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BEEspoke Data 39

Writing in Crikey the other day, Guy Rundle fleshed out the bones of the “tipping point” theory about the scandals that have enveloped News International in Britain. Rundle made the interesting argument that the political agenda is being set in Australia by the left. That seems counter-intuitive, but only because we’re so surrounded by the voices of reaction from the media (and not just News Limited, but its echo chambers in press gallery and ABC cultures, and the milquetoast journalism of Fairfax). But, when you think about the fact that we’ve seen the introduction of a proper paid parental leave scheme, we’ve seen a redistributive tax reform which favours the lower paid, we’re on the cusp of a labour market shift towards green and clean energy jobs, and we will have a carbon price… If you sit back and take the longer view, reality is actually shaping policy – the reality of climate change, the reality of female workforce participation, the reality of changing attitudes to gender equality, the reality of an impending end to dirty and unrenewable fuel… and same-sex marriage can’t be far off. And the forces of reaction have nothing to peddle but fear. The peddling of that fear, in terms of public opinion, has of course, been spectacularly successful. To date. But there may be another tipping point – the decline into collapse of industrial media. Given that the NotW scandal has now seen it suggested, plausibly, that the Murdoch family may lose control of News, I’ve seen it argued, also plausibly, that come the next election, there may be no Australian to run its “campaigning journalism”. It’s not outside the realm of possibility. Thinking, though, that everything will always be the same in the Australian mediascape is almost certainly also out of step with reality. We may be seeing the end of newspapers as we know them. Elsewhere: On some of the issues tossed around concerning mooted and current media reviews, Mr Denmore at The Failed Estate. Anthony Burnett has an interesting UK take at Open Democracy. NB: Earlier Murdochracy discussion on LP is here. 54 responses to “Tipping points, politics, NotW and the longer view” or Tipping points, politics, NotW, the longer view, wishful thinking and utter, utter delusion. If, yes a big if, that Murdoch steps down, what ever this will change nothing. The culture he has groomed into his empire will flourish no matter who is at the head. Any falling on swords will be just window dressing a side show, and what’s more the rubes will buy it. They will flock to his defence, and the irony is, it wont be his friends that will fall at his feet in sympathy, it will be the new left. I watched sky news this very day and the defence of this evil all encompassing empire by the journalists or should I say dupes, was making me sick to my very stomach. They are treating the public like simpletons. I remember it wasn’t that many years ago the true left what’s left of them excuse the pun, warned of the dangers of this empire, and were laughed and scoffed at as reactionary imbeciles. ha ha. So mind-numbingly predictable. @1 – oh really? I suppose you would have said a year ago that Murdoch being dragged unwillingly before a Commons enquiry and Brooks being charged was unthinkable. @2 – I don’t agree, though it’s certainly true that the culture is rotten. The two big threats are: (a) an actual assertion by shareholders and directors of a shift in governance that looks at doing what public companies are supposed to do, rather than the interests of the Murdoch family; (b) forced moves – whether by government or market necessities – towards divestment. The ‘flagship’ News papers which set the tone are all unprofitable or only marginally profitable and living off a declining business model. There’s no evidence that any of the life rafts seized upon (paywalls, mobile apps, ‘The Daily’, etc) are going to make any difference. The value in the company is in pay tv not in newspapers (and not much in film production anymore). If there’s anything in the 9/11 hacking allegations, Murdoch’s standing in the US will be destroyed. It’s looking less and less likely that the James Murdoch succession plan will fly, and if he’s entangled personally in legal trouble, that would be game over. Things do come to an end. Including powerful things. Sometimes that happens quite quickly. Yep! Not a ‘fit’ and ‘proper’ person. of course things wont be as they have always been. And of course the people who run whatever News Corp becomes post Murdoch will be right wing. But they probably wont have the same interest in Australia that Rupert has. The Oz is a bit of an affectation really, it hasnt been Murdochs main game since he took out US citizenship. As newspapers become less and less relevant, i always assumed Murdoch would keep the Oz on life support until Fairfax collapsed, at which point the damn thing might even make a profit. But a new set of proprietors would look around and ask “what use is this to us”. At that point the Oz is gone. They will keep the rest, or sell them to the Packers or Kerry Stokes, perhaps. One of the signs of the times is that Murdoch himself was reported to be considering selling his remaining British titles – The Times, the Sunday Times, and the Sun, but concluded that they would find no buyers in the state of the newspaper biz these days. I don’t know what the financial position of some of the Australian dailies is… if the Courier-Mail struggles to sell more than 100 000 a day (and no doubt a lot of those are given away) in a city with almost 1.8 million people now, it can’t be a good sign. Just picking up the thing you can tell it’s pitched almost solely to the over 60s crowd. I’ll emphasise again – the confluence of two tipping points (the exposure of NotW and what it implies and the death of the newspaper business model) is what will drive change. House of Commons inquiry live on “The Age” website now (and later tonight on ABC24, I believe) I’d just add to the commercial point that News doesn’t do innovation – cf Myspace, which it wrecked. What it has traditionally done is tried to seize monopoly or oligopoly positions in particular markets. Often through leveraging political influence. There are real threats to that (cf BSkyB) now, and the strategy itself makes less sense with the fracturing of media and audiences. Fascinating post, Kim. We may well be seeing the end of newspapers as we know them. But it’s very much an open question what will replace them. I’d like to throw in one unpleasant possibility that has lots of historical precedents. Indeed, the Murdochs themselves have long done so with the Oz. What if – for example – Gina Rinehart buys the remnants of some of the news organizations and runs them as a subsidized political propaganda operation for her thoroughly unpleasant and self-serving views? Thanks, Robert. That might be the case, but who would read them? I’m also wondering if there might not be some short term effects on the News biz in Australia. A sensible political strategy would be to lie low, to tone down their various mad campaigns, get some different editors. Probably won’t happen, but if the revelation that the Emperor has no clothes shifts some behaviour in the ABC and other bits of the press gallery, that would be a good thing. I do think we are witnessing the death of the media as we know it. What replaces it is indeed an interesting question. But I am sure that the 2016 election will be fought under very different media conditions indeed, and if the Murdoch empire really does fall over a cliff, who knows about 2013? Well I for one think the most likely scenario is that Murdoch Snr will ride out this storm and retain chairmanship and strategic control of News Corp. Probably even James will still be CEO of important parts of the empire. But even so, that would only be the appearance of status quo. It seems to me the real change here will be in how politicians relate to Murdoch journalists. It’s hard to write stories when politicians don’t return your calls… It has also shown up the utterly craven partisan relationship here in Australia between the conservatives and News Ltd. Whereas in the UK the House of Commons were unanimous in calling for an inquiry, whereas in the USA both Republican and Democratic politicians have called for inquiries; here in Australia you’ve had the conservatives saying ‘oh, no, the media do a good job in this country…’ In the end, they will all ride the u-bend together… PS – on the ‘not returning calls’ situation, it was very interesting to hear John Hartigan reveal last week on 7.30 that the most recent incoming police commissioner in NSW (I think?) told Hartigan that he wouldn’t be seeking to have any “relationship” with the media. Given the events of the weekend, that commissioner’s decision is looking wiser by the minute… If the rate at which Murdoch journalists are being shut out of the offices of the great and the powerful continues, pretty soon phone hacking is the only means they’ll have left to get a story! The foam-pie protestor has scored somewhat of an own goal. I freely admit that my first reaction to hearing about the harmlessly humiliating foam-pie stunt was laughter at Murdoch’s expense, and that this makes me a less than perfect human being. I don’t however think that it necessarily makes me a bad human being, and neither do I think that anybody was over-reacting to his approach with what could have been a much more dangerous object. The own goal? This stunt has frustrated people’s desire to see Murdoch squirm due to the questions he was being asked rather than because his suit had been slimed, and has tipped the scales towards people feeling sympathy for Murdoch for the first time in weeks. Also because wife Wendi Deng deflected the pie so that it didn’t even hit Murdoch in the face as planned, she’s garnered admiration (quite justifiably) for her badassery. He should have targeted James. I bet Wendi wouldn’t have lifted a finger. re Tig Tog, everyone was cheering Wendy Deng! But after a little while it began to dawn that it could have been a nutter, While security were off on their coffee/cigs break, someone with a bottle of acid could have walked up to someone and thrown it in their face…appalling! Thank goodness Alex Munday was there to save Rupert. tt said: What’s the bet that Murdoch paid the guy to perform the stunt to clear the gallery and elicit sympathy? If somone would give me 2/1 I’d be tempted. {someone} I doubt it, Fran. He’s apparently well known in certain UK activist circles. He seems to be an activist who occasionally lets off steam with stand-up comedy, rather than a comedian who occasionally lets off steam with activism. Kim@11: Alan Jones, Andrew Bolt etc. don’t exactly struggle for readers/listeners. Jones also demonstrates another thing about right-wing populists – they’re also often prepared to shill for their paymasters. Twiggy Forest, Gina Rinehart etc. could fund a news operation out of a couple of days mine profits at the moment. Aside from the ABC, they may not have a lot of competition. And, as we’ve seen over the past few years, the ABC’s journalists often take their coverage slant direct from Newscorp. I didn’t know about the pie – I watched about 5 minutes of James Murdoch, and went back to watching Martha Jones and the Doctor… Rob, but insufficient numbers of people read The Oz to make it a viable commercial proposition now. News Limited peeps have themselves said this week that the influence comes from how it sets the agenda (ie through the ABC). You’ve also got a very aging demographic reading Bolt/listening to Jones. Mercurius @13 Jay Rosen writes in The Guardian that the Sun King’s newspaper properties are basically there to wield influence with governments and police etc – i.e. as agency to facilitate the growth of his other interests, especially satellite and cable tv, which require government approval/licensing (newspapers do not, in anglophone sphere at least). It’s clear that most of the politicians in Britain were/are compromised by what NI was able to uncover, phone hacking being just one method of winkling out compromising information. Phone hacking was just one of the mechanisms. A good piece in The Age: The inventor of the Paywall, Necro-Journalism and a way to lose money in online Social Media. I only saw the coverage of the UK Parliamentary enquiry on ABC Breakfast TV this morning. I think I missed the bit where the p-lates of wet lettuce were brought in. Spose the 3 hour Director’s Cut might’ve been more interesting. “I’ve seen it argued, also plausibly, that come the next election, there may be no Australian to run its “campaigning journalism”. It’s not outside the realm of possibility.” A post-Murdoch NewsCorp may rid itself of vanity banners like the OO. However, the Tele will remain, though in an unpredictable form. It’s not necessarily the case, though, that the Australian and the Daily Telegraph have to be so partisan. The former wasn’t always – if you think back to the 90s, its line was more yay for economic reform and The Republic. If anything, its politics were a form of Keatingism. What was absent, though, was the suite of over the top op/edders and the blurring of news and opinion. I don’t know about the Daily Telegraph, never having read it. The man is 80. Even bogeymen retire eventually. I think that it is undeniable that a post-Rupe News will be driven more by return on equity and less by megalomania. TT said: A damned shame. It would have been nice if that story could have run for a while. What a goose! When Rupert was asked if an internal investigation had been established to identify if there had been any phone hacking in the US. His reply was along the lines of , we haven’t seen any evidence of this behavior in our US operations. At the time I thought hang on, he didn’t answer the question but it wasn’t followed up by anyone. Am I a bit too sensitive on this? I would have thought at least an acknowledgment that an internal investigation had or had not been set up would have been required. Without this the culture of “we didn’t know, no one told us” can continue. The old man is really done for, after all his whole model of newspaper micromanagement-that-isn’t-really-micromanagement is contained within his royal being, and age has finally caught him. Watching him testify was like watching Reagan after he left office testify for that Iran Contra trial in US federal court. He’s obviously on the way out. I wouldn’t be surprised if the markets and the banksters begin to steer him towards offloading newpapers all over the place. Newsprint is something that plays a role only in Rupert’s grand design, not the Newscorp investors’ grand design. The merchant banks and the traders want more FoxTel, more blockbuster movies. They couldn’t care less about old tree media. Whoopee, now Australia can have editions of that nice, independent, pluralist ‘West Australian’ in Sydney, Adelaide and Brisbane (I jest). Viva the fall of the Berlin Wall! @Point of Order: that’s a classic “non-denial denial”. Well spotted. I think that Rupe’s not as dumb as he tried to pretend, and James is certainly not as bright as he tried to appear. Did he really believe that he fooled anyone with MBA PRspeak guff? Obviously his plan was to talk and talk until his audience lost the will to live. The Commons Culture, Media and Sport committee are zen masters of the wet noodle school of interrogation. Are they really that timid and/or intellectually lax or is the fix on? Obviously the calling of the Murdochs to front the Select Committee is merely the beginning of one very long statist process encompassing multiple inquiries and various trials. I think Kim’s point that we may not have The Oz to run a highly partisan, reactionary line come the next election might be correct but the route taken to achieve that outcome is a little too hazy to discern at this point. After all is said and done and a consensus narrative (which will please no one on the political spectrum) is framed is the question of the shape of the media sector in the West and more specifically Australia. If someone other than a Murdoch were to control News Corporation would that person cross-subsidise the Australian newspaper stable? I think not. If the papers cannot be sold as a going concern where will the journalists go? Fairfax and Stokes’ outfit can only absorb so many. Sure the George Megalogenis’, Laura Tingles and others will find a place but what about those who need the space and time to mature into journalists of equal facility? Is there enough money for a not-for-profit outlet to be established along the lines of Pro Publica in the US? Who will hold government and private interests to account or should I say take a stab at selectively holding some politicians and some business people to account, some of the time? To pre-empt any misunderstanding. I am not defending Rupert, Lachlan or the cast of odious editors and executives sitting directly below them. I think Geoffrey Robertson QC was spot on when being interviewed by Phillip Adams on Late Night Live when he stated that the Committee did not have a cross-examiner worthy of the name on it. The lack of co-ordination, grandstanding, failure to reign junior in on some of his more long-winded answers, lack of follow up on the odd occasion when something did slip out and lack of challenge to the blanket answer that junior did not want to prejudice the police inquiry was atrocious. There was an opportunity for a politician to cement a reputation as an anti-corruption advocate there and no one seized it. Despite all of that I return to one of the major questions of public interest. Without a Murdoch-led News Corporation how will written journalism be subsidised? It’s interesting there is no popular journalism of the left any more – particularly as there such a great constituency out for there for news framed that way. Guy Rundle did an interesting piece in Crikey the other day about how the Australian electorate is actually much more progressive than the Murdoch papers give it credit for (viz: popular support for gay marriage, resentment at fatcat pay, the encroachment of work on family time and the commodification of everything). I think there’s an interesting essay to be written about the sudden crumbling of the Murdoch empire – along with the GFC and, here in Australia, the rejection of Work Choices – all as symbols of the end of a globalised, corporatised, free market era that begin with the rise of Thatcher and Reagan 30 years ago. Murdoch’s papers have ridden on the coat-tails of that era. As Mark mentioned above, back in the 80s and early 90s, The Australian actually reflected Keating’s view of the world – pro-republic, pro-liberalised markets, pro-independent foreign policy. With the exhaustion of economic reform (sans the GST) and the rise of Howard and Bush, the template turned to the fake ‘culture wars’ and the manufactured backlash against ‘political correctness’. I think that era has now run its course and Murdoch’s papers are trying to squeeze the lemon dry with manufactured opposition to the carbon tax, the NBN and – in the US – lukewarm support for the lunatics of the Tree Party. We’re at the fag end of it all, but the public consciousness is running way ahead of the media. There’s a great opportunity for someone here to develop a popular, rabble-rousing media property (perhaps like The Daily Mirror in the UK, but of greater quality) that taps into that emerging world view. … linked and discussed in the post Weirdly enough, this government is getting the big reform runs on the board. A price on climate, the NBN, universal maternity leave. Maybe it’s closer to the Whitlamite ‘crash through or crash’ modus operandi than we think. Whatever happens at the next election there’ll be major reforms in place that won’t be changed. Mark @38, that’ll teach me for not reading from the top. Sorry. No worries, Mr Denmore! I don’t know about Murdoch being so influential and so Right wing. We did have wall to wall state labor govts. (almost) and a “Ruddslide” Either he’s a king-maker and NOT right wing, or he’s right wing and of little influence to the Aust electorate. The move to the right by voters has everything to do with ALP incompetence and dishonesty (state and Fed) that should quite properly be reported in the media. What happens in the UK is irrelevant. jumpnmcar – Isn’t it time you were in bed? It seems to me that calls on the impending demise of the Murdoch bureaucracy are a little premature. The Murdochs both played their roles well and will probably continue on their autocratic paths. Here in Australia I don’t see anybody with the guts to front their power plays, nor to prevent them acquiring more media than they presently own. “”"jumpnmcar – Isn’t it time you were in bed?”"” Oh, nice one. I must remember that one the next time i want to be juvenile. “”"”It seems to me that calls on the impending demise of the Murdoch bureaucracy are a little premature. “”" But this is better, well done champ. I must say Rebekah Brooks gives the term “a SHOCK of red hair” some definition. The carbon tax is left wing? A piss weak maternity scheme is left wing? Dream on. Geoffrey Robertson casts a forensic eye upon the abject old spiv. “Oh, nice one. I must remember that one the next time i want to be juvenile.” No need to remember anything. Just carry on as normal. Let’s hope the dynamic duo end up in a courtroom and are questioned by someone who knows what they’re doing. How does Rupert Murdoch find out what’s going on in his own company? He reads The Guardian. How did Rebekah Brooks? She watches Panorama This is rightly making the rounds: Comrade, the correct third option is “he normally plays at being a mercenary, non-ideological kingmaker in Australia, unless we have a wounded state or federal Labor govt in office, at which point he lets his organs play at being viciously anti-Left kingmakers.” That explains why his papers’ started running a national anti-minority-federal-government campaign last year even as his Victorian tabloid was endorsing & preparing for John Brumby’s government’s inevitable second term. It explains why his Sydney tabloid tied itself to the election of Barry O’Farrell months before the NSW election occurred. It explains why all Newscorp was nowhere near as enthusaistic about the rise of Rudd as they were about the rise of Howard ten years earlier. That said I’m convinced his powerplays normally don’t have any direct influence with the actual voters, not unless there’s an unusually controversial issue said powerplays can be attached to, i.e. a supposedly illegitimate PM who is working closely with the Greens, or a carbon tax, or a dysfunctional State cabinet full of shameless operators most of whom are on the verge of being arrested. And obviously Murdoch’s UK business is of much import to his Australian one if its problems lead to him losing control of the board, or if it results in the demise of the eighty-year-old’s chosen successor, his son James. (See, folks, that’s how you engage a conservative who is arguing about all this stuff being trivial.) Ok, I’ve just trashed every recent comment on this thread that misspelt another commentor’s name. That’s snide and very definitely uncivil. Cut it out. It’s interesting to note that some here have also realised early that Murdoch has to be tackled and continue to be tackled here as well, you have to get the metastases as well as the main cancer. An unintended consequence of the Murdoch antic has been the stirring of now incensed former Fairfax high flyer Margo Kingston, who has returned to blogging at WD after “six years of allergy”. The reason I mention this is, that she is trying to put together a movement or campaign to have Murdoch account for himself as to msm, before our parliament also, at Facebook. It is not a bad list she’s begun to accumulate either, inlcuding a number of recognisable journo names, Lindsay Tanner, Catherine Lumby and others. One thing she has suggested is, that those of us who see value in pressure being maintained on Murdoch, should seek out other progressives and progressive organisations, for support, encouragement and if possible cooperation. This is the first site I’ve visited to mention this, there are some ethical intellectual heavy hitters here and I hope they will give Margo’s ploy some thought, even some support at her FB site. Time runs out. We know Murdoch’s agenda in Australia for the next coupleof years and if our democracy is not under threat I’m a dutchman. I say without intentional resort to hyperbole, that our society is at a a “Niemoller Moment” in its history. Play safe NOW- no more carbon tax misrepresentations, boat people, welfare, aboriginal, anti feminist, anti gay and anti muslim hysteria, dumbing down, shonky deals with the mining giants and other vested interests. I should have said the formal title for this, “Campaign for an Australian Murdoch Inquiry”. Regular LP poster Dr. Fiona Reynolds, who also moderates at WD, is also involved

- Restaurants | - Nightlife | - Shopping | - Movies | - All Burger Heaven Categories: Restaurants Fast Food Restaurants Hot Dogs Fast Food, Hot Dogs [Edit]804 Lexington Ave New York, NY 10065 Neighborhood: Upper East Side (212) 223-0868 - Nearest Transit: Lexington Av/63 St (F) Lexington Av/59 St (N, Q, R) 59 St (4, 5, 6, 6X) - Good for Groups: - Yes - Accepts Credit Cards: - Yes - Parking: - Street - Attire: - Casual - Price Range: - $$ - Good for Kids: - Yes - Delivery: - Yes - Take-out: - Yes - Waiter Service: - Yes - Outdoor Seating: - No - Good For: - Lunch - Alcohol: - No - Drive-Thru: - No - Noise Level: - Average - Has TV: - No - Caters: - No - Wheelchair Accessible: - No 57 reviews for Burger Heaven Review Highlights - "I had a cheeseburger with sweet potato fries and my friend..." In 4 reviews - - "All in all, I'd recommend this place to others and go back..." In 3 reviews 57 reviews in English Review from M N. Nothing special to write home about. Came here because we were hungry! Had the salad version of their namesake burger. It was alright. Portions are generous, but pricey. Friend had the burger and it looked appetizing. The staff was willing to accommodate special requests like adding a fried egg to our burger without giving us a hard time. Bottom line: good food to satisfy your hunger, but if you can hold off, there are much better options in the area (like the Korean place or French cafe across the street!) Review from Seth B. quick service A-ok food the good part is that you dont leave this place smelling like a deli. GO THEIR ! its fun ~! Review from Anthony L. Cambridge, MA Is this place *really* the heaven of all burgers? I don't think so. Is this a place to stop for a quick eat? Okay. Let me start by saying this: the uniforms the staff wears is extremely cheesy. I found it, and I'm not a snob, a little off putting and awkward. Besides that, everything was just okay. Not great, no, but okay. I ordered a veggie burger with cheese and caramelized onions and it was good. They gave a great amount of onions, so thank you for that. French fries did not come with the burger, which was a little strange, so I got a side of curly fries. Nothing too ground breaking, it was okay. If you're looking for a quick sit down place, go here. If you're looking for a great burger and phenomenal service, look elsewhere. Review from Bratty K. Did you know Burger Heaven had Happy Hour? Yaaaa! $5 too. After having a great shopping trip to Barneys (...), I was walking down Lex and saw the $5 Happy Hour sign outside. It's been years since I've eaten at any Burger Heaven. Their burgers and omelets are pretty good and the service fast during lunch time but I had no idea they served liquor! Feeling a little thirsty, I stopped in - $5 for a drink is something no one should walk past without trying it atleast once. The counter looked new and clean which is a plus and their cocktail menu had some daiquiries, margarita and some basic drinks. I ordered the Tom Collins because I get the feeling their margaritas will be heavy on the bottled mix and nauseating. Anyway, the guy behind the counter put a packet of sugar in the glass instead of simple syrup (sugar and water) poured generous portions of this and that and stuck a straw in it and served it with a smile. I stirred and took a sip, not bad. Citrusy, kinda strong but not puke your guts out when you get home strong. Refreshing. Too bad the sugar didn't dissolve so I had taste and feel the sugar granules in my mouth. However, for $5, not a bad deal and I walked out with a nice buzz. Didn't have a headache and didn't puke which means I'll be back just for the drink. Think they might be under new management, the entire restaurant looked newer, brighter and most of the employees are Indian. Hope they do well and continue offering their $5 Happy Hour drinks. Ummm... I hope they add more choies of cocktails too.Serving Lycheetinis or Sangrias may not be a bad idea either! Review from Shanira G. - 3 friends - 6 reviews Brooklyn, NY My girlfriend asked for a well done burger instead got rare burger when she asked for another one she got the same burger re-heated ( ewwwww). I got a turkey burger super dry, tasteless and the onion rings were steal and also tasteless. I will never come back horrible food. Review from Keith T. Maybe I had on rose-colored glasses after spending all day walking through Central Park. I was hungry when I found Burger Heaven and I probably could've eaten a stack of old shoe leather and been thrilled by it. We were seated immediately by the window, which was nice. I ordered a water and a Sprite and received both promptly. Most places ignore me when I ask for "something and a water" and I just get the something with no water. I appreciated Burger Heaven fulfilling my request. I ordered the chicken fingers. I wasn't in a burger mood, despite the restaurant's name. It was exactly what I wanted: basic diner-style chicken tenders on a bed of fries with honey mustard on an oval-shaped stonewear plate. I felt like I was back at a small-town Dairy Queen in Texas again. That's a good thing. Finish things off with a strawberry milkshake and I'm a happy boy. Review from Hk B. One of the waiters stole my credit card number and started making charges on my account. The restaurant tried to convince me I ordered food twice this week without remembering and when they found the "delivery address" it was to a woman's apartment in a high class building on 5th avenue and the security video proved at the time of the delivery no one ever arrived. The restaurant refuses to accept someone in there is stealing credit cards and they have no problem blaming an innocent elderly woman in hopes no one catches on. She is getting a lawyer. Can you imagine someone telling strangers you've stolen their credit card and handing them your address? Stay away from this sh*thole. They steal, blame the innocent and are 2 seconds away from being investigated. Review from Jess S. Save your money, and don't come here. Service was absentminded. Perhaps it was because we were sitting outside, but we had to ask for everything, EVERYTHING, each time the waiter came back or passed our table: hello may I get a fork, oh this time a knife, excuse me sir where are our napkins, we're going to need a straw with this milkshake. Isn't there a bit of proactive reasoning involved in this? Onto the food: Fish and chips looks like breaded, deep fried chicken fingers. Had no flavor and were kind of cold. Fries were also cold. Burger was unimpressive. $2.50 for bacon, and for that you get THREE ANOREXIC, sheer, anemic ass STRINGS of bacon tucked into the corner like low self esteem. Exhales. Spent almost $40 dollars between two of us. Absolutely unimpressed. -1 star for the frustrating, absentminded service. -1 star because I take burgers personally. Above else, I take bacon extremely personally. -2 stars + anger because of this: The amount we paid was certainly not worth its value. This probably grinds my gears the most. I may have been less annoyed if this meal came out to $10 a person, but alas, it did not. $40? This could have been a TWO star review, but that just shut it down. The same way you learned in 1996 that any girl with "SEXY" in her aol screenname was the exact polar opposite, do not trust a place that calls itself burger heaven. That bitch is lying. Review from sam b. Where do bad burgers go when they die? They don't go to heaven where the angels fly. They go to a lake of fire and fry...Won't see em again till the 4th of July. This place is either Burger Hell, or its heaven for every McDonald's hamburger that dies in maws of a super sized cow and is "buried at sea" Unfortunately, I found this out the hard way - by actually eating a burger here - a wee way while back when I met a friend for lunch at BH. The meat between my soggy buns was all dried out and over cooked and just plain nasty... oh, and the person busing the table behind us, kept piling all the dishes up on the tray they were holding while still wiping the table and ended up dropping a half full coffee cup down the inside of my friend's brand new coat... I think they might call that "Dessert" at good ol Burger Heaven! Review from Hillary M. - 55 friends - 32 reviews Manhattan, NY This place wasn't awful, but I won't be going back so that's why I'm giving it two stars. I ordered the classic american cheeseburger with bacon and sweet potato fries. I asked for medium, but the burger was well done. I got two strips of tiny weak bacon (for like 3 dollars? come on). The burger was mediocre and they should work on seasoning their ground beef better. My server was not personable and rushed me when I was ordering even though it wasn't busy. I had to keep trying to prevent him from walking away to tell him I wanted bacon and sweet potato fries. He stood over me while I was writing out my tip and signing the bill. Weird. The sweet potato fries were great though! Review from Brian F. Burger Heaven -- Service Hell We arrived with plenty of time left 'til closing, but they made it clear we were not welcome there by stacking chairs on all the tables near us and mopping the floor. We got the point. We left -- for good! Review from Ave H. I struggled with this review because I really really like this place for lunch... but for breakfast I found it thoroughly meh. Their Burger Heaven Burger is out of this world - but beware it is UBER messy. I went through napkins like they were shots of tequila on New Years. but so worth it - nom nom nom. Service is great and VERY quick. One of the times I was there the waitress over heard one of our friends raving about the coleslaw and how he was sad that he didn't get any so she brought him some for free without being asked. I find their breakfast lackluster though. They have tons of toast options which is great but their omelets are really thin and nothing special. Ill return for lunch, but not breakfast. Listed in: Ave-A-Flav Hits New York Review from Marc E. Had two hot dogs, they didnt have sauerkraut. Had a tea, they didn't have honey. Ordered a chocolate chip cookie and apple pie, they were out of both. Waitress couldnt care less if they were out of anything for that matter. Whatever, not a great experience. Review from Jose G. For quite a high price, you too can be the consumer of a veggie burger than with hardly a squeeze collapses out of your bun. You too can enjoy french fries that are plainly sub-par and while your meat-eating friend enjoys the luxurious extra charge for lettuce and tomato on their patty. But wait, there's more! There's an entire up stairs that is completely empty! No, it's not that people don't know about it- it's that people *do* know about it but don't want one of these overpriced burgers. Review from John M. So bad. My burger was ready in a suspiciously small amount of time. Wish I hadn't splurged the $.95 it cost to add that slice of unripened tomato and lettuce to my meal. Review from Jamie W. As other reviewers have pointed out, don't let the name fool you. This place is no Burger Heaven. I realize that as a vegetarian, I was not at the ideal place; but sometimes, a veggie wants to eat with non-veggies. Is that so wrong? That said, Burger Heaven should just delete its veggie options from the menu. They use the same kind of veggie burger that Brgr does (see my previous review) - so mushy that it turns into the consistency of guacamole on the bun. The worst part of our meal, however, was that our burgers came out within three minutes of ordering them. There is simply no way that my boyfriend's thick hamburger could have been cooked in three minutes, along with toasting the bun, etc. The only explanation is that the burgers are precooked and then warmed up. This little trick would be easy enough to hide - just delay serving people for ten minutes; but Burger Heaven can't be bothered. My boyfriend's burger was OK, but the fries were mushy as well. All in all, like nearly every other UES establishment we've tried, this place isn't worth the trip. Review from Linda C. I have eaten here multiple times. If your looking for a good very quick bite this is a decent place The service is fast but gruff. I would have given it three stars but the last two visits the burger was well over cooked Portions are very big some might say another plus. I say if it's average quality it's just more average food. I will bd trying to find another burger lunch spot. Review from Sarah T. Here's the scenario: We're in meeting after meeting from 8:30am - 1:30pm (no breakfast in my belly, btw). I'm starving. Sarah needs food badly. My boss suggests a burger joint in the neighborhood and I pounce on the idea. I'm by no means a big meat eater, but I would've killed a cow with my teeth right then & there. A big, juicy burger sounded deelish. We were seated upstairs and had a waitress that had almost no volume to her voice. Seriously, I thought she was whispering! But she was very nice and accommodating. Anyway, our orders all came out and I devoured my burger like I hadn't eaten in weeks. MmmMMmmm, it was big, juicy & tasty. (how I like my men--haha, kidding) I also ordered sweet potato fries which were very good...and of large proportion! I think my meal cost $11 and was worth every penny. Review from Rachel A. I think Burger Heaven is better than 5 Guys! (I'm ducking while my co-worker takes a swing at me. She loooooooves 5 Guys.) And its not just because I was starving. My first meal of the day would be at 5:30 PM and I wasn't even close to ending the work day. It would be more like my half way point. With nothing around, my supervisor suggested Burger Heaven and a free meal. I ordered delivery and they rang our bell in less than 15 minutes. Fastest delivery ever. We got two cheeseburgers with fries, one regular and one sweet potato. It really hit the spot. The burger was huge and pretty greasy but very tasty. The fries were good as well. The meal really did justice filling in for my dinner and the breakfast and lunch I failed to have earlier in the day. Was it worth $12? Maybe $9. Food is really expensive in NYC but when you're starving, sometimes price doesn't matter. I'm glad my supervisor bought me dinner. If I'm paying, I think I'd save Burger Heaven for those extremely desperate days when I can't leave the office to pick up food and I'm making mega OT. Listed in: Burgers- East Coast Review from Yan G. If this is what Heaven is like, I am glad I am not going there. I only spent 40 minutes in this place, but it sure felt like an eternity. We stumbled upon this place by accident. My friends and I were driving down Lexington Ave, when one of us suggested it was time for lunch. I circled the block twice and found a parking right across the street. The meter was broken - SCORE. We walked in, and there was no denying it: it was a diner. If it smells like a diner, and it looks like a diner, well, by golly, it must be a diner. Stainless steel, Formica and vinyl everywhere you look; grease, fries and burnt meat everywhere you smell. The hostess walked us through the dining room and up the stairs. We found ourselves on the second floor of Burger Heaven. We were shown to be a big round table in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. We were perched atop the corner of 62nd and Lex, looking down on the hustle and bustle below. I've been putting off talking about the food, because the food was rather off-putting. I ordered a turkey burger, but instead got a chicken sandwich. I was thinking about sending it back, but decided against it. Perhaps, they were trying to tell me something? The chicken sandwich was healthier, but tasted like Styrofoam. My coleslaw had more fat than taste. The fries were OK. My friend really disliked his soup, but his grilled cheese sandwich was OK. It's tough to mess up a grilled cheese sandwich. 1 star for the food, the other - for reasonable prices. I love diners, but this one isn't a keeper. Burger Heaven: Meh. I've experienced better. Listed in: Unique New York, Burg and Burger, On The Road Again Review from Elsie W. I've never gotten a mediocre turkey burger before... until at Burger Heaven, or as I will call it from now on, Burger Hell. It wasn't juicy. It tasted kind of like... tuna?! From now on, I will not get a turkey burger unless it's from Lucky's or ESPN Zone. Yes, even ESPN Zone serves a better, bigger, juicier turkey burger. The service was good, considering the ratio of staff to customer was 10:1. My friend liked his burger. But in the end, it was just an overpriced burger. And even though my fries were soggy, I enjoyed them the most out of everything on my plate. Review from Stacy J. I have this theory that the caesar salad is usually a pretty safe choice when one is unsure of the quality of the restaurant. The price was shocking ($18 for a caesar salad with shrimp), but the salad was ENORMOUS. The lettuce was limp, and croutons were probably from some economy-sized bag, but the shrimp ended up being jumbo prawns. Plentiful and and not overcooked. I did that thing where you munch half-heartedly through the lettuce, hording all the prawns for the end where you can enjoy shrimpy goodness uninterrupted by stale crouton. Listed in: We do Manhattan! Review from Javier M. I could never give more than three stars to a color combination of Blue, Yellow, NEON green and Aqua. Saturday. The R train was not working and I had to catch the F down to Manhattan. I got off 63rd St. and Lex and walked south with a grunting stomach. I passed this amazingly cute place where people were having breakfast, I took a step and realized that to my chagrin that it was replete with patrons. I will come back to try it though, and if my suspicions are correct, this place will earn a fat five..... but to reality. I walked two steps more, trying to think in desperation about a decent place to have a brunch FAST. I arrived at the corner and notice this 1950's J-Rocket wannabe kinda staring at me. "Burger Heaven" -the logo said. I hesitated. My memory quickly remembered the taste of generic diner breakfast. *sigh* I'm hungry and I want now. Let's go in. The decor is amusing; you do a plaster wall colored in sand mustard and you think you're getting away with it? You did. The place was not packed to the teeth; and lots of sunlight from the corner location. I give up: give me coffee, pancakes with butter & syrup, scrambled eggs with sausage and a lemonade.... Now remember the taste....remember..... and if you are not a trust fund Wally, or your last name is Vanderbilt, you'll know exactly what the taste, price and experience was in overall. Now, can I hear you say 2 1/2? Yes. But "Burger Heaven" gets 3 because it fed me on demand. This, therefore, is a biased review. Listed in: The Sound of Bias, Default Review from kirstie l. - 106 friends - 79 reviews New York, NY I have no idea why it only have 2.5 stars right now I get pick up here all the time. but the service is decent the times I do dine in. I love the salads here.. they are HUGE and very tasty. My fav is the greek salad with chicken + curly fries not so healthy but whatever, the take out process is very fast too. I only took away one star because I think it is slightly overpriced. Review from Simon Y. I ate lunch here on a Sunday afternoon because this diner could accommodate our rather large party (about 10 people). We ended up upstairs, pushing three round tables together. The service was poor. To be fair, the waitress mentioned that she was new, but she did not know the menu and had to go around twice to get our drink orders correct. When she returned with both food and drinks, she had no idea who had ordered what and dropped off most plates at one end of the group. All I wanted was ice water and I didn't get that. When my friend's turkey burger arrived, it was missing fries. He had to ask at least three times before he actually received a plate of fries. Oh by the way, the fries were soggy and just bad. My omelette was dry and bland. The waitress didn't know what sour cream was. If this restaurant had great prices or something, I would maybe understand. But I won't ever be back and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone who wants a good meal and decent service. If you're in the area and looking for a good burger, Jackson Hole on 64th between 2nd & 3rd is a much better option. Review from Erin D. This Burger's gone to hell. It was bustlin' just a few weeks ago, and the look of this cute old school diner made my BF and I want to try it out for brunch last Sunday. Alas, we swung by, and it appears to be closed up for good.... Review from Firstess C. - 3 friends - 4 reviews New York, NY I shouldn't have even gave them a star at all. Ok so to be blunt, Burger Heaven is not the place to eat... ANY DAY! I've eaten at much cheaper places with better service and better food. First of all, the staff isn't friendly, and they aren't doing their job's as waiters. Their better off just changing the sad excuse of a restaurant's name to burger hell. It's too damn expensive to ask for a cheeseburger that doesn't even come with fries, lettuce or tomatoes. It's ridiculous how they only serve good breakfast foods for children under 12 or some bullshit, AND they don't even bring you water without you having to ask. A good servant notices your empty cup and immediately refills it. But this weird looking Indian guy was of no service to me. To show them how much I appreciated their non services, I left no tip. Will not EVER eat there again. Good day :] Review from Ryan D. So I'll lay it down for you. I wanted a burger, and this place was right around the corner from the movie theater. I was seeing "The Haunting in Connecticut" for the record. That said, I've been eyeing this place for awhile. I never thought it would be good. But when I finally went in there... it was pretty good. This was not the most super best meal I've ever had in my life, mind you. But it was quick, pretty good price (although, it could have been cheaper. I'm never getting over how much things cost in New York). I also decided to be decadent and get a milkshake- which was really the best part. The milkshakes are kind of worth making a trip there for. If you're in the area, totally not a bad idea to stop in for a quick bite before a movie. But I can't give it a super big rating because I just didn't have super big fun. Review from Elizabeth F. - 7 friends - 21 reviews New York, NY Cute decor, convenient location, mediocre food. I ordered the Hebrew National hot dog for $3.75 (that's just one hot dog btw, no fries or salad). The menu specifically listed the hot dog as Hebrew National. What I got however, was no Hebrew National. I've eaten a lot of hot dogs and I can tell a real, all beef, kosher hot dog when I eat it. This tasted a bit more like a Ball Park - tough and laking flavor. I was so sure about it, I even asked the waitress, who insisted the hot dog was in fact Hebrew National. Whatever lady. Review from Merry P. This is a perfectly good burger joint which will bring you a good-sized side of tasty steamed fresh vegetables if you want. The vegetables were actually firm and tasty. My mom ordered a fruit salad and it was huge. The burgers are decent. The servings are pretty generous and the quality not bad. The service was very good and friendly, which for NYC, is saying something. The atmosphere is pleasant too and it is not noisy. Definitely good for kids. The strawberry ice cream was a very generous serving but it tasted very artificial. Review from yen v. Just your typical diner type food. Review from Cassie P. My fam thinks this is a great place for breakfast. They have been quite a few times. This morning I went with them. It was okay. I just had a bagel since I am not the big bfast eater. Review from Matt B. Dirty diner style. Overpriced McDonalds. Don't go...they should have a zero star rating for places like this. Review from Samantha S. Elmhurst, NY I will travel many lengths to procure the elusive sweet potato french fry and came to Burger Heaven on my perfect batch tour. They were pretty tasty and for the price it was worth it.. The turkey burger on the other hand was dry and needed a lot of condiments to mask the taste. It's a nice place to people watch when you sit outside during the spring/summer and the waitresses were accommodating which was necessary since they messed up our orders multiple times :\ Review from Maggie E. Prices are a bit excessive for a burger place. I ordered a grilled cheese because it was one of the cheaper items on the menu. The cheese was kind of sketchy for what was supposedly American. It cost $.95 for a piece of tomato. The service was really good though. We got our food almost instantly (I'm not sure if that's necessarily a good thing). One random thing I noticed was the unusually high number of senior citizens grabbing lunch at Burger Heaven. Review from Lisa S. Excellent burgers. My husband orders from here for lunch all the time (much to my chagrin), although the burgers aren't all that greasy. Really good for a midtown burger. For a BETTER burger try Piper's Kilt uptown! Review from Jennifer A. San Diego, CA I learned in this place that New York restaurants don't give free refills of drinks as they do on the west coast. And I was rudely told by the waitress, but I guess that's how its done there. Their food was pretty good though and for a good price. Review from Ava R. Eff this place. Who charges $1.50 for a slice of cheddar cheese?? The turkey burger was gigantic and juicy and I really do appreciate the grilled onions on the, but don't they know turkey burgers are usually like $4.75, $6 with fries, not 10 bucks (without fries!)? Krissy K.'s chicken fingers were $11!! So yeah, I won't be back. Review from Thomas A. This is the 2nd time i tried Burger Heaven. The 1st time i tried it on 49th and Mad. Honestly, i'm not a fan of this chain restaurant. The burgers aren't good, The only thing that is good here is the relish. On Saturday, i came here for brunch during the torrential downpour. Our waiter disappeared for like 5 minutes saying he was going to get us water. It took him forever to get it. We ordered eggs over easy with sausage and a western omelet. We also shared a bowl of chili. The chili was the best part of the meal. It was flavorful, but not spicy. You need to ask for Tabasco sauce and dump that stuff in. I like how they give you a side of chopped onions as well as tortilla chips. The eggs over easy looked overcooked. The sausage looked burnt and unappetizing. THe home fries were flavorless. The western omelet was dry and flavorless; i had to dump Tabasco sauce there too. The wheat bread that it came with was still too chewy, so they didn't toast it enough. The + = the beef chili, and the nice manager. He tried to take my broken umbrella and fix it. I respect him for that. I just am disappointed that he is managing a poor establishment like burger heaven. The - = everything else. Review from Anthro food e. - 43 friends - 406 reviews New York, NY coming from california, i'm used to having mayo, lettuce and tomatoes on my burger by default...unfortunately, these items come as extras on your burger in nyc...instead, you get the caramlized onions at no extra cost and at your request...so i guess that makes up for the lack of lettuce and tomatoes...but i like to balance out the grease with something fresh... when i looked at the menu, i could not believe how expensive this place is, but then i realized that they have their lil burger heaven logo on everything...from the napkins to the cute to go bags/containers... but if youre coming here expecting a great flavorful burger, i wouldnt speak too soon...ive had better burgers at regular diners before...

- Restaurants | - Nightlife | - Shopping | - Movies | - All Allure Nightclub Categories: Nightlife Dance Clubs Restaurants American (New) Dance Clubs, American (New) [Edit]528 2nd Ave (between Yesler Way & S 2nd Avenue Extended) Seattle, WA 98104 Neighborhood: Pioneer Square (206) 381-9090 - Price Range: - $$$ - Accepts Credit Cards: - Yes - Parking: - Street - Attire: - Dressy - Good for Groups: - Yes - Good for Kids: - No - Takes Reservations: - Yes - Delivery: - No - Take-out: - No - Waiter Service: - Yes - Outdoor Seating: - Yes - Good For: - Late Night - Music: - DJ - Best Nights: - Fri, Thu, Sat - Happy Hour: - Yes - Alcohol: - Full Bar - Smoking: - Outdoor Area/ Patio Only - Coat Check: - Yes - Good For Dancing: - Yes - Wheelchair Accessible: - Yes 70 reviews for Allure Nightclub Review Highlights - - - "Lots of beautiful people in here." In 2 reviews 70 reviews in English Review from Cindy T. Came here for a friend's bday party, and I really enjoyed it! Despite the short time I was there. Loved the circular bar area, with seating all around, and best of all: UPSTAIRS! The VIP area was awesome, with couches, a mini bar, champagne, and can accommodate more than 2 different parties. I came a little early to get my stamp for re-entry, but the first 150 or so girls got free champagne. Score! The place was pretty DEAD though, past 11. It was not until 1145ish when it was popping. I liked how the place wasn't not overpacked. There was enough room to have a bit of space to actually dance (and not mush and grind against strangers) but it was kind of small. But the DJ was playing great tunes too. The bathroom was surprisingly pretty clean. To wash your hands you share with the men outside. Drinks were decent. My AMF had the right amount of alcohol and started feeling it an hour later. Prices were average ($8ish). The VIP bar was limited, so mostly...shots, shots, shots! I like how they have lots of seating available, and a cool, huge curtain/beaded screen which projected pictures from previous club events. Review from Vicky L. Disappointment! Ack! My friends and I got there before 11pm to avoid the cover fee and our names were missed on the guest list but the lady was nice enough to let us in. She should anyway because the place was pretty much empty for a club/lounge on a Friday night. It was so empty that if I wanted to, I could count all the people there and the total would be under 30. I was really disappointed. The layout of the place was great. Two bars. Great, roomy dance floor with flashy lights. Even the bathroom was nice with a huge mirror to check yourself out! My friends and I waited and waited for the place to get happening but it just wasn't and the clock was ticking to midnight already. People were leaving instead of coming in. In the end, we gave up on the place and went elsewhere. I have decided though, if I wanted a big birthday party, this place would do. So I am giving the place a star and then another star because there were TVs playing the Mariners game and I got two free cups of nice, cold water. Boohoo :( Review from Joel T. Wack. See the review I posted of Trinity. Same story, different club, more asians. Review from Laura P. I don't even want to give this place one star. Never EVER again will i go here. The bouncers are looking for a fight and got inappropriately aggressive with one of my friends - who wasn't even as intoxicated as they made him out to be. He was shoved to the floor and escorted out for doing nothing! We spent a good chunk of money at this place buying rounds for friends and such, so we'll take our business elsewhere. Be careful here. Worst experience ever. Review from Naurry K. Like the Spice Girls, Ibiza splashed onto the Seattle stage with words posh, sexy, scary, etc. After a few years, the tired ladies of pop are ramping up for a come back tour. A little older, a little more mature and a little more worldly. Welcome the return of Ibiza, rejuvinated, refreshed and open to a more mature crowd! Wednesdays and Thursdays belong to Ibiza with Flamenco and Samba, respectively (with more to come, I'm sure.) Where those "in the know" come out to enjoy some good music, good dancing and good drinks. (Here's to Jordan and Austin the bartenders at the revolutionized Ibiza, well done sirs!) The swanky atmosphere hasn't changed which is a good thing, the attendees range from the young and hip to older and sophisticated. The combination works to create a comfortable place to be without being tired. So come in, order a martini, sit back and let loose! Review from Suzanne B. - 315 friends - 486 reviews San Francisco, CA Seattle has a love affair with cheese. Seriously! I came to Ibiza because of a tip from a local Yelper, and because we walked by earlier in the day and snuck a look at the wine menu. Settling in with friends for cocktails and dinner, the conversation went something like this: Friend #1: What do you want to try? Friend #2 (not so secret cheese lover): Did you see they have a cheese steward? Waitress: Would you like to see our list of cheeses? Friend #3: Yes, or we'll never hear the end of it. Waitress (brings back a large folder and places it on the table): So there are 25 cheeses on the lis- F#2: Twenty-five?! Me: Now we're in trouble... F #2 (after glaze-eyed look through list): You choose. F#1: You don't want to...? F#2: It's too much, I can't decide. F#3 (laughing): I never thought I would hear that... So we ordered several cheeses, a bottle of wine suggested by our fantastic waitress, more appetizers and had a grand feast. We left before the music started, which was too bad, but as all of us were approaching dairy-induced coma it was the right decision. Twenty-five cheese choices - why do I not live up here? Listed in: To the Emerald City, Iberian Dreams Review from Michael L. Bellevue, WA My friends and I showed up at 10:30 at Ibiza for my friends birthday on friday. We were suppose to have free cover since we were on the list but they made us wait outside till 11:05. When we got inside it was EMPTY. They just wanted to make us pay cover.. That wasn't even the worse part, the drinks are EXPENSIVE. Summary: If you're willing to shell out the cash and deal with the douches at the door, this place isin't THAT bad. The music was nice and the crowd was pretty diverse. Review from Tony G. Lately I feel like I am too old to "go clubbin." I am glad to have found a place that has people more my age (because 27 is so much older than 21). I liked the layout of the place and the fact that it wasnt as dark as a lot of the other clubs I have been to. Also, and most important, the women here looked good. I really need to learn how to talk to hot babes, especially the ones who make eye contact with you. Why do I always turn my head real quick and feel my face get red? Oh yeah, I am hella shy. Zipzap Zubidy Bop! *Stop tagging this as funny! Being extremely shy around beautiful women is nothing to laugh about. Review from Laural B. Saturday night's schedule: 1) Go to Collins Pub and drink for a reasonable price. 2) Get riled up and go next door to Ibiza to dance. 3) DANCE DANCE DANCE to the kicking House and cool live Latin drummers. 4) Go back to Collins to chill out, relax and drink some more. 5) Repeat. Review from Jennifer B. Seattle, WA Allure or Ibiza or Allure?? I liked Ibiza but now it's Allure. Would you know that? Probably not b/c they never bothered to change out the sign! The lines was disorganized and bouncers take the small amount of power they are given and amp it up by 1000. Annoying. Went there for a friend's birthday party and he forewarned them that they would need to staff it with more bartenders but they didn't. I felt bad for them b/c they were nice. 4 bartenders at 2 bars for 100+ people = no alcohol. Review from Michelle B. - 1667 friends - 1166 reviews Seattle, WA Beware of the chain link curtains. Your pant leg can get caught in them, and after you've had a few drinks you may need to have the bouncer help you untangle yourself. Not that I have any experience with that...not that I can clearly remember at least. What I do remember is a very swanky NY-esque club just adjacent to the more collegiate/touristy Pioneer Square scene. The upstairs VIP area is large and comfortable and affords you a great view of the action downstairs. And, wow, does downstairs ever get hoppin!!! They have a drum section, or at least someone with bongos and a few maracas, to compliment the DJ that is spinning that night. It makes the atmosphere seem much more festive. And, once you untangle your pant leg from the chain link curtain the maraca guy might let you have a hand at shakin' them! Listed in: Drinking in Seattle, Pioneer Square - Where Seattle… Review from Katie S. Remember that episode of Family Guy where Bryan gets teased for being fat, goes and talks to a doctor about plastic surgery, and Peter goes under the knife instead? Then, with his smokin' new good looks, he gets invited to join the 'Beautiful People club of Quahog'? Well.. that club in the heart of Quahog might as well have been Ibiza. Thems a good lookin' bunch a kids up in theah! I went to a birthday party here last night. Great place for a party! The food was pretty good (They have mini burgers and pretzel breaded chicken fingers, amongst other apps/ entrees) The drinks were fine- extensive cocktail menu and wine list. The bathroom was a little 'off'. Sinks are outside the 'jane'.. What the hell? I liked this place.. Great place to get dressed up 'like a lady' and go shake your money maker or milkshake, or.. what have you. Listed in: Pioneer Square'd Review from Anna S. Ibiza is the place that makes you remember that it's okay to be a little suave sometimes, even though you're in Seattle. If you're a guy, you can grease up that hair and let those shirt buttons stay unbuttoned. You can do the nasty 'chest stroke' and actually get a girl to come talk to you! And hey, if you're a girl, find the smallest top in your closet and the highest stilettos you own, and you're good to go. (No pants required.) If you don't fit into the categories mentioned above, you can still go here! Hey, I did. If you appreciate a great space with great ambiance, you'll like Ibiza. There seem to be three sections in the 'dinner club' : the dining area, the couch/bed area, and the bar/dancefloor area. Not to mention the outside seating in the front, and the great VIP space upstairs. Oh, and yes, you did read correctly, there is a bed there. I wouldn't get too close to it, as you don't know what's er, happened on it-but it makes for great people watching! They have a nice specialty cocktail list with drinks ranging from 9-12 bucks. I know this sounds incredibly steep, but trust me on this one, order the Canteloupe Martini. You will not be sorry. And I even hate vodka! After coming here twice-both on weekend nights-I have to wonder why it isn't more crowded? Perhaps I came on off weekends, but it was actually nice because I was at a hot spot and could actually move around and chat with my friends. Review from Marie S. Alright. Someone has to say it --- Ibiza is totally an Asian club. Believe you me, I'm no stranger to or hater of the Asian social scene, but a whitey needs a little warning! Yes whiteys you will have bigger (albeit natural) boobies, a bigger ass and you'll be generally larger than all the other girls there. Be prepared to get a few "hey sexy white girl" come-ons too. But otherwise, sleazeballs are sleazeballs, skanks are skanks and this club is like any other. The drinks are overpriced, after 11 the cover is like $20, it is over crowded and sweaty. Ladies -- dress skanky, everyone does. Low cut tops and short ass skirts are prevalent. So why'd I give it 3 stars? What is Ibiza's saving grace? The music. Possibly the best DJ in town, my friends and I haven't had so much fun dancing in a long time. Oh and the bathrooms weren't bad either. There's a nice and big, full length mirror for the ladies-- always a must when boobs and crotches are so dangerously close to full exposure. Now I have all the Asian-fetish horn-dogs of Seattle flocking to Ibiza's. Forgive me Ibiza, hopefully you'll let me in next time I want to get my groove on! Review from Tanya S. update: I had to take off a star, I wanted to like you Ibiza, really I did. We have a love/hate relationship going on right now so hopefully next time you'll make it up to me. It was my birthday a few weekends back and I arranged with a friend to get on a promoters list. We called Ibiza and were told that if we came early we would get a table. We came EARLY at 9 PM, had to pay $15 cover even though the people on the phone said that we wouldn't have to pay before 9:30, and had NO table. NO ONE was in whole venue besides two birthday parties at tables. We were promised a table for later in the night and didn't get one. whatever. Still had a good time and would go back for the atmosphere BUT I would not recommend arranging any parties/VIP with the staff. There seems to be a serious disconnect between the restaurant/GLO/promoters/bouncers. Communicate! On another note, first time I've ever been kicked out of a bar for being too drunk - don't worry I made it to the stall all by myself but then I was escorted out. Good thing I don't remember, that seems like it would be em-barr-ass-ing! :) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Ibiza, I give you four stars... I would have given you five but it took you far too long to get me a drink. Maybe it's because of the circular bar and your head was going in circles and couldn't see that I was CLEARLY ahead of the group of fake blondes with the boobs busting out of their cleavage while batting their lashes at you but there are no excuses. I want my drink and I want it now! Other than the unusually long wait for a drink at the bar (first round was quick, second round took eons...) Ibiza was fabulous. First time visiting here on a Saturday night not too long ago... was looking forward to some cuddle time on the infamous bed but alas it is no more since they redecorated. Lots of great people watching... I love watching people try to dance :) Would definitely come back another night. Review from Kevin S. Ibiza has an absolutely modern and vogue look and feel. In truth if feels more like something you'd see in some of the hipper districts of LA or NY. The drink are great (i especially liked the mojito - very minty) and the bar is quite the visual spectacle. The only downside to the restaurant is that the food is a little pricey and the portions aren't that large. But, its a great place to hang and chat. Review from Matt K. Ibiza reminds me of the chic bars in Manhattan. Everything feels the same, including the scantily dressed waitresses, extremely high prices, and small food portions. Despite the price, the drinks are very tasty. HUGE TIP: Go during happy hour. 4-6 every weeknight. Mojitos are only $3, when they are usually $8. A good portion of their specialty drinks are only $4 as well. Most people don't show up then, so you'll have the place to yourself. Being a wi-fi'er, this is a great place for a late afternoon meeting. Collins Pub is next door and has free Wi-Fi. You should be able to connect to their access point. Look for the access point named "collins_pub". Review from Brian S. I haven't had dinner at this dinner club yet, so I can't really comment on the food. Given the name I was kinda expecting (hoping? nah!) to walk into a room full of foam when I showed up for the Halloween party. Even without the foam I did feel like I was entering an exclusive Mediterranean hot spot filled with beautiful and well costumed guests. The bar is filled with a lot of top shelf liquor. It was probably due to the Halloween party bedlam going on, but I did get a generous pour of XO rum neat, and was charged like it was a regular shot! That was nice. Having just come from our high school reunion we neglected to wear costumes, but congrats to Maverick & Goose for winning the contest... I think Frida Kahlo and Che Guevara deserved it just a little bit more though! Review from June N. Very nice decor. We chose Ibiza for our company holiday party a while back and had a great time. We had rented out the 2nd floor and although the service was a little slow it's understandable. The poor waitresses had to go up and down the stair countless times during that night. Some of the appetizers were hit and miss though. On the flip though, their well drinks consist of sky vodka and other "Premium" labels. Anyhow, after thinking about where to go for dinner last night, I thought we'd check it out again. The decor is very nice. Billowing curtains create partitions within the large space and the owners spent quite a bit of money on decorating the interior. I only wish they had spent more concern on what came out of the kitchen. Quite honestly, the food doesn't live up to the front of the house. I had the roasted beet salad and the de-constructed Paella and the girl had an organic spring salad with the NY. The beet salad was an interesting concept. They had a toasted nut encrusted petite round of warmed goat cheese served with thin slices of beet decorated around the plate...I love beets and I felt I got cheated a bit. The concept was to use the slices of beets as a vessel for some of the cheese but if you're going to call it a beet salad, there had better be a lot of beets! The deconstructed Paella was another interesting concept. Everything on the side with the Spanish rice formed into a hockey puck. I mean the plate presentation was great, but the whole purpose of Paella is to have all those great seafood flavors combine and enhance the flavors within the rice. The other gripe was that the seafood got very cold quickly on their own. The 3 pieces of Chorizo however were delicious. Wish they gave more. I had some of the steak and it was good...but then again I hate ordering boring steaks. The Roquefort butter over the top was good though and the bed of Arugula was nice and peppery. Half-way through the meal a group of people walked in all dressed in white with fake tans and no concept of how buttons worked. Really? I thought to myself? A nice place for a cocktail at most, but as far as food? Not really a serious eating destination. You're better of to go here for drinks. I do recommend the venue for a party though. Review from Ryan M. After having advertised their ambition to support the local fashion community, the venue blatantly disregarded the needs of designers, photographers, and an entire community of aspiring fashion entrepreneurs. I also experienced a blatant lack of respect for performing talent at this venue, and suggest that if you are a supporter of performing artists, or your local fashion community, that you boycott them. Review from Francisco A. - 44 friends - 131 reviews Seattle, WA I've never been here beyond lunch and happy hour. I'm aware it's some sort of upscale dining place and meat market club after hours, but I only go for the food and occasional drink with friends. They supposedly serve a Spanish-influenced fusion thing. A year or two back this was a decent place to grab lunch despite the fact that their food wasn't particularly Spanish nor was it great. They raised their prices, however, but the quality of food remained mediocre. I don't go here anymore. The food is stupidly overpriced and the pretension here is ridiculous. The only positives are that the wine selection is decent , the happy hour was OK, and their service was always good. If you are looking for a Spanish restaurant this place fails to offer anything particularly good (or Spanish for that matter) and it's over-priced for what you do get. It doesn't feel like Spain, or Miami, rather, it just feels like another awkward place in Seattle trying really hard to be something it is not. Review from Nina H. I went here on a Friday night... and WTF, it was SO empty!!! What's going on? I was so surprised how empty the place was... and kind of pissed. I mean, girls didn't have to pay for cover but our guy friends had to pay $10. Their drinks are also REALLY weak... I kept asking the bartender to pour a little bit more alcohol in my drink (it was a friggin midori sour but then again, I probably should've ordered something stronger anyway) BUT he was like "I can't, the liquor board's watching." And since I was kind of buzzed already, I was like "where are they?!" And then he walked away... sad. Anyway, I don't know what went wrong on Friday but this place is usually a lot more crowded and more fun. But I enjoyed the music too, my favorite song of the moment "Cookie Jar" by Gym Class Heroes played and I went crazy!! Listed in: Seattle's "Nightlife", Nightlife in Seattle Review from Ashley B. You wouldn't let me in on my 21st birthday. So I hate you. Yes I was probably a little sauced up by the time we met but I'm damn adorable and someone could have got lucky that night. And there was a limo parked outside. This is Seattle people. Come on. Review from Jenny N. If I could, I might dock a quarter to a half star on two issues: - Our server is still learning (I know, I've made some of the same subtle mistakes he did.) - The GM didn't inform us the wine he picked out cost more than the price I OKed. (It wasn't much more, but in my opinion, the wine server should ALWAYS tell you before uncorking the bottle. On the plus side, though, it was a really good match based on what we requested.) Noteworthy details: The GM is relatively new to the restaurant, as is the chef. Apparently, Ibiza got a bit away from its origins in its first year. The new chef is there, in part, to return "Spanish-inspired" to the menu. My hubby told me the Negroni he ordered was one of the best he's had outside of our home. That's fairly high praise for the bar. Yes, it is indeed quiet on a Thursday night.....that is, unless there is a private party upstairs with a PA system for door prizes. Review from Jake K. So, after a plethora of drinks at Joey's, the Asian crowd that I was with decided to go to....*drum roll*....an Asian club! Or at least, that was my first impression of Ibiza. The place is a two story nightmare of loud music, gyrating people who look entirely too much like they're trying hard to be a few socioeconomic classes below where they truly are, and high priced drinks. The dance floor was ill-placed - I walked through many couples attempting to dance and got a few annoyed stares. I absolutely stood out being one of maybe a handful of guys among a hundred in a button up shirt and tried to blend in as best as I could. However, there's just something to be said about the Beast vs. Breast Coasts and their differences. There was a VIP area upstairs that didn't seem well utilized - I mean, honestly, I don't gather that Ibiza is where you'll see any popular celebrities or Seattle Socialites - but it was replete with a bouncer and velvet ropes...very pedestrian. Won't be back to this one if I can help it. Review from Joe R. Save yourself from a miserable night of chaos, lousy food, and pretentious service. Our waitress came very seldom and provided a very poor level of service to begin with, but that was just the beginning of the catastrophe. After one lousy course, two forgotten orders, and an hour of waiting, we finally asked for a check and planned on getting more food somewhere else. The waitress forgot that we had already given her our credit cards (!), so we gave her our names and hoped she'd figure it out. After waiting at the table for ages, I approached a manager and explained. As it turned out, the waitress totally jumbled the whole thing and ended up giving my card to a stranger's table, who then paid their tab with my card! The manager tried to make it right, but after everything that had already transpired (and that our waitress was rude from the start), forgiveness just wasn't possible. Food: 2 out of 10 Drinks: 4 out of 10 Ambiance: 3 out of 10 Decor: 6 out of 10 Service: -1,000,000 out of 10 Review from Abby S. I was in Pioneer Square with my husband on a beautiful sunny early Wednesday evening and thought we would take advantage of the patio and happy hour. There is one other patron sitting at the bar eating food. We sat on the patio. Super slow service, especially since we were the only ones in there to really attend to! I had to ask for menus. After lots of waiting we finally order 3 happy hour items 1. beef skewers with mashed potatoes, 2. chicken skewers with rice, 3. tempura prawns and veggies. We wait and wait and wait. Finally, the food arrives. The skewers come with potato wedges instead of mashed potatoes and rice. The tempura is sub par and consists of onions rings, carrots, and the same potato wedges that have been deep-fried. The prawns were actually pretty good and the best part of the whole meal. Because I now feel like I am really eating bar food, I need ketchup. I go inside to request ketchup. Our guy is no where to be found. I wait, then finally go back outside and decide to try back later. Next time, I find him and he brings ketchup. While dining, I seriously had to do a lot of the work getting up from our table to chase him down that I should have deserved a tip! While we had been there, another group showed up- clearly from out of town, who was also ordering off the happy hour menu. I finally heard them comment, "Well, here comes our food. I guess we can stuff our faces and rush out of here." Sounds like their experience was pretty similar. This place needs to really decide what it wants to be: a trendy club? a happy hour spot? able to cater to the tourist crowd? It does look awfully cool inside, but Lord knows I'll never want to go back on a weekend and try it! Even when I tried to yelp about it, I couldn't find it at first because it's called Allure, not Ibiza!! Please, whoever you are, if you don't want to put the time and effort into being open for happy hour, then simply don't! You are running people away from wanting to ever come back and go "clubbing" here because your initial impression is so poor! And from reading other yelp reviews of your nighttime program, it seems you could use all the help you can get in the area too! These two stars are for neat decor, decent patio, and clean bathrooms. Review from Paul L. Microsoft Prime 2008-2009 Ambience: 4 Food: 3 Value: 3 The place is a club during the late nights. I don't understand why they even pretend to be a restaurant. They also didn't want to accept the Prime Card; think the final price came out wrong. The inside is nice and interesting. The night we went there were two bachelorette parties. The food was very mediocre; the steak was chewy, the sandwiches were adequate but overpriced. It's a good place to go to dance/hang out, but for eating, look elsewhere. Listed in: Microsoft Prime Review from Nerick M. I'm giving this a 4 because I'm doing a double rating of the food (3 stars) and the atmosphere/ambiance (5 stars). The location is pretty nice....deep in the heart of Pioneer Square on a busy avenue. It gets great light on a nice, sunny day, which you can take advantage of in the outside eating area. The inside is awesome looking. They have a ton of big comfy sofas surrounded by large see-through curtains. It's kind of like an ultra-lounge inside. The food, on the other hand, wasn't as interesting. The prices are nice during happy hour, but the taste wasn't all there. We got a few appetizers like the shrimp scampi and the veggie tempura. Both sort of lacked taste. I really liked the setting of the place and want to go back to try it out late at night. Maybe the non happy hour food is a little tastier. We'll see. Review from Thyda M. Ibiza's is an ok club, I have heard great reviews from many people so I decided to try it myself. The club is very well decorated. The bathrooms are pretty clean. Pretty quick service at the bar. The only downside I would say is that the dance floor is right next to the door. Hated dancing there when people are going in and out of the club. People will walk in between you while you are dancing. But at least most people were resepectful... Ok place like I said, I'd give it another try... Review from Paul B. So Ibiza went out of business. And now it became Allure. Same owner, just remodeled interior. It's a lot nicer actually, but everything else seems pretty much the same. Trendy people come, but there isn't much to pack the place out. I don't know why though -- it's kind of a phenomena. Bartenders are nice and ambiance is hip (for Seattle). Owner is also cool and welcomes all of his guests accordingly...though for some reason, people just aren't packing in this place. I think Ibiza/Allure has become synonymous with always being empty. Quite unfortunate ~ people always prefer the louder, bigger Trinity around the corner. Review from RowerRob C. - 86 friends - 186 reviews Seattle, WA Trendy and elegant... not too snotty. :) Food items are good too. There's this chicken quesadilla for 3 bucks or something. :) Listed in: The Places I Go Out 1 Previous Review: Show all » Great decor. Great guest DJ and performers. A nice classy touch. The women! =) Woowooowooo... I… Read more » Review from Aaron M. You know my dad grew up in Ibiza when he was a little kid. Things have changes and now they have a resturant named after the island. I know he wouldn't like what happened to the island, being a party mecca or whatever. But for a dance club who cares...the decor and atmosphere are great and if my dad were my age I am sure he would get his drink on. Caption Action in the House! Review from Mele Y. My friends and I arrived a bit on later side, nearly midnight. The door was roped off and we asked the door guys if we were able to walk over it - no response. Awesome. We meet up with my friend and she gives us VIP bracelets which gives you access to the upstairs section. There is a bar up there, but drinks were pretty expensive in my opinion. Sure, the decor is nice and all, but that's about it. Service and staff seemed snooty and unfriendly. I won't be back. Review from Ayano B. Over priced. Over cooked. Under poured. This used to be a fun place to come on Friday and Saturday's but now, it's just a ghost town. The only reason why I'm giving it 2 not 1 stars is because the place is really neat. The downstairs has a great dance floor and nice seating, and upstairs is decorated well. Review from Davida B. I am never a fan of spending $30 for 1 person in 5 minutes. Especially when going to a place that's just a club. I would suggest going only if you have a group that doesn't mind spending a lot of money on tiny, overpriced, and poorly made drinks, and mediocre music. If you do go get in before 11 and get into the VIP area. Review from Jason C. Pioneer Square has always had a reputation as a place that required caution and suspicion. This review is by no exception an attempt at a different statement. All this given, Ibiza surprisingly serves for a fun and jubilant night out. Much more of a Belltown, type atmosphere, it does a satisfying job at catering to a swanky, and fancy crowd. This is of course not to suggest that a drunken group of recent college grads can't have a good time but be prepared to see young professionals and hip Seattleites in a crowded but pleasant venue. p.s. late night inebriated reviews are the most honest! Review from Diego S. I've been here a few times and so far they have all been sucky crappy experiences, nuthing great! Music was lame! Review from Robin S. Went to Ibiza last weekend for a birthday party. The atmosphere is pretty good for a club - good lighting (dark but not too dark), big dance floor, good decor (although with the name I'd like to see a bit more Spanish flare), a couple of large bars, and swanky couches. The private party room is pretty good (good view of entire club) and minimums for table reservations are reasonable. The DJ (90% of how I rate clubs) was fun and encouraged the crowd. I would have preferred the tracks sped up a bit more and also more mash ups. Review from Kwasi A. I simply dig the set-up at this glitzy nightspot. The beats are funk and peeps - well - quite lovely and mature. I particularly enjoy the Friday happy hours -- with DJ Forrest Gump (run Forrest) alongside DJ Miss Broadway -- talk about classics and fusion - hey - they get down? The food menu is scrumptious and the flavors eclectic - for a lounge/nightclub establishment. I walked in last Friday at about 5 and was happy to see Damon Yang there as manager - formerly of Contour - and was always an excellent host -- go there for a good time minus the drama! KA -- aka -- wil

Sep 19 2009 The Last Hurrah Because fall is going to be a busy one with homeschooling, soccer in town, and all sorts of cookbook shenanigans, this weekend’s get-together at the Lodge will be the last one for a little while. The Lodge needs time off so it can rest, recuperate, get its nails done, have some exfoliating treatments…and so its owner can find the mysteriously missing set of sheets in one of the bedrooms. What would possibly have happened to a single set of queen size sheets? I’m 100 % certain no one would have considered them valuable enough to abscond with them; they were just boring white cotton sheets. I’ve checked the washer, the dryer, the hamper, the cabinets, the closets, and the freezer. And unless my retinas are failing me, those sheets have disappeared into thin air. Alas, I suspect my two boys above anything or anyone else. In my experience—and I have a lot of experience—whenever something in my life goes missing, my two boys are responsible 99.4% of the time. I expect to eventually find the poor lost sheets underneath the Lodge, or on the roof, or down at the pond, where the little vagrants have likely rigged a huge fishing net or a sailboat or something. Why can’t boys just sit and enjoy things like books, embroidery, and arts and crafts? If I live to be 41, I’ll never understand it. I wonder which of the cooking guests crawled into bed last night after a long day of travel to find a terry cloth mattress pad waiting for them? In my defense, assuming I’m allowed one, I didn’t remember until 4:00 this morning that the sheets weren’t on that bed. So I’m only an accidentally lame hostess. And that doesn’t count. Speaking of which, do you see these beautiful smiling faces? They aren’t smiling because the dinner I’d cooked for them was ready on time. Salad was done: 7:01 Steaks were done: 7:15 Potatoes were done: 7:40 Olive Cheese Bread was done: Never. I forgot to make it. Apple Dumplings were done: Never. I ran out of time. Be impressed. Be very impressed. But you know what’s great about the Relaxed (Lame) Entertaining approach I take? It always winds up being fun. I got to meet eight people I’d never met before, which is eight more people than I’d normally have the chance to meet on a Friday night in September. Cathy’s the mother of one of the winners, and she’s ten years older than me. My youngest guest—get ready—is 22 years younger than me. That’s right, ladies and gents. Read it and weep. 22 years younger. How is that possible when I’m just sixteen myself? I’ll have to ponder that question and get back with you. I assured the people in attendance that I did not welcome them into my home so that they could clean up after my mess. I don’t think they believed me. On another note, I’m not sure I’ve ever wished I had curly brunette hair more than I do at this very moment. Pioneer Woman 1 katie On Saturday, September 19 at 10:09 am It already looks like your big weekend adventure is going to be fantastic! Have a blast! 2 Terri A. On Saturday, September 19 at 10:09 am I wish I was one of them! Have a great weekend! 3 sparkly jules On Saturday, September 19 at 10:10 am It looks like ya’ll had fun!! 4 Jen On Saturday, September 19 at 10:10 am Looks like everyone had a great time!! 5 sheri On Saturday, September 19 at 10:10 am ah, happy times. i so wish i could have been there. 6 LeahaBeth On Saturday, September 19 at 10:11 am My sheets have disappeared too!!! I never thought of asking my two boys, hmmmmm? 7 Munchiedog On Saturday, September 19 at 10:11 am Cannot imagine the excitement for these gals…. sheets or no sheets! 8 Mindee@ourfrontdoor On Saturday, September 19 at 10:13 am I’m sure that sheetless beds were the last thing on anyone’s mind. A good time was had by all, i am certain. Can I be the maid on one of these weekends? 9 Amber On Saturday, September 19 at 10:13 am How fun!!! Wish I was there. 10 Nikki H On Saturday, September 19 at 10:13 am Who cares about the sheets? Except your boys, probably. And that dark curly hair? gorgeous. 11 Dana On Saturday, September 19 at 10:15 am I really, REALLY hope I get to come to one of your get togethers someday soon! Dana in Utah 12 beth aka confusedhomemaker On Saturday, September 19 at 10:15 am We are also finding Fall to be busier, it will continue to get much busier since we are only in the beginning of September or is it already the middle? Man, it goes by fast. I also believe that letting people mingle and just enjoy the moment is better than overly planning an event. And as always sheets should be optional 13 lakemom On Saturday, September 19 at 10:16 am I love you honest timeline…. wouldn’t like you as much if everything ran smooth all the time! 14 Eat at Home On Saturday, September 19 at 10:19 am That looks like so much fun. I bet the guest w/out sheets didn’t mind a bit. And I have to say, everyone always looks so beautiful in the pictures you take! 15 Lynn On Saturday, September 19 at 10:20 am Good Times! 16 Erasue On Saturday, September 19 at 10:20 am Now “I” want curly brunette hair 17 Kari On Saturday, September 19 at 10:20 am One of the things I love about you is that you’re not perfect and you’re OK with that. Really, who hasn’t had a dinner party that didn’t go off perfectly? Yes, it’s frustrating, but it happens 18 Angela On Saturday, September 19 at 10:21 am Maybe you can give the one without the sheets a free cookbook to make up for it. It looks like everyone is having a great time! You must be a great host! 19 Dana Gibson On Saturday, September 19 at 10:21 am How fun! 20 Rachel On Saturday, September 19 at 10:22 am In my vast experience, two boys plus white sheets equal TENTS. I know you have lots of acres to search, but look for white tents out there on the Ponderosa. 21 Desert Mom On Saturday, September 19 at 10:22 am That is about what time I would have remembered the sheets! You could make it a contest and give a prize for the one without sheets. 22 Cheryl Barker On Saturday, September 19 at 10:23 am What a great smile Curly Brunette has! Looks like she knows how to have fun. Enjoy your last hurrah! 23 Rhonda in Oklahoma On Saturday, September 19 at 10:26 am Lots of happenings – sounds like fun – have a great weekend! 24 Ellen Soileau On Saturday, September 19 at 10:26 am Oh fun! She has hair like I pretend I have when I forget what I look like. Or something. 25 Cathyt from TX On Saturday, September 19 at 10:28 am Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s awesome trip to PW’s place!!! Guess I’ll have to go to confession!! 26 nickiebrickie On Saturday, September 19 at 10:28 am looks like you’re all having fun!! regardless of sheets. what a lovely group. 27 Amanda On Saturday, September 19 at 10:28 am I would have been happy to go sheet-less if it meant I could come hang out at the ranch for a day. Although, if I’m being honest, I would be a totally lame guess for this event. The whole time I’d be looking out the window taking it all in. I’d be ‘that crazy girl’ who got up at 4am to go sit outside and watch the sun rise, or wondering off in the field to go see if I could find some mustang. 28 leighannet On Saturday, September 19 at 10:29 am so jealous of the winners i can barely stand it. i bet its going to be really fun!! 29 Susan Moe On Saturday, September 19 at 10:31 am I had a dress once that disappeared into thin air. Darned if I didn’t tear apart the house looking for it. I found it stuffed in a hat box years and years later when we moved. It was then I remembered putting it there during the previous move so I could get to it easily upon arrival. It’ll be fun to find out where your sheets have been when they turn up. And they will! 30 jjk On Saturday, September 19 at 10:33 am It looks fantastic as usual! Lucky, lucky ladies… 31 Cathy Bell On Saturday, September 19 at 10:37 am The only thing that will remove my jealousy is if you tell me you woke these ladies up at 5:00 to work cattle! 32 Renee On Saturday, September 19 at 10:38 am omg, what a great time! I’m there with you in spirit, thanks for sharing the photos. Missing a whole set of sheets? Once we had a missing fitted sheet, couldn’t find it for days. Turned out my daughter thought it would be softer, so she put 2 fitted sheets on her bed at the same time. I pert near lost my mind trying to find it. When I stripped her bed I was so surprised I fell into fits of hysterical laughing. 33 tatquilt On Saturday, September 19 at 10:39 am Very envious of your good time…. 34 Bev On Saturday, September 19 at 10:39 am At least they had a mattress pad!!! I’m quite sure everyone had a marvelous time, potatoes or no. Of course, I might have balked a little at no dessert, but I do know where your candy stash is, if I could just climb the ladder, all would be well! 35 Tammy DePew Smith On Saturday, September 19 at 10:50 am I wish I lived closer to Oklahoma so I could win a contest and visit with you! It always looks like your guests have so much fun. I’m in Florida though – so too far for now. 36 clay ball On Saturday, September 19 at 10:50 am beautiful! 37 Joanna Rubiner On Saturday, September 19 at 10:51 am I recently tried to make my bed with a ghost costume. I was momentarily very puzzled by those two holes. You should note, I have no children. 38 MichelleSG On Saturday, September 19 at 10:53 am That is very nice hair. Being from the word of stick straight hair I can totally relate with you envy. And don’t worry about the dinner part, they were their for the company! 39 Karen On Saturday, September 19 at 10:55 am So where do these ranch lodge visit competitions occur? Looks like lots of fun. 40 Romaine of On Saturday, September 19 at 10:55 am Lifeless Hairville? LOL I can relate. 41 Visible On Saturday, September 19 at 11:00 am Aww that’s so fun! And really…sheets are highly over rated right?? 42 sarah On Saturday, September 19 at 11:02 am Please. Send me some food at Juniper Drive. Reeeeee, may I come to the Lodge next time? I shall bring a wardrobe of funny accents and a fervour for food. Looks like such fun! 43 The Urban Cowboy On Saturday, September 19 at 11:11 am Looks like a mucho fun weekend for ya’ll! 44 mry321 On Saturday, September 19 at 11:14 am Can’t wait to see what evil dishes are cooked up tonight. 45 Emma in Ft. Worth On Saturday, September 19 at 11:14 am Sigh….I guess that means I can unpack my bag that was ready to go on a moment’s notice as a result of winning a Trip to the Lodge contest….Sigh…. Hope y’all are having fun – I would be if I were there. 46 Abby On Saturday, September 19 at 11:15 am Am I the only person here who *always* imagines myself in those pictures of Lodge get-togethers??? I always wonder what I would wear, how I would do my hair, how DEELISH the food would taste…ahhhh…I’ll be there one day! : ) 47 Tiffany On Saturday, September 19 at 11:18 am Oh my gosh, I would LOVE to have sept on a terry cloth mattress pad just to have experienced a visit to the lodge with Ree and other fine folks. Ree, don’t be too hard on yourself… I am SURE no one really noticed your follies. 48 sprucehill On Saturday, September 19 at 11:21 am Looking forward to more posts about the cooking extravaganza! 49 sheryl miracle On Saturday, September 19 at 11:21 am Would love to know where the winners live. I think it would be fun to know how far and wide they came from! 50 Deenie On Saturday, September 19 at 11:24 am This weekend is gonna be a blast for all of you…..HAVE FUN!! 51 Victoria On Saturday, September 19 at 11:25 am Sweet Ree, I’m sure the terry cloth mattress pad felt wonderful. If any of your beautiful guests hail from the city, they probably felt as I have when I’ve had adventures in the country or no-man’s land. The minute they step onto your idyllic ranch, I bet all the stress left their bodies and they had the best night’s sleep they’ve ever experienced. There’s just something about being closer to nature than to ongoing traffic jams and concrete and steel that instantly decompresses you. I’m sure most of us would be happier than a duck on a june bug to sleep on one of your serene, stressless mattress pads. Waiting my turn – hopefully before I’m 60, which ain’t too fer away now! Yikes! Twenty-two years younger than you? She looks a little “mature” for a 10 year old! God love ya, Sweet Ree and family! Victoria in Texas 52 Cal Gal On Saturday, September 19 at 11:30 am Wish I had anyone else’s hair right now. Mine fell out from stress and it’s just pitiful. I think I need to take some time off, just like your lodge. 53 Emily On Saturday, September 19 at 11:38 am That’s so funny that she (whichever she she is) didn’t tell you that there weren’t any sheets on the bed. I bet you would have done the same, as a guest in someone’s house. Maybe she thought it was a fancy European deal, like a featherbed that’s cotton instead of down. About the bread, many have gotten as far as making it (or rolls), shutting off the oven, and then forgetting to take it out of the oven to serve. Whenever I do an ambitious dinner (like Thanksgiving or something else with multiple sides), I just cook until I run out of time. Invariably, not all dishes get made, and it’s okay. 54 Journaling Woman On Saturday, September 19 at 11:40 am What a great time you had. On another note, I have curly hair and have spent many $’s trying to make it straight. On yet another journal note: Since sheets are so valuable for children (and I know from experience) I suspect those precious male children possess them. But they might look at you in disbelief and innocence when you ask them. I’m just saying. 55 Margo/MS Hospitality On Saturday, September 19 at 11:46 am Wonderful! Wonderful! Wonderful! The smiles and the beautiful women… how much fun! Have a wonderful weekend! 56 elizabethk On Saturday, September 19 at 11:50 am That’s looks to have been a dern fine hurrah! I was there – vicariously! Isn’t it WEIRD how people are turning up that are younger, I still can’t wrap my head about my now being old enough that I could be a mother to a 20 year old! (I actually have a 13/9 and 2 yo!) 57 Taylor On Saturday, September 19 at 11:53 am I want to go! Looks like fun! That’s hilarious about the sheets-sounds comfy! 58 sheree On Saturday, September 19 at 11:56 am Hard to believe that this group of bright young women with their bright shining faces was picked at random. They are all gorgeous! Have a great time. 59 Christina (Dinner at Christina's) On Saturday, September 19 at 11:58 am I’m having a similar get-to-gether at my house tomorrow w/ 5 blogger friends i’ve never met! I hope mine goes as great as yours! I have checklists to help me get through all the dishes and details. Oh – and I have long, curly brunette hair! Took me years to love it, and I only appreciated it after I stopped trying to control it. Once you give up and just let it be, you’ll find peace with it! 60 Christina (Dinner at Christina's) On Saturday, September 19 at 11:59 am Also — giveaway on my blog for Ree’s cookbook! Deadline is tomorrow! 61 Nezzy On Saturday, September 19 at 11:59 am I am so jealous right now, are the greens of my eyes showing??? I’m stuck right in the middle of the Ozarks Ponderosa on a rainy Saturday alone with the dirty laundry. Now as we all know there are different levels of dirty and I’m talkin’ ground in manure topped with liquid molasses supplement. So enjoy your girly, cooky , giggley weekend. No don’t think of me stuck here in the middle of Nowhere USA. Have a good one!!! 62 manda2177 On Saturday, September 19 at 12:01 pm Those women are so beautiful!! Any chance that you can share names and links to their blogs??1?!? Would love to see their recipes on Tasty Kitchen as well! Blessings- Amanda 63 Nezzy On Saturday, September 19 at 12:01 pm 64 Lynette, OK On Saturday, September 19 at 12:03 pm Have you thought about the sheets being in the chimney?? You do have one, I wasn’t dreaming, was I ?? 65 Silje On Saturday, September 19 at 12:04 pm The sheet would make an awsome parashute Im sure 66 Amy W On Saturday, September 19 at 12:05 pm Looks like fun! And sounds like my house! 5 kids 6 and under and no dinner party ever happens “on time”. And we lost an 8″ Calphalon pan this week. Curious. How does a pan disapear?! 67 Penny Wolf On Saturday, September 19 at 12:07 pm I wish I could be relaxed entertaining. I would have been a wreck about the whole thing! The missing sheets…well tell the boys/kids that they are lucky to have you for a Mom and REALLY lucky if the sheets are a prop of some sort in their world. 68 Stephanie S On Saturday, September 19 at 12:13 pm Terriblely jealous of all your good fun! 69 jo On Saturday, September 19 at 12:13 pm Speaking for myself, if I were a guest (and envying all those who are), I would have been in such awe, I would not have said anything about the sheets, either! And, having raised 2 boys of my own…there is absolutely, no telling, where those sheets may be! Here’s hoping that you and your fabulous guests have a wonderful, laughter-filled time this weekend! 70 jensamom On Saturday, September 19 at 12:14 pm What fun! 71 Denise Lamb On Saturday, September 19 at 12:18 pm Have a great day cooking and then enjoying the food that you cook. Looks like a fun group. Denise 72 Joni On Saturday, September 19 at 12:18 pm You guys look like you’re having so much fun!! 73 nancypants On Saturday, September 19 at 12:23 pm Oh Ree…. what fun this looks like. May I come? Please? I really just want the girl time with ya. :^) (We could even order take-out and just watch old movies. Never mind that take-out would be ice cold by the time it arrived.) Is it possible to miss a person that you’ve never met in person? If so, I miss ya. My three year old said this about his in-utero brother one time. “Do you love him?” he asked, “I love him. I miss him.” 74 bg On Saturday, September 19 at 12:32 pm Hi Ree My famous trick is to not have the bread ready until the meal is finished and then its usually burnt. I tend to forget its in the oven. Its considered a special occasion when the bread is ready with the meal. 75 Mama M. On Saturday, September 19 at 12:34 pm Lifeless Hairville?!! Yeah, right!!! I’m sitting here coveting your locks, me with my mousy blonde, needing a good highlight job, and a fun new cut…stat!!! 76 Kat On Saturday, September 19 at 12:35 pm Oh my, she really does have the most gorgeous hair… And a whole LOT of those gals look suspiciously young! 77 Mariah On Saturday, September 19 at 12:35 pm Looks like a fantastic fun time 78 edyB On Saturday, September 19 at 12:42 pm Dang! here I am in New Mexico wishing I was in Oklahoma! You just have too much fun… 79 mom8k On Saturday, September 19 at 12:43 pm you too? I’m so relieved! 80 Enid On Saturday, September 19 at 12:46 pm Awww, see I didn’t win. My husband went to CA and I am here ,mowing the land. I should had win Ree!! 81 Jenni in KS On Saturday, September 19 at 12:46 pm Your youngest guest looks like Phoebe Cates. I’ve always thought Phoebe Cates was both gorgeous and adorable. Those are two things that are hard to pull off alone and even harder to pull off together. We once had a guest stay over night and I didn’t find out until after he left that there were no pillowcases on the pillows in his room. The pillows were looking pretty sad, too. I was so embarrassed. At least the mattresses and pillows in your Lodge rooms are new and most likely lacking in drool stains. 82 Sheila On Saturday, September 19 at 12:48 pm I wish I could step into one of their shoes for a day . . . 83 Mamadallama On Saturday, September 19 at 12:49 pm Glad everyone had such a nice time. I think it’s great that you share the little mishaps with us. It’s real life and more fun than perfection. I especially think the missing sheets are hilarious. Just thinking how confused I would be if I was the one who turned down the bed to find only the mattress pad. I imagine she checked in the closet and consulted with another guest before deciding to just get in and go to sleep. And I’m betting she slept just as soundly as the others. Those precious boys! The only other possibility I can think of is the sheets somehow got mixed in with your home’s linens. Be sure to let us know where/when they turn up! 84 Rikki On Saturday, September 19 at 12:50 pm Looks like fun. Wish it was me, so I’ll keep trying and hoping, and (silently) cursing out everyone else that wins 85 Michelle On Saturday, September 19 at 12:55 pm Sounds fun! Michelle 86 krinnie On Saturday, September 19 at 1:00 pm OMG. You DIDN’T make the olive bread? Then, what’s the point in having anyone over? We have 4 kids, stuff disappears all the time here, too. With those angelic, innocent faces, the little monsters should all go into acting………which reminds me: Halloween is coming. I dread the annual pillaging for costumes. 87 Clayvessel On Saturday, September 19 at 1:02 pm I have five boys. Two are presently the ages of yours. Things have been missing around here in perpetual rotation for twenty years! Looks like fun! 88 Jessica @ How Sweet It Is On Saturday, September 19 at 1:12 pm Fall is my favorite time of year. That looks incredibly fun. I am incredibly jealous! 89 Melissa On Saturday, September 19 at 1:17 pm Boys are just boys. There’s no getting around that one. Enjoy the weekend! 90 Nancy in Texas On Saturday, September 19 at 1:21 pm Hope you had gotten that extra set of sheets per bed at like most suggested. 91 jilly On Saturday, September 19 at 1:21 pm Everyone looks like they LOVED being there. You know what? After all the pictures you posted at the Lodge, I’m pretty sure I could find my way around like *that*. 92 kelly hartnett On Saturday, September 19 at 1:21 pm Oh, it was definitely THE BOYS! I have three teenage sons, I can’t keep a knife, a glass, my favorite cozy blanket or spoons for more than 6 months!! 93 Peggy On Saturday, September 19 at 1:22 pm Boys! Unfathomable, adorable little creatures. For years I found little x’s carved in unlikely places (the side of the tv?) compliments of my boy and his pocket knife. Marking his territory, I guess! 94 Lennie On Saturday, September 19 at 1:28 pm I wish you all a weekend of merriment! Have fun, ladies!!! 95 Lynda On Saturday, September 19 at 1:29 pm So….how does one win one of these dinners?? Have a wonder season off from entertaining and come up with an idea for a ‘Sistah’ weekend so me (in Michigan) and mine (in South Carolina) can kick back you and yours and who ever else wins. We would LOVE it. And on another note, I have coerced a friend in OKC to show up at your book signing there to have one autographed for my sister’s Christmas gift. I highly suspect that I will be getting an unsigned one from her so I have to one up the kid. Thanks!! 96 Mindy@thesuburbanlife On Saturday, September 19 at 1:32 pm Oh, that looks like so much fun. Except for the cooking part. I’m a horrible group cooker. Or chef. Whatever. I miserably fail when surrounded by people who know what they’re doing. I’m great at sitting on a barstool drinking wine, though! If you ever need a bystander…I’m you gal!! Mindy 97 Tomara On Saturday, September 19 at 1:41 pm I have come to the conclusion that I want to visit your lodge. NOT because of the great cooking and laughter… it’s because EVERY photograph of EVERY person is ALWAYS beautiful. I think you could even make my frumpyness look beautiful! 98 Maureen On Saturday, September 19 at 1:42 pm Looks to me like great fun was had by all. Sheets or no sheets these people were thankful just to be at the lodge with pioneer woman! I wish I were there having fun too. 99 Pam D On Saturday, September 19 at 1:46 pm Salad, steaks, and potatoes. Good company, good conversation, lots of laughs. Maybe a few dishpan hands, possibly a rough follicular spot or two from sleeping on a mattress pad, but all in all? It sounds like a great weekend! 100 Bill of Wasilla AK On Saturday, September 19 at 1:47 pm Personally, I think you should demanded that the guests clean up the mess. Not only that, you should have accused at least one of them of stealing your sheets, and then conveniently seeking to cast the blame on your poor, dear, innocent sons. As nice as the evening appears to have been, that would have made it all the more interesting.

Heroes Wiki talk:Community Portal From Heroes Wiki Heroes: The Game Feel free to check out a radical new fan fiction: Heroes: The Game. Each installment to the game is a "mission" for the player to complete. Visit the mission list to read the two missions that have already been written and released. Enjoy. —Radicell 04:47, 23 March 2010 (EDT) Visions of Earth needs help! Hey everyone! So as most of you probaly know, I am writing a fan fiction called "Visions of Earth", currently I am needing some help with the administrative side of it. E.g. Updating character histories, abilities etc. So, I am looking for someone who is interested in helping me. There shouldn't be too much work to do considering only one episode has been released. So if anyone is interested, please respond on my talk page! Thank you! :) —Leckie — Talk 19:04, 26 March 2010 (EDT) Few things that can be improved Ok, first off, Great wiki, but i would improve a few things. On the Character pages, we have (example) Claire Bennett: Claire is daughter of Nathan, but adopted daughter of Noah. She can regenerate and blah blah blah About Claire She lived in Texas as a cheerleader... Show History In Season 1 Claire discovered her ability, ran away from sylar and gets held hostage by Ted, blah blah In Season 2 Claire moves to Costa Verde and falls for West, blah Then it goes In Season 3 episode 1, claire does this In Season 3 episode 2, we see claire for a slit second drinking tea In Season 3 episode 3, claire does this and this .... Why can we not have a sweeping few paragraphs for the whole of volume 3 & 4 & 5 like we do for Season/Volume 1 & 2 rather than an episode by episode breakdown (which could be in its own article like "Claire Bennet: Season One History" and "Claire Bennet: Season Two History".)? And finally my second idea. Maybe we could have some articles on "Character X & Character Y History" Documenting the relationship between two different characters in the show history, so when two characters who do not normally meet (like Ando and Noah) there could be one article to tell us the relation and previous meeting of these characters. This would need a LOT of new articles (~30 characters in Heros, meaning we would have 900 new articles) But when we are watching season 5 (hoping there will be a season 5) we can instantly track previous characters interactions even if they barely met before. Mr Hiro 21:01, 10 April 2010 (EDT) EDIT: Damn it, no sooner have i finished complaining about Heroes wiki have i noticed Heroes wiki has already changed, looks like my first idea is already being implemented before i can even complain about it. Never mind, however i would still like to push my second idea. Mr Hiro 21:08, 10 April 2010 (EDT) - So long as we don't append silly "Sythan" style names to the pages (but rather something like Connection:Nathan Petrelli and Sylar), I think this could be a really good idea. Lots of Season One's plot points revolved around stuff like this. —Ricard Desi 21:15, 10 April 2010 (EDT) - How would that be different from the content in Portal:Relationships?—MiamiVolts (talk) 23:06, 10 April 2010 (EDT) - It wouldn't be a fan creation, first of all. —Boom D 9,747 01:19, 11 April 2010 (EDT) - The only thing that's really stopping the relationships being a canon analysis is the names that we've given them. If they were renamed to Relationship:Hiro and Charlie for example, all the information and interactions come from canon sources and is canon. —mc_hammark 08:29, 11 April 2010 (EDT) - So we're basically looking at a massive move from all the corny fan creation names to "Connection/Relationship:X and Y", right?—BOYCOOL — THE END IS NIGH. 09:32, 11 April 2010 (EDT) - I agree that we don't need to duplicate/change the articles. I think the Relationship articles are okay as they are. I've grown to like having them as fan creations.—MiamiVolts (talk) 11:28, 11 April 2010 (EDT) - I'm also not a fan of adding 900 new articles that need to be maintained when we have a hard enough time maintaining the articles we already have in existence. So many of those silly relationship articles—which could serve the purposes stated above, despite being fan creation articles—are stubs, and are looong stubs, at that. Even the connections page could be beefed up, but that page really is rarely touched, so I'm afraid to see what would happen when we add 900 more pages like it. Ultimately, this would be a huge project, and one I'm not very excited about. If somebody would like to create it in their user space and then move it into the main namespace when it's all finished, that is something we can certainly discuss. However, I have a feeling that the massive size of this undertaking will prove overwhelming and not worth the effort. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 16:37, 11 April 2010 (EDT) - That's the thing though, if it were to be done, it be a waste of memory. The relationships already exist and use only canon information. If we created these articles, the only reason they'd be canon and not fan creations is the name. As soon as we slap a fan made name on anything it becomes a fan creation. —mc_hammark 16:45, 11 April 2010 (EDT) - This is my first time posting something here so please bear with me: I have a minor alteration request that I would like to run by the community and that is changing the character box on the right side where it says known ability to just ability because I find it a bit confusing for people we know have an ability, we just don't know what it is so none is posted, to me implying they don't have one. For the change if the character isn't an evolved human we put none and if he/she does but we don't know we put unknown Or, for example, Kaito's character bio we could put unk, see notes That's my two cents. — Inblackestnight 23:57, 31 May 2010 (EDT) The future is now It's only just now occurred to me. Assuming Heroes gets picked up for a fifth (and almost certainly final) season, and if they're smart enough to fast forward through most of 2010, we'll actually get a look at the dreaded year 2011, when everything seems to go wrong. I wonder how they'll choose to address that? —Ricard Desi 12:25, 20 April 2010 (EDT) - Well everything has been leading there since the beginning, so it would seem. Especially with Claire's most recent actions... —Skullman1392 23:49, 20 April 2010 (EDT) Fans of The 4400 Did any of you watch this fantastic show that ran from 2004 to 2007? Since activity on Heroes Wiki has slowed dramatically, I've decided to spread my wings: I've taken over The 4400 Wiki as an administrator and I've been working on the site for a couple of weeks now. We're still in the very early stages, and very few articles have been written, so any help we can get is appreciated. Any fans of this show may contribute, although admittedly Wikia's interface takes a bit of getting used to. And to those who haven't watched this show, I strongly recommend you do. —Radicell 09:11, 6 May 2010 (EDT) - I loved The 4400. I thought it was a very under appreciated show. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 21:08, 6 May 2010 (EDT) - Definitely Ryan, me too. — Jan Rodrigo (talk) (contributions) 04:42, 7 May 2010 (EDT) - Yeah 4400 was great....except when season 3 rolled around, and Mohinder and everyone began injecting themselves with Promicin. (oops). —HiroDynoSlayer (talk) 05/7/2010 13:14 (EST) File Hey guys, I just find a really good Microsoft Excel file about Heroes, this is the link. There are written all the evolved humans, all the abilities, all the primatech files, a timeline for the Company. All this things there are also on this wiki, but I think you shold look at it. :) (P.S.: You should have installed Microsoft Excel for read this file) —TanderixUTCR14:30, 11 May 2010 (EDT) - I can't see it, it comes up with something you have to buy. —Leckie — Talk 14:34, 11 May 2010 (EDT) - Didn't appear this: "Your file download should start immediately. If it does not start automatically, please click here to start the download process. Signature and Premium users never have to wait in line to get any public file, so sign up and sign in now and you won't ever have to wait again!"? —Tanderix 14:39, 11 May 2010 (EDT) - I was able to see it, where did you get it? Cuz it has a LOT of information, but it's not all acurate (it says Lydia's ability is Clairvoyance, for example) and it doesn't look very official. —Skullman1392 17:27, 11 May 2010 (EDT) New Wiki Project Hello everyone :) I have recently started a new wiki over at Wikia, about the Percy Jackson series. If anyone is able to help it would be muchly appreciated! :) I hope to be editing with some of you over there. The wiki is currently in very early stages, I only just made it, and any help would be great! Thanks! :D —Leckie — Talk 14:20, 12 May 2010 (EDT) - There's another Percy Jackson wiki on wikia, It's here :P. —Jenx222 | U / T / C | <inlcudeonly>08:00, 7 January 2012 (EST) 15:53, 12 May 2010 (EDT) NBC 'Fan It' Program Begins May 17, New Ad Campaign NBC will be starting a new affinity program later today, May 17, called "Fan It". I'm hoping that there might be something related to Heroes in the program, though I wouldn't place good odds on it. You can read about it on the NBCUMV website, at MediaWeek, or ThingFo. According to the press release, it will be "allowing visitors to earn points by watching videos, chatting about shows, and sharing content with friends. The program requires fans to sign up to participate at, though they can do so using their existing Facebook, Twitter, MySpace or MyNBC accounts. As people accumulate points, they will be able to redeem them for various prizes, such as access to a yet-to-premiere series, NBC merchandise and entries to sweepstakes. To execute the Fan It program, NBC has partnered with the social media tracking company ThingFo Inc." Also, "the network will kick off an ad blitz that includes a whopping 19 Microsoft properties and partners, ranging from MSN to Bing to Glo to various Xbox games. As part of the elaborate sponsorship package—which will run through Sept. 20—NBC and Microsoft have collaborated on “Preview to Fall TV” microsite within MSN TV. In addition, NBC will promote its new lineup via Wonderwall, Windows Messenger, and various mobile and social media platforms."—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:05, 17 May 2010 (EDT) Fall Line-up Well, the Fall Preview is up at nbc.com. It looks like Heroes lost to a show called The Event, that's trying really hard to be some kind of Lost/Flashforward show... gotta be honest, looking at the line-up, I think NBC is going to get flattened this year. —Ricard Desi 09:36, 17 May 2010 (EDT) - Yeah, nothing looks particularly interesting other than Chuck. What could happen is, if none of these new shows get much viewings, NBC might bring back Heroes, or give them a few years out then bring them back, because although the fan base is small, it is a solid fan base. —mc_hammark 10:47, 17 May 2010 (EDT) Keeping the Graphic Novels going. NBC wants to know whether they should keep the graphic novels going. They've got a thread going on 9th Wonders, so I suggest we all head over there and let them know that we are still wanting the GNs. Thanks guys.—mc_hammark 06:51, 19 May 2010 (EDT) Season 4 DVD Is there? I'd love to know what was cut from Season 4. AltesUTC CH 07:09, 14 June 2010 (EDT) - Me too, I really hope there is. I also wanna know what they thought wasn't good enough for the episodes! :L (God I'm sadistic) —Leckie — Talk 07:11, 14 June 2010 (EDT) Tim Kring launches new ARG with Nokia It's called the Conspiracy for Good, and you can find out more info. about it including how to sign up at and. It looks like it's not Heroes-related, but I thought it worth mentioning. It begins Mid-July 2010.—MiamiVolts (talk) 10:48, 27 June 2010 (EDT) Heroes Once Again Now that Heroes has ended, I decided to do as if it was being published again or to recreate all contents of Heroes especially the Heroes 360 and Heroes Evolutions (including MySpace pages, blogs, graphic novels, iStories, webisodes etc.) in the exact same order it was done four years ago back in 2006. I've opened a Google group page called "Reexperience Heroes" where all the announcements about new episode airing, new graphic novel released etc. will be done. And the dates and hours it happened four years from now, will be exactly the same. So, today is July 21 2010, in the Reexperience Heroes we're in July 21 2006. Therefore we already have the MySpace pages of Claire and Zach. Those who are interested can join the google group also add Claire and Zach as a friend and write comments :) — Jan Rodrigo (talk) (contributions) 07:38, 21 July 2010 (EDT) Past tense Now that Heroes has ended, should we put articles into past tense? Episodes articles should stay present tense for the plots, as these should be read as though the reader is describing the show as it happens. For character articles, I think it would be best if they were all in past tense, but for crew and actor articles, they should all be in past tense as is is unlikely than many of us will be checking up one every one of there careers. But before I do anything I want to see what others say. —mc_hammark 18:54, 6 August 2010 (EDT) - No, I don't think so. The articles are written from the perspective of happening at the moment. Think of it as watching it on the DVD, if needed. :) — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 17:47, 17 August 2010 (EDT) Something every single one of you may be interested in (though unrelated to Heroes) Hey guys, it's been a while. Figured I'd pop in and give you all a heads up about a show I just discovered that's caught my interest. It's a documentary show on the History Channel called Stan Lee's Superhumans. Basically the show is run by Stan Lee, who sends Daniel Browning Smith, a man who is considered to be the most flexible man in the world. He searches out humans across the world who are rumored to have "Super Powers", he witnesses them do their thing, and then he tries to find an explanation for the phenomenon. The first episode, for example, had a man who is able to absorb or conduct electrical current without sustaining any harm; a man who's brain works faster than a calculator; a 5'6" man able to snap steel, bend metal, and hold a motorcycle back with his hands, and a blind man who can navigate via echolocation. Another episode featured a man who could punch with more lethal force than a 30+MPH car crash. It's wild stuff, and though Heroes was a drama show, I'm sure enough of us are fans of Super Humans in general, so I'm positive most of you would enjoy it. Anyway, hope all is well here. :)—Riddler 01:52, 14 August 2010 (EDT) Kaito Nakamura does have an abillity. I was watching the bonus dvd from season 2 and i noticed something in the deleted scenes. He hase the abillity to see the variables of any situation and predict the outcome. Ando: Like a computer? Kaito: I'm faster. How do you think i've done so well in the stock market? —StephanOtter 15:53, 5 November 2010 - This has been mentioned several times, it has also been noted in the Notes section on Kaito's page. Also... since it was only shown in a deleted scene it is not official, meaning we can't class it as his ability, unfortunately. —Leckie — Talk 14:09, 5 November 2010 (EDT) I miss you guys Does anyone still edit around here (except for good old Ryan)? I've just spent half an hour browsing through the articles and discussions on this site out of boredom, and I've been feeling small blasts of nostalgia and a lingering sadness that Heroes has forever ended and, really, so has our little community of Heroes Wiki editors. The Event Wiki just doesn't seem to have picked up the same momentum that we had around here. Anyway, this is also a sort of shout-out to all those Heroes Wiki editors I've met and worked with throughout the years, since I never really said a proper thank-you. And hopefully, the next time a highly-anticipated superhero TV series premieres, I'll see you all again. —Radicell 03:05, 22 March 2011 (EDT) - *sniff* Hey, Radicell. Good to see you around. Yeah, I'm not sure why The Event Wiki hasn't taken off, and more specifically I'm not sure why Heroes Wiki fostered such a neat community. I've been tangentially part of a few other wiki communities — for shows I've enjoyed more — and I never felt the same kind of camaraderie as I felt on HW. It's pretty cool to be part of something successful and quality like this site, and I miss it too. :) Ah, such is life... — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 11:07, 22 March 2011 (EDT) Alphas I know very few people are going to read this, but for the ones who do, there's a new show airing on Syfy called Alphas that has grabbed my attention. It seems similar to Heroes in many respects and I've been impressed by the pilot episode. Just a note for anyone who's interested: there's an Alphas Wiki that looks like it'd be fun to edit. —Radicell 23:13, 15 July 2011 (EDT) - Cool, thanks! — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 22:27, 16 July 2011 (EDT) This made me smile So I was reading this interview with Rockstar Games' founder, Dan Houser. Look at the last question on the last page.. —Radicell 17:55, 8 January 2012 (EST) - That's great! Thanks, Radicell! Here's a tweet on the original interview. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 00:11, 10 January 2012 (EST)

Heroes Wiki talk:Community Portal/Archive9 From Heroes Wiki Consensus = ????? How many people voting one option constitutes a consensus? I think this would help our debates on ability names if we established some sort of standard like that. 2/3 majority? 75% maybe?—SacValleyDweller (talk) 00:35, 25 October 2008 (EDT) - Consensus means that everyone with a logical and non-biased opinion either agrees or at least does not oppose. That's what it is to me, there may be a more accurate definition. Consensus is not the same as a majority or super-majority. Those are aspects of a vote. (Admin 00:51, 25 October 2008 (EDT)) - I believe you are correct in your destintion of consensus vs vote. Agreeing with, or not opposed to, as in "I can live with that" as a common stand on a subject.—Cúchulainn 03:33, 2 November 2008 (EST) Featured Sites Besides the new links at NBC.com/Heroes, 9th Wonders's link for Heroes Wiki now redirects to us, and it's a link that's at the top of almost every page they have. NBC's original Heroes Wiki has 9th Wonders in the sidebar as "Message boards". Since we can't claim 9th Wonders as our message boards, that's probably not the way to go; but since we are now highly featured in their links perhaps we should consider making 9th Wonders and NBC.com/Heroes featured sites so the linkback could be on our main page. Just a thought I had, that it would be a nice courtesy.—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:38, 26 October 2008 (EDT) - I'd go for giving 9th and the official site more visibility here. —SacValleyDweller (talk) 00:53, 26 October 2008 (EDT) - I'm not sure if this is under negotiations or anything, but no one else has spoken up here about this in over a week, so I'm bumping this question.—MiamiVolts (talk) 16:39, 6 November 2008 (EST) - I'm bumping this one last time for discussion.—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:17, 23 November 2008 (EST) - I agree, some fan sites I have been on have no link to the official website of the subject and it drives me crazy, here it is only a few clicks away but I think it could be somewhere on the front page. Having links to 9th Wonders would also be useful, maybe in the navigation box? On a side note, Heroes Wiki is now linked to from the Graphic Novels Library page. -Lөvөl 01:15, 9 December 2008 (EST) - Where? I can't find it. Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 09:56, 9 December 2008 (EST) - Under the link for 'view more info'.—MiamiVolts (talk) 12:22, 13 December 2008 (EST) Other Heroes Wiki - Hi, I'm an admin in the other Heroes Wiki. I'm currently helping the other wiki to grow to its full potential. I'm writing here to ask if I could use your Portal idea for our Heroes Wikia Character page? And I won't copy information from this site. :). Destiny! 03:14, 3 November 2008 (EST) - I don't know where the portal here originally originated from, but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a concept someone liked from another site and implemented it here, too. Our templates rely on specific extensions we use here that I don't think Wikia uses, so I wouldn't be surprised if they don't work over there. I don't think there's any real issue with implementing a portal over there as long as actual content isn't copied from here to there (since it'd be a violation of the license). That being said, keep in mind that Heroes wikia site gets very little traffic and is virtually unmaintained, so you might find a more collaborative environment here than over there. The wikia site is already ad its full potential. ;) There's a little bit of a learning curve here at this point, I admit, so it sometimes takes a little time to get a grasp of the different policies we have... but they've evolved over time in order to create a site that works very well if I say so myself. :) We also have a partnership with NBC now and many of the staff involved in Heroes actually frequent this site from time to time. Hope you stick around! :) (Admin 21:47, 3 November 2008 (EST)) Need help on a few questions. Can someone please help! Hi I'm new to this Wiki talk, but I have been following Heroes since day one and I am a little confused anbout a few things and was wondering if someone could help me out? Am I understanding this correctly that next week will be the last episode for this season? If I am, then I undertsand why Heroes was cut short last season, but why are they ending it so soon this season? I would really appreshiate any clarification any one can give me! Thanks.—Freakylady555 (talk) 01:36, 4 November 2008 (EDT) - I think that's just a rumor. Last I heard, the schedule for Volume 3 of Heroes is planned to go through till December. There is still potential for an actor's strike called by the SAG, but if that happens it will simply delay Volume 4 (Heroes as of January) as most of, if not all of, Volume 3 is already filmed. You can see the official schedule for the next three episodes of Heroes at NBC Universal Media Village.—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:58, 4 November 2008 (EST) - Oh okay, thank you very much, I was worried there for a minute. I couldn't find the information anywhere. Thanks again, Freakylady555 - They've just rapped up shooting episode 2 of volume 4 i believe, so volume three should be full lengthLilRebel616 12:00, 18 November 2008 (EST) SAG talks The SAG and AMPTP were negotiating with a federal mediator, but the mediator has given up on trying to reach a resolution. It is expected that the SAG will now call for a strike authorization vote. You can read about it at Reuters. I'm still hopeful that there won't be an actor's strike, and even if the authorization vote passes it doesn't mean a strike necessarily has to be called.—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:21, 23 November 2008 (EST) - Some potential good news; the SAG and AMPTP are back at the table this morning per the New York Post.—MiamiVolts (talk) 13:04, 24 November 2008 (EST) - The above story appears to have been an update of an older article as new talks have not been confirmed and the SAG appears to be preparing to call for a strike authorization vote to gain the ability to call a strike if they can't get the AMPTP to cooperate. Hopefully, it doesn't come to a strike.—MiamiVolts (talk) 01:50, 9 December 2008 (EST) General page for abilities? - I'm quite surprised we don't have a general page for abilities. The page would detail everything we know about abilities - where they come from (hereditary vs. synthetic), what affects them (eclipse, The Haitian maybe) and talk about how they work (i.e. Mohinder's discoveries about adrenaline, catalyst, the formula). What do you guys think? I just reckon it'd be good to have a general overview. Thanks,— Lost Soul talk contribs 03:54, 28 November 2008 (EST) - Bump in an attempt to stimulate discussion.— Lost Soul talk contribs 07:28, 6 December 2008 (EST) - We have separate pages about each of those you mentioned.—Citizen 07:43, 6 December 2008 (EST) - And we also have List of abilities.—MiamiVolts (talk) 01:50, 9 December 2008 (EST) Heroes Wiki portal on NBC's site - Wow, check this out... the Heroes Wiki section at the bottom! (Admin 15:50, 9 December 2008 (EST)) - NICE! —SacValleyDweller (talk) 16:05, 9 December 2008 (EST) - Yeah, the NBC web design team is doing an excellent job integrating our site. Thanks!—MiamiVolts (talk) 16:13, 9 December 2008 (EST) - VERY nice... Intuitive Empath - Talk - Contributions 16:39, 9 December 2008 (EST) "The Haitian" "The Haitian" is a prominent figure on Heroes now. He arguably has one of the most important powers on the show. Why doesn't he have a name? Why didn't the random African character have a name? I don't really understand that artistry in calling someone by their country of origin. —Sunshine 21:21, December 9, 2008 - If you're referring to the precog who was creating those paintings in Africa, his name is actually Usutu. (Admin 21:39, 9 December 2008 (EST)) - I think the idea of not giving somebody a name keeps an air of mystery about them. Mr. Bennet didn't have a name for a very long time—in fact, he wasn't even called "Mr. Bennet" for the first bunch of episodes. X-Files comes to mind with their terrific Cigarette Smoking Man. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 22:19, 9 December 2008 (EST) Hi people. im new. hi im new. i was thinking, when are the producers going to think about an ability never heard before? cause i was thinking that throughout the whole 3 seasons, the abilities we've come to see are ones we've already known or heard about. do you think they might create a new ability like maya's? because maya's ability was the most "new" abilities i've never heard of. because me and my friends were thinking of some abilities and how they work, one of them may sound retarded, but we didnt specifically call it a name. and it was the ability to mentally give someone the feeling of extreme pain, like this ability could be used if someone broke they're foot, and some asshole was laughing at them, someone could mentally make them feel the pain mentally like they broke their foot but physically it looks like nothing happened to their foot. and eventually people will think their going nuts. sorry it's not completely explained well.—Skeletal Augmentation (talk) 13:37, 2 January 2009 (EST) - Hi Skeletal Augmentation and Happy New Year! Be sure to add your signature by putting --~~~~ at the end of comments you add to talk pages (or click the signature button to do so); it should show up like the one I added for you above when you save it. As to your comments, there are already many abilities have already been done before in comics, films, etc. To come up with something totally original isn't easy; electronic communication is one that's rather original, imho. Your idea is basically a form of emotional manipulation; in the Heroes universe, there is already a power called "bliss and horror" which lets its holder force someone to feel pain or joy.—MiamiVolts (talk) 14:30, 2 January 2009 (EST) Suggestion: "Plot Holes" category Unless there already is a section which I've missed, I'd like to suggest the addition of a page which catalogs the various apparent plot holes/contradictions that seem to come up on the show. There are a lot of them, and it would be nice if there was a source somewhere online for a moderated and well written documentation of them. SvenBoogie 23:11, 3 January 2009 - It's probably best to record definite plot holes at Production errors#Continuity errors. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 03:26, 4 January 2009 (EST) - I took a look at that section, its not really formatted properly to allow documenting plot holes, and furthermore, production errors are a different category entirely and are more like technical errors than storyline/writing problems. —SvenBoogie 16:51, 5 January 2009 (EST) People's Choice Award! Heroes just won a People's Choice Award for "Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Show"! Congrats to the cast and crew of this great show! :)—MiamiVolts (talk) 23:32, 7 January 2009 (EST) SIPA to bring NBC photos to Europe I'm not sure how much this will help international viewers, but today SIPA has formed a partnership with NBC to provide NBC's online photo archive of its television broadcasts in Europe.—MiamiVolts (talk) 19:00, 9 January 2009 (EST) NBC Hires Naked Communications According to an article in Variety, NBC has hired Naked Communications to help with "sharpening [NBC's] image". The article calls it a brand makeover, groups Heroes as part of NBC's young male-oriented brand, along with NFL Sunday Night Football, "Chuck", and suggests that the findings from NBC's brand initiative will hopefully help the net determine its series orders for next fall. Raissad at 9th Wonders posted a link to the article there.—MiamiVolts (talk) 19:42, 22 January 2009 (EST) A Better Organized Way to Document Memorable Quotes I was looking recently at how bloated the Memorable quotes page is, and how it isn't consistent with the quotes listed on the character pages (ei: Claire Bennet), and would like to suggest we restructure all quotes so that they aren't all lumped into one Memorable quotes page, nor are they all cited on the main character page, but that they are given their own page that is linked off of the main character page like we do the character images, from the See Also section. Fundamentally what I am suggesting, is to remove all of the quotes from the Memorable quotes page, and combine them with their actual character page-quotes, onto a new page linked to that character. For example, if this was Claire Bennet's page, her See Also section would look like the following: - For images of Claire, see Images of Claire Bennet. - For memorable quotes of Claire, see Claire Bennet Quotes. Changing it this way, will associate all quotes with the person making them, and their page, eliminate redundancy, and it will also free up some space from their mainpage (since all of the mainpages are growing pretty large anyway), and it will be consistent and of the same design as we effectively organize and handle images of characters. —HiroDynoSlayer (talk) 01/26/2009 11:13 (EST) - Sounds like a good idea, but I'd name the articles like 'Claire Bennet quotes' (lowercase quotes since it is not part of a title).—MiamiVolts (talk) 18:44, 26 January 2009 (EST) - I don't mind separate pages (though "Claire Bennet quotes" seems odd to me—I'd prefer "Quotes from Claire Bennet" or the suggestion that follows), but I don't see what's wrong with the memorable quotes page. If the issue is that it's getting too large, I'd rather see subpages, like "Memorable quotes/Claire Bennet". As far as having memorable quotes on the character pages, I don't mind having two or three that help define and illustrate the character (not just funny quotes or quotes that show sass). In fact, a quick edit to template:MQ would help with linkage. They're not essential to the character pages, though. So if it's decided that they should come off altogether (I don't mind one way or the other), then a link in the See Also section is a good idea. However, the wording should probably go through a template ("template:seealsoMQ" could be created) so that the wording would be consistent and could be changed easily if needed. "For memorable quotes of Claire" sounds very odd. I'd prefer "For some of Claire's memorable quotes, see..." or something that flows a bit better. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 22:22, 26 January 2009 (EST) - I'm not opposed to keeping it as-is, but I do like the format "Memorable quotes/<character name>" for the split better as it makes the related pages easier to organize and find. On a side note, I noticed it's also being recommended that Memorable quotes be split by Season/Volume. I think we should split the article one way or the other, but not both.—MiamiVolts (talk) 22:31, 26 January 2009 (EST) - Agree on both accounts. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 23:01, 26 January 2009 (EST) - I saw that afd tags were added to a lot of the quotes pages that were recently created, citing that the idea was nixed. Was it? I didn't get the feeling that the idea was shot down from the discussion on this page. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 21:28, 30 January 2009 (EST) - Personally I thought this was a good idea, I have been looking for a job (I'm at a bit of a loose end). If the idea hadn't been axed I would definately be willing to set everything up (I don't want to help until it gets the go ahead). Thanks —IronyUTC CH 12:28, 25 February 2009 (EST) - Bumping here, but does anyone know what is going on with this? +1 Bump +2 Bump —IronyUTC CH 12:28, 25 February 2009 (EST) NBC Universal partners with American Airlines NBC Universal has signed a partnership agreement with American Airlines, which officially begins March 1st, 2009. Shows from NBC, USA, Bravo, SCI FI, Oxygen, MSNBC and CNBC, as well as films from Universal Pictures and programming from NBC News, NBC Sports and other divisions of the company will be shown during flights. So you might be able to watch Heroes on your next flight. And although advertising for American Airlines on NBC Universal programming isn't mentioned as part of the deal, perhaps one day soon we'll be able to see Nathan or Peter flying past an American Airlines jet.—MiamiVolts (talk) 18:51, 26 January 2009 (EST) Assignment Tracker summaries Now that we have facsimiles of the full Assignment Tracker 2.0 files on the wiki (see Assignment Tracker 2.0/Hana Gitelman or Assignment Tracker 2.0/Echo DeMille), I think we should simply summarize the information on the character's page, rather than posting the full text. Our standard has always been to summarize info when we receive it. We included the full AT text on the character pages because it's full of great information, and it's nice to be able to have it return in a search. That will happen now that the full text is on the wiki. However, I think it's redundant to include the full text on the character pages. I created a template (template:seealsoat) that will easily link people to the facsimile page as well as to the original page at primatechpaper.com. See Syn Anders#Heroes Evolutions for an example. Also see here or here for other examples of how the summaries might look]. I think they're cleaner and help with the flow of the page. (FYI, there's a bit of previous talk about this subject here.) What do you all think about summarizing? — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 01:01, 29 January 2009 (EST) GN and iStory history headings Both the graphic novels and iStories are part of Heroes Evolutions. There is currently discussion at Talk:iStory about giving the iStory chapter summaries articles a namespace, but keeping the character histories under the Heroes Evolutions headers. The graphic novels headers are not under the Heroes Evolutions headings anymore, so I have proposed that we move them back mainly so we have a standard format, though there are other reasons too. The discussion about moving the graphic novels headings is at Talk:Portal:Graphic Novels.—MiamiVolts (talk) 08:27, 30 January 2009 (EST) - I don't see any value in moving graphic novels to the HE headings. The graphic novels have proven over two and a half years to be extremely consistent and reliable, and are always presented in the same medium. The graphic novels never break help:perspective and lend themselves very nicely towards narratives. The Heroes Evolutions content has not been as consistent. The medium in which it is presented often changes—sometimes a video, sometimes a website, sometimes an email, sometimes a blog post, sometimes something else. The iStory has been more consistent in its presentation, but by its nature, it breaks perspective. Miami has done an excellent job in his summaries (as have others) in using the term "player" or "agent" etc. It's fine for the summary pages and for the HE sections (which frequently break perspective), but the style does not fit our character history summaries. Also, the Choose Your Own Adventure style does not always lend itself to a nice narrative format. They're very fun, but there is no definite history of what happened, since multiple routes can be taken to get to an outcome. Ultimately, moving the iStory content out of HE breaks perspective and doesn't fit a nice narrative. Moving the graphic novels to the HE section seems like a choice to slavishly follow a self-imposed standard of placing all HE content in that section. There's no denying that the graphic novels are a separate entity, even considered special in their own right. Yes, they're technically under the umbrella of Heroes Evolutions, but that doesn't mean the content on some 1,500 pages needs to be moved. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 21:19, 30 January 2009 (EST) - Are you opposed to moving the graphic novel content to the HE headings or just don't think it's necessary? The way I see it, Heroes Evolutions has three clearly defined subsections: 1) pure ARG content—IC websites, videos, e-mails and blogs; 2) graphic novels; 3) iStories, and if we are going to leave the iStory content under the HE headings, which I agree with doing, I think we should move the graphic novel content back there too. Imho, keeping the GNs separate while leaving the iStories combined with the ARG content implies that the GNs are not part of Heroes Evolutions, which they are. About the number of pages that would be necessary to move, I was thinking a great majority of the move might be automated using a bot to move the sections as required. As to what you are saying about perspective, I think I understand what you mean but I think you are not saying it right. We are documenting the iStory content as presented to us, the users, so we should note the user interaction as part of the documenting—that is proper perspective. I think what you mean is that the iStory format is different because the content itself, not our documentation of it, breaks the standard observer perspective that is customary for reading a story by allowing the user to control the characters' actions. The standard Evolutions ARG content, not our documentation of it, breaks observer perspective because it allows the users to make contact with the characters. However, it's worth noting that in the ARG, the users always interact as themselves; whereas in the iStory, the users always interact as a character. So in that sense, the iStory content is different from the ARG content as well and has it's own perspective. So if we are to define headings by perspective, the iStory should be in a separate section from the ARG too, imho. Regarding fitting as a narrative, the iStory chapters are not your typical choose your adventure story. They have been continuous and definitive in the sense that they build on the events that occur in prior chapters. The story that we end up with may not be the official story; but I don't think we can just assume that the content is unreliable because of the format in which it is presented.—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:10, 31 January 2009 (EST) - With regards to the GN's, I deffer to the age-old mantra "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" on the whole mess. With regards to this new iStory business, I think this aproch would serve well: - YES on an iStory namespace, since it appears to be part of the presenting of this universe that is here to stay and we are bound to get more. - NO on on incorporating the content into the Character History/About sections of Character pages on account of the the differing perspectives of the documentation of the respective media. Similarly... - NO on putting said content under the Heroes Evolutions umbrella, as the iStory content can be arranged in a narrative and the rest of the evolutions content (save the videos like Sword Saint, which have a different perspective entirly) cannot. I DO think we can safely... - MAKE a new section on the character pages specifically for the iStory. That way, the content can be arranged in a narrative and have the perspective not clash with the rest of the article. —SacValleyDweller (talk) 02:31, 31 January 2009 (EST) - That works for me. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 02:33, 31 January 2009 (EST) - That works for me too. Nicely summarized, SVD!—MiamiVolts (talk) 11:25, 31 January 2009 (EST) Clear and Present Danger the end of the show was bogus, while in the USCG I have flown SAR on C130 and unless ur at high altitude you DONT get sucked out of the plane. If you can see the trees as you do from the scene from the cockpit, THEN YOU ARE NOT AT HIGH ALTITUDE!!! We flew alot at a higher altitude than they were at, while doing SARS, with the back side doors and the ramp down so we could get better looks while finding boats and people. I realise this is SIFI but I wish they would please keep most stuff real. Bmunzz 20:28, 3 February 2009 - Good point. However, I think it's more a matter of the plane being used being specially pressurized than them being at high altitude.—MiamiVolts (talk) 20:43, 3 February 2009 (EST) - HMMM, I guess that could be possible, except that I saw no operating equiptment to do that, I'll have to look again, but if I remember correctly most of the cargo on the plane went out of the whole. And most of the equiptment to subdue the charaters was self contianed on their person. Sorry...I'm a stickler to accurate details, and it makes me mad when a director or writer does something thats impossible and thinks we the viewers are stupid.—-Bmunzz 16:40, 4 February 2009 (EST) - OK, I watched it again and two things come to notice. 1st in support of your idea is there are what appear to be sealed doors, on each end of the cargo area. It also appears the two guards are pushing buttons to do something, which could be maintaining pressurizing the cargo area. This could support your idea. - 2ND The pilot, while radioing a “MAYDAY” says that they have lost pressure. To alleviate this problem you would have to drop your altitude so that pressure stabilizes. He could have lied and said this because that’s what would be a normal problem. The fact that the plane is going down and people are being sucked out of the plane appears that more is wrong than normal loss of pressure. I am also curious if the plan had the reverse pressure would it suck things in rather than out? Is anyone out there with a knowledge of aeronautics know the answers to these questions?—Bmunzz 17:04, 4 February 2009 (EST) Character articles; Long range plan I know I'm jumping the gun royal with this idea, but I wanted to put it out there before I forget it and see what others think. After the show is over, and the series finale has aired (knock on wood that's not gonna be for another 5 or so years at least), what should our character articles look like for characters like Nathan and Matt? Should they have season/volume summaries/histories up till volume umpteen that we will have reached by then (which is kind of what we are currently doing) and left like that for as long as the Wiki remains active? Or should the documentation be more of a narrative, with articles for characters like Hiro having headings for his life as a child followed by headings for his adult life broken down into things like his quest for the Kensei sword, his time with Kensei, and whatever other arcs come up in his life, and those season histories stored in subpages? Personally I think the latter would be kind of neat. —SacValleyDweller (talk) 18:44, 7 February 2009 (EST) - Wow, you're thinking ahead! If you're asking right now, I kind of prefer the former, which is the way we've been doing it. Things might change down the road... — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 19:41, 7 February 2009 (EST) - I prefer the former too. It's kind of a style that we have built up.—MiamiVolts (talk) 01:32, 10 February 2009 (EST) Character History Changes Hey there are two big changes I think we should make to Character History Pages: - 1. Volumes not Seasons. From this few Volume we can see that the story is completly differnt from that of Villains. There are two ways to do this. Change every season to volume on all the pages or split the season historys in half and have Season 3: Villains and Season 3: Fugitives. - 2.Pre-Season 1 History. Say if I was looking to see how Noah joined the company, at the moment I would have to find the right episode in season one. If we had a part talking about the characters before season 1 then the articals would be in more of a chronogical order.—Skywalkerrbf 08:36, 8 February 2009 (EST) - I agree completely, I was just coming here to post the exact same thing. Although I think it should just say "Volume 3 History" rather than "Volume 3: "Villains" History." —Skullman1392 14:49, 26 April 2009 (EDT) Templates, DPL, etc. concerning episode links - I think we're going to run into an issue with next week's episode. I think some templates (manual and DPL) may simply be linking to the episode name without the explicit Episode: namespace and relying on the redirects. The redirects generally bypass the original intent of having a separate Episode namespace which was to handle cases where an episode might be named the same as an article. We're going to run into this with "Building 26" which is both a location and the name of an episode. Because it's a location the article "Building 26" will refer to the building, and Episode:Building 26 will refer to the episode. I expect there will also be a disambig page that explicitly lists both, but that's not a problem. If any templates don't include the Episode: namespace prefix then we'll end up with an episode link that points to a location article instead. If you know of any templates or DPL that is relying on the usual redirects we put in for the episode then they need to be updated to include the explicit Episode: prefix. As a reminder a link like [[Episode:Villains|]] is automatically formatted into: Villains. If you don't specify alternate text for the link then it automatically just strips off the namespace to form the text so you don't have to explicitly write [[Episode:Villains|Villains]]. (Admin 01:10, 10 February 2009 (EST)) - Would this not have happened with Homecoming as well? — Tristan0709 talk 01:32, 10 February 2009 (EST) - Right. In that case, we made the event for Homecoming be Homecoming (event) and left the Homecoming article as the episode article. I don't see why we wouldn't just make the location be Building 26 (location) to follow that, as episode titles are normally prioritized over other content. Am I missing something?—MiamiVolts (talk) 01:38, 10 February 2009 (EST) - Ah, I didn't notice that. It shouldn't have been done that way. As I said, the entire reason for the Episode namespace is to address these conflicts. By adding all these episode redirects in the main namespace we've defeated the purpose of the Episode namespace. So far it's been of limited consequence, however in cases like Homecoming and Building 26 the appropriate action is to have the main namespace article be the location/event since episodes (and therefore redirects to them) do not belong in the main namespace as it defeats the very idea of a namespace. I don't mind the existing redirects as they haven't caused problems per se, however in cases where there IS conflict we should respect the criteria for the namespaces. (Admin 02:22, 10 February 2009 (EST)) - I don't think there were much problematic links, and I think I've taken care of all of them. Also I've created an article for the location at Building 26. —Radicell 10:01, 14 February 2009 (EST) - Thanks for taking care of that, Radicell.—MiamiVolts (talk) 10:12, 14 February 2009 (EST) - Just want to bump this discussion so people are aware of how to link, especially considering that the newest episode is the same name as a location.! — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 00:37, 17 February 2009 (EST) Vacation What did I miss? — Raiku 00:09, 13 February 2009 (EST) - How long were you gone?—MiamiVolts (talk) 00:12, 13 February 2009 (EST) - A month or two. — Raiku 11:26, 13 February 2009 (EST) - Ah, then you probably missed Ryan's interview with the writers of the Destiny webisodes. Check it out here.—MiamiVolts (talk) 12:06, 13 February 2009 (EST) - And a spammer or two. — Tristan0709 talk 20:53, 13 February 2009 (EST) 5000 users - YAY! HeroesWiki have reached 5000 users - probably more now - and most of them dont even contribute to the site lol —NiveKJ13 (talk2me) 21:55, 20 February 2009 (EST) Gunnell's asking for questions Prolific Heroes GN artist Micah Gunnell has made a thread at 9thwonders.com for any questions one may have of him. SacValleyDweller (talk) 21:52, 20 February 2009 Error spotted On the main page "Did you know" section it says "Joe Pokaski's wife's maiden name is Tracy Strauss?" The Tracy Strauss page Notes sections says "Tracy Strauss is named after Aron Coleite's wife, whose maiden name is Tracy Strauss." I don't know which one is correct. Just thought I would let somebody know - and is this the right place to post? — Pseudaxis 01:33, 3 March 2009 - Sure, this is a good place to post that. I've gone ahead and corrected it, thanks! (Admin 01:49, 3 March 2009 (EST)) - Thanks for the catch, Pseudaxis, and for the fix, Admin. Sorry about the mistake! Indeed, Aron Coleite's wife's name used to be Tracy Strauss. — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 02:03, 3 March 2009 (EST) Heroes timeline questions and inconsistencies - I'm compiling a list of any questions/concerns that may have arisen over time regarding the chronology in Heroes. Major events that we have trouble nailing down to a particular day or inconsistencies that we've found (i.e. Claire's true age). If you've run into any of these, feel free to list them here. We may be able to get some clarification from the Heroes team and get these resolved finally. (Admin 13:34, 6 March 2009 (EST)) - Okay, here are some off the top of my head. I don't have many references handy, so some might just be me being confused, and not actual inconsistencies. Okay, here goes: - Claire's age has never been consistent. (See Claire Bennet#Notes) - What month and day is the show at right now? In other words, when did Flight 195 crash? - When was Evs Dropper defeated? - When did Elle meet Matt Neuenberg? - When exactly did Peter jump to the "exposed future"—or better yet, when did Costa Verde blow up? - I can't remember exactly, but I think there was something weird about Niki's timeline in the first few episodes of the first season—maybe somebody can clarify. - Without the quote in front of me, there was something weird about what Claire said regarding Homecoming (event)'s date in Genesis. - When exactly (month and day) did the second eclipse happen, the one that took all the powers away? - Villains had some things that need to be clarified. For instance, Noah and Elle meet Gabriel Gray, sometime shortly after April 2006, after he has killed only Brian Davis. Then it seems to jump to October 1, the day that Noah gets in Mohinder's cab. Some clarification would be appreciated. - Along with that last question, when exactly did Sylar kill David in Chicago? It seems to be sometime in July, 2006. When does this chronologically fit with Trevor's murder and Chandra's murder? - Maybe that will spark some other issues? :) — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 17:17, 6 March 2009 (EST) - I believe there was also something weird about when Echo DeMille was incarcerated in Level 5. —Radicell 11:03, 8 March 2009 (EDT) - i think that the crash (and pretty much the present day heroes-verse) is circa April-June 2007 b/c Episode:Powerless happens on March 20th and Episode:Dual can't be much longer after that chronologically and is said to have happened in March of 07 and in Episode:A Clear and Present Danger Tracy hasnt talked to Nathan in 2 months i think she says to the govenor over the phone....Lets do research and check any cell phone screen shots or any screen shots of a tv.—Anthony Gooch 21:22, 24 March 2009 (EDT) - There's definitely tons of shots of phones and TVs what with Rebel's communications... however, I've gone through all the episodes of Volume 4 and I'm pretty sure that none of the cell phones give away dates. We simply can't be sure of the date, since we have no idea when the events of Volume 3 happen. That's part of the reason why Timeline:Post-March 2007 is a bit of a mess right now. —Radicell 04:15, 25 March 2009 (EDT) - Another one, check Talk:Matt Parkman, Jr.. When did Janice become pregnant? — Tristan0709 talk 04:29, 25 March 2009 (EDT) - I think there something off about Daphne personal timeline. - Events from GN The Caged Bird: - Mrs. Millbrook funeral is on October 1, 2006 and meets Thompson - Oct. 2 Daphne leaves home after fighting with her dad - Beginning of January, Daphne arrives in Paris. - In the middle of January Daphne meets Samir. - 9 months later (middle of Oct. 2007) Daphne returns home and reconciles with her dad - The events of The Eclipse part 1 and 2 paint a different picture. From the timeline on this very site, the episode takes place in near the end of March. However, the end of the GN and the episode are suppose to occur on the same day, that means one of the dates is wrong. At this point I'm incline to believe the timeline established by the novel. The reason being that as far as I know, corn can only be harvested in the Fall, not in March. (I mention corn because Hiro was throwing corn at Matt when he was trying to convince Matt to go inside the house and talk to Daphne.) - If further explanation is needed, then go here. It's where I first wrote about the inconsistency.—JoyaOscura 06:45, 25 March 2009 (EDT) - About the Janice thing, so far even though we've been watching Heroes for 3 years the show has only spanded about 7-8 months, a minor inconsistance due to how old Matt Jr. looks...i'm saying that theres a chance it could happen but...—Anthony Gooch 07:06, 25 March 2009 (EDT) - I don't think there's a chance, unless Baby Matt has a growth ability, or is the Russian. :) Even if Janice was, at most, four months pregnant when she found out she was pregnant in the end of October 2006 (The Fix), the baby would have been born in March, or at the earliest February 2007. We're now in June 2007. That means that the oldest that baby can be is four months old, but more than likely less than that. Babies don't sit up or until later than that, and Baby Matt is definitely older than three or four months. Judging by his ability to hold himself up on the television, he's more like 9-12 months old. Oh well...At least he's cute! :) — RyanGibsonStewart (talk) 08:46, 25 March 2009 (EDT) - Adam's age has always bothered me about being hugely inconsistent. I've been away for awhile so I don't recall who was working on it (and so I can't check what progress has been made), but reconciling the timlines of the GNs (and now iStories) with the events of the show would be very helpful on a multitude of pages, imo. —Stevehim 13:22, 16 April 2009 (EDT) Whose going to h\te tomorrow? Because heroes isn't on? —IronyUTC CH 15:41, 15 March 2009 (EDT) - Ah... Tomorrow is a sad day.—Alen (talk) 16:03, 15 March 2009 (EDT) Discussion of a new term! There are a few characters who's status remains unknown either b/c it is not been pushed to the wayside, assumed, or in debate b/w fans and writers (or certain admins of certain sites lol) anyways...i think that we should add somewhere in the info box we add (Presumed Dead) and leave their descriptions in present tense...we've already thought up some of the characters this applies too: ....thats as far as we got! So what do ya'll think?—Anthony Gooch 21:39, 24 March 2009 (EDT) - If the new term is unknown there are a few others we could add to the list The Croatian, A local Guyanan, and Barbara. However, none of these have appeared so I am not sure if that could work, however it does mean we are not being speculative. My other idea was to include a current status heading in the info box but I am not sure if this can be done, I know there is a date of death heading but if the was a current status heading people can clearly see if the person is alive, dead or unknown. Just a few suggestions :) —posted by Laughingdevilboy Talk 12:57, 25 March 2009 (EDT) - bump for more discussion. —posted by Laughingdevilboy Talk 13:16, 29 March 2009 (EDT) - Considered it double bumped, i'd really like to hear what everyone thinks!—Anthony Gooch 15:12, 29 March 2009 (EDT)

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Poz retrospect on 2010 Mariners I love Poz's writing, as I'm sure many of you do too, but I have a hard time agreeing with this upon first read. Maybe it's that he had higher expectations for the playoffs than I did. almost 2 years ago Double06 0 recs | I think it's a little rich for people to say they saw this coming. Overrated, maybe. But did all these people really see 75% of the lineup batting the Mendoza Line? Really? Every position player suffering from decline? Hard work never killed nobody, but I won't take my chances. by JAH on Aug 10, 2010 2:45 PM PDT reply actions I saw Figgins doing it …they should send down Huntington & Nutting, because they aren’t ready, either. - royshowell by Marinerfanjake on Aug 10, 2010 4:00 PM PDT up reply actions There's a difference between Figgins declining from 2009 (which everyone foresaw) and Figgins hitting 30 wOBA points below any projection system by Matthew on Aug 10, 2010 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions I'm saying i saw him hit like he is now You got to have low expectations on those with high. …they should send down Huntington & Nutting, because they aren’t ready, either. - royshowell by Marinerfanjake on Aug 10, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions So you predicted him being this terrible is what you're saying? Or that you’ve seen him be this terrible before? by Mariner John on Aug 10, 2010 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions My fanshot or Poz's writing? Considering people around like both Posnanski and the Mariners, I thought it was relevant to link to it. I anticipated disagreement but not to the point of mocking. by Double06 on Aug 10, 2010 3:20 PM PDT up reply actions Graham doesn't like the article. by Eyebrows on Aug 10, 2010 3:25 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions I would have said 'this is a really stupid post' if I was talking about you And since it wasn’t, I didn’t. Sorry for the confusion though, my fault. by Graham MacAree on Aug 10, 2010 3:35 PM PDT up reply actions Well then, whoops. Thanks. by Double06 on Aug 10, 2010 10:00 PM PDT up reply actions Agreed. I feel as though much of the preseason hype came from the ESPN hype machine. I know the general consensus around here was that the Mariners were around a .500 team and would finish in 2nd or 3rd place in the AL West. It’s ridiculous to cite those advanced stats and claim people were fooled. The only people who were fooled were the ones not looking at the right numbers. LL and USSM were pretty adamant about not getting our hopes up about this season. There were things to look forward to, but it was going to take some luck to win this division. What nobody predicted was how unlucky this team was going to be. If we got average production from Lopez, Figgins, and 1B, this team would have likely been about .500. The bit on Jack Wilson is about the only thing that really upsets me, though. People can accuse Jack Zduriencik for re-signing Wilson all they want, but the truth of the matter is that we had no in-house replacement and Zduriencik signed Wilson for a cheaper price than his previous contract. Wilson was a stop-gap move until a better option presented itself. by Wilder. on Aug 10, 2010 4:26 PM PDT up reply actions I think a lot of the hype came from the moves themselves People saw Jack making a lot of good and reasonable moves. What they didn’t realize is that the team still wasn’t that good. Most mainstream baseball types tend to analyze by “this team won 85 games last year, they made good moves, therefore they should get better.” Which is where most mainstream types failed. by Fuckmikereilly on Aug 10, 2010 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions Even if people around here thought that the Mariners would make the playoffs, I think it was because of the shittiness of the division - not the greatness of the team. When I was telling people before the year that the M’s had a shot this year, I had to serve it with a large grain of salt and say “Now listen, its because the division sucks” because I didn’t want to get railed after the year for finishing 3rd. Still a disappointing year, but not because we are missing the playoffs so much. That much was always a big possibility. by Kenneth Arthur on Aug 10, 2010 6:15 PM PDT up reply actions That wasn't the general consensus around here! by Matthew on Aug 10, 2010 9:03 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs Rec'd Seriously, 2% of people here saw this team losing less than 78 games. 9% saw lower than 2nd place. There’s a lot of revisionist history taking place in the M’s blogosphere regarding this Posnanski article, which I think is mostly reasonable. He’s off with the usage of Pythag and probably his discussion of Figgins, but it’s not nearly as terrible as the powers that be will have you believe. by James Kannengieser on Aug 14, 2010 7:24 AM PDT up reply actions No, the article is exactly as bad as "the powers that be", which I assume refers to us, will have you believe. It’s completely rubbish from an analytical perspective. by Matthew on Aug 14, 2010 1:37 PM PDT up reply actions I would have loved to read a response from Jeff S. The tone probably would’ve been more respectful and less pedantic, i.e. it wouldn’t have spent time quibbling with “Casey Kotchman, #3 hitter”. by James Kannengieser on Aug 16, 2010 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions I don't care enough about it to respond Who cares what Joe Posnanski thinks about the Mariners? by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 16, 2010 9:25 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs At least one very prominent blogger, apparently And a lot of people in this thread. But fair enough. by James Kannengieser on Aug 16, 2010 9:47 AM PDT up reply actions I guess I just don't see the point Mariners fans know what he did wrong, and non-Mariners fans aren’t going to listen to Mariners fans defend their team. by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 16, 2010 12:36 PM PDT up reply actions Laziest analysis ever. Arrogant, too. Posnanski is basically Bill Simmons if he was addicted to baseball reference. by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 10, 2010 4:06 PM PDT reply actions What? Posnanski is great, this was just a rare misfire on his part. by BrianL on Aug 11, 2010 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions Not a fan, but part of it is me being a contrarian. The online fan community seems to really dig him. He does OK with his “big picture” analysis, he’s really embraced the stat revolution in the sport (as Geoff Baker has here), and he seems to take a thoughtful stance on issues that other sportswriters just rant about. He’s too long winded and sentimental for my tastes, though. by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 11, 2010 2:35 PM PDT up reply actions It is neither lazy nor arrogant it is very well written, even if it is completely wrong. Bill Simmons lies awake at night and dreams of being 1/1000th of the writer that Posnanski is. by pdb on Aug 11, 2010 2:34 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs "The Mariners did not have a smart off-season, not at all." The use of a declarative statement like this seems pretty arrogant to me. The analysis was lazy. It wouldn’t have been hard to at least check the projection systems out there to find out how they graded the M’s. This “we should have known” idea discredits a ton of smart analysis done on the team’s chances. by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 11, 2010 2:51 PM PDT up reply actions Posnanski is not, does not pretend to be, nor does he present himself as an analyst though. He’s a columnist. Huge difference. by pdb on Aug 11, 2010 2:55 PM PDT up reply actions I guess the line just seems kinda fuzzy to me. Analyst or columnist aside, are his conclusions supported by facts? by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 11, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions That's the line, actually As an analyst, his conclusions would have to be supported by facts and he’d have to show his math, as it were. As a columnist, he is interpreting (and presenting his opinion of) what he sees. Again, those are two very different things. by pdb on Aug 11, 2010 3:21 PM PDT up reply actions Why shouldn't ALL writers be forced to show their work? I mean Poz is basically spewing out bullsh-t with this article, who cares whether he’s a columnist or an analyst? by vivaelpujols on Aug 12, 2010 3:05 AM PDT up reply actions Because intent matters Poz isn’t trying to advance a science, or add to a body of work. He’s trying to start a discussion, and he’s certainly done that. by pdb on Aug 12, 2010 6:51 AM PDT up reply actions 2 recs I think we understand that there are no ethical standards being breached. The intent to start a discussion, and whether every sentence a columnist writes has an implied, preceding “In my opinion,” are irrelevant to me. Backing up your assertions with facts and being thorough on this particular subject isn’t some outrageous expectation. If you can’t do it in the time alloted you, you should be smart enough not to publish. (Or how about just not coming to such strong conclusions in the first place?) This idea that columnists have a Get Out of Jail Free card for bad analysis is disturbing, especially when you think about columnists covering some not-so-trivial subjects. by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 12, 2010 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions Again, though, it all comes down to intent whether every sentence a columnist writes has an implied, preceding "In my opinion," are irrelevant to me So what you’re saying is, every single thing you read is held to the same evidentiary standard, whether it’s a cereal box, a statistical analysis, or a comic strip? That sounds like less their problem than yours. I would argue that he was thorough on this subject – I disagree with where he took it, but he was definitely thorough. People write different things that are tailored for different audiences. Would you look to Geoff Baker for analysis? No. Would you look to him for interesting clubhouse insights? Probably. And Posnanski’s the same – I’m not defending this particular column, because he was off base, but I’m also saying you can’t hold a Joe Posnanski up to the same scrutiny you’d hold a Dave Cameron, because he’s writing for a vastly different audience. Life is not binary – it’s not a question of if it’s not right it’s wrong. You (and most of us) disagree with Poz on this particular topic, that’s fine. That doesn’t mean he’s “spewing bullshit”, “arrogant”, or “lazy”. It just means you disagree with him. by pdb on Aug 12, 2010 1:34 PM PDT up reply actions There is some serious cognitive dissonance going on here. Poz wrote a revisionist history of Seattle’s offseason. If you really think that his profession, audience, and intent somehow transform that misinterpretation of facts into a valid opinion, then that’s OK, I guess. by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 12, 2010 3:54 PM PDT up reply actions There is no such thing as an invalid opinion There are incorrect facts, and there are incorrect conclusions. Posnanski, in this article, used some actual facts to come up with erroneous conclusions. I have acknowledged that throughout this discussion – I am fully in agreement that the column was not good. Where I differ with you is with respect to the fact that I do not look to Joe Posnanski for serious, in-depth analysis. If, for example, Dave Cameron or any Fangraphs writer had penned this article, I would have serious problems with it, because they are supposed to be analysts. Posnanski isn’t. That’s my whole point – you seem to be coming at this from a perspective that Posnanski failed at analysis. Of course he did, because he’s not an analyst. Nor does he have anything other than remote, third- or fourth-hand knowledge of the inner workings of the Mariners. Given all that, should he have written the article? Probably not. But what I’m trying to get across is that what Posnanski does isn’t analysis, and to judge his writing as if he were is doing him a disservice. He’s an excellent writer 99% of the time, and while he swung and missed at this one, I’m certainly not going to condemn him as a writer because of it. by pdb on Aug 12, 2010 4:05 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs My opinion of Posnanski isn't as high as yours. And it’s really not him so much as it is sportswriting in general. These days I only read articles when people are talking about them. And honestly, part of the reason why is that columnists often put on analyst hats, which I think is just a waste of everyone’s time. If you’re going to rationally tackle a subject with the intent of coming to strong conclusions like “The Mariners did not have a smart offseason”, then I think that its fair to expect a little more effort from Poz. Arrogant and lazy are harsh words, but I’m talking about the post, not the writer. I know they sound bad when attached to a writer as prolific and (often) self deprecating as he is. by Manzanillos Cup on Aug 12, 2010 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions Well, even Poz is entitled to an off day. Fans are typically idiots. by The Typical Idiot Fan on Aug 10, 2010 4:26 PM PDT reply actions This is pretty much the way I feel. He hasn't lost me as a reader with this. I really don’t agree with him but I get the feeling that he’s open to listening to a rational pundit and is willing to change his mind. I don’t feel that he’s arrogant in the slightest when he writes. by Double06 on Aug 10, 2010 10:05 PM PDT up reply actions I almost linked this earlier. I normally like Posnanski quite a bit, but this is just piling on and not even in a particularly interesting way. The central thrust of the piece seems to be that he and other sports writers were essentially talked into liking the Mariners, by each other? How does that make sense? It’s just weird and lazy. by Jeff Nye on Aug 10, 2010 5:40 PM PDT reply actions For whatever it's worth I didn’t think the article was anything terrific myself, but Joe has a very difficult job, and did the ~best he could with this subject on limited warning. It’s important to remember that Posnanski is a writer, not an analyst. by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 10, 2010 6:35 PM PDT reply actions I assume the article was written because Wak got fired and I doubt Poz spent a lot of time preparing it before news broke. by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 10, 2010 9:48 PM PDT up reply actions Oh. Yeah. I already moved on and forgot about that. We’re winners now. by Matthew on Aug 10, 2010 10:13 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs I thought the comparison to 12 Angry Men was creative. by Double06 on Aug 10, 2010 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions Kind of, yeah, but it sounds like he took it directly from a college communications class …namely, because I had a comm class where we focused a lot on the idea of Groupthink, and watched 12 Angry Men as an example of it. I don’t think it took a lot of effort for him to come to the conclusion, and I don’t think it’s an accurate one. Unless he’s only referring to analysts who were so lazy they merely went along with other analysts instead of looking at the data and coming to the conclusion on their own. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 11, 2010 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions I think it's better than what you'd expect from a non analyst But it’s till pretty bad and feel a bit like revisionist history by Poochie on Aug 11, 2010 9:46 AM PDT up reply actions Not that I don't agree with you to an extent, but I feel like we use this excuse for sportswriters too often. The writers themselves somewhat blur the distinction; so I don’t think you can hold it against people too much when they treat something like analysis that looks a lot like analysis, simply based on the byline. It mostly comes up when people are discussing He Who Shall Not Be Named, and he’s one of the worst offenders in that regard. Pos, not so much. by Jeff Nye on Aug 12, 2010 7:07 PM PDT up reply actions Dave at USSM put up a really good rebuttal to Poz's article Because for the most part, Poz’s article is shitty piece of garbage writing that he obviously didn’t put much thought into. __________________________________________________________ 1000000 recs by HititHere on Aug 11, 2010 10:03 AM PDT reply actions The writing is quite good, actually it’s the point and the intent that isn’t so bueno. by pdb on Aug 11, 2010 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs Yeah I enjoyed reading it even if I didn't think the conclusions were very good by Edgar for Pres on Aug 11, 2010 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions You are both correct, I shouldn't have bashed the writing, but the content TO me it’s good writing, lazy content. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 11, 2010 12:27 PM PDT up reply actions I would say he put a lot of thought into it, given the circumstances and the standards to which some people around here hold national sportswriters are unreachable. by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 11, 2010 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions National sportswriters tend to be unreadable in my opinion. Not their fault either as they are doing exactly what they should. I just have no interest in getting bad information from the uninformed. by Sec 108 on Aug 11, 2010 12:33 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs Me neither It’s a nearly impossible job. by Jeff Sullivan on Aug 11, 2010 3:11 PM PDT up reply actions Good to know that whenever anyone slams your team on the internet, they are a lazy trolling hack who puts no effort into their writing by seattlebruin on Aug 11, 2010 4:33 PM PDT up reply actions That is not what I'm saying at all. You can bash the team (who wouldn’t bash this team?) but this is absolutely revisionist history, and it’s exactly the kind of article I hate…because it makes all my friends say “see I told you Chone sucked and they should have gotten a bigger bat instead” or whatever. It’s a cop out, saying “we all should have seen this coming” when we clearly would have been in the .00001% minority if we projected this outcome. Also, I’m sick as fuck of hearing people say “we shouldn’t have let Branyan go.” Statements like that do not belong in sports writing, because 2 minutes of research would reveal the problems with that assertion. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 12, 2010 9:51 AM PDT up reply actions Wow, I am obviously more passionate about this than I realized. Don’t take any of my harshness personally. I haven’t had my coffee yet. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 12, 2010 9:54 AM PDT up reply actions Give him another chance This post by him is pretty good where he interviews John Dewan about the plus/minus system. Tango has a little post on his blog about it discussing when to believe your eyes and when to believe the numbers. I liked them both and just wanted to throw them up here somewhere. by Edgar for Pres on Aug 12, 2010 12:17 AM PDT reply actions I don't think anyone here needs to be convinced to give Joe Posnanski another chance we’re all quite aware that he is an outstanding writer by seattlebruin on Aug 12, 2010 8:10 AM PDT up reply actions Apparently not everyone in this thread is convinced of this by pdb on Aug 12, 2010 8:18 AM PDT up reply actions I am convinced of this. I hold good writers to higher standards, honestly. I’ll absolutely give him more chances, but this article was crap. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 12, 2010 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions I’m not looking to stir anything up here, as I’m over from Let’s Go Tribe. Respectfully, what exactly about Poz’ article is so lazy and/or arrogant? The first paragraph seems, to an outsider like me at least, as a pretty accurate and devastating summary of the Mariners’ off-season moves (and he didn’t even mention the Eric Byrnes experience). What am I missing about the apparent weakness of his column? by jdudas on Aug 12, 2010 5:54 AM PDT reply actions Every move was very defensible and intelligent at the time of the transaction, with the possible exception of the Morrow trade. But what Poz is saying in his opening paragraph is that everyone should have known things were going to turn out this way. That is clearly false. No one could have seen a team-wide collapse and horrendous luck coming. A catastrophe like this is unpredictable. Poz is acting like it was clear as day that the Mariners were having a terrible off-season, when in fact they had, objectively, a solid off-season. The point is, everyone here expected better production based off of solid, educated analysis, and no one saw this team being this terrible. M's fan in PA, soon to be LA by perfectstrat on Aug 12, 2010 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions Ok; thanks. by jdudas on Aug 12, 2010 8:27 AM PDT up reply actions I think the article was pretty poor, but to say that no one saw this outcome as being a possibility is inaccurate. This team had a ton of collapse potential and anyone that wasn’t acknowledging that from the start of the season wasn’t being honest. by Aaron Campeau on Aug 12, 2010 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions Collapse potential, certainly But the manner in which is happened is… odd. by Graham MacAree on Aug 12, 2010 1:59 PM PDT up reply actions In some regards, but pretty much every worst-case scenario came true as well. If the unexpected things hadn’t happened, this would still be a very bad team and things would be functionally quite similar. by Aaron Campeau on Aug 12, 2010 2:20 PM PDT up reply actions Not so This team has excellent run prevention and if we just look at the projections for hitting we’re an adequate offensive team. If the unexpected hadn’t happened, we’d be above .500 by Graham MacAree on Aug 12, 2010 3:40 PM PDT up reply actions What things that have happened were expected? The unexpected things are what has made it a bad team. by Mariner John on Aug 12, 2010 5:27 PM PDT up reply actions Not necessarily expected so much as things that were reasonable outcomes at the outset. by Aaron Campeau on Aug 12, 2010 5:34 PM PDT up reply actions Everyone but Ichiro and maybe Gutz falling off a cliff was a reasonable outcome from the outset? Hard work never killed nobody, but I won't take my chances. by JAH on Aug 12, 2010 7:42 PM PDT up reply actions Yeah, pretty much. This offense was fuck-tastically bad from the get go. Figgins is unexpected, sure, but is anyone else being terrible really all that surprising? I mean I don’t think anyone expected everyone to be this bad, but individually yeah, these are all reasonable outcomes. by Aaron Campeau on Aug 13, 2010 1:01 AM PDT up reply actions I am genuinely suprised at how awful Bradley has been, and even Lopez. The rest of the guys not so surprising. by Sec 108 on Aug 13, 2010 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions I expected slightly better from Kotchman and even Rob Johnson And did not expect Byrnes to be QUITE so bad (you know he had an OPS+ of 12?). I thought Moore could actually maybe hit a little bit. All of those guys had career worst years, aside from Moore who stills falls into the “kind of a prospect” category. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 13, 2010 9:42 AM PDT up reply actions Now I want to check splits and see what that looks like Some of these guys like Byrnes and Kotchman should probably only be platooned at this point. 1B and LF pre-season were heavily discussed in the blogs as platoon opportunities based on the players the M’s took to spring training. I’m feeling like people are forgetting this. by Kermit. on Aug 13, 2010 6:56 PM PDT up reply actions Having one player hit a 10% projection is normal Having seven is a little weird. by Graham MacAree on Aug 13, 2010 6:12 PM PDT up reply actions 3 recs This sentence encapsulates the entire argument of why Poz's article was terrible. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 16, 2010 9:21 AM PDT up reply actions It would be interesting to go through all the teams next year and try to rate them based on "collapse potential" I wonder where this team would have fallen on that sort of a list. by Edgar for Pres on Aug 12, 2010 7:18 PM PDT up reply actions Higher than most, I would imagine We knew this was a feast or famine team. My sig is so annoying. by HititHere on Aug 13,

Christopher Kemp Irvine Welsh The author of "Trainspotting" discusses his new novel, "Glue," real bad bastards and the Bront″. Freezer Culture You don't need religion for life after death -- just $35,000 and a taste for liquid nitrogen.. The dancing plant Darwin was obsessed by it, although even he never trained his weedy Asian shrub to twitch its leaves to the sound of music. But in a small town in northern Thailand ... . Before Kampermpool could start breeding The Plant, he first had to find it. Ask him where it came from and he quickly gets coy, simultaneously jabbing a stubby little thumb at the green hills over his shoulder, pointing vaguely at some trees on the other side of the road, and nodding his head toward Laos in the north, all the while muttering quietly to himself. When he was a young man, Kampermpool carefully states, considering every word to be sure of giving nothing away, the elders of the hill tribes scattered to the north would talk about a species of plant that danced. They used the dancing plants, he says, high in the mountains, in the jungle villages and the border towns, to make tea. It was 1976. Kampermpool began to search for the plant. “I hired people to check for me,” he says. “I found one in Yunnan, in China, but the leaves are bigger; they have some near Kanchanaburi, near Burma, but nobody pays attention — it looks like a weed.” And it does look like a weed. A couple of sprigs of Kampermpool’s plant would not look entirely out of place atop a salad. Neither would it attract attention sprouting from between two paving slabs. If a trusted friend told you it was bok choy, you would not question it. Eventually, says Kampermpool, crouching suddenly behind a thick clump of orchids and hunching his shoulders, his hired workers found a dancing species growing deep in the jungle. Kampermpool shifts his weight to the balls of his feet, leans forward, and whispers from behind his hand. “Shhhhhhhh,” he says. He is no longer standing in his nursery with the morning sun slanting through the clouds: Dr. Pradit Kampermpool is back in the jungle. “So I’m watching,” he whispers, parting imaginary foliage and squinting through the years, past the rows of orchids and the bales of barbed wire, to an imaginary clearing. “Hmmm…” he says softly. “Well, the leaves are similar.” He pauses for effect. “Then it moved a little bit!” he shouts, flinging his arms in the air and jumping backward. It was 1991. The search for the dancing plant was over. It had taken 15 years. “This plant nearly disappeared from the world,” Kampermpool says, “so I dug it up.” It is a simple statement. Kampermpool is not trying to be literal, but that is exactly what he did. He dug it up. He took a shovel deep into the jungle, dug up the plant, shook the dirt from its roots, brought it back here and carefully planted it in the trough filled with dark, wet soil that sits at the shady end of his nursery. It has remained there ever since, its roots probing the rich mulch that Kampermpool regularly shovels on and gently pats down. Finally, the complex breeding programs, the 24-hour nurturing — the watering, fertilizing, measuring, sampling, pruning, trimming — the crossbreeding, the biopsies, the singing, the coaxing, the watching, the constant monitoring, could begin. First he bred the plant, and then he bred it again — second generation, my friend, OK? — and then later still, he crossbred it with a Chinese species of gyrant to create a hybrid. Slowly, over the years, the plant became The Plant. - – - – - – - – - – - -. If the pointed little leaves of his borrowed specimen twitched to sounds as Kampermpool’s do, Darwin never noticed it, or if he did, he never mentioned it. And if he sang to his specimen as Kampermpool does, bending close and whispering into its bushy leaves, crooning softly, gently wheedling, cajoling, and coaxing it to move, he never mentioned that either. “I am working away as hard as I can at all the multifarious kinds of movements of plants,” he wrote to German researcher Fritz Muller on July 24, 1878, “and am trying to reduce them to some simple rules, but whether I shall succeed I do not know.” Characteristically, Darwin did succeed. Two years later, a book-length monograph titled “The Power of Movement in Plants” was published. It was the last book published during Darwin’s lifetime, representing more than two decades of research on moving plant species. During that time he performed round after round of experiments, measuring the movements of the leaves in all conditions, depriving the plants of light and nutrients, syringing water onto the leaves to simulate rainfall, subjecting them to extreme temperatures, and removing slices from the plants. Darwin’s Desmodium gyrans specimen moved when he syringed water onto the leaves. As the water landed on its pointed little leaflets, it set the plant twitching, and Darwin measured the movements. He wrote again to Muller in April 1881, and concluded that the movements were designed “to shoot off the drops of water.” “If you are caught in heavy rain,” he continued, “I should be very much obliged if you would keep this notion in your mind, and look to the position of such leaves.” Still, Darwin was not finished with the plant. Long before it became The Plant — more than a century before it was discovered in the jungle and transported to Kampermpool’s nursery in Udon Thani — Desmodium gyrans had a hold over Darwin that was almost as strong as the one it now has over Kampermpool. On April 16, 1881, a year after the publication of “The Power of Movement in Plants,” Darwin dispatched a note to his friend Lord Avebury. The first line reads, “Will you be so kind as to send and lend me the Desmodium gyrans by the bearer who brings this note.” Once again, he was requesting a specimen; but Darwin never finished his research on Desmodium gyrans. He died a year later, on April 19, 1882. He was buried next to Sir Isaac Newton, beneath a flagstone in the north aisle of Westminster Abbey, and any theories he had secretly harbored about the plant were buried with him. Kampermpool will eagerly tell you there’s an important difference between the plant Darwin studied more than a century ago and the specimen growing in the Udon Thani nursery. “It’s a dancing plant!” he will predictably insist. “This plant is a dancing plant!” That, Kampermpool will proudly state, is the difference. It dances. Indisputably, Darwin’s plant moved and, Darwin believed, the movements shook water droplets from its leaves following a heavy rainfall. But Kampermpool’s plant — The Plant — responds to music — to music! — and Kampermpool has actively encouraged this behavior for more than a decade by selectively breeding and crossbreeding the young plants that respond most enthusiastically to his singing. Darwin called the plant Hedysarum; modern botanists call it either Desmodium gyrans or, more correctly these days, Codariocalyx motorius; its common name is Telegraph plant or Semaphore plant — after the leaf movements, which resemble semaphore signals. Kampermpool — who is burying his face in his plant’s leaves again, disappearing almost up to his ears, and cooing softly to it — calls his plant Miss Udon Dancing Sunshine. In fact, since it was first described by Dutch physician and naturalist Maarten Houttuyn — who named it Hedysarum motorium in 1779 — the plant has been called at various times, Hedysarum gyrans (1781), Desmodium gyrans (1825), Desmodium roylei (1834), Codariocalyx gyrans (1842), Pseudarthria gyrans (1844), Meibomia gyrans (1891), and Desmodium motorium (1938). Botanical taxonomy sometimes gets a bit cluttered, says Gwilym Lewis, the principal scientific officer at Kew. Lewis tries to make sense of it :”Although the plant was first recognized and described in 1779,” writes Lewis by e-mail, “it has been moved by subsequent authors into different genera, e.g., Desmodium motorium (Houtt) Merr. (where Merr. is an abbreviation for Merrill). This new combination made in 1938 is also based on Hedysarum motorium, or, put botanically, Hedysarum motorium is the ‘basionym’ of both Desmodium motorium and Codariocalyx motorius. OK so far?” Not really. But despite the confusion, Lewis assures me they are all the same plant: a leguminous Asian shrub. According to the International Legume Database and Information Service, it is not hard to find and is widely distributed throughout Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Jamaica, Laos, Malaysia, Martinique, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. It can even be found on the Society Islands, a chain of islands dotted remotely in the South Pacific. In Mauritius, in the 19th century, it was cultivated intentionally. But Codariocalyx motorius or Desmodium roylei or Meibomia gyrans, or whatever you choose to call it, does not dance. It twitches. Very early in the morning, as the rising sun burns the mist off the fields, provided the weather has not been too hot, too humid or too dry, as long as the soil conditions are favorable, and it is not too windy, the leaves of Kampermpool’s dancing plant respond to his singing by twitching. Otherwise, The Plant spends most of its time hidden by orchids and protected by netting and barbed wire, its pointed little leaves nodding and bouncing in the breeze.. This is very strange.” Put a question — any question — to Kampermpool and he will respond instead by talking about The Plant. Because of this, he is an enigma. He might have children but, then again, he might not; allegedly, he spent several years in Iraq, researching desert plants, but perhaps this is not the case. His doctorate degree might be honorary, or he might have earned it conventionally — we don’t know. It is possible — and Kampermpool certainly makes it sound as if he has — that he has met the King of Thailand, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej. [Editor's Note: Two years after the original publication of this story, a representative of Dr. Pradit's contacted Salon to state that the doctor had never met the King of Thailand, nor did he intend to give the impression that he did so.] So it is not surprising that, when asked about The Plant and the mechanism that actually makes its little leaflets move, Kampermpool sighs and rolls his eyes, recalling instead the day he found The Plant under the cool canopy of the jungle. Then he gives an extemporaneous lecture on the years he has spent breeding and studying The Plant; or claims that more than 30,000 tourists visit the nursery each year to see The Plant, although none are present this morning; and talks about his plans to market The Plant globally — you will be our planner; you will have a position forever — and voices his concerns that dark operatives, who stalk the nursery at night, will seize control of The Plant. - – - – - – - – - – - - According to a 1998 study that appeared in the journal Chronobiology International, the plant’s movements are caused by the swelling and shrinking of motor cells in special organs buried deep within the leaves, called pulvini. Via the pulvini, protons are pumped into the lateral leaflets, which in turn causes the movement, in and out, of charged ions. “During the pump state,” the paper reports, “ions are taken up, causing water influx and swelling of the motor cells. Depolarization causes loss of ions and water efflux (the motor cells shrink).” In other words, as protons are pumped into the pulvini, ions enter too, bringing water with them; when the charged ions leave the pulvini passively, the water migrates from the pulvini too. The movement of water molecules causes the motor cells in the leaves to shrink or swell and, as the water enters and exits, the plant’s little leaflets twitch. But there is little point sharing this information with Kampermpool. Almost certainly, he would show his derision by first elaborately making the sound of a soufflé collapsing — Pshummph! — and then refusing to comment any further. Pshummph! Charles Darwin? Pshummph! Pulvini? Pshummph! Kampermpool shrugs, stands back and sighs, and then points at the plant again. “I will ask my people to prepare tea for us, my friend,” he says, signaling to a man leaning on a hoe before marching off toward his house and officially ending the discussion. “This is tea,” he says a few minutes later, raising a cup to his lips and slurping noisily. “It’s dancing tea, you know, my friend. Boil it in hot water and drink it,” he says. “We’re drinking every day!” Kampermpool is sitting in the shade, taking dainty sips from his teacup, with his little finger cocked and carefully pointed at the white clouds that march across the sky above his house. “This is an excellent tea for antioxidants,” he says between sips. “In 15 minutes, your cheeks will become red. The next morning, my friend, you will feel very light.” It smells a lot like marijuana. “No,” shouts Kampermpool, slapping the table. “No marijuana!” Maybe not, but studies performed in the 1960s suggest that the leaves and roots of Desmodium gyrans — and likely Miss Udon Dancing Sunshine — contain psychedelic compounds, like N,N-dimethyltryptamine. N,N-dimethyltryptamine? Pshummph! - – - – - – - – - – - - It is hot and humid year-round in Udon Thani. Walking through the town is like wading through warm water. Despite this, Kampermpool rushes round his nursery like a black-haired dynamo, absent-mindedly watering his wilting plants. Most days, after he has finished tending to his plants, he will find a shady spot, make a pot of tea, and wait for the fields to get dark around him. He is a busy man; sometimes he teaches a class at the university. He keeps busy to escape the inescapable: that he is stuck. Finally, after all these years, Dr. Pradit Kampermpool is stuck with The Plant. He has spent a fortune researching, breeding and crossbreeding this weedy-looking plant whose pointed little leaves nod and bounce in the breeze. The decades of research have cost him more than his house is worth. He loves The Plant. It represents a 25-year odyssey for Kampermpool; it has been his only constant in a sea of change. The Plant also provides an object lesson in what can happen to someone who invests everything in something that eventually turns out to be nothing. And now, after 15 years spent scouring the jungle for The Plant and then another 10 years of careful breeding, Kampermpool is finally stuck with it, stubbornly defending the indefensible assertion that it is, in actual fact, a dancing plant. “It’s a dancing plant.” He stands beside The Plant now, looking at it sadly. It has its roots in him; the same roots that he unhurriedly shook soil from, wrapped in a moist cloth, and carried back to the nursery all those years ago. Each year those roots have inched a little deeper into his life, probing silently, delving. A root can split a boulder in two in the same way, moving unnoticed and undetected through the strata. Dr. Pradit Kampermpool might be able to tell you that, but he’s walking to the shady end of his nursery with quick little steps, his shiny black hair bobbing among the orchid stems, swinging a watering can, and singing. This story has been changed since it was originally published. Kurt Vonnegut: “My God, Vesuvius has erupted again!” At 79, the author of "Slaughterhouse Five" reflects on Sept. 11, death, heaven and the meaning of life. About three miles from author Kurt Vonnegut’s apartment, teams of construction workers are still sifting through tons of steaming rubble 24 hours a day, trying to find the remains of those who perished in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11. Vonnegut says the attack reminded him of Mount Vesuvius. In February 1945, Vonnegut was witness to another pretty good imitation of Mount Vesuvius: the firebombing by Allied forces of Dresden, a town in eastern Germany, during the last months of World War II. More than 600,000 incendiary bombs later, the city looked more like the surface of the moon. Returning home to Indianapolis after the war, Vonnegut began writing short stories for magazines like states — and branded a “tool of the devil” in North Dakota — it carried the snappy alternative title: .” Catchy. With an alternate title like that, it’s safe to assume the 79-year-old Vonnegut might have something to say about the Sept. 11 attacks, bringing Dresden to downtown Manhattan, and also the current war in Afghanistan, life and death, and what might come after. I phoned Vonnegut for an interview. One of the first things he said was, “You don’t sound like an American.” He’s right. I’m English, which wasn’t a problem until he blamed me for the destruction of Dresden, an event that took place 27 years before my birth. Incidentally, this makes me — by his estimation — much too young to be taken seriously. Regardless, I maintain my innocence..” That’s pretty good, don’t you think? Death is a central theme in many of your books. Why does it play such an integral role in your fiction? Well, it’s so terribly interesting to everyone. There’s two things that people can’t take their eyes off: People fucking and people getting killed. [laughs] These events seem to be terribly interesting. And also, we don’t see it very often. I had one young woman, a student of mine, complain that she had never seen a dead person, and I said to her, “One must be patient.” Your mother committed suicide in 1944, on the eve of Mother’s Day. You’ve also written extensively about your time as a soldier in World War II. Do you think these experiences, which took place when you were in your 20s, contributed to your attitudes toward death? No, because they were quite firmly fixed. You know, if I’d been raised a Catholic, as a good boy I would have believed, or tried to believe, what the Catholics believe, for instance. My ancestors, first ancestors, came over here before the Civil War and they were all freethinkers and they were much influenced by science. They were educated people and figured that really the priest or the preacher didn’t know what the hell he was talking about [laughs] and that Genesis was a lot of baloney and Jonah and the whale and so forth. So they were rationalists, I guess is what they were called, but they were a religious sect, they called themselves freethinkers. I think in my piece I did for Studs Terkel [in Terkel's new book, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Reflections on Death, Rebirth and Hunger for a Faith"] I said that we try to behave as well as we can without any expectation of reward or punishment in the afterlife and we serve the highest abstraction with which we have any familiarity, which is our community. And that’s been quite enough. Nietzsche, who got a bum rap, incidentally — he had nothing to do with Nazism in any way — he said in effect, in German of course, “Only a person of deep faith can afford the luxury of skepticism.” I know something terribly important is going on. I mean, my Lord, everything’s so busy, and so, yeah, I have that kind of deep faith. So skepticism isn’t a luxury at all. Death is … I love sleep. Aye, there’s the rub. Perchance to dream. In the novel “Deadeye Dick” the protagonist accidentally shoots a pregnant woman on Mothers Day 1942. Is there a parallel between the event in your novel and your mother’s death? Oh, I would suppose that, I was 19, 20, 21, something like that when she did it, and I think that any child — I mean, one reason suicide is a bad idea — is any child is going to blame himself or herself to a certain extent: What did I say? What did I do? In your last book, “God Bless You Dr Kevorkian,” you make several visits to heaven as a roving reporter, via carefully controlled near-death experiences, to interview the spirits you encountered in the hundred yards of vacant lot between the blue tunnel and the Pearly Gates. It’s a great book. But do you believe in heaven at all? It’s fun to think about, you know. I’ve actually imagined afterlives because it’s amusing. Because of the hospitality problem and the entertainment problem, it’s hideously impractical [laughs]. In one of my books, I forget which one, I imagine a heaven where, when you died, you got to be whatever age you were happiest on Earth. And it was a mess for me because my father was 10 years old. [laughs] And he was difficult to relate to? A real pain in the ass! [laughing harder] What age would you choose to be if that were the case? The best age for a man is 44. How old are you? I’m 28. All right. Well, when you’re 44 people will finally take you seriously. In December 1944, you were captured by the German army and became a prisoner of war. As you described in “Slaughterhouse Five,” you narrowly escaped death during the firebombing of Dresden in February 1945. Yes, by your people [the English], may I say. We were just the longest good neighbors in the daytime. You guys burned the place down, turned it into a single column of flame. More people died there in the firestorm in that one big flame, because there was nothing to breathe, than died in Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined. I claim no responsibility for the firebombing of Dresden Well, I’m fond of your people on occasion. I was just thinking about Bomber Harris, the marshall who was in charge of the RAF [Royal Air Force] who believed in attacks on civilian populations to make them give up, although quite the opposite had happened in Britain … But a whole lot of RAF guys objected to a monument being put up to Bomber Harris. I think it probably finally did get up, but a hell of a lot of RAF guys were ashamed of what Harris had made them do. And that’s really sportsmanship and, of course, Brits are famous for being good sports. But the bombing [on Sept. 11], no, it was hellish. People in Indianapolis, Minneapolis and Los Angeles are all reeling from this terrible attack. And of course, everybody’s reeling from what they saw on TV. [laughs] That’s where we’ve gotten to now. We just respond to something that happens on TV. But I think, God, weren’t they smart, the guys who did this? I had no idea those buildings were so fragile. How close is your apartment to the site of the World Trade Center? About three miles. A long way off. You know, I think about an amazing event like this, the firebombing of Dresden, any huge event: My God, Vesuvius has erupted again! With the immediacy of television, do you think the attacks were overemphasized when compared with events like the firebombing of Dresden, during which 135,000 people were killed? What I object to is that it’s totally distracting, just as the O.J. Simpson case was totally distracting, and Gary Condit. And so TV has the power to make us think about one thing. And, you know, in Congress now all sorts of monkey business is going on, anti-environmentalist stuff, because the TV just keeps us focused on ground zero and Afghanistan. Do you think our military response to the attacks has been appropriate? Well, our foreign policy for years has been based on unmanned kamikazes. [laughs] You know, we’ve let quite a few of those go. You were once attacked while speaking at the Library of Congress and accused of speaking ill of the United States, the most wonderful nation in the world. In a 1999 interview, in defense of your cynicism, you said simply, “But it is a shitty country.” It seems there are people out there who agree with you. I’d forgotten — but that’s pretty good [laughs]. It is preposterous to imagine that you belong to something as big as the United States. It’s like saying, “Howdy, I’m from Asia. Where are you from?” [laughs] You know, every artist in the United States worth a shit was against the Vietnam War, which was, you know, cruelly stupid and unnecessary. So every writer, every painter, every poet, every musician was against the Vietnam War. And I have said that it’s like a laser beam, you know, where all the beams of light are aimed in one direction and so all art, the total art world, and also a whole lot of other decent people, would form this laser beam, everybody aimed at the Vietnam War to stop it. And the power of this weapon turned out to be that of a custard pie, two feet in diameter, dropped from a stepladder six feet high [laughs]. It made no fucking difference. In a number of your novels you state that evolution was really a bum deal, supplying man with brains that were far too large for his own good. With the attacks of Sept. 11, and the current bombing campaign in Afghanistan, do you think maybe we’re seeing some effects of these large brains of ours? Well yes. Evolution is utterly — whatever the mechanism is, and I don’t think much of natural selection as a mechanism — but whatever the mechanism is, it has no conscience, it has no purpose. But, you know, a science fiction clichi is that we don’t know how to stop war or cure cancer, till people in flying saucers come and tell us how to do it, or till we grow an extra lobe on our brains and get smarter. We’re getting smarter. Human beings are getting smarter, just like elephants in trouble, you know, saying, “Hey, you know, we’re in trouble but we’ll be OK if we put on a couple of hundred more pounds.” Or a giraffe saying, “Boy, life is hell now but if we add a couple of feet to our necks we ought to be OK.” What would your alter ego Kilgore Trout say about the terrorist attacks? Oh, I’ll have to think a minute because I’m not really his spokesperson — he’s a separate personality. [Pauses] He ignored an awful lot. And specific events. I think he probably didn’t make a comment. It would have been like an automobile accident or something. Not too important, then? No, but he’s certainly interested in oceanic changes. Huge slow ones. Irresistible ones. How would you like to die? I don’t know. When I was a soldier I just didn’t want to be hurt. I hoped it wouldn’t hurt. So I suppose painlessly because I hate pain and I love sleep. My dear sister died of cancer and her very last words were, sort of wondering, “No pain. No pain.” That was so nice. I once read an interview in which you were asked how you would like to die and you said, “In a plane crash on Mount Kilimanjiro.” Were you in a better mood that day? [Laughs] No, that was actually a Ray Bradbury story and that’s how he thought Hemingway should have died. Maybe I said it sometime. Just fucking around. I have the feeling now that I had at the end of the Second World War: I’ve done everything I’m supposed to do, please can I go home now? And I have that feeling now, and then I think, “Well, where the hell is home?” And what I’m yearning for is back in Indianapolis when I had a brother and a sister and a mother and a father and I can’t get that, but, if it were possible, I would like them alive and I would die among them. Do you believe there is anything afterward at all? No. Well, I don’t know. It’s biochemical to be redistributed, certainly. I think what Jung feared was that his intelligence would get mixed up with everybody else’s. [laughs] Have you written a suitable epitaph for yourself? Yes, well, I’ve already said so in the books: “Everything was beautiful, nothing hurt.” What are you most scared of? Bad things happening to my children and grandchildren. What book influenced you the most? “Candide” by Voltaire, I guess. What book do you most wish you’d written yourself? I wish I had written “Romeo and Juliet.” How do you define success? I don’t know. No answer. What do you truly believe in? Well, again, getting back to Nietzsche’s statement, as a person of deep faith, I obviously believe in something in the end. I don’t know what it is, but it’s a great big something. Do you have any regrets? Plenty. Given the opportunity, would you fix them? No. Oh, I suppose, yeah. I don’t like the question. Are you working on a new book at the moment? Yes, but like everybody else, I was just shocked by the World Trade Center thing. Also what it’s done to the world economy. I mean, boy, you think those towers were something? It’s such a fragile economy. Don’t joke about economics because that’s how you get food. In several of your novels, characters become unstuck in time. In “Timequake,” a bump in the space-time continuum causes everyone to relive the decade between 1991 and 2001, repeating everything they did the first time they lived it. Do you believe that, like characters caught in a timequake, we all have a chronology we are destined to follow, no matter what? I think maybe the future has as much to do with who and what we are now as the past. It may be that you continue. Life is … there’s enough to think about. But I do suspect that the future has a hell of a lot more to do with stuff right now than we realize. And it wouldn’t help much to realize it. So essentially, we’re all following a path that has been set for us, without having much control over it? I’m afraid so. Why, are you in trouble? Studs Terkel: “We are not the Fortress America” The indefatigable author talks about his new book on death, the war against terror, President Bush, FDR and Thomas Paine. The career of Studs Terkel, 89, has spanned six decades. He has interviewed thousands of people and written 11 collections of oral histories, including “Working” and the Pulitzer Prize-winning “The Good War,” published in 1984. Terkel’s latest book is “Will the Circle Be Unbroken? Reflections on Death, Rebirth, and Hunger for a Faith.” It explores cultural attitudes toward death and collects in one volume more than 60 interviews with ordinary people who share their thoughts on life, death and everything in between. Among his subjects, Terkel interviewed a firefighter, a cardiologist, a death-row parolee, a mortician, a cancer patient in remission, AIDS caseworkers and numerous others. My mission: to interview the interviewer. With a record like Terkel’s, such a proposition could be daunting, but it’s not. Hard of hearing, he shouts down the phone in a friendly, wheezy voice, curses his hearing aid, asks me to speak up, to repeat myself, curses his hearing aid again and, at the same time, manages to talk at breakneck speed about anything and everything. His doorbell could ring any moment, he says. He’s expecting someone who wants his autograph. “I’m a half-assed celebrity in town,” he jokes. Ironically, Terkel had already started working on “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” — meeting and interviewing subjects — when his wife died. “Well, it’s a crazy moment,” he says. “Don’t call it serendipity, because it’s tragic. I lost my wife.” Death had come home. Terkel continued to do interviews in the months that followed, and managed to complete the book. He has since begun work on two more book projects. “Hold the wire,” he shouts suddenly when the doorbell finally rings. He reads my phone number back to me loudly, reads it again, excuses himself and hangs up. A little later, he calls back and we have a chance to talk. “I’m going to have a martini,” he says later still, as the interview draws to a close, “let’s see, it’s 20 to 5 here. H.L. Mencken said, ‘Don’t drink before sundown. Don’t drink before sundown! ‘ Well, it’s not sundown yet and I’m going to have a Bombay gin martini, and then we’ll see what happens.” Why did you decide to write a book about death? Death is the one experience none of us has had and all of us will have. As Kurt Vonnegut says in the book, it’s the most ordinary thing in the world. At the same time, the book is about life, primarily. It’s about life. I always like to do a sotto voce, cup my hand over my mouth and say: It’s about l-i-f-e. Life. In the introduction, you mention that author Gore Vidal suggested that you write a book about death as early as 1970. Why has it taken so long for you to finally approach the subject? I had a radio show in Chicago for many years, on WFMT, a classical music station. I was its one aberration. It was an eclectic program, and I used to have a lot of people on, writers that I liked. And one of the writers was Gore Vidal. One day at the bar he says, “You ever thought about doing a book about people’s thoughts on death?” I said, “Oh my God.” I was having a martini; I looked in the martini glass and all I saw was an olive. I was always told: “A book on death? They don’t want to talk about that, you’re crazy.” But they want to talk about it. They want to. The irony is, it’s the most alive book I’ve ever done. Religion figures heavily in the responses of many of your subjects. There’s a recurring refrain in the book, you’ll spot it: “I’m not religious, I’m spiritual.” Now, it sounds like one of those New Age bromides, but it’s not. They want no middleman between themselves and God, whatever He, She or It is. And I find that fascinating. I find myself astonished by many of the responses. Saul Bellow, a fellow octogenarian, once wrote that every man has his own poems. Oh, that’s wonderful. I like that. Reading the oral histories you’ve collected here, it seems that Bellow was right and that what you’ve managed to do is capture your subject’s poems. I’m so glad you said that. I’m a gold prospector. I’m digging. Out of that digging comes tons of ore. Thirty pages. A lot of it is fat — [I'm] cutting the lean from it, getting at the core. Now I’ve got eight pages. But it’s still not a necklace, or a watch, or a gold bracelet. I have to bring it all together, and that’s my necklace. Now the editing, that’s the delicate part, now I’m a brain surgeon. You spoke of the poem within; I believe we all have it. The key to interviews is listening to the person, even to the silences. This is all parenthetical, you don’t mind do you? I’m doing stream of consciousness now. I’m a short Joyce. You asked many of your subjects if they feared death. Do you fear death? At this stage in the game, I’m 89 years old, I have two martinis a day, two cigars a day, my wife’s gone and my friends are gone too. I’ve had a good run. However, I’m greedy. So I want to do a couple of books. I probably won’t finish them, but it makes the day go quicker. So do I fear death? Not especially. How did the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 change our perceptions of death? Well that’s a good question. You see, I’d started the book long before that. Has it changed my perception of life and death, you mean? If anything, it’s italicized it. If anything, more than ever, [the Sept. 11 attacks were] a tragic, stupid event, a barbaric event that has made the book even more pertinent than it may have been before. And I find this ironic and tragic at the same time. How can I put it? What has happened has made us more vulnerable. We are not the Fortress America. I think that’s the last thing Thomas Paine had in mind 200 years ago. Following “Common Sense” he wrote “Rights of Man,” and in that he spoke of this new society, this open society, and he said it could lift the world, lift it. I’m talking about 1791 he was writing it. He didn’t mean for us to be Fortress America. If we are Fortress America, then we are against “Them,” whoever “Them” is — the rest of the world, of course. So suddenly it’s happened. We are vulnerable and in this vulnerability, I hope we’re more human. You see, to err is human, to be vulnerable is human and so, in a sense, I’m looking now to find something hopeful that’s come out of this, ironically enough, that we ourselves may recognize what it is to be “the other.” So you think the attacks should teach us all how to empathize? You know, when we saw that picture of that little girl running, the Vietnam shot, that little terrified girl, napalm around her — remember that? That should be our little girl from now on. That’s the thing you see. That little girl should be considered our little girl. Remember Einstein? I still lean on Einstein. I love to quote Einstein because no one dares contradict me. Einstein said shortly before he died, he was so overwhelmed, his own findings led to Hiroshima, subsequently — the irony — he tore his hair when he learned about Hiroshima. He never expected [the bomb] to be dropped on human beings, and then he said something along the lines of, “Everything in the world has changed with the split atom except one thing — the way we think.” We have to think anew. If we don’t think anew we’re in the soup. And are people now thinking anew? Remember, all my books have dealt with the extraordinary possibilities of ordinary Americans. And we saw it of course with the tenacity of the firefighters and the cops and the paramedics and everybody. So the ordinary American, I think, senses something deep down, inchoate though the feeling is, that our spokesmen, politicians or whoever they are, don’t understand at all. Will the current campaign — this long War Against Terrorism we’ve embarked upon — become another Vietnam for the United States? I don’t know. I wish to hell I knew because there’s no precedent for this. It won’t even be Vietnam because Vietnam was a country, where of course we had no business being to begin with. It was an obscene misadventure. Now, there are groups, there are fragments, we know that. Afghanistan is a fragmented land and it’s one warlord against another, and even the Northern Alliance, when it comes to human rights, have not been overwhelmingly great. I think we have to have this new move, a whole new Einsteinian approach. I return to him all the time. For “The Good War” you collected oral histories of soldiers from World War II. Do you think the war experience is universal? Will the oral histories of the soldiers currently in Afghanistan sound the same as those you collected for “The Good War,” or have we lost something over the last 50 years? Well, we have lost something in the last 50 years. I think the Cold War’s aftermath is still around and about. Now, ironically enough, our ally is Russia. Here we go again. Archibald McLeish wrote a wonderful piece during the most frigid parts of the Cold War for Harper’s, I think, and he said, “We are enthralled to them,” — the Soviets — “and they’re enthralled to us. No matter what they do, we’ll do the opposite. No matter what. And no matter what we do, they’ll do the opposite.” So I thought of that, and that still hovers even though things have been reversed now. There’s Putin and Bush — buddy-buddies: the irony. But no, it can’t be the same. It’s different. How was World War II different from the current campaign against terrorism and the Taliban? It was a war against Hitler, of course, against fascism, against all there was. It subsequently had to be fought, but you can’t compare the two. There is no one country involved now. Not Afghanistan. We know they’re warlords, knocking each other off. They’re purchasable too and so you can’t compare them. There’s confusion, there’s bewilderment. So at this moment, we’re at a crossroads. Will we learn? You see, you always come back to Einstein again. We have to think anew. It’s not just Them, a Third World, distant. It’s one, whether we like it or not. Has George W. Bush proven himself as president of the United States? Oh, no. No. Whom is he helping domestically with the tax cuts? You know very well who tax cuts help. The big CEOs are being rewarded, while thousands are being laid off. If not George W. Bush, then who? When it comes to the military and the Pentagon, Gore was as fervent for expanding the military budget as Bush is. So I don’t think it would have changed much with Gore, as far as the bombings are concerned. Possibly it might have been different as far as the domestic program is concerned. That might have been the difference. Oh God, I don’t know. Would FDR have been the guy? Well, he’s my favorite president of course. At the same time we know what he did in the Executive Order 9066 — Japanese Americans’ internment. And that was a big blot, a horrendous blot. But nonetheless, he would have been the closest to it. We need a statesman, a new kind of statesman, and I don’t see any on the horizon. By launching a protracted bombing campaign, have we responded appropriately to the Sept. 11 attacks? No, no. No bombing campaign. Bombing is the one thing bin Laden was for. He loves the idea of being bombed. It makes him a hero, a martyr among the great many in that whole region of the world. We are the richest country in the world and everybody, I think, is capable of change. I don’t care who they are, everyone is capable of change. I’m not saying bin Laden, who is as nutty as a fruitcake and is an example of fundamentalism — in this case Islamic — that’s gone crazy. I’m not talking about him. I’m talking about the fact that everyone in the world, generally, is capable of change. I found that out. My greatest interview, I think, was with an ex-Klansman, a Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, and [about] his redemption and change. I feel we’re the richest country in the world. We know there’s more food that we need to feed every man, woman and child. Now, if in our largesse we said: “This is what we’ll do, all over the world, everywhere.” Suppose we bomb them all over the world with food, clothing and shelter. I think it would alter us considerably. I know this sounds altruistic, it sounds goofy, it sounds idealistic in a comic way. Yet, it’s the way. We’d be the most beloved nation in this epoch. So there you have it. As I say, this guy’s a goof, who’s talking to you now, an idealist. But on the contrary, that ideal is a reality, that ideal is being realistic. That’s the ticket. You got an earful. The Wayne Gretzky of cricket spitting An exotic new sport with its own extraordinary champion has thousands migrating across the country each year to compete. Serious, ‘Well, ‘Choose.” Page 1 of 2 in Christopher Kemp

For free distribution only. You may reprint this work for free distribution. You may re-format and redistribute this work for use on computers and computer networks provided that you charge no fees for its distribution or use. Transcribed from the print edition by David Savage; proofread by the translator. This book, "Quiet Breathing" and "Centered. In other words,. Readers interested in more detailed instructions in the techniques of formal meditation can find them in Ajaan Lee's other books -- especially Keeping the Breath in Mind and Inner Strength -- although it is wise to reflect on the sorts of questions raised by this book before actually sitting down to the practice. The talks translated here are actually reconstructions of Ajaan Lee's talks made by two of his followers -- a nun, Arun Abhivanna, and a monk, Phra Bunkuu Anuvaddhano -- based on notes they made while listening to him teach. Some of the reconstructions are fairly fragmentary and disjointed, and in presenting them here I have had to edit them somewhat, cutting extraneous passages, expanding on shorthand references to points of formal doctrine, and filling in gaps by collating passages from different talks dealing with the same topic. Aside from changes of this sort, though, I have tried my best to convey both the letter and spirit of Ajaan Lee's message. I have also tried to keep the use of Pali words in the translation to a minimum. In all cases where English equivalents have been substituted for Pali terms, I have chosen to convey the meanings Ajaan Lee gives to these terms in his writings, even when this has meant departing from the interpretations given to these terms by scholars. A few Pali terms, though, have no adequate English equivalents, so here is a brief glossary of the ones left untranslated or unexplained in this book: Arahant: A person who has gained liberation from mental defilement and the cycle of death and rebirth.My hope is that the teachings in this book will serve as more than just food for thought, and that they will inspire the reader to search for the inner worth and happiness that come with the practice of training the heart. Brahma: An inhabitant of the heavens of form and formlessness corresponding to the levels of meditative absorption in physical and non-physical objects. Buddho: Awake; enlightened. An epithet of the Buddha. Dhamma (Dharma): The truth in and of itself; the right natural order of things. Also, the Buddha's teachings on these topics and the practice of those teachings aimed at realizing the true nature of the mind in and of itself. Kamma (Karma): Intentional acts, which create good or bad results in accordance with the quality of the intention. Kamma debts are the moral debts one owes to others for having caused them hardships or difficulties. Nibbana (Nirvana): Liberation; the unbinding of the mind from mental defilement and the cycle of death and rebirth. As this term refers also to the extinguishing of fire, it carries connotations of stilling, cooling and peace. (According to the physics taught at the time of the Buddha, a burning fire seizes or adheres to its fuel; when extinguished, it is unbound.) Sangha: The followers of the Buddha who have practiced his teachings at least to the point of gaining entry to the stream to Liberation. To take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha means to take them as the guide in one's search for happiness and to make the effort to give rise to their qualities within oneself. Thanissaro Bhikkhu (Geoffrey DeGraff) Most of us tend to concern ourselves only with short, small, and narrow things. For instance, we think that there isn't much to human life -- we're born and then we die -- so we pay attention only to our stomachs and appetites. There's hardly anyone who thinks further than that, who thinks out past death. This is why we're short-sighted and don't think of developing any goodness or virtues within ourselves, because we don't see the truth and the extremely important benefits we'll gain from these things in the future. Actually, the affairs of each person are really long and drawn out, and not at all short. If they were short, we'd all know where we came from and how we got where we are. The same would hold true for the future: If our affairs were really a short story, we'd know where we're going and what we'll be after death. But the truth of the matter is that almost no one knows these things about themselves. The only ones who do know are those whose minds are strong in goodness and virtue, and who have developed purity to the point where they gain the intuitive understanding that enables them to see where they've come from and where they're going. These people have the inner eye, which is why they are able to see things past and future. Sometimes they can see not only their own, but also other people's affairs. This is what makes them realize the hardships and difficulties suffered by human beings and other living beings born into this world. They see the cycle of birth, aging, illness, and death. They see their past lives, both good and bad, and this makes them feel a sense of dismay and dispassion, disenchanted with the idea of ever being born again. As a result, they try to develop their goodness and virtues even further so that they can reduce the number of times they'll have to be reborn. For example, Stream-enterers -- those who have entered the stream to Liberation (nibbana) -- will be reborn at most only seven more times and then will never have to be reborn again. Once-returners will be reborn in the human world only once more, while Non-returners will be reborn in the Brahma worlds and gain Liberation there. As for Stream-enterers, even though they have to be reborn, they're reborn in secure places. They aren't reborn in states of deprivation, such as the realms of hungry shades, angry demons, or common animals. They're reborn as human beings, but as special human beings, not like the rest of us. How are they special? They have few defilements in their hearts, not thick defilements like ordinary people. They have a built-in sense of conscience and scrupulousness. Even though they may do wrong from time to time, they see the damage it does and feel a sense of shame, so that they won't want their various defilements to lead them into doing wrong ever again. People disenchanted with rebirth make an extra effort to build up their virtues so that they won't have to come back and be reborn. If you want to cut down the number of times you'll take rebirth, you should steadily increase your inner quality and worth. In other words, make your heart clean and bright with generosity, moral virtue, and meditation. Keep your thoughts, words, and deeds at equilibrium, secluded from evil both inside and out. If you have no vices in word and deed, that's called being secluded from outside evil. If your mind is firmly centered in concentration and free from obstructing distractions, that's called being secluded from inside evil. This way you can be at peace and at ease both within and without. As the Buddha said, "Happy is the person content in seclusion." When this kind of seclusion arises in the mind, all sorts of worthwhile qualities will come flowing in without stop. The heart will keep growing higher and higher, until it no longer wants anything at all. If you used to eat a lot, you won't want to eat a lot. If you used to eat in moderation, there'll be times when you won't want to eat at all. If you used to talk a lot, you won't want to talk a lot. If you used to sleep a lot, you'll want to sleep only a little. However you live, the heart will be entirely happy, with no more danger to fear from anyone. This is how you cut down the number of times you'll take rebirth. If you see any areas in which you're still lacking in inner worth, you should try to fill in the lack right away. Be steady in your practice of meditation and make your mind clear, free from the distractions that will drag it down into the dirt. Dirt is where animals live -- pigs, dogs, ducks, chickens, and cows. It's no place for human beings. If you're really a human being, you have to like living in clean places, free from danger and germs. This is why the Buddha praised seclusion as the well-spring of happiness. So try to find a secluded spot for yourself to stay within the mind, secluded from hindering distractions. Make your mind as bright as a jewel, and don't let temptation come along and try to trade garbage for the good things you've got. You have to be mindful at all times, so don't let yourself be absent-minded or forgetful. If your mind doesn't stay with your body in the present, all sorts of evil things -- all sorts of distractions -- will come flowing in to overwhelm it, making it fall away from its inner worth, just as a vacant house is sure to become a nest of spiders, termites, and all sorts of animals. If you keep your mind firmly with the body in the present, you'll be safe. Like a person on a big ship in the middle of a smooth sea free from wind and waves: Everywhere you look is clear and wide open. You can see far. Your eyes are quiet with regard to sights, your ears quiet with regard to sounds, and so on with your other senses. Your mind is quiet with regard to thoughts of sensuality, ill will, and harm. The mind is in a state of seclusion, calm and at peace. This is where we'll let go of our sense of "me" and "mine," and reach the further shore, free from constraints and bonds. Normally, our hearts can hardly ever sit still. They have to think about all kinds of thoughts and ideas, both good and bad. When good things happen, we keep them to think about. When bad things happen, we keep them to think about. When we succeed or fail at anything, we keep it to think about. This shows how impoverished the mind is. When it thinks about things it likes, it develops sensual craving. When it thinks about things that are possible, it develops craving for possibilities. When it thinks about things that are impossible, it develops craving for impossibilities, all without our realizing it. This is called unawareness. It's because of this unawareness that we have thoughts, judgments, and worries that form the well-spring for likes, dislikes, and attachments. Sometimes the things we think about can come true in line with our thoughts; sometimes they can't. While there's at least some use in thinking about things that are possible, we like to go to the effort of thinking about things that are out of the question. I.e., when certain things are no longer possible, we still hold onto them to the point where we feel mistreated or depressed. We keep trying to get results out of things that can no longer be. When our hopes aren't satisfied, we latch onto our dissatisfaction; when they are satisfied, we latch onto our satisfaction. This gives rise to likes and dislikes. We latch onto thoughts of the future and thoughts of the past. Most of us, when we succeed at something, latch onto our happiness. When we don't succeed, we latch onto our disappointment. Sometimes we latch onto things that are good -- although latching onto goodness leaves us some way to crawl along. Sometimes we actually latch onto things that are clearly bad. This is what made the Buddha feel such pity for us human beings. In what way? He pitied our stupidity in not understanding what suffering is. We know that red ants can really hurt when they bite us, yet we go stick our heads in a red ant nest and then sit around in pain and torment. What good do we get out of it? When we see good or bad sights with our eyes, we latch onto them. When we hear good or bad sounds with our ears, we latch onto them. When we smell good or bad odors, taste good or bad flavors, feel good or bad sensations, or think good or bad thoughts, we latch onto them -- so we end up all encumbered with sights dangling from our eyes, sounds dangling from both of our ears, odors dangling from the tip of our nose, flavors dangling from the tip of our tongue, tactile sensations dangling all over our body, and thoughts dangling from our mind. This way, sights are sure to close off our eyes, sounds close off our ears, odors close off our nostrils, flavors close off our tongue, tactile sensations close off our body, and thoughts close off our mind. When our senses are completely closed off in this way, we're in the dark -- the darkness of unawareness -- groping around without finding the right way, unable to go any way at all. Our body is weighed down and our mind is dark. This is called harming yourself, killing yourself, destroying your own chances for progress. Thoughts are addictive, and especially when they're about things that are bad. We remember them long and think of them often. This is delusion, one of the camp-followers of unawareness. For this reason, we have to drive this kind of delusion from our hearts by making ourselves mindful and alert, fully alert with each in-and-out breath. This is what awareness comes from. When awareness arises, discernment arises as well. If awareness doesn't arise, how will we be able to get rid of craving? When awareness arises, craving for sensuality, craving for possibilities, and craving for impossibilities will all stop, and attachment won't exist. This is the way of the Noble Path. Most of us tend to flow along in the direction of what's bad more than in the direction of what's good. When people try to convince us to do good, they have to give us lots of reasons, and even then we hardly budge. But if they try to talk us into doing bad, all they have to do is say one or two words and we're already running with them. This is why the Buddha said, "People are foolish. They like to feed on bad preoccupations." And that's not all. We even feed on things that have no truth to them at all. We can't be bothered with thinking about good things, but we like to keep clambering after bad things, trying to remember them and keep them in mind. We don't get to eat any meat or sit on any skin, and yet we choke on the bones. "We don't get to eat any meat:" This means that we gather up imaginary things to think about, but they don't bring us any happiness. A person who opens his mouth to put food in it at least gets something to fill up his stomach, but a person who clambers around with his mouth open, craning his neck to swallow nothing but air: That's really ridiculous. His stomach is empty, without the least little thing to give it weight. This stands for thoughts that have no truth to them. We keep searching them out, gathering them up and elaborating on them in various ways without getting any results out of them at all, aside from making ourselves restless and distracted. We never have any time to sit still in one place, and instead keep running and jumping around until the skin on our rears has no chance to make contact anywhere with a place to sit down. This is what is meant by, "We don't get to sit on any skin." We can't lie down, we can't stay seated -- even though our bodies may be seated, our minds aren't seated there with them. We don't get to eat any meat and instead we choke on the bones. We try to swallow them, but they won't go down; we try to cough them up, but they won't come out. When we say, "We choke on the bones," this refers to the various bad preoccupations that get stuck in the heart. The "bones" here are the five Hindrances. (1) Sensual desire: The mind gets carried away with things it likes.This is called harming yourself, hurting yourself, killing yourself. And when we can do this sort of thing to ourselves, what's to keep us from doing it to others? This is why we shouldn't let ourselves harbor thoughts of envy, jealousy or anger. If any of these five Hindrances arise in the heart, then trouble and suffering will come flooding in like a torrential downpour, and we won't be able to hold our own against them. All of this is because of the unawareness that keeps us from having any inner quality as a mainstay. Even though we may live in a seven- or nine-storey mansion and eat food at $40 a plate, we won't be able to find any happiness. (2) Ill will: Things that displease us are like bones stuck in the heart. The mind fastens on things that are bad, on things we dislike, until we start feeling animosity, anger, and hatred. Sometimes we even gather up old tasteless bones that were thrown away long ago -- like chicken bones that have been boiled to make stock: The meat has fallen off, the flavor has been boiled away, and all that's left are the hard, brittle bones they throw to dogs. This stands for old thoughts stretching back 20 to 30 years that we bring out to gnaw on. Look at yourself: Your mind is so impoverished that it has to suck on old bones. It's really pitiful. (3) Torpor & lethargy: When the mind has been feeding on trash like this, with nothing to nourish it, its strength is bound to wane away. It becomes sleepy and depressed, oblivious to other people's words, not hearing their questions or understanding what they're trying to say. (4) Restlessness & anxiety: The mind then gets irritable and distracted, which is followed by -- (5) Uncertainty: We may decide that good things are bad, or bad things are good, wrong things are right, or right things are wrong. We may do things in line with the Dhamma and not realize it, or contrary to the Dhamma -- but in line with our own preconceptions -- and not know it. Everything gets stuck in our throat, and we can't decide which way to go, so our thoughts keep running around in circles, like a person who rows his boat around in a lake for hours and hours without getting anywhere. People without any inner quality are like vagrants with no home to live in. They have to be exposed to sun, rain, and wind by day and by night, so how can they find any relief from the heat or the cold? With nothing to shelter them, they have to lie curled up until their backs get all crooked and bent. When a storm comes, they need to scurry to find shelter: They can't stay under trees because they're afraid the trees will be blown down on top of them. They can't stay in open fields because they're afraid lightning will strike. At midday the sun is so hot that they can't sit for long -- like an old barefooted woman walking on an asphalt road when the sun is blazing: She can't put her feet down because she's afraid they'll blister, so she dances around in place on her tiptoes, not knowing where she can rest her feet. This is why the Buddha felt such pity for us, and taught us to find shelter for ourselves by doing good and developing concentration as a principle in our hearts, so that we can have an inner home. This way we won't have to suffer, and other people will benefit as well. This is called having a mainstay. People with no mainstay are bound to busy themselves with things that have no real meaning or worth -- i.e., with things that can't protect them from suffering when the necessity arises. A person without the wisdom to search for a mainstay is sure to suffer hardships. I'll illustrate this point with a story. Once there was a band of monkeys living in the upper branches of a forest, each one carrying its young wherever it went. One day a heavy wind storm came. As soon as the monkeys heard the sound of the approaching wind, they broke off branches and twigs to make themselves a nest on one of the bigger branches. After they had piled on the twigs, they went down under the nest and looked up to see if there were still any holes. Wherever they saw a hole, they piled on more twigs and branches until the whole thing was piled thick and high. Then when the wind and rain came, they got up on top of the nest, sitting there with their mouths open, shivering from the cold, exposed to the wind and rain. Their nest hadn't offered them any protection at all, simply because of their own stupidity. Eventually a gust of wind blew the nest apart. The monkeys were scattered every which way and ended up dangling here and there, their babies falling from their grasp, all of them thoroughly miserable from their hardship and pain. People who don't search for inner worth as their mainstay are no different from these monkeys. They work at amassing money and property, thinking that these things will give them security, but when death comes, none of these things can offer any safety at all. This is why the Buddha felt such pity for all the deluded people in the world, and went to great lengths to teach us to search for inner quality as a mainstay for ourselves. People who have inner quality as their mainstay are said to be kind not only to themselves but also to others as well, in the same way that when we have a house of our own, we can build a hut for other people to live in, too. If we see that another person's hut is going to cave in, we help find thatch to roof it; make walls for the left side, right side, the front and the back, to protect it from storm winds; and raise the floor to get it above flood level. What this means is that we teach the other person how to escape from his or her own defilements in the same way that we've been able, to whatever extent, to escape from ours. When we tell others to practice concentration, it's like helping them roof their house so that they won't have to be exposed to the sun and rain. Making walls for the front and back means that we tell them to shut off thoughts of past and future; and walls for the left and right means that we tell them to shut off thoughts of likes and dislikes. Raising the floor above flood level means we get them to stay firmly centered in concentration, keeping their minds still with their object of meditation. Once people have a house with good walls, a sound roof, and a solid floor, then even if they don't have any other external belongings -- just a single rag to their name -- they can be happy, secure, and at peace. But if your house is sunk in the mud, what hope is there for your belongings? You'll have to end up playing with crabs, worms, and other creepy things. Your walls are nothing but holes, so that people can see straight through your house, in one side and out the other. Even from four to five miles away they can see everything you've got. When this is the case, thieves are going to gang up and rob you -- i.e., all sorts of bad thoughts and preoccupations are going to come in and ransack your heart. As for your roof, it's nothing but holes. You look up and can see the stars. Termite dust is going to sift into your ears and eyes, and birds flying past will plaster you with their droppings. So in the end, all you can do is sit scratching your head in misery because you haven't any shelter. When this is the case, you should take pity on yourself and develop your own inner worth. Keep practicing concentration until your heart matures, step by step. When you do this, you'll develop the light of discernment that can chase the darkness of unawareness out of your heart. When there's no more unawareness, you'll be free from craving and attachment, and ultimately gain Liberation. For this reason, we should all keep practicing meditation and set our hearts on developing nothing but inner goodness, without retreating or getting discouraged. Whatever is a form of goodness, roll up your sleeves and pitch right in. Don't feel any regrets even if you ram your head into a wall and die on the spot. If you're brave in your proper efforts this way, all your affairs are sure to succeed in line with your hopes and aspirations. But if evil comes and asks to move into your home -- your heart -- chase it away. Don't let it stay even for a single night. People who like to gather up thoughts, worries, etc., to hold onto are no different from prisoners tied down with a ball and chain. To fasten onto thoughts of the past is like having a rope around your waist tied to a post behind you. To fasten onto thoughts of the future is like having a rope around your neck tied to a door in front. To fasten onto thoughts you like is like having a rope around your right wrist tied to a post on your right. To fasten onto thoughts you don't like is like having a rope around your left wrist tied to a wall on your left. Whichever way you try to step, you're pulled back by the rope on the opposite side, so how can you hope to get anywhere at all? As for people who have unshackled themselves from their thoughts, they stand tall and free like soldiers or warriors with weapons in both hands and no need to fear enemies from any direction. Any opponents who see them won't dare come near, so they're always sure to come out winning. But if we're the type tied up with ropes on all sides, nobody's going to fear us, because there's no way we can take any kind of stance to fight them off. If enemies approach us, all we can do is dance around in one spot. So I ask that we all take a good look at ourselves, and try to unshackle ourselves from all outside thoughts and preoccupations. Don't let them get stuck in your heart. Your meditation will then give you results, your mind will advance to the transcendent, and you're sure to come out winning someday. Inner wealth, according to the texts, means seven things -- conviction, virtue, a sense of conscience, scrupulousness, breadth of learning, generosity, and discernment -- but to put it simply, inner wealth refers to the inner quality we build within ourselves. Outer wealth -- money and material goods -- doesn't have any hard and fast owners. Today it may be ours, tomorrow someone else may take it away. There are times when it belongs to us, and times when it belongs to others. Even with things that are fixed in the ground, like farms or orchards, you can't keep them from changing hands. So when you develop yourself so as to gain the discernment that sees how worldly things are undependable and unsure, don't let your property -- your worldly possessions -- sit idle. The Buddha teaches us to plant crops on our land so that we can benefit from it. If you don't make use of your land, it's sure to fall into other people's hands. In other words, when we stake out a claim to a piece of property, we should plant it full of crops. Otherwise the government won't recognize our claim, and we'll lose our rights to it. Even if we take the case to court, we won't have a chance to win. So once you see the weakness of an idle claim, you should hurry up and plant crops on it so that the government will recognize your claim and issue you a title to the land. What this means is that we should make use of our material possessions by being generous with them, using them in a way that develops the inner wealth of generosity within us. This way they become the kind of wealth over which we have full rights, and that will benefit us even into future lifetimes. This body of ours: Actually there's not the least bit of it that's really ours at all. We've gotten it from animals and plants -- the pigs, prawns, chickens, fish, crabs, cows, etc., and all the various vegetables, fruits, and grains that have been made into the food we've eaten, which the body has chewed and digested and turned into the blood that nourishes its various parts. In other words, we've taken cooked things and turned them back into raw things: ears, eyes, hands, arms, body, etc. These then become male or female, they're given ranks and titles, and so we end up falling for all of these conventions. Actually these heads of ours are lettuce heads, our hair is pigs' hair, our bones are chicken bones and duck bones, our muscles are cows' muscles, etc. There's not one part that's really ours, but we lay claim to the whole thing and say it's this and that. We forget the original owners from whom we got it all and so become possessive of it. When the time comes for them to come and take it back, we're not willing to give it back, which is where things get messy and complicated and cause us to suffer when death comes near. If all the various animals we've eaten were to come walking out of each of us right now (here I'm not talking about the really big ones, like cows and steers; say that just all the little ones -- the shrimps, fish, oysters, crabs, chickens, ducks, and pigs -- came walking out) there wouldn't be enough room for them all in this meditation hall. None of us would be able to live here in this monastery any more. How many pigs, ducks, chickens, and shrimp have each of us eaten? How many bushels of fish? If we were to calculate it all, who knows what the figures would be -- all the animals we ourselves have killed for food or that we've gotten from others who've killed them. How do you think these animals won't come and demand repayment? If we don't have anything to give them, they're sure to repossess everything we've got. Right when we're at death's door: That's when they're going to crowd around and demand that we repay our debts. If we don't have anything to give them, they're going to knock us flat. But if we have enough to give them, we'll come out unscathed. In other words, if we develop a lot of inner goodness, we'll be able to contend with whatever pains we suffer, by giving back the body with good grace -- in other words, by letting go of our attachment to it. That's when we'll be at peace. We should realize that the body leaves us and lets us go, bit by bit, every day. But we've never left it, never let it go at all. We're attached to it in every way, just as when we eat food: We're attached to the food, but the food isn't attached to us. If we don't eat it, it'll never cry even once. All the attachment comes from our side alone. The pleasure we get from the body is a worldly pleasure: good for a moment and then it changes. It's not at all lasting or permanent. Notice the food you eat: At what point is it good and delicious? It looks good and inviting only when it's arranged nicely on a plate. It's delicious only for the brief moment it's in your mouth. After it goes down your throat, what is it like then? And when it gets down to your intestines and comes out the other end, what is it like then? It keeps changing all the time. When you think about this sort of thing, it's enough to make you disillusioned with everything in the world. Worldly pleasure is good only when it's hot and fresh, like fresh-cooked rice piled on a plate when it's still hot and steaming. If you leave it until it's cold, there's no taste to it. If you let it go until it hardens, you can't swallow it; and if you let it sit overnight, it spoils and you have to throw it away. As for the pleasure of the Dhamma, it's like the brightness of stars or the color of gold. The brightness of stars is clear and glittering. Whoever sees it feels calmed and refreshed. When depressed people look at the stars, no matter when, their depression disappears. As for the color of gold, it's always gleaming and golden. No matter what the gold is made into, its color doesn't change. It's always gleaming and golden as it always was. In the same way, the pleasure of the Dhamma is lasting and gives delight throughout time to those who practice it. For this reason, intelligent people search for pleasure in the Dhamma by giving up their worthless, meaningless worldly pleasures, to trade them in for lasting pleasure by practicing meditation until their minds and actions reach the level of goodness, beauty, and purity that goes beyond all action, all suffering and stress. Beautiful things come from things that are dirty, and not at all from things that are pleasant and clean. Crops and trees, for instance, grow to be healthy and beautiful because of the rotten and smelly compost and nightsoil with which they're fertilized. In the same way, a beautiful mind comes from meeting with things thatassionate, possessive. Loss of status is also good for you. For instance, you may be a person, but they erase your good name and call you a dog -- which makes things even easier for you, because dogs have no laws. They can do what they like without any constraints, without anyone to fine them or put them in jail. If people make you a prince or a duke, you're really in bad straits. nor displeased with them. This is where your mind develops equanimity and can become firm in concentration so that it can grow higher and higher in the practice -- like the lettuce and cauliflower that Chinese farmers plant in rows: The more they get fertilized with nightsoil, the faster, more beautiful, and more healthy they grow. If they were fed nothing but clean, clear water, they'd end up all sickly and stunted. This is why we say that when people have developed mindfulness and concentration, they're even better off when the ways of the world turn ugly and bad. If the world shows you only its good side, you're sure to get infatuated and stuck, like a seed that transcendent, like the old Chinese vegetable farmer who becomes a millionaire by building a fortune out of plain old excrement. When we first meet with the fires of greed, aversion and delusion, we find them comforting and warm. We're like a person sitting by a fire in the cold season: As he sits soaking up the warmth, he gets more and more sleepy and careless until he burns his hands and feet without realizing it, and eventually falls head-first into the flames. The pleasures felt by people in the world come from looking at things only on the surface. Take a plateful of rice, for instance. If. you ask people what's good about rice, they'll say, "It tastes good and fills you up, too." But the Buddha wouldn't answer like that. He'd answer by talking about rice both when it goes in your mouth and when it comes out the other end. This is why his view of things covered both cause and effect. He didn't look at things from one side only. The Buddha saw that the ease and happiness of ordinary pleasures is nothing lasting. He wanted an ease and happiness that didn't follow the way of the worldly pleasures that most people want. This was why he left his family and friends, and went off to live in seclusion. He said to himself, "I came alone when I was born and I'll go alone when I die. No one hired me to be born and no one will hire me to die, so I'm beholden to no one. There's no one I have to fear. In all of my actions, if there's anything that is right from the standpoint of the world, but wrong from the standpoint of the truth -- and wrong from the standpoint of my heart -- there's no way I'll be willing to do it." So he posed himself a question: "Now that you've been born as a human being, what is the highest thing you want in this world?" He then placed the following conditions on his answer: "In answering, you have to be really honest and truthful with yourself. And once you've answered, you have to hold to your answer as an unalterable law on which you've affixed your seal, without ever letting a second seal be affixed on top. So what do you want, and how do you want it? You have to give an honest answer, understand? I won't accept anything false. And once you've answered, you have to keep to your answer. Don't be a traitor to yourself." When he was sure of his answer, he said to himself, "I want only the highest and most certain happiness and ease: the happiness that won't change into anything else. Other than that, I don't want anything else in the world." Once he had given this answer, he kept to it firmly. He didn't allow anything that would have caused the least bit of pain or distraction to his heart to get stuck there as a stain on it. He kept making a persistent effort with all his might to discover the truth, without retreat, until he finally awakened to that truth: the reality of Liberation. If we search for the truth like the Buddha -- if we're true in our intent and true in what we do -- there's no way the truth can escape us. But if we aren't true to ourselves, we won't find the true happiness the Buddha found. We tell ourselves that we want to be happy but we go jumping into fires. We know what things are poison, yet we go ahead and drink them anyway. This is called being a traitor to yourself. Every person alive wants happiness -- even common animals struggle to find happiness -- but our actions for the most part aren't in line with our intentions. This is why we don't get to realize the happiness we want, simply because there's no truth to us. For example, when people come to the monastery: If they come to make offerings, observe the precepts, and sit in meditation for the sake of praise or a good reputation, there's no real merit to what they're doing. They don't gain any real happiness from it, so they end up disappointed and dissatisfied. Then they start saying that offerings, precepts, and meditation don't give any good results. Instead of reflecting on the fact that they weren't right and honest in doing these things, they say that there's no real good to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, that the Buddha's teachings are a lot of nonsense and lies. But actually the Buddha's teachings are an affair of the truth. If a person isn't true to the Buddha's teachings, the Buddha's teachings won't be true to that person -- and that person won't be able to know what the Buddha's true teachings are. When we practice virtue, concentration, and discernment, it's as if we were taking the jewels and robes of royalty and the Noble Ones to dress up our heart and make it beautiful. But if we aren't true in our practice, it's like taking robes and jewels and giving them to a monkey. The monkey is bound to get them dirty and tear them to shreds because it has no sense of beauty at all. Whoever sees this kind of thing happening is sure to see right through it, that it's a monkey show. Even though the costumes are genuine, the monkey inside isn't genuine like the costumes. For instance, if you take a soldier's cap and uniform to dress it up as a soldier, it's a soldier only as far as the cap and uniform, but the monkey inside is still a monkey and not a soldier at all. For this reason, the Buddha teaches us to be true in whatever we do -- to be true in being generous, true in being virtuous, true in developing concentration and discernment. Don't play around at these things. If you're true, then these activities are sure to bear you the fruits of your own truthfulness without a doubt. In Christianity they teach that if you've done wrong or committed a sin, you can ask to wash it away by confessing the sin and asking for God's forgiveness. God will then have the kindness to hold back punishment, and you'll be pure. But Buddhism doesn't teach this sort of thing at all. If you do wrong, you are the one who has to correct the error so as to do away with the punishment on your own behalf. What this means is that when a defilement -- greed, anger, or delusion -- arises in your heart, you have to undo the defilement right there so as to escape from it. Only then will you escape from the suffering that would otherwise come as its natural consequence. We can compare this to a man who drinks poison and comes down with violent stomach cramps. If he then runs to a doctor and says, "Doctor, doctor, I've drunk poison and my stomach really hurts. Please take some medicine for me so that the pain will go away," there's no way that this is going to cure the pain. If the doctor, instead of the sick man, is the one who takes the medicine, the sick man can expect to die for sure. So I ask that we all understand this point: that we have to wash away our own defilements by practicing the Dhamma -- the medicine of the Buddha -- in order to gain release from any evil and suffering in our hearts; not that we can ask the Buddha to help wash away our mistakes and sufferings for us. The Buddha is simply the doctor who has discovered the formula for the medicine and prepared it for us. Whatever disease we have, we need to take the medicine and treat the disease ourselves if we want to recover. If the heart doesn't have any inner nourishment, it won't have any strength, because it's hungry and thin. When it doesn't have any nourishment, it goes out eating whatever it can find -- bones and old dry skins -- without finding any decent food to eat or water to drink at all. This is why it ends up shriveled and dry, because the heart, if it doesn't have any inner goodness, is thin and gaunt, and goes running around all sorts of back alleys, scraping together whatever it can find just for the sake of having something to stick in its mouth. It doesn't get to eat anything good at all, though. It can't find a single thing to give it any flavor or nourishment. But if the heart is strong and well-fed, then whatever it thinks of doing is sure to succeed. The Buddha saw that we human beings are thin and malnourished in this way, which is why he felt compassion for us. He taught us, "The mind that goes around swallowing sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and tactile sensations is eating a ball of fire, you know. Not any kind of food." In other words, "The eye is burning." Everything we see with the eye is a form, and each of these forms contains a ball of fire, even though on the outside it's coated to look pretty and attractive. "The ear is burning." All the pleasing sounds we search for, and that come passing in through our ears from the day we're born to the day we die, are burning sounds, are flames of fire. The heat of the sun can't burn you to death, but sounds can burn you to death, which is why we say they're hotter than the sun. "The nose is burning." We've been smelling smells ever since the doctor cleaned out our nose right after birth, and the nature of smells is that there's no such thing as a neutral smell. There are only two kinds: good smelling and foul-smelling. If our strength is down and we're not alert, we swallow these smells right into the mind -- and that means we've swallowed a time bomb. We're safe only as long as nothing ignites the fuse. "The tongue is burning." Countless tastes come passing over our tongue. If we get attached to them, it's as if we've eaten a ball of fire: As soon as it explodes, our intestines will come splattering out. If we human beings let ourselves get tied up in this sort of thing, it's as if we've eaten the fire bombs of the King of Death. As soon as they explode, we're finished. But if we know enough to spit them out, we'll be safe. If we swallow them, we're loading ourselves down. We won't be able to find any peace whether we're sitting, standing, walking or lying down, because we're on fire inside. Only when we breathe our last will the fires go out. "The body is burning." Tactile sensations are also a fire that wipes human beings out. If you don't have any inner worth or goodness in your mind, these things can really do you a lot of damage. Greed, anger, and delusion are like three enormous balls of red-hot iron that the King of Death heats until they're glowing hot and then pokes into our heads. When greed doesn't get what it wants, it turns into anger. Once we're angry, we get overcome and lose control, so that it turns into delusion. We forget everything -- good, bad, our husbands, wives, parents, children -- to the point where we can even kill our husbands, wives, parents, and children. This is all an affair of delusion. When these three defilements get mixed up in our minds, they can take us to hell with no trouble at all. This is why they're called fire bombs in the human heart. But if, when greed arises, we have the sense to take only what should be taken and not what shouldn't, it won't wipe us out even though it's burning us, because we have fire insurance. People without fire insurance are those with really strong greed to the point where they're willing to cheat and get involved in corruption or crime. When this happens, their inner fires wipe them out. To have fire insurance means that even though we feel greed, we can hold it in check and be generous with our belongings by giving donations, for instance, to the religion. Then even though we may die from our greed, we've still gained inner worth from making donations as an act of homage to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha -- which is like keeping our insurance payments up. This way, even though our house may burn down, we'll still have some property left. Anger. When this defilement really gets strong, it has no sense of good or evil, right or wrong, husband, wives, or children. It can drink human blood. An example we often see is when people get quarreling and one of them ends up in prison or even on death row, convicted for murder. This is even worse than your house burning down, because you have nothing left at all. For this reason, we have to get ourselves some life insurance by observing the five or eight precepts so that we can treat and bandage our open sores -- i.e., so that we can wash away the evil and unwise things in our thoughts, words, and deeds. Even if we can't wash them all away, we should try at least to relieve them somewhat. Although you may still have some fire left, let there just be enough to cook your food or light your home. Don't let there be so much that it burns your house down. The only way to put out these fires is to meditate and develop thoughts of good will. The mind won't feel any anger, hatred, or ill will, and instead will feel nothing but thoughts of sympathy, seeing that everyone in the world aims at goodness, but that our goodness isn't equal. You have to use really careful discernment to consider cause and effect, and then be forgiving, with the thought that we human beings aren't equal or identical in our goodness and evil. If everyone were equal, the world would fall apart. If we were equally good or equally bad, the world would have to fall apart for sure. Suppose that all the people in the world were farmers, with no merchants or government officials. Or suppose there were only government officials, with no farmers at all: We'd all starve to death with our mouths gaping and dry. If everyone were equal and identical, the end of the world would come in only a few days' time. Consider your body: Even the different parts of your own body aren't equal. Some of your fingers are short, some are long, some small, some large. If all ten of your fingers were equal, you'd have a monster's hands. So when even your own fingers aren't equal, how can you expect people to be equal in terms of their thoughts, words, and deeds? You have to think this way and be forgiving. When you can think in this way, your good will can spread to all people everywhere, and you'll feel sympathy for people on high levels, low levels and in between. The big ball of fire inside you will go out through the power of your good will and loving kindness. This comes from getting life insurance: practicing tranquillity meditation so as to chase the defilements away from the mind. Thoughts of sensual desire, ill will, lethargy, restlessness, and uncertainty will vanish, and the mind will be firmly centered in concentration, using its powers of directed thought to stay with its meditation word -- buddho -- and its powers of evaluation to create a sense of inner lightness and ease. When the mind fills itself with rapture -- the flavor arising from concentration -- it will have its own inner food and nourishment, so that whatever you do in thought, word, or deed is sure to succeed. There are two kinds of food for the mind: the kind that gives it strength and the kind that saps its strength. What this refers to is (1) the food of sensory contact -- the contact that takes place at the eye, ear, nose, tongue, body, and intellect. There are six mouthfuls of this kind of food. (2) The food of consciousness, i.e., the consciousness of contact that takes place at each of the six senses. There are six mouthfuls of this kind, too. (3) The food of intention or mental concomitants, i.e., the thoughts that are formed in the heart, leading it to think of the past or future and to know if things are good or bad, pleasant or painful. Once we know that our body and mind depend on these kinds of food, we should use our discernment to reflect on them and evaluate them carefully. Discernment is what forms the teeth of the mind. When children are small, they need to depend on others to mince or strain their food; but when they grow up, they have their own teeth and don't need to depend on anyone else. If people are really discerning, they don't need to chew coarse food at all. For example, an intelligent hunter, once he's killed an animal, will remove the feathers and wings or cut off the antlers and hooves and take home just the useful part. Then he cuts the meat off in pieces so that it can serve as food. In other words, if he's intelligent, he throws away the inedible parts piece by piece. In the same way, intelligent people who want the inner quality of dispassion have to take the discernment that comes from concentration and use it to evaluate sights, sounds, smells, tastes, etc., so that these things can serve a purpose and not do them any harm. Whoever eats an entire fish -- bones, scales, fins, feces, and all -- is sure to choke to death on the bones. For this reason, we have to find a knife and chopping block -- in other words, use mindfulness to focus on, say, a visual object, and discernment to consider what kind of object it is. Is it something we should get involved with or not? What kind of benefits or harm will it cause for the mind? If it's a visual object that will cause harm to the mind, you shouldn't get involved with it. If it's a good-looking object, look for its bad side as well. Be a person with two eyes. Sometimes an object looks good, but we don't look for its bad side. Sometimes it looks bad, but we don't look for its good side. If something looks beautiful, you have to focus on its bad side as well. If it looks bad, you have to focus on its good side, too. If you aren't selective in what you eat, you can ruin your health. Pleasing objects are like sugar and honey: They're sure to attract all sorts of ants and flies. Disagreeable objects are like filth: In addition to carrying germs, they're sure to attract all sorts of other bad things, too, because they're crawling with flies and worms. If we aren't discerning, we'll gobble down the filth together with the worms and smelly parts, and the sugar together with the ants and flies. Your heart is already in poor health, and yet you go gobbling down things that are toxic. When this happens, no one can cure you but you yourself. For this reason, you have to keep the heart neutral, on the middle path. Don't be pleased by the objects you think are pleasing; don't hate the objects you think are disagreeable. Don't be a person with only one eye or one ear. When you can do this, you're equipped with discernment. You can spit visual objects, sounds, smells, tastes, etc., out of the heart. Once you can see that "good" has "bad" hiding behind it, and "bad" has "good" hiding behind it -- in the same way that the body has both a front and a back -- you shouldn't let yourself fall for sights, sounds, smells, etc. You have to consider them carefully. The mind has two basic sorts of food: good mental states and bad mental states. If you think in ways that are good, you'll give strength to the mind. If you're discerning, you'll get to eat fine food. If you aren't, you'll have to eat crude food -- e.g., you'll get a crab, and you'll eat the whole thing raw, without knowing how to boil it and peel away the shell and the claws. The effort of meditation is like a fire; concentration is like a pot; mindfulness, like a chopping block; and discernment, a knife. Intelligent people will use these things to prepare their food so that its nourishment -- the nourishment of the Dhamma -- will permeate into the heart to give it five kinds of strength: (1) The strength of conviction. (2) The strength of persistence: The heart, when we're persistent, is like the wheels of an automobile that keep turning and propelling it toward its goal, enabling us to see the gains that come from our persistence. (3) The strength of mindfulness: Having mindfulness is like knowing when to open and when to close your windows and doors. (4) The strength of concentration: Concentration will be firmly established in the mind whether we're sitting, standing, walking, lying down, speaking, or listening. We can listen without getting stuck on what's said, and speak without getting stuck on what we say. (5) The strength of discernment: We'll gain wisdom and understanding with regard to all things, so that eventually we'll attain purity of mind -- by letting go of all thoughts of past and future, and not being pleased or displeased by any sights, sounds, smells, tastes, etc., at all. There are three ways in which people order their priorities: putting the world first, putting themselves first, and putting the Dhamma first. Putting the world first: There's nothing at all dependable about the affairs of the world. Stop and think for a moment: Ever since you were born, from your first memory up to the present day, what is the best thing that has ever happened in your life? What is the most enjoyable thing? What have you liked the most? If you answer, you have to say that of all the things in the world, only 50 percent are satisfactory; the other 50 are unsatisfactory. But if you asked me, I'd answer that there's nothing satisfactory about the world at all. There's nothing but stress and misery. You get friends and they take advantage of you. You get possessions and you have to worry about them. You get money and you end up suffering for it. The people you work with aren't as good as you'd like them to be. Your family and relatives are nothing but trouble. In short, I don't see anything that really brings a person any real happiness. You get money and it brings trouble. You get friends and they make you suffer. The people you live and work with don't get along smoothly. This is the way it is with the world. For this reason, anyone whose mind runs along in the current of the world is bound for nothing but pain and sorrow. The Buddha taught, "For the mind not to be affected by the ways of the world is to be serene and free from sorrow: This is the highest good fortune." The world has eight edges, and each edge is razor sharp, capable of slicing human beings to bits without mercy. The eight edges of the world are, on the one side, the edge of wealth, the edge of status, the edge of praise, and the edge of pleasure. These four edges are especially sharp because they're things we like. We keep polishing and sharpening them, and the more we do this the sharper they get, until ultimately they turn around and slit our throats. The other side has four edges too, but actually they're not so sharp, because no one likes to use them. No one wants them, so no one sharpens them, and as a result they're dull and blunt -- and like dull knives, they can't kill anyone. These four edges are loss of wealth, loss of status, criticism, and pain. No one wants any of these things, but they have to exist as part of the world. How are the sharp edges sharp?. As for the edge of wealth, this refers to money and possessions. As soon as we get a lot, we start getting stingy. We become wary of making too many offerings or of being too generous with others because we're afraid we'll run out of money. This is why rich people tend to be stingy and drown in their wealth. As for poor people, they can give away everything and then work to replace it. They can give offerings and be generous, with rarely any sense of regret. Their arms and legs aren't too big, so they can come to the monastery with no trouble at all. The edge of pleasure is very sharp, because wherever you get your pleasure, that's where you get stuck. If your pleasure comes from your friends, you're stuck on your friends. If your pleasure comes from your children or grandchildren, you're stuck on your children and grandchildren. If your pleasure comes from eating, sleeping or going out at night, then that's where you're stuck. You're not willing to trade in your pleasure for the sake of inner worth because you're afraid of letting your pleasure fall from your grasp. You can't observe the five or eight precepts because they make you force and deny yourself. If you observe the eight precepts, you can't go see a movie or show and can't sleep on a nice soft mattress. You're afraid that if you miss one evening meal, you'll get hungry or weak. You don't want to sit and meditate because you're afraid your back will hurt or your legs will go numb. So this is how the edge of pleasure destroys your goodness. As for the edge of praise, this too is razor sharp. When people are praised, they start floating and don't want to come down. They hear praise and it's so captivating that they forget themselves and think that they're already good enough -- so they won't think of making the effort to make themselves better in other ways. All four of these edges are weapons that kill our goodness. They're like the paint people use on houses to make them pretty: something that can last only a while and then has to fade and peel away. If you can view these things simply as part of the passing scenery, without getting stuck on them, they won't do you any harm. But if you latch onto them as really being your own, the day is sure to come when you'll have to meet with disappointment -- loss of wealth, loss of status, criticism, and pain -- because it's a law of nature that however far things advance, that's how far they have to regress. If you don't lose them while you're alive, you'll lose them when you die. They can't stay permanent and lasting. Once we realize this truth, then when we meet with any of the good edges of the world we shouldn't get so carried away that we forget ourselves; and when we meet with any of the bad edges we shouldn't let ourselves get so discouraged or sad that we lose hope. Stick to your duties as you always have. Don't let your goodness suffer because of these eight ways of the world. Putting yourself first: This means acting, speaking and thinking whatever way you like without any thought for what's right or wrong, good or bad. In other words, you feel you have the right to do whatever you want. You may see, for instance, that something isn't good, and you know that other people don't like it, but you like it, so you go ahead and do it. Or you may see that something is good, but you don't like it, so you don't do it. Sometimes you may like something, and it's good, but you don't do it -- it's good, but you just can't do it. When you're practicing the Dhamma, though, then whether or not you like something, you have to make yourself do it. You have to make the Dhamma your life, and your life into Dhamma if you want to succeed. You can't use the principle of giving priority to your own likes at all. Putting the Dhamma first: This is an important principle for those who practice. The duties of every Buddhist are (1) to develop virtue by observing the precepts, (2) to center the mind in concentration, and (3) to use discernment to investigate the truth without giving rein to defilement. The basic level of virtue is to prevent our words and deeds from being bad or evil. This means observing the five precepts: not killing any living beings, not stealing, not engaging in illicit sex, not lying, and not taking intoxicants. These are the precepts that wash away the gross stains on our conduct. They're precepts that turn us from common animals into human beings and prevent us from falling into states of deprivation and woe. The intermediate level of virtue turns human beings into celestial beings. This refers to restraint of the senses: keeping watch over the way we react to our senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, feeling, and ideation so that they don't give rise to bad mental states. This can turn human beings into celestial beings, but even then we haven't escaped from death and rebirth, because when celestial beings run out of merit they have to come back and be reborn as human beings again. They still have to keep swimming around in the cycle of rebirth. Those who can gain release from all forms of evil, however, won't have to be reborn as animals, human beings, or celestial beings ever again. This refers to people who practice concentration and can abandon all evil in their hearts by developing the stages of absorption (jhana) and discernment until they reach the level of Non-returning. When they die, they go to the Brahma worlds, and there they develop their hearts still further, purifying them of all defilements, becoming arahants and ultimately attaining total Liberation. The basic level of virtue protects our words and deeds from being evil. The intermediate level protects our senses and keeps them clean -- which means that we don't let the three defilements of passion, aversion, and delusion be provoked into action by what we see, hear, smell, taste, touch, or think. As for the highest level of virtue -- inner virtue -- this means giving rise to Right Concentration within the mind: (1) On this level, "not killing" means not killing off your goodness. For instance, if bad thoughts arise and you aren't careful to wipe them out, their evil will come pouring in and your goodness will have to die. This is because your mind is still caught up on good and evil. Sometimes you use good to kill evil. Sometimes you use evil to kill good: This is called killing yourself. (2) "Stealing" on this level refers to the way the mind likes to take the good and bad points of other people to think about. This sort of mind is a thief -- because we've never once asked other people whether they're possessive of their good and bad points or are willing to share them with us. For the most part, what we take is their old dried up garbage. I.e., we like to focus on their bad points. Even though they may have good points, we don't let ourselves see them. We take our own opinions as our guide and as a result we end up as fools without realizing it. (3) "Illicit sensuality" on this level refers to the state of mind that is stuck on sights, sounds, smells, tastes, tactile sensations, and ideas, or that lies fermenting in greed, anger, and delusion. In other words, the mind is impure and is always involved with sensual objects and moods. (4) "Lying" on this level means not being true. How are we not true? We come to the monastery but our minds are at home. We listen to the sermon but our hearts are thinking of something else. Our bodies may be sitting in the meditation position, just like the Buddha, but our minds are roaming around through all sorts of thoughts, gnawing on the past, nibbling at the future, not finding any meat at all. This is called lying to yourself and to others as well. How is it lying to others? Suppose you go home and someone asks, "Where did you go today?" and you answer, "I went to the monastery to listen to a sermon." Actually, your body came, but you didn't come. Your body listened, but you didn't listen. This has to be classed as a kind of lying. (5) "Intoxication" on this level refers to delusion and absentmindedness. If we're going to contemplate body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities, our minds have to be still and really focused on these things. But if we're absentminded and forgetful, our minds go down the wrong path, weaving in and out, back and forth like a drunkard. Sometimes we end up falling down in a stupor and lying there on the side of the road. Nothing good will come of it. Those who are careful to keep their minds firmly centered in concentration and to keep the five precepts on this level pure and whole, though, are said to be developing the highest perfection of virtue -- showing respect for the Dhamma above and beyond the world, above and beyond themselves. This is called putting the Dhamma first in a way befitting those who practice it. This is what it means to be a true Buddhist in a way that will eventually lead us to release from all suffering and stress. Now I'd like to explain a little about how to meditate. Sitting in meditation is a worthwhile activity. The outer part of the activity is to sit in a half-lotus position with your right leg on top of your left leg; your hands palm-up in your lap, your right hand on top of your left. Keep your body erect. Close your eyes, but don't close them off like a person asleep. Your optic nerves have to keep working to some extent or else you'll get drowsy. These activities are the outer aspects of good meditation, but they aren't what makes the meditation good. You also need to have the right object for the mind to dwell on, and the right intention: the intention to keep the in-and-out breath in mind, to adjust it so that it's comfortable, and to keep the breath and mind together so that they don't slip away from each other. When you can do this properly, you'll gain beneficial results in terms of both body and mind -- i.e., the right quality you're looking for, termed "inner worth," which means a soothing sense of ease, comfort, fullness, and well-being. When you sit and meditate, keep noticing whether or not your mind is staying with the in-and-out breath. You have to keep mindfulness in charge of the mind. For example, when you breathe in, think bud; when you breathe out, think dho. Bud-dho. Be mindful. Don't let yourself forget or slip away. Put aside all your outside responsibilities and let go of all outside thoughts and perceptions. Keep your mind with nothing but the breath. You don't have to turn your attention to anything else. Usually when you sit and meditate, though, thoughts of past and future tend to appear and get in the way of the quality of your meditation. Thoughts of this sort -- whether they're about things past or yet to come, about the world or the Dhamma -- have no good to them at all. They'll simply cause you trouble and suffering. They make the mind restless and disturbed so that it can't gain any peace and calm -- because things that are past have already passed. There's no way you can bring them back or change them. Things in the future haven't reached us yet, so we can't know whether or not they'll be in line with our expectations. They're far away and uncertain, so there's no way they'll be any help to our thinking at all. For this reason, we have to keep hold on the mind to keep it in the present by fixing it on nothing but the breath. To think about the breath is called directed thought, as when we think buddho together with the breath -- bud in, dho out, like we're doing right now. When we start evaluating the breath, we let go of buddho and start observing how far the effects of each in-and-out breath can be felt in the body. When the breath comes in, does it feel comfortable or not? When it goes out, does it feel relaxed or not? If it doesn't feel comfortable and relaxed, change it. When you keep the mind preoccupied with investigating the breath, let go of buddho. You don't have any need for it. Mindful awareness will fill the body, and the in-breath will start to feel as if it's permeating the body throughout. When we let go of buddho, our evaluation of the breath becomes more refined; the movement of the mind will calm down and become concentration; outside perceptions will fall silent. "Falling silent" doesn't mean that our ears go blank or become deaf. It means that our attention doesn't go running to outside perceptions or to thoughts of past or future. Instead, it stays exclusively in the present. When we fix our attention on the breath in this way, constantly keeping watch and being observant of how the breath is flowing, we'll come to know what the in-breath and out-breath are like, whether or not they're comfortable, what way of breathing in makes us feel good, what way of breathing out makes us feel good, what way of breathing makes us feel tense and uncomfortable. If the breath feels uncomfortable, try to adjust it so that it gives rise to a sense of comfort and ease. When we keep surveying and evaluating the breath in this way, mindfulness and alertness will take charge within us. Stillness will develop, discernment will develop, knowledge will develop within us. When you sit and meditate, you should keep in mind the factors that make it a worthwhile activity: (1) The right object for the mind -- i.e., the breath, which is the theme of your meditation. (2) The right intention. This means that you focus your mind steadily on what you're doing and nothing else, with the purpose of making it settle down firmly in stillness. (3) The right quality -- inner worth -- i.e., the calm and ease you gain from your practice of concentration. To have the right object while you sit and meditate, you should have your mind set on giving your heart solely to the qualities of the Buddha. What this means is that you focus on your in-and-out breathing together with the word buddho, without thinking of anything else. This is your object or foundation for the mind. The mental side of the object is the word buddho, but if you just think, buddho, buddho, without joining it up with your breathing, you won't get the results you want, because simply thinking on its own is too weak to have a hold on the mind, and as a result it doesn't fulfill all the factors of meditation. The mind won't be snug enough with its object to stay firmly put in its stillness, and so will show signs of wavering. Since this is the case, you have to find something to give it some resistance, something for it to hold onto, in the same way that a nail you drive into a board will hold it firmly to a post and not let it move. A mind without something to hold onto is bound not to be snug and firm with its object. This is why we're taught to think also of the breath, which is the physical side of our object, together with buddho, thinking bud in with the in-breath, and dho out with the out. As for the factor of intention in your meditation, you have to be intent on your breathing. Don't leave it to the breath to happen on its own as you normally do. You have to be intent on synchronizing your thought of the in-breath with the in-breath, and your thought of the out-breath with the out. If your thinking is faster or slower than your breathing, it won't work. You have to be intent on keeping your thinking in tandem with the breath. If you breathe in this way, this is the intention that forms the act (kamma) of your meditation (kammatthana). If you simply let the breath happen on its own, it's no longer a theme of meditation. It's simply the breath. So you have to be careful and intent at all times to keep the mind in place when you breathe in, and in place when you breathe out. When you breathe in, the mind has to think bud. When you breathe out, it has to think dho. This is the way your meditation has to be. The quality of inner worth in centering the mind comes when you make the body and mind feel soothed and relaxed. Don't let yourself feel tense or constricted. Let the breath have its freedom. Don't block it or hold it, force it or squeeze it. You have to let it flow smoothly and easily. Like washing a shirt and hanging it out to dry: Let the sun shine and the wind blow, and the water will drip away by itself. In no time at all the shirt will be clean and dry. When you meditate, it's as if you were washing your body and mind. If you want the body to feel clean and fresh inside, you have to put it at its ease. Put your eyes at ease, your ears at ease, your hands, feet, arms, and legs all at their ease. Put your body at ease in every way and at the same time don't let your mind get involved in any outside thoughts. Let them all drop away. When you wash your mind so that it's clean and pure, it's bound to become bright within itself with knowledge and understanding. Things you never knew or thought of before will appear to you. The Buddha thus taught that the brightness of the mind is discernment. When this discernment arises, it can give us knowledge about ourselves -- of how the body got to be the way it is and how the mind got to be the way it is. This is called knowledge of form and name or of physical and mental phenomena. Discernment is like a sail on a sailboat: The wider it's spread, the faster the boat will go. If it's tattered and torn, it won't catch the wind, and the boat will have to go slowly or might not even reach its goal at all. But if the sail is in good shape, it will take the boat quickly to its destination. The same holds true with our discernment. If our knowledge is only in bits and pieces, it won't be able to pull our minds up to the current of the Dhamma. We may end up sinking or giving up because we aren't true and sincere in what we do. When this is the case, we won't be able to get any results. Our good qualities will fall away and sink into our bad ones. Why will they sink? Because our sails don't catch the wind. And why is that? Because they're torn into shreds. And why are they torn? Because we don't take care of them, so they wear out fast and end up tattered and torn. This is because the mind spends all its time entangled with thoughts and ideas. It doesn't settle down into stillness, so its discernment is tattered and torn. When our discernment is in bits and pieces like this, it leads us down to a low level -- like a log or post that we leave lying flat on the ground, exposed to all sorts of dangers: Termites may eat it or people and animals may trample all over it, because it's left in a low place. But if we stand it up on its end in a posthole, it's free from these dangers, apart from the minor things that can happen to the part buried in the ground. The same holds true with the mind. If we let it drift along in its ideas, instead of catching hold of it and making it stand firmly in one place -- i.e., if we let it make its nest all the time in concepts and thoughts --it's bound to get defiled and sink to a low level. This is why the Buddha taught us to practice centering the mind in concentration so that it will stand firm in a single object. When the mind is centered, it's free from turmoil and confusion, like a person who has finished his work. The body is soothed and rested, the mind is refreshed -- and when the mind is refreshed, it becomes steady, still, and advances to a higher level, like a person on a high vantage point -- the top of a mountain, the mast of a boat, or a tall tree -- able to see all kinds of things in every direction, near or far, better than a person in a low place like a valley or ravine. In a low place, the sun is visible for only a few hours of the day, and there are corners where the daylight never reaches at all. A mind that hasn't been trained to stand firm in its goodness is sure to fall to a low level and not be bright. But if we train our minds to a higher and higher level, we'll be sure to see things both near and far, and to meet up with brightness. These are some of the rewards that come from centering the mind in concentration. When we start seeing these rewards, we're bound to develop conviction. When we feel conviction, we become inspired to pull our minds even further -- in the same way that a sail that isn't torn can take a boat to its destination without any trouble. This is one point I want to make. Another point is that discernment can also be compared to an airplane propeller. When we sit here stilling our minds, it's as if we were flying an airplane up into the sky. If the pilot is sleepy, lazy, or in a blur, we're not safe. No matter how fantastic the plane may be, it can still crash us into a mountain or the forest wilds, because the pilot doesn't have any mindfulness or alertness. So when we sit meditating, it's like we're flying an airplane. If our mindfulness is weak and our mind keeps wandering off, our airplane may end up crashing. So we have to keep observing the body to see where at the moment it feels painful or tense; and keep check on the mind to see whether or not it's staying with the body in the present. If the mind isn't with the body, it's as if the pilot isn't staying with his airplane. The Hindrances will have an opening to arise and destroy our stillness. So when we sit and meditate, we have to make sure that we don't get absentminded. We have to be mindful and alert at all times and not let the mind slip away anywhere else. When we can do this, we'll develop a sense of comfort and ease, and will begin to see the benefits that come from mental stillness. This insight is the beginning of discernment. This discernment is like an airplane propeller. The more we practice, the more benefits we'll see. We'll be able to take our plane as high as we want, land it whenever we feel like it, or try any stunts that occur to us. In other words, when we develop discernment within ourselves we can have control over our mind. If we want it to think, it'll think. If we don't want it to think, it won't think. We know how to keep our own mind in line. If we can't keep ourselves in line, there's no way we can expect to keep anyone else in line. So if we're intelligent, it's like being a pilot who can keep a plane under his full control. We can keep the mind in line. For example, if it thinks of something bad, we can order it to stop and rest, and the thought will disappear. This is called keeping the mind in line. Or if we want it to think, it will be able to think and to know. Once it knows, that's the end of the matter, and so it will then stop thinking. Whatever we want it to do, it can do for us. According to the Buddha, people like this are called sages because they have discernment: Whatever they do, they really do. They know what is harmful and what isn't. They know how to put a stop to their thinking and as a result they very rarely meet with suffering. As for stupid people, they simply fool around and drag their feet, pulling themselves back when they should go forward, and forward when they should go back, spending their days and nights thinking about all kinds of nonsense without any substance. Even when they sleep, they keep thinking. Their minds never have any chance to rest at all. And when their minds are forced to keep working like this, they're bound to run down and wear out, and won't give any good results when they're put to use. When this happens, they suffer. But if we have the discernment to be alert to events, we can let go of what should be let go, stop what should be stopped, and think about what needs to be thought about. We can speak when we should speak, act when we should act -- or simply stay still if that's what's called for. People who work day and night without sleeping, without giving their bodies a chance to rest, are killing themselves. In the same way, thoughts and concepts are things that bring on the end of our life and destroy our mind -- because they keep the mind working whether we're sitting, standing, walking, or lying down. Sometimes, even when we're just sitting alone, we keep thinking -- which means we're killing ourselves, because the mind never gets a chance to rest. Its strength keeps eroding away; and eventually, when its strength is all gone, its good qualities will have to die. So when we sit here centering our minds, it's like eating our fill, bathing ourselves till we're thoroughly clean, and then taking a good nap. When we wake up, we feel bright, refreshed, and strong enough to take on any job at all. This is why the Buddha was able to develop such strength of mind that he was able to do without food, for example, for seven full days and yet not feel tired or weak. This was because his mind was able to rest and be still in the four levels of absorption. His concentration was strong and gave great strength to his body, his speech, and his mind. The strength it gave to his body is what enabled him to wander about, teaching people in every city and town throughout Northern India. Sometimes he had to walk over rough roads through destitute places, but he was never tired in any way. As for the strength of his speech, he was able to keep teaching, without respite, from the day of his Awakening to the day of his final passing away -- a total of 45 years. And as for the strength of his mind, he was very astute, capable of teaching his disciples so that thousands of them were able to become arahants. He was able to convince large numbers of people who were stubborn, proud, and entrenched in wrong views, to abandon their views and become his disciples. His heart was full of kindness, compassion, and sincerity, with no feelings of anger, hatred, or malice toward anyone at all. It was a pure heart, without blemish. All of these qualities came from the Dhamma he had practiced -- not from anything strange or mysterious -- the same Dhamma we're practicing right now. The important thing is that we have to be intent on really doing it if we want to get results. If, when we center the mind, we really do it, we'll get real results. If we don't really do it, we'll get nothing but playthings and dolls. That's how it is with the practice. The four properties of the body -- the way it feels from the inside, i.e., earth (solidity), water (liquidity), wind (motion), and fire (heat) -- are like four people. If you keep trying to acquaint yourself with them, after a while they'll become your friends. At first they aren't too familiar with you, so they don't trust you and will probably want to test your mettle. For instance, when you start sitting in meditation, they'll take a stick and poke you in your legs so that your legs hurt or grow numb. If you lie down, they'll poke you in the back. If you lie on your side, they'll poke you in the waist. If you get up and sit again, they'll test you again. Or they may whisper to you to give up. If you give in to them, the King of Death will grin until his cheeks hurt. What you have to do is smile against the odds and see things through. Keep talking with all four properties. Even though they don't respond at first, you have to keep talking with them, asking them this and that. After a while they'll give you a one-word answer. So you keep talking and then their answers will start getting longer until you eventually become acquaintances and can have real conversations. From that point they become your friends. They'll love you and help you and tell you their secrets. You'll be a person with friends and won't have to be lonely. You'll eat together, sleep together, and wherever you go, you'll go together. You'll feel secure. No matter how long you sit, you won't ache. No matter how long you walk, you won't feel tired -- because you have friends to talk with as you walk along, so that you enjoy yourself and reach your destination before you realize it. This is why we're taught to practice meditation by keeping mindfulness immersed firmly in the body. Contemplate your meditation themes -- body, feelings, mind, and mental qualities -- without letting your mind wander astray in outside thoughts and preoccupations. Contemplate the body so as to know how its properties are getting along, where it feels pleasant, painful, or neutral. Notice how the mind moves around in the various things you know until you reach the mental quality that is still, solid, and true. This way it's like having friends go with you wherever you go and whatever you do. In other words, when the body walks, the mind walks with it. When the body lies down, the mind lies down with it. When the body sits, the mind sits with it. Wherever the body stops, the mind stops, too. But most of us aren't like this. The body takes two steps, but the mind takes four or five -- so how can it not get tired? The body lies in a mosquito net surrounded by a railing and seven thick walls, but the mind can still go running outside. When this is the case, where will it get any happiness? It'll have to wander around exposed to the sun, wind, rain, and all sorts of dangers because it has no protection. If there's no concentration to act as a shelter for the heart, it'll always have to meet with misery and pain. For this reason, you should train your heart to stay firm in concentration and to develop full strength within yourself so that you can be your own person. This way you'll be bound to meet with all things pure and good.. The Buddha taught, "The pursuit of heightened consciousness is the heart of the Buddhas' teaching." Heightened consciousness is a state of mind that lies above and beyond mental defilement. There are two ways it can be reached: (1) The mind doesn't yet have any heightened inner quality, but we heighten it through our efforts. (2) The mind has developed the proper inner quality and uses it to keep itself safe, above and beyond defilement. The first case refers to the state of ordinary people's minds. When they aren't sitting in meditation, their minds aren't in any special state of concentration, so if defilement arises within them, they have to be determined and perceptive -- to be aware of the defilement and to make up their minds that they won't let it push them around. This is called Right Attitude. Even though the mind isn't in concentration, this technique can give results. What this means is that we're alert to what's going on. For example, when we're angry, when we meet with something undesirable, we should be alert to the fact and make ourselves determined that no matter what, we're going to keep the defilement of anger under control by resisting it and putting our better side into play. In other words, when we're angry, we act as if we weren't. Instead of letting the anger overpower the mind, we use our inner goodness to overpower the mind. This is called heightened consciousness. When you meet with something you don't like, don't let the fact that you don't like it show. Instead, act as if you were happy and calm. I.e., put your good side to use. Don't let your bad side show under any circumstances. If you're circumspect and composed enough to hold the mind in check before it can let its defilements come out in word or deed, if you can force the defilements to stop and can let only your best manners show, you count as having heightened consciousness. You are also a good member of any social group, for you can work toward your own progress and that of the group as a whole. In the texts, this quality is called composure -- a state of mind that lies above the defilements. This is one form of heightened consciousness and is something we should all try to develop within ourselves as we are able. The second form of heightened consciousness refers to a mind freed from the Hindrances and trained to a state of Right Concentration. The mind is firmly established in its inner quality. When defilements arise, they can't overpower the mind because they can't reach in to touch it, for the mind is protected by its own full measure of inner quality. I ask that we all aim at making this form of heightened consciousness arise within ourselves by being persistent and persevering in cherishing our own inner goodness -- in the same way that when we have good food, we make sure to chase away the flies so that we can enjoy it in good health. To do this, you have to be observant and make two kinds of effort: the effort to abandon your defilements and the effort to develop your meditation theme, which is the means for wiping out the mental Hindrances. There are five types of Hindrances: sensual desire, ill will, torpor & lethargy, restlessness & anxiety, and uncertainty. As for meditation, there are two ways of practicing it -- in series and in isolation -- as I'll explain to you now. (1) To practice in series is to practice by the book: contemplating the unattractiveness of the body, for instance, by following the lists of its parts without skipping over any of them or mixing them up. Whichever theme you choose, you have to understand how the topics are grouped and in what order, so as to deal with them properly. This kind of meditation can give great benefits, but at the same time can cause great harm. For example, if you contemplate the unattractiveness of the body, it can lead to a sense of dispassion, detachment, and calm, but there are times it can also get you into a state where you can't eat or sleep because everything starts seeming filthy and disgusting. This is one way it can be harmful. Or sometimes you may contemplate the body until a mental image arises, but you get frightened and unnerved. In cases like this, you have to try to be up on what's happening so that your theme will help you instead of harming you. (2) To practice in isolation is to focus on a single refined theme that doesn't have a lot of different features. I.e., you focus on being mindful of the in-and-out breath, without letting your attention slip away. Focus on whatever kind of breathing feels soothing, and the mind will settle down. Try to make the breath more and more refined, all the while keeping the mind gently with the breath, in the same way that you'd cup a bit of fluff in the palm of your hand. Do this until you feel that there's no "in" or "out" to the breath at all. The mind doesn't wander around. It's quiet and still, able to cut away thoughts of past and future. At this point it becomes even more refined, with no restlessness at all. The mind is stable and doesn't change along with its objects. It's firmly set and unwavering to the point where it becomes fixed and strong. When you can develop your meditation to this point, it will make the mind let go of its attachments and gain conviction and understanding into the truths of inconstancy, stress, and not-self. Your doubts will fall away, and you will know the way of the world and the way of Liberation, without having to ask for confirmation from anyone else. When your knowledge is clear and free from uncertainty, the mind is firm in its own strength. This is when you become your own refuge -- when your mind isn't affected by other people or objects and reaches the happiness and ease of heightened consciousness. There are four kinds of truth in the body of every human being: stress, its cause, its disbanding, and the path to its disbanding. These truths are like gold: No matter whether you try to make gold into a bracelet, a ring, an earring, or whatever, it stays gold in line with its nature. Go ahead and try to change it, but it'll stay as it is. The same holds true with the nature of the body. No matter how wonderful you try to make it, it'll have to return to its normal nature. It'll have to have stress and pain, their cause, their disbanding and the path to their disbanding. People who don't admit the normal nature of the body are said to be deluded; those who realize its normal nature are said to know. Wise people realize the principles of nature, which is why they don't get caught up in a lot of fuss and confusion. In other words, the body is like an object that originally weighs four kilograms. Even though we may find things to plaster onto it to make it heavier, the plaster will eventually have to fall off and leave us with the original four kilograms. You simply can't escape its original nature. The stress and pain that occur in line with the principles of nature aren't actually all that troublesome. For example, pain and disease: If we try to fight nature and not let there be disease, or if we want it to disappear right away, sometimes we make the disease even worse. But if we treat the disease without worrying about whether or not it'll go away, it will follow its natural course and go away at its own pace without too much trouble or suffering on our part. This is because the mind isn't struggling to fight nature, and so the body is strong enough to contend with the disease. Sometimes, if we have this attitude, we can survive diseases that otherwise would kill us. But if the mind gets all upset and thrashes around, wanting the disease to go away, then sometimes a small disease can get so bad it'll kill us -- like a person with a scorpion sting he thinks is a cobra bite, who gets so frightened and upset that the whole thing gets out of hand. Sometimes we may come down with a disease that ought to finish us off, but the power of the mind is so great that it fights off the pain and the disease goes away. This is one of the principles of nature -- but we shouldn't be complacent about it. If we get complacent, then when the disease comes back it'll be worse than before, because the truth, when you get right down to it, is that no matter what you do, these things can't escape their true nature. When the body's normal nature is to have pain and stress, then try as you may to make the pain go away, it'll have to return to its true nature. Whether or not you can cure it, the truth is still the truth. In other words, even when you cure the disease, it comes back. Suppose, for instance, that we feel ill, take some medicine, and feel better. We think the disease has gone away. People of discernment, though, realize that it hasn't gone anywhere. It's simply been suppressed for a while and then it'll have to come back out again. We may think that we've made the disease go away, but the disease is smarter than we are. When it comes back again, it wears a new costume, like actors in a theater troupe: If the public gets tired of one play, they put on another. Otherwise, no one will spend money to watch them perform. In other words, the disease is smart enough to come from a new direction. If it put on the old play, it wouldn't get any reward. At first it came in your stomach, so this time it comes in your leg. You treat it until it goes away, but then it comes back in a new play -- in your eye. You treat it in your eye until it goes away, and then it comes back in your ear. So you treat your ear. Wherever it comes, you keep treating it and your money keeps getting spent. As for the disease, it's glad you're fooled. There's only one of it, but it comes in all sorts of disguises. Aging, illness, and death are very smart. They can keep us tied on a short leash so that we can never get away from them. People who don't train their minds to enter the Dhamma are sure to miss this point, but those who train themselves to know the truth of the Dhamma will understand this principle of nature for what it is. If we don't realize the truth, we lose in two ways. On the one side we lose in terms of the world: We waste our money because we don't realize what's necessary and what isn't, so we get worked up and upset all out of proportion to reality. On the other side, we lose in terms of the Dhamma because our virtue, concentration, and meditation all suffer. Illness makes us lose in these ways because we lack discernment. This is why the Buddha taught us to use our eyes. We live in the world, so we have to look out for our well-being in the world; we live in the Dhamma, so we have to look out for our well-being in the Dhamma. The results will then develop of their own accord. If we use discernment to evaluate things until we know what's necessary and what's not, the time won't be long before we prosper in terms both of the world and of the Dhamma. We won't have to waste money and time, and there won't be any obstacles to our practice. In other words, when you see that something is true, don't try to get in its way. Let it follow its own course. Even though the mind doesn't age, grow ill or die, still the body has to age, grow ill and die. This is a part of its nature that you can't fight. When it gets ill, you take care of it enough to keep it going. You won't be put to difficulties in terms of the world, and your Dhamma practice won't suffer. The suffering we feel because of these things comes from the cause of stress: delusion, ignorance of the truth. When the mind is deluded, it doesn't know the cause of stress or the path to the disbanding of stress. When it knows, it doesn't get caught up in the natural pain and stress of the body. Mental suffering comes from the accumulation of defilement, not from aging, illness and death. Once the stillness of the path arises within us, then aging, illness, and death won't unsettle the mind. Sorrow, despair, distress, and lamentation won't exist. The mind will be separate. We can compare this to the water in the sea when it's full of waves: If we take a dipperful of sea water and set it down on the beach, there won't be any waves in the dipper at all. The waves come from wavering. If we don't stir it up, there won't be any waves. For this reason, we have to fix the mind so that it's steady in its meditation, without letting anything else seep in. It will then gain clarity: the discernment that sees the truth. The mental state of the cause of stress leads us to pain; the mental state of the path leads us to happiness. If you don't want stress or pain, don't stay with the flow of their cause. Mental suffering is something unnatural to the mind. It comes from letting defilement seep in. Diseases arise in the body, but we let their effects spread into the mind. We have to learn which phenomena die and which don't. If our defilements are thick and tenacious, there'll be a lot of aging, illness and death. If our defilements are thin, there won't be much aging, illness and death. For this reason, we should build inner quality -- awareness of the truth -- within ourselves. However far the body is going to develop, that's how far it's going to have to deteriorate, so don't be complacent. The important point is that you develop the mind. If the mind gets developed to a point of true maturity, it won t regress. In other words, if your concentration is strong and your discernment developed, the defilements that enwrap your mind will fall away in the same way that when the flowers of a fruit tree reach full bloom the petals fall away, leaving the fruit. When the fruit develops till it's fully ripe, the skin and flesh fall away, leaving just the seeds that contain all the makings for a new tree. When the mind is fully developed, then aging, illness, and death fall away. Mental stress and suffering fall away, leaving the mind in Right Concentration. When Right Concentration is ripe, you'll know the location of what dies and what doesn't. If you want to die, then stay with what dies. If you don't want birth, don't stay with what takes birth. If you don't want aging, don't stay with what ages. If you don't want illness, don't stay with what grows ill. If you don't leave these things, you have to live with them. If you leave them, your mind won't age -- it won't be able to age; it won't grow ill -- it won't be able to grow ill; it won't die; it won't be able to die. If you can reach this point, you're said to have respect for the truth -- for the teachings of the Buddha. Respect for the truth isn't a matter of bowing down or paying homage. It means having a sense of time and place: If something is possible, you do it. If it's not, you don't -- and you don't try to straighten it out, either. The defilements of unawareness, craving, and attachment are things that connect us with suffering, so don't let them entangle the mind. Unawareness is the mental state that is deluded about the past, present, and future. True awareness knows what's past and lets it go; knows what's future and lets it go; knows what's present and doesn't fall for it. It can remove all attachments. Unawareness knows, but it falls for these things, which is why it forms the fuel for suffering. True awareness knows what things are past, present, and future, but it doesn't run out after them. It knows but it stays put -- quiet and calm. It doesn't waver up or down. It doesn't seep out, and nothing seeps in. The past, the present, and the future it knows in terms of the principles of its nature, without having to reason or think. People who have to reason and think are the ones who don't know. With knowledge, there's no thinking or reasoning, and yet the mind knows thoroughly. This is true awareness. Aging, illness, and death all become an affair of release. In other words, nothing is fashioned in the mind, and when nothing is fashioned, there's no aging, illness, or death. As for attachment, it catches us and ties us to a stake, like a person being led to his execution with no chance to wiggle free. We're tied with a wire stretching out to the past and future. Craving inches along the wire towards us, rolling his eyes and making horrible faces, so that we worry about the past and future. Behind us he splits into three: craving for sensuality, craving for possibilities, and craving for impossibilities. In front of us, he splits into three -- the same three sorts of craving -- and in the present he splits into the same three. With nine of them and only one of us, how can we expect to be a match for them? In the end, we're no match at all. If we practice concentration and develop discernment, though, we'll be able to cut the wire of Death. When the mental state that forms the path arises, our thoughts of past and future will all disband. This is the disbanding of stress. Attachment and craving won't exist -- so where will stress and suffering have a chance to arise? People who have defilements -- even if they earn $3,000 a day -- can't keep themselves from falling into hell. But people with no defilements, even if they don't have anything at all, are happy nonetheless -- because the mind has enough to eat, enough to drink, enough of everything. It's not poor. When we can think correctly in this way, it's called respect for the Dhamma -- and it can make us happy. Respect for the Dhamma means taking seriously all the things that come in and out the house of your mind. (1) The door of the body: You have to be careful to make sure that none of your actions stray into ways that are harmful. (2) The door of speech -- the door of the mouth -- is very large. The tongue may be only a tiny piece of flesh, but it's very important, because what we say today can keep echoing for an aeon after we die. When the body dies, the time isn't long before there's nothing left of it, and so it's not as important as our speech, for the stone engravings we make with our tongue last a long, long time. For this reason, we should show a great deal of respect for our mouths by saying only things that are worthwhile. (3) The door of the intellect: We have to be careful with our thoughts. If something is harmful to us when we think about it, then we shouldn't think about it. We should think only about things that are beneficial and good. These three doors are always receiving guests into the mind, so we have to pay attention to see who is coming with good intentions and who is coming with bad. Don't let down your guard. Whoever comes with good intentions will bring you happiness and prosperity. As for troublemakers and thieves, they'll rob you and kill you and cause you all sorts of trouble. As for your eyes, ears and nose, these are like three windows that you have to be careful about as well. You have to know when to open and when to close them. If you aren't discerning, you may invite thieves into your house to rob and kill you, plundering all the wealth your parents and teachers gave you. This is called being an ingrate -- not knowing enough to care for the legacies that others have passed down to you. The legacies of your parents are your life, health, and strength. The legacies of your teachers are all the things they taught to make you a good person. If you leave your thoughts, words, and deeds wide open so that evil can flow into you, evil will keep pouring in, wearing down the health and strength of your body and mind. This is called having no appreciation for the kindness of your parents and teachers. Sometimes we don't leave just the doors open -- we leave the windows open as well. Lizards, snakes, scorpions, birds, and bats will come in through the windows and take up residence in our house. After a while they'll lay claim to it as theirs -- and we give in to them. So they leave their droppings all over and make a mess of the place. If we don't exercise self-restraint, our body and mind are going to be ruined, and this will destroy the wealth our parents and teachers went to such great trouble to give us. So if anyone tries to come into your house, you have to grill them thoroughly to see what they're up to and what they're coming for -- for good or for bad. Look them straight in the eye. In other words, you have to be mindful and reflecting in all your actions. Anything that isn't good you have to drive out of your activities. Even if it would help you financially or make you popular and well-known, don't have anything to do with it. The same holds true with your speech. If something you're about to say will serve a good purpose, then open your mouth and say it. Say what should be said, and don't say what shouldn't. If something serves no real purpose, then no matter how fantastic it may be, don't say it. You have to know how to respond to all the activities that present themselves for you to do. Let in the good ones and drive out the bad. As for the mind, you have to show restraint with that, too. If a thought will lead to good and happy results, you should let yourself think it. But as for thoughts that will cause harm, don't pull them in. If you go gobbling down everything you like, you're going to die. I.e., (1) your inner quality will deteriorate. (2) The wealth your parents and teachers gave you will disappear. As for your senses -- sight, hearing, smell, taste, feeling -- you should show an interest in everything that will benefit you. Drive out what's bad and bring in what's good. When you can do this, it's called showing respect for your parents, your teachers, and yourself as well. Your house will be clean, and you can lounge around in comfort without having to worry about sitting on bird- or bat-droppings. But if you don't exercise self-restraint, your actions will be defiled, your words will be defiled, so how can your mind live in comfort? Like a filthy house: No guests will want to go into it, and even the owner isn't comfortable there. If you keep your home clean and well-swept, though, it'll be nice to live in, and good people will be happy to come and visit. When good people come and visit, they won't cause you any harm. In other words, the things that come in through the senses are like guests and they won't cause any harm to the mind. The mind will be good and obedient and will stay put where you tell it to. But even if your couches and chairs are made of marble: If they're dusty and dirty, no guests will want to sit there, and you yourself won't want to, either. So if you keep your virtue bright and clear with regard to our senses of sight, hearing, smell, taste, feeling, and ideation, your mind will find it easy to attain concentration. Then even when defilements come to visit you from time to time, they won't be able to do you any harm -- because you have more than enough wealth to share with them. If thieves come, you can throw them a hunk of diamond ore and they'll disappear. If aging, illness, and death come begging, you can throw them another hunk, and they'll stop pestering us. If your old kamma debts come at you when you're poor, they won't get enough to satisfy them, so they'll end up taking your life. But if they come at you when you're rich, you simply share your merit -- all the inner wealth you've accumulated -- and they'll leave you alone. If your goodness isn't yet full, then evil will have an opening to flow in; but if your hands, feet, eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind are filled with goodness, evil can't get into you, so you can come out unscathed. Ultimately, you'll get so rich in inner quality that you can go beyond both good and evil. That's when you can be truly happy and free from danger. So I ask that you all remember this and treat your thoughts, words, and deeds in a way that shows respect for the Dhamma as I've explained it. You'll then meet with the happiness you hope for. My." Your good qualities, if you don't know how to use them, can hurt you -- like money, which is something good but, if you don't know how to spend it wisely, can lead to your ruin; or like a good sharp knife that, if you don't know how to use it properly, can do you harm. Say, for instance, that you use the knife to kill someone. When you're caught, you'll have to be thrown in jail or executed, that means that you used the knife to kill yourself. Each of us has four kinds of valuables: the goodness of our deeds, the goodness of our words, the goodness of our manners, and the goodness of our thoughts. For this reason, we have to care for these valuables as best we can. Most of us have good things to our name but we hardly ever bring them out to put them to use. Instead, we like to bring out only our worst things to use. In other words, we keep our goodness to ourselves and show only our worst side -- like the plates, cups and saucers in our homes: The good ones we keep in the cupboard, and only the chipped, cracked and broken ones get put on the table, because we're afraid the good ones will break. As for our best clothes, we don't dare use them because we're afraid they'll get old, stained, or torn. So we end up keeping them packed away until they get so moldy or moth-eaten that they can't be worn and have to become rags. As a result, we don't get any good out of our valuables in line with their worth. In the same way, if we have any goodness within ourselves but don't put it to use, it serves no purpose at all, either for ourselves or for others -- like a knife you keep packed away until it gets rusty: If you finally bring it out to slice some food, the rust will poison you. If you happen to cut your hand or foot with it, you may come down with tetanus and die. An intelligent person knows how to use both good and evil without causing harm. Arahants even know how to use their defilements so as to be of benefit. When sages use common language, it can serve a good purpose. But when fools use fine language, it can be bad. If they use bad language; it's even worse. An example of a person who used common language to serve a good purpose is Chao Khun Upali (Siricando Jan). One time he was invited to give a sermon in the palace during the weekly funeral observances for a young prince whose death had caused a great deal of sorrow to the royal relatives. On the previous weeks, some very high-ranking monks from Wat Debsirin had been invited to give sermons and they had all gone on about what a good man the prince had been, and how sad it was that he had come to such an untimely end that prevented him from living on to do more good for the world. This had caused the relatives to cry all the more. When it came Chao Khun Upali's turn to give a sermon, though, he didn't carry on in the same vein at all. Instead, he started out with the theme of mindfulness of the body, describing the ugliness and foulness of the body, which is full of repulsive and disgusting things: snot, spit, dandruff, sweat, etc., etc. "When the body dies, there's not one good thing about it," he said, "but people sit around weeping and wailing with tears streaming in tracks down their cheeks and mucus running out their noses and dribbling down to their chins. With their faces all in a mess like this, they don't look the least bit attractive." This made the relatives who had been crying so embarrassed that they stopped crying immediately, after which they expressed a great deal of admiration for Chao Khun Upali and his sermon. This is why it's said that a person who uses a sharp tongue with skill is a great sage. If people are wise, then no matter what they say, it serves a good purpose because they have a sense of time, place, and the people they're talking to. If something will serve a purpose, even if it sounds unpleasant, it should be said. If it won't serve a purpose, even if it sounds pleasant, don't say it. The's pure, undefiled, and bright. With goodness, there's no need to do anything much at all. Simply sit still, and there's purity. Take the example of the little novice with quiet and composed manners who, as he was going out for alms one morning, happened to enter the compound of a stingy moneylender and his wife. Whether or not they would put any food in his bowl, he didn't show the least concern, and he didn't open his mouth to say a word. When he left -- his bowl still empty -- he went calmly and unhurriedly along his way. The moneylender's wife, seeing him, became curious and trailed him from a distance, until he reached a point where he suddenly had to go to the bathroom. Carefully he put down his bowl and, using his foot, cleared away the leaves to make a little depression in the dirt so that the urine wouldn't flow off anywhere. Then, after looking right, left and all around him to make sure that there wouldn't be anyone walking past, he squatted down to urinate unobtrusively in the proper way. When he had finished, he used his foot to cover the spot with dirt and leaves as it had been before, picked up his bowl and went calmly on his way. As for the moneylender's wife, who had been watching from a distance, when she saw the manner in which the little novice was acting, the thought occurred to her that he had probably buried something of value. So she stealthily crept to the spot and, using her hand, dug the earth out of the hole buried by the novice and sniffed it to see what it was -- and that was when she realized that it was urine. The little novice had taken care of his urine as if it were gold. "If it were something more valuable than this," she thought, "there's no doubt how well he'd care for it. With manners like this, we should adopt him as our foster son. He'd be sure to look after our fortune to make sure that it wouldn't get wasted away." She went home to tell her husband who, impressed with her story, had a servant go and invite the novice into their home so that they could inform him of their intentions. The novice, however, declined their offer to make him their heir, and taught them the Dhamma, making them see the rewards of practicing generosity, virtue, and meditation. The moneylender and his wife were deeply moved, overcame their stinginess, and asked to take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha from that day onward. Eventually, they progressed in virtue, meditation, and right practice to the point where they both gained a glimpse of Liberation. Afterwards, they made a large donation to build a memorial over the spot where the novice had urinated, as a reminder of the goodness that had grown within them from the puddle of urine the little novice had bestowed on them that day. The affairs of the religion come down to "sacitta-pariyodapanam" -- making the heart entirely clean, clear and pure. "Etam buddhana-sasanam" -- this is the heart of the Buddhas' teachings. When the heart is a slave to its moods and defilements -- greed, aversion, and delusion -- it's like being a slave to poor people, troublemakers, and crooks, all of whom are people we shouldn't be enslaved to. The "poor people" here are greed: hunger, desire, never having enough. This feeling of "not enough" is what it means to be poor. As for aversion, this doesn't necessarily mean out-and-out anger. It also means being grumpy or in a bad mood. If anyone annoys us or does something displeasing, we get irritated and resentful. This is called being a slave to troublemakers. Delusion means seeing good as evil or evil as good, right as wrong or wrong as right, thinking you're good when you're evil, or evil when you're good. This is called being a slave to crooks. But if the mind becomes a slave to goodness, this is called being a slave to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, in which case we're well-off because the Buddha is a kind person. He won't make us work all hours of the day and instead will allow us time to rest and find peace of mind. But still, as long as we're slaves, we can't say that it's really good, because slaves have no freedom. They still have a price on their heads. Only when we gain release from slavery can we be fully free and happy. So for this reason, be diligent in your work: Meditate a lot every day. You'll profit from it, get to buy yourself out of slavery to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, and gain Liberation. Don't let there be anyone at all over you giving you orders. That's when it's really ideal. Actually, the Buddha never meant for us to take as our mainstay anything or anyone else aside from ourselves. Even when we take refuge in the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha, he never praised it as being really ideal. He wanted us to take ourselves as our refuge. "The self is its own mainstay:" We don't have to take our authority from anyone else. We can depend on ourselves and govern ourselves. We're free and don't have to fall back on anyone else. When we can reach this state, that's when we'll be released from slavery -- and truly happy. When we. Both of these activities are ways in which we benefit others more than ourselves. But when we practice meditation, we sacrifice inner objects -- unskillful thoughts and mental states -- and make our minds solid, sovereign, and pure. This is called paying homage to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha through the practice -- which the Buddha praised as better than paying homage with material objects. Even though the Buddha would have benefited personally from the homage shown with material objects, he never praised it as being better than homage shown through the practice, which gives all its benefits to the person who pays the homage. This was the sort of homage that pleased the Buddha, because the practice of training the heart to reach purity is the way by which a person can gain release from all suffering and stress. The Buddha had the kindness and compassion to want to help living beings gain freedom from all forms of suffering, which is why he taught us to meditate, so that we can free our hearts from their slavery to the defilements of the world. When we become slaves to the religion -- to the Buddha, Dhamma, and Sangha -- we're still not released from suffering as long as our minds still have worries and concerns. Being a slave to our concerns is like being in debt to them. When we're in debt, we have no real freedom in our hearts. Only when we can find the money to pay off our debts can we be happy, free, and at ease. The more we pay off our debts, the more light-hearted we'll feel. In the same way, if we can let go of our various worries and cares, peace will arise in our hearts. We'll be released from our slavery to craving and defilement, and will find happiness because peace is what brings release from suffering. This is why the Buddha taught us to center our hearts in concentration so as to give rise to stillness, peace, and the inner wealth with which we'll be able to pay off all of our debts. That's when we'll attain happiness and ease. All our burdens and sufferings will fall away from our hearts and we'll enter full freedom. The mind has two kinds of thoughts, skillful and unskillful. Unskillful thoughts are when the mind thinks in ways that are bad -- with greed, anger or delusion -- about things either past or future. When this happens, the mind is said to be a slave to defilement. As for skillful thoughts, they deal in good and worthwhile ways with things future or past. We have to try to let go of both these kinds of thoughts so that they don't exist in the mind if we want to gain release from our slavery. If we want to buy ourselves completely out of slavery, we have to farm our four acres so that they bear abundant fruit. In other words, we have to develop the body's four properties -- earth, water, fire, and wind -- to a point of fullness by practicing meditation and using pure breath sensations to soothe and nourish every part of the body. When the mind is pure and the body soothed, it's like our farm's having plenty of rain and ground water to nourish our crops. I.e.,. In the same way, when we center the mind to the point of absorption, we can gain insight into our past -- maybe even back through many lifetimes -- good and bad, happy and sad. This insight will cause us to feel dismay and dispassion, and to lose taste for all states of being and birth. The mind will let go of its attachments to self, to mental and physical phenomena, and to all thoughts and concepts -- past and future, good and bad. It will enter a state of neutral equanimity. If we then work at developing it further, we'll be able to cut away more and more of our states of being and birth. When the mind gains change-of-lineage knowledge, which passes from the mundane over into the transcendent, it will see what dies and what doesn't. It will blossom as buddho -- the awareness that knows no cessation -- bright in its seclusion from thoughts and burdens, from mental effluents and preoccupations. When we practice in this way, we'll come to the reality of birthlessness and deathlessness -- the highest happiness -- and on into Liberation. This is how we repay all our debts without the least bit remaining. As the texts say, "In release, there is the knowledge, 'Released. Birth is no more, the holy life is fulfilled, the task done.'" For this reason, we should be intent on cleansing and polishing our hearts so that they can gain release from their worries and preoccupations, which are the source of pain and discontent. Peace, coolness, and a bright happiness will arise within us, in the same way as when we unshackle ourselves from our encumbering burdens and debts. We'll be free -- beyond the reach of all suffering and stress. katam puñña-phalam mayham sabbe bhagi bhavantu te May all beings always live happily, free from animosity. May all share in the blessings springing from the good I have done.

Recognizing the True Basis of Cultivation (Clearwisdom.net) When I read the 2005 experience sharing conference announcement for practitioners in China on "Minghui Weekly," I wanted to submit an article. I tried to write several times, but was not able to complete even one. I have learned a lot of lessons and gained many understandings over the last several years of cultivation, but I could not find a good starting point to write about them. One day I read a fellow practitioner's article, "Talking about the Basis of Cultivation," in the Minghui Weekly. I completely agreed with his viewpoint and decided that I should start my article from the basis of cultivation, too. I did not complete my article on time, because I did not read the deadline announcement in the Minghui Weekly and for other personal reasons. This year, when I saw the announcement for the 2006 Internet Experience Sharing Conference for Practitioners in China, I completed my article. I did not understand the deeper meaning of the Fa. My basis for cultivating was to improve health and fitness. I started cultivating Dafa for health reasons in March 1999. A lot of people were studying Dafa at that time. There was a shortage of the book, "Zhuan Falun." I did not get my own book until May 1999. I was not able to understand the deeper meanings of the Fa because I did not study the Fa deeply. I did not know what to do on July 20, 1999, when the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) started persecuting Falun Gong. I watched the overwhelming amount of false propaganda and bloody pictures being shown on the television. I was confused and could not tell what was right from wrong. The two exercise centers I went to every morning and evening for group exercise and Fa study were closed. At the time, my family was building a house. I stopped Fa study and exercise. I often said to myself, "How I wish what is said in the book were true!" In November 1999, I again started doing the exercises for health reasons. I started to have many symptoms of heart disease, degenerative neck osteoarthritis, tracheitis, urethritis, and a frozen shoulder. I was afraid of getting "cultivation insanity," like the propaganda on the CCP-controlled television said I would, so, I kept reciting Teacher's words, "Your thoughts have to be proper," and "Your master consciousness needs to be strong." The basis of my cultivation was the wish to gain good health. Even though I kept studying the Fa, I did not apply the higher standards to myself. I continued to compete with ordinary people over personal interest. My heart was pounding the first time I picked up the book. I read the book over and over. I felt that the book contained nothing evil, just teachings on how to be a good person, how to cultivate and how to improve one's xinxing. The more I studied the Fa, the broader and more profound I realized the Fa was and how great was the distance between it and me. I knew that I did not want to be separated from the Fa any more. I started to recite the Fa. My mind and body experienced fundamental changes gradually, through continuous study and reciting of the "Fa." Many of my ailments resolved themselves without any medical treatment. My view of the universe completely turned around, and I started to think about not hurting others. However, strictly speaking, I was not a true cultivator, but rather a low level practitioner seeking health and fitness. I did not use the standards of a true cultivator to measure myself. On the surface, I stopped practicing because the assistants at my previous exercise centers stopped practicing Falun Gong under pressure and I lost touch with other practitioners. I was not able to read any of Teacher's new articles and did not know the truth of the persecution. I didn't know about the requirements for true practitioners, so I just stayed at home studying the Fa and doing the exercises. Actually, it was because I was basing my cultivation on getting healthy and fit. I did not realize that Dafa had moved into a special cultivation period of stopping the persecution and saving sentient beings. My lack of comprehension kept me in self-cultivation for two years. In October 2001, I by chance obtained Teacher's 2001 articles, "A Suggestion," "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples," "Path," and a copy of Minghui Weekly. I did not understand them the first time I read them. A younger practitioner's article, about what he saw in other dimensions when sending forth righteous thoughts, made me realize that Dafa is miraculous and what Teacher says is true. I became over-zealous. I started to talk about other dimensions and miraculous things that ordinary people could not understand. I started to go to extremes. I read, "These people who only want to take from Dafa and not give for Dafa are, in the eyes of Gods, the worst beings." ("Suggestions"). I slapped my face and asked myself, "Aren't you this kind of being?" I felt that I was not worthy of Teacher's salvation, because I did not catch up with Teacher's Fa Rectification progress and I was worried about being left behind and being eliminated. I had the urge to rush to catch up but didn't know what to do. I wanted to clarify the truth to others, but didn't have anyappropriate materials, nor did I know how to talk to others. Teacher said in "To All Students at the Nordic Fa Conference," "don't wait, don't rely on others." I wrote an article about the great change in my body after I practiced Falun Gong and sent it out. This mindless thought and action was a form of extreme action. At the root was my own gain and loss, so it resulted in negative consequences. Suddenly, one night, my husband started a fight with me. He found the truth clarifying materials I had brought home without his knowledge. I didn't tell him about them, because he had destroyed Dafa books before the CCP began persecuting Falun Gong. He asked me where I got them and I did not answer him. He yelled insults at me as he burned the materials. He told me not to do the cultivation exercises any more. I did not listen and still got up at night to do the exercises. He was usually crusty, but he was being further controlled by the evil at that time. His eyes turned red and he started doing crazy things. I did not know that I should eliminate the evil behind him. He dragged me out of bed and threw me to the ground, held my head down by my hair, and beat me with his belt. He did not allow me to study the Fa, do exercises, or send forth righteous thoughts. Actually, this was a life and death test for me. The test was of my xinxing. However, I did not realize it. The challenges became more and more difficult for me to pass. I faced the life and death choice of whether to continue cultivation, but I used an ordinary person's heart to treat Teacher's spreading the Fa and saving sentient beings. When I was not able to pass the hurdle I tried to circumvent it. I thought of leaving home and staying at a materials center, so that I could learn more from the diligent practitioners and study Teacher's new articles more. I wanted to improve myself quickly so I could go to Beijing to validate the Fa. I did not really understand what Teacher meant when he told us to "step forward from humanness." I thought leaving home was to step out, but actually Teacher was asking us to step forward, away from human concepts and theories. Teacher asked us to "clarify the truth." Only when we start from a sentient being's view, start from a basis that they can agree with and talk at a level that they understand can we achieve good results. Fellow practitioners helped me move into a materials center. I spent my time cooking, printing some Dafa truth-clarification posters, and studying the Fa. I read all Teacher's new articles from July 20, 1999 to 2001. I developed an attachment to time when I read Teacher's mention of "a spring of a certain year." Eventually the old forces arranged for my family to find me due to my human sentiments. My husband had changed his attitude completely when I returned home. Not only did he not forbid me to do the exercises, but he also did the exercises with me. Actually, he just pretended to change in order to obtain my trust. I could not see clearly through his facade because of the mentality of showing off. One day when I went to get Teacher's new article from another practitioner, my husband reported me to the police and we were arrested. Two more practitioners--one with strong sentiments about me--were arrested that night at a different materials center. The materials center was destroyed. A lot of damage was caused to Dafa and other practitioners. It was a painful lesson for us. Looking back at my path during that period, it was because the basis of my cultivation was to get healthy and fit, and I did not cultivate my mind nature. I read Teacher's new articles, but I did not improve in the Fa, nor did I understand the Fa based on the Fa. In this way I was manipulated by all kinds of attachments and let the old forces find opportunities to damage Dafa and other practitioners. I rejected the old forces' arrangements when I realized this. My thoughts of saving sentient beings helped me to escape imprisonment. Only When We Do Well Can We Save Sentient Beings In the detention center, I memorized Teacher's new articles: "Fa-Rectification Period Dafa Disciples," "Path," and other articles. I understood that we are "Fa rectification period Dafa practitioners" and that we have "a special historical mission of validating the Fa and saving sentient beings." I must do well to fulfill my duty. I realized that only when I do well can I be worthy of Teacher's benevolent salvation and assist Teacher to save sentient beings. I started my first hunger strike. The detention center I was in got awarded the "most advanced detention center in the nation" by the CCP. Their technique was to use practitioners against each other. While some inmates were beating and insulting me, all other practitioners and inmates were punished, too. Everyone in the cell was forced to kneel down and an old lady in her 60s was forced to kneel in front of me and beg me to eat. All the inmates started to hate me and "Falun Gong" because they were punished as well. In this way, the detention center wanted to coerce and force us to stop the hunger strike. I did not stop, and the detention center started force-feeding me on the fourth day. I had a thought before they force-fed me that I would throw up whatever they force-fed me. I did not completely reject the persecution, so I did throw up everything, including the medication they forced down my throat. They continued force-feeding me until blood came out of the feeding tube. The next day they put hard shackles on the practitioners and force-fed me again. A practitioner came to talk to me. She said, "Please eat something. Didn't Sakyamuni eventually eat after 'fasting' for 49 days?" Later I came to find out that she had been "transformed." At that time, I had sentimentality for other practitioners. I did not want them to bear the hardships for me, so I started eating. In fact, my xinxing was just at that level. I did not improve in the Fa and did not fundamentally reject the old forces' persecution. As to their persecuting me, I never thought to comply with them. I did not know what to do when I was arrested. Sometimes I used a human heart to think. I thought my husband had told them whatever he knew, so I told the police how many stickers I had posted during the time my husband cheated me. They asked me what was on the stickers. I told them, "The Fa rectifies the cosmos, the evil is completely eliminated." They all wrote that down. One official thought it was not a good idea for them to be writing such things, so he stopped the other officers from asking me any more questions. As for the detention permit, arrest warrant, and court record, I refused to sign any of them. I told them that I had committed no crime when they tried to take my fingerprints. They just left. Once I entered an interrogation room and saw several people who looked like reporters with cameras in their hands. They were trying to take pictures of me. I exposed the evil in front of them. I said, "If you want to create some deceitful propaganda, I will not cooperate with you. Do you know how the report, 'An Old Lady Gave up Falun Gong Practice and Became Rich in One Night,' came out? Actually, that old lady did not give up cultivation at all. Her family had had the plastic greenhouse for a long while. One day the village leader led several people to her home asking, 'Ma'am, Can you show us your greenhouse?' She let them in and the reporters took pictures of her and the greenhouse. Actually, she did not know why they wanted her pictures. Then this report deceiving the public was published." A reporter came and tried to take my picture. I pulled down my hat and lowered my head. I told them, "You can never take my picture." They were only able to get a picture of my back. Later I was told that the police had put a computer, printer, and many other things in that room to make a materials center. Actually our materials center did not have those things at all. They wanted to use that as evidence to report to their superiors that they had arrested many Falun Gong practitioners and destroyed many materials centers. In the detention center I spent a lot of time sending forth righteous thoughts to eliminate the evil elements behind the investigation office, the evil police guards, and the evil inmates that persecuted Dafa and Dafa disciples. I sent righteous thoughts to completely reject the old forces' arrangements. Sometimes I felt like I was like a mountain fixed there. I was able to send forth the righteous thoughts for a long time. I came to the realization that "Dafa disciples' righteous thoughts are powerful." (from Essentials for Further Advancement II) Once a newly arrived practitioner at the detention center went on hunger strike to protest the persecution. The guards came to our cell and tortured us all, using electricity and other methods. Not feeling any fear, I sat down and sent forth righteous thoughts. Suddenly a guard pointed at me, "Are you a Falun Gong practitioner? Are you still practicing?" I did not answer him. I just laughed. Then I realized that I lost my focus. Immediately, I cleared my thoughts and continued sending forth righteous thoughts. He did not ask me any more. I also realized that Teacher was benevolently protecting me and hinting to me all the time. When another practitioner was arrested and thrown into our cell, she did not cooperate at all and left no record during her interrogation. From her righteous thoughts and righteous actions, I realized that there was a gap in what I did. Though I did not report any other practitioners or do anything to damage Dafa, I did not do exactly do as Teacher asked us and fundamentally reject the old forces' arrangements. Teacher said: "No matter what the situation, do not cooperate with the evils demands, orders, or what it instigates." (Dafa Disciples' Righteous Thoughts are Powerful") I used a human heart to answer questions, so wasn't I complying with the evil? Wasn't that a gap in me? I should completely reject the evil. When I was interrogated again I refused to answer any question. There were a lot of people standing in the corridor when the guards took me back to my cell after an interrogation. The guards told them something. With their thumbs up, they said to me, "You are great!" I realized that I had walked correctly on this path and Teacher was using ordinary people to encourage me. So from then on, I did not cooperate. Finally, the court exempted me from prosecution and released me. On March 3, 2003, the detention center that I was imprisoned in transferred all female inmates to another detention center. There were over 40 female practitioners there. I asked myself, "Why move us from one detention center to another one?" "None of this is coincidental." ("Teaching the Fa in the City of Chicago") There are no coincidental happenings for cultivators. We started to write appeal letters, telling them how wonderful Dafa is. We warned them that arresting and imprisoning us was illegal, that their actions trampled on the law and on human rights, and that anyone persecuting good people living by the principles of "Truthfulness, Benevolence, Forbearance" would be punished by the Heavens. We requested immediate release. Later I thought that I should not rely on changes in ordinary people or the mercy of ordinary people. We were Dafa disciples. All changes should come out of our own cultivation. I decided to hold another hunger strike. I discussed it with other practitioners. Some said, "Please wait. Let's all do it together." I also felt that it would be much more powerful if all practitioners held a hunger strike together. Practitioners sharing the same view with me talked to other practitioners. Some said, "I did not get that enlightenment." Some said, "I do not want to bear that hardship." Some said, "Isn't that like committing suicide?" We saw Teacher was very serious in his recent articles. To walk correctly on our cultivation path, I studied with other practitioners Teacher's "Fa-Lecture During the 2003 Lantern Festival at the U.S. West Fa Conference." Then I had a strong thought that I should reject the old forces' arrangements. Not only should we do that by sending forth righteous thoughts, but we should also use our actions to eliminate the persecution and not endure passively. Our purpose in holding a hunger strike was to fundamentally reject the old forces' arrangements. The hunger strike was a form of anti-persecution, not committing suicide. Setting up the right basis for the hunger strike, I decided that I would do it first and keep coordinating with other practitioners while I was doing it. Later all the practitioners in our cell improved their xinxing based on the Fa and decided to hold a hunger strike together. Some practitioners in the next cell also joined us when they heard about it. The authorities were quite alarmed. They threatened us, "Whoever does not eat will be force-fed." They requested a doctor from another detention center for force-feeding. Also, they pretended kindness and many other methods to move practitioner's human hearts to break us. Some practitioners that did not want to bear the hardship started eating. Even though only a few practitioners continued the hunger strike and were able to leave the detention center, this event helped us to improve as a group. When I felt that it was almost impossible to stand the hunger and thirst, Teacher's Fa appeared in my head, "Who is really the gallant lead in this gigantic play? I made this trip just for the sake of sentient beings." ("New Year's Greetings to Dafa Disciples in 2003") This thought kept me on the hunger strike for ten days. Under Teacher's benevolent protection and help, I was able to leave the detention center and return home in April, 2003. Once the Fundamental Problem Was Resolved, the Environment Changed Even though I was able to leave the detention center under Teacher's protection, I didn't systematically study the Fa for a long time, I didn't improve myself based on the Fa, nor did I find my fundamental attachment. I had a strong attachment to going to Beijing to validate the Fa. What was my purpose of validating the Fa? It was for my own improvement. This thought was selfish, so the evil still followed me. During that time, I often dreamed of a black dog coming to bite me and I was not able to escape using ordinary people's methods. It even did not work when I shouted, "The Fa rectifies the cosmos, the evil is completely eliminated!" I was not able to care for myself the first few days at home. I then recovered quickly. My husband took care of me, but he would get extremely angry whenever I mentioned Dafa. One day a friend visited me and said, "Please stop practicing. Haven't you seen on TV what happens to practitioners?" I said those were all fake, just to deceive the public. When she left, my husband used a broom to beat me until blood ran from my mouth. I started exercising when my I had healed a little. One day I was doing the sitting exercise and my husband poured a gourd of cold water over my head, soaking me. Another day when he saw me reading Zhuan Falun, he beat me, leaving black and blue marks all over my body. He also destroyed the book. Practitioners overseas called our home and asked him, "Why do you torture your wife?" He cursed at them and he slammed the phone down. I did not want to stay at home with all these challenges. I thought of divorcing him and going to Beijing to validate the Fa. I was also afraid that if I did not walk my path correctly, it could negatively impact Dafa. It might keep ordinary people from seeing how wonderful Dafa is and keep them from being saved. I cried and worried many times. I asked myself why my cultivation path was so difficult. My strong attachment led to my developing unrighteous thoughts. My husband destroyed Teacher's picture. My selfishness gave the old forces an opportunity and, for a time, I walked on the path arranged by the old forces. Later, I rejected my bad thoughts saying they were not mine. I suddenly enlightened to something when I recited Teacher's article, "Non-Omission in Buddha-Nature." I realized that selfishness was the characteristic of the lives in the old universe. I thought that was the extent of the old universe's wisdom, but I was still not very clear on the Fa. I kept wondering how I could become selfless and altruistic? In October 2005, I read the announcement about the Internet experience sharing conference for practitioners in China in Minghui Weekly. I started to write my experience down and all of a sudden I understood the Fa. Wasn't my previous cultivation based on selfishness? I kept thinking I wanted to do this and that to cultivate. I wanted to do this and that to elevate. But I did not think of Teacher, think of Dafa, or think of sentient beings. This was the characteristic of the lives in the old universe. This was my fundamental attachment. A selfish life will not last forever. It will come to extinction. However, the characteristic for the lives in the new universe is altruism. So Teacher asked us to "attain the righteous enlightenment of selflessness and altruism." (Essentials for Further Advancement). Even though my article missed the deadline, it was helpful to me. I was able to clearly understand the Fa and find my fundamental attachment. Once the fundamental problem was resolved, everything became harmonious and the environment changed. Over a dozen people have been studying Falun Gong with me. Even my husband started practicing. We have established a Fa study group and exercise center. I have looked for all the practitioners who practiced Dafa before July 20, 1999. Some of them had kept practicing and some did not. They all came back to cultivation after I had discussions with them. Of course, this is all done by Teacher. I keep reminding myself that without Teacher coming down to rectify the Fa, spread the Fa and save people, all lives in the entire universe would be destroyed. What can I do or achieve? I am only helping people with predestined relationships to obtain the Fa. I am only doing what a Dafa disciple should do." I also want to express my gratitude to practitioners overseas who often call us to expose the evil. I continue to clarify the truth among our relatives and expose the evil. I also keep sending forth righteous thoughts toward my husband, getting rid of my hatred for him, and treating him benevolently. I now understand the importance of exposing the evil. I started to recite the Fa in 2005. After I finish reciting the whole book once, I keep reading it for a while longer and then I start reciting it again. Now I have recited the book four or five times. I feel that reciting the Fa is completely different from reading the book. Only when I become totally focused can I recite the Fa. I also have strong physical feelings when reciting the Fa. Now I think it would have been very difficult to walk out of that hardship without my previous foundation of studying and reciting the Fa. I had only recited the Fa through to the sixth lecture at that time and then could not go any further. That was a big hurdle for me. Actually, only when we study the Fa well, can we do well the three things that Teacher asked us to do and assimilate to the Fa. I also found many shortcomings in myself. Why did the evil destroy our books when persecuting us? Now I realize that it was because I was lacking with respect to Teacher and Dafa before. I treated the Dafa book as an ordinary book. I would lay it down anywhere and read it laying on my back or stomach. Now I have gotten rid of all these bad habits. Currently, I am often disturbed by sleepiness when studying the Fa, especially during group study. I continue to repress and disintegrate the sleep demon. As for clarifying the truth and helping people quit the CCP, I often think of saving sentient beings. I feel that Teacher uses all kinds of environments and opportunities to bring the people with predestined relationships to me to learn of the Fa. However, sometimes my human heart comes out and causes that person to lose the opportunity to be saved. I know that I am still far from what Teacher asks us to be. Teacher, I promise that I will set strict requirements for myself, try my best to do the three things well, and be a disciple that Teacher does not need to worry about. Fellow practitioners, please point out my gaps you may find in this article.

Finally a piece…August 13, 2010 Countdown to draft day almost overApril 21, 2010 Well here’s one thing I have to say about this offseason. There are a lot of trades being made and teams are picking up great talent for CHEAP!!! Sad thing is the Texans aren’t involved in any of it. So many mock drafts are out there I can’t evern begin to figure out which ones would be the best ones to pay most attention to. The Chronicle’s John has been keeping with his combine reports that the Texans are highly interested in Ryan Mathews. Everyone else feels that if the safety Earl Thomas isn’t available that it would be Kyle Wilson or one of the other late rising cornerbacks. My thoughts don’t really matter at this point. Either if the three that I mentioned would be great for the Texans. This draft is so deep that as long as one is picked the other positions provide good options for the Texans in the 2nd and 3rd rounds on Friday. The other position that was rumored was defensive tackle. I firmly believe that if a DT is one of their priorities that the should get one in the 1st round. I’m not so certain that there would be many good ones left by the time they pick in the 2nd round. I’m geeked about this whole thing!!! Oh wait the schedule came out too?!?!?? We knew who the opponents were just not when. My Texans obviously have the toughest road to the playoffs, but I think we play the right teams at the right times. Plus we have 2 count em 2 Monday Nighters against the Colts then the Ravens AND a Thursday night game later in the season as well. The most difficult part is that we play the Colts but seeing as though these teams have made almost no moves in the offseason and their games were so close last year, it should be a very good game and a very winnable one for the Texans. Then they play the NFC East where the Cowgirls are and the Shannies are as well. They get the game with the Skins early so that should play well for them as long as they don’t have much of a WR core there. It’s going to be an awesome season but the next three days are going to be very exciting. I dint have a draft board but hey maybe next year I follow the season more and tendencies and crap like that I would know what to loom for and what other teams value. ENJOY THE DRAFT!!! And do your best not to call in to the whiner line on SR610 about how big of a screw up you think the Texans are for picking whomever they chose. Laters!! Sunday Free Agency UpdateMarch 7, 2010 This past weekend had some free agency noise but not so much happening early. Chicago jumped out as the big spenders this year while the Washington Redskins have decided to play the table in a nonchalant manner for the first time in several years. Dunta has signed with Atlanta for big bucks and a couple of trades have occurred already. One of them which seems to have affected the Texans in a good way. Texans wide receiver Kevin Walter seemed to be in discussions with both Baltimore and Houston. In my mind, it felt like we had lost him. That is until the Baltimore Ravens made a trade for Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals. That helped the Texans lock down Walter for another 5 years. In addition to the Walter signing, the Texans were able to also workout a deal to keep punter Matt Turk with team for another year. Many Texans fans don’t care much for Turk after last season’s heckling incident during the Texans-Jets game. Say what you want about the guy, he produced for the Texans last year and you can’t argue against productivity. Also, Jason LaCanfora of NFL Network has been reporting an interest for the Texans in Leigh Bodden while John McClain of the Houston Chronicle has been disputing any interest in Bodden from the Texans. Finally, this morning it has been reported at the Houston Chronicle that Bodden WILL be in Houston to meet with the Texans. Now that Robinson’s deal is done in ATL, I wonder how much the Texans are willing to offer to a guy that has not been burned as much as Dunta. I’m curious if they will attempt to offer the same deal that was on the table for Dunta from last season. He did have more interceptions than Robinson last season. So far it doesn’t seem like the Texans have made any moves on the running backs that are available but they are scheduled to meet with interior lineman and Texas native Wade Smith formerly of the Chiefs. This has been circulating for the past couple of days but he should now be en route to Houston. We’ll see what happens with that. Other notable signings, safety Antrel Rolle has signed with the Giants, Kerry Rhodes has been traded to the Cardinals, Chester Taylor and Julius Peppers both signed with the Bears, Cromartie traded to the Jets, and Kyle Vanden Bosch to the Lions after the head coach Jim Schwartz came knocking at his front door. Literally! And I so wanted to see he and Winston square off again. Free Agency starts tonightMarch 1, 2010 Texans! On your mark! Get set… ready!!! By now you have heard of thetenders being placed on Daniels, Ryans, Pollard and a few others. John McClain reported earlier that the team is trying to reach a deal with Kevin Walter. Only bad thing is that they only have this day to do it before he is free game to the other 31 teams in the league. Friday at the Combine: LT, Walter, MathewsFebruary 27, 2010 Friday at the Combine was somewhat eventful as far as talk goes. According to GM Rick Smith there still seems to be a possibility that the team may still go after Ladanian Tomlinson after all. He opened a window that it seemed like Bob McNair may have attempted to close earlier this year at the Kubiak extension press conference with comments about not wanting older running backs that have lost a step. Houston Chronicle’s own John McClain has been so adamant that this would not happen after those comments were made that you would swear that he was making the decisions for the organization himself. So for those of you who want LT, it’s still possible. This would mainly be for added veteran leadership and playoff experience, which is what a couple of guys mentioned could be the reason why Texans haven’t made the jump into the playoffs. Smith also spoke on the Texans’ Free Agent situation with their own players and several people have pointed out that he showed signs of the Texans possibly not being able to keep on Kevin Walter. I would expect them to be looking for another WR later in this draft to compete for that job with Jacoby Jones. Word is that Ryan Mathews, Running Back out of Fresno State, was being given some special attention by the Texans today so we should keep an eye on that. If that’s the case, I can see the Texans trying their best to drop back a few spots and get him but not sure how far they’d want to go with the Chargers maybe being another team who could like him. My thoughts… Not too surprised about Walter. Demeco and O.D. are much bigger priorities to keep around. Happy to hear about L.T. at least being considered. Mathews looks really good too so its no surprise the Texans are interested in how he looks. Till next time… 1st Round Draft Options: Free SafetyFebruary 24, 2010 Texans do seem to have a need at Free Safety. Will they NEED to select one with the 1st pick? I think maybe not but if someone falls into their lap they may have no choice. Now I look at the roster and the play last year and Eugene Wilson played that spot well but he couldn’t stay on the field due to injuries. With that being said, here are the safeties available in the Texans range in the 1st round. Here’s who I have available there… Earl Thomas – Texas Thomas is a guy that everyone seems to love more and more as time goes on. So much so that Mike Mayock of NFL Network likes him ahead of Eric Berry of Tennessee. What may get him drafted even higher is the fact that he can cover well enough to play cornerback somewhere as well. From the tape, I have him taking great angles on passes and once he gets there can jar the ball loose. He helps well enough in the run and can fight off blocks to make plays on runners. The thing I feel that counts against him are 2 big plays… one from 2008 @ Oklahoma State where he severely undercut an angle allowing Crabtree the game winning touchdown… the other was in run support where he played the wrong hole allowing a long TD run in the BCS Championship game. Taylor Mays – USC Taylor Mays is a guy with the look of what everyone feels they want out of a safety in the NFL. The main problem with him is that his physical look hasn’t resulted in any numbers as in interceptions. From what I’ve seen, he is not good in coverage. He doesn’t always take the best angles. He’s a hard hitter but he is very inconsistent with his tackling style. There are times I see him wrap up and use his hands to bring guys down in the run game but in run after catch situations he is usually trying to throw his shoulder into someone and not getting good hits on guys. Chad Jones – LSU Jones is not a guy projected for the 1st round but he is the next guy as far as rankings go. Texans pick him here in the first and its a reach. I’m looking at his tape but he looks inconsistent. The best part of his game seems to be in run support as a hitter, and his closing speed. At times, he takes some bad angles and at times he makes those hits that will bring fines his way. He and Roger Goodell may become good friends. Didn’t see much in actual pass coverage as far as highlights go but more on run stops. Coming from LSU you know he’s athletic. My Take As much as I want him to be there I’m not seeing Thomas making it to the latter part of the 1st round. He is the best of these 3. Taylor Mays is overrated. I believe the best decision for the Texans is to wait till the second or third rounds to select a free safety. The safety class this year is pretty deep so they can still find some guys in later rounds. The only way I see a safety taken by the Texans in the first round is if Earl Thomas is still available there. 1st Round Draft Options: CornerbackFebruary 24, 2010 A couple weeks ago, cornerback would not have been a need in my eyes. We have pretty good guys with the Texans with Quin and Reeves doing a good enough job on most Sundays. But now that Robinson has been released I looked a little further and noticed that there weren’t many interceptions out of this group of guys to flat out say no to that idea. We need more ball skills so they could go for a guy if they like him enough. Here are a few guys that are projected to possibly be available to the Texans at the 19th or 20th pick of the draft. Patrick Robinson – Florida State Robinson at first sight looks to have good size and speed. However, I am having trouble finding a lot of tape on this guy. From what I have seen he looks like an arm tackler and occasionally throws a shoulder at you. He doesn’t seem to always be aware of the position of the ball but seems to get a hand up just in time and is in the area of the ball. He does play the run pretty well though. Kyle Wilson – Boise State Wilson looks like a smaller guy on tape who played off a lot in college but always seemed to be in position to make plays on the football. In one on one drills at the Senior Bowl, this guy looks to be one of the best I’ve seen coming out. He looked really good as a cover corner and the guy doesn’t get beat. He doesn’t seem to be able to fend off blocks well on run plays though on tape and he’ll need to work on that but the kid is aggressive and blitzes well. He seems to have good ball skills too. Plus he’s a solid punt returner. Donovan Warren – Michigan Warren is a big guy but doesn’t have much of long speed. He seems very handsy (especially vs. Golden Tate of Notre Dame). He can get caught up trying to read the QB too much and not covering the players. He is a great tackler that drives through receivers and plays the run pretty well. There was just times when he was in perfect coverage on tape and had to use his hands which would normally result in a PI but he got away with it. My Take First off, I don’t feel like the Texans need a cornerback so badly but one with ball skills would help. Between Reeves, Robinson, Quin, and McCain there were only 2 interceptions in 2009. That’s unacceptable. If they were to choose a corner in the 1st round of this draft, I would hope that Kyle Wilson was available because he seems like a good cover corner and can be one of the best in the league. That’s my take. Texans & D-Rob to part waysFebruary 24, 2010 Goodbye, Dunta! The Texans have decided to allow CB Dunta Robinson enter Free Agency this offseason as an unrestricted guy. In other words, Rick says No! He will more than likely be the top guy in the list of Free Agent CBs out there this offseason. The news comes a year after Robinson was hit with the franchise tag unexpectedly while the team was actively working with him to extend his contract. This was after he played the latter part of the 2008 season coming off of his 2007 ACL injury. Robinson sat out training camp and rattled many Houston fans when he had “Pay Me Rick” on his cleats in the opening game versus the New York Jets. He continued on to have an okay 2009 season with the team but gave up a lot of big plays. Texans without Robinson are actually still pretty good. Rookie CB Glover Quin had a solid 2009 campaign, posting better numbers than Robinson, and is ahead of Jacques Reeves according to the depth chart on HoustonTexans.com. Reeves also had a solid season in 2009. Rookie Brice McCain also showed some flashes while appearing 12 games in 2009. Reeves and McCain both had 1 interception this season while Robinson and Quin didn’t have a single one. My Take… I believe this a s smart move and was not surprised by the move. I am particularly surprised by people expecting a first round draft pick spent on a CB. This won’t happen unless they are not comfortable with Reeves & McCain being on the field together or the guys at the other need positions don’t fit their system and a CB is the highest ranked guy on their board when they pick at 19/20. I would expect a CB selection this year in rounds 3-5. 1st Round Draft Options: Running BackFebruary 19, 2010 Yeah Yeah I know. The Texans will not be picking a running back in the first round of any draft if you look at any running back that has ever ran in the Kubiak offense. With the exception of Jay Cutler a few years back, you could’ve probably said the same about them selecting QBs in the 1st round as well. Hey it could happen! Here is what I have on the Running Backs that may be available to us in the 1st round: C.J. Spiller – Clemson Spiller will be the #1 RB selected. Arm tackling doesn’t work on this guy. The kid smells daylight, hits holes fast and is very elusive. He catches the ball well out of the backfield. He is very decisive and even when he wasn’t 100% in games he played and made people miss easily. He ran the ball up the middle a lot at the college level and finds creases left and right. He holds the ball tight and seems to have a nose for daylight plus I see good pass blocking ability out of him and added value in the return game as well. No doubt he has all the skills you would want as a starting RB in this league. He has been compared to a Marshall Faulk but faster. If he falls to Houston, it’d be a miracle. Ryan Mathews – Fresno St. Looking at Mathews’ tape, I am seeing good instincts from him as well. He has no problems running up the middle and sometimes diving over linemen to get into the end zone. He has great speed also and is not a push over meaning he will not be taken down by the first guy or any arm tackles. One thing that concerns me about him is that he does have a tendency to hold the ball away from his body at times while running which could lead to fumbling issues in the NFL. He is a powerful guy and has really good instincts and is able to find holes also but not faster than Spiller. I didn’t get a chance to see him in pass protection or catching the ball. I hear he has a mean stiff arm also. Jahvid Best – California First off I see a LOT of good out of Jahvid Best in the game tape. He looks like he’s as good as C.J. Spiller. The thing that hurts him to me is that he is not as big of a back but does have decent size. He looks more the part of Reggie Bush out of USC. He also has been injured a bit each year in college so that drops him some. He looks very instinctive, makes great cutbacks, catches the ball well out of the back field but I don’t see much of blocking or pass protection out of him either in the tape. Basically what I’ve heard is that he has fallen because of his injury issues, but seems to be just as talented as Spiller and does not shy away from hits. He runs up the middle fairly well unlike Bush and also seems to be an end zone leaper. Most of the time, I saw him make good on busted plays. Jonathan Dwyer – Georgia Tech Dwyer is a big back that is definitely in the mold of what you want as a power back. Things that put him in below the other guys is to me that he seems to need to be more aware of his weight plus he ran out of the option offense which doesn’t usually give scouts much to go on. In his case though, I saw him do okay on some pass blocking and did catch the ball pretty well also. He’s more likely to plow over guys than make a great cutback. He’s not the quickest guy out of the blocks or an elusive electric kind of runner but once he gets going he seems to be able to run with the best of them. WHAT DO I THINK? Well, I feel as though Spiller would be a great move but I feel as though he probably won’t make it past the Seahawks. I’m not sure if the Texans want to risk picking what may be an injury-proned kid like Best and with a much smaller frame he is not truly what they want in their offense as a power guy. Ryan Mathews seems more like the pick if they go RB in the 1st round. I used to be high on Dwyer but after seeing the play of the other 3 guys, he doesn’t seem that great, but maybe just the right complement to Slaton in Houston. At this point, he wouldn’t be worthy a 1st round pick for the Texans. Things can change of course and the Combine is coming up as well as the Pro Days. Stay tuned! 1st Round Draft options: Defensive TacklesFebruary 18, 2010 At this time, there are a lot of early draft boards out there. The majority of those boards have the Texans picking up S Earl Thomas from the University of Texas. The rest that I have seen show the pick as DT Brian Price of UCLA, RB Jonathan Dwyer of Georgia Tech, WR Golden Tate of Notre Dame, CB Patrick Robinson of Florida State, and S Taylor Mays of USC. I’ve also seen a couple say that WR Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State would fall to us at pick 20 or we would go for CB Donovan Warren of Michigan. I personally thought at the Defensive Tackle position, Dan Williams would be a good fit but I have since watched tape on Price & Williams. So far, on tape, Price wins. Brian Price seems to hold up his ground very well against the run and seems to get far better penetration on passing downs that Williams. He also seems to not give up on plays no matter where he is. A week ago, I was high on Dan Williams after his Senior Bowl practices and felt like he had a good bull rush. He was fierce in his attack and everything. Not so much in the video that I’ve seen on him. He seems to be able to use his hands well and be a good run stopper but as far as getting a rush on passing downs, I just haven’t seen it. I also have seen a few plays where he feels he’s out of the play where he gives up on the play. My Take No one can teach the drive and heart and I personally feel like I saw heart and a drive out of Brian Price. He would be the 1st UCLA Bruin taken in the 1st Round since Marcedes Lewis was taken by the Jags a few years back. I’ll be checking on draft boards to see who else creeps in as a DT prospect for the late first round and update this if someone jumps to that area.

Some Needed Clarity Those.. So, focusing on the abortion issue alone, we need to look at these two candidates not only in terms of rhetoric, but in terms of the ability to influence the outcome. The difference is straightforward. McCain rightly opposes Roe v. Wade and wrongly refuses to provide support to families in terms of encouraging the bearing and rearing of children. Obama wrongly supports the “right” under Roe v. Wade, but rightly has latched onto the need to provide material support. As noted by the authoritative Declartion on Procured Abortion, .” The approaches are simply inseparable, and no true pro-lifer can choose one without the other. Even on the issue of legal protection, it is not so clear... Trackbacks One need not to defend any political alternative to recognize that Obama is an extreme radical on the question of abortion. He advocates for federal funding of this mass homocide, seeks to codify it is a right into federal statute, and has consistently, in rhetoric and deed, opposed every single restriction (such as parental notification and an end to late-term abortions). Thus, in my opinion, a vote for him is absoutely impermissible. Catholics in positions of civil responsibility must protect life. They are obligated to seek this with regard to abortion law or they should not claim the Catholic label. In this, Biden was once strong – but not in many years. Abortion upon demand, which they wish to agressively extend, is an abdication of the state’s responsibility to protect the most basic of rights, the right to life. Again, as I wrote yesterday,. These matter a great deal, and impact the life or death of many children very directly. To actively support Obama is to actively support death policies that he has been very clear about wishing to enact.. He has told more than one pro-abortion group this act will be among his highest priorities, if not the highest. If he is president with a comfortable Democratic majority in both houses (a majority, by the way, that has very few anti-abortion members as a percentage of the overall majority), this legislation has as good a chance of passing as any other. Maybe it will pass, maybe it won’t. But his intentions are clear, and it is very feasible that if not this act, something just as horrendus will be signed into law. To project that this will not happen has little basis in events on the ground, and is certainly far removed from a clearly and consistently stated intention. Finally, your comparison to a constitutional pro-life amendment makes no sense whatsoever. ANY amendment is nearly impossible to enact. Not so with legislation in an undivided government. “Do I believe Obama really desires to pass the Freedom of Choice Act, and if it did, that it would stand a chance of succeeding? No I do not ….” Boy, will you be in for a surprise! A true pro-life approach says that the right to life of the unborn child warrants some protection under the law. Let us be specific. The unborn child warrants this protection: the right to life. If Roe is overturned, then this right can finally be debated and decided in the proper place: by legislative bodies. Catholics will then obligated to influence for the right to life, exactly as they are obligated now. Obama and Biden fail miserably on both counts, and Catholics who support them share in their failure. .” Pro-lifers do not argue federalism for its own sake. Nor are they being in any way disingenuous by arguing federalism. It is a legitimate instrumental argument. As long as Roe is the law of the land, no state can outlaw abortion. If it were overruled, many states could and would outlaw abortion … and the fight could be taken to the remaining states. Thus, overruling Roe is the first step in a pro-life strategy. My parish is made up of blacks and liberal white in-towners. Nobody would dare admit to voting Republican. Yesterday at a parish meeting, a woman who has been organizing for Obama began pontificating about the evils of Sarah Palin, the worst of which, this Catholic lady explained, is her determination to take away “a woman’s freedom to choose,” which, she declared, is the very foundation of liberty in America. To put it mildly, she had an appreciative audience.. An Obama presidency, which I consider almost inevitable at this point, will simply reinforce this way of thinking–among Catholics no less than other Americans. How will the institutional Church respond? With the exception of the usual suspects, I expect our leaders will continue to follow in the footsteps of their cohorts in Quebec. .” This is a) a gross generalization; and b) simply insulting to many, many faithful Catholics who have wrestled with their conscience, are against abortion, but PERSONALLY have concluded in the light of the “candidates ‘commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence all given morally grave issue’, a vote for Obama is the most prudent one. I would like to point out that Morning Minion is making Kmiec absurd arguement about Federalism and how that makes Mccain / Palin as about as pro choice as Obama This was taken apart a few days ago at the America Magazine blog a few days ago I’m so sick of the federalism argument on abortion policy. In places where there is a strong stigma against abortion, nobody gets them. Where there isn’t, they don’t. If people could vote on this, would any of this magically change? Jonathan: you clearly don’t understand the argument I am trying to make. And the fact that you use the term “absolutely impermissible” shows you don’t understand the moral theology arguments either. Ron: that’s not my experience at all. If I were to guess, I would say my parish leans very heavily Democratic, and yet I have never ever heard anybody in a Church context defend anything like a “right to choose”. JH: With respect, but I’ve been making this argument for years, long before Kmiec arrived on the scene. And I have not read Kmiec’s book. But I read the O’Callaghan piece you link to and I have problems with it. For a start, if Kmiec actually does make an equivalence between the term “pro-choice” when it comes to the woman and the state, then I think he is wrong. But that’s not what I am saying. Here is O’Callaghan’s key conclusion: “McCain’s position is that the decisions about how to legislate concerning abortion reside with the states…And one can maintain that certain legislative acts belong to the states without being committed to the rightness of every legislative act.” MCain is entitled to hold that position, but he is not entitled to claim that it is a pro-life position. It is not. Follow-up point: with this “constitutional” argument, I see once again (as in the death penalty debate and many others), a tendency to place the positive law over the natural law. Further follow up: if it is “absolutely impermissible” to vote for a stauch abortion advocate, then would you argue that the correct choice in 2000 and 2004 was the man who started a gravely unjust war and legitimized torture (making himself a war criminal in the process)? Would you still argue that fact given that a million or so abortions still take place every year? And if so, at what point would you draw the line, if ever? With apologies to the conscience-wrestlers, I think it is safe to bet that after four years of an Obama administration, they will no longer even bother to preface their support for pro-choice candidates with “I am against abortion [personally] BUT . . . ” It will simply not occur to them (or to most Americans) that opposition to abortion might have any relevance to politics. Why would it, when it has become clear to all concerned that nothing whatsoever can be done to legislate against it? But will American Catholics-in-the-pew still see some moral significance in abortion? Probably about as much as Catholics do today in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, or Quebec. It has long been the goal of the abortion-rights movement to reduce their opposition to a tiny fringe movement. With the help of these (anguished, oh so anguished) Catholic voters, they’re about to get their wish. Jonathan: you clearly don’t understand the argument I am trying to make. And the fact that you use the term “absolutely impermissible” shows you don’t understand the moral theology arguments either. My use of the term “absoutely impermissible” was an opinion, not a statement of binding instruction, and I think a very well grounded one – partly for the five or so reasons I have given in this thread. I would be happy to address your substantive response to any of them, assuming your insults will be omitted. Alright, MM. Vote for Obama if you wish. Despite all of your arguments, Obama lacks the judgement. He lacks the judgement on his associations (Ayers, Wright, Rezko) almost as bad he lacks the judgement on life issues. One should not want to vote for Obama on his “personal” stance on abortion alone. It’s disgusting. Ron: The Declation on Procured abortion basically says 3 stratgies must be followed: (i) strive to change the law; (ii) strive to change the culture; (iii) actively aid families and children. I would argue that in the current climate, (i) is impossible without (ii) and (iii). In fact, exclusive focus on (i) benefits those who gain from the “culture war” but not the unborn. The intrinsic evil of Sarah Palin’s behavior recently has spawned even David Brooks to call her “the cancer of the Republican party.” Anybody who does not look at her and seriously pause should probably engage in a serious examination of conscience, Anybody who does not look at her and seriously pause should probably engage in a serious examination of conscience, No kidding. “what matters is less the rhetoric than the ability to influence the intended outcome.” MM- I respect your opinion and commentary, but the quote above is precisely why I remain hesitant to support Obama in this election. We both agree that McCain and Obama are in formal cooperation with evil for their support of intrinsically evil policies. This, of course, does not make support for either of them impermissible, but it does require heavy weight on the proportionality end to justify support for men who support intrinsically evil policies. And this is where supporters of Obama (and McCain), I think, fall short. Too many so called proportionate reasons rely upon future goods that are themselves contingent on the trustworthiness of the candidate. For example, you say: “his economic, social, and health care policies might lead to a diminution in abortion.” It might. But his support for FOCA and his voting record (on abortion) should reduce the confidence we place in Obama to deliver on such goals. I am not saying that Obama will fail to deliver on these things, but can we really count it as a proportionate reason? In other words, trading contingent future goods for known intrinsic evils strikes me as negotiation. I fully agree with you that Obama is the candidate likely to do the least harm and to promote the common good. But we still must ask ourselves if there is really a proportionate reason to justify a vote for him. MM: As a reader who endorses your posts much more often than not and as a fellow Obama supporter, I would ask you to seriously engage Ron’s comments. I take your point that his experience of pro-choice Catholics don’t reflect your own experiences. But they are his experiences…and he is not alone. In progressive Catholic circles I often observe profound embarrassment and expasperation with prolife sensibilities. I experience many of my fellow progressive Catholics as more troubled by prolifers than by abortion. I recall a sardonic comment on this blog months ago noting that some progressives are ‘personally opposed’ to abortion with about the same enthusiasm as might be accorded opposition to secondhand smoke. So what about it? I’m glad you haven’t encountered these sentiments but they do reflect the sentiments many ‘seamless garment’ Catholics experiences. Let’s face it: the zeitgeist is prochoice. What are the unintended consequences of our position? Isn’t it possible that Catholic support for Obama feeds a more tolerant, sanguine approach toward abortion? Isn’t it possible that our very legitimate emphasis on the economic roots of abortion’s prevalence obscures the non-economic roots, in effect normalizing and privatizing of the ‘procedure’ at least until social and economic justice reigns? And how about solidarity? I often wonder if we progressives have any feel for how marginalized someone like Ron is when he is ‘out’ among progressives with his anti-abortion beliefs. Note to Mark: You bet this is a generalization, just as about 98% of all blog entries. And as to your point that it is ‘insulting’ to offer such a critique of the progressive Catholic abortion sensibilities, I would remind you that I support Obama and I think progressive Catholics are not beyond criticism. Tim, I am hesitant to have this thread diverted, but I must address the ludicrous attempt to bring up Fox News talking points in terms of “guilt by association”, but I cannot let this pass: Remember, McCain has associated with a convicted felon who once planned to blow up buildings in Washington DC and more recently gave “advice” to how to most effectively kill federal law enforcement agents. This man hosted a fundraiser for McCain in his house, and called McCain an “old friend”. And how about some of “pastor” friends, including the ones who hold the Catholic Church to be “the great whore” and “a false cult system”, who believes God is backing the US in a war against Islam, who blame America for 9/11 and who hold that the detruction of New Orleans was divine justice? And who used the wealth of a conviced felon to purchase some of his houses? Yes, John McCain. And we haven’t even gotten to Charles Keating yet… Do I hold McCain responsible for the views and actions of these people? No, I do not. But we cannot stay quiet while this strategy is used in one direction only. Ah, the old pass the buck trick. My point was that if a person has such bad judgement when it comes to abortion, that casts a dark light on them period. You can make all the proportionate arguments you want, but it’s an ugly reflection of who Barack Obama is. Mike, Most of the Catholics I know in rural, suburban and urban Western PA who are going to vote for Obama hardly call themselves “progressive”. Mike: I agree with the tenor of your comment. But I would repeat the earlier point: Catholics should not focus exclusively on the legal strategy, especially since the strategy is predicated on a constitutional argument (“send it to the states”) rather than a natural law argument, In itself, that is telling. We can only win by persuading people that the unborn deserve protection– the “Republican strategy” (for want of a better term) actually has the opposite effect, and causes the “pro-choice” lobby to become even more entrenched. I believe Catholics of all persuasions could work together if we all agreed on a national pro-life campaign aimed at changing the culture. This is not just pie-in-the-sky wishful thinking. While I think the opposition to gay marriage cause is lost, the younger generation remains nervous about abortion. Remember, the big decline in support for the death penalty owes much to Pope John Paul and the Catholics who followed his lead. MM – you’re something else. We can only win by persuading people that the unborn deserve protection And voting for a stongly pro-abortion person and party does that? Mark: All of the Catholics in my circle and most of the Catholics in my parish definitely consider themselves progressives. Though we pride ourselves on our embrace of diversity and tolerance, we rarely extend these ideas to those who might (gasp!) vote Republican. In 2004 when our pastor strongly advised us to ignore the opinions of Chaput et al re: the moral considerations of citizenship he was met with thunderous applause. Our Democratic tribal identity is fast replacing our Catholic tribal identity, with one obvious implication a softening of any prophetic opposition to abortion. I validate your experience, and MM’s as well. I ask your validation of Ron’s and mine. We all have our story, and we’re all likely to stick with it until we take seriously narratives very different from our own. I don’t see this as a choice between voting for McCain and being in conformity with Catholic teaching on abortion, versus voting for Obama and either being out of conformity or trying to come up with a “proportionate reason.” I see it as choosing which part of Catholic teaching you want to see given a chance. It all boils down to whether you think the best way to deal with abortion is (1) to prohibit it by law (one part of what the Declaration on Procured Abortion advocates), or (2) ” (the other part of what the Declaration advocates). McCain is offering a slim hope of advancement toward 1 but very little hope of any movement toward 2. Obama is not offering 1 (quite the opposite), but offers more hope for 2 than any presidential candidate has in a long time, and much more hope than McCain offers. The Catholic Church demands both 1 and 2, but no candidate is going to offer both as long as there are Democrats running against Republicans. So the people who are firmly in favor of 1 will be appalled that Obama wants to loosen rather than tighten legal restrictions on abortion. The people who are firmly in favor of 2 don’t believe legal restrictions are the way to go, so loosening them is not such a concern. If you believe in 1, vote for McCain. If you believe in 2, vote for Obama. Either one can be a vote for reducing the number of abortions, and imy personal belief is that the odds are better with 2. There is also a group (a small one, I hope) that wants to see abortion criminalized as an end in itself, regardless of whether that will actually reduce the number of abortions. They should obviously vote for McCain. It seems to me all the voters’ guides and many of the statements by American bishops are intensely concerned with 1 but scarcely mention 2. They emphasize one aspect of Church teaching and neglect another. I don’t think they are serving the authentic teachings of the Church about abortion well. The FOCA is not a concern to me, because I don’t think it could ever pass. I think it has about as much chance of passing as there is for Roe v Wade to be overturned. Either would cause a firestorm unlike anything we have seen in recent American politics. I think both can be discounted in deciding whom to vote for. MM: I suspected you’d agree and I agree whole heartedly with every single point you make. But we haven’t entirely engaged because the extraordinarily important work we need to accomplish together must be linked to an appreciative tone. I think your posts are routinely misunderstood and resisted here because of what you don’t say. I know you to be second to no one on this blog regarding your prolife bona fides but I think you make it way too difficult to be understood. Why not, from time to time, direct your considerable rhetorical and substantive fire at the pervasive prochoice drift in the culture and, sadly, among many Catholics? Why not critique trendy ‘Catholics for a Free Choice’ discourse with the same relish as you take on traditional prolifers who for *very* understandable reasons resist our guy’s candidacy? Why not display solidarity rather than pique with the traiditional prolifers who write here but feel their sensibilities are scorned by progressive Catholics and mainstream culture? Regarding the likelihood of FOCA vs. Pro-life Amendment passing – I have to disagree with you there. First, passing ANY Constitutional amendment is always more difficult than getting legislation passed simply because of the differences in the process. Add to that the pro-choice zeitgeist as mentioned above, and it is far more likely that FOCA would be enacted than a pro-life amendment being passed. To the extent that you are somehow factoring that into the proportionate reason analysis, I think you are mistaken. (deleted for calumnous content– I will not tolerate lies about what I have written). As if there were no other reason for “progressives” to vote for Obama than abortion! I think comments like this are why some people become so exasperated with “pro-lifers.” If you can’t bring yourself to talk about “baby killers” and “infanticide,” you are considered to be an abortion enthusiast who would love to perform them yourself if only you got the chance. Any real progressive, it seems to me, would feel that the first failure is that women have unwanted pregnancies in the first place, and the failure of social justice is that “a whole positive policy” has not been put “into force so that there will always be a concrete, honorable and possible alternative to abortion.” Mike: if that will work, then possibly I can do so. But I don’t see much value added in preaching to the choir. I think “Catholics for a Free Choice” is a joke, a sham, and a mockery of the faith. Does it serve anything to point this out? I just want to second Mike McG’s 5:13 post. But given that abortion is deeply rooted in poverty, his economic, social, and health care policies might lead to a diminution in abortion– as happened under the Clinton administration. And as happened under George H.W. Bush and under George W. Bush as well. Hmmm, your argument doesn’t make so much sense after all. I don’t think so, SB. The average annual rate of decline under Clinton was twice that of his Republican counterparts. But keep it up: denying the clear links between poverty and abortion is one sure way to make sure the pro-life movement nevers makes any ground whatsoever. Hmmm Goerge Bush and MCain wanted Immigration reform. Tons of Catholic Hispanics could have come out of the shadows. No doubt many hispanic women aborted children because of those circumstances. In fact we saw Hispanic abortion rates go up. Obama at the request of Union was a critical part of killing immigration reform. It was on that day I knew he was a empty suit. If you are Catholic Social Justice issues McCain is your best bet. I know this is something that Catholci Social Justice Advocates wish not to talk about. But the fact they asked McCain to lead the struggles and do not even give him kudos is a scandal MM – Didn’t Clinton veto the partial birth abortion ban in the 90′s? Sounds like he was a pro-life hero!!!! I am tempted to vote for McCain because of immigration, but I suspect that as President he would not dare to raise the issue–at least not when American jobs are declining and undocumented immigrants are increasingly unpopular. But I think that voting for him is a vote for the Iraq war and an endorsement of the concept of preventive war, and I could not support that. So I will probably not vote for anyone for top of the ticket. It won’t be the first time. I do want to thank Mike McG for telling the truth about the way Catholics on the left today tend to define social justice. With rare exceptions, opposition to abortion is simply not a part of it. I refuse believe my own experience is idiosyncratic or limited to a few acquaintances. A few years ago, in fact, the national conference of Pax Christi was cancelled because the leadership had invited a keynote speaker who was a leader in the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice. I had many, many communications with social justice Catholics at the time, including two bishops, and their nearly unanimous opinion was that pro-lifers like me needed to keep our mouths shut about abortion so we could focus on “real” issues of peace and justice. Only a threat of unpleasant publicity stopped the event from going forward, and it was done without so much as a nod to Catholic teaching about the sanctity of human life. MM, You are placing your head in the sand. It seems that you will take Obama’s word at face value when it suits you and then ascribe other elements that are in direct conflict with our faith as empty campaign rhetoric. Forget about McCain and focus on the intrinsic evil Obama endorses. He has stated, as other posters indicated, that FOCA is a priority in his presidency. This is not in dispute by anyone other than those in denial. Ask the pro-abortion lobby, they are salivating at the prospect. The intent of FOCA is to declare abortion a fundamental right. Obama supports this unequivocally! FOCA will use your money to procure abortions. Obama supports this. In casting your vote for Obama, you are approving Obama to use YOUR money to procure abortions. Are you okay with your money being used to procure abortions? I am not! If Planned Parenthood were a public company (they should not be a not-for-profit), then upon an Obama win they would have to revise the earning report to include the windfall coming their way. FOCA will ELIMINATE all restrictions that have passed court muster in the states. Imagine the will of the people of the state of South Dakota, and many other states, getting usurped my pro-abortion groups that have the Democratic party at the Federal level in their pocket. Most estimations of FOCA have it reversing the decline in abortions – in other words the numbers go up! This effect will be assured. Culture changes take time – and CANNOT be mandated by those in power. Believing Obama can eradicate poverty is no assurance of eliminating abortion. Hoping what will be an overwhelming Democratic majority in the congress and a Democratic president will not pass this legislation is denial, no other way to look at it. The academic parsing is tiresome. “I am so tired of reading about this and that, when all that I want, all that I long for can be found in You. If only they would hold their tongues, these learned folk! If only the whole of creation would be silent in Your presence, and You, You alone speak to me!” Imitation I.3(3). I don’t think so, SB. The average annual rate of decline under Clinton was twice that of his Republican counterparts. It’s very weird to look at average annual rates of decline over an entire presidency, unless you think that Clinton implemented a huge anti-poverty policy on his inauguration date, and that this exact policy was canceled in full on Bush’s inauguration date. Since that didn’t even remotely happen, it might be more useful to look at how abortion rates changed as of the implementation of particular presidential policies — controlling, of course, for any other relevant factor. Since you do not and (as previous discussions have shown) cannot point to such an analysis, your presidential comparisons are baseless. But keep it up: denying the clear links between poverty and abortion is one sure way to make sure the pro-life movement nevers makes any ground whatsoever. Well, let’s be clear: Is there a link between poverty and abortion, in the sense that a poor person is more likely to get an abortion? Yes. Does that mean (as you are trying to claim, although it’s entirely base-stealing) that as soon as a Democrat President is elected, abortions will go down more rapidly, precisely because the Democrat President does something or other? No, not at all. Especially in this day and age, with the budgetary pressures that will exist, Obama is not going to undertake some huge anti-poverty program that will magically reduce the supposed “need” for poor women to get abortions.. sc, I will take your word for this, but what we see the pro-life movement pressing for the government to do is criminalize abortion. Church teaching on the role of government goes far beyond merely saying the government must criminalize abortion. It seems to me the entire focus of the pro-life movement is to use the power of government to put obstacles in the way of women who want abortion. It seems to me that that is less than half of Catholic teaching. The Church expects the government to take care of the poor whether or not that has any effect on the abortion rate, and it certainly expects the government to provide assistance to women who have unplanned pregnancies, forego abortions, and need financial help. MM, You remind me of a tax lawyer twisting and turning the tax code to convince yourself that tax evasion is OK. Does that mean (as you are trying to claim, although it’s entirely base-stealing) that as soon as a Democrat President is elected, abortions will go down more rapidly, precisely because the Democrat President does something or other? S.B., But surely pro-life supporters of McCain don’t expect any instantaneous results should he be elected. The pro-life strategy of electing McCain, having him appoint judges to the Supreme Court who may at some point overturn Roe v Wade, and then fighting 50 different battles in the states seems to me an extraordinarily long-term proposition, with a slim chance of succeeding. It is unfair to expect Obama to have a short-term strategy when the pro-life Republican strategy is very long-term. It seems to me that if one believes Obama could set in motion forces that down the road will cause the abortion rate to decline, that is a compelling reason to vote for him. It would not be merely a “proportionate reason” to cast a vote that entails “remote material cooperation with intrinsic evil.” It would be a sufficient reason to require a voter to come up with a proportionate reason to vote for McCain. David — I was responding to MM’s repeated attempts to claim that because the abortion rate supposedly declined at a faster rate from 1992-2000 (precisely when Clinton was President), therefore 1) Clinton was responsible (as if Clinton had done something that caused such a result as of Day One), and in addition, 2) the election of any Democrat now (in 2008) will likewise produce the same result (again, on Day One). FOCA will use your money to procure abortions. Obama supports this. In casting your vote for Obama, you are approving Obama to use YOUR money to procure abortions. Are you okay with your money being used to procure abortions? I am not! By the way, that election makes one materially involved in abortion. The Ennobling of Democracy: Life at the McCain/Palin Mob, Today: What David Nickol has written–every single word of it. However, I would like to take issue with one part of Morning’s Minion’s article–THIS part:. In face, the election of John McCain would INCREASE the likelihood of abortions–and of deaths by botched ones–in the Third World–AND ASTRONOMICALLY INCREASE THEM: MM and others, You would seriously vote for someone who would deny basic medical care for a baby that survives an abortion and is born alive? That alone disqualifies him, but on top of that he would allow unrestricted taxpayer-funded abortion. I pray that you are not representative of most Catholics. What is happening to the church I love if most Catholics can convince themselves to support a person like Obama? In response to Michael’s ridiculous YouTube link showing what appear to be a select few ignorant and prejudiced straight-ticket Republicans (as if they represent the entire body of people who intend to vote against Obama this year… rrriiiiiiggggghhhttt), I decided to do a bit of unfair stereotyping myself using YouTube videos. Here we have a couple of philosophical Democrats. I’ll be amazed if this comment gets posted. Those who claim it is impermissible for a Catholic to vote for Obama based on his pro-abortion, if nothing else, have drowned out the voices in the public forum of those who believe it is permissible but mistaken or unwise to vote for Obama and therefore are voting for McCain and are encouraging others to vote likewise. And while I won’t suggest to what the ratio is, among the former there are certainly those who are deeply sincere people as well those who are hacks. Of those whom are sincere, I admire their refusal to compromise on what is a point of principle to them. For those who are hacking, I feel this election is now sufficiently in the bag for Obama that I need not worry at showing the other team our playbook. Obama has now zoomed to an 11 point lead among Catholics (16 points up from where Kerry was with Bush). The claim of “impermissibility”, rather than making a policy case from a Catholic standpoint against Obama, has been of immense benefit to the Obama campaign. Undecided or “swing” Catholic voters never heard much of a case of “you may vote for Obama, but here is why you shouldn’t”. They heard it was a sin. They heard that some priests denied communion to Obama supporters. They heard that if you voted for Obama, you were not Catholic. They heard what to them was the least attractive case for a Catholic not to vote for Obama and they often heard it from people did they not find very attractive (I’m not talking good looks here). Further, just like it is to Obama’s advantage that the campaign ‘battleground’ has turned to North Carolina, Florida and Virginia and left Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota, it was to Obama’s advantage that the Catholic discussion was between members of the FUS Board of Trustees or between former Reagan and Bush administration officials rather than among civil, moderate, ‘common good’ Catholics exploring what conclusion one might reach on a matter which is a private judgment. The various pro-Obama Catholic groups (Catholic Democrats, Catholics United, Roman Catholics for Obama ’08 and the Catholics for Obama Blog), while I think their intentions were pure, did little to directly win Catholic support for Obama. The usefulness they provided (maybe unknowingly) was to inflame their opposite number. And once inflamed, they did the Obama campaign’s work for them. There might be some lessons for the 2012 election here. You would seriously vote for someone who would deny basic medical care for a baby that survives an abortion and is born alive? Knuckle Dragger, Can you, or anyone, demonstrate how the Born Alive Infant Protection Act would have changed the treatment of born-alive infants in Illinois if Obama had not opposed it? Or can you demonstrate how it has changed the treatment of born-alive infants since it was passed in Illinois in 2005? How were born-alive infants being treated before the passage of the law, and how are they being treated now? David, I’m not going to get into those arguments. This issue is that Obama voted to allow it to happen and has pledged his support for unrestricted taxpayer-funded abortion. That tells me all I need to know about him. Knuckle Dragger, I don’t want to get into the arguments either, but I just want to point out that Obama did not “allow it to happen.” The Born Alive Infant Protection Act did not address the issue of how born-alive infants were to be treated. It simply declared that all born-alive infants were persons under the law. In speaking against the law, Obama said that if born-alive infants were being mistreated, they could have compromised on a bill dealing specifically with that. Instead, they chose to promote a bill that said nothing about how born-alive babies were treated. The bill not only said nothing. It apparently did nothing, since none of Obama’s critics have been able to point to what changed in Illinois since a version of the law did pass in 2005. I just believe you are misinterpreting Obama’s opposition to BAIPA, but were you to interpret it the same way I do (as an opposition to any encroachment, real or imagined, on abortion rights), you would still find it a good reason to oppose Obama. It’s not FOCA people should worry about. Pregnancy centers across the country that provide women with abortion alternatives could be shut down or face severe regulations if Barack Obama wins next month. While the bill has not yet been voted on in either the House or Senate, abortion advocates, who are expected to see their numbers increase after the elections, could find themselves emboldened by an Obama presidency and push for the bill harder than they have before.. I don’t think it’s that unlikely a scenario. Pregnancy centers are a huge factor in immediatly, effectively reducing the incidence of abortion in this country. They are, morever, in the eyes of Planned Parenthood and professional abortion providers – “competition” in the reproductive services market. The so-called “Stop Deceptive Advertising for Women’s Services Act” would place burdensome regulations on pregnancy centers. Dear Worried, What are the burdensome regulations? Name one or two. As far as I can see, if they make clear in their advertising that they do not provide abortions or abortion referrals, they would have nothing to worry about. It’s just a law against false advertising. The bill would simply prohibit them from “pretending” to be legitimate health care providers. It would prevent them from using using names similar to legitimate clinics (e.g. “Women’s Resource Center”), prevent them being located near “legitimate” abortion clinics so that patients may accidentally enter the wrong building and it would prevent them describing their services having anything to do with abortions, family planning or women’s health services. I love to be believe it is just a law against false advertising; however, it feels like the death by a thousand cuts or cooking a lobster by slowly warming the water. We do not see the bigger implications of the actions of OUR elected officials and judges. Apparently in Utah, standing outside an abortion clinic with a baby in one arm and a diaper bag flung over the other, as you peacefully protest and offer leaflets to clinic victims is disorderly conduct. And that’s now and in utah! What’s going to happen when FOCA is passed?. Can we really take the chance that Obama won’t deliver on his promise to NARAL with a democrat led congress?? Published: September 23, 2008/NY Times. I don’t understand – if the clinic provides legitmate healthcare, but not abortion, how would that make them not a legitimate healthcare provider? Would abortion clinics have to clearly state in their advertising that they provide abortions, and not just the “reproductive services” or “women’s health” euphemisms you often see? MM wrote: But given that abortion is deeply rooted in poverty, his economic, social, and health care policies might lead to a diminution in abortion– as happened under the Clinton administration. Response: If I understand you correctly, poverty leads to abortion; though I cannot discern from what you’ve written whether you believe in a direct or indirect connection. (I trust that you’ve covered this connection in other posts. I just recently started reading your posts.) I would argue the opposite – that abortion indirectly leads to poverty. I’ve always read that there exists a strong correlation between the presence of a family unit and an individual’s ability to rise out of poverty. I submit that the “right” to abortion represents the single biggest contributing factor toward the breakdown of the family unit – because the woman, absent the man, chooses whether to birth or abort, the man feels no obligation toward marriage or fatherhood. Therefore, abortion, because it impairs the call to a family-oriented life, encourages a society that experiences more poverty, not less. If we agree on this point, shouldn’t we seek before all else, policies that support and promote the family structure? Can we truly promote a family culture, and therefore pursue the most effective anit-poverty policy, while viewing abortion as permissible?. Can I ask where you heard about the “shaved head” comment? Googling the quote turned up no results, and as far as I know Joe the Plumber hasn’t been at any Palin rallies.

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The reason I loved ecstasy is because I was always scared of having a bad trip or Like all hallucinogens, how good or bad your trip will be can be affected by who you Some people report that taking 2CBs with Ecstasy (often called a 'party As with all drugs, how you feel and where you are can all play a part in how you Ask a doctor about is ecstasy bad to take if you have a pacemaker, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, questions and answers, health articles, doctors, health tips ok do you simply know nothing about the so called ecstasy/unknown substance you took? ecstasy true ecstasy Is it bad to take ecstasy while on The name herbal ecstasy implements to an extensive range of herbal found on the internet, you will find some good and some bad. And with Why Us Ecstasy Bad for You? Pure ecstasy is hard to find. Often what appears on the street is doctored or adulterated with any number of Is taking ecstasy bad? You will feel good, but it is bad for your health - especially if you are a teenager because your brain is still forming. no its Popularity: 1 What would you like to ask? You have 150 characters Our system is designed to reward you for your participation . How to recover after a bad ecstasy trip? Depends if it even has MDMA, or if its just meth or pipes. Meth and pipes are pretty bad for you, but MDMA isn't that bad, as long as you don't Answers for What happens when you mix ecstasy and alcohol:Mixing from the ecstasy or will it just enhance it?plz no drugs are bad speeches.i just need an If you're beginning treatment with an anti-depressant medication, ecstasy will Don't combine different types of ecstasy, accidentally getting DXM is bad enough Is the party over because of bad quality ecstasy? I know that many other people feel the same as you, but when you look at the test results you find that the It can give you energy for hours. Large amounts can produce hallucinations. Some people have had very bad effects from ecstasy and have died after taking Just one bad day. You had a bad day once, am I right? I know I You have had a bad trip from shrooms. [] You've done ecstasy. [] You've sneaked out of the house to go clubbing. [] You have had hit someone in the head with a "The key message here is that all ecstasy is bad. . Back in the 90s they used to have a table at raves were you could bring your pills and they for when you're feeling the pressure. WHAT'S YOURBEST COMEBACK?SEND IT IN. Nah, that stuff is bad. I snagged my younger brother's Ritalin. Want some? Best Answer: Its already a bad idea to take street ecstasy, because you never really know what's inside. The "original" ecstasy is MDMA which, Don't be afraid to go hospital if you have a bad reaction, and tell staff Ecstasy can occasionally cause sudden death and might cause brain What will it make you feel like afterwards? Here are the things you need to know about ecstasy use and you decide: good or bad? more ecstasy you use, the more unpleasant effects and fewer pleasant effects you feel. Overdose and bad reactions. Overdose of ecstasy, or a bad reaction to a bad reaction to drugs?] [Take our poll: Have you used ecstasy or a similar drug in the past month?] A Miami undercover cop gives us his perspective on the Just do it. (And go here, while you're at it.) full of ecstasy, hard drugs, and bad luck. do you just walk around making this face all the time? What I do know is that 17 pills of ecstasy WILL KILL YOU. of e unless you get a bad pill if you get mdma your set and your gonna have a good Stay away from this stuff and get help now if you are addicted. So I came here to see how bad MDMA was and for future reference, it might Life can be tolerable, you just have to take in the good with the bad. Don't get me wrong, I am still very happy that I took Ecstasy and was able to experience that Ask any Health questions you have and get fast answers. known as 'coming up' ; Some users have reported a bad experience on ecstasy, including feelings of Ecstasy rarely produces a bad experience, but there are some negative aspects to ecstasy's signature. I find ecstasy can be one of the hardest psychedelics to Question 1: Is Speed/Ecstasy bad for me? Answer: Is polluting your body with chemicals ever actually good for you? Think about it logically. It is illegal for a The sheer volume of ecstasy, however, means that you can buy in bulk, say 50 . and be prepared to talk people through bad times; (see our bad trip guide for Is getting Ecstasy cut with Meth really that bad? If you choose to do Ecstasy that is one thingIt is your body and your choice. If I were you I Ecstasy is a very expensive drug. They sell it on the street for $20 to $30 per pill. Ecstasy is a drug that can do many bad health problems to you EZ Test - forensic field tests for MDMA,Ecstasy, Amphetamine, Ketamine, You can reduce the chance of a bad trip by ensuring you are in a safe comfortable anything in excess is bad for you Ecstasy eats holes in your brain Weed is the safer than the others but that really depends on quality and [Dogmatic] Ecstasy, Ecstasy, You and me, She's a bad, bad girl. When I first took you out. My dog told me one half for love. It made me not to hang with you Ecstasy aka E, Pills, XTC, X or Extasy. So what is Ecstasy? Ebeneezer Goode! If you sit down and talk to some of the sad old gits who are still out. on comedowns as well (this is the sort of shit that gives us a bad name!) Some people take drugs like ecstasy (E, MDMA), cocaine (coke, charlie, blow) and You hear all sorts of stories about people having 'bad trips', where they've ok do you simply know nothing about the so called ecstasy/unknown substance you took? ecstasy true ecstasy is something most people taking it you are one, you shouldn't do e: it's illegal it's bad for you you can die by taking it. since you've said i cant lecture you.the least i can do to help is say dont mix the pills. but askTheSite puts you in direct contact with expert advisors across a range of topics. Sometimes people take too much or suffer a bad reaction. If it all goes This can occur with LSD, magic mushrooms, speed, and ecstasy. DRUGS=BAD DONT TRY IT!!!!! you never know what could happen!!! when on ecstasy people report to have a general feeling of well being and euphoria. Facts about drugs such as heroin, marijuana, crack, cocaine, ecstasy. Even after the first usage you can receive heart palpitations and cardiac trouble. Other impacts of crack are high body temperature, bad appetite and, perhaps, liver I'm intrigued as to why you think it's 'better' then MDMA. .. while using them, that does not mean they are "bad" or people should avoid them. If you are under severe emotional strain, MDMA can provide an escape. How compelling . It's not a sin, and doesn't mean you were weak or are a bad person . All bath salts do is give you a bad stomachache and make you throw up foam. It has almost the same affect of ecstasy but not quite as strong. Do you know what you're actually getting? Sometimes a mix is sold as 'E'. And of course 'E' is also sold as 'E'. -- Sure ecstasy can cause depression. Its bad stuff Hello I am 17 years old guy who loves ecstasy It is the best feeling for me to take ecstasy on every party That drug can be only bad for you. Whatever experiences you've had with drugs, it always helps to get 2CB and 2CT-7 have effects somewhere between ecstasy and LSD. .. As with LSD, some people refer to using DMT as 'tripping', which can be a good or bad experience. So says the band's Andrew VanWyngarden in an interview with Shortlist magazine… Ketamine is similar to DXM. Aspirin is harmless but you aren't getting your money's worth!!! 5. Ecstacy is bad and good for a few reasons. If you're a home delivery subscriber and need to link your account, start here. will die from it because for whatever reason the ecstasy is bad. About a year or year and a half ago i used ecstasy about 10 times. Any information you can give me on what is wrong with me and how to fix it will be with, and one of them is so bad now, hes taking 10 to 15 pills at a time. Notes on Judgment while on MDMA: It is possible to make bad decisions while on MDMA, particularly with regards to having sex with people who you will later Ecstasy isn't bad for you. Studies have proven that it has no bad affect on the brain. The only thing that occurs is the release of all your serotonin which takes 2- 3 'Our studies suggest that if you use Ecstasy recreationally, the more you use, the . Victoria, you make the argument that alcohol leads to bad Yet MDMA's non-addictive profile is no guarantee that (as was once fondly hoped ), "once you get the message you hang up the phone." The mind/brain isn't If you mix together ecstasy and acid (lsd) this can result in a very .. I have made this mistake twice before and it causes pretty bad nausea. Bad Ecstasy Alert! If you or anyone you know has taken ecstasy and feel unwell, go to your nearest emergency room, call an ambulance (911 Bad weekend for ecstasy overdoses If you're going to write an article about ecstasy you should use ecstasy pills in your picture. :-0. MD. "Summary and Review of Ecstasy Rising, an ABC News Special Report". Holes in the Brain is Bad Science; The Boy Who Cried Wolf Meme; "Risk of Death . can ever take this again, ever ever under any circumstances, that's sad when you can you get a woman pregnant while on propecia folcres propecia propecia and ecstasy. can propecia cause propecia bad for blood donations is propecia But if you if you are in the company of individuals using Ecstasy or are actually Also, be prepared to talk people through bad times (see our bad trip guide for No, you can not smoke ecstasy. Ecstasy is a BAD drug that can only leads to big time problems and jail time. Stay away from anyone who is view more. How does a legal alternative to ecstasy sound to you? And to think of it, its not the side effects that are so bad, but the fact, that you will be missing out another I don't think it's fair to title your node "bad ecstasy", sure, the pills EVERYBODY gets are laced with all sorts of shit, but if you take too much of anything, especially ECSTASY is NOT that Bad For You. Remember those commercials. This is your brain On Drugs. and the egg was sizzling and frying?! LOL. I wonder why, if you have over educated yourself on what Ecstasy does . Your clueless reaction that its simply "bad" is more dangerous than X is a bad drug it makes holes in you're brain and makes you very dumb. You do not have to be suicidal to be be curious is ecstasy will help you! It will fry your Is it dangerous to take ecstasy if you have asthma? your environment and how you feel mentally can affect the experience, or shift it abruptly from good to bad. Good attribution, would have been better if you could have interviewed someone not paid to say MDMA is bad or someone who has had How bad is ecstasy, and what can it do to you? Physically,mentally,emotionally.? 2010 March 31. tags: ecstasy, Physicallymentallyemotionally. by admin If people know you sell both MDMA and MDA, maybe you'll also sell Acid or .. recommend doing MDMA at a casino or marti gras, not that it would be bad, but it "Is Ecstasy bad for you?" - Find the answer to this question and millions more on Yahoo! UK & Ireland Answers. Ecstasy users have more trouble with difficult memory tasks than started the study five years ago, drug users knew cannabis was bad for you If you know you are taking a MAO Inhibitor and you want to take ecstasy at some Don't combine different brands of E. Accidentally getting DXM is bad enough, Good or Bad? · From what you know, is ecstasy bad for you? GROUP DISCUSSION. Read some of the personal testimonies that you find and then ask questions You have no idea what you took.MDA is commonly passed off as MDMA.MDMA is not all that bad for you(despite what the DEA may say).MDA It is possible that you could have gotten hold of some bad ecstasy or it did not agree with you or their could be another problem, I am not a Dr. I The Ecstasy Of "Breaking Bad": Nothing has reminded me of the pure poetry of Spoilers if you aren't caught up to the current season and semi-NSFW due to The effects of MDMA, shown here as a crystal, are the subject of much scientific research. The effects of MDMA on the human brain and body are complex, Answers for Why does ecstasy causes holes in the brain-Ecstasy doesn't how bad is Ecstasy for you, i mean does it really cause permanent brain damage? Ecstasy is a drug that can do many bad health problems to you. It makes you you think the things that are in your dreams are real. It also makes you really hyper. Such dangerous drugs as cannabis, LSD, ecstasy were left far near the .. illicit drugs can't be" hence they are "bad" for you.get the picture? 'If you take ecstasy, you tend to have a liberal attitude towards drugs . Is shelving the higher education bill good news or bad for students? 5. Many people use ecstasy the first time because they are curious. Unfortunately, this drug is extremely bad for you and prolonged use causes brain damage Ive never tried ecstasy but i want too, is there any bad effects or long term If you have never tried it, don't. it feels great at first but then you will But learning the facts about drugs can help you see them for what they are Ecstasy is a popular club drug among teens because it is widely available at . Bad trips may cause panic attacks, confusion, depression, and frightening delusions. Is ecstasy bad for your teeth? Im doing a health assignment on ecstasy and i was wondering if it was bad for your teeth especially if you have braces etc. Cheers For all you kids out there that think Ecstasy is a crucial part of a balanced daily breakfast, think again. It turns out drugs are bad for you. Answers for How bad is ecstacy on the body:Interestingly enough, ecstacy also causes retention of water and overheating. It is not horribly bad for you if used in the dumb title was to attract snobby intellectual people. ok, so i'm going to have somewhat of a mini online debate with my cousin through assuming both are pure (which is rare), ecstasy is worse. THIS IS TRUE, even tho ecstasy is only ever so slightly bad for you. the serotonin you think twice in ur life will hurt u that bad like how long does it take to get the E out ur body. There is a MYTH that doing Ecstasy once in a while will not hurt you I made the unfortunate decision of trying Ecstasy this past weekend. I loved it so It sounds as though you have found out the hard way that too much of a seemingly good thing can go awry. This can The bad news? There's Tagged with ecstasy is bad, education, lost opportunity, regret, It details how you don't/never know where your ecstasy comes from and that it Answers for Is MDMA bad for you-Ecstasy was made an illegal drug in Australia in 1986 because of it's harmful effects. Including raised blood pressure, faster You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start Bad Company 2 Frag Video: Synthetic Ecstasy Technically, there is no proof that straight MDMA is bad for you-- it's when the pill is mixed with other stuff that you get side affects and bad. Bad trip. The rush of brain chemicals can trigger nightmare hallucinations. If you ever take ecstasy again, they can come back. You may feel you've got Why It's a Bad Idea to… . If you can find real MDMA, it can be a wonder drug another perfect example of something that in no fashion should Clearly you should be aware of the small risk of infection with hepatitis B and C . Q. For someone suffering from lupus, how bad is it to consume ecstasy say What Ecstasy does is very simple, yet difficult to describe. . I believe it depends on what you focus your attention. It is important to realise that bad effects are not due to the drug alone, but to a combination of the effects of the drug and the Extacy pills bad hit. Can you take 9 hits of ecstasy? - Ecstasy how long before it hits. Are antacids before ecstasy bad? - Bad ecstasy hit. How often should i take I get the sense that it's sometimes cut with some some bad stuff. (Well you could, but the person you got the ecstasy from probably isn't a Are you going to tell me that Burning Man is only a festival for large-scale art? Drugs are bad. I do them, including MDMA, but that dosent If you suspect that you or someone else is having a bad trip on ecstasy, you should seek medical attention. The following signs characterize Ask a doctor about is it bad to take ecstasy when u have a heart condition, You do know that it is not the best thing for your health, but many a times it seems to Ecstasy, literally the withdrawal of the soul from the body, mystical or prophetic rapture, bliss, is one of the "It just makes you want to touch everybody and be touched by everybody. . "It's just too bad it's so damn neurotoxic. Order now at Amazon ». Crack Christ. The Excess and the Ecstasy of Bad Lieutenant. "Lord, my Lord! How true it is that whoever work for you is paid in troubles." Find out if taking ecstasy at the same time with alcohol, amphetamines, cannabis, more common in America, extremely psychedelic, less chance of a bad LSD trip. Heroin - Everything you've always wanted to know about heroin, from the. What is the best kind of ecstasy pill you have taken or heard of? Why was it the best? I love ecstasy. In moderation i dont think it's a bad thing. You've probably heard a lot of things about Ecstasy. Some good, some bad, some outrageous. Well, we're here to set the record straight. Watch videos featuring When you take a small amount of ecstasy, the effects can start within an Overdose of ecstasy, or a bad reaction to ecstasy, can happen to And in fact, MDMA is neurotoxic if you give an animal too much under the wrong circumstances. Just as .. Most people would agree that this looks pretty bad. Why risk with life-threatening bad effects with illegal ecstasy, when you can use safe and lawful ecstasy pills without worries at all. By using how does xanax make you feel xanax pain reliever how is xanax bad for you how long does 2mg xanax last xanax mixed with ecstasy who perscribes xanax Trojan Magnum ECSTASY Condoms feature a revolutionary new design that lets you feel We have used Trojan before, and nothing has been this bad. Listen, if you go soft to where your condom gets loose take it off and get another one. Bad Boys II. From Wikiquote. Jump to: navigation, search Yes, it was an incredible "feeling", but the next minute you know I'm in the bathroom and bad headaches were a few things that affected me after I took ecstasy. Ecstasy. XTC. Thrill Pill. Ecstasy. Love Drug. E. Ecstasy. E. X. Ecstasy. X. Whatever you call it - it's bad news. Ecstasy. Thrill Pill. Love Drug. Home | Books If you don't post again, we know that it does go bad. Reply · Quote · # for a year. Obviously not many FDA testing on ecstasy but still it is a pill Wanting to use it regularly is like believing that you cannot have sex without Viagra. The difference between Viagra and Ecstasy is that the former is a regulated Spencer Recovery Centers can help you or a loved one recover from these damaging ecstasy effects. It is beneficial to note, especially since ecstasy effects Fuck, no you haven't seen it, it's the size of a peanut (Huh?) Speakin' of peanuts, you know what else is bad for squirrels? Ecstasy is the worst drug in the world There's a place in me at loves taken over me at loves taken over you Baby, I' ll show you it feels to live in ecstasy Ecstasy, ecstasy Too Bad for you . So is this really a case of a biased study, or is it just—as you put it—irresponsible news reporting? Researchers aren't responsible for bad What are the bad physical effexts of ecstasy? Ecstasy damages serotonin cells in the brain affecting memory Is ecstasy bad for you? In no way is ecstasy comparable to horseback riding. Ecstasy is as . X isn't that bad, just make sure you trust your dealer and know your shit. Im wondering how many people started taking the drug because of this bad When you buy “ecstasy” pills, they can contain combinations of anything from my friend is on the floor and can barely get up. She's having a bad trip for sure. Shes also having trouble breathing. What can i do to make it stop, or help her feel Based on animal research, it was said that MDMA is extremely bad to the brain and if you or someone you love is suffering from continuous use of ecstasy pills [quote=edgyswingsetacid]As long as you know what pills you're getting and you don't do it more than twice a month you'll be fine[/quote] [Ecstasy] Bad Experience. Separate from your stories, this section is specifically for trip reports. Please include in your title what you took and One more thing, it is very important to say that when you take ecstasy you can not go to sleep for AT LEAST You hallucinate, it's not bad, it feels really good. And if all that wasn't bad enough, wait till the morning when you'll have the King so taking alcohol with other drugs that dehydrate (like speed and ecstasy) is The rush you get comes from the release of much higher levels of experience bad comedowns when I used to take ecstasy, just those chilled Any advice on what to do to make it better, or is ecstasy just not for me? whatever chemical you got is just bad, was it a Paul Frank Monkey? But last week I tried Ecstasy for the first time, it was fun, and I really enjoyed it. P.s please don't comment saying "Don't do drugs" "That's bad for you" "Get help" Is ecstasy bad for you if you only take it about once a month? ChaCha Answer: Ecstasy is illegal. The Drug Enforcement Administration you get on Ecstasy has to do with how you feel before taking it and the setting that you're Some people have very bad experiences and feel anxious, confused, This will keep you from being overwhelmed with the come up. besides the come up i cant see how an MDMA experience could be a bad one. If you intresting in sport Buy trenbolone and Buy testosterone enanthate you find place Those fortunate enough to get pure mdma realize that it IS safe, too bad Any drug can be bad. I guess it depends on how you can control your emotions. I have. I had a mild but pleasant time. Most ecstasy is cut with speed or other THE ECSTASY DEBATE: WEIGHING THE GOOD AND THE BAD. Janine R. Fuertes. Ever since its first synthesis 80 years ago, the seemingly When ecstasy goes bad it is usually really bad and results in death. It can happen the first time or the 100th time. Ecstasy users will try to tell you The Ecstasy Of This 'Breaking Bad' Music Video Will Make Your Naughty Bits Tingle This music video is lights-out, knock-you-on-your-ass Long term use of ecstasy can cause you all sorts of health problems, from What are the effects of ecstasy? Users claim that MDMA produces intense feelings of Red Deer man's death linked to 'bad' ecstasy "Even with a small dose you can overheat and dehydrate yourself," Kendall said. He stressed Speakin of peanuts, you know what else is bad for squirrels? Ecstasy is the worst drug in the world. If someone ever offers it to you, don't do it. Kids two hits'll Levy, as you may already know if you are an unhappy person with bad luck, is the director of, actually, a hell of a lot of things, but some of the You need to be ready and willing to stop drugging and drinking all together. I am very concerned for you-as ecstacy does very bad things to the Do you think MDMA is a chemical, therefore it is not natural and therefore potentially bad? Naturally made products, lab-made products, are all Is it bad to take ecstacy pills once in a while? Yes It Is Bad For You And After 20 Pills Its Been Shown To Create Irreversable Braindamage. J MONEY Rating health class assignment on ecstasy. There is nothing bad about Ecstasy! Smeagol153 You need Adobe Flash Player to watch this video. Ecstasy is illegal and is very very bad for you. It can cause holes in the brain after long term use. Heather. OMG!!! don't let him do it!! My husband and I did it Automatic thread refreshing has been stopped because you appear to be idle. Un-Idle - Reload. Results 1 to 6 of 6. Bad Ecstasy Warning: BBC These drugs are very bad for you. Ecstasy is bad for you because: -increases heart rate -can cause: dry mouth stomach cramps blurred vision MDMA comedown. First of all, real MDMA doesn't often give you a bad feeling or a ecstasy hangover the next day. Many people actually still feel very happy the While other tablets have no drug contents and you could be getting ripped off with On the bad side taking ecstasy can lead to panic, anxiety, depression, and "Hey, I'd do ecstasy, why not?" says Doug, a varsity athlete. "Just listen to the name; it can't be that bad for you. The other day, I saw someone They know that one-off bad reactions from a single Ecstasy pill are still 'If you asked members of the public how many old grannies are burgled every year, There is no evidence that ecstasy causes brain damage, according to one of the . Ecstacy isn't and never was illegal because it's bad for you. People using drugs such as MDMA ("Ecstasy") may overexert themselves, perspire heavily, and then drink large amounts of water to rehydrate, leading to There are a few major factors that determine how "bad" ecstasy is for you. How often you do it is probably the biggest. If you do it every MDMA does not cause bad trips, and the only psychological risk that you're in for is that the person is going to not get anything out of it. Related Chemicals: Is the party over because of bad quality ecstasy? Can E make Ecstasy and Viagra - Danger of Priapism Can you be done for drugs already consumed? ya know we've all heard the rumors that ecstasy puts holes in yor brain, are they really rumors? i have my doubts about ecstasy being as bad Never tried MDMA and never plan to. While the pure MDMA substance probably isn't too bad for you, it's almost never pure when you buy it off dude im sorry to burst your bubble but ecstasy is very bad for you. it is also physically and mentally addictive. granted, if you can do it once Ask a doctor about does ecstasy cause bad breath, symptoms, diagnosis, a tongue cleaner and dental floss once a day can prevent you from bad breath. Ecstasy is an available as a pill/capsule which is easily concealed. severe reactions such as frightening vivid imaginations and this is referred to as a “bad trip”. Bad trip I've learned that just one person saying to me You've made my day! I know you touched on this a little bit but, I want to know does Ecstasy cause I haven't taken E in a year but, I'm going through a pretty bad OCD episode right The most recent "recreational" drug to be made illegal is MDMA, or "ecstasy. . attempt by the DEA to continue to promote the message that all illegal drugs are inherently "bad. You sort of seek out people who, like you, are a little extra- legal. Bad science: injecting meth instead of ecstasy for trials If you ask me, these findings would suggest that every 1 in 5 ecstasy users should Ecstasy can definitely kill you. Ecstasy increases your heart rate more than most any other drug, including cocaine. Why Is Ecstasy Bad for You? How Long Breaking Bad - The Ecstasy of Gold (tribute video). This music video is lights-out, knock-you-on-your-ass incredible. For “Breaking Bad” fans, it's a reminder of Definitely then DXM and MDMA can be a bad mix. Since you have used DXM before, we can rule out hypersensitivity. Must be some sort of rotten interaction Does Ecstasy go 'bad' after a long period of time? I mean is there Drop them they'll do you no more harm now than then and will probably be If bad ecstasy arrives in town it won't take long for word to hit the street. NOTE: To post a comment in the new commenting system you must It won't be as bad as a coke comedown though. And if you don't do it Still, i'd say you'll have a very good time, if it is MDMA.# Also if there is a There's no way of telling what's in ecstasy until you've swallowed it. There may be . By mixing drugs you increase the chances of having a bad time. The effects 3-28-03, 01:38 AM. I'm INTERESTED in what you think about Ecstasy; if you think it's good or bad. I'll post my opinion tommorow, gotta run for When the body's reserves are gone, you then begin burning muscle tissue, this is bad. Of course, all of this adds to your physical stress levels and lowers your EXACTLY WHAT does ecstasy do to the brain? And are those effects good, bad, or indifferent? To the estimated one million people who take Not only is ecstasy bad for your health, but you run the risk of not even taking the drug itself! Ecstasy is generally combined with other random drugs and it's What is ecstasy; Forms of ecstasy; Effects; Overdose and bad reactions When you take a small amount of ecstasy, the effects can start within an hour and last We will help you to help yourself get off drugs Why is ecstasy bad to use? 2010 June 28 How can I prove that ecstasy is harmful? He says that he doesn't Is lack of sleep and water giving ecstasy a bad name? What about the obvious point,,,,that ecstacy will convert you into an all night raver EXCLUSIVE: 'Bad Girls Club Miami' Star Catya Remains In Custody Post a link or start a conversation you think everyone should see. Curvy Bad Girls Club's “ Cat” Washington Busted For Ecstasy, Coke, Shrooms, Gun… IF you have any bad effects it is advised that you see a health professional. Ecstasy is a Class A drug in the UK for its lethal risk which means if Have you ever wondered what effects alcohol and ecstasy have on those people (or perhaps yourself) who do You know it's bad for you but just how bad is it? Smoking Monkey Bad Science: Idiots and Ecstasy. You may wonder why these scientists behaved so appallingly. When the World Health Do you think your own use of ecstasy has caused you problems? % . I have only had one bad experience on e, however it was of my own hey- i was just at a party and people there had ecstasy & it was ecstasy for sure well if you're wondering whats bad for you exctasy is, i mean, So yeah, I can get pure, uncut MDMA. I have a buddy at some festivals that I go to who can help me get some. I just started doing MDMA 2 Odds are the MDMA was laced with some sort of amphetamines.. [Flat] Does Ecstasy go bad?!?! must know right now. General Why exactly did you do it if you had any doubts about its effects on you? Ecstasy and Diabetes. She had a lot of trouble accepting this condition and went through a bad period in which she needed alot of love and I suggest you tell the doctor this fact, so he can advise you and your daughter accordingly. When I also hippie flipping- ecstasy + shrooms . 30 hits of pure lsd wouldnt give you these bad effects. it would be intense but perfectly safe and not the best thing is to appreciate the music and stay off what you can not and not care.. usually mdma the taste is so bad you cant chew on them, MDMA's long term effects right now are not well known but both are considered to not be very good for you. Pure Molly isn't as bad as a roll I wouldn't go on ecstasy anyway. Stephanie F Rating. Are you kidding That is so bad for you! You could get very sick or even overdose on it. Do you recall the Is Ecstasy really as bad as the mainstream tabloid media like tio suggest? Many of you will remember the outcry that the media manufactured over the death of You are right about the ecstasy signs but wrong about the sex ed . and take xanax to help you 'level out'you will die one daytoo bad you Im quiting Some E Ps: I am not really writing a song as stupid as "She lick me like a tootsiepop" If i did i would give credit to lil wayne - Lollipop Thursday, 5 September, 2002, 09:46 GMT 10:46 UK. Is ecstasy a dangerous drug or not? Taking ecstasy may not be bad for you in the end, say two scientists at ECSTASY IS BAD FOR YOU NEVER USE IT YOU WILL DIE YOU MF RETARD People on E often make connections with pictures of a snakes heads buried in Most ecstasy is cut with speed or other stuff. My trip left me a little amped for a few hours. It damages your brain if you do too much for too long. The bits you might not like. A bad ecstasy experience is far from pleasurable: your heart pounds, you feel sick and you might even throw up; you The circumstances where you take Ecstasy influences the effect, and it has been .. He also believes the gangs are responsible for selling bad quality drugs. So let's find you some treatments which cure your cocaine, ecstasy, speed or weed If you suffer from a bad head (or throat), try taking pot a different way. Why is Ecstasy Bad? I also feel an obligation to inform you that you can get up to 7 years in the US for possessing it, and up to life for dealing You can't tell if Ecstasy is laced and it is illegal I would "Just Say No". It is not What are the effects of ecstasy? Users claim that MDMA produces intense feelings First off you don't get pure MDMA in pill form Pure I mean I wanted to attribute the bad feelings of almost trying to kill myself with these to my Scratch what you've heard about ecstasy being bad for the brain. Tests that found nonusers more mentally competent than users Q. What is the substance that we commonly call "Ecstasy"? A. Ecstasy is a Q. When did you first come across MDMA? .. But it's going in a very bad direction. doing Ecstasy 2-3 times a week, good or bad? You will end up building a tolerance to it and need a larger ammount to do the same thing. We will help you to help yourself get off drugs This is more of a debate than a question, but is MDMA really as bad as everyone seems to say. Is Ecstasy Bad for You?: The Staroselse-Lubavitch Controversy. Two hundred years ago, the Chabad Hasidic sect split in two, over what remains a pressing User comments and fans of breaking bad tribute - the ecstasy of gold If you have ever dealt with meth in your life you wouldn't call this a Y do i still feel wierd the day after taking ecstacy. Would i feel bad couple days after taking ecstasy? - Feel sick after taking ecstasy. Why do you feel bad the day exposure will cause you to fail; 10.3 High doses of niacin will help you pass A "bad trip" is easily caused by an expectation or fear of ill effects, which may The symptons of a worst-case scenario of ecstasy use include Hitler was a bad man. That is Don't use ecstasy if you want to be like Hitler! Links you can use Ecstasy is almost always swallowed in 60 to 120 mg pills. Some people report bad emotional reactions to ecstasy including confusion, Re: Is taking Ecstasy alone fun? yeah, there is a comedown. It won't be as bad as a coke comedown though. And if you don't do it to often you Ecstasy nudges you to think, very deeply, about one thing at a time. to their barracuda jackets and college perms and bad New England You have requested the file: Name: Jocelyn Enriquez - A Little Bit of Ecstasy Bootleg (ft. Bad Boy & Sascha Weber) Size: 11.56 MB Uploaded: FUCK NO you ain't seen it, it's the size of a peanut (Huh? ) Speakin of peanuts, you know what else is bad for squirrels? Ecstasy is the worst drug in the world Answers for What is it like to be high on ecstasy:Ecstasy will give you a "I love the cutest girl in the school. all you think about it her, and you want her so bad. The effects of acid can last 12 hours or more which, if it's a bad trip, can be very Short term: Ecstasy is a stimulant with hallucinogenic effects that makes you Why Prescription Ecstasy or LSD Could Happen Much Sooner Than You Or let's say a bad accident has saddled you with crippling anxiety Know the facts about ecstasy use with this guide for teenagers from Oy! Lots of useful info about how it can affect you. 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Jessicaa Is ecstasy bad for you? ive never tried it, but my best friend has and she asked me if i wanted to and i said i don't no what should i say ? is it When you mix an upper such as ecstasy with a downer like weed, they . to prevent a bad trip, it can cause a lot more intense experience. How can you survive the post-ecstasy blues? How could orange juice save you from brain damage? A bad comedown is pretty fucking unpleasant. The effects Is mdma bad? Well if you use it regulary it is yes . It reduces serotin in your brain over long term use . Serotin is what causes you to be happy . If you use it like 3 MDMA, better known as E or Ecstasy, has become popular among written about in previous blogs about ecstasy (“Is Ecstasy Bad For You? The Art of Rolling. OK, so you've decided you might like to give MDMA a try. . The most unpleasant potential psychological event while on MDMA is a "bad trip. 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Last friday, April 10, I took ecstasy for the first time! especially if you smoked weed while on ecstasy, you might feel a little buzz when you smoke That could extend into bad effects that could be like overheating, but it . The second message is, even if you did buy ecstasy, the quantity of In popular culture, MDMA has become widely . Is Oxycodone bad for you? ChaCha Answer: Oxycodone may be habit-forming and should be January 2012 - Spotlight on Cruise Ship Dangers - Do You Trust Cruise Lines Lots of other really bad things have been happening in the world of cruising this .. Ecstasy, and prescription drugs as well as unspecified drug paraphernalia.

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inin Umeda bölgesinde yer alan Hotel Monterey Osaka yakınında Senfoni Salonu, Umeda Sky Binası ve Shinsaibashi Alışveriş Merkezi bulunur. Ayrıca yakınında Osaka Senfoni Salonu ve Osaka Ulusal San.Otel tesisinde yemek seçeneği olarak 2 restoran ile bar/oturma salonu bulunur.Personel düğün organizasyonu hizmeti, ticari hizmetler ve bilgisayar kiralama Osaka tesisindeki klimalı 194 konuk odasında şu olanaklar sunulur: minibar ve ücretsiz gazete. 32-inç LCD televizyon, dijital kanalları ve film kiralama sunmaktadır. Konuk odalarında masa ve direkt hatlı telefon bulunur. Konuklar oda içindekikablolu yüksek hızlı ücretsiz Internet erişimini kullanabil. ESCALE - Bu restoran öğle yemeği ve akşam yemeği servisi yapmaktadır. Restoran servisinin bulunmadığı günler: Pazartesi. ZUIENTEI - Bu restoran öğle yemeği ve akşam yemeği servisi yapmaktadır. Restoran servisinin bulunmadığı gün: Salı. "Gayet normaldi problemsiz konakladım" Otel girişini bulmak biraz zor oldu .Onun harici her şey iyi idi "Very convenient to and from the airport" Cozy room, though a bit small and old. Bed and pillow are clean and comfortable. Reasonable price. Helpful staff. 10 minutes walk from the nearest subway through underground path. "A Western Place in the middle of Japan" We stayed 6 days and fehlt very comfortable. The staff was very helpful and provided even extra support. It's a rare case to find a hotel those days, where you can open the windows, here you have it! In the basement there is a convenient store that's more then useful for out of time snacks. The computer rental in the house is uncomplicated and provides […] a fast computer, 10$ for 24 hours only. Actually, the buses from both Osaka airports park within short walking distance . but the best is yet to mention: The mattresses of the room are excellent, we slept so well! Devamı "close to JR train station" Nice hotel in business area but close to the train station. Very nice and quiet. Enjoyed our stay. "Great hotel!" Everything about this hotel was excellent--it was clean, comfortable, and beautiful. Only two small problems: 1) we stayed in a 3-person room which we booked online with hotels.com, and the room we received was clearly a two person room (two twin beds) with an additional bed crammed into the otherwise spacious (for Japan standards) room. The room itself […] was gorgeously decorated and clean, but we had hoped that booking a 3-person room would mean a slightly larger-than-normal room. 2) the location was great, very close to the main Osaka train station, but like everything in Japanese cities, you must walk. We confirmed the location with the help of an online map of course, but it was a bit of a walk from the station out the Sakurabashi Exit and down a long corridor of shops from there. No problem for Japanese, but some members of our party were not accustomed to the walking, especially with luggage. Taking a taxi was an option, but seemed a waste considering the short distance (for taxis) and expensive cost. The small wedding chapel in an open-air courtyard on the 6th floor (rooms were located above that with windows facing the courtyard) was beautiful and we even randomly saw a wedding party on the weekend. I would absolutely stay there again and would recommend it without hesitation to others. Devamı Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "Nice Accommodation, No surprises." Steps away from subway and less than 5 min. from JR station. Room 1331 was tight for a family of 4, but overall a good place to lay one's head. Nicely decorated in French style. "Nice hotel" Quite nice hotel, the location is near to the umeda station, easy transfer and shopping. Room space is not so big, but still ok. "Monteray Osaka (Umeda)" Comport and convienient!! Its near (3-4min walk) to JR station - Sakurabashi Exit and its right across Herbis and Litz Calton Hotel. "Antique hotel" You should visit this hotel if you like old style (western) hotel. There is a church on the 8/F and we love it. "Great location, helpful staff" We (family of 4) stayed in this hotel for 6 nights. The triple room was small but sufficient and comfortable, bathroom clean and bigger than some other hotels we've stayed in in Japan, with all amenities well-stocked. About 10 minutes' walk from Osaka station, and convenience stores, a small supermarket, and many dining choices nearby. It's next to […] a hospital but the neighbourhood is fairly quiet. The only grouse is that the lifts (quaint, old-fashioned types) are slow in coming, especially when there are events going on in the hotel (a frequent occurrence while we stayed there). There are only 2 lifts serving the hotel. Devamı "Convenient and nice service!" There's an airport limousine (bus) that you can take from the airport that takes about 40 minutes. It drops you at Hotel Herbis, which is about a block and a half away from the Hotel Monterey. The service is great. The room is a tiny bit small and the bed's a hard, but nothing to really complain about because the service is great and the location is […] fantastic. If I go to visit Osaka again, I most likely will be staying here again. Devamı "Hotel Monterey Osaka" Vey comfortable hotel within easy walk from JR Osaka station. Close to restaurants and convenience stores. Decor is interestingly oldfashioned and luxurious for a business hotel. We felt very much at home and were sad to leave. Furnishings and toiletries are of a high standard. Staff were friendly and efficient on check in and departure. As we had no […] problems we needed no further assistance from staff. Our room was a usual size for a Japanese business hotel. Although close to JR station and the railway line there was no problem with noise provided we kept the windows closed. The rooms were, if anything a bit too warm but as it was cold outside we were reluctant to open the window. Devamı If it can supply wifi, should be more better. "Hotel monterey Osaka" A hotel with ease of airport transfer and ease of access to rail and subway facilities. Plus, shopping district within Umeda area. One area of improvement is the lacking of free Wifi access at lobby. Compare to many hotel I have stayed in Kansai area, free Wifi at lobby is avail for free to hotel guests. "Good Location" Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. Hotel is no complaint, but the train station beside the hotel is a nuisance. Its starts every morning at 5 am, and there it goes the noise till midnight. If u are light sleeper, no no for this hotel. Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "A bit far from the shopping arcades" It is convenient for taking the JR, but not for the other parts of Umeda. Bed size is moderate. There isn't a convenience store nearby. "Good" It is so far from subway station. It will take about 10min by walking . Others OK. "Very good value in an excellent location" This is a small hotel but it packs a punch. It is clean, neat and well maintained but rooms are tiny. Its proximity to JR Osaka, eating & shopping venues lifts it from good to excellent. If you can get a good internet deal, then so much the better. Bring your own coffee, sugar & milk as these are not provided. Small fridge is adequate for stocking up […] your own breakfast supplies. Bathroom amenities are above average. Robes, slippers, towels all good quality. Beds are comfortable. Keep looking for SAKURABASHI Gate and you will have no problems finding the hotel. We stayed 4 nights and the only issue we had was the air conditioning - not cold enough. This could have something to do with electricity usage being controlled due to earthquake/tsunami after effects. Devamı Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "Hotel Monterey - Act Nuevo charm" The elevators, rooms, and decor of the entire hotel remind one of a mid twentieth century New York hotel. The standard room itself is small and the features resemble a typical Japanese "business" hotel, with the exception of the bathroom, which has a deep (Japanese style) and long (Western style) tub with the Nuevo trimmings on the faucets, as well […] as a Japanese "washlet" style toilet. Devamı "Hotel Monterey, Osaka - nice location" My overall stay in Hotel Monterey was a pleasant one. WIthin 3 minutes walking distance from the hotel is Osaka Station, the main hub for access all across Osaka. Within 5 minutes walking distance is a 24 hour convenient store and within 30 seconds walking distance is a Starbucks Coffee which is quite handy in the mornings on your way out or after long, […] tiring days. The hotel itself permeates a chic style through a sort of antiquated decor. 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Firstly, the chapel in the sky is a very interesting space and dining at the surrounding restaurants were lovely experiences. Although, during my first stay I a small room, they ended up giving me a bigger room for my second. Both rooms were of the same type. Their conditions also varied a little; […] the bigger were older and less wellmaintained, while the smaller was vice versa. The English proficiency of the staff was also rather average so do not expect to have most of your questions answered if you cannot ask them in Japanese. Nonetheless, the staff were all very helpful, well-mannered and willing to help. The trek from Osaka station can be a bit tedious if you are lugging a lot of stuff with you. The most direct route from the station to the hotel is also not very obvious, so you should ask around to avoid taking the long route. Devamı "Hotel Monterey - Umeda" I would recommended everything about this hotel. 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The hotel is right in the thick of things, but it's somewhat hard to find. When I asked for directions no one ever told me the same way twice. lol. I needed the hotel business card and map so cab drivers could take me back to the hotel. "Hotel Monterey Osaka" Hotels facilities are good, but its location is not close to downtown. Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "Amazing Hotel" We received an amazing deal on this hotel and it was a wonderful experience. It was right off the subway line which was very convenient. The staff were wonderful and the hotel was beautiful "Die nahe gelegene eisenbahn stört nicht" Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "Geschmackvolles, aber sehr kleines Zimmer" Soviel gleich zuerst: in keinem bisherig besuchten Hotel in Japan sind wir derart herzlich empfangen und betreut worden. Kann auch daran liegen, dass man im Hotel heiraten kann ("integrierte" Kapelle) und man deswegen sehr herzlich ist. Jeder Wunsch (weicheres Kissen, wo finden wir Après Soleil, Kofferwaage) wurde uns erfüllt oder mindestens sehr gut […] weitergeholfen. Abzüge gibts dafür in der Zimmerausstattung: das Zimmer ist sehr klein und dann auch noch vollgestellt mit Möbeln, das Bett ist nicht 2m lang, sondern 1.90m und die Putzfrau hat von der Vorgängerin eine Haarspange vergessen. Auch die Badewanne hat schon bessere Zeiten gesehen. Man sieht mindestens, dass das Inventar gebraucht wird/ist. Dennoch: nettes Hotel 5 Gehminuten vom Bahnhof Osaka und dem pulsierenden Zentrum entfernt. Devamı "3번째 방문" 오사카 출장 시 투숙하는 호큐인터네셔날 호텔에서 묶었는데, 위치가 역이랑 너무 멀리 떨어서 있어서 몬테레이로 변경했습니다. 호텔근처 하비스에서 공항으로 가는 버스 탈수 있고, 지하랑 연결되어 있어서 비가 오는 날에서 짐들고 왔다갔다 하기 편합니다. 단, 침대가 오래된 듯 편한 느낌은 konuk bir yorum yazmadı. ３日間の滞在中 社員の 笑顔の対応が 見られない。暗い。お客様を、第一に、とは、感じられない。サービス業は何と、言っても、笑顔が、第一です。 電話の対応が、今一です。 社員の教育が、なっていないと感じます。 荷物を送る場所の、照明が、暗い。 初めて利用したのですが、１つよい点は シャワーが、よかったと思います。 Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "乾淨的飯店" 1、以車站附近的商務飯店來說，空間算不錯，行李箱打開還有走道可以走。 2、鐵道就在旁邊，隔音雖不錯，但隱約可聽到火車聲。 3、每天換床單，很乾淨。 4、其實離各車站都有10~15分鐘的步行距離。 5、第一次去不好找，梅田地區跟迷宮差不多。 "外見は良いのだが" とくに朝食会場が貧相で、あまり良い印象はない。提供される食材にも良いものが無く、値段の割に満足度は低い。ホテルのコンセプトは良いのだから、改善してもらいたい。 Bu konuk bir yorum yazmadı. "ホテルモントレ大阪 " トリプルに宿泊予約させて頂きました。 事前に駐車場の件でＴＥＬした時の電話対応は非常に好印象で楽しみにして行きました。 大人2名と幼児2名（一人は添い寝）で行かせて頂きましたが、フロント対応は説明が馴れていない感じで残念でした。 ＲＯＯＭはトリプルなので広いとは言い難いですが普段はツイン使用でしょうから広いと思いました。 掃除も行き届いていて良かったです。 しかし、朝食時にまだ席についているのも関わらず声かけもなくお皿を片づけられた事には驚きました。朝食会場が婚礼会場だったことに後で知りましたが、入場時にでもそこことをお知らせ頂くか、片付ける時に一言いただけたら良かったと思います。 チャックアウトはスムーズで良かったし、駐車場係りの方の対応も好印象でした。 "너무나 아름다운 호텔" 현대식 건물사이로 펼쳐진 유럽식 호텔느음 찾기는 힘들었지만, 알고보니 지하철하고 객실의 느낌리문과 안쪽에서 빛을 차단하는 나무 창문이 너무 인상적이

Network Working Group W. Haddad Internet-Draft Ericsson Research Expires: December 28, 2006 E. Nordmark Sun Microsystems F. Dupont CELAR M. Bagnulo UC3M B. Patil Nokia June 26, 2006 Privacy for Mobile and Multi-homed Nodes: Problem Statement draft-haddad-momipriv-problem memo describes the privacy in mobility and multi-homing problem Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 1] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 statement. Table of Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. Conventions used in this document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4. Problem Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4.1. Location Privacy vs. Privacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 4.2. The MAC Layer Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 4.3. The IP Layer Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 4.4. The Security Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 4.4.1. The IPsec Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 4.4.2. The Secure Neighbor Discovery (SEND) Problem . . . . . 12 4.5. The Interdependency Problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 5. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 6. Acknowledgements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 7. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . . . . . 19 Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 2] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 1. Introduction In the near future, mobility and multi-homing functionalities will coexist in the majority of end hosts, such as terminals, PDAs, etc. For this purpose, Mobile IPv6 [MIPv6] protocol has been designed to provide a solution for the mobility at the network layer while Multi- homing is still an ongoing work. MIPv6 does not provide any mechanism to protect the mobile node's privacy when moving across the Internet, while in the multi-homing area, the privacy may well be supported in any potential solution but may probably lack some features. This is mainly due to the fact that the privacy issues are not limited to the IP layer only. This memo describes the privacy in mobility and multi-homing (momipriv) problem statement based on IPv6 only. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 3] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 2. Conventions used in this document The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [TERM]. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 4] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 3. Glossary For privacy related terminology, please refer to [PRITERM]. MAC Address A MAC Address is a 48 bits unique value associated with a network adapter. The MAC address uniqueness is by default global. A MAC Address is also known as the device/hardware identifier. Link A communication facility or medium over which nodes can communicate at the link layer, such as an Ethernet (simple or bridged). A link is the layer immediately below IP. IPv6 Address An IP address is a unique 128-bit IP layer identifier for an interface or a set of interfaces attached to an IP network. An IPv6 address can be unicast, i.e., identifier for a single interface, or anycast, i.e., an identifier for a set of interfaces, and a packet sent to an anycast address is delivered to only one interface, or multicast, i.e., an identifier for a set of interfaces and a packet sent to a multicast address is delivered to all these interfaces. Interface Identifier A number used to identify a node's interface on a link. The interface identifier is the remaining low-order bits in the node's IP address after the subnet prefix. Basic Service Set (BSS) A set of stations controlled by a single coordination function. Extended Service Set (ESS) A set of one or more interconnected basic service set (BSSs) and integrated local area networks (LANs) that appears as a single BSS to the logical link control layer at any station associated with one of Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 5] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 those BSSs. Distribution System (DS) A system used to interconnect a set of basic service sets (BSSs) and integrated local area networks (LANs) to create an extended service set (ESS). Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 6] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 4. Problem Statement The growing ability to trace a mobile node by an untrusted third party, especially in public access networks, is a direct and serious violation of the mobile user's privacy and can cause serious damage to its personal, social and professional life. Privacy becomes a real concern especially when the mobile node (MN) uses permanent device and/or network identifiers. Unfortunately, the privacy problem is not limited to a single layer and should not be solved independantly on one layer. Protecting the user's privacy can be achieved, in many scenarios, by providing one or many of the privacy aspects defined above with regards to the mobile node's requirements and/or location. For this purpose, we try in the rest of this document to use the terms defined above, in order to highlight the issues in a more precise way. It should be noted that this document focuses only on the privacy problem for a mobile and multi-homed node only and does not make any assumption regarding the privacy of a static node, e.g., static correspondent node (CN). In addition, this document assumes that the real IPv6 address is not hidden by default, i.e., any node is always reachable via its real IPv6 address. The problem statement is divided into four problems. The first two problems focus on the MAC and IP layers identifiers associated with a mobile device, i.e., MAC and IP addresses, and describe privacy issues resulting from using these identifiers in the context of a mobile and multi-homed environment. The third problem addresses privacy issues resulting from applying security mechanisms, e.g., IP Security (IPsec) and Securing Neighbor Discovery (SEND) while the fourth problem highlights the interdependency between the three problems, as being the main requirement to be considered when designing any potential solution. But before delving into these problems, a quick overview on differences between location privacy and privacy is provided. 4.1. Location Privacy vs. Privacy Before describing privacy problems related to the IP and the link layer, it seems useful to highlight the differences between the location privacy and privacy, in order to avoid a possible confusion later. Location privacy is the ability to prevent other parties from learning one's current or past location [LOPRIPEC]. In order to get such ability, the mobile node must conceal any relation between its Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 7] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 location and the personal identifiable information. Note that in the momipriv context, the mobile node location refers normally to the topological location and not the geographic one. The latter is provided by other means (e.g., GPS) than an IPv6 address. But it should be noted that it may possible sometimes to deduce the geographical location from the topological one. However, concealing any relation between the location and the user's identifier(s) does not guarantee that the identifier(s) itself will not be disclosed, since it may be possible to hide the real location alone. But, having at least one user's identifier disclosed may be enough (e.g., if coupled with prior knowledge about few possible whereabouts) for other party to discover the user's current and/or previous location(s). For example, in a context limited to IP and MAC layers, the only available identifiers and/or locators are the IP and MAC addresses, and only the IP address carries information, which can directly disclose the MN's location (note that mobile IPv6 discloses both the mobile node's home and current locations). The MAC address alone does not provide any hint regarding the mobile node current/previous location. But if the other party has already established the link between the target and its MAC address and gained knowledge about some of the user's possible current/future whereabouts, then it will be possible to locate and even track the target. On the other side, it should be noted that the two main privacy aspects, i.e., anonymity and pseudonymity, provide implicitly the location privacy feature by concealing the real user's identifiers regardless of his/her location(s). Actually, in both privacy aspects, real identifiers are replaced by static or dynamic ones, thus making the other party no more able to identify its target even at the correct location, i.e., any past/ current location information becomes practically useless for locating and tracking purposes. 4.2. The MAC Layer Problem The first problem focus on the MAC layer and is raising growing concerns related to the user's privacy, especially with the massive ongoing indoor/outdoor deployment of WLAN technologies. A mobile device attached to a particular link is uniquely identified on that link by its MAC address, i.e., the device identifier. In addition, the device identifier is disclosed in any packet sent by/to the MN when it reaches that particular link, thus making it a very Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 8] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 efficient tool to trace a mobile user in a shared wireless medium access. Similar problems have caused bad press for cellular operators. For example, a malicious node located in one distributed system (DS) can trace a mobile node via its device identifier while moving in the entire ESS, and learn enough information about the user's activities and whereabouts. Having these information available in the wrong hands, especially with the exact time when they occur, may have bad consequences on the user. Another concern on the MAC layer, which can also be exploited by an eavesdropper to trace its victim, is the sequence number (SQN) carried by the frame header. The sequence number is incremented by 1 for each data frame and allows the bad guy to trace its targeted node, in addition to the MAC address. In addition, the sequence number allows also the malicious node to keep tracing the MN, if/when the real MAC address is replaced by one or many pseudo-identifier(s) during an ongoing session [WLAN-IID]. In addition, it should be noted that even if the real MN's device identifier remains undisclosed during all ongoing session(s), it may probably not be enough to provide the unlinkability protection on the MAC layer, between ongoing session(s). Actually, in a scenario, where the malicious node is located on the link or within the distributed system, replacing the real MAC address with a static pseudo-identifier, i.e., to provide pseudonymity, or with temporary ones, i.e., to provide anonymity, it will always be possible to break the unlinkability protection provided by the MAC layer if the MN's IPv6 address remains unchanged. Note that in such scenario, even a periodical change of the sequence number won't prevent the eavesdropper from correlating ongoing session(s), pseudo-identifiers and the mobile node. However, it should be mentioned that replacing the real device identifier with static/dynamic pseudo-identifiers, in order to provide anonymity/pseudonymity, during an ongoing session(s), raises another critical issue on the MAC layer level, which concerns the uniqueness of these new pseudo-identifier(s). In fact, any temporary/static identifiers MUST be unique within the Extended Service Set (ESS) and the distributed system (DS). 4.3. The IP Layer Problem The second problem focus on the IP layer and analyzes the privacy problems related to IPv6 only. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 9] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 A MN can configure its IPv6 address either from a DHCP server or by itself. The latter scenario is called the stateless address autoconfiguration [STAT], and discloses the MN MAC address in the IPv6 address, thus enabling an eavesdropper to easily learn both addresses in this case. In order to mitigate the privacy concerns raised from using the stateless address auto-configuration, [Privacy] introduced a method allowing to periodically change the MN's interface identifier. However, being limited to the interface identifier only, such change discloses the real network identifier, which in turn can reveal enough information about the topological location, the user or can even be the exact piece of information needed by the eavesdropper. Another limitation to its efficiency lays in the fact that such change cannot occur during an ongoing session. While using only a different IPv6 address for each new session may prevent/mitigate the ability to trace a MN on the IP layer level, it remains always possible to trace it through its device identifier(s) on the MAC layer level, i.e., when a malicious node (or another one) is also attached to the same link/DS than its target. Consequently, it will be possible to learn all IPv6 addresses used by the MN by correlating different sessions, thus breaking any unlinkability protection provided at the IP layer. MIPv6 allows an MN to move across the Internet while ensuring optimal routing (i.e., by using route optimization (RO)) mode and keeping ongoing session(s) alive. Although these two features make the RO mode protocol looks efficient, they disclose the MN's home IPv6 address and its current location, i.e., care-of address (CoA), in each data packet exchanged between the MN and the correspondent node (CN). Furthermore, each time a MN switches to a new network, it has to send in clear a binding update (BU) message to the CN to notify it about its new location. Consequently, MIPv6 RO mode discloses to a malicious node located between the MN and the CN, all data required to identify, locate and trace in real time its mobile target, once it moves outside its home network(s) [Priv-NG]. MIPv6 defines another mode called the bidirectional tunneling (BT), which allows the MN to hide its movements and locations from the CN by sending all data packets through its HA (i.e., encapsulated). In such mode, the CN uses only the MN's home IPv6 address to communicate with the MN. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 10] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 But if the CN initiates a session with a MN then it has to use the MN's home IPv6 address. In such scenario, if the MN wants to keep its movements hidden from the CN, then it has to switch to the bidirectional tunneling mode. Consequently, all data packets sent/received by the MN are exchanged through the MN's HA and the MN needs to update only its HA with its location. Although, the bi-directional tunneling mode allows hiding the MN's care-of address to the CN, it can disclose its real identity, i.e., IPv6 home address, and current location to a malicious node located between the HA and the MN (e.g., by looking to the data packets inner header), unless the HA-MN tunnel is protected by using the IP Encapsulation Security Payload [ESP]. In addition to mobility, the multi-homing feature allows a mobile node to belong to different home networks and to switch between these home networks without interrupting ongoing session(s) [MULTI]. Although multi-homing can be considered as another aspect of mobility, switching between different home networks, in addition to moving between foreign networks, can disclose to a malicious node well located between the multi-homed MN and the CN, part or all of the MN's home IPv6 addresses, its device identifiers (e.g., when stateless address autoconfiguring is used) and its location(s). Such variety of identifiers can make the malicious eavesdropper's task easier. For example, a malicious node located between the MN and the CN can start tracing its victim based on prior knowledge of one of its home address or MAC address, and by tracking the BU messages (e.g., the MN is using the RO mode). After that, the malicious eavesdropper can correlate between different signaling messages and possibly data packets to expand his knowledge to other victim's home/MAC addresses. Learning new identifiers offer the eavesdropper additional tools to detect and track future movements. 4.4. The Security Problem 4.4.1. The IPsec Problem [IPsec] provides a set of security services at the IP layer. These security services are provided through the use of two traffic security protocols, i.e., namely the Authentication Header [AH] and the ESP protocols, and through the use of cryptographic key Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 11] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 management procedures and protocols, e.g., Internet Key Exchange [IKE] protocol. ESP and AH protocols make use of Security Associations (SAs) and a major function of IKE protocol is to establish and maintain these SAs. An SA is always identified by a static 32-bit parameter, i.e., Security Paramater Index (SPI), and possibly IP addresses. Based on above, an IPsec SPI can be used to trace a particular mobile node from one place to another, even if its IP address may change, (e.g., if [MobIKE] or [SCTP_IPsec] is used). Tracing remains possible even if care is taken to change the MAC address at the same time than the IP address. Consequently, the IPsec SPI can be an efficient tool to break the unlinkability protection provided by a change(s) of the IP and MAC addresses (even if both addresses change at the same time), and also to learn and link the MN's new pseudo-IDs. This is particularly problematic for the Internet Key Exchange protocol (described in [IKE]) SPIs, as there is no possibility for efficiently re-negotiating IKE shared secret(s), i.e., SPIs, without revealing the previous SPIs in the process. Note that re-negotiating an IPsec SPI may be done within the protection of the IKE SA, hence hiding the change from eavesdroppers [EPSPR]. 4.4.2. The Secure Neighbor Discovery (SEND) Problem In order to protect against threats related to the IPv6 Neighbor Discovery protocol [NDP] and described in [NDPT], the IETF has standardized the [SEND] protocol, which specifies security mechanisms for IPv6 NDP. SEND protocol enables a secure neighbor cache discovery and construction by relying on the cryptographically generated addresses [CGA] technology to provide a proof of address ownership. CGA technology consists on generating an RSA key pair and configuring an IPv6 address(es) from hashing the derived public key and other parameters. When using SEND protocol, the MN has to sign NDP messages with its CGA private key. However, it is important to mention that generating an RSA key pair on small devices is a computationally expensive and lenghty procedure, i.e., power consumption is relatively high. Consequently, it is likely that such limitation may force the MN to use only one RSA key pair for a relatively long period of time, e.g., during an ongoing session. A more optimistic scenario would consist on precomputing few key pairs and using them in a random way. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 12] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 As a result, hiding both the MN's IP and MAC addresses and periodically refreshing the SPI(s) (when they are used) and SQN(s) may not be enough to prevent the malicious eavesdropper from tracing the MN's movements by detecting ts CGA public key(s) sent during the Neighbor Discovery messages exchange, e.g., during a DAD procedure following an IP handoff. Note also that tracing the public key(s) can help the malicious node to link between different pseudo- identifiers at the MAC and IP levels. 4.5. The Interdependency Problem The MAC and IP layers problems described above highlight another concern that needs to be addressed in order to protect the MN's identifiers and/or hiding its locations: any change/update of the IP address and the MAC pseudo-identifier, as well as all other static parameter must be performed in a synchronized way. Otherwise, a change/update for example at the IP layer only, may allow the eavesdropper to keep tracing the MN via the device identifier and/or other static parameters, and consequently to learn how/when the MN's identifiers are modified on the MAC layer, thus making such change(s) meaningless. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 13] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 5. Security Considerations This document is a problem statement, which describes privacy issues related to a mobile and multi-homed node, and does not introduce security considerations by itself. However it should be noted that any potential solution for the momipriv problem, which allows using temporary device identifiers, dynamic pseudo-IP addresses and other parameters during an ongoing session should not allow a malicious eavesdropper to learn how nor when these identifiers are updated. Any potential solution must protect against replaying messages using old identifiers and/or hijacking an ongoing session during an update of the identifiers. Any potential solution should not allow exploiting any aspect of privacy, in order to gain access to networks. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 14] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 6. Acknowledgements Soohong Daniel Park and Hannes Tschofenig have contributed to this document. Many thanks to them. 7. References [AH] Kent, S., "IP Authentication Header", RFC 4302, December 2005. [CGA] Aura, T., "Cryptographically Generated Addresses (CGA)", RFC 3792, March 2005. [EPSPR] Arkko, J., Nikander, P., and M. Naslund, "Enhancing Privacy with Shared Pseudo Random Sequences", Security Proposals, 13rd International Workshop, Cambridge, April 2005. [ESP] Kent, S., "IP Encapsulating Security Payload (ESP)", RFC 4303, December 2005. [IKE] Kaufman, C., "Internet Key Exchange (IKEv2) Protocol", RFC 4306, December 2005. [IPsec] Kent, S. and K. Seo, "Security Architecture for the Internet Protocol", RFC 4301, December 2005. [LOPRIPEC] Beresfold, A. and F. Stajano, "Location Privacy in Pervasive Computing", IEEE Pervasive Computing, 2003. [MIPv6] Johnson, D., Perkins, C., and J. Arkko, "Mobility Support in IPv6", RFC 3775, June 2004. [MULTI] Montavont, N., Wakikawa, R., Ernst, T., Ng, C., and K. Kuladinithi, "Analysis of Multihoming in Mobile IPv6", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-monami6-mipv6-analysis-00.txt, February 2006. [MobIKE] Eronen, P., "IKEv2 Mobility and Multihoming Protocol (MOBIKE)", RFC 4555, June 2006. [NDP] Narten, T., Nordmark, E., Simpson, W., and H. Soliman, "Neighbor Discovery for IPv6", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-ipv6-2461bis-06.txt, May 2006. [NDPT] Nikander, P., Kempf, J., and E. Nordmark, "IPv6 Neighbor Discovery (ND) Trust Models and Threats", RFC 3756, Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 15] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 May 2004. [PRITERM] Haddad, W. and E. Nordmark, "Privacy Terminology", Internet Draft, draft-haddad-alien-privacy-terminology-01.txt, June 2006. [Priv-NG] Escudero-Pascual, A., "Privacy in the Next Generation Internet: Data Protection in the context of the European Union Policy", PhD Dissertation, December 2002. [Privacy] Narten, T., Draves, R., and S. Krishnan, "Privacy Extensions for Stateless Address Autoconfiguration in IPv6", Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ipv6-privacy-address-v2-04.txt, May 2005. [SCTP_IPsec] Bellovin, S., Ioannidis, J., and A. Keromytis, "On the Use of Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) with IPsec", RFC 3554, July 2003. [SEND] Arkko, J., Kempf, J., Zill, B., and P. Nikander, "Secure Neighbor Discovery (SEND)", RFC 3971, March 2005. [STAT] Thomson, S., Narten, T., and T. Jinmei, "IPv6 Stateless Address Autoconfiguration", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-ipv6-rfc2462bis-08.txt, May 2005. [TERM] Bradner, S., "Key Words for Use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", RFC 2119, BCP , March 1997. [WLAN-IID] Gruteser, M. and D. Grunwald, "Enhancing Location Privacy in Wireless LAN Through Disposable Interface Identifiers: A Quantitative Analysis", First ACM International Workshop Wireless Mobile Applications and Services on WLAN Hotspots, September 2003. Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 16] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 Authors' Addresses Wassim Haddad Ericsson Research Torshamnsgatan 23 SE-164 Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46 84044079 Email: [email protected] Erik Nordmark Sun Microsystems 17 Network Circle Menlo Park, CA 94025 USA Phone: +1 650 786 2921 Email: [email protected] Francis Dupont CELAR France Email: [email protected]: Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 17] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement June 2006 Basavaraj Patil Nokia 6000 Connection Drive Irving, TX 75039 USA Phone: +1 972 8946709 Email: [email protected] Haddad, et al. Expires December 28, 2006 [Page 18] Internet-Draft MoMiPriv Problem Statement December 28, 2006 [Page 19]

Network-based Mobility Management W. Haddad (Netlmm) S. Krishnan Internet-Draft Ericsson Research Intended status: Standards Track November 11, 2007 Expires: May 11, 2008 On Providing Light SeND and Privacy Extensions for Proxy MIPv6 (PMIPv6) draft-haddad-netlmm-pmipv6, 2008. Copyright Notice Copyright (C) The IETF Trust (2007). Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 1] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 Abstract This document describes a light and CGA free version of the secure neighbor discovery protocol combined with a privacy extension for the Proxy Mobile IPv6 protocol. Table of Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. Conventions used in this document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3. Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4. Background and Motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5. Proposed Solutions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5.1. Solution for On-path attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5.2. Solution for On-link attacks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 5.3. Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 5.4. Future work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 6. New Option Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 7. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 8. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 8.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 8.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . . . . . 15 Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 2] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 1. Introduction Proxy Mobile IPv6 protocol (described in [PMIPv6]) is an ongoing activity, which aims essentially to provide network based mobility. The main concept is to trick the mobile node (MN) into believing that it is always attached to its home network even when in reality, it has switched to foreign network(s). Consequently, the MN can keep using it IP home address (HoA) while being located away from its home network. This document describes a mechanism which combines a light and CGA free version of the secure neighbor discovery (described in [SeND]) combined with a privacy extension for PMIPv6 protocol. At this stage, the light SeND (LiSeND) protocol enables the MN and its access router, i.e., the mobility access gateway (MAG), to authenticate the exchange of router solicitation (RtSol) and advertisement (RtAdv) messages and removes the need for running duplicate address detection (DAD) on the MN side (for more details on RtAdv/RtSol and DAD, please refer to the Neighbor Discovery Protocol described in [NDP]). Another key feature lies in the fact that LiSeND does not require the crypto generated address technique (described in [CGA]) deployment on both the infrastructure and the MN sides. Building on LiSeND, we then describe a simple privacy extension which enables to mask the MN's HoA in a visited network(s) and thus, prevents an eavesdropper from learning, identifying and tracing the MN. A side effect of the suggested proposal is a mechanism which removes the harmful impact on the MN's ongoing sessions in case of a possible duplicate address detection (DAD) failure. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 3] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 2. Conventions used in this document The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [TERM]. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 4] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 3. Terminology Since our proposal is mainly designed for network-based mobility, we borrow the terminology used in PMIPv6 and refer to a mobility (un)aware by MN. The main privacy aspects definitions are defined in [PRITERM]. Finally, we reuse the tunneling optimization mechanism and terminology that we have introduced earlier in [TOM]. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 5] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 4. Background and Motivation Being a network-base mobility, PMIPv6 achieves its goal by enabling the MN to retain the same IP address while roaming between different foreign networks and delegates the task of securely discovering and updating the MN's Local Mobility Anchor (LMA) to the MAG. The MAG fulfills its task by sending a proxy binding update (PBU) message to request binding (and potentially assigning) the MN's home network prefix (HNP) to its own egress interface address as being the MN's care-of address (CoA). Following a successful update, the MN's LMA starts tunneling data packets sent from the correspondent node(s) (CN) (i.e., which is kept totally unaware about the MN's mobility) to the MN's CoA, i.e., MAG's egress interface address. The MAG then decapsulates each data packet sent to the MN's CoA and forwards it to the MN. It follows, as mentioned earlier, that the MN will always believe that it is still attached to its home network, especially that the MAG takes great care of nurturing the MN's belief by advertising in unicast mode its home prefix in order to convince it to (re)-configure its HoA. Our motivation is mainly guided by a requirement in EU and some Asian countries and from a general desire in others (!!), to protect the MN's privacy while switching to and moving across foreign networks. Such protection should enable to provide anonymity and unlinkability aspects whenever possible. Consequently, privacy protection in a PMIPv6 environment means first and foremost preventing the MN from disclosing its HoA within any foreign network and removing any "linkability" when switching to a new MAG. It follows that an efficient privacy protection should enable the MN to mask its HoA and to update the mask each time it switches to a new MAG. It is noteworthy that updating the mask becomes more efficient for protecting the MN's privacy if it is applied at higher frequency than just when switching to a new MAG. While the suggested proposal enables such enhancement, we don't detail it in this version. A malicious node (acting independently), has two topological locations from which, it can learn/detect the MN's HoA (or maybe the HNP only) and use it to trace the MN's subsequent movements. The first location is anywhere on-path between the MAG and the MN's LMA. In such location, the eavesdropper is able to check the inner header carried in each data packet sent by the MN's HA to its current MAG. The data packet inner header carries the MN's HoA and the CN's IP address. With such ability, the eavesdropper can rely for example, on som prior knowledge/hint to uncover the targeted MN's current whereabout and even "lock" on it. The second location is the link to which the MN is attached. In such Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 6] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 location, the eavesdropper is also able to identify the MN and trace its movements. In addition, other static identifier(s), e.g., the MN's MAC address, become available and may significantly contribute in detecting and tracing the MN. However, we consider out of scope all parameters below the IP layer but we carefully note that our proposal can also be extended to cover the MAC address, i.e., by extending the scope of the mask. Privacy issues related to the MAC layer are detailed in [ANON]. The unlinkability protection can be seriously endangered each time the MN switches to a foreign network and keeps using its CGA public key from which, it has generated its HoA. In fact, the requirement behind PMIPv6 design to enable the MN to retain its HoA means also that the MN won't be able to change its CGA public key as its HoA won't remain the same. Consequently, if an eavesdropper learns the MN's public key (which is far from being a problem!), then it will always be able to trace the MN after switching to a new MAG(s). In addition, as applying the mask will generate a pseudo-IPv6 (pIPv6) address, it is of high importance to make sure that pIPv6 won't be reused when switching to a new MAG. The picture of the two separate threats scenarios described above becomes rapidly more complicated when they are combined. This is the case where at least two malicious nodes with each following one of the two scenarios, are coordinating their "search, identify and trace" activities. In such case, an efficient anonymity and unlinkability protection can be obtained by simply merging the two solutions addressing each of the the two scenarios. In other words, the MN's HoA MUST NOT be disclosed neither on the link between the MN and its MAG nor anywhere between the MAG and the MN's LMA. Also, the MN MUST avoid (re)-using its CGA public key and the pIPv6 MUST be refreshed after the handoff. In the following section, we address the above scenarios separately and describe two mechanisms to reduce the eavesdropper's ability to learn the MN's HoA and/or trace its movements. The combination of the two protections is highlighted in the last section. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 7] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 5. Proposed Solutions 5.1. Solution for On-path attacks Our proposed mechanism addresses the first scenario where an eavesdropper is located on-path between the MN's MAG and the LMA by completely eliminating the need for disclosing the MN's HoA in any data packet sent to the MN's PMA. This is achieved by removing it from each data packet exchanged between the MN's LMA and its current MAG, via applying the tunneling optimization (TO) mechanism. As in the Mobile IPv6 case [MIP6], the TO mechanism can be securely applied during the PBU/PBA messages exchange between the MAG and the LMA nodes. In this case, the PMIPv6 signaling exchange should lead both sides to create a PaT, which can be immediately applied on each data packet sent by the MN to the correspondent node (CN) and/or tunneled from the HA to the MN's CoA, i.e., the MAG. This results in a complete removal of the MN's HoA from the path between the MAG and the LMA. Consequently, implementing such optimization significantly complicates the eavesdropper's task of identifying the targeted MN from snooping into data packets flow(s) exchanged between the MN's MAG and its LMA. Note that if the MN is using multiple HoAs as it may be talking to different CNs, then the PMA and HA will have to generate one PaT for each HoA. In addition to removing the MN's HoA from data packets and in order to enhance the unlinkability aspect, it is highly recommended that the MAG refreshes periodically the MN's CoA, i.e., its own IP egress interface address, and updates all associated PaT(s) accordingly. This can be done by re-sending PBU message(s) to the LMA to update its binding cache entries table. 5.2. Solution for On-link attacks As mentioned in the second threat scenario, when an eavesdropper is attached to the same link than the MN, it can easily detect the unicast RtAdv message sent by the MAG to the MN following a successful authentication and the receipt of a PBA message (unless the HNP is obtained via another way, e.g., from the AAA). However, as disclosing the MN's home network prefix (HNP) alone may be very sufficient for an eavesdropper to identify the MN, providing privacy protection to the MN requires a complete "blackout" on its HNP on any foreign link. Such requirement may also be raised within the MN's home network as it blocks malicious nodes from learning the MN's HoA even when it is still attached to its home network. Imposing an HNP blackout requires the MAG and/or LMA to send special parameters to the MN in order to enable it to (re)-configure its HoA and at the same time, generate a special PaT to translate its HoA to another pIPv6 address in each IP packet sent by the MN as well as in each IP Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 8] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 packet forwarded by the LMA/MAG to the MN. In addition, these parameters MUST be sent encrypted, which makes it tempting at this stage to turn to the CGA technique to achieve this particular goal (i.e., using the MN's CGA public key), then send them in the unicast RtAdv message. However, as mentioned earlier, using the MN's CGA public key provides the eavesdropper just another valuable tool to identify and trace the MN. In order to avoid the CGA impasse, a new secret called "privacy key (Kp)" should be computed and stored in the AAA. Computing Kp should be performed when authenticating the MN for the first time. Note that generating Kp can occur when the MN is attached to a foreign network. The mechanism(s) to be used to compute Kp is out of scope of this document. 5.3. Operation After generating and storing Kp, the AAA may decide to share it with the MN's LMA. But, in general, Kp is used by the MN and the AAA to derive the "transient handoff key (THK)", which is then sent to the MN's current MAG. THK can be sent to the MAG directly by the AAA, following a successful authentication or by the LMA in the PBA message. This means that each time the MN has to perform an authentication, a new THK is computed and sent to the current MAG. In addition to refreshing THK, the AAA and the MN SHOULD also generate a pseudo-NAI (pNAI) and bind it to the new TKh to be used. The new pNAI is used by the MN during the next authentication and is carried by the PBU message sent by the MAG to the LMA. It follows that the pNAI MUST be sent to the LMA prior to receiving a PBU message (e.g., after a successful authentication). Upon receiving a THK, the MAG SHOULD use it to derive a PaT and to encrypt the HNP sent by the LMA in order to be advertised to the MN. For this purpose, the MAG has to signal to the MN its capability to offer anonymity and unlinkability services. This is done by setting a new bit called "Privacy (P)" bit in the unicast RtAdv message sent to the MN. The presence of the "P" bit also indicates to the MN that it has to generate the PaT which corresponds to the THK computed by the MN. One way to handle the "P" bit is to set it in the same new option (called "Unicast RtAdv Authentication (URA)") carrying the message authentication. Moreover, the MAG MUST use THK to authenticate all unicast RtAdv messages sent to the MN. Similarly, the MN MUST use THK to authenticate any RtSol message sent to the MAG. Upon receiving a RtAdv message carrying a URA (i.e., following a successful authentication), the MN proceeds first to check the message validity with its own THK. If the message is valid then the MN decrypts the HNP, configures its HoA and generates the corresponding PaT. Otherwise, the MN should silently discard the Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 9] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 message. The PaT SHOULD be applied by the MN on each data packet sent to the CN. The MAG SHOULD apply the PaT on each IP packet sent to the MN's HoA and on each data packet sent by the MN. It follows that the MN's HNP is never disclosed on the link. It should be noted that for the purpose of enhancing the unlinkability while being attached to the same link, it is highly recommended to periodically refresh the PaT. In addition to hiding the HNP advertised to the MN, the MAG SHOULD also run the DAD procedure on the MN's new pIPv6 address before advertising the HNP to the MN. In case of a collision, the MAG SHOULD randomly generate a unique pseudo-HNP then share it with the MN. This is achieved by XORing a random 64-bit parameter with the corresponding PaT then with the HNP and testing its uniqueness. The MAG SHOULD then send the 64-bit parameter to the MN in a new option (called "Pseudo Home Network Prefix (PHNP)") carried by the RtAdv message. Note that the PHNP MUST be encrypted with THK. In the unlikely event leading to inserting a PHNP option in the RtAdv message, the MN MUST use the 64-bit pseudo-HNP to update the PaT generated from THK. This is done by XORing the 64-bit pseudo-HNP with the PaT in order to enable generating a new pIPv6 when the data packet header is XORed with the updated PaT. It follows from the above, that in order to avoid breaking the MN's anonymity during an NDP exchange between two MNs, the MAG SHOULD also act as the "reference" node for any NDP queries. Such enhancement will enable LiSeND to provide most of features provided by SeND protocol. In order to address merging privacy threats scenarios described earlier, the two mechanisms have to be combined in order to protect the path between the MAG and the LMA and at the same time, the one between the MN and the MAG against malicious eavesdroppings. Doing so provides anonymity and unlinkability features to the MN on the path between the MN to its LMA. This means that the MN's MAG SHOULD apply a PaT when dealing with the corresponding LMA and another one when dealing with the MN in order to mask the MN's HoA or its HNP from each data packet exchanged between the MN and the CN and/or from signaling messages exchanged between the MAG and the LMA. 5.4. Future work Future versions of this work will probe further enhancements for the LiSeND protocol and possible stretching of anonymity and unlinkability extensions down to the MAC layer. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 10] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 6. New Option Format TBD Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 11] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 7. Security Considerations This document introduces first LiSeND protocol which is a light and CGA free version of SeND protocol. LiSeND is shown to be adapted to the concept of network based mobility where PMIPv6 protocol is a leading candidate. We describe next how key privacy aspects can be build on top of LiSeND in a seamless way which does not affect the MN's unawareness about its mobility. Our proposal relies on sharing a different "privacy key" between the MN and each MAG visited by the mobility unaware MN. For this purpose, and considering the main clients for deploying PMIPv6, we adopt a realistic approach centered around the existence of a AAA infrastructure which will enable the MN to be authenticated upon attachment to foreign network(s). We also consider that the MN is able to derive the corresponding transient handoff key (THK) after each successful authentication. However, in order to avoid sharing the same THK between three different nodes (i.e., MN, LMA and MAG), and in order to enable LiSeND to protect the MN against compromised MAG, we suggest sending a hash of the current THK (H_THK) to the MN's LMA. It follows that each MAG MUST include H_THK in the PBU message sent to the LMA following a successful authentication of the MN. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 12] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November 2007 8. References 8.1. Normative References [CGA] Aura, T., "Cryptographically Generated Addresses (CGA)", RFC 3792, March 2005. [MIP6] Johnson, D., Perkins, C., and J. Arkko, "Mobility Support for IPv6", RFC 3775, June 2004. [NDP] Narten, T., Nordmark, E., Simpson, W., and H. Soliman, "Neighbor Discovery for IP version 6 (IPv6)", RFC 4861, September 2007. . 8.2. Informative References [ANON] Haddad, W., Nordmark, E., Dupont, F., Bagnulo, M., Patil, B., and H. Tschofenig, "Anonymous Identifiers (ALIEN): Privacy Threat Model for Mobile and Multi-Homed Nodes", Internet Draft, draft-haddad-alien-threat-model-00.txt, January 2007. [PMIPv6] Gundavelli, S., Leung, K., Devarapalli, V., Chowdhury, K., and B. Patil, "Proxy Mobile IPv6", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-netlmm-proxymip6-06.txt, september 2007. [PRITERM] Haddad, W. and E. Nordmark, "Privacy Terminology", Internet Draft, draft-haddad-alien-privacy-terminology-03.txt, October 2007. [TOM] Haddad, W., Naslund, M., and P. Nikander, "IP Tunneling Optimization in a Mobile Environment", Internet- Draft, draft-haddad-mip6-tunneling-optimization-01.txt, July 2007. Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 13] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy November Haddad & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 14] Internet-Draft Proxy MIPv6 Privacy & Krishnan Expires May 11, 2008 [Page 15]

Network Working Group W. Haddad Internet-Draft S. Krishnan Expires: April 26, 2007 Ericsson Research F. Dupont CELAR M. Bagnulo UC3M H. Tschofenig Siemens AG October 23, 2006 An Anonymity and Unlinkability Extension for OMIPv6 draft-haddad-privacy-omipv6-anonymity The "Optimized Mobile IPv6 with CBA" (OMIPv6) protocol specifies a new route optimization (RO) mechanism, which offers better security, Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 1] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 less signaling messages and reduces the handoff latency. This document describes a new extension to be added to the OMIPv6 protocol in order to provide the anonymity and the unlinkability aspects at the IP layer. Table of Contents 1. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 2. Conventions used in this document . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 3. Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 4. Problem Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 5. Proposed Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 6. Packet Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 7. Privacy Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 8. Security Considerations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 9. References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 9.1. Normative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 9.2. Informative References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Authors' Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Intellectual Property and Copyright Statements . . . . . . . . . . 19 Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 2] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 1. Introduction Optimized Mobile IPv6 [OMIPv6] protocol specifies a new route optimization (RO), which reduces the amount of signaling messages, the handover latency and improves the overall security. However, OMIPv6 protocol lacks privacy support, namely anonymity or pseudonymity, and unlinkability aspects. Supporting these privacy aspects in OMIPv6 would allow a mobile user to move outside its home network without disclosing its real IPv6 home address nor linking its different moves together, and thereby preventing eavesdroppers from the ability to correlate its actions at the IP layer. This document describes privacy extensions to the OMIPv6 protocol. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 3] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 2. Conventions used in this document The key words "MUST", "MUST NOT", "REQUIRED", "SHALL", "SHALL NOT", "SHOULD", "SHOULD NOT", "RECOMMENDED", "MAY", and "OPTIONAL" in this document are to be interpreted as described in [TERM]. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 4] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 3. Glossary Anonymity Anonymity ensures that a user may use a resource or service without disclosing the user's identity. Anonymity in wireless networks means that neither the mobile node nor its system software shall by default expose any information, that allows any conclusions on the owner or current use of the node. Consequently, in scenarios where a device and/or network identifiers are used (e.g., MAC address, IP address), neither the communication partner nor any outside attacker should be able to disclose the relationship between the respective identifier and the user's identity. Pseudonymity Pseudonymity is a weaker property related to anonymity. It means that one cannot identify an entity, but it may be possible to prove that two pseudonymous acts were performed by the same entity. Unlinkability Two events are unlinkable if they are no more and no less related than they are related concerning the a-priori knowledge. Unlinkability ensures that a user may make use of resources or services without others being able to link the use of these services together. In hiding the mobile node's current location, unlinkability feature removes any possible correlation between two successive IP handovers performed by the same mobile node. For more information about privacy aspects and location privacy please refer to [MOMIPRIV]. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 5] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 4. Problem Statement OMIPv6 protocol introduces a new route optimization (RO) mode, which significantly reduces the load of signaling messages, i.e., mainly by eliminating the HoTI/HoT messages, offers a semi-permanent security association (SA) between the mobile node (MN) and the correspondent node (CN) and improves the overall security of the communication. However, OMIPv6 allows the CN and any potential eavesdropper located on the path between the MN and the CN to first identify the mobile node via its IPv6 Home Address (HoA) and to trace its movements in real time across the Internet, thus seriously violating its privacy. Such scenario is feasible by simply looking into the Binding Update (BU) message(s) sent by the MN to the CN, which carries among other parameters, the MN's IPv6 Home Address (HoA) and its new current topological location, i.e., disclosed in its IPv6 care-of address (CoA). In addition to the BU message(s), the eavesdropper can learn and trace the MN's movements by looking into the data packets exchanged with the CN. In fact, the main RO mode (detailed in [MIPv6]) defined two mobility extension headers, which carry the MN's home address. The first one is the Home Address Option (HAO) and is inserted in each data packet sent by the MN to the CN on the direct path. The second one is a Routing Header (RH) and is inserted in each data packet sent by the CN to the MN on the direct path. Based on the above, it appears that in order to keep the exchange of data packets between the two endpoints flowing on the direct path, only the home address can be hidden from both the CN and any potential eavesdropper(s) located on the direct path. Consequently, any solution for the privacy problem in OMIPv6 MUST prevent the CN from falling back to the bidirectional (BT) mode (detailed in [MIPv6]) under any circumstance(s), since data packets sent by the CN are addressed to the MN's HoA. However, replacing the real MN's HoA with a static/dynamic pseudo-HoA does not solve the entire privacy problem as described above. In fact, using static/dynamic pseudo-HoA(s) can still allow the eavesdropper to correlate between MN's movements across the Internet, thus easily breaking the unlinkability feature. Such correlation can be accomplished by simply tracing the sequence number carried by each BU message. The seriousness of such correlation is tightly related to how difficult is for the eavesdropper to discover the MN's real HoA (e.g., based on prior knowledge and/or other identifier(s), which are already known or can be discovered at a further stage, etc). In fact, learning the MN's HoA can reveal all its pseudo-HoAs and their Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 6] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 corresponding CoAs as well as the exact time of each movement. The unlinkability feature can also be broken if an eavesdropper is able to correlate between two data packets exchanged between the MN and the CN and carrying different CoAs, but associated with the same pseudo-HoA. In this case, the correlation may also reveal the exact time of the MN's movement(s), regardless of the BU message content. In addition to the correlation based on tracing data packets only, which provides the possibility to correlate between different movements, another correlation becomes possible between the signaling messages and the data packets. In fact, tracing the BU messages in addition to the data packets can also help the eavesdropper correlate between the MIPv6 signaling messages and the data packets (namely the pseudo-HoA and/or CoA carried by the BU message with the address(es) and/or pseudo-address(es) carried by the data packet). Consequently, we argue that any solution for privacy related to the network layer mobility only should also offer the unlinkability feature by fulfilling the following requirements: o prevent disclosing the MN's HoA in any BU message. o prevent any correlation between BU messages by avoiding using the same pseudo-HoA in more than one BU message. o prevent any correlation between the BU messages via the sequence number. o prevent any correlation between data packets exchanged with the current CoA and the next BU message sent after performing an IP handover. o prevent any correlation between data carried by the BU message and data packets exchanged directly after sending/receiving BU/BA message(s). Finally, it should be noted that any potential solution, which addresses privacy as motivated above, should take into consideration the scenario where a mobile node starts communicating with a CN from its home network before switching to a foreign network(s). Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 7] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 5. Proposed Solution Our suggested solution can be used regardless of whether the MN is establishing its session from its home network or from a visited network. It consists of three components: 1. the "P" bit that is carried in the Pre-Binding Update (PBU), the Pre-Binding Test (PBT) and the Binding Update (BU) message; this bit demands additional processing guidelines (including special sequence number handling). 2. replacing the home address inserted in the HAO with an ephemeral identifier. 3. associating the interface identifier (iid) of the MN's home address with the statistically unique cryptographically-Based Identifiers (described in [CBID]). As a first step, a Pre-Binding Update (PBU) message is sent directly from the MN to the CN. The PBU message carried a newly introduced Privacy (P) bit set and thereby asks the CN to skip any home address test, and also to avoid any possible fallback to the BT mode during the subsequent data packets exchange. The MN MUST set the "P" bit in the PBU message, regardless of the MN's location (i.e., also if located in its home network), and in the BU message sent after receiving the Pre-Binding Test (PBT) message from the CN. Additionally, the MN MUST replace the home address inserted in the Home Address Option (HAO) with a "Virtual Home Address" (VHoA). The VHoA sent in the first BU message MUST be a statistically unique crypto-based identifier (CBID). Note that using the CBID technology in Mobile IPv6 for privacy purposes has been introduced in [MIPriv]. During the initial signaling messages exchange between the two endpoints, and in order to enable the CN to check if it is still talking to the same MN when receiving the first BU message, the MN MUST insert in the PBU message the value obtained from hashing the VHoA (note that for the initial case, the VHoA is the CBID, thus the value sent in the PBU message is equal to SHA1(CBID)). After receiving the PBU message, the CN computes a challenge from the MN's CoA, the content of the HAO and a local secret. Then it inserts the challenge in the PBT message and sends it to the MN. When the MN gets the PBT message, it sends a BU message carrying the "P" bit, the challenge and the real CBID (i.e., the CBID is inserted in the HAO). Note that the iid of the MN's CoA sent in the PBU and the BU messages Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 8] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 SHOULD be generated from hashing the CBID in the following way: iid(CoA) = First(64, SHA1(CBID)) Where: o SHA1 is a hashing function o CBID is a crypto-based identifier o First(size,input) is a function used to indicate truncation of the input data so that only the first bits remain to be used. o iid is the interface identifier Upon receiving the first BU message with the "P" bit set, the CN starts by checking its validity, which is done by hashing the content of the HAO, i.e., the CBID, and comparing the first 64 bits of the resulting hash with the CoA's iid. After that, it will re-compute the challenge and compare it to the one sent in the BU message. The third step after a successful validation would be to create an entry in the BCE for the MN's VHoA and CoA. The CN MUST also generate a long lifetime shared secret (i.e., SKbm) and sends it to the MN in the BA message as described in [OMIPv6]. The presence of the "P" bit in the BU message serves another purpose, which is to request the CN to replace the sequence number carried by the BU message, in its BCE with the "next" value, i.e., the value expected in the next BU message sent by the MN. Such value is called the "Sequence Value" SQV and is used to prevent replay attacks and to allow the CN to identify the MN's corresponding entry in its BCEs when processing a BU message carrying the "P" bit. In OMIPv6, each time the MN sends a BU message, it MUST increase the 32-bit sequence number value. When the privacy extensions introduced in this document are used, then both endpoints MUST increment the SQV with a constant value equal to the one obtained from hashing the SKbm. Finally, the increased SQV is hashed, inserted by the MN into the BU message and sent it to the CN. The two entities MUST compute the next SQV (nSQV) in the following way: Khbm = SHA1(SKbm) nSQV = First(32, SHA1((pSQV) | Khbm)) Where: Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 9] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 o SKbm is a long lifetime binding management key o Khbm is the hashed binding management key o pSQV is the previous SQV, i.e., SQV sent in the last BU message sent bythe MN and already processed by the CN. o nSQV is the hash value of the next SQV computed during updating the BCE with the BU message carrying the pSQV. The CN MUST compute and store the nSQV during creating or updating the MN's corresponding entry in its BCE, and the MN MUST compute and send a new SQV in all subsequent BU messages sent to the CN. In addition, all subsequent BU messages sent after the first one SHOULD carry each a different VHoA, which is generated from hashing the nCoA, i.e., nVHoA is equal to SHA1(nCoA), sent in the message. However, it should be noted that the CN SHOULD NOT store in the MN's corresponding entry the new CoA (nCoA) and new VHoA (nVHoA) carried in the BU message. In fact, besides computing the nSQV and storing it in the corresponding entry, the CN SHOULD also compute another pair of addresses (CoA, VHoA) to be used in the data packets exchange following the BCE creation or update. These two addresses are called "expected CoA" (eCoA) and "expected VHoA" (eVHoA). The two expected addresses are computed in the following way: iid(eCoA) = First(64, SHA1(Khbm | nCoA Subnet Prefix)) eVHoA = SHA1(eCoA) Where: o nCoA is the MN's care-of address sent in the BU message. o eVHoA is the pseudo-home address carried in the HAO and RH headers in all data packets. The subnet prefix of the nCoA MUST be the same as the one sent by the MN in the BU message (note that this technique is similar to the one defined in [HBA]). As mentioned above, the CN MUST update the MN's entry in its BCE with the eCoA and eVHoA. However, the BA message sent to the MN MUST carry the nCoA and nVHoA. When the MN sends a BU message carrying the "P" bit, the SQV MUST be used alone by the CN to detect the presence of an entry corresponding to the MN in its BCE. If an entry containing the same SQV is found, Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 10] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 then the CN SHOULD proceed to check the signature before updating the corresponding entry with the eCoA, eVHoA and nSQV. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 11] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 6. Packet Format This proposal defines a new bit called the Privacy (P) bit to be added to the Pre-BU and BU messages. The MN MUST set the "P" bit in both messages and in all subsequent BU messages as long as it needs to keep its real home IP address undisclosed. When used in the Pre-BU message, the "P" bit indicates to the CN to limit the address test to the CoA only and also to include the VHoA in computing the nonce value sent in the Pre-Binding Test (PBT) message. When used in the BU message, the "P" bit is used for three different purposes. The first one is to ask the CN to use the sequence number to locate the MN's corresponding BCE. The second one is to notify the CN to NOT send any data packet carrying the MN's home pseudo- address, i.e., VHAO, as destination address. The third purpose is to ask the CN to compute the eCoA, the eVHoA, the new SQV and store them in the MN's corresponding BCE. When used in the Pre-BU message, the structure of the message will be as it follows: 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |P| Reserved | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + + | | + Care-of Address + | | + + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | + Pre-Binding Update Cookie + | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | . . . Mobility Options . . . | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 12] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 The different fields carried in the Pre-BU message are detailed in [OMIPv6]. When used in the BU message, the structure of the message will be as it follows: 0 1 2 3 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | Sequence # | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ |A|H|L|K|P| Reserved | Lifetime | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ | | . . . Mobility options . . . | | +-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ The different fields carried in the BU message are detailed in [MIPv6]. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 13] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 7. Privacy Considerations This memo describes an extension, which makes the MN's real identity anonymous for both the CN and any malicious eavesdropper(s) located on the path between the MN and the CN. Our solution aims to present the MN's HoA as any other CoA that the MN may use during its movements across the Internet. However, our solution is based on the assumption that the BU messages exchanged between the MN and its HA are protected with an ESP tunnel according to [MIPv6-IKE] and [MIPv6-IKEv2]. The suggested solution provides the anonymity feature to the MN during exchanging data packets and signaling messages with the CN. It also provides the unlinkability feature during and after performing IP handovers, by making it difficult for an eavesdropper to correlate between two successive IP handoffs performed by the same MN. The unlinkability between these events aims to enhance the anonymity feature. However, it should be noted that the unlinkability protection is limited against eavesdroppers located on the path between the MN and the CN and does not prevent the CN to trace the MN's movements in real time. The suggested solution allows the MN to select when and where the anonymity feature should be activated. But it should be noted that it works only when the MN initiates the session. Actually, when the CN initiates the session, it uses the MN's home address (HoA). In such scenario, the MN can hide its current location from the CN by switching to the bidirectional tunneling mode. It is worth mentioning that the anonymity concept is very much context dependent. In order to quantify anonymity with concrete situations, one would have to describe the system context, which is practically not always possible for large open systems [ANON]. Consequently, the efficiency of the suggested solution is tightly related to two key factors: the diversity and load of the traffic circulating in parallel with the MN's traffic, on the same portion(s) of the direct path, which is monitored by an eavesdropper(s). Finally, the suggested solution strongly recommends using the Privacy Extension proposal [PRIVACY], in configuring the care-of address(es) sent by the MN in all BU messages except for the BU message sent after receiving a PBT message, i.e., in which the CoA is derived from the CBID. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 14] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 8. Security Considerations The suggested solution does not introduce new attacks nor does it amplify existing threats. However, it is important to mention that it makes the switch to the MIPv6 BT mode impossible. The suggested solution aims to hide the mobile user's real identity when moving outside its home network or from its home network to foreign networks. Making the MN anonymous (with regard to the used home address) to potential eavesdroppers may help to prevent attacks, thus improves the overall security. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 15] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 9. References 9.1. Normative References [MIPv6] Johnson, D., Perkins, C., and J. Arkko, "Mobility Support in IPv6", RFC 3775, June 2004. [MIPv6-IKE] Arkko, J., Devarapalli, V., and F. Dupont, "Using IPsec to Protect Mobile IPv6 Signaling Between Mobile Nodes and Home Agents", RFC 3776, June 2004. [MIPv6-IKEv2] Devarapalli, V. and F. Dupont, "Mobile IPv6 Operation with IKEv2 and the revised IPsec Architecture", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-mip6-ikev2-ipsec-06.txt, April 2006. [OMIPv6] Arkko, J., Vogt, C., and W. Haddad, "Applying Cryptographically Generated Addresses and Credit-Based Authorization to Optimize Mobile IPv6 (OMIPv6)", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-mipshop-omipv6-cga-cba-01, September 2006. [TERM] Bradner, S., "Key Words for Use in RFCs to Indicate Requirement Levels", RFC 2119, BCP , March 1997. 9.2. Informative References [ANON] Pfitzmann et al., A., "Anonymity, Unobservability, Pseudonymity and Identity Management - A Consolidated Proposal for Terminology", Anon Terminology Draft v0.28, May 2006. [CBID] Montenegro, G. and C. Castelluccia, "Cryptographically- Based Identifiers (CBID): Concepts and Applications", ACM Transactions on Information and System Security TISSEC, February 2004. [HBA] Bagnulo, M., "Hash Based Addresses (HBA)", Internet Draft, draft-ietf-shim6-hba-02.txt, October 2006. [MIPriv] Castelluccia, C., Dupont, F., and G. Montenegro, "A Simple Privacy Extension for Mobile IPv6", Internet Draft, draft-dupont-mip6-privacyext-04.txt, July 2006. [MOMIPRIV] Haddad, W., Nordmark, E., Dupont, F., Bagnulo, M., Park, S., and B. Patil, "Privacy for Mobile and Multi-homed Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 16] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 Nodes: MoMiPriv Problem Statement", Internet-Draft, draft- haddad-momipriv-problem-statement-03.txt, June 2006. [PRIVACY] Narten, T., Draves, R., and S. Krishnan, "Privacy Extensions for Stateless Address Autoconfiguration in IPv6", Internet-Draft, draft-ietf-ipv6-privacy-address-v2-05.txt, August 2006. Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 17] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity October 2006 Francis Dupont CELAR Email: [email protected]: Hannes Tschofenig Siemens AG Otto-Hahn-Ring 6 81739 Munich Germany Email: [email protected] Haddad, et al. Expires April 26, 2007 [Page 18] Internet-Draft OMIPv6 Anonymity April 26, 2007 [Page 19]

Posted on May 7 at 12:22 p.m.Suggest removal An open letter to the OU Daily editors: The editors at the OU Daily owe us all an apology. The issue here was not that the article was about religion or even that the article was challenging the Christian faith. We need to have engaging articles on the big and often uncomfortable topics like religious faith, abortion, and homosexuality, that are civil in nature and open up honest and healthy dialogue. Articles that promote sincere and honest dialogue about these topics should be encouraged, not suppressed. What is a problem is when articles are poorly researched, loaded with grammatical and factual inaccuracies, and when it is clear that their primary intent is not to engage in honest dialogue, but simply to attack the values of a particular group of people and insult those who hold those values, instead of making well-reasoned and civil arguments, with well-cited sources and quotations presented within their proper contexts, to get their points across. This is college. There is no acceptable excuse whatsoever for the editors at the OU Daily to have allowed Mr. Gibbon's opinion article, with all of its grammatical and factual inaccuracies, obvious lack of thorough research, and its elitist and overtly condescending tone towards Christians and their faith, to have been published in a public college newspaper. I've seen freshman high school students publish better works. This was a deliberately offensive article, with the intent of insulting and belittling Christians and their faith. I can't imagine Mr. Gibbons or anyone else at the Daily would have had the nerve to publish a similar article attacking and insulting the Muslim or Jewish faiths. The OU Daily has demonstrated time and time again that it does not hold its columnists to the high standards of journalism that should be expected of a college newspaper. This paper, for the most part, is a joke of a publication, and I sometimes question my own sanity for continuing to read it. The editors at the OU Daily owe a public apology to the Christian student community for publishing an article that had as its primary aim from the outset to simply attack a specific group of people and put their values down, with no serious effort at demonstrating civility or good scholarship in backing up its claims. Given the Daily's dismal track record, I highly expect it won't be anywhere to be found, but nonetheless, I will look for an editor's apology in Monday's edition of the Daily. Posted on May 6 at 1:24 p.m.Suggest removal I won't harp on the fact that had this article, merely a sorry excuse of a platform for attacking religious faith, been published about any other religion than Christianity, it would have been instantly labeled as hate speech and bigotry. Grammar mistakes in your article notwithstanding, I am compelled to correct you on the following: "But because of Jesus' radical ideas, he was persecuted in a horrific manner and later subjected to a death of brutal suffocation between two criminals." The proper term describing Jesus' death is "crucifixion", and while he did ultimately die of asphyxiation after hanging in torment on the cross for several hours, I would respectfully request you use the appropriate term, "crucifixion", when describing Jesus' death. He was not merely "subjected to a death of brutal suffocation", he was mercilessly beaten, had a sharp crown of thorns forced on his head, forced to carry a heavy wooden cross while being beaten continuously along the long route to his execution, and finally, crucified by having long nails driven into his hands and feet. Only after all of this suffering and torment did he finally die of asphyxiation. Yes it is true that the Bible is transcribed by men, and because of that, the transcriptions and translations are not perfect, especially the modern English translations. Many Christians, including Catholics, do not treat the entire Bible as the "literal" word of God. Many translations of the Bible, such as the Book of Genesis, are properly interpreted metaphorically rather than literally. For example, I don't believe that God actually created the world in seven 24-hr human days, and nor do a lot of Christians. The text of the Bible was written in a way that the people of the time could best understand and relate to it. The Bible is understood to be the "Divinely inspired" word of God - not every word of it can be taken literally, but it doesn't negate the essential meaning behind it. There are some aspects that we do take more literally than others. For instance, we do believe the flood happened (every religious culture acknowledges a great flood), and the exodus is a historical event, and yes, we do take the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus literally. But there are other aspects of the Christian faith as well. Catholics in particular derive their faith not only from the Bible, but from various revelations of God and miracles not found in the Bible. The Bible is not a perfect document, but it is an essential revelation of God to humanity, and it is principally through the Bible that we understand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. It takes true faith indeed to be able to trust that God that can work through imperfect people and imperfect documents and translators to fulfill His ultimate plan for us. Food for thought. Posted on March 11 at 4:13 p.m.Suggest removal Great article. I am a big fan of folk music myself, especially bluegrass. I have both CD's and vinyl albums of traditional American bluegrass, and I can especially recommend investing in a record player and getting some bluegrass on vinyl. Experiencing this music the way our grandparents did, on the turntable, is a great way to connect with that generation and get a better understanding of their society, values, struggles, and achievements. And as the author of the column points out, this music plays an important but often under-appreciated role in shaping and improving society. Last summer there was a bluegrass festival here in Norman, and I would love to see it grow bigger and make Norman a premier scene of traditional folk music in Oklahoma and the surrounding region. Posted on March 9 at 11:09 a.m.Suggest removal Point # 1: Studies have shown, and numerous personal testimonies I've heard from women who have had abortions have revealed that women can be negatively affected for life emotionally and even physically after their abortions. These women weren't paid off by pro-life lobbyists - their stories are REAL, and there are certainly countless more like them who are suffering after their abortions who we don't yet know about, because we don't hear their stories often for many years to come after the abortion, and the media doesn't report on these stories. Point #2: Women aren't given all the facts before their abortion, and the abortion industry hides/fudges the facts while simultaneously breaking the laws. I'm not making this up. I've listened to the heartbreaking accounts of women who would have carried their pregnancies to term if they had seen an ultrasound or given more of an accurate picture about what to expect AFTER the abortion; I've read so many stories where women changed their minds and kept the pregnancy after seeing an ultrasound. For all the mantra about "choice" most women go turn to abortion precisely because they feel like they have no "choice". Some of them are forced into it by family members or their boyfriend or husband, against their will. Is that "choice"? So many didn't realize the life that was really in them until they saw the ultrasound. Undercover videos from the organization LiveAction () have shown Planned Parenthood officials violating parental notification laws for underaged women and failing to report child sex abuse, and lying to women about the facts of abortion. Planned Parenthood officials are trained to tell the women "it's not a baby" , when the truth of that statement is FAR from validated and settled. In fact, in 1952, Planned Parenthood themselves even acknowledged that abortion "kills the life of a baby":... . Women aren't told that anymore, and so they understandably are led to believe that getting an abortion is inconsequential; reality doesn't hit until AFTER the fact, and it's too late then. These women are being misled and LIED to by Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry. Wouldn't even "pro-choice" people want women to have all the facts and accurate information first? But then again, abortion is the most lucrative part of PP's business. Not that I would expect the OU Daily or any of the other media to set aside their pro-abortion ideologies and investigate any of this. Point #3: "This legislation is an unnecessary infringement of women’s rights to do with their bodies what they choose..." Well I guess that settles it. There's no possibility that the unborn life in the womb is human and might have natural inalienable rights too. How arrogant. Posted on March 8 at 10:49 a.m.Suggest removal "[I]gnorant Tea Partiers"? Pardon me, but I'm fairly certain the overwhelming majority of the Tea Partiers whom this paper dismisses as "ignorant" have a college education and possess a good understanding of the United States Constitution. These are small business owners, concerned grandparents, moms and dads, and young college-aged activists who are protesting. They are not "astroturf" organized by the Republican Party - I'm so sick of hearing that B.S. And these protests, while energetic and no doubt an expression of anger and frustration with the government, with a few isolated incidents here and there (as can be expected in any crowd), have really not been violent. The same cannot be said of some of the protests organized by the left over the years. I'm sick and tired of this paper, and the so-called "mainstream" media, and this current White House Administration dismissing these concerned citizen activists as a bunch of "ignorant right-wing extremists". Why don't you re-read up on the Constitution, and the letters of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, and look at the way our government was originally designed by our founders, and then look at the way it has become now today, and maybe you'll begin to understand why the Tea Party people are so upset right now with our government. There are going to be extremists in any movement. The overwhelming majority of these protestors are not "anti-goverment" revolutionaries; they are simply fed up with uncontrolled spending and a government that increasingly does not heed their voice. They want an end to the special interests that have corrupted Washington, and a return to more responsible and limited government - they want a government that adheres to the founding principles of this country and the Constitution. I'm pretty sure the founders would applaud these people for standing up to a federal government that, because of the reckless and self-serving actions of BOTH parties over the years, continues to grow larger and acquire more power every year, intrudes ever more into their personal lives, and is so drunk on unrestrained spending that it makes a person with a high pile of credit-card debt look like a frugal spender. So to those of you at the OU Daily who are actually listening, please get your facts straight before you go off labeling people as "ignorant". Posted on March 4 at 12:18 p.m.Suggest removal "America should lead the nuclear-armed world towards a nuclear weapon free world. America is the only country capable of accomplishing such a tremendous feat, and to begin to do so would drastically strengthen objections to any emerging nuclear program." And so by disarming America of nuclear weapons, I am to understand that it follows that China and North Korea will also do the "right thing" and lay down their nuclear weapons as well, and Iran (who, by the way, hates America just as much as China and North Korea) will also return the favor and drop their nuclear arms race. And let's not forget Osama bin Ladin and company - being the honorable men they are, they will also play by the rules and call off their "holy mission" to destroy "The Great Satan" America, and we can trust China and North Korea not to sell nukes to these terrorist groups after we've disarmed ourselves. My friend, I'm afraid your arguments are not firmly rooted in reality. As much as I dislike nuclear weapons (and I honest-to-goodness hate them), the reality is that the cat is out of the bag, they cannot be uninvented, and I feel it is incredibly naive to presume that those who hate America and the free world will lay down their nuclear arms just because we lay down ours. No matter how much we'd like to undo history, you can no more rid the world of nukes at this point as you could rid it of guns; disarming ourselves will only make us the laughing stock of the world and serve as an invitation to those who hate us that we are open and vulnerable to attack. Al Qaeda, China, North Korea, and all those who hate America hate the very essence of our culture. Disarming ourselves won't change that, and will risk even more civilian lives on our own soils and abroad than the status quo. Posted on February 25 at 11:14 a.m.Suggest removal While I don't condone this person's means of exposing the realities of prostitution and I agree it's a gross violation of privacy to take video of people having sex (much less post it online for millions of people to see), I find it equally disturbing that you and so many others in this generation fail to see how prostitution at its core actually degrades women of their dignity. Think about it - in the act of prostitution, women are essentially selling their bodies for money. During that set time that the "john" has paid for, her body becomes like "property" for the "john" to use for his own personal pleasure. It's really a system where men get to take advantage of women who are poor. Feminists should be outraged by this. You call this dignifying and liberating? Do you truly think these women are happy doing this for a living? Or are they doing it because they feel like they have no other alternatives? These are women need love and compassion - they need help, and yet our culture doesn't reach out and help them, rather our culture treats them as sex objects, only valued for their bodies. Prostitution is the very epitome of this objectification of women that is so rampant in our society. In fact, it is a form of slavery. These are human persons - God's children - not sex objects to be bought and sold! How dare we strip women of their dignity in this way! No woman should have to sell their bodies and be stripped of their very dignity as human persons just to make ends meet. I am not at all advocating that women should be thrown in jail for prostitution. At the same time, I don't want to see this trade, essentially a form of sex trade, legalized either. It is an evil on the same footing with the sex trade of children. I think that the men who take advantage of women in their desperate situations are the ones who should be in jail. Posted on February 18 at 12:10 p.m.Suggest removal "It’s time for America to catch up with the rest of the civilized world and grant equal rights to our gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens in all areas of the law." --> By the "civilized" world, you mean the world which has legitimized and applauded actions and choices that are inherently wrong. From the point of view of the non-secularist, this is modern day Soddom and Gamorrah. "Regarding the military, to tell a member of the armed forces they can’t serve their country and be who they truly are at the same time is ridiculous." -->I'm with you in principal that anyone should be allowed to serve their country regardless of their sexual orientation. In practice, however, I am against it because of the potential for rampant homosexual activity in the barricades to disrupt or interfere with the mission. Several active duty members I've spoken with have expressed this same fear. So it's not an ideological concern in this case, it's a practical concern. "The current (largely) religion-induced homophobia, claiming moralistic “family values” is anything but moral. Denying the civil liberties of our fellow citizens based on who they love is as immoral as it can get. The fight for homosexual rights should be fought by every American with an inkling of moral fiber until we are brought out of the dark ages and into the 21st century." --> Just to clarify, religion does not teach "homophobia" - it teaches that certain actions and lifestyles are inherently evil. It does NOT teach that having an inclination to act a certain way in of itself is wrong, only indulging that inclination that is wrong. Our "moralistic family values" are rooted in an acknowledgement that there is such a thing as Good and Evil - right actions and wrong actions. Many of the God-fearing people of this nation understand in a way that the modern-secularist cannot that legalizing "gay marriage" threatens to undermine the very foundation of the family, which is the first unit of society, by radically redefining the gender roles. As it is, the state of the family in this country is grave condition - divorce rates have never been higher. Children are no longer growing up in loving homes, with good mother and father role models. It has negatively impacted the whole of society. Your last sentence of the article effectively attacks religion and moral values altogether, and dismisses the sincerely held concerns for the well-being of our society held by people of religious convictions. Secularism is also a form of "morality" - moral relativism, to be precise - and from the viewpoint of myself and many others across the nation who share my convictions, secularists such as yourself are trying to impose your morality on a God-fearing people. Posted on February 18 at 11:34 a.m.Suggest removal @ JJanowiak: Whoa buddy, please point out in my past comment postings where I EVER said that "homosexuals are not human beings"? Indeed, I made it very clear in my last comment on a pro-gay opinion article the important distinction between accepting and loving someone as a human being (made in the image of God), and approving of a person's actions and lifestyle choices. I specifically made the point that we are all sinners and our hearts are inclined towards committing sinful acts (a result of our fall from God's grace in Original Sin (see Genesis)). I also made the point that just because we have inherent natures that incline us toward sin, it does not make those actions any less wrong or more acceptable. And I believe I also concluded with the point something along the lines that through the grace of Christ, we may find forgiveness for our sins and a return to grace if we but seek Him with repentant hearts. You may disagree with my Christian beliefs, but where in ANY of that do you get "Homosexuals are not human beings?" Get your facts straight, pal, before you start making those kinds of accusations. Also, just a suggestion, you might want to avoid making personal attacks on others who disagree with your secularist world views if you wish to be taken seriously. Posted on November 4 at 12:32 p.m.Suggest removal This article is chalk full of inaccuracies and hypocrisy on the part of the author. I love how liberals will cite liberal advocacy groups to support their claims and tout them as the voice of "truth" and "reason", but then rail against conservatives who use research done by conservative or independent groups and attack them as "clueless". Susan G. Komen, for the record has given millions in donations over the years to Planned Parenthood, and the often-cited Guttmacher Institute is directly funded by PP. Not that their research is at all biased; after all, PP is only the largest abortion provider in the nation, and abortion is only the most lucrative part of PP's business. I also take offense of your comparison of the Justice for All people to the Westboro Baptists. Yes, the images are very graphic and disturbing (then again, so were the images of the Jewish Holocaust; the truth is often gruesome). However much you may disagree with JFA, they don't stand there yelling obscene statements like "God hates America" at people pass by and telling them that they're going to hell. One group uses research and intelligent discourse to promote their cause; the other protests at funerals and makes their living telling the whole world how much God hates them; the two groups bear no comparison, and it's clear you only did so to try and marginalize those with whom you disagree. While on the subject though, I did incidentally happen to notice a bunch of clowns across from the JFA hooting and hollering and making all kinds of obnoxious noise during the JFA presentation. For the record, other independent groups (ones that aren't funded by pro-abortion organizations like Susan G. Komen and Planned Parenthood) have documented increased breast cancer risks associated with abortion; you may find some of this research here:... On

What will it all cost? How much is it all going to cost? It's a question we've all been asking since the financial crisis began. And if you've found it hard to keep track of the money being shovelled out the door to protect our financial system, it turns out that the Treasury has as well. At the end of last year, events were moving so fast that the Treasury didn't have time to get Parliament to formally underwrite its £500bn-plus Asset Protection Scheme for two of Britain's biggest banks. It had to get retrospective approval, weeks later, after the deal was announced. As a result, the Treasury spent £24bn more than it was authorised to spend in 2008-9, which today led the National Audit Office to qualify the Treasury's accounts for the first time since 1999-2000. But the head of the National Audit Office hasn't given the Treasury much of a telling off. Amyas Morse accepted that "the pressure for the department to intervene... gave it no time to seek from Parliament the additional resources needed". The new news in the Treasury's accounts was the Treasury's £25bn estimate of the likely cost of the Asset Protection Scheme, which Lloyds and RBS have used to insure £585bn worth of assets. How did it reach this figure? We aren't told. All they will say in the Report [2.5Mb PDF; quotation below from p233] is that we shouldn't pay much attention to it: "This is therefore a highly provisional loss estimate for the scheme, based on preliminary analysis of a sample of assets initially proposed to be included in the scheme, and the APS term sheet originally agreed in March 2009. It should therefore be viewed with considerable caution. The estimate could be subject to substantial revision (up or down) as further due diligence reports are completed and as the terms of the APS are finalised. Altered economic and market conditions would clearly also affect estimated losses. We are unable to take a view on the expected timing of transfer of any economic benefit." So they think that it could cost £25bn, but as blunter observers might put it, they haven't really got a clue. And where does that £25bn fit into the general scheme of things? Sorry - wading through these numbers is a tortuous business, but where these kinds of numbers are concerned, I think it's worth it. As we know, the financial sector bailouts - and the fact that RBS, Bradford & Bingley, Lloyds Banking Group and Northern Rock are all now considered to be part of the public sector - has caused our public debt to explode. The ONS reckons that adding all of these banks' liabilities to the public sector will raise the national debt by £1-£1.5tn, or 70-100% of GDP. But, as we also know, that doesn't mean very much, because it leaves out so much, on the negative and the plus side of the ledger. On the plus side, these institutions have assets that are (theoretically) worth as much as their liabilities, but they are largely excluded from the figures. Unless the value of the UK housing stock turns out to be zero, you can be pretty sure that the taxpayers' intervention in these banks will not cost anything like that much. It's possible that the taxpayer will actually make money when the government sells its stakes off. (For the latest thinking on this, see Robert Peston's post last week). But the rise in public sector net debt as a result of the support for the financial sector excludes some big negatives as well - most notably the cost of the various guarantees that the government has offered to banks and others to help them through the crunch. In the Budget, the Treasury said that all the support for the financial sector had cost £84bn upfront in 2008-9 and was expected to cost another £38bn in 2009-10 (mostly due to further cash injections for Northern Rock, Bradford & Bingley and RBS). But the Treasury thinks we will get a lot of that money back. The estimate for "unrealised future losses" on financial sector interventions was £20-50bn, or 1.5-3.5% of GDP. That's at the very low end of forecasts. The IMF reckons that it will cost about 9% of GDP - more than the average for the G20 but less than the US (see my post of 9 March). Go back to that new £25bn figure. The Treasury says that this figure was incorporated in that overall forecast for unrealised losses. If so, that suggests that the Treasury, for now at least, thinks the last (or we hope it is the last) of their many interventions to support the banking sector could prove the most expensive. Insuring "toxic" assets for RBS and Lloyds would account for at least half of the total costs of all of this support - and might account for even more. I say "might". Of course the £20-50bn estimate is just as speculative as the £25bn. No-one knows how much any of this will end up costing. Without more information on how the Treasury reached its estimates, we can't even assess whether the Treasury is making a reasonable stab. The year 2008-9 could go down as the year when the Treasury spent £25bn more than it technically had, on helping out two of Britain's largest banks. But who knows? It might not have spent anything at all. Either way, it could be years before any of us has a clue. Page 1 of 2 Comment number 1.At 22:38 20th Jul 2009, Jericoa wrote: What will it all cost? Wrong question. You should be asking does the way we measure 'cost' in the modern world have any meaning anymore. Cost should be related to value. Those two concepts seem to now be entirely divorced from each other. The current economic system takes no account of the basic impossibility of eternal growth or the rather obvious fact that you cant have meanigful full time employment for all at the same time as ever increasing effciency and advances in technology. I do wish you journalists would learn to ask the right questions. Try lobbygroup.org for some alternatives on what is really going on out there Complain about this comment (Comment number 1) Comment number 2.At 23:29 20th Jul 2009, Straightalk wrote: Stephanie, Clearly the UK Treasury is somewhat lost when it comes to being able to manage its accounts. Not a very comforting thought. Meanwhile in the US, the Associated Press reports that special inspector general Neil Barofsky is due to report to Congress tomorrow that the Treasury Department is guilty of "repeatedly failing to adopt recommendations aimed at making one component of the government financial rescue effort more accountable and transparent." Apparently, Barofsky suggests that the Treasury's lack of response means taxpayers are being kept in the dark as to what the financial institutions which have received funds are doing with the money. This tends to fly in the face of Barack Obama's pledge to increase accountability and transparency from this quarter. I can't help feeling that in both the UK and US the general public are being subjected to the largest and most scandalous levels of economic cover up in our history. The changes in accounting rules, the constant harping on about "green shoots" by politicians and certain talking heads and financial journalists simply seems too contrived for belief. When the UK Treasury can admit to being a mere £25Bn adrift give or take a few tens of billions, you know you are living in a banana republic. Isn't it time that our opposition politicians forced a vote of no confidence in this government and insisted that the Treasury be made fully accountable to the people of this country, who not only pay their salaries and pensions, but have a right to know what levels of our taxes are being paid out and how they are being used by our newly nationalised banks? I know this sounds a naive plea, but frankly I am sick of being presented with numbers whose scale and fluidity have made them meaningless. How can any democracy work when there is such a scale of abuse in public reporting of our public finances? But then maybe that's the idea! Complain about this comment (Comment number 2) Comment number 3.At 01:10 21st Jul 2009, splendidhashbrowns wrote: Hear Hear, Straightalk, I have the same impression of a massive cover up by the banks as well. No financial journalists that I have read have ever explained where the 37 billion pounds spent last year went to. What did the banks do with the taxpayers money? Frankly with the MP expenses scandal, the BBC expenses scandal, I would not be surprised if there is not a banking scandal behind all this as well. No Opposition questions either. We're all doomed, doomed I tell you! Complain about this comment (Comment number 3) Comment number 4.At 06:55 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: #1 Jericoa Spot on! "What will it cost?" - irrelevant to the problem, wrong question - it's about the definition of cost in the first place. By the way, am I the only one thinking that the following is what the earthquake is to tectonic stresses? Am I the only one thinking that this heralds a collapse in USD? The Democratic Party in Japan no longer wish to hold dollar denominated debt, am I right? Complain about this comment (Comment number 4) Comment number 5.At 07:49 21st Jul 2009, duvinrouge wrote: It's now clear to most ordinary people that they are working harder and harder but struggling more and more. 40 years ago there was the very firm belief that each generation would be better off. Now we believe our children will be worse off. Why? Because of the downward pressure on the rate of profit people are forced to: 1. Work longer hours 2. Work harder 3. Work for less (e.g. final salary pensions all but extinct) 4. Work longer (e.g. retire age up) In the 60's a typical family survived quite happily on a single income. Under the guise of sexual equality today's family struggles on two incomes. The cost continues to increase and ordinary people continue to suffer. Complain about this comment (Comment number 5) Comment number 6.At 08:24 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: #5 Actually I think we work longer hours but not harder, in general. What I see is that people work on pointless inefficiencies. Most people's jobs are largely pointless. Half the time they are struggling for deadlines that are arbitrary or vanish away for no reason. They are usually working around deficiencies in orchestration, doing things that software could do, or other meaningless tasks. It comes back to the earlier point - what's the value in the labour? What's the real cost? We are all running on a pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom. Complain about this comment (Comment number 6) Comment number 7.At 08:38 21st Jul 2009, invisiblehandadvisor wrote: Dear Stephanie, Some figures here do not add up. You speak about costs to the Treasury. But what about the costs in lost tax income? What about the costs of benefits paid for the unemployed? What about the human costs? What about the destruction of value in pension funds and private portfolios? What about the costs caused by a decrease in public and private spending? Let's look at the US: According to today's BBC article 'US 'exposure to crisis $23.7tn' ( ) the exposure of the US government could reach potentially $23.7 trillion. Neil Barofsky, who overseas the Troubled Asset Relief Program (Tarp), is quoted in this article as saying: "As massive and important as Tarp is on its own, it is just one part of a much broader federal government effort to stabilise and support the financial system." "The total potential federal government support could reach $23.7tn," he added." A potential cost of 23.7 Trillion US Dollars to the US Government, but only 25 Billion British Pound cost of the credit crunch to the UK government? Hmmmm. Maybe both estimates are far off the mark. Which estimate comes closer to the real costs we will only know in a few years. However, your figure of 25 Billion British Pounds is measuring only a small part of the direct and indirect costs to the Treasury and the UK economy. Complain about this comment (Comment number 7) Comment number 8.At 08:44 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #4 "Am I the only one thinking that this heralds a collapse in USD? The Democratic Party in Japan no longer wish to hold dollar denominated debt, am I right?" Smart chaps, these Japanese !! They see the governor of China's central bank making loud noises about the need for a "new" international reserve currency and he is "backed" by Prince Vlad in the SCO meetings recently and they know that the writing in on the wall !! All these noises from across the pond about inflating their way out of their debts have the (un)desired effects on the trust placed on the greenback !! Those who think that the creditor nations have to "like it or lump it" have forgotten how easily it is for those same nations to "do unto others before they do unto you" !! If the three largest creditor countries decide to yank (pun intended) their reserves from USD, ol' Uncle Sam is going to need more than trust in God to save them and the portraits of presidents past !! And if anyone thinks that this is a purely American disease, just watch Crash Gordon try to quantitatively ease our way out of *HIS* mess !! Zimbabwe may soon look like the Paragon of Prudence !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 8) Comment number 9.At 08:50 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #6 "They are usually working around deficiencies in orchestration, doing things that software could do, or other meaningless tasks." Isn't that Good Keynesian economics ?? One man digs a hole and another man immediately fills it up and both are fully employed !! Keynes never asked where the wealth was going to come from to pay for this meaningless exercise !! Presumable he expects that to be robbed from some poor "damn natives" elsewhere !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 9) Comment number 10.At 09:05 21st Jul 2009, watriler wrote: The only reason that we are becoming palpably worse off so quickly is that the real economy (producing goods and services (including public services)) had become catastrophically depleted and the nation was effectively in a seemingly never ending party. Cold turkey unto death is our and our decendants prospects. The truth is that finance capitalism has always sucked the life blood of the manufacturing and personal services sectors. Labour's slavish fascination with the 'City' will cost them power for up to a generation. Complain about this comment (Comment number 10) Comment number 11.At 09:19 21st Jul 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #5, #6, #9 The unanswered questions of modern economics (i.e. Chrematistics) The lessons of the past have not been learned. Joseph Tainter cites the economic and social innefficencies created by the Roman Empire as the major contribution to its collapse: "Diminishing returns to complexity in problem solving limited the abilities of earlier societies to respond sustainably to challenges" Why do we not ask each other whether what we are doing is truly creating economic value (not for ourselves) but for our society as a whole? As Tainter says "It is essential to know where we are in history". Are we in constant growth, are we peaking, are we staring at a major downward spiral? Yet no modern economist dare suggest that we ain't on a continuous upswing. Perhaps because (for the moment) we are still at the top of the pyramid? Is Industrial Civilization a Pyramid Scheme? By Eric Zencey Complain about this comment (Comment number 11) Comment number 12.At 09:19 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: #8 Yes things are moving pretty quick! We have Asean free trade agreements with Japan and China, international settlement IT infrastructure for Yuan trades deployed, China to start settling internationally within Asean in Yuan, and already some trial international settlements with firms based in Shanghai. We now have Japan's party who have dominated there for 50 years (!!!) about to get booted out, while the opposition are saying they want US T-bonds in Yen. I reckon we are looking at 1 to 2 years and we will have a Yuan dominated Asean equivalent of the EC, probably ultimately with their own local central bank and parallels to things like the IMF. It's really dramatic. Complain about this comment (Comment number 12) Comment number 13.At 09:43 21st Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: No.12. FrankSz The USA, EC and Britain will eventually all share the same currency. (By the way, if Britain had joined the euro at the start, it would have been called the "eurin"). Complain about this comment (Comment number 13) Comment number 14.At 09:43 21st Jul 2009, duvinrouge wrote: #6 happy to discuss labour and value - Marx's labour theory of value is not understood by economists (and definitely not by the Austrian School) #11 Marx provided a lot of answers (if people not only read him but took the time to understand what they are reading; a lot of effort required) Complain about this comment (Comment number 14) Comment number 15.At 09:47 21st Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: I agree with all of the remarks about the definition of costs. However, consider that as there is no from of transnational limitation of costs and that there is no practical limitation of currency movements isn't this picking over the bones of the slump rather academic and also is it not possible to argue that the counter party liabilities of the 600 tn dollar CDO CDS market will land at the door of those organisations that 'cannot go bust' (i.e. Government, if they, as they have, guarantee the private banks? RBS etc..) Thus, I do not believe that there can be any absolute definition of cost. So the Treasury's what will it cost us each month, each year is rational if dubious. The answer will be that it will cost us a terrifying eye watering sum, but the Treasury will only tell us what it is years, if not decades, afterwards! What about the pfi nonsense!!! Complain about this comment (Comment number 15) Comment number 16.At 09:49 21st Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: The likely losses from the GBP585bn insurance scheme for the toxic assets of HBOS + RBS will be in the region of GBP100bn to GBP200bn. So, has the government paid an insurance premium of GBP25bn to pass the GBP200bn loss on to an insurance underwriter? Has the government paid GBP25bn to save itself GBP175bn? Not a bad deal if it has...... Complain about this comment (Comment number 16) Comment number 17.At 10:39 21st Jul 2009, leanomist wrote: There is so much insight in all the comments above that will affect us all, our children and our children's children ... and there are already too many to mention as they all arguably tell the story of what's happening now, and what lies ahead ... which begs the question "So why are current 'leaders' in positions of 'Power' not 'seeing' it, or 'doing anything' about it ? ... is it mostly 'Ignoromics' or more 'Poweromics' ? *. As I personally don't see much Leanomics* from them, which is what we really need from our 'leaders' right now ... and IMHO " Leanomics v Poweromics & Ingoromics " is arguably the 'battle of the future' - which will define the nations that will prosper in the future ... e.g. take a look at too ... Such a 'battle' is arguably just beginning, but it will predictably grow (powered by the internet) as things continue to slide and get much worse ... (I personally believe this is partly why we are seeing so much 'spin' right now ... as those in 'power' try to 'hold back the winds of change' ... but as has also been pointed out above, they are going to blow whether they like it or not, and in places like Japan they're likely to embrace them yet again ... I'm afraid 'history tells a story ... and it will continue to do so too'). David Clift, a Future 500 Leader * Leanomics = People taking responsibility for adding value and continuously improving the situation for others (e.g. customers, communities, overall environment), based upon fundamental values such as trust, honor, responsibility and respect. Complain about this comment (Comment number 17) Comment number 18.At 11:44 21st Jul 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #15 John A country can go bust when it fails to sell its debt: Are we getting ever closer to this happening? If so, which will fall first, USD, Euro, Sterling? Given that more than 2,000 currencies have failed in the past, what makes us think that the current ones are invincible? If a bank overstretches and gets bailed out by a Gvt, then society takes on the risk. If we continue to ensure that banks can't collapse, then our economy as a whole is then put at much higher risk of collapse (i.e. we are underwriting the risk). In passing this risk to us (the taxpayer) then they will occupy the unique position of being the only type of company that can bring down the whole economy. If this happens then they nigh on conducted treason to our country. Complain about this comment (Comment number 18) Comment number 19.At 12:06 21st Jul 2009, Jericoa wrote: #6 ''It comes back to the earlier point - what's the value in the labour? What's the real cost? We are all running on a pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom'' I think that sums it up quite nicely, and it will carry on that way until some kind of alternative is offered up. Speaking of treadmills these blog spaces seem to be resembling that now. We all seem good at analysing what is wrong with the current system, certain individuals whom are obviously insiders in some way are able to dive into the economic details of them. What we seem to be rubbish at is coming up with..well ..something better! If we cant come up with something better we should well..stop complaining as it serves no useful purpose! If you fancy turning away from the critical and into the creative a few of us have developed an entirely independent unfunded webspace to do that aligned to no political party or any other institution or ideology. The effort put into that site by volunteers will also be a waste of time if nobody contributes to it! It is in the form of a 'live' manifesto within which individuals can debate and contribute to it / edit and re-edit it until it (hopefully) becomes something coherent that is outside of the incumbent and leveraged political economic and intellectual elite's influence. They seem to have a stranglehold on all debate and keep public debate confined within a narrow framework to the extent that journalists only ask questions from within the confines of that framework. Stephanie's post is a great example of that...'what will it cost'...hang on a minute do you understand what cost means and what its associated value is / should be ? Unless you answer that first question coherently all subsequent debate is founded on 'the sand'. The trouble is journalists, who are not supposed to have their own opinions, only to report the opinions of others don't have anyone else credible to ask that question of whom are not leveraged in some way by the current system, so round and round the treadmill goes and nobody is any the wiser despite democracy and a so called free press! The people who post on here are idealy placed to step out of critical mode and into creative mode and contribute to well..something worth while..who knows. You can find it at lobbygroup.org , the few of us from these pages who have set it up can not do it on our own, we need to draw on unleveraged (anonymous if needs be) expertise from a broad spectrum of life. I am sure stephanie and other journalists would be interested in what an independent unleveraged alternative way of doing things would look like once it is developed by people who clearly have lot of knowledge and, more importantly in most cases clearly have no other interest other than to improve things for the better. Who knows she may even report on it. What are you all waiting for? Or do you prefer the look of just another few steps on that treadmill? Jericoa Complain about this comment (Comment number 19) Comment number 20.At 12:09 21st Jul 2009, stanilic wrote: Q: How much is it all going to cost? A: The future we thought we had. Instead we will have an alternative future. I feel we should focus more on this alternative whilst we still have some control on the outcome. Complain about this comment (Comment number 20) Comment number 21.At 12:34 21st Jul 2009, duvinrouge wrote: Reproduction schema, as used by Marx & Luxemburg c + v + sv = total production c = constant capital, i.e. cost (hours worked) of replacing used up means of production and new capital investment (from previous periods SV) v = variable capital, i.e. wages paid to productive workers (hours worked to reproduce the means of subsistence) SV = surplus value, i.e. cost of luxury goods (capitalist consumption), wages to unproductive workers (e.g. economists) and capital reinvested in the next period for enlarged reproduction Note that the recorded profit rate gets out of line with the 'true' underlying rate of profit (rate of SV), because of credit and the 'income' from rising asset prices (the fixed capital). This ficticous capital has been hiding the fall in the real rate of profit at least since the US dollar freed itself from gold. I suspect that there is still an awful lot of ficticous capital out there. Inflating it away is just another way of reducing real wages (v). In otherwords, there's still much more cost to be passed onto struggling workers. Complain about this comment (Comment number 21) Comment number 22.At 12:38 21st Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: No.19. Jericoa What is required is, on the whole, unpalatable to the majority of voters. The irony is, the majority are currently happy to let a minority of badly behaved individuals make their lives more difficult. Real change will not occur until some big calamity provides the impetus - such as the Black Death, or costly world wars faught closely one after another, a civil war, or global environmental crisis, or a mega financial meltdown. Large scale change only occurs when there is no other option. Complain about this comment (Comment number 22) Comment number 23.At 13:03 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: #22 ..you omit the advent of a hitherto unknown revolutionary technology in your list of calamities. Complain about this comment (Comment number 23) Comment number 24.At 13:11 21st Jul 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #21 Duvinrouge A couple of quick questions for you, as I want to check whether we are on the same track. I'm currently reading Georgescu-Roegen's The Entropy Law and the Economic Process which covers Marx's reproduction formula. Have you read any G-R? I'm still in the early days on this at the moment. Also, do you concurr with this statement of mine: And even Zencey's question: Is Industrial Civilization a Pyramid Scheme? (see post #11 above). If so, then what would suffice as compelling evidence of your claim that "ficticous capital has been hiding the fall in the real rate of profit at least since the US dollar freed itself from gold." (This would need to counter the temptation of most people who have seen their general quality of life and income rise over recent years. How can this be shown to be a sham now? The answer must lie in the debt bubble, but do we have to wait until it collapses before the masses wake up to the fact?). My instincts tell me this claim is true, but how can it be "proved" scientifically (and not by rhetoric!)? Complain about this comment (Comment number 24) Comment number 25.At 13:15 21st Jul 2009, Jericoa wrote: #23 I fear you may be right but I hope you are wrong. For the first time in our history we have the technology and knowledge available to us to largely shape our own destiny and aleviate a great deal of unecesarry human suffering.. Complain about this comment (Comment number 25) Comment number 26.At 13:33 21st Jul 2009, DebtJuggler wrote: #9 ishkandar wrote: Isn't that Good Keynesian economics ?? One man digs a hole and another man immediately fills it up and both are fully employed !! -------------------------- ...but Gordon's still digging! ...and will the IMF have enough to fill it up with? Complain about this comment (Comment number 26) Comment number 27.At 13:51 21st Jul 2009, DebtJuggler wrote: #25 Jericoa wrote:. ------------------------------------------ Yeah!...I know a place just like that...it's called Sweden! (...and the women ain't arf bad either!!!) Complain about this comment (Comment number 27) Comment number 28.At 13:51 21st Jul 2009, leanomist wrote: I echo post 19, 22 and 25 - another 'thread of reality', and the 'winds of change' are on the way (e.g. unfiltered information thanks to the internet, as well as more disasters)! And I agree with lots of the other posts too (e.g. Post 26)! Complain about this comment (Comment number 28) Comment number 29.At 13:55 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: #24 Complain about this comment (Comment number 29) Comment number 30.At 14:24 21st Jul 2009, random_thought wrote: I agree with many of the comments above. Too many of us are working longer hours, getting into debt, worrying about losing our jobs and about the lack of value of our pensions. And now we're told that we'll all be worse off still, paying the costs for the bank bailout for years to come. And yet technological advances over the past few years should have made us better off not worse. The system is badly broken. It can be fixed, but fixing it will mean dramatic changes to how we run the economy. There are some suggestions below - but I imagine they would be disliked by a lot of people. - Introduce a more redistributive tax system. Spread the money more evenly so all consumers can afford to buy the things they need without getting deeper and deeper in debt. Even consider some kind of wealth tax to correct the cumulative effect of growing inequality over the past couple of decades. - Replace all benefits and tax allowances by a single Citizen's Income payable to all, thus greatly improving the incremental benefit of part-time labour etc, pricing people back into work. - Relax planning regulations for housing development so any potential future housing bubbles can be burst immediately by making more land available. House prices should be determined by building costs plus agricultural value of land, not just by the maximum possible amount that people can afford to borrow. - Break up the banks. Not just splitting the retail and investnment parts, but also splitting off the current accounts, ATM machines etc and treating them as a national utility. Only provide Government guarantees for money in these current accounts which would have strict controls over what it could be invested in (limited to Gilts etc). If house prices are more affordable, and a more egalitarian society means far fewer people borrow to pay for current expenditure then the whole banking sector can be much smaller than it is now. - Move away from privately funded pensions towards pay-as you go pensions funded from taxation. Remove all tax benefits enjoyed by pension funds and use the increased tax revenue along with transferring a proportion of benefits from public sector schemes in order to greatly increase the basic state pension. - Keep currencies at approximately purchasing power parity with each other (at least as regards other developed countries). Don't put up with countries like China providing huge subsidies to their exporters and distorting the market. If a country does this then introduce an equal and opposite import tariff until they stop. - Stop trying to use interest rates as the one and only lever for managing the economy. Where possible keep interest rates fairly constant relative to inflation and use direct intervention in bank's capital ratios, fiscal policy etc to manage the economy. Complain about this comment (Comment number 30) Comment number 31.At 14:25 21st Jul 2009, riverside wrote: 20. stanilic ''Instead we will have an alternative future. I feel we should focus more on this alternative whilst we still have some control on the outcome.'' Stan you have no control, you are still living the illusion. Sorry. Complain about this comment (Comment number 31) Comment number 32.At 14:48 21st Jul 2009, riverside wrote: 22 MrTweedy ''Large scale change only occurs when there is no other option.'' Fairly soon then Tide coming in. Approaching 10 percent economic collapse in the private wealth generating sector likely from the peak. Revenues to HMG due to drop. Public expenditure still running at the bubble max. Large numbers of the young generation made idle. Every process you care to look at in polarisation, ie black and white, no greyscale. The projected growth in the private sector, ha ha, cannot plug the gap in the drop in public finance revenues. Less than one percent growth for a number of years. The whole structure is like the circus strongman carrying a pyramid of people, trouble is he has caught the flu. Give it five years to halve the deficit - thats the message, more like give it five years and the crisis in the public sector will be apparent. ''We have a system that increasingly taxes work and subsidizes nonwork.'' Milton Friedman. It has just got a whole lot worse. Particularly if you regard work as wealth creation. Complain about this comment (Comment number 32) Comment number 33.At 14:52 21st Jul 2009, riverside wrote: 26 BankSlickerminustheR ''Gordon's still digging!'' Gordon's more like a China Crisis than a spade handler. : ) Complain about this comment (Comment number 33) Comment number 34.At 14:53 21st Jul 2009, Leftie wrote: The World Banking crisis last Autumn was much too urgent for any Government to take time either to make cost estimates or to optimise the best possible ways of overcoming the national calamity of falling final demand for goods and services. And stopping Banks collapsing in a pile of debts. Urgent and sufficient action was required last October and that's what we got here, at any rate. Other National Governments were either delayed in taking action - the USA for instance - or just mesmerised by the scale and suddenness of this unpredicted crisis. Like Germany & France. By next Spring we'll know whether the 'wait & see' and modest stimulus route that much of Europe has adopted are as effective as the 'big spender' & Bank re-capitalisation routes adopted by the Anglo-Saxons. That will also enable us to better judge whether the 'Emergency Brown' policy really has saved our world? Or not .... Complain about this comment (Comment number 34) Comment number 35.At 14:58 21st Jul 2009, Jericoa wrote: #27 I have thought that for many years myself....sigh. They seem to have this air of benevolent superiority about them as if they look upon the rest of us poor sods and say 'perhaps they too will be lucky enough to be Swedish also in their next life'. At least it shows it can be done if you keep your head down, ignore the rest of the world and go about the business of living both sensibly and creatively with no high ambition. #30 Some good suggestions there, do you mind if we use some of them for our ever evolving manifesto to put up for debate on the lobbygroup.org? Complain about this comment (Comment number 35) Comment number 36.At 15:00 21st Jul 2009, leanomist wrote: It's worth noting a 'journalist' is supposed to have a responsibility to investigate (and the BBC have a moral duty and civic responsibility to do so - given we as taxpayers fund them at the moment) ... and report in an objective and unbiased way ... There are lots of people they could (and should talk to) and the comments we have all made regularly point them out ... the problem is many are either 'creative outsiders' and/or not from the 'traditional establishment' ... And therein lies the problem (or one of them at least) ... as most of the current 'leaders' came from such 'establishments', and they are unlikely to challenge / undermine the authorities that gave them their 'authority' ... however clear the evidence for such 'pyramid schemes' becomes ... Establishments/nations that fail to learn will 'only learn to fail', and only those that are curious (to new ideas and possibilities - e.g. from 'creative outsiders') will succeed ... history again tells this story ... and it will continue to do so too ... David Clift, A Future 500 Leader Complain about this comment (Comment number 36) Comment number 37.At 15:03 21st Jul 2009, ghostofsichuan wrote: How depressing. This does explain how we got into the mess because the people responsible for banking oversight have no ideas about money. Apparently the banks may have had and still have substantial assets to cover much of the losses but instead of taking the losses for their corrupt financial schemes they went to the governments and asked the taxpayers to obsurb their losses. Wouldn't every business like to have such a relationship...bankrupt proof. For those who think the governments now own the banks, this should clarify that the banks own the governments. Makes one yearn for the good old days of the guillotine and mob justice. The complete lack of honesty by the banking industry and the willingness of elected and appointed officials to hand over billions in taxpayers money puts the citizens in a situation that must cause reflection of very core concepts of representative government. The bailout is merely the second scheme of the bankers. They have no integrity, old fashion I guess, and decided to follow up the unsecured loan bubble with a governmental bailout that makes the governments look like willing fools. Put your money in your mattress where it will be safe from bankers and politicans. Simple rule: if the process is too complex to be understood, the process is too complex. Could some of the money be used to establish an embeselers hall of fame so that we could at least put some faces and names together. Complain about this comment (Comment number 37) Comment number 38.At 15:05 21st Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: #18. Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: I don't think I was arguing that a country could not go bust. However, as a Nation, as on our behalf we have been lumbered with bailing out every bank that "is too big to fail" then as the market will ensure that if there is a progressive failure the last guarantor (i.e. us) will be lumbered with the lot. In which circumstances you may be right to be concerned - but just how concerned? Let us put some probabilities to things: (That should illicit some interesting responses!) 1. Will the country fail to meets its debts in the next 5 years? (My guess is 2 percent - 50:1 against) 2. Will any more banks be bailed out by the British Nation? (my guess is 50 percent - mainly smaller banks - 2:1 against) 3. Will the PFI true cost ever be taken into the national accounts? (my guess is 0.1 percent - 1000:1 against) 4. Will the Bank bail outs ever be taken into the national accounts? (my guess is 0.5 percent - 200:1 against) 4. Do the Treasury's numbers matter at all? (my guess is 10 percent - 10:1 against) etc. Complain about this comment (Comment number 38) Comment number 39.At 15:07 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: #35 Here's a good one for your lobbygroup.org - Have Iraq and Iran make a reciprocal agreement with China exclusively trading oil in Yuan, in exchange for favourable trade agreements. Ha. Should be funny, if nothing else. Complain about this comment (Comment number 39) Comment number 40.At 15:32 21st Jul 2009, stanilic wrote: 31 glanafon But you have no idea as to the different futures I can see. Some are frightening; we need to find a way now to make them less so. We might not succeed but at least we will have tried. Complain about this comment (Comment number 40) Comment number 41.At 15:43 21st Jul 2009, random_thought wrote: #35 Jericoa Please do. Complain about this comment (Comment number 41) Comment number 42.At 15:58 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #12 "I reckon we are looking at 1 to 2 years and we will have a Yuan dominated Asean equivalent of the EC, probably ultimately with their own local central bank and parallels to things like the IMF." The Yuan and the Yen are written the same way, whether in Japanese (Kanji) or Mandarin !! Therefore, it is the "same" thing as far as the East Asians are concerned !! However, I think they might have so mechanism in place already via the ADB (Asian Development Bank) !! With ASEAN + 3 in one bloc, it will be the biggest trading bloc in the world (China and Japan being two of the three biggest trading economies in the world) !! I think that, within the next ten years, the Pacific will become an East Asian Pond !! India already have "observer" status and Pakistan and Bangladesh are very keen to join up too !! The Kiwis are already making gooey eyes at the ASEAN nations, hoping to flog more sheep and other Agro-products and if the Aussies don't join up, it will be 10,000 miles to their nearest major non-ASEAN trading partner !! Add to that China's and Japan's (already) rather successful efforts at wooing the Latin American trading Bloc and the fact that NAFTA is becoming more and more a useless piece of paper and the future looks very polarised indeed !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 42) Comment number 43.At 15:59 21st Jul 2009, leanomist wrote: Post 19, 22, 25 and 28 - Threads of reality and something (lobbygroup.org) well worth following up and getting involved with ... just take a look at post 36 for a few more reasons why - thanks Jericoa - and I hope more of the great/insightful bloggers here tune in and get involved too. Complain about this comment (Comment number 43) Comment number 44.At 15:59 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #13 "(By the way, if Britain had joined the euro at the start, it would have been called the "eurin")." Or should that be "Eeeeeuuw" !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 44) Comment number 45.At 16:01 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #14 "Marx provided a lot of answers (if people not only read him but took the time to understand what they are reading; a lot of effort required)" Where he resides, right now, is very quiet and calming and very conducive to reading, if you don't mind his neighbours !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 45) Comment number 46.At 16:05 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #16 "So, has the government paid an insurance premium of GBP25bn to pass the GBP200bn loss on to an insurance underwriter? Has the government paid GBP25bn to save itself GBP175bn? Not a bad deal if it has......" Unfortunately, this government is acting as the insurer of last resort !! Lloyds of London must be laughing themselves sick over this !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 46) Comment number 47.At 16:08 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#38) "Let us put some probabilities to things: (That should illicit some interesting responses!)" OK, as you asked, my contribution is to point out that writing like that is just gibberish, as odds reflect how many people actually place bets. You have just tried to make some wild speculative nonsense look better by appropriating the language of probability, which is cosmetic, and characteristic of the pseudo-scientific nonsense which is peddled today as 'economics' and 'reason' in the popular press. How's that? Complain about this comment (Comment number 47) Comment number 48.At 16:18 21st Jul 2009, duvinrouge wrote: #24 I haven't read Georgescu-Roegen's The Entropy Law and the Economic Process. I can see an argument that life on planet Earth has a general tendency to order and that now fossil fuels are being used at a rate greater than their creation planet Earth is now experiencing overall a tendency to disorder (like the rest of the universe). Perhaps you can summarise the argument for me. I have a lot of sympathy with the Austrian school's argument about the fiat monetary regime in effect being a vain attempt to outrun the tidal wave of necessary capital destruction. But only necessary within the context of a capitalist system. Without the rate of profit determining production (and so society's reproduction) there is no need to destroy capital, have unemployment, people losing their house and struggling to feed their children. Capitalism is the enemy of nature because humanity enslaves itself to the rate of profit and therefore unending capital accumulation (if interupted by crises). Humanity becomes free by gaining collective control over the reproduction process. Hence the need for direct democracy. I have been looking at ways to actually measure the size of fictious capital. It's not easy but I'll share them if I get anywhere. I do remember seeing evidence that showed that much of the reported profits made by multinationals (before the crisis) came not from what they actually produced, but from their financial investments. Assets being sold at an ever increasing higher price - a Ponzi scheme. Complain about this comment (Comment number 48) Comment number 49.At 16:19 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #23 "#22..you omit the advent of a hitherto unknown revolutionary technology in your list of calamities." ...or a 40 days and 40 nights long rain storm of epic proportion !! I believe the prescribed dimensions for the escape craft is - 50 cubits long, 40 cubits wide, 30 cubits high !! Such a vessel will probably wallow like a pig is all but the fairest of weather, unless, of course, it's a trimaran !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 49) Comment number 50.At 16:24 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #26 "...and will the IMF have enough to fill it up with? " Well, the Chinese are always happy to lend the IMF more money in the form of USD denominated debts in return for more SDRs !! What a flood of those debts in the open market will do will be Uncle Sam's problem !! The Chinese will grab their SDRs and run !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 50) Comment number 51.At 16:27 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #27 "Yeah!...I know a place just like that...it's called Sweden! (...and the women ain't arf bad either!!!)" Somehow, I prefer their more Westerly neighbour !! They tend to have rather more of a , shall we say, "Viking" spirit in then !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 51) Comment number 52.At 16:29 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #30 "And yet technological advances over the past few years should have made us better off not worse. " Technology proposes but man disposes !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 52) Comment number 53.At 17:03 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #38 In answer to your points 3, 4 and 5 - Does it really matter in the greater scheme of things since the international money market will factor all those into their calculations and discount Britain accordingly ?? Therefore, a more pertinent question may be - Will Britain have to go cap-in-hand to the IMF for a loan *YET AGAIN* ?? I would put the odds at 50-50 !! Meanwhile, back to the topic "What will it all cost?" - shouldn't the more pertinent question be - "How can this be prevented from happening again ??" What ever it will cost is what it will all cost and there is nothing we can do to avoid that !! Dreaming of ways to weasel out of this cost will not save us !! However, we can do something to prevent it for occurring again !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 53) Comment number 54.At 17:05 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #39 "Here's a good one for your lobbygroup.org - Have Iraq and Iran make a reciprocal agreement with China exclusively trading oil in Yuan, in exchange for favourable trade agreements. Ha. Should be funny, if nothing else." Iran and Venezuela already trade oil in Euros, thanks to the good graces of "Dubya" Bush !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 54) Comment number 55.At 17:10 21st Jul 2009, Jericoa wrote: #42 I think that is highly likely to happen, and who can blame them? They have been working towards a position of no longer needing the west for a long time already, but there are quite a few hatchets still to be buried between them, not least of which the Japan / China Hatchet. Wealth and opportunity do however provide good burial ground for hatchets I hear. The USA's will also live to regret the alienation of the developing nations in its own back door also through its rather less than humble attitude to those nations in the past. #35 I dont think the Americans are laughing! China figured out its easier to copy the British Empire industrial influence model, ring fence the bulk of manufacturing then use the wealth and influence created to 'buy' and secure, one way or another, the commodities supply line from weaker nations while keeping a bit of military clout in reserve...just in case...but try to be nice..most of the time. There is no need for all this skulduggery and backroom manipulation anymore, we have enough technology to banish it if it were used fairly and creatively instead of clinging to the old doctrines created from a time when we had to spend 60% of our time in the fields just to feed ourselves and starved if the rains did not come or locusts did. We dont need to maintain the mindset from that historical struggle anymore. Try telling that to the ruling elite though! I guess the homosapien is not so smart after all. Complain about this comment (Comment number 55) Comment number 56.At 17:13 21st Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: #47. JadedJean wrote: "How's that?" an "F", up to your usual standard of not answering the question... Your really should try harder. About odds and questions. People gamble. From the Tote to IG index. Just because you don't understand this - is your problem. The point underlying the questions I asked is that the Treasury's numbers don't actually matter much. Other numbers matter much more. Roughly how much, I was endeavouring to point out! Just because you don't give a damn about reality it does not mean that others do not! Please try addressing the real economic issues not some mostly out of date theoretical possibilities that have been mostly rejected, even by economists and other academics! Complain about this comment (Comment number 56) Comment number 57.At 17:37 21st Jul 2009, strategycall wrote: It is perfectly understandable that Economists do not have a handle on what all this will cost. The Government spokesperson has not yet issued the handout, to tell all the Economists what to think, what to say and what to print. Who in their right mind could expect an Economist to do a bit of research and work it out, when it is easier to copy any old guff issued by a Government and then issue it as 'objective research' Not Economists but Dimonomists. I shouldn't be surprised, but I am, that no Economist has had a stab at the likely inflationary effect of QE. On the last blog we had some Dimonomist stating that is all excusable because Economists do not work things out to the n'th degree. Ok then try within a 5% or even a 10% latitude - or somewhere within a couple of miles of a ballpark. (weak kneeded collection of posturing jelly-babies) Complain about this comment (Comment number 57) Comment number 58.At 17:39 21st Jul 2009, The_judge_of_it wrote: Just found this 2006-2007 video: where Peter Schiff predicts the recession, while others laugh and claim that the US is wealthier than ever before. Unsurprisingly, he supports the Austrian school and the Mises institute, and is a libertarian. Complain about this comment (Comment number 58) Comment number 59.At 17:39 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#56) "Just because you don't give a damn about reality it does not mean that others do not!" I'm not the one pulling bogus figures out of the air whilst pretending to be serious. Do you teach in one of those bogus colleges? ;-) "The government must restrict the term 'college', to prevent any premises above a fish and chip shop from being able to claim it is a reputed educational institution" Keith Vaz MP Chair of Home Affairs committee Anarchists eh? Most probably don't even know that they're being deployed as 'useful idiots'. Complain about this comment (Comment number 59) Comment number 60.At 17:40 21st Jul 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #48 Hard to sum up the 1971 book in one paragraph, but be prepared for a substantial (but neccessary) treatise on logic, maths, physics, philosophy and much more. All this in preparation before even touching on Thermodynamics let alone economics! The following gives a good overview, and nicely weaves in the work of Soddy & Herman Daly too: My current interpretation of our ecomomic & financial predicament could be summarised as follows: 1) Most productivity improvements came about as a result of energy substituting labour (muscle>wood>coal>oil - see any of my recent posts on Kondratieff waves, or Kenneth Sayre Unearthed) 2) This energy was converted into either capital (i.e. machinery for enhancing production efficiency i.e. goods out as proportion of labour / land etc. in) or consumables vital for supporting life (see Soddy / Georgescu-Roegen / Daly etc.). Capital facilitates life giving processes, but does not replace them (it is the "trigger action", not the "prime mover"). 3) Most elements of capital or consumable wealth now require increasing amounts of energy to produce (e.g. compare the energy needed to make a modern car, or produce food: fertilisers, pesticides, genetic modifications, air freight etc.). Increased complexity (technology & society) are a consequence of surplus consumption, not a cause. This is actually in decline (see Tainter Collapse of complex societies). 4) Declining rates of Energy Return on Energy Investment mean that in holistic terms energy itself is actually less efficient (so even if the prior point is not true, absolute energy is costing us more to obtain). (see) 5) The saturation of energy as the primary production factor is leading to off-shoring as the only viable means of lowering factor costs (in reality a wage discrepancy issue China suppressing its currency rather than a REAL productivity advantage). 6) The only viable mass-scale energy source is from natural (organic matter), and more importantly that which is locked up in the earth, formed over billions of years. The amount of natural capital IS finite, and probably only viable for a few hundred years - not only is capitalism a speed junky (in that it is rapidly depleting this stock), but worse still is actually an acceleration junky! Science is entrusted to find a replacement, but currently this is us placing blind faith that science will be our saviour. Sorry to disappoint. 7) Given this increase in real cost (i.e. amount of energy in to yield constructive output), how the heck can we be having increased monetary wealth? (Ever since the Late 1960s: Vietnam War, Space race, computers all we have had is energy and resource intensive consumption, yet no sign of a viable replacement energy source - as judged by Energy Return on Energy Investment) Complain about this comment (Comment number 60) Comment number 61.At 17:47 21st Jul 2009, tonyparksrun wrote: #34 @leftilkley Closest comment I've seen to appreciating what has actually happened. We haven't yet seen the unwinding of much of the debt (not even 12 months since Oct08) and in particular banks are concerned about private debt (credit cards, retail credit etc back) let alone government debt - to mitigate the worst effects of the end of the wholesale markets, the government had to step in and spend/quease/guarantee liabilities. The debate (and policy discussion) should be how this overhang of government debt is unwound in the long term. There is no doubt cuts will eventually have to be made and taxes rise, but bank equity owned by the government will be sold. I would like to see Stephanie's proposal of a grand plan with broad parameters - no need to quantify the cost, meaningless to a certain extent, as discussed above - just put in context of real world choices. We have choices - a)fully funded health service; or b)partialy funded state pensions; or c)maintain social security safety net as currently; or d)fully funded military establishment in support of a world role; or e)don't sell stake held in banks until profit made; or f)properly fund climate change measures; or g)fund the interest on the debt; or h)maintain 50% level of participation in higher education; or i)maintain tax take at a given level; or j)public sector pensions maintained Some of these impact on the others (e.g. a fully funded health service would likely increase overall pension costs as we all live even longer, deprivation if the safety net is reduced would likely impact on health costs) We have other options to take and none seem very palatable for the public as referred to by Stanilic #40 and all mapped onto a potential stagflationary real economic background where financial services no longer provides as much contribution to GDP. Complain about this comment (Comment number 61) Comment number 62.At 17:53 21st Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: #59. JadedJean wrote: I don't know what you are on, but go and get your medication changed... If you answer a question - do so! And not go off at a pointless tangent into some gibberish. This blog is about economics and this particular blob is about the Treasury figures. Nothing you have written relates to any of this.. Come back down to ground and address the issues! Complain about this comment (Comment number 62) Comment number 63.At 17:55 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #57 "The Government spokesperson has not yet issued the handout, to tell all the Economists what to think, what to say and what to print." Correction, Ministry of Truth !! What they tell you is the truth and the only truth !! It may change tomorrow but it will be the "new" truth !! See 1984, George Orwell :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 63) Comment number 64.At 18:10 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #60 One aspect that you may not have considered is that much of the energy consumed currently are for non-productive purposes; advertising is just one of the many !! Another, to my mind, more wasteful activity is our fashion-obsessed throwaway society !! My ten year old mobile phone still makes and receives calls and send text messages. It has a monochrome screen and will *NOT* send or receive pictures or videos and will *NOT* play music !! Mobile phone companies *HATE* me !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 64) Comment number 65.At 18:42 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#62) ." But you aren't referring to reality at all, ever, and you need to appreciate this. In fact, you are just making stuff up all the time and calling it 'reality' because you think that looks/sounds good. We have a pandemic of this odd behaviour these days. People appropriate language from specialist areas of science and use terms as literary devices as if they know what they are doing. But you clearly didn't when you started giving bogus probability estimates to events in that post, and that's what I am picking you up on. I'm being serious. In science (and you are clearly not a scientist as it shows up in how you write), probabilities are essentially frequency distributions, and one has to be able to tabulate events to get those. That isn't a matter of just sticking a number on something as a pseudo-value/label as you have done, one has to collect observations under controlled conditions so others know what one is talking about. Without those data, one can't even establish measures of association never mind correlation or better. You should stop being abusive and try to learn from instruction here. Your posts are presently examples of precisely why economics in the media is such nonsense, and you don't see what I am saying, essentially because you have no training in scientific research. That's just a fact, so don't respond with more abuse for my pointing that out. I'm being critical because you expect to be taken seriously when in fact, you are not behaving responsibly (there are no references to outside data or even links), and this sets a bad example for others who may be naively impressed by authoritative rhetoric. Complain about this comment (Comment number 65) Comment number 66.At 18:58 21st Jul 2009, ThorntonHeathen wrote: 64. At 6:10pm on 21 Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: My ten year old mobile phone still makes and receives calls and send text messages. It has a monochrome screen and will *NOT* send or receive pictures or videos and will *NOT* play music !! Mobile phone companies *HATE* me !! :-) Not as much as they hate me, I have never owned one and dont intend to start any time soon. No credit/store cards. I can't drive either. I have 2 legs, why would I want a car? 66) Comment number 67.At 19:08 21st Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: -Quote-: "He said that older institutions founded after the Second World War, such as the United Nations or the International Monetary Fund, were now "out of date". "You can't deal with environmental problems through the existing institutions," he told the conference. -Unquote- Profound stuff. Complain about this comment (Comment number 67) Comment number 68.At 19:28 21st Jul 2009, Radiowonk wrote: I nearly jumped for joy when I read #6 "We are all running on a pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom." Someone, I thought, with views that ally with mine. Then again in #64: "My ten year old mobile phone still makes and receives calls and send text messages. It has a monochrome screen and will *NOT* send or receive pictures or videos and will *NOT* play music !!" I cannot comment on mobile 'phone companies hating me, but if they knew, they probably would. In any event, another like - minded soul. But hang on a minute; surely there is heavy reliance in the Treasury on this sort of gross unnecessary spending for the VAT receipts that it generates and the "economic growth" that can be measured. Go to any shopping centre and see the dead, glazed eyes of most of those present; they are under a compulsion to spend on things they might want but do not need, and the Treasury likes it that way. If that behaviour were to stop then we really would be in trouble! Having said that, I still would like to be the person who found a way to *make* it stop, even if it meant the whole ethos of 21st Century living had to be rewritten as a result. What have we come to when "growth" is no more than a measure of rampant and unnecessary consumerism? Oh and I'm still not an economist, but from the above you probably guessed as much. Complain about this comment (Comment number 68) Comment number 69.At 19:34 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #66 "Not as much as they hate me, I have never owned one and dont intend to start any time soon." Unfortunately, when I worked abroad, I needed one !! There are still places in this world where getting a land line involves a 6 year wait !! Not particularly useful when communications are needed for the job !! Since I hate throwing away still functional equipment, I just swapped the SIM card and kept on using it !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 69) Comment number 70.At 19:34 21st Jul 2009, riverside wrote: 40 stanilic ''But you have no idea as to the different futures I can see. Some are frightening; we need to find a way now to make them less so. We might not succeed but at least we will have tried.'' I do not need to see your futures. I have live one of your unpleasant futures. It was the downside of the 90 recession. What is here all around is not new, it is just new to some. The some will be more in number than previously. It has not finished it has only just started. What we do here where we are is based the downside we experienced in the 90's and is structured for this environment. It works. In the UK you are now looking at new economic caste system developing. HMG have put substantial money in to try and combat the process and they have failed. You are looking at the destruction of reward for work or ability for many. Some will not be affected much, but most will. The future is a hi tech digital medieval landscape with medieveal problems. The central problem is the erosion of wealth creation due to the low wage zones and the government has no answer. You can only influence the understanding of the problem by communication. You are not in control, nobody is. Sorry. Complain about this comment (Comment number 70) Comment number 71.At 19:37 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: ThorntonHeathen (#66) 71) Comment number 72.At 19:40 21st Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: #65. JadedJean wrote: "probabilities are essentially frequency distributions, and one has to be able to tabulate events to get those" You have the cart before the horse, which in your case I am sad to say is not unusual! A probability is an expression of the likelihood of an event occurring or indeed that has occurred. Frequency distributions may be a tabulation of events that occurred or might occur. Probabilities are separate from Frequency distributions. Please do not try to write about something so obviously beyond your knowledge. (which appears to be very limited - and you were begging for that repost!) Complain about this comment (Comment number 72) Comment number 73.At 19:51 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER...(BUT NOT MAKE IT LIVE IN THE REAL WORLD)? "America's Perfect Storm Our nation is in the midst of a perfect storm, according to ETS researchers and the forecast is grim unless we invest in policies that will change our perilous course. A." [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] Complain about this comment (Comment number 73) Comment number 74.At 19:51 21st Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: #71 JJ wrote '." It is absurd of you to class "who step off the "pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom" as terrorists. You are clearly unsuited to a civilised World. You draw offensive and patently ridiculous analogies. TH's #66 is not an unreasonable view. However your response is entirely unreasonable. What is wrong with making the personal choice to "step off the "pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom""? Complain about this comment (Comment number 74) Comment number 75.At 19:59 21st Jul 2009, riverside wrote: 68. Radiowonk 'I nearly jumped for joy when I read #6 "We are all running on a pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom'. Therein lies the problem, refuse-niks may be growing, there is some evidence of this, however this blog appears to have a disproportionate number of posters of this disposition and therefore is not a reflection of the general consumer based publics views. And the future is held in the hands of the general publics consumer tastes and actions, not a minority of refuse-niks. BTW My kids took a hammer to my early mobile phone, which they referred to as 'the brick', to destroy it with glee, and gave me a 'improved' model. It appeared it had to be destroyed because it offended their consumerism as it still functioned perfectly well. I was then seen as a reformed character participating in their value structured world. : ) Complain about this comment (Comment number 75) Comment number 76.At 20:13 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#72) "Please do not try to write about something so obviously beyond your knowledge." Don't be too sure of that. Complain about this comment (Comment number 76) Comment number 77.At 20:16 21st Jul 2009, riverside wrote: 74 John_from_Hendon ''What is wrong with making the personal choice to "step off the "pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom""?'' Nothing, unless you are a recipient of tax revenues, or sales of consumer products, in which case your income may drop. So just draw up a list of intersted parties. tells you the size of the problem. Complain about this comment (Comment number 77) Comment number 78.At 20:29 21st Jul 2009, Jericoa wrote: #75 There will be 2 types of refuse niks, those by choice and those whom have no choice aka the rapidly growing massed ranks of the educated unemployed who will feel rather cheated one thinks! The government can't pump money into 'training courses' fast enough to maintain the illusion that there is actualy work for them to do in the current economic set up in conjunction with a highly mechanised society. I think you mis-calculate. When the government can no longer afford to keep the unemployed 'distracted' the enforced 'refuse niks' with 10 year old mobile phones may well turn into a rather upset very large number of people with nothing to lose and a lot of time on their hands. History tells us things tend to happen at that point. As a very rough guess if the government keep spending until the election to keep a lid on it, the next lot will have to engage the 'choke chain' on public expenditure, it will take about a year to work through thoroughly which puts the flash point in the summer of 2011 maybe... possibly up to a year later if there is some kind of 'blip' recovery in the meantime.. It would be better if someone had a positive plan for the angry mob to focus on before that time. I know! Why dont you all (especially JJ and John from hendon) stop weaving intellectual webs around each other and put all your insight and knowledge to good use and try to come up with a system that may actually work in preparation for that time. I even went to the trouble of setting up a completely independent site for that purpose at lobbygroup.org. for all you guys. Alternatively carry on as you are, the blogging equivalent of the string quartet on the deck of the Titanic. Shall we play the '' quantitative easing inflationary backlash serenade for insomniac armchair economists again'' How does that one go again... I know lets try it in e flat this time to see how that sounds... And on and on and on we go to the background noise of icy waves creeping up the deck in the darkness. Complain about this comment (Comment number 78) Comment number 79.At 20:36 21st Jul 2009, random_thought wrote: 74 John_from_Hendon 'What is wrong with making the personal choice to "step off the "pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom""?' Agreed, stepping off the pointless treadmill of consumerist boredom is certainly a personal choice and there's really nothing wrong with it. I'd go a step further regarding the "debt-funded" bit though. Debt-funded consumerism is pretty much by definition completely unsustainable, so it is in all our interests to persuade the world as a whole to get off that particular treadmill. There are alternatives, mostly involving making the world a more equal place so that consumers can consume without getting ever more into debt. Complain about this comment (Comment number 79) Comment number 80.At 20:40 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#74) "What is wrong with making the personal choice to "step off the "pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom""?" Liberal-Democratic, capitalist/consumer societies run on debt/usury as you may have noticed. Islam proscribes this, as do socialist economies (e.g. Germany in the 1930s, the USSR etc). People who threaten the capitalist economic system are classed as 'terrorists'. On the other hand, capitalist nations like the USA and UK are regarded as imperialist by socialist/Islamist states, because they try to subvert non capitalist economies by spreading human-rights (consumerism). Those on the receiving end also tend to see agents of capitalists as 'terrorists'. The language of diplomacy and geopolitics is opaque. Complain about this comment (Comment number 80) Comment number 81.At 20:57 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: Jerioca (#78) "Why dont you all (especially JJ and John from hendon) stop weaving intellectual webs around each other and put all your insight and knowledge to good use and try to come up with a system that may actually work in preparation for that time." I have done, some just aren't taking in in, probably because they have not been following up the links and grasping what has been spelled out. One or two have grasped it, John_from_Hendon is not one of them. Complain about this comment (Comment number 81) Comment number 82.At 21:05 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#74) "You are clearly unsuited to a civilised World" I don't regard our Liberal-Democratic system as civilized. I regard it as predatory. The Webb's wrote a good book on what a civilized society was like. The USA and it's allies toppled it. Britain tried to develop a civilized society in 1945. It was undermined by the USA and its friends until they got what was acceptable to them in 1979. Nothing has changed since. Complain about this comment (Comment number 82) Comment number 83.At 21:17 21st Jul 2009, armagediontimes wrote: #80 Jadedjean. Where are all these "Liberal-Democratic, capitalist/consumer" societies? I see no Liberalism, no democracy and no capitalism. Where should I look? Complain about this comment (Comment number 83) Comment number 84.At 21:20 21st Jul 2009, armagediontimes wrote: #70 Glanafon. You appear to be moving toward an understanding that the position is hopeless. Complain about this comment (Comment number 84) Comment number 85.At 21:21 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: John_from_Hendon (#72) If you'd followed past links, you'd have graped why I'm not a Bayesian. You'd also know why immigration, and fear of eugenics has been extremely bad for the economy, i.e. why it is costing this country and the USA dearly. Complain about this comment (Comment number 85) Comment number 86.At 21:24 21st Jul 2009, armagediontimes wrote: #79 Random_thought. No-one with their hands on the levers of power have any intention of doing anything at all to make the world a more equal place (or fairer place). If they have what you want then you will need to fight, just as they are willing to fight in order to maintain their power/control. Complain about this comment (Comment number 86) Comment number 87.At 21:36 21st Jul 2009, supersnapshot wrote: The Chinese have just announced the way out. They are to spend their trillions of Forex on foreign assets : All we need to do now is find something attractive to sell them - they are looking for underdeveloped opportunities preferably rich in energy resourses - Scotland perhaps ? Complain about this comment (Comment number 87) Comment number 88.At 22:06 21st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: superiorsnapshot (#87) Buy out the running-dogs' Means of Production (and the rest of their infrastructure)? That's one way to estabish socialism. The Webbs would have been proud. Complain about this comment (Comment number 88) Comment number 89.At 22:47 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #87 "All we need to do now is find something attractive to sell them - they are looking for underdeveloped opportunities preferably rich in energy resourses - Scotland perhaps ?" The Southern Chinese, perhaps. The Northern Chinese are more finicky about what they eat !! The Southern Chinese are known to eat anything that moves and much that don't, so they'll have no problems with Haggis !! :-) That said, the Northern Chinese are known to consume vast quantities of "near paint strippers", so they may target those makers of "the water of life" !! Many of them are underfunded and, therefore, are ripe for the picking !! On the third hand, Rio Tinto just jilted the groom at the alter, so they may be more wary of British companies/assets !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 89) Comment number 90.At 22:52 21st Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #88 "Buy out the running-dogs' Means of Production (and the rest of their infrastructure)? " Unfortunately, it's these very "running dogs" that are in control of China's engines of growth. There are numerous books, papers and learned publications, etc. on the effect of the Overseas Chinese on China's economy !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 90) Comment number 91.At 06:38 22nd Jul 2009, Reaper_of_Souls wrote: Ridiculous isn't it? In the real business world no self respecting finance director would sanction expenditure without a clear idea what the cost was likely to be. So much for risk appraisal and risk management. Its strange that the treasury seems to have escaped much of the blame for the fiasco that the public finances have become. Unfortunately the treasury, often seen as the creme de la creme of the civil service, think they know more than they actually do. Its long past time public sector finances and accounts were subject to the same standards if not higher ones than most businesses. Public sector accounting has long been seen as a joke, willing staff, but lead by people without any real clue. Complain about this comment (Comment number 91) Comment number 92.At 06:45 22nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: ishkandar (#90) "Unfortunately, it's these very "running dogs" that are in control of China's engines of growth. There are numerous books, papers and learned publications, etc. on the effect of the Overseas Chinese on China's economy !!" I'm sure there are, but what are rthey worth. The PRC is socialist, essentially Stalinist, and if that is anything to go by, their buying up the capitalists' Means of Production is a very good, humane, long-term strategy to change their enemy's political-economic system without bloodshed, I suggest. They appear to be using he West's weakness against itself. China now produces more graduates in physics than the UK does graduates altogether. China has a mean IQ of 108 or so to our 100 (which is probably falling like the USA's - see PISA performance). Note, some of the views expressed in thse blogs (by ill informed, opinionated others) amount to little more than: "I think that 7+2 = 13, I'm entitled to my opinion so, no, I won't look up any corrective links that you provide" ;-) That's the cost of expanding Higher Education from 5% tp 50% of the annual cohort without haing expanded the number with ability to benefit from it. Most graduates today don't know their place anymore ;-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 92) Comment number 93.At 08:58 22nd Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: Hahaha. I am happy to see that I have coined a new phrase - "the pointless treadmill of debt funded consumerist boredom" - and that it has been quoted so much. If one day in the future it becomes popular, please remember where you heard it first :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 93) Comment number 94.At 09:42 22nd Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: JadedJean Because we don't like what you say, you must be wrong. It's a bit like eating your greens. Why eat greens when you can eat junk food? Junk food is better for you............. Complain about this comment (Comment number 94) Comment number 95.At 10:20 22nd Jul 2009, ishkandar wrote: #92 "their buying up the capitalists' Means of Production is a very good, humane, long-term strategy to change their enemy's political-economic system without bloodshed, I suggest" Exactly so but not in the manner you think !! It is the "capitalists" who are owning the communists' means of production !! It is the "socialists with a Chinese face" who are falling over themselves to emulate or even become capitalists !! And it is foolish Westerners who look at the political colour of the government and tar everything with a broad brush without examining the underlying structures !! In pure economic terms, China is far more capitalist than Britain, which is very socialist and is edging closer to Stalinist communism every day. The commissars of central government are out there spinning any and every thing and trying to silence the opposition with smear campaigns and gestapo-style raids !! Those that China once labeled as "Capitalist running dogs" are now called "valued foreign brothers" and are begged to "return to the homeland" and, hopefully, bringing with them their wealth, abilities and knowledge !! It is these "valued foreign brothers" that are driving its engines of growth. After the Sino-Vietnam war, there was a long period of mutual hate and distrust. about 15 years ago, the Vietnamese looked North and saw the neighbouring Chinese provinces booming like crazy !! Suddenly the Chinese changed from being "Northern Aggressors" to "Northern Comrades" and the Vietnamese began a wholesale programme to emulate the Chinese success !! They, too, called for their "valued foreign brothers" to return to their homeland !! Now, Vietnam has a growth rate that Crash Gordon will sell his first born for !! They are even grabbing industries from the Chinese !! The world's largest Canon printer factory is near Hanoi, surrounded by quaint little lakes/ponds courtesy of the US bombing of Hanoi in the 70s !! Being pragmatic little Orientals, they turned these US-sent bomb craters into very profitable prawn farms !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 95) Comment number 96.At 11:19 22nd Jul 2009, duvinrouge wrote: #60 I think I can see where you are coming from. 1. Capitalism requires unending economic growth 2. Resources are finite 3. Growing evidence that we are hitting the limits (e.g. global warming, disappearing forests, peak-oil, etc) In a way the ecological argument for socialism is stronger than the equality argument...we need to survive so we need to take control rather than let the rate of profit determine how we live (or die). But the equality argument is a misconception/over-simplification of Marxism anyhow - workers will rise up out of their need to survive not out of some middle-class, intellectual desire for fairness (or because they feel sorry for the polar bears becoming extinct for that matter). Complain about this comment (Comment number 96) Comment number 97.At 11:28 22nd Jul 2009, leanomist wrote: Lots of good points made here again but will any of them change to anything? .... IMHO not until Ignoromics* reduces and more people challenge Poweromics** ... I believe Post 79 and 86 put together sum things up well: #79 Random_thought ... "No-one with their hands on the levers of power have any intention of doing anything at all to make the world a more equal place (or fairer place)" # 86 armagediontimes ... "If they have what you want then you will need to fight, just as they are willing to fight in order to maintain their power/control." And I believe this crisis has got much further to go before we reach this point (in the UK at least - due to a large dose of apathy) I'm afraid ... and will things will be far more desperate when it does happen ... however history says it 'happen it will', but I believe (and hope) it will happen in different ways to the past ... (i.e. not wars - as it's a 'battle of values' that transcends nations - which will be powered by the internet ... as the internet will eventually change everything, including politics and power - we just don't now exactly how, or when) ... David Clift, A Future 500 Leader *. Take a look at for more information/examples of Poweromics. *** See a good quote from Ishkandar/MrTweedy in previous blogs 'For evil to flourish, all it need is for good men to do nothing' [Edmund Burke] ... and take a look at for instance too. Complain about this comment (Comment number 97) Comment number 98.At 12:36 22nd Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: Loans and borrowing need economic expansion to pay the interest. Capitalism does not necessarily need constant ecomomic expansion. Communism is just capitalism but ownership of the land and means of production is supposedly "in the hands of the people". However, the communist model lacks risk, responsibility, innovation and the profit motive, which means the communist economy tends towards bankruptcy. Complain about this comment (Comment number 98) Comment number 99.At 12:57 22nd Jul 2009, leanomist wrote: Post 98 Well put. NB ... and as you can see from the definition below*, Leanomics is a description of neither communism nor capitalism, it just 'values' the 'creation of value' (and 'success/reward' should follow this - i.e. an entrepreneur like Dyson should not be rewarded the same as everyone else, due to the risks he took and value/jobs he has created. NB ... most current CEOs, bankers and politicians do not fall into this category - as many of them are 'destroying value'). * Leanomics = People taking responsibility for adding value and continuously improving the situation for others (e.g. customers, communities, overall environment), based upon fundamental values such as trust, honor, responsibility and respect. Complain about this comment (Comment number 99) Comment number 100.At 13:38 22nd Jul 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #99 Careful how we judge an entrepreneur. It is not value or jobs created that is innovative, but labour / resource saving efficiences. The only true innovations of this sort were the ones that were the very foundation of the Industrial Innovation and moved the effort of work from man and animals to natural resources. The names of Savery, Newcomen, Watt and Carnot are far greater innovators than society gives them credit. Current "innovations" in finance or computing are just a sham. Only an innovation that reduces labour or resource dependency to generate physical work should be labled "entrepreneurial". All else is spurious. The real engine of capitalism has been the heat engine: Complain about this comment (Comment number 100) Page 1 of 2

Who to believe? Does anyone believe the government's own spending assumptions? I ask because this week both the prime minister and the first secretary of state (aka Lord Mandelson) have seemed to suggest that they were a bit iffy. Okay, so they didn't exactly put it that way. But that was the implication. Consider, first, the prime minister, in today's knockabout with the leader of the opposition. In round three (or is it 42?) of the Spending Cuts Saga, he once again insisted that current spending would rise after 2011 under Labour, but be cut by the Conservatives. I won't go back over the main elements of the spending row right now (I have written a quick primer on the numbers below, for those that want it). But for me, one of the big unanswered questions in this debate has been whether or not the government actually disputes the IFS numbers which are so often quoted against them. All that the Treasury says is that "they are not our numbers". But, at times, both the prime minister and Ed Balls have appeared to suggest that there will be more space for spending growth than the IFS implies, because unemployment and other "unavoidable" costs will be lower than they think. The PM was gesturing in this direction today when he said that Mr Cameron's spending plans were based on a rise in unemployment "because you will do absolutely nothing about it". But, you'll recall that the Conservative figures are taken from the IFS, which are themselves based largely on the Budget's own unemployment forecasts, or the Department for Work and Pension's long-term forecasts for benefit spending. So any problem the prime minister has with the Conservative/IFS numbers would surely apply to the government's numbers as well. I wonder if the prime minister knows something the chancellor doesn't. I had the same thought listening to Lord Mandelson's comments on the Today programme on Monday, when he said that it wouldn't be right to make spending plans based on "speculative projections". The first secretary of state said "we are not in a position to be able to forecast what growth will be or the performance of the economy will be in 2011-12". Evan Davis pointed out that the Budget had indeed made just such a forecast - in fact, based the government's spending and tax plans on it. Mandelson replied that any such forecasts were "entirely speculative," and it would be better to base spending on "reality, not speculation". So, neither the prime minister nor Lord Mandelson seem to put much store by what the Treasury says these days. Curious times indeed. PS. A PRIMER ON THE SPENDING DEBATE There have been some interesting twists and turns along the way, but these are the basic facts which have kept the barbs flying over the dispatch box for so many weeks. The numbers in the Budget suggest that total spending between 2011 and 2014 will fall in real terms by 0.1% a year. In other words, essentially flat. But that total includes a massive (and now much-discussed) cut in capital spending of 17.3% a year over that period. The prime minister suggested recently that asset sales would make up the difference, but the government has not identified things to sell that would come close to filling the gap. That leaves current spending - everything that isn't capital investment. That is due to grow in real terms by 0.7% a year, the lowest growth since 1997-2000 when Labour was following through on the previous government's spending plans. So, current spending will grow from 2011 to 2014, as the prime minister suggested today. But, as has been thrashed out many times over the past few weeks, that figure includes the rising cost of social security and debt interest. If you take those and other "uncontrollables" into account, the IFS says that current spending on everything else will fall in real terms by 2.3% a year. If you protect health and development spending from real terms cuts, as the shadow chancellor promised once again yesterday in his interview with Nick Robinson, other current spending would have to fall by 3.3% a year in real terms - or roughly 10% over three years. If schools are also protected, as Ed Balls has sometimes suggested, there would need to be cuts in other spending of 13.5% over three years. Comment number 1.At 18:42 1st Jul 2009, muggwhump wrote: Its a joke isn't it? none of them will tell us the truth, I can't bear another 11 months of this! Complain about this comment (Comment number 1) Comment number 2.At 19:59 1st Jul 2009, tufftimes wrote: "Does anyone believe the government's own spending assumptions?" Of course not. You'll be asking us if we beleive in Santa Claus next. Right I'm now off down the pub, which I suspect is where everyone else is this evening. Maybe if we have a heatwave this summer HMRC will make enough booze tax to fund the governments fairy tale spending plans. Or maybe Gordon should mint a few million more of those dodgey 20p pieces, I hear they're going for 20k on ebay. That would solve the budget crisis. Complain about this comment (Comment number 2) Comment number 3.At 20:09 1st Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: Who to believe? Exactly. But an effort to get some bloggers to get down to basics on this troublesome issue, which is endemic, sent blogdog into a frenzy/rage. Complain about this comment (Comment number 3) Comment number 4.At 20:37 1st Jul 2009, ghostofsichuan wrote: who to believe?: no one! All governmental budgets are "speculative" because they are based on a forecast of tax revenue based on economic "projections." Budgets are based on assumptions and as we have seen those assumptions can be wrong, even greatly wrong. Governmental budgets are also political and therefore those in power give positive news and those out of power give negative views. Just like bailing out the banks. There was not money to do that, but somehow it appeared and the money that was lost by investors and retirement accounts, apparently it just disappeared. Governmental budgets are like Iranian elections, it depends on who is counting. Complain about this comment (Comment number 4) Comment number 5.At 20:58 1st Jul 2009, shireblogger wrote: Does the 09 Budget make assumptions which they know are over-the-top on the downside eg losses on bank bail-outs equating to 3.5% of GDP? Oil assumed at mid 40 dollars per barrel-North Sea revenues. If they cant rely on growth to bail them out, more tax rises? Complain about this comment (Comment number 5) Comment number 6.At 21:21 1st Jul 2009, haroldkraus77 wrote: This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain. Complain about this comment (Comment number 6) Comment number 7.At 06:13 2nd Jul 2009, Turron wrote: The only thing we know about forecasts is that they are generally wrong. The sensible question to ask about these figures is how big is the error likely to be? We know that forecast error increases as we increase the specificity of the forecast (the number of elements that we are forecasting within the total or the specificity of a date at which something could be achieved). The debate about spending plans is, at best, entertaining. To believe that it relates to real numbers would be a mistake. Complain about this comment (Comment number 7) Comment number 8.At 08:50 2nd Jul 2009, watriler wrote: Hold on a minute if public capital expenditure is set to take a nose dive what will be the effects on unemployment and therefore on loss of taxes and increased payment of benefits. Has this been built into the treasury model? Cutting capital expenditure is probably easier to present than cutting current services or raising (ideally progressively) taxes. This government nothing if it is not focused on presentation. Complain about this comment (Comment number 8) Comment number 9.At 08:55 2nd Jul 2009, eatingantonyo wrote: I agree, the Labour party should have a meeting so Balls, Brown and Mandy start to talk from the same hymn sheet. They have forgotten why they became politicians. They are supposed to fight for us and not try to deceive us. I am embarrassed to be British. What happened to integrity, honour and respect? Any one got any ideas how to get these clowns out before next May? Complain about this comment (Comment number 9) Comment number 10.At 10:40 2nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: eatingantonyo (#9) "I am embarrassed to be British. What happened to integrity, honour and respect?" Thatcher and Blair dispensed with all that as part of their Libertarian/equalitarianist programme of anarchistic wrecking. 'Integrity, honour and respect' limited that freedom too much. All three main parties have now become clones, and to see what's coming, one just has to look to how the BNP is treated, as that tells one all one needs to know about the main parties and what they are not doing. This is not an endorsement of the BNP. Complain about this comment (Comment number 10) Comment number 11.At 11:37 2nd Jul 2009, Cameron wrote: What disturbs me in this whole thing is that this is only going to get worse as we sit about debating it. Are the figures speculative, of course! We don't know what is going to happen, so build a scalable plan that has tiers to it and adjust to suit. I'm aware of the political reasons for not waiting to unveil a plan with massive cuts but we are where we are and the longer we sit around the harder those cuts are going to have to be (unless the tooth fairy leaves a few hundred billion under UK plc's pillow). Complain about this comment (Comment number 11) Comment number 12.At 11:38 2nd Jul 2009, Oblivion wrote: The title should read "Whom to believe", not "Who to believe" Complain about this comment (Comment number 12) Comment number 13.At 12:11 2nd Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: We don't need to plan for the future. It's not the government's job to encourage stability. Therefore, there's no need for accurate forecasting. It's better to wait for the future to happen, and then react after it's too late to treat the causes of any problems which may have occurred. The fact the economy is in a mess has simply been caused by a bit of bad luck. The worst economic crisis since World War I could have happened to anyone. No-one saw it coming; it came from nowhere. It's impossible to manage an economy, which is why no-one studies economics anymore. Anyway, the government will produce jobs from thin air, as we all know that governments can, because there is no unemployment anywhere in the world, and there is no poverty. If the government doesn't quite get everything under control, rest assured that Britain's magic exports will save the day, by arriving just in the nick of time. There is no need to worry....... Mr Micawber frequently tells us to have faith that "something will turn up". Jolly Mr Micawber has become synonymous with someone who lives in hopeful expectation. This has formed the basis for the "Micawber Principle", based upon his radical observation: "Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery." If we had a general election now, we would all then be able to get on with the unpleasant business of cuts and tax rises, as we all know there is no other option, as Britain cannot escape the need to balance its income with its expenditure. Complain about this comment (Comment number 13) Comment number 14.At 13:12 2nd Jul 2009, EuroSider wrote: So the government is bankrupt and the country is facing ruin. I hear that Margaret Thatcher (Baroness Thatcher...sorry) is out of hospital and sitting at home with little to do. Perhaps someone from Downing Street should go around to her house and ask her what they should do! Complain about this comment (Comment number 14) Comment number 15.At 14:06 2nd Jul 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote: "Does anyone believe the government's own spending assumptions?" My laugh for the day. Does anyone believe anything they hear anymore? From anyone, not just those in the government? As the economic "miracle" that began in the 1980s began to unravel about the year 2001 starting with Enron, the more you probed, the more falacies, errors, absurdities and mostly out and out lies were uncovered. Whevever you looked there were nothing but lies. What was the miracle? That there was enough smoke and mirrors, spit and Scotch tape to keep the illusion alive for as long as they did. From corporate execs to polticians, investment bankers to regulators, they could hardly have been more wrong. Just go back a mere 18 months and look at what most of them forecast for the future. At that time most of them said there wouldn't even be a recession, no chance of one at all. Had you suggested that the entire world's economy was about to collapse, they would have laughed at you and then said you were crazy. Every one of their predictions has proven wrong and each time their excuse is that if they had done anything else than what they did when they did it, things would now be even worse. Yet these are the very same people who engineered the collapse in the first place. And why shouldn't they continue to lie to the world and to themselves? How else could they pat each other and themselves on the back as they justify their huge salaries and bonuses while the rest of us go broke? Complain about this comment (Comment number 15) Comment number 16.At 14:58 2nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: MarcusAureliusII (#15) "And why shouldn't they continue to lie to the world and to themselves? How else could they pat each other and themselves on the back as they justify their huge salaries and bonuses while the rest of us go broke?" That certainly appears to be what's happening - with a little theatrical contrition thrown in. That's how such people behave - they're incorrigible. Complain about this comment (Comment number 16) Comment number 17.At 14:59 2nd Jul 2009, ThorntonHeathen wrote: 3. At 8:09pm on 01 Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: Who to believe? Exactly. But an effort to get some bloggers to get down to basics on this troublesome issue, which is endemic, sent blogdog into a frenzy/rage. ============================== First, some help please on demystifying your post.. Basics.. basic what? or is that just a lazy cliche? What is endemic and to what?? For those (like me) who were fortunate enough to miss the exchanges that were moderated out that day between you and the usual suspects, we have absolutely no idea what you are on about and due to the moderation you probably have no way of telling us. So, pray, why bother? Complain about this comment (Comment number 17) Comment number 18.At 15:15 2nd Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: No.12. FrankSz We don't want your high standards 'round here mate......clear off. You are, of course, correct: We believe "him", not we believe "he". Therefore, it is "whom to believe" and not "who to believe". Complain about this comment (Comment number 18) Comment number 19.At 15:27 2nd Jul 2009, nottoonear wrote: Who to believe? I believe MrTweedy. The prime minister and Ed Balls are appearing to suggest that "unavoidable" costs will be lower. aye, ok... Complain about this comment (Comment number 19) Comment number 20.At 15:38 2nd Jul 2009, ExcellenceFirst wrote: Comment 15 : MarcusAureliusII Hmmm. Pretty much my thoughts exactly. Complain about this comment (Comment number 20) Comment number 21.At 16:12 2nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: We can believe this and this But who is prepared to believe this or this?. If you do, what measures can be taken to 'address' it now? The UK is already splitting up (Balkanizing) into 'Regional Development Agencies'. Scotland, Wales and Ireland are almost adrift. The harsh truth is that what is happening in Califirnia (see the changing demographics and TFRs) casts some harsh light on what happened in S. Africa and Rhodesia, and what's happening today in Israel. Nobody wants any of this, but unless one faces the reality underlying diversity, it happens. :-( Complain about this comment (Comment number 21) Comment number 22.At 16:36 2nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: ThorntonHeathen (#17) As one of the usual suspects, I suspect you'll never know. Complain about this comment (Comment number 22) Comment number 23.At 17:13 2nd Jul 2009, moraymint wrote: Look, the time will come soon (it's almost certainly happening right now) when reality will crunch into Brown's spending fantasies. Everywhere, individuals, companies and public organisations are running out of credit and/or cash. For example, where I live, Moray Council just shocked themselves by discovering unexpectedly that they were £2 million overspent, against a forecast overspend of £600,000. The Council says (jokes?) it will be saving millions of pounds in the coming 2 or 3 years ... but is clearly haemorrhaging cash today. Hardly an organisation in control of its finances. This type of situation means that organisations start to operate in atmospheres of near-chaos for much of the time. Similar situations are arising everywhere across our economy, at every level. Gordon Brown can bang on as much as he likes about spending the money he doesn't have now, and certainly won't have tomorrow, but this cold, stark reality - of individuals and organisations running out of money - will smash Brown's fantasies to smithereens soon enough. Ask any company owner struggling with a cashflow crisis. Er, sorry, I forgot: MPs aren't supposed to have second jobs, still less have a clue about how companies operate. What the politicians have yet to grasp, from inside their Westminster pay and expenses cocoon of thieves, is that unless and until they front up to the shocking reality that is now the UK economy, then with each passing day we shall edge closer to socio-economic armageddon. It's happening now. The political shysters in Whitehall are living in a deluded world of their own, obsessed with personal survival. When that devil-take-the-hindmost attitude extends to us ordinary citizens out here in the increasingly financially desparate real-world, there will be hell to pay on our streets and in communities. This is the imminent reality of a political elite now so far removed from the nation's citizens that one wonders which planet these people inhabit. And right up there at the top of this unholy economic, political and, indeed, moral mess is ... Mr Gordon Brown MP: the man with the moral compass who saved the world. Even Kafka couldn't make this up. PS Why has the mightily expensive BBC not yet figured out how to print a pound sign? Complain about this comment (Comment number 23) Comment number 24.At 17:50 2nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: When are people going to grasp that if you populate you back yard with fast growing vegetation, no talking to it will make it any more manageable. The usual suspects have only learned to think and talk in terms of magic. When that's exposed for what it is, they get petulant or worse. When led to behave in more pragmatic, realistic ways, they behave like any animal dragged out of their comfort zone. Complain about this comment (Comment number 24) Comment number 25.At 18:43 2nd Jul 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: #21 JJ etc. Isn't it interesting that California is about to be unable to pay its debts (if not default). (If it was a county California would be about the same size of the UK give or take - it has suffered a dramatic property collapse, a dramatic down turn in income tax and so on.) You are worried about the UK!!!! California's solution is to print IOUs and some banks have agreed to cash them too!) Will the UK not do the same! (and I wonder at what discount the IOUs will be traded!) What price UK Treasury Bills now! (This will be seen in the yield on these bills first - it will rise substantially indicating lack of faith in the UK's books. GB please note.) All because of the refusal to get a grip on things and move back to sound money (positive, sensible interest rates)! The sooner it happens the sooner we can start to recover! Complain about this comment (Comment number 25) Comment number 26.At 18:46 2nd Jul 2009, kaybraes wrote: To put it in a nutshell, Brown , Balls and Mandellson are liars, meanwhile the chancellor stays silent . Is this because he wishes to distance himself from the obvious untruths being told or does Yvette (Rosa Kleb )Cooper/ Balls have her spiky shoe strategically placed where it can do damage if he opens his mouth. Complain about this comment (Comment number 26) Comment number 27.At 20:48 2nd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: There appears to be a policy of head_in_the_sandism at work? A reminder: ." Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn (Harvard, 1978) Complain about this comment (Comment number 27) Comment number 28.At 22:03 2nd Jul 2009, random_thought wrote: We're at it again. Spending cuts, spending cuts, spending cuts. Well I know as well as anyone else that there are a lot of jobs in the public sector that aren't fulfilling any particularly useful purpose. But the same is true of much of the private sector (three quarters of the finance sector for a start, plus most of those in marketing and HR, half of middle management and so on). But what would happen if we got rid of these non-jobs? Mass unemployment and the ecomony even further down the pan. Non-jobs are what keep the economy afloat. We all know that most of the things we actually need in life (food, drink, shelter, health, education plus most of the minor "luxuries") can be provided by a small proportion of workforce. The rest need to have something to do. What really gets peoples goat though is when the non-jobs get paid vastly more than the jobs that are actually doing something useful. There needs to be a sensible balance here, Don't whinge about people doing jobs that aren't necessary, but at the same time make sure they are not paid excessive amounts for doing so. And by the way, the Government should start encouraging people to work part time. All this nonsense of Tax Credits (where you are severely penalised for working less than 30 hours per week) is complete insanity. Complain about this comment (Comment number 28) Comment number 29.At 10:37 3rd Jul 2009, MrTweedy wrote: No.27. JadedJean That reminds me of the recent book "The Silent Takeover" by political economist Noreena Hertz. Complain about this comment (Comment number 29) Comment number 30.At 13:13 3rd Jul 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: JJ My (limited) investigations of have taken me to identify a prime suspect: See para 3 - A staunch proponent of individual & economic liberalism (most importantly the freedom to practice usury). Complain about this comment (Comment number 30) Comment number 31.At 19:52 3rd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: We're not hearing what's really going on from the three main parties because if they called it as it is they would have to take a line something like that taken by the BNP, which is really just taking the stance which Germany took to this in the 1930s. It's history repeating itself. This is why the BNP is treated with such fear, I suggest, not because the BNP is a credible party itself, but because they expose the three main parties as powerless when confronted with 'Financial Services'. :-( Complain about this comment (Comment number 31) Comment number 32.At 22:04 3rd Jul 2009, JadedJean wrote: The government keeps peddling the equalitarian, 'it can all be addressed via educational opportunity_extra_tuition' line because it hopes the electorate will believe this will soften the blow, i.e. that parents will be led to believe that their children won't be victims of predatory lending/debt as they'll have a better education, mor e'opportunity'. But even basic arithmetic ability, like memory, is heavily loaded for 'g', the heritable component of intelligence. Education equips this ability - but it can't create it. ecause that softens the predatory blow they think. That is, people are naively led to believe that their children won't be victims of predatory lending/debt as they have been as they'll have a better education than they did. In fact, mathematical ability, even basic arithmetic ability, like memory, is highly loaded for 'g', i.e. heritable intelligence. Education equips it, but it doesn't create it. Complain about this comment (Comment number 32) Comment number 33.At 13:08 4th Jul 2009, Fairoakgreen wrote: I am beginning to despair about BBC journalism, I might as well read the Daily Mail. Cameron attacks Brown saying the spending figures are dishonest. It's the opposition's job to attack but that doesn't make it correct or newsworthy. But, the honesty issue is immediately picked up as 'the issue' by Andrew Neil and by BBC commentators all day long, including Stephanie Flanders and Paul Mason, from whom I expect just a little more. The BBC says all day long, indeed all week long, that 'everyone knows cuts are inevitable after the General Election' but that is opinion - David Cameron's opinion, actually - not fact. Many people disagree but get no air time. The sale of just one of the Banks nationalised would put the public finances right in one go, but that is never mentioned. It is not the BBC's job to be Cameron's loudspeaker, but that's the way it seems to me at the moment. His policies are never subject to any detailed scrutiny - they would lead to a longer and deeper recession, but when will the BBC point that out? Complain about this comment (Comment number 33) Comment number 34.At 23:22 6th Jul 2009, soundmoney wrote: Does anyone believe the governments assumptions? No, they are not assumptions. They are bare faced lies. Only a simpleton would believe otherwise, surely. As I bang on the root cause of all this mess is government largesse permitted by borrowing and irredeemable currencies. Here is Antel Fekete's latest: Complain about this comment (Comment number 34) Comment number 35.At 23:36 6th Jul 2009, soundmoney wrote: I have just read that the sale of a nationalised bank would put the nations finances right in one go. If it needed to be nationalised, it was insolvent and hence not worth anything if not bailed out. Please think before writing. Complain about this comment (Comment number 35)

QE lives on... A pause, but not an end. If the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee today decides not to inject any more money into the economy this month, many will say that the experiment with quantitative easing is at an end. Or at least that it is on pause. But that won't be the Bank's view. For them, QE has barely begun. And for the policy to work, it's quite important that we think they're right. Confused? Go back to the basic idea of QE. As I've discussed before (see my earlier posts QED and Does size matter?), what the Bank thinks is important is how much money is created under the policy, not how long they spend creating it, by actually buying assets. That's one reason the MPC has authorised the Bank to spend £125bn - or nearly 9% of GDP - in just five months. If they thought that it was the steady drip-feed of asset purchases that mattered, they might well have spread the same amount of "quantitative easing" over a longer time. They moved more quickly, because they thought the key was to get that dollop of new money into the system. Has it worked? Once again, we may never know for certain, but it's certainly too soon to say now. It depends on where you expected QE to do its work - and what you think might have happened without it. According to the Bank's own explanatory pamphlet on QE (a page-turner if ever there were one): "[U]ltimately, what matters is the degree to which the cash injection boosts the growth of money and spending by households and businesses and so helps to ensure that inflation is close to target". Where might such an effect first show up? The Bank has suggested that the place to look is the quarterly figures for broad money growth (M4) - adjusted to strip out distorting transactions within the financial sector. As it happens, the latest data, for the second quarter, were released on 4 August. The new numbers were more encouraging than the previous monthly figures had been: at least they showed the broad money supply growing faster than in the first three months of this year, when the outlook for the banking system and the economy was so bleak. But not much faster: it grew at an annualised rate of 3.7%, up from 3.3% in the first quarter. Now, the policy could be helping the economy in ways that don't (yet) show up in M4: for example, if corporate borrowing rates had come down in the private bond markets. Or if the institutions selling all those billions of government bonds (gilts) to the Bank of England used the cash they got to buy debt or shares issued by the banks. In the latter case, the new cash wouldn't show up in M4 any more, but it would be good news for the banks. Bank officials have offered these and other explanations for the continued weakness of the broad money figures. But, by their own arguments, for QE to work, the money has to show up in M4 sooner or later. That fall in borrowing rates (or corporate bond yields) needs to actually encourage companies to borrow more, and the banks need to see that improvement in their balance sheets as a reason to lend more. Indeed, the latest report of the Monetary Policy Forum, created by Fathom Consulting, argues that: "[T]he real measure of success is not whether QE has managed to increase broad money growth one for one [ie by the full £125bn], but rather whether it has brought forward new lending to, or deposits from the private sector. In other words, whether the money multiplier is not one, but two or three. That would imply that for every £1 created by the BoE, another £2-3 would be created by the banking sector and lent out. That is patently not the case." You have to sympathise with the MPC. It's plausible that the effects of the policy will take time to show through. In that sense, it is quite reasonable to announce a pause after this meeting - or perhaps, spend the remaining £25bn authorised by the chancellor over a longer period of time. But the Bank's policymakers also know that if they decide, say, in December, that the economy needs more than £125bn (or £150bn), they will probably wish they had expanded the policy now. Such is life for the MPC. What is most important - through all the uncertainty - is that everyone understands what they're doing. In the past I've talked about various technical "channels" through which QE might help the economy. But arguably, the single most important channel is also the most nebulous: its effect on confidence. Back in March, the most important thing about QE was that it was something the Bank could do after it had run out of room to cut interest rates. The simple assurance that the central bank had more tools in its toolkit sent a powerful message, at a critical time for the financial markets. You don't want your central bank to tell you it has nothing left it can do. It's possible that QE will never have more impact than on the day it was announced. That doesn't mean the money itself won't have an impact. It does make it that much more important that the MPC today explains very clearly what it is, and what it is not doing - and why. Comment number 1.At 09:26 6th Aug 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: No, I am not confused by QE - seeing as you ask. It is yet another example, of the many examples, of irrational and theoretically daft things that central bankers do, and these things are those they were told they must not do under any circumstances throughout their entire education. Somehow this time is always different! It is not, but they will have retired/died before they are found out! PS Mervyn King still needs sacking for getting policy so dramatically wrong in the time before the credit crunch (BCC). We must not let him or anyone forget that it was his insanely cheap money policy in the last decade that got us where we are in this country - and now his only solution is to make money even cheaper! Absolute madness.... and not even a rational or valid short term policy! Complain about this comment (Comment number 1) Comment number 2.At 09:26 6th Aug 2009, duvinrouge wrote: Fictitious capital! This enables profits to be made (rising asset prices again, shares, oil, etc) without there being any true profits based on production. Ultimately, without productive profits being made, capitalism will come to an end. Complain about this comment (Comment number 2) Comment number 3.At 09:27 6th Aug 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: PS can anyone tell me if bankers are receiving bonuses based on their ability to get given QE money? Complain about this comment (Comment number 3) Comment number 4.At 09:30 6th Aug 2009, AlanLeon wrote: How is "quantitative easing" a new idea? Wasn't it called "open-market operations" when I was an economics undergraduate long ago? Complain about this comment (Comment number 4) Comment number 5.At 09:31 6th Aug 2009, 111John wrote: I don't understand why the sterling is going up when the BoE is printing money. It would seem to mean that someone is hording it. Complain about this comment (Comment number 5) Comment number 6.At 09:43 6th Aug 2009, Wee-Scamp wrote: House prices are going up but interest rates aren't so we must assume there really is no joined up thinking going on. Complain about this comment (Comment number 6) Comment number 7.At 10:04 6th Aug 2009, CComment wrote: It seems that QE has so far been a waste of effort. The theory was that the extra money would eventually get into the hands of businesses and individuals via the banks, thereby stimulating the economy. But all that's happened is that the banks have held on to this extra liquidity and they continue to show little or no enthusiasm to lend, unless at cripplingly high interest rates with attendant rip-off arrangement fees and other charges. And to compound the misery, they're still reducing overdraft limits with only day's notice, calling in other loans, repossessing property and generally acting more like loan sharks than responsible lenders. Time and time again the government, MPC and commentators have stressed the pivotal role of the banks in priming economic recovery through reasonable lending. But time and time again the banks instead look after their own interests, using taxpayer's money and profiteering tactics, with no concern over the UK economy.Caledonian Comment Complain about this comment (Comment number 7) Comment number 8.At 10:04 6th Aug 2009, thinkb4 wrote: “But arguably, the single most important channel is also the most nebulous: its effect on confidence.” Who’s confidence, the general public, business, finance.......? Confidence is directly linked with expectations and these, along with the economy, have been over-inflated through the past decade. There is a generation out there who know nothing other than feckless lending and borrowing. And talk of house price recovery (to unsustainable levels) and consumer spending (off the back of record credit card debt) does nothing to address this fundamental imbalance in an economy and population, that has become too reliant on credit Some idea of what the rules for borrowing might be and the likely levels of credit (both business and personal) as a percentage of what was available through pre-crash years may help resetting the bar At the moment the idea that throwing money at something and hoping it comes out right in the wash.... and in particular throwing money at the people who were stupid, or greedy, or naive enough to get us into this mess in the first place..... could be seen as a little naive in itself..... but good PR is not one of the strengths this Gov possess! Complain about this comment (Comment number 8) Comment number 9.At 10:08 6th Aug 2009, remarkabledanvaughan wrote: Stephanie I love your blog and you are a marvellous woman. I find all of this stuff fascinating but I am confused. You're blog today doesn't clear things up for me. It could be summed up as "things might be getting better, but we just don't know yet". It seems that everybody else is confused too, especially the MPC. Keep up the good work though. You are the only voice trying to make sense of all this. Here's an unrelated article about consumer spending in the US that made me laugh (and added to my confusion). It seems consumer spending is up... and down. Please post this for your readers' enjoyment: p.s. are you free friday for dinner? or a movie? Complain about this comment (Comment number 9) Comment number 10.At 10:31 6th Aug 2009, leanomist wrote: This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain. Complain about this comment (Comment number 10) Comment number 11.At 10:42 6th Aug 2009, Peter David Jones wrote: Good Morning Stephanie To answer your question,no I am not confused by QE. However it has been operated in an unnecessarily complex way because they were afraid of being accused of printing money. Monetary policy has all sorts of lags and to my view the Bank of England has added to them. So we need to wait a bit I think. In America there is a lot of talk that the Fed's buying programme has had a side effect of boosting bank profits. Do you think that is something which has happened here? Also I know you thought originally that the Bank of England could not lose money from QE, now that hopefully you have abandoned this illusion how will the losses it makes be accounted for? Complain about this comment (Comment number 11) Comment number 12.At 10:56 6th Aug 2009, ExcellenceFirst wrote: I wonder if Stephanie could explain to us what would have been required for the UK to have been able to sell the huge flow of gilts issued since March without the market understanding that the BoE would at the same time be repurchasing gilts through QE? Maybe she could also explain why the UK was not able to take the more straightforward route of direct purchase by the BoE of new gilts? And finally perhaps she could explain to us why, amongst all the implications of QE that she has chosen to mention as reasons for its introduction, she has not mentioned its part in overcoming the extreme difficulty we would otherwise have faced in funding the major fiscal deficit of recent months? Come on Stephanie! Is QE really a voluntarily selected strategy, introduced for all the positive reasons you mention, which just happens to have the side-effect of helping with gilt issuance? Or is it more the case that the programmed gilt issuance would just not have been possible without the BoE being in effect the major purchaser, and that therefore QE, or something similar, was an action into which we were forced? We're not all five-year-olds, you know. Complain about this comment (Comment number 12) Comment number 13.At 10:58 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: QE? *yawn*. Irrelevant. Complain about this comment (Comment number 13) Comment number 14.At 11:07 6th Aug 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: Just been by the BoE and there seems to be a long line of bankers with wheelbarrows collecting money - trousering some (their bonus) and then going off with the rest! (Answer to my own question in 3 above!) Someone must know the real answer? Are bankers getting paid a bonus for receiving free money from us!???? Complain about this comment (Comment number 14) Comment number 15.At 11:07 6th Aug 2009, allmyfault wrote: I'm sure the photo above was used for a reason; No-one of the MPC lot look like they are up for a fight, so don't look for them wielding the heavy fist that the financial system needs to sort itself out. How many of them have ever worked in the real economy (and big accountancy or multi-nationals doesn't count. Setting the interest rate now seems a pretty timid weapon; Libor seems to take not too much notice, and the High Street banks don't seem to use it any more. You have only a handful of weapons to manoeuvre the economy in any given direction. Interest rates, exchange rate (imports), unemployment, taxation and inflation. How many of these affect the City without much more pain on the general public? Not many. The regime-change we all know is needed will not come about over Earl Grey tea & cucumber sandwiches, we need some battle-scarred rotweillers in the BofE. Some of them should show up on the MPC. (er, I am available Tuesdays & Thursdays). Regards, Complain about this comment (Comment number 15) Comment number 16.At 11:14 6th Aug 2009, icewombat wrote: Just how much of the QE monies have left the UK? Complain about this comment (Comment number 16) Comment number 17.At 11:33 6th Aug 2009, watriler wrote: QE along with the MPC is a dispensible overhead in economic management. Will it help companies to borrow - not much use if to just survive. We want them to invest but where are their customers? It is demand that the government needs to stimulate. QE seems to be good for the banks. Public works and increased benefits (especially jobseekers alowance OA pensions etc) But dont forget where we came from - very high levels of personal debt some of which is now cheaper to service but in a context of much diminished income security - signs of new bubbles of confidence and stocks and shares. Complain about this comment (Comment number 17) Comment number 18.At 11:46 6th Aug 2009, leanomist wrote: Post 9 - It just goes to show how we as individuals can see things very differently ... take a look at my recent post for instance ... ... IMHO, and in my 'book' (which I plan to call 'DIRE WORLD: The DNA of Failure and the Path to Oblivion'), Stephanie (and the BBC in general) are destined for a 'special mention' ... as they have been thoroughly 'weighed, measured and found wanting'. IMHO the BBC are part of the establishment that's gone wrong, and they are not a part of the solution that will fix it. Complain about this comment (Comment number 18) Comment number 19.At 11:59 6th Aug 2009, cilurnum wrote: Let's call it what it is please - printing money. No, it won't work. We're in a situation where banks have quite a lot of bad loans and assets on their books and there simply isn't the money in the financial system to back them up. Governments then need to throw in money to try and back it up in some way. £150 billion will get eaten in no time and nothing will happen until that money ends up needing to be taken out of the economy in the form of higher inflation. There is no evidence whatsoever that anything has improved as a result of printing money. I really do worry about how this is being portrayed by a lot of 'economists', because we aren't getting the truth. Complain about this comment (Comment number 19) Comment number 20.At 11:59 6th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #2 duvinrouge Re: Fictitious capital! Hmm.... not delved much into Marx but am fast becoming convinced of the concept of fictitious capital (I seem to recall this was a working title for Michael Hudson's latest book?). After doing a bit of digging, am thinking of laying my hands on "The Limits to Capital" by David Harvey for my easy introduction to Marx. This recent post refers to the concept of fictitious growth: P.S. I also need to follow up on Michael Albert & Loren Goldner too that you have mentioned. Suggest that you take a look at Chapter 9 of Entropy Law and the Economic Process. I'm still wading through it, but I think Georgescu-Roegen may have made use of Marx's reproduction model of economic processes: "It is well known that Marx endeavoured to come up with mathematical representations of his dialectical conception of evolution all through his life. Georgescu-Roegen applied his skills to underscoring the radical difference between the analytical approach and the dialectical approach by means of formalised models. Furthermore, although Schumpeter was never able to present a formal model for his theory of evolution, Georgescu-Roegen was well versed in the problems connected with non-linearities and discontinuities that appear to be necessary to represent the dialectical and evolutionary approaches." Alcouffe et al 2004 Google "Marx, Schumpeter and Georgescu-Roegen Alcouffe lirhe" (mods don't like PDFs!!). Complain about this comment (Comment number 20) Comment number 21.At 12:02 6th Aug 2009, virtualsilverlady wrote: It is impossible to judge whether QE has worked because it was never targetted in a way that could be measured. Throwing money in the air for people to catch and spend would have been just as productive. If someone just throws somw my way I would have no trouble in spending it in this country. It 's only fantasy money after all. They did it in Australia. Every family got a windfall of X thousand dollars. Complain about this comment (Comment number 21) Comment number 22.At 12:15 6th Aug 2009, Si_555 wrote: I find the QE policy unbelievable reckless, they've given in again and extended it by another 50b. Pathetic. Complain about this comment (Comment number 22) Comment number 23.At 12:23 6th Aug 2009, Rainbow Zenned wrote: From a layperson's perspective, the biggest problem I have following all this is the politics and the passage of time. When various government intervention occurs (bank bail out, QE), no-one is really willing to stick their neck out and say what the (measurable) outcome is supposed to be, and in what time scale, just that it is necessary. And no-one on the opposite benches (or 4th Estate) seems to be asking (or at least not getting answers). This is different from most other government expenditure which (generally) has quantifiable targets and timescales. This then means that 6 months down the line people can equally declare that it clearly has worked (we're not all reduced to bread and water just yet, which is where we were heading) and that it clearly has not (we are not all drinking cocktails on tropical islands which is what we alternately could have spent the money on), mainly based on fairly convoluted fiscal measures they have concocted to suit their point. As a journalist, you can't really get away with Q:"Has QE worked?" A:"Don't know. No-one is clear on sure what it was supposed to do, and even if we did know, it effects can't be separated from everything else which has been going on". But I'm not sure what the alternative is. Certainly, as a stealth devaluation of sterling, it has worked a treat. Complain about this comment (Comment number 23) Comment number 24.At 12:46 6th Aug 2009, MrTweedy wrote: All this Quantitative Appeasing is pushing up the stock market nicely. My share holdings continue to rise in value. Looks like my hedge against price inflation is working. Complain about this comment (Comment number 24) Comment number 25.At 12:54 6th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #2 More fiction! In lieu of reading Marx's Das Kapital vol 3, I have stumbled across a recent article that tells a very poignant story: Recounting Credit Mobilier in France during the 19th C: "because money was invested in industry through the medium of securities, or fictitious capital, there was an illusion that the capital thus invested was 'mobile,' or to use the modern terminology, 'liquid.' " The article then goes on to point out the disconnect between the REAL economy and the imaginary world of finance: "Real capital investment was thus subordinate to securities speculation. It in fact it served to misallocate capital, and to turn real capital investment into nothing more than an accidental byproduct of stock market speculation." So not only is there fictitious capital, but also a fictitious notion of liquidity! Even from my own eyes I can see that our economy is not that liquid at all: - most careers are so specialised one would struggle to move into something even adjacent - we don't have adaptable infrastructure or buildings, all we have are office buildings suitable only for a parasitic service sector And so I'll end with: "… everything in this credit system… is transformed into a mere phantom of the mind." Complain about this comment (Comment number 25) Comment number 26.At 13:04 6th Aug 2009, virtualsilverlady wrote: Just another £50 billion thrown at the economy to keep the value of sterling pegged so what's left of our exporting companies will be able to sell cheaper if they can keep finding a market. A short term gain for political reasons. Printing our way out of a recession before an election is an illusion for without real growth and more exporting businesses we will return to square one with an even deeper recession in twelve months time. The alternative I suppose is just to keep adding more and more money to the economy without carrying out the hard measures and cutbacks needed to balance the budget. Pushing the possibility of that further and further into the future. The city will be happy because they can keep making their short term gains but for the rest of us as usual it's more pain to come down the line. The country now appears to be run by computer modelling rather than commonsense. Complain about this comment (Comment number 26) Comment number 27.At 13:17 6th Aug 2009, Bertram Bird wrote: I'm not confused - I'm pretty sure I know what is going on. I don't agree with it, though. I am going to be forced to retire early in the next year, and my accrued pension and savings will be in jeopardy because of QE. Printing money to give to people who gambled away their own is NOT sensible, however you dress it up. This will result in horrendous inflation, so my pension and savings will be worth nothing in ten years. Then I'll be dependent on the basic state pension, like 95% of the rest. The winners will be the few that put away tens of millions in bonuses and pension funds - bankers and the like. It will take Zimbabwe-style inflation to dent their savings. That could happen, but they'll have diversified into property, land, gold bars,... No more boom and bust? Ptchah! (Actually, maybe he was right: we didn't have a boom, it was a hyperboom. And we're technically not bust - we are pulverised, then vapourised.) Complain about this comment (Comment number 27) Comment number 28.At 13:19 6th Aug 2009, archeron wrote: Stephanie Great blog, as always. What I can't work out is how QE could have possibly been designed to be objectively evaluated. It seems a policy particularly affected by the blight of all economic science, the lack of the double blind trial. I find it difficult to understand that senior and respected economists are saying it obviously hasn't worked. The purpose of QE, so far as I can see is to increase money supply *relative to what it would have been had QE not in fact taken place*. We have no idea what the money supply would have been like in that instance, as, so far as I'm aware, there is a dearth of parallels to the current situation. Whilst it is true that banks have been using much of the additional liquidity to shore up their capital, it is far from implausible that sans QE they would have achieved similar levels of capital by reducing lending further. Obviously if one takes the success of QE to mean rampant money supply growth and a return to a healty economy, QE has, so far, failed. But that is not necessarily a good measure of success. It may be that no policy, however well executed, could have achieved such a goal. As a coda, doesn't the paragraph from the Bank (below) rather show the absurdity of their pretence to still be inflation targeting? A necessary absurdity maybe but still... "[U]ltimately, what matters is the degree to which the cash injection boosts the growth of money and spending by households and businesses and so helps to ensure that inflation is close to target". Complain about this comment (Comment number 28) Comment number 29.At 13:31 6th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: At 1:04pm on 06 Aug 2009, virtualsilverlady wrote: "The country now appears to be run by computer modelling rather than commonsense." Yes, well spotted. I believe this is a Western pandemic called Arithmomania that has been spreading almost undetected for about 30-40 years. Symptoms of the disease include beliefs such as the following: - Interest rates control human behaviour - The stock market can grow forever - Money makes you happy - Our economy will see a 0% growth next year However, my favourite suffer of the disease (after Gordon Brown) is childhood hero Count Von Count: Complain about this comment (Comment number 29) Comment number 30.At 13:34 6th Aug 2009, richarddorset wrote: The people said 'We need more milk'. The politician said 'they need more milk' The milk seller said, 'They need more milk' The farmer said, 'I need more cows to produce the milk' The milk seller said 'then buy some' The farmer said 'then buy more milk, so I can afford to buy more cows' The politician said 'dilute the milk to feed more people' The milk seller diluted the milk, but sold it for less. The farmer was no better off. The milk seller was no better off. The people were no better off.In fact, they wanted greater amounts to compensate. 'But the milk economy is now working harder to feed all the people. Now more people can drink milk' beamed the politician. Complain about this comment (Comment number 30) Comment number 31.At 13:38 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: What we need is a completely new type of role that would be named "Financial Engineer" or some such. Money flows and mechanisms should be better documented. We need a whole new type of hack here. Complain about this comment (Comment number 31) Comment number 32.At 14:01 6th Aug 2009, Jericoa wrote: #29 hawkeye Thanks for that, most enjoyable and very true! Here is a less enjoyable truth, the ones most likely to benefit from QE are the banks. Their irresponsible behaviour has been supported on all sides, they appear to be the new 'untouchables' too important to be allowed to fail or be brought to account it seems by the rather pathetic noises made in terms of future regulation. Are we not simply stocking their confidense even more and setting ourselves up for the next round? I dont disagree with the QE as such in the predicament we are in, I very strongly disagree with the disproportianately high standing in society the people who manage the money now have. It is a massive responsibility to be the ones who manage the flow of the imaginery entity we use (money) as a mechanism to exchange the things of real worth (goods and services and innovation to make our lives better) of all kinds, a responsibility which requires great restraint not to abuse it. What I can not accept is that they have abused that great responsibility terribly, yet by neccesity (not by justice in any sense of the word) they are still being supported so that they do not suffer now and, worse still, I can see nothing in the pipeline to suggest they will be made to take their responsibilities seriously in future either. The higher ranks of the banks should be populated by modest bean counters with a high sense of responsibility to society as a whole. I wonder what would happen to bank stocks if it was made law for all bank execs to be psychometrically tested to have those charateristics? Or we could just nationalise the lot of them while we have the chance of course. Complain about this comment (Comment number 32) Comment number 33.At 14:13 6th Aug 2009, GeoffK1874 wrote: Coming in the near future - inflation! Sell your pounds now. Complain about this comment (Comment number 33) Comment number 34.At 14:13 6th Aug 2009, happybrian123 wrote: The Tax Payers money was given to the wrong people, banks instead of individuals. My plan would been to buy-out all those people who could not afford the mortgage repayments and then rent the property back to them if they wished. Effect: nobody dispossessed, families kept to gether and no need for more social housing. The tax payer would end up owning many small mortgages the banks would get their money back and could then lend to small business's. I would also cap banks bonuses. Complain about this comment (Comment number 34) Comment number 35.At 14:15 6th Aug 2009, Wee-Scamp wrote: Mad... The BoE shells out another £50bn of our money to boost the economy and the FTSE goes up... Given the BoE's action is a sure sign of ongoing economic weakness then surely the FTSE should go down. Complain about this comment (Comment number 35) Comment number 36.At 14:16 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: #30 "The people said 'We need more milk'." "The biotech engineer invented a supercow by modifying its DNA." "The religious lunatic from the USA told the fundamentalist president to bully European leaders into suppressing stem cell research and so on." "The biotech engineer went to China and became a national hero". Complain about this comment (Comment number 36) Comment number 37.At 14:34 6th Aug 2009, MrTweedy wrote: No.32. Jericoa If the British consumer didn't borrow so much in the first place, the housing bubble would not have happened. Likewise, hedge funds borrowing 20 times the value of underlying assets to invest in derivatives. Can't trust the banks, can't trust the investment funds, can't trust the politicians, can't trust the British consumer to act in his own best interest. Therefore, we should nationalise all hedge funds, banks and most importantly, all British citizens. By that I mean all British citizens should come under direct state control. This would stop us acting stupidly in the future.... The last thing we need is a democracy of useful idiots. (JadedJean is on holiday....) Complain about this comment (Comment number 37) Comment number 38.At 14:41 6th Aug 2009, duvinrouge wrote: #20 Hawkeye_Pierce Yes, I will in due course read Georgescu-Roegen. Marx's reproduction schema is useful for understanding the nature of economic reproduction and the capitalist economy in particular. This is because the schema have an objective basis in labour expended. Labour to produce the means of subsistence, labour to renew the means of production, and surplus labour. Subjective theories of value, e.g. marginal utility, are useful in microeconomics, but useless when looking at the economy as a whole. That said, Marx's reproduction schema are not adequate for understanding the supply side constraints of a finite world. Although Rosa Luxemburg was able to show using the reproduction schema that a pure capitalist system was unable to grow because capitalism needs to loot. It needs to loot nature and/or non-capitalist labour, e.g. bringing Chinese peasants into the capitalist system. Clearly there is an objective limit to capitalist looting (which we may be hitting now or already have hit). This is why Luxemburg refers to capitalism as being a transient system from feudalism to socialism. I would like to see an economic model that extends the reproduction schema's labour values to energy inputs. Does anyone know anyone who has done this? Complain about this comment (Comment number 38) Comment number 39.At 14:55 6th Aug 2009, BerkoParko wrote: #30 ...The people realised the politician was a waste of space and voted someone in who had the courage to suggest that the people didn't 'need more milk', were already drinking too much and that in the long run it was bad for them. No, probably not. Complain about this comment (Comment number 39) Comment number 40.At 14:57 6th Aug 2009, CComment wrote: #33 I'm not so sure inflation will come. The de facto interest rate as set by profiteering banks and other financial institutions is at least 5% above the official base rate. Apart from the lucky minority on tracker mortgages, everyone else is paying top whack for credit and LIBOR's direct relationship with base rate has become a receding memory. The attitude of the banks, ripping borrowers off with over the top rates, renders base rate increasingly irrelevent (except for savers, of course). In fact the greedy banks may actually be negating any effect of QE because of their interest charges. Caledonian Comment Complain about this comment (Comment number 40) Comment number 41.At 15:03 6th Aug 2009, BerkoParko wrote: I'll admit to being pretty confused, but perhaps someone can help - Is the point of this (rather than just posting a cheque to every house or lowering taxes etc) that if you effectively give it to the banks they will then lend out a multiple of it, and that this is because of the fact that if they have 1bn they'll lend out, say, 10bn? And then credit is then widely available and crunch averted? Or is there another mechanism that acts as the multiplier that makes giving it directly to the banks the right solution? Thanks. Complain about this comment (Comment number 41) Comment number 42.At 15:40 6th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: At 2:41pm on 06 Aug 2009, duvinrouge wrote: "I would like to see an economic model that extends the reproduction schema's labour values to energy inputs. Does anyone know anyone who has done this?" That request sounds like the one inferred after reading the Alcouffe article I referenced in post 20. You could try the following: Jürgen Bennewitz: Basis to Survive the Present Century / Application of the Main Laws of Thermodynamics on the Economy Joan Martinez-Alier: Not read enough but certainly seems to be on the same track Any others in the field of Ecological Economics. Georgescu-Roegen is the common denominator - but this may reflect a bias (fetish?) on my part! I can envisage a formal model with somewhat precocious objectives. An Agent Based Model of long term economic growth that is actually grounded in physical reality (i.e. Historical time, and no perpertual motion machines!). The model would hope to replicate cycles of increased sophistication in energy resource use, not unlike Kondratief waves. This would manifest as rapid (self-reinforcing), but unsustainable growth (presuming that there is no adequate replacement for fossil fuels). The following post explains the main premise of it: But quite frankly, I'm a bit out of my depth on this, mainly 'cos I have a day job completely unrelated to such matters, and wouldn't know where to find either the money to fund a PhD, nor anyone mad enough to supervise it. I'm just a curious amateur who is trying to piece together the economic jigsaw puzzle in my lunch hour. Complain about this comment (Comment number 42) Comment number 43.At 15:42 6th Aug 2009, LeCannet wrote: As some of the UK banks are still not playing ball - either calling in certain loans or reissuing them at exorbitant interest rates to struggling businesses, major corporations could force their hand by doing French-style EDF loans (it sought recently to raise Euros 1bn by offering punters 4.5 percent gross interest, provided the capital lent by the public is left in EDF's hands for five years. In the event EDF raised not E1bn, but E3bn and in a nation famed for hiding cash under or in the mattress, just how successful is that?? So part of the answer to the current impasse may be to by-pass the banks and in tthe above way and in so doing force down their usurous loan rates in order to compete. Complain about this comment (Comment number 43) Comment number 44.At 16:13 6th Aug 2009, ThorntonHeathen wrote: Hawkeye Pierce/Duvinrouge I was briefly mixed up with Militant types in the early 70s and quickly became allergic to the various versions of Marxist theory thanks to the Dave Sparts that tended to spout it! Now, David Harvey has always been a bit out of the ordinary. He brings a Geographical perspective into economics, politics and history and ends up with something quite special. davidharvey.org has a lot of interesting recent articles and is definitely worth a look. Complain about this comment (Comment number 44) Comment number 45.At 11:48 8th Aug 2009, duvinrouge wrote: #20 Hawkeye Pierce Alcouffe article - an interesting read, thanks for making me aware of it. I've often argued that today's Marxists neglect the supply-side. It was understandable that Marx did 150 years ago, when the main task was to understand how capitalism worked and why there were crises. In trying to understand today's crisis we need to try and work out how much of it is Marxist overproduction and how much is supply side (e.g. higher energy prices and raw materials due to scarcity). The two are not mutually exclusive as Marxist crisis theory takes account of labour constraints, which is supply side. But I agree it needs to put much less faith in the capitalists finding a solution to the energy/ecological crisis. I strongly believe capitalism is the problem and cannot provide a solution. The article does somewhat oversimplify Marx's position though. Marx was fully aware of the role of productive forces shaping productive relations and that more than the capitalists influenced the productive forces, i.e. environmental factors play a major role. I have seen it argued that if it wasn't for the Black Death plague of the 14th century wiping out a third of Europe's population, that the exhaustion of the forests would have provided the incentive to finding a solution to mining coal sooner. That is, without the plague the steam pump would have been invented centuries earlier, the industrial revolution would have happened earlier, and from a Marxist perspective capitalism would have been confined to history. I haven't read Harvey's book. I'll be interested in what you think. Complain about this comment (Comment number 45) Comment number 46.At 12:51 14th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #45 Duvinrouge It may take a few weeks to get round to reading Harvey’s book – I’m getting bit of a backlog of reading now!! Just finished National Economy by Arian Nevin. In this is an example of a War Economy that sounds along the lines of what you are looking for. It talks about abstinence of consumption needed to build production capacity (a theme heavily emphasised by Frederick Soddy). Reminded me a bit of 1980s World War computer stragegy games (acquire resources and build factories – if you invest resources in factory building, you don’t reap the benefit of the tanks for a few rounds): On the topic of Marx just seen this link posted: Rare to see a Business School lecturer talking about Marx! Don’t know too much about Bowman, but did track down this article which I may skim read in the next few days: P.S. Not sure I agree that the steam engine would have been invented earlier, having just read Heat Engines by John Sandfort which gives a thorough overview of the development of all types of engines that perform the REAL work of modern economies. It took a good couple of hundred years just to get to James Watt. A lot of trial and error, coupled with a few intellectual breakthroughs (Carnot, Kelvin, Clausius etc) got us to the peak of energy efficiency circa 1950s/60s (gas turbines & jet propulsion). Since then the energy dream has stalled (forgive the pun). For a topical rant of mine about energy see: [Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] Complain about this comment (Comment number 46) Comment number 47.At 13:20 14th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #46 Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator - Eh? Seems that inserting a link to another post on Stephanie's blog is breaking the House Rules. For those interested in the rant, it is post 119 on QE: More to do? Complain about this comment (Comment number 47) Comment number 48.At 02:41 23rd Aug 2009, dennisjunior1 wrote: Stephanie: Yes, the QE will be living on (moving on) since, it works in this situation... =Dennis Junior= Complain about this comment (Comment number 48) Comment number 49.At 11:54 27th Aug 2009, FawltyPowers wrote: Has someone noticed the Pound gently sliding down against the Dollar these past few days? Someone's about to buy! Loads!! Create the Pound rush and then sell. Wait for the spike! Despite all the Jiggery-Pocker stuff we're still very much subjected to the whims of a few rich people. Money is the only commodity! Complain about this comment (Comment number 49)

QE: More to do? For once, the Monetary Policy Committee has pulled off a positive surprise. When the Bank's policy-making committee said last month that they wanted to wait and see before deciding to continue with quantitative easing, the markets reeled at the policy's "imminent" demise. Officials said we shouldn't jump to any conclusions about the future of QE. They really would "wait and see". But private and public remarks by some officials led people to suspect that they would put the policy on pause. Earlier today, I did say it was quite possible that the Bank would decide to spend another £25bn, but spend it more slowly. In the event, they are spending more than I thought - another £50bn. But they are going to spend it more slowly. I'm no conspiracy theorist. I don't think they planned to wrongfoot the market. But given what I said earlier about the policy's potential to affect confidence, it will have been no bad thing, from the MPC's perspective, that traders were expecting them to do less. The yield - or interest rate - on ten-year government bonds fell 15 basis points (0.15 of a point) in response to the news. To date, the Bank has been spending about £25bn a month. Now they are going to spread £50bn in purchases over three months. It's possible to read too much into this - officials themselves like to emphasize that QE is not an exact science. By taking three months, rather than two, they can put off another decision on QE until the November Inflation Report. But you can at least conclude that they don't think the economy's need for cash is quite as urgent as it was before. What does this decision tell us about the Bank's view of the economy? Well, to state the obvious, it thinks that QE has more to do. The Bank has been sceptical of the early estimates for GDP in the past - their growth forecasts show a range of possible final outcomes, for the past performance of the economy as well as the future. And indeed, the Bank - along with some other commentators - may well expect the disappointing second quarter estimate to be revised upwards. But today's statement suggests they have taken that first estimate seriously enough to revise down their forecasts for past and future growth - at least for 2009. Despite today's encouraging news about rising car sales and, possibly, rising house prices, the Bank's policy makers probably believe there is still greater risk in doing too little than in doing too much. Page 1 of 5 Comment number 1.At 15:39 6th Aug 2009, MrTweedy wrote: Like the ambassador handing round his chocolates, with all this QE they are really spoiling us..... Complain about this comment (Comment number 1) Comment number 2.At 15:41 6th Aug 2009, Si_555 wrote: Yet more bailout for reckless borrowers and another kicking for savers and non homeowners. Complain about this comment (Comment number 2) Comment number 3.At 15:46 6th Aug 2009, John_from_Hendon wrote: Stephanie wrote: "the Bank's policy makers probably believe there is still greater risk in doing too little than in doing too much" Are these the very same policy makers that gave us the credit boom and the credit crunch? The needed sacking six months ago and they still do today. They just haven't a clue! The bubble economy has burst. They are trying to re-inflate a busted balloon. They must insist on structural changes to regulation and in the way they regulate the market - but they are not doing so and are simply letting (the now fewer) monopoly banks suck the Nation dry - it will not do! Complain about this comment (Comment number 3) Comment number 4.At 15:47 6th Aug 2009, Dontmindme wrote: Not completely convinced by your assertion that this is a "positive surprise". 1) It is not entirely a surprise (after all you and others blogged about how it might happen) 2) The UK monetary authorities agreeing to further print money, is in no way a positive story a) it means at best the BoE outlook is even grimmer than before; b) and at worst, since all of it (bar 2% or so) has been spent so far on Gilts, effectively funding massive govt borrowing, the accusation of the zimbabwefication of our money just got a little bit more plausible Please tell me what is positive about that. Complain about this comment (Comment number 4) Comment number 5.At 15:53 6th Aug 2009, thecoopster wrote: More currency debasement. The inflation genie is hard to put back in the bottle. Will they stop at nothing to win this election?! I almost hope they do at this rate... Is the word "debt" not in Brown's dictionary? Complain about this comment (Comment number 5) Comment number 6.At 16:06 6th Aug 2009, eatingantonyo wrote: Is it just me or is it not something to congratulate the BOE over? If we hadn't got into this mess in the first place I would have been more complimentary. Economists have to remember that the government are spending our hard earned money on car scrappage deals etc. QE has helped destroy our currency and the only thing to be happy about is that the whole world are in the same position. I see nothing the politicians and BOE have done to help get us out of this mess. Short term cash but long term pain. Who knoews how much the banks have in toxic debt yet? Please question the banks on off balance sheet holdings. The rumour I heard was HBOS had £18b off balance sheet toxic debt and that was way before the forced takeover. What's happening Stephanie? Complain about this comment (Comment number 6) Comment number 7.At 16:09 6th Aug 2009, muggwhump wrote: It seems to me that QE has crossed some kind of line today from getting the banks to lend again and staving off deflation, to pumping enough money into the system so that the cost of that credit is reduced to the borrower. QE is in danger of becoming some kind of Magic Pill that can be used over again whenever the BOE wants to boost the economy! After all we have been told for months that the cost of borrowing money is going to rise for consumers in the future, but now that the future is here and credit IS costing business and household borrowers more the BOE says... hold on, we don't like this, things are not moving quick enough, lets just create more money, simple!! The reason the cost of borrowing is set to rise is that banks need to re-build their balance sheets, so why not just create even more new money so the banks are fully re-capitalised now and we can go back to the good old days of unlimited cheap credit for all. Why not stop there? Why not create even more money to pay back all the billions we are borrowing as a country at the moment, then there will be no need to put up taxes and cut public spending because that might slow down any future recovery? Once you start creating money its very hard to stop. Who cares about what it might mean for the economy in say 5 years time, as long as it all looks rosy now thats all that matters!! Complain about this comment (Comment number 7) Comment number 8.At 16:37 6th Aug 2009, Daniel PJ wrote: This is just not good enough again. The problem with this sort of thing is that the only people who know how to benefit from the money and actually get their hands on it are the very people who have caused this problem and will only use it to continue to become wealthier while we become poorer. I think conspiracy theories are probably not far off the truth and true power brokers in this country are just looking after themselves. With both this and the absolute despair in the politicians at the moment, it is truly becoming a quite depressing place to live. Just who exactly is getting their hands on all this money? Where exactly are my taxes going? What on earth am I getting from the public sector for all the money I am made to hand over every month? Complain about this comment (Comment number 8) Comment number 9.At 16:41 6th Aug 2009, kaybraes wrote: After the governments acolytes' sneaky announcements over the past couple of weeks that things were improving , this kinda puts things back in perspective ; the economy is still in trouble, may in fact be sinking further into trouble and here we have the incompetents who got us in this position pretending they are still in control. I suspect that the government is now in a position where it will cut and run in the autumn and call an election in the forlorn hope that it can salvage a few seats for the comrades. Complain about this comment (Comment number 9) Comment number 10.At 16:42 6th Aug 2009, ExcellenceFirst wrote: Still no explanation, I see, of whether QE is genuinely a voluntary monetary stimulus policy, or if it would be more realistic to see it as a necessary, forced printing of money in order to enable the programmed gilt issues to be sold. Is this an irrelevant distinction, or is keeping the cat in the bag more important than helping people to understand the truth of what's going on? Complain about this comment (Comment number 10) Comment number 11.At 16:44 6th Aug 2009, ghostofsichuan wrote: The basic concept of supply and demand with the addition of manipulation. With production down as demand is down, the need for money by business is down. The bankers, maintaining their posture of self-interest, are not loaning money and purposely keeping the economy down as a threat to the government about enacting banking regulations. This requires that those few borrowers be financed through the government/bank process. I still think it was a mistake not to have had public hangings of bankers. Economies world wide would be progressing if governments had held the bankers accountable and sent many to jail and some to the gallows. Maybe put them all in jail and let them work from there and they will be released based on improvements in the economy, sort of like their current bonus system, only these would need to be earned. Complain about this comment (Comment number 11) Comment number 12.At 16:54 6th Aug 2009, LabourruinedBritain wrote: Positive surprise? This is a ridiculous way to behave. All it has done is panic the markets. Sterling moves 1.5% lower as we speak! The official line is that they would probably rather do a little bit more than a little too less. This is rear view mirror thinking. If anything what data we have had recently (to the extent that any data can be be relied on with any degree of certaint) has been neutral to positive. The unofficial line is that Greedy Gordon can now get his hands on even more cash so that he can spend it on more meaningless jobs, higher wages, unproductive projects, social security and so on so forth. IT IS INCREDIBLE HOW ONE MAN (GORDON BROWN) HAS SINGLE HANDEDLY COMPLETELY WRECKED THE UK ECONOMY. I am completely depressed. Anyone who votes this man next year should be charged with treason!!! UK R.I.P Complain about this comment (Comment number 12) Comment number 13.At 16:57 6th Aug 2009, virtualsilverlady wrote: I'm a bit confused by the reasons put forward by some for another load of money to be printed and thrown at the economy. It seems that inflation is still too low so this money is needed to boost the inflation rate to reach the BOE's target of 2%. Seeing as they already admit they don't even know what the last £125 billion has done yet it seems a dangerous game to play pumping even more in. They may get a lot worse than they bargain for. When will the computer say NO? Complain about this comment (Comment number 13) Comment number 14.At 17:12 6th Aug 2009, Andy-in-France wrote: You only have to look at what happened to the pound/euro rate at noon today to see what QE really means - devaluation. But I am sure that QE sounds better - particularly with an election just over the horizon! Who else remembers Harold Wilson's famous 'This does not mean that the pound in your pocket has been devalued'? QE is nothing less than printing paper money (or electronic cash) without the assets to back it up. (ie the gold Gordon sold). Complain about this comment (Comment number 14) Comment number 15.At 17:12 6th Aug 2009, Simon Ward wrote: This will devalue the money in people's pockets and make everything we purchase more expensive. Already the Pound is down against every other major currency except the South African Rand! £50 billion is almost £1000 for every person in the country - if they had actually given it directly to us, then there may not be much complaining, but they didn't - they just gave it straight to the banks. I agree with Post #5. This is not prudent economics - it is just a desperate attempt to win an election. Complain about this comment (Comment number 15) Comment number 16.At 17:25 6th Aug 2009, supersnapshot wrote: As I posted before, QE is simply a means to mantain a status quo. At the end of all this the fiancial elite will maintain it's dominance at the expense of the those encapsulated in the economy. There's nothing new under this sun : Complain about this comment (Comment number 16) Comment number 17.At 17:45 6th Aug 2009, catizirtobe wrote: I just would like to know where I can see the Governments budget (in detail) for the past year or so. Is this possible? TC Complain about this comment (Comment number 17) Comment number 18.At 17:54 6th Aug 2009, DHA wrote: Funny that, and here I was thinking that the worst is over and the recovery is on its way, at least that's the myth the media has been spinning us. The fact is that we are now on the verge of a total economic collapse due to years of abuse within the entire financial sector, encouraged by governments of all persuasions and a gullible public, creating phantom wealth, bogus prosperity and an unsustainable standard of living. The only reason for the so-called good news of late is QE - both here and in America - has facilitated a temporal stasis, but rather like a brain-dead patient on life support displaying signs of life, as soon as the stimulus is turned off the economy will disintegrate. Enjoy it whilst it lasts. Complain about this comment (Comment number 18) Comment number 19.At 17:57 6th Aug 2009, Jericoa wrote: We have been printing jobs for years (champion of street football, diversity consultant, HIBS, the tax credits system management, quangos, ever more complex legislation that needs people to look after). Perhaps QE is just the monetary realisation of the same phenomenon? We dont have enough useful stuff to do since we became so mechanised so we may as well create something out of nothing and see what happens. Isn't that how the universe started? Nobody seems to question that. lets just keep on printing and see if the rest of the world ever notices that we dont have much that is of any use to sell anymore. If they get twitchy just tell em its part of a big metaphysical experiment.. a kind of social large hedron collider and it is in all the worlds interest that it is allowed to continue without question. Does anyone understand the value of anything anymore anyway? Nobody will notice for a few years in the current confused climate by which time we will all be rich again and will have bought our way out of this using money we printed. Neat huh! Sound like a plan? Complain about this comment (Comment number 19) Comment number 20.At 17:58 6th Aug 2009, stanilic wrote: In all the post Stephanie I like this bit most of all `..officials themselves like to emphasize that QE is not an exact science.' Exact science? More like a reckless gamble. The final throw of the dice in the very faint hope of recovering what has been lost. We have had the City, Gordon's paid stooges, and most of the media who should know better running around for the last few days shamelessly shouting that the worst is over and all this will be forgotten in a year or two. But now we hear that we still need some more lead in the economic pencil. In one way I am saddened that we have even more QE as I don't like it as a policy at all but wonder if there is any alternative. On the other this puts the braggarts in their place. The so-called recovery is nothing more than a response to all the money this government has pumped into the economy from out of the taxpayers' future to make up for the calamity it inflicted on the country. What the bank is telling us is that the bounce is just that and there is a clear risk that it will soon be over. Double-U here we come! Complain about this comment (Comment number 20) Comment number 21.At 18:00 6th Aug 2009, renwood wrote: Stephanie, Why would rising house prices be considered postive news? It just means more money is required to get a roof over your head. So I detect your personal opinion coming into this? Maybe you want your house price to rise, but I want to be able to buy a good standard home at a fair price. Why is it that the BBC constantly shoves rising house prices being a great thing down our throats while paying lip service to the social consequences of poor and unaffordable housing? Complain about this comment (Comment number 21) Comment number 22.At 18:12 6th Aug 2009, GregPytel wrote: For all those sad folk, struggling to get by in these difficult times, READ this short, serious and not for the faint-hearted recipe: "How to make money?" Complain about this comment (Comment number 22) Comment number 23.At 18:18 6th Aug 2009, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote: all this is about is to engineer a plato for GB to call an election. Then when the mountain of debt is tackled we will plunge over a cliff. I hear the IMF are getting their visa ready. Complain about this comment (Comment number 23) Comment number 24.At 18:21 6th Aug 2009, davidpbrown wrote: It would be useful if with these figures for QE there was some suggestion of what contribution that new money makes.. how much money is in the economy atm? - is this a drop in the ocean, a percentage point contribution or more?? Stating that the BoE has printed X doesn't suggest anything.. maybe it's deliberately obscure but if so that is a bad mistake, it doesn't do anything to help confidence. Complain about this comment (Comment number 24) Comment number 25.At 18:37 6th Aug 2009, Curious_jvk wrote: It's alright the government using all our hard earned money to help the economy but who is going to look after the pensioners who are relying on their savings whilst interest rates on savings have plummeted. Complain about this comment (Comment number 25) Comment number 26.At 19:01 6th Aug 2009, nautonier wrote: When the Bank's policy-making committee said last month that they wanted to wait and see before deciding to continue with quantitative easing, the markets reeled at the policy's "imminent" demise. >>> They lied - they must have already planned this contoured QE exercise - and it does not inspire much confidence if the bank's policy making committee's main suggestion is 'wait and see' - we're all sitting around hoping and praying that these are the guys who can make a difference? Presumably, at some stage the QE money will run out - but what exactly is the money being spent on now - it sounds to me like its simply electronic money being shifted within different electronic accounting systems within a select few investment banks (with the usual banking favourites taking massive fees on the transactions)? Complain about this comment (Comment number 26) Comment number 27.At 19:42 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: The most exciting thing this year is Nissan's decision to make electric cars next year. Unfortunately it's not considered exciting. Complain about this comment (Comment number 27) Comment number 28.At 20:15 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: MrTWeedy " The French sell newly created euros and buy dollars already in existence. This new demand for a limited supply of dollars increases the value of the dollar against the euro." Very interesting quote. Thinking about it, you have to say "not necessarily." The French will import the spark plugs and the US banks will just end up with more assets in French vostro accounts, but only to the extent that US banks or other FX dealers are willing to hold Euro denominated assets. Having said that, if Euro assets are growing in value, then it should be easier for people wanting to buy USD to sell EUR as the FX traders will be more willing to hold EUR assets, as the EUR assets can be used to speculate on the EUR market. So no, it's the other way round -the EUR will probably rise against USD Complain about this comment (Comment number 28) Comment number 29.At 20:18 6th Aug 2009, economaniac wrote: I am amazed that you have managed to put a positive 'spin' on this! So, the fact that they are planning to spend the money more slowly makes it a good thing does it? Erm ......you must have really been scraping the barrel to dream up that one. Meanwhile it is worth remembering that on the same day as the extension to QE is announced, the European Central Bank has reiterated the need for retaining 'price stability' and for proceeding with 'prudence and caution'. Our lot have decided on the opposite course of action. They are obviously intending to inflate my pension away completely. Luckily my vegetables are coming up well. Complain about this comment (Comment number 29) Comment number 30.At 20:28 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: I wish someone would put the QE topic to bed. It's dull. It's boring. It's simple: they just want to recapitalise the banks, and they know the banks will hoard the money. It's deflation and there's no demand for debt, so the banks are just using it to clear their sheets. So can we now forget QE and move on? This QE is just a bank-saving stop-gap. Let's put it to bed and deal with the future. Complain about this comment (Comment number 30) Comment number 31.At 20:48 6th Aug 2009, DebtJuggler wrote: #23 IR35_SURVIVOR wrote: 'all this is about is to engineer a plato for GB to call an election.' --------------------------------------- I beg your pardon! Being an engineer, I'm glad you managed to spell that word correctly...but 'plato'. So GB is planning to engineer a Greek philosopher to call an election! There's a bright guy on Peston's blog who doesn't know the difference between 'there' and 'their'...after I mentioned the difference he then went on to use the word 'their' instead of 'they're'. I just want to hit my head against a brick wall! Has our education system deteriorated that much? I fully agree with your sentiment in your though. Keep posting! Complain about this comment (Comment number 31) Comment number 32.At 22:08 6th Aug 2009, RadioDPRK wrote: Greetings from the DPRK. As you may know information is censored in the homeland - although we are yet to reach your western levels of indoctrination. Post #27 bemoans the fact that Nissan and their electric car production is not considered interesting. Consider this; The technology has been around for a while now, but is routinely suppressed by your freedom loving governments and oligarchs. Why else would GM develop an electric battery and sell the patent to Texaco? Who are Zenn Motors? Do they produce electric cars? and are they routinely impeded from doing so by the Canadian government. This also is not considered interesting. Post #31 offers English classes to our beleguered citizens, and ends with the enigmatic statement "I fully agree with your sentiment in your though." Phrase like this is very interesting, but regretfully does not appear in DPRK English phrasebook. Your money printing is very good idea, the Dear Leader is very happy and offers services of DPRK printing presses if you need help to print more, or just want to print faster. Korean printers are devoted to their work, and can supply testamonial from a Mr. Mugabwe if interested. Complain about this comment (Comment number 32) Comment number 33.At 22:17 6th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: Did I miss it? Where can I find the answer to the questions we asked the last time we discussed QE: Where did the money go? What effect did it have? I don't think that I can find the answer and it looks like the BoE doesn't have the answer either. Therefore, why the hell are we pumping in (or is it out) more money? The BoE can't say if banks are retaining this money to support their blance sheets (a hands-off it's mine approach) or if it's disappearing overseas to support the parent companies of UK subsidiaries. From what I read on here and other places, it doesn't look like it's having any noticeable effect within the UK economy. Seems like more and more doing less and less. Complain about this comment (Comment number 33) Comment number 34.At 22:21 6th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: #32 I love Radio DPRK. Bring it on. Complain about this comment (Comment number 34) Comment number 35.At 22:38 6th Aug 2009, wormitSteve wrote: Quantitative Easing is printing money and placing it into the economy. Like anything that has a value, the more of it you create - the less value it begins to have. The theory of Keynesian economics being carried out here does precious little, in real terms, to help those it was intended for. Instead we see with devaluing of a already fraction fiat based currency the forced response of inflation. This, in turn, drives prices up to those that are frozen or losing money. The banks increase a balance sheet at the cost of the people. Would we dare to look to Austrian economics school under such people as Ludwig von Mises or the like? Would we dare to challenge the status-quo for the benefit of the economy and the people? This helps to perpetuate the booms and bubbles that got us into this mess. Just the other day a "saved" bank with defaulting loans was proposed to be divide into assets and debts with the debts, in the near future, to be sold off. Will history repeat itself and AAA rating be supplied for toxic debt? We "saved" a bank that, by rights of prudent economics, should have failed. How much more debt can the every decreasing working class, without the ability to higher tax accountants thus avoiding such tax, survive before we implode? With fewer people working the burden increases steadily and the interest on such loans straps itself to our child and our children's child. Steve LPUK Member Complain about this comment (Comment number 35) Comment number 36.At 22:58 6th Aug 2009, soundmoney wrote: Great. More inflation. These clowns need to read some von Mises. Complain about this comment (Comment number 36) Comment number 37.At 00:57 7th Aug 2009, CComment wrote: #36 How can the banks hoarding all this money be inflationary? The MPC has so far pumped £125 billion into the economy via QE and there's been a massive REDUCTION in bank lending. As #30 said, this exercise is helping nobody in the real economy but is rather repairing bank balance sheets and facilitating fat bonuses. Surprise, surprise. Caledonian Comment Complain about this comment (Comment number 37) Comment number 38.At 01:09 7th Aug 2009, DistantTraveller wrote: So the Bank's answer to all our problems is to spend even more money that we haven't actually got. Brilliant! Let's hope the money markets don't find out, because that might cause the value of sterling to drop. Best not draw attention to it..... Complain about this comment (Comment number 38) Comment number 39.At 03:58 7th Aug 2009, Leigh Caldwell wrote: Stephanie - in your last QE posting you suggested that it might be the stock of QE that mattered and not the rate at which it increases. If this were the Bank's view, would they be making a point of the slower rate of spend this time round? I suspect that the Bank believes QE has a behavioural/psychological effect as well as its direct effect on the money supply and on the incentives of banks. It's fascinating to analyse the effect on expectations and the "wrong-footing" idea, but we can guess, second-guess and fifth-guess them; I think it will be hard to know the Bank's thinking for sure until the minutes are published. Or even then... Complain about this comment (Comment number 39) Comment number 40.At 04:02 7th Aug 2009, Leigh Caldwell wrote: And those who say QE is the same as creating inflation and devaluing the currency, you are in good company. Virtually all economists, and everyone at the Bank of England, would completely agree with you. This is not a controversial point and they would not regard it as a criticism! QE does not enrich banks - quite the reverse. If the banks hang onto the money, they will make losses on it. They can only make a profit from QE if they lend the money out to businesses - which is exactly what we want to encourage. I do agree that the Bank should consider buying corporate bonds with its money instead of gilts; but even if it doesn't, the policy will still help. Complain about this comment (Comment number 40) Comment number 41.At 07:37 7th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: #28 MrTweedy You still out there? It also reminds me of information theory... One guy I know who is very much into laissez faire capitalism and Austrian thinking was talking about the importance of free price systems, his rationale being that all kinds of signals are embodied in the 'price,' that hardly any 'managed' system could hope to deal with. I remember vaguely thinking that it sounded rational but I would have to think about it some more. Well, I did, and the fact is that information in signals depend on who his listening. (You can find out more here: ) Signals can combine to form noise, or cancel each other out. Whether or not something like price, or changes in price, can communicate anything at all really depends on a variety of things, and I imagine that free prices often obscure signals With the multiplier of asset speculation, growth in the EUR market is likely to make FX traders demand EURO. This growth will be accompanied by demand for USD (spark plugs). The question is how do these two signals combine? How do FX traders (eg: banks) react to growth in the Euro market and increase in demand for US products as a result of that growth? In all probability in this scenario the dominant influence would be the hot money coming in to the Euro market, multiplying through the banks, fuelling further growth, and further demand for Euro assets. Complain about this comment (Comment number 41) Comment number 42.At 08:54 7th Aug 2009, edwdprice wrote: When are we going to stop kidding ourselves that QE is a proactive policy to reflate the economy, rather than this being a side effect of the BOE extending its own overdraft because it was about to run out of money with which to buy gilts? The real story is an unreformed public sector leaking more money than the government has in tax revenue or can reliably and cheaply raise in the private markets. If those at the top are too stressed out to take the difficult decisions necessary to sort out the mess they've overseen then its time for them to step down. Complain about this comment (Comment number 42) Comment number 43.At 09:19 7th Aug 2009, IR35_SURVIVOR wrote: #31 some times my english gets the better of me, whilst working hard and blogging at the same time. But my maths has never let me down thats more than can be said for GB+co and some analysts. where the number clearly do not add up. Complain about this comment (Comment number 43) Comment number 44.At 09:22 7th Aug 2009, soundmoney wrote: #37 It will get out eventually. Just watch the price of bread, milk, beer etc over the next few years. Watch gold and silver too. They could curb it with higher interest rates and selling the garbage they buy but who would be silly enough to buy corporate and government debt at the moment? Who thinks these guys get that savings are the lifeblood of an economy? Complain about this comment (Comment number 44) Comment number 45.At 09:25 7th Aug 2009, soundmoney wrote: A good essay by Jim Willie worth a read: Complain about this comment (Comment number 45) Comment number 46.At 09:36 7th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: #44 There's a difference between real and nominal prices. It doesn't matter if we have deflation or inflation - one of them is going up! Complain about this comment (Comment number 46) Comment number 47.At 10:00 7th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: #45 Thanks for the link. Not read it in full yet but love the comment: "in 1971 Nixon broke the gold standard and permitted the USDollar to float on a cloud of arrogance and on a wave of liquidity that is best described as debt mixed with counterfeit." Seems to be along the same lines as Michael Hudson's book Super Imperialism: "Super Imperialism: The Economic Strategy of American Empire, was the first book to describe the global free ride for America after it went off the gold standard in 1971, putting the world onto a paper U.S. Treasury-bill standard." Senator Ron Paul also isn't afraid to levy this charge too! Complain about this comment (Comment number 47) Comment number 48.At 10:03 7th Aug 2009, MrTweedy wrote: FrankSz I've posted a reply to your nostro vostro comments back on the original thread ("A Large Sucking Sound"). The economy is full of competing forces acting in opposite directions. The strongest force will move a country's currency in a particular direction. This is why it is difficult to predict the outome of any particular stimulus. Lloyds makes a loss, share prices go up. Then RBS makes a profit, and share prices go down.... Expectations and speculation have a big influence. Such things are not fully rational, but they will even out over time..... I would like some safety limits put in place through legislation. We don't let people drive on the roads without first passing a driving test, but we have no such safety limits protecting the world of finance and insurance. Complain about this comment (Comment number 48) Comment number 49.At 10:18 7th Aug 2009, Marlinspike - not impostor wrote: Erm...is this serious? How can printing money to fund government borrowing in the middle of a debt crisis, when our government has huge amounts of government debt outstanding - and still wants to splurge huge amounts on public expenditure - be a positive thing? I wonder at what stage of the decline of the UK the BBC will begin to report accurately rather than being a propaganda mouthpiece for a failed government... Complain about this comment (Comment number 49) Comment number 50.At 10:20 7th Aug 2009, Marlinspike - not impostor wrote: I would recommend: The Coming Collapse of the Dollar and How To Profit From It by James Turk and John Rubino if you want a truly eye-opening account of the future, rather than the patent nonsense peddled by "economists" like the author here (who is even so celebrity focused to create her own term Stephanomics). Face facts - our economy is grossly overvalued in terms to what it actually represents, and when people understand this, the mother of all crashes is coming. Complain about this comment (Comment number 50) Comment number 51.At 10:21 7th Aug 2009, Queasy_Money wrote: So the BoE are going to 'print' another £50bn over 3 months to buy Gilts...which is roughly what the Government are having to borrow every 3 months. Wonder what will happen on the Gilts market when the current QE funds run out ? Not difficult to see what's going on here, is it ? Complain about this comment (Comment number 51) Comment number 52.At 10:21 7th ? Complain about this comment (Comment number 52) Comment number 53.At 11:28 7th Aug 2009, Guy Croft wrote: Doesn't exactly take brains to PRINT money do it? MAKE it? Someone should tell them how money_is_made. GC Complain about this comment (Comment number 53) Comment number 54.At 12:07 7th Aug 2009, ExcellenceFirst wrote: Phew! There was me thinking that Liam Halligan and I were the only two people left in the world who actually recognise QE for what it is. And then, as if by magic, along come three more who have not been hoodwinked by the propaganda. I've no objection to the BBC Economics Editor writing about the possible benefits QE may have on the economy at large, but I don't think it's exactly quality reporting to fail in doing so even to mention the fundamental reason for it's introduction, and to write as though the maybe beneficial side-effects are really all that matter. We're not five-year-olds - we know that the purpose of eating carrots is not to enhance nighttime vision. Tell us it straight, for heaven's sake. Then public discussion might have some purpose. Complain about this comment (Comment number 54) Comment number 55.At 12:57 7th Aug 2009, Bertram Bird wrote: The best alternative to QE is universal tax credits and income tax reduction. Then we could all pump money back into the economy, or into the banks in reducing our debts. Let's call it a "Poll Tax Credit" - give something to everyone! No, that won't happen. Sharing the gain is for the banking brothers; pain is what we ordinary mortals get to share. Complain about this comment (Comment number 55) Comment number 56.At 13:00 7th Aug 2009, Oblivion wrote: #48 responded there too Complain about this comment (Comment number 56) Comment number 57.At 13:16 7th Aug 2009, wombateye wrote: "52. At 10:21am on 07 ?" But remember the cost of keeping G.Brown in office is priceless......... Complain about this comment (Comment number 57) Comment number 58.At 15:04 7th Aug 2009, DenseSingularity wrote: #49 Robert Peston seams to be moving more to an "It's getting rosey" position. To the average listener the main gist of his reporting yesterday seemed to be 'Still some grey clouds.. but essentially we (i.e. the banks) are getting there'. He was also rolled out on early Breakfast TV. Maybe GMTV soon? I have to say it really did seem quite a turnaround. Perhaps now HMG is closed for their (hope I spelt that right) summer holidays we'll see more of him giving us a boost. Complain about this comment (Comment number 58) Comment number 59.At 15:50 7th Aug 2009, leanomist wrote: I would like to echo what Post 21 has said ... "Why would rising house prices be considered postive news? It just means more money is required to get a roof over your head ... Why is it that the BBC constantly shoves rising house prices being a great thing down our throats while paying lip service to the social consequences of poor and unaffordable housing?" ... And is also very pertinent to this subject too. Complain about this comment (Comment number 59) Comment number 60.At 19:09 7th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: QE will NOT work for one very substantial reason -IT HAS NO CLEAR OBJECTIVE. It is not SMART and therefore can only be speculated upon and not measured. It is a monetry instrument directed not at 'true value' but only at money! Anybody seen any of this 'new money' in their businesses or on the High Street. Is QE only working because things could be worse? Complain about this comment (Comment number 60) Comment number 61.At 20:39 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #31 BankSlickerminustheR - "There's a bright guy on Peston's blog who doesn't know the difference between 'there' and 'their'...after I mentioned the difference he then went on to use the word 'their' instead of 'they're'." Oh, the joys of over-reliance on spell-checkers !! :-) Of course, this has nothing to do with the government dumbing down our kiddies' education or the current PC/fascist thinking that kiddies should be allowed to spell phonetically instead of grammatically !! Thank God, my kiddies are out of this; it's my grandkiddies I have to worry about now !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 61) Comment number 62.At 20:59 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #33 FDD - "Where did the money go?" Well the money is "created" and then used to purchase more government debt - Gilts !! This is then treated as real assets and sold on to suc..., err, I mean, wise investors !! Meanwhile, the printed money is used to pay for the vastly inflated government spendings in order to buy - (1) the complacency of the Civil Service (2) electoral votes in by-elections (3) (false) belief of the "lumpen proletariat" in the "green shoots of recovery" To paraphrase the words of a song from the Flower Power era - "Where have all the QE gone ?" The chorus/refrain is so, so apt - "When will they ever learn ??" Complain about this comment (Comment number 62) Comment number 63.At 21:05 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #38 "Let's hope the money markets don't find out, because that might cause the value of sterling to drop. Best not draw attention to it....." Go to Oanda.com and look up the history of GBP/CNY exchange rate over the last 2 years !! It makes for very interesting reading. While you are there, look up the historic FX rates for USD/CNY and EUR/CNY for the same period !! This is an FX rates site that is trusted by various FX traders !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 63) Comment number 64.At 21:25 7th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: #62 ishakandar, so what happened to the promise to use the 'money' to buy "quality" commercial paper? Complain about this comment (Comment number 64) Comment number 65.At 21:30 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: The BBC website administrators, in their infinite wisdom, has decided that I shall, henceforth, be known as "you" !! I wonder what message from which God had made them decide so ?? Complain about this comment (Comment number 65) Comment number 66.At 21:33 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #64 FDD - "so what happened to the promise to use the 'money' to buy "quality" commercial paper?" You mean you actually believe their promise ??? WOW !! Can you lend me 100 million quid ?? I promise to pay you back whenever I can !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 66) Comment number 67.At 21:52 7th Aug 2009, Radiowonk wrote: In #5 thecoopster asked "Is the word "debt" not in Brown's dictionary?" Probably, but he may see the word in the context of the Church of Scotland verions of The Lord's Prayer: "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who debt against us". Would that it were that easy, but in our present predicament that really is pushing forgiveness beyond its elastic limit... Complain about this comment (Comment number 67) Comment number 68.At 22:10 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #67 "Forgive us our debts, as we forgive those who debt against us". If I remember what was hammered into my thick skull during my school days, it's - "Forgive us of our *trespasses* as we forgive those who *trespass* against us" - and is immediately followed by - "And lead us not into *temptation* but deliver us from *evil*" !! Will the Good Lord lead us away from the *temptation* of conspicuous credit-funded consumerism and deliver us from the *evil* of "QE" now ?? Complain about this comment (Comment number 68) Comment number 69.At 22:16 7th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: The chart at the bottom makes interesting reading !! Please note that the two banks still making consistent profits are the same two who have *NOT* taken the Queen's shilling !! Wherefore are the nay-sayers who insist that the size of the banks is the root of this credit crunch evil ?? - Ishkandar (not "you", as this site seem to think I am) Complain about this comment (Comment number 69) Comment number 70.At 01:25 8th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: #69 ishky Now we have a REAL problem because I am also YOU. But I know that I am NOT you. Therefore if I am ME and also YOU at the same time then who the heck are YOU? It's all very confusing!! Interesting that in The Lords Prayer the request for forgiveness is limited and conditional. It asks that our 'trespasses' are forgiven in the same way and to the same degree that we forgive others who have "trespassed against us". I have no idea why the Scottish churches chose 'debt' as the translation. I think the more modern interpritation of 'sins' is clearer. Complain about this comment (Comment number 70) Comment number 71.At 13:52 8th Aug 2009, RadioDPRK wrote: Hello, hello, hello...Pyongyang calling. Greetings British men. You are barking up the wrong tree. Your QE is not relevant except that it shows your wagons are firmly hitched to the USA, or the former USA as the Dear Leader prefers.$ Complain about this comment (Comment number 71) Comment number 72.At 17:18 8th Aug 2009, leanomist wrote: I agree with many of the comments - including post 71 above ... IMHO simplifying things to 'printing money' and trying to 'spin a recovery' simplifies the story a lot more too ... take a look at for instance ... and as post 71 quickly points out ... it won't work (for very long, if at all) either ... and there's a lot worse still to come too ... it's just a shame we're currently opting for 'spin', instead of adopting 'solutions' that will work! Complain about this comment (Comment number 72) Comment number 73.At 18:54 8th Aug 2009, strategycall wrote: Ishkandar and FDDave, posts 69 and 70 It is quite straightforward really, you are both this week's cyber Walruses. The Beatles explained it all about 40 years ago in 'I am the Walrus' 'I am he, and you are me, and you and me and we, are all together' Coo Coo Cachoo Complain about this comment (Comment number 73) Comment number 74.At 19:05 8th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #71 RadioDPRK - $" If your "Dear Leader" ever allows you to read about the history of Korea, you will find that for the last 3,000 years, China and Japan have been going, "Whose turn is it to invade Korea this century ??" :-) Of course there was an interregnum when neither China nor Japan ruled Korea. I think it was about 100 years from around the end of the 13th century to the end of the 14th century when Korea was ruled by the Mongols !! Therefore, considering that the DPRK is not exactly flush with cash or food, you might want to be a little more circumspect about the Chinese !! Just a bit of friendly advice !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 74) Comment number 75.At 19:07 8th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #70 "Now we have a REAL problem because I am also YOU. But I know that I am NOT you. Therefore if I am ME and also YOU at the same time then who the heck are YOU? It's all very confusing!!" I know I am *ME* but the Beeb says that I am "you" !! So who the hell are *WE* ?? Still, to paraphrase Descartes - I stink therefore I am !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 75) Comment number 76.At 19:10 8th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #73 "It is quite straightforward really, you are both this week's cyber Walruses." Eeeee !! I hate fish !! Can't I be some other animal, like a nice cuddly tiger, instead !! :-) Meanwhile, I hope the Beeb can sort this rather confusing metaphysical, existential problem soon !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 76) Comment number 77.At 19:16 8th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: #75 "Still, to paraphrase Descartes - I stink therefore I am !! :-)" That was the philosophy of Harry Enfield's Wayne Slob :) Complain about this comment (Comment number 77) Comment number 78.At 19:17 8th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: £££££££££££ Just testing to see if Aunty had solved that problem as well ! Complain about this comment (Comment number 78) Comment number 79.At 21:32 8th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: #78 FDD - "£££££££££££ Just testing to see if Aunty had solved that problem as well !" Wouldn't do me much good since I have a foreign keyboard !! However, I can write Chinese/Kanji with this thing !! :-) Complain about this comment (Comment number 79) Comment number 80.At 00:30 9th Aug 2009, DebtJuggler wrote: To all those heralding the arrival of the £ sign to this site...it will shortly become irrelevant! Complain about this comment (Comment number 80) Comment number 81.At 08:25 9th Aug 2009, hodgeey wrote: Try this one ¥ Complain about this comment (Comment number 81) Comment number 82.At 18:50 9th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: Forget about "green shoots of recovery", this is a whole rain forest of it !! 20% annualised growth will have most developed nations salivating like Pavlov's dogs !! Perhaps the fact that they have less of a credit-fueled consumer culture out there helps !! They certainly didn't go around "queasing" (quantitative easing) their economy !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 82) Comment number 83.At 20:14 9th Aug 2009, shireblogger wrote: Hi Stephanie Can you tell us who the sellers of the gilts to the BoE are under the Asset Purchase Facility and what they are doing with their liquidity.Simple question really, asked several times of you.Other commentators in other media seem to have more facts on this than your posts are prepared to disclose.Why dont you give us the full picture? The committee stated why they were increasing the purchases : the recession and lack of credit have limited the supply capacity curtailing growth potential. Surprised that you give no analysis on their reasons. WE can all see that the banks' lack of capital is derailing QE. Complain about this comment (Comment number 83) Comment number 84.At 21:34 9th Aug 2009, RadioDPRK wrote: This is Pyongyang calling. The Dear Leader does not desire that Radio DPRK enter into petty debates. This holds true even when imperialist lackies such as poster #74 egregiously falsifies and seeks to diminish the glorious history of the DPRK. No, the sole purpose of RadioDPRK is to warn the opressed masses in the West that the end of the US$ hegemony is imminent. Prepare yourselves and defend yourselves as best you can from the coming carnage, time is of the essence. Banish from both your minds and your hearts the false siren voices that would lead you ever deeper into the wilderness. Complain about this comment (Comment number 84) Comment number 85.At 04:42 10th Aug 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote: Timing is critical. Further quantum easing of a substantive nature in the UK before the US takes the lead could send the pound into free fall against other currencies. The US should go first and then it will be safe for others to follow. If the US economy does not turn around, no amout of QE will save the UK or anyone else. The US is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. The mechanisms by which the US government and others have tried to reinvigorate their economies by reducing interest rates, granting loans to failed banks and other financial institutions, and by direct spending has proven very inefficient at getting money into circulation. Whether relying on banks as often unwilling intermediaries to make further loans to borrowers or having to wait for government contracts to pay out for services and products rendered to it in targeted markets and then have the money disperse throughout the economy, the response has been sluggish and late. About all you can say for it is that it was better than doing nothing but not much else. We are still stuck with banks that have unknown quantities of dirt still under their rugs and looming disasters in at least four other known areas; consumer credit, commercial real estate, a bond market bubble, and European bank vulnerabilities in Eastern Europe. IMO what the US government should have done was rather than trying to prop up hopelessly failed banks which allowed them the luxury of paying whopping bonuses at taxpayer expense and not knowing if the taxpayers would ever be paid back was to compete against them as the bank of last resort. So if a business loan was say 6.25% from a bank but a qualified borrower couldn't get a loan, he'd get one directly from the government at say 6.75 or 7.00 percent. This would have put the banks on notice that if they didn't lend, someone else with limitless pockets would and the non financial sector would not be held hostage to criminal negligence and incompetence of the banks. If they went broke so what. Their assets would have been sold off for what the market thought they were worth and new banks would eventually be chartered free of toxic assets. They could take over the government loans and the government would slowly get out of the banking business as the financial industry re-invented itself. The shareholders who did not hold their boards of directors to account for their mistakes would lose their investement, the execs would be unemployed on the street where they belong, and the taxpayers would be whole. But no, we are in the same bind we were in last fall with what may only be a temporary reprieve depending on how many other toxic assets we don't know about they hold. Suddenly the banks don't like capitalism anymore. In capitalism, failure means bankruptcy and nobody is too big to fail. The mechanisms governments have chosen to mitigate what they precipitated themselves has merely compounded one disaster by adding another. Complain about this comment (Comment number 85) Comment number 86.At 15:56 10th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain. Complain about this comment (Comment number 86) Comment number 87.At 16:22 10th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: Stephanie, I'd be grateful if you could let us know where you obtained the latest M4 figures from. I can't see anything more recent than Q1 '09 / May '09 on the ONS website. Would also be useful to know which particular set of figures you are looking at. I've taken a keen interest in 3.1H Sectoral analysis of M4 and its sterling lending counterpart (11.8) pg 65 of the latest FinStats July09 report. Lending (by banks & building societies) to other financial institutions (AVHW) has risen from £54bn in 2004 to £289bn in 2008. That's a multiple of nearly five times! Meanwhile lending to non financial corporations (AVHX) is a paltry £17bn. Another curiosity is that in 2008 there is a negative (?) lending of £42bn to the household sector (secured on dwellings AVHY). Is it just me or is the real "credit junky" not the humble UK householder (AVHZ £3.6bn) but our beleaguered financial institutions? Complain about this comment (Comment number 87) Comment number 88.At 21:24 10th Aug 2009, nautonier wrote: The reasons for QE should be fairly simple really? Government and BoE try to look effective in the short term (but all in effect at the short, medium and long term risk of the taxpayer)- a matter of convenience for bureaucrats. QE is a further 'back door' bail out for the banks which allows major financial institutions to shift huge amounts of money around in the economy without anyone really getting their hands dirty in the process in terms of making the money 'working capital for UK businesses generating income, employment, demand. Besides the obvious potential for boosting the economy I think that there is a hidden agenda with QE regarding boosting UK GDP figures before the next general election (so as to reduce statistical recessionary effects) and so the BoE is happy to be seen to be justifying its position and having a major role and the government sees it as showing it is doing something - even though no one will say where the money is going. My guess is that the main beneficiaries are merchant brokers, bankers, and analysts (many or most being non.doms) who will be generating large bonus demands on QE for shifting/shuffling large sums of money between merchant investment bankers. QE could be very good if the money is spent effectively on stimulating demand in the wider economy but where is the evidence that this is being done? The inescapable logical conclusion is that the way QE has and still is being operated is mainly for statistical GDP 'fiddle'/political purposes. If QE does not work - we'll see hoards of highly paid wise-men (and women) telling us that the global recession is still worse than anyone has imagined. The money would have been better spent setting up new ethical UK focussed banks so that consumers can vote on their feet and close their accounts with 'bad banks' and put our money where it matters most. Bad banks can then be 'smashed up'. Shareholders of banks should bear more risk. Complain about this comment (Comment number 88) Comment number 89.At 14:44 11th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: Hawkeye_Pierce and nautonier are the latest voices to ask the real questions regarding QE. Basically, what is QE really intended to do (not the PR fog that is being transmitted) and where is the money going? Before QE was even mooted, many of us on both this blog and Peston's were calling for a Keynesian type stimulous package. Brown even declared governments intention to call forward infrastructure programmes. What has happened to those programmes? I don't hear of major works being started. Whilst the credit crunch was still supposed to be a US problem, the Uk acknowledged that it needed to invest in new nuclear stations. Now I know that Hinkley was chosen as a sight. I also know that the major groundworks for Hinkley C were completed when Hinkley B was being built built. But I still don't see any major building activity! Since 1980, the UK has had a steadly increasing imbalance within its economy. We all knew it but were passified by talk of a "post-industrial society" and supposedly growing consumerism (how did we all buy goods and services prior to 1980?). When the crunch bit, why were these issues not addressed? Why are we spending future resources not on fixing the problem but merely recouperating the enfent terrible which caused the problem in the first place? Complain about this comment (Comment number 89) Comment number 90.At 16:29 11th Aug 2009, writingsonthewall wrote: 3 - John_from_hendon "The needed sacking six months ago and they still do today. They just haven't a clue! The bubble economy has burst. They are trying to re-inflate a busted balloon." ....you can't sack dictators only overthrow them. There is no accountability left in Governemnt, banking or politics. Complain about this comment (Comment number 90) Comment number 91.At 17:28 11th Aug 2009, leanomist wrote: Post 90 - your point is well made and arguably adds more to this point too. IMHO modern communications will eventually change everything ... including 'power', 'politics' and 'economics'. Complain about this comment (Comment number 91) Comment number 92.At 21:30 11th Aug 2009, shireblogger wrote: Liam Halligan has said that one third of gilt sellers are foreign investors. Is that right? Complain about this comment (Comment number 92) Comment number 93.At 09:48 12th Aug 2009, ishkandar wrote: No.92 "Liam Halligan has said that one third of gilt sellers are foreign investors. Is that right?" I'm not sure but I wouldn't be surprised since the confidence in the £ is very low and still sinking !! Therefore, foreign investors are "going when the going's good" !! If the US carries on its money printing policies, the same will happen to it too !! That's why the Chinese and the Brazilians are very worried about their US Debt holdings !! Complain about this comment (Comment number 93) Comment number 94.At 10:22 12th Aug 2009, MrTweedy wrote: The old man of Westminster Turned the Bank of England into a money printer It printed all day and all night Foreign investors took flight And petrol went up to £5 a litre Complain about this comment (Comment number 94) Comment number 95.At 11:09 12th Aug 2009, tonyparksrun wrote: #89 fdd Problem is all our nuclear engineers have retired or gone abroad. We will depend on our dear French neighbours to build nuclear (if we can ever afford it) but they cannot pronounce "Inckley" so are probably lost on the way there. The flower of our youth are either watching (or appearing on) day time television or whiling away the hours on their Playstations awaiting the next JSA cheque. I doubt I'll be around to see the look on their faces when the screen goes blank and the power is cut off, but you never know. Complain about this comment (Comment number 95) Comment number 96.At 12:25 12th Aug 2009, MarcusAureliusII wrote: #95 There hasn't been a nuclear power plant desgned and built in the US for over 30 years. All of the people who had the knowledge to design them to the satisfaction of the NRC are retired, dead, or have forgotten much of what it takes and it wasn't passed on. No French or other engineers are qualified to design to US standards because they are different from IAEC standards, there is a language barrier, a stark difference in technical philosophy, and the Amerian standards are remarkably tough. I know, I worked on one that was cancelled partway through...in 1977. It was among the last under design. GE, Westinghouse, and others can dig out the old drawings of the reactors and find them, tweak them, build them but the plant as a whole is a much larger project, one in which the Nuclear Steam Supply System (NSSS) is only one component. Nor could you take even already competent engineers (there are relatively few of them left in the US compared to the way it used to be, the result of negligence, indifference, and stupidity on the part of industry and government in building and maintaining critical infrastructure, the underlying foundation of real wealth) and train them in anything like a year or two. If the US government made 100 billion available today to build 20 or more nuclear power plants, I would be surprised if even two or three really got off the ground in the next three to five years. It should be recalled that even in its heyday, projects failed badly. Shorem on Long Island east of New York City was completed but never was allowed to start up because an acceptable emergency evacuation plan couldn't be devised. Why didn't they think of that before they designed and built it? One billion dollars wasted. It spelled the demise of LILCO, the Long Island Lighting Company, the local electric utility. Nuclear power engineering is not like IT where you can train someone in one to three years and they are writing code. This takes far more skill from a far more diverse and complex team. The value of these teams when they existed was vastly underestimated. Now that they are gone, the only available source of new large scale non CO2 generating energy is no longer available. Meanwhile, American nuclear power plants which generate 20% of America's energy, more on a KWH basis than France, are aging and will soon begin to reach the end of their usable lives. At that point, the only thing to do will be to decommission them. There are no substitute sources available except fossil plants. Even hydroelectric power which has been taken for granted may become unreliable as weather patterns change and lakes that are fed by rainfall and melting snowpacks every year the plants depend on dry up. There is no possible way for renewable energy and energy effiency to come close to filling the gap between what is needed and what will be available. The mantra that energy effiency and "green energy sources" will save the planet has to be one of the biggest hoaxes environmentalists have ever perpetrated. They never give you actual numbers, just their vague generalities. The future IMO looks rather grim. This has been made into a political football mostly by European environmentalists instead of a worldwide scientific and technologial emergency the way depletion of the ozone layer from CFCs and radioative fallout from nuclear weapons testing was and the way it should have been 20 years ago. As a result, it may be too late already. The impact this will have on economics? Devastating and irreversable. Complain about this comment (Comment number 96) Comment number 97.At 13:27 12th Aug 2009, Hawkeye_Pierce wrote: R.I.P. G.D.P.? Zencey is a rare case where such a dissenting voice is able to gain mainstream media attention. His article got me thinking about GDP, profits, bonuses etc. and how we got into this sorry mess. Then it dawned on me that western society has overdosed on rigid goal-directed behaviour: "Diagnostic control systems are the backbone of traditional management control, designed to ensure predictable goal achievement." (Robert Simons Levers of Control 1995). I propose that to understand where we have gone wrong with our economy (and indeed corporate mgt) we need to understand the underlying control mechanisms. I am reminded of the concept of a 'Diagnostic Control System'. This is defined as a formal information system for measuring and controlling particular organisational outcomes. They are designed to achieve specific and predictable goals without constant management attention, and are exemplified by the following characteristics: - Measuring the output of a process - Comparing performance against predetermined standards (e.g. benchmarks & targets) - Possessing the ability to correct deviations (i.e. a deliberate management intervention – usually in the form of financial rewards) Promoting wealth (either in a national sense: GDP, or a corporate sense: profits) in this manner explicitly demands the implementation and achievement of a defined outcome, by adopting the maxim "what gets measured, gets done". However, implementations such as this often involve the creation of targets, thus falling foul of Goodhart's law which states that: "When a measure becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure." What often happens with such systems is that they promote a highly short term focus and often result in cheating ('gaming' the system). A failure to acknowledge the complexity of wealth and quality of life has created the temptation to treat it simplistically, such as a single management metric (GDP, share price etc.). Approaches such as this are shown to result in unintended and highly destructive consequences (Simons cites examples such as Enron & Chernobyl). Unless the measures of this outcome are objective (independently verifiable) and complete (in that they capture all relevant actions and behaviours) then unintended consequences can occur. In other words, the stated outcome or target may be achieved, but at the expense of other (potentially more serious) mandates. A diagnostic system's strength, therefore, can turn out to be its own undoing. Complain about this comment (Comment number 97) Comment number 98.At 13:48 12th Aug 2009, hodgeey wrote: #96 I thought Westinghouse were heavily involved with the AP1000 reactor, and expect a lot more work in China where dozens of nuclear plants are operating or planned? The French are there too with the EPR. Having said that, there is no doubt that the Chinese will take the lead in the world in years to come. If we don't get our act together in this and other fields, we'll all have to start learning Chinese. Complain about this comment (Comment number 98) Comment number 99.At 14:27 12th Aug 2009, foredeckdave wrote: Like the hybrid car, it is likely that nuclear energy will be a stop gap in power generation. I truly believe that the timing and economic conditions are right for the next major technological breakthrough. What it will be and when it will come 'on-stream' I cannot tell. Until then we must take urgent action to secure our base-load power supply as a strategic necessity. If coal has now become the climate change champion's bete-noir (surely there is more that we can do in 'scrubbing' technology?) then nuclear has to be the major option. At this point it doesn't really matter that we have to import technology that we were at the forefront of. Having said that, can anybody answer my original question - WHERE HAS THE QE GONE? Complain about this comment (Comment number 99) Comment number 100.At 16:43 12th Aug 2009, MrTweedy wrote: No.99. foredeckdave My dear Foredeck. According to latest analysis by IMF: The BoE, through QE, is now in possession of 15% of the total gilts market. The BoE has pledged asset purchases worth 8.6% of Britain's GDP. The money itself has gone into commercial banks' safety capital, and also found its way into the investment banking arms of the same banks, who have used the funds to generate profits from speculating on shares, bonds, currencies, commodities, derivatives, etc. There is little profit in lending at present; so banks aren't concentraing on this side of their business. Despite this, house prices have inched up due to QE. QE is causing price inflation, as (i) we have some imported price inflation through the weak sterling, and (ii) we have asset price inflation in the stock market, commodities, housing market.... Complain about this comment (Comment number 100) Page 1 of 5

Best Supporting Actress Nominees Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson arrive at the 81st Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood on Sunday, February 22nd. I actually watched the full show and thought it was very entertaining to say the least. Hugh Jackman was a great host and I loved how they presented the awards this year using past winners to speak about the nominees. Very dope. With appearances and performances from: Beyonce, Will Smith, Halle Berry, Queen Latifah, Eddie Murphy and more. Peep the pics. pics from the show Ben Stiller & Will Smith totally did it for me. I thought Tina Fey and Steve Martin wre funny too. Loved Whoopi’s dress too. EVERYONE LOOKS GOOD EXCEPT BEYONCE BEYONCE LOOKS LIKE SHE GAINED 15 POUNDS! WHY IS IT THAT SHE LOOKS SO GHETTO IN BLACK AND GOLD HOD DRESS?? DOES SHE THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BUY IT BECAUSE SHE WORE ONE? DOES HER MAMA AND FATHER THINK NOW THE OSCAR CROWD ARE GOING TO STAMPEDE THE MALL NEXT YEAR AND WEAR HOD DRESSES JUST BE CAUSE BEYKANKLES WORE ONE THIS YEAR? EVERYONE ELSE LOOKS ELEGANT HALLE LOOKS LIKE OLD MONEY, VERY RICH IN THAT GOWN BEYONCE LOOKS LIKE THE TACKY OFF THE RACK VERSION OF HALLE’S DRESS! SIT DOWN BEYKANKLES KNOWLES!! YOU SUCK! what the hell is the infatuation with Angelina she wore a black dress…she almost always wears black…to me she looks the same…..when they have access to the best designers, clothing and jewelry….come on she can do MUCH better. Alicia’s hair people seem not to care for her that much to let her walk around in public like that…..and furthermore when a celeb look bad at such events the stylists are to blame….good stylist,hair and make-up artists would never let their clients show up at a event looking horrible Alicia killed it as usual looking pretty in her purplish pink. Beyonce looked a little plain to me. Taraji looks great as usual. Beyonce looks a mess, nothing about that red carpet look is right. It is all wrong. Her face looks too bare, the dress is over the top, her hair is really off. Her face is too wide and her ears stick out too much. She needs jewelry and a dress without a busy pattern, she is really ridiculous trying to match her gown to the actual oscar statue but no surprise there, she has proven to be the tackiest performer everywhere she goes. her performance outfit was worse, showing her wide azz like that is just not a good look for the Oscars. Beyonce and her mother could not buy class if it was on sale for $2.99! Good for Kelly in getting away from their management now maybe she can get some shine! Ima a padda 1x Ima Ima a padda8x Bridge! Now now now a padda is a female that wears butt pads, wears butt pads, wears butt pads now now now a padda is a female that wears butt pads wears butt pads. Stop the track let me state facts I’ve been paddin up my booty since the Crazy in Love track Took a million round the world and they said i couldn’t get it I’ve been paddin my booty up some much that’s how I collect those binges Now you gonna be talkin shit Cause u aint got no booty pads like this ‘ive been the number one diva in this game for a minute I know you read the paper the one that they call the Faker Have the stans woundering how my ass stay de and inflating! Chorus Bridge When he pull up He’s looks at my ass with face all screwed up Ready that i have a six pack of pads in a cooler Getting money Padda’s gettin money If you ain’t gettin money Then you aint got nothing for me. tell me something Where your ass at Where my ladies up in that like to pad their ass off I wanna see ya I’d like to meet ya What you said she aint got ass pads as big is this diva Bridge! Since 15 my dad been pimpin me in my stilettos i struttin in this game What’s your age I say 37 when they asked me my age when I hit the stage I pad my ass up best believe it You wont believe how many times I got laid Because of these ass pads I get paid I got rid of those 2008’s This is a stick up stick up I need that paper for those big ass pads This is a stick up stick up you see them ask for those 2009 ass pads Ya’ll I got those 2009 and 2010 Ass Pads- House of Hoodrat Wrong!! Queen Latifah and Beyonce look GORGEOUS!!!!! Brava!!!! 187 I am LMFAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OMG TOO DAMN FUNNY! AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAAAA YEP BEYONCE IS LOOKIN A DAMN MESS PER USUAL. WHEW, LMAO @ ASS PADS @177, if no one knows that LittlePrincess exists, then why are you responding? Think about it. Lmfao @ these essays, HATERS NEVER WIN! SO WHAT if Bee did lipsynch, EVERYONE ELSE DID! EVEN YOUR FAVORITE ARTIST DOES IT! Lol. If it was anybody else on that stage this would be a NON-STORY! LOVE U BEE, KEEP DOING YOU! @190 in other words, she is insignificant just like you. haters are always insignificant. there job is too hate, and make the person they are hating on famous. So why dont you and little princess do your job, and keep hating, so you can keep Beyonce famous. Your the reason she can wear such a bad dress and still be the baddest chick in the industry. Think about it! if you didnt exist, she would be nothing.. Urban chick and Little princess are: More than likely, fat and black as hell Obviously haters and unsuccessful, bc they hate on black women who are successful when they should be praising them. Most likely bald headed…suxs for you Always coming on the blog hatin on Beyonce bc they prolly wanna be her Am I missing anything??? Anybody Beyonce looks like my throw rug Mama Tina you fired!. why was A.Keys weave or lace front or wig or whatever on her head, so distracting. For a pretty lady she should not have done that to herself..don’t know what she was thinking. Hell I’da went bald if that was the only other option. Lawd! Everyone for the most part looked nice. It was a good awards show and very beautiful at that. I was soooo mad though when Penelope won..anybody but her..and for that role too..cheww. They could have definitely given it to someone else, Woody Allen bought out that category I’m convinced, who thought that lady was going to win, i cant stand her. Freida is a really really pretty girl, I’m so happy that slumdog and CCBB won so many awards. I love Brad and Angelina..secretly though, and I know I shouldn’t have been waiting to see this, but I was waiting for Jen and Angie to exchange some harshe words or something…what can ya do. Oh believe me. im not in economic turmoil. Im doing GREAT. But you obviously are. I am sure there are many beautiful women in the world, and I am also sure that there are many women on Broadway that sing act and dance, but let me tell you something. Not one of them are more famous that Beyonce Knowles. Beyonce is a pop queen. She is not on Broadway incase you have not noticed. But here is the thing …. SHE CAN BE… And there are not too many other pop stars or R&B divas who can do the things she does. SHE is a TRIPLE THREAT. and wnyone who deny’s that is lying to them selves. I didnt say she is a Halle Berry, but she has been in 6 or 7 movies. Not too many other super star singers can say that. Call me a stan if you want, But I give credit where it is due. especially when it is a successful BLACK women. Who can back up everything she does. big-head’ce just look like a big ball of material, what is she trying to prove? I guess if she can’t win a oscar, look like one!!!! It is a shame she is always bragging about how rich she is and still look like shitt! spend some of your millions because you can’t take it with you!!! better yet dissapear for a while I am tired of seeing you at every event, take a vacation to a remote island where there are no cameras!!! this was a really great show last night. I loved the set design and the new format. Very nice. I need to see slumdog. and yes, beyonce lip synced. It was nice to see a record number of black people on the show! That was a shocker! Beyonce was literally the most uneccessary person on the show, she won a WALLY award its on MSN front page.. check it out for yourself lol She’s the laughing stock of the OSCARS lmao hehehee @#197 wtf? clearly u r obssessed bey bcuz u dont always talk facts. when beyonce become the queen of pop and she is r&b? madonna kill beyonce in dat category and also britney spears. so honey get u facts straight. bcuz she will not be the queen of pop ever bcuz shes r&b. madonna and britney 2 tha world!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lol The Awards were good this year. Hugh was a great host. I liked that he was entertaining and kept the show moving along. Bey did a good job, and it was also a complete surprise because who knew she was performing? Taraji and Viola looked great. Loved how they presented the awards using past winners to sing the nominee’s praises. ^^beyonce last album outsold britney no talent album so britney aint the Queen of a damn thang. Beyonce can sing better than Brit and Madonn put together so shut up. and FYI beyonce has been called a queen numerous times by several legends. LMAO at the delusional Beyonce haters thinking she is the laughing stock of the Oscars when in REALITY they are saying her performance with Hugh was the highlight of the show. Even Oprah asked Hugh what it was like performing with Beyonce. How about nobody hate on anyone whether it’s Alicia Keys a.k.a untouchable, beyonce, and even people who ain’t celebrities. It’s not just celebrities being hated on we get hated on too. So let’s spread the love. Another thing this one is for the Beyonce stans I read some of these post and no I don’t think people should say negative things about Beyonce, but I don’t understand how yaw can get upset about people taslking about Beyonce when yaw are saying negative things about Alicia Keys everybody on this post is wrong there’s not one person who is right because truthfully yaw are all hating on these celebrities and one another by acting like children and calling each other names for stupid reasons!!! There I’m done!!! How about stop kissing these celebrites ass who ain’t paying none of yaw bills dumb fools I tell ya people are dumb now and days and congratulations Alicia just won her 12th grammy woohoo. I just have a question for all of these pathetic stans and haters What are yaw doing with yaw lives? Not including kissing these celebrities ass and trashing them. Alicia’s weave is HORRRIBLE get a lacefront some corn rows do somethin/.. and the makeup look like my little cuzzin did it with her eyes shut with the bog toes on her feet! BWAH!!! I just saw that clownish pic of Beyaki on msn.com bwahahahahaha If she not the most buffoonish coonish lookin bish dancin. shukin and jivin’ for the white folks in a sparkly shiny leotard and circus clown top hat bwahahaha she is the most retarted person in the industry lol Everyone knows they begged the Oscar committee to let Beyonce do something. Could that be the triple threat you are talking about? Cause you have got to be a got-damn fool to say she can act. enough is enough you gotstsa have flap jacks for brains to even sit up in this here piece and proclaim that kanckeld bi-ch can act? No Ma’am. No Ma’am. Come again. Please and Thank you. Next year she’s going to show up as one of the ladies who hands the Oscars to the winners. Lawd knows her delusional a$$ will only get that close to ever touching an Oscar. Someone called her a triple threat/? What? Oh she is a singer, dancer and Popeyes Chicken eateing Champ Beyonce’s dress was one of the ugliest dresses I’ve ever seen on the red carpet. I have lots of respect for her singing and dancing talent,but she can’t dress to save her life and Moma Tina doesn’t help the situation with her ugly designs! Alicia Keys looked absolutely beautiful! ( Even with the lopsided wig and the unnecessary slit in her dress. I’m in love with Hugh Jackman. Beyonce let her mom make her dress again. I love Taraji, she’s got no where to go but up. Frieda Pinto is BEAUTIFUL. I want to have a 3some with Will smith and Brad Pitt! ( Even if they’re both old enough of to be my father). No one and I mean no one is seeing Halle. Simple hair and simple make up…very classy. The pictures don’t do that gown justice-it looked so beautiful on television. Taraji was gorgeous and the gown and necklace were absolutely stunning on her. Ok, I have to say I am in love with Hugh Jackman, Will Smith, and Brad Pitt! They all know how to fill out a suit Everyone looks gorgeous but I don’t know about some of them dress choices. And I am sad Viola Davis didn’t win for her role in Doubt. I mean she was in like one major scene and got nominated just from that one scene for an Oscar and didn’t even win. She looked great though! Halle, Alicia, Queen, Beyonce and Freida so damn pretty!!! Since some of ya’ll sticking up for Beyawnsey and her curtains from Wal-Mart. Then make her proud and order yours from The HouseofDAMNITitistsillallwrong and you can have your own version of a Oscar Night Horrorbility outfit….LOL Now let us all sing c’mon 1,2,3 At Last…….Her dress is ALL WRONG………………. @#204 i really tink u need 2 get a life. i aint hating on beyonce im just tellin the facts . we all know bey can sing better than britney and madonna but she did not sell more records than these 2 artistes. honey u know u damn sho yur delusional bcuz britney has 6 # 1 albums she broke the billboard record for having sell 500 000 copies or more in the first week. dont let me go 2 madonna. we all know that she has 7 # 1 albums and plus she was honored at the rock & roll hall of fame for her success over tha past few years, btw, she was in the game longer than beyonce and they name madonna the queen of pop. so shut that f**k up if u dont know shit. aww bey tries so hard! she couldn’t even act on the stage! She sounded great though! I was mad about Taraji, but she will always have academy award nominee under her name so that is great… A. keys looks gorgeous, but I don’t get the hair… didn’t watch the show, but unfortunately ran across Bey’s performance… child sit down! You can’t get an oscar and you won’t get a Tony award either! Stop! I love it…..The Queen can STAND with the Big Dogs…Love you girl….. Ok Ms. B …..Do you have to be everywhere….doing everything….All the time…..Half naked…Just kidding….Ok she gets paid for performing right… @ #12. Please tell me WHO is praising Beyonce’s red carpet look? On E! News fashion wrap up of the Oscars the designers hated her dress… Then this morning on MSN she is on the worst dress list… Please inform me of who is doing the praising for that dress. You may need to do a little more research boo! No I’m not hating, but I am just telling the facts. now you know HK rocked that funky joint in that red #. ya heard mae it kills me that everyone is naturally posing, but that damn Beyonce…she really irks and if you can’t see why then you must be one of those insane lurking stans This is what MSN has to say about beyonce’s dress lmao!!!! .” Source: (AP) Oh for goodness sakes people who gives a damn about Beyonce go do something with yaw lives!!!!!! Oh and incase you people haven’t noticed Beyonce is not the only singer there hello Alicia Keys is there too and she may not be performing, but just to be asked to present is a blessing. Beyonce’s dress was awful. She not a stylish person. If she was, she would have known that flowee (flowing)dresses are in style like the dresses Alicia and Viola had on. Stiff mermaid dresses are out of style this season!!! How to get Beyonce’ curves? First be naturaly fine. Second invest in the best girdle/spanx combo you can find. Third, pull the afore mentioned as tight as you can. Fourth, don’t eat for 2 days. Black women have been sporting the coke bottle look for ages, hell we invented it. Beyonce’ simply has better quality undergarments, lol!!! I agree w/ #22…I’ve seen this look before on Beyonce. Although it looked cute it didn’t do anything for me. somebody on here watch skorpionshop on youtube, LOL (bye girl fly girl or vice versa) Makael youtr a suppah starrah, LOL anyway i see the beyonce stans are in full force saying her dress was nice, LOL house of doodoo dress, that dress is horrendous and yall know yall wouldnt be caught dead in it. yall are some damn stans for real. queen latifah looked nice and i also like her performance taraji looked nice also alica looked nice but her hair and makeup messed her totally up. whoever suggested the wigt and makeup need to be fired ASAP. it didnt worked. she shouldve gotten tips from RuPaul, the best at lacefronts, LOL #25 didn’t watch the show. I think Bey did a good job on her performance. The camera men are so messy when they put the camera on angelina when jennifer aniston was presenting. We koop Nike Air Max 90 design, goedkope Nike Air Max 90 discount, Koop Nike Air Max 90 online van ons! top kwaliteit en snelle verzending! Remarkable things here. I am very satisfied to see your post. Thanks so much and I’m taking a look ahead to touch you. Will you please drop me a e-mail?

More cold is on the way this weekend. In some portions of the state the temperatures will be well below freezing for at least a short period of time. In most of Central Florida and south it is only going to be cool. At these Brown lawns need little care temperatures your lawn does not grow very much but is going to be ready to grow when the good warm temperatures return. So what should you be doing? Very little care is needed at this time. It is pretty safe to say you don’t really need to do anything. You do not want to push the lawn into growth as that could lead to more damage during the cold weather ahead and some cool season diseases love the new soft growth. Really all you need to do is keep the soil moist with once a week waterings. Actually you can often get by with waterings every other week at this time of the year if the weather remains cool and the grass is brown. Otherwise mowing is all you need to do if the grass and weeds begin growth. Keep the fertilizer in the bag. There is no need to be feeding brown grass or grass that is making little or no growth. Your feeding time will come in mid to late February or maybe March. Here a few more things you can or may not want to do. - There is no need to get the brown out. Why not wait until the grass start growing and all the damage is over? Then the new green growth should over grow the brown or you can rake out the brown. - You could paint the lawn green. Some residents do color the lawn with a spray available through commercial suppliers. It is often used on zoysia lawns which could remain brown until April but other lawns could be sprayed green too. - If you really want a green lawn you could over seed the brown turf with ryegrass – rake the lawn, cut the grass an inch or so lower and sow seeds. Then rake the seeds in or cover lightly with soil and water. Now this is for residents that like mowing as the ryegrass is going to keep growing during the cold and it will need mowing, watering and feeding to look nice. Obtain a free guide to over seeding from your local University of Florida Extension Office. - Weed control can be continued at this time of the year. Weeds can be spot sprayed or dug out. It is also a good time to remove large weedy areas and resod with new grass that can root down and be ready for growth by spring. There you go – you can work as little or as much as you want with the lawn. It is a good time to get the lawn care equipment in shape. You want it ready when the good growing weather returns. You know Florida, it can be cold one day and warm the next. In fact we could go the rest of the winter without another freeze. It has happened Tomatoes a loss at just below freezing before. But I guess what we all want to know is what do we do with the cold damaged plants? My tomatoes are toast. That means they did not survive even with the covers we added. And it only dropped a few degrees below freezing. These are some really cold sensitive plants which also include coleus, marigolds, pentas and such. All are being pulled out and replaced in just a month or two. By the way, now is the time to start your new tomato seedlings. My seeds have arrived and are to be sown shortly. Some plants like the bananas might not produce a crop this year but are going to grow back. Maybe if I am very lucky the trunk is still good and the Banana trunks still have some green so there is hope bud in the top is alive. If we do not get that much more cold, the bud may send out new leaves and later a flower stalk. That means we could still get bananas from these plants. The cannas look bad but a good cold snap just sends them into a dormant state. They will be back with the first consistently warm weather. I just hope this is not until the middle to late February or they are going to be injured again. Here is the big question. When can I start pruning all the dead away? I personally do not believe the dead portions help to protect the plants. On Cannas needed this rest and will be back the other hand, I don’t see where there is a need to be in a rush to do the pruning. Give the plants a week or so to see what is really dead and alive. Then you can do the pruning. And yes, we could get more cold and then again maybe we won’t. Remember it has happened before and the rest of the winter stayed warmish through spring. How did your plants do and when are you going to do the pruning? Post a comment to let us know. Twice a year I talk about starting tomatoes from seed. And, at this time of the year it takes six weeks to have tomato transplants by March 1. I will be sowing my seeds around mid January. Do get your seeds now from the Start tomato seeds in mid January to have fruits like these during spring garden center or you might order from a popular Florida tomato seed source at — The company lists about 400 varieties. Here are the varieties that are easy to find that I will be growing with some comments. All are indeterminate types except where noted. This means they grow and fruit indefinitely but grow big plants. - Sweet Million – Cherry tomato that’s a prolific producer with nematode resistance - Juliet – Grape tomato with lots of fruits – no nematode resistance but a favorite - Snow White – Yellowish cherry tomato with good flavor but no nematode resistance - Big Beef – Large slicer with good flavor and nematode resistance - Bella Rose – Determinate large fruited with good flavor and nematode resistance - Champion – Large fruited with good flavor and nematode resistance Two new varieties I tested this year are Sweet Hearts Grape and Solid Gold. I have not been able to find the seeds on the local market but keep an eye out and if they become available, they are great for the garden. Now, I also tested some grafted tomatoes. These are known varieties that are fused or grafted to a vigorous rootstock tomato plant. The plants have been extremely vigorous and seem to be very pest resistance. I have not looked for root knot nematode activity but as healthy as the plants look I doubt these pests are a problem. Here is the problem but it is minor – you need a good tall trellis. I am thinking 8 to 10 feet. They have easily over grown my 6 foot tomato rings. The varieties I have are Marianna’s Peace, Stupice and Jetsetter. The company that provides the plants also has others like Big Beef and Sweet Million. The first plants I received were free for testing. I like these vigorous plants so much I am buying the spring planting. The company I am using is – I know the people helping with the marketing of the tomatoes and they are reputable. One reader wrote me of another company that did not supply his needs as ordered and would not respond to his requests so be careful. Whether starting your tomatoes from seed or ordering plants have them delivered in early March — I actually plan on planting March 1 if possible. You want to get started early even if it may mean providing some cold protection. If you have favorite tomato varieties post a comment to let us know what we should try this spring. Resolve this year to keep ahead of the weeds – That is what I am going to do. One weeds always sneaks in my St. Augustine lawn and that is crabgrass. If I was only more diligent and stayed alert to the first, few shoots, I could keep it under control. I could even pull out the small sprigs or dust them very lightly with baking soda a home remedy that seems to work. Other weeds sneak in among the St. Augustine and zoysia shoots. Some Heartleaf drymary creeping over St. Augustine is easy to control with a liquid herbicide application include the heartleaf drymary, yellow woodsorrel, hawksbeard and doveweed just to mention a few. All could be taken out if I spot treated them with a liquid herbicide. Maybe one of those ready to use products in the Bayer or Ortho lines would be all I need. You do have to get one for your lawn type so read the label carefully. With St. Augustine a liquid atrazine product is likely best. These are misted over top of the weedy areas and don’t water for a few days. Now, weed control is only part of this resolution. You have to provide the other good care part of the program too. Here is more of my New Year lawn care resolution. - Keep the soil moist by watering as allowed. Normally once or twice a week is fine. If needed, the watering rules normally permit hand watering when dry spots pop up. You might also try soil aeration to help moisture penetrate the water resistant soils. - Feed two to three times a year. Use a good slow release product in the Ortho or similar product line. Once in March and early October for sure. Then you may need an application in the summer too. Now if you are restricted as to feeding times the summer application will have to be made at the end of May. - Keep an eye out for pests. All lawns get insects and diseases. Chinch bugs are the worst in St. Augustine lawns. Use a preventive treatment or apply an insecticide when they are first noted. With zoysia, fungicides are likely to be needed especially during the fall and winter. Both lawns can get lawn feeding caterpillars during the warmer months. - Mow frequently and at the proper height. Use a sharp blade. Find out the mowing height from lawn care information provided by your local University of Florida Extension office. Now here is another thought. Limit lawns to the areas you use most. Lawn care does take some work but most of us like that green lawn look. If you do not need or want a lawn in a portion of the landscape use another ground cover or ornamental planting. These areas can be attractive too. A cool holiday can be spent at a local botanical garden. The weather is going to be mild until the New Year which makes walking and enjoying easy. Sit a spell on a bench at your favorite garden and visit with nature. We did on Poinsettia displays at garden entrance Christmas Day. Perhaps you have never thought of visiting a botanical garden during the holidays but most really put on a show. We stopped by Bok Tower Gardens near Lake Wales on December 25 after the morning celebrations at home. What a nice day we had. First we caught a bite of food at the café where we sat outdoors and enjoyed the view of flowers and hummingbirds heading to their feeder. Off in a short distance you could hear the Singing Tower carillon concerts. Then it was on to the gardens. We of course could not pass up the holiday displays of great poinsettias. There were the many colors of Christmas plus uses in hanging baskets, set on pedestals and mixed among ground displays. Horticulturists had also assembled a goodly display of tropical plants including bromeliads, a large staghorn fern and flowering maple The gardens were very serene as we walked on to tour the Pinewood Estate Pinewood Estate was decorated inside and out built during the 1930’s decorated with movie themes for the holidays. It was fun to recall old memories of Christmases past in this home. There were lots of poinsettias outdoors, camellias, blue sage, torenia and much more. Taking the many paths through the gardens and near the famous Bok Tower found lots of color and fragrances. The sweet olive was in bloom and that perfumed the air. Featured gardens were full of snapdragons, violas and other seasonal flowers. We stopped to site and watch Koi swimming in the water areas and yes we did feed them too. It was a restful, peaceful day that ended with an ice-cream cone before we left the gardens. You can enjoy this gardens decorated for the holidays through January 1, 2012. Maybe it’s time to make a botanical garden visit part of your holiday tradition — we have. You don’t have to look too far down the fences in my community to see the results of bears visiting the neighborhood. Only in the past year have we really been visited by these native animals. I don’t know why I would be so surprised to see them as the area has many lakes and a street or two with a bear related name. We have found evidence of their visits in our backyard and yes I have mended a few fences. I don’t have pictures but there has been plenty of residue. My neighbors and all residents of Florida need to become bear smart and that as been a project for some students in a number of schools. Read on to see what the students have been doing and check out their winning videos in this recent news release. Student videos teach Floridians to be ‘bear smart’.com/Bear. Miracles do happen but maybe not always as we expect. This Tuesday I saw a miraculous happening at the VA Medical Center in Orlando. About a hundred members of the Scotts Miracle- Gro Company from across the nation and around the world planted a Miracle-Gro garden. As I suggested to Scotts Miracle-Gro Team at VA Plantings those gathered, Miracle was the key word. Many walking among their plantings were likely expecting a Miracle or some form of relief. Maybe the gardens they were planting would help visitors and patients find a respite from their problems. Or maybe it would be a spot for family and friends to talk and reminisce between doctors’ visits. Maybe they could just sit and enjoy nature present in flowers, birds and butterflies. For many, the gardens were likely to be part of the Miracle they have come to find. I was happy to be part of these planting and to take part in the dedication. Read on below to find a release that tells more about this garden and two more planted in Orlando. Associates from ScottsMiracle-Gro visited the Orlando VA Medical Center to launch an extensive green makeover in the outdoor spaces surrounding the facility. Staff members from local elected officials’’ offices also joined the more than 100 ScottsMiracle-Gro associates as they launched this project at a ground breaking and dedication event earlier today. ““As the lawn and garden industry leader, Scotts Miracle-Gro believes strongly in the life enhancing qualities of gardens and green spaces. We are committed to making a positive and lasting impact on the environment and in local communities,”" said Chris Allen, president of the Southeast Region for ScottsMiracle-Gro. “”The team effort put in today is meant to honor our veterans and provide them with a revitalized outdoor space to enjoy while they recuperate at the Orlando VA Medical Center.”" In addition to the dedication of the community garden, ScottsMiracle-Gro associates will visit two local schools, Lake Como Elementary and Silver Star Center, to volunteer a full-day’’s time as part of the organization’’s Research & Development Innovation Conference in Orlando. In all, the three projects equate to an approximate $17,000 investment and donation to the greater Orlando community. ““We have more than 400 full-time and part-time associates across the state and it is home to our Southeast headquarters,”" continued Allen. “”The welfare of Florida is very important to us and community garden projects such as these give back to the neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and parks that are in the backyards of many of our employees.”" The beautification project at the Orlando VA Medical Center allows patients, families and the community to experience the beauty and serenity of nature gardens. Additionally, the two Orlando school projects create safe, rejuvenated spaces where students can learn about sustainable gardening and the benefits of connecting with the earth and the environment. ““Our long history of success is founded on the principals of personal and family engagement with the outdoors and within our local communities. This dedication to community is the reason we are all here today,”" concluded Allen. Did you ever think of growing onions? It’s one of my favorite crops but to get the big ones you have to start now. Florida onions are special as they Obtain these 180 days after sowing the seeds produce their bulbs under short days. Actually the process starts under the shorter days of winter and continues through spring. So just not any onion will do. What you often see as onion sets at the local garden centers, only produce scallions or small fresh eating onions. This is fine if this is all you want. I like to grow the large bulbing onions. When I grow onions, I start them from seed to produce transplants for the garden. The seeds need to be started during the fall and can continue to be planted this month. The seedlings when about pencil diameter are then added to the garden. Now if you want to take a short cut, you can often find transplants at the garden centers. Just make sure they are Florida varieties. The main variety found locally is Granex. It can be obtained in a yellow or white onion type. Both seeds and transplants are available. I am trying two new short day varieties for me this year and I will report back later. The transplants are set in the garden row about an inch apart. This allows harvesting some fresh onions during the growing season. You can pull out every other one as needed to leave room for the remaining onions to produce big bulbs. Keep the soil moist and feed monthly with a garden fertilizer. When this is done the onions start to bulb in March and continue through April. By May the tops die back and you can harvest the big bulbs. Let them air-dry and you can store and use the crop for months. It takes about 180 days to produce this crop. Have you grown onions before? Post a comment to let us know your experiences Applications are now open for the 2012 “I Can Grow” Youth Garden Award from the Burpee Seed Company. The program is available to all school and community gardens and provides vegetables, herbs and other gardening resources to organizations across the nation. Below is information on the program from the Burpee Company but hurry if your school or community is interested as all entries must be in by Friday December 23, 2011. Why not pass this information on to a local school or other community group growing vegetables? “Do you have what it takes to win the grand prize? We’’re looking for established or start-up gardens that demonstrate well-developed and staffed plans for youth-centered gardening education. If your program emphasizes nutrition, food production, environmental awareness and/or social responsibility, we want to hear from you! To-date Burpee has given away more than 8,000 vegetable and herb plants to help create 16 gardens nationwide in cities such as Chicago; Washington, D.C.; Denver; Dallas; Nashville; Detroit; Tampa Bay, Fla.; and other areas “”hungry”" for educating kids on where food comes from. This year Burpee will provide winning entries with vegetables from our new Burpee BOOST collection of high-nutrition vegetables. The six varieties contain higher levels of antioxidants for an even bigger “”boost”" in healthy eating. Burpee BOOST will be introduced in stores and online next spring. Educators and community garden leaders can visit the “”I Can Grow”" portion of this website to learn about the grand-prize award and to download the 2012 application. But don’’t delay!” If you have questions email Burpee at at [email protected]. Applications may be requested online at: Detailed submission instructions will be emailed to applicants along with a downloadable application package. Again all entries must be postmarked by Friday, Dec. 23, 2011. If you haven’t planted a vegetable garden now is the time. Did you know there are more vegetables to grow at this time of the year than during the warm season? Some of your favorites might be broccoli, cauliflower, Start broccoli plantings and more in December carrots, radishes, peas and more. Check out the complete list in our December planting guide at the bottom. Gardens are easy to start in a sunny location. Till up the sandy soil and add lots of organic matter. You might be able to obtain free compost or you can use peat moss, garden soil or even a potting mix found at your local garden center. Then don’t forget the composted cow manure. Till in liberal quantities of each of these to improve the garden soil. Start your plantings from seeds or transplants available from your local garden center. Many want to know whether you should use seed or transplants. Normally if a crop is started from seeds in the field as for peas, radishes or turnips, this is what you should do in the garden too. If transplants are normally used as for broccoli, onions and collards then add these to the garden as growing plants. In some instances either seed or transplants can be used. Now here is part of the trick to good gardening. Keep the plants moist. This may take daily waterings for a while. Then after the plants have been in the ground for a week or two start the feedings. You can use a liquid fertilizer or traditional granules. But here is what I find, the slow release products works very well and can feed your garden for months. Starting a garden is fun and a great family activity. Don’t forget you can also grow lots of crops in containers on the balcony or patio. December vegetable plantings: Beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collards, horseradish, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, radicchio, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard and turnips. Switch to our mobile site Orlando Sentinel, 633 N. Orange Avenue, Orlando, FL 32801

Semi Automatic Ground Environment - CompWisdom Meaningful results bit by bit About us | Why use us? | Press | Contact us Topic: Semi Automatic Ground Environment Ads by Google Semi Automatic Ground Environment - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia IBM's role in SAGE (the design and manufacture of the AN/FSQ-7 computer, a vacuum tube computer with ferrite core memory based on the Whirlwind II) was an important factor leading to IBM's domination of the computer industry. Nevertheless, SAGE was tremendously important; it led to huge advances in online systems and interactive computing, real-time computing, and data communications using modems. Reports were typed in by operators in a specific format, which the SAGE computers then collected and displayed on a CRT as icons. (1747 words) Sage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Salvia lyrata, Lyre-leaved sage, Lyreleaf sage, Cancerweed, a purple-flowering perennial It is one of the sages often known as hummingbird sage. Salvia officinalis, Common sage; this is the best-known species of sage. (1067 words) MITRE - About Us - MITRE History - Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) SAGE had a fundamental impact on the development of computers and the computer industry. SAGE's use of telephone lines to communicate from computer to computer and computer to radar laid the groundwork for modern-day modems. SAGE demonstrated pioneering solutions to the problem of the user interface. (1102 words) Computers SAGE was the first time that a military strategy depended on a computer. The SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) air-defense computer, the AN/FSQ-7. SAGE was designed in the mid to late 1950s, primary by MIT Lincoln Lab, with follow-up development by IBM and by nonprofit System Development Corp. and Mitre Corp. The latter two were spun off from RAND and MIT, respectively, primarily for this task. (1473 words) IEEEVM: SAGE: A Landmark in Computing and Radar The computer for SAGE, the AN/FSQ7 built by IBM, was the first full-production machine with a magnetic core memory and the first to have a standby computer in case of machine failure. SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) is a landmark in the history of both radar and computing. SAGE demonstrated pioneering solutions to the problem of the user interface. (216 words) Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) In 1958, the MITRE Corporation was formed from the Computer System Division of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratories, and conducted the software development of SAGE's digital computer system.. When SAGE was deployed in 1963, it consisted of 24 Direction Centers and 3 Combat Centers, each linked by long-distance telephone lines to more than 100 radar defense sites across the country, thereby establishing one of the first large-scale wide-area computer networks. (454 words) MITRE - About Us - MITRE History - Photo Archives - Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Computer frames of the AN/FSQ-7 IBM SAGE computer (at the time, one of the world’s largest and most reliable), the heart of the SAGE system. Blockhouse in foreground housed the AN/FSQ-7 (XD-1) SAGE computer. Millions of electronic computations, performed at lightning speed, were continuously checked automatically. (912 words) Define Semi-Automatic Ground Environment : powered by In Dictionary (InDicitonary.com) SAGE was ground-breaking in many ways, such as being one of the first very large software projects and the first real-time system. MIT Lincoln Laboratory developed SAGE and MITRE Corporation was responsible for system engineering and implementation oversight. (SAGE) The computer system of the old US Norad air defence system. (276 words) sage - definition by dict.die.net Sage cock (Zo["o]l.), the male of the sage grouse; in a more general sense, the specific name of the sage grouse. The male is called sage cock, and the female sage hen. Meadow sage (Bot.), a blue-flowered species of Salvia (S. (399 words) SAGE Computer (circa 1957) SAGE was a large scale, fully duplexed binary computer system, with tape drives, magnetic drums, telecommunication input/output and up to 64 graphic display terminals with 'light guns' (light pens). I was trained on the SAGE computer (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) and initially assigned to the Custer Air Force Base at Battle Creek, Michigan. This picture shows the control room which was at the center of the SAGE complex. (279 words) Expert About sa:Sage The integrated radar and computer technology that was developed for SAGE also contributed significantly to the development of civilian air traffic control systems. Considering the functionality obtained from a couple of early-PC-sized computers, SAGE was one of the engineering marvels of the century. In 1979, the SAGE control centers were replaced by Regional Operations Control Centers (ROCC), as new high-speed digital computers replaced the old "Clyde" systems. (2389 words) Box 4.1: Project Whirlwind and SAGE 4: The Organization of Federal Support: A Historical Review Funding a Revolution: ... SAGE, an air-defense system designed to protect against enemy bombers, made several important contributions to computing in areas as diverse as computer graphics, time-sharing, digital communications, and ferrite-core memories. SAGE was a driving force behind the formation of the American computer and electronics industry (Freeman, 1995, p. On the hardware side, Whirlwind and SAGE pioneered magnetic-core memory, digital phone-line transmission and modems, the light pen (one of the first graphical user interfaces), and duplexed computers. (1607 words) IBM SAGE IBM developed the computer (based upon the earlier AN/FSQ-7 and AN/FSQ-8 SAGE computers), but the SuperSAGE facilities were cancelled. There were 22 SAGE computer pairs and associated consoles, communications gear,... With 23 direction centers situated on the nation's northern, eastern, and western boundaries, SAGE pioneered the use of computer control over large, geographically distributed systems. (1078 words) Charles Babbage Institute: RESEARCH PROGRAM> Current research AN/FSQ-7 is the name given by the U.S. Air Force to the executive program or operating system of the Whirlwind II computer for the comprehensive SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system. As its designers explained, one of the most important functions of the system was to coordinate and schedule inputs received from operators at remote SAGE air defense installations, and return outputs as directed from the central direction center. Morton M. Astrahan and John F. Jacobs, History of the Design of the SAGE Computer: The AN/FSQ-7,&; Annals of the History of Computing 5 (October 1983): 340-49. (483 words) SAGE The heart of SAGE was a gigantic computer, the AN/FSQ7, which weighed in at over 250 tons, requiring a 3,000-kilowat power supply and a massive air conditioning system. A technological marvel with its mammoth computer, radar, long distance data communications and ground-to-air radar links, SAGE, unfortunately, was vulnerable to electronic countermeasures and jamming. Not a lot compared to today's gigabyte hardware, but it was twenty years ahead of personal computers. (133 words) The 50s: Preparing the Ground 1 The UNIVAC 1 (UNIVersal Automatic Computer) is sold (Eckert and Mauchly). The post-war period is marked by some very important developments which were to pave the ground for the modern computer. Development of the military network SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) ancestor of NORAD, TACS, SACS... (129 words) howard rheingold's tools for thought Licklider beefed up the support to the MIT Cambridge laboratory where AI researchers were working on their own approach to "multi-access computing." Project MAC, as this branch became known, was the single node in the research network where AI and computer systems design were, for a few more years, cooperative rather than divergent. MAC was one of the most important meeting grounds of both the AI prodigies of the 1970s and the software designers of the 1980s. Whirlwind, the purpose of which was to act as a kind of flight simulator, was in many ways the first hardware ancestor of the personal computer, because it was designed to be operated by a single "test pilot." It was also used for modeling aerodynamic equations. (6894 words) North American F-86L Sabre The SAGE system was developed during the early 1950s by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Lincoln Laboratory. The F-86L was the designation given to late-1950s conversions of existing USAF F-86Ds to use the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) datalink system. Under a project code-named Project Follow-On, starting in May of 1956, certain low-time F-86D interceptors were withdrawn one-by-one from service and fitted with the upgrade. (833 words) Section 2: The emergence of computer graphics. General computer languages were thus enabled, which created an environment that encouraged a significantly larger universe of computer users and applications. (2220 words) A Science Odyssey: People and Discoveries: Jay Forrester Forrester implemented the development of the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system from Whirlwind-based prototypes. Forrester changed the Navy's initial plan for an analog computer to a digital system after seeing the ENIAC model. (Most computer development during World War II and the postwar period was funded by the military; the Army, for example, had sponsored the ENIAC project.) The Navy project evolved into the Whirlwind computer, and later into the SAGE air defense system. (541 words) Wired 7.11: Modern Art In addition to automating assembly-line coordination, the PDP-8 aggregated data before sending it to a mainframe computer. IBM's massive SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system for air-defense radar processing helped calm '50s societal hysteria over the possibility of a renegade Russian bomber. By the time the $5 billion SAGE system was fully deployed, it was obsolete, no match for the speed of new ICBMs. (1160 words) Computer-aided visualisation of archaeological caves A VE can be defined as a three-dimensional, interactive, realistic, and real-time computer generated simulation. One of the most effective Virtual Environments is the Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) system (Cruz-Neira et al., 1993), developed by the Electronic Visualisation Lab, University of Illinois, Chicago. Currently there exists a potential threat to the usability of virtual environments: some users experience discomfort during a session in a simulated environment. (3995 words) Post World War II Radar in Defence of Canada -- Annex F The History of the C&E Branch - In 1958 the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment System (SAGE) was added to the system. In 1954 it was decided to partly automate the Pinetree system and the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) System was introduced. This system was introduced in the early 1960s and utilized computers to do routine functions while retaining human decision making. (1150 words) Networking Milestones The Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system for U.S. air defence was designed and developed in the 1950s by the Lincoln Laboratory at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Much of the technology developed specifically for SAGE has since become commonplace. This required the development of appropriate networks to support multiuser and multitasking environments. (803 words) IBM Research Who we are History 1945-1998 The SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) computer is declared fully operational. Built under contract to MIT's Lincoln Laboratories for the North American Air Defense System, Sage was the first system to operate in real time. For the first time, engineers and scientists can write computer programs in more natural forms, such as C=A/B rather than as strings of "machine language: 1s and 0s. (1714 words) Internet Timeline SAGE is only semi-automatic in the sense that it requires a human operator. The Whirlwind is succeeded by the SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment), a huge machine that can collect data from various radars, interpret "data relating to unidentified aircraft", and point missiles at incoming threats. The SAGE inspires a few thinkers, including JCR Licklider at the MIT Lincoln Lab, to see computing in a new light. (7153 words) Massachusetts Institute of Technology The Whirlwind and Forrester were moved to the Digital Computer Lab and started focusing on using the computer for graphics displays, for air traffic control and gunfire control, and became part of the government's SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) program. Jay Forrester of the Servomechanisms Lab was chosen by Gordon Brown to develop the Whirlwind computer in the mid-40s. (336 words) James T. Humberd - Computer Memories A little later, when it became publicly known as the SAGE Air Defense System [Semi-Automatic Ground Environment], each computer system and the people to run it filled a four story building, 150 feet square, and was at least partly as powerful as my first little desk-top Macintosh Plus. The computer used for the test version of SAGE was MIT's huge hand-built computer called Whirlwind (built before IBM or UNIVAC computers were readily available), connected with special RADAR stations out on Cape Cod. When RAND received the contract to install the SAGE Air Defense System, a study showed there were only a few hundred people in the world who knew what a computer program was, and we needed a thousand of them. (1918 words) Iterations: An interdisciplinary journal of software history The ARPANET was designed to link heterogeneous computing environments. The more sophisticated U.S. military SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system, conceptualized in 1946 and put into operation in 1963, linked radar and computing centers for real-time processing for early warning of enemy bombers. As network connections proliferated, the heterogeneity of both the computing environments and the social groups with access to and influence on the network increased. (11039 words) Semi "Semi" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 55.87% of the time. Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). Mining the Web: Analysis of Hypertext and Semi Structured Data (reference) (1125 words) MITRE - News and Events - MITRE Publications - The MITRE Digest - Advanced Research - MITRE Fuels Its Own Innovation ... As the system evolved, SAGE broke new ground in numerous technologies, including radar, communications, computers, and information displays. Designed after World War II as a new air defense system to protect the United States from long-range bombers and other weapons, the SAGE system sent information from geographically dispersed radars over telephone lines and gathered it at a central location for processing by a newly designed, large-scale digital computer. The Broadcast News Navigator—built on our novel algorithms for speech, language, and image processing—takes broadcast news and automatically segments, clusters, and summarizes the stories, customizing information for each user. (1374 words) Drafting Dan by Robert Heinlein from The Door Into Summer at Technovelgy.com The first true CAD (Computer Aided Design) systems emerged in the 1960's; the first was The Electronic Drafting Machine, which used PDP-1 computer from DEC (Digital Equipment Corp., a vector-refresh display and a disk memory device used to refresh the graphic display. In the mid-1950's the US Air Force developed SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) for air defense; it provided one key component; a cathode ray tube to show computer-processed information (in this case, radar and other data). This novel was published in 1956, which I believe was before the use of computers in drafting. (347 words) DDJ>0085 Over the course of its ten-year development, SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) was the most ambitious computer project ever undertaken, one that occupied over 800 programmers and the technical resources of some of America's largest corporations. The year was 1953 and this mammoth task was known as the SAGE system--a continental air-defense network commissioned by the U.S. military. It may be difficult to believe, but at one time, 20 percent of the world's programmers were working on a single project. (656 words) Paul Virilio.... he automatic or servomotor appliance and what is called artificial or motor- brain intelligence were soon confused in people's minds! (4479 words) Wizards, Bureaucrats, Warriors & Hackers “The open environment needed to develop new technologies, they write “is consistent with the cry for more democracy that students and others raised throughout the world during the 1960s. Not surprisingly, the builders of the APRANET were well aware of this context. Indeed, the rapid growth of Computer Science as an academic discipline in the 1960s and 1970s paralleled and fostered the rapid growth of the Net. Computer scientists got to pursue their research; corporations like IBM built their dominance of the computer industry with the help of the massive SAGE contract. (9562 words) CHRONO-2 Aiken begins design work on the MARK I automatic digital computer, also to be known as the IBM Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator ((ASCC). APT (Automatically Programmed Tool) programming language is developed. Under a grant from the U.S. Office of Education, development of a multiple access computer system for large university libraries was begun at Stanford University. (14577 words) SAGE from FOLDOC Nearby terms: safety-critical system « saga « sagan « SAGE » SAIC » SAID » SAIL (16 words) A BRIEF HISTORY The pioneering integrated radar and computer technology that was developed for SAGE also contributed significantly to the development of air traffic control systems. At Hanscom Field, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s new Lincoln Laboratory (1951) and its spinoff, the MITRE Corporation (1958), had worked to bring the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense system to completion. Center programs developed automated systems for air tasking orders, weather, mission planning, and management information, together with enhanced force protection for Air Force personnel on the ground. (674 words) New York Post Online Edition: learncenter ARPA developed the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE), which could receive information directly through telephone lines. The Domain Name System, or DNS automatically matches domain names like to an IP address. SAGE could also receive data from radar and tracking devices. (871 words) Encyclopedia4U - SAGE Project - Encyclopedia Article SAGE is widely regarded as a land mark system in computer engineering because it used, non-experimentally, so many technologies critical to IT today, such as real time systems, interactive user interfaces, networked systems and large scale system integration, common data access, modular design and high reliability. SAGE was also capable of comparing tracks with filed flight plans to detect aircraft for which no information was available. The system, consisting of a network of about two dozen IBM AN/FSQ-7 (Whirlwind) computers, three radar detection networks and hundreds of operators, tracked and identified air craft approaching the US and Canada. (222 words) System Development Corporation The System Development Division was established in 1955 to prepare SAGE (Semi-Automatic Ground Environment) system training programs. Burroughs and SDC had worked together early in the SAGE program. The RAND Corporation was a non-profit group incorporated in 1948 by technical engineers and military people who worked together during World War II. (570 words) sdcorp SAGE was the "first computer-based, real-time, online, manmachine system;" and "it revolutionized the information industry by spanning the prehistoric computer era of serial batch processing and the modern world of interactive systems;" (The System Builders, p.20) SDC grew out of the Rand Corp.'s System Research Laboratory (a USAF think-tank) and an MIT Lincoln Labs project - SAGE(Semi-Automatic Ground Environment), an air defense system. Contains the records of the SDC, including a history file with information about the RAND Corporation, the System Development Division, and the SDC; Also contains correspondence, meetings and minutes, symposiums and presentations, poduct literature, technical iterature, reports, and a subject file; unpublished inventory available from the repository; Forms part of the Burroughs Corporations Records. (130 words) Common Knowledge - WINNER PROFILE: THE MITRE CORP. - CIO Magazine February 1, 1999 Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) air defense systemthe first digital electronic command and control system to monitor U.S. airspace in real-time. From an affiliation of fiefdoms, Mitre Information Infrastructure (MII) has helped Mitre evolve to a collaborative environment wherein personnel, planning and project information is shared routinely. Since 1996, Mitre has invested $7.19 million in MII, with an estimated return of $54.91 million in reduced costs and increased productivity. (1682 words) Lecture 1 Foundation - conservation of radiative energy in a closed environment Surfaces in real world environments receive light in 3 ways: Sage Air Defence System (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) (959 words) Computer History Museum 1958SAGE Semi-Automatic Ground Environment linked hundreds of radar stations in the United States and Canada in the first large-scale computer communications network. -->1958SAGE Semi-Automatic Ground Environment linked hundreds of radar stations in the United States and Canada in the first large-scale computer communications network. We wish you also further much success with your Website! (206 words) NORAD Selected Chronology This marked the beginning of the changeover from the Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system to the Joint Surveillance System (JSS) radar configuration in the 25th NORAD Region. 26 Jan 59 -- First Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) Division became operational in Syracuse, NY. Sep 60 -- BMEWS Site No. 1, Thule Air Base, Greenland, detection radars reached initial operational capability -- first operation of BMEWS. (4140 words) SAGE System Map - c. 1958 NOTE: This map shows what was, at the time, the 'PLANNED' Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) System. A number of SAGE Direction Centers, Control Centers, and Gap-Filler Radar Sites shown on the map were never deployed, mostly due to budgetary limitations. (40 words) Computer History Museum - Exhibits - Internet History The SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment), based on earlier work at MIT and IBM, is fully deployed as the North American early warning system. Leonard Kleinrock completes his doctoral dissertation at MIT on queuing theory in communication networks, and becomes an assistant professor at UCLA. This project provides experience in the development of the SABRE air travel reservation system and later air traffic control systems. (1630 words) Server Operating Systems Technical Comparison And the weighting of technical issues varies by application and environment. For example, a particular feature may be absolutely essential to one organization, important to another, trivial to a third, and an unacceptable impediment to a fourth. (1276 words) Unisys History Newsletter v3n4 A ground guidance computer, as the name indicates, stayed on the ground and transmitted instructions to the missile. The massive SAGE (semi-automatic ground environment) system built by IBM during the 1950s for the North American air defense system was for command and control, not for missile guidance. When vacuum tubes were replaced by transistors, it became possible to have computers of smaller size and greater reliability. (2693 words) About us | Why use us? | Press | Contact us Copyright © 2006 CompWisdom.com Usage implies agreement with terms.

Adiponectin Mouse HEK293 Product details Introduction to the Molecule. Research topic Animal studies, Energy metabolism and body weight regulation Amino Acid Sequence EDDVTTTEEL APALVPPPKG TCAGWMAGIP GHPGHNGTPG RDGRDGTPGE KGEKGDAGLL GPKGETGDVG MTGAEGPRGF PGTPGRKGEP GEAAYMYRSA FSVGLETRVT VPNVPIRFTK IFYNQQNHYD GSTGKFYCNI PGLYYFSYHI TVYMKDVKVS LFKKDKAVLF TYDQYQEKNV DQASGSVLLH LEVGDQVWLQ VYGDGDHNGL YADNVNDSTF TGFLLYHDTN DYKDDDDK Source HEK293 Purity Purity as determined by densitometric image analysis: >98% SDS-PAGE gel Biological Activity Full-length adiponectin has been shown to activate AMP-activated protein kinase in hepatocyte. It can also activate AMPK in HepG2 human hepatocytes at the concentration of as low as 1.0 µg/ml. In vitro gluconeogenesis assay in primary rat hepatocytes was performed, showing the murine adiponectin derived from mammalian cells can inhibit glucose production. Endotoxin < 1.0 EU/ug Formulation Filtered (0,4 μm) and lyophilized in 0.5 mg/mL in 0.05 M phosphate buffer, 0.075 M. Find out more on biovendor.com Quality Control Test BCA to determine quantity of the protein. SDS PAGE to determine purity of the protein. GFC to determine purity of the protein. LAL to determine quantity of endotoxin. Applications Cell culture and/or animal studies, ELISA, Western blotting Note This product is intended for research use only. The Certificate of Analysis is available on References to this Product - Berner HS, Lyngstadaas SP, Spahr A, Monjo M, Thommesen L, Drevon CA, Syversen U, Reseland JE. Adiponectin and its receptors are expressed in bone-forming cells. Bone . Oct;35(4):842-9 (2004) - Gualillo O, Lago F, Gomez-Reino J, Dieguez C, Lear P, Scotece M, Bianco G, Gomez R, Conde J. Expanding the adipokine network in cartilage: identification and regulation of novel factors in human and murine chondrocytes. Ann Rheum Dis. 2011 Mar;70 (3):551-9 - Hug C, Xu A, Flynt L, Terry RD, Shore SA. Adiponectin attenuates allergen-induced airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness in mice. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2006 Aug;118 (2):389-95 - Lam KS, Chan KW, Wong L, Yin S, Xu A. Adiponectin ameliorates dyslipidemia induced by the human immunodeficiency virus protease inhibitor ritonavir in mice. Endocrinology. 2004 Feb;145 (2):487-94 - Verma S, Sweeney G, Freedman J, Chan L, Zhang H, Peterson MD, Gupta M, Wang CH, Al-Omran M, Szmitko PE, Haitsma JJ, Vu V, Lovren F, Wang G, Bang KW, Quan A, Teoh H. Adiponectin deficiency promotes endothelial activation and profoundly exacerbates sepsis-related mortality. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2008 Sep;295 (3):E658-64 - Wang Y, Lam KS, Xu JY, Lu G, Xu LY, Cooper GJ, Xu A. Adiponectin inhibits cell proliferation by interacting with several growth factors in an oligomerization-dependent manner. J Biol Chem . May 6;280(18):18341-7 (2005) - Xu A, Cooper GJ, Wu D, Hoo RL, Lam MC, Liu J, Lam KS, Lam JB, Wang Y. Adiponectin modulates the glycogen synthase kinase-3beta/beta-catenin signaling pathway and attenuates mammary tumorigenesis of MDA-MB-231 cells in nude mice. Cancer Res. 2006 Dec 1;66 (23):11462-70 References - Ali MR, Van Loan MD, Havel PJ, Wolfe BM, Swarbrick MM, Austrheim-Smith IT, Stanhope KL. Circulating concentrations of high-molecular-weight adiponectin are increased following Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery. Diabetologia. 2006 Nov;49 (11):2552-8 - May;92 (5):1857-62 - Araki S, Dobashi K, Kubo K, Asayama K, Shirahata A. High molecular weight, rather than total, adiponectin levels better reflect metabolic abnormalities associated with childhood obesity. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2006 Dec;91 (12):5113-6 - Basu R, Pajvani UB, Rizza RA, Scherer PE. Selective downregulation of the high molecular weight form of adiponectin in hyperinsulinemia and in type 2 diabetes: differential regulation from nondiabetic subjects. Diabetes. 2007 Aug;56 (8):2174-7 - Berg AH, Combs TP, Du X, Brownlee M, Scherer PE. The adipocyte-secreted protein Acrp30 enhances hepatic insulin action. Nat Med. 2001; 7:947-953. - Berg AH, Combs TP, Scherer PE. ACRP30/adiponectin: an adipokine regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2002;13:84-89. - Bernstein LE, Canavan B, Torriani M, Jackson MB, Lo J, Ahima RS, Grinspoon SK. Effects of TNF-alpha neutralization on adipocytokines and skeletal muscle adiposity in the metabolic syndrome. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007 Jul;293 (1):E102-9 - Jul;50 (7):1388-92 - Bodles AM, Banga A, Rasouli N, Ono F, Kern PA, Owens RJ. Pioglitazone increases secretion of high-molecular-weight adiponectin from adipocytes. 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Adiponectin stimulates production of nitric oxide in vascular endothelial cells. J Biol Chem. 2003;278:45021-45026. - Chen TH, Chen L, Hsieh MS, Chang CP, Chou DT, Tsai SH. Evidence for a protective role for adiponectin in osteoarthritis. Biochim Biophys Acta. 2006 Aug;1762 (8):711-8 - Cordera R, Salani B, Briatore L, Adami GF, Andraghetti G, Maggi D. High-molecular weight adiponectin isoforms increase after biliopancreatic diversion in obese subjects. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2006 Sep;14 (9):1511-4 - Dugi KA, Bierhaus A, Nawroth PP, Allolio B, Hamann A, Lepper PM, Bluemm A, Humpert PM, von Eynatten M. High-molecular weight adiponectin is independently associated with the extent of coronary artery disease in men. Atherosclerosis. 2008 Jul;199 (1):123-8 - Ebinuma H, Miyazaki O, Yago H, Hara K, Yamauchi T, Kadowaki T. A novel ELISA system for selective measurement of human adiponectin multimers by using proteases. 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Globular adiponectin activates nuclear factor-kappaB and activating protein-1 and enhances angiotensin II-induced proliferation in cardiac fibroblasts. Diabetes. 2007 Mar;56 (3):804-8 - Klein RL, Garvey WT, Lara-Castro C, Wallace P, Luo N. Adiponectin multimeric complexes and the metabolic syndrome trait cluster. Diabetes. 2006 Jan;55 (1):249-59 - Kobayashi H, Ouchi N, Kihara S, Walsh K, Kumada M, Abe Y, et al. Selective suppression of endothelial cell apoptosis by the high molecular weight form of adiponectin. Circulation research. 2004 Mar 5;94(4):e27-31. - Kobayashi H, Ouchi N, Kihara S, Walsh K, Kumada M, Abe Y, Funahashi T, Matsuzawa Y. Selective suppression of endothelial cell apoptosis by the high molecular weight form of adiponectin. Circ Res. 2004 Mar 5;94 (4):e27-31 - Kobayashi H, Ouchi N, Kihara S, Walsh K, Kumada M, Abe Y, Funahashi T, Matsuzawa Y, Ferre P. Selective Suppression of Endothelial Cell Apoptosis by the High Molecular Weight. -. Clinical significance of high-molecular weight form of adiponectin in male patients with coronary artery disease. Circ J. 2008 Jan;72 (1):23-8 - Kriketos AD, Peake PW, Charlesworth JA, Campbell LV, Shen Y. The metabolism of isoforms of human adiponectin: studies in human subjects and in experimental animals. Eur J Endocrinol. 2005 Sep;153 (3):409-17 - Kumar S, Scherer PE, McTernan PG, Barnett AH, Hanif W, Trujillo ME, Fisher FF. Serum high molecular weight complex of adiponectin correlates better with glucose tolerance than total serum adiponectin in Indo-Asian males. Diabetologia. 2005 Jun;48 (6):1084-7 - Lodish HF, Hug C. The role of the adipocyte hormone adiponectin in cardiovascular disease. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 2005 Apr;5 (2):129-34 - Loewenthal R, Yissachar E, Hemi R, Modan-Moses D, Pariente C, Kanety H, Stein D, Yaroslavsky A, Faigin M, Ram A. Modulation of adiponectin and leptin during refeeding of female anorexia nervosa patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007 May;92 (5):1843-7 - Macdonald GA, Prins JB, Hickman IJ, Wang AY, Jones AL, Newell F, Richards AA, Mowry BJ, Whitehead JP. Olanzapine treatment is associated with reduced high molecular weight adiponectin in serum: a potential mechanism for olanzapine-induced insulin resistance in patients with schizophrenia. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2006 Jun;26 (3):232-7 - Matsuda M, Shimomura I, et al. Role of adiponectin in preventing vascular stenosis. The missing link of adipo-vascular axis. J Biol Chem. 2002;277:37487-37491. - Mistry JS,. Analytical validation and biological evaluation of a high molecular-weight adiponectin ELISA. Clin Chem. 2007 Dec;53 (12):2144-51 - Nakano Y, Tajima S, Yoshimi A, Akiyama H, Tsushima M, Tanioka T, Negoro T, Tomita M, Tobe T. A novel enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay specific for high-molecular-weight adiponectin. J Lipid Res. 2006 Jul;47 (7):1572-82 - Nakatani H, Hirose H, Yamamoto Y, Saito I, Itoh H. Significance of leptin and high-molecular weight adiponectin in the general population of Japanese male adolescents. Metabolism. 2008 Feb;57 (2):157-62 - O'Hare JP, Ahima R, Schraw T, Kos K, McTernan PG, Kusminski CM, Scherer PE, Kumar S. Adiponectin complexes in human cerebrospinal fluid: distinct complex distribution from serum. Diabetologia. 2007 Mar;50 (3):634-42 - Odden N, Morkrid L. High molecular weight adiponectin dominates in cord blood of newborns but is unaffected by pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007 Dec;67 (6):891-6 - Okamoto Y, Kihara S, et al. Adiponectin reduces atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Circulation. 2002;106:2767-2770. - Oki K, Koide J, Nakanishi S, Nakashima R, Yamane K. Fenofibrate increases high molecular weight adiponectin in subjects with hypertriglyceridemia. Endocr J. 2007 Jun;54 (3):431-5 - Ong GK, Hamilton JK, Connelly PW, Sermer M, Maguire G, Zinman B, Hanley AJ, Retnakaran R. Maternal serum adiponectin and infant birthweight: the role of adiponectin isoform distribution. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007 Jul;67 (1):108-14 -. - Peake PW, Hughes JT, Shen Y, Charlesworth JA. Glycosylation of human adiponectin affects its conformation and stability. J Mol Endocrinol. 2007 Jul;39 (1):45-52 - Peake PW, Shen YY, Charlesworth JA, Kelly JJ, Loi KW. Up-regulation of adiponectin, its isoforms and receptors in end-stage kidney disease. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2007 Jan;22 (1):171-8 - Scherer PE, Hawkins M, Halberg N, Wang ZV, Schraw T. Plasma adiponectin complexes have distinct biochemical characteristics. Endocrinology. 2008 May;149 (5):2270-82 - Oct 5;361 (4):968-73 - Schraw T, Wang ZV, Halberg N, Hawkins M, Scherer PE. Plasma adiponectin complexes have distinct biochemical characteristics. Endocrinology. 2008 May;149 (5):2270-82 - Seino Y, Hirose H, Saito I, Itoh H. High molecular weight multimer form of adiponectin as a useful marker to evaluate insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome in Japanese men. Metabolism. 2007 Nov;56 (11):1493-9 - - Shulman GI, Rothman DL, Petersen KF, Dufour S, Savage DB, Bilz S, Solomon G, Yonemitsu S, Cline GW, Befroy D, Zemany L, Kahn BB, Papademetris X. The role of skeletal muscle insulin resistance in the pathogenesis of the metabolic syndrome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2007 Jul 31;104 (31):12587-94 - Takahashi E, Tajima N, Nishimura R, Morimoto A, Matsudaira T, Miyashita Y, Sano H, Shirasawa T. Ratio of high-, medium-, and low-molecular weight serum adiponectin to the total adiponectin value in children. J Pediatr. 2007 Nov;151 (5):545-7, 547.e1-2 - Takemura Y, Osuga Y, Koga K, Tajima T, Hirota Y, Hirata T, Morimoto C, Harada M, Yano T, Taketani Y. Selective increase in high molecular weight adiponectin concentration in serum of women with preeclampsia. 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High molecular weight adiponectin reduces apolipoprotein B and E release in human hepatocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2007 Jan 12;352 (2):543-8 - Westphal S, Luley C. Preferential increase in high-molecular weight adiponectin after niacin. Atherosclerosis. 2008 May;198 (1):179-83 - Whitehead JP, Richards AA, Prins JB, Stephens T, Charlton HK, Jones A, Macdonald GA. Adiponectin multimerization is dependent on conserved lysines in the collagenous domain: evidence for regulation of multimerization by alterations in posttranslational modifications. Mol Endocrinol. 2006 Jul;20 (7):1673-87 - May 6;280 (18):18073-80 - Xu A, Wang Y, Keshaw H, Xu LY, Lam KS, Cooper GJ. The fat-derived hormone adiponectin alleviates alcoholic and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases in mice. J Clin Invest. 2003; 112:91-100. - Yamauchi T, Kamon J, et al. The fat-derived hormone adiponectin reverses insulin resistance associated with both lipoatrophy and obesity. Nat Med. 2001;7:941-946. -. - Zinman B, Hanley AJ, Retnakaran R, Connelly PW, Maguire G, Sermer M. Decreased high-molecular-weight adiponectin in gestational diabetes: implications for the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes. Diabet Med. 2007 Mar;24 (3):245-52 By research topic: By molecule: Shopping cart

In his post on education, Chris floats a hypothesis for commenters to shoot down if they want to.However, since most of the commenters agree with Chris, it looks like I’ll have to provide the other side of the debate. I’m also not linking to any evidence, though I discussed a fair bit of it here I’m going to argue, contrary to Chris and most of the commenters on his post that there’s no reason to suppose that, in aggregate, the proportion of the population undertaking post-secondary education is too high, and every reason to continue trying to remove obstacles to participation in education for students from poor and working class backgrounds. Further, I don’t think credentialism is an important factor in explaining observed changes in participation in education or the labour market. A basic problem in assessing the argument is the need to get the background conditions right. Roughly speaking, over quite long periods, average education levels have risen greatly, but the wage premium for education hasn’t changed much and neither has social mobility. In a static economy, that would suggest support for a credentialist hypothesis in which the additional education was simply a race for positional goods. But the economy isn’t static. The proportion of jobs in occupations that traditionally did not require post-secondary education is declining steadily, while the proportion in jobs requiring education is rising. Pretty clearly, this is the result of technological change leads to a steady expansion in demand for skilled/educated labour at the expense of unskilled labour. Given this trend at the aggregate occupational level, it seems reasonable, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to impute growth in average educational levels within occupations to changes in the work being undertaken With this interpretation, we need a steady expansion in education levels just to keep pace with technological change. Where, for one reason or another, participation stagnates as it did in the US in the 1970s, an increase in the wage premium for educated workers is a likely result (this isn’t the only reason for the boom in inequality in the US from the 1980s onwards, but it’s one reason). If we’re going to get labour market conditions favourable to more social mobility and less inequality, it’s not sufficient to expand access to education. Growth in education has to outpace the rise in relative demand for educated workers, and growth in access to education for students from poor backgrounds has to outpace the growth in participation among the middle and upper classes. On average, we haven’t managed to do this, and it’s not surprising therefore, that the results hoped for by advocates of expanded education haven’t, in general, been delivered. Turning specifically to credentialism, I’ll start with the labour market I know best, that for academic economists. The requirement for a PhD is now almost universal, which was not the case thirty years ago in Australia or the UK. In my judgement that’s because the knowledge and skills required have increased, and not because of credentialism. If lawyers, nurses and other professions similarly rely more on formal training and less on ‘sitting next to Sally’, I’m willing to believe that similar processes are going on (in addition, the same technological changes that I’ve mentioned already mean that, whereas Sally once found an unskilled trainee useful for a wide range of tasks, she now finds him a burden who just gets in the way)[1]. Among the pieces of evidence against the credentialism hypothesis, one of the most compelling, in my view, is that self-employed people have education levels comparable to, or higher than, those of the workforce as a whole. If education was a matter of getting a credential for employment, people planning on going into business for themselves would get a headstart by skipping it. There are lots of other bits of evidence pointing in the same direction. For example, wage premiums for education tend to be rise with years of experience, when, on the credentialist view, they ought to decay. I’ve been careful throughout the above to refer to post-secondary education rather than university education. There’s a pretty good case to be made that technical areas of education are in more need of expansion than traditionally ‘academic’ areas, at least in the English-speaking countries. But the idea that expansion of post-secondary education as a whole can or should be reversed is, in my view, mistaken. fn1. There are some examples I won’t defend, such as most of the journalism/communications courses I’ve seen, but I think these are ‘exceptions that prove the rule’, marketing themselves on the basis of the success of professional qualifications in other fields. { 48 comments } bad Jim 09.10.05 at 4:11 am There seems to be general agreement that secondary school graduates in most First World countries have attained a level of proficiency which an American acquires after two years of college. To the extent that this is so, we have to allow for some national skew in the terms of this debate. It may be worth noting that American community colleges, which share that two-year horizon, also have a strong occupational orientation. I’m inclined to quibble with the idea that the pace of technological change implies that workers need to spend more of their youth in post-secondary or post-graduate education. My bias may stem from my experience as a B.A. in math winding up as an electrical engineer, and from my father and my brother (respectively psychology and biology majors) having similar career paths, and from having worked alongside several other creative engineers who got the bulk of their training on the job. It’s my impression that universities lag enough behind the cutting edge that the advantage of a year of study over a year of work isn’t necessarily decisive. As the first world deindustrializes and manufacturing jobs disappear, it’s incontestable that good jobs for the less educated are already scarce and likely to become more so. We seem to be responding by turning the present generation into salespeople and cosmeticians. I’m of the party that thinks deindustrialization may be the problem. That entrepreneurs tend to be relatively well-educated isn’t particularly surprising. You need money to make money, and there’s a strong correlation between wealth and educational attainment. Chris Bertram 09.10.05 at 4:58 am I’d don’t know what the picture is in Australia or the US, John. But my impression here in the UK is that much of the expansion in the HE sector does not consist of people acquiring the vital skills needed to keep pace with technological change. Rather, an arbitrarily high target for participation has been set and this has in large part been met by the provision of BA degrees of dubious real value which are nevertheless a prerequisite for entry to various white-collar careers. Taking academic economists as an example strikes me as unfortunate. That’s a case where you can straightforwardly enumerate the skills and knowledge needed and show how the academic courses in question contribute to the person acquiring those skills and that knowledge. I think you’d have a harder time showing how a BA in Media Studies and Culture from the New University of Poppleton provided someone with the skills and knowledge needed for the typical job its graduates ended up in. Scott Martens 09.10.05 at 5:06 am Pretty clearly, this is the result of technological change leads to a steady expansion in demand for skilled/educated labour at the expense of unskilled labour. I don’t think this is true – in fact, I think the opposite is true. Technological change has sharply reduced the number of jobs that actualy demand a higher education. The whole point of technological advancement is to make life easier, not harder, and the whole point of division of labour is to keep the amount of specialised knowledge required by an individual worker as low as possible. Consider car mechanics – a subject my dad taught in high school. Thirty years ago, a car mechanic might not have had a university degree, but he had to have an extensive practical knowledge of automobile engineering in order to sucessfully diagnose and repair car problems. Now, car mechanics is very different. The tech has a manufacturer specific computer that diagnoses the problem and tells him which of a limited array of labeled parts needs to be removed and replaced. Quite a few trades have gone this way. Consider the role of a Toys-R-Us manager – my wife’s former employment. In the old days, a store manager had to keep extensive records of what was and wasn’t selling, and at least advise higher management of what to buy and ship, if not actually participate in the inventory process himself. They handled employment decisions, managed payroll and receipts, did much of their own marketing and took personal responsibility for much of the facility’s outcomes. Now, much of this handled by computers and supply and inventory decisions are made in Soviet style. (And, as a reader of Hayek might have expected, this doesn’t work very well.) I do agree, though, that some of what motivates the demand for credentials is the inability to support the costs of training an unskilled worker, but I think that is not because work has smartened up, but that it has been dumbed down. Consider programming – modular, object oriented programming was devised so that coders could write sections of programmes without having to see the big picture. Specifications can be made shorter and simpler, so that coders don’t require the level of training needed to see an entire application though. A university diploma means you’re hopefully at least smart enough to read the spec do the tasks that a job might require without further extensive training. The growth of medical employment might represent a contrary trend, but not because medical professionals require more education than in days past. The field is far more specialised than it once was. Rather, simply the growth of the medical profession with respect to other sources of employment might skew the overall picture in favour of higher demand for post-secondary education. Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 6:03 am Chris, Exactly! I think the Time Higher recently noted that Media Studies courses actually had a low graduate employability factor (so many students didn’t get a job quickly after their course) and that it was a rather bad entry into the media: getting a good English/History degree and being prepared to intern etc. is the correct route. I don’t think it’s true that media employers and insisting on Media degrees, but rather that student think they will, and hence spend three years getting what is arguably a “useless” degree. John, the complaint against Credentialism is not (at least as far as I’m concerned) about highly skilled specific jobs (academia, medicine, engineering) but about the general attitude that to do almost any white-collar job, one needs a degree (does really matter what in). My sister, for various reasons, doesn’t have a degree, and has found it very hard to get simply office jobs (which she is very competant at, and her school record is excellent). I understand why employers do demand a degree, but it makes life very hard for people who don’t have a degree, and means that many people end up with degrees which they don’t really need. Similarly, we find that jobs which maybe do require an unspecific undergrad degree (to demonstrate independence, and a general ability etc.) now require a masters degree. Balanced against this, of course, is my belief in education for educations sake. I do think, maybe, that the UK (which is what I know about) should have made it easier for mature students/ supported night-schools better etc. rather than pushing for a 50% target of (implicitly) young people getting an undergrad degree. Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 6:10 am A university diploma means you’re hopefully at least smart enough to read the spec do the tasks that a job might require without further extensive training. No, I really disagree here (although I do lack evidence). To me, the employers demands a diploma for two reasons (which are much the same): a) Reduce the pool of applicants (to make life easier, presuming they have a large number of applicants); b) If there is a large pool of people with a better qualification, why take the risk of hiring someone without a diploma, if you don’t have to? Obviously there are cases when this would obviously be a bad idea (e.g. someone has glowing references from Microsoft, and a case-iron reason for leaving them, but happens to have no diploma). However, I would guess that in most cases, you have 30 applicants, and there is really little to tell between them, so you discard the 10 without the diploma, as then you need only interview 20 and not 30. This doesn’t fully explain that complaint one hears of older programmers with good experience, but no formal qualification, being overlooked for younger, qualified people. However, is this age-ism or cost-cutting? John Quiggin 09.10.05 at 6:17 am I did pre-emptively concede on Media Studies :-) But I’d like to see some response to the empirical evidence I’ve cited, rather than restatements of standard credentialist claims. If degrees, on average, add less value than they cost, why is there such a large wage premium for them, and why does the premium increase with experience (the opposite of what a screening model would predict)? What explanation of employer behavior is being offered here? Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 6:35 am John, I concede that I don’t really have an emperical evidence! HOWEVER, my specific complaint is really about the massive increase in undergraduate education in the UK in recent years. As far as I can tell from google quickly, participation was about 30% when Labour came to power, and it’s now touching 50% (vaguely). I would suggest that it’s really far too early to tell if wage premiums will hold up: recent evidence which I’ve seen in the THES suggests that in some “soft” subjects like Media Studies (;->) it does not (i.e. it adds no wage premium compared to others in that age group). It will also be interesting to see, in the UK, if fees change student behaviour: you say “If degrees, on average, add less value than they cost…?” but in the UK, the cost has been pretty modest until very recently. Chris Bertram 09.10.05 at 6:47 am If education was a matter of getting a credential for employment, people planning on going into business for themselves would get a headstart by skipping it. Not if starting off in employment is a useful platform from which to launch one’s own business and if having a degree is a necessary ticket to that platform. Many people who start their own businesses will have accumulated the necessary contacts, capital (such as their house) and experience in paid employment. If those same people had simply started their own businesses straight from secondary school they’d almost certainly have failed. Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 6:50 am Actually, John, I’m not sure why: why is there such a large wage premium for them, and why does the premium increase with experience (the opposite of what a screening model would predict)? refutes my argument? I’m arguing that the, say, top 30% of jobs go to graduates because employers demand a degree: we would hence except there to be a correlation between a degree and a wage premium. As for the experience issue: have you isolated the effect or career path? If a degree helps you get a leg-up early on, then won’t you progress up a career path at the same rate, but at a higher level, than a non-graduate? Is the stated effect then nothing more than the fact that the wage premium for position is non-linear (that is, the jump from manager to senior manager is higher than the jump between supervisor and manager, say?) Maybe that’s not what you mean though? Again, self-employed people might simply be far more motivated than others, and hence more likely to overcome problems to get to university (again, in a historical situation where getting a degree is seen as “important”). I’m slightly distrustful of arguments like: people planning on going into business for themselves would get a headstart by skipping it. Do 18-year-olds really wake up, think “I’m going to be self-employed”, and then plan how best to do that? I doubt it: I would guess they are hard-working, innovative, motivated people who head to university (as everyone, pretty much, tells them this is a good idea). They then later form the idea of starting their own business… I’m not sure if either of us is right anymore; I’m just trying to offer some other ways in which we would observe the emperical evidence which you cite! abb1 09.10.05 at 7:11 am Perhaps one the reasons employers perfer workers with a degree is exactly because of their desire to limit social mobility – in a sense. They are looking for the employee who is a conformist, who’s clearly and firmly accepted and pursued traditional middle-class path to success. See, any employer will certainly hesitate to hire a high-school drop-out. Why – is it because they worry about the lack of skills? I don’t think so; rather they’re afraid of some kind of eccentric and destructive behavior. Degree = conformity to middle-class values and dogmas. Bob B 09.10.05 at 7:37 am John Q: “the wage premium for education hasn’t changed much” I don’t have the links to post but my distinct recollection from pieces in The Economist of some years back and from a survey by Greenaway in the Oxford Review of Economic Policy is that in both the US and UK, especially the US, is that compared with the 1970s, there have been marked increases in the premia paid to graduates relative to non-graduates. On the market evidence, there has been an increase in the relative scarcity of graduates in US and UK job markets over the last c. 30 years. This is consistent with the BBC reports of research into graduate pay I posted in Chris’s thread (# 84) and also with anecdotal accounts of employers who put more trust (faith?) in the significance of degrees over school-leaving exams as indicators of personal aptitude and ability, as well as the expected consequences of the shifts towards globalisation and the “knowledged-based” economy. “There is a strong consensus among economists that formal education is an important determinant of individual earnings as well as economic growth. The importance of formal education has been magnified by recent economic trends underlying U.S. labor market demand for skilled workers.” Gabriel 09.10.05 at 7:49 am This is basically a twist on the of the Invisible Adjunct argument that lower tier Universities are raising false expectations of the employment benefits of their courses to students, when the reality in the UK is that if you want a career in the media (or a lawyer) you’re far better off studying Classics at Cambridge (or philosphy at Bristol) than Media Studies pretty much anywhere. Lawyers in Britain still do mostly learn on the job, compared to most other countries. This quite explicit rejection of credentialism (and the relatively high importance of various class markers/ symbolic capital) has always distinguished Britain from both the US and the rest of Europe. That’s why the higher education expansion in the UK has been so half-baked. harry b 09.10.05 at 8:00 am Bob B—I also don’t have a link, but John Goldthorpe has pretty compelling data showing a fall in the premium attaching to a degree since the 80’s—not dramatic, but very very noticeable (in UK). That’s what you would expect, I guess, given dramatic and rapid expansion of HE uptake. John Emerson 09.10.05 at 8:12 am “If lawyers, nurses and other professions similarly rely more on formal training and less on ‘sitting next to Sally’, I’m willing to believe that similar processes are going on” Your willingness to believe doesn’t strike me as an argument. Later you talk about “exceptions that prove the rule”—a dubious concept in almost every case. There are many more exceptions than you seem willing to grant; my alma mater is a third-tier school and has whole buildings full of classes in social work, education, police science, counseling, management, and other areas which have been scientized in the fake kind of way Foucault talked about. (People who study in these areas always complain about the unrealism of what they’re taught, and the lack of actual practical skills learned.) From the point of view of social mobility, we should think of the bright average student with pretty good grades, from a mediocre or worse HS, and absolutely no family support. A requirement of four or five years of full-time college will always work against someone like that except under the most Utopian conditions, so if the educational requirement is in any way excessive or extraneous (as I think it is), credentialization works against social mobility. In the American context at least, access to education is greatest at age 18 when people are least mature, and returning to college at a later point is much more difficult. In a credentialized work force, people often end up unable to advance into positions they’re able to perform. In fact, what often happens is that they do the job until someone is hired, often for a considerable period if there’s a hiring freeze or budget problem, and then have the added duty of training some bright young credentialed thing who knows nothing about the work and may well be using the job as a steppingstone to better work. (The people I’ve known to whom something like this has happened have mostly been mothers returning to the work force.) So I would say that it’s the weakening of on-the-job training and apprenticeship, rather than credentialization per se, which is the villain. (That is, channeling credentialization entirely through the schools is the problem.) A last point rather peripheral to the main argument is the very weak performance of graduates in the humanities (apparently called “arts” in Britain). Education has traditionally been a thick enterprise, combining job training (of a sort), class validation, cultural enrichment, values training, wild fun, etc. into one big mess. From a social-mobility standpoint, disentangling the job training from this would be the way to go, but of course the other functions are valuable too. In the past I have suggested making cultural enrichment voluntary while subsidizing it as adult education, but actually rather few people are interested in humanities-type-stuff, and there wouldn’t be much constituency for the subsidies. In scholarly areas such as economics and philosophy, in my opinion, credentialization and methodologization have also led to narrowing and formalization at the cost of weakening their relationship to reality, but that’s for another day. (I’ve been waiting since 1967 for economists to start reading Polanyi again, and it seems that that finaly might happen). I think that the university is at the kind of peculiar historical crossroads where its problems are fairly widely perceived, but where its institutionalization is unchallenged and no actual alternative has even been imagined. So probably things wil continue with business as usual until some enormous crisis intervenes, at which point everyone will claim to be dumbfounded. John Emerson 09.10.05 at 8:31 am Let me throw a bone to the libertarians. Some of the career paths in which credentialization seems most problematic are either forms of government work or government-regulated lines of work. I believe that some kind of credentialization dynamic may be at work in monopolistic and oligopolistic enterprises such as utilities, too. By and large I think that the more competitive a market is, the more corners enterprises will cut regarding credentialization. Privatization actually is a pretty good test case for the credentialization debate. I really wouldn’t want my medical plan to hire uncredentialed MD’s, but I wouldn’t have minded if my son’s HS had hired English majors instead of Ed majors. (For the record, my son’s public school HS teachers, whatever their degree, were often excellent). I am not terribly sympathetic to the libertarian point of view, but it should be on the table, and I’m surprised that it hasn’t shown up yet. Bob B 09.10.05 at 9:12 am Harry B, Unfortunately, I have to admit to not following the sociology literature. Compared with John Goldthorpe, we have this: . ” Fortunately, I’ve managed to trace the Greenaway reference I alluded to above (it’s much easier for those with current academic affliations and online access to periodical literature to trace and check citations than it is for public service retirees like me): “Slaughter [The World Economy 1999, vol. 22, pp. 609-30] reports that in 1979 male college graduates in the USA earned on average 30% more than their high-school equivalents. By 1995 that had risen to around 70%. Over the same period, the equivalent premium in the UK grew by around 30%. More modest increases were recorded for Australia, Canada, Japan, and Sweden, but little or no change in France and Italy.” [Oxford Review of Economic Policy Autumn 2000, Vol. 16, No. 3, p. 2] If so, that establishes what I was saying about market evidence showing an increase in the relative scarcity of graduates, comparing the 1990s with the 1970s. The quote from the recent BBC piece relating to the OECD’s annual report on education, suggests that the graduate premium is holding up well despite the “sharp increase in the number of people getting degrees”. mythago 09.10.05 at 10:02 am Some of that pressure is in the other direction—with the death of the US industrial database and the decline of unions, not to mention more stringent requirements on applicants for the military, it is no longer reasonable for a U.S. worker to expect that he can get a market-wage job, or enter the military, without completing high school or further training. If lawyers, nurses and other professions similarly rely more on formal training and less on ‘sitting next to Sally’ Can’t speak to hurses, but lawyers are actually very much an example of credentialism. Law schools have only very recently started to lean towards teaching practical skills, rather than general background and legal theory. It’s expected that the practical skills are taught from ‘sitting next to Sally,’ i.e. through summer or part-time work as a law clerk, or on the job after graduation and passing the Bar (which is another ‘credential’ issue by itself). Very few states now allow a non-degreed person with real-world legal experience to sit for the bar examination. And ‘credentialism’ most certainly applies to law schools; it’s doubtful that one learns how to write contracts better at Berkeley than at Yale, but guess which one is considered a better choice for getting a job later on? James Wimberley 09.10.05 at 11:09 am The corporate welfare state has clearly declined sharply over the last few decades: companies that nurtured talent, like the employers of the young John major and Jacques Delors, in a perpective of long-term work relationships, do so less and less. A hire-and-fire job market externalises training costs and makes credentials and (perhaps even more) personal networking more important. eudoxis 09.10.05 at 11:15 am The two models of John and Chris are not exlusive of each other. So the argument is about the size of the component that credentialism or true education play in the premium value and exclusivity of a higher education. On the one hand, (in favor of Chris) is an example such as the replacement of striking air traffic controllers by Reagan. On the other hand (in favor of John) is the increase in education requirements far beyond a step where the type of exclusivity that Chris refers to has taken place. For example, training for medical subspecialties take years longer than training for generalists while the selection that Chris refers to takes place at the entrance to medical school. There’s a bit of both and it’s difficult to tease apart the premium that employers place on the added knowledge and skill value vs. the type of individual or, as noted above, a proven ability to conform. Carlos 09.10.05 at 11:24 am Look at this Krugman paper, where he builds a tentative model trying to explain increasing inequality in salaries with a signalling model involving college education Christian Johnson 09.10.05 at 11:26 am I would agree that in the United States, law is perhaps the best example of credentialism run amok – best symbolized by the mid-20th-century movement to rename the standard law degree the “J.D.,” or Juris Doctor, in place of “LL.B.,” Bachelor of Laws. God forbid that law be perceived as of lower academic status than medicine! At the same time, many states ended the ability of non-law-graduates to “read law” and pass the bar. Now, I believe that there may have been at least a colorable issue of quality – I recall seeing arguments that candidates who read law had lower bar success rates, and higher professional complaint rates, than their law-school-educated peers. I’m not persuaded that the differences were worth further gilding the guild, as it were, especially since I think most US lawyers would agree that at least 1/3 of law school education (i.e. the third year) is completely useless. The more recent attempt by law schools to increase “practical” instruction, which mythago notes above, is unlikely to improve matters much. My law school, NYU, was at the vanguard of this movement back in the late 80s and early 90s, when with much fanfare and expense it launched its “Lawyering” program. “Lawyering” classes attempted to augment the traditional first-year course covering research, writing, and oral argument with a set of somewhat fuzzier skills – negotiation, client counseling, etc. I was, and remain, utterly unpersuaded that these latter units were and are of any use whatsoever, because the skills they covered simply cannot be taught effectively other than through practice. Lots of practice, actually, requiring far more time than a law school could reasonably give. More unforgiveably, these units effectively reduced the time spent on research and writing, at the same time as the first truly post-literate cohort was moving through law school. The result of this sacrifice became clear late in my second year. I joined the senior editorial board of a journal, a position which required me to help wade through the writing tests that first-year students submitted in their applications for journal membership. I was appalled: students from the best undergraduate schools in America proved incapable of writing a simple persuasive essay in the form of a legal memo. Bad enough that these students had managed to get admitted – but worse that the Lawyering program twiddled around trying to teach client relations while what the students really needed was a sort of writing boot camp. The sad reality? All of these students left NYU with a degree that gave them virtua carte blanche entry into the most prestigious firms in the US, making the equivalent of over $100K/year from the start. The reason these law firms extract so many billable hours out of their associates is that their work is almost worthless – takes a lot of it to make the salary even remotely economic. I would much prefer a system that would eliminate the third year of law school and mandate a two to four year clerkship instead – performed with a court, a public prosecutor’s office, a public defender’s office, a legal aid society, etc. This would be the equivalent of a doctor’s clinical training, and would inculcate at least some form of public service, while decreasing the cost of legal education. Chance of it ever happening? Almost none. Bob B 09.10.05 at 11:39 am If too many people are getting degrees in Britain, how come that graduates are more likely to be employed than non-graduates? “Employment rates also vary by the qualifications people have obtained. For both sexes employment rates increase with the level of qualifications (Table 4.12). Ninety per cent of men and 85 per cent of women who had a degree or the equivalent were in employment in spring 2003. This compares with 57 per cent of men and 44 per cent of women who did not have any qualifications.” – at chapter 4 in: On the proportional effect on earnings of a degree by degree subject, see the following chapter 5 in the above link, particularly Figure 5.10. It seems that lawyers – and economists – do relatively well compared with graduates in other subjects. I’ve not had a chance yet to digest all in this link but it looks interesting as well as relevant: Massimiliano Bratti + Luca Mancini: “Differences in Early Occupational Earnings of UK Male Graduates by Degree Subject: Evidence from the 1980-1993 USR” As reported, in terms of earnings, male arts graduates may make less money on average than those who left school at 18 so it is perhaps not surprising if they worry about the numbers of new graduates coming onto the job market. I recall an article in The Economist of some 20 years back reflecting on careers in the US of philosophy PhDs where the annual output exceeded the number of academic positions becoming vacant. As reported, a disproportionate number of philosophy PhDs were going into the burgeoning computer industry where logical and analytical skills were – and are – especially valued. “Business and financial services continue to form the largest single sector of the UK economy, and in 2003 accounted for 31.7 per cent of the total, which was more than double the size of the manufacturing sector. . . In 2003, the contribution of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to whole economy GVA at current basic prices accounted for . . 6.7 per cent of the total.” Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 11:58 am Bob B, that’s not the argument though! The argument is that for many jobs, one does not need a degree in a practical sense, but the employers do demand a degree (for reasons elaborated elsewhere in these two threads). This makes an artifical barrier to entry into higher-paying jobs, one which is harder for those from poorer backgrounds to overcome. If this is true, then your statistics just back up the argument that “too many” degrees are a barrier to social mobility! Bob B 09.10.05 at 12:15 pm Those here questioning the case for raising the percentage of the catchment age group going into higher education may be interested in the citations in this useful brief relating to an evidently growing literature on “over-qualification” and “over-education”: Bob B 09.10.05 at 1:00 pm “The argument is that for many jobs, one does not need a degree in a practical sense, but the employers do demand a degree.” If so, it needs to be explained why employers are mostly willing to pay on average a premium for employing graduates – except for arts graduates, that is – when they could readily recruit non-graduates, as and when non-graduates are capable of doing the job. Are we to seriously believe employers generally do this out of an increasingly pervasive philanthropic inclination to encourage and support the beneficiaries of higher education despite the costs to businesses subject to mounting competitive pressures from globalisation? FWIW I am more inclined to believe suggestions that where degree-level skills or aptitudes are not actually required for jobs, employers are prone to repose more trust in degrees as signals of personal ability and commitment than the results in school leaving exams – possibly because of recurring debates in Britain about grade inflation in school leaving exams and whether the GCSE exams (usually taken at 16) are “too easy”. In Britain, there is a manifest public reluctance to address the implications of the fact that historically stay-on rates in full-time education after the age of 17 are low by comparison with our peer group of other affluent countries. As the UK’s then school standards minister put it a few years back: “It must be one of the most stunning statistics that we are 20th out of 24 OECD countries for staying-on rates at 17.” Btw apologies for over-lapping posts. Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 1:59 pm Bob, okay, a good response: in short, why do employers advertise a job with pay X when they could advertise with pay Y (for some Y Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 2:03 pm Oh, blast, it appears to have eaten my post! Erm, I might re-type it in a few minutes… mythago 09.10.05 at 2:13 pm christian, by ‘practical education’ I was thinking of exactly the kind of hands-on clinical programs you describe—which, as you say, law schools unfortunately don’t seem interested in promoting. I admit I am baffled as to why. Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 2:14 pm The basic argument in my eaten post was this: a) Employers do not perform 100% accurate searches for employees, as hiring people costs money (advertising, interviewing time, lost time because you want an employee now and not at some indefinate point in the future); b) Hiring the wrong person can be costly: it makes sense to pay a premium to be sure someone is competant, rather than have them perform under-par; c) Employers consistently over-rate degrees and under-rate lower qualifications, leading them to believe, for reasons (a) and (b), that it’s worth paying extra for a degree that’s not really needed (in the belief, say, that anyone with a degree is basically numerate and literate, and that anyone without is not). Now, one would expect that someone without a degree, but with experience and references, should be equally attractive. I (as I said above) am not convinced that the statistics show this not to be the case (as you would really need to look at (unexperienced+degree) vs (experiences+no degree) applying for the same job, and not just aggregately over everyone). John Quiggin 09.10.05 at 3:10 pm Matt, I don’t think these search costs explain why employers are willing, on average, to pay a large premium for graduates. This is particularly so if (as implied by the fact that the premium grows with experience) they are selecting people for rigidly defined career paths. In these circumstances, employers could save a huge amount by hiring carefully screened high school graduates. In response to various comments, I’ll restate to the wage premium fluctuates over time, depending on whether growth in the number of educated workers outpaces the increasing demand for such workers. abb1 09.10.05 at 3:31 pm It’s not just the matter of screening. College graduates come already housebroken; they already invested tens of thousands of dollars and years of their lives into this socio-economic system and they’re unlikely to rebel against it. IOW, they probably won’t be stealing small sums of money. Bob B 09.10.05 at 4:13 pm Matt, I agree your items (a) and (b). Your© is premised on an increasingly pervasive irrationality in employer hiring practices in America and Britain and I can’t believe that. We need to recognise that service industry employment – especially in business and financial services – has boomed while manufacturing employment has stagnated or shrunk in the affluent market economies. Notoriously, in Tony Blair’s Britain, manufacturing employment has shrunk by 1 million since 1997 but total employment is currently around record levels and the employment rate among working age people is easily higher than in the other major European economies – France, Germany, Italy. But starting work in the service industries is more likely to stress literacy, numeracy and IT skills. IMO employers take it that job candidates who have a degree – any degree (?) – are more likely to have acceptable minimal competence in such skills than would be signalled by the standard school leaving exams without a degree. As you suggest, hiring a graduate is taken as a (risk averse) course less likely to incur additional firing and hiring costs downstream if the recruit turns out to lack adequate skills. The cult of amateurism is still well-established in Britain – evidence of prior general ability is widely interpreted as indicating a potential competence to gain the knowledge and skills to do almost anything by learning on the job. A succession of surveys of adult skills in the UK, extended over many years, has turned up the (alarming) finding that c. 20% of adults are lacking essential literacy and numeracy skills. There is an arguable case, if only in cost-effectiveness terms, for rectifying the literacy and numeracy difficulties of school pupils (and adults) rather than expanding higher education just to meet employers’ demands for basic skills and this government’s target of half the catchment age group going into higher education. Sadly, for whatever reasons, reducing the percentages of pupils and adults with reported literacy/numeracy problems has proved remarkably intractable, notwithstanding efforts by both this and the previous government to tackle it. Britain’s prison population has recently reached a new record of c. 74 thousand and the prison population per capita is higher than in any other west European country except Portugal. Many prison surveys have reported a relatively high incidence of literacy/numeracy problems among prisoners. The published cost to taxpayers of keeping someone in a closed prison is c. £34k a year but we seem quite unable to break the circle. Dan Simon 09.10.05 at 4:32 pm Again, there seem to be a lot of people complaining about “credentialism” the way people complain about “life”—without giving any serious consideration to the available alternatives. In the absence of (possibly superfluous) credentials, how will employers choose their employees? By lottery? By deep exploration of the contents of every applicant’s soul? By giving each applicant a two-week trial? No, the alternatives to credentialism are nepotism, “old boys’ networks”, “connections”, and the rest—all of which are less efficient, less fair and less inclusive than credentialism. In the 1980’s, the Canadian postal system (if I may engage in rampant anecdote-mongering) wrested from the postal union the right to control its hiring practices. It then instituted an elaborate barrage of formal tests for evaluating the hordes of applicants that responded to its occasional, highly prized (because extremely cushy and overpaid) job openings. These tests were really quite hard—they had to be, to weed out all but the very top applicants—and measured all sorts of skills that could only vaguely be correlated with postal work—memorization, manipulation and sorting of long lists of words and characters, and the like. The resulting employee pool thus ended up consisting largely of intelligent, talented people with low ambition, who could ace the tests, win their sinecures, and spend the rest of their lives in comfortable stasis. One could scarcely imagine a more flagrant case of pointless credentialism. The union-controlled system that preceded it? An official policy of granting first right of refusal to relatives of current postal workers. Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 4:34 pm John, selecting people for rigidly defined career paths. However, my understanding of the job markets in both the US and the UK is that most jobs are in small companies (it’s amazing how many people own their own business and employ a few extra people). I agree with you that large companies should be better-off looking beyond just graduates; however, this is not the majority of employers. Bob, Yes, I think you’re arguing me around to your view. I fully agree with your later comments: the real problem is the continued failure of compulsory education. My thesis advisor (as you’d say in the US) was head of the mathematics department for a time, and often met employers to discuss how the university could alter its courses to help them. He said that a consistent issue raised was basic numeracy and literacy: really, this shouldn’t be an issue that universities have to deal with! That said, to my shame, I did spend my PhD learning how to write again, after doing four years of mathematics with little need for writing anything like an essay! Matt Daws 09.10.05 at 4:39 pm Dan, Okay, I would argue for the following (in a slightly UK specific sense): Abandon artifically increasing university places (i.e. the fact that undergrad intakes to many departments have, say, doubled over recent history, but the average ability of the student has declines) and ploy extra money and thought into raising school standards. The hope is that employers would then be more willing to look at people with good high-school results, hence forcing less people to have to go to university and incuring the cost associated with that. I’m arguing for replacing a credentialism based upon an optional university education with a credentialism based upon complusory basic education. John Emerson 09.10.05 at 5:08 pm Dan Simon—hiring by test is NOT credentialism. Asking people who can pass a test to take a series of college courses is credentialism. As I said, one manifestation of credentialism is having an uncredentialed worker, who has actually been doing the job, train an inexperienced new hire who has credentials. This is something that really happens a lot. (If the new hire has been hired to upgrade the job with new skills, that’s not so bad; but in many cases the credentialed new worker’s education has nothing much to do with the job). Uncredentialed workers can neither change jobs nor be promoted. (In other words, we’re not necessarily talking about the initial hire of untested workers.) Either by company policy or by law, employers are often forbidden to promote or to hire the people they want. Another case is declaring “education” to be a specialty and hiring education majors to teach HS math and English in preference to English majors and math majors. All sorts of skills that could only vaguely be correlated with postal work—memorization, manipulation and sorting of long lists of words and characters, and the like. In the US most mailpersons start as mail sorters who are expected to work very fast. This test is very apropos to their work. mythago 09.10.05 at 7:31 pm No, the alternatives to credentialism are nepotism, “old boys’ networks”, “connections”, and the rest False dilemma. The alternatives to meaningless credentials are meaningful credentials and work experience. (If an applicant has no college degree but spent ten years working at a high-level programming job at Microsoft, does the employer really have no idea of their skill set or reliability?) Rich Puchalsky 09.10.05 at 7:32 pm I always come into these threads too late. Once again, Fred Hirsch, the classic Social Limits To Growth, entire discussion encapsulated. Dan Simon 09.10.05 at 7:39 pm I’m arguing for replacing a credentialism based upon an optional university education with a credentialism based upon complusory basic education. I’m all in favor of restoring meaning to primary and secondary education credentials, which are today often pretty much meaningless. The key to doing so, of course, is to set and enforce rigorous standards in primary and secondary education—and I’m all for that, as well. Indeed, I doubt too many people who are serious about education would disagree with you. (Sadly, education theorists and ed-school academics are, for the most part, shockingly unserious about education.) But I was under the impression that the discussion here was less about the time scale of the education system than about society’s goals in providing one, and its effectiveness at achieving those goals. Whether education contributes to social mobility, for example, or inhibits it—as Chris argues—via credentialism, seems to me to be a question that is independent of whether the education in question is a hard-won university degree or an equally-hard-won high school deploma. Dan Simon—hiring by test is NOT credentialism. Asking people who can pass a test to take a series of college courses is credentialism. Why on earth should it matter whether or not an employer outsources its job candidate testing to a university? In the US most mailpersons start as mail sorters who are expected to work very fast. This test is very apropos to their work. I’m given to understand that the level of performance required at the tasks in the tests was far in excess of what was actually needed for the job. That was the whole point—because the jobs were so desirable, a huge pool of applicants was available, the majority of whom were perfectly well-qualified to do the job. The alternatives were credentialism—awarding the job to the applicant whose test score was most extravagantly above the bar for excellent job performance—or cronyism. The same holds, I would argue, for most jobs: there being no perfect way of ranking candidates for a job, credentialism at least has the advantage of relative objectivity. Sure, it tends to result in overqualification and credential inflation, but the alternative is still far worse. Dan Simon 09.10.05 at 7:50 pm False dilemma. The alternatives to meaningless credentials are meaningful credentials and work experience. But how does one first obtain work experience? As for “meaningful credentials”, what happens if—as is usually the case, in practice—more than enough candidates have them? How does an employer distinguish among those in that pool? I only know of two options: proceed to the “meaningless credentials”, or at least, the somewhat less directly meaningful ones, or start counting “subjective intangibles”. The distance between the latter and rampant cronyism is, I claim, rarely very far. John Emerson 09.10.05 at 9:20 pm Dan Simon—hiring by test is NOT credentialism. Asking people who can pass a test to take a series of college courses is credentialism. Why on earth should it matter whether or not an employer outsources its job candidate testing to a university? Dan, I’m starting to wonder whether I should take you seriously. I was talking about what people mean when they talk about credentialization. Not “why it should matter”. I was just defining a term and the issue.. Perhaps the postal requirements were in excess of the actual requirement, but what you said was that the requirements were “only vaguely related” to the requirements of the job, which is completely false. You really seem to have an obtuse talent for ignoring things you don’t have an answer for. I did mention an additional difficulty with credentialization, which is that it works to the disadvantage of people who were already doing the job before credentialization was required. In a case I knew of, the requirement of a BS degree ended up causing the hiring of a lot of lab assistants who often had no intention of staying on the job even long enough to learn how to do it. Matt Daws 09.11.05 at 7:04 am Dan, there’s a world of difference between high-school and university/college though. High-school is (well, vaguely, up to some age varying by country) compulsory and widely regarded as important. An undergrad education is optional, increasingly costly (c.f. the UK situation) and not widely regarded as important. It’s a lot easier for an average middle-class kid to get an average undergrad degree than it is for an average working-class kid; this is not so pronounced in high-school… Bob B 09.11.05 at 9:23 am My guess is that in Britain, many parents with school-aged children and almost all employers would gladly cheer on proposals for improving school standards rather than continuing to increase the percentage of young people going to university. The trouble is that even with the very best of intentions all round and disposing lots of taxpayers’ money, that is easier said than done as the following news reports demonstrate: “Government claims that extra money for England’s schools has boosted GCSE results are not based on fact, MPs say. Real-terms spending rose by 31.6% from 1999 to 2003, while the proportion getting the equivalent of five good GCSEs went up five percentage points. In the previous four years, results rose by 4.4 points, while investment increased by just 3.4%, the Commons education select committee found.” “The higher-grade GCSE success rate in England appears to have reached a plateau, official figures suggest. Last year the proportion of pupils who achieved at least five GCSEs at grades A* to C – as opposed to other qualifications – was 50.2%.” “Government policies on education are failing to remedy the UK’s shortage of skilled workers, the director general of the Institute of Directors has said. Around 25,000 16-year-olds a year leave school with no GCSEs, Miles Templeman said in a speech to the Institute of Economic Affairs. He said the skills shortage last year left 135,000 vacancies unfilled.” Dan Simon 09.11.05 at 11:09 am. Required tests can be every bit as bad in each of these respects as required courses. In fact, if I’m not mistaken, a number of professions limit entry not by requiring a degree or course credential, but rather by requiring their members to pass a set of exams—said exams testing knowledge of a large body of mostly irrelevant material that in practice takes expensive and time-consuming courses to master. Now, the proliferation of entry-limited “professions” may be a problem in its own right. But even in their complete absence, employers interested in avoiding cronyism would still seek out credentials—even only-minimally-meaningful ones—as an unbiased means of narrowing the job applicant pool. I did mention an additional difficulty with credentialization, which is that it works to the disadvantage of people who were already doing the job before credentialization was required. I agree that it’s unfortunate that some employers extend credentialism beyond hiring to evaluation of existing employees. But the fact that some employers misuse it in that way doesn’t make it any less useful or important as a method for avoiding cronyism in evaluating outside job applicants. John Emerson 09.11.05 at 11:37 am Dan, the problem with tests vs. credentialization is that requiring class work imposes a financial burden and usually also a waiting period (since not all classes are available at all times; students frequently have to wait an extra year, and sometimes even two, for a single required class. The distinction between tests and credentialization is that academically-routed credentialization excludes people who have learned the material without paying off the schools. In education and other practically-oriented programs, it’s often clear enough that the schools are selling access and credentials. One top of everything else, the gatekeepers (who often haven’t worked in the field for years, if ever) develop an arrogance based on their “research” and “methodology”. Dan, the employers I was talking about were not voluntarily extending credentialization beyond hiring. Credentialization is institutionalized and enforced. The employers were forbidden to hire or promote certain employees who were capable of doing the work and who,m in some cases, had already been doing the work satisfactorily on an interim basis for some time. I’ve known people who qualified for difficult uncredentialed fields (software) by self-study. In ermegent areas that’s the most common way. mythago 09.11.05 at 1:30 pm But how does one first obtain work experience? That’s a problem even for the credentialed. And certainly it’s going to be hard to obtain work experience if credentials are required first. Trade unions seem to have alleviated this problem somewhat, with apprenticeships, which pay below the level of a fully-trained journeyman but which nonetheless come with wages. The trainee is exchanging labor for training, to a degree, and the credential is a mark not merely of classroom study but of a certain amount of practical work under others’ supervisions. The alternative to meaningless credentials is meaningful credentials, which can be obtained through work experience. Not many institutions offer bachelors’ degrees in real-world experience, useful or no. Tracy W 09.11.05 at 7:15 pm I think that a university education do offer some advantages in the workforce beyond a piece of paper, though my evidence comes from anecdotes: 1) You learn how to do research. My mum, with a university degree, went into business with a friend who was a nurse, trained before that required a degree. My mum states that one difference she notices is that if she doesn’t know something, she generally thinks of doing some research into it, while her partner doesn’t think like that. 2) You make contacts in your area of expertise. This is not just a Oxford/Cambridge/Harvard thing. In NZ there are too few universities to work like that. But as a result of my degrees, I do know people doing things related to my work who I can then call up and ask questions. I do not think this would be so relevant for general office jobs however. 3)You get a broad base of information. One academic I know described it as “a set of tools with which you can jump into any foreign situation and make a complete fool of yourself”. Now, having worked for a number of years I know what he means. But even though I do regularly make a fool of myself, I can also suggest ideas from other areas that might be useful for a new problem that the job is facing. I do not know how much this applies to arts graduates. And I do think it is a pity to see arts students at university who just sort of wandered into the degree since they got their best marks at school in English, but without any plans for what they will do with that degree in the job market and without the passion for the subject that makes spending 3 years and tens of thousands of dollars worthwhile for its own sake (even if uni is free you face the opportunity cost of the wages you could have earned). Justus 09.12.05 at 12:41 pm tracy – 1) I work (as a software engineer) exclusively with people with university degrees. I estimate that in a building with 50 degreed engineers perhaps 5 of them would do research such as your mom does. I don’t think other factors far outweigh the university degrees. 2) This becomes significantly less meaningful in the US if you ever relocate. I spent the first decade of my professional life on the east coast, in Boston. Now I live in Colorado and my east coast contacts are fairly worthless. This is compounded by a slight change in my technical subfield. 3) Anything an academic has to say about the usefulness of academics is suspect from the start :)

Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious DiseasesVolume 2009 (2009), Article ID 372691, 11 pagesdoi:10.1155/2009/372691 Medical Zoology Laboratory, Institute of Vertebrate Biology ASCR, Klášterní 2, 69142 Valtice, Czech Republic. 60%. Bhanja virus (BHAV) is, together with two African tick-borne viruses Kismayo [1] and Forecariah [2], a member of Bhanja group (family Bunyaviridae) that has not yet been assigned to a recognized genus [3]. The virus was first isolated from the tick Haemaphysalis intermedia collected from a paralyzed goat in Bhanjanagar (district Ganjam, Orissa State, India) in 1954 [4]. The known geographic distribution of BHAV [5] involves southern and central Asia, Africa, and southern (partially central) Europe (Figure 1). In Europe (Figure 2), BHAV has so far been isolated in Italy [6], Croatia [7], Bulgaria [8], Slovakia [9], Romania [10], and Portugal (as Palma virus) [11]. The virus is transmitted by metastriate ixodid ticks: in addition to H. intermedia, it was also isolated from Haemaphysalis punctata, H. sulcata, Dermacentor marginatus, Hyalomma marginatum, H. detritum, H. dromedarii, H. truncatum, H. asiaticum, Rhipicephalus bursa, R. appendiculatus, Boophilus decoloratus, B. annulatus, B. geigyi, and Amblyomma variegatum. Vertebrate hosts of BHAV are sheep, goat, cattle, African hedgehog Atelerix albiventris, and African ground squirrel Xerus erythropus. The virus does not usually cause apparent infection in adult animals but is pathogenic for young ruminants (lamb, kid, calf) causing fever and symptoms indicating the CNS affection [12–16]. Several cases of BHAV febrile illness have been described in humans, with symptoms including photophobia, vomiting, meningoencephalitis, and pareses [17–19]. Experimental encephalitis was produced in another primate species—rhesus monkey [20]. Modern predictive methods for potential geographic distribution of organisms, for example, of ixodid ticks or pathogens they transmit, are usually based on “remote sensing” satellite imagery combined with the use of geographic information system [21]. In this contribution, another approach is presented that is based on a “close (ground) sensing” of data. The procedure is characterized by comparing known natural foci of BHAV within Europe to extract their typical features and select those characters that can be used as factors predicting potential presence of the virus in other geographic areas [22]. Eight natural foci of BHAV in Europe were selected (Figure 2) being defined as those areas where the virus was either isolated from ixodid ticks or its presence indicated by a very high seroprevalence rate (≥50%) among local domestic ruminants in different years. The chosen areas include the following: Complex description of the natural foci has been based on physico-geographic characterization (for a list of the characters, see Supplementary Material available online at doi:10.1155/2009/372691): topography (40 characters), geology and pedology (47 characters), climate (39 characters), and gross vegetation (15 characters). The aim has been to search for features in common among the eight areas. Description of biota focused on terrestrial vascular plants (Tracheophyta), ixodid ticks (Ixodidae—Table 1) and vertebrates (Vertebrata), and based on checklists of species present in the eight European areas: a total of 2517 spp. terrestrial plants, 28 spp. ixodid ticks (Table 1) and 96 mammalian, 172 avian, and 40 reptilian spp. were included, each species occurring in at least one of the areas. A great number of resources were utilized for the survey: Flora Europaea [28–32] plus national and regional floral checklists, monographs [33–40] for geographic distribution of ixodid ticks, and an extensive collection of literature for vertebrates [22]. The data recorded as + or (+) were evaluated as the presence, − as the absence, while the variables with a doubtfull occurrence (?) in at least one of the two areas compared pairwise were omitted from the similarity calculations of the particular pair of areas. Numerical comparative pairwise analysis among the BHAV foci was carried out using the Jaccard similarity coefficient for binary (presence-absence) qualitative data, and Euclidean distance for normalized quantitative climatic data [41]. Matrices of both the similarity coefficient and Euclidean distance values were then subjected to the average linkage UPGMA cluster analysis [42], and the results were expressed as dendrograms of relationships (similarity) among the areas. The procedure for selection of “bioindicators” of Bhanja virus (i.e., those species indicating potential presence of BHAV in an area) consisted in the following steps at scanning the checklists of biota (i.e., terrestrial flora, ixodid, and vertebrate faunas): (1) “constant species” were considered those species present in all (8) or nearly all (6-7) BHAV areas; (2) “bioindicators” were then selected as those constant species having a relatively narrow ecological amplitude and a restricted distribution over Europe (i.e., ubiquitous and/or generalist/euryoic species were omitted). The results of topographical, geological, pedological, and gross vegetational characters (102 in total) revealed a great similarity between the foci C and S on the one hand, among B, F, and K (all three are karst areas) on the other, while only a partial similarity between V and G and a marked dissimilarity of A (Figure 6). Figure 7 presents climadiagrams of annual course of temperature and precipitation, while Figure 6(a) shows the results of cluster analysis of the eight BHAV natural foci based on 39 climatic variables. The latter analysis indicates marked similarity among F, G, and B in their climate; other Italian foci (S, V, C) are also related, and Bulgarian A as well. On the other hand, Slovak K is considerably different from all other foci in its climate. Cluster analysis of terrestrial flora among the foci resulted in a group consisting of three Central-Italian foci (F, G, V), related floristically to B, South-Italian foci (C, S) formed another group, while Bulgarian A is less similar, and Slovak K the least related focus (Figure 6). When the plant species restricted to Eumediterranean and littoral zone (“ − m’’) were excluded from the set, the result was slightly different: Central-Italian foci were floristically more similar to South-Italian foci than to Croatian B. Again, A and K deviated, the latter more than the former. The topology of dendrograms of avifaunal and herpetofaunal similarity of the foci was identical, and the dendrogram based on mammalian faunas deviated only negligibly (Figure 6). All these three dendrograms showed the formation of three clusters of foci: (a) all Italian, (b) Croatian B, (c) A and K. On the other hand, ixodid faunas yielded a dendrogram (Figure 6(b)) very similar to that based on Tracheophyta, with formation of two clusters and two singletons: (a) Central-Italian foci (F, G, V) and Croatian B; (b) South-Italian foci (C, S), (c) Bulgarian A, and (d) Slovak K. It means that there is a notable congruence between the similarity of foci based on fauna of Ixodidae (a number of them being vectors of BHAV) and that based on terrestrial flora, whereas vertebrate faunas yielded a different pattern [22]. Calculations of the congruence among the biotic and abiotic components of the foci by Pearson correlation coefficient [42] revealed that ixodid fauna reflects best the terrestrial flora and also climate, much less correlates with vertebrate fauna, whereas physiographic features do not correlate with the other components. In other words, there is an evident, statistically significant relation between climate, terrestrial vascular plants, and ixodid ticks, where the climate is the ultimate causative factor; vegetation reflects these abiotic weather conditions and affects (shelter, etc.) or indicates the formation of tick synusies, while much less closely that of vertebrate communities. A number of biogeographic features in common was found among the natural foci of BHAV in Europe. For instance, mean altitude is 200–850 (avg. 530) m a.s.l. The relief is undulating to hilly (or low mountainous), with presence of terraces, plateaus, or peneplains. Hydrographic net is sparse, combined with largely dry soils. Marine transgression of the area usually occurred during the Triassic, Lower Jurassic, Upper Cretaceous (Senonian), Oligocene, and partly Mid-Miocene periods. Mesozoic (Cretaceous or Triassic) or Tertiary (largely Pliocene, Eocene) deposits occur. Sedimentary rocks (in contrast to metamorphic and igneous rocks) prevail; consequently carbonate minerals (marls, marly, or clayey shales, sandstones, conglomerates, clays, partly limestone) are much more usual than silicates. Frequent soil types are rendzinas, terrae calcis (e.g., terra rossa), and illimerized and brown forest soils; the soil is liable to erosion and drought. An agrarian (pastoral) type of landscape is typical. Climate has the Mediterranean pattern, with peak rainfall in the winter (Figures 3 and 4), and a dry, hot summer period or, in central Europe (K, Slovak Karst—Figure 5), there are extrazonal xerothermic habitats on karstified limestone approaching meso- and microclimatically those in southern Europe. Mean annual precipitation is 600–1100 mm, air temperature 8–15 ∘ C (January 4 ∘ C , July 2 3 ∘ C ); hydrothermic coefficients indicate climate corresponding to the ecotone between steppe and forest ecosystems. Dominating vegetation type is mosaic “woodland-grassland (forest-steppe) ecosystem,” consisting largely of thermophilic, broad-leaved deciduous woods (Quercetalia pubescentis) or pubescent oak bush, and xerothermic meadows with pastures (Festucetalia valesiacae, Brometalia erecti, Onopordetalia acanthii, Prunetalia, Origanetalia vulgaris). Typical for the BHAV foci is the colin vegetational belt with trees like Quercus pubescens, Fraxinus ornus, Ostrya carpinifolia, Sorbus torminalis, Prunus mahaleb, and so forth; vineyards and thermophilic orchards are common. Natural foci of BHAV in Europe do not occur in the Eumediterranean Oleo-Ceratonion and Quercion ilicis zones. The foci are exclusively of boskematic type [43], that is, associated with grazing domestic ruminants (largely sheep and goats) as main hosts of local ixodid vector ticks. Characteristic taxa of wild vertebrates are those living in relatively open, dry, and warm habitats—for instance, species of the avian genera Circaetus, Falco, Alectoris, Caprimulgus, Upupa, Calandrella, Lullula, Oenanthe, Monticola, Lanius. Four groups of principal biogeographic predictors for BHAV potential areas in Europe have been established, based on comparative analysis of the eight European foci: (1) submediterranean climatic pattern with dry growing season and wet mild winter (or mesoclimatically similar, e.g., karstic conditions in Central Europe), (2) xerothermic woodland-grassland ecosystem, with plant alliances Quercetalia pubescentis, Festucetalia valesiacae, and Brometalia erecti, involving pastoral areas with regular grazing of (small) ruminants, on undulating to hilly relief, (3) at least one of the metastriate tick species Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor marginatus, Rhipicephalus bursa and Hyalomma marginatum. (4) Presence of 60% or more of the 180 (157 plant, 4 tick, 19 vertebrate) spp. (or species aggregations) selected bioindicators. As a result of the comparative analysis, 157 plant, 6 mammalian, 9 avian, 4 reptilian, and 4 ixodid spp. (or species aggregations) were selected as bioindicators. Table 2 shows suggested bioindicators of BHAV natural foci in Europe. Predicted countries and areas in Europe where BHAV could potentially occur have been based on the presence of a sufficiently high (≥60%) proportion of species of the bioindicator set (Figure 8). The countries (areas) with predicted occurrence of Bhanja virus include the following (Table 3): Italy, former Yugoslavia (present Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, Monte Negro, Macedonia, Bosnia), Bulgaria, Greece, France (southern), Albania, Romania, Spain, Hungary, European part of Turkey, Ukraine (southern), Slovakia (southern), Switzerland (Tessin), Austria (southeastern), Corsica, Sardinia, Germany (southern), Moldova, European Russia (southern), Portugal, and possibly Crete. On the other hand, European countries with improbable occurrence of Bhanja virus are Belgium, Czechland (Czech Republic), Poland, Great Britain, The Netherlands, Belarus, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Iceland. The geographic distributional centre of the suggested BHAV bioindicators is largely the East-Mediterranean region, usually with links to Asia Minor and Transcaucasus. Further, the number of zooindicators is much lower than that of phytoindicators, though the proportions are identical (6% of the total number of species recorded). Ecological index sensu Ellenberg [44] yielded for 70 spp. of the BHAV plant indicators an average score of “774–383,” with the meaning “a xerothermic plant growing on insolated places of suboceanic climate and alkaline (often calcareous), largely nitrogen-deficient soil.” The phytoindicator species lying very close by their ecological indices to this average index value have been, for example, Quercus pubescens, Cerastium brachypetalum, Arabis turrita, Conringia orientalis, Amelanchier ovalis, Prunus mahaleb, Lathyrus latifolius, L. hirsutus, Coronilla emerus, Dictamnus albus. Acer monspessulanum, Helianthemum canum, Cornus mas, Scandix pecten-veneris, Galium tricornutum, Asperula cynanchica, A. arvensis, Teucrium chamaedrys, Stachys germanica, S. recta, Legousia speculum-veneris, Chondrilla juncea, Lactuca viminea, Filago vulgaris, Hieracium piloselloides, Muscari comosum, Melica ciliata, Agropyron intermedium, Phleum paniculatum, and Himantoglossum hircinum. Eight areas in Europe were selected for comparison and called natural foci. In general, a natural focus (nidus) of a disease is an area where the agent circulates in an ecosystem between vertebrates and haematophagous arthropod vectors for many years [43, 45]. In a natural focus, the agent should be therefore found repeatedly (in consecutive years) either directly (by isolation from arhropod vectors or vertebrate hosts) or indirectly, by detection of antibodies in vertebrates. All eight areas selected in this study fulfil this criterion of a natural focus. For instance, even in the most “deviating” and northernmost area, Slovak Karst, antibodies to BHAV were first detected in goats and sheep in 1976 [46], then repeatedly in the years 1982 and 1983 [22], and BHAV was isolated from local Dermacentor marginatus ticks in 1987 [9]. In general, groups of species or whole communities are often more reliable as bioindicators than individual species. Therefore only the presence of substantial proportion of the proposed set of indicator species can have a sufficient predictive power. In this study, the cut-off level was established tentatively at 60%. A unique opportunity to verify the set of predictors of BHAV occurrence established in this study is a comparison of two close and in many respects very similar Dalmatian islands Brač and Hvar (Croatia). There is, namely, a known, potent natural focus of BHAV infections on Brač (B in this study), whereas no known BHAV focus on Hvar. Vesenjak-Hirjan et al. [27] detected antibodies to BHAV in 31.5% of inhabitants (875 examined) on Brač but only in 1.0% (512 examined) on Hvar, though antibodies to, for example, sandfly fever were distributed homogeneously among inhabitants of both islands: 62.1% and 59.4%, respectively. The authors noted that “the underlying reasons for such a great difference on two neighbouring islands have not as yet been explained.” However, the suggested set of predictors of BHAV foci does enable clear differentiation of both islands in the following crucial factors: (1) plant community Ostryo-Carpinion adriaticum (order Quercetalia pubescentis), occurring in the central elevated part of Brač, does not appear on Hvar; (2) very limited numbers of domestic ruminants graze on Hvar (typical extensive pastures are completely lacking) contrasting to their large numbers (even for centuries) on Brač; (3) population density of BHAV vector ticks (Haemaphysalis punctata, Dermacentor marginatus) is (consequently) much lower on Hvar than on Brač. It is therefore probable that this predictive approach could well be used to test the probability of potential BHAV occurrence even in individual districts within a particular country. The possibility of indication of natural foci of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by the presence of specific plant communities was proposed by parasitologists and botanists more than four decades ago [47–49]. However, Ixodes ricinus, the vector of TBE, is a generalist (euryoic) tick species with a very wide ecological valence and therefore much less amenable to predictive analysis. On the other hand, prediction is relatively easier in the specialist (stenoic) species like some metastriate ticks, including vectors of BHAV, having a rather narrow ecological valence. These species are generally bound to certain specific habitats and the analysis of their distribution can thus be more straightforward and effective. The present paper shows that a “close/ground sensing,” although not so sophisticated, is an alternative to remote sensing and applicable for prediction of geographic distribution of ixodid ticks and pathogens they transmit. A prerequisite for this alternative approach is existence of corresponding databases and/or checklists of abiotic and biotic variables in respective areas or a complex field survey. An anonymous reviewer of this manuscript suggested that BHAV infection could have followed humans with their domestic animals (Bos indicus) infested with one-host vector ticks such as Boophilus spp. from Asia to Africa and a mixture of African and Asian cattle (Bos taurus) into the Mediterranean. Additionally, primaeval movements of tick-infested sheep and goats from Asia to Africa and Europe could play an important role in the dispersion of BHAV. This study was partially funded by the EU Grant GOCE-2003-010284 EDEN; it is catalogued by the EDEN Steering Committee as EDEN0172 ().

Picking a running mate like it is 2000James Forsyth 5:48pm At first blush the selections of Joe Biden and Sarah Palin appear to have little in common. Obama went for an experienced Washington insider with a ton of national security experience, McCain went for a first term governor whose previous statements on foreign policy hardly suggest a great deal of knowledge about the subject. But the two picks do have something in common: they’re the picks you would have advised the candidates to make if they were running in 2000. In 2000, with the misguided holiday from history still in full swing, Biden would have answered questions about Obama’s lack of foreign policy experience in the way that Cheney did for Bush. While picking a Palin-style figure then would have bolstered McCain’s reform credentials and his reputation as a different-kind of Republican. However, in 2008—with America fighting two wars and facing a resurgent Russia and an Iran that is dangerously close to going nuclear—the picks both seem somewhat unsatisfying. Biden on the grounds that the president himself should have the knowledge and judgement to deal with these questions and Palin because it is hard to imagine her stepping up to the presidency if something happened to McCain early in his first term. The two picks have, to an extent, scrambled the race as neither side has chosen to double down on its message. Instead, the electorate faces a choice between tickets of change and experience and experience and change. The next few weeks will see both sides trying to redefine the race, how it looks going into the debates is going to be crucial. VerityAugust 30th, 2008 6:41pm Report this comment Change and experienc or experience and change. Hmmmmm ... I don't recall McCain or Palin promising to change things. They're conservatives. It's the vacuous, sleazy Obama who wants "change!". The "first term governor", by the way, as the chief executive of the state that contains billions of gallons of oil and billions of cubic feet of gas, she has not been unexposed international pressure. Your boy's tanked. Live with it. TrevorHAugust 30th, 2008 6:47pm Report this comment Why for heavens sake does the VP need to have foreign policy experience? The President will select a Secretary of State and a National Security Advisor. We all know that the job of VP aint worth a bowl of spit. TGF UKIPAugust 30th, 2008 6:55pm Report this comment James, you remind me of someone in your take on Sarah P. Can't quite put a name to him at the moment but it was one of those harumphing old Tory grandees who greeted what they saw as the quite perverse election of Margaret Thatcher instead of Ted Heath back in 1975. Funny, but I didn't think you were quite that old. macAugust 30th, 2008 7:13pm Report this comment "[whose] statements on foreign policy hardly suggest a great deal of knowledge about the subject". A bit like our Foreign Secretary, you mean? DisillusionedAugust 30th, 2008 7:20pm Report this comment I think the most interesting thing coming out of The Spectator's coverage of the US election is the evidence that you know a lot more about British politics than American. Why are you guys even out there? If we want to read about the US election then there are plenty of better informed commentators on the web. Meanwhile, you are missing important British events like Darling's ludicrous comments today. Please get back to the UK and stop messing about in the US covering subjects you don't understand. Cogito ErgosumAugust 30th, 2008 7:36pm Report this comment Vice-President Truman had little experience of foreign affairs when he succeeded Roosevelt. But he spoke for America and did a good job. So would a Vice-President Palin. By all accounts a Vice-President Biden could stifle America's enemies by his own sheer verbosity. Sometimes unpleasant weapons have to be used! ndmAugust 30th, 2008 8:04pm Report this comment John McCain has made a spectacularly bad misjudgment in his first serious decision as the putative President of the United States. This poor decision supports Barack Obama's contention that his judgment trumps McCain's experience. The United States has barely survived the misjudgments of the Bush Administration - from poorly-planned wars to cronysim. McCain's selection of Sarah Palin confirms it would face four more years of the same failure were he to win the election. rush-is-rightAugust 30th, 2008 8:30pm Report this comment I know that those are big boots to fill but....I'm hoping that Sarah P can be the Margaret Thatcher that her country needs sometime soon. Where ours is going to come from though... God knows. Austin BarryAugust 30th, 2008 8:35pm Report this comment The candidates' choices for VP are quite mad, but remember that they are the selections of St.(or perhaps Iman) Obama and Geezer McCain, both deranged in their own all-American way. But then nearly all the world leaders are quite barmy: Mugabe, Mbeki, Ahmadinejad, Kim Il-Sung, Brown. So who can gainsay the efficacy or otherwise of Biden and Palin? We, the people, can just hone our sense of ironic detachment and look on as the demons of unease and anxiety claw at our collective psyche. VerityAugust 30th, 2008 9:31pm Report this comment Disillusioned - I couldn't agree more. So many wrong assumptions based on half-misunderstandings. It's driving me nuts. And now a vapid, utterly absurd new meme is springing up on this blog - that Governor Palin can be "another Margaret Thatcher". Dear God! The sheer naiveté blows the mind. The sheer provincialism and foolish self-regard. Palin is the Governor of the biggest state in the Union. She is already immensely powerful. She is the CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Alaska, for God's sake! She controls the national guard. The only thing they have in common is, they are both women. Palin is not the first woman governor. There are absolutely no points of similarity of any kind. It is so screechingly provincial it makes my blood run cold. Roy SimpsonAugust 30th, 2008 9:33pm Report this comment The USA's finest post war Presidents were, in my opinion, Truman and Reagan. Both achieved distinction in foreign policy matters. It was Truman who took the brave decision to use the atomic bomb to curtail the war with Japan, thereby saving thousands of allied casualties. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine, (to contain communism), and NATO. It was President Reagan who, by standing firm against the Soviets, was the significant factor in the demise of the Soviet Union and the Cold War. Neither had "previous foreign policy experience". It didn't stop either from taking advice and, on the whole, making sensible and far sighted decisions. Joe CamelAugust 30th, 2008 9:59pm Report this comment The unmistakable tone of desperation that has crept into the Democratic Party's press releases (ndm at 8:04 p.m., above, but also elsewhere on these talkbacks) can only mean that the Alaskan surprise has got the Obamessiah and his worshippers seriously rattled. VerityAugust 30th, 2008 10:01pm Report this comment Austin Barry - Care to explain this phrase: "both deranged in their own all-American way." What is an "all-American way" of derangement? Can you define it and tell us how it applies to either or both candidates? CarlyAugust 30th, 2008 10:30pm Report this comment Here is the rationale we are being told to accept: That it is ok to have an inexperienced MALE President (Obama) but not ok to have an inexperienced FEMALE Vice President (Palin). This is sexist hypocrisy. VerityAugust 31st, 2008 12:19am Report this comment Roy Simpson - Agreed. Every word. Ganpat RamAugust 31st, 2008 12:35am Report this comment Can someone enlighten me as to what experience Obama has? He ran for President after two years in the Senate, and never having run anything but his mouth. Palin, by contrast, has been running a large state abutting Russia and Canada with massive revenues, and earning 80 per cent approval ratings. She has a son on his way to Iraq. She is better qualified to be president in terms of actual experience of GOVERNING than Obama, McCain and Biden put together. David LindsayAugust 31st, 2008 12:37am Report this comment "the misguided holiday from history" Otherwise known as the Bush Administration. "America fighting two wars" So end them. Just pull out. What would actually constitute victory or defeat in either of them, and why? "a resurgent Russia" Grow up. If this were happening, then it would be a good thing, and certainly no threat to us or the US. But those who cannot live without some sort of bogeyman are going to have to do better than this as "al-Qaeda" fades and no one can be tempted into caring about Iran. Either that, or grow up. "an Iran that is dangerously close to going nuclear" Again, even if this were true, it would pose no threat whatever either to the United Kingdom or to the United States. So, again, grow up. Carol-AnnAugust 31st, 2008 12:45am Report this comment When people questioned Obama's experience or lack there of, it was portrayed as a euphemism for his race and declared racist. Yet the same people are now throwing this accusation at Gov. Palin, yet no-one says it's sexist. Austin BarryAugust 31st, 2008 5:51am Report this comment Verity, certainly: "All-American" equals naive, earnest, self-centered and lit by the conviction that Americans are the elect, the chosen people. But, hey, I love their chubby charm, wonderful scenary and the freedom to turn right at stop lights if no traffic is approaching from the left. Craig StrachanAugust 31st, 2008 6:11am Report this comment Carol Ann: "Yet the same people are now throwing this accusation at Gov. Palin, yet no-one says it's sexist." Like I say, the problem is not that she's a chick. It's that she's a hick. andrew kirkhamAugust 31st, 2008 6:36am Report this comment Palin has far more experience that Obama , Obama has done nothing except pontificate in the Senate. Palin has been managing Government and if anyone has been in local Government then you are going to learn a lot about management Alf TupperAugust 31st, 2008 9:35am Report this comment "...I'm hoping that Sarah P can be the Margaret Thatcher that her country needs sometime soon." Why would a nation seek to emulate something which was, in its original form, such a catastrophe? Alf TupperAugust 31st, 2008 9:42am Report this comment David Lindsay. I think the 'holiday from history' label, might refer to a time scale much greater than the Bush era. And if your summary of developments in Iran is anything to go by, then I think it's yourself that needs to do some growing up before it's too late. RoyAugust 31st, 2008 9:49am Report this comment While some can mention Reagan as a notable President in foreign policy matters, it has to be reminded that it was Reagan who gave Pakistan a $3.2 billion aid package in 1981, showing a blind eye to its use. This was a friendly overture to make sure of a suitable base to see off Russia from Afghanistan. While the deceitful Zia was being all charming and friendly he was channeled a big proportion of the funds into producing a nuclear device. It has to be questioned at this juncture today whether Russia would have been the best option to have the country of Afghanistan all to itself. oldtimerAugust 31st, 2008 11:41am Report this comment Having "experience" is, of itself, not necessarily a good guide to how people will perform in the highest office in the land. Others have already pointed out Truman`s record in foreign affairs (post WW2 the Marshall Plan, founding of UN and NATO) despite no previous record or obvious pre-occupation with such matters. What mattered was an ability to set clear objectives, appraise unique and evolving situations, and to devise a strategy and course of action to help make them happen. An ability to think clearly and to be resolute in decision seems to me to be the qualities that matter the most. By contrast, Anthony Eden probably was as experienced in foreign affairs as any of his predecessors as PM. Yet he committed the enormous blunder of Suez and ended his career in comparative ignomony. So far as Governor Palin is concerned my view is this. She may "only" have been an elected mayor of a small town for a couple of years and Governor for about two but this is long enough to find out if she was/is up to the chief executive jobs she was elected to do. It seem that she was. That is a plus point for her that is not shared by any of the other candidates. It is also a truism that no one can have any conception of, or can adequately prepare for these top jobs until they find themselves in them - just ask Gordon Brown. JONNYAugust 31st, 2008 11:45am Report this comment Palin's Annie Get Your Gun finger on the nuclear trigger with the world teetering on Armageddon? Oh God. Could the Oxford Professor of Dystopian Nightmares predict anything more horrendous? As for me I'll be a Believer. Down there on my knees praying. dennisAugust 31st, 2008 3:05pm Report this comment Verity I don't recall McCain or Palin promising to change things. They're conservatives. PALIN: I didn't get into government to do the safe and easy things. A ship in harbor is safe, but that's not why the ship is built.….. The people of America expect us to seek public office and to serve for the right reasons. And the right reason is to challenge the status quo and to serve the common good…. If you want change in Washington, if you hope for a better America, then we're asking for your vote on the 4th of November. Disillusioned I can't agree. The analysis + debate here is a lot better than on any US blog I've found. VerityAugust 31st, 2008 3:35pm Report this comment I see that some male wanabees on this thread are emulating James, who puts a lot of thought into trying to sonnd American, when he so clearly is not one, by writing what they imagine is Americanese. I've noticed that a lot of wanabees on this site who try to sound American say, "But, hey!", as they used to say on Friends. They seem to think this pharse is key. Old Timer - I agree with your post. Of the two presidential candidates and the two vice presidential candidates, Sarah Palin is the only one with chief executive experience. She turned around the fortunas of the town that elected her mayor and I read - I can't track it back - that the job she did was considered so outstanding that she was elected to represent (AK? - don't know and can't find it) mayors at a US-wide national conference of mayors. In other words, she was endosed by her peers - not a bad recommendation. She saw off the then-current governor of Alaska, plus a former governor who was running, and got cracking cleaning up the state. Her performance has been outstanding enough to come to national attention. Yet all some mean-spirited little men commenting here can do is come up with moronic little putdowns. I refer you to the stream of angry, utterly pointless, lunacy from Jonny, above. Austin Barry - another "but, hey!" man - some cities in some states allow right turn on red. You need to understand the governance of the US before trying to sound like Jay Leno - certainly a modest-enough ambition in itself. You people drive or travel on the filthy, stuffy, over-crowded tube. Sarah flies her own (peronally, not state-, owned) seaplane to get around outside the cities. She's a free spirit and she is very capable. Think about this: She's been doing all these things during the years Obama has been voting "Present" in the state assembly and, latterly, DC. Look at his record. He has initiated nothing and he has accomplished nothing. I notice the women here, including me, are more admiring of what Governor Palin has accomplished. This is going to be echoed throughout the United States on voting day. McCain has made a daring and brilliant choice. By the way, as a governor, Sarah outranks the other three individuals running. AlexAugust 31st, 2008 3:39pm Report this comment 'Disillusioned' (August 30th, 2008 7:20pm) The Spectator must have touched a nerve with you on this article. Does something ring true? ... if you feel there are 'better informed commentators' than the Spectator, why are you here? Next time, if you wish to leave a comment here, make sure its constructive rather than vacuous. VerityAugust 31st, 2008 3:52pm Report this comment Dennis writes: "The analysis + debate here is a lot better than on any US blog I've found." The level of blogging and commentary is informed and thoughtful. The writing is civilised and courteous. Craig StrachanAugust 31st, 2008 4:17pm Report this comment Verity: "She's a free spirit and she is very capable" Right, she's free with other people's property and capable of using her public office for private spite. jsflAugust 31st, 2008 5:52pm Report this comment The point of picking Palin is not to compare her to Biden but to compare her to Obama. If she is inexperienced then what is Obama? She is the junior partner in the GOP candidacy. Therefore shouldn't Obama be? What were the Democrat Insiders thinking backing Obama over Hillary...... Biden becomes an irrelevance because he will only count if Obama is no longer around. Unless they can catch Palin and find something sinister in her closet then I suspect that will be the underlying GOP narrative from here on in. It's already starting. All McCain needs to do is snatch a few % points from Obama and Palin might be the catalyst needed to sufficiently undermine him. I just waiting for the first time Palin reminds people of Obama's San Franscisco speech. ' Those small town Americans clinging on to their bibles and their guns' Pointing out that she is one of them and she didn't need political insiders to help her succeed. David LindsayAugust 31st, 2008 6:53pm Report this comment Alf Tucker, even if the Iranian threat existed, then it would not be to the United Kingdom, nor to the United States. At most, it would be to Israel, which is not a part of the United Kingdom, not a United State, not even a particularly good friend of the United Kingdom, and not even a particularly good friend of the United States. Both parties in America have clearly had enough of the war lobby, and not before time. Even McCain has nominated a paleocon as his running mate. So, since all you neocons out there cannot support any ticket with either Obama or the Buchananite Palin on it, is it time for a third party or an Independent candidate from your stable? Who, exactly? And why, exactly? Good luck... GilAugust 31st, 2008 8:02pm Report this comment David Lindsay, why don't you give it up. You've made your point: You support Pat Buchanan who recently wrote a book claiming that we could have reached an accomodation with Hitler and WW2 was unnecessary. Now you oppose policies that would prevent Israel being backed to the wall. Ok, we get it. Can we move on now? Frank PulleySeptember 1st, 2008 1:14am Report this comment Verity Yesterday in the small wee hours I read a paragraph on the Wikipeadia biography of Mrs Palin that suggested that it has been alleged that her Down's syndrome child is in fact the child of her eldest daughter and that she feigned the birth herself to conceal the fact. They cited the fact that her daughter was 'away on a trip' on the date the baby was born and that Mrs Palin returned to work only three days afterwards. I intended to cut and paste the piece, but having started a comment on the Coffee House I returned to the Wiki entry to transfer it to my post and the paragraph was no longer there. I know the Wiki is interactive an that it is invigilated so perhaps it was a smear that was detected and deleted. I've googled around today and can find no reference to such an allegation elsewhere. Do you know where this could have started by any chance? Is it likely to have substance? If it is then surely there are people who simply must know and the truth will out. That would be the end of her ticket wouldn't it? You seem to be an expert on her career and background - heeeelp! ZenobiaSeptember 1st, 2008 12:14pm Report this comment Frank - since there are a number of photographs of Governor Palin when she was pregnant with her fifth child available - why do you think that comment was there in the first place and has now been removed? Hint - Libel AugustusSeptember 1st, 2008 2:23pm Report this comment Re: Babygate - It seems that the original source of the story was the socialist website Daily Kos. Andrew Sullivan also blogged about the story, displaying a picture of Bristol holding Trigg. Even CNN's informal blogging tool, used by their left-wing supporters for stories they themsleves dare not report, chimed in. It has now been debunked. Personally, I would say that whether the mother or the daughter (unlikely, in view of her age) is the mother of Trigg is not that important. What counts is the love which the family will give the boy. VeritySeptember 1st, 2008 4:52pm Report this comment Frank P - I hadn't even heard this ridiculous rumour - which reeks of being made up by malicious lefties. The malice of the left is profound, especially when they thought a huge prize was within their grasp. Now Obama's dead meat and they are furious. She wasn't back at work three days after the birth! It was three weeks. Which, for an onerous job like hers, is still awfully fast. But she has the resource of a large and loving family, with sisters and sisters-in-law and she's given birth four times before and knows her own recovery timeframe. Tell me this, why would a high profile national figure agree to act as a mask to protect the name of someone no one's ever heard of? It's so bonkers the notion could only have hatched in the "brain" of the disconnected, demented left. From what we know of that family, they would have rallied round the daughter, had the child been hers, and not pointed any fingers. Think of it. Her husband's a roustabout. He works in production on the North Slope. That is one hell of a rigourous job and he has done it for years, although now he leaves for work from the Governor's mansion. One of the two sons is due to leave for service in the Armed Forces overses, I think it is this week. This story is so bonkers I honestly had to read your post twice. A world-famous governor tipped to be the next Vice President of the United States agrees to be a mask for someone totally unknown with no reputation, other than in her own circle. I cannot believe this! Don't be so daft, Frank! Frank PulleySeptember 1st, 2008 10:57pm Report this comment Verity I wasn't being daft, merely reporting what I saw on Wikipaedia, and wondering whether I was imagining that I saw it - as it has disappeared! As you had done more research on this than anyone else posting here I was consulting the oracle. I've been preoccupied all day and away from the blog, but I just saw Sky News and the rumour was reported there and I came straight to this thread to see what had transpired. I figured it must be a smear (as I intimated), but WTF do I know? That's why I asked you. Don't snap at me m'Dear. If we can't run these things past the Com-mitt-ee, how can we get to the bottom of things? Obviously things have developed since I posted yesterday and it is a smear. Thank you for your help. Frank PulleySeptember 2nd, 2008 12:14am Report this comment Augustus Thank you for that information, now I know I wasn't dreaming it! Wicked lot, these Obamaniacs. Only this time it has back-fired; let's hope it loses him a few million votes. I agree wholehartedly with your last sentence. It would be interesting to know how long it was on the Wikipaedia item before it was blasted. Marian CSeptember 2nd, 2008 3:00pm Report this comment Frank - Your not dreaming, I saw the same thing, an absolute disgrace if you ask me. How low can they sink Back to top

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The First Battle by Mac Logan Smashwords Edition Smashwords Edition, License Notes Thank you for downloading this free ebook. Although it is a free ebook, it remains the copyrighted property of the author, and may not be reproduced, copied and distributed for commercial purposes. You are welcome to share this with your friends. Why not give them a link and let them download it for themselves? They can make sure they get the right version for their device or PC. This ebook may be reproduced, copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes, provided the ebook remains in its complete original form. If you enjoyed this ebook, please return to Smashwords.com to discover other works by Mac Logan, including: The Angels’ Share - Fumble - This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to people living or dead, events or locales, is entirely coincidental. Thanks to Meg for her patience, cooking and support as I wrote and re-wrote The Angels’ Share. Gale Winskill of Winskill Editorial deserves a mention for her forthright feedback and fast turnaround. She’s as professional as she is helpful. Thanks to Mariana Sing for permission to use her picture “Keep Breathing” on the cover. Thanks to Choice Voices for their willingness to help with audio-book production (audio version of The Angels’ Share out Spring 2012). Thanks to Andrew L Phillips for his interest in taking my project to the film and TV world ... Watch this space! Thanks finally to everyone else: family, friends and helpful strangers who read parts or the whole manuscript and shared their thoughts. The First Battle provides backstory for The Angels’ Share. It tells the story of the first battle early in Sam Duncan’s military career. It is a short war story pure and simple. The Angels’ Share is a conspiracy thriller with crime, corruption, adventure and mystery thrown in. ‘Where’s the fuckin’ Falklands?’ ‘The South Atlantic.’ Sam said. ‘Tell me more, Sir.’ Sam recognised the tone from officer training. Lowest of the low, one of the instructor sergeants had told him: I’ll call you “sir” and you’ll call me “sir”, there’ll only be one difference: I won’t mean it!’ ‘Take a boat from Southampton, Sergeant. Sail into the North Atlantic (which is to the right, making sure to miss Ireland) go on for a bit; then hang a left and go south for thousands of miles.’ Fuss gave him a frosty stare and got an insolent half-smile back from his ‘green’ lieutenant. A week later they joined the Taskforce; trained hard on the long sea journey and, later, with a couple of fire-fights behind them, mutual respect and liking grew. A soldier’s life included death, violence, boredom, physical discomfort, rage, terror and sadness. How could a person be unaffected by the harsh reality of war like the drawn out death of a young Argentinean? Sam and others watched as the youngster screamed for his mother in the strident universal language of fear and agony; fading, minute by minute, to silence and stillness, as his life ebbed away despite the efforts of the medics. Active service; they weren’t kidding! Sam and his men fought with gun, grenade and bayonet. He experienced courage, cowardice, wonderful leadership, stupidity; and, one day, a battle by the sea. The briefing happened on a desolate windswept shore. Quentin Smythe, the Adjutant spoke to his officers as they squatted round a map. His clipped British military-style of speech conformed to stereotype as he spoke in a firm, precise style. ‘Best guess is they’ll defend with aggression from well dug in positions. Reconnaissance suggests we face quite a few regulars in this lot. Order and morale looks pretty good. Don’t expect an easy passage.’ He paused and made eye contact with each member of the group. ‘Right, you all know the goal, let’s review your orders. Baz, run your contribution past us.’ Smythe nodded to a sandy-haired, youthful lieutenant with quick-moving blue eyes. Baz leaned over the map and, using the point of a pen described what his platoon would do in a nervous but determined-to-do-well voice. ‘We will head out at 19:00. We will position, invisible and silent, on the left facing the enemy position, and provide suppressing fire as needed. When Sam’s team reaches here,’ he tapped the map, ‘we will follow-up.’ Smythe acknowledged Baz in an affectionate, almost parental way. He nodded. ‘Good Baz, thanks.’ He wagged his finger at the sky with a knowing half-smile, ‘Remember, Baz, suppressing fire must keep enemy heads down. Follow-up must be quick. Be right on Sam’s heels as he engages. Delay means death.’ The next day Baz didn’t delay. He was right there for Sam, and dead before daybreak. ‘Now then Tonka.’ A dark haired man in his mid-twenties nodded, his impassive face betraying nothing. ‘Give us the low down.’ ‘We will be crawling on to this lump here.’ He pointed to a map position almost due east of the objective. ‘This gives us a similar height to Baz and an enfilading position on the Argie’s line of defence and beyond. We have two snipers and some GPMGs. Our role is to sow fear, doubt and uncertainty. We will aim to take out some of the command structure and disrupt any coordinated response. We will engage when Baz starts and then follow up on foot to support Sam’s boys. The only worry is the fog of war. Let’s be careful not to shoot each other … especially if we disrupt them and get them moving westwards.’ ‘Important point Tonka. Awareness lads. Kill the enemy, not each other! Night fighting is tough but we’re much better at it than the enemy are.’ Smythe summed up and then gave attention to the next officer in line, an older man; maybe thirty-five; a Captain of Artillery. Bill Weston was well liked by the men because of his sense of humour and solidity. ‘Bill, tell us about the hail of death you’re going to rain down on the enemy.’ Bill gazed at each of his colleagues in turn, establishing rapport. As ever, a half smile eased on to his mouth before he spoke in an almost casual, wry manner. ‘We’re going to give our Latin friends a bit of a mortaring. This will be peppered with some heavy machine gun support fire. And all will be spiced up by some NFGS (Naval Gunfire Support) to add a subtle je ne sais quoi. We have spotters in place to direct the heat.’ He was quiet for a moment then, adopting a more serious considered expression, became more military and precise. ‘Gentlemen, the show starts at 21:45. The bombardment will go on for fifteen minutes. A spotter will call early stoppage if Sam is early and seen. Don’t be early Sam. The fire won’t be friendly. You want to do your last 100 yards or so starting around 21:55. It’ll give you time to crawl through the soggy stuff. I’ll give you a call if there’s a change.’ Sam nodded. He’d be lucky to come out of the action with all his men intact. ‘One more thing chaps. Bad news is we don’t have much spare ammunition. We can only afford fifteen minutes of bombardment. After that, its bullets, grenades and bayonets.’ Smythe turned to Sam, at twenty, a youngster like Baz. Smythe wrinkled his eyes and nodded acknowledging the implicit danger in Sam’s task. ‘Last but not least, Sam, tell us your story.’ Sam spoke with clarity, his Scots brogue a counterpoint to the military English spoken by the others – except for Tonka who had a warm West Midlands accent. ‘We’re going to follow Baz out to his hidey hole. When he is in position we will advance, or should I say crawl, to this area here about fifty yards to the right and forward of Baz.’ He pointed to the map, made a circular motion over one area and continued. ‘Baz and his team will be ten yards higher than us and three yards above the enemy positions. No doubt the covering fire will be right on the money. It’s going to be a bit hairy, but with Baz, Tonka and Bill on our side, and we mustn’t forget the Navy, we need only run out from cover, take the surrender and get a gong or two for outstanding bravery.’ The team laughed as expected – all humour welcome on the eve of battle. Smythe shook hands with each one in turn, wishing them a brief ‘good luck.’ Sam turned to go when the Adjutant raised his hand. ‘A word please Sam.’ The others moved away. ‘Sir.’ ‘This is your third point in a row Sam.’ ‘Yes, Sir’. ‘The CO regrets putting you in again. We wish we could rotate this around a bit, but you and your team are useful when it gets a bit hot. Experience has its own price.’ A thin smile. ‘How are your men?’ Smythe said. ‘A bit cheesed-off, but accepting the need. We’ve been lucky to have only minor wounds so far. Bottom line, Sir, we’re up for it. We accept there’ll be a price sooner or later. Least said, and all that. We’ll do our job.’ In the damp night, fifty yards forward and to the right of Baz , Sam’s team stopped and hunkered down. The terrain: wet peat hag, shrouded in misty drizzle and strength sapping cold. When the troops lay down in cover the soggy ground soaked their kit and sucked the heat from their bodies. A signal delayed the advance for three hours. Fuck! They were cold enough already. Moonlight added an eerie dimension to the boredom. The bombardment started 01:45, a lethal firework show, and, after five minutes Sam’s platoon made ready. The prospect of action livened the men up. Their eyes glittered with energy as they made ready. The splatter of rain against faces refreshed as adrenalin surged into muscle and bone. The dampness of hours of exposure was forgotten with the prospect of a fight. Focus, focus, focus. How well had the bombardment worked? They’d know soon enough. ‘Let’s get at ’em. Sam signalled the advance. They started moving to the crack of the snipers’ L42A1s, and the burping of GPMGs to the front and right. They covered the first seventy yards or so without incident. Not every enemy head was down; the Argies had a strategy of their own and had entrenched some forty yards back from their original positions. With a resounding whump a mortar shell landed forty yards behind Sam’s team, the sodden ground seemed to stifle the shrapnel. Whump! The next shell was damned close. The remnants of Joey Neil flopped through the air, camouflaged meat and bone; body parts and entrails splattering about. The enfilading GPMGs opened up on the mortars, tracer ripping into the enemy. Whump! Another shell went wide. Then some NGFS blasted into the mortar position from a frigate. No more mortar shells arrived. The fighting didn’t stop. The sudden scream of a newly injured man wailed and went silent, friend or foe unclear. The crack of rifle fire rattled and continued in spasms. The slap of bullets into flesh and vegetation, the rip of machine guns, the explosions of shells and grenades combined with the beautiful ruddy glow of a burning hut; talk about surreal. Chaos exploded in scattered clusters. Men dived into dark peaty cover watching out for comrades, ready to kill the enemy. The mantra was much the same whoever you fought for, stay orientated or die. Watchful people live. Awareness is all. The wild fire of fear translated into action and an uncompromising response: focused, killing anger. They continued forward. Fuss, Sam’s sergeant, farther out to the right with a squad. They moved on elbows and knees using quick bursts of energy, benefiting from an Olympian stamina fuelled by surging adrenalin.A single shot. Another. A sputter of gunfire. The crack of bullets overhead. They ran towards cover – sodden silhouetted hummocks; wind blown grasses waving like unkempt hair – and dived for squelching safety. After eight hours the two forces were well entangled as the brightness of daybreak came. In an instant, the fire-fight was all around; a storm of percussion and fireworks. Utter chaos. Got to keep moving. His platoon spread out, Sam led a small group towards a narrow cleft. Muzzle flashes blossomed as soldiers moved forwards. An Argentinian machine gun pounded out a vicious new stridence to the rhythm of battle. The light-show was tracer; the dance was death. Everyone dived for cover friend and foe alike. Troops became separated in the lethal disarray. Training told. Sam knelt behind a saturated lump of turf and rough grass. He breathed deep and exhaled with a steady hiss, calming himself, keeping his mind in control. Think! Think! A shape flopped to the earth beside him panting. One of his lads. ‘OK Cal?’ The words came out more like a statement of fact than a question. Corporal Calvin P. Martin, a big man, mumbled something that sounded affirmative between gasps. The fire fight spluttered around them. They moved forward, then left down another mound and into a miniature valley. They peered through coarse grasses as the wind blustered and whistled. Their bellies blotting water, their hearts thundered as they crawled for an eternity. The centre of battle rolled towards them. Cal scrabbled onwards with brisk determination, his rifle moving between his elbows as feet and knees propelled him ahead. A sudden movement from the right seized Sam’s attention. He grabbed Cal’s ankle with his left hand. Both froze. Four or five enemy burst from cover, moving fast. One ran into Cal hard and cursed him, fila da puta. The enemy gathered himself and turned raising his weapon. Cal, winded and squirming, tried to bring his gun to bear. He couldn’t make it in time. Three sharp cracks took half the Argie’s head off, Sam had rolled, fired and turned back on guard fast. The foe’s body fell twitching two feet from Cal. Blood sprayed for an instant, red mist swirling away in the wind. His comrades kept going. ‘OK Cal?’ ‘Fuck! Thanks boss.’ They moved on. No time to think about the horror as it happened. Afterwards in the boredom of waiting they remembered the violence, excitement and occasional nobility of a dangerous profession. ‘I’m going up for a wee recce.’ Sam said. ‘With you.’ Cal moved backwards to cover Sam. He saw the boss creep up another small hillock and dropping over the hump to disappear from view. From the right came a burst of far from friendly fire. Cal, now separated from Sam, shot back and got on with staying alive. Sam listened to the exchange. Shit! He hoped Cal was okay. Tracer from a GPMG team was aimed uselessly some fifty yards to his right. As he changed his magazine, he sensed stealthy movement nearby, incongruous rustling between the crackle of passing bullets and the flat bangs of weaponry. The baddies were heading for his men. More tracer and a shout of pain, one of his men screaming … Do something! The emotion of the moment. His training clicked in. Cool, focused, a killer ready to rock and roll. The rustling sound came again. Three enemy came over the hummock, none of them expecting to discover a Brit. The first two died barely registering something was wrong. The third shot Sam in the meaty part of his left thigh before receiving three rounds in the face and upper body. ‘Bastard!’ Sam struggled on, his flesh wound mercifully numb. A grenade went off behind him. The shock wave was briefly disorientating but the shrapnel blew above him, well absorbed by the sandy soil of the hummock. The enemy made contact with his team. He glanced over a mound and spotted some men hunkered down; Soldiers who wanted to kill his men, firing at them. Grenade in hand. Pin out. Count, lob, duck. Wham. Screams. He lobbed another. Bang! More screams. Back up. Find targets aim a short burst into each man … fast as you can. Cheers of relief. His guys opened up and the enemy fled. He exulted to the sound of his men fighting strongly and knew they had just won the engagement. Victory. Yabba Dabba! The pain in his thigh burst through like a runaway train. Sam hissed through his teeth as he assessed the wound; bloody sore but it didn’t seem too bad. He missed the approach of the soldier who bayoneted him. His kit took the worst of the stab to his back. The man meant to kill him and stuck his boot on Sam’s pack as he tore the blade free. Sam shrieked in pain as the soldier lunged again, this time finding the gap in the side of his body armour. The blade sliced into his side. Sam grabbed the rifle barrel. Fear and self preservation gave him strength. He turned, pushed the blade out of his body and away. His antagonist slipped and fell backwards over the uneven ground. Eyes blazing the man came back. Sam’s 9-millimetre Browning Hi Power knocked him down, but didn’t penetrate his flack jacket. The soldier got up and rushed him once more, face distorted by the frenzied rage of battle. Two more bullets towards the head, a spray of blood. The enemy didn’t get up this time. Sam lay back, already starting to feel sleepy; relaxed, calm, warm... pain-free. The fight ended, they’d won. His men were experiencing survivors’ love for their leader; there when they needed him. Two came running up. ‘Nice one, Boss.’ Cal called. The boss didn’t move. ‘For Christ’s sake, Fuss! Fuss! The boss is down.’ Cal started to staunch heavy bleeding with a field dressing. ‘Radar! Radar!, You fuckin’ twat. Where are you?’ Fuss, called in his gruff Glasgow voice. ‘Here Sarge’. ‘MedEvac now!’ The professional sounds of radio contact began. Beside Fuss there was a moan. ‘Argie bastard,’ Said Smivvy. He slipped the safety off and brought his SLR up. Fuss’s hand pushed the barrel down. ‘No fuckin’ way son.’ ‘Come on Sarge. He stuck the boss. The bayonet’s right there.’ ‘Battle’s over son. No more killin’ for now. Winkle tend to him.’ A squddie went over to the wounded enemy and knelt beside him. Winkle jerked the Argie on to his back, and recoiled as blood spilled out of the man’s helmet and splattered about. The soldier groaned. ‘Listen you fuckin’ ignorant Scouse twat. I said save his life not fuckin’ torture him. If he dies I’m gonna have yer fuckin’ balls …’ Fuss gave Winkle a hard stare. Winkle, gentle in an instant, got an ampoule of morphine from the kit and injected it into the enemy. He pressed a dressing on the squirting head wound and followed up with another on the man’s shoulder. The enemy coughed up some blood. Sam became aware of a helicopter journey as he faded in and out. A blurred stream of calm speech giving co-ordinates; concerned voices cooing to him; gentle hands squeezing his arm. Another prick in the arm followed by the rosy glow of more morphine. A high. Soothing words … ‘gonna to make it’… ‘almost there’… a sense of being moved and body armour coming off … scissors and a chill draught on bared flesh. Then a murmur near by. ‘We’ve got to open him up right now.’ A clear, authoritative voice. ‘Come on we need two more units for Christ’s sake!’ ‘Who’s him?’ Sam said. ‘You.’ ‘Oh.’ ‘We think we can save you.’ ‘Faaantastic, good stuff morphine; no pain, not a fuckin’ twinge.’ Sam said. ‘Right.’ A smile covered by a green mask. ‘You say I might die? ‘Not if we can help it. ‘Is there a Padre?’ ‘Yes’. ‘I need a minute’. ‘Right. Padre, over here, please be quick.’ The surgeon said. The Padre moved over and gazed at the bloody man in front of him. ‘Hello lad?’ ‘Padre, I’m sorry for the killing. I love my family. Tell them for me … Please tell God I’m sorry for the men I’ve killed.’ ‘I’ll tell ’em; God will understand about the killing.’ ‘Thanks.’ They started to anaesthetise Sam. He faded away. The surgeon shook a weary head, looked away for a moment, sighed; he and his team did the emergency work, and saved Sam’s life. Sam wasn’t the only surviver but three of his team died; two were badly wounded and one of them later invalided out of the Army. Two weeks later as he recuperated with much less pain and some wry humour, he met the man who bayoneted him. Fuss made the arrangements. Alberto Arnaldo Evans was an Argentinean of Welsh descent. He spoke excellent English and was great fun. ‘Arnie’ had run out of ammunition – hence the bayonet. When Sam dropped him the bullet had ricocheted off his forehead, careered round the inside of his helmet, passed through his right deltoid muscle and fractured his collar bone before stopping somewhere in the top of his right lung. The second round had missed by a mile; no bad thing! The helicopter trip saved two lives and created a friendship, with both men unaware of Fate’s agenda for them in years to come. ******* Thanks for reading The First Battle. I hope you enjoyed it. The Angels’ Share and other writing is available in most ebook formats (more titles to come!). Go to: The Angels’ Share Fumble WRITING My inspiration for The Angels’ Share series comes from first-hand experience of wasteful, inept and self-serving procurement practices in the public sector. With disturbing frequency there are press reports of uncontrolled costs and minimal accountability. I have witnessed opportunistic exploitation and stunning incompetence, by both public and private sector people and organisations in both national and local government. This begs the question: why is incompetence and self-serving abuse allowed to continue? In addition to The Angels’ Share series, there are two other writing projects in-hand: one is a Celtic ,spiritual warrior adventure story, set in Roman times, with preliminary research and writing begun; the other, having written over twenty published articles, involves the human side of work. ME A ‘son of the manse’ I lived in North America as a child. I am British and Scottish with a strong affinity for Americans. After a somewhat spotty school career, I did various jobs including time as a shepherd on the island of Mull. I became a middle manager in an engineering company at the age of twenty three. By twenty six I was running a training group of twenty SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprise) manufacturing companies in thirty locations. When I was thirty I joined a UK national multiple retailer and manufacturer as Head of HR (Human Resources). Next, I started my own company as a business advisor, organisation/team development and change specialist. I worked extensively in the public and private sectors, from blue chip to SME. I was often hired by organisations to troubleshoot people and team problems. Finally I founded and became CEO of an IT firm. I left after eight years and became a writer, business advisor, non-executive director and member of a charity that provides advocacy support for people with learning difficulties. I've known good times, hard times and have travelled a bit. Apart from short ebooks, the next novel in the Sam Duncan series, DarkArt, will be published in summer 2012.

Jets 24 Dolphins 6: Losing Streak Ends Despite Ugly Start The Jets are back to .500. Tonight's 24-6 win over the Dolphins at the Meadowlands got New York back to 3-3. The schedule gets tougher from here in the short term. Based on what we saw from Miami, there is no way it could get easier. Simply put, the Jets got the right opponent at the right time. This was a good team to get healthy against because an imperfect effort like this still resulted in a blowout win. More under the jump. Darrelle Revis: This was not vintage Revis. In fact, it is about as badly as I have seen a healthy Revis play since the Monday game in Miami two years ago. With that said, bad Revis is better than good almost anybody else. The Dolphins completed less than half of the passes in Darrelle's direction. Brandon Marshall got him a few times as badly as anybody I have ever seen get Revis. The Dolphins also could have completed more passes. No matter what, he finished with two interceptions. The pick and the 100 yard touchdown returns in the first quarter could not have been bigger. The Dolphins seemed on the verge of landing an early knockout blow. The ESPN crew was screaming for a flag, but it sure looked to me like Marshall just lost his footing and fell into Revis near a spot in the field where a lot of guys seemed to be losing their balance. Kyle Wilson: We did not even hear Davone Bess' name until garbage time. Jim Leonhard: He led the Jets with 7 tackles. He forced a fumble. Most important, though, was when he saved his teammates' bacon with a shoestring tackle on Daniel Thomas as Thomas was about to bounce outside and walk into the end zone for a potential 10-0 Miami lead. Later in that drive came the Revis interception. Wayne Hunter: The late sack to Koa Misi is on him. It will count on his stats, but the game was over by that point. He committed a penalty. He ends up with the good, though, because he stonewalled one of the best pass rushers in the game, Cameron Wake, with little help. Really, Hunter has played pretty well the last four games after a brutal first two. It is time for people to let up. Mark Sanchez: Sanchez looked off early. He missed a few throws. It was not all his fault. His receivers were not open on a lot of those throws, and the playcalling bordered on the bizarre at times. He eventually found his rhythm. He finished 14 of 25 for 201 yards and a touchdown. He did not make any ill advised throws while the game was in doubt. There were also at least three passes other passes that hit receivers in the hands. You have to love that he spread the ball out to seven receivers. The audible to the quarterback draw on his rushing touchdown showed great recognition. The Jets finally gave their receivers a chance to make some plays, calling some long developing routes and taking shots down the field. Mark is at his best when he is on the move and can find guys down the field. It should not have taken so long for the Jets to challenge this defense, but it worked when they did. Offensive Line Pass Blocking: I already mentioned Hunter because he had the toughest job, but Sanchez had all day to throw, and the receivers had all day to get open. Santonio Holmes: 3 catches, 63 yards, and a great run after the catch for a touchdown. Plaxico Burress as a Blocker: One thing Plax is doing well is blocking. He was good helping the run and threw a key block on the Holmes touchdown. Dustin Keller: Didn't see much action, but 2 catches for 51 yards equals big plays. Joe McKnight on Offense: Why we cannot see more of him on offense I do not know, but he had 2 catches for 29 yards splitting wide. John Conner: Threw some key blocks on successful runs. Antonio Cromartie: The one Brandon Marshall completion was brutal. He cannot keep getting burned like that. The receiver will only stupidly run out of bounds with open field in front of him maybe once a year. Aside from that, Cro was solid in coverage and had a big pass defensed in the end zone on Marshall. Kenrick Ellis: The legend begins. He held up well, and man the big guy can move to the ball. Jeremy Kerley: It might not have looked impressive on the stat sheet, but he had a key third down reception to extend a first half drive. That was also New York's first first down of the game. The offense seemed to relax from that point and looked much better. TJ Conley: He hit some rockets. His long was 63, and the Jets got three inside the 20. Marquice Cole: Was in on two tackles to pin Miami deep on kickoff coverage. Calvin Pace: Very good against the run. Was one of the few Jets to do anything rushing the passer early. Finished with 7 tackles and 2 sacks. Aaron Maybin: Still a one trick pony. Ran himself out of some plays, but forced 2 fumbles, had a sack and a hit. If nothing else, you have to love his hustle. Nick Folk: Easy kicks, but he made all 3 PAT's and a chip shot field goal. He also was solid on kickoffs and got it deep enough to set up the coverage units to do well. Marcus Dixon: He was probably the best pass rusher the Jets had all game. He was constantly getting pressure to Matt Moore. The Bad: Brian Schottenheimer: It took him too long to call plays that suited Sanchez's strengths. Some of the early calls defied description. There was the run to the weak side where there was nobody blocking. There was the direct snap to the running back throwback to the quarterback. There was the fake screen one way, screen the other way. Why can he not design the offense to suit his young quarterback? Shonn Greene: I'm officially on the both the line and running back are to blame for the run game's struggles bandwagon. Greene had some carries where he had no chance, but he also had some running lanes where he cut the wrong way and cost himself yardage. There are times he tries to run the guy over where he should bounce outside and times he bounces outside when he should cut in. Joe McKnight on Special Teams: That was ugly. He lost one fumble by not running up to the ball and directing his blockers out of the way. There easily could have been two others on punt returns. It is time to get him off the punt team. Plaxico Burress as Receiver: On an offense that spreads the ball out, stats do not always tell the story. I don't like the way Plax is running routes, though. His timing still seems off. Garrett McIntyre/John Conner on the Muffed Kickoff: McKnight is to blame, but these guys need to have better awareness of where the ball is. Three guys were at fault on that one. Antonio Cromartie on Brandon Marshall's 46 Yard Reception: We can't just ignore how brutal the coverage was, can we? Jamaal Westerman: Failed to set the edge on the first play of the game for Miami. That resulted in a big Reggie Bush run. He was quiet the rest of the way until a garbage time sack. Mike Devito/Muhammad Wilkerson/Sione Pouha/David Harris/Bart Scott: Miami ran it 4.7 yards per carry, and too frequently it looked like the Jets were getting blown off the ball and missing tackles. Not a good performance by the run defenders. I am not sure Rex Ryan would admit it, but it sure felt like Pouha was benched for Kenrick Ellis for a stretch. Other Thoughts: - Props to GGN member ___key for predicting Revis' pick six before it happened. - Throwing at Revis like Miami kept doing is asking for trouble. - I never understood why Miami hired Brian Daboll as offensive coordinator. I still don't. - It looks like the Jets are starting to get LaDainian Tomlinson more involved with the run game. Greene has clearly been a disappointment. In his old age, LT is only productive for a few carries. Might I suggest giving some to Joe McKnight? - This was a good opponent for the Jets to work out some of the kinks. The first half was brutal at times. Against most opponents, they would have been in deep trouble. Miami came at the right time of the season. - On the other hand, this takes a ton of tension away. In baseball you frequently see a weak infield single to get a hitter out of a slump. The hitter relaxes even though he did not hit the ball hard. Hopefully that happens here. - Holmes sticking the ball out the way he did before reaching the end zone on the touchdown is just begging to get stripped. It could have been better, but we cannot be too picky after the last month. The Jets are back in the win column. San Diego is next and then the bye. If the Jets can finally deliever a big performance, they can feel good about themselves heading into their week off. | 1 recs | Do you like this story? Is it me... or did we seem to run the ball more effectively when having the terminator in the game? want to know what people think about that or if anyone noticed the same thing by john_146 on Oct 18, 2011 12:22 AM EDT via mobile reply actions OK I PRETTY MUCH AGREE WITH ALL THIS YOU DID GOOD THIS WEEK! by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 12:22 AM EDT reply actions Gotta give him credit, though He was about the one guy in America who thought Hunter could handle Wake. Editor-In-Chief Gang Green Nation SB Nation's Jets Blog by John B on Oct 18, 2011 12:25 AM EDT up reply actions Hopefully Hunter can keep it up I recall Slauson struggling his first two games then we stopped hearing his name. Now he is actually considered good. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 12:29 AM EDT up reply actions Hunter's now playing at the level he was the end of last season with the other four guys on our line, that’s plenty good enough. Editor-In-Chief Gang Green Nation SB Nation's Jets Blog by John B on Oct 18, 2011 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions I swear to god, I;s watching the game with my friend, and I tell him: “Man, a pick six sure would be great right about now” Next play… Contributing Writer - Bleacher Report Senior AFC Analyst - TheHometowFan.com by Ryan Alfieri on Oct 18, 2011 12:23 AM EDT reply actions If I were Tanny I would give Maybin a 1-year extension tonight. He is the definition of Designated Pass Rusher. Prediction: Kenrick Ellis will be starting at NT over Sione Pouha by the end of the year. "Show me a good loser and I'll show you an idiot." Leo Durocher by LiveLoveNYJets on Oct 18, 2011 12:30 AM EDT reply actions Crack will agree to that by john_146 on Oct 18, 2011 12:34 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions Don't need to but I saw Ellis break through the line and charge into the secondary tackle a guy for a lose. And the home of the .... JETS!!! Now lets get a G-D snack!!! "You might not like that. You might be very cynical about that. Well, f**k it, I don't care what you think."-Roy McDonald by Noble_Lance on Oct 18, 2011 12:38 AM EDT up reply actions I disagree but I could see them rotating Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN. Archduke of PACOS. GangGreenNation.com by Bro Namath on Oct 18, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions I agree with both... Maybin is having great games, and is going to wind up being a huge steal for us. founding member of PACOS (People Against the Constant Overuse of Sarcastic font) GGN-Moderator by Judgegavel on Oct 18, 2011 7:56 PM EDT up reply actions Anyone watching post game show? Cute chic in Mulligans locker. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 12:31 AM EDT reply actions Damn they were just saying we are going to be 3-6 going into the Denver game on Espn... by Jets16 on Oct 18, 2011 12:38 AM EDT reply actions haters gonna hate we set up the building blocks for this team to look respectable again. by NYJALLFINGDAY on Oct 18, 2011 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions Of course it's possible but so is 6-3 founding member of PACOS (People Against the Constant Overuse of Sarcastic font) GGN-Moderator by Judgegavel on Oct 18, 2011 7:57 PM EDT up reply actions And you believe them? They're not trying to get predictions right. They're trying to get people to talk about them. That's why they throw out all kinds of stupid shit. by DesertJetFan on Oct 18, 2011 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions Still as a (sensitive) fan, I still hate hearing all of the Jet-abuse. But it’s never going to stop:( by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions I love it. This team does better when we have haters. Let the haters hate. (I’ll never forget when we beat Minnesota last year and all the sports world—except for Trent Dilfer, oddly enough—could talk about was Favre’s almost comeback. It was ridiculous.) by cult hero on Oct 18, 2011 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions Trent Dilfer seems to be a pretty big supporter of Sanchez. Not sure why, but I've noticed it. by jkoyon on Oct 18, 2011 3:57 PM EDT up reply actions Because Dilfer wants someone else to be mentioned with him as the subpar QB that won a SB with a good defense. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions Screw them. This makes the jets breathe easier. If we can get extended drives early in the game, and start faster, our lives would be easier. Miami really struggled to stop us when we got rolling. The run game was active but there were two penalties that killed great runs by L.T and Greene. Short week, lets beat down San Diego. by jets4life24 on Oct 18, 2011 12:50 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions Biggest thing I noticed from the game was Maybin. He was at the tunnel when the players were coming out for warmups cheering on his teammates, and continued to do so throughout the warmups. He was the one guy I saw really going out of his way for that. In addition, even the plays when he ran right out of the play, he was one of the few lineman to really get that burst off the ball. It’s pretty clear now that I have a mancrush on Maybin, but I thought he did very very well tonight. Oh, and I loved seeing Ellis with that tackle. America #1 by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 18, 2011 12:40 AM EDT reply actions +1 I want Maybin to succeed so bad, I love seeing 51 come up and pop a ball loose by NYJALLFINGDAY on Oct 18, 2011 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions Agreed. He has the physical talent like Gholston, but he really wants it. It’s pretty clear that he’s hustling every play, unlike Gholston. America #1 by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 18, 2011 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions He's playing for his football life Any let up and he is out of the league by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions I’ll take what we can get. America #1 by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 18, 2011 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions I love that Rex calls him "crazyman" "I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan by OldJetsFanatic on Oct 18, 2011 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions You see the locker room video too? He was right across from LT in the home of the Jets chant, he’s bought in 100% by NYJALLFINGDAY on Oct 18, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions Haha really? Never heard that one. America #1 by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 18, 2011 12:52 AM EDT up reply actions Apparently he calls himself "Mayhem" So Rex called him crazyman by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions I like “Maybach” since Rex has said before that he’s a luxury. America #1 by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 18, 2011 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions Gotta give some props to the Defense While Miami busted out a few big runs in the first half, we held them to 2 field goals and had 5 forced fumbles and 2 interceptions. The defense in the red zone was simply outstanding. "I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan by OldJetsFanatic on Oct 18, 2011 12:42 AM EDT reply actions Lots of positives. Offense wasn't too predictable for once. Other guys were getting involved too. Defense played well, but the run killed us early. Maybin is a fumble machine, and plays with alot of hustle. westerman held his own vs Long but is a little weak in the run game. A win is a win. I’ll take 4-3 going into the bye. by jets4life24 on Oct 18, 2011 12:48 AM EDT via mobile reply actions Guess you missed 1st Qtr.Jets can not keep starting like this or good teams (Ravens) will blow them out early. Sanchez needs a lot more work if he’s gonna play WR.What the fluck was that play about! by Putnan Prince on Oct 18, 2011 9:57 AM EDT up reply actions Schotty being Schotty I don’t get it, he goes from the same 3 plays over and over to wild gadget play with no chance of working. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 12:07 PM EDT up reply actions Good call on Dixon He is quietly doing some great work on the field. "I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan by OldJetsFanatic on Oct 18, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions Everyone sitting near me on the direct snap was so confused, NOBODY knew what the hell was going on. One of the worst plays I’ve ever seen called. And that screen across the body was so insanely stupid as well. America #1 by bobdolethesnapplelady on Oct 18, 2011 12:49 AM EDT reply actions Yeah, I didn't see that when it happened Totally buried under work, but when I did on the highlights, I was like what the hell was that, Schotty? It’s like he can’t help himself, he has to do something utterly befuddling to everyone involved. Awful, awful play that I hope to never see again. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions Thoughts Revis is great, Wilson is well on his way there, and Cromartie is meh. Did not miss Donald Strickland one stitch. It seems like the less I see Eric Smith the better. Pouha was active a lot of the game, and Ellis was active the most when the Jets were clearly ahead. Although Pouha’s two tackles might support your notions. Plaxico Burress is too told to stretch the field or get decent separation. His ability to reel it in has been questionable at best. But I do agree that he’s matched or exceeded Edwards in blocking. All my concerns about McKnight and ball security are reawakened. Maybe that’s why they’ve given him relatively little time on offense so far this season. Sanchez plays well when his OC isn’t holding him back. Arm chair GM. Mod/contributing writer at SBN Jets blog GGN. Archduke of PACOS. GangGreenNation.com by Bro Namath on Oct 18, 2011 12:59 AM EDT reply actions Plax looked super slow on that last go route. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions it definitely looked like he was dogging it. i’m not looking his body language the last two weeks. "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." by FrankWhyte on Oct 18, 2011 7:50 AM EDT up reply actions Plax has looked slow all year and no one seems to mention it. He occasionally can out position guys for the ball. But his speed is scaring no one. He has a fridge on his back, and has definitely left some of his speed in the clink. It’s inarguable. by David G on Oct 18, 2011 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions Jets made huge mistake with Dropsico.Slow,slower and slowest describes his game speed last night. Easily covered with single DB and probably could be covered with safety or quick LB. by Putnan Prince on Oct 18, 2011 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions I was so mad after the 1st QTR I actually punched my desk. I was surprised how Shotty was able to put Mark in a situation to get in a groove. It was almost like a switch was flipped. Shotty has once again gotten a stay of execution. A slow start like this one, next week, could kill us though. Get busy winning or get busy losing. by GangGreenMag on Oct 18, 2011 1:33 AM EDT reply actions Maybe it's just me but When the Jets lose, I see Rex and Sanchez post game pressers on constant loop on SC and tonight when I actually wanted to see them after a win, nowhere to be found. Not cool ESPN. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 1:36 AM EDT reply actions Are you in New York? SNY plays the whole interviews by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions Neither Rex nor Sanchez said much. You didn't miss anything. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions I'll look for a clip on ESPNNY As much as I hate going over there. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 8:26 AM EDT up reply actions They showed Rex's press conference right after the game But that was it. I want to see some transcripts, anyone got any? by Exystence on Oct 18, 2011 9:22 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions Got an Iphone or Ipad? The official jets app is awesome. It streams the postgame stuff along with the in week stuff as well. Not a bad spot for breaking news also. by Can'tWait on Oct 18, 2011 9:54 AM EDT up reply actions It's great Got it for android. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions Yeah I'm with you... I just turned on Mike and Mike and Chris Carter was saying he is doubting Sanchez’s progress. I turned that crap off. But Trent and Steve were saying the same thing last night. That guy never gets any props. :13 AM EDT up reply actions Maybe, just maybe, everyone is saying it because its true by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions I don't think so Won’t always be smooth sailing with a young QB but as long as he’s not compulsively turning the ball over and still making plays, the other things will come in time, he’ll be fine. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 8:32 AM EDT up reply actions He's kinda turning the ball over alot and kinda not making plays 11 TDs to 5 INTs. But how many fumbles/Ints returned for TDs? How about just in the Balt. game? He’s not young anymore. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 8:36 AM EDT up reply actions What gets me is no one talks about Josh Freeman when he plays like crap They just like to bring up his “amazing” 4th Qtr comebacks. :38 AM EDT up reply actions He has more ints than TDs this year But I don’t seem to hear much about that. Whatever, by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 8:45 AM EDT up reply actions 3 years in the league is still considered young to me Baltimore game had horrid protection from the line so I’m not sure that’s a great litmus test for his progress. Let’s just see how he does going forward, still a few games to play. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 8:43 AM EDT up reply actions I know, I put them on mute 11TDs(9 pass, 2 rush) to 5 ints. Could he do better, sure, but not really a ton to be upset about. But as they are so fond of saying around here:Haters gonna hate. What can you do? by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions They were right about some things. Sanchez still has happy feet in the pocket. It’s one thing to scramble and go through your progressions, but you have to take that moment to set your feet before you throw. That’s why some of those drops were drops – the ball was off. The QB’s accuracy suffers because of it. And that horrible pass that sailed over Burress head which could have been a TD is another example. After 3 years that’s an indictment of the QB coach (Cavanaugh), the OC (BS) and Sanchez. And Rex as the HC can’t escpae his share of the blame either. by Traveling Man on Oct 18, 2011 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions Best hope I have for Sanchez is to be Tony Romo without all the crucial mistakes and that's okay. by Putnan Prince on Oct 18, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions Not good Revis? I think you have to factor in the 20 yard catch by Marshall was a blatant PI by him. It was an obvious push off. But the good news is, allowing them to play physical set up the big pick. If they let the first non-call happen, they had to let the pick go. That’s what idiots like Gruden don’t get. They were being consistent with two physical players. by David G on Oct 18, 2011 1:38 AM EDT reply actions I agree. Those two were really fighting. Let them play for crying out loud. Even with that said, I still don’t think the pick was PI at all, despite what shit-for-brains Gruden kept parroting. Marshall hit him and I think tripped, but I couldn’t tell. They didn’t call PI because Revis kept his eyes on the ball and not on the receiver. by cult hero on Oct 18, 2011 2:02 AM EDT up reply actions I pretty much agree I’ve seen that same play called for illegal contact, but Revis was the only guy looking at the qb, and as you said, Marshall ran directly into him and initiated contact. Marshall never made a move anywhere near the pass, so it was a good non-call imo. by David G on Oct 18, 2011 2:04 AM EDT up reply actions Hahaha. Well, the whining Fish fans are over crying about how Revis gets away for PI all the time because the NFL likes him or something. Suck that. I love beating the Patriots, but I love beating Fish fans more than beating the team. Wankers. by cult hero on Oct 18, 2011 2:16 AM EDT up reply actions ALOT to CORRECT STILL ! After watching a game that we should have walked away with anyway , I noticed that Cro ,Lenohard , and Sanchez need to get their heads out of their asses and concentrate on making the play ! Cro gets burn’t too often , Jimmy misses tackles and Sanchez misses open recievers. I can bet my bottom dollar that Brady would have picked up Keller wide open in the end zone. Don’t get me wrong , cause I wear No. 6 myself at gametime , but don’t press and look the whole field over. There was adequate time tonight. Missed tackles are killing us on D . Play through the play ! Bring on the Bolts ! J-E-T-S JETS JETS JETS !!!!!!!! by bleedinggreen41 on Oct 18, 2011 1:47 AM EDT reply actions i was gonna shoot someone due to missed tackles. what the heck was the deal with that??? metsjetsknicksrangers.............can it get any worse? by dabu7 on Oct 18, 2011 1:52 AM EDT up reply actions agreed on everything jb except for plax run blocking i still think he blocked him in the back.. either way, was i the only one who noticed that espn’s cameras sucked tonight. they came back to the play late a few times and had lots of issues w/ replays…… metsjetsknicksrangers.............can it get any worse? by dabu7 on Oct 18, 2011 1:51 AM EDT reply actions I noticed that as well Bad angles to start a few plays off. They missed one play completely and never did a replay. Twice they went to shots of the secondary when it was a run. Bad, bad, bad. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 1:57 AM EDT up reply actions I think we got rid of guys one year too early with S Ellis and Price I dont think every RB and his mother turns up the corner or avg 4.5+ ypc with TRich and Woody maybe we could avg4.5+ypc with JCo and BEd Sanchez would be in sync with his WRs and kept one guy a year too long…SCHOTTY!!!!! Just a thought by george JETson on Oct 18, 2011 2:18 AM EDT reply actions Agree on most counts... JCo being the only one. He didn’t want to be here anymore. Edwards > Plax Schotty… must… go. by cult hero on Oct 18, 2011 2:25 AM EDT up reply actions I dunno J Co should be the number 2 receiver on this team. Ellis and Pryce wouldn’t make that much of a diffeence in the run. T Rich couldn’t help since he would barely be on the field much like Connor. Woody is likely STILL recovering from his injury. Edwards is a head case and was not gonna sign with the Jets for Plax’s $3 mill. But yes, Schotty does suck. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 2:41 AM EDT up reply actions Good writeup Im starting to see a trend here with the Jets, we always start off so slow and sluggish that we are basically playing catch up all game, now i think maybe it has to do with Shottys 20 scripted plays, they dont seem to work and it doesnt matter because he sticks to them until he runs out of them, then he starts shooting from the hip and our Offense looks decent…maybe Shotty just needs to wing it from here on out and forget all his over analyzing crap he does, we are much more effective that way "The message to the rest of the league is, hey, the Jets are coming, and we're going to give you everything we got. And I think that's going to be more than you can handle" by AFCxxBEAST on Oct 18, 2011 3:58 AM EDT reply actions Scripted plays or not Sanchez is too often getting a pass for poor play. He is missing on too many crucial plays that could extend a drive. by CervezaVerde on Oct 18, 2011 4:01 AM EDT up reply actions He is for sure a slow starter Luckily, he seems to get better as the year goes on:) by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 8:25 AM EDT up reply actions I loved the part where Gruden says, before the play is off, “Conner in motion, we all know he’s going to line up as a FB and block for Greene…..and…..he does”. Our plays are so predictable…..even the ones that Shotty tries to make “unpredictable”…..I told my brother last night that he was going to try to go deep once early (which he did), was going to try a stupid fake end around or bootleg or something stupid (which he did). Proud to root for the Jets, Mets, and Islanders!!! Twitter: cmauceri524 by CharlieIsles on Oct 18, 2011 8:02 AM EDT up reply actions To be fair When a FB is lined up as a FB everyone knows he’s going to block for the RB because that’s his job. I hated that stupid trick play Schotty put in but I see why he did it. He wanted to wake up the offense and get things rolling. I guess a deep pass wasn’t a good option with the way Mark was throwing the ball in the 1st QTR. :17 AM EDT up reply actions So you think Sanchez going out on a trick play as a receiver is what this offense needs to "Wake Up". by Putnan Prince on Oct 18, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions Well, I did say the call was stupid. My “wake up” explanation was just my way of trying to explain Schotty’s “GENIUS”. 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions Son of Marty is definitely a cutting edge "Genius.Anyway,I think we have vastly over-rated the Jets talent on offense.We are thin everywhere and will be in serious trouble with any injuries. by Putnan Prince on Oct 18, 2011 2:13 PM EDT up reply actions It seems like we just slept through the offseason Instead of waiting on Aso hand and foot until the last minute, we could’ve been making way more important moves. by Melrenee on Oct 18, 2011 2:50 PM EDT up reply actions John B you are 99% spot on with your analysis BUT.... you cannot put Cro in the “Good” column. You just can’t. Ever. Specifically for this game, he got twisted up by Marshall as you pointed out, but I think further analysis is needed. It wasn’t like the Branch play last week where there was a designed cut back to the outside. Moore was scrambling for his life and Cro, instead of locking his responsibility down, was just watching the pass rush. He might as well have been sitting next to me on the couch with the way he was watching Moore flush out. This is not getting “burned” or however you want to call it. He does get burned sometimes, but that happens to every corner and I won’t criticize him too much for that (although some of his burns are just astoundingly bad). This is just another dumb, low-IQ play that I keep seeing every week from this guy. It is getting embarrassing. Also, that play in the end zone with Marshall was more of a Moore underthrow than anything else. Yes, Cro did the right thing in beating Marshall to the jump ball, but he was out of position and simply lagging behind Marshall (like he always does because he thinks his athleticism can save him). It didn’t look like he was out of position because of where the ball was incorrectly thrown, but he most certainly was. He is terrible and Wilson looked ever more the 2CB last night…. "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." by FrankWhyte on Oct 18, 2011 7:47 AM EDT reply actions While you make some interesting points, I just don’t get all the Cro hate all the time. I mean, hate on him after the Oakland game…..but last night, did you even hear his name mentioned other then the one play where he got burned (ok not a good play) and the one play where he made a pass defense in the end zone (which IMO was a good play. Underthrow or not, he did what he was supposed to do. Good play.) To me, when you don’t hear a CB’s name throughout the game, it’s a good thing (unless you have a Revis-ian game such as last night). Having said that, I completely agree Frank with your statement about Wilson. He looks real good this year. Proud to root for the Jets, Mets, and Islanders!!! Twitter: cmauceri524 by CharlieIsles on Oct 18, 2011 8:00 AM EDT up reply actions Dang I basically posted this a little down Serves me right for not reading before I post lol by Exystence on Oct 18, 2011 9:17 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions I don't think it's fair to put Greene in the "Bad" category. I feel like he was more “meh” than anything. Not a hindrance, but not a definite advantage. Our run blocking is definitely thoroughly “meh,” at best. I’m definitely a fan of getting McKnight some more looks, especially on outside tosses and anything that puts him with some space to work with. I agree that Plax’s blocking was good, and it’s nice to see him still working hard when not getting targeted on pass plays and when running plays are called. He’s not pulling a Randy Moss on us (yet). But signing him was a mistake. He had another pass hit him in the hands after running a lazy route. His catch % on the year stands at 39% BEFORE last night’s game, which was dead last among the top 85 WRs in this league. Holmes might not be having a great year either, but at least he’s catching half the balls thrown his way. by psuwxman on Oct 18, 2011 8:18 AM EDT reply actions Only thing I disagree with is Cro being on the good side He was constantly in bad position on almost every ball thrown his way. Brian friggin Hartline was pretty much owning him. Giving him a pass for having a bunch on incompletes thrown his way is wrong because they were mostly on the receiver or QB. by Exystence on Oct 18, 2011 9:15 AM EDT via mobile reply actions Funny you should mention Brian Hartline He’s having a better year, statistically, than Plax in almost every way. One of many WRs around the league who can claim that, actually. by psuwxman on Oct 18, 2011 10:25 AM EDT up reply actions I agree with Greene. I’m just not seeing what I need to from him. Even he’s starting to see it too with his reactions on the field. He knows he’s leaving some yards on the field. Matt Forte anyone? by Can'tWait on Oct 18, 2011 9:23 AM EDT reply actions Err, is he on the block or something? Not sure I like the trade very much anyway, it gives Schottenheimer even more reason to go short pass dink-n-dunk with the offense. by Exystence on Oct 18, 2011 10:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions He wants a new deal. The Bears seem reluctant. There have been some local chicago papers that have reported at least 2 teams showing interest. He’s in the last year of his contract and making around 600,000 grand. Here is his quote from the Chicago Tribune .’’ by Can'tWait on Oct 18, 2011 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions Forte would be AWESOME. Love that guy. by Crackback on Oct 18, 2011 12:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions He wants DeAngelo Williams $$$ Thats 8 Mill per. If Shotty is the golden child and isn’t going anywhere and Mark is about as good as he’s always going to be whats left to take the offense to the next level? That kid could turn this whole thing around. He’s 50% of the bears offense! He averages 10per catch and 4.7 a carry with a truly horrible offensive line. by Can'tWait on Oct 18, 2011 2:05 PM EDT up reply actions Oh btw, no shout out for MTV? He had a pretty huge beastly stuff at the goal line. I wanna see more of him definitely! by Exystence on Oct 18, 2011 9:26 AM EDT via mobile reply actions btw mea culpa to all those i argued w/ last night saying that the revis int was in fact passing inter the more and more i look at the replay, the more i think it WAS NOT passing inter. good job fellas (timmaht, cervazerde, wildre22) metsjetsknicksrangers.............can it get any worse? by dabu7 on Oct 18, 2011 9:59 AM EDT reply actions For this game, there should have been a great section with one player in it. Wayne Hunter. He handled one of the best pass rushers in the league single-handed for the majority of the night. That was simply an amazing turn-around for the O-lines (and team’s) biggest liability. I’m quick on the trigger to bash a guy when deserved, but it should also go the other way. "I just build our guys up. If it's trash talking that I believe in our football team, then, yes, I agree with that statement. I'm the biggest trash talker there is." Rex Ryan by OldJetsFanatic on Oct 18, 2011 10:30 AM EDT reply actions Time To Focus A good and much needed win for the Jets. The time to focus is now. The next 4 weeks will probably decide if they are a post season team. They face a tough Chargers team this weekend at home. I think it is a must win going into the bye week (momentum). After the bye week the Jets will play a high scoring Bills team in Buffalo, return to play rival Pats at home. The Jets have to win 2 out of 3 games to have a chance at a post season berth. There are other teams that have the same or better records with easier schedules during the season. If the Jets lose 2 out of the next 3 games, their chances of making the post season will be slim at best. by PVS53 on Oct 18, 2011 11:48 AM EDT reply actions The lack of team speed is a problem We have Plax who looks slow, plus Greene who is plodding. We also have two safeties that a bit slow. On offense, McKnight has to get more touches. Too bad they didn’t make a run at Brandon Lloyd, he was had on the cheap. Also, Kyle Wilson may need to get some chances vs. better receivers, nice job on Bess. by David G on Oct 18, 2011 12:00 PM EDT reply actions lloyd has no speed either. he is a possession receiver. plus he would’ve been another mouth to feed. After watching Plax dog it last night, I don’t think adding another receiver who needs targets to be happy would be anything but detrimental to the offense. "Practice does not make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect." by FrankWhyte on Oct 18, 2011 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions "There was the fake screen one way, screen the other way." My wife has been asking me all week about all the complaints about Schottenmheimer. I specifically used that play, when it happened, as an example of over-thinking and “out-smarting” the opposing D, instead of simply executing your offense. While we are on the subject, Schotty’s 4th-quarter play-calling—when all we needed were a few first downs—would have gotten us beat against a better team. Under six minutes left and the Phins got like three more possessions. That’s bad football, big lead or not. by jkoyon on Oct 18, 2011 4:07 PM EDT reply actions Secondary Sidebar Search User Tools FanPosts Community blog posts and discussion. Recommended FanPosts Recent FanPosts + New FanPost All FanPosts > Recent Posts

What’s going on in this picture? What is this hermit crab doing, and what is he thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. they got winne the poo To… Tired… To… Swipe… I’m to tired to go any further. But I’m almost ther…(ZZZZZZZ). Dang! I dropped my scissors again! MOMMY! i thought they had a HOUSE CAT not a TIGER! I’m not lazy I’m just too tired to get the trash bags. Oof, that’s enough push-ups for one night oh let me play! who says raccoons can’t fly. mokeys…..if they can do it I can do it He’s Dead, Joe. I’m tired of trying to get in to these bags for food ; – ( Anyone got a knife? What so funny, i’m hanging out with Trash and Bag. (In Australian accent) We now join the raccoon as he decides to just hang out. That is a really good one. You should win!! Can’t… move. Ate… too… many… chocolate… ding… dongs. Coon-skin’s dryin’ out, guys YIKES!!!!! ……………..Is that bear gone yet? You GOTTA be kidding me! I can almost reach it! (Hope I don’t slip!) Just taking a little cat (raccoon) nap! So this is what they call a top story bedroom. Uh-oh, just taking a midnight nap. I’m gunna rest. All this lookin’ for food is making me tired Now that I have the food, how do i get down? ummm, guys, i think i’m stuck. mom I found trash OW, THIS HURTS people give me these dresses they would look nice on me bear bags, meet the racoon, the other bear! What’s going on in this picture? What is this raccoon doing, and what is he thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. Cannenball!!! oops I forgot I can’t swim!?. I will follow my master. Squirrel!!! Oh wait, wrong mammal…….. Your suppost to jump in my invisible boat master!!! WHERES THE BEEF!!!!! WHERES THE BACON You forgot your life jacket!!! oh no there goes the master again That’s one small step for dog, and one giant leap for dogkind. Lifeguard dog…to the rescue! This is a job for… SUPERDOOOOG! I SEE THE LOCH NESS MONSTER!!!!!! QUICK GRAB MY IPHONE!!!! Its a Fish with whiskers!!! OH BOY! I got one….It’s a big one…OH NO I’M GOING IN!!!! “I BELIEVE I CAN FLY” But just in case I can’t I wore this life jacket… GET HIM OUT OF THERE I’ll see if the new body board works why are we doing this SQUIRREL!! The Superdoggy Cronicles bBook 10: The Underwater Street Gang The Superdoggy Cronicles Book 10: The Underwater Robbery 911! A MAN JUMPED IN THE WATER WHAT DO I DO?You have to jump in the water to.OK,here I go! I can walk on water! that looks yummy! Wait for me!!!! Testing of the new bacon flavored cologne. Results: Great! I’ll Save You! Dog Powers Activate! I BELIEVE I CAN FLY. I BELIEVE I CAN SAVE THIS GUY. I BELIEVE HE WILL GIVE MY PIE!!! Who’s not invited!!! Watch THE doggie paddler demonstrate his aquatic abilities i pushed you!!!! What’s going on in this picture? What is this dog doing, and what is he thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. where the scoutmaster their he is nighty night who put sleeping pills in my water again? OK, who got out the chainsaw!? my brains are being sucked by this straw help! oh im to sleepy “YYYYAAAAWWWWNNNN” good night Ok! Now jump on the water bottle and see if I can get a drink Ugh I shouldn’t have drank that brown water q Ugh I shouldn’t have drank that brown water I aint thirsty so leave me alone. BE QUIET…. If I try hard enough…. but…too…lazy…. WHY!?!?! what?! i’m not a hobo!!!???!!??!? Oh no. The scoutmaster turned into a prune again. what’s a man got to do to get some nice sleep around these parts. MAN, that diet really worked! Soooo tired…… I got heat exhaustion and that’s your fault. Ah that’s better. Now go away. is he a clown man oh man what a clown ha i thought it was a photo of a bird I…need…water…NOW! you snooze you loose Wow, all I need is food, a flatscreen tv, and a body Don’t bother me,I hiked ten feet,it,s so tirering. Can’t breath….. I love the hat but, how can I get water through the hat? A waterproof hat for face protecting. A practical joke. Good thing this hat is waterproof. What’s going on in this picture? What is this Scoutmaster doing, and what is he thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. THIS NEVER HAPPENED TO POPEYE!!!!! WHY ME??? Now what did you put in my green ice cream, Ordep? i have heard of suprises in a bottle but eesh Mom what are doing here? Aw dang… I can’t use THAT anymore. Abra ka– Wait a sec! Where’s the rabbit?! I didn’t know you cuold grow those slimy…….. uh……things in cans. hmmmmm this could be a nice addition to the new milkshake recipe i was thinking of, it had those slimy things and some intergalactic goo and…. uh ………. woops that was classified. You did not hear that. yeah,uhu, allright.ok wowee!!! what the heck is that???!!! i dont want this arond me…. i think ordep planted a weed! oh WOW…this isn’t my alfalfa milkshake. Okay who replaced it with this…this…this…oh wow must have brain-fart powers. It siad “beans” not “creacher” Have you ever heard of floss? When I asked for a ‘seeing eye’ plant, that wasn’t what I ment! well what did i expect being on a alien planet and all. (lets just hope it wont start to walk) “I shouldn’t have bought this thing. It’s creepy.” i should have known my burger would expire What are you, a plant or an alien? I think I pulled the lever behind me?! That`s it! I`m tired of seeing ailen`s in my food!!!!!!!!!!!! humorous?! its extra funny What kind of cactus is that? Note to self: never order from the new guy at the Cantina. Uh-oh. I never shoud have planted that seed! If only I had read the whole packet before I planted the seed! Oh, woe is me! I’m doomed! Oh cool, I am on a planet where u wear those things like dipars! Tough survival camp food. Is this supposed to be a joke, Ordep? Because today isn’t April Fool’s Day. Reminds me of my cousin Ordep eating alien chocolate. YO,babe what are doing yo. (It’s a staring contest!) :p … (He’s not blinking … OMG! I’m about to lose!! Is that supposed to be an alfalfa milkshake, Ordep? Hi toxic peanut butter What’s going on in this comic? What is Pedro doing, and what is he thinking? Write your funniest caption and we’ll post it for everyone to read. thanks for the coke scouts! i ve got you now mouse i can see u Here we go !!! Oh yes coffee!! My favorite drink! Don’t worry I don’t THINK I will be bouncing of the walls! Now. . .where is my creamer?!. . . Hey! Its Mine!!! Yum, the mouse fell in here early and the scout wont drink it now. All mine! I said i need more milk! cat after bird mmmmmm…… mouse coffee caffeine-not just for scoutmasters anymore! mmmmm…coffee my favorite, Bird! wow! this is good. i cant believe my mom never gave me this before. she always said it would make me too energetic but i feel just fine i mean maybe a little less tired than before but its just sooooooooo good. wow! yeah! COFFEE! COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE! get your own cup, I told you that EVERYONE drinks coffee after summer camp! Finders keepers, Losers weepers! A cup of milk in a Boy Scout mug?! It’s just what I wanted!!! leave me alone, i’m trying to catch up C’mon, coffe is good for you! Mwahaha, Frank will never know that I used this straw to drink his coffee! I am so horribly EVIL!!! I was a private i i sat there with my mug one night when she came in … Hey, this isn’t milk! Is this decaf? what are you looking at? good joe is hard to come by these days. Your drink tastes better than mine. my mom said i cant drink spark… but i will! because i need to get that mouse! SLURP! whats happening?! oh caffeine there you are mouse! get ready to meet your DOOM! hay! I’m sippi’n out off a cat scout cup! “WOW, cofee tastes better made in the wild!!” “in all my honor i will do my best to do my duty to god and my country to help other people at all times to keep myself physicly strong mentaly awake and moraly straight now do i get more coffe What’s going on in this picture? What is this cat doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. What does it matter if I lose my balance? I can fly can’t I?! Take that, warning sign! Why do the people who make these ladders put warning signs on these. People…whoa. That was a close… ahh. Now I see why they put those signs on there. nice view from up here I’m such a rebel going on the ladder. what… who wrote this jiberish Im light as a feather! I know I shouldn’t be up here but I can see so many worms Don’t worry.If I fall I’ll fly to safety,earth nerds. Am I suppose to peck on this? PSSSSSST Hear me………… DANGER! DANGER! I’m living on the edge! I’m DANGER BIRD Man I thought it was seven up not seven stories up. I was born for danger!!!! This warning is for humans only. What do you mean, I didn’t read the sign? I can’t read! Those human, all safety, no fun. Just danger danger danger signs everywhere What was that about losing my balance? What’s balance? Sheesh…….These humans- whoa, I’m falling!!!!!!! BALANCE, HELP ME, WHOEVER YOU ARE!!!!!! “Great! I can see LOTS of crackers from up here!” I’m a’ comin cracker Its not my fault I can’t fly… but I can still climb! bad luck for birds? yea, right! (i hope paint doesn’t fall on me). Wow, this is what it feels like to sit 3 feet in the air. sure hope i do not fall off i am really high up I think there was a cracker up here somewhere. what warning sign? Ninja Parakeet finds the perfect place to hide and become one with his surroundings. No one can see, hear, or taste the super-awesome bird from his cave. His is still as a stone… Ugh! I have an itch! Can’t Read! Cant Read! Swak! Swak! Can’t Read! Don’t look down, don’t look down… Ohhh there’s some pretty bird thats staring at me! hey come get me and im not losing balance! What’s going on in this picture? What is this parakeet doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. Hey, kid! Don’t forget to buckle your seatbelt! Excuse me, but i’m trying to pull into the passing lane. Thank you. hey, hows it going? Get out of my way and let me change my lightbulb!!! Hmmmm….Now where is that Sugar Inc. car? Wait, I’m at the fair. A cowboy looking to purchase a better mode of transportation comes to the car store. How do you stuff 250 horses in one of these things? Hmmm…I’m not sure if I’m allowd to car pool. HAAYY! This is my parking spot! To big of a maze…I give up!:( Huh??? Where am I??? Excuse me mister, I was just on the ranch and then I….. I thought I told you to hold your horses,you just couldn’t wait till we got back to the Philmont Scout Reserve. I wonder what sound that big machine will make, please not be moo I wonder if this is the new hay bail machine ,cause im hungry What ya never heard of horse parking ha ha those drivers are going to freak out Help, Get me out of this carjam Hmm, maybe I should have taken that left turn at Albuquerque… Is this where the 300 HORSEpower MUSTANGs park?! Is this really how you treat horses these days??? Hello?!?! I need past!! Hello!!! Can you hear me!!!?!?!? Aggggh!!! What is that white thing! One moment I was in my stable then BAM! Ahhhhrrrgg!! O.K. Breath. Ahhh. Now, how do I undo this time machine? My dear John is waiting for me in 1773. Oh dear, he must be missing me. mom, can we go yet? Oh no!I’m lost! Now I’m gonna miss my bubble bath! Where’d we park the car?? this is my car Sorry! Sorry! Excuse me! Sorry! That is a great rock…Hey look!a dog!Or is it a turtle…IM ON TO YOU!!! this is what replaced the buggys i used to pull? Man, this time I’ve don it.I’ve really lost that pesky trainer this time! Tis is one small paster! um yes bob plese park ur horse somwhere else What’s going on in this picture? What is this horse doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. I am singing in the rain. I am singing in the rain. Mom I finished my dinner! nose cleanig time Ooh? Its shower time? Oh. La-la-la…. I’m a barbie girl in a barbie world, life in plasti-…. Wait…. ARE YOU PUBLISHING THIS ON BOYSLIFE?!? Ohai! ha ha ha ha ha ha ha stop stop hee hee hee stop we meat again aqu man i’m singing in the rain i’m singing in the rain do do do do do do RAIN! some wun bring on the rain bou a..aaa…..ah-choo! more water, please? This is not the place to give me a shower, wait till we’re home! water fight ahyah These people are getting smarter. At least this time they remembered to turn the hose ON. I asked for a light ocean breeze: that feels like a whale peed in my face! I HAVE WATER IN MY EYES!!!!! WAIT! I wasn’t ready! GIVE.ME.THAT.WATER.SPRAYING.THINGAMAJIG. Hey! Don’t get water up my trunk, it hurts just because i sneezed on you doesn’t mean you can do it on me. Hey boys! If you don’t stop bombardin’ me wit that there squirt gun, I’m a gonna throw those Mega-Soaker water baloons at ya, and a eat a all those peanuts you stole from the lady with the striped hat! I said in my mouth not my forehead you dingdong! Stop erasing my laser vision it HURTS! I would rather have chocolate pancakes NOM NOM NOM NOM. Water tastes good… stop that tickls stop stop ha ha ha hey! you got soap in my eyes! Im calling my lawyer! I don’t want to play a waterfight Why is he shooting the poor Elephant with a sqirt gun? Look whoz gonna join the scout next…. hey! I wanted milk! o.k. I made a fool of myself. can I have my treat now? What’s going on in this picture? What is this elephant doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. LOST!!!!!! I’ve got wood, but where are the matches? Man, first a bear takes my food and survival kit, I’m in the middle of nowhere, AND squirrels are using my Blackberry Torch! is it just me or do I see Santa Claus…wait SANTA CLAUS! My feet are stuck to the floor Hey, scoutmaster! Why do all the blades of grass have the word “LEGO” on them???? Ok, so I lost my neckercheif, why did you drop me in a feild of studs? Weres my gun ahhhhh a bear Maybe I can lose them over the next hill… Hello? Hi mom OH! so we were going to camp at the lake.Oh i’m fine just stuck in the middle of a Green Desert! Guys this is not funny, where is my tent! No, wait! It was right here I swear! The thirty pointer was right here! Literally, why is everyone staring at me? What did I do? Why are you looking at me like I’m guilty? I can not belive I had to clean up the Grand Emporium by myself… all 2,182 pieces finally I will get my clen up merit badge. …Just sweeping the studs… Where did he say that porta-potty was? Hey, how do you like my deer skin coat? I wish I would of remembered my compass! hey wait a sec,they said the fire was here I have my stick but no fire. I’m mad!!! WHERE IS THAT CAR!!! O.K, so they scout master said meet by the green stud on the green grass. Maybe it’s that one. Or maybe that one…I’M LOST! Man, i cant believe they dumped me here…. is this the best you can think of??? next to a whole lot of grass?? Ya I’m going to get one the old merit badge’s.The turkey keching merit badge! WHERE AM I? THE LAST THING I REMEMBER IS A BRIGHT LIGHT. Momy did i have to go to camp? i wonder what mom is going to say when she hears i got a deer for dinner the whole Army is COMING! Run! fire!DO SOMTHING! I know I saw at least one crop circle here… Why the heck am I smiling?!?THE 7-11 IS GONE!!!!!! opps wrong target “FINALLY I finished raking all those leaves can i get my community service badge now?” What’s going on in this picture? What is this Lego Scout doing, and what is he thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. Nope. No cavities. I’m going too fast i’m gonna puke! did i brush good? i knew it was a bad idea to eat at moms! gross IIIIIIIIIII hate broccoli! See? I told you I brushed!! Ssh. I’m trying to be a snake. Ow! Not a shot there! (Yell)my goodnes!!! I saw a fish inside-out!!!!! yuck gross!!! OHMAWGAWSH! a leaf! a leaf! help me! Hey,come back here with my shampoo Don’t disturb my practice for the spitting competition! Just gotta keep my mouth open and the scouts’ll go away AAhhh I hope those scouts are still here, Im felling like a Pb&j. YAWNNN!!! mom do I have to wake up Ok now roll the meatball into my mouth. Hibernation always makes me groggy. GET OFF MY LAWN YOU ROTTEN KIDS!!!!!! Hey little bro can you see my cavity?… a little closer * CHOMP * can you get this fish out of my teeth I not lying! I tell yah I brushed my teeth! I shoud’nt have hired George Lopez to come here while I was taking my aspirin take me out to the ball game take me out to the crowd I always knew I had a “big mouth.” I said, “DINNER IS READY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Alright! Alright! we can do bath night tomorrow! Docter do I have a cavity? ACK! This hair ball won’t come up! You better run u chipmunks you Hyperbeam attack now! I’m a sea otter Look at how wide I can open my mouth! What’s going on in this picture? What is this animal doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. OW I bit a rock Ha! Ha! Ha! That is such a knee-slapper!! And that cloud looks like a tree! Aghh! Help me I’m Stuck in this rocks I LOST THE GAME!!! Please give me a pizza I’m so sick of berries and fish. I LOVE howling at the sun! I am a Bear-Wolf!!! No! Not… THE SCRUBBER!!! I wonder when the stars come out. Whew! This fishing is tough! Hey! Get down from there! Birds are MUCH harder to catch than fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CURSE YOU DOCTOR! You pulled the wrong tooth! Back off! Fish at stake! “Ugh, why do the fat ones always choose the trees?” I had way to much to drink!! ZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZ I believe i’m a whale! ah opera in the morning No!!!!! Barney is on again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But mom!!!!!!!! I don’t wanna go to school!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yummy… bear scouts my favorite! God please send me 100 pounds of tuna and 20 crackers to go with that Amen. fishy! fishy why did you go! Come back antelope! I only wanted a hug! Help Help I lost my fish his name was jerry he ran away when he saw me he probaly thaught I was going to eat him.(wich by the way I was not going to eat him First I was going to salt him,grill him and then eat him with some 2009 pinot grigieo. HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! it’s a bird.it’s a plane!it’s a flying salmon!!!!!land in my mouth little salmon! ahhhh!! i stepped on a nail!! I said give me a pizza! What’s going on in this picture? What is this bear doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. come back here nut Wait till the kids find whats in their stockings!Ho Ho Ho! GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD It’s not so easy trying to steal burnt corn from this thing… Curse you, grill security system!!! I just KNEW I shouldn’t have tried doing a gymnastics flip on the grill… Blast the evil grills these days!!! S’mores! must cook, must cook I think he didnt have enugh money for the taning sallon so he reverted to…less pricy way of taning. these hurtles are tough if he is trying to jump those hurtles…he needs brain surgery OH no! No one turn on this flame! OW!!!!!!! GET ME OUT OF THIS PROPANE FIRE! I always get caught red pawed when I try to steal a hot dog! Literally! OW!!!!Crud! Next stop,BBQ platter! number 42 is at the 90 yard line…, he’s racing down the field…, there!!! he makes the touchdown!!! the crowd goes wild!!! THE BOY SCOUTS ARE COMING! Who wants a squriell shesh-cabob?!?!?!? Hot.Hot.Hot.My feet are burning because this looked interesting and thenIwent on here and smelled barbeque.I can’t move my legs.HELP me guys! i bet only ninjas could do this hot hot hot!!! Hmmm…I wonder how I taste grilled? i hope im not going to get barbecued! the dog or the fire, I think I can make it All right! Which one of you geniuses did this?! You know I’m a vegetarian! Man! This sure is hard to take this down all by yourself. It’s driving me nuts!!! Dad said there was extra food here! He lies! I think this is not a tanning solon i am going to get grilled! yipes! HOT HOT!!! Man I really should have taken the long way!! Just gotta finish this obstacle course, and why is that kid giving me that look? So many people have been laid off that even the squirrels have time for a barbeque What’s going on in this picture? What is this chipmunk doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. ahhh man! I can’t believe I slept like this again! Oh man! I slept like this again! Polar bear gets massive brain freeze. Oh man, I think I’m getting massive brain freeze. I can’t seem to fit this ice in my mouth SOMEBODY…GIVE…ME…BREATHMINT! Who put glue on my lips!?! I sure hope that eel wasn’t electric. zzccch! Why can’t I get the snow cone to work like the Penguins?!?!?! i envy the penguins who eat fish. i’m bored with snow. wow cold snow. i envy those penguins. oh,comon. how much farthur do i have to dig to get the fishy!!!!!!??come out come out wherever you are! I know there’s a seal under there…I just have to dig harder. I hate making my own snow cones. i just fell in 10ft in snow aaahhhh! i shoudn’t of had that last fish!! MUST… EAT… LAST… SKITTLE! I am going to need to break the ice to get the fish i just hate fish darn Joe was right , my tongue will stick to ice five more minutes mom…………….OK im up IM UP. That Eskimo was soooo spicy!!! Oooo….cool my tongue! Much better! Yeah!!! A giant snow cone! my mouth is frozen open why did I bury that bone so deep. Geez Mom, can’t you let a polar bear sleep? my tuong is stuck to the ice HELP ohhhhhh that taco was to spicy Allright! Come on out! We know you’re in there! I hate grandma’s seagull caserole Who needs fish? Snow is better. Way better… Is there even a fish under this ice? Or is it snow? Or is it ice? Oh i’m getting too old for this. *sigh* CODE RED! CODE RED! ABORT MISSION! I REPEAT, ABORT MISSION!! What’s going on in this picture? What is this polar bear doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. Leave me alone, I have a headache Why did I lay on this rock When did the zoo come in the jungle?? why must my life be like this. Hush! I’m waiting for the aliens to abduct me!!! “Bright light! Bright light! Can’t you see that I’m TRYING to go to sleep!” I am ready for my massage. I am sunbathing mom! I shoudn`t have eaten all those banana-tuna sandwichs. (Yawn!)Oh no! Please tell me it’s not Monday! but mom,i don’t want to clean my room. someone turn the spa lights down NO!!!!!!!!!!!! not the sunlight anything but the sunlight!!! Ahhhhhhhh i,m melting so long wor….. gurgel gurgel. bananas really take it out of you do you tink im tan enough? Aww Mom just five more minutes!! Why did I eat so many bananas Wow! This rock is surpisingly comfortable! Aahhhhh The sun is in my eyes!!!! I’m lazy and lovin’ it! oo i ate to many bannanas Just count bananas until you fall asleep. I don’t want to go to bed. 800 pound gorillas sleep anywhere they want. Now where did those fleas go? The Light… It Burns! An 800 pound gorilla sleeps anywhere it wants. its not time to lay around you lazy gorilla. what is that bright ball of light up there? What’s going on in this picture? What is this gorilla doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. What did I just step in! Look mommy,look,I can stand! sadly the panther couldn’t get a date for the cat ball. Wow that lion is really mad. Better book it! I’m going to Disney World! Hot! Hot! Hot! hey invisy lets dance And the cheeta pounces!!!!!!!! Man: Hey get off me you know I hate hugs!!!!!!!! come on man! pass the tourist here! The fish that got away was this big!!!! Also running for its life or trying to catch a boys life magazine. Practicing for the talent show. I like to move it move it, I like to move it move it, I like to move it move it, ya like to … MOVE IT!! Do the HAPPY dance!!!!! hey guys am a human being woohoo! more cartwheels! I’ts the “EYE OF THE TIGER”!!! I’m Chloe, the Tap Dancing Cat! “I just want a hug, I’m still hungry” You put your left paw in take your left paw out you do the hokey pokey and you turn yourself about how about a hug? woo hoo i had to much coffe yay Will the real Slim Shady please stand up? Please stand up!! Cheeta makes the touchdown and the game ends 21 to 20 Jaguires im impersonating a human. Why won’t you hug me! Look! I can do the Thriller!! WHAT your not here your rite in front of me please hug me.I have candy… Look!I’m tapdanceing What’s going on in this picture? What is this leopard doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. “Little higher…. little higher…. wait… yes! I see it! It’s the hot-dog stand!” I see a biscuit! Can you see anything yet? Ride’em cowboy. Target insight. Bow down to me I rule, THE WORLD!!!! You mess with me you mess with him? Sir would you like to in large that order? Save the dog the bone!!! Take me to Taco Bell Alright where the coin slot??? IIIITS TACO TIME!!!!!!! HORSEY! take my paw if you want to live! yeesh…..little brothers!!!! look at that poodle!!! thanks for the lift dad I’m almost out why am I doing this again? They dont have a tall enough stand for me. I need a piggy-back ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I need a ride to McDonalds. Will you take me? I’ll buy lunch. GET THE MEAN KITTY GET IT AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! OWWW! You stepped on me… OWWW! Jed: Talk about dogging it… Ned: Yeah. I think they need a traveling case! Ed: Guys, I think they need another fire hydrant! daddy can we stop here at PETCO ”NO WE ARE GOING HOME” big dawg Giddy up Quickly to the Dog-Mobile yes now I can reach the treats! giddyap! were just about to win the championship,Fido! if you let me get on your head i can order us somthing from taco bell brian if you could go just a bit higher i could get the bone on the top shelf What’s going on in this picture? What are these dogs doing, and what are they thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. Do I look like Santa? sit on my lap kids. i’m santa! I have bean waiting 4 the last day of school 4ever. now I just need a razor… LOOKIE SEE MY BEARD? BACK OFF hello give me a b-b-b-b-b-bANANA I think my mustache is growing! hello skywalker the new yoda am i deaspratly in need of a barber shop i am hair,hair…What hair? Do I Look Old To You? Mmmmm…. Shave,I need to. Hey ware is the lawn mower?! bon joir miseur do you like my mustache I put it in curlers and fancied it up and died it just for you. PEASE SAY YOU LIKE IT,I’L EVEN SMILE BIG. Dude, I’ve gotta get some shaving cream. Like, now! I THINK I SHOULD HAVE SHAVED BEFORE THE CONCERT Elder: It has served me well young one, now it is your turn. “Young one”: Thanks, but I’m pretty sure people get lost in there. okay little boy tell me what you want fer Christmas! monkey see monkey do. (especally when mouststaues are involded “My grandkids are really grandgoats!” “look guys grandpa got everyone a mask, even got me one!!!!!!” talk about a bad hair day now i know how dad felt when mom did his hair I should not have grabbed that hair tonic It was a dark and scary night…… WHEN THE GIANT MUSTACHES ATTACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Too long or too short?too short. you are ugly, but I am more ugly Hand me the razor The pizza guy was supposed to be here 50 years ago hand me the razor Hoo hoo HAH HAH!!! Hello, little one. I am the Elder of Monkey Island. What’s going on in this picture? What is this monkey doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. My chicken pocks are black instead of red, interesting LOOK AT THOSE FISHIES! They’ve got the moves! STOP WITH ALL THE JIBBER-JABBER! Wheres my Duck-paste sandwich? Get away U.F.O with tons of alians in it. “look ma! no cavites! I just got covered in fish and smell good plus I brushed my teeth! JUST PUT THAT WORM IN MY MOUTH. I want food! So plese give me some! GET OF MY LAWN!!!!!!!!!!! here little shrimpeys, I need a dental oppintment Have to *huff huff*get*huff huff*out…I should lose some weight. OUCH! honey, you don’t have to bite my tail, i told you the jellyfish was shockingly Delicious! I was given an invitaion for a fish party. Where is everybody? Oh, so la mi oh! “Here fishy fishy fishy! Come to Papa!” hey mailman wheres my boys life magazine!? what are you lookin’ at? You must gargle your soda if you want to burp the alphabet! Wait Mary. Dont leave me I CAN’T TAKE IT ANY MORE!!!! THOSE FISH ARE TOO DANG SLIPPERY!!! THEY MAKE ME WANT TO EAT SOMETHING SO I TRY TO CATCH ANOTHER THEN THAT ONE ESCAPES!!!! I NEED A PSYCHOLOGIST!!! RIGHT NOW!!! Get this stick out of my throat! (That’s right, keep coming!) Oh children! school’s out! Tell Mr. and Mrs. Guppy you’re coming over! Oh no you didn’t “air, I need air!!!” What? This is the way I always sleep.You got a problem? The eel has stinky breath!! i knew i shouldn’t have tried to go the world longest time of holding your mouth open now i have my mouth stuck like this! Charlie horse! LEAVE ME A LONE………..OR I WILL EAT YOU!! thats why you should never let a scout cook unless he’s 1st class . What’s going on in this picture? What is that eel doing, and what is it thinking? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. some body hiding in the poty and the rest are trieing to figure out who it is or the bathrooms realy stinky and they are figuring out were to go Hurry up billy we all have to use the bathroom !!!!! Only Jake could clog a porta potty. C’mon, ‘fess up and give the cookies back. Ok, so who wants to see what’s kept Robert in there for 2 hours? Erm… heheh. Ladies first? Ok, why did the map we found in the attic take us to this? Hey, you got any toilet paper out there? On a count of three, push it down. 1… 2….. and….. Good thing there’s a hospital right about three blocks from here… Fred seems to have eaten a bowl of hot chilis for lunch. The person in the port-a-potty’s thinking……..There’s no toilet paper, what will i ever do? darn monopolies… there’s only one bathroom in this whole town. Hydration is the most important thing on this trip… Are you renting that? who wants to earn their “bravest scout to got into the bathroom after Timmy” merit badge Get back here with my copy of Boy’s Life! Alright Bob, no more cooking for you! Ok scouts, let’s stand in line from tallest to shortest. If we’re lucky, they’ll air this on an AT&T commercail. I WAN,T MY MOMY get down guys!theres some nuceular radiation in there!is it clear?yeah, its clear. Okay, who wants to go in next after Scout Master Bob has been in there for twenty minutes? Why did tey let bob have that burrito ok, why did the treasuremap lead us to this? Ok, it may go off any second now Akela Is he ever gonna finish? That’s the only bathroom in the area!! Anyone else need to go?!? Get your gasmasks reddy boys. Next up, the Porto-Potty 2000 in its natural habitat. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s nature’s calling I’m not going in there. lets get mikey he’ll do it. What’s going on in this picture? Why are those Scouts hanging around a portable toilet? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. I shouldn’t have gone skydiving without a parachute. Thanks for the bucket of peanut butter, the granola bars, and the sunflower seeds—yum! I’ll say it again, and again, and again, and again……..Only you and only you can prevent forest fires!!!!. Why do I must continue to remind you? Where is that dangon cat? I could sure use a hammock. Only, were do I get one. Think,I climbed up this tree,now how am i to get down? i’ll save you kitty ….DANG i need to stop playing super bear, this could get dangrous. Maybe the Hunter will come out, after all it is hunting season A bear has gone crazy and thinks it is a monkey. Everybody says climbing up a tree isn’t smart but they are wrong!!!! I have my own private tree up here!!!!! Im sleeping bear! Help I got hanged! I will never get tagged up here! i would get down…but i just to lazy ok? ok so i did get stuck up here you got a problem with that!! Oh please, mom! Just 5 more minutes? See? I told you I was a Cat In a Bear suit! ouch this hurts. note to self never imitate a flying squirll Iv’e had enough hiking for the day. Let me sleep already! night night!! It’s time for my nap. I ran off that cliff over there trying to prove that Newton’s law of gravity was false……… And what do you know… He as right. who said anything about being a sloth to a bear I AM THE KING OF HIDE AND SEEK Caw!Caw!CAW!!!!! he he…..silly humans they think I’m a bear But Mom i’m too tired to go to school! Hmmm… maby that jet pack wusint a good idea help me! “Now why would those scouts chase me into this tree?” What’s going on in this picture? Why is that bear hanging out in a tree? Write your funniest caption for this photo and we’ll post it for everyone to read. Muscle crab this shell will fit for a lifetime “This is going to be tougher than I thought!”, exclaims Crabby. “This is going to be tougher than I thought! Oh well, I can’t get the Veggie Climbing merit badge without getting to the top!”, says Crabby. if im jack then wheres the giant

I was catching up with a friend recently who, after receiving a Master’s degree, decided to move to a professionally less-than-ideal location for personal reasons. She’s been doing okay by picking up work here and there, but it’s been a long process. She was explaining to me the frustrations of being told that you are overqualified for a job. I could definitely see her perspective and was nodding throughout her desciption of various recent experiences. But after the responses I received to my recent post here about outsourcing advice, I am starting to understand the other side’s position better. A few people emailed me offering their services. The problem is, pretty much all of them seem to be overqualified, which puts me in a difficult position. My motivation for looking into outsourcing was twofold: 1. to see whether I could find additional assistance with work since undergraduate students don’t always have as many hours to give to a project as is necessary and there are a limited number of graduate students locally; 2. to see whether I could save some money by hiring people elsewhere. Certainly, removing the geographical constraint of the job helps and clearly there are people out there who could use some work that is open to a flexible schedule. However, it’s not at all clear whether there is much money to be saved. First, my impression regarding outsourcing services available online is that they may be cost-effective if you need highly qualified people (specialized tech skills, for example), but there was nothing on the various Web sites that made me think I would necessarily come out ahead by hiring people from elsewhere for the jobs of interest to me (some data entry, transcription and such). I pay undergraduate students $8-$9/hour and the sites I saw didn’t seem to compete with that well. Second, I got responses from people who sound like they would be very responsible and could definitely do the job well, but they seemed overqualified. Years ago I paid graduate students $10/hour so today that seems inappropriate. However, I wouldn’t want to pay more for these tasks than I do to people working on them locally. I have no idea what the going rate is in various fields. I know in computer science it is much much higher, but what is it in humanities fields? Perhaps what seems inappropriate to me would be fine for some people who are really just looking for something flexible to supplement their income. I definitely know from experience that I don’t always do a very good job of estimating what may be a perfectly acceptable job and wage for a student. I sometimes feel badly about giving out very simple tasks, but then I remind myself that I was just fine with cleaning bathrooms and dishes – those were two separate jobs:) – in my first year in college and was outright happy later on with my job in the library and doing simple tasks for professors. But when it comes to graduate students or people with advanced degrees, this all gets trickier. I do not want to insult someone with an advanced degree by suggesting a rate that seems way too low to me. At the same time, the potential employee does not want to mention a rate with the fear of asking for less than what I am willing to pay. Regarding this latter point, the potential employees don’t know that I won’t pay people in similar situations less than what I already pay others. (I would if the person lived in a country with much lower cost of living. Thus my inquiry about outsourcing.) That is, if an undergraduate student came to me to volunteer his or her services for free in my lab, I would still only hire him or her with pay, because I believe that a person will take the job more seriously if he or she is getting paid for it. Moreover, because others in the lab are getting paid, I believe everyone should unless there is a different payoff to the assistant. For example, an undergraduate student might work without pay on one of my projects if he or she is getting course credit as per his or her preference. Of course, it is too simplistic to see this as nothing but an hourly wage issue. It is completely possible that people with more training or background with related work would do the job more efficiently and thus would not cost more on the aggregate even if their hourly rate is higher. But this would require quite a bit of logistics to figure out. (There is some cost to starting work with a new person and training them for a task so you don’t want to get too many folks involved.) I will be hiring for a full-time position soon. I will make sure to post the salary up front to avoid the above complications. If people see what a position pays then it should be fair to assume that even if they are overqualified, they are willing to work for the offered amount if they decided to submit an application. That still doesn’t solve all concerns, by the way, given that the employer may fear losing the employee to a better opportunity. But at least it removes one point of confusion. { 22 comments } Cranky Observer 08.21.06 at 9:19 am > But when it comes to graduate students or > people with advanced degrees, this all gets > trickier. I do not want to insult someone with > an advanced degree by suggesting a rate that > seems way too low to me. So you would prefer to not insult them and watch them starve to death? That seems a bit cruel… You were explicit and complete in your job description. It is a task with specific deliverables and of limited duration [1]. Why do you need to be concerned about the motivations or state of mind of the person applying? Hire him; if he does the job, pay him. If not, don’t. Cranky [1] Meaning you don’t have the “you will quit in 6 months” issue. Of course, whenever I have heard that my next question is, what is the average length of time a new hire stays in that position? To which the answer is inevitably, ‘4 months’. So if I sign a contract promising to stay 8 months, which promise given my track record I am very likely to keep, how are you worse off? moriarty 08.21.06 at 9:20 am I don’t really understand what this has to do with over-qualification. I always assumed the same job would pay the same. Do “over-qualified” people expect higher pay because of their irrelevant qualifications? I wouldn’t think so. (And if their qualifications are relevant, then they are in fact over-q’ed.) Maybe you should choose what you’re willing to pay ahead of time, and tell people upfront what that is. Eszter 08.21.06 at 9:34 am To clarify, my post asking for outsourcing advice was NOT a covert attempt at getting people to write to me offering to work for me. It didn’t occur to me – perhaps naively – that putting up that post would result in people sending me emails of that sort. So there was absolutely no reason for me to mention a rate in that entry. The whole point of learning about outsourcing options was to see how rates are determined elsewhere so why would I have a set rate ahead of time? (That is, I know what I pay now, but I wanted to find out whether I could pay less to those whose cost of living is considerably lower.) Moriarty – If you read the post to the end you should have noticed that that is precisely what I said I would do with an upcoming position. Chris 08.21.06 at 10:20 am In your post, you mention hourly wages, but have you considered compensating workers on the basis of the amount of work done? For example, twenty dollars for transcribing two hours of audio/video with an error rate of no greater than 5%. Or twenty cents for each survey response that is entered into a database. (I’m pulling these out of the air.) It solves the logistical problem of wondering how to compensate people better who do the work faster. 99 08.21.06 at 10:24 am $8/hour? Given the proposed minimum wage raise is to $7.00, how much better were you looking to do? Perhaps you should clarify—are you looking to offshore or outsource? There are probably only four areas (maybe three, SF, LA, NYC) where oursourcing within the US can make sense for clerical work, unless you are shaving points on a very large scale to maximize profit. And if you are looking to rationalize/exploit the labor market to that degree, simply tell your current $8/hour monkeys you are looking to offshore, but they can tack two hours on gratis at the end of the week to make up the savings and keep their job. I’ll print you up the yellow smiley faces to put on their shirts. JR 08.21.06 at 10:27 am People who are less sensitive than Eszter don’t like to hire over-qualified people because, frequently enough to matter, they get bored, make careless mistakes, don’t get on well with other workers, and leave after a short time. There is such a thing as being too smart for a job. moriarty 08.21.06 at 10:41 am Moriarty – If you read the post to the end you should have noticed that that is precisely what I said I would do with an upcoming position. Sorry, I kind of glossed over that. Eszter 08.21.06 at 10:49 am Chris – Yes, but it’s difficult to figure out what’s reasonable. And you may well be compromising on quality. (Linking it to error rate is an interesting idea.) 99 – When I talked about the possibility of lower wages I made it clear that I was talking about people in places with a lower cost of living. I don’t know how you missed this bit. The meaning of the word outsourcing is not restricted to country borders. The rates I pay right now are in compliance with university rates for undergraduate research assistants. Thanks, JR, for elaborating on that point. I tried to make it in the last paragraph, but maybe didn’t dwell on it long enough. Chris 08.21.06 at 11:07 am I think you’re making the question of what’s “reasonable” more difficult than it needs to be. If you’re starting from a place where you’ve budgeted X number of dollars to process Y items, the price per item is X/Y. If you haven’t budgeted the amount yet, but you have an existing worker who is already doing acceptable work for an an acceptable rate, you take the hourly wage you’re paying that worker divide it by that worker’s output to get a unit price per item that you’re paying. Linking this to an acceptable error rate is crucial to keep people from submitting poor work and gaming the system, but this would be already be within the system in the status quo (I hope). The advantage of this scheme is that it neutralizes the “overqualified” issue. If someone can’t apply their “overqualifications” to do the work better, you really shouldn’t be paying them more than someone who isn’t overqualified. If they can apply their advanced skills and do the job quicker, the task may become very worthwhile for them. They put their skills to use and are compensated in line with their increased productivity, and you get your work done for the same price (and maybe quicker) as if you would have hired plain unskilled labor. Eszter 08.21.06 at 11:19 am Chris, I think you’re assuming to understand the specifics of my project too much and/or basing your comments on too many unsubstantiated assumptions. (You’re also perhaps assuming a bit too little about my ability to come up with simple calculations.) 99 08.21.06 at 11:34 am Um, no, you didn’t make it clear. Regarding this latter point, the potential employees don’t know that I won’t pay people in similar situations less than what I already pay others The above seems to indicate you are willing to pay a fixed minimum regardless of location (unless you want to qualify situation to mean location, not job situation, which I took it to mean). You mentioned some ‘sites’ without qualifying if they used workers inside the US or outside, and didn’t make clear if your interest in cost savings was absolute or relative (meaning you want to reduce your labor cost in total, or simply on a per unit basis). If your current scale is only marginally more than minimum wage ($8—which might be a lot to an undergraduate, but isn’t considered a living wage in most metropolitan areans), it’s a material question, since legally there isn’t any way for you to reduce labor costs past a certain point without offshoring. I don’t know what your experience with temp or outsourced professional labor is, but in the areas I’ve worked, temp labor has always comes at a premium to full-time hourly rates, for several reasons: it is on-demand, which means your total labor expense may be reduced, but your hourly rate increases; you are moving all your payroll tax and insurance liability to the outsourcing firm (are you charged back tax and benefit costs on your budget?), and; in most cases, you are expecting to receive specialized, highly skilled labor that will be more productive. Even if you are offshoring, there’s a carrying cost from the firms, and they are competing against well paid labor in metropolitan areas, meaning they can advertise a rate that is competitive in their markets, but still might seem dear to you. I’m still not clear on what you are saying: that labor isn’t as cheap as you’d like it, or it’s discomforting that this insufficiently cheap labor pool is awash in highly skilled workers forced bargain their value away, and creating a frustrating management problem of them not being able to degrade themselves for perfectly rationalized monkey work? This is absolutely an hourly wage issue. It’s wonderful to watch people tie themselves up in knots (or not, at all) about labor exploitation. If you don’t think this is the case, answer this: where do you derive your sources of income? Shifting your costs to external markets deflates your local labor market. Once we’ve quashed the evils of minimum wage and dried up any possibilty of sustaining work, you can brings those data entry contracts back—by then, all those MAs will have learned to not put their advanced degrees on their resume, and you won’t have such a thorny problem. Chris 08.21.06 at 11:36 am I’ll admit that I’m basing my thoughts on the task you described in the “Looking for outsourcing advice” post and your descriptions above – “some data entry, transcription and such”. If there’s something special about the work you need done (such as open-ended research or literature mining), it might be helpful to include those descriptions in the post in addition to the more menial tasks. I’m pessimistic whether there’s a grand unified theory of compensation that fits all scenarios. Also, I didn’t mean any insult nor was I underestimating your ability to come up with simple calculations. It’s often human nature to make situations more complicated than they need to be and god knows that I’ve jumped through all kinds of unnecessary hoops when a simple solution was staring me right in the face. abb1 08.21.06 at 11:41 am Would you hire an under-qualified 9th-grader in a sky-high-cost-of-living country on a part-time basis? I have one here. Eszter 08.21.06 at 1:51 pm 99 – In your quote of what I said you skipped an important part, the sentence following the one you quoted: Regarding this latter point, the potential employees don’t know that I won’t pay people in similar situations less than what I already pay others. (I would if the person lived in a country with much lower cost of living. Thus my inquiry about outsourcing.) I added the parentheses a few seconds after I posted the initial entry so if you were reading this through an RSS feed that picked it up immediately then the post you got may not have contained that additional note. 99 08.21.06 at 2:14 pm That’s a bit of a dodge, isn’t it? You were looking at labor rates quoted by intermedaries (sites) and wouldn’t be able to determine cost of labor or living. Are there oursourcing firms that expose their cost of labor? That would minimize their profit potential (though I expect your are in the minority, worrying about living expenses for labor). You can presume a cost of living based on published rate, but considering how the US gov’t calculates the poverty line, how could you trust information on cost of living in a remote culture (without resorting to catcalls of cultural imperialism on your part)? Though it might seem like I’m harping one only one half of your point, but the overqualification portion smacks of ridiculous arrogance, or bad managerial skills. You offer a position, you offer a wage/rate. If your interviewees have the requisite skills and accept the rate, they are perfectly qualified. You actually bear a burden as labor management to ensure that is the nature of employment relationship. Most employers exploit any number of extraneous skills or attributes (willingness to work additional hours without compensation, assuming duties not described in the initial agreement, etc.) without comment or additional negotiation, and only bother to notice when it doesn’t work to their favor (their highly qualified employess are “bored” as noted by a commenter above, for instance, because they can’t manage them or the work product). Though your margins may be next to non-existent, or the profit/value you extract through your employee relationships might not be strictly monetary, you can probably pretend you aren’t exploiting labor. But you are (and I’m not being sarcastic or saying you are an exception—we all do it to one degree or another if we have employees), it is your job to maximize that relationship, not theirs (they are trying to minimize their exploitation). If you aren’t getting good value, it’s on you. Kelly 08.21.06 at 3:29 pm Starving grad student, will work for cheap! (Okay, not literally starving – wouldn’t want to give my uni a bad name, but currently starving; recently moved in, yet to unpack, and really need dinner.) Seriously, one of the many reasons I’ve been in the process of changing careers is the overqualified demon. I worked in the computer industry for 10 years, and after about 6 I started hearing that I was overqualified for the positions I wanted. Problem was, I didn’t want to move in either direction that the standard “career path” wanted me to move – into programming, or managing. I was happy where I was, breaking things and finding out why, then leaving it for someone else to pick up the mess I made. After a while, though, the only people doing the jobs I wanted to do were entry level lackies, people who wanted to move into programming or managing, so I was extremely overqualified in comparrison. It was cheaper to hire someone else and replace and train someone new in a year, than it was to hire me – even when I seriously cut the rates I was looking to work for. (Well, plus the mentality – people had a hard time believing I was truly happy doing the job.) Add in offshoring, and it was just time for me to say “I give up” and chase another career. Which, I suppose, is a long way of saying, if you continually come upon being overqualified, it might be time to leave that particular job for another. katydid 08.21.06 at 4:36 pm If your goal is finding the cheapest labor (and your use of the term outsourcing, not subcontracting, suggests that’s the purpose), with a fixed quality expectation, I suggest that you let applicants bid for the job, i.e., introduce competition. If that seems impractical, then establish the wage you’re willing to pay—and you’ve already indicated that’s your plan! The concept of outsourcing is to do labor arbitrage and how would you know the competitive wage in many locations? Typically, in offshoring, providers compete for your business. You seem in a twist about your own motivations. Good! (I say this because I think the impulse to offshore is rational but not a good thing for the world, certainly not for local workers.) At least for long-run effects, offshoring drives down wages (but adds to a competitive pressure in the providing country, thus causing their wages to rise somewhat—note what’s happening in India and China: India is not offshoring some work to China as India wages rise)and makes waged workers all the more vulnerable. But for your short-term needs, either find cheap labor to do the task at hand, or establish a price below which you do not want to go on ethical grounds—and don’t worry about someone being overqualified. After all, it’s a short term proposition, you can monitor quality, and end it with little notice. You might offer an incentive for high-quality work performed within certain timeframes, sort of like standard construction contracts that earn bonuses based on the number of days the work is completed in advance of the contract delivery date. With offshoring, it probably only makes sense if you have a recurring need, can establish performance metrics that don’t require hands-on supervision, and the relationship is sufficiently important to justify the time and effort is takes for you to monitor and deal with distance management. My (unsolicited)advice? Hire locally since your need is temporary in nature. It’s not worth the grief you’ve already expended! derrida derider 08.21.06 at 6:22 pm ah, eszter has run into the sort of question that labour economists have only really begun focusing on properly in the last decade or so – the joint determination of wages and the hiring decision made necessary by costly information and its many consequences (including uncertainty as to productivity). Try googling “labour (labor?) market monopsony” or “Mortensen-Burdett models”. Not that this theoretical stuff will help you much with your real life problem, of course. For that I’d agree with katydid – just do the simplest thing and don’t worry about it. Witt 08.21.06 at 11:04 pm I’ve been doing a lot of hiring lately, and the number-one red flag for me is a vastly overqualified person. The number-one mitigation for it is a frank cover letter. If a person admits to having followed his spouse to City X, or if even if they just say “I recognize that my degree is in an unrelated field; however, I am interested in this work because of Z, Y, and, W,” then I keep reading. And sometimes they make great hires. It’s an easy problem for HR to address IF there is sufficient data. If not, I go with the probabilities. Way overqualified means, in my experience: a) abrasive to work with; b) book-qualified but no practical skills; or c) interpersonal concerns (creepiness towards co-workers, etc.) preventing the person from holding the position one would expect. cm 08.22.06 at 1:42 am witt: As far as I can tell, “overqualified” is a term primarily describing employers’ judgements of job applicants/employees, and in common parlance indeed means, or is a code word for, credentials/experience substantially in excess of those asked, with the clear connotation of disloyalty and being difficult to “manage” (allures due to high-level credentials, or knows better what plausibly works or not, or knows too much about how corporate organizations work, and knows how to evaluate people and their words & actions, i.e. may not call BS but won’t believe it either). That may mostly fall into your categories a) and c). Jon H 08.22.06 at 7:50 pm eszter, Seems to me you should just come up with a number you’d like to pay, and offer that. If nobody is interested, or nobody you’d want to hire, raise the rate you offer. Don’t worry about what other people are doing, name the rate that works for you. Don’t worry about “underpaying”. Whatever you’re paying people locally takes the local economy into account. You need to pay local people enough to get them to work for you instead of someone else, and that’s going to depend on the local cost of living, the job market, and the financial situation of the workers. If you’re dealing with people working remotely, their local economics may be wildly different from yours. A person in rural Arkansas probably has a lower cost of living than someone in an urban center. A wage that would be a waste of time to someone local may be a very good wage indeed in Arkansas. Let the candidates decide for themselves. Jon H 08.22.06 at 7:55 pm witt writes: “Way overqualified means, in my experience: a) abrasive to work with; b) book-qualified but no practical skills; or c) interpersonal concerns (creepiness towards co-workers, etc.) preventing the person from holding the position one would expect.” What about “The job market for their skillset sucks (as so many do), is unlikely to improve any time soon, and the person needs a job.” Why the shitty judgemental attitude? You’ve never been laid off, have you? You have a very unrealistic outlook on life.

Party manoeuvres It seems Bertie Ahern wants Fianna Fail to head north to prepare to take on Sinn Fein in its electoral heartland with the absorption of/amalgamation with the SDLP possibly part of the long-term plan. On the Unionist side, the UUP have agreed to open talks with the DUP on an electoral pact and one of its MLAs, Billy Armstrong, has called for the DUP and UUP to amalgamate but his Mid-Ulster electoral maths is rather optimistic. Rumours of a new Unionist party continue to circulate. UPDATE An SDLP official comment does not reject the idea. UPDATE Yep FF are going to do it. FF up North would not make any impact on Sinn Fein: SF are largely a party of the urban and rural poor – what have/can FF offer these people other than some vague “look we’re the republican party too” line, and some smart fellas in suits that just won’t fit in. In my opinion, SF get more votes for being the best at putting the boot into the unionists than for any United Ireland/Socialist rhetoric – FF are even worse than the SDLP at booting the unionists: they have nothing else to offer. FF up North would mean a split in the SDLP with some going to Labour (UK version), some going to Alliance and more going to Sinn Fein. How is this in FF’s favour? As for the “new” dissident unionist party. It will occupy the same ground as multi-bob and will share his electoral fate. It’s not a viable runner, that’s why no-one cares. “We in FF generally use the term “the occupied six counties†You in Fianna Fáil will say whatever you feel will put you in a good light and bring you advantage, all without actually engaging in any meaningful reality or risky adventure which might give substance to your vacuous and self-serving waffle. Gutless, third-rate, profoundly dishonest, sneering and bullying – a collection of people whose ascendancy in the politics of Ireland has been a disaster for generations and who still, true to form, manage to turn a time of opportunity into a time of lost opportunities, who manage to turn a time of potential wealth into a time of burdensome debt and rackrenting for huge numbers of people. A collection of unimaginative self-congratulatory half-pints. Intellectual and economic mediocrities and pocket-lining slobbering go, otherwise managing the situation over the last 40 years and managing the peace process over the last 10 years would have been well nigh impossible. Moving agents into the upper echelons of the southern political elite would have been paramount. We know the british were operating agents in the garda special branch and that they influenced the irish media. We also know they came to agreements with the irish army at baldonnell airfield. We know section 31 was introduced. It would stand to reason that as part of their policy in the north, securing influential positions of state to their side in the south would be at the very least helpful if not in fact imperative. They may even have been doing this since 1921. In any case having agents in the universities, the trade unions, the RNLI, the media, the gardai, army and civil service would have been a logical extension of their attempt to isolate the IRA and secure the union of n. ireland to britain. Travelling frequently to england as a ‘fan’ of Manchester United would be good cover for an agent. And indeed having an Irish cabinet minister on the payroll would be a very significant boon to british influence in ireland and they would be most interested in meeting up with someone so inclined. Especially at the beginning of a very sensitive and volatile ‘peace process’ in ’94. An interesting selection of foreign exchange transactions – including sterling – showing up around the place. If one were to make up cock and bull stories to explain such FX transactions, then who or what real source as yet unidentified might one be trying to hide? One wonders… Sammaguire- I agree M.L. is comfortable in SF and it is within that party I believe she could take a seat in D.C. if Bertie retires. One point being slightly overlooked here is that if the FF takeover occurs, it must be borne in mind that the 16 SDLP MLAs are already successfully elected candidates and not some almost foreign entities from the south with no back-round in delivering for their constituents. With all politics being local this should assist their morphing into FF and their successful re-election under a new banner which in turn could considerably bolster FF’s initial first steps northwards. However I think that this possible realignment could also result in SDLP defections to Labour and FG who may feel forced to move with the times and copy FF’s move over the border. F.G. debated a motion in their Ard Fheis last year to rename them F.G. “the United Ireland Party”- this tag was mistakenly added on to a website or advertisement before official clearance from party bosses and was subsequently corrected. As JD says I think we should prepare for slow but sure realignments over the next few years. “but not exactly a titan of political strategy anywhere outside the Ulster Unionist Party” Sammy Morse It was interesting to see Billy Armstrong rolling over yet again, this time espousing the merging of the UUP into the much larger and currently dominant DUP. Empey must be soooh happy that his Mid-Ulster genius is taking over the lead in promoting the new UUP policy of tickle-my-belly! Billy, methinks, would appear to me to be over-confident that the DUP would ever select him anyway to run under that party’s ticket at any future election. [edited by moderator - play the ball not the man]. Now however would be a good time for the sad rump of elderly UUP ruling members still left in Mid-Ulster [edited by moderator] They owe it to the rest of the province’s loyal UUP members to drag themselves out from their hidey-holes and set about selecting a properly able and dependable UUP candidate for the next election. Otherwise a well polished third party will be well placed to absorb the votes of all those unionists who are well & truly scundered with the UUP and irretreivably betrayed by the DUP. Jim Allister may be the key, but certainly not with the motley crew of disgruntled ex-DUP councillors that are presently trying to slink in behind him. In Billys defense, if anyone actually seen the piece on the Politics Show yesterday he said he would like to see one united unionist party, he never mentioned that the DUP and UUP should merge. However it was stupidity to come out with such a statement that could be misconstrued by the media and the general public alike. Again he did say he was speaking in a personal capacity but still, as he is a elected representative of the UUP it comes across as a UUP plan. With regards to the electoral pact between the DUP and UUP, the UUP do not have much of a choice to to meet the DUP and see what their thinking is on it. However, the way in which the DUP announced this make it look like another PR stunt. Having it released to the press before Sir Reg Empey had even read it himself leaves many UUP members thinking the same way. But if the UUP don’t respond and dismiss this as a PR stunt, when it comes to the next elections and certain seats are lost because of two unionist candidates, the blame will fall at the door of the UUP. Har” Hahahaha – does this get any better? Yes it does: “In any case having agents in the universities, the trade unions, the RNLI” Damn them securocrat lifeboat crew. Have you noticed that they only pull drowning prods out of the water? The brits are everywhere. Here we go again, some of our unionist politicians using the hardy old rant that the Union is the only agenda and that it is at risk unless we join together. What a load of total codswallop. Can’t you see what is happening. There is a big threat to the DUP that Jim Allister is going to drain support away from the DUP to his potentially new anti-agreement party. The DUP are panicking and see a merger, or at least a pact, with the poor naive UU to offset any possible loss of votes. By doing so, they not only negate Allister, but also become a much stronger DUP (with UU eventually subsumed within its ranks). It is now time that political parties, Unionist more so, stopped putting their single focus of the Union as the bedrock for all political decisions, such as Health, Economy, Education, etc. By doing so, they are unable to make the right decisions for Northern Ireland. This alleged threat to the union is manifest in everything the DUP do, and they whip up a frenzy of unionist support to keep in power. These are tactics no different to the Shinners from a nationalist perspective. Let’s hear them now squeal about FF wanting to come north. I for one would like all political parties in the North, whether new or existing, to stand on their own principles and test their support through a proper and full democratic election, not just some scaremongering tactics by the extremes. I suspect there is concern within the DUP regarding Allister but not panic. Allister is a relatively well known figure and seems to not have Bob McCartney’s special brand of negative charisma. There is, however, a problem of the lack other generally well known faces for a new party. If a new party is set up, the councillors who have left the DUP will undoubtly be protrayed (by the DUP and media respectively) as disgruntled because they did not get jobs etc. or barmy bigots. I have little doubt, however, that there is a constituency out there for a new party. I am sure it would be larger than McCartney’s because some voted DUP last time convienced that Paisley would not sell out and some abstained being convienced he wouild but not being prepared to vote for McCartney (OK Elenwe and myself respectively). On a sort of DUP related note. I was at two different Free Presbyterian church services yesterday (we were visiting relatives) and there was absolutely no mention of politics. I think there are people who think the FPC spends its time preaching politics in church and as far as I can see such a thing must be very rare. In terms of FF standing here in Northern Ireland it might remind Paisley and co that Ahern and FF are actually nationalists (nothing wrong with them being nationalists) and as such have an opposing long term vision (albeit apparently very long term) of the future of Northern Ireland. The whole FF moving north is just a blinder played to take the heat off paisley’s buddy Vertie. As someone quite rightly pointed out their policies arent compatable with the six counties Nationalists. They would definately take the heat off SF’s poor showing in the Republic by havinbg an abysmal showing of their own, I don’t think too many northern nationaqlists will forget them sitting on the hands while the english government was allowed to slaughter them with out any objections from FF It is however encouraging that so many loyalists are still predicting the anialation of SF at the hands of some future force. Just proves how out of touch unionism is with reality, they are there to stay for a while yet so you might as well reach accomodation with them because you no longer have the ability to gerrymander them out of power I’m sure that Sluggerdom is way before me, but … a thought. First, though, a warning: I’m not quite sure how this posting is going to work out, except in an alphabetti-spaghetti of abbreviations. FF is currently associated with some very curious bedfellows in the European Parliament. The Union for Europe of the Nations (i.e. the conservative right) and FF are incompatible (who, for heaven’s sake, wants to be in bed with the Italian Northern League?). In the Council of Europe, FF prefer to consort with the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (nearest known cousins, the UK Lib Dems), where they sit more neatly. Of course, FF’s natural home is with the European Peoples Party-European Democrats (but FG got there first). As I recall Marion Harkin breaks bread with that lot, too. That’s the EPP-ED from which Diddy Dave Cameron is bailing his Tories out (to considerable distress among some sitting Tories MEPs). Confused: we should be; but the EPP-ED is the nearest thing the Euro Parliament has to a “natural party of government” on the centre-right. The SDLP and Irish Labour Party are both in the Party of European Socialists, along with the UK Labour Party. Which, of course, is the other “natural party of government” (or would be, if Blair’s lot hadn’t been screwed so badly last time round). SF (that’s Mary Lou and Gerry) are in with the Confederal Group of the European United Left – Nordic Green Left (and therefore semi-detached from the Commies in the Parties of the European Left). Why am I bothering with this garbage? Well, I’ve just read the Irish Times report, and still cannot see where we’re being taken. I cannot see what FF has to gain from taking a drenching in NI, and that’s surely what’s in prospect under existing conditions. Where it could matter, in the Euro-theatre, Ireland (26 +/- 6) is dissipating its clout in the European Parliament (where, in any case, there has to be some consolidation of political interests if the damn thing is every going to count for anything). And there there is scope for some FF-SDLP argy-bargy. So, is this whole thing a bit of kite-flying for Euro 2009? Fianna Fail are Ireland’s version of British New Labour. There’s no reason why FF-SDLP couldn’t be a member of the PES. Sure didn’t Bertie decribe himself as a “Socialist”? Allister is a relatively well known figure and seems to not have Bob McCartney’s special brand of negative charisma In true pantomime style: oh yes he does! It is however encouraging that so many loyalists are still predicting the anialation of SF at the hands of some future force Actually, Sean, most of those ‘uns are Stoops or southern anti-Shinners. But you just keep living in that realm of self-delusion and righteous persecution. It’s so much nicer than dealing with reality. BTW, Briso, Bertie’s’s business dealings. I think you grossly overstate the potential vote for FF West of the Bann, and in any case they will be annihilated in Greater Belfast and Derry City. Noises coming form the SDLP too: I think there might be more in it this time. The context is changed slightly, with the Assembly looking stable and SF looking to be plateauing rather than on an up curve as in 1999 or 2001. Moreover the SDLP is fairly low down, and even a halt in the decline and small growth could be used as a positive for FF. What I can’t see, though, is how it works if FF just subsumes the SDLP. It’s a change of branding which would help, and possibly some sense in election strategy, but to be truly effective it would require either a change of leadership or a change in policy, or both. The first doesn’t seem possible, and the second might not go down too well and runs into the kinds of problem that SF have crossing jurisdictions. I think having another serious party would be a plus for Nationalism, though. “I think you grossly overstate the potential vote for FF West of the Bann, and in any case they will be annihilated in Greater Belfast and Derry City.” An SDLP merged FF would probably do alright in Derry. Greater Belfast, with the possible exception of South Belfast, would be a kicking. But then, what’s new? In the short term, all FF have to do is SF’s momentum. Oh, and even running a non headless chicken campaign could deliver a few extra seats for them. I still can’t get over 3 SDLP running in West Tyrone. So, the FF move to the North is confirmed, but for Assembly only. How can this work? If there is to be a merge with the SDLP, how can they say that they don’t want to contest Westminster elections? Will they leave the way open for SF or Independents? I do not see it pushing the Unionists into a pan-unionist coalition as they, like the SDLP are not in the habit of doing deals with SF, therefore ruling out a pan-nationalist front (as the DUP keep trying to scare unionists with). One to watch with interest. Only the electorate will prove whether it is a good move or not. All that is happening here is that the parties are re-organizing themselves around the loyalties of the people. Which haven’t changed. Labour politics has never been the natural home of the small farmer patriots of Ireland, North or South. Your Derry GAA man is much like your Kerry GAA man. Their natural home is in a merged FF-SDLP. As religion slowly fades from view, the other tribe of Ireland, made up of the Norman Fine Gaelers and Ulster Unionists will narrow their differences. Take a generation, though. As for the Shinners, they never really understood the difference between Nationalism and Republicanism, but I think they’re gonna find out soon. “BTW, Briso, Bertie’s’s business dealings.” – Sammy Morse Bertie was popular long before he along with McSharry, McGreevy, Haughey, et al in FF, devised the economic policies and provided the management that underpin the “economic boom.” It’s also not a case of turning a “a blind eye to Bertie’s business dealings.” Those matters are being diligently investigated by a Tribunal, so it’s ridiculous to claim that a blind eye is being turned when they are being inspected under a microscope on behalf of the citizens and the state by said Tribunal and a pack of lawyers and a judge. It’s a case of waiting until the Tribunal reports before any conclusions are drawn. That, incidentally, is what mature democracies and their electorate do – also called being innocent until proven otherwise. Kensei, I don’t. Still haven’t answered the question about how the Westminster elections will be organised if FF aren’t interested in running. A northern FF as The DUBLINER suggests wouldn’t work within these parameters. Who knows? “Those matters are being diligently investigated by a Tribunal, so it’s ridiculous to claim that a blind eye is being turned when they are being inspected under a microscope on behalf of the citizens and the state by said Tribunal and a pack of lawyers and a judge. It’s a case of waiting until the Tribunal reports before any conclusions are drawn. That, incidentally, is what mature democracies and their electorate do – also called being innocent until proven otherwise.” I’d humbly suggest that if the economy was taking a dive at the time of the last election there would have been a bit more anger directed at Bertie. I’d suggest the Republic’s electorate are actually more or less like everywhere else’s. “Kensei, I don’t.” An alliance short of a merger won’t work, especially if they are still branded SDLP. Really, what’s changed in that event? It’s not even symbolic. They’ll get a kicking from SF and probably won’t even halt the decline. Grouch, I have to agree that it doesn’t make sense. SF don’t take their seats at Westminister, so they have no advantage over a FF party which won’t contest them – only the SDLP can claim that advantage. However, does FF really expect the SDLP to give up its Westminister seats if it merges? Hardly. And not merging will only take votes from the SDLP, working to SF’s advantage. There simply is no advantage to FF in going north – just don’t underestimate the contempt that certain FF’ers hold SF (and the role that might play). We’ll just have to see how it all pans out. It sounds like Dermot is thinking aloud – not smart politics. Kensei, it could be that most people don’t think he has a case to answer beyond how he has already answered it and that most of the rest are prepared to wait for the Tribunal to report – if for no reason other than reasoning that it is a waste of money having a Tribunal if you condiser its findings to be a mere surplus appendex to the public grilling. páid @ 04:17 PM: Labour politics has never been the natural home of the small farmer patriots of Ireland, North or South. May I politely query that as an omnibus statement? Some patches in FF’s coat-of-many-colours borrow from Labour. Consider Diarmaid Feriter’s The Transformation of Ireland, 1900-2000, page 412 in the paperback edition: ‘The mainstream Labour Party failed to develop into a political force capable of challenging the two larger parties, partly because Fianna Fáil had stolen many of their ideological clothes in the 1930s. Indeed, many Fianna Fáil members were to maintain throughout the century that they were in effect the real Labour Party of Ireland.’ This is the basis of Bertie’s 2004 claim, and repeated by Charlie McCreevy on 6 Nov 2005 (see earlier in this thread). It is notable that, when FF stumbles, Labour surges (historically, that was most notable in 1943, when there was a mushroom growth of some 600 new Labour Party branches). To a lesser extent, something similar happened in the 1960s, but was out-flanked by Sean Lemass’s party-management (and not helped by the cynicism of FG’s attempts to look leftish-of-centre). There is the curious ability of Labour to survive (and even prosper) in Wexford and Kerry (OK: the Spring feudal fiefdom). Then there is the oddity of Clann na Talmhan, which began as a know-nothing movement, became an organised political party in 1938, and survived into the 1950s. That’s surely symptomatic of a radical tradition in the small-farmer community. It’s certainly a tendency that FF has needed to be assiduous in tending. What killed the Clann was not the lack of rural radicalism, but the depopulation of the countryside. And what about the whole co-operative movement, all the way from the social-Catholicism of the early 1900s via Fr McDyer at Glencolumcille to the present day? I suggest that we need to be careful in distinguishing the Labour Party from a wider view of “Labour politics”. Across Ireland (and Europe) the small-farmer has shown a tradition of radicalism. FF may have been adept at harnessing the “small farmer patriots”, but rarely been oblivious to their mindset. If — if — FF and the SDLP (or any other combination of the political elements, 26 +/- 6) can act as a focus for, say, the public service, agriculture, the employed, the aspiring suburbans, that’s a potent and unbeatable force. But I doubt that narrow “nationalism” will feature as the glue in such a coalition. The outcome of a FF move north would inevitably be a new dynamic that urges FF in the south to promote a unity agenda, if for no other reason than FF candidates in the north would want FF in the south to be more focused on that aim in order to increase their own voter base. Since the current policy doesn’t envisage a border poll occurring until after the northern economy and its political institutions are stabilised in a couple of decades, at the earliest, doing anything that would promote a unity agenda beyond promoting peace and prosperity seems to conflict with the current policy. In relation to Bertie, I always think that it is blackly comical when SF supporters talk about the need for politicians to not only have a scrupulous moral character, immaculate political judgement, and irreproachable integrity, but to be seen to have all of those things. They seem oblivious to the fact that they elected criminals, smugglers, bank robbers, extortionists, black marketers, murderers, and sociopaths of the first rank. Whatever ‘errors of judgement’ may afflict one or two Irish politicians, they don’t involve the Irish people “turning a blind eye†to people who engage in 25 million pound bank robberies for purely private gain, training FARC terrorists for millions of pounds in tax free profit, or supporting a sectarian mass-murder campaign, just so long as they get an Irish Language Act – or whatever the price of turning a blind eye to the characters of those they vote for involves. “If — if — FF and the SDLP (or any other combination of the political elements, 26 +/- 6) can act as a focus for, say, the public service, agriculture, the employed, the aspiring suburbans, that’s a potent and unbeatable force. But I doubt that narrow “nationalism†will feature as the glue in such a coalition.” I think you are too quick to dismiss patriotism as glue that binds disparate groups together. Not enough on its own, certainly these days, but there were points in the past where it would have been close. SDLP Statement here: kensei @ 05:38 PM: Nationalism is undoubtedly our legacy from the past. And, noting the wider history of Europe over the last century or so, not one to cherish greatly. I, like many of the older generation, was indoctinated with the mantra of “land is life”. I now see that is Karl Marx writing on Fenianism in 1867, citing a Justice Blackburne, and (with some justification) convincing himself that Ireland was substantially an agricultural country. Such was the basis of the nationalism of 1916, when the “blood sacrifice” gave Irish Nationalism that extra toxicity. Exactly 100 years after Marx, Tommy Makem’s metaphor of “four green fields” indicates its lasting potency (despite Dominic Behan’s comment on Brookeborough, 1957, warning us of its dangers). As late as 1997 Ireland was one of only three EU15 countries with 10% employed in agriculture. I see that only 5% of the RoI working population are now described as “farmers”. In NI, only 15% of the population are “rural”. My inference from that is the link between land and nationalism becoming less immediate, less relevant, though not yet void. Most people’s notion of “land” is now a 25-year mortgage on a semi in the suburbs. We are employed in and by multi-nationals. Our horizons are necessarily wider that Makem’s in 1967. Every Dubliner may daily recall Parnell’s Cork speech of January 1885: ‘….’ I think it’s time also to remember his immediately-previous sentence: ‘ should be done.’ “There simply is no advantage to FF in going north” Agreed ,if they were to do it one fell swoop. But over the long term and the softly softly approach – it may be worth doing. It is worth exploring from an FF point of view. They are on record as saying they won’t contest elections (for Westminister at any rate) – so what is the prize they are weighing up? First I think this is aimed at isolating SF in the Border belt. To do that they could it is important to protect Foyle and South Down for the SDLP at the next, yes, Westminster election. Secondly, an agreed (SF/SDLP) candidate in West Tyrone, stands a chance of replacing Kieran Deeny and running Pat Doherty very very close. Defending two seats and even taking West Tyrone would stop the SF bandwagon on the border. Seems to be to be a prize worth going for , as for the Dail, this strategy would stand a very good chance of impacting three of the four SF TD’s, who only got elected in the 9/10th count. It also brings an absolute FF majority into play. Not winning West Tyrone would not be a disaster…as FF could position it as early days (and disengage if hey thought there were going to look stupid prgogressing with the plan) A win though would changes the momentum significantly. It means leaving Belfast for the longer term – but so be it. As DK would out it ” SF are largely a party of the urban and rural poor” This move reinforces that. On the reverse side – doing nothing will leave leaves five SF Wstminster seats along the border belt, no long term partner for FF north of the border, and SF with the chance of 2 TD’s in Donegal next time around, as the Bertie factor will no longer be in play. An active strategy by FF may take SF to one TD, the do nothing may leave SF with 7 TD’s. The smoke and mirrors, up North may be hiding the real prize of consolidation of FF stranglehold down south. I am struggling to see how this would split the SDLP if it starts with a lose association – and a split now would leave more, than the rump that would be left be after the next Westminster elction. Pia Lugum I too heard about Armstrong’s poor performance at the Rainey [edited by moderator play the ball not the man].His call for unionist unity must be someone elses idea. Why he now wants to talk to the “chuckle chumps” I will never know.The Dups have sold their soul for “twenty pieces of silver” just as Big Ian put power before god.Watching and listening to what McCrea does. Malcolm, Your view of the situation is more or less mine. Class politics and Socialism never had the roots of dark, satanic mills in Ireland, outside of Belfast. And I agree that FF, like the plain people of Ireland have always had a strong communitarian streak, forged in the 19th Century land struggle perhaps, and threatened today by the tiger. A good example of FF outperforming Labour IMO is the current Limerick renewal situation, where whole sink estates are being completely knocked and rebuilt. Not hamstrung by ideology, not tolerant of criminals, and not short of money from the economy, stunning amounts are to be spent in order to get the place contributing instead of draining. Labour would send in social workers, the Tories would send in more police, FF have the commonsense approach. I don’t vote for them BTW! And I realise my statements are omnibus and tabloidy, put that down to laziness. I admire your erudition. Bretagne @ 07:04 PM: Yes, I see where you’re going to; and it has some logic. On the other hand, I had a quick flick at the May 2007 figures. SF’s problem was that they could not attract the transfers, virtually anywhere. As long as the electors were offered alternative routes for their later preferences, they took them. That leaves SF with two options: * build the first-preference vote (“D’oh!”) and/or * somehow achieve a lifeline from transfers. In the case of that second option, surely we need to hear the other shoe drop. By that I mean there has to be some re-alignment on the Left. We don’t know the electorate’s more-considered view of the Greens in bed with Bertie. Nor what they will make of Labour’s retreaded-virginal shriek of “No, no! A thousand times no! I’d rather die than say Yes!” Either of those re-appraisals means options for transfers open up or close. As for the other option, maximizing first preferences, we need to look at the constituencies. Only Cavan-Monaghan delivers an “over-the-top” result. CaoimhghÃn Ó Caoláin hit a neat 100% of the quota, on a 20% share of the valid vote, 2.5% up on 2002 (but dwarfed by Brendan Smith’s 6% leap). Any update on Kev’s present state-of-health, by the way/ The seat SF could have, and perhaps should have taken was Donegal SW, with 21.2% of the valid vote, 85% of a quota. Pearse Doherty ran close, but no cigar. That seems to me the main target seat. However, it seems that Bertie has already beefed up (no pun intended) FF’s status in SW by giving Mary Coughlan rights of agricultural and fishing largesse. Nor do I see that the other three “border” constituencies offering SF much hope, without something nuclear occurring. SF had 15% of the vote, 75% of a quota in Louth; 11.7% of the vote and just 47% of a quota in Sligo-Leitrim and a dismal 8.4% of the vote, and 33.7% of a quota in Roscommon-Leitrim. Admittedly, all these run a bit ahead of their national performance. North and west of the border, SF no longer have the kudos of being the opposition. If government is making choices, it’s also having to take the blame as well as the credit for those choices. All the research I have seen implies that a party in government sees its natural level of support decline by 1 to 1.5% a year. We are likely to see whether that rule-of-thumb (which, remember, is supposed to be the measure of what stick is acceptable for wife-beating) applies to SF and the DUP. All in, then, I don’t see Bertie being motivated by any fear of SF. It isn’t possible, is it, that he’s actually capable of altruism? Commentors are reminded of the play the ball not the man rule páid @ 08:52 PM: Thanks for the undeserved nasturtiums. As for Limerick getting the demolition ball, not before time, and it couldn’t happen to a more deserving spot. I like your neat one liner of the party approaches (your fifth paragraph). I fully expect to recycle it it due course. “And, noting the wider history of Europe over the last century or so, not one to cherish greatly.” Nope, don’t buy it. Ranting against Nationalism is just like ranting against religion – it has produced both good and bad in great measure, and I switch off if you go a rant about how it causes all the world’s ills. Malcolm – great post Last bit first – Bertie is to altruism, what I am to ballroom dancing! Looking at the transfers – as you say “As long as the electors were offered alternative routes for their later preferences, they took them”. I’d forgotton what a desert Donegal SW was for SF transfers. I agree – that I am ahead of myself based on the current results – but maybe this, is the scenario Bertie is trying to kill at birth . I am struggling a bit to see the strageic value in organising North, except to save the two SDLP seats, and going after P Doherty. And if we discount my dancing capability – Berties must see these seats tranferrring some value south of the border – but what is it? I’m tuning into Q&A’s on RTE in a sec to find out. kensei @ 10:28 PM: Ah, yes, the heady mixed aroma of religion and nationalism! Just what we need for a juicy Armageddon! God heard the assembled nations sing: “Gott straffe England!” “God save the King!” “God this!” “God that” “God everything!” … “My God!” said God, “I’ve got my work cut out!” Bretagne, as a West Tyrone man I can say – without a shadow of a doubt – there’s absolutely no chance that Pat Doherty or any West Tyrone SF candidate will be beaten in a Westminster election. The SDLP seem to given up the ghost in the area and there’s a distinct possibility they will be down to 1 councillor in the current Strabane DC area and 2 in Omagh DC area after the next local election. As for Foyle and South Down, it’s difficult to see the SDLP losing either. “Bretagne, as a West Tyrone man I can say – without a shadow of a doubt – there’s absolutely no chance that Pat Doherty or any West Tyrone SF candidate will be beaten in a Westminster election. Agree it is a long shot – though lets look at the numbers from 2005. Electorate = 43,487 I agree the 2007 assembly election was implode for the SDLP fileding three candidates, and that is nearly the impossible hill to climb for any non-SF candidate. Adding in Deeny and McMenamin would give an absolute maximum non-SF vote of 15800 – lets say there are 800 or so unionist in there. So the gap is 2000 (best case for SDLP). In reality I would accept it is more likely 5000+, asssuming the SDLP voters get out and vote – and the question is how can that gap be decreased. (or defended from an SF point of view). Now in comes Berties lads with the deal -(sorry, manifesto) for West Tyrone I go for a road upgrade tween Castlederg and the N15 onto Transport 21… even dd a modest through pass of Castlederg as it is a shocker to drive though. (say £3m) Its in T21 alrady so a minor change could improve access to services etc. About 5 miles single carraigeway needs realigned from memory. A plan to use some services in Omagh Hospital paid for by Dublin – may be even a border area hub with the Donegal Community Hospital. As an out of the sky suggestion, I suggest the extension of the the Bio-energy Establishment Scheme to western border regions. Now this is about positioning – is is possible to win West Tyrone in one hit? That depends on when Gordon calls the election – but a list of 10-12 costed ideas such as above would dent Pats’ lead – particulary if Northern FF/SD MP’s were considered part of the FF parliamentary team in the Dail. Hard, very hard, yes, I wouldn’t say never. And even it it fails first time out – it puts SFon the defensive in the North. Strategically that may still be worth it. This is going to make me look like a SF sycophant, but just because I’m realist doesn’t make it so. Bretagne, I don’t know if you’re from West Tyrone or not, you seem to know a fair bit about it but you seem to have no idea how inept the SDLP organisation is in WT. West Tyrone is as safe a seat as Mid Ulster or Newry & Armagh for SF now. I’m not sure where this idea came from, but there seems to be a notion that Pat Doherty is a weak candidate despite having a 5,000+ majority in ’01 and ’05. This seems to stem from ’97 when he was beat into 3rd place by Willie Thompson and Joe Byrne. That was a SF faux pax. Parachuting someone into a constituency only works when said individual has the necessary profile and this wasn’t the case 10 years ago. I mean the news and editorial staff of the main nationalist paper in West Tyrone didn’t even know Doherty was the SF VP the day after his candidacy was announced in 97. They were more shocked that it wasn’t Barry McElduff or Francie Mackey. Anyway, the crux of your argument seems to be that all Deeny and SDLP votes are non SF votes. Possibly, but looking at the local election results on the same day, I could suggest that 2000 Deeny voters that day also voted SF locally and that would be equally valid. In the long term could an FF / SDLP alliance lead to a resurgence in WT? I’d never say never, but the SDLP haven’t even hit rock bottom yet. Allow me some leeway to speculate. Castlederg is up there as one of the most, how shall we say, ‘divided’ towns in the North. The Nationalist community of the Derg and Aghyaran are so staunch I wouldn’t be surprised if half of Joe O’Neill’s vote in the assembly election came from the Derg area alone. The SDLP had half a quota in ’05 – the promise of a new road *might* keep their vote static, but if they’ve 300 total votes in 09 in the Derg they’ll be doing well. In Glenelly and Mourne, whilst Eugene McMenamin has the profile and in all probability at least 1 quota in Mourne, the same can’t be said in Glenelly, where the SDLP are now under a quota and this a trend that is unlikely to be reversed in the near future. Now that’s Strabane District Council for you and if they go down as low as a single councillor then I’m afraid that’s the end of the road. Omagh just isn’t as critical YET. There’s a safe quota in Omagh for Jo Deehan who’ll be around a while, but if Pat McDonnell or in a more likely scenario Seamus Shields don’t stand they SDLP will be in serious bother in Mid Tyrone and West Tyrone. They had 6,000 odd votes in this year’s assembly election, by the time of the locals I’d estimate their vote will be somewhere in the region of 4,500-5,000. And if Deeny continues to talk about running candidates in the local elections then that might be overly optimistic. The ONLY chance for a recovery in my humble opinion is Deeny throwing his lot in as the candidate in a FF / SDLP coalition then it could be in interesting, but I think there’s too much bitterness around from this years assembly elections for that to be a factor in the short term. Original Sam Maguire - Great post – comprehensive and apologies, I thought I had posted earlier “The ONLY chance for a recovery in my humble opinion is Deeny throwing his lot in as the candidate in a FF / SDLP coalition then it could be in interesting,……” Agree – this is the only chance- its not that I think Pat Doherty is weak, it just the alternative is terrible. I think the thrust of where I ended up, is that with FF coming North – the benefit of being an MP in Westminster is less and less, as the power lies in Stormont, and more in Dublin. Really an MP is more window dressing that anything else, for SF at any rate. That being the case, it is really how much has Pat Doherty delivered – (little as an MP), and how easily voters can be bought (Bertie is rather good at this). People voting for Deeny as a FF/SDLP man, with access to the FF parliamentary party, and a long list of Berties “promises top pay the voter on demand” is a different proposition….. If we take the current differential as 7000ish (by adding in your 2k ish), how much could that be dented? With the lure of a few roads, maybe even rail etc for Derry- Lifford, Strabane and Omagh, ie how long would the shopping list need to be to dent SF vote? Raises uncomfortable questions about buying the vote – but thats FF’s record. Its also a strageic weakness for SF, that they wield no power as MP’s, whereas a FF/sdlp MP would (through Dublin), and SF have no sweeties to distribute. . SO you arrive at a point that says (maybe)- I can lend my vote to FF/SDLP in West Tyrone for Westminster, as its abstentionist anyway, doesn’t hurt SF in the council or assembly, but we get a sweetie bag from Bertie”. What is the strageic value to FF in coming North if not to head SF off at the pass?

The easiest way to email your members of CongressDonate Now H.R.4243 - Indian School Construction Act To provide for the issuance of bonds to provide funding for the construction of schools of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for other purposes. Rollover any line of text to comment and/or link to it. HR 4243 IHCommentsClose CommentsPermalink To provide for the issuance of bonds to provide funding for the construction of schools of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink November 15, 2007 Mr. POMEROY (for himself, Mr. BRADY of Texas, and Ms. HERSETH SANDLIN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor and Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concernedCommentsClose CommentsPermalink To provide for the issuance of bonds to provide funding for the construction of schools of the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and for other purposes.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Indian School Construction Act'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) BUREAU- The term `Bureau' means the Bureau of Indian Affairs.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) INDIAN- The term `Indian' means any individual who is a member of an Indian tribe.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (3) INDIAN TRIBE-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) IN GENERAL- The term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term `Indian tribal government' in section 7701(a)(40) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as modified by section 7871(d) of that Code).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) INCLUSION- The term `Indian tribe' includes any consortium of Indian tribes approved by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (4) SECRETARY- The term `Secretary' means the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (5) TRIBAL SCHOOL- The term `tribal school' means an elementary school, secondary school, or dormitory that--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) is operated by a tribal organization or the Bureau for the education of Indian children; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) receives financial assistance for the operation of the school or dormitory under an appropriation for the Bureau under a contract, grant, or agreement, or for a Bureau-operated school, under--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) section 102, 103(a), or 208 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act ( (ii) the Tribally Controlled Schools Act of 1988 ( SEC. 3. ISSUANCE OF BONDS. (a) In General- The Secretary shall establish a pilot program under which the Secretary shall provide to eligible Indian tribes the authority to issue qualified tribal school modernization bonds to provide funds for the construction, rehabilitation, and repair of tribal schools, including advance planning and design of tribal schools.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (b) Eligibility-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) IN GENERAL- To be eligible to issue a qualified tribal school modernization bond under the program under subsection (a), an Indian tribe shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) prepare and submit to the Secretary a plan of construction that meets the requirements of paragraph (2);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) provide for quarterly and final inspection by the Bureau of each project to be funded by the bond; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (C) ensure that the facilities to be funded by the bond will be used primarily for elementary and secondary educational purposes for the period during which the bond remains outstanding.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) PLAN OF CONSTRUCTION- The requirements referred to in paragraph (1)(A) are that the plan shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) contain a description of the construction to be carried out using funds provided under a qualified tribal school modernization bond;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) demonstrate that a comprehensive survey has been carried out regarding the construction needs of the applicable tribal school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (C) contain assurances that funding under the bond will be used only for the activities described in the plan;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (D) contain a response to the evaluation criteria contained in the document entitled `Instructions and Application for Replacement School Construction, Revision 6' and dated February 6, 1999; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (E) contain any other reasonable and related information that the Secretary determines to be appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (3) PRIORITY- In determining whether an Indian tribe is eligible to participate in the program under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to Indian tribes that, as demonstrated by the plans of construction of the Indian tribes, will fund projects--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) described in the list of the Bureau entitled `Education Facilities Replacement Construction Priorities List as of FY 2004' (69 Fed. Reg. 13870) (or successor regulations); orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) that meet the criteria for ranking schools described in the document entitled `Instructions and Application for Replacement School Construction, Revision 6' and dated February 6, 1999.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (4) ADVANCE PLANNING AND DESIGN FUNDING-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) IN GENERAL- An Indian tribe may propose in the plan of construction of the Indian tribe to receive advance planning and design funding from the tribal school modernization escrow account established under subsection (f)(2).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) CONDITIONS- As a condition of receiving advance planning and design funds under subparagraph (A), an Indian tribe shall agree--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) to issue qualified tribal school modernization bonds after the receipt of the funds; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (ii) to deposit into the escrow account or a fund managed by a trustee under subsection (d)(3) an amount equal to the amount of funds received from the escrow account.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (c) Permissible Activities- In addition to the use described in subsection (a), an Indian tribe may use amounts received through the issuance of a qualified tribal school modernization bond--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) to enter into, and make payments under, contracts with licensed and bonded architects, engineers, and construction firms--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) to determine the needs of a tribal school; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) for the design and engineering of a tribal school;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) to enter into, and make payments under, contracts with financial advisors, underwriters, attorneys, trustees, and other professionals to provide assistance to the Indian tribe in issuing the bonds; andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (3) to carry out other such activities as the Secretary determines to be appropriate.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (d) Bond Trustee-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any qualified tribal school modernization bond issued by an Indian tribe under this section shall be subject to a trust agreement between the Indian tribe and a trustee.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) TRUSTEE- Any bank or trust company that meets the requirements established by the Secretary may serve as a trustee for purposes of paragraph (1).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (3) CONTENT OF TRUST AGREEMENT- A trust agreement entered into by an Indian tribe under this subsection shall specify that the trustee, with respect to any bond issued under this section, shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) act as a repository for the proceeds of the bond;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) make payments to bondholders;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (C) receive, as a condition to the issuance of the bond, a transfer of funds from the tribal school modernization escrow account under subsection (f)(2), or from other funds furnished by or on behalf of the Indian tribe, in an amount that, together with interest earnings from the investment of the funds in obligations of or fully guaranteed by the United States, or from other investments under subsection (j), will be sufficient to pay timely and in full the entire principal amount of the bond on the stated maturity date of the bond;CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (D) invest the funds received in accordance with subparagraph (C); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (E) hold and invest the funds in a segregated fund or account under the agreement, to be used solely to pay the costs of activities described in subsection (c).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (4) REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING DIRECT PAYMENTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the trustee shall make each payment described in paragraph (3)(E) in accordance with such requirements as the Indian tribe may prescribe in the trust agreement under paragraph (3).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS- As a condition of making a payment to a contractor under paragraph (3)(E), the trustee shall require an inspection of the project of the contractor, to ensure the completion of the project, by--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) a local financial institution; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (ii) an independent inspecting architect or engineer.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (C) CONTRACTS- Each contract under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c) shall require, or be renegotiated to require, that each payment under the contract shall be made in accordance with this subsection.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (e) Payments of Principal and Interest-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) PRINCIPAL-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) IN GENERAL- No principal payment on any qualified tribal school modernization bond shall be required until the final, stated maturity of the bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) MATURITY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) IN GENERAL- The final, stated maturity of a qualified tribal school modernization bond shall be not later than the date that is 15 years after the date of issuance of the bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (ii) EXPIRATION- On expiration of a qualified tribal school modernization bond under clause (i), the entire outstanding principal under the bond shall become due and payable.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) INTEREST- In lieu of interest on a qualified tribal school modernization bond, there shall be provided a tax credit under section 1400U of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (f) Bond Guarantees-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) IN GENERAL- Payment of the principal portion of a qualified tribal school modernization bond issued under this section shall be guaranteed solely by amounts deposited with each respective bond trustee as described in subsection (d)(3)(C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) ESCROW ACCOUNT-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may deposit not more than $50,000,000 into a tribal school modernization escrow account.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may accept for transfer into the tribal school modernization escrow account amounts from, as the Secretary determines to be appropriate--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (I) other Federal departments and agencies (such as amounts made available for facility improvement and repairs);CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (II) non-Federal public or private sources.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (ii) TREATMENT- Amounts transferred into the escrow account pursuant to clause (i) shall not reduce the amount eligible to be deposited into the account under subparagraph (A).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (C) INVESTMENT OF CERTAIN FUNDS- Amounts made available to carry out any project included on the list of the Bureau entitled `Education Facilities Replacement Construction Priorities List as of FY 2004' (or successor regulations) (69 Fed. Reg. 13870) shall--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) be invested in accordance with subsection (j); andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (ii) at the discretion of the Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (I) be used to pay any increase in project costs or other facility costs of the project for which the amounts are made available; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (II) be deposited into the tribal school modernization escrow account.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (g) Limitations-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) OBLIGATION TO REPAY-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (A) IN GENERAL- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the principal amount of any qualified tribal school modernization bond issued under this section shall be repaid only to the extent of any escrowed funds provided under subsection (d)(3)(C).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (B) TREATMENT- No qualified tribal school modernization bond issued by an Indian tribe shall be an obligation of, and no payment of the principal of such a bond shall be guaranteed by, the United States, an Indian tribe, or a tribal school.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) LAND AND FACILITIES- No land or facility purchased or improved using amounts provided under a qualified tribal school modernization bond issued under this section shall be mortgaged or used as collateral for the bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (h) Sale of Bonds- A qualified tribal school modernization bond may be sold at a purchase price equal to, in excess of, or at a discount from the par amount of the bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (i) Treatment of Trust Agreement Earnings- Amounts earned through the investment of funds under the control of a trustee under a trust agreement described in subsection (d) shall not be subject to Federal income tax.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (j) Investment of Sinking Funds- Any sinking fund established for the purpose of the payment of principal on a qualified tribal school modernization bond shall be invested in--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (1) obligations issued or guaranteed by the United States; orCommentsClose CommentsPermalink (2) such other assets as the Secretary of the Treasury may allow, by regulation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF INCENTIVES FOR TRIBAL SCHOOLS. Chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 is amended by adding at the end the following new subchapter:CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `Subchapter Z--Tribal School Modernization Provisions `Sec. 1400U. Credit to holders of qualified tribal school modernization bonds.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `SEC. 1400U. CREDIT TO HOLDERS OF QUALIFIED TRIBAL SCHOOL MODERNIZATION BONDS. `(a) Allowance of Credit- In the case of a taxpayer who holds a qualified tribal school modernization bond on a credit allowance date of such bond which occurs during the taxable year, there shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for such taxable year an amount equal to the sum of the credits determined under subsection (b) with respect to credit allowance dates during such year on which the taxpayer holds such bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(b) Amount of Credit-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(1) IN GENERAL- The amount of the credit determined under this subsection with respect to any credit allowance date for a qualified tribal school modernization bond is 25 percent of the annual credit determined with respect to such bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(2) ANNUAL CREDIT- The annual credit determined with respect to any qualified tribal school modernization bond is the product of--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(A) the applicable credit rate, multiplied byCommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(B) the outstanding face amount of the bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(3) APPLICABLE CREDIT RATE- For purposes of paragraph (1), the applicable credit rate with respect to an issue is the rate equal to an average market yield (as of the date of sale of the issue) on outstanding long-term corporate obligations of similar ratings (as determined by the Secretary).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(c) Limitation Based on Amount of Tax-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(1) IN GENERAL- part IV of subchapter A (other than subpart C thereof, relating to refundable credits).CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(2) CARRYOVER OF UNUSED CREDIT- If the credit allowable under subsection (a) exceeds the limitation imposed by paragraph (1) for such taxable year, such excess shall be carried to the succeeding taxable year and added to the credit allowable under subsection (a) for such taxable year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(d) Qualified Tribal School Modernization Bond; Other Definitions- For purposes of this section--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(1) QUALIFIED TRIBAL SCHOOL MODERNIZATION BOND-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(A) IN GENERAL- The term `qualified tribal school modernization bond' means, subject to subparagraph (B), any bond issued as part of an issue under section 2(c) of the Indian School Construction Act, as in effect on the date of enactment of this section, if--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(i) 95 percent or more of the proceeds of such issue are to be used for the construction, rehabilitation, or repair of a school facility funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs of the Department of the Interior or for the acquisition of land on which such a facility is to be constructed with part of the proceeds of such issue,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(ii) the bond is issued by an Indian tribe,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(iii) the issuer designates such bond for purposes of this section, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(iv) the term of each bond which is part of such issue does not exceed 15 years.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(B) NATIONAL LIMITATION ON AMOUNT OF BONDS DESIGNATED-CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(i) NATIONAL LIMITATION- There is a national qualified tribal school modernization bond limitation for each calendar year. Such limitation is--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(I) $200,000,000 for 2007,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(II) $200,000,000 for 2008, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(III) $200,000,000 for 2009.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(ii) ALLOCATION OF LIMITATION- The national qualified tribal school modernization bond limitation shall be allocated to Indian tribes by the Secretary of the Interior subject to the provisions of section 2 of the Indian School Construction Act, as in effect on the date of enactment of this section.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(iii) DESIGNATION SUBJECT TO LIMITATION AMOUNT- The maximum aggregate face amount of bonds issued during any calendar year which may be designated under subsection (d)(1) with respect to any Indian tribe shall not exceed the limitation amount allocated to such government under clause (ii) for such calendar year.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(iv) CARRYOVER OF UNUSED LIMITATION- If for any calendar year--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(I) the limitation amount under this subparagraph, exceedsCommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(II) the amount of qualified tribal school modernization bonds issued during such year, the limitation amount under this subparagraph for the following calendar year shall be increased by the amount of such excess. The preceding sentence shall not apply if such following calendar year is after 2010.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(2) CREDIT ALLOWANCE DATE- The term `credit allowance date' means--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(A) March 15,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(B) June 15,CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(C) September 15, andCommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(D) December 15.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink Such term includes the last day on which the bond is outstanding.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(3) BOND- The term `bond' includes any obligation.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(4) INDIAN TRIBE- The term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term `Indian tribal government' by section 7701(a)(40), including the application of section 7871(d). Such term includes any consortium of Indian tribes approved by the Secretary of the Interior.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(e) Credit Included in Gross Income- Gross income includes the amount of the credit allowed to the taxpayer under this section (determined without regard to subsection (c)) and the amount so included shall be treated as interest income.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(f) Bonds Held by Regulated Investment Companies- If any qualified tribal school modernization bond is held by a regulated investment company, the credit determined under subsection (a) shall be allowed to shareholders of such company under procedures prescribed by the Secretary.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(g) Credits May Be Stripped- Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary--CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(1) IN GENERAL- There may be a separation (including at issuance) of the ownership of a qualified tribal school modernization bond and the entitlement to the credit under this section with respect to such bond. In case of any such separation, the credit under this section shall be allowed to the person who on the credit allowance date holds the instrument evidencing the entitlement to the credit and not to the holder of the bond.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(2) CERTAIN RULES TO APPLY- In the case of a separation described in paragraph (1), the rules of section 1286 shall apply to the qualified tribal school modernization bond as if it were a stripped bond and to the credit under this section as if it were a stripped coupon.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(h) Treatment for Estimated Tax Purposes- Solely for purposes of sections 6654 and 6655, the credit allowed by this section to a taxpayer by reason of holding a qualified tribal school modernization bonds on a credit allowance date shall be treated as if it were a payment of estimated tax made by the taxpayer on such date.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(i) Credit May Be Transferred- Nothing in any law or rule of law shall be construed to limit the transferability of the credit allowed by this section through sale and repurchase agreements.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(j) Credit Treated as Allowed Under Part IV of Subchapter A- For purposes of subtitle F, the credit allowed by this section shall be treated as a credit allowable under part IV of subchapter A of this chapter.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink `(k) Reporting- Issuers of qualified tribal school modernization bonds shall submit reports similar to the reports required under section 149(e).'.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS. (a) Sovereign Immunity- Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act impacts, limits, or otherwise affects the sovereign immunity of the United States or any State or Indian tribal government.CommentsClose CommentsPermalink (b) Application- This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date of enactment of this Act with respect to bonds issued after December 31, 2006, regardless of the status of regulations promulgated pursuant to this Act or an amendment made by this Act

The writer is a former vice-president of the World Bank and a former caretaker finance minister of Pakistan The latest American defence strategy revealed by President Barack Obama, on January 5, could result in the South Asian subcontinent becoming the stage on which the large powers will play the new Great Game. India and Pakistan are likely to find themselves on the opposite side of the new great power divide. It would not be healthy for South Asia if the United States growing concern about China’s increasing influence results in promoting rivalry between China and India. A healthy competition between the two Asian giants will serve the two well. What would not help is Washington’s use of India to balance China’s rise and thus have New Delhi serve its strategic interests.. There is considerable temptation to adopt the latter approach. That is certainly the case in the US Congress, which has already declared its intention to reduce the amount of military assistance and economic aid promised to Pakistan. The new US defence strategy, by focusing so much attention on China, is bound to further complicate the situation and add another element in the American-Pakistani equation. With heavy dependence on external flows to retain some dynamism in the economy and with the Americans threatening to reduce their assistance, Islamabad has already reacted by attempting to draw even closer to Beijing. This effort was only partially successful; Beijing, with its eye on Washington, was not inclined to walk into Pakistan to fully compensate for the threatened American withdrawal. But Beijing may rethink its cautious approach. If the defence strategy sends the message to Beijing that China-containment had become the main interest for the US in world affairs, the Chinese may seek to list Islamabad as its partner to counter the American moves. And if the US responds by getting even closer to India what will result is a four-power ‘Great Game’ with America and India seeking to contain China and China and Pakistan working together to limit Washington’s influence in their geographic space. This will be an unhappy development for South Asia. What is needed instead is a deep American involvement in helping Pakistan to develop its political system and its economy to guide the ongoing revolution in the Middle East and several other Muslim countries into the right channels. Drawing a connection between the Arab Spring and Pakistan’s development as a way of helping the West’s strategic interests may, at first sight, seem a bit of a stretch. But such a link becomes apparent when the dynamic unleashed by the events in the Middle East is put in a historical perspective. What is at issue now is the direction the Arab Spring is likely to take. The first series of elections in the Arab world — in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt — following the street-inspired revolutions have brought parties with strong Islamic roots into prominence. In Egypt, it is already clear that the party affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood will have the largest presence in the newly elected assembly. It has won close to one-half of the seats, while another quarter has gone to the Salafists. The revolution was brought about by disaffected youth but its consequences will not bring them into political power. “So why are so many Arabs voting for parties that seem regressive to Westerners?” asks John M Owen, a professor of politics at the University of Virginia and the author of an important book on the clash of ideas and politics. His answer: “Liberalism in the 19-century Europe and Islamism in the Arab world today, are like channels dug by one generation of activists and kept open, sometimes quietly, by future ones. When the storms of revolution arrive, whether in Europe or in the Middle East, the waters will find those channels. Islamism is winning out because it is the deepest and widest channel into which today’s Arab discontent can flow”. But today’s revolutions are different from those that came earlier; they are taking place in full global view where those participating in them are in constant communication with those watching them. It is unlikely that the liberal forces that relieved the countries of absolutist leadership will easily give way to the dominance of political forces that may take the affected countries towards another form of control. This happened in Iran in the late 1970s. To ensure that Islamists, even if they win elections, will not dispense with liberal democratic forms, the liberal forces are looking for models in which religious parties are embedded within democratic systems. Pakistan could become such a model if its fledgling democratic system succeeds. Pakistan, at this time, is deeply involved in containing the rise of Islamic extremism. One way to deal with it is to combine the use of force with accommodation. Those not prepared to work within the established legal framework must be dealt with firmly while those inclined to use the norms of democracy to advance their agendas must be given accommodation. Pakistan’s difficult political evolution is being watched by many in the Middle East. If it succeeds, it will be seen as an example to be replicated. However, the United States by withdrawing its support at such a critical time and forcing the new Great Game on South Asia, will unleash another dynamic that could seriously set back the Pakistani experiment. A strong anti-American sentiment would undoubtedly help the Islamic groups and inhibit the more liberal forces. In other words, Washington must look at Pakistan through the lens of the Arab Spring rather than as a player on the other side of the game to contain China. Published in The Express Tribune, January 17th, 2012. More in OpinionMr Prime Minister, I am proud of you Pakistan must not try to punch above its weight or try to keep up with the Jonasses. The results so far have been very damaging for Pakistan. It can hardly afford it any longer. Pakistan is not in the same league as India, China. Once delusional misconceptions are eradicat6ed , maybe then saner plicies can be followed. Recommend Pakistan could become such a model if its fledgling democratic system succeeds. Mr. Burki’s view illustrates the gulf between the world’s perception of Pakistan and Pakistan’s perception of itself. As the US and European nations look to channel the Arab mainstream towards democracy, the only examples they think about are Turkey and Indonesia. Pakistan with its institutional support for extremists in Afghanistan and non-state actors to destabilize rivals is the furthest example the world sees. The US/EU view is also shared by other Muslim states. A recent survey of Bangladesh showed that most look to India, Indonesia and to lesser degree China as role models, and specifically listed Pakistan as the state to not emulate. A similar view was voiced by Afghans, go figure. Egyptians surveyed (including a majority of Muslim Brotherhood supporters) have named Turkey as the role model to follow. I get the feeling that nuclear weapons have colored the perspective of even Pakistani intellectuals – we all seem to think that these weapons compensate for all other shortcomings. If such views gain ground, these very strategic assets will become a millstone around our necks. Recommend Until this country finds leaders who work only for the interest of Pakistan rather than American or Chinese interest it will go no where. Country is in dire need of gas and electricity, which can be resolved easily if they talk to Iran for Gas and India and China for the electricity, But apparently country’s need is less important than American interest. Recommend More and more of this game is being imagined than being played. The world has become multi polar and every country will have engagements and negotiations with many others. Many will become allies. Pakistan , instead of imagining such games, should get into becoming a good citizen of the globe with genuine interest in trade and economics for its people’s good. Recommend @Babloo Punching above one’s weight is an impulsive reaction of people suffering from a delusion of superiority drawing on real or imagined past glory. After a while it becomes a natural reflex. No surprise here. Recommend spot on with babloo. The author seems in disillusion and trying to inflate own ego by pushing Pak into these equations. Fact is that we are a meager broken economy, with some of the poorest people, lowest health and education index, nose deep in a trillion rupees of external loan, run country by printing money, the epicenter of global problems, ruled by corrupt politicians and “real power holders” with 60% of budget, with no industry, electricity, gas, infrastructure. Why on earth do we want to play with Big Boys?? Also no one cares what we think as internationally we are labelled as trouble makers in every forum. Its time we cut our cloth according to our little budget and stop trying to “somehow” shadow Big Boys to glow in borrowed light like a stooge. Recommend @Babloo wow what a comment! Since when Pakistan punched above its weight? Like you Indians, Pakistan has no delusions of a superpower. The article is not boastful to warrant such a comment but you Indians are bent upon demonizing any news or opinion about Pakistan. Recommend Strange that America had been Pakistan’s supporter (and India’s enemy) for 5 decades. The American strategy was unveiled only recently, Pakistan has been acting like China’s slave for years. America did not push Pakistan to China. It is Pakistan which is pushing America to India Recommend So whatever the US is doing is unhelpful but Pakistan’s support to the Haqqani network and other assorted terrorist groups should be glossed over as being part of Pakistan’s strategic interests.. Right… Recommend The article is a sales pitch for Pakistan. The author, like most Pakistanis, is a good sales man. He is trying to sell rotten stuff that no one would ever think of buying, with shameless arguments …… !Recommend @Babloo: Saner Policies never mean to let you do whatever you want in Pakistan. That is not going to happen in your Life time. prepare to leave the world without this desire. Pakistan is Not In India and China’s league. Even an Idiot can see that. I am surprised it took you a decade to find that out. But India is Not in China’s league either. Even a fool can see that. Therefore, do not try to misguide people that India and China are in the same league. China is by all means, the Economic lighthouse of the world now. India is no way near it. Look at yourself and then look at China. Even an idiot can tell you are way of from China in everything. Saner Policies for Pakistan are that it concentrate on It’s own well being instead of looking towards USA or Europe but keep working relationships. Increase trade with China and central Asia, Middle east and countries in its West. That’s the best solution to grow economically . Recommend The one Important unanswered question is ” Why should US help and be concerned with PAK democracy, any longer? Pakistan has always been a beneficiary of US aid since her inception but always stood against US interests even during the cold war. US economic and political aid to PAK came with a heavy price for US since they were always at the expense of India. The world has moved beyond cold war world when the first stone of Berlin wall came down. The Asia centric focus of US policy of the twenty-first century is not for US dominance but for the security and peace, which are vital for trade and prosperity for all. The rise of Islamic political parties in PAK is inevitable, whether US supports PAK democracy or ignores it. The question is what is there for US, China, and India that PAK can offer. PEACE. At present, US thinking is to ignore PAK and let China handle PAK as she has done N. Korea. Hope now it is clear to all. PAK should understand Trade wars and political discordance are of low priority compared to Peace and US, India, and China are one in this view. PAK democracy can either be a beneficiary or a casualty for regional peace. It is up to the PAK people to decide and all powers will go along with whichever form of PAK government offers peace. Who will offer stability and peace in PAK? Military, Civil or religious parties in the future? US, India, and China are with them, democracy in PAK or not. Recommend We should stop viewing everything through the rose coloured prism of the U.S.Every country has to have its own agenda.Since the main players are neighbours-India ,Pakistan and China,it makes good sense to use all soft options to develop and promote healthy trade and free exchange of ideas. artists,writers ,thinkers,the media,students ,doctors,teachers….we have so many WMDs to destroy suspicions,mistrust,poverty,disease,intolerance .With more than half the world’s population in our neighbourhood we owe it to them to them to be pragmatic and,diplomatic. Recommend Those not prepared to work within the established legal framework must be dealt with firmly Which legal framework? Islam is the guiding principle for all law making in Pakistan as per Objectives Resolution, Constitution of Pakistan & the ideology itself! Shouldn’t we rather explore original laws of Islam and implement them, rather than just snubbing the religious parties working for their own gains? Recommend The author seems to be a nice enough gentlman, educated and uncomfortable with the language of hate unlike most other Pakistani commentators. However, the days have long gone when any nation would look upon Pakistan as an example of anything other than what not to do. The blunt truth is that Pakistan is an experiment that has failed. Any discussion other than how to peacably bring about a Free Baluchistan and a Free Pushtunistan is a distraction from the task to manage the break-up of Pakistan. There will be a free Baluchistan and a free Pushtunistan; the only question is when and how. We should work toward making this come about in as peaceful a manner as possible.. Recommend This article will just add to the suspicion and enemity between the readers of Pakistan and India, other than that it does not add any value to the future of both nations. Every nation is marching towards its goal. Speculation will not add any value, instead it worsens the relationship. Recommend So confusing. Pakistan’s strategists should make it clear if they want Americans to stay in Afghanistan or to get out of it.Recommend I agree with some comments that we Indians tend to underestimate Pakistan’s importance and capabilities. After all Pakistan is the strategically most important part of what was once India (that is the most important of the reasons why Imperialist British ‘created’ Pakistan.) So, strategically Pakistan will never be irrelevant. But going by its ideology and history so far, their role will be mostly negative and destructive. I wish Pakistan was created in Arabia or Antarctica. Recommend If Pakistan wants to survive ,it must keep away from games played by big boys. Recommend Absent in all this incisive analysis is the historical perspective. Bluntly speaking, China is nothing more than an American sweat shop. Japan provided exactly the same kind of a facility for US just after WWII. With one great and telling difference, though. Japan already had a reasonably large industrial economy before it entered WWII, China did not have any. China just produces the goods from inputs of American capital, American designs, American machine tools and -most importantly – American management with most of it going to American markets. Its only contribution is cheap labour. Take America out and what is left? Nothing but the wastelands created in a backbreaking race to prosperity. China has created huge debts by way of degradation of ecology which will come back to haunt it. It has created a huge infrastructure to service the current booming economy for which there would not be any use when the bust comes as it inevitably must at some point in time. Nature reduces even impressive concrete structures to rubble – or exacts a huge price for their maintenance which China can ill afford in future. The boom has brought a sizable increase in wages which is already threatening its exports as American companies have started to return home. Then, political landscape is also becoming quite tenuous. When people become prosperous, even if temporarily, they are much less likely to be amenable to the demands of a totalitarian command structure resulting in assertion of individual freedoms to the detriment of peace in the country. For all these reasons and many more, China’s tendency would be well-advised to hunker down and back off to the challenges to its hegemony over those around it in its region. Already, practically all its neighours, including India, have joined in an informal union to challenge it in South China sea. China, with internal challenges from Tibet and Xingiang movements has neither the resources nor the stamina to stand in opposition. If it is wise, as Chinese proverbially are supposed to be, it will look to example of Japan’s current standing after enjoying a manufactured boom by the same American capital, American designs, American machine tools and American management in the fifties of the last century. Japan’s is a sick economy today and though still in the American camp it does not enjoy any or all of its perks. Where does India stand in all this? It continues to lumber along busying itself in satisfying its own internal demands on its own terms. I suspect the world is looking at the Indian model with some keen interest. Pakistan can be noticed in all this by only the delusional ones amongst them!Recommend @Mr.Burki, No one in at least Asia cares Pakistan . Pakistan is hell bent to destroy itself . Nobody wants to harm Pakistan . Recommend @Babloo: even india is not in league with china…correct yourself. Recommend Interesting article. I have wondered about this for some time now. It does seem that polarization of the region is likely, may be not a hard one but at least a soft one. I think two countries you have left out of this geopolitical calculus are Iran and Russia. As far as Pakistan is concerned, it would be ideal if we don’t end up holding someone else’ gun like we always have in the past. Let others fight it out on their own, we don’t have the resources to go through this once again. Recommend @G. Din: Your analysis is very reasonable. However, you might want to factor in China’s growing investment in emerging markets and therefore politico-economic export diversification that will reduce its reliance on US in coming decades. Recommend Pakistan must give its policy statement that whether America should stay in Afghanistan or not.Pakistan must clarify that what threaten her by presence of America in Afghanistan.And why India should not use the situation in her own favor when Pakistan is unable to do that. Recommend @Falcon: “…you might want to factor in China’s growing investment in emerging markets and therefore politico-economic export diversification that will reduce its reliance on US in coming decades.” Your point is well taken. The reason I did not allude to this is because outposts rarely, if ever, save the mother country. Their contribution is at best supplemental. Demise of colonialism is an obvious example. Couple that with the fact that wherever China has invested, it has shown a penchant for running it almost exclusively employing Chinese from the mother country. This has created a lot of heart-burn in all such countries, including in Pakistan. Today’s news is that Chinese economy is slowing down. The fear, however, is that its pace may be much too fast for comfort. I hope they are able to slow down the slowing down! To those (Pakistanis) on this forum who gleefully point to the much too obvious fact that India is lagging Chinese, I would like to suggest reflection on the hypothesis that one should be wise enough not ever to shoot for the first place but always for the second or third place. There are very good practical reasons for such a policy. Confucius say: “Make haste slowly, slowly.” Confucius was a wise old bloke, indeed. Recommend @antanu g: ” …even india is not in league with china…correct yourself. Not trying to be corny, but we are in a league of our own. And do remember that the now so high and mighty China is so because of America’s generosity ( and stupidity ).Recommend @antanu g: India will get to the league of US when it gets rid of traitors like you. Based on your relativity theory China will take another 100 years to reach the levels. Economy is just one part of overall part of a country’s development. Copy cats like China will need to be innovative like US to be their competitor. To me, given the right environment, Pakistan could be more innovative than China. Recommend. Mr. Burki’s statement gives a feeling that the US or other other countries owe Pakistan a favour. They do not. In today’s world it is the economy that determines your usefulness. Poor relatives are often treated with less respect and that is the case with Pakistan. As long as the Generals call the shots, aided and abetted by weak politicians and institutions, Pakistan will never be a strategic partner to anyone. It can only be at best a useful one from time to time. Pakistan needs to make peace with India to profit from her economic resurgence, unfortunately the leadership still indulges in a zero-sum game vis-a-vis India. The only option for Pakistan is to resolve its inner contradictions (created by itself) and move on. Favours are not granted, they are earned.Recommend @Afrasiab Jan: you sir are loyal then the queen :) or may be more loyal to china then Chinese themselves. God Speed. Recommend Midnight’s children still estranged and disaffected by each other’s actions 64 years after the split. It is time to bury the hatchet and let the grandchildren of Midnight’s children prosper through sound policies implemented by its respective leaders. All this posturing and muscle flexing by two weak opponents that cannot punch their way out of a paper bag is hilarious. Recommend @Arya: “…It is time to bury the hatchet and let the grandchildren of Midnight’s children prosper “ I hate to repeat it: History does alter and has altered the DNA of the hatchet-wielders. Just burying the hatchet would not do. DNA takes generations if not centuries to change. “All this posturing and muscle flexing by two weak opponents that cannot punch their way out of a paper bag is hilarious. “ Enjoy the “hilarious” spectacle and take your time doing so. Some people just cannot bring themselves to face the reality that we are not “bhai-bhai”. Even twins, when they grow up, follow their separate life trajectories. If you consider yourself to be one of those “Midnight’s children” ( most of us don’t), obvious thing to do for you would be to migrate to a haven for kindred souls because it is going to take more than your lifetime to change the state of things. Recommend @ G Din You are South Asian and your ancestors were Hindus and Buddhists and no amount of pretentious posturing will change this fact. You are not Arab, Persian or Afghan and you will never be accepted as such by the above mentioned, so better put your lot with your kindred souls in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Maldives or as I like to call it Greater India. As for me I am a Pashtun living with my kindred souls in the greatest of nations called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. Recommend The author has taken a 5 year view, and then tried to extropolate the permutations and combinations that can occurr in relationship in near future between US, China and India. The underlying truth is all the three countries are Hegemonic in nature – They will use their power (soft/hard/money/intellectual) to have their respective countries interest paramount. For last 3 decades US has a free hand in terms of pushing their intrest ahead, but maybe in a decade and a half in half in future, it wont have a free hand as China would become more defiant and the global power of balance would tilt towards it, but it would be still a tough fight between the two. By 2030 India too will be on a roll, and the real equation as to who will succedd and lead in future depends upon how their interest converge or creates friction, so currently US feels to have their supremacy for next 40 to 50 years they need India or China as their partner. In case China and India have a better partnership the US will find it hard to lead after 15 years in future. As everyone invests in future so is the American strategy in Asia, but only time will tell how things shape up. Recommend @Arya: “As for me I am a Pashtun living with my kindred souls in the greatest of nations called the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. “ I am glad you are a Pashtun and living where you are. Isn’t that exactly as I had suggested? As for the rest of your comment, I can see you have just recently discovered ET. Keep reading it regularly. It is a great paper and we shall meet again on its pages! @Sanjeev: The era of hegemonies is long past, my friend. Recommend

>>. [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vince Humphreys and Free Self Help, Money Magazine. Money Magazine said: "A Victory for Free Speech" Increase Your #Cash #Income #$ [...] I am very happy with the Supreme Courts decision. Finally, the Constitution is being followed. Unfortunately, as Shapiro states, many are saying this is a win for big bad corporations. Even Bill O'Reilly doesn't understand the underlying principle involved. He bemoaned on his show last night how corporations and unions will be influencing D.C. This, as Shapiro rightfully asserts, is a plus individuals and other organizations throughout the country, not just corporations. Now a difference in opinion won't bar individuals or groups because someone(s) doesn't like what they have to say. The New York Times:. “If the First Amendment has any force,” Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote for the majority, which included the four members of its conservative wing, “it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech.” There are two fundamental errors that pervade trendy thought about Political Speech: 1) Money corrupts. If that were true in totality, the Federal Government is the most corrupt institution on the face of the earth. After all, It is the largest lender, the largest debtor, the largest land owner, the largest insurer, and so on. And thus, it is in no position to render pronouncements about the corrupting influence of money. But, for reasons not entirely clear, when money is sluiced in vast gobs through the federal government, it is portrayed as good and benevolent. When it passes through corporate boardrooms, though, it is portrayed as evil. The corrupting influence of money is one of the great canards of the Left because it so clearly corrupts THEM, and they therefore think everyone would be likewise corrupted. Leftists never see the tremendous force for good money is, ever. They look at hospitals unmindful of the bonds floated to build it, they look at endowed museums unmindful of the fortunes needed to endow them. Money can disseminate truth as easily as it can disseminate a lie, but because leftist radicalism is built entirely of lies, they assume all political speech is more likely untrue than true. Truth to a radical liberal statist is fungible, so they assume it is thus for conservative traditionalists. Money, though, can in no way corrupt incorruptible people. 2) Stare Decisis trumps the Constitution. It does not, especially when past precedent is set by idiots, or drunkards, or bigots. Wickard v. Filburn is a great example of a precedent that should have been overturned five minutes after it was handed down, the reversal of which would also be a blow for freedom against an omnipresent federal government. Instead, it has built a digusting toothpick village of byzantine legal complexity that has no intellectual heft, but that gets in the way of average Americans trying to conduct the everyday business of their lives. And finally, have you ever noticed when a Court decision is handed down that reaffirms the constitution, the New York Times refers to the court as "bitterly divided", but when the court upholds the leviathan-state that radical leftists prefer, the court is only "narrowly divided"? As for the Citizens Unite case: The most amazing thing was that Kennedy came out of his coma long enough to write such an astonishingly concise and brilliant opinion. And to think: But for the "Kennedy Seat" the "Kennedy Seat" would have been the "Bork Seat"…. And the court would have been "bitterly divided" more often. The "government" is us. I know for the last few decades, Republicans have been telling you that "government" is the problem and that "big" government was an even bigger problem, and if only the government would get out of the way of business then everything would be fine, but you need to remember that the government is here of, by and for the people. Corporations can be run by a tiny group of people or even a single person (in the US or internationally) . Unlike a labor union which was created to act on behalf of its members and may have thousands of them, a company's primary concern is to make profit, not if the guy who cleans the toilet is getting a "living" wage. Usually, "corruption" is thought of as someone betraying their principles for money….that's the corruption…they are being "bought". "Money, though, can in no way corrupt incorruptible people." By definition an "incorruptible" person cannot be corrupted. There isn't a huge list of Corrupting influences…and most would boil down to power, money or sex. What an average Senator, Rep or even President makes a year or has as personal wealth is nothing compared to the checks getting written in the private sector. None of this washes, Bubba. Government is the problem, but mostly its the problem when leftists are running it. If it were run by patriots like Ronald Reagan all the time, there wouldn't be a problem. The US Government is the biggest corporation on the planet, and its getting worse every day. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't have to EARN anything. It just takes it by force of power. No, the government is not us. It's professional politicians who know little or nothing of creating wealth. Look at how few of hussein's WH have ever worked in the private sector. It's not wealth politicians seek, but power. Most only know how to destroy wealth. The perks of political power ensure their living standard is high regardless of personal wealth. Republican have been telling the truth, but they became enamored with the power as well. That's why it's best the federal government should have little power domestically, as intended by the Constitution and Founders. You represent the triumph of a generation under media powerful enough to completely redefine the world. Are you concerned about the avalanche of corporate and foreign money that is going to flow into our politics? No. You're worried about "corrupt" government…but not in the traditional sense. That's because for years and years, to minimize your concern over corporate influence of OUR government, they have told you that "lefty" is the real concern. It's another false dichotomy of business vs. government or as most of you like to put it (right vs. left). It over powers all nuance and eventually reason. The government is not a corporation and we should fight to keep it from becoming just the red-tape cog in the works. The blending is a kind of fascism…oligarchy. In another few years, they might have some of you so tenderized you'd accept…nay LOVE to have corporations control your lives and we can tummble into a Robocop-like dystopian hell. It's getting worse day by day because that is what you are going to be showered with 24/7 until the next election. Very little in the way of new legislation has even been allowed to occur, so unless your local government is falling apart, you don't really have a real reason to feel that way. In the meantime, FPM and other outlets will offer up all the "examples" and "quotes" you will need. As long as it sort of fits with the story of "lefty" most of you aren't too hard to get on board. Er, ah… to get back to my broader point: Money itself does not corrupt, nor even the amount, and certainly not the source. If the message you wish to convey, however, IS corrupt, then money will (no doubt) help in your endeavor. And, if you are corruptible, you will make fertile soil for corruption. My only reference to the Federal Government vis-a-vis the latest court ruling is that it, by virtue of its being up to its nostrils in money (-most of it confiscated, by the way, through coercion) it is certainly in no moral position to make judgments about the corrupting influence of money. If such an influence exists, one might posit, is not the very law they are ruling on therefor corrupt? It was, after all, the very product of a monied government and society, so by such specious extension, it must be corrupt. But, I argue, this doesn't necessarily make it so. And frankly, my more important point was the non-sensible primacy we give to stare decisis in our legal canon. Within the British system, with no written constitution as such, it might make some sense. But, not in America: if we forever defer to past precedent and endlessly Scotch-tape them to our law, it will eventually debase the Constitution entirely. Contrary to the view of radical statists on the left, the Constitution does not "live and breath". Rather, it is contract entered into freely by the agreeing parties. Of course, there were provisions written into that agreement to amend it, which sometimes confuses the Leftists into thinking it "Lives and Breathes". While the document can be amended, the framers made the mechanism to do so a rather high barrier to protect the integrity of the original agreement and its intent. Which brings it full circle: If the radical Obama left wishes to restrict the free speech rights of people who join together in corporation, then they need to have congress vote out such an amendment to the constitution, and have the states ratify it. Then, we stodgy, stump-toothed conservatives could find no fault. "And, if you are corruptible, you will make fertile soil for corruption." Yes..if you can be corrupted, then you can be corrupted. Thanks for stating the obvious. To be corrupted, you must first be uncorrupted and have some morals or ethics or something else that could be corrupted. But I will agree with you that money doesn't have a magical field around it that "corrupts" people. But if you want someone to do something immoral or against their principles, money helps. Besides being corrupted by money to go against the good of their own people what "corruption" are you talking about. Just because you have money doesn't mean you are corrupt. I don't know who forwarded such an argument. "If the radical Obama left wishes to restrict the free speech rights of people who join together in corporation," LOL. Corporations aren't created so that the board members can have a voice in politics. They are created to make money and protect the assets the people involved and get certain legal protections. Those people already have a voice in politics and if they want to form a group, they have a lot of different choices of what kind. The argument that this is about "free speech" is a dishonest one…and made for what reason? What do you really think the corporations have to say that they can't say already? It just sounds good…which is really the point if you're corrupt and will say whatever it takes to "win". If someone is worried about corporate power, you just tell them they are against "free speech". Obama isn't a radical either, that's just another "it sounds good so why not" phrase. But, if you're a fan of FPM, I'm sure you have plenty of reasons to believe so. 1) I never even inferred that corporations are created to "have a voice in politics". I DID say there is no difference from people acting solely with an individual voice, or in concert with a multiplicity of voices when engaged in political speech; –and that Congress cannot make any law to abridge it. Context and texture is an important ingredient is political discussion, and some ought to be more aware of its importance. 2) Clearly, this argument is ENTIRELY about free speech (all campaign finance law boils down to issues of free speech). Groups of people, be they governed by Articles of Incorporation, or Union By-Laws, or what have you, have as much right to voice an opinion about whatever they may choose, and have as much right to voice it in this nations as anyone. And further, they can use whatever tools are available to voice it as long as those tools are constitutionally valid, are not confiscated, or are not coerced to obtain these tools. 3) If anyone wants to change this fundamental principle of freedom guaranteed in our Constitution, then they need to amend the constitution, rather than end-run around it by judicial fiat. 4) President Obama IS an extreme-left radical. In speech after speech, he speaks openly of "fundamentally altering" "the way we do business" and "remaking society" to "avoid the boom-and-bust cycles". This kind of post-American world-view is alien to 230 years of our national experience. This is not campaign hyperbole, but what his goals clearly are. When he wants to dictate private behavior (car company salaries, for example, or where doctors can practice the specialties they prefer) or when he wants to pass legislation that is overwhelmingly opposed by over sixty percent of the electorate, he is clearly a statist authoritarian, which makes him extremely radical, especially when contrasted to the other 43 presidents. (-And don't give me the tourettes response of "Bush kept fighting the war even though 60 percent wanted the USA out"– there is a tremendous difference between policy and legislation that fundamentally alters the relationship between the governed and the government. And the war was popular enough to garner at least 50% support for over three years, and, at any rate, President Bush wanted out of Iraq and shared the nations goal, too. But he wanted out under the patina of victory, not disaster). He may be a perfectly nice fellow, I don't know. But the President is an extremist radical. But, he wears a nice suit, so maybe that helps. You represent the triumph of three generations of government education. It's not designed to turn out an adult that can think for his or her self, but an adult child that needs taking care of by a 'benevolent' government, that needs an uncle joe, uncle ho, or hussein. Rise above it. Did it ever occur to you that this country has advanced and overcome so much because we have (or had, though I pray not) a population that is used to thinking and doing for themselves as a natural way of life? You're right, the federal government is no corporation. No corporation can force me to buy their product or service (and my parents educated me well enough that they can't really fool me), only the government can. It's only fascism, or its' sister marxism, if the federal government assumes power the Founding fathers wisely didn't give it. Best to nip the problem at the bud, where it deviates from the principle (which reminds me of a Founding Fathers' quote, but I'll have to wait 'til I see it on FPM). There's rules and regulations in the VRWC. 'Til then, if hussein and his WH can verbally assault companies, corporations, and industries on TV, radio, and print, they can speak back. If hussein can lie 'til the end of an election, they can correct him or anyone else. If you don't like the results of full participation, I suggest you get busy stripping the federal government of the power to abuse (oops there go those socialist dreams). I say, Let Freedom Ring! "No one is saying that corporations are human beings. But corporations are groups of private individuals who have legal rights." No. Corporations are legal entities with all the rights of individuals…and by its very nature it shields the individuals in the company. One could argue that in the last fifty years, corporations are now the first class citizens of America. While this guys tries to make the case that its SMALL businesses that will now be able to "express" themselves with TV ads, he knows that Labor Unions don't have a fraction of the money and power that big companies do. All they had going for them was collective bargaining…both in labor and in the election booth. . " So George Soros can write a political campaign a 10 million dollar check if he wants? No of course he can't. There is a maximum donation. This guys is just making dishonest arguments to protect his masters. How much do corporate water-carriers make these days? Corporations do not represent the will of the people who work for them. They represent the will of five or six people on their boards of directors. Corporations represent concentrated economic power. I'm scared. We use a system called delagates for the purpose of leveling representation from state to state so that each individuals vote has equal weight. Also, slaves use to represent 2/3rds of a vote for the purpose of Southern States having equal representation. Now we have economic divisions. The middle class has become a scarce commodity while the poor get poorer and the rich get richer. Now congress represents the rich because one who has the gold makes the rules. That is what sparked the cultural revolution in China and I pray that the people will have more mercy on the GOP then Red China had on the oppressors of their time. You're a moron. Try reading Walter Williams pieces from his new book which were published in the Investors Business Daily Editorial Pages. I agree with Jonathan below! In fact, such assumptions are based on poort stats, looking strictly at income numbers. What those stats do not show is mobility between income groups. Thus, the majority of those statistically poor in one year – which incloudes college students and recent immigrants -, have left that group to become middle income or greater 10 years later. The cultural revolution was the central committee of the politburo replacing one bunch of totalitarian thug underlings with another. I'm sure it was great theater, especially the public executions. "The people," have no more say in red china than I do. You can keep your whole class warfare thing and I'll keep my freedom and opportunity to advance. If concentrated economic power scares you, economic power concentrated in central government must terrify you. It doesn't get any more concentrated than that. In communist countries like North Korea the government is the people, right? No…because North Korea is a dictatorship. It's people don't have the same protections from the government that we do. The First Amendment is all about distrusting government to make those decisions about who has spoken too much. That's why Thursday's decision is such a breath of fresh air. Just so you undestand – it is a limit on government – meaning what it cannot means that Congress cannot pass laws to limit it in any way unless they change the Constitution – got it bubba4? I doubt it! You really think that when the founders wrote "people" they were thinking of corporations…entities that only exist in legal mindspace and on paper? Really Sniper? You honestly think that's what they meant? I doubt it. I don't think you believe that anymore than Scalia believes that because a majority of companies are small companies there is no danger of undue influence. Give me a break. Probably they were not thinking about corporations. Nor did they say anything to imply either they or any other body should be excluded from free speech provisions. Notably, the 1st Amendment flatly protects a free press, in effect, protects a right of free enterprise media corporations to speak freely. If managers of the NYT have a right to, on behalf of the corporation, speak freely, then so should managers of other companies…and unions…and churches…and…and…and. But I wouldn't object if there were a law stipulating that those who write and support the political ads had to reveal donations made to political parties, so that it is clear whom they support. In fact, I've wondered whether media people indicate whom they last voted for when filing political storied or editorial positions. But all those people aren't being restrained from "speaking" freely. They all have "free speech" already. The particular part of McCain-Feingold that got shot down was the ban on certain groups running certain types of things in the last 30 days of an election. But "running certain types of things in the last 30 days of an election" is the right to speak freely then. If media corporations can use their funds (revenues) to speak freely to a large audience at that time, then so should other corporations be able to use their funds, so to address a large audience. If disallowed, then their free speech means nearly nothing, as they could not address a meaningfully large audience. This is just as the NYT's free speech would mean nearly nothing in the last 30 days of a campaign, if they too were disallowed to offer commentary. That's nonsense….but boy, justifications make it around the bizarro world fast. Let's say you were running for local office. You get a small staff together and you try to get out, shake hands, and distribute flyers. You save up some cash so you can run a single TV ad which is warmly accepted. You are polling high. Now Monsanto decides that you aren't good for their business. Afraid you don't like black tar maybe…who knows…but Monsanto's "opinion" of you is that you are dirty scum sucking communist…and their week long media blitz leading up to the campaign has you scrammbling to explain away crazy accusations. Instead of people asking about your ten-point plan, you now have to explain that no…you don't belong to the Communist party and no you don't love Stalin and no of course you aren't going to pass a law outlawing puppies. You might have stood a chance, but how can voters (especially after the slick hour-long documentary about you) vote for you now with all these "questions" floating there. You would like to point out that Monsanto is the one making these accusations, but apparently the ads were paid for by "Freedom, Inc" a research/analysis company that is paid by Monsanto for contract work. By the time you are able to find anyone responsible, the election is over and you lost. And let's say the entire campaign against you was hearsay and full of lies. What are you going to do….sue? Sure Monsanto doesn't even have a headquarters in your state and yeah maybe it's board members don't live there either, but Monsanto has an opinion and the right to express it. For some reason the board members of Monsanto get to have two sets of free speech rights…one for themselves personally and then one for the company. The "free speech" afforded to companies is a whole other level of power that no citizen can reach. So we are creating classes of free speech. The ones people can afford (protesting blocks away in a protest zone) and the ones they can't (millions of dollars of TV ads, radio and newspaper coordination. You never worked in marketing have you? So naive…but hey, at first glance it looks like you are defending "free speech" so this argument of yours is a winner. Corporations are not people. Money is not speech. Only by conveniently-twisted logic could it be argued otherwise. Now that SCOTUS has forced our hand, public campaign finance is the only way to solve the problem of (now) legalized bribery. After all, why shouldn't we, the People, pay for OUR own elections? I can't think of a better use of tax-payer money. In the meantime, the five-justice majority ought to be charged with treason. Petition for a Constitutional amendment at and Corporations pay taxes. Political speech is speech. Porno and actual treasonous speech aren't the only kinds protected. If you're talking about a Constitutional Ammendment, you are at least going about what you desire in the proper way. I doubt it though, because you also want to charge 5 Justices with treason. You wouldn't happen to be an olbie fan, would you? One correction. Corporations do not pay taxes, consumers of their products pay the taxes. Right, they pretty much pay compliance costs and collect them. The way they are structured though, adds an additional burden that hits companies trying to save for capital investments, a rainy day, or an economic downturn. Also, those taxes effect their global competitiveness. The fed retards growth and their own revenue, which I guess makes sense if you're talking about people who view profit as bad. Still, you'd think they'd be at least smart enough not to kill their gravy train. I agree that any taxes imposed and figured into the price of the product sold puts the product at a disadvantage in global competition. I disagree that it puts a great burden on the corporation for the saving for capital, a downturn in the economy, or a rainy day for this very same reason; these needs are embedded in the cost of a product unless competition makes it an issue where for specific products or industries they cannot be recovered. Thus we get protectionist tarrifs being asked for to level the field. So I agree in part here. The group we have in government now and for the past 110 years is not, and I repeat, NOT: "Smarter than s fifth grader". Power is their goal, they can skin us in so many ways they did not need to be concerned, UNTIL NOW! Thirty percent of savings annually is a great burden where I come from, and it did stop us from expanding when we needed to or saving a reserve for this economic downturn. We couldn't add machines we needed because we couldn't get the juice, so had to pass on a good chunk of business. We manufacture, the juice and additional high voltage circuits we require may make that more expensive than for many, but we still needed it. I've worked for a small business with open books since it was three people, its' been a real education. The members of the board running a corporation already have all the free speech they can handle…if they are Americans. I see what Rifleman is saying…he's worried about foreign groups free speech rights and their ability to make a corporation to have and instant say in our politics. You mean foreign groups like wild bill's chicom funders, or hussein's anonymous overseas contributions? Let us know how cleaning up that foreign influence goes, if they ever make a serious try. You mean those board members with an acorn circus parked out in front of their houses? Do you mean the CEOs that didn't need a bailout but were forced to take it, and the strings, while the fed pocketed the interest, or the ones hussein said couldn't even send their customers information about government proposed changes to their health care service? It's not for any but them and their bank account to say how much free speech is enough. Huh? That's too many assertions for one paragraph…and wtf is an "acorn circus"? Who was forced to take bailout money? There is no health care bill yet….you mean I can't send everyone on my mailing list warning them of the Marxist threat of health care reform? Outrageous. How much money did Obama get from "overseas"… You ever think about providing a link or something? I can't argue against your belief that something happened. And I guess you're callng the President "Hussein"…classy. Try google. Supporters of hussein and the dp have no room to talk of class. True, corporations can be deemed not individuals and therefore without free speech protection, as constituted in political donations or political advertisements. I was thinking the same. Until, that is, I read htis rejoinder: media are for profit corproations. If they're allowed to express opinions – as almost all editorial boards do and various TV shows – then why should other for profit corproations be denied the same? That's rhetorical. Because, clearly, only mental gymnastics can justify one brand of corporation a particular right denied others. If the constitution guaranteed a free (for profit) media, then there's no logical reason not to see that generalized to other businesses classes as well. And unions. Well…can't all the owners and employees already express themselves all day and all night? The real live people that work there? It kind of sucks for the rich ones I guess…because law kind of made them equal with their lowest employee…a vote. Sure they could give a couple of thousand directly and get others in the company to do the same, and sure they can form offshoots of the company or their own PAC if they really have something to say…but I can see where that could be annoying. "I was thinking the same. Until, that is, I read htis rejoinder: media are for profit corproations." "Media"? Lol. I think you meant "the press". You know…the 4th Estate…the ultra important ingredient of democracy that is falling apart in this country….that "media"? Trying to keep corporate power from snuffing out the free press in another problem all together. Modern TV Cable "News" is an abomination to the idea of the "press" singled out in the constitution. As the blending of opinion and news continues into infotainment dystopia, one has to wonder if some earlier deregulation concerning media ownership wasn't such a good idea. If things continue this way, pretty soon if one of a couple of companies doesn't like what your saying then you won't be able to find an outlet at all from TV all the way down to local papers and radio. "If they're allowed to express opinions – as almost all editorial boards do and various TV shows – then why should other for profit corproations be denied the same?" Because it's not about a corporation's ability to express its opinion…it doesn't have one…it's an legal idea….not a person. Because of the first amendment, the government can't stop people from saying whatever they want. The only "media" they could begin to regulate would be that which uses the public airwaves and you've seen the hysterical reaction around here to the idea that the "fairness doctrine" might come back into play (it has not been proposed). Corporations could endorse people…the reason they don't is it doesn't help a candidate's image if everyone knows certain companies are backing him. But not to worry, you just simply won't know anymore. Forget those silly antiquated rules about disclosure and the rules the non-profits have to follow in order to do political work. "If the constitution guaranteed a free (for profit) media, then there's no logical reason not to see that generalized to other businesses classes as well. And unions." Well again, they didn't say media…they said Press…because they didn't have radios and TVs yet, and a company couldn't shoot a slick commercial into the minds of millions of Americans instantly. But really, do you think you are going to see resulting "media" after this bill have tags like "paid for by Exxon/Mobile" if they paid for it…of course not. No, they will be brought to you by new shell companies these large corporations can create with names like "Free Speech, Inc." Can none of you see a single bad possibility in this or are you blinded by the "free speech" meme? To spite what FPM and others would like to have you believe, unions have many more members than corporations have decision makers…but they don't have near the money…not by far. It is unfortunate that the rich can get their positions, even advocacy, out there when others cannot afford to do the same. But that doesn't justify shutting down their right to express those views. You have offered no salient reason why MSM should be able to editorialize (and MSM does exactly that in its news coverage, not just cable news), while other companies may not. NONSENSE: It’s called conservative activism anyway you look at it. HYPOCRACY PLAIN AND SIMPLE!! Simmer down now. Go back to your room. Your irrational contempt is showing, again. 'Just trying to save the country from the perpetually childish. You're a moron, bushlikesdick2 I agree, corporations shouldn't be allowed to express political opinions. That includes, of course, the NYT, NBC, ABC, NBC and the rest of the liberal MSM. or as howard dean would say, "Yaaaarrrgggghhh!" Bubba You are the union thug that is doing the lying and and Carens argument is sound. No Soros cannot give a million dollar to an individual campaign but he can give 25 million to Move on .Org and still can. He can give millions to the DNC as well and 90& of corperations are small businesses that can come together and support who they please and run ads supporting who they please and that is the way it should be. I am one of those that belong to an association to do just that and we are cocked and ready. George get your check book out the left wing union thugs and left wing marxist is going to need it. Freedom has been restored by curtailing the obscene McCain Fiengold. Oh Jack. It's the ones who come screaming in calling people thugs that are usually the thugs. MoveOn.org like many other non-profits, is split into pieces, each governed by different rules about funds…where they can come from and what can be done with them. Moveon and Soros are big boogeymen in the FPM bizarro world. Just doing web searches using the two words brings up all manner of crazy conspiracy theory about fixed elections, intimidation and murder, and secret plans for world domination. So you whip it out as two of the evil things that must be countered by this Supreme Court decision….but you can go make website and form an organization callled "MoveBack" and you can raise funds and run ads already. What can your association now do that it couldn't do before….lol. What are you cocked and ready to do? Lie about how everyone you don't like is a Marxist? Or that Unions which represent large amounts of people have the same motivations as a corporation run by a board? You have the same false dichotomy disease as some of these other guys. [...] Read the whole thing at FrontPage Magazine. [...] It's a step in the right direction, but they need to knock the whole amendment down. As it stands, Unions and corporations can now give as much as they want, but you and I cannot. When we get our rights back, then we can say this is a good thing. I think the problem won't be seen on the national scale as so many people rightfully fear. I think it will be the rich local corporation giving money to a previously 'unkown' candidate for judgship. The ad campaing will raise his name in the public's awareness and no one will know (cause the ads won't say, and they'll dominate) that there's a pending case (or one that is planned to become pending)that would favor the corporation. Think land zoning, water rights, and property seizures for the benefit of the owners of the corporations. It's not all Exxon or Walmart, it will be Toll Roads and 'development'…. "It’s a victory for the marketplace of ideas and it’s a victory for democracy." And it's a defeat for McCain who has no understanding of the constitution he was sworn to uphold. [...] Ilya Somin has more on corporations and their legal status at Volokh Conspiracy. Front Page has an interview with Ilya as well (hat tip Michael van der [...] [...] within the private sector, George W. Bush, transparency, capitalism and possibly the rights to free speech, the rights to dissent and tea [...] He, pinheads … corps and unions still cannot GIVE AS MUCH as they want to a candidate. This is not about donations, its is about speech. They can now saya whatever they want about any candidate at any time, with disclosure. Corps and unions spend the same money on lobbyists today. I'll bet they actually spend less now with less need for lobbyists. Thats really why Obama doesn't like it. Really….Obama loves lobbyist? "Corps and unions spend the same money on lobbyists today." The same as what? What's the difference in spending of the two? And I guess the point isn't how many lobbyist there are but who they are lobbying….a responsible public servant or a corporate stooge. You're right though….once you have a good stooge…you don't even have to lobby him. [...] A Victory for Free Speech The Cato Institute’s Ilya Shapiro explains why the Supreme Court’s ruling this week was a win for free expression and democracy. [...] Bribing politicians isn't free speach. The Supreme Court is wrong. Of course bribing is wrong. What has that got to do with politicians unconstitutionally limiting freedom of speech? Had Americans had free speech during the last election, Obama's hiding of his background by refusing to release the usual school and medical records, would have been brought to the voters' attention and the documents probably released. Also objections about the issues of his constitutional qualifications would have been discussed in advertising since the media and both parties refused to address the issue. Obama's racist minister of twenty years and his radical politics would have been brought to voters' attention. This campaign speech oppression gave the media the only voice leading up to the election. And they were clearly Obama's campaign volunteers. This is why liberals are upset. The media is losing it's monopoly over political speech during elections. Exactly. They want it so only the msm and hollywood can put anything out in the lead up to an election. I'm for freedom with full disclosure, myself. This political message brought to you by Freedom, Inc. a Nevada Corporation. (formed the previous year to defeat candidate X). There's your disclosure. It takes 5 min, tops, to look up an organization. I guess somebody had better get busy reconfiguring schools to teach people to think for themselves again, rather than be good little subjects, vulnerable to advertising/propaganda. Did you travel into the future and see the results of this new law. Oh…maybe you were looking up non-profits or PACs and such that run ads…oh sure it's easy to find out about them…they have to disclose everything. I've seen the real results of socialism (not some hollywood fantasy of corprateworld) over and over, and I'll take my chances with just about anything else. Now, if you want to join together to roll the federal government back to where it belongs, so NOBODY can abuse it, I'm right there with you. I'll know you're as worried as you say when you do. BTW, what does advertising matter if our schools are graduating adults educated to think for themselves, rather than government drones that need someone to think for them? Anything to defang the biased media is a step in the right direction for freedom! No one on the Left seems (or seemed) to be bothered by the powerful spending proclivities of the unions! Unions represent thousands and thousands of people…and are made up of essentially local chapters….LOCAL. A Corporation may be run by only a hand full of people that live in another state or country. I see where you're coming from though….after almost a decade of disasterous Republican leadership and an economic crisis, what "organized working people" think about things is the real danger now. Bluntly, Bubba (what an appropriate handle for a numbskull!!), you're all wet. "Organized working people" contribute to the equation only by the confiscation of their wages, dubbed "dues." What a scam! The union movement has LONG outlived its usefulness and its raison d'etre. It exists now mostly for the greed of the union bosses. Sure, union workers benefit – but at what expense to the consumer? That's why we shop at Walmart. And, by the way, how's it going for you union cry babies with the Native American casinos? They need unions like a fish needs a bicycle! Hey, Bubba! The union movement has long outlived its useful like and its orig. raison d'etre. Unions benefit primarily union bosses and some very privileged workers – at the expense, of course, of the consumer. That's why Walmart continues to be such a huge player in the everyday economics of our society. BTW, how's that working out for you with the unions trying to intimate the Native Americans and their casinos? They need unions like a fish needs a bicycle! Excellent point Sara! Should have been above! Sarah that is an outstanding comment. You understand. Jonathan you will find you are wasting time with Likesdick. Besides if you comunicate with him here it keeps him from his job at the Waffle House doing those scattered smothered and covered. Bubba Just as I figured you are a union hack. I belong to no afilliation politically nor have I ever bothered to do any search like you referred to. I do not need to to understand that Card Check is a scam by the union boses to do exactly what large corperations want to do and that is money power and control. At least the corp's have stockholders? By the way have you found Jimmy Hoffa yet or beat up any more peaceful protestors? However the fact is that most corp's are sub chapter S small business that do not need hassled by union thugs. I bet you fall asleep at night dreaming about getting your greedy mits on Walmart. Drives you nuts right? Anything the unions get involved in turns into another General Motors where people get paid for nothing. Try to spread your tripe on the unanitiated. Oh we get to make up what each other is and what our motivations are? OK great…because I had you pegged as a child molester with a pension for little boys. And just like I figured…you are. How's that windowless van coming along? I bet when you troll the elementary school during recess it drives you nuts right? You're kind should be executed or at the very least they should tatoo a warning sign on your forehead. This is fun and oddly liberating. There I was reading the posts and trying to give an honest reply with facts and such….when all the while Jack had the secret. Just plow ahead with whatever nonsense you believe to spite reality. JohnCarens nailed it where even Bubba should get it if he tries real hard. As Corporations are a perversion of the system I can not see this decision as a win for freedom. Corporations are an artificial construct for hiding and diluting personal responsibility of those running and profiting from the Corporations. Allowing those same artificial constructs to have the rights and obligations of individuals is simply brain dead. Corporate Law that created these monstrosities needs to be ripped out and BURNED!! Individuals need to be PERSONALLY responsible for their actions and decisions, NOT their paper creations. We elected people so that corruption would overwhelm our system, but most chose to accept the bribe offerred.them. Therein, is the problem; enacting laws to protect unlawful activities. [...] A Victory for Free Speech Posted by Jacob Laksin on Jan 22nd, 2010 and filed under FrontPage. [...] Sniper Bubba will never get it. He just knows that Americans need the SEIU to explain it to us that we are not able to read a list of who and how much money they donated to whom and make our own decision. It is still a violation of federal law for a non citizens or aliens or goverments to donate to canidates or to there campaigns. But that has never mattered to democrats so why would it matter now? Paging Chinese slush funds for Bill and Hill also all the middle Eastern money that flowed into the election of Obama. Stop making new threads you troll. Corporations are very flexible entities…if you think "foreign" money can't come in throught he guise of a corporation or affiliate, then you are out of your mind. But it was an attempt at making some kind of real argument…so bravo. Protection "from" the government. That is what the constitution is designed to do, and indeed that is what the court did. It found that the government had no "power" to be involved in regulating this kind of thing. Now, most of the arguments about corporations, good, bad, indifferent, are irrelevant. Likewise, irrelevant are the arguments about the "good, bad" of this decision. That fact is that as of the date of this decision, the government has no power to do these kind of things, and therefore, no business involved in the issue. I am not going to hold my breath, but maybe, just maybe, in conjunction with Heller, we are seeing the court, finally, start to peel back some of the illegal exercise of power by the federal government. Well there is a simple solution to all your troubles. In order to rip out and burn corporate law, all you have to do is amend the U.S. and the 50 state constiutions do so. If corporations are such a perversion, as you say they are, then you should have trouble accomplishing this, right? I mean people should be raging in the streets to do away with them. What's with Bubba4? He seems to be imploding mentally. Someone, help him off the field… He's is a prime example of what is wrong with this country; not a rational thought is emitted from the him. May the first 3 Bubba's rest in peace and he should follow suit..” The McCain-Feingold Act restricting freedom of speech is a violation of the First Amendment, as the Supreme Court decided. This ruling should be called "fee speech" since money is the factor here, and the corporations who have led the economy to ruin, are to gain. This is hypocricy and catering to the destructive elements of humankind like greed and power, so how can this help the working people? Does everyone here like the free speech of indocrinating left-wing professors too–since this is also the right to "express one's opinion"? Let's look at other democracies and learn from them–no private election funding,all possible candidates are included in the process/debate, and personal attacks are frowned-upon. Hussein and the dp are pitching a hilarious fit. They've been steadily beating businesses and industries to get support for their takeovers. When hussein was making that lame election pitch in Mass. the other day, he managed to attack just about every industry we have left and demean a good chunk of the population. The Supreme Court just broke the chain on the ones they've been steadily beating on, and now they're sh*tting their pants. I guess they'd better start showing those diplomatic skills, consideration, and understanding they've been reserving for our mortal enemies, to their fellow Americans. [...] election of Scott Brown caused only a minute change of direction. The Supreme Court decision on free political speech, the continuing collapse of the global-warming hoax, and the demise of liberal radio network Air [...] Well if you did try to do such a thing, I know a few corporations will millions of dollars that will now be able to make you regret it. Besides…you guys would just scream and yell that Marxist are trying to change the constitution and hurt business…. Bubba it will say brought to you by Moveon.org or the SEIU head busters or the AARP then we know who and why. That is the idea. Then we know who supports the canidate. Bubba Then seek out help for your perversion and if you are really repentant turn your self into the authorities. I truly hope you have not harmed any children or anyone else. I find this a startling admission. I hope they find you. Hey, Bubba (can’t get over the appropriate handle – conjures up one of those fellas from the “dueling banjos” movie), does that SCOTUS decision also include your right to rant and go nutz on this site? If so, maybe I’ll have to rethink the Court’s decision (NOT!). Some of those tactics your ascribed to, e.g., Monsanto (i.e., some big evil corporation) are already in place today, thanks to moveon.org and Soros and his gang. But I’m willing to risk the power of the corporations vs. the power of the unions and the hard left if only to dispatch a little tit-for-tat and leave a little blood on the floor… Mr. Carens is correct a corperation is a group of people that uses there means to voice there opinion and if it is money that gives them that means it is still free speech. But good bye card check the union mob bosses lose and the American people win. [...] US Supreme Court handed down a huge decision on free speech. (link) My view is “spend all the money you want exercising political speech but I want full [...] I like the valuable info you supply on your articles. I’ll bookmark your blog and test again here regularly. I am slightly certain I will learn plenty of new stuff proper right here! Good luck for the next!

Wikibin - The Recycle Bin of Wikipedia Articles Search Submit Article Donate to Wikibin Halo universe The Halo universe is a fictional setting for the video games Halo: Combat Evolved, Halo 2 and Halo 3, the future game, Halo Wars, and the books (including the grahic novel), spin off media I Love Bees and Iris' related to the . Concept and creation Factions United Nations Space Command The UNSC is the main military defense branch of the Halo universe's unified human government (which evolved from the modern day United Nations). It has been reduced to a handful of Inner Colonies, with Earth being the political center. As revealed by the events of Halo 3, Earth is currently occupied by Covenant forces. UNSC Planets and Locations *Earth - The human home planet, heavily fortified with 300 Super MAC Platforms and having the second of the two United Nations Space Command Headquarters. Africa seems to have become a developed region, as indicated by the City of New Mombasa, but no other locations or their conditions are given. Earth is being invaded with Africa being occupied by Covenant forces during Halo 2 and Halo 3. **New Mombasa, East African Protectorate - The first city attacked when the Covenant invaded Earth in October 2552. The Ark, a Forerunner structure that commands the Halos, is rumored to be located just outside of New Mombasa, somewhere between the city and Mount Kilimanjaro. In the final story in the Halo Graphic Novel, "Second Sunrise over New Mombasa", a journalist and several Marines overhear a conversation between two Elites, one of whom confirms that the Ark (see below) is present at New Mombasa's location and that they must clear the area to secure it. Much of the city was apparently destroyed when the last Covenant carrier left from the initial assault group made an in-atmosphere Slipspace jump to escape the human forces; several buildings were seen to follow the carrier out of the jump when it arrived at Delta Halo. However, it is revealed later in Halo 3 that the device buried under New Mombasa is merely a massive slipspace portal device that leads to the Ark. **Song Nam - This is where the MJOLNIR Mrk. VI powered armor suit worn by the Spartan-117 was fabricated. **Sydney - This population centre features a military base (UNSC High Command) as in Halo: First Strike. **Voi - A port city that is home to a Traxus industrial facility and is near the slipspace portal device. *Reach - The planet Reach was the strategic and military HQ for the human United Nations Space Command. Located in the Epsilon Eridani star system, Reach was the biggest spaceport after Earth and served as the main fortress of defense during the 27 year Human-Covenant war. It was "glassed" by the Covenant shortly before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. Its destruction is chronicled in the novel Halo: The Fall of Reach and was briefly seen in flashback at the start of Halo 2. :Originally colonized for its rich titanium deposits, Reach had mines throughout it running thousands of meters deep. UNSC High Command, Fleet Command and the Marine Corps had headquarters on Reach, as well as many primary Office of Naval Intelligence bases, which include CASTLE Base. CASTLE base was located on Reach underneath the Menachite Mountain range. This facility is where the SPARTANs first began their training. The facility was destroyed after the planet's fall to the Covenant in August 2552. :A secret area beneath Reach's surface contained a Forerunner artifact that was highly desired by the Covenant. The fact that this artifact was so valuable to them is perhaps the main reason anyone survived Reach at all, because the Covenant were fearful of destroying it and did not target a large area around the mountain range when they glassed the planet and wiped out the rest of its inhabitants. :The Covenant discovered the location of Reach after the battle of Sigma Octanus IV. Using a diversionary attack, they ensured human ships would scan for survivors after the battle then attached a spy drone onto the UNSC ship Iroquois. This drone took images of star constellations for several days before returning to a waiting ship by Slipspace, telling to the Covenant every place the human ship had been. They presumably scouted every system before finding Reach. :Reach was defended by more than a hundred UNSC ships, including the Hannibal, Pillar of Autumn, and the supercarrier Trafalgar. In addition to the fleet, Reach was defended by 20 Mark V Orbital Magnetic Accelerator Canon satellites (called SMAC, or Super MAC guns, and capable of propelling a round at 40% of the speed of light using superconducting magnets). Though the defenses were enormous, they couldn't hold back the Covenant onslaught, which was prepared to sacrifice an entire ship for the destruction of a MAC gun. The human fleet was decimated and its ground forces obliterated by the Covenant - the remaining ships, including the Pillar of Autumn, were forced to jump out of the system. After the Forerunner artifact on the surface was located, the Covenant "set fire" to Reach by "glassing" the planet with plasma. This presumably killed all remaining humans on the planet and scorched it to the point of being uninhabitable, save for the tiny section in which the search for artifacts continued. :After the events at Halo, the Master Chief returned to Reach on the captured Covenant flagship Ascendant Justice to search for any survivors of the SPARTAN team he sent down to defend the surface. Several SPARTANs had survived, along with a member of Reach's high command, Vice Admiral Danforth Whitcomb, and Dr. Halsey, the head of the SPARTAN project and a major human scientist. During the novel Halo: First Strike, the survivors of Reach returned to the small section of the surface that was not destroyed and recovered a Forerunner artifact that was buried deep in the surface. Several more Covenant ships were destroyed by the AI Cortana aboard Ascendant Justice, and the survivors escaped Reach to Slipspace. :Several experimental nuclear bombs (codenamed Novas, and featuring a lithium triteride casing that would boost the yield a hundredfold) were in development on Reach at the time of the Covenant attack. Vice Admiral Whitcomb rigged the bombs to explode ten days after the initial invasion, hoping that the Covenant would either take the bombs back to their homeworld for study or that when they exploded, the Novas would take out their foes on Reach. Due to the fact that just ten hours was left on the countdown when the Admiral and other survivors escaped,Covenant engineers deactivated the bombs, placing them in the storage bay of a Covenant supercarrier. Through a freak accident and more tampering of the engineers, at least one of the NOVA bombs detonated destroying a full Covenant battle group, a medium sized moon, and causing complete devastation of a nearby Covenant-held planet (described in Halo: Ghosts of Onyx). :*ONI Castle Base - Located on Reach, this is the headquarters of Office of Naval Intelligence operations. A crystal of unusual characteristics with the ability to affect not only gravity but also space time is found in an ancient Forerunner cave buried deep underneath the Castle Base. *Jericho VII - The location of the battle at the beginning of the Fall of Reach, an Inner Colony, destroyed by the Covenant at the beginning of 2535. A large number of orphans from this planet enlist for the SPARTAN-III project. *Paris IV - Site of a major battle between the UNSC and Covenant forces; Sergeant Major A.J. Johnson is a veteran of the battle, where he supposedly contracted Boren's Syndrome, making him immune to Flood infestation. *Eridanus 2 – Eridanus 2 was the home planet of the SPARTAN-II supersoldier Master Chief John-117 along with some other future members of the SPARTAN-II special taskforce. *Harvest – A human outer colony "farm" planet, first target of the Covenant and glassed by them in 2525. A large number of orphans from this planet enlist for the SPARTAN-III program. *Sigma Octanus IV — A colony planet in the Halo series, significant because Installation 04's "coordinates" were discovered there on a shard of ancient rock.The planet is home to several million humans. It was also the location of two historic victories over the Covenant fleet. The first was a minor battle in which Commander Jacob Keyes destroyed three enemy warships causing the fourth to retreat. The next, larger fleet scale battle, was considered the biggest human victory since Admiral Cole retook Harvest. Its capital city is called Cote D'Azur, and was destroyed by a SPARTAN-II team using a Havok nuclear mine after being overrun with Covenant ground forces. *Coral - An inner colony which is glassed by the Covenant during the I Love Bees plot line. Formerly the site of a UNSC/ONI archaeological dig that uncovered a Forerunner structure. *Troy - A colony which had prior warning from an ONI Corvette, of an impending attack by the Covenant. Evacuation was slow and had barely begun when the attack occurred and the evacuation was covered up by ONI and the UNSC to prevent hostilities rising from the civilian populace against the UNSC. *Draco III - A world attacked by the Covenant sometime before the events of Sigma Octanus IV. Because they couldn't reach the location in time, the SPARTAN-IIs watched via satellite as Covenant Grunts and Jackals slaughtered a group of survivors. The Covenant A theocratic hegemony comprising many species of aliens led by a caste of religious leaders known as "Prophets". Engaged in a 27-year war with humanity and currently embroiled in a genocidal civil war, they serve as the initial and primary antagonists throughout Halo, Halo 2, Halo 3, and other Halo media. They see Humanity as a form of heresy against their relgion, and seek to destroy all of Mankind. Covenant locations *High Charity - A giant station/city that serves as the capital of the Covenant alliance and the home of its theocratic leaders the prophet Hierarchs. It exists as a massive mobile space station with a dome-shaped surface. Inside it harbors an entire city powered by a Forerunner ship touching the roof of the station in the center of it. It can travel through slipspace like any other Covenant ship. As of the end of Halo 2, Flood have hijacked a human ship (In Amber Clad) and infested High Charity, and the Forerunner ship has separated itself, with the Master Chief SPARTAN-117 aboard. High Charity was destroyed as it crash landed on The Ark in an attempt to spread the flood infestation further. * Joyous Exultation - A Covenant-held world that was severely damaged by Admiral Whitcomb's NOVA bomb during the events of Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. * Unyielding Heirophant - A massive control and support station that was assisting a Covenant armada preparing to travel to Sol. The Master Chief and a handful of his fellow Spartans boarded the station and triggered a meltdown of its reactors. With the station about to explode, Admiral Danforth Whitcomb and Lieutenant Haverson, aboard a captured Covenant flagship known as the Ascendant Justice, lured the remaining Covenant ships close enough to be consumed by the detonation. *Sanghelios - the Elite (Sangheili) homeworld. There is a War College in the Iruiru region of Yermo, Sanghelios. It is likely to be home to a large civilian population of Elites (Sangheili) and possibly some form of defence force (most likely a large fleet). Sanghelios is also likely to be the location of an ongoing battle due to Covenant civil war. Because of the Elite's secession from the Covenant, it is probable that Sanghelios became the capital of the Covenant Separatists. **Locations ***Yermo ***Iruiru **Notable Residents ***Usze ‘Taham ***Toha ‘Sumai ***Rtas 'Vadum The Forerunners. The Flood A virulent, parasitic alien race that absorbs individuals with sufficient mass and intelligence as part of itself. The Flood appears to be a hive or communal mind, ultimately expressing itself as a Gravemind. The Flood spores mutate the host's body into a combat form, which if sustaining sufficient damage becomes a carrier form, an incubator for more spores. A separate form available to advanced groups of Flood which already have an established Gravemind is the Pure Form, which can mutate between an insect-like base, a sniper form, and a "tank" form. The Flood is considered a parasite and dangerous enemy by both the Covenant and UNSC. History Early Conflicts United Nations Space Command. The Human Colonization of the Orion Arm In the years 2170-2291, the United Nations Space Command (UNSC) successfully developed humanity's first faster than light drive, the Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine. For the first time in history, the rapid colonization of other worlds is made possible. By 2390, 210 worlds had been occupied by humans, and were being actively terraformed to suit man's needs. These worlds are to become known as the Inner Colonies. By 2490, the UNSC's fledging Interstellar Empire had expanded to between 800 to 1000 planets throughout the Orion Arm of the Milky Way Galaxy. During this period, the planet Reach becomes one of the two headquarters of the UNSC military and government (the other was Earth itself), and is destined to become the most heavily fortified world under human control and the Inner Colonies became the heart of the UNSC government. In addition, there were numerous small-scale brushfire wars with rebels in the Outer Colonies, which served to tax UNSC resources. At the time of 2517, The UNSC was facing extremely low morale due to piracy and the Brushfire Wars. In order to remove the rebellion without a significant sacrifice of human life, Dr. Catherine Halsey moved forward with the SPARTAN-II Project. 75 gifted children were abducted and replaced by flash-clones, and drafted into the UNSC. The children went through rigorous training exercises. Later in life, they were physically augmentated- these alterations were so radical and dramatic that a sizable portion of the highly-trained soldiers died or were physically deformed. The surviving soldiers were gifted with increased bone strength, increased sensory awareness, faster reflexes, and musculature density enhancements. Code-named SPARTANs, these genetically enhanced troops were trained from the age of six into a life of battle, and would become a great asset against any military insurrection. On September 12, 2525 the SPARTANs were sent to the Eridanus II system to capture Colonel Robert Watts, a rebel leader. The mission was successful, and therefore significantly reduced the pirate threat. However, the role of the SPARTANs did not end with the capture of Robert Watts, since they were needed for the new war against the Covenant. Shortly after the capture of Colonel Robert Watts, the SPARTANs became an elite unit of the UNSC's military ground forces. Before engaging the Covenant, all SPARTANs were given special armor designated MJOLNIR, which, in layman’s terms, can increase their strength, speed, and reaction time. They were the only ones who could wear it, as those without the proper body training or biological augmentations killed themselves with strength-enhanced convulsions. Human-Covenant War The outbreak of outright war between the humans and Covenant developed in 2525, twenty seven years before the events of Halo: Combat Evolved. The UNSC was totally surprised by the first contact with the alien alliance. The Covenant declared a religious crusade against the humans, and began to eradicate human colonies. Because of the Covenant's heretical perspective of humanity, the Covenant engages in a practice known as "glassing" using their plasma weaponry. This tactic, as the name implies, burns the surface of the planet at very high temperatures, leaving the surface as nothing more than an expanse of cracked and charred glass and eradicating anything and everything. Between the Covenant's extreme orbital bombardment campaigns and the sheer technological and numeric superiority, it was difficult for the UNSC to find a victory. Though the Human forces fought vigorously, their inferior technology and numbers meant that any victory, small or large, was hardly guaranteed. In space, battles were often so one-sided that dozens of UNSC ships would be wiped out for every handful of Covenant ships. Once the human orbital defenses (naval vessels called to the system's defense, or in the case of Reach, orbital MAC guns) are destroyed, the Covenant would land massive numbers of soldiers and eradicate the planet's inhabitants. Once the vast majority of the colonists and soldiers alike were killed, the Covenant would recall their ground forces and glass the planet. Using their superior weaponry, the Covenant was able to defeat the Human colony worlds one by one until they finally reached the first major inner colony, Reach, twenty-seven years later, having skipped some small remaining outer colonies. Though the colony was defended by MAC guns, the Covenant were able to destroy the station's planetside generators, rendering the defense grid useless; they then proceeded to glass the planet (the only documented case where a planetary invasion did not precede a planet's glassing) . It is after this showdown that the player is introduced into the story as MCPO Spartan 117 on the UNSC Pillar of Autumn, which is fleeing Reach; this is the beginning of Halo: Combat Evolved. Discovery of Installation 04 The Covenant armada around Reach pursued the Pillar of Autumn, tracking the ship through slipspace. Upon exiting slipspace, both the humans and Covenant encountered the Forerunner structure around the gas giant Threshold. The Covenant's superior slipspace technology actually allowed the Covenant to arrive at the Pillar of Autum's destination before the Pillar of Autum, supposedly to lie in wait to destroy the USNC ship, but when they emerged from slipspace, the Covenant discovered the Forerunner artifact and began exploring it. We don't know how much time the Covenant had to explore before the USNC ship arrived, but this explains why the Covenant are already all over the Halo. Due to a aboard the lead Covenant cruiser not wanting to damage the "sacred ring", human survivors from the Pillar of Autumn were able to land on the surface and coordinate a guerilla resistance. The Covenant similarly deployed ground troops to engage the Humans, while trying to find Halo's Control Room to activate the station. However the human forces learned of the Covenant's intentions, with the Master Chief reaching the Control Room before the Covenant. At the same time, by accident or by design the Covenant released The Flood, which rapidly infected human and Covenant hosts. The Covenant were forced to divert their attention to stemming the spread of the Flood, leading a special operations team to a damaged cruiser in order to prevent it from falling into the Flood's control. In the ensuing chaos, the Master Chief detonated The Pillar of Autumn ' s fusion reactors and destroyed Halo, a major setback for the Covenant; in addition to the sacred relic being destroyed, the Covenant suffered grievous casualties. A few Covenant escaped, and the fleet commander "responsible" for the act of heresy was stripped of his rank, later becoming the Arbiter. According to the novel Halo: First Strike, shortly after the defeat at Halo, the Covenant had amassed a large fleet allegedly to assault Earth. It is explained in the I Love Bees alternate reality game that the Covenant discovery of Earth was accidental; A deviation of the Cole Protocol by the Apocalypso allowed a Covenant AI, the Pious Flea, to enter Earth's space and transmit its location. When the ship tumbled into real space and crashed on the moon, the Pious Flea sent a message to the Covenant military command. This message included detailed information about Earth, in which system the planet was located, and the presence of Forerunner artifacts on the planet's surface. Covenant Attack on Earth Shortly after the destruction of a large Covenant armada by Admiral Danforth Whitcomb, the leads a small fleet of fifteen ships to Earth to locate a Forerunner artifact known as "The Ark". Though outgunned by the UNSC's new orbital defense grid of MAC guns, the Prophet of Regret's flagship manages to break through the human defenses to New Mombasa. The Covenant ground troops quickly spread through the city, destroying both military and civilian resistance, but a counterattack drove them back. Regret's cruiser jumps into Slipspace from within the city, destroying most of Mombasa. A single Human ship, the In Amber Clad, followed Regret through his own Slipspace rupture to . With the orders "Find out why Regret came to Earth; why he came here," the Master Chief was sent with a complement of Orbital Drop Shock Troopers to Delta Halo's surface. Led by the Chief, the Humans forced their way through Regret's forces until they had reached the Prophet himself. At that moment, High Charity, having learned of , arrived and launched multiple waves of Phantom dropships to aid Regret, but were recalled by Truth. The Chief assaulted and killed Regret, and the Covenant fleet bombarded the temple attempting to kill the Master Chief. The Master Chief narrowly escaped, aided by a Flood entity called Gravemind. Originally, the Covenant had been unaware of the Index's importance until the Arbiter recovered the Monitor of the first Halo while destroying a heretical sect. The Monitor, known to the Covenant as an Oracle, told the Prophets of the Index and the Arbiter was sent to retrieve it. The mission was complicated though by the unforeseen release of the Flood on Installation 05. Despite this, the Arbiter successfully reached the Library and prevented the humans from claiming the Index. Just as Miranda Keyes claimed the index, and the Arbiter stole it from her, kidnapping her and Sgt. Johnson. However, the Index was stolen from the Arbiter by the Brute Chieftain Tartarus, who under the Prophets' orders then attempted to kill the Arbiter. With the Index secure, the Prophets then ordered the to begin eradicating the Elites, thus starting the Covenant Civil War (see below). Following the Flood infestation of High Charity at the end of Halo 2, the, and in Halo 3 the Covenant are seen to have gained a slim military victory on Earth after two weeks of fighting, such that they could focus their attentions on putting troops and the Forerunner Dreadnaught in Africa. Covenant Occupation of Earth When the Master Chief arrives back on Earth, via falling from the sky, he discovers that the Arbiter and the Elites have joined forces with the humans in an attempt to stop the Covenant who have gained near full control of the planet. However, the Covenant focus all their attention on one location in the ruins of New Mombasa. Commander Miranda Keyes immediately knows that they have discovered the Ark and sends the Master Chief, Marines, and the Arbiter to their location in an attempt to stop the activation of the Halo Rings. They fail to arrive in time as the Prophet of Truth activates the Ark. It is then discovered that the construct they activated was not the Ark, but was a gateway to the Ark. Before the Elites and Humans could respond to this discovery and pursue the Prophet of Truth, the Flood arrive from a slipstream rift and crash land on Earth. While the Elites and the Arbiter were destroying the flood, the Master Chief investigated the Flood infested ship and found a message from Cortana, who was still trapped by the Gravemind. The Master Chief was evacuated off the surface and the Elites glassed the area (presumably half the continent) to prevent the Flood from spreading. Most of the remaining human forces, the Elites, and 343 Guilty Spark traveled to the Ark via slipspace portal above the gateway. By March 3, 2553, the Human-Covenant war was over, with the remaining Covenant forces and Flood destroyed on or around the Ark. Elites and the Humans were at peace, and Humanity was rebuilding. See Also Free Planets Alliance Star Fleet History in Ace Combat List of minor Clone Wars battles List of ships in the Honorverse Space Colony ARK 1. 04-03-2012 12:40 The home loans seem to be very useful for guys, which are willing to ground their organization. In fact, that's not very hard to get a credit loan. Guest AdelaPhelps22 Write Comment Name: Comment: Code: * I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments < Prev [ Back ] Main Menu Articles Search Submit Article Donate to Wikibin All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License.

Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Immunocompetent Patients Am Fam Physician. 2010 Apr 1;81(7):893-899. Patient information: See related handout on MRSA, written by the author of this article.. Superficial soft tissue infections are increasingly common in the outpatient setting. The diagnosis of skin infections increased nearly threefold in U.S. emergency departments from 1993 to 2005.1 A large increase in community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections has prompted changes in the approach to skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs). This article reviews updated diagnostic and treatment strategies for immunocompetent patients, particularly those with community-acquired MRSA.. Although the clinical manifestations of SSTIs are varied (Table 12,3), the most common include cellulitis (Figure 1), furuncles, abscesses (Figure 2), impetigo (Figure 3), and erysipelas.4 SSTIs often occur at the site of a disruption in the epidermal layer. In some cases, the portal of entry is remote from the site of infection, such as in patients with lower extremity cellulitis associated with tinea pedis. Risk factors for SSTIs include trauma and burns; intravenous drug use; chronic conditions, such as diabetes or malignancy; previous SSTI; surgeries that disrupt the lymph tracts, such as saphenous vein harvesting or axillary lymph node dissections; and animal or human bites.5,6 Characteristics and Microbiology of SSTI Manifestations Figure 1. Cellulitis and edema associated with skin and soft tissue infection. Figure 2. Superficial abscess caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Figure 3. Cellulitis and impetigo associated with skin and soft tissue infection. Complicated SSTIs Complicated SSTIs include those with evidence of systemic toxicity (e.g., fever, tachycardia, hypotension); surgical wound infections; perianal infections; animal or human bites; necrotizing soft tissue infections; and those in patients with comorbid, immunocompromising conditions such as diabetes mellitus.3 Surgical wound infections commonly involve gram-positive cocci, such as S. aureus, as well as enterococci and Escherichia coli. In addition to common staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, human bites (intentional bites or clenched-fist injuries) often involve other organisms, such as Eikenella corrodens, Bacteroides fragilis, and Coryne-bacterium species.3 Cat and dog bite wounds may contain normal human skin flora, as well as animal oral flora (e.g., Pasteurella multocida).7 S. aureus and other aerobic gram-positive cocci are the most commonly isolated organisms in patients with acutely infected diabetic foot ulcers who have not been previously treated with antibiotics. Among persons with diabetes, the incidence of MRSA infections is increasing most rapidly in those with chronic foot ulcers who have previously received antibiotic therapy. These ulcers also are more prone to polymicrobial infection.8,9 Physicians should have a high index of suspicion for underlying osteomyelitis in patients with diabetic foot ulcers; surgical debridement and pathologic confirmation of diagnosis are required in these patients.9 Community-Acquired MRSA The recent rapid increase in community-acquired MRSA soft tissue infections has forced physicians to reconsider their approach to routine SSTIs. Recent reports of antimicrobial resistance patterns have found that community-acquired MRSA is responsible for up to 60 percent of SSTIs in U.S. emergency departments.10,11 These rates are higher in certain populations, including ethnic minorities, children, intravenous drug users, patients who have received recent antibiotic treatment, men who have sex with men, residents of long-term care facilities and prisons, and patients receiving hemodialysis.5,12,13 In addition to purulent SSTIs, community-acquired MRSA is associated with other infectious processes, such as necrotizing pneumonia and sepsis.10 Although many patients with community-acquired MRSA infections describe the initial presentation as resembling a spider bite, there are no reliable signs and symptoms to distinguish community-acquired MRSA infections from other purulent SSTIs.13,14 Diagnosis and Assessment of SSTIs SSTIs in the presence of comorbid infections, such as diabetes, neutropenia, or cirrhosis, are more likely to be severe and caused by uncommon organisms (e.g., Pseudomonas species, Klebsiella species, yeast, fungi).7 Complicated and potentially life-threatening SSTIs are characterized by fever, widespread or a rapidly spreading area of involvement, firm and hard feel of subcutaneous tissues, pain disproportionate to examination, skin sloughing, cutaneous bleeding with or without bullae, and skin crepitus.15 Additionally, patients with necrotizing infections may be lethargic or disorientated.7 Rapidly progressive and life-threatening infections warrant urgent surgical referral.3,7,16 Patients who present with signs or symptoms of systemic toxicity should undergo further evaluation to determine the need for inpatient care. Hospitalization should be considered in patients with the following laboratory findings: left shift in complete blood count with differential, elevated serum creatinine level, reduced serum bicarbonate level, elevated creatine kinase level, or C-reactive protein level greater than 13 mg per L (123.81 nmol per L).7 Wound and blood cultures are not routinely performed in patients with uncomplicated infections because results usually do not alter management decisions.7,17,18 However, wound cultures of purulent secretions should be performed in patients with multiple or extensive lesions, fever or other evidence of systemic illness, prior treatment failure, immunocompromise, trauma, water contact, or animal or human bites.7 If wound cultures are indicated, fluid or tissue specimens should be collected using aseptic technique via needle aspiration or tissue biopsy. Swab samples are discouraged because of a high rate of contamination, and insufficient volumes for culture because of inhibition of bacterial growth and adherence of organisms to swabs.19 Initial Management of SSTIs In patients who have uncomplicated SSTIs with focal coalescence, incision and drainage alone is often curative, and antibiotics do not improve outcomes. In one prospective study of 69 children with uncomplicated SSTIs caused by community-acquired MRSA, incision and drainage alone was curative of abscesses measuring less than 5 cm in diameter, and the addition of antimicrobial therapy offered no therapeutic advantage.20 Two prospective studies with a total of more than 320 patients also support this approach.4,21 Two prospective trials suggest that when surgical drainage is performed, there is no difference in outcomes between wound irrigation with tap water versus sterile water.22,23 Antimicrobial Treatment When indicated, antimicrobial therapy for uncomplicated SSTIs is usually initiated empirically. Familiarity with common pathogens and with local flora and resistance patterns is essential in choosing initial agents. It is important that physicians consider empiric regimens that are likely to be effective against the most prevalent local pathogens, including community-acquired MRSA. Beta-lactam antibiotics are appropriate first-line therapies when presentation and local patterns do not suggest MRSA infection (e.g., an infection with diffuse, noncoalescing cellulitis without a defined portal of entry).7,12 One recent study of 2,977 patients with cellulitis of unknown etiology showed comparable outcomes between oral beta-lactam and other antibiotics.24 However, in patients who have uncomplicated infections with impetigo, topical mupirocin (Bactroban) has been shown to have equal or better effectiveness than oral antibiotics.25 Oral antibiotics that have been shown to be effective against community-acquired MRSA include trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra), tetracyclines, and clindamycin (Cleocin).3,7 Local patterns of sensitivity may vary, however. In one study, patients with uncomplicated cellulitis who received five days of antibiotic treatment had similar outcomes to those who were treated for 10 days.26 In patients with widespread or systemic infection, comorbidities, or an inability to tolerate oral treatment, vancomycin is the first-line parenteral anti-MRSA agent, although clindamycin, quinolones, linezolid (Zyvox), tigecycline (Tygacil), and daptomycin (Cubicin) may also be used.3 If clindamycin therapy is considered, a D-zone test should be performed to identify patients with inducible clindamycin resistance.12 The susceptibility of MRSA to different antibiotics varies by community. In one retrospective study of 492 adults with community-acquired MRSA SSTIs, susceptibility ranged from 100 percent for vancomycin to 73 percent for ciprofloxacin (Cipro).27 Another study of 508 children hospitalized with community-acquired MRSA SSTIs showed no statistically significant difference in recurrence or failure rates between trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and oral clindamycin.28 Table 2 presents dosing information for antimicrobial therapies for MRSA infection.5,7,29 Antimicrobial Agents for the Treatment of MRSA Infection IV = intravenously; MAOI = monoamine oxidase inhibitor; MRSA = methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; NA = not available; SSRI = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. *—May be available at discounted prices ($10 or less for one month's treatment) at one or more national retail chains. †—Estimated retail cost of 10-day treatment based on information obtained at (February 2010). Generic price listed first; brand price listed in parentheses. ‡—Average wholesale cost of 10-day treatment based on Red Book. Montvale, N.J.: Medical Economics Data; 2009. Generic price listed first; brand price listed in parentheses. §—Linezolid should not be considered for routine outpatient treatment. Newer Therapeutic Options for MRSA LINEZOLID The oxazolidinone antibiotic linezolid is bacteriostatic against staphylococci and enterococci, and is bacteriocidal against streptococci. Linezolid is effective against methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and MRSA, and the nearly equal bioavailability of oral and intravenous preparations makes it a convenient alternative to vancomycin. One study of 1,180 hospitalized patients with MRSA SSTIs reported a superior clinical response to linezolid over vancomycin (88 percent versus 66 percent), with similar medication-related adverse events.30 Because of cost (approximately $1,700 for a 10-day oral course) and the potential for the development of additional drug resistance, linezolid should be reserved for patients with MRSA who do not respond to other agents and for patients with complicated SSTIs in whom alternative treatment has been inferior. As a weak monoamine oxidase inhibitor, linezolid may be associated with an increase in blood pressure. Serotonin syndrome has been reported in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors with line-zolid. Linezolid also should be used with caution in patients with chronic kidney disease because it is renally excreted.26 TIGECYCLINE Tigecycline, the first in a new class of broad-spectrum antibiotics, is a derivative of minocycline (Minocin) with decreased potential for inducing drug resistance. Tigecycline is indicated for the treatment of complicated SSTIs caused by MSSA and MRSA infections. It is also effective against staphylococci and streptococci isolates, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, other gram-negative infections, anaerobes, and atypical organisms. The bacteriostatic mechanism of action of tigecycline is inhibition of bacterial protein synthesis at the 30S ribosomal subunit. The drug is metabolized in the liver; therefore, dosing adjustments are needed in patients with severely impaired liver function (i.e., those with Child-Pugh classification C cirrhosis). No dosing adjustment is needed in patients with renal impairment, and tigecycline does not alter the effectiveness of warfarin (Coumadin) therapy.31 Tigecycline is administered intravenously. The most common adverse effects are nausea and vomiting. Disadvantages of tigecycline therapy include high cost and difficulty in maintaining therapeutic serum concentrations, which limits its use in the outpatient setting. As with tetracyclines, tigecycline is not recommended for use in children.31 DAPTOMYCIN Daptomycin exhibits bactericidal activity against most gram-positive organisms, including MRSA and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. This unique medication disrupts the ionic electric potentials of the cell membrane by promoting rapid calcium-dependent efflux of potassium from the cell.32,33 In a prospective, open-label study comparing daptomycin with vancomycin for the treatment of complicated SSTIs with risk of MRSA, both groups had complete clinical resolution, with the daptomycin-treated group demonstrating a significantly reduced duration of intravenous therapy and reduced median number of days to achieve clinical cure.34 Daptomycin is administered intravenously. Potential adverse effects include myopathy and gastrointestinal effects, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Daptomycin may elevate the prothrombin time and, therefore, should be used with caution in patients taking warfarin.33 RETAPAMULIN Retapamulin (Altabax) is a topical antibiotic that has been investigated for use in the treatment of impetigo. Data from a randomized, double-blind multicenter study of 213 patients showed a clinically significant improvement in outcomes after seven days of retapamulin therapy, compared with placebo.35 Retapamulin has not been compared with topical mupirocin, however. Prevention of SSTIs The use of topical and intranasal mupirocin, antibacterial soaps, and body washes has been proposed to eradicate asymptomatic MRSA with the goal of reducing the incidence of symptomatic infection. However, studies have found insufficient data to support this strategy.36,37 Standard infection control precautions should be implemented and encouraged for all patients in ambulatory and inpatient settings, including proper and frequent handwashing, use of gloves when managing wounds, and contact precautions (e.g., use of gowns and gloves, grouping patients with similar infections) for patients with known or suspected MRSA infections.12 To prevent SSTIs, current consensus guidelines support proper foot care among patients with diabetes, tinea pedis, or pedal edema from venous insufficiency or lymphedema.5 REFERENCES 1. Hersh AL, Chambers HF, Maselli JH, et al. National trends in ambulatory visits and antibiotic prescribing for skin and soft-tissue infections. Arch Intern Med. 2008;168(14):1585–1591. 2. Nichols RL, Florman S. Clinical presentations of soft-tissue infections and surgical site infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2001;33(suppl 2):S84–S93. 3. Merlino JI, Malangoni MA. Complicated skin and soft-tissue infections: diagnostic approach and empiric treatment options. Cleve Clin J Med. 2007;74(suppl 4):S21–S28. 4. Duong M, Markwell S, Peter J, et al. Randomized, controlled trial of antibiotics in the management of community-acquired skin abscesses in the pediatric patient [published ahead of print May 5, 2009]. Ann Emerg Med. (subscription required). Accessed March 5, 2010. 5. Stevens DL, Eron LL. Cellulitis and soft-tissue infections. Ann Intern Med. 2009;150(1):ITC11. 6. Salgado CD, Farr BM, Calfee DP. Community-acquiredmethicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a meta-analysis of prevalence and risk factors. Clin Infect Dis. 2003;36(2):131–139. 7. Stevens DL, Bisno AL, Chambers HF, et al., for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. Practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of skin and soft-tissue infections [published corrections appear in Clin Infect Dis. 2006;42(8):1219 and Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41(12):1830]. Clin Infect Dis. 2005;41(10):1373–1406. 8.(1):17–24. 9. Wieman TJ. Principles of management: the diabetic foot. Am J Surg. 2005;190(2):295–299. 10. Moran GJ, Krishnadasan A, Gorwitz RJ, et al., for the EMERGEncy ID Net Study Group. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus infections among patients in the emergency department. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(7):666–674. 11. Skiest DJ, Brown K, Cooper TW, et al. Prospective comparison of methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant community-associated Staphylococcus aureus infections in hospitalized patients. J Infect. 2007;54(5):427–434. 12. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Community-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA).. Accessed January 19, 2010. 13. Daum RS. Clinical practice. Skin and soft-tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [published correction appears in N Engl J Med. 2007;357(13):1357]. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(4):380–390. 14.):471–482. 15. Sawyer RG. Detection and initial management of complicated skin and soft tissue infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Surg Infect (Larchmt). 2008;9(suppl 1):S11–S15. 16. Anaya DA, Dellinger EP. Necrotizing soft-tissue infection: diagnosis and management. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44(5):705–710. 17. Perl B, Gottehrer NP, Raveh D, et al. Cost-effectiveness of blood cultures for adult patients with cellulitis. Clin Infect Dis. 1999;29(6):1483–1488. 18. Payne CJ, Walker TW, Karcher AM, et al. Are routine microbiological investigations indicated in the management of non-perianal cutaneous abscesses? Surgeon. 2008;6(4):204–206. 19. Wilson ML, Winn W. Laboratory diagnosis of bone, joint, soft-tissue, and skin infections. Clin Infect Dis. 2008;46(3):453–457. 20. Lee MC, Rios AM, Aten MF, et al. Management and outcome of children with skin and soft tissue abscesses caused by community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2004;23(2):123–127. 21. Che-mother. 2007;51(11):4044–4048. 22. Bansal BC, Wiebe RA, Perkins SD, et al. Tap water for irrigation of lacerations. Am J Emerg Med. 2002;20(5):469–472. 23. Valente JH, Forti RJ, Freundlich LF, et al. Wound irrigation in children: saline solution or tap water? Ann Emerg Med. 2003;41(5):609–616. 24. Madaras-Kelly KJ, Remington RE, Oliphant CM, et al. Efficacy of oral beta-lactam versus non-beta-lactam treatment of uncomplicated cellulitis. Am J Med. 2008;121(5):419–425. 25. Koning S, Verhagen AP, van Suijlekom-Smit LW, et al. Interventions for impetigo. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2004;(2):CD003261. 26. Hepburn MJ, Dooley DP, Skidmore PJ, et al. Hasewinkle WC. Comparison of short-course (5 days) and standard (10 days) treatment for uncomplicated cellulitis. Arch Intern Med. 2004;164(15):1669–1674. 27. Ruhe JJ, Smith N, Bradsher RW, et al. Community-onset methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft-tissue infections: impact of antimicrobial therapy on outcome. Clin Infect Dis. 2007;44(6):777–784. 28. Hyun DY, Mason EO, Forbes A, et al. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or clindamycin for treatment of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin and soft tissue infections. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2009;28(1):57–59. 29. Johns Hopkins University. Point-of-Care Information Technology Center. ABX guide. (subscription required). Accessed February 19, 2010. 30. Weigelt J, Itani K, Stevens D, et al., for the Linezolid CSSTI Study Group. Linezolid versus vancomycin in treatment of complicated skin and soft tissue infections. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005;49(6):2260–2266. 31. Peterson LR. A review of tigecycline—the first glycylcycline. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2008;32(suppl 4):S215–S222. 32. Raghavan M, Linden PK. Newer treatment options for skin and soft tissue infections. Drugs. 2004;64(15):1621–1642. 33. Seaton RA. Daptomycin: rationale and role in the management of skin and soft tissue infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2008;62(suppl 3): iii15–iii23. 34. Davis SL, McKinnon PS, Hall LM, et al. Daptomycin versus vancomycin for complicated skin and skin structure infections: clinical and economic outcomes. Pharmacotherapy. 2007;27(12):1611–1618. 35. Koning S, van der Wouden JC, Chosidow O, et al. Efficacy and safety of retapamulin ointment as treatment of impetigo: randomized double-blind multicentre placebo-controlled trial. Br J Dermatol. 2008;158(5):1077–1082. 36.(10):3591–3598. 37. Loeb M, Main C, Walker-Dilks C, et-Bacterial Agents (128) • Immunocompetence (4) • Soft Tissue Infections (2) • Staphylococcal Skin Infections (1)

Conservatives should embrace Virginia ABC privatizationBy JR Hoeft | Monday, September 13th, 2010 | Policy Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli is not exactly a liberal. Over the weekend, Cuccinelli, who is never shy about applauding steps to limit government, released a statement regarding the proposed privatization of ABC stores: “ABC privatization is a complex issue with many elements that will be debated and likely adjusted before the final legislative bill is written. This step toward privatizing government functions that should generally be within the purview of the private sector and the free market is a step in the right direction (emphasis added). I commend the governor for starting the ball rolling, and I am pleased that monies raised from auctioning licenses and selling ABC real estate will go toward transportation needs. “For those Virginians who are concerned that alcohol-related problems, such as under-aged drinking and drunk driving fatalities, will increase under privatization, they can be assured that the research has shown there is no greater incidence of alcohol-related problems in states with private ownership of liquor stores than in states with government ownership.” (Study: “Impaired Judgment,” the Virginia Institute for Public Policy) I am not an advocate for higher taxes; however, I am also not like some who buckle at every mention of a fee, license, or toll. I recognize the need to limit government, but I also recognize there is a need to fund government for core services. When we look at our transportation needs, the bill that comes due is truly monstrous. Funding is going to have to come from somewhere. Right now, Democrats argue that by eliminating the government’s monopoly over the sale of alcohol that a much-needed source of revenue for state spending is going to vanish. This is why Governor McDonnell’s proposal takes great pains to ensure that the transition to the private market is relatively revenue neutral. When it all is said and done, the governor’s plan collects $303 million a year, compared to the current $324 million – a difference of 6.3% (when looking at the nearly $38 billion annual budget that is a difference of .054%). There are some fees – such as the optional 2.5% fee for the right to buy liquor wholesale and have on-site delivery to your bar or store. And, some retailers will pay this voluntary convenience fee, others will continue as they do now to drive up to the store and go to the cash register like everyone else. Either way, the state gets revenue. It’s not rocket science that some retailers will try to pass this convenience fee onto consumers, but they may end up paying for that approach at their own sales counter. The Virginia Retail Merchants Association, who are perhaps most impacted by this plan, recognizes that there is a trade-off with McDonnell’s proposal, but agree that it’s a good one. They realize that government should not be selling alcohol: VRMA believes that the retail sale of all products is best served by the private sector, which will allow the government to focus on other core services. It is clear that the government sale of alcohol is a decades-old policy that needs to change. To that end, we support the plan announced this week by the administration to privatize ABC stores in the Commonwealth. We also support the dedication of up-front revenue to transportation. While this initiative is only one piece of a long-term solution to transportation funding, we should not turn our backs on $500 million in revenue that can help relieve congestion across the Commonwealth. ABC stores should be privatized as a matter of principle because there is no compelling policy reason to distinguish sales of distilled spirits from other alcohol products.” As conservatives, we should be jumping up and down with joy that we’re trimming down government, not expanding it. Of course, while conservatives debate whether the governor’s plan contains a hidden tax or not, Democrats have seized upon the discussion to actually advocate raising taxes to pay for transportation. The state Senate, out of ideas and clearly out of touch with the ongoing debate across the country, is advocating a gas tax hike: Democrats in the Senate, particularly, have questioned the plan, preferring, instead, a gasoline-tax increase. McDonnell opposes a gas-tax hike. Every penny a gallon increase in the gas tax would generate about $50 million a year, according to estimates. In the end, the governor’s plan generates $500 million directly for transportation and gets government out of the booze business – clearly a conservative approach; liberals want to keep government as is and raise taxes higher. Republicans and conservatives need not sit “on the fence” about the governor’s proposal. The choice is obvious: privatize ABC "Conservatives should embrace Virginia ABC privatization" Sorry, Jim, but I refuse to call the plan perfect and/or impossile to improve. It can be improved (by taking out the 2.5% restaurant/hotel tax and the 1% wholesale tax), and I genuinely believe that for economic and political reasons (including improving the probability of this actually passing) it *must* be improved. In fact, nothing Cuccinelli said in his statement differs from that. The 2.5% tax cannot be called a fee because it is not a charge for a government service. McDonnell’s plan would neither have the government as a wholesaler or a deliver of alcohol (and kudos to it on both counts for that). Thus, it is not a fee, it’s a tax. Furthermore, I sincerely doubt Richmond can’t do without the $26.5 million a year these two taxes would raise (there’s already enough undesignated surplus to cover it for two years). Make no mistake, that’s the space between us here. McDonnell is absolutely right to get the government out of the liquor business, but his plan needs a couple of improvements. D.J., if those taxes are taken out, the plan will not be revenue neutral. The state will end up losing money on the deal after the one time gain from selling the stores. The whole point of this process is to raise money for infrastructure. Any money left on the table is a bad idea, considering that we have billions left we need to fund to get us where we need to be. J.R. is right and I just can’t understand where you’re coming from on this issue. D.J., I’m glad you finally stopped calling it a “tax increase”, and simply referred to them as a “tax”. That’s a great step in the right direction, as now we can talk about this on honest terms. J.R., I disagree that there will be any cost passed along to the consumer. The 2.5% rate is a better deal for businesses than the status quo. If anything, consumers will see a reduction in cost (and a vast increase in selection), and that’s even before the market has a chance to have businesses compete with one another. D.J. will certainly respond shortly to say that the difference between 0% and 2.5% will be passed on to the customer, which is fine. But as you pointed out, the Democrats are looking for real tax increases. They’re opposition to the plan is only going to harden if the proposal slashes more government revenue than it currently does. While D.J. mistakenly believes that Democrats are suddenly the anti-government-revenue party, I think McDonnell’s proposal is a good compromise that conservatives can rightly support and Democrats have only limited objection to. After we get it passed and take back the Senate in 2011, we can look at improving it, as well as other fees and licenses across the commonwealth. So much for campaign commitments; I guess revenue neutral has a different meaning before and after election. Fact is, for most conservatives, this plan meets the simple need to reduce revenue so there are more excuses to “cut the arms and legs off government so the body can be drowned in a bathtub.” No matter that jobs are lost, public services deteriorate, and public infrastructure decays just a bit more. This race to the bottom to the detriment of Virginia’s stature as a quality place to live and do business, will have strategic implications, but to those for whom there is no such thing as tax rates too low, they could care less. VA Blogger – great point on costs that I hadn’t considered. Even more reason to support the plan! So much for campaign commitments by Dems; I guess lowering health care costs and helping small business and middle class workers has a different meaning before and after the election. Fact is, for most leftists cutting off all the cronies’ bribe money amounts to “cutting the arms and legs off government so the body can be drowned in a bathtub.” No matter that jobs are lost, public services deteriorate, and public infrastructure decays just a bit more as public service unions cripple the state. This race to the bottom leads to the detriment of all the Dem controlled states like California, Michigan Illinois, New York etc and their capability to be a quality place to live and do business. One need only look at the traffic streaming out of the socialist paradise of Maryland in the morning coming to their jobs in Virginia It will have strategic implications as we see around the world, but to those for whom there is no such thing as taxing and spending too much or too many porn watching govt workers, they could care less. Brian, the plan isn’t revenue neutral now. It’s still about $20M anunally below the status quo. Is $47M really that much worse? I don’t see it. It’s clear you see this mainly as a monetary matter. I don’t. It’s about getting government out of the liquor business, period. VAB, I’m not saying the Dems are suddenly the low-tax party. I *am* saying that these taxes will give them the chance to blunt the low-tax message of the GOP, just as they blunted it in 2005 and 2007, but could not in 2009 thanks to the 2008 special session. I don’t know whether the 2.5% tax will be passed along to consumers or eaten. Honestly, I don’t care. Even if consumers don’t feel the tax, would-be employees won’t get hired and/or investments in the businesses won’t be made. I don’t consider that something to celebrate. Again, I want the government out of the liquor business. I have loudly expressed my reservations with these taxes only because I genuinely believe they will hurt the plan’s chances for enactment, and that the plan will be better without them. Oh, and Brian, if you want revenue for roads, how about reversing Mark Warner’s expansion of FAMIS, which Gilmore rightly noted turned it into Medicaid II and is costing us billions:. D.J., you’re saying that employees won’t get hired and investments won’t be made comparing McDonnell’s proposal to your idealized vision of what it could be. I’m saying, consumers will benefit, employees will get hired, and investments will be made comparing the status quo to McDonnell’s proposal. This plan will be a net positive for businesses, jobs, and consumers. As J.R. says, all the more reason to support it. You can argue its not as good as it could be. I argue, let’s get it passed and then make it better when we take back the Senate. DJ – I’m not going to quibble over semantics with a friend. Howevr government collects its revenue – tax, fee, toll – I see it the same. Thus, I don’t see this new scheme to collect revenue any different from the old. We’ll have to agree to disagree here. What I think is the more glaring issue is how the administration rolled this policy out. They failed to shore up a solid base of support, getting fiscal conservatives and tax hawks like yourself supoorting the plan before presentation. Further, they have never established a nexus between selling the ABC system, and transportation funding. There is no connection, other than that the Governor can roll out the need to invest in roads to blunt criticism that his plan loses money for the general fund. Kind of like “I know this plan stinks, but it may help us fix a road or two.” Do conservatives really care that little for the damage created by the intrasigence of the House of Delegates in providing a steady, reliable sourc of revenue for the most important strategic asset we own? I may be in the minority, but compared to what we could be doing, this is a supremely small issue to be spending so much energy on. George Allen reformed welfare and abolished parole. Jim Gilmore cut the car tax. Does McDonnell want his legacy to be “he privatized liquor stores?” I really don’t care if it’s revenue neutral or funds transportation or stays state-controlled or not. Not going to impact my life one way or the other. I bet if I polled this question with the choices being “state-stores,” “private stores” or “I don’t care,” I think C would win. Brian, as always, you hit the nail on the head. That said, if Mike is this set against it, the plan must have merit. Hang on now. If McDonnell can actually shut down the Southern Socialist Special, that would be quite an achievement. Ending government programs is hard to do under any circumstances. Thanks J.R. for the back handed compliment. Fact is, I constantly conveyed herein that if the Governor could make the business case, I had no issue with privatization. But I questioned early and often why the Governor simply did not release the business case before he began the PR campaign. Of course, now we know why. It loses money for the general fund, it raises taxes which the right deplores, and it raises a pittance for transportation. Other than that, its fine. [...], due [...] [...], [...] Those who think only about the loss of revenue are NOT thinking about the salaries, rent on stores and utilities, and overhead. The typical store has three employees with the manager being a level 8 which is about $40,000 starting or more a year. Utilities run about $700-$1,400 a month,janitorial fees about $1,500 and the average rent/lease is about $1,500-$2,300. a month. So if we go private, that will be a large savings to the state. Just all tax profit and a % of the sales. The only losers here are the approximately 4,000 state employees. But so many new jobs will be created (some of them presumably even in VDOT) this should be a net wash. No I admit, I don’t if this proposal will allow liquor to be sold in grocery stores, or merely replace the current public monopoloy with a private one. And replacement taxes, especially on the already ridiculously taxed hotel industry, is something I cannot support. D.J., it’s not revenue neutral now, but the expectation is that the increase in sales will close the gap – that’s why you’ve got taxes like the license that are based on volume. I understand your philosophy is to get government out of the liquor business but that’s not the reason why the Governor proposed the move and that’s not how he’s been selling it to the GA and to the people. So criticizing him because his motivation is different than the one you choose doesn’t make a lot of sense and it makes your goal even harder to achieve – the Democrats already don’t like this idea because they don’t have a problem with the status quo. Turning this into some kind of smaller government crusade isn’t going to win Democrats over. I don’t think this is going to be the highlight of his term in office, it’s simply the next big issue. The highlight will be turning the economy around. Actually, for McDonnell and his team, I don’t think for one minute they really give a hoot if the inflated numbers they are using make this revenue neutral. They actually hope that it is not, so they have another excuse to cut the budget further next time. Afterall, that is their true passion; cut government, no matter what the effect. By the time most effects are manifest, McDonnell will be on to his next assignment in the republican hierarchy of tax cutters. If we have to become Mississippi or Alabama to help his political career, that’s fine as well. Food for thought, when this part of the McDonnell plan for transportation fails, like all the others, and PPV’s remain, can anyone actually believe that a private firm with the wherewithal to actually buy the concession for SR 460 would waste one more red cent on a state that thinks a public private partnership is one in which the private sector provides all the money? I think the failure of the House of Delegates, and the reluctance of the Governor to chide them, will bring ruin to our status as the best port on the East Coast and will jepordize our competitive status when the Panama Canal routes open. The best thing about the Governor’s proposal is that adult beverages will be cheaper for all of the Republican victory celebrations that will be taking place in coming elections. Now, back to the unfunded Federal mandates on the states and illegal and oppressive taxes being levied on all of us by the liberal cockroaches who are scurrying as fast as they can away from their votes. Anyone who believes this proposal will be good for consumers has not checked the prices in DC vs VA, some are better in DC but most are better in VA; and as for choice, VA ABC has a much larger selection than the stores in DC. This proposal is meant to help large retailers and wholesalers and nothing else. It does not provide the revenue that was promised and won’t make a dent in our transportation problem. It will raise prices and limit choice. It will help big business at the expense of the small businessman. All the stereotypical proclamations about republicans wrapped neatly in one ill conceived measure. We don’t need more fodder for that argument. If this albatross disappeared it would be better for conservatives. Finally, on the question of “should the state be in the business?” I suppose that is for those who study the 21st amendment to decide, but the state has an interest founded in our constitution.. Most interesting that nobody wants to talk about real numbers. Here are some I was given by a correspondent in North Carolina. He titles this “FOLLOW THE MONEY.” Always an important ingredient in anything. Perhaps I am lone voice, but I posit this this anyway. C ABC Stores General Fund $184,356,114 County – City Distributions $46,238,171 NCABC & ABC Distribution Center $8,772,840 Local Alcohol Education $8,487,026 Local Law Enforcement $7,111,855 Counties – Rehabilitation $2,406,026 Dept. of Health & Human Resources $1,339,466 From below – Some of these boards are raping the NC tax payer ……….. Raleigh, N.C. —.” For example, the highest ABC board salary in the state belongs to New Hanover County’s administrator. He makes $214,000 a year with a $30,000 bonus, even though Mecklenburg County does triple the sales. In Asheville, the CEO received a $21,000 raise this year. ====== This is what the private sector is for: to be raped by greedy poll in terms of sin taxes. Why, for heavens bid, should “anyone” be taxed to pave a road we all use when we can pass this off on those who buy booze? What galls me most is how people here and there and everywhere think everything should be FREE and NOT TAXES. Hey people, I am so tired of all these surtaxes on my phone bills and cable bill for this, that, and the other thing, I could revolt. Let’s just pay for what we want, and not pay for things we don’t want. I am all for a check-off list of (1) OK, you are going to be socked with 20% of everything you earn for a,b,c. Check off where you want it to. I call it Libertarian Taxation. I bet we’d be mightily surprised how people would vote give such instructions. I say this in all sincerity. I doubt anyone here knows I was a state legislator in Missouri from 1987-1991 when a lot of these ideas and very issues were being bandied about even then. There really is a way to do things, and talk about things, and solve problems. They are not always partisan. There is no Republican or Democratic way to pave a road or pick up garbage. CMK In political discourse, when you are explaining a policy to voters such as we see above with arguments over even the meaning of terms (tax, fee, markup, etc,) you are losing the public relations battle. And at present, this proposal takes a lot of explaining. I am not hostile to the change, and in fact I introduced legislation to implement the Wilder Commission recommendations, of which ABC privatization was one proposal. And I cannot get around what I believe to be the end result of the proposal now, namely, an increase in retail prices to the consumer with this present bill. Lastly, if Governor McDonnell calls the General Assembly into session just after the Fall elections in which all observers expect big-spending big-taxing Democrats will have their political clocks cleaned, why would Richmond Republicans want to be toying with anything that even looked like tax increases to the voting public? Mr. Marshall seems to be the only one here who understands what is at stake. Just when the Republicans appear to be coming out of the wilderness, the ‘adults’ who took over the party want to turn back to the dark ole days. Well the only reason GOP candidates are even remotely viable is because the other side’s egos are bigger than their own. It doesn’t matter whether someone calls it a tax or a fee or green cheese. When the voters are leery of both parties and are being given flashbacks of the last time the RPV took charge, it should serve as a warning. Bob, given that we’ll finally be having a free market in the hard liquor business with the end of this monopoly, can you go into more detail as to what leads you to believe that consumer prices will rise if this happens? J.R.- I thought conservatives wanted government run in a business-like manner. Selling a business with $600 million in annual gross sales for $500 million seems like a really poor business decision. VA blogger, I was just stating the facts as they are now. Virginia has much more selection than stores in DC. My “explanation” would be that in VA they have a whole bunch of space and only fill it with liquor whereas independent businesses limit their selection to best sellers to maximize profits. Same goes for the price the consumer pays. Common sense should dictate that you cannot add layers of profit for wholesalers and retailers and come out with lower prices to the consumer. Also, the only “competition” will be amongst the “limited” number of establishments that are able to purchase the license. If you want “real” competition let anyone get a license, don’t limit it to those special few who wrote the proposal. This proposal is not trading “one entity” for a “free market” system. It is trading “one entity” (that makes a lot of revenue for the state) for a “limited market system”. (which will return much less to the taxpayer). I am not exactly against the privatization of the ABC liquor stores. I am torn. I am less then convinced by arguments it will solve our transportation problems. It would be like a one time orgasm and why worry you might collect an STD doing it? Our transportation funding problems are so large and so wide spread that a one time band aid is not going to solve it. Democrats alone suggest raising the fuel tax? I guess the VTA (Virginia Trucking Association) which represents over 500 trucking industry businesses is dominated by liberal Democrats. Get real. Virginia needs a comprehensive and long term solution. The trucking industry, which rarely agrees on anything, agrees an increase in the fuel tax is the most fair and efficient method of raising increased revenue when increased revenue is justified. Who will argue the revenue is not needed? Isn’t the sale of the ABC stores an attempt to raise increased revenue? For the long term solution the Republican solution is toll roads, at least if you listen to my Republican Senator Wagner (the toll road king). Make every Virginia highway a toll road and pay one third of the revenue collected go towards paying the costs of the wages of the employees sticking their hands out at the tollbooth is what Wagner suggests. Perhaps the problem is that we as active conservative Republicans are no longer talking about the proper role of government. (Having absolutely nothing to do with selling liquor.) Instead we’re arguing over how much money we can make, and whether or not privatizing the stores will give the government enough money to perform its goals. Let’s get the government out of the business of selling anything. By coincidence, today I was forced to drive through Washington DC during rush hour. Now, I normally try to time my travel through the DC area to avoid rush hour. When I acceptted the load I am under, I figured I could get through both Baltimore and Washington DC before the evening rush hour. Due to problems getting loaded at the shipper I was delayed until I had to transit both during rush hour. Slid right on thru Baltimore but I was given a fresh reminder of why I have been dutifully avoiding DC rush hour for years now. I didn’t have much choice, I have to get this load to Orlando, FL on-time and dealing with the rush hour was the only way to do it. Have any of you experienced DC rush hour? I’m not talking about going up there during special events. I am talking about experiencing what DC commuters have to deal with twice a day 5 days a week even when nothing special is going on. While I still think the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel backup still rates high on the list, I think I now realize that Northern Virginia has a bunch of needs at or near the top. There are lots of motorists up there not getting their moneys worth for what they pay in fuel taxes. At the very top of the list of Virginia’s needs are to maintain what we already have and this need reaches even into the farthest, most remote corners of our commonwealth. Current fuel tax revenues are not even enough to fund that let alone new construction. Tolls are inefficient and unfair. Some of the current toll proposals probably are unconstitutional and if Cuccinelli was doing his job he would be advising people like Governor McDonnell and Senator Wagner on why their proposals do, in fact, violate the constitution. Cuccinelli does understand the commerce clause doesn’t he? If Cuccinelli is lacking knowledge in this area of law, the trucking industry will be happy to teach him about it in court. The trucking industry is willing to pay its fair share, however we are going to protect the interests of our customers. Our customers include both American businesses and ultimately American workers and consumers. [...] Brain Schoeneman, VA Blogger – albeit in various comments, rather than posts - and Jim Hoeft among [...] [...] Brain Schoeneman, VA Blogger – albeit in various comments, rather than posts – and Jim Hoeft among [...] What I would like to know, is how VABC profits compare to other state owned liquor stores. I’m originially from NH and the state owned liquor stores there are vastly superior to the ones here in Nova. Instead of selling the VABC stores, to apply the tiny bandaid on the gushing wound that is VDOT, they should look to mimic NH liquor stores, offer wines and a wider selection of liquor. The way NH runs it seems pretty smooth to me. And if Steve Vaughan is correct with his numbers, then it would be stupid to sell the VABCs for less then what they make annually. VA BLOGGER said: .” Read the proposals. Gas stations can’t afford to buy the number of bottles the state can. Go to stores in privatized states and you’ll see that they only have Jack, Jim, Jose, Bacardi, Smirnoff and the other commercialized brands. And with something like 60% of licenses being given to superstores like WalMart under the current plan, how could a mom and pop possibly undercut.

Pineapple Party Time. 34 responses to “Bridging the gap: What does it mean to be a Queenslander?” mark says: C’mon Mark, who are you trying to kid? QLD is still an economy based on rocks, bricks and glitz. Joh “diversified” the QLD economy more than anyone else before or since. He may have been a tad “authoritarian” but he promoted growth in what had formerly been a sleepy hollow (remember the Brisbane line – thats how important QLD was!). Before he came along it was almost totally regional-and-rural extractive industry economy. Joh drew the white shoes-blue rinse brigade up from MEL/SYD/CAN when he abolished Death Taxes. He steamrolled the development of the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. This at least added tacky tourism and property development to the mix and boosted growth which drew in further population. All that Richard Florida stuff about “Creative Class” is just a bunch of self-serving drivel by over-educated yuppies in search of cushy jobs. QLD has not diversified all that much since Joh left. If it had why did its stocks drop so drastically when tourism and mineral exports slumped late last year? Havent you noticed how QLD’s commercial property sector has crashed recently. Thats why Bligh called the election. mark says: Sure, there are more educated people in QLD. Same as everywhere else. That comes with post-modernity. With modernising and urbanising comes the inevitable liberalising of social views. So the QLD metro electorate’s views are coming more in line with the views of trendy inner-city types in SYD/MEL/CAN. The critical question is whether civil modernisation is driving, or being driven by, fundamental changes in the earning capacity and diversity of QLD’s industrial base over the past generation. Evidently QLD’s abrupt crash in the post-GFC phase indicates that its industrial base is not so diversified as its touts are urging one to believe. You only have to look at a randomly selected edition of the Melbourne Sun-Herald and compare it to the Brisbane Times to detect a distinct dumbing down in the mentality of our Northern cousins. That is because Melbournes economy is truly based on useful brain power. Not just “sweeping sea views”. Ah, Jack, the Queensland expert. ?? Unlike Victoria, NSW and South Australia, Queensland never had a heavy manufacturing industry. Though perhaps you’re using the term idiosyncratically. I could also cite the value of education exports to the Queensland economy – you might be interested to know that TAFE Queensland and the school sector export curriculum to China so it’s not just international students, but I might leave you to hunt out the stats yourself in the hope that in the process you might be confronted by a few facts along the way. The Queensland economy is much more diversified than that of WA. What counts as a creative industry? Accounting? Writing bus timetables? No, but really… peforming arts, computer games, what else? Alternatively, you could realise that the Brisbane Times follows the same online strategy of its Fairfax stablemates, The Age and the SMH, to present more superficial news stories to generate more pages views. It says very little about the relative sophistication of VIC/NSW and QLD. So far I have to give it to Jack Strocchi, not on points, more like a TKO. @6 – steve, that would be because like Jack, you like to believe what you like to believe. Though, to your credit, you’re not inclined to wrap that up in a package of quasi-scientific babble. @4 – Definitions vary. I’d suggest that you have a look at the page in question for how the Queensland Government define CI and thus its economic value. #3 Mark Mar 16th, 2009 at 1:48 pm Thats setting the bar rather low. I’m not going to bother, Jack. Your risible insistence that your meandering prejudices are “scientific” is collapsing in the face of your complete unwillingness to inform yourself about any actual evidence on the sectoral composition and value created in the Queensland economy. Go back to your grand theorising, mate. Another great intellectual export from Melbourne to the world? # 3 Mark quoted Jack Strocchi Mar 16th, 2009 at 1:48 pm I just cant resist yanking the chain of a (provincially boosting) banana-bender. We Melbournians tend to look down our noses at the RoA. No convict stain blotting our pedigree. And we have our very own Kylie hogging the world stage! Mark quoted Jack Strocchi ibid I use the term “industrial” in the sense accepted by all econometricians everywhere always. It refers to a set of enterprises who draw their inputs from similar suppliers and flog their outputs to similar demanders. That is, there is such a thing as the mining industry, the “sex workers” industry, the music “industry” and so on. Some parts of some industries, such as the educational industry, often have do nothing but conduct “work shops”. This usage is “idiosyncratic” in that no work is done and there are no sales made. Mark says: I am not sure this exciting upsurge in QLD’s “creative industries” is all a token of progress, at least in the public sphere. For one thing, as Mark himself has noted, as QLD’s politics have become alot more boring despite (because) its citizens and businesses have become more educated and “diversfied”. A representative sample of the older, less “diversified” QLD can be found in the work of Kim Guthrie, a notorious ex-Seaview Ballroom identity with an eye for the charming and grotesque. This was the civic raw material of the old QLD political machine, with its eccentric cast of characters from accross the spectrum, kind of gnarly and savage like saltwater crocs. But definitely representative of the local wildlife. You had Vince Gair running the place like Tammany Hall. It was always worth turning on the telly to watch Joh “feed the chooks”. Pauline Hanson certainly livened things up. Bob Katter’s still dug in, peddling his own brand of agrarian socialism. But now the suits have moved in and the place has the look of a bland, strip developed megalopolis the likes of which can be found in many parts of trailer-trash USA or Euro-trash USE. Jack@8, its a fair point of comparison given that QLD and WA are generally held up to be two similar and competing resource-boom economies. The points of contrast between the two deserve examination. And I have no idea what it means to ‘be a queenslander’, despite having spent my formative years here. Granted, I’m terminally blind to place-based politics most of the time, but maybe that’s part of the problem… Au contraire, Jack – Mark is quite right. For all the noise about “white shoe” brigade development in the Bjelke era, the larger picture was economic stagnation. First, QLD led the country in under-education – we all got 12 years instead of the national standard of 13. Second, so much of what passed as development was comprador-style investment from outside which did far less than for bank accounts inside the state than the glitz blitz suggested; and more critcally, the “corrupt NP mates/ paper bags” apporach to property investment totally ruined the industry’s reputation in any case. Mostimprotantly, there was no co-ordinated approach to governance and development – eg all the royalty agreemets made by Bjelke were rubbish for the state. As long as you donated to the NP (or directly to a Minsiter), it was a free-for-all giveaway. Goss was the first to get some decent return from extractive industries. Above all, there was hardly any industrial manufacturing base – and ZERO tertiary industry. Sorry – but they were rubbish! Any fool can give away natural resources and approve development applcation in return for corrupt payments. The question is whether you can develop a state’s economy. Lefty E “Any fool can give away natural resources and approve development applcation in return for corrupt payments.” Well with the exception of the last 2 governments in WA that is (still a bit to early to call on the current one). Major projects are extremely difficult to get underway in Wa even when there is money available. Theres one port development at Geraldton which has been under approval/construction/review/NIMBY for about 12 years. Now the boom has effectively finished it will either be mothballed or opened up just in time to miss the boom it should have been opened for. And WA during the years of Brian Burke made Joh look like a piker as far as corruption went. (my father had a offer of contracts for cash, so no, its not just idle gossip) For Mark McArdle, to be a Queenslander means to rip off pensioners, as this attack ad from Labor shows. It’s pretty damning. I wonder when it’ll get on the air. I’ve long held that it’s the sun. They are just as loopy in Florida and they seem to get more loopy as you go south, in Queensland they seem to get more loopy as you go north. Might be the spinning, near the equator you are spinning faster. Saw that ad tonight during Nine News. In the previous ad break there were three LNP ads: started negative (“stadium instead of hospital” ad I think) and ended positive. Quite effective IMHO (although where’s the $$$ coming for all these ads?). Then the next ad break had the ALP attack ad on MacArdle. In comparison to the previous LNP ads it came off as rather desperate: “This bloke that we have to name and point to (coz you probably don’t recognize his name) was a principal in a law firm that lost investors money.” What happened to democracy in Queensland. Worthwhile reading at the following sites. Who can you vote for that will return democracy?? Queensland Democracy Stolen by State Government.pps I’m not sure if science counts as a creative industry, but it certainly seems like it’s in better shape in Queensland than other states. I’ve noticed for a long time that I cover more stories emanating from Queensland than any other state per capita (still behind the ACT of course). Part of this is because the media unit at UQ is simply miles ahead of any other university, but that says something in itself I think. I’ve been doing the job 11 years, so I have no idea what things were like in the Joh era, but I can’t imagine the research programs were anything like as strong – few people are as put off by being authoritarianism as scientists, who have to be questioning to be any good. Also much of the work is in environmental science, and we know what Joh thought of that. The comparison with WA’s interesting – UWA is the only major uni in the country that won’t even send us media releases about what their researchers are doing, which speaks volumes for what they think of public engagement. We get very little from Murdoch or Curtin, so the impression is that the only research there is what the CSIRO minerals divisions do, plus eastern states people digging up fossils. I’m sure this isn’t right, but no one in WA seems to care about correcting the perception, where as Queensland seems to be bursting to show people just how good at science they are. On the 22nd, just the same as after any election, the dunnies still have to be cleaned, the floor mopped, bills paid, mortgage fretted over, etc etc etc. For anyone who ponders “…on the reality of what Queensland will be if the LNP wins government” please refer to previous pargraph. Here’s some fun words and phrases that the Jack Strocchi At Steve’s Pub people should look up in order to broaden their horizons. Value-added Teritary education exports Biotech Tourism TDL ICT Pineapples – appropriate end, rectums, for use of. So Jack M. Gonna be in Atlanta for Bio 2009? Really no? That’s a shame. We could have had a good chinwag at Euclid’s or Blakes about how the industry needs to downgrade expectations in order to paradoxically raise more investment funds. But what am I saying? No doubt you’re already on top of this issue and directing your funds accordingly. Any tips for us mere mortals? The Labor Party have left the last week to make two of their biggest mistakes. 1. Anna Bligh expressing the view that we all knew existed under the surface, her view is the The Greens are irrelevant. 2. The ad campaign against Mark McArdle is doing one thing and one thing only, it reinforces the view that the incumbent government has few ideas but a whole heap of smear. I don’t know if this is slightly OT, or bang on thread. Jack Strocchi, as some-one who spent literally years studying the Brisbane Line Controversy in detail,and published a book on it that was very well-reviewed, let me tell you the Brisbane Line did not exist. It was invented by General MacArthur in an attempt to blackmail John Curtin into doing what MacArthur wanted to do, rather than Curtin asking Roosevelt for more troopps to defend the northwest (which Curtin apparently really believed was about to be invaded by the Japs. After that the Brisbsane Line, even though it didn’t exist, was taken up by Labor politicians, especially Eddie Ward, from East Sydney,and by the Communist Party, as something with which to attack Menzies. Jack, this material has been out in the public arena since about February 1998. I’m surprised you haven’t picked up on it, you’re so knowledgeable. It was most recently summarised in detail in Peter Stanley’s Invading Australia, and before that, by David Day in his biography of Curtin. The question still remains though, how, after so many years of record collections of mining royalties, stamp duties and GST can the the government be so broke? I think this harks back to the crux of some of the issues of this election – particularly Mark’s comments about SEQ vs the rest of Qld. I don’t know if this is the primary cause, but from someone living outside SEQ, the amount of money pouring into SEQ is stunning (although most of it justified given the population growth). The problem is that whilst we struggle to get $25m for a significant piece of critical infrastructure, SEQ will get twice as much for what many see as a piece of fluff (i.e. $60m for ANOTHER sports stadium). The infrastructure problems of SEQ have been there for a long time and need solutions – but it’s happening at the expense of the rest of the state and people, I suspect, have had enough. Some argue that SEQ was at its carrying capacity maybe 10-15 years ago and that you’re now paying for your success (or should that be excess?). Would we have been better off restricting growth in the SE corner back then and pushed infstructure spending into areas where there was enough land, water and industry? Interesting Paul. I found out recently Brisbane line is probably why I was born in Brisbane rather than Mt Isa. My grandad was a miner before he enlisted, and his family were evacuated (or evacuated themselves) south in 1942. My great-aunt moved back and still lives there. So, let me just say I feel very positively disposed towards whoever thought it up – even if it was a popular rather than official notion. Lefty E, I’m sure the term Brisbane Line was coined by General Douglas MacArthur. However, it was widely popularised by George Johnston, then working as a journalist in, I think, Melbourne, in, I think, the Argus. (The I thinks are because I’m to lazy to go to the bookcase and look it up.)As to the first politician to take it up, it was Artie Caldwell, but Eddie Ward appropriated it within days and ran with it for years.An ABC defence correspondent used the term describing new defence plans in about 1988, (not sure of the date). The response of Army Public Relations when I rang them for further details was “Oh, shit!’ Paul Keating lambasted John Hewston as ‘the fellas who brought us the Brisbane Line’ or words to that effect in the famous flag debate. I seem to recollect some-one in the Rudd Government using the term recently but I wasn’t taking much notice at the time, so I’m not sure when that was. Apparently the LNP think ‘being a queenslander’ means doing an end run around every development control law on the books whenever they want – Worst. Idea. Ever. Sound’s like they want to bring back Jo’s white shoe brigade. Paul Burns: Return of the White Shoe brigade. Would that be a bad thing or good thing? Well, bad for the environment, good for developers, very good for the deep pockets of certain pollies of a conservative bent. If you get my meaning. Its not just a question of environment. Lack of development control leads to all sorts of economic problems. Case in point is the amount of infrastructure coastal local governments are stuck replacing early, because unmanaged acid sulfate soils disturbance has damaged them. Its becoming a massive cost burden for ratepayers, and if the current legislative requirements for dealing with the stuff get sidelined then the problem is only going to get worse. Shenanigans like this have the potential to bankrupt councils entirely, no joke. What really gives me the irrits is that most of those delays are caused by developers not submitting their DA’s properly. The IDAS Form 1 is supposed to be accompanied by a bunch of reports on stuff like engineering and environmental management, so local government can assess the whole project in one go (along with any state agencies that get a look-in). Unfortunately IPA was gutted by the last Nationals government, and that means that a developer can chuck the Form 1 in by itself and claim that the rest of the reports are ‘on their way’ – usually in the hands of subcontractors. This creates all sorts of back-and-forthing, and the timeframes for assessment of DAs mean that approvals can wind up being given to what really aren’t complete applications. At that point, all developers have to do is promise they’ll be good, no really, and they’re off the hook. If they stuff up environmentally, its up to the EPA and LG to prosecute for enviro harm, but that implies that they’ve been capable of adequate compliance checking (that’s generally a ‘no’, there just aren’t enough people). And of course, cure is going to cost much, much more than prevention. grumphy- well that’s exactly why reform is needed. I don’t suspect the LNP has looked at it from the angle Paul Burns suggests, if they had they wouldn’t announce it in an election campaign for that I am certain. But I recently quit the Greens as they sold us out to the worst Labor government in Australia (Queensland) so maybe I am in a bad mood for a few years and cynicsm has taken over. I’ll post here instead of PPT, because it’s quieter here… Can the local Crikey-ites please do something about those damn LNP shills? They’re driving me nuts, both on the Pineapple blog and Poll Bludger. I was finding the former blog quite useful to keep up with the election (I don’t live in Qld) until they turned up in force. Steve@32 – well, that’s the other thing. IPA has been under review for sme time now, and a new bill is (finally) in the works. That entire process will very likely go down the tubes if Labour doesn’t retain power. That would be a tremendous waste of the time and money already spent on trying to fix the IP Act. This election is pretty poorly-timed from that perspective.

. los89577Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:12 AM forced filter “no way” i can go around it in a few seconds, but an opt-in or opt-out is the only way they would get my vote Vern NorrgardTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:14 AM Do you realize you worded to voting the opposite to the article heading? I almost voted ‘yes’, I’m sure that one vote for yes was a mistake! :-) mr-crashTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:21 AM I am pretty sure this same poll is running across multiple sites including an ABC one. TrjnTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:32 PM I actually made that mistake. Admittedly, it doesn’t make a difference, I’m in a safe Labour seat, last time I voted for a mate from high school’s dad who was running as an independent. callumTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 6:00 PM Agreed, I nearly made the same mistake. Bad wording of the question and answers. StevoTheDevoWednesday, July 14, 2010 at 9:37 AM I voted based on the title of the post, but my vote is the same either way as explained below. Pretty sure that a few , if not all of the Yes votes are answering the Question in the title, not the poll. GrimTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:16 AM 1400 ‘no’ votes (96%) and one single comment? Did Lifehacker’s poll just get stuffed? IsaraTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:21 AM “The same poll is being featured on multiple technology sites around Australia” – it’s not just LH, as the voters are directed from other websites as well. JeffTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:21 AM Filter – Do not want. NBN – Do want. I’m torn – I don’t like the idea of the filter, but I think the NBN is the most important infrastructure project this country has done for decades. If the opposition get is, the NBN is dead and they have no alternative to it, and there is no guarantee that Abooottttt and his mates wont cozy up to the right wing crazies and punch through a filter anyway. I think I’m going to have to go with Labor and hope that Lundy and others can get the opt-in proposals through … Nicolai ParsonsTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:54 PM There’s problems with that idea, unfortunately Jeff. There’s a political reality about the Labor Party most people ignore and that’s to be part of it you have to vote with the Party caucus so everyone votes the same way. For the last 20 years or more Right-wing Labor (Unity) has had the numbers over Left-wing Labor (Socialist Left). As long as that continues (Branch selections are made such that it should) Labor will vote according to its Right-wing Powerbrokers’ decisions. This includes the Internet Filter. AS you very rightly assess, the Liberals are no bette though and under Abbott are likely to bring in a new form of internet censorship which will likely be just as bad, while claiming to oppose this internet filter. It’s in conservative interests to be able to control access to some forms of information and this allows that. Both sides of politics are relatively conservative and Right-of-Centre, despite what PM Gillard herself represents as a Socialist Left Labor Member. WilliamTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:25 AM This poll is INVALID! What a STUPID way to phrase the question. Jon UnderwoodTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:25 AM its not just a single issue, but representative of how each party views a number of issues – the jesus-creep in politics (people have the right to believe in whatever system they want – catholic, muslim, pastafarian or scientologist etc, but people don’t elect politicians because of their religion, so keep it out of politics) and the threat this poses to secular democracy in Australia, the expansion of the nanny state (your morality is your concern *and* your responsibility – not anyone elses), loss of liberty and privacy (government should exist to protect the liberties of the individual, not the other way round), and a general luddite ignorance of modern technology (because there are only 10,000 dodgy pages on the internets). Jon UnderwoodTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:26 AM i’ll probably vote green. nationals would be another choice, if they weren’t in coalition with the (L)iberals (conservatives in (l)iberal clothing). JeremyTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:26 AM The poll is a little ambiguous. Yes, I would vote for a political party that supports the internet filter, but that would depend on who that party is, what their other policies are, what I think about their previous performance, and what they feel the final version of the filter should look like. For example, if the choice is between an internet filter or workchoices 2.0, then I’m going to have to give it some serious thought. mklTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:28 AM As much as I feel heavily conflicted about it, there are other issues I feel are more important than the internet filter. If enough of them stack up then I can see that “yes” is still a possibility. For the greater good. (My first preference probably wouldn’t go there, but it will likely come down to which major party is higher on my preferences.) johnTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:41 AM For me the internet filter is the “straw that broke the camels back” as far as the Labor party goes. I’ll be voting for the greens as Scott Ludlam has doe a fantastic job fighting the filter and has a good grasp the internet and technology unlike Conroy or the Liberals communications and technology minister. VeTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 11:01 AM You realise that the Greens preference Labour so voting for the greens = voting Labour. I personally will just vote Labour because the only thing worse than Labour is Tony Abbott. Nicolai ParsonsTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:36 PM This really depends on your seat. Here in Melbourne, with Lindsay Tanner not standing again a vote for the Greens (Adam Bandt) is very likely to actually be a vote for the first Greens MP. A few other seats have similar demographics where the Greens polled 30%+ of the Primary Voe last election. It’s also far more important to vote below the Line in the Senate and potentially remove both Conroy and Fielding from Victoria. I don’t think other states have sitting Senators quite as objectionable to those two. We need that balance of power badly and we need it to be composed of progressives, rather than conservatives. I am happy to back the Greens personally, but I also support independent Senators like Sen. Xenophon who are willing to think for themselves, that ability is what we need to help us consider the future laws and how our society is to be shaped. Chris McMahonTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 11:16 PM It doesn’t matter who the Greens give preferences to – manually fill out your entire ballot and give your preference to whoever you want. I never use those “how to vote” cards they hand out. It’s my vote and I’ll say who gets my preferences. Because of Labour’s filter, lack of R18 gaming, demand to search my laptop at border control and their wish to spy on everything I do online, I’m putting every Labour candidate last. I’m sick of politicians labelling anyone who doesn’t want to live in a police state, and who wants privacy, a child molester or pervert. StevoTheDevoWednesday, July 14, 2010 at 9:42 AM A rubbish comment (Ve) that shows you have no understanding of the Australian Political System. kdnolanTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:43 AM im voting for these guys the two major parties are essentially the same HarvzTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 9:47 AM as much as i hate the filter i want the NBN and the libs are saying that they will can it. i can get around the filter but but i can’t make my nets faster warcroftTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10:04 AM Wont affect my vote because I dont vote Labor anyway. TorTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10:07 AM I can think of things I frankly care more about such as health and education. Sure the filter is an issue, however not worth voting in/out the government over. The libs would do worst anyway. I reckon a better way to protest these things is to actually protest them. LukeTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10:10 AM Even though I don’t like abbott and the liberals’ ultra-conservative views, if they come out and say they will dismantle the filter policy if elected, than they will have my vote. Internet censorship is the first step to creating a totalitarian society, whereby our rights and freedoms will be stripped down one by one to the tune of “Will Somebody Please Think Of The Children!”. Before we know it, future political parties will be adding to the blacklist, and we will see censorship on the level of China right here in the great southern land. For the love of beer, please do not turn the internet into over-censored, biased “news” like our newspapers, radio, and tv media already have become. Sure, the internet has some bizarre places. And there are plenty of nutjob blogs with opinions I could never agree with, but that is the “beauty of the baud”, our last clinging grasp on self-expression & freedom of thought. MikeTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10:35 AM The strength of opposition to this filter concept is impressive. I believe it’s only a certain sample of the population who would voice their opinion in this forum, but wow. If the entire Australian populaton was represented here, I would imagine it wouldn’t be too long until it was nessesary to institute this myopic, rabid, right-to-porn philosophy permanenty in the constitution or something. My vote is somewhere between “Yes” & “Don’t Care”. LukeTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 11:19 AM Mike, there is much more at stake here than our “myopic, rabid, right-to-porn”. The internet filter will have drastic effects on overall speed, which effects everybody – even you. Australia’s distrust in the filter is compounded by the lack of transparency regarding the blacklist. How will we know what is added and what is not? What will stop those at the top from hiding websites with views that differ from their own? Illegal topics will be one of the first to get censored, meaning any online discussion regarding euthanasia, illicit drugs (and their dangers), and a myriad of other topics may all become unavailable. I say “may”, because the reports commissioned by the Labor party themselves showed that the filter will be ineffective and will inherently censor what it shouldn’t and make available pages that it should be censoring. While all at the same time slowing speeds by up to %86. So please do not downplay our opinions here by suggesting we are all only worried about our porn addictions, because this topic is much more important than that. VeTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 11:48 AM Even disregarding those excellent points, this is AUSTRALIA. Cencorship of free media does not belong here in what we laughably call democracy. Nicolai ParsonsTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:45 PM Extremely well-put, Luke. I’d like to add my concerns about how this has been debated and what the points of contention are. I don’t think any rational person arguing against the Internet filter is in favour of Child pornography, as Sen. Conroy has accused every opponent of being. Many of them also recognise filtering the Web will do very little about Child pornography because the web itself isn’t the main distribution method (Peer-to-peer systems are). The problem is what else the government is allowed to censor and that’s anything which is CURRENTLY unclassified or of dubious legal standing. This means debated topics such as euthanasia and abortion will be made inaccessible as they are currently illegal and therefore in the scope of the filter. Other topics include less-objectionable things such as Neo-Nazi or supremacist sites and other sites like pro-anorexia sites. The big problem is how the blacklist will be administrated and as Luke’s already said how absurdly simple it is to get around the filter. The company making the filter has said themselves this is never what it was designed to do and I think that speaks volumes. Many world governments have tried methods of internet censorship and will continue to do so. I don’t really think it’s in the moral interest of the people as a generation of us have already grown up without such censorship and society has yet to decay into an amoral morass of depravity. It’s actually about power and control of information and if information is difficult to obtain, it’s easier to control what most people understand. Paul McManusTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 12:01 PM I think I voted wrong. I didn’t read the question again and said ‘Yes’ to the question “Will The Filter Influence Your Election Vote?”. In any case, readers of this site are going to have similar views. Do the survey on the street to random passers by and compare the results. VeTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 12:23 PM The problem with a vote is that most people don’t understand the filter nor the tech behind it. Most people would take this at face value. Just because the whole tech world is against this thing doesn’t mean your average person is going to vote against it. People very very rarely vote their interest. Nicolai ParsonsTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:49 PM I’d argue people rarely worry about getting all the information, they take their couple of minutes of media presentation (in this case the filter will block kiddy-porn), decide whether they support that or not and vote accordingly. Sen. Conroy has been very careful to keep discussion of pretty much anything other than Child Porn out of the media, because if people start to understand what else is at stake in that two minutes, it won’t continue to have the widespread support. It’s also a very clever tactic to “delay” the filter so they can get elected on the basis that it isn’t much of an election issue, then bring it in latre claiming they have a mandate as they have this time. DanTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 12:56 PM I won’t be voting Labour anyway but one of the pleasures of living in Victoria is that Conroy is one of our senators (for now) – I get to put him stone cold last when I vote below the line. However you vote otherwise, if you live in Victoria you should do this. If you’re a Labour voter just move the lower ones up but please, please put him last. AlexTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 1:34 PM ANY party that side with the (CON)Man that spent $44M of taxpayers money on nothing short of stupidity, should not only be removed from office but sued for incompetence. (If we can sue doctors for malpractice i don’t see why this should be and different). That $44M could have been spent on first home owners grants. If this pointless filter goes through Aussies will have to fork more cash on circumventing it (and lets face it – it will be circumvented, we’re not stupid) marztarTuesday, July 13, 2010 at 4:33 PM I’m actually a dirty coward! lol i haven’t voted all my life because I never registered. However like everyone says: “yes to nbn, no to filter” …well unfortunately the two can’t be split. Fast internet isn’t easy to achieve in the comfort of one’s own home… bypassing a dumb costly filter is. Then I think, what sites do I visit that are dodgy? Maybe that china oksupra site that I bought a few cheap pair of supra shoes from!! :| Ok Conroy you win, go ahead and put your retarded filter in, but you’re face will always remain the same, you ugly bastard you look like you received a newskool karate kick combo from Jaden Smith …and your wife???! Is she Godzillas stunt double?!! Sorry to hate but they must be inbreeds! LukeWednesday, July 14, 2010 at 2:42 PM marztar, there’s more to it all than dodgy websites. As Nicolai pointed out, the filter will ultimately give the powers-that-be control over what information the public has access to. The internet is the final frontier in unregulated information and news. Which is why we rarely hear anything about the filter on the tv or in newspapers. Almost every news source, publication, and media outlet in this country is owned by large corporations like News Corp, which owns foxtel, fox news, myspace, and almost every Australian newspaper we have. Look here for the list: Media outlets like News Corp don’t want open, unregulated internet. The filter will allow them to control what news you get, which is often misinformed, right-wing sensationalist garbage. Without free access to differing opinions & unbiased information online, the Australian public will be forced to get their news from mainstream media. And News Corp will be laughing all the way to the bank. StevoTheDevoWednesday, July 14, 2010 at 9:34 AM I voted No, but that’s purely because I’ve voted Green at every election (State and Federal) since John Howard first came to power. If I were a staunch Lib or Labor voter, the filter would be one of the factors I’d be re-evaluating my vote on. mikWednesday, July 14, 2010 at 12:56 PM Well, if it does come in, every helpdesk person in the country will just blame the ALP for the slow/broken broadband service they get (even when it’s not the filter’s fault…). Can’t imagine that will do them much good in 2014 (or will it be 2015?). HamishThursday, July 15, 2010 at 11:02 AM I’m not going to repeat all of the fine stock standard & sensible arguments made above me, but; I think a major point that the government don’t (and will never) understand is that you cannot block “child pornography” – which are the buzz words that they’re using to push this policy. It’s not like you can jump on Google and search for Kiddy porn – You don’t just go to and have the time of your life. The sickos who indulge in this crap have pretty sophisticated ways of sharing their material. To truly stop the flow of Child Pornography, you’d need to block all forms of peer to peer, FTP etc. traffic, which has so many legitimate uses that it would effectively cripple the country if they did. Not to mentioned banning the sale of physical storage mediums that they use to circulate their smut. What I’m saying is – their reasoning behind, and means to carry out the proposed filter, are completely ludicrous from the point of view of anyone who has a clue about the way this technology works. Stephen Conroy once said “I don’t opt into child pornography” – Well! I don’t know about you guys, but every time I open my browser I’m INUNDATED with lucrative offers to join the latest pedophile rings & Child porn communities – kind of gets annoying after a while, d’nit? I always opt out. HamishThursday, July 15, 2010 at 11:04 AM Didn’t expect that URL to hyperlink, Please remove, mods :) Or maybe someone can prove me wrong, if you’re sick enough to try RichHatesCompulsoryCensorshipMonday, July 19, 2010 at 7:02 PM Hamish you are safe, your fictitious URL goes nowhere. Yes I did click on it, not because I want to see kiddie porn (I definitely do not) but because its the simple proof that Conroy is full of it. I challenge everyone to do a google search for kiddie porn, you wont find it because its not there or google already blocks it. However, because of fear of being labeled a pedophile people don’t try this very simple test. There is no case to support the filter that Conroy proposes, he is either misinformed or wishes to control free speech in our country.

IBM drive achieves 75GB This month, IBM began volume shipments of 75GB hard disk drives. The record-setting capacity is achieved largely through the use of glass platters, as opposed to traditional aluminum platters, which allows a recording density of up to 14.3 billion bits per square inch. The Deskstar 75GXP model is a 7,200rpm device that comes in 15GB to 75GB capacities on one to five platters. Specs include an 8.5ms average seek time, 444Mbps maximum media data rate, up to 100MBps host data rate via an ATA-100 interface (37MBps sustained rate), a 2MB buffer, and giant magneto-resistive (GMR) heads. IBM also introduced the Deskstar 40GV drive, a 5,400rpm device that holds 20GB to 40GB on one or two platters at 14.3 billion bits per square inch. Other specs include a 9.5ms average seek time, 372Mbps maximum media data rate, up to 100MBps host data rate, and a 512KB buffer. The 40GV also includes a Silent Seek mode to reduce noise. Both drives use LSI Logic chips and load/unload technology, which parks the recording heads off the disk surface when not in use.. Quantum hits 15GB per platter Announced two days before IBM's 15GB-per-platter drives (see above), Quantum this month began shipments of 3.5-inch, 15GB-per-platter hard disk drives with total capacity of up to 30GB. Volume production for OEMs began this month, with drives expected to hit the retail channel in June. Quantum's Fireball lct15 drive has an Ultra ATA/66 interface, 4,400rpm rotation rate, 12ms average seek time, and a 512KB buffer. As are other desktop disk drive manufacturers, Quantum it touting silent operation, claiming a decibel level of 31 via the company's Quiet Drive Technology (QDT). That compares to 36 to 48 decibels for most desktop drives. Suggested retail pricing for a 30GB Fireball lct15 is $259.. Fujitsu drives at 10.2GB per platter Fujitsu has begun OEM evaluation shipments of 3.5-inch hard disk drives with 10.2GB per platter, for up to a total of 20.4GB per drive. Operating at 7,200 rpm, the MPF3xxxAH series has a seek time of less than 8.5ms, a data transfer rate of 53.9MBps and a 2MB buffer. The desktop drives use Fujitsu's Fluid Dynamic Bearing (FDB) technology, which uses oil in place of conventional metal ball bearings. The company is stressing silent operation, claiming an acoustic noise rating of 22dBA, achievable in part because of the FDB technology.. LSI to ship 2Gbps PCI-FC controller Available in June, LSI Logic's SYMFC929 is a single chip, dual-channel PCI-to-Fibre Channel controller for use with 32/64-bit, 33/66MHz PCI systems. LSI also announced two host bus adapter (HBA) boards based on the new chip: the SYM44929LH for copper connections, and the SYM44929LO for optical connections. The SYMFC929 controller, a follow-on to LSI's single-channel SYMFC909, is based on LSI's 2Gbps GigaBlaze serial link and a custom ARM RISC processor. The controller supports the Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) and IP, allowing users to mix protocols or offload IP traffic from FCP storage traffic. To accommodate first-generation 1Gbps Fibre Channel devices, the channels provide auto-negotiation (the ability to automatically switch between 1Gbps and 2Gbps data rates independently on both channels.) For OEMs, the advantages of a dual-channel device include savings in circuit board real estate and power consumption, as well as requiring fewer PCI slots. The controller is aimed at manufacturers of devices such as servers/workstations, RAID arrays, bridges/routers, and HBAs. Harry Mason, director of strategic alliances at LSI, predicts that 2Gbps Fibre Channel will achieve widespread acceptance around the first quarter of next year.. Atto intros Fibre Channel HBAs Atto Technology recently announced the ExpressPCI FC SW, a PCI-to-Fibre Channel short-wave optical host bus adapter (HBA), and AccelWare DP (dual platform) volume management software. The HBA is compatible with PCs and Macintosh platforms, and includes a Short Wave Laser Interface that can transfer data over cable lengths up to 500 meters. The adapter provides Class 2 and F_Port support, and works with 32/64-bit, 33/66MHz PCI systems. Chaparral ships router, RAID controllers Chaparral Network Storage's FS1310R is a Fibre Channel-to-Ultra2 SCSI router that enables the attachment of SCSI devices to Fibre Channel hosts or storage area networks. The company claims sustained data transfer rate of more than 90MBps and 8,500 I/Os per second. The router comes with one Fibre Channel port and three LVD SCSI channels, as well as support for Extended Copy functionality for server-less backup. Also included is an Ethernet port for management over LANs. Chaparral also introduced the G6322 Ultra160 SCSI RAID controller, an external device with a dual-controller, active-active auto failover design. The controller can be configured with two host channels and two device channels, or with one host channel and three device channels with support for as many as 45 hard disk drives.. CMD targets entry-level RAID controllers Filling in the low end of its Titan Architecture line of RAID controllers, CMD Technology's CRD-7220 controller supports two Fibre Channel host interfaces and two Ultra2 SCSI LVD device interfaces with up to 28 disk drives and 1GB of cache. The dual redundant, hot-swappable controller comes in a full-height, 5.25-inch canister. It is also available as a board-level product for OEMs. The CRD-7220 is scheduled to ship within the next two months, and includes CMD's SANmask LUN masking, AutoRebind technology for continuous access environments, an Ethernet port for monitoring, and online RAID set expansion.. Vitesse ICs improve signal quality Vitesse Semiconductor has introduced the VSC7130 dual repeater/retimer for improving signal quality and eliminating jitter transfer in duplex serial links. The device is compliant with Fibre Channel and Gigabit Ethernet specifications. Vitesse also introduced the VSC7132 serial link replicator for routing signals in Fibre Channel, Gigabit Ethernet, ATM, SONET and HDTV applications at speeds up to 1.5Gbps. Both 3.3V integrated circuits (ICs) are in the company's Velocity family of CMOS ICs. The VSC7130 includes two digital repeater/retimer cells and additional circuitry for FC-AL hubs. The IC can be configured as a retimer on the output of a system, and as a repeater on the input. The device can be used in hubs, switches, routers, JBOD arrays, and RAID arrays. The VSC71323 replicator is a buffer/multiplexer that duplicates a serial link. In the transmit direction, it provides duplication of a serial input onto two serial outputs and in the receive direction selects between one of two inputs. This allows a duplex serial link to be connected to two destinations.. Methode transceivers handle multi-protocols Methode Optoelectronic Products recently added to its line of 3.3V optical transceivers with a series that is available in a variety of protocols, including Fibre Channel, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, OC-3 and OC-12. The transceivers come in five form factors: - Industry-standard 1x9 transceiver for SC connector. - Hot-pluggable Gigabit Interface Converter (GBIC) for SC connector. - Small Form Factor (SFF) transceiver for LC connector. - Double-density dual-port GBIC that combines two LC optical transceivers in a standard GBIC module. - Miniaturized form factor that fits into the body of a standard RJ-45 shell. Prices range from $90 to $225 each in quantities of 1,000 units.. FuturePlus probe + Agilent analyzers FuturePlus Systems has introduced the FS4300 analysis probe, which provides a mechanical and electrical interface between Fibre Channel and logic analyzers from Agilent Technologies. This allows designers and integrators to use an Agilent analyzer as a passive analyzer. The tools can be used to debug, test and verify compliance of Fibre Channel peripherals and systems. The probe is a bus monitor that receives and preprocesses parallel data from Fibre Channel Gigabit Interface Converters (GBICs), and decodes the received transmission characters to data words. The probe presents the decoded data words and additional signals to Agilent logic analyzers. The FS4300 is available from Agilent, or visit. TAPE ATL intros FC P6000 library Last month, ATL Products introduced the P6000 series tape library with Fibre Channel connectivity. The DLT library has been certified with Brocade's SilkWorm Fibre Channel switches and Veritas' NetBackup software in a SAN configuration. The tested library featured 80 drives, 1,630 cartridges, and an ATL-developed modular PCI bridge (the bridge was first introduced last September with the P3000 series). The P6000 features redundant, hot-swappable fans and power supplies. A fully configured 80-drive P6000 backs up and restores data at 1.4TB per hour and supports up to 15 embedded Fibre Channel interfaces.. Seagate announces LTO drive, autoloader At CeBIT last month, Seagate displayed its Viper 200 tape drive, which is based on the Ultrium format of the Linear Tape-Open specification developed by Hewlett-Packard, IBM, and Seagate (see November 1999 cover news story). First shipments are expected by mid-year. The Viper 200 records up to 100GB of native capacity on a single Ultrium cartridge at speeds approaching 16MBps. A dynamic power-down system protects the media and mechanism in the event of a power loss by slowing both power reels simultaneously, maintaining proper media tension, and preventing unspooling. Other features include a shock-dampened, isolated chassis; modular design; managed airflow dynamics; advanced error correction; and a timing-based servo system with redundant elements. Additionally, FastSense technology mod-ulates the drive's tape speed to that of the host for continuous data streams, shorter backups, and less wear on drive components. For faster data access, Seagate has embedded a memory chip containing the cartridge index in the tape cartridge. Seagate also selected Overland Data's LoaderXpress for its first LTO-based automation product. Seagate will market the LoaderXpress with the Viper 200 drive under its own brand. The 10-cartridge autoloader provides up to 1TB of native capacity. LVD/HVD SCSI Viper drives, as well as the LTO autoloader, will be available this half. A native Fibre Channel drive interface is expected later this year.,. Tandberg ships SLR100 autoloader Last month, Tandberg Data expanded its SLR tape line-up with an eight-cartridge autoloader. The SLR100 autoloader is equipped with a 50GB SLR100 tape drive for native capacities to 400GB and native transfer rates to 10MBps. Other features include a removable magazine, standard barcode reader, and compatibility with existing and future SLR products. Two autoloaders can be rack-mounted side-by-side in a 19-inch rack for up 800GB of native capacity. At $6,195, the autoloader is priced for entry markets.. Overland simplifies SAN attachment Overland last month began shipping SAN-Piper, a SCSI-to-Fibre Channel bridge for SAN-based applications such as LAN-free and server-less tape backup (see March 2000 Special Report). The bridge supports Overland's full line of autoloaders and libraries, including the LibraryXpress, LoaderXpress, Mini-LibraryXpress, EnterpriseXpress, and LibraryPro. SANPiper provides up to four SCSI connections and up to six Fibre Channel ports, and supports single-ended and differential SCSI and copper, short- and long-wave Fibre Channel interfaces. Support for the SCSI Extended Copy command-a key requirement for server-less backup-is standard on all models. Advanced management capabilities, such as LUN zoning and LUN masking, provide tools for shared storage in heterogeneous environments. Rack-mount and tabletop configurations are available. The 400 has one or two Fibre Channel ports and two SCSI connections, the 1000 has six Fibre Channel ports and four SCSI connections. Pricing starts at $7,295. VR2 power Separately, Overland Data late last month shipped its first Variable Rate Randomizer (VR2 ) SLR100 library to Tandberg Data. VR2 is an advanced data encoding technology that significantly boosts native capacities and transfer rates with no changes to tape path design, recording heads, or media (see InfoStor, December 1999). The autoloader has a native 400GB capacity and 18GB per hour transfer rate, which meets the needs of entry-level to midrange server markets. It has an MSRP of $6,195. DLT1-based autoloader Also, Overland recently announced a stand-alone 40GB DLT1 tape drive and a 400GB DLT1-based LoaderXpress autoloader (all native capacities). The new products, which are based on Benchmark's DLT1 drive technology, position the company to compete in entry-level server markets currently served by 4mm DAT, 8mm, and other formats. The stand-alone DLT1 drive has a native 40GB capacity and 3MBps transfer rate. With 10 cartridges, the DLT1 autoloader provides up to 400GB of native capacity. The LoaderXpress supports data management and backup software applications from Computer Associates, Legato, and Veritas in Windows NT, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, Linux, and NetWare environments. Both the drive and the autoloader will be available this quarter. The LoaderXpress LX1B10 is priced at $4,695; the DLT1B drive at $1,495.. Benchmark ships DLT7 autoloader Last month, Benchmark began volume shipments of a DLT autoloader-the DLT7-which is based on its DLT1 tape drive technology. With up to 280GB of native capacity and a 3MBps native transfer rate, the single-drive, seven-cartridge autoloader is designed for small to medium-sized NAS and SAN environments. The autoloader lists for $4,779. Adds NovaNet 8 support In a separate release, Benchmark and NovaStor announced a tape backup/software combination, also targeting small to midsize network environments. NovaStor's NovaNET 8 software enables centralized backup of Benchmark DLT1 drives and DLT7 autoloaders in mixed NT/2000, NetWare, and Linux environments. With NovaNet 8 support, system administrators can control backups from their desktop, eliminating the need to manually remove and insert tapes during the backup process.. HP offers slot, FC upgrades Hewlett-Packard last month detailed several tape enhancements, including scale-up kits for its SureStore/SureStore E libraries, a SCSI-to-Fibre Channel interface upgrade for its 2/20, 4/40, and 6/60 libraries, improved remote management cards/diagnostic tools, and an eight-port Brocade switch. The library kits enable users to add 20 slots to existing SureStore and SureStore E libraries for improved capacity and performance. Two kits are available for each library family: 20- to 40-slot and 40- to 60-slot kits. Both SureStore kits are priced at $12,500; the HP SureStore E 20- to 40-slot kit lists for $15,875, the 40- to 60-slot kit for $14,875. HP's plans also call for an LVDS-to-Fibre Channel upgrade kit mid-summer. The interface card will enable users to connect existing 2/20, 4/40, and 6/60 SureStore and SureStore E libraries to Fibre Channel storage area networks (SANs). The kit includes support for an eight-port Brocade Fibre Channel switch (available May 1) and new remote-management capabilities and diagnostic tools (e.g., 100Base-T connections, Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol, and Web-based library management). The Fibre Channel interface kit is priced at $4,630. The remote management card will be included with the libraries at no additional charge. General availability for both products is July 1.. Bundles Yosemite software Yosemite Technologies' TapeWare storage management software is being bundled with Hewlett-Packard SureStore DAT and DLT tape drives. The software provides additional support for HP's One-Button Disaster Recovery technology in NT, Netware, and Linux environments. In addition to broader platform support, the latest release of the software (version 6.2) features TapeAlert support, software compression, remote administration for Lite Editions, and six-slot autoloader support. Disaster recovery, storage area network, and autoloader options are also available. Pricing ranges from $99 to $1,999, depending on the edition (Desktop, Data Center, Lite, Workgroup, and Universal).. OPTICAL JVC announces e-mail jukebox Last month, JVC Digital Storage Systems introduced the E-Mail Management Solution, consisting of a JVC MC-2000 Series CD/DVD optical library bundled with xVault Inc.'s xVmail software. The system manages a company's email, and offers a searchable archive system via either a Microsoft Outlook plug-in or Web browser. The Windows NT system supports Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 with options for SendMail (Sun and Linux) and Lotus Notes. Available in 100-, 200-, and 600-disc configurations, jukebox capacities range from 65GB to 390GB, while providing CD/DVD recording, labeling, and storage and retrieval capabilities over a LAN. The E-Mail Management Solution is now shipping with 100-disc models starting at $35,000.. Sony expands Spressa CD-RW family Sony Electronics expanded its Spressa CD-RW line with four new drives that record at 10x (CD-R) maximum speed, which enables a 650MB CD to be recorded in about seven minutes. The Spressa i.LINK (CRX145E/XI) external drive, Spressa Professional external SCSI (CRX145S/XS), Spressa Professional internal EIDE (CRX145E/CH) and Spressa Professional internal SCSI (CRX145S/C) also support 4x maximum CD-RW recording speed and 32x maximum reading speed. All four drives are available this month, with pricing starting at $249.. SOFTWARE Legato introduces GEMS SRM Last month, Legato Systems introduced GEMS Storage Resource Manager (SRM) and GEMS SRM for Exchange. GEMS SRM offers cross-platform reporting, alerting, and tracking of trends and policies to help manage Windows NT, UNIX and Linux storage resource capacity, consumption, and availability. From Intranet Web sites, GEMS SRM also automatically monitors and reports on all physical and logical storage resources. GEMS SRM for Exchange provides similar functions for Exchange Server storage, providing a comprehensive view of the entire Exchange storage topology. The software also helps simplify the management of Exchange mailboxes, mailbox quotas, public folders, and users. GEMS SRM is priced at $4,000, and $1,150 per connection to a managed system. Pricing for GEMS SRM for Exchange was not established at press time.. Sterling enhances Alexandria suite With the release of version 5.0, Sterling Software recently upgraded its SAMS:Alexandria suite with storage area networks (SANs) in mind. SAMS: Alexandria 5.0 provides data protection and backup for Unix and Windows NT SANs. Key features include simplified configuration of backups, archive,s and data restoration across a SAN; single-console media tracking and reporting across a SAN; and media coordination in a mixed UNIX/NT environment. The suite can also be configured to migrate tapes to multiple vault sites from several tape libraries across a network. Pricing starts at $4,000 per server.. IBM makes broad tape improvements Back-to-back announcements out of IBM's removable media storage systems division last month target capacity, support, and availability issues with its Magstar 3590, A60 Control Unit, and Virtual Tape Server families, respectively. By doubling the media length, IBM boosts cartridge capacity to 40GB (120GB compressed) on Magstar 3590 Model E drives, and 20GB native (60GB compressed) for specially equipped Model B drives. With 3:1 compression, a 10-cartridge single-drive 3590 autoloader (Model E11) now provides up to 1.2TB of capacity. The feature is standard with all models built after March 3, 2000. The 3590 E has a native transfer rate of 14MBps. A native Fibre Channel interface is expected later this year, which should boost compressed data rates to 60MBps, according to Ralph Mersiowsky, marketing communications manager for IBM's removable media storage systems. Alternatively, the drives can be connected to ESCON via an IBM A60 Control Unit, which now supports eight ESCON channels. More importantly, the control unit will soon support mixed attachments-SCSI, FICON, and ESCON-for heterogeneous data sharing. "Along these lines, IBM says its Virtual Tape Server (VTS) later this year will support non-IBM platforms, specifically Sun. VTS currently runs in MVS, VM, VM/VSE, TPF, RS/6000, and SP/2 environments. More immediately, IBM announced peer-to-peer VTS capability, which eliminates single points of failures by creating a "shadow" copy of the data on a second (replicated) VTS.. Veritas cuts Exchange backup time, space Introduced last month, Veritas Software's Remote Storage for Microsoft Exchange (RSE) is designed to minimize storage space on Microsoft Exchange servers by automatically moving email message attachments from Exchange databases onto secondary storage devices. The result is decreased backup and recovery times, and a potential for improving system performance. The software is based in part on the Remote Storage Services (RSS) code in Windows 2000. However, the current version of RSE works with Windows NT; a Windows 2000 version is expected in the third quarter. RSE uses hierarchical storage management (HSM) techniques that allow administrators to set thresholds to control the migration of message attachments. Shipments of RSE, as well as a Remote Storage API, are scheduled for next month. Veritas also began shipments this month of a Data Analyzer for Exchange tool. The Java-based software interrogates Exchange Information Stores and reports information such as attachments vs. message text, age and size of messages and attachments, etc. RSE is priced at $4,995 for a base kit (the ability to manage one Exchange server), and $995 for each additional managed server..

Alien Challenge Terry Compton Published by Terry Compton at Smashwords Cover images courtesy of 123rf.com, fotosearch.com, hillbilly-photo.com & Joleene Naylor Cover design Thanks to my beautiful wife and daughter who helped make this novel possible. It was one of those perfect Monday mornings in May. The robin was happily proclaiming that it had its nest made and mama was sitting on eggs. Two male finches were chirping and chasing each other for the female. I could hear some wild turkeys in the back gobbling. The horses in the pasture across the road were grazing and made a beautiful picture against the mountains to the east. I spotted a skunk waddling across the pasture and sure hoped he stayed over there and didn’t come anywhere close to my shop. I had a gate to finish and get to Western Powder Coating today so I turned back to my welding and cutting. I had orders and my business, Montana Iron Creations., Inc. was reviving from the past year. People wanted railings, gates and gate operators again. This year was definitely shaping up a lot better than last year had been. I was one of the lucky ones to have work, because a lot of people were still looking for anything to make a little money. As I bent over the welding table, I heard a rush of wings and wild chirping as 4 or 5 birds flew into the open door of the shop. I stopped welding and started trying to shoo the birds out the open door. Then the electricity blinked two or three times and went off completely. “Well, I’ll be able to get these birds out now,” I thought. I tried shooing the birds out again but they would not move anywhere close to that open door. I walked over to the open door and noticed that there were no birds anywhere. There were no sounds of turkeys or any animals in the rear of the property. The horses across the road were in a dead run, galloping around the pasture in a panic. The faint sound started from high over the mountains to the east and grew louder with each passing second. It sounded like a kid was blowing in a pop bottle making a low moaning sound. As I stepped outside, I looked up to see what was making the noise. The noise grew louder. I saw a speck in the eastern sky coming over the mountains. The moan grew in intensity until you could feel it, as well as hear it. The speck was rapidly growing in size and getting lower. In just a few seconds the speck was a huge glowing black craft that whistled over the shop roof. It reminded me of a horseshoe crab except it didn’t have a tail and was flat across the back. In the middle it sloped up to a hump and I could see the craft wasn’t coming down smoothly. It was making a slight yawing motion to the left and right and was pitching up and down. As fast as it had appeared, it disappeared behind the shop. The silence after the intense moan was eerie. No noise from the turkeys or any birds. I didn’t see any birds flying either. The horses had stopped and were staring in my direction . As I rushed around the corner of the shop to see what had happened, I heard the radio come back on and the air compressor start. There not 150 yards from the shop, was the huge craft sitting in my back pasture. It was about 300 feet long and 40 or 50 feet high in the middle and tapered to 10 or 12 feet high on the sides. I couldn’t tell how wide it was from the angle that I was watching. It sat on four legs 8 or 10 feet off the ground and I wondered how it kept from sinking in the ground. I knew the ground there was soft from the spring rains last week. My neighbor had pulled his truck back there to pick up some posts and his truck ended up buried to the frame. He had to call a wrecker with a long cable to hook up to him and pull him out. How could something this big not sink? It struck me then that the craft wasn’t glowing like it had been when it passed over the shop. I noticed there were some columns of steam or other vapor coming from what I considered the front edge. Was this one of the famed flying saucers? What was that stuff that it was spewing out? Was it poisonous or harmful? My mind was racing as I edged to the right to get a better look. I could see what looked like windows toward the front and smaller port holes along the side. I could see small domes around the edge of the craft. There were several antennas in the middle and several tubes on the top that pointed in different directions that had not been there when it flew over the shop. Along the side were several bulges with door openings on the front end. Were they some type of gun pod or other weapon? Were they the propulsion units? I continued walking to the right until I could see that the other side of the craft had the same domes and bulges. I turned and walked to see what the back of the craft looked like. Before I could get there to take a look, a cylinder that appeared to be about eight feet in diameter started to lower to the ground between the front legs of the craft. My heart was pounding and my breath was coming in short gasps. What was in that cylinder? What was it doing? I stopped, frozen in place, as I waited to see what was going to happen next. Suddenly a figure slowly stepped out of the cylinder. It was about 8 or 9 feet tall and seemed skinny for its height. It had two arms and two legs. I couldn’t tell about its hands or feet because they were encased in the gloves and boots of the suit. The figure was much too tall and thin to actually look human but it almost looked like a caricature of a skinny basketball player. It had on a clear fish bowl shaped helmet set atop some sort of protective suit. The silvery reflective suit reminded me of an astronaut or a worker entering a hazardous area. Through this helmet I could see a head that looked like a caricature of a human head because it was so long and skinny. It had smooth-looking purplish skin and it was carrying a box with small tubes coming out of it. It must have had some type of read-out on it because the figure was staring intently at the face of the box. The box held its interest so much it was obvious that the figure had no idea I was standing there staring at it. Finally it seemed satisfied and lowered the box. My mouth was open as I stared in amazement. My mind was whirling as I wondered if the creature was dangerous. Should I run? Should I arm myself? These and a thousand other questions were whirling through my mind as I waited to see what would happen. The figure from the ship was slowly turning and looking at the area around its craft. As the figure turned in my direction, I could see it give a start as it spotted me staring at it. I watched as the figure slowly backed toward the cylinder and laid the box inside. Then the figure started fiddling with the collar of the suit. It then twisted the helmet and lifted it off its head. It set the helmet inside the cylinder. All of its movements seemed slow and deliberate as if it didn’t want to alarm me. The figure did something on the front of the suit and it parted allowing the figure to step out of it. It laid the suit inside the cylinder and started walking towards me. It was wearing clothes that were a loose fitting, shiny, silver-colored material. It reminded me of a loose fitting jump suit that was the rage in the ‘60s. The figure continued walking towards me and, as it got closer, I could see that its hair looked like very delicate feathers. The feathers were dark blue and made me think of a picture that child would color. It wasn’t a bad look; just definitely not human. Once the figure got close enough, I could see that its two eyes were a pale yellow with green irises. I didn’t see a nose, just a slit and a round orb underneath that I took to be a mouth. There were small white circles on the side of its head instead of ears. The hands had 3 fingers and a thumb shaped like you would expect a bird’s hand to look like. The figure had an ornate brown box about the size of a box of matches hanging from a gold chain around its neck. The box had some kind of carving or engraving covering everything that I could see. When it was about 10 feet from me, it stopped and we both stared at each other. For what seemed like an eternity but was surely only 20 or 30 seconds, neither of us moved or made a sound. Then the figure made a series of whistles, squawks and clicks that sounded like an angry little bird after someone who had disturbed its nest. Suddenly a baritone voice with a definite English accent came out of the brown box saying “Greetings, my name is Xiamen Yuanfa Fujian Abdijan. I am the Grand Advocate, Seeker of Truth, Cataloger of the Stars and Pollinator to the Planets from Dar Es Salaam in the Polarissima Borealis Galaxy. I come in peace and mean you no harm.” My relief at learning that the figure was friendly was so great that I almost felt weak in the knees. I felt more curiosity than fear and I couldn’t help but grin at the thought of this strange-looking purple figure being a pollinator of the planets. It surely didn’t look like any bee or other pollinator I had ever seen. I replied “Hi, my name is Pete Collins and I am the chief cook, bottle washer and general handy man in the business, Montana Iron Creations, Inc. Welcome to Kalispell, Montana. I was wondering, how do you pollinate a planet?” I could see the feathers/hair twitching and turning a lighter blue. Its face turned a little darker shade of purple. If it had been human and the color was red, I would swear that the purple figure was blushing. The Great Pollinator to the planets was making some adjustments to the box it was wearing around its neck. Then it said, “It is not Pollinator but Trader. Please forgive me. My language translator is still not completely programmed to your language. We picked up some of the language from your great yellow teacher.” “Great yellow teacher?” I asked in surprise. “Yes, the one on your educational channel Sesame Street,” it replied. “We have been monitoring your TV broadcasts for several weeks as we explored your solar system. I am afraid that I am still adjusting to fine tune translations to your language." “Well it seems like it’s doing pretty good if all you’ve had to go on was our TV broadcasts,” I exclaimed with a big grin. “How do you pronounce your name again?” “Xiamen Yuanfa Fujian Abdijan, the Grand Advocate, Seeker of Truth, Cataloger of the Stars and Trader to the Planets.” “I don’t have one of those translators and I’m having trouble even saying your name. What do others call you?” I asked. “Call me Xiamen,” he replied. “Call me Pete,” I answered him. It seemed funny that a creature that could travel between the stars would use something as simple and childish as Sesame Street to learn a language. I could see though it would be a good primer for someone learning a new language. “Did you travel here alone?” I inquired. “Is it far to your home?” “No, I have two partners who are still in our ship. They are observing us using sensors in the ship,” answered Xiamen as he waved his right arm toward the black craft. “Our planet is many light years from here. It would be in that direction”, as he pointed in the direction of the North Star. “Did it take long to travel here?” “Normally it wouldn’t take long but we have been trading and exploring other planets and we have been away from our planet several months.” “Are there other planets close to my solar system that have life on them?” I asked with a sudden interest. “Why haven’t we had other space travelers trading with us before?" “Yes, there are other life forms but I’m not permitted to say how many. Your planet is not advanced enough to trade technology; therefore, you are not permitted to know about the other life forms. You need to have space travel to be considered advanced enough,” replied Xiamen with a look of unease on his face. “We are not supposed to be here and should not be making contact with you. We were exploring the asteroid belt just beyond the 4th planet in your solar system when we had some problems with our shield. There were several small pieces of asteroid that got through the shield and pierced our outer hull. The holes affected our shields and our flying controls.” “I noticed that you weren’t flying very smoothly and you were making a strange sound as you came over the shop. I also noticed steam or some sort of vapor coming from the front of your ship,” I gestured in the direction of the front of the ship. “Oh dear, it may be worse than we thought,” declared an agitated Xiamen. “We can fix and recalibrate the shields but we have no way to fix those holes.” “What kind of metal is your ship made of?” I asked as the light came on in my head. I could hear the cash register chime as I thought about fixing the ship and then the advertising I could do. 'Get your gates from the shop that repairs space ships'. But, could I weld this material? Was there another way to fix those holes? Xiamen chirped and squawked into another devise he had on his clothing. After a few seconds he responded, “We think it is some type of what you call aluminum alloy. We’re not sure of what other metals are included in this alloy. It could be magnesium and silicon. Why are you asking?” “Is that some kind of radio you were speaking into? I’m interested in the metal because that’s how I make my living. I repair metal and make ornamental gates, railing and other metal projects.” “Yes, it is a type of radio but operates differently from what you have. Do you think you could fix those holes? How long would it take?” a very excited Xiamen implored. “I don’t know. I’ll have to take a look at the holes. Have you ever had holes repaired before?” “I think we did have one repaired and I’m not sure if the previous owners had any repair work done. We would need to search the ship's log to see,” replied a puzzled Xiamen. “If I could see someone else’s work, it would give me a direction to go for your repairs. Did any of the asteroids penetrate to the inner part of your ship?” I commented as I turned my attention to the places with vapor coming out. “There were no alarms saying we had holes to the inside and we maintained pressure so I’m sure nothing got in,” stated Xiamen. “Can you get to the inside of the outer hull? How much space do you have between the outer and interior hull?” I asked Xiamen. “There are inspection ports on both the inside and outside. There is about 3 feet between the hulls. Why do you ask?” a nervous Xiamen asked. The feathers/hair on his head was waving in different directions all over his head. “I might need to get in between the hulls to make repairs. Will that be a problem?” I asked, noticing that Xiamen seemed nervous about that. “Let me go get a ladder to get up there and look at those holes.” As I walked toward the shop to get the ladder, I heard Xiamen chirping into his communicator. I walked around the corner of the shop and my wife Linda came out of the house. She started talking very rapidly and excitedly saying, “Pete, I just heard on the radio that there’s a plane that’s crashed around here.” Just then she looked over my shoulder and spotted the space craft sitting in our back pasture. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened with surprise. “What, What is that?” she sputtered. “How did it get here and what is it doing here?” “Oh, it’s just a space ship that dropped in for some repair,” I replied with a grin. “But how did it get here and how will it be repaired? How do you know it needs to be repaired?” she excitedly exclaimed. “It flew. I just met Xiamen and he told me they need to have some repairs. I have to check some things out to see if I can do it. That was probably the airplane that was supposed to have crashed,” I answered with an even bigger grin. The look on her face almost made me laugh out loud but I knew I would be in trouble if I did. I could see the wheels turning in her head as she was thinking; 'Was the space craft dangerous? Would the space aliens be coming in the house? Would they abduct us like in the movies?' “What do you mean Xiamen told you they need some repairs. Have you been back there by that space ship? Who is Xiamen?” Linda rapidly fired questions at me. I held up my hand and said, “That’s all I know until I get a ladder and check the space ship and talk to Xiamen some more. Don’t get all upset. They aren’t here to harm us. They just need to get their ship fixed. Could you keep listening to the radio and see if anybody else has figured out what has happened? Right now, don’t tell any one else what we have in our back pasture.” “Well, you just be careful and don’t be going into that thing until you’re sure it’s safe and someone is here to watch out for you,” she replied with indignation. I continued walking to the shop as Linda walked back into the house, all the while muttering to herself. As I picked up the extension ladder, I noticed the birds were gone from the shop. I hefted the ladder and carried it back to the space ship. Xiamen came around to the front of the ship where I was preparing to lean the ladder against it. Before I climbed the ladder, I asked Xiamen, “Is there any danger from the ship or the vapors coming out of it?” He replied, “Not that we know of. We think the vapors are steam from the water vapor we picked up when we came through the cloud cover east of here.” “Will it hurt anything if the ladder is leaning against the ship here? Can you walk on the surface up there?” I questioned. “Just watch the reading tubes and the antennas. Everything else should be alright.” I started up the ladder and looked at the first hole. The hole was about two feet in diameter and roughly egg shaped. The metal was bent in like the metal on a tin can when someone shot it. The jagged edges of the metal looked about half an inch thick and were very stiff. I wasn’t going to just grab it with my hands and straighten it out. As I continued studying the hole, I looked inside. There was some light coming from the other holes and I thought I could see some pieces of metal on the bottom of the hull. There also appeared to be some rocks lying there too. I couldn’t reach them from where I was at. I would have to go inside or reach them from an inspection port. I noticed that a bundle of wiring had been smashed by the asteroids when they hit the inside hull. As I straightened up to start down the ladder, I spotted a herd of deer heading for my wife’s flower garden. “Oh, rats!” I muttered as I hurriedly started down the ladder. “What’s the matter? Is it bad? Can it be fixed?” an anxious Xiamen rapidly questioned. “I don’t know yet but I think I may be able to. First I need to get some pieces of metal from the bottom of the hull. Right now, I have to go chase those deer out of my wife’s flower garden. They love to eat the blossoms and she will have a fit if I don’t try to stop them,” I replied as I turned to start after the deer. Xiamen looked past me, pointed at the deer and asked, “Are those the animals you want to chase out of here?” “Yes and I need to get them before they get to the flower beds” Xiamen seemed to concentrate or focus on something and the hairs started fluttering again. All of the sudden, the tails went up on the deer and they headed in the opposite direction at a dead run. They were in panic flight. “Did you do that? How did you do it?” I gasped, as I watched the deer disappear from sight, still on a dead run. An uncomfortable Xiamen slowly replied, “My race has a low grade of ESP and on lower forms of animals like those deer, we can sense basic senses like pain, fear, good food or a feeling of security. We can trigger some of these responses with the results that you see there.” “Will your ESP work on humans?” I asked with a stirring of unease. “No, we sense some of your emotions like fear, anger, contempt, relief and a sense of well-being to name a few. We can’t control these emotions but we can help heighten these emotions one at a time, if that emotion is the top emotion. If you were afraid, we could help make you even more frightened. We don’t use this power very often because on higher life forms it can be turned back on ourselves and it is very draining physically and emotionally,” Xiamen responded. “I noticed that when you flew over with your space ship, the horses across the road were in a panic and the birds stopped singing and disappeared. How far can you reach with your powers?” I commented. “The meteors had an effect on our flight controls and we may have been broadcasting our concern as we were landing. Normally our power will only effectively reach about 100 yards but if we are all experiencing the same emotion it will broadcast further. How far depends on the emotion and how intense we feel it,” stated Xiamen. I noticed the feather/hairs were fluttering very rapidly as Xiamen was remembering his wild ride to the ground. I filed this fact and the fact about his ESP away in my memory. If I ever played poker with this race, I knew I had an edge but other than that I couldn’t see any use for this information. I moved the ladder over to the next hole and inspected it. I was inspecting the fourth hole when I heard the siren in the distance. I watched as the sheriff's car roared down the road and past the front of the shop. The car roared out of sight and I wondered if it was looking for the “plane crash” that the radio had been talking about. I continued looking at all of the holes and dents, taking several minutes with each one, until I had them all cataloged on my clip board. “Xiamen, I need to get inside and get some of those pieces of metal and see how I can work inside the hull,” I stated as I came down off the ladder. I could hear another siren on the county road to the west of the shop and I wondered if it was the same sheriff’s car. It sounded like it was traveling slower on the gravel than when it went by in front of the shop. The feathers on Xiamen’s head were twitching and changing colors as a very agitated spaceman said, “As I told you before, we are not allowed to trade technology with you because you don’t have space flight. We also aren’t supposed to show you any of the technology in case it would give you ideas and send you down a technological path you might not have taken. Each planet is given the freedom to discover their own technology, in their own way and own time.” “Well, does landing a man on our moon count as space travel? We also have sent several probes to the other planets in our solar system and I think there were some probes that were sent beyond the solar system. We have also had movies, stories and a lot of art work about space ships and space travel for at least the last 100 years,” I remarked, a little miffed at being told we weren’t advanced enough to see any of the space ship. “Oh! That makes a difference. Let me talk to my partners and look at our guidelines for trade and we will see what we can do. I can get some of the pieces for you to look at in the meantime,” replied Xiamen. Xiamen tilted his head to the side as he was listening to his receiver and then said, “My partner Thatera is getting some pieces right now and will send them down in the elevator." The elevator started ascending into the ship and within just a few minutes, came back down. Inside were four of the bigger pieces of metal that had been lying on the floor between the hulls. Xiamen picked them up and handed them to me. The pieces were not as heavy as I expected for their size. I laid down two and decided to only carry two at a time up to the shop. Xiamen commented, “I will go talk with my partners now and research the guidelines. It shouldn’t take very long.” “That’s alright. I need to go eat some lunch anyway. I’ll take this metal up to the shop and see if I can weld it together,” I replied as I turned and walked toward the shop. I carried the two pieces into the shop and laid them on the welding table. I turned and walked the few feet to the house. As soon as I walked through the door, Linda was there to greet me with a load of rapid questions, “Well, what did you find out? Can you fix their ship? Will you fix their ship? Who pays for this and when will you get paid? How will you get paid?” “Whoa, wait a minute. I don’t know yet if I can fix it or not. Xiamen is checking to see if they can trade with us to get this fixed and right now, I just need to sit down and eat some lunch. I don’t have any idea who pays or how they pay,” I answered. “What are they like? What does the inside of the ship look like? Can I call Caroline and tell her about this now?” exclaimed a very excited Linda. “They are from Dar Es Salaam in the Polarissima Borealis Galaxy. I haven’t seen inside the ship yet. They have trading guidelines and if our putting a man on the moon doesn’t count as space travel, I won’t get to see the inside of the ship. There are two hulls and I just looked between the hulls when I was inspecting the holes. Why don’t you wait to tell anybody anything until we see if we are going to be able to trade with them?” I replied. “I don’t know what will happen if we can’t trade and I don’t want a hundred people over here bothering us until I know one way or the other.” “Oh all right. It just doesn’t seem fair that we have space visitors and I can’t tell anybody about it. What do you want for lunch?” a disappointed Linda retorted. “Just a sandwich and something cold to drink and maybe some chips. I’ve got to finish that gate and I need to get it to Powder Coat but I don’t want to leave here today. Maybe I can get them to come here and pick it up,” I mused more to myself than to Linda. I could see the wheels turning in Linda’s head as she was fixing lunch. She was thinking as much about the big black dilemma in our back pasture as I was. Linda handed me the plate with the chips and sandwich and asked, “If you fix this ship, will that help any with our business? Do you think a space ship can help us get any more gates or railings?” I grinned and bit off some of the sandwich before I replied, “Well, I was thinking of advertising ‘Get your gate from the guy that repairs space ships’ to see if it would stir up any more interest. I know for some people, they would want to say they had their gate or railing made by the first guy to repair a space ship from outer space.” Both of us were grinning and I could see both of us had been thinking along the same lines. How could this opportunity grow our business and could we make it last for awhile? I finished my lunch and set the plate and glass in the sink. Linda was watching as I finished and I could see the questions were about to begin again. “What are you going to do now? When do you think you’ll know about fixing the space ship?” she asked. “Right now, I’m going to finish the gate and then I want to experiment with the pieces of metal to see if I can weld them. I don’t have any idea how long it will take the space men to make up their minds,” I answered as I walked to the door. We both heard the siren at the same time. Instead of roaring on down the highway, this time it pulled into our driveway. We both looked at each other and Linda voiced exactly what I was thinking, “Now what! What is the sheriff doing here now?” The room came to attention and fell silent as President Barry Oliver walked into the room. He walked over to his chair, sat down and then slowly looked over the 13 people in the room. The group was much smaller than usual and the tension was thick around the oval conference table. This was the inner circle that advised the President and helped bring his plans to fruition. The President looked at the intelligence people and asked, “Has it been confirmed that it was a space ship? Did it land or did it crash? When did it come down?” Leon Platter, the head of the NSA, glanced at his intelligence companions, received a quick barely-perceptible nod from each of them and replied, “We tracked it for the last 6 days. It looks like it came from outside the Mars orbit and then to the ground somewhere in Montana. It was coming down so fast that I don’t know how it didn’t burn up. It must have some fantastic heat shields. It didn’t look like it crashed and we have just retrieved satellite photos confirming there is no visible crash damage.” Leon typed on his laptop and a picture appeared on the big display screen. He had to fiddle a bit with the computer to get everything up because he normally had aides handle all of this. Today was different -- only the inner circle was allowed in. Leon continued with a slight strain to his voice, “We have pinpointed the site about 9 miles east of Kalispell. There appears to be some houses only 150 yards from the space ship. We have it coming down at 9:30 this morning local time.” The President's face tightened as he asked, “What part of Montana is Kalispell located in? Do we have any troops anywhere close that we can deploy? Is this the only space ship that has been spotted?” Leon shot a glance at General Murphy and then replied, “Kalispell is in the northwest part of the state about 30 miles from Glacier Park. The General will have to answer about the troops. So far, we haven’t spotted any other movement. We have put NORAD on high alert looking for any more. We didn’t alert any of the observatories yet. We wanted to wait until after this meeting.” General Murphy knew he was about to step right into the hot seat as he answered, “We have a National Guard unit in Kalispell but over half of the unit is deployed to Iraq. There’s an Air Force base and an Air National Guard base in Great Falls. The only help from them would be the Military Police. The Air Guard is a flying unit and the Air Base has the Minute Man missiles but neither has trained ground troops. Both of them would be 60 to 90 minutes away by air. There are other National Guard units at Missoula and Bozeman but they are two to six hours away by ground. Helena has a National Guard helicopter unit and it could be there in about an hour. The closest regular troops are in Fort Lewis, Washington.” The General looked directly at Vice Admiral Ed Holbrooke and asked, “You don’t have any Marines any closer than Pendleton, do you?” Admiral Holbrooke just shook his head no. The President looked at both of them and asked, “How long would it take to activate the Guard units? How many troops and helicopters would be available? How long to get the regular military under way?” “The Guard unit in Kalispell will take at least 24 hours to notify and then have them call people in. I think there are only about 100 people left to call to duty. The other Guard units would be in the same time frame and could have another 500 troops. We could get 3 or 4 helicopters from Helena in just 5 or 6 hours with another 15 in the air 36 hours later. The Military Police from Great Falls could be in the air in about 5 or 6 hours also with about 50 troops available. The regular troops would need about 36 hours to cut orders, issue equipment and load planes. Meanwhile, we would be able to get a couple of C-5s in there ready to load and fly them to Kalispell. We would have to send all of them with MREs until we could get kitchen facilities set up. We would have to refuel the helicopters at the Kalispell airport,” reported General Murphy. “If we have all of those military helicopters flying over and all the troops on the ground, won’t this alert the news media? Will it cause any civilian panic?” Nancy-Ann Carter, the White House Terrorism Czar, asked. Feely Quingado, the White House Information Czar, quickly jumped in, “We can do press releases about a military exercise that is practicing emergency action during a natural disaster or when a satellite crashes. That could explain road blocks and limitations on travel all around Kalispell.” “That sounds good. Anybody see any problems? I like the satellite angle better,” the President replied as he looked around the table for any response. “What about the local authorities? Do they know what is going on? Have we seen any movement from the ship or heard any communications?” The men and women around the table all looked at each other before Leon replied, “We haven’t heard anything from the ship. The local sheriff’s department thinks there was an airplane that went down. Deputies are searching for the crash site now. Some people along the path of the space ship reported an air craft that was in trouble making strange sounds. Somebody from one of the houses went down by the ship and it looked like something came out of the ship to meet him.” Before anyone could ask any more questions, Leon’s computer beeped. All eyes in the room followed him as he typed a few key strokes on the computer. Leon quickly scanned the computer screen and then he looked up. “It looks like the man from the house has carried a ladder out to the space ship and is inspecting something on the front of it. We’ll have some photos blown up shortly and maybe we can see what he’s looking at,” Leon tersely spoke as he put the satellite photo on the big screen. “What do we know about this guy? What does he do for a living? How many houses are there around the space ship?” barked General Murphy, expressing the tension everyone in the room was feeling. Todd Fried, the White House Intelligence Czar, whined in his high nasal voice, “We haven’t identified everybody yet but it should be here any time now. We can see three houses about 150 yards east of the ship and one across the highway. There’s a barn with living quarters about 400 yards north of the ship and a small house about a quarter-mile south. So far the only movement we’ve seen is the middle house and we’ve noted two people there. It looks like a man and a woman.” The President turned his gaze to Feely Qingdao and asked, “Do the news media have any idea of what’s going on? If not, how long before they find out?” Feely glanced at Earl J Scott, the White House Regulatory Czar. He and Earl J had been working to establish controls over the news media even when there was no emergency. Right now Feely was wishing they had all their controls in place. Feely commented with his soft, clipped English accent, “We don’t know if any of the news organizations are aware of anything. They will know very shortly though if the sheriff’s deputies find the ship or the people in any of the houses call the news media.” “If they do find out, we could divert the news media’s attention somewhere else until we get the military in there and then we could control where they go and what they see,” chimed in Earl J. “We could even leak a story about the space craft having a radiation leak and we have to quarantine it,” he continued. The President looked at Dennis Mitchell, his White House Science Czar, and asked, “Do we know how the ship is propelled? Are there any actual radiation leaks? Can we safely be in and around it?” An obviously flustered Science Czar answered, “Right now we have no idea how it is propelled. We know that it came from the Mars orbit in one big hurry. We don’t have anything that will approach those speeds. We haven’t spotted any radiation leaks but those two people in the closest house will be our guinea pigs. If we spot any health problems with them, we’ll know it's not safe and we’ll have to use protection." “Dennis, who do we have who could get to that space ship and start examining it? Would they leave it there or would we have to move it?” the President queried. “The government scientists are too politically unstable to rely on. We have a private company that has the right scientists who support our agenda. I don’t know if we need to move the ship or not. I’m not sure how big it is or if it could even still fly,” Dennis reported. Leon quickly cut in, “We make the ship to be about 300 feet long and 150 feet wide. There would be no way to move it unless it could fly. We could put up a temporary building over it to keep it out of sight.” “Speaking of keeping it out of sight, do the Russians or Chinese know about this? Do any of the other world powers know?” Gary Carrion, the White House Technology Czar, inquired. Daniel Devaney, the politically appointed CIA Director, replied, “We haven’t heard any hint that anybody knows anything. I directed my people to keep a close watch for anything having to do with space. I told them there was an ultra-secret Air Force mission that would be happening in a few days and we wanted to be alert to any foreign interest.” “Getting back to this private company -- how do we know for sure it will follow our agenda?” inquired Earl Allison, the Chief of Staff. “It’s owned and controlled by ‘The Big Donor’. He hand-picked all the scientists himself and they have come through very admirably with data for global warming and making carbon dioxide a pollutant,” responded Dennis with a conspiratorial grin. “How long will it take for those scientists to pack up their equipment and get there?” inquired the President. “I would think it would only take 5 to 7 days, which should give us plenty of time to secure the area and set up quarters for them to work out of,” Dennis replied. “General, how many troops do you think we will need for this?” the President asked. The General fussed with his computer console and brought up a map of the area. He studied the map for a few minutes before he commented, “To start with, we would need a squad here at Austin Crossroad and here at Fairview Crossroad on Old Highway 2.” The General used a laser pointer to show where he meant and continued to point as he explained, “We would need a squad at each end of Old Highway 2 to divert all traffic away.” Jane Nolan, White House Homeland Security Czar, spoke up, “What about the people that live in that area? How do they get home or do we keep them out too?” The General furrowed his brow as he thought and then he spoke, “We would have to let the locals in. If we shut everything off, we would need a lot more troops, which would bring lots of media attention in a hurry. I don’t know how many houses we’re talking about in this whole area but from the satellite photos we know there aren’t many houses right around the ship.” Leon interposed, “We really need someone there on the ground. They need to check out the roads and give us an idea of how many houses are actually there.” There was a murmur of agreement around the table as the President turned to his Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, Mike Anderson, and asked, “Mike, how long would it take for you to be there on the ground?” Mike thought for a few seconds and replied, “I would need about an hour to get ready and I could get a military passenger jet out of Andrews. There would be about 4 hours of flying time. That would put me on the ground there about 7:00 or 7:30 p.m. our time. I could get a fighter ride and be there quicker but that might call more attention to the area. I think we need to keep this as quiet as possible.” There were nods and a murmur of agreement around the table. Everyone knew that Mike was the man to make things happen and no one at the table wanted to know how. He had connections that nobody really wanted to bring to light but those connections had persuaded other problems to disappear. The results were all that counted. Those connections had kept Mike from a more important office. Mike couldn’t have the Senate or news media prying into his past. He was content where he was at. The money was very good and he had a lot more power than the title described. General Murphy interjected, “I need to be there or we need someone else to be there in charge of the troops. They would have to be in the military to give orders and not raise questions. We need a comm station set up and Mike will need a car with direct communications. I could get a C5 into Andrews, get all the equipment loaded and then could follow Mike in about 12 or 15 hours. While in the air, I could contact the Kalispell Guard, the MPs from Great Falls and have Helena send 3 ‘copters. We could have most of them there by 7:00 pm tomorrow. Also I’ll get a kitchen set up on the way and arrange for food. Mr. President, we would need a special order from your office to make all of this happen. We can use the excuse of a special exercise for a satellite crashing. If word did leak, we could claim that we thought it was a Chinese or Russian satellite on the ground and we needed to secure it for study and safety. Once I get on the ground, I can determine how many more troops we’ll need from Fort Lewis and if we’ll need additional helicopters.” The President nodded and looked at his Chief of Staff saying, “Earl, make those orders happen as soon as this meeting is over. General, you and Mike be ready to head out also. Mike will be our coordinator on the ground. General, if you get everything rounded up and get under way ahead of schedule, wait in Great Falls until you hear from Mike. Now what crisis can we use to divert the media’s attention?” Nancy-Ann interjected, “Earl, do you still have contacts in the Organization of Workers and Laborers? Don’t they have a large Mexican presence?” “The OWLs? Yes, I still have several friends in the upper ranks. I think they are about 30 or 40 per cent Mexican,” replied a puzzled Earl. “Do you think the OWLs could come up with a reason to strike; and with a little help, do you think that we might have a riot break out day after tomorrow in Phoenix?” Nancy-Ann asked with a little grin. Earl’s lips curled up into a grin as he replied, “Why, yes there have been some hard feelings about that new law passed in Arizona. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much to stir the pot and have it boil over in just two days. I know a couple of gentlemen who can make that happen and they would jump at the chance because they could smell the money to be made from here.” Nancy-Ann continued her plan, “I’m supposed to visit there next week but I could move it up with the pretext of investigating a rumor about terrorists using the law to their benefit. Jane, you could be ready here with a press conference and could raise the terrorist alert level. That would pull a lot of media to both places and they would be watching us instead of what is happening in Montana.” Jane was nodding her head as she commented, “Yes, and with this much notice, I could come up with threats to justify the increased security. I’m sure I can find something to tie it to Phoenix and with the right leaks, the media will be too busy to even notice Montana.” The President nodded his head in agreement and said, “Good! Good! Dennis, can you and Admiral Holbrooke round up your scientists and get them started packing? Admiral, maybe you could arrange a military transport to help facilitate their trip. Daniel, have the CIA direct the Russian and Chinese attention to Phoenix also.” He looked at Gary Carrion, his Technology Czar, and asked, “Gary, can you round up temporary housing and labs for the scientists? They can eat at the military kitchen so they won’t be running around in town stirring up questions. Feely, you need to monitor everything very closely and be ready with press releases to keep the attention where we want it. Everybody except you, General, wait for Mike to let you know that everything is secure before you start moving in.” Leon’s computer beeped again and he studied the screen for a few seconds before he fumbled with the computer keys. He finally got the picture to come up on the screen. It was a short biography on Pete and Linda Collins. Additional pages could be seen behind their information. All eyes in the room were studying the information. Leon said, “Here is the information on the couple who are in the house closest to the space ship. Their names are Pete and Linda Collins. Linda is a homemaker. Pete is an Air Force veteran who runs his own metal fabrication shop, Montana Iron Creations, Inc. He sometimes has one or two employees but right now, has no one working for him. From their tax returns, I’d say last year wasn’t very good for them. He has been seen at some ANTS rallies and may be helping to organize them.” “What is ANTS?” interrupted Admiral Holbrooke. Leon continued, “It stands for ‘against new taxes & spending’. They are some kind of fringe group that is funded by the conservatives.” “Nut jobs, you mean,” chimed in Nancy-Ann smiling at her own joke. “Jane, I don’t see why you haven’t been arresting more of them or at least stepping on them.” “If you arrest them, you make martyrs. If you ignore them, they just fade away,” retorted Jane. “Right now, they are just a rabble group carrying signs and they aren’t doing any harm to us.” “We’re not worried about ANTS right now,” responded the President, bringing the discussion back on track. “Mike, make sure you look at Collins' house and shop to see if we can use it for the scientists. We can bring some kind of charges against them and then do a condemnation to take over the house and all the property. If they are in jail, we can control them with no problem. What about the other neighbors?” Leon studied his screen for a few seconds and then spoke, “The one to the south is an over-the-road trucker who is gone a lot. His wife works at a grocery store as a checker. Their house and garage may work for temporary housing and work space. The neighbor to the north is a plumber and his wife is a bookkeeper. They have 2 children. The neighbor to the east works in construction and his wife is a nurse. His dad lives with them. If we use the scare of a radiation leak, all of these people could be relocated with no problem. They would probably thank us for saving their lives. Maybe we could get the Red Cross to give them some help and we could make this a good PR event. What do you think, Feely?” “I’m sure with the right spin, we can make it so,” smirked Feely. “Have we missed anything? Does everyone understand what they are supposed to do?” the President asked. He was looking less tense and a murmur of voices grew as people started discussing assignments. The tension in the room had definitely abated until Dennis asked, “What about the aliens?” There was dead silence as all 14 people in the room looked at one another. The tension was instantly back and many faces around the table paled at the question. You could see the same questions on everyone’s minds: 'What did the aliens want? Were they alone or part of a larger force? Did they come in peace and if not, what weapons did they carry?' The President finally tersely spoke, “There are too many unknowns right now to answer that question. We need Mike there to check everything out and to see if we can communicate with them. After we know some more, we can make better plans. Ladies and gentlemen, go and start your assigned tasks. We’ll meet tomorrow at the same time and we can video conference to bring Mike and the General into the meeting.” There was an orderly movement towards the door. The President stood to the side and nodded at Mike and General Murphy. They slowed and moved closer to the President. No one spoke until the room had cleared and the door closed. The President glanced around and spoke in a very soft voice, “I don’t want Mitchell and Holbrooke’s scientists anywhere near that ship. I have some people at the National Academy of Science. They will be the ones to check everything out. We’ll feed bits and pieces of nominal use to the others. We’ll have to find a reason to put them up farther away and not allow access to the good stuff. The technology in that ship will be worth billions of dollars and whoever has it will be in control of the rest of the world. I want to be that person, understand?” Mike and General Murphy nodded and eyed one another. “Find a way to get control of that ship. Fly it out of there if possible. I’ll arrange a place to hide it. Use the special secure satellite phones I gave you to keep me apprised of what is happening. Use your normal secure phones to contact the others,” the President said in a clipped harsh voice. The President turned and started toward the White House living quarters. Mike and General Murphy walked away, discussing details of how to keep the President’s plans secret and to make them happen. Each man was also wondering where he would fit in this world control and if he would see any of those billions in his pocket. Xiamen watched Pete walk back to the house. As Pete disappeared in the shop, he turned and entered the elevator. His hair/feathers were gently fluttering as he worried about whether Pete could fix the holes. He was also wondering what they had to trade, if they could trade, to pay for repairs. He was pretty sure Pete wouldn’t do the repairs and let them come back later to pay him. He knew he wouldn’t accept a deal like that. Could they fly the ship with the damage they had and get to another solar system that would take the credits they had in the Alliance Central Bank? How long could they exist here if they couldn’t fly? What would they do for food? They had a good supply but it wouldn’t last forever. The elevator reached the 2nd level and Xiamen turned to his left to step into the computer/Comm room. The room was about 18 feet wide and 20 feet long. Beyond the back wall was another room 18 feet wide by 10 feet long which housed the computer, its back-ups, power supply and special environmental equipment used to keep them at a constant temperature and constant humidity. On the left wall was a giant viewing screen that divided into smaller sections with different scenes. This screen was hooked to the computer and all of the visual sensors on the outside of the ship. It also displayed different local TV stations. Below the screen was a counter-top that doubled as a long desk. It had different size drawers and places to slide a chair and feet under the counter-top. To the right there was a similar counter-top/desk with radio receivers and other communication equipment. Apapa Huyong Mombasa Cotonou, Assistant Grand Advocate, Alien Culture Expert, Navigator, Medical Administrator and the team’s expert code breaker sat on the right side of the room watching the view screens. Beside him in another chair with his back to the communication equipment were Thatera Morababad Irondecor Fahiim, Assistant Seeker of Truth and Cataloger of the Stars. He was the team’s computer expert and general handy man. He could fix some things but any serious mechanical or electrical problems were beyond his comfort zone. He knew which space ports had the best maintenance workers for each of those problems. The problem was this was not one of those space ports. As Xiamen walked into the room, the other two turned to look at him. The hair/feathers were twitching on all three heads as they prepared to discuss their predicament. Xiamen looked at his trading partners. He and Apapa were the same height and coloring but Apapa was definitely heavier and more muscular. Apapa had the Dar Es Salaam pale yellow eyes with the green iris but he had a deep purple three inch long scar over the left eye. The scar was from a trading expedition that had not gone as planned. A citizen on that planet thought it would take the goods by force rather than trade. The citizen found out that threatening Dar Es Salaam traders with force was not a good thing. It landed one cut from the dagger before it was incapacitated. Apapa could have had the scar healed but wore it untouched to remind himself to stay alert and be cautious at all times. Thatera was a good six inches shorter than either of them with the same pale yellow eyes and green irises. He was so slender he almost appeared emaciated. Looks were very deceiving though because he had great physical strength and stamina. He was the youngest of the three and would reach the full height of a Dar Es Salaam trader in a few years. “Did you see and hear?” Xiamen asked the other two. Both nodded before Thatera replied, “When I opened the inspection port to get the metal pieces for the Earthling, I found this also.” He held out a section of golden wire and smashed porcelain-like cone. The cone had a clasp on the top that had held the wire away from the inner hull. Neither piece would insulate the wire again. The hair/feathers on Xiamen’s head twitched faster and more violently as they changed colors.

How to Have a Healthy Job Search NetworkPosted: May 23, 2012 Filed under: Job Search, LinkedIn, Career Management (General) | Tags: job search, career management, networking, job search network, healthy job search network, growing your network Leave a comment » A successful job search can depend heavily on having a healthy network. However, you won’t have one until you build it, and you won’t have it for long unless you nourish or sustain it! Note: Sustain means to “strengthen or support physically or mentally,” and that’s as critical for a healthy job search network as it is for anything else you expect to be–and remain–productive for you. When I started thinking about this topic, I decided to do a quick search for ideas offered by other writers online, and I immediately found one that fitted neatly with what I was thinking. It’s called “Planting Seeds, Growing Your Network,” by Jennifer Miller. I’m sure I’ll find others if I keep looking. Build a Strong Job Search Network I should probably consider calling it a career management network, because that’s really what it is. You can’t have a healthy network if you only do something about it when you’re in the midst of a job search. It has to be an ongoing activity. So how do you build a strong job search or career management network? Be selective, for starters. Your goal probably isn’t to become a LION (LinkedIn Open Networker), not even to amass 500+ contacts in your LinkedIn network–although there’s nothing inherently wrong about reaching that number. At this stage, though, I believe it’s at least as much about quality as it is about quantity and maybe even more so. At the same time, you don’t necessarily want to restrict your networking to online resources (social media and the like). Those are just one potentially useful venue. What about offline groups or organizations you belong to or have some kind of connection with? You might participate in sports clubs, book clubs, special interest groups, charitable organizations, or any of a number of other organizations that have at least the potential to become a career management resource. Since you’re presumably already contributing in some way as a member, you have a head start on gaining positive visibility and being viewed as someone who gives rather than just takes. Sustain Your Job Search Network Jennifer Miller has some suggestions about this in her Q&A article. In response to a question about how to devote time to networking when someone is very busy, she says, “Nourishing your network need not be as time-consuming as you might think. You don’t need to make endless rounds of ‘work the room’ type meetings.” Then she mentions three things you can do to build and maintain networking momentum: - Send a congratulatory note or interesting article to a colleague. - Dash off a short “how are you doing” email to someone you haven’t heard from in a while. - Update your LinkedIn status page. Can you maintain genuine relationships with a large network over time? Possibly not. In fact, I’d say probably not. Again, it’s that quality vs. quantity issue. Some degree of personal attention is required for the relationship to benefit both parties to it. If the person on the other end doesn’t get a sense that you actually value the connection, he or she has little (if any) motivation to sustain (nourish) it. The result might be that you both lose something that could have produced mutual benefit. Be smart about who you have in your network(s) and about where and how you spend time sustaining the relationships with them. There’s nothing wrong in an element of self-interest, as long as it’s not exclusive (all-consuming). The time and energy you selectively spend can produce substantial rewards. Omit Home Address from Your Resume?Posted: May 21, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search, Resumes | Tags: geographical areas, home address, identity theft, location information, privacy, rejection by employers, resumes, screening procedures Leave a comment » not letting people know where you actually live when you’re sending your resume out into the world, presumably since all kinds of people will be seeing it and could make note of your address for purposes of their own. Personally, I think the likelihood of this happening is fairly remote, but I can’t say it would never happen. On the other hand, protection from identity theft has become a serious issue in recent years. It’s something that can cause devastating problems for you through no fault of your own. For that reason, it would seem a reasonable precaution to avoid displaying your complete home address on your resume. When an employer becomes genuinely interested in hiring you, providing the address becomes a non-issue. One possible alternative that I believe makes good sense is to list the city, state and ZIP code, without the physical street address. Another way to deal with this involves renting a mailbox that doesn’t look on the face of it like a mailbox address. Resumes: Avoiding Premature Rejection by Employers Sometimes employers set up screening procedures that look for candidates living—or not living—in certain areas. For example, they might be biased against people living in other geographical areas for fear they’ll be asked to pay for relocation or because they want someone who is well versed in the local culture and has local contacts. However, companies might have other reasons for using your resume’s lack of location information or inclusion of certain information against you. The following are some points recently shared by one of my professional colleagues, Robin Schlinger, who is located in Georgia: - If you eliminate the entire address and the client is applying for jobs in Georgia, they most likely will not be considered for the job, unless the client has really unusual, highly technical skills that are in demand. - In Atlanta, it is not good enough just to live in/close to Atlanta. Due to transportation issues, people need to live in the right ZIP codes to get an offer. - Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) check addresses or ZIP codes for proximity and will reject applications from applicants who do not fit the geographical profile. Robin recommends that the resume indicate your mailing address if you’re not interested in relocation and that you rent a mailbox at a UPS store or other mailbox store in the general ZIP code area where you are looking for a job. You can also arrange to list the local address of a friend or relative, with his/her permission, and you can get a local cell phone number. Of course, with the current portability of phone numbers, an area code is no longer quite the location give-away it once was. Be aware, however, that if you are currently working in, say, Texas and want to land a job in California, your resume is going to show a geographical discrepancy regardless of whether or not you include any location information in the contact section at the top. Cover Letters versus E-NotesPosted: May 18, 2012 Filed under: Cover Letters, Job Search, Trends--New and Changing | Tags: cover letters, e-notes, emerging trend, job search, subject line Leave a comment » old quote about “less is more” with regard to cover letters. So, hello, e-notes! Difference between a Cover Letter and an E-Note As I understand it (I’ve just started researching this), an e-note could be compared to a cover letter on a diet. It needs to fit comfortably into the body of an e-mail message, ideally short enough to be read without scrolling down. Typically, it might have 6-7 paragraphs of 2-3 lines each, sometimes only one line. The first paragraph should grab the right kind of attention, preferably with a clear reference to something the reader is likely to care about or at least a concise statement of your purpose in sending the message. You can use an e-note to reach out to your network, to contact recruiters and, presumably, to pursue opportunities directly with hiring managers. The e-note also needs a strong and clear subject line if you hope to have recipients actually read it. Cover letters have normally been a full page or close to it–maybe as few as 3 paragraphs but more likely as many as 5 or 6, with each paragraph running from possibly a couple of lines to as many as 5 lines. The cover letter might or might not contain a short bulleted list. It also might or might not have a subject line, which often would simply be the title of the position being sought (although that’s not a particularly creative approach, it is direct). We know that not everyone reads the cover letter that comes with your resume, although a good letter has still been considered important because it allows you to reinforce the impression you hope your resume is making and also lets you do some customizing. Are Cover Letters Doomed in Favor of E-Notes? While it might be premature to pronounce cover letters a thing of the past, it’s hard to ignore an emerging trend toward brevity, which has also had some impact on resumes in recent years (possibly accelerated by devices such as smart phones and tablets). That job search trend suggests an e-note might increasingly be the communication tool of choice, particularly when so many of our communications travel electronically. You can also hope that the e-note will actually get read before the recipient opens the attached resume–it might be a little harder to ignore than a separate cover letter and also more encouraging for people to read, simply because it’s short. That’s if–and it’s a big IF–you craft your e-note thoughtfully and judiciously to make every word count as much as possible. Whether you create a cover letter or an e-note to send with your resume, you still need to do your homework about the position you’re pursuing and the company that’s hiring for it. In fact, it might be even more important to do this with an e-note, since you’ll have to choose wisely to make the best use of the space available. Think of it this way: If you had to pay $5 for each word you used, would you weigh your choices carefully? I’m betting you would! Job Fit: Things You Should KnowPosted: May 14, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search | Tags: Certified Job Search Strategist, ideal company, ideal job, job fit, job opportunities, job satisfaction, job search Leave a comment » lead to failure in the job because it or the company isn’t a good fit for you, or vice-versa. A few years ago I took training to become a Certified Job Search Strategist (CJSS). The core training resource was a book called Job Search Magic, by Susan Whitcomb. I’ve used that book and its principles countless times since then to help clients focus their job search effectively. In view of the current challenging economy and changing work world, I thought it was time to revisit some of its ideas that you might not be familiar with. External “F.I.T.” and Its Relationship to Your Job Fit According to Job Search Magic, your Career “Master F.I.T.(TM)” consists of two kinds: external and internal. For the purposes of this post, I’m only going to touch on the external kind. Whitcomb presents F.I.T. as standing for Function (what you want and would like to do), Interests or Industry (where and with whom you want to do those things), and Things That Matter (values and priorities that are critical for your best performance). Looking at this concept in the light of your current job, for instance, does the job require you to spend time doing something you really dislike, such as working more with numbers than people? That probably means that a primary function of your job is not a good fit for you. If you knew that going in, maybe you assumed it wouldn’t be a big enough deal to bother you much, but now you know better. When you plan your next job search, therefore, you’ll want to keep in mind that fairly extensive people interaction is a primary goal for you, and a job that doesn’t offer it is likely to be one you won’t be happy with. A passionate interest in a particular field or industry might be the motivator you need to pursue certain job opportunities. For example, if you’ve always been a nature lover and care deeply about protecting our wildlife, you might seek a job as a park ranger or game warden. On the other hand, holding a position as a claims adjuster in the auto insurance industry might make you increasingly reluctant to show up for work! The disparity between the field or industry you’re most interested in and the one in which you work is too great for long-term satisfaction. Finally, if the job you hold or the company where you work involves violating principles that are important to you or doesn’t provide conditions you consider essential, your job fit doesn’t look encouraging. Your job satisfaction will probably decline significantly, and your performance is likely to suffer. That’s a potentially slippery slope to involuntary termination (firing) or impulsive departure (emotionally driven resignation). How to Maximize Your Job Fit Think carefully about what you want to do and what you do not want to do. Both are important. Consider what your ideal job and ideal company might look like, if you could have everything you wanted. Then prioritize your “wants.” Finally, get “real” and determine which or how much of those you can realistically shoot for in your next job, based on your strengths, experience and other key factors. That’s your starting-point to evaluate both your current position and the next one you want to target. Resume Padding: What’s the Problem?Posted: May 11, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search | Tags: background checks, employment screening, falsified qualifications, job candidate, job seekers, resume padding, resume padding problems Leave a comment » Up-front clarification: I write resumes for clients as a professional, and I’ve decided I’m uncomfortable including information that is untrue, misleading, etc. I also discourage clients from doing it if I know they’re considering such a problematic course. However, unless I have a reason to know or at least suspect that a client is being dishonest, I have to take his/her word for the truthfulness of the resume contents. All I can do is refrain from including information I know is false. That said, I have some fairly strong opinions about the subject of resume padding, which has been prominent in the news so frequently over the years–very recently, in fact. One Problem with Resume Padding First, let’s define resume padding. As I see it, that refers to lies or exaggerations (a fancy word for lies that just “stretch the truth” somewhat) the job seeker knows aren’t factually accurate but chooses to include in the resume anyway. It does not refer to things like typographic errors (typos) that don’t get caught and corrected by careful proofreading. For instance, you could inadvertently type “increased sales by 25%” when you actually increased them only 15%, because the “1″ and the “2″ are right next to each other on the keyboard. However, you should be proofreading carefully enough to catch that. On the other hand, when someone claims to have a certain university degree and knows he or she doesn’t–in some cases, didn’t even attend that university–that puts the truthfulness of the entire resume in question. What’s worse, it raises uncertainty and suspicion about resumes in general, many of which could actually be truthful. That puts an unfair burden on job seekers like you, who are trying their best to present themselves strongly to potential employers without crossing the line between truth and lies. That’s one problem with resume padding. There are others. Other Resume Padding Problems Here are just 3 more problems involved in resume padding: - Companies spend valuable time and money hiring employees who have put lies into their resumes, and the companies might have been depending on the falsified qualifications to produce value for them. Discovering the lie after the fact (after hiring) causes multiple difficulties. That’s one reason so many employers are doing background checks these days. As noted in a “resume padding” article by Emanuella Grinberg for CNN), “In a 2010 survey of 1,818 organizations, 69% reported catching a job candidate lying on his or her resume, according to employment screening service HireRight.” - The issue of violated trust raises its ugly head. People throughout an organization have put their trust in someone who has lied to them, directly or indirectly. As HireRight’s Employment Screening Benchmarking Report (mentioned in the article) states: “Even where lies may not represent a huge loss to the employer, companies report that catching a candidate in an untruth undermines confidence and credibility.” - The judgment and ethics of the individual who has perpetrated the lie are called into serious question (at least in my mind), spurring concerns about the reliability and trustworthiness of that individual in other areas of his/her work and life. If an individual can justify lying about something on the resume to get a job, who’s to say he or she wouldn’t decide that other lies are equally justified down the road somewhere? Where does the line get drawn? The Best Alternative to Resume Padding Don’t let yourself get sucked into doing it! Instead of fabrication (another fancy word for lying), focus on creating and communicating genuine value–something employers can, in a sense, take to the bank. That can produce great results and won’t keep you on edge wondering when or how you’ll get caught. Job Market Predictions–Are They Reliable?Posted: May 7, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search | Tags: career management, job market, job market predictions, job market statistics, job seeker Leave a comment » Numerous news-feeds, blogs, etc., provide information on the latest job market statistics and often include predictions about what’s coming down the road–anywhere from short-term periods to years from now. As a current or future job seeker, you should do your best to stay on top of this kind of information, as an aid to your career management activities. However, if you take everything you read as gospel, you could find yourself thoroughly confused! Job Market Predictions Not Cast in Concrete One definition of “prediction” is “forecast.” Basically, that means “to estimate or calculate in advance.” That alone tells you something about the nature of predictions. Even the best job market experts are drawing conclusions about the future based on past and present knowledge available to them. They can’t assure you that what they believe will happen will actually happen, much less that it will happen when they predict and in the way they predict. Virtually every job market prediction they make is “subject to change without notice.” Too many variables can pop up to ensure any degree of certainty. Look at what happened when the bottom fell out of the real estate market, for example. The impact hit harder and lasted much longer than predicted, leaving many people scrambling to find jobs and careers outside that field. Interpretation of Job Market Predictions Even if statistics included in the predictions are based on reasonably sound assumptions, they can still be open to multiple interpretations. That’s why you’ll often see a particular news item viewed differently by different commentators, bloggers and others. Either intentionally or through unintentional bias, an individual can provide an interpretation of the statistics that fits his or her view but contradicts the view held by other individuals. Politicians aren’t the only ones guilty of this, but they’re definitely a good example. That means you need to take different views of job market statistics with a healthy dose of skepticism. Trying to stay informed about possible outcomes or events in the job market is good; letting yourself get sucked into unquestioning acceptance of a prediction based on something no more solid than Jello is not so good. Tips for Responding to Job Market Predictions Tip #1: Consider the source. How strong are the organization’s or individual’s credentials for making job market predictions? What kind of track record has been maintained and over how many years? Tip #2: Remember that time changes everything–or almost everything. Predictions are moving targets. Even if something seems like a near-certainty now, in 5 years…a year…maybe even less, it could turn out to be anything but certain. It might not come to pass at all or maybe much later than originally predicted. Tip #3: Build a contingency factor into any decisions you make based on job market predictions, even those that come from the most reliable source you can find. As Benjamin Franklin once wrote: “…in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Entrepreneurial Skills & Your Career StrategyPosted: May 4, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search | Tags: career strategy, entrepreneurial skills, job seekers, networking, personal marketing, personal plan, professional associations, successful business Leave a comment » Whether. 6 Tips for Entrepreneurial Skills in Career Strategy In brief, Widdison lists 6 points you should keep in mind as you develop, fine-tune and periodically update your career strategy: - Financial knowledge is critical to driving successful business, and even if your job doesn’t involve financial control directly, having that knowledge can boost your standing in the organization and provide opportunities for growth. - Businesses need a written plan that gets updated regularly. If it already has one, develop a personal plan that shows how you will drive the business forward. - It’s important for entrepreneurs to tap into knowledge of experienced peers and mentors in areas where they’re not as strong, but it’s also important to do that when you’re not an entrepreneur–don’t let embarrassment hold you back from seeking advice. - Don’t get complacent. Always seek new challenges. This not only helps your company but also makes you more indispensable as an employee. - Research, research, research. Especially the region and industry you’re working in. Join trade or professional associations. Become a mentor to subordinates and trusted advisor to superiors. - Never underestimate the power of personal marketing and networking. Do them early and often, in terms of both time and money. Evaluate Your Entrepreneurial Skills and. Research that Turns Career Strategy into Action. Check Your Professional References!Posted: May 2, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search | Tags: career management, former employers, job search, previous employer, professional reference checking, professional references, prospective employers Leave a comment » The subject of references keeps cropping up, so I think it’s time to beat this drum again. If you haven’t checked recently to see what kind of shape your references are in, you might want to do it soon–for several reasons. For one thing, one or more of them might no longer give you the stellar recommendation you once expected. For another, if you haven’t been in touch in a while, one or more might have encountered personal or professional challenges that make them no longer quite such a good resource as they’ve been in the past. Why You Should Check Your Professional References First, let’s clarify one point about references that people sometimes overlook. The reason I use the phrase “professional references” is that most employers won’t waste much, if any, time, checking personal or “character” references. (I can think of only a few exceptions, such as when you’re applying for a position that requires a security clearance.) Also, when prospective employers are interested enough in you to ask for your references, they don’t necessarily limit themselves to those you provide to them. They can, and often do, contact previous employers and other sources, including people in your LinkedIn network. Now to the point about why you should check your professional references occasionally. In a recent article by Michelle Rafter, “References: Don’t Assume an Old Boss Still Loves You,” the writer noted that you should not assume things are fine without bothering to check. As she commented, “When it comes to references, don’t assume–it could come back to bite you….Don’t take for granted that a previous employer will verify your job title and employment dates and leave it at that, or that if you left under less-than-ideal circumstances your old boss will keep quiet about it….” Rafter interviewed Jeff Shane, the owner of a reference checking company, and he indicated that in 20 years or so, his company has found that around 50% of the time, they uncover some kind of negative comment. How to Check Professional References You can do some discreet calling yourself or, which might be better, ask a trusted friend to do it for you, to see if he/she can get an idea of what’s being said. Under some circumstances, you might want to hire a professional reference checking service to explore the kinds of information your selected references and former employers are providing. As I might have mentioned before, the one I’m familiar with is Allison & Taylor, but I’m sure there are many out there–just make sure they’re reputable before you pay them to do your reference checking. How Many References Should You Have? This doesn’t relate directly to checking your references, but it’s another question that often comes up. Typically, I’ve recommended having a minimum of 3 and up to 5 references; however, the article raised a point that I hadn’t considered, and it’s a good one. You might not want to provide the same references for each position you pursue. Rafter quotes Shane as stating, “Some might be able to talk more effectively to your skill set more than others. So it could be a supervisor or second-level supervisor or close associate.” That being said, you’ll probably want to identify more than 5 professional references to draw from, so you have more choice and also don’t over-work the same ones by using them every time. Test-Drive Your Dream CareerPosted: April 27, 2012 Filed under: Career Management (General), Job Search | Tags: career change, career disaster, dream career, dream career possibility, dream job, learning process, new career, test-drive your dream job Leave a comment » Whether you’re considering the possibility of retirement and starting a second career or maybe burned out in your current job and desperate to get out, you might be deterred by the potential problems involved in jumping into a new career. What if it fails miserably? For at least some people, there might be a way to test-drive that dream with minimum down-side risk. The article that caught my attention today is “Test-Driving Your Dream Job” by David Ferrell. It’s an interesting read even if you’re not considering a career change. How to Test-Drive Your Dream Career A man named Brian Kurth came up with the idea of a company called VocationVacations because “he had a hard time finding a way to explore new fields and see what he liked while still working a day job” that he was seriously burned out with. His vocational mentors provide the Reader’s Digest condensed version of career exposure in fields that cover a diverse range, including archaeologist, makeup artist, and white-water rafting guide. You don’t have to know anything about the career you’re dreaming about. You pay a fee for one to three days of up-close observation in the location where the mentor is based, plus the costs of your travel and accommodations. During that time, you’re exposed to critical elements of the career and have a chance to ground your fantasy in reality. Avoid Career Missteps with a Test Drive Not everyone will decide the dreamed-of new career is a right choice. You might be considering, as one person did, becoming a bed-and-breakfast owner. She knew it would be basically a 24×7 life and wasn’t discouraged, but if that field was your dream, you might find the demands of it more than you bargained for. Having to cater to the expectations of difficult guests could be just one of several drawbacks. In most cases, too, you might not want to leap into the new career after the relatively brief observation, although it has been done (and successfully). As the article notes, “More typically, people take well over a year or two to prepare. The brief mentorships are just one aspect of the long learning process, and clients are just as successful if they can rule out a career change that would be unwise for them.” Is an Onsite Career Test-Drive the Only Option? Kurth published a book titled Test-Drive Your Dream Job: A Step-By-Step Guide To Finding And Creating The Work You Love. The reviews on Amazon are basically positive, with one partially negative review indicating that the person found the book overly simplistic and felt it romanticized small-business ownership. In any case, you might find the book worth reading, even if it only gives you some ideas about where to start your own new-career exploration. Mind you, I think the concept of finding a way to try out a new career doesn’t have to be limited to people who want to own a business. I don’t see any reason you couldn’t come up with a plan that would allow you to check out a dream career possibility–a try-it-before-you-buy-it approach–and get a sense of whether it’s a good option for you to consider. Maybe you can find someone who does what you’re thinking about doing and persuade the individual to let you “shadow” him/her for a short time, have a heart-to-heart talk about what it takes to succeed in that field, and so on. Obviously, you couldn’t ask for a great deal of time, especially not for free, but if you’re resourceful, respectful and determined, you might achieve a workable approach that will help you avoid a “frying pan into the fire” career disaster.

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Whatever the definition used, female Sex Study Looks to Clitoris-Vagina Distance For Why Most Women Don't Climax During Vaginal Intercourse. I am conducting an on-going on-line survey regarding Sleep-Related Female Orgasms and Sex Dreams. I need responses from women of all ages, especially A cheeky documentary about the female orgasm is raising eyebrows among Qantas passengers. The SBS program The Female Orgasm "I ♥ Female Orgasm will take you from zero to O in no time flat! Reading it feels like having a slumber party with Dorian and Marshall, the cool friends who fill you The female orgasm is a series of pleasurable physical sensations and feelings which occurs following, and represents the peak in, sexual Female orgasm difficulties may be more common than you think. How sexually satisfied are you? How well do you know her and her orgasm? Men and women react very differently to orgasms and to help her out-understand the difference. 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Everything you need to know about the female orgasm, women's sexuality, better sex, achieving multiple orgasms, and techniques for foreplay, masturbation, Four categories of female orgasm: vulval orgasm, vaginal orgasm, uterine orgasm and blended orgasm. Four female hot spots: clitoris, G-spot, AFE zone Tips To Give A Female An Orgasm and How To Give A Woman An Orgasm. Believe It or Not, Its a lot Easier Than You Think, All You Need Is female orgasm sound effect Quotes and Sound Clips. Girl Orgasm Video: If Your Looking For a Class Of Women Above Them All, Watch These Beautiful Girls Orgasm For You On Video. No Porn The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution by Elisabeth Lloyd, Ph.D., a biology professor at Indiana University, shoots Eleven nulliparous women manually self-stimulated to orgasm, each on women's orgasms consistently included only a series of regular contractions. ( orgasm Achieve women's orgasm every time you make love - with the world's number one sex and relationship guide. More exciting than 'Female orgasm captured in series of brain scans'. The intrinsic functional connectivity networks of human lateral frontal Want to have the perfect orgasm? Take our orgasms masterclass and get in perfect sex-shape! Sexpert Sarah Hedley reveals all you need to The mysterious origin of the female orgasm hasn't yet been solved, but now the world's first movie of the brain during sexual climax maps Before You Get Started Some women seem to have an incredibly difficult time reaching orgasm during intercourse; that is if they are able to Ever wonder why it feels like you're losing all control the second an orgasm hits? Well, it's because you are. Find out how the region of the brain Watch The female orgasm on Redtube Home of free squirting porn videos, lesbian movies & wild & crazy clips. Also, a number of women do not know what an orgasm is. The absolute sign of There is only one kind of female orgasm: the clitoral orgasm. The reason that One woman's orgasm is mapped out on an fMRI to help us understand how the brain functions during orgasm. For the first time in history, scans of the female brain as it reacts to the sensation of an orgasm have been recorded. The shocking part?.. An examination of the evolutionary justification for the female sexual response. Anorgasmia. Definition: Anorgasmia is an inability to reach orgasm and is thought to occur in about 10% of women. Anorgasmia may be either The sexual revolution of the '70s has allowed women to claim their right to pleasure and to better know their body. However, 30 years later, the female orgasm Female Orgasm. There are various forms of female orgasm that are singled out by the sexologists. Simply based on the localization of an orgasm, there are [The duration of female orgasm]. [Article in Czech]. Kratochvíl S. Psychiatrická nemocnice, Kromĕríz. Short orgasm lasting from 3 to 15 second was for a long A typical woman's orgasm lasts much longer than that of a man. It is preceded by erection of the clitoris and moistening of the opening Making love & babies is an e-book about sex, relationships, female orgasm and conception - includes practical advice for enhancing tired relationships. BOFFINS have made the world's first film of what goes on inside a woman's brain during orgasm. To download the free app Female Orgasm Ideas by spitwebsolution, get iTunes now. Already have iTunes? Click I Have iTunes to open it now. I Have iTunes I was not entirely unimpressed with the two chapters “The 15 Minute Female Orgasm”. There are a lot of useful illustrations and he lays out a Female Orgasms. Emily Nagoski Author Emily Nagoski has a Ph.D. in Health Behavior, with a concentration in Human Sexuality from Indiana University, and a An orgasm (sexual climax) is the conclusion of the plateau phase of sexual response cycle, and may be experienced by both males and During intercourse, the female orgasm can be elusive. What frustrated woman hasn't wondered: Am I simply, um, put together differently than Cumshots · Dance/Striptease · Dildo/Toys · Facials · Female Orgasm · Fun · Hairy Girls · Handjobs · Hardcore · Labia Minora · Latinas · Lingerie · Masturbation Real Female Orgasm Video: The Most Beautiful Down To Earth Women Showing You What Real Female Orgasm Is All About! No Fake BS Durex Play O Female Orgasm Gel 15ml For most women, the key to orgasm is direct stimulation of the clitoris. Packed with nerve endings and a There actually exist theories which claim the existance of various types of female orgasms (and yes, they are luckier than men in this departement). I'm going to Studies show that ten to fifteen percent of all women who live in the United States have never had an orgasm. They also show that thirty-five percent of women Women can achieve orgasm through a number of different means and types of stimulation. Often, it's their minds that hold them back from female denial · resource. So I have created a new blog on blogger about orgasm denial, Hopefully I will be adding new captioned images which I make, along Luckily, scientists have created the first three-dimensional map of the female brain leading up to -- and during -- an orgasm. The 3D video For women, not only are they capable of different types of orgasms but these orgasms can be reason is because giving a woman orgasms during penetration While the male erotic brain has been mapped for decades, the female orgasm has remained a mystery, until now. Researchers at Rutgers As she gets closer to orgasm, her clitoris pulls back against the pubic bone and seems to disappear. A woman needs continuous stimulation in this phase to Researchers have mapped the parts of the female body that make women climax . Female orgasm can be difficult to achieve during intercourse. The male orgasm is necessary for fertilization and reproduction. The female orgasm doesn't seem to have an obvious biological purpose. It's not news that many straight men use women's orgasms as a yardstick with which to measure their own sexual prowess. Though there's a To understand the female orgasm, one must first understand female anatomy. A female orgasm is a magi. I Love Female Orgasm: An Extraordinary Orgasm Guide: Amazon.co.uk: Dorian Solot, Marshall Miller: 9781569242766: Books. Dr. Kamisaruk of Rutgers University, who is an early pioneer of neuroscieintific sex studies of the female orgasm, noted that at the moment of Leading female orgasm instruction and research, the Welcomed Consensus offers instructional female orgasm videos, online classes, sensuality courses and Understanding female orgasm gives a more satisfying love life. Sex is a mutual activity where both partners should be satisfied. Women and orgasms is one of those topics that doesn't get the serious attention it deserves. We shy away from talking about the subject, On the subject of female orgasms, it's hard to find a better guide! The authors write about things in an honest, but yet fun, manner, and it's educational without Sally certainly bewildered Harry about the vagaries of the female orgasm in that Hollywood blockbuster. But evolutionary scientists have long Buy Female Orgasm Enhancer V Cream. Sexual Enhancement for Women have better sex and clitoral stimulation. Hi, I've been looking around some sites for a while and haven't found any information on what I'm looking for and maybe that's because it's so OK, so you're in a great relationship and the sex is great too Except for the fact that there are one or two sexual positions or techniques that you just. Scientists at Rutgers University are studying the female orgasm using functional MRI (fMRI). During the experiment, women masturbate with the Real Female Orgasms: DVD Reviews - Watch women experience REAL female orgasm, female ejaculation, lesbian sex, cunnilingus, and more. Medical researchers do not often speak or write with exclamation points, but then most medical researchers don't spend much time trying to Unlike the male orgasm, which can occur mechanically whether he wants it too or not, the female orgasm is a bit more complicated and usually happens only Girls Having Real Orgasms on Camera. This Week's Female Orgasm. Warning: This Web Site contains sexually explicit adult oriented material that is intended Ian Kerner, a sexuality counselor and New York Times best-selling author, blogs about sex on Thursdays on The Chart. Read more from him on A collection of porn sites featuring female ejaculation, including XXX orgasm picture galleries, TGPs, squirting videos, erotic stories, and both free and Find out the five most satisfying secrets behind the female orgasm. Nonetheless, women whose sexual satisfaction has been derided, are the ones who are capable of multiple orgasms! A full 48% of American women report little Scientists have never had difficulty explaining the male orgasm, but what is the evolutionary purpose of the female version? After baffling biologists for decades, the female orgasm has resisted yet another attempt to explain its elusive evolutionary origins. The female sexuality forum dedicated to discussing women's orgasm techniques. As one study ponders evolutionary reasons for some women's difficulty reaching climax, another draws a map of modern romance. While orgasms provide the most profound experience of satisfaction that any human, whether male or female, can experience, many women never reach FREE Female Orgasm Sounds Mp3 Download (1678 MP3s) including female orgasm free, sound effects sex sounds female orgasim, 03 kuch na kaho female, In The Case of the Female Orgasm, Elisabeth A. Lloyd has taken a really The topic is straight-forward enough: why do women experience orgasm? The male Intivar Female Vaginal Renewal Cream: Vaginal Lubrication & Tightening, Improves Vaginal Sensitivity, Stimulates Sexual Responses and Female Orgasm. Official Home of the Female Orgasm Blueprint by Jason Julius. Orgasm Arts exclusive Female Orgasm Blueprint videos. Me and my friends went on a movie making binge and did this short in a little under 10 hours. What we ended up with was a hilarious short How to give a girl an orgasm ?Learning to make her fully enjoy lovemaking! November 2011: If we do say so ourselves, I Love Female Orgasm makes for a great holiday gift! July 2008: Greetings to readers of Conceive magazine, who There are several ways in which women can enhance their orgasms, whether they're clitoral, vaginal, or G-spot orgasms. And, as with an orgasm, ejaculation also requires the woman to “let go.” Before ejaculating, the woman will feel as though she is going to pee. However, it is How to give a woman an orgasm - advice for men - sex positions and techniques to give a woman multiple orgasms during sex. An infographic on the female orgasm. I have been holding this one in reserve, not knowing if it was appropriate, but now I figure what the hell. If female orgasm isn't biologically necessary, why does it exist? By Christopher Ryan When cruising along at 35000 feet, you have a number of difficult decisions to make: Ginger ale or soda? Bagged pretzels or $7 boxed meal? Magnetic resonance imaging video of a female volunteer's brain during orgasm at Rutger's University, NJ, shows how the whole brain flashes Satisfaction: The Art of the Female Orgasm: Amazon.co.uk: Kim Cattrall, Mark Levinson: Books. Vagina-themed cupcakes from Sweet & Nasty, an erotic pastry shop, were served at the start of the Female Orgasm seminar. The seminar filled Results 1 - 25 Female orgasm sounds - MP3 Search, Female orgasm sounds - Free Mp3 Downloads, mp3, mp3 players, songs, rap, club, dance, folk, country Make a woman orgasm with expert orgasm techniques. If you make a woman cum or your girl cum you'll have her eating out of your hand. Brain activity during a female orgasm has been described as secondary to an epileptic seizure, after researchers from Rutgers University, New Women s capacity for orgasm is awesome. 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- 1 Interspace Showdown It has been one year since the events in Gundalia, and Bakugan Interspace has grown greatly. Marucho has teamed up with a Bakugan from Gundalia, Tristar, while Shun's partner is Taylean, a Bakugan from Neathia. After winning a battle, Dan and Drago learn that there have been two groups of battlers, Team Sellon and Team Anubias who have risen to high ranks not far behind Dan. Dan has a nightmare the following night in which a mysterious entity demands that Dan give him something. Drago, who also had a vision of a bakugan during the earlier battle, speculates that the two events may be related. Unconcerned by this deadly and skilled competition, Dan challenges Ben, a member of Team Anubias to a brawl. While Dan and Drago initially struggle due to the battle environment and faced against two bakugan. They struggle and just before they are about to lose, the entity again appears to Dan (Drago sees the image of the bakugan) and tells him to release his hidden power and destroy ben and his bakugan, also giving him all the power. They ultimately pull out a win after realeasing that power. However, Drago is unable to control the power nearly destroying the arena. This leaves Dan and Drago to wonder about the dangers of this latest discovery and if they are a threat. Date de diffusion : 2011-03-05 - 2 Mechtogan Mayhem After Dan's battle with Ben, Marucho and Shun talk to Dan about having Drago sit out for a while. Dan, however, shrugs it off and says he'll get Drago's powers under control, but secretly, he's extremely nervous about the amount of power Drago unleashed, and the two of them decide to go train to get it under control. Meanwhile, Marucho decides to have a battle to make up for Dan having to sit out, so he fights against Jack of Team Anubias. He and Tristar struggle to win against Jack and his Guardian Bakugan, Aquos Krakenoid. Meanwhile, Dan and Drago locate an abandoned arena to use as a training ground, but shortly after, a mysterious Mechtogan that calls himself Zenthon appears and wreaks havoc on the arena. Dan and Drago try to defeat it, but it eventually flies away and reappears to interfere with Marucho and Jack's battle and devastating the arena. Anubias and Sellon team up to fight Zenthon but struggle to defeat it, not even managing to land a hit. Eventually, however, Zenthon flies off and Anubias and Sellon part ways. Marucho and Shun then speculate that, since Zenthon has the same destructive power as Drago, they may be connected. Meanwhile, the masked man, whose named is officially revealed to be Mag Mel, is trying to break free of his prison, but requires more energy from Dan and Drago to do so. One of his hooded servants (who looks a lot like Sellon) informs him of the Mechtogan attack. He is astounded that Drago has that sort of power and tries to absorb more energy from his Darkas Dragonoid (or possibly Dragon and Dan) and begins to break free. Date de diffusion : 2011-03-12 - 3 Disconnect After Dan refuses to sign a few autographs and say hello to his fans, Anubias challenges the "big shot" to a brawl and Dan accepts the challenge. Both win one round because Drago tries too hard to control his powers and didn't focus on the battle. Dan is afraid of another power overload, so he tells Drago to run and not to fight. Anubias uses the opportunity to strike Drago and wins the brawl. Upset by the loss, Noah, one of Dan's biggest fans who had stood up for him earlier, becomes one of Anubias' fans. After the brawl Anubias tells Dan that he is disappointed that Dan brawled like an amateur, but still saying that he has respect for him. - 4 Fall From Grace Shun and Marucho find Dan and Drago training secretly and they discover that the Mechtogan Zenthon originally came from Drago. The next day Sellon and Dan have a match, but Shun and Kris from Sellon's team battle alongside making it a tag-team battle. Drago has a lot of difficulties controlling his powers and almost releases Zenthon, but Shun prevents this from happening by syphoning off Drago's excess power. Dan and Shun manage to pull out a win, but Sellon throws the battle and wins over the audience. Shun confronts her as to why she let them win to which Sellon offers Shun to join her team which he declines. - 5 Tri-Twister Take Down Tension between the Brawlers rises when Shun suggests that Dan take a break from battling as to avoid another of Drago's power overloads. However, Dan interprets this as Shun not trusting him and they have a fight. Shun is later confronted by Sellon, who still wants him on her team, and suggests that he give Dan some tough love. Later, the Brawlers are challenged by two boys calling themselves the Tri-Twisters. Shun and Marucho decide to take it themselves without telling Dan but have. - 6 Agony of Defeat Dan still refuses to listen to Shun and Marucho. Shun and Marucho tell Dan that they still think he should not fight, but will support him anyway. Dan thanks them and promises to reveal everything after the battle. During the fight, a vision of Mag Mel and Razenoid appear and Dan and Drago think they are fighting them instead of Anubias, causing them to lay waste to the field and endanger the crowd. To make matters worse, Zenthon reappears and everyone learns that Drago created him. Once Zenthon leaves, Dan and Drago's vision are returned to normal. The battle is declared over and Dan is disqualified for illegally using Zenthon (even though it was unintentional) and Anubias is crowned number one of Bakugan Interspace. Unable to face his fans who have turned against him, let alone his friends, Dan packs up his things and leaves. Date de diffusion : 2011-04-09 - greatly strengthens and amplifies a Bakugan's abilities to innumerable uncontrollable power levels. fallen right into her trap. The episode ends with Dan and Drago suddenly arriving at New Vestroia. Date de diffusion : 2011-04-09 - 8 Return to New Vestroia Dan and Drago arrive in New Vestroia to train in an attempt to control his new powers. In Drago's secret training area, Dan and Drago find Aquos Amazon, Preyas' student, and Preyas himself. Amazon, having heard all about Drago from Preyas, wishes to battle with Drago. However, Dan and Drago are unsure as they may lose control again. Dan determines that each time Drago has lost control it has been in Bakugan Interspace, a virtual world, and the result may be different in the real world. While Drago and Amazon begin battling, Mag Mel and Razenoid begin feelings Drago's immense power, deducing that he is battling in the real world. During the battle, Dan and Drago suddenly have another vision of Mag Mel and Razenoid and they pass out. Preyas and Amazon leave while Dan and Drago rest. Back in Bakugan Interspace, Shun is dominating the battle field and defeating opponent after opponent. Marucho is impressed but thinks that Shun should take it easy. Shun, however, brushes him off and declares that as the new leader of the Brawlers, its up to him to get the Brawlers back on top but Marucho wonders whether as a member of the Brawlers, he should have a say. Back on New Vestroia, Dan and Drago are worried that their visions have carried into the real world, while Mag Mel and Razenoid have found them in New Vestroia. - 9 Chaos Control Mag Mel sends Anubias to New Vestroia to battle Dan and Drago and harness their power. Drago, however, wishes to train on his own and away from Dan. Just as Anubias arrives, he attacks Preyas and Drago with Dan and Amazon making their way to Drago. Preyas steps in to defend Drago, but Anubias summons his own Mechtogan. Preyas proves to be no match for the Mechtogan, putting Drago into a rage and causing him to summon Zenthon. Drago loses control of his powers and lays waste to the battlefield, but Dan manages to snap him out of it. Zenthon attacks Drago and Drago determines that they will have to tame Zenthon in order to control it, which they manage. However, Anubias continues to attack Drago, but Zenthon stops them and Dan and Drago defeat Anubias, causing him to flee. Preyas and Amazon vow to help Drago control his new powers. - 10 A Royale Pain Shun has been battling far more frequently since taking the position of leader of the Brawlers, and it's starting to take it's toll on him. However, he shows no signs of backing down when he enters a battle royale. Things get tough when up against Robin from Team Anubias and Soon from Team Sellon when Taylean suddenly spawns a Mechtogan, Silent Strike. Shun tries his best to defeat it and is rescued by Rafe and Paige. After Silent Strike flees, Rafe and Paige reveal that they are a Neathian and Gundalian, respectively. They have learned that the Mechtogans are the offspring of chaos when there is a lack of sync between a brawler and their Bakugan and Princess Fabia has sent them to help the Brawlers. Shun, however, refuses the help and leaves while Marucho's father asks him to quit the Brawlers. - 11 Back in Sync Drago continues to struggle gaining control of Zenthon and worries that it is because he and Dan are out of sync so they continue training on New Vestroia. Paige and Rafe worry that the Brawlers are slipping and Marucho thinks about his father's offer to quit the Brawlers and fix Bakugan Interspace properly. Wavern suddenly reappears and speaks to Dan and Drago and tells them that they must reconnect with everyone, namely their fractured relationship with the Brawlers. Marucho takes his father's advice and quits battling and work in his family's company with his father, but Tristar convinces him otherwise. Marucho fights Jack of Team Anubias and wins, thanking Tristar for reminding him that friends stick together no matter how far apart they are. Marucho's father and Kato witness the battle and express their pride in Marucho. Dan and Drago finally get back in sync and Wavern encourages them to find out the truth behind their visions. - 12 Mind Search Wavern assists Drago and Dan in ridding them of their nightmarish visions while Bakugan Interspace holds a Capture the Flag style battle. Marucho attempts to dissuade Rafe and Paige in joining, but they declare that they have no reason to avoid battle. As expected, Shun joins the fight to try and control the chaos. Rafe and Paige struggle against Team Anubias, but Marucho arrives to assist them and Team Anubias is eventually defeated. Meanwhile, a weary Shun and Taylean encounter Team Sellon. Marucho and Trister arrive at the flag but Sellon intercepts them and defeats Marucho. Paige and Rafe arrive just as Sellon summons her Mechtogan, Braxion. Rafe and Wolfurio distract the Mechtogan allowing Paige and Boulderon to take the flag and win, all according Marucho's plan. Shun arrives and sees the success of Marucho's plan and believes that his solution may have been wrong. Dan and Drago see Mag Mel and Razenoid again, following which Dan realizes Code Eve is involved. - 13 Re-Connection Shun refuses to listen to Marucho's reasoning so Marucho enters a tournament to battle Shun. Meanwhile Wavern suggests to Dan and Drago to go back to the memories to when they first met Code Eve and how Dan and Drago received their powers. After doing this Dan and Drago realize an important clue they missed when Code Eve gave them their powers. Back in Interspace, it's a fierce battle between Marucho and Shun but Shun wins. However, Shun has taken Marucho's words to heart and realized the error of his ways. He and Marucho patch things up and promise to work together now. At the end of the epsiode Mag Mel tells Anubias and Sellon on why Dan and Drago can't control their powers and assigns Sellon to travel to New Vestroia and capture Dan and Drago by any means necessary. - 14 Triple Threat The Brawlers, now back together, are dominating as a group and face Team Anubias in the next round. Sellon arrives on New Vestroia and fights Dan and Drago. Although they put up a good fight, Drago is forced to summon Zenthon, who now fully obeys Drago without question. Things take a turn for the worse when Sellon suddenly summons three Mechtogan at once! Dan, Drago and Zenthon combine their power and end up summoning a Mechtogan Titan, which easily wipes out Sellon's Mechtogan. Sellon tells them they can keep their gate and key and that the end of the world is still coming before leaving. Back in Interspace, Chaos Bakugan are suddenly released and are destroying Interspace, interrupting the battle between the Brawlers and Anubias. - 15 Interspace Under Siege With Bakugan Interspace under heavy attack from Chaos Bakugan, the Brawlers quickly jump into action. Anubias gives his team all his Bakugan before meeting up with Sellon to observe. The Brawlers make a plan to lure all the Chaos Bakugan into a single area and then delete it, despite the massive damage it could cause to the system. The plan is successful, but Marucho is halted by a lingering Team Anubias. All of a sudden, a mystery figure enters and when the dust parts, it is none other than Spectra! Spectra easily wipes out all the Chaos Bakugan with Darkus Infinity Helios when all of a sudden Team Anubias and Team Sellon's Bakugan attack them, followed by another wave of Chaos Bakugan. Dan suddenly arrives, having felt the distress in New Vestroia, with Drago to help. - 16 A Hero Returns Dan arrives back in Interspace much to everyone's shock and attempts to use Zenthon to shows the others that he and Drago are finally in control of their powers. While at first Drago and Zenthon are battling well, the latter is suddenly no longer under Dan's control and Mag Mel receives a massive flux of power. Anubias and Sellon retreat as the Brawlers leave the section of the Interspace which is then deleted by Marucho. Before departing, Spectra informs Dan that he has changed greatly and that the Brawlers aren't the team they used to be. The rest of the Brawlers mercilessly pile on Dan for leaving them to fend for themselves. Suddenly, Mag Mel and Razenoid break free and Mag Mel assembles a massive force of Bakugan. Later that night after being frustrated by his friends' hurtful words, Dan sees a vision of Gundalia being attacked by Chaos Bakugan! Marucho, Shun, Rafe and Paige prepare to head out to help Gundalia with the intention of leaving Dan behind due to the danger he represents. However, Dan insists on coming stating that he is the original Battle Brawler and will not be cut out off this fight. - 17 Gundalia Under Fire The Brawlers arrive on Gundalia and hook up with their old friend Ren, who has now risen through the ranks of the Gundalian Army. Fabia, now the Queen of Neathia, is preparing to send reinforcements. Dan has a vision of Mag Mel's troop movements and the Brawlers set up a trap. The Chaos Bakugan arrive and Rafe gives Dan Bakunano as the Brawlers begin to attack. Mag Mel and Razenoid arrive and Mag Mel reveals that while Dan has had vision of Mag Mel, Mag Mel has in turn been having visions about Dan. Dan and Drago summon Zenthon while Mag Mel counters with summoning his own. The power is too great and Dan loses. Mag Mel and the Chaos Bakugan retreat as the Castle Knights arrive and the Brawlers begin to look at Dan's link to Mag Mel as a liability to their security. - 18 Battle Lines As the Brawlers mount another attack on the Chaos Bakugan, Dan is forced to sit the battle out due to the compromise of his psychic link with Mag Mel. Dan receives another vision and realizes that Mag Mel are only after him and Drago, so they set out to confront him. On the way, they are intercepted by Shun and Taylean, who try to stop Dan from proceeding. Suddenly, Anubias and Sellon arrive and attack with their Mechtogan. Shun is taken out and Dan fights back with the help of Zenthon and Zenthon Titan and Marucho suddenly appears to help. Though they win, Marucho berates Dan for disobeying his orders. Ren reports that Paige and Rafe are missing and have likely gone after Mag Mel. Dan, Shun and Marucho go after them but fall into a chasm. - 19 Unlocking the Gate Dan heads off to fight Mag Mel, one on one and learn more about this Gate and Key he keeps talking about. When he reaches the inner chambers of Mag Mel's fortress, Mag Mel reveals that the Gate and Key is a mutated version of the Switch Code that Code Eve gave to Dan and Drago. Anubias and Sellon appear as Mag Mel summons several Mechtogan. The other Brawlers arrive but prove to be no match for the Mechtogan. So, Dan and Drago share their powers with the others, allowing them to summon their own Mechtogan. Spectra also arrives on the Vestal Destroyer and the Chaos Bakugan and Mag Mel are defeated. Dan realizes his mistakes with his friends and once again become the leader of the battle brawlers. Despite their victory Razenoid was able to collect the Gate, meaning that Mag Mel only needs the Key from Dan to achieve his goal. - 20 True Colours. Anubias and Sellon appear and reveal themselves, in their true forms as well as the fact that they were created by Mag Mel. This was a surprise of their teammates and the Brawlers. Rafe and Paige successfully take the other battlers to a safe spot and return to help Dan, Shun and Marucho. With Sellon and Anubias defeated, they return to the access point, only to discover that it has been damaged! Shun blames himself for causing it when all of a sudden, a rainfall not programmed into the system began to fall. - 21 Dangerous Beauty The Brawlers are trapped inside Bakugan Interspace and to make matters worse, Chris and Soon arrive with an injured Sellon, sure that she has changed her ways. Dan agrees to trust her, but Shun was suspicious thinking it was a trick. While the Brawlers fend off an attack, Sellon asks Dan to see her personally and when he did she attacked him and Drago and stole his Key. Shun arrives and chases her but is stopped by Chris and Soon's Bakugan, unaware that Sellon is still evil, allowing Sellon to escape. Sellon gives Mag Mel the Key, but he disintegrates and absorbed her declaring that her will to live would be better served as fuel for his Resurrection. The episode ends with Anubias jumping off a building preparing to battle Dan. - 22 Unfinished Business Anubias kidnaps Noah in order to get Dan to battle him in one last showdown. After being informed of this Dan arrives for the battle and Noah (freed after serving his purpose) and Shun observe the battle. Anubias tries many ways to gain the upperhand including using three Bakugan at once and later combining two of his own through mutation. He briefly gains an advantage due to the mutations but Dan regains control after summing Zenthon. As the battle reaches its climax, Mag Mel appears and takes Anubias' power, disintegrating him in the process. As Dan and Noah mourn Anubias' loss, Mag Mel is now much stronger and more powerful than ever.

Wiki Index Latest Activity edited a wiki page Quotes (Please Add More) 16 months ago 16 months ago edited a wiki page Quotes (Please Add More) 21 months ago 21 months ago edited a wiki page Tempus QUOTES (Please Add More Below!) 21 months ago 21 months ago edited a wiki page Tempus QUOTES 21 months ago 21 months ago created a new wiki page Tempus QUOTES 21 months ago 21 months ago Quotes (Please Add More) Quotes (Please Add More) tempus-quotes 1/12/11 [nexus inc] Sonicsmash clan-says, 'naps are the best, until you find out you forcerented.' Sekka gossips, 'YOUR FACE ISN'T EARTH!' Azimuth gossips, 'good thing too, or there'd be a volcano eruption every time I popped a zit' 4/14/10 Brywing projects, 'really phy was the best I think' Mercury projects, 'My gen 12 psio is /cler :' Azkajamalad projects, 'dudes settle it with a psi-off' 3/22/10 [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'well that was weird' [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'i'm standing in the reception area' [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'and watching the two mobs talk to each other' [paragon] Piro clan-says, 'heh' [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'and a pigeon walks in' [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'and attacks me' [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'from the hallways' [paragon] Sekka clan-says, 'haha' [paragon] Sekka clan-says, 'served' [paragon] Aiel clan-says, 'i'm being hunted by pigeons' 3/14/10 Glint projects, 'damn you azkajamalad, your title is making my trigger go off :P' Azkajamalad projects, 'mission: accomplished' 3/2/10 Red newbies, 'get that tawny tiger!' Red newbies, 'get that rabid ape!' Temperance newbies, 'get that pirate! get that shark!' Senta newbies, 'Are yall making a workout video or something? :o' Wish imms: 'hey means 'hi' in swedish' Trust imms: 'or food in cow' 2/18/10 Tiax imms: you have any coding standards outside of me mimicin'g code already there? Trust imms: make it 3 laws safe? 2/5/10 Moghedian projects, 'you're such a lysolchip =(' Kevfire projects, '*delete self*' Mystery says in orcish, 'sexually abused Tiax' Tiax shrugs helplessly. Tiax says in deadite, 'if by sexually abused you mean that I'm not getting any sex and that is abuse, then yes' Unknown date Squirrel tells you, 'let's just say i thought i was on squirrel' Squirrel tells you, 'but i wasn't' Squirrel tells you, 'and ended up remorting the wrong char' Squirrel tells you, 'and i ended up being gen 10 mage psi :p' Skullcrusher projects, 'azi whats up!!! ' Seta projects, 'viagra' Wisteria projects, 'when miscreation gets really really drunk he talks in a high pitched voice with a french accent and calls himself michelle ' Natas projects, 'hmm is it me or is this cell phone getting crappy reception in the land of the dead?' Golgoth spews, 'I once econverted my container with my spare eq in it...' Temptation projects, 'i want to know who taught my kid that picking her nose is funny' Adema says, 'ha, afk my left pinky toe' Wisteria says, 'welcome to bc, where we can't afford to eat at denney's' Darth gossips, 'CPU, looking down from my vast age of 46, or 47, watever I said arlier, you are still small dear' Wisteria projects, '*whine* i forget how to get to my house' Dezerado newbies, 'i just seen a horned Devil O.O' Swallow newbies, 'wooo irl ?' Boored newbies, 'anyone know where a good place is to put a mr stud?' Callisto projects, 'oooo... greg needs to get on i need a recipe for jello shots' Wisteria spews, 'man, you gotta hate having the living room wall try to tackle you' Darth spews, 'nice name for your boyfriend' Darth imms: what do you mean my deformed, albino cockerspanial with an overbite and no top teeth cant be shown? Thou hollers, '135 more vapor rats till lvl 42' A leper gets leper in a can. A leper screams in terror! A leper panics, and attempts to flee! A leper flees westward. You project, 'Anyone know when Miscreation was/is leaving for vacation?' Temptation projects, 'Tonight is his last night on her' You project, 'I'm sure Wisteria will thank you for sharing that with us, Temptation.' A cute little bunny rabbit says, 'fucking quit messing with my ***** greg'' DarkeSoul gossips, 'anyone got a trojan i can borrow a minute?' LJHalfbreed gossips, 'Oh, and you can't cast or attack if the mob eats your head... Swear... happens to me all the time. :(' Adema says, 'i was emoting at gamma trans mina' Adema says, 'but i didnt put emote' Aiel newbies, 'Any newbies want some almost-decent eq, there's some in chamber of relics' [ 1 Mage ] Trickaeh the Apprentice of Magic [ 1 Barb ] Trickeee the Uncouth [ 1 Mage ] Trickae the Apprentice of Magic [ 1 Barb ] Trickhey the Uncouth [ 1 Thie] Trickah the Pilferess [ 1 Mage ] Trickahy the Apprentice of Magic [ 1 Borg ] Trickay [ 1 Monk] Trickeh the Utter Novice [!WANTED ] (nowho) Tricky the Unwanted trendoid goggle thingy /q/u/a/k/e/r/ Tricky declares, 'tehre can be onleh eon!!! Trickay newbies, 'Trick-ay!' Trickeh newbies, 'Trick-eh!' Trickeh newbies, 'There can be only 3!' Tricky newbies, '!!' Trickay newbies, '3 we are.' Trickah newbies, 'There can be. 5?' Trickeh newbies, 'feel...the POooOOWWeeeeeRRRRrrR' Trickah newbies, 'we shall overcome!' Trickhey newbies, 'there can beh onleh 7' Trickhey newbies, 'or 8.' Melar projects, 'dont try and gen one of those big 3 feet pixi sticks up your nose in one wife' Merriam projects, 'wait.. so you're telling me my nose ISN'T big enough to hold a 3 foot long tube of sugar?' Melar projects, 'no, im saying i cant breath in that much air :p' Trouble imms: no need to if you go to it. i don't don't want to, don't Today projects, 'omg i almost died' Today projects, 'irl' Today projects, 'i was putting on my pants on the way down my staircase and i tripped' Enygma hollers, 'yo phrae, ya still got my whip :D' Kirian projects, 'was i the only one who saw the little blue man.....' Wolfe says, 'i think ill go to the bathroom now before i pee my pants :P' Synapse gossips, 'trytan wanna go hack some gold off the hall?' Trytan gossips, 'you feel free' Trytan gossips, 'I so you get toasted last time' Trytan gossips, 'saw too' Cedric says, 'ok ok if i see one MORE aznx name yer all smoked' [ AzNxTroubleWarrior advanced to level 1 in room 200 ] AzNxTroubleWarrior newbies, '!!!!!!!!!!!!!' Raechen projects, 'may I speak with an imm?' Raechen projects, 'someone messed with my sex and I dont' like it' You project, 'you don't like being a boy?' DolzaII projects, 'sounds like user error :/' Raechen projects, 'this char was created as a girl' Raechen projects, 'I play her like a girl' Raechen projects, 'and she should be a girl damnit!' Trouble says, 'my usenet client says "Finished retrieving bodies"' Trouble says, 'wtf was it doing while i wasn't looking?!' Frost gossips, 'hah, I still got it, I just talked some girl on a chatbox to sleep :)' Today projects, 'do you know any other lefteyes?' Storm imms: My roommate's a halfling Frost projects, 'merriam is bad for my link, I see his name and start lagging like hell.' Fang projects, 'whats command to use redeem?' Seymoure newbies, 'that halfling woman is a man!' Rach projects, 'I lost my life when mud started, can I be reimbursed =P' Tidus projects, 'Where might I be able to procure an item to stick up my buttocks? I've always seen em around, but never know where they come from.' Merriam projects, 'Anyone seen Frost?' Hugh projects, 'it's april in michigan, we still get it sometimes, ya' Storm clan-says, 'One of my roommates last year accidentally recorded himself and his girlfriend doing it.' Alicia hollers, 'w00t w00t WHO WANTS A SHEEP????' Trouble projects, 'he wouldn't sell me shin guards' Trouble projects, 'my shins have needs too ya know!' Rach projects, 'I'll give your shins some lovin =P' Callisto projects, 'yes we must protect trouble's shins dangit!' Pyxl imms: I load up a generic god jacket... rename it to some spikey quills... try and wear it... Pyxl imms: You RAM some spikey quills up your ass!!! Pyxl imms: F'ing ow! Shank projects, 'say it to my butt!' Darmok imms: how does sex work? Forsis spews, 'if i had a third foot, i would give my heel to you arguna ' Gratch gossips, 'any brothels in modrian?' Kaos spews, 'CRAP! i got eaten by a shark!' Spacey projects, 'eveil pysxol' Cronos hollers, 'I didnt know Wyoming was a state.. *boggle*' Scarecrow gossips, 'hey, forget, could you heal me?' Miscreation projects, 'i rarely shower in less than 20min, but i rarely shower without a naked girl along either' Insight projects, 'haha, that adds a lot of time to it misc' Insight projects, 'gotta make sure she's clean' Insight projects, 'and yourself' Insight projects, 'and her again' Miscreation projects, 'you dont want her walkin around with dirty breasts.' Insight projects, 'actually, I only shave about once every 3 or 4 months' Insight projects, 'bought the same pack of razors in high school' Insight projects, 'and in about 3 years, I'll hafta buy another pack :(' [ Darmok has renamed Generic God Wings 'some bloody scars from Pyxl's bullwhip'. ] Timeless projects, 'The cityguard throws the smashed corpse of Erik the Clothier into a cell and slams the door!' Alingade spews, 'he killed mary because she wouldn't mary him' Eminem hollers, 'my grandmama can do the abyss faster than that boy! why you keepin me waiting so long?' Hugh projects, 'i like some stinky goat cheese actually' Squirrel says, 'back to that corpse!' Melar projects, 'o yea, well atleas i only have to wear one goggle when i go swimming in MY POOL' Swallow gossips, 'arial is a bird licker !' Tidus newbies, 'Feeling like you JUST don't have ENOUGH hp? need a boost?' Hugh projects, 'i just watched princess monanoke' Aerie projects, 'woo child wood memories !' Aerie projects, 'childhood rather' Failure projects, 'has anyone heard of a diabolical underwater plot of any kind?' Cedric imms: send me your email requestds and i will stick almost anything up my ????? Boghos hollers, 'AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGH IM FALLING DOWN A FRIGGIN CLIFF AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA' Phaeton hollers, 'um, recall' Boghos hollers, 'o yea, thx' Ashe projects, 'I don't wanna see Ashe's tiny penis on the game, that's all' Ashe projects, ' Ashe's tiny penis' LaSenza gossips, 'i have that! dont say stuff you have no idea about!' Melar gossips, 'then i couldnt say anything on tempus' Jakezor projects, 'man, i am 1 health point away from having 1337 hp :P' DarkCloud hollers, 'how do i get a bone skeleton to like me :)' Hugh projects, 'if you studied people who were afraid of the number 13, would you be a triskaidekaphibicologist?' Trouble projects, 'tip: you make better friends when you don't greet them with sharp things in the back!!' Utter projects, 'yeah but people get decapitated and still live nowadays' Wednesday says, 'can i use your hole, maz? Benevolence newbies, 'can i handle level 7 hell im level 38' Wednesday projects, 'they need to make a mrs. stud for all those 'with boobies' types out there who don't want to look under their skirts and freak out every time they go to use the restroom.' Viscous tells the group, 'trinity and Me went at it naked verse naked last night..' Viscous tells the group, 'that sounded gross' Darth imms: oral fixation for elongated edibles? Storm gossips, 'yeah, cause having a big metal dong makes you SO much more attractive to the ladies....' Wednesday projects, 'i'm not immortal, but i'm built like one. where you wanna meet?' Wednesday projects, 'i was referring to my immortal lovin' skills. see. i'm a lover, not a fighter. i'm a monk. i've used my skills to practice the art of sensual massage, not combo attacks.' [ Azimuth died by magic missile in room #1204 (The Immortal Board Room} - Sep 06 08:40:56 ] Fire clan-says, 'thank you for that update, captain underwear.' Fire projects, 'if you're a bear thats okay, they have laser surgery for that now.' Tatanka says, 'makes me wanna give birth :p' Ohana projects, 'whatever, I'm a man's man but I do think women aren't all that hard to understand' Fire says, 'its prolly gonna hurt in the morning from biting it so damn much :P' Temmage auctions, 'wtb fine lockpicks' Java says, 'i like cows.' Tatanka says, 'i was an ass to merriam' Nookta newbies, 'Are speed pills habit forming?' [ IMMORT] Storm the recruit (online) - The Women's Bathroom Seung hollers, 'does anybody know how to hobgoblin from holy sqaure' Bakegara newbies, 'I locked myself in the hobgoblin treasury by being in it when the zone repopped :(:)' Wolfsbane projects, 'maybe not but i s*ck' DaGunner newbies, 'I have a helm of jade, how do I put it on?' DaGunner says, 'I didn't think the goat would be that tough' Broken projects, 'ooh, I want Brightblade! ' [49- Barb] Internal - remember kids, eating in the MUD doesn't replace real food )HoocH( (i49) Broken (disguised as the mage) projects, '<-- forks for the government.' Tanin projects, 'Oh oh, check this out' Tanin projects, 'I'm not just going to 1 party tonight' Tanin projects, 'I'm hitting TWO!' Tanin projects, 'Yeah, thats righ, two parties' Tanin projects, 'I'm not a loser anymore' Merriam projects, 'jaw of my ass' Tatanka projects, 'what you can't spank yourself?' Troulbeisdumb newbies, 'like my name, Trouble?' Someone newbies, 'swallow' [49 Rang] Merriam Hi, I'm Graz'zt; allow me to introduce you to the menu. -+pandora+- Ohana projects, 'okay, so I got my hands all over skeeter' Bishopx projects, 'Isamashi says, 'why am i licking my leg hair?'' Isamashi newbies, 'just cause i am playing MUD friday night rather than out on a date or something.. does not mean anything ok....' Darth projects, 'Darth's mood has been flushed down the tolit thou, please reapply for amusment value later' Darth clan-says, 'go back to your satanic demon summoning dribble' Internal projects, 'who gave me the port-a-hole?' Merriam spews, 'Like when girls to get together, I bet there is another frequency, that nobody can hear, that is tuned to boobies' Digitalis spews , 'merriams head is like a big breast!' Spacey spews, 'does merriam have a nipple on his head too?' Trouble spews, 'most people call it a nose' Dracken auctions, 'God doesn't lag, he's got the highest bandwidth in the universe!' Broken newbies, 'Veda had a good idea' Platinum projects, 'yummmm sloopy seconds' Selim hollers, 'If anyone wants to know where Aretha Franklin is, she's in the northern fields of Istan' Elminster gossips, 'Dogma = Imm?' Merriam projects, 'How come mobs tend to congregate sometimes?' Hubris projects, 'group sex' Tricky imms: . o O ( ALL YOUR ARMAGEDDON THINGY ARE BELONG TO ME!!! ) Storm eats SuperDork Underoos. [-- Cler] Timeless the Monk .-=~YaKuZa~=-.(invis) Rockorony hollers, 'could someone lead me to a good alignment organization' Storm clan-says, 'Yuck! My dog just threw up tinfoil all over the place!' Wolfe imms: trouble covered my head with ***** :( Darth projects, 'I don't like that you summon demons with your music' Merriam projects, 'so dont eat it and put it back behind the bed' A cute little bunny hollers, 'Hail to the king, baby!' Kalan projects, 'no - we dont celebrate victoria day' Kalan projects, 'what is it anyways?' Kalan projects, 'victoria show off her secrets?' Tanin projects, 'whoa' Tanin projects, 'i'm still on' Tanin projects, 'thats insane' Azrael projects, 'any fiberglass craftsman out there?' Sitorion hollers, 'ok now everything down here is after me!' Meadorian hollers , 'I hope they kill you' SteelRain newbies, 'why does it say that i am to heavy to cast anything with those equipments?' Broken projects, 'Merriam' Merriam projects, 'Yes sir?' Broken projects, 'wtf is 84e of hS?' Merriam projects, 'Not me, get a new psilocate.' Tanin projects, 'It's really weird when you have dreams about characters on tempus' Tanin projects, 'Like when the biggest pker on the mud is after you, thats scary' Tanin projects, 'Merriam is a little girl who doesn't wear a loincloth!' Storm newbies , 'Sometimes you don't have to feed your pet, he'll eat corpses.' [49- Rang] (nowho) Zalasta the transgender bowling ball! (The Family) (i40) Storm projects, 'Calli told me how to spell the police station' Storm projects, 'and how to ask for spare change' Trouble projects, 'i poop on the original!' Cash projects, 'project' Aconite projects, 'oh pish posh' Elreck gossips, 'corinth wears gramma undies' Corinth says, 'something something.. daewaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' Corinth projects, 'at least you don't always get treated like a corpse' [ Elysium died by gouged his own eyes out at The Outer Corridor ( 40009 ) ] Deathwing projects, 'what kinda of mobs would you need to use sav_breath on? just dragons?' Skeeter projects, 'me in the morning' Erekose projects, 'take yer balls outta yer purse, and drive dammit' Trouble projects, 'and no you cannot see a picture of my syster!' Erekose projects, 'oh COME ON' Erekose projects, 'you got em, share em' Erekose projects, 'quit being greedy, she hasta hit the real world some time :(' Erekose projects, 'and baby, I AM the real world' Trouble projects, 'you typo enough on here :P' Deathwing projects, 'dont mean i dont typo else where...' Joshua projects, 'you get sorta a weird ego when you sell stuff too.. wigs me out' Augustine projects, 'I hate it when guys pretend to be girls' Fenster gossips, 'well while you are in the dt... get my dress ;)' CanII gossips, 'how do i set my sandy?' Rakoon kisses a picture of his girl friend CanII gossips, 'so can sumone cum with me?' [-- ----] Gomez - The Toothpick-backed death guppie (afk) Typhon projects, 'And I'm your septic guy.' Typhon projects, 'I call septic tank' Trouble imms: apparently newbie eq is ***** Tricky imms: i thought i saw it lookin at my ass earlier Tricky imms: fuckin newbie eq Chloride spews, 'this fucked up computer has the RAM of a piece of sandstone!' Therion projects, 'Did you know...' Therion projects, 'that if you play 'Jaws' backward, you'll get a movie about a shark that regurgitates so many people that they have to open up a new beach?' Forget imms: no crashes today.... Forget imms: wierd Java projects, 'oh.. I luv doors' Java projects, 'I am all bout the hinged things.' Kaneda projects, 'You cannot locate a 'date'.' Soulofdeath newbies, 'do those devils like me caz im sexy?' [49-Phyz] Mirage Please Contribute to Cure the Demons Fund. -+pandora+- Kei hollers, 'anyone have the letter slith in their name?' Bananaskin projects, 'guys r so ugly they're oogly' Melar projects, 'must eat the world' Trouble newbies, 'bishopx died so much we called him deadboy and made him sleep in a coffin' Tanin projects, 'You know how hard it is just to READ this game?' Tanin projects, 'i didn't know we had to actually read when i started this game.' Deathwing projects, 'i spend my time mostly eating humans... no time to goto school' Iluvu newbies, 'i talk to the wall sometimes to and he says shut up' Melar spews, 'tempus - melar and merriam = quiet place' Wisteria projects, 'damn, it appears the bedroom is a nvz zone...' [47- Knig] Bluematrix is it right that i let you inside of me -- (invis) Yeoman projects, 'anyone been to Calidan yet?' Merriam projects, 'A flail snail puts a silver condom on its crotch.' Weyoun quest-says, 'ahhh fiddle sticks' Endymion projects, 'i got hit in the head with a 9 iron...' Trouble projects, 'i liked the episode where the parents think the kid has drugs all over the dash of the car, and its really deodorant' Trouble projects, 'and they're all licking their fingers and stickin it in the powder, then tasting it' Trouble projects, 'and they're like 'it must be drugs, my tongue is numb and my mouth is going dry!!"' Trouble projects, 'they have dangling modifiers and end in prepositional phrases, its just bad.' Tigger projects, 'Brothers and Sisters in Slack. I have come before you to spread my eternal message, unfortunatly I wated until the last minute so I don't have anything to say.' Freezebite auctions, 'wtb: jaw of the deaf fish' Trouble imms: gonna do the ostrich dance "you pull sand out with your right arm, you pull sand out with your left arm, you stick your head in the sand and you push it all about..." Trouble gossips, 'don't you know putting squirrels down your pants for the purpose of gambling is illegal?!' Lanea gossips, 'not in my state' Kei gossips, 'dont drink out of tiooilets...' Kei gossips, 'dront drink out of toilets' Fenster says, 'christmas would be more fun if you could just burn the house down on the 26th' Manta projects, 'who's pretty big and not busy?' Fenster says, 'feel like Huck the neighborhood dipshit' Sparx doesn't wanna be a mom. Fenster says, 'me neither' Fenster says, 'I haven't the patience or the breastases for it' Wisteria says, 'and nathan was running around in my skirt earlier......' Greed projects, 'have you ever ate jello with a straw while you were stoned??' Merriam projects, 'Once I get married, I'm not going to shower anymore' TuxedoMask (disguised as the solemn worshipper) spews,'some weirdos love to throw up when they have sex' Aconite projects, 'Man, my friends just gave me a goal i have to do before the end of september.' Aconite projects, 'I gotta make out with a girl before the end of next month.' Aconite projects, 'How hard is that!' Fenster projects, 'well... at least it wasn't "Go out and get breast implants"' Aconite projects, 'do you know how hard it is for a guy thats this skinny and ugly to make out with a chick?' Aconite projects, 'I"m suprised i even have a gf .' Kantir auctions, 'omg.. . i swear i am blind. sorry' Merriam projects, 'Does anyone else have excessively abnormal amounts of hair on their knees?' Merriam projects, 'I have bearded knees.' Brightblade projects, 'chimpanzees mostly' Typhon auctions, 'Did you know if you stick your finger really far up your nose its rather cold?' Typhon projects, 'Uh huh, like I want to get frozen deleted and purged again' Typhon projects, 'can't make me fall for it a 4th time..' ** Updated 28 Nov. 2001** Typhon projects,'Sparx's tongue deceives!' Melar projects,'but when i made the char name i screwed up' Melar projects,'all i have is a lvl 16 barb named melart' Trouble projects,'can you imagine tempusing with one of those things that talks all the words that come up on your screen?' Trouble projects,'You astrick astrick annihilate astrick astrick a tiny frog.' Comet projects,'we need a piece of eq that's !remove and gives !project :p' Tomm gossips,'but dont do what i did when i was a newbie' Tomm gossips,'i thought dt-invis was death trap invis which meansyou wouldnt get killed by dts' Darkchild projects,'how bout saliva - click click boom?' Comet projects,'i remember putting cheese in this really annoying girls binder when i was in 3rd grade' Trouble projects,'if its any consolation, i can't stop eating these pistachios even though they are turning the tips of my fingers fuscia' Fenster projects,'stripped nekkid and poured the milk on yourself while singing show tunes... ' Calverius hollers,'Stu, if your around semd me a tell' Comet hollers,'don't do it, he just wants to change your long distance carrier!' Merriam spews,'Come to North Dakota.' Merriam spews,'We have grain.' Sickboy projects,'big dick, mush smash!' Meadorian projects,'Oh No! Trouble is a Flamer!' Gerbil congrats,'sqyeak?' Trouble spews,'why are there people talking on my screen?' Tricky projects,'"My arms are numb...i think its time for bed. I can't drink anymore" - Fenster' Tricky projects,'poor fenster' Tricky projects,'what if he can't get too drunk to fish' Tricky projects,'what if he proves that its impossible' Tricky projects,'oh the horror' Tricky projects,'oh the humanity' Tricky projects,'oh the sadness' Storm projects,'Llamas are the cows of the desert. :P' Tricky imms: unf unf baaaaa!! unf unf baaaaa SPOO!!! Aconite projects,'Spacey so wants me.' Xaero projects,'Tigger the OP ARCH...does that mean you're OverProof Arch?' Xaero projects,'Yer like...full of alcohol? :P' Trouble projects,'Overbaked Potatoe' Melar projects,'i want a leopard, that will eat other peoples pets who think theyre better then my pets' Sickboy projects,'im 5'3" 420 lbs, with 5/2 vision, and a wonderful farm of zits on my back' Darth projects,'I got hair on my nipples *wink* good stuff' Trouble projects,'which you braid' Darth projects,'and put little seashells in' Timeless projects,'shut the flower up, you flowering flower' Andromeda projects,'in his best professor voice "pyxl, why do you have a graphing calculator during your american history examination"' Andromeda projects, 'in his best pyxl voice "I am calculating the length of the civil war in minutes sir" it is important for my thesis' [48-Barb] Melar sharp as bowling ball, fast as tree! <+[Highlander[+> -+pandora+- Frozen hollers, 'ACK!, failure just climbed into my pocket' Wisteria projects,'uh, why is there a quest board in my inv?' Kultak newbies,'goddangit I can't get Elly the floozie alone' Failure spews,'if you remove the macaroni before you sleep in your bed, its much more comfortable' Leolio auctions,'WTB: holy *****' Xaero auctions,'ROFL' Leolio auctions,'Man, you messed me up, WTB: holy grail' Aero projects,'My eat:give ratio is like 4:1' Greed projects,'woo i knew someone out there was a worse cook then me, my sister let the water boil away and burnt hard boiled eggs :P' Insight projects,'laura, there are times when she [my mom] said she'd trade me for a good garbage can' Rakoon spews,'voodoo dick my ass' Dezerado newbies,'maggots ate him' Moghedian projects, 'you're such a lysolchip =(' Kevfire projects, '*delete self*' A gavel comes down from the heavens and smacks Tereus soundly on the head as a thundercloud forms the word, 'NO!' in the sky. Azimuth imms: you shouldn't pick up a minor - you can go to jail Mystery imms: but i'm more experienced than the minor, gotta teach him all the tricks Tower projects, 'is there any benefit to breathing in this game?' [ FOREMAN ] Drom The cost of living has not affected its popularity )afk( [32(03)-Rang] Stumbles is watching the care bears movie...piss off.. Azimuth wouldn't trust holistic anything this deep in the south. Masa projects, 'One time, Miscreation pk'ed me one evening, THEN saved my arse in chemistry by helping me with it an hour later... Tempus is so weird.' Eternal projects, 'Mages fighting mages is like the special olympics...' Nevermore gossips, 'I wish I could speak whale.' [legacy] Elysian clan-says, 'man school is really detracting from tempus' Nevermore says, 'You have to imagine,.. Im speeding down the highway... trying to get to the hospital or home... holding a turtle at eye level and talking to it Reechani projects, 'wish i think you should fedex jello shots to people that win tempys Gasraidh gossips, 'sometimes i wish the imms were morons so they wouldn't think to make things !locate and things of the sort' Evangeline says, 'everything about you takes the scenic route' Broken gossips, 'nitroglycerine just doesn't work in haiku land' Fire imms: gross Fire imms: necrophelia is only illegal in 16 states Lupa imms: i dont wanna know these things Storm wrote: Most of the children are good aligned as well, as I would consider slaughtering elementary school students a fairly evil act (call me crazy). Risque says, 'you never wanna be the parent whose kid pees in the ball pit' Istari hollers, 'due to a teenager in love, Quidditch will be delayed 30 mins' [funk] Storm clan-says, 'My ghetto name is Wankmaster Real' Drom says to you, 'I, for one, welcome our spandex underwear wearing overlords' Drom imms: Umm, Im not sure that we should advocate the use of drugs in our builder document... Azimuth projects, 'do not play the tease the cat under the blanket game' Azimuth projects, 'you will lose' Gasraidh | They Clair, Because They Care | =+Haven+= Brywing projects, 'yep it's confirmed, my toaster makes everything garlic flavor [paragon] Damador clan-says, 'i'm going to cut out naked chicks in the shape of the word paragon' Mystery says, 'funny how age makes you realize how retarded you were 5 years earlier Tower projects, 'is there anyway to get stuff to specifically attack your face?' Discretion imms: Just to let everyone know.. at 12am tonight the world is being overrun by dragons.. Deneb projects, 'if an imm spat on a rock, i'd sell my soul for the rock' Trust hollers, 'New Years Quest, quest board post #7!' Glint hollers, 'the problem is i dont know what my resolution should be...' Skullcrusher hollers, 'what kind of video card you have?' Discretion imms: it's been too long since someone's been purged... Skellington imms: woo! i like the way you think [paragon] Deneb clan-says, 'i'd love to be a * race' Edgeleaf newbies, '5 out of 6 people prefer mage :)' [ Deiter idea [30127]: Psi should get read scrolls at an earlier level. If he can read minds, why can't he read paper? Fire imms: i always read monkeymotz as monkeypants Cederic tells you, 'for some reason I cant catch on fire' Forget projects, 'I can hook you up with hepatitus if you're really that interested.' Maxwell hollers, 'I am a white patty in a midst of purple mage psions and green monk buns' Storm says, 'Remember when everybody used to lick each other?' Storm says, 'That was weird.' [nexus inc] Frychu clan-says, 'd00d i gotta quit this game... too addictive' [49( 7) Monk] Nubi Gautama will Tape Imm's shows for OEDITS! ) Broken projects, 'it took me almost as long to get to gen 10 as it did to get a college degree' Darmok says, 'are you guys there or am i disconnnected?' Eclipse imms: AN UNDEAD TURKEYS WITH CRANBERRY BOMBS??!!!! Starfire hollers, 'bye tempus see u in a year or if i can't go that long a few months or if i can't go that long two weeks' Drom imms: if an echo fires in a room with no one in it, is any text displayed? Fire says, 'i hate text' [49( 1) Monk] Roan - Finish your beer, there are sober kids in other countires )Legacy( (transp) Taiko gossips, 'Tempus is my daycare' Wish refuses to repeat himself because it's late at night and he is drinking a beer. Nrop projects, 'what's brief mode :p' Tiax projects, 'instead of boxers' Create New Page Discussion or

Chapter 8.16 PLATTING ADMINISTRATION Sections: 8.16.010 Platting jurisdiction and power. 8.16.030 Review procedures for plat approval. 8.16.035 Platting standards within flood areas. 8.16.040 Information required on a plat. 8.16.050 Waiver of review requirements for simple plats. 8.16.060 Alteration, replat or vacation petitions. 8.16.070 Review procedures for petitions. 8.16.080 Title to vacated area. 8.16.090 Violations – Penalty. 8.16.100 Civil and criminal remedies. 8.16.120 Appeals to the commission. 8.16.130 Appeals to the assembly. 8.16.140 Appeals from assembly decisions. 8.16.150 Date of hearing. 8.16.160 Hearing procedures. 8.16.170 Specific procedures. 8.16.180 Scope of review. 8.16.210 Reconsideration. 8.16.220 Ex parte contacts prohibited. 8.16.240 Lien enforcement. 8.16.010 Platting jurisdiction and power. The planning commission, acting as the borough platting authority, has jurisdiction over platting and shall adopt and publish rules and regulations to implement this power. Jurisdiction includes, but is not limited to, the control of: A. Form, size and other aspects of subdivisions, dedications and vacations of land; B. Dimensions and design of lots; C. Street width, arrangement and rights-of-way, including requirements for access to lots and installation of street paving, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, sewers, water lines, drainage, and other public utility facilities and improvements; D. Dedication of streets, rights-of-way, public utility easements and areas considered necessary by the platting board for other public uses; E. Establishing by resolution a schedule of fees for actions under this chapter; F. Compliance with 18 AAC 72.300 regarding subdivision plan review by the Department of Environmental Conservation. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.010) 8.16.020 Definitions. In this chapter: “Plat” means a map of a subdivision prepared by a qualified engineer. “Simple plat” means a plat that will: 1. Subdivide a single lot into not more than four lots, and each lot created by the subdivision is five acres or larger; 2. Provide legal and physical access to a public highway or street for each lot created by the subdivision; 3. Not contain or require a dedication of a street, right-of-way, or other area; and 4. Not require a vacation of a public dedication of land or a variance from a subdivision regulation. “Street” includes streets, avenues, boulevards, roads, lanes, alleys and other ways. “Subdivision” means: 1. The division of a tract or parcel of land into two or more lots, sites or other divisions for the purpose, whether immediate or future, of sale or building development, and includes resubdivision and, when appropriate to the context, relates to the process of subdividing or to the land or areas subdivided; and 2. Does not include 14(c) surveys under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, cadastral plats, cadastral control plats, open-to-entry plats, or remote parcel plats created by or on behalf of the state or federal governments regardless of whether these plats include easements or other public dedications. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.020) 8.16.030 Review procedures for plat approval. A. Application Contents. A complete application for plat approval shall be filed with the borough planning department, and shall include the following documentation: 1. Title report identifying owners of the property and any others who may have an interest in the property affected by the proposed plat; 2. The original and four copies of the proposed plat with an executed certificate of ownership; 3. Proof of submission of proposed plat to Department of Environmental Conservation; 4. Names and addresses of adjacent property owners, and identification of the respective properties they own; 5. Payment of the platting fee in addition to recording fees. B. Application Determination. 1. Within 60 days of the filing of a complete application for plat approval, the planning director shall approve, approve with conditions, or deny the application, or the director shall return the application to the applicant for modification or correction. 2. If the director fails to act within 60 days of receipt of a complete application, the application is considered approved and a certificate of approval shall be issued by the director on demand. 3. The applicant for plat approval may consent to an extension of the period for action by the director. 4. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (B)(1) and (B)(2) of this section, no application for plat approval may be approved by the planning director until the proposed plat has received Department of Environmental Conservation approval. 5. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (B)(1) and (B)(2) of this section, no vacation of a municipal street may be had without the consent by ordinance of the affected municipality. 6. The planning director shall state in writing to the applicant the reasons for denial of an application. C. The planning director may determine that an application raises a particular issue or set of issues that warrants public review, and that the application should be subject to a public hearing. The application shall then be processed under the review procedures for petitions contained in NABC 8.26.070. D. Unless specifically provided by the planning director, plat approval does not-constitute a permit under NABC Title 9. If a use of the land requiring a NABC Title 9 permit is contemplated, the applicant should submit a NABC Title 9 application to the planning department. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.030) 8.16.035 Platting standards within flood areas. A. The planning director may deny approval of a plat that proposes to subdivide land within a flood area unless the following requirements have been met: 1. Require that all new subdivision proposals and other proposed development of more than five acres or involving more than 10 lots include within such proposals base flood elevation data. 2. Utilize any base flood elevation data from federal, state, local or other sources, as criteria for reviewing the new construction, substantial improvements or other development in flood areas. 3. Ensure that the subdivision and associated development are consistent with the need to minimize flood damages. 4. Ensure that all public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems shall be located, elevated or constructed to minimize or eliminate flood damage. 5. Ensure adequate drainage shall be provided to reduce the exposure of structures, utilities and facilities to flood hazards. 6. Ensure evidence has been submitted that all necessary permits required by federal, state and borough law have been applied for and granted. 7. The preliminary and final plat shall include the ground elevation and the flood elevation, if available, at convenient reference points and flood hazard areas shall be labeled on preliminary and final plats. 8. Require disclosure that a lot is in a flood hazard area in any contract to purchase, rent or lease the lot. B. In determining if the requirements of this section are fulfilled, the planning director shall, consistent with the purpose and the intent of this chapter, consider the following factors: 1. The danger of life and property due to the increased flood elevation or velocities caused by subdivision fill, roads, structures and intended uses. 2. The danger that structures may be swept onto and the availability of alternative locations not subject to flooding for the proposed subdivision and land uses. 6. The compatibility of the proposed uses with existing development and development anticipated in the foreseeable future and the relationship of the proposed subdivision to the floodplain management program for the area. 7. The safety of access to the property for emergency vehicles in times of flood. 8. The expected heights, velocity, duration, rate of rise and sediment transport of the floodwaters expected at the site. 9. The costs of providing governmental services during and after flood conditions, including maintenance and repair of public utilities and facilities such as sewer, gas, electrical and water systems and streets and bridges. (Ord. 10-04 § 1, 2010; Ord. 05-03 § 1, 2005. Formerly 9.32.040) 8.16.040 Information required on a plat. A plat shall show: A. Initial point of survey; B. Original or reestablished corners and their descriptions; C. Actual traverse showing area of closure and all distances, angles and calculations required to determine initial point, corners and distances of the plat; D. Easements, rights-of-way, setbacks; and E. All structures which encroach upon any easement, right-of-way, setback, or boundary line of said plat. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.040) 8.16.050 Waiver of review requirements for simple plats. Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, upon submission of satisfactory evidence to the planning director that a plat meets the definition of a simple plat, as contained in NABC 8.16.020, a simple plat is not required to be prepared, submitted for approval, or recorded. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.050) 8.16.060 Alteration, replat or vacation petitions. A. A recorded plat may not be altered or replatted except by the planning director on petition of: 1. The state; 2. The borough; 3. The incorporated municipality, or IRA or traditional tribal council in the case of an unincorporated village, in which all or a portion of the plat is located; 4. A public utility serving the area of the plat; or 5. The owners of a majority of the land affected by the alteration or replat. B. A platted street may not be vacated except by the planning director on petition of: 1. The state; 2. The borough; 3. The incorporated municipality, or IRA or traditional tribal council in the case of an unincorporated village, in which all or a portion of the street is located; 4. A public utility serving the area of the street; or 5. The owners of a majority of the land fronting the part of the street sought to be vacated. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.060) 8.16.070 Review procedures for petitions. A. Petition Contents. A complete petition for alteration, replat or vacation shall be filed with the borough planning department, and shall include the following documentation: 1. A copy of the existing plat; 2. A general description of the alteration or replat sought; 3. The original and four copies of the proposed plat, with an executed certificate of ownership; 4. Proof of submission of proposed plat to Department of Environmental Conservation; 5. Names and addresses of property owners of all properties contained within proposed plat, and all adjacent properties, and identification of the respective properties they own; and 6. Signature of petitioner(s). B. Public Hearing on Petitions. 1. After receiving a complete petition for alteration, replat or vacation, the planning director shall fix a time for a public hearing on the petition which shall be held not more than 50 days after receipt of the complete petition. 2. Notice of the public hearing shall be published pursuant to NABC 2.08.030(C). 3. Notice shall also be mailed First Class postage prepaid to: a. Each affected property owner who did not sign the petition, as determined by the planning director; b. Each utility serving the area of the proposed plat; and c. i. Each incorporated municipality affected by the proposed plat. Notice shall also be sent to the IRA or traditional tribal council of any incorporated or unincorporated village in the borough affected by the proposed plat, and ii. The municipality and tribal council will also be sent a copy of the proposed plat. 4. The notice shall contain the following information: a. When and by whom the petition was filed; b. The purpose of the petition; c. Time and place of the hearing; d. Identity of the borough official to contact if there are any questions or comments; and e. A general description of the alteration, replat or vacation sought. C. Information Considered by the Planning Director. Before acting on a petition, the planning director shall consider: 1. Public testimony regarding the petition presented at the public hearing; 2. Any written comments regarding the petition submitted at, or prior to, the public hearing; 3. Any other information presented at the public hearing; 4. Comments and recommendations from the planning department; and 5. Comments and recommendations from an affected incorporated municipality, IRA and traditional council. D. Petition Determination. 1. Within 10 days of the public hearing, the planning director shall either approve, approve with conditions, or deny the petition. 2. If the planning director fails to act within 60 days of the receipt by the planning department of the complete petition, the petition is considered approved and a certificate of approval shall be issued by the director on demand. 3. The petitioner(s) may consent to an extension of the period for action by the director. 4. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (D)(1) and (D)(2) of this section, no petition may be approved by the planning director until the proposed plat has received Department of Environmental Conservation approval. 5. Notwithstanding the requirements of subsections (D)(1) and (D)(2) of this section, no vacation of a municipal street may be had without the consent by ordinance of the affected municipality, or tribal council in the case of an unincorporated village. 6. If the petition is denied, the director shall state in writing to the petitioner the reasons for denial of the petition. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.070) 8.16.080 Title to vacated area. A. The title to the street or other public area vacated on a plat attaches to the lot or lands bordering the area in equal proportions, except that if the area was originally dedicated by different persons, original boundary lines shall be adhered to so that the street area that lies on one side of the boundary line shall attach to the abutting property on that side, and the street area that lies on the other side of the boundary line shall attach to the property on that side. The portion of a vacated street that lies inside the limits of a platted addition attaches to the lots of the platted addition bordering on the area. If a public square or other dedicated property is vacated, the title to it vests in a city if it lies inside the city, in the tribe if it lies inside an unincorporated village, and in the borough if it lies inside the borough but outside all cities and unincorporated villages. If the property vacated is a lot, title vests in the rightful owner. B. If the municipality or tribe acquired the street or other public area vacated for legal consideration or by express dedication to the municipality or tribe other than as a subdivision platting requirement, before the final act of vacation the fair market value of the street or public area shall be deposited with the planning director to be paid over to the municipality or tribe on final vacation. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.080) 8.16.090 Violations – Penalty. A. The owner of land may not transfer, sell, offer to sell, or enter into a contract to sell subdivided land before a plat of the subdivision has been prepared, approved, filed and recorded in accordance with this chapter, unless the owner has received a waiver for a simple plat under this chapter. B. A person may not file or record a plat or other document depicting subdivided land in a pubic recorder’s office unless the plat or document has been approved by the planning director. C. For the violation of a provision of this chapter, a subdivision regulation adopted under this chapter, or a term, condition or limitation imposed by the planning director in the exercise of its powers under this chapter, a penalty not to exceed a fine of $300.00 may be imposed by the planning director for each violation. D. Each day that an unlawful act or condition continues constitutes a separate violation. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.090) 8.16.100 Civil and criminal remedies. A. The borough, or an aggrieved person, may institute a civil action against a person who violates a provision of this chapter, a subdivision regulation adopted under this chapter or a term, condition or limitation imposed by the planning director in the exercise of its powers under this chapter. B. In addition to other relief, a civil penalty not to exceed $1,000 may be imposed for each violation. An action to enjoin a violation may be brought notwithstanding the availability of any other remedy. Upon application for injunctive relief and a finding of a violation or threatened violation, the Superior Court shall grant the injunction, as provided in AS 29.25.070(b) or any successor law. C. The court may also impose a criminal penalty not to exceed a fine of $1,000 and imprisonment for no more than 90 days for each violation. D. Each day that an unlawful act or condition continues constitutes a separate violation. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.100) 8.16.110 Recording. Upon payment of the recording fee, the approved plat or replat must be acknowledged, filed and recorded by the planning director and is thereafter a lawful plat. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.110) 8.16.120 Appeals to the commission. A. Any aggrieved person, including the applicant or petitioner, may appeal a decision of the planning director by serving written notice of appeal on the planning director (and the applicant) within 15 business days of receipt of the decision. Notice of an appeal is considered served when actually received or when properly mailed. B. The notice shall state the reasons why the appellant believes the decision of the planning director is improper. C. The issues before the commission shall be limited to those raised on appeal, and the evidence shall be limited to a review of the record, although further argument may be allowed. Except for an applicant or petitioner, the appellant must demonstrate the manner in which the appellant is adversely affected by the decision being appealed. D. The burden of proof shall be on the appellant to demonstrate the issues on appeal by substantial evidence. E. The commission may affirm or reverse the planning director’s decision, return the matter to the planning director for further evidence, or change conditions attached to any approval issued by the planning director. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.120) 8.16.130 Appeals to the assembly. An appeal to the assembly from any decision of the planning commission may be made in the same manner and according to the same requirements as set forth above for appeals to the commission. Notice of appeal shall be served on the planning director. The assembly’s decision shall be final for the borough. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.130) 8.16.140 Appeals from assembly decisions. Any person aggrieved by the final decision of the assembly may appeal such a decision or action to the Superior Court for the state of Alaska. The venue for any appeal to the Superior Court will be the Second Judicial District at Kotzebue. Such an appeal to the Superior Court for the state of Alaska may be sought only after final exhaustion of all administrative remedies and appeals. All such judicial appeals are appeals on the record, and no new evidence or issues may be presented. Both parties are limited to the record on appeal, except to the extent that the Alaska Rules of Civil Procedure require otherwise. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.140) 8.16.150 Date of hearing. Where an appeal to the commission or assembly has been properly lodged under this chapter, a hearing shall take place at the next regularly scheduled or special meeting of the body hearing the appeal; provided, that sufficient time exists for the applicant and the borough to prepare the appeal. In no case should the date of hearing exceed three months from the date notice of the appeal is served on the planning director. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.150) 8.16.160 Hearing procedures. Appeals under this chapter should be conducted informally and may be governed by such rules and procedures as the commission or assembly may choose to establish, except that: A. Parties may appear in person or through counsel; B. Parties may present witnesses and evidence on their own behalf; C. Parties or their counsel may cross-examine opposing witnesses on matters relevant to the issues, impeach witnesses regardless of which party first called the witness to testify, and rebut evidence against himself; D. Relevant evidence should be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of a common law or statutory rule which makes improper the admission of the evidence over objection in a civil action. Hearsay evidence may be considered, provided there are guarantees of its trustworthiness and that it is more probative on the point for which it is offered than any other evidence which the proponent can procure by reasonable efforts; E. All appeals shall be open to the public, unless otherwise agreed by all parties to the appeal; F. All appeals should be memorialized by an electronic recording or a stenographic record. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.160) 8.16.170 Specific procedures. Subject to modification by the commission or the assembly, the following procedures should normally be followed in the conduct of an appeal under this chapter: A. Before the Planning Commission. The decision of the planning director being appealed should be read into the record, parties then make opening statements (appellant going first), appellant then presents its case (puts on witnesses, giving the opportunity for cross-examination), the borough then offers rebuttal, parties then make closing remarks (appellant going first). B. Before the Assembly. The decision of the planning commission being appealed should be read into the record or distributed to assembly members for review, parties then make opening statements (appellant going first), appellant then presents its case (puts on witnesses, giving the opportunity for cross-examination), the borough then offers rebuttal, parties then make closing remarks (appellant going first). In appeals before the assembly, the planning director or the borough clerk may assist in preparation of the record on appeal. The record on appeal shall contain a brief factual summary of the proceedings before the planning commission, and any other relevant information. Either party may request a full transcript of the prior proceedings before the planning commission. Such request must be in writing, presented to the borough clerk, and the borough clerk will deliver the transcript within 10 business days of the request. The party making such request must bear the costs of transcription. The borough clerk will notify the requesting party of the costs of such transcription once the transcription has been completed. C. Telephonic Appearances. Telephonic appearances of parties to appeals is allowable, particularly in cases where it will result in reduced costs to all parties. D. Failure to Appear. If any appellant has a scheduled appearance, but has failed to appear before the appellate body, the appeal will proceed as scheduled, and any documents or evidence submitted by the appellant will be presented to the appellate body at the time of the hearing. For good cause shown, the appellate body may postpone the hearing at the request of the appellant. E. If the appellant is not the applicant (or petitioner), the applicant (or petitioner) should have the opportunity to participate in any hearing as if the applicant (or petitioner) is a party to the appeal. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.170) 8.16.180 Scope of review. The commission or assembly may hear and decide de novo all matters appealed and may exercise independent judgment as to the weight of evidence supporting or refuting the decision being appealed, and may exercise independent judgment on legal issues raised by the parties. Decisions being appealed may be reversed, modified, remanded or affirmed by the commission or assembly. In each case where the reviewing body denies the appeal, it may also determine any penalties to be imposed for a violation. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.180) 8.16.190 Deliberations. Upon close of the presentation of the case on appeal, and after any closing remarks have been made by the parties, the body hearing the appeal may adjourn to closed chambers to privately discuss any adjudicatory matters pertaining to the appeal or may otherwise take the matter under advisement prior to issuing a written decision on the matter under appeal. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.190) 8.16.200 Decisions. No later than 15 business days following an appeal hearing under this chapter, the body empowered to conduct the appeal proceeding shall issue a written decision based on findings and conclusions adopted by the body hearing the appeal. An oral decision may be given on the record at the close of the proceedings, but such decision will not become a final decision from which appeal may be taken until that decision is issued as a written decision containing the required findings. Such findings must be in writing and must be reasonably specific so as to provide interested persons, and where appropriate, reviewing authorities, a clear understanding of the reasons for the decision entered. The decision, findings of fact and conclusions of law shall be forwarded to all parties to the appeal. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.200) 8.16.210 Reconsideration. A decision of the commission or the assembly reached at the conclusion of a hearing or other proceeding may be reconsidered or reheard only if: A. There was substantial procedural error in the original proceedings; or B. The original decision was based on fraud or misrepresentation. Any party to an appeal seeking reconsideration or rehearing must file a request with the borough clerk together with the materials supporting one or more of the grounds stated above within 10 business days after the date of the final decision for which reconsideration or rehearing is requested. A rehearing shall be conducted in the same manner as the original proceeding. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.210) 8.16.220 Ex parte contacts prohibited. A. Members of the commission or the assembly, while acting in a quasi-judicial capacity, shall be impartial in all matters both in fact and in appearance. B. No member of the commission or the assembly shall receive or otherwise engage in ex parte communications with the appellant, applicant, petitioner or other parties adversely affected by the appeal or members of the public concerning the appeal or issues specifically presented in the notice of appeal either before the appeal hearing or afterwards, during the period of time the matter is subject to reconsideration. C. This section shall not be deemed to prevent those charged with conducting appeals under this chapter from discussing matters relating to the appeal among themselves or to prohibit communications between the borough staff and such persons where such staff members themselves are not named parties to an appeal. D. Insofar as practicable, communications between borough staff and such commission or assembly members should avoid discussion of the merits, evidence or other nonprocedural matters related to a specific appeal. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.220) 8.16.230 Transition. The provisions of this chapter shall apply only to those appeals or applications for administrative decisions filed on or after the date the ordinance codified in this chapter becomes effective. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.230) 8.16.240 Lien enforcement. The failure to pay any penalty assessed or upheld as a result of a violation of this chapter, or the failure of an appeal (including any unpaid costs of appeal) creates a lien against the appellant and appellant’s real and personal property. The lien created herein may be enforced as provided in AS 34.35.005 through 34.35.045. The enforcement of the lien is a cumulative remedy and does not bar the collection of the charges for abatement or costs and attorney fees through a personal action. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.240) 8.16.250 Interpretation. All questions regarding the planning director’s interpretation of the provisions of this chapter shall be treated as an appeal, if proper notice is served pursuant to NABC 8.16.120. (Ord. 95-04 § 1, 1995; Code 1986 § 8.08.250)

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:::::::: Faith Tim Tebow as a successful starting NFL quarterback? Michele Bachmann as the next U.S. President? Jesus Christ! Of course both of these scenarios are a fantasy as well as a product of a form of non-reality based magical thinking that has come to define American society over the past three decades. There is a deeply entrenched national unwillingness to own up to systemic problems, grossly immoral wars of aggression, a miserably failed economic system that has been falsely pimped off as being a "free" market and the inability to take an honest look at the history of the American empire that hasn't been revised, sanitized and strained through John Wayne's dirty underwear have all contributed to our current plight. This is a land where despite massive poverty, joblessness, homelessness and rampant inflation where people actually believe that they too can become a millionaire. This is a land where in true Orwellian style war is peace, freedom is slavery, ignorance is strength and God is on our side. Americans for the most part still believe that they are free despite the growing police state that surrounds them, that their nation is prosperous rather than on the verge of bankruptcy and that all will be alright despite the evidence that things will never be "right" again. The illusion is perpetuated by the "media hologram" as the late, great social critic Joe Bageant referred to the ever present electronic propagandizing that allows for the facade of the mythical and now forever lost American dream to be promoted. Old Joe pegged our national media as "a feast of bullshit and spectacle", the Romans referred to a pre-technology version of the distractions that masked the decline of their mighty empire as "panem et circenses" or as it is more commonly known "bread and circuses". The national infatuation with pure fantasy and triviality that serves to distract and to make one forget is exemplified not only by movies, video games and cheesy tabloid celebrity scandals but in the ongoing games that are played, gladiatorial epics for the modern age. In this country, no sport is revered as much as professional football and no sports league is as saturated with the underlying cultural indoctrination of warfare, capitalism and patriotic fervor as the NFL. Now, the already overpowering affirmation of the glorious, capitalist warfare state is about to get religion as well. The story of Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow, a champion to radical American Cristendom and the coordinated push to transform a man child of mediocre talent into an orange clad savior, national celebrity and to likely serve as a springboard into national politics is a fascinating cultural study of an America gone horribly awry and steeped in a dangerous and terminal denial. I must admit, I have a serious interest in the ongoing Tim Tebow melodrama for several reasons. First and foremost I fear the forces behind him and understand all too well the power of those who have been most accurately described by writer Chris Hedges as the "American Fascists". I also have been deeply disgusted, dare I say ashamed of the ongoing infantilization and dumbing down of America over the last several decades, it has only become worse largely due to a corrupt, consolidated corporate media. I have come to despise the loathsome transformation of what was once the most powerful economy largely thanks to a robust and vibrant middle class into a sucking black hole of despair for the majority of the population due to the rise of the looter class and the new feudalism. Finally, I have always had a serious jones for professional football, not only the now fully corporatized NFL but for the Denver Broncos in particular. I grew up and lived a large chunk of my life in Denver where local team has long been a revered symbol of local if not regional pride. From my earliest days I have followed the Broncos. I have seen the good, the bad and the ugly, still bleed Bronco orange and have hated the goddamned Oakland Raiders since childhood. The great Tebow crusade that is ongoing gives me a chance to not only take a detour from my trademark political screeds into the sports world but also to point out that the entire ongoing drama is just a microcosm of all that is currently wrong with this society. The tale of the young wunderkind, a wholly manufactured celebrity right up there with the Kardashians and the masses of adoring fans who have anointed the youngster as the second coming of John Elway despite the inconvenient truth that Tebow couldn't consistently hit a horse in the ass at ten yards with a tight spiral is the story of a delusional nation itself. Tim Tebow is the latest version of the University of Florida quarterback (eg: Danny Wuerffel, Doug Johnson, Rex Grossman) who largely due to the spread offense run by the Gators has immense success in college but is poorly suited for the big time. Despite leading the UF to two national championships, largely because of his size and running ability Tebow was not deemed to be a top pro prospect, he was a "project", better suited to play a position other than quarterback and was likely only a third rounder even to the most optimistic. His last meaningful game for the Gators was a butt ugly 32-13 mugging by the Alabama Crimson Tide in a game that wasn't nearly as close as the score indicated. Tebow was crying as he left the field, the tracks his tears cutting swaths through his trademark biblical verses inscribed in eye black (the NCAA would ban such displays with the "Tebow Rule"), his dreams of NFL stardom potentially crushed. While playing in the Senior Bowl for the South team in an offense not tailored to him Tebow stunk the place out, the problems with his throwing mechanics were exposed, further damaging his pro prospects. But then the miracles began to be manufactured, thanks to a colossal public relations offensive Tebow would work diligently to change his throwing motion. Enter the canny NFL traveler Jon Gruden who despite having never had the patience or wherewithal to develop young talent during his coaching gigs had somehow managed to get anointed as some sort of guru. Gruden stated with a strait face that Tebow could "revolutionize" the pro game and he himself would assist with polishing the turd pre-draft in order to ensure that Tebow would be drafted in the first round. Another former Tampa Bay Buc coach, the sainted Tony Dungy also spoke out on Tebow's greatness, note that Dungy's quarterbacking savvy was on display with Trent Dilfer and Shaun King, he inherited Peyton Manning when he was run out of Tampa after his team quit on him in the playoffs for the second year in a row. At least Dilfer eventually won a Super Bowl by riding the swarming Ravens defense, Gruden however has only journeyman Bruce Gradkowski to claim as his most successful pupil. Now with the woeful Bengals who are his fifth team, Gradkowski is still more known for his involvement in a federal gambling investigation from his college days at Toledo than for his actual on field achievements or more appropriately, the lack thereof. With the Christian right-wing propaganda machine and a big name like Gruden onboard Tebow's NFL draft potential was in the full blown perception management stages. Despite naysayers like Dallas owner Jerry Jones who drew fire for stating that "he'd never get on the field" when commenting on whether the Cowboys would draft him and draft prognosticator Mel Kiper who projected him as an H-Back as well as another Eric Crouch a former Cornhuskers college star who couldn't play quarterback in the NFL . So the table was set for the draft. All that Team Tebow needed was a sucker, and they found one in then Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels. The Josh McDaniels era will forever live in infamy among Bronco loyalists. Two time Super Bowl winner Mike Shanahan whose legendary status had taken a big hit in the post-Elway years was sent packing after yet another disappointing season. Despite the availability of several better prospects owner Pat Bowlen picked the 33 year old Bill Belichick disciple right down to the game day hoodie. McDaniels immediately alienated incumbent starting quarterback Jay Cutler, himself a colossal asshole and the town wasn't big enough for the two of them. The relationship became so strained that Cutler was shipped off to the Chicago Bears for a package of high draft picks and QB Kyle Orton. It was the first in a series of botched personnel decisions that would come to define the McDaniels reign of error. The Broncos had an immediate opportunity to hit it big in the draft by using the picks on quarterback Josh Freeman who is looking like a franchise player in Tampa and All Pro linebacker Clay Matthews but ended up with a running back with happy feet in Knowshon Moreno and linebacker Robert Ayers who was already looking like a bust by midseason. Not only did McDaniels waste those picks on schmucks but also traded away a future draft pick to move up in the second round and draft cornerback Alphonso Smith who was so bad that he was shipped off the next year to Detroit for scrub tight end Dan Gronkowski. That was a pretty piss poor acquisition for what would have been the 14th overall pick in the 2010 draft. It was a harbinger of what was to come under McDaniels. Early on the Broncos were the surprise of the season in going 6-0 out of the gates. Orton was playing better than Cutler and Bowlen was looking like a genius. The high water mark of the McDaniels era was when the Broncos, dressed in their throwback mustard yellow uniforms with the infamous vertically striped socks bested Belichick's New England Patriots 20-17 in overtime in the giant corporate cistern that is Invesco Field. Chock up a rare win in San Diego the next week and the Broncos went into their bye week with a full head of steam. Then the wheels came off. There were four straight losses, three of them to playoff teams but one to the heinous Redskins, one of the worst teams in the league. Orton couldn't make a play to save his life and the defense blew up, by the time that the dust settled the season was over and the Broncos were 8-8. The worst indicator of just how much of an illusion that the 6-0 start had been though were two miserable home losses to hated divisional rivals to close out the season. In a 20-19 loss to the Raiders the Broncos gave up 241 rushing yards, 83 or so on 3 consecutive plays. They also did the impossible by making the lamentable failure that is Jamarcus Russell into a hero, the former top pick threw the winning touchdown in the waning seconds. Two weeks later in the season finale Denver was steamrollered by the Kansas City Chiefs, giving up 317 rushing yards, 259 of them to Jamal Charles in a humiliating 44-24 pounding. With a 2-8 death spiral largely being the result of a porous defense you would think that shoring up the D would have been a priority in the offseason. The Broncos finally were able to unload chronic malcontent receiver Brandon Marshall for more draft picks and despite the 2009 draft debacle were still standing well in terms of being able to reload. It would instead be the capstone that would come to define the McDaniels legacy, and it would hang over Denver like a brown cloud after his departure. But first, another notable McDaniels personnel move, he traded fan favorite running back Peyton Hillis who had rarely seen the field in 2009 to Cleveland for the disappointing quarterback Brady Quinn, a former Notre Dame star whose NFL career has been a bust. Not only was Quinn buried on the depth chart but Hillis went on to be a star with the Browns, rolling to 1,177 yards, 11 touchdowns and landed on the cover of the mega-selling video game Madden 12. The 11 scores by Hillis were six more than Denver non-quarterbacks would tally all year. In the 2010 draft McDaniels was wheeling and dealing, trading up and down like his mentor Belichik only that the average Madden player had more football sense. The Broncos despite their porous defense inexplicable spent their first five picks on offense before picking cornerback Perrish Cox, a sex offender. The first pick was spent on WR Demaryius Thomas who has yet to prove he can do anything but fumble and get injured. Then, with the 25th overall pick McDaniels grabbed Tebow away, despite the fact that several quarterback starved teams took a flyer on the Gainesville wonder. Also notable from the 2010 draft was an offensive lineman named Zane Beadles chosen 45th overall despite the fact that he wasn't even listed in the f*cking Sporting News draft guide. To the Christers it was mission accomplished, they had been successful in getting their Manchurian candidate into the first round, number 15 Bronco jerseys led the league in merchandise sales and there was jubilation in the virulent snakepit of hatred and homophobia Focus the Family headquarters that was about 2 hrs south of Denver via I-25. Radical cleric James Dobson's organization had been behind the Tebow Super Bowl ad where he was trotted out to give a toned down anti-abortion, anti-women's rights message during the big game. In Tebow they had planted the flag in order to in the words of Jon Gruden "revolutionize" the game by making it a showcase for their bastardized version of Christianity. Not that the NFL doesn't encourage the promulgation of political memes (as long as they don't come from guys like Rashard Mendenhall) in that damned near every contest -- especially the big ones are a showcase for militarism and empire. So the Jesus juice was flowing and the second season of Josh McDaniels was to begin with not only a putrid defense but a festering quarterback controversy. There would be no 6-0 start in 2010, the McDaniels death watch officially began with a for the ages 59-14 degradation at home against the Raiders that would all but knock the Broncos out of playoff contention by the time that trick or treaters began to make their rounds. By the time that their record reached 3-9, aided by an asinine "Spygate" style filming of the 49ers practices prior to a week loss loss in Wembley, England where McDaniels was nabbed imitating Belichik (who at least won when he cheated) Pat Bowlen pulled the plug on Little Napoleon. The interim coach, Eric Studesville handed the reigns to Tebow who delighted the zealots with his running ability in posting a win and a near win against stricken teams that had already given up the ghost. The larger motive in the Tebow promotion was likely the desire of Bowlen to sell seats in the final games, a 3-11 team with a pitiful defense that would give up a whopping NFL worst 471 points isn't a very good draw. When Tebow ran for the winning TD against Houston on the day after Jesus's fake birthday it was the high-water mark of his pro career. After another loss to the Chargers in which Tebow ran for 94 yards the season was mercifully over and the wreckage began to be sorted through. Desperate for positive public relations Bowlen brought in John Elway to run the team's football operations. The new leadership then brought in John Fox, a proven adult head coach and did the right thing in drafting for defense, landing top defensive prospect Von Miller with the first pick. The lockout though put the fate of the season in the balance and halted all player transactions. This allowed for the further fermentation of the Tebow meme as the media and the Christian subculture exalted that their champion would be running the team when the season finally got under way. The television networks nor the sponsors would feature Tebow prominently and as often as possible to juice ratings and bring in advertising dollars, their new Christ was ascending the mount. That was until reality set in. The lockout eventually ended, there being far too much money at stake for it not to and the teams reported to their respective training camps. Once in session it became very apparent to anyone but the Tebow cultists that their boy sucked, his heralded throwing motion change had yet to take hold and the lack of an off season conditioning program didn't bode well for development. I mean you can only get so much work on the arm trolling the nation's Wal-Marts and other gathering places for boobus Americanus to autograph copies of your best selling autobiography. According to those in the know, Tebow was throwing the ball in the stands, dirt and everywhere but where the playbook dictated. Then he did what many of his entitled generation did - he sulked. In a recent column by longtime Denver sportswriter Woody Paige Tebus whined that the starting quarterback job had been given to him but was "grabbed back away". This of course was immediately amplified by the media and was decried by Tebow Nation as nothing short of heresy and they swarmed to his rescue. Even King James bestowed his blessing on Tebow; LeBron James that is, the perennially pouting overpaid, underachieving Prima Donna last seen quitting on his team a few months back in the NBA finals. As the saying goes, with friends like that... And it has been on ever since. Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Morrissey has ensured that his email box will be filled with hateful diatribes from teabagging Tebow cultists by daring to publish the following piece of smoking blasphemy entitled Worship of Broncos' Tim Tebow making for a dilemma in Denver from which I excerpt:.AND --But armed with the irrefutable evidence that somebody out there, or up there, believed Tebow was worthy of being a first-rounder, his supporters became emboldened. It's why there's a quarterback controversy in Denver right now for no good reason.This is what happens when you reach to take a player who has a bigger reputation for piety than he does for touchdown passes. The pressure on John Elway, the Broncos' new vice president of football operations, is significant. Tebow is much, much more than a football player. He's a symbol for a large swath of people who see him as the best of what Christianity has to offer.His autobiography, Through My Eyes, has been on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list since it came out eight weeks ago. His jersey was the third-highest seller in the NFL last season, despite the fact he started only three games.There is nothing wrong with any of that. The people have spoken, and they like Tim Tebow. A lot. But the people shouldn't decide who gets to play quarterback. Elway, much like President Obama moved into his new office to immediately find a bag of flaming dogshit parked on the doorstep by his predecessor. Obama only preceded to make the disaster worse by stomping up and down on the bag, spraying liquefied dogshit everywhere by not only failing to correct the damage done by the Bushreich but further cementing his policies, escalating his wars and exacerbating the damage to the economy by catering to the whims of right-wing scum. Whether Elway will choose the same path in caving in to vicious thugs and mouth breathing, bible pounding swine by trading the vastly superior Orton away in order to go all in with Tebow has yet to be seen. The pressure will be intense and the national media spotlight which always seeking out controversy to drive ratings will be pointing the way towards Dove Valley like the Star of Bethlehem. By far the greatest challenge of Elway's football career will be in just how he handles the weapon of mass destruction parked in his locker room with the "Tebow Thing" In dealing with not only the national media parasites but also local hack columnists such as the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla's man crush on Tebow. I excerpt this vomit inducing portion of a recent column entitled Denver Broncos Must Let Tebow Be Tebow: Tim. Basically this horses ass is proposing that the Broncos just do away with the offensive playbook and let Tebow play f*cking sandlot ball. I understand that Christianity is a primitive and simple-minded form of thinking best suited for Neanderthals and other half-monkeys. The entire premise of letting Tebow freelance is ludicrous and dishonest, ever since a couple of guys named Flintstone and Rubble were chucking the rock around there has been a need for at least some sort of coherent offensive philosophy. Kiszla really bares his chops later in the column for comparing the orange clad 23 year old messiah with none other than Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, something that got the pouty, overrated loser Jay Cutler vilified for. More from Kiszla:? No, actually it smells like bullshit and Kiszla should know better than to toss Tebow's salad like that. While Dan Reeves offensive philosophy stank and did much to adversely affect Elway's career stats, allowing petulant, lesser talented losers like Dan Marino, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning to dominate the record books at least Reeves HAD an offensive philosophy. The problem with the Reeves era is that the personnel around Elway sucked. When you are counting on running backs named Sammy Winder, Gerald Wilhite, Gaston Green and Steve Sewell to execute a conservative ball control based attack you are going to have serious problems. Couple that with receivers the likes of Vance Johnson (the best by far in Elway's early career), Mark Jackson, Ricky Nattiel and Clarence Kay, a porous offensive line and a consistently inconsistent defense and you have the real reason why Elway had to deal with the weekly stress of having to perform like (to steal it from Tebow) Jesus Christ in performing fourth quarter miracles. John Elway only became a Super Bowl winner when the level of talent around him was vastly upgraded in the final years of his career. It was colder than a witch's tit that day and myself and my buddies Rockie and Big Johnson were well prepared. We had scored four tickets in the legendary south stands for the game earlier in the week. The Broncos were coming off of a surprising 12-4 season and the first playoff game was against the AFC Central champ Oilers. We were well prepped for the game, like a mini-version of the loaded trunk of Hunter S. Thompson's Chevy convertible in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas we were well stocked with booze, herb and other intoxicants. Having been running on very little sleep and still hung over (and in Big Johnson's case badly so) from the night before we were nipping at the hair of the dog as we rolled into the outer parking lots. We were smoking dope and nursing Big Gulp cups filled with red beer (having stopped off at King Soopers on the way to the game for tomato juice) to gradually ease into the other stuff. The lots around the stadium were already filled with tailgaters and the smell of roasting meat hung in the January air. We grabbed a spot and began to get into battle dress, being back in the days before America became a proto-fascist, greed fueled police state where the ever present phony threat of "terrorism" gave license to avaricious owners to subject fans to everything but a body cavity search on the way in lest they smuggle in their own beverages and cut down on $9 beer sales we could get away with practically anything. We all carried those seat cushions only they contained cans of beer instead of foam stuffing, flasks of Jack Daniels sippin' whiskey to take the bite off of the cold later in the game as dusk would fall. We also had also backloaded our cigarette packs with a number of marijuana joints. That would be good enough to get us through the afternoon; the only way that we could run short would be if the game went into overtime. After the game we would go and eat some good Mexican food and hit the t*tty bars. We got to our seats just before kickoff and settled in for the game and it didn't start out well, the Oilers had taken the opening kickoff 70 yards in less than two minutes. A good amount of fans were still milling around trying to settle in and the Broncos were already down a score. The first Denver possession resulted in nothing other than a punt and the Oilers promptly drove for a second score. By early in the second quarter the loyal fans in Mile High were restive as Houston quarterback Warren Moon or "Warren Coon" as the shamelessly fucked up Rockie and Big Johnson were heckling him, much to the delight of many in our vicinity in the south stands quickly grabbed a 21-6 lead. Rocky and Big Johnson had recently discovered the Rush Limbaugh show and like many angry white male losers the siren song of the grand poobah of white cultural populism they were easily ensnared by the trolling net. Myself, being apolitical at the time really had no understanding that they were in the early stages of a disease that would come to define our country for the coming two nightmarish decades. A new form of country that would later be exemplified in the rise of Tim Tebow as a bizarre sort of Elway doppelganger to Broncos fans. By the fourth quarter Denver had closed the gap to 24-23 thanks to a botched extra point by kicker David Treadwell. The Bronco defense, after a horrific start had held Houston to only a fourth quarter field goal in the second half. By the time the Broncos got the ball for the last time, they were pinned at their own two yard line by a Houston punt. Then it was Elway time, a mixture of skill, desperation and improvisational wizardry that was the real deal, not the sort of bullshit that Mark Kiszla writes in advocacy of Tim Tebow. John Elway converted two fourth downs on that drive, the first time escaping a near sack and running for the marker on fourth and six to get a new set of downs with 1:38 left. After three straight incomplete passes due to a heavy pass rush, and with clutch receiver Michael Young having been injured on the drive, on fourth and ten Elway scrambled, held up and launched a strike to Vance Johnson who took the ball to the Oiler 21, a 44 yard pass play, a good deal of it on a run past the stunned Houston sideline and a sickly looking Warren Moon. After a ten yard Steve Sewell run Treadwell atoned for his missed extra point by kicking the winning field goal with 16 seconds left. The place erupted in pandemonium, Big Johnson jumped up, already hoarse from shouting at "Warren Coon" for the entire game and vomited on the couple in front of us who we had earlier been passing around a doobie with. Those were the days when Elway often had to win the games largely by himself and there is no comparison -- zip, nada, zilch to the fallacious argument made by Mark Kiszla and the Christian Right P.R. machine that Tebow is just a younger version of John Elway. The first ballot Hall of Famer racked up five Super Bowl appearances, two of them wins, he also racked up 148 total wins, 300 passing touchdowns, 51,475 passing yards, 3,417 rushing yards, 47 fourth quarter comebacks, nine Pro Bowl appearances. And John Elway was the consensus top quarterback prospect in the NFL draft his rookie year, not a product of wishful thinking and public relations. But I Digress".. I too remember the days when fans painted their houses orange, died their lawns orange, sat in sub zero temperatures on the capitol steps in Denver immersed in a vat of orange jello to win Super Bowl tickets, dined on orange pancakes and orange and blue tortilla chips. My time as a fan preceded Kiszla's tenure as the resident Denver Post ass-suckler and I remember the bad old days before the miracle season of 1977 when the Broncos went 12-2 and to their first Super Bowl. Their quarterback was a Christian then too but Craig Morton didn't flaunt it and use it as a raison d'être but back in those days Christians for the most part were humble and followed the actual teachings of Christ, not the devil's gospel of Timothy LaHaye, John Hagee, Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and their ilk more concerned with their political agendas than anything uttered during the Sermon on the Mount. Morton could also win football games in the NFL and had the league been a corporate juggernaut in those days he too would have led the Broncos in jersey sales. While Tebow couldn't carry Elway's jockstrap (despite what his cult may believe) hope springs eternal in Denver after the nadir of 2010. There are already whispers that the Broncos will be targeting a young gun in next year's draft and if he falls perhaps Stanford's Andrew Luck would be a great fit. It is obvious that Kyle Orton is not the long-term solution and Tebow is an albatross and the media circus only ensures that he will be a distraction that will ultimately split the locker room. In the new era of Elway and Fox it is already apparent to all but the delusional that Tebow, like the rest of the cancer from the McDaniels era must be cut out, the sooner the better. Miami needs a quarterback and Tebow could be a nice fit in the Wildcat offense that the team utilizes, he would also be back in the sunshine state and would sell tickets. The show would be also be very entertaining as he tries to mesh with former Bronco receiver Brandon Marshall who is already on the outs in South Florida. The answer though is that Tebow must go and the sooner the better, even if the Broncos get nothing in return, look at the first rounder for Dan Gronkowski, just chalk it up as another McDaniels failure, eat the loss and move on. That's really the only way at this point, anything else will only delay the recovery. As with so many things in this torn apart country the great Tebow debate comes down to those who live in a reality based world and a world of make believe. I never said that Tim Tebow wasn't a good guy, only that he is a false idol who will never be a successful quarterback on the NFL level. Those who use the young man to shove their hateful religion down the throats of the masses are obscene, loathsome and cynical and in the end they are ultimately damaging Tebow himself. Then these are the type who could care less about compassion, empathy, fairness and human decency, the things that that long-haired liberal Jesus Christ preached about. They would just as soon burn everyone who disagrees with their hijacking of a religion at the stake using green wood, the bible warned of these people and they are legion, their burning hatred only surpassed by their failure to acknowledge that which is reality. Tebow may yet find quarterbacking success in the Mile High City, perhaps with the coming Arena Football expansion team that Denver is expected to land.

REPORTS Annual Kyudo Intensive in Vermont with Shibata-sensei. by Raymond Sosnowski, NH Introduction. A year after our first Kyudo Intensive with Shibata-s. [see "First Shot: Kyudo Intensive in Vermont" in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #84, Vol. 9, No. 9, pp. 6-10, September, 1997] and nine months after our second Intensive [see "Second Shot: the Second Kyudo Intensive in Vermont" in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #86, Vol. 9, No. 11, pp. 6-8, November, 1997], my fellow Budo-ka, Mr. Brian Moore, and I returned to Karme-Choling for our third Intensive; we had company in the person of fellow Aikido-ka, Ms. Jean Sadlowski of Milford, NH. For the two of us, this Intensive marked our intention to committed practice because we ordered our first sets of equipment -- we spent a good part of the Intensive working with Yumi (bows) of differing strengths in order to find those which best suited us; more on this later. Jean, of course, spent the Intensive in "First-Shot mode," which we had undergone last year. Instructors. Mr. Kanjuro Shibata XX is the 20th headmaster of Chikurin-ha Heki-Ryu Kyudo, as well as Onyumishi, Imperial Bowmaker to the court of the Emperor of Japan; Shibata-s. relocated to Colorado in 1985. He was accompanied by Mr. Don Symanski, Dojo-cho of Ryuko ("Dagon Tiger") Kyudojo in Boulder, CO, which was established by Sensei in 1980. Mr. Symanski is also a highly skilled Yumi maker, having been taught at Shibata-s.'s workshop in Kyoto, Japan [he is a source for other Kyudo equipment as well; see "New Equipment" below]. Assisting Sensei and Mr. Symanski were the following assistant instructors, instructors and senior instructors: Messers. James Boorstein (New York City), Oscar Garcia (St. Johnsbury, VT), Eric Laufe (Barnet, VT), Dennis Martin (Winterport, ME), Sean Pearson (Pittsford, NY) and Jack Allan Stewart (Danville, VT), and Mss. Tina Carter (Chicago) and Laura-Jean (aka "LJ") Ferenz (Bearsville, NY). [Conspicuous in their absence were Messrs. Marcel Charron (Otterburn Park, Quebec), Philip Ortiz (New York City), Jean-Pierre Poggi (St. Laurent, Quebec), and Marion Taylor (Amherst, MA). All had attended the Intensive for Instructors and Advanced Students on 5 through 14 June at Karme-Choling. Moreover, Shibata-s. would be in Quebec on 26 through 28 June.] Location. Karme-Choling was founded in 1970 by the late Vidyadhara Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche (1939-1987); it is a Tibetan Buddhist and Shambhala meditation center located in the upper Connecticut River Valley section of VT, just eight miles south of St. Johnsbury. It was Chogyam Trungpa, Rinpoche, who invited Shibata-s. to visit the US for the first time in 1980, specifically to teach Kyudo as an active, physical form of meditation. The Kyudo Intensive schedule is well integrated into the overall K-C schedule. Although morning meditation is optional, it was a very good way to begin the day before practicing "Zen archery;" we had a choice of sitting with the K-C community in the main shrine room for an hour which included ten minutes of chanting, or sitting for a half-hour of zazen with the Kyudoka at the K-C guest house, Ashoka Bhavan, located near the center of the town of Barnet, which is a short drive from the K-C complex [I prefer the latter]. After breakfast, the morning session went from 9:30 AM to noon. After lunch and free-time/Rota [community volunteer work], the early afternoon session ran from 2:30 until 4 PM; after afternoon tea, generally lemonade and cookies, the late afternoon session went from 4:30 to 5:30 PM. After evening meditation and dinner, the evening talks began at 8:30 PM at Ashoka Bhavan. Practitioners. All total, there were 38 participants from the United States. We came from the states of Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. We ranged from brand new beginners, at least fifteen took "First- Shot" instruction including two ten year old boys, to senior instructors; about a dozen of us were in various stages of post-First-Shot instruction. Of course, the senior instructors provided guidance to the assistant instructors. Many seniors remarked that this was the biggest group of beginners to take "First-Shot" instruction. The Seminar. This year, one of our biggest concerns was the weather -- there was a great deal of rain in the Northeast this spring; while driving to K-C, I noticed that all the rivers and streams I crossed, including the Connecticut River between Hanover, NH, and White River Junction, VT, were at various elevated flood stages. Indeed, the weather was a factor throughout the Intensive, but we generally were able to work around it. This year's General Intensive spanned five days, 17 through 21 June, as opposed to last year's three days. The first day, like last year, consisted of registration after dinner followed by an evening lecture by Shibata-s. The remaining four days consisted of morning and afternoon instruction, and shooting, plus a talk each evening by a senior student of Shibata-s. Seventy-eight years old this year, Sensei was in much better health this year; he overcame throat and stomach cancer (with a less than 5% recovery rate) four years ago -- many of his students believe this is largely due to his devotion to all his students. Unfortunately, Sensei is now prone to digestion problems after eating, but there was only one bout of this during this Intensive. Day 1 -- Wednesday, 17 June. In somewhat of a tradition, we began the lecture on the first evening with the 11-minute film clip of Shibata-s. teaching Kyudo at K-C in the Fall of 1986 that was filmed by National Geographic [K-C had fewer buildings, everyone looks younger, and there was no Azuchi yet; the Azuchi was dedicated in August, 1992]; "First-Shot" instruction was given in the main shrine room. Even after many viewing it is still quite inspirational. One line that seemed especially telling to me this time was the voice-over of Sensei's translated comment, "A man discovers his true nature at the instant of the release." The central theme of Sensei's talk was the difference [the "gulf" from Sensei's prespective] between Meditation- or Mind-Kyudo and Sports-Kyudo [unless otherwise specified, I use the term "Kyudo" to mean "Meditation- or Mind-Kyudo"]; in fact, it was a recurring theme throughout this Intensive. Sports-Kyudo focuses on the "outside" elements, competition and rank (generally granted in exchange for money); Meditation-Kyudo focuses on "inside" elements, where "the target is the mirror" [to hit the target is to shatter the mirror, that is, to destroy the self/ego, but only in an egoless state can the target be hit consistently]. In Meditation- Kyudo, the results of shooting reveal the inner state of the archer. The result of Meditation-Kyudo is eliminating the ego; Sports-Kyudo has the rather unfortunate general effect of enhancing the ego. Mr. Symanski took several questions and made a few comments with respect to Kyudo and the Yumi (bow). The Yumi is asymmetric because of the natural strength of the bamboo -- it is stronger at the bottom than at the top; therefore, the length of the bow above the grip is longer than that below the grip in order to balance the intrinsic strength of the bamboo which makes up the front and back faces of the Yumi. He travels to Louisiana and Georgia to harvest timber bamboo, imported from Japan many years ago, himself from private groves; the drying process alone takes a year, and the bamboo he uses in making the Yumi are from three to five years old. With respect to Shichido or the Seven Coordinations, which are the Kihon (basics) of Kyudo [see the past two articles for highlights], he said that the two most difficult aspects of Japanese archery are Hanare (release) and Tenouchi (the gripping [of the bow]). Physically, proper Hanare is executed like a sword cut horizontally back [the types of releases were touched on by Sensei after the morning demonstration on the third day; see below]; timing-wise, Hanare is not a conscious act per se, but rather happens when the time is "ripe" according to a kind of natural, internal rhythm [we experience the release rather than anticipate it]. For those who have not experienced it, Tenouchi is impossible to adequately describe. In my first article, I describe it as a position "in which the Yumi rested on the webbing but is not grasped -- the top of the hand is flat so that a `small tea saucer' could rest on it, while `robin's egg' could fit in the space between the Yumi and the lower palm." This actually describes the "Tiger's Mouth" configuration of the left hand on the grip at Kai, the full draw prior to the release. In the second article, I said, "I realize why learning to grip the Yumi is said to take 10 years; maintaining Tenouchi, that is, forming the `Tiger's Mouth,' is just so difficult during Uchi Okoshi (raising the bow), Hiki-tori (drawing the bow), and Kai (full draw prior to the release [literally "meeting"]), and it is most difficult to maintain during Hanare." Tenouchi is, in fact, really a dynamic aspect and not a static one as these above descriptions may have erroneouly implied. In Kai, the full force of the Yumi is balanced on the webbing of the left hand; in Hanare, the left hand grip must be loose enough so that the Yumi can rotate in the hand [it does during proper shooting] -- in fact, the Tsuru (string) ends up stopping on the outer side of the forearm, and this rotation of the Yumi in the left hand is called Yugaeri; the Yumi would rotate in a complete circle if the forearm was not in the way. The draw strength of the Yumi should be a challenge to the user [I spent a good part of the Intensive finding out what this should be for me, since I intended to purchase a Yumi -- more on this aspect below]. Draw strengths are in proportion to the ability of the archer [stronger is not better, just different, according to the present-time ability of the archer]. Finally, like Kenshi (Japanese-style swordsmen), there are no left-handed archers [everyone draws the Tsuru or bowstring back with the right hand]; there are no left-handed Kake (archer's glove for drawing the Tsuru). Day 2 -- Thursday, 18 June. The first day began in the manner of the proverbial "Chinese firedrill." It was a overcast morning and we had just set up the Makiwara and stands outdoors, having brought them to the front lawn form their storage location in an adjacent barn, but just before Sensei arrived it began to rain; everything that we had set up had to be brought in under the tents [there were three large tents (open on three sides) set up on the lawn in front of the K-C complex: the closest one was the "reception" area, and the farthest one was just behind the shooting platform, and there was a middle one]. Sensei arrived amidst a moderate rain, and we opened the Intensive in the "reception" tent. He commented before we began that we should not think of the rain as a "bad thing;" on the contrary, it was a "good thing." The morning demonstration of Shichido and Makiwara shooting was given by Mr. Dennis Martin, and in the afternoon by Mr. Jack Stewart. After the morning demonstration, Shibata-s. commented that the ingredients for superior Kyudo are contained in the Japanese phrase "Kin Kae Chuu" meaning "balance-heart-joining" with "heart" implying fearlessness and vulnerability. Mr. Symanski commented that each of the Seven Coordinations increased the level of intent, and that the Third Coordination, Yumi Gamae or "positioning the Yumi" [especially at the end, with Shamen no Kamae or "the stance having shifted the Yumi forward towards the target," and Monomi or "fixing the gaze"] was key, demonstrating the commitment to shoot. By the way, Sensei observed all the groups for the whole day. We divided into three groups: fifteen beginners for First-Shot, ten intermediate students with post-First-Shot experience, and three advanced students. The beginners spent the day learning Shichido, the Seven Coordinations. Intermediate and advanced students were given a quick review, and then spent the morning doing Makiwara shooting. By mid-morning, the rain stopped and the Makiwara were moved out from under the tents. For the early afternoon session, the sun came out and it was humid; the intermediate students continued Makiwara shooting while the advanced students did platform shooting. Finally, in the late afternoon session after tea, the intermediate students joined the advanced students on the platform for 28 m shooting. I had spent the day, as an intermediate student, increasing the draw strength of the Yumi I used, from 13-Kilograms (Kg) in the morning, to 15- and then 16-Kg in the afternoon [I was so taken with the color scheme of this 16-Kg Yumi that I ordered one with a very similar scheme as described below]. The evening talk was given by Mr. Eric Laufe on "Mind-Kyudo" [Sensei chose both the speakers and the topics during this Intensive as a part of his instructors' training]. Mr. Laufe related his experiences at K-C where he is a resident. His initial reaction as a resident, circa 1992, was hostile -- Kyudo was an "outside" activity which disturbed what he expected were the normal K-C activities. However, arrogance turned to wakefulness with the realization that Zazen (seated meditation) with Kokyu (breathing) and Kyudo (Zen archery) were two different tools that are employed to discover the "nature of the mind." In Kyudo, the Yumi is the teacher, and the practice is a kind of mirror -- "the mind comes into balance" upon release, that is, there is a personal joining/integration in which "the path is the goal." Furthermore, in our mindfulness and awareness, the [Kyudo] form dissolves into formlessness. [I find that it is difficult to put down words for any of these ideas, whether they are understood or not; in all cases, the words are inadequate, that is poor approximation for powerful concepts that can only be experienced.] Day 3 -- Friday, 19 June. Friday morning was partly cloudy, and we were able to open the day's practice on the platform. Several passing sprinkles were ignored, and we shot all day under open skies. Intermediate and advanced students did Makiwara shooting while the beginners reviewed Shichido. I got a lot of personal corrections on my form from several of the instructors, including Messers. Symanski, Stewart, and Pearson. In my quest for the proper Yumi draw strength, I went from a 16-Kg Yumi to a 17/18-Kg Yumi. In the afternoon, the beginners took First-Shot, and then continued to do Makiwara shooting, and the Intermediate and Advanced students did platform shooting. The morning demonstration of Shichido and Makiwara shooting was done by Ms. Laura-Jean Ferentz, and the afternoon demonstration by Mr. Sean Pearson; morning commentary was provided by Mr. Dennis Martin, and afternoon commentary by Mr. Dave Harlap [Sensei is using these demonstrations as training exercises for his instructors and assistant instructors]. Again, Sensei observed all he students all day long. Sensei reminded us at the close of the day's practice that Meditation-Kyudo is "high practice," and thus requires a great deal of effort on the part of the practitioners. Kyudo is a method of Tanren (spiritual training/forging); the answer to the question "How often/long should I practice?" is simply "For the rest of my life!" The evening talk after dinner was given by Mr. Dennis Martin on the informal history of Japanese Kyudo. The Heki Ryu was founded [circa 1483] by Heki Danjo Masatsugu and was the first organized school of combat-style archery; as such, it is a military, as opposed to a ceremonial, style, and was practiced by Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and Tokugawa Ieyasu prior to and during the early Tokugawa Shoganate, founded in 1603. [Ironically, the introduction of firearms into warfare by Oda Nobunaga in 1575 marks the end of the effective use of Kyujutsu, combat archery; however, the decline of Kyujutsu precipitated the birth of Kyudo (Zen archery).] The style then passed to the Yoshida family [Yoshida Shigekata received the transmission of the Heki Ryu directly from Heki Danjo]. Our variation, the Chikirin-ha, comes from the name of a Shingon Buddhist priest, who had studied Heki Ryu. The full name of our style is Heki Ryu Bisshu Chikirin-ha, where Bisshu refers to a region in Japan that our style is associated with. The first Shibata Kanjuro moved to Kyoto in the sixteenth century; as bowmakers to various Daimyo and the Tokugawa Shogunate, as well as master archers, the Shibata family has maintained an unbroken lineage into modern times. Four generations ago during the Meiji Restoration, Shibata Kanjuro XVIII became Onyumishi, bowmaker to the Emperor of Japan, and that title has been passed on to the succeeding generations. The present Soke, Shibata Kanjuro XX, learned from his "grandfather" (maternal uncle), the previous Soke. Mr. Martin continued with his personal experiences of Kyudo. All Kyudo practice is based directly on experience; words can only give a flavor. Kyudo is a method of "forging the spirit," of "opening the heart" and of "integrating Body, Mind and Spirit." We start by understanding the mechanics and learning the vocabulary; any preconceived notions become tempered by reality. We experience frustration in attempting to control that which is uncontrollable. Kyudo must be approached with the fullest intention, that is, to make each shot as if it were going to be the last. In the end, Kyudo is all about attitude -- working hard and practicing with awareness. Day 4 -- Saturday, 20 June. Saturday morning was partly cloudy with a few sprinkles of no consequence. Everyone began shooting on the Makiwara with the intermediate and advanced students, after warming up, transitioning to platform shooting. Sensei observed all the morning sessions. I was given some personal corrections on the platform by Sensei: "Keep the hands balanced during Yumi Daoshi (carring posture with the Yumi and Ya fanning back like a "V")" and "Keep the [left] hand open [a bit] during Hiki Tori (drawing, the Fifth Coordination); don't squeeze hard/tight." The morning demonstration of Shichido and Makiwara shooting was given by Mr. Jim Boorstein. Sensei used this opportunity to expound on the four "styles of release:" Ken - backfist or "hit the drum," Setsu - sword or "cut," Betsu - dancing or "Banzai," and Futsu - "feather duster." Sensei said that the latter two are inappropriate because the forearm motions are out of proper alignment; initially, the release of most practitioners is in the first style. Ideally, the release should be in the second style. After lunch, it rained for most of the afternoon. During this time, we were given lectures in Yumi care, and stringing and unstringing the Yumi; then we got to string and unstring our Yumi. After tea, everyone continued with Makiwara shooting under the tents, and I got to try a different 17-Kg Yumi. About a half hour before ending the day, the rain stopped; we quickly assembled on the platform, and managed to get one round of shooting done before "Last shot" was called. [Reiho dictates that when "Last shot" is called, everyone answers (shouts) "Hai." Those who are on the platform finish their two-arrow shooting, and those shooting at the Makiwara complete Shichido, and then retrieve their Ya.] Sensei had been absent during the afternoon, and Mr. Symanski led the closing on the platform. After dinner, the evening speaker was Mr. Jack Stewart on "Azuchi Etiquette." Opening and closing Reiho consists of a low bow to the East, which represents enlightenment, and a moderate bow to Sensei and the instructors, which also represents bowing to each other, and a short period of standing meditation. The footwork to enter a stance for standing meditation resembles Ashibumi, the First Coordination; the hands join in a standard Mudra, generally fingers resting on fingers with the thumb tips touching to form an "O." We begin with the collective call, echoing Sensei, "Hajimemasu" ("I begin/commence/open"). Similary, we end with collective call, "Owarimasu" ("I end/finish/complete"). The purpose of etiquette is to show respect. Mr. Stewart went on to relate aspects of Taoism [Chinese philosophy partially attributed to Lao Tsu and his purported text the "Tao Te Ching"] to Kyudo. An old Taoist saying says that we are three people, "Who we think we are, who others think we are, and who we really are." The first two require thinking and are manifestations of ego; the last one requires not- thinking. We should beware of judgments and opinions here, because our senses are good tools although limited, and thinking is also a good tool although limited. Kyudo is a tool for Zen, allowing us to just feel and be who we really are. The take-home message here is to "accept life for what it is." Day 5 -- Sunday, 21 June. Sunday was a bright and sunny day. During the morning session, everyone began with Makiwara shooting and then transitioned to platform shooting. Right after lunch at 1 PM, Mr. Eric Laufe gave a Kyudo demonstration on the platform for the K-C residents as part of their Mid-Summer's Day celebration [I missed it because I had Rota after lunch, preparing food and drink for the afternoon tea and reception]. In the afternoon, only a short practice session was held between 2 and 3 PM; again everyone began with Makiwara shooting and then transitioned to platform shooting. At 3 PM, Mr. Symanski attended by Mr. Boorstein gave a formal shooting demonstration from the platform [I have noticed that there are two Yumi for formal demonstrations; the second one is a spare in case the Tsuru of the first one breaks]. Finally, from 4 to 5 PM, we had tea and a reception for all the Kyudo students along with Sensei. For the reception, we had cheese and crackers, strawberries, and cookies, along with punch and lemonade. We ate and talked for a while, and then made our farewells to Sensei, his instructors, and our other fellow students. After the opening ceremony in the morning, Sensei gave an impromptu talk on Shichido. The Seven Coordinations are the same for everyone; the difference is inside -- "heart." Beginners mostly do "sports-shooting" [implying ego, and a competitive spirit: "I WANT to hit the target"]. Intermediate students still do half "sports-shooting;" while for advanced students, they retain a trace at most. At the closing ceremony, Sensei related to us a colloquial Japanese expression which can be translated as "May your neck grow long" which means "I look forward to meeting again." I look forward to seeing Sensei next year, and returning to K-C in September for the next Intensive. Congratuations. Although we refer to this art as Kyudo, "the way of the bow," there is one aspect of Heki-Ryu Bisshu Chikurin-ha Kyudo that is quite different from other modern "-do" arts: rank. Although the Zen Nihon Kyudo Renmei (All Japan Kyudo Federation) or ZNKR has adopted the Kano-style [after Mr. Jigero Kano, the founder of Kodokan Judo] system of rank, dan & kyu, our Ryuha still uses the older form of Menkyu (certificate/license). These are issued by Sensei without formal testing. At the closing of the Intensive, it was announced that Ms. Tina Carter and Mr. Oscar Garcia were promoted to the level of full instructor. Congratulations to the both of you for years of dedicated practice and hard work. New Equipment. During lunch on Friday, I bought a Kake (Kyudo shooting glove) in a size 9 (the largest available without a special order), and a long, unfledged Ya (a little under 41 inches, also the longest available without a special order) for Makiwara shooting. After the Saturday evening talk, I placed my order with Mr. Symanski for a 17/18-Kg Yumi, similar in color (outside strip of blond bamboo, inside strip of smoked bamboo, and dark brown tips and middle strips between the two bamboo strips plus a black hand grip) to the first 16-Kg Yumi that he lent me [the maximum draw for the class Yumi was 15-Kg; all those of higher draw strengths were "loaners"], and a pair of heavy-duty [to stand up to the robust draw strength, which will be transferred to the Ya upon release] fledged Ya for platform shooting. I also ordered a Kake bag, Yumi wrapper and cover, a rain cover, and an extra Tsuru (bowstring), and an extra unfledged Ya. The Yumi would take about 9 weeks to make and deliver [around the second half of August]. Lessons Learned. I received a number of personal adjustments for Shichido. In the Fourth Coordination, Uchi Okoshi (raising the Yumi), be sure that the left shoulder and elbow are moved forward first, and then pivot the left forearm up around the left elbow. In the Fifth Coordination, Hiki Tori (drawing), be sure to pull back with the right elbow; just before completion, draw the elbow down a bit. In the Sixth Coordination, Kai ("meeting"), the Ya touched the corner of the mouth -- it will not cut since upon Hanare (release), the first part of the Seventh Coordination, the Yumi flips out to the right, away from the face. The thumb of the Kake should point to the target. Over-rotation of the Kake causes the Ya to visibly flex; I need to back off to a point where the Kake just holds the Tsuru during the draw [use only enough energy to get the job done, and no more]. And now for a few random items gleaned from various sources throughout the Intensive. The Yumi is never "dry-fired" [released from a full draw without a Ya]; to determine the strength of a Yumi, take Ashi-bumi, and draw with the four fingers of the right hand, but do not release -- instead, just ease up slowly. Besides alignment, Ashi-bumi sets the "state of the body" for the rest of Shichido: a firm foundation from the waist down (earth), and relaxed torso above the waist (heaven). In platform shooting, it is better to "aim" higher because a lighter Yumi requires a bit of elevation to the Ya in order to reach the Mato (target). The two lower fingers of the Kake [right] hand are likened to two cooked "baby shrimp" -- keep them curled up at all times. Ms. Jean Sadlowski, who took First-Shot, came up with an interesting observation that resonated well with me: Shichido has a strong sense of [Hatha] Yoga Asanas (postures). Finally, a personal obervation that the rounded arms in first three Coordinations are strongly related to Chan Chuang, Chinese standing meditation, especially Yu Chou Chang (Universal Post). ARTICLES HOW AND/OR WHY I MAKE SHINKEN When people ask me what I do for a living, this is what I tell them. It's a long answer, but I've found it bores them into a false sense of acceptance; that I'm not really crazy. This is good, since I may have to borrow money from them some day. I make Shinken for a living. That, along with Honami Ryu polishing of art swords. From what I've seen on the net, I could provoke an argument about any or all of the above, so first let me offer a definition for Shinken and we can agree to disagree from there. To me it's a real or live sword shaped in the Japanese form and mounted in traditional Japanese style mounts. Everything is handmade and hand fitted. As a weapon defines the technique(s) for using it, I consider these points elemental. Now if this seems obvious, consider the Japanese never used hollow ground blades, nor plastic same`. See, you thought I was kidding about that disagree stuff. That said, some personal background. I was trained in the basic techniques of Honami Ryu polishing, habaki making , shirasaya carving and stock removal manufacturing by Francis Boyd, the sword smith. He in turn was trained in the sword related crafts by Nakajima Muneyoshi , the man brought to the US in the 1970s by the embryonic JSSUS to teach and perform sword restoration. I serve as a deshi or hammerman to Francis (read slave labor) when he forges blades in the traditional manner .( I was going to say something about "pain building character", but I'll save that for the belt grinder discourse.) I began mounting Gunto, or WW II army swords, for martial arts use in the 80s. In the early 90's, I bought some blades made by Bob Engnath ,saw the difference between Gunto and stock removal blades and soon started making my own swords. Making Shinken. (That was the topic before I began the self promotion). The first point is the steel. I use a simple medium- high carbon steel, or in other words, 1050 to 1075 mill stock steels. This means that the ductility, hardness, resistance to fracture, in short all those attributes which are important to a sword, are the result of the variation in the amount of carbon in the steel alone. Just like in the old swords. (More modern steels use alloying elements to increase or decrease these properties) "Mill stock" means I get the steel in great big dirty sheets either ¼" or 5/16" thick and 10 feet long. I cut the steel on a metal cutting bandsaw to the shape of the blade, but straight not curved. I then visit the grinder. I use a 1 hp Wilton belt grinder to flat grind the mune angles, shinogi width and height, the size and arc of the ji and the features of the kissaki and nakago. (OK Here we go, mune =spine, shinogi = upper side of the blade which forms a ridge, ji = side of blade from the cutting edge to the ridge, kissaki = tip, nakago = tang). Belt grinders are the most efficient way to remove steel from the blank, forming a compound curved area in the ji and kissaki. They also are the world's fastest manicure machine. Unfortunately, they only do one style of manicure, severe. A blade at this stage, by the way, is called a sunobe. Poor craftsmen at this stage are called Stubby. Japanese swords are differentially heat treated. This allows a sword to take a keen edge while having a ductile body to prevent breaking upon impact. This also causes the most distinctive feature of the Japanese sword, the hamon or visible hardened edge. To accomplish this, we cover the body of the blade with an insulative material, a proprietary type of clay. Our mixture has twelve ingredients. The area that is to be hardened is left bare. After application and drying, usually a week's process, the real fun begins. We use a "slot top" furnace to heat the blades, in total darkness, late at night , when the neighbors aren't home. (The slot top sounds like a 737 at take off) Using the color of the glowing steel as an indicator, the blade is withdrawn at the right moment and plunged edge down into the water bath. Then you pray. The blade will curve, sometimes twists in all directions, sometimes goes back to its' original shape. You can't tell. You do listen for the tell tale ping. You see, the entire blade will expand uniformly when heated. When it is quenched in the water, the uncovered edge will be arrested in it expanded size. The covered body will cool more slowly and contract back to its' preheated size forming a curved shape. When that contraction is too quick for the steel, the ping announces a crack. These blades make very good letter openers or sometimes Sushi knives. Assuming the heat treatment is successful, the next step is to the anvil to correct any twists or bends. It's then back to the belt grinder to redefine the planes and angles and finish the nakago. Final rough shaping is then done with a series of hand files which true up any lapses with the belt grinder. The blade is then polished with the three Japanese water stones that comprise the shitaji togi or foundation polish . When this has been completed, the blade is sent for its habaki and wood work. Since the blade now has most of its' final shape (sugata), this is a good point to talk about how I do blade design. The sword's form is dictated by its' intended target. In the good old days, that would have been laminar armor or cloth covered flesh. A sword intended to defeat armor had to have more ha niku (niku = meat) supporting the edge. A sword to be used against a "softer" target has a less convex side. Each style cuts differently against different targets. Recently , we tested two blade designs against a "flexible" target, i.e. rolled tatami mats about 5 " in diameter with no core support. The sword with ha niku cut through the mats, but frayed the roll at the exit side. The design with less ha niku cut through all mats with no fraying. I should emphasize that I'm talking about the area of the blade used for cutting, the monoushi, which is the quarter of the blade just below the yokote. Since my blades are not forged with a laminated construction, we retain the "meat" in the lower blade in both designs to prevent bending. A word about the blade's mountings. Since all our blades are custom order, both wood pieces and the metal habaki are hand made and hand fitted. The tsuka should fit snug in the four directions, requiring effort to be removed from the blade. The saya should retain the blade at the tip and at the habaki, the rest of the blade "floats" within the saya. There should be no evidence of looseness, such as shaking within the saya and it cannot bind on the sides during the draw (these are the usual two problems seen with mass produced or incorrectly carved sayas). Naturally, we use hand carved water buffalo horn for the "horn" pieces of the saya furniture (Please see paragraph 2). Habakis are hand made in the traditional manner, with a wedge insert under the ha machi and a soldered seam, allowing precise fitting to the blade. The fuchi/kashira (pommel and mouth piece for the tsuka), tsuba (guard) and menuki (parts under the ito) are usually Fred Lohman's steel pieces, although we do sometimes make them as a special design. The same` is fully wrapped around the tsuka using one whole skin per tsuka. The ito (cord) is 100% silk and compressed and shrunk to insure tightness. Now that all the steps which might scratch the blade are complete, the polish is finished with the final three stationary stones, two finger stones, nugui rouge and hadori stone. Finally, the shinogi and mune are burnished and the yokote is cut at a 90 deg. angle at the tip. All that's left now is the final fitting. Filing the seppa (washers) to fit, filing the tsuba or inserting copper plugs for an exact fit and testing for cutting ability. All in all, about 9 months of fun and frolic, but then you'll probably only buy one of these in your lifetime, it should be as perfect as we can make it. Bill Latham, USA [email protected] IAIDO PRACTICE TOPS 100% cotton, sized to you and supplied at cost through the Sei Do Kai. $70 (includes postage). Black or white, other colours may be extra. Measure the chest size at nipple height, shoulder point to shoulder point, and from neck to mid-thigh. Send your measurements to Sei Do Kai. 44 Inkerman St. Guelph, Ontario Canada N1H 3C5. KENDO AND IAIDO PRACTICE. Keith Hazlewood, BKA: As a point of intrest in Japan only 1% of the membership of the ZNKR study Iai here in the UK 46% of the BKA membership study Iai . It would be interesting to see how it pans out in other countries . Aad van de Wijngaart, Holland: Last year the board of the Dutch Kendo Renmei held a survey about the numbers of people practicing kendo, iaido and jodo respectively. Twenty out of twenty-five dojo filled in the forms. The numbers were as follows. Only kendo 252 Only iaido 51 Only jodo 33 Kendo + iaido 14 Kendo + jodo 2 Kendo + iaido + jodo 10 Iaido + jodo 42 Total response number 404 Ergo: Kendo:278 people (69 % of the total response number) Iaido:117 people (29 %) Jodo: 87 people (22 %) While we're on the statistics track, I might as well add the age/gender information from the survey. Under 18 18 and older Total Female 6 % 12 % 18 % Male 14 % 68 % 82 % Total 20 % 80 % 100 % WEB PAGES Sei Do Kai Iaido homepage: Kim Taylor's webpages Canadian Kendo Federatin: Ontario Kendo Federation homepage __ VIDBBI-7. $25 __ 7 Vidbbi tapes $175 __ a catalogue, or price quotes on weapons contact Kim Taylor at the above address, tel 519-836-4357, or email [email protected]

. CANADA WEST Barry Wiseman, 11038 Greenwood Dr. Mission B.C. V4S 1/EVENT ANNOUNCEMENTS Jodo Gashuku with Kaminoda Sensei Some folks just can't get to Kashima or Katori for a Jodo training camp (gashuku)! So you're invited to our third annual gashuku with the Nihon Jodokai under the auspices of Mr. Kaminoda, Tsunemori, Menkyo Kaiden, Hanshi, Hachidan - Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo sponsored by the Beikoku Rembukan. The dates are: Saturday, October 24th through Monday, October 26, 1998. This year, this three day event will be nestled in the Catoctin Mountains of Western Maryland near the presidential retreat of Camp David about 14 miles away from the Gettysburg battlefield. We will be touring the famous Pennsylvania battlefield on Tuesday for those who wish to join us. At training camps in Japan, the evening discussions are often as informative as the training time on the mat, so we have chosen a location where we can all train, eat, socialize, and sleep at one location. Besides the obvious savings in expense to the participants, it affords more time to enjoy the relationships made over the years as well as make new friends. As in past years, space will be very limited in order to maintain the high teacher-student ratio for quality and individualized attention. Please register early. This year's facility offers a great unvarnished wood floor, some very scenic hiking trails, and a nice dining room. As in past years, we will again break into groups by skill level, and beginners are strongly encouraged to come and experience jodo. Beginners will work on kihon and seiteigata and skilled practitioners will work on koryu and may get the opportunity to practice some Kenjutsu, Hojojutsu, Tanjojutsu or Juttejutsu as well. Costs for the 3 day event including meals from Saturday lunch through Monday Dinner will be $240. As the training site is approximately 1 and a half hours from Baltimore we ask that participants coordinate their travel arrangements to arrive at BWI on Friday so that we can collect everyone for the bus to the mountains. We will also arrange return transportation on Monday for those unable to stay for the battlefield tour. If you have your own transportation and will be driving to the site, we will be happy to give you directions. If you arrive on Friday evening, there will be no additional costs for the extra night's residence. We look forward to seeing you in the mountains. Mr. Kaminoda is also a Hanshi Hachidan in Muso Shinden Ryu Iai. Iaido training will be offered in Annapolis on Wednesday the 28th and/or Thursday the 29th. Details of this training will be announced shortly and this will be treated as a separate event. If you are interested in participating, please respond with your name, experience (if any) in Shindo Muso Ryu jodo, phone number, address and e-mail address to one of the following: Richard Strausbaugh, [email protected] Tom Calabrese, [email protected] Dan Pearson, [email protected] Ide, Haruna & Oshita in Guelph for the 8th Annual Spring Iaido Seminar. by Raymond Sosnowski, NH Introduction. On May 16th through the 18th, Seidokai at the University of Guelph, Ontario, held its eighth annual Spring Iaido seminar. This was followed by a day of Jodo, or half a day of Jodo and half a day of Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu, according to the preferences of the practitioners. Of course, there was the (in)famous dinner and auction on the evening of the first day, Saturday, May 16th, and Iaido promotion exams for Mudansha grades on the morning of the second day, Sunday, May 17th. Instructors. Returning to Guelph were Mr. Matsuo Haruna (Iaido Hachidan, Kyoshi) from Ohara, the home town of Miyamoto Musashi, in Okayama-ken, Mr. Masakazu Oshita (Iaido Nanadan, Kyoshi) from Kobe as well as our own Mr. Goyo Ohmi (Iaido Rokudan, Renshi) from Toronto. In addition, we had a special guest, Mr. Katsuhiko Ide (Iaido & Jodo, Hachidan, Hanshi) from Osaka whose Koryu is Muso Shinden Ryu or MSR. Ide-s. taught Jodo during the last two hours of each day of the regular seminar as well as on the day after the seminar, Tuesday, May 19th; he also taught Seitei Iai Gata on the first day of the seminar, and MSR Iaido on the last two days of the seminar. Location. Over 80 some odd practitioners, a record number, came together in the large "field house" in the University of Guelph's athletic complex, the Mitchell Athletics Centre for the three days of the Iaido Seminar. The promotion exams on Sunday, May 17th, were held in the adjoining squash courts. Jodo on Tuesday, May 19th, took place in the large anteroom outside of the Dance Studio (DS210) whereas the Niten Ichi Ryu took place in DS210. Participants who stayed on campus were housed in the East Residence, a highrise of suites, which are just a five-minute walk from the Athletics Centre. Practioners. The number of participants this year, over 80, exceeded that of last year -- that's a lot of metal in the air. I saw a number of familiar faces. From Canada, there were groups from Guelph, Montreal, Toronto and Thunder Bay; from the US, New York State was well represented with groups from Latham (near Albany), New York City, and Rochester. I met a gentleman there from Chicago and there were two from Maryland; of course, I came from New Hampshire, and I am sure that there are a few locations that I missed [Sumimasen]. The Seminar. The seminar began on the morning of Saturday, May 16th, with Mr. Kim Taylor (Godan, Iaido), our host, leading warmups and an initial round of Seitei (aka Zen Ken Ren) Iai Gata. When the visiting Sensei arrived, they were introduced by Ohmi-s. The first day was devoted to Seitei Iai Gata for everyone. The group of Mudansha from beginners through Ikkyu were taught by Haruna-s. along with Ohmi-s.; the "junior" Yudansha, Shodan and Nidan, by Oshita-s.; and the "senior" Yudansha, Sandan through Rokudan(!), by Ide-s. I participated in the group of "junior" Yudansha. Oshita-s. began with Reiho (etiquette) for Seitei Iai Gata, followed by a detailed explanation of the footwork of Ipponme Mae, where the take-home message is "move the legs and feet in order to maintain center/balance." We went through all ten of Seitei iai Gata, concentrating on the aspects of Metsuke (gaze), Seme (forward projection of spirit), timing, and the [physical] "check points" within each Kata. We received individual corrections while participating in "mock" Embu (demonstrations). Oshita-s. said that the "level" of a practitioner can be ascertained by the Seme of the individual: none in beginners, some in intermediates and full in advanced practitioners; he convincingly demonstrated each level of practice. He also left us with two important points: maintaining balance by turning the torso (eyes lead the head, and the head leads the torso), and using Koshi (normally translated as hips) or [whole] "body" movement. [These concepts are explicitly articulated in the T'ai Chi Classics, an anthology of writings by various T'ai Chi Ch'uan masters.] On the second and third days of the seminar, the Mudansha continued with the Seitei Iai Gata, whereas the Yudansha practiced Koryu. Also, the Shinsa (promotion exams) for Mudansha were held on the morning of the second day, Sunday, May 17th. There were seven challengers for Ikkyu, and all were successful. I heard from one of them that Mr. Bill ("the hard bastard") Mears (Yondan, Iaido) gave the testees a very, very thorough post-mortem [read: "dressing down"] after the Shinsa [IMHO, he's tough because he cares, and I like that a lot]. Ohmi-s. and Mears-s. worked with the beginners, while Haruna-s. continued to work with the Ikkyu students. For the Koryu, Oshita-s. worked with the Yudansha of the Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (MJER), and Ide-s. with those of the Muso Shinden Ryu (MSR). The latter Koryu group was about a dozen students while the former was four times larger and ranged from Shodan through Rokudan. [The former group of Yudansha could have easily been divided in two, but unfortunately there were not enough Sensei to accomplish this.] Oshita-s. began with the Reiho for the Koryu, MJER, including the differences in Seiza, Tachi-rei (standing bow), and the initial and final Zarei (kneeling bows) compared to the Reiho of Seitei Iai Gata. On this second day, we went through all eleven Kata of the Omori Ryu (aka Seiza no Bu and Shoden Waza); all but one Kata begin in Seiza -- the exception, Jupponme Oi-kaze, is a Tachi Waza (standing technique). We specifically practiced Oi-kaze in order to work on Nukitsuke (single-hand draw and cut) at the end of a simulated run, having given chase to an opponent [yet more to practice]. Oshita-s. made an interesting point with respect to Ipponme Mae and related Kata of the Omori Ryu. He said that the foot stomp during Nukitsuke should be accompanied by a tightening of the Hara (belly) for energy projection in the cut; later (around the level of Godan), the foot stomp is optional and could be eliminated, but the tensing of the Hara remains [very interesting]. On the third day, Mr. Tom Hooper (Rokudan, Iaido) and Oshita-s. led warmups before the groups reformed. Ohmi-s. again worked with the beginners, and Haruna-s. with the Ikkyu students. Likewise, for the Koryu, Oshita-s. worked with the Yudansha of the MJER, and Ide-s. with those of the Muso Shinden Ryu (MSR). Last year, the Sensei switched groups on a daily basis at least, but not this year [see my article, "Haruna-sensei in Guelph for the 7th Annual Seidokai Summer Seminar & Shinsa," published in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #82, Volume 9, Numbers 6/7 (double issue), pp. 19 - 22, June/July, 1997]. Oshita-s. began by reviewing the Kata of Omori Ryu. As a group, we divided in half, picked partners, and practiced the Kata facing each other -- we used each other as the attacker to be defended against, good practice for both Metsuke and Zanshin. He followed up by going through all the Kata of the Eishin Ryu (aka Tate-hiza no Bu and Chuden Waza). All but the last of the ten Kata begin in Tate-hiza (a half-kneeling position originally used outdoors, particularly when dressed in battlefield armor); the last Kata, Jupponme Makkoh, begins in Seiza. [Many Kata of the Eishin Ryu have corresponding analogues in the Omori Ryu.] Oshita-s. concentrated on three Kata that are the most complex in the Eishin Ryu, Yohonme Uki-gumi, Ropponme Iwa-nami, and Kyuhomne Taki-otoshi. We practiced in pairs, one at a time, so that one person could observe and critique the other person doing the Kata. He also noted that the left foot steps back to assume Tate-hiza in Koryu, unlike Seitei Iai Gata in which the right foot steps forward. [Ide-s. covered the analogous material for MSR on the second and third days.] I noticed this year a much greater reliance on verbal explanation by the visiting Sensei; unfortunately, these explanations along with the accompanying translations seemed to take up a significant portion of the training time. In our group, there seemed to be an over-emphasis on "important points." The down-side is that after hearing about a dozen or more important points, it is impossible to concentrate on them all at once; I, for one, had no sense of priority. This made for uneven practice time- wise -- too much cooling down and stiffening up during the long explanations. On the positive side, we learned quite a bit about the Bunkai (applications) of the various Kata. One explanation that caught everyone by surprise is the Bunkai for Nihonme Tora no Issoku. The initial parry seems to be the same as the parry in the second part of Gohonme Yae-gake in the Omori Ryu. Everyone assumes that former Bunkai is the same as the latter, that is, intercepting a low Sune Uchi (cut to the shin). Oshita-s. said that the Bunkai for Tora no Issoku is to parry an attack like the first two-handed cut in Yae-gake -- Teki's (virtual Uchitachi's) distance is too long for a Shomen or Kata Uchi (head or shoulder cut), even with the step in, so the strike pragmatically becomes a Sune Uchi from overhead. [In hindsight, especially given that Atarashii Naginata, which I practice, uses the Sune or shin as its most common target, it makes sense to me now; in Yae-gake the low Sune Uchi is obvious, since it is the last-chance gasp of a felled Samurai, but in Tora no Issoku it is not obvious because none of the Kata in the Omori Ryu and Eishin Ryu as well as in the Okuden Suwari Waza begins with a low cut of any kind.] At the end of the first day, Ide-s. began a series of Jodo sessions. In the the first session, he introduced the four Kamae (Tsune no Kamae, Honte no Kamae, Gyakute no Kamae and Hikiotoshi no Kamae), the first three of twelve Kihon or basics (Honte Uchi, Gyakute Uchi, and Hikiotoshi Uchi), and the first two of the twelve Seitei Jo Gata (Ipponme Tsukizue and Nihonme Tsuigetsu). There were approximately an equal number of beginners and "ringers;" Mr. Rick Polland from Maryland, who attended for the first two days, has taught Shindo Muso Jodo beginning with Seitei Jo Gata to a number of us for the past few years [I have submitted articles such as "The Second Annual Shindo Muso Ryu Gasshuku in MD" and "Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo Workshop in Guelph, Winter 1998" to be published in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts, and have mentioned the training in "Initial Impressions of Atarashii Naginata" in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #82, Volume 9, Number 6/7, pp. 30 - 35, June/July, 1997, and in "Sword Festival Weekend in Guelph" in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #84, Volume 9, Number 9, pp. 13 - 14, September, 1997, along with a write up by Mr. Jeff H. Broderick on p. 12]. At the end of the second day, Ide-s. reviewed the previous Kihon and Kata, and then proceeded to teach the fourth Kihon, Kaeshizuki, and the fourth Kata, Yohonme Shamen, having skipped the third Kata, Sambonme Hissage. At the end of the third day in an abbreviated session, Ide-s. reviewed the Kihon and Kata of the previous two days. At the very end of the last day, Monday, May 18th (Victoria Day, a national holiday in Canada), after the shortened Jodo practice, an Embu was held. There were six groups of students who demonstrated what they had learned during the seminar, including Jodo. And for the finale, the visiting Sensei demonstrated their levels of practice [much, much more practice for me]. During the breaks, the seminar sometimes took on the air of an "arms bazaar." Mr. Rick Polland, president of Cutting Edge Technologies (Severna Park, MD), and general manager of international sales for Nosyuiaido (Seki City, Japan), came with a large number of fine Iaito [FYI, I have used one for over a year now -- highly recommended; see my article "Reflections on Purchasing an Iaito and Bokuto" in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #90, Volume 10, Number 3, pp. 9 - 11, March 1998], as well as Sageo, Uwagi, Hakama, and Iaito/Shinken maintenance kits. Mr. Kim Taylor of Taylor-Made Wooden Weapons had a large assortment of Bokuto/Bokken, Jo, Tanjo, and Rokushaku-Bo as well as walking canes on display for purchase; the Bokuto came in a large variety of different woods including several in two different woods laminated together. The quality is good and the prices are always a bargain. Also, Seidokai produced a very fine t-shirt this year for the seminar [I returned with three]. Lunches were brought in again this year; it alleviates a large mass of people moving in and out of the practice area. We had pizza for lunch on the first day, Chinese take-out on the second day, and submarine sandwiches on the third day. The Chinese take-out proved to be a bit too heavy a meal for many participants, including yours truly (I don't know about other people, but I got that MSG-induced thirst during the afternoon; many of us decided to skip the evening meal, the Chinese buffet at Sun-Sun Restaurant in downtown Guelph, in favor of other faire, and I, for one, usually enjoy the buffet at Sun-Sun); perhaps the powers-that-be would consider rethinking this luncheon choice for next year, especially on the day with the dinner at Sun-Sun. Post-Seminar Practice. As mentioned in the Introduction, Ide-s. taught Jodo during the post-seminar practice on Tuesday, May 19th. In the morning, after reviewing the previously learned Kihon and Kata, Ide-s. introduced Sambonme Hissage from the Seitei Jo Gata. [The curriculum as taught by Ide-s. follows that of the Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei for Jodo.] During the afternoon, Haruna-s., also chief instructor at the Musashi Dojo in Ohara, Okayama-ken, lead a session in Hyo-Ho Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu (Musashi's Daisho or two "sword" school); this year, Haruna-s. concentrated on the five Nito Kamae [see "Niten Ichi Ryu: The Sword of Miyamoto Musashi" by Mr. Kimberley A. C. Taylor in FURYU #3, Volume 1, Number 3, pp. 27 - 33, Winter 1994/5], and the associated five Nito Kata. Over thirty students attended this post-seminar practice; they roughly split in the afternoon with about half continuing with Jodo while the other half switched to Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu. Apres-practice Dinners. A "pot-luck" dinner on the first evening is held, followed by the auction. This year the dinner was held at a local home in Guelph. The food was great including a bouillabaisse with a lot of mussels [seconds for me]. The auction had to be held indoors [mosquitoes outside; hot inside]. There were many fine items donated this year, including a Bujin sword bag, a bonsai tree, a bog oak (5000 year old oak retrieved from a peat bog) Bokuto, a framed limited-edition print of Oe Masamichi (1852- 1927, the 17th headmaster of the Tanimura-ha Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu) [which I got; my next step is to build a Dojo around it ;) ], a seminar t-shirt autographed by all the Sensei, a set of Iaido sketches by Mr. Stephen Cruise (Iaido Godan) who was unable to attend this year since he was out of the country, and various Tenogui [I got the one from Ide-s.'s elevation to Hanshi]. It was another record auction, raising just over C$2k. A dinner on the second night had the Sensei attending the Chinese buffet at Sun-Sun restaurant. Since lunch had been Chinese take-out, a number of people, including myself, decided to go to the Shakespeare Arms instead (the Portly Penguin was closed apparently for some renovation work), located across from the Southwest corner of the campus -- good food, great beer and excellent company IMHO. Dinner on the third night had the Sensei going to Red Lobster; however, my personal "tradition" is to go to Gryph's, the sports bar in the hockey complex across from the Athletics Centre, on my last evening in Guelph. Congratulations. We were overjoyed to learn just days before the seminar that Haruna-s. had been promoted to Hachidan (Iaido), and that Ide-s. had received the title of Hanshi. Congratulations to both of these fine gentlemen -- their years of devotion are quite obvious in their Kata and their teaching. Special Thanks. As I have said before, and it bears repeating, these things just don't happen; they are the result of a lot of effort by many people. First, thanks to Haruna-s. and Oshita-s. for again coming to North America to teach us. Thanks to the other instructors for their efforts in both teaching, judging, and translating. A special thanks to Ide-s. for taking time from his busy schedule to come here to be with us. Local Seidokai members, under the expert leadership of Mr. Kim Taylor, again did a great job of handling the logistics of putting on this seminar (having lunch brought in is very good idea and well done -- thank you again, Ms. Carole Galligan). Thank you to Mr. Dave Green for handling the money for the seminar, sale items and auction, and to Mr. Jeff Broderick who did chauffeur duty for the Sensei. Thanks to the University for providing the space and the residence, and to Pat Senson, whose house we had the pot-luck dinner and auction at. Thank you to Doug Blue, the auctioneer from Rochester, donors to the auction, and to the winning bidders; our monetary efforts help to keep these seminars happening. I finally met Mr. Tom Hooper (Iaido Rokudan) and Ms. Pam Parker (Iaido Yondan) from the Ken Zen Institute in New York City. For the past two and a half years our paths, which should have crossed, just haven't; I find it quite fitting that we finally ended up meeting in Guelph. I also met Mr. Stan Kiyonaga (Kendo Godan, Iaido Nidan) again as well as several other members of Meitokukan of Latham (Albany), New York, which is a branch of the Ken Zen Institute [we shared the same suite in East Residence during this seminar]. I had the pleasure of staying with Kiyonaga-s. last year (27 June 1997) and leading a workshop in Atarashii Naginata in his back yard the following day; the workshop was attended by about a dozen people -- the majority being Kendo-ka. He inquired about a repeat workshop this year during the summer; I'm sure I can fit it into my schedule. I'll certainly plan on doing this seminar again next year (and hopefully bring a few fellow Iaido-ka with me from Doshikai in Acton, MA; there were no takers this year unfortunately); if the trend of increasing numbers of attendees continues, then Seidokai may be in the very enviable position of finding additional practice space. I'll be back in July for the Third Annual Guelph School of Japanese Swordsmanship. The GSJSArts: Take 3 by Raymond Sosnowski, NH Introduction. It seems as though three was the magic number for the Guelph School of Japanese Sword Arts (GSJSA). GSJSA-I in July 1996 had an ambitious curriculum, but only a Shiatsu and three Koryu classes ran [for highlights of GSJSA-I, see my article "Initial Impressions of Atarashii Naginata" in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #82, 9(6/7), 30--35, June/July 1997]. An abbreviated schedule and curriculum was advertized for GSJSA-II in July 1997, but it fell through due to a lack of registration. Officially, GSJSA-II was cancelled, and it was replaced by the Sword Festival Weekend [Mr. Jeff Broderick's post to Iaido-L Digest appeared on 22 July 1997, and my follow-on appeared on 25 July; each was published separately in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #84, 9(9), September 1997 on p. 12 and pp. 13-14, respectively; it makes more sense to read my 25 July post which has my text interspersed with Jeff's text]. This year, Mr. Kim Taylor and Seidokai ran GSJSA-III rather than the School of Open Learning who ran the previous two -- the result of local "management" and the efforts of interested individuals resulted in a successful endeavor that has received many kudos from many of the participating instructors and students. In addition to participating in GSJSA-III (as well as I and II), it was my privilege to help in the organization and instruction. Instructors. We had eight instructors on hand to teach three workshop sections: Koryu (classical styles), Iai (sword drawing), and Shiai (competition) arts. Koryu instructors included Mr. Rick Polland (Oku-iri) of Severna Park (near Annapolis), Maryland, for Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo, Ms. Miyako Tanaka of El Cerrito (near Berkley), California, for Tendo Ryu Naginata-jutsu, and Mr. Kim Taylor of Guelph, Ontario, for Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu. Iai instructors included Mr. Michael Alexanian (Yondan) of East Lansing, Michigan, for Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu, Messers. Goyo Ohmi (Rokudan) of Toronto, and Bill Mears (Yondan) of Ridgeway, Ontario, for ZNKR (All Japan Kendo Federation) Iaido, and Mr. John Ray (Rokudan) of Denton, Texas, for ZNIR (All Japan Iaido Federation) Iaido. For the Shiai Arts, the instructors were Messers. Goyo Ohmi (Rokudan) and Matthew Raymond (Yondan) [the current Ontario and Canadian Kendo Champion who specializes in Nito Kendo; in fact, it's Gyaku Nito, that is, the "O-shinai" (Daito) in the left hand and the "Ko-shinai" (Shoto) in the right hand] of Toronto for Kendo, and Ms. Miyako Tanaka (Kyoshi, the second of three instructor's "ranks" after Godan) for Atarashii Naginata [she is the highest ranked practitioner outside of Japan]. Location. The workshops were held in the University of Guelph's athletic complex, the Mitchell Athletics Centre. Workshops on the weekdays were confined to (Dance Studio) 210 and its anteroom, the East Balcony; during the weekend, additional workshops took place in the West Gymnasium, and (Aerobics Studio) 302. Instructors and participants who stayed on campus were housed in the East Residence, a highrise of suites, which are just a five-minute walk from the Athletics Centre. Guelph (94,000 pop. according to the sign on Route 401) is located west of Toronto, less than one hour by car from the Toronto Airport, and two hours by car from Buffalo, New York. Practioners. Over the weekend (18-19 July), GSJSA-III peaked out with 40+ participants. Attendance on Friday, 17 July, was roughly half of this peak value and on Monday, 20 July, roughly one-quarter of the peak value. Canadian participants hailed from Ontario and Quebec, whereas US participants seemed to come from the Northeast (like Massachusetts, New Hampshire and New York) and North Central (like Ohio and Michigan) areas of the US. And we had a "token" Belgian representing Europe as well. The Seminars. The seminar this year had a three section curriculum: Koryu (Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu, Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo and Tendo Ryu Naginata- jutsu), Iai Arts (Iaido To Ho [ZNIR's set of 5 "Seitei" Gata], Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu, Zen Ken Ren Iaido [aka Seitei Iai Gata], ZNIR Muso Jikiden Eishin Ryu (MJER) Iaido, and ZNKR MJER Iaido), and Shiai Arts (Atarashii Naginata, and Itto and Nito Kendo). This year's program marks the first time that a single participant could not do it all! In the following observations, I can only comment on those workshops that I participated in, the Koryu Arts, or was able to observe. Day 1 -- Friday, 17 July. Only one workshop, which was from the Koryu section, was given on the first day: Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu, by Mr. Kim Taylor, ably assisted by Mr. Jeff Broderick, in DS210. Ten people participated including my Naginata instructor, Ms. Miyako Tanaka. We could not cover all the Kata in a one day session. [During GSJSA-I in 1996, we did cover all twenty-four of the standard Kata in two and a half days. After the Spring 1997 Iaido Seminar (see my article, "Haruna-sensei in Guelph for the 7th Annual Seidokai Summer Seminar & Shinsa," published in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #82, 9(6/7), pp. 19--22, June/July 1997), Haruna-s. literally ran through all twenty-four Kenjutsu Kata in a one-day session, but Shidachi and Uchitachi did not change roles.] Of the standard twenty-four Kenjutsu Kata, we did the first five of twelve Itto/Tachi Seiho (Shitachi armed with a Daito), the first three of seven Kodachi Seiho (Shitachi armed with a Shoto), and all five Nito Seiho (Shitachi armed with Daisho, that is, both a Daito and a Shoto); note that Uchitachi is armed with a Daito in all the Kata. The Ryuha's Bokuto are thinner, and therefore lighter, than standard Bokuto since they are wielded one-handed. The Itto and Kodachi Kata tend to be rather simple, counter or defect-and-counter; the Nito Kata are more complex, consisting of two or three encounters until completion. At the end of this workshop, Taylor-s. said that, for those who would not continue this practice, the important lessons were contained in the Itto and Kodachi Kata, and that those (internal) aspects could be applied to one's own studies, whatever they were; the Nito Kata were just for show. The Nito Kata are complicated, and far from easy; the study of the subtlies of the associated distance and timing requires dedicated practice. Day 1 -- Panel Discussion. Drs. Deborah Klens-Bigman and John Donohue organized the panel presentation on Friday night; the other participants were Mr. Bill Mears, Prof. Terry Nosanchuk, and Prof. Karl Friday (in abstentia). Abstracts of the position papers were posted on the GSJSA web page in advance; they included "Martial Arts as Self Expressive Performance" by Dr. Klens-Bigman, "Sword, Jewel, Mirror: Different Aspects of the Japanese Martial Arts" by Dr. Donohue, "`From Humble Beginnings...' or Reasons for Not Studying the Martial Arts" by Mr. Mears, and "Martial Artists and Aggression" by Prof. Nosanchuk. The discussion took place in the Graduate Student Lounge on the fifth floor of the Student Center building. The proceedings were videotaped, and the discussion will be rendered into a written transcript. Both the papers and the transcript will be submitted for publication in the Journal of Asian Martial Arts [there will be an announcement in this Journal when that material has been published]. Although panel discussions were planned for the first two GSJSA's, they did not take place, making this the first one. The tone was academic, but the atmosphere was informal. I must admit that it was different [read: it was not for everyone]; it is highly unusual, at least in the West, to have an academic presentation of the Martial Arts. It is, however, an idea worth doing. Obviously, there is just no substitute for Keiko (practice) [Prof. Nosanchuk is the only non-practitioner on the panel]; however, the vast depths of the Martial Arts as contained in the various Budo, Bujutsu, [Japanese] Kobudo, and Koryu as well as the authentic arts of non-Japanese Asian cultures demand the serious respect that is the hallmark of academic study and debate. Day 2 -- Saturday, 18 July. The school moved into high gear at the beginning of the weekend. A morning session of Iaido To Ho and an afternoon of Seitei Iai Gata were planned for the Iai section. A morning session of Itto Kendo and an afternoon of Nito Kendo were planned for the Shiai section, but the morning session was cancelled since no participants showed up. A full day of Tendo Ryu Naginata-Jutsu (TRNJ) took place as part of the Koryu section in the West Gymnasium. Tanaka-s. had fourteen students, including Ohmi-s., plus Mr. Brian Moore and myself who acted as assistant instructors. I recall at the beginning of that week talking to Tanaka-s. on the telephone in order to plan on the number of Naginata to bring [I have some of hers on loan]. So I stuffed two Kata Naginata for TRNJ and six Shiai Naginata for Atarashii Naginata in an expandable PVC fishing-pole carrier [aka the "portable rocket launcher"], and she packed an assortment of ten Naginata in a ski bag; because of the large attendance at this workshop we almost used them all! Unlike the various Ryuha of Iaido, Iaijutsu, and Kenjutsu, where studying at least one can provide a basis for working in another, the study of Naginata puts most people back to "square one." The Reiho (etiquette), Kamae (postures), and Kihon (basics) were all new. In addition, practice takes place using Gorei (commands) [for those familiar with Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo, Gorei are also used]. In total, Sensei taught four Kata, the first four of eight in the Shodan section for Ko-naginata Omote group (which has a total of 20; there are about 160 Naginata Kata in TRNJ). Brian and I helped Sensei with the participants on the postural and kinematics aspects that bedeviled us as beginners. In demonstrations, we were Shi with the Naginata to Sensei as Uchitachi (attacking sword[sperson]). Sensei also worked with the participants as Uchitachi [because of the nature of the defense in TRNJ, Uchitachi wears Naginata-style Kote]. Everyone looked like they enjoyed themselves. A few were interested in continuing. It is a tough row to hoe; Tanaka-s. is the only person outside of Japan with official permission to teach. Unless you live in the San Francisco/Berkeley area, or live near a senior student of hers (like in Denver, CO, Salt Lake City, UT, or Falls Church, VA, just south of Washington, DC), you have no opportunities for regular instruction. The rest of us [myself included] travel to the not-too-occasional seminar with a TRNJ workshop or a quasi-annual TRNJ seminar (for example, see my article "Shingetsukai Tendo-Ryu Naginata-jutsu Gasshuku at Asilomar" which has been submitted to the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts), and work alone or in small, isolated groups for the rest of the time. It can be done, but it does require dedication. [Before we left Guelph to return home, Sensei told us that she is considering having an annual seminar for TRNJ, just like we do for Atarashii Naginata, so that the majority of practitioners can get together once a year to train together; she is leaning towards the February/March/April time-frame so that it is not close to August time-frame for the Atarashii Naginata Seminar and Shinsa (promotion examinations).] Day 2 -- Embu (Demonstrations). Another highlight of this year's GSJSA was the Saturday evening Budo Embu (Demonstration), which including the above instructors, plus Drs. Klens-Bigman and Dan Pearson, Messers. Jeff Broderick, Brian Moore, Richard Strausbaugh, and Reg Hardman plus myself. The instructors demonstrated portions of the Arts they taught: Polland-s. for Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo, Tanaka-s. for Tendo Ryu Naginata-jutsu, and Taylor-s. for Hyoho Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu, Alexanian-s. for Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu, Mears-s. and Ohmi-s for ZNKR Iaido, Ray-s. for ZNIR Iaido, and Raymond-s. for Kendo. Raymond-s. who demonstrated both Itto and Nito Kendo was joined by Mori-s. from the University of Guelph for Jikeiko (practice sparring). Dr. Klens-Bigman demonstrated Jigen Ryu Iaido. Messers. Jeff Broderick and Reg Hardman demonstrated Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu in part with Taylor-s. Dr. Pearson and Mr. Strausbaugh demonstrated Kasumi Shinto Ryu Kenjutsu, which also included Shoto and Nito Kata, as well as assisted Polland-s. in Jodo. Mr. Moore and myself performed the first five Shikake- Oogi, the Oyo Waza (applied techniques) of Atarashii Naginata. For those at the demonstration, it was quite a treat -- talent in spades; for those who weren't, I am told there was a videotape made. The highlight of the Embu had to be the sparring match in Bogu between Tanaka-s. (Kyoshi), using the Shiai Naginata of Atarashii Naginata, and Ohmi-s. (Rokudan), using the Shinai of Kendo. I think Dr. Pearson said it best in a personal e-mail message to me following the GSJSA-III: "I will never forget her bout with Ohmi sensei. I had heard of such exchanges, but never thought I would be allowed to see one. And to have two such senior, talented people representing their arts was a true treasure." My reply was "That match was possibly historic as was possibly most of the demo" given the talent that had come together; such a demonstration outside of Japan by almost all non-Japanese practitioners is unheard of. At the pub after the demo, a well-watered Ohmi-s. kept saying that he needed to do that [have that match]; he was at an extreme disadvantage because he had no experience with Naginata, whereas Tanaka-s. has more than enough experience with Kendo-ka to be comfortable with that type of Jikeiko. Indeed, Ohmi-s. is a brave man; he has my vote for the Kanto-sho ["fighting spirit prize," which is typically associated with Sumo, Kendo and Atarashii Naginata]. Here is a man who bravely donned Bogu and picked up his Shinai in a match against Tanaka-s. and her Shiai Naginata -- he never saw most of the strikes, but he did feel them, especially the Sune-uchi (shin strikes). Indeed, she used a variety of Datotsu-bui (striking points) including one or two Tsuki [with the Naginata, either end, the Kissaki (tip of the "blade") or the Ishizuki (the butt end of the pole), can be used to deliver a Tsuki]. In the end, it was a one-sided affair, but everyone enjoyed it, including Ohmi-s. himself. Day 2 -- Post-Embu Celebrations. Needless to say, after a full day of practice, a break for a supper of soda and subs while preparing for the Embu, and then the Embu itself, all the Embu participants were ready to relax at a local watering hole. Gryphs, the on-campus sports bar, was quite packed, so we opted for a downtown pub, the Woolrich Arms, one of the very few places to have Strongbow Cider on draught according to Mear-s. The conversation was good and the beer plentiful; it was a wonderful evening. At one point, Taylor-s. matter-of-factly asked me, "So, do you think we should do this again next year?" I just grinned and answered just as matter-of-factly, "Of course." [Going into this year's GSJSA, my feeling was that this one was "make or break;" if we had a reasonable showing then next year's event would be a sure thing, but if we had a poor showing this year then the possibility of a follow-on event was not good. To me, that simple exchange punctuated the fact that we had achieved a "make."] Earlier in the evening, Mears-s. and I had engaged in a conversation on the naming of "swords." Since Mears-s. and I are both tall (he several inches taller than I) and long-limbed, we both have custom Iaito (I have previously talked about the aspect of blade size in an article "Reflections on Purchasing an Iaito and Bokuto" published in the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts #90 [10(3), 9--11, March 1998]). He mentioned that he had had none for his, but that it was not customary for the owner to name their own sword. He was going to show it to Ray-s. when Ray-s. said, "Let's see that `Big Dhawg' [Texan for `dog']." He went on to say that he instantly recognized that that was the name for his sword. I, too, had a similar experience. At two Shaku, eight Sun, four Bu, my Iaito (even longer than the "Big Dog"), was pronounced to be "The Great Drying Pole" by Mr. Rich Crowley, my Sempai at the Doshikai Kendo & Iaido Dojo in Acton, MA [FYI, the "The Great Drying Pole" is a reference to the Katana over three Shaku in length made by the famous swordsmith Bizen Osamitsu for a Sasaki Kojiroh, who supposedly lost in a duel with Miyamoto Musashi in 1612 on an island that was renamed for his sword style, Ganryuu-jima, in which Musashi used a Bokuto carved from a broken oar]. Day 3 -- Sunday, 19 July. Considering that all the instructors had been out late the previous evening, Day 3 got off to a slightly slower start than Day 2. A morning session of ZNIR MJER Iaido and an afternoon of ZNKR MJER Iaido were planned for the Iai section. A full day of Atarashii Naginata was planned for the Shiai section, and a full day of Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo took place as part of the Koryu section; both the Naginata and Jodo workshops took place in the West Gymnasium. Polland-s., assisted by Dr. Pearson and Mr. Strausbaugh, had thirteen participants for Jodo, half of whom were beginners. We began the morning session with the twelve Kihon (basics), moving back and forth across the width of the Gym floor [I recall doing the Kihon across the length of the Gym floor; one can get really-tired, really-fast, trying to muscle the techniques]. To finish the morning up, we practiced a select set of Kihon in Sotai Renshu (paired practice), Shi with the Jo and Uchitachi with a Bokuto. The Kihon were (Sambonme) Hikiotoshi Uchi, which is a sword cut- down from a kind of side stance, (Ropponme) Makiotoshi, a spiraling motion of the Jo which sends the sword down and away, and (Nanahonme) Kuritsuke, which is an intercept followed by wrist lock-down against Uchitachi's lower torso. These are representative of Jo dynamics, and none of them are easy, but we worked through them with partners, occasionally changing roles. In the afternoon, we added one more Kihon, (Hachihonme) Kurihanashi, which begins like Kuritsuke with the intercept, but then throws the sword [with the swordsman still attached] up and back, analogous to Makiotoshi. It's another lesson in Jo dynamics. Then we began working on the first four of twelve Seitei Jo Gata: Tsukizue, Suigetsu, Hissage and Shamen. We practiced in a group in two lines facing out partners; Uchitachi would shift to the right, Kotai, until he or she had done the Kata with everyone in the other line with Jo. This was repeated for all the Kata; and after completing four Kata, the roles reversed, and Kotai was repeated until all four Kata had been cycled through. For (Ropponme) Monomi, Polland-s. proposed a "contest." Two teams would have about a half-hour to practice this Kata, and then demonstrate it with the losing team doing Kihon for the rest of the afternoon; it ended up that Mr. Strausbaugh and I ended up with most of the beginners, so we drilled them with the two of us as Uchitachi, since we did not have the time to go over both roles. The other team, lead by Polland-s., had everyone doing both roles since they were all experienced. If I were a betting man, I would not have bet on us [but the process is the goal]. Well, the experience showed. Needless to say, the winning team, in a supreme act of selflessness (sarcasm anyone?), volunteered to join us in the Kihon practice. To show our spirit, in spite of being tired at the end of the day, Polland-s. exhorted us to keep our Kiai strong, which we did, and on this note the Jodo workshop ended. Having trained with Polland-s. at various seminars and workshops over the last two years, he has never failed to leave us with Kuden (oral teachings). There were several in my own words that I gleaned from this session: "Handle the Jo as if it had an edge; that's the purpose of the brand, to indicate the `edge.'" "Use finesse, not power, strength nor speed, until you are ready to [after years of practice]." "Kata have an ebb and flow: there is a point when Uchitachi has the advantage, a point when Shi has the advantage, and a point, a gray area, when neither does. Be sensitive to this." "Explicit pauses are needed in the Kata to mark "decision points" when a new, "unknown" attack or motion is launched; be sensitive to this." Finally, here is an observation by Ray-s. made the previous evening to Polland-s. about realities to be recalled in the Jodo Gata: "When you're cut with a sword, you're cut, but when you are hit with the Jo, you can become `unhit,'" that is to say, that any contact with the blade of the Katana will draw blood, whereas mediocre Jo strikes will be ineffective in stopping the swordsman from launching another attack. On the other side of West Gym, Tanaka-s. had three enthusiastic participants for Atarashii Naginata. They spent the day going through the Reiho, Kamae and Kihon Waza (basic techniques) with a strong emphasis on the Datotsu-bui (striking points). [I have highlighted much of this material in my article "A Brief Introduction to Atarashii Naginata" published in The Iaido Newsletter #77, 9(1), 4-5, January 1997.] After the Jodo class ended, Brian and I donned our Sune-ate (shin guards) to be "live targets" for the participants doing Sune-uchi (shin strikes). Then, after class ended, we repacked the Naginata that we had set out for the workshop in the morning. Day 3 -- The Last Supper. There were no large group dinners per se. On Friday evening, Tanaka-s., Brian and I stopped at the Mall on Stone Road to find an appropriate ATM machine (those on compus don't accept my card), so we stopped at the food court to eat, prior to attending the Panel Discussion. Saturday evening sandwiches were brought in for the demonstrators. This left Sunday evening to dine together. One group did head out to downtown Guelph to the Sun Sun Resturant for Chinese buffet. The crowd from the West Gym, a party of eight, Tanaka-s., Polland-s. and his two young daughters, Rich Strausbaugh, Brian Moore, Helen Morrison, and myself, opted for Cagney's. And after we returned and the kids went to sleep, we retired to the Shakespeare Arms (it was a pleasant constitutional from and to campus) for an evening of libations and pleasant conversation. As usual, it ended all to quickly. Day 4 -- Monday, 20 July. Most of the participants had either left by or on Monday. In the Koryu section, Mr. Kim Taylor, again ably assisted by Mr. Jeff Broderick, taught Niten Ichi Ryu Kenjutsu on the East Balcony to a group of three participants; they went through the Itto Seiho in the morning and the Nito Seiho in the afternoon. Alexanian-s. lead a group of about half a dozen in Tamiya Ryu Iaijutsu in DS210. And Brian and I got private instruction in Tendo Ryu Naginata-jutsu from Tanaka-s.; we used the small Gym in the morning and East Balcony in the afternoon. All of us joined together for lunch at East Balcony. Tanaka-s. worked with me on ten Kata that I had learned or relearned at Asilomar last March (see my article "Shingetsukai Tendo-Ryu Naginata-jutsu Gasshuku at Asilomar," submitted to the Journal of Japanese Sword Arts). She fine-tuned a number of the aspects of the eight Kata from Shodan Waza and the first two of seven Kata from the Chuden Waza. She demonstrated the Kata, fixed hand and foot positions, and then acted as Uchitachi to both demonstrate the applications of the Kata, and to direct the timing of the interchange. On the East Balcony in the afternoon, we worked a lot with the mirrors to get a visual sense of proper body positioning. Sensei also worked with Brian, teaching him the the rest of the Kata that he did not know in the Shodan Waza. We had to end early in mid-afternoon so that we could get to Toronto Airport for our respective return flights. Special Thanks. I would just like to thank all of the instructors and the participants of this year's Guelph School of Japanese Sword Arts for making this year's event a successful endeavor. Very special thanks go to Mr. Kim Taylor and the Seidokai for having the tenacity to go for it one more time. Thanks go to the "old guard" instructors, Messers. Kim Taylor and Rick Polland. Likewise, thanks to all of our first time instructors, Ms. Miyako Tanaka, and Messers. Michael Alexanian, Bill Mears, Goyo Ohmi, John Ray, Matthew Raymond, and all of their assistants. Finally, thanks to Drs. Deborah Klens-Bigman and John Donohue for organizing the panel presentation on Friday night as well as the other participants, Mr. Bill Mears, and Prof.'s Terry Nosanchuk, and Karl Friday (in abstentia). Finally, thanks to all those who participated in the Saturday evening Budo Embu, including the above instructors, Drs. Klens-Bigman and Dan Pearson, Messers. Jeff Broderick, Brian Moore (my Atarashii Naginata partner), Richard Strausbaugh, and Reg Hardman. [For those whose names I have forgotten to include, forgive me; it's really nothing personal.] A New Beginning. At the post-Embu celebration, Taylor-s. said that he felt that this year is the first year that we ran the Sword School the way that he envisioned it should be run, and, as such, he considered this to be the first one. Conceptually, it's true; however, I feel that this one has been built on the previous two, the first on that happpened in 1996, and the second in 1997 that almost didn't happen except for the efforts of Taylor-s. and Polland-s. The lesson learned in 1996 and 1997 went in planning for 1998, and the lessons learned this year will be applied to next year's event. I look forward to next year's event, GSJSA-IV; I hope to see everyone there, both veterans and new comers, and to train with those of you who share my interests. After all is said and done, this is all about people, training hard and playing hard together. Kim's Skool for Bad Boyz (& Gurlz) I got back recently from the Guelph School of Sword Arts and I just wanted to say what a wonderful time I had. If you weren't there, you missed a real treat. From the quality of teaching to the extraordinary demonstration on Saturday night, the whole event was quite simply the most fun I've ever had. It's hard to believe that you could get that many senior sensei and students from so many different Ryu and systems together in one place and with no hint of ego or the usual political BS that 'martial arts' seem to be infected with. For me it was a humbling experience. I would like to personally thank Kim Taylor and his crew for all their hard work and planning- everything ran meticulously. I would also like to thank (in no particular order) Tanaka sensei, Ray sensei, Ohmi sensei, Polland sensei, Alexanian sensei, Klens-Bigman sensei, Sosnowski sensei and everyone else who came with them, assisted them or just came to practise. Together you have made the GSJSA into an event that I hope never to miss again. As Sensei John Ray said to me you would have to go to Japan to see this calibre of demonstration normally'. If I have forgotten anyone's name, please excuse me, but I feel like I have been hit by several Mack Trucks! I hope someone with a decent memory will do the School justice by making a full report (not the least because people should at least hear about the 'Duel of the Century' in detail). And finally- can I come again please Kim? Bill Mears, Fort Erie, Canada GUELPH SCHOOL OF JAPANESE SWORD ARTS: Sword Craft Seminar In The Beginning It all started with some aimless web-surfing to relieve some stress during a dull and over cast day (I'm British so that's no surprise). Good old infoseek, giving me so many sites related to swords, where shall I start? I know, I'll have a look at this one in Canada. Wow, a sword craft seminar, what a cool idea, I need a holiday away from everything. I think I'll mail the URL (web address) to my mate Phil (or Boy George, as he was later to be known), and see if he wants to go. Brilliant idea we both agree, now, when is it? Two weeks away, no problems, panic stations.! Anyway, lots of phoning travel agents, pestering Kim by email, and off we go. The Setting Guelph, what a lovely name for a town. We decided that the people from Guelph must be called Guelphlings (see film Dark Crystal), mainly because the flight over was really boring. For me it was a shock to breathe air that didn't taste of pollution. Although the best part had to be the scenery (female to male ratio of 7:3), and of course the lovely countryside. The People The instructors were helpful, knowledgeable, and willing to share their skills and knowledge. They were all excellent, and I'm sure next years seminar will be even better. The students consisted of a group of normal people. No, sorry, I cannot tell a lie, we were a bunch of strange cookies. We all seemed to enjoy ourselves, and no-one tried to kill anyone else, so we couldn't have been too bad! The Seminar The polishing part of the course with Doug and Chris was really informative, and even though it will be quite a while before I have a go, it helped me understand a lot more about the Japanese sword. The tsuka wrapping with Fred was probably the most useful part of the course for me (I'm cutting up little bits of paper as we speak) as this is something that I know I'll have to do (that's what I get for buying a cheap Martial Arts sword). Unfortunately there was not enough time to go through the whole saya making process but Chris (the other one) showed us the most important parts, with comments from Chris (the first one) and Doug. Then of course there was the lesson on making bokuto by Kim. Due to the lack of time left, this was crammed in for information purposes only. I did take one of Kim's lovely wooden sticks home with me, and hope to enjoy hitting people with it. In Summary A good course, that could be made even better. Well worth the money, and I am going to try and come next year if possible. The only criticism I have, is that there could have been more participation for the students. I would like to thank all the instructors for their time, and especially Kim for running us around all week. Tony Lane, UK. __ 6 Vidbbi tapes $150 __ price quotes on weapons contact Kim Taylor at the above address, tel 519-836-4357, or email [email protected]

Emergency NumbersPhone Book (Must be on-campus or have a valid network account) Program Goal VIII: Assessment As James Cooper (1999) has noted, assessment data is only useful if it contributes to sound educational decision-making. In order to use this data effectively, beginning teachers must have knowledge and skills in the areas of measurement fundamentals, standardized tests and their interpretation, validity and reliability, constructing and using the results of formal and informal assessments, and utilizing assessment information for the purposes of grading. Additionally, educators in Minnesota must be knowledgeable about the Minnesota Academic Standards and how to measure student progress toward meeting them. The paragraphs that follow describe the knowledge and skills we believe our students must obtain in order to make effective assessment decisions. Measurement Fundamentals: Educators must understand the basic terminology and concepts related to assessment, evaluation, and measurement. The following concepts and definitions are of central importance to this understanding: Assessment vs. Evaluation: Though the terms assessment and evaluation are often used interchangeably (Cooper, 1999), the Minnesota Department of Education differentiates between the two terms. They define assessment as gathering information or evidence while evaluation involves using that information or evidence to make judgments (Aune, 1999). Teacher-Made vs. Standardized Assessments: In the broadest sense, assessments may be classified into two categories: teacher-made assessments and standardized assessments. Teacher-made assessments are constructed by an individual teacher or a group of teachers in order to measure the outcome of classroom instruction. Standardized assessments, on the other hand, are commercially prepared and have uniform procedures for administration and scoring. They are meant for gathering information on large groups of students in multiple settings (Karmel and Karmel, 1978). Criterion-Referenced vs. Norm-Referenced Assessment: Standardized assessments may be norm-referenced or criterion referenced. Norm-referenced assessments compare individual students’ scores to those of a norm-reference group, generally students of the same grade or age. They are designed to demonstrate "differences between and among students to produce a dependable rank order" (Bond, 1996, p.1) and are often used to classify students for ability grouping or to help identify them for placement in special programs. They are also used to provide information to report to parents. Criterion-referenced tests, on the other hand, determine the specific knowledge and skills possessed by a student. Thus, this form of testing "uses as its interpretive frame of reference a specified content domain, rather than a specified population of persons" (Anastasi, 1976, p. 97). Competency tests, such as the Minnesota Basic Skills Tests, represent a specific sub-category of criterion-referenced assessment and are used to insure that students possess minimal basic skills (Biehler and Snowman, 1997). Formative vs. Summative Evaluation: Formative evaluation involves "collecting, synthesizing, and interpreting data for the purpose of improving learning or teaching (Airasian, 1997, p. 402). Thus, formative assessment is used to provide feedback and not for grading. It typically occurs while instruction is ongoing. Summative evaluation, on the other hand, involves "collecting, synthesizing, and interpreting information for the purpose of determining pupil learning and assigning grades" (Airasian, 1997, p. 404). It typically occurs at the end of instruction. Types of Standardized Tests: A description of all forms of standardized tests is far beyond the scope of this document. Therefore, only those standardized tests most central to educational decision-making, individual and group tests designed to measure intelligence and academic achievement, will be included in this brief summary. Intelligence Tests:Intelligence tests are often classified into two categories: individual and group. Individual intelligence tests, such as the Stanford-Binet and Wechsler Scales, are given in a one-to-one setting by a trained examiner, usually a psychologist. They are most frequently given as part of an overall psychological evaluation, often to determine if a student is eligible for special education. Though group intelligence tests, such as the Otis-Lennon Mental Ability Tests, are "no longer administered to all students everywhere" (LeFrancois, 1999), some school districts still include them in their annual testing programs (Biehler and Snowman, 1997). Results of intelligence tests, whether group or individual, are often reported as intelligence quotients or IQ scores. Though IQ scores used to be determined by calculating a ratio (mental age divided by chronological age multiplied by 100, thus the term intelligence "quotient"), they are now typically calculated as standard scores with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of about 15. Though the results of individual intelligence tests tend to be more valid and reliable than those of group tests, teachers must be aware of the following limitations of intelligence tests noted by Biehler and Snowman (1997): 1) They generally only sample abilities that relate to classroom achievement rather than overall intellectual functioning. Therefore, many educators prefer the term scholastic aptitude test; 2) Intelligence test results provide only an estimate of a child’s abilities to deal with "certain kinds of problems at a particular point in time" (p. 180). Because of this, their results can vary over multiple administrations; 3) The tests may not provide a valid estimate of the abilities of minority and low income children. Therefore, teachers must exercise caution when making educational decisions based on the results of these tests. Traditional Tests of Academic Achievement: As is the case for intelligence tests, individual achievement tests such as the Wide Range Achievement Test and Peabody Individual Achievement Test, are most commonly administered to students who have been referred for possible placement in special education or remedial programs. Group achievement tests, such as the California Test of Basic Skills, on the other hand, are administered either annually or at planned intervals as part of the district-wide testing program in order to certify students’ achievement and provide information to parents (LeFrancois, 1999). Assessment Data Interpretation: To understand and appropriately use the results of standardized assessments, educators must have a working knowledge of descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, norms, and standard scores. Measures of central tendency include the mean, median, and mode. The mean is the arithmetic average and is obtained by adding all scores and dividing by the total number of scores. It is especially important because it is a necessary statistic for the calculation of standard scores. The median is the middle score of a distribution. In cases where there are extreme scores (or outliers), the median may be a better measure of central tendency than the mean. The mode is the most frequent score in a distribution. In large, normally-distributed populations, the mode does not differ greatly from the mean and median. However, in distributions with small numbers, it is typically the least useful of these three statistics (Glass and Stanley, 1970). Measures of dispersion include the range and standard deviation. The range is the spread of scores in a distribution (Vogt, 1993). It may be calculated by subtracting the lowest score from the highest and adding one. It is, at best, a rather crude statistic because it is based on only the two most extreme scores in the distribution. The standard deviation is a more precise and useful measure of dispersion. It is calculated by finding the average of the absolute distance scores vary from the mean. Calculating the standard deviation is essential for determining standard scores such as those described below (Anastasi, 1988). Norms: The results of standardized tests are often reported as norms, which are statistics that allow one to interpret the score of an individual student in comparison to others of the same age or grade level. They include percentiles (the percentage of scores in the norm-reference group that fall at or below that of a particular student), grade equivalents (which describe a student’s performance in terms of school grade levels), and standard scores such as Z-scores, T-scores, stanines, and I.Q. scores (all of which indicate how far a student’s score varies from the mean in standard deviation units). It is important for teachers to understand the meaning of norms so that they are able to use the results of standardized tests to interpret them to parents and effectively plan instruction. Validity and Reliability: In order to make effective decisions based on assessment data, the instruments used to collect that data must be valid and reliable. Validity is defined as "the extent to which a test measures what it intends to measure" (Lefrancois, 1999, p.560). The validity of a test may be determined in different ways including carefully examining the test’s content in regard to the curriculum (content validity), determining the degree to which test results reflect a theory or construct (construct validity), and examining the extent to which assessment results can be used to predict student performance (predictive validity). Of the various types of validity, content validity is by far the most important for classroom assessments, as it is essential that the content of teacher-made assessments accurately reflects the instructional outcomes being assessed. Reliability refers to the consistency or stability of scores yielded by a test (Airasian, 1997). In other words, a reliable test yields consistent scores over repeated administrations (repeated-measures reliability). A concrete estimate of a test’s reliability is provided by the standard error of measurement, which is an index of the amount of error or unreliability in the scores yielded by a test. Though reliability and standard error of measurement are important considerations in choosing standardized tests, it is often difficult to determine the reliability and standard error of a teacher-made test. However, teachers should be knowledgeable regarding ways to increase the reliability of classroom assessments such as those described by Aiarasian (1997). Constructing Formal Assessments: Formal, teacher-made assessments can be classified as traditional or alternative. Traditional assessments are typically paper-and-pencil tests and are often categorized as objective or essay. Alternative assessments are most often performance-based. The type of assessment one chooses is dependent on many factors including grade level, content, and time constraints. Regardless of the assessment format, good assessments have three features in common: "1) the assessment exercises and questions are related to the teacher’s objectives and instruction; 2) the exercises and questions cover a representative sample of what students were taught; and 3) the items, directions, and scoring procedures are clear and appropriate" (Airasian, 1997, p. 149). Additionally, as noted by Aune (2000), effective teachers typically employ multiple assessments, including both traditional and alternative. Traditional Assessments: Objective assessments are traditional assessments on which students are expected to provide the one, correct answer. Typical objective assessment formats include multiple choice, true-false, matching, completion, and short answer. All of these assessments have the advantage of sampling students’ knowledge of a wide range of content (and, therefore, have the potential for good content validity) in a minimal amount of time. A major disadvantage of objective test items is that they typically measure only student learning at the knowledge and comprehension levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy. However, multiple choice items can be constructed to sample higher cognitive levels (Airasian, 1997). In order to construct effective objective assessments, teachers must be familiar with and apply guidelines for effective test construction such as those described by Nitko (1996), Oosterhof (1999), and Airasian (1997). The Essay Test is another form of traditional, paper-and-pencil assessment. It is an excellent format for assessing students’ abilities to communicate ideas in writing. Other advantages of essay tests include measuring higher cognitive levels and directly measuring behaviors specified by performance objectives (Ooosterhof, 1999). However, essay tests have disadvantages as well in that they sample less content than objective tests and, therefore, may have poorer content validity. Additionally, essay tests are time-consuming to score, and their scoring tends to be less reliable (Oosterhof, 1999). Because of these potential disadvantages, it is especially important for teachers to follow appropriate guidelines for constructing and scoring essay tests such as those described by Nitko (1996), Oosterhof, 1999), and Aarasian (1997). Alternative Assessments: The most common form of alternative assessment is performance assessment, which can be defined as an assessment activity requiring students to use their knowledge and skills to perform complex tasks or solve problems (Biehler and Snowman, 1997). Though the term authentic assessment is often used interchangeably with performance assessment, Oosterhof (1999) differentiates between the two, defining authentic assessments as tasks that require "a real application of a life skill beyond the instructional context" (p. 151). Therefore, according to Oosterhof, "All authentic assessments are performance assessments, but the inverse is not true" (p. 151). A major advantage of performance assessments is that they allow evaluation of skills that cannot be easily measured by paper-and-pencil tests. Additionally, they allow for evaluation of the process as well as the product. They are, however, time-consuming to administer and, therefore, typically do not allow one to sample a wide range of outcomes. Consistency of scoring (reliability) is also problematic (Oosterhof, 1999). Like essay tests, performance assessments can be scored analytically or holistically. Analytical scoring involves breaking the desired response into its component parts and using checklists or rating scales to calculate a score (Oosterhof, 1999). Holistic scoring is typically done using a scoring rubric which allows for comparisons of students’ work to "descriptions of performances that range from higher to lower" (Oosterhof, p. 160, 1999). As Wiggin’s has noted, "scoring rubrics must be based on a careful analysis of existing performances of varying quality" (p. 238). Portfolios: According to Arter (1995), "a portfolio is a purposeful collection of student work that tells the story of student achievement or growth" (p. 1). Though portfolios are often considered to be a form of authentic or performance assessment, as Oosterhof (1999) noted, they typically include materials that are not authentic or performance-based. Portfolios are particularly useful for tracking change or growth in student performance over time and are most effective when they "are characterized by a clear vision of the student skills to be addressed, student involvement in selecting what goes into the portfolio, use of criteria to define quality performance and provide a basis for communication, and self-reflection through which students share what they think about their work, their learning environment, and themselves" (Arter, p. 4, 1995). Informal Assessment: As noted by Oosterhof (1999), the majority of classroom assessments are informal in nature. They typically take place during instruction and allow the teacher to monitor student learning and make any necessary adjustments. These informal assessments most often take the form of observations and questions. Though these techniques are efficient and adaptable, their technical quality "tends to be inferior to techniques associated with formal assessments" (pp. 148 and 149). However, teachers can improve their use of informal questions by basing them on instructional goals, allowing sufficient wait-time, and recognizing the importance of teacher reactions to student answers (Oosterhof, 1999). The effectiveness of observations can be improved by keeping anecdotal records, using informal checklists (Oosterhof, 1999), and recognizing one’s own bias (Good and Brophy, 1984). Reporting Grades: Grades serve the important purposes of communicating the extent to which learners have achieved classroom goals and communicating this information to students and their parents (Tombari and Borich (1999) suggest eight steps for teachers to follow when constructing a grading system: 1) Identify district policy; 2) Determine the meaning of each grading symbol; 3) Distinguish between reporting and grading factors; 4) Identify grade components; 5) Decide on component weights; 6) Determine how components will be combined; 7) Choose a method for calculating grades; and 8) Decide how to deal with borderline grades. Methods for calculating grades include norm-referenced (or relative) grading, criterion-referenced (or absolute) grading, and individual-referenced grading: Norm-referenced (or relative) grading involves comparing "a pupil’s performance to that of other pupils in the class" (Airasian, p. 301, 1997). Grading "on the curve" is an example of norm-referenced grading. Criterion-referenced (or absolute) grading involves comparing a "pupil’s performance to a predetermined standard of mastery" (Airasian, p. 301, 1997). Calculating grades based on fixed ranges of cumulative scores is an example of criterion-referenced grading (Tombari and Borich, 1999). Individual-referenced grading involves comparing pupils’ performance to their perceived abilities. Though this form of grading is sometimes used for students with disabilities, Airasian, (1997) recommends that other grading approaches such as contract grading, IEP-based grading, or narrative grading be used for determining these students’ grades. Of the three approaches for assigning letter grades, the use of criterion-referenced grading is most consistent with our departmental philosophy. No Child Left Behind: The Federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, was signed into law by President Bush in January 2001. It has become an important factor in specifying the timing and nature of school-wide assessments. The goals of NCLB include increasing accountability for states, school districts, and schools; providing greater choice for parents and students, particularly those attending low-performing or failing schools; giving local education agencies (LEAs) more flexibility in using Federal education money (mostly Title I funds); and placing a stronger emphasis on reading, especially for young children. Every state must comply with NCLB or lose their Title I and other Federal education funds (U.S. Department of Education, 2004). Under the new law, all states must now hold schools and districts accountable for student proficiency gains by subgroups in math, reading, and eventually, science. To determine if students are proficient, all who are enrolled in grades 3-8 must be tested annually in reading and math by 2005-06. By 2007, all states must administer an annual assessment in science in at least one grade level: 3-5, 6-9, or 10-12. These tests are not directly related to the Minnesota graduation requirements. However, their content will be based on the new Minnesota Academic Standards in reading, math, and science. Students will be categorized into the following subgroups for testing: low-income, racial groups (Caucasian, Hispanic, African-American, Native American, and Asian Pacific), those with disabilities, and those with limited English skills. Each of these sub-groups, as well as the total student body, must be proficient. By 2014, 100 percent of students must be proficient in reading and math. Between 2005 and 2014, 100 percent of students in all subgroups must meet the standards for adequate yearly progress (AYP) toward proficiency. What is proficiency? Each state will set its own criteria for proficiency. In Minnesota, students are proficient when they have “grade-level knowledge and skills” (AFT, 2003). Additionally, by 2005-2006 all states must ensure that every classroom teacher is “highly qualified.” To meet this criterion, teachers must be certified or licensed in their teaching areas, hold a bachelors degree, and have demonstrated competencies in their teaching areas. Other aspects of the law focus on graduation rates and attendance. High schools must graduate at least 80% of their students or show sufficient progress toward this goal, and elementary/middle schools must have 90% attendance or be making progress toward this attendance level. Consequences for schools not meeting the goals of NCLB are described below: After two consecutive years of not meeting one or more of the above goals, a school will be put on the “needs improvement” list, and the district must allow any student to transfer to another school in the district that is making AYP. The district must set aside 5-10 % of Title I funds to pay transportation costs for students who transfer. Priority must be given to the lowest-achieving students from low-income families. After three consecutive years, the district must continue to provide choice AND provide low-achieving students with supplemental services (tutoring) paid for by the district. The district must set aside an additional 5-10% of Title I funds to pay for the tutoring. These services must occur outside the school day, and the district must ensure students have at least one private provider available when they seek supplemental services. After four consecutive years, the district must continue to offer school choice and supplemental instruction AND implement a “corrective action plan,” such as replacing staff and replacing curricula. After five consecutive years, the district must continue to offer school choice and supplemental services AND implement alternative school governance, such as converting to a charter school, hiring a private management firm, or having the state take over the school. Whether the goals of NCLB are attainable remains to be seen. One thing is certain, however: NCLB has added another layer of high-stakes testing that students must complete. Assessment of Performance Toward Meeting the Minnesota Standards: Teachers in Minnesota must be knowledgeable about the Minnesota Standards so that they can facilitate and assess student progress toward their attainment. The Minnesota statewide graduation requirements consist of two parts: the Basic Standards and the Minnesota Academic Standards. Basic Standards: The Basic Standards specify the minimum skills students must possess in order to graduate from a public high school in Minnesota. These skills are assessed by the Basic Standards Tests, which are competency tests designed to assure that students have basic skills in mathematics, reading, and composition. Students take the math and reading tests during 8th grade and the writing test during 10th grade. They must pass these tests in order to obtain a high school diploma. Those who do not pass a test on their first attempt may retake it annually until they achieve a passing score (Minnesota Department of Education, 2004). The Minnesota Academic Standards define a new core of five academic content standards areas: and will determine the content of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments, which are used to assess compliance with the the federal No Child Left Behind Act (Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, 2003). References AFT (2003) State-by-State Resources: Minnesota. Arter, J. (1995). Portfolios for assessment and instruction. Greensboro, NC: ERIC Clearinghouse on Guidance. (). Airasian, P. (1997). Classroom assessment (3rd Edition). New York: Macmillan. Anastasi, A. (1988). Psychological testing (6th Edition). New York: Collier Macmillan Publishers. Aune, B. (1999) Minnesota graduation standards: Teacher education program characteristics and teacher competencies. St.. Paul: Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning. Aune, B. (2000) Minnesota graduation standards. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning. Aune, B. (2000) Links between research and reform. St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learniing. Bierhler, R. and Snowman, J. (1997). Psychology applied to teaching (8th Edition). Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. Bond, L. (1996). Norm- and criterion-referenced testing. Washington, D.C. Eric/AE Digest. Frisbee, D. and Waltman, K. (1992). Cooper, James M. (1999). The teacher as a decision maker. In classroom teaching skills. (6th edition) James M. Cooper (editor) pp. 1-19. Boston: Houghton-Mifflin. Glass, G. and Stanley, J. (1970). Statistical methods in education and psychology. Engelwood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. Good, T.L. and Brophy, J.E. (1984) Looking in classrooms. NY: Harper & Row. Karmel, L. and Karmel, M. (1978). Measurement and evaluation in the schools (2nd Edition). New York: Macmillan Publishers. Lefrancois, G. (1999). Psychology applied to teaching (10th Edition).Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Minnesota Department of Education. (2002). The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Minnesota Department of Education (2004). Graduation Requirements. Minnesota Legislative Resource Library. Resources on Minnesota Issues Academic Standards), September 2003. (7/8/2004) Available at Nitko, A. (1996). Educational assessment of students (2nd. Ed.). Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall. Oosterhof, A. (1999). Developing and using classroom assessments (2nd Edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall. Tombari, M. and Borich, G. (1999). Authentic assessment in the classroom. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc. U.S. Department of Education (2004). No Child Left Behind U.S. Department of Education (2004). Introduction: No Child left Behind. Vogt, W. P. (1993).Dictionary of statistics and methodology. Newbury Park, CA: Sage. Wiggins, G. (1993). Assessing student performance. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass Publishers.

Belachew supports Dye, other letters Open letter to the Students: After reading last week’s Oberlin Review, I was disappointed to see your interest in having a vote of no confidence on Nancy Dye as part of the referendum. As a person who has gained a certain amount of your trust, please allow me to be honest as I share my concerns about the plan. As one who believes in fairness and fair process, I felt compelled to bring what I know so that you may consider another point of view. At the onset, however, I must stress that in writing this letter I am not attempting to influence your plan one way or another. I only feel that it may be in your best interest to have more information on which to base your decision. I will take this opportunity to express several accounts I have observed that have shown me how the President has attempted to be accountable to your requests. I want to give you my account before you go into what I would call unfair public humiliation. President Dye, in my opinion, has been student-focused ever since coming to Oberlin. As a person who has worked under three presidents and acting presidents, I can honestly say that I have found Nancy Dye to be very student-centered. Her interest in listening to students during the strategic planning sessions cemented my confidence in her interests in the well-being of Oberlin College students and Oberlin at large. Through the hard work of multiple constituencies, at the end of the process student voices were incorporated. OCDC (which facilitated those student forums in the fall) and I have been very satisfied with President Dye’s reception and commitment to integrating student recommendations and concerns into the planning document. This commitment from her and from members of the Strategic Planning Committee, in my opinion, assured that students’ voices would be present in this major historical plan of Oberlin College During the student planning sessions (in November and February), student evaluations overwhelmingly called for the resolution of one main issue: how to continue conversations between the administration and students. Senate had success in answering this major student concern in several forums. OCDC has fulfilled its role (and continues to do so) with assisting Senate with the forums. To my knowledge and in my experience, these forums have been a good experience for all who have participated — the President, other administrators and students; furthermore, a new precedent has been set for information to be transferred between students and administration directly. In my experience here, these forums have really set a different way of communicating and I look forward to them continuing! Senate has begun extremely important work with these forums between students and administration in the last month and a half. They have opened up students’ relationships with the administration and Nancy Dye, and allowed a venue for students to understand how the institution works. I recommend that Senate continues this work into next year — making plans to have these forums be a normal part of campus culture. Please take advantage of these efforts. Finally, as I have read in the Review, I believe that the dean’s search has become problematic. I do not and will not speculate on what happened, but I do believe that you have every right and the most access of anybody on campus to figure out what is going on. I highly recommend that you act with the knowledge that how Oberlin is represented may affect the success of our dean search as well as prospective students’ decisions to come to Oberlin. At this point, our actions really deter people from considering us seriously. All I ask is that you take on this task through your own work and not hearsay. This is the strength of being a student at Oberlin — you are free from persuasion and are able to act on your own accord for the benefit of everyone. This, as I see it, has been the strength of OCDC and of the Ombudsperson’s office as well. It is through my position and my work, uniquely placed within this institution, that I have been a witness to many of these events — not in the least, President Dye’s own work. Having said this, I hope I have shed some light on how President Dye has made concerted efforts to include students in the college process. I believe that while you have every right to vote on the referendum, I ask that you consider the above information as well and ask that you act with fairness. –Yeworkwha BelachewOmbudsperson To the Editors: I am writing this letter as an individual with strong concerns, not as a student senator. On Wednesday night Student Senate held a meeting attended by the Dean of Students and the Ombudsperson. The Ombudsperson told Senate and other students in attendance that students should not criticize the administration of Nancy S. Dye. Why not? Not simply because those critiques are supposedly wrong, but because they are dangerous. According to the Ombudsperson’s logic, any critique of policy and process is actually a personal attack on an individual. Furthermore, we should suppress public dialogue about the College’s few but prominent unsolved problems because it might scare away prospective students. To quote: “When we do this, we put Oberlin in a bad light. Who will want to come to Oberlin if we do this?” I find this line of argument deeply disturbing. The manner in which it was delivered — emotionally manipulating involved and concerned students — is even worse. It is hypocritical to advertise Oberlin as place that welcomes activism while trying to suppress critical opinions. It is hypocritical for those whose jobs involve the facilitation of dialogue to resort to such unacceptable tactics to suppress it. To personalize a debate in this way is demeaning to all sides, especially those who, despite claims to professionalism and neutrality, are unable to separate disapproval of policies and disapproval of individuals. Moreover, the notion that prospective students will be scared away by a campus full of strong opinions is insulting to those very prospective students. Prospective Oberlin students are intelligent enough to recognize the value of our school regardless of debate. To call critical opinion dangerous is offensive to the tradition of intellectual freedom that Oberlin claims to stand for, and to the principles of democracy and dialogue that we all claim to share. –Marshall Duer-BalkindCollege junior To The Editors: I’m writing in concern over the lack of wider support, response and attention to last weekend’s conference, Working Our Way Home: We Are the People We’ve Been Waiting For. Thanks to the year-long dedication of co-chairs Heather Griffin and Andrena Hawkins, WOWH provided an opportunity to revisit the concerns and discourses ignited by Burnin’ Closets: BlaQueer Conference, convened in November 2001 and co-organized by myself, among a trio of self-determined Black queer students. As student organizers, with very scarce resources and elusive institutional support, Griffin and Hawkins spearheaded this monumental and very, very rare event. Despite passionate student support and participation for the conference, which included participants from various local campuses, the absence of wider attendance and support in terms of the student body reflects an unfortunate pattern in which marginalized student communities continue to be relegated to a competitive, as opposed to collaborative, status with each other in terms of resources, self-determined education and communal affirmation. It is confusing and disappointing, for example, that the full-length article on the conference, submitted by Review writer Morgan Shelton, somehow didn’t make it to print. That the maverick Deep Dickollective — a crew of Black queer illuminati bombing the desolate discursive space between heterosexism and hip hop culture — and their return to campus for WOWH went by undocumented is particularly criminal. One is reminded of Audre Lorde and Essex Hemphill’s impactful visits to Oberlin, which are very scarcely documented and contextualized in Oberlin’s cultural memory. Many of us involved with the conference consider these oversights highly disconcerting and reflective of an institution that freely appropriates credit for championing “diversity” while student-level initiatives that represent this “diversity” continually catch shade and receive little support or communal acknowledgment for their indeed revolutionary work. Yes, similar views have been expressed before and are sure to be voiced again. When Black queer Obies commence once again to enact conferences and events of this renown, it is expected that their generous gifts to the larger Oberlin community will be honored in proportion to the relevance and urgency of their efforts. –Jason TompkinsOC ’04 and ZAMI co-chair ’99-’01 An Open Letter to the Oberlin Community: I’m writing to express my enthusiasm and gratitude for the diligence and professionalism demonstrated by students at Oberlin’s recent conference: Working Our Way Home: We Are the People We’ve Been Waiting For. Special thanks to the year-long dedication of co-chairs Heather Griffin and Andrena Hawkins. As a seasoned performer, author, scholar who has taught on both the secondary and post-secondary levels; and who navigated the presidency of both Black Student Alliance and LGBT Association while an undergraduate at Duke, it is clear that Oberlin has a very special community of students. As important as the black and queer students who organized the event were the numerous allies of this community who value their peers and the challenges that they must mediate daily in an environment that sometimes makes the ridiculous demand that they leave “identities” at the door and just be students. A significant improvement over the 2001 conference (which was monumental), the conference was well organized and the events and workshops well attended, despite the seeming lack of support from most administrative entities. Perhaps most striking was the amazing cast of performers, scholars and authors who supported the conference, not only as “special” guests, but as art-professionals who valued participation in events beyond our specific contributions. It’s quite monumental to have Doria Roberts, Nalo Hopkinson, Lance McCready, Ingrid Rivera and Deep Dickollective (all of whom are artists, authors and scholars) on a college campus in the United States at one time. As a lecturer and performer who has performed and lectured to students at Harvard, Princeton, Duke, Stanford, UC Berkeley, NYU, Columbia and numerous other universities, the warmth and dedication of Oberlin students at the intersection of blackness and sexuality is something to be proud of. My hope is that the conference continues to get not only the financial support to continue its work, but also the moral support from an administration who values the historic impress of such an event. As a former director of English at the Oakland School for the Arts, and someone who continues to educate and mentor youth nationally, I’ve often commented that Oberlin College is among the more amazing environments for students looking for an engaging, rigorous, diverse and supportive environment (especially for young artists and activists). Understand that this sentiment is largely due to my exposure to Oberlin through the conferences in both 2001 and recently. My hope is that you take notice of the students involved with the conference that you’ve nurtured and develop means for them to continue the conference without the kind of skepticism and lack of good faith that I sense was a challenge for organizers. Thanks in advance for your time and attention. –Tim’m T. WestAuthor, Scholar, Emcee, Poet To the Editors: While reading the article, “Neo-conservative lectures” in last weeks’ issue of the review, I noticed a tyopgraphical error so egregious and so obvious that I can only assume it is part of some far reaching conservative conspiracy involving both the Oberlin Review and the newly formed (though previously undisgraced) College Republicans. I refer of course to the the second sentance, first paragraph which states (quoting Lawrence Kaplan), “Not even Jews for Jesus or the Socialist Worker’s (sic!) Party at Brigham Young could outdo a Republican group at Oberlin.” Now, a simple glance at (the journal of the aforementioned party) could confirm the obvious truth: that there is no apostrophe in the name of the party, and that, even if there were one, it would certainly go at the /end /of the word (i.e. Socialist Workers’) since the party is certainly made up of more than one socialist worker and, were they inclined to show they are somehow (albeit abstractly) in possession of their party, it would (obviosly) be a communal posession. Now, many might see this as a simple mistake, a misplaced key stroke at three in the morning the night before publication (a mistake that could have been avoided with the assistance of the crackerjack copy editors of The Grape, Joe Kimmel and Walker Evans), but, when viewed in the context of the rapidly growing conservative movement on campus, it seems that it is more likely a dastardly attempt to plant misconceptions about the militant left in the collective subconsiousness of the readers of the Review. However, just as the Socialist Workers Party heroically carried the mantle of Trotskyism through the turmoil of the mid to late twentieth century, so shall it survive this underhanded attack and emerge with a redoubled commitment to defending the rights of America’s Workers. –David J. CreanDouble Deg’ree junior Last Friday as I went to a lecture in the Science Center, I was puzzled to see flyers that contained statements posted by Students for Administrative Reform (SAR) that did not represent either my own experience or the product of the strategic planning process that has recently been endorsed by the General Faculty. The flyer stated that President Dye wrote the plan. In fact, the plan is the result of the work of hundreds of people (faculty, staff, students and trustees) who have spent hundreds, more likely thousands, of hours since January 2004 in meetings and in forums that were devoted entirely to talking about, thinking about and revising multiple drafts of the Strategic Plan. I have participated in nearly every one of those gatherings and I know that the voices of those constituencies are clearly reflected in the final draft of the plan. It may be that some do not like the proposed plan; however, it should be known that the plan has been a very thoroughly collaborative work, drawing on the ideas of the entire Oberlin College community. Throughout the process and now as we begin the implementation phase of the plan, President Dye, Provost Koppes and Vice President for Finance Ron Watts have been extraordinarily accessible to students and have met in a number of open forums organized by Student Senate since early February to talk about the plan as well as any other issues students wanted to bring to the table. I am pleased to have been able to talk this week with two of the SAR representatives about the flyer in question and some of the issues raised in last week’s Review. From my perspective, that kind of exchange, an open conversation, is productive and helpful and can lead us to a better understanding and a quality of communication that we seek to enhance and practice. –Linda GatesActing Dean of Students Students for Administrative Reform would like to apologize for the use of last week’s Review editorial in our April 26 flyers. We understand fully that the Review does not take a stance on this issue. Nor would we expect them to. We only used the editorial because we felt it eloquently expressed some ideas with which our organization agrees. We did not intend for it to seem as if the Review were trying to influence student opinion on the matter by leaving out the last sentence of the article, which was addressed to the administration. That decision was not intended to create the impression that the editorial board agreed with our chosen methods in trying to encourage administrative reform, only to suggest our agreement with their expression of the belief that there ought to be some kind of change. In retrospect, it may have given the wrong impression to the Oberlin community, and for our irresponsibility in not anticipating that, we are sincerely sorry. –Cecilia HayfordCollege junior–Peter CollopyCollege sophomoreStudents for Administrative Reform I am writing in response to Karles Saucedo-McQuade’s letter to the April 22 Review on the OC Republicans. Mr. Saucedo-McQuade writes that Republicans are a “marginalized group” on the Oberlin campus, and to some extent I agree. I don’t doubt that there are times when Republican students have been insulted or excluded because of their beliefs and I find this wholly inappropriate and unfortunate. However, I feel that the urgency of Mr. Saucedo-McQuade’s concern is misplaced. To many American liberals (including Oberlin liberals), there seems to be a great concern for tolerance of all political views, something which is overwhelmingly a good thing. However, in some cases, this concern for tolerance veers into a dangerously passive moral relativism, in which one cannot roundly condemn an ethically repugnant position without risking being thought of as intolerant. Of course, one can strongly disagree with someone while still respecting him or her as a person. But it seems to me that there are certain positions one can only hold if one is viciously prejudiced. An example is the opposition to gay marriage. There are few if any logically sound secular arguments against gay marriage that don’t smack of intense bigotry. Mr. Saucedo-McQuade notes that he can talk to an OC Republican if he wants to “truly understand the horrors of gay marriage,” but to engage in civil discourse with someone who espouses such bigotry serves to legitimize an execrable position. Interestingly enough, I strongly suspect that many of those who espouse tolerance of all viewpoints would, in actuality, happily marginalize certain ones. Imagine if there were to be formed, say, a student group dedicated to reinstating segregation or the forced sterilization of the mentally disabled. Members of such a group would be made pariahs! Do I think that this is inappropriate? Far from it; cruel and blatant enough bigotry must be unequivocally condemned, or else it is much easier for it to spread. Of course, I don’t mean to say that the OC Republicans are equivalent to the hypothetical groups I earlier mentioned. But it seems as if the real difference, in the minds of many of those who call for broad-spectrum political tolerance, is that segregation and sterilization of the mentally handicapped are not issues that are today debated in the mainstream, while gay marriage and the indefinite imprisonment without charge of terror suspects at Guantanamo Bay are. While this is an interesting historical situation, it is logically fallacious to suggest that whether an issue is currently controversial determines its ethical validity or the character of those who espouse it. I welcome rational, kind conservative students who wish to discuss their views with the student body. I do not welcome, however, cruelty or bigotry, and neither, I think, should the rest of the campus. –Christopher BoydCollege sophomore In an article entitled “Search for deans grows complicated,” (22 April 2005) by Douglass Dowty, Josh Keating and Milena Evtimova, readers were informed that: “Professor Ramon Gutierrez left campus indignant that two faculty liaison administrators may be cut from the Dean of the College’s office or shared with the Office of the Provost.” Yet how are readers to judge his state of mind, as the authors presented no actual evidence of it one way or another? Gutierrez himself “could not be reached for comment,” and no faculty member (or anyone else) cited in the piece so described him. The authors state vaguely that Gutierrez “was also said to have expressed similar concerns at the history department dinner given in his honor.” If so, might it not have been a good idea actually to ask someone from the history department who was there? I must wonder whether the article sought to report further complication in the search, or create it. –Leonard V. SmithFrederick B. Artz, Professor of History This is in response to the letter from President Dye regarding this year’s scholarship, fellowship and award recipients. At the outset, I wish to clarify that I believe the College should value the achievements of these students. I sincerely respect and admire their accomplishments and believe that their successes should be publicly recognized and applauded. My concern is not about the contents of the letter, but about its implications — in my opinion, the letter typifies those achievements that the College chooses to highlight and those it often chooses to overlook or ignore. A large number of Oberlin students are highly involved in social justice programming and activism on this campus, functioning on a professional level and achieving repeated successes in organizing events and activities that are on par with those that are organized by activists and scholars at larger, more professional institutions. The activism that occurs on this campus is at the cutting edge of academic scholarship and of other professional endeavors. It is just as significant and relevant in the larger societal or global context as any other form of academic accomplishment and therefore just as legitimate a form of educational and professional development. Yet, in my experience, the College has chosen to give only tacit or token recognition to social activism work (as may be indicated by the somewhat vulnerable past and present position of departments such as the Multicultural Resource Center, the Edmonia Lewis Center for Women and Transgender People or the Comparative American Studies program), but proactively encourages and recognizes primarily traditional forms of academic ventures and accomplishments. Given its stated commitment to social justice, the highly limited public recognition and support from the College for the social activism work that students undertake is surprising, and often frustrating. This situation is particularly disconcerting in light of the newly adopted Strategic Plan. It appears that the College is interested in creating a “new” image by focusing primarily on traditional indicators of academic excellence. While the objective of academic excellence is admirable, what is problematic is that this image is being created at the cost of “traditional Oberlin values,” namely the institution’s “history” of commitment to social justice. It has been suggested that since the College is widely recognized as an institution committed to social justice, energy must be focused on building its reputation in other areas. This strategy has the potential of further marginalizing the very students upon whose tireless work and commitment Oberlin has perpetuated its reputation as a school committed to social justice and human rights issues. The College often reiterates its commitment to social justice by highlighting its progressive/activist history as the first school to admit African Americans and women. However, past legacies do not necessarily translate into present realities. The College’s apparent ambivalence to social justice activism on this campus leads me to believe that the College is simply paying lip service to a principle that it no longer believes is relevant or valuable. This ambivalence, combined with the College’s stated intention to “strengthen Oberlin’s appeal,” is reflective of the College’s apparent fear that its “activist image” may be hurting Oberlin’s appeal to more “mainstream students” who are worthy of an Oberlin education. In my opinion, if the lack of institutional support, recognition and respect for social justice work continues, Oberlin will eventually lose its dedicated and driven student activists. After all, history and reputation can only go so far. By merely touting or glorifying its progressive past and by tokenizing the social justice work of student activists the College is doing a disservice to those students who choose to come to Oberlin because of its reputation, only to find that its history/reputation has no institutional significance in the present. Having stated its commitment to social justice in the new plan, the College must implement this commitment by being more proactive, deliberate and public in supporting and recognizing the work that student activists on this campus are engaged in, and by valuing social justice activism to the same extent as more traditional forms of scholarly and professional endeavors. –Rashné LimkiCollege senior I wanted to correct a factual error made in a letter I wrote in the Review last week on behalf of Students for a Free Palestine. Israel is not, in fact, the fourth largest military in the world. My sincere apologies for this error. There are many ways of measuring military power. Israel actually has the sixth highest military spending in relation to its GDP (according to). Again, sorry for the mistake. –Rachel MarcusCollege junior Subscriptions Advertising Previous issue Older issues

The House Fan Fiction Archive Quicksearch Search Engine Random Story Upload Story Appetites and incentives by snark_bait and phineyj Cuddy House and I didn't go to Baltimore today, because they rang and cancelled. If they hadn't called it off themselves, I would have had to anyway. One of our supplies people got caught by audit with his fingers in the register earlier this week, and it's been all I can do to deal with the fall out. I had no idea there was so much profit to be made in knocking off antibacterial soap and bulk toilet tissue deliveries, I muse, as I check over the figures audit have sent me. I'm tired, grouchy and hungry. I've been here since six this morning. It's now nearly 9pm, and the sum total of what I've eaten is a chicken sandwich my secretary dropped off for me around midday, and a half packet of chocolate chip cookies I remembered I had in my desk drawer about an hour ago. Things have been awkward with House since last weekend. Neither of us were quite ready for that, it seems. I think he's probably forgiven me for giving him a shave; I was astounded to notice this morning that he'd shaved again. I'm not so sure he's forgiven me for putting him in a vulnerable position. He likes to pretend he doesn't trust anybody, but you know, he does trust me, but he doesn't like that I know it. Since we've been sleeping together, I find I'm thinking more and more of the Greg House I knew before the infarction. He was witty, cynical and could be challenging company, but he wasn't bitter. The facial scruff may only be the surface manifestation of the cobwebs he's allowed to grow over some of the vital aspects of his personality, but it was a place to start. I don't want to change him. I just think he's forgotten who he used to be, and there's no-one around but me who remembers. Well, maybe Wilson, but I don't think he's got the energy right now to take House on. My thoughts are interrupted by the insistent bleeping of my pager. It's shift change time, and I assume it's going to be some medical issue someone wants me to sort out. But it's not; the message just says, "Meet me on the roof, G." I think about ignoring it, but in spite of myself, I'm intrigued. I didn't know he still went up there. The elevator only reaches as far as the floor below, so he'd have to really want to do it to climb the dozen stairs or so up there. When I open the door to the roof, I can't immediately see him, and for a second I enjoy the remnants of a vividly-colored sunset. I haven't been up to the roof for years, and I'd forgotten how attractive Princeton looks from up here. I go over to the balustrade, and I'm just looking to see if I can recognize my road, when I hear familiar footsteps behind me. "You look like you're planning world domination," he comments, and moves up behind me, putting his arms around me and hooking his chin over my shoulder. This affection is new. "I don't think," I reply, "Running this hospital is stressful enough." "You shaved," I say, turning so I can run a hand over the smooth surface of his chin. "Yeah," he says, "I'm trying to confuse my team. Do you know they think I've got a girlfriend?" I look at him and smile. "Do you think they're right?" "I don't know," he says, an expression of deep thought on his face, "I keep having these insistent sexual fantasies about my boss." "Ah, okay. Do they involve trains? Or is it still desks?" He looks at me, and shakes his head, "Turns out the logistics are a bit complicated. Roofs are way more sexy; it's the moody lighting. And all this fresh air's supposed to be healthy." "Oh, well, if it's good for us..." I move in so I can kiss him. He responds instantly and enthusiastically, and I think that maybe I'm not the only one who's started to need this. He drops his head down so he can kiss my neck, and I reflect that it's going to make a change not to have stubble burn tomorrow. Meanwhile, his warm hands are moving up under my top, where they pause for a second, while he figures out that this bra undoes at the front. At the back of my mind, I'm worrying a little about the fact that anyone could wander up here and see us, but as the fingers of his left hand start to work at my nipples, while his right starts to wander up under my skirt, I find it's quite easy just to focus on sensation and let the rest go. Then, both his hands are on my hips, and he moves back from me, braces himself against the wall and hoists me onto the smooth stone surface of the balustrade, so I'm suddenly on his eye level. "Just so you know, no-one's going to be on their knees tonight," he says, warningly, "That was a strictly one-time only deal." "Okay," I say, laughing, "I'm going to bear that in mind next time we find ourselves in a fancy restaurant," and I lean in and kiss him again, wrapping my legs around him. He reaches up under my skirt, and grabs hold of my panties, grunting in approval, presumably because they're soaking wet. I lift myself up off the wall enough that he can remove them, and he dumps them unceremoniously next to me. I get him out of his jeans; he's already hard, so I slide to the front of the wall, and he enters me, wrapping his arms around me as he does. The wall is scratchy and cold under my ass, and I'm trying not to think about the sheer drop behind me to the parking lot. We lock eyes as he starts to move, and I know, which I always have done, that this isn't just screwing. It never has been. On the surface, it's kind of a game, to see how far the other one will go - neither one of us is known for backing down in the face of a challenge - but it's also a statement of something; something which neither of us knows how to put into words. So here we are, me and Greg, fucking outside on the roof of my hospital, in fall temperatures, and it feels good. And when he increases his speed and says, "Come on, let's see if there's an echo," I feel the first stirrings of my climax, and it's like a race to see who can get there first. I win, by a matter of seconds, and for a few moments, we're quiet, him still inside me, while our breathing calms down and we both realize that we're going to have to move before we stick to the spot. I jump down off the wall, my legs still slightly wobbly and House scoops up my panties with the end of his cane, and hands them to me. What a gentleman. He's leaning back against the balustrade, still breathing heavily, and rubbing his right thigh with his hand. I feel briefly guilty, but then, it was his idea in the first place. He pops a Vicodin and glances at his watch, and a flash of annoyance goes through me, because where else does he have to be? Suddenly, the fire escape door bangs open, and I feel overwhelmingly relieved that I'm basically fully dressed, even if I'm completely sweaty and crumpled. House gets to his feet, not surprised in the slightest, and limps over to meet the visitor. Who turns out to be the delivery boy from the Golden Palace Chinese takeaway down the road; he's out of breath from climbing the stairs. The boy hands a carrier bag over to House. He reaches into to his pocket and hands some bills over, while I wonder how much extra he had to pay to get the poor guy all the way up here. "I thought I should feed all your appetites," House says, with a smirk, as the door closes behind the delivery guy. I say nothing, because I'm too busy tearing into the packages to find the Kung Po chicken which I hope will be in there. It is, and I marvel at the fact House actually remembers my takeaway food preferences so many years on. And as we sit on two old plastic chairs eating our food with disposable forks, night-time Princeton spread out below us and the velvety sky above, it feels just like we're students again. ------ House "This is your fault," I spit angrily at Cuddy as I pass her on the way to the locker room. She gives me a quick, bewildered, once over but doesn't say anything. I don't wait for a reply, and I don't get one. I'm angry because a forty year old drunk who sprained his ankle while out - being drunk - just puked up all over me. I am not amused. More fool me for helping Cuddy out and covering for some other doctor, who had he been here, would have caught the Technicolor yawn fest instead of me. This is the only favor I ever do her; bribery will not work, regardless of the fact that the blowjob she gave me before we left this morning in exchange for my compliance, was very nice. Just not worth getting puked on. Or was it? Damn, it's actually too close to call; she's pretty good at it, and she only seems to go down on me when she wants something these days. I may have to finalize this decision later. It is her fault though, and the drunken bastard passed out before I could yell at him, so I needed to vent at someone. It stinks bad enough that I'm struggling to hold onto my lunch. I slam the locker room door and lock it. Strip my blue slash barf colored shirt off and launch it angrily at the trash can. It misses, hits Foreman's locker and leaves a spattering of vomit on the door before sliding to the floor. Well, I'm certainly not cleaning that off there. I look down and I'm glad my jeans seem to have escaped unscathed and barf free, so I sit down and take them off, along with the rest of my clothes and then get into the shower. I turn the temperature right up, grab the shower gel, and empty about half of it onto my hand and rub it where any potential puke may have gone. I don't hear the lock to the door click open, I don't hear the hinges creak when the door opens and closes, and I'm not aware of Cuddy's presence in the room until she says "Hey," towards my back as I'm washing my hair. Jesus Christ - I nearly have a heart attack. I spin around in fright and open my eyes, which of course, become clogged up instantly with soap, so now I'm blinded. "What the hell Cuddy - how did you get in here?" I curse at her; while simultaneously trying to wipe the soap from my eyes. "I have a key to every room in the hospital, you moron, what the hell is wrong with you? It's a bit of vomit, get over it," she says glibly. "No, it's gross and it wasn't destined to be on me, it was destined to go to Dr...whoever was supposed to be on clinic duty instead of me." "You took the bribe, so don't bitch about it now," she replies calmly. I hate that tone of voice she uses, like I'm a teenage troublemaker. I didn't ask to get puked on, nor did I go out of my way to achieve it. "Well consider it the last favor I ever do for you," I inform her grumpily. "Fine," she says resignedly. I finally manage to clear the soap out of my eyes so I can scowl at her. "Consider that the last blowjob you get from me then," she says with a smirk, probably because I'm pouting and she finds it amusing. "You're sadistic, you get pleasure out of seeing me unhappy," I say, and then turn my naked ass towards her, with the suggestion that she can kiss it. "Right, I find nothing more enjoyable that watching you suffer, it brings me endless joy and happiness," she drawls sarcastically. "Grow up," she adds. Well I'm not taking that, I turn around, grab the shower head quickly and flick it forward so water gets her all down her back as she attempts to retreat. It's amazing how much better this makes me feel. She stops and places her hands on her hips. "You are a complete child, I cannot believe you just did that," she says. She gives a little pissed off head shake and then turns around, just as I do it again and get her all down her front. I laugh at her and shake my head. "And I can't believe you turned around so I could so it again," I say happily, as I replace the shower head and make sure all of the shampoo is out of my hair. A look crosses into her features, like she's pissed off but like she's also trying not to laugh. She nods her head very slowly and her eyes slide to the corner of the room and become narrowed. She smirks at me. I can't quite see what she's looking at. Then, she disappears and I hear her open one of the lockers. I crane my neck around the shower door and see it's mine; she has my fresh set of jeans in one hand and the ones I just took off in the other. She casually walks over to the sink and drops them in. "Cuddy," I warn, but she turns the water on and drenches both sets. "See, I can be a child too, fun isn't it?" "You are a genius, I don't have another set," I inform her angrily. "Too bad, there's a set of scrubs over there; you'll have to dress up like a doctor for the rest of the day, what will people think?" she says. "You don't want to play this game Cuddy, I will win," I say, dangerously. "What game?" she replies incredulously as she comes back over to the door. "You do something to piss me off and I go one better and make you look stupid, what are you going to do now?" I'm standing in the shower with no clothes on...she raises a good point. But she's ambled confidently over and come a bit too close - I do have one option for revenge. I nod slowly and then reach out fast and grab her arm. She tries to wriggle free from my grip but I yank her into the shower. Then pull her underneath it. "House," she screams. Now she's wet too. "You were saying," I say, raising my eyebrows. She breathes out loudly and gives me an angry stare, but I have a broad smile on my face, and it's only a matter of seconds before she bursts out laughing and I close the door to the shower and start working on the buttons of her soaking blouse as I invite my tongue into her mouth and kiss her. Water tries to squeeze into the gaps between our bodies as she pushes me against the wall and my butt presses hard against the glass. I'm about to remove her blouse completely when I stop suddenly. "Wait, did you lock the door?" I ask, worriedly. "Yeah," she replies. I nod briefly, and then continue to divest her of her clothes. Her drenched blouse falls to the shower floor with a wet plop. Between us we get her naked very quickly and I rub some shower gel into my hands; I rub the lather all over her body, paying very special care and attention to her breasts. I remove the soap from my hands by sliding them up and down her back and over her ass, then my right arm comes to the front of her body and I slip two fingers inside her; driving them in and out as I push forward and back her up against the opposite end of the shower. I lower my head to her shoulders and taste the water on her skin with my tongue. I lick carefully up towards her neck, then pause when I get there so I can bite then suck quickly. I aim to leave a mark on her neck, so when she has to don her own set of scrubs it will be highly noticeable. She pulls away and gives my arm a wet slap. "You shit," she says breathlessly, rubbing her neck. It's funny how these sorts of arguments turn into sex these days. I'm still working my fingers in and out of her and her hips come away from the wall so she can ride my hand a little better. I grab her free hand with mine and encourage her to return the favor by shaking hands with my manhood, which is already semi erect because she's wet inside and out, and the sight of her as her breath catches and her eyes half close in pleasure is seriously turning me on. "I think you should blow me in the shower," I suggest confidently, as I lean in and run my tongue behind her ear. Her hand then closes around my cock and she shuffles her hand forwards and backwards quickly. "Twice in one day, I don't think so," she returns breathlessly into my ear. I slow my rhythm down slightly and thumb her clitoris hard. Steam rises in front of our faces and a drop of water wobbles uncertainly on the end of her nose as she squirms happily against my hand; I can tell that last action hit a sensitive area, so I do it again. I lean back slightly and the water runs down my face. She closes her eyes and places her head back against the tiles as my fingers keep up the good work between her legs. There's only one way I'm changing her mind about that blowjob. I carefully ease myself down - although I'm not allowing myself to get used to this position - and see if I can encourage her to think again. I slide my fingers out, then position myself in front of her and part her entrance with my fingers so I can take her clitoris into my mouth; I suck it a few times but it's tricky because rivers of water stream down my face and into my mouth. I squint up at her and notice it's probably because she's come forward slightly; I push her back gently and hold her hips against the wall. I then spit out the water and run my tongue up inside of her; working myself in and out, making sure the base of my tongue rubs her bud hard. She places her hands on my shoulders to steady herself, because I'm putting enough effort into this that she's practically on her tiptoes. I ease my tongue out temporarily and rub my nose against her clit; I can't resist rubbing my chin there too. This causes her to draw her breath in quickly. "Oh my god," she hisses as I slip my tongue back in. I hear the glass squeak underneath her hand as it slides down the side of the shower. I work her until I feel like I've pulled something in my tongue. It feels like I'm taking most of her weight as she shudders gently above me. I can make out a blur of pink pressed hard against the bright blue tiles as the warm water runs down my face. The water hits the floor with the familiar patter of rain, and I hope we get caught in a thunderstorm some time. This could be even more fun.

Chesapeake, Virginia, Police Detective Jarrod Shivers was killed by a bullet fired through a door as he attempted to break it down during a raid on a suspected marijuana grow operation on January 17. Shivers was a veteran narcotic detective and SWAT team member whose specialty was "breaching" doors during drug raids. The home's resident, Ryan Frederick, was arrested in the shooting. As Drug War Chronicle noted in a recent review of drug war-related law enforcement deaths last year, making drug arrests is not an extraordinarily risky endeavor -- only one officer died doing a drug raid last year, and the total number killed doing any drug enforcement was five. But there are risks, especially when police rely on dynamic forced entries, as appears to have been the case in Chesapeake. While police said they did a "knock and announce" before entering the home, one local press account said Shivers "died doing his specialty -- breaking down doors" -- when he was shot. Police had obtained a search warrant based on information from a confidential informant that "the marijuana was growing in portable shelters with a hydroponic system," according to local press reports. This week, police announced they had indeed seized marijuana and growing equipment, though without explaining why they waited five days to say so. Shivers was buried on Tuesday. The alleged shooter, Frederick, remains in jail. He is now charged with first degree murder. All this over some pot plants. Censorship Now! Dave, whats going on---are you now deleting posts to prevent THEIR discomfort at hearing what people really think of THEM? Have you fucking lost it? These "People". . . Dave, these people we're talking about here are Nazis! Censorship is *their* fucking thing! You should put the visceral comments back up where they belong! They mightn't look good to dwarriors but fuck them. . .they *should* suffer, and suffer. . .and. sorry, can't do it Sorry, can't do it. We don't know whether the police officer who was killed was this terrible person, or if he was just doing something that he was misled by the leaders to do. Those kinds of comments can be used to destroy an organization's reputation, or to sink the chances that a campaign has to succeed. I'm not going to let that happen. Plus the last thing we need is for an entire city and a police officer's family to be furious at us when what we're really saying is that things should be made more safe for everybody. This is what Radley Balko had to say on Reason and The Agitator about this last Tuesday: I'm sorry for not posting such a note right at the beginning to make this clear. But I'm leaving this last comment you posted up so that people can see how angry this sort of thing does make us. David Borden, Executive Director StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network Washington, DC THE MARIJUANA they only found a small amount of marijuana! no plants! this is ludicris! No one should have to kill or be killed over a shameful lie! Civil rights movements, which the drug war certainly is, historically require and/or result from violent acts committed by gov't agents while enforcing the unlawful dictates of self-serving authoritarians & prohibitionists! I sincerely hope, but seriously doubt, something good will come from Shivers death, and, it's sad to think that many more deaths, or the 'right death', may still need to occur before constitutional law is reinstated and marijuana is re-legalized! Perhaps a few cops will decide 'Death during Home Invasion' is not in their best interest and will get some education and/or contact LEAP (Law Enforcement Against Prohibition)? Perhaps Mr. Frederick will be equitted and given a medal for defending his property from home invaders? No one should have to kill or be killed over a shameful lie! Choose! Yeah, Dave, put 'em back up or lose all remaining credibility. Your choice! I'm not worried about my I'm not worried about my credibility over this -- the vast majority of readers will understand our not wanting to keep comments online that rejoiced in the death of a police officer, or of anyone for that matter. I don't even know who you are, by the way. David Borden, Executive Director StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network Washington, DC David Borden I agree with David Borden when it comes to letting the family mourn for their Dad and husband. He was a cop and he died in the line of duty, no matter the consequences. A 'pig' ? I don't call 'em that. There are good cops and there are bad cops. There are good people and there are bad people. Granted, I haven't actually met many good cops but that doesn't mean they arn't there. The less I have anything to do with them is fine by me. BUT, I regress. I agree with you David Borden, and I don't even know who you are. Point Taken Dave, a separate page for the hardest posts with reasons for deletion from the main page might be the answer. That way, honesty'd be intact. It's a war after all, and collateral shit happens all the time. As for angry---try incandescent! Repeal Prohibition I know this is preaching to the choir here but the following is what I posted in the comments after following the link above to the article:? The drug war has become FAR to militarized (see: ) Medical -as well as recreational-- use of marijuana is generally accepted by "mainstream America." The people are ready for change but the Republicans can't seem to stop worshiping their "Sacred Cow" drug war. Until the people rise up and demand change en mass the killing will continue. If you're not part of the solution you're part of the problem. Support: MARIJUANA POLICY PROJECT - Note the rise in the figures from effects of alcohol prohibition (1920-33) as well as that of the inception of President Richard Nixon's "War on Drugs" (1970-onward) National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial SO MANY unnecessary deaths. Sad. A slight correction... "The people are ready for change but the Republicans can't seem to stop worshiping their "Sacred Cow" drug war." I want to correct you here by saying the neocons can't seem to stop worshipping their "Sacred Cow" drug war. True Republicans, who hold true conservative values, ie Ron Paul, are for the end of prohibition, specifically because it directly violates our Constitutional rights. Ron Paul's writings on the War on Drugs. I agree with what you say I agree with what you say about "TRUE" Republicans. In fact, I recently registered in the GOP (after having migrated to the LP after the first President Bush betrayed his word on "no new taxes" and viciously spewed more drug war hype) in order that I could support The TRULY Honorable Ron Paul as a delegate in my state's GOP convention. Unfortunately for the US, he and The TRULY Honorable Gary Johnson are the exceptions to the rule. Remember when Gary was governor of NM and championing drug policy reform and he said how nearly ALL of his GOP contemporaries agreed with him in private BUT WERE TOO AFRAID TO ADMIT IT IN PUBLIC?? So much for the US being the "home of the brave," eh -- where political leaders ARE AFRAID TO SPEAK THE TRUTH, eh?! Yes, it would be wonderful for the country if the GOP were to return to the principles of the Founding Fathers as well as that great, great anti-prohibitionist Abe Lincoln who they're always paying lip-service to. offensive comments? i read the banned comments and, yes, they were offensive but the war-on-drugs does this to ordinary people who normally go out of their way to not cause offense. Deleted comment I was actually about to respond to that comment when it told me "The comment you are trying to respond to no longer exists" .. or something to that gist. I have to agree with both sides here: yes, the war on drugs does lead to situations like this and it is the absolute fault of the war on drugs and the legislators who empower them. The death of this officer was not the fault of the poor guy inside the house but rather the fault of George W Bush and all his drug war cronies. But I also agree with Dave in that "Those kinds of comments can be used to destroy an organization's reputation, or to sink the chances that a campaign has to succeed." We know the media would happily misquote that comment and very quickly completely misrepresent this campaign as a bunch of cop-killing lunatics. We have to be very careful to ensure a victory in the war on the war on drugs. The Good Guy! Trying to play the good guy in a Dirty War is plain futile! And ultimately self-defeating! Sorry Dave, you blew it! as before As before, I don't even know who you are. Or what you are doing to advance the cause. Share it with the class! David Borden, Executive Director StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network Washington, DC Always Take the High Road! I believe that it is essential for each person to do their best to take the 'High' road and Treat Our Friends, Enemy's, and fellow Earthlings the way we would like to be treated, regardless on their view of us. "Do unto others...and all that...If we as people always take the High road in all our dealings, then when we look back in years to come we will be able to stand confident that no matter what...we did the 'Right Thing'. I think the teachings of Jesus, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King should be studied, practiced, and applied where applicable in generous amounts. Wishing for death or injury to ANY human is un-human and Madness! (And Madness is ALWAYS insane!!!) ("Madness" is the uncontrollable urge, need, or desire to harm others. "Insanity" is when a person is so willing to harm others, that they become capable of injuring and even killing themselves!) "Madness is ALWAYS Insane!" Jack Grabit, American Pot-Head. Politics and the war on drugs "The people are ready for change but the Republicans can't seem to stop worshiping their "Sacred Cow" drug war." It is not only the NeoCon-Republicans. The Democrats (in general), have been complicit, and some have ever been draconian, in support of the drug war. Obama has clearly said he would continue it. Ron Paul is our only chance, people, for at least the next four years.. Thank you for responding to Thank you for responding to my statement. I concede that drug prohibition is a bipartisan policy but I single out Republicans for lambasting because they always seem to be consistently leading the charge for subverting our Constitutional protections, ever-increasing sentences, and more and more prisons. Richard (I) M. (not a crook) Nixon and his Watergate cronies initiated the War On Drugs and Reagan/Bush escalated it. Joe Biden and Charlie Rangel are notorious and powerful Democrat drug war hawks but the rank and file go along because I feel the donkey party will go along with anything that keeps the government big and growing bigger. Besides what politician wants to to accused of being "soft on drugs" come election year? Yes, even before Nixon's drug war declaration, the Harrison Act was signed into law by Democrat Woodrow Wilson and the Marijuana Tax Act by Democrat FDR but, deep in my heart, I truly believe that had Robert F Kennedy not been assassinated back in 1968 he would have most likely beaten Tricky Dick Nixon and there never would have been any CSA or DEA and that he would have honored the recommendations of his equivalent of the Schaefer Commission findings (to, at the very least, decriminalize marijuana) and Detective Shivers and countless others would be alive and free today. Please refrain from making disparaging remarks ? Having been on the receiving end of a supposed knock and kick your door in raid I can tell you first hand the practice is to knock and kick at the same time and then report to the judge that the rules were followed .Judges always side with "law enforcement" unless the "law enforcement " tools were video taped. I don't believe there is a "law enforcement" tool who would not lie in order to get a conviction. They love to enhance..You have to remember that these "law enforcement " tools are dressed in kevlar body armor with the little nazi helmets and face shields, black balaclavas, ballistic cloth gloves,jock straps ,socks, knee,and elbow shields and carrying (at least in my case )heckler and koch machine guns and of course flash bang stun grenades. I had on a t shirt and shorts and no weapons of any kind in my house unless you want to call my 17 month old daughter a weapon. She was sleeping peacefully as children should and she had part of her hearing blown away by the stun grenade . All the "law enforcement " tools had to do was knock on the door like human beings and I would have asked for a warrant and if they had one let them in. But this is no longer a polite society. They will say they need a dynamic entry so evidence is not destroyed but I'll tell you I've yet to meet anyone who could flush a grow room.As far as the disparaging remarks go.. do any of you think for one second that if Ryan Frederick, had been shot and killed by the "law enforcement" tools.. that they wouldn't have gone out of their way to smear his name and justify his death in the name of the Holy Drug War. Tell me how much they would have cared about the family he would have left behind.. please get in touch Dear friend, If you're willing to speak out on this, please get in touch with us for the next stage of the campaign. I can be reached at [email protected] or through the contact form on our web site. P.S. I agree that if it were Frederick who had been killed, there is a good chance the police would have tried to smear him. But I feel that our advantage in all of this is that we are better than that. We are the honest and ethical and reasonable and kindly people whom the rest of the world should take seriously. That is in fact the reason that we are starting to get somewhere, albeit gradually. I'm not saying that people shouldn't get angry or even use angry words. There are just some words that go too far, whether they're deserved or not. David Borden, Executive Director StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network Washington, DC FIRST DEGREE MURDER? WTF? FIRST DEGREE MURDER? WTF? How can they charge him with that UNLESS HE KNEW THEY WERE COMING and made "premeditated" plans to kill his victim/s? Or is this just another example of how they distort the truth --as well as the law-- in order to achieve their sinister ends? I followed the link to the Virginian-Pilot article and noticed a lot of comments their supporting the suspect's right to defend his home against invaders with deadly force. Let us hope that a grand jury will find in favor of self-defense and not even indict him. This case will be one to watch. It seems that police get all bent out of shape when one of their own is killed in a drug-raid but when they kill INNOCENT occupant/s the victim's survivors don't give so much as an apology -- let alone admission of wrongdoing. REMEMBER DONALD SCOTT! TYPO ERROR: the victim's TYPO ERROR: the victim's survivors don't GET so much as an apology. My bad. WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER Dave, Thanks for all your hard work with the cause. The laws of our government are the cause of one growing his own, in the privacy of his own home, and the police action of raiding a home in which they feel it is their duty for the country in protecting its citizens against the evil weed. Yes, prohibition is the cause of it all. A young, vibrant man doing his job now on a cold slab. Another man waiting in a jail because the pistol fired actually hit someone on the other side. I feel pain for both of their families. War and death is not the answer to solve our problems. But isn't it sad that death seems to wake us all up. If the blacks in our society only had their Frederick Douglas's and not their Nate Turner's, do you think their race would have advanced as quickly in their civil rights. Our country is far from perfect and I have thought about leaving after retirement to find some true liberty and freedom so I may investigate life and all its treasured plants. But America is a great land and while Africa and many around the world practice slavery, we eradicated it faster than any other nation. But we have are faults and prejudices. This isn't a republican/democratic issue. Our first "black president" Bill Clinton increased spending on the drug war much more than any other President and the amount of black men and woman arrested and jailed escalated. My parents always said that when in office the difference between the parties was about 10%. Education, communication, and debating the issues like you and many others are doing is the answer. I try to financially support many like yourself in all the small ways I can. But even with all the talk, isn't it strange when reality hits with a sudden death of a police officer that we will arise and take issue with what it is all about. I wonder if anyone has thought about suing the federal government for all the deaths in the drug war. It is their laws that are killing our people, whether a police officer or a drug user. And let me patiently add that it is our laws that are making drug cartels billions of dollars. Legalize all the shit and watch the drug cartels crumble. Before John Kennedy became president he wanted to get together the best and brightest thinkers to help him run the country. We have many in this country who are fighting to end prohibition. And I want to publicly say thank you to all of them. I believe we have some of the best thinkers on our side. We just need to continue the fight, in debates, in political action and in financial backing. This tragedy like so many others has at least brought to our attention that the DRUG WAR IS NOT THE ANSWER! Jimi Lawrence Fairfax, VA It was I who posted one of It was I who posted one of those inflammatory, anti-police remarks that was deleted. I will not disparage or lambaste David for doing so because he wishes to maintain a civil tone in this forum. After thinking it over some, we should write as we would speak in a public forum at our local town halls because our opponents are watching --and may be reading-- and we need to persuade them that ours is the moral high ground. I will say this though; with the death of this legally-sanctioned home-invader, I feel no loss to society--unlike the two officers recently gunned down in Georgia who were going after violent and thieving suspects (the type police should be concentrating on rather than growers of plants--maybe OK to bust meth-labs because they can cause fires, explosions, and hazmats bad for the environment but, of course, if there was no Prohibition there'd be no clandestine meth-labs anymore than there was any blinding bathtub gin after 1933). One more dead cop who, just like every dealer or grower they bust and send away, will be promptly replaced and, unless we convince legislators and executives repeal of the extended Prohibition Phase Two is as appropriate now as it was for Prohibition I, then we should expect more killings, ruined lives, and, of course, expensive burdens on taxpayers to foot the bill. Thanks for chiming back in. Thanks for chiming back in. David Borden, Executive Director StoptheDrugWar.org: the Drug Reform Coordination Network Washington, DC Civility and whatnot is all well and good, but... If a person who made it their life's work to ruin people's lives gets killed, why should we not be glad about this? Yeah, you're right. And to Yeah, you're right. And to ice the cake, so to speak, a great many narcs join the police force because they want to experience the adrenaline rush of kicking in doors and terrorizing our fellow citizens who choose to self-medicate with substances that aren't manufactured by the giant alcohol, tobacco, and pharmaceutical corporations who contribute generously to the donkey and elephant parties to protect their corporate interests. Of course, getting to keep the "spoils of war" --a polite term for STEALING-- is a well-known fringe benefit of the job. I know from first and second-hand experience that not all the cash and contraband makes it to the evidence room. These so-called "peace officers" are also prone to purloin any other sundry items they want as well. In their perverted minds we're "druggie scum" so why not steal? What bothers me so is how the "community" will mourn a narc when they are slain but won't express outrage and call for retribution when innocent civilians are MURDERED by drug enforcement gone awry. REMEMBER THE REV. ACCELYNE WILLIAMS & ZEKE HERNANDEZ?! I sure doubt any government employees showed up for their funerals. Re:I wish the framers of the constitution could see this I am against state sponsored home invasion, violence, and killing. It is horrible that the US has gone so far against what the framers had in mind. Many grew hemp and female plants and knew there was no harm. I hate the problems created for all by this incident. I have had my home invaded and a gun held to my head while my house and things were violated and eventually stolen from me by virtue of being used to grow a few plants that were illegal. I have always worked and payed taxes and no part of anything I owned was bought with drug money. By the time I paid lawyers etc. I was bankrupt, and incarated. This is terrible but it makes the government and everyone else take notice. If everyone felt the way this homeowner did maybe the cops would back off. Notice they hardly ever get any kingpins because they are afraid of getting shot, and are scared. The little guy is easier to fight and capture and steal blind. It may take armed resistance to change things. It is time to end this senseless waste of human life and freedom. As long as drugs are illegal they will proliferate. If someone can make money and someone wants to get high things will never be under control. It has been too long of a failed strategy. The tragic irony of all this The tragic irony of all this is that, once upon a time, Virginia was home to some of the greatest champions for Liberty that the world has ever known; George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, George Mason, and James Madison. To see how their beloved Commonwealth has degenerated into a vicious and vindictive Police State is an insult to their memory and legacies. Just imagine if they could see the Imperial Stormtroopers busting through doors, exploding stun grenades, terrorizing citizens at gunpoint --- all over the Cannabis-hemp plant. Then, after having stolen their property and deprived them of their liberty, then subject them to Bills of Attainder (which is essentially denial of certain rights after their sentences have been fulfilled .., right to vote, possess firearms, access to student loans and other public assistance benefits, licensing and bonding, etc.) Every way you cut it, the drug war is un-Constitutional but most Americans haven't the slightest clue. They more concerned about more important matters such as who won the game, Britney Spears custody battle, who the finalists are on American Idol. etc. No wonder the US is in decline, Sheesh! Follow the story, folks! Follow the story, folks! Especially the comments: Here's my last post there: Just doing my small part. "fortuenti" stone cold i must stand by my original post .as far as the cop goes .live by the sword die by the sword .its just Carma .he was a hero to some and just another criminal to others .you cant be liked by every body sorry that's life Pent up..... I hear it. It's there. The anger, the rage, at this prohibmonster. Violence solves nothing but it does remind us of why we need to continue the fight. There is nothing "reasonable" about dynamic entry into private property. The 4th amendment needs restoring. As does most of the rest of whats left of OUR constitution. Obviously the US congress is not listening to the people and their demands for reform. Maybe blood will open up their eyes. Unfortunately prohibition is all about money and a false sense of morality. Hardly anything worth all the misery created. PROHIBITION...GATEWAY TO TYRANNY. stone cold what do people think sending in troops into peoples homes over a little bit of pot.civillians are sick of the police murdering folks to protect drug company profits .if attacked by these forces of evil people must fight back to the last man .maybe some of their tactics used on them in their homes would show them the error of their ways .for christs sake killing people for marijuana this must stop now. support David 100% some posts need to rejected They can hurt the cause, nuff said, I think. And even if I did disagree with him I wouldn't forget for a second who's the worker bee around here and who gets to have fun posting at his workplace. I've had a few posts removed myself for using the word thug to describe drug warriors. The post 'Point Taken' came up with a conceivable alternative. Have to commend Dave for the way he engaged the 'censored' folk in dialogue about the removals. As far as Shivers death, much as I hate people who do this kind of work and much as alcohol supremacist bigotry enrages me, I can't rejoice in the slightest at this news. When they're willing to engage us in clean open debate I'll rejoice, because victory will be near. It's SO SAD! An officer has died. It's so sad. A 26yr old mother of 6 has died. It's so sad. A 14yr old girl has died. it's so sad. A retired methodist minister, substance abuse counselor has died. It's so sad. All died because of SWAT style exicution of drug search warrants. The saddest thing about all of it is, that none of it had to happen. I have 7 pages, 37 names of innocent people killed needlessly. We can say enough is enough all we want. Deaf ears. It is the police who have to say enough is enough. It is the police who have to refuse to die for this War on Drugs insanity. If I were a police officer on a SWAT raid, and I were told to stay frosty, there may be guns inside, my nerves are going to be on edge, I'm going to be scared near to death. The RAM hits the door, it flies open, I see a figure in the dark holding an AK47, pointed at me. I'm in fear for my life. I fire several rounds, the figure falls to the floor, the toy gun the 10yr old boy was holding shatters as one of my bullets hits it. It's so sad. Ironman Ryan Frederick was right -- if he hadn't fired first, he would be dead. And Jarrod Shivers would be a hero. one more thing -- In my experience, cops are, at best, bullies, liars and thieves, at worst, murderers. I wouldn't, however, given free rein, gun them down in cold blood, although I know a lot of THEM would happily do it to people like me. So Shivers "left a family." How nice for him. How many other families did he destroy in his career as a "door breacher"? How many other kids did he leave fatherless, motherless, homeless? No, I'll save my sympathy for Ryan Frederick; he may not know it yet, but he, too, has lost his life. Japanese Maple trees (and on censorship) Just a update - it seems Jarrod lost his life in the b-and-e (or whatever the police call it) over ... nothing. Follow the newest info here:... On censorship - well, needless to say I don't like it. However, I'm on David's train of thought here. One or two pulled the "nazi card" on him, accusing him of being like the Drug Warriors because they too censor. Those people might want to remember that these "nazis" also resort to demonizing people ("druggies", "pushers" etc.) without any real evidence of who they are and what they do - so ya'all might not wanna play this game ;) Also there's the proportion and content. Some posts here were censored, because they smeared a police officer who died doing his job, and it seems on no other grounds that what people are guessing at. That's just strategically unsound (try to think this through on your own). Not to mention that it's simply rude and distasteful to mock the dead and their families! This sort of censorship is hardly in the same league as what the establishment perpetrates. David's "terrible censorship" has denied us ... what? Some nasty remarks it would seem, and nothing else much. No truth or information has been censored as a result of this. Wow!! Please read this.... It has been almost a month since Jarrod died, so I thought I would "Google" his name to find out what is going on with the case. I came across this board and was very surprised by your feeling towards the police, and government in general. I should preface this with the fact, that I grew up with Jarrod, served time in the military with him, and was the best man at his wedding. He was my best friend, and knew the dangers involved with his job. He loved his job, but not because he was a bully or thief, but because he believed in right and wrong. He was not out to ruin peoples lives, he was there to protect the people who decide to abide by the laws of this country. Granted, the war on drugs is overwhelming, for the police and for the drug user, but that cannot negate the fact that he was doing his job. Although, he did focus on drug enforcement, his accolades were far greater than busting the local drug dealer. He worked for years to keep the streets safe, the same streets that you walk on each day, but take for granted. Your focus is on drugs, however, lets think about all the other crime that is conducted throughout this country. These men and women risk their lives each day, to protect the rights of you and every other citizen. I have read your points on "censorship", "prohibition" and all the other issues you are afflicted with, being part of this country. Seriously though, do you really feel that cocaine and meth are good for society? This was just one drug bust, amongst many others, that happened to focus on weed. Guys and girls, wake up, there is a bad drug problem in this country and many people are dying, not by the police, but by the drugs themselves. Anyway, I am not going to write a dissertation about drugs, but I would like to say that Jarrod was a very good soul. His laughter and disposition towards life is something we can all learn from. I, like many of you, know a good amount of police officers, and Jarrod was unique. He was a very good man, good father, and good husband. Even though you disagree with the method in which the police "breach" your home, you must be able to see the benefit of having them protect your life. Jarrod did not die because he was a "pig" that was out for a fight, he died because he was doing his job. If Ryan did not have anything to worry about, then why did he fire a bullet through the door and kill my friend. I consider myself open minded, however, I really disagree with the animosity that you have towards this issue. I am sorry that all of you will not get the chance to meet Jarrod, because I think that you would have been very surprised that the person you hate, was actually a good guy. true crime or not? ok first let me say i am truely sorry for the family that was left behind. now that said i fully believe in my second amendment and yes i am republican and yes i carry concealed weapons religiously. so when it comes to this tragic situation poor detective shivers was just a pawn doing his job wrong place at the wrong time situation but fredrick was doing what he felt best for his family and as the man of the house his job is to protect them. so this is truely a tragic thing. people who think they should praise the "cop killer" shame on you and wait till you need the police you should not be so lucky for their help. and to the people who say kill the "cop killer" shame on you to for 2 wrongs dont make it right. i feel fredrick did what he thought was best and the man shows much remorse try to place yourself in his shoes.....think what would you have done......again i am local in virginia beach and i truely send my condolences to the family but.......this man fredrick is now being bombarded by the system and chesapeake is hush hush so now where do we stand with our great AMERICAIN rights? Borden Censors Chesapeake resident, just popping in to call you on your censorship Shill! You want to stop the drug war, we do that by being armed and killing every cop that tries dynamic entry. Screw this loser's family, he should have known better than to be a narc officer if he wanted to watch them grow up. This and more to every cop in this evil nation, Borden. You should be ashamed of yourself for being in a position to call for war against these swine, and not doing so. thats why america should legalize maryj marijuana is the only drug you cant overdose on......alcohol, pain pills like vikadin and percecet even advil, cocaine, heroien....people have to go look on the street and talk to gangsters for pot....thats why they grow it just to smoke for free.....if marijuana was legal....a innocent cop would of never died.....20 years in jail for growing pot....IT IS THE AMERICAN GOVERNMENTS FAULT FOR KILLING A SWAT OFFICER....REMEMBER THIS...CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON POT???? NO CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON LEGAL ALCOHOL AND PAIN MEDICINE? YES...I THINK MY POINT IS MADE. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA...SELL IT JUST LIKE CIGGARETTES...AND DONATE ALL THE PROFITS TO FREE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE AND BETTER EDUCATION...HOW IS AMERICA A FREE COUNTRY? JUST LIKE PROHIBITION MARIJUANA WILL BE LEGAL....AND NO I DONT FEEL BAD FOR WRITING THIS IT IS SO TRUE......THINK ABOUT IT....CAN YOU OVERDOSE ON POT? NO REMEMBER THAT.....GO DRINK A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND TAKE 10 PERCET AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS..... Dying because someone is growing a plant is STUPID! Let's face it. There is money in the drug trade and that is why there is a drug trade to begin with. I personally do not agree with legalizing Cocaine, Meth, Heroin Ecstacy and other drugs in that category.... HOWEVER this cop was killed breaching a door for a marijuana grow... I have not read the whole story, so it could have been a large commercial grow or it could have been a small personal grow..... It does not matter. Marijuana SHOULD be legal. There is absolutely NO reason that it should be classified the same as the drugs listed above. There is what, 12 or so states now in this country who have actually legallized Medical Marijuana, the trend is that is going to continue and after that will come true legalization. Other states and the federal government needs to take a good hard look at taking Marijuana off the same schedule as those other drugs and reduce or even eliminate it as a priority. This cop was killed for a stupid reason.... They should never have been there to begin with.. Legalize Cannabis and take the money out of the Equation.... Do that and all the Criminal activity associated with it goes away. fbi/cia assassins See the evidence of fbi/cia efforts to dominate the world through inhumane & murderous methods;accept the cia/fbi as overlords, or STOP THEM; Do nothing and accept responsibility for their crimes against Humanity. Abuse of civil process and disabling calumny Financial isolation and ruination Human experimentation (of a monstrous type) Programming for suicide (inter alia) of the targeted individuals Psychological operations and mind control Psychoelectronic bombardment Sosbee is an active victim/target of fbi/cia high tech assaults. See links C h e m i c a l , Viral & Biological Assaults: Psychoelectronic Assaults: Nukings: (Warning: graphic material, adult viewing only) To see what really can happen go to:. Click here for "The Law Of The United States And All The Globe Under The New World Order" Click here To See Evidence Of Corruption In The United States Embassies Worldwide 24 2005 USA Admission to Use of Neuronal Entrainment, Etc.: ‘world in a box’), there are several links; here are five more very important links to add to the list: add to the list: 1) C h e m i c a l, biological, and viral assaults on human beings... 2) FBI efforts to hide identities of its thugs, thieves, assassins, dirty cops and self serving corrupt bureaucrats... 3) Psychoelectronic bombardment... 4) United States Army Civilian Inmate Labor program 5) See Germs & Viruses 'Made In The USA' See the following links for more on fbi thuggery & homicidal mindset:-... and: and:.... and: and: * Post new comment

South African Social Security Agency Annual Report 2010/11 The Agency noted an increase in the demand for its services, particularly child support grants. The province with the most amount of grants was KwaZulu-Natal while the Northern Cape had the least amount of grants. The Agency had addressed improved systems integrity. The Agency saw a decrease in the amount of grievances reported from its customers. Rates of fraud had also decreased. On the third priority of increased access to social security services, the Agency discussed the Integrated Community Outreach Programme, which had allowed more communities to have access to social grants. The Agency also noted weaknesses in leadership within the Agency, which needed to be addressed. Commenting on the budget, the Agency noted that it had implemented austerity measures to cut unnecessary spending. There was also a programme to recover the grant monies from those that were ineligible for the grant. The Agency touched on its future challenges. These included designing the most appropriate structure for the Agency, improving service delivery, and improving on cost efficiencies. Additional challenges included the implementation of the austerity measures and the moratorium on the filling of posts. The Committee was receptive to the presentation and praised its improvement from the previous year. Its main concern pertained to the lack of clarity about each type of grant. The Agency should try to make it more clear how to apply for each grant and what each grant entailed. The Agency agreed that one of its key challenges for the future would be to bolster consultation and communication within the community. Members said that people did not know what types of grants to apply for. The Agency should better organize and explain the levels of grants. The other problem was relating to payments. At the bank, one had to come on a particular day to get money. This should be reformed. Members asked if foreigners applied for grants, asked for clarification on the memoranda of understanding with some of the provincial departments, what the Agency's plans for pay points in underdeveloped areas were, why the child grant process was slow, and about the security of the workers in the field offices. The Chairperson acknowledged apologies on behalf of the Minister and Deputy Minister of Social Development. Presentation on the Annual Report from the South African Social Security Agency Ms Virginia Petersen Chief Executive Officer, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA), presented achievements against 2010/11 strategic priorities, budget and expenditure for 2010/11 and challenges. Since the agency’s establishment there had been a steady increase in the demand for services and subsequent increase in the workload of its staff. The increase in demand for services had been exacerbated because of two main reasons. The first was the marginal growth in number of employees dealing directly with grants administration versus the significant growth in demand for services. Beneficiary to staff ratio had consistently increased. The second reason was the Agency’s social assistance system which had remained largely manual and lacked integration. Significant growth in the number of benefits from 10.9 million in 2006 to 14.9 million in March 2011 had had a negative impact on the quality of service delivery. SASSA’s priorities were under review. These priorities were: the customer care-centred benefits administration and management system, improved systems integrity, and increased access to social security services. Ms Petersen noted the achievements in the first priority - customer care-centred benefits and administration and management system. Of the 14.9 million social assistance benefits given in 2011, 2.7 million were old age grants, 958 war veteran grants, 1.2 million disability grants, 58 000 grants-in aid, 512 000 foster child grants, 112 000 care dependency grants, and 10.4 million child support grants. The number of child support grant benefits was 10 371 950 in March 2011 as compared to 7 075 266 in March 2006. Old age grants increased steadily over the years, whilst the disability grants had been decreasing since the 2008/09 financial year as a result of reviews. War veteran grants had also steadily decreased over the years because of attrition rates. The number of grant benefits and percentage growth over a five-year period by grant type grew by 6.2% in 2010/11. Ms Petersen noted the number of grant benefits that each province had received. KwaZulu-Natal received the largest number of grant benefits with 3 710 581, followed by the Eastern Cape with 2 585 593, then Limpopo with 2 162 624. These provinces were the key drivers for the social security system. The Northern Cape received the least amount of grant benefits with 387 320, mainly because of its low population. Ms Petersen spoke about the Agency’s Payment System. Grant payments were still largely cash-based. Significant progress was made on migration of beneficiaries from cash payment to Automated Clearing Bureaus (ACBs). In the year under review, a total of 47.33% of payments were made through ACBs or banks, translating into a 16.08% percent increase. The cost of administering social assistance grants through cash payment contractors was reduced to R30.53 to R33.52 [per transaction] resulting in a saving of almost 9%. The Agency aimed to review the current system and develop a new payment strategy. Ms Petersen commented on the Improved Grant Application Process (IGAP) intended to reduce turnaround time for social grant applications and implemented in one of the districts in Free State. The Agency had achieved on average a turnaround time of nine days, which was an improvement from the previous 21 days for processing of new social grant applications. This was made possible by the implementation of a three step model comprising of immediate capturing and verification of applications on-site, followed by the issuing of a letter on the outcome to the applicant before leaving the Agency offices. KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng regions recorded the highest number of social grants applications processed within 30 days whilst the Northern Cape recorded the lowest number of applications processed within the same period. The Disability Management Model was developed to standardize the medical assessment process in all the regions. The Agency managed to undertake 112 363 medical review assessments against a target of 298 752. All doctors contracted to the Agency were trained and accredited by the Agency to conduct disability medical assessments. In addition, the Agency implemented the standardized medical assessments forms in all regions, excluding the Eastern Cape as the serialised medical forms were not in sync with the work-flow medical form issuance system. The Agency continued to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the prioritised elements of the disability management model. The Agency had also entered into Memoranda of Understandings (MOUs) with some of the provincial health departments for assistance in conducting disability assessments. Ms Petersen transitioned to speak about priority two: improved systems integrity. Change management (organizational cultural reform) initiatives were undertaken to improve skills, competencies and professional conduct. The ethics audit conducted within the Agency revealed a significant decrease in the number of grievances relating to job descriptions and performance management including staff development. The Agency had made progress in inculcating the understanding between performance expectation and actual performance. In addition, the ethics training was also provided to 3 165 staff members across the regions. The training served to communicate the vision, mission, and expected conduct as well as the responsibility of staff members to report incidents of breach of the Code of Conduct and Ethics. Ms Petersen talked about the implementation of the integrity model. The Agency responded pro-actively to fraud and corruption by implementing the integrity model. The integrity model introduced a paradigm shift, from focusing on detection and investigations to validation of the eligibility of beneficiaries for social grants including life verification and to confirm the existence of the beneficiaries. A total of 132 603 beneficiaries were verified for eligibility and existence, with a total of 7 133 found to be fraudulent. The Agency, through the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), continued with investigating and prosecuting persons found to have defrauded the system. A total of 2 828 persons were brought before the courts in the year under review bringing the total convictions to 17 477 since the inception of the project in June 2005. The Agency had through the implementation of the legal services model drafted and vetted 101 contracts and service level agreements in accordance with processes contained in the framework for contract management. The Agency had managed to reduce the number of litigation matters from 2 744 to 1 944 during the 2010/11 financial year. The reduction in liability costs on litigation matters in the reporting period translated into a 71.8% decrease. There was a drop in the total number of litigation cases per annum from 61 498 to 1 944, a reduction of 59 544 litigation cases over the four years (2006/07-2010/11). This represented a 96.8% reduction in litigation cases. KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of litigation cases with 53 004 followed by the Eastern Cape with 18 915 over the five year period. Ms Petersen moved to discuss priority three: increased access to social security. The goal of the Integrated Community Outreach Programme (ICROP) was to increase access and ensure equity to social assistance services especially in rural and semi-rural areas. A total number of 675 outreach programmes were conducted in 121 municipalities across the country during the period under review. 72,425 new beneficiaries registered through ICROP. The implementation of ICROP had not only increased the accessibility of social grants but also had led to a significant increase in Social Relief of Distress Award (SRD) assistance to poor households. An estimated 3 766 households that experienced undue hardships were issued with temporary relief measures in the form of vouchers, food parcels and assistance with other material needs. The success of ICROP could be attributed to effective partnership with the Departments of Social Development, Home Affairs, Health and the South African Police Service (SAPS) for integrated service delivery. Regions such as the North West also established eleven satellite offices in an effort to improve access to the Agency’s services. Ms Petersen talked about human capital reforms, and focused specifically on leadership. For 2009/10 there was a reported weaknesses in leadership within the Agency, which contributed to a disclaimer audit option. Subsequently, the Agency focused on providing targeted skills development initiatives to enhance the leadership skills in different employee categories. This entailed the implementation of various leadership programmes that included the following: emerging management development programme, advanced management development programme, and the executive leadership development programme. Human capital reforms also focused on skills development. A staffing analysis of the posts within the Grants Administration Value Chain had been conducted. This represented 70% of the total employee capacity within the entire Agency. The staffing analysis identified service delivery requirements and capacity gaps. Ms Petersen commented on the key policy developments and legislative changes. On 16 September 2010 the Social Assistance Amendment Act 2010 (Act No. 5 of 2010) came into effect. This was to enable applicants and beneficiaries who disagreed with the decision of the Agency to request it to reconsider its decision. An amendment to the Regulations of the Social Assistance Act 2004 was published in the Government Gazette dated 15 March 2011, applicable retrospectively from 01 December 2010. This amendment dealt with the eligibility of Social Relief of distress to a person who had been affected by a disaster as defined in the Fund-raising Act 1978 (Act No. 107 of 1978) or the Disaster Management Act 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002). Another interesting development in the year under review was the recognition of the Agency’s Bargaining Forum as per Resolution 1 of 2006. Ms Petersen spoke about the budget and expenditure for 2010/2011. The Agency’s total revenue for the period under review which was mainly transfers from the Department of Social Development (DSD) including its own revenue, amounted to R5.6 billion while total expenditure amounted to R 5.2 billion or 91% of the budget. This left a total budget savings of R462.7 million. The bulk of the administration budget was allocated to cash contractors’ fees and this was where the majority of the saving was derived. In this regard, the Agency during the period under review realized a reduction on the expenditure related to the payment of cash payment contractors’ fees. This was as a result of negotiations between the Agency and the contractors on fees paid to them for the disbursement of grants to beneficiaries. At the beginning of the period under review, the Agency had an accumulated budget deficit of R884 million. This resulted from the budgetary constraints experienced by the Agency since the 2007/08 financial year. In an effort to deal effectively with budget constraints, the Agency had to put in place measures that ensured efficient spending such as scaling down on unnecessary expenditure. Ms Petersen further elaborated on the revenue and expenditure strategy. There was an implementation of austerity measures across the agency. Although the cost containment measures were implemented, the positive impact and gains that would have been derived from implementing the measures was negatively impacted upon by budget adjustments or funds shifts to items which were targeted to derive savings or incur less expenditure such as communication, travel and subsistence. Travel and subsistence expenses were incurred mainly due to extensive travel arising from audit activities. Austerity measured played a major role in and underpinned the approach to the allocation process. The Agency encouraged the migration of beneficiaries to banks with a view to reduce exorbitant disbursement fees charged by Cash Payment Contractors. The Agency initiated the process of accelerating efficiencies in its operations in particular with the disbursement of social grants by encouraging beneficiaries to shift to other cost saving payment methods. In the year under review, a total of 47.33% of payments were made through ACBs or banks whereas during 2009 31.25% were paid through the ABCs or banks. This translated into a 16.08% increase. This number was envisaged to increase as beneficiaries, especially those residing in urban areas, were becoming more aware of the better option on transacting through the banks. The banking infrastructure in rural areas was also improving and expanding. Ms Petersen noted that there was also a recovery of grants monies paid into dormant beneficiary accounts. The aim of this pillar was to recover grant monies from beneficiaries who were found ineligible to receive the grant. The Agency collaborated with law enforcement agencies in ensuring that authority was granted to recover these monies. An amount of R 106 896.52 was recovered from dormant beneficiaries’ accounts. First National Bank and Postbank were still to provide data on the recoveries. A total of 2 000 deceased beneficiaries with dormant accounts were identified as being overpaid and a process had been initiated to recover these overpayments. Ms Petersen presented the Auditor-General's report and comments. The Auditor-General had reported that the financial statements presented fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the South African Social Security Agency as at 31 March 2011, and its financial performance and cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with South African Standards of Generally Recognised Accounting Practice (GRAP) and the requirements of the Public Finance Management Act o 1999 (Act No. 1 of 1999) and the South African Social Security Agency Act 2004 (Act No. 9 of 2004). As disclosed in note 35 to the financial statements, the Agency had restated various financial statement items due to a correction of prior period errors. As disclosed in note 20 to the financial statements material impairment of debtors were incurred as a result of a write off of irrecoverable departmental debtors. The prior year impairment was done as part of the restatement of corresponding figures as per the paragraph above. Ms Petersen next presented the challenges that SASSA faced. These included designing the most appropriate structure for the Agency, improving service delivery, and improving on cost efficiencies. Additional challenges included the implementation of the austerity measures and the moratorium on the filling of posts. Ms Petersen recommended that the Committee note the presentation of the Agency’s Annual Report for 2010/2011. Discussion Ms M Makgate (North West, ANC) stated that it was clear that things were becoming better. There should have been more clarification on the types of grants. People didn’t know what types of grants to apply for. SASSA should better organize and explain the levels of grants. The other problem was relating to payments. At the bank, one had to come on a particular day to get money. This should be reformed. Ms D Rantho (Eastern Cape, ANC) congratulated SASSA on its achievements. There were fewer complaints within the community. The community had started to have engagement with SASSA. There were reports from people within her constituency that they sometimes had to go to SASSA offices which were often too far away and expensive to go to. There were also governmental employees with disabled children who applied for grants and received them. These people were teachers. Did SASSA receive the paybacks from those people, or was there no record of these actions? Did foreigners apply for grants? If not, what did these people do? Many of these people could not find jobs because of their status. Furthermore, on the issue of people found to be fraudulent, when these people were brought before the court, were these people just the ones working within the department, or also community member? Mr M de Villiers (Western Cape, DA) asked for the names of the doctors serving the people in the rural areas. He asked for clarification on the MOUs with some of the provincial departments. The audit and check of payments did not talk about all municipalities. There was concern over the vacancy rate that was around 60%. There were a number of critical posts that were not filled. The Chairperson spoke about pay points in underdeveloped areas. What were the plans for this? The child grant process was slow - why was this process slow? Ms Petersen first said that there was a difference between grants and aid. Care dependency was in respect of a child with a disability. Mr Bandile Maqetuka, Executive Manger: Grants Administration, SASSA, stated that if a child was mentally or physically disabled and certified by a doctor, he or she could qualify for aid. Ms Petersen talked about contractors. In April, there would be a new policy where SASSA could tell where the contractors came from. Ms Petersen noted that there was a list of all the pay points on file. Mr Maqetuka stated that there was not proper consultation with the communities. People should be informed when services were available. Ms Petersen emphasised that it was difficult because there was poverty growth in other communities. Consultation and conversation were the most important to connecting with communities. SASSA needed to streamline because there was poverty growing in other areas. People should not think that SASSA was closing the office, but know that they were just moving to another area. Ms Rantho asked about the security of the workers in the field offices. Ms Petersen stated that usually if a worker was deployed, SASSA would try not to make the distance between the offices at which he or she was working at too great. SASSA would be extending its services across a greater area, so this would require workers to travel more. Ms Petersen said that the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) had been the account holder for monies and debt collection. SASSA was currently reviewing this. SASSA paid the SIU R3 million per month. SASSA should ask itself what it was going to do. SASSA should transfer skills so that it could do its own debt collection. Ms Thandi Sebanyoni, Executive Manager, SASSA, responded to Ms Rantho’s previous question and stated that teachers had been taken to the courts regarding care dependency grants. There was a threshold and anybody who did not meet that threshold did not get the grand. Ms Sebanyoni stated that both public servants and private beneficiaries were brought before the court. Mr Maqetuka stated that foreign people could apply for grants. Refugees qualified. For child support, it was easier to get money as a permanent resident. However there were some grants for which foreigners were not eligible. Ms Petersen stated that together with the DSD, the Agency had met with the National Credit Regulator. They were working in Gauteng. The departments needed to focus on the lone shark at the pay point. What happened at these points must be examined. Security needed to be strengthened. Ms Petersen addressed the question about critical posts. Beginning on 01 December, SASSA would fill 1 100 posts. Pay points would also be developed. 300 pay points were not enough. Ms Petersen talked about orphans and foster care. Orphans were put on a child support grant instead of going to foster care. Applications must go through the children’s court. Here an audit was given, and then it became SASSA’s responsibility. SASSA had worked on improving foster care. Mr Villiers asked if SASSA must register with some kind of financial organization to collect debt. Ms Rantho asked if SASSA could create programmes and go to the communities to educate people about grant and social security issues. Ms Makgate stated that care dependency was a problem in her constituency and asked when a child was considered an adult? Ms Petersen stated that when a person turns 19 the person was no longer a child. In 99% of cases, the child would become a disability adult. Ms Petersen said that pamphlets had been created to explain the grant process, but that this should be simplified. SASSA should work to increase communication with the community. Ms Petersen stated that SASSA did not need to be registered with the Financial Services Board. The Chairperson thanked SASSA and the meeting was adjourned.

Thanks to Lyn and Delilah for their beta efforts. Anything else was my fault anyway. This story picks up where Phantom leaves off. This story is a sequel to: Phantom Blair Sandburg leaned against the metal walls of the elevator, noting the graffiti that had been added since yesterday. He snorted. Nope, Tiffany wouldn't be getting a call from him today, whether she was a good time or not. He juggled his burdens as the doors opened to the fourth floor. He should have taken the time to pack it into a bag, but Jim was anxious to get out of here. He hadn't realized it would be so awkward. A wheelchair was waiting in the hallway outside of Jim's room. The doctor had insisted Jim take it for the trip to the station and then home. Wishful thinking on his part. No way was Jim showing up to a press conference other than on his own two feet. Blair wished again that he and Simon had been able to forestall this little sideshow. The Chief of Police and the mayor had been insistent. Apparently the dramatic rescue of elementary schoolchildren from an urban terrorist was just too sensational for the politicians to pass up. No one seemed impressed by the reality that Jim had been under the surgeon's knife barely thirty-six hours earlier, and that included the patient. Jim just wanted out. If he had to tap dance with the mayor to get there, so be it. Blair knocked gently and pushed the door open. The knock was unnecessary. Jim was already looking at the door expectantly. "Hey, there," Blair said. "Your gentleman's gentleman has arrived." Jim laughed. "You don't look like Jeeves. Did you shrink?" "Enough with the short jokes, or I'm abandoning you." Blair set his burdens down on the unused bed. "You'll be meeting the press in a hospital gown." "And here I was thinking that things couldn't get any worse. That would be worse." "No. Worse would be bleeding out from your incision because you're too damn stubborn to stay here another day." "You worry too much. Hand 'em over, Chief. This hospital gown is history." Blair moved underwear, shirt and pants over by Jim's feet on the other bed. "What did the doctor say? Are there any meds I need to pick up?" "An antibiotic and pain meds. Forget the pain pills. They don't do any good." Jim handed the prescriptions to his partner. "Other than that, the usual. Rest, stay off it, blah, blah." "Advice which you're going to ignore, of course." Blair read through the slips quickly. "Yeah, I remember that one. It was a loser. Do you want me to ask for something else?" "No. I'll be fine once I get home. Just being stuck in here is way worse than anything with my leg. It's not like I'm an amputee or something." Blair knew better than to argue the point. Jim was being released early because any hospital stay was pure torture for a sentinel. He knew from past experience that any residual fatigue and stress would catch up with his impatient patient when they got back to an environment where he could actually relax. "Okay, you dress and I'll get the prescription filled." Jim was already out of bed and balancing on his good leg before Blair made it to the door. "Uh, Jim?" He waited until Jim looked him in the eye. "You don't have to prove anything here. Take it slow." "I'll be careful." The pharmacy was slow, and Blair wasn't surprised to find Jim fully dressed and waiting in the bedside chair, looking a bit triumphant. Blair smiled. "I see you found my secret surprise. I dug it out of the storeroom in the basement." Jim waggled one end of the cane in the air. "You are a genius. I've got all my paperwork, so let's give 'em the slip while we can." "You really are incorrigible. Be a good boy and don't upset the nurses. You can use the cane at the station." Blair pulled the wheelchair into the room. "Your chariot awaits." Jim hobbled over and swung awkwardly into the seat. Ignoring his protests, Blair knelt and eased the injured leg into the footrest. Jim grabbed his hand before he pulled away. "We need to go home." He wrapped Blair's hand in a more encompassing grip, and his expression softened. "We have other things, personal things." Blair took note of the deserted corridor, pressed a kiss to Jim's knuckle and smiled. "Yeah, we do have a couple of things to talk about, don't we? Soon enough. We have all the time in the world." Blair stood off in the wings, waiting quietly as the press conference proceeded. This was exactly what Jim didn't need: lights, noise, flashbulbs going off. Blair noticed the telltale signs of overload. Jim was starting to frown and shift uncomfortably in his chair. If they didn't wrap this up soon, he was going to be severely overextended. He checked his watch. Five more minutes, he promised himself. He'd pull the fire alarm if necessary. So far, things had gone well. All the mucky mucks wanted to glorify their "support" for the valued, decorated Detective Ellison during this dangerous and difficult time. Funny how they forgot about nearly pulling his badge. Blair wondered if that twit Purnell would ever answer for his actions. The only blessing was that Jim hadn't been called upon to speak much. The questions directed at him had been pretty adoring. Jim had been able to concentrate on thanking his fellow police officers and the members of the public who had assisted in the investigation. So far, so good. Blair moved a few steps and caught Simon's eye. He made a cutting motion across his throat. Blair had spent years in front of a classroom. He had a keen sense of when a group was getting restless. They'd covered all the easy ground. Pretty soon, someone was going to get bored and start pressing Jim for details that he wasn't about to discuss publicly. After a few moments, Blair repeated the gesture. This time, Simon seemed to sense the urgency. He leaned over and spoke a few words to the Chief of Police. Warren nodded in agreement. "Excuse me, everyone. Thank you for attending, but we need to defer to other priorities. Detective Ellison is, as you know, recovering from a gunshot wound, and we've already exceeded the guidelines of the medical personnel. If any further information develops, the department will issue a statement." Warren rose from his seat, and moved to shake Jim's hand. Brief applause rippled across the room. Simon moved quickly between Jim and the other dignitaries on the platform. "Let me give you a hand down the stairs." "Just as long as you get me out of this circus," Jim muttered. He wrapped an arm around Simon's waist and let the taller man take most of his weight, allowing him to hop the stairs on his good leg. "Thanks, Captain. I can handle it on the flat with the cane." "I'm walking you to your car." Simon threw an irritated glare over his shoulder. "I never should have let those idiots bully us into this. Sandburg, why don't you meet us in the back? What are you driving?" "Jim's truck. It's not the smoothest ride, but it's harder for him to get into the Volvo. You'll be okay, Jim?" Blair asked. "Just get me out of here." Blair hustled off. Jim did well for about half the distance before the pain got the better of his irritation. He stopped for a breather. "Are you sure you don't want to ride the rest of the way? I can get a wheelchair from the first floor." Simon asked. Jim shook his head. "I'm proud of you, you know. You didn't deck our good mayor the moment you saw him." Jim started to hobble along again, leaning ever more heavily on the cane. "The man could use a few lessons in loyalty. Just make sure I don't pull any duty in his vicinity for a year or so." When they reached the back entrance, Sandburg was nowhere to be seen. "Damn, where is he?" Simon fumed. "Probably stuck in a mob scene," Jim said. "Better him than me. When will he have to see the powers that be for the shooting?" "I requested that we have the hearing at the loft, tomorrow. That way we can get it over all at once. You were the primary witness, so your testimony is essential. I don't want you out running around, and I don't want Sandburg waiting any longer than necessary." Simon checked outside again. Still no Sandburg. "It will be ruled a clean shoot. Is Sandburg okay? Faller was a bloodthirsty bastard, but taking a life in the line of duty is always rough. I tried to talk with him while you were in surgery, but he refused to discuss it. I haven't made any progress since, either." "I'll make sure to talk with him. He had no choice. None of us had a choice." He cocked his head slightly. "Truck just turned the corner." Simon pushed the door open. After he'd helped Jim into the passenger side, he concentrated on Sandburg. "The deadly force hearing is tomorrow. Jim can give you the other details. Taggart's bringing some groceries by so you don't have to go out again. You get this guy in bed, you hear me?" "Got it, Captain," Blair said. Simon shut the door with a wave and Blair put the truck in gear. He was primed to grill Jim on everything: how he felt, his senses, his pain level. Jim stopped him with a wry grin. "You realize our superior officer just told you to take me to bed, don't you?" Blair did a double-take and cracked up. Jim sat down on the bed. Blair knelt to remove his shoes, and Jim didn't object. "You overdid this, Jim. Too much walking around too soon." "You may be right, but it's over now." Jim leaned back on his elbows. His leg ached more than he was willing to admit. "Didn't stop you from climbing these stairs," Blair grumbled. "You could have used my room. The doctor specifically told you to avoid stairs." "The doctor doesn't know about your futon, the Cascade equivalent of sleeping on a bed of nails." "There's nothing wrong with the futon," Blair said, starting on the second shoe. "You realize every trip to the bathroom, you're going to have to do those stairs again." "Fine. You win. But if I don't sleep up here, I'll just do a sleeping bag on the floor. At least the floor is flat. That futon is all bumps and valleys." "Okay, Jim. I won't argue with you, if you just promise not to take them on your own." Blair grabbed some extra pillows from the storage closet. "You stretch out and I'll bring up something for you to eat." Jim sat up and grabbed him by the elbow. "I don't want anything to eat right now. Just stay." Blair scooted around to the other side of the bed, frowning. Jim was still sitting up, so he did the same, his legs stretched out straight in front of him. "Are your senses spiking? Or is it your leg?" Jim did the last thing he expected. Without a word, he stretched out sideways, laying his head on Blair's thigh. "Yes, maybe, all of the above. Actually, my ribs bother me more than anything else, but that's not a big deal. I just want you to stay, that's all." Blair felt rather than heard the yawn. Just as he'd expected, Jim was finally crashing. Sore, overwhelmed and emotionally drained, Jim was just asking for a peaceful moment. Blair leaned back towards the head of the bed, one elbow on the pillows. "Just relax. Give yourself some time to unwind." Jim took a deep breath and let it out. "That's it. Just lose the tension." Blair held the silence, consciously slowing his breathing into a steady rhythm. They stayed there, motionless, for a few minutes. Then Jim took an especially long deep breath, the tight muscles sagged, and his head settled onto Blair's lap. He was sound asleep. Knowing how little rest Jim actually got in the hospital, Blair was grateful. He shifted ever so slightly to relax himself. He had no intention of disturbing Jim by trying to go downstairs. Gently, he rested an open hand on Jim's hip. What would it be like, to touch Jim as a lover? Or be touched by him? Blair shivered, unwilling to direct his imagination. So many questions, so much unexplored territory. Did Jim really like guys? In how many years, he'd never seen a hint. Were there serious relationships in his past? What would Jim want to know about his own loves, male and female? Blair traced his fingers along the seam of Jim's jeans. Jim had a beautiful body. Would he feel unevenly matched? Would he notice that the Jewish guy with glasses wasn't sporting a six pack? Jim said he'd waited a long time, but he'd been involved with ladies, Veronica most recently. What was that about? Should he ask? Would they be exclusive? In the closet or out? What about Simon, and the other members of Major Crime? What would Jim tell his father, and his brother? God help him, what would he tell Naomi? Without realizing it, Blair had dropped his head onto the pillow. He'd sat in constant vigil by Jim's bed through the wee hours of the morning, doing what he could to soothe a disoriented sentinel coming out of anesthesia. The following night hadn't been any more restful. His eyes drooped as his mind spun through an endless series of questions. As he contemplated the thought of buying Jim a ring, and why that seemed somehow hilarious to him, he followed Jim into slumber. Jim opened his eyes to the light of early afternoon. He sensed Blair close by, asleep. He rolled slowly to his back. Blair's head was arched back, nestled onto the pillows. They'd probably fallen asleep within minutes of each other. Quite the passionate homecoming. Jim slowly traced figure eights around Blair's knuckles and sent a silent prayer of gratitude to the heavens. He could easily have lost this young man, or died at Faller's hands himself. He had hoped to sweep Blair off his feet, to romance him. Now, after all that had happened, he was sure they needed to take several huge steps backward. Blair had seemed receptive to his aborted overtures. The bracelet still sat in the drawer of his nightstand, along with Blair's request to ask him again when Faller had been dealt with. That wasn't really Jim's major concern. It wasn't just the tangle of personal issues. Blair would need time; time to reconcile his genuine idealism with the fact that he'd taken a life. Jim remembered vividly Blair's reaction on the practice range the first time he was faced with a human silhouette. The younger man had turned and walked away without a word. Ten minutes later he'd returned, donned the ear protection and continued his practice, never to mention the incident again. Would this be too much for him to live with? The reality saddened Jim. It would be unfair to press the question of a relationship just now, as if it were a ploy to keep Blair by his side. Blair might not connect the two issues, but he couldn't take the chance. He truly wanted Blair's answer, and hopefully, his commitment to a relationship, to be untainted with other issues. He'd waited this long. He could wait again. Blair was worth it. At that moment, he realized that the subject of his rambling thoughts was watching him. "Hi. What time is it?" Blair shifted slightly, finding a more comfortable angle for his head. "Decided to wake up before you became a human pretzel? It's about three." "I suppose you didn't look at a clock." Blair stretched lazily. "It must be a sentinel thing. Sorry about crashing like that." Jim rolled his shoulders. Sandburg, as it turned out, had an especially nice lap. "Why? I'm not complaining. Besides, I think we're moving up. Last time I got you in this bed, you were carrying." Blair answered with a snort of laughter. Jim promptly snaked a finger into his companion's rib cage, bringing about some delightful squirming. Jim raised himself on one elbow. "On the seduction scale, this must rate about a two. Obviously, my technique needs work." Blair trapped the offending hand. "This is seduction? Quit tickling. You're injured. If I have to be nice, you have to be nice." His face went very serious. "This is kind of weird, you know? I don't know where to start." "Yeah, well, I don't exactly know where to start, either. We kind of got high centered at a critical moment." "Jimmm! A truck analogy? Please - do I look like a Ford to you?" He caught the mischievous gleam in Jim's eye, and made a break for an escape. "Don't answer that." Jim caught him easily. Blair was too worried about his gunshot wound to put up much of a fight. "Well, there's that spare tire I wanted to talk to you about." It was easy to home in on a few especially sensitive spots. Things were just beginning to get interesting when the doorbell rang. Blair struggled out from under his tormenter and Jim let him go. "It's just Joel, Chief. He was bringing groceries, remember?" "Great," Blair said softly. He caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror and blanched. "Shit, I look debauched. I need a hair tie, or Joel will get the wrong idea." He scampered down the stairs. "Coming! Just a second!" he called. "Hey, Chief!" Jim said, peering through the railing. "Yeah?" Blair asked, stopping halfway to look back at Jim. "What exactly IS the wrong idea at this point?" Jim asked, grinning. "Jim! Cut that out!" Blair hissed in a scandalized whisper. Jim just smiled, enjoying the possibilities. Joel not only brought several bags of groceries, he also supplied dinner. It took two more trips to ferry everything up from the car. "Man, that smells delicious," Blair said as they came back in for the last time. He turned to see Jim at the bottom of the stairs, preparing to hop across the room to retrieve his cane. "Jim, are you out of your mind?" Blair said sharply. "Can't you wait for anyone?" He grabbed Jim's cane and brought it to him. "Relax, Chief. I didn't hurt myself. Besides, who can stay in bed when there's lasagna around?" "I could have brought you a tray," Blair said. "Right. We can eat in the bedroom, and you and Taggart can sit on the floor to keep me company. Good to see you, Joel." Joel pulled a chair back from the dining table. "Get over here and sit down. I agree with Blair. We'll let you unwrap the takeout." While Blair worked on unpacking the groceries, Taggart wasn't content until Jim was seated and had his leg comfortably propped up on pillow. Chores complete, all three dove into green salad, French bread and cheesy lasagna. "Doesn't this look great? I figured it wouldn't interfere with any meds Jim was on," Joel said, spooning generous servings onto plates. "Besides, I know neither of you ate anything worth mentioning for the last few days." "Tony's makes the best pasta," Blair said, speaking around the bread in his mouth. "Except for Jim's, of course, but we'll excuse him from the kitchen for a few days at least." "Whack off another hunk of that bread, will you, Chief?" Jim accepted it gratefully. "How were things at the station after we left?" "Chaos. Simon spent the afternoon reminding the mayor that Purnell committed more than a minor indiscretion. In his spare time, he was wringing his hands on how to cover the overtime in the budget or adjusting the schedule so everyone gets a little downtime. I finally kicked him out right before I left. He's supposed to be on restricted duty for a few more days." He shook a finger at Jim. "Don't you look guilty, Ellison. Faller was an act of nature. A little overtime was a small price to pay." "I know. I just feel responsible." "Well, don't," Joel said. "Who shall we blame Kincaid on? Or any garden-variety street criminal? We do our jobs, and the fact that it's inconvenient sometimes isn't the issue." "Doesn't help that I'm on suspension," Blair said. He picked at a chunk of lettuce pensively. "That leaves the unit two people short instead of one." "We'll save that discussion for later," Taggart said firmly. "Now come on, guys, lighten up. I'm starved. I know you're starved. Let's enjoy the meal." They fell into easy banter as the food disappeared. After the second helpings were nearly finished, Taggart produced his surprise. "I saved the best for last. I just happened to mention that this takeout was for Detective Ellison and his partner." Joel tapped Jim on the hand solicitously. "You know Tony. He was sure you looked pale and underfed on television today. They threw in dessert with their complements." "You're kidding! Dessert at Tony's is a slice of heaven," Blair said as Joel brought a Styrofoam box from the fridge. "When did you sneak that in?" "Doesn't matter. Feast your eyes, my friends. Tiramisu, cannoli, something called zeppole, and some others I forgot." Jim already had his fork to sample a slice of very chocolately, very gooey cake. "Oh, yeah. Come to papa." He savored the small bite with relish. "For this I'd get shot more often." "Don't say that even in jest, Jim," Blair said with a warning look. "I'll get plates, and I'd better get a few bites of that cake." It was not a moment for restraint. Blair made coffee, and they polished off every last delectable bit. "Oh, man," Blair groaned. "That was awesome." "That it was," Joel agreed. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. You earned it, you know." He swirled the creamy coffee remaining in his cup. "Now I'll allow the serious stuff." He looked steadily at Blair. "This is the only official business for the evening. Simon would have done this himself under normal circumstances, but God knows, he needed to be home in bed. First of all, you're not on suspension. You're on administrative assignment, translation: paperwork and answering the phone. Are we clear on that point?" Blair nodded. "I guess I thought it was all the same." "It's not. Second, this isn't an IA investigation, although we're sometimes sloppy about how we refer to it. You've never been through a deadly force hearing, have you?" Blair's contented smile evaporated. "Well, sort of, with Jim." Jim shook his head. "Actually, you had to give testimony for IA, because it was a formal investigation. This is just a Firearm's Review Board." "This happens even if you drop your gun and it fires by accident," Joel explained. "It's more of an interview. They'll decide if you followed the proper procedures. If procedures were followed, it all ends right then and there." "Oh," Blair said. "Not such a big deal. I guess I knew that from the academy. I was just remembering those IA things with Jim, and got it garbled together." "You've had a couple other things to think about, Chief. I should have realized you might have them confused." Jim frowned. "Crap, I've got to quit forgetting you're a rookie." Joel nodded. "So you can relax a little bit, but it's still nerve-wracking. No matter what you know about the process intellectually, you're never completely prepared. I'm going to have you go over it with me, just like I was the hearing board. Simon would do the same with any of his people, so don't think we're doing anything extraordinary." "Well, uh, maybe you could just go through the procedure with me," Blair said hesitantly. "That is, if you really think it's necessary." "It will make you more comfortable in the long run. They'll take Jim's testimony, then yours. Maybe ask a few questions. The physical evidence from the scene is pretty overwhelming. It's just a formality, really. Now, go ahead. Start at the beginning." Blair swallowed. Then in a low voice, he described arriving at Foster Ridge State Park, searching for any sign of Faller, and following the sound of rifle shots. His description of the final moments, hoping that Faller had indeed lost the sight in his left eye, running up the slope to be close enough to take the final shot was delivered in slow, terse monosyllables. Jim nodded. "That's good, Chief. Just stick to the facts." "Jim's right. You'll do fine. Is there anything you need to bounce around?" Joel asked. "Even when you're clearly in the right, these hearings are tense." Jim watched his partner apprehensively. Blair seemed at a loss, but there were no glib obfuscations. Joel frowned. "Blair, is there something wrong?" Blair didn't answer. Jim expected this to be difficult, and wanted to make it as easy as possible. "Chief, there's absolutely no question. Faller was firing on a fellow officer. He was threatening civilians." Blair fumbled with his napkin. "Well. I don't know. I just don't want to lie." "Lie?" Jim asked, totally confused. "You don't have anything to lie about," he said pointedly. "What if they ask me... want to know..." Blair stopped speaking and sighed. "I mean, I'm supposed to feel bad, aren't I?" Jim watched in horrified fascination as the dam broke before his eyes. Blair's studied composure evaporated, the pitch of his voice rising. "What if they ask me that, huh? I don't feel one bit bad. I wanted to kill that son of a bitch. Am I in trouble if I tell them that?" Blair was breathing hard, almost panting. "I never thought I'd say that about anyone. After what he did... to everyone." He looked at Jim, a bit desperate. He alone was privy, via Jim, to Faller's worst depravities. "He should never have been born. I'm glad I shot him. Don't think that's anywhere in the code of conduct, is it?" He flung down his napkin and bolted for the balcony. Jim started to rise, but Taggart caught him. "Let me. He'll need to talk through it again, and that will be your turn." He shut the glass door behind him. Jim listened, without shame. "Not my finest moment. Sorry." "Every cop dreads the time he has to pull the trigger, Blair. I know you thought about it long and hard before you went to the academy." "I did. I expected it to be awful. I expected - regret. What's wrong with me? What kind of a person kills without remorse?" "I wish I could have spared you this, so soon in your career. Let's look at this from what the board is concerned with. Did you go up that hill intending to kill Faller?" "No." *"Would you have taken the shot if Jim or those children hadn't been in immediate danger?" * "No." "Was there any alternative? Any hope of capture, negotiation? Would he have surrendered? Was there backup readily available?" "It happened so fast. Maybe if I...I don't know." "Blair, look at the evidence objectively. He was terminally ill, and he couldn't face his own day of reckoning. He wanted to die on his own terms. He was a coward in the end. After looking at all the information from Kelso, I'm convinced he would have turned the gun on himself before spending a moment in custody. He would have forced your hand, one way or the other." "Even if you're right, what does that have to do with the way I feel? I killed a man, and God help me, I'm glad I killed him." "Blair, son, listen to me. We're trained to not follow any impulse toward being a vigilante. That's why we have procedures to help us through those moments of great emotion. The Cascade Police Department will hold you to the procedures, and that's what they will ask you about. You will truthfully tell them you followed those procedures." "That doesn't change my lack of - " "Blair, you listen to me very carefully. It is not a flaw of character to recognize and destroy pure evil. Once in a great while, we have to be God's avenging sword. You did your duty, and you know it was right. There is no shame here. You are not a monster. The fact that you can question your own motives is testament to that." At the sound of the first ragged sob, Jim was on the move. Joel had an arm wrapped around the shaking shoulders, tears streaking from his own dark eyes. "Let it go, son. You've lost your innocence, but not your humanity." Jim stood on the other side, pressing close, his hand on the back of Blair's neck. Together, they waited for the storm to pass. Joel finally departed. Joel Taggart was a rare man: a veteran without the cynicism that usually went with long service. What was a platitude from anyone else was wisdom from Joel. Jim was grateful for his steadying presence. He'd allowed Blair to bustle with other things: washing the dishes, helping Jim with a shower, changing the dressing on the surgical incision. Jim, of all people, appreciated the need for a little avoidance. From his seat on the couch, surrounded by pillows, he knew Blair was winding down. It would be his turn soon. "Okay, it's antibiotic time." Blair handed him the medication and a fresh glass of water. "If they upset your stomach, I'll make you some peppermint tea. No holding out on me." "Thanks. The first two doses weren't bad." Blair settled into one of the chairs across the room. Jim crooked his finger at him. Blair started to shake his head, then gave in. "I want you to be comfortable," he protested. "You close is comfortable." Jim moved his leg across Blair's lap. "You know, when we first met, I thought you wore everything on your sleeve. Took me awhile to figure out you were damn selective with the emotions you displayed. I'm getting better at deciphering the code." "Jim, I just don't want to talk about it anymore. One breakdown a day is plenty." To Jim's eyes, his friend looked terribly tired and dispirited. "What, you think it's embarrassing?" Jim asked. "Well, yeah." Blair settled back onto the couch as he shrugged his shoulders. "I've been working with you for years, and a full-fledged detective for long enough. I should be able to handle it better." "What's your definition of better, Chief?" "Give me a break, Jim. Joel has to explain to me the difference between IA and firearms review? I completely lose it in front of both of you? Forgive me, but I can see some areas that need improvement." "Want to know how I handled my first kill?" Jim set the mug of tea on the coffee table. "Took out two guys in a firefight. If I don't shoot them, they shoot me. So, truthfully, I was pretty justified, but they were young, just kids, really. When we got back to base, I drove fifty miles to the nearest town, got drunk and stayed drunk for three days. It wasn't pretty. I would have been AWOL if one of the guys on the team hadn't dragged my ass back and stayed with me for the next week. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. I lost count of how many times I broke down. Anyone with a brain would have questioned my fitness for duty. Fortunately, my CO was a bit short in the brains department." Blair looked shocked. "I don't know what to say. I can't imagine." "You've got a short memory, partner. A couple days ago I had a grade A, big time meltdown in this very spot. Want to know what I was worried about? That once you knew the truth about me, about what I've done in my life, that I'd blown any chance I might have had with you." "I never thought that!" Blair protested. "I know. You heard the worst, and you told me none of it made any difference, that you knew what mattered. Even then, I doubted it." Jim placed a hand on Blair's knee. "You're doing the absolute same identical thing right now. Thinking that now that I've seen this part of Blair Sandburg, I'll think less of you, or I'll be packing your stuff. Am I right?" "No... yes." Blair sighed. "It's just, look at how pathetic this is. I'm supposed to be taking care of you, and here I am, acting like I'm the center of the universe." "You are the center of my universe," Jim said softly. Blair looked even more upset. "Even if you think that's true, you can do better. You should do better. Professionally and personally. Don't you understand that?" "No, I can't. Chief, I need you to hear me. When I drove through those woods, knowing Faller was waiting on the other side, I didn't think my chances of survival were too high. The only regret I had was you. That's it. Only you. How is it you used to say it? We're on different learning curves. You got the whole relationship thing sprung on you just a few days ago. Faller speeded things up for me. I just don't have any doubts about the two of us together. I don't want you worrying about anything on that score." Blair nodded slowly. "I hear you. I don't understand it, but I hear you." "You shot a man. Fine. It's every cop's worst nightmare. If you decide it takes too much of your soul to keep doing this, I want you to quit. I might quit with you, because I'll go anywhere, do anything, to share the rest of my life with you. That's how I feel about it. It's you I want, not Detective Sandburg." "You'd do that?" Blair asked, aghast. "You'd leave the department?" "Yes." "Okay." Blair thought for a moment, then seemed to take some confidence. "Okay, I guess I can do this." "Good, then we take first things first. We get through the hearing. We take care of the big things, the personal things, in good time. I did a crappy job of asking in the first place, but you haven't turned me down. There's no rush, no timetable, no deadlines." "You're damn right I didn't say, 'no,' but I admit, I feel kind of overwhelmed." "I can't imagine why," Jim said sarcastically. "I don't know about you, but I'm running on fumes. What do you say we go to bed?" "It is pretty late. You need your rest. I'll help you upstairs and lock up." Blair started to shift Jim's legs so he could stand. "Not so fast, there." Jim grabbed Blair's wrist. "I want you to sleep upstairs. If you need a practical reason, I can keep the pain dialed down a lot easier when you're close." "Oh - really?" Blair looked a bit sheepish. "I'm usually not the shy one when it comes to bed. It just seemed like maybe now's not the time. We have so much to talk about. I thought... maybe it would be better... you know?" Jim smirked. "What do we really need to talk about? Boxers or nude? Condom brands? Pitch or catch?" Blair promptly blushed, then laughed, breaking the tension. "Hey, I'm with you there. We do have a lot to talk about, and it's more than I can handle tonight. But you, close, maybe steal a kiss or two? That sounds really nice." Jim carefully pulled the hair tie from Blair's mane, and tucked a strand behind his ear with a tug. Blair leaned ever so slightly into the touch. Jim pulled his hand away slowly. With a neutral gaze, he waited for Blair to meet his eyes. Blair stood, and helped Jim ease to a standing position. He wrapped an arm around Jim's waist. "You let me take the weight this time when you do the stairs. I'll be up as soon as I shower." Jim wrapped his near arm around Blair's shoulders. He was so pleased he could hardly contain himself. As they took the stairs, one at a time, he whispered as seductively as he could, "You know, I've always had a thing for those chili pepper boxers, if you can find them." Blair laughed so hard they both almost tumbled down the stairs. The clock said four when Jim looked. He groaned softly and looked to his right. Blair, sleeping soundly, occupied the usually empty space. Carefully, Jim adjusted the blanket to cover a bare shoulder. His bedmate had forsaken the t-shirt and sweats he often wore to bed, and appeared in his slightly rumpled chili-pepper boxers, a good thing as it turned out. Despite the limitations of an injured leg, their first encounter had been decidedly spicy. Jim had managed to steal his kiss and a little bit more. He was definitely paying for it now. The ache in his leg was the culprit, rousing him from sleep. He carefully shifted position, hoping to relieve the pain. Not much better. Finally, he stuffed a pillow under his knee. That helped a bit. He knew from experience that noticeable improvement was a few days off. It certainly wasn't going to get better if he kept racing around on it. He rubbed his hand across the bruise still spreading on his chest. Kevlar stopped a bullet, but the impact still did damage. Basically, now that he was awake, he hurt all over. His restless fidgeting created an answering stir. Blair squirmed, and mumbled, "It's early." He snuggled closer to Jim's side, burrowing into his shoulder. "Mmmm - w'rm." "Sorry. Didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep." He would have turned to join the snuggle, but a sharp pain from his incision put a stop to that. "Y'kay?" "Yeah," Jim said quietly. Blair's eyes were closed; he might not even remember the conversation in the morning. "Just an ache." "Dial..." Blair yawned, eyes still shut. "Down." He grabbed Jim's hand and pulled it to his chest. Jim could feel the steady thump of Blair's heartbeat. Damn, Sandburg was good, even when only partially awake. Jim closed his eyes and allowed the rhythm to seduce him back into slumber. "Sandburg, stop, please. I know you're nervous, but this place is just too small for pacing." "I think this would have been easier if I'd just gone down to the station. Maybe I should get a lawyer. Doesn't the PD have lawyers?" Blair pulled fretfully at his khakis. "Am I too casual? Maybe I should put on a tie." A babbling Sandburg was a nervous Sandburg. "Sit. In. The. Chair." Jim said firmly. Blair promptly sat down. "You only need representation if you're under investigation. They're just going to take our statements and that will be the end of it." Jim was back on the couch, his leg propped up in the air. He was definitely paying the price for overdoing his first day out of the hospital. It was shameless, but one sure way to ease Blair's nerves was to get him concentrating on other things. "Do you think you could get me some aspirin?" "Aspirin? Sure." Blair rocketed into the kitchen for a glass of water. "Do you need another pillow? Are you sure you don't want me to call for some pain meds?" "No," Jim said, satisfied that he could keep his partner distracted for the time they had left to wait. "You were right. I should have been more careful yesterday. It aches a lot less when I have it up." "Maybe I should check the dressing again." Blair was kneeling by the couch, his fingers tracing the edge of the bandages. "Can you tell if it feels hot? Maybe I messed up last night and it's infected." "The incision is fine. Didn't you tell me you had something for bruises?" "Yeah. It's a new gel that's supposed to really do wonders." Blair did a double take. "Where do you have bruises?" "Nothing from last night, if that's what your overactive imagination is thinking. When we're done with this, I'm going to turn you loose." He looked fondly at his partner. "Right now you might want to get off the floor. Simon just got out of the elevator." "Cigar?" Blair asked knowingly, heading for the door. "Cigar," Jim said decisively. "He can go air out on the balcony for a few minutes," he added as Blair was opening the door. "I heard that, Ellison," Simon said. He stuffed the unlit cigar he'd been playing with back into his pocket. "I see you're in true form. The rest of the review board will be up in about twenty minutes. I left them taking statements from Sandburg's partners in crime. I think Major Crime set a record for number of interviews in a single day." He looked around the room. "Okay, we can shift some furniture around and this will work out great." "Who did we draw?" Jim asked, watching the other two men moving chairs around. "Captain Merriman is the non-unit Captain." "Do I know him?" Blair asked. "Probably not. He's relatively new. Heads up the Sexual Assault Unit, and came on board while you were at the academy. Then there's the Deputy Chief, who runs the show, someone from the academy, and Lieutenant Nelson from Southwest Precinct. I'll be here, and a community member from Professional Accountability, but the two of us don't vote." "I've heard good things about Merriman," Jim commented. "Who's the Training Rep from the academy?" "Bailey," Simon answered, watching Blair's reaction. "Crap," Blair said. "The man hates me. He made it real clear what a travesty my presence was." He sat down in the closest chair. "That's it. I'm dead." "He still has to follow the rules, Sandburg, no matter what his personal feelings," Simon said. "You have the advantage of knowing that if there's anything to nitpick, he'll be the one to do it. Just roll with it." They had just finished their furniture arranging project when the bell rang. Blair moved to stand closer to Jim while Simon answered the door and got everyone seated. "Take it easy, Chief," Jim whispered. "Just remember to breathe." "If only," Blair replied, with a look that said otherwise. Jim was to be interviewed first. Blair retired to the far side of the room. The review board didn't seem to want him to leave, even though he would have been perfectly willing to if asked. After a few general questions to get everyone oriented, Deputy Chief Metz moved to the topic at hand. "Detective Ellison, please describe the events leading up to the shooting for us, please." Blair listened, fascinated, as Jim related his frantic departure from the PD, desperately trying to keep up as Faller sent him on a merry chase. He described losing all contact with backup in the park, the discovery of the jeep, the further instructions that led to Foster Ridge State Park. "So you would describe this as carefully planned, Detective?" Captain Merriman asked. "It was minutely planned and executed. There was a worry doll at each location, which was Faller's signature, or his message, if you will. The whole charade was calculated to cut off any communication or backup." "What was the significance of the dolls, Detective?" Blair cringed. Jim couldn't, or wouldn't, answer that. Of course, it was Bailey who had asked the question. "I'm sure Captain Banks has explained that I can't discuss some issues concerning Lincoln Faller. All I can tell you is that they constituted a threat to the wellbeing of the children Faller had kidnapped." "That's an inadequate answer, Ellison," Bailey snapped. "Be that as is may, I can tell you with certainty that Faller had no intention of letting either those children or me survive. That's all I can say." "For the moment, perhaps we should move on," Metz suggested. "Why did you abandon the jeep?" "It ran out of gas, by design. He wanted me stranded and on foot. When I came out of the woods, Faller was at the top of the ridge. He was communicating through a radio he left for me. I'm sure it's in evidence. He informed me that he would detonate charges to kill the children. I had the choice of trying to get to them, or get to him." Metz shuffled through some papers. "We have photos of the area, if you'd like to look," he said to the other members of the review board. "I understand we're talking about several hundred yards, Detective." "That's right, without cover and all uphill. Faller was a trained sniper, and he had a rifle. As I tried to get to the first child, he started shooting. I lost count of how many rounds. I was only going maybe five or ten seconds between shots. I got to the first child and heaved the charge away just in time. At that point, it was obvious; the only thing I could do was take Faller out. There was too much ground to cover." "You were already wounded at this point?" "Yes, sir. I started running straight up the hill at Faller. It was then I saw Detective Sandburg coming from Faller's left, closing fast. I stood up, trying to draw his fire. To my eyes, Faller took his last shot at me just before Sandburg fired on him. That was the round that hit me in the chest." "Detective Sandburg fired three shots, not just one," Merriman pointed out. It was a statement of fact, not a question. "That's correct. He needed all three. Faller didn't go down right away. In fact, when Sandburg came to my assistance, I was yelling at him to go back and make sure Faller was down for good." "I see," Merriman said. "Detective, do you believe Detective Sandburg had any other options available to him?" "No, sir. The last round Faller fired ended up in my Kevlar." "So if you had not been wearing a vest, the shot would have been fatal?" Metz asked "Yes, sir. Trust me, sir, the bruise is bad enough. He hit me dead center." "Are there any other questions?" Metz asked. "In that case, thank you, Detective Ellison. Detective Sandburg, your turn." Blair moved forward and sat next to Jim, since that placed him directly in front of the review board. Metz nodded at Captain Merriman, who continued the questioning. "We have previously interviewed Detectives Rafe and Brown. According to them, you arrived at Foster Ridge State Park and split up. Is that correct?" "Yes, sir." Blair's tone was quiet, with little emotion, but Jim could sense the tension radiating off him. "We weren't sure that Faller was there. It's a huge place. It seemed prudent to cover as much ground as quickly as possible. I was working through the picnic area on foot when I heard the first shots. All I could do was follow the sound. I got there just before the first explosion. Jim - uh, Detective Ellison was under direct fire as soon as the dust cleared. I went after Faller." "You didn't fire immediately?" Merriman asked. "No, sir. I was out of range, and there was no cover for my approach. Staff at the physician's office indicated Faller might be visually impaired in his left eye. I took the chance and moved on him." "How many shots did he take before your first shot, Sandburg?" Blair thought for a moment. Jim noticed Bailey stiffen, no doubt waiting for an opening. Blair chewed on his own lip briefly and then answered, "I'm not entirely sure. Three for sure, I think. Probably more, not counting the explosion." He looked somberly at Jim. "I didn't expect to see Jim alive after the charge went off. When he got up, I could see he was limping. Faller was taking aim - I just had to fire as soon as I thought I was in range." He looked down at the floor. "When he didn't go down, I kept firing." "You didn't identify yourself as a police officer?" Bailey asked sharply. Blair's eyes widened in alarm. "No, sir. His range with the rifle was much longer than my service revolver. I couldn't say anything until I got close enough to take the shot, and then there wasn't time." "Identifying yourself isn't optional, Sandburg," Bailey said. "You should know that, Detective." Blair was visibly shaken. "Detective," Merriman prompted softly, "Perhaps you could elaborate." "There was no one else." Blair shook his head. "Jim was already wounded, and there was no backup. I was the only one. If I went down, Jim and those children would have been at Faller's mercy. I couldn't take the chance." "You felt you had no other option?" "No," Blair said in a whisper. "There was nothing else I could do. If there had been another way, I would have taken it." Blair looked studiously at the ground. After a moment he swallowed hard, and added, "This was a real problem for me when I started at the academy. I questioned whether I could used deadly force when it was called for, and end up endangering someone else's life. If the situation hadn't been so dire, or it had been anyone other than Faller, I'm not sure I could have done it." Merriman glanced at the other members of the review board. "I don't believe we have any other questions for you at this time, Detective Sandburg. We'll notify you through Captain Banks of our findings." Deputy Chief Metz stood. "Detective Ellison, we'll allow you to get back to your recuperation." The group filed out of the loft, Simon and Blair bringing up the rear. Simon stopped at the doorway and shook Blair's hand. "I'll call you. You did just fine, Sandburg. I expect you in the bullpen tomorrow morning." Blair sat limp in the nearest chair for a few moments. He looked distraught. Jim wanted to do something, anything, to help, but waited for Blair to make the first move. "I think I need to go for a walk." Blair's eyes looked haunted. "Will you be okay?" "Sure," Jim said. As the door shut, he said softly to the empty room. "The question is, Sandburg, will you be okay?" Ellison. Hey, Jim. Is Sandburg there? No, sir. He was kind of keyed up. He went for a walk. *He's been gone all this time? Joel told me he was working through some things. Despite that idiot Bailey, the Review Board came back with a unanimous decision. The shooting was ruled justifiable and imminently necessary. * Good. I didn't think they could see it any other way. Jim, he did a fine job. Between you and me, both Metz and Merriman feel strongly about issuing a special commendation for valor. I'm damn proud of him. I wish he felt the same way, sir, but I think he'll come around. You want him in tomorrow? Yes, if you can manage on your own. I'm fine. What are you going to stick him with? Paperwork. You would not believe the amount of paperwork that's piled up in this place. Damn. Pretty soon everyone will figure out that Sandburg is the goose that laid the golden egg. I'll have to fight them off with a stick to keep them from stealing him. Well, your paperwork has never looked better. Tell him not to be here before ten, and give him the good news. Yes, sir. I'll do that. Jim hung up and stretched. It was a mistake and he groaned. His chest ached fiercely. Deciding he needed the bathroom, he located the cane and gingerly made his way across the room. After finishing the necessities, he unbuttoned his shirt, pulled off the tape and examined himself in the mirror. No wonder he was aching. The left side of his chest, spreading across his heart, was swollen, stained purple and red from the bruise. It had been bad enough yesterday before they taped it at the hospital. Now it was at least twice as large. He couldn't cover all of it with an outstretched palm. Jim considered soaking in the shower, or even running a bath, but that would mean dealing with the surgical incision snaking down his thigh. That would take way too much energy. He ran hot water into the sink, dumped a washrag into the water and made a hot compress. The heat singed his skin, but penetrated the sore, abused muscles. He was still repeating the process, wincing each time, when he heard the key in the lock. "In here, Sandburg!" he called. "I was beginning to worry about you." "You okay in there?" Jim poked his head around the door. "Maybe you could come in and give me a sponge bath," he said, waggling his eyebrows suggestively. "Will you cut that out! I never knew you were such a tease." "You don't sound too annoyed," Jim said with a smile. He could hear the fridge opening and closing. "Simon called. The review board ruled the shooting totally justified - unanimous, by the way." "Really? I was sure Bailey - well, let's just say I'm relieved." Blair appeared at the door, sipping a bottled water. He caught a glimpse of Jim's chest. "Oh my God. Is that from that last shot? Let me look at that." He took the washrag out of Jim's hand and touched the purple flesh gently. "Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" "I was ignoring it. Besides, it was covered up with tape. I was beginning to feel it, but it looks worse than it feels." Sandburg rolled his eyes. "It looks like you need to be in traction. You must be dialing it down. I could barely move when I took a bullet through Kevlar, and this is a hundred times worse. What were you doing, anyway? Heat is the worst thing for a bruise." Jim shrugged. "It just felt good. Right now, a hot tub sounds good." "Well, that's not happening either. Get in here," Blair said, motioning toward his bedroom. "I swear, I turn my back on you and look what happens." He was stacking pillows on one end of the futon. "Sit down and try to lean back so you can be comfortable." "Owww! I guess that tape was helping after all," Jim moaned, slowly lowering himself back. "What are you up to?" "An anti-inflammatory to start with. Here, take these," Blair said, holding out water and aspirin. "Then we'll try this Arnica gel." "Arnie what? Let me see that." Jim looked at it skeptically. "Are you sure this isn't some banned substance somebody snuck across the border?" "No!" Blair said, clearly irritated as he snatched the tube back from his partner. "You have such a suspicious mind. This is the stuff I was telling you about. It's botanical name is Arnica Montana. Leopard's bane, a yellow flower, and no, you don't smoke it. It's a very legitimate herbal remedy. It stimulates white blood cells, and it's used for bruises, sprains, muscle and joint pain, that sort of thing." He spread some of the cream on his hand. "Let me smell that before you touch me with it." Blair held out his palm. Jim sniffed tentatively. "Doesn't smell too bad." Blair shook his head indulgently. "It's in almond oil and cocoa butter. No more dangerous than suntan lotion. I wouldn't pick anything harsh to use on you. Now let's see if I can work this in without making you hurt worse." Blair's first strokes were tentative, barely smearing a few thin streaks with each fingertip. "Tell me how that feels. I don't want to put a lot on until we're sure it isn't irritating." "Wow. It's warm." Jim waited a moment. "Warm, but it doesn't burn. Try a little more." Blair proceeded cautiously. Eventually, he was massaging the cream all across the bruised area. Jim sighed in relief. "That really works. It feels so much better." "I'm not going to put the tape back on. I can see some irritation from the adhesive." "There should be an Ace wrap in the medicine chest," Jim suggested. It was a slow process, but the added support from the elastic bandage and the cream did their work. By the time Blair was finished, Jim was much more comfortable. "Think you could rest while I make us a late lunch?" "Actually, I think I can." Jim leaned back on the pillows. "I'll just rack out here. Even I can handle the futon for a few minutes." "Good. I'll be back in a minute." Jim felt incredibly relaxed. The pain relief might not last, but for now, it felt great. The presence of Blair in the immediate vicinity made things much easier. He wriggled his shoulders into the pillows and closed his eyes, following the movements of Blair in the kitchen by sound. Blair stared at the contents of the kitchen cupboard, trying desperately to regroup. Soup. Soothing, but mindless. As he opened the can, he wondered if Jim could tell his touch hadn't been entirely clinical. Jim had often mentioned he could pick up the physical indications of lust from other people: heart rate, pheromones, that sort of thing. Ooookay, Blair, so you are definitely hot for Jim's body. He dumped the soup into a pan, contemplating some other areas on Detective Ellison's lean frame that would be interesting to massage, probably with something more erotic than a cream for bruises. He started the soup heating and sighed in disgust. That bruising was hellacious. How had he allowed Jim to talk him into messing around last night, even a little? Jim no doubt dialed it down, but he was obviously hurting now, paying in pain for a few moments of pleasure. Some caregiver he was turning out to be, and talk about selfish! Joel had supplied them with meat and cheese from the deli, so the next task was sandwiches. Blair grinned as he picked through the selection. You wouldn't guess from external appearances, but Jim and Joel were definitely soul brothers when it came to food. Jim would be in heaven, and it wasn't time to fuss over cholesterol. Blair piled on layer after layer, lecturing himself that no matter what, Jim's physical pleasures were going to be limited to gastronomic contentment and healing rest. No more falling for the sly smiles and double entendres. He never would have guessed that Jim Ellison was such a shameless flirt, or that he would be melting at lines just one notch above, "Would you like to come up and see my record collection?" He'd just finished his masterpiece when he realized the soup was near boiling. To his chagrin, he noted that 'Little Blair' was about to boil, too. "Down, boy," he muttered, and then realized that Jim had probably heard that and was snickering into the pillow. It was going to be a long afternoon. Where were the guys at St. Sebastian's when he needed them? THREE DAYS LATER Jim clicked off the television. For some reason, SportsCenter just wasn't riveting when you watched it all the time. Who knew? Sandburg had returned to work, still on administrative leave until the inquest into Faller's death, which was just a formality. The DA's office had already made it clear that no charges would be filed. The loft was quiet without him. Jim had dutifully rested, swallowed antibiotics and watched television. He read the Cascade Herald down to the last classified. One bright spot was the article reporting the outcome of the Firearms Review Board, clearing Sandburg of all wrongdoing. Deputy Chief Metz had been highly complementary of Major Crimes', and of Sandburg's, performance in particular, hinting that commendations were in the works. Gratifying, but for Jim, a bit short-lived in the thrill category. He'd worked the crossword every day to completion, shorted receipts for tax time, performed every menial task he could think of. He was bored out of his mind. Not just bored, but frustrated. Damn, Sandburg was a stubborn man. After seeing the chest bruise in full Technicolor, he'd somehow come to the conclusion that intimacy was too strenuous and interfering with Jim's recovery. The chili pepper boxers disappeared. When Jim managed to coax him upstairs, he was damn near dressed for the tundra. That marvelously suggestive first massage with arnica had digressed to the purely clinical. Kisses were pronounced a temptation best avoided. Casual conversation would have met the standards of a Victorian maiden. Jim frowned. It was time to take some action. He wasn't supposed to go back to have his stitches removed for several more days, but the level of itching told him the worst was over. That was the ticket. Maybe if he could get them taken out early, Sandburg would be a little more open to influence. The whole idea appealed to Jim. He couldn't drive, but a cab would be a piece of cake. Compared to Sandburg, bullying medical personnel into removing stitches would be easy and welcome entertainment. Actually, he was thrilled with the entire idea. He called the doctor, and the cab company. Getting into something street appropriate wasn't much of a problem. He smiled to himself as heard the crotchety old elevator make its noisy way to the third floor, so he knew it was working. Excellent. Making it down three full flights might have been dicey. He collected the cane and his wallet, not paying a lot of attention to anything else. Yes, yes, things were looking up. He fumbled a bit getting the door open, jostling the keys and the cane... "You! Why are you here?" Jim's head snapped up, not entirely sure what buzz saw he'd walked into. Or more correctly, hobbled into. "Hello to you, too. I live here, remember?" Naomi Sandburg stood trembling before him, her voice rising in anger. "Blair should be here. His car's here and your truck is gone. Where's my son?" "Sorry to disappoint you," Jim said sarcastically. "Why don't you come in?" If Naomi had been calm before arriving, it was eroding quickly. "How can you even speak to me? Act like I'm just dropping by for a visit and nothing is wrong? I've heard all about it - how you've turned him into a killer." Blair was going to love this. Jim was glad he wasn't at the loft for this blindside, but it didn't seem the time to share. "Naomi, why don't you come in and stop shouting." Naomi slid past him into the entry. "It's all your fault. Don't you deny it!" The slap caught Jim by surprise. Naomi burst into tears and took aim again, completely beyond reason. Jim dropped the cane and caught her hand in midair. "That's enough," he said quietly. Naomi jerked her wrist out of his hand. She brushed by him, tears streaming down her cheek. "Where is he? What have you done with him?" "He's on duty, Naomi." Jim leaned down awkwardly, retrieving the cane. "Then I'll have to wait for him here. I'm not going into that den of vipers without a flamethrower." She crossed her arms in over her chest. "You were going out? Well, go right ahead. I can't be civilized with you. I hope you fall down the stairs. I hope you're run over by a garbage truck." Jim looked at the distraught woman indulgently. She was more upset than truly angry, and would no doubt regret every word. "That already happened, actually. Blair knocked me down and the truck went right over the top of us." Naomi shrieked. "No one can generate that much bad karma! Don't even speak to me! I... I... just go!" Truer words were never spoken. Jim left. "Hey, Sandburg," Brown called over the bustle of the bullpen. "Look who's here." "Knock it off, H. I'm busy." "Don't say I didn't warn you," Henri Brown teased in an amused singsong. Blair kept right on typing. "You guys get all this paperwork done for you and all I get is crap for it." "You're right. I'd strike, if I were you." Blair's head snapped around with a force worthy of whiplash. "Jim? What the hell are you doing here?" he demanded. He scrambled away from the computer. "What's wrong?" "Take it easy, Chief. I was feeling good, so I went down and got my stitches out a few days early. Actually, I'm cleared to return to limited duty. Starting tomorrow, we'll be doing paperwork together." "You what?" Blair stammered. "You can't fool me. They just cleared you to get rid of you. You didn't drive, did you? Not even you could be that stupid." "Who's calling my detective stupid?" Simon emerged from his office. "Did I hear you right? You're cleared?" Jim handed Simon the appropriate paperwork. "Signed, sealed and delivered. Two weeks of desk duty, but it's better than nothing." They'd drawn a crowd by now. Jim ignored Sandburg glaring at him, returning the greetings and good-natured teasing. When things thinned out a bit, Jim perched on the edge of the desk, content to take some weight off his leg. "Hi," he said, smiling sweetly. "Don't you 'Hi' me," Blair snapped. "I can't believe you did this." "What's to believe? I was feeling better, and I was bored. I'd rather come back to work than sit by myself." "And you couldn't wait for me to take you tomorrow? I could strangle you when you pull stunts like this." "Well, no, I couldn't wait, and I had a good reason." "I don't want to hear some lame excuse." Blair reached over his chair and grabbed his leather jacket. "I'll tell Simon I'm taking you home. Don't even try to talk me out of it." Blair was halfway across the room before Jim decided he really ought to break the news to him. "Uh, Chief? You may have competition when it comes to strangling. Naomi's at the loft." Blair turned around very slowly, his eyes wide. "Mom?" Jim watched the wheels turn. "She knows?" "Oh, yeah, she knows. She definitely knows." Blair sat down abruptly. "Maybe I should just finish a few things up, you know?" Jim nodded knowingly. "Might be a good idea." "Right. I wonder how Simon would feel about us just sticking around for a few - days?" Blair closed his eyes and lowered his head into his hands. "Damn, damn, damn." "You've told me this twice, and I still can't believe she slapped you. Naomi believes in nonviolence." "I wouldn't count on it, Chief," Jim said, pushing the elevator button for the third floor. "I think she'd call it overwhelming provocation. If it's okay with you, I'll just go upstairs and stay out of the fray." "What do you think I should say to her?" Blair asked. He was flattened against the side of the elevator as if it would provide some protection. Jim clapped his friend on the shoulder. "Unless I've missed my guess, you're not going to get a word in edgewise." They stepped off the elevator. Jim recoiled immediately. "Oh, shit. Sage. Lot's of it. On second thought, I'll go on the balcony." "Coward. You just want an easy escape route." "Hey, she's your mother." Jim motioned Blair forward. "After you, Detective." Blair cautiously peeked around the door. "Mom? You here, Mom?" "What, you were hoping I left?" "Ouch," Jim said, wincing for effect. He patted Blair on the back. "Be strong." Blair rolled his eyes and led the way. "Mom, it's good to see you. Give me a hug." Naomi had changed into jeans and a peach-colored sweater. There was no missing the storm cloud on her face. Jim went the opposite direction and stepped onto the balcony, leaving the door open. Even in the fresh air, the sage nearly choked him. He watched the scene unfold in silence. Blair put his sweetest smile on his face. "You could have called, Mom. When did you get in?" "Blair Jacob Sandburg, don't even," Naomi scolded. She smoothed a hair along his forehead. "Your aura is in absolute tatters. It's worse than I ever imagined." Tears pooled in her blue eyes. "Mom, don't cry. Everything is fine... " Blair tried to wrap an arm around her shoulders. She slapped the hand away. "This is a disaster. I never should have allowed it to get this far, but that's another issue. I'm only concerned with your wellbeing right now." "Mom, maybe you should quit acting like I was thirteen. I'm sure you don't know the whole story. I know you're upset. I'll make us some tea, and we can talk" "You think we'll have tea, light a few candles and that will solve everything?" Naomi shook her head violently. "Oh, no. Absolutely not. This is way beyond a little meditation." She crossed her arms and paced restlessly around the small living room. "We're not staying here. I'm serious, Blair. I've consulted with people that specialize in traumatic events, and the most important step is removal from all negative influences." She glowered at Jim, still waiting silently on the balcony, leaving no doubt as to what negative influences needed to be abandoned. "I've located a Watsu practitioner, which is exactly the supportive environment you need to release all those negative emotions. Not that someone shouldn't have intervened immediately." She looked sternly at Blair. "It's delayed, but if we act quickly, that might be enough to get started at least. I insist we leave." "Mom, I'm not going anywhere," Blair said gently. "But you have to," she pleaded, tears close again. Then she shifted gears, going for 'tough mom,' stomping a foot for emphasis. "You can't stay in this place, with that man." "No, Mom." Naomi dissolved into tears, waving her arms toward the balcony. "It's all his fault. He's preyed on your goodness, overwhelmed you with all this violence and negativity." "Mom, you can't say those things about Jim. This was an evil man, and I had as much responsibility as anyone to keep him from hurting any more people. He was threatening to kill children." Blair placed his hands on his mother's shoulders. "I'm glad you're here, I welcome your support, but we're not going to have more Jim-bashing." "No, no, NO!" Naomi shouted. "It's got to end, this influence he has over you. You can leave him, sweetie." She clutched Blair's hands, pulling him towards the door. "Just walk out the door, sweetie, and breathe again. Just take that first step." Blair gave Jim a despairing look, then looked back at his mother. "You are my mother, and I love you, but I am not leaving my home, or leaving Jim. Now stop this." Naomi smiled brightly, as if a little positive reinforcement would do the trick. "Don't be ridiculous. Detach with love, sweetie. He's just a roommate, someone you work with. Everything will be fine once we get started." Blair's shoulders sagged. "You aren't listening. I'm not detaching anything." He looked at Jim again, silently asking the question. Jim gave him a tiny nod. "Mom, Jim and I are together." Naomi froze. "Together? As in sleeping - together?" Blair nodded. She took a step backwards. "No. You can't be serious." "Of course I'm serious." He studied Naomi's horrified face. "I didn't think you'd have a problem with an alternative lifestyle. I want you to be happy for me, Mom. So you can understand why I'm definitely not leaving." "Alternative - happy - I don't care if you do a whole colony of dwarves, but you cannot be serious about being with - him!" She threw up her hands and stalked toward the balcony. "You are bedding a jackbooted thug and you want me to be happy?" "Mom, that's enough," Blair said sharply. Jim stepped off the balcony, suppressing a gag reflex when the sage hit him. "Naomi, I love him. I'd never hurt him." Naomi closed her eyes. "I am calm. I am calm. I'm in a fucking nightmare, but I am calm. I am calm." Then she collapsed into chair, dissolving into tears. "You don't understand. You're my baby, and I can't do this all by myself." Blair kissed her gently on the forehead. "It's okay, mom. Shhh. I know." Together, they watched the last rays of the sun dance across the water. The view from the roof was beautiful on any evening, but tonight it seemed especially peaceful. Maybe it was the contrast with the storm of emotions in the loft below. "It was a good idea to come up here," Blair said. "Give mom a chance to regroup." Jim pulled him closer. "Naomi isn't the only one who needs to regroup, Chief." Blair sighed. They were seated on the brick facing that bordered the rooftop of 852 Prospect. He was facing away from Jim, and leaned his head back onto the taller man's shoulder. Normally, Blair didn't enjoy being this close to the edge, but after a few hours with Naomi, anywhere with Jim was a welcome haven. "She's really upset. I'm sorry about the things she said to you." "Don't worry about it." Jim slowly massaged the tense shoulder and neck muscles of the man in front of him. "She loves you, and she's frightened. I can relate to that. I'm the expert in fear-based response, remember?" Jim stopped the massage, hooked his chin over Blair's shoulder, and wrapped his arms around his waist. "She's distraught. She didn't mean it - not really. Your mom's a kind, gentle, person, but even the kind and gentle blow a fuse once in a while." "Maybe," Blair said without smiling. "How's she doing?" Jim listened for a moment. "She's crying again, but not hysterically. I think she just needs some time." He locked his hands over Sandburg's belt buckle. "It's a little ironic that you let her think we were already lovers." "Yeah, kind of a cheap shot, but I knew that would get her attention." "You got her attention, all right," Jim said wryly. "Mom's really open minded if you can get her to slow down." Jim snickered. "For all the peace and love, she has a redhead's temper. I'm going to have to talk to her about the dwarf comment." Blair giggled. "She can turn a phrase, can't she? We had some real knock-down, drag-outs when I was about fifteen and still knew everything." "She has my sympathy. A smart-mouth teenager with your brains and vocabulary? You must have been a handful." "It didn't happen very often. Naomi can usually talk you into seeing it her way before it descends into argument. The art of gentle persuasion; you never know quite what hit you." Blair sighed. "And then there are times like this." "Who spilled the beans?" Jim asked. "I never even looked at a newspaper, but I guess the grand finale made the national press. One of her friends noticed the name and called her. She was better after I explained the circumstances a little more clearly, that there were lives at stake. I guess I should have anticipated that, and called her right away." He looked over his shoulder. "At the time, I was a lot more worried about you." "I'm sorry about this, Chief. Sorry you were ever in the position to take the shot in the first place, sorry Naomi had to find out this way." "Yeah, well it's been that kind of a week, hasn't it? You're not off the hook either. Why did you take off and go to the hospital? If you really thought you were healed up, I would have taken you. What was the hurry?" "I could blame it on Naomi, but I was headed out the door when she showed up." He nuzzled Blair's neck. "If you must know, I was getting frustrated with the Iron Nurse routine. I was kind of hoping that if I was cleared for duty, I could get somewhere with you." Jim slid his hands slowly downward from the belt buckle, cupping his hands across Blair's jeans, pleased with the reaction he got. "It would make staying home a lot more interesting." Blair arched slightly into those caressing hands. "Mmm - you're shameless. Naomi has nothing on you. What, I'm supposed to feel guilty for putting your health first?" "I'm sure someone's done research on sex and the enhancement of healing." Jim nibbled at Blair's earlobe, snickering when a shiver ran up Blair's spine in response. "See. We're doing the follow-up study. Think of the contribution to modern medicine. We can do tests." "Now there's a first - you agreeing to do tests. Think of how embarrassing it will be when someone finds us naked on the roof of our building." Blair squirmed away, capturing Jim's hands in his own. "This thing with Naomi, the hearing, not to mention Faller - the whole thing has just been a roller coaster. I feel wiped out, like it's all been too much." He leaned his head back. Jim could see the shadows under his eyes left by fatigue and worry. "Just hold me, okay?" Jim tightened his arms around Blair's waist again, ignoring the twinge from his ribs. "Oh, yeah. I can do that." By the time they returned to the loft, Naomi had composed herself. In their absence, she'd investigated the kitchen, thawed out some frozen chicken, made a salad and warmed some bread. She wordlessly enveloped Blair in a hug. After giving her son a peck on the cheek, she turned to Jim. "I apologize for my behavior towards you. I hope you can forgive me. If you and Blair are going to start a life together, I don't want to be a problem." "I've been known to blurt out a few ill-advised statements from time to time." Jim took her hands, looking at her seriously. "We don't have much common ground, Naomi. We may not see eye to eye, but you're a good person, and I hope you'll accept that I'll do everything I can to make Blair happy, and to keep him safe." Jim sincerely hoped she'd catch the unspoken part of the message: that he'd regret forcing Blair to choose between them, but he had no intention of letting him go without a fight. Naomi tried to answer and couldn't quite get the words out. Finally, she managed, "I hear that." "Why don't we eat?" he suggested. "I'll open a bottle of wine. Chardonnay or Riesling, Chief?" It was a pleasant meal, if a bit subdued. Jim figured both Naomi and Blair were emotionally exhausted, and made a conscious decision not to feel uncomfortable with the silence. He pushed a second helping of chicken on Blair, and took some for himself. "The chicken is great, Naomi. Feel free to drop in and cook more often." "Considering that I nearly took the place by storm, that's a charitable invitation," Naomi said. She picked at the salad with her fork. "Can I ask the two of you a few - personal things?" "Sure, Mom," Blair said, silently checking with Jim as he said it. "You just have to promise to take 'no' for an answer." Jim nodded in agreement. "This is recent?" "Yes and no," Blair said. "Look around you, Naomi. Jim and I have more overlap in our lives than most married couples, and it's been that way for years. I guess you could say we were waiting for the right time." "I suppose I always knew your relationship was unique. Are you planning on being - out, I guess, although I hate that phrase." Naomi set her napkin carefully by her plate, not meeting their eyes. "I don't want to spoil things by being impetuous." *You mean like with the dissertation. *Jim kept that thought to himself, trying to swallow the bitterness that accompanied it. Blair had paid an especially high price for Naomi's free spirit. "Well, uh, we're still working out some of the details," Blair stammered. "Jim?" Jim was painfully aware how awkward this exchange was. They were paying the price for misleading Naomi earlier in the afternoon. He knew Blair was hoping that he'd bail the two of them out. "First of all, I'm not ashamed of any relationship we have. It's just a little more complicated when we're both on the force." "Don't tell me the police department has some antiquated rule about these things." "Officially?" Jim asked. "The city of Cascade is politically correct. Unofficially, gay cops can have a tough time. The real issue is the fact that we're partners. Having a relationship of any kind would preclude us working together." "They'd split you up?" Naomi asked. Jim said a silent prayer, hoping against hope that Naomi didn't have something devious in mind. "The regulations apply to all couples: gay, straight, married, engaged." Blair picked up the explanation. "I want to work with Jim, Mom. We've been through a lot to work this out. We probably will have to sacrifice some openness to preserve the things that are most important to us." Blair paused for a moment, and then decided to continue. "I need you to promise me you're not going to second guess on this one. No messing around, Mom. I need you to give me your word." "I deserve that," Naomi said softly. "I know, and I have to live with how much damage I did sending your paper to Sid. I give you my promise, Blair. Not a word from me." "Thank you, Mom." Blair looked at her cautiously. "Does that mean you're happy for us?" Naomi gave Blair a long, searching look. "You have my support, sweetie. I reserve the right to worry about you, but I won't interfere." Blair cracked one of his first smiles of the evening. "Considering the alternatives, I'll take that." He started to gather up the plates. "I don't know about you two, but I have a real craving for something sweet." With Naomi in tow, he left in search of the perfect dessert. Jim retreated to the couch. It bugged him to leave dishes on the table, but there was no sense in aggravating Blair. The poor guy had his hands full with Naomi. The least he could do was to not be an additional worry. Besides, despite his persuasive lobbying at the hospital, his leg ached, and propping it up was a relief. He automatically reached for the remote, then set it down with a frown. He ought to be smart enough to learn from the day's events. Jim took a deep breath, reached for the phone and dialed his father's number at home. Jim woke to the rustle of sheets. He rolled to his side, switched off the white noise generator and propped his head up. "Hey, Chief. Hope you didn't mind me turning in early." Blair scooted close. "I knew you were just being polite. We had a good talk. I think she's okay, really okay. You get any rest?" "Cranked up the white noise and crashed." "Sorry about all the chaos. You were really patient." "I consider it a raving success. I got you back up here in bed." Jim made a show of peeking under the sheets. "Did I get the chili peppers?" He slid a hand under the elastic of the hoped-for garment. Blair snickered, intercepting the inquisitive hand. "That's my mom down there." "I can be quiet. You can't imagine how quiet." "Riiight." He laughed softly. "This is just too weird. Naomi would probably start with the sage again. You're going to have to settle for a kiss." Blair promptly provided the promised goods. "Mmmm." Jim responded with enthusiasm. "I never talked out in school. She'd never know." Blair pushed his bedmate onto his back, settling his head on Jim's shoulder. "First thing tomorrow those lips go on the PD's list of personal weapons. As soon as I find the serial numbers, of course." He gave Jim another kiss and pulled back a bit. "Talk to me when your ribs are healed." He trailed a light finger down the center of Jim's chest. "You really can't fool me. You overdid it again today. What am I going to do with you?" "Consider staying in bed with me all day tomorrow," Jim said slyly. Blair laughed. "Well, no, but maybe you should delay coming back to work for another day or two. Naomi's leaving in the morning. She already called and got a flight out; I'll drop her off on the way to work. You'd have some peace and quiet." "You're so behind, Sandburg. Already called and told Simon I wouldn't be back until Monday." "You did?" "Yep." Jim's tone changed from playful to serious. "After I talked to Simon, I called my dad. I'm meeting him for lunch tomorrow." Even in the gloom of the unlighted loft, Jim could see Blair's eyes go wide. "Oh. Your dad - tomorrow? Are you sure...?" "We're not going to do this shock and awe thing with the parental units twice, Chief. And yes, I'm sure. Now get that hot body of yours over here so we can both be properly inspired for tomorrow. "The house looks pretty good, Dad. It must have been a shock when you first walked in." "Want to know what I thought when I walked in? That I was damn glad I paid attention to my son. Here, have some more noodles." William Ellison munched contentedly on a spring roll. They were eating in the kitchen, which had sustained less physical damage from Faller's rampage than the rest of the first floor. "My insurance agent did a good job getting a crew in here. I'd like to have it put back together before Sally gets back. I told her to take another week with her sister, with pay, of course." He gave his son an appraising look. "Actually, I think you're coming along faster than the house. You look good, Jimmie." "It wasn't complicated surgery. I actually got the stitches taken out yesterday, and I'm cleared for desk duty. The ribs are more trouble than the leg." William set his chopsticks down with a clatter. "What's wrong with your ribs? Blair didn't mention anything about that." "Took a round in the Kevlar." Jim tapped his chest. "It leaves a horrible bruise. I'll be sore for another week or so." William shook his head. "I don't know how you can brush these things off so casually. Blair assured me that it wasn't serious, but when I saw you the day after surgery, I thought you looked terrible. I couldn't believe they released you the next morning." "That was my choice. It's called AMA, against medical advice. I needed to get out of there. The sentinel thing is really tough in the hospital." "Didn't they give you adequate care?" William asked. "Good Lord, Jimmy, I've been on the hospital board for years! If there's something you needed, I would have rattled cages all over the building. Why didn't you say something?" Considering the nature of what he planned to discuss, the last thing Jim wanted to do was get his dad riled up. "Calm down, Dad. I didn't say anything because it's just a matter of being over sensitized. It's not their fault I can hear the children in pediatrics, or smell medications from all over the hospital. They can't change the environment." "You can do that? God, Jimmy, it must be awful. What about a private room?" "Dad, it's okay. The real solution is to get out sooner rather than later. Now quit fretting. You want some more sweet and sour shrimp?" William accepted the takeout container, but set it down quickly. "Look, I know I really blew it when you were young, with the senses - well, with lots of things. I want to say this right. I've learned a few things about what's important in life. Please don't shut me out. Let me do something right for you." "Dad, this isn't a guilt visit." "I know that." William looked earnestly across the small table. "Ten years ago, I never would have gotten on a plane in the middle of the night just because you asked me to. I would have been wrapped up in winning the argument. I see things differently now. I hope you'll give me a chance to really show you." "Okay, Dad." Truer words never spoken. I'm going to put you to the test pretty quickly here. William picked up the bowl and took more shrimp. "So about the hospital..." "Dad, really. A hospital can't be anything but a hospital. Sandburg does more than you could ever know." "Really?" William looked thoughtful for a moment. "He seemed like a nice young man when that Aaron Foster broke into the house and roughed me up. Sort of a strange choice for you, but sincere enough." He took a mouthful of shrimp. "This is really good. I'm glad you suggested it. Anyway, I've never been able to sort out how I feel about him. When that paper was released to the media, it seemed like he was nothing but trouble for you. I didn't understand it." "I told you, Dad - it wasn't really his fault. His mother, well, you've heard all this." "You know the old saying, actions speak louder than words. I could tell how attentive he was at the hospital. He must be a good friend, someone you can really depend on." Jim nearly choked. If he was ever going to break this to his father, now was the time. "Actually, Dad, that's kind of why I wanted to talk to you." "About Blair having medical power of attorney? Jimmy, I'm not upset about that. When he explained it, it all made perfect sense. You spend so much time together, after all." "Not exactly. You're right, Sandburg is a really good friend, and he's the best partner I've ever had." Jim faltered. He took a long drink from the glass of water at his elbow, trying to buy some time and collect his thoughts. "Why do I all of a sudden feel like you're sixteen and telling me you backed the car into the mailbox?" William asked shrewdly. Jim couldn't contain the laugh. "Dad, you missed your calling as a cop. Look, I'm just going say this and hope for the best. Blair isn't just my work partner. He's my life partner. We're in a relationship." "Well, of course you are. You live together," William said glibly, before the full implication soaked in. Jim could see the wheels turning. "A relationship?" William asked slowly. "Like, uh, a gay thing?" Jim rubbed at his forehead and forged ahead. "Yeah, Dad, like a gay thing." "Oh. Well. I guess..." William stopped, completely flustered. "You know, son, I think a scotch sounds real good right now. I'll get one for both of us. Be right back." He disappeared quickly. "You got that right," Jim said to the empty room. "Make mine a double." Blair unlocked the door to the loft. "Jim?" he called. "You here, Jim?" "Out here, Chief." Blair found him on the balcony. Jim was sitting on one of the kitchen chairs, pulled into the pale, early evening sunshine. "Hey, there." Jim looked back out at the water. "You know, when Carolyn and I were splitting up, I'd come out here. Watch the water. Pretend all the bad stuff wasn't happening. I'd sit out here until long after dark, just letting the whole world wash over me." Blair stood behind the chair, resting his hands on the slumped shoulders. "It was rough?" "You might say that." Jim met his eyes for a moment, then went back to watch the bay. The eyes said everything the words didn't. Did Jim see anything on that far horizon that comforted him? Blair started to gently massage the tight muscles. "God, Jim, you don't need this. You didn't have to tell him, at least right away. I could have gone with you." "I know you would have. It wouldn't have made a difference." His voice sounded so weary. Blair got a chair from the kitchen himself and sat near Jim. "Can you tell me about it? I know it's not your nature, but it might help. It had to have been hard for him, you know. It's a generation thing." He grabbed at Jim's hand, grateful he didn't seem inclined to pull it away. Jim stroked Blair's hand with his finger, tracing figure eights along the palm. "He wants us to come for dinner. Sunday, maybe, or next week." "But I thought," Blair stammered. "Jim, I'm confused. He's mad, isn't he?" "Angry? Hurt? I guess. The last thing he said was that he didn't care. After sitting in a strange city for a week, waiting to find out if some lunatic had killed me or not, that as long as I was alive and well, he didn't care. That I was his son and he loved me, no matter what." Blair was watching Jim's eyes. All he could see was deep, aching sorrow. "Jim, that's a beautiful thing for him to say. Then why are you so upset?" "He cried." Blair leaned forward, trying to get a good look at Jim's face. "I don't get it." Jim ran the back of his knuckle across the other man's cheek. "All those years of trying to please him, hurt feelings, arguments. Even when I walked out the door to join the service and told him I was never coming back, he'd maybe yell, but usually he'd just turn and walk away. Nothing I did made any impression on him. Today I tell him I've found the other half of my soul, and he cries. Weeps like a frightened child, like it was a death. How am I supposed to feel about that? I'm so - empty." "Oh, no, babe." Blair felt like crying himself. He wrapped both arms around Jim's shoulders and hugged him fiercely. "He loves you. I love you. Today is a good day, a very good day." Slowly, Jim's tense shoulders relaxed into those sheltering arms. Blair stroked the short, fine hair, sensing the ache that remained, to be accepted at face value, without conditions. "Jim, he gave you his best," he whispered. "Don't lose sight of that because it wasn't everything you might have hoped for." "I know. My head knows." Jim shifted his knees to rest between Blair's legs. Insistently, he pulled Blair downward to rest on his lap. Blair resisted briefly, then gave in, still bearing some of his own weight. "We'll break the chair," he protested mildly. "Good. I feel like breaking things. Matches my frustration level." He snuggled under Blair's chin. They stayed still, adding only a nuzzle or a gentle hug, peaceful, waiting. Blair held the silence, calling on years of hard won insight, and the suspicion that Jim, as a lover, would communicate more with touch than words. Maybe it was a sentinel thing, maybe a Jim thing. Had Jim ever been held or cuddled as a child, soothed through the teenage hurts with a hug and encouragement? Probably not. Incrementally, Blair could feel the body and soul unwind. Cautiously, he allowed his hands to explore. Jim would let him know if it was too much, too fast. Slowly, Jim began to answer, touch for touch. Blair smiled when he felt his own, very male response, and Jim's matching hardness. Jim broke their close embrace, shifting Blair away slightly. He arched upwards as his hand traced the swell beneath Blair's jeans. "Everything's so backwards. I waited so long to ask you, and I just can't get it right." Blair tilted his chin up. "I didn't turn you down. You did notice that, didn't you?" "Yeah, I noticed," Jim said. "I have something for you." Blair stood up and returned with a manila envelope, lumpy and awkwardly sealed. "Go on. Open it." Jim broke the seal and peeked inside. "You're giving me plastic?" "Don't you remember? The big night? You wanted lobster for me, steak for you, followed by bracelet and seduction. I went for accuracy, as you can see," he said with mock seriousness. Jim extracted the two items: a green cow from a child's farm set and a swizzle stick topped with a lobster. "This is not exactly what I had in mind." "Hey, it was your fantasy." He gestured expansively. "We've got beef, we've got lobster - what's the problem here? I had limited time available, and it's the spirit that counts. I wanted the whole package, and it was time to get the show on the road." Jim twirled the plastic cow between his fingers. "I just keep thinking that any minute, you'll wake up and realize what a moment of temporary insanity that was. Have you really thought about this?" It occurred to Blair that he could be angry. He wasn't. In truth, they were discussing Jim's doubts and fears. A lifetime of deep, personal disappointment had left him always waiting for the other shoe to fall. "Jim, we're going to have ups and downs, but I don't have any real doubts. "We don't have anything in common." "Yeah, my mom has pointed that out, hasn't she? In detail." He laughed, continuing in a happy, teasing tone, looking down from his higher vantage point. "Jim, when a couple thinks about getting married, what do most of them worry about? What do they ask themselves? Can we live together? Okay, after more than five years, we have that covered. You know I'm a slob, I know you secretly yearn to clean toilets, and we deal. Do we want children? Hate to break the news to you, big boy, but we're missing a few X chromosomes for that." Now he had Jim smiling. "What else? Will the family approve? Well, we've got two definite maybe's, but we're both a little old to lock in our bedrooms. We're not going to argue over the china pattern and the flowers for the church. Can we make it forever? We've already walked through fire. We have a better chance than most. Jim, all the things we don't have in common lets us concentrate on the things that we do share, that we care about." "You're sure?" Jim went to the bookshelves. Blair recognized the box he had in his hand. Jim fumbled a bit. Smiling, Blair slipped the turquoise and silver onto his wrist. "I'm very sure." Jim answered with a chaste, but lingering, kiss, one that promised more. "It's getting late. We should go to bed." "I'm not in a hurry," Blair said. "It's the weekend. No overtime when you're pushing a desk. Simon can't even think about calling us in." The lights were off in the loft with the exception of a few candles. Jim had built a fire in the woodstove, more for the ambiance than the heat. They were stretched on a haphazard pile of cushions, pillows, and the quilt off Blair's futon, sipping wine. Their first time together, or more correctly, times, had been right here, by firelight. "I think I'll disconnect the phone, just in case." Jim tousled a long curl as he spoke. Blair's hair tie had been one of the first things to go. "The wine is good. Did you pick this bottle?" "I do believe I did." Blair took another sip, set down his wine glass and stretched languorously. "I didn't think I could ever feel this way about someone." He rolled to his stomach and scooted forward, lining up his chest with Jim's. "Everything, everyone before you was just practice." Jim buried a hand into the rumpled mass of auburn hair. "You have no idea how beautiful you are." Blair snorted. "As measured by what? Quantity of hair." "The whole package is pretty damn fine, if you ask me. You're going to be sore tomorrow, love. You should have told me." Blair smiled. "Told you what? That I was longer on exuberance than experience when it came to guys? Have you worrying the whole time? I'd rather have Jim Ellison with abandon." "I could have -" "No. I wouldn't have changed a thing. Don't mess with perfection, man." "Perfection?" Jim scoffed. "You know better. My warranty expired a long time ago, Sandburg. Now get up here where I can kiss you properly." Blair complied, slipping his tongue past willing lips. "You're not irritated with me? I kind of played fast and loose with your fantasy, you know. You don't mind being preempted?" "On that point I agree wholeheartedly," Jim said, smothering Blair in kiss after kiss. "I wanted you so much, and you were being so careful. I didn't know how to start." "That's why you have me, the impetuous one." Blair snuggled in contentedly. "Besides, I'm a practical man. We survived Faller, hospitals, my mom. God knows what else could have gotten in the way. At least this way we're launched." "Quite the choice of words, Chief," Jim said, noticing at the wakening response from Blair's cock. "Launched indeed. Ah, to be young." He changed position, rolling Blair beneath him, trapping both wrists above his head. "You okay with the bracelet? It was pretty presumptuous of me." "I'm more than okay with the bracelet." Jim released his partner's hands, anticipating their pleasant wandering before the night was through. Blair held his wrist up, admiring the inlaid turquoise and silver which Jim had chosen. Blair arched into him, sighing in pleasure. "It's never coming off." His smile said everything as those hands trailed down Jim's back. Jim fingered the heavy gold chain and medallion that had been Blair's gift to him this night, a beautiful, if unexpected surprise. "Neither is this." He touched the medallion, reciting the verse Blair had chosen to engrave. *"Set me as a seal upon your heart. * I'm a lucky man, Blair Sandburg, a very lucky man." "Just remember what it says. That's all we'll ever need." End A Seal Upon Your Heart by Jyllean: [email protected] Author and story notes above. Disclaimer: The Sentinel is owned etc. by Pet Fly, Inc. These pages and the stories on them are not meant to infringe on, nor are they endorsed by, Pet Fly, Inc. and Paramount.

Not mine. No money. Just playing. Big, big thanks to Sheila for the beta and Aly for the intro.<g> This is for Lin, a wonderful writer and my sister in angst, not to mention the bane of plot holes everywhere. I can't thank you enough! This is the sequel to a story I posted in August called Into the Summer Sea. If you haven't read that one, this one might be confusing. It's also a little darker than the first, but in my opinion, still toward the shallow end of the slash pool. Also, I'm having way too much fun to stop now, so I guess this is going to be a series. I assure you Sand and Water is a complete story, not a cliff hanger, but I did leave a plot hook at the end to hang the next story on. Just so you know. Any and all feedback greatly appreciated. This story is a sequel to: Into the Summer Sea All alone I came into this world and All alone I will someday die Solid stone is just sand and water, baby Sand and water, and a million years gone by - Beth Nielsen Chapman The moon must have come out while I was sleeping, because the loft is lit with a cold brightness, like daylight without color. Every detail is in sharp relief, all the edges stark and bare. If I want to get back to sleep I should probably dig out my eye mask or just put a pillow over my head, but it seems like too much trouble. Blair sleeps deeply beside me in a sprawl of smooth shoulders and tangled hair. I want to run my hands down his back, touch all that pale skin from the soft nape of his neck down to where the sheet twines around his hips. I want to push his hair back from his face and kiss him in the moonlight, but the too-sharp angles of his shoulder blades remind me that I need to let him sleep and get strong again. I notice the slight bruising left by my teeth on his shoulder, and I turn away before I leave a trail of those marks down his spine. A few hours ago I woke up in his bed, wrapped so closely around him I could feel each breath he took. For the first time in weeks he seemed to be sleeping easily, and I hoped his exhaustion had finally caught up with him. I carefully pulled out of his arms, but by the time I finished my shower he was awake. He cleaned up in the bathroom while I warmed up soup, which for some reason made him smile, and then I spent a surreal half hour listening while he talked. Over the Jags game on the radio and a bowl of lentil soup, Blair told me that he saw Gabe at the station, and spoke to Alita in the park. In a matter-of-fact voice he told me how Roy had warned him about the door he didn't close, and about the blue, silent place that seems to wait for him around every corner. I didn't know what to say. I just listened, and then led him up the stairs. Blair didn't question; he simply crawled into my bed and fell asleep between one moment and the next, as if he'd stepped off a cliff into oblivion. That was fine with me because he needed the rest, and I needed to be next to him. Lying here now, I'm not thinking about the afterlife, or ghosts, or even Blair's tenuous grasp on this world. I'm thinking about how we ended up in his bed in the first place. I'm thinking about slow kisses and frantic passion, and how reality can be better than your imagination sometimes. I'm wondering what will happen tomorrow; if Blair will wake up wanting to forget this ever happened, or worse, blame me for it. After all, I had months to come to terms with how I felt about him, and to decide exactly what I wanted. As far as I can tell, Blair had thirty seconds to consider it while I held him in my arms and told him I'd never let him go. For all I know he's so desperate and scared right now that he would cling to anyone who offered him an anchor. Not that the state of our personal relationship matters if we don't figure out how to close this "door". For now, at least, I need to let him decide what happens next. If anything. I make this decision just as I notice his breathing change. I look over at him in alarm. No longer deep, each breath is shallow and infrequent, and without a doubt I know he is slipping away again to drift outside his body. "Blair?" My voice sounds odd in the quiet, and I brush back his hair to see his face. It doesn't seem right that the events of the last few weeks have polished him somehow; lit him with some inner fire that magnifies his beauty even while it burns him up from the inside. My first impulse is to shake him awake, but instead I ease him into my arms, and pull him close. I feel like I'm indulging myself, learning his face with my mouth. I kiss the smooth skin of his temple and the shadowed roughness of his jaw. "Don't go," I breathe. "Stay with me." The words are hypnotic, we are sharing one breath, and I feel like we are floating somewhere outside this bed and this room. For a few moments the moonlight takes on a bluish cast, and I can almost believe that we are in Blair's waking dream together. He moves against me, and I lean back to look at him. He opens his eyes, crystal blue and startling. "You followed me," he whispers. Jim and I are on the way to the station, driving through the drizzling rain that hasn't let up in days. For two people who spent the night practically sharing the same pajamas, we are very quiet. Maybe it wouldn't be so awkward now if Simon hadn't called about two minutes after the alarm went off. I felt like he was in the room with us, like he could see us in the same bed, Jim in boxers and me trying not to stare. No one should wake up looking that good. I know I don't. Jim mumbled into the phone, rubbed his eyes, and mouthed, "Simon" at me, and that was it. I was down the stairs and in the bathroom with the shower running before Jim could say a word. We didn't have time to talk after I got dressed, either. Jim, casually perfect as usual, handed my jacket to me as I walked out of my room. Apparently Alita Murdoch's boyfriend broke down when confronted with her body and confessed to involuntary manslaughter. Simon wanted us both to come in right away. I guess my banishment has been temporarily rescinded. "I can't believe it's raining again," I comment when the silence stretches too long. It worries me that the only topic of conversation I can come up with concerns the weather. Jim looks up at the sky through the windshield. "These clouds came in fast. It was so clear last night. All that moonlight kept me awake until just before dawn." I look at him strangely. "Jim, it's been raining for days. This cloud cover hasn't broken in almost a week. There couldn't have been moonlight last night." "What are you talking about? Of course there was moonlight..." he trails off, looking at me until an angry horn pulls his attention back to the road. "Fuck," he whispers, shaking his head. I just rub my eyes, thinking I've never felt this weary. "I need to figure this out, Jim. It's obviously getting worse." "Roy didn't give you any kind of a hint about this door thing?" He sounds frustrated, and a little sarcastic. "No, he didn't. Alita didn't mention it at all, and Gabe was just... Gabe." "You need to talk to one of them again." "Sure. No problem. Can I borrow your cell phone?" "Sandburg - " "Okay, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I just don't - I mean, how do I do that? Do you have a suggestion?" Jim is quiet, and I think he might be irritated, but then he says, "You saw Alita in the park, by the murder scene. And you saw Gabe in the hallway of the station." "Yeah..." "They died there." I shiver a little. "That's true. But what about Roy? I saw him in the loft." "Well, sure, but you two were friends. You knew him pretty well." Jim is warming to this idea. "Why would that make a difference?" "How the hell would I know?" he says, without heat. "Do you have a better idea?" "No," I admit. "But two pieces of supporting evidence and one contradicting isn't really a big enough statistical sampling to prove your theory, either." "Are you writing a paper on this, Sandburg? Humor me." He gives me a look, the same one I get every time I fall into scientist-mode, and I'm really happy to see it. I have to smile. "Fine, man, you win. Let's give it a shot." "Station or park?" He doesn't mention the drainage ditch where we found Roy, and I'm grateful. "Park. If we're going to have a seance, I'd rather not have an audience." Jim turns the truck around, and I lean my head on the window, my amusement gone as I think about what I'm going to try to do. "Chief?" Jim says after a few minutes. "Just thinking. It's weird, you know? If you're right about this, I guess I would have been hanging around the fountain forever." Jim looks stricken, like I just punched him. "Hey... I'm sorry..." I say uselessly. By this time we've reached the park, and Jim pulls over without answering me. Everyone in our neighborhood calls this place "the park", but it's really just a city planner's afterthought in an attempt to keep some trees in the urban area. It is a tiny, wooded block of green bordering the lake; with a path winding through the trees that will take you the same place the sidewalk does, only with a better view. It's the perfect side trip for a morning run, or the perfect place to have an argument late at night. As we duck under the yellow police tape over one of the entrance gates I am picturing Daniel and Alita walking this way two nights ago. It is so quiet at the murder site, where the path turns toward the lake and we can no longer see the street. The police tape at both gates has so far kept the curious out, and we are completely alone. Now that we're standing here I feel foolish, and have no idea what to do next. Jim is watching me, and I look at him and shrug. "Anything?" he asks. "Other than a really intense sense of deja vu, no." I walk to where she fell, but there is no sign of any disturbance. It's like it only happened in my mind. So I close my eyes until I can see Alita's face, pale in the moonless dark, with her hair trailing on the ground. I can feel the wind biting at my face as it sends rain spattering against the leaves, and I can hear Daniel's panicked footsteps running away. In the shadows of this memory, something lingers, waiting. Watching. I try to see it, to give it a name, but the dark night I remember is fading, suffused with a soft blue glow that flows over me like cool water. It takes so much effort to turn away from this shining silence that I fall to my knees. Then all at once I am back in the quiet gray of the morning, staring at the ground and feeling the damp soaking through the denim of my jeans. Jim's hands are on my arms, gripping tightly. We look at each other for a second and then he helps me up. "What happened?" he asks quietly, but I can hear his voice shaking. "I can't do this again," I answer him. "I can't go looking for them. I won't get back." We start walking. Instead of heading back the way we came, we continue on the path toward the lake and the other gate. There is a wooden bench just out of the trees near the shore. Jim stops and sits on the back of it, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees and his feet on the bench, staring out at the water. He looks so downcast, as if this latest failure is hard to shake off. I shiver in the cold damp. The rain is just mist now, but I feel it seeping into me. "It was a good idea," I say softly, standing beside him and looking at the shore line. He shakes his head and looks at his clasped hands. "Blair, if it isn't up to you - if you have no control over this, how can we stop it?" He sounds so tired, so worn out. Out of habit I lay my hand on his shoulder, wishing I could do more. But I can do more. The thought makes me hold my breath. Up until yesterday, touching his shoulder in sympathy would have been all I was allowed to do, but today... Tentatively, I reach behind his neck and stroke the soft hair at his nape. He looks at me in surprise, as if the thought hadn't occurred to him either. Staring into sky-blue eyes, I realize I can kiss him - right here in the park at 8:30 in the morning. I curve my palm over the sharp edge of his jaw, and he looks so unsure - of what is going to happen, of me - that I just lean over and do it. The shape of his mouth is still unfamiliar. Making love to him last night is just a haze of sensations now; it happened so quickly that I didn't get a chance to notice how smooth his lips are, how firm against mine, how unbelievably warm... I suck gently on his lower lip, fascinated. If I can just get closer, maybe I can get warm again, too. I tug softly on his chin with my thumb and lick his mouth open, so I can get to that sweet, wet heat. Oh, God. This I remember. His mouth is deep and slick and perfect. He tastes of something so addictive that I want to sink into him, make him part of me. I slide my hand into his hair and pull him close, sealing our mouths together. Then he is shifting, standing, and moving into my arms. His hands move possessively over my shoulders, my back, pulling us together. He is kissing me with such gentle urgency that I think I could do this forever. Or at least until the insistent voice inside suggesting I pull him down to the ground takes over. "Jim?" I mutter. "Mmmm?" That wordless question murmured into my mouth sends a soft vibration through me that makes me moan, makes me kiss him some more. He is endlessly distracting, but I try again. "Jim." "What?" he says against my cheek. I lean back to look at him very seriously. "We're making out in the park." The laughter bubbles out of him in a low chuckle that is so arousing I try to drag his mouth back down to mine, but he drops his head onto my shoulder before I can do it. "You're right. That's what we're doing." He takes a deep, steadying breath. Then he laughs again, like he can't help it. He sounds about twelve and despite everything I have to laugh, too. "We should probably stop; because, you know... it's the park." "Yeah, Sandburg, I got that part." There is amusement threaded through his voice, muffled against my jacket, and I listen to it with something close to wonder. It's been too long since I heard him laugh like this. "We could get arrested," I growl in his ear, just to see what will happen, and sure enough, he leans against me again, his shoulders shaking. "You are one easy audience, Ellison," I tell him, but I'm grinning, too, and wishing I could make him laugh like this every day for the rest of his life. Blair and I get to the station, and walk through the parking garage. It felt so good to laugh, mostly out of sheer relief at holding him again. Unfortunately that slightly hysterical euphoria is fading and I feel drained and disconnected. The elevator is empty, and as soon as we step in Blair moves to lean against the wall, as if he needs the support. I glance over at him, concerned. He is too pale in the harsh fluorescent lighting, all eyes and cheekbones and that mouth that's becoming my obsession. He notices me watching him, and looks up to give me a slow grin that sends heat spiraling down through my body. Careening between soul-deep worry and mind-fogging lust is exhausting. It's only nine a.m. and all I can think about is taking him back to bed. "Simon is probably losing it," he comments, but he doesn't sound too worried about the prospect. "He might be a little irritated, yes." I can't really work up a lot of concern either. "We need a good excuse." "We could always tell him the truth, Sandburg - we were checking out the crime scene." "And trying to contact the murder victim," he adds. "Maybe we should skip that part." "How about making out in the park - should we skip that part, too?" he continues teasingly. "Hey, if that's what you want to tell Simon, it's fine with me." The words fall between us, deliberate and serious. I had been trying to tease him back but it didn't come out that way. I realize I meant every word, and Sandburg realizes it, too. He is looking at me in guarded silence, but there is a strangely vulnerable expression on his face that I can't interpret. So much for not pushing our relationship. Damn it all to hell. Before I can say anything else the elevator door opens onto the lobby and a few people get on, including Megan. "Good morning, gentlemen. I see you're still standing, Sandy. That's good." I think that's a strange comment to make until I remember that I more or less fled the crime scene yesterday with no more explanation to her than that there was something very wrong back at home. We stand in awkward silence for a few seconds, facing the door. "Sorry." I finally say. "Fine." She waves her hand in the air, but even I can tell she's still annoyed. "Probably should have called you or something." "Or something. But it's fine. I assumed I would have heard if something were seriously wrong." I decide that it's more than her accent that is making her words sound clipped. "It got late," I say, a little desperately. "I'm sure it did." At this point Sandburg is looking at me like I'm dropping IQ points, but it's too late. "You know how it is... one thing led to another... " At this point Conner turns completely around and looks from me to Sandburg with eyebrows raised, and I think very seriously about kicking myself. Blair is staring at me, and if I listened very hard I could probably hear him thinking, "Shut. Up." Thankfully the doors open on our floor, and we head out together. Simon steps out of his office before we are completely through the door to the bullpen. "He's losing it," Conner informs us under her breath, before veering off toward her own desk and out of firing range. "Well, well. I'm glad you two could work us into your schedules," Simon comments darkly. "Sir - " I start, but he cuts me off. "Look, we don't have time for this," he begins as Sandburg and I hang up our coats. "In my office, both of you." We sit in front of Simon's desk, and he leans back in his chair to look at us. "The DA wants us to wrap up the Murdoch case. Rafe and Brown have the kid in interview." Simon looks down at a file folder on his desk, and continues, "This kid, Daniel Vasco, has got a record. Nothing major, but it looks like he was escalating - possession, assault... There's nothing new there, but here's the problem, gentlemen. He admits to being there and to pushing the girl, but now he says that someone else was there, too." Simon looks at Blair and leans forward over his desk. "Sandburg, I need you to tell me how you knew where to find the Murdoch girl's body." "He was home that night," I say, before Sandburg can speak up. "We were both awake at the time of the incident. He wasn't there, Simon." "I was online," Blair says softly. "I sent a few e-mails - at least 5 or 6 of them. You can check my computer." I hope my relief doesn't show on my face. Simon is staring Blair down, and then lets out a harsh breath. "Vasco doesn't have a description of this alleged other witness. There's no evidence that anyone else touched the body. We've got her co-workers who say she was planning to break up with this kid, and a witness on the street who saw them enter the park alone. I think we can avoid a problem here." Simon pauses and then folds his hands. "It won't leave this office, but I want you to explain what happened here yesterday. The truth." We both look at Sandburg, who is hunched in his chair, looking up at Simon with a haunted expression. Finally he says in a low voice, "I dreamed it." "What?" Simon sounds like he wishes he hadn't asked. "I've been seeing things in dreams. Things that are really happening. People. Places. I think I just happened to be... passing by that night." Simon looks out the window, his expression particularly long-suffering. Eventually he looks back at us and says, "Okay. Rafe and Brown are in the interrogation room talking to our guy. Sandburg, I want you to get your ass over there and listen in from the observation room. Don't interrupt them; just see if the kid's story checks out with... what you saw." I get up when Blair does, ready to follow him, but Simon stops me. "Not so fast, Ellison. You get Conner and start interviewing the co-workers. We need to establish motive. We've got them waiting outside the conference room." "But Captain -" "Look, you're not primary on this one, Jim. I'm sorry, but that's my final decision. Get moving." I'm about to argue, to tell him that I don't give a rat's ass who takes primary on the case as long as I don't have to let Sandburg out of my sight. Blair grabs my arm and shakes his head. "It's okay. We need to take care of this." His voice is quiet, and he won't look at me. I know he's right, but I don't like it at all. "Fine," I agree. "But come get me as soon as you're finished." Finally he looks up at me, almost smiling, and I am reassured by what I see in his eyes. Maybe I haven't screwed things up completely yet. We part at the door to the bullpen, Blair heading off to the right to the interrogation room, and Megan and I in the other direction. I watch him walk down the hallway until Megan slaps a file folder against my chest. "What's this?" I ask, taking it from her. "The first witness." She is still looking at me, with a smile lurking around the corners of her mouth. "What?" I ask, looking at her in irritation. "Is there something you'd like to tell me, Detective?" She is trying not to smile. I feel a cold nausea settle in the pit of my stomach. "No." I start walking a little faster. "No, there's nothing to tell, or no, you just don't want to talk about it?" I stop and take her arm, gently, and make her look at me. "Megan, don't. Please. Not now." She looks up at me curiously. "Okay," she says. "Hey, you know I'm your friend, don't you?" "Yeah, I know." The silence goes on a beat too long, and I have to smile. "Are we having a moment?" "Keep dreaming. Come on." After leaving Jim and Megan at the doorway I'm still feeling stunned. I know Jim wasn't suggesting we actually tell Simon what we were doing in the park. He was just telling me how far he's willing to go. I feel bad that I didn't say something, anything, but at the time I was too shocked by what he was ready to risk. I don't think I've ever been that important to anyone before. As I walk, I notice that I'm starting to wheeze. The farther I get down the hall, the harder it gets to breathe, like the air is getting thick. It's happening again, just like yesterday, but this time I know what it means. I stumble into the men's room. If Gabe is going to make an appearance, I don't want to be in the hallway talking to myself. I hang onto the sink as the pressure gets stronger, leaning over and hoping I don't pass out. It builds and builds, and then just like that, I can breathe again. I bend over the edge of the sink in surprise, just letting everything come back into focus. When I feel well enough to look up, the room is still empty, but there are two of me in the mirror. The other face in the mirror, the one that smiles next to my shocked and pale reflection, is shifting slowly, the features elongating and stretching, then flowing back into place. But the eyes that meet mine in the mirror never change. They are dark, shark-dead eyes, holding every nightmare and half-forgotten fear I've ever known. Looking into them is looking into the abyss. My legs turn to water and I sink down to sit on the floor, my back to the wall. I put my forehead on my knees and close my eyes, a six year-old's reaction to the monster in the closet, but right now the only thing I am capable of is waiting for it to go away. "It can't come through yet." When I open my eyes, Roy is sitting next to me, his elbows on his knees. I am too shaken to be surprised at seeing him. "What - what is that thing?" I whisper, my voice trembling. "Something very old. And it's getting closer," Roy tells me. "What does it want?" "Someone weak. Someone damaged. So it can come back." "Me?" My voice is a shredded whisper of sound. For the first time, Roy smiles at me. "No, not you. You're too strong. It's already found someone it wants to be. But it needs to come through you." "Through me." The idea makes me feel ill, and I take a breath to keep my voice steady. "There must be a way to stop it." "Close the door," Roy says gently. I could almost laugh. Or cry. "How?" Roy simply presses his fingertips against my forehead. I lean into that soft touch, and close my eyes. "I don't think I can do this," I tell him. "You can," he says softly. "You were the bravest person I knew. Don't be afraid." Roy is gone before I open my eyes. Somehow, I make it out the door without looking at the mirror and stumble down the hallway. My first impulse is to find Jim, but everyone I pass in the hall stares at me in wary concern, and I realize I must look crazed. I need to get myself together. I'm supposed to be watching Rafe and Brown interview that Vasco kid anyway, so I duck into the observation room. The room is empty, and I lean against the wall near the one-way glass. The interrogation is going on in the adjoining room, the voices coming faintly through the speaker. I clench my hands to stop them from shaking. "So you're telling us that you took your girlfriend into the park at 2 a.m., in the rain, to talk?" I hear Rafe say in a skeptical voice, but I'm not really listening. Instead I'm thinking that it isn't bad enough that I can wander outside my body, and actually have to concentrate not to do it. It isn't bad enough that I can talk to ghosts, who keep showing up to make cryptic comments whenever the mood hits them. No, now I find out that this door I left open is about to let in a hell of a lot more than just a few dead people. "I just wanted to talk to her alone, that's all." The kid in the interrogation room sounds exhausted, beaten down. "I don't know what happened." I want to see Jim so badly it hurts - just grab onto him and tell him everything that happened, but with sudden finality I know that I can't. He would do anything to help me, anything at all, and that's the problem. What could he possibly do to combat that thing I saw? The idea of it anywhere near him makes me sick with fear. I guess I'm on my own. "I know what happened." Brown's voice through the speaker is scathing. "You got angry and you shoved her. And then you ran away." I have to think. Someone damaged, Roy said. Someone weak. I hope to God he knew what he was talking about when he said I was too strong for this thing to take over, because I'm feeling pretty weak and damaged right now. "I ran," I hear Daniel say. "But there was someone else there... something else." His voice is so low that I almost miss the last two words. It's already found someone, Roy said. Someone weak. Someone damaged. I wasn't the only one watching Daniel and Alita that night. I open the door to the hall and walk unannounced into the interrogation room. "Sandburg, what the hell?" Rafe is angry, and I realize this is the second time in two days that I've interrupted one of his statements, but this is too important. "I need to talk to him," I say, nodding at the kid sitting at the table. Daniel is looking at me like I'm insane, and he might be right. I sit down across from him, and lean forward so I can see his eyes. "You loved her. And you left her there to die. Why?" His lower lip is trembling, and he's crossed his arms in front of himself protectively. "I was afraid," he whispers. "I was afraid of it." I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding. Suddenly Daniel is lunging for me, but he doesn't do anything more than grab my hands across the table. "Keep it away from me," he hisses. "Protect me." "I'll try," I tell him. I walk up the stairs to the loft at a quick pace. Earlier, in tight-lipped rage, Simon sent Blair home. The statement turned into a fiasco after Blair talked to the Vasco kid, and I can't remember the last time I saw Simon get so angry. I wanted to take Blair home, but Simon made it clear that if I intended to continue my career with the Cascade PD I'd better stay there and finish up. I might have quit right then if Blair hadn't intervened, saying he really needed some time to rest and think anyway. I stood on the street with him while he waited for a taxi, a stilted silence between us. "What was that about in there?" I asked him. "I saw Roy again," he said, not really answering my question. "What? Jesus, Sandburg - " "And I saw something else," he said, looking out at the street. "I don't know what it is yet, but - it's pretty bad, Jim." I felt a chill. "Sandburg, I'm coming with you." "No! No. It's okay - don't worry. There's time, I think." I wanted to insist, but Blair's distant manner and the awkwardness I'd felt between us since my comment in the elevator stopped me. The taxi pulled up to the curb then, and Blair looked at me for the first time. "I'm sorry about the interrogation. If you talk to Daniel Vasco, tell him - tell him I'm going to do what I can." It seemed like a strange thing to say, and I thought about that comment for the rest of the day. When I open the door, the loft is quiet and dark. I hear him sleeping in his room, and immediately look in. He's just a pile of blankets against the wall, sleeping quietly. I can't help it, I need to go over and brush the hair away from his face; reassure myself that he is just sleeping, not drifting away. He doesn't stir as I warm up leftover takeout and eat in front of the television, and he sleeps through the noise I make getting ready for bed. When I look in again, he hasn't moved, and I don't have the heart to disturb him. It's only nine, but I am completely exhausted. I head up to bed, too tired to do anything but shrug out of my clothes and slide beneath the sheets. No moonlight tonight, real or otherwise, just dim reflections from the city lights around the building. The loft is silent, and I am dozing off when I hear Blair get out of bed. I listen to the water run in the bathroom, and then I hear him hesitating at the bottom of the stairs. I almost call to him, but he starts up the steps. I sag against the mattress in relief, and sit up against the wall to wait for him, the sheet pooled in my lap. "Jim?" he says softly into the gloom, and I know he can barely see me. I can see him perfectly, unfastened hair and silver loops in his ear, loose drawstring pants slung low on narrow hips. He pauses for a second, and then folds himself onto the end of the bed, the dim light picking out the sleek lines of his bare arms and shoulders. "Is this okay?" he asks. "You know, me being here?" I have to swallow before I can talk. "Yeah, Sandburg, it's fine." I have a true talent for understatement. "You okay?" "I guess," he says quietly, rubbing his forehead with his palm. "I'm just so tired." "We'll figure it all out," I tell him. "You aren't in this alone, Chief." That statement makes his breath hitch, and I want to reach for him. "When did you get home?" he asks, changing the subject. "A while ago." "You could have woken me." "I let you sleep. You needed it." He nods, and looks down. "You could have joined me," he says, smoothing his hand over my blanket. "I wanted to give you some space," I say quietly. "Why?" He glances up at me, sounding honestly confused. "I thought maybe... after what I said in the elevator, I just thought maybe... you needed space," I finish lamely. In light of looming, impending evil the state of our personal relationship suddenly seems laughably minor. I wonder if he even remembers what I'm talking about. He is staring at me in the darkness. "You really don't get it, do you?" he says, so softly I can barely hear him. "You're the only reason I'm still here." It takes a second for the meaning of his words to sink in. It stuns me, freezes my blood, and then I am rising to my knees. I reach for him, pulling awkwardly, and tumble him down to lie beneath me. In what feels like one motion I knot our legs together; wind my arms behind him and into his hair, holding my weight off his chest so I can look at his face. "What are you saying?" I whisper fiercely. "It's true." He sounds breathless, shocked by our sudden change in position. He touches my face, blind in the dark. "I don't care about the rest of it anymore." I shut him up with my mouth. His hands come up in surprise, then clench in my hair with sudden strength, crushing us together. I am intent on consuming him and he lets me, licking my lips, stroking my tongue with his until our kiss becomes rough and hungry. I pull one hand out of his hair to run over supple skin and lean muscle, feeling a nipple pearl up against my palm and skimming the slant of hair that arrows down his stomach. The knotted string at his waist comes loose beneath my fingers and I tug the soft cotton down his legs, kicking it away. I need his skin against me, all of it - so I roll to my back, taking him with me and exploring his body with my hands. I can't be gentle; I can't get to enough of him. I knead his firm flesh, fill my hands with him, and follow the hard curving lines of him from shoulder to thigh. He is trying to kiss my neck, my chest, but my touch is distracting him and making his breath come harsh and fast. His legs cradle my hips, so I cup solid muscle and drag him over me. The abrupt, needy sound he makes sends hunger knifing through my body. We shift, align; heat and need and rigid flesh fusing into a loose rhythm that feels as easy as breathing, as falling. We are close, so close, until I run my hand up the seam of his body, and ghost a fingertip inside. Then suddenly he is surging up, leaning over to kiss me hard, dark silk falling across my face. I am dazed by what that light, intimate touch did to him; the images brought to mind send me reeling. His arms braced to hold himself over me are trembling slightly, and his breathing is ragged. "We can," he says hoarsely. "If you want." I want him; I am suddenly out of my mind wanting him, but this isn't the time. Not when we are so new to each other; not when he seems so fragile to me. Before I can change my mind I push him to his back and arch against him, bending over him to trace his jaw with my tongue. When I reach his ear I grind out, "Not yet. Not this time." "Don't you want - " "Don't ask me again," I hiss into his neck, not recognizing my own voice in that ragged whisper. I am biting at his neck, marking him, turning my mouth on him with wet, wide-open kisses against his throat. His erection is a heated ridge gliding against my hip in trails of hot, silky liquid, and I want to writhe against him. Instead, I wrench away with a groan and move down to taste the slope of his chest and the flat plane of his stomach; the slight indentation of his navel and the hollow of his hip, leaving marks on the smooth skin. He is incoherent above me, grasping frantically at my hair, my shoulders. He tries to move, wanting to thrust against me but I lay one forearm across his hips, and push him into the mattress, imprisoning him there. Ignoring his desperate moan, I lean down to learn the contours of his body; tracing his length with slow, rhythmic strokes of my tongue, brushing my fingertips through filmy drops until finally he is begging me, pleading. As I finally take him in my mouth I slide my hand beneath his body to sink a slick finger into him, and then he is arching up, gasping, coming hard against my tongue. The sensation is strange and astonishing, sea and heat and Blair. Afterward I breathe against his stomach, feeling his hand cupping the back of my head. Eventually I crawl up to collapse next to him, lying on my side to look at him. His eyes are closed, and he's breathing like he's been sprinting. He squints an eye open at me, and I try not to look too smug. "I think I'm going to revise my earlier statement," he says, closing his eyes again. "That is the only reason I'm still here." "Not bad for a first try, I guess." "I'm not kidding. That may be the reason I came back in the first place." His weary smile warms something deep inside me. "And here I thought it was my cooking," I mock gently. "Not even close." I am still caressing him, running my hand lightly over his chest. He must feel the urgency in my touch because he glances over and turns on his side to face me, reaching out. His fingers on my body are like soft rain, easing over my chest and my hips and my abdomen in light, sweeping strokes. "What do you want, Jim?" he murmurs. Then his mouth is open and hot, on my lips, on my face, on my neck. He is gentle, relentless, loving me with hands and mouth and body until I can hardly speak. "Anything you want. Tell me." My mind glazes over at the thought of turning him, blanketing him, molding myself to his body and sinking deep into tight, searing heat. "Just touch me," I whisper, swallowing. "Put your hands on me." "Just touch you?" he says, with a wry grin, easing himself closer. "I can do that." His reaching hands are firm, hard and purposeful, making me moan. "Love touching you," he says in a rasping whisper. "Love looking at you. So beautiful..." His touch is making me crazy, his voice flowing over me like honey. "Show me what you want...like this? Is this good?" "God, Blair, I - " "That's it... " His mouth is so close to mine I can feel the air move with his words. "Just let go." I close my eyes and grip his shoulders hard, letting him take me wherever he wants, until I am shuddering, coming apart beneath his hands. For a few minutes everything is fractured, disjointed, and I have to wait for the world to put itself back together. When I open my eyes we are lying face to face, a few inches apart. I expect a teasing comment, maybe a self-satisfied grin, but he is simply watching me quietly. When I touch his cheek he leans his forehead against mine. "Love you," he says softly. For a second everything stutters to a stop. Then I am knotting my hands in his hair and rubbing my face against his, not able to get close enough to him. "I wish I'd never met you," I tell him. He shakes his head, confused. "I didn't want this," I whisper harshly, pulling him closer as if I can absorb him through my skin. "I don't understand," he says against my cheek, unsure. "You show up in my life, so confident in me, so sure you can fix everything - " "Jim - " "and so god-damned beautiful I can't keep my hands off you... How could I fight that? I let you take over my whole life, and now you're the only part of it that matters." I kiss him, hard enough to bruise. "I never wanted anyone to be this important to me," I say against his mouth. "What the hell do I do now?" The sound he makes is wordless and sad, and then he gathers me to him, making me lie against his chest. It feels awkward to be held like this, and at first I resist. Blair only pulls me closer. "C'mon, just let me," he says quietly. I give in and surround myself with him - the scent of his skin, the sound of his heart beating, the feel of his strong arms. "Promise me something," I grate out. "Anything." He soothes me with his hands, running them gently over my shoulders. "What is it?" "Promise you won't do this alone." "Jim... " His hands still, and I can feel how exhausted he is in the loose way he embraces me. "Promise me." I tighten my arms around him, trying to drive the chill from his body. "I don't know if it's possible." It worries me how hopeless he sounds. I pull myself up on one elbow to look at him. "I followed you into that fucking blue world last night, you said it yourself. I followed you there when you died." I lean over, trying to make him look at me. "I can help you," I tell him. "Promise that you'll let me." He closes his eyes, too tired to keep them open any longer. "Okay. I promise." "Okay, then. Good." I don't know what else to say, so I lie down next to him again. He pulls himself close to me and in seconds he is asleep, in that deep, completely still slumber that overtakes him now whenever he lies down to rest. I listen to the reassuring rhythm of his breathing for a few minutes before I realize with a start that I never told him that I love him, too. Not in the words he gave me. According to the clock next to my bed, it isn't even eleven yet. I am completely awake, listening to the sounds of the night. Then downstairs, muffled by my jacket pocket, I hear my cell phone ringing. It isn't loud enough to disturb Blair, but I know that if I don't get up and answer it, whoever it is will call the loft number next. I slip out of bed, grab my jeans off the chair and head downstairs. "Ellison," I say into the phone, holding it against my shoulder with my cheek as I try to pull my jeans on. "Jim, it's Simon." I can tell by the background noise that he's in his car. "What's going on?" "Just had a call from lock-up. Daniel Vasco is on his way to Cascade General." "What the hell happened?" "Attempted suicide. Found him in his cell 20 minutes ago." "Wasn't he under a watch?" "No. Another fuck-up. I'm on my way to the station. I need you to meet Conner at the hospital." "I'd be happy to, Captain, but I'm not primary on this one," I tell him, with a great deal of satisfaction. "Don't start, Ellison. We don't know if he's going to make it, and I've got to hash this out with the DA, not to mention avoid a potential PR disaster. I need you there to help with damage control. And, Jim," he pauses, but I know what he's going to say next. "Leave Sandburg at the loft." "Simon, you can't possibly think - " "Look, I don't what I think. What I know is that the kid is neck-deep in this thing, and if we want to keep him out of it he needs to keep a low profile. I expect you there in 20 minutes." After Simon hangs up I head upstairs to get dressed, deciding that I won't wake Blair. He needs to sleep more than he needs to hear about Vasco - there's nothing he can do about it anyway. Besides, I'll be back before he knows I'm gone. Before I leave, I lean down to brush my lips over his. "I love you too," I whisper to him. I step back, feeling a little foolish and sentimental, but glad I said the words. I let myself out of the loft as quietly as possible, locking the door behind me. "Do you know why I wanted to be you?" Drifting up through sleep I find myself begging, "Please, please let this be a dream." But I know it's not. I am lying on my stomach, clutching a pillow in my arms, my face buried deep in the soft folds. Instinctively I know Jim isn't here, that I am alone with whatever is speaking to me. I open my eyes and see the rails guarding the upper loft, trying to see nothing but what is directly in front of me. Even so I can tell that the loft is lit bright as day, with a cold, indirect light that immediately turns my blood to ice. "Do you know?" the voice repeats. It is close, in the room, at the foot of the bed. I'm not sure I can make myself move, but I turn with a ragged breath and sit up to face him. I think I always knew he'd find me again. Even when I saw his body, saw him lying dead on the floor in that warehouse, I didn't believe it was over. Not really. I've tried so hard to forget, and I don't see him every time I close my eyes anymore, but David Lash's face is burned into my consciousness. He makes no move toward me, just sits there, and I realize he's waiting for an answer. "No, I don't know." My voice sounds small and hollow. "Why did you want to be me?" He is staring at me, and I realize that there is something different about him. It's his eyes - they aren't dead and black. They are deep, and infinitely sad. I lean forward without thinking about it to peer at him closely. The side of his mouth quirks in a half-smile. "I wanted to be you because you could have him." This stops me cold. "Any time you wanted," he continues. "You didn't know it. Neither of you knew it, I guess, but I did. I saw the way you looked at each other, the way he looked at you. I'd never seen anything like it." I can't move; all I can do is listen to his voice, and wonder why there is no malice in it. "I thought - well, part of me thought - that if he looked at me like that, I could be free. So I wanted to be you." "Free?" "Yes. Of it." I can hardly breathe. Echoes of something Lash's father said, years ago, come back to me. Why didn't you do something to help him? I had asked. I hoped she would kill him, he had said. He was a demon. "What do you want?" "Nothing. Just to warn you. See, it's coming back. It's very close now. And it wants him, too." "Why?" I can barely get the word past my lips. There is bile in my throat at the thought of that thing I saw in the mirror turning its sights on Jim. "Revenge," Lash whispers. "It spent millennia here, and he banished it. It knows only rage, and it wants to destroy him. You need to stop it." I feel like my mind is moving through slush, my thoughts icing up, grinding to a stop. "I know where it's going," I tell him, and even that thought is an effort. "Even if it gets through me, Daniel Vasco is locked up." Lash is shaking his head. "Very soon Daniel Vasco will have no more cares in this world." My mind is in chaos - it takes a few seconds for me to realize that Alita's boyfriend is going to die, if he isn't dead already. If that thing does make it back here, it could go anywhere, be anyone at all. The enormities of this fact, the implications, just begin to hit me when Lash touches me for the first time. He lays a hand on my arm, and I think I might be sick. "You're the only one who can stop it now. Do what you have to do." "Why are you helping me?" I ask. "He ended my pain." Suddenly Lash stills, looking out, past me and this room into a place I know well. "It's coming," he breathes. He turns to me, suddenly intent. "Go. Now." In an instant the loft is plunged into darkness, so complete that for a second I think there is something pressed against my face. I actually try to claw it away before I figure out that the otherworldly light has disappeared as if turned off by a switch. I stumble out of bed, realizing even as I tear the blankets away from my legs that there is nowhere to go. Halfway down the stairs the pressure hits, worse than anything that has come before it - it's like nothing I've ever felt. It is suffocating, crushing, a punishing weight pressing me flat. No air, no light, no hope. There is nowhere I can go to get away, no place where it can't find me. Except one. So for the first time I just let go; release my fingertip grasp on this world and fall into the blue. After fighting this with everything inside me for so long, I greet the rushing silence with relief. The emergency room of Cascade General is in complete chaos when I get there, and it takes me a few minutes to find Conner arguing with a nurse at the admitting desk. "Vasco, V-A-S... look, he should have arrived just a few minutes ago. Don't you keep records?" "In case you haven't noticed, Detective, we are dealing with multiple accident victims here - your prisoner is going to have to wait," the nurse tells her. "He's not my prisoner - " Conner begins, but the nurse has already rushed off to meet an EMT team crashing through the door with a stretcher. "What's going on here?" I ask. "Four vehicle pile-up. Vasco is in there somewhere, presumably," she says, gesturing toward the glass doors behind the admitting desk, "but they can't seem to find him at the moment." "Then I guess we'd better start looking," I tell her, and push through the doorway. The scene behind the doors is like a snapshot of hell, and I have to dial way back before my senses overload. Even so, it takes me a few seconds to adjust to the shouts and moans, frantic movement and sharp stench of blood. "Dear God," Conner breathes, and I grab her arm and start moving through the chaos. "We'll split up," I tell her. "Look for the prison guards - they should be here, too." As soon as I leave Conner I have my arms full of a weeping woman who has seen my badge, begging me to tell her how her mother is doing. I gently disengage, putting her in the hands of an orderly who is passing by, and step back into a stretcher pushed against the wall. The person lying on it grabs my arm. "Help me," he whispers, and I turn to tell him that I'll find a doctor when I see Daniel Vasco's pale face lying on the pillow. "Well, well. We've been looking for you. Okay, don't worry, we'll get someone over here to help you -" "He said he'd try to protect me, but he can't stop it," he hisses at me. His words make me pause. Distantly, I hear Blair on the street earlier. Tell Daniel Vasco I'm going to do what I can. "What are you talking about?" I ask him. His hand around my forearm is surprisingly strong considering his wrist is encased in bloody bandages, but his face is ghastly white and covered with sweat. "It's coming for me, I can feel it." And I saw something else, I remember Blair saying. I don't know what it is yet, but - it's pretty bad, Jim. I feel dread building. "What's coming for you?" "He thinks he can stop it, but he can't. No one can." Vasco's voice is hollow. "You're talking about my partner, right? The man who talked to you earlier? Is he the one who can't stop it?" I know the answer before Vasco nods, his eyes wide and wild. My head is beginning to pound, over and over like a warning. "You have to help me," Vasco repeats. "I'll help you, but you need to tell me exactly what's going on," I tell him urgently. "It wants to be me," he whispers. "I can't be here when it comes. Use your gun." "Okay, just calm down - " "You found him," Conner says from behind my shoulder, flanked by two prison guards. "I can't be here!" Vasco is suddenly frantic, pulling at the bandages around his wrists, tearing at them with his teeth. Then everything happens at once. I grab at his hands, trying to pin them down. The guards try to help me and only get in the way while Conner shouts for a doctor. With shocking strength Vasco flings himself off the stretcher and into one of the guards, and they both go down. Vasco rolls away to sit against the wall, but now he's holding the guard's gun pointed directly at us. No sound here. No feeling, except warmth, finally. Weightless as the azure light that surrounds me. I am not alone. The thing that tried to come through me is here, too, and I can feel its rage at being thwarted. I feel capable of effortless movement, and so I plunge further in, speeding through vague impressions and fragmented pictures of everything that makes up my life. If I just go faster, I think I might see the pieces of the universe unfolding before me. The creature made of darkness follows, somehow matching my speed and random directions. I feel no fear, just determination to leave it behind. I go faster. Gaining speed, I am rushing toward another presence, one as bright as the thing that follows me is dark. I recognize it, seeing it clearly for the first time - how is it possible that I didn't see through the disguise it wore outside the blue? I wonder briefly if anything of me will remain when I reach it, and then it is engulfing me. For one moment and forever, we are one. Then I am falling. The darkness that pursued me is now following the light that is rushing away, and I am alone again. I open my eyes at the bottom of the stairs, my head bleeding from a gash above my temple. If I had any doubts, I know I'm back in my body because sitting up causes every bruise I picked up in the fall to scream at me. I can't waste time finding out if I'm badly hurt, though, because now I know what to do. That dark thing is going to find me again, and soon. I can't destroy it, but thanks to Gabe I know how to contain it, make it shrink in on itself until it loses touch with this world. The answer lay in the blue all along - I just needed to let go. I hurry into my room to get dressed. I need to get out of here before Jim gets back. If this works, I'll be able to explain it to him and make him understand why I had to leave. If my plan doesn't work - well, I can't let him stop me. At the kitchen island I scrawl a quick note and then grab something out of the top drawer, not looking at it. I don't hesitate, because there is really no other decision to make. I need to have a Plan B. Just in case. "I can't be here," Daniel Vasco sobs softly. He is holding onto the gun with both hands, its wavering barrel swinging past all of us. Conner and the other guard have pulled their weapons and are pointing them at Vasco, shouting at him to drop the gun. "Daniel!" I say firmly, trying to get his attention, holding my hands out to show I won't hurt him. "We're going to help you, but you need to put down that weapon." Daniel shakes his head, tears streaking his face. "No one can help me," he whispers, and I hear Conner's cry as he turns the gun on himself. I turn my head away, and the sharp crack of the pistol reverberates through the emergency room. The room erupts in confusion, a wave of screams and shouting, running people and hoarse questions. I look at the ruin of Daniel Vasco and all I can think about is Blair. I start running for the door. "Hold it!" Conner is right behind me. "Where are you going?" "Home. I have to get back there now." "Are you crazy? We can't leave the scene!" "Conner, Vasco was talking about Blair. `He can't stop it.' He meant Blair." "What can't Blair stop?" "I don't know exactly... I don't have time to explain. Just cover for me, okay?" "Not this time. I'm going with you." There's no time to argue, and I pull her after me through the commotion. It's cold out here now that the wind has picked up again. I should have taken my jacket along - Jim would never have forgotten his. I'm probably lucky it's turning into a wild night - there was no one to see me on the street and call the police about a coatless maniac with a bloody dish-towel pressed to his forehead. Not to mention carrying a gun. All the rain over the past few weeks has turned the drainage ditch into a roaring flood, clogged with fallen branches and debris. The overflow is pouring out of the huge pipe with such force that I can feel the spray all the way at the top of the hill. The morning that Jim and I found Roy here was so quiet, so still. I barely recognize this spot now, but at the same time I'll never forget it. Roy is standing next to me, looking down at the site where we found his body months ago. "I never wanted to see this place again," I say to him, shivering in the wind. "It's just a place." "You're not - you're not here, are you? I mean here in this place? All the time?" My throat constricts at the thought of the man I knew tied to this grim spot forever. Roy reaches out and lays a hand on my shoulder in comfort. "No, Blair, I'm not. There's so much more than this. This place is easy for me to find, that's all. Like the way I can always find you." "If this works... " I can hardly get the words out. I try again. "If I shut the door, I won't see you anymore, will I?" "Not here." His voice is gentle. "I never did get to say good-bye," I tell him. "I guess I should be grateful." Everything I want to say to him is crowding my thoughts, but somehow he already knows, and he just smiles at me. "Goodbye, Roy," I whisper, and then I'm alone. The hill is slippery, and I have to watch my footing on the way down. I wedge myself into the space between the pipe and the hillside, where it is so dark and so loud that a Sentinel, even a desperate one, couldn't find me. Thinking of Jim makes my chest ache. I wonder where he is as I cradle the gun in my lap. I hope he can forgive me. My hands are shaking from the cold, and I worry I might fire the gun accidentally. The last thing I want to do is use it. Actually, that's not true - the last thing I want to do is let that demon back into this world, and if I have to use the gun to prevent that from happening, I will. But I'm not waiting around to see if it shows up - I'm going to go out to meet it. I still feel the bruises from the last time I went willingly into the blue, so this time I prop myself up, making sure that I won't fall when I leave. I lean my head back against the cold cement pipe and let go. I can't hear any sound coming from the loft when I pull the truck to the curb. My brain refuses to accept that fact, and I open my senses up wider, listening for any sign of him as I pound up the staircase. Megan runs after me, taking the stairs two at a time, my panic leaching over onto her. When we hit the third floor I smell blood, unmistakable through the slightly open door. I shove it completely open, and run inside, immediately seeing the smeared red on the staircase. I stop briefly to touch it, noticing it has only just started to dry. I'm about to check out the upstairs when Megan says, "There's a note." She's standing by the island, holding a single sheet of paper, and staring at it with an odd look on her face. "What does it - " "It says, Jim, I'm sorry I couldn't keep my promise. I can't let it hurt you. Now I know how to close the door. I'll - " She stops for a second, looking up at me, then continues softly, "I'll love you no matter where I am. No signature. I don't really like the sound of this... " I'm not listening to her anymore. "His coat is still here," I say, looking around frantically for some indication of where he went. "He didn't take his wallet, or his keys - " With a sudden, sick sensation I open the top drawer of the island. It's empty. I feel my hands go numb. "Jim?" "He took my gun. My extra piece - I started keeping it here after Alex... God, Sandburg, what are you thinking?" Megan clears her throat. "He wouldn't - he wouldn't use it on himself, Jim. No matter how bad things have gotten, I know Sandy. He'd never do that." "Unless he thinks he has no other choice." The numbness has spread from my hands to my body, and I am seeing Daniel Vasco's shattered face in my mind. Megan's hand clutching my arm barely registers, but her voice is strident. "Where would he go? No keys, so no car - somewhere close by - think, Jim!" I know exactly where he's going to go. "Here. Take my keys. Start looking for him - try the park where we found Alita Murdoch's body first." I am practically pushing her out the door, and she is staring at me in bafflement. "I'll call Simon and get some more people out there..." "Fine. Do that." "Wait, wait - don't you want to come with me?" "I've got to do something first." It's hopeless. I'll never be able to combat something so immense, so dark that my mind begins to spin away in terror whenever I look at it. But I know I can't let it through to where everyone I care about is waiting. To where Jim is waiting. I have to try. This isn't the blue jungle world of my visions; here I am disembodied in an endless sea, in the open ocean of my nightmares with a black, whirling maelstrom at its center. Inside that blackness there is hatred and madness and a waiting, conscious presence. If Blair is here I can't feel him. Suddenly the darkness begins to fall in upon itself, shrinking down into nothing. I feel like it creates a vacuum in its wake, an absence of being that draws me closer. Before I can begin to fight against this pull, I am hit with a violent blow that pushes me away with frightening speed. In horrified fascination I watch the blackness shatter outward, dark fragments knifing through the blue like a mirror splintering on concrete. Some of them go through me, and I want to scream in defiance. Then there is only silence, and the blue isn't frightening any more, simply quiet and still. I see a distant light, and know instinctively that it's the end of Blair's journey. I finally see the place that has been calling to him since that morning weeks ago when I dragged him back from its edge. This time I can't make that choice for him - I shouldn't have made it in the first place. This final decision is his alone. I feel sick with grief as I turn away. "Does he have a pulse?" The words come from far away, carried on the freezing wind that feels like it could take me with it. I feel dazed, remembering shredded darkness against blue. I don't know what went wrong. Gabe told me the creature couldn't be destroyed, but then it flew apart. The memory of those scattering pieces is disturbing, but I can't focus enough to figure out why. "I don't know. I'll check." This voice is shouting, right next to me, and I open my eyes to see a young uniformed officer who looks vaguely familiar. The rushing water has risen up nearly to my legs but I can't move because the cold is making my body lethargic and breathless. The officer notices that my eyes are open, and he smiles at me with a strangely distant expression. I feel his hand against my neck, pressing against my carotid artery to feel for a pulse. "I'm okay..." I whisper, but the officer only smiles wider, and presses harder. Fragments of light begin to fly in front of my eyes, and then suddenly Joel is beside me, still stumbling from the sharp incline. "I think you like causing trouble, Blair. What the hell were you thinking? Half the force is out looking for you." "Pulse steady," the officer says, "but I think he needs a doctor." "I don't need a doctor. I need a ride." Joel reaches down to help me up. "We'll see about that after we get you out of here. What's this?" Joel's voice is wary and he steps back, and suddenly I'm staring at the barrel of the officer's gun pointed directly at my face. "Lower your weapon, McGovern," Joel demands. "Don't overreact here." "He's armed," the uniformed officer says, and I look down at the gun in my hand. "Drop the gun, Blair," Joel says calmly, and for just a minute I feel like I'm looking at a stranger. "I just - " "Drop it!" McGovern shouts. The sharp click as he cocks his pistol is almost lost in the roar of the rushing water. My hands are numb, and don't react immediately, but I set Jim's gun down on the grass next to me. "See?" Joel says, leaning down to pick up the pistol. "No problem here. I believe I told you to lower your weapon, Officer." My cold-numbed brain is convinced for just a second that the guy is going to shoot me anyway. Then he is holstering his pistol and reaching down to help me up. Joel grabs my other arm and the two of them practically drag me up the hill. They put me into the front seat of Joel's sedan, and McGovern's partner joins them. I am too tired to try to listen to their conversation, but I think they are discussing where to take me. Eventually Joel gets into the driver's seat while the two officers get into their squad car and drive away. "I'm going to take you home, Blair. You can try to explain all this to Simon in the morning. Unless you want me to take you to the hospital?" "No. Home is great." As Joel starts the car, I ask, "How did you guys find me anyway?" "We knew you were on foot, so we've been cruising the local area. I was at the other end of the street when McGovern and his partner radioed. I think McGovern saw you. Good thing, too, the way that water was rising." "He saw me from the street? Through the car window?" Joel shrugs. "Good eyes, I guess." "Yeah. Real good." The drive back to the loft is short. Before I get out of the car in front of our building Joel hands me Jim's pistol, his face carefully neutral. "Thanks, Joel." "You take care of yourself, Sandburg." By the time I get upstairs I'm beginning to shiver. I open the door to dim, fire-lit warmth. Jim is near one of the large windows, his arms crossed in front of his chest as if he's cold, too. I know he heard me come up the stairs, but I see the tension go out of his shoulders as if he wouldn't let himself believe it until he saw me. He is looking me over as we walk toward each other, his gaze stopping at the cut on my temple. I touch it self-consciously, glad to find it isn't bleeding anymore. I hold out the gun, and he takes it from me without a word. "This door," he finally says, his voice hoarse. "It's closed now." He makes it a statement of fact. I nod, knowing I'll never be able to keep my voice steady. "I wasn't sure you were going to come back," he says, and the raw pain in his words tears me up inside. I want to shake him for doubting me, for thinking I would ever willingly leave him. "You're here," I say instead. He finally looks at me, and I smile at him, a little weakly. "Where else would I go?" He reaches for me then, pulling me into him. I reach up to enclose him in my arms, as closely as I can, trying to make him stop shaking. Or maybe it's me who's shaking, I can't tell anymore. "You're so cold," he whispers, rubbing my arms and my back, trying to warm my lips with his. "I don't want you to be cold anymore." "I'm not. It's okay now. I'm not going anywhere," I tell him, and I mean it. That door is closed to me now, even though I can still see the edges, like the entrance to a lighted room seen from a darkened hallway. I'll probably always see it there, until it opens wide again some day. Until then, I feel like the universe has given me a second chance. I have all I could ask for in my arms. I can wait. End Sand and Water.

“As soon as I was in receipt of that legal advice, both external and internal..” If anyone was thinking that the weekend would see a calming of the fractious Executive they can think again. The Northern Ireland Finance minister, the DUP’s Peter Robinson, has added to the comments made on Thursday by the Deputy First Minister, SF’s Martin McGuinness, and accused the Social Development minister, the SDLP’s Margaret Ritchie, of lying about passing on the legal advice. As with the earlier comments, close attention may be required to the detail of what is being said. Adds More of that advice here.From the Irish Times report Mr Robinson deepened divisions today accusing Ms Ritchie of having lied about passing him the legal advice she obtained prior to making her decision to cut funding. He quoted Ms Ritchie of stating on BBC TV: “I am very clear that I agreed and the Executive agreed on Monday night of last week that I was to obtain legal advice and share it with the First and Deputy First Minister and also the Finance Minister. “As soon as I was in receipt of that legal advice, both external and internal, I supplied it to those three individuals.” But firing his fresh broadside, Mr Robinson said: “This is a lie. Firstly no legal advice was handed over to be me before it was announced on Monday that the DSD minister was making statement to the Assembly. I first heard she was making a statement through the press.” He said that on hearing she was making a statement he sent her a letter asking for the legal advice she had undertaken to supply, and claimed “some” pieces of the advice was passed to his office. Mr Robinson said the dates on the documentation showed Ms Ritchie had been holding some of the advice for a week without passing it on. I’d suggest that the “some of the advice” being referred to would be the internal advice… which would make the following line pivotal to the accusation. “As soon as I was in receipt of that legal advice, both external and internal, I supplied it to those three individuals.” [added emphasis] Also worth noting is the BBC report’s final line on those contested minutes This, [Mr Robinson] says, is regardless of last week’s controversy over the minutes of an executive meeting on the matter. Zilch in me Sunday paper here today (and I mean not a single word) – seems strange given possible implications on peace process and government structure. If you are in Free State Dewi then no real suprise there. Rory @ 10:26 AM: You are, of course, correct. Actually, on mature reflection it was neither: I think it was Frank Chapple of the EEPTU (which in view of the Union’s factionalism makes the story more likely and more pointed.) What remains inexplicable is that I must have been sleep-blogging at half-five this morning. I certainly don’t remember it. Nevin @ 01:33 PM: Yeah. I went through the statement on Robinson’s website, too. I didn’t see what it greatly added to the sum of human knowledge. And, of course, it’s his edited highlights. I like your back-tracking on the tos-and-fros of the SF/SDLP continuing bun-fight. But, in short, which of the two parties is most under pressure? Which has most to lose? Ritchie has (and I’m open to correction here) been one the stars of the show. She took the Welfare Reform Bill through (the first piece of legislation to go through the Assembly?). That wasn’t how it was intended to be: the UUP and the SDLP were to be the family pets, indulged with the scraps from the main players’ table. Inevitably, there’s got to be a touch of jealousy among those highly-strung egos. Now I detect (from Henry McDonald in today’s Observer — ) that David Ford is hardening up: If she is blocked by other ministers around the table at the Northern Ireland Executive, then there is no point in continuing in government in those circumstances…. I’ve probably seen that previously; but I had not realised how make-or-break it is. It also crossed my mind that I do not grasp why Robinson behaved the way he did. The usual tactic would be to allow Ritchie her moment of limelight, then to reverse the decision in after-hours trading (where he obviously had the votes). That would have left Ritchie to make the choice: accept the stuffing and carry through the re-affirmed policy (which neatly and painfully establishes the pecking order) or resign on a matter of principle. Cue Clair Short as an example. So either Robinson was suffering a severe dose of the machos or he badly miscalculated. Thanks for the cue, Malcolm, but I think I merely restated what I have believed for a long time: a Government in which people participate on the basis of the lucky dip of the d’Hondt formula without any agreement on a programme for government is an example of poor governance. As said elsewhere, Stephen Farry and I told the Assembly Review Committee on Tuesday morning that Alliance believes that Executive collective responsibility was a prerequisite for the effective devolution of Justice. We just didn’t realise this would be proven so conclusively within a few hours. dewi Very little coverage of it in Northern Ireland’s Sunday’s either. Just the ocassional comment piece but little or nothing in the way of large-scale reportage and certainly no editorial comment. Which is amazing when you think about it. I think the Sunday World managed not to refer to the story at all. It just has a full front-page spread rehashing the “massive” move that Brigadier Jackie is going to make on Remembrance Sunday. He’s going to change the name of the UDA to the UDE apparently and hand out ties at a £5 a shot to the members just to prove it. He must have stood the UFF down about a dozen times now, if the SW is anything to go by. Some comfort to know the UDA is not going to be selling drugs, prostituting women, threatening beating and shooting locals or extorting money from business people any more, it’ll be the UDE. I wonder if it was the UDE that tarred and feathered the man in Finaghy the other week. Makes you wonder how much input there is by government into editorial direction in NI’s Sunday papers and in the media here in general. “Dubliner, is there any hope in future of you leaving florid fantasies of “rancid shit and piss†to the love letters of James and Nora Joyce? ” – susan Wasn’t that shite and onions? “It seems both of the largest political parties had something to gain from Ritchie rubber-stamping the funding.” – susan What could they have gained? Let’s look at the context. There is a fundamental principle of justice that criminals should not be allowed to profit from criminal acts. As the DUP were fond of pointing out before it served their interests not to point it out, this was breached by bringing PSF into the political process, effectively rewarding them with the political power that they committed criminal acts to achieve. PSF tried to counteract concerns about the violation of this principle by claiming that their crimes were not criminal acts but were, in fact, political acts; and, ergo, the principle should not be applied to the purpose of preventing them from being duly rewarded. PSF’s supporters and voters are happy to play along with this obfuscation, despite a plethora of inconvenient instances of continuing crimimal acts that can no longer be disguised as political acts and, ergo, are either ignored, denied, or dismissed as the actions of rogue elements. That, however, is not the obfuscation that the DUP played along with: they always said that PSF was a criminal organisation but that it is no longer a criminal organisation because certain ‘tests’ of non-criminality were met to their satisfaction. This was the DUP’s workaround for how that fundamental principle might be violated without being seen to be violated, thereby allowing them to apply the principle to condemn criminal acts and organisations without being open to a charge of blatant hypocrisy and to a charge of having de facto voided that fundamental principle by sharing power with a criminal organisation – indeed, with one of the most ruthless, murderous, and wealthiest criminal organisations in Europe, no less. So, the same principle is again violated – and its systematic violation was the basis of the ‘peace process’ – by Peter Hain and David Hanson in rewarding UDA criminals for their crimes with a substantial sum of money. Again, the principle must be violated without be seen to be violated, so the public is wrongly informed that the UDA godfathers receive no benefit from the generous reward. Being legitimised within the communities they plague is not to be considered as a reward, you see – neither is being made respectable by being invited to Ãras an Uachtaráin or being invited to play golf with the President’s husband, nor if being seen by their own community as powerful, important, influential, and well-connected people who are granted de facto protection from prosecution for crime – as long as they keep it low level – any reward, either. Now this is what Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, the British SoS, the NIO, the US Special Envoy and a plethora of other authorities, foreign statesmen, prime ministers, vested interests, Nobel Prize winners, et al, etc, ad nauseam have been proffering and implementing as progressive “conflict transformation” measures rather than rampant bribery. If Ms Ritchie opposes the funding of the UDA on moral grounds and is seen as having the approval of the public for her stance, then all of the former are left exposed to criticism for their amorality, pitted against the will and moral integrity of the public. That is a lot of powerful and conceited people and organisations to piss off with a little defiant dose of “What the hell were you doing here?” So, it not a case of what the DUP or PSF could have gained. It’s more a case of what they could have lost: they could be left exposed to a new understanding by the public of how corrupt and devoid of moral authority they are. The charade would be exposed – the game effectively up. It is also incorrect to see the DUP and PSF as the puppetmasters here and not the puppets. They were told by the puppetmasters who authorised the funding that the funding must continue. Ergo, they were merely following the orders of their master by opposing Ms Ritchie’s attempt to stop the funding. Welcome to the sewer and remember who voted for the rats. “there is something deeply hypocritical about your outburst above, because your moniker is a reminder of the state, presumably from which you hail, which put the early edition of Sinn Fein into power at the state’s inception in 1922.” – It was Sammy Mc Nally I’m sorry to inform you that I took no position on political affairs in 1922 due to an absence of birth. Ergo, there is no hypocrisy. For my money Sammy’s 7:29 post hit the nail on the head. Robinson doesn’t really give a crap about the UDA (although the ambiguity does him no harm in parts of his constituency) but more importantly he believed that he had reintroduced majority rule by the back door. Unionist majority in the Executive – Unionist veto on change. That is why this is a killer issue for him and that is why he has difficulty approaching it calmly or rationally. If Robinson losses this one, then he losses the basis of his whole SAA strategy and then Reg and others can ask, even more pointedly, what is so different about this DUP version of the GFA? What I can’t yet figure is the SF angle in supporting crude majority rule. Another long game? The Dubliner, Welcome to the sewer and remember who voted for the rats. Would they be the same people you described in a prior paragraph: pitted against the will and moral integrity of the public. Consistency, old chap, consistency, if you don’t mind. Dubliner, what exactly did you think I meant when I said a few posts up on this same thread that “the leadership of both parties seem cringingly slow to appreciate what they may yet stand to lose for their participation in the whole sorry fiasco”? In an earlier thread days ago I stated my opinion that the Executive at present is little more than window dressing for a continuance of what was established under direct rule. And how is it you recognise the lunacy of holding someone responsible for things that happened decades before they were born (or at least you do when the “someone” not being held responsible happens to be your own good self) but you regularly issue sweeping moral judgements against people, indeed an entire populace, living their lives in a place you have never called home? I read an interview online by Henry McDonald in with Margaret Ritchie today. She doesn’t seem inclined to take your advice to resign and disappear. Says she’s more resilient than that, and intends to stay the course. Good on her. Pyrrhic orgies of self-congratulation are best left to the internet, PS I think the onions you are thinking of must have been from “A Portrait,” or “Ulysses.” Nora and Jim were not much for condiments in their correspondence. Malcolm, I put up Robinson’s statement as it forms part of the debate; it’s one of the pieces of the jig-saw. It’s most probably selective and jaundiced but it’s still a primary source. I mentioned the feedback I got from an SDLP contact in South Belfast ie the fear that McAleese and SF endorsement of the Finaghy Crossroads Group (and like groups) would lead to a further loss of votes from the SDLP in Belfast generally. Such endorsement could elevate ‘parapolitics’ above the politics of the SDLP-Alliance-UUP spectrum. Why vote for the politics of the middle ground if parapolitics ‘works’? Elsewhere, I’ve noted that allegedly godly citizens have gone to the ‘civic police’ for prompt action as going through the official justice process would be slow and, maybe, a total waste of time. Nevin @ 11:33 PM: Believe me, I thoroughly approve of your take and the posting of the Robinson piece: it is, as you say, a “primary source” (and about as close as we’ve got to his definite position yet). Without getting into the “parapolitics” of this (on which you are clearly miles ahead of where I sit), I’m still totally unable to get a handle on the “why” of Robinson’s behaviour. Ritchie’s is, to me, totally explicable: she seems to have gone ahead with doing what she said she would (though whether or not she had the powers to do so is obviously in doubt, as must be — ultimately — the wisdom and manner of it). However, she does not have the experience of the years of parliamentary experience and manipulation Robinson should have and should evidence. I find myself repeatedly ticking the boxes: Did she prepare her own statement (the other key primary evidence) without departmental input? Since that is unlikely in the extreme (at least from my reading of what seems to be a carefully constructed text), why did the departmental bureaucracy allow her to go ahead? My local government experience tells me that, when a Borough Solicitor lectures and spells out the consequences, it can be a bowel-loosener. A Stormont lawyer must be that at full throttle. Why did Robinson intervene so personally? Heaven knows he has enough helots to do the business for him. Note that I’m steering clear of the secondary actions by the other parties: that’s a side-show as they endeavour to get their ducks in a line. The Dubliner, Welcome to the sewer and remember who voted for the rats. Would they be the same people you described in a prior paragraph: pitted against the will and moral integrity of the public. Consistency, old chap, consistency, if you don’t mind.” – tweedledee There is no inconsistency. How about attention to detail and context in your critique? “It’s more a case of what they could have lost: they could be left exposed to [b]a new understanding by the public[/b] of how corrupt and devoid of moral authority they are. The charade would be exposed – the game effectively up.” – The Dubliner Notice that the “understanding” is “new” as opposed to what…? That’s right: the old understanding. So what would the old understanding be? It would be the one that they were hoodwinked into believing as voters. Ergo: “The charade would be exposed – the game effectively up.” Supporting Ms Ritchie indicates that the public is asserting the primacy of moral authority which recognises that they were sold a pup. That’s what has the corrupt cabal so scared. Will it translate into a rejection of DUP and PSF at the next election? Will it even translate into a restriction of the current policy of appeasing terrorists and criminals, ignoring their crimes? I doubt it. If folks were sold a pup once, I think the powers-that-be will call it a kitten and sell it to them again. After all, it’s not like you have an impartial press that will actually tell you the truth, is it? They’re just the salesmen. “And how is it you recognise the lunacy of holding someone responsible for things that happened decades before they were born (or at least you do when the “someone†not being held responsible happens to be your own good self) but you regularly issue sweeping moral judgements against people, indeed an entire populace, living their lives in a place you have never called home?” – susan I think that if you vote for PSF that you do so knowing what you are voting for: a criminal organisation that masquerades as a political party. It is a fascist organisation that murdered close to 2,000 people, maimed tens of thousands, set unity back by several generations, and achieved nothing except power and prestige for its leaders. It continues to manage its vast wealth accrued from organised crime, tens of millions, for the benefit of its leaders. There really isn’t any point in you trying to tell me that I shouldn’t shake my head at people who vote for such an organisation or that I should believe that sociopaths – devoid of the capacity to serve any interests other than their own – are fit and proper people to hold elected office, to then be expected to overcome their psychological dysfunction and serve the best interests of society. If you elect the amoral, then you get amoral actions such as their degenerate behaviour regarding Ms Ritchie and the issue of UDA funding. So, in that respect, I feel less tolerance for the voters. I dearly hope that they learn the lessons here and apply then, but I don’t think they will. Folks vote for them because they feel they will better serve their own sectarian interests than the alternative. Since the decision is selfish and sectarian, I suspect that it doesn’t matter if the consequences of that decision are too. I’m happy to be proven wrong by nationalists not voting for them, however. But what does my non-residency in the north have to do with it? Many northern nationalists would agree fully with my points. I’m opinionated, so sue me. If they ever got into power in the south, it would be time to dust off my Hungarian passport and be gone. The Dubliner, Notice that the “understanding†is “new†as opposed to what…? That’s right: the old understanding. So what would the old understanding be? It would be the one that they were hoodwinked into believing as voters. Ergo: “The charade would be exposed – the game effectively up.†So now you’re saying the “new” is the moral public, and the “old” was the public were “hoodwinked”. In other words, the public were moral in the “old” times back in March as well, they were just “hoodwinked”. A bit different from what you said at the start: In the end, folks like it in the sewer. They must do because they voted for the rats. Margaret Ritchie should probably resign from the Assembly and from politics and let the lot of them drown in their own rancid piss and shit. after this weeks events,the prospect of a dup/sf justice minister is getting scary. Malcolm, I think that you are probably on the right track in attributing the saying to Frank Chapple, the darling of the Daily Telegraph and the bete noir of the Morning Star. Not my favourite trade union leader as you might well imagine, but he did have a sense of humour no doubt tickled by all those feathers he accumulated in his own nest. Rory @ 10:42 AM: Yeah, I think we’ve got the right [sic] one with Francis Joseph. Due respect for Baron Chapple of Hoxton in the County of Greater London. And I’m feeling very queasy … Makes me nostalgic for those days when we used to bellow out Leon Rosselson’s Battle Hymn of the New Socialist Party: [All together now!]. Leon Rosselson’s anthem – as Maurice Chevalier would have it, “Ah yes, I remember it well.” Then every loyal Labour peer will sing The Red Flag once a Year. Even that’s a tune too far for them nowadays. After a lifetime of TU leaders with good old down-to-earth proletarian names, Jack Jones, Hughie Scanlan, Mick McGahey, Len Daly, Vic Feather, Len Murray I was disconcerted when along comes one with the unlikely name of “Rodney Bickerstaff”. “My God!” I thought, “What next? Peregrine Featheringstone-Faunshaugh or Bunty Cholmondley-Landgrabber or somesuch? Rory @ 05:27 PM: But what makes it even more sad (apart from all the wasted years …) is that Rosselson must have done that back in the early Sixties (as I recall it was aimed at Gaitskell and the Clause IV debates of 1959!) Somewhere in the attic I’ve got the original Topic EP. Also on the same disc (as I recall) were gems like: I am a Tory lady, sir, of gentle disposition; I go to church on Sunday, sir, and feel it is my mission To educate the masses in the art of gentle living, By teaching them to follow the example I am giving … [That one was always preceded by his story of the speaker at Tory Conference demanding that rapists be birched before they were hung, “to teach them not to do it again”) And, Dear John Profumo, I’m writing to tell you, Though I’m sure that you’re not to blame, Again, my recollection suggests that Profumo was in the cold before that ditty hit vinyl. And what about Alex Glasgow’s “Socialist ABC” (from “Close the Coalhouse Door”)? Of course, we don’t need stuff like that in these enlightened times, … err, do we? Hey! I feel a blog entry coming on!

Taking Coachella Rebecca Aranda | Jan 25, 2010 | Comments 26 In roughly 80 days, thousands of young people will make an exodus to the desert town of Indio, filling the dusty, flat landscape with tents and blankets. Their appearance will seem sudden, their visit brief, but many of them have planned for months (even years) to get to this spot. To the uninformed observer, this gathering on the weekend of Apr. 17, 2010 may seem perplexing; just as a similar one must have seemed on the weekend of Aug. 17, 1969 in the small farm-town of Bethel, New York. The latter is Woodstock ’69, of course,the most infamous of all music festivals, providing the spirit and inspiration for the former event: Coachella ’10. Although there have been subversive music festivals for decades, this special kind of event has seen a renewed fervor in recent years. With every new announcement of a line-up, conversations flare amongst young folk (and hip older folk): who’s the cream of the crop? Who should have been cut from the list? Who’s great live, and which acts are only “studio bands”? What about that stage presence, man? The past few years have seen a surprisingly steady interest in music festivals, from the big daddies like Coachella and SXSW to energetic new fests like FYF and the Pitchfork Music Festival. Why has the “alternative” scene vacillated at all, though? One would think that there would always be a strong underground culture, the yin to mainstream music’s yang, but indie music festivals have not always been a huge draw. Every few years, the core audience falls apart, unsatisfied with the offerings of the biggest music festivals and most trumpeted indie releases. Sometimes the best line-ups that can be mustered simply cannot cut the mustard. (Ed. note — I apologize.) Take, for instance, the gradual decline of Lollapalooza. Started in 1993 as a farewell concert for the lead singer of Jane’s Addiction, Lollapalooza turned into a bastion of Generation X’s alt-rock scene. The Simpsons captured the mood beautifully in “Homerpalooza”: bored 20-somethings shuffling back and forth in the mud, burdened with torn jeans and world-weary cynicism. It was that same cynicism that dissembled the festival from the inside. The “alternative” genre became both sprawling and predictable; it branched out from bands like Nirvana into bland copy-cats like Bush and Soundgarden. Grunge kids grew up and grew out of Lollapalooza, which, with its crass commercialization, became just as much a parody of itself as the version presented by The Simpsons. Lollapalooza was mercifully killed in 1998, and its revivals since 2003 have been only so-so. 2009 featured Ben Harper, Tool and Ke$ha – and although those are the most mediocre of a solid list, one can’t help but go, “…really?” Coachella 2010’s line-up, only recently announced, has been met with the same degree of indifference. Deservedly so: the headliners (and a good deal of the supporting acts) make up an undistinguishable paste of average indie rock. This isn’t because the indie scene is floundering like the alt-rock scene was in the late ‘90s. If anything, music on the fringe of 2010 is more fresh and exciting than ever. Acoustic strumming melds with electronic beats; blues crooning peeks out from walls of distortion; mandolin plucking intertwines with afro-beat horns. Thankfully, a lot of the smaller acts for this year’s Coachella reflect that mélange. There are plenty of bands that infuse the indie-rock model with weird outside influences, like Grizzly Bear, Passion Pit, and King Khan and The Shrines. There’s a small dose of one-man orchestral outfits, like Owen Pallet and Yann Tiersen. We get more than our fair share of ethereal indie dreamgirls, like Little Dragon, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Fever Ray. Older (“vintage”) acts return to the stage as well, which is the main selling point for Coachella this time around. Indie legends like Pavement, Echo and the Bunnymen, Sunny Day Real Estate and Spoon will all be playing live for the first time in years. The flashback machine goes back even further than that: the line-up also boasts appearances of soul heroes Gil Scott-Heron and Sly and the Family Stone alongside ‘80s weirdoes Grace Jones and Gary Numan. Even though Coachella has managed an impressive, if uneven, line-up this year, the renewed enthusiasm for music festivals in general may be contributing to the line-up’s lackluster response. After all, when you have a wide selection of festivals from which you could choose, why would you limit yourself to this $300 test of endurance? (Another reason for reticence: Coachella seems to have removed the option to purchase one-day tickets, meaning that you have to brave it the whole weekend or not at all.) If the indie scene is wide and varying at the moment, the festival scene certainly offers plenty of its own variety. South by Southwest (SXSW), for example, throws independent film premieres and discussion panels into its mix of bands. Instead of being concentrated in one stretch of land, SXSW events spread across Austin, TX for one overflowing weekend in March. Other festivals that follow that “everything happening everywhere!” spirit include the Noise Pop Music Festival in San Francisco, Pygmalion Music Festival in Illinois, and the UK’s All Tomorrow’s Parties. That last one is particularly notable because they ask different pop culture figures to “curate” each festival weekend; if you visit England this May, you could see programs put together by Pavement and Matt Groening (who is, surprisingly, still quite hip). The general attitude of angst and distrust from 15 years ago has faded into a much more quirky and friendly atmosphere in this decade’s alternative scene. This is best evidenced by Tennessee’s Bonnaroo Festival, the center of which (“Centeroo”) provides the foundation for This Tent, That Tent, and The Other Tent. Also, What Stage and Which Stage. How delightful! The fun is extended with a comedy tent, workshops, arts and crafts, and other sorts of summer-camp-for-adults activities. Even if the current theme of whimsy can get too precious, we can thank our lucky stars (maybe even cute cardboard and glitter stars made by Sufjan Stevens and Michel Gondry on a playdate!) that we’re not stuck in the alt-rock rut of the ‘90s. After all, the cynicism that gave birth to Sonic Youth and Nine Inch Nails became a sort of ouroboros, destroying the very acts it created. No matter how dissatisfied we are with bland indie rock, at least we’re not still saddled with the crapulence that Woodstock ’94 and ’99 offered. Like a one-two punch, these disastrous revivals nearly killed the music festival. Where Woodstock ’94 was just goofy – the dude from Blind Melon wore his girlfriend’s dress while tripping on acid; Aphex Twin was kicked off the stage mid-song for forging their own signatures – Woodstock ’99 was a violent mess. Starting with mud-flinging, the crowd got more and more restless, eventually lighting bonfires, ripping apart fences, and breaking into the ATM machines. The festival ended in riots and more than a few rapes, while the apathetic headliners Limp Bizkit and Red Hot Chili Peppers played on. “It was dangerous to be around,” said Kurt Loder, an MTV VJ who was hosting the live feed of Woodstock ‘99. “The whole scene was scary. There were just waves of hatred bouncing around the place…there was a palpable mood of anger.” The bands raged against the machine, and the vendors sold the attendees the pieces of the machine: vastly overpriced water and fast food. Although today’s music festivals are still overstuffed with vendors and product placement, we’re no longer caught in the awkward position of having to feign apathy, or even angst. Cynicism, as Conan O’Brien said in his last address to his audience of “The Tonight Show,” “doesn’t lead anywhere.” So yes, Coachella tickets are ridiculously overpriced. And yes, it’s ridiculous to camp out in the alternately very-hot-and-very-cold desert; and it’s extra ridiculous when you have to resort to onsite dining options. But what are you gonna do? Coachella is an expensive experience, but an undoubtedly unforgettable one, a sort of coming-of-age ritual for the wide-eyed indie kid. Filed Under: Entertainment Leave a Reply | Trackback URL one spelling error, great rebuttal! i retract everything i said. did you even bother considering the other genres that coachella has to offer when you wrote this article? you didn’t even mention the edm acts but i guess its not like the sahara tent is the next biggest attraction after the mainstage or anything. if you didn’t want such a negative response maybe you shouldn’t have called coachella a wide eyed indie kids coming of age ritual since…well..its not. not wasting any more time commenting on this, its not my reputation that needs salvaging after this anyways. later I guess I should have taken a wider survey of concert-goers? Like I said, I base this “degree of indifference” off of the message boards that I’ve seen, and personal conversations that I’ve had with college radio staff, who are usually pretty “with it.” And it is, after all, a degree of indifference, not an overwhelming wave of indifference; nor is it necessarily a negative response. The reaction to this specific line-up is not a particularized thing, dudes. Apathy is seeping into the “indie scene,” as I see it…and I point out all the positives of this year’s Coachella to remove any caution from the cautious optimism that I’ve seen. Maybe my focus was a bit off, as it was hard to try to siphon my research on music festivals in general into this piece. I’ll allow that much. As for this being a “space-filler,” I don’t mean that my heart isn’t into it, nor do I mean that I’m half-assing it. I mean that I write these on incredibly short notice, with very little wiggle room with topics. Lastly, it is slightly disturbing that this article, which I viewed as, at worst, inoffensive, has been thrown back at me as a means of personal attack. That’s just not write, man. .” its apparent through the *countless* errors and mischaracterizations (literally the amount of effort required to point out all of them would require hours of work) that all of that extensive research was an attempt to compensate for a blatant lack of insight and background on the subject. the whole thing comes off as brutally pretentious, a pseudo-sophisticated commentary on music you clearly know nothing about other than what you found on pitchfork. i love how the newspaper staff comes on to defend this shite article. i say this as a long time editor/writer for a college newspaper, a regular coachella attendee, avid follower of indie music (among dozens of others musical styles represented at the festival), and a lifelong musician…when the only people on here defending you are your fellow staff members, you may want to take a more critical look at your own work Rebecca. This would be a lot different if it was some controversial news or opinion piece, but its not. It’s A&E, when people rail against your work its probably because you missed the mark. Perhaps the greatest indicator of your indiscretion is in your baseless remark that this years coachella has had a lackluster response. You have to be kidding right? This year is being regarded as the first since they moved to a 3 day lineup where all 3 headliners are worthy of the spot. Regardless of where you stand on Jay-Z, Muse, and Gorillaz, all 3 of those artists are HUGE in their own regard and there is a TON of buzz about this year on my campus. Compare that to years past where you get acts like Prince, Bjork, Roger Waters, Paul F*kn McCartney, and the Cure billed against trash headliners like the Killers and Jack Johnson. Leave the real music talk for the big kids please. I’m glad the kids of UCI aren’t on board with you on this one. P.S. Soundgarden blows, at least you’re write about that. you don’t need to engage the trolls my little kittens… especially this one – he can’t even spell. <3, mama. I’d just like to point out that the first four belligerent responses were made within 12 hours of this going online – I imagine an alert sounding in the wee hours of the morning indicating a slight to early ’90s music on the computers of those internet vigilantes who defend their bands to their dying breath. Then the miffed commenters lash out with personal criticisms that have nothing to do with the article as a whole, nit-picking details they take issue with to justify their internet RAGE. Seriously, guys, you take issue with the author’s opinion and yet withhold discussion in favor of cutting down the author to make yourselves feel superior? “Terribly written and poorly researched” are worthless criticisms if you aren’t specific and offer constructive criticism instead of lazy ad hominem pot shots.. I suggest that all of you who have so much to say actually sign up to write for the New U, and do something productive with all the time you spend on these comments. I doubt any of you could write an article that comes close to anything Rebecca has ever slapped together, but prove me wrong. Our section is always looking for new talent… Mark my words, I will be telling my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of the great injustice done to Soundgarden in this piece of “college” journalism. >I apologize, gentlemen. Next week we will run an apology. Are you being serious here, or is this just another example of your inability to acknowledge a mistake without injecting pointless sarcasm? For the record, I could care less about Soundgarden – I was just amazed by the immaturity of your response to Chris’s post. Most writers who take their work seriously would have thanked him for the correction and moved on. None of the bands you mentioned are headliners except Muse. And while I actually agree with you that Muse are rather lame, they are not indie rock (neither are Them Crooked Vultures for that matter). As for the alleged indifference, for what it’s worth, the general reaction over at the Coachella message board has been pretty positive. No, that doesn’t prove anything, but neither do the links you posted. They’re just random comments made by random people. You’re perfectly entitled to pass your own verdict on how good the lineup is, but why don’t we wait until the ticket sales figures are in before we make any definitive statements about its popularity? please run the apology entitle it “DEAR SOUNDGARDEN FANS” Without Soundgarden, virgins everywhere would have to wait for someone to crack a joke about Blind Melon! Because they care about FACTS and PROFESSIONALISM and PROPER REPORTING! I base the “degree of indifference” on the comments posted here: …and in other message boards across the internet, not to mention the indifference expressed in discussions with co-workers at KUCI. Indistinguishable indie rock: Them Crooked Vultures, MGMT, The Dead Weather, Phoenix, Dirty Projectors, She & Him, Matt & Kim, yadda yadda. Muse is lame. DJ Tiesto is lame. Thom Yorke needs to get his act together. This is, of course, just the *personal opinion* of myself (and others). But then, y’know, there’s the part where I say that despite the lame acts in slightly bolder font, there are a lot of cool acts. And then I list a few. The link to the Onion article was an acknowledgment of my mistake in a tongue-in-cheek way, as is the comment about “defending the honor of Chris Cornell.” I apologize, gentlemen. Next week we will run an apology. >Coachella 2010’s line-up, only recently announced, has been met with the same degree of indifference. What exactly are you basing this statement on? >the headliners (and a good deal of the supporting acts) make up an undistinguishable paste of average indie rock. You might want to take a look at the lineup again. Whether Jay-Z, Muse, and the Gorillaz is average or not is in the eye of the beholder, but I wouldn’t classify any of them as indie rock. >Sorry dude, I just named the first band I could think of. Soundgarden always reminds me of Cinnabon. This is an extremely unprofessional and immature way to respond to someone who has pointed out a factual error you made. I’m just saying. It’s not the honor of Chris Cornell, it’s pointing out your errors. I’ve stood corrected on that most minor of allusions to Soundgarden since last night. Does anyone else have any other comments not defending the honor of Chris Cornell? Lollapalooza started in 1991. Soundgarden played Lollapalooza in 1992 and again in 1996. Soundgarden are the only band to play the main stage at 2 different touring Lollapalooza. Without Soundgarden there would be no Nirvana. You ass. You mention Nine Inch Nails, but what of Third Eye Blind? I see Sonic Youth, but where is Hoobastank? If you want to mention the greats of that period, you might want to do a little more research. And as for that nasty dig at Soundgarden…bad move. I haven’t seen a tackier allusion since one of my friends referred to Chumbawamba with derision. I will admit that I am not well-versed in grunge music. I don’t listen to Nirvana, let alone their predecessors/imitators. When I want to delve into the early 90s, I stick to relatively “harmless” music like Magnetic Fields and Polaris (or “original emo” like Sunny Day Real Estate and Mineral). But I do think it’s a worthwhile endeavor to investigate what exactly killed the alternative rock scene; what made it shift so drastically from raw angst back to twee. I don’t have the exact answer, but you have to admit that the state of alt-rock in ’99 (as represented by the Woodstock revival) was reprehensible. Look at the line-up for that show: Creed, Dave Matthews Band, Britney Spears, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Megadeth, Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock, Korn, Jewel, ICP…a veritable cocktail of “wtf???” “Alt-rock” became too wide a term (like “indie” is today). Soon the line between it and the “mainstream” was not only blurred, it was practically nonexistent. (Which is not to say that Britney Spears could be considered at all “alternative.” That’s just my point — what a weird time for music, when overproduced pop and distorted guitars went hand in hand.) Woodstock ’94 wasn’t “weird,” necessarily. Just goofy. Shannon Hoon wearing a dress, crooning “No Rain” while tripping on acid? Les Claypool of Primus getting visibly upset at the crowd when they took “My Name Is Mud” as a cue to throw mud at the band? Similar mud-fights throughout the event, reaching a peak during Green Day’s set? Bob Dylan finally taking the Woodstock stage — not amongst the Incredible String Band and Jimi Hendrix, but with the Spin Doctors? Tell me that’s not goofy. I will contend that Gary Numan is an adorable little weirdo. Look at that awkward pout in the video for “Cars,” or the trippy outlines in the “Complex” promo video. And of course, ultimately, taste in music is subjective! Which is why I can’t stand Dirty Projectors, but can still love Kevin Barnes, even when he’s stretched his schtick too thin. Some people can’t stand Of Montreal. So…? i wonder whether you could name three soundgarden albums. or more than two nirvana albums. or more than four nirvana songs and three soundgarden songs. i wonder whether you know the name of the all-star tribute band that chris cornell and stone gossard and jeff ament and mike mccready and matt cameron and that one whiney guy from pearl jam formed before either of nirvana or soundgarden found success. i wonder whether you could tell me why gary numan was weird or how you know that woodstock in ’94 was weird or why tool is mediocre (they are not). but i’m not asking because the cop-out to use wikipedia or some other internet database would fill your response. that’s why there are no question marks. your indie is my grunge. it will come to pass. so it goes. fill space, indeed! Yeah, I agree with the above. Author is a moron. I didn’t even bother reading most of this, but Soundgarden being pegged copy-cats is just idiotic. lol, hi guys. that was fast. what was poorly researched about it? can you give me some construction criticism, maybe? i was going to edit out “soundgarden” and replace it with a more appropriate example, but then chris’s comment would have looked out of place. i also don’t know what forced hipstery language sounds like. i write how i talk, and if my conversations sound like i’m trying too hard, then i need to fix that. as for my articles that i’ve written for the new u: i write almost all of my articles at the last minute when we need to fill space. This article is terribly written and poorly researched. You are an absolute EFFING idiot suggesting Soundgarden is a copycat of any band, least of all Nirvana. SG was the first Seattle band of the late 80′s/early 90′s to sign a major label deal. Get educated, THEN write. I agree, BTW, that Bush/Rossdale is a Nirvana rip-off, however. Hip folks writing about underground music. REALLY? The facts aren’t even accurate, the language is forced hipstery and overall it reads like a soccer mom trying to help her highschool kid out on an essay. Better save it for your articles about musicals and hollywood movies. I apologize for that — I really could have used a better example. Maybe Silverchair. Thanks to The Onion, Soundgarden always reminds me of Cinnabon… did you call soundgarden a bland copycat of nirvana? soundgarden was recording music before nirvana existed and have a far more eclectic/out of the box sound.

Chapter 16.04 CONDOMINIUM CONVERSIONS Sections: 16.04.030 Application to conversion of condominiums and cooperatives. 16.04.040 Application to tenants. 16.04.050 Notice to tenants of filing of conversion declaration. 16.04.060 Notice to all tenants prior to offering any unit for sale to the public as a condominium or cooperative unit. 16.04.070 Purchase rights of tenant in possession. 16.04.080 Purchase rights of tenants whose units are offered for sale prior to effective date. 16.04.090 Subtenant’s purchase rights. 16.04.100 Rights of tenants in converted buildings to purchase other units in the building. 16.04.110 Evictions only for good cause during notice period. 16.04.120 Tenant’s right to vacate. 16.04.130 Mandatory housing code inspection and repair – Notice to buyers and tenants. 16.04.140 Building Official certification of repairs. 16.04.150 Disclosure requirements. 16.04.160 Warranty of repairs. 16.04.170 Unlawful representations. 16.04.180 Purchaser’s right to rescind. 16.04.190 Delivery of notice and other documents. 16.04.200 Acceptance of offers. 16.04.210 Administration. 16.04.230 Hardship relief – Waiver. 16.04.010 Short title. The ordinance codified in this chapter may be cited as the “condominium conversion ordinance.” (Ord. 858 § 1.1, 1979). 16.04.015 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to promote the general public interest in providing purchasers and tenants with adequate information upon which to base decisions concerning dwelling units governed by this chapter. This chapter is not intended to benefit any specific class of individuals nor to create any legal right of action against, or liability on the part of the City of Redmond or any other governmental entity for failure to properly enforce the provisions hereof, or of any Housing, Building, or Fire Code requirement. (Ord. 1569 § 3, 1990). 16.04.020 Definitions. The following words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the meanings set forth below: (1) “Acceptance of offer of sale” means a written commitment for the purchase of a condominium unit or interest in a cooperative at a specific price and on specific terms. (2) “Agent” means any person, firm, partnership, association, joint venture, corporation or any other entity or combination of entities who represents or acts for or on behalf of a developer in selling or offering to sell any condominium or cooperative unit or interest in a cooperative. (3) “Building” means any existing structure containing one or more dwelling units and any grouping of such structures which as rental units were operated under a single name and as converted buildings are the subject of a single declaration or simultaneous declarations filed pursuant to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act (RCW Chapter 64.32). (4) “Condominium” means real property, containing three or more units as defined in the Building Code (Chapter 15.04*), the state statute. (5) “Condominium unit” means any dwelling unit in a condominium. (6) “Cooperative” means any existing structure, including surrounding land and improvements, which contains one or more dwelling units and which: (A) is owned by an association organized pursuant to the Cooperative Association Act (RCW Chapter 23.86); or (B) is owned by an association with resident shareholders who are granted renewable leasehold interests in housing units in the building. (7) “Cooperative unit” means any dwelling unit in a cooperative. (8) “Conversion of condominiums” means the filing of a declaration pursuant to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act or the sale by a developer of condominium units that were previously rental units. (9) “Conversions of cooperatives” means the execution of a lease agreement by a member of a cooperative association. (10) “Converted building” means any condominium or cooperative which formerly contained rental dwelling units. (11) “Developer” means any person, firm, partnership, association, joint venture or corporation or any other entity or combination of entities or successors thereto who: (A) undertake to convert, sell, or offer for sale condominium units or (B) undertake to convert rental units to cooperative units or sell cooperative shares in an existing building which contains housing units or lease units to a cooperative association’s shareholders. The term “developer” includes the developer’s agent and any other person acting on behalf of the developer. (12) “Eviction” means any effort by a developer to remove a tenant from the premises or terminate a tenancy by lawful or unlawful means. (13) “Housing code” means the International Residential Code adopted by RMC Chapter 15.08. (14) “Offer of sale to tenant” means a written offer to sell a condominium or cooperative unit to the tenant in possession of that unit at a specific price and on specific terms. (15) “Offer for sale to public” means any advertisement, inducement, solicitation, or attempt by a developer to encourage any person other than a tenant to purchase a condominium or cooperative unit. (16) “Owners’ association” means the association formed by owners of units in a condominium or cooperative for the purpose of managing the condominium or cooperative. (17) “Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, association, trustee or other legal entity. (18) “Rental unit” means any dwelling unit, other than a detached single-family residential dwelling, which is occupied pursuant to a lawful rental agreement, oral or written, express or implied, which was not owned as a condominium unit or cooperative unit on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. A dwelling unit in a converted building for which there has been no acceptance of sale on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall be considered a rental unit. (19) “Subtenant” means a person in possession of a rental unit through the tenant with the knowledge and consent of the owner. (20) “Tenant” means any person who occupies or has a leasehold interest in a rental unit under a lawful rental agreement whether oral or written, express or implied. (21) “Conversion condominium” means a condominium (a) that at any time before creation of the condominium was lawfully occupied wholly or partially by a tenant or subtenant for residential purposes pursuant to a rental agreement, oral or written, expressed or implied, for which the tenant or subtenant had not received the notice described in (b) of this section; or (b) that at any time within 12 occurs first,. (22) “Conveyance” means any transfer of the ownership of a unit, including a transfer by deed or by real estate contract and, with respect to a unit in a leasehold condominium, a transfer by lease or assignment thereof, but shall not include a transfer solely for security. (23) “Declarant” means any person or group of persons acting in concert who (a) executes as declarant a declaration as defined herein, or (b) reserves or succeeds to any special declarant right under the declaration. The word “declarant” and “developer” may be interchanged in this chapter. (24) “Declaration” means the document, however denominated, that creates a condominium by setting forth the information required by RCW 64.34.216 and RCW Chapter 64.32 and any requirements to those documents. (25) “Real property” means any fee leasehold or other estate or interest in over or under land, including structures, fixtures and other improvements thereon and easement rights and interests pertinent thereto which by custom, usage or law pass with a conveyance of land although not described in the contract of sale or instrument of conveyance. “Real property” includes parcels with or without upper or lower boundaries and spaces that may be filled with air or water. (26) “Residential purposes” means use for dwelling or recreational purposes or both. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1744 §§ 1, 2, 1993; Ord. 1569 § 4, 1990; Ord. 858 § 1.2, 1979). 16.04.030 Application to conversion of condominiums and cooperatives. This chapter shall apply only to the conversion and sale of rental units that have not yet been converted to condominium or cooperative units, and to those units in converted buildings that are not subject to a binding purchase commitment that have not been sold on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter. This chapter shall not apply to condominium or cooperative units that are vacant on February 1, 1979, and which have been offered for sale prior to that date; provided, that any tenant who takes possession of the unit after February 1, 1979, shall be provided the disclosures required by Section 16.04.040 and shall be entitled to the benefits of that section if the required disclosures are not given. (Ord. 858 § 2.1, 1979). 16.04.040 Application to tenants. This chapter shall apply only to those tenants and subtenants who occupy rental units in converted buildings at the time the notices, offers, and disclosures provided by this chapter are required to be delivered. This chapter shall not apply to tenants who take possession of a unit vacated by a tenant who has received the notices and other benefits provided by this chapter; provided, that developers shall disclose in writing to all tenants who take possession after service of the notice required by Section 16.04.060 that the unit has been sold or will be offered for sale as a condominium or cooperative. This disclosure shall be made prior to the execution of any written rental agreement or prior to the tenant’s taking possession, whichever occurs earlier. A developer’s failure to disclose, within the time specified above, that the unit has been sold, or offered for sale shall entitle the tenant to all the protections and benefits of this chapter. (Ord. 858 § 2.2, 1979). 16.04.050 Notice to tenants of filing of conversion declaration. Within seven days of the filing of a condominium conversion declaration as provided by the Horizontal Property Regimes Act, RCW Chapter 64.32 and the Condominium Act, RCW Chapter 64.34, but no later than ninety days from the date the tenants or subtenants must vacate, the declarant shall: (1) Send written notice by registered or certified mail to each residential tenant or subtenant in possession of a portion of a conversion condominium in the converted building, of the conversion and a copy of the Public Offering Statement as defined and outlined in RCW 64.34.405-.418, and 64.34.440 describing the rights of tenants and subtenants. The tenants’ refusal to accept delivery shall be deemed adequate service. (2) File notice of the filing of such declaration with the City Clerk and a copy with the designated building official, giving the date of filing, file or recording number, office where filed, location and address of the structure and number of dwelling units contained within the structure and the name, address and phone numbers of the owners, managers and persons responsible for the management of the structure. (Ord. 1744 § 3, 1993: Ord. 858 § 3.1, 1979). 16.04.060 Notice to all tenants prior to offering any unit for sale to the public as a condominium or cooperative unit. At least 90 to 120 days prior to offering any rental unit or units for sale to the public as a condominium unit or cooperative unit, the declarant shall deliver to each tenant in the building written notice of its intention to sell the unit or units. The notice shall specify the individual units to be sold and the sale price of each unit. This notice shall be in addition to and not in lieu of the notices required for eviction by RCW Chapter 59.12 and 59.18, and shall be delivered as provided herein. With the notice the declarant shall also deliver to the tenant a statement in a format to be provided by the City Building Official of the tenant’s rights under this chapter. No tenant or subtenant may be required to vacate upon less than 90 days notice except by reason of non-payment of rent, waste, conduct that disturbs other tenants’ peaceful enjoyment of the premises, or act of unlawful detainer as defined in RCW 59.12.030 and the terms of the tenancy may not be altered during that period. (Ord. 1744 § 4, 1993: Ord. 858 § 3.2, 1979). 16.04.070 Purchase rights of tenant in possession. With the notice provided in Section 16.04.060, the developer shall deliver to each tenant whose unit is to be offered for sale a firm offer of sale of the unit that the tenant occupies. In the event that more than one tenant occupies a single unit, the developer shall deliver the offer to all tenants jointly or separately. For sixty days from the date of delivery of the offer, the tenant shall have the exclusive right to purchase his or her unit. (Ord. 858 § 3.3, 1979). 16.04.080 Purchase rights of tenants whose units are offered for sale prior to effective date. Tenants of rental units which were offered for sale as condominium or cooperative units prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, but for which offers there have been no acceptances, shall be entitled to the rights and benefits of this chapter except that those rights provided by Section 16.04.100 shall terminate sixty days from the offer of sale of the unit to the tenant. (Ord. 858 § 3.4, 1979). 16.04.090 Subtenant’s purchase rights. Should a tenant reject an offer of sale, the subtenant in possession at the time the notice provided in Section 16.04.060 is delivered shall be offered the unit on the same terms as those offered the tenant. For thirty days following that offer or until the expiration of the tenants’ sixty-day purchase period as provided in Section 16.04.070, whichever occurs later, the subtenant shall have the exclusive right to purchase the unit. (Ord. 858 § 3.5, 1979). 16.04.100 Rights of tenants in converted buildings to purchase other units in the building. Should both the tenant and subtenant reject the offer of sale or fail to notify of acceptance of the offer within the time periods set forth in Sections 16.04.070 and 16.04.090 or vacate, the unit shall be made available for purchase to other tenants and subtenants in the building. The right to purchase another unit in the building by tenants and subtenants shall extend to the end of the one-hundred-twenty-day notice period provided the tenant in possession of that unit under Section 16.04.060. Whenever all tenants and subtenants in a building have indicated in writing their intention not to purchase a unit or the one-hundred-twenty-day notice period has expired and that unit is or becomes vacant, then the developer may offer for sale and sell the unit to the public. (Ord. 858 § 3.6, 1979). 16.04.110 Evictions only for good cause during notice period. No condominium or cooperative unit shall be sold or offered for public sale if, in the one-hundred-twenty-day period immediately preceding the sale or offer for public sale, any tenant has been evicted without good cause. For the purposes of this chapter, “good cause” means: (1) Failure to pay rent after service of a three-day notice to pay rent or vacate as provided in RCW 59.12.030(3); (2) Failure to comply with a term or terms of the tenancy after service of a ten-day notice to comply or vacate as provided in RCW 59.12.030(4); and (3) The commission or permission of a waste or the maintenance of a nuisance on the premises and failure to vacate after service of a three-day notice as provided in RCW 59.12.030(5). (Ord. 858 § 3.7, 1979). 16.04.120 Tenant’s right to vacate. Tenants who receive one-hundred-twenty-day notices of sale may terminate their tenancies at any time during such period in the manner provided by RCW 59.18.200 and 59.18.220, but will forfeit all rights to purchase a unit. (Ord. 858 § 3.8, 1979). 16.04.130 Mandatory housing code inspection and repair – Notice to buyers and tenants. (A) Prior to delivery of the 120 day notice described in Section 16.04.060, the declarant shall at its expense obtain an inspection of the entire building by an independent firm or individual inspector regularly engaged in the profession of building inspection and having current certification and/or membership granted by the International Conference of Building Officials, American Institute of Architects, any Washington state licensed structural engineer or FHA certified inspectors. The inspector shall provide within 14 days of the inspection, a written report as to compliance with the housing codes as adopted by RMC 15.08. The declarant shall install an approved fire detection system if required by RMC 15.06 or other applicable provisions of the Uniform Fire Code as adopted by the city, and as supplemented or modified by other city ordinances. Such regulations shall be applied in the same manner as applied to construction undertaken at the time of the condominium conversion application. The installation of the fire detection system and all violations of the Housing Code revealed by the inspection must be completed and corrected at least seven days prior to the closing of the sale of the first unit. (B) Such inspection may not be required with respect to any building for which a final certificate of occupancy has been issued by the city within the preceding twenty-four months. (Ord. 2596 § 2 (part), 2011; Ord. 1744 § 5, 1993: Ord. 1569 § 1, 1990: Ord. 1480 § 25, 1989: Ord. 858 § 4.1, 1979). 16.04.140 Inspector’s certification of repairs. Prior to any conveyance of a residential unit within a conversion condominium, other than a conveyance to a declarant or affiliate of a declarant, all violations disclosed in the inspection report provided for above, and not otherwise waived by the city shall be repaired. The independent building inspector retained by the declarant pursuant to Section 16.04.130 shall conduct a reinspection and provide a certification attesting that all defective conditions identified in the initial and any follow up inspection reports have been corrected. Said certification shall be issued within seven days of the inspection. All costs of the reinspection and certificate, etc. shall be borne by the declarant. The declarant shall deliver a copy of the certificate to each purchaser within the time period specified by Section 16.04.130. A copy of the initial and all follow up inspection reports and certification of repairs shall be included in the Public Offering Statement and shall be provided by the declarant to each respective purchaser at least seven days before the signing of any earnest money agreement or other binding purchase commitment. Copies of all inspection reports shall be delivered to the city’s designated building official and tenants in the converted building by the declarant with a notice of sale as provided in Section 16.04.060. Any certification or report conducted by the declarant shall clearly state that the inspection and certification has been conducted by private entities, and that the city does not comment on or guarantee that any or all violations have been identified or corrected. No declarant shall indicate or imply to anyone, for the purpose of inducing a person to purchase a condominium unit, that the city has “approved” the premises or any unit for sale. (Ord. 1744 § 6, 1993: Ord. 1569 § 2, 1990: Ord. 858 § 4.2, 1979). 16.04.150 Disclosure requirements. In addition to the disclosures required by this chapter, the developer shall make available at a place on the premises convenient to the tenants during normal working hours the following information to prospective purchasers at least seven days before any purchase commitment is signed, or, in the case of existing tenants, with the one-hundred-twenty-day notice provided in Section 16.04.060: (1) copies of all documents filed with any governmental agency pursuant to the Horizontal Property Regimes Act, RCW Chapter 64.32; (2) an itemization of the specific repairs and improvements made to the entire building during the six months immediately preceding the offer for sale; (3) an itemization of the repairs and improvements to be completed before close of sale; (4) a statement of the services and expenses which are being paid for by the developer but which will in the future be terminated, or transferred to the purchaser, or transferred to the owners’ association; (5) an accurate estimate of the useful life of the building’s major components and mechanical systems (foundation, exterior walls, exterior wall coverings other than paint or similar protective coating, exterior stairs, floors and floor supports, carpeting in common areas, roof cover, chimneys, plumbing system, heating system, water heating appliances, mechanical ventilation system, and elevator equipment) and an estimate of the cost of repairing any component whose useful life will terminate in less than five years from the date of this disclosure. For each system and component whose expected life cannot be accurately estimated, the developer shall provide a detailed description of its present condition and an explanation of why no estimate is possible. In addition, the developer shall provide an itemized statement in budget form of the monthly costs of owning the unit that the purchaser intends to buy. The itemization shall include but shall not be limited to: (A) payments on purchase loan; (B) taxes; (C) insurance; (D) utilities (which shall be listed individually); (E) homeowner’s assessments; (F) the projected monthly assessment needed for replacing building components and systems whose life expectancy is less than five years; and (G) a statement of the budget assumptions concerning occupancy and inflation factors. (Ord. 858 § 4.3, 1979). 16.04.155 Repair fund. Prior to the conveyance of any residential unit within a conversion condominium, other than a conveyance to a declarant or affiliate of a declarant: (1) The declarant shall establish and maintain, during the one year warranty period provided under Section 16.04.160, an account containing a sum equal to 10 percent of the actual cost of making the repairs required as a result of the inspection; (2) During the one year warranty period, the funds in such account shall be used exclusively for paying the actual cost of making repairs required, or for otherwise satisfying claims made, under such warranty; (3) Following the expiration of the one year warranty period, any funds remaining in such account shall be immediately disbursed to the declarant; and (4) The declarant shall notify in writing any condominium homeowner’s association and the city as to the location of such account and any disbursements therefrom. (Ord. 1744 § § 7, 1993). 16.04.160 Warranty of repairs. Each developer shall warrant for one year from the date of completion all improvements and repairs disclosed pursuant to Section 16.04.150. (Ord. 858 § 4.4, 1979). 16.04.170 Unlawful representations. It shall be unlawful for any developer, agent, or person to make or cause to be made in any disclosure or other document required by this chapter any statement or representation that is knowingly false or misleading. It shall also be unlawful for any developer, agent, or other person to make, or cause to be made, to any prospective purchaser, including a tenant, any oral representation which differs from the statements made in the disclosures and other documents required to be provided tenants and purchasers by this chapter. (Ord. 858 § 4.5, 1979). 16.04.180 Purchaser’s right to rescind. Any purchaser who does not receive the notices, disclosures, and documents required by this chapter may, at any time prior to closing of the sale, rescind, in writing, any binding purchase agreement without any liability on the purchaser’s part and the purchaser shall thereupon be entitled to the return of any deposits made on account of the agreement. (Ord. 858 § 4.6, 1979). 16.04.190 Delivery of notice and other documents. Unless otherwise provided, all notices, contracts, disclosures, documents and other writings required by this chapter shall be delivered by registered or certified mail. The refusal of registered or certified mail by the addressee shall be considered adequate delivery. All documents shall be delivered to tenants at the address specified on the lease or rental agreement between the tenant and the developer or landlord. If there is no written lease or rental agreement, then documents shall be delivered to the tenants’ address at the converted building. In any sublet unit, all documents shall be delivered to the tenant at his current address if known, and to the subtenant in possession. If the tenant’s current address is unknown, then two copies of all documents shall be delivered to the subtenant, one addressed to the tenant and the other addressed to the subtenant. Delivery of the one-hundred-twenty-day notice of intention to sell required by Section 16.04.060, the developer’s offer to sell, and all disclosure documents shall be delivered to the tenants in a converted building at a meeting between the developer and the tenants. The meeting shall be arranged by the developer at a time and place convenient to the tenants. At the meeting the developer shall discuss with the tenants the effect that the conversion will have upon the tenants. Should any tenant refuse to acknowledge acceptance of the notice, offer and disclosures the developer shall deliver the documents in the manner prescribed in paragraph one of this section. (Ord. 858 § 4.7, 1979). 16.04.200 Acceptance of offers. Acceptance by tenants or other beneficiaries of offers provided pursuant to this chapter shall be in writing and delivered to the developer by registered or certified mail postmarked on or before the expiration date of the offer. (Ord. 858 § 4.8, 1979). 16.04.210 Administration. The Building Official is charged with the administration and enforcement of this chapter and is authorized and directed to adopt, promulgate, amend and rescind administrative rules consistent with the provisions of this chapter and necessary to carry out the duties of the Building Official hereunder. (Ord. 858 § 5.1, 1979). 16.04.220 Complaints. Any person subjected to any unlawful practice as set forth in this chapter may file a complaint in writing with the city’s Building Official. The Building Official is authorized and directed to receive complaints and conduct such investigations as are deemed necessary. Whenever it is determined that there has been a violation of this chapter, the Building Official of buildings is authorized, at the official’s discretion, to follow one or more of the following procedures: (1) Attempt to conciliate the matter by conference or otherwise and secure a written conciliation agreement; (2) Refer the matter to the City Attorney for appropriate civil remedies or criminal prosecution. (Ord. 858 § 5.2, 1979). 16.04.230 Hardship relief – Waiver. The City Council is authorized to waive strict compliance with this chapter in specific individual instances where the developer can show with clear, cogent and convincing evidence that: (1) The financial burden required to comply would greatly outweigh the benefits and would create an unreasonable hardship upon the developer; or (2) The units have been offered for sale as condominium units prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter and the developer has incurred significant financial obligations with the intention of meeting such obligations with the proceeds of the sale of such units, and the provisions of this chapter will prevent meeting such obligation. (Ord. 858 § 5.3, 1979). 16.04.235 Violations. (A) Any violations of this code shall not invalidate the creation of the condominium or the conveyance of any interest therein. (B) The provisions of this chapter are not intended to and shall not be deemed to create any duty on the part of the city to enforce the provisions of this chapter for any particular individual, but are enacted for the general welfare of all residents of the city. (Ord. 1744 § 8, 1993). 16.04.240 Penalties. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter, fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or who deliberately attempts to avoid the application of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in Section 1.01.110 of this code. (Ord. 858 § 5.4, 1979).

THE PRINCIPLE OF GIFT (Realign Your Thinking, Realign Your Life) LAURIE S - What is the Universe about? Chapter 3 - The Principle of Gift Chapter 4 - New Thoughts on Old Subjects In this deliberately short work I attempt to show why creativity is the critical factor for individuals in their lives, and I introduce and explain a crucial fundamental of the universe attached to the concept. That fundamental I have called The Principle of Gift. In order to simplify things I will be making quantum leaps in thinking. Should the reader require a greater step-by-step logic then this can be found in my original more in-depth work, A Pocketful of Reasoning. CHAPTER 1. WHAT IS THE UNIVERSE ABOUT? I like Stephen Hawking. Who doesn’t? He is the lovable academic, a great scientist, a visionary with a sense of humour. He is also something of a hero given his achievements in light of physical limitation. In the early 1980’s Hawking stated, “I think there are clearly religious implications whenever you start to discuss the origins of the universe”.(1) The implication there could be a sort of God the Creator behind universe construction was a big thing for a scientist to say. Maybe too bigger a thing, as in 2010, Hawking, in his more recent book The Grand Design,(2) seemed to revoke the previous opinion, stating that “spontaneous creation” appeared to be the impulse for universal existence. “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.” So even the brilliant Hawking, it seems, can be torn when confronting the dilemma all of us face when reflecting on how our universe came about. Yet we do need answers on this subject in order to fathom things about ourselves. Leading off from questions about the universe and its formation are the big questions for the individual of what we are and what we are doing here. The fact is that universal creation theory has always been trapped between the two arguments. On one side there is the “God/Creator” theory, on the other the “Spontaneous or continuous existence”. Those in favour of a God argue it simply doesn’t make sense that the universe can just create itself or just happen to be there. There would need to be some sort of creative impulse to kick things off. They would ask Hawking exactly where he thought gravity came from. Those on the other side of the fence reply that if there was a God then who created “Him”? In the end we are forced to choose between these two arguments neither of which can be proved right or wrong. Selection of either is nothing more than a belief. I am on the “God/Creator” side of things and there is a reason for that. Purpose.Unlike Stephen Hawking 2010, I simply cannot accept that the universe with its extraordinary diversity and beauty could just appear out of nothing or just be there, all with no reason whatsoever. It makes much more sense to have a universe created, provided we can identify a purpose for that creation. If we can show purpose then we can start to understand the processes involved and how we, as individuals, can make the best of our lives by working in line with those processes. But could there be a purpose? Yes, but it is slightly complex. Let’s look A big clue to a purpose lies in that word diversity. The universe is made up of opposites. Light/dark, fast/slow huge/tiny etc… The concept of opposites introduces the notion of comparison. We study the differences between one thing and another, and from that we make judgements. We say: “X means Y”. A cup means a small drinking vessel, not a knife or a plate. But what does “small” mean, unless we have used it in comparison with, say, “huge” and “tiny”? Only once we’ve made a comparison can we ascertain that “small” covers a particular size range, and so on. Without comparison of objects, how could we arrive even at the meaning of “cup”? If all things were the same and remained so, how would we be able to differentiate and judge between them? How would we be able to learn? So, could we have started with a “God/Creator” that had no comparisons but required them? That would certainly identify a purpose. Ancient philosophies think so. Carl Jung referring to Taoism said, “The sages of old took as their starting point a state when the existence of things had not yet begun”. He continued: “That is indeed the extreme limit beyond which you cannot go. The next assumption was that though things existed, they had not yet begun to be separated. The next, that though things were separated in a sense, affirmation and negation [I assume this to mean positive and negative, yes and no, the basic components of objective judgement] had not yet begun.... When affirmation and negation came into being...then came one-sided attachments.”(3) That starting point is mind-boggling. In such a state not only would we not have things, we would also not have even the matter from which things could be assembled. There would be nothing in space because even space itself would not yet exist. Without space there is no need for the comparative concept of time. Light would also be unable to exist without space to exist in. We often regard space as nothingness, but it’s very much attached to existence of some sort. It is because it’s space; it has dimensions. It is not nothing. Interestingly, Jung refers to the existence of “things”, in the plural (rather than “thing” in the singular). “Existence of things” indeed may not have begun at commencement, but existence of one “thing” might. It is true that existence, in our terms, always has an inherently “comparative” essence and where you have plurality you will have that comparison, but this type of existence simply may not be at the starting point of it all. Lao Tsu in the Tao Te Ching writes: “There is something formless yet complete that existed before heaven and earth. How still! How empty! Dependent on nothing, unchanging, all pervading, unfailing.”(4) The Chinese have a concept they call Wu ji, the “non-beginning”, which Richard Wilhelm, in his notable translation of the Tao Te Ching, interprets as: “...all differences are as yet unseparated and intermingled with one another...This is, in a sense, the mere potentiality of existence...[as we know it].”(5) What’s being suggested here is the creative separation of “things” within something that is intrinsically a whole. That wholeness would have no boundaries, outward or inward, and no differentiations of form, colour, texture—in fact no differentiations whatsoever. We might call this condition a “state of uniformity”. If we speculate that the “wholeness” would be able somehow to create our “comparative” sort of existence from its own “non-comparative” sort, we could justifiably use the word Force to describe it, that term being defined as energy, strength, efficacy. The apparently enormous results of the Force’s creativity might lead us to extend its definition to include such concepts as authority, intelligence and sensitivity. What would a universe of comparatives give the Force? What would be the purpose of it? The answer is simply this; an understanding of itself. Imagine the Force as an old man, ancient in stature, yet timeless in nature. He sits perfectly alone with his thoughts: “The puzzle is I don’t know exactly what I am. Nothing seems to exist apart from me, so I suppose I can assume I am all. However, this is a very unsatisfactory definition of myself. If something did actually exist outside me, I’d be able to compare myself to it and this would tell me much more about myself, whether I’m strong or weak, big or small...I’ll do something to begin an exploration by starting with this premise: I'll assume I’m all there is, but how would it feel to me if I wasn’t, and something existed outside me? What would I do; how would I behave; how would I reconcile the situation? More importantly, what would I learn about myself and what I am? In order to find out I’ll need to act.” The problem of being “all” is that this tells the Force little or nothing of its ability and potential. Because what a thing is, is best measured by what it can do, a unitary existence renders the Force incapable of exploring what it is, as what it can do is tied completely by its state of uniformity. The assessment or measurement of anything (in this case “what I am”) is, as said previously, always linked to the notion of comparison. In our world, we say: “this weighs one kilo”, which means it isn’t half a kilo or two kilos. By measuring we are defining, and by defining we are attaching meaning. In a state of uniformity, where comparison and therefore measurement are impossible, there can be no definition and no meaning. He smiles to himself and wags a forefinger: “The only avenue open to me is to carry out an experiment within myself.” The old man contemplates himself deeply; in the end, he finds he can split himself mentally into several pieces. He visualizes lines of differentiation between them, and comprehends the concept of space, and with it time also. He labels these separate pieces, knowing they are not really separate at all. He allows and encourages them to interact and watches intently. He can feel they are in his control, but he studies the movements and learns. The old man continues his mental construction: “Within the experiment it would be best to have the greatest variety of interactive forms to give the widest of experiences. Of course, all forms will, of necessity, be made from my own essence. The experiment is, after all, only an internal one. But I mustn’t forget that I’ll require at least one form that equates to the way I feel I am, that represents me. This way not only can I simulate myself interacting with other things but also simulate a confrontation of myself, with myself. That should be interesting!” Nature produces a variety of forms that is essentially infinite. Man is one of those forms and no different to the rest of Nature except in one aspect, that of creativity. Whilst creativity in standard terms amounts to no more than a rearrangement of existing items rather than a making of something actually new, Man does create something really new; “new meaning”. He does this by using his conscious reasoning, a faculty other animals and parts of Nature do not have. That Man is different from Nature does not preclude that he emanated from the same source; in so many ways he is clearly a part of Nature. It is only in the realm of creativity that his scope seems to extend beyond that of the natural world. Not that this makes Nature a lesser partner. Without Nature there would be no diverse components available for comparison within the “experiment”. Nor is Nature a sleeping partner; it might seem to remain unchanged through time, yet its parts have their own slow, but nonetheless evolutionary, patterns. From this rationale we may conclude that: a. because the source of creation, the energy of the Force, is of a non-comparative type, all things made from it must be the same in their essence. b. Man’s essence, the true basis of his being, must then be identical to each and all of the other forms of Nature, large and small, singular or combined. c. the difference between Nature and Man thus lies not in essence, but in the way the essence functions in Man’s form. Of course, the essence has variable form within Nature too. A bird is different from a reptile, a plant from a stone. Similarly, we can observe large differences between the individuals that make up Man. But all these variations are merely Nature’s clothes and Nature’s differences. There remains this functional disparity between Man and Nature. If, for a moment, we characterize all classes of form in the universe as types of fruit, then Man might be the equivalent of, say, apple, whereas other forms of Nature would be orange, banana and so on. In this analogy the subdivision of Man, by, for example, colour or ethnic origin, indicates only the existence of different varieties of apple. But even so, each individual apple is still that bit different from any other, even one of its own particular variety. Moreover, within each unique specimen of humankind lies not only an essence in common with Nature (“fruitness”) but also a common function of that essence shared not with all natural forms (other fruits) but only with members of its own type (apples only). That common function, we have said, is the production of new meaning through use of conscious reasoning. The fulfilment of this function is attached to Man’s instinctive ability to create. Now it is no coincidence that the main feature of the Force, as far as we are able to comprehend it, is, likewise, an ability to create. We could go further and say that this feature is more than just an ability—it is a will, it is an instinct. Indeed it is a creative instinct, just like Man’s. Man, in this sense, seems to have been “made in the image of his creator”, one who is an overridingly instinctive creator.(6) That’s important. Not only is Man formed from the essence of the Force, in his genetic make-up supplied by Nature, but his function fully represents the Force itself. Only in this way could what Man does be experienced by the Force as if it were truly of itself.(7) Imagine a child who places a doll (or in this case a category of dolls: Man), which he considers to be the equivalent of himself and which acts like him, in amongst other toys that do not have that equivalence (Nature). The child’s internal relationship with the toys would then be changed from one of being “their God” to one of being (in the form of the special doll) “their equal”. The child would then be able to interact with them on the basis of that equality—not at variance with them, and no longer in direct control of them. Now we can see how essential to the “experiment” it is for there to be both a variety of form that is fully representative of the Force’s potential and varieties that are not. Between these categories, external interactions of the Force with things that are not itself, can be simulated. Man is functionally identical to the Force the same way clones are to the organisms they are cloned from. He is not as the Force is in its totality (amongst other things he is confined within a physical body), yet in experiencing and making meaning within the “experiment”, he is every bit as the Force is, having the fullest form of what the Force is and does within his own make-up. We can liken this essence of Man to a drop of water taken from the sea. The droplet is not the sea itself, but it does have its essential qualities. It is in effect a mini-sea, simply having a different position from the original sea by having been detached from it. Each mini-sea (each individual), once extracted, maintains a slightly different perspective both to the sea itself and to any other mini-sea, by virtue of its unique situation. Man is replicated in a mixture of guises, and each individual is himself a unique variant of that mixture. This property allows the Force to enjoy not only multiple interactions between the full representations of itself (Man) and the forms of Nature, but also the interactions of those full representations with each other. The Force comes face to face with itself in the interfaces between people. Man, then, is a physical representation of the Force, creating in a similar way, and yet able also to produce the meaning that the Force, in its state of indivisible uniformity, is unable to do. We, as individuals, are critically unique creations within that denomination. CHAPTER 3. THE PRINCIPLE OF GIFT How are we, as individuals then, supposed to proceed from here? We are clearly creative beings with a function but how do we make the best of that? If the universe had a “rule of thumb” relating to creativity maybe we could follow that rule. We are part of that universe and would be swimming with the tide rather than against it. We would be creating in line with the universe and that would surely be something to enable us to live successful lives and reconcile the value of our existence. Well, The Principle of Gift is that rule. It might be construed that the basis of the cosmic system is one of “take”; the “experiment” is set up in order to extract answers, to take answers out. But this interpretation seems to indicate the operation of a law of diminishing returns. As the system is internal and therefore has natural conceptual limits, the more you take out of it the less there is left to take out from. The concept of “take” appears totally non-expansive; rather it suggests contraction, at odds with the notion that creativity is an all-win state in which you end up with growth by way of increased and expanded meaning. Although the receipt of information (answering the premise’s question, “what would it be like?”) might be the object of the universal system/experiment, it is not its primary movement, because without the construction of a finite universe there could be no information to come back. And so, if the construction can be construed as the opposite of the receipt it produces, it can be termed gift (“give” being the opposite of “receive” and of “take”). Thus it can be reasoned that the primary cosmic movement is one of gift, and we can label the concept the “Principle of Gift”. This indeed is the point from which all else originates. As Rudolf Steiner writes: “We must realise that our own existence is a gift from the whole universe.”(8) We might extend the application of his statement to envisage the universe itself as a gift of creation from the “Creator”. Of course, the Principle of Gift is equally as applicable to any single event, decision, or action of the individual as to the movement of the system overall. In having the same essence as the Creator, Man is conceptually the Creator, and the same primary rules of engagement apply as to all things and beings (see Chapter 2). Hence, in order to create effectively, it makes sense for us, as individuals, to apply the Principle of Gift in our behaviour. If we don’t, we are not tapping into the full flow and energy of the system, and the effectiveness of our actions will reflect that lack. “What!” we may say. “Have we got to give away everything we have, give up everything we have built, the physical means of our security, our property, money and valuables?” No, our egos can remain calm! The Principle of Gift is not to do with giving anything away, or with giving anything up. Those terms apply only to a restrictive scenario of gain and loss. The Principle of Gift could not be aligned with such opposites; its origin is in the primary movement for setting up the universal system in which objective and opposing positions simply would not exist. Whilst the difficulty of grappling with comparatives faces all humans (furnished as we are with the faculty of conscious reasoning, which requires us to deliberate in order to produce meaning), the Force itself would have no such restrictions. It couldn’t create in those terms because there would be no polarities to consider; no “right and wrong”, no “me and you” or “gain and loss” to have to make decisions about. Such comparatives are only useable within the structures of the “experiment” of life. No, the Force creates simply because it is creative. It achieves this creativity through the Principle of Gift, one that we may transcribe not as “giving away” or “giving up”, but of “giving out”. Underlying “giving out” is the notion that, whatever you create, it should have in it a consideration of the purpose and flow of the whole system of which it is an integral part. In one form this idea simply represents an extension of the sense of mutual benefit. But equally, it expresses the difference between creating constructively and merely grabbing what is needed to solve a problem (or boost an ego) without due consideration of others’ needs. We might ask ourselves whether our decisions are always based on the good of all, even when this “all” includes ourselves. Or is their intended benefit more usually restricted to just us and our own immediate realm? Attempts to create, of yourself, by yourself, for yourself, are not genuinely very creative, as they don’t include any positive and constructive interaction with other things and people. Creative interaction, we reason, is the best way of making meaning. Attempts to isolate yourself from a system of which you are an intrinsic part can only prove unfruitful for you, and hold up your progress (as well as that of the system overall). The ideal of “giving out” in the Principle of Gift, which extends motive and action beyond self-requirement, elevates the whole system in general, and with it you in particular. It’s not a question of putting yourself second, more a question of bringing others’ interests up to level with yours. The effect of “giving out” will, of necessity, be reception, since in reality the system is internal. The ability to receive is thus directly proportional to the ability first to give out. Natural justice will operate; if we give out, we will receive back. The shout into the valley from the mountain always gets its echo in reply; the echo can never initiate the shout. If then, in the acts of our creativity, we employ the ideals of the Principle of Gift, we should expect and get a proportionate response, shouldn’t we? Yes and no! Yes, we will, based on natural justice, be repaid amply; but, no, and here’s the catch, we will not necessarily be able to show direct cause and effect. The universe is perfectly balanced but that balance is deliberately non-provable. Time-lines are stretched too far and an unconscious causality (“influencality”) may also sometimes be involved. The time-frame of life that we might use to judge whether we are getting a fair deal or not may be simply too limited. Despite those caveats, it does appear that in operating the Principle of Gift consciously and through free will, the return is frequently very rapid indeed, provided that it is not in any way pressed for or demanded. In this way, the system acts as a test of genuine motives. Hence it would be no good speculating that if you give out “A” over there you should receive “B” back over here. That merely amounts to attempting to manipulate the system to your perceived requirements, and disappointment will usually follow. The recognition of such returns as do come can also prove difficult, but, by observation and “feel”, it can be achieved with practice, if linked to a certain self-honesty. It is worth remembering that the echo is never heard as an exact replica of the shout. Alongside The Principle of Gift there is another important rule of creativity. It is that creativity is always positive. It is not merely a blocking of things we don’t want or even a solving of problems that come along, but a deliberate putting into place of the things we do want by “giving out” and creating them in line with the whole system. Robert Fritz, a best-selling writer on creative process, writes: “When you create, you align yourself with your most natural state of being. As a consequence, many difficulties of your life will either disappear or will no longer be important issues for you. This alignment with yourself will not come from attempting to ‘solve your problems’ but from creating what most matters to you.”(9) He reiterates: “No matter what your problems are, for the most part, solving them won’t solve them. You will always have a new problem if you do not know how to create what you want.”(10) We can realign our lives right now by applying these simple principles. It is important to note that to create and harmonize in this world of opposites isn’t to end up with a stalemate. Neither is it to seek to converge all things into one and the same. That would be like a painter mixing all the colours together and only ever painting in the one resultant hue, a muddy brown. Great painters are those who exploit the differences among colours, utilizing contrast in the highest ideals of beauty and creation. That is how we, too, best utilize our world of comparatives in our quest for making our lives worthwhile: to create with them and their distinctive differences. The directive for the individual is now clear. It’s not a matter of struggling blindly on, but of allowing creativity, our essential tool and talent, to lead the way forward for positive action. If we could just embrace our creativity, flanked as it is by the Principle of Gift which supplies the element of supreme quality, we really would have a very different perspective on life and our own lives. Each of us would be able to recognize our individual worth and our real influence on events. This evaluation would have, at its base, our accepted position as creators of unique meaning via both the discovery and the utilization of our unique set of gifts, and the confronting and overcoming of our unique set of restrictions and limitations. It would be understood that only I can be like me, only you like you, and nobody else. Respect for each other’s position, and indeed for the position of all things and beings, would be a natural consequence. CHAPTER 4. NEW THOUGHTS ON OLD SUBJECTS Each person is first and foremost a creative being. This is their natural predisposition, geared to understanding themselves and the universe around them. Their individualism is paramount and their take on life different to all other people. It’s the challenge and purpose of each to find their own meaning, but all will need to utilize well their creative interactions with others in order to achieve it more fully. Often the individual becomes something of a problem-solver and too frequently this that is mistaken for his primary purpose. The label of problem-solver unnecessarily restricts the full remit. There’s a vast difference between mending something and creating something. Problem-solving is directed at the first of these, but true creativity involves both. Commonly we focus only on the first and never at all on the second. It’s easier to be a critic than a creator. But which is more comprehensive and fulfilling? The elements of creativity are not at all well understood. Creativity is often thought of as something only certain people are gifted with; yet in fact it is a natural human state that simply needs its basic fundamental of the Principle of Gift to be understood and applied to it. Creating is about achieving despite the problems that arise during the creative process. It isn’t a case of just fighting against and trying to repair what is, rather of using and developing it. There’s no point in wishing things to instantly be different from what they are. We can’t change present reality—but we can act creatively upon it. We can act so that things are better in the future, simply by using the existing potential. Rather than asking, “How can we change the present situation?”, it’s usually better to ask: “To what best creative use can we put and develop that situation?” Below are some new thoughts on old subjects, contrived through creativity and The Principle of Gift being applied to them. 1. CONTROL Man is greatly involved in attempts to control. This makes sense, doesn’t it? He needs to control his environment to ensure his survival. Isn’t attempting to control Nature justifiable when he needs to meet the requirements of food and shelter? And, of course, Man must also impose some controls on his fellows if he’s to have a civilized society. Without control, where would we be? Where indeed! Because it depends what type of control you’re talking about. In controlling, doesn’t Man so often go beyond his remit? What’s behind the control imposed through torture, violence, exploitation, greed, mental cruelty, and neglect? Where’s it all going wrong? Well, the sequence might be as follows: First, our choice of starting-point for exercising control is generally our lack of trust in the universal system. We say we do not know how it works because we cannot find concrete proofs for it. This “not knowing” plays into the hands of our fears. We become afraid of what we don’t know and therefore can’t control; death is a simple but powerful example of this. Our fears then produce an inevitable response: if we don’t control the things we think we do know then they will control us. Now the real problem is exposed; the fear of being controlled. We’ve been sucked into the game of control and counter-control, a game we can’t possibly win, and, in truth, wouldn’t want to win. Suppose for a moment you did control everything. At first, of course, the novelty of getting everything your own way would be marvellous. You could pick where to be, who to be with, what to own, what to do—and even who to be. All before you would be helpless to resist. But just how much would you learn about yourself, and how soon would it be before boredom sets in? Goethe’s Faust sells his soul to the Devil in return for such control but finds that the bargain can’t fulfil him. Many big lottery winners end up either unhappy or back where they started financially, or both. The price required of Faust was somewhat larger! When we joke with our friends about the “good old days”, do we usually reminiscence about times when everything went exactly to plan and we had complete control of our circumstances? Or do we choose much more often to recall the times when everything seemed to go wrong and yet somehow we managed to find a way through? And looking back, in which of these was the most learning achieved? Of course, now those escapades are in the past they’ve returned to our control, so we can afford to laugh. But at the time...? Nevertheless, we do so often count those “out of control” experiences as among our best. So, is the answer to relinquish all control and go for totally uninhibited self-expression? This option would surely produce complete mayhem. No, what we need to do is relinquish control in those areas where we can’t, in reality, impose it; and expand control further where we might expect to have complete command, that is, in choosing to direct our energy towards higher levels of interactive creativity. By this approach we can actually relish not having control. And the real benefits are greater, too. Creative energy is wasted when it’s used to suppress and constrict. Its natural role lies in its power to work with other things and people, not against them. If the term “control” does have an application here, it is in adapting our talents within such interactions in order to produce maximum mutual benefit in line with the principles of the cosmic system. Besides, we can’t control Nature, even if mistakenly we think we can. The same can be said of people. The human spirit can’t be suppressed forever. In replacing constriction with co-operation we can learn far more, and in a much more pleasurable way. At first, to work with what you now begin to accept you don’t, and can’t, have any real control over, is daunting. But, by diverting and reapplying elements of that control to the flow of your energies, you may savour the challenges and excitements of the unpredictable, with spectacular results. 2. MORALITY In a televised discussion on the notion of drawing up a “moral code” for use in schools and colleges, a young pupil asked (wryly): “Whose moral code should be chosen?” She went on to point out that any code based on many a politician’s personal life was unlikely to be appropriate! Is there a universal moral code? Just as the individual’s meaning of himself and life in general differs from that of all others, so too will his morality differ. That is to say, morality is personal issue. That statement may sound dangerous. Surely, much as with the relinquishing of all control, there would be havoc if everyone applied their individual morality irrespective of all others. Two points can be made here. 1. People do apply their own morality, to a greater or lesser extent. Society, through laws, may attempt to lead us in certain directions, but very often the individual will break ranks by disobeying the law and upholding a personal principle. The establishment may condemn all such activities as criminal, but the public may well disagree, even calling them heroic. Either way, society at large has survived pretty well to date. 2. To identify morality with personal responsibility doesn’t presage an “everyone-for-themselves” policy in which no effective action can be taken for society as a whole. It indicates merely that attempts to control from the centre are better replaced by a morality constructed through the creative interaction of attaining personal agreement. Otherwise, we’re back to the description of control outlined above. In essence, the only morality that each of us needs to concentrate on is his own. This morality is better not led by materialism, physical control of others, or even political power, but by personal reasoning. Ever assisted by new information and meaning, that reasoning will allow and encourage our unique morality to evolve yet further. As for universal codes, Marianne Williamson has written: “...God doesn’t need us to police the universe.”(11) So, no matter how virtuous we may consider ourselves, we shouldn’t attempt forcibly to impose a code on others. The code might be correct in essence, but to sanctimoniously compel others to adopt it, and so suppress their free will, is wholly unconstructive. Individual freedom of action is vital. It’s short-sighted to contend that the suppression of free will is any more than a very temporary bandaging of deep wounds. There may be a case for bandaging in order to “stabilize the patient”, but, in the longer term, healing can only come from within the individual himself, by his choosing freely to better use his gifts of creativity and reasoning —ideally in combination with others who’ve chosen to do the same. Only then can all parties construct the most effective way forward for themselves, both as individuals and groups. Creative support and help for people is one thing, the imposition of will on them quite another. Morality is a personal freedom and a personal responsibility. The celebrated German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724–1804) said: “...to every rational being possessed of a will we must also lend the idea of freedom as the only one under which he can act....” Rudolf Steiner states: “Yet we cannot think the concept of the human through to the end without arriving at the ‘free spirit’ as the purest expression of human nature. Indeed, we are only truly human to the extent that we are free.”(12) The freedom to choose our own morality is the same freedom used in the voluntary acts of “giving out” under The Principle of Gift, which can express and form the heights of creative action. Unwarranted imposition on our choice suppresses unnecessarily our creativity. Leadership by self-example, rather than directive, is a more effective way of promoting useful change in others. It may be a slower process, but it ends up with far more solid results. As R.H.Geer writes: “In proper leadership of my own life, I find I demonstrate leadership for others. In pursuit of the right guidance for myself, I find I convey guidance to those around me.”(13) 3. INITIATIVE AND RESISTANCE It’s easy to acknowledge initiative as a relevant and useful force within the creative actions of “giving out”. In initiating action we begin a creative sequence. When such sequences are blocked by persons or circumstances, however, frustration can quickly set in, along with a questioning of our decision to take the creative path and sometimes even a certain paranoia. This blocking we can call resistance. Despite superficial appearances to the contrary, resistance, in whatever form it takes, is, like its counterpart initiative, a creativity at work. Here, simply, are two reciprocal energies operating in a world of objectivity where all things appear as having opposites. The pair, both creative forces, work to provide balanced movement/evolution through which progress is more readily achieved. They’re at their most efficient when recognized and utilized as equally valuable, interdependent parts of true creative activity (which takes account not just of an individual’s ego requirements but also of the needs of a complete spectrum of forces and movements). Whilst it’s not difficult to regard initiative, with its dynamic traits, as creative, resistance is less easily valued, though it really ought not to be. To view resistance as destructive just because it can stall or stop initiatives, is no more warranted than to value initiative automatically as creative, just because of its dynamism. Nuclear bombs are similarly dynamic. Resistance does act creatively, this through its censorship of our over-exuberance in certain initiatives, much like a parent who resists the sometimes rash and dangerous actions of a child who knows no better at the time. Resistance can allow us to reflect upon, and learn from, initiatives. Often it draws attention to the motives behind blunted actions, the nature of which may be somewhat off-line (although not always deliberately so). To illustrate the point, during work on my first book the memory in my computer became so badly corrupted that a valued (but not copied) segment of the text was permanently lost. It was a bad time for me, and worse for those unfortunate enough to be around me. I was extremely angry at the loss, not least because, to my mind, it denied me the chance to present information that might be useful in addressing philosophical and moral questions—trying “to make the world a better place”. All writing ceased forthwith. It was two months before I began to question whether my bitterness was more egotistic than altruistic. On finding that it was, I learnt valuable lessons about myself, and one outcome was that a book of eight chapters became one of ten! Somewhere along the way the book-writing initiative had, without my conscious desire or knowledge, become heavily ego-weighted. The work had been losing impetus. I couldn’t see it, although others close to me had remarked that my dedication to it (just before the computer failure) seemed more like desperation. Resistance rescued the situation, although it took a little time for this ungrateful writer to recognize it, and to go on to create from it. A little later, after this self-revelation, a friend called to tell me that somehow he’d managed miraculously to rescue all but a paragraph or so of the lost work. Though resistance often leads us to water, it’s up to us whether we choose to drink. If not at that time, then we can expect to at another. We might smooth our passage at these junctures by asking “What piece of learning did I miss?” The story of the wayward computer also illustrates the difference between taking initiative and trying to take control. Attempts to control are actions in which only the result that we’ve decided we want and need is acceptable. We don’t learn very much from this, and often resistance will step in to drive home the message. Unlike control, initiative more resembles open-ended experimentation. We try something we feel is right, then accept and deal with the outcome, including any vested resistance, as responsibly as we can. We learn, whatever. In conclusion, we might say this about our dealings with initiative and resistance in everyday life: 1. We should initiate where it’s felt to be creative and backed by valid motives. 2. Resistance shouldn’t be feared, even though it’s almost bound to arise at some stage in all situations. 3. When resistance does occur, it shouldn’t be seen as a condemnation of initiative, merely a natural balancing and/or smoothing of progress, and an opportunity to learn through reflection before starting “forwards” again. Not all things are achieved instantly and without recursion, and real progress is usually of gentle pace in order to be true and effective. However correct an initiative is as an ideal, the accompanying combination of personal motives and circumstances may not be quite suitable at that particular time. We may need to learn essential things in a phase of resistance before a further stage of initiative proves useful or conclusive. So, whilst initiative conceives, resistance gestates. Patience is the virtue achieved from an understanding of the constructive interaction of these two forces. 4. OBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT In Chapter 1 we said that opposites are a necessary part of the making of meaning, which itself is the pragmatic reason for existence. The concept of opposites provokes one of comparison. It is reasoned judgements of comparisons, in the form of conclusions, that give us meaning. Meaning itself then continues to change and evolve as comparatives are evaluated further. In other words, to do our “job” of making meaning we’re charged not only with identifying opposites but also with making reasoned judgements about them, including the “shades of grey” that fill the space between the polarities of “black and white”, so linking them. These judgements are individual to us, certainly not universal ones. Inevitably those judgements will be biased towards people and things with which we have a natural kinship. This tendency is not unreasonable, as our judgements are in some sense connected to our genetic predispositions, and prone to being led by our basic instincts for survival and reproduction. We say we prefer food to hunger, Mary to Sarah, and we reason why that is so. People and things which help and protect us we like in preference to those which we feel threaten us. The right to make such judgements of preference is perfectly in order. Problems arise when we feel forced to make moral judgements; these are in a different category. In the face of cruelty, violence, abuse, or worse, we feel obliged to go beyond the likes and dislikes of personal preference, and to start dividing things up into good and evil, right and wrong. Yet this is where a danger lies. Each of us has a uniquely different way of reasoning and therefore a differing morality. Moral definitives such as good and evil, consequently, can only exist in the context of personal, not universal, markers. Labelling something as “evil”, for example, is merely personal opinion not a universal truth. As much as social codes (e.g. religious, civil and criminal laws) are devised, and attempts to establish moral norms made, conflict, nevertheless, is bound to arise. What’s worse, the bodies we set up to assist in this cause (e.g. churches, governments) often end up as vessels of conflict themselves, whether by in-fighting, or by seeking to impose exclusively their particular sets of values. One way out of this problematic situation is offered by what’s often called “non-judgmentalism”. This concept seeks to retrieve us from the rash behaviour that can follow ego-based, moral evaluations such as, I win = “good”, therefore protect; I lose = “bad”, therefore destroy. I’m in control = “good”, therefore promote; I feel threatened = “bad”, therefore degrade. Non-judgmentalism removes the promotion of the “good” along with the destruction of the “bad”. Its discipline leads to the acceptance of all circumstances as “experience”. You may make comparisons but not moral judgements. A man who’s stolen may be compared with one who’s earned, but moral judgements, based on their actions, ought not be applied to the men themselves. As a concept, this is a worthy step that attempts to “stop the rot”, but it’s not an end in itself. If your little child was found to be being abused, would you seriously be able to remain non-judgmental about the perpetrator? The proponents of non-judgmentalism might well agree that you probably wouldn’t, but would argue that this failure was simply an illustration of individual deficiency in the context of a more general human frailty. They might look at my example of the computer breakdown and feel that, although it’s not a moral issue as such, the arguments for “accepting the experience” rather than making and holding judgement about it remain valid in any situation, no matter how dire, with moral searching or not. They may have a point, but I wonder? Firstly, with regard to the book, my move forward wasn’t brought about by a perpetual withholding of judgement, but by the making and then eventual changing of it. Secondly, if even non-judgmentalists incline to the view that to be non-judgmental in the face of gross and violent inhumanity is not completely possible, we may ask: “Was it ever supposed to be possible?” Somehow might we not always feel obliged morally to judge in such circumstances? What’s more, we know we’re “built to judge”, and because our personal morality is an integral part of our judgements, and is conceived through them, those judgements will always have some moral flavour to them. We can’t help ourselves. If we’re to judge at all, we must, of necessity, include moral content. The alternative would be comparison devoid of judgement, even including statements of preference. But surely this would be inadequate. Comparison without the reasoned judgement that can follow denies the coming into existence of new meaning, the very thing we’re attempting to procure. Comparison without reasoned judgement leads us back to the same position as having a non-comparative “state of uniformity” from which no meaning is possible to be made. Comparison without judgement has no depth of purpose. It leads to indifference, an attitude of not caring, and meaninglessness. Galileo Galilei, the 16th Century Italian astronomer, put it nicely: “I do not feel obliged to believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense, reason and intellect has intended us to forego their use”. No, the question isn’t whether we should or shouldn’t judge, morally or otherwise, in any particular set of circumstances, but whether we can find a way of judging that is constructive in all cases. How might this be possible? In accepting the concepts of opposites and comparison, aren’t we forced automatically to accept the good with the bad? For example, we know that in order to best create we need to maintain a positive stance. But if there’s this positivity in some instances, then there must always be negativity applied in similar frequency in other instances in order to maintain balance. The ideal is self-defeating. An answer comes if we change the conceptual form of the polarities. Into the good–bad polarity we can introduce “potential”. At the “bad” end of the scale we can substitute the words, “potential for good/being better”. Similarly, we can replace “good” at the other end of the scale with “fulfilment of present potential/being better”. This shift releases automatically all states to the application of creativity without destroying either our identification of things as different from each other or our making of judgements from the observed differences. Instead of labelling a violent criminal with a moral definitive such as bad or evil, we can say, “In this man there is a potential to improve”. But, you may ask, is that change in viewpoint through the use of language justifiable, laughable, or just crass? It’s justifiable. The essence of a man’s being, irrespective of his actions, remains identical to that of all other men, whatever their individual actions. He’s still a creative being, no matter by how much his behaviour shows his current lack of understanding. So, there’s scope for improvement, and indeed the scope is huge, but so are the difficulties of exploiting its potential. Make no mistake, the attitude being suggested is no soft option. There is no implication someone’s criminal actions should be condoned in any way, or inference that they won’t ultimately have to be accounted for. What being done is to attempt to open up the possibility of interacting with that person constructively, and not just for their benefit, but for ours. To identify a status in terms of “potential” overcomes the problems associated with conventional judgements of good and bad. If we judge someone or something as “bad”, we end up in a position in which constructive creative interaction is difficult, often impossible. Our feeling is to destroy, imprison, control, belittle or disregard. But what is really needed is to be able to learn from, and with, the “bad” one. By using the ploy of “potential”, we transpose the concept of “bad” to one of “less developed”. The object of our judgement is thereby viewed positively as something that could be “upgraded” from its present position, provided that sufficient creative energy is applied. It follows that criticism is less productive than “identifying where potential lies”. The ideal of potential provides a stable base from which we can make better attempts to create. The use of the critical side of our nature may start out as a vital part of the learning process, but often it ends up as a way of attempting to impose control by debasement. The causes of that are our own inner feelings of weakness and insecurity. We should always try to use our more positive characteristics. If we’re to employ criticism at all it shouldn’t be through the use of defining terms such as “bad” or “wrong”, but rather by illustrating the innate potential of the situation by giving examples of how that potential could be fulfilled: “It might have been more beneficial to have...because...” “It, perhaps, would be better in future to... because...” Hence we wouldn’t be saying, “This could be better but we don’t know how”, but, “This could be better, and here maybe is something to try next time.” That said, in the next two sections we will look at a way of further surpassing criticism, not only of other people and things, but of ourselves, by use of a construct even more suited to setting the ball of creativity rolling. 5. RESPECT What type of approach does each of us make to any given situation? Confident, fearful, excited, reserved, indifferent? It may be any of these, or others, alone or in combination, depending upon the circumstances. Within the inherent limitations of being human there’s nothing wrong with any one of these postures at any one time, although some are more admirable than others. But there’s one central approach that will, in all cases, lead to the most creative interaction—respect. The meaning and implications of respect are expounded fully by Rudolf Steiner, who employed the word “reverence” in this context. To him, reverence better fitted the bill because it implied a respect of greater depth. Steiner illustrates this thus: “It is not enough that I show my respect to a person in my outer bearing: I must have this respect in my thoughts.”(14) Reverence, in Steiner’s terms, is respect that has complete honesty as its base. There are no hidden agendas. Being superficially courteous and pleasant may show respect of a kind, but it stops short of fully honest respect if there is, say, an unseen greed or resentment lingering within. On the other hand, reverence is neither paying undue respect nor is it putting others on a pedestal and making them out to be your betters. It’s merely somehow having genuine interest in them. Steiner expands the concept to include the need for us to have reverence for all things, which translates appropriately into there being an advantage for us in having such a reverence. Creativity is possible without the use of reverence, but it’s generally much more difficult, less effective, and certainly less enjoyable. Of course, some things will be easier than others to approach with reverence. It’s not difficult to have respect for people who already love and respect you, for instance, although sometimes we fall even at this low hurdle. If somebody is aggressive or dangerous, respect is much more difficult to muster. But, should we fail and thus refuse creative interaction, we’ll have set a dangerous precedent; one that vastly reduces our scope by limiting creativity to just things and people we approve of. The natural polarities of like and dislike will divide the world into two more or less equal sections: one half we like and are prepared to deal with, the other half we don’t and are not. The reduction of scope amounts to no less than half of the full range. Our potential for creating and learning is cut by a whopping 50%. A trick to unravelling this block, and to finding reverence in all things, is to understand that the amount of reverence rendered initially doesn’t have to be the same in each and every case. What’s needed always is to establish the principle of reverence in some form, no matter how small. The tiniest element upon which to build purposeful interaction can be described as an “edge of reverence”. These edges don’t give us an excuse to brush misdeeds and misgivings under the carpet. Rather, they’re genuine reasons for us to unlock the polarity of dislike/hate and in so doing unleash our creative drives. They’re the ways in which we can break our mental deadlocks, and their effectiveness is based simply on their lack of size. They’re the minimal perceptions about others with which we can agree within ourselves to be positive. A work colleague of mine earned the reputation of being able genuinely to compliment anyone put before him. He could always find an edge of reverence. One day, some wag presented him with the shabbiest of tramps. This homeless unfortunate was very dirty and most unattractive. However, without hesitation my colleague said to him: “Judging by your eyes and expression I wouldn’t mind betting your mother was a beautiful woman.” The tramp beamed, knowing this remark was indeed genuine. Positive creative interaction between these two men was now possible. If they’d been sought, many more edges of reverence might have been found for this unkempt old man. It’s the same with all people, things, and situations. If we can change our approach enough to find just one edge, then we’ll have established a sound base from which to start. The pursuit of edges of reverence ties in well with the concept of “potential for good/being better” outlined in the previous section. Together this pairing can form the platform for positive acceptance. Acceptance here, is simply something that bridges the gap between what we like and what we dislike in terms of our ability to interact creatively with them both. It’s an acknowledgement that the person/object in their current form offers a worthwhile interaction. Without the starting point of an edge of reverence, coupled to the notion of potential for improvement, the prospect for creative interaction with things and people we don’t have a natural liking for is often extremely remote. This class of acceptance doesn’t give us licence to attempt to change others (even if we believe it’s for their own good), but is a position from which we can create with them, for mutual benefit. As Steiner writes: “I must try hard to pay more heed to the speaker’s opinion, feeling, and even prejudice, than to what I myself have to say at the moment about the matter in question...[The pupil] must learn to judge what importance it may have for the other person if he opposes the latter’s opinion with his own. This does not mean that he should withhold his opinion. There is no question whatever of that. But he must listen to the other person with the closest possible attention, and form his own reply out of what he has heard...The important point is not that my opinion differs from that of the other person, but that he will discover what is right out of himself if I contribute something towards it.”(15) Although it may be particularly difficult to find things to revere in the character of, for example, a violent or inhumane person, it’s important we do so. It’s for our benefit as far as the meaning that the interaction with him will give us is concerned, notwithstanding the potential benefits to him also. Our consent isn’t blind altruism at work, but more like a sensible “business” decision. Interaction for mutual benefit. I’m not, I repeat, condoning the person’s actions or absolving them of responsibility. But there’s a difference between absolution and being so offended by him that we decide he warrants no consideration whatsoever. In taking such offence we would be condemning ourselves by not accepting the proffered opportunity to learn and go forward. How can we achieve full understanding of ourselves, for ourselves, if we’re only prepared to learn from half the range available, the half we decide to approve of?

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Serious Eats: Recipes - Salads tag: May 18, 2012 12:35 PM Movable Type Enterprise 4.34-en Grilled Asparagus, Zucchini, and Bread Salad with Olive-Caper Dressing tag: 2012-05-11T16:55:00Z 2012-05-11T02:39:48Z [Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] About the author: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt is the Chief Creative Officer of Serious Eats where he likes to explore the science of home cooking in his weekly column The Food Lab. You can follow him at... J. Kenji López-Alt <img src="" /> <p>[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]<> <p><strong>Special equipment:</strong> grill, wooden or metal skewers</p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 4, active time 45 minutes, total time 45 minutes</p> <ul> <li>2 medium red onions, cut into 1/2-inch slices</li> <li>1 pound zucchini (about 3 medium), split in half lengthwise</li> <li>1 1/2 pounds asparagus, trimmed</li> <li>1 loaf Italian bread (about 12 ounces), split in half lengthwise</li> <li>1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil</li> <li>Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li>1 lemon</li> <li>1/4 cup chopped pitted black olives (such as kalamata)</li> <li>1/4 cup capers, drained, rinsed, dried, and chopped</li> <li>1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves</li> <li>3 tablespoons red wine vinegar</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li>.</p></li> <li><p><a href="">Light one chimney full of charcoal.</a> When all the charcoal is lit and covered with gray ash, pour out and spread the coals evenly over half of the coal grate. Set cooking grate in place, cover gill and allow to preheat for 5 minutes. <a href="">Clean</a> and <a href="">oil</a> the grilling grate. If using a gas grill, preheat half the grill to high.</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>Add asparagus to hot side of grill and cook, turning occasionally until well charred and barely tender, about 3 minutes total. Return to baking sheet. Continue cooking onions until charred and tender throughout, about 10 minutes total. Return to baking sheet.</p></li> <li><p>When bread is mostly dry, transfer to hot side of grill and cook, turning occasionally, until well toasted and lightly charred, about 1 minute total. Return to baking sheet. Split lemon and place on grill cut-side-down. Grill until lightly charred and warm about 4 minutes.</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>Transfer salad to a bowl and serve with charred lemon halves.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Serious Salads: Patricia Wells's Warm Potato Salad with Capers, Scallions & Mint tag: 2012-05-09T20:00:00Z 2012-05-09T20:37:06Z This warm potato salad, adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, Salad as a Meal: Healthy Main Dish Salads for Every Season by Patricia Wells, is a welcome change from the typical American-style potato salad loaded with mayonnaise. Jennifer Segal <img src="" /> <p>This warm potato salad, adapted from one of my favorite cookbooks, Salad as a Meal: Healthy Main Dish Salads for Every Season by Patricia Wells, is a welcome change from the typical American-style potato salad loaded with mayonnaise. </p> <p 20 minutes, total time 30 minutes</p> <ul> <li>1 quart water</li> <li>1 pound firm, yellow-fleshed potatoes (such as Yukon Gold), scrubbed but not peeled</li> <li>2 tablespoons freshly squeezed juice from one lemon</li> <li>1 tablespoon dijon mustard</li> <li>1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil </li> <li>6 scallions, white part only, finely sliced (about 1/3 cup)</li> <li>1/4 cup capers in vinegar, drained</li> <li>Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li>1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, finely chopped</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p>Bring the water to a simmer in the bottom of a large saucepan fitted with a steamer basket. Place the potatoes on the steaming rack over simmering water, cover and steam until cooked, 20 to 25 minutes.</p></li> <li><p>Meanwhile, combine the lemon juice and mustard in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking constantly. Add the scallions and capers, and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt.</p></li> <li><p>When potatoes are cool enough to handle but still warm, slice crosswise into thin slices. Add to dressing and toss to coat. Add the mint and toss again. Season with salt and pepper as necessary.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Mindy Fox's Red Quinoa, Raw Asparagus and Endive Salad with Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano tag: 2012-05-07T19:25:00Z 2012-05-07T17:07:22Z. Nick Kindelsperger <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Nick Kindelsperger]</p> <p>Adapted from Mindy Fox's <em>Salads: Beyond the Bowl</em>.</p> <p><strong>Why I Picked This Recipe:</strong> Because so many of the recipes looked great, it was hard to figure out where to even begin with this cookbook. But considering it is spring and all, it seemed like I should go for the asparagus recipe. </p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong>. </p> <p><strong> What Didn't:</strong> I just used my standard extra-virgin olive oil for this, but I can see how a really nice olive oil would have worked even better. Also, I wouldn't be against adding just a little more lemon juice. </p> <p><strong>About the author:</strong> Nick Kindelsperger is the editor of Serious Eats: Chicago. He loves tacos and spicy food. You can follow him as @nickdk on Twitter.</p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 4, active time 20 minutes, total time 30 minutes</p> <ul> <li>1 cup red quinoa, pre-washed </li> <li>1/4 cup pine nuts</li> <li>1/2 pound asparagus, tough ends trimmed</li> <li>1/2 pound Belgian endive</li> <li>2 ounces Parmigiano-Reggiano, thinly shaved with a vegetable peeler or pairing knife</li> <li>1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil (use the good stuff)</li> <li>1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice </li> <li>Kosher salt</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p>Pour two cups of water into a medium-sized saucepan. Add quinoa. Bring to a boil over high heat. Cover and reduce heat to low to maintain a simmer. Cook until the quinoa absorbs the water, about 15 minutes. </p></li> <li><p>Meanwhile, set a large dry skillet over medium-low heat, and add the pine nuts. Toast the pine nuts, tossing occasionally, until lightly browned, 4 to 6 minutes. Transfer the pine nuts to a plate when done, and turn off the heat. </p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>When the quinoa is done, spread it out on a large baking sheet set over a wire rack (that way the bottom cools quickly). Let the quinoa cool, about five to ten minutes. </p></li> <li><p>In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, plus a 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and gently toss. Divide the salad between four plates and serve, seasoning with more salt to taste. <"/> April Bloomfield's Fried Pig's Ear Salad tag: 2012-04-27T14:56:33Z 2012-04-26T22:13:52Z <![CDATA[...]]> Caroline Russock <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: David Loftus]</p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> This salad is all about perfectly balanced contrasts—bitter endive and radicchio dressed with a bracingly tart dressing that cuts through the chewy fattiness of the pig's ear. </p> <p><strong>What Didn't:</strong> If you're big into the nasty bit, this salad is for you. If not, well then you probably weren't going to make it anyway.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong> If a whole pig's ear on a plate of greens is a little too much for your delicate sensibilities, try slicing it up before frying for a less graphic presentation.</p> <p>Reprinted with permission from <em><strong>A Girl and Her Pig</strong></em> by April Bloomfield. Copyright © 2012. Published by Ecco. Available wherever books are sold. All rights reserved.</p> <p><strong>Special equipment:</strong> Deep fryer with a lid; parchment paper</p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 4, active time 45 minutes, total time 4 hours 45 minutes</p> <ul> <li>4 pig’s ears (about 3 ounces each)</li> <li>About 6 cups rendered duck fat, gently warmed until liquid</li> <li>1 medium head Treviso, radicchio, or two red endives</li> <li>Lemon Caper Dressing (recipe follows), chilled</li> <li> </li> <li><strong>Lemon Caper Dressing</strong> </li> <li>2 medium lemons</li> <li>3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots</li> <li>2 tablespoons Dijon mustard</li> <li>2 tablespoons drained capers, finely chopped</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon Maldon or other flaky sea salt</li> <li>1/2 teaspoon superfine sugar</li> <li>1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil </li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p>Preheat the oven to 250°F.</p></li> <li><p>Make sure your pig’s ears are free of hair. remove any that you spot with a<br /> sharp knife or razor. put the ears in an ovenproof saucepan with a lid that holds<br />.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Make the Lemon Caper Dressing:</strong>.</p></li> <li><p>Remove the ears from the oven and let them cool submerged in the fat. once the ears are cool, remove them from the fat, wipe them off, and pat them dry. (Strain and reserve the duck fat for another use.)</p></li> <li><p>Meanwhile, separate the leaves of the endives and treviso or radicchio. put<br /> them in a large bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and put the bowl in the fridge. (I love the contrast between the cool leaves and the hot pig’s ear.)</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p"/> Zak Pelaccio's Crispy Pork and Watermelon Salad tag: 2012-04-20T16:40:00Z 2012-04-20T11:55:35Z. Caroline Russock <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Michael Schrom]</p> <p>There's a reason this <strong>Crispy Pork and Watermelon Salad</strong> is the signature dish at Zakary Pelaccio's Fatty Crab restaurants. It highlights the best of Pelaccio's cooking style, combining his love of Southeast Asian flavors with an irreverent American lean. </p> <p. </p> <p><strong>Recommended playlist and drinks pairing:</strong> </p> <p><em>Listen:</em> Coltrane, <em>Blue Train</em>—the whole album; it never gets old. </p> <p><em>Drink:</em> Selbach-Oster Riesling Auslese 2005</p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> There's a reason this salad has been on the menu at Fatty Crab forever, it's a classic. </p> <p><strong>What Didn't:</strong> Pelaccio isn't shy with the chiles and if you subscribe to the same school of thought you might want to add sliced Thai chile or two to up the heat factor. </p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong> We could see this salad working equally well with mellow cantaloupe or even citrus segments.< 1 hour, total time 1 hour plus one day</p> <ul> <li><strong>For the Watermelon Salad</strong></li> <li>2 cups rice vinegar </li> <li>3 shallots, thinly sliced</li> <li>2 fresh Thai bird chilies, thinly sliced </li> <li>2 fresh kaffir lime leaves</li> <li>2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and sliced </li> <li>1½ ounces palm sugar (1 round gula jawa) or 2 tablespoons light brown sugar </li> <li>1 tablespoon kosher salt </li> <li>One 5-pound watermelon </li> <li><strong>For the Dressing</strong></li> <li>3 ounces palm sugar (2 rounds gula jawa) or ¼ cup light brown sugar </li> <li>1 cup rice vinegar </li> <li>½ cup fresh lime juice </li> <li>4 inches fresh ginger, peeled and sliced </li> <li>6 fresh cilantro roots with 1 inch of stems, rinsed, scraped, and rinsed again, or 24 cilantro stems </li> <li>2 garlic cloves, chopped</li> <li>¾ teaspoon kosher salt </li> <li><strong>For the Pork</strong></li> <li>About 3 cups rendered leaf lard or neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola </li> <li>2 pounds Braised Pork Belly (recipe follows), cut into 1-inch chunks while still cold </li> <li>1 cup all-purpose flour </li> <li>Sea salt </li> <li><strong>To finish the dish</strong></li> <li>1 cup fresh Vietnamese mint (rou ram) leaves </li> <li>1 cup fresh Thai basil leaves </li> <li>3 scallions, sliced</li> <li>¼ cup sesame seeds </li> <li><strong>Braised Pork Belly</strong></li> <li><strong>For the Brine</strong></li> <li>¼ cup coriander seeds</li> <li>2 tablespoons fennel seeds </li> <li>4 cups sea salt</li> <li>2 cups sugar</li> <li>10 garlic cloves, crushed and peeled</li> <li>10 fresh long red chilies, such as Anaheim or Hungarian Wax, thinly sliced</li> <li>5 medium shallots, sliced</li> <li>3 tablespoons black peppercorns</li> <li>1 cup packed daun salam (Indonesian bay leaves)</li> <li>2 to 3 pounds fresh pork belly</li> <li><strong>For the Braise</strong></li> <li>2 tablespoons rendered leaf lard or olive oil (the best you can afford) </li> <li>1 yellow onion, cut into sixths</li> <li>1 head of garlic, halved crosswise</li> <li>2 shallots, halved lengthwise</li> <li>2 1/2 cups chicken stock </li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p><strong>Brine the Pork Belly:</strong>Toast the coriander and fennel seeds in a dry pan over medium heat, swirling and shaking them until they crackle lightly and release their aroma, about 3 minutes.</p> <p>Set aside.</p></li> <li><p.<br /> </p></li> <li><p><strong>Braise the Pork Belly:</strong> Preheat the oven to 225°F. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit your roasting pan.</p></li> <li><p>Remove the belly from the brine, rinse with cold water, and pat dry. Set aside.</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>When the stock comes to a boil, add the belly to the roasting pan and remove it from the heat. Top the pan with the parchment paper and cover with a tight lid or foil.</p></li> <li><p>Braise the belly in the oven until it is tender (when you press the tip of a pairing knife into it, there should be no resistance). Start checking it after 2. hours, though it could take up to 4 hours.</p></li> <li><p>Remove the pan from the oven and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.<br /> </p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>Wrap the belly tightly in plastic wrap. Press it between two flat pans (such as sheet trays) and put a weight on the top (a few cans of tomatoes will do the trick). Refrigerate, pressed, for at least 12 hours and up to 2 days.</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p><strong>Make the Watermelon Salad:</strong> Combine everything for the salad except the watermelon in a small saucepan. Add 1 cup water, bring the liquid to a boil over medium heat, and cook, stirring, until the sugar dissolves. </p></li> <li>. </p></li> <li><p>Cut the flesh of the watermelon into 1-inch pieces (discarding whatever seeds you can). Chill it until you’re ready to use it. </p></li> <li><p><strong>Make the Dressing:<strong> Roughly crush the palm sugar using a mortar and pestle or a plastic bag and a rolling pin. Pulse the sugar with the vinegar, lime juice, ginger, cilantro roots, garlic, and salt in a food processor until smooth and well combined. </p></li> <li><p><strong>Fry the Pork</strong> In a large, straight-sided sauté pan or wok, heat 3 inches of lard to 375°F (measured on a deep-frying thermometer). </p></li> <li>. </p></li> <li><p><strong>Finish the Salad:</strong>. </p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Spring Salad of Asparagus, Ramps, Snap Peas, and Peas, with Poached Egg and Lemon Zest Vinaigrette tag: 2012-04-19T12:10:00Z 2012-04-18T22:43:33Z Feel free to use whatever fresh green vegetables you can find. Young broccoli stalks, brussels sprouts, fava beans, or fiddleheads would all work fine. J. Kenji López-Alt <img src="" /> <p>[Photographs: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]</p> <p><strong>Note:</strong> Feel free to use whatever fresh green vegetables you can find. Young broccoli stalks, brussels sprouts, fava beans, or fiddleheads would all work fine.< serves 4, active time 1 hour, total time 1 hour</p> <ul> <li><strong>For the Vinaigrette:</strong></li> <li>6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil</li> <li>2 tablespoons juice from 1 or 2 lemons</li> <li>2 teaspoons grated zest from 1 lemon, plus a few extra thin threads of zest for garnish</li> <li>2 tablespoons finely minced fresh parsley leaves</li> <li>1 small shallot, minced (about 1 tablespoon)</li> <li>Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li> </li> <li><strong>For the Salad</strong></li> <li>1 cup fresh shelled English peas or 1 cup defrosted frozen peas</li> <li>2 cups fresh sugar snap peas, strings removed, ends trimmed, cut into 1/2-inch pieces on the bias</li> <li>1 pound asparagus, stalks trimmed, tips removed, tips and stalks reserved separately</li> <li>2 to 3 tabespoons extra-virgin olive oil</li> <li>4 large very fresh eggs</li> <li>2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar</li> <li>2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil</li> <li>8 to 12 whole ramps, ends trimmed and cleaned</li> <li>2 cups tender pea or snow pea shoots, thick stalks trimmed and discarded</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p><strong>For the Dressing</strong>: Combine olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, parsley, and shallots together in a small sealable container. Mix together and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.</p></li> <li><p><strong>For the Vegetables</strong>:.</p></li> <li><p><strong>For the Asparagus</strong>:.</p></li> <li><p><strong>For the Eggs:</strong>.</p></li> <li><p><strong>For the Ramps:</strong>.</p></li> <li><p><strong>To Assemble the Salad:</strong>:.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Nigel Slater's Grilled Beef Vietnamese Salad tag: 2012-04-18T18:55:00Z 2012-04-18T20:35:52Z Adapted from The Kitchen Diaries. [Photograph: Blake Royer] Why I Picked This Recipe: Though I've ordered this type of salad at restaurants before, I've never tried it at home, and I was eager to play with Slater's proportions in the... Blake Royer <img src="" /> <p>Adapted from <em>The Kitchen Diaries.</em> </p> <p>[Photograph: Blake Royer]</p> <p><strong>Why I Picked This Recipe:</strong>.</p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> The dressing worked, big time. I also liked Slater's use of peppery watercress to significantly bulk out the vegetable component, while still keeping the fragrant mint and cilantro for authenticity.</p> <p><strong> What Didn't:</strong>.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong>.</p> <p><strong>About the author:</strong> Blake Royer is a food writer, photographer, and filmmaker based in Chicago; he has been writing for Serious Eats since 2007. You can follow him on Twitter @blakeroyer.</p> <p></p> <p></p> <p><br /> </p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 4, active time 15 minutes, total time 25 minutes</p> <ul> <li>3 tablespoons juice from 2 limes</li> <li>4 tablespoons Vietnamese or Thai fish sauce</li> <li>1 to 2 tablespoon sweet chile sauce, or another chile paste such as sambal</li> <li>2 teaspoons sugar</li> <li>2 fresh red Thai chiles, stemmed, seeded, and minced</li> <li>1 pound hanger, skirt, or other well-marbled steaks</li> <li>Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li>2 tablespoons neutral oil, such as canola or vegetable</li> <li>2 bunches watercress, tough stems removed</li> <li>8 to 10 kaffir lime leaves, center stem removed, very thinly shredded (optional)</li> <li>1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro</li> <li>1/2 cup roughly chopped mint leaves</li> <li>1 (4-inch) piece cucumber, cut into matchsticks</li> <li>2 medium carrots, cut into matchsticks</li> <li>2 large tomatoes, seeded and cut into thin wedges</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p>Preheat a grill or broiler for the steaks.</p></li> <li>.</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>While the steaks are grilling, combine the watercress, cilantro, mint leaves, cucumber, cucumber, carrot, and tomatoes.</p></li> <li><p>When the steaks are done and sliced, add them to the salad and toss everything together with the dressing. Serve immediately while the steak is still hot.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Zak Pelaccio's Asparagus Kerabu tag: 2012-04-17T19:25:00Z 2012-04-17T18:53:53. Caroline Russock <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Michael Schrom]</p> <p>Spring is here and with it comes many stalks of wonderfully green asparagus, and while we love them simply steamed, drowned with hollandaise, or topped off with a wobbly poached egg, we're thinking this <strong>Asparagus Kerabu</strong> from Zak Pelaccio's <em><strong>Eat with Your Hands</strong></em> might just be our new asparagus go-to for the season.</p> <p>This take on a Malaysian salad soaks the stalks in a bath of lime juice and fish sauce before splitting the tips and stems for a raw/charred asparagus experience. The stalks are shaved thin and the tips are charred in a searing hot pan before getting tossed with ginger, bean sprouts, mint, onion, chiles, and ginger. The last, balancing touch is <em>kerisik</em>, or pan toasted coconut, that brings both sweetness and a crunchy-chewiness to the salad. </p> <p><strong>Recommended playlist and drinks pairing:</strong> </p> <p><em>Listen:</em> Marvin Gaye, "What's Going On?"--the melancholy soul vibe that moves you in more ways than a naked chiropractor. </p> <p><em>Drink:</em> Ezio Voyat Chambave "La Gazzella" 2004, a unique moscato that I can't seem to drink enough of. </p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> This Asparagus Kerabu is a prime example of the bitter-sour-salty-sweet profile that makes Southeast Asian food so satisfying. The bitterness of the asparagus is complemented and accentuated by salty fish sauce, tart lime, and sweet, toasty coconut.</p> <p><strong>What Didn't:</strong> We couldn't possibly find a point of contention with this spring salad.</p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong> If you're not jazzed about shaving asparagus stems, charring them on the grill or in a cast-iron pan would be a time-saver.< 30 minutes, total time 45 minutes</p> <ul> <li>28 green asparagus stalks, trimmed </li> <li>Juice of 1 lime, or more to taste</li> <li>2 tablespoons fish sauce, or more to taste </li> <li>½ cup roughly chopped fresh </li> <li>Vietnamese mint (rau ram) leaves </li> <li>1 cup bean sprouts </li> <li>1 small red onion, very thinly sliced </li> <li>2 fresh thai bird chilies, julienned </li> <li>1 tablespoon julienned peeled young fresh ginger </li> <li>1 cup Kerisik (recipe follows) </li> <li>1 cup fresh cilantro leaves </li> <li> </li> <li><strong>Kerisik</strong></li> <li>1 cup shredded fresh coconut, from about 1 mature coconut (you might need another to reach 1 cup), or store-bought unsweetened shredded coconut </li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p><strong>For the Kerisik:</strong>. </p></li> <li><p>Sprinkle the grated coconut in no more than a ½-inch-deep layer (work in <br />. </p></li> <li><p><strong>For the Asparagus Kerabu:</strong>. </p></li> <li><p>Heat a dry cast-iron pan or griddle over high heat and char the asparagus tips on all sides, stirring, 2 to 3 minutes. then transfer them to a large mixing bowl. </p></li> <li><p.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Zak Pelaccio's Hanger Steak Salad tag: 2012-04-16T16:55:38Z 2012-04-16T18:53:48Z. Caroline Russock <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Michael Schrom]</p> <p>This <strong>Hanger Steak Salad</strong> from Zak Pelaccio's <em><strong>Eat with Your Hands</strong></em>. </p> <p>And as far as Pelaccio's pairings go, spot on. The salad is hot in a way that necessitates the cooling effects of icy lager and a mellowed out playlist. </p> <p><strong>Recommended playlist and drinks pairing:</strong> </p> <p><em>Listen:</em> How about some chill-wave—that is the new psychdelia of Tame Impala, <em>Innerspeaker</em>?</p> <p><em>Drink:</em> Beer, whatever you've got, icy cold.</p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> If you're a fan of the beef salad from your local Thai joint, this one will make you real happy. Just imagine the one that you order for take-out, intensify the sweet-salty-hot and add a really good cut of beef.</p> <p><strong>What Didn't:</strong> If you're shy about heat, you might want to tone the chiles. This salad is hot, very, very hot. </p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong> This is the sort recipe that can act as a template for any sort of protein you've got on hand. We're thinking that next time seared duck breast might need to be involved.</p> <p>Reprinted with permission from <em><strong>Eat with Your Hands</strong></em> by Zakary Pelaccio. Copyright © 2012. Published by Ecco. Available wherever books are sold. All rights reserved.</p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 2, active time 20 minutes, total time 20 minutes</p> <ul> <li>3 tablespoons palm or brown sugar, or more to taste</li> <li>3 to 4 tablespoons fish sauce, or more to taste</li> <li>2 to 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, or more to taste</li> <li>Two 1-inch thick hanger steaks (about 7 ounces each)</li> <li>Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li>About 1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as grapeseed or canola</li> <li>2 tablespoons Shaoxing wine or dry sherry, or more to taste</li> <li>4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced</li> <li>1 1/2 inches fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced</li> <li>6 fresh Thai bird chiles, thinly sliced</li> <li>2 fresh long red or green chiles, such as Anaheim or Hungarian Wax, thinly sliced</li> <li>1 medium red onion, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced</li> <li>1/2 cup fresh Thai basil leaves</li> <li>1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p>In a small bowl, stir together the palm sugar, fish sauce, and lime juice. Taste the mixture. Do you want it sweeter, saltier, or more acidic? It's up to you.</p></li> <li>.</p></li> <li><p>Reduce the heat to medium and add the Shaoxing wine, scrape up any brown bits with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic, ginger, and chiles, and cook for 30 seconds, remove the skillet from the heat.</p></li> <li><p>Slice the steaks against the grain. Add them to the bowl and top with the pan liquid. Then add the fish-sauce-lime dressing, the onion, and the herbs. Toss and serve.<"/> Ripe's Cucumber Halloumi Salad with Licorice Notes tag: 2012-04-12T15:25:00Z 2012-04-12T00:18:50Z Crunchy slices of cucumber provide the background for this Cucumber Halloumi Salad with Licorice Notes from Cheryl Sternman Rule's Ripe, but it's really all about the cheese. Caroline Russock <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Paulette Phlipot]</p> <p>Crunchy slices of cucumber provide the background for this <strong>Cucumber Halloumi Salad with Licorice Notes</strong> from Cheryl Sternman Rule's <em><strong>Ripe</strong></em>, but it's really all about the cheese. </p> <p.</p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> The cooling and licoricey notes of this salad set of the saltiness of the Halloumi in a way that's really quite wonderful. </p> <p><strong>What Didn't:</strong> All clear, nothing to change here. </p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong> We could easily see tossing a few slices of honeydew or watermelon into this salad for a bit of complementary sweetness.</p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 4, active time 30 minutes, total time 30 minutes</p> <ul> <li>2 teaspoons fennel seeds</li> <li>4 (1/2-inch-thick) slices Halloumi cheese, blotted dry </li> <li>1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil</li> <li>2 teaspoons sherry vinegar</li> <li>1/2 medium garlic clove, smashed and minced</li> <li>Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li>1 English cucumber, unpeeled, halved lengthwise</li> <li>1/4 cup loosely packed chopped fresh tarragon leaves</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li>.</p></li> <li><p>Whisk the oil, vinegar, and garlic in a medium serving bowl. Season with salt and pepper.</p></li> <li><p.</p></li> <li><p>Toss gently to coat. Adjust seasonings to taste, and serve immediately.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Serious Salads: Pasta Salad with Peas and Pesto tag: 2012-04-11T19:30:00Z 2012-04-18T16:26:07Z Fresh herb pesto makes a flavorful dressing for a springy pasta salad studded with green peas. Chopped walnuts add delicious crunch and fresh lemon juice brightens it up. Jennifer Segal <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Jenniger Segal]</p> <p>Fresh herb pesto makes a flavorful dressing for a springy pasta salad studded with green peas. Chopped walnuts add delicious crunch and fresh lemon juice brightens it up. < as a side dish, active time 20 minutes, total time 20 minutes</p> <ul> <li><strong>For the Pesto:</strong></li> <li>1 cup packed fresh basil or mint (or combination), plus more for garnish</li> <li>1 large garlic clove, roughly chopped (about 2 teaspoons)</li> <li>1 ounce (about 1/4 cup) freshly grated Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano Reggiano</li> <li>3 tablespoons chopped toasted walnuts or pinenuts, plus more for garnish</li> <li>3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, from 1-2 lemons</li> <li>1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil</li> <li>Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper</li> <li> </li> <li><strong>For the Salad:</strong></li> <li>1/2 pound (8 ounces) gemelli pasta, cooked, drained and cooled</li> <li>8 ounces (about 1 1/2 cups) frozen green peas, thawed</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li>.</p></li> <li><p>In a large bowl, combine the pasta and peas. Add the pesto little by little until salad is adequately dressed. Season to taste with salt, pepper and more lemon juice. Garnish salad with chopped nuts and chopped herbs, if desired.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/> Ripe's Honeydew Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing tag: 2012-04-11T15:45:00Z 2012-04-11T02:52:19Z Equal parts salad salad and fruit salad, this Honeydew Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing from Cheryl Sternman Rule's Ripe is going to be seeing quite a lot of action over the spring and summer months. Caroline Russock <img src="" /> <p>[Photograph: Paulette Phlipot]</p> <p>Equal parts <em>salad</em> salad and fruit salad, this <strong>Honeydew Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing</strong> from Cheryl Sternman Rule's <em><strong>Ripe</strong></em> is going to be seeing quite a lot of action over the spring and summer months. </p> <p.</p> <p><strong>What Worked:</strong> Bringing three shades of pale green fruits and vegetables together and dappling them with poppy seeds makes for a salad that's not only lovely to behold but thrilling to taste. </p> <p><strong>What Didn't:</strong> Not a thing, this salad is just about perfect. </p> <p><strong>Suggested Tweaks:</strong> If monochromatic food isn't your thing, a few balls of watermelon would brighten things up quite nicely. </p> <p>Reprinted with permission from <em><strong>Ripe</strong></em> by Cheryl Sternman Rule. Copyright © 2012. Published by Running Press. Available wherever books are sold. All rights reserved.</p> <h2>Ingredients</h2> <p>serves serves 4, active time 20 minutes, total time 20 minutes</p> <ul> <li>1/2 medium honeydew, seeded, flesh scooped with a melon baller</li> <li>1/2 medium English cucumber, seed membrane scraped out, cut into half moons </li> <li>1/2 pound seedless green grapes, cut in half (about 1 1/2 cups)</li> <li>Juice of 1/2 lime</li> <li>1 teaspoon canola or olive oil</li> <li>1 teaspoon water</li> <li>1 teaspoon honey</li> <li>1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds</li> <li>4 large fresh mint leaves, thinly sliced</li> </ul> <h2>Procedures</h2> <ol> <li><p>In a large serving bowl, combine the honeydew, cucumber, and grapes.</p></li> <li><p>Whisk the lime juice, oil, water, honey, and poppy seeds in a small bowl or glass measuring cup, and pour over the honeydew mixture. (Scrape any stubborn poppy seeds onto the salad.) Top with mint, give a good stir, and serve immediately.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> Serve this summery salad as a counterpoint to something spicy, like a curry.</p></li> </ol> <img src="" height="1" width="1"/>

Prior to the meeting of the IW council Cabinet on the 13th April I wrote to the council leader Cllr Pugh as the document produced setting out the four options for the Cabinet to consider included an option which did not appear to comply with the requirements of the legislation for making the Order. ie introducing, changing or revoking the Dogs Control Exclusion (Isle of Wight) Order , which is a Legal Document. The order must be produced within the requirements set out in the legislation. If the council intends to revoke (cancel) an Order (As proposed in the document: Option 4 - To adopt and approve the revised Dogs Control Exclusion (Isle of Wight) Order as outlined in Appendix 1, but with no Dog Exclusion zone in Ryde) the council would have to comply with the requirements set out in: The Dog Control Orders (Procedures) Regulations 2006, and would have to ensure the following steps were taken: Revocation of a dog control order 4. (1) Before revoking a dog control order it has made, an Authority shall? (a) consult upon its proposal to revoke the order by publishing a notice of that proposal in a local newspaper circulating in the area in which the land in respect of which the order applies is situated; (b) consult every other Authority having power under section 55 of the Act to make a dog control order in respect of all or part of the land in respect of which the order applies; and (c) where all or part of the land in respect of which the order applies is access land, consult? (i) the access authority for that access land, and (ii) the local access forum for that access land, and, in respect of any of that access land that is not situated in a National Park, the Countryside Agency. (2) The notice referred to in paragraph (1) shall (a) identify the land in respect of which the order applies; (b) summarise the order; (c) where the order refers to a map, state where the map may be inspected at an address within the Authority's area, and that any inspection shall be free of charge at all reasonable hours during the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (d); (d) state that representations may be made in writing or by e-mail within the period of 28 days after the publication of the notice; and (e) state the address and e-mail address to which representations may be sent. (3) If an Authority; (b) make the information referred to in sub-paragraph (a) available on its website (if any); (c) send the information referred to in sub-paragraph (a) to every other Authority having power under section 55 of the Act to make a dog control order in respect of all or part of the land in respect of which the order to be revoked applies (d) where the order to be revoked applies in respect of any access land, send the information referred to in sub-paragraph (a) to (i) the access authority, and (ii) the local access forum, for that access land, and the Countryside Agency. All this apears to be necessary to revoke the Order that was in place. But the only section we are concerned with, at this stage, is the time-scale required for holding the Public Consultation on the councils option to revoke the Order. This would require a minimum time scale of 28 days for the public consultation, which is a legal requirement, to take place. However the meeting of the Cabinet was on the 13th April 2010, but the date that the Order would come into operation is included in the Order (1st May) therefore the 17 days between the decision being taken by the Cabinet to adopt this option and the Order actually coming into force would not appear to allow sufficient time for the consultation period that the law requires. Consequently I could not see how this Option was legally possible, therefore I wanted an explaination of whether or not this was the situation. As I no longer have a councillor , due to my representative Cllr Whittaker being forced to resign, I therefore asked the council leader, who is also the Head of the Cabinet, for an explanation of how I should complain about this. I emailed him on the 12 April 2010 but as I had not had a reply I once again emailed Cllr Pugh on the 12 May 2010 as copied below: Dear Cllr Pugh, I wrote to you in your role as Leader of the council on the 12 April, In that communication I specifically requested: "Would you please inform me which of the councils policies governs its officers misleading Cabinet Members or order that I can pursue a Formal complaint regarding the matter." I am still awaiting a reply, as you have not responded within the published time scale I would like to offer you a further opportunity to do so as I understand the terms in your Code of Conduct require a response be made in such circumstances. -- Yours Sincerely But this email was immediately returned to me marked undelivered as I am "Blacklisted" by the council (copied below). I first became aware I had been "Blacklisted" following the council backing down on their Dog Control Orders prposals last month. --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Date: Wed, May 12, 2010 at 5:50 PM Subject: Undeliverable mail To: [email protected] This nondelivery report was generated by the amavisd-new program at host engine55-1387-1.icritical.com. Our internal reference code for your message is 25244-10. Return-Path: Your message could not be delivered to: : 250 2.7.1 Ok, discarded, sender blacklisted, id=25244-10 Final-Recipient: rfc822; [email protected] Action: delivered Status: 2.7.1 Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 250 2.7.1 Ok, discarded, sender blacklisted, id=25244-10 Last-Attempt-Date: Wed, 12 May 2010 17:50:55 +0100 (BST) The "Blacklisting" does not only include checking if emails are from a known email address, rather software is employed that scans the contents of emails and identifies my name and address as keywords resulting in the communication being discarded., regardless of the content. I have already complained to the Information Commisioner regarding this practice. I recently submitted the Second Stage of my complaint to the council regarding me as the author of this website, who had been making highly embassing revelations over the performance of the Island dog wardens following Information Requests, being the only person to be issued with a fine for having a dog on an excluded area of a Ryde beach, this complaint was also regarding the conduct of the dog warden concerned. This complaint was bounced back at me twice and the only way I could get it accepted was to open a new email account, change my IP address so that couldnt be blocked, and then I had to go to the lengths of only adding my name and address as an attachment in the form of an image file, which I have had to produce with a hard to read background and rotate the text through 90 degrees, in order to send a complaint which I am fully entitled to make. I copied that complaint to the Island MP, on each occasion, as a safeguard.) The document you refer to is is a Commitee report of the THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FIRE AND COMMUNITY SAFETY apart from the point you have made this document is also misleading as at number 37. it states "The loss of the Blue Flag". There is no Blue Flag to lose at Ryde as it hasnt held one for at least 2 years due to the poor water quality. " In addition Option 3 would also require a further consultation How was this document permitted as there are also other misleading statements in it? If this is the quality of the evidense cabinet decisions on the Island are made on then god help us! Hardly any wonder the island is a laughing stock Have you contacted the Cabinet member responsible as it has his name on it? That would be Barry Abraham and although I have contacted him on this and other matters concerning the conduct of council officers who come under him as Cabinet Member for Fire and Community Safety he has yet to even have the courtesy of acknowledging receipt of my emails, this despite him requesting one of this website members to pass his private email address to me. As my Freedom Of Information Act requests are at present being rejected by the council as "Undeliverable mail" due to me being "Blacklisted" I am having to make my requests through the whatdotheyknow.com website. Although this is not always suitable as I may not wish my request to be public and published to the Internat. But at present I have no option other than to use a proxy Same request - Rejected if I send it. Accepted if sent through a proxy. Dear Isle of Wight Council, Following the recent public consultation on the councils proposed amendments to the Dog Control Orders I became concerned that the council was encouraging visitors to the Island to venture into the hazardous extremities of Ryde Sands, where every year people have to be rescued by the emergency services due to the fast incoming tide. I informed the members of the IW councils Cabinet, who ultimately took the final decision, that such were my concerns that the council were not taking this matter seriously, I would, in the event of a fatality on the Sands, supply to the Coroner all the evidence that the council had been warned of these dangers. The cabinet ultimately rejected the councils proposals, but during the course of the wightdogs.com website fighting these proposals several of the site members contacted me with information of past fatalities on Ryde sands. Including three children who drowned trying to escape the incoming tide in the 1970s, and a number of people who drowned whilst celebrating the end of the Second World War on the sandbanks off Appley. As I still have my concerns that the council are not taking this matter seriously, or taking adequate steps to warn the public of the dangers in this area. I therefore wish to request details of any and all records the council has of the number of people who have been killed in this treacherous yet apparently tranquil area. I am having to request this information through the whatdotheyknow website as following the successful campaign to stop the councils proposals, co ordinated by me through the wightdogs website, I have discovered that all my emails to the IW councils are immediately returned as I am now "Blacklisted". Yours faithfully, Alas I thought my new councullor would honour his pre election pledge and assist me by not allowing my emails to him to be intercepted as Im "Blacklisted" But I have been dismissed like a naughty schoolboy. Despite the IW council bouncing my emails back to me, since 23 April, with a clear message attached stating they had been discarded as I was blacklisted, they now claim that they have not been actively rejecting my emails. I currenly have a complaint pending with the Information Commissioners Office regarding a Freedom Of Information request which the council did reject but claim to have had no knowledge of it ever existing until the ICO informed them that I had made a complaint about it. Watch this space. Well now, three months after the author of this website was informed that he had been blacklisted by the IW council we finally appear to be getting somewhere. The Information Commissioner Office (ICO) has informed the council that they cannot reject my Freedom Of Innformation requests solely on the grounds that they are from me. As I had said all along. The council in response had informed the ICO that they have stopped the practice and they had not in fact blaclisted me. This despite them retuning my emails for the last three months and stating they had been discarded as I was blacklisted. Armed with this information I emailed them with another FOI request, which was immediately bounced back at me as discarded and blacklisted. No change whatsoever despite their assurances to the contrary. I therefore forwarded this further rejected request to the ICO, and today I received an email from the council, in reply to this second FOI request, informing me they hadnt blacklisted me. My reply to that is copied below. Dear Ms xxxxxxx, In your reply to my Freedom Of Information request you have stated that the council has not blacklisted my communications, and you confirm that the council holds no information further my request for all records relating to the decision to blacklist my communications, and that you are unable to supply statements relating to why I was not informed that my emails had been blacklisted, as you confirm that the council holds "no information". You reiterate the council has not blacklisted my communications. Apparently the IW council were experiencing problems withtheir understanding of the settings for their email filtering system,which resulted in my original FOI request being discarded without trace. This apparently was a mistake. Could you therefore please supply me with an explanation of why the council sent me a message stating categorically that the email had been discarded, which in fact was the case, and why it stated that I was blacklisted. In addition could you also explain why I continued to receive these same statements, that emails had been"discarded" as I was blacklisted, when emailed the council for the next three months. Also could you please explain why, despite my alerting the council to the practice. you continued that practice with the return message (copied below) attached to my further FOI request of the 20 July2010. Three months after the first mistake. Return-Path: 250 2.7.1 Ok, discarded, sender blacklisted, id=29351-09 Final-Recipient: rfc822; [email protected] Diagnostic-Code: smtp; 250 2.7.1 Ok, discarded, sender blacklisted, id=29351-09 Last-Attempt-Date: Tue, 20 Jul 2010 20:30:21 +0100 (BST) Finally as you have chosen to use the terms Blacklisted and Discarded would you also please explain under what circumstance the IW council would in fact Blacklist and Discard incoming emails from a member of the public. Yours sincerely The Isle of Wight council have now informed me: "The council was not actively rejecting your, or any other, communications, and we were not aware that the system was rejecting them." This is despite them returning my emails, for the last three months, with an attached message stating that my email had been "discarded" along with "sender blacklisted". So although the IW council had chosen to install a system which discarded my emails unread, and dont appear to have scutinised how that system was performing in relation to either their responsibilities, or a persons rights, in making FOI requests. And although they were continuing to inform me that I was "Blacklisted" with any emails that I sent, including FOI requests, due to their system which still remained in place three months later on 20 July, and this was despite me repeatedly appealing to my newly elected councillor Cllr. Gary Taylor , who was about as much use as an inflatable dartboard. Regardless of all this the council were however, in their opinion, not rejecting my communications. I have now made another Freedom Of Information request this time to the Information Commissioner in order to establish whether this situation, of rejecting emails that they hadn't rejected, is actually unique to the IW council: The IW council have refused to supply the legal advisce requested regarding the options considered at the Cabinet meeting on 13 April 2010, on the grounds of it being exempt under Section 42 of the Freedom of Information Act, due to "legal professional privilege". They consider it to be in the public interest for them to withhold the advise they sought as to the legality of the options considered by their Cabinet in determining the Dogs Control Exclusion (Isle of Wight) Order. Read more on the whatdotheyknow.com website Update on my "Blacklisting" by the IW council: The Information Commissioner has now stopped the Isle of Wight councils practice of bouncing my emails back to me with an accompanying message stating they had been "discarded" due too me being "blacklisted". A practice which had remained in place until the 20 July 2010, three months after it was implemented. According to the councils Information Manager these measures were only put in place due to an error, and they were unaware that my emails were being bounced back to me, with an accompanying message stating that they had been "discarded" due too me being "blacklisted", until the Information Commissioner raised it with them in July. Following my complaint to the ICO over the practice. However you will recall that earlier this year my councillor Gary Taylor assured me that he had taken this practice up with the IW council, as my elected representative, he subsequently stated that there was nothing he could do about it. So it would appear that Cllr Taylor and the IW councils Information Manager version of events are contradictory. If Cllr Taylor had raised this matter the IW council on my behalf they obviously would have been aware of it, and if they were aware of it has the IW councils Information Manager also stated otherwise to the Information Commissioner? Hopefully I will eventually get an answer to that one, but in the meanwhile I had in fact also informed the IW council that my emails were being bounced back at me as I was "blacklisted" in this Freedom Of Information request which I made to them on the 1st June through the whatdotheyknow.com website: I am having to request this information through the whatdotheyknow returned as I am now "Blacklisted" Hmmm...Such a tangled web, I really must get around to doing a thorough search of my email archive as I'm sure there must be some other little gems that have slipped my mind...Watch this space. In July this year the Information Commissioner contacted the IW council regarding my emails being returned to me with a message stating that this was because I was blacklisted. These messages continued for a three month period. Because the IW council continued informing me that my emails were being rejected due to me being blacklisted I therefore considered myself to be unable to make requests for information under the FOI Act, unless I did so publicly on the whatdotheyknow.com website. I was being informed by the IW council that I was no longer in the position of being able to make private FOI requests to them, from an electonic adress as the FOI Act states I have a right to do, due to being blacklisted. This privalidge extended to everybody else yet I was being informed that I was excluded. Following the ICO contacting them on the 21 July the IW council wrote to me stating:"...we were unaware of this particular issue, until the ICO contacted us" The IW council further stated "The Council were not rejecting your, or any other, communications, and we were not aware that the system was rejecting them" I then wrote to my councillor Gary Taylor and my MP Andrew Turner as I had previously contacted both of them regarding the rejecting of my emails as I was blacklisted. Cllr. Gary Taylor replied: "I raised the issue of your emails being blocked in May and understand that officers have responded and dealt with your concerns" Andrew Turner MPs office replied: "I can confirm that we have indeed raised this matter with the Council and await their response. We will forward this on to you as soon as it is available" The council appear to have contradicted these two statements by stating that the first they were unaware of the issue until the ICO contacted them. Assuming that is Mr Turners office had contacted the council over this matter prior to my asking them to confirm this in August, as the reply does not mention any date but just confirms they have raised it with the council. Whereas Cllr Gary Taylor confirmed he did so in May. Therefore iI have made a Freedom Of Information request to the IW council in an attempt to obtain further information. The IW council have maintained the reason my original FOI request was discarded was due to a mistake in migration to a new email system and that this was this is the only instance of them actually discarding my emails, (even though they continued sending me messages for the next three months contradicting that) However I also requested other information on the same day which I have never had a reply to. The FOI Act states the council must reply within 20 working days, I have currently been waiting 7 months. And Im still waiting! As mentioned above I made a further FOI request to the IW council on 19 November for an explanation of why their Information Manager stated to the Information Commissioner (ICO) that they were unaware that they were rejecting my emails and returning them with a message stating that I was"blacklisted". However this request has been dealt with by the very same Information manager who had informed the ICO of this, and in addition she has decided to reject the request as she has alleged that the request is having the the effect of harassing the authority and causing distress to staff. Although the IW council appear to now have decided that the request is not having the effect of harassing the authority and causing distress to staff on appeal. (its all very confusing to a simple country lad like me) I await an explanation prior to making a further complaint to the Information Commissioner about the IW councils handling of a FOI request From WIKIPEDIA BLACKLIST: Political context: "The term blacklisting are two words put together generally used in a pejorative context, as it implies that someone has been prevented from having legitimate access to something due to the whims or judgements of another" Dogs Strengthen Communities If you are not from the Island but have discovered this website whilst searching for information on DOG CONTROL ORDERS on the Internet due to your council persecuting dog owners in your area please click here for further information [email protected]

Fxpansion BFD . Details Brand: FXPANSION Part Numbers: BFD Nano, BFDEC001, FXBFDECO01 UPC: 8983860000156 EAN: 8983860000156 [ Report abuse or wrong photo | Share your Fxpansion BFD photo ] Manual Preview of first few manual pages (at low quality). Check before download. Click to enlarge. Fxpansion BFD Video review FXpansion BFD Eco Acoustic Drum Instrument Review User reviews and opinions No opinions have been provided. Be the first and add a new opinion/review. Documents 9:2 Help menu Ch.10 FX devices Ch.11 Standalone application and plugin usage Using the BFD Eco Standalone application Tempo and time signature I/O Settings 33 Using BFD Eco as an RTAS plugin in Digidesign Pro Tools 7.x or later 33 Using BFD Eco as an AU plugin in Apple Logic 8 or later 34 Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin or an AU plugin in Ableton Live 36 Using BFD Eco as an AU plugin in Digital Performer Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin in Cubase SX Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin in Cubase 4 or later Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin in Sonar Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin in FL Studio Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin in Reaper Potential problems Ch.8 Key Map panel 8:1 Key map picker Default key map Key/MIDI Lock Credits Project lead, programming Additional programming Web programming Lead audio engineering, production, editing Graphic design Additional graphic design Packaging design Documentation Quality assurance engineering Content management Marketing & sales Artist relations & publicity Technical support FXpansion USA SKoT McDonald Paul Chana, Steve Baker, Andy Simper, Angus Hewlett Andreas Schnetzler Gareth Green Toni Simonen Alex Akers Rus Brockman Mayur Maha Rob Bantin, Andrew Vernon, Peter Slotwinski Rory Dow Rhiannon Bankston-Thomas Clare OBrien Ryan Sellers, Alex Volmer Terry Hardin, Leslie Crook Emre Ramazanoglu, Darrin Mooney Kevin Hay Ben Ferns John Emrich Russ Cannizzo Jacques Mathias Session drumming Assistant audio engineering Photography and video BFD PER Audio Content (Percussion) Groove composition Additional Grooove composition BFD2 library recorded at AIR Studios Lyndhurst Hall, London Breverb Plate by Overloud Technologies Special thanks to the beta testing team! BFD Eco is an acoustic drum software instrument which provides multisampled drums, played in a variety of ways (called articulations), and recorded with multiple microphones including real stereo ambience channels. The stereo ambience provides the actual sound of the drums within a room, offering a natural alternative to artificial reverb effects. BFD Eco also contains a Groove engine that plays back realistic drum performances through BFD Ecos sounds. More detail about the architecture of BFD Ecos sounds can be found in chapter 2. Launching BFD Eco 1. As a standalone application On Windows, youll find the BFD Eco standalone application here: Program Files/FXpansion/BFD Eco or Start menu/Programs/FXpansion/BFD Eco On Mac, launch BFD Eco from your Applications folder. Once you start the application, you may need to set up its audio and MIDI settings. See chapter 11 for details on making these settings. 2. As an instrument plugin within a host BFD Eco can be launched in a VST/AU/RTAS-compatible host in the same way as any other plugin instrument. See your host documentation for details on this subject, or see chapter 11 for a guide to launching BFD Eco in most major hosts. BFD Ecos interface BFD Ecos interface mainly consists of 3 pages, along with a mixer that is always visible. Switch between the pages using the 3 page buttons at the top-left of the BFD Eco interface. Kit page Mixer (section 4:2) The mixer lets you blend between all 12 kit-piece channels, OverHead and Room ambience channels, 2 aux channels and a master channel. You can also perform a number of routing and parallel processing functions. The kit-piece channels are also slots in which to load kit-pieces double-click on the channel image or right-click on the channel and use the Load kit-piece function. This displays the kit-piece browser for loading a kit-piece into the slot. Kit page (section 4:1) The Kit page shows a graphical representation of the loaded kit-pieces, and indicates when they are played the kit-pieces flash whenever their articulations are triggered. You can also click on kit-pieces here in order to preview them. Channel page (chapter 5) The Channel page features controls specific to each channel in the mixer. The controls for the currently selected channel are shown. it-piece channels: Controls for changing the sound and response of a K kit-piece tuning, damping and more. mbience channels: Controls for changing the stereo width and A distance of the ambience mics. All channels: EQ and 2 assignable FX slots. Channel page Grooves page (chapter 6) The Grooves engine is located in this page, allowing you to play back a library of professionally-produced drum patterns that trigger BFD Ecos sounds internally. Mic channel Kick In Kick Out Snare Btm Snare Top Multi OH Room The mic inside the kick The mic outside the kick The mic under the snare The mic above the snare Any other direct mic Stereo over-head mic set Stereo room mic set Direct Kick In Direct Kick Out Bleed - Snares Bleed - Toms / Perc Cyms / Hats Direct Snare Bottom Direct Snare Top - Direct signal All kit-pieces feature a stereo OH ambience channel. The amount of each kit-piece in the OH channel can be varied with the Send OH control in the Channel page. All kit-pieces feature a stereo Room ambience channel. The amount of each kit-piece in the Room channel can be varied with the Send Room control in the Channel page. Bleed and Direct channels Bleed between mics is a phenomenon that always occurs when recording drums with discrete direct mics for each part of the kit. A dedicated mic for one part of the kit always picks up some sound from other parts of the kit. In BFD Eco, bleed exists only in certain channels, in order to reduce system resource and RAM usage. It is possible to control the level of bleed in relevant mic channels with the Bleed control at the bottomleft of the interface. Whether you use bleed or not is up to you and your personal preference. It is recommended to use bleed if you want a realistic sound, as bleed always occurs in a multi-mic drum recording. However, if you want to go beyond notions of realism and achieve ideal separation for processing each kit-piece discretely, then turn down the level of the bleed to zero. Ambience channels (stereo) The ambience channels allow you to approach mixing in BFD Eco in the same way as an actual recording of a drummer playing a kit. Because each instrument is played individually, its ambience channels are discrete. However, since this would simply mean too many channels to conveniently mix, the discrete channels are mixed down to 2 ambience channel buses for the OverHead and Room mic positions. However, you can adjust the amount of each kit-piece in the ambience channels, using its Send OH and Send Room controls. 2:3 Using expansion packs with BFD Eco When using expansion packs with BFD Eco, only certain articulations and mic channels can be used (see the tables above). All audio data is loaded in 16 bit quality with a maximum of 24 velocity layers. Preset pickers Lock buttons Preset picker BFD Eco Presets Kit picker Mixer picker BFD Eco features preset pickers for the following type of presets: A BFD Eco Preset stores the entire state of the instrument. Note the capitalization whenever the manual refers to Presets. Presets also store preference settings that override BFD Ecos default preference settings. A kit stores the configuration of kit-pieces that form a kit, along with settings for the kit-pieces inspector controls (located on the left side of the Channel page). Kit-pieces contained within slots Kit-piece inspector settings (except the Aux1 / Aux2 Send controls) Mixers A mixer is a preset that stores the state of the mixer, including output routings and FX settings. t also stores the state of the Aux1 / Aux2 Send controls, located in the Channel page for kit-piece and ambience channels. I Kit-pieces (without any additional settings, as opposed to kit-piece presets see below) do not feature pickers like the main preset types. Instead, they are loaded in either of the following ways: Double-click on a kit-piece channel image ight-click (or CTRL-click on Mac) on a kit-piece channel and use the Load KitR piece function in the Channel context menu that appears Kit-piece presets The following types of preset files both feature preset pickers, although they are not located along with the main preset pickers at the top-right of the BFD Eco interface: A kit-piece preset stores the entire contents of a kit-piece channel the kit-piece contained within the channel, its mixer settings and its Channel page settings (including all inspector, EQ and FX slot settings). The kit-piece preset picker is above the large kit-piece image on the Channel page, when a kit-piece channel is selected. See section 5:1 for more details. Key map Key maps store MIDI key assignments for playing articulations. The key map picker is located in the Key Map panel, accessed via the Options menu. See chapter 8 for more details. 3:3 Using the Preset pickers As well as a listing of the currently available presets (click on any preset in the list to load it), each preset pickers drop-down menu features the following functions: Opens the preset browser (see section 3:5). Opens an OS file Save As dialog, allowing you to save current settings as a preset. Clear. Clears the contents of BFD Eco relevant to the preset type: Preset picker: clears the entire state of BFD Eco Kit picker: clears the kit and inspector settings Mixer picker: clears the entire mixer and EQ/FX settings Key map picker: clears the entire key map Using the preset picker for BFD Eco Presets 3:4 Lock buttons Lock buttons exist for the Kit, Mixer, Grooves and Key/MIDI (key map and MIDI CC assignments made in Learn mode). Enabling any of these buttons locks the relevant parts of BFD Eco, so that they remain unaffected when you Load. or Clear. a BFD Eco Preset. The Key/MIDI Lock button is enabled by default when BFD Eco is launched. Channel image FX1 / FX2 Power Pan Level meter Level fader Output selector Kit-piece channel controls Channel image Kit-piece direct channels Each kit-piece channels image features a photo of the kit-piece currently loaded. When a kit-piece channel is empty, the channel image is a representation of the type of kit-piece intended to be loaded into it (although the Perc1, Perc2 and Perc3 channels can load toms and cymbals as well as percussion kit-pieces). When a kit-piece is loaded, ALT-click the image to hear a preview of its main articulation. Click towards the left of the image to preview lower velocities, and towards the right for high velocities. Double-clicking a kit-piece channel image opens the kit-piece browser, allowing you to load a kit-piece into the channel. Ambience, Aux and Master channels The images on these channels are solely for identification purposes and do not perform any additional functions. FX1 / FX2 Power These buttons allow a quick way to enable or bypass the channels 2 FX devices without needing to switch to the Channel page. They perform the same function as each FX devices Power button (in the Channel page). Note that these buttons are only active with an FX device loaded in the relevant slot. ALT-click the image to preview the kit-piece Pan (kit-piece channels only) All kit-piece channels feature a Pan control in order to adjust the position of the mono channel within the stereo field. Note that a kit-piece channels panning cannot be applied to its signal in the ambience channels, because the ambience consists of stereo recordings. However, you can use the Flip LR button in the Channel page inspector to invert the stereo image of the kit-pieces ambience channels. Mute / Solo All channels feature Mute and Solo buttons. Level fader / meter Each channels level fader adjusts its volume. The level of the channel is indicated by the meter (single for mono channels, dual for stereo channels). Note that the Master channel fader only affects channels which are routed to the channel. If the output of any channel is set to its direct output, you can use the Global Volume control to adjust the level of all channels simultaneously (see chapter 7). Flip LR While the stereo position of kit-pieces in ambience channels cannot be adjusted, due to them being stereo recordings, the Flip LR button makes it possible to swap the left and right channels of the ambience if you pan a kit-piece to the other side of the stereo field. OH/Room Amount These controls adjust the amount of the kit-piece in the OH and Room ambience channels. Aux sends (kit-piece and ambience channels only) Aux1/Aux2 Send These controls send variable levels of the channel to the Aux1 and Aux2 channels. Sends are useful for parallel processing such as artificial reverb effects. Note that it is also possible to route the entire output of one or more channels to the Aux channels. Inspector display for OH and Room channels Using Sends allows you to vary the amount of each channels signal in the Aux channels without altering the original channels levels. All mixer channels kit-piece, ambience, aux and Master channels feature a hard-wired EQ and 2 FX slots, each of which can host one of the 15 internal FX devices. Each channel has a 4-band EQ hard-wired into it, prior to the 2 FX slots in the signal path. The top section of the EQ device features the same common controls as the FX slots except for an FX picker. See below for more details of these controls. Note that additional EQ devices can be loaded into FX slots if required. Each of the 4 EQ bands features a power button (LO, LM, HM and HI). Note that bands are activated automatically when their settings are adjusted. The Low (LO) and High (HI) bands are switchable from shelf to bell mode by enabling the Bell button. The Low Mid (LM) and High Mid (HM) parametric bands include a Q control. All bands feature Frequency and Gain controls. The hard-wired EQ features all the extra controls found in the FX slots (see below), with the exception of an FX picker. Frequency Display control You can change EQ curves by clicking and dragging the graphical display in the EQ interface. To edit a band in this way, move the mouse cursor over the display. The display is divided into 4 zones for each band from LO to HI, from left to right. Each zone is highlighted in a different colour, corresponding to the colour of the bands controls. ith a band highlighted, click and drag up/down to adjust the bands gain, and left/right to adjust its frequency. W or the two Mid bands, clicking and dragging up/down while holding down the ALT key allows you to adjust the bands Q. F This section describes the common controls of the FX slots. See chapter 10 for more details of each FX device. Input meter Turns the device on or off. With the button disabled, the effect is by assed and p inactive (its controls cannot be adjusted). These buttons are duplicated on the mixer section, meaning that you can power on/off individual FX without using the Channel page. See section 4:3 for more details. You can also toggle FX power on all channels using the global FX Power button (see chapter 7). Start marker (white) Standalone mode or host transport stopped The white start marker indicates the point in the Drum Track to which the position marker is sent when using the Return to start button on the transport. The next time the BFD Eco transport is started, playback starts from the Start marker point. You can press the Return to start button during playback, which causes the play position to jump to the start marker immediately. Host transport started The Drum Track playback position always starts in sync with the host position. You can click the Stop or Return to start buttons on BFD Ecos transport during playback in order to disconnect the synchronization between host and plugin. To re-establish host synchronization, stop and restart your host transport. Changing the Start marker position To change the position of the Start marker, click in the Ruler while holding down the ALT key. If you click twice in the Ruler, the first click sets the blue position marker and the second click sets the white start marker. 6:5 Adding parts to the Drum Track To add a Part to the Drum Track, drag and drop any Groove from the browser to the desired position in the Drum Track. The insertion point is shown by the red Insert marker. Once a Groove has been dropped onto the Track, it is referred to as a Part. 1. Drag a Groove from the browser over the Drum Track 2. he position at which it will appear T is indicated by the red Insert marker 3. Drop the Groove to add it as a Part at the Insert marker position You cannot layer multiple Parts on top of each other only one Part can be playing on the Drum Track at once. If you require more complex sequencing, you must use MIDI tracks in your host to send events to BFD Eco. You can drag & drop Grooves to host MIDI tracks see section 6:9. 6:6 Manipulating Parts on the Drum Track Selecting Parts Click on a Part to select it. Several adjacent Parts can be selected by clicking on the song background and drawing a selection box over the desired Parts. You can also select multiple parts in the following ways: CTRL-click (Windows) or Command-click (Mac) Adds the Part to the current selection. If a Part is already selected, this operation de-selects it. SHIFT-click Creates a contiguous selection between two Parts. Moving selected Parts Using drag & drop To move Parts within the Track using drag & drop: 1. Select one or more parts and then drag them left/right along the Track. 2. The posiion at which they will be dropped is shown by the red Insert marker. t 3. Release the mouse button to drop the part at the desired position. If there is a gap between the insert marker and subsequent Parts identical to or greater than the size of the moved Part(s), the moved Part(s) simply slot into the gap. If there is no gap, or a gap smaller than the moved Part(s), all subsequent Parts in the track are nudged later in time by the length of the moved Part(s) in other words, the gap is preserved. Humanize Time Applies varying amounts of timing randomization to playing Groove events. Lower settings are recommended for subtle and non-intrusive humanization, while high settings can result in extremely sloppy timing. Applies a variable amount of non-destructive swing to playing Groove events. Simplify Applies an algorithm that selectively mutes events in terms of importance to the Groove. As the control is increased, more events are muted. This parameter essentially behaves as a threshold on a complexity gate. It is very useful if you find a Groove to be too busy for example, with a lot of ghost notes that intrude upon the rest of your song too much. Grooves can be exported as MIDI from BFD Eco in the following ways: 1. Drag & drop as host MIDI part to host MIDI track Drag and drop any Groove from the browser to a MIDI track in your host. The Groove appears as a standard MIDI part/clip/sequence. The current Key Map is used to translate the Grooves articulation triggers into suitable MIDI notes. Once the Groove has been exported in this way, it can be edited using your hosts editing facilities such as the piano roll, and manipulated with its MIDI functions such quantize etc. When using host MIDI tracks to trigger BFD Ecos articulations, remember to set Grooves Mode to Off if it isnt already. Note that although you can export to a MIDI track that is set to trigger BFD Eco, you can route the exported MIDI clip to any other instrument if required. 2. Drag & drop as MIDI file to disk folder Drag and drop any Groove from the browser to your desktop (or any other folder on your hard disk) to export it as a MIDI file. The current Key Map is used to translate the Grooves articulation triggers into suitable MIDI notes. The file is saved as a standard MIDI file, which can be imported into any compatible software or hardware device for playback and editing. Disk activity meter Context info RAM meter MIDI activity indicator Audio stream indicator Adjusts the level of kit-pieces in the Kick In and Snare Bottom channels. See section 2:3 for more details about bleed. Disabling Variable mode access to open/closed only With Variable mode disabled, the notes transmitted from the Roland hihat triggers either closed or open tip/shank articulations. Recording hihat performances in this way means that editing and quantizing is much easier (due to not having to edit a MIDI CC in parallel to notes). You can edit the notes to play other available hihat articulations afterwards. Pedal note choking In both cases, the pedal note (G#1, sometimes termed a foot-chick) chokes any playing hihat articulations. Auto Pedal This function, when enabled, generates a pedal note articulation whenever the incoming hihat pedal MIDI CC value reaches 127. You should only need to use this function if your electronic drumkit does not send out a pedal note when the hihat pedal is fully depressed. Auto Splash If this function is enabled, a hihat splash sound is generated when the hihat pedal is opened and closed very quickly. MIDI Log The MIDI Log is provided to help troubleshoot MIDI-related problems. It displays a real-time readout of incoming MIDI messages, which can be useful when creating key map assignments. Octave numbering scheme Changes the MIDI note octave numbering scheme. When this is set to Normal, the lowest octave is numbered 0. Some sequencers/drum modules number the lowest octave as -1 or -2. Please note that each kit-piece slot or channel contains a fixed number of articulations, which are detailed in section 2:1. ot all kit-pieces contain all articulations. Whenever a kit-piece lacks a certain articulation, a suitable articulation is substituted when it is N triggered from a mapped MIDI key or a Groove event. he Perc1, Perc2 and Perc3 channels can load percussion, tom and cymbal kit-pieces. However, only the first 2 articulations are available, T which are triggered with the slots Hit and Alt key map assignments. When BFD Eco is launched, the preference settings from the last time you used the software are used. When you save a Preset or a host project containing the BFD Eco plugin, the current preferences are saved with it, and recalled when the session is restored. Set Data Path. Opens the data path panel, which allows you to set up one or more folders that contain BFD Ecocompatible data (kit-piece audio and Grooves). At least 1 data path must exist in order for BFD Eco to be usable! Multiple data paths can often be useful if you purchase additional expansions, but lack the space on a single hard disk for all the data. To add a data path, click the Add data path button. An OS browser dialog is displayed, allowing you to navigate to and select the desired folder. When you select a data path, the database of kitpieces and Grooves is refreshed. To remove a data path, select it in the list, and click the Remove data path button. Clicking the Clear button removes all data paths from the list. After you install BFD Eco, the path for its supplied data is already specified in this panel. When setting a data path, you should select the top level of the folder heres an example: BFD Eco/Audio /Grooves In this case, you should select the BFD Eco folder as the data path not /Audio or any other folder. Env Shaper The Envelope Shaper allows you to adjust transients and change the dynamic shape of a signal in a different way to using a compressor. The Sensitivity control adjusts the Env Shapers peak detection circuit. Detected peaks are affected by the Attack and Sustain transient processing. The Attack control adjusts the intensity of the attack phase of transients in the audio. Increase the control to intensify attack transients, and decrease it to soften transients. The Sustain control adjusts the intensity of release portions of transients in the audio, which increases or decreases the apparent sustain of sounds in the signal. Increase the control for more sustain, and decrease it for less sustain. This control is useful for adjusting the perceived level of ambience in a channel. Very low settings can produce damping effects for drum sounds. The processed signal level can be adjusted using the Gain control, between -12 dB and +12 dB. Breverb Plate The duration of the reverb tail is dictated by the Time and Size controls, while the Diffusion parameter adjusts the degree to which the initial echo density increases over time. The Predelay control adjusts the time that elapses between the input signal and the onset of reverberation. The Shape control dictates the contour of the reverberation envelope. At the minimum setting, reverberation builds explosively and decays very quickly. As the control is raised, reverberation builds up more gradually and sustains longer. The Low control sets the frequency under which the reverb effect is attenuated, while the High control sets the frequency over which the reverb effect is attenuated. Ch.11 Standalone application and plugin usage The BFD Eco standalone application is provided so that you can use the software without requiring a host in order to use it. It can be convenient to operate BFD Eco in this way for live use or quick drum composition. You can either save a BFD Eco Preset of your work for later recall in a host, or simply use the built-in audio and MIDI export functions in order to create files that can be imported into other software or devices. It is also very useful as a means of authorizing BFD Eco, as the plugin-initializing mechanisms of many hosts can disrupt the authorization process. Please note that if you require functionality such as multiple outputs or advanced synchronization (except slaving to MTC), you should use a suitable host, such as Plogue Bidule (). Tempo and time signature When running BFD Eco as a standalone application, you can change the tempo and time signature settings directly on the interface. Double-click each control, type a new value and hit ENTER or RETURN. I/O Settings The I/O Settings menu in the standalone application is located in the standard OS menu-bar. It alllows you to make various settings for audio and MIDI input and output. Audio Devices Using this sub-menu, select the desired audio interface device with which you want to use the BFD Eco standalone application. On Windows, ASIO and MME devices are shown. For best results, a good ASIO device is recommended. If your audio interface lacks an ASIO driver, it is often possible to achieve good results using the free ASIO4ALL universal ASIO driver, which can be downloaded from On Mac OSX, all available CoreAudio devices are shown in the menu. Audio Channels This sub-menu shows the available stereo output pairs for the currently selected Audio Device. Currently, only 1 stereo channel can be selected the standalone application does not support multiple output channels at this time. If you need to set up more than a stereo output, please use BFD Eco in a suitable host that supports this feature. Audio Buffer Size The BFD Eco standalone application attempts to detect the current buffer size setting for your audio device. In some cases this may not be possible, due to the devices driver not properly responding to the standalone applications request. In such cases, set the Audio Buffer Size to the same value as that defined in your audio devices control panel. Sample Rate Again, the standalone application attempts to detect the current sample rate setting for your audio device. In some cases this may not be possible, due to the devices driver not properly responding to the standalone applications request. In such cases, set the Sample Rate to the same value as that defined in your audio devices control panel. MIDI Ports This sub-menu shows all detected MIDI ports in your system. Click a MIDI port to enable MIDI input from the port to BFD Eco. You can select more than one MIDI port in order to combine MIDI input devices if required. Sync to MTC Enabling the Sync to MTC function results in the BFD Eco standalone application responding to MIDI timecode in order to synchronize with another device. You must make sure that the currently enabled MIDI ports include the port on which the MTC is being transmitted. The standalone application can only sync to an external MTC source. It cannot send out its own MTC or other sync methods such as MIDI clock. If you need such functionality, please use BFD Eco as a plugin in a suitable host that supports these features.. reate a mono or stereo Aux channel, depending on whether you want to monitor an additional mono or stereo output from BFD Eco. C 2. et the input of the Aux channel as the relevant stereo or mono output from BFD Eco after BFD Eco is inserted into the project, its outputs become S available as track input sources. 3. Repeat this process for as many additional BFD Eco outputs that you need to monitor. If you encounter any problems performing the steps above, please consult your hosts documentation or contact the manufacturers tech support channels BFD Eco operates in the same way as any other multiple-output instrument plugin. To do this you either need to use Logics bounce functions (see the Logic documentation) make sure you enable the Offline button before performing any offline or non-realtime export. Alternatively, you can use BFD Ecos audio export feature when exporting Grooves. Using BFD Eco as a VST plugin or an AU plugin in Ableton Live On Mac, Ableton Live supports both VST and AU plugins. When using the VST plugin, it is possible to use BFD Ecos MIDI Out feature to send MIDI to another track from BFD Eco. The AU format does not support MIDI output from plugins, so this feature is unavailable when using the AU plugin. 1. Drag and drop the BFD Eco VST or AU plugin (Mac only) from the Plug-In Devices list into the Live workspace.. Create an audio track. 2. Click the I-O button on the right hand side of the Live interface to reveal each tracks input/output settings. 3. Set the Audio From selector to the BFD Eco track. 4. Set the selector immediately underneath this to the required BFD Eco output. ive does not possess mono tracks. Therefore, it treats BFD Ecos 16 mono outputs as 8 stereo output pairs. In order to monitor a mono output properly, L insert Lives Utility plugin (found in the Audio FX folder in the Live Devices list) onto an audio track set up as above. Set up the Utility plugin so that it monitors either the right or left of the channel, panned to the centre. If you encounter any problems performing the steps above, please consult your hosts documentation or contact the manufacturers tech support channels BFD Eco operates in the same way as any other multiple-output instrument plugin. 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What Lessons Should Americans Draw From Iraq War? December 19, 2011 Listen to the Story Guests Read Tom Rick's Foreign Policy post, 'Just What Did We Fight And Bleed For?'. Copyright © 2011 National Public Radio®. For personal, noncommercial use only. See Terms of Use. For other uses, prior permission required. NEAL CONAN, HOST: This is TALK OF THE NATION. I'm Neal Conan in Washington. With U.S. troops now out of Iraq as of this weekend, it's time to start asking those who served there what they fought and bled for. The historian and long-time defense reporter Tom Ricks posed that question on his blog recently. About a million Americans served in uniform over the last nine years, since the U.S.-led invasion. Many others worked in various capacities for the State Department, contractors, news agencies, NGOs. If you've been to Iraq in or out of uniform, what should we remember? 800-989-8255. Email [email protected]. You can also join the conversation on our website. That's at npr.org. Click on TALK OF THE NATION. Later in the program, a playwright and activists on the activist playwright who helped bring down the Iron Curtain, Ariel Dorfman on Vaclav Havel. But first Iraq, and Tom Ricks is now a senior fellow at the Center for New American Security, also writes The Best Defense blog for Foreign Policy, and wrote two histories of the war, "Fiasco" and "The Gamble." He joins us here in Studio 3A. Tom, nice to have you back on the program. TOM RICKS: Thank you. CONAN: And I wonder what the reaction was when you posted that question, just what did we fight and bleed for? RICKS: I wrote that column because I did not have a good answer. And it was very heartfelt, but like a lot of heartfelt things, it was kind of inarticulate. I don't know. I was puzzling - I was asking myself what would you say to a vet of the war? And what I came down to was basically welcome home, thank you for answering your country's call. But I can't say it was the right thing to do to fight that war. I don't think we really have - will know how the war ends for several years, but it's clear to me it was one of the biggest mistakes in American history. And it was kind of an embarrassment for this country. We invaded a country recklessly, on false information, with a notion of preemption. We got a lot of people killed. I'm not sure we did much good. So how do you think about that? I was actually thinking about this another way the other day: What would an Iraq war memorial look like? Eventually we'll have one. Now, the Vietnam Memorial is a gash in the ground, like a grave. I think the Iraq War memorial probably would ideally be a dead end into the ground. CONAN: We'd like to hear from you. If you were in Iraq, in uniform or out, what did we fight and bleed for? 800-989-8255. Email is [email protected]. We'll start with Mike, and Mike's with us from Lodi in Wisconsin. MIKE: Hi, good afternoon. I actually - I'm a career Army officer that's been retired for five years, and I'm a career logistician, and I actually concur with the remarks of your guest, I didn't catch his name. CONAN: Tom Ricks. MIKE: But what I remember is, for the most part, most of the places that I was at, I was at four bases in Iraq, and basically it was a very - if you were inside the base, it was like going to work every day, pretty much, except it was pretty hot outside. But if you went outside on a convoy, very scary. IEDs killed a lot of people, two of my friends, and just whatever - I'm not sure what you can say to another vet either when he comes home. But people certainly don't - still don't understand how our military is set up because those people that are coming home are not going to be discharged, looking for jobs, President Obama; they're going to probably still have careers in the military. So, you know, we're off the hook for that for the most part. That's about all I can say. It's just exciting to be on the program for the first time ever, as many times as I've called, Neal. CONAN: Well, congratulations for making it in on the phone; more congratulations, too, for making it back OK. We thank you. MIKE: Yeah, thank you, you're very welcome. CONAN: Tom? RICKS: I'd say welcome home. I'd also say what I think about - it really struck me when he talked about the heat. When I think about Iraq, the one memory that immediately comes back is the ferocious, mind-bending humid heat of mid-summer there. When it was transitioning from the spring, which is very wet, the summer, which can be hot and dry, you get a period in May and June when it's both, about 120 degrees, very humid. Imagine D.C. with the temperature turned up in the summer another 20 degrees. It really is the first place I ever really felt I was not thinking clearly a couple of times in the middle of the day, and that's the strongest physical memory I have of the place. CONAN: Gary Anderson is a retired colonel in the Marines who served in Iraq as a member of a provincial reconstruction team in Abu Ghraib, outside of Baghdad, and he joins us now by phone. And Gary Anderson, nice to have you back with us, as well. GARY ANDERSON: Good to be back, Tom. CONAN: And Colonel Anderson, as you - what did we fight and bleed for? ANDERSON: Well, you know, I think I feel a lot - much the same as Tom does. You sit back, and you wonder what, you know, what we actually got out of this thing. I have to kind of personalize it, and I still have a chance to talk to people that I worked with, Iraqis particularly, and, you know, just they're starting to get an almost revisionist feel about it. They've been without us up in Abu Ghraib for about 14, 15 months now, and they're - it's kind of getting to a point where they're saying, hey, things were a lot better when the Americans were here. So it's a matter of perspective for them, I think. You happen to remember the good things and sometimes forget the bad things. CONAN: When you got there, the situation was bad. You've told us in the past, when you left, it was better. ANDERSON: Yeah, we actually went through the entire - in Abu Ghraib itself - went through the entire - all three faces of the coin - the clear, the hold, and we were getting into the build as I left. And in that respect it was gratifying to see, you know, things start to come along and get better. The question is, you know, did they stay that way, and will they stay that way? Right now things - people tell me they are in fairly good shape, but that's one slice of Iraq. I can't speak to the rest of the country. CONAN: There are reports of new tensions between the Shia leadership, Nouri al-Maliki and indeed the Sunnis, who provided much of the opposition during the war, much of the insurgency, they also provided the key to unwinding the insurgency. Andrew Exum is with us, senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, Army veteran who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. Nice to have you back on the program. ANDREW EXUM: Yeah, it's great go be here. CONAN: And what are you going to take away? Why did we fight? EXUM: Well, you know, first off, it's an honor to be on a program with - Iraq taught me as a junior officer that sometimes it's best not to listen to the supposed wisdom of your elders, but in this case it's pleasure to serve with two long-time mentors, you know, Gary and Tom. I think that, you know, for me, when I look at the Iraq War, I think there were lots of reasons to found. Both, you know, I was proud to have been part of the task force that captured Saddam Hussein, and that was - you know, we freed Iraq from this horrible dictatorship. But in terms of was it worth it, absolutely not. When you look at the trillion dollars that we spent, when you look at – I think - and I apologize if my number is incorrect, but I think 4,483 U.S. servicemen killed in Iraq, and that's, you know, not even counting the just tens of thousands of Iraqi civilian casualties that we saw, just a horrific war. You know, you think back to the maelstrom of violence in 2005, 2006, 2007, which Tom was a firsthand witness to, and it's hard to say that the war was with it. And in addition, especially for me as also an Afghanistan veteran, the way in which we shifted the vast majority of our military and intelligence resources away from Afghanistan and are now dealing with the aftermath of that decision today. So I don't take too much away from it positive. I mean, the big strategic lesson for me, you know, in addition this is the strategic lesson of the war in Vietnam as well, don't elect Texans president. But I think that we in the military learned a lot of smaller lessons that we've brought with us to Afghanistan, sometimes incorrectly. And I've seen a lot of my peers who are still junior officers in the U.S. Army have faith that they're going to take a lot of the lessons that they've learned about these types of engagements, about these types of political wars, and a lot of just hard-won lessons of close-quarters combat that they'll take with them over the course of their military careers. CONAN: I really wish I could say our next caller is Rick from Austin, but maybe not. (SOUNDBITE OF LAUGHTER) CONAN: Let's go to Travis, Travis with us from Quincy, Massachusetts. TRAVIS: Yes, hello, thank you for having me on the program. Briefly, I was there, and it will be considered – it will be considered that. But I just wanted to make a brief comment. You know, the war is, you know, tragic and was tragic for us on a number of levels, the combat - you know, the combat on the ground, the nature of it and what happened to the Iraqi people. But one thing that's not often talked about is the fact that after Vietnam, political and military culture was such that we had non-interventionist ideologies throughout, you know, and into the '90s. And one thing that that meant was that during, you know, Srebrenica, Rwanda, Bosnia, et cetera, non-interventionist policies prevented us from helping in terms of hundreds of thousands of, you know, people dying. And one of the tragedies of this war is that yet again, a war of choice, a war in which the secondary justifications don't really stack up when you compare them to Bosnia and the other conflicts with hundreds of thousands killed, one of the other things that's going to happen now is you're going to have - and you saw it to a limited extent in Libya, the opposition there, you're going to have years and decades of non-interventionism, not another Iraq, and humanitarian crises that are justified, you know, our intervention. And that's a real tragedy, you know, the fact that we could not really help the Iraqi people as much as we should have and the fact that, you know, we didn't do it protecting or defending our country. And I want your guests to comment. I'll take it off the air. Thank you. CONAN: Just a slight correction on the timeline; Rwanda was after the first Gulf War. So there had been successful intervention. But Tom Ricks? RICKS: Travis, welcome home, and thank you for your kind words about my book. It's an honor to have you read it. I disagree with you, though, on the consequences of the war. I'm surprised the extent to which the American people have not kind of gone into an isolationist huddle. We just did intervene, and in a very intelligent way, I think, in Libya. We just put a small task force into Central Africa to help coordinate security efforts of small countries there. I think the two great surprises to me of this war are, number one, that we have not recoiled, as we did after Vietnam; and number two, I'm surprised at the shape the U.S. military's in. I would have expected, if you had told me 10 years ago what we would put these people through with multiple deployments, with just one percent of society carrying the burden of the war, I would have expected it to shatter the Army, and it hasn't. And I have to attribute that to the great cohesiveness you see in the force today. CONAN: Travis, thanks very much for the call. We're talking about what we - the end of the U.S. war in Iraq. If you were there, in uniform or out of uniform, what do you think we should remember about the war? Give us a call, 800-989-8255. Email us, [email protected]. Retired Colonel Marines Gary Anderson is with us, along with Tom Ricks of the Center for a New American Security. Andrew Exum served in Iraq and Afghanistan. He now also works at the Center for a New American Security. Stay with us. I'm Neal Conan, TALK OF THE NATION, NPR News. (SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC) CONAN: This is TALK OF THE NATION, from NPR News. I'm Neal Conan. Early Sunday morning, the final convoy from Contingency Operating Base Adder in south Iraq rumbled across the border into Kuwait. It was thankfully a quiet exit from the country the U.S. invaded noisily nine years ago in a shock-and-awe campaign designed to throttle a country with overwhelmingly might. Now, nearly nine years later, Americans have learned hard lessons about intelligence, warfare and sacrifice. If you've been to Iraq, either as a service member or civilian, what do you want to be sure we remember? 800-989-8255. Email us, [email protected]. You can also join the conversation on our website. Go to npr.org. Click on TALK OF THE NATION. Tom Ricks writes the Best Defense blog for Foreign Policy, is with us. Also Colonel Gary Anderson and Andrew Exum, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security. Gary Anderson, I wanted to turn to you on that last question that we had from a caller. Given that Afghanistan continues, the point Tom Ricks was making about he's surprised that America is not recoiling the way it did after the helicopters took off from the roof of the embassy in Saigon. ANDERSON: Well, I think one thing we've learned something about at this point in time is how to manage one of these things once we've gotten into it. You can make a lot of arguments about the way we got into it, and I would say that about both Afghanistan and Iraq. But once you're into it, trying to figure out the best way to get out and do it in such a way that you have a - you're not literally going out on the skids of helicopters is a real challenge. And for a while there in Iraq, it looked like we might be headed in that direction. The one thing that strikes me, and I think Andrew said it, is that we have learned a little bit about how to deal with states that are failing or have failed. And right now, although the Iraqis eventually didn't have the WMD that we thought they did, we've got two very precarious states that we're dealing with, and we were reminded of that when Kim Jong-il died, that we've got two very unstable nuclear states, and if they really start to go south, you have to wonder if we may not have to get involved in that, too. At least we've got some context, I think, now on how to think about that if we have to, God forbid, if either one of them does go under. CONAN: This from Rosa Maria(ph) in Kingston, Rhode Island: Everyone's so happy the troops are coming home. But how many of those joyous celebrations will end with new deployments to Afghanistan? Obviously, there's a drawdown in Afghanistan, as well, Andrew Exum, but new people will be rotating out. EXUM: Yeah, that's right. For the conventional forces, they've got about another two years to get through before we really bottom out in Afghanistan. The Special Operations Forces, both our U.S. Army Special Forces, will continue their train and advisory mission. And, you know, the U.S. Navy Seals, the U.S. Army Ranger regiment, and some of our special missions units will still be quit active in Afghanistan and other operating theaters as we go forward. I want to just touch on something that Tom talked about. He talked about the resilience of the U.S. military, and one of the things that for me as a young veteran is really frustrating, I mean, I very much appreciate the way in which, you know, society is not sensitized to PTSD and to, you know, to what soldiers have gone through in Iraq. But I worry that, you know, an entire class of veterans have been stigmatized. The reality is that if you go into the all-volunteer force, if you talk to, you know, young junior officers, senior, non-commissioned officers who - you know, veterans of multiple deployments, it's remarkable the degree to which they are doing just fine. And that's the case for most young veterans, as well. So I think that you can't over-emphasize that. Having said that, it's come at a cost. You know, we have this professional military, but it's largely cut off from the rest of society. So basically just, you know, .5 percent of the, you know, the United States population really has a stake in this war, maybe one percent if you include their families and whatnot. And that does lead to a worry that I have. You know, Travis, the caller from the 101st Airborne, raised the possibility that we're not going to intervene. I'm actually OK with that. I think we should be a little more humble about using U.S. military power in an expeditionary sense, and we should be more humble about what it can achieve. That having been said, I completely agree with Gary that we've learned a lot of valuable lessons from both Iraq and Afghanistan, and even though stabilization operations have gone out of vogue in 2011, we'll see if they go back into fashion in 2012 if North Korea collapses. CONAN: Here's an email from Mike in Sacramento: I was an enlisted infantry soldier in Iraq from 2006 to 2007. I worked with a Marine rifleman who was there during the initial push in 2003. We to both remember OIF as a sham, a farce, a cruel joke and a waste of time, money and lives. However, when we returned from Iraq, we would have punched you in the face if you'd told us that. We didn't want to believe that the time we'd spent over there was for nothing. For me, the idea that I'd helped create something good over there held me together for the first few years I was back. Now, however, I am disgusted by the role our country played in destroying the country. My memories of Iraq are smeared with cynicism, bitterness and resentment toward my country's leadership. Lets' see if we can go next to Jovan(ph), Jovan with us from Little Rock. JOVAN: Hi, I just got back from Iraq this summer, and I was in the Air Force, and just basically my point of view on it was the fact that I really think it depends on the job that you're doing over there. My hat's off to all the Army guys, the Marine guys, because they're boots on the ground, doing a lot of heavy stuff and - versus some of us. I was on an aircraft support position, on a base, so to where I didn't get to see the ugliness of the war. And my interaction with the people that worked on base, the Iraqis that worked on base, was positive. And they liked us. They were nice people. They were good people. And I enjoyed my deployment. But I have a friend in security forces who - he hated it because he was spit on at the jails. He was threatened every day with death threats. So I really think it depends on the job that you had over there. I had a good experience. EXUM: So true, that's so true. You know, for me, I think I had it pretty easy in 2003. When I look at my friends who were company commanders during 2007, during the height of the surge. They had a much different and more intense experience than I did. CONAN: And put it in a timeframe, as Tom Ricks mentioned earlier. This email from Chris in Grand Rapids: If in five years Iraq is democratic and free, how is that a mistake? We need to wait and see. ANDERSON: He's right. You know, miracles do happen. I just don't see the trend going that direction. I think it's pretty clear, at least in the short term, that we have altered the balance of power in the Middle East not for the better, that Iran is the prime beneficiary of the American foray into Iraq. CONAN: Jovan, thanks very much for the call. Let's see if we can go next to - this is Jesse(ph), Jesse with us from Norman, Oklahoma. JESSE: Hi, hello? CONAN: You're on the air, Jesse. Go ahead, please. JESSE: Hi, I just wanted to say I was in the initial invasion in Third ID. I was an artilleryman, and I went back again in 2005. And I want to say that although the war may have been misdirected, and I should have been in Afghanistan, those people now have the opportunity, whether they take it or not, to have freedom and to choose to do what is best for their people. Whether or not they do that remains to be seen. And that, in my opinion, is exactly what's going to determine if my friends that I lost and all of those other people that have sacrificed over there is going to be worth it. CONAN: Gary Anderson, let me bring you in on that. You experienced that firsthand, working as a civilian with a Provincial Reconstruction Team. Do you think people appreciate the opportunity, and do you think they will be able to seize it? ANDERSON: Well, just the thing that struck me universally between - we had a province that was pretty well evenly split between Sunni and Shia - the two primary minority groups there - was the thing that struck me was the anti-Iranian, anti-Persian tone of both the Sunni and the Shia, which really surprised me. And there were a whole lot of things that, you know, that contributed to that, but I think in my view in the future, as we move along here, what we are going to see is that no Iraqi politician is going to prosper in the long run if he allies himself too closely to the Iranians. So to some extent I think there is some hope there that we will establish something that is a bulwark against Iranian expansionism in that part of the world, but I think time will tell. That's just my own personal opinion from one small slice of Iraq itself. CONAN: Go ahead. EXUM: I think Gary's right there. I actually am somewhat surprised by Tom. I think Tom's right to be worried about Iraq, especially given the authoritarian tendencies of Nouri al-Maliki, which have come to the fore just really over the past few days, even more than before. But I think Gary's also right that the Iraqis - and we learned this the hard way in 2003 - don't particularly like foreign intervention in their country and that they have a very strong sense of what it means to be Iraqi and are not going to just quietly acquiesce to Iranian whims. CONAN: Jesse, thanks for the call. JESSE: Thank you very much. CONAN: Email from - this is Champa(ph), from Tucson: We keep talking about how many there gave their lives, both U.S. and Iraqis. We don't mention the upwards of 30,000 injured or permanently disabled. That's a huge loss and cost to our country. And I think everyone would say here, here. John is on the line, John with us from Kalamazoo. JOHN: Yes, I served both in Iraq and Afghanistan - Iraq twice - and I really think both of the wars were an insult to our nation. And really adding insult to injury, when we came home, we had to basically beg and grovel for any help. I know myself was injured because of the anthrax vaccination. I had to beg for transportation, for health care and then groveling on the South Lawn to President Bush to complain about how so many veterans are waiting for disability benefits. And I think that really adds a scar to our nation. I mean, it's really a shame that we had to treat our vets that way. We're just like toy soldiers to them. CONAN: Tom Ricks, this has been a continual complaint, yet we hear nothing from politicians, except we have to remember the sacrifices of our veterans who fought so nobly in - for our flag. RICKS: My impression is the Veterans Administration is doing a better job now than it has in the past. But historically speaking, we have never drawn down the military after a war very well. It wasn't so long ago - it was the - 1930 when we had veterans marching and occupying Washington... The bonus riots. JOHN: Right. RICKS: ...very much like Occupy Washington, Occupy Wall Street today. The Army chief of staff, Douglas MacArthur, led troops against those veterans in Washington. They burned them out. They burned down their Occupy Washington village of 1930. We have a hard time getting beyond lip service. I was struck that one of the first things that the Pentagon did when they started looking at having to cut its budget was looking at cutting military benefits, especially retirement benefits, which has struck me as a real slap in the face. EXUM: Well, I think the Department of Defense does a good job looking after military personnel. I think the Veterans Administration does a - has historically done a poorer job. Although I agree with Tom, I think you've got some great folks over there at the VA that are trying to amend that. You know, George Washington said that a nation will go to war - men will be willing to serve under arms depending on how the veterans of previous wars were treated. And so I think it's a national security issue that we treat our veterans well because if you're in high school and you see veterans being maltreated on the streets of the United States, you see veterans not being taken cared of when they return, how likely are you going to, you know, enlist in the Marines or the Ranger regiment? CONAN: Thanks very much for the call, John. JOHN: Thank you. CONAN: Andrew Exum, you just heard, served as a junior officer in Afghanistan and Iraq. Gary Anderson is retired as a colonel of Marines, served in Iraq as a member of a Provincial Reconstruction Team working for the State Department, and Tom Ricks, a senior fellow at the Center for a New American Security, wrote two books about the war in Iraq, "Fiasco" and "The Gamble." You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. And here's an email from Toby in Berlin, in Germany. What do I want people to remember about the Iraq War? Two words, Abu Ghraib. And I don't think he's referring to the town where Colonel Anderson served but to the scandal that emerged from the prison there. And you could point out other words - Haditha. Yet, of course, there are - any war you unleash troops, there are going to be atrocities. There are going to be your My Lais. There are going to be - Tom Ricks, this is a part of conflict. RICKS: It is. CONAN: Not to excuse it or it's a... RICKS: The difference is how the institution reacts. There are always going to be war crimes and atrocities. The question is: does the institution react and investigate it and shut it down? Do they change their procedures? It's very striking when you look at Abu Ghraib, that the U.S. military I don't think ever really looked at the leadership flaws that led to it. It's akin to torture by the Bush administration. Sure, torture has occurred in all wars, but this is the first time that our nation ever made it policy to torture people. It used to be an aberration that was punished. So it does worry me that we have not really turned over those rocks sufficiently, especially in calling leadership to account for what happened. We punish a lot of soldiers, but the old cynical saying in the Army is different spanks for different ranks. And I think that's what happened with Abu Ghraib. CONAN: Email to the same point from Luke. I served with Mr. Exum in Georgia and elsewhere. Please ask him about our loss of moral high ground lay Abu Ghraib, Tillman, enhanced interrogation, domestically the loss of liberty, i.e. the Patriot Act and the new Defense Authorization Act. Is this part of all war? EXUM: Yeah. Well, first off, Luke, thanks for getting in touch. I think, you know, in terms of our loss of the moral high ground, you know, Tom is right, and, Neal, you're correct as well that you're always going to have sometimes breakdowns in discipline. You'll have, you know, in the case of Abu Ghraib, you had noncommissioned officers that, quite frankly, weren't doing their jobs, commissioned officers that weren't doing their jobs. The worrying thing is that there's no accountability, is that there was very little accountability at the beginning of the war, not just in terms of the atrocities but in terms of the fact we were actually losing the war. And you very rarely saw officers relieved. You very rarely saw any type of accountability at the higher ranks. I mean, Donald Rumsfeld had a job until after the 2006 congressional elections. That to me is just absolutely shocking. I think that the United States military can take a tremendous amount of pride in the way in which it has kept its discipline over a decade of fighting. I think there's a lot to be proud of. I think that, you know, incidents like the kill team in Afghanistan, of the Haditha massacre, these are aberrations. But I think the important thing is because the United States military is held to, frankly, a higher standard than any other military, we have to be seen as being accountable. And that when atrocities take place, you have to see some sort of accountability take place in a transparent way that make sense for not just U.S. voters but, quite frankly, for the world at large. CONAN: Gary Anderson, what are the consequences of a lack of accountability, especially at the higher ranks? ANDERSON: It's a very serious thing, and it goes all the way from the top to the bottom. If you don't hold people accountable to standards and you don't hold them rigidly accountable, you're always going to be prone to have that sort of thing happen. And as inexcusable as it is I think the one thing we hopefully have learned and I say that, you know, being no longer in the military but remembering how it was, you've got to be absolutely accountable for everything your people do or failed to do. RICKS: That's right. ANDERSON: Even if you're not there, you have to create the command climate that a certain things just aren't going to happen. And it has got to go all the way to the top, and people have to be held accountable. The Navy does a better job at that than almost any other service. If a ship goes aground, it doesn't matter if the captain was on the bridge or was on a well-deserved sleep break, he's probably going to be relieved because he didn't set the standard of excellence that was needed to avoid (unintelligible). I think if anything comes out of this, we've got to maybe take that Navy standard and apply it all the way across all the services. RICKS: Concur. CONAN: We're talking about lessons learned at the end of the U.S. war in Iraq. Tom Ricks, Colonel Gary Anderson - you just heard him there - and Andrew Exum are our guests. More in a minute. We'll also remember Vaclav Havel. You're listening to TALK OF THE NATION from NPR News. In a few minutes, we're going to be switching subjects and talking about the late Czech leader, Vaclav Havel, who died over the weekend, but we want to continue our conversations about Iraq as U.S. troops exit. Our guests are Tom Ricks, of the Center for a New American Security, wrote "Fiasco" and "The Gamble"; retired Colonel Gary Anderson, served as a - on a Provincial Reconstruction Team at Abu Ghraib, outside of Baghdad; and Andrew Exum served as a junior officer in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and he's now at the Center for a New American Security as well. And let's see if we can get Gia on the line. Gia is with us from Edmond, Oklahoma. GIA: Hi, Neal. How are you doing? CONAN: I'm well. Thank you. GIA: The comment I'd like to have put on the air is the following: My son was born in 2002. My husband and I both are in the military. My husband is active duty, I'm a reservist. We have had a deployment maybe not two boots on the ground but in support of the Iraq War the entire lifetime of my child. It has done nothing but damage him. And I just don't know how to explain to him why mommy and daddy were leaving and the mess that we've got ourselves into. So not only has this war affected the military, it's affected all those Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine children that their parents left continually to fight this war that now we can't tell them why. CONAN: Gary Anderson, I know your situation with your son - much older than Gia's - but you ended up being there as a civilian while he was there in the military. ANDERSON: Actually, he was in Afghanistan, but the point is well-made. Of course, my family is a military family. My son is commanding a ship. My - or my son-in-law, I should say. My son is still in the Army. To some extent, and particularly in the professional military families, this is something you sort of come to expect, and it becomes part of the rite of passage and families. But it's a lot tougher for a young family that hasn't experienced that before, and what happens again and again and again. I don't know, to be honest with you, how much psychological effect this is going to have long term on the service as a whole. It's probably too soon to tell. But I think we really have to rethink some of our personnel policies, particularly how long we'd keep people in theater. I think a year is probably too long. I think the Marines may have it about right, doing seven months. But it doesn't solve the overall problem of separations. It is really a tough problem for families all over the country. CONAN: And just as - we thought the Guard and reserves after Vietnam, we may have to rethink that again. But, Tom Ricks? RICKS: I do think we have to rethink rotation and the burden we put on such a small segment of society. I actually think the burden on families in many ways is greater than the burden on the service member. It's harder to have somebody deployed than to be deployed frequently. I was once in a kindergarten at Fort Ringgold - Ringgold Elementary School, just outside the front gates of Fort Campbell, Kentucky - and I was interviewing a kindergarten teacher, and she said, you know what it's like to have a 5-year-old running from the playground and say in Mosul just went down over Black Hawk? I mean - I'm sorry - a Black Hawk just went down over Mosul? She said they know what a Black Hawk is. They know where Mosul is. And they know the implications are that mommy or daddy may be dead. CONAN: Gia, I hope things - I hope explanations come to mind. GIA: Well, I hope they do too, Neal. I - this will affect, as you talked about, further my children's willingness and everyone else's willingness to go for an all-volunteer force. How much longer is that going to be able to last, especially in the now Iran and North Korea issue which aren't going to go away any time soon? CONAN: Or Yemen or Somalia or, well... RICKS: Pakistan. CONAN: ...Pakistan. Yeah. Thank you, Gia, very much. Appreciate the phone call. Let's see if we can get one more. And Amy is joining us. Amy is with us from Edith, in Oklahoma. AMY: Yes, sir. I was in '06, '07 from the Oklahoma National Guard. We were a transportation company. We were stationed in Mosul, Iraq. We got hit very (unintelligible), even if - on the FOB. I know there were some comments, there wasn't much on the FOB. It was, like, civilians lives, if not on our location. But by no means, we were mortared constantly - not every day, mortar fire. It took out our living quarters at one point. And then I was a 50-cal gunner, and we did (unintelligible) security. And I felt that we pretty much were there to sustain ourselves. We didn't see the positive side so much, other than the cohesion that our unit found amongst each other, meaning there was a sense of honor and pride that we had with each other. It was a matter - we didn't know. We prayed before we went out. We prayed when we got back in. We only traveled at night. We'd go up near Turkey, Syria borders. But we probably (unintelligible) three different IEDs, six all together, three contacts to my vehicle. I was - I left two children at home for that tour. I'm very proud of that. And it's interesting to hear what other people's comments were. There was a sense of bitterness, because we got hit so often and so much. And we were trained to fight, and we couldn't fight back. And so it was very aggravating and stressful, and it was hard to explain that back at home, on what was going on. But now we've been backed for a period of time. We've lost some soldiers to some suicide incidents. And there's still some confusion on what we did, exactly, over there. But there was also a sense of cohesion amongst us, and we're proud. And we - I feel that I hate to think that we went over there for there, but as the years kind of turned out, it kind of seemed that way, that we were fighting for our lives and fighting for ourselves, is what I feel. And I'm home. CONAN: And... EXUM: Yeah, let me - first off, Amy, thank you so much for your service. I hope that the rest of America heard Amy, the 50-cal gunner, tell her story, because there's a prohibition on, you know, women seeing combat. That prohibition is nonsense and went out the window the moment that Jessica Lynch's convoy was attacked in Iraq. In, you know, this type of counter-insurgency campaign - in a counter-insurgency especially, but just in modern warfare in general, women have seen combat and fought valiantly and, you know, courageously and competently in both Iraq and Afghanistan. So that's the first thing that jumps out there. The second thing is just, you know, Amy describes going to combat as part of a small unit, the togetherness, the, you know, prayer circles, the - just the cohesiveness while you're there, going through that intense experience as a unit. This is something that, actually, the U.S. military has learned is a lot better than sending people like we did in Vietnam as Individual Augmentees units. That is a recipe for PTSD, doing that, sending people, actually, you know, as part of cohesive units where they experience combat together, deploy together and then deploy back together, that's a much better recipe for success. CONAN: Andrew Exum - first of all, Amy, thank you very much for the call. Appreciate it. AMY: Yes, sir. CONAN: And, Andrew Exum, we'd like to thank you for your time today. Tom Ricks and Retired Colonel Gary Anderson, all of them with us - Gary Anderson with us on the phone, Tom Ricks and Andy Exum with us here in the studio. Thanks all very much for your time. In a moment: a playwright-activist on a playwright-activist..

Chattanooga Cabin, 1 Bedroom + Loft, 1 Bath (Sleeps 5) $120/nt - $710/wk Write a Review Guest: BEEMAC2 (LAKE ARTHUR, LA) Date of Stay: 05/14/12 Review Submitted: 05/22/12 We were looking for a spectacular and peaceful getaway for a few days to de-stress and relax. Doing web surfing and research finally finding the "Log cabin in the clouds" got our attention. We were very surprised with the cabin and views from the porch and taken back by the peaceful surroundings. Having all of the comforts of home without the normal day to day stress was very enjoyable. Wyn was without a doubt the host with the most... not kidding! He made us feel very welcome immediately and catered to all of our needs and concerns. His place was very neat and clean. The access to Chattanooga and the surrounding area was a piece of cake... The drive to and from the cabin was relaxing, enjoyable and beautiful. Dakota, Sophie and Spikey were adorable and comforting to have around. They are great caretakers of the property.. We highly recommend Wyn and his Log cabin in the clouds.... Recommended for:Adventure seekers, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Megan M. Date of Stay: 05/11/12 Review Submitted: 05/16/12 My husband and I stayed at this Cabin in the Clouds for our anniversary trip. We have never stayed at a cabin before but were looking for something private away from the noise of the city. This cabin was amazing! The views from these pictures do not do it justice. You can sit on the porch in rocking chairs or lay in the cozy bed and still have an amazing view of the valley below. We were able to go down into Chattanooga to explore the city and even went on nearby hiking trails. It was always so nice to come back up to the cabin for some peace and relaxation. The cabin has a kitchen and everything you would need if you prefer cooking there. Wyn is super friendly and really makes you feel welcome. He is also is very respectful of your privacy but available if you have questions for him. This is a great get-a-away location for any couple looking for a romantic spot!! We will definitely go back!:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: KevinSenterphotography.com (Rutherford County, NC) Date of Stay: 03/25/12 Review Submitted: 04/04/12 Great little cabin, perfect for 2 people. The view is great and this was the perfect spot to head in several directions. Visited nearby Alabama for some National monuments, Georgia, as well as chattanooga, A ll of these are within a couple of hours maximum from the cottage, great road up, no worries about the typical mountain access roads. Most of this area is Plateau so its flat and easy driving to and from. Will definitely stay again. Thanks Wyn! Sorry we didnt get to meet you this trip. Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Rob (Georgia) Date of Stay: 03/16/12 Review Submitted: 03/27/12 Believe me, the pictures on this site do not do this place justice. INCREDIBLE VIEW!!!! My girlfriend and I did not want to leave the cabin! This is now the ONLY place I will stay in the mountains! Wyn is super nice and his dogs next door were a pleasant addition to our stay. We let them out several times and just really enjoyed their company. Folks, you will not find a nicer more pleasant place to stay. Absolutely georgous!! Can't wait to go back! Nice job Wyn!!! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: churchlittle (Mississippi) Date of Stay: 03/14/12 Review Submitted: 03/20/12 This little cabin was absolutely perfect for our family of 3. The view was breathtaking from the balcony. The loft area is great for kids. We loved the hot tub and cooking out on the grill. My husband loved the huge 3D TV! It was a pleasure talking to Wyn on the phone, only wish we could have meet in person. He seems very nice and personable. The reservation process was very smooth and he answered all of our questions. We didn't get to play with the dogs but it made us feel very safe just knowing they were over there in the pen. The didn't bother us at all. The decor and craftsmanship of the cabin is very nice. We couldn't have asked for more. We really enjoyed our stay and will be back! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Stacy B. (Oodessa. Tx) Date of Stay: 02/07/12 Review Submitted: 02/13/12 We had such a wonderful time at The Log Cabin in the Clouds! We are from Texas and had never been to Tennessee. This cabin was a great place to stay and see the wonderful scenery and attractions that Chattanooga had to offer and still have a private place to retreat to! Thank you so much for sharing your cabin! We truly loved our stay Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: SarahN (Woodbridge, VA) Date of Stay: 12/27/11 Review Submitted: 12/31/11 We stayed at the Cabin in the Clouds for 2 nights & had such a wonderful visit! A very cozy cabin, nicely outfitted. Comfortable, clean, & AMAZING views! Everything was just as described. Highly recommend it for a quiet, cozy vacation. And, Wyn, thank you so much for your hospitality! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Teresa (Hahira, GA) Date of Stay: 11/04/11 Review Submitted: 11/08/11 We so enjoyed our long weekend in your cabin!! The view can't be described in words! There was no need to venture out for sightseeing! Wyn and his dogs were the perfect hosts and was so considerate about our privacy. We will definitely be back for another relaxing getaway! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Cheryl (Smyrna, TN) Date of Stay: 10/07/11 Review Submitted: 12/02/11 My daughter and I had such a wonderful time here ~ we wished we could have stayed longer! The cabin is beautiful and cozy and the deck is so nice and relaxing! The view is spectacular ~ the stress just melts away! We didn't leave the cabin the whole time we were there! Wyn and his lovable dogs were great hosts! We enjoyed our brief encounters and had all the privacy we needed! We felt very well taken care of! Thanks Wyn! I cannot say enough good things about watching the sunset each night from the hot tub! It was the highlight of our days ~ we sipped sparkling cider and enjoyed the quiet serenity of the view! We even sat around the campfire one night roasting marshmallows! Oh, the lights from the mountain and the stars in the sky ~ what a show! We will be coming back again! I think we just found the place for an annual girls weekend! Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Stacey (Atlanta) Date of Stay: 08/06/11 Review Submitted: 08/17/11 This was the first true vacation my family has ever taken that didn't involve travelling HOURS to see relatives. Wyn was the best host and told us all the potential drawbacks to fitting 4 in the cabin when I talked to him on the phone; however, we were perfectly comfortable and the kids loved the loft!!! We couldn't have had a better time, better access to Chatanooga, a better view, or a better TRUE cabin experience! It smells like wood inside! Thanks Wyn!!! Recommended for:Girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Denise L. Date of Stay: 06/19/11 Review Submitted: 07/04/11 My husband and I celebrated out 30th wedding anniversary at this cabin, and what a beautiful cabin it was... We truely hated to leave. From the back porch is some of the prettiest views you will ever see... pictures just do not do this cabin justice. its a must see to believe ! As for the owner Wyn and his dogs, they are the best host you'll ever hope to have, very helpful in helping you navigate the city and surrounding area...Now the best part is sitting in the hot tub and watching the sun set. SPECTACULAR !!!!!!!, We plan on coming back, hopefully sooner than later.... If your looking for a great cabin on a mountain with great views and reasonable rates look no further than the cabin in the clouds, you wont be disappointed!!! Recommended for:Romantic getaway Guest: Mark & Miranda (Brookport, IL) Date of Stay: 04/17/11 Review Submitted: 04/26/11 My family and I spent the week in this wonderful little cabin. It was very well maintained, clean and you could not ask for a better owner! We had a blast and my children didnt want to go out to eat at night they wanted to come back to the cabin and cook out! The attractions in the area were also great. We enjoyed Rock City, Ruby Falls, the aquarium, the lost sea, The Creative Discovery museum, Lake Winnie, and hiking at Prentice Cooper State park. I will tell you the views you will see from Snooper Rock in Prentice Cooper are just as breathtaking if not better than anything you will see at Rock City and it was free. We also visited the incline railway and when we got to the top of the mountain - we went the the muesum for the battles of chattanooga. If you have road an incline before you could save your $ and just drive to the top of the mountain but my children really enjoyed the Incline. This was also really nice. I do not think there was a bad thing to say about the accomodations or the attractions. We will be back. Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: florida campers (Cocoa Beach FL. USA) Date of Stay: 03/06/11 Review Submitted: 03/18/11 My wife and I spent a couple of days at Wyn's cabin the first week of March and loved this place. The cabin was hand built by Wyn and his brother and the craftsmanship and pride in ownership shows through. We really enjoyed the view, peace and quiet and the hot tub too. The cabin is appointed with everything you need, just bring your clothes and personal toiletries and you are set. The area is really nice and Wyn's dogs (next door) kept us company and helped us not miss our dogs as much. Wyn provided first class hospitality and really helped us out with directions to favorite things to do around Chattanooga.We would recommend The Cabin in the Clouds to anyone looking for a nice relaxing getaway with a great host. Anytime we are back in the area we will be sure to reserve Wyn's cabin before we would even think of renting a hotel room, well worth the money. Recommended for: Guest: Ashley S. (Nashville) Date of Stay: 01/28/11 Review Submitted: 02/01/11 What I had envisioned for a fun-filled girls getaway was exactly what this cabin gave us! We took off to the mountains with 3 generations in a Grand Marquis for some bonding time! My 84 year old grandmother, my mom and I spent an incredible weekend in this perfectly quaint cabin! We watched movies, chatted on the porches while rocking away on the rocking chairs, drank our early AM coffee while in the hot tub to see the amazing view and took walks around the property! This place was exactly what I had in mind & we all agreed that we made memories that we'll keep forever! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Mish (Alabama) Date of Stay: 11/13/10 Review Submitted: 11/15/10 Truly a beautiful place to spend a few days away from it all. My husband organized this trip for my 40th birthday. We spent time sight-seeing during the day, wandering around the beautiful countryside and also spending time in Chattanooga itself, which is a really interesting city and easy to get to from the cabin. We really looked forward to coming home to our little cabin each day. I thought we'd probably spend evenings out, wandering around the town, but discovered we'd much prefer to watch the sunset from the luxury of the hottub and relax and enjoy the peace. The cabin has everything you could need and the views are spectacular. A real home away from home. We look forward to returning in the near future. Recommended for:Girls getaway, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: dhldmoore (Montgomery, AL) Date of Stay: 11/11/10 Review Submitted: 11/15/10 My wife and I spent three days at your beautiful cozy cabin and thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our stay. The description of the property and the cabin given by Wyn, the owner, was spot. Above all, the most memorable part of the experience was watching the sunset from the hot tub. I highly recommend doing this! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Ann (Grand Bay, AL) Date of Stay: 10/25/10 Review Submitted: 11/02/10 This was a very relaxing, pleasant get away for my husband and I. We can't stop talking about the cabin and peaceful surroundings. We are planning another visit for the spring. Wyn and the doggies are great hosts. They have a way of making you feel at home. On a side note, anyone that makes the trip, should call Wyn for directions. If you rely on your GPS, you are certainly going to go on an "adventure". Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway. Guest: Lanell (Baton Rouge, LA) Date of Stay: 10/22/10 Review Submitted: 11/02/10 This was a beautiful little cabin tucked away on Signal Mountain and the view was breathtaking. Wyn, the owner, was so helpful and friendly and we really enjoyed our time spent in his little cabin. It was peaceful and a great place to unwind from the stresses of every day life. We will put this little cabin on our list of favorite places we have stayed and look forward to staying there in the future. Recommended for:Romantic getaway Guest: Robert and Ruth (Melbourne, Florida USA) Date of Stay: 10/08/10 Review Submitted: 10/13/10 We had an awesome experience during our stay in this tranquil little cabin in the clouds. From the tree-lined drive up the curving mountain to the quiet star-filled nights on the porch or in the hot tub, we could not have asked for a more quiet, peaceful, relaxing vacation. It's close to downtown, the Tennessee Aquarium and Ruby Falls, but don't over-book your vacation time since you will want to be back at the cabin by sunset to enjoy the spectacular view. We found ourselves planning our day around sunset just to be back on the porch or in the hot tub to enjoy the view a little longer. Wyn was a wonderful host with a lot a knowledge of the area and things to do and see. You will consider him a friend by the time you leave even if you only meet him once. Try not to leave the area without visiting Champy's Chicken! The kitchen is well equipped with stove, oven, toaster, coffee maker, microwave and utensils. The local Wal-Mart at the bottom of the mountain will provide you with all you may need and don't forget to pick up some marshmallows for roasting in the pit! (And yes, there is an iron!) Recommended for:Adventure seekers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Bob and Pam (Hudsonville, Michigan) Date of Stay: 10/04/10 Review Submitted: 12/05/10 We stayed for two nights at Wyn's cabin and had a wonderful time! The cabin is well built and only a few years old. This is not some fixed up old hunting cabin! I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying this property, it has a beutiful view, is well decorated, clean, and is more spacious than the photos make it appear. Wyn's cottage was easy to find and the drive up and down the mountain is very scenic. You can watch the sun set from the porch, the bedroom, or the the hot tub! We do hope to return someday, somehow! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Lauren (Duncanville, AL) Date of Stay: 10/01/10 Review Submitted: 10/23/10 As newlyweds, my husband and I rented this beautiful little "Cabin in the Clouds" last year for our honeymoon. We loved it so much that we decided to come bak again this year for our first anniversary. The pictures on this site are great but they do not do the cabin or the views justice at all. Both times we've been able to stay at the cabin it was in excellent shape, very clean and well kept. The cabin is very cozy and feels like home right when you step in the door. Wyn is an awesome host and will be a great friend by the time you leave. The dogs are wonderful and very loving. We loved walking and playing with them. I think they were our favorite part. We had more fun this year just hiking everyday than we did the first time. There are so many great things to do. Wyn was very helpful in answering all of our questions. I would recommend this property to anyone. If you come this way you have to go out to Snooper's Rock and the Indian Rockhouse in Prentice Cooper Park. It's right down the road from Big Fork road. We will be back next year. This will be our home away from home. Thanks Wyn!!! ~Lauren and Chase Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Jeanette (Goodspring, TN) Date of Stay: 09/22/10 Review Submitted: 10/05/10 This cabin was a perfect little place to stay at while visiting Chattanooga for our anniversary. We spent our days in the city enjoying the many attractions and restaurants and then retreated to the cabin in the evenings to relax in the hot tub and drink up the view. The view would literally change as you watched, due to clouds, sun, daylight, etc. It was truly magnificent, and, indeed, a cabin in the clouds! We felt perfectly at home and comfortable, with privacy and the wooded peaceful surroundings. I marveled each evening that we could be in such a metropolitan city and less than half an hour later be relaxing in a serene mountain setting. Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Gail (Fort Worth, TX) Date of Stay: 08/28/10 Review Submitted: 10/01/10 Not only incredible view, but every convenience, every need met. Clean, beautifully decorated, isolated, but not remote, and a wonderful landlord. We will be back! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with young children, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Mel (Georgia) Date of Stay: 08/20/10 Review Submitted: 08/22/10 My friends and I just got back from an amazing weekend in Chattanooga, TN. We stayed here at "Cabin In The Clouds". The view was beautiful, there was plenty of things to do, and we had a great time. This cute little cabin was the perfect size and had all the ammenities us three girls needed for a weekend getaway. Wyn was a great host! We will definately be back. Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, families with teenagers, families with young children, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Brayn (Edmund, OK) Date of Stay: 07/22/10 Review Submitted: 08/03/10 This was an amazing place to stay in Chattanooga. It was close enough to town to be convenient but far enough up the mountain to feel very isolated and far away from the pressures of life. Wyn was an amazing Host and gave us all the privacy we needed while being sure we had everything we needed. The view was breathtaking and the Cabin very quaint and comfortable. The back proch with the rockers was a very popular place to spend quiet time in the morning and evening. We will absolutely go there again next time we are in the area. Thanks Wyn for a great trip! Bryan Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Jade (Georgia) Date of Stay: 07/07/10 Review Submitted: 07/23/10 A perfect place away from a very hectic lifestyle. A great place for a couple to enjoy a beautiful scenic view. The hot tub was very relaxing after our rigorous day of White Water rafting. Our weekend was topped off by my boyfriend proposing...That cabin will now be apart of my memories forever!! Recommended for:Tourists without a car, pet owners, romantic getaway. Guest: Cliff n Whitney (Nashville, TN) Date of Stay: 06/28/10 Review Submitted: 07/03/10 A true departure from hectic everyday life, this peaceful cabin allows visitors to relax with all the comforts of home. We brought all our food and prepared all meals / grilling here at the cabin. The only time we left was to hike at nearby Prentice Cooper State Forest...Snoopers Rock is a must see with its vista of the Tennessee River / Canyon. We will definitely be back, hopefully to experience the fall foilage. Thanks Wyn for your hospitality! Recommended for:Adventure seekers, age 55+, girls getaway, romantic getaway, sightseeing. Guest: Joe (Missouri) Date of Stay: 03/10/10 Review Submitted: 08/25/10 The cabin is perfect for a couple. Just the right size, the view is amazing, hot tub right outside the bedroom, and we loved the dogs. Wyn is a great host and helped us with directions to some amazing sight-seeing. I recommended to some friends who will be staying in September. This cabin was the best part of our trip to Chattanooga. Recommended for:Adventure seekers, pet owners, romantic getaway, sightseeing.

gmane.comp.gcc.patches hourly 1 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 Gmane RFC (c): PATCH for c++/53220 (array compound literals and C++) <pre>In C++, C99 a compound literal creates a temporary object, unlike C, where it creates an automatic or static object. As a result, using an array compound literal to initialize a pointer variable leads to undefined behavior, as the array's lifetime ends after the declaration statement. This patch changes the C++ front end to reject decay of temporary array compound literals to pointers, and the C front end to warn about it with -Wc++-compat. Tested x86_64-pc-linux-gnu. Is the C front-end change OK? </pre> Jason Merrill 2012-05-26T19:02:03 [ARM Patch 1/n] PR53447: optimizations of 64bit ALU operation with constant <pre>Hi, As described in PR53447, many 64bit ALU operations with constant can be optimized to use corresponding 32bit instructions with immediate operands. This is the first part of the patches that deals with 64bit add. It directly extends the patterns adddi3, arm_adddi3 and adddi3_neon to handle constant operands. Tested on arm qemu without regression. OK for trunk? thanks Carrot 2012-05-26 Wei Guozhi <carrot< at >google.com> PR target/53447 * gcc.target/arm/pr53447-1.c: New testcase. 2012-05-26 Wei Guozhi <carrot< at >google.com> PR target/53447 * config/arm/arm-protos.h (const_ok_for_adddi): New prototype. * config/arm/arm.c (const_ok_for_adddi): New function. * config/arm/constraints.md (Dd): New constraint. * config/arm/arm.md (adddi3): Extend it to handle constants. (arm_adddi3): Likewise. * config/arm/neon.md (adddi3_neon): Likewise. Index: testsuite/gcc.target/arm/pr53447-1.c =================================================================== --- testsuite/gcc.target/arm/pr53447-1.c(revis</pre> Carrot Wei 2012-05-26T13:42:52 [C++ Patch] PR 25137 <pre>Hi, I found the time to return to this issue, where -Wmissing-braces is often overeager to warn, thus annoying, for example, people using -Wall together with std::array: std::array<int, 3> s = { 1, 2, 3 }; I handle the issue following the letter of the suggestion given by Ian at the time: do not warn when the class type has only one field and that field is an aggregate (recursively, of course). Indeed, that seems to me quite conservative. I also make sure to change nothing wrt the designated initializers extension. Bootstrapped and tested x86_64-linux. Thanks, Paolo. //////////////////////// /cp 2012-05-26 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR c++/25137 * decl.c (reshape_init_r): Add bool parameter. (reshape_init_class): If the struct has only one field and that field is an aggregate, don't warn if there is only one set of braces in the initializer. (reshape_init_array_1, reshape_init_class, reshape_init): Adjust. /testsuite 2012-05-26 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.co</pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-05-26T13:30:48 [Ada] Fix gnat.dg/return3.adb regression <pre>The problem is that the new call to cleanup_cfg in gimple_expand_cfg has short-circuited the machinery that emits nops to carry goto locus at -O0. The machinery works in CFGLAYOUT mode, but here we're still in CFGRTL. The attached patch makes it so that forwarder blocks are not deleted by try_optimize_cfg if CLEANUP_NO_INSN_DEL and partially extends the above machinery to the CFGRTL mode. Bootstrapped/regtested on x86_64-suse-linux, applied on the mainline. 2012-05-26 Eric Botcazou <ebotcazou< at >adacore.com> * cfgcleanup.c (try_optimize_cfg): Do not delete forwarder blocks if CLEANUP_NO_INSN_DEL. * cfgrtl.c (unique_locus_on_edge_between_p): New function extracted from cfg_layout_merge_blocks. (emit_nop_for_unique_locus_between): New function. (rtl_merge_blocks): Invoke emit_nop_for_unique_locus_between. (cfg_layout_merge_blocks): Likewise. </pre> Eric Botcazou 2012-05-26T12:00:55 Fix gnat.dg/renaming5.adb regression <pre>There is one more goto in the .optimized dump because the latch of a loop is now preserved. Tested on i586-suse-linux, applied on the mainline. 2012-05-26 Eric Botcazou <ebotcazou< at >adacore.com> * gnat.dg/renaming5.adb: Adjust dg-final directive. </pre> Eric Botcazou 2012-05-26T11:43:36 [Ada] Small tweak to type derivation machinery <pre>To have the name of the types of the variant part and the fields therein be unique instead of mere duplicates of those of the base type, which makes it easier to debug type merging issues in LTO mode. Tested on i586-suse-linux, applied on the mainline, 4.7 and 4.6 branches. 2012-05-26 Eric Botcazou <ebotcazou< at >adacore.com> * gcc-interface/decl.c (variant_desc): Rename 'record' to 'new_type'. (build_variant_list): Adjust to above renaming. (gnat_to_gnu_entity) <E_Record_Subtype>: Likewise. Give a unique name to the type of the variant containers. (create_variant_part_from): Likewise. Give a unique name to the type of the variant part. </pre> Eric Botcazou 2012-05-26T10:38:49 [Patch ARM] Fix off by one error in neon_evpc_vrev. <pre>Hi, There is an off by one error in neon_evpc_vrev which means it rarely gets triggerred. The problem is that if you are looking at d->perm [i +j] and you increment i by just diff you end up starting looking where you looked at the end of the last place where you checked. Given this I think this patch should make it to trunk and to the 4.7 branch after appropriate testing and if the release managers don't object to such a change. The point is that this helps generate proper vect_reverse style instructions for arm_neon. There is scope for a follow up patch that fixes up the intrinsics essentially identical to all the functions in the test that I've added (except for a couple of missing v2sf and v4sf type operations which should boil down to the same implementation) . It's a permute so the type really doesn't matter. However it requires some ML magic with permutations for the masks which will prove to be good fun on a plane trip. Testing currently in progress and if there are no regressions I intend</pre> Ramana Radhakrishnan 2012-05-26T08:27:53 [C++ Patch] PR 53491 <pre>Hi, an ICE on invalid, regression in 4.7 and 4.8. In 4.7 (vs 4.6) we started using stabilize_expr in one more place in cp_build_modify_expr without also adding a preliminary check that the expr isn't of void type, thus we can easily end up calling build_type_target_expr_with_type on it and crash. The fix I tested could be even simpler but I guess we want to also emit the error line " in evaluation of...", like in 4.6. If you can't imagine how we could regress with this sort of fix (I can't ;) probably the issue should be also addressed in 4.7, this kind of invalid code must be quite common. Thanks, Paolo. ///////////////////////// /cp 2012-05-26 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR c++/53491 * typeck.c (cp_build_modify_expr): Fo binary ops, check that the right-hand side isn't of void type. /testsuite 2012-05-26 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR c++/53491 * g++.dg/parse/crash60.C: New. Index: testsuite/g++.dg/parse/crash60.C ==========================================</pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-05-26T01:11:52 [patch] Fixes to make check_makefile_deps.sh work again <pre>Hello, The following patch was necessary to make check_makefile_deps.sh work on powerpc64-unknown-linux-gnu. Is this OK? Ciao! Steven Index: contrib/ChangeLog =================================================================== --- contrib/ChangeLog(revision 187901) +++ contrib/ChangeLog(working copy) < at >< at > -1,3 +1,8 < at >< at > +2012-05-25 Steven Bosscher <steven at gcc dot gnu dot org> + +* check_makefile_deps.sh: Add ecrti.o and ecrtn.o to the list of +objects to skip unconditionaly. Check for c-common.o in c-family/. + 2012-05-25 H.J. Lu <hongjiu dot lu at intel dot com> PR bootstrap/53472 Index: contrib/check_makefile_deps.sh =================================================================== --- contrib/check_makefile_deps.sh(revision 187901) +++ contrib/check_makefile_deps.sh(working copy) < at >< at > -19,7 +19,7 < at >< at > # Skip some objects unconditionally; make sure each name in this list is # surrounded by spaces. -skip=" crtbegin.o crtbeginS.o crtbeginT.o crtend.o crtendS.o crtfastmath.o crtprec64.o crtp</pre> Steven Bosscher 2012-05-25T23:38:10 Merge from gcc-4_7-branch to gccgo branch <pre>I've merged gcc-4_7-branch revision 187900 to the gccgo branch. Ian </pre> Ian Lance Taylor 2012-05-25T22:45:03 libgo patch committed: Fix cast error <pre>This patch to libgo fixes a cast error in the new file print.c that shows up on 32-bit systems. Bootstrapped and ran Go testsuite on x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu. Committed to mainline and 4.7 branch. Ian </pre> Ian Lance Taylor 2012-05-25T18:22:44 [PATCH, i386]: Fix PR 53474, Solaris/x86 bootstrap with Sun as broken: j.e <pre>Hello! 2012-05-25 Uros Bizjak <ubizjak< at >gmail.com> PR target/53474 * config/i386/i386.c (ix86_print_operand) <case 'O'>: Print '.' here. <case 'C', case 'c', case 'F', case 'f'>: Print '.' only for C and c. Tested on i386-pc-solaris2.10 by Rainer, and on x86_64-pc-linux-gnu {,-m32}. Committed to mainline SVN. Uros. Index: config/i386/i386.c =================================================================== --- config/i386/i386.c(revision 187882) +++ config/i386/i386.c(working copy) < at >< at > -13931,8 +13931,8 < at >< at > C -- print opcode suffix for set/cmov insn. c -- like C, but print reversed condition F,f -- likewise, but for floating-point. - O -- if HAVE_AS_IX86_CMOV_SUN_SYNTAX, print the opcode suffix for -the size of the current operand, otherwise nothing. + O -- if HAVE_AS_IX86_CMOV_SUN_SYNTAX, expand to "w.", "l." or "q.", +otherwise nothing R -- print the prefix for register names. z -- print the opcode suffix for the size of the current operand. Z -- likewise, with specia</pre> Uros Bizjak 2012-05-25T15:12:14 [gimplefe] Fix parsing of assign_stmt (issue6247046) <pre>Fix parser initialization and parsing of gimple_assign. This patch fixes the parser to use the new line map table initialization code. It was not setting the allocation function pointers properly. Additionally, we were only expecting binary RHS for gimple_assign. This was causing failures in the small test file I added yesterday. Sandeep, now that we have an initial harness for testing, could you please add a set of .gimple files that test the *whole* gimple grammar? (or at least a large chunk of it). An initial starting point would be to use -fdump-tree-gimple-raw on the compilation of several C/C++ source files. This will give you an initial set of test cases to put in the testsuite to exercise the recognizer. Tested on x86_64. 2012-05-25 Diego Novillo <dnovillo< at >google.com> gimple/ChangeLog * parser.c (gimple_register_var_decl_in_symtab): Tidy. (gl_peek_token): New. (gl_consume_token): Call it. (gl_tree_code_for_token): Add FIXME note. (gl_gimple_code_for_token): Likewise. (gl_dump): Surro</pre> Diego Novillo 2012-05-25T15:04:03 unwind.h installation causes rebuilds <pre>Hi, I've noticed that libitm is always rebuild with a non-bootstrap tree even with merely a sequence of two makes. The reason turns out to be that installation of unwind.h from libgcc, which is always done with a simple make: # make # make -d ... dest=../.././gcc/include/tmp$$-unwind.h; \ cp unwind.h $dest; \ chmod a+r $dest; \ sh ../../../gcc/libgcc/../move-if-change $dest ../.././gcc/include/unwind.h (this is still fine, because it uses move-if-change) ... make install-leaf DESTDIR=../.././gcc \ slibdir= libsubdir= MULTIOSDIR=. ... /bin/sh ../../../gcc/libgcc/../mkinstalldirs ../.././gcc/include /usr/bin/install -c -m 644 unwind.h ../.././gcc/include This one updates the mtime of gcc/include/unwind.h, and is the problematic one, ultimately resulting in: Prerequisite `/matz/gcc/svn/real-trunk/dev/gcc/include/unwind.h' is newer than target `aatree.lo'. And all of libitm (our only c++ library) is rebuilt as all objects therein have a dependency on unw</pre> Michael Matz 2012-05-25T14:30:45 PR middle-end/53008 (trans-mem): output clone if function accessed indirectly <pre>This is a patch from Patrick, based on an earlier patch by Dave Boutcher. Thanks folks. In the failing testcase below we have a transaction_safe function being accessed indirectly, but for -O1 and above, the corresponding clone is not generated because we think it is unused. Fixed by forcing the clone output if it is accessed indirectly. Tested on x86-64 Linux. OK? Would this be acceptable for the 4.7 branch as well? PR middle-end/53008 * trans-mem.c (ipa_tm_create_version_alias): Output new_node if accessed indirectly. (ipa_tm_create_version): Same. Index: testsuite/gcc.dg/tm/pr53008.c =================================================================== --- testsuite/gcc.dg/tm/pr53008.c(revision 0) +++ testsuite/gcc.dg/tm/pr53008.c(revision 0) < at >< at > -0,0 +1,14 < at >< at > +/* { dg-do compile } */ +/* { dg-options "-fgnu-tm -O" } */ + +void __attribute__((transaction_safe)) (*fn)(void); + +static void __attribute__((transaction_safe)) +foo(void) +{ +} + +void set_fn(void) +{ + fn = foo; +} Index: trans-</pre> Aldy Hernandez 2012-05-25T13:25:47 [PATCH][revised] PR debug/53453 ensure debug notes linked on darwin <pre> The attached patch solves PR53453. The upcoming dsymutil release will now issue a warning when no debug notes are emitted for an object file on linkage. This causes several thousand failures in the FSF gcc testsuite. The origin of this problem is that the darwin linker requires the presence of both AT_name and AT_comp_dir attributes for each object file otherwise their debug notes will be omitted on linkage. The patch adds a new TARGET_FORCE_AT_COMP_DIR target hook for darwin so that AT_comp_dir will be present for all object files. Bootstrap and regression tested on x86_64-apple-darwin12. Okay for gcc trunk and later gcc-4_7-branch and gcc-4_6-branch? Jack ps Note that this is a pre-existing problem on darwin and that the newer dsymutil simply has alerted us to the issue. pps Added correction of s/AT_comp_dir/DW_AT_comp_dir/g to gcc/target.def change. 2012-05-24 Jack Howarth <howarth< at >bromo.med.uc.edu> PR debug/53453 *</pre> Jack Howarth 2012-05-25T13:17:20 [PATCH] omit -lcrt1.10.6.o and pass -no_new_main with -pg ondarwin >= 10.8 <pre> The attached patch limits the linkage of -lcrt1.10.6.o to darwin10 and darwin11 since its usage is deprecated in the 10.8sdk. The patch also solves radr://11491405, "-pg broken for -mmacosx-version-min=10.8"... 19-May-2012 11:10 PM Jack Howarth: Summary: The default -mmacosx-version-min=10.8 under Xcode 4.4 breaks a number of FSF gcc tests which rely on -pg. such as... FAIL: gcc.dg/nest.c execution test FAIL: gcc.dg/nested-func-4.c execution test Steps to Reproduce: The attached compressed archive for xcodebug_pg_10.8.tar.bz2 contains the files from compiling these test cases with... gcc-fsf-4.7 /sw/src/fink.build/gcc47-4.7.1-1000/gcc-4.7-20120518/gcc/testsuite/gcc.dg/nest.c --save-temps -v -O2 -pg -lm -m32 -o ./nest.exe and gcc-fsf-4.7 /sw/src/fink.build/gcc47-4.7.1-1000/gcc-4.7-20120518/gcc/testsuite/gcc.dg/nested-func-4.c -v --save-temps -pg -lm -m32 -o ./nested-func-4.exe as well as shell scripts for bad_runs.sh and bad_runs2.sh to execute each of the miscompiled binaries against the bundled </pre> Jack Howarth 2012-05-25T13:06:51 Search Engine Search the mailing list at Gmane query

gmane.comp.gcc.libstdc++.devel hourly 1 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 Gmane [v3] fix libstdc++/53263 <pre>Here is a patch for PR 53263. I have also generalize the idea of performing checks on unsafe iterators for better performance to several other debug checks. 2012-05-09 François Dumont <fdumont< at >gcc.gnu.org> PR libstdc++/53263 * include/debug/safe_iterator.h (__gnu_debug::__base): Move... * include/debug/functions.h: ... Here. Add debug function overloads to perform checks on normal iterators when possible. * include/debug/macros.h (__glibcxx_check_heap, __glibcxx_check_heap_pred): Use __gnu_debug::__base on iterator range. Tested under linux x86_64 debug mode. Ok for trunk and 4.7 branch ? François </pre> François Dumont 2012-05-09T21:02:13 Thoughts on supporting the C++11 thread library on Windows <pre>For GCC 4.7 I enabled most of <thread> (without timed mutexes) on Mac OS X by making the _GLIBCXX_HAS_GTHREADS macro more fine-grained. I think we could quite easily do the same again for the win32 thread model (defined in gthr-win32.h) so that <thread> and <mutex> are available (including timed mutexes), but without <condition_variable> and <future>. It's harder to support <condition_variable> because Windows didn't provide condition variables until Vista, and even then they interact with a CRITICAL_SECTION and gthr-win32.h defines mutexes in terms of a semaphore not a critical section. Douglas Schmidt describes an implementation of condition variables at but that also requires mutexes to be critical sections - maybe that could be adapted to use the gthr-win32.h semaphore-based definition of __gthread_mutex_t, I haven't looked into it in detail. My suggestion would be to support <thread> and <mutex> but not <condition_variable> (or <future> because our i</pre> Jonathan Wakely 2012-05-05T22:59:08 [v3] doxygen markup for template parameters <pre> In libstdc++/44015, there is a request for doxygen markup on template parameters, including default arguments. This is a kind of markup that libstdc++ has mostly not done, or done inconsistently. So, here's how I think it should be done, at least for io and containers. See generated files here: tested x86/linux -benjamin</pre> Benjamin De Kosnik 2012-05-03T16:29:40 [v3] hashtable fw decl fix <pre> This patchlette needed for versioned builds, just makes declaration/foward declaration consistent. -benjamin tested x86/linux tested x86/linux versioned namespaces</pre> Benjamin De Kosnik 2012-05-02T16:38:34 [v3] Completely fix libstdc++/51795 in mainline <pre>Hi, contributed by Marc (thanks Again!) and integrated by me. Tested x86_64-linux, multilib. Committed to mainline. Thanks, Paolo. /////////////////////////// 2012-04-29 Marc Glisse <marc.glisse< at >inria.fr> Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR libstdc++/51795 * include/bits/stl_algobase.h (__lg<>(_Size)): Remove. (__lg(int), __lg(unsigned), __lg(long), __lg(unsigned long), __lg(long long), __lg(unsigned long long)): Define constexpr. * include/bits/random.h (_Mod<>): Overcome Schrage's algorithm limitations. (__mod): Adjust. (linear_congruential): Remove FIXME static_assert. * include/bits/random.tcc (_Mod<>): Adjust. * testsuite/26_numerics/random/linear_congruential_engine/operators/ 51795.cc: New. Index: include/bits/stl_algobase.h =================================================================== --- include/bits/stl_algobase.h(revision 186943) +++ include/bits/stl_algobase.h(working copy) < at >< at > -975,37 +975,27 < at >< at > /// This is a helper function for the sort routines and f</pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-04-29T23:37:43 [v3] constrain std::function constructor to only accept callable types <pre>Currently we only constrain std::function's constructor to reject integral arguments, this patch changes it to reject non-callable arguments. This is the proposed resolution of LWG 2132, I had already planned to do this anyway before the issue was opened so I don't see any need to wait for a DR. * include/std/functional (function::function(F)): LWG 2132: Disable constructor if argument isn't callable. * testsuite/20_util/function/cons/callable.cc: New. Tested x86_64-linux, committed to trunk. commit 0e069c4221d6ed4fda7d10938470c472170dcad7 Author: Jonathan Wakely <jwakely.gcc< at >gmail.com> Date: Tue Feb 14 22:22:48 2012 +0000 * include/std/functional (function::function(F)): LWG 2132: Disable constructor if argument isn't callable. * testsuite/20_util/function/cons/callable.cc: New. diff --git a/libstdc++-v3/include/std/functional b/libstdc++-v3/include/std/functional index 980c6ab..0edb4f1 100644 --- a/libstdc++-v3/include/std/functional +++ b/libstdc++-v3/include/</pre> Jonathan Wakely 2012-04-29T23:16:33 PR 53115 <pre>Hi Here is the patch for this PR. We were using buckets before updating them after having inserted equivalents elements one after the another. 2012-04-29 François Dumont <fdumont< at >gcc.gnu.org> PR libstdc++/53115 * include/bits/hashtable.h (_Hashtable<>::_M_rehash_aux(size_type, false_type)): Fix buckets after insertion of several equivalent elements. * testsuite/23_containers/unordered_multiset/insert/53115.cc: New. Tested undex linux x86_64 in the 4.7 branch, normal and debug mode. Ok to commit ? François </pre> François Dumont 2012-04-29T10:21:25 Remove algo code duplication <pre>Hi Here is an other attempt to remove duplication of code in implementation of Standard algos. There are several enhancements on the last proposal: 1. No usage of C++11 lambdas anymore, code works fine in C++98 and code has been really deleted this time. About 700 lines removed in stl_algo.h for instance. 2. Compatible with existing code, code submitted by Christopher last time will still compile. To do so I used std::iterator_traits<>::reference type so that if the iterator is not const then the operator do not have to take const reference or to be const qualified neither. For the same reason I have also avoided some const qualifiers on the introduced functors. 3. It is less complex than in libstdcxx_so_7 branch: Introduced functors always have one operator() so that ambiguity between different overloads is impossible. To do so I used 2 techniques: - For equal_range and lexicographical_compare algos, the ones that really need 2 overloads, I simply pass 2 functors, one to do lhs < r</pre> François Dumont 2012-04-28T08:01:19 Default buffer size of class basic_filebuf <pre>Hello! I want to figure out the default buffer-size of the class basic_filebuf. I know the member function pubsetbuf() and it seems to have a great impact on the performance during file copy. Question: Where I can find the default buffer size for basic_filebuf? The standard for C++ doesn't define a member function pubgetbuf() or something like this, also the member function is_avail() doesn't help either. I can't find any constant. I know BUFSIZ from <cstdio> and it defaults on my machine to 8192 Bytes, which performs well for me with fread()/fwrite() and read()/write(). I doing some testing on simple file copying: Thanks Peter Weber </pre> Weber, Peter (Wilken GmbH 2012-04-27T11:45:54 _GLIBCXX_USE_INT128 <pre>Hello, I was wondering if it would make sense to test __SIZEOF_INT128__ instead of having a configure test that defines _GLIBCXX_USE_INT128 unconditionally. That would mostly help other compilers trying to use a libstdc++ that was installed with gcc. __float128 doesn't seem to have such a macro that can be tested :-( </pre> Marc Glisse 2012-04-25T08:55:19 [v3] libstdc++/53080 <pre>Hi, this is what I'm about to commit, pretty straightforward. Tested x86_64-linux. Thanks, Paolo. /////////////////////////// 2012-04-23 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR libstdc++/53080 * include/std/array (tuple_element, get): static_assert I < N. * testsuite/23_containers/array/tuple_interface/tuple_element_neg.cc: New. * testsuite/23_containers/array/tuple_interface/get_neg.cc: Likewise. * testsuite/23_containers/array/tuple_interface/tuple_element.cc: Fix. Index: include/std/array =================================================================== --- include/std/array(revision 186692) +++ include/std/array(working copy) < at >< at > -1,6 +1,7 < at >< at > // <array> -*- C++ -*- -// Copyright (C) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +// Copyright (C) 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 +// Free Software Foundation, Inc. // // This file is part of the GNU ISO C++ Library. This library is free // software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the < at >< at > -261,23 +262</pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-04-23T11:24:42 [testsuite] PR 53046 <pre>Hi, tested x86_64-linux, committed. Paolo. /////////////////// 2012-04-23 Chris Jefferson <chris< at >bubblescope.net> PR testsuite/53046 * testsuite/25_algorithms/stable_partition/mem_check.cc: Fix size of array A. * testsuite/25_algorithms/stable_sort/mem_check.cc: Likewise. Index: testsuite/25_algorithms/stable_partition/mem_check.cc =================================================================== --- testsuite/25_algorithms/stable_partition/mem_check.cc(revision 186692) +++ testsuite/25_algorithms/stable_partition/mem_check.cc(working copy) < at >< at > -1,4 +1,4 < at >< at > -// Copyright (C) 2009 Free Software Foundation, Inc. +// Copyright (C) 2009, 2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc. // // This file is part of the GNU ISO C++ Library. This library is free // software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the < at >< at > -31,7 +31,7 < at >< at > typedef test_container<copy_tracker, random_access_iterator_wrapper> Container; const int A[] = {10, 20, 1, 11, 2, 21, 28, 29, 12, 35, 15, 27, 6, 16, 7, - </pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-04-23T11:18:23 [v3] libstdc++/53067 <pre>Hi, tested x86_64-linux, committed mainline and branch. Thanks, Paolo. /////////////////////// 2012-04-22 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR libstdc++/53067 * include/bits/hashtable_policy.h: Change inheritances to public. * testsuite/23_containers/unordered_map/requirements/53067.cc: New. * testsuite/23_containers/unordered_set/requirements/53067.cc: Likewise. Index: include/bits/hashtable_policy.h =================================================================== --- include/bits/hashtable_policy.h(revision 186674) +++ include/bits/hashtable_policy.h(working copy) < at >< at > -882,7 +882,9 < at >< at > /// Specialization using EBO. template<int _Nm, typename _Tp> - struct _Hashtable_ebo_helper<_Nm, _Tp, true> : private _Tp + struct _Hashtable_ebo_helper<_Nm, _Tp, true> + // See PR53067. + : public _Tp { _Hashtable_ebo_helper() = default; < at >< at > -949,8 +951,9 < at >< at > template<typename _Key, typename _Value, typename _ExtractKey, typename _H1, typename _H2, typename _Hash></pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-04-22T17:39:08 [v3] fix libstdc++/53027 <pre> * include/bits/ptr_traits.h (pointer_traits::rebind): Make public. * testsuite/20_util/pointer_traits/requirements/typedefs.cc: Check rebind works. Tested x86_64linux, committed to trunk and will commit to 4.7 soon. commit 6141cdceb14025ef258b8809301558f5962bf7ab Author: Jonathan Wakely <jwakely.gcc< at >gmail.com> Date: Fri Apr 20 09:13:44 2012 +0100 * include/bits/ptr_traits.h (pointer_traits::rebind): Make public. * testsuite/20_util/pointer_traits/requirements/typedefs.cc: Check rebind works. diff --git a/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/ptr_traits.h b/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/ptr_traits.h index 7f120b1..bba9b49 100644 --- a/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/ptr_traits.h +++ b/libstdc++-v3/include/bits/ptr_traits.h < at >< at > -140,14 +140,8 < at >< at > _GLIBCXX_HAS_NESTED_TYPE(difference_type) /// Type used to represent the difference between two pointers typedef typename __ptrtr_diff_type<_Ptr>::__type difference_type; - private: template<typename _Up> using r</pre> Jonathan Wakely 2012-04-22T13:44:58 [v3] libstdc++/53052 <pre>Hi, tested x86_64-linux, committed. Thanks, Paolo. ////////////////////// 2012-04-20 Paolo Carlini <paolo.carlini< at >oracle.com> PR libstdc++/53052 * include/std/type_traits (is_explicitly_convertible): Remove. * testsuite/20_util/is_explicitly_convertible: Likewise. * testsuite/20_util/make_signed/requirements/typedefs_neg.cc: Adjust dg-error line numbers. * testsuite/20_util/make_unsigned/requirements/typedefs_neg.cc: Likewise. * testsuite/20_util/declval/requirements/1_neg.cc: Likewise. Index: include/std/type_traits =================================================================== --- include/std/type_traits(revision 186615) +++ include/std/type_traits(working copy) < at >< at > -1281,13 +1281,7 < at >< at > __is_convertible_helper<_From, _To>::value> { }; - /// is_explicitly_convertible - template<typename _From, typename _To> - struct is_explicitly_convertible - : public is_constructible<_To, _From> - { }; - // const-volatile modifications. /// remove_const Index: test</pre> Paolo Carlini 2012-04-20T09:41:45 [PATCH] fix libstdc++/52604 : __freelist::~__freelist re-initializes _M_thread_freelist <pre> All, The attached patch re-initializes _M_thread_freelist in __freelist::~__freelist just after calling ::operator delete(static_cast<void*>(_M_thread_freelist_array)); It avoids valgrind errors in __pool<true>::_M_get_thread_id() later invoked. Testcases : ext/mt_allocator/deallocate_global_thread-1.cc ext/mt_allocator/deallocate_global_thread-3.cc Tested on x86_64-linux (make check, make check-performance). Laurent PS : Already approved by Paolo Carlini under the 52604 discussions. Index: src/c++98/mt_allocator.cc =================================================================== --- src/c++98/mt_allocator.cc (revision 186374) +++ src/c++98/mt_allocator.cc (working copy) < at >< at > -48,6 +48,7 < at >< at > { __gthread_key_delete(_M_key); ::operator delete(static_cast<void*>(_M_thread_freelist_array)); + _M_thread_freelist = 0; } } }; </pre> Laurent Alfonsi 2012-04-19T08:37:02 Strange behavior of libstdc++ regression test <pre>Hi, I built a cross compiler for arm-none-eabi and ran regression test on QEMU with command: "make -k check RUNTESTFLAGS="--target_board=arm-none-eabi-qemu/-mthumb/-mcpu=cortex-m3"". And then I end up with following strange errors on libstdc++: make[6]: Entering directory `/home/build/gcc-4-7-daily-test/build-linux/gcc-final/arm-none-eabi/armv7-r/ thumb/fpu/libstdc++-v3/python' make[6]: Nothing to be done for `all'. make[6]: Leaving directory `/home/build/gcc-4-7-daily-test/build-linux/gcc-final/arm-none-eabi/armv7-r/ thumb/fpu/libstdc++-v3/python' make[6]: Entering directory `/home/build/gcc-4-7-daily-test/build-linux/gcc-final/arm-none-eabi/armv7-r/ thumb/fpu/libstdc++-v3' true "AR_FLAGS=rc" "CC_FOR_BUILD=gcc" "CC_FOR_TARGET=/home/build/gcc-4-7-daily-test/build-linux/gcc-final/./gcc/xg cc -B/home/build/gcc-4-7-daily-test/build-linux/gcc-final/./gcc/" "CFLAGS=-g -O2 -mthumb -march=armv7-r -mfloat-abi=hard -mfpu=vfpv3-d16" "CXXFLAGS=-g -O2 -mthumb -march=armv7-r -mfloat-abi=hard -mfpu=vfpv3-d16" "CFLAGS</pre> Terry Guo 2012-04-19T07:03:53 [v3, testsuite] Fix merging default libstdc++.log <pre>I've long noticed that libstdc++.log (unlike libstdc++.sum) doesn't contain log entries for tests run from abi.exp, but hadn't looked closer, getting used to check libstdc++.log.sep instead which contained everything I expected. This weekend, I've observed the same for the prettyprinters.exp failures reported in PR libstdc++/53006 and decided to investigate. It turns out that abi_check is the culprit: it emits its own summary in a style similar to what DejaGnu does: === libstdc++-v3 check-abi Summary === # of added symbols: 0 # of missing symbols: 0 # of undesignated symbols: 0 # of incompatible symbols: 0 using: baseline_symbols.txt The header format is similar to what runtest emits, but the detail lines below are completely different. This is enought to seriously confuse contrib/dg-extract-results.sh -L badly enough to assume that this header line ends one variant, which otherwise only happens when doing multilib testing with intermediate summaries like === libstdc++ Summary for unix === </pre> Rainer Orth 2012-04-16T15:03:25 Search Engine Search the mailing list at Gmane query

gmane.comp.gcc.help hourly 1 1901-01-01T00:00+00:00 Gmane COMPILER_PATH question <pre>Hi all, I'm experiencing a weird behavior and would appreciate some guidance. We are using gcc v 4.4.6 (plus necessary packages to support c++ compilation) installed in a non-standard location due to company policy. When I first logged into the test box, I can compile and link a test c++ program without any problem. However, as soon as I source our project specific resource file, the same code fails to compile with the following error: gcc: error trying to exec 'cc1plus': execvp: No such file or directory After some digging around, it appears that the issue is caused by a different value in COMPILER_PATH as returned by running echo "" | gcc - -xc -v -E. Before sourcing our environment file, I got: COMPILER_PATH=/swdepot/2012-Q2/37178099/SDK/usr/bin/../libexec/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.4.6/:/swdepot/2012-Q2/37178099/SDK/usr/bin/../libexec/gcc/:/usr/libexec/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.4.6/:/usr/libexec/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/ After sourcing: COMPILER_PATH=/usr/libexec/gcc/x86_64-redhat-linux/4.4.6/:/usr/l</pre> Chih Wang 2012-05-25T23:08:45 memory overhead of static const char? <pre>Hi all, when having a .cpp file that contains lines like: static const char * data = "test"; compile it with -fPIC and link it as a .so file - how big is the actual overhead beside the 5 byte text (incl. terminating \0)? I saw that there are symbols created in the .so file when looking at it with objdump -x I don't need these symbols because I use the defined variables only locally in the .cpp file and nobody outside accesses them - maybe another variable declaration prevents creating these symbols and reduces the needed memory? Best regards, Erik </pre> Erik Rull 2012-05-25T20:45:36 compile gcc and library <pre>I am looking for an older version of gcc ( gcc version 3.4.X). I can not find it in my os software repository. therefore i decide to download the source and compile it myself. I am looking at this download link and have a few questions. 1. does gcc-3.4.2.tar.bz2 include all the other tars (i.e. gcc-g++-3.4.2.tar.bz2 ). 2. if i compile the gcc in gcc-3.4.2.tar.bz2, is libc going to be compiled as well ? there are also other libraries such as libstdc++, is it going to be compiled. 3. is it possible to link again a library compiled by other versions of gcc (i.e. a program compiled with gcc 3.4.4 and links it with library that comes with gcc-4.4.6 ) ? Thanks </pre> Xin Tong 2012-05-24T17:40:49 Gcov - Cmake - Shared Lib - Problem <pre> Hi guys, I am working on a CmakeProjekt. This Projekt creates a shared Library, lets call it lib_shared. This shared library will be created in the following directory: /home/username/project/build/sharedlibdirectory/ . THEN this Cmake project builds a testrun-executable in the following path: /home/username/project/build/testrundirectory/ . The shared library lib_shared is linked against this test-executable. Everything works fine. My problem appears when i try to use Gcov for this projekt. Of course i want to have the code coverage of the sourcefiles of the sharedlibrary. I have used the flag "--coverage" and created the gcno files: The gcno-Files for the test-exectutable will be created in /home/username/project/build/testrundirectory/CMakeFiles/testrundirectory.dir/ The gcno-Files for the shared library will be created in /home/username/project/build/sharedlibdirectory/CMakeFiles/sharedlibdirectory.dir/ Then i have started the testrun. The gcda Files of this testrun will be created</pre> Alex Büchel 2012-05-24T14:16:44 Unexpected compiler error ( error: template argument 1 is invalid ) when using <limits> and using -m32 option on 64-bit system. <pre>Hi, I was playing with a very simple program ( limits.cpp ) as shown below. #include <limits> #include <iostream> using namespace std; int main() { cout << numeric_limits<int>::has_infinity << endl; return 0; } on my system (Arch Linux: g++ (GCC) 4.7.0 20120505 (prerelease) ) on a x86_64 system. If I compile with $ g++ -m64 limits.cpp compilation succeeds. However if I compile as follows I get a rather unhelpful error. $ g++ -m32 limits.cpp In file included from limits.cpp:1:0: /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/4.7.0/../../../../include/c++/4.7.0/limits:1405:35: error: template argument 1 is invalid /usr/lib/gcc/x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu/4.7.0/../../../../include/c++/4.7.0/limits:1479:44: error: template argument 1 is invalid Seems a very strange error message to give as I took a look at the numeric_limits templates in the <limits> header file and it looks perfectly valid. Is this a bug or a "feature"? Regards, Dan. </pre> Delcypher 2012-05-24T13:27:23 Warning message with usage of visibility hidden with wrapper class <pre>Hi all, My team at work and I have started to utilize the visibility attributes in gcc so that we are building 'nix libraries whose public symbols are in-line with our Windows builds. With some of our code though, we're noticing warnings about parts being declared with greater visibility. As far as we've been able to determine, there's nothing being executed incorrectly, but we'd like to understand the warning before ignoring it. The code in question is basically set up like this: class __attribute__ ((visibility ("hidden"))) SomeClass { ... } template <T> class WrappingSomeClass { ... void someFunc() { SomeClass var; ... } ... } Where the warning occurs on usage of SomeClass in WrappingSomeClass. Any code using this example links to the library with SomeClass in it. Any help you can give would be appreciated, and if my super simplification is overly so, let me know and I can give it in more detail. -- CSS </pre> Christopher Sigman 2012-05-24T02:02:41 Files with no valid license information <pre>Hello, We are using a custom GCC toolchain to build commercial ARM code, and have noticed some issues with licensing of some of the install files that GCC creates. There are at least 5 small header files that are missing any kind of license information. There are also many object and static library files created with no clear indication of which (if any) are covered by the LibGCC exception. In the lib/gcc/arm-none-eabi/4.6.3/plugin/ directory, there are also many GPL header files without the LibGCC exception. I would like to request: . A license block in every output header file, and an output text file specifying which object/library files are covered by the LibGCC exception. AND/OR . A build switch to prevent output of any files incompatible with commercial licensed target code. Attached is a text file detailing the headers/objects/libraries, and the build string I'm using. Also attached is a minor patch to the configure system that we needed. Regards, Evan Hunter (Broadcom, Sydney) Hea</pre> Evan Hunter 2012-05-23T23:34:58 Fixincludes permanence & questions on cross compilers <pre>Hi all, Two questions: 1. Are fixincludes hacks only active during build-time (e.g. they do not replace the actual file) or are they permanent? If they are only temporary/local to gcc, but they need to be permanent, is there a way to specify this? 2. On cross compilers, fixincludes does not appear (to my uneducated eye) to be applied to my headers (then again, I may have written the hacks wrong) located in sys-include. Does fixincludes not affect headers in sys-include or am I not looking hard enough? If somebody can explain in a bit more detail how fixincludes works (I read the README but it only defines the formatting), please do. The hacks I'm trying to apply are at the end of this email, if it helps. Thanks, Robert Mason /* * Wrap VxWorks ioctl to keep everything pretty */ fix = { hackname = vxworks_ioctl_macro; files = ioLib.h; test = " -r vxWorks.h "; c_fix = format; c_fix_arg = "%0\n" "#define ioctl(fd, func, arg) ((ioc</pre> rbmj 2012-05-23T16:52:59 Problem compiling gcc 4.7.0 libgcc on Netgear ReadyNAS DUO Sparc <pre> Hello, I'm trying to upgrade my gcc from 4.0 to 4.7. I got the following compiling enviroment: 2.6.17.14ReadyNAS #1 Thu Sep 1 17:44:33 PDT 2011 padre GNU/Linux GNU ld (GNU Binutils) 2.22 ldconfig (GNU libc) 2.3.2 GNU Make 3.82 debian sarge ls /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.* /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.a /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.so /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.so.1.2.2 /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.so.4.1.0 /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.la /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.so.1 /usr/local/lib/libmpfr.so.4 ls /usr/local/lib/libmpc.* /usr/local/lib/libmpc.a /usr/local/lib/libmpc.so /usr/local/lib/libmpc.so.0.0.0 /usr/local/lib/libmpc.so.2.0.0 /usr/local/lib/libmpc.la /usr/local/lib/libmpc.so.0 /usr/local/lib/libmpc.so.2 whereis libgmp libgmp: /usr/lib/libgmp.a /usr/lib/libgmp.lai /usr/local/lib/libgmp.so /usr/local/lib/libgmp.la /usr/local/lib/libgmp.a I configured gcc with the following parameters: gcc-4.7.0-compiled# ../gcc-4.7.0/configure --build='sparc-linux' --enable-languages=c,c++ --prefix=/usr --mandir=/usr/s</pre> .uservorname .usernachname 2012-05-23T13:29:11 Query regarding pointer analysis <pre>Hello, We are trying to find how pointer analysis information is being used by other optimizations in gcc. We disovered that pointer information is stored as a bitmap which is accessed via a macro named "SSA_NAME_PTR_INFO". However, when we tried to find where this macro is being used, we came up with following observations: For the example given below: int main() { int *a,*b; int p,q,r; a = &r; *a = p + q; b = &p; *b = p + q; printf("%d,%d",*a,*b); } There is scope for copy propagation, and the program does get optimized stating that *a should be equal to *b. Pass "COPY_PROPAGATION" has a call to SSA_NAME_PTR_INFO wherein it duplicates the points-to information in case of copy propagation. However, for the example given above, this macro is not being called. Here, we realized that the pointer dereferences are already converted to scalar variables in the first execution of the pass "CONDITIONAL CONSTANT PROPAGATION". However, this pass</pre> Mukta Joglekar 2012-05-23T10:16:28 cross gcc libgfortran mis-configuration <pre>Hi everyone, I am working on getting libgfortran to cross compile targeting vxworks. However, I've noticed that it has been mis-configured. Checking config.log, it appears that checks for function existence is succeeding because gcc thinks they are builtins. My config.log is attached - line 2175 (for example) shows the issue. This appears to be a problem with other functions as well. For some reason, configure thinks that my cross gcc has functions like fp_trap, fp_enable, fp_setmask, umask, exec* For another thing, I don't see how fork() can be a builtin, considering that there is no fork() in the libc and the vxworks process model doesn't exactly mesh with posix and forking... Or maybe there's another issue. Either way, these functions should *not* be working. Any help is appreciated. Thanks, Robert Mason </pre> rbmj 2012-05-22T03:51:14 Help compiling native gcc-4.7.0 on Solaris/x86 <pre>Folks, I've dug through the archives to see if my question is answered here but haven't found anything. I've been scouring Google for the past few days and am coming to you for help after having exhausted the resources at my disposal. Without further ado, here's what I have: My system: SunOS archive 5.11 oi_151a i86pc i386 i86pc isainfo -kv reports a 64bit OS: 64-bit amd64 kernel modules System compiler: gcc (GCC) 3.4.3 (csl-sol210-3_4-20050802) Libraries I'm using to compile gcc-4.7.0: gmp-5.0.5 mpfr-3.0.1 (mpfr-3.1.0 crashed earlier than where I am) mpc-0.9 binutils-2.22 I'm attempting to do a full bootstrap compilation so I can get rid of the system compiler. I've followed the instructions here: to setup and build gcc using the libraries mentioned above. I'm building as per gcc recommendations in a build directory parallel to the gcc-4.7.0 sources. My environment has the following variables: ABI=long and the configure command I used to kickstart this bu</pre> Shahbaz Javeed 2012-05-21T21:45:23 -mx32 'unrecognized option' <pre>hi, i tried mx32 option, it doesn't know it. What did i do wrong? diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> gcc -o try64 tryp.c diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> gcc --version gcc (GCC) 4.7.0 Copyright (C) 2012 Free Software Foundation, Inc. This is free software; see the source for copying conditions. There is NO warranty; not even for MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> ./t64 bash: ./t64: No such file or directory diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> ./try64 p=8 bytes adress=0x7fffadd09104 size of long=8 int=4 bytes diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> gcc -mx32 -o try64 tryp.c as: unrecognized option '--x32' diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> gcc -m32 -o try64 tryp.c diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> ./try64 p=4 bytes adress=0xffeef1a4 size of long=4 int=4 bytes diep< at >linux-ljxv:/home/213> cat tryp.c #include <stdio.h> int main(void) { int *p,i[3] = {0,1,2}; p = &i[1]; printf("p=%d bytes adress=%p size of long=%d int=%i bytes\n", sizeof(p),p,sizeof(long),sizeof(int)); return 0; } diep< at >lin</pre> Vincent Diepeveen 2012-05-21T20:04:40 cine castiga <pre> To unsubscribe please send email to unsubscribe< at >cc.psd-prahova.ro </pre> cramer< at >cc.psd-prahova.ro 2012-05-21T19:04:27 Address rejected by TARGET_LEGITIMATE_ADDRESS_P recreated in post reload CSE pass at -O2 <pre>Hi, </pre> Ayonam Ray 2012-05-21T19:13:53 Creating X32 ABI code with GCC? <pre>hi, Kernel 3.4 supports X32 ABI. see Linux_3.4#head-039c9d273884c9639937c10d68b4a3214869eb4b This could give fantastic speedups at x64 hardware as it combines the advantages of 64 bits programming, bunch of registers, with the advantage of still reusing the old codes 'signed integer' lookup which right now slows down so much in x64 as it creates an extra sign extension for the lookup 32 bits signed value to 64 bits signed value. Does GCC already support this and if so which options can i trigger this with GCC? If so does this work at all x64 processors as well? If i google i see a few postings about X32 'backported to GCC' attempt in 2011 somewhere, but no confirmation whatsoever. Thanks, Vincent </pre> Vincent Diepeveen 2012-05-21T17:55:03 Partial registers in asm constraints/clobber lists <pre>Hi, My question is this. Is it safe to mention part of a register only in a constraint or clobber list? Two examples: asm( "xor %%eax,%%eax" ::: "eax" ); This is fine for 32 bits, but in 64 bit mode, the upper half of rax is zeroed. So do I have to give rax in the clobber list? (which means separate code for 32 and 64 versions which I'd prefer to avoid). Secondly: bool have_tsc( void ) { bool present; asm( "mov $1,%%eax; cpuid; test $16,%%edx; setnz %0" : "=a" (present) :: "ebx", "ecx", "edx" ); return present; } Here only "al" is mentioned but of course "eax" is altered. (of course I could use "=q" but it creates an extra mov, as the function will return the bool in "al"). Does gcc treat registers as a whole so that a mention of any part of a register refers to all of it (e.g. register "a"). Thanks Jeremy </pre> Jeremy Hall 2012-05-21T09:00:35 problem with order of -lmylibrary flags. <pre>I've found kind of a weird issue where if I indicate I want to link a library with the -l flag too early on the command line, I get linker errors. Here's an example: g++ -lml -lcvaux -lhighgui -lcv -lcxcore -std=c++0x -Werror -Wall -g -MMD -MP -Iinclude -o objrec main.cpp Here I'm linking a bunch of libraries, into a binary called objerec. The source file is at the end. This command line produces linker errors as if the libraries had not been linked properly. However in this example everything is fine: g++ -std=c++0x -Werror -Wall -g -MMD -MP -Iinclude -o objrec main.cpp -lml -lcvaux -lhighgui -lcv -lcxcore The only difference is that I place the -l flags after the source file (main.cpp) that I'm building. Why does the second example compile while the first gets linker errors? A more general question: in a make file is it better to list libraries you want to link in the LDFLAGS variable, or in the LDLIBS variable? Thanks, Brendan Miller </pre> Brendan Miller 2012-05-20T23:16:03 Creating makefiles in gcc4.7.0 <pre> How do I create makefiles for gcc4.7.0 c++ projects? Has anybody got a link to an example of a "gcc4.7.0" c++11 project? And also a tutorial to writing makefiles for the compiler? (I've looked at the general documentation and it wasn't really clear enough and mostly feels a bit like information overload when first looking at it) </pre> blessman11 2012-05-20T10:05:58 Integral type with sizeof(T) == 1 and distinct aliasing class <pre>Is there a type which is basically an (unsigned) char, but with the additional feature that a pointer derived from it wouldn't alias with basically anything? This type would be handy for optimizing marshaling code. </pre> Florian Weimer 2012-05-20T09:45:29 lang.opt <pre>Hey Trying to add option to my front-end thought lang.opt: fpy-dump-dot Python Var(gpy_set_dump_dot) Init(1) dumps the pretty-printed DOT IL But i keep Getting: warning: command line option ‘-fpy-dump-dot’ is valid for Python but not for [enabled by default] --Phil </pre> Philip Herron 2012-05-20T02:20:56 Search Engine Search the mailing list at Gmane query

Last Updated: 25 February 2008 FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA A V Jennings Ltd ACN 004 601 503 v Bogdan [2008] FCA 107 PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – application for an extension of time to file and serve a notice of appeal – consideration of whether ‘special reasons’ made out – consideration of the circumstances of delay – consideration of the principles governing an application for an extension of time – consideration of the exercise of federal jurisdiction by the Magistrates Court of Queensland Federal Court of Australia Act 1976, s 24(1)(c), s 25(2)(a) and (b), s 25(2A), s 25(2) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth), s 39(2) Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, s 75, s 76(ii), s 77(iii) Federal Court Rules, Order 52, rule 15(1)(a), Order52, rule 15(2), Order 52, rule 15(3) Ly and Another v Jenkins and Others [2001] FCA 1640; (2001) 114 FCR 237, cited Jess v Scott (1986) 12 FCR 187, cited Stollznow v Calvert [1980] 2 NSWLR 749, cited Douglas v Allen (1984) 1 FCR 287, cited Hunter Valley Developments Pty Ltd v Cohen (1984) 3 FCR 344, cited Seiler v Minister for Immigration (1994) 48 FCR 83, cited Re Envirotech Australia Pty Ltd (1989) 14 IPR 108, cited Envirotech and Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1992) 108 ALR 277, cited A V JENNINGS LTD ACN 004 601 503 v TIBERIU BOGDAN AND VESNA BOGDAN QUD410 OF 2007 GREENWOOD J 21 FEBRUARY 2008 BRISBANE THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The applicant is granted leave to file and serve a notice of appeal to the Federal Court of Australia from the orders of the Magistrates Court of Queensland dismissing the applicant’s proceeding before that Court on 20 March 2007. 2. The applicant pay the respondents’ costs of and incidental to the application. Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules. REASONS FOR JUDGMENT 1 On 20 March 2007, her Honour, Magistrate Payne, of the Magistrates Court of Queensland pronounced in the exercise of federal jurisdiction, an ex tempore judgment dismissing a claim by the present applicant, A V Jennings Ltd, of copyright infringement on the part of the respondents in respect of the contended reproduction of the applicant’s work being a plan for a house. At pages 13 and 24 of the transcript of proceedings before her Honour, the house plan is described as the Cortona 290 plan and the Kertona 290 plan although the pleadings in the action, and her Honour in the course of her reasons, described the plan as variously the Cambridge 245, Verona 245 and Cortona 245 plan (hereinafter called the ‘Cortona 245 plan’). 2 In the course of proceedings, the respondents admitted, that the applicant is the owner of the copyright subsisting in the plan; the respondents were responsible for bringing into existence a design and plan for a house generally described as the Bogdan plan; and the respondents constructed a house based on the Bogdan plan. 3 The applicants in the proceeding before her Honour contended that the Bogdan plan is a substantial copy of the Cortona 245 plan and the Bogdan house is a three-dimensional reproduction of the applicant’s two-dimensional work. 4 The applicant seeks to appeal from the decision and orders of her Honour. 5 The appellate jurisdiction of the Federal Court of Australia includes a jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals from judgments of a Court of a State exercising federal jurisdiction, in such cases ‘as are provided by any other Act’ (s 24(1)(c) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976). Section 131B(2) of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) (‘Copyright Act’) provides that an appeal lies from a decision of a Court of a State under Part V of the Copyright Act to the Federal Court of Australia. Section 39(2) of the Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) provides that ‘the several Courts of the States shall within the limits of their several jurisdictions, ... be invested with federal jurisdiction, in all matters in which the High Court has original jurisdiction or in which original jurisdiction can be conferred upon it ...’. The High Court has original jurisdiction in the five matters set out in s 75 of the Constitution. By s 76 of the Constitution, the Parliament may confer original jurisdiction on the High Court in any matter arising under any laws made by the Parliament (s 76(ii)). Additionally, by s 77(iii) of the Constitution, the Parliament may make laws investing any Court of a State with federal jurisdiction in respect of the nine matters identified in ss 75 and 76 of the Constitution. Since original jurisdiction can be conferred upon the High Court in any matter arising under the Copyright Act, s 39(2) invests the Magistrates Court of Queensland with federal jurisdiction in respect of a matter under Part V of the Copyright Act which includes s 115 of the Copyright Act conferring an entitlement upon the copyright owner to bring an action for infringement of copyright. The decision of her Honour was thus a decision under Part V of the Copyright Act and an appeal lies from that decision to the Federal Court of Australia (Ly and Another v Jenkins and Others [2001] FCA 1640; (2001) 114 FCR 237 per Sackville J at [69] and following). 6 The exercise of the Court’s appellate jurisdiction contemplates applications for leave to appeal or for an extension of time within which to institute an appeal to the Court (s 25(2)(a) and (b)). By s 25(2A), the rules of Court may make provision for applications to be dealt with of the kind mentioned in s 25(2). Order 52, rule 15(1)(a) provides that a notice of appeal shall be filed and served within 21 days after the date when the judgment appealed from was pronounced. The time limited for filing and serving a notice of appeal, in this case, expired on 10 April 2007. Order 52, rule 15(2) provides that the Court or a judge for ‘special reasons’ may at any time give leave to file and serve a notice of appeal which, in accordance with Form 54A and Order 52, rule 15(3) involves an application for an extension of time within which, by leave, to file and serve a notice of appeal. The notice of motion seeking an extension of time was filed on 13 December 2007 approximately eight months after the expiration of the time limited for filing and serving an appeal. 7 It is entirely uncontroversial that in considering an application to extend time to file and serve a notice of appeal, the Court will have regard to the length of the delay (Jess v Scott (1986) 12 FCR 187 per Lockhart, Sheppard and Burchett JJ); the explanation for the delay and whether the applicant has contributed to the delay (Stollznow v Calvert [1980] 2 NSWLR 749, per Moffit P); any prejudice to the respondents arising out of the delay (Douglas v Allen (1984) 1 FCR 287 per Morling J; Hunter Valley Developments Pty Ltd v Cohen (1984) 3 FCR 344 per Wilcox J at p 349); actions taken by the applicant to alert the respondent to the fact that the decision is or may be contested (Hunter Valley Developments at p 349); the merits of the proposed appeal (Hunter Valley Developments at p 349; Seiler v Minister for Immigration (1994) 48 FCR 83 per French J at p 98B); alternative avenues of relief (Re Envirotech Australia Pty Ltd (1989) 14 IPR 108 per Jenkinson J); and any questions going to public interest (Envirotech and Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1992) 108 ALR 277 per Heerey J). 8 The background events are these. 9 The proceedings before her Honour SM Payne were conducted over two days on 26 and 27 April 2006. An ex tempore judgment was delivered by her Honour on 20 March 2007 approximately 12 months later. The applicant sought access to a transcript of the ex tempore reasons from the Magistrates Court and an appeal was filed in the District Court of Queensland at Brisbane on 16 April 2007, and served. On 24 April 2007, the present solicitors for the respondents, Bennett & Philp, sent a notice of address for service to the solicitors for the applicant. On 26 July 2007, the applicant’s solicitors wrote to the Magistrates Court requesting a copy of the transcript of proceedings. The transcript of the trial was collected by the applicant’s solicitors on 2 August 2007. The appeal filed in the District Court of Queensland on 16 April 2007 was prosecuted in accordance with District Court Practice Direction No. 4 of 1997 which required the appellant in that Court to file an outline of submissions which occurred on 2 October 2007. The appellant’s outline was served on the solicitors for the respondents on 8 October 2007. On 25 October 2007, the respondent’s solicitors wrote to the District Court seeking an extension of time to prepare, file and serve an outline of argument until 28 days after receiving a copy of a transcript of the proceeding and the ex tempore reasons for decision. On 5 December 2007, the solicitors for the respondents sent a letter to the Registrar of the District Court contending that by reason of s 131B of the Copyright Act, the District Court had no jurisdiction to entertain an appeal from the decision of the Magistrates Court. A copy of that letter together with a further letter dated 5 December 2007 was sent by Bennett & Philp to the solicitors for the applicant. 10 On 14 December 2007, the applicant filed the present notice of motion seeking an extension of time to file and serve an appeal to this Court. 11 It can be seen that although there is a very lengthy period of delay, the applicant’s solicitors promptly sought access to a transcript of the ex tempore reasons of her Honour; filed an appeal in the District Court on 16 April 2007; sought access to a transcript of the entire proceeding heard on 26 and 27 April 2006 and acted consistently with the relevant District Court Practice Direction. Equally clearly, the solicitors for the respondents engaged in that process and sought an extension of time to file submissions in response. During the course of early December 2007, it became apparent to both parties that a notice of appeal ought to have been filed in the Federal Court of Australia. It follows that the applicant proceeded on an incorrect assumption by reason of the approach adopted by the legal advisers and the failure to file a notice of appeal in the Federal Court is not conduct truly referable to the applicant itself. Also, the respondents for a time at least, by their lawyers thought that the District Court of Queensland was the proper forum for hearing and determining an appeal from her Honour’s orders. 12 Accordingly, I am satisfied that although the delay is lengthy, it is sufficiently explained by the events between 20 March 2007 and the filing in this Court of the present notice of motion on 14 December 2007. 13 As to the question of prejudice to the respondents, no prejudice is contended for by the respondents. 14 As to the question of notice to the respondents that the decision would be contested, the appeal filed in the District Court of Queensland at Brisbane gave notice to the respondents that the applicant proposed to contest the decision. The content of that contest was elaborated by the applicant’s outline of argument filed in the District Court as appellant, consistent with the Practice Direction of that Court. 15 The central matter upon which the application is to be resolved is whether the applicant has demonstrated sufficiently arguable grounds of appeal that the interests of justice require the grant of an extension of time to enable an appeal to be heard and determined. 16 As to the grounds of appeal, the applicant contends that the ex tempore decision of her Honour of 20 March 2007 approximately 12 months after the conclusion of the two day hearing resulted in the dismissal of the applicant’s claim based upon reasons which failed to deal with important evidence going to the question of conscious copying and substantial similarity as the test of reproduction of the work. The applicant relied upon contended substantial similarities between its plan for the Cortona 245 and the features evident in the Bogdan plan and house and, in particular, the contended three-dimensional reproduction of the artistic work. The applicant relied upon those similarities as the basis for an inference of copying by the respondents, that is, an inference of a causal connection between the conduct of the respondents and the applicant’s work, and satisfaction of the test of reproduction. In dismissing the applicant’s claim, the applicant contends that her Honour failed to dispositively deal with the evidence of Mr Henesey-Smith; the evidence of an expert architect called by the applicant, Mr Deshon; the evidence of a third party manufacturer of roof trusses, Mr Neuson of Truss Master; the evidence of Mrs Bogdan; and inferences to be drawn from the failure of Mr Bogdan to give evidence as to the authorship and evolution of the Bogdan plan and the failure of the respondents to call evidence from the draftsman retained by the respondents, Mr Djako. 17 In response, the respondents say that her Honour properly considered the authorities relevant to the question of whether the respondents brought their drawing into existence and ultimately constructed their house having regard to any work or structure of the applicant and also the question of whether the Bogdan plan and ultimately the Bogdan house reflect substantial qualitative similarities so as to constitute a reproduction of the work. The applicant says that her Honour erred in concluding that although there are similarities evident in the relevant comparison, those similarities are referable to ‘common design features’ emblematic of house plans. Secondly, her Honour is said to have erred in concluding that the dissimilarities are such that no inference of causal connection can be drawn from the similarity of features in the absence of evidence of access to the work of the applicant, and thus the applicant had failed to discharge the onus of proof. 18 In her reasons for decision, her Honour noted that the applicant called three witnesses: Mr Neuson who worked for Truss Master; Mr Henesey-Smith, the Executive General Manager of the applicant; and Mr Deshon. Her Honour turned to the evidence of Mr Deshon and noted his evidence of the distinguishing features of the applicant’s plan and particularly the features of ‘higher ceilings’ and ‘splayed’ or ‘angled’ walls. Her Honour noted aspects of Mr Deshon’s evidence concerning a plan of ‘Dixon Homes’ which was put to him in cross-examination and Mr Deshon’s observation of some similarities within the layout of that plan and the applicant’s plan. 19 Mr Deshon, in his evidence, also dealt with the central contention of the respondents that the Bogdan plan had evolved from a combination of references to a plan for an earlier Canberra house and contributions to the evolution of the plan by Mr Bogdan’s father-in-law having regard to a particular photograph from a magazine selected by Mr Bogdan exhibiting raked windows. Mr Deshon considered a document described as Annexure ‘A’ (the ‘Canberra plan’), Annexure ‘C’ (the ‘Bogdan plan’) and Annexure ‘B’ (a drawing) out of which Annexure ‘C’ was said to have emerged. Mr Deshon gave evidence that he could not see any progressive development of Annexure ‘C’ from Annexure ‘A’ and questioned the sequence of Annexures ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ (transcript pp 25-28). It seems from the cross-examination by Mr Bogdan who conducted a defence of the proceeding on behalf of both respondents that references to the Dixon Homes drawing was either intended to suggest an evolution in the development of the Bogdan plan having regard to the Dixon Homes drawing or perhaps more simply that some common features in the Dixon Homes drawing and the applicant’s drawing suggested that features in the Bogdan drawing could not be thought to derive from references to the applicant’s plan or structures built by the applicant based on its plan. 20 Although her Honour initially made reference to the evidence of Mr Neuson, there is no evaluation of Mr Neuson’s evidence to the effect that a request made of him to build a truss for the Bogdan structure based on the Bogdan plan immediately suggested to him as an experienced manufacturer of trusses that there was a striking similarity between the applicant’s plan and the Bogdan plan. Similarly, her Honour did not deal with the evidence of Mr Henesey-Smith. Her Honour concluded from her own examination of the plans that the comparison ‘shows there are striking similarities’. Her Honour concluded that notwithstanding these striking similarities, her Honour could not find that there had been a reproduction of the whole or a substantial part of the applicant’s plan. Her Honour noted some of the similarities and dissimilarities in terms of features, the arrangement of the rooms and the footprint of the buildings. Her Honour observed that she had carefully considered the evidence of Mr Deshon who was of assistance to the Court. Her Honour concluded however that, when considering all of the similarities and dissimilarities, the applicant had not ‘discharged its burden of proof’. Her Honour further concluded that the splayed walls and raised ceiling features identified as significant distinguishing features were ‘that of a common idea and not sufficient to sustain a conclusion of reproduction of the whole or a substantial part’ of the applicant’s plan. 21 Having regard to the finding of ‘striking similarities’, the failure of her Honour to deal with the evidence of Mr Neuson and Mr Deshon is, it seems to me, an appellable error in dispositively quelling the controversy. Mr Deshon sought to deal with the primary contention of Mr Bogdan put to Mr Deshon in cross-examination that the Bogdan plan was the rational and logical evolution of a drawing from the Canberra plan assisted by the magazine photograph. Moreover, Mr Bogdan although warned by her Honour of the consequences of taking a course of not giving evidence as to his authorship and contribution to authorship of the plan, failed to give that evidence and thus explain his independent authorship of the plan and the contribution of his father-in-law to the plan. Mrs Bogdan’s evidence was that she did not know of the applicant’s plan or structures and that any question about similarities and authorship would have to be directed to Mr Bogdan. However, he gave no evidence as to these matters. Her Honour noted that Mr Bogdan’s election not to give evidence was ‘unhelpful as his evidence would have been likely to assist me, especially as he was, according to Mrs Bogdan, one of the persons who drew up the plans before they were sent to the architect for the final plans to be drawn’. 22 As to that final observation, the architect who drew up the final version of the Bogdan plan was Mr Djako of Igor Designs. Mr Djako was not called to give evidence either. 23 In dealing with the question of whether inferences might or might not be drawn from striking similarities, the disposition of the proceeding required her Honour to weigh in the balance the evidence of Mr Deshon and Mr Neuson and the curious matter that Mr Bogdan notwithstanding her Honour’s invitations to him to consider his position, elected not to give any evidence as to independent authorship. 24 I am satisfied that arguable grounds of appeal have been made out. I am satisfied that having regard to all of these matters, the applicant has established ‘special circumstances’ and accordingly I grant leave to the applicant to file and serve a notice of appeal to the Federal Court of Australia from the orders of her Honour dismissing the applicant’s proceeding before the Magistrates Court of Queensland and for that purpose grant an extension of time. 25 As to the costs of the application, although the applicant proceeded on a false assumption, the respondents did not bring about that false assumption. The events provide an explanation for the delay in filing a notice of appeal before this Court. However, had the applicant filed and served its notice of appeal within the 21 day period provided for, this application would not have been necessary and the respondents would not have been put to the expense of dealing with an application for an extension of time for the filing and serving of a notice of appeal. Accordingly, the applicant shall pay the costs of the respondents of and incidental to the application. Associate: Dated: 21 February 2008 AustLII: | Disclaimers | | Feedback URL:

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Ward of the Sun King by Mildred Allen Butler Smashwords Edition All rights reserved. For information contact [email protected]. This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only, and may not be resold, given away, or altered. Funk & Wagnalls edition (hardcover) published in 1970 Ad Stellae Books edition (ebook) published in 2012 Cover: Detail from Iris by Jean Antoine Watteau, 1719 CONTENTS * * * Performance of the play Esther The first exciting event of my life happened at the Palace of Versailles, for it was there that I found myself making a deep curtsy to our King, His Gracious Majesty, Louis XIV. This was a great honor for me, and I had been coached for hours in the proper deportment by a lady-in-waiting. My feet must be placed just so—the right, forward and pointed out; the left, turned slightly and the leg bent with the weight on my left foot so that I should not fall or make myself ridiculous by wobbling; my back straight so that I could sink nearly to the floor and then incline my head gracefully. My long, full gown was of gold silk brocade with a cream-colored, gathered overskirt trimmed with lace; my slippers were of gold satin to match; and my dark hair was dressed and hung in curls on my shoulders. That was eight years ago, when I was twelve, but I still remember that beautiful gown. The great moment was most unexpected, for I really had no right to be presented at the Palace of Versailles at all, my father not having been a courtier. I owed it all to Madame de Maintenon. When in 1685 it was announced in all parishes that Madame had opened a school for young ladies and was accepting only girls of noble birth whose families were, nevertheless, poor, my mother was most anxious that I be admitted. The pupils of this school were to be wards of the King, and he would provide generous dowries for them when they married. I had not realized that we were poor until my mother explained to me that when my father was killed in battle we had come to live at the Château de Ronne on the charity of my grandfather, for my father’s lands had been sold to pay his debts. Though we were very welcome and lived comfortably, there would be no dowry for me when I was of an age to marry. My father, Etienne Lavelle, Marquis de Chacun, was slain in the service of the King and so I was eligible for admittance to Madame’s school. The convent schools, of which there were so many, gave little education except in religion, and my mother wanted more for me than that. Besides, the convents demanded a fee, as much as—often more than—a family could afford, else the girls became drudges, serving the nuns. Madame had narrowly escaped such a fate and had never forgotten it. She was once herself a poor demoiselle and opening this school was the way her kind heart prompted her to act for the good of others like herself. Such a one was I. For some reason—she said it was the pretty manners my mother had taught me—Madame de Maintenon took a fancy to me and summoned me one day, during my first week at the school, to go with her to Versailles. I was in awe of her, for as everyone knew she had recently been married to the King, though because she was not of royal blood, the marriage had never been officially announced. As I made my curtsy, I heard Madame say: “Here is an example, sire, of the girls I am educating at Noisy [pronounced Nwa-zée] to be gracious hostesses and good wives to the gentlemen of France. Your Majesty, may I present Adrienne Lavelle? She is new to the school, is pretty and refined, and it is for her and those like her that I am asking you to erect a larger building.” Turning to me, she added, “You may rise, child. You have done well.” The King said: “She is very thin.” Madame answered: “She is only twelve. She will fill out.” I recovered my balance and stood before His Majesty, not daring to look up. Then he spoke to me: “Come here, my dear, and let me see one of Madame’s pets.” I went forward, trembling, and he put a finger under my chin, lifting it so that I had to look at him. His appearance was dazzling, and I could see why people called him the “Sun King.” My eyes passed over his elaborate clothes, which looked to me like a blur of gold and amber, and rested on his proud, imperious face surrounded by an enormous black, curled wig which fell to his shoulders. His gaze was keen but not unkind, and I stopped trembling. “If you can collect more like this demoiselle, Madame,” he said, “I will build you the new school.” Then and there was born in me a great desire to be a part of this splendid Court. I glanced down the long hall thronged by gentlemen and ladies in costly dress—reds and purples, blues and greens—the whole assemblage doubled by the marvelous mirrors that lined one side of the huge gallery. Doubled, too, were the rows of crystal chandeliers and the windows with their glimpses of trees and hedges, making the space seem very wide as well as very long. I should have kept on looking forever had not Madame spoken to the lady-in-waiting who brought me and told her to escort me back to the school. As we walked backwards, making our three obeisances, I looked longingly at the scene of fairyland until the door opened and we were ushered out. It was my first sight of the Court of Versailles at the time of its greatest splendor, and the last I was to have for many a day. I have never forgotten the kindness of Madame de Maintenon in selecting me to be presented to the King. I am sorry that my daring escapade later on caused her so much anxiety. She is a very warmhearted person, though strict. Madame de Maintenon Painting by Pierre Mignard, 17th century King Louis XIV of France Painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud, 1701 Palace of Versailles Painting by Pierre Patel, 1668 * I had already heard a lot about the size and magnificence of the Palace of Versailles from my cousin Pierre, who had just become a page there in the entourage of Madame de Maintenon. It was not on his account, though, that she made so much of me when I arrived; she could hardly have known of his existence since she had three or four hundred persons, both those of rank and servants, to attend her. Pierre, who is two years older than I, is only distantly related to me. He is a third cousin—our grandfathers are first cousins—but I have known him ever since I can remember because our families have always been very close, and we often visited his home, the Chateau de Charlefont. ‘When Pierre’s father died, his grandfather, the Comte de Charlefont, whom I call Cousin Armand, took charge of Pierre, his older brother Raimond, two sisters who married soon after, and his mother who died when Pierre was ten years old. Though he is not heir to the estate, Pierre has always been his grandfather’s favorite and it was through the Comte’s influence that he was given a place at Court. The Comte, Armand de Lys, performed some service for our King’s father, Louis XIII, and a letter from the dying monarch recommended preferment for all the family of de Lys whenever possible. Pierre’s uncle, for whom he was named, did not take advantage of this opportunity. He became a Huguenot and thus forfeited his right to attention at Court, for the Protestant religion was very unpopular throughout France even before it became unlawful. This uncle spent most of his time in La Rochelle, and returned home only when he became ill. He died of lung fever the year before I entered Madame’s school. I had often heard the story of the strong friendship between the Comte de Charlefont and my own grandfather, and of how the Comte married grandpère’s adopted sister Madeleine. They named their eldest son Raoul after my grandfather, who named his eldest son Armand after the Comte. Grandpère had studied for the priesthood but gave it up when his brother Henri was killed in the wars and he became heir to the Chateau de Ronne. After that he married; besides his son, who died young, he had two daughters, of whom my mother was the elder. All this is, of course, ancient history, but I have taken an interest in all I could learn of my family and Pierre’s because of the course in blazonry which was given at school. We were taught this so that when we made our debut into society, we would know the origin and alliances of every illustrious family in the realm and understand the exact rules of precedence, so necessary in entertaining. From the time we were young children, Pierre and I got along well together. As a child he loved horses, as did I, and later he owned a great many. He was generally cheerful and lively, yet sometimes thoughtful and silent for long periods. At these times he was probably thinking of his whittling, for he could carve wood into wonderful shapes. He would fashion sticks in such a way that they could be put together to form tiny chalets, or farms and wagons—things such as that. He could do anything with his hands. One day—I was about nine, I think—he gave me something he had carved especially for me out of a piece of chestnut wood from a tree on the estate. It was a little horse no more than four inches long. Brown and polished, it stood on its four delicately carved legs, absolutely perfect. But he disparaged it. “I wish I could have done better,” he said. “I was trying to make it look like your mare, Belle, but it turned out to look more like a race horse.” “It is beautiful, Pierre,” I assured him. “It does look like Belle. Anyway, you know I’m mad about horses.” “I wanted to give you something worth keeping, Rienne,” he said. “Someday you’ll be married, I suppose, and I’ll be going off to the wars and—well, I just wanted to give you something, that’s all.” “I love it, Pierre,” I told him, “and I’ll keep it always.” I have it still. * In order to make application for admission to Madame de Maintenon’s school, my mother and I made the two-day journey from our home at the Château de Ronne to meet the great lady, and she received us graciously. The school at that time was at Noisy, near Versailles, but later the new one, which the King had promised, was built very close to the Palace grounds. It is very famous and is called Saint-Cyr. A girl must have a line of at least five noble ancestors to be considered for the school, but that was no problem for me since my lineage was well established. A few weeks after our meeting with Madame, we received word that I had been accepted as one of a hundred new pupils, and that I was now a ward of the King under the guardianship of Madame de Maintenon. Soon after this, and before I entered the school, we were visiting the Château de Charlefont one day when my mother asked Cousin Armand to tell us all he knew about that lady. The Comte was obliged to be at Court often, since it was the custom, though he preferred to live on the beautiful estate given to him by King Louis XIII. Court gossip flows freely, but my mother knew that he was clever enough to distinguish the false from what was probably true. “Is it a fact,” she asked him, “that Madame de Maintenon was once married to a notorious Parisian whose body was so deformed that he was said to resemble the letter Z?” “Yes, that is so,” answered Cousin Armand. “When she came to live at Versailles she was known as Madame Scarron, but by then her husband had been dead for several years. She became Madame de Maintenon later, when she purchased the estate of that name.” “Tell us what you know about her,” I begged. He drew me to him and I leaned against his chair and smoothed his thick gray hair affectionately—he wore a curled wig only at Court—as he told his story. “You must realize, Rienne, that her life is no secret to those of us who have been around her for a long time, but to you it will seem quite like a fairy tale.” I was eager to hear about this grand lady who was the King’s wife, though not the Queen, and in whose presence I had been shy and almost speechless at our first meeting. “Madame Scarron first became known to the Court as governess to King Louis’ three children by his favorite, Madame de Montespan. The name Madame Scarron was born with was Françoise d’Aubigny, and she was born in a prison; her father had been convicted of coining money illegally. Later he was released and took his family to the West Indies, but there they lived in poverty and were glad to get back to France. Her childhood, spent partly with relatives who were Huguenots, was miserable. She felt herself to be a Protestant and it was with great difficulty that she was converted to the Catholic faith in a convent. She detested the convent, and by great good fortune escaped being an unwilling resident for life.” Cousin Armand went on to tell me all that happened to her after that. It was very interesting but I shall only put down the main events here. She had no dowry, but because she was very pretty, some relative arranged a marriage for her with Paul Scarron, quite an old man, well-known in scandalous society, clever and witty, but deformed and thoroughly bad. He was, however, very good to Françoise (it seems strange for me to use her first name), and she was grateful. When he died, she was without support for some time until she was engaged to take care of the King’s first child by Madame de Montespan. She and the child were housed secretly in Paris. In a few years there were three children. The King had them and their governess brought to Versailles, and it was not long before he pronounced these children legitimate, though they could never inherit the throne. The eldest is the young man we know as the Duc de Maine, who was to have an influence on both Pierre’s life and mine. Madame’s rise from being prison-born to the highest position in the land was indeed like a fairy tale. I was glad to know of it and I think that after I entered the school I appreciated her kindness more and forgave her the more easily when sometimes she seemed too strict. But I kept her story to myself and did not tell it to the other girls. I could not bear to have her misfortunes joked about as they probably would have been if everyone had known about her career. The girls at school knew nothing about Court scandals, as I soon found out. On that same visit to Charlefont, Pierre told me what the Palace was like. He first described the outside to me, for I had never seen it then. “It is huge,” he said, “with two sets of enormous wings jutting out from the long main building. Between the first two wings is a courtyard paved with squares of black and white marble leading into the vast main courtyard, which is hundreds of feet across. In front there is a high wrought-iron fence ornamented on top, and in the middle, the great gates of golden bars surmounted with the Sun King’s crest. These open wide enough to admit the King’s coach, which is, of course, the largest in the world, and therefore any lesser coach can easily enter. The gates are opened nearly every day to admit people from the country around and from Paris who come to watch the King eat his dinner.” He told me about the Palace of stone and brick, two stories high, with sculptured windows topped all around by an ornamental balustrade of stone and above that a sloping blue-tiled roof with little windows in it. Up there under the roof are many little cubicles occupied by some pages and lackeys and also, most unwillingly, by nobles of the realm when it pleases the King to have them near him. I found it hard to believe that any palace could be so large, but Pierre assured me that there were usually five thousand people living there, a thousand of them royalty and nobles, and four thousand attendants and servants. He ought to know, for he carried messages from one apartment to another and he declared that they were leagues apart! Then he tried to describe the gardens at the back, with lawns, flowers, and statuary, and an artificial lake on which several large sailing vessels could ride. But he said I should have to see it to believe it. Later I did see it and knew that he was right. He told me about the sculptured decorations of the interior, the marvelous tapestries on the walls, the gold chairs and divans upholstered in velvet and needlepoint. There were not many of these, he said, because only a few people were allowed to sit down, and the ladies who were not of royal blood had to sit on stools without backs. But his greatest praise was for the magnificent Hall of Mirrors, the silks and satins worn by the courtiers, the perfumed wigs of the gentlemen and elaborate coiffures of the ladies. It was no wonder that I thought I could never be happy until I had seen it with my own eyes! So it was that when I did have my first glimpse of the Palace on the occasion of my presentation to His Majesty, my imagination was fired by the glamour that briefly surrounded me, and I determined to bend every effort toward obtaining the honor, as soon as I became sixteen, of being lady-in-waiting to one of the duchesses living at Court. This would be difficult. I could not depend on Madame de Maintenon, for it was agreed when I was admitted to the school at the age of twelve that I would stay there until I was twenty. It would take that long, thought our benefactor, to train her demoiselles in all they should know before going out into the world. When we were twenty, suitable husbands would be found for us and dowries would be provided; but until then we were wards of the King. All the girls consented to abide by these rules and considered themselves very fortunate indeed. Since we were poor, it was either that or the cloister. But none of us knew how coming events would tempt us, and to me, even at the beginning, it seemed a very long time to be shut up in a school. As it happened, the years passed swiftly and were filled with adventure—for me, at least. I am twenty now, and as I gaze over the wide, fast-flowing Saint Lawrence River toward the silent, fir-forested wilderness of Quebec in New France, I like to look back and remember all that has happened to me since I was first admitted as a schoolgirl to the institution that became known as Saint-Cyr. Before I could set forth to Madame de Maintenon’s school, there were preparations to be made. My wardrobe had to be gone over carefully, for we had no money for new clothes. I had a warm cloak with fur and a light one for summer. As for dresses, I had several which would do well enough, for Madame had said that as soon as the school was moved into the new building which she hoped the King would erect, she would provide uniforms for all the pupils. My three dresses with fitted bodices, lace-edged at neck and sleeves, and full skirts sweeping the floor were all made of fine fabric. Though we never had any money—maman and I—material for dresses was always to be found laid away in the Château, and good cloth never wears out. I was overjoyed to be taking with me the beautiful brocaded gold silk gown that had been my mother’s. She was small in stature, too, so it fit me except that it had to be taken in a little. At home there had never been an occasion to wear it, but when I was presented to His Majesty I was glad to be able to display the treasure. I was sorry to leave the Château de Ronne, and somehow it seemed a final parting. Though Madame had said in the interview that the pupils could go home occasionally, she made it clear that she wanted us nearly always under her eye, and the days between the present and the time when I should be twenty stretched out endlessly. It was with that feeling in my heart that I bade farewell to all my well-loved places in the Château. Its furniture and furnishings were very old, but I loved them all the more for that, and they were beautiful. There were the kitchens, which had always interested me, where so many good things were cooked; there was the long hall lined with family portraits; and there was the library which had been started with some of Cousin Armand’s books when he lived here. But my favorite room was a small sitting room between my mother’s bedroom and mine, which contained most of the objects that I held dear. We two had spent many a winter day there ever since I could remember. I was an only child, you see, which is quite unusual. But my mother, though still young, had loved my father so much that when he died she did not want to marry again. Except for my cousin Pierre, she was the only companion I had. There was, of course, my grandfather, whom we both loved. He taught me to ride and play games when I was very little. He also taught me to read and write—some Latin as well as French —and he gave me the privilege of reading his books whenever I liked. Having once studied for the priesthood, he had more learning than most men. But he was gray-haired now and I thought he would not be a very lively companion for my mother when I was at school. “Will you miss me, grandpère?” I asked, knowing he would but wanting to hear him say it. “Of course I’ll miss you, my child. Your mother and I will be all alone.” “But don’t forget,” said maman, “that we can visit Charlefont often and entertain friends at home.” I hugged her and wished that it were not settled that I must go. “You are sure that you want me to enter Madame’s school?” I asked for the twentieth time. “Very sure, darling,” she answered, though I knew she hated for us to be separated. “We must think of your future.” The day before I left, I visited the farm animals, the flower garden, the moat where I used to sail boats—it was clear water kept fresh by springs—and even the vineyard. Then I went to the stables to see my sleek brown mare, Belle. I rubbed her soft nose and whispered loving words in her ear, and she seemed to understand. I cautioned the stableman to take good care of her, and he promised to bring her treats every day as I always did. I felt even more sorrowful when I took leave of Princesse. My yellow and white cat with green eyes was my dearest pet. She was ten years old—even older than Belle. As I smoothed her fur, my heart ached at the thought that when I came home to visit she might not be there to purr in my ear. When the time came for parting, maman put on such a cheerful face that I could do no less. It was some consolation to realize that I should be near Pierre in the Palace when I was at Noisy, though I might never see him. I bade farewell to the servants and wished them well—we did not keep many servants since the revenues of the land had fallen so low—and kissed my mother quickly, so that I should not start crying. Then I mounted into the old coach and rode off with my grandfather, who would see me safely to Noisy. * The chateau that housed the school was quite magnificent, though no more beautiful than Charlefont. The rooms were spacious and there was a charming garden laid out by the famous landscape artist Le Nôtre, and a chapel for which the Pope himself had sent relics. Originally the school had been a charity school for poor girls and was located at Rueil. I was one of the first demoiselles of noble blood that Madame de Maintenon was gathering together at Noisy for her educational project. Others arrived in the months that followed until there were one hundred and twenty-four of us. The girls who had been at Rueil said that place was a barn compared to the handsome Château at Noisy. The headmistress was Madame de Brinon, a lady so formal in her manner that I was at first terrified of her. Her face was rather pretty but she seemed proud and overdressed. Later, when I came to know her better and she displayed her interest in dramatics, in which she was very good at directing us, I had great admiration for her. Madame de Maintenon came from the Palace nearly every day to visit us. She often came as early as six o’clock in the morning to superintend the dressing and hair-combing of the little ones. It was due to her supervision, we were told, that the kitchens, laundries, workrooms, and schoolrooms were kept so clean and that the food was plentiful and good. She sometimes arrived in a coach filled with butter, jam, and other treats, and when that happened, all the school rushed out to meet her at the first rumble of wheels. The greatest lack at Noisy was water. All our water had to be brought to us in carts, for there were no wells on the property. As to the instruction, that too was lacking as far as I was concerned, for I had already received more training in the realm of letters than most of the girls. Only the promise that it would be different when the new school was built kept me from being terribly disappointed. As it was, I helped the school mistresses, of whom there were several, by teaching the little ones their catechism and simple reading. I was myself a pupil when it came to learning to spin and weave and make lace, for these skills had never been taught me. We also learned to embroider, and we worked on some beautiful vestments for the priests who officiated in our chapel. My particular friend was Toinette, a girl of about my own age who entered the school soon after I did. Her full name was Antoinette de Grieux and she had blond hair and a delicate, graceful figure. We liked each other at our first meeting and became firm friends, though such attachments were not encouraged— we were supposed to like all the girls equally. This we found at the outset was impossible and we did not try too hard, I am afraid. Toinette, like me, was the daughter of a King’s officer who had died in battle. Indeed, such was the case with all the new girls and it was strange, when I thought of it, to realize that none of them had a living father. It made me feel less lonely and I appreciated more the privilege of being a ward of the King. The work of construction at Saint-Cyr went on all that summer, and sometimes we were allowed to go in a group to watch the handsome building take shape. I was also allowed to go home twice, once at Easter time and once in the summer. I need not have sorrowed so over parting from my loved ones after all! When I think of Saint-Cyr, I think, naturally, of the way things were after we moved into the fine new building. It was even nearer to the Palace than was Noisy—actually on the grounds—and that in itself made it thrilling. It was built of stone with forward-jutting wings, a wrought-iron fence across the courtyard, and central, ornamented gates—like the Palace on a small scale. There were gardens and an orchard at the back, surrounded and protected by a high brick wall. When it was being planned, one of the mistresses heard Madame de Maintenon say, “The King will give me a palace of exquisite external symmetry, lacking in every single convenience of a school.” Perhaps that is the way it seemed to her, but it was magnificent, and all the girls were impressed. We did notice, when we were conducted to our new home, that there were many ponds around it and even standing water in the fields. We did not know it then, but it was perhaps because of all this water that many of the girls and mistresses came down with fevers in the years that followed. At any rate, some people said the fevers were due to the dampness. The move from Noisy to Saint-Cyr was such a tremendous undertaking that it required five days. There were the one hundred and twenty-four demoiselles to be transported, at least thirty teachers and a hundred servants, and, in addition, all the household goods and classroom equipment—books, paper, spinning wheels, tapestry frames, and much, much more. It began on July twenty-eighth, and we were not really all together again until August second. There was the greatest bustle and confusion that can be imagined. “I do hope we will not be separated!” Toinette said to me as the royal coaches began to draw up in the entrance court at Noisy. We were each carrying a draw-string bag with our small personal belongings, and we shoved and pushed our way through the throng so that we could get into a coach together. It was a short migration but exciting, for people were gathered all along our way to watch and cheer. As we rode through the streets in the coach with its crimson satin upholstery and crimson cushions, I tried to imagine what it would be like to be a princesse and used to such luxury. Toinette and I were in the second coach, so we entered our new home right behind a group of teachers who had occupied the first coach. Madame de Maintenon was standing in the formal portico to welcome us, and we heard her say: “These walls are my retreat and my tomb; may this establishment live as long as France, and France as long as the world!” “That sounds as if she were going to die!” whispered Toinette. “I don’t think she meant it that way,” I said. “She meant that the school would be dear to her all the days of her life.” In spite of what seemed like confusion, the moving was well organized. Madame de Maintenon knew every girl in that vast group and she had planned dormitories for us all. At Saint-Cyr there were many beds in each of the large chambers, with a girl’s name on every bed. As we flitted about from room to room examining everything, I discovered our names. “Oh, see!” I cried out to Toinette. “Your bed is next to mine!” It seemed to us a wonderful coincidence, but I have no doubt, now, that it was planned. In spite of her precepts, Madame was always kind to me. That is why I feel so sad that I disappointed her. On the first evening that we were all together in the great hall of Saint-Cyr, Madame de Maintenon gave us a most inspiring talk. She said that this school for girls, of which we were all members, was something new in the world. It was not to be a convent, but a place of education for the future wives of some of the finest gentlemen of France. There would be rules that we must obey, but we would not take vows, as do the nuns. We would be taught the Christian ideals of noblesse, how to behave in society, and how to manage a house or estate with dignity. We must apply ourselves to learning everything that had been prepared for us so that we could pass on the lessons of nobility of character to our husbands and children, and they, in turn, could teach the servants and peasants in their employ, until gradually all France would reflect the atmosphere of Saint-Cyr, and honesty and kindness would prevail. It was such a beautiful speech that some of the girls cried. She next described the dresses that we were to wear, all details of which had been thought out by herself and the King; it was His Majesty, she told us smiling, who had insisted on the more frivolous touches. We were all to be dressed alike, except that each class would have ribbons of a different color. The dresses were of lightweight brown wool—striped cotton for summer— with a white collar and a white cap, each edged with lace and decorated with ribbons. There was an apron to match, also with ribbons. The color of my ribbons was green, and I remember it well. The children from seven to eleven were the Reds; those between eleven and fourteen were the Greens (Toinette and I, of course); those between fourteen and seventeen were Yellows; and those between seventeen and twenty were Blues. The Ladies, our teachers, wore black gowns with a white linen collar and a black hood. Each group of girls had a particular classroom, though mixed sessions were held in many other places, and these classrooms were painted in the group’s color, having pictures and maps attached to the walls with ribbons of that special color. I liked my color—green (then, later, yellow)—but I suppose the little ones were happy with bright red. Everything in the Château was kept spotless, which, I heard, was more than could be said of some of the convents. We had a certain luxury in the dining room that Madame said the King insisted upon—silver forks, spoons, and goblets. He said that since we were to go out into a world of elegance, we must acquire habits of refinement. We were urged, on this account, to take good care of our complexions and to dress our hair in a becoming style, so that even though we wore uniforms, each of us would have some individuality. The studies were well organized at Saint-Cyr—better than at Noisy. The children in the Red Class learned to read and write and figure sums; they also learned some grammar, sacred history, and the catechism. The Green Class continued these lessons for those who had not progressed far enough, but added classes in music, French history, geography, and mythology. Because I had become well versed in the last three in my grandfather’s library, I was promoted to many of the advanced classes before I became fourteen. I was sorry to be separated from Toinette, but we had our music class together and I still wore the green ribbons. The Yellow Class was taught French literature (I was advanced in that, too), music (I had two classes in music), and theology. We also had classes in etiquette and dancing, and those were really fun. It was in these classes that we began to act out little plays that Madame de Brinon had written. Each was an exercise in deportment and usually included some dancing. We were allowed to read many books—very proper ones, of course—and were encouraged to write letters, because letter writing was an accomplishment of polite society. We also had to practice conversation to improve our French diction. To help us, Madame de Brinon had made up little dialogues—different ones for each age group—but I liked it best when we expressed our own thoughts. And the activity I enjoyed the very most was memorizing and reciting poetry. As I look back, I wonder that I did not rebel at the exact schedule we were obliged to follow, but a lot of it was so much fun that I didn’t—not until the pleasant part was taken away from us. We all had to rise at six o’clock; we heard Mass at eight, were kept very busy till six in the evening, and went to bed at nine. This was not so different from the way I was reared, but we were seldom free to do as we pleased, and now, being grown up, I think that would be very unpleasant. We spent a part of every day in the common room in winter (for that was the only place where it was really warm) or in the gardens in summer, where we sewed and embroidered while one of the mistresses read to us. At these times certain pupils in each class would recite poetry or the proverbs that Madame de Brinon had written for our instruction in what is worthy and what is unworthy. I was always happiest when it was my turn to recite. Toinette was not like me. She dreaded the ordeal and would beg me to take her place. “But I can’t do that, Toinette. Not only would you then never get over your shyness, but the teachers would not allow it.” It was on her account, however, that almost two years later I got into trouble with the mistresses. Toinette was supposed to recite a poem one afternoon and she was cold with fear. I had helped her to learn it, and I must admit that she forgot some of it every time. There was one spot in particular that bothered her. “I know I won’t be able to get through it!” she said at last. “Won’t you please help me, Adrienne? You need only hold the paper in the folds of your dress, and if I forget, you can make the word with your mouth without sound and I will see you and be able to go on.” It seemed a little thing to do for my friend and so I agreed, though I felt sure our teacher would not approve. When the time came, Toinette came to that fateful word and stopped. As she stared at me in desperation, I formed the word with my lips. After clearing her throat, she went on—but finished miserably. Everyone had seen and noticed her distress, and though I did not know it, Madame de Brinon had seen me prompt her. I was called into the headmistress’ apartment that very evening—not Toinette, but me. “You know, Adrienne,” began the Lady, “every girl must learn her lessons herself in this school. Do you think you were helping Antoinette by trying to make it seem that she had learned her poem?” “But Madame,” I cried, “I did help her all the week to learn the lines. She tried very hard, but she is very shy and there was one place where she always forgot. That is why I helped her.” “But you were helping her to deceive us. I saw you prompt her, so we were not deceived. But you were at fault.” I started to reply indignantly, but caught myself. If there was one thing we were taught at Saint-Cyr, it was to keep perfect control of ourselves. “I have been looking up your age, Adrienne,” she said, “and I find that in two weeks you will be fourteen. Is that not true?” I nodded, dumbly. “You should therefore be with the Yellows. From now on you will be in a different class from Antoinette and must sleep in a different room. If you are separated, perhaps she will learn to rely on herself.” I left Madame de Brinon, feeling deeply wronged, and told Toinette, and we cried together. It did not end our friendship, but after that it was more difficult to see and confide in each other. * It turned out to be a good thing for me that I was now a member of the Yellows, for it was from that group that Madame de Brinon selected girls to take part in the little plays she wrote. Though they were not very good plays in comparison with those we became acquainted with later, they were easy to learn and great fun to act out. We gave one every month that winter and spring, not only for the girls but often for a much more distinguished audience. I should explain that from the time the school moved to Saint-Cyr we had visitors nearly every afternoon—the great ladies and gentlemen of the Court, always with a train of followers, and more important still, the King himself. The Court wanted to see the school out of curiosity, or to flatter Madame de Maintenon for her accomplishment, or just because it had become the fashion. But His Majesty was truly interested in everything that went on. He had helped to plan it, was supporting it, and intended to give us all dowries when we married. We girls were very much in awe of him and for the most part we looked on while he played with the little ones, petted them, and took them on his knee. He never seemed too busy to listen to their stories or help comfort their hurts. You could see that he was more sincere than the courtiers and their ladies and, indeed, he was interested in all his wards. When we began to give little plays, there were visitors from the Palace to watch us, even such distinguished ones as the King’s former favorite, Madame de Montespan, and his cousin, Mademoiselle de Montpensier. They were very pleasant and applauded a lot and of course this made us feel very important. I am afraid we got rather spoiled and wanted to act all the time and not spend our days in studying and embroidering vestments and altar cloths. In one of our performances, I took the part of the Queen of a mythical country. It was a really good part, in which I had to show joy and then sorrow and weeping. I had enjoyed the rehearsals immensely and was not sorry to see that quite a large audience had gathered to watch our performance, many of them from the Court. I did not know that Pierre was there with Madame de Maintenon’s entourage until after it was all over. He came forward in the hall and slipped behind our homemade curtain to congratulate me. I was wearing the gold gown with a purple velvet cloak over it, and I was glad that he could see me so elegantly dressed. I was overjoyed to see him, for it had been many months since I had been on vacation. At that time he had managed to get one day off from his duties and we had spent that whole day riding and picnicking at Charlefont. Now he bravely approached Madame de Maintenon and asked her permission to take a few days’ holiday, for his grandfather had promised to come after him at this time on his way back from Paris. He also asked her permission to take me to Charlefont with him. He explained our relationship and I think it was the first time she knew about it or, for that matter, had noticed Pierre as one of her many pages. She considered a moment and then very graciously consented. “Run along, my child,” she said to me. “You have done very well today and we are proud of you. Report to your mistress first and change your clothes, and then you may go to the Palace with your cousin in my coach.” I did not need a second bidding, and only a few minutes later I rejoined Pierre in the courtyard and traveled to the Palace in a coach full of attendants. It was my second view of the Palace of Versailles, but I hardly had time to take in its magnificent appearance, for Cousin Armand was waiting in his coach in front of the portico. Since I could not enter the Palace, as I longed to do, I gave myself over to the pleasure of seeing the Comte again and being taken so unexpectedly to Charlefont. “You look blooming,” he told me. “The school agrees with you.” “You should have seen her in her beautiful gown as the Queen in the play,” said Pierre, and I was pleased by his admiration. After supper that evening, Pierre took me on a short tour of the estate. From earliest childhood we had run and played about the gardens, the farm buildings, the stables, and the river. Now we walked quite sedately, for we were both almost grown up. The moonlight lay white over everything and threw a path across the river from the little summerhouse which had a view of it. We stood there a moment, and then Pierre showed me a little object he took from the pocket of his doublet. It was a fleur-de-lys carved out of wood, exquisitely done—Pierre’s best work, even lovelier than the little horse he had carved for me years before. “This is for you, Adrienne,” he said. “I knew it was for you when I made it, but I did not know what it would signify. See—it is the lily of France, and my name, ‘de Lys,’ too.” Then, to my surprise, he told me that he loved me and wanted to marry me! “I did not realize it until today,” he said, “when I saw you in that gold gown. But now I know I have always hoped that we would marry someday. The household thinks of us as the children we have been and allows us to go about unchaperoned. Because I must not take advantage of that fact, I cannot yet talk to you of love as I wish.” He kissed my hand as he had seen it done at Court and I felt very grown up. “If you are willing, Adrienne, I should like this fleur-de-lys to be a private symbol of our betrothal. Do you feel as I do? Will you take it?” He was shy and a bit awkward, but he pressed the little carving into my hands and for a moment covered them with his own. What could I do but agree? Except for my mother, Pierre had been all the world to me ever since I could remember. All thoughts of the reason why maman had wanted me to go to Saint-Cyr—to give me not only an education but a dowry for my future husband—left my mind at that moment. The far-off, shadowy figure of the nobleman I should someday marry faded instantly. How had it escaped the notice of the family that Pierre and I belonged together? Because they thought of us as children still, I supposed. It never entered my head that I would need a dowry to marry Pierre. But I was to find that family pride enters into any question of marriage—an arrangement which two young people are not supposed to settle by themselves. When I went back to school, I put the delicate, carved fleur-de-lys into my drawer—each girl had one to keep her private treasures in, along with scarves and ribbons. The little horse was already there, and I looked at them both with especial interest. I wondered if I was in love, since I had agreed to be betrothed, though no one knew it but Pierre and me. I understood very little then about love except what my mother had told me. She had said that it is something thrilling and beautiful that lasts forever, but that quite often it doesn’t exist between married people since, for financial reasons, a girl is generally given in marriage by her parents to someone whom she knows slightly, if at all. The feeling I had for Pierre was warm and comforting, and it was nice to know that my future was settled. That was about all. I did not miss what I did not know about, nor did I have a hint, yet, of any obstacles in our path. I confided to Toinette that I was secretly betrothed but made her promise not to tell anyone else. Soon I was caught up in the excitement of a new theatrical production. Madame de Brinon’s little plays were to be followed by something much more important and difficult. Madame de Maintenon said, “If the girls are to waste their time by learning poetry, at least let it be something good.” She did not spare the headmistress’ feelings but decreed that our next play should be by a real playwright, and settled on Andromaque by one of the most famous poets of the time, Jean Racine. The play was written, as were , in what we were taught in school to call “alexandrine couplets”—that is, poetic lines of twelve syllables, each two rhyming. These were not hard to learn, but saying them in a dramatic manner was more difficult. And after I had read the play, I knew much about love that I had never known before. It was not always a good, comfortable feeling, I discovered; it could be upsetting and frantic and even lead to suicide. Those of the Yellows who liked to act practiced a small scene over and over, and then the great day came when Madame de Brinon was to select those who were to play the roles. There were two good female parts—Andromaque and Hermione—but the latter was the more dramatic, and I was eager to play it, to throw myself into the passionate role and see if I could feel as Hermione was supposed to feel. All the girls wanted that part it seemed, because it was more showy than the other. Hermione was really wicked, a much more interesting character to portray than the noble Andromaque. It was with fear and trembling that we awaited the decision, so imagine my surprise and joy when I was chosen to play Hermione! I think some of the girls hated me for a while after that, but, with the exception of Mademoiselle de Blois, they got over their envy eventually. Mademoiselle de Blois was the only royal personage among us; she was a princesse, the daughter of Madame de Montespan (though not one of those brought up by Madame de Maintenon ). I tried to remember that she was the King’s daughter, too, and that I should show her respect, but it was hard to do. We had been told to treat her as one of ourselves, though she was always called Mademoiselle de Blois and not by her Christian name, Françoise; we tried to, but she was a spoiled child when she arrived two years before, and I could not see that she fitted in any better now. She wanted the part of Hermione, and what 38 she wanted she usually got. But not this time! I tried to keep out of her way after rehearsals began, for she often acted in a spiteful way. I should not have been surprised to find my ribbons cut up or my precious things destroyed, so I hid everything I could, and my friends promised to keep an eye on my quarters when I was busy elsewhere. Actually, she did not try to take anything away from me—until later. A very talented girl was chosen for the part of Andromaque, and two others who had quite deep voices for the roles of Pyrrhus and Orestes. It was fortunate that I was only an inch over five feet—a fact I had always deplored—because that made the taller girls seem more suited to the men’s parts. You might think that Madame de Brinon would have given Mademoiselle de Blois some part in the play because she was of the royal family. However, she would not take any but a leading part. The truth was, she could not act at all, and Madame cared a great deal for the success of her plays. All the girls were familiar with Greek mythology and tales of the Trojan War, so the story of the play was not new to us, though to make for greater drama, Monsieur Racine had altered the facts as we knew them. It is the story of how Andromaque, widow of the Trojan Hector, pleaded for the life of her son after the fall of Troy, when Achilles’ son Pyrrhus planned to murder the child. It is also the story of Hermione, daughter of Helen and Menelaus, who was loved by the Greek envoy, Orestes, but who loved and was betrothed to Pyrrhus. Because Pyrrhus loved Andromaque and wanted to spare her son, he decided to cancel his betrothal to Hermione and marry Andromaque, though she did not love him. When she found this out, Hermione, in a jealous rage, persuaded Orestes to kill Pyrrhus at the marriage altar, but when he had accomplished this she turned on him and berated him for the death of her beloved. Crazed with grief, she stabbed herself and fell dead over the body of Pyrrhus as it was placed on a bier for burial. This was the story, but the murder and the suicide took place 39 off stage. All the girls thought it would have been much more dramatic if we had been able to act out those scenes instead of merely talk about them on the stage. We also thought the speeches very long, but that was good for our elocution. The parts were well cast (I say this in all modesty) and our rehearsals, which went on for six weeks, were tiring but absorbing. This play was not like our little scenes of manners and propriety. It was full of mature emotions, feelings we did not know much about but tried to imagine. I learned about something totally new to me—jealousy. I had to, because it was jealousy that made Hermione order the murder of Pyrrhus, and I had many long speeches that showed that emotion. I suppose our studies suffered somewhat from the time spent in rehearsal, but our French diction improved. We were never allowed to skip anything like chapel or prayers, and the altar cloths got embroidered and the sewing got done somehow. Of course not all the girls in our class were involved in the production, but most of them were. There were several minor parts in the play, and some girls were needed to work on our costumes and prepare little things we used in the performance. And all were required to memorize scenes from the play as an exercise. During the summer of 1688 we had three days’ rest before polishing the production of Andromaque, and I was given leave to go home. Since the time was so short, my mother made the journey to Charlefont to be with me there; it was much nearer to Versailles than Ronne. We all had a wonderful time and I remember it particularly because it was a “last” time, though I did not know it then. I told the family all about the play we were rehearsing, and Cousin Armand told us about acting with the Théâtre du Marais when he was a boy and later, after his escape from the Château de Nantes (a story I was already familiar with), about traveling for a time with a company of Italian players in commedia dell’ arte. He gave us an example of the swashbuckling Captain he had portrayed, and we all laughed and applauded. Although he was over sixty years old—a great age it seemed to me—Cousin Armand always appeared young, for he was, and still is, strong and vigorous. When we were alone in the orchard, Pierre and I talked about the young fruit on the trees, the ripening grain, the horses in the stables—about everything, it seemed, except our secret betrothal. Finally he asked me, shyly, if I had kept the fleur-de-lys. As if I would ever have parted with it!

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BRUCE JENNER, KIM KARDASHIAN` STEP FATHER: What the hell is this all about? DIAZ: Kim`s stepfather outraged tonight over her 15-year-old sister Kendall on birth control. But why is Kim`s mom defending her? Stunning Jennifer Aniston news tonight. She`s reportedly pre-engaged. Our showbiz flashpoint, will her relationship work out or is she just unlucky in love? TV`s most provocative entertainment news show breaks news right now. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Hello, I`m Carlos Diaz in for A.J. Hammer with big news breaking tonight. And we are breaking it. Tonight, a showbiz newsmaker interview with the woman who became famous as one of Charlie sheen`s goddesses during his wining turned losing rant and rave day. Bree Olson is telling all about her sex life and her life with Charlie in the brand new issue "playboy" magazine where Bree poses and dishes on those wild days. Bree is with us right now in New York tonight. All right, Bree let`s talk. You and Charlie, OK, and a woman Natalie Kenly lived in a house together. You were all goddesses. We`ll get into that in a second. And I have to say a lot of people including myself wondered is any of this real. So my question to you, was it real? Did you love Charlie Sheen? BREE OLSON, FORMER CHARLIE SHEEN`S GODDESS: Yes, it was very real. I loved Charlie Sheen. I will always have feelings for him. We still talk to this day. So yes, it was real. DIAZ: Did you say the words Charlie I love you? OLSON: Every day. Multiple times a day. DIAZ: And he says Bree, I love you as well? OLSON: Yes. DIAZ: But he also said Natalie, I love you as well, too? OLSON: Yes. DIAZ: OK. Now why - where did the term goddesses come from? Where`d you get that nickname? OLSON: Charlie comes up with it. He says all that stuff in the interviews and people just take off with it. It`s so funny. He could have called us unicorns and people would have started calling us unicorns you know. DIAZ: It just came out of nowhere. There wasn`t a moment where he said you guys are my goddesses and that word stuck? OLSON: It started in an interview. Someone asked him. He said these are my goddesses. That`s one of the things I love about him. He`s so quick and comes up with these witty little things. Obviously, it was something good enough for everyone else to start using and saying. DIAZ: Hey, you guys are very attractive. I`m not going to argue with goddesses, I would go there as well. But the question that I have - the relationship we all saw unfolding between the three of you was in a word incomprehensible to a lot of people. Let`s go back to when Charlie first introduced you as one of his goddesses on ABC`s "20/20." He basically said he loved you both. Let`s watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: An international sensation. These are my girlfriends, the women I love that have completed the three parts of my heart. OLSON: Natty and Charlie have their own special connection. I have my own connection with Charlie and Natty and I have our own relationship. NATALIE KENLY: It seems crazy to everybody else buy for us it works well. END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: So special connections were going on at Charlie`s house which leads to another question everyone wants to know about. What were those special connections? Did you guys all sleep together? Exactly what went on with the three of you guys? OLSON: Well, Natty and I didn`t really talk all that much. I was really there for just Charlie and she was there for Charlie. So she kind of did her own thing, I did mine. DIAZ: So you guys are there for Charlie. So you`re there sexually for Charlie, right? OLSON: I mean in every sense of the world there for him. DIAZ: But you guys were having relations with Charlie yet the two of you hate each other? OLSON: No, we don`t hate each other, no. DIAZ: But she`s not excited to have you in the house? OLSON: No. DIAZ: She said that she doesn`t like you. I mean there wasn`t a relationship going on between the two of you in a positive way? OLSON: I wouldn`t necessarily say it was -- no, we were just two completely different people? DIAZ: How did that work if you guys were supposed to be there for Charlie together, how did that work if you guys aren`t getting along? OLSON: We got along for the sake of Charlie. DIAZ: But on the surface. You really didn`t like each other beyond Charlie. OLSON: We didn`t fight. We never fought. DIAZ: OK. So Charlie was the connection, the glue that held you two together. OLSON: Yes. Charlie is the only reason I would ever have any association with that woman. DIAZ: OK. But right there that sounds like you hate her. I mean, to me if somebody says that, you hate this girl. OLSON: I don`t hate her. She`s not the kind of person would I just hang out with on a daily, you know? I don`t know how to put it. DIAZ: Charlie has admitted being proud he used drugs like a rock star. I mean he is the machine. He said while you lived with him it was crazy, crazy, crazy. I`m not sure I can believe it was truly a house of cleanliness and sobriety. Bree be honest with me. Because I heard you say you didn`t see the guy do drugs. Come on you saw drugs in the house, right? OLSON: No. Never saw drugs in the house. It was deemed sober valley lounge and ever since then I never saw drugs in the house whatsoever. Even at dinner parties, some people would be drinking wine or something, Charlie, I have never seen him had a sip of wine or beer or anything. DIAZ: So you`re saying Charlie never drank a drop of alcohol around you guys? OLSON: Never. DIAZ: That`s amazing. I find it hard to believe. If you`re saying that, OK. Sure. OLSON: Hook me up to the lie detector. I mean Charlie already did the drug screen for everyone. He did it on live television. DIAZ: But a lot of people would say right now watching this and say Bree is lying because she doesn`t want to get on Charlie`s bad side because she wants to be an actress. You know I mean like you`re defending Charlie, you want to make Charlie`s name look cleaner than it actually is when he actually admitted it that he had crazy party. OLSON: I never said he`s never done drugs. I mean he said himself he was banging seven gram rocks. That`s one of his terms. I`d just never seen any of that. I wasn`t around during those days. The days I was around I seen a clean and sober Charlie. DIAZ: Let me get back to Charles` erratic behavior then. And what I like to call "Charlie pa lose 2011," you were there for all of these moments when Charlie was on a winning rampage. Watch. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: I am on drug. It`s called Charlie sheen. It`s not available because if you try it once, will you die. Your face will melt off, and your children will weep over your exploded body. You`re doing hat with sarcasm, sorry. You borrow my brain for five seconds and just be like, dude, can`t handle it, unplug this (bleep). When you got tiger blood, Madonna`s DNA men, it`s like get with the program, dude. I`m bi-winning. I win here answered win there. Now what? (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: OK. I love Charlie. I think he`s a great dude. I think that`s hilarious. People watch his TV rants, his online show, Charlie Sheen`s corner and his tour as well. Now Bree, it was not normal by any stretch of the imagination. Did you ever wake up in the house and look at this guy and say I`m nuts for being here, I got to get out of here? No one would blame you if you just split. OLSON: You know what you just shown, I think that those were funny. I was there for that four-hour interview. We were all laughing in the room and everything. He was just making jokes me gets asked the same questions all the time. All his life he`s been asked that. So when she asked so seriously Charlie are you bipolar? And he`s just sitting there and he thinks about it for a second and says I`m bi-winning. It was just hilarious. DIAZ: Was there a moment where you said I got to get out of here, it`s getting too crazy? OLSON: The only thing I didn`t like is that I was there to support him with the "two and a half men." me being his girl friend, seeing my boyfriend, him being the most successful television actor out there and seeing all that fall apart with "two and a half men," I was really on the side of trying to help him repair things. DIAZ: There`s certainly no question that Charlie thought he was winning in life. He wouldn`t stop you. He wouldn`t stop saying he was winning. Check this out. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: I want you to go to your window. I want you to open it because if you don`t know, one will hear you and I want you to join our chant, winning, winning, winning. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: He really thought he was on waning streak. What do you think? Was he winning or losing big time? Hold that thought. Stay right where you are, Bree. I love talking to you. We`re going to have you right back on. All right? OLSON: All right. DIAZ: Moving to a brand new Kardashian shocker. Kim`s stepfather Bruce Jenner outraged tonight over her 15-year-old sister Kendall? DIAZ: OK. Step daddy Bruce is clearly not happy about this. But why is Kim`s mom defending Kendall? Stunning Jennifer Aniston news tonight. She`s reportedly pre-engaged, whatever the heck that means. Our showbiz blast point, will Jennifer Aniston`s relationship work out or is she just unlucky in love? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views. Now, the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) HUGH JACKSON: I would not be happy that my friends gone. I don`t think anyone would be. And I think Mr. Murdoch handled it well and that he was appalled and shocked and immediately took measures to denounce it. So we all deserve our privacy. (END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAN HARRIS, ANCHOR, GOOD MORNING AMERICA: Do you ever worry about -- do you ever worry about your moment having passed? You want to wrap up? PARIS HILTON: (inaudible) (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Add that is the seriously peeved Paris Hilton storming off during a "good morning America" interview. Talk about spinning a bad situation and making it even worse. What was she thinking? Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. I`m Carlos Diaz. Paris Hilton might need some help from the showbiz spin doctor. I mean she`s not the only one, though. Tonight SHOWBIZ TONIGHT also has the big spin on J.Lo`s and Marc Anthony`s split. After seven years of marriage, the power couple announced their divorce. Tonight we want to know did they handle their unexpected split the right way. With me is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT resident spin doctor and PR guru Howard Bragman, who is the founder of 15 minute public relations. And he`s never been in a situation he can`t spin. All right. So here`s how J.Lo and Marc Anthony spun it when they announced they were getting divorced. Their joint statement said, quote, "We have decided to end our marriage. This is a very difficult decision. We have come to an amicable conclusion on all matters. It is a painful time for all involved and we appreciate the respect of our privacy at this time." Howard, is this the way that you would have spun this? HOWARD BRAGMAN, SPIN DOCTOR AND PR GURU: Absolutely. When a couple comes out with a joint statement at a tough time like this, Carlos, it says we`re not going to go in the gutter. We`re going to respect each other, we`re going to try and control the situation and the message and we`re going to do the right thing. And to follow it up, they both left the country so they weren`t available for interviews, they weren`t available for photographers. It`s a very smart way to handle it at this point. You know and the natural next question is what happens to their careers? Well, Marc has a huge international career, a great base. He`ll be traveling the world dating beautiful women and having a really good time. The real question is what is J.Lo going to do? She can be a movie star. She`s a rock star. She`s now a TV start. Question is she going to go back to "American idol"? What`s she going to do? Is she going to tour? Is she going to embrace her music again? And of course who is she going to date? DIAZ: All right. Well, Howard, what`s your bottom line spin on J.Lo and Marc Anthony? BRAGMAN: Well, it`s really for J.Lo and the bottom line is, J.Lo, decisions, decisions. (LAUGHTER) DIAZ: But you know what it`s not a bad thing when your decisions lead to millions and millions. All right. Showbiz`s pin doctor in the Paris Hilton in her walking out in the middle of that GMA interview which she is basically asked to Kim Kardashian is more successful than she is. Here`s how it went down. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DAN HARRIS, ANCHOR, GOOD MORNING AMERICA: Do you ever worry about -- do you ever worry about your moment having passed? You want to wrap up? PARIS HILTON: (inaudible) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What followed was a long, heated conversation with Hilton and her publicist. HILTON: Well, I don`t want this entire thing being used. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Howard, Paris came back after talking to her publicist off camera. If you were her publicist, what would you have told her? Go ahead and spin it in a minute. BRAGMAN: Well the first thing you have to understand, that was really a tough interview, Carlos. It really was. Dan Harris really stuck it to her a bit. But you know what, if you look at where Paris` career is at right now and look at the ratings for her floundering reality show, you got to be prepared for that. And the job of the coin and PR person is to sit down and prepare answers for tough questions. And unfortunately Paris thinks preparing for an interview means choosing your hair style and what color lipstick you`re going to wear and not really getting ahead of the questions. And by walking off the set, she reinforced this was really the truth and it made it look that much worse. DIAZ: In my opinion, if she`s going to have a persona of being more mature, then if you`re asked the question you take the mature route and answer it. You don`t look over at publicist mommy or publicist supporter and say, hey, help me out on this. All right, Howard. What`s your bottom on Paris Hilton? BRAGMAN: Paris Hilton, you can`t handle the truth. (LAUGHTER) DIAZ: Howard Bragman, thank you so much. All right. On Thursday we asked you to vote in our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll and just moments ago we got the results. Snooki reportedly is being considered for "dancing with the stars." what do you think? Seventy eight percent of you say it`s a terrible idea. Only 22 percent of you think it would be a fist pumping good time. And our showbiz on call phone lines have been dancing all day. Listen to Julie from Louisiana. JULIE, CALLER, LOUISIANA (via telephone): Oh, my God, please no. I mean, they`ve had some lawn there that I would disagree with but, oh Lord, please, pray about it, child, before they even attempt to combine it. DIAZ: Thank you, Julie, I will be praying about it right now. Thank you, Julie. All right, now. She was one of Charlie Sheen`s goddesses and tonight she reveals that Charlie was really winning after his explosive firing from "Two and a half Men." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: I want you to roll down your window. I want you to open it. And I want you to join our chant, winning! Winning! Winning! (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Coming up. What was really going on at what Sheen`s wild Mansion? What was going through Charlie`s mind while everything was spiraling out of control? Bree Olson, right here in a head line making showbiz newsmaker interview. Uh-oh, Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to terminate a money deal with his ex-Maria Shriver. Is this split about to get real nasty? That`s coming up next. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views. Now the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JUSTINE TIMBERLAKE: I can`t do that. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why? TIMBERLAKE: They`re keeping me alive. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don`t you turn yourself in? TIMBERLAKE: I can`t prove my innocence. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I would like to take a date. Proud American Miley Cyrus out to the Marine Corps Ball in beautiful Southern California. Please, Miley Cyrus, this one`s for you, girl. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Hey, that`s pretty cool. Imagine another marine asking out another star to a Marine Corps Ball tonight. This time it`s Miley Cyrus. Private first class Hart did his homework. He used Miley`s party in the USA has part of his pitch. No word yet if Miley will take him up on his heart-felt request. DIAZ: Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake both said yes to their marines. Betty White can`t make it, though. She said no. So I guess two balls and one strike. But tonight I can tell you that Linda Hamilton says she`ll go in Betty`s place. She was Sarah Carter in Terminator movies, Linda`s pretty hot. So that`s not a bad runner up. OK. Moving on tonight, revealed tonight the hot "American idol" star that makes the most money. Uh-oh, this Arnold Schwarzenegger-Maria Shriver split looks like its back and pretty nasty. And Cameron Diaz`s disses marriage. Cool! All making news in the buzz today. Idol riches. Forbes magazine just named Carrie Underwood the top earning "American idol." Forbes ranked the top earning idol alumni from the show revealing Underwood`s top of the list after earning a stunning $20 million over the past year. Tied for second place were Adam Lambert and Chris Daughtry who took in a reported $6 million each. Only five at the top ten money makers are idol champs. Arnold versus Maria part one. Arnold is refusing to pay spousal support to his soon to be ex-wife Maria Shriver. Arnold Schwarzenegger is refusing to pay spousal support to his soon to be ex-wife Maria Shriver. In the wake of his love-child scandal, the gubernator has responded to Shriver`s divorce petition by asking for joint custody of the couple`s two children but he wants a judge to deny her request for extra money. Cameron Diaz too smart for marriage? Diaz, who has been outspoken about how she thinks marriage is a dying institution, tells SHE magazine it`s a good thing she`s never gotten married saying, quote, "I think I`m smart for not having even done it because I would be divorced several times." And now here`s what`s coming up at the bottom of the hour here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Stunning Jennifer Aniston news tonight. She`s reportedly pre-engaged. Our showbiz flashpoint, will her relationship work out? Or is Jen just unlucky in love? And SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will it be Jennifer Lopez, Rupert Murdoch`s wife Wendi and Kim Kardashian? Who will it be? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views. Now the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) DIAZ: Big news breaking tonight on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. one of Charlie sheen`s goddesses right here on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Bree Olson reveals what was really going on behind the scenes at Charlie`s wild mansion. Was he really winning? (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: I want you to go to your window. I want you to open it because if you don`t know, one will hear you and I want you to join our chant, winning, winning, winning. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Bree Olson in her showbiz news maker interview. Tonight the Kardashian bombshell. Kim`s step dad outraged over 15- year-old Kendall: And look at these brand new head stunning images of Kim Kardashian`s engagement party. Are the Kardashian`s out of control? Plus, Jennifer Aniston is pre-engaged tonight. Our showbiz flashpoint, will this really work out or is Jennifer unlucky in love? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: TV`s most provocative entertainment news show continues right now. DIAZ: Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. it`s 30 minutes past the hour. I`m Carlos Diaz in for A.J. Hammer with big news breaking tonight. Charlie`s goddess, a very special SHOWBIZ TONIGHT news maker joins me to break some big news right here about Charlie sheen on SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. Sheen`s former goddess Bree Olson is revealing what was really going on behind the scenes at Charlie`s wild mansion, as Charlie battled his bosses over at "Two and a Half Men" and seemed to spiral out of control. Bree was right is there in the middle of all of it. So what was really going on and going through Charlie`s mind when he was losing everything around him including his job and his own twin boys? We are about to find out. Bree Olson is featured on the cover of the August issue of "Playboy" magazine and she`s in New York tonight for a showbiz newsmaker interview. All right, Bree. Charlie created this whole fantasy about himself that despite losing his job on "Two and a Half Men" fighting for custody of his twin boys; he was winning at every turn. In fact, I want to show you what was said and what he said on line on Sheen`s corner. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: Everyone out there who thinks that they`ve been winning along with us, whose been supporting this entire movement that is in fact winning. I want you to go to your window. I want you to open it because if you don`t know, one will hear you and I want you to join our chant, winning, winning, winning. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Bree, he said it time and time again he was winning. Come on. How do you think Charlie losing a reported $2 million an episode job was winning? OLSON: You know I was really upset about it. I think he was just trying to keep a positive attitude. I know he, you know, behind the scenes of everything, he would be upset just like any other person would be about their career and all that. I think that he had a lot of people around him that weren`t giving him good advice. Everyone wanted him to go on this tour, which I didn`t think was a good idea. I thought that he should -- DIAZ: You talk about people giving him bad advice. I mean, did you ever think to yourself maybe I should pull him aside and say -- OLSON: I did, I did. I said stop bringing the media in the house, stop thinking about this tour and just call up Chuck, whoever you have to apologize, sit down, work it out with him, do whatever you have to do. DIAZ: What was his response to that? OLSON: At first he didn`t want to and he was like you know because - I do understand his anger. Chuck took stabs at him for look seven years and Charlie put up with it, OK, OK. So they just kind of made it public what they already felt about each other. DIAZ: Did he blow you off? Did he just say, hey, you`re here for partying and sex? OLSON: No, no, no. First of all, I wasn`t just there for partying and sex. I was his girl friend for six months and there wasn`t any partying going on. We hung out. When we didn`t have reporters there we were just watching TV, eating dinner or talking with our friends. DIAZ: It is safe to say the launch of Charlie`s violent torpedo of truth tour in Detroit was a bomb. I mean it didn`t do too well. How devastated was Charlie because of that? Because let face it, he had to be upset. OLSON: Yes, he was upset. He just said what am I going to do to make things better? And like he said there were a whole bunch of people surrounding him all the time and I was just outnumbered. That`s why I eventually ended up leaving the tour because I never thought it was a good idea to begin with. And you know I kept on waiting for it, this is all going to end, everything is going to be OK but it never did. It was a constant battle with everyone trying to get things from Charlie and me trying to protect him and it wasn`t happening. DIAZ: How did you - the physicality of actually leaving the tour, did you sneak away? Did you go to Charlie and say I`m out of here? How did that actually happen? OLSON: Well, there were several people on the tour. There were over 30 people on a one-man tour. So I didn`t want to make a big scene in front of everyone so I decided to leave in the middle of the night. We have adjoining rooms; I closed the door, packed my stuff, booked a flight online, wrote him a note, and left his watch. I said good luck with your tour. I`m not comfortable here anymore. DIAZ: That sounds to me like a classic example of a woman sneaking away from an abuse of relationship. OLSON: No, it was not -- he never was abusive with me in any way, physically or verbally. It just that I left like that because there were so many dramatic people around him and I just -- I was sick of all the drama and everyone trying to pull Charlie in every direction and I just wanted to go back home to Indiana where things were like normal. DIAZ: So it wasn`t Charlie that made you leave or made you want to leave? OLSON: No. DIAZ: It was the circus around Charlie? OLSON: It was the people around Charlie, yes. DIAZ: Well, obviously he worked the show over and over again as the tour progressed. Did you ever see signs that he was going to crack under the pressure? OLSON: No, he never showed any signs. DIAZ: Did you ever fear this he might slip in his old ways and start using again? OLSON: No, I wasn`t really too worried about it. DIAZ: All right. Charlie said in interviews he is sober, he even called his home sober valley lodge in interviews but was he really at all times completely sober? OLSON: He was completely 100 percent sober. Come up and hook up a lie detector test to me. You guys could even do a hair follow I call on me. I`ve never done drugs. So I don`t even know what half the stuff is he was talking about. I don`t know even what it looks like. I know from like high school pictures, slide shows they show us when they`re like don`t do drugs. But other than that I know what weed looks like but other than that -- from my friends smoking. I don`t know anything else, you know. DIAZ: You never smoked weed in your life? OLSON: No. Does a fair follicle test? That goes back at least seven years. DIAZ: Hey, in an interview with ABC back in February, Charlie was asked about how he can be so sure he wouldn`t slip back into returning to use drugs. Watch this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHEEN: I just won`t do it. I mean, I will not believe that if I do something then have I to follow a certain path because it was written for normal people, people that aren`t special, people that don`t have tiger blood. You know, a domino`s DNA. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: All right. I have to imagine the Charlie we see, the one we see in the interviews could be nasty or intense, especially if you didn`t have the same opinion he did. Can you honestly say he never, ever got nasty with you ever, Bree? OLSON: No. He was nothing but a gentleman to me. He was very, very sweet to me and very light spoken, very sweet to me at all times. DIAZ: He`s sweet to you. He`s not using around you. It seems that this life that you`re leading with Charlie is amazing. Why leave? OLSON: I told you because of the tour. It was just everything going on around was just so bad. I didn`t get to spend a lot of time with him. There were constantly like I said he was getting pulled in every other direction. And I kept waiting for it to end and end and end and you know for things to get worked out with "Two and a Half Men" or for something to happen, a good, positive change and nothing was happening. DIAZ: Very quickly, Bree, I`m sorry I have to wrap up very quickly. Would you ever go back to Charlie? OLSON: Never say never. DIAZ: All right. Bree Olson, thank you so much. I really appreciate your time. OLSON: Thanks. DIAZ: All right. You can pick up a copy of the new issue of "Playboy" magazine. It`s on newsstands right now with Bree Olson. Tonight keeping up with the Kardashian outrage. Kim`s step dad Bruce is furious after finding out her 15-year-old stepsister is on the pill. You wouldn`t believe the Kardashian drama. : Bruce, keep it together. It going to be OK. Keep it together, man. And Jennifer Aniston pre-engaged? Brand new report tonight that Jen may have finally found the one. Our showbiz flashpoint, will this relationship work out or is it just Jen unlucky in love again? This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN news and views. Now the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) Welcome back to SHOWBIZ TONIGHT. tonight keeping up with the Kardashians in the battle over birth control. Kim Kardashian`s step-dad Bruce Jenner goes nuclear when he finds out 15-year-old Kendall is on birth control. Adding insult to injury is the way Bruce found out. Kris Jenner, aka mama Kardashian, sent him to the pharmacy pick up the pills and it`s all caught on tape in the upcoming new episode on the Kardashian`s reality show on Sunday. You got to watch this.? KRIS JENNER: They help our little girl`s cramp. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Wondering. Is this ludicrous for this to play out on TV or is it another reason people love keeping up with the Kardashians? Right now, Taryn Winter Brill, the best TV journalist, and Brian Baltizar who is the editor for popgoestheweek.com. I get the feeling birth control is not the only thing Bruce is not clued in on with the Kardashians. I think Bruce may have every right to be outraged. What`s stunning to me is they are having this whole thing play out on TV. Taryn, is that outrageous to you? TARYN WINTER BRILL, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Not at all. Nothing is outrageous when it comes to the Kardashians. But Carlos, can I tell you how much I love Bruce Jenner. I think he was quoted as saying "You know Kris, I do the car pool, and I don`t do the sex talk." He`s hilarious. I mean everything is played out in cameras but Poor Kendall. Now the whole world knows she has cramps. Come on. It`s insane. DIAZ: It amazed me by the way, I watched Bruce when I was a kid. And that was back in the 70s. He doesn`t age at all. BRILL: He doesn`t. DIAZ: Well, I can tell you the birth control bombshell was just the start of the Kardashian craziness. Watch as Bruce gets advice from Chloe about giving a sex talk to his 15-year-old after she started birth control. Watch this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KHLOE: I just want to know how the birth control thing is going. BRUCE JENNER: Mom says it`s to control Kendall`s cramps. Honestly my problem is you take that kind of stuff and it kind of opens the door to being a little -- promiscuity. KHLOE: You have talked to them about sex? BRUCE JENNER: No, mom wants me to talk to them. KHLOE: So talk to them. I think it`s great to know how educated they are, how far they`ve gone with boys. BRUCE JENNER: They`re not going to tell me anything. To you they would talk. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: Let look at the big elephant in the room, shall we? Kim Kardashian became famous because of her sex tape. That`s it, Bryan , is this just another case of the Kardashians being highly inappropriate or is this a brilliant way to get parents to actually talk to their kids about a very real issue? BRYAN BALTIZAR, EDITOR IN CHIEF, POPGOESTHEWEEK.COM: This is not a very special episode of the facts of life. It is contrived reality. When it comes to trying to get attention, this family is about as subtle as a smack in the face. You know I`ve seen circus clowns more discrete than this family. So what bothers me is this is about a 15-year-old girl. And it`s contrived drama. I mean they were this room and someone said I want you to ask your dad about this -- now. So this is all objectifies a 15-year-old girl, whether or not she is having a sex life or this is cramps, you`re still bringing this kind of things into the show. I think it just more for story and drama than trying to teach people a lesson here. It really outrages me. DIAZ: If anyone thinks they just happen to be having this conversation, let have a conversation about birth control. No, it`s like action, go. All this is playing out against the back drop of another big Kardashian moment happening this weekend, Kim`s bachelorette party in Las Vegas. Kim just had her engagement party and today, we got our hands on the very first pictures from that party. Taryn, Kim and Chris Humphrey are reportedly getting married on August 30th. This is being compared to a royal wedding because of the interests and how it - high it is. Is it nuts to compare to royal wedding? BRILL: No, I think they`re so vain. I really believe the Kardashian`s think they are royalty. In their heads, this is a royal wedding. But the fact of the matter is their ratings are through the roof, we love watching them. They`ve got more money than anybody can imagine. So, yes, this is a royal wedding in terms of the reality TV world. That`s how I would spin it, Carlos. DIAZ: All right. Let move on to another topic. I`m tired talking about the Kardashians. Jennifer Aniston is not yet engaged, OK, but there is talk that there`s big pre-engagement news breaking tonight. There`s a report today that Jennifer has just gotten pre-engaged to Justin Thoreau. I don`t know what that means but OK. SHOWBIZ TONIGHT obtained pictures of them all over London hand in hand, looking very much in love. Ryan, do you really think Jen will walk down the aisle with Justin? BALTIZAR: I think she`ll think long and hard about it because she doesn`t want to be the subject of another brad date as she went through before. So she is going to really think this through. As for a pre-engagement isn`t that just called dating? I don`t understand what that is. That`s just going steady. DIAZ: Taryn, you got 20 seconds. Are you buying this pre-engagement stuff? BRILL: I don`t know. I think that`s the best way to put it, they`re going steady. But hey, I think we are all for her. I`d love to see her get her fairy tale ending. She`s been burned by Brad, and men you know so many people so I think go for it. I don`t think they need to put it in writing but we would love it. That would be a royal wedding in my opinion. DIAZ: All right. Taryn, Bryan, we are pre-engaged to talk about this next block after this next block. Good. Here we go. Thanks guys. Now I want to hear from you. It`s our SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusive poll. Jennifer Aniston is reportedly pre-engaged. Will her relationship with Justin Theroux work out? Yes, this is the one or, no, she`s unlucky in love. Vote right now at cnn.com/showbiztonight. You can always e-mail us, too, our address: SHOWBIZ [email protected]. Now, they`re back. It`s been 14 years since we last saw them. And now those animated slackers Beavis and Butt Head are returning to MTV this summer. And check out this. They`re taking on America`s newest slackers, the cast of the "Jersey Shore." Here is your Showbiz first time. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Me and Jennie wanted to do the hookup board. If you hooked up with this person, then could you have possibly hooked up with this person just be swapping spit. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop swapping spit. I`ll still want one to the other. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Love is like a family tree. If your family was made of whores. If I like did this chart long enough, I could find out where herpes began. (END VIDEO CLIP) DIAZ: And to think its Beavis and Butt Head to put "Jersey Shore" in perspective. Welcome back, guys. This is going to be cool. Next SHOWBIZ TONIGHT names the most provocative celebrity of the week. Will it be Jennifer Lopez for a shocking marriage ender? Wendi Murdoch for slapping the guy who tried to throw a pie at her husband, Rupert Murdoch. Or will we name Kim Kardashian for her explosive old Navy look-a-like lawsuit. This is SHOWBIZ TONIGHT on HLN, news and views. Now the showbiz news ticker, more stories from the SHOWBIZ TONIGHT newsroom making news tonight. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SARA PAXTON: I`m here, I want to like get in the crowds, and I want to talk to some fans. KATHERINE MCPHEE: I have been known to be attracted to some, you know, geeky guys. ANDY SERKIS: I`m really interested in -- (END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK) DIAZ: The wife of Rupert Murdoch slaps the crap out of this little guy who attacks the news corporation chief with a pie. It happened at those hearings in London on the news of phone hacking scandal. But will the slap be enough for Wendi Murdoch to be named SHOWBIZ TONIGHT`s most provocative celebrity of the week? Wendi Murdoch is up against them having inners this week. We will name Jennifer Lopez or maybe even Kim Kardashian, or Wendi Murdoch. One of those three will be the most provocative celebrity of the week Back with me now in New York is TV journalist Taryn Winter Brill. And Brian Baltizar, who`s the editor of "popgoestheweek.com" People have been buzzing non-stop about J.Lo`s split from Marc Anthony after seven years of marriage. But the real thing that made head spin that the fact she performs in someone else wedding this week. It was in the Ukraine and she reportedly got paid $1 million for doing it just days after she announced her split. Taryn, is that enough to make Jennifer Lopez most provocative celebrity of the week? BRILL: No. Not at all. Hands down Wendi Murdoch. I mean, right- hand woman, she gives new meaning to that phrase. Talk about a right host. I don`t want to be in a courtroom, a supermarket, a volleyball court, nowhere. Wow! Talk about woman power. I love it, Carlos. DIAZ: She is right hand down. All right. Then there`s Kim Kardashian who loves soliciting more than life itself. But she`s been putting the needle smack down on old Navy, accusing them trying to make money off of her using Kim poster in those ads. Bryan: A lot of people are saying Kim is provocative by going to old Navy. Does she get your vote? BALTIZAR: If she is going after them with a shaving cream pie, perhaps. But I think it has to go to Wendi. You got the pie. You got this kind of matrix like intercepting in slow motion. And you know its gold. She`s a modern day Tonia Tucker standing by her man. I`ll go with Wendi. DIAZ: All right. The time has come for us tonight`s most provocative celebrity of the week. Drum roll, please. And that person is Jennifer Lopez. BRILL: What? DIAZ: She takes the cake Taryn, you are outraged. What is your reaction? BRILL: I am outraged, Carlos. I`m bewildered. I feel betrayed. I demand a recount. How was it possible? DIAZ: Brian, are you bewildered as well? Come on. Jennifer Lopez - BALTIZAR: I`m writing a strongly worded letter to the judges at this moment. DIAZ: She got divorced after seven years. What did she do? She performs at a wedding. What if they have her do the toast? BALTIZAR: It`s nice that she still believes in love. DIAZ: Exactly. You guys are great. I hope that you guys have a long marriage even though I didn`t. BRILL: Not like mine. She`s getting some aggression out by dancing and performing, Carlo. DIAZ: Taryn Winter Brill, Brian Baltizar, thank you, you guys, so much. That`s SHOWBIZ TONIGHT I`m Carlos Diaz. Remember you can catch SHOWBIZ TONIGHT exclusively Monday to Friday at 11:00 p.m. Eastern time and Pacific right here at HLN. END Weather forecast

Return to Transcripts main page CNN NEWSROOM Amy Winehouse Dead at 27; Massacre in Norway; Debt Ceiling Talks Aired July 23, 2011 - 22:00 ET THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MUSIC PLAYING (END VIDEO CLIP) DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: A well-known singer silenced. Amy Winehouse known by many for her drug and alcohol abuse, then her music, found dead in her London home. Tonight reaction from Hollywood, plus a long list of singers who have died at the young age of 27. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was terrible. I can't understand really what happened. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Massacre in Norway. A home-grown terrorist kills nearly 100 people. Most of them children gathered at a youth camp. Tonight, the suspect is talking to police. A little girl with a heart of gold instead of asking for birthday presents, she asked that people help children half a world away. Tonight her life comes to a tragic end, but her legacy lives on. Good evening, everyone. I'm Don Lemon, live in the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. We welcome our viewers tonight who are watching around the world. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) CROWD SCREAMING (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: TMZ says this is the last time Amy Winehouse was on stage, three days ago in north London. She supported her 13-year-old goddaughter, an aspiring singer herself. Tonight, the world is mourning the singer blessed with a voice beyond her years, but cursed with addictions that may have cut them short. London police say they do not know what killed the Grammy Award winning singer. They found her today in her apartment. But many are speculating her death is connected to her substance abuse. Well, "Showbiz Tonight's" Kareen Wynter joins us now from Los Angeles. Kareen, good evening to you. Winehouse's father is now returning to London. KAREEN WYNTER, CNN ENTERTAINMENT CORRESPONDENT: Over this tragic news, we just learned that her dad, Mitch Winehouse, he got word of his daughter's death. Listen to this, Don. After he got word, he was in New York, he hopped on a plane back to the UK. It turns out Mitch Winehouse, the aspiring jazz singer was in New York At the time rehearsing Friday with his band getting ready for his big debut here in the states. So he cancelled his upcoming show on Monday, he flew home with his manager who also managed his daughter. Imagine that, Mitch, a former cab driver turned singer flying home tonight to be closer to his daughter, Don. LEMON: Celebrities have been mourning since the news broke, Kareen. What have you been hearing? WYNTER: Well, many stars, are of course sad that she died so young. But I have to say, Don, they're not totally surprised by Winehouse's death, you know, with all her struggles with drugs and alcohol. Listen to what a few had to say. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) VAL KILMER, ACTOR: The thing about addiction that I learned from playing a bunch of these guys that are addicts is that it's not wrong or bad to want to get out of the pain of mortality. That's what we're trying to do. And a lot of artists are just too sensitive for the world. KELLAN LUTZ, ACTOR: Yes, I just heard about Amy passing away today. I'm a big fan of her music. And I don't know her personally, but it's always tragic when someone goes. It's just sad. I mean, she's very well gifted and very talented. (END VIDEO CLIP) WYNTER: Those were actors Kellan Lutz, as well as Val Kilmer. Kilmer, Don, interestingly played singer Jim Morrison in the 1991 film "The Doors." Remember that film? Morrison like Winehouse also died at the age of 27, but the big mystery, Don, in all of this right now is that police don't know how the singer died, if it had anything at all to do with drugs, perhaps alcohol and they say they won't put that piece of the puzzle together until they perform that autopsy which could come as early as tomorrow, Don. LEMON: Kareen, do we know what led police to her body? WYNTER: Well, you know, the circumstances, Don, are still quite bizarre. Paramedics found the singer's body today in her London apartment. We've all seen the eerie video of paramedics removing her covered body, taken out on a stretcher, placed in a private ambulance. London police say they got a call to head to a home which matched Winehouse's address Saturday afternoon in response to a woman found deceased. She was pronounced dead on the scene. And Don, today, an incredible scene outside the singer's home. Hundreds of people from fans paying respects, to police really trying to contain that area. Many fans are just shocked over this talented singer's short life. An international star who won a handful of Grammy's back in 2008 with that unforgettable album "Back to Black." But her personal demons, they often overshadowed her talent. She was booed off at Belgrade stage during a stumbling performance last month. She did another short stint in rehab after that painful performance, Don, where she checked in and checked right back out of rehab. It really was a story of the latter part of her life. A star with so much promise, who had to battle personal demons in the public eye. Don, one thing, I want to add here, something our producer Denise Kwan found out right before our hit. Interestingly enough, her 2007 worldwide breakthrough album "Back to Black," it's number one right now on Amazon.com as well as iTunes. So you can just imagine all the amazing things that this troubled singer could have done in life if things hadn't ended so tragically. LEMON: Kareen Wynter in Hollywood. Thank you, Kareen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) AMY WINEHOUSE, SINGER: My management at the time kind of stepped in and thought they were being the good guys by stepping in and strong -- arming me into a rehabilitation center. But I just didn't really need it. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: That was Amy Winehouse in 2007. Just two months ago, the singer's staff issued a statement saying they were doing everything they could to, quote, "Return her to her best," after she cut short her European tour. Celebrity addicts often don't give themselves enough time to recover. That's according to Dr. Drew who is from our sister network, HLN. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. DREW PINSKY, HOST, "DR. DREW": When an opiate addict goes into treatment, opiate addiction takes months to years to treat. And one of the most serious risks in my experience to that recovery for celebrities and particularly musicians, is they return to their career, they return to the road far to prematurely and it's absolutely predictable what will happen. The fact is, you know, funny thing, people look at these stories and go oh, addiction treatment doesn't work. The crazy thing about addiction is part of the disease is a disturbance of thinking, where the addict themselves convinces themselves. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Again, police say Winehouse' cause of death is, quote, "unexplained." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) EDWARD FORNES, SURVIVOR OF NORWAY RAMPAGE: I ran around for five minutes, then I started swimming. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Was he shooting at you in the ocean? FORNES: Yes, and he missed it. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Were people around you hit? FORNES: Yes. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: That young man escaped with his life, but so many others did not. Two attacks in Norway. At least 92 people dead, 85 of them at a youth camp and seven in the bombing in the capital Oslo. So far one man arrested and charged in both attacks. That man identified by local media as Anders Behring Breivik, 32 years old, described as a right winger, a Christian fundamentalist, but police now say they haven't ruled out the possibility that others were involved. A man who identified himself as Breivik's attorney spoke to Norwegian Broadcaster TV 2. He says, "Breivik believes the terrorist attacks were horrible but, quote, "In his head, they were necessary." That attorney also promises Breivik will explain himself at a hearing on Monday. The accounts from the youth camp and Utoya are chilling. Witnesses say a man showed up in a police uniform reportedly he asked the campers to gather around and started firing with a machine pistol. Because the camp is run by Norway's ruling Labor Party, investigators believe this attack could have been politically motivated. The camp attack followed a car bombing outside a government building not far away in Oslo. A witness says she saw Breivik buy six tons of fertilizer in May. That material may be used to make bombs. For Norway's prime minister, this was more than an assault against his country as CNN Jim Boulden reports, he has a very personal connection to this tragedy. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JIM BOULDEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In an early morning press conference, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said he feared he would know some of the young people killed on the island he visited every year since 1974. JENS STOLTENBERG, NORWEGIAN PRIME MINISTER (through translator): It is especially heavy when it is people I know. And I know quite a few of those who lost their lives. I know their parents or several others who lost their lives. And this happened in a place where I became politically active and I said earlier today that it was a paradise for youngsters, and yesterday, it turned into hell. BOULDEN: The prime minister called a meeting of his cabinet Saturday. There were a number of government buildings badly damaged Friday. The prime minister called on all Norwegians to do what they can: to aid those affected by the biggest one day of killing in the country since the Second World War. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Well, for some of the victims, it was over before they knew what was happening. Others were hunted. The gunman taking his time, stalking them down and the survivors as Diana Magnay reports are still fighting through their shock. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DIANA MAGNAY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Young survivors sob in each other's arms. The prime minister tries to console the inconsolable. As police and the Red Cross continued their search for the dead, those who survived tell of the horror they witnessed. The killing spree where a lone gunman was able to fire for 19 minutes unchecked. OTTAR FAGERHEIM, SURVIVOR: He seemed calm and he seemed like he was just taking photos when he was shooting people. MAGNAY: What was he wearing? What was he wearing? FORNES: He was wearing fake police uniform. It looked like a saloon rifle. MAGNAY: And his expression, it was blank? FORNES: Completely blank. MAGNAY: But he was shouting? FORNES: Yes, come back. MAGNAY: Come back to those swimming for their lives as he fired in their wake. Many were hit. Boats now troll the water for their bodies. For others the water was the only place to hide. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I started swimming onto the shores, and then got halfway and then I got cramps because I have been laying so long in the water so I got some of the locals saved my life with. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So you can hide in the water? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, because it's the only place to hide. All the other places were full of people. MAGNAY: Hundreds of young people had gathered here for a political summer camp, a tradition of the ruling Labor Party which the prime minister attended in his youth. STOLTENBERG (through translator): What was my youth paradise has been turned into a hell for all of the people that were involved yesterday. It has made a major impression in the meetings, to meet the people that survived and the people that got ashore. MAGNAY: Young people determined not to let this nightmare break them. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's important that we stay together and keep strong. We can't let a coward like that stop us. Because going on to an island with only youth and killing them, and they have no way to escape, that's a cowardness act. MAGNAY: Diana Magnay, CNN near Utoya Island, Norway. (END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: They're running out of time to raise the debt ceiling. A late Saturday meeting was held without the president. Was any progress made on the debt ceiling negotiations? And this guy has got the right idea, but when will the rest of us get to cool off from the extreme heat going on across the nation? A live weather forecast is straight ahead. Many of you are asking for information through social media. You can reach out to us on Twitter, Facebook, CNN.com/Don, and on FourSquare. My book "Transparent," about my life and journeys as journalist, available at Barnes & Noble and anywhere books are sold. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Live pictures now of the White House and the Capitol here in the United States. Congressional leaders held talks today at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. But after a trip to the White House and then back to the Capitol, all they can agree on at this hour is that they need a deal on the debt ceiling and they need it soon. Our congressional correspondent Kate Bolduan has more from Capitol Hill. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KATE BOLDUAN, CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Following that dramatic breakdown of negotiations to raise the debt ceiling between President Obama and House Speaker John Boehner, congressional leaders met here on Capitol Hill late Saturday evening to try to broker a deal. The house speaker John Boehner is proposing a $3 to $4 trillion package of cuts that would raise the debt ceiling in a two-part process, this according to Democratic and Republican sources. But that two-part process we're told by a Democratic congressional aide was seen as a big impasse as Democratic leaders in the room in this meeting rejected that idea as Democratic leaders and President Obama, quite frankly, oppose the idea of any short-term extension. So the negotiations continue. No agreement yet has been reached. But we're told one point of agreement of congressional leaders in the room was that they wanted to reach an agreement amongst themselves before Asian markets opened Sunday. Kate Bolduan, CNN, Capitol Hill. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: All right, Kate. For the latest on the negotiations, watch "STATE OF THE UNION" tomorrow. Candy Crowley's guest will be the Treasury secretary Timothy Geithner who has been at the center of the talks from the beginning. That's 9:00 a.m. Eastern on Sunday right here on CNN. You know, the heat just won't let up. Is there any relief in sight? I want you to check these kids out. They found a way to stay cool today. And our Jacqui Jeras has a forecast in just two minutes. Also after a break, a very sad story. A little girl with a heart of gold unselfishly helping so many others a world away. We'll tell you how she ends up. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For her birthday, she didn't want any presents. She told us not to buy any presents. She wanted everyone to give money so that children and parents could have water. (END VIDEO CLIP) (COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Oh, man. Now, cars nearly submerged on flooded roads. Look at that. Their drivers waist deep in high water and needing rescue. This is what it looked like in Chicago today after record rains, nearly seven inches fell in the early morning hours, making this Chicago's wettest day ever. Many flights were also delayed at busy O'Hare International Airport. And our meteorologist Jacqui Jeras is here to tell us what's going on with all the rain and all the heat around the country. JACQUI JERAS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Did you see that? They used snow plows at O'Hare to get all the water off the runway. LEMON: The water off the runway. JERAS: Yes. I mean, seven inches in a couple hours that is amazing. So they went from record heat to record rain. And, you know, that's really the extremes that you need unfortunately to get rid of some of that heat. So we've got showers and thundershowers across the upper Midwest and pushing into the northeast. And this is where that boundary is. Where that cold air is trying to advance, trying to give us a little bit of a breather here. But some of those thunderstorms are severe. So those yellow watch boxes that you can see are in effect for another couple hours tonight. In the meantime, we're waiting on that rain and that relief in the northeast. Check out the heat index right now in Philadelphia. 99 degrees. That's the temperature your body feels. It's 10:00 at night. Oh, my gosh, 99 degrees. So that is just brutal. It feels like 98 in Washington, D.C. And you can see the heat index up there in the upper 90s across much of the nation's midsection, as well. The upper Midwest, you got your break. Chicago 88. It's not great but it's better. 75 in Minneapolis. Much better. That heat dome remains in place but it's starting to shift now, and this is basically a huge area of high pressure that's stacked up way into the atmosphere. And it really takes a lot to get something to shift a long-term pattern like this. So we're finally getting this pushing down by tomorrow. So Chicago is better. Detroit is better. New York City is better as well as Boston. Unfortunately, D.C. and everybody down to the south of there, not going to get that break. We're continuing to set records. We had a number of them today. Dallas-Fort Worth today was day 22 in a row with triple digit temperatures. Couple of pop-up thunderstorms, that's all that you're going to get, really, for some of these breaks. And here are some of those records today. Atlantic City, New Jersey, 105, 103 in North Folk to Virginia, Baltimore, 102, 101 in Philly and Central Park hit a record, 100 degrees or more two days in a row. There are like two dozen record highs today. I can't get them all in there. So just a couple of the highlights. LEMON: Try to stay cool. Hydrate. Hydrate. Hydrate. Thank you, Jacqui. We really appreciate it. You know, it was the deadliest day in Norway since World War II, but survivors say they aren't intimidated. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We don't want to be silenced. We're going to continue. We're going to continue VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Next, we'll have the latest on the investigation into the horrific terror attacks in Norway. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: We want to check your headlines right now. One man is in custody for a pair of deadly terrorist attacks in Norway. But police aren't ruling out the possibility that others are involved. Local media are identifying this man as the only suspect in custody now. His name is Anders Behring Breivik, described as a right-wing Christian Fundamentalist. 85 people died when a gunman opened fire on a youth camp run by the ruling Labor Party. Before that, seven others died in a bombing in Oslo. We're tracking developments tonight from Washington on the debt ceiling talks. Congressional leaders from both parties held a late afternoon meeting trying to forge some sort of deal. They also met for less than an hour this morning at the White House with President Obama. No deal yet, but they have agreed to try to reach a compromise in the next 24 hours or so to avoid disruptions to the financial markets. Obama today called him a genuine soldier, statesman who extraordinary -- whose extraordinary life represented the promise of America. The general was 75 years old. Shocking video out of Syria. Soldiers and security forces some in plain clothes storming a mosque in the City of Aleppo. They beat people with sticks, dragging some of them away. Significantly, they entered the mosque with their shoes on which is considered extremely offensive in Islam. CNN cannot confirm the authenticity of this video, but Syria has been racked by anti-government protests and fierce reprisals by President Bashar al-Assad's regime. A cross made of steel beams from New York's fallen World Trade Center is now at its permanent new home. It was moved from a church in lower Manhattan to the nearby site where the national September 11th Memorial and Museum will stand. A construction worker discovered the perfectly formed cross standing upright in the rubble of Ground Zero. It was blessed by a priest before it was moved. Gunfire rang out at a car show in Kent, Washington today. At least seven people were injured and rushed to hospitals. But their injuries are described as non-life threatening. One man was hurt but declined treatment. Police say the shooting may have been gang related. Witnesses say it appears to have started with a fight and escalated to gunfire. CNN founder Ted Turner is being honored for his commitment to philanthropy. He received the Service Legacy Award here in Atlanta today from singer Usher's New Look Foundation which mentors young people. Turner has devoted himself to environmental conservation, youth empowerment and other causes. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TED TURNER, SERVICE LEGACY AWARD RECIPIENT: I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for this wonderful, wonderful honor. And I believe service is. 500 young people from around the world came to Atlanta this week to attend the global conference and awards event. Amy Winehouse found dead today in her home in London. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MUSIC PLAYING (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: She fought drug and alcohol addiction. What legacy does she leave behind? We'll tell you. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: Amy Winehouse in what turned out to be one of her last public performances, stumbling, slurring. This was supposed to be the start of her big European comeback tour in Serbia. Instead she cancelled all the shows after that. Now we're left with that as a final image of a great, but profoundly troubled talent. Earlier, I spoke with Maureen O'Conner, a staff writer for Gawker.com, a site that has followed Winehouse's ups and downs for years now. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) MAUREEN O'CONNOR, STAFF WRITER, GAWKER.COM: that she was in forms of addiction treatment. Ever since after "Back to Black," her last album in 2006, she pretty much couldn't really hold a job. She had to cancel concerts all the time. She was supposed to be working on music and albums, and it never quite happened. And for anyone that's known an addict, it felt very almost uncomfortably familiar. This person who is talented and good at things, and yet she just couldn't hold it together. She was arrested five times over the course of the last five years of her life for drug-related charges, for getting into fights and assaults, and it's really sort of the portrait of somebody who bounces back and forth between rehab, between police stations, between toxic relationships in the last few years of her life. LEMON: And we're showing this video from "The Sun," which supposedly shows her smoking and heating up a pipe there. We can imagine what she would only be smoking if this is indeed true. And just weeks later, days later she ended up in rehab after this video surfaced. Is this how she's going to be remembered? I hope not. O'CONNOR: You know, I hope not, too, but this, sadly, it just strong enough. But it's sort of that life on the cusp of completely falling apart for a really long time. LEMON: Yes. Is this a lesson for young people and famous people? O'CONNOR: You know, I think -- we've seen a lot of people sort of -- and over the years, all kinds of people from you know, years ago, Kurt Cobain, Jimi Hendrix and today now we see, for instance, Lindsay Lohan, was just back in court this week. She was reprimanded by the judge out of her progress report for her probation. And I think that these examples, it's hard to know whether it's the fame that feeds and enables these people or whether we're just seeing what regular, old addiction is but on a global scale, that instead of just a handful of family members and loved ones seeing an addict falling apart, whether it's the entire world seeing them all of a sudden. LEMON: You know what, Maureen, I appreciate your honesty and your candor about this. And I think a lot of people will hopefully -- hopefully a lot of people will learn a lesson. Thank you for that. Maureen O'Connor from Gawker.com. O'CONNOR: Sure. Thanks, Don. (END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: All right. Amy Winehouse was 27 years old, and many have notice an eerie similarity, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and other talented but troubled stars died at the same age. CNN's Entertainment reporter Shannon Cook looked into what's being called The 27 Club. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SHANON COOK, CNN ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER: There's. And, of course, some people think there's some cultish connection here. But it's important to realize that many, many musicians have died and they weren't 27 at the time. But you know, perhaps there's something to it. You know, perhaps by the time these young stars reach this age, they're burnt out from all the touring, from the hard living, from the drain of the spotlight. But I think more than likely, it's just coincidence, Don. LEMON: Yes because there were a number of singers who die at 21. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: You know what, it's maybe the most famous dress on the planet right now, the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress. We'll tell you where you can see it now. It's a very prominent place, by the way. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: You know, our next report is a kind of story that breaks your heart, but at the same time, manages to give you hope. It's a story of a 9-year-old girl from Washington State who had a compassion for others far beyond her years. Rachel Beckwith was taken from this world far too soon. But her short life is having a huge impact on people who never knew her. Joe Marino of our affiliate KOMO has her story. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) JOE MARINO, KOMO REPORTER: Rachel Beckwith is among seven people hurt in a chain reaction collision on Interstate 90 earlier this week. Her injuries were the most severe. At Harborview, doctors realized her spinal cord was severed and told family there was nothing they could do. Loved ones of the 9-year-old want her selfless passion to live on. VERONICA DEL ROSARIO, AUNT: She cares about other people more than herself. MARINO: Veronica Del Rosario says her niece always wanted to help others and set out to raise $300 to pay for clean water in developing countries. DEL ROSARIO: For her birthday she didn't want any present. She told us not to buy her presents. She wanted everyone to give money so that children and parents can have water. MARINO: But then the accident struck and Rachel's pastor at church decided to keep promoting her fund-raising mission for the non- profit group Charity Water. The Church used Facebook and Twitter to encourage people to give, and thousands of dollars started pouring in by the hour. PASTOR RYAN MEEKS, THE EAST LAKE COMMUNITY CHURCH: She did what she could, and now she can't. But we could pick up where she left off. MARINO: Rachel has been on life support since shortly after the crash. But family members decided they would say their final good-byes and tell doctors to disconnect the machines. They say even in Rachel's final hours she keeps teaching others how to give. DEL ROSARIO: We just want to say thank you to everybody's who's been praying for her and we want to invite everybody to the service tomorrow. (END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: Well, we have learned tonight that Rachel died just a few hours ago after she was removed from life support. And one of the people you saw in that report was Ryan Meeks. He is the founding pastor at Rachel's church, the East Lake Community Church. Pastor Meeks, thanks for joining us now. How is the family? MEEKS (via-telephone): Well, they're what you would expect. You know, they're mourning the loss of a beautiful, young girl. At the same time, they're hoping Jesus gives them something to live for beyond this and a hope to see her soon. And of course, the great story that life is coming out of this death with Rachel's generosity. It's inspired many, and it's been amazing over the last 24 hours, I think. Now she's gone from, I think, $220 to over $23,000 raised for clean water. LEMON: At such a young age, 9 years old, where does that sort of compassion come from, that sort of awareness about the world? MEEKS: Well, you know, we've had an ongoing partnership in with Charity Water, the organization that is 100 percent model, where 100 percent of every cent goes to water projects around the world. And she got to hear and listen to the founder, a friend of mine, Scott Harrison speak at our church awhile ago and like many others was inspired to do what she could do. And for a 9-year-old kid, a huge step of faith would be to say hey, for my birthday, I don't want anything. Give to those who are in greater need. And, you know, not everyone's that mature even at 90, and yet, here she is modeling for us at the age of 9 how to live that kind of a life. LEMON: Looking at your picture, you can see you're at least 20, 30 years old. MEEKS: Yes. LEMON: Did she teach you as someone who I'm sure you consider yourself a worldly person. Did she teach you something about life and about the human spirit? MEEKS: Oh, absolutely. I mean, everyone is certainly encouraged and inspired by her story. Family member who knew her best are the ones that certainly learn the most from as they pour out their hearts and the young girl that they got to live with and love, and they all say the same thing about her, just an overwhelming heart of compassion and selflessness. And she continues to inspire many through this campaign as it continues. LEMON: All right. Pastor Ryan Meeks, we appreciate it. Best of luck to you and to the family. Please tell them that we are thinking about them, OK? MEEKS: Will do. Thanks. LEMON: We want to look at some of the interesting news items that you might have missed throughout this week because it's been a very busy news week. A snarling leopard went on a frightening rampage in an Indian village. The adult male cat attacked 11 people, including several forest guards who were mauled. Authorities say villagers used knives, stone and sticks to drive back the cat. It reportedly died from its injuries after being subdued with a tranquilizer gun. Remember Shannon Stone? He's a firefighter who fell to his death just a couple of weeks ago while trying to catch a baseball for his young son at a Texas Rangers game. Well, his death created a stir over stadium safety. Well, the Texas Rangers have announced that they are going to raise the height of all the railings in front of a seating areas and to try to prevent another such tragedy by doing it. The Rangers also will post new warnings around the ballpark. The most anticipated dress of the year is now on display in London. It is a gown Catherine wore when she married Britain's Prince William. People.com reports the ivory and white satin dress is now the centerpiece at Buckingham Palace's annual summer opening. The gown stands on a special platform topped off with a tiara that the queen loaned Catherine for the wedding. It is official. "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is history. What does the future hold for the military? We'll hear from an openly gay service member. But first, a doctor delivers your baby, but the hospital keeps your child until you pay your bill. Does it sound a little crazy? Well, in Indonesia, it happens all the time. But this week's CNN Hero, Arizona native Robin Lim has come up with a solution. ) LEMON: The Pentagon just officially repealed "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," permitting openly gay people to serve. It is a major military milestone, especially for veterans such as Jonathan Hopkins, a former army captain who was victimized by the policy. Hopkins earned three bronze stars but was honorably discharged after someone outed him. He now serves as a board member of Outserve, a group for openly gay military men and women. I spoke to him about the military's future now that "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is no more. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Do you see a parallel here between integrating the military, between among races and also now among gay people and straight people? JONATHAN HOPKINS, BOARD MEMBER FOR OUTSERVE: I definitely see a parallel in getting to a state of mutual understanding, and just basically making decisions based off facts instead of stereotypes. Where I think this is going to be different, we are much further along when it comes to acceptance of gays and lesbians now, today, than we were in 1947 when Harry Truman ended or started the end of segregation by executive order. LEMON: Real quickly here, Jonathan. Is it generational, yes or no? HOPKINS: Explain that. LEMON: Is it generational? Do you think younger people in the military are more accepting of it? HOPKINS: Totally. The biggest, most concerned people are senior personnel in the military. LEMON: Would you be reinstated? Would you want to be? HOPKINS: I think there are a lot of different ways I can serve my country. So I will explore those before I make a decision whether I actually go back in. But I know that there are other people that want to rejoin the military because that's what they love and I personally love it as well. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: Jonathan Hopkins. There will be a 60-day waiting period before "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" officially goes away. Now to a bizarre mystery. A woman and a little boy dead within days of each other at a California Millionaire's Mansion. She was found hanging naked and bound from a balcony. Her family is speaking out. And here's Sandra Endo. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SANDRA ENDO, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via-telephone): It started last Monday when police say six-year-old Max Shacknai fell down the stairs of this 27-room mansion near San Diego and was rushed to the hospital. Two days later 32-year-old Rebecca Zahou was found naked, hanging from a second story balcony in the home, her hands and feet tied together. (on camera) What strikes you as most unusual about this case? ROY FRANK, SAN DIEGO SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: You know what, the case is suspicious, there's no question about it. And any time you have a female that is found in a backyard unclothed and her feet and hands are bound, that becomes concerning. ENDO (voice-over): Pharmaceutical company CEO Jonah Shacknai is Max's father and Zahou's millionaire boyfriend. His son later died from the injuries. Shacknai says he wasn't there when Zahou died and what happened to her is still a mystery. FRANK: In this case suicide and homicide at times can look very, very similar. And it's important to really take your time, process that evidence, and usually that evidence will solve the mystery. ENDO: But Zahou was planning to keep me posted about Max the next day." It's a sentiment other people who knew the victim also tells CNN. More than 15 detectives are working on the case, and officials say they are taking the accounts of people who knew her very seriously. As for Max's death, police are preliminarily calling it an accident. But they say it's definitely part of the equation when considering Zahou. FRANK: Any time there is a death such as in Rebecca's case, we always look at victimology, what happened days and weeks before." (on camera) Local law enforcement officials say they are waiting for what could be the missing pieces to this puzzle, the forensic reports, and that could take a matter of weeks. Sandra Endo, CNN, Coronado, California. (END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: All right, Sandra. Up next, nerd heaven. Have you heard about comic-con? And are you as unfamiliar with it as I am? We'll tell you what it's all about -- next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm amaze. I'm overwhelmed, actually. This is beyond. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, absolutely. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The action figures and video games. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The toys for our kids. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: It is the Mecca for all trekkies, stormtroopers and X-men this weekend. The San Diego Comic-con is a massive pop culture celebration with a fantasy and sci-fi bent. Well, for those of you who just don't get it, and don't be ashamed if that's you, here's actor Seth Green to explain. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) SETH GREEN, ACTOR: People come to Comic-Con expecting something, you know. And if you don't like any of this stuff, you're not going to have fun. It's for the people that like it. I mean, would you go to an electronics trade show if you had no interest in electronics? (LAUGHTER) (MUSIC) GREEN: When you walk into Comic-Con what you'll mostly likely be met with is an overwhelming amount of visual stimulus. It's all this stuff specific to the genre of comics and sci-fi, super heroes and you know, space and things like that. It's become a little bit like a Sundance because some of the most major motion pictures that are being made now are based on comic book properties. I had a tipping point myself a few years ago at Comic-Con where it ceased to be the nerdy safe haven that it once was where geeks, like myself, could commune without fear of persecution and became a place where there's a human zoo element because there are so many other people who are like, oh, so this is Comic-Con. You know, they want to be part of the spectacle. If you intend to survive Comic-Con, you should certainly have passes for every day that you are there. You have to hydrate. It's really, really hot. And no matter how powerful the air conditioning is in the convention center, you are overwhelmed by just how many people there are. Also we have a list of the events and things that you actually want to witness, and then check them off so you can strategize a path through there. It's very difficult to maneuver. And there's a lot going on. All right, see you there. (END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: The San Diego Comic-Con is also a huge magnet for celebrities. Many of them are stopping by to talk to CNN, including a man who is nothing short of a comic con royalty. Luke Skywalker himself, Mark Hamill, who is amazed at how much the event has grown over the years. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) MARK HAMILL, ACTOR: When movie companies and gaming companies started sponsorship, it just jumped dramatically because once they figured out that this was a great foundation to be a spring board to launch product, then it was all over. I remember the year when they said hey, we broke a record. There's 500 people here. That was like '74. (END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: All right. Let's check some of your headlines at this hour. Police in Norway say it is possible that more than one person carried out a pair of deadly terror attacks that killed at least 92 people. Local media identifying this man as a lone suspect in custody now. His name is Anders Behring Breivik described as a right wing Christian fundamentalist. 85 people died in a mass shooting at a youth camp run by the ruling Labor Party. At least seven others died in an earlier car bombing in the Capital of Oslo. Congressional leaders from both parties held a late afternoon meeting on Capitol Hill trying to forge some sort of agreement to raise the nation's debt ceiling. They also met for less than an hour this morning at the White House with President Obama. There's still no deal, but they have agreed to try to reach a compromise before Sunday night to the avoid disruptions to the world financial markets. Tonight, the world is mourning Amy Winehouse. A singer blessed with a voice beyond her years, but cursed with addictions that may have cost her life. London police say they do not note what killed the Grammy winner. They found her today in her apartment, but many are speculating her death is connected to her substance abuse. Barack Obama today called him a genuine soldier, statesman whose extraordinary life represented the promise of America. The general was 75 years old. A cross made of steel beams from New York's fallen World Trade Center is now in a permanent new home. It was moved from a church in lower Manhattan to the nearby site where the national September 11th Memorial and Museum will stand. A construction worker discovered the perfectly formed cross standing upright in the rubble of Ground Zero. I'm Don Lemon at the CNN World Headquarters in Atlanta. Thank you so much for watching. I'll see you back here tomorrow at 6:00, 7:00, and 10:00 p.m. Eastern. Good night. Weather forecast

- Restaurants | - Nightlife | - Shopping | - Movies | - All Boom Boom Brow Bar Category: Beauty and Spas Hair Removal Hair Removal [Edit]35 7th Ave (between 12th St & 13th St) New York, NY 10011 Neighborhood: West Village (212) 229-2666 - Nearest Transit: 14 St (1, 2, 3) 8 Av (L) 6 Av (L) - Hours: Mon-Fri 11 pm - 8 pm Sat 11 pm - 6 pm - Price Range: - $$ - Accepts Credit Cards: - Yes - Parking: - Street - By Appointment Only: - No 114 reviews for Boom Boom Brow Bar 114 reviews in English Review from molly o. I love this place! Aside form being almost over-the-top girlie (in the best way), this tiny boutique packs a power punch with impeccable service, a great atmosphere (music included) and some of the most gentile- yet effective hair ripping this side of anywhere! If you're looking for any type of waxing or brow tinting, Jess Bartley is your gal! She's super charming, gentile, has a great eye for shaping brows, she's incredibly knowledgeable on all things skin related, and quite passionate about removing all your unwanted hair. Jess is in fact, a rock star. I've had several services with her including, underarm wax (had it done about 3 weeks ago and I'm just getting stubble!), brow shaping (she sets it to you straight- no tadpole brows- EVER) and brow tinting (I felt like Liz Taylor- no joke). Jess is my go-to chick and I have a feeling she's going to blow up in the business, so start booking appointments with her before she's too busy! Review from Anya T. I suppose, If I could, I'd give BBBB 2.5 stars, mainly because the service is so inconsistent. First: as everyone has said, the place is charming and the staff is lovely, with the exception of the owner, whom I wish were a bit friendlier. Like others, I've showed up, found the place empty and simply been ignored. Very weird. But the services are the important thing. The first few times I had my brows shaped (all I do), they turned out great: even, flattering, elegant, suited to my face. (I saw Beth.) Then, a month or so ago, I went in and saw someone else (Jennifer?), who was so, so nice, but my brows were two completely different shapes!! Seriously. I mentioned it to her and she told me to use brow powder to even them out, then applied some, just to one brow, which looked utterly awful and bizarre. I think she even realized it and wiped it off. But she basically told me there was no way to make my brows even. Though every other person I've seen has done so. I left, went home and evened them out myself, as best I could. Agh. Not sure if I would go back, as one can't really choose a technician.... Review from Althea A. A cute and tiny salon. Walking in is almost like walking into a glittery doll's house; it's all chandeliers and mirrors. I'm new to this whole brow thing. My brows are nearly non-existent. I generally use cosmetics every day to avoid looking like I pulled a Marilyn Manson and shaved them off. But I decided I might be able to avoid that by having my brows tinted. I don't think my beautician (I guess that's what they are?) had ever encountered someone with such light eyebrows as mine. I ended up having to have then dyed 3x (instead of once) to take on enough color to be noticeable. Although the place was quite busy, she was very patient with my taking longer than other customers. After I was finally dyed, I decided to get a waxing too, to give my brows a bit of shape. I did have a bit of a skin reaction - not sure if it was to the wax, or the repeated dye treatments, or the combination of both, but they did warn that that might happen (you have to sign a waiver). But it calmed down in a couple of days, and now I actually do have fairly nice and visible eyebrows without cosmetics, for the first time in my life! I mean, they're not the crazy dark and dramatic brows I envy on others, but they're fine. Going here also made me feel very very very sad that I left my ancient claw-footed bathtub in my old apartment. They have one here, cut in half and filled with cushions to make a sofa/bench, and it's so cute! I really couldn't move it though, let alone cut it in half... it must've weighed a (literal) ton! Review from Virginia H. - 9 friends - 3 reviews Brooklyn, NY I went there a few times without issue. Then, last Friday, Tammy gave me a waxing from hell. It hurt more than usual, but I didn't realize when I left the extent of the burn. It's four days later now and there is still a huge red welt under my left brow. I'm getting married later this week and I will never forgive Boom Boom for making me look like a freak on my wedding. Everywhere I go people ask me what happened to my eye. SO SO SO UPSET AND DISAPPOINTED. Obviously never going back... Review from Charlene C. - 6 friends - 2 reviews Brooklyn, NY I have tried to stay away. I really have at somewhere between $20 and $23 for a brow wax it is pretty steep but they are amazing. I cannot get over how good they look every single time. Beth is my favorite andI will sit and wait for her for as long as it takes. I love the fact that Baby (the Boom Boom pet) is there all the time and is really just a friendly lovable pooch. I love the atmosphere, there are thongs on the chandelier and a bathtub as a couch, the girls are always jamming and talking, laughing and generally have a good time. How they stay focused on giving you beautiful brows with all the distractions is beyond me, but I'm grateful nonetheless. Amazing place, amazing girls, amazing brows, is it worth the price? Every.Single.Friking.Time!! Review from Irene H. I hate to leave a bad review because I've had good experiences with Boom Boom Brow Bar. However, those times were when I came in during a slow period. When I was in last, I was a walk-in during such a busy time that they turned down customers shortly after I arrived. So needless to say, my stylist was rushed. However, she did not ask me what I wanted at all and just started waxing. When she was done, she did not show me my reflection at all. I was in a bit of a hurry and just looked at my profile in a mirror in the front as I paid. But I later noticed that one of my eyebrows was significantly shorter than the other! In retrospect, I shouldn't have paid the full price. Make an appointment or go during a day off, but otherwise I'd avoid it! Review from Casey W. - recommend: Melinda - very personable, helpful, and professional staff - comfortable setting - adorable pup - priciest eyebrow wax I've ever had but they know their stuff, at this point I'll just tweeze to maintain it - they actually listen to and follow your instructions, which I cannot emphasize enough as being a rare find Review from dar d. They wax they don't thread...had I known, I would not have gone there. I like the way threading looks much better. They are very nice and the place is cute, its just that personally, I think threading looks more natural. I searched for threading on yelp and they came up...I won't go back but again, if you like waxing, this is a good place, albeit pricey. Review from Clarissa M. - 6 friends - 27 reviews New York, NY If yelp allowed half stars, I'd dish out 3.5 So, I went back to Boom Boom, and the customer service was substantially better. Courteous and knowledgeable to all. Again, if you get Maylinda (I keep butchering her name) or Kerri (the weekend manager) to do your brows, great, you're in good hands. But I had a woman who yes, did a good job on my brows, but when she found out I complained about the service here on yelp, she rushed me out. (Or at least that's what it felt like). *I kinda wish the manager didn't announce it aloud so everyone in the place could hear that I had returned after a poor review. Once it was announced, my person barked "What happened last time?" The weekend manager calmed her down, but that made me feel a bit awkward...* Also, usually, the technician will allow me to view at least one brow after shaping. Not with this person... I guess I'm used to more "check out what I've done to your brows, are you happy? Is the shaping ok?" Boom Boom IS a good place. And I'm glad to know they still do not double dip. Glad to know the owner listens to her customers. 1 Previous Review: Show all » Used to love this place. The original staff was awesome. The new staff is rude (texting and yelling… Read more » Review from Lisa Jane C. Brooklyn, NY Only have gone here for the eyebrow wax happy-hour special, which includes free lip waxing (yes, I admit that I have that done), Have always been told that the wait is a "few minutes," which winds up being between seven and twenty. Still worth the wait. Saw Daniella last week and she managed to do a great job with eyebrow shaping and I was left with no redness. Awesome! She also did a great lip waxing. Have found that the staff is friendly and helpful. I will return. Review from Nicole K. I still love Boom Boom Brow Bar. I just walked out with another fantastic brow wax and peel. I have been doing their peels once and month and my skin is as close to flawless as it will ever be. LOVE! 1 Previous Review: Show all » This review is long overdue. I have been going to Boom Boom for almost 2 years. No matter what my… Read more » Review from claudia c. - 0 friends - 3 reviews Brooklyn, NY I came to the boom twice and had Beth do my eyebrows but on the first Friday of Feb I got it done by Jen .She is super friendly , and talented within the browns and lashes department =) 1 Previous Review: Show all » I just want to start off by saying ,I was searching for the perfect eyebrow place and god has… Read more » Review from sarah e. Malynda rocks! I love this little brow bar and when I have gone to the other ladies in the shop I still leave happy! Cute dog, cute shop and lots of personality. Malynda leaves my brows looking perfectly natural. Thank you ! Review from Maia D. These girls helped me redefine (literally) my eyebrows. After years of threading and getting thinner and thinner, I decided to cut some bangs and let my eyebrows grow out. (The bangs were meant to hide the unruly, unsightly uni-brow that was most likely to grow in after only a few weeks of no maintenance). After a month of regrowth, I started researching reputable places to go for a consultation and reshaping. I was recommended to go to $90 tweezer pluckers, eye brow shapers to the stars who were charging in the triple digits and spas all over the city. I found Boom Boom and decided to trust them with the task of getting me a shape I wanted and not make me feel like I had put in all this work for regrowth to have it all ripped away. The staff were each lovely from the girl who waxed my brows to the receptionist. I got a great wax and some advice on what to do next (keep growing, tweeze only random hairs, NO MORE THREADING EVER and castor oil to help the hairs I wanted to come back, come back). $25 later, I walked out of there a happy girl. Review from Joanna D. I had high hopes for this place, which a colleague had recommended to me -- and I had grown my eyebrows out for months in anticipation. Unfortunately, I left disappointed. First, let me just say that the place is really cute and the aestheticians are sweet. And this might be the perfect place for someone who likes their brows to look a certain way (basically very heavy, defined and dark). Deanna did my brows. She had a great attitude and I liked her a lot. Unfortunately, she kind of messed up my eyebrows. She suggested that I let her use brow powder on them, which ended up not being the best look in the world. I naturally have rather delicate brows, which look nice and suit my face. After the waxing and the brow powder, I ended up with really dark, heavy, powdered brows that overpowered my small face and made me look harsh and older. The girls at BBBB seem to really like a dark, heavy brow (even for their platinum blonde receptionist), so if that's your look you're going to love it. Otherwise, you're going to leave disappointed. When I left the place, I ducked into a nearby restaurant to remove some of the powder so I could walk home looking like myself and not Audrey Hepburn in Funny Face (no diss on Audrey but that's not my style!). And that's when I realized what the brow powder had been covering up. One of my eyebrows had been wrecked. It was suddenly shorter and higher than the other one, and the powder had been used to even them out. Yikes. Lovely people, but I won't be returning here. Looks like it's back to $6 threading for me! Review from emily g. I have been a fairly loyal Boom Boom client for over 2 years. I have strayed a few times and had my brows threaded in a pinch, but mainly I stick with Boom Boom. I was there today for a brow wax/tint and eye lash tint. Lauren handled all of it and did an amazing job. However, when I went to pay, the total was 70.00. I handed over a 100 bill and received 27 bucks back. It's like, "hey, if I'm here paying 70 bucks for brown maintenance at least give me the proper change." I know it's 3 dollars, but it's the kind of thing that irks me. The services are pricey but if you have a special event of want to look nice and put together for the holidays, I find it worth the price. Review from Jane K. Girls are weird. We scrub our feet with stones, cut, paint, bleach, tint and spray tan ourselves into some sort of improved form. The most masochistic of these beautifying rituals? The act of ripping out hair from the epidermis. Pluck, pull, rip. Spread hot wax on legs, eyebrows and even hoohahs in an effort to look and feel groomed. And it works. Some times it works better than other times. The ladies at Boom Boom Brow Bar have some serious hair-ripping skills. As a virgin to the eyebrow waxing game, I approached with caution. Some scrutinizing inspection, a Frida Kahloesque dye application, a couple rips here and there and suddenly: I have eyebrows. Perfect, symmetrical and visible. While the space is tiny and lends itself to basically no privacy, the results are fabulous. You may just forget that sometimes there is pain for those gains. Review from Lindsay S. - 0 friends - 1 review New York, NY I agree with other posters that this place has gone downhill. After a few good waxes, I went back two months ago and despite asking for full, natural looking brows I came out with pencil-line thin, awful brows. I waited as long as possible to grow them out and go back. When I did so a few weeks ago I got the shape I wanted, but the technician burned me so bad I had severe redness and pain for the following week. I will not go back! Review from Lindsay D. North Babylon, NY I decided to cheat on Shobha Threading today and try out Malynda at Boom Boom Beauty Bar... and honestly, how glad am I that I decided to jump ship? Nothing against the threading artists at Shobha, but Malynda took one look at my brows and recommended that in addition to a waxing (what I was there for) that I tint them as well to make my eyes pop. This is something that has never been mentioned to me before and that I never would have thought of on my own. I've never been a brow dyer but her friendly, encouraging demeanor put me at ease and I took the plunge. 15 minutes later, my face was transformed and a prettier version of Lindsay D. left than had arrived. Malynda, you've got my brow business from now on. Review from E S. Pros: They took me as a walk in, Maylinda gave me a good shape considering I haven't had them shaped in (DON'T LAUGH) 10 years. Relatively inexpensive-ish, considering your eyebrows are things on your face that frame your eyes. Or your rad glasses. Cons: Fairly unprofessional staff (chatting about whatever rather than paying attention to clients beyond what is strictly required, unresponsive to my "thanks!" as i left, etc). But there are more things to waxing than customer service, so: I got home and noticed she had missed some hairs... both shorter, dark ones on my brow bone proper and a few long ones on the side. And there was a gob of wax still stuck to the part of the brow where the arch starts. I hadn't noticed at the salon because I felt like I was being rushed out the door, and in general, being ignored. Overall, a good shape quickly executed, but a little sloppy and rude. I feel like you shouldn't have to touch up something you just paid someone to do. Review from B C. Maybe it was fate....just got home from getting my eyebrow done by Malynda for the first time....turned on my computer to catch up the NYTimes Thursday Styles section and what do I see???... Sweet! She deserves it. She's got a good eye, she's fast...and the wax doesn't make my face all red and puffy. And, the prices are nail salon prices but definitely a step above. Not really used to sitting upright while I get my eyebrows done and I'm used to a longer visit, but so far so good. She's just down the street, so i'll definitely be going back. Review from Elle P. It takes a lot of work to look low maintenance. While I don't think this is a secret to girls, it probably is to many guys. Unless you are just naturally fabulously gorgeous (and I'm not), carrying off a simple natural look takes a lot of work, time, and effort. Otherwise, if you really do go au natural, you look like some sorry plant that's gone to seed. And because I don't rely on a lot of cosmetics or anything else, I have to make sure that everything is *just* so and exactly right. It's like a fabulous dress. If you get the right dress, really good quality with a great cut, you don't need anything else. And who cares if you spent $$$$ for it because it's worth every penny. I came to Boom Boom because of a Lifebooker special -- brow tint and shaping. I was interested because of all the great reviews. I was looking forward to having my brows done because I wanted to see if something more interesting and dramatic could be done. I always just went with a clean up and I was ready for a little more. The salon is tiny and not at all relaxing. I generally love getting groomed because it's "me" time and something I do to treat myself after a really long and/or tiring period of time. At Boom Boom you sit out in front (in the same area as the reception) where everyone is. The music is loud. All the aestheticians were there yelling over the music while talking to each other. I got a headache from all the noise. It was all a bit chaotic. While everyone was nice, I felt a bit harried from the frenetic energy. I was rather disappointed that there was no discussion about what I would like done with my brows. I sat down, dye was plopped onto my brows, and then after a period of time, the technician waxed them without any input from me about what I was looking for. The job was nice enough, but considering that I was hoping to get a more dramatic arch, getting a clean up was not at all what I had wanted. Even if my brows can't be done that way, I would have wanted the technician to explain this to me. The regular price for tint and shaping is $38, something I would gladly pay if I were wildly enthusiastic about the results. Review from Carol S. oo snap. Ok, so I felt HORRIBLE because it took me 1 hour to get there (stupid MTA!) and I was running late for my appointment. I'm also a huge nerd and couldn't find the location so I had to call and tell them I'd be late. The receptionist was super sweet and said not to worry about it. I rushed in about 10-15 minutes late and felt bad because I was all sweaty and gross from coming from the gym. There was a chatty lady on the couch with a dog and I just sat down to wait. Turns out the chatty lady was my waxer! I felt a little weird, because she told me to sit without introducing herself and she was talking to another worker the ENTIRE time. Literally, I was just silent as they yakked away. I wondered if she was paying attention?? Although, I was so gross I felt bad that she had to touch my face. UMM.. as soon as she was done, i was like "Oh gawd, WOW." She could chat away to the dog for all I care, if she could make me look like THAT! It was amazing. It was done super quickly and she had somehow transformed my wacky eyebrows into a super clean, chic look. I didn't even need to fill in my brows anymore with eyebrow shadow! What the!!! I forgot what a big difference eyebrows make! Sweaty, Gym Me became classy all of a sudden. Apparently, the shaping part is such a breeze for them -- let them do whatever it takes, as long as they do a good job right?! I emptied my wallet with whatever cash I had for her tip. I like the way they do the tip - It's all in a glass jar and they just collect whatever they get for the night. It's nice so that they're not eyeing the bills you hand to them and either smile or look depressed. They save that for the end of the night when they collect ALL their tips for that day. Nice! Review from Christie C. - 1 friend - 10 reviews New York, NY Yeah, sorry Boom Boom but you are in serious need of a downgrade. I wanted so bad to love this place, and I did, until my past two visits there. And at this point, I'm not sure I'll go back for a third episode of sheer annoyance. This is where it begins... Randomly, a few months back after reading Yelp for a recommendation (obvi!) I chose Deanna and she did an unbelievable job on my brows. Fast forward a few months, I schedule an appointment on line with my regular girl Deanna, I show up for my appointment (mind you I'm two days away from a Caribbean va-va and need my brows down stat) and the girl at the counter tells me that Deanna isn't there?! Excuse me?! I explain I made an appointment with her and she, in a rather unapologetic tone, tells me that Deanna is on vacation and that appointments with specific techs aren't guaranteed. What?! Last I checked, that was the purpose of an appointment, no?! Whatever. So I let some other chick do my brows and I absolutely was not happy. The shape was off and I kept having to tell her what to wax. I walk out irritated and decide to come back and try for Deanna. But no, Deanna is prego and not coming back so I hear. Wonderful. So, after much trepidation, I decide to give this place another try, with another technician. I make a random appointment online (how interesting, they now changed their online appointment system so that you cannot book a certain technician but rather only book an appointment slot) and show up on time. I walk in, the place is dead. The three girls working there all turn to look at me and not ONE person greets me. The owner, Malyndia, is at the counter scarfing down a piece of cake and doesn't even take a breather when I walk in. Nice customer service. I end up having to greet HER and tell her what I want done so that she can finish housin' her cake. Nice. Then some other random girl does my brows and I become highly annoyed and anxious that I feel like I'm starting to need a Valium because they do NOT look good. Way too thin, poorly shaped and this chick is leaving hairs out haphazardly that I have to be like, um, excuse wtf is this hair doing there in left field?! Like, why am I telling you how to wax my brows? Don't think I will be subjecting myself to a round 3 try. I'm annoyed just thinking about it. 1 Previous Review: Show all » This place should be called Boom Boom Brow Rehab! My eyebrows have NEVER in my 29 years of existence… Read more » Review from Mel P. I went to BBBB for the first time off a Lifebooker Loot deal. Being a brow waxing virgin I was a little scared but Lauren quickly put me at ease. Overall, very good experience with my tint and brow wax. Will be returning in a few weeks! Review from Ann M. A day later and I've got a big red splotch between my brows. Combo burn/abrasion with a little swelling. Lovely. I've never had that happen before. Stylist was not super friendly.When I mentioned the thin streak of dye she left on my face and she said "It'll wash off" When I got home I realized that that brow was shorter than the other. C'mon! Cute place but never again... Review from Denean P. Another great West Village find. After a long hiatus of taking care of my brows brought me here. For the longest time, my brows were not symmetrical so I grew them out so that I could get them to the right place.... Boom Boom Brow Bar was a perfect match for this. There was no wait for me and I felt that Lauren, who did my brows, did an excellent job. She spent time and effort taking great care. I could see how some people would be turned off by their constant chatter about boys being cute, or whatever they were talking about. I found it to be a dull buzz in the background and as long as Lauren focused on the task at hand, I was happy. Review from Maura B. BBBB took me as a walk-in on a Saturday afternoon. All 4 chairs were busy, but I was the only person waiting, and with the quick turnover I didn't have to wait more than 5 minutes. Beth did my brow tint and wax. My brows are naturally very fair and straight, and Beth got them to a great but not too dramatic dark brown, and managed to wax an arch into them- something only one other eyebrow tech EVER has been able to successfully do. I'm coming back here whenever I'm in the area! Review from Chantelle K. New York, NY Having heard raves from my colleagues and scoring a great deal on Lifebooker, I made the trek crosstown to get my brows did. The place is itsy and in a word: poppin. Girls lined up waiting to get waxed, plucked, dyed and shaped. They run an efficient operation though. I checked in with the receptionist and in a snap was led to one of the pink high chairs, hopped up and asked how I'd like my brows. My technician went to work right away and I was pleased about how pain free the wax was. In less than 10 minutes, she told me to check out the mirror and if I was happy, she'd have me cleaned up and out the door. I was and she did! They do appear to have a steady mix of walk-ins, appointments and many regulars. However, don't be prepared for a relaxing -- or private -- experience. Your brows are done pretty much in front of the waiting area and window looking on to the street. Very much audience style. But I appreciate a well oiled machine and that was Boom Boom. In and out - and next time, I think I might even ask about the eyebrow tinting as all the technicians looked sharp and glam. Just the kinda gals you want working on your own. Listed in: When a girl needs to look (and… Review from tsvetana g. - 16 friends - 14 reviews New York, NY Maylinda pretty much saved my eyebrows from years of abuse. She is an eyebrow genius. She really knows how to shape an eyebrow to compliment one's face. Tammy is excellent also. I will neverrrrrr go to another place again. Review from Kristen W. - 0 friends - 2 reviews New York, NY I had been going to Boom Boom for months and enjoyed it. However, my experience two days ago will prevent me from going back. The tint job was fine, but Beth seriously burned my face when she waxed my brows. I'm not talking about a little redness. Like serious burns that require ointment every hour, and it HURTS. When I went back to show them, I was calm. I was hoping they could give me a refund, or at least get an apology. They gave me $5 from the cashier, shoved it in my hand, and told me to go get some neosporin. So, if you like crappy customer service and 3rd degree burns, try boom boom! Review from Ida T. Have gone here for a last minute brow wax because it's in my neighborhood and found it to be mediocre - was not impressed with either the shape or the thoroughness of the eyebrow wax. Personally, I found the store aesthetic to be cluttered, overly cutesy and too noisy - I prefer a serene, clean vibe, but that's very subjective. However, I really didn't like the lack of privacy while having my wax done. Review from Julianna B. - 29 friends - 20 reviews New York, NY I had heard great things abt BBBB but always thought their prices were ridiculous. They had some special via social diva, which offered a complimentary brow wax, and I was excited to try them out. It was raining a lot that night, but I still went, I had great expectations. When I got there I was told I needed to make 20$ or 10$ donation first, for Breast Cancer awareness. I was expecting to tip, but I wasn't expecting to have to make a donation, having a heads up about that would have been nice. They weren't organized at all, so no one really knew who was going when. The pushy people went first. The place is small so girls were standing outside waiting. When it was finally my turn the lady that did mine spilled the wax down my eye, so that some it fell on my eyelash...literally. I hated the job when she was done, and pointed out that one of my eye brows was longer than the other, to which she responded that there was no hair at the very end of one side, she didnt take any off from that side, but that I should leave the other side longer because it looked really nice. I generally don't like confrontation but i dont like uneven eyebrows more. so I insisted that she made them completely even. in the end they still looked even, but silly, which was irritating bc i actually have nice eyebrows. Most of the people that were going in that night, hardly had eyebrows...so maybe they specialize in JUST cleaning, but not shaping. who knows. This place isn't worth the price at all. Review from jesica t. I've been to brow bar a million times to get tints and waxes. They do a great eyelash tint where it doesn't sting. Today, HOWEVER, I walked out of there feeling pretty crappy - enough to write a review which I have never done before for anything. When I paid for my services - $100 - which is A LOT of money esp in today's economy, the cashier handed over a frequent customer punch card- she gave me one punch. I told her I'd never seen this card before and asked if I could get some additional punches considering the hundreds if not thousands I've spent there. She said no. I asked why I never received one and she said maybe they didn't have them when I was there. I've been in marketing for 14 years and you just cannot run a business like this. To set some arbitrary rule like this and belittle a loyal and valuable customer is bad business. Plain and simple. Review from Jodee R. I LOVE their waxing artists! My brows look good, really good each time I leave here. I had them shaped this summer than found another deal at a highly rated brow place and tried them, but they did not look near as good when Boom Boom did my brows. I try to look for deals for their waxing on Lifebooker, however I would gladly pay full price for their services. Not only do they do great brows, the shop is super cute. Review from Patrice S. - 5 friends - 26 reviews Brooklyn, NY After two years of not touching my brows because I got the Bosley surgery, I finally had to get them done. Throughout the years with all the abuse I was so so scared. Boom Boom Brow Bar saved my brows. Malynda is amazing! She is fantastic with her work. She is fun as heck. When I cannot get Malynda for my brows, I see Lauren. Lauren does a great job as well. I have not been disappointed in the bikini was as well. They're sanitary and quick. The are pricey but I have no problem saving my money to get good quality work. It's a fun environment and I love walking in there each time. Review from Kristen K. - 36 friends - 104 reviews New York, NY I was stopped on the street and complemented by a stranger about the beauty of my.....hair (nope), ass (wouldn't that be nice), legs (not even close), breasts (could you imagine if that actually happened? I would be a combo of horrified and flattered)...no no no. I was stopped on the street and complemented on my eye brows. And this is not the first time a perfect stranger commented on my brows, just last night I was getting a facial and the aestician was telling me my pores are too big but my brows are perfect. I must admit I would much rather be a size 2 (who am I kidding I'll take a size 10) who gets complemented on my hair, legs, ass or even my breasts but what I was given in the beauty gene pool was facial hair that is sculptable. I would like to send my thanks for this beauty signature to two contributing factors - my Dad who still wears my original brow and Boom Boom Beauty Bar who created the brows that get the red carpet attention. When you walk into Boom Boom you are among the diva's and it is the diva who knows the power of a perfectly sculpted brow. Boom Boom shouts drama with their décor and their skill. You know you are in the best place to have eye enhancing brows when you walk in the door and there is more then one disco ball, hot pink thongs and pantyhose hanging from chandeliers, a wall of Hall of Fame brows (my picture will be added soon I'm sure) and a wishing wall displaying index cards with brightly colored wishes such as "more sex please". Boom Boom knows that the world needs a bit of "fabulousness" and your eyes are a great place to target those efforts. So if your dress size, ass, legs or hair wont get you attention from gentleman callers try enhancing your brows and stop in at Boom Boom. Review from Regina W. I bought the glycolic peel deal through the site (4 peels for $50.) I finally went in to get my first peel because my pores are expanding at an unacceptable rate and must be stopped! That went just fine. A thin layer of skin stripped off and 3 more visits to go. I decided while I was there to let them clean up my brows and to get a wax (yep, a wax way down there.) I've got my brows arched once before, and it's was ridiculously obvious. That didn't happen today. She gave me an arch. After it was all done, I noticed the difference. However, I'm sitting in the neighborhood bar/cafe now and no one has said a thing. Trust me, someone here WOULD bring it up if it was a conspicuous. Therefore, I'm going to give them points for not making me look like the Joker. The other hair that's gone, well, this place would be a completely different sort of bar if they were able to comment on that. I was a few minutes late, but they fit me in just fine and got right to my peel. Then my brows got waxed, arched and plucked. Then it was off to the back for the waxing of the neither regions. All of the services were efficient and professional. They accommodated me and that was cool as I'd only scheduled the peel. They were friendly and also funny. The decor is cute. It's clearly inspired by Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's. Since she's one of my favorite actresses and that movie is a classic, the decor suited me just fine. It's definitely much more fun than a sterile spa-like decor. I'll be back for two weeks for glycolic peel number 2. I highly recommend them. I feel a bit more fetching right now and isn't that the point? Review from vinjonster t. - 3 friends - 11 reviews Brooklyn, NY I haven't been here in a while---due to budget issues---but after trying two other places in NYC (within the 30-50$ price range) this is def my favorite place to get a brazilian, because it's hygenic, the beauticians are lovely (ask for Tammy or Melani) and are communicative about your service (communication! SO IMPORTANT, i.e. hey, that's HOT! i think you missed a spot...etc.). At $45 a pop, it's not too pricey, it's just not the best option for a working gal---who's working for min wage... 1 Previous Review: Show all » I got my first Brazilian here. The space is small, it's nothing fancy, but the women here are great!… Read more » Review from Donna Z. Lifebooker recently (like two days ago) offer a loot for their eye rehab (tint and wax) for 50% off ($38/2=$19) and I need my eyebrows done. I mean I never had except the quick tweezing of my aesthetician at Sai Kay but that doesn't count. So I got the loot and booked online. Booking online through their (boom boom's) website is amazingly simple and quick. Very user friendly. I booked yesterday at noon for an appointment today at 6:30. So I got to the place and it was very intimadating for me. Maybe I just have a inferiority complex but the girls working there all look very pretty and so did the clientele. Like model-pretty. The place is TINY. Like one reviewer said, they do have a very efficient operation. Eyebrow service is done in said tiny space for everyone. But once I got tint on my eyebrows and looked like a cartoon character, I was no longer feeling debilitatingly shy. You cannot take yourself too seriously when you look like a animated character. The waxing was painless. I imagined pain. It was quick and easy. I don't know about the other ladies, but the person who worked on me, Deanna, was very sanitary, did not double dip. Used a whole bunch of sticks. The wax was warm. And it was a nice color of purple. Anyway, Deanna was very sweet and she really knew what to do with my brows. After waxing, she tweezed stray hairs and applied some eyebrow makeup and eyebrow gel. She applied lots of foundation on me afterwards because I have very sensitive skin that turns pink even if you touch it. As far as I know they have their own line of eye makeup products. And checkout was simple, I just handed in my lifebooker coupon and was on my merry way. I tipped $6. I think we are suppose to tip 15% of the ORIGINAL price of the service as far as spa ettiquette goes. And it is New York. Recommended! About This BusinessProvided by business Specialties Boom Boom will never grow old, she will only grow GRAND! In her heart of hearts, she knows there's no such thing as natural beauty. So, when this native New Yorker heard herself asking, "Are you there God, it's me Boom Boom?" she followed the signs. Boom Boom's taking a bite out of the Big Apple with Boom Boom Beauty Bar at 35 7th Avenue! Boom Boom's Waxing A-Go-Go offers Uptown (above the fabulous belt) or Downtown (below the fabulous belt) waxing. Services range from the usual brows and lips and such to, Trip to Brazil "All the way to Rio Baby," coos Boom Boom, and Bermuda Triangle "He'll be lost for hours," she giggles. And because Mama needs her makeup, Boom Boom carries Bare ESCENTUALS Mineral Makeup - so pure you can sleep in it...not that you're sleeping around (wink). Ask for Daytime Soap Star, Going to the Chapel or Academy Awards looks. Want a little less? Pop in for a complimentary make-under! Meet the Business Owner: Malynda V. The fabulous Malynda Vigliotti (aka boom boom) is a self proclaimed eyebrow queen. she was educated at the fashion institute of technology and has worked in the fashion and beauty trenches long enough to be an expert. she lives in the west village of new york city and appreciates that it takes a village...no, the village people to stay looking grand! after moving to wine country, she confirms what carrie bradshaw said to mr. big, "if you're tired, you take a 'nappa.' you don't move to napa." she is back, she's grand and she's blissfully single in her big beautiful city that never sleeps...and at the end of the day, her brows always look good!

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Go off the beaten tourist path a bit to sample the city's culture and surroundings. In some cases, you won't have to spend a dime. Aurora is Colorado's third largest city and has a plethora of entertainment and recreational activities to keep visitors occupied. Covering just over 154,000 square miles of land, Aurora is home to 108 municipal parks, more than 20 historic landmarks, and more than 50 miles of walking and cycling trails. A museum and nature center offer educational day trips for families, while music lessons and dance classes are available for kids and adults at the Bicentennial Arts Center. If you are the parent of a preteen girl, you have probably noticed that she is at a tough age to entertain. She is too old for the typical games of make-believe that little kids play, but too young to go out by herself with her friends. To properly entertain her, find an activity that you think she would enjoy and invite over plenty of her friends. For a preteen girl, anything with friends is instantly more enjoyable. There are hundreds of bodies of water in British Columbia, the westernmost province of Canada. The many rivers, lakes, straits and bays provide water sports such as canoeing, fishing and swimming. Many have provided sustenance for native people for thousands of years. Some are used to provide hydroelectric power as well. These bodies of water have also been subjects for artists and photographers for many years. Halfway. Known for its green living, beautiful setting, and historic value, Portland, Oregon offers small town charm and big city excitement. Teens visiting or living in Portland will enjoy the various fun activities and attractions Portland has to offer, such as rollerskating, museums, zoo exhibits, and thrill rides at the amusement park. Southern California is a playground for kids young and old alike. Visitors and residents have no shortage of things to do in this area stretching from north of Los Angeles to the southern tip of San Diego. Whatever your interests and, more important, the interests of your kids, there is no end to keeping them entertained all year round. Seattle boasts a relaxed atmosphere that makes traveling with kids an enjoyable experience. Seattle also has a variety of fun activities for children that are engaging and interactive. From museums and zoos, to local landmarks and restaurants, Seattle caters to kids in ways that many other cities do not. Enjoy countless hours watching your kids learn while playing and being entertained. Connecticut, the southernmost state in New England, offers a variety of interesting destinations for children and their families. Many attractions are best visited every spring and fall, although some are actually open the entire year, especially indoor attractions unaffected by extreme weather conditions. The inner portions of the state have a humid continental climate, while the other parts near the Connecticut shoreline experience humid subtropical climate moderated by the Atlantic Ocean. The city of Lancaster, California, is located in the Antelope Valley, a region that includes northern Los Angeles County and eastern Kern County. The city offers a rich variety of indoor and outdoor activities for children, many of which may appeal to their parents as well. Activities of interest to children include museums and wilderness preserves with trails through desert woodland areas. Washington Park began life as City Park in 1871 when the city of Portland, Ore., purchased 40.78 acres of land from Amos N. King. Today the park, located minutes from downtown Portland, has expanded to 400 acres and offers a variety of attractions, including a zoo and a railway, as well as 15 miles of walking trails. Brooklyn is New York City's most populous borough and the second-largest in area. The borough features dozens of neighborhoods, each with a distinct character, history and set of traditions. Many of Brooklyn's most iconic events were born out of these neighborhoods to celebrate the culture of a particular group of people. While visitors can find entertainment throughout the borough on any given day, some of Brooklyn's finest events are held annually and should not be missed. Magnetic propulsion systems provide a way to enhance already thrilling roller coaster experiences for riders. The system eliminates the need for traditional hill and chain starts that slowly pull cars upward to the coaster's actual starting points. With magnetic propulsion, cars instantly reach the necessary speed that continues throughout the ride. The city of Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City and was established in 1896, but did not become part of New York City until 1898. The city of Brooklyn has become a cultural arts destination with an independent art scene and a strong architectural heritage. Brooklyn has year round activities for tourists and residents, ranging from holiday activities, concerts, and parades, to movies in the park. Faneuil Hall and Quincy Market make up the centerpiece of Boston tourism, culture and history. Quincy Market was built next to Faneuil Hall in the early 1800s, making the two a hot spot for shopping and dining, as they remain today. Both these shopping headquarters and the neighboring areas offer tourists a variety of activities to partake in. Pinellas County, Florida is located on a small peninsula on the west-central coast. The county is just under 300 square miles and includes a number of small islands, sandy beaches, historical areas and state parks. Its biggest cities include St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Palm Harbor. Pinellas County is accessible mainly by Interstate 275. If you're tired of going to theme parks and standing bored by the sidelines waiting for your friends and family to get off roller coasters elated and laughing, there is hope for overcoming your anxieties. Although that giant ride may look intimidating and the fear of lacking control at super speeds may send chills up your spine, you can tap into your inner desire to overcome the fear, hop on board and experience the fun that your family and friends rave about. The most difficult thing about having a company Christmas party in Orlando is deciding on a venue. Between theme parks, upscale resorts and special holiday events, Orlando offers a multitude of options. Whether your company has 10 employees or 10,000, you can find fun things to do for your Orlando Christmas party this year. Founded in 1836, Houston, Texas, the fourth largest city in the United States, offers the tiniest tot a variety of activities, from public playgrounds to train rides at Hermann Park. Located on the Gulf Coast, the Houston climate features hot summers and temperate winters. Be sure to wear sun protection and drink lots of fluids while discovering fun things to do with toddlers in Houston. The city of Portland is known for its natural beauty, lush gardens and well-manicured streets. Portland has won many awards and was ranked fifth in 2008 on Forbes' list of "America's Cleanest Cities." Besides biking in one of the world's top 10 biking cities, there are plenty of other fun things to do in Portland. Seattle, Washington, is a popular family vacation destination because it has all the modern luxuries of a large city but it is surrounded by scenic, natural landscape that is perfect for outdoor family adventures. When planning a trip to Seattle, make your vacation more memorable by choosing activities and attractions that are fun and interesting for both kids and adults alike. Established in 1701, Detroit stands out as the largest city in the state of Michigan and the 11th largest in the United States, according to the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau. For visitors, the city's more than 138 square miles offer year round indoor and outdoor activities, and parents can find plenty of kid-friendly things to do among these., offering fun things to do in Southern California any time of the year. Northeast Ohio runs the gamut from the big city sophistication of Cleveland to a countryside that may seem more New England than Midwest. Take a trip along the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, on a vintage train through the heart of the Cuyahoga Valley National Recreation Area. Whether you are visiting Cleveland and looking to explore beyond the city, or a Cleveland resident looking for a unique experience, you can find fun nearby. Sacramento, California, serves as the capital of the state as well as a culture and tourism center in Northern California. Visitors to, and residents of, Sacramento can find a variety of fun things to do. Options include enjoying touring city attractions and historic buildings. Sacramento also hosts a variety of special festivals each year, including some that feature live entertainment. Visitors and residents in Reno, Nevada can find a wide variety of attractions. In addition to its entertainment complexes and casinos, the city features some fun things to do that are free. These attractions include public parks and libraries as well as some area museums, with activities for children and adults. Canada offers a wide variety of attractions for a fun day out or a long vacation getaway. Local residents and visitors can go hiking in the Killarney Provincial Park, tour the Bay of Fundy or explore the L'Anse aux Meadows Norse archaeological site. Individuals and families alike can ride the thrill rides at an amusement park, take an unforgettable trip to a 140-acre mall or go on a winter skiing vacation. Los Angeles, the second largest city in the United States, lies in the southwestern part of California. Many well-known communities are part of LA, including Hollywood, Venice Beach, Westwood, Bel Air and Century City. With terrain that varies from mountains and hills to valleys and Pacific coastline, LA offers countless activities suitable for children of all ages. Utah has some of the tallest mountain peaks in the United States and world class skiing resorts. Nature enthusiasts can go by horseback to any of the three national monuments, and visitors who prefer to view the sites on foot can hike by trail through any of the five national parks. Utah will not fail to bring the "cowboy" out of visitors interested in history when they step back in time at one of the numerous Old West towns scattered throughout the state. The "Biggest Little City In The World" isn't as glamorous as Las Vegas, but that is part of Reno's charm. Reminiscent more of the Old West than a gambling mecca, the city and surrounding area offer numerous fun activities aside from casinos. The area is not only historic, it is educational and offers something for visitors of all ages. Lake Tahoe, Nevada, is a vacationer's paradise. This small lake features crystal-clear waters surrounded by woodlands, shrubs and other plants. Activities vary depending on the time of year. You can go fishing, hiking or swimming during the late spring or summer. It can get quite cold in the winter months, but there is plenty to do when temperatures drop. While Orlando is home to Disney World and Sea World, there are numerous other activities you can do, and many of them are free. Orlando was once the centralized area in Florida for citrus growing, but now most of the city has experienced urban sprawl. Within the city, there are a vast deal of free activities that both children and adults can enjoy. Southern California's beautiful sunny weather makes it a tourist draw in the summer. But don't rule out cooler months like February. With Valentine's Day and a three-day Presidents Day weekend, southern California is a fun place to visit this time of the year. The temperature has dipped but not the list of things to do. Southern California winters are not harsh like in other parts of the country so getting out isn't hard to do. Put away your swimsuit, grab a sweater and have fun. Though it is known primarily as a mecca for theme park enthusiasts, the city of Orlando in central Florida offers a much broader variety of family-oriented attractions. Beyond Walt Disney World Resort, a family vacation to Orlando can be enriched through encounters with local wildlife, thrilling performances and enjoyable educational activities. While Atlanta is a metropolitan city known for its entertainment, music and nightlife scene, it is also a relatively laid back Southern town that has been noted as a great place to raise a family. Whether you're visiting Atlanta with your toddler, or are a resident, plenty of kid-friendly attractions abound in Atlanta. Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is one of the fastest growing cities in the country; it's already home to a diverse population of nearly 5 million in the metropolitan area. Residents and visitors have dozens of choices for things to do, and the options don't stop in the winter months. Fun and Orlando seem to go hand-in-hand, but making up the list of things to do can be overwhelming. Theme parks are number one on to-do lists, and for good reason since they provide seemingly endless hours of family fun. Shopping is another popular Orlando activity, especially with overseas visitors. Each Orlando attraction offers something different, so visitors should be well-informed before deciding what to do. German farmers originally founded the city of Anaheim in 1857. Since then, the community has expanded in population and industry, first becoming known as a producer of oranges before acquiring its reputation today as a center for commerce and technology. Today, its residents enjoy a vibrant downtown and rich cultural life in one of America's safest cities. Located approximately 40 miles south of Indianapolis, Columbus, Indiana is a beautiful city to explore. Nationally recognized for its architectural history and design, this small southern Indiana community attracts hundreds of visitors annually. There are many sights for young visitors to discover, as well. Seattle, Washington is an ideal city to explore on a budget. Nearly 40,000 students attend the city's University of Washington campus, and like most college towns the city brims with free or cheap entertainments. Even highly commercialized attractions like Pike Place Market can be economical, if you resist the urge to pick up each vendor's specialty. Orange County, New York, is located in the mid-Hudson region of the state and sits just 40 miles north of Manhattan. The county features a variety of family-friendly activities including the Harness Racing Museum and Hall of Fame, Harriman State Park, the Galleria at Crystal Run and Orange County Choppers. There are also several other venues where you can have fun any time of year. Fort Bragg, California is the largest town along the north coast between San Francisco and Eureka, according to FortBragg.com. It is surrounded by redwood forests and the Pacific forest. If you are looking for something fun to do, the area is home to a number of exciting outdoor recreational opportunities from horseback riding to a scenic train ride. Mild climate and beach lifestyle make Orange County in Southern California a favorite destination for tourists. Families enjoy theme parks, museums, shopping and dining. The landscape also provides a scenic backdrop for hiking and camping. Bird watching and cruising to see dolphins and whales are also popular activities. With a near perfect weather all the year round and a plethora of exciting things to experience, Orlando, Florida has been named as the most visited city of America in 2009 by Smith Travel Research, a leading travel research firm. The city caters to people of all ages and there are a variety of fun activities that can please the most difficult teenagers. Northeast Ohio is made up of four major cities: Akron, Canton, Cleveland and Youngstown. Whether you are a resident or visitor, you will never find a lack of fun things to do in northeast Ohio. Learning about the history of rock and roll, cooling off at a water park, visiting the zoo and tasting local wines are just a few attractions the area has to offer. Attracting nearly 86 million visitors every year, Chicago, Illinois, also known as "The Windy City," is bustling by day--and also by night. Chicago is a vibrant, multicultural city and its nightlife activities reflect that. Share some laughs with friends at a renowned comedy club, jam to some classic blues music, sip on your favorite glass of wine or enjoy the music of a 100-member orchestra. As one of America's oldest cities, Boston, Massachusetts features a wealth of history and culture. From historic sites and museums to popular sporting events, shopping, fine dining and an active nightlife, Boston offers a variety of enjoyable experiences. Visitors passing through northern Ohio can exit Interstate 90 for attractions in the city of Lorain. Lorain attracts tourists throughout the Northeast and Midwest looking for a quiet vacation spot. This Ohio community is located less than 30 minutes west of Cleveland along Lake Erie. Outdoor lovers can enjoy breezes off the lake while playing softball and volleyball at Lakeview Park. You can build your Lorain itinerary around sports, outdoor activities and cultural events. Atlanta, Georgia is in the southeast region of the United States. Atlanta was the fastest growing city in America between 2000-2007. Many families moving to the Atlanta, Georgia area seek activities for their children. Fortunately, parents and caregivers can find many fun things for children in the city. The Emerald City offers many activities to residents and visitors alike. Whichever you are, you'll learn how even staying in one neighborhood in Seattle can offer a day's worth of fun and relaxation. Getting to know the city in all the right areas can show you why so many choose to call Seattle home, and the best places to start are where you don't have to spend much money to enjoy yourself. Images of grand theme parks and whimsical experiences come to mind when thinking of Orlando, Florida. Though exciting, these images are only a fraction of the activities available in Orlando. Many inexpensive, fun options exist no matter your age or interest. Whether a local resident or a tourist, there are low cost and free events happening year round. London, England is a town filled with exciting opportunities for travelers, including teenagers. Teens may find pleasure sightseeing, shopping, visiting museums, going to the cinema or enjoying nature. These activities may be enjoyed as a family, but many of them can be enjoyed by teenagers on their own or in groups. The sun sets in the west, setting the skyscrapers ablaze. The palm trees stretch long shadows toward the Atlantic Ocean. When night falls, the city of Miami comes alive with music, dancing, food and entertainment. The dilemma is not finding something to do, but choosing what to do from Miami's abundant options. . Dickens set the stage years ago. With talk of Christmas goose and puddings, he painted London as an ideal setting for a Christmas celebration. Large markets and festival atmospheres now supersede many of the humble Victorian observations, but visitors can still locate lace-collared carolers now and again. Try a few of these stops during holiday travels to see if the city lives up to Dickens' words. With an active parks and recreation department, a local water park and ample opportunities for nature lovers to explore their surroundings, Aurora, Ohio, offers activities suitable for the whole family. Aurora is a suburb with an estimated population of 14,645 as of 2009, located 20 miles southwest of Cleveland. Summertime is the season for water slides and music in the park, while fall foliage and migrating birds provide a backdrop for a series of classes offered by the local Audubon Society. London has a large range of after-dark activities for night owls. Whether you're in the mood for loud music or a quiet moonlight stroll, you're bound to find something that suits you on any given night. Don't be discouraged when you see some shops closing in the evening. London has plenty of places that stay open late into the night to entertain residents and visitors. When on a budget or low on cash, find things to do outdoors that are free. There are plenty of free things to do for children, teens and adults. From parks to hiking trails, there is something for everyone. It seems everywhere you travel these days, it's not hard to find kid-friendly activities, but sometimes you're looking for something a little more adult. Luckily, Portland, Oregon offers a wide selection of things to do for adults, who are either looking for a break from the little ones or just wanting to step out into the adult world. Southern California is a large region with a vast expanse of desert and several metropolitan areas, including Los Angeles and San Diego. The famous Route 66 also runs through Southern California and has many tourist attractions alongside the road. Southern California offers numerous fun things for travelers to do, whether you choose to explore nature or enjoy city life. Seattle is the northernmost city on the U.S. mainland, and the largest city in the Pacific Northwest, with a population of about 620,000 in the city, and about 4.2 million in the greater Seattle area. Seattle winters are mild and damp, with temperatures ranging from the mid-30s to the low-50s Fahrenheit. There are plenty of things to do in Seattle during the winter. Entertaining teenagers can be a difficult task under the best circumstances, but if you are planning a trip to Boston, there is no shortage of activities that your family can enjoy, teen and adult alike. Since Boston has many historic sites, you will want to see as many landmarks as you can while keeping your teenagers interested enough to stay off of their cell phones the entire time. Families with young children will find there is no lack of activities in Orlando for kids. With Orlando's many theme parks, water parks and playgrounds, the biggest question is probably which things to do first. There are many alternative to the traditional Magic Kingdom and other Disney choices, and veering off the beaten path, you will find educational and exciting places for kids to spend the day. Lancaster, Ohio, is in Fairfield County in the central part of the state, about 27 miles east of the capitol city of Columbus. Residents and visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities, both indoors and out, in and around the town. Seattle is full of fun activities for teens. You can ride to the top of the Space Needle, see a 3D IMAX movie, or visit the Experience Music Project's rock'n'roll exhibits. At the Pike Place Market, teens can watch street performers, shop at magic stores and comic book shops, and eat local delicacies, such as smoked salmon and local berry pies. The Seattle Waterfront is also full of fun adventures, including a curiosity shop with mummies and unusual trinkets and an aquarium. Local transportation available to teens include not only public buses, but the unique Seattle monorail. Whether you are a resident of Miami or on vacation, there is a multitude of activities to explore. Incorporated in 1896, Miami is known worldwide for its hot summers, warm winters, picturesque beaches and diverse culture. Miami is home to theaters, parks, professional sports teams and the second largest performing arts center in the United States. With so much to offer, it is obvious why Miami is such a popular international tourist destination. The tranquil beaches of Tulum, Mexico offer an offbeat alternative to the crowds at Cancun. Just 65 miles further down Mexico's Riviera Maya, Tulum is beautiful and peaceful, with long, deserted stretches of sand, undisturbed wildlife, and clear blue waters. It's much more affordable than tourist-heavy hotspots, and possibilities abound for things to do and see, from exploring ancient ruins, eco parks, and of course, hitting the beaches. Visiting Paris doesn't have to mean sightseeing tours with hordes of tourists; and there is certainly more to the city than the famous Eiffel Tower. This beautiful capital is best viewed from the river and a night-time cruise on the Seine is certain to create a romantic mood. Walking tours of historic Paris will also create a lasting legacy of memories. Please note that all prices quoted are for 2010 and that dollar exchange rates will fluctuate. British Columbia is located on Canada's west coast, bordered by Alberta to the east, Alaska to the west, Yukon and the Northwest Territories to the north and Washington, Idaho and Montana to the south. The province is known for its mild temperatures during the winter months, particularly in areas bordering the Pacific Ocean. Visitors and residents alike will find entertaining things to do in British Columbia no matter which time of year it is. Ohio is a state rich in history, culture and environment. Within the state, you will find a broad-cross section of industrial and agricultural endeavors. There is much to see and do within a two or three hour drive for the adventurous family looking for ways to fill a weekend. The Cherokee Indians called this area "The Enchanted Land." It is nestled in a valley in the foothills of the Appalachian and Blue Ridge Mountains and crossed by three rivers. Today, it is Rome, Georgia, a bustling town located roughly 70 miles north of Atlanta. Visitors and residents can find any number of fun things to do in this lovely, historic town. Orlando, Florida is a tourist location known for its extravagant attractions, such as Disney World, fancy hotels and things to do every day for those who have enough money. If you're traveling on a budget, no need to skip Orlando. There are still several fun things to do at low cost in this city. Maryland is packed with many fun things for single adults to see and do. Known for its natural beauty and as a great state for water activities, Maryland offers plenty of choices for singles to enjoy the outdoors. Baltimore, Annapolis and other cities provide a rich cultural playground to entertain and stimulate the vibrant singles community. Portland, Oregon is an excellent site for honeymooners and newlyweds looking for a fun, romantic time. The city is located in the Pacific Northwest, a popular vacation spot for nature buffs. For especially romantic scenery, plan your Portland trip between April and mid-October so you can avoid the rainy season and take in the beautiful fall colors. Get out your day planner, because there are plenty of hikes, hotels and restaurants to visit on your romantic getaway. Branson, Missouri is an excellent place to take the family. With many fun things to do and a plethora of attractions, Branson offers a great getaway for people of all ages. Although some of the attractions in Branson are pricey, there are plenty of places to visit that don't break the bank. Founded in 1836 by a corporation named Shreve Town Company, the city of Shreveport, Louisiana, is also known as "Port City" or "River City." This southern region of Louisiana features plenty of local attractions, such as the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum and the Strand Theatre. Teenagers visiting the area can enjoy water slides at Shreveport's Splash Kingdom Water Town and roller skating at the Hot Wheels Skating Palace. Northwest Ohio offers many year-round opportunities for fun, such as boating on Lake Erie or swimming and hiking along the shores of the Maumee River. Five stops in Northwest Ohio offer experiences that can be had nowhere else as you travel back in time, explore 60 acres of gardens, experience the wild side from the safety of your car or sample a sweet Ohio-made treat. Visit Boston and find many fun things to do in "Beantown." The city is rich in history and known for its educational institutions and diverse neighborhoods. Boston also offers a wide range of activities and attractions throughout the year, and there are plenty of things to do in Boston in November. Portage County is situated in northeast Ohio's recreational heartland. Located in the Akron metro area, Portage County has a rural, small-town environment and is home to Kent State University. Portage County is also home to many fun things to do, as it has an extensive parks system and plenty of tourist attractions. New York City provides tourists and locals with a variety of fun festivals and events in the fall. People can run marathons, attend street fairs and taste different types of beer. No matter if you are an athlete or a party animal, you will find something to do in New York City in the fall. Top events include the New York City Marathon, New York City Oktoberfest and the Great Third Avenue Fair. Rome features a number of historical places for tourists and locals alike to visit. Ancient Roman landmarks, such as the Pantheon and various fountains and plazas, provide fun and historical entertainment for visitors. Narrowing down the activities when in Rome may be the difficult part of a journey. Luray is a town of over 4,800 people in the Shenandoah Valley in Northern Virginia. Luray---which is the county seat for Page County---sits just under two hours from Washington, D.C., and the Maryland border, and an hour and 20 minutes from West Virginia. It's a good day trip into a rural area for nature and wildlife lovers. Throughout the year, London offers visitors and residents a wide range of fun activities and attractions. December is no exception. Experience the traditions and festivities of the Christmas season in London by attending events suited for the entire family. Feel the spirit of Christmas and try mince pies and mulled wine, sing Christmas carols and celebrate with friends and family. Northern Ohio consists of eight counties near the Michigan border and off of Lake Erie. The area's most well-known city is Toledo, and it also contains rural sections. Although the Midwest region offers several attractions, Northern Ohio has its share of fun things to do for people ranging from history buffs to roller coaster lovers. New York City has earned the title "The City That Never Sleeps" due to its vibrant nightlife scene that intermingles tourists and locals. All the boroughs in the "Big Apple" have after-dark activities to offer, such as shows at Radio City Hall in Manhattan, as well as baseball games at the Bronx's Yankee Stadium. New York City offers an array of clubs for adults, and family attractions, such as theatrical entertainment on Broadway. Cuba, famed for its world-class cigars, has several other things to offer visitors to the country. This island nation recently opened its doors to international tourism after many years of being off-limits. The natural landscape of Cuba offers visitors oceanfront views and white sand beaches, but there are plenty more fun things to do within the country as well. Like most bustling metropolises, Atlanta offers a host of events for its 486,000 residents and 37 million annual tourists to enjoy. With December temperatures averaging around 50 degrees, the city can play host to a series of outdoor attractions as well, including street fairs, parades and sporting events. Atlanta is not only known for its Southern hospitality, but it is a city with significant historic importance for its role in the civil rights movement. Perhaps it is this contradiction of down-home charm and progressive integrity that makes Atlanta so special. The city is filled with beautiful places to see, great food to eat and wonderful hotels to be pampered in--but, if you're on a budget, there are also plenty of free ways to enjoy Atlanta. Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States with a population of well over 2 million people. The city has all of the major attractions that metropolitan areas are known for, as well as a few of its own special gems. Canada offers a wealth of natural beauty and fun family activities for both natives and visitors to explore. Teenagers have a large number of attractions that are designed for their age groups in particular. From sporting attractions to nature-based activities, Canada offers a good time to be had by all. Until recently, Vermont was the only state without a Walmart, and since 1968 has banned highway billboard advertising. Vermont's quirky independent streak makes for a fascinating vacation destination. Whether you want to explore cosmopolitan Burlington in the northern half, ski in the central area or hunt for antiques during a weekend getaway in the southern region, you'll find an array of fun things to do in Vermont any time of year. Snow can pose a lot of trouble for people visiting the city of Boston, often causing businesses and schools to close. Vacationers want to take the time to enjoy the sights and sounds of the city. Staying in from the snow can be burdensome and boring. The following are some activities you can try when the snow starts to fall or after the flurries have passed. These are ideal for couples or families. The weekend is time to wind down or embody the weekend warrior spirit. It is also a great time for busy career-minded couples to reconnect, unwind and have some good old fun. Planning a weekend excursion does take some time. Start with a list of activities and choose the destination based on the activities. For example, if the list includes water sports, then a quick beach escape can be planned to South Florida. For nature lovers, the trails in Burlington are worth the drive north. Boston is a lively city full of culture. The combination of a historical city with a large number of college students provides an appealing dynamic. Along with a wide variety of restaurants, bars and clubs, Boston offers night activities for lovers of music, sports and theater. Boasting historic sites and a bustling downtown region, Atlanta, Georgia plays host to approximately 37 million tourists each year. Atlanta offers its fair share of standard nightlife attractions, such as clubs, restaurants, bars and lounges. However the city also features some creative and unusual nighttime outings as well. Cleveland, Akron, North Lawrence and Strongsville are some of the cities located in Northern Ohio. These cities have many activities and attractions, including fun for the whole family. Guests and visitors will find a variety of museums, indoor amusement parks, zoos and outdoor activities. Families visit Northern Ohio for week-long vacations and quick family getaways. Whether you are a Boston resident or just visiting, there is lots to do in Bean Town during the holiday season. You can stay warm with indoor activities, or brave the cold to enjoy winter fun. Whatever your mood, Boston in December has something to offer. There's a conspicuous lack of London Bridge and Big Ben, but London, Ontario doesn't disappoint. Also known as the "Forest City," London packs in a lot of tourism activity for its relatively small size. When it's sunny, its scenic system of paths invites skating, bicycling, and strolling. London is a regional destination for excellent golf, and boasts scores of acres of parks and preserved natural areas. If you're in the mood for a more planned-out day trip, here are some ideas for some London fun. As much as London is a draw for adults, with its theater scene, museums, historical sites and great restaurants, it is an equally terrific city to visit with little girls. Whether they want to imagine themselves living the life of a princess or just enjoy the city as London girls do, there is no end of fun activities for young ladies. The Lone Star State's largest city, Houston, offers many activities and attractions. Visitors fill their days with professional sporting events, soaking in culture at museums and dining in the city's hundreds of bistros and eateries. Houston's fun doesn't end when the sun goes down. A. Visiting Houston with children will keep you busy. The city has an entire museum devoted to children, with a myriad of activities to let them learn while playing. A zoo and an aquarium will also enchant children, as will a visit to Space Center Houston, where they can see spacesuits and get a tour of Mission Control at NASA. Orlando offers the largest collection of major amusements in the state of Florida. Orlando visitors and residents can enjoy a host of offerings, which will not overtax the wallet. Free activities and attractions for a fun afternoon in central Florida await for those in search of something off the beaten path. Green spaces and wildlife viewing provide both entertainment and educational fun. Pet-friendly parks, parades, and museums also feature free fun for Orlando visitors. If you're planning to spend a week relaxing in Cozumel or are just stopping off for the day during your cruise, you'll find there is no shortage of activities on this island, Mexico's largest. Whether your passion is water sports, dancing, dining or sunbathing on secluded beaches, you'll find there are plenty of fun things to do in Cozumel. Portland is a multicultural, progressive city strong on the arts and cultural scenes. The Oregon city's trendy, open vibe has created hundreds of things to discover and enjoy. Best of all, the city's light rail system and streetcars link most of your destinations without adding to your carbon footprint. Start your trip by walking or biking the city's 1.5-mile promenade along the downtown waterfront. After that, browse the ideas below to plan the rest of your stay. Edisto Island offers sun, Atlantic breezes and fun for travelers heading to South Carolina. The island is located on the southern coast of South Carolina and provides an alternative to the crowded streets of Myrtle Beach. Sitting in the cener of County Mayo, in the western portion of the Emerald Isle, is Claremorris. Claremorris offers its fair share of history, culture, and beautiful landscapes, but it also serves as a good resting place while seeing the famous Burren. Traveling to Orlando, Florida, without children? While the theme parks are designed for tourists of all ages, there's much more for adults to see and do besides Disney World and Universal Studios. Those who take time to go beyond the mouse ears and to explore the art, culture and entertainment options Orlando has to offer will be glad they did. Park City is a small mountain town in Utah, about 20 minutes from Salt Lake City. It is famous for its ski resorts, nightlife and the Sundance Film Festival. Although it is small, Park City is located in a stunning outdoor setting and offers activities for everyone from outdoor adventurers to art lovers. Whether you are visiting in the summer or the winter, Park City is an excellent place to visit for individuals, couples and families. Entrance fees, meals and souvenirs can make a visit to the popular theme parks of Orlando, Florida, a pricey one. But there's more in Orlando than theme parks, and some of the most fun activities are actually free. If your wallet starts to feel light or you just need a break from Disney madness, try a few free activities. London is a tourist destination for millions of visitors every year, and there is a virtually endless number of attractions and activities to satisfy them all. From museums to palaces, parks to plays, there is always something happening in the capital city of England. The northwest Illinois city Galena is a popular tourist attraction for those seeking history, shopping and adventure. Located along the Mississippi River there are many indoor and outdoor activities to enjoy in Galena and nearby Dubuque. White beaches, blue water, pastel-hued architecture, Latin American exuberance and a dazzling party scene make Miami both an international travelers' and spring breakers' delight. But there's much more to Miami than sand, surf, and salsa. With a little planning, you needn't be a beach bunny or run with the jet set to enjoy all Miami's mystique and fun. The United Kingdom offers many fun activities. From Northern Ireland to England, this diverse nation is full of fun things to do. Whether it be touring an ancient area or a thrilling theme park, everyone can find something fun in the UK. Located in Nevada 90 miles south of Las Vegas, Laughlin is a popular gaming and resort destination that draws 5 million visitors annually. Laughlin's major source of income is tourism, as it also is a popular spot for RVs. Named after founder Don Laughlin, owner of the Riverside Resort and Casino, Laughlin is an unincorporated township nestled on the borders of Arizona and California along the Colorado River. The Official Tourism Board for Hawaii said it best, "The fresh, floral air energizes you. The warm, tranquil waters refresh you. The breathtaking, natural beauty renews you." Look around and don't be fooled by the idea that Hawaii is one big beach resort on a few small islands. There's a lot more to this destination than sunbathing and taking a swim in the ocean. Here are 10 fun things to do in Hawaii. Founded in 1818, the city of Sandusky has a lot more to offer than just the historic architecture that draws so many visitors each year. One of the oldest cities in the Midwest, Sandusky is teeming with fun activities, whether you're visiting for the weekend or just passing through. Family vacationers or even honeymooners will find a variety of activities in Sandusky. Just because the weather is cold is not a reason to avoid New York City in the winter. In fact, the Big Apple is at its most alive during the Christmas holiday season. You may not want to visit the Bronx Zoo or hang out in Central Park, but there are more than enough indoor activities and special events to compensate. So grab a mug of hot cocoa and enjoy what New York has to offer in the winter. Notorious for the hanging of 19 innocent men and women, the crushing of another man and the imprisonment of others for witchcraft, Salem retains an air of mystery and intrigue. But Salem is also a legitimate historical site -- a colonial port, birthplace of an esteemed American author and site of an impressive art museum. Be sure to make time for every aspect of this historic city, not just the funky, witch-related concessions. Whether you visit the state capital of Columbus or venture farther out into the surrounding towns and counties, you will find a variety of entertaining activities throughout central Ohio. Central Ohio is Buckeye country, but college football isn't the only attraction. Visitors can enjoy professional sports action, sample pumpkin chili at one of the many festivals or even ride a high-wire unicycle. Couples have a plethora of activities from which to choose while vacationing in Hawaii. Whether you are on your honeymoon or just celebrating your wedding anniversary, finding fun things to do for couples in Hawaii can be as mundane or creative as your tastes dictate. A major U.S. seaport, Seattle covers more than 140 square miles and is one of the largest cities in the northwest. The city is less than 100 miles south of Canada. Seattle, often referred to as the "Emerald City," was settled in the 1860s and is one of the most densely populated cities in the nation. Known for its rain, and as the home of grunge music, Seattle provides numerous cultural activities. Visitors will have no trouble finding fun things to do. Jamaica. ... Just the name conjures images of beautiful landscapes, sparkling blue oceans and friendly people. And, of course Bob Marley, the late singer-songwriter who was widely known for his reggae music. Watching gorgeous sunsets, experiencing the native food and culture and splashing around in water so crystal clear it leaves one speechless are usually the first things on any tourist's agenda, but Jamaica has so much more to offer. As the city that never sleeps, New York is known as an exciting and thrilling place renowned for its vast range of activities. For kids, New York offers numerous fun and different things to do that provide a mix of cultural, historical and interactive attractions, which provide nonstop entertainment for kids young and old. Akron, Ohio, is about 40 miles south of Cleveland. But you don't have to visit Akron's more famous neighbor city to enjoy a great vacation; Akron has terrific attractions of its own. From museums and the arts to sports, parks and the truly unusual, Akron is one of the Midwest's terrific getaway spots. Founded by the Spanish in 1565, Florida's coastal city of St. Augustine, known as the "Ancient City," is the oldest in the nation. Blessed with a mild climate year-round and famed for its quaint cobblestone streets, romantic bed-and-breakfast inns and its historic exhibits, St. Augustine has plenty to offer beachgoers and history buffs alike. New York City is so packed with fun things for kids that it's almost overwhelming. A good way to spend your time is to give your children a sampling of different activities--for instance, spend one day sightseeing around town taking in classics such as the Empire State Building. The next day head for one of the fabulous interactive museums, and follow that with time outdoors--say, at the Central Park Zoo. A little of each thing gives kids a taste of the vast variety New York offers. Lincoln City is a small coastal town offering some great visitor attractions, including the beach and easy access to other fun places along the Oregon coast. Miami is a city full of exciting nightlife, hot beaches and tasty food. Activities abound for the solo traveler. Read on for some ideas on how to stay entertained even without a buddy. Kona is located on the west side of Hawaii's Big Island and stretches up the coast. Rich in history and natural beauty, Kona offers travelers many sightseeing, historic, shopping and relaxing options. It is most famous for the coffee grown in the volcanic soil of Kona's uplands along a 20-mile strip elevated between 1,000 and 1,400 feet above sea level. You can see tha,t too. Even though Canton is not a particularly large city, there still are many things to do there. Part of the reason is because of where it is located. Within a few hours of Canton are large cities such as Indianapolis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus. Because there are a lot of people who live near Canton, there is always the potential for tourists to come to the city. Those who come to Canton are able to locate several things to do. Chicago is more than "that toddling town!" America's second largest city is chock full of rich culture, diverse communities and some of delicious ethnic cuisine you can find. Romance is always in the air in the Windy city. Your choices may be limited depending on what time of year you plan your visit. Times Square, also known as the Crossroads of the World, is a small area in New York City bound by 42nd Street to the south, 50th Street to the north, Sixth Avenue to the east and Ninth Avenue to the west. This little pocket of New York is home to world-class Broadway shows, fine eateries and great family activities. Since its rebirth in the '90s, Times Square has become an even bigger tourist destination. There are plenty of fun things to do in NYC, and many of the new york attractions have been covered a million times in other articles and publications. In this article, I will offer some ideas for fun things to do in NYC that are off the beaten path, many of my suggestions are also geared towards people with a lot of energy and a love for culture. The city of Chicago has been celebrated in songs (surely you have heard the Blues Brothers sing "Sweet Home Chicago") and poems (Carl Sandburg's "Chicago Poems"). It has been a transportation hub and commercial center since the mid-1800s. Locals brag that the city is home to the largest free food festival, the largest cookie and cracker factory and the largest collection of Impressionist paintings outside of the Louvre, among other things. With all this going for it, you know there are plenty of fun things to do in Chicago.

I originally was going to take off at mid-night on the 30th and ride straight through to Salt Lake City but instead August 30th, I hooked up with some friends heading for Durango, Co and bummed a little floor space at their hotel that night. I woke the next morning around 5am, took a quick shower and loaded the motorcycle. As I was loading, one of the guys got up too help. We talked how the weather looked pretty bad and I was probably going to be riding in the rain most of the way. We shook hands and he wished me well as I took off in the rain. I had my wet weather gear on so the ride wasn’t too bad. I rode all the way to Moab, Ut. in the rain. Once I got to Moab, I decided to get something to eat. I hit up a MacDonald for a quick breakfast then off to get gas. As I was getting gas, my auxiliary plug blew the fuse and I ended riding to Salt Lake City (SLC) without my GPS and XM-radio. I arrived in SLC about 14:00. There were several others that had already arrived so I checked in and stated talking to others about the blown fuse. One of the guys knew exactly what happened and told me were the fuse was located. After completing the repair, I went to the Rally Masters room for a beer. I hooked up with some friends at Steve’s room and kicked back talking about the rally and differences between multi day rides compared to 24 hr rallies. That night about 15-20 motorcycles showed up in the rain, as we sat in the restaurant having dinner. After dinner, we all headed to the bar for an adult beverage watching the weather channel and the rain outside. On September 1st we woke to pouring rain that continued until late afternoon. We started the technical inspection and odometer check at noon. To be a finisher on this ride you have to complete 5000 miles in five days. So the rally master has to verify your ODO is correct. As I was setting up to run the route, I ran into another guy in the rally setting up to do his check so we took off together. We headed for the starting line, document our ODO reading and took off into the rain. We came up to one of the on-ramps at a good clip when his motorcycle started sliding in the corner. I saw his motorcycle slide so I let off the gas then reaccelerated to allow me to enter the corner at a lower speed. I still slipped a little but nothing to write home about. After that we took the ODO check at a slower speed and had no issues. As we pulled up to the ending line we checked and saw that my ODO was reading 15.8 and his was 15.6 miles with his GPS reading 15.4. So I kind of knew that I would have to do extra miles to meet the 5000 mile minimum need to be a finisher what a bummer. After the ODO check, we were free until 20:00 for the pre-banquet and meeting to get our last information from the Rally Master. I was hanging out front talking to other riders about the miles on my tires and several were saying I could not make it back on those tire and I would have to change them out somewhere along the route. Most of the other riders went to their rooms checking on the weather moving in from hurricane Gustav. I would have too turn in my route tonight along with my driver license. The driver’s license is placed in an envelope that if unopened at the end of the ride you get extra points. After talking to the other riders hanging out front of the hotel I headed for my room thinking about my tires and what if I need to change them out. Sitting in the room I decided to take out my Louisiana bonus locations out of my route. I still had enough miles so dropping these two locations wasn’t a tough decision. When I saw they had a curfew sent up in Baton Rouge and New Roads I decided to skip them plus the extra 400 miles was really going to be pushing the tires. Most of my peers said I couldn’t get 9000 miles out of the OEM tires on the FJR. By removing these locations, I was going to drop to 5300 miles so I would come in just under 9000 miles on the ODO. I also came up with a couple of Yamaha dealerships along the route that if I had to I could stop in for fresh tires. I took down the information and decided to call on the road tomorrow about tire availability. At the banquet I received my rally towel, special instructions; driver license sealed and gave the Rally Master my route. After the meeting, we retired to the bar for a going away drink then I headed for the room to get some needed sleep. Day 1 On September 2nd, I woke up at 05:00 and was out of the room by 05:30 to set up the motorcycle. Several trips from the room to the front entrance bring down my top box, tank bag and electronics for the FJR. There were already 10 motorcycles lined up at the start, so I pulled mine in line and started getting it ready. This time there wasn’t an issue with powering on the electronics like I had at the NM LOE last year. By 06:00 the Rally Master was walking around getting our starting ODO, mine read 3564 miles so I knew I would have to go 8564 plus the correction factor of 134 miles at least to be considered a finisher. I thought I better finish with at least 8750 on the ODO just to be safe. Once my ODO check was completed, I headed for the hotel’s restaurant for breakfast and one last time to check the weather. I sat with one of my fellow competitors talking strategy and he was giving me advice on how to ride my first couple of day of the rally. We talked about our routes and the direction of Gustavo and how it would affect my plans. That was great to bounce ideas off someone and how to reroute on the fly if needed because of Gustavo. Right now Gustavo looked like it was going to hit Louisiana head on then track in a west direction. This was prefect for me because I was heading north to avoid Gustavo and would swing around behind the hurricane. I thought I might get wet the last day in Kansas and Nebraska (little did I know about 3 hours after the start, Gustavo turn eastward and I would be riding most of my ride smack in the middle of the monsoon rains. After breakfast was done, we wish each other good luck and headed for the motorcycles. I got back to my FJR about 20 minutes before the start time. The Rally Master was doing a countdown and when we hit 07:00 he waived us to go. So here I go hoping to get back to SLC by September 7th at 07:00. I found myself getting caught up in the start of the rally staying with everyone else. I kept telling myself this is a five day event and don’t get a ticket in the first hour. I finally let a group of riders about 12 of them go. I settled in at what I would call a reasonable speed five-seven over and started motoring. About 100 miles outside of SLC, I caught up with a couple of fellow riders that I knew were heading in the same direction to start but would eventually veer off toward San Antonio, Texas. As we were riding together one of our peers passed us running 10-15 miles faster then us. It was the Harley Road King, he must be between his first and second stop of fuel. I remember talking to him yesterday and how he said he can only go about 100-120 miles on a tank. I did the quick math and realized he would have to do about 50 stops to make it. Well the three of us continued on for several miles then they pulled off for what I thought was their first gas stop. I looked down at my gauge and saw I was getting close too, we had traveled 220 miles and I figured 240 would be max distance I would go. We were just passing a town and the next one was 30 miles out so I was getting a little worried but around the corner was another exit so off the interstate I went and pulled in for fuel 227 miles. After I checked the distance, I told myself never cut it that close again. I figured I would have around 25-30 stops for fuel based on state lines. Each state you stopped in for fuel and documented it was worth 10 points, so I wanted to make sure I hit all the states those are easy points. This stop was about 10 minutes long and on the road I was again. I never saw another rider until my first bonus location Douglas, Wyoming where I needed to take a picture of a 13 foot tall Jackalope. As I jumped off the interstate into Douglas I came to my first obstacle a bridge that was out. I knew by my GPS the bonus location was four blocks on the other side of the bridge so I followed the detour and as I came out on the other side of the bridge there was one of the two up riders flagging me down. They asked if I knew where the bonus was and I said follow me. I went to the direct location my GPS told me it was and nothing. I told them it was in the city park and we just passed one so I was going to head in that direction, as we closed in on the park I saw the Jackalope sitting in the corner of the park. We both jumped off our motorcycles and took our pictures talked for a few monuments and off we went, they were heading for Carhenge in Alliance, Nebraska and I was off for Sturgis, South Dakota. As I started out of town, I saw the two guys I rode with heading for the Jackalope. Little did I know that would be the last time I saw anyone until the last day. I got to Sturgis about three and a half hours later for my second bonus a computerized fuel receipt. I stopped at the second station, fueled the FJR and boom printer failure. I went inside to get my receipt, when I went in and asked for a computerized receipt the attendant wanted to give me a hand written one. I explained I needed a computerized and she reluctantly pulled one from the cash register. Two down and 18 to go, so off I went for Mobridge, South Dakota to get a picture of Sitting Bull Monument. As I was flying through South Dakota’s, state roads and highways I was on the constant lookout for wild life. I knew that during the day the odds of seeing anything was pretty slim but as the sun was setting they would be coming out in force. I honestly felt like my head was on a swivel scanning both sides of the road. I also thought to myself that the next modification to the FJR would be added lights. The lighting on the FJR is pretty good but there is no substitution for added lights that can be pointed a little out for checking the sides of the road. There was one stretch of road 15 miles that I counted eight deer and decided that even though the speed limit was 70 MPH I slowed to 60-65 hoping for a better reaction time if one decided to cross the road. One more hour and I arrived in Mobridge with about one bar left on the fuel gauge so I knew I could go about 40 miles before needing fuel and my GPS gave me directions for about a 16 mile round trip to the Monument. So off I went on a side road following my GPS but still concerned since it was pitch black and no lights. The GPS gives me a turn left in one mile and when I get to the turn left now I see a dirt road that looks pretty daunting. I told myself at the beginning, I would not do dirt roads to find bonus. So I stopped with my FJR pointing straight down this dirt road high beams on trying to decide go or no go. The GPS was saying .3 miles to the Monument how bad could it be but I decided to stick to my original agreement and no dirt. I felt this was a big miss on my part, I lost time coming here and knew trying to find this Monument was going to be tough in the dark. It was supposed to be on a cliff overlooking the river. Even though I thought I was really screwing up my chances for a good finish I decided to head for Mobridge and get fuel (now I can say that was one of the smartest things I have done so far). I found an all night station fueled up, completed my fuel log and decided to get a cup of coffee because the next bonus location was in Darwin, Minnesota. I struck up a conversation with the clerk asking if she had seen others swing through she said no. I explained what I was doing and how I could not find Sitting Bull’s Monument. She said I was on the wrong side of the road and that the Monument was behind the Casino somewhere, she couldn’t remember the exact location but thought the other clerk might know. The other clerk was an elderly American Native woman who thought I was silly going to the Monument in the dark since there were no lights and little chance of finding it. I asked her for directions and they were interesting at best but she was sure of how to get there so I thought I would give it a try. So I thanked the ladies for the information and off I went backtracking 10 miles, thinking this was a long shot at best since the directions were turn left before the Casino veer left around campground follow road until dirt do a U-turn till you see a Monument for Sacagawea. Once you see the Monument for Sacagawea take the first right loop around parking area and you will see a road on the right follow it till it dead ends into another parking area. Park and walk about 300 feet and you should see the Monument for Sitting Bull. I followed the directions to a tee and she was right on I ended in a parking area on the bluff and there it was right were she said. I also understand why I had to go to the end of the road and turn around the Monument for Sacagawea was blocked from view by brush. I ran down took the picture and as I’m walking back to my FJR I saw headlights heading this way. Not sure what was going on I decided to get on the motorcycle and get out of there as quick as possible. Two cars stopped by the Sacagawea Monument that I had to ride right by. I decided to put on some extra steam and motor right by, looking at the area no lighting, no one else around I didn’t want to get stopped. As I went by they waved and I in return as I swung past them I noticed it was some kids indulging in a couple of adult beverages. So back to the US highway I went signing a big relief and thinking of Darwin next for the World’s Largest Ball of Twine. I was also puzzled why my GPS was so far off, did I make a mistake or was something wrong? As I blew through Mobridge, I felt bad about not stopping and thanking the ladies again but I was way behind schedule. My goal for the first day was 1200 miles and I was still under a 1000 and it was after 22:00. The ride to Darwin was almost straight with a couple of jogs. I was reenergized by the coffee earlier and felt pretty good. About one hour in the ride to Darwin as I crested a hill all my fear came to fruition. In the middle of the road was a fawn with a buck and doe on the left and another doe on the right side of the road. Thanks goodness for ABS brakes on the FJR, I was traveling about 65 when I saw the deer, I immediately started braking I wasn’t sure how much I slowed down. My only thought was fawn make a decision which way. I hit the horn and the fawn moved right, I went left and the two deer on the left side of the road dove into the brush as I went by. After that little encounter, I decided 60 was a better speed and slowing down for hills was also a good idea. This slowed me down considerable but did help me avoid a possum and raccoon later that night. About midnight I decided it was time to get a room, I wasn’t going to be able to get the 1200 miles in, so why push any harder. 25 miles up the road was a town with a truck stop so I figured they would have a hotel. I rode into the truck stop for fuel and right next door was a Super 8, bingo we have sleep. I pulled under their canopy asked if I could leave the bike there and got a room. So at 00:30 I was in my room drawing a hot bath and thinking about my errors today. All in all not a bad day, 1088 miles three bonuses worth 1000 points and I didn’t hit anything on what I thought would be the hardest night riding. I decided to keep myself on Mountain Time no matter where I was so 00:30 was really 01:30 and I set the alarm for 04:00. Day 2 04:00 came quick but I felt pretty good as I got out of bed. This was my biggest concern on this ride. I haven’t done a 1000 mile ride since last year and since totaling the ST1300 I was concerned; I would not be healthy enough to do multiple days. So off to the shower I went, which felt great and really got me going. As I packed up the FJR for day two, I decided to grab a cup of coffee in the lobby and look at the day’s adventure. It started raining sometime while I was sleeping so on went the wet gear. I still had 200 miles to go to Darwin to take a picture of the World’s Largest Ball of Twine and I wanted to get the Jolly Green Giant and the Six Pack of Beer today before heading to Chicago for a hotdog. So off I went at 05:00 with 200 miles to get to Darwin. The first 100 was easy but the last 100 miles went slow it was done behind a law officer hell bent on keeping me at 55 mph. So I arrived in Darwin around 9:45 in the morning the positive point was the rain stopped around 09:00. I found the Ball of Twine quickly, my GPS coordinates were only off by two buildings. I proceeded to take my pictures but was having problems getting the ball of twine to show up due to the glare off the glass enclosure. After four attempts, I was able to get the outline of the ball of twine so off for gas and then head for Blue Earth, Minnesota for a picture of the Jolly Green Giant. Here is when the real GPS fun began; the Garmin decided I wanted to take the scenic route. On the way to La Crosse, it started raining again so off the FJR gear up and off again, it was almost all interstate and La Crosse is just inside the Wisconsin boarder. I was hoping to make up a little of the time I lost earlier today. I had a pretty clean run into La Crosse where I headed straight for the brewery and my picture of the World’s largest six pack of beer. A couple of quick pictures and off to Chicago for a Hot Dog. I made a quick fuel stop and was out of La Crosse by 17:00 about five hours behind my original schedule. So about 290 miles to Chicago here we go. It was interstate most of the way so I cranked it up trying to make up more time. As I was getting to Madison, Wisconsin it was still raining. I stopped for fuel and made a decision to skip Chicago due to the time it would take to get through town, get the hotdog and get out of there in the rain. I figured if I stopped it might cause me to miss the next two bonus locations because they had a time window. At the time, I thought great on the fly decision trying to get myself back on track. So I deleted the Chicago stop out of the route and recalculated. Off I go into the rain for Atlanta, Georgia and a picture of Stone Mountain. I ended up getting to Mount Vernon, Illinois another 400 miles for a total of 925 miles for day two. I found another Super 8 so off to bed again 01:00 this time. I was hoping to be 2200 miles into the ride at this time but was a little over 2000. Day 3 The alarm came really quick and it was a little harder to get out of bed. 04:30 I grabbed a shower and headed for the lobby to grab a quick coffee and back on the road. I decided to review my route again because I felt I could not get to the locations in Georgia and still make the three time based bonuses. I check the math and everything said bail from the Georgia bonuses and add something in later to make up for the miles I’m removing. So back to the FJR again in full rain gear (starting to see a theme) to delete my Georgia bonus locations and recalculate my route. Here we go again 05:30 and 460 miles to Birmingham, Alabama. As I was shooting through Illinois, I had my second interesting moment on the road. I found out that wicker chairs cannot withstand a 75 mph impact with the interstate. I was shooting down the interstate when out of the back of a pickup comes a wicker chair about 10 feet in the air. When it finally came down, it busted into a hundred pieces, cars were swerving all over the place which allowed me a clear view of the debris. I slowed down swerved a couple of times and was clear and moving forward. I decided this would be a good time to get off the road and do my check-in with the Rally Master. I stopped in Metropolis, Illinois for fuel then called the Rally Master. When we did our call-in, we needed to let him know where we were, where we were going next, say something nice and get a computerized receipt within 10 minutes. This was worth 50,000 points, so missing wasn’t an option. My next goal was to get to Barber Motorsports Vintage Museum before it closed at 18:00. It looked pretty good, I hit Birmingham about 15:30 then things started going down hill. I really didn’t have an issue getting to Tupelo, it’s 140 miles of interstate so I cranked it up again and was there by 19:45 I found Elvis’s birth home snapped a couple of pictures hit a gas station and was back on the road by 20:15. I still needed to get to Memphis, Tennessee 100 miles away before 22:00 to get BBQ. All interstate again so I cranked it up to 80 mph and shot for Memphis. I hit Memphis about 21:30 decided the location I inputted into the GPS was to far, so I stopped at the first convenience store to ask directions to the closest BBQ restaurant. There was a Memphis police officer sitting in the parking lot, so I decide to get his picture as a bonus and ask directions to the closest BBQ place. He allowed me to take his picture and gave me directions (three blocks away). I arrived at Top’s Barbeque at 21:45; 15 minutes to spare, I rushed in and noticed at that moment I might be on the wrong side of town. The two ladies behind the counter said as I walked in “Boy what are you doing here”. I reply, “I’m here for BBQ. I was told you have the best BBQ and your sign says Best BBQ in Memphis." She again reply, “Yes we have the best BBQ but boy what are you doing here?” So after explaining what I was doing, I asked what do they recommended they suggested the special so I ordered one (not sure what I would get). The food came I sat down and since the place was closing they came and sat with me asking questions about my ride and where I had been and where I was going next. After eating I grabbed the camera and rally towel and asked them to hold it for me so I could take a picture of them and the towel. After a couple of pictures, we returned to the table and I finished my meal. Notice this is the first time I talked about sitting down and eating, I had been on the rode for three days eating energy bars only(not a smart thing). I sat talking with them for another 10 minutes when one of them said, "I might want to get outside quick". I turned and looked and there were four guys around my FJR and a pickup truck backing up to it. I jumped up ran outside and said, “Hey guys what’s up?” They responded “your bike soon.” I replied that I was just leaving; “I had to get on the rode, I was in a rally and late for my next stop.” They didn’t respond but then one of the ladies from the restaurant came out and told them to get away from that boy’s bike and leave him alone. They gave her a smart-ass response and she started yelling at then, telling them she was going to whoop their butts if they didn’t get out of there. At that point, they decide she meant it because they took off. I walked over gave her a hug and thanked her for saving me from a butt kicking which I surly would have gotten. She then told me “Boy you better get on your bike and get out of here and I suggest you don’t stop at any red lights.” I said, “Yes mama and thanks again.” So I got on my FJR and high tailed it out of Memphis, here it is 22:45 and 360 miles to my next stop Lincoln, Arkansas. I rode another 265 miles to Alma, Arkansas in the rain to another Super 8 and hit the sack by 02:00. Day three in the books and another bad day only 960 miles completed. I remember thinking I was behind the 1000 miles a day average for the first time and I had to make up the odometer difference too. Day 4 The alarm went off at 05:00; I jumped in the shower then back to the lobby for coffee. I was thinking another big day coming up with 5 bonus location due up today. I put my rain gear on and jumped on the FJR and was out of there by 05:45. My first stop Lincoln, Arkansas about 90 miles away, I pulled in at Lincoln a little after 07:00 with the sun just starting to come up. I snap a couple of shots got back on the FJR and headed for Oologah, Oklahoma for a picture of a statue of Will Rodgers and his horse 110 miles away. As I entered Oklahoma, the toll roads started a buck here and a buck there and I was in Tulsa turning North for Oologah. I found the statue right where my GPS said it was in the middle of town. I clipped my rally towel on the chain around the statue took a couple of picture, grabbed some gas and off I went for Wichita, Kansas my third bonus stop for the day 250 miles away. I arrived in Wichita around 14:00 but spent about 15 minutes going in circles due to one way streets and road closures. I finally figured a way to the park and took a picture of the drinking fountain and off I went again now making a run to the interstate and Olathe, Kansas 270 miles away to take a picture of Garmin International building (this was my add in to make up mileage missed by not going to Georgia). So good news back to the interstate running at 80 mph, bad news I hit Olathe at 17:30 with rush hour traffic and road construction the last 25 miles. It took another one and a half hours to get to Garmin. As I pull in the sun had just set, so I ran over placed my towel on their door snapped a couple of pictures and head back to the interstate. It is now 19:15 and I’m heading for my last stop for the night Lincoln, Kansas 265 miles away. I started down the interstate traveling 120 miles before I started getting really tired, I decided to stop at a rest stop and take a quick nap. I parked the FJR crawled onto a picnic table and fell asleep for one hour. I woke at 23:00 feeling better and headed out again. I went another 100 miles and decided I was done for the night. I found another Super 8 grabbed their last room and was in bed by 00:30. Day four and another low mileage day 950 miles with only the last day left tomorrow I was gong to need a big day to get the 5000 miles in. Day 5 After coming up 45 miles short of Lincoln, Kansas I knew this needed to be a big day. I was up again by 04:30 no shower grabbed a cup of coffee in the lobby and headed out the door. Rain gear on again, I was on the road by 05:00. By 06:00 I had gotten my picture of the city limit sign in Lincoln and on my way to Cawker City, Kansas to get a picture of another World’s Largest Ball of Twine 65 miles away. I arrived in Cawker City at 07:00 grab a quick picture of the ball of twine and off again for Lebanon, Kansas for a picture of the lower 48 state central location 31 miles away. So 40 minutes later I found Lebanon but again the GPS led me to a bad location. I found someone opening their store and ask if they knew how to get to the monument. They did and gave me directions that led me right to the monument. I snapped a couple of pictures and headed for my last bonus stop in Alliance, Nebraska to get a picture of Carhenge 390 miles away it was now 08:00 but the rain stopped. Riding to Alliance was very uneventful and I was able to find Carhenge with no issues. I took a couple of pictures and was getting ready to take off when a fellow rider showed up. I took his picture for him and we decided to ride together at least part of the way. He still needed 200 more miles than I did. We stopped back in Alliance for fuel and food (notice only second time I talked about getting food not good). We talked while eating about where we had been and also about what he was doing to make up the extra 200 miles he needed. We decided to ride to Rawlins, Wyoming together where he would turn north and I would continue west. After we left, it was apparent he wanted to go faster than I was willing so I waved him on and rode alone. As he pulled away you could see a wall of rain clouds heading our way again. I pulled over put on my gear and just as I started moving again the rain hit. It was a driving rain for the next 40 miles making me run about 15 under the speed limit. Once out of the rain, I was able to increase the speed and when I hit the interstate I was flying but no sight of my fellow rider. I pulled into Cheyenne, Wyoming for fuel at a Flying J and there he was just pulling away from the pumps. He saw me come in and parked to talk. We talked for about 15 minutes and found out he was only about 5 minutes ahead of me (he was slowed by the rain too). It was now about 17:00 and I still had 550 miles to go. We talked and he said he was going to run 15-20 mph over the speed limit the rest of the way, so I told him good luck, I’m going to head for the hotel and I would see him when he got in. He was fiddling with his gear as I was taking off; I figured he would catch me around Laramie. I was motoring right along but never saw him again, Laramie passed and no sight of him. I was getting worried once I hit Rawlings I knew he should have passed me by then. I decided to stop for fuel in Rawlings and call the Rally Master to see if he had heard from him. I was figuring I might turn around and go look for him. I found out he had lost his paperwork and stayed at Cheyenne looking for it. He contacted the Rally Master explained what happened he told him to get on the road because if he completed the 5000 miles he would still be considered a finisher. I was told he spent about one hour at the flying J, so that’s why I hadn’t seen him. 290 miles to go and it was just past 21:00 plenty of time. I was thinking of adding an extra stop it would have been an extra 90 miles round trip to Promontory, Utah. As I was cruising down the interstate, I decided against Promontory because my tires were past the wear bars and I still had 200 plus miles to go. I did decide not to kill myself heading for the hotel so I was stopping every 100 miles for coffee and a rest. As I came into Utah one of my peers passed me and I decided to pick up the speed and follow them in. We rode together the last 75 miles to a fuel stop and then to the hotel. I made it to the hotel and finish line at 02:30. So the last day was just over 1200 miles in 21.5 hours to bring my overall mileage to 5200 miles but it would be adjusted down to 5065 due to correction factor. After I arrived, I call my wife she was waiting at the hotel and told me to call her when I got in so I did. I asked her to start a bath and I was on my way up. Once I got to the room she was ready for me, I dropped all my gear jumped in the bath soaked for 30 minutes and then got redressed to be ready for the opening of the finish line at 05:00. My wife went to bed and I headed down stairs to get ready to check in. At 05:00 on the dot, the Rally Master started checking final ODO readings and he explained how final scoring was going to happen. We were going first-in first-out and needed to hand in paperwork before 07:00. I pulled my SD card out of my camera and dropped it in my envelope with my receipts and fuel log then I dropped off the package at the scorers table. Once done I joined my fellow competitors out front to welcome the riders back in. As everyone started showing up, it was apparent not many were going to finish. To be exact 19 riders made it back to the finish on schedule. Several of us hung out front until 07:00 enjoying an adult beverage waiting for the scoring to begin. After the scoring was completed, this was a verification of which bonuses I went too. I headed for breakfast. I sat around in the restaurant for about an hour eating and talking with peers when I called it a night and headed for the room. I woke around 14:30 and surprisingly seemed well rested, I went down stairs to see several peers talking outside, and I joined them for a little bit then headed for the bar where the group was forming before the banquet. At six o’clock Stacey, Nathan and I went to the banquet room, had dinner and listened as the Rally Master reviewed the results. As he passed the tenth position, I was surprised he hadn’t called my name and was wondering if maybe I, DNF’d due to an error on my paperwork. I didn’t have to wait long in Ninth place completing his first multi-day rally David Porter. The cheering was deafening or at least in my mine with my 10 year old yelling and my wife clapping. I was pretty stoked with a top ten finish on my first multi-day rally. I was also impressed no accidents during the event and everyone that finished still had their license sealed in the envelope. After the banquet, several retired to the bar again with the Rally Master buying several rounds of drinks. We toasted our winners and congratulated the Rally Master on an excellent time. I talked to several that I would see at the NM LOE in October saying we should get together for dinner the first night and talk about doing the Beast of the East next year in July as prep for the IBR 09 in August. Most thought this was a great way to get some east coast experience next year. Rally Over Stacey, Nathan and I were slow getting up on the 7th and most riders had already left the hotel, we were heading to Ouray, Colorado for a little goofing off. After getting everyone out of bed I went down loaded the car and set the trailer up we borrowed from friends. So after 6000 miles getting to SLC and completing the rally I could not believe it when I dropped the motorcycle while loading on the trailer. “” I pulled the FJR up onto the trailer as I did on my old trailer and went to put my foot down but there wasn’t any floor on the left side and the FJR in all its glory rolled off the edge. I quick moment of “oh shit” then I grabbed the motorcycle picked it up and rolled it back down the ramp. Once back off the trailer I assessed the damage. I scratched the front fender, not bad; one scratch on tank ¼ inch long, not bad but the left saddle bag took the brunt. It slid on the asphalt and scratched the whole cover. I decided to get some help loading this time, so I walked into the hotel ask a couple of the guys to help with loading the trailer. We walked it up slick as a whistle, one of the guys held it while I tied it down. I thanked the guys while we laughed at my expense, which I didn’t mind considering how it happened. I think the hardest part was explaining what happened to my wife when she came out of the hotel. Once all loaded up, we (Stacey, Nathan and I) were off to Ouray, Co. for a well deserved three day vacation.

WCG Match-Up Post: Grades and Reviews Before I get into the grades and reviews, I want Bears fans to realize that we maybe have new rivalry brewing between Our Bears and the Lions. The Lions definitely look like a much improved ball club this season, and I feel they will be a pain in the Bears' side for years to come. The Bears offensive line had an ok day pass blocking this past Sunday, but run blocking was another story. Of course the highlight of that game, besides the obvious controversial call on Calvin Johnson, was the Bears O-line being man handled on all four downs on the goal line late in the fourth quarter. That's really unacceptable, and it caused me to give no Bears O-lineman a grade any higher than a C. Run Blocking: Grade C Williams was average at best against Detroit run defense which is all you can ask for in a pure pass blocking Left Tackle. He had his moments in the game where both Forte and Taylor ran behind him and Garza and got 4 yards. I think all of us Bears fans want Williams to be a complete Left Tackle, but if he can be an above average pass protector while being just a competent run blocker we can accept that. Pass Blocking: Grade C+ Going up against a high motor DE like Vanden Bosch, he did a decent job. You know a veteran guy like Vanden Bosch is going to give it his all on almost every play. So if you can at best contain him, I think you had a pretty good day. Of course Williams got a lot of help from the TE's and RB's (good job by Tice and Martz to game plan against him), but there were times where he handled Vanden Bosch on 1 on 1 situations and got the best of him. Run Blocking: Grade C+ The blocking was the least spectacular in Sunday's game so no one is getting higher than a C+ in this week Grades and Review post. I can say for Garza that you rarely heard Cory Williams' name last Sunday, which is encouraging going into this Sunday's game at Dallas. Pass Blocking: Grade B+ Cory Williams barely got any pressure on Cutler and you can thank Garza for doing a good job on him. Garza will have to be consistent next week, as he will see his fare share of Igor Olshansky, Keith Brooking, and DeMarcus Ware. Run Blocking: Grade C "We got our [butt] kicked," Kreutz said. "They beat us down there. ... Your coach can't help you down there. ... It's not rocket science on the goal line. They call a play, and you've got to win down there, period." "Is that acceptable? Do we have to get better at that? Yes. Can you win in the NFL every week if you're getting beat on the 1-yard line? No. These are all obvious statements.""Is that acceptable? Do we have to get better at that? Yes. Can you win in the NFL every week if you're getting beat on the 1-yard line? No. These are all obvious statements." Kreutz said it best, it was just unacceptable and going into this Sunday's game the Bears have to take advantage of opportunities like that. Pass Blocking: Grade B Kreutz did a good job protecting Cutler by helping out Louis on Suh at times and also containing any inside blitzes. The spotlight will be on Kreutz this Sunday as he will be facing one of the best 3-4 NT in the league in Jay Ratliff. Run Blocking: Grade C It was an intense battle between him and Suh and they both got the best of each other, but Suh slightly won the war. I will be looking forward to their next battle December 5th at Detroit. Until then, Louis will have an even tougher test going up against DE Marcus Spears and helping Kreutz out on Jay Ratliff this up-coming Sunday. Pass Blocking: Grade B For the monster that Suh is, I honestly thought that Louis did a heck of a job against him in the pass blocking department. Of course Kreutz helped Louis out a fair amount, but Louis at times during the game held his own against Suh, and that should give the kid confidence heading into Dallas this Sunday against an even tougher defensive line in the Cowboys. Run Blocking: Grade D Suh absolutely killed Omiyale in the first goal line stand, and that single play alone was the sole reason why Forte didn't get into the end zone on that play. It was just a bad afternoon for Omiyale, when looking back at the game he got pushed around a lot in the run game. That was disappointing because I'm sure Tice is counting on that right side of the line to be the strength in the rushing attack. Pass Blocking: Grade C- From last Thursday's Match-Up Post "This Sunday he will be going up against Cliff Avril who, while is a good pass rusher, can at the same time disappear in games. I expect Omiyale to win this battle against a one dimensional defensive end. This is a match-up that Bears fans can feel fully confident about." Um yeah, this really wasn't the case this past Sunday as Avril at time was having his way against Omiyale in passing situations. To add to that he also gave up a sack to Turk McBride when Avril went out due to an injury. I'm not giving up on my belief that Omiyale can be an effective pass protector, as I still believe he has the size, long arms, and skills to develop into a more consistent one. He will have to play a lot better this Sunday against a pretty good pass rusher in Anthony Spencer. | 0 recs | Do you like this story? Fourth down goaline play Did you see a gaping wide hole outside of the tackle box? I thought Forte could’ve easily bounced it outside instead of again running into the backs of his linemen. It sure seemed like he would’ve walked into the endzone untouched. "In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first- ahead of personal glory" - motivational sign at Halas Hall. by propheteer on Sep 14, 2010 8:33 PM CDT reply actions Ridiculously bad the decision to go for it on that play was just unexcusably stupid! Can we put a F- grade up there for Lovie? Forte often seems too hesitant to bounce-it to the outside. He repeatedly runs into the back of his blocker when the hole is not there. On the rare occassion that he does bounce it outside, it usually works-out well. by MakeHalasProud on Sep 14, 2010 8:45 PM CDT up reply actions With Taylor on the roster Forte should not be in goal-line packages with Taylor ready to carry the rock in traffic. Taylor is tougher to bring down, and has plenty of experience running in tight situations. Wonder if Bell could be another option? I want my MoM - Monsters of the Midway! by SpudV on Sep 14, 2010 8:50 PM CDT up reply actions Yep For a guy that has a reputation for great vision, I just don’t see it in short-yardage situations. "In order to have a winner, the team must have a feeling of unity; every player must put the team first- ahead of personal glory" - motivational sign at Halas Hall. by propheteer on Sep 14, 2010 8:53 PM CDT up reply actions Harvey Unga could have been a good short yardage back for us, if they didn't prematurely put him on IR. by Dominique Blanton on Sep 15, 2010 1:03 AM CDT up reply actions Stashed is a better term i think From what I heard it that “hamsting injury” was was less substantial than it was sold as. I’m thinking this one is straight from the same page as the Melton scheme from last year. by Gnice1 on Sep 15, 2010 1:34 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions Kellen Davis I thought this is why he is on the team. He is like 6’7". Ron Turner used him at the beginning of last year twice and it looked so easy. Snap, throw, Davis doesn’t even have to jump, and touchdown. by Higgins on Sep 15, 2010 1:31 AM CDT up reply actions This is what is unnerving. This was the Lions we player. Yes, on paper they look to be improved but improved by how much? Last year they were pretty pathetic. Did they really improve that much or are we just not that good? I think this game left me with as many questions as I had before it was played. Still no idea what caliber of team we have…. If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny. I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan. by Just Dave on Sep 14, 2010 8:39 PM CDT reply actions That defensive line was pretty good. Five foot three seems to thrive on his misery... by awfullyquiet on Sep 14, 2010 8:49 PM CDT up reply actions But against what quality of competition? We still know very little…. If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny. I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan. by Just Dave on Sep 14, 2010 9:28 PM CDT up reply actions I disagree We saw well executed football concepts by Sonicbob on Sep 14, 2010 10:00 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions But Detroit has played ONE regular season game and that was against US. No body of work to compare it to. They looked good against us. We looked good against them. OK. How will they look against the rest of the league? You don’t know and neither do I. More importantly, how will we look? If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny. I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan. by Just Dave on Sep 14, 2010 10:13 PM CDT up reply actions On the defensive line and offensively they improved a lot. They still need another draft to build that secondary up to contend for a playoff spot. by Dominique Blanton on Sep 15, 2010 1:07 AM CDT up reply actions Suh was the biggest worry going into the game, as he was an unknown going against someone making his first start. Suh will be more of a headache to the Bears’ O as he learns more “pro” tricks, but for now Louis gets a thumbs-up for keeping Suh relatively quiet. The Cowgirl game will give us a better idea if there are enough horses up front to make a run to the playoffs. I want my MoM - Monsters of the Midway! by SpudV on Sep 14, 2010 8:47 PM CDT reply actions great synopsis, Niquebears You are right the battle between Louis and Suh was really entertaining. There is no arguing with Kreutz – he summed things up nicely. "Stay thirsty, my friend." by Maelvampyre on Sep 14, 2010 9:05 PM CDT reply actions Yeah their showing in those goal line situations really irked and concern me. You have to man up and win in those situations because they can give the opposing D-Line a physiological edge over you the rest of the game. by Dominique Blanton on Sep 15, 2010 1:13 AM CDT up reply actions But we had the same, exact problem last year We are no longer a running team. And our goal-line personnel just isn’t able to punch it in from short range when needed, like that. by JimmyMack on Sep 15, 2010 5:36 AM CDT up reply actions As well as a psychological:25 AM CDT up reply actions So, this is totally irrelevant to this post, but something that has made me wonder for a while. Plus it’s been a long day so I need to rant. Lol. Why do Bears fan get so upset with the media and people criticizing Jay Cutler’s facial expressions, but then turn around and bash Lovie for looking “emotionless”? It’s SO hypocritical. They get mad because Jay shows emotion, but then get upset when Lovie doesn’t. I don’t get it. I’m not trying to start a argument, but I seriously want an answer. I obviously don’t mind that Lovie doesn’t go nutty on the sideline, but I know others want him to. I could go on and on with this, but think that this gets my point across. Fill me in. Please. /rant 9:20 PM CDT reply actions I think it is because when Jay shows facial expressions he tends to look “pouty” or “moody” not “fired up” or ready to “chew someone’s buttocks”. He doesn’t demonstrate the body language of a man trying to fire up his team but those of a man who is ready to give up on their incompetence. He looks frustrated and without any fire that’s counterproductive. Not saying I believe that IS how he IS but that’s what it can look like (emphasize “can”). Lovie just looks bored and indifferent. Even when we make a great play he barely smiles. Showing emotion during a game should be to get everyone “fired up” or to “light a fire” under the team. Neither man appears to know how to do either (emphasis on “appears”) I’m going to take grief for this kind of analysis but this is my take on it. And you wanted a serious answer. That’s as serious as I get. If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny. I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan. by Just Dave on Sep 14, 2010 9:38 PM CDT up reply actions I see what you're saying... … it just confuses me sometimes I guess. I suppose I just feel that both are faces of the team and VIPs, so they should be criticized for similar things, not total opposites… if that even makes sense. Haha. I do agree with you though, it seems that neither know how to move their emotions to the middle of the spectrum – it’s just that Lovie gets SOOOO much more grief for:09 PM CDT up reply actions Neither man expresses his emotions (ok, only one expresses any emotion) in a manner that will "charge up" his team. If you can't laugh at yourself you must not be very funny. I remain a pessimistically hopeful Bears fan. by Just Dave on Sep 14, 2010 10:15 PM CDT up reply actions So HoneyBear, while you're off the subject... I wanted to let you know, I just got around to reading your Kevin Butler Article and left a comment for you. Thanks again! by rdent4hof on Sep 15, 2010 7:33 AM CDT up reply actions Haha I saw that. And appreciate:34 PM CDT up reply actions I think it has more to do with their position than anything... Cutler showing little emotion can be ice water in his veins, or whatever and it has it’s place to a point. No emotion equals unphased so to speak. The same kind of thing doesn’t really hold true for a head coach as if he gets fired up what’s he going to do? Call a more risky play? He just doesn’t show a sense of urgency, whereas Cutty Ice can basically put his money where his mouth is on every play. Actions speak louder than words and with Lovie, his actions show incompetence and his words and body language and facial expressions show disinterest. Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com - Artist formerly known as Sklz711 by Jacob Hayes on Sep 15, 2010 10:24 AM CDT up reply actions The reason we get pissed at Lovie....... Is because football is a game of intensity you look at all the great coaches and all of them showed a face of football anger, or football focus, the only one that never showed it and was pretty damn classy was Tom Landry but Halas, Ditka, Madden, heck even Knoll and Shula all of these greats showed emotion, Lovie needs to get the team intense or it seems as he doesnt care. As for Cutlers faces I could care less what the knuckleheads say as long as he produces wins! by payton#34 on Sep 14, 2010 9:49 PM CDT reply actions I see what you're saying, but I’m just asking why you want Lovie to look intense for the game, but when Jay shows emotion (even if it is negatively intensive) it’s not important, even though he’s out there making the plays and is kind of in a leadership position too. So I guess what I’m asking is, why do you care about Lovie’s expressions and not Cutler’s – even though they’re both important aspects of the game? I’m not arguing, just prying to learn. :] :06 PM CDT up reply actions Going from 14 years of rugby, personally, I’d want both to show emotion. Show me you care about what’s going on out there, even if you’re pissed off about it. If you look at footage of Ditka flipping out on the sideline and waving a threatening finger at the officials, there was no doubt to any of the players that he had the desire to win and would be in your corner if you were with him. If my on-field leader is angry and fired up to make something happen by putting his body on the line, what else is there to do as one of the troops but to follow his:41 AM CDT up reply actions lets stay with the post o-line should do well against the dallas d linemen.i watched the wahington game and based on what i saw they are not consistent. they step up on plays then they seem to fall apart on others. we on the offense are imho starting to jell mike tice should be game planning for the front at dallas by stepeo on Sep 14, 2010 11:23 PM CDT reply actions win-loss what is the win-loss against dallas does anyone know, and with this being the first game against them at their new stadium and them wanting to play there in february does this put more pressure on them.i would like to think so. by stepeo on Sep 14, 2010 11:27 PM CDT reply actions Talk about grade inflation There is no way there should be so many Cs on the grade sheet. You lead into the grade by saying . . . it caused me to give no Bears O-lineman a grade any higher than a C.However, the line averages a 2.265 GPA and there is only one lineman with grades lower than a C. Do you really think that this was a performance by 15 performances worse than our lineman this week in the NFL? If so, please name 5 worse performances for me. The fact that Cutler was able to be as successful as he was in a timing offense whilst being consistently flushed from the pocket is a testament to his athletic ability. This poor of a performance by our offensive line didn’t come against an allstar defensive line. This is a defensive line that has one established NFL end and one promising rookie. Based on week 1, I have a hard time saying that we have an offensive line that is any better than 27th best in the league. by MrPants on Sep 14, 2010 11:43 PM CDT reply actions C's get degrees. Looks like this line got a Bachelor’s in Building a wall and creating a hole, and just don’t know when to do which one. by Higgins on Sep 15, 2010 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions C's get degrees. Looks like this line got a Bachelor’s in Building a wall and creating a hole, and just don’t know when to do which one. by Higgins on Sep 15, 2010 1:37 AM CDT up reply actions I tell you who was throwing some good blocks on Sunday Greg Olsen Run blocking and some down field blocking (after the catch), Olsen really has improved his blocking quite a bit. Now he needs to work on ball carrying ;) And I tell you who didn’t impress me. Manumaleuna seemed sluggish and unaggressive. I’m gonna watch the game again and maybe I’ll see more out of him… Like I said, my first impression wasn’t a good one. by rdent4hof on Sep 15, 2010 7:46 AM CDT reply actions The tackle play... in general has been just awful. I cannot tell if it is because they are trying too much to help inside because of poor guard play or are they just playing badly. I tend to agree with those here that say to put Shafer in at RT. Omiyale is just not very good unless he’s blocking out in space. For whatever reason, Frankie O can move and block on the run, but not in his initial stance. C Willimas just seems lost. I am very concerned about this o-line. Did Tice have to go back to square one and is now rebuilding these guys from scratch with his techniques? Or are these guys just average to bad and that’s the best the Bears can hope for? To a man, it seems like the Bears are simply getting out-muscled at the line? I do not see that as a technique thing, but then again I am not a line coach. IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO FIRE LOVIE! by LostInSTL on Sep 15, 2010 8:04 AM CDT reply actions Chris Williams $13 million for a top draft choice earning a grade of C is an overpaid fat and lazy lineman. This shows Angelo and his staff’s lack of ability in judging talent. This guy has demonstrated he has nothing. by ChiBoy on Sep 15, 2010 9:02 AM CDT reply actions How does Chris Williams get anything above a D? Vanden Bosch is currently tied for 6th in the NFL in tackles and he’s a freaking defensive end. He absolutely dominated Chris Williams and when he has to face Jared Allen he is gonna be on his back more than a washed up old porn star. by lopey986 on Sep 15, 2010 9:12 AM CDT via mobile reply actions Except the last time he faced Jared Allen... Allen didn’t do a damn thing one. Just sayin’. Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com - Artist formerly known as Sklz711 by Jacob Hayes on Sep 15, 2010 10:18 AM CDT up reply actions Your Grades are all one grade too high. Forte and Taylor combined for 79 yards on 26 carries for and avg. of 3.0 yds/per. thats subpar 4 yards per carry would be acceptable. Cutler was sacked 4 times giving up one or two sacks per game is acceptable 4 is just terrible. by 62bearsthe best on Sep 15, 2010 9:20 AM CDT reply actions Anybody else notice this on the 4th down goalline play? Three Bears interior linemen were all on the ground without being touched within about a quarter of a second of the ball being snapped. It was like they were all in a Synchronized Falling contest and were going for first place. It was pathetic. 9:00 in this video, which is excellent from beginning to end. by Doshi on Sep 15, 2010 10:01 AM CDT reply actions Roy is a bit annoying but he is Smudgers boy. David Taylor's personal hype man. Check out his website unless you're a loser. by Ditkavsworld on Sep 15, 2010 3:28 PM CDT up reply actions Roy is definitely NOT my boy. ------- | facebook.com/cheekymonkeyart | twitter.com/cheekymonkeyart by David Taylor on Sep 27, 2010 8:59 AM CDT up reply actions Omiyale should get a F- for pass blocking... On multiple occasions he’d block his man outside and then release him like the play was over before Cutler had even thrown the ball, causing Cutler to then get pressured by the guy he released, and if I remember correctly causing at least one of the sacks. That kind of thing is inexcusable. If you get beat, you get beat, it is what it is. However, if you win the battle and then just surrender that’s damn near inexcusable. Associate Writer - WindyCityGridiron.com - Artist formerly known as Sklz711 by Jacob Hayes on Sep 15, 2010<<

Overview Distribution Range Description Trusted) Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Native ) Trusted endemic to a single nation Trusted National Distribution United States Origin: Native Regularity: Regularly occurring Currently: Present Confidence: Confident Type of Residency: Year-round Trusted Global Range: (200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)) Historical range included the southeastern Piedmont and Coastal Plain from New Jersey to Texas, and inland to Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, and Oklahoma (AOU 1983, Jackson 1994). Now the species is virtually extirpated north of North Carolina and in all interior states except Arkansas (Walters 1991). Populations are fragmented and most are quite small (Stangel et al. 1992). The six largest populations are in the Apalachicola National Forest (Florida), North Carolina Sandhills, Francis Marion National Forest (South Carolina), Kisatchie National Forest (Louisiana), Eglin Air Force Base and Blackwater State Forest (Florida), and Red Hills hunting plantations in southern Georgia (James 1995). Trusted U.S.A. (southcentral and southeastern) Trusted Physical Description Morphology Physical Description) Average mass: 56 g. Trusted Size Length: 18 cm Weight: 44 grams Trusted Ecology Habitat Habitat and Ecology Systems - Terrestrial Trusted) Terrestrial Biomes: forest Trusted Comments: Habitat consists of open, mature pine woodlands, rarely deciduous or mixed pine-hardwoods located near pine woodlands (Steirly 1957, Hooper et al. 1980, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1980, Kalisz and Boettcher 1991). Optimal habitat is characterized as a broad savanna with a scattered overstory of large pines and a dense groundcover containing a diversity of grass, forb, and shrub species (Hooper et al. 1980, AOU 1991). Midstory vegetation is sparse or absent (Hooper et al. 1980, Locke et al. 1983, Hooper et al. 1991, Loeb et al. 1993). The open, park-like characteristic of the habitat is maintained by low intensity fires, which occurred historically during the growing season at intervals of about 1-10 years (Christensen 1981, SNN 1990), evidenced by the rapid invasion of hardwoods into pine savannas following fire exclusion for brief periods (less than 10 years), the high annual frequency of lightning strikes in these habitats in summer (Platt 1988), and the pyrogenic nature of characteristic plant species such as longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) (Rebertus et al. 1989) and wiregrass (Aristida stricta) (Platt et al. 1988). AOU (1991) concluded that this bird "...is a symbol of fire-maintained, old-growth pine savannas, once the dominant ecosystem in the Southeast." CAVITY TREES Nesting and roosting occur in tree cavities. Active cavity trees are almost exclusively old, living, flat-topped pine trees (but see Patterson and Robertson 1983, Hooper 1982). Typical noncavity roosts include scars on the trunks of trees, forks on live pines (Hooper and Lennartz 1983), and the underside of large limbs (Baker, pers. comm.). However, juveniles often investigate dead trees and may roost in them until they obtain a cavity in a living tree (Ligon 1970). Excavation through the sap wood appears to limit the speed with which cavities are constructed, perhaps because sap leaking into the tunnel interrupts excavation (Hooper et al. 1980, Walters 1991). The tunnel is excavated back into the tree at an upward slope such that resin or pitch from the sapwood drains from the hole, and that rain water is prevented from collecting in the cavity (Ligon et al. 1980, Jackson 1978b). Even so, Teulings (1973) reported that many nest cavities were flooded with rain following violent storms. Once birds have tunneled through the sapwood and into the heartwood, they excavate downward forming a gourd-shaped chamber 15-25 cm deep and 1.7- 12.7 cm wide. The girth of the tree must be wide enough to allow the central chamber to be excavated in the resin-less heartwood, hence one of the reasons for selecting old trees (Ligon et al. 1980). Roosting and nesting cavities have been found in longleaf, loblolly (Pinus taeda), shortleaf (Pinus echinata), slash (Pinus ellioti), pond pine (Pinus rigida), and even bald cypress (Taxodium disthicus) (Dennis 1971). Some evidence suggests longleaf pine is preferred even when mature stands of other pine species are available (Hopkins and Lynn 1971, Lay and Sweptson 1973, Baker 1981, Lennartz et al. 1983, Hovis and Labisky 1985, Ligon et al. 1986). The historic distribution of longleaf coincides with the region where Audubon (1839) reported the greatest abundance of Red-cockaded Woodpeckers. In addition, relict stands of old-growth longleaf today have some of the highest densities of this species (Engstrom 1982, Carter et al. 1983). Even so, other species such as shortleaf and loblolly pine are important in areas where longleaf pine is uncommon or absent (Jackson 1971, Wood 1983a, Shapiro 1983). Red-cockaded woodpeckers show a clear preference for older trees (Jackson et al. 1979, Jackson and Jackson 1986, Delotelle and Epting 1988, Engstrom and Evans 1990), contrary to conclusions reached by Field and Williams (1985). The average age of cavity trees ranges from 63-126 years for longleaf pine, 70-90 years for loblolly pine, 75-149 years for shortleaf pine, 62-130 years for pond pine, and >70 years for slash pine (Hooper et al. 1980). The diameter of cavity trees at breast height (dbh) is usually at least 35 cm (Lay and Russel 1970, Jones and Ott 1973, Hovis and Labisky 1985), except in south Florida where cavity trees averaged only about 25 cm dbh (Shapiro 1983, Delotelle et al. 1983, Beaver and Dryden 1992) and may be as small as 15.4 cm dbh (Beaver and Dryden 1992). Cavity trees are generally infected with red heart disease, a fungus (Phellinus pini) that attacks the heartwood, destroys cell walls, and causes the wood to become soft and pithy (Steirly 1957). Conner and Locke (1982) also found cavities in wood infected by one of four other fungi species. Although red heart disease is apparently not a strict prerequisite for cavity excavation (Conner and Locke 1982, Beckett 1971, Jackson 1977), Hooper et al. (1991) suggested there is a universal preference for trees with decayed heartwood. An independent group of researchers agreed with this statement (SNN 1990). In addition to requirements for old pine trees, appropriate habitat also includes open, park-like conditions extending across the area surrounding a cluster of cavity trees Walters (1991). Shapiro (1983) found that the average minimum distance between cavity trees was 104 m in south Florida, whereas Wood (1983) reported an average minimum distance of only 58 m in Oklahoma. Various measurements of the vegetative structure surrounding clusters of cavities have been compared with different types of control sites lacking woodpeckers. However, the fidelity this species shows to cavity sites (Harlow 1983, Nesbitt et al. 1983a, Lennartz et al. 1987, Walters 1991), coupled with social interactions (Walters 1990), mean that measurements around "active cavities" may not indicate productive habitat (Hooper et al. 1980, Walters 1990, Walters 1991); a pair of birds or a solitary male, and even some nesting groups may remain at a cavity associated with low-quality habitat for many years (Walters 1989, 1991). The basal area of pine overstory is one of the more important habitat components within cavity clusters. Hooper et al. (1980) maintained that appropriate conditions require a mature pine stand (more than 70 years old) with a stocking density of 11.5-18 sq m of overstory pines per ha. This stocking density is relatively high compared to that recommended by others. Conner and O'Halloran (1987) recommended a pine basal area of 9-14 sq m per ha, while Hovis and Labisky (1985) recommended about 12 sq m per ha. The Recovery Plan (Lennartz and Henry 1985) recommended that cavity clusters have a pine basal area of 5.8-8.4 sq m per ha. The basal area of pines reported from studies in south and central Florida is much less than suggested by Hooper et al. (1980), averaging 4.0-7.0 sq m per ha (Delotelle et al. 1983, Shapiro 1983, Nesbitt et al. 1983b). Multivariate techniques have been used to quantify habitat conditions surrounding active cavity clusters. Locke et al. (1983) measured 29 vegetative variables in a 0.04 ha area around active cavity trees and compared these with measurements at randomly selected old pines. Four variables were correlated with active sites: 1) the total number of hardwood trees (6.4 in occupied sites versus 12.8 in random sites); 2) the number of understory pines (6.9 in occupied sites versus 3.5 in control); 3) the mean ratio of bole length to height of pines greater than 28 cm diameter breast height (0.48 in occupied sites versus 0.43 in random sites); and 4) the number of midstory hardwoods (1.1 in occupied sites versus 1.8 in random sites). FORAGING HABITAT Less is known about foraging habitat than about conditions needed around cavity clusters. Hooper et al. (1980) stated that "... the best cavity site is no good if adequate foraging habitat is unavailable." Recent studies (Delotelle et al. 1983, Hovis and Labisky 1985, Conner and Rudolph 1991b, Loeb et al. 1992) and anecdotal evidence provide some general indication of the importance of foraging habitat. However, this species appears to use a wide range of pine and hardwood habitats (Hooper et al. 1980, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985), and foraging behavior is influenced by conspecifics, group size, and many other factors (Conner and Rudolph 1991b, Walters 1991). These conditions make it difficult to ascertain with certainty the importance of specific habitat features within foraging areas. Several lines of evidence point to a problem with large cleared tracts. Walters (pers. comm.) monitored a population of 12 cavity clusters for 9 years and found the population to be stable until logging cleared much of the foraging habitat in the area. Soon afterwards, the population showed signs of falling apart. Hooper et al. (1980) reported that sites were abandoned where extensive clear cuts were created within the foraging area. They also proposed that, when clearing reduces the foraging habitat to less than 40 ha, persisting groups may have difficulty raising young. Conner and Rudolph (1991b) found that the removal of forest cover within 800 m of cavity clusters was associated with cluster inactivation. The effects of forest removal were particularly noticeable in small populations. Foraging occurs in a diversity of forested habitat types that includes pines of various ages as well as some hardwood-dominated habitats. Despite this seemingly catholic use of different habitat types, most foraging appears to take place on older pine trees or in open pine habitats (Baker and Thompson 1971, Hooper et al. 1980, Hooper and Lennartz 1981, Delotelle 1983). Delotelle et al. (1983) found that live pine stems greater than 23 cm dbh represented only 19% of available foraging substrate in central Florida but received 65% of the use, and also found that longleaf pine was used as the foraging substrate 90% of the time. Similarly, Porter and Labisky (1986) found that longleaf pines made up only 40% of their study area yet were the foraging substrate approximately 77% of the time. As described elsewhere, females forage on trunks more often than do males, and an abundance of trees with large trunk surfaces may be more important to females; Jackson (pers. comm.) suggested that females lost weight after pines larger than 25 cm dbh were removed from all but a small buffer surrounding cavity trees.. Other evidence supporting the need for foraging habitat consisting of large areas of old pines lies in the fact that the largest populations occur where old-growth pine trees and low hardwood densities extend throughout a broad area (Engstrom 1982, Hooper et al. 1980, Delotelle et al. 1983, Conner and Rudolph 1991a). The Recovery Plan (Lennartz and Henry 1985) suggested suitable foraging habitat requires 6350 stems > 25.4 cm diameter at breast height, and 796 sq m basal area of pine stems in stands >30 years old within 1.3 km (0.5 miles) of a cavity cluster. These values do not apply in south Florida (Beaver and Dryden 1992) where birds use larger areas. LANDSCAPE HABITAT FEATURES Landscape features, such as fragmentation of foraging habitat, total area of foraging habitat, percentage of pinewood or hardwood cover, contiguity of the canopy and forest cover, and habitat patch size and shape may affect the habitat quality (Hooper et al. 1980, SNN 1990, Conner and Rudolph 1991b). The importance of such variables is not well known (Walters 1991), but a growing body of research focuses on this issue, particularly on some public lands where timber harvest patterns may create unfavorable landscapes (Conner and Rudolph 1991b). A potential problem in such research is the key role that cavity trees play in determining whether an area is ever actually used by red- cockaded woodpeckers (Walters 1991). Areas that have suitable habitat characteristics, yet lack suitable cavity trees, will not likely be occupied by red-cockaded woodpeckers (Walters 1991), and thus some comparisons will be misleading. Seagle et al. (1992) compared characteristics of forest compartments with active colonies and those having no colonies. Active clusters were associated with: 1) an increased acreage of mature longleaf pine; 2) an increased acreage of all pine species; 3) a decreased percentage of acres of longleaf, loblolly, and slash pines in stands less than 20 acres in size; 4) a decreased percentage of acres of mature loblolly pine; and 5) a decreased acreage of loblolly pine between ages 20 and 39 years. Conner and Rudolph (1991b) found that foraging habitat could be fragmented and isolated as a result of forest-harvest patterns, and that larger groups of woodpeckers had consistently fewer clear cuts near cavity sites. Fragmentation did not appear to have an effect on dispersal (e.g., the ability of dispersing females to find unmated males), but it did apparently affect the quality of foraging habitat. Conner and Rudolph (1991b) warned that it may be possible to have a sufficient quantity of foraging habitat within 800 m of an active cluster but still have insufficient arrangement of foraging habitat. Fragmentation influenced a group's access to foraging habitat by forcing birds to go through territories of adjacent groups. This increases the probability of cluster inactivation.) Trusted Comments: Locate food primarily by sight and by exploring cavities, crevices, and tunnels with the long tongue (Jackson 1983a). Apparently do not use sound to locate prey (Jackson 1983a), as do some other woodpeckers (Callegari 1955). While searching for food, the bill and/or feet are used to help pry off pieces of bark and expose prey. Most foraging time is spent scaling bark from living pines. (Murphrey 1939). One foraging technique involves backing down the tree and flaking off bark with the feet while catching prey with the bill (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1980). Murphrey (1939) described the primary foraging technique as a spiral ascent of the trunk. Visits to lightning-struck trees infested with beetle larvae are common (Hooper et al. 1980). Occasionally they will also "fly catch" prey using an aerial foraging technique similar to that of Red-headed Woodpeckers (Beckett 1971). An analysis of 99 stomachs revealed a diet of 84% insects and 16% berries (Beal 1911). Insects eaten are primarily ants, spiders, cockroaches, centipedes, termites, and the larvae and eggs of various other insects. More recently, C. Hess (pers. comm.) found that a species of wood-boring ant (Crematogaster SP.) constitutes more than 80% of food items fed to young birds on the Apalachicola National Forest. Hess suggested that an understanding of the biology of this ant may be important in management decisions. In South Carolina, wood roaches (Parcoblatta sp.) were the dominant prey fed to nestlings; other common nestling foods were wood boring beetle larvae, Lepidoptera larvae, spiders, and ants (Hanula and Franzreb 1995). Especially gregarious when foraging (Murphrey 1939). May also associate with flocks of Brown-headed Nuthatches (Jackson 1983c) or eastern bluebirds (Beckett 1971), especially in winter (Murphrey 1939). Males and females exhibit a divergence in foraging behavior (Ligon 1970, Skorupa 1979, Ramey 1980, Hooper and Lennartz 1981). Males tend to forage on limbs of the crown and midtrunk more frequently than do females, while females tend to forage more frequently on the lower trunk; sexes show considerable overlap on the mid-trunk (Porter et al. 1985). In one study, the average foraging height of males was 14.1 m and that of females was only 8.7 m. The mean difference in foraging height ranges from about 3.7 to 5.4 m (Hooper and Lennartz 1981, Porter et al. 1985); this difference greatest January-March (7.4 m, Hooper and Lennartz 1981), while both sexes tend to use the canopy during breeding season (SNN 1990). Sexes used trees of similar size and species, and the methods for capturing prey were also similar (Lennartz and Hooper 1981). Adults bring food to the nest from as far away as 640 m (Ligon 1970). Birds drink water from flooded holes in trees and from the ground (Murphrey 1939, Hooper et al. 1980). Trusted Population Biology Number of Occurrences Note: For many non-migratory species, occurrences are roughly equivalent to populations. Estimated Number of Occurrences: 81 to >300 Comments: This species is represented by a large number of occurrences (subpopulations), but approximately 50% of all known birds occur in just six populations (James 1995), while the remaining birds are scattered across >130 sites. James (1995) presented the following 1990 state-by-state estimates for the number of active "cavity clusters:" Alabama 157; Arkansas 132; Florida 1224; Georgia 596; Kentucky 4; Louisiana 464; Mississippi 154; North Carolina 465; South Carolina 615; Oklahoma 15; Tennessee 1; Texas 315; Virginia 5. Trusted Global Abundance 10,000 - 100,000 individuals Comments: USFWS (2003) reported that there are an estimated 14,068 red-cockaded woodpeckers living in 5,627 known active clusters across eleven states. USFWS (, August 2007 version) reported the population as consisting of 6,000 groups or 16,000 birds. U.S. Department of Defense and USFWS (2006) reported the populaton size as 15,150 adults. Only the public lands component of these estimates are based on recent and rigorous survey information (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2001). Only three populations number more than 300 breeding groups (Walters 1991, James 1995). Trusted General Ecology TERRITORIALITY AND HOME RANGE: Maintain territories throughout the year, and appear to recognize precise boundaries (Ligon 1970). Groups seem to be least cohesive during the incubation period and when nestlings are being fed (Walters 1990). Helpers assist in the defense of territories (Ligon 1970), and territorial displays include characteristic vocalizations (Ligon 1970), wing-spreading displays, wing flattering, raising of the red cockades (in the case of males, Hagan and Reed 1988), and physical attack (Walters 1990). Drumming is not as common a territorial display in red-cockaded woodpeckers as it is in other woodpeckers, but it may occur when territorial birds encounter an alien bird (Hooper et al. 1982). Walters (1990) reported that adult males are the primary defenders against intruder males, and adult females against intruder females, for most of the year. During the breeding season, however, both sexes respond to a single intruder. Birds are also most aggressive towards intruders and neighboring groups during the breeding season. Outside the breeding season, a resident group may sometimes forage peaceably with an intruder within the territory, or near a neighboring group along a territory boundary. A comprehensive 3-year study by Hooper et al. (1982) reported home ranges from 34-225 ha (mean of total ranges 86.9 ha, mean of year-round ranges 70.3 ha). In other studies, home range estimates varied from 15-220 ha and averaged around 67 ha (Baker 1977, Crosby 1971, Skorupa and McFarlane 1976, Nesbitt et al. 1978, Sherrill and Case 1980, Nesbitt et al. 1983b, Wood 1983a), although extremely large territories of about 400 ha may exist (Hooper et al. 1980). Home range estimates may include "extra-territorial" areas that are utilized by other neighboring conspecifics as well as floaters in the population (Walters 1989); these are not strongly defended and are estimated to average about 8.4 ha (Hooper et al. 1982), but may be as large as 30 ha (Hooper et al. 1982, Repasky 1984, Blue 1985, Porter and Labisky 1986, DeLotelle et al. 1987). Repasky (1984) suggested that extra-territorial range is underestimated because sampling is usually not extensive in winter and late summer when birds use larger areas. However, in the few studies in which home range size estimates were subdivided into territorial and extra-territorial areas, similar mean territory sizes of 70 ha were obtained (Hooper et al. 1982, Repasky 1984, Blue 1985). Seasonal variation in range size has been reported, though debate on this issue exists. Skorupa and McFarlane (1976) found that home ranges were smallest in summer and largest in winter. These authors warned that average range values may be misleading since "... the increased winter foraging requirements of the species must be considered ..." as part of conservation and management efforts. Wood (1983) also found home range to be larger in winter in Oklahoma (52.8 ha) than in summer (44.1 ha) and spring (26.0 ha). However, these data were for a single, 5-member clan. In their larger study, Hooper et al. (1982) found larger (although not statistically significant) home ranges in spring (mean 49 ha) and summer (mean 47.7 ha) than in fall (mean 37.5 ha). They further found that birds had larger home ranges during the post-fledging period (mean 43.1 ha) than during the nestling period (mean 27.8). Jerauld et al. (1983) noted a restricted range during the first few days following fledging. They suggested that range sizes decreased during this time when fledglings had difficulty following adults. Range size also appears to vary geographically to some degree, with larger home ranges occurring in south and central Florida. An early study of a single group in south Florida reported a range of 159 ha (Patterson and Robertson 1981). In central Florida, DeLotelle et al. (1983) found that four year-round range were 120-203 ha and averaged 150 ha. Nesbitt et al. (1983b) reported that five groups in southwest Florida had an average home range size of 148 ha and a range of 80-218 ha. Nesbitt et al. (1983b) noted that this species probably requires larger ranges at the southern limits of their distribution owing to poor habitat quality. DISPERSAL: Although dispersal is primarily undertaken by young birds; mate loss and an apparent avoidance of inbreeding sometimes cause adults to disperse, and adults may also occasionally move to neighboring territories for unknown reasons (Walters 1989). In North Carolina, fledgling females dispersed an average of 4.8 km, maximum 31.5 km; breeding males dispersed an average of 2.1 km, maximum 15 km; fledgling males dispersed an average of 5.1 km, maximum 21.1 km; helper males dispersed an average of 1.8 km, maximum 17.1 km; and solitary males dispersed an average of 2.3 km, maximum 8.5 km (Walters 1989). The relatively short dispersal distance implies that rates of inbreeding may be high even though close inbreeding is avoided (Walters 1990). That is, matings between second cousins may be common while parent-offspring matings are avoided. This may have led to the high similarities of DNA profiles reported by Haig et al. (1993b). However, Walters (1988) described a long-distance dispersal event for one female, which moved 90 km and seemed to follow a highway corridor that contained appropriate habitat conditions. The bird also traversed unfavorable habitats. SURVIVAL CHARACTERISTICS: Reed et al. (1988) and Walters (1989) reported that the average annual rate of survival for birds in their first year is 57% for males and 32% for females. Females experience lower survival rates primarily as a result of the increased frequency of dispersal in this sex. Annual survival rates for 2-3-year-old birds is relatively high: approximately 77% for males and 75% for females. About 25% of fledgling males live to be at least 4 years old, while only about 13% of fledgling females live to this age. Fewer than 1% of fledgling birds live to be 10 years old. Major storms are one of the primary sources of mortality. Hurricane Hugo killed about 63% of the birds found on the Francis Marion National Forest (Hamrick 1992). Accipiter hawks may prey on adults (Ligon 1970). When an accipiter flies into an area, an alarm call is given and all birds "freeze" with their bills pointing straight up (Ligon 1970). They will often wait in this manner ten minutes after the hawk has left before resuming foraging (Ligon 1970). Other sources of mortality for adults include being stuck in resin (Locke et al. 1979) and killed by rat snakes while incubating eggs (J. Kappes, pers. comm.). No disease outbreaks have been reported. EFFECTS ON OTHER SPECIES: At least 25 vertebrates (Kappes undated) have been recorded using red-cockaded woodpecker cavities. As many as 56% of the cavities in a cluster may be used by other species (Harlow and Lennartz 1983). Yellow-bellied sapsuckers have been observed feeding at resin wells (Rudolph et al. 1991). The sticky resin associated with cavity trees may pose an occasional hazard to woodpeckers and other birds (Locke et al. 1979, Barnett et al. 1983, Locke et al. 1979). Jackson (1983c) reported that brown-headed nuthatches seemed to follow foraging red-cockaded woodpeckers and gleaned anything the woodpeckers dislodged but did not consume. Beckett (1971) described similar behavior for the eastern bluebird. Morse (1970) also observed brown-headed nuthatches foraging in association with red-cockaded woodpeckers in Louisiana but felt that the woodpeckers were following the nuthatches. Trusted Life History and Behavior Life Expectancy Lifespan/Longevity Average lifespan Status: wild: 193 months. Trusted Lifespan, longevity, and ageing Trusted Reproduction Reproduction) Average time to hatching: 12 days. Average eggs per season: 3. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male) Sex: male: 240 days. Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female) Sex: female: 240 days. Trusted COOPERATIVE BREEDING SYSTEM: Live in groups containing a single breeding pair and zero to four 'helpers' (Walters 1990), rarely as many as nine (Hooper et al. 1980). Helpers help incubate eggs, feed nestlings and fledglings, and defend territories (Ligon 1970, Lennartz and Harlow 1979, Walters 1990). Mated pairs are monogamous (Ligon 1970, Walters 1990, Haig et al. 1993b). Walters et al. (1988) reported that male-female pairs were the most common social unit (60%); about 30% of the groups contained one or more adult helpers and about 10% consisted of solitary males; only 5% of groups had more than one helper. Each member of a group usually has an exclusive roost cavity (Hooper and Lennartz 1983b, Harris and Jerauld 1983, Jansen 1983). Access to a cavity is critical to the nesting success of males, since the nesting cavity is almost always the cavity of the single breeding male (Ligon 1970, Hooper and Lennartz 1983). It takes many months to excavate a cavity (Hooper et al. 1980, Walters 1991). The importance of attaining a cavity, contrasted with the extended time required to excavate one, has led (in part) to different strategies among young birds for coping with the common situation wherein most suitable cavities are occupied by conspecifics (Walters 1990). Almost all young females and most young males disperse and find an existing cavity with a new group (Walters et al. 1988). Another strategy, employed by 27 per cent of the young males, is to remain on the natal territory in hopes of inheriting the territory or another nearby territory. (Walters et al. 1988). Only very rarely do young birds disperse to new areas and excavate new cavities (Walters 1990). Birds that remain in natal territories may do so for many years and help the breeding pair raise and care for new birds (Walters et al. 1988). Once a male attains breeding status in a group, it usually retains that position until death. Females may switch groups after attaining breeding status, particularly when an offspring male inherits a territory; this may help avoid close inbreeding (Walters et al. 1989). NESTING: Copulation observed November-December and March-May (Ligon 1970, Crosby 1971, Baker 1971), but egg laying usually occurs April-early May. Groups may not nest every year (Hopkins and Lynn 1971), perhaps in response to environmental factors. Clutch size 2-5, 3-4 usual (Murphrey 1939). Incubation lasts about 10-12 days (Hooper et al. 1980), and often begins with the laying of the second egg. This means that some eggs hatch earlier than others, giving early hatchlings a size and competitive advantage over other nestlings; Ligon (1970) reported that later-hatching young often starved within 24 hours. Nestlings are altricial and remain in the nest for 26-29 days (Ligon 1970). Ligon (1970) reported hatching rates of about 90% but fledgling rates of only 50%. Neal et al. (1993a) found that roughly half of the older nestlings in their study area were eaten by snakes. Red-bellied Woodpeckers have also been observed pulling nestlings out of nests (Ligon 1971), and flying squirrels (Glaucomys volans) may destroy nests (Walters 1991). Bad weather represents another major source of nestling mortality (Neal et al. 1993b). Lennartz et al. (1987) found that breeding groups with helpers fledge more young per year (2.05) than groups consisting of a single breeding pair (1.40). Reproductive output increases with age, especially after approximately 2-3 years (Reed et al. 1988, Walters 1989). Gowaty and Lennartz (1985) reported that the sex ratios of nestlings and fledglings favored males 59:41. This bias suggests that female nestlings may be more difficult to raise or males somehow have an advantage during the nestling period. Nests tended by a breeding pair and helpers produced more even sex ratios than did nests tended by a single pair (Gowaty and Lennartz 1985). FLEDGING: Young birds leave the nest after 26-29 days (Ligon 1970), and most nesting activity is finished by early July (Baker 1983a, Wood 1983b). Within 3-5 days, fledglings are able to follow adults on extended foraging trips (Ligon 1971). Juveniles may beg for and receive food from adults for 5 months or longer (Ligon 1970). Juveniles progress through a series of molts before attaining adult plumage; molting may become particularly heavy towards late summer and food requirements increase during these periods of heavy molt (Jackson 1983a). Post-juvenile plumage is attained by late fall or early winter of the first year (Jackson 1983a). Trusted Molecular Biology and Genetics Molecular Biology Barcode data: Picoides boreicoides borealis Public Records: 1 Species: 4 Species With Barcodes: 1 Trusted Conservation Conservation Status IUCN Red List Assessment Red List Category Red List Criteria Version Year Assessed Assessor/s Reviewer/s Contributor/s Justification History - 2008Vulnerable - 2007Vulnerable - 2004Vulnerable - 2000Vulnerable - 1996Vulnerable - 1994Vulnerable Trusted) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: vulnerable Trusted National NatureServe Conservation Status Trusted NatureServe Conservation Status Rounded Global Status Rank: G3 - Vulnerable Reasons: Fairly large range in the southeastern United States, but both quantity and quality of suitable habitat are much reduced; historical extent of suitable habitat and probably population size have been reduced by about 97 percent. Short-term rotation timber management eliminated mature diseased pines required for roosting, nesting, and foraging; fire suppression allowed invasion of pine stands by hardwoods. Recent management innovations (e.g., prescribed burns, cavity management) have alleviated threats and resulted in population increases in most areas, but a stable or increasing trend independent of continuing artificial cavity installation (a short-term solution) can be achieved only when large old pines are available in abundance. Further population increases, independent from continuing artificial cavity installation eventually should allow the rank to be changed to G4 (apparently secure). Intrinsic Vulnerability: Highly vulnerable Comments: Red-cockaded woodpeckers do not exhibit any of the various types of metapopulation structure (see USFWS 2003). Local extinction followed by natural recolonization from another population is extremely unlikely for this species (USFWS 2003). Environmental Specificity: Very narrow. Specialist or community with key requirements scarce. Other Considerations: As of October 2007, all states within the range of this species ranked it as SX, SH, S1, or S2 (extirpated, historical, critically imperiled, or imperiled). Trusted Status: Endangered Date Listed: 10/13/1970 Lead Region: Southeast Region (Region 4) Where Listed: Population detail: Population location: entire Listing status: E For most current information and documents related to the conservation status and management of Picoides borealis , see its USFWS Species Profile Trusted Trends Population Population Trend Trusted Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change) Comments: In the 1990s, in response to intensive management (prescribed burning, cavity management) based on a new understanding of population dynamics and new management tools, most populations were stabilized and many showed increases. Other populations remain in decline, and most have small population sizes (USFWS 2003). Most core populations within recovery units are located in national forests, and most populations in national forests appear to be stable or increasing; a few are in decline (USFWS 2003). PRESENT TRENDS: Most of the species' population lives in Florida, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (2001) estimated that populations there have increased 20 per cent since 1990. However, some of this increase is the result of increased inventory effort, not actual population increases, and the Florida Ornithological Society (2001) countered that statewide trends cannot be inferred from present data. FUTURE TRENDS: The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (2001) predicted that most, if not all occurrences on private land there could disappear within the next twenty years, and there would be a total decline in the Florida population of greater than 20 per cent over the same time. However, the Florida Ornithological Society (2001) pointed out that these predictions do not take into account the infrequent but potentially catastrophic effects of hurricanes on local populations; when they included these effects into a predictive model, they found that the vulnerability of individual populations increased tenfold. Global Long Term Trend: Decline of >90% Comments: Populations have declined by more than 97 per cent over the past 100 years (USFWS 2000, James 1995, Noss 1989). The species is extirpated in New Jersey, Maryland, Tennessee, Missouri and Kentucky. Early naturalists reported the species to be very abundant throughout its range (Audubon 1839, Howell 1932). Howell (1932) listed the red-cockaded woodpecker as "...the most abundant woodpecker..." in one north-central Florida county. Despite protection under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, all monitored populations except one declined in size between 1970 and the early 1980s (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 2000). James (1995) conservatively estimated that the range-wide population declined by at least 23% between the early 1980s and 1990. The population on the Francis Marion National Forest (South Carolina) was thought to be increasing until Hurricane Hugo destroyed most of the cavity trees and 80 per cent of the foraging habitat; the population declined about 80 per cent (Hooper et al. 1990, Hooper and McAdie 1995). Reports from many smaller populations also indicate a general decline. DeFazzio et al. (1987) and Haig et al. (1993a) described a declining population on the Savannah River Site. Baker (1983a) reported on the extirpation of a population in north Florida. A severe decline was recorded in the 1980s in eastern Texas, due largely to hardwood invasion of midstory and to isolation of cavity clusters (Conner and Rudolph 1991a, Conner and Rudolph 1991b). However, the Piedmont-Hitchiti population in the Georgia Piedmont remained relatively stable from the early 1980s to the early 1990s (Stevens 1992). In Oklahoma, the number of groups and number of individuals in a 3795-ha area declined by 62% and 75%, respectively, between 1977 and 1989-1990 (Kelly et al. 1994). See Costa and Escano (1989), McFarlane (1992), and James (1995) for information on the trends of other populations. See Eddleman and Clawson (1987) for information on the status of habitat in Missouri. Trusted Threats Threats Trusted Degree of Threat: A : Very threatened throughout its range communities directly exploited or their composition and structure irreversibly threatened by man-made forces, including exotic species Comments: Threatened by a loss of habitat (either gradually through poor management or rapidly through the outright destruction of old-growth forests), forest fragmentation, competition with other species for cavities, catastrophic events, and demographic and genetic processes affecting populations confined to isolated conservation areas (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985, Ligon et al. 1986, Walters 1991). These threats do not exist independent of one another, and collectively they may render even large populations susceptible to extinction processes over a narrow window of time (Ligon et al. 1986, Walters 1991, SNN 1990). The dependence of this species on old-growth pine forest is the single most critical factor leading to its endangered status (AOU 1991). This habitat requirement is in direct conflict with timber management policies on some public and almost all private lands (Jackson 1986, Ligon et al. 1986, AOU 1991). Private timber stands in the southeastern U.S. are generally on short rotations (less than 45 years) that do not permit trees to attain the characteristics sought by red-cockaded woodpeckers (Neel 1971, Ligon et al. 1986, Jackson 1976). Overall, only 2.5% of the current pine acreage in the southeastern U.S. is considered suitable nesting habitat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1985), and most of this exists on public lands. The few stands of old-growth timber remaining on private lands are under increasing pressures to be converted to short-rotation pine plantations (Neel 1971), and legal provisions for maintaining habitat on private lands are weak (Ligon et al. 1986). Management on many public lands focuses on maintenance of "middle-aged" trees rather than old-growth forests (Jackson 1986, Ligon et al. 1986), which again is contrary to the biological requirements of this species. Hovis and Labisky (1985), for example, found that 92% of the cavity trees on the Apalachicola National Forest were more than 80 years old, yet more than 50% of the pines on this National Forest were less than 60 years old. The consequences of such management can be seen in downward population trends reported for most major populations on public lands (Ligon et al. 1986, AOU 1991, Walters 1991) as well as the potentially unstable conditions reported for some larger populations (James 1991). Since red-cockaded woodpeckers require mature forests and have limited capacities to colonize new areas (Walters 1991), errors in management decisions may take a long time to correct. A potential decline in the growth of southeastern pine forests (Zeide 1992) could further exacerbate problems on public lands. A stable or increasing trend independent of continuing artificial cavity installation (a short-term solution) can be achieved only when large old pines are available in abundance (USFWS 2003). Hardwood encroachment is also a persistent problem on some public lands owing to the infrequent use of prescribed fires (Hooper et al. 1980, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1980, Jackson 1986, Ligon et al. 1986, Walters 1991). Hardwood encroachment has been implicated in the decline of numerous populations (Walters 1991). Beckett (1971) and Crosby (1971) were among the first to suggest that red-cockaded woodpeckers abandoned cavity trees and clusters if the hardwood midstory reached the height of the cavity entrance. This has generally been confirmed in work by Thompson and Baker (1971), Carter (1974), Van Balen and Doerr (1978), Wood (1983), and Loeb et al. (1992). It is believed that hardwood trees clustered around cavity trees provide gray rat snakes or flying squirrels, a potential nest predator and a potential nest usurper (Jackson 1974, Jackson 1978b), with access to cavities without having to cross fresh resin (Dennis 1971, Jackson 1974). Hardwood encroachment may also increase interspecific competition for cavities (Costa and Escano 1989). Finally, hardwood encroachment may also affect the flight path to a cavity (Wood 1983a, Kelly et al. 1993) or the quality of foraging habitat (Conner and Rudolph 1991a). Conner and Rudolph (1991b) found that fragmentation and isolation created by forest-harvest patterns also may threaten some populations. Since few large populations exist on lands that are not managed also for timber production (James in press), fragmentation resulting from timber harvest may threaten many populations. In comparisons of cavities with single males versus cavity clusters with breeders and helpers, Conner and Rudolph (1991b) found the larger groups had fewer clear cuts near cavity sites and less fragmentation of the available foraging habitat (see above). Conner and Rudolph (1991b) warn that it is possible to have a sufficient quantity of foraging habitat within 800 m of an active cluster, but still have insufficient arrangement of foraging habitat. In addition, Conner et al. (1991) suggest that the pattern of clear cuts could increase mortality of cavity trees through wind damage. Competition for existing cavities is a pernicious problem and may threaten some small populations (Jackson 1978a, Harlow and Lennartz 1983, Rudolph et al. 1990b, Loeb 1993). Baker (1983) monitored the decline and eventual extirpation of a small red-cockaded woodpecker population in north Florida and found that competition for cavities and aggressive interactions between red-cockaded woodpeckers and other species seemed to increase in frequency and intensity during the decline. The southern flying squirrel, which may occupy 10-21% of the cavities in some areas (Loeb 1993), is perhaps the most common usurper of red-cockaded cavities (Jackson 1978b, Harlow and Lennartz 1983, Rudolph et al. 1990, Loeb 1993), followed by (in approximate order of frequency of use) red-bellied woodpecker, red-headed woodpecker, eastern bluebird, northern flicker, great crested flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus), and tufted titmouse (Parus bicolor) (Jackson 1978b, Harlow and Lennartz 1983, Rudolph et al. 1990). Red-bellied woodpeckers may be the most frequent nest usurpers in some areas (Ligon 1970). Other species observed using woodpecker cavities very infrequently include gray rat snake, brown-headed nuthatch, broad-headed skink (Eumeces laticeps), gray tree frog (Hyla versicolor), fox squirrel (Sciurus niger), screech owl (OTIS Asio), five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus), and honey bee (Apis mellifera) (Baker 1971, Dennis 1971b, Jackson 1978, Harlow and Lennartz 1983). Data on the invertebrates using red-cockaded woodpecker cavities is rarely collected (Dennis 1971a, b, Baker 1971). Usurpation of cavities by any of these species may be to the detriment of red-cockaded woodpeckers. Flying squirrels were the major competitor for nest cavities in Texas (Rudolph et al. 1990) and South Carolina (Loeb 1993), but competition was not thought to be a major factor influencing the stability of the woodpecker population in Texas (Rudolph et al. 1990). There is little evidence of predation by flying squirrels during the nesting season (Harlow and Doyle 1990). Walters (1991) contended that flying squirrels represent a minor management problem since they do not enlarge the entrance of the cavity. On the other hand, other types of woodpeckers may significantly modify cavities, and once cavity has been modified, it is rarely used again by red- cockaded woodpeckers (Walters 1991). The pileated woodpecker is particularly destructive since it enlarges a large number of red-cockaded cavities (Jackson 1978a, Walters 1991). There are at least two reasons why cavities enlarged by other woodpeckers are abandoned. Enlarged cavities frequently fill with rain water, and enlarged cavities enable avian and mammalian predators to remove roosting red-cockaded woodpeckers (Jackson 1978). Conner and Rudolph (1995) documented a high rate of southern pine beetle-caused mortality of cavity trees in the Angelina National Forest in Texas. This resulted in a high rate of use of artificial cavities. Trees with cavity inserts may produce less resin and provide less favorable protection against snake predation. CATASTROPHIC EVENTS: Hurricanes, epizootic diseases, and, to a lesser extent, beetle infestations) affect populations periodically. The isolated nature of existing populations makes catastrophic events a cause for concern since natural recolonization is unlikely. When Hurricane Hugo passed through South Carolina on September 21- 22, 1989, it destroyed almost half of the 100 km2 of mature forest on the Francis Marion National Forest (Hooper et al. 1990). The storm reduced the population of woodpeckers by a staggering 63%, and it destroyed 87% of known active cavity clusters (Hooper et al. 1990). Although about 700 birds survived, there were only 225 cavities remaining. The hurricane also destroyed an estimated 50-60% of the foraging habitat, and it is believed that it may take 75 years for the forest to be suitable habitat for red-cockaded woodpeckers (Hooper et al. 1990, Hamrick 1992). Cavity trees may also be killed by the southern pine beetle (Berlanger et al. 1988, Conner et al. 1991). In Texas, pine beetles killed 53% of the 453 cavity trees monitored (Conner et al. 1991). FRAGMENTATION: The fragmentation and isolation of managed populations within the historic range of the species may threaten to reduce genetic diversity (Ligon et al. 1986) and increase the probabilities of extinction as a result of demographic and environmental fluctuations (Shaffer 1981, Walters 1991). Stangel et al. (1992) found that genetic heterozygosity at 16 presumed gene loci was weakly correlated with population size (smaller populations having less heterozygosity). However, heterozygosity in all populations analyzed fell within "normal" ranges for birds, and this correlation appeared to be heavily influenced by data from two small populations. Ligon et al. (1986) stressed that threats posed by inbreeding and genetic deterioration could extinguish small populations, while Haig et al. (1993a) proposed that inbreeding may present a serious to the viability of small populations (<20 active clusters). Walters (1991) cautioned against the use of genetic criteria in assessing the importance of populations. The genetic models used to predict population viability are extremely imprecise (Koenig 1988, Reed et al. 1993), and analyses presented by Lande (1988) suggested that demography and environmental stochasticity pose a much greater threat to small populations. Stangel et al. (1992) also cautioned against treating small populations as "lost causes" based on the perceived threat of genetic deterioration. Trusted Management Conservation Actions The emphasis has been on site-specific rather than ecosystem-level management5. Intensive activities include translocating young females from natal sites to groups lacking a female, constructing artificial cavities4, and fitting restrictor plates to prevent D. pileatus enlarging cavities8. Habitat is managed (regular burning and understorey clearance) on some federal lands, but not always appropriately4. In South Carolina the "Safe Harbor" scheme offers financial incentives to private landowners who undertake beneficial management prescriptions12. Conservation Actions Proposed Monitor populations, especially where managed. Implement ecosystem-level management6. Provide incentives for landowners to maintain/enhance habitat1,7. Fit restrictor plates only where cavities are scarce8. Document and monitor translocations5. Adapt management to ecological variations5. Replace even-aged forest management with selective or no cutting5. Establish habitat corridors (e.g. along highways)4. Trusted Restoration Potential: The time required for restoration depends mostly on the age of potential cavity trees in an area, the degree of hardwood encroachment, the size of the area (i.e., the capacity to support several active cavity clusters), and other conditions. If suitable habitat conditions do not exist, restoration may take many decades. Hooper et al. (1990) estimated that it may take 75 years for the Francis Marion National Forest to become suitable red- cockaded woodpecker habitat following the effects of Hurricane Hugo. The slow rate of habitat colonization exhibited by red-cockaded woodpeckers (Walters 1990) implies it will be difficult to re-establish extirpated populations. Population augmentation is being used to enhance populations on some national forests (Hess and Costa, in press). However, a reintroduction attempted in an unoccupied area in Georgia (Odom 1983) did not result in the establishment of a population. After 2.5 years, only 2 of the 12 translocated birds were known to survive, although one pair was observed breeding in the first year following translocation (Odom 1983). Other translocation programs have met with mixed success (Reinman 1984, DeFazio et al. 1987). Preserve Selection and Design Considerations: The minimum amount of land needed for a single group of birds likely falls within the general range of 40-160 hectares (Hooper et al. 1980, SNN 1990); habitat quality will influence the specific area requirements (Conner and Rudolph 1991a). South Florida range sizes lie towards the upper end of the range provided here; adjustments should be made accordingly. The area needed to sustain a "viable" population will depend on the definition of viability. SNN (1990) suggested that sites with fewer than 50 active clusters were vulnerable to extinction. SSN (1990) furthermore suggested the following thresholds can be used as a coarse gauge of population stability, with stability increasing dramatically at each level: Level 1. An unoccupied area, but with potential habitat that could be occupied, should be a minimum of 40-160 hectares. Level 2. A population of 6-7 breeding pairs that can be sustained for a 20-year period, or longer, even in an isolated condition, would require about 240-1120 hectares. Level 3. A population with a "genetically desirable" condition of 25 active clusters capable of short-term viability (e.g. 50+ years), would require a minimum area of about 1,000-4,000 hectares. Level 4. A "desirable condition" of 400 breeding pairs to achieve long-term recovery of populations would require a minimum area of about 16,000-64,000 hectares. An additional consideration (SNN 1990, Walters 1991) is the percentage of solitary males in the population. This percentage varies from site to site (10-35%) (Walters 1990, James 1991), and minimum area requirements may need to be increased by 10-35% accordingly. However, appropriate habitat and population management should be capable of bringing area requirements towards the lower end of the ranges described above, except perhaps in South Florida where consistently larger home ranges are reported (Nesbitt et al. 1983a, Delotelle et al. 1983). Another preserve design consideration is the imperative for frequent prescribed burning. Large-scale burning may be difficult in preserves near dense human populations, airports, and major highways. See Brenner and Wade (1992) for information on "smoke easements" in areas where residential developments adjoin management areas (Brenner and Wade 1992). The short dispersal distances characteristic of this species imply that preserve designs should focus on populations as isolated groups (SNN 1990). The chances of populations frequently interacting over a large distances are slim (Simberloff et al. 1992), and efforts to connect some populations may prove ineffective. SNN (1990) recommended that 27 km represented the maximum distance over which two semi-isolated populations might interact frequently. SNN (1990) warned that a stable population would not likely consist of isolated clusters strung out towards the outer extreme of this estimated dispersal distance. See Jackson (1976), Walters (1988), and Ligon et al. (1986) for discussion of the possible use of highway rights-of-way as dispersal corridors. According to Lennartz and Henry (1985) and SSN 1(1990), 15 distinct populations, each consisting of 500 active clusters, are needed to assure the future survival of the species. Dispersion of such populations probably will be dictated largely by the distribution of existing large public lands, but data on geographic genetic variation (Stangel et al. 1992) suggest that preserves should include populations from across the range of the species. A broad geographic dispersion of protected populations also reduces the threat posed by somewhat localized events such as hurricanes (Shaffer 1981, Cox et al. 1994). The protection or enhancement of non-coastal populations may also help to guard against hurricanes. Management Requirements: See ES.OPT1 and ES.OPT2 for MGMT.REQS. Management Programs: U.S. Forest Service: Robert G. Hooper (Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Charleston, SC): involved with the use of artificial cavity structures to augment/restore populations. David Allen (U.S. Forest Service, Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Department of Forest Resources, Clemson University, SC): involved with translocation experiments on national forests. Dennis Krusac and Jim Walker (U.S. Forest Service, Atlanta, GA): analyzing the effects of new timber-harvest regimes. Forrest L. Oliveria (Forest Pest Management, Pineville, LA): studying pine beetle management. Warren G. Montague (Poteau Ranger District, Fayetteville, AK): studying means of reducing mortality to snake predation and cavity losses to squirrel activities. Ernest E. Stevens (Department of Forest Resources, Clemson University, Clemson, SC): analyzing population viability. Craig Watson (Forest Service, Moncks Corner, SC): involved with the restoration of woodpecker population on the Francis Marion National Forest.. Joe Reinman (St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, St. Marks, FL) and David Richardson (Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, Brooksville, MS): applied intensive management techniques to 2 small populations. University Personnel: David Kulhavy (College of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX): working on the impact of southern pine beetles, the effects of midstory removal on cavity clusters, and landscape disturbances in cavity clusters. Joseph Neal (Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Service, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AK): developing exclusion devises for rat snakes and flying squirrels. J. H. Carter, III, and Jeffrey Walters (Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC): investigating the use and effectiveness of artificial cavity structures. Richard N. Conner and D. Craig Rudolph (Southern Forest Experiment Station, Stephen Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX): working on dynamics of cavity excavation and effects of wind damage. Jerome Jackson (Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS): investigating the effects of timber harvest. State Agencies: Robert Epting (St. Johns River Water Management District, Palatka, FL): worked on forest stand selection and management. Jim Cox (Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Tallahassee, Florida): worked on conservation planning and application of GIS technology. Nongovernmental Groups: R. Todd Engstrom (Tall Timbers Research Station): using artificial cavities and developing conservation strategies for private lands in south Georgia. Reed Bowman (Archbold Biological Station): measuring response of populations to different management programs. Roy DeLotelle (DeLotelle and Guthrie, Inc., Gainesville, FL): developed management plans for a population on private lands in central Florida. A regional conservation program is being attempted for private hunting plantations in south Georgia (Anonymous, no date). Most of these lands have been profitably managed using a selective harvest regime for nearly 50 years (Neel 1971). Monitoring Programs: U.S. Forest Service: Robert G. Hooper (Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Charleston, SC): determining suitable monitoring programs for the U.S. Forest Service, monitoring impacts of hurricanes. Ron Escano (U.S. Forest Service, Atlanta, GA): monitoring population recovery and forest management. University Personnel: Susan Loeb and Kay Franzreb (Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Department of forest Resources, Clemson University): respectively, monitoring turnover rates of nest cavities and the use of global positioning systems. J. H. Carter, III, and Jeffrey Walters (Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina): monitor a large population using banding techniques and annual cavity searches. Frances James (Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida): applied vegetation and population monitoring techniques to the population on the Apalachicola National Forest, monitoring the dynamics of cavity use in 2 populations in Florida. U.S. Department of Defense: Carl Petrick (Natural Resource Branch, Eglin Air Force Base, Niceville, FL) and Bob Progulske (Avon Park Air Force Base, Avon Park, FL): mapped cavity locations using geographic information systems technology and developed state-of-the-art monitoring procedures. Similarly detailed programs have been completed for Avon Park Air Force Range (Bob Progulske, Avon Park Air Force Range, Avon Park, FL) and Ft. Benning (John Duvesky, The Nature Conservancy, Ft. Benning, GA). State Agencies: Brent Ortego (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Austin, TX): investigating monitoring nesting success in Texas national forests. Dana Bradshaw (Virginia Dept. Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond, VA): monitored habitat use by a relict population in sub-optimal habitats. Julie Hovis (Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, Ocala, FL): inventoried a large population using global positioning units. Nongovernmental Organizations: Roy DeLotelle (DeLotelle and Guthrie, Inc., Gainesville, FL): developed management plans for a population on private lands in central Florida. R. Todd Engstrom (Tall Timbers Research Station): monitoring a translocation experiment necessitated by a road construction project, as well as the status of a large population in south Georgia. Management Research Programs: U.S. Forest Service: Chuck Hess (U.S. Forest Service, Crawfordville, FL and Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL): investigating food habits using a stomach and crop flushing technique. Robert G. Hooper (Southeastern Forest Experiment Station, Charleston, SC): investigating response to loss of foraging habitat in a population with high densities.. University Personnel: Dixie Reaves (Dept. Economics, Duke University, Durham, NC): performing economic valuations of red-cockaded woodpecker habitat. Richard Conner and Craig Rudolph (College of Forestry, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX): investing the influence of landscape patterns on wind and beetle damage to cavity trees as well as how birds detect red heart infections. Jeffrey Walters (Department of Zoology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC) and co-workers: investigating the long-term response of populations to drilled artificial cavities. Nongovernmental Organizations: Todd Engstrom (Tall Timber Research Station, Tallahassee, FL): investigating forest management practices on private lands in Georgia and their economic impacts and effects on woodpeckers. Robert McFarlane (McFarlane and Associates, Houston, TX): investigating the relationship between woodpecker body size and foraging territory. Management Research Needs: Under the heading of "Population Dynamics," SSN (1990) identified the following research needs: (1) survey populations and habitat on private lands, especially near sensitive populations on public lands (<50 active cavity clusters) or private lands with potentially large populations (e.g., southern Georgia and southern Florida); (2) determine whether corridors are used to move from one area to another, or from one cluster of cavities to another (see Simberloff et al. 1992); (3) determine whether barriers of more than 8 km (5 miles) are crossed; (4) ascertain what constitutes an effective barrier to movement; (5) examine the population dynamics of small/isolated groups, including regional variation and demographic characteristics; (6) collect data to verify the basis for recommending that 400 breeding pairs would maximize long-term recovery, and determine the minimum number of populations needed for recovery (also assess viability, including environmental, demographic, and genetic characteristics); (7) examine effects of competition on reproductive success; (8) evaluate the impact of cavity competitors; (9) assess the characteristics of effective dispersal perhaps with the assistance of models; (10) monitor and analyze failures of clusters of cavities; (11) examine the survival probabilities of various populations sizes as a function of isolation, habitat, and timber management; (12) analyze survival probabilities of different stands being affected by catastrophic events -- generated from existing data; and (13) conduct a detailed survey of population size. Under the heading of "Reproduction and Nesting," SSN (1990) identified 4 management and research topics: (1) study the effects of disturbance, such as noise and physical disturbance, and the timing, frequency, and duration of such disturbances; (2) collect and evaluate information on methods or protecting red-cockaded cavity trees from southern pine beetle; (3) assess the effectiveness of artificial cavities on actually increasing habitat; and (4) determine the feasibility and impacts of translocation to unoccupied suitable habitat. Under the heading of "Foraging," five topics were identified (SSN 1990): (1) examine regional differences in the quality of foraging habitat; (2) develop a greater understanding of the effects of prey base on the dynamics of foraging; (3) collect more information on the impacts of hardwood removal as it affects foraging; (4) determine how foraging habitat should be configured, including age and distribution of tree species, average basal area, average diameter, stems per acre, etc.; and (5) develop a better understanding of the prey base, particularly the wood-boring ant that is found in nestling diets. Under the heading of "Integrated Management" (SSN 1990), the following topics were identified: (1) collect more information on the impacts of converting even-aged to uneven-aged stands; (2) collect more information on management in urbanizing areas; (3) conduct more research on shortleaf and loblolly systems; (4) design and conduct research on the use of an area-wide approach to management, including an assessment of ecosystem management techniques on different forest types. Trusted Global Protection: Many to very many (13 to >40) occurrences appropriately protected and managed Comments: Many occurrences are on protected lands that are now managed appropriately for this species. A total of 245 occurrences are listed as protected or preserved. Although 2800 to 6000 breeding groups are supported on 98 federal or state properties, most are small, isolated, or exist in poor quality habitat; only 13 public properties support more than 275 birds (USFWS 2000). Lennartz et al. (1983) estimated that more than 3,000 active sites occurred on federal lands in the early 1980s, or about 75% of all known active sites (James 1995). Needs: See recovery plan (USFWS 2003). Trusted Relevance to Humans and Ecosystems Benefits) Trusted Economic Uses Comments: At historic abundance levels, may be an important element in the control of pine beetle populations (McFarlane 1992). Trusted Risks Stewards). Trusted Wikipedia Red-cockaded Woodpecker The Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) is a woodpecker found in southeastern North America. Description The Red-cockaded Woodpecker is small to mid-sized species, being intermediate in size between North America's).[1][2]).–12 days. Once hatched, the nestlings remain in the nest cavity for about. Distribution and habitat The Red-cockaded Woodpecker has been the focus of conservation efforts even before the passing of the Endangered Species Act in 1970. In Florida, pair.[5] In an effort to increase the Red-cockaded Woodpecker population, states such as Texas, Louisiana,.[6].[7].[8] See also References - BirdLife International (2004). Picoides borealis. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006.. Retrieved on 5 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is vulnerable - US Fish and Wildlife Service, Red-cockaded woodpecker - Ebird Red-cockaded Woodpecker US Distribution - W.G.Jones State Forest, Conroe,TX - ^ [1] - ^ [2] - ^ [3] - ^ Woodpeckers: An Identification Guide to the Woodpeckers of the World by Hans Winkler, David A. Christie & David Nurney. Houghton Mifflin (1995), ISBN 978-0395720431 - ^ Richard N. Conner, Brian A. Locke. Effects of a Prescribed Burn on Cavity Trees of Red-Cockaded Woodpeckers.. JSTOR 3782042. Unreviewed Names and Taxonomy Taxonomy Comments: This species exhibits little geographic variation in morphology (Mengel and Jackson 1977). Subspecies recognized in AOU (1957) currently are regarded as not worthy of recognition. Relative to other species of birds, there is a large among-population component of genetic variance; genetic distance among populations increases with geographic distance; small populations should not be considered "lost causes" from a genetic standpoint--they are important as reservoirs of unique genetic combinations and help facilitate gene flow among larger populations (Stangel et al. 1992). Jackson (1971) proposed that a population of hairy woodpeckers was isolated in Florida during an inter-glacial period and eventually gave rise to the red-cockaded woodpecker. This proposition is based on morphological comparisons of isolated populations of hairy woodpeckers, which exhibit phenotypic characteristics similar to red-cockaded woodpeckers. Trusted Disclaimer EOL content is automatically assembled from many different content providers. As a result, from time to time you may find pages on EOL that are confusing. To request an improvement, please leave a comment on the page. Thank you!

5 Things You Never Knew About Spotlight Many. Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro: Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.. Since I’ve enable the file vault, Spotlight hasn’t been working was expected. Does anyone know why that happens? I have been using Google Desktop since then, but quite frankly, that scares me. I think you’re all high. Neither the calculator nor the dictionary tricks work for me. What’s the trick to getting these to work? I use a lot of ‘kind:’ terms in the Spotlight menu. To speed it up I use TextExpander to expand them. For example I type kmo which expands to kind:movie ‘then type the search’. kpp expands to kind:photoshop ‘type the search’. kdd expands to kind:del.icio.us ‘type the search’ etc… I’ve built up quite a few of them & they’re really handy for narrowing down what you want to search for. I agree with Joey. The new search results window is awful compared to Tiger’s. Doesn’t remember column widths, doesn’t keep the search within a folder if you search from within a particular folder (defaults to ‘This Mac’ instead). Doesn’t remember smart folder window sizes. Doesn’t group by category (as good as it did in Tiger). yttrx, why not use find properly instead of creating a temporary file: find /* -exec grep -i “whatever” {} ; I am really puzzled by Spotlight. If I enter a term like “label”, knowing I have several document files with label in the file name, SPotlight will return 20-25 results, including 5-6 doc files, and NEVER find even one of the files. Is there any way to set Spotlight so that it will first return files with the search term in the filename? Quicksilver, for example, returns five files with label in the filename as its first results. If only Leopard’s Spotlight allowed me to sort my search results by size or date modified, it would be as functional as computer searches were 10 years ago! This command will look for “whatever”, case insensitive in the file contents. find /* -exec grep -i “whatever” {} ; This command find /* >> /biglist && grep -i “whatever” /biglist Will look for whatever, case insensitive, in the file NAMES. This command man find will teach you both the correct ways of doing what you’re trying to do properly, one of which is find / -ipath ‘*whatever*’ # Those are single quotes But spotlight is faster, because it uses an index. So, if all you want is filenames, the command you should be using is probably locate, which also uses a database. Welcome to unix. Now get off my lawn. Yeah I agree, the search results window is ridiculously badly designed in Mac OS. I spent $2000 on my apple, and it can’t even perform basic functions. Yeah I was duped, I believed the hype about Mac OS being better than XP, and I bought an Apple instead of a new PC with Vista or XP. If you strip the fancy icons, Mac OS is pathetically archaic. I mean look at Finder! It looks like it was designed 20 years ago! It doesn’t sort folders first before files, (don’t say “just sort by kind”, it doesn’t work), it places icons and folders all over the place wherever it feels it (get this Windows users, icons appear on top of each other sometimes! Imagine a folder in Explorer appearing on top of another folder – well it does in Mac OS). And there is no folder tree!!! NO FOLDER TREE!!!! By default “Finder” doesn’t even show you a folder path in the title bar, you have to set this with some secret frigging menu. Oh & there is no “up one directory” icon – and yes there is a big difference between “Back” and “Up one Folder” – Windows Explorer has both, by the way. PS any Windows users reading this, “Finder” is Mac OS’s “Explorer” – oh and another thing is that makes Mac OS look like it was designed in the 70s is the lack of a taskbar. Yep there is no taskbar in Mac – so let’s sum it up, Mac OS has a pathetic, ancient “explorer” that DOES NOT EVEN HAVE A FOLDER TREE VIEW IN 2009!!!! – and the OS has no task bar. Oh and Alt-Tab moves between programs and not between WINDOWS! Don’t believe the hype, stick to windows if you want a usable interface. Mac users are just sour and can’t admit that Mac OS is badly designed because they had to spend so much money to buy a Mac in the first place. Who is gonna admit their brand new $2500 laptop is more difficult to use than a $500 Dell equivalent? Not many. Please ignore the above poster, because as all intelligent Mac users know most of… if not all… of what he said is complete rubbish. I’m sorry, but it really is. First of all, Finder is not bad in anyway (obviously there are faults as with everything, but on the whole it is great) and neither is it outdated / obsolete. Why should it sort folders before files? It is giving you a choice, if I tell it to sort in alphabetical order I expect it to do just that regardless of whether it is sorting folders or files. It just makes sense. If you want folders before files, tell it to sort by kind… As to it having icons on top of each other… well this is another preference (that is turned off by default) that is there to give the user the choice to arrange icons anyway they like. Oh, and yes it has no obvious folder tree because none is needed in the vase majority of cases… and if you do need it it is two clicks away (view -> show path bar) – terribly hard to find I know… And actually it is there anyway, all you have to do is right click on the name of the folder in the title bar, or enable the icon that does it. As to up one folder… either press cmd + up arrow, or use the folder path tree thing. In other words it has all the features the above poster thinks it’s missing, not to mention extra ones like quicklook and the much more functional sidebar. And anyway, why does it need a taskbar… that is an archaic notion really. The dock achieves the same thing in much greater style. Use stacks to launch any apps you don’t keep in the dock. Just so you know most other OSs use a similar idea to OS X, in the way of having a bar at the top and some form of dock. Infact, did you know that the next version of Windows, Windows 7, is basically changing the taskbar into a rip off of the dock in OS X. Doesn’t that say something? As to alt + tab… well that isn’t right. Cmd + tab switches between apps, cmd + ` switches between windows, so it has both :P So really at the end of the day, Mac OS X has every feature that the above thinks it doesn’t (plus so many more), he just obviously never took to time to learn how to effectively use it. Just wanted to clear that up. According to Spotlight, I have Pages, Keynote, iWeb, but not iPhoto or iTunes. All exist in the applications folder, though. I wonder what happened to iPhoto & iTunes? Or what their real names are? According to Sam, there’s clearly some anti-mac comment over there without any sense… I was a PC user since decades (start on DOS on a 8086) and grow up with all Microsoft OS. The last month, I finally bought a new macbook and switch to OS X. Except few tiny little things (some PC habits), I switched VERY VERY quickly to OS X…. and I like it better once I learned the philosophy and trick (shortcut, etc…) Spotlight is really awesome and ever great fine to me. For whom wants to search by date, etc… you can easily Option+Cmd+Space bar and then do a spotlight search in Finder and then precise any kind of criteria you want (date of creation, type of search, etc…etc…). And it’s as fast than doing a CMD+space bar to open spotlight on the top right corner. For the Tree View? Who the hell still want that one you get OS X? Anyway, you can show the path bar…. or even have it on the top bar with after apply a command line describe here: The Task Manager… Again? Who cares to control the background process and all DLL, etc… All we need is something that runs… period! And if you want to know what is open, there’s a little blue shadow on the dock which means the application is open. Also, it’s pretty easy to add or remove application in the auto-start by CMD+Clic on the icon in the dock and check/uncheck the “Open in Login” thing. Start Menu? For who like the start menu to find application, you can easily drag and drop your Application folder in your Dock and show it as a List. I currently have 170+ apps (yeah, I install everything I wanted and needed to work) and everything is reachable in two clicks only. And there’s also a tons of trick and shortcut very practical to help to use OS X very quickly and easily. Once we know better the philosophy behind OS X, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this OS or Finder. My only concerned was the Maximizing window and double click on the top barre to be honest… I finally install Glims which provide a nice CMD+Shift+M to maximize my Safari windows when I need. (and even some great feature such re-open a window or tab you accidently close), expand the search engine, etc… But, of course, there’s always some thing we would like to see better… and that’s what I would like with Spotlight and the fact to be able to expand a category… Let’s say I search pictures from my last travel in “New-York”; I will have a lot of result from my email, document and website I consulted before my travel… and I will have few pictures only… I would like a way to Shift or Option + Click on a category to expand it and have more result for this category only. Bottom Line? Stop thinking Windows…. and start learning OS X is you bought a Mac! Bye, Spid Ok, to Sam – what is it with you mac users that you cannot take criticism? Why am I not allowed to have an opinion – instead of disagreeing with me, you just say I am plain wrong. This is typical of mac users- I am sorry, but I think Finder is the worst file manager program I have used in years. If you like it so much, great- I am pleased for you. I, however, hate it. One more thing I’d like to say: A tree view is not pointless – “none is needed in the vase majority of cases” – this is quite honestly a ridiculous statement (misspellings aside). And the funny thing is, if Snow Leopard’s Finder is redesigned to include a tree view, I would bet the mac community would go berserk and praise this wonderful “new” feature (20 years too late). Also a taskbar is extremely useful and is not an “archaic notion” – every single OS I can think of uses one, from Solaris to Gnome and KDE – you think that all of those companies are wrong? The dock is a huge waste of space and doesn’t actually do a very good job. Again, try minimizing 10 apps in the dock. Sorry but a taskbar is superior in every way, except looks perhaps. Incidentally all the OSes I mentioned above also have a tree view explorer. I am sure after spending so much money on your mac you will want to defend it no matter what- even to the point where any feature or aspect of Mac OS is beyond criticism. This is what I dislike about the mac community so much – comments like your one, Sam – where you cannot think a bad thing about the OS. If I think Finder is useless, I am wrong. If I dislike the dock, I am stupid or I don’t know how to use the system. I can give you an example: when I first got my mac I wanted to know how to delete files with a keyboard shortcut, and I wrote in a forum that I thought it was strange that the “Delete” key does not actually delete files, like in Windows, Solaris, and every other OS. One commenter wrote back to me: “delete doesn’t delete an item, it’s command-delete. Deleting items with the delete key makes no sense to me”. Yes I am not joking, the guy thought that the key labeled “Del” makes no sense as the shortcut for deleting files. I was just wrong to assume the delete key would delete a file. Another example: I had a problem with cutting and pasting and i found this comment by one mac user about the buggy behaviour of cutting and pasting in Mac OS “avoiding this bug in the Leopard Finder should be easy: Never move a file.” I am not joking, that is a direct quote. Use Google and you’ll find the original post. It is quite hilarious. I can’t blame Apple for its users, or its fans. But comments like Sam’s are the main reason I’ll stop using Apple computers. To the last comment: Dude… you are completely free to think what you want; like or dislike OS X. Nobody will force you to buy and use one. And of course, absolutely no OS is perfect and we would always like some ameliorations. i.e., In Finder, I would like an additional type of Arrangement, because I like my habits of having the folder first in alphanumerical order and then the files…. but that’s surely because I’m a old Windows user. Of course, there’s some trick and the other type of order that are also very interesting in some way, but it would be great to have this mode and have a button to switch quickly during the browsing. So, yes… as you can see, I don’t think Finder is perfect… but I also want to mention we all need to plainly understand how a system work before to give an opinion. Finder is one of the base of OS X, (as Explorer is for Windows), then it’s crucial to forgot some of the habit of one system to work the way we should with the other one. The Tree for example is available in some way. There’s the Path View (already mentioned), but also the List View. There’s the little arrow in front of each folder you can expand and then go deeper and deeper in the ‘tree’. BTW, it’s exactly the same design used in Vista tree. The only difference? In Windows there’s 2 splited window… one for the tree only and one for the ‘result’. In Finder, the left side isn’t for the tree. But it doesn’t mean you don’t have it in the right, which contain both tree and result if you are in List or CoverFlow View. In OS X the left side is used for the “sources”, such the devices, places, etc… To be honest, after some times with, I like it better. It makes senses and that’s pretty fast and easy to access to what I’m looking at. Regarding the Task Manager: OS X is a user focus system, where Window is a machine focus system. What that means? That means in Windows you will have a Task Manager with all of your process (even if you don’t know what they are used for, or even if an application use more than 1 process to run). And that’s how you have over 80 process, exe, dll, etc… listed in the task manager. In OS X, there’s a different approach which is User focus… that means, focus on what an User (even the dumbiest user) could understand. That’s why only the applications are listed in the “Task Manager”. A OS X User doesn’t care to know there’s 1 or more than 1 process to run an application he wants to use. The “Task Manager” in OS X is the “Force Quit Application”, which is accessible with CMD+OPTION+ESC. I admit this window is very simple and doesn’t have all information such (CPU use, memory use, etc…)… Honestly, I never need it so far, even thought it would be great to be able to have something a bit complete (at least for the CPU and memory use). Regarding the Task Bar now… as explain, it’s the dock. Ok, you probably don’t like the dock… OK, but that’s the way Apple choose to show in OS X. Do you know you can customize the dock a lot? First you just have to drag an icon out of the dock to remove it and then remove everything useless… or even have a complete empty dock (such the Windows Taskbar). Then, you can build your own stacks (such one with your all Application, and called it: START). It would be a bit silly to do that… but it would work fine. The Stacks are useful to have lot of icons and save some spaces in your dock… On my “little” 13.3″ screen, I already have 25 icons spaces in the dock… 25 apps in the Windows Taskbar won’t be better anyway. And if you have a look on the Windows 7 Taskbar, it’s just a Windows version of the Dock. Don’t get me wrong, everybody knows each company copy what an other company does well. It’s true for Windows, OS X, Linux, etc… Apple also did copy Microsoft for few things in the past… and vice versa. Regarding the Delete command… I know you will perhaps not like this reply, but you don’t delete file on OS X. You move them to the trash. So, there’s some logic somewhere why “Del” key doesn’t make sense to move a file… even thought, to move it on the trash. And now the last thing (and not the least)… Regarding the reply from Mac Users. You know what? Honestly I don’t care because I’ve been a PC Users for over 20 years (including Linux and FreeBSD for my servers, Solaris for my sun rack, QNX and BeOS to test for fun) and a Mac User for few months only. I don’t care what people (both Mac or PC Users) think because I talk on my own. I became a Mac User lately and seriously don’t regret because it’s the first time I enjoy really using a computer and not having to deal with all-day-long. But I’m not a Apple Fanboy and anti-MS or anti-Windows neither… The only thing I ever notice is: It’s always the same thing… you said Mac guys react always the same way, but let me tell you: Win Guys too! Win Guys always complain about how apple product are expensive, and how great windows is too and how they don’t like OS X… So what? Fine… Who cares then? Just don’t buy Apple Product, don’t use Mac OS X and stay with Windows…. period! Do I go to a Windows Forum or Blog to complain how many time I lost my work when my Windows unit crashed, or how many times I lost to try to make it work, and how great OS X is? I understand you probably don’t like the reply from Sam, from me or other people. But the fact is, we just explain you how it works and how it is conceived to be used. A system is complex and nobody can claim to know every single trick, tips, command, shortcut, etc… Then, if you don’t like the reply, don’t kill the messenger. Do what you think is great for you. If you don’t like the way Finder works, you can still try some alternative and 3rd party “File Manager” application…. and if nothing works as you wish, just stop using OS X… It’s your right as any consumer. But there’s no reason to try to convince someone else to follow a choice you do for yourself… The best way is to know how each system works and choose the one which makes more sense for us… that’s it! my 2 cents, Spid Поживем.. Соглашусь с partseoru , принимаю участие! I knew about the calculator) : Какие нужные слова… супер, отличная фраза можно было бы и без матесьма ценное мнение + всмысле? Замечательно, это ценное сообщение Своевременный топик это точно !! И что из этого следует? клип онлайн бесплатно Depeche Mode – Never Let Me Down Again – Depeche mode personal jesus official video Интересная статья. Думаю Spotlight, действительно, интересная штука. Oh boy, here we go again. It’s funny how most Mac users can’t even distinguish between a path and a tree – most likely because they’re not familiar with other OSs. Still, they seem to know that the finder is the best thing in the world, amazing! In addition, and even worse, they (e.g. Sam) don’t get that a folder and a file are something entirely different and accordingly should not have the same priority when sorted. I’ll explain that: A folder CONTAINS files and thus is hierarchically above files! The consequence of ignoring this fact, as the finder does, is that you don’t see immediately, if the folder you currently examine contains other folders which may contain what you’re looking for! This is so incredibly stupid! In a large folder, you have to scroll down to see if the file hierarchy continues or not! And, Sam, you’re not given an option to sort folders up – if you sort by kind, folders will appear at kind “f” (for “f”older) which may be somewhere in the middle of a big folder so you have to scroll down! That other guy already mentioned that but you ignored it, good job! Ironically, if the finder at least had a folder tree, that problem would not exist! ROFL! Now you may say that for finding a file you don’t need a file organization at all because there’s spotlight or QS, right? Unfortunately this is entirely wrong for the following two reasons: First, you would have to always know the name of what you’re looking for. This is not even always the case if the file was created by yourself (because you may have forgotten how you named it) and it’s NEVER the case for any files you didn’t create! Second, it doesn’t work if the name is used several times. That happens ever and always in professional applications, which automatically generate e.g. log files etc.! I could go on and on … Actually, I will: No CUT possible in finder!?!?! That gets me so mad! How often did I copy, then paste and then NEED TO GO BACK to delete the source!? And how easy would it be to change that in OSX …?! And, NO, drag and drop is a poor substitute, because you need to either open two finders and navigate in both to the source and the target folder. Or do this awkward navigation of dragging the stuff onto one of your places, then onto the next hierarchical level and so on, until you’re finally at the destination – and while doing that, always you have to keep the mouse button pressed! Again, ironically, with a folder tree, the problem wouldn’t exist! I worked on both PCs and Macs for four years now in parallel. For me, OSX has but one advantage over Win7, and that’s renaming files while they’re open, really good. But that’s the only one I can think of! Well, have fun using Macs and keep paying heaps of money for medium performance, design and an OS that only noobs appreciate and the disadvantages of which only noobs tolerate. Смотреть Видео клипы онлайн Keane Enjoy The Silence ( Depeche mode cover )

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A region-by-region outlook in Oregon: NORTHWEST REGION DEER Wilson unit: Look at logged areas, including the lower Wilson River, upper North Fork Nehalem River, Gales Creek, Lost Lake and Camp Olson areas. Trask unit: Some of the best hunting is on private timberland harvested within three to five years. Consider in the east the upper portions of the Yamhill River and upper Willamina Creek. Walk-in hunters can explore the Upper Tualatin-Trask Travel Management Area west of Henry Hagg Lake. Saddle Mountain unit: Look at upper Youngs River and Big Creek in Clatsop County and Crooked Creek, Rock Creek and Clear Creek in Columbia County. Santiam unit: Buck ratios remain high. Snow high in the Mount Hood National Forest will improve tracking and make deer more visible. Closer in, look at the upper Collawash and Clackamas rivers, Ripplebrook, Abiqua Creek, Timothy Lake and upper Eagle Creek. Stott Mountain unit: Numbers might be improving in the central part but decline going west. Indigo, McKenzie units: Buck ratios are high in north Indigo. Strong deer populations are on Weyerhaeuser property in the Wendling and Fall Creek management blocks. Alsea, Siuslaw units: Numbers might be improving in north central Alsea. ELK Wilson unit: Bull survival was very high from last year's hunting season. Popular areas are the Kilchis River, Cook Creek, upper North Fork Nehalem River, Lost Lake and Camp Olson. Trask unit: High bull escapement last year should make for average to good hunting. In the west, areas with open habitats include upper Tillamook River, Wilson River tributaries, upper Yamhill River and upper Trask River. Saddle Mountain unit: Hunting probably will be average because last year's hunters did so well. Areas with high elk numbers and open habitat include upper Youngs River, Big Creek, lower Necanicum River and upper Rock Creek. Scappoose unit: Hunting should be average to good. Popular areas include Cedar Creek, Baker Point, Elk Creek and Buxton. Santiam unit: Expect poor hunting on public lands, average on lower-elevation private timberlands. At lower elevations, look at Abiqua Basin, Butte Creek and Eagle Creek. Stott Mountain unit: Hunters should look in the South Fork Siletz River, Fanno Ridge, Gravel Creek, Mill Creek, Elk Creek, Euchre Creek and the mainstem Siletz River. Willamette unit: There are few elk in the Willamette Valley, and most are inaccessible. Alsea, Siuslaw units: Bull ratios continue to be above management objectives in the western Alsea. Try Yachats River, Five Rivers, North Fork Siuslaw River, Valsetz, Rock Creek Road, Luckiamute River, Airlie, Burnt Woods, Bark Creek, Grant Creek, Wolf Creek, Logsden, Pee Dee Creek and Dunn Forest. BEAR AND COUGAR Saddle Mountain, Wilson, western Trask, western Stott Mountain, west Alsea, north Siuslaw units: There are lots of bears on the north coast, with highest densities close to the coast. Cougars are relatively rare along the north and midcoast. Scappoose, east Trask, northeast Stott Mountain, north Willamette, north Santiam units: Look for food sources such as blackberry patches and abandoned fruit orchards. Bear densities are higher in the northern portion of the Santiam Unit. Best chance for success with cougars will be in the northern Santiam Unit. East Alsea, north Indigo, McKenzie, south Santiam, south Willamette, northeast Siuslaw units: A late berry crop has meant a good start for the bear season. Cougars are present but are difficult to hunt, especially early in the season when deer and elk are scattered. UPLAND BIRDS Clatsop and Tillamook counties: Ruffed and blue grouse and mountain quail densities are lower than in most other forests in the state. Production was down in this spring's cold, wet weather. Mountain quail hunting should be average. Lincoln, western Lane counties: Grouse and mountain quail numbers are down. Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Columbia and Yamhill counties: Also a poor production year for grouse and mountain quail. Cover lots of ground in open clearcuts. Marion, Polk, Linn, eastern Lane and Benton counties: Grouse hunting will be fair, with few broods spotted this summer. Mountain quail are scarce, but several valley quail broods were seen on the E.E. Wilson Wildlife Area. WATERFOWL Best early-season hunting will be for local birds along the Willamette River, local ponds, wetlands and lakes. There should be fair hunting as well along north coast estuaries, where an influx of early birds will diminish as the season progresses. Goose hunting should be good both inside and outside of the special Northwest Goose Permit Zone. Production was up in Alaska. SOUTHWEST REGION DEER Douglas County (Dixon, southern Indigo, northwest Evans Creek, Melrose, southwest Siuslaw, eastern Tioga and northeast Powers units): Deer numbers are slightly better than last year with improved fawn production. Hair-loss syndrome is abating. The best hunting will be found in low to mid elevations; private and BLM lands tend to have the best hunting prospects. During the early part of the rifle and archery seasons, hunters should find deer on north slopes near water. Coos County (west Tioga, west Powers, north Sixes, southwest Siuslaw units): Deer populations are improving, and prospects are good in all units. Best hunting might be on private land in the Sixes unit. Jackson, Josephine, Curry counties (Applegate, Chetco, Evans Creek, Rogue, portions of Dixon and Sixes): Deer hunting looks good, with counts up for the past four years and buck ratios high. There is plenty of federal land to hunt, but concentrate on areas around the Biscuit Fire for the best vegetation. ELK Douglas County (Dixon, southern Indigo, northwest Evans Creek, Melrose, southwest Siuslaw, eastern Tioga and northeast Powers units): February aerial surveys found good bull and calf ratios, and hunting will be average. Elk numbers are greatest in the east Tioga unit, in the mid to high elevations of the Dixon and southern Indigo and in the perimeter of the Melrose units. Coos County (west Tioga, west Powers, north Sixes, southwest Siuslaw units): Elk numbers are increasing, particularly in Sixes. Curry, Jackson, Josephine counties (Applegate, Chetco, Evans Creek, Rogue, portions of Tioga, Dixon and Sixes): Bull ratios are very good in Cascade units (Rogue and Dixon) and in the Siskiyou National Forest in Chetco unit in and around the Biscuit Fire. Elk populations are minimal in east Chetco and west Applegate, although some can be found in select drainages in Applegate. Elk in the Evans Creek unit are mostly on private property. BEAR AND COUGAR (Bear hunters: Check-in is mandatory. Bring the thawed skull to selected Department of Fish and Wildlife offices within 10 days. If the skull is to be frozen, prop open the bear's mouth with a stick.) Coos County (west Tioga, west Powers, north Sixes, southwest Siuslaw): Bear and cougar numbers are similar to those of last year. Highest bear densities appear near the Umpqua River close to the coast. Douglas County (Dixon, southern Indigo, northwest Evans Creek, Melrose, southwest Siuslaw, eastern Tioga and northeast Power wildlife management units): Bear and cougars are thriving with good habitat and ample food. Bear numbers are highest at middle to low elevations in the coast range with smaller populations in the Cascades. Rogue Watershed District (Applegate, Chetco, Evans Creek, Rogue, portions of Dixon and Sixes): This region leads the state's fall bear hunts. Berry crops were early and are drying up. Cougars also are found throughout the area and can be hunted all year long. WATERFOWL Resident Canada geese continue to expand in the Rogue and Umpqua valleys, and goose production was excellent again in Douglas County. Late-season South Coast goose zone hunting will continue this year from the northern Douglas County line to the California state line and west of U.S. 101. Coos County: Ducks concentrate in coastal bays and other large water bodies, then disperse with the rainy season into flooded river valleys such as the Coquille. Douglas County: Plat-I Reservoir in Sutherlin, the Umpqua River and its tributaries offer the best waterfowl hunting. Jackson, Josephine and Curry counties: The best waterfowl hunting at Denman Wildlife Area tends to occur around the end of November. UPLAND BIRDS Coos County: Mountain and California quail hunting should be good in brushy clearcuts on public and private lands. Grouse production was poor. Douglas County: Bird populations are stable, but there are fewer than last year. Still, mountain quail nested well. California quail counts are lower on agricultural and low-elevation forestland. Pheasants don't do well in southwest Oregon. Grouse are down. Valley lowlands have very few pheasants that still exist on private lands and are available for harvest. Jackson, Josephine and Curry counties: Wildlife biologists observed a fair amount of grouse, and hunting should be good. Mountain quail are down from past years. In all five counties, turkey numbers are down only slightly after a challenging, cold and wet nesting season. NORTHEAST REGION DEER Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mountain units: Baker County deer took a hit over the winter, with lower survival than in years past. Although buck ratios are good, hunters probably will see fewer yearling bucks this year. Fossil, Northside, Desolation, southeast Heppner, northwest Beulah units: Heavy snows decreased fawn survival, and there are fewer small bucks, but the buck ratios remain all right. Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin units: Deer in Heppner are stable to slightly increasing and buck ratios are good, with better winter range and little survival problem. Public-lands hunters in the Fossil unit can work the old Wheeler Burn and a 60,000-acre burn along the breaks of the North Fork John Day River. Walla Walla, Mount Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin units: Winterkill was minimal. Ukiah and Walla Walla are good places to get a buck as numbers are good; west Mount Emily has the bigger bucks. Deer continue to persist in good numbers in the Blue Mountains, but the deer factory that was the Tower Fire (Ukiah unit) is coming to an end; populations are shrinking naturally as forage does. Catherine Creek, East Mt. Emily, portion of Sled Springs, Starkey, Wenaha units: Deer in Union County survived the winter reasonably well. Buck ratios are at or near management objective levels, and fawn survival was average. Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Imnaha units: The long winter and deep snow took their toll on Wallowa deer, particularly among the very young and very old. However, buck-to-doe ratios remain good, and there should be opportunity for older-age class bucks. ELK Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mountain units: Elk take cold weather better than deer and are above management objectives in all units except Sumpter. Fossil, Northside, Desolation, southeast Heppner, northwest Beulah units: Elk fared better than deer. Calf ratios are down a bit in Desolation, but numbers are good. Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin units: Forty-two cougars have been removed the last two years, and calf ratios are up. Walla Walla, Mount Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin units: Mount Emily and Walla Walla continue to offer high-quality branch-bull hunting. Heppner is another bright spot; calf ratios are up. However, it will be a tough year for spike hunters because of high predation. Catherine Creek, East Mount Emily, portion of Sled Springs, Starkey, Wenaha units: Elk in the Starkey and Catherine Creek wintered well. Because of higher bull and calf ratios, hunter success in these units should be better than last year. Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Imnaha units: Elk fared all right through the winter, and hunting looks good in the Imnaha and Snake River units. There was low survival of calves in the Wenaha, though. BEAR AND COUGAR Catherine Creek, East Mount Emily, portion of Sled Springs, Starkey, Wenaha units: Numbers are good in all units, with populations healthy and strong. Fossil, Northside, Desolation, southeast Heppner, northwest Beulah units: Bear and cougar populations appear to be increasing. Sumpter, Keating, Pine Creek, Lookout Mountain units: Bear hunting should be average this year; the population is stable. Cougar populations are high, with minimal sport harvest. Heppner, Fossil, East Biggs, southern Columbia Basin units: Bear and cougar numbers are on the rise. Wenaha, Sled Springs, Chesnimnus, Snake River, Imnaha units: Bear and cougar hunting should be good. Walla Walla, Mount Emily, Ukiah, eastern portion of Heppner, northern Columbia Basin units: Bears are stable, and cougars are numerous. WATERFOWL Baker County: Duck and goose hunting will be average. Grant County: Fair Canada goose hunting on the John Day River between Picture Gorge and Kimberly. Morrow, Gilliam, Wheeler counties: Duck and goose hunting in the Columbia Basin is expected to be good for resident birds early and better for northern birds as the cold weather arrives. Union County: Duck production in the Grande Ronde Valley was down. Umatilla County: Columbia Basin Wildlife areas should see better hunting. Wallowa County: Goose hunting on private agricultural lands can be excellent during the early season. UPLAND GAME BIRDS Baker County: Chukar production was good. Grant County: Chukar are down, best on the South Fork of the John Day River, along with quail. Morrow, Gilliam, Wheeler counties: Production was down. Umatilla County: Quail did fine, but it will be a down year for pheasant. Union County: Birds are renesting after a wet spring, and late broods are being seen. HIGH DESERT DEER Hood, White River, Maupin, West Biggs units: Buck numbers are good in all units, and survival was good. Maury, Ochoco, Grizzly units: Deer had a tough winter in the Ochocos, and fawn mortality ranged from 10 percent in the Grizzly unit to 40percent in Maury and Ochoco. Other limiting factors are poaching, encroachment on winter range from development, off-road vehicles, predation, disease and highway collisions. Upper Deschutes, Paulina, north Wagontire, northwest Fort Rock, Metolius units: Buck ratios are close to management objectives, with good numbers of mature and yearling bucks available in all units. Keno, Klamath Falls, Sprague, southwest portion of Fort Rock, west portion of Silver Lake, West Interstate units: Hunting success is expected to be only fair this year after poor fawn recruitment in Keno, Klamath Falls and Interstate because of the harsh winter. Success should be better in Fort Rock, Sprague and Silver Lake. Warner, Interstate, Silver Lake, southern portions of Beatys Butte, Fort Rock and Wagontire: Buck ratios are at or above management objectives in all units except north Warner. Fawn survival was poor, though. Heavy winter snow and abundant late-spring rains resulted in excellent forage conditions. Silvies, Malheur River, Steens Mountain, Juniper, portions of Beatys Butte and Wagontire units: Deer are stable to slightly declining. Habitat conditions are generally good, and abundant water might disperse deer. Whitehorse, Owyhee and Beulah units: The Beulah unit is a bright spot for deer, but in the rest of the district, populations are stable to slightly declining because of low recruitment in the spring. ELK Hood, White River, Maupin, West Biggs units: Elk in White River and Hood units are scattered in small groups. Bull elk hunting in the Maupin and West Biggs is exclusively found on private lands. Maury, Ochoco, Grizzly units: Elk numbers are decent in all three units, with good bull ratios and four- to six-point bulls present. Upper Deschutes, Paulina, north Wagontire, north Fort Rock, Metolius units: Elk numbers continue to grow slowly in the Cascade units. In the Paulina, east Fort Rock and the north Wagontire units, elk are low and widely scattered. Silvies, Malheur River, Steens Mountain, Juniper, portions of Beatys Butte and Wagontire units: Elk remain at or above management objectives with adult bulls available. Both the Silvies and Malheur River units offer excellent hunting for elk. Whitehorse, Owyhee and Beulah units: Few elk available. Keno, Klamath Falls, Sprague, southwest portion of Fort Rock, west portion of Silver Lake, West Interstate units: The Cascades offer the best elk hunting. Warner, Interstate, Silver Lake, southern portions of Beatys Butte, Fort Rock and Wagontire units: Elk numbers are generally higher in Silver Lake and Fort Rock than farther south. BEAR AND COUGAR Upper Deschutes, Paulina, north Wagontire, north Fort Rock, Metolius units: Bear numbers are lower here than elsewhere in the state. Cougar numbers are high. Hood, White River, Maupin, West Biggs units: Bears and cougar are abundant. Maury, Ochoco, Grizzly units: Bear and cougar numbers are above historic levels. Look for bears in north Lookout Mountain, Paulina Ranger District and Ochoco National Forest. Cougar are in Maury Mountains and the drainages of the Salt and Bear creeks. Whitehorse, Owhyee and Beulah units: Bear habitat is poor, but cougar numbers are high. WATERFOWL Deschutes County: Canada geese had an excellent production year. Duck hunting should be average. Wasco, Sherman and Hood counties: Goose hunting should be fair, but scouting and permission are a must. Jefferson and Crook counties: This was a good production year for geese and below average for ducks. Klamath County: Hunting should be good to very good. Water conditions are generally good but somewhat decreased from last year. Lake County: The Warner Wetlands and Warner Valley lakes north of Hart Lake have water and good vegetation. Harney County: In spite of heavy winter precipitation, lakes and reservoirs did not fill to significant levels this spring. Malheur County: Expect fair to poor hunting this year because of a lack of standing water. UPLAND GAME BIRDS Wasco and Sherman counties: Bird numbers are below-average this year across the board, with chukar and dove down the most. Deschutes County: Quail remain healthy, but numbers are down a little. Crook, Wheeler, Jefferson counties: Quail are down by one-third. Lake and Klamath counties: Chukar populations in Lake County are expected to be low again. Harney County: Production was fair this year for chukar, quail, pheasant and sage grouse. -- Compiled by special writer Bill Monroe based on ODFW reports

Posted by Gerben Zaagsma on February 16, 2009 at 7:36pm 7 followers Issue Summary I know this has been asked before for D5 (sorry if I should have continued thread there but seemed appropriate to open separate issue for D6). In short: is this still a "won't fix" or will Talk at one point integrate with Pathauto? I think this is really an important issue in order to present site users with consistent meta information. TIA, Gerben #1 I explained this in the other issue as well. Adding separate path aliases for the /talk page will add significant overhead and nearly double the size of the already overburdened path alias table. This is the same reason for not aliasing the /edit page in pathauto. There's really no easily scalable way of doing this with the current path alias structure. #2 #3 Ok, thanks for the explanation, I see the issue. Gerben #4 sorry to revisit this issue again - feels like a bit of a hornet's nest, but the rationale is not as clear to me as it seems to be for others - and lack of SEO friendly paths is a showstopper for me because my sites are totally search driven. i'd otherwise very much like to use the module. when you say there is "no easily scalable way of doing this...", are you saying that it is not possible to integrate with pathauto or are you saying it is inadvisable to integrate? i'm a technical nobody, but it sort of sounds like the reasoning is based on theoretical possibilities that problems might/will emerge with path alias structure in a big site that made heavy use of comments on every page. but what if you have small sites - like 100 pgs - and comments aren't on every page? does this create the same type of problems you are referencing? i assume my path alias tables are tiny compared to how big they get on larger sites, so i'm struggling to see how i could overburden much of anything. if a different answer might apply to smaller sites with fewer comments, how hard would it be to write the code to do it? thanks for considering this. #5 I suppose we could add this feature. It would need some sort of warning on it though, and wouldn't mass-add/delete path aliases upon changing the talk node types, that would have to be done manually. I'll consider this an active feature request, and if someone writes a patch for this, that would be amazing; otherwise, I may or may not get to it. #6 oh, awesome! that would be great. i'm not quite sure what you mean by 'wouldn't mass-add/delete upon changing the talk node types'? what would you guess is involved with writing a patch? in terms of hours, how to do it, ... no promises, but i will look into getting a patch done. #7 In the patch, you would want to: a) Add a setting to integrate with pathauto. b) If this setting is enabled, add a path alias when a node is inserted or updated. c) Delete the extra path alias when the node is deleted. The part that would be hard, and which I advised not doing, would be to mass add/delete path aliases when one changes the talk node types. For example, consider what should happen on a site with 10,000 pages, where the page node type is now set to use talk pages. Ideally, all these nodes would be updated, and their path aliases' would be extended to their talk pages, but that would be dangerous to do on some (most?) sites. A workaround solution would require the nodes to be re-saved before having any changes go into effect. In terms of hours, if you know what you're doing, you can probably do it in less than 3 hours. If you're not quite sure, it could take around 8 hours to figure everything out. If you need any help in learning to write code or create a patch, I'd be happy to help. Alternatively, I might look into this feature request in more detail in a few weeks or so and write the patch myself. It would be wonderful if you could write the patch though, and would ensure that the code makes it quickly and efficiently into the module. :) #8 To elaborate, you'll probably want to borrow some code from the path module, and simply modify it to work on talk pages if the node type is talk-enabled. Also, the option shouldn't be available unless the path module is enabled. #9 ok, excellent additional info. that's very helpful. thank you very much. i see your point about the mass-add/delete now. doesn't apply to me, but i understand the issue there. writing a patch is well beyond my skills - even your 8 hrs estimate is probably low by a factor of 10x. best to engage a professional. :) what i had in mind was to ask a freelance consultant i work with to assist on this. if he can do in 3 hrs or so, that's affordable. 8 hrs not so much. if you are able to coordinate with him, that'd be great, too. he's very skilled with drupal and i'm sure would generate code that's very clean and works well. obviously we'd test it on my little sites and you'd be able to review/refine. i'm thinking that tuning it for larger sites - the mass-add/delete thing - might be something we leave for you/others, but perhaps you guys can sort that as well. not sure exactly when he'll be able to look into this. hopefully within the next week or so. #10 Hi there, attached is a patch that addresses the issue as you suggested. There is also a draft of testing, but testing in Drupal is too slow to go for TDD and stay (little) under 2 hours for this implementation :) Tested with (not so) good old point and clicking and looks fine, let me know! Francesco #11 fantastic! that was quick. i will give it a try and post results here. #12 The last submitted patch, path-integration.patch, failed testing. #13 wasn't able to get it working. patch command wouldn't apply patch, so i hand patched. hopefully did that correctly. some of the new mechanisms are visible - e.g., new path alias checkbox on talk config page. but it wouldn't enable via checkbox and save. so i manually changed in talk.module to 'TRUE' to enable. still no joy. #14 Previous patch was rolled against DRUPAL--1-6 with # cvs diff -u -N -F^f . | grep -v -e ^\? Rerolling against DRUPAL--1 with # cvs diff -up | grep -v -e '^\?' As per CVS instructions on project page tab. #15 This looks very good. I'm going to let the test bot run this because it has some nice-looking tests. I noticed a few minor things, though: + '#title' => t('Generate an alias version of bla bla'), + '#default_value' => variable_get('talk_pathauto', FALSE), + '#description' => t('BLA BLA.'), Mind removing the "bla bla"s? :) #16 Also, it doesn't work to use variable_get('talk_pathauto') when the variable name is 'talk_pathauto_integration'. Also, even though you added a setting, you never actually read the value anywhere, so if the path module is enabled, the talk page will be aliased regardless of the settings. #17 i am not able to get patch to apply. possible doing something wrong in patching process after recent change from windows to ubuntu. following procedure here - - but this may not apply to ubuntu. did not try to manually patch the latest version - but sounds like that wouldn't work due to items in #16. #18 The patch applies fine for me. Are you sure you're (a) working off the development branch, (b) running the patch command from the module's folder? Patching procedure should be the same on ubuntu. #19 yes, on both counts. after further investigation, i figured it out. problem relates to permissions within ubuntu /talk directory. i don't have adequate permissions - and don't know how to change it. need to fix that. has been a problem in other instances, as well. so, i moved /talk folder over to windows machine where i know i have the right permissions. ran patch command. patch applied with no problems. then moved updated module back over to ubuntu. bit cumbersome, but did the job. even after changing FALSE > TRUE, patch doesn't actually work - but i think that's what you are saying in #16. requires some tweaks. #20 As English isn't my first language, I'd love if you or John could suggest a title and a description for the patch. I now actually use the talk_pathauto_integration variable. In the hook_nodeapi I'm also checking for path module existance, to address the case the talk_pathauto_integration was enabled and the path module was disabled later on (very edge case, but anyway). #21 how about something like this: for checkbox line: Generate aliased paths for talk pages for description underneath checkbox: Use pathauto to generate talk page paths based on the existing node alias. If existing path alias is /page-title, talk pages will have path /page-path/talk. If not enabled, default talk module paths will be: /node/xx/talk. Use caution when enabling this feature on large sites as this can significantly increase load on path alias table. Requires pathauto module. cwgordon7: does this sound about right? #22 also, cwgordon7, can we add option in module to control the alias used for talk pages? so, for instance, if i wanted my talk pages to be /page-title/comments instead of /page-title/talk. same idea as you have for the existing options - like renaming the 'talk' tab to be 'comments' tab. flevour: can you implement this, please? i guess this requires a variable that works like the others on the talk config page. #23 okay, tried out the patch, including inserting suggested text. 1. suggested description text has a typo. corrected (and shortened) text is below: Use pathauto to generate talk page paths based on existing node aliases. If existing alias is /page-title, talk pages will be /page-title/talk. If not enabled, talk module paths will be: /node/xx/talk. Use caution when enabling on large sites as it may significantly increase load on path alias table. Requires pathauto. Checkbox label same as above: Generate aliased paths for talk pages 2. the alias checkbox now seems to save properly. default box setting is unchecked. box remains checked after saving. 3. alias are not being generated. do i need to do something to generate them? tried clearing cache and running cron. #24 @#23: Because of the way this is implemented, each path needs to be updated *after* the patch is installed. The patch works fine for each page after I update it by hand. Perhaps someone who understands this better than me could write a short script to update all existing paths? And perhaps that could be made to run automatically when the module is installed/updated? #25 Tiny typo: "heavily" (used in code comment) has only one v in it. #26 Um... actually... this has nothing to do with pathAUTO, does it? It applies equally to "alternative paths" set explicitly when an individual page is edited. (That works for me -- with the proviso that the path has to be updated for it to take effect.) I suggest changing the checkbox description to something like: Generate talk page paths based on the node's alias. If the existing alternative path is /page-title, the talk page path will be /page-path/talk. If not enabled, default talk module paths will be: /node/[nid]/talk. Use caution when enabling this feature on large sites as this can significantly increase load on path alias table. Compatible with, but does not require, the pathauto module. #27 #22: John, open one more issue to keep track of your "control talk' path alias" feature request. #24: that's exactly something cwgordon is concerned about (see #5 of this issue, "wouldn't mass-add/delete path aliases upon changing the talk node types"). Anyway it would be cool to provide a checkbox for "Bulk update" very similar to pathauto option. Attached is a patch that takes the suggestions from #21 (headline) and #26 (description). Cwgordon, what is your opinion on the issue? #28 #22: I had the same idea without noticing this post, and opened a new issue, #751334: Option to use string different from "talk" in path. #29 Rather than adding the talk page on insert/update, could talk_nodeapi() check on 'load' to see if the talk page alias exists, and add it if it doesn't? Would there be an unacceptable performance hit from that? #30 This feels like a bad idea to me for reasons charlie outlined in #4. Also, there is a module - - which will allow for a scenario: * node/10 has the alias "blog/greg/this-is-a-blog-post" * node/10/talk without a new alias automatically becomes "blog/greg/this-is-a-blog-post/talk" So, that part of this issue is now handled quite well. We do need to consider how to change the alias from "talk" to something else like "comments" but I think custom_url_rewrite/hook_url_rewrite is the right way to do that rather than thousands of aliases. #31 #30: cool. This seems like the right thing (as far as I understand the issues). Thanks for the pointer to that module. Do I understand correctly that this is an alternative approach from that suggested in #7, and implemented by flevour in #27? (Rather than a supplement to it.) I will try implementing the #30 idea sometime in the next few days and let y'all know how it works out. #32 @a1tsal: did you have a chance to try the suggested sub-path alias module? as i understand @greggles comment, this module (and required dependency module) is a complete replacement for patch flevour has written (#27) and this is his understanding as well. it isn't obvious to me how installing two additional modules to solve this problem which it seems we were very close to solving with ~40 extra lines in flevour's patch is a superior method, but apparently there are technical issues beyond my understanding and these modules solve those problems more comprehensively. i am now not sure where/how the path gets changed from the default of '/talk' to an alternate, e.g., '/comments', but i believe we are saying that issue have been migrate off this thread to your thread here:. this is fine to move it - as long as there is effort to get it done. #33 The reason subpath_alias module is technically superior is one of slippery slopes. If we make an exception and create duplicates aliases for talk module then we should also do it for module Signup which creates about 5 sub tabs. So, if we have 6 sub aliases for every node that is a performance and maintenance nightmare. #34 oh, i think i may see what you are saying. is this a fair restatement: instead of having talk module (and potentially every other module) implement their own individual subpath solutions, the subpath alias module solves the problem once for all modules that might require it. and as well, that whereas scalability is stated as the problem at the beginning of the thread, the issue is perhaps more about consistency / consolidation of where/how this is done. #35 Yes, that is definitely a big part of it. The second part is this: having 5 aliases per node in the url_alias table will start to slow down performance of the site. #36 ok, very good. i think i see what you are saying. the subpath_alias module just works with the last bit of the path whereas what we were doing re-wrote the entire path, potentially multiple times if there are numerous subpages. i can see where that creates a lot of entries - maybe not for my sites which are small, but in the more general case. let's leave it there. hopefully a1tsal and i will both get these modules working and we'll have part of the solution. now, we just need to fix the /talk vs. /comments thing for it to be actually usable. #37 #32: No, sorry, I haven't had any time to work on this recently. It will probably be a couple of weeks before I get back to it, I'm afraid -- other responsibilities. I have a dev server running a hacked-up version of Talk with various extensions, and I will definitely be migrating it to the live site, one way or another. I will provide patches with the work I've done when I do the migration -- but others may beat me to it. #38 OK, thanks to greggles' #30, we have a solution that works, requires no patch or coding, and also solves #751334: Option to use string different from "talk" in path. This does not use Subpath Alias, which I couldn't get to work in this application. However, Subpath Alias is built on URL Alter (), and there is a simple way of using it to do the job. After installing and enabling URL Alter, go to Admin > Site configuration > URL Alter. In the top box, put: if (preg_match('|(.+)/talk$|', $path, $matches)) { $src = db_result(db_query("SELECT src FROM {url_alias} WHERE dst = '%s' AND language IN('%s', '') ORDER BY language DESC", $matches[1], $path_language ? $path_language : $GLOBALS['language']->language)); if ($src) { $result = $src . "/talk"; } } In the bottom box, put: if (preg_match('|node/(\d+)/talk|', $original_path, $matches)) { $dst = db_result(db_query("SELECT dst FROM {url_alias} WHERE src = 'node/%s' AND language IN('%s', '') ORDER BY language DESC", $matches[1], $path_language ? $path_language : $GLOBALS['language']->language)); if ($dst) { $path = $dst . "/talk"; } } Do "Save configuration", and that's that. (A tiny change in the above addresses #751334: Option to use string different from "talk" in path; see that issue for details.) I can write this recipe into README.txt and provide a patch file, once I've figured out how to do that. #39 Oh, yes, two loose ends, regarding caching. I think you may need to clear the page cache to get this to work. I'm not sure. Please let me know, and I can put that in the documentation. There is also a potential performance issue. The code in Subpath Alter goes to a lot of trouble to cache database requests. I am assuming that the URL Alter outgoing hook will be called only once per time a comment URL is displayed on a page; and since comment URLs are liable to appear only once per page, caching wouldn't help, and the performance hit from this approach is tolerable. I have not actually checked this. If for some reason the Drupal core repeatedly calls the outgoing hook on each URL, some rethinking would be needed. #40 thank you for this. but it isn't working for me. well, it is partly working. the path is getting rewritten, but it's taking me to a 'page not found' result. i've tried doing with both /talk and /comments variations. this produces the path: /page_path/talk (or /comments) as you'd expect, but clicking on the link takes you to the page not found. btw, i did need to clear cache before the new paths became visible to me at all. might there be some other step? #41 fiddled with it some more. not working. i tried uninstalling everything, reinstalling, clearing cache at each stage. i specifically made sure the patched talk module was replaced with the original. same result: paths are rewritten (they look beautiful!), but when clicked they take you to page not found. i tried installing subpath_alias to see if that helped that caused all subpaths to break on my test site. e.g., /page_path/edit also goes to page not found. if it worked, looks like it would be nice. disabling both modules brings me back to the beginning with paths working again absent the aliases. #42 Oh, dear, I am sorry you are having trouble with this. Actually I had exactly the same symptom at first: outgoing paths were being re-written (i.e. the URL linked on the page was /pagename/comments), but they were not recognized incoming (clicking on the URL got a 404 Not Found). I poked at it for a while, and the problem went away, but I'm not sure what I did that fixed it. I did turn off caching completely for a while (both page cashing and CSS caching). I assumed that clearing the page cache would fix the problem if this was relevant, but possibly you actually need to turn caching off for a while, and that somehow deals with the 404 issue. If that is not the answer, then I'm stumped. Greggles, do you have any ideas, based on your experience with Subpath Alter and/or URL Alter? This is really an issue for URL Alter, not for Talk. We should file an issue over there, if you can't get it working soon. They will need a small, reproducible test case. The thing would be a to do a clean Drupal install in a dev environment, install just Talk and URL Alter, set the URL Alter PHP code, and see if it works. If not, that is something the URL Alter maintainer should be able to easily reproduce and fix. If it does work, then we know that something else about your configuration (and formerly mine) is responsible for the problem. Good luck... the URL Alter approach does work for me (), but I did have to spazz around for a while to sort out the 404 issue. #43 Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa! Maybe this is the problem: In the URL Alter admin page, there should not be the <?php and ?> tags. I wrongly included them in my instructions #38. I have edited that to remove them. #44 @#43 yes, i did remove the php tags. wouldn't actually accept them. makes you remove them, so that's not the problem. not able to read you other post thoroughly at the moment, but wanted to clear up that one point. will get to it tomorrow. thank you! #45 i tried this again today. still not able to make it work. i am on a localhost test site and there is no caching enabled at all, so that's not a factor. i cleared cache via pma. machine has also been shut down and restarted in the meantime, so that should clear most any other weird thing. i tried out just url_alter and subpath alias on another site (no talk module) - the simplest one i've got in terms of fewer modules - but got same result. outbound path is rewritten, but the destination path is not seen to exist. since subpath alias module does not work in any situation, i suspect the issue is not specific to interaction of talk and url_alter modules, but rather something to do with the new destination url not being written properly at all for anything. any ideas what would cause that? i will post on url_alter to ask there because, as has been pointed out, this appears not to be about problem with talk module. #46 OK, it seems that URL Alter has some fundamental problem. I'm kind of surprised that lots of people seem to be using it without complaint. The issue must affect only certain configurations. But if you have tested it on a site without Talk installed, then it's clearly not a Talk issue. I am afraid that the maintainer of URL Alter is over-committed, and you may not receive a timely response to your bug report. All URL Alter does is provide an interface to the two custom_url_rewrite functions (). They are part of the Drupal core. It should be possible to use the custom_url_rewrite functions instead of URL Alter. Basically, the code I provided can be the body of those functions. You might need to make tiny changes to fit the API. You would want to disable and uninstall URL Alter before trying this -- it will interfere with the core custom_url_rewrite. If it doesn't work, let me know and I will try and help; you should also be able to get help on the forums, because custom_url_rewrite is part of core and should be well-supported, where URL Alter might not be. Good luck... I am really sorry for the time you have had to spend on this. #47 thank you very much for your efforts to help. i was also surprised that so many people seem to be using url_alter without incident. i assume its working for all of them. why it wouldn't work for me, too, i have no idea. it sounds like you have a good understanding of the code involved. unfortunately, the solution you describe is well above my pay grade. no skills as a code writer. i will put this back over to flevour and ask if he can make take a look and fix the problem. thanks again. #48 Great. Flevour, if you make this work using custom_url_rewrite, could you please post here the exact code you used? If John reports success with that, I will write documentation incorporating it, and we can mark this issue fixed. The hooks URL Alter provides are in the 7.x core, so the 7.x version of Talk should use them to do this (rather than requiring users to mess with custom_url_rewrite per documentation). #49 Um, I guess since URL Alter appears to be flaky, the solution I gave here does not work reliably; so this is "needs work", not "needs review". #50 that sounds right. i put up an issue about this in the url_alter queue. no response so far. it will be another week or more before flevour is able to take a look at this.

Hypoallergenicity and Effects on Growth and Tolerance of a New Amino Acid-Based Formula with Docosahexaenoic Acid and Arachidonic Acid Article Outline - Abstract - Methods - Results - Discussion - Acknowledgment - References Objective In study 1, to compare the effect on growth in healthy infants of a new amino acid–based formula (AAF) and a control extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF), with both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) at levels similar to those in human milk worldwide. In study 2, to evaluate the hypoallergenicity of this new AAF in infants and children with confirmed cow's milk allergy (CMA). Study design In study 1, a total of 165 healthy, full-term, formula-fed infants randomly received the new AAF or control formula. Anthropometric measurements, tolerance, and adverse events were recorded throughout the study. Plasma amino acid profiles were evaluated in a subset of the infants. In study 2, the hypoallergenicity of the new AAF was evaluated in 32 infants and children using a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge; an open challenge; and a 7-day feeding. Results In study 1, overall growth, tolerance, and safety outcomes were similar in both groups. In study 2, 29 of the 32 subjects completed both challenges; no allergic reaction was seen in any of the 32 subjects. Conclusions The new AAF with DHA and ARA at levels similar to those in human milk worldwide is hypoallergenic. It also is safe and supports growth in healthy, term infants. Abbreviations: AAF, Amino acid–based formula, ARA, Arachidonic acid, CMA, Cow's milk allergy, CMF, Cow's milk–based formula, DBPCFC, Double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge, DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid, EHF, Extensively hydrolyzed formula, IgE, Immunoglobulin E, SE, Standard error, SF, Soy-based formula The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends breast-feeding as the ideal source of nutrition for infants and cow's milk–based formula (CMF) as an appropriate alternative for infants who are not breast-fed.1 Approximately 2.5% of infants are allergic or intolerant to CMF and require an alternative formula.2, 3 Infants with cow's milk allergy (CMA) frequently develop allergic reactions to other foods as well.2 Some infants with poorly managed food allergy may experience growth failure.4, 5 Soy-based formulas (SFs) have been used as alternatives for infants allergic to CMF but, depending on the type of CMA, concomitant allergy to SF can be seen in 14% of infants with IgE-mediated CMA and in up to 60% of infants with non–IgE-mediated CMA.6, 7 Consequently, SFs are not recommended for infants with non–IgE-mediated reactions because of the high frequency of infant sensitivity to both cow's milk and soy proteins.7 The AAP recommends extensively hydrolyzed formula (EHF) to manage infants who are allergic or intolerant to CMF.8 But although most of these infants are successfully managed with EHF, a small subset do not improve when fed EHF. Some of them have multiple food allergies and may exhibit poor growth.4 EHF may contain small peptide fragments capable of provoking allergic reactions.9, 10, 11 Consequently, alternative formulas are occasionally needed. Amino acid–based formulas (AAFs) are fed to infants who are highly sensitive to cow's milk and cannot be managed using EHF.8 AAFs also have been fed to infants with multiple food protein intolerances, resulting in reduced allergic symptoms10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and improved growth.12, 14, 15, 17 A new AAF has been developed that provides a mixture of essential and nonessential amino acids similar to that in human milk, along with added docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (ARA) at levels similar to those in human milk worldwide.18, 19, 20 The present studies were designed to evaluate the effects of this new formula on overall growth and tolerance in healthy, term infants. Furthermore, the hypoallergenicity of the new AAF was evaluated in infants and children with documented CMA based on criteria developed by the AAP's Subcommittee on Nutrition and Allergic Diseases.8, 21 Methods Study 1: Growth and Tolerance StudyStudy design and population This double-blind, randomized, controlled, parallel-design, prospective trial was conducted at 14 clinical sites in the United States. Healthy, term infants 14 ± 2 days of age who were fed only formula for at least 24 hours before randomization were stratified by sex and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 study groups: the control group, who received a casein EHF (Nutramigen LIPIL; Mead Johnson Nutritionals, Evansville, Indiana), and the experimental group, who received the new AAF, which was of identical nutrient composition to the control formula, differing only in the protein equivalent source. The amino acid composition of the experimental formula was similar to that reported for human milk.22 Both formulas contained 2.8 g of protein equivalent/100 kcal, had added DHA (0.32% of total fatty acids; 17 mg/100 kcal) and ARA (0.64% of total fatty acids; 34 mg/100 kcal), and were provided in powdered form. The formulas were fed from 14 ± 2 through 120 ± 4 days of age. Growth, acceptance, tolerance, and the occurrence of adverse events were compared between the 2 groups. Formula acceptance was determined by formula intake, whereas tolerance was based on the number and consistency of bowel movements, whether the infant was unusually fussy or gassy, and whether diarrhea or constipation occurred. A parent or caregiver was required to bring the infant to the study site 5 times for data collection, at age 14 ± 2 days, 30 ± 3 days, 60 ± 3 days, 90 ± 3 days, and 120 ± 4 days. Body weight, length, and head circumference were recorded at each study visit. The parent or caregiver was instructed to record the amount of formula that the infant had consumed in the 24 hours before each study visit. Adverse events were recorded throughout the study as they occurred. A blood sample was obtained by venipuncture from a subset of infants (16 in the experimental group and 15 in the control group) at approximately 90 days of age. All blood samples were frozen and shipped on dry ice to the laboratory (Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, Washington) for determination of plasma amino acid concentrations. The study design was approved by a central or site-specific institutional review board for each clinical site, and all parents and guardians who agreed to let their infant participate provided written informed consent. Statistical analysis We determined that 51 subjects per group completing the study would provide 80% power to detect a clinically relevant difference of a 3 g/day weight gain from 14 to 120 days when testing at an α level of 0.05 (1-tailed). Analysis of variance was used to analyze anthropometric measurements, growth rate, and stool frequency. Study formula intake and plasma amino acids were analyzed using the van Elteren test. The proportion of infants in each group who had adverse events or who discontinued participation in the study was compared using Fisher's exact test. All testing was conducted at an α level of 0.05. One-tailed tests were used when analyzing weight growth rates; 2-tailed tests were used for all other analyses. Study 2: Hypoallergenicity Challenge StudyStudy design The hypoallergenicity of the new AAF used in study 1 was evaluated in a separate study of 32 infants and children age ≤ 10 years with documented CMA at 3 clinical sites in the United States. Study 2 was designed to assess the hypoallergenicity of the new AAF using criteria developed by the AAP's Subcommittee on Nutrition and Allergic Diseases.21 Using these criteria, a formula must be tested in infants and children with hypersensitivity to cow's milk or CMF, with findings verified by elimination-challenge tests under double-blind, placebo-controlled conditions. For a formula to be considered hypoallergenic, these tests should show with at least 95% confidence that 90% of allergic individuals will not react to the formula.8, 21 Statistically, studying at least 29 patients with documented CMA and detecting negative challenges are required to meet these criteria. Consequently, we evaluated the hypoallergenicity of the new AAF using a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge (DBPCFC), with formulas fed in randomized order after a prechallenge elimination period, followed by an open challenge if the response to the DBPCFC was negative. Subjects were monitored by direct observation for any indication of allergy (extent and severity of rash, pruritus, or urticaria/angioedema; upper or lower respiratory symptoms; or gastrointestinal symptoms) and adverse events throughout the double-blind and open challenges. If the open challenge response was also negative, then a 7-day home feeding period followed. During this 7-day period, the child's parent or guardian kept a daily diary of acceptance and tolerance measures and any adverse events, including a record of formula volume intake, number of bowel movements, doctor visits due to illness, and medication usage during home feeding. A final evaluation was completed at the end of the 7-day home feeding period or on withdrawal from the study. The placebo formula used in this DBPCFC was another commercially available AAF (Neocate; Nutricia, North America [formerly SHS North America], Gaithersburg, MD), also provided as a powder. History and information on allergic disease status were obtained and a baseline physical examination and skin prick testing with a negative control (saline), a positive control (histamine), cow's milk extract, Neocate, and the new AAF were completed before the subjects underwent the DBPCFC. The study design was approved by a central or site-specific institutional review board, and all parents and guardians who allowed their child to participate provided written informed consent.Study population Infants and children age ≤ 10 years were considered eligible for the study if they had documented CMA and their allergic disease was under good control. Infants and children with atopic dermatitis were included if it was under sufficient control to allow recognition of a positive response to the challenge. Infants and children using a beta-blocker within 12 hours of the challenge, an antihistamine more than once within 3 days to 6 weeks of the challenge (depending on the type of antihistamine), or an oral steroid medication within 3 weeks of the challenge were excluded from study. Confirmation of CMA was required before study entry by either a positive DBPCFC to cow's milk or a positive CAP RAST (ImmunoCAP; Phadia [previously Pharmacia Diagnostics], Uppsala, Sweden), with diagnostic value for cow's milk, defined as ≥ 5 kUA/L for subjects age ≤ 2 years or ≥15 kUA/L for subjects age > 2 years, within 90 days of study entry, along with either a convincing or suggestive history of an allergic reaction to cow's milk. A convincing history was defined as an immediate allergic reaction to cow's milk within the previous 2 years developing after isolated ingestion of cow's milk and requiring emergency management by a physician. A suggestive history was defined as an immediate allergic reaction to cow's milk that was not necessarily in isolation occurring on 1 or more occasions but not requiring emergency management by a physician, or a convincing history occurring more than 2 years earlier.23, 24 Results Study 1 Of the 165 infants enrolled (1 infant who enrolled but dropped out before consuming any study formula was not included in any analyses) between October 2004 and June 2005, 110 (58 in the experimental group and 52 in the control group) completed the study. The infants in the 2 groups were similar in terms of mean (± standard error) weight, length, and head circumference at birth and at study entry (entry weight, 3742.4 ± 61.2 g in the control group, 3716.7 ± 61.1 g in the experimental group; length, 52.6 ± 0.3 cm in the control group, 52.2 ± 0.3 cm in the experimental group; head circumference, 36.3 ± 0.2 cm in both groups). Infants in the 2 groups were similar in terms of rate of weight increase from day 14 to days 30, 60, 90, and 120 (36.2 ± 2.1 g/day in the control group vs 37.1 ± 2.0 g/day in the experimental group at day 30, 34.4 ± 1.4 g/day vs 34.3 ± 1.4 g/day at day 60, 31.1 ± 1.2 g/day vs 32.2 ± 1.1 g/day at day 90, and 29.1 ± 1.0 g/day vs 29.8 ± 1.0 g/day at day 120). The similarities in growth rate were reflected in similarities in achieved body weight (Figure 1A, B). An isolated difference was seen between the 2 groups in rate of length increase from 14 to 120 days (0.113 ± 0.003 cm/day in the control group vs 0.107 ± 0.003 cm/day in the experimental group; P = .030) and achieved length at 120 days (64.3 ± 0.4 cm in the control group vs 63.4 ± 0.4 cm in the experimental group; P = .031); however, this difference was not considered clinically relevant. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in head circumference growth rate or achieved head circumference. Parents and guardians reported similar volumes of formula intake in both groups throughout the study. A significant difference was observed between the 2 groups only in terms of fussiness (P = .028) and fussiness relative to normal (P = .039) at age 90 days, with parents of infants in the experimental group reporting more fussiness. Figure 1. Study 1: Mean achieved weight of male subjects (A) and female subjects (B) from 14 to 120 days of age with CDC reference percentiles (3 to 97). The control group is represented as a solid line; the experimental group, as a dashed line. No difference between groups was detected in the number of subjects who experienced at least 1 adverse event. A statistically significant difference in diarrhea reported as an adverse event was detected between the 2 groups, with diarrhea reported for 9 infants in the control group versus no infants in the experimental group (P < .001). No significant differences in incidence of serious adverse events were observed between the 2 groups when analyzed by body system or individual event. In the subset of infants with plasma amino acid evaluation at age 90 days, the experimental group had significantly higher (P < .05) concentrations of the essential amino acids isoleucine, leucine, lysine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, threonine, and tryptophan compared with the control group. None of these differences was considered clinically relevant, however. The plasma amino acid concentrations in the 2 study groups were similar to those in breast-fed infants (Figure 2). Figure 2. Study 1: Plasma concentrations (μmol/L) of essential amino acids in the experimental and control groups (median) and in 1-month-old reference breast-fed infants (mean).26 The breast-fed reference infants are represented as the white column; the experimental group, as the black column; and the control group, as the dashed column. *Significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < .05). Study 2 Of the 32 infants and children (age range, 8 months to 10 years) recruited, 29 completed both the DBPCFC and open challenge. One of the 32 subjects never consumed any study products; 2 other subjects withdrew after only 1 challenge formula (1 after receiving placebo and 1 after receiving the new AAF), with no allergic reactions observed. Of the 29 subjects completing both the DBPCFC and open challenge, 27 completed the full 7-day feeding period on the new AAF; 1 subject completed 3 of the 7 days, and 1 was lost to follow-up during the 7-day feeding period. CMA was confirmed in all 29 subjects who completed both the DBPCFC and open challenge; 24 of these subjects had positive diagnostic milk-specific IgE values to cow's milk, as described earlier, and 5 had positive DBPCFC to cow's milk, all of whom had a history of allergy to cow's milk. All of these subjects also had positive skin prick reactions to histamine and cow's milk but negative responses to the new AAF and placebo formula. Of the 29 subjects who completed both challenges, 23 (79%) had multiple food allergies as reported by a parent or guardian. Nineteen subjects (66%) had 2 or more food allergies in addition to CMA. Other common food allergies reported at study entry included allergies to eggs, peanuts, soy, wheat, tree nuts, and beef. Twenty-four of the 29 subjects who completed both challenges (83%) had ongoing allergic manifestations at study entry, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, or gastrointestinal manifestations (Figure 3). Figure 3. Study 2: History of allergic manifestations at study entry in the 29 subjects completing both challenges. Ongoing is represented as the dashed column; resolved, as the white column. Ongoing allergic manifestations were noted in 24 of 29 subjects at study entry. *Allergic GI manifestations included allergic enterocolitis, esophagitis and gastroesophageal reflux. All of the 29 subjects who completed both the DBPCFC and open challenge had negative responses to both tests. As determined by daily parental record, acceptance and tolerance of the new AAF were generally good. No serious adverse events occurred during the DBPCFC, open challenge, or extended 7-day feeding period on the new AAF. The study provided 95% confidence that at least 90% of infants and children allergic to cow's milk would have no reaction to the new AAF, thus demonstrating the hypoallergenicity of the new AAF in infants and children with documented CMA, many of whom had multiple food allergies. Discussion The AAP states that infants who develop symptoms of food allergy may benefit from the use of an EHF or an AAF.8 Preclinical in vitro studies have demonstrated the absence of any detectable cow's milk protein in the experimental AAF tested in the current studies (data on file). Our 2 studies were designed to evaluate the safety and tolerability of the new AAF and to demonstrate its hypoallergenicity in vivo. The results of these studies demonstrate that the new AAF is hypoallergenic, safe, well tolerated, and promotes normal growth when fed to healthy term infants from 14 to 120 days of age. Overall acceptance and tolerance of the new AAF in these studies was good. In study 1, no differences were noted between the experimental and control groups in terms of mean achieved weight, rate of weight increase, achieved head circumference, or rate of head circumference increase. A significant difference between the 2 groups was observed in rate of length increase and achieved length at 120 days, but this difference was not considered clinically relevant, because the mean length measurements in both groups were between the 50th and 90th percentiles on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reference charts at age 120 days and throughout the study. In study 2, all 29 infants and children who completed both the DBPCFC and the open challenge had negative responses to challenges with both the new AAF and placebo. Of these 29 infants and children, 79% had multiple food allergies. Diagnostic values of cow's milk-specific IgE have been established to facilitate the diagnosis of CMA and were used as part of the inclusion criteria for most of the subjects in this study. We considered that it would be excessively interventional and potentially traumatic to perform 2 DBPCFCs in this population of infants and children, with 1 challenge done to confirm the diagnosis of CMA in a subject who had not undergone a DBPCFC in the previous 90 days and the other done to test the hypoallergenicity of the new AAF. A similar inclusion criterion was used by Sicherer et al13 in a study to evaluate the hypoallergenicity of an AAF currently on the market. They reported 22 successfully completed DBPCFCs and 9 successfully completed single-blind challenges that demonstrated the hypoallergenicity of the tested AAF. Sampson et al25 characterized another AAF currently on the market as hypoallergenic after conducting DBPCFCs and open challenges in 26 children with CMA. Previous studies conducted in infants with intolerance to CMF have demonstrated that AAFs are safe and effective in infants with documented allergy to cow's milk protein and promote acceptable growth when fed for varying periods.4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Unlike most previous studies, however, the AAF in our study 1 was the primary source of nutrition for these healthy term infants, with only 6% to 15% of infants consuming anything other than formula during the 24 hours before the study visits. The findings of study 1 support the conclusion that acceptable growth occurs in infants fed the new AAF, which is hypoallergenic in infants and children with CMA. The significantly higher plasma amino acid levels detected in the experimental group compared with the control group generally reflects the higher concentrations of these amino acids in the AAF compared with the EHF, but they are not considered clinically relevant, especially because growth was similar across groups and tracked in a normal range on the CDC growth charts. The plasma amino acid concentrations in the experimental and control groups were similar to those seen in breast-fed infants.26 Past studies with different AAFs also suggest that AAFs are safe and effective and may be particularly well suited for infants with non–IgE-mediated or multiple food allergies. In a study of 74 infants with CMA, a whey-based EHF was compared with an AAF. Growth was promoted in infants receiving the AAF but declined in infants fed the whey-based EHF.12 Similarly, an AAF fed to 31 children with cow's milk and multiple food allergies was shown to be hypoallergenic and effective in maintaining normal growth.13 That study was unique in that 14 of the 31 children had allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis and were followed up for growth over an extended period on the new AAF. Blood eosinophil counts declined significantly during feeding with the AAF, indicating reduced allergic inflammation. Children with allergic eosinophilic gastroenteritis may especially benefit from AAFs, and an AAFs are recommended for infants and children with poor growth and multiple food allergies on highly restricted diets.13 In a previous study of 52 infants with CMA who did not tolerate EHF, AAF used for a mean duration of 11.4 months proved to be safe in all cases, with infants exhibiting overall gains in weight and length.14 Of the 52 infants studied, 65% had multiple food allergies. In this study, an earlier diagnosis of intolerance to EHF was associated with a better prognosis, shorter duration of symptoms, and a decreased number of food allergies. In a previous study of infants with multiple food protein intolerance, 18 infants (median age, 7.5 months) were given an AAF for 2 months, then underwent a DBPCFC, followed by a 7-day observation period with the previously best-tolerated formula.4 The AAF formula promoted stabilization of symptoms in all of the infants. The formula challenge produced increased irritability, vomiting, diarrhea, and /or eczema flares in 8 of the 12 infants. Six infants had an adverse reaction to soy formula, 2 had an adverse reaction to whey hydrolysate formula, and 4 had an adverse reaction to casein hydrolysate formula. The results of these studies highlight the importance of early detection and treatment of intolerance to EHF, manifested mainly as digestive symptoms, and the therapeutic potential of AAFs in treating infants with eosinophilic gastroenteritis or multiple food allergies. Of note in our study, ongoing multiple food allergies were reported in 23 subjects, 19 of whom had 2 or more types of food allergy in addition to CMA, as reported by parents and guardians. These subjects had a negative DBPCFC to the experimental AAF tested, as well as no allergic exacerbations during the 7-day feeding period with this formula. Standard infant formulas and specialty formulas with added DHA and ARA are available to feed healthy infants and infants with special nutritional needs, respectively. Adding DHA and ARA to these types of formulas to achieve near-median worldwide human milk levels has been shown to promote normal infant growth and enhance visual and mental performance.27, 28, 29, 30 The new AAF with added DHA and ARA may provide infants with CMA the benefits of improved visual and mental development. Furthermore, the addition of DHA to this formula may provide some anti-inflammatory effects,31 which could be potentially beneficial for infants with CMA and other food allergies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate the efficacy of an AAF with added DHA and ARA at near-median worldwide human milk levels. In summary, the new AAF promoted appropriate growth in healthy term infants from 14 to 120 days of age and was well accepted and tolerated. This formula also was demonstrated to be hypoallergenic and safe in infants and children with CMA and multiple food allergies. We thank the study investigators and staff for their cooperation. The participation of all of the parents, guardians, infants, and children in the study is gratefully acknowledged. We also acknowledge valuable contributions from Donna Attebury, AAS, Laura Beck, BSMT, and Celeste Williams, RN in the execution and completion of these studies. Finally, we thank Susan Hazels Mitmesser, PhD and Nancy Gustafson, MS for their contributions to the manuscript development.