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Don’t miss Helen Epstein’s brilliant exposé in the latest issue of The New York Review of Books. She shows how the profit motive shapes the “preparedness” industry — worth $10 billion worldwide in 2009 (the year of the Flu Pandemic That Wasn’t).
I’ve covered the profit-motivated thinking behind vaccine recommendations generally and specifically with regard to flu immunization. Epstein’s main interest is in the role of pharmaceutical companies in promoting oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) and other neuraminidase inhibitors as public health responses to flu fears. Her story features the brilliant work of Tom Jefferson and colleagues, and the shady behavior of the global biotech firm Roche in trying to block Jefferson et al.’s efforts to investigate the safety of neuraminidase-blocking agents.
Jefferson was lead author on the Cochrane Collaborations’ main paper on neuraminidase inhibitors for flu prevention and treatment. But when reports of adverse effects of these drugs emerged and he and colleagues tried to re-assess the underlying reports on which the effectiveness of oseltamivir and similar drugs was based, Jefferson was stymied. His colleague, Peter Doshi, related the story in BMJ. The journal’s editor-in-chief, Fiona Godlee, along with Cochrane director Mike Clarke, wrote in an accompanying editorial:
The review and a linked investigation undertaken jointly by the BMJ and Channel 4 News cast doubt not only on the effectiveness and safety of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) but on the system by which drugs are evaluated, regulated, and promoted.
The take-home message is that while there is evidence that Tamiflu can be effective in treating flu, the evidence is shakier than it seems, and troubling reports point to potentially serious adverse effects.
How does a questionable medication get to be the basis (or part of the basis) for public health policy? The answer is that the policy makers and the money makers work hand in hand.
Maryann Napoli at Center for Medical Consumers tried to point out the troubling links between WHO and big pharma last year, and Steven Novella at Science-Based Medicine brought it up around the same time.
But most of the coverage focuses on the involvement of individual scientists and/or physicians who are receiving payments or other forms of remuneration directly from drug companies. It’s not hard to police such straightforward conflicts — and so it was easy for Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General, to say last year that “at no time, not for one second, did commercial interests enter my decision-making.”
Epstein’s great contribution is in showing that obvious conflicts of interest aren’t the main way that for-profit companies influence policy. It’s done through stonewalling, as Jefferson encountered when he tried to examine Roche’s data. It’s done through widely accepted collusions.
For instance, the CDC Foundation — “Helping CDC Do More, Faster” is its motto — is a nonprofit organization, created by the U.S. Congress, whose job is to
connect the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with private-sector organizations and individuals to build public health programs that make our world healthier and safer.
Of course, calling them “private-sector organizations” suggests that these are not-for-profits — and some, like the District of Columbia Department of Health, the Medical College of South Carolina, and UNICEF, really are. But most of the private-sector collaborators who are linked with CDC’s policy makers by the CDC Foundation are big corporations. They include all the giants of Pharma world: Merck, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Pasteur, etc. (They also include some who are just giants: Google, Dell, YUM! Brands, and IBM, to name a few.)
So when CDC’s updated flu response plan now recommends antiviral (i.e., neuraminidase-inhibitor) treatment “as soon as possible,” it’s worth asking whether this is because it has any public health value (answer: no) or just because CDC is cozy with companies that make money when people get sick.
This entry was posted on Friday, April 22nd, 2011 at 8:42 pm and is filed under Disease, epidemics, flu, Outbreaks, public health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed. | <urn:uuid:25f18815-91ce-4017-9a63-65b0b45e5d09> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.philipalcabes.com/2011/04/profiting-from-preparedness/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940682 | 966 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Pastor Louie Giglio and supporters of the global "End It" anti-slavery campaign are participating in a day-long social media blackout today in order to raise awareness for the 27 million people living as slaves.
Giglio, who preaches at Passion City Church in Roswell, Ga., recently held his popular Passion 2013 conference, which attracted an attendance of 60,000 young Christians at the Georgia Dome. Over $3 million was raised to help deliver the 27 million men, women, and children around the world who are currently enslaved out of bondage.
For the entire day on Wednesday, Giglio and all those who have pledged their voices to fight slavery have gone quiet on social media websites and blacked out their profiles, posting simply a link to an inspirational video that highlights the mass-scale problem currently afflicting humanity.
"Today, we've disappeared," the organization, founded by Giglio, says over a black screen on their website. "In brothels. In factories. In quarries. Working as slaves. In 161 countries. Including our own. Today, we join them and quiet our voices on social media and our website. Tomorrow, we'll be back to shine a light in the darkness. To end it."
Giglio is currently touring around the country with worship singers Chris Tomlin and Kari Jobe in the Burning Lights Tour, which last week delivered a sold-out Madison Square Garden show in New York. Tomlin's CD debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list in January, only the fourth time in history that a Christian music album has entered the chart at that position.
In an interview with CNN in January, Giglio reflected that Jesus Christ was the "the ultimate abolitionist, the original abolitionist," which is what brings hope to the world in the fight against global slavery.
The Passion 2013 conference heavily promoted the "End It" movement, and inspired students to raise money and join the campaign.
"In that cause, they wanted to lift their voices for those who have no voice. Not only did [the students] raise money … they want to bring awareness to the nation for people who have no clue that this is going on," Giglio explained.
"It's not any one person or organization that's going to solve this. It's every one of us, doing what we can, at the level of influence we have, to not only shine a light on slavery, but to end it," Giglio added.
The Georgia pastor has met with and worked with President Barack Obama over the End It campaign. He was initially invited to deliver the benediction at the second inauguration ceremony on Jan. 21, but later declined after a number of left-wing websites unearthed a controversial sermon concerning homosexuality he preached nearly 20 years ago.
Giglio explained that the focus of his ministry was to talk about the power of God's goodness, grace and love, and how it can move and inspire the world.
"Indifference is not an option," the End It Movement video states, encouraging everyone to join in the important cause. | <urn:uuid:cb16e3b1-4681-427e-9e57-42ff75e5d348> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.christianpost.com/news/louie-giglios-anti-slavery-end-it-movement-in-social-media-blackout-90906/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965664 | 634 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Learning about Careers in Health Communication
Students in the Health Communication class recently toured the new Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and learned what it is like to work in hospital public relations. The 23‑story, state-of-the-art hospital opened in June just a few blocks from Loyola’s Water Tower campus. It replaced the 131-year-old Children’s Hospital of Chicago in Lincoln Park.
Julie Pesch, public affairs director, hosted the visit. The tour began in the lobby, where life-size models of whales donated by the Shedd Aquarium hang from the ceiling. The students also visited the Crown Sky Garden, an airy space on the 11th floor filled with towering bamboo plants, where kids, families and caregivers can relax in nature without leaving the hospital. “It didn’t seem like a hospital,” said Ericka Reyes, a junior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations and Psychology: Social Science.
The final stop was one of the bright, cheerful patient floors, which includes private spaces where families could gather, relax, eat, and rest. “I loved seeing different parts of the hospital and how the communication team had featured them in media coverage,” said Eva Robinson, a senior majoring in Advertising and Public Relations and Spanish.
Pesch told students that her seven-member team spends much of its time on media relations. This includes identifying stories about patients and research conducted at the hospital and working with journalists to get the stories aired, published, or posted online. The team also publicizes special events, such as a recent event attended by Sarah Jessica Parker and Harry Connick, Jr.
Building and opening the new hospital generated considerable local media coverage, Pesch said. One of the largest stories was about moving 126 patients by ambulance from the old hospital to the new one in a 14‑hour period, which came off like clockwork.
Pesch said communicators at the hospital are also involved in employee communication, public affairs, government relations, and community relations, and also work closely with the hospital’s marketing team. She said the hospital worked diligently to communicate with its residential neighbors to overcome the neighbors’ opposition to the hospital’s plans to build a helicopter landing facility on its roof.
Assistant Professor Marjorie Kruvand, who teaches the Health Communication class, said visits like these can help students “try on” possible careers. work in many types of settings, including hospitals, corporations, non-profit organizations, government agencies, and foundations. | <urn:uuid:79883941-bd94-4362-a56b-f06b27cd7a01> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.luc.edu/soc/homenews/title,140156,en.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9631 | 533 | 1.679688 | 2 |
University on Wheels pilot programmes last year in Auckland (South, West & North Shore schools) were very successful and we are now ready to roll out this concept wherever there is a demand throughout New Zealand. Essentially Elaine & I have been working on taking the Achieving Potential Seminars (previously available only during school holiday periods) directly into the classroom during term time. The seminars are organised on a non profit basis and our charges represent cost recovery only.
The 3-Day workshops are often hosted by a particular school in an area, with students attending from a group of surrounding schools. Class sizes range between 12 and 18 students. If you would like to see this opportunity taking place this year at a school near you visit www.universityonwheels.org to see what's on offer and discuss the idea with the teacher most interested in the Bright Sparks, Creative Thinkers & Tall Poppies at your school.
Have a look at the website - www.universityonwheels.org - for full rundown/info. Re schools making differing charges, this is because some choose to fund the courses completely, whilst others make a part charge to the parents.
I think I have the answer to one of your queries about these course for bright sparks and creative thinkers and so on. Its the query about not for profit and personal motivation. I think you will find that some people are just like that. Odd isnt it?
I highly recommend that you encourage schools to get involved in these seminars. The people running them are amazing - they are gifted themselves and emphathise with gifted kids. They can provide challenge and extension that schools simply can't provide themselves. | <urn:uuid:5218e48c-a43d-48e2-bcc6-d855e2f10522> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.giftedchildren.org.nz/forum/read.php?f=3&i=4214&t=4207 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974233 | 339 | 1.734375 | 2 |
CRITICS of Australia's ability to build naval craft were adding nothing to the debate, the ASC says.
Defending indigenous shipbuilding, ASC managing director and chief executive officer Steve Ludlam said the issue was worth debating - as it had been for many years.
"Yet I would point out ... recent contributions offer nothing new or compelling," he said.
He also urged the Federal Government to start the Future Submarine Project in Adelaide next financial year.
"This is a time to stand up for an indigenous shipbuilding capability," Mr Ludlam said.
"It is a time to stand beside the key players in the industry and affirm that Australians have the expertise, international relationships and capacity to build the next generation of submarines on their own soil."
Mr Ludlam believed Australia was "more than capable" of building a replacement, saying "we have learnt lessons of Collins, we have in place a significant reform program".
Mr Ludlam defended the $8 billion AWD project to build three new warships and the Collins Class submarines saying they were subject to "a number of media articles that have cast both projects in poor light".
"(Some commentators) demand the visibility but feel they have the right to go down some tangential route or to make an assertion they have no sense for. It hurts people," he told a Defence Teaming Centre lunch.
Mr Ludlam passionately listed the projects' achievements and "nation building" capacity.
He claimed the AWD project consumed millions of tonnes of iron ore from the West Australian Pilbara, steel from Port Kembla in NSW, along with thousands of labour hours in block construction in three states along with accommodation fabrication in Tasmania.
Both the air warfare destroyer and Collins Class projects encouraged investment, innovation and job growth, Mr Ludlam said.
He described the Collins Class project as "one that had achieved one of the most complex engineering tasks man has ever undertaken".
However, he does concede that not enough hard questions had been asked of suppliers in the Collins program, but the result was still a world-class boat.
"These submarines are highly capable," he said.
"Much of what they achieve is secret but last year Collins sailed around the entire coastline of Australia - a conventional submarine sailing effectively two thirds around the world. She never missed a beat."
Building the six Collins from start to finish in 16 years was an extraordinary achievement and SA had the capacity to take on building 12 new conventional submarines.
Mr Ludlam also rejected criticism the AWD Alliance was dysfunctional.
Quite the opposite - with the alliance swinging into action when building delays hit the Williamstown ship yard in Victoria earlier this year, re-allocating work and resolving the problem.
"The matter has been resolved and the project is accelerating," he said.
"Costs have been contained and the schedule impact minimised."
He urged a prompt decision on the SEA 1000 Future Submarine project, flagged in the Federal Government's 2009 Defence White Paper, pushing for it to be built locally.
It has been promised to SA, but debate currently centres on whether Australia should buy a military off-the-shelf from overseas or design its own submarine. | <urn:uuid:f4add279-38e6-4dfe-a21e-44d22a0a6db7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/business/sa-business-journal/asc-keep-shipbuilding-in-australia/story-e6fredel-1226167092170 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971336 | 647 | 1.632813 | 2 |
I'm designing a game system, and am working on the combat system. I have several questions, and I'm trying to create a system that is as realistic as possible. Sadly I have no experience with guns or the theory involved. I'm assuming that the main constant involved in a formula here will be the range, and I would like to ignore defensive movement, armor and anything else.
- I'm wondering which chance there should be for an average pistol-wielding character to hit a target that isn't aware of it, in 10 meters range? Should it be 50%? Or better asked: On which range should the possibility be 50%?
- What if the target was 20 meter away, or 30 feet away?
- Should the range influence the negative modifier linearly?
- How badly is firing multiple shots influencing the first shot? Say 3 shots from a pistol? | <urn:uuid:9026b669-2790-4d92-a2d6-ed55820f2e9e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/18209/combat-what-is-the-chance-of-hitting-someone-on-range/18210 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963838 | 180 | 1.648438 | 2 |
The greatest influencer of the fledging eReader market is not Amazon.com, Google, or even Barnes & Noble… In fact, it’s the least involved company there is: Apple.
Despite Apple’s lack of any tangible presence in the eReader market (if you don’t count the iPhone, that is), Apple has done more to shape the way eReaders are made and eBooks are sold than anyone else. Steve Jobs has long denied interest in entering the eReader market, but despite keeping his distance, it’s obvious he’s made a long-lasting impact.
Barnes & Noble recently unveiled the Nook, its response to Amazon’s hugely-publicized Kindle. While the Kindle was a promising turn in the fortune of the eReader, many reviewers believe that the Nook is so close to perfecting the eReader that it almost seems like an Apple product.
ZDNet goes as far as to say that the Nook features “a curvy industrial design that would make Apple engineers proud.”
The Nook owes so much of its existence to Apple that one might accuse Barnes & Noble of stealing engineers from Steve Jobs under the cover of night. Here are ten profound ways that Apple inspired the Nook:
1. Touch. Anyone who gets into the eReader business knows that touch screens are the best way to control the format. But no one knew how to do it. eInk and touch just don’t work together so well right now. Most eReaders feature tiny, clunky buttons that fatigue the design and burden the fingers. Nook finds the perfect temporary solution by adding touch to a secondary screen. Thanks to the enormous popularity of Apple’s iPhone, consumers already know how to use and appreciate touch-screens. The Nook even foregoes a hardware keyboard for a digital one similar to the iPhone.
2. Cover Flow. Originally invented by Andrew Coulter Enright, Apple purchased Cover Flow in 2006 and immediately implemented the technology in the iPhone and on iTunes. The color touch screen on the Nook displays a selection of purchased or available eBooks in a similar manner, allowing readers to flick the covers left or right to scroll further and view more options.
3. The wireless store. Although the Kindle beat Nook to the wireless store, the concept originated with the iPhone. The idea that users could purchase content (originally music and later apps) from a wireless device was pioneered by Apple. Amazon progressed the concept by allowing downloads from cell networks (in addition to Wi-Fi) and Apple eventually followed suit. The Nook allows readers to download eBooks wireless from a cellular network also.
4. The SD card slot. Apple has long favored controlling the amount of memory on board any given device, but the company has recently relaxed its stance on SD card readers in its Macs. You can bet that when the Apple tablet is released it will carry an SD card port on board, similar to the Nook.
5. Promotions and advertising. If you’ve watched the Nook’s overview video, you’ll notice a clean white background and a friendly personality guiding you through features in real-life scenarios, similar to Apple’s instructional videos. In addition, the Nook’s promotional page on Barnes & Noble’s website resembles Apple’s online product pages by bannering with a dominant image followed by clean, easy-to-read chunks of information.
6. Retail. Amazon’s Kindle is an exclusive product. If you want to buy it you’ve only got one place to do it: Amazon.com. If you want to try it out, you’ll probably only get the chance if you have a friend who owns one. Barnes & Noble, unlike Amazon, has a virile fleet of brick and mortar stores across the country where Nooks can be fondled, goggled and acquired in a matter of minutes, no shipping delay required. It’s like an impulse buy for plastic surgeons. Apple works the same way. Many of the people who purchase iPhones and iPods do so at an Apple Store, where they can make love with the objects until their next credit card comes in the mail.
7. Bundles. Content comes in many forms. Apple’s well aware of the competition if faces from DVD bins at Wal-Mart. But physical DVD discs can also be used to promote Apple products. By encouraging companies to bundle iPod-friendly versions of films on Blu-Ray discs, it influences sales of iPods and use of iTunes. Barnes & Noble has stated that it plans to bundle eBook versions of some books with physical copies, giving shoppers one more reason to consider a Nook.
8. Competition comparisons. Apple has spent a considerable amount of money lambasting Microsoft in its ubiquitous Mac Vs. PC ads. It’s all about calling out the two obvious choices and telling consumers which one is better. Nook does the same thing on its website, showing a feature checklist comparison that will also be shown in stores.
9. Freeware hype. Barnes & Noble advertises more than 500,000 free eBooks available for the Nook that Amazon.com doesn’t provide. In fact, if you consider that the company offers more than a million eBooks, that’s like saying half of its inventory is completely free. Apple’s not quite as generous, simply because while many old books have fallen out of copyright protection, recorded music and movies are still relatively recent inventions. However, Apple does provide numerous free singles and free television episodes every week. It’s a way of drawing people in who might not otherwise sign up.
10. Apps. When the iPhone first launched, apps were a distant dream to developers who eventually saw their dream realized as Apple provided the tools and outlet for new and creative uses of its technology. Nook runs on Android technology, an existing platform that already has an impressive developer base. In fact, Barnes & Noble is currently planning an SDK release for Android developers. What makes it such a greater platform than the Kindle? That color touch screen, making possibilities limitless…. sort of like the iPhone.
Amazon, however, deserves a little credit. The Kindle includes a built-in battery, much like the iPhone before it. Apple’s right that few customers want to deal with the hassle of charging and carrying around an extra battery. Even fewer are likely to do so for a consumer device that lasts more than ten days on a single charge (like an eReader). The Nook takes up valuable space and weight to provide such an antiquated option. | <urn:uuid:f96e4789-5cff-4572-b407-0280dd0d256f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://teqnolog.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/10-ways-that-apple-inspired-the-nook/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941976 | 1,378 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Evangelizing the World
by Lane Keister
All people are supposed to hear the good news of Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected from the dead. Not only are all people supposed to hear that salvation has been accomplished in history, they are to hear that any who repent of their sin and turn in faith to Jesus will actually possess the benefits of that accomplished salvation as well. In other words, those who offer the gospel are to sow the seed personally and indiscriminately, and are not to be discouraged when many people reject the message. While it would be hasty to say that three quarters of those who hear the message will reject it, it is certainly fair to say that of the various kinds of heart-soil that hear the gospel, three quarters will reject the message. Sowers of the good seed should rejoice in the positive results that do occur (and that God has promised!), rather than sulk about all the bad results or lack of results. The fact is that the outcome of the sowing is not dependent on us. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3:6: “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” It is our business to be planting, not digging up the seeds to see if they have sprouted yet.
The biblical thinking outlined above runs counter to all the various kinds of evangelism that put pressure on the one sowing to make the growth happen. Thoughts such as these — “if only I had been a little more eloquent”; “if only I had kept going a little longer”; “if only I had used a different illustration” — are stultifying to the evangelist. Why put pressure on oneself to provide the growth he is incapable of providing? What motive remains for the evangelist if he pressures himself thusly, but has no visible results? If, however, the evangelist depends on God’s grace for the growth and merely concerns himself with presenting clearly the Word of God (which also happens by the grace of God), the proper relationship between God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility in evangelism will be maintained.
Anyone who thinks this way can be an evangelist. One of the main problems that churches are facing today in the area of evangelism is the idea that the pastor is the only person qualified to evangelize. They might think that the pastor must be the only one to do evangelism because the pastor is paid to do it. Or they might think that only seminary-trained individuals can evangelize. Ultimately, that kind of thinking stems from the idea that the growth depends on us. The real problem is not a lack of education. The real problem is that we seldom love people as we ought. We don’t love people enough to tell them they are going to hell without Jesus Christ. We fear the consequences (men) more than we fear the Consequence (God). Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, help us to repent of our unloving hearts!
The application to sowers of the seed is only half the picture. The other half has to do with the hearers of the seed. Most applications of this parable focus on evangelism, and rightly so. What kind of soil do you have? How are you listening to the Word of God? Are you hard-hearted, such that the Word of God bounces and skitters along the surface, never penetrating? The Word is then gone before you even know it is there. Are you shallow, driven with every mad craze of the age, such that the Word of God is just one more fad that will be replaced with yet another, much in the same way as Toad in The Wind in the Willows? Oh, you might receive it well initially, but the next thing to come along withers it. Or, is your heart distracted? The Word might have some penetration in your heart, but you want so many other things alongside the Word. Eventually, those other things crowd out the Word.
The most wonderful thing about God’s grace is that God is the gardener who can change your heart-soil. He can take out the hard heart, the shallow heart, the choked heart, and give you a first-rate topsoil heart, infused with the fertilizing energy of the Holy Spirit, the watering efficacy of the blood of Christ, the sun of the Father’s powerfully enlightening Word, all of which together plow the tough soil, remove the underlying rock layers, and weed out the distractions.
One last thing bears mentioning. Christians can respond to the Word in one of the three bad ways just as much as the unbeliever does. There are areas of our lives that are hard, shallow, or choked. By God’s grace, using the means He has provided for us, we must tend our gardens, using the plow of the Law to prick our hardened consciences, levering out the rocky soil by means of serving one another, and weeding out those worldly idols that so easily entangle us. God’s grace accomplishes this just as much as in the conversion of the unbeliever. However, that does not mean that we sit back and do nothing. As Paul said in Philippians 2:12–13: “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
© Tabletalk magazine
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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: From Ligonier Ministries and R.C. Sproul. © Tabletalk magazine. Website: www.ligonier.org/tabletalk. Email: [email protected]. Toll free: 1-800-435-4343. | <urn:uuid:28d830ab-e326-497a-aae4-c7146602b21d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/evangelizing-world/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959653 | 1,296 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Things are looking rosier for credit-card holders. Consumers are paying down balances and facing fewer punitive actions by credit-card companies such as higher rates, late-payment fees, and canceled cards, according to a nationwide survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center. And with reports of delinquencies and defaults down, card issuers have resumed stuffing your mailbox with offers, many of them featuring low-rate introductory deals or lucrative rewards.
New federal rules barring many abusive practices by card issuers seem to be having an effect. Only 12 percent of the 1,258 Americans surveyed in July said their credit-card companies had generally treated them unfairly, down from 22 percent in 2009. More people are being approved: Only 14 percent were denied a card in 2011, compared with 24 percent last year.
But that doesn't mean you can let down your guard. Thirty-five percent of survey respondents said in the past year they had experienced at least one credit-card problem, such as a new annual fee, higher interest rate, lower credit limit, or limits on rewards. Average interest rates on new cards were 14.11 percent in September, up from 11.64 percent in May 2009, according to LowCards.com, a card-comparison site.
If you're among the 56 percent of Americans who pay off their card balances each month, you might want to take advantage of offers promising introductory bonuses of cash, miles, or points. The best rewards-card deals are reserved for people with credit scores of 730 to 740 and up.
If you regularly carry a balance, a rewards card probably won't be a good fit, since they tend to have higher interest rates than standard cards, and you might pay more in finance charges than you would gain in rewards. But we've also seen tempting terms on non-rewards cards, such as low introductory interest rates.
Here's what we found when we analyzed dozens of credit-card offers:
Some cards offer cash bonuses for signing up and spending a certain amount—usually from $500 to $3,000—within the first three months. The Chase Freedom card and Citi Dividend World MasterCard offer $100 and $200, respectively, in up-front cash.
These low interest rates are attractive to people who carry a balance. The Citi Platinum Select Card, for example, offers a zero percent APR on purchases and balance transfers for 21 months. The PenFed Visa Promise card, which is available to members of the Pentagon Federal Credit Union, has a 7.49 percent APR on purchases for the first 36 months, then a variable rate, currently 9.99 percent. And it has a 4.99 percent APR on balance transfers for 24 months with no transfer fee. (Membership in PenFed is free for members of the military and their families and for U.S. government employees, among others; people can also become members by joining the National Military Family Association for a $20 fee or Voices for America's Troops for $15.)
Frequent flyers might be enticed by "free round-trip ticket" promotions by airline and bank cards. The Chase Sapphire card offers 25,000 points—promoted as worth $250 toward a round-trip flight—after you spend $3,000 in the first three months. Bank cards usually let you redeem points with any airline, so you generally can get an unrestricted flight for about 25,000 points without being subject to blackout dates and limits on the number of reward seats. With cards issued by airlines, you might need to use up to 50,000 points to get an unrestricted flight on the dates you want to travel.
A new trend in rewards cards is to offer two versions of a card: one that carries an annual fee and a no-fee version with a smaller payback. The annual-fee versions might offer a higher introductory point bonus than the no-fee ones. The no-fee Capital One VentureOne Rewards card, for example, pays 1.25 miles per $1 spent; the Venture Rewards card, which has a $59 annual fee (waived in the first year) earns 2 miles per $1 spent and comes with a 25,000-mile bonus if you spend $1,000 in the first three months. The VentureOne offers 10,000 bonus miles, but after the first year, the VentureOne card is the better travel-rewards option for people who spend less than $8,000 a year.
American Express has a "preferred" version of its Blue Sky and Blue Cash cards. Each has an annual fee of $75, but they come with $100 sign-up bonuses and better cash-back options than the no-annual-fee versions. And there are additional perks, such as the Blue Sky Preferred's annual $100 "airline allowance," which can be applied to baggage fees, in-flight food, and other incidental in-flight purchases.
Airline cards usually charge an annual fee, but many waive it in the first year. Some airline cards—Continental Airline's Presidential Plus is one—provide perks such as priority boarding and free checked baggage that can offset the annual fees. And several premium travel cards from banks and airlines offer additional benefits, such as travel insurance, trip-delay coverage, rental-car insurance, and occasionally no foreign transaction fees.
Several cards used to pay 5 percent cash back on gas, but the norm is now 3 percent. One holdout, the PenFed Platinum Cash Rewards card, still pays 5 percent. If you always buy the same brand of gas, you might benefit from an oil-company card. The BP Visa card pays 5 percent on purchases at BP and 10 percent up to the first 60 days (subject to limits). But its APR goes up to 19.24 percent on purchases. And beware: The Shell Drive For Five credit card carries an APR of 24.99 percent.
Reading the fine print of rewards programs before you sign up can steer you away from cards with these catches:
Some cards, such as the Chase Freedom and Discover More cards, offer 5 percent cash back in rotating categories that can correspond to the season in which people generally shop for those items. But you must opt in each time.
If you're not a big spender, watch for terms that require you to spend a certain amount to get the advertised perks. The Discover More card, which enticingly pays 5 percent in those rotating categories, offers only up to 1 percent on other purchases. And "up to" is the key here—if you spend less than $3,000 a year, you get only 0.25 percent cash back.
The Citi Dividend World MasterCard pays a $200 bonus after you spend $1,000 in the first three months, but it has an annual cap of $300 on certain rebates. Bank of America's BankAmericard Cash Rewards Visa pays 3 percent on gas, 2 percent on groceries, and 1 percent on everything else. But if you spend more than $1,500 on gas and groceries in a quarter, your rewards drop to 1 percent.
Check for expiration dates on rewards, especially with travel cards, because it often takes a long time to accumulate enough points for a ticket.
Some cards take away your month's points if you miss a payment and might charge you a reinstatement fee of $25 or so to get the points back. The Discover More card takes away all your points if you miss two straight payments. Setting up account alerts for payment due dates or arranging to have your bill automatically paid out of your checking account can help you avoid losing your rewards. | <urn:uuid:7a20fd90-c793-4d8b-abf6-9cd5d4d3911e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/magazine-archive/2011/december/money/credit-card-deals/overview/index.htm?EXTKEY=AYFCF00 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955595 | 1,566 | 1.617188 | 2 |
HIDDEN SOURCES OF PROCESSED FREE GLUTAMIC ACID ( MSG): ADDENDUM
Compiled by the Truth in
850 N. DeWitt Place, Chicago, IL 60611 858-481-9333 http://www.truthinlabeling.org
MSG-sensitive people react to the free glutamic acid that occurs in food as a consequence of manufacture or fermentation, and refer to it as MSG. Ingredients known to contain enough MSG to serve as common MSG-reaction triggers are listed on our Web page entitled "Sources of Processed Free Glutamic Acid (MSG)." This "Addendum" lists only those ingredients known, or suspected, of containing lesser amounts of MSG. This Addendum will be helpful to those who have little tolerance for MSG. It has been compiled from reports of MSG-sensitive people and discussions with food technologists.
The following are ingredients suspected of containing or creating sufficient MSG to serve as MSG-reaction triggers in highly sensitive people:
Modified food starch
Reduced fat milk (e.g., skim milk; 1% milk; 2% milk
Hidden MSG is not limited to use in food:
Reactions have been reported to soaps, shampoos, hair conditioners, and cosmetics. The most common hiding places are in ingredients that begin with the word "hydrolyzed" and in ingredients described as "protein," "amino acids," or “chelated with amino acids”.
Disodium guanylate and disodium inosinate are relatively expensive food additives that work synergistically with inexpensive MSG. They would probably not be used if there were no MSG present.
Binders, fillers, and/or carriers (used in "enriched" products, for example), and flowing agents, may contain MSG, but are not always mentioned on labels. In pharmaceuticals, these ingredients are usually listed in product inserts under "inert ingredients" or “other ingredients”.
The food ingredient "monosodium glutamate" should not be found in, or on, products labeled "organic". However, MSG-containing ingredients such as autolyzed yeast, yeast extract, and citric acid are found in some "organic" products; and "hydrolyzed" ingredients are being used in some "organic" fertilizers. "Organic" does not mean free of MSG.
MSG-type reactions have been reported following ingestion of fish, seafood, and poultry, rinsed with phosphates. (Phosphates do not contain MSG.) A phosphate rinse for meat is also available. Rinses are not mentioned on food labels.
There have been some reports of reactions to some sugar, some salt, and to meat that has been wrapped in cryovac (a thick, viscous plastic).
Just as poultry can be "basted" with an MSG-containing substance, meat can be injected with MSG. Some restaurants use basted steaks.
When "broth" is sold as "broth," its ingredients must be listed on its label. However, when "broth" (or any other product) is used as an ingredient in something else, the ingredients of that broth or other product do not have to be disclosed.
Salad mix and prewashed vegetables may have been rinsed with citric acid.
MSG has been found in wax used on some raw (non-organic) produce.
Drinks, candy, and chewing gum are also potential sources of hidden MSG. Also, aspartic acid, found in aspartame (NutraSweet, AminoSweet, Neotame, Equal) may cause MSG type reactions in MSG-sensitive people, depending on their tolerance levels. Aspartame is found in some medications, including children’s medications, and most chewing gums.
Binders and fillers for medications, nutrients, and supplements, both prescription and non-prescription, enteral feeding materials, protein drinks and powders, and some fluids administered intravenously in hospitals may contain MSG.
Many multi-vitamins include minerals that are chelated with an amino acid. This is also true of individual minerals. Avoid minerals with names that include the words glutamate, aspartate, or citrate. Also avoid minerals with names that include a parenthesis or footnote which the words “amino acid chelate”, “aminoate complex”, “chelated with a protein”, or “chelated with a hydrolyzed protein”.
Chicken Pox vaccine and other vaccines contain MSG, most often in hidden forms.
Reactions have been reported to produce fertilized or sprayed with MSG. | <urn:uuid:91323b5d-ebb1-4ba5-af65-b817292bc621> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.truthinlabeling.org/Jack_addendum_R.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946683 | 974 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Editor's note: Julian E. Zelizer is a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton University. He is the author of "Jimmy Carter," published by Times Books, and editor of a book assessing former President George W. Bush's administration, published by Princeton University Press.
Princeton, New Jersey (CNN) -- As the nation gets closer to the brink of fiscal chaos, many pundits have been writing the political obituary for John Boehner's term as Speaker of the House.
When negotiations over the debt ceiling broke down, with Majority Leader Eric Cantor refusing to accept any tax increase, New York magazine's John Heilemann said: "I think what we learned over this past weekend is that John Boehner . . . is not really Speaker of the House. Eric Cantor is Speaker of the House."
When Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell stepped in with a compromise of his own, apparently trying to accomplish what his colleague in the House could not achieve, he immediately received praise for seeking to save the GOP from incompetent leadership in the House.
With the Republicans openly divided and apparently lacking any clear leader, it appears that Boehner's future can't be pretty.
But, in fact, the verdict is still out. Not only is it too early to tell what will happen to him in the coming months as a result of the negotiations, it is also possible to see how Boehner can emerge from the debt ceiling debate in a stronger political position.
If a deal is struck in the next few days, it will be the speaker, not Cantor or McConnell, who could walk away with the biggest political muscle in the Republican caucus.
There are several reasons to think that Boehner might be in a better position than the conventional wisdom would have us believe. One reason is that, at least thus far, Boehner and the House GOP have successfully driven national debate to focus on their priority. Since taking over the chamber after the 2010 election, the speaker has used the debate over fiscal policy to nudge President Obama to the right.
Following two years of discussions about new health care programs, an economic stimulus and financial regulation, policymakers, including the president, are now squarely focused on reducing the size of government. Although Republicans have encountered significant blowback in response to Rep. Paul Ryan's plan to cut the budget, Boehner and his colleagues have been unrelenting in their focus on these issues.
Rather than challenging the broader arguments that have been promoted by the GOP by focusing, as many Democrats have argued is necessary, on federal policies to lower unemployment and on a launching a defense of government services, the president has generally accepted the terms of debate put forth by Republicans.
When President Obama tried to steal the thunder of the Republicans, he did so by offering an even grander deficit reduction package. The question is how much to cut government -- not whether to do so.
And so the major point of contention has been whether tax increases should also be part of the deficit reduction package.
As Harold Meyerson of The Washington Post wrote, "President Obama moved so far to the right that he has picked up many of the ideals the Republicans have jettisoned and embraced them as his own. It's Obama who's now the deficit-and-debt hawk and who has proposed cuts to Social Security and Medicare."
The second important development from the debt ceiling battle is that the speaker has managed to distance himself from the tea party Republicans even while he champions most of their views. Boehner has presented himself as the statesman and the dealmaker who is trying to keep the revolutionaries under control.
The speaker's press people got a lot of mileage out of the famous golf summit, with a number of stories of how well he and the president got along. When the negotiations broke down, the press focused on Cantor bolting from the sessions. Meanwhile, the media reported that the speaker is still open to working with Democrats. Some commentators have suggested that the White House has intentionally fueled this division to aggravate the dissension within the GOP and pit the factions against each other.
Yet the division might come back to bite the administration. In certain respects, Boehner has actually benefited from the zealousness of the tea party Republicans. Their relationship has echoes of the dynamics between Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson and northern liberals in the 1950s.
Johnson constantly warned conservative southern Democrats that if they did not compromise on issues like civil rights he would not be able to contain northern liberals like Illinois Senator Paul Douglas who were pushing for much bolder changes. He did this with the goal of moving southerners toward a compromise.
Boehner has been able to do the same with the conservative wing of his party. The speaker has created immense pressure on President Obama to concede on spending cuts by playing into fears of how far tea party Republicans are willing to go. Tea party activists are willing to risk the consequences of failing to raise the debt ceiling. The speaker conveys the message, moves the president, yet he does not have to take the blame himself. In the longer run, Republicans could feel as if they got the tea party out of their system and seeing the consequences, move back toward the speaker.
The final factor that will determine how the speaker comes out of this remains the biggest unknown. Can Boehner deliver the votes and persuade the extreme elements of his caucus to go along with a deal?
This is where Boehner must avoid, what might be called, the Newt Gingrich syndrome: the inability to control the radical elements in your caucus. Gingrich faced a similar challenge as Boehner in the mid-1990s. During the budget battles of 1995-1996, Gingrich could not control the legislators who had been elected in 1994 and who came to Washington determined to cut down the government. When the time came to reach a deal, Gingrich could not persuade them to go along. The result was a government shutdown that turned public opinion against the GOP.
If the potential for a major financial crisis does persuade House Republicans to go along in the end, however, the speaker could walk away victorious and come out of this legislative mess appearing as the leader who can round up votes.
It is far too early to count Boehner out -- and it is possible to see a number of silver linings for him amid the clouds of the past few weeks. Certainly, Democrats should not underestimate the speaker, nor should his opponents within the GOP. There are many ways to see how this cagey politician can emerge from a bruising battle stronger than before.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julian E. Zelizer. | <urn:uuid:57ec905f-e09d-40ee-ba5d-fd73ee388c19> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://edition.cnn.com/2011/OPINION/07/18/zelizer.boehner.endgame/index.html?hpt=hp_c1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974581 | 1,324 | 1.726563 | 2 |
MIAMI — A health report released Thursday estimates the state could expand its Medicaid coverage to more than 1 million residents without spending additional money by offsetting costs in state-funded hospital programs and other safety nets.
The study by Georgetown University Health Policy Institute comes days after Gov. Rick Scott softened his staunch opposition to the federal health care law, signaling he wants to explore setting up a state health exchange and expanding the Medicaid rolls.
Researchers said the state could save up to $100 million a year by offering Medicaid coverage to more residents by scaling back on state-funded mental health and substance abuse service programs and other hospital safety-net funds, arguing that patients won’t have to rely on them as much if they already have health insurance. The report estimates between 800,000 and 1.3 million Floridians could qualify for coverage if the state expands its rolls.
The Obama administration wants to make more low-income Floridians eligible for Medicaid and is offering to absorb the cost for the first three years and pick up
90 percent of the tab after that.
Under the new state exchanges, Floridians and small businesses can shop for health insurance from a virtual marketplace.
The state can run the exchange on its own, join federal health officials in a partnership or allow the federal government to handle it completely. Top lawmakers sent a letter Thursday to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius saying they hadn’t made a decision about whether the state will run the exchange because they don’t have enough information. The letter also noted the state can’t make a decision until the Legislature reconvenes in March.
But Georgetown experts warn that even with the new health exchanges, tens of thousands of Floridians will be left without insurance or Medicaid coverage starting in 2014 if the state chooses not to expand its rolls. That’s because Florida already has some of the most stringent eligibility requirements in the country for Medicaid. A family of three with income of $11,000 a year makes too much and single residents are not covered.
Scott says he wants to work with federal officials on a solution but he’s still concerned about where the money is going to come from to pay for Medicaid and whether tax hikes would be needed to fund it.
“I want to sit down and have good conversation to figure out if we can do an exchange, is there some way we can deal with the Medicaid expansion,” Scott told The Associated Press this week.
An expansion would require additional costs, including an increase in payment rates for primary care services. Florida has one of the lowest Medicaid reimbursement rates. The federal government would pay the entire cost of the new Medicaid reimbursement rate, which would bring it in line with higher Medicare reimbursement rates. That could cost the state about $375 million a year, according to the Georgetown report.
Florida’s Medicaid program currently costs more than $21 billion a year, with the federal government picking up roughly half the tab. It covers nearly 3 million people — about half are children — and consumes about 30 percent of the state budget.
In an effort to cut costs, the state has been trying to privatize Medicaid — rather than having government insurance, patients would be assigned to for-profit insurance companies, which would receive a per-person fee from the state and decide what services and prescriptions to cover. Federal officials have yet to sign off on the proposal.
If Scott and the Republican-led Legislature decide to expand the Medicaid rolls, the new patients would fall into the privatized proposal.
“I want to really get to the bottom of what’s it’s going to cost to do the expansion,” Scott said. | <urn:uuid:803bbbc5-9cc4-464c-8e7e-7de550987925> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.polkcountydemocrat.com/sunnews/desoto/4540751-452/sunnewspapersfla.couldsavemoneyexpandingmedicaid.csp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960206 | 755 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Up next for charter schools: plans, panels and lawyers
It may take more than a year to get doors open
Sunday, November 18, 2012
SEATTLE -- Now that voters have spoken about charter schools, will the new, independent public schools be an option at the beginning of the next academic year?
It seems unlikely.
Voters narrowly approved Initiative 1240 this month, but opening charter schools by 2013 would require many things to happen quickly -- and there's a strong possibility that the state's top education officer will sue to block them.
First, the state Board of Education has to figure out the next steps. The board has until March 6 to adopt rules to govern most aspects of charter schools in Washington. Board spokesman Aaron Wyatt said that schedule will be tough to meet, let alone beat.
Next, the Washington Charter School Commission, an independent state agency, will be formed to authorize and supervise the new entities.
The commission will have nine members -- three appointed by the
governor, three by the president of the Senate and three by the speaker of the House. They will have a staff an a budget of about $3 million a year.
People who want to open a charter school will need to wait for the commission to get running before they can apply. It's not known how long the application process will take -- since the rules have not been written -- but in New York state, for example, it takes about four months from the initial filing to final approval.
The new law would open as many as 40 charter schools over five years.
Under the initiative, any nonprofit organization could start a charter school here if their plan is approved by either commission or a local school board with authority from the state school board.
Chris Korsmo, executive director of the League of Education Voters, who worked on the Yes on 1240 campaign and whose group advocates for school reform, called the idea of opening the first charter school by fall 2013 a tall order and probably missing the point of the initiative. She said the goal is to ensure the new schools are of the highest quality and offer a great education to low-income and minority kids.
The league has heard from parents, teachers and school leaders who are interested in being involved in the new schools, as well as from charter school operators in other states, she said.
Robin Lake, director of the University of Washington's Center on Reinventing Public Education and a national expert on charter school research, said the key to success for charters in Washington is the 20 years of experience to draw on from the 41 states that already allow the independent schools.
The schools are most likely to succeed if the authorizers focus on good performance management, Lake said.
The commission and any school boards that are allowed to authorize charters must make sure the schools they approve have more than just a good idea. They need to have the ability to create great education programs, plan effectively, manage budgets, roll out well and meet goals, she said. "It takes commitment and on-the-ground work," she said.
Finding a balance between regulations and freedom for creativity helped lead charters to success in Denver, New York City and New Orleans, she said, blaming failures such as Arizona's on weak oversight and accountability.
The long-term goal is improving education for all kids and that can happen if the people who run traditional and charter public schools learn from each other, she said. "This is about more good schools. It's not about charter schools."
One significant hurdle is Superintendent of Public Instruction Randy Dorn, who says he may sue to stop the initiative from establishing a parallel department of education.
Initiative 1240 was unconstitutional because it would set up a separate school system with an unelected board, he said.
"It is clearly circumventing the constitution," he said; the state constitution establishes an elected superintendent of public instruction to oversee all public schools.
He has talked to the attorney general's office and state lawmakers and hopes the Legislature will find a way to fix the new law, he said, but is willing to bring a constitutional challenge all the way to the Washington Supreme Court, if necessary. | <urn:uuid:01b2e5ed-e464-4a58-b659-d536efab3d24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/nov/18/up-next-for-charter-schools-plans-panels-and-lawye/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972988 | 850 | 1.5 | 2 |
dispatches from TJICistan | More on biotech / industrial policy idiocyPaul Graham had a good explanation about why tech start ups fail in bad locations, but it's just as good an explanation for why these let's-build-a-high-tech-industry-right-here! industrial policy plans never work.
Skeptics cite two major problems with the race for biotech. First, the industry is highly concentrated in established epicenters like Boston, San Diego and San Francisco, which offer not just scientific talent but also executives who know how to steer drugs through the arduous approval process.
“Most of these states probably don’t stand much of a chance to develop a viable biotech industry,” said Gary P. Pisano, a Harvard Business School professor and the author of “Science Business: The Promise, the Reality and the Future of Biotech.”
The state of Florida and Palm Beach County used $510 million as bait for a research institute that will employ 545 people
Wow - only $1 million spent per job created. If those jobs pay $100k/year each, and local government gets 10% of that in tax revenue, and the jobs persist for a whole decade, they’ll have destroyed $460 million.
Or, if you factor in the cost of money, something like $480 million.
Cities like Shreveport, where public and private money have built the InterTech Science Park, remain steadfastly optimistic, though a biotechnology manufacturing center at the park was occupied for only six months in 2001 before the tenant went under.
What are the top cities in the world for fashion design? London, Paris, Milan, New York. Maybe Tokyo. LA? What's the 10th best fashion city in the world? Or the 20th? No one knows. Like Graham says, it's probably so marginal that's it's misleading to even call it a center of fashion. For all practical purposes there's no difference between being the 20th and 100th best city for fashion design. No economic development committee would dream of trying to establish themselves as centers of global fashion because the top spots are already taken and there's no reward to being middling-high on the list.
So what are the top US locations for software design? Silicon Valley, Seattle, Austin, Boston. New York and Denver, but they're pretty far behind. Are Northern Virginia and Southern California worth mentioning? It doesn't make any more sense for Shreveport or Palm Beach to try and oust one of these cities than it does for them to try to oust Milan or Paris as fashion centers. And it also doesn't help to half-ass yourself up to the 25th best high tech business location in the country. And yet bureaucrats toss billions of dollars away trying every year.
Economic development councils try these tricks (always unsuccessfully) all the time. They would never dream of trying it with fashion or finance or publishing, I don't know why they try it with technology, besides that they read some breathless and uninformed article in USA Today and then heard that their neighbor has a nephew who does something they don't understand with computers or test tubes and makes a lot of money doing it. There is nothing magic about biotech or software start-ups that make it any easier to become the new Silicon Valley than to become the new Savile Row. | <urn:uuid:03ecf8a5-6b71-4f98-b9bd-3750b1ef1d9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://southbend7.blogspot.com/2009/06/silicon-valley-and-savile-row.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954397 | 694 | 1.835938 | 2 |
The government representative is all for it as it will give everyone in the nation access to high speed internet. Since Australia has a small population scattered over a vast area, it is extremely expensive to lay optic fibre to every street and the capacity has to be sufficient to last well into the future. Alternate private companies are complaining they are being excluded from making a profit on their smaller investments in fibre which are only available in cities and some nearby towns. I can see the government logic- to justify their monster investment on the community’s behalf, they want exclusive access to carrying on it to the remote areas and are charging a flat rate everywhere. The flat rate will make city broadband more expensive than it would be if fibre was only in the cities and now the private telecoms want to have their own (cheaper) fibre used in the cities and outsell the NBN. I can see the government’s point as it wouldn’t be worth subsidising the country areas (with fewer users) and then lose money when all the city users switched to AAPT or Optus. So I think we have to proceed with the NBN as set out currently and tell the private companies to make their profits somewhere else, as a good flexible company ought to do!
Spotrick just made the point that a lot more country dwellers would connect to broadband (and pay their share of the costs) if Netflix would just pull its finger out and make internet movies available in Australia! wow- I could really go with that!
What really iced the cake was the thought of all the carbon emissions that would be saved by having everyone stay home watching Netflix movies rather than driving to the picture theatre or the rental place every time they wanted to watch the latest stuff!
So I propose pushing the NBN on the basis of lowering carbon emissions and saving the planet!! Julia will love me! | <urn:uuid:93b772fc-abc7-4024-836e-24652e9a25b4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://murfomurf.wordpress.com/tag/netflix/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974289 | 377 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Thu August 16, 2012
Throughout the course of reporting the Remembering Andrew series we’ve been asking a few of the same questions about Hurricane Andrew to virtually everybody we interview. Things like:
When did you know it was time to take Andrew seriously?
When did you know Andrew had truly arrived?
But there’s one question in particular, that seems to trip people up:
What did you see the moment you stepped out of your door after Andrew?
Here is how some WLRN Miami Herald News listeners answered that question:
“I would say it’s like a Hurricane Andrew. Things where they are not supposed to be. Roofs , trees, some cars. To describe it then, was almost impossible, to describe it now–it’s legendary.” –Lou Holtzman
“It was an animal that was outside that wanted in.” –Geoffrey Tomb
“It was just like living on the inside of a tornado for five hours.” –Ed McClean
“You could say Andrew was a horrible hurricane. It was the most devastating hurricane to hit South Florida yet, but Andrew was more than that. It was an opportunity to recognize the effect of what Mother Nature has in store for us when she wants to dish it out. But also an opportunity to recognize our abilities and willingness to use our humanity to meet that.” — Felix Martinez
“It was a monster.” –Jenny Bethencourt
“War disaster zone. Yeah, it looked like a war zone.” –Jodi Ziskin
“Cataclysmic. Like a bomb had dropped on Homestead.” –Geoffrey Philp
“I guess the best description I can give it, it’s like God came through with a 25 mile wide monster weed whacker and just leveled a path through South Dade County.” –Ron Magill
“When Hurricane Andrew hit, I was working in the foreign office. Living in London, Britain, dealing with the Gulf War. A lot of my career has been dealing with what man has done to other men in the pursuit of either political objectives or destruction. After coming to Florida, and learning about Andrew, I’m very cognizant of the impact that nature can have on our environment and of man. There’s a particular poem by T.S. Eliot called ‘The Waste Land’ where he talks about devastation. Well Hurricane Andrew feels to me a little like that.” — Kevin McGurgan, British Consul-General in Miami
What are the roots that clutch, what branches grow
Out of this stony rubbish? Son of man,
You cannot say, or guess, for you know only
A heap of broken images, where the sun beats,
And the dead tree gives no shelter, the cricket no relief,
And the dry stone no sound of water.
-T.S. Eliot, "The Waste Land" | <urn:uuid:d07844a2-933d-4959-b360-880c716ae623> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wlrn.org/post/describe-andrew | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963476 | 629 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Date: This event took place live on August 28 2012
Presented by: Tom Geudens
Duration: Approximately 60 minutes.
"Batteries included" is one of those catchphrases that has long left the humble origins and is now applied to almost every new development in IT.
The questions one often forgets to ask are:
In this webcast presentation Tom Geudens, author of Resource-Oriented Computing with NetKernel will fill in those questions for NetKernel and show you what batteries are already there and how to create your own new batteries. Don't miss this informative presentation.
About Tom Geudens
At the age of 15, Tom Geudens' parents gave him a choice. Either become a baker or go into IT. That Christmas Santa brought a MSX homecomputer, the choice was made. At twenty and with a Bachelor in IT under his belt, he joined the IT department of Colruyt, a Belgian retailer specialized in 'Lowest Price' and doing this through automation. Recently he set up his own IT consultancy company, Elephant Bird Consulting. He has worked with technologies from PL/1 through HPUX and Linux, and battled distributed applications development and configuration management issues.
Questions? Please send email to | <urn:uuid:0881a1cc-a77f-462e-a511-45edbab088cd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oreillynet.com/pub/e/2261 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954486 | 261 | 1.671875 | 2 |
When you think about it, democracy is really the tyranny of the majority. It is where the majority gets to impose it’s will on the minority, regardless of what is right or proper. This was made obvious to me in 1999 when Labour campaigned on introducing extra taxes for the “rich” (ostensibly to improve health), knowing that the majority would support this. Essentially, the majority voted to take another $3000 a year out of my pocket. Now the number of people in that tax bracket has tripled and it is getting harder for governments to turn that clock back.
Least you think I may have sour grapes about this, I am actually quite philosophical about it – it is the price you pay for living in a democratic country. And there is no doubt that living in a democratic country is infinitely preferable to anything else on offer. As Winston Churchill is reputed to have said ” Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others”.
What brings on my philosophical musings on democracy is the “March for Democracy” that took place in Auckland yesterday. I will skip the re-ignition of the debate on smacking except to note that I get VERY tired of the “misleading question” complaint. Matt McCarten is complaining how the referendum question was really a version of “who’s against responsible parenthood and warm apple pie?”. He would have liked the question to run as:
““Do you support allowing anyone who happens to become a parent the unfettered right to give the baby or the child the bash whenever they feel it’s appropriate and requiring that everyone else mind their own business?””
I have seen this re-wording ploy an absurd number of times. Apparently it seems to escape most people’s attention that the re-worded versions are generally far more manipulative than the original referendum question. All of them are worded in the most pejorative and biased way possible.
One of the nice things about democracy is that we all get to voice our opinions, but some of us need to remember that democracy means that the majority rules. Which brings me to the referendum.
As I have pointed out Democracy is the tyranny of the majority. The main thing that stops democracy disintegrating into simple mob-rule, is that we limit the power of the majority to one vote every three years. Sure, the wise politician (are there any?) will keep an eye on the feelings of the majority during his/her tenure, but there is really only one vote that counts. This is where binding referenda step onto dangerous ground. It is not so much that the questions can be manipulated, or that the process can be hi-jacked by lobby groups, as the editor of the Sunday Herald posits. After all parliament manipulates words and is infested by lobbyists. No. The real problem is that such a direct democracy is entirely directionless and self-interested. The editor of the Herald points to the perilous example of California:
“Binding referendums would simply magnify the potential for damage to good governance. Administrations trying to develop coherent public policy could easily have their hands tied by pre-emptive plebiscites. That’s what’s happened in California, where three decades of tax revolt, starting with the infamous Proposition 13 in 1978, have brought the state to the brink of bankruptcy. As the Economist has noted, it has “launched an entire industry of signature-gatherers and marketing strategists [who] circumscribe what representatives can do by deciding many policies directly”.”
Direct democracy cannot, by definition, have a vision or direction behind it’s strategy. It is entirely focussed on a single issue all the time. For this reason, the law of unintended consequences is particularly vicious in this regard. Worse still, most people have little or no idea of the realities of economics and often fail to use even a modicum of common sense. In California. the people kept reducing taxes while insisting on the same level of funding activity from government – bankruptcy is an inevitability in this situation. It is not that the man in the street is especially dumb; just that the tight focus of a referendum makes it harder to see the consequences without stepping back and looking at the wider picture – and who bothers to do that?
Matt McCarten voices his support for binding referenda and then proceeds to illustrate just why we should fear them:
“My dilemma and vested interest is that my union, Unite, is sponsoring a citizen-initiated referendum to lift the minimum wage to $15 an hour, and then in steps to 66 per cent of the average wage. If enough New Zealanders sign our petition, I like the fact the Government then has to send a voting paper to the nearly three million registered voters asking if they support the minimum wage for workers going up. I’d be delighted if we won the vote: Parliament would be required to pass a law raising the minimum wage.”
Sadly, Matt cannot see the disastrous unemployment rate that would be precipitated by such a policy. Scarily, it is easy to envisage that such a referendum might easily attract a majority vote, guaranteeing New Zealand a similar future to California’s.
There are many other ways of providing participatory democracy in a system of triennial voting. Lobby groups are an obvious one. Binding referenda initiated by the government (such as the one on MMP) are another. Perhaps the simplest way of deactivating the smacking debate is by holding a binding referendum on the repeal of section 59 itself. Or offering a yes/no question on the Burrows amendment.
My personal favorite is to allow private citizens to add to the member’s bills (you would have to ensure each bill met strict criteria of format and possibly require an attached petition to discourage the crazies). Giving politicians something more concrete that a “we want this” has got to be more likely to evoke a reasonable response, rather than a knee-jerk reaction. Private citizen bills would also be considerably less threatening than binding referenda.
Democracy is not mob rule. But it is a tyranny and, as such, must be used with a great deal of care. There have to be limits to the voice of the people, least the voice overwhelm good reason. But let it not be that the voice of the people is only heard once every three years. Because that is also a tyranny. And not one we can tolerate. | <urn:uuid:c66c82ad-7a5b-4887-9e90-84b6c50c9cf4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.macdoctor.co.nz/2009/11/22/democrazy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964355 | 1,352 | 1.515625 | 2 |
An Evening with Dr. Abdoumaliq Simone
Farid Rakun was able to set up a great opportunity to speak with the scholar Abdoumaliq Simone, PhD, Professor of Sociology and Urbanism at the University of London. We have read a few of his texts regarding urbanism and the people of Jakarta especially excerpts from City Life from Jakarta to Dakur.
The informal two hour discussion began by talking about the position of the poor within the government. Simone commented that typically the poor are more concerned with their daily lives and putting food on the table to enact change within the city and within their immediate circumstances. There was a movement by the youth and community leaders that were began to relook at the condition of the poor and lobby for change; however, the current climate is less concerned. However, there is a spirit within the neighborhoods of knowing who is a part of your community. The community has a sense of feeling obligated to its members in times of need. There is also a definable quality to avoid confrontation within the people’s social relations and the government according to Simone. This creates an atmosphere of avoiding issues that may be beneficial to the whole while disrupting others.
A personal question I had was in regards to the relationship of the Mosque as an institutional space affecting community involvement. Simone commented on an exchange program within Warakas where people from one Mosque went to another in order to speak on community issues. My question mainly focused on the fact that small Mosques are being constructed continuously regardless of the community’s ability to fund them, while asking for greater elaboration on the role the Mosque plays in community social networks.
Simone responded on the fact that people truly need something to do. They seek activity to better the community and one of the ways they do so is to build places of prayer. However, the Mosque represents more than a place for worship. The religious space acts as common ground where people can voice their opinions and concerns rather openly regardless of their knowledge or eligibility into any subject. Thus Mosques act as moments of information transparency or at least, they act as moments when the people can speak openly without worrying about conflicts that may arise.
Much more was discussed including the role of the preman, people who work outside of the typical social network and pierce through the system to enact contracted change. Typically these roles are similar to gangster activity, and the roles are based outside of loyalties. The preman do not operate within roles of obligation and loyalty and neighbors i.e. free radicals up for hire. What we left with and what the charge of the studio is now based is to find methods to promote communication amongst different groups of people within the community in regards to inundation. It is one thing to promote a design or method to respond to ecological issues, but the charge of addressing hypercomplexity seeks a response that can enable community interaction in a spatialized construction. | <urn:uuid:2df2fa84-77cc-44db-84f1-3bb43d30c29c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://architecture-adaptation.tumblr.com/post/24199916860/an-evening-with-dr-abdoumaliq-simone | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977506 | 593 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Fall Arts Preview: Art
Carlo Bugatti's Cobra Chair, 1902, will be part of the Carnegie Museum of Art's "Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939" exhibit opening Oct. 12. The parchment-covered wood with paint, pencil and copper piece was shown at the Prima Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Decorativa Moderna, Turin, in 1902.
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Mark your calendars for a lively and invigorating fall with exhibitions ranging from elegant to racy and, in this election year, political.
Carnegie Museum of Art launches "Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939," and the Frick Art & Historical Center presents "Impressions of Interiors: Gilded Age Paintings by Walter Gay," reminders of a more formal era.
The Andy Warhol Museum and Mattress Factory break that bubble with "Warhol: Headlines," works derived from Warhol's infatuation with tabloid headlines, and "Feminist and ...," a multivocal, multigenerational, multicultural consideration of feminism. CMU's Miller Gallery takes on topical health care, and Silver Eye Center for Photography the changing American Dream, while the Society for Contemporary Craft provides humor-filled release.
Following are other season highlights. Watch the Weekend Mag calendar for a complete listing of new shows as they're announced.
CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF ART: "Natural History," contemporary art from the museum's collection that features engagement with nature, landscape and the built environment, continues through Oct. 14. Curator Dan Byers and Carnegie Museum of Natural History scientists will talk about the show's ideas at the Sept. 27 Culture Club ($10 includes museum admission, discussion and one drink ticket).
"Whistler and Rebellion in the Art World," comprising prints by James Abbott McNeill Whistler from the Carnegie's collection, continues through Dec. 2. Author and Whistler scholar Linda Merrill will discuss the at-times contentious artist at 6 p.m. Nov. 10.
"Inventing the Modern World: Decorative Arts at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939" debuts with a black-tie gala with cocktail reception and dinner Oct. 12 (continuing through Feb. 24). A related symposium, "The Art of Science: Invention and Innovation at the World's Fairs, 1851-1939," with presentations by a half-dozen scholars, will be Oct. 13.
"White Cube, Green Maze: New Art Landscapes" visits six global sites that illustrate how museums are beginning to morph into hybrids of architecture, art and nature. It opens with a lecture by Iwan Baan, who photographed the sites for the exhibition and catalog, at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21; continuing through Jan. 13 in the Heinz Architectural Center.
"Cory Arcangel: Masters" opens at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 2 with a performance by the New York-based artist who employs ready-made digital technology as his primary medium. A reception follows. The exhibition runs through Jan. 27 (412-622-3131).
THE ANDY WARHOL MUSEUM: This is the last week to see "Factory Direct: Pittsburgh," 14 international artists who created work while in residence at local businesses (also at Guardian Self-Storage, 2839 Liberty Ave., Strip District), and "Donald Moffett: The Extravagant Vein," a comprehensive survey of two decades of art-making by the activist artist and founding member of Gran Fury (through Sept. 9).
"Warhol: Headlines" brings together 80 works by the artist, known for his obsession with sensation, and the cheesy headlines that inspired them (Oct. 14-Jan. 6). "Deborah Kass: Before and Happily Ever After," a major mid-career retrospective of 75 paintings, photographs and sculpture by the New York artist made over her three-decade career, opens Oct. 27 and continues through Jan. 6. A discussion with Ms. Kass; David Carrier, former CMU philosophy professor; and Eric Shiner, Warhol Museum director, will be 2 p.m. Oct. 26 (412-237-8300).
THE FRICK ART MUSEUM: "Impressions of Interiors: Gilded Age Paintings by Walter Gay," opulent late 19th- and early 20th-century American and European residential interiors, opens Oct. 5 at the Frick Art & Historical Center. A symposium, "Walter Gay and 'the Spirit of Empty Rooms,' " with New York-based curators and gallerist, will be Oct. 6 (412-371-0600).
MATTRESS FACTORY: "Gestures: Intimate Friction," a dozen artists, architects and activists, fuel the museum's 1414 Monterey St. site, guest curated by Mary-Lou Arscott and continuing through Jan. 6. "Feminist and ...," guest curated by Hilary Robinson, explores feminism through the eyes of six international women artists. The exhibition opens from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 7 and continues through May 26 (412-231-3169).
WESTMORELAND MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART: "Modern Dialect: American Paintings From the John and Susan Horseman Collection," 40 American Scene and modernist paintings from the 1930s and 1940s, organized by The Dixon Gallery and Gardens, Memphis, Tenn. (through Nov. 4). Barbara Jones, museum chief curator, will give a gallery talk at 7 p.m. Sept. 21. At 7 p.m. Oct. 26, Michael Carey's talk "Light Amidst the Clouds" will address how the cultural shockwaves of pre-WWII America parallel many of the problems faced by society today. Mr. Carey is professor of history and political science, Seton Hill University, Greensburg. "Merrell & Morrill," abstract painting by Clayton Merrell and Michael Morrill, continues through Nov. 4. The artists will give a gallery talk at 7 p.m. Oct. 12. In conjunction with Carnegie Museum of Art's World's Fairs exhibition, Ms. Jones will talk about the more than 20 artists who exhibited at those events and have work in the Westmoreland's permanent collection at 7 p.m. Nov. 9. Museum docent Joanne Highberger will lead a similar tour at noon Dec. 5. The artworks are marked with a Ferris Wheel icon so they may be found by visitors at other times. The Art in the Kitchen Tasting Tour, a driving tour of community kitchens, returns Oct. 6. "Our Art Needs You," opening Nov. 17, will give individual or groups of visitors a chance to adopt a collection artwork in need of conservation (ending in February) (221 N. Main St., Greensburg; 724-837-1500).
PITTSBURGH CENTER FOR THE ARTS: "2012 Artist of the Year" Charlee Brodsky and "2012 Emerging Artist of the Year" Vanessa German exhibitions continue through Oct. 28. Ms. German will present an artist talk and performance at 6 p.m. Sept. 13 and give a talk and exhibition tour at 1 p.m. Oct. 6. Ms. Brodsky will give an artist talk and exhibition tour at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 (412-361-0873).
PITTSBURGH FILMMAKERS: "#You'reTearingMeApart," new work by Kyle Vannoy, Nina Marie Barbuto and Gina Salorino, continues through Sept. 20 (412-681-5449).
SOCIETY FOR CONTEMPORARY CRAFT: "Humor in Craft," guest curated by Brigitte Martin, author of a book by the same title, found something to smile about in works created in a variety of media, technique and interpretations of what constitutes humor. "Food Play" comprises Dan Krueger's vintage toy trucks (from the 1950s and '60s) reconfigured into kitchen implements (both through Oct. 27). At the Society's BNY Mellon Center Satellite Gallery, "Pittsburgh Studio Glass" -- featuring Drew Hine, Theo Keller, Jon Sirockman and Bill Zarvis -- celebrates the 50th anniversary of the studio art glass movement in America, through Sept. 30 (412-261-7003).
WOOD STREET GALLERIES: "The City & the City: Artwork by London Writers," British-based new media and installation artists, opens from 5:30-9 p.m. Sept. 28 during the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust Downtown Gallery Crawl (through Dec. 31). An evening of readings, artists' talks and discussions with five of the exhibitors will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at SPACE gallery, a block away (412-471-5605).
SPACE: "Circles of Commotion and Moving Pauses," four artists construct and assemble digital elements to form "dynamic perceptual architectures for an exhibition and catalog," opening Sept. 7 and continuing through Nov. 18 (412-325-7723).
GALLERY CRAWL: The fall Gallery Crawl in the Cultural District is Sept. 28.
SILVER EYE CENTER FOR PHOTOGRAPHY: "No Job No Home No Peace No Rest: An Installation by Will Steacy," a chronicle and critique of the status of the American Dream, opens with a gallery talk by the artist and Silver Eye executive director Ellen Fleurov at 6:30 p.m., followed by an artist reception from 7-9 p.m. Sept. 14 (free and public). The exhibition continues through Dec. 15. "A Conversation With Will Steacy" will begin at 7 p.m. Sept. 12 at 3803 Butler St., 2nd floor, Lawrenceville, followed by a book signing and reception. The show's title comes from the Bruce Springsteen song "The Ghost of Tom Joad." Central is "The Beast," a 170-foot-long collage comprising thousands of newspaper clippings, his photographs and found objects, shown for the first time in its entirety (412-431-1810).
THE PITTSBURGH GLASS CENTER: "American Idols," artist John Moran's quirky take on the presidents through 43 busts that contemporize them, continues through Nov, 10. High school artists strut their stuff in the "SiO2 Glass Exhibition" from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 14?(412-365-2145).
REGINA GOUGER MILLER GALLERY: "Imperfect Health: The Medicalization of Architecture," intersections between health, architecture and urban design, opens with curators-led exhibition tours from 4:30-6 p.m. and reception from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 14 (exhibition continues through Feb. 24). (At CMU, 412-268-3618.)
HUNT INSTITUTE FOR BOTANICAL DOCUMENTATION: "Portraits of a Garden, Brooklyn Botanic Garden Florilegium," 48 American botanical artists who are revitalizing the centuries-old tradition of the florilegium by creating a lasting archive of watercolors and drawings of the plants growing at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, opens Sept. 21 and runs through Dec. 16. (At CMU, 412-268-2434.)
SAINT VINCENT GALLERY: "German Baroque Master Drawings: From the Saint Vincent Art Collections," 40 works from the late 16th to early 18th centuries, opens with a free public reception on Sept. 13, from 6-8:30 p.m. (through Oct. 7). This is the first time the drawings are being publicly exhibited. The fourth "Nationwide Catholic Arts Competition Exhibition" will follow, Oct. 30-Dec. 9. (At Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, 724-805-2197.)
SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES MUSEUM OF ART: The Colleen Browning Symposium on 20th Century American Realism, featuring four nationally recognized scholars, will begin at 10 a.m. Sept. 10 at Loretto and simultaneously podcast. It's scheduled in conjunction with four exhibitions of Ms. Browning's work at the SAMA headquarters in Loretto and at its three satellite spaces. "Colleen Browning: Magic Realist" continues through Oct. 13 at Loretto, where "Biennial 2012" arrives Oct. 26, through Jan. 26 (1-814-472-3920). "Colleen Browning: The Early Years" continues through Nov. 4 at Ligonier Valley, followed by the Southwestern Pennsylvania Council on the Arts 17th Annual Regional Juried Art Exhibition, Nov. 16 (through Feb. 10). The annual Paint Out, artists outdoors, is Sept. 28-30 (724-238-6015). "Colleen Browning: Illustrator and Printmaker" continues through Oct. 6 at SAMA Johnstown (1-814-269-7234). "Colleen Browning: Drawings" continues through Jan. 12 at SAMA Altoona (1-814-946-4464).
THE BUTLER INSTITUTE OF AMERICAN ART: "The Legacy of Currier and Ives: Shaping the American Spirit," a survey of prints organized by the Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, Mass., opens Sept. 16 and continues through Jan. 20. The Bill Viola video installation "The Raft," a metaphor for today's world, continues through Dec. 30 (Youngstown, Ohio; 1-330-743-1711).
CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART: "Youth and Beauty: Art of the American Twenties," paintings, sculpture and photographs, continues through Sept. 16. "Modern Gothic: The Etchings of John Taylor Arms," extraordinarily detailed, ends Sept. 30. "Mary Cassatt and the Feminine Ideal in 10th-Century Paris," images of women by Cassatt and her contemporaries drawn primarily from the museum collection, opens Oct. 13 (through Jan. 21). "Wari: Lords of the Ancient Andes," the first exhibition of its kind in North America to explore the Peruvian empire that flourished between 600 and 1000, runs Oct. 28-Jan. 6 (1-216-421-7340).
First Published September 6, 2012 12:00 am | <urn:uuid:a42e1003-f407-40fc-ba2b-4aa0beb99af8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/ae/art-architecture/fall-arts-preview-art-652085/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931288 | 3,076 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Behind the bars (or, what used to be bars)
A tour through the county jail provides perspective
Feb 15, 2013 | 1 Comment
(Nathalie Hardy/Reporter) Until I went to jail myself, I was one of those people who wondered why inmates were even allowed the luxury of television.
After having been inside, I know the words “luxury” and “jail” don’t exactly belong in the same sentence.
Granted my time in jail came in the form of a tour and interview rather than a several month stint for shoplifting, or allegedly murdering someone.
But still, it’s not like anyone was passing around a bowl of popcorn for movie night. It was more like a few men gathered around, standing or sitting on uncomfortable chairs or benches, craning their necks toward the screen mounted in the corner, displaying whatever channel the signal picked up.
Soon, the jail will have a new way to control tv content while giving inmates all kinds of information from housekeeping details to self-improvement programs, as reported today in the News-Register.
A shift in my perspective about television being more of a tool to modify behavior than a way to entertain inmates wasn’t the only misperception I corrected during my tour. The first thing that struck me was how squeaky clean it was. In my head, I expected dingy and dirty. Instead it was clean and sterile.
I expected to find staff to be, well, kind of gruff, to put it nicely. Instead, everyone I encountered was respectful and helpful. And, I don’t think that’s just because I was accompanied by Sheriff Jack Crabtree and Captain Ron Huber. Being a reporter, I eavesdropped on other conversations and was encouraged by the respectful communication.
Also, I expected a lot of noise, like clanging handcuffs, yelling and the like. In reality, beyond the hum of day-to-day operations, it was pretty quiet in there.
Most surprising to me was the fact that there wasn’t a bar in sight. Well, until Sheriff Crabtree showed me the ones he’d saved from demolition when the building remodeled. He said he felt like it was a piece of history that deserved its place in the jail.
The days of crowded cells with inmates clanking handcuffs against metal bars are left for movies and imaginations, it seems. So, while there’s nothing luxurious about the county jail, what I found was a clean, safe environment for people to be held accountable for their actions.
I suppose the message is if you prefer a recliner and remote control to watch television, you best stay out of jail. | <urn:uuid:8034be40-a1be-4f83-9c35-3fac7243d4b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsregister.com/blog?articleTitle=behind-the-bars-(or-what-used-to-be-bars)--1360960890--6500--chadwick | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967095 | 565 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Activities from Pfizer Foundation of Thailand that Thailand supports
Pfizer Foundation of Thailand has worked with associations, local communities, and organizations in supporting activities for the society by emphasizing to provide knowledge on health care, quality of life development, along with giving scholarship and research grants in science and public health. Essential activities that Pfizer Foundation of Thailand supports are the following.
1. Project to support education
For students and scholars with good records but lacking funds, in areas of science, medicals, and pharmaceutics. Details as followed.
A. Scholarship for high school students
For students with good records but lacking funds, in areas of science in high school (Matayom 4-6 or Grade 10-12). Scholarship provides continuing education until finished high school. Students who apply for the scholarship must have GPA of at least 3.25 for the last two years prior to applying for the scholarship funds.
B. Scholarship for bachelor's degree undergraduates
For undergraduates in Medical Study, Pharmaceutical Study, Public Health Study, or Science Study from leading universities in Thailand which are Mahidol University, Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University, Prince of Songkla University. Scholarship provides continuing education for 4-6 school years depending on curriculum program. Students who apply for the scholarship must have GPA of at least 3.25 for three years in high school and GPA of at least 3.00 for the first year in university.
C. Scholarship for medical faculty and medical researchers
For undergraduates in third year of Medical Study or Science Study, who plans to apply in Medical Doctorate degree, Bio Medical, or Science in universities of the program. Scholarship provides continuing education for 6 school years maximum. Students who apply for the scholarship must have GPA of at least 3.25 during the study. There is special consideration for students who plan to do research work in Thailand after graduation.
1.2 Project to support academic areas for doctors and pharmacists
A. Support for Continuing Medical Education
Pfizer Foundation of Thailand has collaborated with Medical Council of Thailand in creating web site of Center for Continuing Medical Education CCME and testing from e-mail. Over 28,000 medical students will be able to login for testing to renew or upgrade license. This will promote higher standards for Thai medicals and allow the population to receive good medical standards.
B. Support for Continuing Pharmaceutical Education
Pfizer Foundation of Thailand has collaborated with Pharmacy Association of Thailand in creating web site for Continuing Pharmacist Education C CPE program for over 17,000 pharmacists. The main objectives are for pharmacists to receive new knowledge, skills, and experiences that are shared from other pharmacists including support for pharmacists with expertise, and to raise and preserve higher standards for pharmaceutical profession. The goals are achieved by creating system or mechanism for self improvement in academic and technological advancement in order to generate benefits for consumers or customers in the future.
2. Project to collaborate in improving quality of life for AIDS/HIV patients
A . Project to collaborate with Population & Community Development Association PDA
Pfizer Foundation of Thailand has developed project The Pfizer-PDA Positive Partnership Project (PPPP) : Micro Credit Loans for People Living With and Affected by HIV/AIDS or project PaTangKo'. This project has lending funds for patients or persons living with AIDS/HIV patients with total of 12 million Baht ($300,000 US). The collaboration is between Population & Community Development Association and Pfizer Foundation of Thailand to help provide loans for small businesses run by HIV and non-HIV affected persons (working together), allowing them to have better financial condition along with reducing bias against the disease. Project PatangKo' has a goal to target approximately 400 households or 1,000 people from 11 provinces namely Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Vieng Pa Pao, Pitsanulok, Maha Sarakarm, Baan Pai, Nang Rong, Bhuddhai Song, Lam PraiMart, Surin, and Nakorn Ratchasima.
Currently (August 2004), there are 410 members in the project and borrowers with different loan size starting from 10,000-20,000 Baht. This project is expected to be completed within 4 years (starting from January 2004 to October 2007).
B. Project to collaborate with Ministry of Public Health
Pfizer Foundation of Thailand has supported Ministry of Public Health in a campaign to prevent and treat AIDS patients, by cooperating with Center for Disease Control of Thailand in training 800 new medical graduates and interns to provide treatment and care for AIDS/HIV patients. Moreover, there is a planning to build a web site for AIDS/HIV ( www.aidsthai.org/care ) and National Center for AIDS/HIV Study. It will be an outlet for advice and information exchange between experts in AIDS/HIV.
3. Providing support for organizations of the society
Pfizer Foundation of Thailand has supported in founding 3 centers in remote location that the population is far away from hospitals or clinics with help from local community medical personnel. These centers will be responsible for analyzing diseases and providing recommendation for sending patients to receive further treatments, along with being the center of knowledge for nursing in the community.
Furthermore, the center will also promote mobile treatment unit in the countryside using project gallstone-free' in Khon Kaen province with the help of Khon Kaen University and Asia Foundation.
4. Project Pfizer personnel for community
Our company Pfizer (Thailand) limited has operated and supported the community in raising the standards of public health by allowing company personnel to participate in spreading awareness, education, and health information activities for Thai population such as providing help for children and infected or effected patients, donating computer equipments and other goods to foster home. | <urn:uuid:575e46a0-5041-4c2d-a1bb-5379ee18f6f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pfizerfoundation.or.th/communityprojects_en.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9387 | 1,186 | 1.726563 | 2 |
The first thing to decide (which I suspect you already know) is to decide what kind of campus the college has.
There's Rural, Urban, and Suburban.
Rural campuses tend to be all contained in a large plot of land with maybe 1 or 2 roads in/out of college. For example, my wife's college was on a mountain. There was 1 road that went downhill, and a footpath that went to the top of the mountain. They also tend to have lots of green-space and buildings tend to have some lawn around them. Unfortunately, if you want to get away from the campus for any reason, you either need a car or some really good walking shoes. As a result rural campuses tend to have more businesses/entertainment options that are run/endorsed by the school.
Urban campuses tend to be completely integrated into the city's grid of streets. There will be tons of ways on/off the campus. The buildings also tend to be very densely packed. They also tend to be taller buildings than on a rural campus. Fortunately, if you need a break from studies, you only need a bus-pass. As a result, the college will usually choose to not include restaurants/theaters/etc. that are run/endorsed by the college.
Suburban campuses are sort-of half-way between the two. Some will have lots of roads on/off the campus, others will have one or two roads in/out. Some will have greenspace, others will be densely packed. The local suburban university has 5 roads into it, and the "outer ring" is densely trafficked. You end up driving onto the campus and parking in the garage, then walking between classes. The central area is very similar to a rural campus, but the "outer" part is very urban. As for amenities? THere's a shopping mall across a major thoroughfare from the campus, so it's pretty urban in that regard.
Another major decision that you need to know is whether the college will be a residency style campus or a commuter campus. My local Suburban campus is about 80% commuter, so there aren't many dorms. Rural campuses tend to have a much higher percentage of residential students, but that is also partly because urban schools all have privately owned apartement buildings nearby (and expect students to rent apartments after their Freshman/Sophomore year).
As for building placement, I would start in the middle with a common area for students to hang out/play sports/study, then build out from there. As @CatLord said, some campuses are very haphazard. Others are very organized (residential halls on one side of the green, class buildings on the other). Others started out organized, then built outwards as they needed a new building.
Finally, if this is an NCAA (or foreign equivalent) school, don't forget areas where the sports teams can practice/train/play. | <urn:uuid:043a1f6f-1492-468d-9e40-fb2449475d44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/19811/how-would-i-quickly-put-together-a-believable-map-of-an-area/19815 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975541 | 608 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Small groups promote understanding, community
Small groups focusing on gender, sexuality, identity and other pertinent issues facing men and women will gather across campus this spring.
For years, student life has been hosting a variety of small groups through Broene Counseling Center, MSDO and campus ministries which have focused on the complex issues facing students. These groups have offered a secure place where students can discuss those sensitive issues in an environment where they can feel safe and mentored.
“The groups exist to help students grow more fully into the people God has designed them to be,” added chaplain Aaron Winkle, who is leading one of the men’s groups.
These small groups have had an impact on the students and faculty that have participated, according to leaders, which is evidenced through the high attendance rates and need for additional groups each year.
“Sadly, the Wednesday group [for women] is already full with a significant wait list, though we are considering adding another group,” said mentoring coordinator Lisa Jousma, who has been spearheading this spring’s small group opportunities and is co-leading a women’s group with Julia Smith.
“My hope for the group is to provide a safe place for female students to examine their beliefs about what it means to be a woman, and how those beliefs have been shaped by our families, friends, media and faith. It’s a place to discuss relating to other women, dating, marriage, singleness and sex,” added Jousma, who has had a long history with these small groups.
The idea for these groups was spawned by former biology professor Jill Tatum when she formed a group she titled “Feeling Called, or Just Pulled?” It was through this group that Jousma learned just how important this type of dialogue and community was.
“Having recently become a mother and seeking to juggle a part-time job here at Calvin along with my roles as mother and wife, I was excited to see that this kind of forum existed for our students to discuss some of the complexities of being a woman and the various roles we play. As a student, I was confident that men and women were equal, and it wasn’t until marriage and children that I really bumped up against some of the complexities females face that males typically do not.”
Thanks to Jousma and many different departments on campus, these small group opportunities have expanded to multiple small groups for women and men and continue to grow.
“There was a demand by our male Calvin students for this group, so I started a second group. Our goal is to get men to talk about specific topics about what it is to be a man as it can be confusing in our culture, faith, family, and media, said Richard Baez who is also co-leading one of the men’s groups this spring. | <urn:uuid:a6950d3f-9caf-419c-9d66-e8af36b38004> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.calvin.edu/chimes/2013/02/01/small-groups-promote-understanding-community/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978883 | 600 | 1.84375 | 2 |
The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Seventy-Fifth, 1901
End Date: 1901
Type: Annual exhibition
Description: Annual Exhibitions of the Royal Scottish Academy have been held in the spring of each year since 1827.
Works for sale.
Policy: To encourage the practice of the Fine Arts in Scotland by showing to the public representative collections of works mainly from Scottish artists of the time.
Works shown at the RSA Annual Exhibition should be by living artists only, although a few works in reality were exhibited posthumously. Most works were submitted, although a number were 'invited' (RSA Dictionary, vol. 1, p. xv).
In addition to the Annual Exhibitions the Academy occasionally places on view, at another season of the year, memorial collections of the works of eminent artists recently deceased.
For further information on the history of the RSA see Frank Rinder & W. D. McKay, The Royal Scottish Academy, 1826-1916 (Glasgow: University Press, 1917) and Esme Gordon, The Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture & Architecture 1826-1976 (Edinburgh: Charles Skilton, 1976).
See also http://www.royalscottishacademy.org/pages/menu_page.asp/.
Display Arrangement: Sculpture exhibited under Four Archways.
Exhibition included St Agnes
Exhibition included Portrait of a girl
Exhibition included George Dickson, Esq., MD, FRCSE
Exhibition included Portrait bust
Exhibition included The Good Shepherd
Exhibition included Rev. David Macrae
Exhibition included Aeneas J. G. Mackay, Esq., KC, Sheriff of Fife & Kinross
Exhibition included Henrietta
Exhibition included Her Majesty the Queen
Exhibition included The Deluge - 'and all flesh died' Genesis VII, 21
Organizing Institution or Venue
Organized by The Royal Scottish Academy
Citing this record
'The Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy of Painting, Sculpture and Architecture, The Seventy-Fifth, 1901', Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951, University of Glasgow History of Art and HATII, online database 2011 [http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/event.php?id=msib6_1206633039, accessed 19 Jun 2013] | <urn:uuid:693fe122-5ae6-47ab-aa02-9c089676c96e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/event.php?id=msib6_1206633039 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932671 | 525 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Officials, tenants celebrate "saving" Wharf Lane apartments
Vt. affordable-housing unit re-opens
Burlington officials acknowledge there's much to be done about a lack of affordable-housing in the city, but Thursday, at least, they took time to celebrate a success.
Wharf Lane apartments in the King Street neighborhood were in danger of being turned into student housing. That would have displaced many low-income people like Dian Mueller.
Mueller is one of the longest-lasting residents at the affordable-housing apartments. "It's going on nine and a half years now," she said.
She and other tenants are just settling back in after nine months of building improvements including shiny floors, energy-efficient heating and Mueller's favorite, new windows.
"It used to be I had to walk right up to the top of the building to see sky, so that's nice," Mueller said.
When she heard she might have to move out, she said she didn't know what she was going to do. "It was terrifying," she told News Channel 5.
Paul Dettman of the Burlington Housing Authority said after a tough negotiation and hunt for funding, officials were able to buy and renovate the building for about $9 million.
"We were very pleased and it was right down to the wire. We were getting towards the point where we were actually going to have to start making plans to move people," said Dettman.
It's hard work new tenant Donna Walters is grateful for.
"It was a god-send for me. I was essentially homeless and trying to take care of my mother," said Walters who has been out of work for three years.
It's also hard work Mayor Miro Weinberger knows needs to continue. "Burlington remains a very expensive community if you compare the incomes in the community to what we pay for housing. I see this as one of the largest problems going forward that we have much more to do on," he told a group of community members, lawmakers and tenants at Wharf Lane.
Mueller appreciates that committment and is especially thankful to be back here in time for Christmas.
"I have more gratitude than I can say to be back at my real home for the holidays," Mueller said.
Funding for the preservation and renovation of Wharf Lane came in part from a $200,000 grant secured by Sen. Patrick Leahy as well as a $5.1 million investment by the Green Mountain Housing Equity Fund.
A number of loans also helped finance the project.
Dettman said during Wharf Lane negotiations, officials were able to set the terms for the acquistion of the Bobbin Mill apartments on South Champlain Street as well.
Copyright 2012 by WPTZ All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:ae0d4348-464d-4cff-b049-a57d7cbc64ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wptz.com/news/vermont-new-york/burlington/Officials-tenants-celebrate-saving-Wharf-Lane-apartments/-/8869880/17599310/-/format/rsss_2.0/view/print/-/yorfwvz/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.989004 | 587 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Editor's Note: Steve Holden interviews Mitch Kapor, founder of Lotus and new open source advocate, after the recent PyCon about his life and career, the OSAF, Chandler, open source, and Python.
Steve Holden: Is Kapor a Hungarian name?
Mitch Kapor: No, my family is Russian, Georgian, via Ellis Island.
SH: You mentioned your early days in computing in your keynote this morning. How did you actually get sucked in to the subject?
MK: I actually built a tiny computer as a junior high school project.
SH: Using a 6502 processor?
MK: Oh no, this was before that, I was already in my 20s by the time the 6502 came out. This was all transistor flip-flops. It was a gated adder with a rotary telephone dial as the primary input device.
SH: So you were a real hardcore engineer back then?
MK: Well, I had a lot of help from my father with the soldering and so on, and he was very good at math and was fascinated with computers, and so I was fortunate enough to have a bunch of exposure going all the way back to high school -- this was in the 1960s. But things didn't really ignite for me until personal computers took off, and you could buy one and put it on your desk, take it apart, play with it, and see what it was made of, and so on.
SH: So, when you came to start Lotus, did you do so with the specific intention of developing 1-2-3, or was 1-2-3 an accident?
MK: From 1978 when I bought my Apple II, for the next four years I just threw myself into PCs, and did lots of things — I had a little consulting practice, I formed an Apple users group in the New England area which was, of course, the first one on the East Coast, and I started a tiny cottage software business doing a statistics and graphics package for the Apple II. I went to business school for a little while, and I did a number of other things.
The culmination of all of that was the decision to start a company, which became Lotus, to do a product, which became 1-2-3. By the time I reached that point it had been four years, and it felt like a lifetime, but really it was kind of evolutionary. I saw an opportunity based around the IBM PC, which had just been introduced and represented the next level in power, and I believed that the existing companies were not going to take full advantage of it.
SH: When you started the Open Source Applications Foundation (OSAF), did you need a vehicle for an existing idea, or did the Foundation come before the idea for Chandler?
Mitch Kapor will present A Developer's Tour of Chandler
MK: OSAF came about as a provisional solution to a number of considerations revolving around, "What do I do next?" This is in 2001, so I had moved to California and spent some time at the tail-end of the boom — really the dot-com bust — being a venture capitalist. This was clearly not a good thing — I'd been a great "angel" investor, but professional venture capital was clearly not the right thing for me.
I was trying to figure out what to do next, I'd been accumulating ideas for productivity tools — software people could use every day, particularly to help organize their lives. I'd acutely felt the lack of a product that I really loved, but there was a tremendous lack of commercial opportunity to start software ventures around these ideas, given the industry's structure, and I did a lot of thinking about how things might be put together, learned a lot about open source, made a pilgrimage to go see Linus, and tried to educate myself.
The organizational design for OSAF came about as a result of thinking about how to create an organization that could make these products and bring them into the world and help start something in which they could thrive in the long term.
Open source really seemed like the right methodology, and then I had a whole decision-making process about for-profit v. nonprofit, and decided I wanted a nonprofit body for the core of the whole thing.
SH: Of course, nonprofit doesn't necessarily mean "non revenue-earning" or "non-funded," does it?
MK: Well, there's no such thing as "non-funded." Any organization gets some money, and the challenge is sustainability.
SH: OSAF was self-funded?
MK: Well, I was fortunate enough to be able to self-fund to start, but I had no intention of self-funding forever, and so I needed a model that would be sustainable.
SH: You aren't going to continue to fund the Foundation, then?
MK: The problem with that is that it doesn't create good conditions for accountability, long term.
SH: So, what do you anticipate will be your future sources of funding?
MK: We've already gotten a significant grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, and a university consortium. I think the whole sector of Foundations, potentially with government support, is promising -- more than promising, I think, it's substantial.
The dual-licensing model that's been used successfully by a number of open source projects such as MySQL and Sleepycat for their implementation of Berkeley DB is gaining a huge amount of currency and popularity. We identified that from the very outset as being promising.
SH: Effectively, giving platform support on an open source basis?
MK Well, the heart of it really is that you dual-license. There's a version that's free, possibly under the GPL, but the same code is also available under a commercial license for people who want to develop proprietary additions and distribute those and sell them.
SH: Without what are sometimes called the "viral" licensing conditions of some open source licenses?
MK: That's right. You can't make it available under the GPL, but you can write a commercial license to do that. Those licensees will pay money for such a license, while the GPL code is, of course, free, and those funds flow into the organization to support its core activities. That's why it has to be a nonprofit, because a nonprofit is required to take monies it receives and use them for the purposes for which it's chartered by the government. It can't be pocketed.
SH: Do you have any ideas for other projects for OSAF, or is Chandler enough to be dealing with right now?
MK: Chandler is MORE than enough; in fact, the main problem organizationally is to keep a resolute focus on doing an initial version that has enough to get people terribly excited, but not more than that. We have all these ideas about things we would love to do, and it would take us forever to do them all.
SH: It seems you chose Python for Chandler before you personally knew that much about it, although presumably people you trusted told you it was a good language. What were your early links with the Python community?
MK: At the outset, we got an enormous amount of positive feedback of support and cheerleading when we said what we were going to do. I said at the time that it was nice that people were so enthusiastic about it.
SH: But you expressed reservations when other people started to promote Chandler as an "Outlook-killer"?
MK: There, I didn't do a really clear job at the outset positioning what we were doing, and of course the press love a story with a "Jack the Giant Killer" or "David and Goliath" aspect. So they published these stories positioning Chandler as an Outlook-killer, and it was easy to see shortly after it happened that was off the mark compared with what we were trying to do.
Firstly we aren't targeting Exchange or Outlook in any direct kind of way, but inventing a new product. Second, we're trying to do the open source nucleus of the product, a first-generation kind of baby thing, and get that working. Anybody that actually wants to compete with Exchange and Outlook will experience a rather higher cost of entry, and will need to go multiple stages down the road.
It was really our lack of attention to positioning, and the press, that created that. And, of course, there are an awful lot of people that would like to have an alternative to that technology.
SH: So the stories also came about because there's a perceived need for an Outlook-killer?
MK: Well yes, and if everything goes well over time, it could well wind up that something emerges from what we are doing that will fill that role, but we are not fighting that battle now. Think of it like a video game: you have to win the level you're on before you get promoted to the next level.
SH: Would closer links to the Python community have been better for the project earlier on? Some project decisions, particularly the decision to engineer a tailored repository, have been criticized as duplicating technologies already available in Python.
MK: In the early days a lot of people showed up from all over the Net. If you mean the ZODB thing, this is another subject where there's been some friction. The first thing I would say is that ZODB really doesn't do what we need the repository to do. We did an experiment ourselves using ZODB because we weren't sure and we needed to learn. We probably wound up not communicating effectively, to the extent that there is some sentiment out there that this is a kind of a misstep. Doing a better job communicating would help this.
There is actually a Why Not ZODB page in the Chandler wiki, which explains the design decision, and ZODB was actually in the 0.1 release and out of the 0.2 release.
You know, I think that we've been feeling our way — I wasn't in the open source community prior to starting this project, and I had some nervousness. Maintaining the integrity of the vision is incredibly important, and when something is young and fragile you're afraid that people won't understand it, and that if you give up too much control too soon then people will take it in directions that you don't want to see it going.
All that was a part of my thinking, but now we're in a much better position to build links with and bridges to the Python community. The project isn't quite such a fragile seedling, and we are more able to engage. This visit to PyCon is the first time we've done a sprint, and we've learned a lot, some of it painful, about being more developer-friendly.
There are people who want to do stuff with what we've done already, even though it's incomplete, and we could make it significantly less frustrating for them to do that.
SH: Is that the main lesson from the sprint?
MK: I have to read the detailed feedback. If you can believe it, I have been so involved in continuous conversation today I have not had a chance to look at that stuff, but from my conversation with Ted [Leung, senior developer on the Chandler project] it seems that's a very major takeaway: process-wise, there are some relatively easy things that we can do to be more developer-friendly in terms of how we package the releases, and in terms of documentation to shorten people's learning curves.
Also, culturally, I think we probably need to do better buffering between some of our core developers and the outside world as an ongoing function.
SH: Does the Foundation have an individual or a department specifically responsible for external relationships?
MK: Yes. Mitchell Baker, who has another job of running the Mozilla Foundation, is in charge of "community stuff" for us, and there's a community working group, which is some developers and some non-developers who constitute the people who work on dealing with anything related to community, which includes developers. They've done a bunch of useful stuff.
I think my biggest takeaway is that we need a sort of developer evangelist — a person who is a developer himself or herself, whose function it is to help developers who want to work with Chandler to succeed, and to be an advocate for them inside the organization. This person should have a development background him or herself.
SH: Someone who would bring in to the organization the same sort of experience that you have come out to access this week at PyCon?
MK: That's right. Ted Leung, who is one of our developers, is doing a lot of that already.
SH: Yes, he has written some interesting blogs this week about the need to change the process, without being at all defensive about it.
MK: That's right, and we shouldn't be defensive about it. We should be learning how to be a better organization around this concept, because it's so great that people want to join us, be part of what we're doing, use it, and participate in it. I mean you can't buy that kind of goodwill, so it would be tragic to squander it.
SH: If you could buy it, Bill Gates would have it.
MK: That's right, so it's really valuing that goodwill and paying attention to it that's important to take away from PyCon. The mechanics of doing that aren't very difficult, but what I've learned here at PyCon, which is hugely significant and I've been digesting it in real-time, is that we do have an architecture that's in flux, it tends to change, and we need to be nimble.
There are some incredibly brilliant developers that are core to that who weren't hired because of their social networking skills. As open source people they are very valuable assets, and they are part of the solution. So we need, as we become more developer-friendly, to do it in a way that lets those folks also continue to do what they're doing without getting disrupted or slowed down. That's a bit of a challenge there.
SH: The open source world does offer a way for people who don't have the kind of social skills it takes to get hired in the corporation to contribute.
MK: Yes, but it also requires coordination to include people like that, because they aren't usually self-managing. We have to make choices, given finite resources, as to how we allocate those resources, but I'm firmly convinced that building genuine community starts from the beginning; it's not an add-on. You just do it, and you are willing to commit those resources up front.
SH: Yes, Python Conferences used to be commercial events, about which the organizers would continually complain that they were unprofitable, but which they continually offered to run. My thought was that they excluded a lot of people simply because of the cost.
MK: There's definitely a good community feel to this. Unlike OSCON, which is a good thing, but very big and heterogeneous, here everyone has the same focus.
SH: So, you moved over to the West Coast. Why such a drastic change — were you moving away from what had been happening on the East Coast?
MK: I'd always wanted to live in San Francisco, and my circumstances never permitted it. I'm so happy I made the move. I had a whole change of life circumstances. I'd been married, and that marriage ended in 1996. I found myself with options that I hadn't had before, and I found myself thinking about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
SH: People see you as successful. What life challenges do you face?
MK: I guess people sometimes think, "Gosh, if I had enough money that I didn't have to work I'd spend all day on the beach, or watching soap operas, or whatever. Goofing off." I think it turns out that even more compelling than the idea of working for a living, at least to me, is to make a difference, to give something back, to do some good in the world, to create something. So I'm completely driven by opportunities to make a difference, and I just consider it incredible good fortune that I'm in a position to be able to do that with as much of my time as I want. So I'm more motivated about working now than I've ever been. It's great to find yourself, to find a passion.
SH: Finally, do you have any advice for youngsters starting out today in this line?
MK: You know, I think it is still incredibly interesting and compelling, it's nowhere near static, there's so much more to be invented. Moore's law hasn't yet run out of steam, software mostly sucks, and most good software hasn't been invented yet. So there are enormous opportunities for creativity and to build useful artifacts and use one's skills to do useful and satisfying work, and that's fabulous.
My only caveat is: If you're thinking you might want to be a billionaire, if the mindset is "I'm into this because it's the next big thing," you're a little bit late, and should probably go into biotechnology or nanotechnology. There are still great entrepreneurial opportunities, but the economics are getting more rational.
None of us who made huge fortunes in the early days really deserved it. The insanity that saw Amazon achieve a higher capital value than General Motors has largely been leached out of the system, and so if that's what you're after ... do something different.
Steve Holden chaired the first three PyCon conferences and organized the Need for Speed sprint. He will be happy to help you if you would like to sponsor a sprint of your own.
Return to the Python DevCenter.
Copyright © 2009 O'Reilly Media, Inc. | <urn:uuid:bc6ccdde-e9e3-417c-bcb3-40f2de260743> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.linuxdevcenter.com/lpt/a/4860 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983131 | 3,703 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Sometimes I get really frustrated about racism.
First of all there's the fact that it abounds around me, and whenever I try to explain why I feel something's racist, or why I feel reverse-racism doesn't exist, I'm met with opposition and ridicule from the people around me. And I like my family and don't think they're bad or racist, in fact they are actually good at pointing out racist jokes and such. But some of my more radical beliefs (they don't seem so radical to me!) they make fun of.
Then there's talking with people who have actually experienced racism. I have been told by people of color that reverse racism DOES exist, that the term "people of color" is offensive (when I've heard it's the word to use) and basically that my ideas are wrong. That racism is not power plus prejudice. It leaves me very confused, being white, because it's true that I'll never understand what racism is all about, being white in a white country. I've been told that even acknowledging racism still exists is putting white people up on a pedastal, by a non-white person. I don't even know how to define it anymore! I don't want to say person of color anymore in case it's offensive.
I guess I'm just really frustrated. I really want to change things, but I don't know what to do or where my place is in the anti-racism fight. The LAST thing I want to do is make anything worse, I am ALWAYS open to hearing viewpoints besides my own and sharing my own viewpoint. But sometimes I think maybe it would just be better if I shut up and sat down. I know that sounds harsh. When sharing m views with anyone I try to listen more than I talk, but every time it seems like I hear a different take on the matter.
I guess I am just frustrated, not understanding what I can do. In reality, when I think about it, it seems like there isn't anything I can do without offending somebody. This doesn't bother me when it's white people, because I know originally coming here I was offended and it really shook up my world view and motivated me to learn more and think more about racism, which is something I neglected never having had to deal with it. But it does bother me when my stance offends people of color, specifically when I'm told things like I don't understand, have no right to have on opinion. Maybe because I really do feel they may be right.
Can anyone else relate? | <urn:uuid:0549e896-ac99-4d03-866f-d182e04e0e75> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.girlmom.com/comment/43694 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988634 | 524 | 1.773438 | 2 |
If you are a parent, you probably know the different kinds of crying sounds your children make. When they are babies, you know when the cry says “I am so tired I can’t see straight or manage my limbs – please someone, anyone, swaddle me and help me go to sleep.” When they are older, the cry sometimes says “I am really frustrated that I am not getting my way – and I hope mom hears me and comes in to scold my older brother.” Sometimes, the cry says “ I just fell down the stairs and broke my arm.” You just know it when you hear it.
Well, apparently, chickens have the same kind of crying language. And I have not learned it yet.
On Monday, I awoke at 5 a.m. to the sounds of the chickens clucking. The clucking was quite vigorous. And included a loud “bah-caaaawck” every so often. I sleepily thought, “oh those silly chickens – they certainly are having a good ole time this morning.” I thought, “maybe they are clucking to amuse themselves and I should find more chicken entertainment for them.” I then thought, “what if my mean neighbors complain? I better give those noisy chickens some scratch so they quiet down.” At about 5:30 a.m., I finally got up and looked out the window at the chicken coop, as I usually do – and I saw a fox digging at their coop! So this was what all the fuss was about! I hissed and the fox looked up momentarily – and promptly went back to his digging. I ran downstairs and let the dog out, which did scare away the fox. But the fox came back about 20 minutes later! He looked skinny and hungry and determined. Apparently, I have a fox problem. As well as a communication problem with my chickens.
So, on the morning of my son’s graduation from 5th grade (which is a bigger deal than you might imagine and was arguably the busiest day of the whole school year), this is what I did to protect my chickens from this mean, skinny fox who wants to eat them:
Step #1 – Dig a trench around the chicken coop. I made it about a foot wide and sloped the dirt away from the coop.
Step #2 – Cut hardware cloth (which, by the way, is not like cloth at all!) to fit in the trench and attached it with staple gun to the base of the coop.
Step #3 – Replaced the huge rocks I dug up and the dirt on top of the hardware cloth.
Step #4 – Did a dance, spinning around with my fingers pointing up in the air and sang, “la la la, you can’t get my chickens now, you dumb old mean skinny fox!”
I really wanted to do more to dissuade the fox from trying to get my chickens. When I asked for barbed wire at my local hardware store, I was told “I don’t know where farm people get that stuff.” I considered breaking some glass and mixing it into the dirt, but I figured it would just get dull over time. And the kids might step on it. I also thought about getting some rusty razor blades and strategically positioning them in the dirt right next to the base of the coop. In the end, I didn’t do any of that stuff. But I thought about it.
Foxes are fine and all – if they are not trying to get at my chickens. Clearly, the fox has not consulted with the squirrels in my yard, or he would know better than to mess with me. I do not tolerate misbehaving varmints.
So, now my dog is guarding the hen house. When she sits too close, the chickens peck at her behind. It doesn’t seem to bother her. She is used to them living in our yard now, but I am pretty sure she would “accidentally” eat them if she got the chance. I am not sure which is riskier – a fox guarding the hen house – or the dog! | <urn:uuid:64727a5b-dfd4-4d35-8933-87d9787dfa37> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.plentyperfect.com/2012/06/fox-almost-in-the-hen-house/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978038 | 879 | 1.765625 | 2 |
I am really happy to work with my partner, Keng. We can learn from each other, and consequently, it made us more efficient to accomplish the iteration 1.
3081 is a writing course. I am not good at writing. Although English is also a second language for Keng, his English is pretty good. Therefore, he can help me correct my writing in the project. Furthermore, when we run into a question, the TA usually does not know what I am trying to ask. But he can describe it properly, so we can ask the TA easily or Google it ourselves. On the other hand, Keng is familiar with the command line. He knows many useful commands. For example, if I want to open Emacs using command line, I would type "Emacs". After that, I need to open another terminal since my original process switch to run Emacs. Then Keng taught me that I could type "Emacs &", then it would create a daemon process which runs Emacs, and I could still use the terminal. It is pretty convenient.
We think thoroughly about the puzzles in the project before we met. For example, I did not know how to make a string or a line comment in regular expression. So I bore this question in my mind, and discussed it with Keng when we met. Then we Googled it and each kept trying on our own. I used to write many codes before this class so that I could implement our ideas quickly. We finally finished it through our efforts. Because we knew the specific questions before we began to work, so it would be more efficient to figure them out in group together. Therefore, we can write down our specific questions of the future iteration before we work together. This ensures the same benefits occur next time.
Although there are a lot of benefits to work together, challenges sometimes arise. First of all, we need to find time that we are both available to meet. But this semester is crazy. Homework and projects are published one by one. I do not have any free time. I think Keng is also busy this semester, so we do not have very much time to meet. Thus, I tried to do some of the work by myself. I finished all of the required regular expressions before we met. Although this was a time-consuming task, it was pretty simple to do it since I just needed to copy them one by one, and then modify them a little bit. Therefore, it was easy for us to do the remaining parts when we worked together. If we do not have very much time available for the following meeting, we can keep in touch with each other through email, and come up with an outline of the project. Using this process, we will just need to consider the tiny details when we work together. As I mentioned before, my English is not very good. When we work together, sometimes I do not understand what Keng means, and sometimes he also does not know what I am trying to say. Still, he is patient enough to talk with or listen to me. Thus, English has not been a big challenge until now. But I should note that I need to practice my English frequently. It is not only important for this project in 3081, but is also one of my key priorities while studying in the U.S.
There is another challenge that would not have occurred in a single-programmer environment. Because I am a bit of a control freak, I always want to change my partner's code to my style. It is a bad habit of working with others. If I have already hurt Keng, I am really sorry about that. Maybe this problem has not yet occurred, but I used to do it last semester. Keng is a pretty nice guy, and I should keep in mind that this project is both of ours, so I should respect his work. I can organize our codes together, but cannot change his code. I hope this is not a challenge for us in the future. | <urn:uuid:24423cc1-17db-41a2-a7fd-d0ecbfb53124> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.lib.umn.edu/xuxxx728/ark/2011/10/benefits-and-challenges-working-in-team.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977868 | 816 | 1.570313 | 2 |
January 01, 2012
What if a genetic modification, a nanobot in the brain, or a cognitive booster pill gave people more learning capacity? How would it change your job? Although not likely to be viable for a decade or more, all of these possibilities are being explored today. Using scienc...
Stay connected with: | <urn:uuid:b3eb1300-c058-409b-b07a-4e0fd4ce6ee0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.astd.org/Publications/Magazines/TD/TD-Archive.aspx?month=1&magcols=98F3A7908419477491C1D661E3EBC8F9&year=2012 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939647 | 68 | 1.554688 | 2 |
In recognition of his position and services to Scotland as a statesman, and also of his Lordship's warm interest and valuable aid in furthering the welfare of the city.
"My Lord, we know Scotland does not produce prophets - the soil of Scotland is not favourable to prophets. We used, I know, in the Western Isles to have seers of second sight, but these have all now disappeared, or are being examined as witnesses before the Crofters' Commission. And I am inclined to believe that if any genuine prophet arises in this country he need not fear exercising his gifts in his own immediate neighbourhood. My Lord Provost, it is the tendency of Scotland and of the Scotch to be especially kind to the public men who serve them. I think, without distinction of party, you in Scotland are disposed to recognise the merits of your public men with a more than fair approbation. You have to make allowances for many shortcomings; you have to excuse many errors; you have to overlook many failings; but you strike a generous average and are prepared to take the will for the deed.
In Edinburgh, unlike other places, there has been no anti-town and gown feeling: town and gown have worked honourably and loyally together. And the latest instance of it is that you, my Lord, have been as prominent as the Principal himself in endeavouring to collect subscriptions for the extension of the University buildings."
Back to Freemen List | <urn:uuid:5597628b-dabf-4430-aabd-1333b2bbc0ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.edinburgh.org.uk/hisc/digest/prim1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979568 | 294 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Community leaders lend helping hand to paralyzed teen
MIAMI (WSVN) -- Community leaders showed up Friday at the home of a paraplegic South Florida teen who was a victim of gun violence to lend him a helping hand.
"It's just like a flock of angels has come down and settled in my house," said Sammie Willis, the father of 15-year-old Aaron Willis.
Life is a little different than it used to be for Aaron, who was shot in the back Dec. 19 while he was riding his bike on Northwest 28th Street and First Avenue in Miami's Wynwood district. The bullet severed the teen's spine and left him paralyzed from the waist down. The incident sent Aaron to Jackson Memorial Hospital for five weeks.
Three months later, Aaron is looking on the bright side of things. "All I can think about it is, I can sit down now," he said "I've got people to push me around."
The community is pitching in to make Aaron as comfortable as possible in his home. "We kindly donated a brand-new kitchen, and put in a couple of fans, a little air conditioner in Aaron's room, and we're going to be adding a couple of other things," said Karen Fryd, director of the South Florida Youth Foundation.
Gifts like a scooter and a handicapped-accessible ramp in his home are just some of the improvements that will make life a little easier for Aaron. Miami-Dade Schools Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho donated a computer to the Booker T. Washington High School freshman. "Partners have provided wireless internet access to him so he can continue his studies," Carvalho said.
According to the teen's father, these donations are an enormous help for the challenges up ahead for Aaron and the Willis family. "My son has a head and he has a heart, and that's going to take him to almost the same places as his legs would have taken him," Sammie Willis said.
The bullet that hit 15-year-old Aaron Willis Dec. 19 while he was riding his bike in Miami's Wynwood district severed his spine. The incident sent the Booker T. Washington freshman to Jackson Memorial Hospital for five weeks.
(Copyright 2013 by Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) | <urn:uuid:20bd51a3-2130-45a3-a290-566fe124902d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wsvn.com/news/articles/local/21010109962529/community-leaders-lend-helping-hand-to-paralyzed-teen/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978409 | 485 | 1.5 | 2 |
By Jennifer Blanchard
Since today is Veterans Day, I wanted to pay homage to all the amazing veterans and active-duty service men and women who risk their lives everyday so that we can be free to spend our time writing and blogging.
And as I started to reflect on this day, it really got me thinking about those who came before us–Other bloggers and writers, I mean.
Thanks to all the veterans who have served throughout the years and fought for our country, we can continue to enjoy the freedoms America was founded on.
And thanks to all the writers and bloggers who have spent their time creating content, building blogs, making mistakes and attempting trial-and-error experiments, we are able to know exactly what works and what doesn’t work, which saves us from having to start from scratch with our writing.
- Can make money from our blogs without having to do much trial-and-error.
- Know how to write content that is engaging and effective.
- Are able to create magnetic headlines.
- Have learned what works and what doesn’t work on a blog.
- Understand what it takes to create a successful blog.
- And so much more…
- Understand how to structure a story.
- Know how to bring our story ideas to fruition.
- Are more confident sharing our creativity with the world.
- Have the information necessary to submit our writing to a publisher.
- Can write fiction knowing that publication isn’t a long-shot.
- And so much more…
So today, while you’re giving thanks to all the veterans and servicepeople, take a minute to also give thanks for all the writers, authors and bloggers who have come before us, made all the mistakes, learned from them and laid the foundation for us to be better writers, authors and bloggers.
What are you thankful for having learned from a writer, author or blogger who came before you?
About the Author: Jennifer Blanchard is founder of Procrastinating Writers. Be sure to follow her on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:65c6a0d7-59f6-4d19-ba2c-518d839af79c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://procrastinatingwritersblog.com/2009/11/why-you-should-be-thankful-for-those-who-came-before-you/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949226 | 426 | 1.585938 | 2 |
The latest reports out of Albany and the current GOP conference on marriage equality taking place in the New York State House reveal that the state's Senate might be days away from voting on the "issue." Details follow.
According to Capital Tonight's just-updated Twitter feed:
"Just informed by a GOP senator that this stalemate situation could go til Wed and maybe Thurs. That's a lot of hymns."
The good news: Updates have been giving polar-opposite reports all day as the situation changes by the minute.
The bad news: The anti-gay GOP seems hellbent on stalemating marriage equality for this session of the legislation calendar.
According to the NY Post, weekend negotiations on religious exemptions in the state's Marriage Equality Act have helped GOP lawmakers in Albany near closer to a deal and therefore a vote on equality.
Reports the Post:
Negotiators for the Republican-run Senate privately admitted that a deal is near after aides spent the Father's Day weekend ironing out language to appease "religious liberty" concerns that have been raised by several fence-sitting GOP senators.
And public pressure has reached a tipping point, as about 200 supporters of the bill held two raucous rallies near Union Square yesterday.
A vote on New York's Marriage Equality Act could come as early as today, though Gov. Cuomo is expected to keep lawmakers in session through the end of the week to vote on a number of undecided-yet-pressing bills.
Joe Jervis also points us to Greg Sargent's optimistic Washington Post editorial:
A historic day for marriage equality? The most important thing to watch today: New York’s state legislature is on the verge of voting to become the sixth state to legalize gay marriage. Proponents are one vote in the state senate short of making today a very big day indeed for marriage equality. The larger story is striking: This year, for the first time, multiple national polls are showing majority support for the notion that consenting gay adults should have the right to marry and enjoy the same benefits of marriage that heterosexual couples do. If New York takes this step today — which would make it the largest state thus far to do so — it will reinforce the sense that the national outcome of this decades-long civil-rights battle, which has produced a truly astonishing shift in public attitudes, is inevitable.
In critical timing news, New York City Pride week starts today... | <urn:uuid:4ce2d480-99f6-48d7-8bc7-5441f632b482> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://instinctmagazine.com/blogs/blog/update-reports-suggest-ny-gop-stalemating-marriage-equality-vote?directory=100011 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944883 | 497 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Make It Right, the green building foundation started by actor Brad Pitt, has released 14 new designs that will be among the 150 houses reconstructed in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Up to now, the homes on site have been single-family residences only — but Make It Right Director Tom Darden knew that residents were interested in duplex designs as well. “Before the storm, there were a number of duplexes and doubles in the neighborhood,” he said. “Families who want to come back to the Lower 9th have been asking us to build them so extended families can live together. And duplexes are right in keeping with Make It Right’s mission: They allow more people to live together with less impact on the environment and are more cost-effective to build.”
14 firms submittted designs for eco-efficient homes — with 8 of those being new participants in Make It Right’s green rebuilding mission. To view all of the new designs, jump here. | <urn:uuid:a06f6d37-6bb6-4d24-a256-09e92d347070> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ecorazzi.com/2009/07/02/brad-pitts-make-it-right-intros-news-green-duplex-designs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971125 | 216 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to strengthen communities by maximizing the resources of Korean/Asian American faith-based and partner organizations. KCCD is the largest and oldest Asian American faith-based organization in the country involved in capacity building and community development.
Since 2001, KCCD has led the way in advancing the Korean/Asian American community’s recognition and participation as full partners in society by removing cultural, linguistic, and economic barriers through educational and economic development programs, strategic public and private partnerships, and capacity building for Asian- American faith communities and community non-profits. KCCD has been successful in addressing key community challenges and enhancing the quality of services for low-income, immigrant and disenfranchised individuals, thus changing the landscape for the Korean/Asian American community as a whole.
KCCD Program Descriptions
Home Ownership and Foreclosure Prevention
Homebuyer Education & Counseling
KCCD Housing Counseling Agency assists potential home owners in the purchase of their first home by providing home buyer education, financial literacy, and counseling. Prospective home owners learn about government down payment assistance programs, escrow, and related topics that will equip them to purchase a home.
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling
KCCD provides group and individual counseling sessions for home owners who are having difficulty making their mortgage payments. Counseling sessions consist of an extensive review of the mortgage modification process along with document preparation assistance. KCCD further assist distressed home owners by submitting the necessary documentation to the lender in order to determine if the home owner qualifies for a loan modification. KCCD continues to act as intermediary between the borrower and the lender until a final resolution has been reached.
Healthy Marriage Initiative
Marriage Education and *APAHMFI
KCCD seeks to build peaceful and loving families and homes by providing tools and resources for families to strengthen marriages, families and address domestic violence. Our mission is to help couples and families develop skills and knowledge as well as a support network to form and sustain happy and healthy families. We provide the following programs through our partner organization: Marriage and Relationship Skills Education, Premarital Classes and Counseling, Parenting Classes, Couple Mentoring Programs, Train the Trainer, Couples Events and Retreats, Family Strengthening, Public Outreach and Education.
Research - To document the needs, resources, and opportunities for promoting responsible fatherhood in the Korean/API community, KCCD has been conducting research in partnership with Allen Kim, a researcher for the University of California, Irvine. Allen Kim has conducted extensive research on the topic of Asian American fatherhood. The final report documenting the research which will provide a comprehensive look at the current state of fatherhood and the existing needs and problems Asian American fathers are facing in 2010. This report will provide a more in-depth look at our target population, and help us to develop a fatherhood problem more tailored to the needs of Asian and Pacific Islander fathers in Southern California.
Vision and Goals - Our vision is to strengthen communities through responsible fatherhood, with a special emphasis on cross-generational and cross-cultural relationships in Korean and Asian American families. Our goal is to accurately assess the needs of the Korean and Asian American community and to develop a comprehensive, accessible, in-language fatherhood program which corresponds and caters to the needs of the community.
Community & Economic Development
KCCD successfully engaged many Asian American Youth by providing various programs such as Community Empowering Youth Program and Youth Workforce Program. Also, Youth summits are held for the youth to experience new perspectives on their personal life and broaden their views of professional career world and community service areas.
Capacity Building & Measurement
KCCD has successfully trained over 2,000 faith-based organizations and non-profits across the country to leverage internal and external resources for their community and improve economic development efforts. KCCD’s trainings, consultations, advocacy, grant writing services and networking opportunities assist organizations to:
- Establish a non-profit arm
- Identify and address needs in the community
- Develop effective programs
- Build organizational leadership and infrastructure
- Identify, attract and obtain funding
KCCD Research Institute
The KCCD Research Institute partners with research associations and scholars to collect data, distribute information, and establish a repository of economic and community development information regarding the Korean and Asian American community. Survey results, case studies of best practices, statistics and other relevant research information are compiled, analyzed, and presented to key stakeholders and policy makers.
SmallBusiness Development Center
KCCD offers Business Ownership Training courses to current and potential business entrepreneurs who wish to acquire sound business skills and tools. Creating a business Plan; Financial Management; Securing a Business Loan; Building Credit; Accounting; Marketing & Networking. | <urn:uuid:6dbc8977-d730-4803-918a-fd5bee243c00> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kccd.org/kccd-programs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936624 | 995 | 1.53125 | 2 |
THE NSW government is demanding the Commonwealth redirect compensation from Victorian brown coal generators to its state-owned black coal power stations after new modelling showed the Victorian companies could be between $400 million and $1 billion better off under the carbon tax.
"It was always perverse to be paying lump sums to the Victorian power stations' foreign owners but not to assets owned by the NSW taxpayers," the Energy Minister, Chris Hartcher, said.
But the Climate Change Minister, Greg Combet, said the modelling, by Frontier Economics, was inaccurate, and that he stuck by calculations done by Treasury for the carbon tax and the $5.5 billion compensation offered to the brown coal companies.
The Greens, who always argued the compensation was unnecessary, called for an immediate Productivity Commission inquiry to adjudicate on whether the companies have been promised too much.
''I have always been certain this is a huge waste of money,'' the Greens leader, Christine Milne, said.
But Mr Combet said there would be no inquiry. ''The Greens signed this package and they should live by it,'' he said. The electricity industry also rejected the idea that it was being given too much money.
''The reality is that all coal generators are facing big challenges and the carbon price makes their life harder not easier,'' the chief executive of the Energy Supply Association of Australia, Matthew Warren, said.
But the Coalition said the compensation was always a crazy idea.
''We don't think they should have paid the generators anything,'' the Coalition climate change spokesman, Greg Hunt, said.
''We certainly don't think they should have set up two funds, one to pay them billions of dollars to stay open and one to pay them billions of dollars to close down … it was always destined to fail.''
Energy industry experts said the failure of negotiations for the government to pay for the early closure of brown coal generators would retard the shift in Australia's energy mix away from coal and towards cleaner power.
Keith Orchison, a former head of the Energy Supply Association, said that the announcement would be a disappointment for would-be gas generators.
''Nothing that is being done is going to make investors feel any more certain. They thought they had a government plan but in the last week that has been turned on its head,'' he said.
''It's not the sort of stuff that has directors sitting in boardrooms looking at each other saying, 'Let's invest in electricity'.''
Clean energy advocates say the failure will push clean energy investment back towards the end of the decade.
Will McGoldrick, of the World Wildlife Fund, said that on top of the scrapping of the floor price, the end of the buyout talks put the energy transition in doubt.
''Where is our energy sector heading? [The buyout] was a signal to the industry on the horizon that they were shifting away from dirty coal. That is not locked in any more.''
Macquarie Generation, NSW's largest generator, slashed the value of its assets by one-third earlier this year. | <urn:uuid:47a1bd78-93d8-4dfd-879f-f653fa55546c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.standard.net.au/story/309071/nsw-argues-black-coal-plants-deserve-slice-of-compensation/?cs=73 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971737 | 623 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Blue Coat Caught Up In Global Surveillance Storm Again
Company’s tech found in nations including China, Russia, Egypt and Bahrain, but are they being used for negative purposes?
Blue Coat Systems technologies are being widely used in nations with poor human rights’ records, possibly for censorship and surveillance purposes, researchers have claimed.
Two of Blue Coat’s technologies have been seen in use in various countries. The first is ProxySG, which allows for filtering of unwanted content on the Internet and supplements efforts to intercept encrypted communications with SSL inspection services. The second is PacketShaper, which provides intelligence about network traffic.
Researchers said they had, after several weeks of scanning with the Shodan computer search engine and validation ending this month, uncovered 61 Blue Coat ProxySG devices and 316 Blue Coat PacketShaper appliances. Citizen Lab found 61 appliances were running “on public or government networks in countries with a history of concerns over human rights, surveillance, and censorship”.
Those countries included China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Russia, Afghanistan, Bahrain and India.
Blue Coat doing battle again
Whilst, Blue Coat’s technologies are legitimate corporate products, used widely to protect organisations from security threats, they can also be used for censorship and surveillance, Citizen Lab said. It calls this “dual-use” technology, and the researchers believe governments and Blue Coat itself should keep closer tabs on where their products are used.
“Our findings support the need for national and international scrutiny of Blue Coat implementations in the countries we have identified, and a closer look at the global proliferation of “dual-use” information and communication technologies,” Citizen Lab wrote in its report.
“Internet service providers responsible for these deployments should consider publicly clarifying their function, and we hope Blue Coat will take this report as an opportunity to explain their due diligence process to ensure that their devices are not used in ways that violate human rights.”
This is the second time Blue Coat has been caught up in a surveillance storm. Its technology was reportedly active in Syria, just as the nation was descending into civil war, and was allegedly used as part of the network filtering and monitoring carried out by the Syrian government.
A separate report from Citizen Lab indicated the technology was being used in Burma as well. Eventually, the US Department of Commerce opened an investigation into the situation, yet it is clear Blue Coat technology remains active in nations of concern.
Blue Coat had not offered comment on the latest research at the time of publication.
Other companies involved in the web security space have come in for criticism over the past few months. Gamma International, a UK-based firm, has been of particular interest to human rights campaigners, after its spyware was spotted in nations with a poor human rights record.
Privacy International has pursued the case, calling on the UK government to look into whether Gamma had broken the law, but selling into nations such as Bahrain and Egypt.
“Governments should be controlling exports of all products that can be used in abusive surveillance practices – even those that also have perfectly legitimate alternative uses,” Eric King, head of research at Privacy International, told TechWeekEurope today.
“Export licences are granted on a case-by-case basis and hundreds of ‘dual-use’ products are already controlled, so preventing technologies like BlueCoat’s being sold to repressive foreign regimes, regimes that are renowned for their casual disregard for the fundamental rights and freedoms of their citizens, should not be so difficult.”
To prevent such technology getting into the wrong hands, Citizen Lab backed multilateral efforts from European and US governments, especially in the export controls space, as well as better corporate social responsibility initiatives.
Respect privacy? Try our privacy quiz! | <urn:uuid:229c9d31-27c5-410c-adfc-df2c1b016f5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/blue-coat-surveillance-citizen-lab-104518 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950387 | 786 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Wall Street Journal (11.10.12)
Merck & Co., Gilead Sciences Inc, Abbott Laboratories, and other companies are working to come up with all-oral hepatitis C treatments. So far, standard treatments for hepatitis C include interferon, but interferon can be difficult for patients to tolerate. Merck reports that during a midstage clinical trial of an experimental Merck treatment, the drug, MK-5172, suppressed hepatitis C virus in most patients. The drug study also included the use of injected interferon. MK-5172 appears to be more potent than another Merck drug, Victrelis. Merck plans new studies of MK-5172 as an all-oral hepatitis C treatment without interferon.
According to Eliav Bar, vice president of infectious diseases at Merck’s research group, MK-5172, a protease inhibitor, is more potent and carries a higher barrier to treatment resistance than Victrelis. In a phase 2 clinical trial of about 330 hepatitis C patients, who received different doses of MK-5172 in combination with ribavirin and interferon for 12 weeks, 96 percent of patients who received the 100 mg dose of MK-5172 had sustained virologic responses 12 weeks after treatment. This was the highest response rate of all of the groups. In the Victrelis group, only 54 percent of patients achieved sustained virologic responses at 12 weeks. However, higher doses of MK-5172 were associated with liver toxicities. Merck plans to conduct phase 2 studies in combination with another experimental oral drug, MK-8742, plus ribavirin, which is also oral. Barr stated that if the experiments go well, the company may consider a combination of MK-5172 with MK-8472.
Abbott Labs reported results of its hepatitis C drugs in October. The results show a combination of three experimental drugs—ABT-450 combined with a boosting agent ritonavir, ABT-267, and ABT-333—plus ribavirin resulted in 12-week sustained virologic response rates of 97 percent in treatment of naïve patients and 93 percent in patients who had received prior treatment. A further trial without ribavirin resulted in a sustained virologic response rate of 87 percent at 12 weeks in treatment-naïve patients. About 1 percent of patients discontinued the study because of adverse events. Abbot has begun phase 3, or late-stage testing of the hepatitis C regimen, with and without ribavirin.
Bristol-Myers Squibb had a recent setback when one of its hepatitis C compounds failed for safety issues, but the company is working on others.
The three companies are expected to present data on their drugs at Liver Meeting® 2012, the annual meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, which is held November 9–13. | <urn:uuid:cdd518c3-64ce-434f-af26-5a1b114a9dfc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aegis.org/DisplayContent/DisplayContent.aspx?sectionID=376298 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942717 | 595 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Tag Archives: Scrum
A Minimal Marketable Feature (MMF) is a feature that is minimal, because if it was any smaller, it would not be marketable. A MMF is marketable, because when it is released as part of a product, people would use (or buy) the feature.
As a counter-example to the MMF approach: While working on an XP team, our team decomposed features into super-small stories. That way the customer (product manager) could pick-and choose from the sub-features to create the big feature. The team would present a list of each sub-feature like a grocery bill — each item has a cost. For example, the customer might decide that pagination (presenting a list of information on multiple pages) just isn’t worth it, because “hey, we only have 25 rows of data right now!”
An MMF is different than a typical User Story in Scrum or Extreme Programming. Where multiple User Stories might be coalesced to form a single marketable feature, MMFs are a little bit bigger. Often, there is a release after each MMF is complete.
An MMF doesn’t decompose down into smaller sub-feature, but it is big enough to launch on its own.
A MMF can be represented as a User Story — a short, one-sentence description.
The format of a user story is:
As a [some user],
I want [to do something],
so that [I can achieve some goal]
But in contrast to how a User Story is typically used, the team would not break down the User Story into smaller User Stories when using MMFs. Think of it this way: *Gather up all the stories that share the same so that clause — that’s your MMF*.
Arlo Belshee giving an overview of Naked Planning at Agile 2007
This video was taken at Agile Conference 2007 in Washington DC. I believe that Arlo was one of the first to lay-out the inspiration for Kanban systems for software development. Later, Aaron Sanders, Karl Scotland and I (Joe Arnold) paired these concepts with ideas from David Anderson to create Kanban systems for teams at Yahoo!. Jeff Patton later wrote an article distilling down the practices: Kanban Over Simplified
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- Posted under Cheap Ideas
I heard Mary and Tom Poppendieck talk about newspapers when referring to concepts of options theory. I didn’t put much thought into it until I met Victor from our Miami office.
Victor said that newspapers always ship on time. He said it was a two pronged process.
#1: Everyone must be willing to do anything to get the paper out.
When there is a hurricane in Miami, everyone pitches in.
“The writer must become the editor, who must become the assistant, who must also go out on the street in an emergency situation to get the paper out. The writer versatile, the publisher versatile, everyone is versatile at every level including the executive editor to get the paper out.”
In a hurricane situation, if you’re a writer, you become a truck-driver to deliver the paper to the street corner. If the printing press is hit by the storm, you have pre-arranged mutual agreements with other printers outside of the area to do your publishing. Even in day-to-day operations, editors and writers are encouraged to visit the printing press and learn as much as they can about how it works. They encourage end-to-end knowledge about the entire system.
“Everyone has a measured responsibility when it comes to seeing the product through.” Victor said.
“They may not know exactly how the printing press works, but it’s encouraged. Every reporter, every writer, every editor will go into the press room and have the guy who is dirty with ink show them how the paper runs. When there is an emergency and the printer who is trying to get the paper out has a problem, because there is a basic understanding of the work, it augments the responsibility.”
He used an example of when the print press broke down, and an editor jumped into a car to a neighboring press to get a piece of equipment. That was only possible because the editor could understand the printer’s explanation of what was wrong and what the printer needed to fix the press.
#2: There is always more production than what gets out in the day
Every day there is a brief 15-30 minute morning meeting at 10:00 AM to plan the production for the day. That way everyone is on the same page.
There are several vetting points. Each writer has a budget (or capacity) of what the individual reporter can do. The first month that you join the paper your budget would be low. It goes up with your capacity.
There is daily, weekly and monthly planning to make sure there is enough budget to fill a paper. If there are not enough people to write enough “column inches”, they know they can’t fill the paper. Therefore, they over commit column inches as well. If Victor was writing a column, he would get a few more quotes or details to expand the article if they needed to fill space.
As applied to software:
#1: System knowledge and a willingness to do anything
We could learn a lesson. We don’t handle emergencies like a newspaper handles emergencies. If a server goes out, you can’t send in a product manager to go fix it. (Or most software engineers for that matter.) As a result we are less flexible and our capacity is reduced. Cross training is essential. Look for individuals with a wide range of talents. Train a front-end engineer on how to do usability testing. That product manager you’re hiring should have hacked up an underground mp3 exchange while in college.
I’m not suggesting that anyone can pick up each other’s tools and get to work. But there should be an understanding of what it takes to get each other’s job done. That way when a developer explains that they need to spend a couple of weeks to improve the build process, the product manager understands why.
Do whatever it takes. I hate hearing, “but I’m not a tester” or “I can’t do visual design.” Developers should become testers. Testers should become developers. Product managers should cut html.
I’ve worked with a team that builds a UI-intensive flash application. The designers, testers, developers, product managers all sit together in the same space. Developers are constantly adding functionality to the product that affects user interaction. A developer is encouraged to think about and to improve the user experience as much the underlying software that makes it run.
Even within functional groups, knowledge should be distributed. There was a team who had a developer, Li, who knew everything. Here is how a sprint planning meeting would work: Li would volunteer for every task because she was the best person for the job. As she became full, important features in the product backlog had to be skipped until something was found that another person on the team could work on. After three or so sprints of this happening, the team came to the conclusion that Li had to stop signing up for tasks. That way, she could help other team members get up to speed.
#2: Cut features to fit
Deliver value every day. Set deadlines for the team.
I was working with a team who did what outsiders thought was an absolutely unbelievable achievement within the organization.
Get this, they delivered on time.
I asked one of the developers, Daniel, how they did it. His response was nonchalant:
“They gave us 3 months, so we built a product to fit that time interval.”
Me: “If the team had 4 months?”
Daniel: “Then we would have had more features.”
Me: “And two months?”
Daniel: “There would have been less features.”
Arrange your work so that you can trim down features to deliver in regular intervals. When working with a full-bore XP team, every time someone checked in code the system had to function. Every check-in was “potentially shippable.” Not that we would, but we could.
Our constraints are time and people. A newspaper’s constraint is time, people and column inches. By trimming features down, we can build software products with the time and people we have.
Names have changed in this article to protect the innocent
After a sprint review meeting today I asked a few engineers, “From 0-10 how stable is the product?”
The team has been working on the product for 11 sprints over six months. And I’ve been blown away by the amount of functionality the team has been able to add in such a short time. But the product hasn’t settled into a groove. There are a lot of features that almost work.
A couple of things are effecting the team: | <urn:uuid:421221b2-fee8-43f9-8137-7472bcc97ee3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://joearnold.com/tag/scrum/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965771 | 1,919 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Translate Website | Traducir Sitio Web
Translate Website | Traducir Sitio Web
(RICHMOND) – Attorney General Bill Lockyer today announced the California Department of Justice's DNA Data Bank has obtained more than 1,000 hits linking DNA profiles from convicted felons to old and cold criminal cases.
"DNA has revolutionized the work of law enforcement, helping investigators catch criminals who thought they had gotten away with rapes and murders committed decades ago," Lockyer said. "Every single day, we are improving public safety and preventing further crimes by using DNA to identify and prosecute criminals, exonerate the innocent and bring justice and closure to victims."
Since taking office in 1999, the Attorney General has made improving the DNA laboratory and the expanded use of its technology one of his top priorities. Lockyer lobbied for $25 million in "cold case" grants that provided law enforcement agencies throughout the state with the resources they needed to submit for DNA analysis crime scene evidence that had been sitting for years in cold storage.
Under state law, individuals convicted of 36 serious and violent felonies are required to submit biological samples that yield DNA profiles that are stored in the CAL-DNA Data Bank. Those felonies include murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, first-degree burglary, first-degree robbery, carjacking and arson. Profiles extracted from crime scene evidence are compared to the profiles in the Data Bank, and if there is a match, the hit is confirmed with additional tests, and the law enforcement agency that submitted the crime scene evidence is notified.
The 1,000th hit came from a case in Santa Barbara County. Because the investigation is ongoing, Lockyer could not provide more details.
Currently operating out of a 68,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility in Richmond that also houses the California Cold Hit and the Missing Persons DNA programs, the CAL-DNA Data Bank was established in 1994. Between 1994 and 1999, eight hits were made. Since then, the number of old cases solved has steadily increased as more DNA profiles of convicted felons and forensic DNA profiles developed from crime scene evidence are uploaded into their respective databases. Currently, the CAL-DNA Data Bank contains 274,000 convicted felon profiles and 9,300 forensic profiles.
As of the end of September, the CAL-DNA Data Bank had obtained 1,068 hits linking DNA crime scene evidence to specific felon offenders, and aided in 1,286 criminal investigations by linking DNA crime scene evidence to other criminal cases. A monthly record was achieved in September, when the CAL-DNA Data Bank made 110 hits that aided in 115 criminal investigations, many dating back more than 20 years.
"We've gone from linking individuals to old, cold cases at a rate of less than one a year to more than three a day," Lockyer said. "What used to be considered a futuristic concept is now accepted science that is embraced and relied on daily by investigators, prosecutors and jurors, who demand to base their verdicts on concrete, scientific evidence."
"We usually think of TV shows as being ahead of the state-of-the art DNA curve, but ‘CSI' is becoming a reality," said Sen. Jackie Speier, D-Hillsborough, who has supported and authored legislation expanding the number of convicted felons in the CAL-DNA Data Bank. "Just this week, a murderer was jailed in California for a crime he is suspected of committing 18 years ago, linked to the crime by DNA from an eyelash that was collected by a diligent police investigator two decades ago."
The first hit by CAL-DNA Data Bank was made in 1994 and involved the brutal rape and murder of a 76-year-old Richmond woman. James King was subsequently arrested, found guilty and is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
The second hit was made after a profile developed by the Orange County Crime lab was submitted to CAL-DNA Lab in 1995. A data bank search hit on Gerald Parker, who after his arrest, confessed to six rape-homicides, one of which had resulted in the earlier conviction of Kevin Green. The hit in this case not only identified the real killer, but exonerated Green, who had served 17 years in prison. Parker was found guilty and sentenced to death.
The third hit involved evidence from a 1992 murder of five women in Oklahoma City. The evidence was processed by the Oklahoma State Crime Lab and a DNA profile was sent to CAL-DNA Data Bank in 1996. A search resulted in a hit on Danny Hooks, who had previously been convicted of rape, kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon. Hooks was located and arrested in San Jose.
"The first three of the 1,068 hits we've obtained show the power of DNA to solve brutal crimes, exonerate the innocent and reach across state lines to help solve cases," Lockyer said. | <urn:uuid:a6291620-5574-4a12-a95f-5a5e7ee4cffc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-lockyer-announces-more-1000-hits-obtained-through-cal-dna-data | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967976 | 1,002 | 1.789063 | 2 |
The Sword of Welleran and Other Stories, by Lord Dunsany, , at sacred-texts.com
The argument that I had with my brother in his great lonely house will scarcely interest my readers. Not those, at least, whom I hope may be attracted by the experiment that I undertook, and by the strange things that befell me in that hazardous region into which so lightly and so ignorantly I allowed my fancy to enter. It was at Oneleigh that I had visited him.
Now Oneleigh stands in a wide isolation, in the midst of a dark gathering of old whispering cedars. They nod their heads together when the North Wind comes, and nod again and agree, and furtively grow still again, and say no more awhile. The North Wind is to them like a nice problem among wise old men; they nod their heads over it, and mutter about it all together. They know much, those cedars, they have been there so long. Their grandsires knew Lebanon, and the grandsires of these were the servants of the King of Tyre and came to Solomon's court. And amidst these black-haired children of grey-headed Time stood the old house of Oneleigh. I know not how many centuries had lashed against it their evanescent foam of years; but it was still unshattered, and all about it were the things of long ago, as cling strange growths to some sea-defying rock. Here, like the shells of long-dead limpets, was armour that men encased themselves in long ago; here, too, were tapestries of many colours, beautiful as seaweed; no modern flotsam ever drifted hither, no early Victorian furniture, no electric light. The great trade routes that littered the years with empty meat tins and cheap novels were far from here. Well, well, the centuries will shatter it and drive its fragments on to distant shores. Meanwhile, while it yet stood, I went on a visit there to my brother, and we argued about ghosts. My brother's intelligence on this subject seemed to me to be in need of correction. He mistook things imagined for things having an actual existence; he argued that second-hand evidence of persons having seen ghosts proved ghosts to exist. I said that even if they had seen ghosts, this was no proof at all; nobody believes that there are red rats, though there is plenty of first-hand evidence of men having seen them in delirium. Finally, I said I would see ghosts myself, and continue to argue against their actual existence. So I collected a handful of cigars and drank several cups of very strong tea, and went without my dinner, and retired into a room where there was dark oak and all the chairs were covered with tapestry; and my brother went to bed bored with our argument, and trying hard to dissuade me from making myself uncomfortable. All the way up the old stairs as I stood at the bottom of them, and as his candle went winding up and up, I heard him still trying to persuade me to have supper and go to bed.
It was a windy winter, and outside the cedars were muttering I know not what about; but I think that they were Tories of a school long dead, and were troubled about something new. Within, a great damp log upon the fireplace began to squeak and sing, and struck up a whining tune, and a tall flame stood up over it and beat time, and all the shadows crowded round and began to dance. In distant corners old masses of darkness sat still like chaperones and never moved. Over there, in the darkest part of the room, stood a door that was always locked. It led into the hall, but no one ever used it; near that door something had happened once of which the family are not proud. We do not speak of it. There in the firelight stood the venerable forms of the old chairs; the hands that had made their tapestries lay far beneath the soil, the needles with which they wrought were many separate flakes of rust. No one wove now in that old room—no one but the assiduous ancient spiders who, watching by the deathbed of the things of yore, worked shrouds to hold their dust. In shrouds about the cornices already lay the heart of the oak wainscot that the worm had eaten out.
Surely at such an hour, in such a room, a fancy already excited by hunger and strong tea might see the ghosts of former occupants. I expected nothing less. The fire flickered and the shadows danced, memories of strange historic things rose vividly in my mind; but midnight chimed solemnly from a seven-foot clock, and nothing happened. My imagination would not be hurried, and the chill that is with the small hours had come upon me, and I had nearly abandoned myself to sleep, when in the hall adjoining there arose the rustling of silk dresses that I had waited for and expected. Then there entered two by two the high-born ladies and their gallants of Jacobean times. They were little more than shadows—very dignified shadows, and almost indistinct; but you have all read ghost stories before, you have all seen in museums the dresses of those times—there is little need to describe them; they entered, several of them, and sat down on the old chairs, perhaps a little carelessly considering the value of the tapestries. Then the rustling of their dresses ceased.
Well—I had seen ghosts, and was neither frightened nor convinced that ghosts existed. I was about to get up out of my chair and go to bed, when there came a sound of pattering in the hall, a sound of bare feet coming over the polished floor, and every now and then a foot would slip and I heard claws scratching along the wood as some four-footed thing lost and regained its balance. I was not frightened, but uneasy. The pattering came straight towards the room that I was in, then I heard the sniffing of expectant nostrils; perhaps 'uneasy' was not the most suitable word to describe my feelings then. Suddenly a herd of black creatures larger than bloodhounds came galloping in; they had large pendulous ears, their noses were to the ground sniffing, they went up to the lords and ladies of long ago and fawned about them disgustingly. Their eyes were horribly bright, and ran down to great depths. When I looked into them I knew suddenly what these creatures were, and I was afraid. They were the sins, the filthy, immortal sins of those courtly men and women.
How demure she was, the lady that sat near me on an old-world chair—how demure she was, and how fair, to have beside her with its jowl upon her lap a sin with such cavernous red eyes, a clear case of murder. And you, yonder lady with the golden hair, surely not you—and yet that fearful beast with the yellow eyes slinks from you to yonder courtier there, and whenever one drives it away it slinks back to the other. Over there a lady tries to smile as she strokes the loathsome furry head of another's sin, but one of her own is jealous and intrudes itself under her hand. Here sits an old nobleman with his grandson on his knee, and one of the great black sins of the grandfather is licking the child's face and has made the child its own. Sometimes a ghost would move and seek another chair, but always his pack of sins would move behind him. Poor ghosts, poor ghosts! how many flights they must have attempted for two hundred years from their hated sins, how many excuses they must have given for their presence, and the sins were with them still—and still unexplained. Suddenly one of them seemed to scent my living blood, and bayed horribly, and all the others left their ghosts at once and dashed up to the sin that had given tongue. The brute had picked up my scent near the door by which I had entered, and they moved slowly nearer to me sniffing along the floor, and uttering every now and then their fearful cry. I saw that the whole thing had gone too far. But now they had seen me, now they were all about me, they sprang up trying to reach my throat; and whenever their claws touched me, horrible thoughts came into my mind and unutterable desires dominated my heart. I planned bestial things as these creatures leaped around me, and planned them with a masterly cunning. A great red-eyed murder was among the foremost of those furry things from whom I feebly strove to defend my throat. Suddenly it seemed to me good that I should kill my brother. It seemed important to me that I should not risk being punished. I knew where a revolver was kept; after I had shot him, I would dress the body up and put flour on the face like a man that had been acting as a ghost. It would be very simple. I would say that he had frightened me—and the servants had heard us talking about ghosts. There were one or two trivialities that would have to be arranged, but nothing escaped my mind. Yes, it seemed to me very good that I should kill my brother as I looked into the red depths of this creature's eyes. But one last effort as they dragged me down—'If two straight lines cut one another,' I said, 'the opposite angles are equal. Let AB, CD, cut one another at E, then the angles CEA, CEB equal two right angles (prop. xiii.). Also CEA, AED equal two right angles.'
I moved towards the door to get the revolver; a hideous exultation arose among the beasts. 'But the angle CEA is common, therefore AED equals CEB. In the same way CEA equals DEB. QED.' It was proved. Logic and reason re-established themselves in my mind, there were no dark hounds of sin, the tapestried chairs were empty. It seemed to me an inconceivable thought that a man should murder his brother. | <urn:uuid:a58d3373-8c22-498a-9ef6-1999c8d61b06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/dun/swos/swos07.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987453 | 2,099 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Importance Of Position
There are two main disadvantages of acting out of position. A player need not succumb to both of them, but he or she will always be subject to giving up at least one. This is why, all other things being equal, it is not only desirable to have position, it can be used as an effective tool against your opponents when used properly.
How to use position
The first of the two inherent disadvantages is the potential for giving up information. Poker is essentially a game of managing incomplete information and using it to make profitable decisions. So if you are to act before I do in a betting round, there is at least the potential for you to give some information to me that I can use.
Now if you are a good player you will be fully aware of this, and in fact it's not that difficult to avoid giving away too much out of position. Many players will pretty much always check if they don't have the lead, and only the most sophisticated players may look to be aggressive in spots here while balancing their ranges.
This often will come down to how players react to aggression in position, and the potential certainly exists to be aggressive out of position and exploit a player that way. The thinking here is that, while the player in position will have a natural edge, the edge in skill that the out of position player may be sufficient to exceed this, and this is not an uncommon situation actually if you are a good player.
In any event, all the out of position player needs to do post flop in order to eliminate this informational weakness is to check every time. However, there is a price to be paid for that, and that leads us to the second disadvantage, which is less pot control. There will be hands where you want to build the pot more, but by being forced to be passive out of position, you will generally be giving up some control here.
The more passive your opponent is, the more pot control you give up here. If you are playing against a maniac who will pretty much always bet when checked to, and is seldom afraid to go to the felt, then you're not giving up that much here, as you can most often easily get your chips in anytime you want to.
However, against less aggressive players, they are going to have more pot control than you do since they get to act after you. So for instance if you check to them, and they want to build the pot or not, they can act accordingly.
You're also risking giving away a lot of free cards here by playing passively, and this is something that definitely puts you at a disadvantage. You might have the best hand on the flop for instance, it gets checked down, and then your opponent may draw out on you for free.
In the end, I feel that too many players rely on the passive line out of position way too much. While you do keep from giving away information by checking, the price is pretty high, as you can see. I feel that players should put more thought into this, and when they do, they may discover that varying their approach a lot more here, and being selectively aggressive out of position, may be worth considering more.
The main thing that tends to scare players off from this is the risk of bet folding, however it must be understood that this risk exists equally for both players, and being in position doesn't make you immune from it, or even lessen it, unless your opponent plays too scared out of position and will back down too often.
Now you might not be able to remove the disadvantage of position through choosing the best approach, although you certainly can do this against weaker players. Regardless, we still want to try to at least minimize our disadvantage here, and at the same time maximize our advantages in position. The best poker requires both.
So what we want to do here is to think more about what we're doing in and out of position instead of just following through with preset ideas and conceptions of what we're supposed to do. Often we may not even have thought about the validity of these strategies much, if at all. More thought is generally better in poker though, and along the way you may learn that ideal positional play may not be what you thought it was.
You can practice position at Party Poker as they have plenty of players of all strength levels and a lot of fish who did not spend the time to study the importance of position.
One advantage of playing at PartyPoker is that their games are known to be loose. The reason is that American players have been absent since 2006, and as they are the most advanced players as the game started in the USA, casual players are relatively more numerous. Read our Party Poker Review for more details.
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Azerbaijan, Baku, Oct. 2 / Trend /
The elections in Georgia were free and fair, a group of observers from the Organisation for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM said following the parliamentary elections in the country.
'The parliamentary elections in Georgia were organised and conducted in accordance with international commitments and standards for democratic elections. This included the obligations and standards of the OSCE and the Council of Europe and in accordance with national legislation, regulations and procedures established by the Georgian Central Election Commission', the statement said.
The GUAM Observation Mission has made no significant comments. The elections were held in the spirit of competition. In general, they can be evaluated positively, observers of the organisation said.
The opposition coalition Georgian Dream Party is in the lead after counting almost 20 per cent of votes in the CEC.
According to the CEC, at present the Georgian Dream Party got 53.3 per cent of votes. The ruling party United National Movement with 41.5 per cent of votes ranks second.
Regarding the election results by a majority, the CEC said that the candidates from the ruling party are in the lead in 27 constituencies and 18 from the Georgian Dream of 73 single member constituencies. The data of the majority lists of other constituencies have not been counted yet.
Parliamentary elections were held in Georgia on October 1. Around 14 parties and two political blocs participated in the elections.
Parliament will receive more authority in 2013 after amendments to the Constitution take force resulting in the president's power being reduced.
Do you have any feedback? Contact our journalist at [email protected] | <urn:uuid:37933591-e6eb-4aea-b9d1-8f16c8d84715> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://en.trend.az/regions/scaucasus/georgia/2071929.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966022 | 331 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Kitchener hospital leads country in avoiding deaths
Published Thursday, December 13, 2012 1:23PM EST
Last Updated Thursday, December 13, 2012 6:29PM EST
A new report says St. Mary’s General Hospital leads the country when it comes to keeping mortality rates low.
The annual report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information looks at the number of deaths that occurred in a hospital versus the number that would be expected.
A hospital standardized mortality ratio number lower than 100 indicates fewer deaths than expected. St. Mary’s finished first in the country with an HSMR score of 66.
“[I] feel great. This is real validation of the journey that we're on,” St. Mary’s president Don Shilton tells CTV.
Shilton attributes the hospital’s high ranking to a number of factors, including daily staff "huddles" on how to improve patient safety, reducing hospital-acquired infections and improving discharge planning.
"Last year we actually implemented more than 1,000 improvements based on the work of these huddles," he says.
Laura Lee, a registered nurse at St. Mary's, says the huddles allow each employee to make suggestions which are then evaluated by the entire group.
"We work through it together, we brainstorm as a whole. Everybody gets to put their input in and we decide which way we want to go," she says.
"We want it to be the best for [patients] because nobody really wants to be in hospital."
Across town at Grand River Hospital, staff celebrated their own ranking. Although they finished well back of St. Mary's, the numbers at Grand River show a turnaround in an area where there had previously been difficulty.
"Five years ago we had a lot of work to do, we found ourselves in the bottom quarter of hospitals in Canada. This year we're in the top quarter, so we continue to improve," says Grand River Hospital CEO Malcolm Maxwell.
Hospitals in North York and Vancouver finished second and third in the country, followed by Brantford General Hospital. | <urn:uuid:8eaa8406-0e8c-43c4-8823-620285ae1b15> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/kitchener-hospital-leads-country-in-avoiding-deaths-1.1078092 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96029 | 440 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The woman on the phone at Crunch gym in Danville had a pressing question: Which shoes should she wear to work out: low or spike heels?
"Whatever makes her feel more fabulous," said Shab Jaleh, a former professional cheerleader and aspiring Persian pop star who is teaching a new fitness class: Stiletto Strength.
The hourlong class starts with floor exercises to strengthen the calves, ankles and abdominal muscles, then finishes with 20 minutes of strutting, cat walking and simple dance steps in high heels. It's BYOH.
"What I'm really teaching is posture," Jaleh said. "It's a class for women who want to learn how to walk, dance and look hot in heels."
Donna Cyrus, a senior vice president of programming for Crunch, created the classes in 2007 to help well-heeled New York women become more nimble navigating the pitted streets and subway stairs. Since then the classes have spread to Miami and Los Angeles, and premiered in Northern California in Danville on Jan. 4.
"It's not a fitness class in high heels, it's a class to teach you how to walk safely in high heels," Cyrus said.
Still, podiatrists are shuddering.
Dr. Colleen Schwartz of Pleasanton, spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association, said there is a right way and a wrong way to approach heel fitness classes.
"You really are risking Achilles injuries if you start out in the highest heels," she said. "It's better to start out with lower heels and work up to the stilettos after at least three weeks."
She also advises wearing heels home instead of switching to tennis shoes, so the transition is not so jarring on the muscles. Foot-strengthening Pilates classes are also a good idea.
"Ultimately, from a medical standpoint, I'd say these classes are a disaster, but this is a trend and women, including podiatrists, wear heels, so it's important to wear them wisely," she said.
The health debate over pumps is long-standing, as is the desire for women to wear something that makes their legs look slimmer, said Mindy Kreis, the group fitness coordinator at Danville Crunch.
"Heels aren't going away any time soon, so it's better to learn how to walk in them properly so you don't get injured," she said.
Stiletto Strength fits in with Crunch's repertoire of edgy classes, Kreis said, noting a roster that includes pole dancing, videography to teach dances from popular music videos, a strip-tease class and yoga done to rock music.
Kreis, who used to train the Warrior Girls, said women are tiring of basic aerobics classes and looking for ones with a little more kick.
Jaleh, who lives part time in Los Angeles, takes a "hip-hop in heels" class there that's taught by a man.
After Jaleh led seven students through a series of lunges, plies and calf raises set to an ear-splitting Shakira song, "She Wolf," it was time to put away the mats and slip into stilettos.
Brittany Miller, 23, of Danville could hardly contain her excitement as she zipped into 5-inch, thigh-high black leather spike boots.
"I got them for the Lady Gaga concert a few weeks ago, but I've never danced in them," she said.
Jaleh put on a Miley Cyrus song at nightclub volume, and the students tried to mimic her horse-prance steps across the floor.
"One, two, three, up!" said Jaleh, taking three steps, then lifting her foot off the floor in a deep bend on the fourth count.
"Stay on your toes! Right! Left! Cha-cha-cha!" she instructed, showing her charges how to take each step leading with their hips.
"As long as you touch the floor with your toes, and not your heel, that's the trick," she said.
Jaleh, who has cheered in heels for the Golden State Warriors, the Oakland Raiders, the Sacramento Kings and the San Francisco 49ers, floated across the room as if she were born with sticks attached to her heels.
Nobody fell, but there were several wobbly moments.
"It's like Pilates, but faster," said Danielle Giambrone, 24, of Castro Valley.
Miller, who has plans to become a professional cheerleader, sees the classes as a form of training.
"You learn how to hold your body in heels," she said, "and it definitely brings out your sultry, vixen side." | <urn:uuid:e631fa13-1a48-41ca-a862-5923b23fd058> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.samuelmerritt.edu/president/news_room/feb_2010/stiletto-strength-pumps-working-out | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969083 | 983 | 1.828125 | 2 |
No second chances with history
Once something historic or nostalgic or aesthetically wonderful is gone, it is gone. Rarely do we get a second chance to save something that likely has drawn thousands upon thousands of comments such as, "Gee, Angela Park really was neat. I wish we still had that park."
Angela Park was a family-run business that operated from 1957 to 1988. It was a decline in patronage that brought on its closing. That downturn, we can state in a rather simple-yet-honest analysis, was linked to lifestyle changes that included television and travel. Our region's population loss didn't help either.
I began thinking of Angela Park in the context of other things that we have lost, or could lose, after reading of Jim Fichter's sale of Angela Park memorabilia on his web site. Angela Park faded away just as our family's kids entered high school, so it didn't have an impact until later years when one of the children would mention Porky the Paper Eater at Angela Park.
Do you remember Porky? A genius in litter control placed a large molded pig's head atop a trash can that sat inside a small house. A recording repeated Porky's request for kids to find paper and feed the piggy. "Hi kids, I'm Porky the Paper Eater. Hot dog wrappers were great snacks for Porky, if you could find one.
We lost the historic Fell House and some great art deco diners were allowed to escape to Florida and elsewhere. Was Artillery Park worth saving? It would be unique today if Wilkes University played its baseball games in at least some of the actual old park. Drive-in theatres have disappeared and many small-town Main Streets are shadows of the pre-shopping mall days. Sans Souci Park is gone, replaced by a high school and athletic fields. Will the Irem Temple be saved?
The Sterling Hotel, tragically, appears doomed. And now the county is stepping away from development of the former Central Railroad of New Jersey terminal. Its fate likely will be in the hands of private owners; we can only hope for a good outcome.
Then we have the landmark of landmarks in Luzerne County, the Huber Breaker in Ashley. Emails to this column and letters to the editor indicate that folks are now split on whether the breaker can be or even should be saved. There appears to be sentiment akin to the position taken by county manager Robert Lawton on the train station: Debt-ridden government cannot take on such major projects.
Meanwhile, the Ashley Planes Heritage Park project is at a standstill and the Luzerne County Historical Society absolutely needs more space to show the nation and the world the unique history of a region that fueled the growth of nothing less than the nation that has fed and saved the world.
If businesses (say Angela Park) fold due to lifestyle and economic changes, and if government (county, state and federal) cannot pump millions into projects (say Steamtown) as was once possible, how do we save or exhibit the historic and nostalgic that still mean much to many?
The answer to the needs of many history-related projects may lie in a comment by Ray Clarke, chairman of the board of the Huber Breaker Preservation Society: "We need a benefactor." And that appeal is for installation of a miners' memorial, not the saving of the breaker itself.
If government won't or can't do it, citizens as benefactors may be the only answer. We are a giving people and a giving community and the challenges out there will demand some extraordinary giving. Allowing our past to slip away, one building or one landmark or one site at a time, is painful to consider and even more painful to watch.
We can dream of Steamtown trains chugging through Lackawanna and Luzerne counties to reach the Huber historic site. Alas, even the dreams appear destined to fade away.
Paul Golias, retired managing editor of The Citizens' Voice, writes a weekly column on regional issues. He can be contacted at [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:6c6876da-d898-481c-901f-62bbd8bcd071> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://citizensvoice.com/news/no-second-chances-with-history-1.1318347 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961242 | 845 | 1.507813 | 2 |
People gather outside the Century 16 movie theater in Aurora, Colo., at the scene of a mass shooting July 20. / By Karl Gehring, AP
Several families of the victims of a mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colo., call for an investigation into two charities that collected money for victims, 9News in Denver reports.
The families want the Colorado attorney general and secretary of State to investigate Giving First and the Community First Foundation, the news organization reports. The organizations used the names and images of the victims to raise money without permission from the victims or family members, 9News reports.
In September, the 7/20 Recovery Committee, a group of volunteers from government bodies, non-profits and community organizations set up to distribute services, goods and funds donated to help the victims and survivors, released a statement addressing the issue:
"We appreciate that this is a difficult situation and we know from other past tragic events that creating a distribution plan requires a thoughtful and inclusive process," the statement read. "It was determined early on that the victims will play a significant role in the 7/20 Recovery Committee. We are waiting to hear from victims this week and next week about who wants to be involved, beyond those that have already spoken out."
Twelve people died and 57 were hurt in the shootings July 20. James Holmes, a University of Colorado doctoral dropout, faces more than 140 counts of murder and attempted murder in the incident.
Copyright 2013 USATODAY.com
Read the original story: Families of theater shooting victims want charity probe | <urn:uuid:f1818282-5818-4da7-a505-77660c3521aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.floridatoday.com/usatoday/article/1623267?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Cimg%7CNews%7Cp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950095 | 316 | 1.554688 | 2 |
State of Illinois
Department of Human Services
Disability Mentoring Day Planners Guide
So you have been asked to serve as the DMD planner for your office. What do you do after the panic subsides?
Relax, Disability Mentoring Day is one of the most fun and rewarding ways to connect employers and customers with disabilities in a way that can be meaningful and educational for both. In the process, you and the staff in your office will have the opportunity to develop relationships with some wonderful and caring employers who are dedicated to equality in employment. These employers may be excellent sources for jobs and internships in the future for your customers. These employers may be willing to come to work support groups, employer panels, interview clinics and various other events that will benefit your customers. Think of this as a great excuse to get out and rub elbows with some wonderful forward thinking employers.
Some of the first questions that need to be addressed when planning Disability Mentoring are: Why are we doing this? What's in it for me? For my customers? For the employers in my area?
The benefits of mentoring are numerous for all parties. For DRS customers mentoring can provide an excellent opportunity for career exploration. In some cases mentees are exposed to an entire industry not just "a job". Job seekers with disabilities often don't have exposure to information that will lead them on a career path. Mentoring can be the map or "G.P.S." that provides guidance and information all along the way. Mentoring can open lines of communications and networking opportunities a person with a disability may not ordinarily have access to.
For employers the benefits are clear. Employers are frequently civic minded and want to feel they have given back to their communities. Employers get exposure to a new set of potential customers who they have the opportunity to impress as open minded, diversity aware and accessible. Employers have the opportunity to learn not only about the potential employee, they can also learn about reasonable accommodations in a safe environment through the support of Vocational Rehabilitation Staff. Employers benefit from contact and exposure to VR staff, which can provide information regarding reasonable accommodations, ADA, and provide qualified applicants to fill vacancies. As the pools of qualified candidates shrink, this valuable source of workers can be a real asset to employers. Since workers with disabilities are dependable and tend to have job longevity, Employers benefit from knowing where to find employees separate from the DMD experience. Employers also benefit from the relationship should the need for job retention or retraining arise if an employee or family member should acquire a disability.
DRS staff benefit from DMD in many ways as well. They have the opportunity to provide meaningful employment and career exploration opportunities to customers who may need concrete hands on learning situations. DRS staff benefit from networking opportunities with employers that may provide viable job leads and future employment opportunities for a variety of customers. DRS benefits from this relationship by having employers at the ready to attend job clubs, job fairs, employer panels and other DRS sponsored events designed to facilitate preparing job seekers and hiring workers with disabilities. DRS also benefits in terms of outreach for new VR customers
What are the goals for DMD?
The expectation from the agency is for each VR counselor to provide two mentoring situations.
DMD can and should be a team building activity that can culminate as a once or twice a year event, or a year long activity that culminates in one major event. Each office is free to create whatever plan works best for them and best provides opportunities for their job seekers. It can be tailored to meet the needs of specific employers and job seekers and can evolve as the needs of the office and its customers change. Encourage staff to be creative and take chances. Find ways to make the goals fun, create fun ways to report activities and be liberal with praise for work well done, goals attempted and achieved.
What are the time lines we need to meet?
This is a team effort; failure to complete your part of the goal has an impact on everyone. While we would like to report as many mentoring situations in October as possible, this should become a year round activity. Supervisors will be asked to report to their ABCs until the office goals have been met.
Have a tracking and recording plan so that the office can easily report how many mentoring opportunities have occurred, and how many are "in the works".
How do we enlist support from employers?
One of the most challenging and rewarding tasks the DMD planner will have is to train staff who may not be comfortable contacting employers to get out of their comfort zone and contact employers. The planner's goal is to encourage everyone to set goals (individually and as an office unit) and to ensure that those goals are met. Set milestones and make reporting activities easy and fun for all staff. Provide suggestions regarding employers who may be approachable and eager to participate. Employer lists from previous DMD events may be useful as well as case closure information of employers who have previously hired workers with disabilities.
Most employers are glad to feel they can give back to their communities. Once employers understand that a large part of the goal of Disability Mentoring Day is career education and learning about the work place they are eager to participate. This is an easy and fun way for them to open their doors and help a person with a disability. This can be the beginning of a great long term networking situation for your customers and staff.
Explaining to employers that mentoring can be time limited and does not require the commitment to hire can take a load off the employers mind. Remind employers that if they meet a candidate who meets their hiring needs, DRS can assist in preparing that job seeker for the job.
THIS IS A DRS PROJECT AND DRS STAFF ARE RESPONSIBLE TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN AND TO FOLLOW UP.
DRS staff has the responsibility to make and keep contact with both mentors and mentees. They should help both groups understand their roles and responsibilities and should ensure that the mentoring situations happen. Success in a mentoring situation can mean many things; it can mean simply that the event took place. In some situations both mentor and mentee will agree that this is not a good job match. This is a success, and a great lesson to learn before time and training monies are spent preparing for a job that is not a good match. Sometimes both mentor and mentee agree that this is a good job match and efforts to make employment happen should proceed. This may include employer paid or DRS paid training. One thing that is important to remember is that when employers and job seekers are together, good things happen.
Be sure to utilize all resources available such as the AAPD site http://www.dmd-aapd.org/ this site has wonderful ideas and resources for Vocational Rehabilitation staff to use. Be sure to include your ERS as a resource.
Some ideas for successful events
- A luncheon or breakfast to recognize mentors and mentees. Provide certificates of completion to mentees and certificates of appreciation to Employers. This could occur at the end of a week of mentoring events or could be an annual event that honors mentors and mentees throughout the year.
- Ask an employer to sponsor a day at their work site for several mentees that will include a tour of the site, and descriptions of various jobs. This tour could include a short presentation on how to apply for jobs and what the employer looks for in applicants.
- Ask different employers to present at the job club each week for a set time. Bring in a variety of employers to talk about jobs of interest to your job seekers. At the end of the year, recognize these employers with certifications.
- 2 or 3 offices could work together to have one recognition event.
- Before the event begins, ask local employers to be DMD sponsors, create a sponsor sheet that can be shared with other employers to enlist their support for future events. Offer thanks and congratulations to employers who "sponsor" events by doing a write up for One Net or get a newspaper release for a local newspaper.
- Provide an information session for employers in the local office. Provide coffee and donuts as you share information and request support for events.
- Involve the mentees in contacting employers, they could be the first contact with the employer to do an informational interview and learn about the company. DRS customers and staff can "team up" when they are making appointments to meet with employers.
- Be creative, ask customers and employers for input on how to make the day more meaningful for them.
- Mentoring can easily become a tool used year round to place customers in employer sites for career exploration and to prepare for a job search. The networking possibilities are endless for the job seekers.
- Keeping a year round mentoring attitude also keeps the DRS staff in touch with employers all year long. Most employers are eager to speak at employer panels, work support groups or to review resumes or do practice interviews. Giving people the opportunity to give back to the community is a great gift that many employers value.
Details are important! Decide who does what, when, where and how! Talk it all out and be as complete as possible. The more effort that goes into the front end, the less it takes as the event approaches. Do a mental walk through for each event, try to anticipate what might go wrong and be pro-active in finding solutions. Work as a team whenever possible.
For more great ideas go to the DMD website http://www.dmd-aapd.org or talk to your ERS
How can we measure our success?
Have a plan for follow up. Follow up happens at all stages of the event. Making sure that things are done on time and that results are achieved at each step. Staying in touch with the mentees will help keep them on track and focused on attending the mentor opportunity. Mentees can be prepared to ask questions and also to follow up with a thank you to the employer. Follow up with the employers will provide the opportunity for feedback for the next year, and should provide feedback that will assist the mentee in finding work, either with that employer or at another site. This also creates the opportunity to develop a relationship with the employer that may lead to jobs in the future. Employers who trust you and feel that you provide mutually beneficial services will feel comfortable coming to you to meet their staffing needs.
Be sure to involve all staff, and report all the successes. If your STEP or transition program is working on DMD activities, be sure you communicate with each other and report all DMD activities to the Office Supervisor.
Be sure to have a plan of action for after the event. Writing thank you notes may take time but is an important follow up task that should be shared by the whole team and can be done as a group. (Have a pizza day in the office to write all the thank you notes as a team). Present certificates of appreciation to the employers, and/or certificates of participation to the customers. Remember to keep careful track of all the mentoring situations and report the numbers to the Supervisor and ABC.
Be sure to use your ERS as a resource in contacting employers and creating your DMD plan.
DHS 4619 (R-07-09) Disability Mentoring Day - Office Planners
Printed by the Authority of the State of Illinois. | <urn:uuid:22187353-e529-4aef-80ef-3955c7e8ea29> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx/item=29754?item=45463 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963702 | 2,346 | 1.6875 | 2 |
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - South Carolina's unemployment rate increased slightly in January.
The Department of Employment and Workforce said Monday the jobless rate in January was 8.7 percent. That's up from a revised rate of 8.6 percent in December.
The national jobless rate also increased slightly in January, from 7.8 percent in December to 7.9 percent.
The agency says much of the loss came because of seasonal layoffs and the closing of schools between semesters.
The information sector was the only segment of the economy to add jobs in January, with 600 additional positions.
Trade, transportation and utilities saw a decline of 9,600 jobs, while government employment dropped by 8,500.
(backslash)Marion County had the highest unemployment rate at 19.2 percent. Lexington County had the lowest rate at 6.8 percent. | <urn:uuid:a942aebb-2c59-42f8-863c-84f7be41f28b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wltx.com/rss/article/227926/2/SC-Unemployment-Up-Slightly-in-January | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972567 | 185 | 1.757813 | 2 |
When the game's over, Helms doesn't ask how many hits he got, he has only one question, 'Did we win?'" That's the whole story of baseball. You must have the will to win in your heart.
- Dave Bristol, who managed Helms from 1966-1969
Tommy Helms was born in Charlotte, N.C., in 1941, and he made his Major League debut with the Reds in 1964. His first full season in the Major Leagues was 1966, and he won the National League Rookie of the Year that season. Helms was selected to two NL All-Star teams, and he was the starting second baseman in the 1968 game. He was a Gold Glove second baseman in 1970 and '71 before being traded to Houston as part of the Joe Morgan deal after the 1971 season. Helms became the first Cincinnati player to hit a home run in Riverfront Stadium on July 1, 1970 (Hank Aaron hit the first home run in the park during the inaugural game the day before). He also managed the Reds for two stretches in 1988 -- during Pete Rose's month-long suspension for shoving an umpire -- and in 1989 -- after Rose's banishment from baseball. Helms was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1979. | <urn:uuid:79476f1a-5760-47e7-9e5f-6c460d684211> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/cin/hof/hof/directory.jsp?hof_id=115731 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970503 | 262 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Environment, back on the front page
By Jim Detjen Posted Oct 1 2001
President George W. Bush’s decision to withdraw from the Kyoto climate-change agreement has stirred up an international hornet’s nest. He has been denounced by environmentalists worldwide and has angered many world leaders who see his go-it-alone approach as both arrogant and scientifically misguided.
But one group benefiting from his controversial stands on climate change and other natural-resource issues are environmental journalists. From Washington to London, from Tokyo to Moscow, stories about the Kyoto agreement and the Bush administration’s opposition to it have run prominently on the front pages of many newspapers in 2001.
The environmental beat has become hot again.
“I think interest in the issue has really come alive in the past few months,” says Douglas Jehl, an environmental writer for The New York Times.
There is nothing like new controversies to inject life into old issues—and the Bush administration has done that in spades. Since Bush became president in January 2001, he has moved aggressively to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Area in Alaska to oil exploration, reversed his campaign pledge to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and called for a relaxation or repeal of many federal regulations.
As a result of these positions, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times have all dramatically increased their coverage. Each newspaper has assigned a full-time reporter to cover environmental controversies in the nation’s capital.
Between January and April, the three major evening newscasts on American television aired 264 minutes of news about the environment. This is 52 percent more airtime than the three newscasts devoted to environmental topics in all of 1996.
“The environmental beat is now one of the hottest beats going,” says Rob Stein, science editor of The Washington Post. And Bill Wheatley, vice president of NBC News, adds, “The Bush administration is putting the environment on page one. … It’s become a big policy story because of the Bush initiatives.”
Because the United States is such a powerful player on the world stage, Bush’s controversial positions have also energized environmental journalism internationally. I spent the summer of 2001 in the British Isles, teaching journalism and meeting with many European environmental journalists. Virtually all said that they are having an easier time selling their stories to editors today than they did a year ago.
Since I began reporting about environmental issues more than 30 years ago, I have watched media coverage of environmental issues grow in general in many parts of the world. But the amount and quality of coverage has often been erratic. For example, the amount of environmental reporting grew in Europe, the United States and Japan and other parts of Asia throughout the 1970s, only to retrench in the early 1980s.
But then came a series of international environmental calamities in the middle and late 1980s. The industrial accident in Bhopal, India, in 1984, which killed 3,800 people and injured more than 200,000, galvanized the news media to pay more attention to toxic chemicals. The discovery of the ozone hole over Antarctica in 1985 increased concern worldwide about threats to this fragile layer of gas. The explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear-power plant in Ukraine in 1986 spread radiation throughout much of Europe and fueled the growth of opposition to nuclear power. The hot summer of 1988 in the United States, along with new scientific findings, raised global concern that climate change was a real—not just a theoretical—issue.
In the 1990s new environmental concerns arose. The loss of tropical forests in South America and Asia, the spread of deserts in Africa, the decline in global fisheries and growing concerns about the availability of fresh water emerged as important issues. Threats to food supplies by bacterial contamination, Mad Cow Disease and genetically modified organisms have more recently raised public concern about food safety.
These environmental issues have spurred the growth of environmental journalism worldwide. It is difficult to quantify precisely how large this growth has been because no organization has made a serious effort to compile these figures. But the growth in the size of several environmental-journalism organizations around the world gives some indication of what has been happening in this field.
In the United States, the Society of Environmental Journalists was incorporated with a few dozen members in 1990 and since then has grown into an organization with more than 1,100 members in more than 20 countries. In 1993 the International Federation of Environmental Journalists (IFEJ) was founded in Dresden, Germany, by journalists in Europe, Asia and the United States. Since then, the organization has held annual conferences around the world and today includes among its members more than 5,000 journalists in more than 100 countries. Another organization, the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists, serves journalists from the Middle East to the Pacific islands and has grown steadily during the past decade into an influential group.
The quantity and quality of environmental journalism, however, vary greatly from region to region. In the United States, Western Europe and parts of Asia, environmental journalism has become an accepted and important part of many news reports. But in other areas, primarily Africa and Latin America, the coverage is sparse or inconsistent. Roberto Villar, an environmental journalist in Brazil, noted that the amount of environmental reporting in Brazil grew rapidly in the two years leading up to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and then largely disappeared once the meeting ended. He blames some of this decline on the lack of interest by many editors in environmental issues.
However, it is not just lack of interest that makes reporting about environmental issues difficult. In many parts of the world, access to environmental information is limited because of restrictive government policies or laws. Few nations, for example, have laws similar to the powerful Freedom of Information Act in the United States.
In some parts of the world, environmental journalists have been threatened, harassed or even killed while doing their jobs. Here are just a few examples:
l In Albania, television correspondent Xhemal Mato was threatened by gangsters with arson and kidnapping as a result of stories he wrote about private businesses damaging wildlife in national parks. Despite these threats, Mato continued to file reports and ultimately police chased away the people who were destroying the endangered species.
l In Ghana, Ben Ephson, an environmental reporter for Business in Ghana magazine, was imprisoned for six months as a result of stories he wrote.
l In Russia, Grigory Pasko was put on trial for treason as a result of articles he wrote about the Russian navy dumping nuclear wastes into the Pacific Ocean. See “Radioactive Waste Uncovered,” Page 20.
l And in Peru, environmental journalist Barbara D’Achille was killed by Shining Path guerrillas while she was on her way to write about the impact of a rural-development project for her newspaper, El Comercio, one of Lima’s major newspapers.
Despite these incidents, modern technology has made it increasingly difficult for governments to completely control access to information. In recent years the explosive growth of the Internet has enabled journalists worldwide to obtain and exchange information. Communic-ation satellites, videotapes, compact discs and other technologies have also helped to break down the walls of official secrecy.
Perhaps a more worrisome threat in recent years has been the consolidation of ownership of the world’s media. Many journalists are concerned that the demand for higher profits by public corporations will lead to fewer environmental journalists and fewer environmental stories. They cite, for example, the decision made by executives at AOL Time Warner in early 2001 to trim back the environmental programming on CNN, one of its subsidiaries. Others worry that news organizations will curtail their reporting about environmental controversies if such coverage proves embarrassing to corporate owners. For example, will NBC’s coverage of the contamination of the Hudson River in New York be influenced by its corporate owner, the General Electric Corporation, which originally caused the pollution?
One thing is for certain. As the world’s population grows from six billion people in 2001 to an estimated nine billion in 2050, pressure on the world’s limited water, air, soil and other natural resources will only increase. Environmental controversies are likely to grow as these pressures increase. And environmental controversies, as President Bush has already learned, spur coverage by the news media. | <urn:uuid:19a5442c-f37c-494e-86fd-bf6b90253ed3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.globaljournalist.org/stories/2001/10/01/environment-back-on-the-front-page/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962452 | 1,696 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Vanilla is a product of Lussumo:Documentation and Support.
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“Moderate daily consumption of caffeinated coffee appears to be the best dietary option for long-term protection against Alzheimer’s memory loss,”
A study tracking the health and coffee consumption of more than 400,000 older adults for 13 years, and published earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that coffee drinkers reduced their risk of dying from heart disease, lung disease, pneumonia, stroke, diabetes, infections, and even injuries and accidents.
YES. the mexican drug war is a big reason why cocaine is a terrible drug to do.
the mexican drug war is a big reason why cocaine is a terrible drug to do
Idealy there'd be a cheap stimulant, that doesnt cause insomnia, that's stronger than caffeine, but not jittery, that I could take every other day.
I tried Piracetam once, but either I was ripped off or they had no effect on me. | <urn:uuid:245349d6-de0b-42ee-8ff7-a705c0772b00> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://freakangels.com/whitechapel/comments.php?DiscussionID=10709&Focus=333933 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95615 | 218 | 1.789063 | 2 |
KABUL, Afghanistan: The American campaign in Afghanistan suffered a double blow Thursday: The Taliban broke off talks with the U.S., and President Hamid Karzai demanded NATO troops immediately pull out of rural areas in the wake of the killing of 16 civilians.
The setbacks effectively paralyze the two main tracks for ending the 10-year-old war. Part of that exit strategy is to transfer authority gradually to Afghan forces. Another tack is to pull the Taliban into political discussions with the Afghan government, though it's unclear that there has been any progress since January.
Although Karzai has previously said that he wanted international troops to transition out of rural areas, the call for an immediate exit is new. Karzai is known for making dramatic demands then backing off under U.S. pressure.
Even if the U.S. refuses to comply or Karzai eventually changes his tone, the call for a pullback will likely become another issue of contention between the Afghans and their international allies at a time of growing war weariness in the United States and other countries of the international coalition.
Karzai spoke as Afghan lawmakers were expressing outrage that the U.S. flew the soldier suspected in the 16 civilian killings to Kuwait on Wednesday night when they were demanding he be tried in the country.
"Afghan security forces have the ability to keep the security in rural areas and in villages on their own," Karzai said in a statement after meeting visiting U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta. He said he had conveyed his demand to Panetta.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Janan Mosazai confirmed that Karzai was asking for NATO to immediately pull back from villages and rural areas to main bases.
Karzai is confident that Afghan security forces are ready to take over and know "a thousand times better than any foreign troops the culturally sensitive ways of dealing with their own people," Mosazai said.
If the NATO troops do pull back, it would leave vast areas of the country unprotected and essentially mean the end of the strategy of trying to win hearts and minds by working with and protecting the local populations.
The American accused of killing 16 civilians on Sunday was stationed on just such a base, where a small group of soldiers worked with villagers to try to set up local defense forces and strengthen government.
Withdrawing from rural areas would also mean pulling back U.S. forces from the border areas with Pakistan.
The accused soldier, who has not been named, is suspected of going on a shooting rampage in villages near his base in southern Afghanistan, killing nine children and seven other civilians and then burning some of their bodies.
Karzai told Panetta that everything must be done to prevent any such incidents in the future, including speeding up timelines for NATO pullbacks.
Karzai also said he now wants Afghan forces take the lead for countrywide security in 2013 in what appeared to be a move to push the U.S. toward an earlier drawdown.
He spoke a day after President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron said in Washington that they and their NATO allies were committed to shifting to a support role in Afghanistan in 2013 - a year earlier than scheduled. But it appeared that Karzai was requesting the change take place at the beginning of - rather than over the course of - 2013.
Obama gave his fullest endorsement yet for the mission shift, but he said the overall plan to gradually withdraw forces and hand over security in Afghanistan will stand.
In January, after French President Nicolas Sarkozy suggested that foreign forces speed up their timetable for handing combat operations to Afghan forces in 2013, Karzai said he would favor that - if it were achievable.
The Taliban said it was suspending talks with the U.S. because the Americans failed to follow through on its promises, made new demands and falsely claimed the militant group had entered into multilateral negotiations.
Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said in a statement that they had agreed to discuss two issues with the Americans: the establishment of the militant group's political office in Qatar and a prisoner exchange. The Taliban said the Americans initially agreed to take practical steps on these issues, but then "turned their backs on their promises" and came up with new conditions for the talks.
"So the Islamic Emirate has decided to suspend all talks with Americans taking place in Qatar from today onwards until the Americans clarify their stance on the issues concerned and until they show willingness in carrying out their promises instead of wasting time," Mujahid said. The Taliban refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
"We must categorically state that the real source of obstacle in talks was the shaky, erratic and vague standpoint of the Americans, therefore all the responsibility for the halt also falls on their shoulders," he said.
The Taliban also said Karzai falsely claimed the Afghan government was involved in three-way peace talks with the militants and the U.S. The Taliban said talking with the Afghan government was "pointless."
Panetta applauded Karzai last month for telling an interviewer that the U.S., Afghan government and the Taliban recently held three-way talks aimed at moving toward a political settlement of the war.
The Taliban denied the claim at the time.
Afghan officials told The Associated Press that the U.S. had agreed in January to include representatives of the Karzai government in future meetings, but U.S. officials would not confirm that. U.S. officials did say that if this initial trust-building phase of contacts with the Taliban blossoms into full peace negotiations, the U.S. would sit alongside the Taliban and the Afghan government.
The secretary of the Afghan peace council, which has been pushing for talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, said it was not clear why the Taliban stopped negotiations with the United States.
Mohammad Ismail Qasimyar speculated that it could be related to the Taliban's request that five top Taliban leaders be released from the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
He said Afghan government needs to be involved in the negotiations.
"In the past, we did a lot of preliminary work to build trust and goodwill for talks," he said, adding that if the Afghans are not involved, any peace process won't work. | <urn:uuid:6f32d55f-47b3-46ab-8985-6a6679cd5ae3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailystar.com.lb/News/International/2012/Mar-15/166773-taliban-suspends-contacts-with-us-statement.ashx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975763 | 1,276 | 1.632813 | 2 |
And then, with a great and well-disciplined effort, I pulled my thoughts together, and said to myself, “Enough of these musings of the peace-time soldier!”
LAST THOUGHTS ON LEAVING ITALY
On the 3rd of December I passed out of Italy, after eighteen months spent as a soldier within her borders. These eighteen months will always be lit up for me by the memory of a great comradeship between men of Allied nations. We have lived together through the dark days and the sunshine, through sorrow and joy, through uncertainty and defeat to final victory.
I have been very fortunate in my personal relations in Italy. I have found always among Italians, both civilian and military, and from simple soldier to General, the most open friendliness, the most unsparing kindliness, the most happy spirit of good fellowship. And on my journey home I closed my eyes and imagined myself back once more at Venice in full Summer, and at Milan, and at hospitable Ferrara, and at Rome in the Spring, and on the shores of the Bay of Naples, and out on Capri, and in the wonder world of Sicily,—and always among friends. And then my steps went back in fancy to the battlefields, where our guns had been in action. I saw again the great peaks and the precipitous valleys of the Trentino. I saw the wreck of liberated Asiago, ringed round with mountains whose sides were clothed with shattered pine trees, heavy with snow, and I went down once more by that astounding mountain road from Granezza to Marostica, with the Venetian Plain and all its cities spread out beneath my feet, and Venice herself on the far horizon, amid the shimmer of sunshine on the distant sea. I stood again on the bridge at Bassano, looking up the Val Brenta, with Monte Grappa towering above me on my right hand, and then turning south-eastward across the level plain I heard again the rushing waters of the Piave and, crossing to the farther side, passed through Conegliano, burnt out and ravaged, and Vittorio Veneto, a name that will resound for ever, to the broken bridge over the Meduna, east of Pordenone, and the village of Nogaredo, whither I came as one of its first liberators. And, as in a dream, I saw Udine, unspoilt and radiant as she was fifteen months ago, before Caporetto, and poor little Palmanova, as I last saw her, wreathed in the black smoke of her own burning, and the cypresses and the great church of Aquileia and the lagoons of Grado.
Then the flying feet of memory carried me beyond the Isonzo, up the wooded slopes of San Michele, where the dead lie thicker, and along the Vippacco, running swiftly between banks thick with acacias, and among the ruined suburbs of Gorizia, up towards those desolate lands, which for future generations of Italians will be, I think, the holiest ground of all,—the bare summit of Monte Santo, and the mountain-locked tableland of Bainsizza, and the rocky, inexorable Carso. | <urn:uuid:ed82a0ba-179b-43d4-9279-a47f15d4bbef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/10107/140.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957592 | 678 | 1.84375 | 2 |
The Northern New York Library Network was chartered by the New York State Regents in 1965 to facilitate cooperative services among libraries in northern New York and to improve library services within the region, which consists of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis, Oswego and St. Lawrence counties.
The Network is governed by a locally elected Board of Trustees, and functions under State law and State Education Department regulations. The Network’s Plan of Service provides a detailed overview of products and services available to member libraries.
The NNYLN is one of nine council's throughout the state.
Click the map to be linked to that region’s library resources council: | <urn:uuid:bc7d0f8c-57af-49ec-b248-358d93e04ce4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nnyln.org/about-us/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953944 | 138 | 1.75 | 2 |
General Calls for Better Suicide Prevention Efforts
By Elaine Wilson
American Forces Press Service
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Oct. 8, 2010 The military must address the stress wearing down the force and work to end the stigma surrounding mental health care to combat rising suicide rates, the chair of the Department of Defense Task Force on the Prevention of Suicide said today.
“Suicide prevention is a huge challenge in the military,” Army Maj. Gen. (Dr.) Philip Volpe said. “There’s stress on our family members and stress on our servicemembers. This is a unique time. Nowhere before in our history did people have to deploy over and over again.”
Volpe stressed the need for better military suicide prevention efforts and outlined his task force’s recommendations for doing so during the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors Suicide Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp here, which drew more than 200 family members from across the nation. The issue touched home for many. Nearly all lost a military loved one to suicide, some as recently as a week ago.
Suicide rates have nearly doubled in the military in the past five years, Volpe noted. And the Army’s rates have exceeded the civilian population since 2005, with 606 suicides between 2005 and 2009.
The DOD’s congressionally mandated suicide prevention task force spent the past year delving into the military’s suicide prevention programs in an effort to improve them, Volpe said. The findings and recommendations were submitted to Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates for review in August. Gates will then submit the results to Congress by Nov. 24.
Among its findings, the task force noted a need to address the stressors of nearly a decade of war, Volpe said, particularly related to the high operations tempo. This applies not only to deployed servicemembers, but to servicemembers supporting operations back home as well.
A high operations tempo can prevent servicemembers from creating the bonds they need to pull them through difficult times, he explained. The general cited dwell time, or the time between deployments, as an example.
Military leaders expend a good bit of energy discussing the need for more dwell time, the general noted, but fail to talk about the quality of that time, which ultimately is more important than the length.
“Servicemembers deploy for a year, then come back and their schedule is filled with events,” he said. “They never get reconnected again to family, to friends. They never get a chance to live through some of their experiences.
“We’re just going and going like an engine without any repair,” he added.
The task force also discovered a broken crisis-response system. “There’s a whole bunch of hotlines, numbers, but when someone is in crisis, who do you call?” Volpe said. “And what response will you get?”
The task force found a significant variation in response and levels of training within these resources. Some hotlines, he said, refer people to another hotline or resource. As a result, the person in need gets lost in the process.
The task force recommends a 911 equivalent for suicide crisis, Volpe said. People know what to expect when someone has a heart attack, but not when there’s a suicide. The military needs one hotline with highly trained people who can take appropriate action.
The task force spent considerable time studying the stigma that prevents servicemembers from seeking help, the general said. The task force found that multiple initiatives are needed to combat it. One solution is to develop anonymous sources where servicemembers can seek help without fear of career repercussion. But leaders must be aware of the drawbacks to that solution, the general said.
When someone remains anonymous, information isn’t shared with leaders, Volpe explained. They may see a servicemember’s performance declining and try to take action without knowing that the member is seeking behavioral health care.
“While we need to create anonymous sources so people under stress get help, we also need to attack the stigma,” Volpe said. “The message needs to be: You can be the best warrior in the world but you’re still a human being. And calling in for help is no different than if you call in for help for other reasons.
“It’s OK to seek assistance and assistance works,” he continued. “Those are the things we have to focus on.”
Volpe also called for better training for behavioral health providers and chaplains. “Just because you have a degree on the wall doesn’t make you good at understanding suicidal behavior and ways to prevent suicide,” he said. “We really need to boost [training] up. There’s a lack of understanding of suicidal behavior in our health care system.”
A lack of training also exists across the services, Volpe noted. The services are conducting training, but it’s not as effective or inclusive as it could be. Mostly, suicide prevention training is conducted with PowerPoint presentations annually so servicemembers can mark the training off a checklist. Volpe called that method inadequate.
The general called for skills-based training, likening it to weapons training. The military would never teach soldiers how to fire a weapon by PowerPoint, he said, and the same applies to suicide prevention. Training needs to include practical lessons in understanding where to go for help and how to raise the issues of concern.
Volpe said there’s also a great need for family member training, a comment met by enthusiastic applause from the audience. Family members often say they knew something was wrong with their loved one, but couldn’t pinpoint the problem. They didn’t know where to go for help or if their actions would help or hinder, he said.
Family members need training on suicide signs and avenues of help, and this training needs to encompass more than just the spouse, but the parents, siblings, other family and friends as well.
“Families are usually the first indicators, first detectors of something not being the same, not being right,” he said. “It makes sense for families be included in a comprehensive suicide prevention program.”
Volpe concluded by citing a need for better suicide after care, or “postvention,” not just for families, but for servicemembers who have lost a battle buddy. Loss puts all loved ones at risk for destructive behaviors, including suicide, he noted.
Suicide prevention isn’t about identifying weaknesses but creating strengths, Volpe said.
“We learned early on that we’re not only saving the lives of soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, but we’re making this a better, more ready military by addressing suicide prevention,” he said. “We’re strengthening the force.”
Volpe also thanked the audience for their input into the task force’s report at last year’s survivor seminar. “What we learned there provided us a guiding light for the remainder of our work,” he said. | <urn:uuid:bac2e6d9-3ea7-4976-8216-9989635abc3f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=61213 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962211 | 1,514 | 1.742188 | 2 |
The following is a repost of a Navy news story:
BMD exercise debuts cross-coordinated 5th and 6th Fleet operations
By CNE-C6F Public Affairs
NAPLES, Italy – As part of regional missile defense cross-coordination between the U.S. Navy FIFTH and SIXTH Fleets, a long-scheduled Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) exercise will start this weekend. USS Russell, operating in the eastern Mediterranean and USS Benfold operating in the northern Arabian Gulf will participate. Russell and Benfold, both Aegis-class destroyers, will be the first BMD-capable ships to operate simultaneously in the Mediterranean Sea and Arabian Gulf.
“Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense is a key part of the future of the U.S. Navy,” said Vice Admiral Sandy Winnefeld, Commander, U.S. SIXTH Fleet. “It is evolutionary and we are continuously seeking ways to improve our capabilities, in this instance across theaters.”
During the exercise, the ships will work with one another in detecting, tracking, sharing information and engaging a simulated ballistic missile by sharing data via a number of paths.
“This cooperation between neighboring fleets represents the latest in an ongoing series of defensive exercises intended to provide increased security. We will continue to periodically conduct these sorts of exercises to demonstrate our commitment to regional friends in the eastern Mediterranean and the Arabian Gulf,” said Vice Adm. Kevin J. Cosgriff, Commander U.S. FIFTH Fleet.
Seven nations work with the U.S. Navy in various capacities to advance BMD capabilities around the world. The fundamental objective of the BMD program is to develop the capability to defend the United States, its friends and its forces against various types of ballistic missiles. By late 2008, 18 Aegis ships are scheduled to be equipped with BMD.
“We are beginning to see the fielding of this new capability. This exercise, which we began planning late last year, will demonstrate an important application of Aegis BMD in the Fleet,” said Winnefeld. | <urn:uuid:1f02a668-ffc0-4489-bd39-020250b52cb5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://destroyermen.blogspot.com/2008/07/russell-logs-another-first.html?showComment=1216085880000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930779 | 442 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Mary Kate Dilts Skaggs, RN, MSN, NE-BC, director of nursing for SOMC’s Emergency and Outpatient Services and chair of the Nursing Research Committee, recently presented at the 35th annual Nursing Research Conference, held Dec. 4 at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Ind.
More than 150 nursing colleagues from Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana were in attendance, showcasing approximately 30 poster presentations of varying topics. Two posters from Southern Ohio Medical Center were featured and included Reducing Blood Culture Contamination in the Emergency Department and Is There a Santa Clause? Fun Methods to Teach Principals of Nursing.
Fun Methods to Teach Principals of Nursing was also recently published in the October 2009, Volume 39 Issue of the Journal of Nursing Administration.
“It was a privilege to present our research posters at the conference,” Skaggs said. “Conducting research is an integral part of our Magnet status and the results help us to improve quality of care as well as to provide excellent service for our patients and their families.” | <urn:uuid:309e6bb2-d873-4323-b707-39435bd403d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.somc.org/news/2010/page/18/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969617 | 219 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Trolling for fish of the open ocean is the very pinnacle of sport-fishing for many saltwater anglers. The fish that inhabit these waters include the pelagic fish of the open ocean, species such as kingfish, tuna, dorado (mahé-mahé), wahoo and the prized billfish like marlin and sailfish.
Commercial big game charter fishing boats, festooned with trolling rods and outriggers use their enormous power to speed far offshore to go trolling for fish like these latter species.
Sportfishing boats, smaller versions of their big game cousins can be sufficiently seaworthy to get into all but the largest billfish.
On this page ...
Trolling rods are marked with their IGFA line class - 12lb, 20lb, 30lb, 50lb, 80lb, 100lb or 130lb - for use with a matched line class multiplying reel.
These rods are normally between 5.5ft (1.7m) to 7ft (2.2m)long, and are equipped with roller guides throughout or ring-type line guides of the highest quality.
Trolling rods have slotted butt ends to locating in either a butt pad or a fighting chair.
There are two further distinctions - straight butt rods and bent butt rods ...
For all but the largest, fastest and most powerful gamefish - yes, but it's not very sporting or much fun, but trolling for fish with a handline can be very productive.
For offshore sailors though, and anyone else more interested in getting something to eat than the thrill of playing a fish on rod and line, trolling with a handline has a lot going for it.
There are four main types of lures to use when trolling for fish offshore - skirted lures, spoons, plugs and soft-plastic lures.
Each have their moment of glory, but skirted trolling lures are the most commonly used.
Unlike the other types, skirted lures are made up of several components - the hook, the replaceable skirt, beads to position the hook correctly within the skirt, the lure head (the design of which determines how the lure behaves in the water) and the line (which could be wire for toothy fish) upon which the lure is rigged.
Spoons are often used with trolling planers or downriggers, when trolling for fish that hunt their prey at depth.
Plugs are designed such that individual models will skitter along the surface (topwater lures), others will dive to a few feet below it (shallow divers), whilst others - characterised by a large lip-like diving vane - will get down 20 feet or more (deep divers).
Soft plastic swimbaits are modelled on various types of baitfish and are the most lifelike of all trolling lures; they 'swim' very convincingly. There are no doubts as to their effectiveness, but they soon get beaten up after receiving the attention of a few good fish. A shame this, as they aren't cheap.
Nylon monofilament line is by far the most popular choice for trolling. It's fairly stretchy stuff by nature and relatively inexpensive. It's elasticity though, is both good and bad because:~
Braid line is almost stretch-free and is ultra-thin, so hook sets are normally rock solid and it's easier for the angler to keep in touch with the fish. You'll also be able to get much more line on the reel, maybe to the extent that you could go down a reel size. But you'll need arms and shoulders like a body-builder to handle it. To lessen the pain, many anglers use a long nylon monofilament leader with braid line.
Most anglers use nylon line for rigging their lures, but there is a significant benefit to be gained by using fluorocarbon line for this, as this type of line is almost invisible under water.
Offshore fish are less timid than their inshore brethren and can be attracted to the disturbance caused by a boat and often trail close astern.
So when trolling for fish of the open ocean big game charter boat skippers, who are well aware of this, place their closest lures in their own sternwave. And they always try and place their lures in the front face of the wave where it performs at its best.
Sailboats and small motorboats don't generate a sternwave of any significance at trolling speeds, so when sailing offshore and trolling for fish with a single line, we normally place the lure between 15m and 30m aft of the boat - and eat well.
Well it depends on what you're hoping to catch. When trolling inshore for bass 2 to 3 knots is about right, for mackerel maybe 2 to 4 knots. Trolling for fish that patrol the currents of the open ocean, like tuna, wahoo, dorado (aka mahé mahé, mahi mahi or dolphin fish), kingfish and their large mackerel cousins, 5 to 8 knots seems to do the trick.
For the real pelagic giants - huge tuna, sailfish, marlin and swordfish for example - big game fishermen often troll at speeds in excess of 10 knots.
Offshore, most fish can be caught close to the surface, as this is where the baitfish tend to congregate. In fact, if you're using a skirted lure it will usually be most effective if it breaks the surface occasionally. But unless your lure is specifically designed to operate as a topwater lure it should remain a few feet below the surface most of the time if it's to deceive the fish.
At times, the baitfish will be found at greater depth, so you'll need to get your lure down deeper. Adding a trolling sinker will keep your lure sub-surface, but the faster the boat speed, the less effective these sinkers become. One way of getting your trolling lure down 10m or so is to use one of the deep-diving plugs such as those manufactured by Rapala or Yo-Zuri, or - you could use a planer.
For getting their lures down really deep, sportfishing boats use a downrigger. This is a crane-like structure located on the after-deck which is used to lower a heavy lead ball on a wire line to the required depth. The trolling line is attached a few feet above the trolling ball with a quick-release clip, which lets go immediately a fish strikes. This is all very well on sport-fishing boats, but less than ideal on a sailing boat or a small sea angling boat. There is another way to achieve a similar effect without the inconvenience of the lead ball - the mini-downrigger.
Alternatively you can use a wire line set-up. Wire gets to greater depths than mono or polyester because its greater density makes it sink more rapidly, while its smaller diameter (for any given strength) creates less drag.
A Bird Teaser
However attractive your lure, it wont catch fish if they dont know its there.
A bird teaser will make a big difference when trolling for fish that hunt near the surface.
These decoys mimic the disturbance made on the surface by a shoal of baitfish and, in doing so, attract predatory fish to the vicinity of your lure.
Your chances of a hook-up will certainly be increased if you have a selection of lures deployed. Here's why ...
A typical offshore sportfishing boat will often use up to seven rods, with long outriggers hauled out each side to spread the lures over a 15m wide swath of the ocean. The lines are attached to the outriggers by quick release clips, which release the line when a fish hits the lure. Some lures will be set short that is, close to the boat whilst others set long, with each lures position carefully adjusted to put it in the face of one of the series of following waves generated by the boat itself.
The one on the centreline the shotgun is the furthest aft, intended to entice any curious onlookers at all the activity ahead. A general rule is that the larger, most active lures should be closer to the boat conventional wisdom dictating that a fish is disinclined to swim past a large offering to get to a small one.
Now Im not suggesting that sailboat skippers should go trolling for fish with their boats festooned with rods in this fashion, but one from each corner of the transom is a reasonable proposition for a monohull. This is what we have on Alacazam, with a teaser spreader bar set on the centreline. If conditions are right, we use the taffrail mounted reel as well, with a bird teaser and a squid daisy chain set short. Multihull sailors will have even more options.
If you do opt to go trolling for fish with more than one lure, you need to take the wind direction into consideration.
The higher the rod tip is, the greater length of line there is exposed to the force of the wind.
With the wind on the beam, the lines get blown down to leeward, so to keep them apart the windward lure should be closer to the boat.
If you dont want to increase the distance behind the boat of the leeward lure, you can bring the windward one forward by passing the line through a quick release clip attached to a low point on the transom. This will reduce the length of line clear of the sea and allow you to position your lure closer to the boat. If you need to tack or gybe, youll have to adjust your lines accordingly. Incidentally, trolling is usually much more productive when off the wind and in the quiet hours just after dawn and as dusk is setting in.
Deadbaits can be used with great success in place of lures, provided they are rigged correctly. The principal bait rigging requirement is that they must not spin as they are drawn through the water, or they will be ignored completely. And this is how it's done for ballyhoo, squid, sprats and flyingfish.
The sea can be a treacherous mistress and makes no allowances for beginners. All boat skippers should possess an adequate level of navigation and seamanship skills. Whilst it isn't within the scope of this website to get into this topic, I must stress the importance of taking it very seriously indeed.
One of the features of saltwater trolling for fish is that often all eyes are looking aft, particularly when a fish is on. Remember to keep a lookout at all times - it's a legal requirement when inshore fishing, offshore fishing, or on your way to or from the fishing grounds.
So if you're a boat owner and haven't yet done so, please at least get a good book on the subject (the one on the right by Andrew Simpson takes some beating) and consider attending one of the power-boat courses run by The RYA (www.rya.org.uk).
Apart from any personal considerations, you owe it to your crew. | <urn:uuid:ee3834e0-cbf2-4f76-9468-c281a3a620bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.go-saltwater-fishing.com/trolling-for-fish.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953385 | 2,308 | 1.835938 | 2 |
PLATTSBURGH — A property-tax cap without substantial mandate relief and a real attempt to equitably fund public schools would damage public education and hurt students, say area school leaders.
"There cannot be a property-tax cap until there is major mandate relief and not just lip service," said Malone Central School Superintendent Wayne Walbridge. "If the 2-percent property-tax cap flies, schools will be in trouble.
"We want to make sure we have a good program for our students."
New York may soon realize one of the toughest tax-cap measures in the nation. Gov. Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders have reached a preliminary agreement to a 2-percent limit on property-tax increases annually. The tax cap, which must be approved by the State Legislature, whose session ends June 20, is an attempt to clip the wings of soaring property-tax bills across the state.
New Yorkers pay some of the highest property taxes in the nation.
Business groups are embracing the tax cap, while teachers' unions fear it would weaken public-school programs and harm students, especially the neediest ones.
Property taxes support more than half of many schools' budgets in the North Country, and the tax-cap agreement would limit the yearly increase in the amount of property taxes school districts and local governments could collect.
"With any kind of change like that, we are still hoping for relief from all those other areas that are important, such as unfunded mandates," said AuSable Valley Central School Superintendent Paul Savage. "There definitely needs to be relief from mandates, and it has to be significant, not just small token items. It has to be substantial, where schools are able to see some savings."
The agreement carries provisions sensitive to the needs of schools.
Districts' contributions to the State Retirement System and pension increases would be factored into the cap each year; they would be able to adjust tax levies when new development increases the tax base. A tax levy increase of more than 2 percent could be approved, as long as it carried the approval of at least 60 percent of a local school budget vote, a tall order under typical circumstances and especially difficult in areas that are economically depressed where voter turnout is usually low.
But educators consider those token gestures.
New York State United Teachers says the property-tax cap would "erode" student progress and "devastate" schools. Thousands would lose their jobs, class sizes would balloon and programs would suffer, with the possible loss of early childhood programs, music, art, guidance and athletics. It would further result in unequal access and opportunity and widen the achievement gap for disadvantaged children, the union says.
"I think it will have an impact on schools, especially those in tough situations already," Savage said.
School officials need help contending with soaring costs in the areas of health care, energy, special education and Retirement System contributions, he said.
"Without relief, the property-tax cap would only make the problem bigger," Savage said. "If you are already in the hole, it will be hard to come out of that if a cap is put on. You don't want to widen the gap between the haves and have-not schools because that impacts kids."
A MATTER OF EQUITY
The property-tax cap focuses on the revenue side of operations, said Peru Central School Superintendent A. Paul Scott, who hopes lawmakers address what is behind the increase in expenditures for school districts and the matter of equity.
He pointed to the variability in New York in terms of per-student spending, specifically the fact that some districts spend much more on students than others do. That, along with inadequate state aid and unfunded mandates, makes the property tax cap a potentially dangerous possibility for public schools.
"If New York state continues to freeze or reduce state aid for school districts while at the same time placing a cap on property-tax levies, that presents a severe impact on the near-term future, particularly for the state's less wealthy communities that don't have the reserve funds available or multi-year planning you might see in more economically advantaged communities," Scott said. "For any given community, how much time before there is substantial adversity being faced by residents and children and individuals that provide public-education services?"
Email Stephen Bartlett at: [email protected] | <urn:uuid:48317240-3d2b-46d8-9bd0-cee3c6de801e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pressrepublican.com/0100_news/x9783592/Educators-debate-property-tax-cap | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956807 | 895 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV runs an Agence France Presse report on new limits being put on Saudi Arabia’s religious police. The head of the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has restricted the group’s ability to interrogate suspects and to press charges. Those functions are to be performed solely by the regular police and public prosecutors. The religious police still retain their power to effect certain arrests, but others must be handled by the regular police as well.
Riyadh (AFP): Saudi Arabia has set new limitations on the powers of its notorious religious police, charged with ensuring compliance with Islamic morality but often accused of abuses, its chief said on Tuesday.
The Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice “once had much expanded powers, but with the new system… some of these powers, such as interrogating suspects and pressing charges,” will be restricted to the police and public prosecution, Shaikh Abdul Latif Abdel Aziz Al Shaikh told AFP.
The religious police may still arrest those carrying out “flagrant offences such as harassing women, consuming alcohol and drugs, blackmail and the practice of witchcraft,” Shaikh said of the new law approved by the cabinet.
However, the cases of such people will be referred to the police and brought to justice, as the religious police will no longer have the right to determine charges against them, he said.
UPDATE: Asharq Alawsat runs an article with more information on both the changing philosophy and practices of the Commission. | <urn:uuid:3c456844-5ec2-442b-b69e-e1e9e69f904a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://xrdarabia.org/2013/01/30/new-limits-on-saudi-religious-police/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966492 | 316 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Crime Magazine is about true crime: organized crime, celebrity crime, serial killers, corruption, sex crimes, capital punishment, prisons, assassinations, justice issues, crime books, crime films and crime studies.
Anthony Brancato and Anthony Joseph Trombino
The story of two Kansas City hoods who went to Los Angeles to throw their weight around. This story, peopled with such characters as Mickey Cohen and Jimmy "The Weasel" Frattiano, is a page that could have been torn from "L.A. Confidential."
by Allan May
"You know, Jimmy," said Jack Dragna, then the head of the L.A. Mob, "these guys are no good. We’ve gotten a lot of bad reports on them. The way I see it, we’ve got to clip them. Set something up, will you."
Jimmy was "Jimmy the Weasel" Fratianno. The two punks Dragna wanted taken out were two unruly shakedown artists who were muscle for hire: Anthony Brancato and Anthony Joseph Trombino.
The two Tonys began their criminal careers in Kansas City. In the late 1940s, Norfia Brancato worked for mobster Mickey Cohen in Los Angeles. Cohen described Norfia as a "real gentleman" who was loyal and had a great respect for people. Norfia approached Cohen and received permission to bring his younger brother Tony in from Kansas City. Tony Brancato arrived on the coast and became part of Cohen’s crew. Shortly his friend Tony Trombino joined him in Los Angeles. Brancato soon wore out his welcome, as he was not content with just being on Cohen’s payroll. According to Cohen, Brancato and Trombino began to "muscle people and bulldoze people – things that was uncalled for in this part of the country." | <urn:uuid:be7daba2-d406-4da2-a15f-087be6f16c95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.crimemagazine.com/two-tonys?page=17 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981279 | 398 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Health News for You & Yours
On behalf of the Friends of the National Library of Medicine (FNLM), welcome to the Summer 2008 NIH MedlinePlus magazine. This issue, we focus on two common cancers, leukemia and lymphoma, including a personal interview with U.S. Senator Arlen Specter on his battle with lymphoma.
You will also find out how to protect your eyesight for life, learn about a little-known but dangerous circulatory condition called P.A.D. (peripheral arterial disease), and read the latest on understanding and avoiding the knee condition called anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear (what Tiger Woods has). And we offer a practical guide to clinical trials: what they are, what to expect, and how to participate.
In a special photo feature, you will meet some of the people who are working to improve health care across the United States, including U.S. Senator Tom Harkin. For more than 20 years, Sen. Harkin, an Iowa Democrat, and Sen. Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, have worked together to spearhead support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
We take pride in bringing you the most up-to-date, trustworthy information to keep you and your loved ones healthy. And we invite you to help us make sure that this magazine reaches as many other Americans as possible.
To "help out for health," please contact the FNLM at the address below.
Paul G. Rogers, Chairman
Friends of the National Library of Medicine | <urn:uuid:4f1b523c-e69e-4841-aded-d14d7db8e12d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/magazine/issues/summer08/articles/summer08insidecover.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933735 | 319 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Train companies ban cycles during Olympics
The news was confirmed in changes to the Association of Train Operating Companies leaflet on cycling and rail, which was circulated to cycling organisations just two months before the Games began. Southern and Southeastern imposed the worst restrictions, bicycles were not permitted on any trains going to or from London beyond a certain point. Southeastern originally intended to continue the ban from the start of the Games on 27 July until the end of the Paralympics in early September.
It's not just spectators attending the Games that were affected: commuters who normally permitted to take full size bikes on some trains found they couldn't during the Games. Many therefore had to get on the packed Underground to complete their journeys in London, undermining the efforts of organisers to get people to adjust their journeys to avoid congestion.
Since the bans cover other cities and towns as well as London, commuters, shoppers and day trippers weren't able to make the trips they have otherwise planned. CTC heard from members who had had to cancel events and rearrange their trips. One group returning on the ferry from France were told they couldn't board a train at Dover to get to Rochester because the train was carrying on to London.
In the run up to the Games, following pressure from CTC and local cycling groups, Southern agreed to reduce the restrictions on their network, and, by the end of the Olympics, both companies agreed to lift the ban entirely.
Some cyclists attempted to avoid the ban by using a polythene bike bag to transform cycles into luggage. A similar approach was used to avoid bans imposed during the Tour de France's visit to Britain in 2007. When using this approach on other trains with restrictions please note that bikes must be dismantled (wheels removed etc) to ensure that the bagged package is no bigger than a large suitcase. You can also order a bag by calling CTC National Office on 0844 736 8450, or by email. | <urn:uuid:e6ac0bb4-935c-4cf1-a077-65e1ad184d39> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ctc.org.uk/news/2012-05-23/train-companies-ban-cycles-during-olympics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979523 | 393 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Well books isn’t really accurate. There is a proper book that comes in the set, but there are also newspapers, flip books, a book built like a children’s book, posters, a presentation board and pamphlets.
The format itself is a celebration of print media of all types. But it’s more than that. The back of the box features a diagram of where you can put each piece of “Building Stories” in your home.
And the narrative of the individual pieces reflects that. There is no beginning to “Building Stories,” not in a traditional sense anyway. There’s also no end. It’s just a loose collection of narratives, suspended in time, as if you were peaking through a window, building a narrative arc about the glimpses you’ve caught of these peoples lives.
And those glimpses concern people who have lived in this building and their affected lives.
People love and fight. They experience joy and happiness and what — to the characters at that time — must seem perpetual loneliness.
But lives change. And regardless of what order you read the various pieces of “Building Stories,” the capricious changes in the characters’ lives are highlighted despite the characters always feeling as if they are stuck or in a rut.
And the intimate details of the three tenants’ lives are drawn in clear, if cartoon-y, detail. Fair warning: There is a bit of nudity — mostly simple, non-sexual stuff as people go on about their lives — and some sex, but nothing that’s drawn in detail, and nothing I would consider to be pornographic. It’s never gratuitous or in bad taste.
The name “Building Stories” also works on a meta level. The over-arcing story structure is literally built by the reader. Every one will have a different experience because they will read pieces in different orders and have different things revealed to them in different orders. It creates a flux of dramatic irony, because there are things the reader might know at some points that make certain things ironic, and then again, the reader might not have gotten to that point yet, and may miss the irony. It basically begs for certain pieces to be read and re-read constantly.
The comic panels, like compartmentalized pieces of time in this building of a narrative, all add to a great experience for the reader.
TimesDaily Staff Writer Bobby Bozeman can be reached at 256-740-5722 or [email protected]. His review column is published the fourth Friday of each month. | <urn:uuid:d6aa9102-17e7-4129-b6c5-4bc0a598e2c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timesdaily.com/stories/Stories-built-to-last,196391 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955441 | 549 | 1.5 | 2 |
ZFS Adds Exciting Twist to Mundane World
For many veteran operating-system collectors there comes a point where trying out new operating systems is no longer fun. When there's work to do, dinking around with the latest and greatest Linux or BSD can be pretty frustrating. Now that they're all grown up and the exciting times are over, releases tend to be all about refinements and incremental improvements. ZFS is shaking up an operating system landscape that is all about refinements and incremental improvements.
So, when OpenSolaris was released it seemed like a nice thing for all those Solaris admins who wanted a shiny new free version to play with, but not so relevant to folks with actual work to do. Zettabyte filesystem, however, changed the landscape.
Officially it's just ZFS now, not Zettabyte. But zettabyte is more fun to say. At any rate, ZFS is very impressive and represents a huge leap past other filesystems on the market. You know, all those filesystem utilities you've been relying on all these years? All that fsck, dump, restore, mkfs, tunefs, and their Ext3/JFS/XFS/ReiserFS/UFS counterparts; volume managers like EVM and LVM; raidtools; rysnc; quota; fdisk, and all the rest of the baggage you've been forced to lug around just to coax filesystems into a semblance of usefulness using ZFS means you can dump them all. ZFS was written from the ground up to meet modern needs.
In a nutshell, ZFS provides speed, ease of administration, and data integrity all in one magical package.
In a nutshell, ZFS provides speed, ease of administration, and data integrity all in one magical package. Let's take a look at how it does this.
ZFS' scalability is particularly notable. It's a 128-bit filesystem, which means it has a theoretical upper limit of "16 billion billion times the capacity of 32- or 64-bit systems." That's hard to imagine, so how about "fully populating a 128-bit storage pool would, literally, require more energy than boiling the oceans." So it's safe to assume ZFS' capacity is beyond what you will ever need.
ZFS has all sorts of built-in flexibility. No more must we struggle with disk partitions, physical media limitations, inode limits, or managing storage volumes the hard way volume management is built into ZFS. It creates a common storage pool from which all filesystems can draw.
Traditional filesystems are asynchronous, which means they cache metadata in RAM and wait for slack CPU times to write to disk. XFS takes this delaying strategy a step further and uses delayed allocation; it delays writing to disk as long as possible, so it can figure out the maximum number of contiguous blocks to which to write. As a result, some short-lived files, like temp files, are never actually written to disk. These delay strategies speed up overall performance. Any interruption results in lost metadata, followed by running fsck, which is almost as much fun as watching grass grow. Before journaling filesystems were developed, fsck had to check every single piece of metadata. Journaling filesystems record changes, so only changed files are examined, which speeds things up a lot.
With ZFS you never have to run fsck again, nor do you need the overhead and complexity of journaling, because the filesystem is always in a consistent state. ZFS uses copy on write (COW). This means live data is never overwritten; instead, it writes data to a new block before changing the data pointers and committing the write. Thus, you can pull the plug as much as you want without a care.
And that's not all COW does; using COW means you can take all manner of instant snapshots (read-only copies) and clones (read/write copies). So backups and rollbacks are dead-easy and fast, and clones provide a space-efficient method of storing copies of shared data, like diskless clients and new client installs.
ZFS also checksums everything, so it's constantly on the lookout for data corruption. Changes are transactional, so related changes succeed or fail as a whole.
ZFS introduces a new type of RAID, called RAID-Z. ZFS automatically corrects errors in any redundant RAID configuration, and RAID-Z introduces a whole new level of reliability to RAID. RAID-Z eliminates the "write-hole" vulnerability in parity RAID schemes and uses variable stripe sizes for more speed.
Actually Using ZFS
ZFS is scheduled to be added to Solaris 10 some time soon, and it is already available via the OpenSolaris project. If you want to try it out now, download and install OpenSolaris, which runs on both SPARC and x86 platforms. To get an idea of how easy ZFS is to use check out this page of sample commands.
ZFS is just a baby, but a very impressive baby. Future additions include encryption, secure delete, hot swap, and high-availability clustering. It may someday be ported to other platforms, but for now it's only available on Solaris.
To learn more, we recommend checking out the following:OpenSolaris.org
128-bit storage: Are You High?
Filesystem junkies, may want to check out Wikipedia's List of Filesystems
More Open Source Support for Sun's Solaris | <urn:uuid:7537d5b9-ca8f-478c-a316-5fbcb12bd607> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.serverwatch.com/tutorials/article.php/3612066/ZFS-Adds-Exciting-Twist-to-Mundane-World.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932135 | 1,135 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Rockhurst University has a very active program for those who wish to pursue a career in medicine or dentistry. Its liberal arts core, along with a major in biology or chemistry, meets all the medical and dental school requirements of science and non-science courses.
From the first declaration of intention, the pre-medical or pre-dental student is assigned a member of the Pre-medical and Pre-dental Advisory Committee as academic adviser. The function of the adviser is to see that students meet the course work requirements on schedule and to encourage them to maintain high performance and motivation. The adviser will also provide catalogs, literature and guidance about medical or dental school requirements. The adviser also counsels students on the MCAT (Medical College Aptitude Test) or the DAT (Dental Aptitude Tests) which are usually taken at the end of the third year of college.
Finally, the Pre-medical and Pre-dental Committee interviews the prospective applicant during the junior year and writes the official letter of recommendation. Pre-medical and pre-dental students are encouraged to consult frequently with their advisors concerning their course work. The chairpersons of the Pre-medical and Pre-dental Advisory Committee are members of the American Association of Advisors to the Health Professions. | <urn:uuid:ab703a9d-0e44-4320-8512-987a579bf168> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rockhurst.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/pre-dentistry/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962773 | 262 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The interface of Jewish and Christian theology has always been vexing. Partly this is because of the intrinsically incommensurate realities of the two faiths. And partly it has been because of Christian interpreters' uncritical practice of supersessionism, which has been combined with political power that is used in controlling and abusive ways.
Support the Christian Century
The Century's work relies primarily on subscriptions and donations. Thank you for supporting nonprofit journalism. | <urn:uuid:77e1f007-0892-4ff8-84cc-1fc21e1c754f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.christiancentury.org/category/keywords/supersessionism | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963769 | 90 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Discussion of proposals for coding of CFS for ICD-10-CM at May 10-11, 2011 CFSAC meeting
The Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) provides advice and recommendations to the Secretary of Health and Human Services via the Assistant Secretary for Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on issues related to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). These include:
• factors affecting access and care for persons with CFS;
• the science and definition of CFS; and
• broader public health, clinical, research and educational issues related to CFS.
Administrative and management support for CFSAC activities is provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH). However, staffing will continue to be provided primarily from the Office on Women’s Health, which is part of OASH.
Dr. Nancy C. Lee, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health – Women’s Health, is the Designated Federal Officer for CFSAC.
The Spring meeting of the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee (CFSAC) was held on May 10-11, 2011 in Room 800, Hubert H. Humphrey Building, 200 Independence Ave, S.W., Washington, D.C.
The Fall meeting has been announced for Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday, November 9 but will be located in a different venue. The November meeting will be hosted at the Holiday Inn Capitol, Columbia Room, 550 C Street, SW., Washington, D.C. See next post for Federal Notice. At the time of publication, no agenda for the Fall meeting has been issued.
Minutes Day One and Two Spring 2011 meeting from this page: Minutes May 10-11 CFSAC
Presentations Day One and Two: Presentations and Meeting Materials
Public and Written Testimonies here: Public Testimonies
Recommendations approved from Spring meeting: Recommendations CFSAC May 10-11
Videocasts of the entire two day proceedings can be viewed here: Videocasts Day One and Two
Discussion of ICD-10-CM and DSM-5 at the May CFSAC meeting
Of particular interest to the scope of this site was the Agenda item on Day One at 1:15 p.m.
Discussion of International Classification of Diseases-Clinical Modification (ICD-CM) concerns
Dr Wanda Jones, outgoing Designated Federal Officer for CFSAC, had invited a representative from the National Center for Health Statistics to attend the meeting, though no-one had been available for that date.
Instead, Dr Jones presented Committee members with a four page document ICD-related questions from CFSAC for May 2011 meeting as background information.
The document, which can be downloaded in PDF format here, set out responses to the following questions:
What are the key steps in development of the ICD-10-CM?
How does the ICD-CM (whatever version, -9, -10, etc.) align with past and current versions of the -CM and with the WHO’s current and past versions?
How is the ICD-CM used in policy-related decision making?
What difference does coding designation make? How do we get providers to use a particular code–is it an issue of education, of outreach, or what? If codes related to CFS are in several different places, doesn’t that affect the count? And finally, if the codes change, do we lose the numbers from the prior coding systems?
How does ICD coding relate to DSM coding (or does it)?
Partial List of Organizations Consulted and/or Reviewing ICD-10-CM During Development and Ongoing Maintenance of ICD-10-CM
Following a 45 minute discussion of the forthcoming partial code freeze, the implications for CFS and ME patients of current proposals for ICD-10-CM and in the context of draft proposals by the DSM-5 Work Group for “Somatic Symptoms Disorders”, a new Recommendation was proposed by Dr Lenny Jason, seconded by Dr Nancy Klimas, and voted unanimously in favour of by the Committee.
The specific recommendation articulated by the Committee in respect of the agenda item above was:
1. CFSAC rejects current proposals to code CFS in Chapter 18 of ICD-10-CM under R53.82: Chronic fatigue, unspecified > Chronic fatigue syndrome NOS. CFSAC continues to recommend that CFS should be classified in ICD-10-CM in Chapter 6 under “diseases of the nervous system” at G93.3, in line with ICD-10 and ICD-10-CA (the Canadian Clinical Modification), and in accordance with the Committee’s recommendations of August 2005. CFSAC considers CFS to be a multi-system disease and rejects any proposals to classify CFS as a psychiatric condition in US disease classification systems. (Note: no disease classification system under HHS’ control proposes to move or to include CFS in or among psychiatric conditions.)
Information on the ICD-9-CM Coordination and Maintenance Committee September 2011 meeting referred to by Dr Jones, in the Minutes, can be found on this page.
Information of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) draft due for implementation in October 2013 can be found on this page.
Video of this section of the meeting can be viewed here at Videocast Day One at 4hrs 27 mins in from start of broadcast.
I should like to thank Dr Lenny Jason, whose term as a CFSAC Committee member ends following the November meeting, for informing the Committee around current proposals for the forthcoming ICD-10-CM, on the classification of PVFS, ME and CFS in ICD-10 and on the development of ICD-11 and for also raising with the Committee concerns around DSM-5, an issue that had not previously been discussed in any depth at a CFSAC meeting.
Extract (Pages 26-29) Minutes May 10-11 CFSAC
DISCUSSION OF INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES – CLINICAL MODIFICATION (ICD-CM) CONCERNS
Dr. Christopher Snell
• Brought the meeting to order. Noted they would have a discussion of the ICD-related questions and the proposed reclassification of chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Advised there was a page in the members’ notebooks tabbed after the State of the Knowledge summary which noted key steps in the development of the ICD 10 CM, so a clinical modification of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) ICD 10. It would replace ICD 9.
• Stated his understanding of the issues:
o Disconnect between the way the U.S. uses the classification and the rest of the world.
o The way CFS is classified under the ICD system has implications for both reporting of incidents, morbidity and mortality.
o Used by outside agencies to categorize the illness for purposes of inclusion or exclusion. Opened the floor for discussion.
Dr. Wanda Jones
• Clarified that the committee requested that the National Center for Health Statistics have someone to talk to them about the international classification of diseases, about the process, about how the U.S. adapts the WHO index, ( the ICD) for use and about opportunities for dialogue.
• Noted that a meeting was set a year ago for May 10 and 11 in Baltimore that engaged resources of CMS, parts of the federal government focused on health IT and the entire ICD team from the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS).
• Noted that as a result no one was available for the CFSAC meeting.
Page 27 of 41
• In lieu of their attendance, she developed some questions that the NCHS, ICD team responded to.
• Tried to clarify the questions so they would have a good understanding of the key processes and the key inflection points differentiating the WHO process from the U.S. ICD-CM, the clinical modification process.
• Raised additional questions regarding how alignment from prior versions is maintained and how ICD coding is used in decision-making.
• Noted also the relationship between the coding and the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM). Stated that the information was provided by the NCHS and is meant to generate discussion.
• Stated that the ICD-CM process is a public process with regularly scheduled public meetings. Noted that there is an opportunity to comment as part of that process and to engage.
• Confirmed that the NCHS stated that there has been no public presence from the CFS community at the meetings.
• Noted that this was the process for people interested in CFS coding to become involved. Confirmed that there was a lock procedure that is soon to be executed for the ICD 10 CM.
• Noted it had been in development for a decade and the United States’ move to electronic records means it has to temporarily lock the codes. The electronic health records software would not be ready if they keep changing them.
• Noted that information about coding changes would continue to be collected, taken under advisement and the NCHS would continue the process of evaluating.
• Stated that once it is in public use then that lock will release and there would be an opportunity on a periodic basis for updating.
Dr. Leonard Jason
• Stated that the committees are developing ICD 10 CM and it intends to retain CFS in R codes (R53.82) and this means that the symptoms, signs, abnormal results of clinical or other investigative procedures are ill-defined conditions.
• Stated that R-codes means it’s an ill-defined condition regarding which no diagnosis is classifiable elsewhere. Explained that if it cannot be diagnosed elsewhere in ICD 10 it goes into a R-code.
• The intention in ICD 11 is to put CFS with two other conditions (post viral fatigue syndrome and benign myalgic encephalomyalitus) under a G-code, being G93.3 or diseases of the nervous system. Noted that coding CFS under the R-code in the proposed ICD 10 CM would place it out of line with the International ICD 10 used in over 100 countries.
• Discussed the problems and implications of the U.S. coding of CFS as compared with how other countries are coding it.
Page 28 of 41
It would exclude it from the R53 malaise and fatigue codes, which would imply that CFS does not have a viral etiology.
• Brought forward a motion to be considered:
CFSAC rejects current proposals to code CFS in Chapter 18 of ICD 10 CM under R53.82 chronic fatigue syndrome unspecified, chronic fatigue syndrome NOS (not otherwise specified). CFSAC continues to recommend that CFS should be classified in the ICD 10 CM in Chapter 6 under diseases of the nervous system at G93.3 in line with international ICD 10 in ICD 10 CA which is the Canadian clinical modification and in accordance with the committee’s recommendation which we made in August of 2005. CFSAC considers CFS to be a multi-system disease and rejects any proposals to classify CFS as a psychiatric condition in U.S. disease classification systems.
• Noted that ME and CFS patients could be potentially vulnerable to the current DSM 5 proposals because those proposals are highly subjective and difficult to quantify.
• Noted that retaining the CFS in the R-codes in the IDC 10 CM differentiates the U.S. from other countries but it renders CFS and ME patients more vulnerable to some of the DSM 5 proposals, notably chronic complex symptom disorder [sic]. [Ed: Complex Somatic Symptom Disorder]
Dr. Klimas asked for clarification, and Dr. Jason said that in 2013 they would move from DSM 4 to DSM 5. As it stands they would be collapsing somatization disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, hypochondriasis and some presentations of panic disorder [sic] [Ed: pain disorder] into complex somatic symptom disorder. Dr. Klimas clarified that his concern was that the CFS ICD 9 codes would put the non post viral patients into this somatoform cluster. Dr. Jason indicated that this was so.
Dr. Klimas seconded the motion. Mr. Krafchick agreed and stated that the ramifications of the classification would be disastrous for patients, because it would limit disability payments to two years. Dr. Jones clarified that for now the clock was ticking, however once the codes were released, they could be revised, it’s just the implementation of the electronic system which is causing it to be locked at a particular point in time. While CFSAC has shared concerns with NCHS, there is an official process for engaging with them on their discussions regarding the codes. The US was interested in morbidity, in case claims. It is important that providers know how to best categorize things, and provide guidance on which codes to consider based on the science for the disease being evaluated.
Mr. Krafchick stated that the issue was that the criteria for the codes was etiology/trigger based. Dr. Jones clarified that it would still remain in the clinician’s judgment, however if they could not identify where the trajectory developed toward CFS, then it would wind up in the R codes. Dr. Jones clarified also that the NCHS does not view the R category as a somatoform disorder. Mr. Krafchick and Dr. Snell indicated they understood this but it would still represent vulnerability for patients when classifying.
Dr. Jason restated his recommendation.
Page 29 of 41
Dr. Marshall stated his concern that there was an attendant risk with this, but that they were between a rock and a hard place. He agreed CFS/ME being classified as a somatoform disorder was inappropriate, but at the same time that the recommendation says it’s a complex multi-system disease, it categorizes it within a single nervous system disease silo. This might affect future research funding opportunities with people saying they don’t fund neurological research. He expressed the view that they should advocate for classification in a multi-system disease category rather than putting it in a nervous system disease category for future, though this category did not exist now. It would be a good thing for patients short term, but it could be a long term risk.
Dr. Snell said that given the amount of current funding, this wasn’t a risk. Dr. Marshall said that using reverse translational research as had been advocated during the meeting might increase the role of this categorization, and could be restrictive in funding.
Dr. Jones asked whether the recommendation being put forward was the same as the May 2010 recommendation, and
Dr. Jason said that his was dramatically different. Mr. Krafchick underscored how the insurance companies use these ICD codes. If it was classified in something that could be psychiatric it will be psychiatric, so they can deny coverage.
Dr. Levine asked about co-morbid disorders and how these are weighted. Dr. Jones responded that she did not think that there was a weighting. It would get listed like a death certificate, a cause of death and then a secondary, sometimes a third. She stated it was the judgment of the clinician how it was listed.
Dr. Klimas expressed the view that coding was also problematic because clinicians code to get paid. There already exists a bias against coding CFS as CFS because the codes could not be used for billing. She stated that they would make a conscious decision not to code CFS as CFS. She indicated that neurology was a fine place for it to be categorized, and at least this would assist people who may be looking for patient data, as it wouldn’t be ignored.
Dr. Snell asked for a vote of all those in favor regarding Dr. Jason’s motion. The motion passed unanimously.
Dr. Jones noted that she would share this recommendation with the NCHS but repeated that unless someone moved forward to intervene in the official processes in the public record it may not move forward or have an effect.
Dr. Jones noted that the next ICD meeting is September 14 – 15, 2011 with public comments due July 15. Noted this will be put on the CFSAC website. She noted she would check the rules to see if a member of the CFSAC or the Chair would be able to give public testimony at another advisory committee meeting. Mr. Krafchick said that if it were possible to send someone as a member of the committee, it would make a great deal of sense and be very important. Dr. Jones said they would figure out how this could happen. Ms. Holderman asked whether this notice, and any future notices where they might want to intervene, could be placed on the CDC website. She stated this cross listing would be useful.
Page 30 of 41
Dr. Jones said that from her experience with the fast evolving HIV coding, there was a dialogue so that coding kept up. She expected there would be some connection, however not as comprehensive or active as that disease.
Dr. Mary Schweitzer, a member of the public, stated that the NCHS did come to CFSAC in 2005 and Dr. Reeves at the time was specific and said that CFS needed to be in R53 due to his own method of diagnosis. She suggested that this showed an obvious connection between the CFS side of CDC and NCHS at the time.
[Extract from Minutes, CFSAC Day One: May 10, 2011 ends] | <urn:uuid:7a4e3fb9-d9ce-467e-90b2-fcdb09891f8a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://meagenda.wordpress.com/category/who-collaborating-centre/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959891 | 3,711 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Egypt in turmoil on eve of poll
EGYPT'S first parliamentary elections since the fall of dictator Hosni Mubarak — meant to be a cause of celebration — are caught in the tense standoff between the ruling military council and protesters that shows no sign of ending.
As millions prepared to go to the polls today the country remains in crisis, with protests in Tahrir Square, Alexandria, Suez and several other Egyptian cities expected overnight.
The body count is already high from a week of civil unrest — 42 people are confirmed dead and more than 3000 injured after the violent crackdown on protesters.
Hosni Mubarak Photo: Reuters
Pro-democracy protesters are split on whether to participate in this first round of parliamentary elections or to boycott them, and there is confusion among voters about what candidates and the many new parties formed since the January 25 revolution actually stand for.
Many liberal parties and candidates have suspended campaigning to join what protesters have called Egypt's second revolution, creating further confusion and fears the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice Party will stroll into parliament with a huge majority, along with remnants of remnants of Mubarak's old ruling NDP.
"We now have the list of candidates for my district but I do not know what platform they are running on and whether they are affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood," one young woman said yesterday.
"If I — with a political science degree — cannot work out with my mother and my neighbours what view these candidates represent, how will others be able to manage?" said the woman who did not want to be named.
Prospective presidential candidate and former head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Mohamed ElBaradei, announced at the weekend he was prepared to drop his bid to become head of state if he was asked to lead a national transition government.
His move has been popular with some protest groups but to date there has been no response from the ruling military council. Late last week it appointed 78-year-old Kamal Ganzouri, who served as prime minister under Mubarak during the 1990s, as the new interim prime minister.
In Alexandria, where the brutal police killing of young activist, Khaled Said, in June 2010 sparked protests and a social media campaign credited with helping to launch the revolution that toppled Mubarak, feelings about the election are mixed.
Billed as Egypt's first free and fair elections in decades, today's vote is the start of a complicated and drawn-out process that concludes in January. Voting for upper house positions and the presidential election is scheduled for June. | <urn:uuid:63c2ca5c-f79c-4853-8c3d-747cd632f372> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theage.com.au/world/egypt-in-turmoil-on-eve-of-poll-20111127-1o1bx.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969621 | 511 | 1.632813 | 2 |
In a speech at this month’s 119th Founders Day Celebration at Rock Hill’s Clinton Junior College, Bishop Joseph Johnson predicted that the school would be a four-year institution by 2014. That goal certainly doesn’t appear as difficult to achieve as it once did.
Johnson, a retired bishop of the AME Zion church, is former chairman of the board of trustees for the college. His speech also noted that Clinton serves as an example of overcoming the odds to reach success.
We suspect few would argue with that assessment. Clinton has survived some difficult challenges through the years.
The Great Depression and, more recently, the recession have presented financial challenges. At other times, the school suffered from lack of accreditation and federal funds.
Even the support of the AME Zion Church, which founded Clinton Junior College and continues to provide crucial financial and spiritual support, has wavered at times. It has even considered closing the school.
But this traditionally African-American school off Crawford Road has persevered. And, in many respects, it appears to be growing and thriving.
Much of that can be attributed to Elaine Copeland, who became the school’s president in 2002. She has overseen renovations to nearly every inch of the campus, including dorm rooms, the library, science labs and classrooms.
In 2011, Clinton opened the Millennium Cafe, an adjunct to the dining hall where students can choose from a varied menu at an array of food stations.
With support from the U.S. Department of Energy, Clinton has hired teachers in physics and environmental science. That helped facilitate a research project to study ways to clean up water pollution.
Clinton now offers programs in liberal arts, business, religion, early childhood and science. And, beginning next fall, the school will offer a four-year Bachelor of Science degree in business and a Bachelor of Arts degree in religion.
Those courses represent a significant step in moving Clinton closer to becoming a four-year institution.
Even now, though, the school provides an affordable alternative for students who do not have the means to attend one of the state’s four-year universities. And Clinton, with an enrollment of about 160 students, offers the educational foundation to continue their studies at other AME Zion-affiliated four-year schools, such as Livingstone College in Salisbury, N.C.
Copeland has a long-term goal of raising enough money to build an academic, athletic and wellness center, which she views as critical to Clinton’s mission. It’s one more way to expand opportunities for those who might not otherwise have a way to get a higher education.
Clinton Junior College has survived through often difficult times for 119 years, and we suspect that with the support of the church and the community it will continue to surmount new challenges in the years ahead. | <urn:uuid:e87b330b-be84-4996-beb8-d67695612b5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/03/17/4700287/clinton-junior-college-moving.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970924 | 583 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Having designed and optimised your website to attract the maximum number of visitors, it's vitally important to monitor the traffic to the site to ensure that your targets are being met. We can provide software tools that allow you to do just that.
What information is available?
Web servers record a great deal of information about the visitors to a website including the route by which they arrived there, for example via a search engine or a link on another site. And if the user arrived via a search engine the log will record the keywords that the user entered. This information can be used to refine the design of the site even further to encourage yet more visitors.
Other information includes the pages on the site that have been visited, the path that the visitor took through the site, how the numbers of visitors vary with time of day or day of the week, and perhaps most importantly, whether the traffic to the site is increasing or decreasing over a period of time.
We work together with our clients to find a solution that's appropriate to their needs and skills. We can either provide you with a suitable statistics analysis tool and train you how to use it or, if you prefer, we can do all the hard work for you and simply present you with a report at regular intervals. The choice is yours! | <urn:uuid:12316cee-e02d-4c53-a57e-fc6280489252> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.opalcreative.co.uk/website-statistics.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950706 | 262 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Surgeon brings operating room to HPHS
Dr. Mark Hill, a professor of surgery at Chicago Medical School, displayed some World War II surgical instruments during his presentation to students at Highland Park High School. | Curtis Lehmkuhl~Sun-Times Media
Updated: January 28, 2013 6:19AM
HIGHLAND PARK — For 30 years, surgeon Mark Nolan Hill has visited classes at Highland Park High School to bridge the divide between textbook studies and applied medical practice.
“The students want to know what really happens in the operating room, and how it is similar or different from TV and the movies,” said Hill, a Board-Certified General Surgeon and professor of surgery at Chicago Medical School.
So on Thursday, Hill brought some of the operating room to students when he visited John Gorleski’s Advanced Placement anatomy and physiology classes. His guests included his scrub nurse Rachel Moen of Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville and two medical students, Christy Cunningham and Vishal Pandya.
“I first got interested in medicine because I loved the challenge, the puzzle of figuring out what was wrong, because each individual’s pathology is different,” said Cunningham, now a fourth-year medical student. She acknowledged that it’s a long road: Four years of undergraduate studies, four years of medical school and four years as a resident.
“I’ll be about 31 when I’m finished,” said Cunningham, who plans additional studies to become an ophthalmologist.
As a third-year medical student, Pandya is now dealing directly with patients, so Hill asked, “How difficult is it to go from textbooks to looking people straight in the eye, who are asking you questions?”
“A lot of times, as physicians, we are dealing with people who are at a low point,” said Pandya. “Whether you are dealing with patients directly or their families, they are putting their trust in you and that is a very humbling experience.”
During his visits, Hill typically asks the students about their career interests. While some aspire to be physicians, others have expressed interest in business careers related to medicine. So this year, he brought in Lisa Edgarton, a manager for Cook Inc., a medical manufacturer that supplies biologic, prosthetic implants made from human cadaver tissue and pig tissue.
“Technology has expanded so much in medicine that my dependence on, and knowledge of these new products has skyrocketed. I work very closely with these medical device managers, both in and out of the operating room,” said Hill, a Highland Park resident.
Hill’s rock-star status with his medical students was evident in 2011, when he was awarded the faculty Teaching Award - Professor of the Year by students at Chicago Medical College, part of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. The Highland Park resident also is a rocker in his spare time, headlining a band called “Dr. Mark and the Sutures”. | <urn:uuid:3122c9ee-5ac8-469b-b89f-33d02483c58b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://franklinpark.suntimes.com/17111879-781/surgeon-brings-operating-room-to-hphs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972386 | 639 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Blaster copycat author jailed for 18 months
Parson escapes with minimum sentence
Jeffrey Lee Parson, author of a variant of the infamous Blaster worm, has been jailed for 18 months. The 19-year-old was also ordered to serve 100 hours of community service and spend three years on probation following his release at a sentencing hearing at the US District Court in Seattle last Friday (28 January).
Rather than risk going to prison for up to ten years, Parson pleaded guilty to "intentionally causing damage to a protected computer" in making a plea bargaining agreement last year. The sentence imposed by US District Judge Marsha Pechman was at the lowest end of the 18 and 37 months of federal time stipulated under this agreement. Judge Pechman took Parson's history of mental health problems and "grim home life" into account as mitigation to his crimes when deciding a sentence, The Seattle Times reports.
Parson, from Hopkins, Minnesota, created Blaster-B after modifying the original Blaster worm and launching it onto the internet in early August 2003. Blaster-B launched a distributed denial-of-service attack against a Microsoft's Windows update website from infected computers.
Blaster and its variants are internet worms which spread through exploiting a well-known vulnerability in Microsoft Windows - specifically a critical Remote Procedure Call (RPC) DCOM flaw. Blaster-B is functionally equivalent to its predecessor but creates a file called teekids.exe - rather than msblast.exe - in the Windows system folder. Parson's online handle is "teekid" or "t33kid". This and various other clues led the authorities to his door and he was arrested on 29 August 2003.
The original Blaster worm infected about one million computers in the summer of 2003. Parson's variant hit far fewer computers - infecting approximately 48,000 PCs and causing an estimated $1.2m in damage, according to court filings. A hearing to decide how much in restitution Parson will be required to pay to Microsoft and others affected by his malware is due to take place in February. ®
Blaster worm spreading rapidly
Blaster worm variants make mischief
Blaster rewrites Windows worm rules
FBI arrests Blaster suspect
Feds sexed up case Blaster suspect
Blaster teen pleads guilty
Lawyers demand hard time for Blaster teen
MS puts $250k bounty on virus authors' heads | <urn:uuid:14127493-64bb-471e-8ef5-6c4719cca773> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/31/blaster_kiddo_sentencing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945448 | 491 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The FBI sees social media as a potential breeding ground for securities fraud and has agents scouring Twitter and Facebook for tips, according to two top agents overseeing a long-running investigation into insider trading in the $2 trillion hedge fund industry, Reuters reported.
April Brooks, a special agent in charge of the New York field office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and David Chaves, a supervisory agent, said it is hard to predict the next wave of securities fraud, but they add that it will have a lot to do with advances in technology and social media.
"I will tell you technology will play a huge part, social media, Twitter. Any kind of technology that is new and doesn't exist today, if there is any way to exploit it, these individuals will exploit it," Brooks told Reuters TV in an interview for the Reuters Investment Outlook 2013 Summit.
Brooks and Chaves oversee what the FBI calls "Operation Perfect Hedge," which has led to more than 60 convictions of hedge fund traders, analysts and industry consultants.
On Nov. 20, a day after the television interview, the government charged Mathew Martoma, a former employee of SAC Capital Advisors, with a $276 million insider trading scheme that prosecutors called "the most lucrative" ever. Read more. | <urn:uuid:38c80918-7dc1-40bc-bb47-4817e48094e0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://businessrecord.com/Content/Law---Government/Law---Government/Article/FBI-hunts-social-media-for-securities-fraud/164/788/49150 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941511 | 261 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The National Crime Victim Law Institute (NCVLI) is a non-profit research, education, and advocacy organization located at Lewis & Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon. NCVLI is the only national organization in the country working to protect victims’ rights in criminal trial and appellate courts. NCVLI’s mission is to actively promote balance and fairness in the justice system through crime victim centered legal advocacy, education, and resource sharing.
The National Alliance of Victims’ Rights Attorneys (NAVRA) is NCVLI’s bar association committed to the protection, enforcement, and advancement of crime victims’ rights nationwide. Through increased communication, coordination, and training of attorneys and advocates working in victim law, NAVRA works to increase the availability of expert services for crime victims. Membership is open to attorneys, non-attorney victim advocates, crime victims, law students, and individuals interested in legal developments that affect crime victims. Join the National Alliance of Victims’ Rights Attorneys [PDF]
NCVLI's Library of Legal Resources contains laws and educational material about crime victims' rights. Included in library is the text of key victims’ rights laws of each jurisdiction, including the federal Crime Victims’ Rights Act; publications from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime and other agencies; and informational publications from NCVLI.
NCVLI’s legal team provides legal research, writing, and strategic case advice on cutting edge victims’ rights issues to attorneys and advocates nationwide who are working directly with victims in criminal matters. Providing high quality research, writing, and strategic guidance to these attorneys and advocates ensures that victims everywhere can have the best advocacy possible.
NCVLI hosts the only national conference focusing on rights enforcement. The 2010 Conference will focus on securing fairness for crime victims. In law, fairness requires both procedural and substantive due process. This means that the law must be applied fairly to all, procedural safeguards must be afforded before a decision is taken that could affect a citizen's right, and each person's fundamental rights must be protected throughout the process.
NCVLI follows developments in victims’ rights laws across the country and summarizes recent cases affecting victims’ rights on a national scale. [Summaries are copyrighted to NCVLI but are posted with permission here.] Some recent cases include:
Petitioner sought a writ of mandamus pursuant to the Crime Victims’ Rights Act (CVRA), 18 U.S.C. § 3771, arguing that the district court improperly denied his motion for a default judgment on his complaint seeking civil damages from the United States government for a violation of his rights under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, 26 U.S.C. § 7433. Finish reading the case summary here.
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that law enforcement officers who are accused of failing to investigate a crime or make an arrest due to the race of the victim and that of the perpetrator are not entitled to qualified immunity in a case where an automobile accident victim brought a civil rights action against police officers, pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. Finish reading the case summary here
Defendant pleaded guilty to possession of child pornography. At sentencing, the court struck several written victim impact statements attached to the presentence report (PSR), and reduced the 41-month sentence contemplated by the plea agreement to 30 months. The government appealed the sentence. Finish reading the case summary here.
Defendants moved to strike the notice of appearance filed by the victim’s attorney, arguing that the victim was not a party to the action and, therefore, was not entitled to receive pleadings and other court documents through CM/ECF, the court’s case management system.Finish reading the case summary here.
Defendant was sentenced to 20 years in prison following his conviction on two counts of receiving child pornography in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 2252A(a)(2)(A). He challenged his sentence on numerous grounds, including, inter alia, that the government’s introduction of nine victim impact statements was improper because it had not been established that they were victims of his crime. Finish reading the case summary here.
NAVRA produces a weekly digest of national and international news affecting crime victims. The Digest is designed to provide the community with a glimpse of victims' issues being talked about and reported on across the country and the world. Interested in receiving the digest and other important victims’ rights news? Join NAVRA. | <urn:uuid:f19fd2e3-1795-4f55-b1c4-e0b3943fafb6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marsyslawforall.org/advocates/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946528 | 934 | 1.617188 | 2 |
The holidays are screeching around the corner, and the frenzy to fill stockings and pile up presents is hitting its peak this weekend. For those with kids on their list, board games have always been the standby winners, but now there’s a new rival on the scene: the board game app.
True, apps are not as fun to gift. The tiny, flat iTunes or Amazon gift card pales next to the big wrapped box. But beyond opening the gift, does the experience of playing with the app hold up to playing with the real thing?
Last summer, my eight-year-old daughter was introduced to LIFE, the board game. She was hooked instantly. She and her friends spent long summer afternoons spinning the number wheel, counting their savings and retirement, and moving their characters along in the path toward college or work, having kids, and buying homes. They talked about why they made each of those decisions and plotted their strategies with each other for their future.
Preparing to go on vacation, we decided to buy the LIFE app for the iPad rather than lug along the big box and all of its many components. The game itself is executed well enough on the touchscreen tablet. You can choose to play with up to six other virtual players within the app — jolly characters like Zoe or Ernie or Malcom, or pass it around to play with real players. Spin the wheel by making a circle on the touchscreen (the sound resembles the real wheel, the tap-tap-tap going quickly at first, then slowing down). Tap images of finance-related cards (the app does all the counting for you), and follow the prompts and arrows to keep the game moving. For the most part, all the logistics of playing the game are the same on the app as on the board.
LIFE was originally created in 1860 by Milton Bradley. More than 150 years and many iterations later, kids are playing the digital version of the game, and discovering for themselves the differences between the two.
Tara Runyan from Oakland plays LIFE with her daughter Julia on the iPad. Though they enjoyed it at first, it “gets boring after the novelty wears off,” she said.
“The physical board game is a lot more fun,” Runyan said. “There are things that are automated, like playing the cards you draw, that take away the strategy element, which is minimal anyway.”
My daughter, Lucy, agrees. “With the game, you have to do your own math, which is more fun, except when I’m feeling lazy,” she said.”Plus, your parents don’t tell you to get off the iPad screen, because they think it’s okay for you to play the real game.”
And although you can technically play with others on the iPad version, Lucy points out it’s more fun to play with real people “because they can actually talk to me.”
Any redeeming qualities of the app? It’s easier to clean up and much more portable.
THE HUMAN ELEMENT
Somehow the image of passing around a tablet or mobile phone around the dining room table doesn’t evoke the same warmth as the messy board game, piled up with cards and cash and rainbow-colored tokens. With the real game, you have a better sense of strategy, of players’ predilections. You can see the real estate mogul’s empire grow on the Monopoly board, miniature houses and hotels crowding out the other players’ tokens. You can tell who likes to be in charge of counting the money, collecting fines, doling out people’s pensions and rewards, ever the scrupulous banker (we hope).
Word games have their own dynamics, too. Playing the tactile versions of Boggle and Scrabble versus the apps are two completely different experiences. The Boggle app allows you to spin the board around clockwise, so it’s easier to see new ways of putting letters together to make words. You create words by tapping each letter, and the app buzzes when you’re wrong.
The Scrabble app also makes playing easier by giving you the option of looking up those ridiculous two-letter words that qualify, like “xa” and “fa.” On the other hand, you can play the app version at any time of day, with real friends and virtual friends who use the app.
Amy Nathan of Berkeley, the mother of two grade-school boys, says her kids are not interested in the app version of Boggle. “I think the manipulatives in each of those games is a big part of the learning,” she said.
Telma Cox from Pacific Grove points out that playing a real board game with a big group is more engaging for players. “As much as our kids love games and apps on their iPads and iPod touches, the tactile board games are more interactive and fun for a larger number of people, like when you have the whole family together,” she said.
It’s important to note, though, that there are wonderful, original, interactive, educational apps (see our list of app reviews.) And a lot of those don’t exist in the tactile world.
For some families, it’s not a matter of choosing one or the other. “There’s definitely room for both in our real and virtual game closet,” Runyan said.
If Lucy had too choose between the real game and the app, she says she’d choose the real game. “But you know what,” she said. “I’d actually want to have both.” | <urn:uuid:3c9e1712-25f9-448c-8eb1-8b0e734b98e8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/12/for-a-holiday-gift-board-game-or-app-of-board-game/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966478 | 1,195 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Sub-culture friendly Gender Playful Marketplace
UPDATED: Donate now at http://genderplayful.tumblr.com/ to get this off the ground!
One of the really wonderful things about Steampunk is that it, more than any other sub-culture, seems to want to teach us things. I have always been very interested in the technology of the 19th Century, it's been a passion since a very young age. this passion is certainly part of what got me interested in Steampunk in the first place. However, as I delved deeper into the history of technology I got really interested in other aspects of how the world changed during the Industrial Revolution.
In particular I became interested in the Women's Movement, which began in the late 19th century, feminism, and gender theory. Chasing down this rabbit hole has lead me to books like Marilyn French's Beyond Power, which is currently blowing my mind and has the feel of one of those books that forever changes to way you view the world. I also started to cultivate an interest in fashion which friend and co-editor Libby Bulloff has mercilessly encouraged.
Recently, Libby and I presented a panel at SteamCon II in Seattle we called "Queering Steampunk Fashion." For some time now Libby and I have been interested in Steampunk garb that is fashion rather than costume. Clothes that you can wear outside of the convention environment but are still clearly transgressive and something other than a pure affectation of Victorian wear. Since the 19th century was a period in time where fashion became particularly rigid for both men and women, and since what we do in Steampunk is joyfully rip things out of context and re-mix them to our own desire, queering Steampunk fashion seemed like a no brainer. You can read all about our presentation here.
And that brings me to the subject of today's post. One of the points that Libby and I tried to get across in our presentation is that gender-bending fashion and re-mixing gender-typed garments presents a great opportunity in Steampunk fashion and personal expression as well. As Libby puts it: "Androgyny should be a gender Smörgåsbord not an absence of gender" which is why we are both excited about this new project from GenderFork creator Sarah Dopp. Please watch the video and click through and help her out if you're excited by it too. | <urn:uuid:04edfb88-4c2b-433c-b727-63d12ab7a660> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://steampunkworkshop.com/sub-culture-friendly-gender-playful-marketplace | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973311 | 500 | 1.765625 | 2 |
State Refunds for Economic Development
91 Companies Refunded $10 Million for 2002 School Taxes
The Texas Tax Code provides for state tax refunds for certain economic development. Some Texas property owners are eligible to receive refunds on their net state sales and use taxes and franchise taxes for paying local school taxes. The total for all refunds collectively may not exceed $10 million, the maximum amount made available by the Texas Legislature.
Tax year 2002 was the sixth year that companies could apply for reimbursement of school taxes paid on a property that received a county or city abatement but not a school tax abatement. Companies had to file their refund applications with the Comptroller’s office before August 1, 2003.
Of the 162 individual refund applications received for 2002 taxes, the Comptroller’s office approved 150 applications representing 91 companies. While the approved 2002 refund claims totaled $71.2 million, these 91 companies were allocated a proportionally reduced amount so that they all received a share of the $10 million (the maximum amount made available by the Texas Legislature) to reimburse them for paying 2002 school taxes.
Tax Code Section 111.304 requires the Comptroller’s office to submit a December 1 report to the Texas Legislature about these annual state refunds.
Tax year 1997 was the first year that companies could apply for reimbursement of school taxes paid on a property that received a county or city abatement but not a school tax abatement. In that year, 10 companies received total school tax refunds of $4,886,663.
After the initial slow start in 1997, the Comptroller’s office refunded the full $10 million in school taxes to 28 companies for tax year 1998, 62 companies for 1999, 82 companies for 2000 and 90 companies for 2001.
To be eligible for a refund, a property owner must have established a new business or expanded or modernized an existing business located in a reinvestment zone. The city or county must have granted a tax abatement for the owner’s property, but not the school district.
Since entering into a city or county abatement agreement, the property owner must have increased the business’s payroll by at least $3,000,000, specific to its property in Texas. Or, the owner must have increased the abated property’s appraised value by at least $4,000,000. The maximum refund is either the lesser of the school taxes paid or the amount of net sales and use tax and net franchise tax paid for the tax year the refund is claimed.
The property owner is barred from a refund if the company has agreed to an in-lieu-of-taxes payment—including a gift, grant, donation or provision of in-kind services—to the city or county, if the payment exceeds $5,000 in value.
The refund also must be within the state’s annual cap of appropriated funds for these refunds. If, in any year, the total amount of all refunds claimed by property owners exceeds $10 million, the Comptroller’s office must reduce each claimant’s refund proportionally so that all property owners share in the state appropriated $10 million.
The law also provides that property owners may receive these refunds on state taxes for the lesser of five years or the duration of the tax abatement agreement with the city or county. If the property owner or the taxing unit cancels the tax abatement agreement or the property owner relocates the business outside the reinvestment zone, the owner’s right to claim a refund ends.
The Tax Code requires the Comptroller’s office to issue state tax refunds to qualified property owners who entered into property tax abatement agreements—after January 1, 1996—with a city or county. Property owners with tax abatement agreements entered into on or before this date were not eligible for these state refunds.
2003 refund applications
To claim a refund for 2003 school taxes, a property owner must submit an application to the Comptroller’s office, along with the school district tax receipts showing the amount of school taxes paid on the property. A property owner must file the refund application by July 31, 2004.
Tax Code Section 111.302 provides the Comptroller with 90 days to compute the total amount of eligible refunds.
Finally, Tax Code Section 111.302(d) addresses county and city agreements that offer different levels of abatement. It states: “If an eligible person has entered into tax abatement agreements with the municipality and the county, and the agreements provided to the comptroller show that the agreements exempt different portions of property value, the refund amount shall be computed based on the greater of the portions exempted.”
For more information about this state refund program, contact Patricia Bailey at the Comptroller's Property Tax Division by e-mail at [email protected] or call 1-800-252-9121, extension 3-4416. In Austin, call (512)463-4416. | <urn:uuid:97535770-44be-4def-81d6-56e65e7a7ed1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cpa.state.tx.us/taxinfo/proptax/stmt/stmt0402/stmt0402_3.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94831 | 1,043 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Two recent political cartoons draw attention to what the artist labels "The New Normal." They are a nice gesture; humor can take the edge off a harsh truth.
One drawing depicts a line of automobiles leading to a gas station advertising regular unleaded for $3.15 per gallon. In the caption, one driver asks a passenger, "Remember when 3 dollars was considered a high price for gas?" Another panel shows a new bicycle before a family Christmas tree, as the mother explains to her husband that the bike isn't for their son, it's for him to ride to work.
But there's nothing humorous about the proposed 2012 budget for the city of Tiffin. On the other hand, there's no bad news, either.
Mayor Jim Boroff has submitted a $10.04 million budget. That $40,000 is too important to omit by rounding; after all, the new figure would be less than the $10.1 million budget for this year.
But the plan doesn't call for layoffs of city employees or major reductions in city services. It also doesn't include pay increases.
The new normal in this budget would be the continued use of so-called "sewer splits."
Boroff's proposal includes paying a third of wages and benefits for the mayor, city administrator, finance director, payroll manager, payable technician, engineering employees, public works supervisor, sidewalk and special projects administrator and the law director with sewer revenues. This year's budget used sewer revenue to offset 30 percent of those wages and benefits.
Previously, when sewer splits were used to help balance the budget, opponents of the idea were quite vocal. Now, council members seem resigned to the idea.
As if it's the new normal. | <urn:uuid:9bc53e0e-a47c-438d-9ed6-eec3bb627e8a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/542745/Sewer-splits-may-be-the-norm.html?nav=5006 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964427 | 353 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Shirley Manson biography
Born on August 26, 1966, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Shirley Manson is best known for her work as the lead vocalist of the alternative rock band Garbage. Before fronting Garbage, Manson played keyboards and sang back-up with Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie, and performed as the lead singer of Angelfish. In 1995, Garbage released its self-titled debut album, which went double platinum due to hits such as "Only Happy When It Rains," "Stupid Girl" and "Vow." Manson went on to release four more albums with Garbage, including Not Your Kind of People (2012).
Shirley Manson was born on August 26, 1966, in Edinburgh, Scotland. The musician was the second of three daughters born to John Manson, a geneticist, and Muriel Manson, a former big-band vocalist.
Manson began taking piano lessons at age 7, and her love of music led her to eventually study at the City of Edinburgh Music School. Perhaps music was a refuge for the young girl, who was bullied relentlessly in school. The harassment took its toll; Manson fell into a deep depression and began cutting herself.
In 1904, Manson found an outlet to express herself: She became a member of the band Autumn, and later joined the group Wild Indians. Manson dropped out of high school at age 16, and soon joined the band Goodbye Mr. Mackenzie as a back-up vocalist and keyboardist. She performed with the band until 1992.
Manson joined the band Angelfish as its lead singer, and together they released the EP Suffocate Me in 1993. Though the album failed to produce hits, it did get Manson noticed by Butch Vig, drummer for the band Garbage, when he saw her on MTV. He contacted Manson, who auditioned for Garbage twice before joining the band as its lead singer in 1994.
Garbage's self-titled debut album in 1995 went double platinum in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia due to hits such as "Only Happy When It Rains," "Stupid Girl" and "Vow." Three years later, the band released its second album, Version 2.0, with Manson serving as not only the face and voice of Garbage, but also its primary lyricist. During the band's two-year tour, Manson modeled for Calvin Klein to promote the album.
In 1999, Manson co-produced the theme for the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, starring Pierce Bronson as James Bond, the iconic character created by author Ian Fleming. Garbage's third album, beautifulgarbage, was released in 2001 to lackluster sales. Infighting between members ensued, and Garbage broke up in 2003. The split didn't last long, and the band reunited to release its fourth album, Bleed Like Me, in 2005. Led by the hit "Why Do You Love Me," the album met with international success and, reaching Top 5 in the United States.
The reunion was brief, and the band took a hiatus for several years. During this time, Manson made attempts to create a solo album, but to no avail.
Her label refused to release the album. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Manson revealed, "I had a collection of songs that I thought were really strong. I took them in [and] played them for the record company. They weren't interested. They told me they were too dark. They wanted me to have international radio hits and 'be the Annie Lennox of my generation.' I kid you not; I am quoting directly."
Manson made her acting debut in 2008, playing cyborg Catherine Weaver on the second season of the show Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. She returned to Garbage in 2010, when the band returned to the studio to write and record music for its fifth album, Not Your Kind of People, released in 2012.
Manson married Scottish actor Eddie Farrell in 1996. The couple split in 2001 and finalized their divorce in 2003.
In May 2010, Manson married record producer and Garbage sound engineer Billy Bush, who helped produce the 2012 album Not Your Kind of People. They live with their terrier named Veela.
Manson has no children, but that's by choice. She told the Daily Mail UK, "I just missed that whole baby calling. I feel a lot of women think you're a freak if you feel like that, and maybe I am strange, I never got that feeling."
Manson and her husband reside in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. | <urn:uuid:66e967b6-2704-4a32-99b7-31fb1da6fe54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biography.com/print/profile/shirley-manson-21084967 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982919 | 940 | 1.765625 | 2 |
In its annual college ranking, the Washington Monthly has ranked California State University, Dominguez Hills fifth in the nation among more than 650 universities whose highest degree granted is the master’s degree. It was the highest ranking of any master’s university in California.
The Washington Monthly, a D.C.-based magazine, has been producing its college rankings guide since 1995. It bases its ratings on a university’s public good, or “on what colleges are doing for the country,” using three criteria: social mobility toward helping low-income students earn degrees; research production; and a university’s commitment to service. Rankings are separated by type of institutions: national universities, liberal arts colleges, master’s universities, and baccalaureate colleges.
“Despite unprecedented state budget reductions, increased student tuition, and myriad other pressures, faculty and staff at Dominguez Hills continue to put students first, mentoring and supporting them as they transform their lives through the power of education,” said Interim President Willie Hagan.
CSU Dominguez Hills serves a highly diverse student population, many of whom are from low-income families and first in their families to attend college. Approximately 63 percent of students are needs-based federal Pell Grant recipients. The university places an emphasis on a comprehensive academic experience that engages students inside and outside of the classroom. Students have many opportunities to work with faculty on research — the university’s annual Student Research Day is one of the largest in the CSU system — and community service is an active part of campus life, earning the university distinction on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll two years in a row.
For a more in-depth look at the methodology of the rankings and the rankings themselves, click on the link: The Washington Monthly College Guide. | <urn:uuid:16f54013-3c22-47b6-acd9-5e9fa814acdd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.csudhnews.com/2012/09/washington-monthly-ranking/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943807 | 380 | 1.617188 | 2 |
March 08th, 2011 | Xinhua PetroChina Jilin Oilfield eyes higher oil output
PetroChina Jilin Oilfield aims to produce about 10 million tons of oil and gas in 2015, Hou Qijun, general manager of the oilfield, said Monday.
The oilfield began to be explored in 1961. During the past 50 years, 23 oil and gas production zones have been discovered, according to Hou, a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC) which is convening its annual session.
By the end of 2010, proven reserves of oil and natural gas reached 1.42 billion tons and 82.6 billion cubic meters respectively.
The oilfield produced 7.5 million tons of oil and gas in 2010, ranking the seventh largest among China’s oilfields.
There are still great potentials of oil and gas reserves for the oilfield, Hou said. | <urn:uuid:5793b08e-1562-4c51-a4ae-93ccbbb47385> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://china-wire.org/?p=10410 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957203 | 188 | 1.570313 | 2 |
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Tue January 22, 2013
Stateside: Looking at Michigan's new abortion law 40 years after Roe v. Wade
The following is a summary of a previously recorded interview. To hear the complete segment, click the audio above.
Among the flood of bills passed in the waning days of 2012 came House Bill 5711.
The bill was signed by Gov. Snyder last month and became law (Public Act 499 of 2012).
Dr. Lisa Hope Harris Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Michigan spoke with Cyndy about the new law and its implications for the state.
“There are four components to the new law. The first is that health centers that provide 120 or more surgical abortions per year and advertise those abortions be licensed as free-standing surgical centers. The law does include waivers… Clinics will very likely be able to comply with this regulation. That means that women are unlikely to be directly affected by the component of the new law.”
Harris addressed the building requirements imposed by the law .
“There are very specific requirements set out by the state for what it means to be a free-standing surgical outpatient center. They include all things that are good patient care, but some of them assume a different kind of acuity of surgical procedure than abortion, so they require surgical rooms to be a certain square footage and other things that aren’t really necessary to provide safe abortion care.”
The screening process for those waiting to get an abortion will also change, said Harris.
“The new law requires that health centers screen women for coercion to have an abortion. Many do this already…The interesting thing about this component is the Michigan Penal Code was not changed. So health centers are going to be required to tell women that coercion to abort is a crime, but it is not actually a crime yet. It does put clinics in an interesting ethical position."
There are two ways you can podcast "Stateside with Cynthia Canty"
Politics & Government
Politics & Government | <urn:uuid:30427238-ddfc-4243-ba8c-6aeb814f194d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.michiganradio.org/post/stateside-looking-michigans-new-abortion-law-40-years-after-roe-v-wade?ft=1&f=169542966,169543209,169646597,169647022,169647045,169700824,169917082,169919268,169919604,169993055,170007537,170008022,170098142,170100814,170101109 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953511 | 495 | 1.765625 | 2 |
During the process of making our wine I found the physical part of winemaking very difficult and exhausting. And learning the chemistry part of winemaking proved very confusing.
Going through the legal challenges of getting our ABC licenses, arranging a place to keep my wine and getting the necessary insurance also proved to be difficult and frustrating. One of the things I thought would be easy was putting together the wine label. After submitting it to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, I became a real believer of checking and double checking. After three revisions I finally got it right. Below are the many requirements that need to be on the label. There are basic rules and percentages that must be met, but the ones listed below are for California where the requirements are tougher.
If you have a vintage date, at least 95 percent must be from that vintage. Sometimes when topping off wine you can run short and you might have to use another vintage year to top off.
When a wine is labeled "Estate Bottled" it means that the vineyard and winery are at the same location and the wine is produced and bottled at this location.
If you say the wine is from California, 100 percent of the wine must be from California. If you list an AVA (American Viticultural Area), such as Napa Valley, 85 percent of the grapes must come from there. If you mention that the grapes came from a particular vineyard at least 95 percent of the grapes must be from there.
You need to list the alcohol by volume. This is one mistake I made, I just listed alcohol 14.8 percent and left off the by volume.
The label must have the declaration of sulfites and list the health warning statement. It has to be listed and presented exactly as it appears in the example, another mistake we made.
You have to list the brand name of your wine and what varietal makes up your wine. If you want to call your wine a cabernet sauvignon, it must contain at least 85 percent cabernet sauvignon grapes.
You must list where the wine was produced and bottled, including the city and state. You also must list the net contents in the wine container, listed in milliliters. A regular bottle of wine is 750 ML.
Believe it or not our last mistake came from the back label. When describing the vineyard and the AVA, we used the words "famed" and "outstanding" This is a no-no and you cannot use these type of adjectives when describing the wine. | <urn:uuid:02eeb734-fd31-43c5-ae4e-34b05ed4ba27> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vcstar.com/news/2011/aug/26/briley-creating-proper-wine-labels-can-get-complic/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964134 | 526 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Birth of the cool
Tomorrow is the day when Microsoft tries to get its mojo working. At the BUILD conference, Windows 8 will be revealed to an audience of eager developers, including yours truly. But although this is a developer conference, the technical details aren’t quite as important as usual. What really matters is the rebirth (and probably detoxification) of the whole Windows brand. At the moment, Windows just isn’t perceived as “cool” in the same way as certain other brands, it’s just something you use because you have to (either because it’s for work or because you have a limited budget).
I suspect the main point of this conference is to make “Windows” not refer to a PC operating system, but instead to cover a whole range of Microsoft services and devices working in synergy. So as a Windows user, you’ll be using your Windows Phone with Windows Live services, keeping your data in the Windows Live cloud, then accessing the same stuff from your Windows tablet, laptop and PC plus your XBox and Surface. You’ll be using Kinect and voice control to access TV, videos and music on your devices without hunting for the remote, and because it all synchronises together so seamlessly you’ll not need to worry about which device you’re using to access which service or where the data’s coming from, because it’s all Windows and it all just works.
Well, that’ll be nice, won’t it? Of course, vision and execution are two different things. After all, Microsoft already has the technology to do all of the above, it’s the synergy that’s missing. So what we’re looking for this week is evidence that in that Microsoft really are pulling everything together, and from a developer point of view that we’re going to be given the tools to build applications and services that will work in the new paradigm.
I’ll be blogging selected highlights throughout the week, but what I’ll be particularly looking out for is:
- Designers, Designers, Designers! This is where HTML5 comes in, of course. Designers just don’t use Expression Blend or Visual Studio, so traditional Windows apps are very rarely a thing of beauty. But if you can use HTML as the basis of your UI then all of a sudden that changes everything. I’ll be looking to see how the HTML and XAML models have been merged or bridged so that we can write .NET apps and still get a properly designed UI.
- The consumer cloud. Developers already have Azure, but we also need an API for the Windows Live cloud services, in particular SkyDrive. For example, a Windows Phone Mango app I just wrote has a facility for uploading images, audio and video. But why should I have to use my own Azure storage account for this when I know that the user has oodles of SkyDrive storage and probably would rather have the uploaded media available in their own account anyway? If developers get proper access to Windows Live, the sky’s the limit in terms of what services we can build.
- Entertainment services. I’ve always been a big fan of Media Centre. I use it for TV, video and music in my living room and I love it. And of course because it’s a PC I can watch iPlayer and other streaming media on the TV as well. But what I really want is a Surface 2 hanging on the wall, doing the same things but with Kinect, voice and multi-touch control. And I also want to be able to access the same media from my phone and tablet (and XBox of course) without having to even think about synchronisation.
- The next version of Windows Phone. With Mango about to roll out, the Windows Phone is definitely a match for the competition. But what’s in the next release to make it a must-have? I’m still hoping for an Xbox Phone with proper game controls, but we’ll see.
- Hardware. Will Microsoft be working with the hardware manufacturers to make it easy for consumers to choose devices without having to worry about what all the technical specs mean?
Check back to the blog for updates and I’ll let you know what we find out! | <urn:uuid:cae75ad8-38c4-439d-9c85-6cb1ffdc1d18> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://markxa.com/2011/09/12/birth-of-the-cool/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935606 | 907 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Jump Start classes
AACC and North County High School are working to bring college courses to the high school's students and surrounding community. Eligible students are encouraged to enroll in AACC's Jump Start classes this fall at either the Arnold campus or at Arundel Mills.
Jump Start classes will be offered at the high school in the spring. In addition, AACC will offer evening classes at North County this fall to help students who are at least 16 and have dropped out of high school, and for adults in the community who want to get started in a new career, complete general education requirements or boost their learning skills so they can be successful in college.
Most classes will meet one or two nights a week. Sessions begin Sept. 10 and include Basic English 1 and 2, Composition and Introduction to Literature 1, Participatory College Reading, The Critical Reader, Business and its Environment and Adult Basic Skills. Other courses are Certification in Sanitation for the hospitality industry and Prep Prax1: Math Skills for aspiring teachers. New students enrolling in a credit course must submit an admission application.
Information about tuition, financial aid and academic advising can be found at aacc.edu or by calling 410-777-2222. Students interested in the "Adult Basic Skills" class should call 410-777-1823 to make an appointment to assess their skills before starting class.
Tuition aid at AACC
Financial aid is still available at Anne Arundel Community College. In addition, the college has a no-fee, interest-free payment plan that allows the cost of tuition be spread throughout a term. Payment plans are also available. For information about financial aid, call 410-888-2203 or go to aacc.edu/aid. Students can also meet with a financial aid representative on a walk-in basis at the Arnold campus, Glen Burnie Town Center, AACC at Arundel Mills or the Fort Meade Army Education Center.
A three-credit course in elementary Hebrew will be offered from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays through Dec. 16 at Anne Arundel Community College, 101 College Parkway in Arnold. The class will be led by Hanna Yerushalmi, an ordained rabbi with a master's degree in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College. Registration and information: 410-777-1955 or aacc.edu/recreg.
Honored for forensics
Anne Arundel Community College has been designated as a National Center of Digital Forensics Academic Excellence by the U.S. Department of Defense Cyber Crime Center. The conditional designation means that AACC students enrolled in the college's new cyberforensics associate's degree or certificate programs are receiving training that meets the objectives the center requires of its employees. Students who complete those programs will be eligible to sit for an exam that certifies their digital forensics knowledge and skills. AACC is one of two community colleges in the nation to receive the designation; the other is Howard Community College. The Johns Hopkins University also received the designation.
Barrett and Anne McKown of Edgewater have established a $25,000 scholarship fund at Anne Arundel Community College to help offset tuition and educational expenses of county residents who enroll in cyber-related studies. The couple set up the Barrett and Anne McKown Scholarship for Cybersecurity Study as a fund to allow contributions from the community. Preference will go to a U.S. citizen living in Anne Arundel who is attending a cybersecurity studies program, is enrolled full time and has at least a 3.0 GPA. To apply: aacc.edu/aid/scholarships. Those interested in contributing to the fund or establishing scholarships can contact the AACC Foundation Inc.: 410-777-2515, [email protected] or aacc.edu/foundation.
Anne Arundel Community College invites employers to participate in its internship program. Students from a broad range of disciplines want real-world experience and mentoring from leaders in business, industry, government, and nonprofit agencies and organizations. For information on how the internships work or to offer an internship, contact the college's internship office at aacc.edu/foundation or aacc.edu/internships.
Through 2014, three Anne Arundel Community College nursing students will receive $3,000 scholarships through a program set up by Johns Hopkins HealthCare. The scholarships will benefit county residents enrolled in the college's registered nursing associate's degree program who demonstrate financial need as established by the AACC financial aid office. Information: 410-777-2515 or aacc.edu. | <urn:uuid:26b056e7-2f91-48ec-b68a-95600a61c79b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-08-24/news/bs-ar-edbriefs-0826-20120824_1_financial-aid-aacc-tuition-aid | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937082 | 956 | 1.664063 | 2 |
|Full-time assistant teachers:||1|
|Average student attendance:||63|
|School years:||Preschool to Middle|
|Distance to main town:||250km north on Tennant Creek or 850km south of Darwin by road.|
Elliott School is located in the community of Elliott approximately 250km north of Tennant Creek or 850km south of Darwin on the Stuart Highway, which ensures good road access all year. The population of Elliott is approximately 500. The traditional owners of the area are the Jingili people.
Elliott School is part of the Barkly Group School and offers education to students from preschool through to middle years.
Elliott has been identified as a Territory Growth Town (TGT) under the NT Government's A Working Future initiative. TGTs will become towns with comparable services to other country towns in Australia. | <urn:uuid:3d224304-505b-4458-9545-f568273c210b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.teaching.nt.gov.au/remote/index.cfm?attributes.fuseaction=ELLIOTT | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938434 | 181 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Vatican II Through a Liberalís Lens
BY Mark Brumley
September 13-19, 1998 Issue | Posted 9/13/98 at 2:00 PM
Ideology mars a well-produced PBS documentary on the historic council
On Sept. 18, PBS will air Reflections on Vatican II, a slick, technically well-produced trip down Catholic memory lane, 1960s style, as seen through the not-always-accurate prism of the post-Vatican II era. Sometimes, it presents a sound history of the Council and Pope John XXIII's vision of it. At other times, the film comes across as “Oliver Stone meets Vatican II,” offering viewers a revisionist hodge-podge of conflicting viewpoints on the council, with little synthesis and large amounts of spin.
But first things first. There's a lot to commend this documentary. It has, by and large, what folks in the movie-making business call “production values.” Vintage contemporaneous newscasts from the early 1960s, sprinkled with comments from veteran journalists who covered the council, tell much of the story.
NBC's Irving R. Levine's personal recollections vividly portray the unprecedented marvel — even the seeming incongruity — of a general council being held in the age of television and satellites. He recounts, for example, a brief statement John XXIII made for the Today Show. A ten-minute window afford by the Telstar satellite passing over Rome required careful coordination. Sitting in studio, Levine heard the floor manager utter the unforgettable words, “Cue the Pope.” TV put Vatican II and the bishops of the Catholic Church in everyone's living room, notes Levine, and the documentary does a fine job of capturing the hopeful excitement of it.
Reflections on Vatican II also shows the profound impact of Pope John XXIII on the modern Church and of his holy inspiration for a faithful “updating” (aggiornamento) to make the Church more effective in her mission. He is seen as a world leader who mediated between East and West in the Cuban missile crisis, a believer who sought reconciliation among Christian Churches, even between Christians and Jews — yet without diluting his Catholic vision. Here was a pope whose passion for the Gospel, for the unity of the human family, and for making Christ a living reality to all men, compelled him to orient the Church he led in service to the world.
And the world of his day took note. The great affection many non-Catholics felt for this great pontiff, especially in his passing away midway through Vatican II, is a moving theme of the documentary.
Yet notwithstanding such strengths, Reflections on Vatican II has grave flaws.
Where to begin? At the outset, we're told — by a cleric whom we later discover is actually a Traditionalist Catholic of Lefverist inclinations — that there were two main camps at Vatican II, a “conservative” and a “progressive” one. Okay. But then Cardinal Ottaviani is named as leader of the “conservatives” (a black and white shot of the Cardinal appears) and he is identified as the one “who was at that time what Cardinal Ratzinger is now, head of the Holy Office, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith” (the black and white photo fades into Cardinal Ratzinger at prayer).
Of course, that is factually correct, if we qualify it by saying the Holy Office was replaced by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. But the point is that the otherwise uninformed viewer is apt to conclude that somehow Cardinal Ratzinger's outlook toward Vatican II is or was that of Cardinal Ottaviani. In truth, if we have to situate the (then) young German theologian Ratzinger who served as a theological adviser at the council, it would be among the “progressives” — a staunch advocate of the Council and John XXIII's aggiornamento. Surely it is an injustice that the only reference to Cardinal Ratzinger is as Cardinal Ottaviani's successor.
Another major problem with the film: this two-hour documentary often grossly oversimplifies or misstates things. Consider the two things touted in the film as Vatican II's contribution to the Church's worship today — the vernacular liturgy and the Mass “facing the people.” The Western European and American churchmen interviewed give the mistaken impression, or at least are presented as giving the mistaken impression, that Vatican II itself mandated the vernacular and abolished Latin in all liturgies. Only the African Francis Cardinal Arinze gets it right. “The Vatican Council didn't send Latin on holiday or dismiss it altogether,” he states. “Unfortunately, some people in the Church have done just that. They behave as if Vatican II said ‘no more Latin; only look [at] modern languages.’ Vatican II did not say that. It wanted that flexibility so that sometimes there would be celebration in Latin.”
One need only look at the Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy to see that Cardinal Arinze is correct. Article no. 36, ?1 and 2, for example, states, “The use of the Latin language, with due respect to particular law, is to be preserved in the Latin rights. But since the use of the vernacular, whether in the Mass, the administration of the sacraments, or in other parts of the liturgy, may frequently be of great advantage to the people, a wider use may be made of it, especially in readings, directives and in some prayers and chants.”
Vatican II assumed the Latin liturgy would be normative and made exceptions for the vernacular, not the other way around. Of course, post-conciliar Church legislation has quite legitimately allowed for the extension of the vernacular. The point is, Reflections on Vatican II obscures what really happened.
As for Mass “facing the people,” we're assured in the film by no less a theological authority than actor Martin Sheen that it “was like this very bright light had been shown into this dark place.” Does this mean that for the millennium before the Church was in the dark ages? That the great saints who worshipped God through the old liturgy were somehow “in the dark?”
More to the point, the documentary gets it wrong yet again about what Vatican II actually did. The council didn't mandate Mass “facing the people.” In fact, the novus ordo liturgy of Paul VI, which came five years after Vatican II and which is still in effect, permits celebration of the liturgy “facing the Lord,” that is, where the people and the priest face the same direction in offering the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Son to the Father in the Spirit, as well as “facing the people” in dialogue fashion.
In addition to the liturgy, the documentary examines the laity in the Church, the social aspect of the Church's mission, ecumenism, and the Church today. The views of prelates and theologians are juxtaposed with those of lay leaders and others, often revealing significant ideological biases. For example, Olivia Hill, the African American director of the diocesan Office of Black Ministry in Birmingham, Alabama, said of African Americans and Vatican II: “What happened was with Vatican II, we had the possibility of our spirits being freed. Vatican II indeed prompted the urgings of our spirits that has been oppressed because of a Eurocentric way of worshipping.”
Shift the scene to Washington state where Charlene Collora, “pastoral administrator for Our Lady of Mt. Virgin,” talks about her role in the parish as if she were pastor. “Now I sign the checks, I pay the bills, I make the decisions when we have to buy a new furnace or sell the plot of land next door to make needs meet. I'm the one who runs the parish council. And none of this would have happened before Vatican II.”
But none of this is supposed to happen after Vatican II either, assuming the documentary accurately depicts Collora's situation. The Code of Canon Law restricts the role of parish administrator to priests (Canon 539). After a few moments of the documentary's treatment of the laity, one sees why the Vatican had to issue a document last year directed against abuses of lay collaboration with the clergy.
Shift again to Vatican II's emphasis on the social mission of the Church. The film offers a stirring tribute to the anti-Vietnam and civil rights movements of the 1960s, with Jesuit Father Daniel Berrigan and the other Catonsville Nine shown burning draft files. Martin Sheen pops in again, though, now among protesters chaining themselves to a federal building in Los Angeles and denouncing U.S. policy in El Salvador. Sheen opines, “There's great demand that is made of us that are Catholic and take the faith seriously, not always the Church, but the faith seriously …”
And of the courageous Catholic leadership in the pro-life movement? Silence. No sympathetic depictions of non-violent civil disobedience in defense of unborn children, nothing.. Peace activist Jim Douglas claims that the only “condemnation” Vatican II pronounced was of the indiscriminate destruction of cities and civilian populations. But, in fact, the council also denounced abortion (called an abominable crime, Gaudium et Spes, no. 51) and euthanasia (GS, no. 27).
Needless to say, the institutional Church comes in for heavy criticism. Pius XII is called “rigid.” He gets zero credit for encouraging the liturgical movement which led to Vatican II's Constitution on the Liturgy. And, once again, he is attacked for not speaking out against the Nazis, a criticism that overlooks the careful analysis of recent Jewish scholars such as William D. Rubinstein (The Myth of Rescue), who argue that doing so wouldn't have saved any more Jews than the Vatican already saved and might well have made things worse.
Then there's how John Paul II is treated. Though a significant player at Vatican II, he doesn't really appear until three quarters of the way into the documentary. And then most of the discussion centers on his postconciliar role in Poland and his efforts to wrestle his native land free from Communism. George Weigel, one of the few articulate and orthodox Catholic laymen interviewed (Janet Smith is another), does give a superb assessment of John Paul II's contribution. Indeed, Wiegel's summary of Vatican II is perhaps one of film's best parts; too bad it comes at the very end.
We hear nothing of John Paul II's ongoing efforts to implement the council — nothing about, for instance, his issuance of the revised Code of Canon Law, one of the original things that put John XXIII on to the idea of an ecumenical council in the first place. There's nothing about the Catechism of the Catholic Church, nor about how the Holy Father has tried to steer the Church between a Traditionalist rejection of the council on the one hand and a radical distortion of it by dissenters on the other. What we do get is largely critics of John Paul II bad-mouthing him as a traitor to the council. Yes, Janet Smith champions him as a “Pope of the council,” as does Weigel. But their sound-bites get lost beneath the denunciations of Hans Kung, Andrew Greeley and Richard McBrien. According to McBrien, John Paul II may have followed the “letter of Vatican II,” but he missed its “spirit.” Or, if “he's caught it, he's decided it was harmful to the Church.”
We could go on cataloging the film's specific sins. But perhaps the main problem with Reflections on Vatican II is that it treats Catholic orthodoxy as just one more opinion to be placed side-by- side with many dissenting viewpoints. What's more, the dissenters actually get more airtime — not necessarily to file their grievances — but at least to put their agenda-driven spin on the council and frame the discussion.
Despite its virtues, the flaws of the documentary are so massive and pervasive that this critic gives it two “thumbs down” for all but the most informed and critical Catholic viewers.
Mark Brumley writes from San Francisco.
Copyright © 2013 EWTN News, Inc. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:becc9b97-b9ed-4dd4-9bf9-ebbbd2a4f0d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ncregister.com/site/print_article/14069/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960478 | 2,616 | 1.71875 | 2 |
The old Village of Abbotsford, like Cloverdale and Aldergrove, also described in this series, was a stop on the vanished Interurban commuter rail line. It’s been renamed Downtown Abbotsford, and the city government has taken steps to dress it up and attract customers… as described in a “Business and Industry Statistics” document:
“Extensive efforts have been made to revitalize the downtown core, including tax exemptions, building improvement grants, downtown branding plans and a 20 year business improvement bylaw. Since 2003, over 50 businesses have located downtown and over two dozen investors have purchased property with a commitment to revitalization.” A 2005 revitalization bylaw offers a property tax reduction to anyone who completes more than $100,000 in building improvements. And the money is flowing, at least on a couple of streets, giving the area a fresher appearance than some of the other 1930s-vintage business areas in the region.
My co-tourist was Randy Rosner, who has lived up the hill in the Clayburn neighbourhood for more than 25 years. We ate at the Duke of Dublin pub and enjoyed the food and the service. Randy says he doesn’t come into Downtown much. Despite the beautification of some shopfronts, he thinks of it as “poverty city,” a zone for criminal activity, and he showed me some decaying housing. And like a lot of our old downtown areas, social agencies are a prominent part of the landscape.
Downtown Abbotsford has some of the ingredients for a happening urban village. The transit system is fair, with three or four routes running through the village and the university bus running as often as every 15 minutes. A demographic profile published by the City states that 40 per cent of the dwellings in the Central Area — the village and the streets to the north — are apartments (although only four per cent of the people walk to work.). Local schoolchildren have published a walking tour guide with 31 historic stops. A group of young hipsters has taken over the upstairs of an old hotel and blog about it as the Atangard Community Project.
But for this tourist, at this moment, the core commercial area seems to lack critical mass, and the streets ringing the core are uncomfortably busy and fast. My hope for Downtown, as with so many of these places, is that the city government and the business association will work to connect businesses with the people who live nearby — literally, through design changes, and socially, by facilitating shared initiatives aimed at improvement. Too often, the combination of village shops and medium-density housing is regarded as a kind of weird accident, and the synergies available to a walkable neighbourhood are overlooked.
[This is post #10 in our Urban Villages series. By the way, the "urban village" is treated on this site not as a commercial area, but as a walkable mixed-use area centred on a set of services. Livability in an urban village is a function of housing availability for a diversity of folks, public transit, civic amenities and incentives to walk and cycle as well as a range of commercial services.] | <urn:uuid:bf9b2056-77e3-45e4-8982-701b3c13dbf9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fraseropolis.com/2012/07/20/theyre-spending-money-in-downtown-abbotsford/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971087 | 651 | 1.585938 | 2 |
In The Signal and the Noise, Nate Silver looked at several different fields of prediction to illustrate both the power and the limits of trying to peer into the future. Some fields, like meteorology, have progressed to the point where you can know with reasonable accuracy what the weather in your town will be like in three days. Others, like seismology, can give you a rough sense of where an earthquake is more likely to happen at some point, but don’t offer much in the way of guidance in terms of exactly when and with what force that earthquake will strike.
We know the Braves have some money left to play with — as much as $14 million in the 2013 budget if DOB’s recent chat with Terry McGuirk is to be believed — but trying to figure out what they’re going to do with it is more a matter of seismology than meteorology.
“The U.S. Geological Service’s official position is that earthquakes cannot be predicted [a definitive and specific statement about when and where an earthquake will strike]. They can, however, be forecasted [a probabilistic statement, usually over a longer time scale].” — Silver, p. 149
Even if we can’t necessarily predict exactly who the Braves will acquire and when, we can forecast, based on what we know about how the Braves’ organization operates, some general ideas about what the team will seek to do with the remaining budget. In the era of limited budgets over the last decade, the Braves have seemed to abide by the following principles:
- They’re OK going into a season with a question mark at a key position (think closer in 2006, 1B in 2007, CF in 2009 and 2011, or SS in 2012).
- They’re also willing to admit a mistake and acquire a reinforcement via midseason trade if the question mark doesn’t pan out (think Wickman in 2006, Teixeira in 2007, McLouth in 2009, or Bourn in 2011).
- They budget for question marks that weren’t necessarily apparent when the season started and acquire help as necessary (think LaRoche in 2009, or Maholm in 2012).
- If a big-ticket player who fills a need becomes available via trade, they’re willing to pull the trigger (think Teixeira again, Hudson back in 2005, or Uggla in 2011).
So what will the Braves do? The first three principles seem to suggest that they’ll be happy to go into the season with the roster as-is, evaluate who is and is not working through the first half of the season, and acquire players as teams fall out of contention and become sellers. The last principle suggests that if a “home run” trade is available at the right price, the Braves will be in on it. There’s one on the board.
Justin Upton is exactly the sort of player a mid-market team like Atlanta would love to get in a trade: 25 years old, under team control at a reasonable salary (three more seasons at an average annual rate of $12.8MM), talent and tools that suggest MVP upside, and a situation with his current team that could lead to a trade for less than market value. The Diamondbacks have four starting outfielders and only three places to put them, Upton had a down year last year by his standards, they’ve already traded him to Seattle (and had the deal vetoed), and they’ve dismantled his fan section at their home park.
With spring training still a month away and the season still more than two months away, the Diamondbacks haven’t entertained any 60-cents-on-the-dollar offers yet. The Seattle trade was for premium talent, they’ve told the Cubs that Starlin Castro would have to be the centerpiece of a trade there, and they apparently want Andrelton Simmons from Atlanta. It’s safe to say that the Braves will not be trading six cost-controlled years of a potential Gold Glove shortstop for an expensive outfielder, even one of Upton’s considerable talent.
But ultimately, the Diamondbacks need to trade Upton more than the Braves need to trade for him, which is a nice position to be in. If Kevin Towers’ price for Upton drops — say, to Randall Delgado or Julio Teheran, a major-league relief pitcher, a minor-league infielder, and a low-minors lottery ticket — then the Braves should, and probably will, sign off on the deal.
The other name that keeps popping up as the offseason winds down is Michael Bourn. Perhaps because of his .225/.325/.311 second half last year, no one has given Bourn all of the money in free agency yet, and the list of potential suitors is dwindling to where a one-year, make-good contract is at least a possibility in play. If that happens, and if the price of Upton remains too high, another year of Bourn might be in order. They probably shouldn’t pay for too much more than that.
Unless a figurative earthquake hits out of the blue, if the Braves pass on both of those players they’re probably going into the season with the roster they have. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; the only known question mark on the roster is whichever position between 3B and LF that Prado isn’t playing on a given day, there’s an in-house plan to cover that which might work, and the financial flexibility to address an injury or prolonged slump in mid-season is a major asset. The lists of remaining free agents at those positions don’t inspire spending money on anyone but bench bats. (I wouldn’t mind having Andruw back for cheap, though.)
Who becomes available is mostly a function of which teams fall out of contention at the time the Braves are looking to deal. This is a situation in which a forecast is more useful than a prediction; while Corey Hart, Alex Gordon, and Josh Willingham would all look good standing under the 755 Club, there’s no indication any of them are currently available. (And Hart will be out for a chunk of the first half, anyway.)
Alfonso Soriano probably is available on a Derek Lowe-style salary dump, but he’s signed for two years through his age-38 season, and you can expect the age cliff to hit any day now. Dexter Fowler is out there, but he’s a career .248/.331/.367 hitter away from Coors Field. I’d stay away. It’s unlikely, but if the Yankees want to rent out Curtis Granderson in the second half of the season, I’d listen. I’m sure someone in the comments will want to float Giancarlo Stanton’s name, but let’s be real: he’d cost the entire Braves’ farm system, the Falcons’ next three first-round draft picks, and the Sweetwater Brewery.
On that farm system: It seems clear that if and when the Braves do trade this year, they’ll do so out of pitching depth. The major league bullpen is stacked to the point that Cory Gearrin probably doesn’t have a spot right now, so everyone short of Craig Kimbrel is probably on the block. Between Delgado, Teheran, Sean Gilmartin, and Zeke Spruill, there’s enough top-flight pitching talent in the minors that they can probably swap one of them for a bat and not take too much of a hit in terms of organizational depth.
Overall, the Braves are in a pretty strong position going into the season for a mid-market team: in on trades but not necessarily desperate for one, with financial flexibility and organizational depth in the area teams covet most. They’ll make a move at some point, but at the moment they can wait for the deal to come to them. | <urn:uuid:479fdc0f-3146-4e81-8e11-7b10aab2c9b5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bravesjournal.com/?p=9116&cpage=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957189 | 1,675 | 1.53125 | 2 |
- Health care works for women, children, seniors – everyone. More than 2.9 million Michiganders received preventative care such as mammograms and colonoscopies for free in 2011.
- Health care works for young adults: 57,527 Young Adults in Michigan are now insured because of the new health care law.
- Health care works for seniors: 84,168 Medicare beneficiaries saved more than $48 million on prescription drugs because of the new health care law.
- Health care works for small businesses: A growing number of businesses offering health care coverage are taking advantage of tax credits available under the law.
Involved Voters can find information about what portions of the ACA have already been implemented and what's still to come on the healthcare.gov timeline page.
On Monday, March 26th, the Supreme Court will begin oral arguments about the constitutionality of the law. The proceedings will be worth following.
If you or someone in your family has already benefited from the ACA or will in the future, I encourage you to write a letter to the editor or comment online during this important time. | <urn:uuid:ae211374-667a-4956-ad07-c7c0b54752b5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://involvedvoters.blogspot.com/2012/03/happy-birthday-affordable-care-act.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947706 | 226 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Finally, a reason for science to exist: A researcher in Philadelphia (of course!) has discovered the single most effective cure for a hangover. And it's really pretty simple.
Coffee and aspirin. That's it! So much simpler than my current cures of "building a time machine and preventing myself from drinking the night before," and, if that fails, "staring at the wall until the day is over." This is all according to Thomas Jefferson University's Michael Oshinsky, who, no joke, gave rats hangovers:
Ethanol brings on headaches thanks to a chemical acetate it can produce and even low doses can affect some people more than others, said the study.
Professor Michael Oshinsky, of Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, induced headaches in rats using small amounts of ethanol.
He then gave them doses of caffeine and anti-inflammatories to find it blocked the acetate and relieved the headaches.
Is this real? Well, it's science, so it has to be! But what does it mean?
For one thing, that dehydration isn't the cause of hangovers—the rats Oshinksy got drunk weren't dehydrated—so don't worry about coffee further dehydrating you. For another, all the weird cures your roommate is always trying to make you take—"A raw-egg-and-vodka wheatgrass shot? And I have to drink it from the opposite side of the glass? Are you sure about this?"—aren't even as effective as what your grandfather (and grandmother) were taking.
But, okay, okay, I know you have the best cure, no matter what this Oshinsky fraud says, and all you need is a pound of bacon, a single eagle feather, a willing human sacrifice, and DVDs of the second season of Battlestar Galactica. Please share it in the comments. For the betterment of mankind.
[Telegraph; image via Shutterstock] | <urn:uuid:acd09f54-51b5-4dd6-8671-f935441b7c0a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gawker.com/5736183/science-has-found-the-best-way-to-cure-your-hangover | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952092 | 399 | 1.78125 | 2 |
Knives End Lives campaign tackles serious stabbings
A new campaign aimed at cutting knife crime has been launched by the police.
West Midlands Police hope the Knives End Lives campaign will raise awareness of the consequences of carrying a knife.
A trauma consultant in Birmingham said the campaign is coinciding with a recent surge in serious stabbings.
Vibhore Gupta, a consultant at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, said medical teams are seeing two serious knife cases every week.
Staff at the hospital recently had to deal with three knife-related fatalities involving young people, including a 16-year-old who died after been stabbed in the groin, he said.
End Quote Det Ch Insp Simon Wallis
You don't have to have your hand on the knife to have blood on your hands”
West Midlands Police say that knife crime has fallen over the last four years but in recent months there has been a spate of serious cases involving knives.
The force has begun a campaign which is targeting young people and focuses on the serious consequences of carrying a knife and being in the company of someone armed with a blade.
Under a legal doctrine called joint enterprise, prosecutors have the power to bring before the courts people who were present when a crime was committed, so that they all face the same serious charges.
Det Ch Insp Simon Wallis said: "I think the key thing is you don't have to have your hand on the knife to have blood on your hands."
England and Wales saw some 30,000 offences involving knives between 2011-12, down 9% on the previous 12 months. | <urn:uuid:ed90d0d5-a645-4943-9855-723419029530> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-21117519 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973318 | 328 | 1.65625 | 2 |
We raise Nigerian Dwarf goats primarily for milk production, so that means the does need to be bred yearly and that about half of the resulting offspring will be male. Unfortunately, only a few intact male goats (bucks) are really needed in the goat breeding world; and, those bucks are usually rather smelly – so additionally only a few are really wanted. On the other hand, neutered (wethered) male goats make very sweet pets (not aggressive or smelly like bucks and very affectionate) and great 4H projects for kids, so it make sense to wether most of the male offspring.
There are [...]
Continue reading Wethering (Neutering) Nigerian Dwarf Goats via Banding | <urn:uuid:75756ebe-db89-48a8-9c53-ba3ac2ba5aa2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.betterhensandgardens.com/tag/banding/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96092 | 145 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Results tagged with 'african american'
Published Feb. 28, 2013
Everybody's favorite mayor Tom Barrett delivered his State of the City address this week, and in it he had a long list of things that have gone right and a wish list of things that need to get done. According to Dave Begel, he left a few things out.
Published Feb. 4, 2013
The fact is that some Americans don't really see Black History Month as all that big a deal at all; other than some re-broadcast of "Roots" or a week-long roster of "black movies" from Hollywood, there doesn't seem to be much urgency to keep the month in the forefront.
Published March 30, 2011
Yesterday, an article on Salon.com named Milwaukee the most segregated city (of at least 500,000 people) in the country. We've heard this before, and we'll hear it again. What can we do to change this?
Published Feb. 1, 2011
Heineken launched a national Black History Month Art contest, and is searching for an up-and-coming artist -- who is at least 21 years old -- to feature in the 2012 Heineken Black History Month advertising campaign.
Published Aug. 20, 2010
This weekend, Africans on the Move will present the 22nd annual Garveyfest at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society. On Saturday, Garveyfest includes a parade, a children's corner, African marketplace, cultural showcase, music and spoken word performances.
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Write a blog now! | <urn:uuid:578a0cbb-5398-41f4-9b17-b3fb4cead1d0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://onmilwaukee.com/myOMC/tags/african%20american | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939505 | 335 | 1.726563 | 2 |
China's new guard may abolish re-education camps
Officials in China say the administration of incoming leader Xi Jinping will abolish the much-hated 'Re-Education Through Labour', a system of extra-judicial detention in which dissidents, underground Christians and minor criminals are sent away to remote labour camps for many years at a time - often without their families being notified. China's annual session of parliament - the National People's Congress - will endorse the country's next group of leaders at the end of this week.
Source: AM | Duration: 3min 22sec
TIM PALMER: At the end of this week China's annual session of parliament - the National People's Congress - will endorse a new group of leaders who'll immediately become some of the most powerful people in the world.
While China analysts are still watching for any signs of the direction they may take this Asian giant, the new leadership does appear to be already on the record with one key promise.
Officials say the incoming administration of Xi Jinping will abolish the much-hated Re-Education Through Labour program, a system of extra-judicial detention in which dissidents, underground Christians and minor criminals are sent away to remote labour camps for many years at a time, often without their families even being notified.
China correspondent Stephen McDonell reports.
STEPHEN MCDONELL: In freezing and remote parts of China there are some 350 labour camps holding around 160,000 prisoners who didn't step into a courtroom before their detention.
They have been judged by the local police or other officials to be in need of so-called "re-education through labour", often for being troublemakers or dissidents, and face up to four years of deprivation, arduous work and physical abuse.
China's legal fraternity has been increasingly critical of this extra-judicial detention. Some say it's unconstitutional. But the security authorities have until now guarded their power to lock away whoever they want without the aggravation of going to court.
The potential for this system to be abused is clearly enormous and even the Communist Party's mouthpiece, The People's Daily, has described Re-education Through Labour as having become a, quote, "tool of retaliation" for unscrupulous local officials.
Some delegates to the National People's Congress sitting this week in Beijing have called for its immediate end and now several senior legal officials have promised that by the end of the year Laojiao, as it's called in Chinese, will be abolished.
Pu Zhiqiang is a lawyer whose clients include those who've been sent to the labour camps. The ABC asked him if he thinks this system is indeed about to be scrapped.
(Sound of Pu Zhiqiang speaking)
"I think it will be," he said. "I believe to abandon Laojiao is not hard for the party, the government and the new leaders and they'll be highly praised for doing it."
(Sound of Stephen McDonell asking question)
We also asked him if the government could be considering abandoning Re-Education Through Labour now because of the pressure it's receiving from many quarters.
(Sound of Pu Zhiqiang speaking)
"Yes, that's true. There is pressure from both inside and outside China," he said. "Within China there are a lot of people who want to abandon Laojiao to develope a society built on the rule of law."
If China does abolish Laojiao, human rights groups say it'll be quite an achievement for the incoming government.
It will also be a huge put-down for China's powerful security establishment, which under Xi Jinping has already lost a seat on the seven-man Politburo Standing Committee.
The fear though is that the administration may axe Re-education Through Labour while retaining some other form of similar extra-judicial detention.
This is Stephen McDonell in Beijing for AM. | <urn:uuid:cce29502-6ae8-4663-bd9f-3ed8049b5bab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-13/chinas-new-guard-may-abolish-re-education-camps/4569288 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962293 | 795 | 1.65625 | 2 |
appears to be Freeman orthodoxy on oaths:
Everyone you will encounter, in the "Legal" or "Lawful" worlds, will have taken an Oath in order to claim their 'title'. This includes Judges, Magistrates, Bailiffs, Notaries, Solicitors, Lawyers and ... of course ... Policymen.
Acting within their Oaths, they are what they claim to be. And, in this case, they are all Peace Officers ... because that is what their Oaths state.
Acting outside their Oath, they are not what they claim to be. Acting outside their Oath, they are simply "Joe Soap" (maybe in in some kind of uniform, but Joe Soap nonetheless).
In a Court de jure (Common Law Court), for example, a Judge will be on his Oath. However, as a Judge, he will be offered 'employment' to run Courts de facto (Courts of Arbitrations of disputes). In these Courts, Magistrates and Judges are not on their Oaths. Thus they are not what they claim to be. They are nothing more than Joe Soap.
They can - ALL - be put on their Oaths by saying "I'm putting you on your Oath. Under God, so help me God. Now we have a Contract".
A Judge or Magistrate then has two options. Either to recuse him- or her-self, or to continue under Oath, to PROTECT YOU, and your Rights in Law. They usually choose the former, and so get up and leave the Bench.
A Bailiff or Policyman likewise. Having put a Bailiff on his or her Oath, they become Peace Officers, and are there to PROTECT your Rights. If a Bailiff arrives with a Policyman, put them both on their Oaths. If the Bailiff then proceeds as they do normally ... in other words continues to threaten ... then you can TELL the Policyman to "Arrest that man (woman), and I'm placing him or her into your safe custody". If the Policyman fails to react to that, say: "Who is your boss? I'm going to have you BOTH arrested for pretending to be what you are not."
'Policymen' is Freeman for 'policemen' - part of their hilarious etymology that includes 'berth certificate' ('cos you're legally a boat, or something) and so forth. | <urn:uuid:3afcc0b5-5e93-4259-a316-108e1001df87> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thepropertypin.com/viewtopic.php?p=574934 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970171 | 505 | 1.75 | 2 |
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