lower value more expensive resources without going into debt. As usual for me asserted without proof but think about it. If NG was at 25 vs 5 and we wanted to keep the precentage costs devoted to energy constant then in the 25 dollar case the economy would have to be five times larger than in the five dollar case. How do you do that ? The only way to do this if resources are getting more scarce and expensive is to expand the amount of debt in the system to allow it to grow. The hope of course is that this new larger economy will create new ways to create wealth (computers) and this new wealth will offset the decline in resource quality. In general however it also creates bubbles which make this sort of growth very inefficient requiring even more debt. Nate Hagens explains this as chaining many low EROEI sources together i.e instead of one 100:1 source you have several say 10:1 sources. As long as the resource base is large the decline in EROEI does not look all that bad. However you still have to grow to keep the magnitude of the extra effort constant. Exploiting a larger base of lower value resources requires growth ! There is a saying that came out of the .com era that we will sell at a loss and make it up in volume. Thats exactly the game you have to play as you use the infrastructure developed with high EROEI resources to exploit lower value EROEI resources. However no matter what you do the debt side continues to grow. Assuming you start with no debt or even a significant pile of wealth and that some of the growth does capture real value i.e the expanding economy esp with technical advance does indeed innovate then the expansion of debt can be done for a long long time as resources become depleted and more expensive. But it turns out your simply delaying the end. The only real answer or way out is to develop viable alternatives as it becomes obvious that debt expansion is taking place. Literally the moment that its clear growth is impossible without expanding the debt you have to stop and pour resources into bootstrapping other energy sources. We actually did this but only partially with our expansion into coal and NG and it helped for a while but these are also finite and eventually started slipping down their own EROEI curve. And the rate at which debt increased increased. Well it turns out that money actually is not infinite it can't pretend to create wealth via expanding the debt forever eventually you have a run on the bank as it dawns on people that very very very few will ever get repaid. Expanding debt is a confidence game and when it fails the system fails. This is important because it means our economic system has not been viable for decades. Trying to use our economic model to predict the reserves available from low quality resources is useless. Instead we will extract what we can as long as we can expand debt without a run on the bank but our real resource base capable of creating real wealth was used up decades ago we have been out of true resources for a very long time. Not only is there nothing left we exhausted the resource base useful for real expansion without debt expansion decades ago. All thats left now is to see how long we can go before the debt bubble implodes on itself. Once this happens then the actual resource base is minute so much lower than our current assumptions as to be treated as zero. Although small what can be exploited it may or may not be valuable but it will if extracted at all be extracted under a completely different economic system that has no bearing with the current one. Of course we managed to live in a dreamworld for so long that its now practically impossible for people to wake up and realize what we have done. For many of us this means the world we grew up in was already toast back when we where children or teenagers. Its all we know and for most they simply can't accept that its been a lie the entire time. From now on out given we seem to be in the end stage of the debt bubble declining resources will only hasten the speed at which we collapse further attempts to grow to utilize more expensive resources will do the same. Checkmate. Good explanation. How does price volatility play into your recoverability through barrel price model? This includes the assumption will be seeing a lot more volatility in the future as well - at least after a real economic recovery starts. With my limited experience, project financing managers hate volatility more than anything, because it throws their payback calculations around like a dead rat in a washing machine. What's your take on this? Good question. I'd argue the volatility is itself the signal the system is already in collapse mode. The whale oil papers show this. However be careful about assumptions using the past to predict the future. The only certain thing you can take away is that volatility is a key signal to the start of collapse past that the evolution of the system is really really hard to guess. I guess other people guess one of the guesses will be right but the truth cannot be known until after the fact. One could argue the Roman Empire was doomed the day the republic ended but the longest measure has it ending after Constantinople fell. Even then a fair amount of absorption took place into the new Moslem Empire and back into the older Barbarian empires of the west. Or it can crash fast like the Soviet Union with a fair number of people actually born before and living after its existence. So and empire rose and fell in the span of a human lifetime or Franco's Spain or Mao's China. If you notice the pace has quickened then it stands to reason a Roman like centuries long fall is probably not going to happen. Price and money itself are going to be wrapped up in a mix of volatility and the rate of actual collapse. As far as I can tell I expect intervals of low prices where collapse itself has ensured supply meets demand will be short. Obviously we managed to have one such event happen although it already seems to be starting to end. Its not clear at all that the circumstances will result in another such event. Maybe but again depending on how you model maybe not. Obviously my model is pretty simple we enter a period of stronger and stronger price increases for oil and NG and the system tries to keep from collapsing via ever more rapid expansion of debt but implodes. I don't see us making it through the next one and I also feel that from here on out attempts to keep the system together will generally only cause it to deteriorate even faster. Way way to many bombs or landmines or what have you are now armed with hair triggers littering the ground and also pressure triggers ready to go if anything goes. So what I see is volatility on a rising trend then as some point maybe in the very near future a rapid surge in oil prices and a bit later on NG and then a new event not yet seen where the fiat currencies begin to collapse sending prices even higher in addition to whatever changes in production rate are causing. From that point on who knows the system is in a death spiral. If I'm right both about the price spike and it initiating a fiat money collapse then its one and done. Theoretically the US could avert such a event by rapidly increasing interest rates and rapidly reducing the money supply and hopefully not collapse because of the resulting defaults. This should moderate energy prices if not initiate another price collapse and we could potentially sort of slide along the bottom for quite sometime in a deep depression. However given the quick way prices rebounded after our last collapse its note even clear if this will really work. There may be no bottom to the whole even going this way. Or of course my assumptions are wrong we have more rope left but this simply means we will continue BAU undulating between those two extreme outcomes for a bit longer before finally picking one of the paths. I'd argue that outside of my extreme view its really really hard to guess what happens as some fairly slight difference can lead to longer term changes. This of course signals that if we are not yet at the point of collapse right now then the system is chaotic effectively tumbling between the extremes without falling into them on a very unpredictable path. By chaotic what I mean is that the problems we face may not cause collapse but they may cause the system to change course fairly dramatically over a fairly short period of time as its in a sense trying to dodge between the two certain collapse scenarios. This almost certainly means extreme volatility with prices. Think of a ship sinking with the passengers running back and forth from one side to another rocking the boat. Which way it finally rolls depends on a very subtle change in sink rate and where the passengers are but the boat rocking game is not changing the outcome. Of course volatility on this scale is itself very stressful so its tough to believe that even this won't fail fast probably with only a short delay. Hopefully you can see the role volatility plays once the system becomes unstable and volatile its really hard to come up with a way to dampen it in such a way that you don't end up in collapse. As and example the great homebuyer tax credit simply created another foreclosure bomb thats literally going off even as its working. Here it is Given median home prices and base cost of living issues and the fact we are now in a weak to declining economy this is simply creating a bomb that in my opinion will start going off before the ink dries on the last credit request. I suspect a significant number of these loans are already delinquent with many buyers losing their jobs shortly after purchase others quickly hitting the wall as they are in over there heads. Expect credit card defaults to rise sharply with this program. So not only do I not think this program helped in my opinion it actually accelerated the collapse process esp given its pulled forward demand from people that might have been able to purchase a house in a few years or months if they got their personal financial houses in order. Also it certainly accelerated the fall in rents as these people where renters. Moving them to vacant houses they cannot afford not only did not solve anything it made matters worse the moment it had enough of a effect to cause macro economic changes. And this is just one of a long long list of things happening now that not only lead to larger longer term problems but cause and almost immediate short term problems to accelerate. Heck the 0% interest rate for example has ignited a carry trade on the US dollar. Pension funds, Commercial real estate ??? The list is endless. Given this and even assuming I'm remotely close or even just Westexas's export land then one in done seems obvious. If I'm closer to correct it just means we have a 50 megaton nuclear explosion going off instead of a 10. Given most of us are at ground zero I'm not sure the difference matters. Oh I forget Pruis's and plugin EV's windmills and NG powered diesel trucks are going to save the day nothing to worry about. All I can figure is they must work just as well driving over radioactive glass as they do on asphalt. Sam -- Excellent point. In the basic economic model the industry follows you enter a price deck. A starting price with, perhaps, some inflation built in. The starting point is always close to current pricing. If we're in a high price period we'll tend to use a lower number. But seldom use a higher number in a low price period. The economic model uses the recoverable reserve model to supply an asset volume. It's not uncommon to give this volume a "hair cut" to allow a more conservative out come. So such a model might yield a ROR of 7 to 1. Now this is where it can be a little confusing to outsiders. We then consider the probability of success of the project. Two projects can have identical ROR but one has a PS of 80% and the other a PS of 20%. Yes...some risk adjustment within the ecomodel but that's just a "shading effort". Obviously one would chose the higher PS project if these are your only two choices. What you seldom see (on paper, anyway) is the price volatility risk you mention. I've seen as many companies fail as a result of price volatility as drilling too many dry holes. As you imply, a project might be a technical success but the company fails because it doesn't receive the anticipated price. The recent shale gas play is a great example. My client was one of the most successful players. But that success turned into an anchor that nearly sunk them when NG prices collapsed. In fact, their exploration model exceeded expectations a little. In 34 years I've seen many different efforts to risk a project. I have never once seen a price collapse used in any evaluation. Make sense though: would you climb out of bed this morning if your model showed you getting hit by a bus today. And why would you put all of your 401k into the stock market if you anticipated a market crash? Oh...yeah...that greed motivation thing. This gets to the root of the point I was trying to make elsewhere. The reserve recovery models are not predictions of how much oil/NG WILL be found or IF the effort will be profitable. They are just geological models based upon a set of assumptions. The ecomodel doesn't predict how much oil/Ng will be found or if there will be a profit. It just offers a ROR based upon the assumptions made. Now there is a whole different world of models one can construct to PREDICT the future price of oil/NG. And models to PREDICT how much oil/NG might exist in a region. I know these sound like subtle differences but to the oil industry they are easily separated. Dr. Mello may have a geologic model indicating 500 billion bbls of oil. And it may be a very sound model. But such models typically don't include the probability factor. Dr. Mello might characterize the PS of his 500 billion bbl model as 10% or 90%. But that won't change the model...it's still 500 billion bbls of oil. And this is where I see us often debating apples and oranges. I might have no problem accepting the validity of Dr. Mello's 500 billion bbls model if I saw the details. But I can offer that there's not a freaking chance those bbls will ever be produced. Two different questions... two different answers... apples and oranges. Thanks! I think I get the gist your argument about how hard it is to value Dr Mello's assessment. I'd also take a wild guess that he couldn't reveal his cost estimation and profitability calculations even if he wanted. And I don't think he wants. Coming back to your point about volatility assessment. In the energy utility trade price volatility is of course part of the daily bread and butter - not that they necessarily do it great either (most of them use Black-Scholes formula derivations for their options hedging strategies - not the most robust approach out there as last yeas have shown, but allows one to fall back on the 'gold standard' excuse if things fail). Regardless, they do make an attempt to factor it in - especially since 2007. Now, why don't the upstream players use volatility hedging cost estimation as part of their projected costs? Would it be too prohibitive? Would it result in the 'why get out of bed' outcome in too many cases? Or is it because historically it has been such a small factor compared to the PS you refer to? If the latter, I think people ought to start re-evaluating their historical position on that. Then again, who am I to tell them that. And yes, in the end, recoverability is what we are all interested in. My second wild guess would be that one way or the other, we'll end up pumping oil through genuinely loss making activities for quite some time in the future. Price externalities are a useful invention in that regard. But that's another topic, for another time. sam -- I suppose the short answer is that you can't hedge what you haven't found yet. Most companies hedge,to some degree, on the existing production. I've never seen an operator work hedging into the drilling economics. And, as we both know, hedging can hurt your revenue stream as well as help. No..I think price shocks (especially on the order of a Black Swan) are one of the biggest unconsidered risks in the economic evaluation in some type of plays. In a conventional play a dry hole loses money regardless of the price of oil/NG. I've seen many operators talk themselves into drilling poor prospects because of high price expectations. Doesn't matter if oil is selling for $120/bbl if you're plugging a $148 million dry hole (something I watched first hand last year in the DW GOM).OTOH, in plays like the shale gas where you have a high probability of making a well operators used high NG price expectations to justify those high lease/drilling/completion costs. Thus even when they found the NG they were drilling for, the eventual low prices broke their backs. Given that NG seems to have bottomed out it looks like we will actually find out what happens next. My own experience is investors hate volatility. They don't mind risk so much if the risk and rewards can be understood if inflated. They are used to everyone inflating the upside. This is in software which is a very volatile business esp for smaller startups. Always has been one reason investors got wiped out in the .com crash is they walked into a very volatile business they did not understand and thought it was always going up. They found out later. Also and a lot of people don't realize a lot of the money lost was with established companies telecoms software companies etc. The actual amount lost at the start ups was substantially lower. However after the boom investment dries up in the startup area and from experience in a matter of days if not hours. Investors try to extract their money and generally kill the companies. The only thing worse than a company run by a incompetent management team is one run by a incompetent management team and incompetent investors. Generally the turn around artists are really people who managed to kill companies that had strong business's but short term cash flow issues and extract money in the process. In the whole process the concept of actually making a product people want and selling it and making money seldom if every enters the picture. After this you get the big shake out but more important you never ever get capitol input at near the level it was during the big boom. Maybe if you wait decades it might come again but don't hold your breath. Thats not to say you can't raise money but its what I call cautious capitol and it takes a long time to strike a balance as the new risk factors or realistic risk factors are determined via experiment for the most part. For the software industry most of the investment capitol for startups is now coming from successful .com's and venture capitol firms in the last boom. They of course think they are smart realistically for the most part they just got lucky. Regardless they put the money in. I don't see any reason why the shale plays won't follow this same model it seems to be a basic one for boom/bust business cycles. This means of course that your in a bit of a catch 22 since investors will be slow to invest in general and want to see handsome profits before expanding their investment which means shale development will probably slow down substantially. Now of course at this point what happens next depends on the product. In software we have a sort of analog to shale its the bazillion social networking sites some make it some don't most of the time they get big fast then fall off just as fast as something new comes along. In a sense the group of people willing to support the next cool thing is finite so they effectively steal each others customers the actual customer base grows slowly. The twitter guys are not using facebook as much any more etc. I don't know the shale business well enough but my guess is its more about investors the investors willing to invest are a finite group now and the shale players will compete for them. Next these investors are not just seeking profit they are seeking maximum profit to justify the current investment. In general further investment will come for the profits of the current round. Pretty much just like software where the investment money is driven by the few profitable companies the survived the .com era. And its smart and scared money a whiff of volatility and its gone. I think the overall investment side is probably going to be pretty close to what I've seen and it will certainly be interesting to see how it interacts with the shale plays. I've said for a long time that I think that they will provide a slow and steady stream of NG once both the business model matures and the development of shale itself matures. For shale at least given that conventional NG plays are declining the issue becomes LNG imports obviously if LNG imports under price shale then no shale development. This is similar to the relationship between North American oil production and imports. Its expensive today to produce oil in North America and development is pretty much controlled by the global price. This obviously slows things down. And the big oil bust is a reminder of that. My opinion is not a lot really happens until our NG prices stabilize with global NG prices. Enough LNG is being exported today to ensure that the NA market is not longer isolated its just a matter of when prices reach the point you have liquidity. The software industry has an analog in the form of outsourcing. This suggest that longer term NA shale won't really expand until its competitive with LNG from other sources. However given the nature of the plays one has to wonder what the world is like when shale is one of the better plays to expand. Of course there are some large discounts that change matters but still. So overall assuming the business and financial model follows what happened in software you simply can expect much from shale for the foreseeable future. It will be developed as it makes sense but the bulk probably won't really be exploited until global LNG supplies become a issue. We have another example and that the Venezuela heavy oil deposits and the Canadian tar sands at some point in both cases they are or will eventually be exploited at some steady but relatively low rate vs the resource base and they probably will remain there until they are closer to the only choice and all other choices are reaching exhaustion. Given that as NG prices go up LNG is likely to expand steadily increasing the liquidity of the NG markets and globalizing them shale .. And of course this means the global economy will eventually have to absorb higher NG prices until the market becomes very fungible if you will and my opinion on that happening at the global level is its questionable and I'll leave it at that. I agree memmel. It's difficult to be optimistic about SG activity regaining anywhere near its former level anytime soon...maybe never (never being in 10 years or so). As far as private investors sources for SG I'm not sure they played a big role. The big SG players were big public companies. Their investors, per se, were the bankers extending them credit. I suspect that source will return very slowly to the mix. We won't get anywhere close to SG. In fact, we won't even drill for lower quality conventional NG reservoirs. Fortunately for us there are viable NG plays with high quality/high flow rate reservoirs. And even more fortunately there is little competition for such prospects. If NG were selling for $10/mcf right now we probably could buy just 10% of the deals we've taken. And they would have cost more to acquire and drill. As the man said...it's good to be King. If you have the money then I see no reason for it not to be a lucrative area for a long time. Even in end of the world type scenarios you have to have X amount of NG if you don't want to end in the stone age. The difference between maintaining BAU and keeping things from collapse is huge. All kinds of intermediate possibilities exist. Markets for natural gas and oil will exist as long as they can be supplied once you give up on "cheap" NG for the mass market use cases we have today plenty of demand remains which means supply. There is reasonable demand for NG well out the price curve. Bottled propane for cooking is sold at a nice profit all over the world for example. In economics you have the velocity of money which is the number of transactions occurring. What I see going forward is decent low "velocity" demand for NG well into the future barring complete economic collapse. Its not going to build to offset falling oil supplies simply because we cannot afford it. BAU is dead but multiple niche markets less price insensitive can and probably will drive a more sedate but stable NG market or likely markets. One has to think that a return to vertical integration may become important with NG developed buy unified utilities that also balance with say wind or other alternative energy sources or coal or nuclear. Or fertilizer manufactures will move to directly control NG production etc. What I saw in the third world was that companies tended to be vertically integrated or horizontally split on intrinsic market divides what one would call natural markets. I.e your typical village market. Loss of a fairly open market for bulk sale of NG does not mean you won't have vertical customers and direct sale markets. I consider both natural markets in the absence of open exchanges and the ability to mesh NG sales across countries and even the world via LNG. The end of BAU suggest we would probably see the end of these national and international meshed markets however "natural markets" remain and price supply demand all work like they always have. There won't be a price for NG like we have today just like there was no global price for salt back in the old days or any other commodity price will vary and the ability to transport enough product between markets to level prices will be limited but this means of course just as the salt caravans of old made steady profits century after century the NG industry should as long as the demand remains and supply is reasonably there. So if you think about it as a fundamental change in how NG is marketed and sold then the strange situation of high prices not resulting in rapid expansion of production makes sense. The markets are localized and these more local markets constrain the situation. Lacking a large growing market there is simply no reason for supply and demand to not find its equilibrium at some price point and it does not have to be a infinite growth solution others are viable and work. So to be clear when I suggest like I did in a previous post that there is no market for 25 dollar NG I mean there is no meshed NG market like what we have now. Instead there are fragmented markets some working on 2 dollar NG some on 50 or 100 NG many on none. The volume of NG produced is significantly lower than today but its simply different and works under different rules and its hard to even guess how things will play out. And I suspect ROCKMAN will profit handsomely off of this :) Investors well eventually some will win but probably many lose in the process but thats what happens with investment. memmel -- I had not thought about vertical integration for a while. Back in the late 70's that became all the rage for the utility/pipeline companies. They bought into NG drilling programs as a working interest partner and, in some cases, actually started their own prospect generator shops. With very few exceptions they were slaughtered. Combination of two simple factors: NG exploration wasn't their specialty and, more importantly, they couldn't tell good operators from the wolves who were more than ready and willing to exploit their ignorance and slaughter them on the spot. I worked with Transco P/L back in those days. Poster child for what I'm describing. In one joint venture they bought into 18 NG drilling projects from an independent operator. Result: 18 dry holes and the principal players for the operator retired millionaires. It's easy to imagine these events repeating themselves when the end users once again see the "benefit" of vertical integration. Like any good idea it all hangs on the execution and not the validity of the plan. My $25/mcf value was obviously a gross over statement of where prices could go. Just part of the absurdity, IMO, of undue expectations of the SG plays being the great PO solution. As you say, big variance from local market to market. What I'm focused on right now is how to deal/benefit from the absurdly short cycles should they persist. When I started 34 years ago the boom/bust cycles were on the order of 10 to 15 years. Just look at the last 2 years: oil -- $50 - $147 - $38 - $75. We stared our program thinking in terms of hitting the liquidation phase in 4 or 5 years. Now I'm thinking in terms of 18 to 24 months. And then would require us to drill even faster. And that also means ramping up exposure that much quicker. And that often leads to failure. My cohorts and I will benefit handsomely if we get it right. And we will be dumped in a heartbeat if we don't perform adequately. That's the deal and we were all happy to let our abilities determine our outcome. Pretty much every analysis I've seen recently indicates that short term there is about a $5 cap on North American gas and a low end around $3 - $4 that LNG still can't displace simply because there are competing markets and not really enough regas facilities in the US. The shale gas players have been responding by lower costs....the breakeven for Haynesville is now around $2.50 for Marcellus around $3 as compared to an average for North American conventional gas of around $7/Mcf. Continued low prices will cause greater efficiencies but certainly you will see additions only from the best or Tier 1 acreage of the various shale plays. Gas will get shutin as the hedges roll off (a lot of companies are still well hedged) and eventually the price will rise again towards the marginal cost of conventional gas at which point the shale gas plays will ramp up once again. The company I work for is projecting $6/mcf long term, consistent from what I've seen from CERA. A lot of companies can make hay at this price in shale gas plays, specifically those that have learned the manufacturing approach. Rock, after all the knobs are turned, what you really have is some sort of curve, ulimate recoverable reserves versus (inflation adjusted) price. But of course both geologic and technical assumptions went into making that curve. So we have multiple sources of uncertainty: What is really under the ground? How much will the market pay to extract it? How tough (expensive) will extraction of X percent cost? enemy -- So true. I could never document the number but, based upon my personal experience over 34 years, there has been more money invested in oil/NG then has ever been recovered. Thanks to optimism/greed I've had a career. Maybe I'm missing something but I'll ask anyway: You say 'with current technology we can recover' but does that mean we can recover that much with a positive EROI or just that we can get the gas out the rock if we want too but with a negative EROI for the last bit? We know there is still a lot of FF in the earths crust, as is e.g. uranium. But if we use these resources mainly for burning it to get energy, then recovering it has only any use if the EROI is (at least) several times larger then 1. Can we still get the 120 TCF of shale gas out? Same with the 500 billion barrels of oil between S. America and Africa? Also, the EROI only applies to the situation where we burn the resource. For other uses like production of plastics and other products it's only the monetary ROI that counts right? Styno -- I can't answer you in terms of EROI. The oil industry never has and will never base drilling decisions on EROI. Not that there isn't a relationship. But we just deal in $'s. The NG is there in the SG plays. Whether it's 100 or 80 or 120 TCF I don't really know. But there is a huge amount PROVEN IN PLACE NG. And current technology can recover all of it. The big IF, of course, is IF the price is high enough. And it might well reach a point when the profit to do so is there but you might actually have a negative EROI. But I don't think such a time, if it ever did occur, would persist very long. The 500 billion bbls in the Atlantic is a whole different story. I still haven't seen Dr. Mello's complete presentation but I'll stick my neck out and say he doesn't have specific data showing that amount of oil exists out there. I take it his number comes from a model. IOW, what could be out there. That number may be right or off by 300 billion bbls...time will tell. And, again, not knowing the details, even if that's his estimate of the amount of oil out there that could be produced his number is totally bogus if he doesn't include a pricing assumption. Just like shale gas, the 100 TCF recoverable number is only valid at a certain price assumption. But to be practical I see no potential for NG prices to reach $25/mcf (2009 $'s) and stay at that price long enough to cause a sufficient number of wells to be drilled to recover anywhere near that volume of NG. The economic feedback loop is just way too efficient these days. Thank you for your insight and time. So what is the likely EROEI of Mr Mello's 500 BBL secret? I watched his presentation on video, and I have to say, high marks for showmanship. For the sake of the peak oil crowd, he made a big deal about being conservative in his estimates. Jeremy Gilbert said the very next morning that we would be lucky to get 10 billion barrels out. As for the EROI, I am not sure, but we might be working on that in the not to distant future... David -- As per my thoughts above did Mr.Gilbert offer a price assumption for his 10 billion bbl of oil prediction? Rockman, No, he did not. He was acknowledging the fact that Mr. Mello was reporting resources in existence, not proved reserves, to which Mr. Gilbert said might be about 10 billion. But I think the situation is more complicated than you discuss. I agree that in the "net present value" sense that the price of oil will determine what is recoverable and what is not - economically speaking. However, you are assuming that all of the resources, financial and otherwise, are available to these firms as long as the price signal says that they will make a profit. I get your point David. But my economic model makes no assumptions "that all of the resources, financial and otherwise, are available". That's the point I was trying to make. This is where we can get lost in our conversation. My model isn't dependent upon the factors you mention because my model isn't a prediction of what will or won't happen. It's just a model...not reality. Your factors are critical, of course. But they would be projected based upon other models: future capital availability model, future political model, future consumption model, etc. All such models could be used to predict future conditions. But, by in large, each model is independent of each other. My hypothetical model is valid whether there is every another $ to spend drilling wells. As I said, it's just a model...not a prediction of the future. As I was trying to imply we have a tendency to debate models when we're really debating what appears to be predictions used in these models. That's why I struggle to make the distinction in our conversations between assumptions and predictions. You cannot argue that someone's model assumptions are wrong. But we can vigorously debate whether one prediction or another is correct. In Dr. Mello's case if he has a model that shows 500 billion bbls of oil then it's 500 billion bbls of oil. We can discuss if he's staying within the realm of geologic reality or not. But if he predicts that we will prove up 500 billion bbls then that's a completely different matter. Perhaps I come to the subject with a very prejudiced view. I look at proposed drilling projects daily and it's very easy for me to judge a project's model as being valid but the reject the deal because it doesn't have a chance of working. For me models and predictions exist in two different worlds. I hope that makes sense. Rockman, I understand the difference between assumptions and predictions and I agree with your general opinion, i.e. assumptions should not be argued over. But we are fundamentally asking different questions, though. You are answering the question in your model: "how much of a resource can we get, based on assumptions of X price for natural gas?" I am asking how much of that gas will be gained at a significant energy profit? That is a much different question. Also, models are defined as a simplification of a real system (Hall and Day 1977). Your model is a simplified version of some system that makes predictions based on a set of assumptions. You predict that 120 TCF of natural gas are recoverable from shale plays given your assumptions. Until you can validate empirically your model, than your predictions remain predictions, and are not "truth" of any sort. No David. My model is not a prediction and is quit valid. I have no idea if we'll every produce that much NG from the shale plays. Thus I would never make a fool of myself with such a prediction. I can recover 120 TCF of NG today if my pricing assumptions existed today. That's not a prediction...it's a fact. I spent last year doing just that. Unfortunately the price support went away. I know the reservoir characteristics, the cost to drill and complete and the economic requirements of the operators. I run my economic model daily on drilling prospects. It's about as standard as it gets. Again, I'm not predicting I can get 120 TCF...I'm saying I can do it today. All I need is the price support. I can also recover 100 million ounces of gold out of sea water today. That's not a prediction. It's a fact based on a recovery model of gold from sea water. All I need is the price support of gold to be suffciently high enough to make it profitable. Again, I have no idea if gold would ever reach the price needed to make the process work. But, once again, I'm not predicting we'll ever see that price. My model just says that it's possible to recover all that gold with existing technology. Rockman, How do you know you can get 120 TCF. How do you know it isn't 110 TCF or 130 TCF? I realize that it is "technically" possible to get gas (or gold or whatever) if you have the proper price support, but how are you getting 120 TCF as the exact amount of recoverable reserves? Is there ANY uncertainty in your model? If so, then it is not "truth" or "fact", but a probability, and much like any other model it needs to be validated (i.e. tested). I understand that you have probably been using this model for years, and if so it has been "validated" numerous times before and there is no reason to suspect it would be wrong now. However, models are models, they are not "truth" or "fact". It is a semantic argument, but an important one. When NG was over $10.00 mcf, shale gas was much more feasible. If NG goes to $1.50 you might not see the drilling boom that $10.00 mcf gas will bring. Much depends on the price of a lease in the Haynesville or the Marcellus. Some people looked at operating costs, but did not include fixed costs, employee benefit plans, health insurance, pipeline tarrifs etc. in the price of gas. Some companies hedged their production and had cash flow to continue drilling to keep their leases that they spent many dollars to attain. There is a potential problem if a financial institution hedges wrong like Enron did. It could take down a company. Naked derivatives are yet a potential problem as we saw with the 100 billion dollar collapse of AIG. To make it in the oil/natural gas patch you might need to known the bottom line, the odds, and the rocks. Oops, that is substantiating Rockman. If you are questioning delta errors below and above the estimate, Rockman has provided a very good model with no bias, and unstated variance. Apart from the missing variance, that is a great model in my book. Rockman is basically stating the most probable estimate. With the variance included, this is the value that will occur most frequently if you could run the experiment many times. In other words, if the number was 110, so what? If the number was 130, so what? Unless this was some over/under sports gambling enterprise, does it really matter? This is the only good way to look at a model result. If someone presents you with a model that aggregates lots of information, immediately assume that the result is the most probable estimate, and most errors will be symmetric above and below this value. This is in accordance with the central limit theorem. If, on the other hand, you know that the model is a fundamental measure of some physical process governed by entropic considerations, assume the variance is equal to the mean squared, and take your chances. David -- Is it 110 TCF or 110.1 TCF? Don't split hairs with me son...I'm a geologist. Old joke: question -- what's 2+2 equal? Engineer: 4.0000. Lawyer: what do you want it to be. Prostitute: depends on how much you're willing to pay (not to unlike the lawyer's answer). Geologist: somewhere between 3 and 5. No..there is no uncertainty in my model. That's because there are no predictions in my model. There are only assumptions. And I can change those assumptions and generate 100 different models. I actually don't think our thought processes are that far apart. Semantics perhaps. I consider that models are facts. Whether they represent the "truth" is of no concern at this level of analysis. But truth(probability of success or being correct) is critical in the risk analysis phase. And that's my point: Dr. Mello's 500 billion bbl model may well be valid. The fact that I might think there's not 1 chance in 100 that this oil will ever be produced doesn't stop me from accepting his model. I suspect my analysis may be a little too anal for TOD. My apologies if that's so. Rock, Apparently what I call a model is what you call fact. Ok. done. And I believe Mr. Gilbert talked about a three letter word beginning with "L." @David Murphy That means a recovery factor of 2% !!!??? Why is the recovery factor so low for this particular oil? To the best of my knowledge, it's currently between 15-50% for most wells, using primary and secondary techniques. I'm guessing secondary techniques would be a serious challenge that deep under-water, so even if that is out of the question, the recovery factor is still between 15-30% isn't it? Is it not conceivable that with the world facing collapse, enhanced-recovery technology will flourish? Can we not have at least a little faith in new technology? Mr Mello also mentioned that the layer of rock has good porosity, which should be a good help. I acknowledge that it won't change peak oil, but if 100-200 BBL can come to our rescue, we can have a nice big bump in the decline part of the curve. Shox, I am not a geologist or petroleum engineer, so I cannot speak to recovery factors at length. However, it seems that the recovery factor is the % of the original {what - EUR?} that is actually recovered in the end, right? Mr. Mello was speaking about oil that he has found, many miles beneath the surface of earth, so my guess is that Jeremy Gilbert, a petroleum engineer, was speaking from many years of experience. In fact, he spoke the disconnect between what geologist would find and what engineers were able to get out. Sorry I can't answer is detail... That's not a bad answer David. Except I might qualify it a little: what Dr, Mello THINKS will be found and not what he has found (I think that's his position). Also, I would tend to say "what the geologist THINKS he has found" and what the "engineer THINKS he will recover". Even when you have all the facts in front of you there's still a potential for significant variance. Agreed...this year's conference (my second) truly was put together well for exactly the reason you mention: opposing points of view make the discussion much richer! I would add two more fundamental concepts to EROEI (net energy) that we need people to understand. First, the net export problem, which is so basic it's hard to see how so many people are completely missing it. As producer country consumption goes up and their top line production goes down, there is less oil for oil importing countries to purchase. The right-half of the age of oil, when viewed from an oil-importing country's point of view, is going to look much more like this: The curve would be even steeper if declining EROEI were added to it. Thanks to Jeffrey Brown and Sam Foucher for waking me up to this issue. The second concept deals with the mess we've gotten ourselves into with our monetary system. Although economists (and the population in general) relate to accumulated paper currencies as wealth, because they are a claim on future planetary resources they are actually a liability to the planet. Of course the planet, which last time I checked was finite, cannot have infinite liability put against it. However, the monetary system, being virtual, can increase forever until something stops it from doing so. This disconnect between what we think is wealth and what the planet can actually provide is growing by the day and has only one way to end (in my view) and that is collapse of paper currencies. There won't be an event to point to that will demonstrate that this weakening relationship was one of the fundamental problems that caused the collapse. It will simply be like sand washing away from under a building foundation until the foundation fails. Thanks to Chris Martenson for pointing out this doozy of an Achilles heel to me. I like the way Charlie Hall puts it, it's a race between technology and depletion and depletion is winning. Actually, it isn't even a race. Fossil fuel resources are limited. Depletion is always going to win, hands down. Only a switch to using renewable resources can give technology the winning hand. I completely agree but would the add the following tweak to the sentence below: It is not that paper currencies will collapse, it is that the belief that they will go on representing a claim on the future resources of the planet and future sweat of humans which will collapse. And ultimately it will be the specialised economic ecology which will disappear as without abundant net energy, and without the ability to pay for it early in the day (ie, cheap) then all other labour and sweat during that day will not be enough to satisfy the interest on the debt holding the currency up. Once one's eyes are open to these basic truths, one never views the world quite the same again! Hi, HACland. Fair enough, the belief collapses first then the currencies. But since the currencies are not real (they aren't anything physical), isn't it ultimately the same thing? HACland wrote: Indeed. This speaks to an important distinction between fiat currencies on the one hand and debt-based currency creation on the other - particularly fractional reserve systems. aangel wrote: No, because you can have a fiat currency that isn't a debt-created currency and vice versa. (Some local currencies are fiat without being debt-based, for example.) The fact that we don't see a fiat currency not created via debt doesn't mean they can't exist; we just live in a world where all state currencies are based on the fractional-reserve system. Even when a currency is backed by something "real", like gold, if it uses a fractional reserve system then debt can still expand beyond what the economy can support (i.e. claims on future wealth can expand beyond what real growth in production will support). This is the financial system the world had until most countries left the gold standard around ~1919-1939. There was never enough gold to cover all the paper currency because the fractional reserve system ensured that gold reserves would always be some "fraction" of them. This worked basically because only a fraction of the paper was ever asked to be converted into gold at any time. That also meant it only worked until lots of people asked for their gold deposits back at the same time. This was the cause of bank runs and the original argument for central banks: financial stability - which also happens to come at the cost of moral hazards on the part of lenders (oops!). If the issuance of debt is instead coupled with someone actually lending pre-existing currency (e.g. when you make a term deposit, buy a bond, etc.) - where the debt-note isn't also usable as a medium of exchange, as the gold-backed bank notes were - then claims on future wealth would exist independently of growth in the money supply. (Those instruments of debt, if usable as a medium of exchange, would otherwise act to increase the supply of "money-equivalents.") Modern banks end up "creating money" because whenever they receive a new deposit, the fractional reserve system generates new loans up to {(the deposit) divided by (the target reserve ratio)}, typically a very large multiple of the original deposit - i.e. in Canadian banks with a target of ~0.5%, it's something like 200 times the original deposit amount. Bank loans that create money act not just as a claim on future wealth - because they must be paid back from future income - but also on existing wealth - because they are used to make immediate purchases with money that would not otherwise exist, thereby competing with existing currency. On the other hand, a fiat currency need not be created via debt; it could be created by e.g. government expenditures - say, on infrastructure or a progressive tax rebate. This would only act as an increased claim on existing wealth; it would still generate inflation if the economy wasn't also growing at an equal or greater pace, or deflation if it wasn't growing as fast as the economy. However, that's just an argument for why it should be limited to the rate of economic growth. Coupled with a lending system that depended on banks to act only as mediators between people looking to lend money and those looking to borrow - and not creating money out of nothing - it's unlikely you would see lending so out of touch with reality. If banks wanted to make so many loans they would have to raise interest rates to attract the money, but that would also undermine people's willingness to borrow. On the other hand, if people wanted to lend lots of money, interest rates would decline and fewer people would want to lend. Adrynian, all that is true but my question still points to the fact that our currencies happen to be both fiat and debt-based. So for our situation, losing confidence in the currency amounts to the same thing...a distinction without a difference. Fair enough. I was partly reacting to the sentiment you appeared to be displaying - one that I see many people express, most frequently on other sites but also on TOD at times - that simultaneously denigrates all fiat systems, conflates them with fractional reserve systems, and pines for the return of "the good old days" of gold-backed currency. Going back to gold - or any other physical/non-fiat/commodity-backed medium of exchange - won't prevent the problems we're currently facing so long as we retain the fractional reserve system. That is the real problem with our financial system. I apologize for reading into your post, and for using it as a launching pad for this topic, but I felt it was important to explicitly differentiate fiat and fractional reserve systems, particularly since you seemed confused about the difference. It's not that the "currencies are not real" (i.e. they're fiat) that makes them problematic; they're problematic because they exist via debt-creation which cannot be supported if our economy experiences sustained economic decline. It's grow or implode; no middle ground is possible. Excellent. Two thumbs up. Nice graphs. However see my post above it was game over once debt started expanding and EROEI declining. Shift everything to the right and add in 30 years of the surreal twilight-zone dreamland period and you got it. Its a bit interesting that the last decades after WWII have been labeled as the American Dream period of suburbia etc. Turns out to be a 100% perfect label. Thanks. They are animated if you watch version 2.0 of my video: I think it's possible to go much further than that. This game was over before it even began simply because the fiat currencies were never tied to energy. Of course population growth was still a background pressure, but that's a separate (equally important) issue. I think the relationship we created between our currencies and real wealth is fundamentally flawed by design. There is/was no way to prevent collapse with this system. Eventually the disconnect catches up to you for whatever reason (dropping EROEI or exponential debt or population pressure) and there is no way to avoid that unless there is some constraint on the increase in money supply. It might be possible to have designed a poorer system, but it escapes me exactly how. Note: Link fixed. Aangel - ! Post Pea is something completely different!! Whoops, must have been typing quickly, thanks. (Reminder to self: always check links!) I concur there are other game changers involved i.e oil/debt was not the only one. However if your willing to tackle the population issue its addressable even at fairly high population levels not easy by any means but addressable to a point. Where that point is is unknown but in the end the key constraint on population is generally water and aquifer depletion. However if allowed migration could actually help even in that regard. Even now our population could be redistributed move to renewable use of our agricultural system and wind itself down without tragedy. I think significant shifts are needed crossing many borders but its even at this late date doable. Given there are graceful failure modes for population I continue to maintain hope against all odds that we will eventually adopt a wind down thats what I call dignified. In general it means a heck of a lot of intensive organic agriculture at the subsistence level for many but given the alternative its not bad. The natural cycle of agriculture ensures some time is available at points in the years to both enjoy yourself and create something besides food to increase your standard of living although slow it does not have to be a zero/negative lifestyle. And as population pressure reduced then the overall system improves. However all the solutions I seem to be able to come up with involve low tech innovative use of local resources and corrected population patterns with a fairly small amount of high tech to enhance the quality of life. And even here its clear we have not even scratched the surface of providing "high tech" to subsistence farmers. Right now the monetary system effectively precludes this but once its the only game in town then I think the situation can change rapidly. Hopefully you can see that even now at this late date if your willing to give up on the old system and forget about it and focus on how to build a new system focusing on reducing the population with dignity we can still change. Of course its not so late that its impossible to transition the "old" its toast but the right answer has never changed its just a bit harder to execute now than it was 40 years ago. But the basic things that need to be done are the same and the solution is the same. Rebalance the distribution of the worlds population to achieve sustainability and wind down growth and use technology to increase the quality of life for everyone. It does not matter if its 1,2,4,?? billion people however your obviously getting into the danger zone as you pass four not impossible but exponentially more difficult to pull off. Surprisingly given I often come off as a super doomer I think the way out will remain open even as our current economic system crashes I think that the opportunity to change exists and the door if you will to make that change will remain open regardless of what happens to the existing system. Maybe its not wide open now but its still not closed and won't be no matter what. Funnily enough the rapid concentration of wealth at the top which is the intrinsic reason we crash "early" also means our other options are still open. So by being too greedy we have left a window or door or escape route open if we choose to take it. Its sort of like someone harvesting trees clear cutting as fast as they can and leaving the ones in ravines and steepest mountain side that are too difficult to get when the clear cutting is done and the business collapses you still have the trees in the ravines and you can responsibly use them to restore a balanced forest. Right now we see these last trees as resources available to the clear cutting civilization they are not however maybe just maybe its enough to create a new civilization if your careful. I will always agree that it is theoretically possible to sort ourselves out. It would require: So, yes, it's theoretically possible that all this could happen before collapse arrives. You should get right to work on that, Mike ;-). Seriously, I once believed this could be done, but no longer. Here is an email I sent to Chris Nelder, Jeff Jelten and Jason Bradford about a month ago that explains my view now: Well I'm dabbling in alternative energy. Finally putting my chem degree to use. This is based on liquified gas as a energy storage preferably liquid nitrogen if I can get it to work. Not because its the "best" but because I think it can be done cheaply and has a number of benefits. Cold is good stuff. Polishing off my alternative software platform designed to provide a rich experience on cheap devices. Sort of a uber next next gen webbrowser. And I joined the local currency group in Portland. The end of the national/international fiat money regimes does not have to be that painful simple credit clearing is more than enough to support a robust local economy. They may not take off until after the system collapses but it turns out that done correctly local currencies seem sound and if abused fail rapidly. Money turns out to be and almost trivial problem if your trying to live within your means. I think that only the larger number of bank failures that occurred during the depression prevented a return to local currencies people where hurt so bad they where simply mentally unable to trust the creation of local currencies. This time around although I think people will be burned we have lived with credit long enough to understand its both good and bad and won't react quite the same way. Thats my hope at least. Certainly I continue to watch as things unfold but its more as a sort of voyeur almost :) At some point you just have to treat it as what it is a sad historical event playing out in real time. The "real world" or what happens next has already started to grow and form it does not take much to find a way to turn your back on the last of the historical melodrama and focus on the future. I'll admit I still watch out of morbid interest but mentally and even physically I've already moved on to look past todays events as best I can. Plenty of places to find your niche in the transition town movement. I'd say about the only reason I still write is in vain hope that perhaps Obama might go on national TV and explain to all Americans how badly we have screwed up and give us a chance of taking our lumps and getting through to something real and sustainable or crashing. Crazily enough I have this small hope that he will default on the dollar stop all the insanity dismantle the Fed and help America refocus on itself and its closet neighbors. In the end the only solution is for US to follow in the footsteps of Japan and effectively seal ourselves off from the world and let our absence both give us a chance to heal and the world a chance to succeed or fail with out either our help or meddling. Sure it means we default on our current obligations and it will hurt like hell but its not deadly we and the world would survive and eventually once the wounds heal prosper again. But thats just the nation doing what the transition town movement is doing so why not start early and hope that the nation will follow ? Bwaha. Cold is bad because efficiency is related to differences in temperatures. When the phase transition occurs, the area gets cold and efficiency plummets. Compressed nitrogen is loads better than condensed. Majorian can explain it to you. I suggest you straddle a LN2 cannister and take a sledgehammer to the nozzle. If you have it pointed in the right direction and hold on tight, you have a remote chance of making it to the moon. Good luck. Bwaha squared. LOL That would get you the worlds fastest ice rink. I've poured LN2 over the floor many times. It cool as hell of the top of my head I forget the effect but you get a gas barrier forming and it literally dances over the floor. It not cheap so I never dumped a full container but you should get a killer ice rink. Need to resurface just dump some more. Dang can't remember the name of the effect you can get it with water and a hot griddle also arghhh google is not helping. And generally there is no nozzle just a foam cork and that is generally open to allow boil off. And of course this highlights things that modern engineers miss cold is very very useful as much as energy itself. All kinds of processes use cold not to mention storing food. Getting energy out the other in is really a freebie. And forget about electricity why ? Use air powered motors. 200 psi is more than enough to power tons of other uses say a full machine shop. The machine shop itself can make everything locally for the entire system given the right alloys even bearings if you had to. Your actual electrical usage is down to your telecomunications gear and a few lights. And compressed air can make heat .. Hot enough to boil water. Obviously you can condense all the clean water you want so theres your water supply no contamination no disease. I just outlined a way a community could live a very nice lifstyle with all the amenities of our modern homes with practically no electricity only if you want light bulbs and computers. If you don't want those then none is needed and except for a few air powered motors readily created except for a few bearing by any machine shop your done. And the shop itself can avoid large castings for its tools using concrete or even stone or synthetic stone for the beds leaving just the fixtures for a single lath and mill and the required tools as input. Certainly lots of knowledge needs to be transmitted and skills acquired but with some fairly small inputs a farming village in India could dramatically increase its standard of living on its own rivaling if not better combined with other concepts the "American Dream". Obviously I don't see a lot of reason for using much electricity outside of lights if you want them and things like computers and televisions which can be made very energy efficient. I'm not aware of a good non electrical source of lighting but certainly its doable just I think no one has really looked. Obviously good old fire works. But once your down to your computer and lights as all that requires electricity then I'd say who cares. PV and some air power are more than enough to power these use cases esp with some more work on efficiency. Of course since its not efficient for generating electricity there is no sense in thinking about what could be done with LN2 to create a enhanced high quality lifestyle so ... Its actually a bit sad that people today don't think a lot about how to create all the creature comforts you could want doing away with almost all of the crap we have made today. Turns out 99% of it can be tossed out the window if you think about it a bit. And this is not even considering passive solar homes simple solar water heaters etc etc etc. Other paths exist that may very well prove to be better than the ones our society and civilization chose. I've reached the point that now I see electrical generation as a very minor need that can be met in any number of ways. So while everyone else runs off and tries to figure out how to make electricity to power their EV's to their electrical everything McMansion I'll follow in the path of the Amish and hopefully extend the road they are taking. Unfortunately I have to respond to the software comment my full name is Michael Emmel it won't take you long to find the software I've written. Try WebKit and Michael Emmel or Gtk DirectFB Michael Emmel or Cairo and of course DirectFB be careful about laughing at people without googling and theres a lot more back in the past with Java. I ported Java to NeXT so ... Digging I actually found my first big project sniff been a long time. I love it because I wrote a complete way to call any native code on the platform entirely in the Java language. Most people would claim this is impossible but most people don't think outside the box. I hate to bring this up but I've been making very significant contributions to open source for years most of it for no monetary compensation. Of course you could have googled anytime you wanted and figured this out my damn email address is splattered everywhere in a crap load of open source :( Hacking is a very noble hobby. Given some of my code is used in this project and similar ones. I'd say its a lot more than a noble hobby. I hope that I've helped change someones life for the better. Opensource software has helped a lot of people around the world from poor children to providing a platform for programmers after the Soviet Union self destructed. I work with many people from the FSU who where able to turn their lives around working on linux and eventually getting well paying programing jobs. Linux is helping untold numbers of software engineers in China and India to advance their understanding of real software to the point they can compete with US programmers on par. Not just cheap programming labor but first class talent. They command top salaries in their home countries and this pulls up their peers salaries and encourages more to learn how to really program and not just go to the right school as its done in Asia. If they don't get paid they go to a country that will pay them for their abilities. And these are not H1B's fresh off the boat that don't know jack. Its globalization done the right way with equality and choice amongst people with equal talents. You can call it a hobby if you wish but this means you don't understand the political aspect theres a lot more to it than that and its the reason why people write open source. Programming a computer happens to be one of the few professions possible in many parts for the world regardless of who you are with a reasonable investment. Its provided a road out of poverty for many and open source has and will continue to be a political movement. This hobby has already upset America's stranglehold on software and its not even close to its goals. In fact its starting to dawn on many that open source developers are not just hobbyists we know exactly what we want to achieve and have already accomplished a lot. Its no just hacker software any more its hardware and industrial software like CAD/CAM systems etc database the list is endless. One example of many and this is just one CNC package. A hobby ? Hell a good bit of the "establishment" now runs on our communist anti-commercialism rabidly political software. The US government cannot afford to piss of the open source hobbyists these days. Your new filing technique is unstoppable. WHT, Memmel DOES tend to ramble but electrons ARE cheap-and there are some real nuggets in there sometimes. Open source software is one of them-in the past copy righted programs were really worth the money but nowadays the free stuff is capable of handling most day to day computing needs just fine-and the savings for people who need only the basics can be huge. I have little doubt that before too long open source will be taught in conjunction with copy right stuff such as Microsoft and Mac put out-the time is right.There are lots of businesses paying out MEGAbucks for Windows simply because thier employees haven't learned Linux -YET. That dam will break one day and you will have to have your introductory os course under your belt to get a clerical job thereafter. Of course Bill Gates marketing people are among the best and they may manage to hold onto thier near monopoly for a while yet. The problem is that Emmel used that open-source rant as an "appeal to authority". This is one of the oldest tricks in the rhetorical book. I knew right away that his appeal had nothing to do with the argument at hand, so I just had to mock him. A safety alert is in order for nitrogen, liquid or gas. It is very easy to get asphyxiated with nitrogen because it is odorless. All that is required is for the oxygen level to fall below 15% from the normal 20.95% and breathing it will cause unconsciousness. As a process engineer I always tested the air in enclosed spaces before allowing workers to enter. At a facility in Arkansas a worker stuck his head through a manhole in a tank and inhaled a couple of breaths of low oxygen air and collapsed in front of fellow workers who were unable to revive him. I am not crazy about using EROI for comparing one fuel with another, because their use is really part of a system, and that has not really been evaluated. But if one does look at EROIs, the one that is far and away better than the others is coal, at 80. The high EROI implies that this is a place we are getting quite a bit of our net energy from. If we decide we don't want this net energy (very possibly for good reason), it is going to be a lot harder (and more expensive in terms of energy) to get the net energy elsewhere. The high EROI of coal implies that a very high price must be put on carbon emissions, in order for coal production to shift to other fuel sources. The EROI table would seem to suggest that with a cap and trade system, coal use would shift to the next lower EROI, which is wind, but I think coal use would shift to the next lower cost (in the US) energy source, which is natural gas. (For wind, I don't think EROI picks up major parts of the costs, including financing and necessary add-ons to the transmission system, so it is not really comparable to the other EROIs.) So we are talking about going from an EROI of 80 for coal to an EROI of about 10 for natural gas. This is a huge drop. It is not clear that we have enough natural gas to replace coal either. I wish there were a good solution. With debt becoming harder and harder to get in the future, I think both wind and nuclear will be increasingly out of reach. No and I can prove it. The total amount of energy we can get out of an energy resource is Eo + Einv. Ebase resource x DE direct efficiency = Eo + Einv Eo/Einv=EROI; EROI ranges from 1 to infinity(EROI less than 1 is net energy negative). Therefore Eo/Ebr = (EROI x DE direct efficiency)/(EROI+1)= OE overall efficiency. If EROI = 1 then OE = DE/2. If EROI = infinity then OE = DE. So the effect of falling EROI is to reduce the conversion efficiency of base resources to E output to up to 50% (at EROI =1). If we can increase our direct efficiency then we can get by fuel produced by low but net energy EROI sources. The limitations on increasing direct efficiency is due to our reliance on heat engines to produce mechanical work where theoretical efficiency is determined by temperature differences according to Carnot's law direct efficiency of turning heat differences into work is DE = (Thot-Tcold)/Thot. In order to raise direct efficiency you must raise the operating temperature but the physical limitations of materials is the problem. Batteries and fuel cells are not heat engines but do require inputs of 'finished energy' to work. Wind and solar PV also are not heat engines but have physical limitations as well. EROI lowers the overall efficiency OE by up to 50%. So the effect of 500 billion barrels of oil at an EROI of infinity would be the same as 250 billion barrels at an EROI of 1. Considering the huge amounts of oil sands about(600 Gb?), oil shale(800 Gb?) and heavy oil(400 Gb?) it seems logical that they will be developed assuming 'complexity' doesn't do use in. resources I welcome any paper that you write or have written discussing the problems with EROI, my email is attainable through this website, but I do not understand what you are showing in the above mathematically relation (please don't write a 1000 word post explaining so - put it in more formal writing and email it to me, thanks!). Sorry, I'm not understanding how this assertion could be true. The system stops working well far sooner than when we reach an EROEI of 1. The only reason we are using biofuels that are this low is because they are piggybacking on an infrastructure that was created with energy sources far higher than an EROEI of 1. Despite your math and your claim that Dave's comment doesn't hold, in the real world such practical considerations make a difference. In my view, Dave's statement is entirely valid: What Majorian is saying is that theoretically you can bootstrap the process. For example, say hypothetically we created a nanotech replicator that works by feeding on the energy it finds (this has other problems, see Bill Joy's "gray goo" problem). No humans are involved so that no money is involved. Financial considerations are irrelevant. All that matters is the physics of Carnot engines and thermodynamic efficiencies that Majorian mentions. Profits are automatic. QED. Of course the reality of this borders on the South Park underpants profit scheme, but so be it. Theoretically it is a real possibility. High school algebra is bootstrapping? Hooboy. WHT, You are dangerous. Algebraically removing the effects of money? Afaik, the Carnot cycle only applies to situations where you convert one energy form to another (say heat to mechanical movement to/or electricity). If you use the heat that is not converted by this conversion for heating greenhouses, houses, or industrial processes that can do with low heat sources then the efficiencies can get much higher. That's why modern power plants start to use the combined heat and power CHP method. In the Netherlands in some places even the CO2 from the burning of FF is fed to greenhouses which makes some plants grow faster and yield higher production. The definition specifically refers to work, i.e. force applied along a distance. Since changes of temperature is just a difference in entropy then of course the application of the law differs. Natalie Angier's book is The Canon change made :) The EROI table is telling; I found that especially useful. I suspect the EROI on coal may be artificially high, however, as the world depletes high-grade coal and moves toward coals with a lower BTU content; I'm speaking specifically of the importance the Gillette field plays in our current base-load power generation as it displaces the energy-dense (and depleting) Appalachian coal. It will be even lower as cap-and-trade comes into play, or we seek to sequester the carbon dioxide generated by coal combustion. My point (and I am biased against fossil fuels) is that one's instinct may be to support coal to maximize EROI. However, given that much of our coal reserves aren't as energy dense as they were in the past and are located in increasingly difficult terrain, I think our efforts would best be put towards developing technology to increase the EROI of nuclear and renewables closer to the 18:1 or 20:1 ratio. speaking of coal on that table....the magnitude value looks low. Is "mine mouth" specific to hard rock (or whatever non-strip mining is called?). The units look like work to to convert to tonnage, but the fact that coal is the same as wind (5 EJ) and slightly more than half of nuclear is puzzling. I don't have the sources at hand but it's said that one of the most expensive renewable sources of energy, PV, has an energy payback time of about one year. Now, assuming that a solar panel will continue to produce renewable energy for another 30+ years with only very little maintenance, it is without a doubt that PV has one of the highest EROI available: +/- 30. So why does that table only show 6.5? Production of ever thinner cells, thin film, higher levels of automation, roll to roll, and other positive scale factors makes the EROI increase every year (in contrast to all conventional energy sources). At the same time price will go down because of the same factors. It seems to me that it's not a question of if PV will become one of the most important primary energy sources but when. Absolute true. Electric energie helds by fare more exergy than for example chemical energie in crude (with by fare more anergy), it is allready no prob to build an electric car, perhaps it may not run 100 mph for 500 miles and it will cost a little more (but with a declining cap) than a conventional car... It will be absolute no prob (but not with the american suburb lifestyle) to support even 10 billion by solar-energy (the true problem - as i statet in another post - is not overpopulation but dysgenic tendencies). Also an electric harvester does his job, maybe a little less efficient or better said a little less fast but not sooo much poorer. I know this will not work with airplanes but for that special task there will be at least some BTL or in the end (2050+) fluid hydrogen made of solar power. The problem is infact the storage of wind- and solar-energie when the winds are low and there is allready night. Maybe this (see link) or hydrogen-cells will be a solution but we actually have no adequate awnser - thats not so nice... Sorry Majorian, I don't get that. ERoEI is straight physics, either side of the see-saw. I get scared every time infinity or zero get introduced into a discussion, especially a comparative one... You seem to be saying that at any rate of energy gain, it is worth extracting energy. Fair enough in a physical sense, but not with our current fiscal constructs, and not with sequestration done properly. Just like Lehman Bros, you run(with exponential rapidity)into the law of diminishing returns :) Good post David, this is what most have been battling with for the past years. There's always some thing "X" that should change the game according to people who haven't thought about PO that hard. It's difficult to argue against some simple "X", when you own argument is systemic, and not always distillable to a single five word sound-bite. One way of going about this could be the classic Popper style falsification with ruthless Feynman style: try to prove yourself wrong as fast as possible. Hard data, models, systems models and probability analysis. In fact, I'd like to see a good, well-researched group-think post on debunking Peak oil from us at TOD. Not from naysayers, not from CERA, but the cream of the crop of people at TOD. Yes, we've been doing it on-and-off here and there for the past year. But not as a concentrated and focused group effort. If somebody should know enough peak oil data to debunk it, it should be the most knowledgeable and analytic peak oil people themselves. They just need to methodologically put on a devil's advocate hat and start shooting all sorts of probability holes in the theories. Once those are done, some really distilled gems of counter-arguments may emerge against the debunking arguments. Good models, nice graphs, clear metaphors, some single sentence PR rebuttals that will drop Daniel Yergin's heart an inch the next time he starts talking about P3 reserves and P/R ratios or some other silliness. Anybody up for this game? And before anybody misreads, no this does not mean that I've started a yearly subscription to CERA or that I've become a 'creamy-nugget-core-of-abiotic-oil' convert :) SamuM "Know thy enemy" JK Could be a good post - a compilation of the top ten arguments against PO or something like that... I've started this process with Part 2 of my video "Rebuttals." I expect to keep expanding it and I'm very open to new rebuttals that should be included. For the moment they are going beneath the video player as a note until I begin work on Version 3.0 of the video, which will be sometime in the new year. The most convincing rebuttal to me is simply the uncertainty of what is under the ground in many countries and many areas. Related to this is the likelihood that companies and corporations are not giving completely accurate data, for various reasons. This of course can cut both ways. Most PO'ers recognize that the sudden major "adjustments" in reserve estimates of OPEC countries in the '80s strongly suggests hanky panky. But what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander--if we base our doom partly on likely inaccuracies, others may well claim that countries and companies could have something to gain by understating the amount of oil they have. I can think of a variety of counterarguments, but when you are dealing with basic distrust of the data, articulate argumentation gets tricky. Hi, dohboi. I wouldn't go down that path, myself. I've always had the view that there is now more than enough data to go on to draw some conclusions. I think a lot of people (I'm not saying you) use the line "well, there isn't enough data to go on so we should do nothing" more as a way to get away with being lazy or because they see that their position can't be supported. Both are quite common. It's not easy to call someone on being lazy without them getting their knickers in a knot, so generally it's a successful technique on their part to kill the inquiry. One has to be in a teacher or coaching role (or the boss) to be able to get away with telling someone "stop being lazy, let's dig into the numbers." Without that relationship, the person will become quite testy and defend their view to the death despite knowing full well that the real reason they are saying there isn't enough data is because the answer will take some work to get to and they can't be bothered. It seems the UK Energy Research Centre in their recent report has the same take on things as I do: Good point, and I really appreciate all your work. I plan to use some of it with students. My post was in the spirit of answering the question, "What kinds of reservations might (at least marginally) reasonable people raise when they first hear about peak oil?" I think our assumptions are correct, but I know many people deeply distrust the oil industry in general (often for good reason), and specific countries in particular (particularly Saudi Arabia, not the least given that bin Laden and most of the 9/11 crew were Saudis). My main take away from Simmons work is more that we do not know what is under the Saudi sands than that we know for sure that their productive capacity is at a certain point. The kind of proxy data we have to depend on may be convincing for you and me, but it is an area where reasonably reasonable people may have at least some serious questions. Thanks again for all your great work. You're welcome. The goal of the video is to put in one place a coherent narrative that hits enough of the main points that a generally open minded person would be persuaded that peak oil is both imminent and a problem. It won't persuade everyone but such is life. (We're still arguing over climate change, for lord's sake.) Thanks André. I've looked and sent to others your videos. They are clear, concise and illustrative. Your work is excellent, thanks for sharing! What I'm after is perhaps something more quantitative, decision-maker based all-out debunking (and subsequent rebuttals to these), sub-divided into parts: 1) URR - I think this theme is well-discussed quantitatively during the past 10 years and can be summarized using various different results and then applying probability analysis to show the range and probability density function. Should be the easiest to complete. All it needs is data compiling and some runs of basic functions. 2) Flow rate. We know this is what it's all about, but the opinions on this differ, depending on how people weigh post-peak decline rates, EOR, investments, pricing, volatility, etc. A simple price/investment/cost/volatility/demand model might suffice. That's 5 variables. Based on a stock model from 1 of course. 3) Exportability. This is of course what mattes to most of OECD and to China + India as well. ELM could be a starting point here, but again, the approach would perhaps need to be more probabilistic and needs as an input no.2 at the very least. 4) Investments. This is the favourite area of IEA (since 2008) and Matt Simmons. How much does it cost, what is the time horizon, risks, incentives, etc. Again IEA / Hirsch (DOE) figures could be a starting point, but need more variance in there along with some probability weighting (how?). 5) Economic price impact. This is more about oil price demand elasticity, price to gdp ratio-threshold for economic growth, demand adjustment vs demand destruction and volatility. Again, perhaps using historical data from 70s and the recent spike as a starting point. Not much of a data source to sample, but better than nothing. Based on this, one could give safer ranges, show what kind of shocks economy can tolerate for how long, etc. 6) Savings / alternatives scaling. This should be fairly easy and I'd probably just use bio-physical limits (land area, biomass) and efficiency ceilings (biomass to liquids conversion eff max) as the ultimate limiter rather than going to endless economic price fights about probability. In the end the outcome at max will probably be so small in terms of flow rate anyway that it doesn't matter in the scale of things. Would be happy to be proven wrong by this exercise though. Everything below those is the most likely outcome. 7) Gap consequences. This is for the policy wonks. Not so much about price per se, but more about loss of availability of fuel and petroleum products in general. Drop speed, magnitude and timing compared to daily operations of a society and against economic growth. Again, there is some scenario work on this already, but haven't seen probabilistic models on this. That's roughly seven sub-areas. One can then walk a decision maker through them one-by-one. Of course, ideally at least the biggest feedbacks, esp. negative ones would need to be factored in (for debunking purposes). It is a system after all. Some people here (can't find the posts now) have already proposed something like this several times. These are not my ideas - I'm just pulling stuff together from many sources (you know who you are). This would be a fairly sizeable undertaking. I don't have the skills or the time to complete that kind of thing myself. But I would be willing to participate and work as free slave labour for the common good though. But it calls for a project leader with a better big picture view than I have and more analytical-statistical skills. The trouble is, where do we find one - or does anybody else thinks this would be a worthwhile effort to begin with. I fully understand those people who are now diverting the time they are using more towards preparation, practical arrangements and post-peak planning/education in general. One could of course just start with one. After all I think (1) is pretty much completed, it just took way too long to get there. We need to accelerate the other 6 if we are ever to make the point across in terms of decision making. Is there such a need for decision makers? After having talked to some local national people in the know about these issues recently, I do think that they are not properly informed on the subject and their ability to do robust decision making on this issue is severely limited. In plain English: they are flying blind based on historical altimeter readings about energy, feeling pretty hopeful there won't be a mountain anywhere near the horizon. To me, hope is not a strategy. Hi, SamuM. I think that some of the debunking areas you mention are good to look at (the investments and alternatives scaling in particular), and I'm likely to tackle those in Version 3.0. My challenge now is to keep the video a "reasonable" length and not too techy. It's already getting into the techy zone with R/P ratios. Personally, I have no trouble making the case with a bit of math (trained as an engineer), but most people's tolerance for math is very, very low. If you do get your project going and treat each topic in depth (a good idea), I think it would appeal just to people comfortable with numbers. Now, that's still a lot of people and they have to come onside eventually because the people uncomfortable with numbers (sometimes) defer to their judgement. The other really big problem with explaining our energy predicament is that it's, well, a really big problem. It's taken me years to get my arms around everything there is to know well enough to discern what is important to talk about and what isn't. Add to that that everyone thinks they are an expert in energy and it's a very, very steep hill to climb to get them to see something new. I am all for this. The way I see it, what gets us in trouble is using heuristics taken from equations that describe the wrong problem. These are basically sunk-cost heuristics that we are afraid to debunk because it makes us look indecisive, and we have invested too much in trying to defend them. Unfortunately, as you say, that is not the way that science works. Science works by questioning itself and reinventing itself when necessary. Plus you are right, I see absolutely no probability analysis. You mentioned Richard Feynman; well, he essentially lived in the world of probabilities and was able to demonstrate the most amazing results, and moreover he educated an entire generation at how to think differently about a problem. As I found out earlier in this thread, the field of Geostatistics seems particularly misguided about how to interpret probability and statistics. I wrote this up. “The quantity of oil, gas, coal, or any other energy bearing resource that is left in the Earth is not the question, all that matters is that portion that can be exploited at a significant energy profit.” It is profit that matters, not energy profit, though of course, zero energy return does imply a profit of less than zero (i.e. a net economic loss). Suppose we had two reservoirs of energy one of magnitude M which could be exploited at EROI=20 throughout it life time and a second reservoir of magnitude 2M which could be exploited at EROI=2 throughout its lifetime. The first reservoir will provide us 0.95M units of net energy and the second will provide us 1.0M units of net energy. What determines whether the second reservoir is economically exploitable and the rate at which we are likely to exploit it? This question cannot be answered without knowing the total resource cost of exploitation including non-energy inputs. If the value of the non-energy resources expended is equal to the value of the net energy gained then we are economically dead in the water. You cannot determine the profitability from energy balance alone even in lowest order. If you make the assumption that the associated non-energy resources which are consumed along with a unit of input energy are of equal value for different energy production processes, then you can you use the ratio of net energy to input energy (NEROI=EROI-1) as a figure of merit for the resource productivity. For example if one energy process combined 10 hours of labor with 1GJ of energy to produce 2GJ (EROI=2) of energy then the labor productivity is 0.1GJ(Net)/hour. If a second process combines 1GJ of energy with 10 hours of labor to produce 10GJ (EROI=10) then the labor productivity is 0.9GJ(Net)/hour. The productivity of the second process is 9 times greater than that of the first not, five times greater as would be suggested by using EROI as a figure of merit. However, the assumption that the value of the non-energy inputs is related to the input energy by a universal multiplicative constant is incorrect. For example the high opportunity costs of water consumption used by CSP plants in the desert might economically outweigh energy balance considerations when comparing this method of energy production to some method which uses a less scarce resource. The value of the non-energy inputs is not a second order effect. If you think so then you have not thought through the problem carefully. Roger,You have made some good points here. I have a couple off topic questions relevant to some eroi problems. Somebody here should know the answers. Could only partially treated(solids and maybe some solutes filtered out) waste water be used to cool cpv power installations in part or in total? This might make a considerable difference in both the energy budget and in the financial budget of such an installation. I am also wondering if a desalination plant can be operated on intermittent power(wind) without damaging the equipment or taking so long to ramp uo and down that only base load power works satisfactorily. If a desalination plant can be operated at varying power input levels it would be a good way to use up any excess renewable energy which will be available from time to time, especially from the wind but maybe also from csp later on.. No particular reason you can't do pumped storage with salt water. I'm not sure about the utility of a desalination plant in general. Your probably better off with some sort of very simple thermal/solar distillation solution. Maybe a Coupled with evaporation of ponds of salt water at the base and natural cloud/condensation at the top if its tall enough. Effectively a man made rain cloud. Hot humid air enters at the bottom and condenses at the top.... The ponds themselves or some of them could also be of the salt gradient form..... The solar tower itself could double as a water tank/pumped storage i.e the top of the tower could be your almost traditional water tank with a hole in the middle and the large mass of water would certainly help cool the rising column of moist air its just a glorified condenser. Done correctly you might even get most of the condensation to occur above the tank and its basic gravity feed off brush like collectors into the tank no mechanical pumps. This probably means the bottom half or so of the tank is insulated from the tower with the heat exchangers near the top. This means you probably need some sort of simple swamp cooler like setup on the top. You might be able to get away with using variants of the capillary effect to cool. Other possibilities exist. A super simple and neat way to create a pump can be done using a simple water bottle. Fill a bottle with water and plug the end with a paper towel and hang it upside down. Overtime as the water evaporates a decent vacuum forms which can be used to power anything. If your condensation results in a net water gain then this is automatic no moving parts. The air for evaporation of the vacuum system could be the cold dry air above the condensation zone and this could even be feed back down the tower and across the evaporation ponds if its worth it. The whole thing if done right would set there and do its thing maybe for centuries with little maintenance. Perhaps not the most efficient solution but dead simple cheap materials and low maintenance. Memmel, Thanks these are interesting ideas that I can understand in principle-whether they are financially feasible and scalable I have no idea. My basic idea concerning my original question was to find out if desalination can be effectively coupled with intermittent wind and solar power -there will eventually be an occasional surplus of both in some places near big cities with major water problems-such as southern California. Any short term excess of desalinated water could be pumped into a reservoir and would thus serve as a defacto battery-of course if the reservoir were locted in such a place that t could be used to generate some pumped hrdo power that would be another plus. I don't know if a suitable reservoir exists in southern California. But there must be a number of places in this country where any temporary excess wind and solar power can be used to pump water efficiently, thereby helping justify the expense of the installations. It would be interesting to see a reasonably comprehensive list made up of ways to use such temporary surpluses effectively. Another way that might be cost effective would be to heat a large amount of stored water inside large buildings such as hotels which could them be distributed as hot water to the kitchen and rooms or even circulated thru radiators during the winter. I have a feeling that lots of such schemes that are currently not practical will make good sense in the fairly near future. If for instance you are building a new house it might pay to excavate the basement a few feet over size and install insulation three or four feet away from the walls, thereby enclosing many cubic yards of back fill.Any excess output from a solar system either thermal or electrical could be used to heat this backfill and thereby greatly reduce the amount of purchased energy needed to heat the house. Or a smart grid could feed wind generated electricity into the system during off peak hours, heating the fill,thereby leveling the heating load of the house-it might be possible to use off peak wind to supply the entire heating load if the heat sink is large enough-say big enough for a whole week. I have had some first hand experience with excavation work and there is no reason that creating such a heat sink should cost a great deal if the ground is favorable. Some neat ideas tonight, Mac. Your desal (and Memmel's) seems like it might invite being comprised of numerous smaller units which can start/stop with less individual inertia, all contributing individually to the water supply. For heating storage, it might make sense to excavate the cellar space and leave bulkhead access for another storage medium, like water, oil or glycol. Up here in Maine, people are getting rid of their oil tanks, and I only wish I had enough yardspace to extend the basement for a five-hundred to a thousand gallons of heatsink like that.. of course, the soil is already there, and free, and doesn't leak, so the loss of a bit of energy-density comes at a great savings.. Hi Johkul, Living in an existing house can definitely put some limits on your options.We own a considerable amount of land but our house is situated close to the property line and we are in bad shape for morning sun especially in the winter, and there are shade trees on the west side that are worth more keeping us cool here than the output of a roof mounted solar system, considering that we would have to cut the trees and build the system. We heat with wood and use only fifty to seventy five gallons of oil per year to back up the wood heat.Space is tight inside the house but I'm trying to figure out a way to use the wood stove to preheat our domestic hot water without running a lot of pipes and taking up living space. A while back I tried an experiment with a little homemade wood stove that I made out of piece of ten inch diameter pipe years ago-it is about eighteen inches high , has tripod legs, and a hinged top that must be raised to put in wood or take out the ashes,as well as a built in chimney about two feet high.I made it years ago out of scrap between times on a winter time welding construction job and we used it warm up and make coffee and so forth-you can put a pot or frying pan on the top, which is flat. So we were doing some insulating in the barn and I decided what the hell-lets see how long she will stay hot ON TOP on one charge of wood if we INSULATE the bottom and sides. So we filled her up and then we wrapped her up in fiberglass-the stuff most people call rock wool-and fastened the insulation with a few turns of tie wire-the whole job took only fifteen minutes or so.Set the draft at about a third of the normal opening and put a pot of water to boil on her. I estimate from this down and dirty experiment that insulating a wood stove -except for the cooking surface of course-can effectively cut the amount of fuel needed for cooking by half or more-and at the same time the cook would be much more comfortable if the weather is warm or hot. Maybe some of the do gooder organizations will pick up on this idea and incorporate it into the stoves they are sending to the third world where fuel is really scarce. Of course they may already be doing this-but a few minutes spent searching the subject leads me to think they aren't. Why limit yourself to installing solar panels on the roof? Perhaps just have a solar gazebo instead, where it is sunny?... I don't think it can be made that small. All its really doing is capturing a rising thermal and its based on dropping air pressure. This means tall at least ten stories or so just guessing. That tall or taller by definition cannot be small. It would be designed a bit differently from the cooling towers often used with nuclear reactors but would be on a similar scale. Smaller scale designs would probably have to use some other way to condense the water. And of course it all depends on the input temperature. You could probably make a decent test rig with just pvc pipe and some plastic sheet. I'm in Oregon and right now water is not exactly a issue and sunshine is rare :) Here is a very simple variant same basic idea.... However there is no air flow in the small designs and to get the flow you need a chimney to get the water to condense before the air exists the chimney means some sort of condenser. If you have the water stored at the top aka a water tank then you get both and your using the thermal energy to both pump the water and desalinate it. As far as other solutions such as reverse osmosis etc they are expensive the filters are far from cheap the electrical equipment etc etc. This is something that can be built with one professional and a lot of unskilled labor. I suspect brick would work or better tile. This method creates some impressive and light vaults however I can't see why with some simple modifications you could not also create a very tall tower out of nothing but clay tiles. Potentially the heating area could be done using black tile vaults over the water also. The tiles themselves could potentially be fired in a solar kiln. Obviously you can keep on making tiles after your evaporator is done. These could be used for example to make sealed water piped and with some thought I suspect you could create a drip irrigation system. Outside of knowledge and excessing the right clays and other materials and whatever you need to build the kilns the rest is local resources and labor. The concept is very similar to ancient designs. In effect almost the reverse of the windcatchers. Natural wind and a good design could make it even easier to make. You have to work through the engineering and put the numbers in but is very doable. And your talking a structure that would last for centuries or longer with little or no maintenance. Might as well stick in another idea I've been rolling around :) Instead of using mortars I've been thinking about creating a brick that has a frit edge or porous edge. This can be done by mixing in sawdust and firing the brick the organic matter burns away and leaves pores. Next the fun part you mix up some thermite And soak our paint the brick edges. Place the brick where you want it and then set off the thermite. Normally the is done with magnesium but I bet it can be done with concentrate solar energy aka a magnifying glass. This will melt the porous part of the brick or tile and create whats effectively a ceramic weld. Hopefully very strong. Only the aluminum needed is a bit of a issue but not really these days and of course its a fairly small amount overall. Of course being a chemist I've carried the idea to and extreme and having actually come up with a valid reason to make thermite generally you do it for no reason at all :) If this works I'm thinking about slap welded bricks. After the thermite layer is put on you paint with a thin layer of aluminum perchlorate maybe even mix in a touch of magnesium :) Set the brick or tile in place ( fast before it dries ) then you just wack it with a hammer and off it goes. Of course there are some saftey issues to work out with the last method but having come up with a valid reason to make both thermite and aluminum perchlorate I have to be on to something :)... Now to extend the concept to make fluorine perchlorate mentioned in the article I'm getting there :) Assuming you survive the experimental stage I suspect that thermal welding of ceramics using the right materials might prove to be a route to allow the creation of super strong structures with fairly primitive methods. Do you say every little inconsequential thing that pops in to your head? I scan just to find the non-sequitors. Larry King: "Kumquats... Now there's a weird fruit!" Groan ... Cement and mortars are a huge usage of both energy and significant source of C02 pollution. Bricks even simple sun dried ones are easy enough to make. I feel a solar kiln is doable. However mortar turns out to be problematic. Moving away from traditional solutions is certainly worthy of research. And this. A nice description of frit bonding its not exactly unknown and used in all kinds of industrial processes. The nice thing about frit bonding is its "natural" if you can figure out how to melt the frit. Thermite :) Replacing a large scale fuel intensive industrial process with one that only depends on aluminum most often made via hydroelectric power is not a bad thing to think about. Frit bonding is something that to my knowledge has not been explored for building applications because of the required temperatures. Thermite is the simplest way to create a high temperature over a region certainly literally gobs of other choices exist but they are more complex to manufacture. And its not exactly a new idea just the application. And no it did not just pop in my head I'm aware of all of these facts. My original concept was to simply used focused light on the frit but this does not seem viable for anything but the thinnest frit bond. The thermite approach which works makes it in my opinion worth talking about. And more important the entire point is there are plenty of other ways to do things from the way we do them today. Lots and lots of ways to solve problems. Glueing bricks together in and evironmentally distributed technology way that does not need heavy industry or lots of fuel is one of the basic problems it would be nice to have and alternative approach for. Of course plenty of other choices also exist but like I said they many times are either fuel intensive or require advanced expensive synthetic compounds. Developing a way that a poor subsistence farmer could build strong walls with local resources is a problem that I'm concerned about and its important. Given that billions live in squalor now and many more might be joining them working out ways they can create a good life for themselves is in my opinion important. And although it may not sound like much gluing bricks together is a big problem. If this approach say only turned out to work for creating a solid floor to replace packed dirt in huts the increased hygiene alone could save thousands of lives. Frit bonding could or could not be the solution damn sure worth a try. Memmel, being the great open-source coder that he is, essentially has written a software automaton that responds with drivel any comment that is directed at it. Let's see how it works this time. WHT, I find your comment snarky and uncalled for (IMHO) and better left unsaid. Huh? What bee is up your bonnet? I enjoy reading memmel's posts. I don't always agree with everything but often he looks in places others don't. I don't agree with anything he says. On one post this week, I took apart every paragraph he wrote and basically debunked every statement he made (save maybe one). I wish someone was as harsh with the stuff I write, it eventually makes the argument more solid. However, it only works if the underlying argument holds some promise. Unfortunately, nothing that Memmel writes make sense at any level. If you can dig up a reasoned piece, let me know. There are lots of things that he has said that makes sense. But I have no intention of engaging you in this because your ego is clearly what is doing the talking right now and there is no real conversation possible when that's the case. When you get off your high horse I'm happy to have a conversation. My ego only talks when it gets bruised. So far that ain't happening. Most people confuse confidence with ego, and they fear to engage with someone who shows confidence. Look at how all the Rethugs quake in their boots when someone like Alan Grayson shows up. You can say that Grayson has a big ego or you can say that he is confident in his approach. I believe the latter. I won't let crap like Memmel flings around go unchallenged. His unremitting white noise is just as bad as if we had a cornucopian going wild on this forum without someone challenging him. Wind powered reverse osmosis desalination plants are highly feasible and are being developed in use in various areas that lack drinkable water. You don't need batteries or backup diesel generators because you can just store the desalinated water until needed. You can even leave out the electrical generator and drive the reverse osmosis unit directly off the wind turbine. Here's an article about a pilot project in West Texas that can produce 30,000 gallons per day of drinking water from brackish ground water: Here's an article about a Dutch direct-drive unit with no electrical generator:... There are some areas of this discussion where I THINK I am clear on and others that I would love help on. Clear: The U.S. in particular has now shown the world a poor example in increasing the money supply and debt to keep citizens happy. The world is learning (China's recent stimulus was larger than the U.S. stimulus) that they can print money also. Of course other countries would figure this out. Clear: The U.S. along with many countries has inordinate debt, currently 53 trillion and growing, and when other countries are unwilling to continue to lend (which will happen)to the U.S., the U.S. will monetize the debt, creating inflation, so the debt can be paid off with cheaper dollars. Also, it is always more politically expedient to have inflation than unemployment. Interestingly reporting on M3, some say the best measure of total liquid funds, was simply discontinued recently. Clear: Weak currencies and inflation will make energy more expensive in some countries than others. The price may go up everywhere but relatively much more in countries with weak currencies. This along with our inordinate energy useage will force relatively more change in the U.S. This is also likely why the dollar and oil are now so inversly tied togeather, a likely continuing negative feedback loop in terms of the price of oil in dollars. Unclear/anyone who can help would be appreciated: The cost estimates I see on natural gas are all over the map. Credit Suisse had a recent estimate that $7 was required to cover costs and a reasonable profit margin and $13 for shale gas. On the other hand I keep on hearing about companies that say they can make a profit, even on shale gas, at perhaps $4, can anyone help? Just entered the numbers for US (imported) oil from this table into Excel, plotted a chart, and got a worrying picture. Year - EROI 1930 - 100 1970 - 30 1999 - 35 2005 - 18 2007 - 12 The chart predicts that EROI on imported oil will hit rock bottom (0) before 2012 if nothing changes and you just follow the trend. That means that the US might be able to still import oil and use the energy in that oil but that the world is draining energy if it keeps exporting to the US. The US economy is being kept on life support, courtesy of the creditors (especially foreign creditors) who are funding our federal deficit. A question I have posed before: What happens when our foreign creditors decide that our high levels of oil consumption represent a bigger threat to the creditor countries than the benefit they get from selling us stuff (which we are basically buying with vendor financing)? "what if they decided to husband their resources?" Minerals, same same. Exports of REEs from China dropping, we're scrambling. Vendor financing issue could be part of the problem and it would come out as a weak dollar (so the cost could be exorbitant anyway). I believe the Saudis in particular depend on us for both their food supplies and military protection. We get a lot of oil from nearby Canada (which is very tied to the U.S. for trade) and about 7% from nearby Mexico (while they have it).
Sep 2012 China Bar Signature Asian Buffet 222 Exhibition Street Melbourne VIC 3000 +61 3 9078 9781 I am not a fan of buffet restaurants, however my parents love them. And because it was their birthday weekend way back in July (their birthdays are only three days apart), they decided that they wanted to go to a buffet restaurant for their birthday dinner. We normally eat in the ‘burbs for these sorts of dinners as my parents are too lazy to drive into the city these days unless, of course, they really have to. However, my brother had to be at a certain place in the city at a certain time that Saturday night so the dinner had to be in the CBD. Eating at Crown or The Langham was a no go because parking cost too much and dad refused to pay. And if you thought that my parents would be open to my suggestion of parking at my secret free parking spot and tramming, then walking to Crown, then obviously you don’t know my parents very well. In the end, we decided on the city brand of China Bar Signature, the younger sister of the already established buffet restaurant of the same name in Burwood East. I may turn my nose up at buffet spreads with their limited variety and questionable freshness of food but I couldn’t help but utter an involuntary ‘wah!’ when I saw the spread here. PRAWNS! And so the carnage began. My family and I were led to a table in a not-so-central area where the only way we could see what we were eating was via a spatter of meek red lights. For $69 a head (which, according to my parents, was ‘wah, so expensive!’), we feasted on an array of seafood items, dumplings, rice dishes, fried and steamed proteins of various kinds and lots and lots of desserts. The food was essentially the same as what we had during at lunch at the Burwood East branch all these years ago but obviously with more variety (given that it was dinner and we were, of course, paying double). I started off with some roast meats. The roast chicken and duck are what China Bar franchises all over town do pretty well and the ones I tried on the night were no exception. Both the chicken and duck meat were juicy and the skins crispy like awesomeness. I wasn’t expecting much from the Peking duck so I was surprised when I realised that it was actually not half bad; in fact, it was pretty damn tasty. The steamed dim sum at China Bar are usually reliable. Although you would undoubtedly be able to find better har gow or siu mai dumplings in Melbourne, it’s hard not to go into a China Bar Signature restaurant without picking up at least a couple of steamers of dim sum. If there weren’t heaps of other dishes to try, I would have picked up $69 worth of siu mai, har gow and scallop dumplings. Unfortunately, I had to limit myself to one of each (well okay, I did have two har gow steamers). I picked up what I reckon was China Bar’s version of a mini hybrid claypot and Taiwanese three-cup chicken. The chicken thighs were served with Chinese sausage and ginger on rice and steamed in a small bamboo steamer. It wasn’t the best rendition of this dish but I was happy with the size of this dish – it didn’t fill us up but it was enough to give us a fair sample. Of course, no visit to a buffet restaurant is complete without trying a few deep-fried goodies. I had the prawn wrapped in fried beancurd, crumbed prawns, pork dumplings and a fried prawn ball coated with almonds, all of which actually tasted decent. To make myself feel healthier though, I also grabbed some slices of salmon sashimi and a grilled salmon sushi. I was also pleased to see more unusual forms of sashimi available such as the ark shell sashimi (which I had a little bit of, but undecided that I wasn’t a huge fan of because of the too-crunchy texture). We shared a plate of sautéed greens to make ourselves feel even better. We then worked our way through the richer dishes. By this stage, we were starting to fill up so we could only afford to have bite-sized portions of everything. The stuff I sampled (pineapple fried rice, fried quail, fish in ginger and spring onion sauce amongst other things) were actually better than the stuff you find at your local Smorgy’s – it was fresher, hotter and ‘less artificial-tasting.’ You won’t expect hatted cuisine here but I’m quietly confident that everyone can find at least one dish that they would be happy with here. Their chawanmushi (Japanese steamed egg custard) with shitake mushrooms, chestnut and prawns was okay. It wasn’t the best I’ve had, but I was glad to see it being offered. Not pictured was the shark fin soup that my parents and I shared. While we suspect that fake shark fin was used, we were nevertheless happy to treat ourselves to a bowl. Once we decided that we had enough savoury dishes, we went straight for dessert. A waitress then asked us if we could like a soufflé. We didn’t see any soufflés in the dessert cabinet so we guessed that they were made to order. My sister and I decided that we’d share a soufflé, so we requested a chocolate one. Big mistake. The soufflé did not even have a ‘rise’ and it was very dense and egg-y, rather than soft and fluffy. The chocolate sauce that was poured into the make-shift hole on top didn’t really do much to improve its taste either. Next time, we’ll be saying ‘no.’ Dad decided to go all Masterchef -y with his desserts. He had a chocolate macaron (‘not that nice’), a bit of croquembouche and some mango jelly. His favourite dessert, however, was the tau foo fah which he kept having seconds of. I had a coconut jelly topped with kiwi fruit, a green tea mousse, a honeydew sago pudding and a crème brulee that had not been blow-torched. All, except for the crème brulee, were better than okay and were portioned perfectly so that we could spare room in our tummies for other desserts. I should also mention that the city restaurant has a second storey where more food is located. Given how full I was, I never got around to venturing upstairs but from what my brother told me, it’s a haven for hot pot and grilled meat lovers. My parents had a ball during dinner and even I had to admit that it wasn’t so bad. My mum is already in talks about taking her sister there the next time she’s visiting the country (i.e. next year) while dad was quick to recommend China Bar Signature to his friends. While my parents weren’t fawning over lunch at the Burwood East restaurant, they definitely did enjoy dinner at the city branch. They couldn’t stop raving about the food after we had left, and even stopped making disparaging comments about how ‘expensive’ the whole thing was (of course you would if you were being shouted dinner!). I may be a buffet restaurant hater but if I had to recommend a buffet restaurant in the city, I’d recommend this one. I like that it’s in a convenient location and that they serve a great variety of food for the price charged per head (if you wish to pay less, weekday dinners are $55 and lunches are even cheaper but with less variety). While I won’t be coming here every second weekend, I will not be quick to say ‘no’ should I get invited to eat here further down the track. EmSeptember 7, 2012 at 17:38 (253 days ago) I don’t like buffets either, and I work next door to the Burwood branch. Been there twice for lunch and have not enjoyed it. Maybe dinner, or the city branch is better….Reply libishskiSeptember 8, 2012 at 11:07 (252 days ago) Everyone I’ve spoken to (who’s been to these restaurants) have said that dinner is much better than lunch. Whether or not you’re willing to fork out $55-69 per head, though, is the issue… I wouldn’t do it all the time but if it’s my parents’ birthday, Mother’s/Father’s Day and they really wanted to go, I’d be happy to take them Choc Chip UruSeptember 7, 2012 at 19:40 (253 days ago) I love buffets but only occasionally – though I could see myself going here often CheersReply Choc Chip Uru AmesSeptember 7, 2012 at 19:41 (253 days ago) We’ve been to the Burwood branch a number of times (we being “avec le parents” lol) and quite like it so I’m sure the parents would enjoy giving the city branch a try sometime! I’m not a fan of buffets either but I do like the variety that they have at the Burwood branch so glad to hear the city one isn’t half badReply Ming @ sweetandsourforkSeptember 7, 2012 at 20:07 (253 days ago) I remember reading your review on the China Bar in burwood, and thinking ‘HAH, my parents are exactly the same’ – looks like some (asian) thing never change! I’m surprised you didn’t indulge in the chocolate fountain, surely it’s there at night too? Did you try anything from the stone grill and hot pot? I went at lunch so I couldn’t, wahhhhReply libishskiSeptember 8, 2012 at 11:16 (252 days ago) Oh yes! There was a chocolate fountain too but I didn’t touch it as I’m not a huge fan of chocolate hahaha. I didn’t try anything from the stone grill or hot pot – I’m guessing that you’d need to go upstairs for those and unfortunately, I never ventured upstairs that night. There was just too much food on the main level! Ming @ sweetandsourforkSeptember 11, 2012 at 21:12 (249 days ago) Not a chocolate fan! I’ve been stalking you for years (this is my creeper moment, DON’T JUDGE), how have I not picked that up? I know you love salt though :3 libishskiSeptember 13, 2012 at 15:57 (247 days ago) Flattered! And yep, salt is the best thing ever (well, in my opinion anyway! ) yummychunkletSeptember 7, 2012 at 22:23 (253 days ago) That looks like a great buffet! My parents love them as well.Reply libishskiSeptember 8, 2012 at 11:17 (252 days ago) Haha man, what is it with parents and buffets! ironchefshellieSeptember 7, 2012 at 22:47 (253 days ago) lol they should go to the Melba Restaurant on a sunday… it’s like $90.. that’s ‘Wah so expensive’ I still want to try China Bar Buffet, not usually a buffet person either, but it’s worth a shot!Reply libishskiSeptember 8, 2012 at 11:18 (252 days ago) I did suggest Melba but they whinged about parking prices in that area but yes, they would have been all ‘wah so expensive’ about Melba as well! Lorraine @ Not Quite NigellaSeptember 7, 2012 at 23:15 (253 days ago) Hehe I swear that we must share the same parents!Reply Sophie Wang (@aecliss)September 8, 2012 at 01:06 (253 days ago) Upstairs isn’t so great – some roast meats, although you can ask them to roast some mussels up for you too. Glad you liked the desserts more than I did – I didn’t have the best experience with desserts there, but hey, willing to give them a second chanceReply libishskiSeptember 8, 2012 at 11:19 (252 days ago) Ah, good to know that I didn’t really miss out on much I think I was just lucky with my dessert selection though – some of them did look a bit dodgy (didn’t touch them, phew) and I’m never getting the creme brulee or souffle again! squishymonsterSeptember 8, 2012 at 02:47 (253 days ago) I can completely relate–my parents LOVE buffets. Me, not so much but I’d be ecstatic to come to something like this!!Reply Asmita (@FoodieAsmita)September 8, 2012 at 04:05 (253 days ago) This is a real spread. I know I would be very happy girl feasting on all these wonderful dishes.Reply IVOR BENNETSeptember 8, 2012 at 09:07 (252 days ago) Most of all i like your folks attitude and comments [in a nice way!] …GOLD!Reply samiati7September 9, 2012 at 11:46 (251 days ago) How does this compare to ‘mesh’ at Crown? I found your blog by googling “the very hungry caterpillar in Indonesian”. I now follow your blog!Reply libishskiSeptember 10, 2012 at 14:46 (250 days ago) I’ve never been to Mesh so I can’t compare. If you do prefer Asian food, you’ll definitely like Chinabar Signature though. And what a coincidence, I happen to be Indonesian too! winstonthehungryexcavatorSeptember 9, 2012 at 19:00 (251 days ago) Ahhhhh very helpful review, Lib. I love this. I’ve been wondering how this place fairs for a while, glad I came to your blog. You really are the queen of buffets in the blogosphere, IMO. Haha. And omg at the price! For some reason I always thought that it was in the $30++ range since it was Chinese. Sooo naive. But guess if you got other stuff like sashimi and prawns, it wouldn’t really be fair to them. I agree, variety does look pretty satisfying and good location too. Maybe drop by for a special occasion. Or if it’s cheaper for lunch hahaReply libishskiSeptember 10, 2012 at 14:40 (250 days ago) Yeah, it’s $30-40ish for lunch but there isn’t as much food (so, not as much seafood) theragingcookSeptember 10, 2012 at 09:52 (250 days ago) Bah I’m missing out! Only been to them for lunchReply Kambrook (@KambrookAU)September 10, 2012 at 15:45 (250 days ago) For a buffet, the place looks fantastic.Reply Kimba's KitchenSeptember 10, 2012 at 16:48 (250 days ago) I LOVE buffets, but only buffets that offer decent food and a HUGE variety. Nothing annoys me more than a so-called All-You-Can-Eat and only less than 15 dishes to choose from. In Melbourne, definitely Melba @ Langham and yessss China Bar Signature!! I completely stuffed myself the last time I went in Burwood.. ate lots of fresh oysters, and sashimi (that was my “entree” and I’m pretty sure I already ate half the price I paid for by then, lol) and then everything else … it is the most amazing Asian buffet ever and I cannot wait to go back when the opportunity presents itself. Oh, and back in Malaysia I used to go to a Chicken Buffet as a child which started my whole craze for buffets… can you imagine All-You-Can-Eat fried chicken??? Lol!! PS your parents are so funny, they remind me of my parents haha!Reply libishskiSeptember 13, 2012 at 15:57 (247 days ago) I would love to try this chicken buffet! thehungerpangsSeptember 10, 2012 at 21:43 (250 days ago) My parents are exactly the same, haha. Had dinner at the China Bar in Burwood a while back and was pleasantly surprised, so I’ll keep the CBD branch in mindReply Daisy@NevertoosweetSeptember 11, 2012 at 00:40 (250 days ago) Great write up LibbyReply i’ve gone to Signature Dishes China Bar a few times and I feel the same way you do ~ for the price you pay the food there is decent and wow they even have macarons now?! I’ve also heard the one in the city serves better food than the one in Burwood, either way I hope they have better service at the one in the city. Cuz last time I went to the one in Burwood they were kinda rude and wanted us to leave at 9:45pm…even though they said they close at 10:30pm libishskiSeptember 13, 2012 at 16:20 (247 days ago) Haha yeah, but they were crappy macarons though. Regardless, we all did enjoy our meal at the city restaurant more than the Burwood East one. And yes, very stupid of them to say that they were open until 10:30pm only to shoo you away at 9:45pm. Ridiculous! mercadeoSeptember 11, 2012 at 05:44 (250 days ago) This is a wonderful Asian buffet restaurant. It includes things like beautiful fresh prawns and other seafood, sushi, curries and just about everything else you can think of. We went for dinner, and provided you are very hungry, $50 per head (plus drinks) is pretty good value. I recommend booking a table with chairs, as opposed to the white leather couches on the periphery, as it is a bit of a pain when you’re sitting near the aisle and others want to get in and out all the time. By the way, the plates aren’t large, so be aware that you’ll need to go back to the buffet several times if you’re really hungry.Reply CatherineSeptember 11, 2012 at 10:48 (249 days ago) The range looks fantastic although I never go to buffets as I can never eat that much and it’s such a waste for me!Reply ChopinandMysaucepanSeptember 12, 2012 at 12:20 (248 days ago) Dear Libby, I am not a fan of buffet either as overeating is an obvious tendency. But I would make an exception to buffet spreads in some hotels in Singapore which have some of the most awesome variety of local delights.Reply libishskiSeptember 13, 2012 at 16:00 (247 days ago) My Singaporean friends like to talk about the Shangri-La one – is that one that I should try if I’m in Singapore? Where else should we go to? Adrian Briones (@food_rehab)September 12, 2012 at 13:16 (248 days ago) I went here with a big group and it was actually pretty good! And for lunch, dirt cheap esp when you have little kiddies with you. Love the location too. I am too a little cagey when it comes t buffets (except Melbas) but I will be back.Reply hotlyspicedSeptember 12, 2012 at 14:24 (248 days ago) I tend not to like buffet restaurants also because the food is usually inferior as it has to sit out for hours and so nothing arrives on your plate ‘just cooked’. But having said that, the variety of what you were offered amazes me xxReply Jenny @ Ichigo ShortcakeSeptember 14, 2012 at 16:19 (246 days ago) I don’t really like buffets either, unless if it’s at some super fancy 5 star hotel.Reply My family used to eat at buffets a lot but not anymore, none of us have big enough appetites to make it worth it and the food’s usually not that good anyway. I drive past this place SO much but have never gone in! Good to know it’s not bad, maybe we’ll try it some time too.
Text Size (Page 4).” Get truth delivered to your inbox every week. More Below the Ad Advertisement If you have trouble leaving a comment, review this help page. Still having problems? Let us know. If you find yourself moderated, take a moment to review our comment policy. By Blueboy1938, July 9, 2006 at 5:25 pm Link to this comment . By David, July 9, 2006 at 10:33 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Hi, John’s post is an invitation to commit atrocities and this how most occupation’s in history become debauched affairs which ultimately destroy’s the nations that are occupied and dehumanizes the occupier’s. (ex. the French in Algeria, the Israelis in Lebanon, the British in Iraq, and the US in the Philippines, South Korea, and Vietnam). “Nice guys finish last”, why don’t we ask the survivors of Mei Lai how nice the US soldier’s were to them and whether they love and respect the US. At the same token maybe we should ask a victim of a vicious crime whether they like and respect the person who brutalized them? As you can see I am being sarcastic not serious just like John when he posted his comments. Perpetrating atrocities and war crimes will not help us achieve victory (which is not possible with the current deployment of US forces in Iraq in any possible event). All it will do is unite our adverseries and force us to find an exit before we are forced into the position of fighting the entire population. I believe in this country and I mean the US but I am not insane or stupid enough to believe that we can butcher our way to any semblance of victory. How about some moderation in the US? Thanks, By Scott, July 9, 2006 at 9:21 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Blueboy1938’s post doesn’t square with other accounts about the quality of troops on the ground in Iraq. I’ve also read accounts of a directed recruitment effort that targets evangelical Christians - who could ever forget General Boykin? Boy what a combination neo-nazis and born again Christians would make. The kindest and gentlest army in the world for sure. I’m sure hearts and minds everywhere will be swooning. One day the troops will come home and at the very least many of these highly trained and deluded paranoiacs will become members of police and other security forces around the US. It’s not hard to imagine the War on Drugs getting a whole lot more violent is it? What if America’s right wing were to finally step off the deep end and declare a War on Liberalism, who’s side do you think these troops and cops and so on would be with? By John, July 8, 2006 at 1:08 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Well, you certainly seem well rounded in your opinions, but you have left out the part about having boots on the ground, in uniform, combatant status experience. Oh, that’s right, you don’t have that. News flash for you: It’s a whole different world. As a Special Forces operator with two tours in Iraq and countless operations and raids under my belt, let me give you an on the ground view of the world. Close Quarters Battle (CQB) is the technique used during raids. CQB is not a nice business. CQB has a historically high casualty rate for the assault force. CQB is full of unknowns. Is there a tripwire on the door we are about to enter? Did this guy pick tonight to have a regional insurgent meeting with about 20 of his heavily armed friends? How many of his insurgent friends that we don’t know about live in the neighborhood? Is this guy a paranoid freak who sleeps in a suicide vest to prevent himself from being taken alive? You want to see what happens when you are nice and knock on the door and invite them back to the base for milk and cookies and a little chat? Watch COPS. Those poor bastards have to be nice, and the nasty attitudes and outright hostility they have to deal with are ridiculous. As I said earlier, CQB is not a nice business. From start to finish, your whole purpose in life is to project mayhem and chaos, in addition to lethal ability (not lethal intent, which would be intending to kill. Lethal ability, which means the ability to kill should you have to.) You want to know why there are so many civilian casualties? It is because until the bad guys grab a gun, they are civilians. It’s. I’d bring a baseball bat, a chainsaw, and a whole array of instruments dedicated to the defeat of the enemy. I wouldn’t have to play by any rules. Anyone want to make a bet on who would win? The moral high road is all fine and dandy when you are sitting safe at home in your little comfort zone. Once you get out in the real world, you learn the hardest lesson of all real fast: Nice guys finish last. By Blueboy1938, July 8, 2006 at 11:48 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Freedem states the most arrant nonsense I’ve seen on a lot of military related Iraq blogs. The current volunteer armed services are filled by the best educated and best trained personnel they have ever seen. Sure, some choose the military for economic reasons, but that doesn’t make them stupid. Today’s military is a highly technical force, which requires sharp mental abilities as well as the traditional brawn and guts. While NCOs may come from the ranks, officers typically do not. They are products of the military acadamies and the general college population through ROTC. Lumping them in indescriminately is completely illogical and misinformed. Furthermore, company officers from second lieutenant to captain usually have less than four years in the service and consequently don’t fit Freedem’s characterizations at all. I would also guess that most of the regular army non-coms at field unit level have similar time in service. Moreover, at least 30% of the troops in Iraq are National Guard and Reserve, which means they are not career military but come out of civilian jobs to do their tours in Iraq. The problem, which I outlined in my previous comment, is the fact that we are asking combat-trained personnel to undertake enforcement operations, for which they are not adequately trained. Condemning the troops in the manner of Freedem is inaccurate, misleading, and prejudicial. Considering the extremely dangerous and ambiguous theater of operations, there are actually a very small percentage of individuals involved in really serious, Haditha-like activities. Those individuals should be and are being prosecuted. Sure, the mattress tramplers should be more careful, but they are trying to survive while doing an almost impossible job. Give them a break! At the very least, be more accurate and informed when commenting on their performance. By Freedem, July 8, 2006 at 8:19 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Alas, Mr Rosen’s horror story confirms again, in richer detail, what has been obvious before the first tank crossed the border. The Army was always mostly made up of folk who cannot afford to avoid it. Those youth less well off economicallly, tend also to be less well off educationally, and to be more committed to a simpler religion, not having the time or education to explore nuances, or alternatives. All this before bootcamp gets a hold on them. Even without the rightward spin increasing in the peacetime military, bootcamp is not a place for anything beyond instant over-reaction to instilled psycotic paranoia of any convievable threat, much less selfexploratory sensitivity training, or broad cross cultural enlightenment. Leading them (on the ground, from sargents to captains), are folk much like themselves, but committed to a military life, and having spent a lifetime imagining a real fight, but not since Viet-Nam actually being in one. Such squabbles that did exist taught all the wrong lessons. That the most innocent thing or action could kill, and kill hundreds. That a hundred civillians could be killed that one soldier might avoid injury. That even dozens of American soldiers might need to die to retrieve the body of one of their own, but all others are not even worthy of counting. And worst of all, in the First Iraq war, the Iraq Army committed many real and imagined attrocities, but collapsed like wet kleenex in the open desert billiard tables American military had been designed to fight in for a hundred years. Massive surrender, and the exposure of few cultural underpinnings, created attitudes about Iraqis in particular that were most unfortunate. Even if there were good and real reasons for going in, how can such a mindset turn out any way but badly? By John, July 7, 2006 at 8:18 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Please read and send to your list By native child, July 5, 2006 at 4:10 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Shades of the U.S. occupation of the Philippines at the end of the nineteenth century. That one cost the natives there 600,000 lives. Our troops then were even more brutal than those now serving in Iraq. They used beheadings to intimidate the natives (put them up on sticks), much like their predecessors had done in the genocide of our own native people. Our military isn’t unique in behaving this way. The French lined the streets in Hanoi with the heads of decapitated Vietnamese patriots, not to mention what the Japanese military did to civilians in Nanking seventy years ago. So we’ve got to stop thinking that our loved ones can do no wrong when they’re sent off to war, because they, too, commit war crimes. War does that to a soldier. What’s the answer? Troops out now and no more wars, that’s what. By David, July 4, 2006 at 12:05 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) I really liked this article, but I remember an old phrase that seems to be perfect at this dark time in our history, and I paraphrase “he who does not learn from history is doomed to repeat it”. This article and its contents could have been written about America’s experience in Vietnam or the British Empire’s conquest of Iraq and its subsequent guerilla war from 1917 to 1920. With the internet we have access to an incredible amount of knowledge in seconds. Yet I have never met a people more ignorant about history in my entire life. Even after Vietnam and all that our nation experienced and the damage that conflict caused to an entire generation. Its as if the only lesson we learned is “do not launch a war on Vietnam.” Now we have wasted so many lives and so much money on a disasterous war all that can be said is that we now have no good options. Our standing among nations has never been as low, our nations fiscal health is very poor with staggering debts that will take generations to completely pay off. We are in a tough spot and while our leaders discuss important subjects like “gay marriage” and “flag burning” our brave men and women and uniform will continue to pay the ultimate price for our leaders failures. There is a solution and it starts here and not in Baghdad. Its called reform and it involves opening up our political system to allow more newer political parties and movements to get involved in the political process in this country. It also involves opening up our Media and press and allowing for the development of more press outlets and finally for the idea that questioning our leaders is unpatriotic to be eliminated especially in matters of war and peace. Thanks By Scott, July 1, 2006 at 8:21 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) America, you have a problem. In light of the Big Sort, who do you think your troops are likely to “be with” when they finally are brought home? Be careful for what you wish for. By Scott, July 1, 2006 at 7:24 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) The occupation has been one vast extended crime against the Iraqi people, and most of it has occurred unnoticed by the American people and the media.” Excuse me? Ignored is more like it! I didn’t have any trouble noticing it from Canada so… Sorry, I couldn’t get past that without commenting. I guess I’ll go read the rest now. By VeryOldMan, July 1, 2006 at 6:38 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Ossama Bin Laden joined the fight in Iraq quite a while back. Rich Sultans pay for double agents by the tanker load. Meanwhile, the bitter at home wonder still wonder how it was the Soviet Union died after all the trillions of sincere words written by so many “great” minds condemning the “capitalist crimes” of the West during the Cold War. Their loving children still march for peace. Peace now, peace at any cost, peace if it means suicide. All we are saying is buy peace a chance. Three for five dollars. Islam is a religion of peace. The peace of the grave for the infidel. With petro dollars from our gas guzzlers, mass graves. Some teenagers drive around aimlessly chanting, “don’t want to be an American idiot” or words to that effect. Of course they don’t. Do you? Why is Cheney so evil? Because we’re so stupid. We teach people who don’t have the capacity to think how to read. God is a servant of the victors. Always has been, always will be. Ask the millions of Japanese we butchered during World War II if they regret the current Prime Minister is a huge Elvis Presley fan. You see? The dead only have regrets in Hollywood movies. Forever and ever, Amen. Seen the new Superman film yet? By Blueboy1938, July 1, 2006 at 6:29 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Our troops are operating in what is now a generally hostile environment, where it is really impossible a lot of the time to tell friend from foe. It is very likely that wars, whoever is involved, will no longer be frontal, with clearly defined opposing lines and everyone conveniently in identifiable uniforms, but assymetrical, as this one has turned into. Most of what Mr. Rosen reports is simply enforcement activity being carried out by people, whatever their motivation for joining up as soldiers, who are not trained in law enforcement techniques but in combat. Sure, tromping on mattresses in combat boots where Muslims would not even wear shoes is insensitive. “Trashing” the wrong dwelling because of inadequate intelligence is unfortunate. However, as Mr. Rosen points out more than once: most of these actions are not intentional brutalities. Those involved in actions, like Haditha, that are should be and are being prosecuted. Mr. Rosen reports instances of corrective actions: The NCO that pointed out that a soldier’s mother might react in the same way as the woman annoying him in her ullalations over her son being taken away; the soldiers “tenderly” bringing babies to their distraught mothers. Yes, it’s the wrong war for the wrong (read: trumped-up) “reasons” in the wrong place with the inevitable unintended consequences (propping up an Inran-centric government; brutalizing our troops by using them as enforcers instead of what they were trained for). Yes, we have to extricate ourselves by defining specifically what the level of Iraqi self-sufficiency has to be, and then planning in concrete terms our disengagement strategy, which will inevitably involve the dreaded “withdrawal timetable.” Meanwhile, let’s not, as Mr. Rosen does, assume that what he saw, disturbing as it is, can be multiplied by the number of similar-sized units operating in Iraq and universally condemn our troops. They’re doing what has to be done in a difficult situation. Could they do it better? You bet! (To use the Donald’s [Rumsfeld] rhetorical turn of phrase.) Let’s not indulge in our own “Viet Nam Syndrom” and blame the soldiers for doing their jobs, however ineptly or well, when it is really the neocons that pushed us into this mess that are to blame. By Glenn, July 1, 2006 at 1:56 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) A brilliant article. I have to say though that I am encouraged in these dark times by the intelligence and compassion of the responses to this article. There is undoubtedly a growing movement across the globe who are sick and tired of this evil being executed in our names and who yearn to be in a position to do something about it. Marching with permission from the state doesnt work and its naive to assume war criminals with geo-political goals will listen to that form of protest. But when the millions who have marched get so pissed off and realise that the ‘assemble without permission’ strategy so excellently displayed by the French is part of the answer THEN these war criminals will shake in their boots. Imagine mass non violent blockades of strategic sites - military and economic - by tens of thousands of people who are not afraid of storming military bases to prevent landings, blockading economically sensitive sites which cost government dearly and any other ‘pressure points’ we could think of. Who were not afraid of arrest, not afraid of being beaten and ultimately not afraid of death if the guards choose to shoot us. THEN the war criminals would not have the freedom of operation they enjoy at the moment. There are already movements gearing up for this - for one example look at: This is the answer to our feelings of helplessness and the movement is growing. So lets all join in Glenn By Ga, June 30, 2006 at 10:15 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) The American Male Mythos is dead. As a boy I used to watch every John Wayne movie in awe. I moved on, though, not ever seeing his late file “The Green Berets” which was about Vietnam. Then, as a man I learned real American History. And my understanding that John Wayne movies were not accurate portrayals of history, but glorified stories. But I still helf on to those base beleifs of America, Home of the Brave, Land of the Free. Then I saw “The Green Berets” just last year. Never have I seen such a horrible propoganda film before. Oh wait. I have. Those made by Joseph Goebbels in Nazi Germany. There are at times “just wars.” And a “just war” is defined as the repelling of an aggressor who has invaded another country, or is commiting genocide. And even in “just wars”—precisely because “war is hell”—there is the most horrific mental suffering on both sides. Even those brave young men fighting for freedom will, under the horrors of battle, face the possibility of losing all sense of civility and normalcy and commit atrocities. War causes men to commit horrific acts. On both side. Always. War is hell. So General Sherman said to the graduates of Michigan Military Academy in 1879. And, our politicians tell us, we are at war; that a time of war is a time of sacrifice. Over two thousand have sacrificed. Now there must be more sacrifice. We cannot, as a country and a people, benefit from this war for it to be just. We cannot get their oil. We cannot get their money. We can only give to the Iraqi people for this war to be just. We gave them tons of bombs for many years. We gave them economic sanctions for many years. Whatever the truths behind the impetus for our going to war, those two truths we must never forget. The Iraqi’s certainly will not. We owe the Iraqi people more sacrifice. We owe ourselves more sacrifice too. For we have lessons to learn. For war is hell. A dastardly thing, men killing fellow men, bullets and bombs not discriminating between those who according to the laws of war should be killed and those too who should be spared but happen to be in harm’s way. Perhaps a tiny bit of our own souls die with each death in this war. There are those here at home who want to stop the war. Those who want that cannot be considered un-patriotic. Indeed, those who speak against the war are using their freedom as it is meant to be used, for the very reason why we are told that we went to war. Just as there are in war those who are up front with guns, there are in war those who are in supply rooms, communication rooms, and kitchens. We cannot all be up front with guns in our hands. As there are those who must be up front so too there must be those many more who stay at home to carry on their—our—normal lives. And so too there must be those that try to stop war. All these there must be for a country to call itself free. History will tell us whether or not there should have been more of those who tried to prevent the war. Three thousand of our own we say died because of our freedom. Two thousand more we say died for their freedom. Americans, we say, do not forget our own. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis we forget died from years of bombs and sanctions. Should the Iraqis forget their dead? Are those who so vocally espouse their support for the continuation of war more patriotic than those who are up front? No. Are those who so vocally espouse their support for the continuation of war more patriotic than those who oppose the war? So too the answer must be for a country that wants to be a beacon of freedom. No. If any at all are to be called un-patriotic it should be those who shout loudest for war; those who shout loudest of fear; those who sacrifice nothing while asking others to sacrifice. Now that this war has been shown to not be so easily won as was said by those of us that started this war—and we did start this war—there must be more sacrifice. More Americans must die. The “must” is not to show that men must die for freedom. The “must” is that we must know the cost of our actions. More of those up front must die. We must endure the cost of war. As many Americans over this Christmas season grieve of hurricanes past, and mall sales present, many Iraqis grieve of hardships past, present and future that no American seems willing to endure. We must now endure some humility. For this war to be justified, and the reasons for it to be true, those Americans that die, die not for America, but for Iraq. For us to be fighting to give Iraq freedom, we must give selflessly. For us to win, not the fighting in the streets but the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people—and of the world—we must not benefit from this war. For the American people’s sacrifice—and the Iraqi’s—to not be in vain we must set our attention not on a foreign policy based on the economy of oil, but on a foreign policy based on the economy of ideas. Only with humility can we win hearts and minds. A free Iraq, free from American control, must be the only benefit. We owe it to ourselves as well as to Iraq. Lest anyone forget the horror that is war, let me supply General Sherman’s quote in more context. “You dont know the horrible aspects of war,” he said to the cadets. “Ive been through two wars and I know. Ive seen cities and homes in ashes. Ive seen thousands of men lying on the ground, their dead faces looking up at the skies. I tell you, war is hell!” We have all seen many Iraqi dead faces looking up at the skies. For our sacrifices not to be in vain, their deaths must not have been in vain. By R. A. Earl, June 30, 2006 at 11:15 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Kris in #12716, wrote, in part “They joined up because they were tired of being poor and disenfranchised in this country and the military was the only way they could afford a college education for themselves and their children.” Kris went on… “They made that sacrifice so that I wouldnt have to, and f*ck you for your bigotry.” What twisted logic! So, Kris, it’s OK with you that if a person wants a “college education” and can’t afford it, it’s quite civilized and morally appropriate for him to join the military and kill people in order to get one? This certainly wasn’t “the only way” open to your relatives - it was the easy, lazy person’s way. I make no apologies for being “bigoted” about my belief that war and killing is fundamentally STUPID and IMMORAL, and anyone who thinks otherwise - who tries to concoct excuses and rationalizations in support - is mentally ill. And yes, it is possible for an entire country or even an entire generation to be mentally ill. It’s nice that you and your entire family are against war. How you all live with the cognitive dissonance that must be produced by your CHOICE to involve yourself in comitting war is beyond me. There’s no limit, I guess, to how many hoops the human mind will leap through to rationalize just about any behavior… principles be damned! But we do agree… bring the troops home. Americans most certainly have NO RIGHT wandering around Iraq with guns, or any other country for that matter. (You are aware that YOUR COUNTRY has INVADED 22 other sovereign nations since the end of World War II.) If we on this planet have any country to fear and mistrust it’s the USA. By Kris, June 30, 2006 at 6:48 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) To the commenters R. A Earl and Shellynm, your hatred gives the rest of us liberals a bad name. I come from two generations of enlisted military on both sides (father and his father, mother and her father). You’re right, they didn’t join up because of “God and Country” pride. They joined up because they were tired of being poor and disenfranchised in this country and the military was the only way they could afford a college education for themselves and their children. They made that sacrifice so that I wouldn’t have to, and f*ck you for your bigotry. And thank you to Nir Rosen for an honest account of what’s going on over there. This military kid is strongly against the war, as are all the dozen+ military people I know (mostly retired). No one who has ever lived through it (I was a kid during the first Gulf War, stationed overseas with my family, and couldn’t see my parents for days and often worried about what would happen to them) would ever want that for their families. Support our troops. Bring them home. By Tom McLoughlin, Sydney Australia, June 30, 2006 at 5:32 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) The local Murdoch rag called the Sydney Daily Telegraph here in Australia in February 2003 or thereabouts reported ‘10 million march for peace worldwide’ or similar. Out of 6 billion on our planet, this was a farcical headline, until you realise this pro war media group was faced with reporting 500,000 people out of say a 4 million greater metropolitan population here in Sydney (to Newcastle and Wollongong outliers), marched for peace, against war.That’s a real repudiation but our pro war PM called us “a mob” in derogatory tone. In my 15 years as an environmental and social activist in Australia there has been NOTHING like that march and protest in Sydney duly misreported in our very own town to our face, as brazen and dishonest as the working day is long. Absolutely peaceful. Remarkable. Only people who care to deconstruct the media even notice such distortions. Most are too busy to disbelieve. It’s such a wicked mind f*ck. In true Orwellian form the newspaper is published by News Ltd, when its fiction often. Normally Australia is so far away and small in number it doesn’t matter, but our Prime Minister Howard has played a critical role in extra symbolic political cover for GW Bush’s war. Howard is Murdoch’s plaything too. I got the link for this depressing reportage from a newsletter Crikey.com.au daily ezine here, whose founder Mayne, now a mere employee of the ezine having sold it on but still independent, regularly scorns Murdoch for predicting the Iraq invasion would see the price of oil halve to (I think) A$25 a barrel here. At the pump our petrol has easily doubled since about 2003, not halved, speaking as a delivery driver. That ezine guy Mayne, he used to work in the business pages for the same Murdoch’s Sydney Daily Telegraph that wrote the misleading and deceptive headline above. The same newspaper here is also known as the Smelly Tele, or The Daily Terror (before the ‘war on terror’ term was coined) for blatant even fictional character assassinations. It sells it’s entertaining, manipulative fiction in high numbers day after day after day cooking peoples natural intelligence. Keep rejecting such liars like Murdoch and his press I reckon. By Jesurgislac, June 30, 2006 at 4:10 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter). It’s also completely, explicitly illegal. Article 3.b of the Geneva Conventions prohibits the taking of hostages. Not that we haven’t already known the US military was breaking the Geneva Conventions in Iraq. I just note it. By R. A. Earl, June 29, 2006 at 8:25 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) In #12619, Shellynm wrote, in part “My neighbor has a daughter that married a young man that joined the army as an infantryman. I asked him why he did that since the army was a lot about killing and perhaps being killed. He said I like that kind of stuff.” And that, in a nutshell, is why I have never been able to support “Remembrance Day” or “Armistice Day” or “Memorial Day” ceremonies. Not ONCE have I ever heard or read such honesty as I’ve quoted in the above paragraph. It’s been my view since I was old enough to have one that the MAJORITY of VOLUNTEERS in military service do NOT offer themselves up for God or country. They do so FOR THE BLOODY THRILL OF IT… and by the time they realize it’s not a game it’s too late - they’re either dead or maimed for life. Those who survive the ghastly horror show, appear each year to play the sympathy card… “look what I gave for my country… now, “country” honor and support me for the rest of my life.” I mean no disrespect for those who actually thought they were doing the right thing as many were. I’m sure many were terrified and horrified. I respect their bravery in the face of such stupidity and danger. But I cannot join in “honoring” or glorifying the behavior. There is nothing glorious about engaging in war and killing. It’s a morally reprehensible and very, very stupid action. I can only wonder at what goes on in the minds of those who think otherwise. There are those who will throw Hitler in my face and say that without the sacrifices of our brave young men Hitler would be running the world. First, you don’t know that. Secondly, don’t blame Hitler! The Hitlers of this world cannot function without the support of the rest of us one way or the other. LOOK IN THE MIRROR for the cause of your problems. By Sara, June 29, 2006 at 10:15 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Thank God the SCOTUS just called the administration to account. Really, for the first time in years I found myself praying a spontaneous prayer of thanks to God. I also thank God for honest journalists telling the truth when the rewards for telling the truth are so few and the rewards for doing sloppy/dishonest work are so many. It’s time to take apart their plastic fantastic happy shiny war with a wrecking ball. By Michelle, June 28, 2006 at 10:43 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Ever wonder what the German people were doing while Hitler was degrading, humiliating, terrorizing and slaughtering millions of innocent people? Look in the mirror, America. See the shadow of swasticas on your foreheads? I do. Hitler killed for the ideal of purity. Bush kills for the ideal of democracy—I mean, oil. By Fadel Abdallah, June 28, 2006 at 10:40 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Nir Rosen’s report on the American callous and criminal occupying force is highly disturbing, even though it is still a limited and watered-down version of the total ugly and disturbing picture about this criminal war and its subsequent occupation results. So, let me first take my hat off. Any thing short of that will bring a lot of shame and disgrace to all of us who are really conscientious human beings. By GreginOz, June 28, 2006 at 10:06 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) BLOWBACK IS A BITCH! Can you imagine the sheer, undiluted, adamantine, -100 degree centigrade HATRED that fills the hearts of these civilians? Fuck the troops, fuck the government…we are destroying a 5000 year old culture that helped introduce WRITING to humanity, for fuck’s sake! If you were brutalised like this could you EVER forgive those that perpetrated it. Note that their culture cherishes vendetta for GENERATIONS! I am so ashamed that the Aussie Govt. is the number one lickspittle to this evil, disgusting US administration and truly believe that ALL Yanks, Brits and Aussies are complicit in these war crimes…yep, you too, fatty! Am reminded of a short story by Harlan Ellison, the title was “I have no mouth but I must scream”, that is Iraq. Regards By K, June 28, 2006 at 8:54 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) The only reason I’d like to see Guantanamo remain open is to see the terrorists/enemy combatants get a taste of their own medicine. No legal counsel, a little bit of torture here and there—standard treatment for enemies of the government. By lori laidella, June 28, 2006 at 8:14 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) all i can do is throw up my arms and cry.thankyou for this eye witness report.i know this is what is happening.i live in new orleans and can only imagine how i would feel if on top of the horrors we have witnessed here if we had bombs and worse all around us comming from people we could not even comunicate with.i can see this will be another sleepless night for me.if i was a praying person i would be on my knees.instead i sit and continue to cry.i write letters,protest,email etc.but i feel so helpless in the face of such tragedy. By shellynm, June 28, 2006 at 8:03 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) These articles affected me greatly. My neighbor has a daughter that married a young man that joined the army as an infantryman. I asked him why he did that since the army was a lot about killing and perhaps being killed. He said “I like that kind of stuff”. Why do we continually leave unchallenged the contention that the military is comprised of the best, the brightest? We all know that’s not true. I know the military leaders are more to blame and many young people who commit violent acts in that situation would never do so in other circumstances. But let’s face it; many join the military for just such an opportunity. By Alan@oldeurope, June 28, 2006 at 5:59 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) I have just read “Assasins’Gate” by George Packer and it is clear from your excellent and disturbing article that the American presence in Iraq is a deeply dysfunctional and sociopathic enterprise for which the iraqis are paying in full. But they are not the only ones who will pay a price. It does not bare thinking about the effect that these brutalised and traumatised soldiers and administrators will have on their families and communities when they finally all come home. A social calamity waiting to happen. Mind you given the White House’s(fast becoming the American Reich) fondness for the concept of continuous war that could be a long time coming. It is astonishing to many of us here in “‘ol Yurp” how Americans put up with the crap they do from pres, his cronies and fellow travelers. You can criticise the those French “cheese eating surrrender monkeys” all you like but when their leaders step too far out of line they take to the streets, like the good democrats they are, and make their “we the people” presence felt. By conchita, June 28, 2006 at 5:56 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) the others above have said it all. what will it take for your writing to be published so all of the us reads it? By JustZisGuy, June 28, 2006 at 4:04 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) “What’s it going to take to get the APCs rolling down our streets” Well, you’ve already had a taste of it (article dated Sep 2, 2005): NEW ORLEANS, United States (AFP) - Iraq-tested US troops with shoot-to-kill orders were deployed in New Orleans to restore law and order after days of chaos and looting in the hurricane-devastated city. Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco said the 300 troopers from the Arkansas National Guard had been authorized. By Reg, June 28, 2006 at 3:46 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) We said it before, we’ll say it again. We have the proof from our own FBI definition: GW Bush is the World’s Leading Terrorist! Free pdf download: By Pete, June 28, 2006 at 1:08 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Yes. Thank you for your honesty, and certainly there is no question that our troops doing their jobs cannot avoid intrusive and insulting presence. There may be question in the minds of some whether this, on the balance, was or was not a justifiable war. But there can be no question that (the lack of) preparation, planning, and management of the war by our corrupt and incompetent administration, has truly shamed us. It has also left our young men and women at risk. Many of these will come home bearing the scars of this horrific situation in their psyches. And Iraqis will have to be nearly super human to over come the challenges we have visited on them. But hey, oil, right? Hooyah. By hugh, June 28, 2006 at 12:35 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Hi Thanks for the great journalism. I am from South Africa. The only way I think the US can recover from this awful period will be the trials of the key individuals involved in formenting this illegal aggressive war, in US courts for breaking US law. Hopefully Iraq can also recover in time, but the dead are the dead and there appear to have been mountains of innocent dead that must be accounted for!! By Hagen von Tronje, June 28, 2006 at 12:08 pm Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) The ghosts of Heinrich Himmler and Ernst Kaltenbrunner have surfaced. By McKinney, June 28, 2006 at 11:46 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) At the present the U.S. can still be a land of democracy, but if this country is in a constant state of war there will be no democracy. I was raised in post WWII and this country went to war because if we did not Hitler would be at our door step. But we went to war with Iraq on the assumption that there were weapons against us, then it was to spread democracy, all we really established was a puppet government in Iraq, how can you have a democracy if most of the people have allready left your country? By r jackowski, June 28, 2006 at 11:24 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) War crimes have been committed in our names. We must call for war crimes trials NOT Impeachment. Impeachment is just a slap on the wrist. Impeachment trivializes the crimes. Think Nuremberg! By Hilding Lindquist, June 28, 2006 at 6:51 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) Haditha, Falluja, Abu Gharib are only some of the most obvious horror stories of our war in Iraq. And to our eternal shame we go about our lives as if nothing is happening ... those of us who are not directly involved ... Is there a greater sin for a people?: To not care about what is being done in our name to innocent men, women, and children through no fault of their own, only that someone acting on our behalf has labeled them our enemy? And we are not caring with our eyes wide open to the suffering. There is no way we can say at some future time, “We didn’t know.” My god, where are the prophets to call us to repentance? To decipher the handwriting on the wall? We have become the Ghengis Khan of our age. We are NOT a Christian nation in the meaning of Jesus as the Christ, the Prince of Peace. What we are is a “Joshua fought the Battle of Jericho” nation, slaughtering the men, women, and children along with the animals ... every living thing in the name of Jehovah. God save us from ourselves! Lest we be cursed forever. By Beker, June 28, 2006 at 2:44 am Link to this comment (Unregistered commenter) We’re fighting them over there so they’ll be able to fight us over here. What’s it going to take to get the APCs rolling down our streets, to get our doors kicked in, to get us locked away and forgotten in detention centers? A ten percent spread between exit polls and the upcoming rigged Diebold vote in 2008? Some Americans may hopefully, finally, respond by massing in the streets and meaning it for once, and - bingo - that’ll provide the long-sought exit strategy from Iraq. The troops will be brought back so that they can fight us over here once they’re inured to fighting the way they did over there. And then we’ll get ours. We keep allowing ourselves to be trampled on, we keep giving up our democracy to the rednecks and rapture-headed and republican gangsters - don’t worry, citizens of Planet Earth, we’ll get ours. The sad difference will be that we’ll have earned it. Every day we consent to our criminal overlords and allow them get away with all of it, we earn it all over again. God help us all. We Americans carry the purple ink of this terror on all our thumbs. So far, all we hear is the occasional call for censure, a few brave people speak of impeachment. It’s time to address the treason, committed in a time of war, by Bush and his shameless gang. The treason and the time-honored remedy for it handed down by a competent court. If there will be one. By then it my just be tribunals for all of us. The whole thing is exhausting. Thanks for the article. Page 2 of 2 pages < 1 2 Print
85 Comments Why is this person reviewing the show if he hates it so much? I thought this was the best episode of the season. I thought the Susan storyline was stupid, but I liked everyone else’s story. How can Paul be back at his house? Didn’t Betty move into his house? I also think Betty needs to interact more with the other housewives. And I liked that the other housewives are finally starting to hang out again. Edie was also very funny this episode. Yeah, c’mon EdHill–this ain’t supposed to be DALLAS. You gotta think of it more like Dallas on crack. Or poppers. Or maybe ‘shrooms. Or doin’ all three at camp, emphasis on CAMP. Loved the recap EdHill – don’t even need to watch the show! It seems the worst shows get the best recaps. Tammy: TvGasm is all about the snark not the show so go on over to abc and read THEIR recap of this crap if you don’t like it. Bobbie: This show ain’t ‘camp’. This is Bad TV trying to be good TV, where camp at least has at least one redeeming quality which I cannot seem to pinpoint right this second. TVGasm really needs to find someone else to recap Desperate Housewives. I love the sarcasm on this blog, but I’d rather the recapper likes the show being summarized. Fire EdHill (for this show, at least). Desperate Housewives is one of my top 5 Must See shows. Oh, and the OC sucks. Have meant to mention that here for months. 90210 wannabe. I totally agree with Ed. I liked housewives last year….but it’s almost unbearable to watch this season. Everything that he pointed out was right on. Susan is by far the stupidest character ever created, and it hurts to watch her scenes… Mike is a hypocrate. I could care less about the dude in the basement… The whole new lawyer thing is awful… The only thing I kind of liked was Felicity Huffman. She’s the only thing that brings a touch of cred to this show….Don’t get me wrong…I grew up on 90210 and Melrose Place….so if anyone can truly appreciate a good night time soap it’s me….but Desperate Housewives needs to make up its’ mind. Is it a serious show that is emmy worthy, or is it just so bad it’s good? At this point it’s neither to me. Housewives Schmousewives. Don’t dare fire EdHill. I adore him. Now if I could just get some love for Arrested Development, the best half hour on television. I agree, the show sucks this season. The first season’s tone was right on. Who cares about the homicidal ‘tard in the basement? Who cares if Mike gets Zack to act like his son? Too bad the show wasn’t reviewed by a homo because then he’d know that the scene in the cemetary was completely lifted from Steel Magnolias. TO THE T!!! I hope they get it together otherwise the widespread backlash is on it’s way! Friends didn’t have a backlash until season 3. Get it together DH!!! I thought at least Julia Sweeney’s consulting producer credit would bring some reality to the show…what has she been doing over there? I don’t watch this show, but I do miss my PS2 that you’re playing all that Burnout2 on (though, y’know if I had had it last weekend, it would have been ruined with my flooded basement. So yeah, go get that Vertical Takedown or whatever.) Anyway, I’m sure this joke was made somewhere along the line, but if not, here goes… Wouldn’t it have been funny if that blond lady’s “missing” twins were locked in the black lady’s basement? (I read the comments to all the shows, so I know that sorta makes sense… right?) As for “firing” EdHill… god no! Then I may be asked to fill in on this horrible show! Ugh. Nice review Mr. EdHIll. All those who are complaining are obviously overweight women who get off on shitty TV like this. Someone who see’s it shitness makes it more enjoyable for the intelligent TVgasm fan. Obviously there are a couple in these comment section that don’t fit that bill. Shitness = my new favorite word. Mad shout outs to The Svan. sg-dub– i’d back you up with your reference, but I must confess that I stopped watching D.H in the middle of season one, so I have no idea what “blonde” you are talking about..wish I could help you out there. But I do agree with EdHill-the storylines in Desperate Housewives are as unbelievable as seeing an “ethnic” person on Laguna Beach Oh, and KUDOS to Lynette for sluttin’ it up! someone had to take Gabrielle’s place Ed – less about your exploits in the bed please. Let’s just stick to the facts. Just a randon factoid…the guy who plays Carlos’ new laywer is Natalie Maines (Dixie Chicks) husband. I’m full of useless information. Ed- Your recaps are great. don’t listen to the haters. The show is quickly going downhill this season but your recaps are worth sticking around. You should have gotten screencaps of Bree freaking out. I’d like to see Desperate Housewives Deathmatch. Marcia v. Eva–who will win? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…..too much going on and not enough happening. The Susan storyline (whatever it was supposed to be)was just a waste of time but at least it was classic Bree lst night. Ed- why did you take the time to type your recap if you still had a willing woman in your bed? I’m sure you could have found a way to “wake” her. You must like the show a little bit then. Perhaps Mr. Hill is a bit older and therefore needs a bit more, ahem, “recovery time”. Damn TVGasm … I guess the price you pay for your site’s increasing popularity is the also increasing number of really friggin’ touchy people reading it. Reading comments used to be as fun as reading the recaps — now I just find myself rolling my eyes at the uber-fanatical devotees of political correctness and the anti-snarks. But I still loves me the ‘gasm. well this episode blowed. umm is that the right tense, is blew or blowed? anyway, it sucked and blowed! there are way too many story lines going on. they aren’t really concentrating on one storey line so it sometimes feels like your running around in circles, watching this show. i loved this show last season, but i’m just about ready to give up on it and just stick to grey’s anatomy. what was up with Lynette? she can’t say no to her new boss because she’ll get fired…….ooooohhh joley fisher and her boobs are sooo scary. This season is so terrible, I have been bored from the season premiere. I thought I was the only one, now I see I am not. EdHill should not be replaced, he gets it!!! Did anyone notice Bree’s weird neck muscles when she was freaking out at Rex’s gravesite? Yuck. Brian (#16) I absolutely agree! I absolutely loved the “Rex” spinoff-now that is a TVgasm! i think the correct term is blew. To be honest tvgasm is great. Im in england and this ste saves me wondering what the hell is going on in the states. Lets face it many shows have great first seasons and lose their luster. Im worried about prison break, i want a second season. Also i dont know how the show manages to be good even though its executive produced by brett ratner. Any man that dates serena williams has no taste. Right on TexasK (#19)! …And EdHill ROCKS! Everyone just sit back and relax. Just because he is reviewing the show, doesn’t mean he has to like it. If you haven’t noticed, a lot of the writers don’t like the shows that they review, and its sooo much better when they don’t….besides Desperate Housewives is sooooooooooo lame. Now, could we get an Arrested Development recap por favor? Let’s clarify–I’m no hater! I laughed all through this recap, as I tend to do through most of what we all come here for. Gad, I find great recharging in a laugh, don’t you? And that’s why I watch DH in the first place…Here’s my Sunday night: Alternately laughing and moaning at America’s Funniest Videos, indulging in some prurient sobbing at Extreme Makeover Home edition, capped off with flat out roaring at the antics of those silly twits on Wisteria Lane–O! The catharsis! Then I tuck me into beddy-bye all primed up for another week in the real world. that would be this 3-D one, not the one on MTV…Give it a shot–try LAUGHING at DH–or groaning in delight at its paptent idiocy, then stoke up on more much needed hilarity here at TVgasm all week long. Good stuff. On anyone’s watch. Forgive the typos–I am woring in a dark classroom whilst my little darlings watch THE BIRDS–and I went to the Woddward and Bernstein School of Typing. EdHill sucks, i vote SG-Dub for class president! geeze, stop whining all you cranky girls and just be happy EdHill actually posted something funny for us to read while BORED TO DEATH at the office! i cant stand the whole bree-george-andrew storyline. now andrew is off to attitude camp, and creepy george is around. what i also want to know is how they intend to remove rex’s name from the tombstone as it was a stone for two people and rex’s name is currently on it. but i’m sure we’ll never see that point closed either. I LOVE EDHILL!!! I was so excited for this recap because I thought this episode was the best one of the season. Finally I wasn’t disappointed on Sunday. The recap was funny, but not as funny as last week, which had me instant messaging the link all over the office (j/k… kinda). Maybe if you weren’t distracted it would have had more zinging one-liners with random obscure references (Andy Dufresne, still laughing about that one…). I know I am not kidding anyone, see ya’ all next week. Last season, there was a central mystery plotline (the whole Mary Alice-Zach-Deirdre thing) to tie the show and all of the characters together. This season, they have failed to establish a central common thread. I think they’re trying to with the killer in basement story, but that’s not linked to all of the main characters. It becomes a show focused on the disjointed plotlines of each woman instead of a show with a central story from which the other individual stories branch out. I agree that this show makes less and less sense. I don’t know why Lynette is having so much trouble with this job when the whole thing that prompted her to go back to work was that someone in the industry wanted to give her, not her husband, a job. I did enjoy the freakout at the gravesite but I think that story is going nowhere. This must be the dumbest police force in town (and Bree has turned her brain off completely). and ‘slow’ black guy in the basement?!? that is depressing!! I think the acting is still strong, (with the exception of ‘zany’ susan), but the writers need some coaching from the Lost staff on how to get good mystery. I stopped watching the show because of that goddamn dead narrator lady. The way she talks make me want to shove spikes in my eyes. Lynette’s body is unbelievable. When she was dancing on the bar I could have misktaken her for Madonna! And at least this episode Lynette finally mentioned the twins, however, still no sight of them. I love EDIE!!! I really didnt like her at first because all she did was try to be a bitch. But this episode really started to show some of her potential. She is hilarious, to the point and will tell you like it is. She can be a bit BOLD (for lack of a better word) but I LIKE IT!!! HOw can ike expect Susan to accept Zach? He is a raving lunatic!!!! I ment mike not ike I don’t know why, but the show sucks this season. I read the recaps because they’re funnier than the show. I know that it’s so un-”PC” to be “PC” these days but, Tony B!, you need to back up with the ‘tard and homo references. It’s not cute, it’s not funny, and you sound like an ass. And the same goes for you, Svan. “Overweight women” across America thank you for shutting up. Did anyone else notice that Lynnette was dancing to “Boogie Shoes” just like she did in Sports Night? Sorry, just thought I’d point it out. . . #35 – M Maybe, but at least Madonna has some tits… Lynette is flat as a board!! Geez I never noticed until then. ~Intrepid ANOTHER WRITER INCONSISTENCY So Lynette can’t take off work for her son’s first day of school or anything related to her family, but when Bree needs to REbury her husband Lynette takes the morning off (Bree said it would be Friday morning)?!?! Also, Rex would have smelled incredibly bad by now, no one seems to notice. Hes probably been in the freezer, so at least he is cold….CHances are someone woul dbe able to take off work for a funeral rather that a first day of school, I think thats more realistic with Jobs these days. Of course mine is very flexible, but obviously Nina is a BIG C-U-N-T. I heard she is going to get pregnant and Lynette will get her job… I agree- while the recapper might be good and he might be right- why is he recapping if he doesnt even like the show- Ill stick to televisionwithoutpity.com ‘s reviews. They have the sarcasm and they are just as fair. This guy needs to go. EdHill – don’t worry – you may suck but not as much as JUnit’s self important ANTM recaps. What’s worse – a shitty show with a shitty recap or an awesome show recapped by someone who truly believes that he is an LA and modeling expert.. Sorry about the duplicate posts, stupid computer’s fault. EdHill sucks! The reason why B-side’s recaps are so good is that he actually enjoys the shows. B-Side should defect and just get his own site. ^though i , too , enjoy reading b-side’s laugna commentaries, i don’t think anything should be taken away from the other writers on the site. they are all very funny and, honestly, those of you who are bitching and moaning about the recaps could NOT do any better of a job with the crappy shows that these poor bloggers have to sit through: apprentice, martha stewart? Making the band? ANTM? thanks, but i’d rather drill a hole in my head than watch that garbage for more than 5 minutes. if you get so pissy about reading edhill’s “biased” recaps, then go on another website and read its Desperate Housevives recap. the less complainers on this site, the better. nice job, edhill..the video game looks amazing NYGirl sucks too. CM, Put down the doughnut and try and think clearly. Maybe then you can understand The Svan. judging by these comments, seriously, i didnt realize the primary demographic of the people who post was MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS. television without pity? haha, yes, i have three hours to read a recap on a 40minute show (without commercials). these people are ALL funny and again i cannot stress enough that you should at least be thankful these tards are posting something witty and humorous for us to read! its not like you are paying to read the site! cappy- i’m sorry, did i offend you? nah, i don’t think i directed anything towards you. why don’t you just let me have my opinions, and i’ll let you have yours. god, why does it seem like this site is flooding with people who take themselves and their crappy shows WAY too seriously? lighten up I would like to say that I hope EdHill is actually drunk next time he recaps Desperate Housewives. I’m sorry it took people so long to get on the bandwagon realizing this show sucks. Oh how the world will implode when they come to that realization with Laguna. realityfan – did I hit your dog or leave you a bad tip or something? Did I go to your house and not courtesy flush? Did I leave your sister at the altar or break up with her on a post-it note? Seriously how did I get dragged into this discussion. I hope whoever is in charge at TVgasm doesn’t take seriously the requests about getting another recapper who “likes” the show Don’t worry, we usually just make fun of the people who whine while we’re getting drunk with our friends. Ed Hill rocketh. The dude had me busting up with his Burnout recap. Well, done sir. Well done indeed. And to all the complainers… GOOD DAY, SIR! Holy Shit! Can I get a round of Quaaludes up in this mutha? I’m about to guest blog all yer asses. All these writers are great and everyone can have a bad day, (except for B-Side. I’m in room 706, the key’s under the mat). EdHill was always one of my favorite commentors and I was dee-lighted that he blogged a crappy show that I don’t watch. For all the haters, I’m not naming any names but their initials are Yoko Ono, take the afforementioned Lude, have a glass of wine, and chill the fuck out. Oh what the hell. Take the whole bottle. And to think, I quit waxing intellectual on progressive education, politics, organic gardening and the like for this. What can I say, I truly am a junkie always itching for that next TVGasm. If you’re looking for a great nighttime soap, with sex, humor and a great mystery, check out “Pasadena” on the Soap Network on Saturday nights. This show was created by Mike White, aired for 3 episodes on Fox like 4 years ago, and now is finally showing in its whole run. Best scenes so far have included the housekeeper barfing on the teenage girl while serving breakfast, the mom taking a baseball bat to the windshield of her husband’s mistress’s Audi, and the misfit brother waking up in bed with a hardbody homosexual after a night bingeing on coke. Can we get someone to recap this show please??? Wait a minute…I thought this website only recapped crappy shows and all reality shows. You know, the ones with a high snark value? But then I realized that my taste in shows must be what sucks. I LOVE Prison Break and 24! And those are bothed recapped here. Must.Find.Inhaler…Can’t.Breathe… Ugh half of the complaints you have regarding continuity have been addressed in previous episodes. We’ve known since the first half of the first season that Lynette was in advertising before she became a stay-at-home mom. If you can’t pay attention, don’t recap this shit okay? Thanks. i enjoyed your recap even if you dont like the show and i also wanted to know if you are the same edhill that commented on last weeks real world episode. if so i wanted to thank you for making me laugh so hard at the say anything reference you made “joe lies. joe lies when he cries.” youre hilarious Entertainment Weekly has an article enititled “What’s wrong with Desperate Housewives?” So it’s not just us. All this talk about Lynette has reminded me of a plot point that was never resolved: remember when her husband had to travel for his job and he had some major secret that was never revealed? What he hell was it?! What’s with the complaining people. It’s one person’s opinion. You don’t like it.. tough shit. Everything isn’t going to be kittens and puppies. Anyways.. I still love the show but your recaps always entertain me! Keep it up! Keep on keeping on EdHill. I aprreciate sarcasm, and I like reading the recaps. I ‘aprreciate’ the sarcasm too. Im sure Spedhill will have some interesting comments on all this banter in his next rant about dh’s. Can’t wait! Oh and Im glad we dont have to pay for it. Cause noone would pay for it. There are so many recapping sites (albeit this is my favorite) Im not a TVgasm hater just a not a fan of spedhill. But I love the Real world recaps! BEST EVER! Britt – Glad you can appreciate sarcasm. Cause maybe you’ll “get” this: Gee, I wish YOU recapped DH somewhere, I mean, with your overuse of your one joke in just 6 short sentences, I’m sure it would be oh-so hilarious. Thanks for reading! EdHill rocks!! I love how people are so critical. Don’t read the damn thing then. Go to the ABC site and get the real recap. You are ‘oh so’ welcome! Geez- I love how the peeps on this site can dish out all this ish and can’t take a little critism. SPEDHILL- see I used it 3 times! B-SIDE FOR PRESIDENT! Ha. I LOVE IT. all this back and forth and not one comment on my “steaming hot sex-starved vagina” ? (the joke that is) That was comic GOLD people. Even my mom said so. I think EdHill is the bestest. What is up with the ubercritical tvgasm posters all of a sudden? Edhill is attacked for questioning season 2 of DH, something that just about everyone is doing, and over at the Veronica Mars recap, people are throwing crazed hissy fits because a recapper dares to not like a character. Good grief. EdHill, I love you. I’ll show YOU a “steaming hot sex-starved vagina”. Oh yeah, and DH sucks balls. I was only critical of your lack of hitting it the next morning EdHill. I’m sure you’ll try “harder” next time. Ali (#42) — Rex was embalmed. Britt (#44) — yeah, the TWOP recaps are fantastic, esp in tone, but I can’t wait till Sat. Mad props to Spedhill for the Lucille Ball refs — too funny! More rawr comments from The Svan!!! Yeah. EdHill is dreamy. I’d have a drink with any of the TVGasm guys. Of course, they’d be paying. I wonder if its just 3 or 4 people who post under different names? PS DONNA MARTIN GRADUATES- is the best SN ever!!! That is my fav 90210 episode Hey, thanks tbone! During the late eighties, when I worked backstage on sucky Phantom of the Opera, we’d randomly yell it out over the cans (headsets) and never fail to fall down laughing. Ya know, tbone, you might be onto something… Compare comment #48 with #55 Lisa (#63) “Everything isn’t going to be kittens and puppies.” WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!?!!?!?!!?!?!?!?!!? The DH recaps are excellent and funny, and point out the incredible decline of this show from last season. However, I do wish the writer would spend less time on his personal schtick. Sure, showing a little of your personality is fine, but gawd, I feel like I live with this guy. DRAMA! Holy crap people..it’s just a re-cap. I gave up on this moronic excuse for entertainment last week and by the looks of things, so have alot of the rest of you. The fact the re-capper enjoys playstation breaks more than the mindless drivel on the tube only enhances the re-cap. The ‘gasm isn’t the place for blind faith in programs that are just asking for disdain. Once a show has its cast proudly posing on the covers of EVERY entertainment rag in America they are REQUIRED to maintain at least some credible interest. This site is all about laughing at the absurdity. It’s fun, seriously. Flaming the esteemed bloggers of this site is kinda like Carl Rove writing hate mail to Al Franken. Ya know..pathetic? Ali (#42) “ANOTHER WRITER INCONSISTENCY . . . Bree said it would be Friday morning.” Even more inconsistency – The burial was shown after Lynette was out at the bar on Friday night. I think the show has lost what little held it together last year – the women together – and the sex – how about bringing back the hot shirtless guys! So, Betty wore gloves when she was writing the letter (to keep the DNA and stuff off, I guess). But then, she and Matthew handled the letter sans gloves during their argument. So much for needing the gloves, Betty. ha! P.S. And whose house is Paul in, anyway? Does it belong to Felisha Tilman, who just went out of town? Enquiring minds are scratching their heads! There is no political agenda here. This is for FUN people. Whether I liked the show or not, the review of it has me laughing outloud. Edhill, you and all the other snarkers rock. I shit you not, I laugh out loud at every review. This is without a doubt the best “Desperate” recap on the web. Hysterically funny with dead-on observations and critique. One problem: the recaps should be posted sooner. It’s Wednesday now, and STILL no review of this past Sunday’s episode?
SHORT COURSE #57 Atherosclerosis: Practical Implications for Pathologists Section 4 - <!START CONTENT> Prior Coronary Arterial Bypass Grafting - CABG Jagdish Butany John Veinot Case 3 - Prior Coronary Arterial Bypass Grafting - CABG This 60-year-old female presented to emergency with jaw pain, and complaints of nausea, vomiting, diaphoresis and recent syncope. She was in cardiogenic shock with a BP of 70/40 mm Hg. She was known to have coronary artery disease with prior aorto-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) done a year ago with the following grafts placed: saphenous vein (SVG) to right coronary artery (RCA), radial artery to first marginal artery (M1), and left internal thoracic artery (LITA) to left anterior descending (LAD) artery. She had type 2 diabetes mellitus and had peripheral vascular disease. She had not smoked since her CABG. Emergent cardiac catheterization was done via her remaining radial artery (no access to leg vessels due to peripheral vascular disease). This demonstrated a significantly stenotic left main lesion, diffuse narrowing of the vein graft to the RCA, a narrowed radial artery graft, and a patent LITA with severe distal LAD disease. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of her left main was successful with a stent positioned. Despite a patent stent, her hypotension did not improve. She was noted to be neurologically unresponsive with probable severe anoxic brain injury. Despite maximum doses of norepinephrine, and dopamine she died shortly after the procedure. Findings at complete autopsy: Old subendocardial inferolateral left ventricular myocardial infarct, Recent transmural anterolateral left ventricular myocardial infarct SVG (saphenous vein graft) to RCA - graft ostium patent; diffuse graft fibrointimal thickening; moderate to severe stenosis at anastomosis; moderate distal RCA disease Radial artery graft to M1 - graft ostium severely stenotic; diffuse graft fibrointimal thickening; severe stenosis at anastomosis; moderate distal M1 disease LITA graft to LAD - LITA graft patent with small fibrointimal plaque; mild stenosis at anastomosis; mild distal LAD disease Left main stent open Diffuse anoxic ischemic cerebral injury Bypass Graft Surgery - Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting - CABG CABG is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures in the world. It is done for stable angina, unstable angina and myocardial infarct, as well as heart failure. The benefit of the surgery is greatest in the most high-risk patients - those with advanced disease, multivessel disease and left ventricular failure. Many procedures are now re-operations, as the grafts do not stay patent indefinitely. In selected patients balloon angioplasty and stenting (percutaneous coronary intervention - PCI) is as effective as bypass surgery. The chest need not be entered, which is an advantage to the patient. However, the benefit of PCI may diminish over time, especially in patients with multi-coronary disease, as re-vascularization is required. There is also a concern of late thrombosis with the utilization of drug eluting stents. It should be remembered that the CABG procedure is one of the most studied surgical procedures and has evidence based medicine supporting many of its indications. [ 1 ] The extent of re-vascularization achieved by bypass surgery has usually been higher than that achieved with PCI. Recent developments have included hybrid intervention/surgery procedures with balloon angioplasty/ PCI and bypass grafting performed within a short period of time in the same patient. Drug eluting stents are also changing the playing field. Bypasses are done using grafts of autologous reversed saphenous vein, internal thoracic (mammary) artery or other arterial conduits including the radial artery or gastroepiploic artery. Saphenous Vein Grafts Saphenous veins from the leg are the usual vessels used for bypass grafting. The five-year patency rate is about 85 %. This decreases to about 50 % at 10 years due to early thrombosis, fibrointimal thickening and graft atherosclerosis. [ 2 ] Acutely the grafts may thrombose, which may cause death or myocardial infarct. Usually this is caused by a defective anastomosis between the artery and the vein, or due to poor distal vessel run off. The intima of the blood vessel is exposed to arterial pressures and this causes neointimal proliferation. Chronically these graft vessels get soft atherosclerotic plaque, which may be complicated by plaque rupture, thrombosis and aneurysms. Most vein graft atheromatous plaques could be considered vulnerable plaques in morphology and risk. Patients usually do well for extended periods, but may develop late recurrence of symptoms due to graft disease or progression of atherosclerosis in their native coronary arteries distal to the grafting. The saphenous vein is dissected from the leg soft tissues, the branches ligated and flushed to identify leaks and overcome spasm. The vein thus may be stretched and traumatized leading to endothelial and medial damage. Attempts to minimize this trauma from the dissection include the practice of harvesting the grafts with an endoscope. Various graft preservation solutions and temperatures have also been investigated. Hypothermia has been found to extensively damage the endothelium. When assessing bypass grafts, all the anastomoses and components must be accounted for, including: a) The proximal aortic anastomosis for vein grafts and free arterial grafts, (or the proximal anastomosis of a sequential graft - vein to vein or artery to artery) b) The body of the bypass graft itself which may become diseased with fibrointimal hyperplasia, thromboses or atherosclerosis, c) The distal anastomosis which may undergo fibrointimal hyperplasia, d) The distal native vessel disease, which may cause poor distal flow even with a technically good graft. Areas to assess with bypass grafts Graft ostium/ proximal anastomosis Graft body Distal anastomosis Distal coronary artery Sites of Possible Bypass Graft Compromise (modified from original by W.D. Edwards) Grafts may fail from obstructions at any of these sites. Sequential grafts may be done with another anastomosis, vein to vein or artery to artery. Often the vein grafts are not normal to begin with. Surgeons will not use obviously varicose veins, but the veins that are used often have phlebosclerosis with intimal thickening, medial hypertrophy, and medial fibrosis. [ 3 ] There are considerable physiological and anatomical differences between arterial and venous grafts. The venous wall is supplied by vasa vasora (the small vessels of the adventitia that locally nourish the vessel), whereas the arterial wall may be supplied through the lumen in addition to the vasa vasora. The endothelium of arteries is different and may secrete more nitric oxide. The structure of the vein is accustomed to low pressure, whereas the artery is designed for high pressure. [ 4 ] Veins may be more susceptible to thrombosis than arteries as they may produce less prostacyclin (a vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation) than arteries do. [ 3 ] Often the choice of the conduit depends on the age of the patient, the surgeon's experience and preference and surgical factors including the length of the graft required. With multiple re-do bypass grafting, the previously placed grafts are often excised. The anastomoses, both proximal and distal may be reused. The new graft is most often placed distal to the old one. When one assesses these hearts after explantation at transplant or at autopsy, one may not find all the grafts but one may be surprised how many old anastomoses can be found. The use of an elastic stain is invaluable to detect these. Internal Thoracic (mammary) Artery Grafts The internal thoracic artery (ITA) graft was demonstrated to have superior patency compared with saphenous vein grafts in the early 1980's. [ 5 ] The internal thoracic (mammary) artery has a longer patency rate with 90 % patency at about 10 years. These arteries are small elastic arteries and therefore behave entirely different than vein grafts. They are adapted to arterial pressure and do not undergo the same neointimal proliferation and atherosclerosis as grafted veins. The thoracic artery also maintains its nutrient blood supply and there is no need for a proximal anastomosis, as there is with aorto-coronary artery bypass grafts. The artery originates from the subclavian artery. It is dissected from the chest wall and its distal end anastomosed to the coronary artery for grafting. Vineburg used the internal thoracic artery to achieve indirect myocardial revascularization in the 1950's. [ 5 ] Direct implantation of the bleeding artery in the myocardium was done. Despite no distal vascular anastomoses, many of these arteries are patent when examined pathologically many years after the surgery. Internal thoracic arteries may have some age related intimal disease, but atherosclerosis is very rare. There has been a trend towards utilization of bilateral right and left internal thoracic arteries and free grafting using the internal thoracic artery. This free arterial graft may be anastomosed to the aorta, similar to a vein graft or anastomosed to a vein, pericardial patch, or sequentially grafted to the in situ contralateral internal thoracic artery. The problems related to the use of internal thoracic artery grafts in contrast to vein grafts are that arterial conduits may be more difficult to harvest, more easily damaged, more demanding to anastomose owing to fragility and small size and more complicated by spasm and technical error which may result in graft closure or inadequate flow. [ 5 ] Each arterial conduit has a learning curve and graft patency is related to technical considerations associated with harvesting, handling, routing, and anastomoses. Recurrent ischemia can occur in the territory of an internal thoracic artery graft. This may be due to significant atheroma in the distal native vessel. Less commonly, there is stenosis within the internal thoracic artery graft itself or intimal hyperplasia at the anastomosis. Technical errors at the anastomosis or graft arterial dissection may account for early graft failure. Atherosclerosis of the graft itself is rare. Subclavian artery stenosis proximal to the origin of the pedicled thoracic artery graft may occur. It is important for the pathologist to realize that the distal end of the internal thoracic artery resembles a muscular artery in structure, rather than a small elastic artery as it is along most of its course. Without this knowledge this may be very confusing when one looks at the distal anastomosis and observes two muscular arteries anastomosed, having expected an elastic artery. Other Arterial Grafts Surgeons have also used the gastroepiploic and radial arteries as bypass grafts. These are muscular arteries and may contain vascular pathology including atherosclerosis and medial calcification, which can compromise them as grafts. They also may be prone to spasm. The long-term patency is still under study but radial artery studies seem favorable. [ 6 , 7 ] The radial artery is an alternative arterial conduit. The radial artery is a small muscular artery. It may have age related changes including calcification of the internal elastic lamina and Monckeberg's medial calcinosis. The artery is prone to spasm during harvesting as the media layer of the radial artery is thick and the spasm may be intense and difficult to reverse. Surgeons have dealt with this problem using solutions and anti-spasm agents such as papaverine and calcium channel blockers. Care is also taken not to mechanically or hydrostatically damage the vessel during harvest and preparation. [ 5 ] The radial artery is usually harvested from the non-dominant arm after assessment of collateral circulation to the hand (Allen test). The radial artery is anastomosed proximally to the aorta with a punch biopsy taken out of the aorta to make the proximal anastomosis. Alternatively, the artery can be anastomosed to a vein graft or a pericardial patch. [ 8 ] The radial artery may be longer than the internal thoracic artery and can provide good flow. Radial artery grafts are all free grafts and thus both the distal and proximal anastomoses must be carefully examined if these grafts fail. The right gastroepiploic artery may be brought through the diaphragm for anastomosis with the coronary arteries, especially the right coronary. This artery may also be used as a free graft. The inferior epigastric artery has also been utilized but its patency rate is not as good as the other conduits. [ 8 ] Free grafts are different than pedicle grafts. Pedicle grafts have an intact vasa vasora supplying the wall of the graft, whereas free grafts are only nourished from the intra-luminal blood supply. Internal thoracic arteries may be both free or pedicled types, as are most arterial grafts. All radial artery grafts and vein grafts are by definition always free grafts. Types of grafts - internal thoracic (ITAs) and gastroepiploic arteries (GEA) - independent and sequential grafts are possible (modified from reference [ 9 ] ) Artery Type Structure Pedicle or free Spasm SVG vein free yes ITA elastic artery both low Radial muscular artery free yes Gastroepiploic muscular artery both yes The major changes or evolution in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery include off-pump grafting (OPCAB), minimally invasive surgery (MICAB) and the increased use of arterial conduits including multiple arterial conduits. Sequential vein grafts have been used for some time, but sequential arterial "T" or "Y" grafts are now being used for attempted complete arterial revascularization. These grafts are technically challenging and may have more risk of hypo-perfusion as both grafts get blood from the same source. [ 8 ] New innovations in CABG include novel methods of anastomosis without sutures, using magnets and special devices. Some of these innovations have developed due to increased "off pump" surgery on the beating heart and coronary arterial bypass surgery through a thoracotomy - minimally invasive surgery. Hybrid procedures are also being done with combinations of angioplasty, stenting and bypass grafting done at the same treatment. Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting - MICAB The increasing selection of the internal thoracic artery, the conduit of choice for LAD revascularization, has lead to the development of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting. This does not involve the usual cardiopulmonary bypass or median sternotomy. Via a small incision in the left chest, the internal thoracic artery is harvested, the pericardium is opened and the left internal thoracic artery is grafted to the LAD. This only treats one vessel, an important consideration. Wider application of this minimally invasive procedure may include grafting of the right internal thoracic artery or gastroepiploic artery grafting of the right coronary artery. Off Pump Surgery - OPCAB Off-pump surgery is bypass surgery on the beating heart without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass or cardiac arrest. This is independent of the method of surgical access to the heart. In conventional bypass surgery, access to the heart is obtained from full sternotomy, the heart and ascending aorta are cannulated for cardiopulmonary bypass, cardiac arrest is induced and the ascending aorta is manipulated for construction of proximal anastomoses for vein grafts or free arterial grafts. These steps may contribute to patient trauma, microemboli, and may provoke biological reactions. [ 10 ] Manipulating a heavily calcified ascending aorta is best avoided. Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass and manipulation of the aorta and heart may decrease the incidence of atherosclerotic and other microemboli. It is possible that this will decrease the risk of peri-operative neurological complications, especially in elderly or high risk patients. The use of arterial grafting and avoidance of aortic manipulation also may contribute to this reduction in complications. In addition to microemboli, cardiopulmonary bypass induces an inflammatory response due to activation of compliment due to contact of the blood with the bypass circuit. Organs may become dysfunctional, often involving the brain, lungs, heart, bowel, kidneys and coagulation system. Avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass reduces oxidative stress, inflammation and peri-operative morbidity. Off pump surgery may offer a smaller incision, but it is important to remember that this should not be done at the cost of incomplete re-vascularization. It also must never compromise the quality of the coronary anastomoses. Training and patient selection are vital to the success of the procedure. Advances in the field of off pump surgery have included regional mechanical stabilizers that reduce the motion of the target area to allow workable conditions for the surgeons. Robotic assisted procedures are also under investigation. Studies of modalities to image the ascending aorta and choose patients that might benefit from off pump surgery are of much interest. Muscular artery - coronary, GEA, radial arteries Internal elastic lamina (IEL) External elastic lamina (EEL) Adventitial collagen Vein IEL only after arterialization (grafting) EEL irregular Adventitial longitudinal muscle bundles Elastic artery - internal thoracic arteries Multiple elastic lamellae Coronary Artery and Graft Diagram References Munsch C. What cardiology trainees should know about coronary artery surgery--and coronary artery surgeons: ischaemic heart disease. Heart 2008; 94(2):230-6. Motwani JG, Topol EJ. Aortocoronary saphenous vein graft disease: pathogenesis, predisposition, and prevention. Circulation 1998; 97(9):916-31. Cox JL, Chiasson DA, Gotlieb AI. Stranger in a strange land: the pathogenesis of saphenous vein graft stenosis with emphasis on structural and functional differences between veins and arteries. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 1991; 34:45-68. He GW. Arterial grafts for coronary artery bypass grafting: biological characteristics, functional classification, and clinical choice.Ann Thorac Surg 1999; 67(1):277-84. Barner HB. The continuing evolution of arterial conduits. Ann Thorac Surg 1999; 68(3:Suppl):Suppl-8. Al-Ruzzeh S, Modine T, Athanasiou T, Mazrani W, Azeem F, Nakamura K, et al. Can the Use of the Radial Artery Be Expanded to All Patients with Different Surgical Grafting Techniques? Early Clinical and Angiographic Results in 600 Patients. J Cardiac Surg 2005; 20(1):1-7. Cameron J, Trivedi S, Stafford G, Bett JHN. Five-Year Angiographic Patency of Radial Artery Bypass Grafts. Circulation 2004; 110(11 suppl 1): II-23. Barner HB. Arterial grafting: techniques and conduits. Ann Thorac Surg 1998; 66(5 Suppl):S2-5. Lev-Ran O, Paz Y, Pevni D, Kramer A, Shapira I, Locker C, et al. Bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting: midterm results of composite versus in situ crossover graft. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 2002; 74(3):704-11. de Jaegere PPT, Suyker WJL. Off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery. Heart 2002; 88(3):313-8. <!END CONTENT>
Promotion, Tenure, and Salary Committee Report and Recommendations, Part I 2006-2007 Academic year (Members: Joe: In addition to the committee's normal duties, I ask that the committee consider and report on the following special charges: -. These two charges are addressed separately below. Charge I. Investigate departmental procedures for the distribution of merit pay. Faculty “contribute” to the merit pool based on a percent of their salaries. However, most departments return this money to faculty by dollar amounts, not as a percentage, so it is possible that this contributes to the problem of salary compression. The PTS Committee requested merit distribution data from Dr. Bill Colclough (Appendix A) from 2006-07. Given the small pay packages during the past many years, we determined that if merit pay distribution is, in fact, a contributor to salary compression, it is a miniscule contributor, at best. Recommendations from the PTS Committee for Charge I -. Charge II. Audit the faculty promotion and workload issues/concerns identified in the Campus Climate Survey. The PTS Committee requested a copy of the survey that was distributed to the university community in Spring 2004 (Appendix B) and a copy of the survey report that was authored by Dr. Deb Hoskins (Appendix D). After perusing the report, we had Dr. Carmen Wilson break out the responses by faculty and instructional academic staff (IAS) (Appendix C) so that we could better focus on issues that were germane to these two groups. When we approached the data in this way, we observed that there were three issues of concern to faculty and two issues of concern to IAS (with one of these issues, promotion and salary, in common between the two groups). Unfortunately, the survey responses for faculty could not be further subdivided by rank. We defined “of concern” to be those issues with average responses hovering at or just below 3. (Note that the responses on the survey could range from strongly agree -5- to strongly disagree -1). Faculty issues: · Workload (2.88) · Promotion and salary (3.01) · Collegial decision making (3.04) IAS issues: · Promotion and salary (2.84) · Career growth (2.85) We met with Beth Hartung, Campus Climate Coordinator, to find out about any policies or activities that may already be in place to deal with these issues, and learned the following: - The Campus Climate Council (CCC) is planning to do another survey in about a year. - The CCC currently performs exit interviews with faculty who leave UW-L, and are interested in doing a one-year follow-up as well. - More female faculty are leaving UW-L than male faculty. - Although these exit data have been gathered, the data are not currently analyzed or utilized for anything. Recommendations from the PTS Committee for Charge II -.) Respectfully submitted, Anne Galbraith Promotion, Tenure, and Salary Chair Appendix A <![if !vml]> <![endif]> Appendix B <![if !vml]> <![endif]> Please indicate how much you agree with each statement regarding the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse. If you are unsure how to evaluate the statement, please mark the last column “unsure / unable to judge. 13. What is your job classification at UWL? (only 1 answer) 14. What is your employment status? (check the answers that best describe the total of your positions at UWL) 15. How long have you been employed at UWL? ________________________________________________________________ 16. Please identify the unit(s) in which you work (check all that apply) 17. How would you describe your racial or ethnic origin? (check all that apply) 18. Were you born in the United States? q Yes q No 19. How many wage earners are in your household? ____________________________________ 20. What year were you born? _________________ 21. Do any of the following affect your ability to work or how you do your work? (please check all that apply): 22. Have any of the following ever affected your ability to work or how you do your work? (please check all that apply): 23. Have you documented a disability (see 22. above) with the University? q Yes q No 24. Have you had a disability (see 22. above) accommodated through discussion with your supervisor? q Yes. q I have never had a disability that affected me at work. q I talked to my supervisor about my disability, but nothing came of it. 25. What is your gender? 26. How would you describe your sexual orientation? (only 1 answer) 27. What is your religious affiliation? (only 1 answer) 28. How many dependents live with you (children, elders, household members with disabilities)? ______________________________ 29. What changes or improvements do you think would improve the campus climate for employees of color, women, non-Christians, employees from working-class backgrounds, older employees, employees with disabilities, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered employees? 30. What changes or improvements do you think would improve the campus climate for you? Thank you for completing the survey. If, for any reason, you do not wish to have your data included, please click here: q Appendix C Here is the data broken out by faculty and IAS for each of the 10 “issues”. Remember that 1 was strongly disagree and 5 was strongly agree. Appendix D University of Wisconsin at La Crosse Faculty/Staff Campus Climate Survey Dr. Deb Hoskins, Dept. of Women’s Studies Summary In the Spring of 2004, UW-L conducted a “Campus Climate Survey” of all 1418 employees, including faculty, staff, and graduate assistants. The survey yielded a 60% response rate for a final sample of 829. Of those respondents, 48% were men, 52% women; 79% were non-Hispanic white, 8% identified as members of other races, and 11% preferred not to identify their race; 30% were faculty, 10% were instructional academic staff, 16% non-instructional academic staff, 28% classified staff, 3% LTEs, 7% were mid-level and upper-level administrators, and 6% were graduate assistants. Three broad areas of concern were identified: workload and work/life balance, advancement & recognition, and leadership. The results supporting each of these areas are provided. In addition, the university’s commitment to diversity and data representing the experiences of disadvantaged groups are discussed. The process for distributing the survey’s results is also discussed. Background In the spring of 2004, UW-L conducted a “Campus Climate Survey” of all employees, including faculty, staff, and graduate assistants. The survey originated from Chancellor Hastad’s charge to the Women’s Advisory Council and from Dean Magerus’ charge to the College of Liberal Studies Diversity Committee to study the campus climate through a survey. Dr. Deb Hoskins, Women’s Studies, and Ms. Sharie Brunk, Academic Discovery Lab, co-chaired a committee that united the two charges and developed the survey. UW Madison’s Committee on Women in the University – Work Group on Climate defines climate as “The atmosphere or ambience of an organization as perceived by its members. An organization's climate is reflected in its structures, policies, and practices; the demographics of its membership; the attitudes and values of its members and leaders; and the quality of personal interactions.” The UW Madison Campus Climate Network Group defines it as “the result of behaviors within a workplace or learning environment, ranging from subtle to cumulative to dramatic, that can influence whether an individual feels personally safe, listened to, valued, and treated fairly and with respect.”[1] The UW-L questionnaire focused on overall inclusiveness and climate, trust and respect, campus communication, collegial decision-making, work/life balance, policy issues around workload, advancement, and compensation, and perceptions and experiences of discrimination. Method In the spring of 2004, UW-System’s Market Research sent a link to an on-line campus climate survey to 1318 faculty, staff, and graduate assistants, and 100 hard copies to an additional 100 employees without email access, and collected the anonymous responses. The response rate to this survey was 60%, for a final sample of 829. Survey researchers consider response rates of 30% “good.” The survey consisted primarily of attitude questions assessing perception of the university climate. Participants responded with a 5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 5 “strongly agree” to 1 “strongly disagree.” A sample question reads “I understand the process for advancing at UW-L.” In addition to attitude questions, participants related the experiencing or witness of climate-related events (such as disrespect toward others based on disability status) over the past year, and provided traditional demographic information. Two open-ended questions solicited suggestions to improve the campus climate. Two-hundred-forty respondents commented on the first question on historically-excluded populations for a response rate of 29%. Three-hundred-forty-one respondents commented on the second question, on the individual’s own situation, for a response rate of 41%. Analysis System Market Research conducted the initial analysis, largely comprised of descriptive statistics indicating the percent of the participants responding to each response option per item (weighted by gender[2]). For instance, in response to the question “I understand the process for advancing at UW-L,” 10% of the respondents strongly agreed, 45% agreed, 14% were neutral, 17% disagreed, 7% strongly disagreed, and an additional 7% were “unable to judge”, The System Market Research report is attached here as Appendix A. In order to identify the areas of concern, a criteria was established. Survey researchers traditionally employ a 10% rule: 10% of a population needs to mention a topic (in response to open-ended questions) to justify pursuing additional analyses. This report used a more conservative criteria, considering any survey question problematic if System Market Research’s report indicated that at least 20% of the sample responded negatively. Negative response was defined as indicating an attitude of “disagree” or “strongly disagree” to an attitudinal item. Although the standard of 20% could be debated, it is merely a device to identify the most problematic areas. Ms. Sharie Brunk analyzed the 581 written responses to the survey’s two open-ended questions by identifying common themes. Where applicable, results from the open-ended questions are provided along with the statistical analyses. In addition, the raw data, excluding the responses to the open-ended questions, were provided to Dr. Carmen Wilson, Dept. of Psychology, who conducted additional analyses to identify differences among subgroups (not weighted for gender). The primary analyses consisted of analysis of variance (ANOVA - a statistical test that assesses differences on an interval level variable between two or more independent groups by comparing the means and standard deviation of each group). In addition, if differences among three or more groups were found, a statistical test was performed to indicate which groups differed significantly from one another (StudentNewman-Keuls). Dr. Wilson’s results are attached as Appendix B. Results Using the 20% standard described above, three major themes arose as problem areas that cut broadly across campus constituents: workload and work/life balance, advancement and recognition, and leadership. Each area is discussed separately below. Respondents’ perceptions of UW-L’s commitment to inclusiveness arose as a fourth area of concern, although it was less widespread than the three above. Finally, the experiences of historically-disadvantaged populations (including employees of color, LBGT employees, and employees with documented disabilities) constitute a fifth set of concerns. Workload and the Work/Life Balance Survey questions centering on workload and the balance between work and personal life received the greatest number of negative responses, making it the largest area of campus-wide concern. A substantial number of UW-L employees (26%) are dissatisfied with the balance between their work lives with their personal lives. Listed below are the items assessing workload and work/life balance identified as problematic. Ten out of fourteen items were responded to negatively at a rate of 20% or more. Proportion of respondents indicating “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” to survey items: 47% The work load is fairly distributed at UW-L. 32% My classification/rank is appropriate to my job assignments and work load. 28% My work assignment is doable within the time I have to do it. 27% The time pressures of my job are reasonable. 26% I am satisfied with the balance between my personal life and my job. 24% I believe that I can both care for a family and advance at work. 24% I know where to get information about UW-L’s work/life policies. 22% I feel free to “speak-up” about work/life issues at UW-L. 21% My opportunities for advancement at work are hindered by my responsibilities and activities outside of work. [Wording of this question makes the “agree” side the indicator of a problem. 21% responded “agree” or “strongly agree”.) 20% UW-L’s senior administrators respect the need to balance work and life roles. Subgroup Analyses: · Graduate assistants were more positive than any other category of employee (administrators, faculty and instructional academic staff, or non-instructional academic staff, classified staff, and LTEs) in their perceptions of workload. · Faculty and instructional staff saw more work/life balance issues more negatively than administrators. · Gender alone made no difference either on workload or work/life balance questions. · Single wage-earners saw work/life balance issues more negatively than did employees with more than one wage-earner in their household; the number of dependents made no difference. · Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals saw work/life balance issues more negatively than did heterosexuals and also perceive workload issues more negatively than heterosexuals. · Those who preferred not to indicate their race perceived work/life balance issues more negatively than did either employees of color or white employees, but those who preferred not to identify their race and white employees viewed workload issues more negatively than did employees of color. Written Comments: Written comments on workload commented frequently on faculty load: · “strong faculty are getting burned-out,” · “use a 2/2 or 2/3 teaching schedule,” · “return to the faculty release time of the late 80’s, early 90’s, “the over-emphasis on research has proven fatal to UW-L’s mission of teaching students.” Many respondents offered more general comments on workload: · “too many 45-50 hour work weeks,” · “additional evenings/weekends doing work at home” · “we are increasingly being asked to do more for less.” Some respondents specifically noted workload issues for custodial staff and suggested hiring more people in this area. Some respondents argued that “work/life policies at UW-L have no meaning,” · “The four-course faculty teaching load is unforgiving for work/life balance.” · Others noted that the waiting list for on-site childcare needs to be reduced, that childcare needs to be more affordable, and to serve younger children. Respondents recommended finding ways to distribute the workload better · hiring more staff, · opening more discussion on work/life issues · a more responsive, “proactive” approach to employee’s questions and concerns from the Human Resources office. · Responding to women employees who take care of aging parents, · changing early meeting times to accommodate women having child care issues, · and supportive events, including socials, education, leadership, workshops, · more flex-time scheduling or job sharing, · offering a 10-hour work day, · offering opportunities for academic staff to apply for sabbatical for self-renewal. Advancement and Recognition A second area of general concern can be summarized as advancement and recognition, including career growth and the valuing of employees. Listed below are the items the items assessing advancement as problematic. Eleven out of twelve items were responded to negatively at a rate of 20% or more. Proportion of respondents indicating “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” to survey items: 39% I have received both formal and informal mentoring. 36% My salary is appropriate compared to others of comparable rank at UW-L. 33% Requirements for promotions or advancements are clear to me. 28% My job accomplishments are recognized. 27% I am satisfied with the mentoring I have received. 27% I am notified when I am eligible to seek advancements or promotions. 25% My career advancement at UW-L has been supported. 24% I feel positive about my future development at work. 24% I understand the process for advancing at UW-L 22% UW-L values its employees. Subgroup Analyses: · Faculty and instructional academic staff (analyzed as a group) were more positive about advancement than were non-instructional academic staff, classified staff, and LTEs (analyzed as a group). · The survey flags lack of notification about eligibility for advancement for staff other than faculty. · Non-instructional academic staff, classified staff, and LTEs feel less appreciated than do administrators or faculty and instructional academic staff. Written comments: · “Poor pay does not attract good candidates.” · Low pay was an issue that cut across employment categories, but appeared particularly acute for instructional academic staff. · ”Job security for long-term full-time academic staff: how can a person work here, do a better than average job for over a decade and still not be sure of employment beyond one semester?” · Promotion was an important area of concern for faculty: o “The guidelines for promotions are unclear or unknown and need to be reexamined.” o “There is a climate of mistrust and unfairness when it comes to promotions.” o Several respondents recommended a more flexible balance in promotion standards to value service in promotion decisions o Several respondents suggested that the promotion process respect how a candidate’s department defines scholarship in promotion decisions · Many respondents commented about unfairness for classified and academic staff, especially in terms of low pay and the loss of job security with the demise of many of the rolling contracts. · Many also commented on major barriers to advancement and/or unreasonable expectations: o “It’s impossible to be reclassified at UW-L” o “More information on how to get past being an LTE. I feel LTE's are given the same responsibilities as classified, but for less pay. The whole testing for classified is a joke, in my opinion. You never receive your results, so how to you better your score!” o “It is very demoralizing that we cannot get the rolling contracts that the policy on the web suggests we are eligible for.” o “The more we work ourselves to the bone to achieve the unreasonable, the more we reinforce the fraud that we can handle it after all, so pour on more stress. . . . Again, in his January 2004 address, the chancellor told faculty they are ‘not doing enough’ emphasizing the duty of scholarship, undergrad research, recruitment, and international exposure.” · Some respondents tied issues of advancement to the institution’s tendency to hire from outside rather than within: o “Need a system that recognizes current talent and expertise,” “advancement opportunities are seen as impossible,” o “Internal candidates are not treated the same as external candidates,” o “The appearance is that most positions are filled from the outside.” Suggestions included: · Restoration of rolling contracts. · Promoting more often from within · More opportunities for advancement, an emphasis on formal mentoring · Saying thanks · Better public recognition of people’s work · Improving compensation · More job security · More leadership training · More mentoring · A system to reward excellence in teaching · “Genuine valuing” of what employees do · More responsiveness from HR · Better assessment of the needs of employees · Faculty demonstrating more respect for classified staff Leadership A third area of broad-based concern can be summarized as leadership: a perceived lack of open communication and trust between administrators and the rest of the campus, and a perception that decision-making is top-down rather than collaborative, both very strongly reinforced in the written comments. Items evaluating department and program chairs and unit directors were responded to negatively at less than 20%. Subgroup analyses indicate little significant difference between or among groups on these issues; these perceptions are widespread. Listed below are the items the items assessing leadership as problematic. Nine out of fifteen items (the total including three items assessing leadership below the level of dean) were responded to negatively at a rate of 20% or more. Proportion of respondents indicating “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” to survey items: 35% Senior administrators encourage staff input on major decisions. 34% My opinions are valued by senior administrators (deans and above). 33% Overall, faculty trust senior administrators (deans and above). 33% Overall, staff trust senior administrators. 31% Senior administrators (deans and above) of UW-L are open with information. 27% Overall, I am satisfied with my level of communication with senior administrators (deans and above) 26% Open communication is encouraged at UW-L. 25% Senior administrators effectively communicate UW-L's vision, goals, and values to me. 22% Senior administrators encourage faculty input on major decisions. Written comments The largest number of written responses and the most angry written responses fell into this category. Many comments were specifically directed at leadership above the level of dean, although other administrators – and governance groups – were also mentioned by a substantial number of respondents. Three prominent themes emerge from the written comments. One is the sense of disrespect conveyed through hierarchical attitudes: · “Less condescending, paternalistic attitudes.” · ”The chancellor should stop using the phrase "the best and the brightest" at public addresses. It demeans people with disabling conditions like learning disabilities and poverty who cannot get into UW-L because of admission criteria being continually raised along with enrollment management.” · “Administrators that want to listen to their subordinates.” · “For SENIOR level administrators to seek out and LISTEN to people who are in the ‘trenches.’” · “Personal recognition by Deans and above -- not necessarily to be called by name but a hello in the hallway – just common courtesy. Just because the classified staff do more menial work does not mean we are any less of a person. Showing that they are willing to speak to us, or even to get to know us would be nice.” A second theme is the sense that administrators do not care, represented by responses like these: · “The message of ‘not caring’ comes across very strong on this campus.” · “Seeing people lose their jobs due to cuts and then seeing these same positions filled later doesn’t create a sense of caring” · “Administration treats faculty as if we were a cost to be contained, rather than an asset to be protected.” · “If administrators advocated for a three-course load despite budget constraints because they took a good look at the dark circles under peoples' eyes, it would be a sign of genuine concern and give everyone the lift they deeply need to have a reasonable work life.” A third theme can be described as a climate of distrust and/or confusion, conveyed in terms similar to these: · “There must be collaboration on decisions regarding the university; currently major decisions of vision and direction seem to be unilateral.” · Some respondents noted a “climate of fear” that “speaking up” could cost them their job. · “There is a shroud of secrecy surrounding the administration on this campus.” · “Rewarding someone with 9 years service with the courtesy of a 2 year rolling contract - especially when that is what is indicated in UW-System documents. Academic Staff Council's thoughts on this matter don't appear to make any difference in the current policy.” · “Employees would feel more valued if their opinions/ideas were asked BEFORE important decisions are made.” · “All offices on campus need to work in collaboration.” · End “favoritism” and “micromanagement.” · “Often feel the administration is presenting ‘charges’ to various committees and not being open or clear on the facts. Feel confused at times.” Suggestions included · less “secrecy” at the top · more interaction with deans · more honesty · more open doors · more respect of those below by those above · creating a number of vehicles for opening dialogue · training and coordination, ie, “H.R. Office needs to let supervisors and employees know about programs and policies so supervisors can do their job better,” and “Train supervisors to be more responsive and more sensitive to employee needs.” Inclusiveness as a Goal Overall, a majority of UW-L employees felt that they are treated fairly (67% responding “agree” or “strongly agree” to this question) and could function free from discrimination (68% responding positively). Most also considered UW-L to be a generally inclusive environment for historically-disadvantaged populations (60% positive), agreed with the direction of the institution on diversity (52% positive), and believed that the University is committed to educating students to function well in a diversity society (68% responding positively). The distribution report nevertheless indicates that respondents saw ample – and a substantial minority saw considerable – room to improve on what we do about our commitment to diversity, both in fulfilling our educational mission and in making UW-L a good place to work for everyone. Three of nine items were responded to negatively at a rate of 20% or more. Proportion of respondents indicating “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” to survey items: 22% I feel free from discrimination in the workplace at UW-L. 21% UW-L’s senior administrators (deans and above) explain to the campus and the community the workplace and educational benefits of diversity for everyone. 20% I feel I am treated fairly as an employee of UW-L. Subgroup analyses · The subgroup analyses indicate that administrators had a rosier view of the campus on diversity issues than do faculty and instructional academic staff, non-instructional academic staff, classified staff, and LTEs, or graduate assistants. · Subgroup analyses of the perceptions of historically-disadvantaged groups appear in the next section. Written comments Written comments relating to diversity included many, many suggestions. They also indicate intolerance, lack of understanding, and hostility, as well as tolerance, acceptance, and respect. · “Don't close out the Caucasian people, it's starting to feel like if your white you don't have a good of chance at a job as a minority..” · “De-emphasize diversity. Make campus life comfortable for traditionally oriented employees.” · “I think more efforts need to be made to recruit qualified African American faculty, staff and students to this campus.” · “It is fine for those groups...in fact it is the fundamental, evangelical Christians who are experiencing the ‘hostile work environment.’” · “What about younger, singles? No support on campus or in the community. I'm tired of hearing about family friendly accommodations when they already have an existing support system.” · “Provide more cultural events that relate to people of color, women, non-Christians, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered,” · “Having the occasional speakers for the campus lecture program doesn't constitute a commitment to diversity.” · “Don't like it? Leave.” · “Kindness” · “I think the university is officially making a good-faith effort to be inclusive. I think that the university may not be inclusive because of other reasons that are not related to official UWL policy.” · “Better understanding of life issues of these groups among top administrators” Historically-Disadvantaged Groups Less positive views of many aspects of people’s work lives emerge when we examine historically-disadvantaged groups. For employees of color, gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees, and employees with documented disabilities, the campus is a more difficult place – sometimes very much more difficult – than it is for white employees, heterosexuals, and employees without disabilities. A substantial proportion of UW-L employees have witnessed disrespect of others, and too many have experienced it. Accommodation of disabilities is an important issue for employees. The class hierarchy in our labor force raises issues most notably around opportunities for career growth and feeling valued, as discussed above. No significant differences appear around gender. Proportion of respondents indicating “Disagree” or “Strongly Disagree” to survey items (one out of two items: 30% Performance standards are the same for everyone regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Proportion of respondents indicating “No” to having witnessed disrespect of others in the past year because of: 63% The kind of work they do 76% Their sex 84% Their gender identity 77% Their appearance 81% Their sexual orientation 83% Their age 84% Their race 85% Their religion 88% Their disability Proportion of respondents indicating “No” to having witnessed: 86% Unwillingness to accommodate others’ disability Proportion of respondents indicating “No” to having experienced disrespect in the past year because of: 74% The kind of work I do 86% My sex 93% My gender identity 89% My appearance 92% My sexual orientation 89% My age 92% My race 91% My religion 92% My disability Proportion of respondents indicating “No” to having witnessed: 92% Unwillingness to accommodate others’ disability Subgroup Analyses: · Employees with a documented disability were more negative about the campus environment, communication, recognition and retention, and promotion and salary than are other employees. They were more likely to have witnessed and experienced discrimination than employees without a documented disability. The demographic profile in Appendix A indicates that 5% of employees with a disability have had difficulty negotiating with their supervisor to work out accommodation for their disability. · Gay, lesbian, and bisexual employees (analyzed as a group) were more negative about inclusiveness, campus environment, trust and respect, communication, work/life balance, and workload than heterosexuals. They were more likely to have witnessed and experienced discrimination than heterosexual employees. They were also more likely to have witnessed discrimination than any other group. · Employees of color and employees who preferred not to identify their race were more negative about inclusiveness than white employees, and were more likely to have witnessed and experienced discrimination. Employees who preferred not to identify their race were more negative about recognition and retention, balancing work and personal life, and career growth than employees of color or white employees. On trust and respect and collegial decision-making, employees who preferred not to identify their race were more negative than employees of color, while white employees fell in the middle between the other two groups. Written Comments: · Some respondents felt they received too little information about employment turnover and retention rates of different groups. · Respondents noted pay inequities that organize, directly or indirectly, around gender, and the impact of gender differences in communication and leadership style as significant problems. · Many respondents suggested coordination of the issues by various means. · Many respondents appeared unaware of the existence of collaborative efforts. · Many respondents suggested various kinds of training campus-wide, including administrators, and including sensitivity training especially aimed at teaching other employees not to treat classified staff as servants. · Some respondents thought that some kinds of training should be mandatory. Suggestions specific to particular groups dealt with: · access to building and parking for people with physical disabilities · equal domestic partner benefits · communicating to faculty/staff that “yelling loudly in hallways and criticizing GLBT persons is not acceptable” · more women in leadership roles · more leadership training and grooming for advancement for women · more discussions on work/life issues · valuing women in classified and LTE positions Discussion Overall, the findings regarding the climate are not surprising in the area of workload. Studies of workload and work/life issues in the corporate world indicate that the toll of the recent increase in workload (which is widespread in the society and a by-product of increases in productivity) is personal as well as job-related.[iii] Workload distribution and other workload issues have been major concerns at UW-L for several years. The recent round of budget cuts has undoubtedly exacerbated a pre-existing problem. In terms of advancement, the results indicate problems related to how the institution, and the individuals within it, deal with a traditionally hierarchical workplace that endeavors to combine people from every educational level into a shared mission. In terms of the leadership findings, UW-L’s longstanding system of shared governance defines the institutional culture and is an important context for understanding this response. National studies also indicate that highly-educated labor forces are more likely to respond positively to collaboration than to hierarchy and that governance issues profoundly affect the quality of the instruction that educators are empowered to deliver to their students.[iv] The overall complacency with diversity at UW-L is an unsurprising perception given the relative homogeneity of our workforce and the survey respondents in terms of race, sexual orientation, and socio-cultural and religious background. The actual experiences of historically disadvantaged groups here at UW-L suggest a much less rosy picture. Written comments relating to diversity indicate some of the disagreement and lack of understanding likely to arise when a strong commitment to inclusiveness is not clearly visible and the benefits for everyone of such commitment are not clearly articulated. Campus Climate Assessment Process The intent of the survey designers was to devise an instrument that could be administered every 2 to 3 years as a means of monitoring change and/or new initiatives. This survey thus provides a baseline of information. The recent effort to clarify the Joint Promotion Committee’s processes and standards, completed after the survey was administered, is one example of change that can be monitored through a survey. The survey responses reflect a great deal of frustration with what is perceived as administrative inaction on recommendations previously made. Numerous campus organizations have offered ideas to address workload, work/life balance issues, advancement, mentoring, and a variety of issues relevant to historically-excluded populations, and have done so for several years. The anger that clearly comes through in a substantial number of the written responses is the voice of this often-deep frustration. This report will go to the charged committees (Women’s Advisory Council and CLS Diversity Committee) as well as to Affirmative Action and Diversity Council (AADC), the membership of which draws broadly from across the campus and thus functions as a clearinghouse of information and collaboration on diversity issues, broadly defined. A copy of this report and the two appendices will be provided to the Chancellor and the Dean of CLS. The report and appendices will then be posted on the AADC website (), and the campus will be notified of their availability. AADC will review this report, coordinate work on particular issues with appropriate groups, collaborate with other appropriate groups and coordinators, and forward a prioritized list of specific recommendations to the administration by the end of the fall semester of 2004. AADC will then meet with the Chancellor to discuss the report and the committee’s recommendations and plan a strategy to address the issues. Other initiatives to address other issues should come from other sectors of the campus. Over 800 employees took the time to express their concerns. Those concerns should be taken seriously, and the response should be both timely and meaningful. 1 Both definitions are at 2 Gender weighting: actual responses were weighted as if the gender ratio of the respondents had been 50/50, rather than the actual respondent ratio of 48% male, 52% female. The University’s gender ratio among employees is 49.2% men and 50.8% women (according to 2003 numbers), but varies considerably within employment categories (ie, the faculty is considerably more male, LTEs are considerably more female). Employee Demographics (Based on UW-La Crosse employee incumbency data received from the UW System Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity Programs for the period of November 1, 2002 through October 31, 2003.) Thanks to Michelle Abing, Office of Affirmative Action and Diversity, for providing this information. 3 See, for example, Rice, Frone, & McFarlin, 1992; Work-non-work conflict and the perceived quality of life, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 13, 155-168; Frone, Russell, & Cooper, 1993, Relationship of work-family conflict, gender and alcohol expectancies to alcohol use/abuse, Journal of Organizational Behavior, 14, 545-58; Rodgers & Rodgers, 1989, Business and facts of family life, Harvard Business Review, 89, 121-129; Thomas & Ganster, 1995, Impact of family-supportive work variables on work-family conflict and strain: A control perspective, Journal of Applied Psychology, 80, 6-15. 4 See, for example, Dennis John Gayle, Bhoendradatt Tewarie, and A. Quinton White Jr. Governance in the Twenty-First-Century University: Approaches to Effective Leadership and Strategic Management. ASHE-ERIC Higher Education Report, Vol. 30, No. 1. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass/John Wiley, 2003.
Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific Unforgettably Fragrant Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific® Shampoo or Conditioner Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific Unforgettably Fragrant Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific® Shampoo or Conditioner One whiff of Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific brought us back to the time this shampoo and conditioner first hit the scene, and discos and mood rings were still in vogue. For triggering memories, nothing beats the sense of smell. "Love the smell—reminds me of the '70s, halter tops, and bell bottoms!" wrote customer Joy Johnson, of Hedgesville, WV. Formulated for today's hair, Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific will leave your locks clean, soft, and shiny, and smelling…well…terrific! Available in shampoo or conditioner. 12 oz. bottles. - Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific hails from the 1970s - Enjoy the famous flowery, spicy scent of Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific - Choose shampoo or conditioner Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific Warning: Avoid contact with eyes. 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In 1979 I underwent emergency brain surgery for a ruptured blood clot in my brain. I had used Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific that morning. The doctors that performed my surgery shaved my head completely, and at 19 that was a really big deal. I kept the bucket of "my hair" for many years. Every time that I would lift the lid all you could smell was how good my hair smelled. It really did smell TERRIFIC. That has been almost 31 years ago and I would love to find that on shelves today. People just don't know what they are missing today by not having that truly good smell after you have washed your hair. I was 19 then and I am soon to be 50 this year. I want to have that terrific-smelling hair again!" - Donna Thornes, Salisbury, MD "I used Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific in high school and I loved it. I have been looking for the product ever since. I was so happy when I found it at the Vermont Country Store. This product brings back a time in my life when my hair smelled great and life was a lot easier. I cannot wait to walk into a store again and hear someone say, GEE, YOUR HAIR SMELLS TERRIFIC. Thank you for carrying this product. I am so happy i finally found it again after all these years." - Sheri, Deerfield beach, FL "My mom used to use this shampoo and conditioner when I was a kid. I remember the smell of her hair and was so overjoyed when I found this product. I placed an order and received it in mail, I'll be ordering more for sure! THANK YOU SO MUCH for carrying this. The order was quick, efficient, and most of all professional! Thanks again, VCS!" - Raymond S, jamestown, NY "I have been looking for this for years. Thanks for making it again. I LOVE THIS SHAMPOO. It makes me feel like a teenager again. Thanks so much." - Brenda Holt, muncy, PA "I absolutely HAD to purchase this shampoo, having used it and loved it as a teenager in the simpler 1970s. It's truly terrific, and I'm overjoyed that my first purchase from VCS is such a memorable one. I used this shampoo for the first time in several decades and it was like being a teen again! Thanks much!" - Jan L., Mandeville, LA "My friends and I would not go out until we all used this shampoo. It was the best-smelling shampoo ever. Nobody will ever beat this stuff. Excellent!" - Glenda Williams, Saint Marys, PA "I, along with so many others, am THRILLED beyond belief to see my most favorite shampoo is available again! I was bummed for years when I found it had been discontinued--WHY, I wondered long, and longingly. I began my shampoo love affair as a freshman in high school, and actually, really, honestly DID TELL the girl who always sat in front of me for morning gathering in my dorm, "Gee, your hair smells terrific!" I DID! From the time she told me that was its name, I was hooked! And I thought FOR LIFE! THANK YOU for bringing that thought back to possible LIFE for me! ~ Can we buy a CASE??" - Anna Marie Holmes-Butterick, Bishop, CA "We have very soft water, and I have trouble getting most shampoos to wash out of my hair. When I saw this shampoo, I remembered how fabulous my hair was in the '70s. It is exactly the same! My hair is magically young again! So clean and bouncy. Thanks." - katrina crawford, southport, NC "I too have been searching for this shampoo and conditioner for 20 years plus. So I am happy to learn that VCS carries it! Thanks for the memories! I love the smell and I get compliments galore! Will buy again and again." - Theresa Valdespino, Bronx, NY "I remember this shampoo from the '70s. I also buy the Body on Tap and LemonUp shampoos, also from the '70s. I have found that going back and forth between the three shampoos, they last for an extremely long time. I am about to place my order for all three shampoos again. I can't believe they are available again; never thought I would see them again! I am extremely fussy about my hair." - Karen Peyton, East Point, GA "I used this shampoo as a teenager. Also the other three shampoos you offer, LemonUp, Body on Tap, and Herbal Essence [now Country Herbal]. These were my four favorite shampoos and I always got them every month when shopping for "my" supplies with my parents. It was so great to see them again, and of course I ordered all four. Just as I remember, too. I hide these for my personal use, as I have five daughters. Thank you so much for making them available again. They are a little high in price but something is only worth how bad you want it, so the price did not matter to me. I would have paid more." - Brenda Marchione, Claymont, DE "For years I've wanted to know for sure just how terrific GYHST smelled. Well, I picked up a bottle in 2007 . . . and lo and behold, the bottle was all true! I'd use it whenever I felt I needed to smell terrific, or just for fun! Awesome product, available for a new generation of girls who want to smell terrific for their fellas!" - Sara, Greenfield, MA "I was in shock when I saw Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific. I have been searching for it for years. It's something I will never forget from my high school days. Everyone used to ask what perfume I was wearing. I just loved it and never forgot it. Thanks for bringing it back." - jerri Holmes, Simi Valley, CA "My daughter, who is 17, tried my Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific and said that it worked better for her dandruff than the dandruff shampoo!" - Heather Harvey, Fairbanks, AK "I just ordered my GYHST shampoo and conditioner. I haven't had any since high school. I cant wait! My co-workers think I'm crazy . . . but wait 'til I walk in and they say "Wow, what's that great smell?" I will then flip my hair all around so they can say, "Gee, Terri, your hair smells terrific!" I'm so excited." - terri gomez, two harbors, MN "I was curious if the description written when I first saw it was true or not, so I told myself I will order and try it. Indeed, it is very true -- my hair smelled terrific! My officemates asked me what shampoo I use because the smell is kind of unique, they said. I wrote to Vermont Country Store and told my story. Then I suggested that there should be a conditioner to go with it. And my wish came true! The conditioner came to life." - Linda aguirre, San Francisco, CA "Love the product! It brings me back to a time when I was a teenager, with no cares or worries of the future, just about how nice it was to be young and alive!" - Mj Naumann, prospect Harbor, ME "We are getting this for my mom for her birthday. She loves this shampoo, and it reminds her of her younger days. She recently heard that they were still selling this online, and it was the only thing she asked for for her birthday! Hope you keep selling it, I'm sure she'll want to keep buying it for years to come!" - Paige, rockford, IL "Old memories of better times now gone." - Ylsa Bello, Miami, FL "When I was a teenager, I loved the scent of this shampoo! One day when I went to the dentist, he remarked, "Gee, your hair smells terrific!" True story!" - Susan, Spring, TX "Thanks so much for bringing this favorite back! I used this in high school and always enjoyed it." - Susan Edquist, Downey, CA "When our daughter, now 36, was small, we used Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific on her hair, and after every shampoo, she would go to her dad for him to smell her hair and tell her, "Gee, your hair smells terrific!" It is a treasured memory in our family, especially for her dad. I think I'll buy some for his Father's Day surprise." - Lynda, Warm Springs, GA "I am only 23 years old and can remember clear as day the smell of this shampoo. My mother bought a bottle when I was about seven or eight years old. She found it who knows where, at a old mom-and-pop store, and when I used it I fell in love. Today I am much older but still love that fragrance. I bought three bottles of the shampoo and conditioner. I am giving my mother a set for her birthday. She is going to flip!" - Rachael, Troutville, VA "I have been looking for this shampoo for years. My friends and I would not go out anywhere until we all used Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific. I was heartbroken when I couldn't find it. Now I have, and I will be telling all my friends about my find. So glad to see it again. I am sure it will bring a lot of old memories back once I use it again. Good ole' memories." - Glenda Williams, Saint Marys, PA "I just laughed out loud when I saw this product offered at The Vermont Country Store! My friends and I would love to act out the TV commercial with each other! We all used it on our feeble attempt at Farrah Fawcett hair, and LOVED the way it made our hair smell!! Thanks for the memories, VCS!! Think I might just splurge and buy some for a sweet trip down memory lane!"-Mary, Morton, IL "I don't know why they stopped selling GYHST shampoo & conditioner. The shelves were always empty and the store couldn't keep it in stock, 1989 was the last time I was able to purchase any, until now. I bought enough to keep my hair happy for at least a year. love it, can't wait to get it, and I'm serioulsy thinking about not washing my hair 'til I get it...lol" - Theresa Glasgow, Clute, TX "Well, after decades of trying other shampoos and especially conditioners, when I saw you had this I couldn't believe it. I wondered if it was and would do, the same for my hair, which is very fine and straight.I bought both the shampoo and conditioner. I tried it. The very first time I used them I finally was able to experience a good hair day. The shampoo cleans and the conditioner is not heavy. It is the perfect combination for my hair type.And, of course, my hair smells terrific!! Thank you, VCS!" - Kelly Khuri, Jeffersonville, IN "I used GYHST shampoo and conditioner around 1975-1977, and I'm pretty sure it helped my husband fall in love with me! I hunted for this shampoo and conditioner for many years, and I am happy to be able to buy it again. I think the Old version back in the 70's was stronger-smelling, however I do like the new one. My hair is oily, and this product gets it squeaky-clean and very manageable. Even though it is a little different than in the old days, I do like it very, very much. I give it an A+. I hope to be able to order it again, after my current supply runs out! - April Callahan, Lexington, SC "I literally CRIED when I smelled this shampoo (just like I cried when they took it off the market years ago). THANK YOU for bringing this back to us. It reminds me of being a young 13-year-old girl and attending the Bay City Rollers concert in 1976! (ha, ha!)" - Tracie, Portland, OR "The reason I love it is because I have always liked mild-smelling , long-lasting smells in shampoos and lotions since I was a teen back in 1975. I met my husband in 1976 and have been married 36 years, and he has forever told me that the thing he has never forgotten the most is the soft smell in my hair when we met and for a couple of years after that. I used GEE YOUR HAIR SMELLS TERRIFIC until I couldn't find it anymore." - Isabel Calderon, Spring, TX "There everyone was...50+ kids all awaiting outside the mess hall doors to enjoy the lunch feast. I just got out of my shower and I had no time at all to put on makeup or even deoderant! I was in the middle of the entire group feeling utterly and completely naked. And that's when I heard it: A miraculous voice chiming from behind me, "Wow, your hair smells AMAZING!!!!" And that's when every eye in the entire 30-foot diameter of a crowd turned to me and the audiance erupted with, "That's you?!!?" and, "I was wondering what that was!!!" All I had to say was, "Gee, my hair smells terrific!!" as all self-conciousness evaporated away, and from that moment on at camp, I was known as "that girl that smells frickin' awesome." - Brooke, Rio Linda, CA ""My dearest best friend is Gloria. She's the popular gal who draws a crowd everywhere she goes. She and I hit it off at her 8th grade party, and after all these years, I'm still amazed she chose me. I am proud to say she's my best friend of all. On Friday nights we'd spend hours getting ready for the BW dances. "Gee, your hair smells terrific," I'd say. "Thank you," said Gloria. "What shampoo do you use?" I asked. Gloria answered, "Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific." "Thank you, but what's the name of your shampoo?" "Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific." Grrrrrrrr... This volley went on and on to the point of ridiculousness. We were easily entertained in the 9th grade. Between us is endless chatter, hysterical laughter and experiences so exciting, fun, and daring they could not be imagined, reproduced or topped in a million years! Enjoy your new-old shampoo, Gloria! Wish my nose was 1,000 miles longer so I could get a whiff of your terrific-smelling hair :( You'll need to come up with some adjectives worthy of describing it for me.AMA AFF RMA LOONEY-TOONY-neet-neet. From- Hey Hey Hey This is the Venus-21502 (10-4;Roger)" - Trina Firey, Frederick, MD "I used this product while in high school back in the late 70s. I loved the smell!! In fact, when I was at the swimming pool and jumped in to get my hair wet, the lifeguard (male) would comment on how good my hair would smell. From then on he would say, "Gee, your hair smells terrific!!" When I found the shampoo on your website I had to buy it. I bought one for my daughter and one for myself. My daughter also loves the smell. I use it ever so sparely, as I am saving it. Also bought the conditioner and love it." - Nancy ,Topeka, KS "I can't believe I just saw this product for sale again! I used it in the 70s and can remember some of my friends laughing at the name until they smelled it! I've told my daughters and others about my favorite shampoo. I'll never forget being in the local pub and leaning forward to talk with a guy friend. He thought I was joking when he asked what made my hair smell so terrific. In those days there was smoking everywhere, yet my hair still smelled so good despite the room full of smoke! I've often wondered why no other manufacturer ever made a shampoo/conditioner that had such a scent that was so remarkable that people would ask what it is. I'm having a great time reminiscing my teens! " - Sue Curtice, Rochester, NY "I've been looking for this delicious shampoo and conditioner for years. I loved it so much, and when it wasn't available anymore, I was devastated. The smell was unique and sexy and fresh and everything good!! My teen years and early 20s were scented beautifully thanks in part to this product- what happy fun times! I still enjoy my life and finding Gee Your Hair Smells Terific once again has given me another reason to smile and to say, "Gee your store is terrific!" Thank you, Vermont Country Store." - Mary Shaw, West palm beach, FL" ""I just can't say how much this shampoo meant to me!! I first used it when my husband and I were going through a rough patch back in 1972, and I can now remember how happy I felt when, after using it the first time, he actually nuzzled my hair and he said, ""Honey, your hair smells so good..in fact, your hair smells terrific."" I was so disappointed when this wonderful shampoo was taken off the market. Through the years I searched for it, and it wasn't until just yesterday I started to remember how good I felt after using it, and just for giggles I put ""GYHSG"" in a search engine and your store came up!! Well WOW, and knock my socks off -- there it was, that wonderful shampoo of years ago!! I'm buying it now and hopefully forever, if you should decide to keep selling it!!! Please do!!!"" - Lori White, Buffalo, NY"
Subcellular Biochemistry, Volume 25: Ascorbic Acid: Biochemistry and Biomedical Cell Biology Edited by J. Robin Harris. Plenum Press, New York, 1996. Reprinted with permission, ©1996. Ascorbic Acid and Connective Tissue Ivonne Pasqualli Ronchetti, D. Quaglino, Jr., and G. Bergamini 1. SCURVY AND VITAMIN C Observations of deficient wound healing in sailors suffering from scurvy have been reported by explorers and physicians since the sixteenth century, together with the observation that citrus could have curative properties. Thereafter, Wolbach and Howe (1926) found that in scorbutic guinea pigs there was a deficient production of intercellular matrix which could be reversed by administration of citrus. The discovery, isolation, and chemical characterization of vitamin C was performed in the early thirties. Since then, several studies have been carried out with the aim of characterizing the cellular and matrix defects in scurvy and the effect of vitamin C on the healing process in species unable to synthesize ascorbic acid, such as guinea pigs and humans. Several models have been proposed, including animals made scorbutic during fetal development (Rivers et al., 1970) and postnatal growth (Barnes et al., 1970), and cultured organs and cells grown on chemically defined media in the absence (Jeffrey and Martin, 1966) or in the presence of various concentrations of ascorbic acid (Russell and Manske, 1991). The great majority of these studies, however, were performed on vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs and pointed to the delay and to the histological, biochemical, and mechanical features of healing of skin wounds or after laparatomy. It was observed that vitamin C-deficient animals exhibited persistent hemorrhaging; impaired production of granulation tissue, such as reduced vessel formation and collagen production; and slowed gain in wound strength (Lanman and Ingalls, 1937; Hunt, 1940; Hartlett et al. 1942: Bourne, 1944). These early data were confirmed in a recent study on pregnant sows with a hereditary defect in synthesizing ascorbic acid, in which severe pathological alterations were observed in the uterus and in the placenta as well as in the fetuses on administration of a diet depleted of vitamin C. These changes consisted of hemorrhages, hematomas, and general edema in both placenta and fetuses and in impaired ossification of the fetus skeleton (Wegger and Palludan, 1994). The distribution of ascorbic acid in wounded and intact skin of guinea pigs was investigated in an attempt to elucidate requirements of vitamin C during tissue repair, and the authors reached the conclusion that in the early stage of tissue regeneration there is a gradient distribution of ascorbic acid in areas surrounding the wound depending on the local physiological requirement (Kim et al., 1994). Experimental vitamin C deficiency in humans was assayed in the early forties by Crandon (1940), who underwent a skin incision after six months on a diet essentially free of ascorbate. Failure in the reparative process, together with deficient formation of inter-cellular matrix and vascular elements, were histologically observed in a biopsy of the wound taken ten days after a skin incision. Similar results were later confirmed by Wolfer and coworkers (1947). Since then, numerous investigations have demonstrated that in vitamin C deficiency the principal failure of wound healing was impaired synthesis and secretion of collagen (Robertson and Schwartz, 1953). 2. COLLAGEN AND VITAMIN C The great majority of studies on the effects of vitamin C have been performed in vitro; on cultured cells of different origin and have pointed to the role of ascorbic acid in collagen synthesis, maturation, and secretion. In the early sixties, with the development of electron microscopy, Ross and Benditt (1962, 1965) observed in experimental scurvy a defective progression of labeled proline through the altered cysternae of the rough endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi and the matrix. These results might be interpreted as impaired processing of collagen and storage of underhydroxylated molecules within the endoplasmic reticulum of fibroblasts. which were stimulated to synthesize collagen during wound healing in the absence of vitamin C. An enormous number of studies performed in the sixties demonstrated that the principal failure in wound healing during vitamin C deficiency is the scarce synthesis and secretion of collagen due to impaired hydroxylation of proline residues in collagen types I and III (Gould and Woessner, 1957; Gould, 1958). Synthesis and maturation of interstitial collagens up to their final cross-linking into insoluble cross-banded fibrils is not the subject of this presentation, but it is necessary to mention some of the steps involved in the maturation of collagen molecules in order to understand the effects of vitamin C. Like the great majority of secreted proteins, procollagen molecules are synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and require posttranslational modifications before being extruded from the cell. However, collagen is a rather peculiar protein. First of all, the molecule is formed by three polypeptide chains that assume a specific helical conformation due to the high content of glycine which occupies every third position along most of the length of the three polypeptide chains. Moreover, collagen is characterized by the presence of hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine formed by specific hydrolases during the molecule assembly; furthermore, some of the hydroxylysine residues undergo O-galactosyl and O-galactosyl-b-glycosyl substitution. All these post-translational modifications are necessary in order for collagen to be secreted from the cells as procollagen. In the extracellular space, procollagen is further modified by enzymes which cut the C- and N-terminal portions of the molecule and make tropocollagen suitable for self-assembly into banded fibrils. The last enzymatic modification of the collagen molecule is by lysyl oxidase, which initiates a series of reactions leading to the formation of stable intermolecular cross-links. As far as lysyl oxidase is concerned, in vivo, this enzyme activity in rat skin does not seem to be significantly affected by excess of vitamin C in the diet; on the contrary, lysyl oxidase was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner in an in vitro assay in which lysyl oxidase activity of chick embryo bones was measured in the presence of increasing concentrations of ascorbic acid (Quaglino et al., 1991). A similar reduction was also observed by Faris et al. (1984) in cultures of rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells. With time, collagen undergoes other modifications such as glycosylation and additional intermolecular cross-linking, that do not suggest a role for vitamin C, but may be particularly relevant in pathological processes. 2.1. Collagen Hydroxylation As already mentioned, collagen contains the unique amino acids hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, which are necessary for the stability of the molecule and for its complete maturation. The synthesis of these amino acids occurs posttranslationally during the assembly of the polypeptidic chain (Uitto and Prockop, 1974), is independent of the age (Brinckmann et al., 1994), and is catalyzed by prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases in the presence of oxygen, a-ketoglutarate, ferrous ions, and ascorbic acid (Hutton et al., 1967; Kivirikko and Prockop, 1967). Ascorbic acid has been found to be specifically required for the decarboxylation of a-ketoglutarate in the prolyl-4-hydroxylase reaction, where it may act as a com pound necessary for the reduction of enzyme-bound ferric iron formed during proline hydroxylation (Yu et al., 1988). In fact, ascorbate is not stoichiometrically consumed during prolyl hydroxyletion (Tuderman et al., 1977), and the reaction may continue for several cycles in the absence of ascorbate, but then the reaction ceases and vitamin C is required as a quite specific compound to reactivate the enzyme (Myllyla et al., 1978). Hydroxylation of a number of proline and lysine residues, at specific sites of the nascent collagen molecule (Uitto and Prockop, 1974), is necessary for the polypeptidic chain to undergo peculiar conformation and glycosylation of some of the hydroxylated lysyl residues; all these steps are necessary for the secretion of the procollagen molecule. Hydroxylation of prolyl and lysyl residues may also occur in vitro. Protocollagen, the unhydroxylaled form of collagen, was isolated from cells cultured in the presence of the iron chelator a,a-dipyridyl; moreover, the in vitro hydroxylation of prolyl residues by prolyl hydroxylase was shown to be dependent on the structure of prolyl-containing substrate (Berg and Prockop, 1973a). Therefore, during the formation of procollagen, prolyl and lysyl hydroxylases serve to prepare the molecule to assume the correct conformation necessary for its thermal stability and secretion (Uitto and Prockop, 1974). In fact, underhydroxylated and underglycosylated collagen has been shown to be retained within the cell and to accumulate into large cyloplasmic vacuoles (Koss and Benditt, 1965; Olsen and Prockop, 1974: Harwood et al., 1975). The persistence within the endoplasmic reticulum could be explained, at least partially, by the fact that the underhydroxylated chains undergo a delay in the triple helix formation and may stably associate with protein disulfide isomerase, a multifactoral endoplasmic reticulum resident enzyme, which is the b-subunit of prolyl-4-hydroxylase (Bassuk and Berg, 1989). Therefore, prolyl-4-hydroxylase specifically binds the non-triple helical procollagen chain, playing a role in its intracellular retention (Olsen et al., 1973). Similar retention has been observed in a strain of fibroblasts harboring a deletion of 180 amino acids in the pro-a2(I) chain, which causes a delay in the molecule folding into the triple helix and in collagen maturation (Chessler and Byers, 1992). In the absence of vitamin C, underhydroxylated procollagen molecules are not only retained within cells (Dehm and Prockop, 1971), but are less stable and more temperature-sensitive(Berg and Prockop, 1973b). Procollagens with different hydroxyproline content were shown to be sensitive to pepsin digestion at temperatures lower than physiological, and the phenomenon was directly related to the extent of hydroxylation. Therefore, at 37EC, hydroxyproline-deficient molecules might not be in triple helical conformation within cells and could be most sensitive to proteases (Rosenbloom et al., 1973). This may imply that, in vitamin C deficiency, the impaired collagen production is partly due to its cellular retention and partly to its denaturation and destruction by unspecific proteases within the cell. Cell strains isolated from patients suffering osteogenesis imperfecta, a connective tissue disorder caused by mutations in the genes encoding type I collagen and affecting procollagen chain association, were shown to increase procollagen synthesis upon addition of ascorbic acid to the culture medium, as well as the synthesis of BiP, an hsp70-related stress protein, which was found to bind pro-a1(I) chains stably (Chessler and Byers, 1993). This could be a mechanism for retaining genetically altered and abnormally hydroxylated (and/or glycosylated) collagen molecules inside cells. As BiP synthesis is stimulated by ascorbic acid, this could be an additional mechanism for preventing secretion of abnormally configured collagen molecules. 2.2. Collagen Gene Expression Human dermal fibroblasts and rabbit articular chondrocytes were shown to produce higher amounts of collagen in the presence of ascorbic acid in vitro (Hata and Senoo, 1989; Hering et al., 1994); moreover, ascorbic acid was shown to overcome the reduced proliferative capacity and to ameliorate the reduced collagen synthesis of elderly human fibroblasts (Phillips et al., 1994). A stimulatory effect of ascorbate has been largely demonstrated on the synthesis of collagen types I and III and recently shown for collagen types II and X in chondrocytes (Leboy et al., 1989; Hering et al., 1994) and for collagen type IV in cultured rat skin epidermal cells (Ohkura et al., 1990). On the contrary, a negative effect of vitamin C has been described for collagen types V and VI in cultured bovine aortic smooth muscle cells (Leushner and Haust, 1986). These data might be explained by the fact that ascorbic acid seems to play a role in collagen synthesis also at the level of gene expression and/or mRNA stability in cultured fibroblasts and chondrocytes (Lyons and Schwartz, 1984; Geesin et al., 1988; Sandell and Daniel, 1988; Quaglino et al., 1989; Kurata and Hata, 1991; Kurata et al., 1993; Phillips et al., 1994), as well as in vivo (Quaglino et al., 1991). However, the mechanisms involved are still not completely known. It is worthwhile mentioning that the majority of studies of the effect of vitamin C on collagen gene expression have been made in the presence of connective tissue-modulating growth factors, such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-b), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) (Hata et al., 1988; Appling et al., 1989; Kurata and Hata, 1991; Phillips et al., 1992; Geesin et al., 1993). During the first weeks of vitamin C deprivation, scorbutic animals exhibit reduced food intake, which correlates with the rate of weight loss and with the decrease of collagen and proteoglycan synthesis (Chojkier et al., 1983). Later it was shown, however, that reduced collagen mRNA expression and synthesis can be observed in several tissues of vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs, which may not be simply related to the reduced food intake or to the role of vitamin C in the hydroxylation of proline residues in collagen; therefore, other more complex mechanisms and interactions among different cell products seem to be involved (Gosiewska et al., 1994). In vitamin C-deficient animals, elevated levels of IGF (insulin growth factor) mRNA and of IGFBP (insulin growth factor binding protein) mRNA have been identified, which seem to be responsible for the inhibition of the IGF-I-dependent functions. Removal of these inhibitors by specific antibodies restores collagen gene expression. Therefore, vitamin C deficiency seems to induce the synthesis of inhibitors of IGF dependent functions, such as collagen gene expression (Goldstein et al., 1989, Peterkofsky et al.,. 1994; Gosiewska et al., 1994). Rather interestingly, vitamin C has been shown to stimulate transcription of the gene and accumulation of mRNA for the pro-a1(I) chain but has failed to stimulate transcription and increase of the mRNA for the pro-a2(I) chain in fibroblasts from a patient with a2(I)-chain defective Elhers Danlos syndrome (Hata and Senoo, 1992; Kurata et al., 1993). This may indicate the presence of different regulatory elements responsible for transcriptional activation by vitamin C in pro-a1 (I) and pro-a2 (I) genes in normal fibroblasts (see also Chapter 3). In a study we performed on the effects of excess of vitamin C on collagen of growing rats, an increase or collagen deposition as well as mRNA expression was observed in the aorta after more than 10 days of treatment (Quaglino et al., 1991). According to some authors, ascorbic acid might stimulate collagen gene expression through lipid peroxidation; vitamin C, in fact, may induce lipid peroxidation with the formation of aldehydic compounds, and some of these, such as malondialdehyde have been shown to stimlulate collagen production and raise procollagen a1 (I) mRNA levels in vitro (Brenner and Chojkier, 1987; Chojkier et al., 1989). Moreover, both lipid peroxidation and collagen production induced by ascorbic acid have been shown to be inhibited by a-tocopherol, a lipophilic antioxidant, or by iron chelators, suggesting that the two processes are correlated and that an appropriate redox state might be an important mechanism in controlling collagen gene expression in vivo (Geesin et al., 1991). More recent data, however, seem to point to a different interpretation of the role of the ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation on collagen gene expression (Darr et al., 1993). It has been suggested that lipid peroxidation and collagen synthesis are coincidental but dissociated, as metal chelators used to abolish the iron-ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxidation may also inhibit prolyl hydroxylase and, as a consequence, collagen production. Moreover, cell-impermeable iron chelators have been found to be good inhibitors of ascorbate-mediated lipid peroxidation but ineffective in inhibiting collagen synthesis (Darr et al., 1993). In any case, almost all studies on the promoting effect of lipid peroxidation by vitamin C were performed in vitro; the effect of vitamin C-induced lipid peroxidation might not be so relevant in vivo. Under physiological conditions, most of the iron is bound to proteins, and vitamin C might prevent lipid peroxidation instead of stimulating it (Mukhopadhyay et al., 1997). Moreover, the role of ascorbic acid in vivo is generally considered to be one of cellular defense against oxygen toxicity and lipid peroxidation (Chakraborty et al., 1994) through a mechanism of free radical scavenging followed by its conversion to dehydroascorbic acid. Collagen indeed is susceptible to fragmentation by superoxide anion with liberation of small hydroxyproline-containing peptides (Monboisse and Borel, 1992), and, in vivo, vitamin C could protect collagen from degradation by hydroxyl radicals in the presence of oxygen. Therefore, collagen synthesis, maturation, and secretion as well as collagen degradation are tightly bound processes, and vitamin C seems to be involved at different levels of the whole process. 3. ELASTIN AND VITAMIN C From the early studies on the effect of ascorbic acid on collagen production, it was observed that vitamin C deficiency did not affect elastin synthesis and secretion, although it greatly influenced the degree of its proline hydroxylation. In the presence of vitamin C, hydroxyproline in elastin accounts for about one third of the total amino acid content (Uitto et al., 1976), and proline/hydroxyproline ratio in elastin is approximately 1:1; on the contrary, in both skin and aortas of vitamin C-deprived guinea pigs, the proline/hydroxyproline ratio in elastin was 20:1 (Barnes et al., 1970). Though underhydroxylated collagen cannot be excreted from cells, underhydroxylated elastin is secreted at a normal rate (Rosenbloom and Cywinski, 1976) and, similar to collagen, in a colchicine-sensitive way (Uitto et al., 1976). An influence of vitamin C on elastin synthesis was described by Scott-Burden and coworkers (1979), who found that heart smooth muscle cells in vitro incorporated radioactive valine, an amino acid prevalent in elastin, to a greater quantity in the absence of than in the presence of ascorbic acid. Moreover, the elastin produced and secreted in the absence of vitamin C underwent the cross-linking process in the extracellular space more rapidly than that produced in the presence of ascorbic acid (Scott-Burden et al., 1979). Similar findings were published by DeClerck and Jones (1980), who found that the amount of insoluble elastin in the extracellular space was inversely proportional to the ascorbic acid concentration in the medium. Therefore, proline hydroxylation in elastin is not necessary for secretion or for molecule assembly and cross-linking; on the contrary, underhydroxylation in vitamin C deficiency seems to favor elastin assembly and its stabilization into the polymer. Moreover, hyperhydroxylated elastin, produced in vitro in the presence of ascorbic acid, was shown to contain more free lysine residues and to turn over more rapidly (Dunn and Franzblau, 1982). At physiological temperatures, both in vivo and in vitro, tropoelastin molecules undergo a process of self-assembly into fibrillar structures called coacervates (Cox et al., 1974; Volpin and Pasquali-Ronchetti, 1977; Bressan et al., 1983, 1986). This phenomenon also seems to happen in vivo and to be a prerequisite for enzymatic cross-linking of tropoelastin molecules, through the oxidative deamination of e-amino groups of lysine residues on adjacent molecules by the enzyme lysyl oxidase (Narayanan et al., 1978). The inhibition of the molecular assembly by hyperhydroxylation of proline would lead to a less cross-linked stable polymer (Urry et al., 1979). In order to investigate whether an excess of ascorbic acid could modify in vivo the assembly of the elastic fibers, we treated growing chicks and rats with excess of vitamin C in their diet and drinking water, respectively (Quaglino et al., 1991). Animals were killed after various treatment times and the aorta examined by electron microscopy, in situ hybridization, and biochemical methods. After 30 days treatment, the ultrastructural organization of the aortic elastic fibers appeared to be significantly affected by vitamin C treatment compared to control animals (Fig. 1); in situ hybridization revealed a decreased expression of elastin mRNA on slices from the aorta of vitamin C-treated rats (Fig. 2); moreover, stereological measurements on electron micrographs showed a significant increase in collagen and decrease in the elastin content in the aortic wall of treated animals (Fig. 3). FIGURE 1.Electron microscopy of 30-day chick aorta. Animals were fed a standard diet (a) or a diet supplemented with 0.2% ascorbic acid from hatching (b). Chick aorta is composed of layers of smooth muscle cells (SMC) among which there are several elastic fibers (E) and a few collagen bundles (C). Vitamin C seems to cause an increase in collagen bundle deposition and a decrease in elastic fiber assembly. Bar: 1 Fm. FIGURE 2. In situ hybridization of rat aorta in 30-day old animals grown, at weaning, on a standard diet (a) or on a standard diet plus 10% ascorbic acid added to the water (b). Sections have been hybridized with a 1.0 kb cDNA fragment (cHE-4) corresponding to exons of 18 to 36 of human elastin and exposed for autoradiography. Animals treated with an excess of vitamin C show a decreased expression of elastin mRNA compared to control animals. Bar: 10 Fm. FIGURE 3. Morphometric analysis of the rat aorta in 50-day old animals grown, at weaning, on a standard diet plus 10% ascorbic acid added to the water. Treatment causes an increased deposition of collagen bundles and reduced amounts of elastic fibers, whereas no significant changes were observed in the cellular component or in the remaining extracellular matrix. 4. MATRIX GLYCOPROTEINS AND VITAMIN C Relatively few studies are available on the effects of vitamin C on synthesis and secrction of matrix molecules apart from collagen and elastin; however, in a number of studies occasional mention is found of fibronectin, proteoglycans, bone matrix glycoproteins, and elastin-associated fibrillin (Schwartz et al., 1982; Kielty and Shuttleworth, 1993). Ascorbic acid has been shown to stimulate in vitro differentiation and production of matrix molecules by adipocytcs (Taylor and Jones, 1979), fat-storing cells (Senoo and Hata, 1994), chondrocytes (Leboy et al., 1989; Aulthouse, 1994), myoblasts (Nandan et al., 1990; Mitsumoto et al., 1994), and osteoblasts (Franceschi and Iyer, 1992). In this latter case, vitamin C has been shown to be taken up by the cell through a specific transport system (Wilson and Dixon, 1989) and to influence osteoblast differentiation in a rather unusual way. The expression of the osteoblast phenotype is regulated by a series of factors, including growth factors, glucocorticoids, parathyroid hormone, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3; however, differentiation and mineralization seem to require the presence of an extracellular collagen matrix. Vitamin C has been shown to be necessary both for the production of the collagen matrix and for the expression of osteoblast markers, such as alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, whereas it seems to have no effect on the level of osteopontin mRNA (Franceschi and Iyer, 1992). In recent years, a number of papers have pointed to the effect of ascorbic acid on the differentiation of bone cells. Ascorbic acid has also been shown to enhance the effect of retinoic acid on mRNA expression of pro-a1(I) collagen and of alkaline phosphatase in an immortalized strain of rat osteoblasts in culture (Choong et al., 1993). Ascorbic acid was found to stimulate cell proliferation, together with collagen, non-collagenous protein, and alkaline phosphatase synthesis, in pig bone cells in culture when added after cell confluence, suggesting that it may interfere with cell differentiation (Denis et al., 1994). Ascorbic acid, in association with b-glycerophosphate, was found to stimulate matrix mineralization by inducing an increase of neutral metalloproteinase in matrix vesicles, which may be able to degrade proteoglycans favoring mineral precipitation (Brooks et al., 1994). Once again, vitamin C, b-glycerophosphate, and dexamethasone induced an increases of the mRNA level for collagen type 1, osteocalcin, bone sialoprotein, and alkaline phosphatase in association with the development of bone nodules in an in vitro system (Malaval et al., 1994). In all these studies, ascorbic acid seemed to act as a promoter for collagen synthesis and secretion, whereas subsequent cell-matrix interactions seemed to influence cell shape, metabolism, and differentiation (Aulthouse, 1994). In fact, bone protein synthesis was blocked by inhibitors of collagen triple helix formation (Franceschi and Iyer, 1992), but these inhibitors were ineffective if added after a certain amount of normally hydroxylated collagen had been produced (Franceschi et al., 1994). This could mean that bone cell differentiation depends on vitamin C for the synthesis and secretion of the first collagen matrix and that it may continue also in the absence of ascorbic acid due to the already established cell-matrix interactions. Addition of ascorbate to cultured calf aortic smooth muscle cells was shown to increase collagen secretion together with fibronectin and proteoglycans and the phenomenon was associated both with changes in cell morphology, from elongated to polygonal, and with an increase of the cell growth rate (Schwartz et al., 1982). These findings could be the result of the first deposition of a matrix collagen, stimulated by ascorbic acid, followed by changes in cell metabolism that are regulated by cell-collagen interactions. The effect of ascorbic acid on the production of proteoglycans is rather controversial. Edward and Oliver (1983) found that both hyaluronate and sulfated glycosaminoglycan synthesis by human skin fibroblasts was affected by vitamin C. Kao and coworkers (1990) found that ascorbic acid stimulates the production of glycosaminoglycans in cultured fibroblasts, whereas Pacifici (1990) observed that in chick chondrocyte cultures the secretion of keratin sulfate and chondroitin sulfate-containing proteoglycans was not affected by ascorbic acid in the culture medium. In a recent study, vitamin C was shown to negatively influence the synthesis of aggrecan and to abolish the lag phase for decorin synthesis in cultured rabbit articular chondrocytes (Hering et al., 1994). The production of laminin and fibronectin was also shown to be increased by vitamin C added to the cultured bovine trabecular meshwork cells (Yue et al., 1990), suggesting a possible influence on cellular adhesion molecules. 5. REFERENCES Appling, W.D. O`Brien, W.R., Johnston, D.A., and Duvic, M., 1989, Synergistic enhancement of type I and III collagen production in cultured fibroblasts by transforming growth factor-b and ascorbate. FEBS Lett. 250:541-544. 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A few days ago I was reading an article on The Wall Street Journal about macarons going mainstream. It seems that what once was reserved to indulge in at high-class French patisseries, macarons are becoming so popular that in France one can buy them at a popular American burger joint! It does sound rather perverse – ordering a cheeseburger, fries and a macaron to go! Of course the French are not amused at the fact that macarons are being sold at several American outlets like Starbucks and Trader Joe’s thus being pumped into a mainstream unlike anything before. Macarons for everybody! Well after thinking about it – why not? While I certainly am all for everyone having the opportunity to indulge in whatever the heart desires, I think there certainly is a difference whether you are sinking your teeth into a fresh delicate cherished Ladurée macaron or a mass produced macaron. Tastes differ. While some will turn up their noses at the macarons available readily at the local supermarket and only indulge in the up-scale pastries, there are others who are left cold and prefer the macarons available at supermarkets and bakeries. I think it goes beyond that though. Walking into Ladurée is probably best compared to walking into Tiffany’s. You are paying for the experience, you expect the luxurious and want the best. Now do not get me wrong – believe me I am definitely not a macaron snob. I am the type of person who would buy myself a macaron if I was craving it with my Chai Latte at Starbucks (provided they tasted good) but would also pay the extra Euros to experience a macaron at Ladurée. There is a difference. Just like Jimmy Choos are Jimmy Choos and everything else – well – are just shoes! Macarons seem to have travelled the globe and I was surprised to see them so abundantly available in Dubai too. I went on a tasting spree, trying them at Paul’s with my latte, at Bateel, known for it’s date delicacies and several patisseries at the Dubai Mall. Macarons adorned their shop windows in a kaleidoscope of colors. In one such patisserie (and I am kicking myself because I have misplaced the card I was given) I had a wonderful experience of tasting macarons in a way that I have never before.Update - The shop was: Forrey & Galland The Dubai Mall, Lower Ground Floor +971 4 339 8850 As I walked into the shop there was the incredible aura of Oriental charm mixed with French chic. Like in an expensive jewelry boutique, the macarons were encased in glass showcases. I slowly walked past, my hand brushing the glass, gazing at the colorful displays of macarons sparkling like precious gems. I stopped and looked a little closer and smiled. As the shop assistant came towards me I noticed he too seemed to be smiling at me. Without uttering a word I pointed at the ruby red macarons, tiny and delicate. He gently took one out of the showcase and placed it on a black velvet lined tray. As I bit into it I was taken aback, fruity and nutty – Orient meets Paris. I looked at the assistant and gasped “Raspberry and tahini?” I think I surprised him – he was not expecting it but I had deciphered the flavor code. This seemed to be my ticket to get into the VIP lounge – a few red carpet colored stairs up and I was in a room lined with heavy red, green and gold fabric, in the middle a large circular sofa. I felt underdressed! I looked down at Soeren who’s eyes were probably gleaming just like mine. Was this what Charlie was feeling when allowed into Mr. Wonka’s chocolate factory? We sat down and were brought a small tray with a variety of 4 macarons by the assistant. I took a small bite of each and passed the rest to Soeren. As I chatted with the assistant he told me about all the flavors offered in the shop. My questions seemed to intrigue him and soon we were exchanging dialogue without realizing that an hour had passed. As we walked out again reality sucked me in and walking away from the shop I looked back one last time and patted the small velvet box lined with four delicate macarons. I’ll cherish this experience and its all because macarons have gained on immense popularity that such extravagant high-end Parisian treats are available in the far-away desserts of Dubai. I took an idea from that experience and brought it back to my blog, along with a few ingredients for these macarons. Rosewater and dried rose petals – a taste of orient – perfume the macaron shells subtly and ripe raspberry jam scented with a hint of rosewater adds a fruity, floral and sweet note. March 20 celebrates macarons in Le Jour du Macarons – Macaron Day. While I do not need a specific day to bite into a macaron, my motivation to create new flavor combination comes from Mactweets, a monthly event that encourages us to make and perfect our macaron making skills. This month its all about Spring Fling and flowers. Flowers have been playing a big role in my life lately and I’ve been enjoying every little detail too. Note: If you are making macarons for the first time please read my comprehensive collection of macaron tips. All the way from the prep work to removing macarons from the baking paper, you’ll find valuable tips and tricks for perfect macaron making. Rosewater and Raspberry teaspoons rosewater 1/2 teaspoon dried rose petals a few drops of red food coloring For the raspberry rosewater jam Makes 2 x 350g jars 500g raspberries, fresh or frozen 600g fine sugar 2 teaspoons rosewater and rosewater,, dried rose petals and almonds until the nuts and flowers raspberry rosewater jam - Place raspberries in a saucepan and heat slowly, then gently bring to a boil. Continue to boil for 5-6 minutes. Reduce heat then add sugar and rosewater. Stir mixture until the sugar has dissolved. - Turn up heat to bring the mixture back to a boil and boil for approx. 10 minutes. The mixture should thicken considerably. - Remove form heat and skim off any bubbles on the top then ladle into sterilized jars and seal. Store in cool dark place for up to 3-4 weeks. Assembling the macarons Using two spoons place dollops of the raspberry rosewater jam<< The light perfume of roses lingers in the air when the box opens promising flavors of far away Orient and fruity raspberry brings on the yearning of Spring. An ethereal combination coming together in a delectable bite. Gaining on popularity? I hope so because only this way can we have the pleasure of indulging in such exquisite treats. Monthly Mingle Reminder Don’t forget that I am celebrating four years of What’s For Lunch, Honey? with lots of bubbly. So, I am really looking forward to having you all over for this party. I’ve already gotten a few sparkling champagne creations and hope to see yours too. Party deadline is March 16th. Hope you’ll make it Have you all heard the latest? Food Blogger Connect 2010 is now open for registration! London will be rocking this June with the hottest food blogger event in Europe. We’ve got a fantastic line-up of incredible speakers and the itinerary promises fun, networking and a lot of great presentations. Don’t wait any longer to register – tickets are going like hot cakes! Looking forward to seeing you all there! More macarons from WFLH: All photographs and written content on What's For Lunch, Honey? © 2006-2010 Meeta Khurana unless otherwise indicated. | All rights reserved | Please Ask First Meeta they are simply gorgeous. After two mac fails in teh last two days and one day more to try them out before I leave on vacation, I am hopeful mine might at least have feet and domed tops. To look as pretty as yours, they never will but I can always dream!!! Gorgeous Meeta! Even though I'm not a fan of rosewater, I know how good they are in macarons. I was also reading about how macarons have gone mainstream and how the French are disgusted by it - so funny. Why can't we all have macarons? All day, every day, I say =) I'm making mine over the weekend and hope I can still enter them into your monthly mingle xxx Beautiful work, Meeta. I'm inspired! Only one word can be used to describe your macarons: Beautiful! They look stunning Meeta... I love the flavour of rosewater and what a great idea to use it in this sweet treat! Do you know, Meeta, this is the most beautiful post I've ever seen. The photos are beautiful, the recipe looks fabulous, and what a great story! Imagine being presented a macaron on a velvet tray. I love it! Thank you very much. Do you know, Meeta, this is the most beautiful post I've ever seen. The photos are beautiful, the recipe looks fabulous, and what a great story! Imagine being presented a macaron on a velvet tray. I love it! Thank you very much. Hi Meeta, I read the article on WSJ and was thinking about you and your various macaron recipes. I am a terrible baker (well I haven't baked anything even remotely edible, so calling myself a baker is a stretch), so I live vicariously through your recipes ! They're simply gorgeous, honey. I especially love the second shot, they look so perfect in the box with the roses by them. You might actually be making me kind of want to make some, although if you hadn't heard, A. gave the dogs both bowls of egg whites from the fridge the other day instead of the one bowl that was for them (he blanched when I told him how many egg whites that was total - 9) so probably not. And I agree about tastes not being the same for all, although I'm a bit frightened at how a mass-produced macaron is made (then again, Ladurée's perfect macs have preservatives etc... in them, I actually don't like them very much compared to PHs or other places). xxoo I saw this post over on Twitter and had to come check it out. I can practically smell the wonderful aroma through your gorgeous photos. I've read someone who wrote that macaroons are the new cupcake. Oh no! Meeta all I can seriously do here and scroll up and down and soak in the absolutely stunning pictures. Beautiful. I can't say more. Would you believe that I've never tasted any macarons other than few pieces from my first macarons disaster attempt? They are really getting very popular. I wonder if next year's FBC might include a macaron workshop! :) You would do a great teacher! A refined flavor combination! Those macarons are perfect! So pretty that they could be in the window of the best pâtisserie in Paris! cheers, Rosa I am yearning trips to both Paris and Dubai after reading this...! I love the photos with the rosebuds too. Lovely pink macarons, and I like the pink speckled effect on the shells too. Meeta your macarons are simply beautiful! Pretty pretty pinky macrons! Utterly gorgeous Meeta ... just very very beautifully done. Yes macarons are taking over the lesser world, and Mowie's right... why can't we all have them? Still trying to find my feet this time. Love that you did with yours. PERFECT! What a beautiful presentation! The macarons look amazing and your photos are incredible. What an interesting combination to sue rosewater and fruit. I ate at Pauls in Dubai, and bought what seemed to be the world's most expensive choc-chip cookie. I wish I had spotted the macarons.... Wowow i think this is the best Mac you have made till now. They just look so so perfect. I was not planning to do this month, but after seeing your I am tempted to give the a try. BEAUTIFUL. That sounds like you had an incredible experience in Dubai Meeta. That must have been special indeed, as are you gorgeous rosewater macarons! Beautiful!! These are so romantic and beautiful! :) Really lovely meeta. Waow, what a beautiful post: beautiful pictures,text and these macarons looks sooo perfect and yummy... Congratulations for mastering the art of macarons! I made a few attempts, which were far, very far from looking like macarons :-( Raspberry and rose water or roses is one of my favourite combination, too. wow your macarons look perfection :O) thank you so much for all the lovely feedback. glad you liked the pictures and the macarons. i'm still a beginner but am having so much fun discovering the grand flavor combinations. anything seems possible. i did not specify in my post but the macarons from paul were rather dry and i did not like them. while i really love laduree macarons - PH has it down to perfection so it's a toss up of the two for me. in dubai i was amazed to find macarons with a very high quality taste and ingredients. besides the ones at paul's i have never tried any of the other mass produced macarons. I am actually so glad that macarons have become more accessible now. But having said that - there's nothing like a really really good one from Laduree or Pierre Herme right? I think yours looks as pretty as those - and am sure tastes as good too! You really are the Macron Goddess ! How very perfect each and every one of those is. Perfection ! I bet you could give Piere Herme a run for his money with such gorgeous combinations. Absolutely stunning pictures. awwww they are gorgeous! I recently had some rose flavoured macarons and loved them! You really are the Macron Goddess ! How very perfect each and every one of those is. Perfection ! I bet you could give Piere Herme a run for his money with such gorgeous combinations. Absolutely stunning pictures. Oh, Meeta, stunning! You do win the crown this month! And I'll bet the flavors are as wonderful as they are pretty. I love your story. But I must say that sell macarons where they will, not all macarons are equal! As you say, one must search out the best, the delicate, crispy on the outside, moist and tender inside with gorgeous flavors. And your macs, my dear, inspire me! Your macarons are perfect as always and these ones are especially pretty! Love the story of the macaron store in Dubai...enchanting! You never cease to amaze me with the combinations of gorgeous, delicate flavors for your macs! awesome photos. Utterly elegant and beautiful. I love them! beautiful cookies! If ever there was a cookie that I LOVED with all my heart it is the raspberry macaron. I live relatively close to an authentic patisserie, and its a miracle i'm not a cow or diabetic. because i have zero self control when it comes to these wonderful cookies. Meeta, Thank you so much for visiting my little blog. I've signed up to get your feed in my Google reader so that I can read all of your new posts. :) I was in Dubai not too long ago ... how did I miss seeing macarons?!! But really, could they have been better than the ones YOU make Meeta? I think not. Especially these rose & raspberry ones. *Swoon* Aha! So that's what happened with the rosewater! :)) Gorgeous.. Love the barrels of dried flowers!! Oh I wish I could lay my hands on some!! Meeta you've become the macaron queen. this is the icing on the cake. gorgeous colour and stunning pairing. Macs are gorgeous Meeta, Each pic seems like a fairytale to me...I have never had macaroons in my life , now I feel like I am really missing something... I love the delicate flavors of these ones. :-) So pretty and fresh and lovely. :-) Wow, Meeta! Just... WOW! :) another masterful post here - in photography, story telling, recipes and styling. just wonderful. you had me above at "date delicacies," my favorite ingredient. but oooh, please tell me you are going to get that raspberry tahini macaron recipe ?? that encounter sounds so fabulous - love those unexpected moments in travel, meeting people, bonus conversations and tastes... so enriching. and bet i would have loved those macarons too ! yours are stunning here ! They may be mainstream in America now but macaroons have yet to come to the Caribbean. I have never tasted had one. More's the pity they look delicious. Meeta I am as always dazzled by your artistic photos; I was also captivated by your story! I became enamored with macarons after my first visit at Ladurée, then my friend Anne-Marie (pastry chef in Paris) told me the ones at Gérard Mulot were better! I remember too Pierre Hermé's pastry shop has velours covering and the pastries are presented like pieces of jewelery; maybe this is where the Dubai store got the idea! I just found your blog, and I am so glad! These are beautiful and I am DYING to try them! You should take orders. I have never eaten a Macaroon. I know, I know!! They definitely look good and delicious! However, I'm not sure about the rose petals part. When I encountered having to eat rose-flavored chocolate, it was on Valentines Day a few years back. It was a gift of chocolates and other trinkets stuck in a box full of rose petals. I couldn't eat them. I felt like I was eating the flower itself. You made me interested in trying these though. They look really good, and maybe I'd be adventurous enough to make them and get over my "phobia" of eating anything with roses near them. Keep up the good work on the pictures and the overall creativity! Gorgeous!! These macarons are just perfect, Meeta. Think you're becoming quite a macaron queen yourself. :) Love the oriental flavours in these. I just took a macaron class yesterday and have egg white on the counter... Yours look heavenly and I love rose water - great idea! I will deefinitely try this! These macarons looks so cute! I've never tried to make macarons. Too scared I guess. What gorgeous photographs! Magda I love the last but one photo- the lowermost macaron on the right licks its chops because they are soo mouthwatering. thank you all so much fro all your feedback! i do admit that i am not much of a floral type of person - but these were very subtly flavored and the raspberry jam complemented it perfectly. hope you have fun making these! These macarons sound absolutely magical! One of these days I'll get into macaron making and try this recipe! beautiful pairing, and those macs look really inviting! Rose ahs a quality that makes everything look attractive:) Gorgeous as always Meeta.What delightful flavours :-) Rose is one of my favorite flavor when it comes to Macarons... Your look magnifiques... and I agree with Rosa, they'd be worth showing up in any patisserie in France! wondeful work of art, Meeta, you are a total artist! well done, cheers from london Meeta, what a magical adventure!The art of flavor pairing is endlesly fascinating. I am offically in love with rose petals in everything. :-)Can't wait to try these. Your photos are stunning! ...Susan hey meeta , lovely post as always. It made me wanting to taste macarons more than ever! I live in dubai and i spend almost all my time surfing blogs =) when macaron mania hit i guess i can say i almost tried every store selling macarons there is - Pauls, chocoa , French Bakery. Sigh. But nothing really seems to taste that good!!! Almost too sweet somehow. Anyway , if you dont mind could you please tell me where this secret macaron Boudoir was? Was it in Dubai mall? cause i think i have a faint recollection of seeing some brightly coloured jewels down there... Ah, you know, I think these macarons would fit right in at Laduree. Decadence and elegance rolled into one. I LOVE the taste of raspberries - wish they grew here. Gorgeous macarons!! love your photos too! Oh Meeta - too gorgeous! And how I wished I could have been with you in the macaron VIP room ;-) Paris Hilton, eat your heart out! I am not a macaron snob as such, but I do find that unless the flavours are pretty complex (think Pierre Herme's olive oil and vanilla, or Campari and pamlemousse), I get bored with them very fast - so I'd rather pay top dollar for something truly unusual! Wow.. so pretty macarons!!! I really love the colour, so light and sweet! You are so talented!! Hi Meeta Beautiful! A few days ago the front cover of delicious. magazine April issue's colourful macaroons invited me to buy a copy. I will be trying this receipe for an Easter treat. I will post on my new blog on how I got on and can only wish they will turn out half as gorgeous as yours! All your photography looks delicious! Brilliant!! Just brilliant! Dont know whether I like the macarons or the photographs more....!! Thanks for sharing this post! This is really great! I never thought of using rosewater when cooking. LOL. Thanks a lot. This is really new to my eyes. You are a goddess. I'm not worthy to read your blog. Just reading the instructions/ingredients for this epicurian ditty has transported me away from my office and home to my kitchen. Thank goodness tomorrow is Friday -- I'll be bakin' my butt off. The Kitchen Diva Meeta those look amazing! If only I can get my husband to appreciate when I attempt stuff like that :) A goddess?? oh my! thanks @Kitchen Diva but i usually do not feel like a goddess hahaha! appreciate all your comments and excited to know that the flavors in these macarons have hit all the right tastebuds! hugs! Ahhhh, happy days! These are absolutely wonderful! Your photographs and your macs are absolutely beautiful. Hi Meeta, I think the shop you went to was Forrey & Galland in Dubai Mall. I too went there and the service is the same. They make every customer who walks in through the door feel so special. Their rose macaroons are divine and they also have a rose chocolate which is almost too good to eat!! :) Your pictures look delicious too!! Meeta - Any suggestions for the left over yolks? (Aside from custards and creme brule, I'm out of ideas...) Hey The macarons look so pink and beautiful like a piece of art. I had my first attempt at making macarons today but they didn't turn out so well. :{ Any idea why the egg white mixture was so watery and not thick after I added in the rosewater and sugar.
>>. PR report for week of 12/18 Released on 2012-10-19 08:00 GMT KGO- San Francisco Foreign Policy Magazine Barron's Guardian (UK) AP Coverage: nternational_news/&articleid=3D294021 =3D%2Fpublication%2Fpublication_list%3Ftype%3Ddaily_analysis 2-2006_pg3_3 ns.com%2Farticle%2FSB116683393811358244.html%3Fmod%3Dgooglenews_barrons Agence France Presse -- English December 18, 2006 Monday 11:14 AM GMT Bush set to sign controversial nuclear deal with India BYLINE: P. Parameswaran LENGTH: 732 words DATELINE: WASHINGTON, Dec 18 2006 US President George W. Bush will sign into law Monday a landmark=20=20 civilian nuclear agreement with India, but experts say the two nations=20= =20 are bracing for tough negotiations on the nuts and bolts of the=20=20 complex deal. The deal finally sailed through the US Congress on December 9 allowing=20= =20 the export of civilian nuclear fuel and technology to India for the=20=20 first time in the more than 30 years since the Asian country first=20=20 tested a nuclear device. White House spokesman Tony Snow said the deal "reflects not only the=20=20 growing importance of India as a partner and ally with the United=20=20 States, but I think we have the growing importance of the United=20=20 States, also, as an ally with India." Even so, experts said, there were significant hurdles to be crossed. "There are still many steps before it becomes something that is=20=20 complete," Michael Levi, a science and technology expert at the=20=20 Council on Foreign Relations, a respected US think tank, told AFP. They include devising a bilateral agreement incorporating all=20=20 technical details of the deal as well as nuclear safeguards for India=20=20 that must be endorsed by the international community. Popularly known as a "123 Agreement", the bilateral pact will be the=20=20 sole binding document defining the terms of the anticipated nuclear=20=20 commerce arising from the deal, which the US Chamber of Commerce says=20=20 could open up a whopping 100 billion dollars in opportunities for=20=20 American businesses. The bilateral agreement will have to be approved again by the US=20=20 Congress, to be controlled next year by Democrats known for their=20=20 strong non-proliferation views. "The completion of a 123 Agreement is really a codification of the=20=20 major and difficult decisions we have already made," said Nicholas=20=20 Burns, the top US negotiator of the nuclear deal. "And, of course, there is a long process towards the finish line, but=20=20 it is not going to be, in my judgment, as difficult as the last 18=20=20 months," he said of the deal, agreed by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan=20= =20 Singh and US President George W. Bush way back in July 2005. One key component of the bilateral agreement is nuclear safeguards,=20=20 which India, a non-signatory of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty=20=20 (NPT), would be subject to under a separate agreement with the=20=20 International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the global nuclear watchdog. The other is the guidelines governing civilian nuclear commerce to be=20=20 drawn up with the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers' Group (NSG). The pace of the negotiations for the bilateral pact would depend on=20=20 how far the Indians will go in accepting IAEA safeguards aimed at=20=20 ensuring that New Delhi does not use any US nuclear materials or=20=20 technology to expand its military nuclear arsenal. "I think the primary obstacles going forward are in crafting an=20=20 appropriate safeguards agreement with the IAEA and an appropriate=20=20 agreement at the NSG," Levi said. "The main point of conflict is over how permanent the safeguards will=20=20 be," he said. India first agreed for the safeguards to be permanent but now is=20=20 asking for an exception if bilateral nuclear cooperation is scrapped=20=20 in the future, Levi said. Washington stopped nuclear cooperation with India after it conducted=20=20 its first nuclear test in 1974. Under the US legislation passed last week, if Indian conducts another=20=20 nuclear test, the US president "must terminate all export and reexport=20= =20 of US-origin nuclear materials, nuclear equipment, and sensitive=20=20 nuclear technology to India." Indian atomic scientists and military officials are wholly opposed to=20=20 a moratorium on nuclear testing, and likely will declare this=20=20 provision a deal-breaker, said Stratfor, a leading US security=20=20 consulting intelligence agency. The other "big sticking point" for India, it said, was a US provision=20=20 -- although non-binding -- on securing New Delhi's cooperation in=20=20 containing Iran's sensitive nuclear program. "Though the requirement has been watered down, the mere inclusion of=20=20 an Iran clause will be cause for protest by India's vocal leftist=20=20 parties," which provide needed support for India's ruling Congress-led=20= =20 coalition, Stratfor said. The US Congress created a rare exception for India from some of the=20=20 requirements of the US Atomic Energy Act, which currently prohibits=20=20 nuclear sales to non-NPT signatories. "But before the waiver can come into effect, the US President has to=20=20 certify that the IAEA and NSG agreements with India meet certain=20=20 standards," Levi said. ____________________________________________________________________________ Foreign Affairs - After Musharraf Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. (Email this author) =A9 National Journal Group, Inc. U.S. policy on Pakistan boils down to one word: Musharraf. In the=20=20 world's only Islamic state armed with nuclear weapons, in the country=20=20 where Osama bin Laden himself is most likely hiding, in a place that=20=20 is a strategic crossroads where China, India, and Iran converge, there=20= =20 seems to be no Plan B. Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the army chief whose=20=20 support of Islamic militants in Indian-ruled Kashmir nearly led to=20=20 open war with India just months before he seized power in 1999, has=20=20 become the unlikely champion of democracy's fight against terrorism. Western security experts complain that Musharraf has done too little=20=20 to hunt down Taliban and Qaeda operatives who have used his country as=20= =20 a base for attacks against Afghanistan, India, and even England. They=20=20 cite evidence linking the "7/7" London bombings to the extremist=20=20 groups that still recruit openly in Pakistan's cities, and note=20=20 Musharraf's cease-fire in September with pro-Taliban tribesmen in the=20=20 lawless frontier district of Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan.=20=20 Human-rights activists, on the other hand, say that Musharraf has done=20= =20 too much. They point to the hundreds of "terrorist suspects" whom=20=20 Pakistan's security forces shipped to Guantanamo Bay on flimsy=20=20 evidence; the August raid that killed Nawab Mohammed Akbar Khan Bugti,=20= =20 the rebel leader of Pakistan's Baluchistan province, just as he was=20=20 entering peace negotiations with the government; and the October 30=20=20 strike by army gunships on a madrassa -- a traditional religious=20=20 school -- reportedly linked to Al Qaeda that left 82 dead and sparked=20=20 protests across a country that's 97 percent Muslim. But for all of=20=20 Musharraf's missteps, many analysts fear that a Pakistan without him=20=20 would fall into a nightmare of anarchy, Islamic terrorism, and loose=20=20 nukes. The good news is that less apocalyptic alternatives to a Pakistan=20=20 after Pervez Musharraf do exist. The bad news is that they may require=20= =20 consideration sooner rather than later. "Musharraf has never been=20=20 weaker," said Alexis Debat, a former French counter-terrorism=20=20 official, who visited his long-standing contacts in Pakistan's=20=20 security apparatus this fall. "His core constituency is the military,=20=20 and there are indications that he has started to lose that as well." Even among what Pakistanis call "the Establishment" -- the 6,000 to=20=20 8,000 senior military officers, politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen,=20= =20 and newspaper publishers, most from intermarried families, who=20=20 constitute a de facto oligarchy -- "there's a lot of anxiety about=20=20 Musharraf's reckless behavior," said Stephen Cohen, a senior fellow at=20= =20 the Brookings Institution, the author of The Idea of Pakistan, and a=20=20 leading expert on the Pakistani military. Musharraf's hawking of his=20=20 new autobiography on late-night TV during his September trip to the=20=20 United States struck many Pakistanis as a shameless attempt to pad his=20= =20 foreign bank accounts as insurance against exile. At this point, Cohen=20= =20 said, "Musharraf has one good friend in the world: [George W.] Bush." Yet Musharraf is not the indispensable man. He is a consummate=20=20 institution man, the product of a lifetime in the Pakistani army. In a=20= =20 sign of where the real power lies in Pakistan, Musharraf kept his post=20= =20 as army chief even after making himself president, and he still lives=20=20 in the military city of Rawalpindi, outside of the capital, Islamabad.=20= =20 Musharraf may well go out with a bang: Debat reports that far more=20=20 attempts have been made on Musharraf's life than the two sensational=20=20 ones reported in the media. "But were he to be taken out tomorrow,=20=20 there would be strong continuity" because the vice chief of the army=20=20 would step up, said Marvin Weinbaum, a Middle East Institute scholar=20=20 and a former State Department analyst. Or Musharraf may well go out=20=20 with a whimper. If his fellow generals decide that he is a liability,=20=20 Weinbaum said, "they'll simply go to him and say, as they did to Ayub=20=20 Khan and Yahya Khan [two previous army chiefs who ruled Pakistan],=20=20 'You'll have to leave' -- and he will leave. It's a very disciplined=20=20 military." Military discipline means that, despite three coups in 50 years, the=20=20 secession of half the country to form Bangladesh in 1971, and Islamic=20=20 extremists' infiltration of the middle ranks, Pakistani army units=20=20 have never fought each other. The country isn't likely to descend into=20= =20 anarchy if Musharraf leaves; nor will its nuclear weapons fall into=20=20 terrorist hands, or its government under the control of mullahs and=20=20 militants. But military discipline also means that real democracy is a lot=20=20 further away than next year's promised elections. Intimidation of=20=20 candidates, suppression of turnout, bribery of voters, and blatant=20=20 gerrymandering are so common in Pakistan that when the former chief of=20= =20 the military's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, Lt. Gen. Assad=20=20 Durrani, acknowledged these activities in October, the shock in=20=20 Pakistani news coverage was not that he had admitted rigging elections=20= =20 but that he had suggested it might be time to stop. Even Pakistan's ambassador to Washington acknowledges that the=20=20 military is growing weary of ruling. "Every time a military ruler has=20=20 come in, the people have welcomed him with open arms," said retired=20=20 Maj. Gen. Mahmud Ali Durrani (no relation to Assad Durrani), who took=20=20 over as ambassador from another retired general this summer. "But with=20= =20 the passage of time, that shine seems to go away, because it's a=20=20 difficult country to govern. And for every military leader, believe it=20= =20 or not, one of his major agenda points was to bring back democracy" --=20= =20 albeit democracy under careful management. (See Q&A, pp. 45-46.)=20=20 Musharraf has committed to general elections in 2007, possibly as=20=20 early as February, although a kind of electoral-college system buffers=20= =20 him from popular discontent, making it unlikely he would lose the=20=20 presidency. "There's a phenomenon in all of these military governments, kind of a=20=20 seven-year itch," said David Smith, a retired U.S. Army colonel who=20=20 spent years in Pakistan as a military attache and liaison. "Seven=20=20 years after General Ayub Khan took power in 1958, there was a big=20=20 election, and he had to pull all of the strings to win. Eight years=20=20 after General Zia ul-Haq took power in 1977, he named a civilian prime=20= =20 minister [and ended martial law]. Musharraf started his eighth year in=20= =20 October." Musharraf is not a lonely hero holding his country together. He is=20=20 just the latest leader to stand precariously atop Pakistan's three=20=20 ever-shifting tectonic plates -- the generals, the politicians, and=20=20 the mullahs. Sooner, not later, he will lose his footing. To=20=20 understand what might happen next, it's important to understand the=20=20 three major power centers at work in Pakistan. The Officer Corps Pervez Musharraf is the fourth army chief to rule Pakistan. He is the=20=20 third to overthrow a civilian government. (The odd general out, Yahya=20=20 Khan, took over peacefully from another general.) Yet what he commands=20= =20 is not some mutinous rabble like so many coup-prone armies but a=20=20 professional military resembling America's: well trained, well=20=20 disciplined, and well respected by civilians as an avenue for social=20=20 mobility and as an alternative to self-seeking politicians. Perhaps=20=20 the critical difference is that the U.S. Army was created to kick out=20=20 the British Empire but the Pakistani army was created by it. To this day, the people of Pakistan's western borderlands, opposite=20=20 Afghanistan, see the national army as an occupying force, one=20=20 overwhelmingly recruited from the urbanized eastern province of=20=20 Punjab. "As far as they're concerned," Weinbaum said of the frontier=20=20 tribes, "Punjabis are as foreign as anybody -- maybe even as foreign=20=20 as Uzbekhs." Ethnic Baluch and Sindhis are rare in the military ranks,=20= =20 while the significant Pashtun contingent in the army comes in large=20=20 part from multigenerational military families who long ago moved east=20=20 to Punjab. Even in Punjab, "the military lives very isolated lives," said Hussain=20= =20 Haqqani, a prominent Pakistani dissident who wrote Pakistan: Between=20=20 Mosque and Military. "The British colonial structure has persisted.=20=20 Even your domestic servants, if you're an officer, are soldiers." Hassan Abbas, the son of a Pakistani army officer, is is a former=20=20 Pakistani federal superintendent of police and the co-author of=20=20 Pakistan's Drift Into Extremism: Allah, the Army, and America's War on=20= =20 Terror. "I've grown up in military cantonments," he said. "They have=20=20 separate schools that are much better, and better health care. When I=20=20 joined the civil service, I realized for the first time what ordinary=20=20 people have to go through" in Pakistan. Even as a federal=20=20 superintendent overseeing several police stations, Abbas said, his=20=20 standard of living "was absolutely no match for what I've seen in the=20=20 military." Officers' children enter this separate and unequal world at birth. The=20= =20 sons of many middle-class families join it in their early teens, when=20=20 their ambitious parents enroll them in highly competitive military=20=20 academies. Later in their careers, promising officers are detailed to=20=20 oversee civilian ministries for one of Pakistan's periodic military=20=20 governments. Military retirees can buy government land at bargain=20=20 prices -- a British pension system intended for acquiring housing=20=20 plots and farms -- and then sell it on the open market for instant=20=20 profit. Ex-generals get top appointments in government, business, or=20=20 the Fauji ("Soldier") Foundation, a charitable trust for army veterans=20= =20 and dependents. The foundation's Web site boasts that it is "one of=20=20 the largest industrial/commercial conglomerates in Pakistan," with=20=20 affiliates that produce sugar, electrical power, liquid natural gas,=20=20 60 percent of Pakistan's urea-based fertilizer, and corn flakes. All of these rewards keep the officer corps loyal -- and, in one of=20=20 the world's most corrupt countries, remarkably honest. "Being kicked out of the military is a big deal," Debat said. "You=20=20 lose your access to the best schools, the best health care, the best=20=20 housing," not to mention retirement opportunities from real estate to=20=20 cereal manufacture. "Nobody wants to be caught with their hand in the=20=20 cookie jar," Debat continued. "The military tends to be much less=20=20 corrupt than the civil servants because it is far better off." The natural temptation for such an elite is to imagine it can run=20=20 things better. "The officers are largely middle-class, they believe=20=20 they've got where they are by merit, they're very contemptuous of the=20=20 [rich] and the urban politicians as corrupt," Cohen said, "and they=20=20 think they know what the national interest is, because they learned it=20= =20 in military school." But the orderly cantonments of the military are=20=20 poor preparation for the messy civilian politics of Pakistan. The Civilian Politicians "Every time there is political turmoil because of the weakness of our=20=20 leaders," Ambassador Durrani said, "the only strong institution is the=20= =20 military." The ex-general is naturally biased, but he has a point.=20=20 Secular politics in Pakistan is overwhelmingly about personalities,=20=20 not institutional agendas. Consider the one truly nationwide political movement, the Pakistan=20=20 People's Party. Although it is strongest in Sindh province, it is the=20=20 only opposition party to win a significant number of seats in every=20=20 provincial legislature in the 2002 elections, even in the face of=20=20 systematic manipulation by the military. Its chairwoman-for-life is=20=20 Benazir Bhutto, 53, who has twice served as prime minister. Bhutto is=20=20 most admired in the West as the first female prime minister of a=20=20 Muslim country, but she owes her popularity in Pakistan to being the=20=20 daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the party's founder. The elder Bhutto=20= =20 was president and prime minister of Pakistan in his day -- until his=20=20 experiments with land reform, nationalizing industries, and other=20=20 "Islamic socialism" led to his ouster by the military in 1977; he was=20=20 executed two years later. His daughter was then 25 years old. She=20=20 spent much of her 30s under house arrest. No wonder Benazir Bhutto's politics are intensely personal. "This is=20=20 the legacy that her father gave her," Weinbaum said. "It's her party.=20=20 She cannot imagine anybody else being in charge." But Bhutto remains=20=20 in exile (based in London and the United Arab Emirates) after her=20=20 second ouster in 1996, understandably unwilling to return to the=20=20 jurisdiction of the generals who killed her father and have threatened=20= =20 to try her for corruption. Nor is the evidence merely manufactured:=20=20 During her two terms (1988 to 1990 and 1993 to 1996), her husband's=20=20 blatant graft earned him the nickname "Mister Ten Percent." Back home in Pakistan's cities, many of the liberal, educated=20=20 professionals who form the PPP's core support have grown frustrated=20=20 with Bhutto's absentee leadership. And in the countryside, the=20=20 struggling farmers who vote PPP because they fondly remember the elder=20= =20 Bhutto's abortive land reforms have become pocket votes for the=20=20 wealthy landowners, known as "feudals," who have come to dominate the=20=20 party. "That's the absolutely tragic thing that's happened," said=20=20 Abbas, the former police official. "The working class, labor unions,=20=20 and student unions remain the base of the People's Party, and just a=20=20 few days ago, I was trying to remind Benazir Bhutto of this, but she=20=20 has different ideas." He believes that Bhutto has let the party become=20= =20 a tool of wealthy elites. Bhutto's archrival on the right is Nawaz Sharif, who also served twice=20= =20 as prime minister and whose politics are equally personal: The=20=20 nationalization program of the elder Prime Minister Bhutto hurt his=20=20 wealthy family's business. Sharif leads the Pakistan Muslim League,=20=20 named after the independence movement that founded Pakistan, which in=20=20 its modern form is really a creation of former military dictator Zia=20=20 ul-Haq, who ruled from 1977 to 1988. With support in Punjab and in the=20= =20 Pashtun northwest frontier, the conservative PML backs the military,=20=20 business, and family-values legislation based on traditional Islamic=20=20 law. Many Muslim League politicians defected to new pro-Musharraf parties=20=20 in the most recent elections, in 2002, often reaping plum appointments=20= =20 in return. Sharif himself began in politics as a hand-picked protege=20=20 of Gen. Zia, the most Islamically minded of Pakistan's military=20=20 rulers. But in his second term as prime minister, from 1997 to 1999,=20=20 Sharif tried to rein in the armed forces, especially when their border=20= =20 skirmishes with India threatened to escalate, and he later moved to=20=20 dismiss the army chief, Musharraf. Instead, Sharif ended up in exile=20=20 in London and, like Bhutto, is unable to re-enter Pakistan for fear of=20= =20 facing a corruption trial. These opposition leaders are admittedly uninspiring. "But every time=20=20 politicians learn something about running the country, the military=20=20 boots them out," said Haqqani, the Pakistani dissident, noting that=20=20 Benazir Bhutto's experience before becoming prime minister consisted=20=20 of political activism and house arrest. Haqqani, who was arrested=20=20 under Sharif and now lives in the United States, said, "Corruption has=20= =20 been the excuse, rather the cause, for the army's intervention." The Islamists With the leaders of the secular opposition in exile and under a cloud,=20= =20 the protest vote in the 2002 elections went to the Islamic parties.=20=20 Western observers were dismayed to see a coalition of religious=20=20 parties called the MMA (Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, the United Action=20=20 Front) win an unprecedented number of seats in the national=20=20 legislature and outright control of the Northwest Frontier Province's=20=20 legislative body. The Islamists rode a tide of fury at the U.S.=20=20 invasion of Afghanistan -- right across the province's border -- and=20=20 the ouster of its Taliban regime. In the United States, liberal=20=20 analysts saw the inevitable backlash against American aggression;=20=20 conservatives saw one more reason to bolster Pakistan's military. In fact, the Musharraf government had systematically cleared the way=20=20 for the Islamists by hamstringing the secular alternatives: One tactic=20= =20 was to disqualify Bhutto and Sharif loyalists from running for lack of=20= =20 a college degree, while accepting madrassa-trained candidates as=20=20 meeting the education requirement. Once in the legislature, the MMA=20=20 returned the favor by supporting the ruling coalition. "There's a very subtle game between the [Islamists] and Musharraf,"=20=20 said Debat, the former French official. The 2002 elections were the=20=20 latest reshuffling of cards first played decades ago by Mohammed Ali=20=20 Jinnah, a British-educated lawyer, when he decided that middle-class=20=20 Muslims could not survive in an independent, democratic India with a=20=20 Hindu majority and instead allied them with Islamic activists to form=20=20 the breakaway country that in 1947 became Pakistan. Ever since, the=20=20 Pakistani establishment has alternated between exploiting and=20=20 repressing political Islam -- while political Islam has accepted=20=20 government money with one hand and rallied popular discontent with the=20= =20 other. Even with this ambivalent alliance and the boost supplied by=20=20 anti-American outrage over Afghanistan, the MMA won only 11 percent of=20= =20 the popular vote in 2002. Gerrymandered districts favoring the=20=20 low-population, low-turnout western regions turned this 11 percent=20=20 into 17 percent of seats in the National Assembly, while Bhutto's and=20=20 Sharif's supporters got far fewer seats in relation to their share of=20=20 the vote. (See table, opposite page.) Even in their stronghold, among=20=20 the Pashtun traditionalists of the Northwest Frontier Province, the=20=20 MMA won only 26 percent of the vote -- which was transmuted by=20=20 gerrymandering into a 51 percent majority of seats in the provincial=20=20 legislature. The MMA's support, moreover, is split among the half-dozen parties=20=20 forming its coalition. They range from a Shiite minority movement to=20=20 Sunni zealots sympathetic to anti-Shiite death squads. Its two leading=20= =20 parties, confusingly enough, are known as the JI (Jamaat-e-Islami,=20=20 Islamic Association) and the JUI (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, the=20=20 Association of Islamic Scholars). The JUI itself has split into two=20=20 factions. "The Jamaat-e-Islami is the most organized political party in the=20=20 country," explained Kamran Bokhari, a Pakistani-born analyst for=20=20 Strategic Forecasting, the international risk analysis firm. "They=20=20 provide the structure for the MMA. They're very disciplined and very=20=20 strict about whom they admit. It's an Islamic version of a Leninist=20=20 party." Such rigorous purity attracts educated urban Muslims from=20=20 across the country but keeps the JI's numbers small. Its=20=20 well-organized protests can shut down a city -- although recent=20=20 anti-Musharraf protests fell embarrassingly flat -- but it cannot=20=20 muster many voters. The two factions of the JUI, by contrast, draw mass support from their=20= =20 extensive sponsorship of mosques and madrassas in the Pashtun areas of=20= =20 the Northwest Frontier Province and in northern Baluchistan. "They are=20= =20 a popular party," Bokhari said, "but they lack the structure: They=20=20 need the JI as much as the JI needs the JUI." Clashing agendas, however, have strained this symbiosis. The JI's=20=20 urban purists want to break with Musharraf over his support for=20=20 women's rights and the U.S. war on terrorism. But the JUI has=20=20 willingly worked with the government to get public services for the=20=20 long-neglected rural Pashtuns. The Pakistani press predicts a major=20=20 face-off at the next MMA conference early next year. Meanwhile, the messy realities of governing and reports of widespread=20=20 abuse of madrassa students, including sexual assault, are undermining=20=20 the Islamists' squeaky-clean image. The molestation of young boys in=20=20 madrassas "is a major issue," said one Pakistani education activist=20=20 who asked to remain anonymous. But it is hardly the only kind of=20=20 abuse. "If a child does not know how to memorize the Koran, he is=20=20 labeled as stubborn," the activist said. "I've seen rooms where there=20=20 are chains -- where they chain their students up and beat them until=20=20 they memorize it." Even madrassa teachers are increasingly aware that this kind of=20=20 pedagogy hardly makes their graduates employable in a modernizing=20=20 economy. Growing numbers of tribal Pashtuns looking for work are=20=20 migrating to the cities of Punjab and Sindh, or to Persian Gulf=20=20 countries; Internet cafes have become commonplace in frontier towns=20=20 like Peshawar. And although many madrassa students are destitute,=20=20 dependent on their instructors for free room and board, many others=20=20 are the sons of devout shopkeepers who feel that a Muslim family is=20=20 spiritually incomplete without a hafiz -- someone who can recite the=20=20 Koran from memory. These middle-class families are crucial to the=20=20 Islamists' political base. Nongovernment groups are taking this dissatisfaction with the narrow=20=20 traditional curriculum as an opportunity to reach out to the=20=20 madrassas. One such program is sponsored by the International Center=20=20 for Religion and Diplomacy, a Washington-based peace group founded by=20=20 Doug Johnston, a former Defense Department official. "We've been=20=20 involved there for about three years," Johnston said, holding 10-day=20=20 workshops in modern pedagogy for more than 200 senior madrassa=20=20 teachers, and shorter programs for 300 others. "It is all in an Islamic context, so they can't really argue with it,"=20= =20 said one of the workshop's organizers. Depicting reform not as a=20=20 concession to the secular West but as a return to Islamic traditions=20=20 of tolerance and scholarship, the crash course begins by recounting=20=20 the glories of Muslim learning during Christendom's Dark Ages. It then=20= =20 moves on to discuss teaching techniques, child development, anger=20=20 management, and how corporal punishment impairs learning. By the end=20=20 of day four, "I have never seen anyone not in tears," the organizer=20=20 said. By the fifth day, "they start to talk about, 'I was taught that=20=20 way. I was beaten until I was bleeding from my back. I was crying=20=20 every night.' At this point, they've totally embraced the program." A curious convergence is evident between the bleeding-heart social=20=20 reformers and the realpolitik cynics on the importance of reaching out=20= =20 to political Islam. "Islamism is here to stay," said Debat, the former=20= =20 French counter-terrorism official. "We have to start driving wedges"=20=20 in the MMA in Pakistan, he said, exploiting everything from the=20=20 reports of pederasty to aid programs. "The JUI is much more pragmatic=20=20 than people might think," he said. "Most nonviolent political Islamic=20=20 groups could be reliable partners." If the United States wants a different future for Pakistan, the=20=20 experts say that Washington is going to have to adopt a different=20=20 policy. Americans need to break themselves of the habit of relying on=20=20 one personable strongman -- Ferdinand Marcos in the Philippines, Boris=20= =20 Yeltsin in Russia, and now Pervez Musharraf in Pakistan -- and reach=20=20 out to people they may dislike. Real change comes slowly, by=20=20 persuading one person at a time. It does not come from counting on one=20= =20 person at the top. The coming Sunni-Shi'ite showdown By Jason Motlagh WASHINGTON - After indications that Saudi Arabia would be forced to=20=20 step into Iraq in the event of a US withdrawal to counter Iran-backed=20=20 Shi'ite militias, Saudi officials have been silent. But the message is=20= =20 clear, despite a haze of diplomatic intrigue in Washington: Arab Sunni=20= =20 governments are rallying to stymie Tehran's influence across the=20=20 Middle East in what is shaping up to be a showdown. US failures in Iraq have stretched the world's most formidable=20=20 military and soured public opinion both abroad and at home, as the=20=20 Iraq Study Group (ISG) report confirms. Observers say Iran now has the=20= =20 initiative in its campaign to establish itself as the anchor of a=20=20 "Shi'ite crescent" extending through Iraq, Syria and Lebanon to the=20=20 Mediterranean. These concerns are heightened by the possibility Iran=20=20 will develop nuclear weapons in the coming years. In anticipation of ISG recommendations for a US troop drawdown, Nawaf=20=20 Obaid, then managing director of the Saudi National Security=20=20 Assessment in Riyadh, wrote in a November 29 Washington Post op-ed=20=20 that if the US pulls out of Iraq, "one of the first consequences will=20=20 be massive Saudi intervention to stop Iranian-backed Shi'ite militias=20=20 from butchering Iraqi Sunnis". "To be sure, Saudi engagement in Iraq carries great risks - it could=20=20 spark a regional war," he noted. "So be it: the consequences of=20=20 inaction are far worse." Obaid, the Saudi government's senior strategic adviser at the time,=20=20 cited an array of Arab leaders from Egypt, Jordan and other Arab=20=20 Muslim countries that have lobbied Riyadh to protect the minority=20=20 Sunni community in Iraq and thwart Iran, whose Revolutionary Guard is=20=20 known to have supported Shi'ite militias with arms, funding and=20=20 advisers. The findings of the ISG report, released one week later, cemented the=20=20 Saudis' worst fears: US public opinion has consolidated against the=20=20 Iraq war, making a phased withdrawal almost certain to begin by 2008.=20=20 Yet at a time when solidarity within the Saudi government and among=20=20 its Sunni Arab allies is critical, there appears to have been a break=20=20 in the ranks. In his article, Obaid quoted Saudi Arabia's ambassador to the United=20=20 States, Prince Turki al-Faisal, who said in a speech last month that=20=20 "since America came into Iraq uninvited, it should not leave Iraq=20=20 uninvited". Turki subsequently fired Obaid from his post on the=20=20 op-ed's publication, before resigning and leaving Washington himself. According to Stratfor, a private intelligence agency, "deep divisions"=20= =20 exist between Prince Turki and King Abdullah over the best strategies=20=20 to protect Saudi interests in light of US involvement in Iraq.=20=20 Underpinning their differences are clan rivalries within the Saudi=20=20 political structure; Turki is said to be in line for the post of=20=20 foreign minister held by his ailing brother, Prince Saud al-Faisal. Former ambassador Prince Bandar is also said to be positioning himself=20= =20 for the foreign minister's post, and if King Abdullah were to choose=20=20 him over Turki, the al-Faisal clan - one of three top clans - would be=20= =20 ousted from the royal hierarchy. Regardless of how internal succession politics play out, there is=20=20 little doubt the resonant op-ed reflects official Saudi policy. Last=20=20 month, Prince Turki was left out of a snap meeting between King=20=20 Abdullah and US Vice President Dick Cheney in Riyadh in which the=20=20 monarch insisted that the consequences of a US drawdown would be far=20=20 worse than those of staying the course. The Saudis are also said to=20=20 have pushed hard for a meeting between US President George W Bush and=20=20 Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a moderate Sunni cleric with=20=20 close ties to the Saudi regime. That Saudi Arabia would actively support the same Sunni insurgents who=20= =20 have viciously fought and killed US forces based in Iraq is not=20=20 far-fetched. Sunni Muslims in the Arabian Peninsula have strong=20=20 historical and communal ties with Iraqi Sunnis currently threatened by=20= =20 Shi'ite militias and would not stand by idle were wholesale killing to=20= =20 ensue. Moreover, there is legitimate fear that a Shi'ite-dominated=20=20 Iraq under the influence of Iran would pose a serious threat to Saudi=20=20 Arabia and Kuwait. "The Saudis are wholly dependent on the United States for their=20=20 national security and rely on US troops to block Iran from advancing=20=20 beyond Iraq and into the oil-rich Saudi deserts," according to=20=20 Stratfor. "Without a buffer zone in Iraq, Riyadh's need for US troops=20=20 in Iraq soars." The Saudis have been a faithful ally in the Bush administration's "war=20= =20 on terror" and a vital source of oil, all of which will not be=20=20 forgotten as the administration recasts its Iraq strategy in the=20=20 coming weeks. Incoming Defense Secretary Robert Gates said at his=20=20 confirmation hearing that his chief worry if the US "leave[s] Iraq in=20=20 chaos" is that "a variety of regional powers will become involved in=20=20 Iraq", a pointed reference to Iran, "and we will have a regional=20=20 conflict on our hands". But since troop levels are bound to be reduced to some degree after the 2008 US presidential elections, Saudi Arabia is making=20=20 contingency plans. Obaid wrote that proxy war options "now include=20=20 providing Sunni military leaders (primarily ex-Ba'athist members of=20=20 the former Iraqi officer corps, who make up the backbone of the=20=20 insurgency) with the same types of assistance - funding, arms, and=20=20 logistical support - that Iran has been giving to Shi'ite armed groups=20= =20 for years". The Washington Post reported on December 12 that young=20=20 Saudis have already joined the Sunni insurgency as fighters, with=20=20 financial aid streaming in from other Saudi citizens. Additionally, Riyadh could raise its oil production to cut the price=20=20 in half on international markets, according to Obaid. This would slash=20= =20 Iranian oil revenues and Tehran's capacity to support Shi'ite militias=20= =20 operating in Iraq. In a calculated attempt to project solidarity and preparedness in the=20=20 face of Iranian saber-rattling, Arab states have said they will=20=20 consider starting a joint nuclear program "for peaceful purposes" -=20=20 echoing Iran's own suspect claim. The six-nation Gulf Cooperation=20=20 Council (GCC)- Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar,=20=20 Bahrain and Oman - announced the plan to "commission a study" on a=20=20 "common program in the area of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes"=20=20 on December 10, the day after Iran said it had begun installing 3,000=20=20 centrifuges in an expansion of its uranium-enrichment program. Israel=20=20 quietly embraced the GCC decision. It remains to be seen whether open cooperation will emerge between=20=20 Israel and Arab Sunni countries to confront a common enemy, but Riyadh=20= =20 was conspicuously quiet during Israel's heavy-handed campaign in=20=20 Lebanon to root out the Iran-backed Shi'ite Hezbollah militia. The=20=20 latest scene of hostilities is the Palestinian territories, where Iran=20= =20 sustains Islamic Hamas with suitcases packed with millions of dollars=20=20 in cash while the Saudis have reportedly promised rival President=20=20 Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement funding to pay salaries and gird=20=20 security forces. A series of tit-for-tat assassinations, culminated by last Friday's=20=20 attempt on Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, have Palestinian=20=20 factions sliding toward an all-out civil war that may be an opening=20=20 salvo of worse to come in the region. Jason Motlagh is deputy foreign editor at United Press International=20=20 in Washington, DC. He has reported freelance from Saharan Africa, Asia=20= =20 and the Caribbean for various US and European news media.
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION NAF NAF v. Hostmaster Hostmaster Case No. D2007-1175 1. The Parties 1.1 The Complainant is NAF NAF, of France, represented by Cabinet Lhermet La Bigne & Remy, France. 1.2 The Respondent is Hostmaster Hostmaster of Beaumaris, Victoria, of Australia. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar 2.1 The disputed domain name is <nafnafshop.com> (the “Domain Name”) and is currently registered with Moniker Online Services, LLC (the “Registrar”). 3. Procedural History The Original Complaint 3.1 The Complainant filed a complaint with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on August 7, 2007 (the “Original Complaint”). The Original Complaint was based on the Whois search results for the Domain Name at the time that showed that: (i) the registrant was an entity called Domain Park Limited of Level 2 Lotemau Centre, Vaea Street, Apia, Samoa, 0815 WS (“Domain Park Limited”) with email address [differet name]@trellian.com; and (ii) the registrar was PrivacyPost, Inc. 3.2 On August 10, 2007, the Center requested registrar verification from PrivacyPost, Inc. for the Domain Name. On August 14, 2007, PrivacyPost, Inc. responded confirming that Domain Park Limited was the registrant; PrivacyPost, Inc was the registrar; and, that the Domain Name had been locked. 3.3 Accordingly, the Center verified that the Original Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Policy”), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Rules”), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Supplemental Rules”) and in accordance with the Rules, formally notified Domain Park Limited of the Complaint. Proceedings commenced on August 20, 2007 (the “Original Proceedings”). 3.4 Domain Park Limited did not submit any response by the September 9, 2007 due date. Accordingly, the Center notified Domain Park Limited’s default on September 10, 2007. Change of Registrant and Registrar after commencement of the Original Proceedings 3.5 The Center checked the public WhoIs details for the Domain Name on September 11, 2007. The results showed that the registrar had changed from PrivacyPost, Inc to Moniker Online Services, LLC and that the registrant had changed from Domain Park Limited to an entity called “Hostmaster Hostmaster” of 6-8 East Concourse, Beaumaris, Victoria 3193, Australia. 3.6 In subsequent extensive correspondence between the Center, PrivacyPost, Inc. and Moniker Online Services, LLC , the Center attempted to ascertain if and how the Domain Name could have been transferred after the commencement of proceedings (given that such a transfer would be prima facie contrary to paragraph 8(a) of the Policy). The Center also involved ICANN in the process. As a result of its efforts the Center was satisfied that the registrar had indeed been changed to Moniker Online Services, LLC.; the registrant to Registrant [276571] Hostmaster Hostmaster; and that this transfer had occurred on August 31, 2007 i.e. after proceedings had commenced. The Center initially requested that the transfer be nullified and the original registration details be restored. However, for whatever reason, this was not done by the Registrar or Domain Park Limited. Therefore, the Center invited the Complainant to re-issue its complaint against the new registrant. The Current Proceedings 3.7 On January 10, 2008 the Complainant duly reissued its complaint (the “Complaint”). On January 15, 2008 the Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Policy, the Rules and the Supplemental Rules. 3.8 In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified Hostmaster Hostmaster, the Respondent, of the Complaint. Additionally, the Center sent notice of the Complaint to Domain Park Limited. The current proceedings commenced on January 15, 2008. 3.9 In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was February 4, 2008. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on February 6, 2008.. 4. Factual Background 4.1 The Complainant is the French fashion Company, NAF NAF, which was launched in 1973. The NAF NAF brand is exploited both directly by the Complainant and through licences. In 2006, over 13 million garments were sold under the NAF NAF name in over 50 countries and its turnover amounted to €240 million. 4.2 The Complainant has registered a large number of trade marks that either comprise or incorporate the NAF NAF name. These include four French, one Japanese and various International trade mark registrations (designating in excess of 30 countries). 4.3 The Complainant is also the owner of various domain names that incorporate the words “NAF NAF”, including <naf-naf.com>, <nafnafstore.com>, and <nafnaf.org>. 4.4 The Domain Name was registered on November 10, 2006. Since as far back as January 2007 (if not earlier) the page displayed from the domain name has borne the classic hallmarks of having been generated by a domain name parking service. The webpage originally displayed click-through links predominantly on a female fashion theme under the words “NAF NAF” in a prominent, bold font. It is also clear from references on the page that the parking service in question was provided by (“Sedo”). The webpage also contained a statement that the domain name might be for sale by its owner. 4.5 On April 11, 2007 the Complainant sent a cease and desist letter to Domain Park Limited (the then registrant), requiring the transfer of the Domain Name. No one responded to that letter. 4.6 From time to time thereafter the nature of the links has changed. For example, at one point the links displayed on the webpage changed to ones of a more adult theme, including links to adult “chat”, dating and lingerie web-sites. At some point the statement that the Domain Name was for sale, and the reference to Sedo was removed. As at the date of the decision a domain name parking page continues to operate from the Domain Name but the links displayed are more of a general retail nature (with references to “Best Deals” “Shopping Cart” and “Retail”). 5. Outstanding Procedural Matters 5.1 Before addressing the substance of the Complaint it is necessary to briefly comment on the transfer of the Domain Name that took place subsequent to the commencement of proceedings pursuant to the Original Complaint. Such transfer appears to have been in breach of paragraph 8(a) of the Rules. This is a serious matter. If the Policy is to be effective it is necessary that registrars fully co-operate in its implementation. For a Registrar to allow a breach of paragraph 8(a) of the Rules to take place is arguably a breach of its Registrar Accreditation Agreement with ICANN. In the circumstances, the Center (or any other relevant Provider) and parties to proceedings are at the very least entitled to expect that if a breach of paragraph 8(a) has taken place, that the relevant registrars rapidly establish how this happened and fully co-operate with the Center in resolving the matter. 5.2 There was a marked failure on the part of the relevant registrars and, in particular, PrivacyPost, Inc, to do this in this case. Indeed, at times the correspondence between the Center and PrivacyPost, Inc verged on the surreal. For example, when the Center sent an email to PrivacyPost, Inc on December 17, 2007 in relation to the matter, the Center received the following apparently pro forma response from PrivacyPost, Inc: “Hi there If you believe you have reason to dispute the ownership of a domain, you will need to go through the proper procedures to do so. Please see these links for more information on the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. If you have any further questions about domain disputes, please contact [email protected]” 5.3 In the circumstances, it is not surprising that by January 2008 the Center reached the conclusion that the most practical way of dealing with this matter was to ask the Complainant to resubmit its Complaint. However, the fact is that it not ought to have had to do so. Essentially the effective commencement of proceedings in this case was delayed by approximately 5 months. If this sort of activity is allowed to occur unchecked, it risks bringing the Policy procedure into disrepute. The Panel notes that in this case the Center sought the involvement and assistance of ICANN. It is to be hoped that ICANN take a continuing active interest in this matter, if only to ensure that what occurred in this case is not repeated. 6. Parties’ Contentions A. Complainant Identical or Confusingly Similar 6.1 The Complainant submits that the NAF NAF fashion brand is “one of the most worldwide known, creative and successful ready-to-wear fashion brands”. In support of this the Complainant has submitted various documents, which show the history and development of the NAF NAF company and provide some examples of its advertising campaigns and editorials in international publications. 6.2 In addition to the registered trade marks already described, the Complainant submits that “Naf Naf” is also its trade name protected in the member states of the Paris Union (by Article 8 of the Paris Convention) and all members of the World Trade Organization (by Article 2 of the TRIPs Agreement). 6.3 The Complainant claims that the Domain Name is confusingly similar to its NAF NAF trade mark and name. In particular the Complainant submits that the “Domain name consists of the letters “nafnaf”, which are identical to the trademark NAF NAF… accompanied by a non-distinctive suffix, ‘shop’” and further contends that the Domain Name “contains the Complainant’s mark in its entirety and the addition of ‘shop’ thereto is not sufficient to exclude the confusing similarity between the Domain Name and the Complainant’s trademark.” 6.4 The Complainant cites a number of previous decisions of WIPO UDRP panels under the Policy, which, according to the Complainant, have held that “when a domain name wholly incorporates a complainant’s registered mark, that is sufficient to establish confusing similarity for purposes of the Policy”, including Oki Data Americas, Inc. v. ASD, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2001-0903; Magnum Piering, Inc. v. Triple S. Auto Parts d/b/a Kung Fu Yea Sr., WIPO Case No. D2000-1525; and Six Continents Hotels, Inc. v. Domain Park Limited, WIPO Case No. D2007-0313. The Complainant also asserts that this “is particularly true when the registered mark is entitled to a high level of protection due to its fame and notoriety, as is the case of the NAF NAF mark”. 6.5 The Complainant submits further that the addition of the word “shop” would mislead “Internet users and consumers into believing that the domain name and web-site at issue have a connection with or authorization from the Complainant” and that “the word ‘shop’ may give the impression that reflects the official Internet sales department of the Complainant”. In support of this argument the Complainant cites the decision by the panel in the case of Audi AG v. Jun Suk Min, WIPO Case No. D2007-0200. No Rights or Legitimate Interests 6.6 The Complainant’s contentions in this respect are brief and therefore, have been re-produced in full below: “(a) the Complainant never assigned, granted, licensed, sold, transferred or in any way authorized the Respondent to register or use the NAF NAF mark; (b) the Respondent has not used or made any preparations to use the disputed domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services; (c) it is unlikely that the Respondent is commonly known by the NAF NAF mark; and (d) the Respondent is not making a legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the disputed domain name. In fact, the Respondent is using the disputed domain name to re-direct Internet users to web-sites displaying links to various third-party web-sites offering goods and services related to the Complainant’s business, including some web-sites in direct competition with the Complainant. It can even be inferred that the Respondent is benefiting commercially from these links through the accrual of click-through fees…”. Registered and Used in Bad Faith 6.7 The Complainant alleges that the Respondent has registered and used the Domain Name in bad faith in accordance with circumstances set out in paragraphs 4(b)(i), (iii) and (iv) of the Rules. 6.8 In particular bad faith is said to be demonstrated by the following: (i) The fact that the Domain Name was transferred during the pendency of the Original Proceedings and it seems to be alleged that this transfer was a sham. Specifically one of the emails associated with the original registration was [different name]@trellian.com, and the current contact email for the Respondent is [different name]@trellian.com. The similarity between these contact emails is said to suggest that there is a connection between the successive registrants of the Domain Name, and that the transfer was made for the purpose of avoiding the UDRP proceeding. The Complainant further contends that the web-site operating at the Domain Name has not changed since the Domain Name was transferred and the Domain Name is “still offered for sale on the same website”. The Complainant provides copies of print out from various websites (including those of Sedo) in support of these contentions. (ii) Domain Park Limited has been a respondent in a number of proceedings including Citizens Financial Group, Inc. v. Domain Park Limited NAF Case No, FA0705000975307, Commodities LLV v. Domain Park Limited, NAF Case No, FA0705000982996; and Six Continents Hotels, Inc v Domain Park Limited, WIPO Case No. D2007-0313. In all these cases Domain Park Limited was found to have registered domain names in bad faith. (iii) The Respondent has “approximated the Complainant’s famous NAF NAF trademark”. Furthermore, the Complainant alleges that the Respondent had knowledge of the “existence or the reputation of the NAF NAF mark […] evidenced by the fact that some of the links on the Internet page under the [Domain Name] refer directly to the Complainant’s mark, NAF NAF”. (iv) The offering for sale of the Domain Name on the web-site “”. This is said to constitute bad faith pursuant to paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Policy. (v) The use made by the Respondent of the Domain Name is said to be in order “to divert Internet users to web-sites that display links to related third-party web-sites, including various web-sites in direct competition with [the] Complainant’s business”. The Complainant alleges that the objective of this was to seek to disrupt the Complainant’s business, which thus constitutes bad faith pursuant to paragraph 4(b)(iii) of the Policy; and (vi) The Complainant alleges that the Respondent is intentionally using the Domain Name “to earn click-through fees for diverting customers to various third-party web-sites. Therefore, [the] Respondent is profiting form the likelihood that consumers will confuse the [Domain Name] with [the] Complainant’s mark to attract them for commercial gain to this web-site” and that this constitutes bad faith pursuant to paragraph 4(b)(iv) of the Policy. B. Respondent 6.9 The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant’s contentions. 7. Discussion and Findings 7.1 The Panel has reviewed the Complaint together with its annexes and, in the light of this material, the Panel finds as set out below. 7.2 The Panel does not find that there are any exceptional circumstances within paragraph 5(e) of the Rules so as to prevent this Panel from-from as it considers appropriate”. A. Identical or Confusingly Similar 7.5 It is clear that the Complainant is the proprietor of a portfolio of registered trade marks comprising the words “NAF NAF” and/or related words and designs. Somewhat unhelpfully, the Complainant does not provide any underlying documentary evidence in respect of these marks. However, the Complainant in the body of its Complaint expressly cites five International trade mark registrations (numbers 479460, 484345, 498272, 521081, and 535641). The Panel has undertaken its own search of WIPO’s publicly available Madrid Express on-line trade mark database with respect to these five marks, and has confirmed that these five marks are registered in the name of “Naf Naf” and take the following form: 7.6 Two of these registrations (i.e. no.s 498272 and 535641) are simple word marks. When one disregards the “.com” TLD suffix, the only difference between the Domain Name and these two marks is the addition of the ordinary word “shop”. The Panel accepts that the addition of the word “shop” does not prevent the Domain Name from being confusingly similar to the Complainant’s mark. A shop is merely a location (whether online or in the real world) in respect of goods of the sort dealt in by the Complainant are sold. Therefore the Panel has little difficulty in finding that the Complainant has made out paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy. 7.7 In the circumstances, it is not necessary to consider further the Complainant’s submissions based upon its other trade marks or its allegations that it has additional rights stemming from the Paris Convention and TRIPS. B. Rights or Legitimate Interests 7.8 The Complainant contends and the Panel accepts, that the Respondent has not been authorised to use the trade mark “NAF NAF” by the Complainant and that the Respondent is not known by the name. web-site operating from the Domain Name has borne the hallmarks of being generated by a domain name “parking service”. 7.9 Whilst there is nothing per se illegitimate in the use of a domain parking service, it is quite different when a domain name is chosen on the basis of the similarity to a name in which a complainant has an interest, in the expectation that internet users searching for products or services related to the complainant will instead be drawn to the domain name parking page. Such registration and use does not provide the registrant with a right or legitimate interest in the domain name (see, for example, the decision of three person panel in Express Scripts, Inc. v Windgather Investments Ltd., WIPO Case No. D2007-0267). 7.10 that this is indeed the case. In the circumstances, the Panel concludes that the Respondent has no right or legitimate interest in the Domain Name and that the Complainant has made out the requirements of paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy. C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith 7.11 The Panel has little hesitation in this case in concluding that the original registrant of the Domain Name was aware of the Complainant’s business and use of the NAF NAF name at the time that the Domain Name was transferred to it. 7.12 The Panel accepts that NAF NAF is a brand of considerable repute and that at least by the time that the Domain Name was registered it had become known in many countries around the world. 7.13 Further, the Panel accepts (in the absence of any evidence to the contrary) that the words NAF NAF are exclusively referable to the Complainant’s business and the Domain Name <nafnafshop.com> has no sensible meaning other than as the word NAF NAF amalgamated with the ordinary English word “shop”. It is, therefore, highly likely that the registrant chose this particular domain name with the Complainant’s business in mind. 7.14 Whilst it is not a key factor in this case, this conclusion is also reinforced by the links to NAF NAF related products that initially appeared on the domain name parking page operating from the Domain Name. The reason why absent any evidence to the contrary a Panel can usually assume that the owner of a domain name has some control and influence over the links displayed on a domain name parking page (even if those links are automatically produced by the domain name service provider) was set out in greater detail by this Panel in Owens Corning v. NA, WIPO Case No. D2007-1143 and Shaw Industries Group Inc. v. Adminstrator, Domain, WIPO Case No. D2007-0583. 7.15 It is also now well known that when a domain name registrant takes advantage of a domain name parking service it will take a share of the click through revenue generated from the pages generated by that service (again for a more detailed description of how these services work see the Panel’s decision in Owens Corning v. NA WIPO Case No. D2007-1143). 7.16 In the circumstances, the Panel draws the inevitable inference in this case (and in the absence of contentions from the Respondent to the contrary) that the Domain Name was chosen with this domain name parking use in mind and that there was an intention on the part of the registrant to capitalize on the Complainant’s reputation in the NAF NAF brand in the hope and expectation that Internet users searching for information related to the Complainant would be directed to the Respondent’s site. 7.17 Such registration and use is in bad faith and falls within the scope of paragraph 4(b)(iv) of the Policy. This states that the following shall be evidence of bad faith registration and use: “by using the domain name the, .18 There is no need to go any further in this case, but further factors that point to registration and use in bad faith by the original registrant include the fact that the Domain Name was initially offered for sale. Paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Policy also gives as another example of circumstances evidencing.” 7.19 Here the nature of the Domain Name is such that it seems most likely that any entity interested in buying it would be either the Complainant (or one of its licensees) or it competitors, and the registrant must have known this at the time of registration. The Panel doubts that it was with such a sale “primarily” in mind that the Domain Name was registered, but it does not matter. Any value of the Domain Name primarily lies in its incorporation of the Complainant’s mark. This is therefore yet further evidence of the fact that the Domain Name was registered with the intention of taking advantage of the reputation that the Complainant had built up in that mark. 7.20 Of course, the above comments apply to the original registrant of the Domain Name and there is the complication in this case that the Domain Name at first sight appears to be transferred to another party. However, the Panel does not think that this matters. The reasons for this are as follows: (i) For the reasons already described above it would appear that this transfer was contrary to paragraph 8(a) of the Policy. In the circumstances, the Panel thinks that it is legitimate to ignore this transfer for the purpose of these proceedings (even though the parties have commenced fresh proceedings under the Policy that are separate from the Original proceedings). (ii) The Panel accepts, in the absence of any evidence from the Respondent, the Complainant’s contention that the current owner of the Domain Name is essentially the same person or entity as was behind the original registration. Factors that support that conclusion include: (a) The fact that the webpage operating from the Domain Name did not change as at the date of transfer; (b) The similarity in email addresses provided for the previous and current registrants as identified by the Complainant; (c) The fact that the current registration (and possibly the original registration) does not seem to disclose the true identity of the registrant. It appears instead to be a pseudonym for the true Respondent provided by a “domain name privacy service”; and (d) The timing of the transfer. It seems implausible that any genuine purchaser would have been interested in purchasing a domain name that was subject to ongoing proceedings. (iii) Even if the current registrant is a different person or entity, its registration and use is independently in bad faith. The Domain Name has continued to be used in connection with a domain name parking service and also appears for at least a while to have been still offered for sale through Sedo. Accordingly, the points already made earlier on in this decision1 regarding the knowledge by the original registrant of the Complainant’s use of the “NAF NAF” name and that registrant’s motives for registration, apply as much to the new registrant as the old. 7.21 In the circumstances, the Panel concludes that the Domain Name has been both registered and used in bad faith and that Complainant has made out the requirements of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy. 8. Decision For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the domain name, <nafnafshop.com> be transferred to the Complainant. Matthew S. Harris Sole Panelist Date: February 28, 2008 1 With perhaps the exception of the issue of the nature of the links displayed discussed at paragraph 7.14 above.
How would it make you feel if you knew that someone was praying for you every single day? What difference would it make to your life? Read on… as I am going to suggest a wonderful way for there to be someone on this earth who will pray for you every single day of your life! A Truth to Remember Before I proceed, I just have to stop and remind you of one incredible truth. If you belong to the Father; if your soul has been saved, and His Spirit lives within you, then you can rest assured that you are being prayed for 24/7! Romans 8:26-27 and Hebrews 7:25 assures you of that. What a relief, comfort, and joy to grasp this reality! Well, here’s an idea… It’s simple! Ask 7 people in your life to pray for you Assign each person a day of the week And there you have it – Full prayer coverage 365 days a year! Not a bad deal is it? Is this a One Way Street? There is not only a lot in this for you. There are precious advantages in it for your praying friends too! By praying for you regularly, your friend/family member will: - Directly be fulfilling the command given in Galations 6:2, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” - Be motivated to have prayer time – Having someone to pray for, inevitably leads to other people and needs to bring before the Lord. - Receive prayer too! As you thank God for your friend in your prayers, they will have the blessing of your supplications too (1 Thessalonians 1:2) - Tick 5 “one another” boxes stated in 1 Thessalonians alone! Your friend’s prayers will be beautifully encompassed in covering their bases of increasing their love for others (1 Thessalonians 1:3, 3:12, 4:9), encouraging others and building them up (1 Thessalonians 5:11), and seeking to do good to others (1 Thessalonian 5:15), You see, this is a win/win situation. “No man can do me a truer kindness in this world than to pray for me.”- Charles Spurgeon (click to tweet that) And you, my dear friend, will be reaping the eternal benefits of the prayers of the saints! Make it a Blessing Here are some practical tips to foster the prayer support with those who lovingly agree to pray for you: - Send a weekly or monthly update with your prayer needs, life struggles, and spiritual challenges. You can of course be as personal and detailed as you feel at liberty to be, however, keep in mind that the more specific you are, the more specifically your prayer partner will be able to pray for you. - Encourage your prayer partners regularly with answers to their prayers that you experience in your life! And you will be blessed to have the Lord answer their prayers. - Send your prayer partners a note, card, or even an email once in a while to sincerely thank them for having the heart, taking the time, and caring enough to pray for you. - Offer to pray for your prayer partners too! When you get to talk with them, or as they respond to your prayer request updates by email, seize the opportunity to take a genuine interest in their lives, and ask them how you can be praying for them. This is a guaranteed way of growing in your relationship with your sister, and forming a special bond that may deepen your friendship for years to come. Word of warning to you, my friend This exercise will require you to humble yourself. Your prayer partners are not going to want to receive the likes of the following prayer requests: - Please pray for my neighbour’s dying cat. - Please pray for my husband to change in every area . - Please pray for world peace. Uh uh!!! We’re talking personal, specific, and humble-myself requests, for example: - I have been struggling with vegging in front of the TV for hours each day. Please pray that God would grant me the discipline to invest my time wisely in His Word, and in the works that He has prepared in advance for me to walk in (Ephesian 2:10). - I am so confused about my future. I really need God to develop the fruit of patience in me while I wait on Him to reveal whether He would like me to pursue Step A or Step B as my next step. - I have been lashing out at my children recently, and feel irritability and anger surging inside my heart. Please pray that I would be self-controlled, and that God would grant me the humility to apologize to my children for the way I have been behaving towards them. We’re talking humility… Try it – it’s freeing!!! (tweet!) So… do you believe this idea would work in your own life? What would keep you from approaching 7 people and getting this undertaking on the road? A good place to start would be by sending this post to some friends, or sharing the post on Twitter or Facebook. Maybe you’ll even get some volunteers to pray for you instantly! What a great idea! Now I’ll need to find 7 people…7 prayer warriors . Thanks! I’m sure there will be prayer warriors waiting in long lines to get to pray for you, my sister! God bless you… Let me know how it goes… I adore this idea! I have just tweeted asking for girls to join me in this. That’s great, Ruth! I’m sure there will be some gals jumping at the opportunity to serve you in this way! Love your enthusiasm! God bless you precious sis! I’ve got a group of people that we mutually pray for one another. We live around the country. It’s encouraging. This is a great idea. Praying for others does build humility. Thanks for the challenge. That’s wonderful to hear, Brenda! Praying has no geographical boundaries, so it’s wonderful to be able to connect with others by praying for them, and serving them in that way! God bless you and thank you for your excellent comments on the Women Abiding blog! Appreciate your involvement in this community so much… This is a great idea, but I am not sure I feel comfortable asking people to do that.. Off topic – how do you get the verses to show up as “hoverable links”? Hi Rachel. I understand regarding your hesitation to ask folks to pray for you. But don’t forget, it is more blessed to give than to receive, and many people would most likely feel very honoured to be able to bless you by praying for you. Regarding the links, it’s a WordPress plugin, but you may be able to have it work on Blogger too. Here is their website: God bless you! Found you through “Inspire Me Monday”. I LOVE this idea!! I do have lovely people who pray for me and I can definitely feel the prayers of others on my behalf. I similarly pray for others, but usually in times of crisis. I am going to pray about who to approach about this…and offer to be each others “prayer partners”. I would love to have you visit my blog and read my story of trials and blessings through my “thorn in my side”, temporal lobe epilepsy. I have a positive, God-given outlook. I blog about my faith, my family and how much fun I have along the way, even though I am battling this life changing illness. Look forward to connecting with you! ~joy! Vicky sleeping in an unmade bed Thank you so much, Vicky! I did go to your website and spent a long time browsing and reading. What a beautiful testimony and attitude you have, in the midst of your trials. A true shining example to us all! May the Lord continue to work in your life, and draw you and your precious family closer to Himself day after day! God bless you my sweet sister… Good idea. I personally think I’d be too scatterbrained to remember to pray each Tuesday, for example. I’d myself praying on Wednesday half the weeks and them there would be that horrid week I look at the calendar and go “it’s Friday”. I need the intensity of something like the Bible in 90 days to forge through my weakness with consistency. Thanks for linking up with More than this Monday! I understand, Pamela. I guess whoever you will be praying for would be very happy to just get a general “I’ll be praying for you during the week” kinda commitment, and of course among those folks that you ask, there will be those who will remember to pray for you on the days that they committed to. This isn’t meant to be a set in stone formula. The main thing is that we are praying for one another, and the blessing and encouragement that that brings… Thanks for your comment! This is an awesome idea, so well explained! Not to get past that vulnerability thing… Thanks so much for your encouragement, Laura! May the Lord help us all to be vulnerable to those whom He brings along our path. God bless you, my sister! It is amazing to be reminded that Jesus prays for us 24/7 as he said he would do. Always is, to me too… So humbling and astounding! xoxo I pray as God places people on my heart. My family of course and others too. I am not sure I can ask someone to pray for me, I just know some do anyway. That’s great, Nancy. This idea should be no means be a “law.” I’m sure it is very encouraging to know that there are already folks praying for you simply because they love and care for you. God bless you today and always! I can think of two friends right off the bat that I would like to include in my prayer group. Both are from my church. One moved away last November with her family to Michigan. The other will be moving in a couple of weeks with her family to the other side of the state. We used to do play dates for the kids and crafting nights for us moms. The rest may be a stretch for my introverted personality, but I know that with God, all things are possible! Following from Matrimonial Monday. Thanks for sharing, LuAnn. What you could do is possibly have those friends with whom you feel comfortable pray for you a couple of times each per week, and possibly fill up other days with family members. God has given you your personality, and I pray that He will bring people along your path that would be overjoyed to find that you are seeking prayer partners…Thanks for sharing… I’ve also found that praying for people like this generates a real concern and love for them in our heart, so it really enhances friendships. I have found that too, Loren. Prayer definitely moves people together, partly because we share more personal aspects of our lives with those who pray for us, knowing that they will take those to the Lord in prayer. Thank you for your comment! I’ve done things similar to this with friends over the years. Prayer CHANGES lives! Thanks so much for sharing this excellent challenge!! Totally agree, Kate! Really appreciate you stopping by. I think if we truly realised how amazingly the Lord answers every prayer, we would all pray alot more! Blessings! I love the power of prayer Amazing, isn’t it, Susan! It’s so incredible, and we will only comprehend the full extent of it when we are in Heaven with our Lord, I’m sure. God bless you! An older woman had my name on a post-it on her bathroom mirror – she prayed for me without me asking. She sent went home to be with the Lord – and her daughter wanted me to come by – she had a mirror full of post-its. A loving heart reaches out to pray – I’m learning to do that. I now have post-its on my bathroom mirror:) What a beautiful story! Thank you so much for sharing. I do believe that we will only know once we get to heaven all the prayers that were offered up on our behalf, and it will be so wonderful to realize that there were faithful ones who helped us walk on this earth in this way. God bless you and thank you again for sharing… Thank you Tahila. This was a real blessing!! I wrote the Bible references down, so good!! I will pray for you every day!! Awwww… Thank you, Judith! You are such a wonderful friend that I am growing to love and care for deeply. What a blessing the internet is (at times )… Love your thoughts for praying for others & having them pray for us! Oh how ever more as the day approached, do we need intercessors, people willing to take the time and lift each others hearts up to God. UNITED in Him, Jen Absolutely, Jen! We need each other, and definitely more so, as you wisely stated, as the darkness gets darker, and as The day approaches! May our Lord find us faithful in this area, and lifting each other up before Him… Love it when you stop by! This is a wonderful idea. So true and so simple. Why haven’t I thought of it. I loved this. I need to find me some prayer warriors. This really was great. Thank you for posting it. Have a wonderful week, Sherry Thanks, Sherry! I’m so glad that you liked the idea, and I pray a blessing to many. Thank you so much for stopping by! Thank you for entering again at “Tell Me a Story.” This is a unique idea to have others pray for you and you for them. I am happy that Jesus is on the throne praying for us all that our faith fail NOT. Amen! Yes, we are never without prayer, which is truly a joy and a comfort! God bless you… This is such a wonderful idea! I’m going to start praying to see who I should ask. Thank you. Thanks for linking up at Family Fun Friday at Please stop by this Friday to see if your post was featured. Best Wishes, Monica Blessings in your search for faithful prayer partners, Monica… Thanks for stopping by and taking these words to heart.. What a great post! – So True Thanks for sharing! I needed this. Great to hear. May God bless you richly, Trinity! Hi There, I am in a place in my life where i am happy for any prayer! And the thing is… I don’t “feel” any different, but I KNOW in the heavenlies, God is working things for my good. His word says so. Prayer is awesome to receive, but it is also a huge blessing to give! Great post, great reminder of the responsibilities that come with praying. Thanks for linking up and I look forward to seeing you there again next week God bless Tracy Thank you for sharing so openly and honestly, Tracy. I don’t know of one person on the earth who doesn’t at one stage of their lives or another need prayer more desperately than at other times. We need each other, and especially to pray for one another on a regular basis, not to mention during times of drought and heartache in our lives… So much appreciate you sharing… xoxox What a wonderful gift and commitment that would be. I’m imagining getting a year’s worth of prayer coverage for Christmas! From 7 friends together. Now THAT would make a fantastic gift (a bit hard to wrap though ) But one definitely worth working on… Loved your comment, Helene. Thanks so much! I have a list of people *I* pray for daily, and I can tell you it’s changed *my* life! I have one very dear friend who prays for me and my family daily, and she’s the first person I call with a prayer request – such a blessing! How wonderful to hear this, Mary. It really affirms the idea I’ve presented in this post, and encourages me to be faithful in praying for others… God bless you! Lovely idea. There was a time when I was more organized in my prayer life, lifting up a different close friend and family member each day of the week. Good reminder to consider that again. Also, something that greatly ministers to me is when a friend stops right in the middle of conversation to lift a concern up to God for me. I want to do that more often as well. Absolutely, Darcy! The beauty of prayer is that it can be done anywhere, any time! Praise God that He is always available, attentive, and loving! Blessings to you, and thank you so much for stopping by womenabiding.com. Really appreciate that!! I love this idea. Prayer is so important and we could definitely use more of it – both being the recipient and the giver. Thanks for sharing this with Desire to Inspire at A Royal Daughter. Can never have too much prayer! And reciprocating the blessing is always welcome… Although I guess the Bible says it’s more blessed to give than to receive… so praying for others would probably be even MORE blessed than being prayed for! Blessings to you… I think this is a wonderful idea! I like the idea of being covered in prayer all year round Thanks! So do I!!! Talk about a life-changing move in the right direction, huh?! Thanks for your comment, Sarah! This is excellent! This would be a great project of a women’s ministry group. THANKS! Absolutely! What a cool idea, Kathleen. There are probably umpteen ways in which to implement this prayer-project… God bless you! Hi Tehila! So glad you dropped by and linked up! I love this post and your blog! Christians must realize that we are to follow Christ’s example of having a servant’s heart! Thank you for reminding us of this most important lesson! Looking forward to reading more from you! Have a blessed week! Michell @Prowess and Pearls Thanks Michell! What a blessing you are, and appreciate your words of wisdom! God bless you my sister! What a fantastic idea!!! Visiting from Doing You Well link up!!! Thanks Chris! God bless you… Thanks for stopping by… Love this plan for prayer! I will be applying this in a few areas of ministry as well. Love it! Sounds great, Heather! Keep up the great work for our Lord! Tehila, I couldn’t NOT click on your link at Faith Barista, with such an awesome title. Then I came over here and saw the title of your blog–equally awesome:) I enjoyed reading this post. Such great specific ideas. Thank you! Mandy! You brought such a huge smile to my face with this comment!!! What a hunny you are! God bless you sis! well said, sweet sister. Prayer is so vital. Great ideas on how to have accountability. Keep up the God work. Thank you so much for your encouragement, Lori. Accountability is a great way to summarise this post! Appreciate your insight! You make an excellent point about honesty and humility in our requests for prayer—for prayer that goes deeper than the superficial. But just because of this openness, I can understand Rachel’s reluctance. I have transparently shared the kinds of things you mention with certain people only to have them used against me later, and in twisted form. If this happens with people you think you know and feel safe with, it can certainly make it hard to entrust such “secrets” to people you know even less well. A close and trustworthy prayer partner friend is indeed a beautiful blessing! This makes me aware of my need to BE one! Sylvia, I am so sorry about your hurtful experience. And of course you are right. We do need to be wise and cautious about who we open up to. May the Lord grant us all much discernment and guidance as we seek those with whom to share our lives… Amen! This is a great post! I have three very special ladies in my life right now who regularly pray for me (and vice versa!). It has been the biggest blessing in my life over the past number of months. I know they would say the same thing. We have seen repeatedly how faithful our God is to answer prayer. Thanks for sharing this Hey Rachael! I really appreciate you sharing your experience of having prayer partners and how the Lord uses it in the lives of His saints! God bless you… you are an example to us all… what a neat idea! I’m so glad you shared it with me today on my FB page!! <3 Thanks Paula! Blessings and know that you are always so welcome here… Prayer definitely changes things. Thank you for sharing your good ideas. Blessings, Charlotte Thanks for stopping by, Charlotte! God bless you my dear sister… This is such an encouraging post! I’m so glad you linked it up to Playdates with God this week. Looking for my prayer warriors now. Such good words. Thanks Laura! Prayer warriors are indeed a great blessing and encouragement in life! Blessings to you… Hi, I am following you on Scripture and a Snapshot. Great advice on prayer partners. I am in 3 groups who pray for each other. It is a wonderful experience. I also run a group blog called Under the Cover of Prayer. Blessings to you this day, Janis Thank you for sharing, Janis! How wonderful that you are already privileged enough to enjoy and blessed by this group of prayer. May God continue to enrich and use you all in each other’s lives! Blessings to you… What a great idea that was beautifully written. I would love for you to come share these on my weekly link up that just went live for the week. Thanks so much for your encouragement! God bless you… Such a great reminder to plug into prayer with others.Thanks for linking up at Family Fun Friday! Sincerely, Monica It is great idea. Have a great day. Nan Thanks, Nan! God bless you… Hi Tehila, Wonderfully encouraging post! I am passionate about prayer. I will be sharing your post. Thanks for linking up at Scattering the Stones. Thanks so much, Anita! I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone say that they are “passionate about prayer” and it really blessed my heart that you shared that! God bless you my sister… Beautiful. I wish I was at a point to humble myself, but I struggle with it because of my past. Thank you for reminding me of my need. We don’t have to bare all to everyone. We can open up to those who have earned our trust, and who we know will keep what we tell them to themselves, and lift our needs before the Lord. May God continue to bless and heal you for your wounds, dear April. I also love this idea! My struggle will be finding 7 prayer warriors. I wonder if I would be good at being one. (thanks for making me think on that one) I have to say though, my favorite part of this post was the title, Warning: Don’t Read if Your Life is Perfect! In a world of facebook and twitter status updates that make you feel like you must be doing something wrong because you have not “arrived” even your title was refreshing. I am SO far from perfect, I felt right at home here. Thanks for this post and for linking up with me at What He’s Done Wednesday! Thanks so much, Sarah. The titles of my post sometimes take me as long as writing the writing of it to think of! Glad you felt at home. I’ve given up pretenses of a perfect life a long time ago, and only dwell with those who can be real! God bless you my dear sister! These are some really great ideas, and I love how you are telling people to be specific, because it does help others to know how to pray for them. I also laughed out loud when you put the “pray for my husband to change” one out there, because I’ve heard that one before too, lol! Yes, some husbands need to change, but oftentimes He changes the wife instead while He continues to work in the husband’s life as well! This is a great exercise in prayer! Mountains have been moved by a prayer! -Karen This is great…wonderful…uplifting! On top of that, I love the way you wrote it out kind of like an advertisement. Now, to humble myself… Ha! Blessings to you and thanks for linking up! Mrs. Sarah Coller Isn’t it odd that the greatest weapon we have to fight the enemy is so simple? But, as you said, it is mighty and takes courage to be honest. Blessings upon you and this idea for those who read it! Visiting from The Grand Social. The power of prayer is a wonderful thing. This is a great idea. That was a wonderful point to bring up! Thanks for the post. Terrific post. I always learn something interesting on different blogs every day of the week. Thanks for sharing! I truly believe in the power of prayer! The good Lord hears and answers our prayers. What a blessing to have in our lives. Thanks for sharing with Share Your Cup. hugs, Jann
#3 – Successful Case Management Beyond Classical Homeopathy This section will introduce a few examples of how cases can be successfully managed with or without the use of classical homeopathy or when the last is greatly enhanced with removal of blocks and obstacles. In the author’s practice, these examples count in hundreds. The next three cases were chosen based on their close association as pathological entities. In many (100%) of the cases, long-term follow-up has proven that this diagnostic-therapeutic system does not produce suppression or shifting of pathologies. Years of follow-up proved just the opposite: these patients, with the help of periodic maintenance, have remained in superior health and avoided progression to degenerative diseases. These results are clearly superior to classical homeopathy alone or any other specialty. Certainly, patients’ cooperation is very important but this cooperation in the majority can be gained and sustained only when the assessment of the roots of their problems is accurate and convincing, while the results that follow are positive and rewarding. A case of severe Fibromyalgia A man in his seventies presented with severe fibromyalgia and excruciating musculoskeletal pains for over a year. In spite of taking anti-inflammatory agents prescribed by his rheumatologists, he was unable to sleep, move or sit because of the pain. Alternative therapies did not help. Other debilitating complaint included severe fatigue. General appearance in the office: unable to get off a chair or walk on his own due to the agony of pain. Bio-resonance testing: several toxicological and infectious agents residing in the musculoskeletal system and key immune organs. Severe exhaustion of endocrine system. Treated with homeopathic isodes followed by the organ sarcodal and glandular support. A positive response, at least 50% improvement, was immediate and the whole case progressed very rapidly. Only in several visits, the patient has completely regained his lifestyle and engaged in athletic activities. Abnormal rheumatological blood tests became normal. Classical homeopathic prescribing was unnecessary. A case of severe Rheumatoid Arthritis A frail lady in her mid-seventies has been crippled with rheumatoid arthritis for more than a decade with much pain, fatigue and debilitated lifestyle in spite of prednisone and anti-inflammatory medications. She also has suffered from significant osteoporosis and a severely herniated disc (side effects of prednisone) in her low back. General appearance: posture of a pretzel shape, barely walks shuffling her feet. Bio-resonance testing: multiple toxicological and infectious agents present locally in the joints and diffusely throughout the body. Excretory and endocrine organs were particularly weak and in light of this, isode therapy was postponed until her energy status improves. Classical homeopathic prescribing with Rhus Tox in the lowest tolerable potency, 6X, as determined by the testing, to be taken daily for two weeks. Proper glandular organ support was added. Follow-up two weeks later: definite mild improvement. Bio-resonance testing: better energy reserve, better vitality. Proceed with isode-sarcode regimen aimed at multiple organs and tissues, discontinue Rhus Tox 6X. Follow-up in two weeks: much better progress. During the subsequent, and only three month short clinical course, made a tremendous progress and was able to reduce her prednisone. This was impossible for her to accomplish for many years. The pains became minimal, energy good and lifestyle best in many years. The Rhus Tox had to be administered only during an acute exacerbation of her herniated disc. Exactly the same episode in the past had required a hospitalization and high doses of IV cortisone to relieve the pain. This time around, on a combination of Rhus Tox 1M (the potency was ascertained with Bio-resonance testing) taken acutely with intercurrent isode-sarcode treatment aimed at the underlying problems with her disc (for the residues of toxicological agent) the crisis was promptly abated within 24-48 hours. With time the Rhus Tox stopped working, even in the higher potency and she would only respond to the isode/sarcode treatment alone as she continues to be able to reduce her fairly low dose of prednisone further and further. Considering her very advanced stage of pathology and ripe age, she is doing extremely well and enjoying a good quality of life. A case of musculoskeletal pains A middle-aged woman presented with a complaint of having general body aches and feeling tired. Both were occurring every morning. Bio-resonance testing: sleeps in an area of bad electromagnetic field. Recommendation: move the bed. Follow-up: recovered promptly. Years later, free of any discomfort. No other therapy was necessary. A case of severe dermatitis A middle-aged man suffered from annoying itch with severe burning, due to dermatitis for many years. Many natural treatments had failed and cortisone ointment helped only to contain exacerbations. He was thin, chilly and overall of poor resistance. After careful repertorisation and eliciting a strange and peculiar symptom : relief obtained only during walking while swinging his arms – Sarsaparilla (the only remedy in the rubric) was prescribed in potency. An immediate, good improvement followed. Yet, the subsequent course revealed a resilient and stubborn nature of the skin affliction with the repetitions of Sarsaparilla in the same or higher potencies failing to palliate. His constitutional remedy, Silica, helped him to warm up, raise the stamina and eradicate his frequent colds but did not do much for the hand. I attempted, then, to probe deeper with the Bio-resonance testing, and one of the left molars, an “absolutely healthy tooth”, came up as the culprit. The man was desperate and willing to sacrifice “the healthy tooth” which had never given him any problems whatsoever. During the “sacrificial ceremony” in the dentist’s chair, a stream of pus was ejected as the tooth was pulled. This broke the dermatitis case. This case also brings up an issue of other limitations on a part of classical homeopathy. In cases with constitutions of limited energetic reserve, like Silica, a patient may not generate, but conceal instead, many symptoms of a true pathology which are necessary for a proper prescribing. The same holds true for syphilitic constitutions which are known to conceal the symptoms even in the presence of serious pathologies. Under these and other circumstances, the quality of clinical or preventative care becomes seriously compromised. Mental case “E” A lad in his mid-teens suddenly refused to attend school. He was the best student, always very cooperative, yet, for no apparent reason he would enter a state of panic upon seeing the school bus in the morning and refuse to board it. His father tried to drive him to school in his car but once the car would approach the school building, the boy would claw into his car seat with all his strength and adamantly refuse to enter the house of good education. His parents took him to orthomolecular psychiatrist in order “to balance his brain chemistry” and even put him through a Bio-resonance testing elsewhere, but all to no avail. The psychotherapists did not get far either. While in the office, the mother convinced me that he had been allegedly molested by one of the teachers some years ago. The boy was saying neither “yes” nor “no”, was hardly saying anything and was not displaying a trace of emotion. Being of Natrum Muriaticum constitution (every homeopath’s “dream historian”), it was not possible to squeeze any information out of him. The mother denied any other anxieties, fears or mental-emotional afflictions on his part. Based on this allegation, the corresponding rubrics were chosen and combined with other seemingly appropriate rubrics boiling down to the fact that he seemed to hold the whole thing to himself and then erupted in hysterical attacks, Ignatia 10M was given a trial. That did absolutely nothing according to the mother’s phone report some three weeks later, and I advised her to get low potency Aconite to at least, hopefully, contain the morning frenzy before I would see him again and reevaluate the case. In the meantime, a slew of school psychologists and psychiatrists were pressuring the parents into drugging the boy with psychotropic drugs because the weeks and even months were flying by and the boy had no intention of putting his foot in the school building. Months of additional psychotherapy did not produce any results. I spoke to one of the school psychologists trying to elicit some clues to the case that might aid in finding the correct remedy but was told that nothing bad had ever happened in the boy’s life except for his neurotic mother who, allegedly, implanted every fear imaginable into his head. I was told that, in essence, “he was the victim of the mother’s delusional fears and her subconscious hatred of the public school system.” As far as the psychologist himself was concerned, “homeopathy was a very good vitamin as long as it was not taken too seriously.” A seven-page psychiatric report seemed to assemble the best and most complicated terminology of analytical psychiatry ever produced, using words as “suppressive”, “repressive”, “subconscious”, “unconscious”, as well as many other, and no less bewildering terms. In essence, this was an embodiment of Hahnemann’s definition of “a learned pratting”, or as I mentioned in my recent book, an example of “intelligent fooling”. The report implied that the boy’s mental health was predicated on two monumental events: first – the mother was to be crucified (slight exaggeration), and second – the psychotropic drugs had to enter his body. It was plainly obvious that without a proper understanding of the roots of the case, the correct remedy would not be found based on an isolated symptom of fear of school. Bio-resonance testing: pointed to the probable cause. It had nothing to do with the molestation. I told the boy, based on the test results, what event had triggered his state. He thought for a while and then said, “Yes”. The key combination to this case: fright that was followed by amnesia and numb-like state while the results of the fright have never left him. These made me arrive to the only remedy responsible for this combination – Opium. The effective potency, tested to be 1M, completed the formality. Two weeks later, the boy returned to school and attended it happily ever since. Mental case “F” A ten-year old, Michael, presented with the following problems: self-despise, intense anger, feeling estranged from his family, severe depression with desire to kill himself, paranoid deviations including his father plotting to kill him, and many other mental-emotional problems. This transformation was rather strange as he was known to be happy, obedient and also a very bright student. The symptoms began, albeit mild, a year before but continued to grow and progress. The triggering cause – unknown. After Bio-resonance testing, the trigger – separation from a friend – was determined to be the case and shared with the parents and Michael. They did confirm the finding and admitted that a year ago, Michael was transferred to another school and lost his best friend who by his own words, was “like a brother to me”. He did ask the parents on several occasions to drive him to see his buddy but because of the long distance involved and their busy schedule, this was never materialized. Michael stopped asking and just kept this loss to himself. Bio-resonance testing also revealed a few but very noxious toxicological agents that in my observations are universal in disrupting metabolism of the brain neurotransmitters. However, due to the fact that the boy was suicidal and the picture was very clear and one of Anacardium, it was prescribed in high potency according to the testing first. The parents were also advised to be more sensitive to Michael’s social needs. All his problems vanished promptly. Yet, a year later, the boy began having new symptoms of experiencing visual hallucinations where he would momentarily see some figures and images. No other symptoms except for daydreaming while in school which belonged to his basic constitution – Sulphur. In essence, one had a symptom without a clearly discernible state rendering classical prescribing either futile or even potentially harmful. Bio-resonance testing: same toxicological agents but not as severe were still present in the brain. Corresponding isodes with sarcodal support were prescribed and hallucination disappeared promptly. More than a year later, a follow-up has demonstrated no recurrence as the boy has remained in exemplary health. Several lessons can be learned also from these two last cases. 1. It is imperative to know the triggering cause in order to have a clear understanding of the case. This undoubtedly makes the prescribing far more effective and also addresses the factors that continue to drain the person’s health. 2. One ought not to assume that, even if known and obvious, the trigger is necessarily the sole cause of the problem. Within the context of complex systems as Man, such linearity may be deceptive or only partially correct as the obvious trigger, as it is the case with physical injuries, is more often than not, the last straw. 3. Classical homeopathic prescribing in my testing and clinical observations does lead to the release of toxic, infectious and other pernicious agents out of the body. Yet, such a release is too often incomplete and inadequate to eradicate a disease state. The system I teach must be used to assure their elimination. These agents, in the majority, do constitute concrete and real miasmatic layers which Hahnemann made so much emphasis on in his teachings. Without this, a “multi-headed hydra of chronic diseases” will continue to grow its heads. Another clinical example to illustrate the importance of addressing direct morbid agents directly. We shall name this case: Repertorize this A 50-year-old MD, has suffered from the following ailments, crippling him literally from head to toe for many years and some for even decades: brain fog, poor memory, cloudy thinking, phobia of bridges and points of elevation; insomnia; blurred vision, night blindness; tinnitus; periodic sore throat and flu-like symptoms; metallic taste; chest pain; sporadic diarrhea and excessive gas; urgent urination; peripheral neuropathy: numbness of hands, feet, lower legs; loss of rapid finger movements; loss of balance, coordination while walking, if closes his eyes, he falls; skin rashes; severe and multiple chemical sensitivities; severe sensitivity to EMFs: phones, TV, computers, fluorescent lights, power tools, etc. If someone uses even an electric drill in a garage, he becomes sick being anywhere in the house. In addition, severe chronic fatigue. Modalities are mixed, inconsistent and fluctuate. Conventional medicine could not help. Attempted several alternative approaches without any success. Became disabled and unable to work for several years prior to his first visit. Today, approximately a year later, almost 100% of his ailments have been resolved. Only a few, barely discernible and virtually cosmetic symptoms still present, which continue to undergo further recession. No constitutional remedies or miasmatic nosodes prescribed. The case was managed exclusively through the identification and removal of toxicological and infectious agents accompanied with proper dietary and environmental guidance. Furthermore, in the process, several old symptoms, even going 20-30 years back have returned momentarily and left. The washout symptoms were very mild and welcomed by the patient as the state of progress would be followed immediately. What would be the correct classical remedies in this case? What would the aggravations be like? How long, if ever, would it take to cure this case? Case #8 – Jenny The last case is notable for its 11 year history managed from the infancy on exclusively with Guided Digital Medicine™ according to FCT® system and the case was progressing on a parallel course as the system itself was continually evolving and being perfected. The parents brought the girl at the age of 3 months with the complaint of the baby being generally very discontented and keeping the mother sleepless every single night while screaming constantly for nursing. Bio-resonance testing, unexpectedly, indicated the presence of recreational drugs in the brain with the baby deemed to be suffering from the withdrawal problems. The mother admitted of being under a lot of stress during the pregnancy and resorting “at times” to drugs and alcohol. A remedy (autoisode) was prepared out of the girl’s urine and everyone’s sleep was restored. On the whole, the following list of problems had to be dealt with during Jenny’s growing years: very delayed speech and mental development, extremely touchy with terrible behavior tantrums particularly if meals were even slightly delayed, severe LD, would not remember what she did a minute before, low stamina, feeling cold, being a sugar-pasta-pizza addict, very stubborn (“iron will”), frequent colds settling in the chest, runny nose, recurrent stomach pains, sleep walking, psychopathic tendencies destroying, heartlessly, family pets and valuable household goods, cheating, stealing, plotting, running schemes in school with embezzling monies and goods from classmates, yearning to be a leader and manipulate others. While in kindergarten she was assessed by the child development specialists who told the parents that in no way would she be able to attend a public school but require, instead, a long-term Special Ed schooling. Physically, mentally and emotionally she represented a deviant with multiple health problems, a serial killer or other kind of a criminal in the making. From the point of view of classical homeopathy she was displaying ominous traits of sycho- (crafty con artists) syphilitic- (sociopaths) tuberculinic (physically frail, allergic predispositions) miasm. The parents were advised to postpone all immunizations and subsequently she received only the polio vaccine, but at a much later age, with its being administered via a more physiologic oral route. The following toxicological and infectious problems were identified and addressed exclusively through the homeopathic system: silver-mercury, silver amalgam, mercury, lead; parasitosis, candidiasis and campylobactor infections. Intercurrent classical constitutional prescribing was carried out with Lachesis (speech problem with frequent throat infections), Silica (cold, frail, stubborn), Bacillinum (frequent upper respiratory infections, tubercular isode), Anacardium (sociopathic behavior), Nux Vomica (very competitive, bossy, antisocial tendencies), Sulphur (creative wheeler-dealer). All of her infections were always handled homeopathically, primarily with causative homeopathy. She received only one course of antibiotics in her entire life and even that one was due to the parents’ anxiety and could have been easily avoided. Today she is this teen: bright, creative with a maturity level ahead of her peers, displays exemplary social skills, hard working, good at foreign languages and playing instruments, superb memory. Attends a high pressure regular public school, one of the best in the country, receives only two hours a week of extra one-on-one help, average grades: A’s, B’s and C’s. Also, a good leader, “heart and sole” of her class and teachers’ delight. At home a great help, very responsible, good at fixing things, conducts multiple chores and can virtually run the whole big household on her own. Very compassionate with and protective of the family animals and wants to become a nurse to help sick people. Physically: full of energy, does not care about pastas or pizzas, hates sugary sweets and enjoys only sour-sweet fruit; just one cold a year and recovers on her own quickly and without any remedies, full of energy, good athlete. Never had a childhood infectious disease. (This is one of the many cases presented in Dr. Yurkovsky’s article “Autism, ADD, ADHD, LD and The Power of Digital Medicine” see Books and Media to learn more.) In spite of the several well-prescribed constitutional remedies, there is no doubt that the case would not have progressed as well as it did had it not been for the multiple blocks being removed through causative homeopathy. Be aware that even pure cases of Anacardium, in my experience, and other sociopathic or mental emotional states, have been cleared without any constitutional prescribing but following the removal of pernicious agents which were disturbing the neurotransmitters function. It is obvious, also, that the most troubling state in this case as severe mental retardation was managed without the constitutional prescribing of Helleborus, Baryta, Bufo and like. Even if they had been prescribed and the case had been managed exclusively with classical homeopathy, ask yourself a question as to how many children who start out with the severe Helleborus-like state, end up, even with a perfect prescribing, flourishing as this child? When is the best time or reason for constitutional-miasmatic prescribing? For the optimum clinical results, time economy, and clinical effectiveness, I adhere to the following criteria which served me well: 1. To close a case of severe physical or mental pathology, and only if still necessary, when the picture becomes very clear while the “obstacles to cure” are no longer present. 2. A clear case of emotional trauma or imbalance. 3. A clear case of sociopathic behavior or social maladjustment. 4. Also, in acute prescribing due to physical injuries or impact of the elements. In conclusion, the experience has proven that even well prescribed similimum in the care of chronic disease can, at its best, only raise a level of adaptation. It cannot reverse, cure or even halt significantly a progressive course of degenerative diseases or a serious illness. This can be accomplished only through another, and deeper application of homeopathy based on the principle not of similar, but the same. As it is, obviously, the case in any science, discipline or industry, there is no substitute in dealing with any problem to determining and eradicating its exact roots. Let me close this message to my homeopathic colleagues through the same format that it was opened, with the quote: “As you know, I have been practicing Classical Homeopathy for 15 years and would be considered a successful homeopath. But any of us who humbly admit that we have our failures and, for some of us this spurs us on, causing us to search and to ask questions. “I have always known, or at least suspected that there existed interferences, forces which blocked the energetic response to these homeopathic remedies. You have confirmed my suspicions and, more than that have provided the tools to unblock and repair those tissues again using the same principles elucidated by Dr. Hahnemann. Thank you.” A. H., N.D., an FCT® student
“Lame duck” legislative sessions, facing tight time deadlines, whether at the state or national level, do not provide the best political environment in which to conduct serious discussions or shape long-lasting laws and policies. Those serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate have known for years that if the 2001 and 2003 federal tax provisions are not extended and a variety of other tax provisions are allowed to lapse, the nation and most of its citizens face the likelihood of plunging over a “fiscal cliff.” According to the Tax Policy Center, a joint venture of the Brookings Institution and Urban Institute, 90 percent of American households will face higher taxes in 2013 if Congress and President Obama are not able to agree on a deficit reduction plan. Tax increases are scheduled to come about because the various tax cuts were approved on a temporary basis due to end on Jan. 2, 2013, roughly four weeks from now. The American public, as well as the welfare of the nation itself, now are in the middle of a massive political game with President Obama, a number of Democratic senators playing hardball and the Republican-controlled House. The debt crisis and how to keep the economy afloat are the critical issues. Obama and his fellow Democrats say the first step in trying to solve the problem is to raise taxes. Republicans say they, too, want to help bring about a solution, but that if taxes are to be raised, there must be an even greater level of cuts in federal spending to make a meaningful dent in the growing national debt. Democrats say tax hikes must be approved this year and that any cuts in federal entitlement programs will be put off until sometime next year. Republicans say “no way” and that federal spending cuts must be detailed before they OK tax hikes. Neither side wants to budge, although all lawmakers realize they must take reasoned, positive action to avert a very serious situation. The big question is whether this “serious situation” is sufficiently serious to force the various players to cut a deal that meets opposing viewpoints somewhere in the middle. Unfortunately, this all is taking place after a heated presidential campaign, and the fallout from the election certainly is playing a big role. Obama and his followers in the Senate won the White House for another four years and retained their majority in the Senate. To the winner belong the spoils, and they see no reason they should have to compromise on how they intend to avoid falling off the fiscal cliff. They want tax hikes now and say they will consider spending cuts next year. Republicans still control the House and, due to Obama failing to measure up on many promises and pledges he made in his 2008 election bid, along with the adamant stance of 30 or more Democratic senators saying they will not agree to any cuts in major federal entitlement spending programs, it is difficult for GOP House members to agree to tax increases at this time and accept a good-faith proposal by Democrats to consider spending cuts next year. Some might fear the Democrats offer a bait-and-switch proposal. Others might suggest Obama believes this is the time to force the issue and, in the process, crumble any GOP unity in the House. Also, the manner in which Democrats are staging this battle could be a tip-off to how they intend to conduct affairs for the next four years in partisan legislative battles and the use of executive power. If Obama is able to split the GOP in this debate, there is every reason to believe he will intensify efforts in future contentious legislative negotiations. He has said he intends to change America and obviously plans to follow through on this pledge. He is on the attack on the tax hike issue, scheduling campaign-style stops around the country to rally support for the Democratic plan and urging citizens to flood the offices of GOP lawmakers with calls for them to approve his tax plan. Now is not the time to play chicken or see which side is the first to blink. Granted, Obama won the presidency and, again, to the victor belong the spoils, but there are times when it seems much more can be accomplished when a winner tries to come close to meeting the wishes of those who didn’t win. Such an approach often pays off in the long run and for the benefit of all parties. It will be interesting to see whether Democrats continue to try to win a knuckles-down arm wrestling contest or offer a genuine compromise that is best for the country. Unfortunately, it appears the game rules have been set by Obama, Sen. Harry Reid, Rep. Nancy Pelosi and the 30 hard-core Democrats who say they will not budge on any entitlement cuts. Once more, to the victor belong the spoils, but consider what the “spoils” may be in this case. Copyright 2013 The Lawrence Journal-World. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. We strive to uphold our values for every story published. merrill 5 months, 2 weeks ago All of above ultimately supply side economics. Considering repubs have been against any type of new job creation after a 4 year degree one might consider a Vocational-Technical Institute to become a highly skilled technician in some field. This will make any college grad more marketable and perhaps open doors to self employment. It is unlikely that there will be enough jobs for college grads anytime soon. Or if one has the dollars becoming a career student is as respectable as any other job. merrill 5 months, 2 weeks ago The GOP is dead so what to do? Jobs. --- put people back to work fixing the nations highways and bridges. --- put more funding directly into public schools and hire more teachers ( bypass the state legislatures). --- implement Medicare Single Payer Insurance which is estimated to save $400 billion annually while creating 2.4 million jobs. Move all government employees into this STAT and watch the cost of government and public schools drop significantly. --- all of the above will create millions of more jobs BUT we must invest in jobs that cannot be outsourced. --- let the Bush tax cuts hit the road BUT save the middle class tax cuts. Middle class spending is more likely to create jobs due to larger population numbers of the 99% --- Bring on the Robin Hood Tax --- vote out more and more of the new anti american right wing party members who are now posing as republicans. They are frauds. If the nation is stuck on a two party system those two parties might should be the Green Party and the Democratic Party. At least the nation could have some "working together" yet with plenty of debate. The more often Kansas votes in the same faces the less opportunity for significant change. Sending back the same faces tells those faces that political election corruption is still okay. Sam Brownback is one perfect example of why we need to send career politicians home. woodscolt 5 months, 2 weeks ago Dolph is too blind to see as usual. Every since the tea party republicans were elected to congress and inflicted their "our way and our way only" policy and are just to stupid to realize that rarely do you get only your way in politics, the congress has been gridlocked. Leave it to the wisdom of the dolphster to read that as.... ..."President Obama, a number of Democratic senators playing hardball".... Once again dolph has proven he has no journalistic creditability or integrity with his to blind to see mentality. Oh, by the way Dolph, did you notice who won the last election? Or did that slip by you as well. Briseis 5 months, 2 weeks ago "our way and our way only" Oh, by the way Dolph, did you notice who won the last election? Or did that slip by you as well. lol... Psychological projection as its finest....spike the football much? This reminds me of the Democrat convention, -spike the football event-, parading bin laden's death continuously and blaming Benghazi murders on an obscure movie a couple hundred Muslims may have seen 8 months prior the attack. /nanny nanny boo boo, we won and you didn't, so there!! msezdsit 5 months, 2 weeks ago sour grapes jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago Come on folks - if it's true that D are saying tax hikes now, spending cuts later, that's a bad idea. We need both, and they should both be part of any deal made now, before the cliff comes, I think. Why should R trust D to come up with spending cuts later, when they know D don't really want those? just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago In the midst of a recession, we don't need spending cuts as that will only fuel the recession, which will cause a further reduction in revenues coming into government coffers. But we do need different spending-- spending that will stimulate the economy by doing the things necessary to remake it for 21st century realities. Throwing the most disadvantaged of us under the bus just to reduce spending has only one purpose-- to increase their suffering in order to continue the steady redistribution of wealth to the already wealthy. jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago Even Obama says the debt issue is a "medium term" problem that needs to be fixed, and that increased revenue and decreased spending are necessary to fix it. Why should R trust that D will do that, if they keep putting off the spending cuts, and demanding tax increases? And, given the outrageously high spending at the federal level, I'm sure there are ways to cut that without "throwing the disadvantaged under the bus". Obama's proposal that I just read claims to offer a 4.4 trillion reduction in the deficit over ten years. That equates to about half a trillion each year, which leaves about the same amount (if not more) in deficits. So, even though it decreases annual deficits, we're still increasing the national debt by 5 trillion dollars (or more) over ten years. That's just not good enough for me - we need to be at least stabilizing the national debt, and preferably paying it down. If the feds actually followed Keynesian principles all the time, it might be ok - that way they'd build up a surplus in the good years, and use it in the bad ones, so it wouldn't involve massive debt. But, they just don't do that. just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago The debt projections of a decade or two out are completely irrelevant if global warming/climate change aren't seriously addressed, as the world economy will be completely destroyed by it. jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago That's called "shifting the goalposts". Everything's meaningless if we destroy ourselves in a nuclear WWII as well. just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago True enough. A serious effort at eliminating nuclear weapons (unlike the charade we currently have) is essential, as well. But the deficit/debt issue is nothing but a deadly distraction if it keeps us from addressing the very large killer elephant in the room that really will kill us, unlike the abstraction we are currently obsessing over. jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago I think they're all issues. And they should all be dealt with appropriately. just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago I agree, but I would also throw in that they should be dealt with in a way that recognizes their relative importance and urgency. With that in mind, I'd say the deficit resides way down the list. msezdsit 5 months, 2 weeks ago cut military spending. bingo. fixes the problem. We don't need to be able to blow something to smithereens and then come back and blow it up another 1000 times after it is already blown up but thats what we are paying for now while blowing up grandma as collateral damage in the process. Military spending is so far out of necessary proportion and it is just big business for the rich get richer fraternity. jafs 5 months, 2 weeks ago I agree that military spending should be cut, but I'm not at all sure that fixes the deficit issue, unless we cut huge amounts - we're currently running deficits of about $1.5 trillion each year. And, also, even those cuts will affect people negatively - there are lots of folks working at jobs for the military, and businesses supplying them, etc. If we just cut the military, where will all those people work? just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago Dolph exhibits yet again the Republican definition of compromise-- "It's our way or no way at all." Paul R. Getto 5 months, 2 weeks ago "Granted, Obama won the presidency and, again, to the victor belong the spoils, but there are times when it seems much more can be accomplished when a winner tries to come close to meeting the wishes of those who didn’t win." Huh? W claimed a mandate on a narrower victory in 2004. The TP crowd needs to grow up. deec 5 months, 2 weeks ago The debt ceiling has been raised 76 times since 1917. It is political posturing to pretend this is a new problem that began when Obama took office. JackMcKee 5 months, 2 weeks ago And there it is. My week is now complete. Thanks Dolph. Phillbert 5 months, 2 weeks ago If it's Saturday, it must be Dolph ranting about either KU or Obama. I see it's Obama's turn this week. beatrice 5 months, 2 weeks ago So name the cuts desired. Republicans need to state how much they want to cut Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, then go back home and face the people they represent. Obama shouldn't be the one offering up cuts, but he should consider those put forward. If Republicans only want cuts in social programs but no cuts in military spending, then they aren't to be taken seriously. Republicans act as if they are entitled to have the temporary tax cuts extended forever. What part of "temporary" do they not understand and what is with this entitlement mindset? Alyosha 5 months, 2 weeks ago Mr. Simons writes, "Obama and his fellow Democrats say the first step in trying to solve the problem is to raise taxes." Mr. Simons knows, or should know, apparently being an educated individual with access to accurate information, with a quick, honest appraisal of the issues easily available in a number of news sources and statements by the President, that this is not actually the case. Yet, given a choice between accuracy and fairly portraying the President's positions, and repeating sloppy thinking and partisan-motivated mischaracterizations, Mr. Simons takes the unethical and dishonorable path of asserting falsehoods. Until Mr. Simons can see beyond his own misunderstandings, stop asserting falsehoods, and apprehend honestly the actual state of affairs, his opinion is worthless, and he is shown to favor dishonorable falsehoods over truth. That kind of thinking is exactly why Republicans, like Mr. Simons in their inability to argue honorably or ethically, were rejected by the American people in terms of the popular vote at the polls. Get out of the way, Mr. Simons, if all you bring to the table is dishonorable practices. yourworstnightmare 5 months, 2 weeks ago Mr. Simons, you should stick to bashing KU. voevoda 5 months, 2 weeks ago Mr. Simons, I think you have forgotten the history of President Obama's first term. He started out intending to be a bipartisan president, trying to include Republicans in the process of designing ways to deal with the disparity between income and government expenditures. But he found the Congressional Republicans to be so intransigent, so focused on making him a one-term president, that they used every parliamentary subterfuge to prevent concerted action on the Federal budget (and everything else). The best that President Obama could get out of them was a stop-gap--the "fiscal cliff" we are now facing. Republicans agreed to it because they believed that the 2012 election would give them control of the government--House of Representatives, Senate, and White House, and then they could avert the "fiscal cliff" on their own terms. But the voters didn't agree to give the (far right wing) Republicans control of the government. So it's the Republicans who created this situation, and that means that it is their responsibility, first and foremost, to make the compromises they should have made earlier, to avoid the creation of the "fiscal cliff" in the first place. The country is watching: will Republicans destroy the economy of the United States in order to deny Obama a positive legacy, as Charles Krauthammer recommends in his op-ed piece today? I hope, Mr. Simons, that you don't advocate the same. oneeye_wilbur 5 months, 2 weeks ago Dolph needs to focus on. The high stakes in Lawrence, population 80,000. A city that is going to pass 84.5 million bond issue for schools. As one mhenderson says, "scares the beejeezusout ofme". Every school building in Lawrence could be bulldozed and built new for that much money. Lawrence is running on nite lite wattage brainpower. WristTwister 5 months, 2 weeks ago I say let Obama have it. Give him everything he wants. It looks like we are headed for certain financial ruin anyway, so let him take us there and we can hit bottom much sooner. Those who are wise will get out of the way and watch while squirreling away assets and buy gold. The dollar will be worthless. beatrice 5 months, 2 weeks ago Your doomsday prediction is likely to be as accurate as your presidential election predictions. You were likely saying you would stay out of stock market until it fell to 3000 for the same reasons, all while blaming Obama. WristTwister 5 months, 2 weeks ago You are welcome to write this one down Bea, since I did not say anything about the DOW hitting 3000. I have been in the market all along since about 1975. This is not just another market cycle. We are in a bear market rally courteousy of the Fed's quantitative easing. Any growth in GDP can be attributed to QE. Trouble is, QE is getting less and less effective as evidenced by the GDP since 2009. Although US GDP has been marginally increasing, it's increases are declining year after year. The fed is hoping that they can prop up the economy until we move out of this "cycle". But what they won't admit is there is nothing of value to move us out of our financial problems. All of the money put into play by the fed will lead to hyperinflation. Get ready. I am. oneeye_wilbur 5 months, 2 weeks ago Right on spot. More in Lawrence would believe it if they were in private employment. Sadly Lawrence is going to hear of pink slips around town, it's coming and not at the city, county, schools nor KU. Briseis 5 months, 2 weeks ago Obama is already tapping into the natural gas market. China needs coal. The country has plenty of both to sell to foreign markets. Those markets alone will offset the debt and pay for the 47%'s needs. Lawrence is a government town. It will do just fine. just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 5 months, 2 weeks ago The needs of the 0.01% are even greater, and they produce many orders of magnitude less than the 47% you so despise. Why do you hate the 0.01% Briseis 5 months, 2 weeks ago lol.... I despise no one sparky. lol enough of your .01%, fiscal cliff, doom and gloom meme.....btw chief...these are the 1%'rs...originals...lol.... good morning to you mate JohnBrown 5 months, 2 weeks ago O'Bama is trying to avoid the 'austerity crisis' that the Eurpoeans have so adroitly placed themselves into. As for the 'debt crisis' , most of it is thanks to Reagan, Bush, and GW. O'Bama's deficits are the direct result of the Republicans trashing the economy much more severely than anyone thought just four years ago. There needs to be a discussion about supply side economics, and an explanation as to why rich people (the so-called 'job creators' ) would want to create one single job so long as there is no demand for their products from the middle class. O'Bama has suggested the following order in which to fix things: First traunch: 1. get the economy going again (Republicans opposed this over the past 4 years because they wanted to have a lousy economy during this election year and blame it on O'Bama). 2. Raise taxes on the top ~2% Second traunch: 3. Get the Republicans to identify and quantify the cuts they want. 4. Make bipartisan cuts. As for raising the debt ceiling: O'Bama doesn't need congress to okay that. He has the Constitution ordering the debts be paid. Once congress authorizes expenditures the full faith and credit of the United States is in play. Congress can't first authorize expenditures and then renege on them when the time comes to pay up. Since much of the debt we owe is owed to foreigners, paying on the debt without congressional approval would be necessary as a national defense issue. JohnBrown Paul R. Getto 5 months, 2 weeks ago Bravissimo! A breath of fresh air, Ye are riverdrifter 5 months, 2 weeks ago +1 kippcolorado 5 months, 2 weeks ago Hey, Dolph, be glad I never dated Pam because she'd be a Democrat by now. Commenting has been disabled for this item.
Funny story, actually. Quite recently I told a friend of mine how and why xkcd was going downhill and how it was white-knight-esque pseudo-feminist. That was one day before he came out with 714. I was so happy the moment I read that strip, because of the i-told-you-so routine that was coming my friend's way soon. He ended up greeting me with "Damnit, person. You might be right." that day. Great fun. Anyway, the reason I am telling this story is that today he was actually the one that lead me to read the strip when I did. He MSN'd me today saying "Son of a bitch", "Why must you ruin things for me.". I like to imagine he put a period instead of a question mark because he knows how much I like making people, specifically him, suffer. He also thought the author of xkcd was named "Rupert Murdock", which is actually kind of a badass name. But my actual point was that keeping these words in mind, I went to the comic. It's hard not to be biased when you're writing a hate blog, it's even harder if your friend tells you something is shit ahead of time - but it's not even that. I looked at the comic. I read it, went back to him, said "I don't get it", went back to the comic, read it again, and asked him "wait, is this actually the joke? Inspector Gadget has a lot of crazy shit 'under his belt'? That's it? That was a joke in the show too, Randall just made it dirty". Ok that may be paraphrased to insert that hilarious pun. But yes, that is it, my friend confusedly reassured me. Huh. Well. That's not funny. I'm going to go more in-depth on the actual joke, but I wanna talk about something else first That doesn't really look like inspector gadget. a big part about inspector gadget was not only his goofy behaviour, but also his looks. Notice that if you take away the face and the hair, you aren't left with much of his original personality or charme. Could randall possibly have picked a more retarded choice in terms of his comic gimmick? The point of a comic is that you don't spell everything out, you show it. Your characters not having faces does not make this easier. Randall did kind of a good job at making him look around and showing that no one is there, but only considering the arbitrary restriction he set himself. The point of that is not to prove that I'm a shitty artist, my point is that faces bring a whole new atmosphere to the comic, and allow randall to express himself better. But since you will all just bitch at me that this is his style (this is a criticism of exactly that, by the way - his style) and that it's just something I have to accept, let's move on. I'm not done with the art, though. Why is he shown so far away in the last two panels? There's no walls, no anything. It makes you think he shrinked. Randall, we're not asking you to draw us an oil panting in the background of your comics, but please, at least draw a line that shows us that your characters are not constantly in limbo. Also, I get that you want to show that he's alone, but too small. You have to realize that since you've drawn nothing, the borders of the panel are the first possible boundary of the room. What this means is that Gadget is standing in a hugeass room (both in height and width). The fact that it is empty is usually not a big deal since your stick figures are closeup, and their surroundings are unimportant - in this part however it plays a big role since the idea is that inspector gadget is all alone, but alive. You're getting one of these points accross. ALSO, what's up with his arms not being down? That's weird, man. He probably realized he drew him too small to pull that off. So that makes it two points for bigger inspector. Doesn't that look far less distracting and better than xkcd's version? Yes it does, shut up. Where's YOUR criticism of xkcd? What gives YOU the right to criticize my criticism? Well, that leaves one thing. The humor. Sigh. Here's the thing, Inspector gadget was meant to be entertaining, and the fact that he had whatever the fuck seemed convenient in his hat was a joke of the show. What randall did was essentially a conversation I imagine some high schoolers are having somewhere right now. "Dude! What if Inspector Gadget had like naked chicks in his hat so he can look at them whenever he wants" "THAT IS AWESOME! HIGH FIVE! I wish I had naked chicks in my hat, man. Inspector Gadget ROCKS". We've established that it's a joke of the show, so what did Randall do? He took something that didn't belong (as it was a children's show) and mixed it with an unfitting concept. Actually, it's not like he showed an emo kid taking care of orphans, he just took something innocent and made it dirty. Rule 34, basically. Except it's not really very imaginative or funny. Hell, even if we completely ignore the bluntness of the joke, he still just showed a dude talking. It's not he even made an effort to at least surprise the reader through action (Maybe by inspector gadget pulling a dildo out of his hat or some shit. It still wouldn't be funny, but it'd at least be a little more creative than just saying something stupid.) And then we have the alt text. A 2girls1cup joke? Really? Again? Actually, not joke. Just reference. The difference is that he thinks he can get away with just mentioning something, instead of deriving humor from it. LAME. But enough about the comic, let's see what the forumites have to say "go go gadget decaying comic" "...Well congratulations, you've made Inspector Gadget unfunny and disturbing. I didn't even think that was possible. Go go gadget anti-comic! It's like anti-hero, you see, except not at all interesting. And gone gone gadget repetitive lame joke intro phrase." This, basically. While half of the forumites thought it would be hilarious to just say "go go gadget" and then a vague reference to the comic or anything really (implicitly giving randall credit for saying something unusual after go go gadget), a lot of them were also disappointed with the comic. Understandable. "Just gonna say, xkcd been going downhill recently. Maybe it's just me, but it has a really different feel to it..." "Point of order: "Lesbians doing it" is an event or possibly fantasy, not a "gadget." A video camera and cup would be a pair of gadgets, but I don't think they ever appeared in the cartoon. (Binoculars may come in handy if his legs go off instead)." This guy is funnier than the comic. That's really not saying much, though. "Funny comic, awful (but predictable) mouseover." I'm slightly uneasy about both the fact that he liked the comic and that he PREDICTED a 2girls1cup joke at the mere mention of lesbian sex. Poor guy. "Go go gadget people getting butthurt over a difference of opinion on what is/isn't funny" I like how this guy calls a bunch of people who just said they didn't like the comic or that xkcd was getting worse butthurt, because he was getting "butthurt" over a bunch of people not liking his awesome favorite webcomic. I'm guessing he doesn't know about this site. YOU SUCK STFU or I will edit your post to say how much you love dogwangs. More tragicomic stuff from the forums: "ALSO YOU GUYS:, it's ALWAYS funny to reference any (children's) cartoon character in combination with sex." "This comic was really, really, REALLY stupid. I love it." That QC comic with XKCD-shirt wearing girl is a total edit goldmine, here's one I just made where she discovers a certain site we all know and love. aloria - I was addressing myself to get that out of the way. Nice self-confidence. This was a pretty terrible comic, but I think it'd be even worse with your proposed zoom in the two last panels. Zooming out to my mind illustrates that after looking around in the second panel, Mr. Gadget has found that he is alone; we can see a larger area around him and there's no one there. Somehow illustrating this is necessary for the comic to be coherent. Person #1, let's be clear. I thought the comic sucked. Let's also be clear about something else: You completely misinterpreted the joke. The joke is not that Inspector Gadget has lesbians in his hat. It's that anything he prefaces with "Go go gadget" seems to appear from under his hat, as if magically. He says "Go go gadget lesbians doing it" not because he has lesbians "doing it" under his hat, but instead because he is furtively hoping that if he "go go gadget"s them, they will appear. That's why the comic's called furtive; it's Inspector Gadget hoping he has lesbians under his hat. The joke is that his hat might work like that: Anything he announces appears magically under it. I know that, dipshit. It's the same thing, though. It's semantics, a matter of how you phrase it. Obviously he doesn't actually have lesbians under his hat. also 5:25 - the idea is not to not zoom out, the idea is not zoom out so much. That line "Doesn't that look far less distracting and better than xkcd's version? Yes it does, shut up. Where's YOUR criticism of xkcd? What gives YOU the right to criticize my criticism?" reminds me a lot of Maddox. It's okay, it's really funny :) Part of the "go go gadget" gags in Inspector Gadget was that it wouldn't go according to plan. The mallet was a common choice in the show, a pair of scissors would also be a possibility. The alt-text was too wordy. It could be improved, while still keeping the same joke, by just keeping the bit about the cup. Maybe the cup should've been part of the visual gag? In either case, a simple "Yowzaa" would also work. I like that you at least included the alt-text in your analysis Person#1. I was starting to get worried there that you kept going on and on about the strip that, as you said, had very little going on in it. xkcdexplained left it out entirely which is a huge mistake here. The thing is, like you said, there is no joke in the comic. The whole comic then appears to be a set-up for the joke in the alt text. A really, horrible, unfunny, slightly disturbing, moderately confusing, juvenile setup for a horrible, unfunny, moderately disturbing, tired reference joke. I don't think Randal intended the strip itself to be anything more than that, and it certainly isn't regardless of what he thought he was doing, so criticizing it for lack of humor is kind of pointless. I can kinda see how the Inspector Gadget 2girls1cup concept might be kind of funny with him gadgeting out the equipment... maybe. But the setup was absolutely horrible, and confusing, and it doesn't quite make sense, and it's so annoyingly juvenile. I can't even enjoy making juvinile sex jokes anymore because xkcd does it so horribly that I'm constantly paralyzed with fear that people will think I'm as lame as Randal if I crack a little sex joke (I mean, we're talking about reducing the quality of my life here. Possibly at the expense of increase the quality of everyone else's life but fuck them anyway. If randal stops making really lame juvinile sex jokes there's enough room in the universe for me to make moderately lame juvinile sex jokes without fear of having my eyes stabbed out). I really think Randal just runs with ideas for jokes even if he can't figure out how to make them funny with proper setups and pacing and making sure they actually make sense. You know, stuff that comedians do to turn abstract ideas about things that are kinda weird into jokes. @Person#2 Are you saying that Randal is also so stupid that he mixed up the order of the last two panels? I would totally buy your explanation if the last two panels were reversed in order. You would have to zoom out AFTER he said that to demonstrate that he he was just pathetically hoping that he could bring himself the pleasure of watching two lesbians doing it simply by calling it out and had failed. That would indeed be a joke. Not a good one, but a joke in line with xkcd norms. Also you would have to redefine the word "furtive" to mean what you just said it means instead of what it actually means for that to make sense. Either you're an idiot who can't use a dictionary reading things into the comic, or Randal is also an idiot who can't use a dictionary and is also so dumb that he screwed up the order of his frames, or both. If we changed the name of the 717 to something like "hoping" or "please let this work" (just off the top of my head, you could probably do better with the same concept) and switched the order of the last two frames you'd have a point. But they're not and you don't. I'm a comedy genius! I have been looking forward to seeing this one get torn to pieces since I saw this travesty of a comic earlier today. Good work. Even though you simply added a few lines to the face, it was 100% more clear that this was Inspector Gadget in the first two completely unnecessary panels. In fact, this could have been a great one-panel strip. To add the icing on the cake, it should have been worded "two girls doing it", since that would make them, inherently, lesbians. Saying "two lesbians doing it" sounds like something a middle-schooler would say while adjusting his 1-inch thick glasses, followed by a snorty chuckle. Since I'm a first time commenter here (and former xkcd fanatic) I'll also add that I love the blog here, big time. So guys who here really loved John Lovitz's role as Bart Bookman in Southland Tales? Him, Dwayne Johnson, and...well, really just him and Dwayne Johnson. They were extremely entertaining. OH! And Wallace Shawn. The first hour or so of that movie is deliriously, retardedly fun. Then it sort of slows down and increases in pompousness. Maletooth, you're NOT a comedy genius! Winnie the Pooh has a FACE! You're totally not as awesome as Randall. Scary thought: how many people have went to Randalize the Inspector Gadget entry on Wikipedia? Too scared to see. Captcha: simer. Simer down, you lickin' too hot, so! Honestly? Until I read the last panel I thought it was supposed to be Rorschach. And I see I wasn't the only one. To be honest I don't like it when people make criticisms like the one I'm about to make because it's not really a valid reaction to "is this a good comic or not?"; it's just small-minded nitpicky whinging. But... Stickfigures. Clothes. Bluhh??? Let's take Inspector Gadgets coat: unless you draw horizontal-to-the-floor stick-shoulders, coats just don't work. They can't. Or belts, how come the belt seems to be wrapped around something solid if his body is only one-dimensional? Or well just look at how dorky his hands look poking out of the sleeves. The other thing is, drawing clothes on stick figures in the name of characterisation carries with it the implication that all the non-celebrity stick figures are running around in the nip. If you want a recognisable person, just drop the usual style and draw them properly. Because stick figures & clothes is weird. I don't like it. - - - - I think you could make a pretty funny (albeit probably short-lived, but hey) comic based around the various complications and contradictions involved with being a stick figure. Like how they can't digest food, or they can't tell what way they're facing, or how pointing at something is the same action for them as punching. Stuff like that. You'd run out of material pretty soon but...hmm actually maybe it wouldn't be all that funny... Ho well. @ Fernie: Oddly, no edits to the Inspector Gadget article that are related to xkcd. Two edits were made the day before this comic went up though, one that deleted the entire page and replaced it with "go go gadget robopenis!" and another edit that deleted the entire page and replaced it with an ASCII penis. i'm a huge xkcd detractor. usually agree with most of the posts in this blog. xkcd sucks, a lot. but this comic made me laugh - not out loud of course (i mean it's still xkcd after all), but to myself. for some reason i found it pretty damn funny, perhaps because of the stark lack of artwork and very to-the-point punchline. so yeah, i liked this one. maybe i need to lie down. Rupert Murdoch is an Australian-American media mogul. He is the founder, a major shareholder, chairman and managing director of News Corporation (News Corp). I like the idea that Inspector Gadget goes out into the middle of nowhere to watch porn. It seems like his logic to go into a wide open space rather than a bedroom or something. Thing is, both that and the hat/coat combo are limitations of stick figure drawing. You'd think Randall would figure out the limitations and not write jokes that require detailed art. As for the joke, it really is just "haha, kids' cartoons have sex". It's not unfunny, but it's been made before. (Note: References are not jokes in and of themselves. Notable people who think otherwise are Seltzer/Friedberg. Not sure why the guy who thinks Monty Python quotes are sad doesn't get this, but whatever.) Oh, and I love how Randall can go from "in my porn, people fuck" pseudofeminism to almost literal objectification of lesbians. Wonder what the feminists have to say about this one. LOL. This is one of the few xkcd comics I agree are truly horrible. I've been refreshing this page since it came out to see you rip it to pieces. I take issue with your criticism of the artwork, however; I found it quite refreshing to see Randall draw something more than a stick-figure. No. Fuck that. It is not impressive or refreshing to see Randall go from drawing shitty ultra-minimalist stick figures to very slightly more detailed stick figures. Look at Bill Watterson or Nicholas Gurewitch or John Cullen Murphy or even fucking Mike Krahulik. Today, instead of just drawing a crudely-rendered stick figure, Randall went the extra mile and drew a crudely-rendered stick figure wearing a crudely-rendered trenchcoat and hat. Pathetic. Keep, you should read flatland. this thing again? yes. just click it. i'm like halfway to the video. god damn it, Carl, give me comment editing privileges so I can delete this fucking spam i'll delete your spam ;) Your life must be so sad :( Why do you enjoy not enjoying something? Wouldn't you prefer to spend your time finding something you enjoy rather than criticizing something you don't enjoy? false dichotomy This is the first comic I've read that I didn't understand until this explanation. Even then I had to search the year this cartoon aired. Randal is referencing a cartoon that my son watched. Randal's youth is showing. First, referencing some criticism already posted... "Oh, and I love how Randall can go from "in my porn, people fuck" pseudofeminism to almost literal objectification of lesbians. Wonder what the feminists have to say about this one. LOL." Yep. Pretty old news, though, the fact that Randall can't make up his mind on his ideological stances. Pretty "Munroenic". "Stickfigures. Clothes." Keep, I made this same point back at that Halloween/Back to the Future comic. The whole implications of having your comic art done in stick figures should be contemplated further, but Randall just won't do that. If he does, he'll get caught on a lot of complications and may likely be forced to actually draw things, and he'd never want that. Nope, better just ignore that and cash in on the usual loyal blind fans. Yay, meritocracy! " Cam, that's what RANDALL should have done. Person did enough just by illustrating the concept, the rest is pretty much implicit -- and pretty much impossible, since we know Randall refuses to do anything that adds effort to his comics, like elongating his stick figures' heads so they look more like the character they're supposed to represent. Malethoth, I think I saw "2 bears 1 cup" before. In a CRACKED Photoshop Contest, no less. *shudder* All in all, good job, Person #1, a good and long post like I was missing around. Maybe you should kill Carl and replace him here. what if he already has the joke requires some further thinking and imagination - which you obviously lack. sucks to be you funny, the more I think about it and the more I try to imagine situations where this might be funny the less funny it gets that's because you are a fucking retard. as stated before: sucks to be you. a quality I share with all the xkcd fanboys, apparently if you approach this comic with the idea that every XKCD must be funny, and therefore when it's not, you make up a reason for it to be funny, then yeah I guess you'd think it'd funny. It's true, if you have a good enough imagination, you don't even need a joke! You can just sit there and think of funny things. That's what I've started doing, actually. Every time there's an XKCD I just imagine instead that it's an episode of Red Dwarf. XKCD is my favorite comic again! get some sleep, your brain seems to need it. and so does your face. Captcha: "Rob is a pathetic fucktard who thinks he's a writer, hahaha.". True story. Man, trolls these days have no subtlety at all. "subtlety" is just a code word for COMMUNISM and FASCISM. DON'T LET YOURSELF BE TAKEN IN, AMERICA I thought it was better that he wasn't instantly identifiable as Inspector G in the first two panels, because then the last panel acted as a reveal. In other words, he used his so-called substandard art to add to the effectiveness of the punch line. I don't like the lazy lesbian reference though. It would have been better to choose some other embarassing item, like "Go go gadget nose hair remover". Minimalistic art style is no excuse for being lazy. I thought it detracted from this particular comic because, the more I look at the stick figure in the trenchcoat, the more it looks like Rorschach or some flasher pervert, and the less it looks like Inspector Gadget, simply because, as has already been stated, Gadget ACTUALLY HAS A FACE. Simon: "Why do you enjoy not enjoying something? Wouldn't you prefer to spend your time finding something you enjoy rather than criticizing something you don't enjoy?" You just answered your second question with your first. Good game. Unrelated to the comic, but I kept noticing an inordinate number of people using the word Jehova on the XKCD forums. I thought at first that it was some sort of weird meme there but then I realized that the word God is censored to Jehova when you post. Any idea why this is? About 75 comics back or so xkcd got even worse. Two theories: one, Randall (or some other admin on the forums) is an idiot and thinks he's being sensitive to Christians etc. by censoring a word they often take offense to. This would work better if it weren't more likely to piss them off. Two, Randall or some other admin on the forums thinks he's making a hilarious point against Christians etc. who complain about the use of the word 'God' as a vulgarity by changing it to something that's likely to really piss them off. Apparently it is part of some sort of forum "game" for this week. The word computer also becomes Porn storage aparatus or something like that. I think internet becomes blagotube. Essentially, just another dumb xkcd thing. Strikes me as annoyingly PRO-Christan/Jew. There are other gods out there besides the judeo-christian one; changing all instances of 'god' to 'Jehova' forces it to be all about Captain Jeebus. No Christian would ever do that, though. Like, there are plenty of Christians out there who don't mind people saying 'god' as a vulgarity, because God is not actually the name of God and the commandment goes 'thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain' or whatever. Jehovah actually being the name of God, this is basically a deliberate violation of the second or third commandment (depending on your particular orthodoxy). If it is pro-Christian then it was done by someone who has never actually interacted with Christians. It reads like it's mostly supposed to piss off Christians to me. BUT IN THE LATIN ALPHABET, JEHOVAH STARTS WITH AN 'i'!!!!! O_o I guess it's their forum and they can do what they like but saying "nobody is allowed to complain about it" is kind of a dick move. Also apparently "mod" filters to "god". "Strikes me as annoyingly PRO-Christan/Jew. There are other gods out there besides the judeo-christian one; changing all instances of 'god' to 'Jehova' forces it to be all about Captain Jeebus." It's not even how the Jews say or spell it in a roman alphabet. ." how dare somebody have an opinion (mind you I have neve been particularly fond of the xkcd forum admin team) They should have just made it יְהֹוָה aloria you are my favorite person. Yay let's drink "how dare somebody have an opinion (mind you I have neve been particularly fond of the xkcd forum admin team)" It's pretty common to communities like the XKCD forums: the admins essentially feel that it's your privilege to be there, so anyone who doesn't cater to their whims is banned. This belief pervades every level of the forum's culture, so the forum members also viciously attack people who deviate from forum norms. my little brother just told me that "The_P"'s avatar is some guy from pokemon - what the fuck? How old are you??! On a side note: Giving a shit about what other people think and attacking them? .. kinda reminds me of this blog. Don't be hypocritical, Rob. Fuck, seriously? A moderator on a forum posted that? It's okay to enjoy yourself as a mod, but you should never appear capricious or malicious in your moderating. It's the best way to kill a community. Whoever posted that should get their head out of their ass. yes, I am definitely being hypocritical by describing a common tendency in tight-knit forum communities like XKCD. this blog has a super tight-knit community and isn't basically thread after thread of endless flame wars over shit that doesn't matter at all It essentially reads to be like: "Hey, we've decided to act like immature fucktards for a week. Intelligent discourse on whether or not this is a good idea is impossible, as that would be inconsistent with the tenets of immature fucktardery. In order to maintain consistency with the tone of the week, we will throw a temper tantrum and abuse our power if anyone disagrees with us or calls us out on our immature fucktarded behavior." ..sounds like tons of fun! Even I'm not that bad, and when I do any kind of administrative action in the channel, people just scream at me until I stop and reverse it. hehe, oh those banhammer days were funny Person #1 you tyrant Anon 7:52 - specifically, it's an edited picture of a guy from Pokemon. Your implicit age-related insult is retarded and you are most likely a tremendous faggot. aloria, I can't drink because I am at work right now but I'll start as soon as I get home. Just wondering, has anyone taken XKCD's colour name survey? I used to go to GameFAQs until I got banned for ridiculously minor infractions. Specifically, I insulted people non-stop for about six weeks, and was punished with a serious of mild but escalating restrictions on my ability to post. When I continued to relentlessly insult people, I was banned. Fascists. You know, it's funny, people on GameFAQs do complain a lot about how arbitrary its moderators are, but I think it's one of the sites with the very least capricious moderating body. Especially if you compare GameFAQs to any amateur forum, such as a webcomic's. The main issue is just that there's a couple hundred mods on GameFAQs dealing with a couple million registered users. Admittedly, only a few thousand of them are active at any given time, but it's not like every moderator is constantly alert either. There's actually a pretty well-spelled-out body of rules for when you'll get moderated, and the policy of how punishments is determined is pretty easy to figure out and pretty consistently-applied. They don't radically change what's bannable on a whim. Hey wait none of you guys care at all about this stuff. :( I think someone, maybe rob, needs to write a blog post about this, just so we can piss them off. I have NO problem with the drawings on the subject comic, although I agree the too-tiny last panels were ill-advised. The coat and hat were quickly explained by the go-go text, the combination of stick figure and drawn coat is not an issue for me, and the look-around swivel was clear. The problem is the comic is utterly witless and illogical, even or especially in the context of the literally cartoonish Inspector Gadget. Lesbians will appear as gadgets, presumably protruding or emanating from him? This is funny? No. This is stupid. @The_P: Hey, thank you for the explanation on your avatar, that made it cool again!! ..Well, no, in fact it's still gay and so are you. Have a nice day, moron. :) person #1, please don't encourage rob to write another post on a stupid subject. in the end he's gonna think he's actually good at it! too late he's already written an 85-page dissertation on it. oh fake Keep. you're so compelling! you do know that people complaining about these posts is the biggest reason I'm still writing them, right? Rob, it's Emily. I really don't know how to tell you this, but I just found this site and it's really changed how I see you as a person. I don't think we can go on like this with me knowing what a sanctimonious prick you are. I'm leaving you Rob. rob: all i know is that you're full of shit. and btw: you do know that it's a great pleasure for me when you waste hours and hours of your precious life on those fruitless and uninspired rants and comments on this blog, right? and please spare us your phony shit about how little time this actually takes, because like i said before: you're full of shit. thank you and goodbye it's cool, I could never date a girl who doesn't know how to use "sanctimonious" correctly. Emily, it's Dad. I told you to leave that poor kid Rob alone. Do you want to go back to the hospital again? Now get off the damned computer and do your homework. fake Keep: as always, I'm flattered that you think it must take me hours to put the posts together--so, again, thank you--but I really am incredibly fucking lazy and I've got better shit to do. This is by far the absolute worst criticism of xkcd I've ever read. xkcdsucks is seriously going downhill. Yes this comic sucks, but your critique is like somebody vomited words on a page and called it criticism. Its just one long ramble making very few good points. You keep going on about the art. Yeah we get it, xkcd has shitty art. But that's been the critique in the last 50 posts. Seriously get some better writers, cause this drivel sucks. "xkcdsucks is seriously going downhill." this isn't even written by carl what "Jehovah actually being the name of God". When the Bible was translated out of Hebrew, the translator failed to realize that it was two words inter-spliced, and thought that Yahowah was God's name. Except, this was a German translator, so Jehovah. On top of that, Jehovah's witnesses must have forgotten that the word is German, so they took to pronouncing a j and v instead of y and w. It is in fact the gross mistake at God's name that should offend Jews and Christians. Or they could get a sense of humor. (Sorry, wild divergence, but this bit of trivia is one I find particularly interesting.) Incidentally, even though Inspector Gadget is a buffoon, he should at LEAST be adult enough to say "having sex". This is by far the absolute worst criticism of xkcdsucks I've ever read. Anonymous article bashing is seriously going downhill. Yes this article sucks, but your critique is like somebody vomited words on a page and called it criticism. Its just one long ramble making very few good points. You keep going on about people going on about the art. Yeah we get that you get that xkcd has shitty art. But that's been the critique in the last 50 comments. Seriously get some better commenters, cause this drivel sucks. @Anon 12:34 Aaand we've now gone meta. cool. I love the whole "god's name" thing. It's so full of intricate rules. I had no idea they had actually spliced together words to keep from offending him. That's so... I'm sure there's a proper medical term for it, but it sounds like god, and the people talking about him, suffer from a cross of autism and ocd. It's very reminiscent of coming up with rules about which tiles to walk on. If you don't like my post, don't read it Uh, El Dude, have you HEARD about the kosher laws? Great criticism, but I would appreciate it if you didn't start off with 'hey dummies.' On what grounds do you call us dumb? ok now I am drinking. The grounds that you're dumb? OOHH SICK BURN THIS IS WHAT YOU GET THIS IS WHAT YOU GET ME TOO INTERNET HIGH FIVE I am drinking a drink called a "red pussy" it is good but also very embarassing Following both the xkcdsucks and xkcd comic threads, I've almost noticed a blending of the two. It seems like more and more Anons come here to (when not choking on their own drool) try to troll this blog. Meanwhile, looking over at the XKCD individual comic threads for the truly terrible comics (like this inspector gadget piece of shit), it seems like it's in equal measure people calling in to say the comic sucks while the other half is the remnants of the diehard circle-jerkers. Looks like xkcd's falling popularity is... well, falling faster. Maybe I'm just being optimistic. Ok people, feel free to flame me for throwing in something so completely off-topic and possibly old news, but is this who I think it is? It might be my google skills but I don't think it's been mentioned anywhere online. I seem to remember him mentioning that site in his blog a long time ago. Lol Alsworth said "minimalistic art style is no excuse for being lazy." Isn't that the same thing Carl does? With all the one liner posts that are supposed to be funny because it's one line?? Why do you guys praise dinosaur comics so much, when your criticizing xkcd's "art?" I mean, dc is just the same every fucking day. I wonder why Rorschach is talking about gadgets and lesbians in this comic? Ryan North is anything but lazy. "Why do you guys praise dinosaur comics so much, when your criticizing xkcd's "art?" I mean, dc is just the same every fucking day." But DC is actually funny. XKCD is often unfunny, often because Randall's poor art interferes with the delivery of the joke. Art is no obstacle for DC, but it is for XKCD, hence the criticism. Man, I absolutely loved XKCD #384. I hope that the next comic is just like it, but with a tautology instead of a punchline. I hate xkcd as much as everyone else, but some of these criticisms are weak. Firstly there's nothing sexist about this comic. It merely shows Inspector Gadget to have crude, unrefined taste. Secondly, the fact that 'two lesbians doing it' doesn't fit into the usual gadget template isn't what makes this comic not work. 718 The joke Where is it Anonymous who talked about kosher laws: could they be even more hilarious than the name thing? I know about the "no pork" and "no work on saturday", and that the latter gets interpreted in many different ways. For example, in one fancy jewish neighborhood in one undisclosed city, on saturdays they hire people to stand in elevators (in apartment buildings!) and press buttons for those more orthodox jews who consider button-pressing to be work. Anonymous 7:29, Ryan North's feat is that he manages to come up with funny and thoughtful dialogue that *fits those pictures* almost every time. I mean really fits the facial expressions. That's nothing short of amazing. Btw, I actually liked 718. It's a sort of an interesting idea, but this really should've been posted to his blog. For a second I thought Randall was copying Ryan and doing some KLASSIK KOMIX but oh wait, the equation's different. Oh and he forgot the joke this time. Suppose the average habitable lifespan of a planet is one billion years--conservative, since the earth has been fecund for four times that. Let's also suppose that the average length of an intelligent civilization is one hundred thousand years. That's fairly generous. You could then have ten thousand civilizations on the same planet, none of whom ever existed concurrently. One resolution of the Fermi paradox. There HAVE BEEN millions of alien cultures, that never existed simultaneously. It's also why we wouldn't necessarily detect them. Sure, if a species ten thousand light years away from us broadcast continuously for ten thousand years, we would expect to pick up on it. But if there was a relatively brief blurt of communication--say they broadcast continuously for ten thousand years, but did so three hundred million years ago--we wouldn't notice. We've been listening for alien cultures for an extremely short period of time, in evolutionary terms and even moreso in cosmological terms. XKCD 718 was funnier the first time, when it was called 384 and had a punchline. Also, there's a Goddamned typo (pracitce) in the alt text, which is unacceptable for a supposedly intellectual webcomic. ." yes, because it's impossible for someone to have multiple names "There HAVE BEEN millions of alien cultures, that never existed simultaneously." This thought, to me, feels lonelier than the thought that we are alone. Although 718 isn't funny in it self (you could make up as many such formulas as you like), there might be the possibility that this comic is a parody of statistics (when you consider the alt-text): making up a formula that leads to the same results as you experience when doing research, but that basically is worthless. To comply with the culture on this blog: Maybe this strip is aparody of xkcd itself: You can make up as many strips like this as you want, that are unfunny, give no insight, and are basically pointless. Quick nitpick - conservative estimates would UNDERestimate the world population to 6.5 billion or so. Also, he gives people a 90% chance to make details not fitting the narrative work, and a 0% chance to actually realize that there is a problem with the story and their friend is wrong. Can't argue too much more, since there certainly are a lot of people out there who think aliens are real and know of sightings. Carl why must you be spreading communist-nazi lies to the youth of America? Why do you hate freedom? Oh hey sweet, I went to post how today's comic Flake is "junk math" and found out... I've been banned! I did not even see that post saying they would capriciously ban people on a admin fiat about it. I don't know why, but it made me really really angry. I shot off a quick e-mail pointing out that I only read the original post of the topic (why would I want to read pages and pages of people circle jerking how good this mod madness thing is?). I was actually mad enough to send the following to Randall's contact address on his "blag". I am sure he doesn't give a shit, but I had to at least let him know that his forum mods (oh should I say "gods") are asshats. BTW - I tried to keep it civil and maybe even sucked up a little bit in order to curry favor and get him not to dismiss my claim because I "made him mad". Here it is: I am almost certain that this has no weight in your life and that you probably won't care enough to do anything, but as your forums are representative of you, I feel that I must write you about this. did not get very angry though and simply posted "This is pretty much dumb". Your admin then BANNED me from the forum for this. Apparently, somewhere buried in the topic, he said he would ban people who did not kowtow to their whims. I just cannot believe that I do not have the freedom to protest the worthiness of something on the xkcd forums. I thought xkcd as a concept was supposed to be all about it being okay to be different and have different opinions. I could see a ban if I were trolling people hard, but I just said "this is pretty much dumb". I guess I could justified my opinion more, but it doesn't seem to matter to your power hungry forum leaders who write tripe like: ." There is nothing fun about being banned. He didn't even remove the post I made for goodness sake. He is just enforcing a totalitarian yes-man regime where only those who are willing to pretend like the mods are oh so funny and witty and great because they were given some meaningless web authority are allowed to have fun. I would appreciate if you reprimanded your administrators for this behavior and got my account reinstated immediately. I contacted him about it too. Let's see what he has to say. I don't think he's even aware of it, since he himself doesn't seem like a douchebag. @Person #1 the Second: um, dude, that's not what "furtive" means. It means secretive. It has nothing to do with hoping. Are you maybe thinking of "fervent" as in "fervently hoping?" I also created a new account "modmaddnessprotest" for the duration of my ban. While not saying anything about mod madness as a game, I did protest the bannings. I wonder how long before they kill that account too. :) Haha, oh god. The very idea that Randall had anything to do with NASA, the big fucking dungaree cunt. Imagine making mathematics so *vain*. I hope he eats a witch's dinner. So maybe I'm an idiot, but what is "P" meant to be? He labelled every variable except for that one. Also note the current title of the rules thread: "xkcd Forum Rules - Post GoatKCD, Get Banned". I can only imagine the discussion that prompted that. On that note 716 and 717 make excellent goatkcds (the last line of 716 makes it especially excellent). In my rage about the forum stuff, I got distracted. Malethoth: I have frequented gamefaqs since 2001. You are right about the rules being crazy strict there, though I don't think it is a necessarily bad thing. In my opinion, for the most part it keeps the community in line and discussion civil, especially compared to some of the spinoffs that exist (luelinks for example) That being said, I must wholeheartedly agree that the one good thing about the site is relative consistency. It gets messed up when new mods are first chosen, but for the most part, the site is moderated consistently and there is at least a form of recourse to complain to a higher up mod or admin if there are problems. Last comic... I don't care. It seems he wanted to make a point about accounts of extraterrestrial contact, but I'm not sure what it is, and why bother making a parody equation to state it. CAPTCHA: laderme. Fancy French for "the skin". I think. Second CAPTCHA, because I forgot I was posting this comment and got distracted: bullyise. Aw, come on... The xkcd forum dramarama is exactly the kind of thing a bitchy gossip queen like me thrives on. Keep the updates coming! Today's Dinosaur comics isn't very worthwhile until you read the title text. Then it surpasses my expectations. We all know Mario 3 is the best video game ever, except it could have been better with more goomba sock! Dear god. Mod madness. I've never seen anything so dumb defended with such open assholery. I wonder what the mechanism is for choosing mods on those boards. Did Randy pick the initial mods and then it was like, "if you trust the person, you can make him a mod, and he gets the same right"? A couple of years ago the mods sounded like nice, intelligent people. I'd like to see a graph comic that showed the retards creeping in. Maybe plotting "friend-distance from Randall" versus "idiocy"? anomalies: Belial @marsman57 agree that some of that stuff is pretty offensive. I wonder why it says God->Jehova instead of the more accurate God->"Purportedly Magic Fairytale Character"? I agree that some of that stuff is pretty offensive. I wonder why it says God->Jehova instead of the more accurate God->"Purportedly Magic Fairytale Character"? The mods probably don't want to cause too much of a stir; some people still believe that God exists. They're right, too. lol@butthurt qwantzsux I think God->"Santa Claus" would be more appropriate; some people still believe that Santa exists. They're right, too. My parents told me so. Spoken like a world-weary eight-year old. @comic at least he didnt do a Go Go Inspector G-spot joke @anonee mice Santachrist, your new god Santachrist, Santachrist, we all love Santachrist, he is Santa and Jesus, Goddamn it's Santachrist One thing I used to do was say "go go gadget" before doing something incredibly mundane. As if it were an actual achievement. "Go go gadget pen," and then take a pen out of my pocket and start writing, for instance. I'm sure there's a joke in there about an unemployed Inspector Gadget, who gets laid off the force but continues to say "Go Go Gadget" as he goes about his daily life. "Go Go Gadget Knife and Fork!" ... he rummages in a drawer for a few seconds. "Actually, I think I sold my cutlery for beer money. ... Damn."
Rachel Albert-Matesz grew up eating a typical American Diet of refined and overly processed foods,fries and ketchup were her serving of vegetables.The nickname Betty baker (as in Betty Crocker) best suited her for her obsession with sweet baked goodies.The nutrition deficient diet eventually took the toll on her health with conditions like hypoglycemic episodes,cavities,acne,brittle nails,painful constipation,depression,mood swings,painful menstrual periods and a weight problem.In her quest for good health she discovered natural alternatives for a healthier diet,with keen desire to help other she became the "healthy cooking coach".Learn more about her story at TheHealthyCookingCoach.com. She took the Challenge of creating a nutritious ice-cream with better all-natural ingredients.Her book Ice Dream Cookbook is the sweet success of endless testing and tasting.The cookbook has 80 delicious and healthy recipes with more than 200 Variations.The book discusses the essentials of incorporating healthy ingredients and provides alternatives to the common food allergens such as dairy,nuts,soy and wheat(gluten).The Coconut milk and virgin pressed Coconut oil is highlighted as the healthier substitutes for the fatty dairy cream and butter.She uses non-caloric herbal sweetener stevia along with other natural sweeteners like Agave nectar ,honey and maple syrup.In this way She cut the amount of sugar but maintained a similarly satisfying level of sweetness and lessen the health hazards of sugar at the same time. The book also has useful guidelines for equipments and techniques needed for whipping up the best tasting Ice Dream. Rachel has created a whole range of flavors ,from basic like Vanilla ,Chocolate chip,Maple Pecan and Orange cream Ice Dream to beyond basic flavors like Avocado,Basil,Ginger,Lemon cookie crumble and Peppermint.Coffee and tea also have a place in these delectable dessert.My favorite pick had to the fruit and nut flavored. There is also a chapter each on variety of sauces(fruity,chocolate and more) ,compotes and gluten-free cookies to go with the Ice dreams. Roasted Banana Nut Ice Dream with Blueberry Sauce I was truly elated when Rachel sent me a copy for review.With summer at its peak,this book couldn't have come at a better time.This book also reaffirms my recent discovery of Coconut as a health food.The recipes are very clear with intricate details .For my first Ice Dream I picked Bananas,yes! I love them for breakfast ,in smoothie or snacking ,these universal unseasonal fruits are packed with nutrients.Roasting the Bananas brings out the delicious caramelized flavor of the fruit and blended in coconut milk ,cinnamon and nuts,this is by far the tastiest concoction with bananas I ever had.The berry sauce with fresh berries of the season makes the ice dream all the more succulent. Recipe by Rachel Albert-Matesz as in Ice Dream Cookbook. Ingredients 3 medium-size ripe bananas, peels removed (about 2 1/2 cups when sliced) 2 to 3 tablespoons real maple syrup 1 tablespoon virgin-pressed coconut oil or palm shortening 1/3 cup cool or cold filtered water 2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin or 3/4 teaspoon agar agar powder (not the flakes) 1 tablespoon honey or agave syrup or 1 1/2 tablespoons maple syrup; additional 1 tablespoon as needed 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract powder or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon clear stevia extract liquid (start with less; add more only if needed). 1/8 teaspoon finely ground, unrefined sea salt 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or alcohol-free vanilla flavoring 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon or 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, optional 1 3/4 cups (one 14 ounce can) unsweetened preservative free coconut milk (regular, not lite). Method 1-Gently melt coconut or palm oil in a small saucepan over low heat. Set aside. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Lightly oil a 2 quart (preferably glass or Pyrex) baking dish. I use an 8 x 10 or a 9×9x2 inch pan or a 9 inch Pyrex pie plate. don’t use a large pan or the syrup will burn. 2-Slice the bananas into 2 inch pieces into a medium bowl. Toss with maple syrup and coconut or palm oil. Scrape into the prepared pan. Reduce the heat to 400 degrees F and bake for 30 to 35 minutes (stir only one time) until bananas look browned and cooked through. 3-Add 1/3 cup water to a small saucepan. Slowly sprinkle with gelatin or agar agar powder. Let stand for 2-5 minutes to soften. Warm over medium-low heat, without stirring until gelatin or agar agar dissolves. Scrape the mixture into a blender, vita-mix or food processor. Add the honey, sea salt, and stevia. Blend until smooth. 4-Add the roasted banana mixture, coconut milk, vanilla, and optional cinnamon. Blend until smooth , stopping to scrape the sides with a spatula. For a sweeter taste, add an additional 1/8 teaspoon stevia and/or 1 tablespoon honey. Blend, taste, and repeat if needed. 5-Pour into one or more wide-mouthed jars. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours before churning. 6-Scrape the chilled custard into the canister of your ice cream maker. Churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. 7-Serve immediately or spoon into several 8-to 16-ounce freezer safe containers. Cover and freeze for 3 or more hours for a firmer texture. 8-Soften solidly frozen dessert by placing it in the refrigerator for 30 to 45 minutes or on the counter for 15 to 30 minutes before serving. Without the Ice cream machine method You can make the Ice dream even without the Ice cream machine.After the step 4,transfer the Ice Dream mixture in to a freezer proof container,preferably air tight.Freeze for about an hour,then get the container out and whisk the mixture using a spatula or hand held whisk or electric whisk to break the ice crystals forming over the edges of the container.Freeze and whisk again after 30-40 minutes ,repeat this for about 6 hours until the mixture is almost frozen.Serve immediately or freeze.Do as in step 8 to serve. Blueberry Sauce Recipe by Rachel Albert-Matesz as in Ice Dream Cookbook. Ingredients 4 cups fresh blueberries,rinsed and drained or 5 cups frozen blueberries 1/4 cup honey,agave nectar or 1/3 cup maple syrup(I used just 1 tablespoon) 1 pinch unrefined mineral-rich sea salt 2 tablespoon arrowroot powder(I used 1 tablespoon corn starch) 1/4 or 1/2 teaspoon pure stevia extract powder or 1/2 to 1 teaspoon clear stevia extract liquid(start with less;add more only if needed) 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice or orange juice Directions 1.Combine the blueberries and honey in a heavy 2 to 3 quart saucepan.Cook over medium heat until berries bubble and release their juices,about 5 minutes 2.Dissolve arrowroot and stevia in lemon or orange jucie and add to the fruit.Reduce heat to medium-low and cook for 2 to 4 more minutes until the mixture begins to thicken.Remove from heat and allow to cool. 3.For a smoother sauce,mash or puree half the berries with a potato masher or in a blender. 4.Transfer the mixture to wide-mouth jars or glass bowls.Cover when cool,and refrigerate.When cold to the touch ,freeze when you don't plan to use within 3 to 4 weeks,leaving at least 1 inch space at the top of the jar. 5.Serve close to room temperature ,or warm briefly in a small saucepan over low heat. Peach Melba The classic Ice cream dessert was originally created by French chef Escoffier ,in the honor of the Australian singer,Nellie Melba,at the Hotel Savoy in London in 1892. Made with two favorite summer fruits :peaches and raspberry served with Vanilla ice cream,the fruity dessert sounded very easy to put together with the batch of Roasted Banana nut Ice Dream. Ingredients 2 cups cool or cold filtered water 1/4 teaspoon pure stevia extract or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon clear stevia liquid 2 tablespoon honey or agave nectar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract or natural vanilla flavoring 4 large ripe peaches 8 scoops of Roasted Banana nut Ice dream or use any of the Ice dreams flavors in the book 1 cup Raspberry sauce * 1/4 to 1/2 cup toasted almonds or pistachios for garnish. Directions 1.Combine the water,stevia,optional honey,vanilla,and peaches in 2 to 3 quart pot.Bring to boil over medium-high heat.Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer,uncovered,for 15 minutes ,until fork tender.Turn the peaches 3 times,about once every 3 to 4 minutes.(Set them in the pot with their stem ends up,then turn them upside down.This way,you always know which direction they should be facing as opposed to just setting them on their sides).Exact time will depend upon the size and ripeness of the peaches. 2.Remove peaches and reduce the poaching liquid by slow boiling for about 15 minutes,uncovered ,until you have about 1/2 cup.Transfer the peaches to a pyrex bowl and juices to another bowl or small jar.cover and refrigerate until cold.You can do this up to 2 days ahead. 3.To serve,peel,halve and pit the peaches.Divide reserved poaching liquid among 4 dessert dishes or wine glasses.Add a scoop of Ice Dream,and place a peach half on either side of the Ice Dream.Spoon the raspberry sauce in a wide band overlapping both the peach halves and the Ice Dream.Garnish with nuts and serve immediately. 4.Refrigerate unused peaches and sauce and use withing a few days. *Raspberry sauce recipes remains the same as the bluberry sauce,strain the seeds if desired after pureeing the sauce. Variations ** Replace water with white grape juice;then omit stevia and honey ** Replace peaches with nectarines,or raspberry sauce with strawberry ,blueberry or cherry sauce. I served this melting scoop over the reduced poaching liquid ,peach halve and roasted pistachois. More about Rachel's Secret Ingredients Stevia,the Healthy Sweetener Stevia is a non-caloric herbal sweetener extracted from the leaf of South American plant-Stevia Rebaudiana-a small perennial shrub that produces incredibly small,sweet leaves that taste 50 times sweeter than table sugar.Unlike Caloric Sweeteners,Stevia is non-cariogenic,which means it doesn't promote tooth decay,and it has no effect on blood glucose levels,which makes it safe for diabetics,people who suffer from reactive hypoglycemia,and anyone who wants to avoid adverse effects of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Europeans have known about it since the 16th century when the Spanish conquistadors discovered the natives of South American using the leaves of the Stevia plant to Sweeten Yebra mate`,their traditional herbal beverage.Researches were amazed to discover that it took only one leaf to sweeten an entire jar of their bitter tea.The leaves have also been used therapeutically by indigenous people as antiseptic and aid to healing wounds. Stevia has been used widely as a sweetener in Paraguay,Korea,Thailand,China,Japan and several other countries,with no reported adverse effects.Stevia was first introduced to the United states in 1918,yet very few Americans have heard of it.Why?Stevia is an unpatentable product of nature;it threatens the multi-billion dollar a year artificial sweetener industry,which has been lobbied heavily to keep the sweet leaf off the market. How to use Stevia? It takes time to get used to the taste of stevia.The key to avoid the bitter after taste of Stevia is to use it precisely,usually tiny pinches or the purified powder or several drops of the clear liquid ,at a time.Remember more is not always better with stevia,only a minuscule amount is needed to produce a sweet taste.The cookbook provides the clear measurement guidelines to using stevia to substitute for sugar. Stevia is available in many natural foods stores in US.Stevia comes in several forms and concentrations. Green Stevia leaves and powder :made from the leaves,this represents the least concentrated form of the herb. White Stevia Extract Powder :extracted from the leaves of the plant and has a smoother flavor than the unrefined green powder. Green Stevia Liquid :liquid is made from whole stevia leaves Clear Stevia Extract liquid :made from the concentrated steviosides,one of the main constituents of Stevia. The Goodness of Coconut Coconut is the tropical wonder food packed with essential nutrients.The coconut water is best thirst quencher while the copra(the meat of the nut) is used to make coconut oil,coconut butter and most delicious of all,the coconut milk. The coconut oil has long been misunderstood as unhealthy saturated fat,but recent studies have revealed ,the medium chain fatty acid in coconut oil is does not have a negative effect on cholesterol and help to protect against heart disease.Also helps to lower the risk of both atherosclerosis and heart disease. The coconut milk is said be anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral. The main saturated fat that it contains, lauric acid, is also found in mother's milk and has been shown to promote brain development and bone health. Some hope that coconut milk, with its powerful anti-viral properties, can one day be used in the fight against AIDS. Rachel's exclusively uses the healthy coconut oil and coconut milk to substitute for the dairy fat(butter) and milk in the Ice Dream recipes. If Allergic to Coconut Milk? Replace the coconut milk with combination of cow's milk and heavy cream,using equal parts of milk and cream or 2 parts cream to 1 part milk.Use Organic or grass-fed cow's milk. Get your Copy. The cookbook is a best buy for any diet-conscious ,Ice-cream aficionados and those on restricted diets(low-sugar,gluten-free,dairy-free). Purchase The Ice Dream CookBook at Rachel's blog or at Amazon.com 52 comments: A great review on a great book!I just loved your presentation of Ice cream in Coconut shells... Wow,thank you so much for that :)!I didn't know about Stevia and now I know it.He,he,he,I learned something new :)! So inspireing,because I've never imagined that sweets can be so healty. Kiss,kiss... Yasmeen, why are you tempting me with this ?? Not fair .. Iam gonna dram of ice creams tonight I am left speechless.. Great review with complimenting recipes. You have done full justice to the book. Lovely presentation. Good effort. wowo that looks so delicious and so interesting..lovely post.. wow...that is truly a great post........your photos are truly droolworthy n i know they are all healthy desserts...... i have stewea plant here in my garden n the leaves are extremely sweet....have used them only in my tea till now.....hope i'll use it more often.. nice post dear...lovely presentation of icecream....awesome Wooooooow ! The Ice creams are soooo tempting. Nice clicks.... and great presentation dear. The icecreams are awesome! Lovely shots with presentation! That was an interesting info. Thankls for sharing! Wow great review yasmeen and just awesome presentation.. Thats so informative... will try it our for sure... Thats totally an amazing story to read..lots of effort..hats off..and you Yasmeen,you are beyond words.. not an icecream savvy here..looks spledid. Oh,that looks drool worthy! And nice presentation in coconut shell!! Wow that looks so delicious and so interesting... Nice presentation.. Mouth watering..... That icecream does look so enticing...what a delicious and healthy treat :) Great review! I don't eat ice cream very often, but I am certain that would change if I had a copy of this book. An informative post in general! that is a very good review yasmeen! loved your choice of flavours, peach melba is something i love! Wow, you definitely did the book justice! That all looks fabulous. Wow!! Drooling over all of them. Bright colours presented great.. Drool-worthy dear! nice review yasmeen. the icecreams are making me drool :-) awesome post! Great review,will try to buy this book :) Yasmeen, what a wonderful review! The clicks are very good, and the information you shared is enlightening. I love that coconut-milk ice cream which would be entirely vegan if one were to use agar agar instead of gelatin. Gotta try this, Yasmeen. Your pictures are so lovely. Excellent review..can't wait to try this one of a kind Ice Dream. Excellent review. You have convinced me to order the book and then go and buy and ice cream maker!!! Wow I feel like I have just ben to the best ice cream parlore ever. wonderful ice cream recipes with tempting presentation !! Perfect for hot hot summer !! I'm a big fan of coconuts...Ice dream looks like a delicious frozen treat.thanks for the unique recipe. Manjula That sounds amazingly good Yasmeen..all those pics have left me craving for some cold ice cream..:) Drool drool... that book sounds very interesting! Your creations are beautiful and so tempting! Delicious! Cheers, Rosa very very yummy Ice Cream a water is coming in my mouth ..................after seeing this first i am going to buy a Ice Maker after that i will.............. try thnx for such a nice post............. Thanks for the great post and for the nice recipes, I am not a big fan of ice cream but my children are. By the way, welcome to Walima club, nice to have you with us. The review itself tells ur passion on health and family. Nice job done dear. The facts about coconut will come true one day. YES, I love coconut:) Each picture looks divine! Lovely bok too! Vow, you are making all of us tempted with healthier version of icecreams. Thanks for sharing. ur post is really so informative...and i like the coconut shells!! Wow wonderful post..so many variety...your blog new look is very nice Delectable to the core.I love this vegan Ice cream! You convinced me enough to buy this book,WOW! Though its monsoons here..I'd still love to try this delicious scoop of ice cream..er..dream :) Sounds like an amazing book - I don't know which recipe I would pick to try first - yum! Great post, thanks for all the info. I've been using stevia for years,and I think next year I'll buy some plants or seeds and grow my own. Agave nectar has some serious issues, and I don't use it. I absolutely love coconut milk, coconut oil and coconut flour and am starting to experiment with them in baking. I love the ice dream recipes and may try one, though I don't have a machine and I think the manual method will turn out to be a pain, but the dessert sounds so delicious and healthful, it probably is worth it. Whoa .. love the pics and day-dreaming abt that ice-cream! Healthy too! I expect no less from you, Yasmeen :))) Howz the kiddo, and his arm? Wow! Your ice cream looks fantastic!! Yasmeen, that looks wonderful.So with such a rave review, the book does sound good.Loved the recipe, but sadly, I did not find agave nectar in the costco near where I live :( Oh Btw, wonderful pics too yasmeen. Wonderful Coconut flavors..never knew it was healthy. Great review! Your ice creams look really appealing! I use stevia quite often and found that it is a good substitute! Awesome!Truly delightful ice dreams ,thanks for the great review. I've been diagnosed with lactose intolerance.So glad I found the review .I was going to get the book for all the dairy free ice cream recipes. Hello, Gelatin is derived from the collagen inside animals' skin and bones. I wish there was a alternative. Rupa Rupa,Agar-agar works best as vegan substitute for gelatin. Ice cream is a great subject for people to talk about. I do know anyone who dislikes it