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Ontario Place is having it’s 40th anniversary, and to help visitors to attend they have opened their doors for free access to their grounds during the time Toronto holds its Exhibition (the “Ex”). Ontario Place is owned and run by the provincial government. There are additional charges for the many different kinds of rides and attractions. But, for the family or person looking for FREE attractions there are many, geared for young and old alike. It is open from May until October. Ontario Place consists of three man-made islands built atop a reef the Port Authority deemed dangerous to boating concerns. Landfill was reused to build up the reefs thus creating a waterfront park. Ontario Place is located south of the Exhibition Grounds and Lakeshore Boulevard next to Lake Ontario.
[1 - Inuksuk on Lakeshore Boulevard]
I went yesterday afternoon with some friends and was only able to take in a very small part of this lakeside attraction. For those visiting or living in Toronto, take the FREE SHUTTLE (blue bus) from Union Station to avoid parking and traffic dilemmas. It beats taking the TTC and transferring or an extra several blocks walk. Rather than pay to go through the EX (another annual attraction) we walked around the Princess Gate along the bicycle path to the Centre Entrance which prompted us to take the Free Shuttle on the way back. A word of advice about the bicycle path – watch out for cyclists! Enroute on the cyclist path is a tall Inuksuk to show you're on the correct track.
If you come on a free admission be sure to get a Summer Day Pass for $20or individual attraction tickets. There are so many things to see and do that this place requires multiple return trips.
After a noisy cheering from the crowd watching the lumberjacks from western Canada perform their chainsaw techniques on timber sections, a quieter venue was sought out from the intesne heat of the sun. The Earth Rangers put on a documentary and live visual of wild animals that are losing their habitats. It is an organization that assists wildlife live safely in their natural habitats around the world. A worthy cause for children of all ages to be interested in.
There were a number of demonstrations telling a bit about each of the birds and animals of their natural abilities:
Lemur are quite the cuties from Madagascar with great jumping ability. The Lemur used in the show was very engaging as it pulled on it's leash to bring the trianer closer rather doing his leaps from post to post.
Lemurs have very long tails to help balance them when they leap. Their front toes are used much like we use our fingers.
Northern Harrier Hawk (hen)
barn owl: surprised me a little when I saw it fly to retrieve a treat from a tall post at the back of the viewing area. I suspect Harry Potter fans were delighted.
This is Echo, the same owl I saw do his demonstration.
bald eagle, an amazing bird who kept surveying the crowd and above for anything that might catch his eye. This eagle was more prey oriented than the harrier hawk presented first.
Earth Ranger demonstration with bald eagle
- Bald Eagle head study
Pine martens have very sharp claws to help them run along tree branches and rock ledges after their prey.
Servals are 21 to 26 inches tall weighing 15 to 20 pounds in females and 20 to 40 pounds in males. A nice sized cat. This was a very neat cat with powerful hind legs tat were longer than the front ones.
Serval in savannah in Tanzania
During the demonstrations each of the animals and birds were provided with piecs and chunks of raw meat by their trainers. I'm not usually fond of seeing such demonstrations but each of these animals had been raised in captivity and had not been wild caught. Also, children have a rare treat of seeing a live specimen close up working with humans. At the rate habitat for these animals is disappearing it's defintely time to start educating people about how to save them, and in doing so, probably save humans, too, in the long run.
Marina view from walkway near Marina Grille.
When passing by the marina I was sorry not to have brought a camera as there were several very impressive small yachts moored to the pier.
The weather was exceptional with hot sun for awhile followed up with a torrential downpour from a thunderstorm that moved in just after we went to the Marina Grill for a late lunch. Rather than stay longer we decided to leave.
As there are many more sites to be seen I will be back at later dates, at which time I will provide updates.
Go to My Town Monday for other participants. Clare Dickson has taken over My Town Monday from Travis Erwin who started it.
Reserach: wikipedia - Ontario Place
Photo Credits: -DarkElfPhoto CC=nc-sa-flickr,-Wikipedia, earthrangers CC=nc-flickr,-wyliepoon CC=nc-sa-flickr.
Theme Song: Bewitched
1 hour ago | <urn:uuid:237a1807-043b-429c-aa77-d1e3e106c091> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.barbaramartin.blogspot.com/2011/08/my-town-monday-ontario-place.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967029 | 1,054 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Disney Store to Donate 25,000 School Supply Kits to Boys & Girls Clubs of America
To celebrate back-to-school, Disney Store, in partnership with The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS), will donate 25,000 school supply kits to children at Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Full of classroom essentials, the Disney Princess and Cars themed supply kits include a folder, notebook, pencil case, pencils, ruler, eraser, sharpener, glue stick and a pair of scissors. Cast members from Disney Store locations across the country will deliver the supply kits to their local BGCA chapters. Through this donation, Disney hopes to add a little magic to the back-to-school experience as kids nationwide prepare to return to the classroom this fall.
“Disney Store is proud to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America and admires the work the organization does to enhance the development of children across the nation,” said Paul Gainer, executive vice president of Disney Store. “We hope to support children in our local communities by providing them with learning essentials for the upcoming school year.”
Disney Store’s school supply kit donation is made in collaboration with Disney Friends for Change, an initiative that inspires kids and their families to make a lasting, positive change by helping people, communities, and the planet. Disney has a long history with BGCA that spans more than 50 years. Through financial and in-kind contributions, and through the time and talent of its Disney VoluntEARS, Disney supports the BGCA’s mission of helping young people reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens.
Guests can learn more about Disney Store’s school supply kit donation to by visiting www.greatfutures.org/backtoschool. The Tools for Back-to-School Supply Drive is a fun, pop-quiz style game sponsored by longtime partner, Disney. | <urn:uuid:2123df3b-df61-43a7-87ef-bb4ad1d9b69b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-store-donates-school-supplies-21886/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935687 | 395 | 1.601563 | 2 |
A forehead lift is most commonly performed in someone over age 40. As we grow older, our skin loses its elasticity, and furrows tend to form that can make a person appear angry, sad or tired. At the same time, this loss of elasticity renders the soft tissues more vulnerable to gravitational effects. This, combined with environmental forces, often results in brow droop. Brow lifting can effectively reverse these effects. | <urn:uuid:c8ec44ee-ff6e-431a-ac5d-016c3acb33e5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.golasik.net/cosmetic/brow-lift-boston-ma/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957093 | 85 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Michael Hayden said something that confused me today on Fox News. When asked whether he thought waterboarding is torture, he replied simply that DOJ had said it was not.
Question: Are you satisfied that waterboarding is not torture?
HAYDEN: I’m satisfied that the Justice Department, in a series of opinions — ‘02, ‘03, ‘05 — said that it was not. Now…
See, we know that DOJ addressed waterboarding specifically in 2002 and 2005 in the memos released last week.
Yes, there is one I, at least, have forgotten. The one in which the White House signed off on waterboarding, even after they had waterboarded KSM 183 times in a month.
Interrogation of prisoners
Here’s the WaPo’s description of this 2003 memo, from last year when we were all trying to elect Barack Obama President.
The Bush administration issued a pair of secret memos to the CIA in 2003 and 2004 that explicitly endorsed the agency’s use of interrogation techniques such as waterboarding against al-Qaeda suspects — documents prompted by worries among intelligence officials about a possible backlash if details of the program became public.
The classified memos, which have not been previously disclosed, were requested by then-CIA Director George J. Tenet more than a year after the start of the secret interrogations, according to four administration and intelligence officials familiar with the documents. Although Justice Department lawyers, beginning in 2002, had signed off on the agency’s interrogation methods, senior CIA officials were troubled that White House policymakers had never endorsed the program in writing.
The memos were the first — and, for years, the only — tangible expressions of the administration’s consent for the CIA’s use of harsh measures to extract information from captured al-Qaeda leaders, the sources said.
Gosh, that would be an interesting memo to see, wouldn’t it?
(Updated entirely to make sensible after I discovered I’m a bone-head.) | <urn:uuid:f0846735-e3f4-4937-a7e0-22f9fa8e9680> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/04/19/is-there-a-2003-waterboarding-memo-were-missing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96581 | 419 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Accidents and Incidents: It’s All Human Factors
Human factors discussed during Rotor & Wing's 2010 Safety and Training Summit.
|From left to right, Jerry Allen of Baines SImmons, Bristow’s Tim Rolfe, Immanuel Barshi from NASA and Chris Baur, Rotor & Wing columnist. Photo by Andrew D. Parker|
A panel of speakers at the Rotor & Wing 2010 Safety & Training Summit on June 8 reiterated the importance of an “active safety culture” within an organization and argued that everything in aviation boils down to human factors. The Summit in Denver drew experts together from various sectors of the industry. Chris Baur, president of Hughes Aerospace Corp and a Rotor & Wing columnist, moderated the “Human Factors in Helicopter Operations” at the Summit.
“The important thing to remember about the accidents and incidents that do happen, that we can learn from, is that it really is all human factors,” said Immanuel Barshi, senior principal investigator of human-systems integration for NASA. He related a story about a good friend that died in an accident when a main rotor blade separated from a CH-53.
“It was not a pilot error, but it was still human factors. And in a sense, it’s redundant to say, because rotor blades don’t make mistakes. [When] equipment fails it not the equipment’s ‘fault,’ it’s either a human that didn’t design it right, or a human that didn’t build it right, or a human that didn’t maintain it right, or operate it right. It’s always human factors.”
Tim Rolfe, Bristow European Operations chief training captain for the Sikorsky S-92, is involved in the company’s safety management systems (SMS) program. He says that organizations must first define an acceptable risk level. “Having determined that, we really need to go ahead and identify hazards that can present themselves to us in our daily operations. … Our job is to manage risk to an acceptable level, and that’s largely done through the training side of any organization. We have to set and modify existing procedures to mitigate against the risks we have identified.”
Rolfe explains that working for Bristow, which has “an active safety culture, and a system of processes that allow pilots to identify those hazards, risk-assess those hazards and then put procedures in place—I’m totally sold on the SMS idea. It is entirely necessary to have a very active safety culture at the center of your SMS, it’s not good enough to just have the processes in place.”
Rolfe added: “You’ve got to have buy-in at all levels, from the CEO to the guy that sweeping the hangar floor. We need to educate everybody.”
Jerry Allen is managing director of Baines Simmons Americas, which conducted a series of assessments involving more than 2,000 helicopter technicians under its safety culture organizational review and evaluation (SCORE) program. “The effect of human factors programs is not necessarily the one that we hoped that it would be,” Allen explained. He pointed to figures that show 53 percent of respondents disagreed (44 percent) or strongly disagreed (9 percent) with the statement, “Before I start a job, I’m always given the necessary information.” A total of 41 percent agreed or strongly agreed, and 6 percent did not agree or disagree. When asked, “We often have to rush jobs due to unrealistic deadlines,” 84 percent agreed/strongly agreed, 8 percent disagreed and 7 percent answered neither. Other trends in the Baines Simmons numbers indicate that 81 percent agreed/strongly agreed with the statement, “We usually manage to complete a job despite the non-availability of the specified equipment/tools,” while 12 percent disagreed and 8 percent said neither.
Rolfe pointed out the contrast between how a pilot who manages to survive an emergency situation is viewed, versus one who does not. “If a pilot actually saves the day—despite the fact that he’s using poorly put together standard operating procedures, a checklist with errors in it, just faces some bad luck or finds himself in a situation where the [weather] forecast has been inaccurate—but he saves the day, how do we describe the pilot?”
The pilot “could absolutely be the hero, so there’s a dichotomy,” he said. “The pilot could be the bad guy, but the pilot could also be in control of the heroic outcome. And we need to take that into account when we address the human factors risks that are presented to us in the cockpit.”
Barshi asked attendees: How many people are 100 percent reliable, 100 percent safe, 100 percent of the time? “By definition, half of your time you are performing below your average. And if you’ve been around flying long enough, I’m sure you’ve walked away from flights where you said, ‘I should not have flown, I should not have taken that flight.’ It’s really useful to be lucky, but it’s hard to control.” For videos from the Summit, visit Rotor & Wing's Safety and Training Channel. | <urn:uuid:1382fe3f-cb39-4d2b-a5c5-69ba3e042137> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aviationtoday.com/rw/public-service/government-agencies/Accidents-and-Incidents-Its-All-Human-Factors_68871.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945294 | 1,145 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Egypt is set to explode, according to former Finance Minister Samir Radwan. Joblessness stands at 74 percent for people under 30, according to government figures. This figure is unlikely to improve, the FT reports:
“I expect unemployment to increase because there are no signs that the economy is picking up,” says Mr Radwan. “Already some 1,500 [business] establishments have shut down.”
President Mohamed Morsi announced last week that Parliamentary elections will be held in April, prompting an outcry from his liberal opponents. But neither the Muslim Brotherhood nor any other potential candidate has any viable plan to ease unemployment. This, really, is all one needs to know about Egypt.
The economy is in a meltdown. And the situation on the ground will only be exacerbated by the hordes of young people (under-30s make up an estimated 60 percent of Egypt’s population) unable to find work to pay for the rising costs of basic goods. Radwan is right, the time bomb in Egypt is ticking. There is nothing worse for an unstable country than a restive, and hungry, youth. The only question now is, when the explosion comes, what will rise from the debris?
[Update: An earlier version of this post mistakenly stated that 74 percent of Egyptians are unemployed, rather than jobless. This error has been corrected.]
[Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com] | <urn:uuid:327e6d49-bdb8-4f32-93e3-617cd5011c86> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2013/02/28/the-egypt-bomb-goes-tick-tick-tick/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960873 | 287 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Georges and Anne are in their eighties. They are cultivated, retired music teachers. Their daughter, who is also a musician, lives abroad with her family. One day, Anne has an attack. The couple's bond of love is severely tested.
A married couple are faced with a difficult decision - to improve the life of their child by moving to another country or to stay in Iran and look after a deteriorating parent who has Alzheimer's disease.
In 1996, in Algeria, eight French monks of The Monastery Notre-Dame de l'Atlas of Tibhirine have a simple life serving the poor community that was raised around the monastery. During the Algerian Civil War, they are threatened by terrorist but they decide to stay in the country and not return to France. One night, they extremists break in the monastery and abduct seven monks. A couple of months later, they are found dead in controversial circumstances. Written by
Claudio Carvalho, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The official French submission for the Foreign Language Film Award at the 83rd Academy Awards. See more »
Should it ever befall me, and it could happen today, to be a victim of the terrorism swallowing up all foreigners here, I would like my community, my church, my family, to remember that my life was given to God and to this country. That the Unique Master of all life was no stranger to this brutal departure. And that my death is the same as so many other violent ones, consigned to the apathy of oblivion. I've lived enough to know, I am complicit in the evil that, alas, prevails over ...
See more »
Of Gods and Men (2010) Des hommes et des dieux (original title) directed by Xavier Beauvois, is a powerful drama about good, deeply religious men
trying to live a truly caring, peaceful life under difficult circumstances.
A small group of French monks have lived in a monastery in Algeria for many years. They are clearly different in a cultural sense from the surrounding community. However, their simple life and acts of charity are welcomed and accepted by the Muslims in the adjacent village.
The plot revolves around the threat of death from militants in the region. The Algerian revolution has succeeded in forcing out the French colonial forces. The Algerian government and army officials want the monks to leave and return to France for reasons of safety. The monastery is seen as a remnant of colonialism, and is therefore the target of nationalistic and religious violence. The problem revolves around the questions, "Will the monks stay?" and "What will happen if they do?"
Lambert Wilson plays Christian, the elected leader of the monks. He does an outstanding job of portraying a man who could have succeeded as a leader in almost any undertaking. However, he has chosen monastic life, and now his leadership has become a matter of life and death.
Veteran French actor Michael Lonsdale plays Luc, an elderly physician who can barely walk, but can still heal. The acting is uniformly excellent. In fact, the acting was so good that my wife and I had to remind ourselves that this is a movie, and these men are actors,not monks.
The music, mostly chants sung daily by the monks, was superb.
This is a very powerful film. We saw it at the excellent Little Theatre in Rochester, NY. If you can't see it in a theater, the movie should work almost as well on DVD.
9 of 13 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful to you? | <urn:uuid:20cf5839-612f-4c78-8ad7-19a3cf2a5385> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588337/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976082 | 733 | 1.710938 | 2 |
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The power steering pump is a rotary-vane pump that provides the hydraulic pressure needed to assist the driver in steering the front wheels. It contains retractable vanes inside an oval chamber that are driven by the vehicle's engine via a belt and pulley to drive the power steering fluid. The pump pulls in fluid from the return line and forces it out into the outlet at a very high pressure. As the speed of the vehicle increases, the amount of flow of the hydraulic fluid also increases. A pressure-relief valve inside the pump prevents the hydraulic pressure from getting too high especially during high speed driving. Check out our outstanding quality parts at very low prices. | <urn:uuid:cdf06275-9e37-4418-b241-9fda213f4aaf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.autopartsnetwork.com/1995-power-steering-pump-eddie-bauer-6-cyl-49l-automatic-convertible/bvsIzVBNdeSObmw1qEawwHI_TB?mcatflag=all&last_master_cat_flag= | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932503 | 171 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Thousands of Christians have fled their homes in Syria where news emerged Tuesday, July 3, that intelligence agencies run dozens of torture centers where detainees are beaten with batons and cables, burned with acid, sexually assaulted, and have fingernails torn out.
The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) group said it identified 27 abuse centers which have been used since President Bashar al-Assad’s government began a crackdown in March 2011 on pro-democracy protesters trying to oust him.
HRW added that it conducted over 200 interviews with people who were tortured, including a 31-year-old man who was detained in the Idlib area in June and made to undress.
“Then they started squeezing my fingers with pliers. They put staples in my fingers, chest and ears. I was only allowed to take them out if I spoke. The staples in the ears were the most painful,” the man was quoted as saying in the report.
“They used two wires hooked up to a car battery to give me electric shocks. They used electric stun-guns on my genitals twice. I thought I would never see my family again. They tortured me like this three times over three days,” he added.
CHRISTIANS ALSO SUFFER
Christians have also suffered abuse, including from rebels who accuse them of supporting the regime or observing a ‘Western religion’ and some believers have been killed, according to church groups.
Among those recently killed was Atallah Ibrahim Bitar, who was shot dead while reportedly taking food to people forced into hiding by a week-long bombardment, Christian aid workers said.
And, at least 78 people were confirmed killed in violence across Syria on Monday, July 2, 44 of them civilians, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
Over 16,500 people have been killed in violence in Syria since the uprising erupted in March last year, according to rights groups and opposition estimates.
CHRISTIAN EXODUS UNDERWAY
The violence has sparked an exodus of Christians, including from city of Qusayr, about 4.8 kilometers (3 miles) southwest of Homs in a mountainous area overlooking Syria’s border with Lebanon, said aid and advocacy group Barnabas Fund. Many reportedly flee to other parts of Syria or to neighboring countries.
Most of the 10,000 Christian residents have left the area, “after reportedly being given an ultimatum to leave, a threat which was also echoed by the mosques,” the group told BosNewsLife in a statement.
“Two Christian leaders among those fleeing the city said that they heard the following message from the minarets: ‘Christians must leave Qusayr within six days, ending June 8′.”
Barnabas Fund, which is working in the region, described the city as “an extremely dangerous place for those who remain and it is clear that Christians no longer feel safe in their homes.”
PROVIDING FOOD SUPPLIES
The group said it is providing food, medicine and other essentials “to the neediest Christian families affected by the unrest.”
Earlier, Dutch aid group ‘Kerk in Nood’, or ‘Church in Need’, told BosNewsLife that in Homs itself 90 percent of Christians living there fled after “fanatics” forced them to leave their homes.
It said 50,000 people have fled Homs since February.
“They have fled to villages and in the mountains, sometimes as far as 50 kilometers from their homes. We have reports that Islamists ‘cleansed’ the Homs areas of Hamidiya and Bustan al-Diwan without giving [Christians] the opportunity to take anything with them,” the group told BosNewsLife recently.
Christians have expressed concerns over who will takeover the country once President Bashar al-Assad leave office, amid fears of an Islamic takeover, concerns shared by Christian groups in other countries in the region facing political upheaval, including Egypt. | <urn:uuid:15eaa64c-afb2-4fe3-8d3b-93f7900cae59> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rescuechristians.org/2012/07/05/syria-thousands-of-christians-fleeing-intelligence-agencies-run-dozens-of-torture-centers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976653 | 836 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is claiming a major victory over carousel fraudsters after discovering they were all using the same bank.
Every fraudster who had his collar felt in the last two years for carousel fraud had an account with the First Curacao International Bank (FCIB).
The Caribbean bank was shut down after raids in cooperation with Dutch authorities following raids in Holland and Wales. HMRC believes many of the 2,500 UK citizens who also use the bank are involved in carousel fraud.
HMRC released a statement: "HMRC has in place a comprehensive strategy to deal with carousel fraud, and will actively pursue the organised criminals involved and deny them the proceeds of these crimes, wherever the money trails take us anywhere in the world.
"Our investigations in recent months have shown that FCIB has regularly been used by fraudsters and we are confident that the Dutch actions will have a significant disruptive effect on fraud in the UK."
A government source told the Guardian: "We think the carousel fraud industry has been holed below the waterline."
Carousel fraud involves importing, or claiming to import, goods from another EU country without paying VAT, then selling them on and pocketing the tax. The same goods will often go from country to country earning fraudulent tax at every stage. Increasingly, the goods don't even physically move.
Dutch police want to question the bank's founder John Deuss. Deuss admitted to reporters that the bank was under investigation but denied any wrongdoing.
Customs investigators used powers under the Proceeds of Crime Act to track the fraudsters' earnings. But FCIB had problems finding a bank to handle final payments to its UK customers - this forced it to suspend accounts.
HMRC recently got permission from the European Union to change the way VAT on mobile phones and computer chips, most often used for carousel fraud, is collected.
More from The Guardian here.
In other news a BBC investigation has found the total value of VAT-fraud could be up to four times higher than Customs estimates. Panorama used figures from Eurocanet - a European Commission sponsored joint police initiative. It estimates total UK fraud to be as high as €12.2bn. More here. Customs disputes the figures.® | <urn:uuid:194f2a72-c6d9-4f5c-8f21-38533b34097d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2006/09/22/fraudsters_bank_found/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955413 | 466 | 1.539063 | 2 |
By MANUEL VALDES
SEATTLE (AP) - U.S. Border Patrol agents will no longer serve as interpreters when local law enforcement agencies request language help, according to a new decree issued by the Department of Homeland Security.
The new guidance said agents should refer such requests to private services often used by government agencies.
Seeking language help is a common practice among local law enforcement agencies in Washington state. If a person is pulled over and can only speak Spanish, the U.S. Border Patrol is often called.
However, immigration advocates complain that Border Patrol agents ask people questions about immigration and in some cases arrest immigrants suspected of being in the country illegally.
"The concept of language access should be without people being questioned about their immigration status," said Jorge Baron, executive director of the Seattle-based Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, a legal aid organization.
Immigrants have grown apprehensive about calling local law enforcement agencies if they knew the Border Patrol is going to respond, he said.
The new Border Patrol guidance should help, even though it leaves agents some room for decision-making, he said.
The Border Patrol said Thursday it is trying to use its resources efficiently.
"The new guidance related to requests for translation services helps further focus CBP efforts on its primary mission to secure our nation's borders." a statement by Customs and Border Protection said. "CBP remains committed to assisting our law enforcement partners in their enforcement efforts."
The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project sent a letter in May to the Department of Justice and Homeland Security saying the interpreting practice violated the Civil Rights Act.
The letter included dashboard camera video in which a Border Patrol agent is heard using a derogatory term for illegal immigrants.
After the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush ordered U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which oversees the Border Patrol, to beef up its presence on the U.S.-Canada border, which is almost twice as long as the U.S.-Mexico border.
In 2007, the northern border had about 1,100 agents. Now it has more than 2,200. In the same period, the number of agents in the Blaine sector, which covers the border west of the Cascades, went from 133 to 331.
Along with providing language services, Border Patrol agents often assist local law agencies that are short on personnel and equipment. In addition, highway checkpoints have been implemented.
The American Civil Liberties Union and Northwest Immigrant Rights Project filed a lawsuit earlier this year seeking to bar Border Patrol agents from doing traffic stops on the Olympic Peninsula, claiming people were being pulled over and questioned over the way they look and without reasonable suspicion. The lawsuit is pending.
The Border Patrol has denied any discrimination.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:978f82b6-6d8e-481b-a16c-8c35c58daf2e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20340447/2012/12/13/apnewsbreak-border-patrol-to-stop-interpreting | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95658 | 584 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Surveys repeatedly show that workers are keen on telecommuting, so much so that they’d be willing to take a pay cut for the right to work remotely. Unsurprisingly, a new one from project management solution Wrike confirms this. The poll of more than 1,000 employees found nearly 80 percent would sacrifice employer-provided free meals to telecommute, 54 percent would give up their employer-paid cell phone plans and 31 percent would trade paid vacation for the ability to work remotely.
All of which, you could say, is yet another firm kick landed on an already very dead horse, but the other survey findings were more surprising. While telecommuting is often presented as a good idea whose time has not yet come due to entrenched institutional skepticism, Wrike’s findings suggest we may soon be turning a corner on a future where remote work is far less fringe, even for those in the least hip organizations.
Already, 83 percent of respondents reported spending at least a few hours each week working outside the office. This probably amounts to a bit of checking work email and the like out of hours, but many were extremely hopeful about the expansion of virtual work at their companies. When asked if their offices might go fully virtual in the future, 65 percent of respondents said yes, though they differed on exactly how long the shift would take:
- 25 percent expected their office to go fully virtual within a year or two (or their office was already virtual)
- About another quarter (24 percent) expected the shift to take three to five years
- While 16 percent thought it would take five years or more
Despite this disagreement about the exact time frame, the over-arching message of the survey seems clear. Workers are expecting a virtual workplace, and expecting it soon. Management will have to take heed, won’t it?
How long do you think before your organization goes fully virtual?
Image courtesy of Flickr user renaissancechambara. | <urn:uuid:36480040-bfdb-40a7-9ed5-6181a99c6f93> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gigaom.com/2012/03/15/workers-to-pollsters-widespread-remote-work-is-imminent/ | 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 | 0.972087 | 400 | 1.507813 | 2 |
The NC Zoo plains exhibit is spectacular, if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend a visit. You will think you've stepped right out onto the African Plains, for real. They house a number of African antelope and rhinos on about a hundred acres of rolling hills and grasslands right next door to their African elephant exhibits. The exhibit has several thickets of trees, a pond and a lake.
It isn't easy to find babies in all that tall grass. We would sit hidden for hours with our binoculars trained on the mother antelope until she would magically call the baby out of hiding. In actuality, their calls are infrasonic, too low frequency to be heard by most predatory species, including humans. But it seems as if they make some magical silent agreement and then mother and baby move in tandem to meet for nursing. That's when we'd follow them to get a better idea of where to locate the calf for its exam. Of course, we didn't dare touch the calf until the herd moved away from it again. They don't take kindly to babies being messed with. One oryx mother beat the crap out of the truck because we had her baby in the back for a medical check up.
Soon, this little kudu girl will grow. And grow. And grow, into one of the largest and most lovely of all the African antelope species. Though they can be fairly docile most of the time, they will take you out if they feel cornered or threatened. A little known fact about kudus: they will do pretty much anything for a grape. I helped train the NC Zoo's kudu herd to voluntarily come into smaller, enclosed holding areas from the exhibit using nothing more than a clicker and a bunch of grapes.
Anyway, kudos for Mr. Kudu, his baby mama, and his keepers on their latest kudu calf.
All photos appear courtesy of the NC Zoo. | <urn:uuid:9536b46b-0ec4-4531-ac2c-b571158e43a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://zooleft.blogspot.com/2012/06/kudos-for-nc-zoo-kudus.html?showComment=1340748273787 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972446 | 404 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Unidentified Army (maybe Spain?) Soldiers riding horses past on street; they wear tall fuzzy black hats; some hold horns under their arms.
Old records describe a sepia tint but has been transferred to digibeta in black and white.
England beat Spain in international football match in London.
Footage of member of Spanish public being made to hand over gold jewellery to Fascist government. Spain.
Closed border between France and Spain - refugees crossing at the last moment.
The border between France and Spain is raised. Dignitaries from both sides meet.
Traditional Spanish bullfight with matadors on horseback.
Shots of Spanish banks and night-time street festival.
Coopers making large barrels to store and age Sherry.
Queen Victoria of Spain meets people as she opens Madrid Horticultural Exhibition. | <urn:uuid:f1bd77fd-3115-42c5-9da1-9e1f1a207fca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.britishpathe.com/video/soldiers-riding-past/query/Spain | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946975 | 171 | 1.5 | 2 |
Statement by Minister Cowen on Outcome of Informal European Council, 16 April 2003
Together with the Taoiseach, I attended the informal meeting of the European Council in Athens held on 16 April. We were accompanied by the Minister of State for European Affairs, Dick Roche. I would like to pay tribute to the Greek Presidency for its excellent organisation of the Informal European Council, the ceremony for the Signature of the Accession Treaty and the European Conference that followed.
The Declarations adopted by the European Council on 16 April and by the European Conference held on 17 April have been laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas as has the Presidency Statement on Iraq.
The Greek Presidency set the date of 16 April for the signature of the Treaty of Accession for the ten accession countries. The ceremony, which took place under the Acropolis, marked a true milestone in European history.
Earlier in the day, the informal meeting of the European Council adopted the Athens Declaration, restating the principles on which the European Union is founded. These principles are freedom, democracy and the rule of law, respect for human dignity, liberty and human rights and a Union devoted to the practice of tolerance, justice and solidarity. The Declaration was a useful reminder of what the European Union stands for.
The signing of the Accession Treaty marked the end of a long and bleak chapter in European history. It acknowledged that countries that had been artificially cut off from mainstream Europe had earned the right to membership of the Union based on the principles on which the Union is founded. It reaffirmed, once again, the value and success of the European Union.
Once they have completed their respective ratification procedures, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia are set to become members of the European Union from 1 May next year. These countries attended the informal European Council on 16 April and henceforth, until the date of their accession, they will attend all EU meetings as observers.
The outcomes of the referendums held to date have been very positive. Already three countries, Hungary, Malta and Slovenia, have voted for membership. This represents a strong vote in favour of the European Union by their people.
I very much welcome that our new partners will take their rightful place in the European Union. I am particularly pleased that it will fall to Ireland, as Presidency, to mark their entry as full members next year. This will be an honour and a privilege.
Accession negotiations with Bulgaria and Romania meanwhile continue and I look forward to progressing them during our Presidency. The European Council meeting in December 2004 will consider whether negotiations can open with Turkey.
The informal European Council meeting focussed on the work of the European Convention.
The European Union must be seen by our citizens to work. That is why the work of the Convention, and the Intergovermental Conference that will follow, is so important. It is why the Government is taking the work of the Convention so seriously.
Prior to the European Council meeting, a group of seventeen current and future Member States met. The meeting was hosted by Prime Minister Verhofstadt of Belgium in the absence of the current President of the Benelux, Prime Minister Juncker of Luxembourg. Ireland was represented by Minister for Europe, Dick Roche. The meeting was a follow-on from one which the Taoiseach and I attended in Luxembourg on 1 April.
The seventeen countries agreed a number of fundamental principles which we want to see reflected in the outcome of the Convention. These principles draw largely on the Benelux memorandum of last December and on a paper drawn up over recent months by many like-minded states at the Convention, in the drafting of which Ireland played a major role.
The group of seventeen set out their strong support for a European Union that will work in the future at least as effectively and democratically as in the past.
The principles that we reconfirmed are the need to ensure the equality of Member States and to retain the balance between the institutions, without creating new institutions. At the European Council meeting we set out our views as to how these principles could be preserved and strengthened. While there are some differences among us on points of detail, we shared a wish to see:
The strengthening of the Community method and of the Commission;
A more open and transparent process of election for the Commission President;
The retention of the formula agreed at Nice, especially the requirement for equality as between Member States, for the membership of the Commission; and
A single external relations representative, with Council and Commission membership.
The President of the European Parliament, Pat Cox, addressed the members of the European Council at the outset of the meeting. His presentation focussed on the work of the Convention from the point of view of the European Parliament.
An exchange with the President of the European Convention, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing followed.
President Giscard outlined his plans for the European Convention and the drafting of the Constitutional Treaty. He confirmed that he would present the final report of the Convention to the European Council in Thessaloniki, Greece, on 20 June.
The session with President Giscard focused on key institutional issues. Prime Minister Juncker of Luxembourg spoke on behalf of all who attended the breakfast meeting earlier. He set out the principles which we want to see reflected in the outcome of the Convention.
Along with very many others, the Taoiseach underlined Ireland's support for these principles. He said, as did others, that he hoped as much consensus as possible would be reached. But where this was not possible, the Convention should set out options.
Those of us who wish to see a strengthening of the Community method are aware that there are other points of view. These points of view were also put at our meeting in Athens.
It is important that due weight and attention are given to all perspectives by President Giscard and by the Convention's Praesidium, in particular to the strong message conveyed by the group of 17. We will continue our efforts along with others, therefore, to ensure that the fundamental principles on which the Union is founded, and on which the Union's success has been built, are reflected in the text that will be presented to us next month.
As the Convention enters the final and decisive phase in its work, intensive work is continuing across the range of issues it is addressing. Next week's Plenary session will debate the vital issues of the Union's institutional arrangements, foreign policy and defence. The Government's representative at the Convention has submitted extensive proposals in response to texts published by the Praesidium in these areas. We will continue to work extremely closely with like-minded countries – and, of course, our allies vary from issue to issue – to ensure that the outcome of the Convention is a balanced and appropriate one.
On 17 April a meeting of the enlarged European Conference, which took the “New Neighbours” initiative as its theme, was held in Athens. Ireland was represented by the Minister for European Affairs, Dick Roche. That meeting involved all the countries associated with the New Neighbours initiative both from Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. Member States, the candidate and accession countries and Russia also attended. In all, there were 40 countries at the Conference.
The European Conference recognised that the countries and peoples of Europe have come a long way towards forging a community of values based on democracy, the rule of law and respect for fundamental rights and freedoms. It underlined the importance of preventing and combating common security threats, including organised and transnational crime, trafficking in human beings, terrorism and communicable diseases. This is an initiative that Ireland welcomes.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, addressed the European Conference on the subject of Iraq. The Presidency had earlier issued a statement which set out the European Union's views on the responsibilities of the coalition, the opportunities presented to the people of Iraq and the contribution which the international community can make to the process of shaping the future of Iraq. The European Union reaffirmed its commitment to the need for the United Nations to play a central role in that process, and its own commitment to play a significant role in the political and economic reconstruction of that country.
The Taoiseach and I had a bilateral meeting with Kofi Annan on 16th April. During the meeting the Taoiseach underlined the principles on which our policy is based. We agreed that the first concern must be the well-being of the Iraqi people. They have suffered greatly and deserve a better future. The Taoiseach assured the Secretary General of Ireland's readiness to assist.
On 16 April Minister of State Tom Kitt provided the Dáil with a comprehensive statement of our efforts to assist the humanitarian situation in Iraq. There is no need, therefore, to go into detail now. I will say only that as regards the longer term reconstruction and administration of Iraq, the precise nature and timing of UN involvement is a matter which must be considered by the Security Council and other competent UN organs. The Government's concern is that the needs and interests of the Iraqi people must be paramount.
As the European Union undertakes its largest expansion ever and as it prepares for the future we must ensure that the Union will work and that it will work well. The enlarged Union of the future must work at least as effectively and democratically as it has in the past.
This will require give and take by everyone. The European Union has a track record of success. What we will all have to do is enhance our own long-term national interests, as well as the interests of the Union, by crafting compromises and structures that will ensure that the European Union continues to succeed. In this context the outcome of the European Convention and the Intergovernmental Conference will be of the greatest importance for Europe and for Ireland.
I can assure you that the Government will grasp the opportunity of enlargement to deepen our national engagement with the European Union.
Finally, in the margins of the Informal European Council the Taoiseach and I met Prime Minister Blair and Foreign Secretary Straw. We discussed developments in the peace process at that time. | <urn:uuid:b858e824-bcdf-49f6-a326-29912b4db9df> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.irelandunnewyork.org/home/index.aspx?id=26064 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96711 | 2,069 | 1.6875 | 2 |
One reason why the separation of church and state is a good idea is that uniting religion and politics tends to do more harm to both than either could self-inflict on its own. Indeed, many of the early settlers in America were people who came here to escape from the Christian nations of Europe, which is why the very first amendment in the Bill of Rights contains a prohibition against government establishment of religion. But the same phenomenon applies on a smaller scale as well, and the current woes of the Republican party may be a case in point.
I remember the last major crisis in the Republican party. I had just turned old enough to vote when President Nixon resigned in disgrace over the fallout from the Watergate break-ins. It was a toxic time to be a Republican, and there were those who wondered if the party itself could ever regain the respect and support it had lost. But another element was rising to power, led by Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell, and James Dobson (or at least those are the three who made the biggest impression on me at the time). The “Moral Majority” had arrived.
It was, you should pardon the expression, a marriage made in heaven: conservative Christians got access to the political power they craved, and conservative Republicans got back the moral respectability they’d lost under Nixon. For a while things were going great, and in an astonishingly short time, conservatives found themselves back in control again. But the seeds of future problems were being sown even then.
The thing about True Believers is that they value a particular narrative above almost everything else. Believers have a seemingly boundless capacity for rewarding those who most convincingly deceive them (as any number of multimillionaire faith healers demonstrate). Combine this with the promise-me-anything atmosphere of the political arena, and you have a recipe for a system that produces leaders whose power is based on loyalty to dogma rather than on actual performance and effectiveness.
In the early days of the union, this was a strength: believers united in large numbers around the new-found champions of their religious ideals. But the disconnect between faith and facts set the stage for leaders who were (and are) out of touch with the realities of government. Criticism of religious programs and policies is apostasy, unforgivable. Staying in power means getting good at denial, rationalization, scapegoating, and projection. And since these techniques are more adept at manipulating emotions than at resolving actual problems, the result is a leadership that becomes increasingly out of touch the more time goes by, leaving the real problems unaddressed, and often unacknowledged.
Eventually, believers begin to turn on one another. By promoting a common core of religious beliefs within the party, believers inadvertently level their own playing field, and prospective leaders have to adopt increasingly extreme positions in order to distinguish themselves from the competition. And these extremes end up being even more out-of-touch with reality than the mainstream religious party view, and thus less effective at dealing with real-world problems, taking the party even further into its downward spiral.
This all seems far too simplistic and trite to be a genuine, real-world description of actual political dynamics. And yet, I look at the current presidential campaign, and I see all the people who have moved their minds into some kind of political space where Obama is a Muslim socialist, and gays are trying to destroy “traditional marriage,” and the economy just needs to shift more money into the bank accounts of the already extravagantly wealthy. The common thread is an overwhelming preference for belief over evidence, and faith over fact. Or in other words, religion. | <urn:uuid:e375d166-04db-420f-9339-089799d56a6f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://freethoughtblogs.com/alethianworldview/2012/09/28/is-christianity-killing-the-gop/?ak_action=force_mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972439 | 748 | 1.6875 | 2 |
A good Samaritan saw a kitten run through her backyard and disappear behind some bricks. She looked over and found this…
When she realized all the kittens were hiding in the hole, she knew she had to save them.
“I did snatch them up from their little hole. They’re actually all feral… I have passed the kittens on to a lady who knows how to handle them. She’s tamed wild kittens before and is better suited than me to care for them. There is a trap set for momma cat, so hopefully she can be captured and spayed,” she said.
These feral kittens were found in a hole, cuddling together.
A cat climbed through the window of a family’s home and gave birth to a litter of three under a bed.
“We were contacted by the surprised Forrest family from White Street in Whitburn on Wednesday afternoon (15 May) after they discovered the feline and her three new born kittens in their seven year old son’s bedroom,” said Scottish SPCA. They named the cat May.
“It seems May climbed up scaffolding and got into the little boy’s room through an open window. She’s certainly an adventurous cat as their flat is three stories high.”
“On Tuesday night I was sure I could hear meowing but couldn’t find anything. Then on Wednesday afternoon I was in Kelvin’s room and heard it again. I glanced under the bed and saw a pair of cat’s eyes. I got quite a fright and asked my husband to come up and have a look. When he lifted the bed up that’s when we realized she had just given birth. I ran out and bought her a tin of food while I waited for the Scottish SPCA to arrive,” Nicola Forrest said.
May the cat enters the home through the window and gives birth to a litter of three under a bed
The Scottish SPCA is looking for the owner of the cat. “If you recognise May please call 03000 999 999. If we can return May and her kittens home that would be wonderful but if no-one comes forward we’ll be looking to find them new owners once they are ready to be separated.”
This is Dough. He found his human at a local shelter. When they met, his human fell in love, and the next thing they knew he was on his way to his forever home.
Dough is super vocal, full of personality. “I have never met a cat with so much personality. He’s hilarious. He definitely does not act like a cat. We joke that he must be some sort of cat/dog hybrid,” said the human.
“His vision is a little impaired, but trust me, he’s doing just fine.”
Dough (Douglas E. Fresh) the cute quirky cross-eyed cat
A bus driver heard noises coming from his bus. When he popped the hood open, he was surprised by what he saw…
“This is at the Gibraltar coach terminal. A Spanish driver (who’d travelled more than 130km to reach Gib) had heard weird noises coming from the hood of his bus when he stopped. To his surprise he found a small litter of 3 kittens. Verdict: Absolutely cute kittens for travelling 130km inside the hood of a moving bus.”
“After the few minutes of absolute kitten induced cuteness insanity that ensured had subsided, we called the local Cat Welfare Society who arrived within minutes. They were whisked away cuddled up in blankets, to be fed and hopefully homed” (reddit)
The little ones were given a lot of food, comfort, love and a second chance at life.
One of the 3 kittens found by a bus driver in his bus | <urn:uuid:b97a4209-c106-467a-9cfc-46993f05e38c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lovemeow.com/page/3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984925 | 812 | 1.5 | 2 |
With trembling hands I approach the writing of these words about Rakov, our hometown, which was -- and is no more. My heart is filled with memories, of institutions and people, of children and young men, who dreamt of migrating to Eretz Israel and of joining the builders of the homeland, but whose wick of life was extinguished in the springtime of their youth. May these words serve as a memorial candle to the souls.
In 1924, in the beginning of the fourth Aliyah [wave of migration] to Eretz Israel, a branch of HaHalutz [a Zionist pioneering movement] was established in the town, and signaled the beginning of a strong pioneering Zionist activity. Teenagers left their fathers and mothers, severed all their connections, and went to various training camps, and prepared themselves to 'ascend' [migrate] to Eretz Israel. I was but a lad then, and fascination with the pioneering spirit caused my heart to beat with excitement. For whole evenings, I would walk on Zaslavi Street, near the home of Shmuel Pozhneik the Haberdasher, the meeting place of HaHalutz. More than once I stood under the window, straining my ears to hear the songs of Eretz Israel which were sung by the members of the HaHalutz club, and whose echoes filled the air. With all my young heart I yearned to see them dancing the Horah, and to listen to the notes which came through the walls of the house, till late at night: El yivmeh ha'galil [God will build the Galilee -- a Hebrew song]... El yivneh ha'galilah... El yivneh!... El yivneh!...
That was the time that the idea of founding the HaHalutz HaTzayir [the Young Pioneer youth movement] was born. A dozen lads gathered at the home of one of us and we decided to organize. Our instructors, members of (the older) HaHalutz were: Moshe Mochanov, Ya'akov Botvinik, and Menasheh Manshevitz zl. Young people from all walks of life flocked to us. The evenings, as well as the Sabbaths and the Festivals, were devoted to studying the issues facing Eretz Israel and Zionism, and the meeting would end with singing and dancing. And lo, a collective for training would-be immigrants to Eretz Israel was set up in the nearby village of Michlova, at Rivlin's large sawmill, and we, the members of the HaHalutz HaTzayir, had the task of taking care of their food. We would get up at four o'clock in the morning to bring them their foodstuff. How envious were we when we saw those pioneers working, and how impatiently did we await the day when we, too, would go out to work the fields to prepare ourselves for Eretz Israel.
Here is the place to note the praiseworthy cultural and organizational activities of H. Abramson, during the relatively short period (around 1925) that he lived in Rakov, after his marriage. He gave many lectures on the, then, current issues in the lives of the Jews in Poland and in Eretz Israel, and devoted much of his time to the rehabilitation of the famous library.
Meanwhile, the migration to Eretz Israel continued, and in a short time, Moshe Mochanov, Aba Botvinik, Avraham Schneider, Hayim Abramson, the Birger family, and more, migrated there.
The night that the Birger left is particularly engraved in my memory. It was a wintery Saturday night. As we were returning to the town, having bid farewell to the migrants, we were 'welcomed' by a group of Poles shouting scornfully: Damn Jews, to Palestine!. These shouts reminded us, once more, of our humiliating situation in Poland, and of the truth of the Zionist message.
|Our friends' migration to Israel,
H'Chalutz Rakov, August 6 1932
Rabbi Polak zl rushed outside after me, and invited me to return to the house, saying that he always followed the rule: Be respectful of emissaries of mitzvah [good deed]. I emptied the box, and the rabbi gave an additional donation, above and beyond his usual donation, as a 'compensation'. This story is typical of Rabbi Polak zl, who was devoted, heart and soul, to the Zionist cause, and was a willing supporter of any Zionist activity in the town.
During the same period, the Revisionists [a right-wing Zionist political party, headed by Jabotinsky] established a branch of its youth movement, Beitar, in the town.
A branch of the Tarbut [culture] movement was established, whose aim was to support the school financially and in other ways. The chairman of the branch was Mr. Ya'akov Bampi zl, and Mr. Avraham Schneider was its secretary. When Schneider migrated to Eretz Israel, I took over the position of the secretary, until I, too, migrated to Eretz Israel. We conducted various activities: explaining the importance of Hebrew education for the young generation, organizing lectures and fundraising parties whose profits were given to the school, and establishing a theater group which put on shows. Some of the teachers and principals of the school are with us here, in Israel: Mr. Issar Kalatsky and his wife Rachel Wolfowitz, Mr. Shalom Holivski )living now in the Ein HaShofet kibbutz), and the teacher Levinsky. Among the more active members of the Tarbut branch, we can count David Greenholtz, who is living in France, Mr. Pittle Berenstein zl, Baruch Kozlovski -- now of Ranat Gan, and Shmuel Rubinstein-Avni -- now of Ra'ananah.
|Hashomer H'Tza'ir, Rakov, April 10, 1933
Photography M. Lejbovitch
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Updated 23 Mar 2005 by LA | <urn:uuid:fe09b674-487f-4885-8d43-95de5f9d2650> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jewishgen.org/Yizkor/rakow/rak066.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963521 | 1,400 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Over the weekend, NPR's All Songs Considered summer intern Emily White, a college senior and music lover, blogged about how she has over 11,000 songs in her iTunes library but have only bought 15 CDs ever.
She admitted that some were not exactly legally acquired (ahem, file sharing), but noted that the idea of buying music is foreign to her generation:
As I've grown up, I've come to realize the gravity of what file-sharing means to the musicians I love. I can't support them with concert tickets and T-shirts alone. But I honestly don't think my peers and I will ever pay for albums. I do think we will pay for convenience.
What I want is one massive Spotify-like catalog of music that will sync to my phone and various home entertainment devices. With this new universal database, everyone would have convenient access to everything that has ever been recorded, and performance royalties would be distributed based on play counts (hopefully with more money going back to the artist than the present model). All I require is the ability to listen to what I want, when I want and how I want it. Is that too much to ask?
The blog post sparked a spirited discussion about the state of the music industry and the eternal question of how to properly compensate musicians (indeed, this sort of debate has been going on forever, sparked by the rise of Napster and file-sharing, then the advent of iTunes, and now music subscription services like Pandora and Spotify).
David Lowery of The Trichordist, songwriter for the bands Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven, and lecturer at the University of Georgia's music business program, wrote a post that captures the anxiety of musicians everywhere about how the Internet is changing music:
What the corporate backed Free Culture movement is asking us to do is analogous to changing our morality and principles to allow the equivalent of looting. Say there is a neighborhood in your local big city. Let’s call it The ‘Net. In this neighborhood there are record stores. Because of some antiquated laws, The ‘Net was never assigned a police force. So in this neighborhood people simply loot all the products from the shelves of the record store. People know it’s wrong, but they do it because they know they will rarely be punished for doing so. What the commercial Free Culture movement (see the “hybrid economy”) is saying is that instead of putting a police force in this neighborhood we should simply change our values and morality to accept this behavior. We should change our morality and ethics to accept looting because it is simply possible to get away with it. And nothing says freedom like getting away with it, right?
Congratulations, your generation is the first generation in history to rebel by unsticking it to the man and instead sticking it to the weirdo freak musicians!
And so, it goes (If you're interested, Robin Hilton of All Songs Considered has a nice recap).
My questions to you, Neatoramanauts: how has technology change the way you listen to music? Do you still buy music? | <urn:uuid:2b8c19bc-c354-4c75-8b02-625a725996e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.neatorama.com/2012/06/20/the-eternal-debate-of-nobody-buys-music-anymore/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967973 | 641 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Chicago Public Schools is lengthening the school day for high school students next year by 36 minutes, aligning them with the 7½-hour days for elementary school students in 2012-13.
The reconfigured schedule -- which will include a longer day, elimination of the 14-minute homeroom period and the addition of a four-minute "entry period" -- will lengthen instruction time by 46 minutes, the district said.
In a statement released Thursday morning, CPS chief Jean-Claude Brizard said the longer school days are designed to give students more direct instruction with teachers, an effort to improve student performance in core subjects such as math and reading.
“Our students cannot afford to wait another day to access the high quality education they deserve," Brizard said in the statement.
CPS will alter the schedule for teachers too, requiring them to be at school for 7 hours and 40 minutes, an increase of 39 minutes.
Each high school will have the opportunity to cater their longer school day to meet their specific needs, officials said. | <urn:uuid:9eb4f5b2-978f-4f7e-a39e-b7c3a4d1206b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-12-22/news/chi-cps-to-lengthen-school-day-for-high-schools-by-36-minutes-20111222_1_cps-chief-jean-claude-brizard-school-day-performance-in-core-subjects | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959902 | 216 | 1.742188 | 2 |
.- Pope Benedict XVI has added his voice to Italian religious and civil leaders in calling for the immediate release of 17-month old Tommaso Onofri, who was kidnapped from his parent’s northern Italian home on March 2nd.
The kidnapping appeared to be organized but parents and authorities fear that the two men who took Tommaso were unaware that he suffers from a severe form of epilepsy and must be given medicine twice a day.
The Pope’s message was sent by way of Cardinal Secretary of State Angelo Sodano to Bishop Cesare Bonicelli of Parma, Italy, near the Onofri’s Casalbaroncolo home.
"The Supreme Pontiff”, he wrote, “unites himself to Your Excellency's appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of little Tommaso Onofri.”
He likewise expressed Benedict’s “intense solidarity to parents and family members struck by such acute anguish for the brutal kidnapping of their relative.”
And, while entrusting the child to the special maternal protection of the Most Holy Virgin, he gives assurances of special recollections in his prayers and sends a heartfelt and comforting apostolic blessing." | <urn:uuid:55ca5baf-4b18-4bbb-84d2-dc71777c9ff6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/pope_calls_for_release_of_kidnapped_italian_boy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972571 | 254 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Front Page Titles (by Subject) WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1787. - The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, vol. 1
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1787. - Max Farrand, The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, vol. 1
The Records of the Federal Convention of 1787, ed. Max Farrand (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1911). Vol. 1.
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1787.
It was moved and seconded to postpone the consideration of the sixth resolution reported from the Committee in order to take up the seventh and eighth resolutions
On the question to postpone
it passed in the affirmative
It was moved and seconded to agree to the first clause of the seventh resolution namely
“Resolved that the right of suffrage in the first branch of the national Legislature ought not to be according to the rule established in the articles of confederation”
Before a determination was taken on the clause, the House adjourned till to-morrow at 11 o’Clock A. M.
Mr. Rutlidge moved to postpone the 6th. 〈Resolution, defining the powers of Congs.〉: in order to take up the 7 & 8 which involved the most fundamental points; 〈the rules of suffrage in the 2 branches〉 which was agreed to nem. con.1
〈A question being proposed on Resol: 7 declaring that the suffrage in the first branch sd. be according to an equitable ratio〉2
Mr L. Martin3 contended at great length and with great eagerness that the General Govt. was meant merely to preserve the State Governts: not to govern individuals: that its powers ought to be kept within narrow limits; that if too little power was given to it, more might be added; but that if too much, it could never be resumed: that individuals as such have little to do but with their own States; that the Genl. Govt. has no more to apprehend from the States composing 〈the Union〉 while it pursues proper measures, that a Govt. over individuals has to apprehend from its subjects: that to resort to the Citizens at large for their sanction to a new Governt. will be throwing them back into a State of Nature: that the dissolution of the State Govts. is involved in the nature of the process: that the people have no right to do this without the consent of those to whom they have delegated their power for State purposes; through their tongue only they can speak, through their ears, only, can hear: that the States have shewn a good disposition to comply with the Acts, of Congs. weak, contemptibly weak as that body has been; and have failed through inability alone to comply: that the heaviness of the private debts, and the waste of property during the war, were the chief causes of this inability; that he did not conceive the instances mentioned by Mr. M〈adison〉 of conpacts between Va. & Md. between Pa. & N. J. or of troops raised by Massts. for defence against the Rebels, to be violations of the articles of confederation — that an equal vote in each State was essential to the federal idea, and was founded in justice & freedom, not merely in policy: that tho’ the States may give up this right of sovereignty, yet they had not, and ought not: that the States like individuals were in a State of nature equally sovereign & free. In order to prove that individuals in a State of nature are equally free & independent he read passages from Locke, Vattel, Lord Summers — Priestly. To prove that the case is the same with States till they surrender their equal sovereignty, he read other passages in Locke & Vattel, and also Rutherford: that the States being equal cannot treat or confederate so as to give up an equality of votes without giving up their liberty: that the propositions on the table were a system of slavery for 10 States: that as Va. Masts. & Pa. have of the votes they can do as they please without a miraculous Union of the other ten: that they will have nothing to do, but to gain over one of the ten to make them compleat masters of the rest, that they can then appoint an Execute: & Judiciary & legislate for them as they please: that there was & would continue a natural predilection & partiality in men for their own States; that the States, particularly the smaller, would never allow a negative to be exercised over their laws: that no State in ratifying the Confederation had objected to the equality of votes; that the complaints at present run not agst. this equality but the want of power; that 16 members from Va. would be more likely to act in concert than a like number formed of members from different States; that instead of a junction of the small States as a remedy, he thought a division of the large States would be more eligible. — This was the substance of a speech 〈which was continued〉 more than three hours. He was too much exhausted he said to finish his remarks, and reminded the House that he should tomorrow, resume them.
Met pursuant to adjournment. Present 11 states.
The 6th resolve was postponed, in order to take into consideration the 7th and 8th resolves. The first clause of the 7th was proposed for consideration, which respected the suffrage of each state in the first branch of the legislature.
(Mr. Martin, the attorney general from Maryland, spoke on this subject upwards of three hours. As his arguments were too diffuse, and in many instances desultory, it was not possible to trace him through the whole, or to methodize his ideas into a systematic or argumentative arrangement. I shall therefore only note such points as I conceive merit most particular notice.)
The question is important, (said Mr. Martin,) and I have already expressed my sentiments on the subject. My opinion is, that the general government ought to protect and secure the state governments — others, however, are of a different sentiment, and reverse the principle.
The present reported system is a perfect medley of confederated and national government, without example and without precedent. Many who wish the general government to protect the state governments, are anxious to have the line of jurisdiction well drawn and defined, so that they may not clash. This suggests the necessity of having this line well detailed — possibly this may be done. If we do this, the people will be convinced that we meant well to the state governments; and should there be any defects, they will trust a future convention with the power of making further amendments.
A general government may operate on individuals in cases of general concern, and still be federal. This distinction is with the states, as states, represented by the people of those states. States will take care of their internal police and local concerns. The general government has no interest, but the protection of the whole. Every other government must fail. We are proceeding in forming this government as if there were no state governments at all. The states must approve, or you will have none at all. I have never heard of a confederacy having two legislative branches. Even the celebrated Mr. Adams, who talks so much of checks and balances, does not suppose it necessary in a confederacy. Public and domestic debts are our great distress. The treaty between Virginia and Maryland about the navigation of the Chesapeake and Potomac, is no infraction of the confederacy. The corner-stone of a federal government is equality of votes. States may surrender this right; but if they do, their liberties are lost. If I err on this point, it is the error of the head, not of the heart.
The first principle of government is founded on the natural rights of individuals, and in perfect equality. Locke, Vattel, Lord Somers, and Dr. Priestly, all confirm this principle. This principle of equality, when applied to individuals, is lost in some degree, when he becomes a member of a society, to which it is transferred; and this society, by the name of state or kingdom, is, with respect to others, again on a perfect footing of equality — a right to govern themselves as they please. Nor can any other state, of right, deprive them of this equality. If such a state confederates, it is intended for the good of the whole; and if it again confederate, those rights must be well guarded. Nor can any state demand a surrender of any of those rights; if it can, equality is already destroyed. We must treat as free states with each other, upon the same terms of equality that men originally formed themselves into societies. Vattel, Rutherford and Locke, are united in support of the position, that states, as to each other, are in a state of nature.
Thus, says Mr. Martin, have I travelled with the most respectable authorities in support of principles, all tending to prove the equality of independent states. This is equally applicable to the smallest as well as the largest states, on the true principles of reciprocity and political freedom.
Unequal confederacies can never produce good effects. Apply this to the Virginia plan. Out of the number 90, Virginia has 16 votes, Massachusetts 14, Pennsylvania 12 — in all 42. Add to this a state having four votes, and it gives a majority in the general legislature. Consequently a combination of these states will govern the remaining nine or ten states. Where is the safety and independency of those states? Pursue this subject farther. The executive is to be appointed by the legislature, and becomes the executive in consequence of this undue influence. And hence flows the appointment of all your officers, civil, military and judicial. The executive is also to have a negative on all laws. Suppose the possibility of a combination of ten states — he negatives a law — it is totally lost, because those states cannot form two thirds of the legislature. I am willing to give up private interest for the public good — but I must be satisfied first, that it is the public interest — and who can decide this point? A majority only of the union.
The Lacedemonians insisted, in the amphictionic council to exclude some of the smaller states from a right to vote, in order that they might tyrannize over them. If the plan now on the table be adopted three states in the union have the controul, and they may make use of their power when they please.
If there exists no separate interests, there is no danger of an equality of votes; and if there be danger, the smaller states cannot yield. If the foundation of the existing confederation is well laid, powers may be added — You may safely add a third story to a house where the foundation is good. Read then the votes and proceedings of congress on forming the confederation — Virginia only was opposed to the principle of equality — The smaller states yielded rights, not the large states — They gave up their claim to the unappropriated lands with the tenderness of the mother recorded by Solomon — they sacrificed affection to the preservation of others. — New-Jersey and Maryland rendered more essential services during the war than many of the larger states. The partial representation in congress is not the cause of its weakness, but the want of power. I would not trust a government organized upon the reported plan, for all the slaves of Carolina or the horses and oxen of Massachusetts. Price says, that laws made by one man or a set of men, and not by common consent, is slavery — And it is so when applied to states, if you give them an unequal representation. What are called human feelings in this instance are only the feelings of ambition and the lust of power.
Adjourned till to-morrow morning.
Martin I think that the proposed Reform of the confedn. must rest upon the State Govts: the reform ought to be for yr. safety and protection — whatever is of an external & merely general nature shall belong to the US. Whatever is internal and existing between the separate states & individuals shall belong to the particular States. if there shall be occasion for farther powers being given to the US. a future convention may propose ym. if you give more than enough, it never can be reclaimed — It is said if the Genl. Govt. legislates for individuals & not for States, the Govt. is not federal — but if the object of this Legislation is of an external nature, the Govt. is federal — Our Reform must be federal — The States are equal & must have equal Influence and equal votes — I will proceed on first principls. every man out of society is equal, in Freedom, & every other quality of man — Lock, Vattel, & others prove this position —
The States all agree to the equality of Votes except Virgin. & N. Car. the latter of wh. was divided — Remark. admit the Fact, yet the rule of Taxation was fixed — Congress could not raise a penny except agreeably to Rule of Taxation in the 8th Art — not even from the Post Office — But now we are to tax the people by any Rule the Legislat. may prefer — now then it is necessary to apportion the Representatives — 3 States will have 42 out of 90 votes. they will tyrannize — 10 States will be slaves.
Remark — The laws will be general and apply to the whole — 7. States may now combine — they are the lawful majority, and every one is bound —
The principles7 are right but cannot be carried into effect.
Have those who upon the present plan hold part of the Votes, a 13th part of the weight, — certainly not — upon this plan they sink to nothing
The Individual right of Citizens is given up in the State Govts. they cannot exercize it again in the Genl. Government.
It has never been complained of in Congress — the complaint there is the want of proper powers.9
[1 ]Madison had next recorded, but later struck out: “Mr. Lansing moved that the word ‘not’ be struck so that it might read ‘that the right of suffrage in the first branch ought to be according to the rule established in the articles of Confederation’.” Madison, Yates and Journal all record this motion on June 28.
[2 ]Here begins the important debate on proportional representation, which continued until the adoption of the Great Compromise on July 16. It had been discussed previously on May 30, June 9 and June 11. For a summary of the arguments for and against proportional representation, see Martin’s Genuine Information in Appendix A, CLVIII (17-24), also further references on particular questions in the course of the debates June 27 to July 16.
[3 ]See June 28 note 2.
[4 ]See further, Appendix A, XLIX.
[5 ]King’s notes are very confused in arrangement for June 27 and 28. It is impossible to determine the order satisfactorily. He has inserted one part, so that the date of June 27 comes twice and he has then endorsed the whole:
This might be ascribed to June 28, but it is uncertain.
[7 ]Place of this is uncertain, but probably belongs here.
[8 ]Found among the Paterson Papers, with Paterson’s other notes of the Convention. These notes are in Brearley’s handwriting.
[9 ]A hand drawn on the margin points to this argument as if indicating its importance. | <urn:uuid:47fdca5d-1b1b-4316-a6cf-84d6373b5f86> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oll.libertyfund.org/?option=com_staticxt&staticfile=show.php%3Ftitle=1057&chapter=95860&layout=html&Itemid=27 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962499 | 3,377 | 1.585938 | 2 |
South Africa improves competitiveness
7 September 2011
South Africa improved its ranking in the World Economic Forum's (WEF's) latest Global Competitiveness Index, climbing four places to 50th out of 142 countries surveyed, while claiming top spot for regulation of exchanges and second place for soundness of banks.
Published on Wednesday, the annual Global Competitiveness Report was first released in 1979 and has since evolved into the prime authority on relative competitiveness among most of the world's nations.
Respondent numbers have grown over the years, with the 2011-12 report covering 142 countries and some 14 000 respondents.
Gains in key areas
South Africa's overall ranking, after slipping nine places last year – from 45 to 54 – recovered to 50 in 2011-12, thanks mainly to impressive gains in accountability of private institutions, strength of investor protection and technological readiness.
The country was ranked:
- 1st for regulation of securities exchange.
- 1st for strength of auditing and reporting standards.
- 2nd for soundness of banks.
- 2nd for efficacy of corporate boards.
- 3rd for protection of minority shareholders' interests.
- 3rd for availability of financial services.
- 4th for financing through the local equities market.
- 7th for effectiveness of anti-monopoly policy.
- 8th for legal rights.
"Since these factors are categorised by the World Economic Forum as sustainability issues, their superior ratings are indicative of a highly positive long-term outlook for the South African economy," Miller Matola, CEO of the International Marketing Council of South Africa, said in a statement on Wednesday.
"These combined attributes make South Africa the most competitive economy in the region."
2nd in Africa; 2nd among BRICS
South Africa's 50th overall ranking is sub-Saharan Africa's highest, and Africa's second-highest after Tunisia, which dropped from 34th place in 2010-11 to 40th place in 2011-12 owing to the political upheaval in the country.
Among its fellow BRICS nations, South Africa is ranked second only to China (in 26th place), ahead of Brazil (53rd), India (56th) and Russia (66th).
Matola said the narrative of the WEF report clearly indicated trust in South Africa, at a time when trust was returning only slowly in many parts of the world.
"We could have fared considerably better had we not lost further ground in the categories in which we scored poorly last year – labour policies, health and education.
"We need to improve our rankings in these criteria if we are to continuously move up the rankings."
34% market data, 66% perception
Matola said the results were "an indication that the reality and perception of competitiveness in South Africa is improving at a pace ahead of that of many other countries.
"The World Economic Forum derives about 34% of its score values from actual market data and 66% from perception. That South Africa has scored well on both counts is both highly gratifying and encouraging.
"Of importance, too, is our third ranking for protection of minority shareholders' interests," Matola added. "South Africa's strong performance in the financial market and corporate governance dimensions is an indication that the country is deemed a safe destination for business and investment.
"This is a positioning the country will have to work hard to maintain amidst florid debates about open market policies."
Ewald Müller, a senior executive at the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, said the standings would further enhance the country's competitiveness in attracting foreign direct investment.
"Given a clear account based on international standards, backed by strong regulation and robust corporate governance allows investors open and easy access to assessing the risks and rewards associated with corporate South Africa," Müller said in a statement. | <urn:uuid:bd0b576c-94a2-47e9-825d-5588d6a61e44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.southafrica.info/business/economy/competitiveness-070911.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950154 | 782 | 1.640625 | 2 |
AUGUSTA, Maine — The Legislature’s Education Committee on Wednesday unanimously approved an amended bill that seeks to set up a uniform system for evaluating Maine’s public school teachers.
The bill, LD 1858, is part of a comprehensive education package introduced in February by Gov. Paul LePage and Education Commissioner Stephen Bowen.
LD 1858 creates an “effectiveness rating” system for teachers and administrators that includes markers for students’ progress. Any teacher who receives two consecutive years of “ineffective” scores by an independent evaluator could have his or her teaching contract canceled.
The proposal also requires school districts to implement professional development opportunities for those who score low in the rating system and sets more rigorous teaching qualifications.
The legislation received mixed reviews during a public hearing last week, but since has been amended to accommodate many of the concerns raised.
“Of all the education bills this session, this one has the potential to positively impact education more than any other,” Bowen said in a statement Wednesday. “The bill goes to the very heart of what we know has the greatest impact on learning: the effectiveness of teachers and school leaders. The best curriculum and learning materials in the world are of no use to us unless we have effective educators in our schools.”
The bill now goes to the House and Senate for consideration.
Sen. Justin Alfond, D-Portland, said the amendments to the bill made it much more palatable, particularly language that allows due process in the event a teacher is given poor reviews and terminated.
“Of course, we’d like more time to look into this, but they are on a time schedule that is different from ours,” Alfond said, referring to the LePage administration.
The Maine Education Association, which opposed the bill, worked with the education commissioner and the committee on the amendments, but union president Chris Galgay said he still doesn’t support it.
If passed by the Legislature, the system would be phased in between this fall and the 2014-15 school year. Between now and then, the Education Department and the Legislature would adopt rules for how the teacher evaluation system would work.
Alfond said he still has concerns about what a teacher evaluation system might cost. He said Colorado passed a similar law recently and has spent millions putting it into practice.
Even Bowen said he doesn’t know what it will cost.
“We haven’t done the digging into the cost yet because we need to get a piece of legislation passed first,” the commissioner said during last week’s public hearing.
As written, the cost of implementing the system would be included in the state’s essential programs and services funding model. Some said that amounts to an unfunded mandate for local communities.
There is a fiscal note attached to the bill, which means the Appropriations Committee will have to weigh in before final passage. If the financial concerns persist through the legislative process, the bill’s passage in the House and Senate could be in jeopardy.
LD 1858 is one of four bills put forth by Gov. LePage to change education in Maine.
Earlier this week, the Education Committee approved LD 1865, a bill that enhances career and technical education.
Two more bills that are part of the administration’s agenda will be debated on Thursday. One deals with expanding school choice; the other with allowing public funding for religious schools. | <urn:uuid:b43bb2dc-552c-4123-b735-aafb02b8de33> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bangordailynews.com/2012/03/21/politics/teacher-evaluation-bill-takes-strange-turn-in-committee/print/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963447 | 716 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Published: April 2nd 2012July 10th 2011
Old Faithful and crowd
Every visitor to Yellowstone sees this sight, both the geyser and the crowd in front of it :)
Today I venture into the most popular and crowded part of Yellowstone, the geyser basins
In parts of it I felt like I was at a theme park, even more than yesterday (see March 21st
Thankfully, even here there are areas that attract relatively few people.
Everyone likes to see and talk about the big geysers
Veteran visitors prefer more obscure ones
, simply because so fewer people see them.
I spent my time wandering around finding what I could see.
I saw quite a lot. Geyser watching
is enhanced with background
Geysers come in two main types, cones and fountains.
A cone geyser erupts from a mound.
A fountain geyser erupts from a huge pool of water.
Both types contain a dissolved mineral called geyserite.
It slowly grows the mound of the former, and creates little nodules in the bottom of the pools of the latter.
Geysers have a time period between eruptions.
They have to, to recharge the steam that causes the eruption.
For some, the period remains relatively constant and eruptions can be predicted.
Others are completely random.
Beehive Geyser blows its top. The height is twice Old Faithful. Notice how everyone is standing on the left to avoid the spray :)
Highlights of the geyser basins included: Old Faithful
: This geyser is the most famous and popular in the world.
It is not the highest or the most frequent, or even the most regular, but it is the most frequent of the big geysers.
It is also incredibly predictable, to a time range of about ten minutes.
Hundreds of tourists hang out on the benches around the geyser day and night to see eruptions.
I took pictures of the tourists as well as the geyser.
I haven’t seen a crowd that big outside a theme park. Beehive
: This geyser is the ultimate cone geyser in the park.
The mound, which really does look like a beehive, sends the water blasts straight up.
Beehive is not predictable.
I was waiting for another geyser to go off when someone mentioned that the little geyser
next to Beehive was going.
I walked over there as quickly as I could.
That little geyser goes off roughly ten minutes before Beehive.
Beehive produced a huge 200 foot high plume of water that shot out of the mound in waves.
Grand Geyser shows its power. The plume on the left is Vent Geyser. I had to stand back from the benches to fit in the entire plume. Note the white trees behind, which have been coated with geyserite from previous eruptions.
Some of it blew on the boardwalk and people got soaked.
Grand Complex: This group of related geysers is the favorite of frequent visitors according to my guidebook.
It is certainly fun to watch.
It is predictable to within a four hour window, which strains the meaning of “predictable”.
The complex consists of six connected geysers.
The most noticeable one is a wide mound next to a big hole in the ground.
The wide mound is Turban
It goes off roughly every fifteen minutes, and shoots jets a few inches in the air.
On the other side of the big hole is a little geyser called Percolator
Water gurgles in the hole when it erupts, making it sound like a coffeemaker.
Percolator starts running roughly two hours before the main show starts.
Beyond Percolator is another mound called Rift
On the other side of Turban is yet another mound called Vent
Finally, the big hole is Grand
If the big hole looks like a big hole, nothing is happening any time soon.
When the hole looks like
Vent and Turban
Vent and Turban Geysers go crazy during an eruption of Grand Geyser (off to the right)
a big pool of water instead, the area has potential.
If Percolator is going, that potential increases.
When Turban goes off, it sends water into the pool next door.
When the pool is big enough, this water will trigger Grand.
Grand is the tallest geyser in the park that can be predicted.
Some bigger geysers, such as Steamboat
, make not erupt for decades.
When Grand goes, it produces enormous 200 foot high busts of water that look like a tall thin fan.
These are followed by more and more of them, up and down.
Grand also makes Rift, Turban, and Vent go nuts, so four separate geysers are going at once.
Grand is by far the biggest.
For us, Grand briefly stopped and then sent out a huge burst that looked like a bomb going off.
The geyser was a long wait, but what a payoff! Sawmill complex
: This group consists of six geysers which are connected underground.
Most only shoot water to two feet or so.
Since they are all connected, when one goes off more go off.
Down by the Riverside
Riverside Geyser erupts over the Firehole River. The geyser mound is the dark chair shape on the riverbank.
to see four separate geysers going at once.
They are all tiny, but the overall effect is dramatic. Riverside
: This geyser is located on the bank of the Firehole River, and eruptions break into little drops that fall in the water.
When the sun is right, those drops will produce a rainbow (which I didn’t get to see, sadly).
My guidebook calls it the prettiest of the big geysers.
Riverside is also the most regular, with a six and a half hour interval that has not changed in a century. Grotto
: This geyser has a huge and freakish cone that looks like a fountain from Mordor in Lord of the Rings.
The cone was formed by the geyser coating trees with geyserite, until they formed the mound.
This is the only geyser in the park that looks more interesting when it isn’t erupting. Anemone
: This little fountain geyser may be the most amusing in the park.
It shows the entire cycle in only seven minutes.
First, it looks like a conical hole in the ground with little knobs of geyserites on it.
The freakish cone of Grotto Geyser. I took this photo with camera zoom.
The hole hisses and fills with water.
The pool then explodes, roughly six times.
The water jets reach roughly three feet in height.
The pool then drains with a gurgling noise.
The geyser is very close to the trail, so the view is better than many big geysers.
Get too close and be soaked! Jewel Geyser
: This geyser is one of the highest of the frequent geysers.
It erupts every ten minutes or so, to a height of four feet.
As the name implies, it was pretty. Grand Prismatic Spring
: This spring is the largest hot spring in the park, and the fourth largest in the world.
It produces so much hot water that it supports a vast world of heat loving bacteria
, which surround the spring in large visible mats.
The mats clearly look organic, but like nothing else I have ever seen.
The spring is called Grand Prismatic because it contains every color
of the rainbow, in order.
Both red and orange come from bacteria mats.
Yellow comes from sulfur in the ground.
Green is yellow sulfur
Anemone Geyser fills with water and prepares to explode.
filtered through the blue water of the spring.
Blue, indigo, and violent come from the water of the spring filtering light from different depths.
Grand Prismatic is so large that getting a good picture requires effort
An old road, which used to be the main park road, runs next to a big hill behind the spring.
Hike the old road to the hill, where there are several obvious, steep, and very unofficial trails that climb to the top.
The view from here is very nice.
The old road also perfectly illustrates how crowded this part of Yellowstone gets, because finding parking at the trailhead was a real challenge. Crescent Pool
: This hot spring is the hottest in the entire park.
It is so hot that the temperature is above the boiling point of water at this altitude.
The entire pool boils and hisses.
Unfortunately, people have fallen in and been scalded to death instantly. Blue Star Spring
: This spring is filled with water with a remarkably deep blue color.
Seen from the front, the spring is star shaped.
The shape is
Grand Prismatic Spring
Grand Prismatic Spring, from the hill overlook. Look at the people on the boadwalk to see how big it really is.
Seen from the side, it’s obvious that the spring is really round, and the star is formed by a thin crust on top.
This crust breaks easily.
About a decade ago, a bison stepped on that crust, fell in the spring, and was immediately killed.
The area smelled like beef stew for days afterward.
A bone is still visible in the deepest part of the spring.
Old Faithful is such a tourist magnet that the geyser is now surrounded by a huge complex of tourist facilities, two of which have become attractions themselves. Hamilton’s Store
is the oldest store in the park, built in 1897.
It has a beautiful façade made of knotted branches.
Inside, it contains a steel lunch counter that hasn’t changed in half a century.
This place is flashback to an earlier age of Yellowstone tourism.
Next door is the Yellowstone Inn
, designed by Robert Reamer in 1903.
The second oldest lodging
in the park, the Inn is the largest wooden building
in the world.
Its centerpiece is a seven level atrium surrounding a huge stone fireplace.
The famous front porch of Hamilton's Store near Old Faithful
The railings on every level are tree branches.
The floorboards and walls are old logs.
When people walk in, all they do is look up.
Visitor facilities stretch off from here, all also made of logs.
The Inn nearly burned down
during the catastrophic fires in 1988.
It was saved through a combination of dedication and luck.
The luck part is that the Inn is surrounded by a huge parking lot on one side and the geyser basin on the other, forming a natural fire break.
The dedication part is the rangers, employees, and volunteers who sat on the roofs throughout dousing every flying ember.
Current visitors are in their debt.
After the geyser basins, I had a drive.
After the geyser basins, I had a drive.
First up was another waterfall, the Kepler Cascades
They drop through a narrow ravine near the road.
Like every other waterfall in Yellowstone, they were high and fun.
Next up was yet another rite of passage on this trip.
I crossed the Continental Divide
by car for the first
Old Faithful Inn
The central lobby of the Old Faithful Inn, one of the most famous National Park lodges
Books talk about the Continental Divide endlessly, so it feels like a huge thing.
The Divide is a drainage divide, separating water which drains to the Atlantic from that which drains to the Pacific.
People like to call it “the roof of North America”, which makes it seem like a nearly impassible barrier.
Unfortunately, the Divide is usually underwhelming in real life.
Mountain passes on the Divide look just like mountain passes elsewhere, and they can be much less impressive than many (South Pass, used by the Oregon Trail (see June 21st
) was so wide people barely noticed it).
What I want to see is water actually dividing on the Continental Divide, and very few places provide this.
Thankfully, one of them is right next to the road in Yellowstone. Isa Lake
is a narrow and shallow pond that sits in a pass on the Divide.
Water drips out of both ends, one little stream heading to each ocean.
In a geographic joke, the Divide makes a fishhook shape in this area, so water heading to the Pacific flows EAST from the lake and vice versa.
Isa Lake, on the continental divide in Yellowstone
After crossing the Divide, the road drops into a valley.
The low sun shining on the trees made the view particularly dramatic.
I felt like I was somewhere important, heading into the west (even though I was driving east!).
The road eventually reached a viewpoint of the entire valley, with a distant blue lake at the end surrounded by pine trees.
The lake is Shoshone Lake
, the largest lake in the US south of Alaska that can’t be reached by road.
The road passed through the valley and started to climb again.
Soon enough, it ran through a more traditional Continental Divide crossing, one completely unremarkable except for the sign.
The west will need to wait :)
On the way down from the ridge, the road gave a huge view of my final destination for the night.
It showed an enormous lake with snow capped mountains behind it.
This is Lake Yellowstone
, the largest alpine lake in the United States.
The lake is so cold that people who fall in freeze to death in less than an hour.
The view, like many in Yellowstone, is irresistible.
This is the only view of Shoshone Lake from a road. The lake is the thin blue line in the center of the photo.
Please remember to pull over first!
I spent the night at the Grant Village Campground
Grant Village itself is the least liked of all the built up areas in the park.
Ecologists hate it because it is located near several important trout streams used by bears.
Conservationists hate it because the lake is gradually eroding the beachfront.
Everyone else hates it because it is likely the ugliest complex
in any national park.
To get an idea of how this place appears, start with a tacky time share resort found near a ski slope or beach.
One that was built mainly to make a quick buck, and looks it.
Place that resort in the middle of one of the grandest natural landscapes on earth and that is Grant Village.
The park service has tried to disguise things by planting pine trees in front of most of the buildings, but the architecture still shows through.
I nearly threw up.
Thankfully, the assault on good taste does not carry over to the campground.
It is the only one located directly on the lake, and those that
Lake Yellowstone sunset
Sunset over Lake Yellowstone, seen from outside the Lake House.
reserve early enough can get a campsite with a lakefront view.
I managed to get one.
I couldn’t resist sticking a hand in the water, which was cold as heck.
I had dinner tonight at the Lake House Restaurant
, which sits directly on the shore of Lake Yellowstone.
The view shows a vast blue lake surrounded by trees.
I saw sunset just before dinner, which was pretty special.
Sadly, the food does not equal the view and is expensive to boot. | <urn:uuid:00ada0f0-2090-45eb-aa87-57085e36f053> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/Old-Faithful/blog-703559.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958448 | 3,330 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Passes legislation to allow taxes on affluent to rise
The U.S. Senate, in a pre-dawn vote two hours after the deadline passed to avert automatic tax increases, overwhelmingly approved legislation on Tuesday that would allow tax rates to rise only on affluent Americans while temporarily suspending sweeping, across-the-board spending cuts.
The deal, worked out in furious negotiations between Vice-President Joe Biden and Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell, passed 89-8, with three Democrats and five Republicans voting no. Although the proposal lost the support of some of the Senate’s most conservative members, the broad coalition that pushed the accord across the finish line could portend swift House passage as early as New Year’s Day.
Quick passage before the markets reopen on Wednesday would likely negate any economic damage from Tuesday’s breach of the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ and largely spare the nation’s economy from the one-two punch of large tax increases and across-the-board military and domestic spending cuts in the New Year.
Mr. Biden, after meeting with leery Senate Democrats to sell the accord, said, “You surely shouldn’t predict how the House is going to vote. But I feel very, very good.’’
House Speaker John A. Boehner and the Republican House leadership said the House would “honour its commitment to consider the Senate agreement.’’ But, they added, “decisions about whether the House will seek to accept or promptly amend the measure will not be made until House members and the American people have been able to review the legislation.’’
Even with that cautious assessment, Republican House aides said a vote on Tuesday was possible.
Under the agreement, tax rates would jump to 39.6 per cent from 35 per cent for individual incomes more than $400,000 and couples more than $450,000, while tax deductions and credits would start to be phased out on incomes as low as $250,000.
“Just last month Republicans in Congress said they would never agree to raise tax rates on the wealthiest Americans,’’ Mr. Obama said before the vote at a hastily arranged news briefing on Monday.Democrats also secured a full year’s extension of unemployment insurance without strings attached and without offsetting spending cuts, a $30 billion cost. But the 2-percentage point cut to the payroll tax that the president secured in late 2010 lapsed at midnight and will not be renewed.
In one final piece of the puzzle, negotiators agreed to put off $110 billion in across-the-board cuts to military and domestic programs for two months while broader deficit reduction talks continue. Those cuts begin to go into force Wednesday, and that deadline too might be missed before Congress approves the legislation.
To secure votes, Harry Reid, the Senate Democratic leader, also told Democrats the legislation would cancel a pending congressional pay raise.
The nature of the deal ensured that the running war between the White House and congressional Republicans on spending and taxes would continue at least until the spring.
Under the deal, tax rates on dividends and capital gains would also rise, to 20 from 15 per cent.
The deal would reinstate provisions to tax law, ended by the Bush tax cuts of 2001, that phase out personal exemptions and deductions for the affluent.
Those phaseouts, under the agreement, would begin at $250,000 for single people and $300,000 for couples.
The estate tax would also rise, but considerably less than Democrats had wanted. The value of estates more than $5 million would be taxed at 40 percent, up from the current 35 percent. Democrats had wanted a 45 percent rate on inheritances larger than $3.5 million. | <urn:uuid:0f7ecb68-8ef1-4da3-92bb-1b2eae275cd0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/despite-last-minute-deal-us-misses-fiscal-cliff-deadline/article4261470.ece | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95572 | 772 | 1.6875 | 2 |
At Camp Fire, our mission is to build caring, confident youth and future leaders and that’s exactly what we do at Camp Hantesa. Through our premiere overnight programs, Hantesa fosters individual growth in each camper that spends a week with us. At Camp, we believe that every child has the potential to reach great heights if only given the chance to succeed. Our staff are proud to offer an inclusive, engaging, and challenging environment for youth to gain independence, self-confidence, and a sense of belonging, all while building lifelong friendships and experiencing the wonder of nature and the outdoors.
What to expect:
Each day campers participate in a variety of activities of their choice. Camp allows children the ability to “unplug” and explore their natural surroundings. Trained staff maintain an 8:1 ratio with youth, and deliver age-appropriate programming to all campers. Campers have the opportunity to individually choose several activities each day, depending on age and ability. This allows our campers to set goals, increase abilities, and build confidence.
● Swimming and Swim Lessons
● Horseback Riding
● Arts and Crafts
● Challenge Course
● Nature Studies
● Sports and Games
● Outdoor Living Skills
● and LOTS more!
Besides daily activities, great food, caring counselors, fun songs, tradition, and incredible evening programs make Hantesa Overnight Camp truly special. Living in cabins with five to eight other children, campers make lifelong friendships and learn independence and how to work within a group.While every day is different at Camp Hantesa, know that it will be like no other place on earth!
Summer Camp Programs
Hantesa Resident Camp – Grades 1 to 12
Our resident weeks offer activities celebrating the true Hantesa experience. Campers have a choice of several activities depending on age and ability. Through progression, campers can set goals, increase abilities, and build confidence through the camp session. We celebrate the accomplishments of each camper at the end of the week during our traditional Friday-night Council Fire ceremony. Each youth has the opportunity to earn honors at the ceremony. Every week, children have the opportunity to progress further and gain more honors. Summer 2013 dates
Herman’s Ranch Equestrian Camp – Entering 4th -12th grade
If horses are your passion, you have to try Herman’s Ranch. No special experience or equipment is necessary. Campers spend an hour and a half each day in English style riding lessons (weather permitting) honing riding skills at any level. Beginners learn the basics such as starting, stopping, and guiding their horse. More experienced riders work on posting, trotting, cantering, and even jumping for advanced riders. Your time at the ranch includes training in grooming, horse care, and barn management with certified staff. Traditional camp experiences such as swimming, cookouts, and campfires round out your resident week. Summer 2013 dates
Leadership Challenge (LC) and Buckaroo - Entering 10th grade
During their 10th grade year, many youth are ready to take on the challenge and tradition of leadership. The Leadership Challenge/Buckaroo program can be the first step. During this two week overnight camp session, campers begin to define themselves as leaders at camp and in life. Activities include team challenges, studying mentoring styles, developing citizenship through service learning, and interacting as role models with younger campers.
Similarly, Buckaroos begin working on their leadership and horsemanship skills. Along with learning to be a leader and learning to give back to camp, Buckaroos spend time at Herman’s Ranch, developing their teaching abilities and horse knowledge as well as increasing their riding skills. Summer 2013 dates
Apprentice and Wrangler -Entering 11-12th grades
The Apprentice and Wrangler program at Hantesa Overnight Camp is a service oriented, 4-week program that readies high school students for future leadership roles. Typical apprenticeships are two summers in length. Apprentices and Wranglers build on leadership, communication and program delivery skills. Lessons and live-in studies in units across camp allow apprentices to learn directly from our exceptional staff the responsibilities of role modeling and caring for our campers. Wranglers participate in the same activities as apprentices, however they conduct their live-ins at Herman’s Ranch.
An application and interview process is required for admittance into the program. Admittance into the 1st year program does not guarantee admittance into the 2nd year program. You must submit an application (coming soon), camp registration form, and deposit. Deposits will be returned in full to applicants who are not accepted to the Apprentice/Wrangler Program. Summer 2013 dates
Tradition and High Ideals
- Established in 1919 with a focus on outdoor and environmental education.
- Weekly vesper service and Native American themed council fire and honors ceremony.
- Skill development and recognition in a variety of activities that promote progression in learning and that honor personal achievement.
- Owned and operated by Camp Fire - Heart of the Hawkeye.
- Inclusive for boys and girls. Participation in Camp Fire clubs is not required.
Health and Safety
- Prior to camp, all staff participate in a training that includes risk management, emergency procedures, positive behavior management, and teaching activities.
- We perform yearly background checks on all staff members .
- All staff are American Red Cross certified in first aid, CPR, and AED.
- All lifeguards have certification from the American Red Cross.
- Barn staff have certification from the American Association of Horsemanship Safety in riding instruction.
- A nursing professional supervises the health lodge.
- We meet or exceed the standards of the American Camping Association. | <urn:uuid:b000647a-63a2-4109-a12a-ce32488036b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.campfireusaia.org/overnightcamp.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936569 | 1,195 | 1.625 | 2 |
Ms. Assilem shares her personal perceptions, learned crone wisdom, and insights as an experienced homeopath.
Introduces the remedies that homeopathy has to offer in this very important period. Remedy selection guide for hundreds of common symptoms of physical and emotional stress, including labor and birthing.
This classic treatment on the subject of post-natal depression includes the latest scientific research, and belongs on the must-read list of anyone working with women of childbearing age.
A reference for choosing the homeopathic remedy most likely to be useful in
ailments and conditions involving pregnancy, labor, the puerperium, breastfeeding,
A solid reference for over 100 years and still popular today, this work contains details of female anatomy and physiology as well as excellent information on neo-natal care and childhood diseases.
Learn how to relax, cope and enrich the uniqueness and essential quality of life as a woman using the Bach Flower Remedies.
A practical guide for labor, birth, and the immediate postpartum period, this work by Betty Idarius is deserving of its popularity.
"We can't just put our feet up and rest when menopausal symptoms hit. We need safe, effective solutions so we can be in top form physically, mentally and emotionally. The solution many women are turning to is homeopathy."
Ideal as a quick homeopathic reference for conditions surrounding pregnancy,
childbirth, and the neonate.
Beth MacEoin clearly explains the basics of homeopathy for beginners, outlining step-by-step the process of considering the overall symptom picture and selecting the proper remedy and dosage.
Although not homeopathic in scope, this book describes the basics of midwifery and may be useful to practitioners seeking information about this area of women's health.
Dr. Master credits not only Kent and George Vithoulkas but Vassilis Ghegas, Tinus Smits and Paul Herscu, - all as seen through the prism of his own practice.
This is an extremely accessible guide to homeopathy and childbearing and a basic, detailed manual on homeopathy for maternity care.
Homeopathy to Support Menopause. You don't need to suffer from menopause symptoms - they can be cured naturally with homeopathy. Menopause is not a disease - it's a natural transition.
Homeopathic and naturopathic advice for women's health issues, including chronic yeast infections, fibrocystic breast disease, excessive menstrual bleeding, morning sickness, and more.
A simplified guide for mothers, midwives and other professionals. Clear, accurate and user friendly - particularly in an emergency!
Trevor Smith MD shows how women can use homeopathy as an important primary treatment in caring for their own health.
With this work, Dr. Soler establishes himself as a true master who devoutly serves the cause of Homeopathy.
An excellent practical resource for childbirth, well-produced with good graphics and clear layout.
Van der Zee lays out the significance of birth for good health later in life and the role homeopathy can play before, during and after birth.
It starts with considering an analogy between the birth process and the miasms and ends up offering lots of food for thought. | <urn:uuid:c3bd4bd1-f40b-4a6b-a20a-a98f4d3cf6bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wholehealthnow.com/books/women-birth-pregnancy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931183 | 665 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Type I civilizations can harness the energy already on the planet. In the year 2060, Earth is almost at this level. Type II civilizations are able to harness the energy of a star. Type III civilizations exploit the energy of a galaxy. This means they are immune from typically dangerous phenomena such as supernovae, cosmic strings, and black holes - these anomalies are merely energy sources to them. In a time of war, such societies are nearly undefeatable.|
This is the dangerous dilemma proposed in Shaheed Abdulhaqq's future world of Type III. Here, there is one government, the United Earth Continents (UEC), and the activities of their Weapons Control Agency means there should no longer be any ''outlaw'' nations. But in this world of space travel, advanced technologies, and Mars colonization, some things never change; issues of government conspiracy, secret weapons development, and rogue officials still rear their heads.
What starts as a rescue mission for a missing supply ship at a deep space mining colony ultimately leads to an encounter with two Type III alien life forms, the Saydus and Vaysus. Being completely unaware that such beings and their advanced technologies existed, Commander Yasseen Abdul Wakil and his dedicated crew suddenly struggle to save themselves - and also bear the burden for restoring the aliens' balance of power thus saving the world. There is no question that the humans are at a disadvantage - they are outnumbered and underpowered in comparison. Abdulhaqq puts us in their shoes on the field of battle to see if these Type I humans have what it takes to take on the Type III threat. | <urn:uuid:59afa717-9416-455f-ac29-a06bb6cc44a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scifan.com/titles/title.asp?TI_titleid=66748 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94097 | 328 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Every year, 25,000 animals are referred to the Humane Society of Indianapolis and Animal Care and Control. About 10,000 of the animals are destroyed annually. The Humane Society will open an animal welfare center at West Michigan Road and Holmes Street next spring to address that problem.
"It will house our vaccination clinic. Eventually, it will house our high-volume spay and neuter facility," said Shelter Director Kristen Vantwoud. "Low cost vaccines, flea control, heartworm prevention, those sorts of things."
With few veternarians serving the Haughville area, the anticipated opening of the center is good news for Jawaun Faris and his dog Smokey, a retired police dog.
"There's a lot of dogs over here but not a lot of places to take them so I think people would go there."
» The latest on traffic, delays and road construction delivered to your mobile phone. Click to sign up to receive text alerts! | <urn:uuid:58cc8b33-69b1-4a80-bdb4-c5cf10bb44af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcall.com/topic/wxin-humane-society-welfare-center-humane-society-to-open-west-side-animal-welfare-center-20111130,0,5473661.column | 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 | 0.945539 | 198 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The P&O Nedlloyd Award for Infrastructure
This award is given to a company or organisation which has assisted economic and social development through the provision of appropriate, sustainable and environmentally complementary transport systems or infrastructure.
Runner-up: Nairobi Central Business District Association
Gunmen enter a Nairobi shop and shoot down the owner. A middle-aged man is stabbed as he leaves a nightspot, his assailants stealing his money and even his shoes. Kirinyaga and Grogan Roads, congested with people, buildings, buses and cheap lodging houses, are seen by Nairobians as specially dangerous. Over 200 armed carjackings take place in Nairobi every month. Crime has been compounded by neglect of streets and buildings.
In 1997, Central Nairobi business people decided to do something about all this. They did not want Nairobi to become like Johannesburg. They set up the Nairobi Central Business District Association. Security of life, limb and possessions is the most basic form of infrastructure, if less tangible than roads, bridges and power lines.
To bring police officers into closer contact with the community, the association persuaded the police to set up ten information posts open to members of the public . The police, who previously did little to explain themselves, also appointed an assistant commissioner to respond to public concerns.
In the year 2000, with money from the Ford Foundation, NCBDA embarked on a policing and community safety project. This included a crime survey, a series of meetings of community leaders, and a programme of training in community policing, which enlisted the help of officers from Britain. The project roused media interest, making security a major preoccupation of the government and of Nairobi people.
Following up the project, NCBDA is now working with youth organisations and slum organisations. It is promoting community-policing forums round the city, and a Kenyan Friends of Police chapter as a bridge between police and public. It is establishing a fund which, among other tasks, will finance recreation for young people and improve the living and working conditions of police officers.
NCBDA is also concerning itself with the appearance of the central district. It repaired or replaced footpaths, kerbs and lighting standards in Kimathi, Mama Ngina and Tom Mboya Streets. It is now engaged with the Standard Chartered Bank, the Stanley Hotel and Pan Africa Insurance in its first city improvement district, in Kimathi and other streets off Kenyatta Avenue. The idea is that property owners agree to pay a levy over and above their taxes and to spend this on street cleaning, security guards and improvements.
NCBDA is keen to get people including the young and the poor interested in local government. It is promoting a residents charter which will address the disparity between rich Nairobi and poor Nairobi. It is planning workshops for councillors elected in the 2002 elections.
Philip Kisia, a 38-year-old director of a hotel company, under whose chairmanship NCBDA has doubled its membership, comments: "NCBDA has been able to get Nairobians to talk to each other and not at each other - politicians, the police, business people, the haves and the have-nots. We have deployed a vision, agreed on priorities, laid the foundation for public-private partnerships and built bridges across economic, social and political divides. A bright future for Nairobi is now assured."
The Judges say
The requirements for sound business investment include political stability, good governance, proper security, reliable transport systems, and a healthy and clean working environment. This project reaches out to these needs, and is an enterprising and imaginative example of a successful infrastructure project. By tackling such a challenging task, NCBDA has shown that the failures of public services can be reversed through cross-sectoral partnership and community involvement. The practical measures to improve security, traffic management and environment deserve vigorous encouragement. NCBDA's policy of creating strategic partnerships between government, civil society and business has created a sustainable process. Although early days, there are real signs that organisation's goal of stalling the process of urban decay is being realised, and that the Central Business District of Nairobi will become safer, more attractive, and more conducive to business, thereby providing the impetus for more rapid economic growth.
NCBDA, PO Box 10687, 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: +254 2 219412
Fax: +254 2 340296 | <urn:uuid:5b5812a0-a0c5-4f53-ad00-317d830037e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.worldaware.org.uk/awards/awards2001/ncbda.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956169 | 918 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Health plans are drawing scrutiny for offering financial incentives to entice doctors to prescribe cheaper generic medicines, including paying doctors $100 each time they switch a patient from a brand-name drug.
Pharmaceutical companies have long gone to great lengths to try to get doctors to prescribe their brand-name pills. They spend billions of dollars, plying physicians with samples, educational lunches and speaker fees. But as the patents for a growing number of blockbuster medicines expire, some health insurers are trying to trump those perks with bonuses or higher reimbursements for writing more generic prescriptions.
The idea, health plans say, is to save everyone -- patients, employers and insurers -- money. And many doctors argue that it's only right to reimburse them for spending time evaluating whether a cheaper generic alternative is better or as good for a patient.
But the more aggressive approaches, such as cash rewards for each patient switched from a given list of drugs, are coming under fire for injecting financial incentives into what some patient advocates and legislators say should be a purely medical decision. Medical societies are also concerned that such rewards may put doctors in the ethically questionable position of taking a payment that patients know nothing about.
"I'm all for saving health-care dollars, but my concern is if there's a direct financial incentive for a physician to prescribe a certain generic drug, we cannot really trust that decision," says Peter Koutoujian, house chairman of the Massachusetts legislature's Joint Committee on Public Health. He introduced a bill in the committee last month to ban drug-switching incentive payments to doctors.
The incentive program that has drawn the most scrutiny is one initiated last year by Blue Care Network, a health-maintenance organization owned by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Under the three-month program, called Blue Reward$, primary-care physicians were asked to consider switching patients from a brand-name drug and received $100 for each plan member who filled a generic cholesterol-lowering statin prescription. To assist doctors, the HMO mailed them a list of Blue Care Network patients who were taking Lipitor and Lescol, two brand-name statins.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan says the program was a one-time event to take advantage of the recent introduction of simvistatin, the generic equivalent of another brand-name statin, Zocor. It says the $2 million its HMO spent in payments to doctors saved Blue Care Network $5 million in drug costs and its individual members $1 million in co-payments.
Though that program ended in March 2007, it continues to generate a backlash. In Michigan, a state Senate committee planned a hearing last fall on the incentives before being sidetracked by the state's budget crisis. Halfway across the country, Mr. Koutoujian said reports of the Michigan program prompted his legislation in Massachusetts "to keep it from spreading."
The American Medical Association says it was contacted by numerous doctors and at least one medical society that wanted to know whether the incentives exposed them ethically or legally. In response, the AMA posted advice to doctors on its Web site under the heading "Kickback Questions and Answers." Its view: "Accepting payment for moving a patient from a brand name to a generic could be viewed as an antikickback statute violation."
Several medical associations say that Pfizer Inc., the maker of Lipitor, contacted them to drum up awareness about the incentive program. Pfizer confirms that it has pointed out to some medical societies the potential clinical and policy implications of those programs.
Helen Stojic, a spokeswoman for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, says while it doesn't plan to repeat the statin drug-switching program, it periodically provides the same kind of physician incentives for other moves to improve care and cut costs, such as increasing the number of mammograms or colorectal cancer screenings. "We considered [the drug-switching program] to be very successful," she adds.
Other health plans have avoided controversy so far by providing more indirect incentives to physicians for raising their overall share of generic drug prescriptions. Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield in upstate New York began a pilot project with several medical groups in Syracuse, N.Y., in 2006 as part of a broader consumer campaign to boost generic drug use. If they increased their ratio of generic drug prescriptions to brand-name ones by five percentage points, their physicians receive a slightly higher reimbursement for their patient office visits.
Excellus's chief pharmacy officer, Joel Owerbach, says the medical groups in the pilot project all met that target, and at least one increased its rate of generic prescriptions by eight percentage points, compared with a six- to seven-point increase overall in the Syracuse area. He estimates the practice's improved generic prescription ratio saved patients between 10% and 12% in drug copayments and costs.
Other insurers are nudging doctors to prescribe more generics by making it a factor in annual "pay-for-performance" bonuses that have become increasingly common. In these programs, physicians' practices are typically paid 2% to 8% more if they meet certain criteria designed to improve care and efficiency, such as prescribing more drugs electronically and reducing cholesterol levels.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, for instance, gives doctors a bonus of up to $4 per patient a month, paid annually, for meeting a list of goals that includes higher generic prescription rates, it says.
Regardless of the incentive structure, many physicians say there shouldn't be a problem with health plans paying doctors to help reduce costs. Given that primary-care doctors have seen their real incomes decline for at least a decade because of higher administrative costs and stagnant reimbursements, "why shouldn't they get paid for doing the right thing?" asks Robert Jackson, a Detroit-area family physician.
Write to Vanessa Fuhrmans at [email protected] in The Wall Street Journal, page B1 | <urn:uuid:c9d34779-d365-4891-b1ca-37406a20830f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120114138064112219.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953421 | 1,218 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Nunavut’s CLEY department re-names, re-shapes itself
Culture and heritage will now be separate from language and youth
The Government of Nunavut’s Department of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth is changing its English name to the Department of Culture and Heritage.
Speaking June 1 in the territorial legislature, James Arreak, the minister of CLEY, said the current English name is too long, and the words “culture and heritage” describe what the department actually does.
But why has the “language” been taken out of the equation? According to Arreak, that’s covered — he will still hold the portfolio of minister responsible for languages.
Amittuq MLA Louis Tapardjuk brought up the name change again during the legislature’s question period. He also grilled Arreak about when the Official Languages Act and the Inuit Language Protection Act, which were passed in 2008, will be fully implemented. Many sections of the two laws, especially provisions of the Inuit Language Protection Act, have yet to come into effect.
“Our expectations are now for this fall, where I will first announce the plan, and shortly thereafter or as winter commences, this legislation will finally start being implemented,” replied Arreak.
A lack of money and no implementation plan mean the expected implementation date has been pushed back from this summer. | <urn:uuid:b3bd7858-0551-4cd7-9889-319198bdd607> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nunatsiaqonline.ca/stories/article/65674nunavuts_cley_remolds_itself/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951322 | 299 | 1.65625 | 2 |
San Francisco cornerback Chris Culliver at the New Orleans Super Dome during Super Bowl XLVII Media Availability.
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver will begin sensitivity training and education immediately after the Super Bowl following his anti-gay remarks this week, then likely start volunteer work with at-risk homosexual youth nationwide.
Culliver is scheduled to begin working with "The Trevor Project," an organization that provides crisis and suicide intervention to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth, according to his public relations representative, Theodore Palmer.
"He's so passionate about youth and people being comfortable with who they are and accepted by all," Palmer said in a phone interview Saturday. "He's excited to learn. The plan is with The Trevor Project, and their concerns are that he is genuine about his words."
Palmer said once the education process is done, Culliver could eventually spend time volunteering at a crisis center and in other formats.
State Sen. Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, urged lawmakers to approve his bill to ban a controversial form of psychotherapy aimed at making gay people straight during a hearing at the Capitol in Sacramento on Tuesday, May 8. The bill, SB 1172, was passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee 3-1.
The practice known as “conversion therapy” -- in which gay or bisexual people, usually teenagers, are “converted” to becoming heterosexual -- is that much closer to being banned for all minors in California thanks to a state lawmaker from Torrance.
Democratic state Sen. Ted Lieu’s first-of-its-kind bill, SB 1172, was approved by the state Senate Judiciary Committee late Tuesday, paving the way for a vote before the full Senate within the month.
Lieu says he believes conversion therapy (also known as “reparative therapy”) is harmful and unscientific. Senate Bill 1172 would forbid the practice for all people under 18 and require “informed consent” for adults.
This morning Lieu was a guest on KPCC’s The Madeleine Brand Show, telling Brand that “There are patients that have committed suicide having gone through” conversion therapy.
A 2012 Chevy Malibu available at Allen Gwyn Chevrolet
A Glendale man upset by his family’s treatment of him for being gay got back at them by stealing their identities, police say.
The Glendale News-Press reports that 24-year-old Christopher Higa allegedly used the identity of his 21-year-old brother Nicholas to set up a bank account, obtain credit cards and buy a brand-new 2012 Chevy Malibu from Allen Gwynn Chevrolet on South Brand Boulevard.
Higa also allegedly stole the identity of another sibling and his mother. He told police he hadn’t even spoken to his family for more than a year after they shunned him due to his sexual orientation, according to the News-Press.
Higa was allegedly going so far as to price-shop in his brother’s name, telling police he first picked up a Malibu at Toyota of Glendale before finding a better deal at Allen Gwynn, according to reports. | <urn:uuid:254d8d77-ca50-4226-ad65-b914cd2f0833> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scpr.org/blogs/news/tagged/gay | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972176 | 654 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Unfortunately, many companies focus solely on regulatory compliance. But if you consider environmental data only from a regulatory perspective, business leaders will focus mainly on costs: the costs of monitoring and mitigating emissions and the costs of collecting the information needed to file reports.
Instead, savvy companies will use what Deloitte Consulting calls "sustainability analytics" to determine which initiatives are generating real environmental and financial benefits, so they can pour more effort into the most successful initiatives.
As companies push more broadly into the world of advanced analytics, CIOs have a chance to help their companies make the most of environmental data. So when you're shopping for analytics tools, don't forget to put sustainability on your checklist.
Elana Varon is a freelance writer and editor based in Massachusetts.
Read more about business intelligence (bi) in CIO's Business Intelligence (BI) Drilldown. | <urn:uuid:68108e45-9b9d-4833-a7c3-6fde0dbb3e60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.itworld.com/networking/218091/use-analytics-create-greener-business?page=0,1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936962 | 177 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Hopefully most of us have seen the Agenda 21 commercials on TV put out by the United Nations. Since the U.N. is sponsoring this movement, I really feel suspicious and alarmed. Their track record is not what you would call stellar, unless you are against the U.S.
The first commercial was about keeping or spending money on "imperfect babies". It reminded me of the opening scene in the movie "300" where Spartan babies are inspected and "discarded" if not perfect. This kind of Pagan society would fit right in today with the likes of George Bernard Shaw, Cloward and Piven, Margret Sanger, and our own president, who voted for "discarding" babies that survived abortion.
The second commercial was about older people who have "lived a good life". I guess that the U.N. will determine when seniors contribution to society is no longer needed. I feel that older people are an important part of the family unit and a source of wisdom and council to younger family and friends.
Why is this U.N. program even being considered in this country? Some liberal minded people think these ideas are good for society with programs names like "Sustainable Development", "Open Spaces", "Private Public Partnerships", and the "International Council of Local Environmental Initiatives". Sounds so wonderful, warm and fuzzy doesn't it? It's the usual hidden agenda most progressives want. It's called Control. Big government nanny state Control. The "Constitution is in the way" control.
Freedom loving people don't want this, but progressives do. Don't wait until we are all required to salute the U.N. flag.
Submitted by Virtual Newsroom | <urn:uuid:61f5b608-79ae-4f33-95be-29225e210952> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sungazette.com/page/content.detail/id/586138/Agenda-21.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961685 | 346 | 1.664063 | 2 |
One local organization hopes to help tackle hunger on Super Bowl Sunday. Volunteers in Service to Others (VISTO) is joining area churches in a game-day fundraiser to help increase the organization’s supply of food for needy Cooke County families.
Local churches have been participating in this national effort for the last seven or eight years by passing a bowl or a basket on Super Bowl Sunday to donate to VISTO’s food bank or another charitable organization.
National in scope, yet local in impact, the Souper Bowl of Caring works toward making the weekend of the big game an unprecedented time of giving and serving in this country.
“Our number one contributors are the churches,” said Michelle Baldwin, Executive Director of VISTO, adding that VISTO was founded in the mid-1980s to help the people of Cooke County.
Local churches and businesses have been participating in this national effort for almost a decade by passing a bowl or a basket on Souper Bowl Sunday to donate to Cooke Countyís emergency food bank, VISTO.
VISTO (Volunteers in Service to Others) will once again offer the popular Souper Bowl Sunday Luncheon. It will be held Super Bowl Sunday, February 1st from 11 a.m., to 1 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at 214 S. Denton St. in Gainesville. A variety of soups prepared by the VISTO Board of Directors is on the menu. It is donation only, $5 suggested per bowl. And you get to keep the bowl to remind you there are still empty bowls in Cooke County. This year, Lake Kiowa Chapel will be donating the desserts.
Baldwin said the organization is now looking into grants as well as community fund raisers as a way to help keep the program thriving. Monetary donations are helpful to VISTO because VISTO can purchase food at discount prices.
“We can buy food for significantly less than the public can. For example, I just bought five chickens for seventy five cents each, and I can buy peanut butter for eighteen cents a jar,” says Baldwin.
“It is important for the community to be aware that VISTO is only allowed to have three fundraisers per year. Every cent raised at this event stays in Cooke County,” says Baldwin. “The money will go to help buy food for the emergency food bank and the Back Pack Buddy program.
The Back Pack Buddy program helps make sure some Cooke County school children and their siblings don’t go hungry over the weekend during the school year. “We’re in almost every school in the county providing supplemental nutrition assistance to over 600 children a week,” says Baldwin.
A grant from the United Way's Legacy Fund made this possible, Baldwin said earlier. “That's how we were able to bring Pioneer Valley on.”
But helping feed children is an expensive proposition, she said.
But to show how important this program is to the kids, this story was related: A local kindergarten teacher asked her students which day of the week was the students’ favorite. The kids took turns answering the question. Some said Saturday was their favorite because it isn’t a school day; others liked other days for various reasons.
One little boy told the teacher his favorite day of the week was Friday.
She asked him why.
“Because it’s the day I get my (VISTO) backpack,” he answered.
Beth Denison of VISTO (Volunteers in Service to Others) said she has heard a lot of stories about families and children who have been helped by VISTO services including the organization’s Back Pack Buddy project which provides a backpack full of nutritious foods for local school children on Fridays.
“The cost of the Back Pack Buddy program equals our whole emergency food bank which means we basically doubled the amount of food (and cost) we gave out a year ago. We have always been able to function on the generosity of donations from the good people of Cooke County, but with the success of the Back Pack Buddy program, we will probably have to look at doing more intentional fundraisers,” Baldwin said.
“Few people realize that VISTO has been operating in “crisis” mode since June. There are over 500 people on the waiting list for housing assistance in Cooke County. And with the recent lay-offs in the oil and gas industry, Peterbuilt, Weber, and B29 — more people than ever will need a little help to get through these torturous economic times,” she said.
VISTO is also announcing the Second Annual “Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader” fundraiser scheduled for Saturday, March 28. The event will be hosted at North Central Texas College at 2 p.m.
The VISTO director wishes to remind those that are unable to attend the Souper Bowl luncheon that there will be bell ringers stationed at Wal-Mart the same day, Feb. 1, in the afternoon. She also says everyone is invited and encouraged to attend the luncheon or to make donations. For more information, call 668-6403.
On the Web: | <urn:uuid:7475717c-3609-4d71-80d7-0d8faece9f80> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gainesvilleregister.com/local/x116025301/-Souper-Bowl-set-for-Sunday/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963052 | 1,090 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Recently, the Third Circuit affirmed the dismissal of a plaintiff’s complaint seeking damages for injuries as a result of cell phone usage on the ground that his claims were preempted by Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) regulations. Farina v. Nokia, Inc., No. 08-4034, 2010 WL 4138502 (3d Cir. Oct. 22, 2010) [PDF]. In that case, the Plaintiff, Francis Farina (“Farina”), brought a class action against numerous cell phone manufacturers and retailers. Farina asserted that cell phones were unsafe to be operated without headsets because, without a headset, the user is exposed to dangerous amounts of radio frequency (“RF”) radiation and current marketing of cell phones as safe violated state law. The FCC regulations at issue adopted a maximum absorption rate that measured the amount of energy absorbed in human tissue.
In reviewing the decision of the District Court, the Third Circuit discussed the three types of federal preemption of state law — express preemption, field preemption, and conflict preemption. First, the Third Circuit found no express preemption by 47 U.S.C. Section 332(c)(7)(B)(iv) that provided the following: “No State or local government or instrumentality thereof may regulate the placement, construction, and modification of personal wireless service facilities on the basis of the environmental effect of radio frequency emissions to the extent that such facilities comply with the Commission’s regulations concerning such emissions.” (emphasis added). Defendants argued that the term “facilities” included alternations to cell phones. The Third Circuit disagreed finding that “facilities” related to infrastructures and not transient cell phones, concluding no express preemption.
Next, the Third Circuit found no field preemption stating that “[w]hile the FCC may have ‘primacy over the areas of technical standard and competitive market structure for cellular service . . . neither Congress nor the FCC has evinced an intent to occupy the entire field.”
Finally, however, the Third Circuit found conflict preemption accepting Defendants’ argument that “Farina’s suit would erect an obstacle to the accomplishment of the objectives of Congress.” Farina’s claims were based on alleged false and misleading statements that cell phones were safe to use without a headset. The Third Circuit pointed out that in order to establish his claims, “Farina must show that [the FCC] standards are inadequate that they are insufficiently protective of public health and safety.” That said, the Third Circuit was tasked with determining “whether suits challenging the adequacy of the FCC’s RF regulations are preempted.” Defendants argued that Farina’s suit conflicts with the FCC regulations because a finding of liability would “upset the FCC’s delicate balancing of efficiency and uniformity with the health and safety of the public.” Permitting a jury to find that cell phones that meet the FCC standards are nevertheless unreasonably dangerous would upset its objectives and balance, and thus the Third Circuit decided such suits are preempted.
The Drug and Device Law blog offers an interesting discussion and analysis of the decision here. It appears that this is another in a series of cases in which the courts try to make sense of conflict preemption in the wake of Wyeth v. Levine, 129 S. Ct. 1187 (2009). | <urn:uuid:9da0593c-a77d-4876-a3f4-ada40f3f5dd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://abnormaluse.com/2010/11/claims-for-injuries-allegedly-related.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949856 | 713 | 1.765625 | 2 |
IT IS CLEAR THAT WE'RE LIVING IN A TIME OF ENORMOUS CHANGES and transformations. Many of the things that we have in the past taken for granted as being "fixed" for our lifetimes are gone. With rapid technological changes, less of what we have around us can we count on to be useful to us for very long. It seems that our "word" and the "word" of others means less in these times than it did just a few years ago. More and more we're being called on to find our own way through an increasingly complex world.
One of the great tools of this time is the Human Design system which can guide each individual to recognize the characteristics of their journey through life. Each one of us comes into life with a very succinct, particular and potentially expansive sequence of experiences to live through, and thus an understanding of how one might best recognize and adapt to what Existence plays before us is essential.
There are some people who come into life with the facility of being be able to connect into other realms of either a conscious or unconscious nature. From these other realms it is possible to look into what we experience as our conscious reality on earth in an objective way and this can clarify many of the misunderstandings that beset us in our lives. One such person who was able to tap into many different realms of consciousness was Edgar Cayce. It is said that during the course of 50 years, on a regular basis, he would put himself into a trance and speak out on almost any subject, past, present or future.
In this article we have a look at the Design of Edgar Cayce and attempt to clarify some of the recognizable aspects of his great gifts.
Edgar Cayce was born on March 18, 1887 in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. He was born into the Incarnation Theme of the "Vessel of Love," with his conscious (black) Sun in Gate 25, the opening to Universal Love, that in the I-Ching is called "Innocence," and in the first line of the 25 hexagram that carries the quality of Selflessness. His conscious Earth was in the Gate 46, relating to Self-determination and in the first line of the 46, called "being discovered;" this "discovery" happens simply by being one's natural self and allowing oneself to be naturally guided in life through one's own authentic physical reality.
In his genetically-inherited (red) Design side, his unconscious Sun was in the Gate 10, the Gate of human behavioral traits of self-love throughout all aspects of life's journey, and in the third line of "the martyr," the person with a tendency to carry the burdens of others. His unconscious earth was in the 15 Gate relating to an _expression of love for all forms of humanity, and in the third line relating to the modest accomplishment of numerous feats and an unwavering commitment to finish what one starts.
Edgar was born with what is called a one/three (1/3) profile, signifying that at his birth the sun was in the first line (of the 25 hexagram) and the unconscious Sun was in the third line (of the 10 hexagram). In Design there are 12 Incarnation profiles, some of which are taken on more frequently than others by humans. For example, the 1/3 profile is one of the six more frequently assumed profiles. It is taken on by somebody who is having a "foundational" lifetime, in which they will qualify some profound truths for themselves during that lifetime.
It must be explained at this point that even though our sensations or memories of other lifetimes are mostly concealed from us, our soul is eternal and we have the capability of showing up as a spirit in human form many times over. In the East, where much research has been done through meditation, the evolution of the spirit through various lifetimes, past, present and future is a matter of common knowledge. In the West, for the past 600 years, the concept of multiple lifetimes has been mostly eradicated from within the scriptures and teachings of the Faith-based Christian & Islamic religions. Consequently many believers have been called on to focus their “single” lives on being particularly "good," to ensure a place in “heaven” in the “hereafter.” The concept is well-meaning, perhaps, because most people never get to experience the clear remembrance of another lifetime, but it does not embrace the reality of what we live through in the larger scheme of things across myriad lifetimes. The concept is also open to abuse when faith-based fanatics are convinced to undertake atrocities to humanity justified by “rewards” in an “eternal heaven.”
For Edgar Cayce, born into a foundational lifetime with a 1/3 profile, he has a natural attunement with the season's and cycles of the earth. Most people are aware of the Spring Equinox that happens towards the end of March, and the Fall Equinox that happens towards the end of September. Midsummer and midwinter are also marked towards the end of June and the end of December. Each of these seasonal points are common to the Incarnation theme of the Vessel of Love, which is the Incarnation in which Edgar Cayce was born. Since the beginning of time, the whole experience on earth has been linked within the highs and lows associated with the changes of season. In his lifetime, Edgar would have been associating with the deepest currents running within the whole memory in the earth's span of experiences.
Cayce's Design chart
The three areas of Design that are defined within Edgar Cayce's chart are the mental area of logical solutions, the 63-4 (a projector Channel); the channel of community, the 40-37 (also a projector Channel), and the two "tantric," transformational (generator) channels, the 5-15, the channel of Universal attunement, and the 29-46, the channel of successful human experiences. Even though he had two projector Channels, we say that by Design he was a generator. Generators are guided through life by a sacral response that indicates to them whether it is right for them to interact in something, or with someone, or not. When we use the word "right" in Design terms, we are alluding towards a personal, inner response that rises in affirmation to something that is being offered to them.
In broad terms, Edgar Cayce, when integrated and clear within himself, would respond to situations confronting him through a natural attunement with Universal law ( 5-15), coupled with a wholesome, potentially successful experience ( 29-46) relating towards the needs of the community (humanity) at large (40-37) through as much as possible, logical and practical solutions (63-4).
Cayce"s unique Design features
In his sacral Center, Edgar Cayce had Neptune both unconscious in the first line, and conscious, in the second line, in the 27 Gate, the area of caring. Neptune is often associated with our core needs in how we treat our spiritual nature. The first line in the 27 underlines the fundamental quality of caring -- that of taking care of oneself first. The second line in the 27 relates to the fundamental quality, that in order to give one must have. It was essential for Edgar Cayce to work on his own terms and in his own way, and he established a ritual for himself (ritual is one of the qualities of Gate 5) that he would lie down in the middle of the day after a meal, and put himself into a trance from which he could address the concerns of people questioning him as well as relate into many diverse subjects affecting humanity.
In his defined Crown Center, Edgar Cayce had three conscious and one unconscious activations in the Gate 63. Consciously, Mercury the planet that relates to how we communicate to our environment, Venus, the planet that we associate with who and what we draw to us and relate with, and Saturn, the planet that we associate with our life lessons, self-discipline and our shadow nature, are all activating Gate 63, the Gate of critical perception. On the unconscious side, the North Node, that relates to a life passage and destiny that becomes clearer when we reach the age of 40 -- in Edgar Cayce's life in the year 1917 -- also activates Gate 63. The nodal destiny moved to the side of the brain associating with critical perception from the 64 Gate. Gate 64 was the South node phase that held the destiny of the first 40 years of life, in the side of the brain associating with diverse and unlimited possibilities. Inevitably people working with Edgar Cayce around his 40th birthday, would have perceived his work and many of his previously abstract sentiments becoming more obviously logical in content.
In his defined Self Center, Edgar Cayce had an activation through the unconscious sun, in Gate 10, in the third line, as a genetic inheritance from his father. This activation gave him the tendency to be a “martyr” for other people's causes. Also in Gate 10, he had a conscious activation from the planet Jupiter in the fifth line. The placement of Jupiter in one's Design brings a very expansive and benefic presence, and the fifth line described as "the heretic," gave him a lifelong stance of someone who would stand in opposition to the status quo. It must be remembered that in the early years of the 20th century many people who challenged the status quo were severely castigated and some were locked away in institutions. It is said of Edgar Cayce that during the course of his lifetime he read many times, and had a profound understanding of the Bible and was able to answer his critics very capably.
Anyone who has an open (no activations) Spleen Center, has the facility to be able to attune to all areas of health and wellness issues including all the issues confronting humans’ concerns for survival. Often (though not exclusively), psychics are found to have open Spleen Centers.
is no question that Edgar Cayce had great gifts available to him, but
it was his self-discipline, prayerful, meditative, integrative, grateful
and trusting attitude to life that gave his “Vessel of Love”
the endurance and consistency to contain so much and to pour so much
wisdom and relief into the lives of hundreds and thousands of people.
© Chetan Parkyn, 2004
|previous articles by this author|
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | <urn:uuid:bcba6c25-8ce3-4349-a524-d1248051c3ff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.planetlightworker.com/articles/chetanparkyn/article41.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979524 | 2,171 | 1.804688 | 2 |
I have noticed all my life that several times per year, a new discovery
is made in this field, and it causes a sensation in the press, and
among theologians and other communities. Then it is refuted by a new
discovery the next year.
Theory in paleoanthropology must be very frustrating, like building
sand castles on the beach. As soon as you have a nice structure,
a new wave comes along and destroys it. And all the lay people and
theologians are always standing around watching you.
The reason this happens, of course, is that the database is so thin.
(One piece of a jawbone here, one bit of DNA there, etc.)
I'm tired of getting jerked around by all the conjectures and refutations
in this field, and I suspect the field workers are too. I therefore
suggest that we give them a break. I urge secular scientists not to
be grandiose with their data, such as by creating a new species every
time they discover a new fossil, or claiming to retell the whole human
story on the basis of a bit of DNA. I urge Christians not to attack
or criticize these man-made theories as though they were real; and
that everyone should support EMPIRICAL field research, while suspending
judgement on their findings until around the year 2100.
If someone goes out in the field and discovers something, let him
or her describe it and date it -- put 3D pictures on the internet, even.
Let's build up the database and fill in all the gaps and not
expend so much mental effort on putting together a puzzle for which
we have only perhaps 1 per cent of the pieces.
Paul Arveson, Code 724, Signatures Directorate, NSWC
(301) 227-3831 (301) 227-4511 (FAX) | <urn:uuid:c32473d2-5eec-4166-ba16-6e357d9e43ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www2.asa3.org/archive/asa/199707/0047.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953015 | 394 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Even the most remarkable spiritual gifts–such as prophecy and tongues–are subject to love. This is the Apostle Paul’s message to a church endowed with many supernatural abilities. And, the sign of their gifts being used in love will be evidenced by how they build up others and make room for others. This is a rare and radical thing in our day.
The supremacy of love is seen in that it is the final victor–”Love never ends”. And, love… Read more >
If someone offered you a wish: To be greatly gifted and have those gifts recognized by the… Read more >
It is so easy for us to judge ultimate value and worth through the lens of gifts and abilities. Rather than celebrating and honoring all gifts and those who have them, we tend to venerate a few, and ignore the others–this is occurring in the 1st century church of Corinth and the Apostle Paul understands the threat. So, God provides the Corinthians, and us, with a different vision of how gifts and people might operate in community.
It is ‘hardwired’ into us to want to make a contribution. This is why identifying and using our gifts/abilities is so important to us. And once we do discover and exercise our abilities it will result in one of two attitudes—pride or humility. We will either stand up—chests puffed out with pride—or fall on our knees in humility. The former is happening in the church in Corinth. As they begin to use their spiritual gifts the results is comparing, competition and pride. And, so Paul draws their attention to a different place—not the gift and the self, but the Giver and the purpose for the gift.
The themes of food, meals, and hunger are found throughout the Bible, often used as metaphors to… Read more >
This particular passage is notorious for raising questions and controversy. Does it reveal the trivial nature of… Read more > | <urn:uuid:0a1a0dbf-80d1-47b8-aca9-65883d23027c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gracedc.net/grow/sermons/2007/page/3/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95697 | 401 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Jun. 17 – While many western luxury goods retailers are trying every way to get closer to the Chinese market, numerous wealthy Chinese shoppers still rush to the West to spend their money overseas every year. The Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MoC) worries that the massive consumption outflow may impact the country’s trade balance and says a reduction in import duties on luxury goods is an inevitable trend.
At an MoC press conference on Wednesday, the ministry’s spokesperson Yao Jian said a variety of luxury goods are being sold more expensively in the Chinese market than they are overseas. The price differences are so significant that they could impact policymakers’ judgment on the current trade balance conditions. According to an MoC price survey on 20 luxury brands that produce various products including watches, suitcases, purses, clothes, wine and electronics, prices of luxury goods in Mainland China are 45 percent higher than those in Hong Kong, 51 percent than those in the United States, and 72 percent higher than those in France.
The MoC admits that while local distributers’ different pricing systems may have contributed to the price divergence, the heavy tax burdens imposed on luxury goods – comprising of tariff and excise duties – have also become one of the major causes to the “price highland” in Mainland China. Yao said China’s governmental departments have gained a common perception that tariffs on luxury goods should be reduced.
China’s General Chamber of Commerce also believes a lower tariff and excise duty on luxury goods will be good for China, a country that is propelling its economic growth with growing domestic consumption. As it is predicted that Chinese people’s annual consumption on luxury products will reach US$14.6 billion by 2012, the government should make attempts to help the domestic luxury market gain more price advantage and attract more consumers with significant consumption power. | <urn:uuid:83c83d3e-cece-423f-b911-54a270b76aa7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.china-briefing.com/news/2011/06/17/china-may-reduce-import-duties-on-luxury-goods.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958644 | 378 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Suzanne Farrell Menu
Pictured: Suzanne Farrell as the Principal Dancer in George Balanchine's Scotch Symphony (1952), a role she took in 1964. Elizabeth Kendall writes that Farrell "thrilled audiences with the fearlessness, gravity, dignity, daring, and seemingly private spirituality of her dancing."(Photograph by Martha Swope. Choreography by George Balanchine © The George Balanchine Trust.)
The great muse of Balanchine's last decades and a New York City Ballet star from the 1960s to 1980s, ballerina Suzanne Farrell (1945- ) received her early training in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she was born. She attended the School of American Ballet on a Ford Foundation scholarship, and in 1961 joined the New York City Ballet. Leading roles quickly followed, and beginning in 1963 parts in numerous new ballets including Don Quixote, Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet, Diamonds, Chaconne, Robert Schumann's "Davidsbündlertänze," and Mozartiana. Her amplitude, speed, and clarity left a deep imprint on NYCB ballerina style, as did her sensitive musicianship, and she was widely regarded as the outstanding interpreter of Balanchine style. Farrell appeared as a guest artist with the National Ballet of Canada and danced with Maurice Bejart's Ballet of the Twentieth Century from 1970 to 1974. Since retiring from the New York City Ballet in 1988, she has staged highly acclaimed versions of Balanchine works for companies around the world. She is the founder and artistic director of Suzanne Farrell Ballet.
Suzanne Farrell and Peter Martins in George Balanchine's Chaconne, recorded
in 1978 for Dance in America. Farrell's qualities as a dancer inspired the
choreography Balanchine created for her, including Chaconne. Martins was her | <urn:uuid:7de4bf94-2b34-441a-ae60-0b50f1d1355f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://danceheritage.org/farrell.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95108 | 393 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Let’s apply some logic to the issue of gun control.
Arguments against gun control seem to center on the Constitution, which allows individuals a right to bear arms.
owever, it was signed in 1787. The country was still exploring the Western territory and there was no protection for many citizens, so protecting yourself was important. Also, there were no automatic assault weapons. So I think that argument is fallacious, applying to a different time and place.
The next argument is that guns don’t kill people, people kill people. Well, what would have happened if these shooters couldn’t get guns? We’ll never be able to weed out the crazies or potentially crazy, but we can control what they have access to.
Arming teachers with weapons is absolutely ridiculous. What about movie ushers, parking lot monitors and anybody else? Do we want shootouts in the classroom?
Is there any justification for citizens having automatic assault weapons at home? I’m not aware of any. If you think so, please explain it to the residents of Newtown, Conn., and see if they agree.
It’s time to take a leap out of the past and confront the problem at hand. Every gun sale should require a criminal and medical background check. Every request for a permit should require a reason for the specific weapon being purchased. Every weapon that’s not a target gun or hunting rifle in the hands of citizens should be confiscated and destroyed. Only the military and law enforcement should have assault-type weapons.
Let’s make this leap happen — before Newtown happens again.
— FRED REICHSTETTER | <urn:uuid:92f60419-229a-49a9-adf6-22bdd3b0421b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nwfdailynews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-confiscate-guns-1.69423 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951932 | 344 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Allergy season has arrived early, and here are two flyers that talk about allergies. Click here to read the first one. Click her for the second one.
The latest news from the clinic talks about Pink Eye. Here is a flyer to help you learn more.
Keeping our children healthy is important. Here is where you will find monthly updates from the district nurse.
Please do not send cough drops to school with your child. We will no longer allow their use at Richardson. If you child has a serious cough that requires medication during the school day they should be kept at home. (If there is a special situation, please contact the principal or medical assistant.)
The use of other over the counter (OTC) medications, including cough medicine) will be permitted and stored in the clinic with the appropriate forms, but ONLY if there is a significant medical need. The medical assistant will be happy to talk to any parent who has a medical concern. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. | <urn:uuid:f8cfe806-8214-47ab-8c6d-0010c0c7553c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cfalls.summit.k12.oh.us/content_page2.aspx?schoolid=9&cid=376 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960552 | 201 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Originally published: April 26, 2012
Last updated: April 26, 2012 - 7:10pm
New York City schools may pilot a new mobile app this summer that provides parents with nearly instantaneous notifications if their students are tardy or absent from class.
Founders of Kinvolved, the company behind the app, say it's intended to encourage parents to become more engaged in their children's academic lives. In New York City, nearly a quarter of students miss a month of school each year. Students with high absentee rates are less likely to graduate, and Kinvolved founders note that students whose parents are involved have higher attendance rates. Their expectation is that the program can help increase graduating rates by helping parents make sure their children are in school.
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- Internet Service Upgrade Coming to Poor and Rural Schools | <urn:uuid:23d3888d-ef3f-4a62-8810-1e8aa86102eb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://benton.org/node/121518 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937798 | 318 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Maryland Weekly Fishing Report Overview | March 28, 2012
It would seem old Mother Nature decided to take a few steps backward in regard to the advance of spring this week and they may be a good thing in regards to adjusting nature's clock. Perhaps this cold front that is sitting upon us will set things straight with spawning runs of striped bass and other andromous fish such as hickory shad and river herring and things will get back to a more normal schedule. One fishery that is certainly on schedule is the traditional opening day of trout season this coming Saturday in the put and take areas. Fisheries crews and the volunteers that help spread the fish out have been busy stocking trout in your favorite fishing waters.
Photo Courtesy of Keith Lockwood
Water temperatures in the lower Susquehanna River and flats area are holding around 50- 55-degrees depending where one is. Local fishing guides report that a group of striped bass arrived a little more than a week ago and seemed to have nosed into the Elk River where water temperatures may have been suitable for spawning and catch and release fishing is off limits. Fishermen have been trolling with crankbaits, casting jigs, crankbaits and bottom fishing with cut bait in the lower Susquehanna and flats area without much success lately, very few striped bass have been caught and released to date. Usually not all the fish in a spawning population arrive at the same time so there certainly is hope that more striped bass are headed up the bay and due to arrive shortly.
The white perch have been thinning out in the lower Susquehanna River and upper bay tributaries and moving out into the upper bay area. Channel catfish are plentiful in the region and hickory shad have begun to show up in sufficient numbers to provide some good catch and release fishing late in the afternoons at the Deer Creek area. Chances are that this weekend will be a good time to catch them.
In general white perch are moving down the tidal rivers of the Chesapeake to settle in to areas that traditionally hold them in late spring and summer. White perch are still being reported at Fletcher's on the Potomac near Washington D.C. but fishing with bloodworms in the lower sections of most other tidal rivers may get you into some nice perch. Fishermen are catching them at Sandy Point State Park and other areas around the bay such as this one caught by Richard Wright at the Bill Burton Fishing Pier on the lower Choptank River.
Photo Courtesy of Richard Wright
Water temperatures in the mid-bay area are running around 50-degrees this week and fishermen have been practicing a little catch and release out along the shipping channel edges by trolling large parachutes and bucktails. The warm water discharge at Calvert Cliffs Power Plant has also been drawing light tackle fishermen to try their luck at jigging near the discharge for striped bass.
Freshwater fishermen who love their largemouth bass could hardly have better catch and release fishing than right now. Conditions seem to be perfect; largemouth bass are in an aggressive and hungry pre-spawn mode of activity and are hitting just about anything from topwater lures to grub jigs. The bass are cruising near all kinds of cover ranging from underwater ledges and drop-offs to emerging grass beds. Robert Bruce sent us this picture of a real nice largemouth bass he caught and released and an angler's log of his fishing trip on the tidal Potomac River.
Photo Courtesy of Robert Bruce
Trout fishermen are getting geared up for the big opener this Saturday in the Put and Take areas where fisheries biologist have been busy stocking trout. All manner of fishermen from the fly fishermen in waders to the young fishermen in sneakers will be trying their luck in the hopes of taking a few trout home with them. Powerbait is perhaps one of the best baits for fishing for stocked trout; it seems like candy to them, they just can't resist. Most trout fishermen spent quite a bit of time enjoying the pre-season stockings at many of the put and take waters earlier in the month and late February. The special catch and release trout management areas continue to provide wonderful catch and release opportunities for fishermen not concerned about taking fish home.
Fishermen in the Ocean City area are beginning to see some surf action as a few bluefish and striped bass are being caught this week by fishermen using bait. Skates and dogfish are out there also ready to chew up baits. Tautog continue to move inside the inlet and fishermen are finding fishing improving as water temperatures reach 54-degrees. Offshore the boats heading out to the inshore wreck and artificial reef sites are finding large tautog for their customers.
To say opening day of trout season is usually crowded is the ultimate understatement. It is as much a social event as it is a fishing outing. - Author unknown | <urn:uuid:0cc411f5-02ea-473e-b38d-a684cb5a1457> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dnr.state.md.us/fisheries/fishingreport/index.asp?d=03282012 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964761 | 1,002 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Meet a NASA Glenn Employee: Sherice Sampson
Thousands of talented, dedicated and passionate people work at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland. They are rocket scientists and engineers. They are researchers and physicists and chemists. They are aviation specialists, public affairs officers, administrative assistants, security officers, logistics managers and more. With countless specializations in myriad fields, the people of Glenn share one goal: working for the public in support of NASA's mission.
The diverse Glenn workforce is comprised of civil servants and on-site support contractors. Workers perform a large variety of different jobs at NASA Glenn. "My Job at NASA Glenn" is a series that introduces some of these workers. Learn about different employees and the interesting jobs they perform, and how their education prepared them to make unique and important contributions to NASA.
Bonded Storage Technician
What that means:
I currently support projects that are responsible for the development of flight hardware for the International Space Station. I am in charge of controlling the flight hardware by tracking, tracing, shipping, documenting, receiving, storing, transferring, dispositioning, moving, securing, kitting, ordering, and physically transporting it (via tow motor, cranes, etc.)
What I do:
I interact with a variety of personnel, such as engineers, technicians, program managers, transportation, shipping and receiving, equipment service, various outside contractors and outside support personnel.
I prepare document transfers to other NASA centers and to offsite contractors. I arrange to have hardware picked up/moved to different areas. I assemble Bill of Materials for technicians to assemble into flight hardware. I manage multiple electronic databases and use a variety of informed filler applications. I order general storage stock items to ensure they are available for the facility. I arrange for calibration and proof testing of lifting hardware and monitor facility calibration requirements. I research vendor prices and order items. I also physically transport hardware with a tow motor or crane.
The coolest / most interesting part of my job is:
I enjoy the interaction and rapport that I have with the people I work with.
My favorite project that I have worked, or that I am working on, is:
I have worked on so many great projects, such as Advanced Communication Technology Satellite (ACTS); Combustion Module 1 and 2 (CM-1/2); Facility Combustion Facility (FCF); Modular Droplet Combustion Apparatus (MDCA); Flow Enclosure Accommodating Novel Investigations in Combustion of Solids (FEANICS); Thrust Vector Controller (TVC); Light Microscopy Module (LMM); InSpace; Project Control Office (PCO); and many more.
I am currently working on Communications, Navigation, and Networking reconfigurable Testbed (CONNECT), which is a very interesting and fast-paced project.
I would have to say my favorite project was Ares I-X. I performed a lot of the craning and was a part of stacking the segments before they were shipped to NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Fla., and stacked in the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB.)
The accomplishment that I am most proud of is:
I received the Silver Snoopy Award from Sunita Williams, an astronaut. This award is only given to 1% of NASA personnel. It is awarded for professionalism, dedication and outstanding support.
A Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education helped me by:
My education has provided me with the ability to perform tasks I never imagined I could ever do. It also has given me a challenging and rewarding career.
Good advice for students, including STEM students, is:
Find a subject you enjoy. You will have to do it for a long time.
Meet More NASA Glenn Employees
-Edited by Tori Woods, SGT Inc.
NASA's Glenn Research Center | <urn:uuid:235f6ec4-e627-44d8-a22f-ccf54f4035a3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nasa.gov/centers/glenn/about/employees/ssampson.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941076 | 786 | 1.648438 | 2 |
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government doesn’t have many allies left in the world, but it’s been enjoying support in Latin America this week from leftist leaders who see a fellow challenger to U.S. power in their Middle Eastern counterpart.
During trips to Ecuador, Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, Syria’s deputy foreign minister, Faisal Al Mokdad, received mostly symbolic backing for his government’s 20-month battle against rebels.
More than anything, just the fact that Al Mokdad visited minor international players such as Ecuador shows how isolated Syria has become on the world stage, as accusations of indiscriminate killing of civilians by Syrian forces draw widespread condemnation, said Anthony Skinner, Middle East-North Africa chief at the British risk analysis firm Maplecroft.
Through an interpreter, Al Mokdad said in Venezuela on Tuesday that he also visited Nicaragua and Cuba. Those two governments had yet to confirm the itinerary.
“I don’t see these states as being particularly pivotal or significant,” Skinner said of Al Mokdad’s Latin American trip. “I would see this as a reflection that the regime in Damascus is feeling the heat and is trying to broaden its support.”
Assad still enjoys the backing of two major world players, Russia and China, who hold permanent seats on the U.N. Security Council, and his government remains friendly with longtime ally Iran. But Assad has become a pariah in much of the world, with even his regional neighbors mostly distancing themselves. The fighting in Syria has so far claimed some 40,000 lives.
Chavez has gone even further than his neighbors to prop up Assad, sending at least three shipments of diesel oil to the Syrian government, which is straining under economic embargos imposed by the United States and the European Union.
Depending on the amount of diesel being shipped, Venezuela’s aid could provide a real boost to the Assad government, said Andrew Tabler, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Diesel fuels practically all of Syria’s vehicles and much of its industrial base, Tabler said.
Al Mokdad said Tuesday that he brought a private message for Chavez from Assad but didn’t reveal the contents.
Ecuadorean Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino met with the diplomat Sunday and said it was important for Ecuador to hear directly from the Syrian government about its perspective on the conflict.
Ecuador’s Foreign Ministry summarized Patino’s remarks in a statement, saying he hopes the crisis may be resolved in a way “that responds to the interests and will of the Syrian people, without foreign interference.”
Eduardo Gamarra, a Latin American studies professor at Florida International University in Miami, said the pro-Syria bloc in Latin America down to a shared aversion for Washington. All four Latin American countries visited by Al Mokdad belong to the ALBA regional alliance, which has billed itself as an alternative to U.S. power.
Chavez was also a vocal supporter of the late Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and has cultivated ties to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who has followed a similar itinerary while mustering Latin American solidarity.
“When the rest of the world is condemning human rights atrocities there, both Chavez and (Bolivian President) Evo Morales and even now (Ecuadorean President Rafael) Correa have had no qualms about meeting with these people,” Gamarra said of their support for Syria. “This group of Latin American countries could ostensibly be their largest and most vocal support.”
The same group of countries has already shown itself willing to break from the international pack to champion unpopular causes, said James Lockhart Smith, chief Latin America analyst at Maplecroft. Venezuela and Nicaragua are the only countries apart from Russia and the Pacific states of Naura, Vanuatu and Tuvalu that recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, regions that broke away from the former Soviet republic of Georgia.
“What draws them together perhaps is this anti-America, anti-European, or anti-Western bias,” Gamarra said of the Latin America bloc.
As for Chavez and his allies, Gamarra said, “there’s really nothing that they gain from that relationship other than, you know, ‘Me ,too’ against the U.S.”
For the Syrian government, the allies it still has can be helpful diplomatic defenders.
“They may believe that if they can mount a significant coalition of supporters worldwide that they can stymie a little bit the effort to get them out of power,” Gamarra said.
Associated Press writers Ian James and Fabiola Sanchez in Caracas, Venezuela; Gonzalo Solano in Quito, Ecuador; and Elizabeth Kennedy in Beirut, Lebanon, contributed to this report.
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Featured Slide Shows
The week in 10 picsclose X
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Lisa Montgomery embraces her nephew Thursday after a tornado tore apart her home in Cleburne, Texas. The twister killed six people and destroyed entire swaths of the North Texas town.
Credit: AP/LM Otero
Jack McMahon, the defense attorney for abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell, speaks outside the Criminal Justice Center in Philadelphia Tuesday. His client was convicted of killing three babies in his clinic, and will serve multiple life sentences.
Credit: AP/Matt Rourke
A photo taken Monday captures Vice President Joe Biden's response to a Milwaukee second-grader's innovative proposal to end America's epidemic of gun violence. This guy!
Credit: AP/Jenny Aicher
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., flanked by a grouper-eyed Michele Bachmann, addresses the IRS' admission that it targeted Tea Party groups in advance of the 2012 election. In an op-ed for CNN Thursday, the Kentucky senator slammed the president for his faux outrage.
Credit: AP/Molly Riley
Ousted IRS chief Steven Miller is sworn in on Capitol Hill Friday. Miller testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on the extra scrutiny the agency gave conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status.
Credit: AP/J. Scott Applewhite
Attorney General Eric Holder pauses as he testifies on Capitol Hill before the House Judiciary Committee Wednesday. Holder is under fire, among other things, for the Justice Department's gathering of phone records at the Associated Press.
Credit: AP/Carolyn Kaster
O.J. Simpson sits during an evidentiary hearing at Clark County District Court in Las Vegas, Nev., Thursday. Simpson, who is currently serving a nine-to-33-year sentence in state prison for armed robbery and kidnapping, is using a writ of habeas corpus to seek a new trial.
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Major Tom to ground control: On Sunday astronaut Chris Hadfield recorded the first music video from space, a cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity."
Credit: AP/NASA/Chris Hadfield
When it rains it pours. President Barack Obama speaks during a news conference Thursday with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, inexplicably inspiring an #umbrellagate Twitter meme.
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A smoke plume rises high above a road block at the intersection of County A and Ross Road east of Solon Springs, Wis., Tuesday. No injuries were reported, but the the wildfire caused evacuations across northwestern Wisconsin.
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Recent Slide Shows
- 1 of 11 | <urn:uuid:109d9eef-95c2-4e49-bd5d-7fe50ec93c85> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.salon.com/2012/11/29/syrian_govt_finds_rare_friends_in_latin_america/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939801 | 1,846 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The Dionne Quints
Left to right, Emilie,Annette,Yvonne, Marie and Cecile, Celebrating their 6th birthday, May 28th 1940.
Born May 28th 1934 in Corbeil,Ontario, Canada to Oliva and Elzire Dionne,Yvonne,Annette,Cecile,Emilie, and Marie were the first and only identical set of quintuplets known to survive to adulthood. There has been nothing like them before or since. Their birth was not due to fertility drugs,nor was there available to them any of the modern facilities that keep such infants alive. Incubators were at the time the best known treatment for preemies. Three of the girls were delivered by mid wives, the other two by a country doctor who did not expect them to survive and feared for the life of their mother.
Elzire Legros Dionne was at the time only 25 years old. Her husband,Oliva, was 31. The couple had five living children.They were Earnest who was still seven years old, Rose-six, Therese-5, Daniel-2, and Pauline only 11 months old. Another son,Leo who would have been about four had died in infancy.
The Canadian Government took custody of the girls,building them a new modern nursery across the road from the farmhouse where they were born. Here they would spend their early childhood growing up in the public eye. The Dionnes regained custody about 1942 and in 1943 the whole family moved into a new home. Mrs. Dionne had given birth twice after the quints were born. Oliva Jr. was born in 1936 and Victor in 1939. Her youngest child,Claude was born 1n 1946.
The long awaited reunion proved trying for all concerned. All five girls eventually left home, trying different careers along the way. Three of the sisters,Annette, Cecile, and Marie married and became mothers. Yvonne was never married. Emilie,who had decided to become a nun died from suffocation due to a seizure at her convent, August 6th 1954. Marie died from a stroke in 1970. Yvonne died from cancer June 23rd 2001. Annette and Cecile survive.
In 1998, Yvonne,Annette,Cecile, and the estate of Marie were awarded a substanial sum of money by the Canadian Government for their exploitation as children. | <urn:uuid:dd70e298-34d7-420f-b479-85d99979f125> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dionnequints.webs.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988702 | 504 | 1.835938 | 2 |
There is no question that Social Media is in the forefront. Each of the several articles I have written on the subject has generated numerous comments. A “virtual” friend and follower of my blog, Tim Negris, often comments with thoughts that are even better than my initial posts. Following my post of “Using Social Networks for Marketing“, Tim sent me his thoughts. It was far too long to fit into a single post and far too good to shorten. So, I have divided it into two segments. This is the first segment and you can expect the second within a week or so. Here are Tim’s thoughts:
If you are contemplating or attempting the use of social media for marketing a product, a service, or yourself, you may have a giant knot in your stomach. It may be that you don’t know how to go about it, or you have tried unsuccessfully to do it, or you are just sick to death of “Web 2.0” hipsters with funny glasses and soul patches or nose jewels daring you to master a dazzling lexicon of odd terms, like wiki, mashup, crowdsourcing, and folksonomy, or telling you that you should be blogging, tweeting, and friending. Take a deep breath – in through the nose, out through the mouth, tell the cool kids to go get a Starbucks to stay, and let’s sort this out.
Before all this new stuff started, in the context of marketing, the word “media” most commonly referred to newspapers, magazines, radio, TV, brochures and other documents, web sites, physical and electronic mail, live demonstrations, and seminars or “webinars”. What all these things have in common is that they are all different forms of one-to-many information broadcasting. The information flow is one-way, sent by a single person or organization and received by some number of individuals and acted up by some subset of those individuals. These media and their marketing applications are not social.
There are a number of other traditional marketing methods that are social but have little to do with any kind of media, per se. These include one-to-one methods, like telemarketing and in-store sample presentation, and they include one-to-many methods, like multi-level marketing and trade shows. What makes these “social” is that they all involve real-time interaction between people in the form of two-way information flows, mostly questions and answers.
Social media are interactive web applications that are different forms of many-to-many information sharing. The flow of information is n-way (multi-way), presented by one or multiple people and responded to by multiple people. There are many different kinds of social media but those most relevant to marketing are:
- Social networks, like LinkedIn and Facebook
- Review sites, like Angie’s List and Yelp
- Presentation sites, like YouTube and Flikr
- Micro-blogging applications, like Twitter and Yammer
- Blogging applications like, Blogger and WordPress
Which of these different social media you should use for marketing depends greatly on what you are marketing and to whom you are marketing it, but in all cases there are some common mistakes you should work to avoid. As a general rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t do it at a cocktail party, you shouldn’t do it in social marketing. Here are the seven deadly sins of social marketing.
- Don’t shout, sell, or argue
- Don’t monopolize the discussion
- Don’t run out of refreshments
- Don’t be presumptuous or rude
- Don’t be vulgar or indiscreet
- Don’t be shy or unresponsive
- Don’t be dull or boring
The follow-up article, “Using the Right Social Media Tools for the Right Job,” is now available by clicking here. If you enjoy these articles, considering subscribing to the blog by clicking here and you will receive an email each time we post a new article.
If you are serious about social media, you may enjoy an inexpensive paperback by Jim Tobin and Lisa Braziel titled, “Social Media Is A Cocktail Party: Why You Already Know The Rules Of Social Media Marketing.”
Those who enjoyed this article also enjoyed:
How Important is Social Media in a Marketing Plan?
Using Social Networks for Marketing
Why Many Small Businesses are Still Struggling
Posted by: Mike Clough | <urn:uuid:2f3180ab-6791-499d-9a27-28291fa1ba2a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bestbizpractices.org/rules-for-attending-the-social-media-marketing-party/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940796 | 948 | 1.804688 | 2 |
|A great Long Distance rider can do very well on a mediocre motorcycle. "It's
the rider, not the bike" is a romantic notion within the Long Distance Riding Community, but reality suggests it is really both. A well-prepared, well maintained motorcycle can make a huge difference in the outcome of competitive riding events. That's why most top Long Distance riders use motorcycles that are designed specifically for long distance riding, and then perform modifications (i.e. "farkles") to their machines to better handle 1,000+ mile days. Auxiliary lighting, increased fuel capacity, more comfortable saddles, heated clothing, GPS navigation systems, modified windscreens, hydration systems and many other modifications can increase the comfort and efficiency with which long distances can be covered on a motorcycle.|
The technical information provided in these pages serves two purposes. First, it is to explain the standards that will be used to determine the acceptability of certain modifications for motorcycles entered in the Iron Butt Rally. Second, it is to describe modifications that have been successfully used by other riders. Before attempting similar modifications, be advised that some modifications may void manufacturer warranties or introduce additional safety risks.
The testing required to determine that a particular modification will not adversely affect the safe and reliable performance of a particular motorcycle is usually beyond the resources available to individuals that have developed modifications for their own motorcycles. Motorcycle modifications are best left to experienced professionals who use reliable parts manufactured by established companies. Use any of the modifications developed by others at your own risk.
If you have questions regarding any of the information provided, please contact IBA Tech Advisor Tom Austin ([email protected]) or IBA Chief Technical Inspector Dale Wilson ([email protected]) | <urn:uuid:88883eac-ff54-4ee9-917a-0cace43d5e36> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ironbutt.com/tech/default.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932617 | 359 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Volume VI - Nos. 5 & 6
TRAIL TO WAYSIDE
BY CHARLES N. ELLIOTT,
Once I helped to build a park upon a mountainside. During the process I swung an axe to clear trail and I dug away into the thick humus with a mattock, making tread for human feet across the steep mountain slope. Another time I pushed through a steaming jungle, with yellow flies like dancing flecks of gold before my eyes, marking out trails and selecting sites for picnic tables and benches and comfort stations. For more than twelve years I have helped in one way or another in the selection, development and maintenance of recreational parks.
Now I have learned something new. I have learned the pleasure of using a park.
Several days ago a group of friends in Richmond, Virginia, invited me on a picnic dinner to Hanover Wayside Park, some twelve miles north of the city. I was delighted. The idea of using these facilities we had been developing for the past many years had somehow never occurred to me.
We rode out on Sunday afternoon. I found Hanover Wayside an attractive little place, not large and not outstanding for any particular reason of scenic or historic interest. It was a bit of typical Virginia woodland, forested with mixed hardwoods and pine trees. Its man-made attractions consisted of a small lake, several picnic sites with tables and outdoor fire places, trails and a central comfort station. There were no hotels, cabins, or beer and ice cream parlors.
We parked in one of the regulation parking areas. We gathered the groceries from the back of the automobile and deposited them on a rustic picnic table a few yards away. The place was neat as a pin. I was surprised to discover that these picnic tables, which seemed crowded from the road, were not crowded at all. Families at the adjoining tables could be seen but they were not near enough to interfere with elbow room.
The spot was a lovely one. The hillside was clothed in beech and oak and gum trees. Beyond the table, the earth broke away abruptly and fell to the edge of a little lake almost hidden by forested shores.
Since the afternoon was too warm to allow cooking over one of the stone and steel fire places, a member of our picnic parade had brought along a small charcoal stove. We fired up the black lumps and broiled steaks and toasted buns over the heap of red coals. The meal was delicious and satisfying.
We packed up the skeleton remains and set out to explore the vicinity of the picnic table. That does not sound like a huge assignment. It wasn't, but it was interesting and instructive to my own simple mind. A very attractive young lady of some four years and an inquisitive lad of about six, whose family was having its picnic at the next abbie, came over for a visit. We showed the youngsters how to entice doodle bugs out of their sand homes in the earth. Each of the budding naturalists transported a doodle bug across the intervening space to show the family.
That was rare sport, so they returned for more. Since no more doodle bug homes seemed to be available, we switched our attention to frogs. Down in a shallow ravine below the table, the ground was covered with the tiny reptiles. They were scarcely larger than a fair-sized wart and were hopping in all directions, without any special destination. We captured a couple of the terrified hoppers for the chubby fingers. These too, were returned to the adjoining table for inspection by the entire family, with much speculation as to whether small frogs would cause small warts and big frogs would make large warts.
By now we were well acquainted with our new juvenile friends. The little boy's name was Bart and his sister's name was Mary Beth. Bart had suddenly found the earth an intriguing place. Across its surface crawled a great many interesting creatures as crickets and lizards and oval-back bugs. He discovered a spider carrying an egg almost as large as herself upon her back. There were flowers growing close to the edge of the woods and the ground was studded with pebbles of many different kinds and shapes and colors. We collected a handful of flat stones and slid down the embankment to skim them across the surface of the water. We showed Bart how to throw a rock with his wrist as well as with his arm. His aim and distance improved so rapidly that we think he might be a twirler for one of the big league teams some day.
I had a few brief words with the father in the family. He was a young man who might have been any average American father. I asked him why he had brought the family out to picnic. The quick glance he shot at me said it wasn't any of my business, and I hastened to explain that I was interested only in the success of the park and in why people used it.
"I've been out here before," he said. "We often come out when it's hot in town, and have our dinner on one of the picnic tables. The family next door use this place and we heard them talk about it. Besides, it's only about twenty minutes ride from my house."
That question of time and distance again.
I walked down the trail through the picnic area, trying to get an idea of what those who used the picnic tables were talking and thinking about. I was really eaves-dropping but behind my unethical conduct was a noble purpose.
A couple of men at the third table were arguing about baseball scores, and at the next table a family was discussing the war beyond the seas. One table was making plans for the next week end and I heard the name "Westmoreland". Three couples had brought along a softball and a bat and were having a game in the open field above the parking lot.
Here was a group of average Americans, with average thoughts and conversations. They were relaxed and enjoying the coolness of this spot out in the forest, away from hot city streets. The ride out had not been expensive or fatiguing, because it was not far. With few exceptions everyone was dressed in comfortable clothes they never would have dared wear in a restaurant or hotel dining room in the city. In all the crowd I could not find one single person who appeared angry or displeased or uncomfortable.
I returned to my own table with the impression that perhaps the provision of recreational places such as this one was more important than I had ever realized. I had the thought that those families who had brought their dinners out into the forest to a place provided and maintained for them would carry away a sense of satisfaction, a feeling that some part of their being had been refreshed by this contact with sunshine and shadows of the forest and with being near the earth itself. They would not feel the same striking and dramatic flood of awe acquired by the grandeur of a national park. Probably not one of the estimated 300 persons who used Hanover Wayside during the short period we were there, would have the opportunity to visit a national park this summer.
The wind suddenly filled up the forest trees and we noticed that night had almost come. One by one the automobiles crunched out of the gravel driveway and turned their bumpers toward town. Perhaps they would come back to Hanover Wayside. Probably they would visit other parks, too, for a change. We knew that many of those autos carried home a new store of inspiration to be apportioned across the week, to help soften the daily grind by which we mortals live.
|<<< Previous||> Contents <||Next >>>| | <urn:uuid:e52f7fb1-badc-4025-8729-c7dc191db656> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cr.nps.gov/history/online_books/regional_review/vol6-5-6h.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984447 | 1,569 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Chinese Internet search giant Baidu and A*Star's Institute for Infocomm Research(I2R) yesterday opened a joint laboratory called the Baidu-I2R Research Centre.
The lab, which has about 20 researchers, aims to strengthen Baidu's foothold in South-east Asia, said acting executive director Tan Geok Leng of I2R. which specialises in speech and language recognition, among other things.
Baidu will adopt the institute's Vietnamese and Thai language technology as well as its speaker-verification technology, which recognises individual voices.
A*Star and Baidu signed a licensing agreement yesterday to adopt these technologies.
This article was first published in The New Paper. | <urn:uuid:c82471b4-8ffd-4f3c-8a1c-a90740077f61> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.asiaone.com/Business/News/Story/A1Story20120727-361824.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954269 | 150 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Zed, who is president of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out, “Religion is a complex component of human life. Dialogue helps us to see interconnections and interdependencies between religions and even similarities in doctrines. Religions should at least work together on common religious concerns like peace-making and peace-keeping, social and economic development, freedom and human rights.”
About 1.7 million people take part in a Church of England (headquartered in London) service each month, 12 million people visit its cathedrals annually and it has over 19,500 licensed ministers. Her Majesty the Queen is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.
The most popular citizen journalists' reports on merinews chosen automatically on the basis of views and comments
View more jobs | <urn:uuid:108742cd-1c03-4da1-bff3-155997777c5b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.merinews.com/article/hindus-urge-new-archbishop-of-canterbury-to-promote-interfaith-dialogue/15877571.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930498 | 163 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Date: Wednesday, August 5th, 2009, 04:21
Per AppleInsider, Apple has reportedly purchased a number of screens ranging from 4″ to 12″ over the last few years, as it explores its possible entry into the tablet and sub-notebook market, according to a financial analyst.
In a research note issued Tuesday, Kaufman Bros. analyst Shaw Wu revealed that Apple has bought screen sizes of 4″, 7″, 9″, 10″ and 12″ inches over the last two years. Some of the purchases were allegedly of such a large amount that the firm suspects they were for more than a simple sample, but a more significant small production run.
“We are under the impression that these screens could be used in new form factors including a sub-notebook and/or tablet, and would more likely launch in 2010 as opposed to 2009,” the note reads. “As usual, exact timing is always tough to pinpoint as Apple works on its own schedule.”
Wu stated that he expects the new form factor adopted by Apple to help carry the company’s stock higher. Kaufman Bros. has set a price target of US$184 for AAPL stock and recommends that investors buy. | <urn:uuid:e0a52873-14a3-4060-bb57-5a4a6e4de572> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.powerpage.org/2009/08/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976716 | 253 | 1.523438 | 2 |
The true benefit of success is the person by which you become in the attainment of it. When you do all you can to achieve your goal, you develop the spiritual qualities needed to achieve it. The acquirement of success causes you to grow beyond what you are, to become more. That is why goals are good for us and they lead to spiritual development. People with no goals do not develop themselves. We all have natural desires and when we allow ourselves to pursue them, we’re transformed in the process.
Some people think that we should seek spirituality rather than the attainment of external things. But the truth is that nothing is external, everything is internal. There is no separation between inner and outer worlds because they are both one world. The world itself is your consciousness. What you do in it, you are doing in consciousness. By rejecting the external, you reject the internal. Abstain from the external and your inner world is lacking. Those who are truly enlightened embrace both worlds in totality.
Wait, this is just PART of the secrets revealed... There is MUCH vital information you are missing... the right column says Login Here: or Register to read the HIDDEN PART!
- Law of Attraction - Having is about Being
- Respond to Others who Display Strong Intent
- Law of Detachment - Flowing with God
- Your Mind has Power to Control Life and Death
- Awareness is Defense against Reality Manipulation
- Being a Co-Creator by Using Your Godlike Power
- You are Creator and Prime Authority of Your Life
- Life Manifest by Varying Degrees of Intelligence
- Desire Is Action - Moving Reality with Your Soul
- Allow Your Feelings to Go with Your Manifestation | <urn:uuid:a3a278ac-408c-4e2d-b53e-53a1ef744351> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mindreality.com/achieving-goals-is-path-of-spiritual-development | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94135 | 352 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The Supreme Court Monday threw out a federal appeals court ruling requiring the release of photos that allegedly show abuse of US-held detainees in Iraq and Afghanistan. The court cited a new law that allows the Defense Secretary to withhold such photos.
The US Supreme Court Monday vacated a federal appeals court ruling requiring disclosure of a cache of photos allegedly depicting abuse of US-held detainees overseas during the Bush administration.
The high court action removed a legal precedent that made it harder for the government to withhold certain documents from the public. The Obama administration had asked the court to take that action.
Citing a new law that allows the secretary of defense to exempt the photos from disclosure, the Supreme Court remanded the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) case back to the Second US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.
The justices instructed the appeals court to reconsider the case in light of the new law and recent actions by the Defense Secretary that have apparently rendered the photo disclosure case moot.
The action is a setback for lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) who had filed the FOIA lawsuit seeking to force the government to disclose the images to the American public.
Alleged detainee abuse
At issue in the case was a group of 44 photographs taken by military officials investigating allegations of detainee abuse at seven locations in Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition, the government had identified a "substantial number" of similar photos that would likely also be subject to public disclosure under the appeals court ruling. | <urn:uuid:64487663-7ca3-4f7d-834b-6788f2883206> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2009/1130/p02s04-usju.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946589 | 300 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Though investments in startups never quite stopped during the economic downturn, there was a noticeable slowdown. Now, with the economy showing signs of life, angels and venture capitalists are rushing back into the mix.
"It's come back, and it's as good, if not better, than ever these days," said Frank J. Graziano, managing partner of boutique merchant bank Monmouth Venture Partners.
Due to factors such as cheaper rent and technology, and more people being available, there also has been an increase in the number of ventures being formed.
"It's a very vibrant startup environment," said Graziano, also director of the Columbia Business School Alumni Club of New York and an angel investor.
In New Jersey, investors have noticed.
According to Graziano, during the fourth quarter last year, New Jersey ranked in the top 10 nationally for venture capital investment.
"Over the past year, from an angel point of view, we've seen an increase in investments," said Mario Casabona, an angel investor through Casabona Ventures and chairman of JumpStart NJ Angel Network, an angel group that invests in early-stage technology companies.
Graziano said he's noticed a macro trend: investors are making smaller investments in more companies at an earlier stage, while making decent returns. The growth of seed-stage investments — money going into companies that have a working model, but have yet to prove themselves in the market — can be attributed to the lower cost of starting a business and an increase in seed-stage funds.
The rise of super angels — generally, those who have successfully exited a startup or had a successful liquidity event, and are investing in startups with larger amounts than traditional angels — also has played a role in the increase of seed-stage investments, Graziano said.
In terms of industries that see the most investment dollars, information technology continues to lead the way, followed by health care. This holds true both nationally and in New Jersey. However, while the health care industry is ripe for innovation as it tries to deliver more for less money, regulatory approvals make for a challenging experience.
"It's still the second-biggest category, but I don't think it's going to move much," Graziano said.
An area that hasn't seen as much movement recently among investors is green technology, which requires tremendous amounts of capital at the onset. However, for a primarily Web-based green startup, development costs are much lower and time to market is shorter, making it a more attractive opportunity for angel investors, Casabona said.
Investor interest in businesses that depend on government subsidies — such as solar companies — has greatly subsided in the face of a very uncertain future.
"You never know what's going to happen politically to help your company or hurt your company," said Jay Trien, founder and president of Venture Association New Jersey, a venture capital networking organization.
What has remained popular among early-stage investors is business process software.
"If your software can help a company do something better, faster, cheaper, that's software that companies want," said Trien, also a senior partner at the accounting firm of Trien Rosenberg.
Though some industries do receive more startup capital than others, investors aren't limiting themselves to these sectors. For example, Tucker Toys Inc., of Voorhees, which made a successful pitch to VANJ to secure capital, has done better than some tech investments, Trien said.
"If there is a great idea, a market need and a great team to execute the business plan, that's a winning combination," said Casabona, adding investors are looking for a qualified, cohesive team knowledgeable in their industry.
More angel investors than before are also looking to coach and mentor the companies they are funding, Casabona said.
"That's primarily to make sure you are protecting your investment," he said, adding startups are also more open to investor guidance.
But there remains a stable of worthy companies and executives to consider in the Garden State.
"The climate for the formation of early-stage companies and growth of early-stage companies in New Jersey is good," Trien said. "There is capital here, smart people here and a good infrastructure." | <urn:uuid:a2521b83-992a-48ed-a821-51de0d139a1b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.njbiz.com/article/20120521/NJBIZ01/120519828/Angels-find-the-right-niches-to-spread-their-wings | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969565 | 872 | 1.632813 | 2 |
The Chicago Sun Times reports Corporation Counsel Mara Georges said it is “critical to public safety†to limit the number of handguns in Chicago.
Briefly quoting the Sun Times:
“One handgun is sufficient for self-defense. We believe that a limitation on the number of handguns to one-per-person-per-residence would be consistent with Supreme Court†rulings overturning handgun bans in Chicago and Washington D.C., Georges told the City Council’s Police Committee.”
“Limiting the number of handguns to one-per-person would reduce the number of handguns in circulation, reduce the ability of people to act as straw purchasers of handguns for others who are not entitled to possess handgun and reduce the number of handguns that would be available to children in the home.â€
Bluntly, Chicago already has more handguns than people. Most of those have been “boosted,” stolen, a few have been legally purchased outside the city, and some were never registered or the registration has been allowed to lapse. Chicago’s problem is in no way the remnant population, or the legally purchased guns.
The problem is the career criminals weapons of choice, the untraceable stolen guns. And a one gun per person limit will do absolutely nothing to address Chicago’s violent crime problem. That problem is largely a result of Frank Roti’s Chicago gun laws and Illinois’ FOID idiocy. Like every other restrictive gun law, these laws sent violent crime through the roof.
While limits on legally owned products have been tried, the courts have repeatedly overturned them. So what Corporation Counsel Mara Georges is proposing will merely cost Chicago more money, more crime, more violence, and more ridicule.
The rational course of action is to let it drop. The Supreme Court has ruled, so forget it and let the people get back to the business of keeping their own property crime free. | <urn:uuid:2ec7e73c-9cd7-4c4f-a552-f2bc2a5d400b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://extranosalley.com/?p=4044 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950549 | 409 | 1.5 | 2 |
Selling any business, whether large or small is a major decision. Before taking any steps towards selling your business, always consult your legal advisors on the position of the business, the owners/Directors and/or shareholders to ensure any sale does not infringe on anyone's rights. In most cases, any business can be sold however, it is always best to check your legal position as the key decision maker to ensure your intentions are feasible.
Once you have established that you are able to market the business for sale, you need to firstly gauge whether the business holds any value and who is most likely to want to purchase it. In the majority of cases, a business that has a resaleable value will either hold assets in the form of real estate, an inventory, patents or intellectual property; or the business is profitable and making money.
To establish the value of your business, it is advised that you seek a professional valuation of your business. Valuations are usually conducted by professionals such as a business broker or accountant, who will examine your business accounting records and the present trading levels. A great deal of information is required to gain an accurate valuation so in any incidence where you intend to sell your business, it is highly advisable to have your businesses accounts in order and up to date.
Once you have established a valuation, you are ready to start marketing our business for sale.
A business broker, also commonly known and as a business transfer agent is an intermediary (or middle man) who will market your business for sale on your behalf in return for a commission on the sale price of the business in question.
Business brokers can help you to sell your business and in cases where you have a good broker working on your behalf, can help you gain a sale faster and for an amount that your business is truly worth. There are thousands of business brokers worldwide so it is highly likely that there are plenty of brokers in close proximity to your business. Many can be found by using our website. To find a broker, try our directory to search for a broker local to you.
Typically a broker will help value your business, market your business for sale and eventually find an appropriate buyer of your business. This is a very simplistic breakdown of what a broker does and behind the scenes, a lot of work is done to effectively market your business for sale to buyers who are looking for an acquisition such as your business.
A good broker should always visit your business premises to evaluate the company, how it operates and to fully understand the business prior to marketing it for sale. A business broker will also expect to have sight of your accounting records to aid the process of valuing your business. Some brokers will also take photographs of the business operations, products or services and the premises.
Once they have gathered enough information, they should be able to offer a solid and realistic valuation of your business, taking into account your competition, current market conditions, profit and loss figures and goodwill. It is at this point that you should decide whether your business is worth selling - many businesses are undersold due to pressures or on the flipside, are marketed at overinflated asking prices, leading to disappointment.
Remember, a broker will expect to receive a significant amount of commission from the sale of your business, usually in the form of a fixed rate percentage. Therefore you are advised to get a second opinion on the value of your business to make a sound and informed decision on the price to market the business. The price that you market your business for sale is ultimately your decision so if you are unhappy at any valuation, you are entitled to raise your concerns.
If you are satisfied with the valuation and the terms of the sale using your selected broker, they usually draft a sales information pack which details your business for sale, the asking price along with any sales, profit and loss figures. You are not at liberty to disclose any financial information on any sale of a business. In fact many brokers choose not to disclose any asking price or financial information to weed out time wasters, however remember that any non-disclosure can also put off buyers. It's a balancing act that you will need to decide on.
Most reputable business brokers have a good pool of business buyers registered on their books. From this pool of buyers, they may be able to find you a buyer faster than expected. However, in most cases it can take a long time to sell a business so patience is required. Many businesses take months, if not years to sell.
Any broker you choose to use should carry out a full valuation of your business, with detailed due diligence by having sight of your accounting records. After studying how your company has operated over recent years, they will get a greater understanding of the value of your business. You will most likely be asked questions about your business, your customers and how well your business is presently operating.
Other valuable assets such as real estate, your inventory, patents or intellectual property will contribute towards the value of the business. But most importantly is the profitability. If a business is actually making money, it will naturally be more attractive to buyers.
Sometimes business owners are disappointed at the values they receive as they have a sentimental attachment to the business which has clouded their judgement. In other cases, businesses owners receive a valuation that goes way above their expected valuation. If you are unsure in any case, get a second opinion. An accountant is a good alternative who will know exactly how to examine your accounting records thoroughly and offer you another valuation. Then you can compare the two and make an informed decision.
Like any situation, make sure that you make an informed decision. It is not necessary to sign a contract with the first broker you meet. Each and every broker will have a differing set of terms and conditions so make sure you read and fully understand what you are expected to commit to. Unfortunately, there are some aggressive sales techniques being used by some firms of brokers, who try to push business owners into a hasty decision to sign up based on promises of a quick sale, only to find that little if nothing has been done to market your business.
Worse still is that some brokers expect an up front fee that can be in the thousands. If you are faced with a broker asking for money up front, you are fully within your rights to question their intentions and refuse their services. If you are being pushed and pushed, it is likely that the broker is not interested in selling your business but simply wants to make a fast buck.
Seeing it could take weeks, if not months to get any progress in the process of selling your business, there is no rush to sign up a broker straight away. Do your research, meet as many brokers as you can and when you feel you have a broker who is offering a professional, friendly and affordable service, that's when you may just realise you have the right firm of business brokers on board.
Most brokers will charge a fee based on a fixed rate percentage of the final sales figure. There are also some brokers who expect to receive fees up front. No two brokerages are the same so you are advised to read the small print and all terms and conditions before signing anything! Many business owners have been left with a huge bill and no sale after hiring a less than professional firm.
In most cases, brokers are very professional and friendly people so it is highly unlikely you will have any problems. However, you are advised to be vigilant and selective in your process of choosing a broker to market your business for sale. Sellign a business is a timely and costly process so you will most likely only get one shot at choosing the right broker. Take your time, do your research and ensure you are satisfied with the service you will receive.
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More Info » | <urn:uuid:13d9715b-b7dc-407e-953a-610b46ce03c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.worldbrokersdirectory.com/how-to-guides/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968739 | 1,653 | 1.53125 | 2 |
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Information on Bill 30, Family Caregiver Leave Act, 2011
Bill 30, Family Caregiver Leave Act (Employment Standards Amendment), 2011, legislation that, if passed, will amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 to create Family Caregiver Leave, effective July 1, 2012. The initiative to provide eligible employees with up to eight weeks of job-protected unpaid leave was first outlined in the Ontario Liberal Party’s platform, which was released prior to the October, 2011 provincial election.
According to the government press release, the leave would be available to all full-time, part-time, permanent, or contract employees covered by the Employment Standards Act, 2000. If passed, employees would be eligible for the leave to care for:
- a spouse;
- the parent, step-parent, or foster parent of the employee or the employee’s spouse;
- a child, step-child, or foster child of the employee or the employee’s spouse;
- a grandparent, step-grandparent, grandchild, or step-grand-child of the employee or the employee’s spouse;
- the spouse of a child of the employee;
- the employee’s brother or sister; or
- a relative of the employee who is dependent on the employee for care or assistance.
An employee would be required to have a medical certificate from a qualified health practitioner stating that the employee’s family member has a serious medical condition in order to be eligible for the leave. The employee would have to produce the medical certificate if requested by his or her employer.
Bill 30 would build on the existing Family Medical Leave, which currently provides up to eight weeks of job-protected leave to provide care or support to certain individuals if the individual has a serious medical condition with a significant risk of death occurring within a period of 26 weeks.
Should Bill 30 pass, the Ontario government has indicated its intention to press the federal government for an extension of Employment Insurance benefits to those employees who qualify for the leave.
2011 Ontario Budget Overview
HRPA has provided an overview of the 2011 Ontario Budget, introduced the on March 29, 2011, by Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan.
At a Glance:
The 2010/11 deficit is projected to be $16.7 billion, $3 billion less than previously forecast
In 2011/12, the deficit will fall to $16.3 billion
The budget is not expected to be balanced until the 2017/18 fiscal year
Private sector growth forecasts are 2.6% for 2011/12 and 2.8% for 2012/13
Employment growth trails economic growth, at about 1.8% annually
The unemployment rate is forecast at 8.2%, 7.7% and 7.1% for 2011, 2012 and 2013 respectively, down from 9.0% in 2009.
The biggest cost pressures remain in Health and Long-term Care, where total spending is forecast to rise 4.87% to $47.14 billion
To view HRPA’s overview of the budget, please click here
A copy of the Budget and all supporting documentation can be downloaded from the Ministry of Finance’s 2011 Budget website:http://ontariobudget.ca/
The first of several requirements for businesses under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act comes into effect on January 1, 2012. Businesses must start building accessibility into their business plans and corporate cultures now in order to be successful.
In May, 2005 the Ontario Legislature approved the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). The AODA applies to all persons and organizations in the public and private sectors who provide a good, service, facility, or accommodation to the public.
The legislation sets out a framework for the development of “standards”, and achieving incremental increases until full accessibility throughout Ontario is realized by 2025. Initially there will be four common standards which apply to all sectors, and an initial industry-specific standard.
For more information click here
Employment Accessibility Standard – Final Proposed Standard
The Final Proposed Employment Accessibility Standard, as part of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, has now been posted on the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ website. The Employment Accessibility Standard was developed by an external Employment Accessibility Development Committee (SDC). This external committee included representatives from the disability community as well as the public and private sectors.
Those interested in reading the SDC’s final proposed standard can find more information on the Ministry of Community and Social Services’ website.
For more information click here
Accessible Information and Communications (IC) Standard - Final Proposed Standard
The final proposed standard has now been submitted to the Minister of Community and Social Services for consideration as law. It is being posted for your information.
For more information click here
The proposed standard outlines how businesses and organizations may be required to create, provide and receive information and communications in ways that are accessible for people with disabilities.
The proposed IC standard is not the law yet. If the Minister approves the whole standard, or parts of it, this will begin a process for it to become law in Ontario. The proposed IC standard is one of four standards that are currently at different stages of development to become the law in Ontario. The Accessibility Standard for Customer Service, Ontario Regulation 429/07 was the first standard to become law, on January 1, 2008.
HRPA will update members when this standard begins the process of becoming law.
Bill 168 – An Act to amend the Occupational Health & Safety Amendment Act (OHSA) with respect to violence and harassment in the workplace
Please be advised that the government passed Bill 168 entitled the Occupational Health and Safety Amendment Act (Violence and Harassment in the Workplace), 2009 in the Legislature on December 9, 2009. For more information on Bill 168 please click here.
HRPA surveyed its members this summer on the proposed legislation and specific items in the bill. Click here to see survey results.
The Ontario government has introduced legislation that would, if passed, amend the Employment Standards Act, 2000 (ESA) to provide unpaid job–protected leave for employees who donate certain organs to another individual.
Bill 154 received Royal Assent on June 5, 2009. T his Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor (June 5, 2009).
The Ontario government passed legislation on May 4, 2009 to better protect “elect to work”—or temporary—employees under the Employment Standards Act, 2000.
In December, the government introduced Bill 139—the Employment Standards Amendments Act (Temporary Help Agencies), 2008. The bill sets out obligations and prohibitions relating to temporary help agencies and ensures temporary employees are treated fairly and have better opportunities to move to sustainable employment.
The new legislation addresses the following:
- Establishes that temporary employees are covered by the Employment Standards Act
- When a temporary employee is assigned work by the temporary help agency, that agency is the persons employer and this person is an employee of that agency
- Ensures temporary workers are aware of their rights under the Employment Standards Act
- Stops temporary help agencies from charging workers for resume writing and interview preparation
- Ensures temporary workers have all the information they need about their assignments, especially pay schedules and job descriptions
- Enables the government to enact future regulations so temporary employees have notice to termination and severance pay rights that align with the rights of permanent employees
- When offering a work assignment with a client, temporary work agencies will have to provide:
- The legal operating or business name of the client
- Client contact information including address, telephone number and at least one contact name
- The hourly or other wage rate or commission and benefits associated with each assignment
- The hours of work for the assignment
- A description of the work to be performed
- The pay period and or pay date established by the temporary help agency
Bill 139 provides that the Act comes into force six months after the day it receives Royal Assent.
Bill 118 – The Countering Distracted Driving and Promoting Green Transportation Act, 2009
Ontario’s new law prohibiting the use of hand-held cell phones and other hand-held communications and entertainment devices while driving is coming into effect on October 26, 2009. Once the new law is in place, drivers who text, type, email, dial or chat using any hand-held device will face fines of up to $500 upon conviction. Hands-free use will still be permitted.
Please click here for further information. | <urn:uuid:088dfb8b-a5ad-43c1-90ea-09f771a0ffc8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://careercompasscanada.com/career-compass-canada/information-on-bill-30-family-caregiver-leave-act-2011/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932799 | 1,820 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Reinfeldt: eurobonds 'totally wrong'
Published: 18 Jun 12 14:56 CET
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt repeated on Monday his opposition to so-called eurobonds, insisting it was the wrong way to go in fighting the crisis crippling the eurozone.
Introducing eurobonds to average-out the cost of borrowing for the crisis-hit countries is the "totally wrong method," Reinfeldt was quoted by the Dagens Industri financial daily as saying.
Eurobonds "send wrong signals in both directions," said the Swedish premier, whose country is not a member of the eurozone.
He lamented, according to Dagens Industri, that such a measure would push up borrowing rates for countries with well-managed economies while countries in need of reforming their economies would see rates artificially lowered, paving the way for over-consumption.
Instead of artificially boosting the struggling economies, Reinfeldt insisted that the answer lay in "more national reforms to increase competitiveness (and in) getting the national states to work by getting rid of corruption."
The topic of eurobonds has split the 17-nation bloc and was the main sticking point at an informal EU summit last month.
France, the European Commission and several other member states believe that eurobonds could represent the best way to exit the crisis crippling the eurozone.
Germany had been steadfastly against introducing such bonds, believing both that it would end up picking up the tab and that it would reduce the pressure on debt-wracked countries to tackle their deficit problems.
Reacting to the outcome of elections in Greece on Sunday, where the euro-friendly conservative New Democracy party won a narrow victory, Reinfeldt meanwhile said the result was positive in the sense that there now "at least is a possibility" that a Greek government could be created.
This in turn would improve the possibility of Greece being able to remain in the eurozone, he said, according to Dagens Industri.
"However," he stressed, "it is absolutely not possible to say the danger is over."
"Many negotiations remain," he said, adding that it would be a step in the right direction if Greece could get everyone, "also the richest, to start paying taxes."
- .Net Software Architects »
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- Är du vår kunds nästa tekniska »
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- IT BUSINESS PROJECT MANAGER »
- Java Software Architect » | <urn:uuid:94f72698-c5f7-425d-9b61-98d6f458aa9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.thelocal.se/41512/20120618/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948579 | 521 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Monday 12 March 2012: Daily Reminder
Memory... is the diary that we all carry about with us.
It's 1919, my maternal grandmother, Nora is 26, my future grandfather, Gordon is 29. He just got his First Officer papers for the coastal coal hauler, 'Corsica' . Unfortunately courtship with him, 'GCH' seems to be hitting a snag, there's talk of disagreements and her inability to see it his way.
Nora eats endless candy, fudge and drinks ice cream sodas, remaining slim at a noted 108 lbs. She always reports the weather, first line, every day. She's a stenographer for a regional manager at the Waltham Watch Company. She goes to work where the office temperature reaches 92 degrees in July. She takes in movies and shows, sews, embroiders and eats out every meal. She rents lodgings in a house, no household chores or cares for our Nora in 1919. Aunt Lill sends homemade doughnuts from Eastport and Nora always eats two right after opening the box, 'delicious'. The Hansons visit often, Abby brings apples. Trunks are packed and shipped to Eastport for vacation. She travels on the Eastern Steamship Line, Downeast and digs baskets of clams for supper from the Lubec flats. There's always blueberry cake.
The 'crowd', the 'gang' gets together, stays together always, in both Maine and Massachusetts. The sea is the connection, the highway that keeps them together.
Back in Massachusetts she takes street cars to Somerville, Boston and around. She canoes on the Charles and learns to paddle in the moonlight, 'eaten alive' by mosquitoes. She rides the merry-go-round at Norumbega Park and takes a sail to Nantasket. They take in the beach and amusements at Paragon Park. An adventurous four hour trip under sail to Provincetown for lunch at the Atlantic House leaves her head feeling 'funny' after the return trip. It 'rains pitchforks', she takes 'snaps' and 'it's dark as pitch' some days.
She gets the giggles.
I've read through to October 1919, the handwriting is my favorite in the world, but a bit of a puzzle at times. I know I've seen 'snaps' from some of these moments now frozen in time. A young woman is whispering to me from these pages and I'm hooked. She's quite a gal, our little Nora.
My nephew, ~gj hopes to weave this into something , something for his Master's project at Queen Mary. We two have aspirations for more, I have the material, he has the talent.
For the Record,
This day came in(how my grandfather,GCH, began all his diary entries) as a gloriously warm and wonderful one, well over 65 and T is off. | <urn:uuid:46b2c9a3-aa6a-44c9-938c-cc53dd52becd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.blipfoto.com/entry/1820098 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960117 | 607 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Welcome to the November issue of NAMI FaithNet Newsletter. As Veterans Day approaches, we ask you to stand with us as we honor all those who have served or currently serve our country.
If you wish, you may make a gift in tribute to a veteran or loved one by adding your tribute to NAMI's Veterans Tribute Honor Roll.
Additional resources for veterans can be found in the NAMI Veterans Resource Center.
In this issue:
Veterans Day and PTSD ads from Mental Health Ministries
Mental Health Ministries has created a Veterans Day and PTSD ad in English and in Spanish. The ad includes helpful tips for faith communities to help our veterans here and abroad and their families.
HEALTH CARE: Using the Spirit to Heal the Mind
Silvia Sorensen, a researcher in the University of Rochester's Department of Psychiatry, developed a seminar in conjunction with the city's African-American faith community to help provide ministers, pastors, and lay counselors with the counseling tools they need to help the city's underserved African-American and Hispanic communities. Read more . . .
Spiritual Care as Important as Physical Care
In Butler County, Ohio, mental health providers are now beginning to integrate faith into the treatment of mental illnesses. At the Lindner Center for Hope, patients who are spiritual are able to receive care targeted to their particular faith, said psychologist Brett Dowdy, Psy.D.
"I think people are really searching for something authentic," he said. "This is the first agency that's given me permission to integrate faith openly. We send this message that we value your spirit life and your wholeness. We give people this whole range of healing." Read more . . .
Faith is Rewarded
Robin Reilly runs her non-profit Faith Advocacy Impacting the Homeless (FAITH Foundation) in Hackensack, N.J., in partnership with First Reformed Church, the Church on the Green. The partnership will allow the daytime operation of a help center three days a week. Read more . . . | <urn:uuid:ba944819-664a-4b17-9914-13f9de581b32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=Faith_Community&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=69003 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93439 | 418 | 1.726563 | 2 |
“Calibrating” HOPE in the Effort to “Patrol the Commons”: Samantha Power and the Hidden Imperial Reality of Barack Obama *
Expectation calibration and expectation management is essential at home and internationally.
- Harvard Professor and Barack Obama Foreign Policy Advisor Samantha Power, February 21, 2008
A small part of the dark and hidden imperial reality behind the supposedly peace-oriented Barack Obama phenomenon showed itself to those willing to see when leading Obama foreign policy advisor and celebrated Harvard Professor Samantha Power appeared on the Public Broadcasting System’s “Charlie Rose Show” last Thursday.
“HE CARES ABOUT THE IRAQI PEOPLE”
Dr. Power had curious words of praise for her good friend the junior Senator from Illinois, the likely Democratic presidential nominee after a remarkable string of primary victories over the more openly militaristic Hillary Clinton. During the primary campaign, Power told Charlie Rose, Obama “could have said” that “the best thing..is ...we’re going to get out [of Iraq] on day one” of his presidency.
But that, she said, would have been “irresponsible” pandering to U.S. voters. It would have violated Obama’s supposed overriding concern that “we consider the fate of the Iraqis,” many of whom have “depended on us in this debacle.” Thus, Obama restricted his promises to “sa[ying] I’m going to try to have all the combat brigades out within 16 to 18 months” and is emphasizing that the United States will "have to be more careful getting out of Iraq than it was getting in.” This is because “he cares about the Iraqi people,” seeking to make them a focus of policy intention, not just “a political slogan” (1).
“THERE IS HOPE...IF THE INVADERS LEAVE IRAQ TO IRAQIS”
There are highly flawed reflections. Since most Americans have long supported a rapid and complete U.S. withdrawal from illegally occupied Iraq (as Power certainly knows), Power's comments violate the basic democratic principle that the popular majority is supposed to determine policy inside a “democracy.”
Power deleted the interesting fact that most Iraqis support an immediate removal of U.S. troops and see the end of the arch-criminal U.S. occupation as the key to healing their internal strife. “According to Iraqis,’” Noam Chomsky notes, citing a December 2007 Iraq opinion survey conducted by U.S. occupation authorities, “there is hope of national reconciliation if the invaders, who are responsible for the internal violence, withdraw and leave Iraq to Iraqis.”
“The conclusions are credible,” Chomsky adds, “consistent with other polls, and also with the apparent reduction in violence when the British finally withdrew from Basra a few months ago” (2).
A USEFUL TRANSLATION: BARACK OBAMA WON’T LEAVE IRAQ TO IRAQIS
Power neglected to add other key facts:
· “Combat brigades" make up no more than half of the U.S. force structure in Iraq.
· Iraq’s possession of massive, super—strategic oil resources and an Obama presidency’s certain sensitivity to Republican charges of “defeatism” and “losing Iraq” would guarantee a continuing U.S. occupation of that country – against the wishes of the citizens in both Iraq and the U.S. – throughout the life of an Obama White House.
“I’m going to try to have all the combat brigades out within 16 to 18 months” has a real-life policy translation Power would never provide on air: “I am going to continue the occupation of Iraq like John McCain or Hillary Clinton.”
Noting that President Bush was recently swamped by cries of “O-ba-ma” during a recent state visit to Africa, Rose asked Power if she was concerned about the “sky-high expectations” much of the world seems to have for an Obama presidency. There is “some danger” in this, Rose worried.
“Right,” Power said, noting that Obama is “acutely aware of this.” And “that,” Power said, “is why expectation calibration and expectation management is essential at home and internationally.”
Behind this disturbing application of elitist and technocratic language to the “management” of domestic and global opinion and hopes is an obvious (for those willing to detect it) admission: Obama is as attached to the U.S. imperial project as Bush and this will dangerously disappoint hopeful masses at home and abroad in the event of an Obama ascendancy. Unenlightened humanity's naïve faith in “change we can believe in” needs to be downwardly “calibrated” as we cross into the post-Bush era of U.S. global dominance.
“TO PATROL THE COMMONS”
Power’s language got creepier still. “Part of having a credible American leader again who is unimplicated with the war in Iraq who is very attractive to people around the world,” Power told Rose, “is to somehow use that early wind at his back to try to extract commitments to patrol the commons, to actually deal with these broken people and broken places." By this she meant that an Obama presidency, unlike the wildly and dangerously unpopular Bush administration – primarily guilty of fanning “anti-Americanism” abroad in the view of Power and other members of the bipartisan U.S-imperial foreign policy establishment – would be able to rally other leading world capitalist states to take up the burden of intervening in such places Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Iran, Pakistan, Serbia/Kosovo, East Timor, the Sudan, and (the list goes on).
Harvard’s celebrated Dr. Power deleted the fact that Obama is in fact deeply “implicated” in the Iraq “war” (3). And it would be too much to expect her to note that western and primarily U.S. foreign policy – what is generally understood as “imperialism” across most of the morally and politically cognizant world – have played critical roles in the “breaking” of such places as Iraq, Afghanistan, Vietnam, East Timor, and (the list goes on). “As is standard operating procedure for Samantha Power,” the Left U.S. foreign policy critic David Peterson notes, “there isn't the slightest hint that the ‘commons’ needs to be protected against the predatory military power(s) headquartered in places such as Washington, London, Brussels (i.e., NATO), and similar capitals. Much less in New York, Cambridge, MA, and so on”(4).
People with Marxist and other “fringe” radical backgrounds are left to cringe at Power’s use of the phrase “patrol the commons.” A good part of the capitalist-imperialist nightmare being acted out in such imperially “broken places” as Iraq began, Left analysts have long noted, with the breaking [-up], enclosure, and subsequent state-capitalist "patrolling" of the people’s pre-capitalist commons (common land, air, water, and hunting, growing, and recreational grounds) in 14th-16th century England (5).
*Special thanks to David Peterson for bringing to my attention the Samantha Power interview discussed in this essay.
Paul Street ([email protected]) is a veteran radical historian and independent author, activist, researcher, and journalist in Iowa City, IA. He is the author of Empire and Inequality: America and the World Since 9/11 (Paradigm 2005); Segregated Schools: Educational Apartheid in the Post-Civil Rights Era (Routledge 2005): and Racial Oppression in the Global Metropolis (Rowman&Littlefied 2007). Street is currently completing a book on U.S. political culture and the Barack Obama phenomenon.
1. The Charlie Rose Show, PBS, February 21, 2008. See www.charlierose.com/shows/2008/02/21/2/a-conversation-with-samantha-power.
2. Noam Chomsky, “‘Good News’: Iraq and Beyond,” ZNet (February 16, 2008), read at www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/16522.
3. For some elementary facts, please see Paul Street, “The Audacity of Deception: Reflections on the Manufacture of Progressive Illusion,” ZNet (December 6, 2007) read at http://www.zcommunications.org/znet/viewArticle/15765.
4. David Peterson, e-mail commentary, circulated February 25, 2008. “By this stage in her career (though already evident before the publication her ‘A Problem from Hell’ in 2002),” Peterson adds, “it is clear that Samantha Power's contribution to American Power is her systematic attempt to establish that the ‘commons,’ understood as any theater threatened or attacked by Washington and its allies, either needs to be ‘protected’ or simply deserves to be attacked, with Washington et al.'s moral and legal culpability restricted to the charge that it failed to threaten or to attack early enough or with sufficient violence to do the job as effectively as a protector of the commons should.”
5. See David Harvey, The New Imperialism (Oxford, 2003), p. 145 and passim. | <urn:uuid:5c395512-846a-4b61-b2a1-266e9eb41400> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zcommunications.org/calibrating-hope-in-the-effort-to-patrol-the-commons-samantha-power-and-the-hidden-imperial-reality-of-barack-obama-by-paul-street | 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 | 0.943645 | 2,063 | 1.632813 | 2 |
We spent the afternoon learning more about Eric Carle and his book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Mrs. Wright, our Reading Coordinator, told us about the JumpStart Read for the Record day which focused on this wonderful book. Can you believe it has been 40 years since it was published?
The first photo shows students from
Mrs. Pearce's 2nd grade class enjoying the videos of Eric Carle talking about his book and also Carle's reading of his classic.
The second photo has some students from Mrs. St. Clair's 3rd grade class enjoying the website videos on our SMART Board.
If you like to share good websites with your child, try www.eric-carle.com to get these short videos, pictures and video of the artist at work, a coloring sheet, and more. If you really enjoy his work and art from other picture book illustrators, you might want to make a trip to Amherst, MA to the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. It's a fantastic place and quite worth the 2-3 hour drive. There are changing exhibits of many illustrators, a gift shop, and a wonderful place for children and families to make art.
Finally, the photo below is of the master author/illustrator, Eric Carle, reading our featured book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Congratulations and Happy 40th Anniversary! | <urn:uuid:dceab66e-9056-4089-b5dd-d83540f72ab3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://charlestownschoollibrary.blogspot.com/2009/10/very-hungry-caterpillar.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964194 | 284 | 1.84375 | 2 |
It is an inverted moral calculus that tries to persuade the world to demonize one state that tries its civilized best to abide in a difficult time and place, and rides merrily by the examples and practices of dozens of states and leaderships that drop into brutality every day without a twinge of regret or a whisper of condemnation.No, no, no, no--Arabs always good; Jews always bad.
Say it often--and ardently--enough, and you can persuade yourself that it's true.
And speaking of the moral inversion: the days of the Queen's University Zion-loathing rector may be numbered. Here's a poem in honour of the impending termination of his rectorship (rectorhood?):
A Queen's University rector
Did his utmost to raise the dark spectre
Of "Zionists" who "oppress."
Academe needs a 'Big Lie' detector. | <urn:uuid:4d22ad7a-f2dc-4ba1-9df0-c50e37f6df96> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://scaramouchee.blogspot.ca/2011/03/wheres-gadaffi-apartheid-week.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934106 | 191 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Malawi Public Hospitals Face Acute Drug Shortage
BLANTYRE — Malawi's government hospitals are experiencing critical shortages of medicines because of theft. Doctors are now pressuring the government to intervene.
Drug shortages in Malawi’s public hospitals are nothing new. But, health authorities say the situation has reached a critical tipping point. The majority of patients cannot get treatment at public hospitals and doctors are rationing the few medications they do have.
Doctors are now demanding the government take immediate and effective action. The medical staff at the Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe has sent an “Open Letter” to President Joyce Banda - asking her to intervene to stop public hospitals from becoming what they say are “waiting rooms for death.”
Health Minister Catherine Gotani Hara acknowledges the situation is dire, saying the country’s national drug warehouse, the Central Medical Stores, has nearly run out of all essential medicines.
“Indeed the country is experiencing acute shortage of drugs. As we are talking now, in terms of stock levels at medical stores, they are at 95 percent stock out. We only have five percent of drugs that we are supposed to be stocking at central medical stores. So, we are indeed at very acute levels of drug shortage,” said Gotani.
Medical supplies are also in short supply - including syringes, cotton swabs and antiseptic.
The Health Ministry’s principle secretary, Charles Mwansambo, blames the situation on what he says is drug theft by medical workers.
“I need to accept that a handful of medical workers are involved in this bad practice," he said. "They collude with outsiders to deprive Malawians of the medicines. So as a ministry we are looking into this issue seriously and also we are calling upon the general public to help us apprehend some of these culprits because they are staying out there in our midst and we know it, we see it and we don’t come forward to report.”
Police have arrested two Central Medical Stores officials for allegedly misappropriating drugs meant for Salima district hospitals and a medical technician at the Chiradzulu district hospital for allegedly forging documents and misappropriating drugs worth thousands of dollars.
Central Medical Stores officials say they are undertaking major reforms to improve security to curb drug theft. Feston Kaupa is its chief executive officer.
“We are improving security our warehouses, procurement and distribution systems [to avoid] cases where the whole truck would go missing with drugs," said Kaupa. "Now the systems that we will be installing will enable us track all our delivery vans wherever they are going. They will be on a kind of under-surveillance systems.”
However, Kaupa says it will still take a while before drugs are restocked to the required levels - citing lengthy procedures required in drug procurement.
“If we talk about 100 percent capacity of stocks in our warehouse, it will take a bit of time. But, the steps we are taking like the international bidding is for nine months consumption," said Kaupa. "So, at least when we will have all the deliveries made which we expect to be done immediately, contracts are being awarded, we expect the deliveries to be done within 12 weeks.”
President Banda told parliament earlier this month, that her government inherited a slew of problems with drug distribution to the public hospitals from the previous administration. She sought to assure lawmakers her government is working on plans to decentralize operations in the state hospital and Central Medical Stores systems and increase the budget for the Ministry of Health. She also says, in the short run, her government will start purchasing drugs directly from the manufacturers without involving the vendors - to decrease the opportunities for theft. | <urn:uuid:6ff5b203-b137-494d-a19f-6a5c9abfd50d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://reliefweb.int/report/malawi/malawi-public-hospitals-face-acute-drug-shortage | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956217 | 776 | 1.804688 | 2 |
A decade of constant combat deployments is coming to an end at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, shifting the Army’s focus from the country’s longest war to new challenges along the Pacific Rim.
The base south of Tacoma plans to bring home some 8,000 soldiers from Afghanistan this winter. About 2,500 Lewis-McChord soldiers in a variety of support units expect to be in Afghanistan after the new year, and another 3,000 local Stryker troops in the 4th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division likely will stay through August.
That should be the end of Lewis-McChord’s major deployments to the war, commanders say, citing President Barack Obama’s plan to withdraw combat forces by 2014.
None of the base’s large Stryker brigades are expected to deploy there again.
“The plan is they’ll be oriented to the Pacific,” said Lt. Gen. Robert Brown, Lewis-McChord’s senior Army officer.
He expects the base each year to support half a dozen exercises with Pacific allies, such as Australia and South Korea, while extending invitations for Asian nations to train with Lewis-McChord troops in the Northwest.
Some units will continue to deploy to Afghanistan, but mostly in smaller numbers to support a small U.S. presence that could remain in the country after the 2014 withdrawal. They include elements from the base’s combat aviation brigade, Special Forces teams, combat engineers and logistics experts from Lewis-McChord’s sustainment brigade.
Lewis-McChord’s largest Air Force unit, the 62nd Airlift Wing, also likely would continue to deploy to the Middle East to deliver supplies and service members to bases from Africa to Kuwait to Afghanistan.
The change closes a decade in which the Army spent hundreds of millions of dollars building up Lewis-McChord to support the wars.
It invested in new headquarters, built mock Iraqi villages for exercises, and added some 17,000 active-duty soldiers to the base since 2003.
Through that decade, Brown estimates that Lewis-McChord kept about 10,000 service members constantly deployed to the wars.
“I would see that number going down to 1,000 or less, maybe 500 or less,” after the last Stryker soldiers come home next summer, Brown said.
The soldiers at home expect to train for worst-case scenarios, such as conventional wars between developed armies. They’ll likely use that training on other missions, such as humanitarian efforts following natural disasters, Brown said.
Maj. Gen. Stephen Lanza, commander of Lewis-McChord’s 7th Infantry Division, anticipates competition for training exercises in the South Sound, at the Yakima Training Center and at Army training grounds in Oregon. South Sound residents likely will notice the full base when traffic picks up on Interstate 5, as well as when artillery exercises are held.
With limited access to physical training areas, Lanza also plans to make more use of virtual exercises that can pose new challenges to soldiers.
“We have to prepared for whatever our country asks us to do,” Lanza said. | <urn:uuid:56c6a701-6cfb-452b-a863-901019e5c941> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/12/02/2387674/end-in-sight-to-jblm-heavy-involvement.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94716 | 666 | 1.773438 | 2 |
China - Suntech Power (www.suntech-power.com) announced that its chief technology officer, Dr. Stuart Wenham, was awarded the prestigious Australian Collaborative Innovation Awards at a gala dinner at the National Wine Centre in Adelaide.
Dr. Wenham, along with Scientia Professor Martin Green, ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence, University of New South Wales, received this accolade for their collaboration in developing the industry-leading Pluto cell technology, which recently set a world record 20.3% efficiency for a production cell using standard commercial-grade p-type silicon wafers.
"This award is a testament to Suntech's long-standing collaboration with the University of New South Wales to continually develop ground-breaking innovative solar technology that will ultimately make solar competitive with fossil fuels," said Dr. Stuart Wenham, Suntech's Chief Technology Officer, and Director of the ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence at the University of New South Wales.
"University of New South Wales' collaboration with Suntech exemplifies how research institutions around the world can commercialize innovative technologies," said Scientia Professor Martin Green, ARC Photovoltaics Centre of Excellence, University of New South Wales.
"For any technology to be scalable, it is imperative that research teams work hand-in-hand with manufacturing experts to develop commercially-viable products. Without collaboration with Suntech, and funding from Australian Solar Institute, the Pluto cell technology would have remained a laboratory prototype, and would not be the commercial success it is today."
Advanced cell and module technology developments are a hallmark of Suntech's success in leading solar technology innovation. The Pluto cell technology, which is developed by Suntech's research and technology development (R&D) team in collaboration with the University of New South Wales, underscores Suntech's investment in R&D that delivers the best solar technology to its customers at an affordable price.
Suntech will maintain and extend this collaboration through Suntech R&D Australia Pty Ltd, established in 2011, where project activities target the manufacturing implementation of advanced cell technologies.
Suntech has a rich heritage of delivering affordable solar innovation, and has been applauded globally for its efforts. MIT Technology Review recognized Suntech as one of world's 50 most innovative companies; Fast Company recently named Suntech one of the top 10 most innovative companies in China; and EuPD awarded Suntech the 'Top Brand PV' seal, a well-respected award worldwide.
In December 2011, PV Tech awarded Suntech's crystalline silicon solar panel as the most innovative solar product of 2011. | <urn:uuid:d2919598-2cbf-4053-87e7-1cc43c39c3ce> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.displayplus.net/news/articleView.html?idxno=36606 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936197 | 534 | 1.65625 | 2 |
For Roswell resident Whitney Curtis, that means butter pie.
“The recipe originated with my great-great-grandmother, Ida LeBlanc,” she said. “They lived on a farm and butter pie evolved out of the ingredients they had on hand. It was a staple at family Christmas gatherings.” Curtis’ mother has the original handwritten butter pie recipe framed and is scanning it onto kitchen hand-towels for gifts for all the women in the family for Christmas.
It is a Pie of the Month on Curtis’ blog, www.thecurtiscasa.com. Though it’s easy to make, there are a few tricks to the recipe.
“I didn’t even know what a double boiler was until I learned the recipe earlier this year. You can get the same effect by putting a bowl within a bowl,” Curtis said. “Using a double boiler isn’t as common nowadays, especially for us young newlyweds.”
There’s another directive that might puzzle younger cooks. “The phrase ‘thickens about like white sauce’ is such a sweet phrase to write in a recipe because only a few family members remember what (white sauce) is. My mom remembers it as a child, but doesn’t remember how to make it.
“I just learned to thicken it until it looks right, which for me means calling my mom and conferencing in my Great Aunt Minta.”
Katie Cregge, 17 and a senior at Milton High School, started baking with her mother and brother when she was just nine years old.
“As I learned how much I loved it, I began to take full reign of the oven by the time I was 10,” she said. “I have made cupcakes and other treats for bridal showers, weddings, and many parties. I continue to bake because it is a stress relief for me, but I also love making people happy through food.” All members of the Cregge household look forward to one very special cake at Christmas.
“Her chocolate Milano mousse cake is the bomb,” said her dad, Jim Cregge, Milton’s interim director of parks and recreation. “It’s a Cregge family tradition.”
The recipe came from a magazine about six years ago, Katie Cregge said. “It is very easy to make, but requires at least eight hours of chill time.
“My tips are let the cake chill overnight, the longer, the better. Use Double Chocolate Milanos for a more chocolatey crust. Or use Mint Milanos for an extra layer of flavor.”
Chocolate Milano Mousse Cake
Courtesy Katie Cregge
1 Tbs. instant coffee granules
1 envelope(1/4 oz.) unflavored gelatin
3 packages of Milano cookies
3 Tbs. butter, melted
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 pkg. (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips, melted, cooled
3 cups heavy whipping cream
Stir coffee granules into 1/3 cup water until dissolved. Sprinkle with gelatin; let stand until softened, 1 minute. Microwave on High in
10-second intervals, stirring occasionally, until dissolved.
In food processor, process 15 cookies until finely ground. Stir in butter; press into bottom of ungreased 9” springform pan. Arrange remaining cookies around inside of pan, pressing down into crumbs to secure.
In large bowl stir together milk and melted chocolate. Stir gelatin mixture. At high speed beat cream until soft peaks form; fold into chocolate mixture. Spread in pan. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
1 stick butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp evaporated milk
1 to 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
Cream butter. Add sugar and cornstarch. Add one whole egg and three egg yolks. Save three whites for meringue. Add vanilla and cream.
Place on low heat on double boiler stirring constantly. This thickens about like white sauce. Place in a 9-inch pie shell and cook for 10 minutes at 350 degrees until custard is firm.
Add three heaping tablespoons of sugar to egg whites and whip into meringue. Place meringue on custard and bake until brown. | <urn:uuid:782e93a6-11c4-415e-b5ed-5aaee30164d1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://neighbornewspapers.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Sweet+Christmases+are+family+traditions%20&id=21105300&instance=alpharetta | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939714 | 941 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN
Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: June 8, 2009
Title: A randomized trial in ovarian cancer (OC) of early treatment of relapse based on CA125 level alone versus delayed treatment based on conventional clinical indicators (MRC OV05/EORTC 55955 trials)
Reviewer: Geoffrey Geiger MD
Presenter: G. J. Rustin, M. E. van der Burg
Affiliation: On behalf of the MRC and EORTC collaborators
Ovarian cancer is the second most common gynecological malignancy in the United Stages, with nearly 22,000 cases diagnosed annually. More than 15,000 of these patients will die of their disease, making ovarian cancer the fifth most common cause of cancer death in women in the United States. CA-125 is a glycoprotein whose blood levels are elevated in over 80% of women with ovarian cancer and is most sensitive for stage II or greater cancers.
For women receiving treatment for ovarian cancer, CA-125 levels often rise several months before they have symptoms or clinical signs of disease relapse. 80% of women ultimately relapse after treatment with first-line chemotherapy, but most will benefit from further therapy.
It is currently unclear whether chemotherapy should be started based on a rise in serum markers, or if one should wait for symptoms to be present. OV05/EORTC 55955 is a randomized trial examining whether benefit is derived in patients treated for suspected relapse based on their CA-125 levels as compared to patients whose treatment is delayed until symptoms are present.
The 527 participants had ovarian cancer (epithelial, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma) that was in remission after chemotherapy with normal CA125 levels. The women who began treatment with a rise in CA125 began 2nd line therapy 4.8 months sooner, and 3rd line therapy 4.6 months sooner, than those who waited for symptoms to appear. Women treated in the immediate treatment arm received 12 more total cycles of chemotherapy on average (30 vs. 18 months in the immediate versus delayed treatment arms, respectively). There was no difference in the overall survival of the two groups. Most importantly, quality of life estimates revealed that women randomized to the immediate treatment arm had less time with a 'good' quality of life.
This study reveals strong evidence to eliminate the following of CA125 levels and use the development of symptoms as a measure of disease.
Also see Interpreting a Cancer Research Study | <urn:uuid:c1eb9761-271e-4c0b-82b3-39862221c4ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oncolink.org/conferences/article.cfm?id=1925&ss=292 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948872 | 526 | 1.742188 | 2 |
::: Adam Dobson
Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family, Choose a f—king big television. Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players, and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol and dental insurance. Choose fixed-interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose a three piece suit on hire purchased in a range of f—king fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the f—k you are on a Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing f—king junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pishing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, f—ked-up brats you have spawned to replace yourself. Choose a future. Choose life . . . But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin’ else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you’ve got heroin?
The 1996 film opens, famously, with a series of postulated choices—variables, essentially, in the delineation of identity and opposition. Significant here is the tone in which these options are delivered—it might be considered the rhetorical voice of society, a playful exposition of the pressure placed on individuals to make the “correct” choices, to conform to expectation.rainspotting presents an ostensible image of fractured society.
As such, the introduction might be read as contributing to the formation of two narrative constructs: that of “normality”—or at least that considered “normality” by prevailing ideology—and that of “subnormality,” the remainder. In its uncompromising rejection of the former, the commentary of Ewan McGregor’s Renton roots him thoroughly in the latter.
We see this division alluded to on a number of occasions. In the nightclub, for example, Renton quickly notices how the “successful” separate themselves from the “unsuccessful”—the former group embracing their newly-found partners and the latter nodding their heads sheepishly. “Success” is, however, more often linked with boredom and absurdity—with the easy life, with game-shows and bingo; “failure,” despite its inherent misery and hardship, is shown to be exhilarating: a knife-edge. The tension inherent in this opposition is offered, arguably, as a reason for the behavioural patterns depicted; “what people forget is the sheer pleasure of it,” as Renton confesses.
We might describe the group of friends, united by failure, as classic anti-heroes; as characters with whom we sympathise despite the horrors they commit. It is a reading underpinned by nihilism, and one can’t help but recall the Zarathustrian “Table of Values” expounded by Nietzsche. The existence of different subcultures, defined by values which may completely contradict those of other groups, accords with a wider postmodern refutation of absolutes. These subcultures operate because the world around them is open to interpretation, and if an interpretation is justified, it is arguably as valid as one which directly opposes it.
The imposition of a universal set of values, like that of the law, for example, is a product of power—and, liberally speaking, an injustice. Renton notes that his mother, on tranquillisers, “is, in her own socially acceptable way, also a drug addict.” Because these particular characters’ choice of lifestyle conflict with that of the dominant order, they are marginalised—forced to live in squalor and filth. This is something signified in the mise-en-scene: theirs is a world of repugnant toilets; of splattered walls, doors and floors; of soiled bed-sheets; of buckets for “urine,” “vomittus” and “faeces.”
Fittingly, there is an equally strong argument to the contrary. Begbie proves an unreliable narrator, yet appears to act without conscience or consequence; Sick Boy, portrayed early on as a closet philosopher, is rendered mute after the death of his son. Some things are above and beyond words. Similarly, despite its apparent emphasis on the relationship between power and subjectivity, the film does pronounce ultimate ethical judgements, as I will describe in a moment.
Trainspotting essentially refuses to make up its mind. At the film’s close, Renton’s betrayal of his friends is completely rationalised away. Were his claims to a “fresh start” in any way convincing, we might consider it a utilitarian “good”; unfortunately, it is an event preceded by a number of sincerely intended “final hits” which were quickly succeeded, and there is little to suggest otherwise here. We are therefore denied the satisfaction of resolution.
“Pain” might be considered a central theme in Trainspotting. Every single occasion where the characters’ emotions are tried, to the merest degree, is followed by the consumption of a drug. The consistency with which this is the case becomes almost comic. The drug may very well be heroin, as it is—embarrassingly if not monstrously—after the baby is discovered dead in its cot; indeed, after Sick Boy pleads with Renton to respond in a human fashion, to face up to and articulate the horror before him, “cooking up” is all he can come up with. But there are a multitude of examples, often more subtle. Tommy increases the amount of Smack he uses to numb his worsening headaches, a binge prompted by the breakdown of his relationship; following his overdose, Renton’s parents fumble for cigarettes in the back of a taxi; Spud’s incarceration is followed by a round of stiff drinks; a night of simultaneous misadventure precedes a wholesale return to junkie-hell.
“The streets are awash with drugs for unhappiness and pain,” it is conceded; “we pile misery upon misery, heat it up on a spoon and dissolve it.”
It would seem that palliation is futile, and ignoring the reality of bad situation does not even come close to circumventing it. Perhaps this is where we find a meaning for the film’s title: a train, hurtling towards you at lethal speed, cannot be diverted from its tracks; you have to acknowledge it, and get out of the way. Averting your eyes is no solution.
But such assumption of responsibility is conspicuously absent in Trainspotting; far more common is the transferral of blame and guilt. Begbie, most notably, is never accountable for his actions; when a “killer hangover” prevents him playing a competitive game of pool, he viciously assaults a stranger for “putting him off.” Additionally, Spud’s mother is verbally abused when her son is caught stealing, blame being transferred to his upbringing; when the baby dies, Renton’s voice stutters nervously, “it wasn’t mine,” a delivery which suggests a conscience being brought clumsily under control.
In what is arguably the film’s most memorable scene, however, Renton is forced to face up to his guilt in what is best described as a “parade of sin.” Fittingly, this occurs as he sweats the heroin out of his system. We see Diane in her school uniform, Tommy literally sliding away into the abyss, and Spud rattling his chains.
So, with impending-disaster duly noted, all that remains is to jump clear; Trainspotting provides something of a critique of inertia. This is a story very much in the Oedipal tradition, following the same Oedipal logic we see operating in cinematic-narrative elsewhere. Trainspotting walks, ostensibly, the rites de passage linking individualistic assertion in the first instance, and ultimate symbolic-assimilation in the second. As the film progresses, even the game-shows begin to speak sense: a surreal example being Dale Winton’s quiz on the pathology of the HIV virus.
Renton, then, makes the necessary change: he leaves his parental home—even his parental city. His past is shown to haunt him, and before long the whole cast of miscreants reappear on his doorstep. It provides an interesting extension to the debate on the “freedom of the individual” to which the film has aspired: there is no escaping the past—the past informs the present and, as such, shapes the future. How free is the individual, if we concede to behavioural determinism? And, if choices on the high-street can be predicted according to, for example, class, gender, education, and origin, can they really qualify as free choices? The characters are perhaps shown as being “unfree,” as they are being forced to make a choice—“a job,” a “career,” a “big television”; to act otherwise is to choose death. Heroin represents this misnomer—it is the unmade choice, the solidification of a philosophical abstraction. Significantly, heroin never actually kills any of the characters—only its accompanying consequences.
To summarise, then, Trainspotting examines the tension caused by segregation and the demands of citizenship, and as such explains social problems as the denial of this tension. Denial is shown only to exacerbate the problems. | <urn:uuid:e2e37557-f5a2-460a-a0f8-8244b54619ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://metaphilm.com/philm.php?id=480_0_2_0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956887 | 2,036 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Education professors participate in project funded by U.S. Department of Education grant
Dr. Maria Stallions and Dr. Leslie Murrill, associate professors of education at Roanoke College, are taking part in an “Arts for Learning Literacy Lessons Project” funded by a five-year, $4 million U. S. Department of Education Investing in Innovation grant.
The grant was awarded to the Beaverton School District in Beaverton, Oregon, in order to underwrite program development, implementation and evaluation of the arts-integrated literacy program. Murrill and Stallions, both authors of nationally-published reports, are training the onsite program assessment researchers.
Murrill also is working on the pre- and post-assessment tools. Stallions is serving as a consultant for second-language learners, instructor modifications and English Language Learners ethnography studies. Beaverton, Oregon’s third-largest school district, serves a large number of ethnic and minority students, students with disabilities, and economically disadvantaged students. The program is being implemented in the third, fourth, and fifth grades.
Stallions traveled to Beaverton this past December to meet with administrators and visit two of the elementary schools. She will return to the district in early March during teacher training, and both she and Murrill will visit in April to train the project’s research coordinators.
“Arts for Learning is such a promising project in literacy education,” says Murrill. “This is the type of school experience that can turn an at-risk child around and guide them toward future successes as a student and life-long learner. As a researcher, it’s a real privilege to have a firsthand opportunity to watch this unfold.”
Several agencies and organizations are partnering in the Beaverton project. The nation’s leading education services provider, Young Audiences, collaborated with internationally-renowned cognition scholar and educator Dr. John D. Bransford and a research team from the University of Washington to design the literacy program. WestEd, a California-based non-profit public research and development agency, is working on the assessment studies for the Beaverton project.
Stallions said she is enjoying the opportunity to work with Bransford and his team and consults with him regularly. She became involved in the Arts for Learning program in 2008 when Young Audiences Virginia established Arts for Learning research sites in select Roanoke city schools. The agency was looking for a Roanoke area coordinator and Stallions was appointed to the position.
In 2009-2010, Roanoke College and WestEd worked together to study the effectiveness of the Arts for Learning program in seven Title I extended-day schools in DeKalb County, Georgia. Murrill and Stallions authored the research report.
“Leslie and I are delighted to share the work we are doing with Young Audiences, WestEd and the University of Washington,” Stallions said. “We feel that our participation with the Arts for Learning Lessons national research, as well as the Investing in Innovation project, brings Roanoke College to a national level, and we anticipate increased possibilities for collaborative grants and student participation in future projects.”
Stallions said that one of the benefits of her and Murrill’s participation in Young Audience programs is the opportunity to share their work with students in the College’s Education Department. In June 2010, Arts for Learning was a key focus at the department’s annual Copenhaver Institute for Teaching and Learning, an event attended by educators and preservice teachers. Last year, a group of Roanoke graduates also participated in WestEd’s assessment research.
Murrill said that the work she and Stallions are doing will provide their education students with “instructional strategies that will extend into their own classrooms as elementary literacy teachers.”
Roanoke College, a classic liberal arts college in Salem, Virginia, combines firsthand learning with valuable personal connections in a beautiful, undergraduate setting. Roanoke is one of just seven percent of colleges nationwide with a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honor society. The Princeton Review lists Roanoke as one of the “Best 376 Colleges” in its 2012 guidebook, which includes the top nine percent of colleges, and U.S. News & World Report ranks Roanoke the number seven “Up-and-coming National Liberal Arts College.”
- Public Relations
- (540) 375-2282 | <urn:uuid:9aa52f15-61c4-4a29-bb3a-b29a5aac5005> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://roanoke.edu/News_and_Events/Campus_News/DOE_grant.htm?site=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956471 | 944 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Surbiton and Kingston students among the best performing in the country
By adam_leone | Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 12:56
70% of students across Kingston and Surbiton are the best performing in the borough, having achieved five or more Cox's at grades A* to C.
To give you an idea of how good that is, the national average for youngsters achieving A* to C at GCSE level is 59%.
Breaking down a report from the Government, 88 per cent of the borough's students achieved five or more A* to C grades, five per cent higher than the national average and up 17 per cent since 2007.
Councillor Tricia Bamford, Kingston Council's Lead Member for Children and Young People, said: "Kingston can be proud that its young people have achieved some of the best GCSE results in the country."
"These excellent results show that the strong partnership between the council and our schools is delivering high-quality education, and we will keep working hard to make it even better." | <urn:uuid:946847f3-eecf-4927-9d69-fc5742a75ba8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.surbitonpeople.co.uk/Surbiton-Kingston-students-best-performing/story-17167987-detail/story.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949735 | 215 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Finally! After 4 years, the world's biggest sports event is beginning today! The 2010 World Cup football tournament (yes, I said football, not soccer because it's only soccer in the US, it's football everywhere else, and this is a World Cup) starts today in South Africa, and I have a feeling there are going to be a lot of people calling in sick to work in the next 4 weeks.
I've always liked football, but I never truly got into it until I married Alfie, who was born in a country where people live and die with every kick and save. My kids have no choice in the matter: they've grown up with their dad watching 2 or more matches every week! But during the World Cup, football fever truly grips the world, and everyone gets on that wild, wonderful ride! It's so much fun, even when you're halfway around the world, and if you want to get in on the fun there are so many ways to do it, from watching matches on TV to reading books to your kids to kicking a ball around in the park.
Here are some great products that will help you and your family enjoy and appreciate the Beautiful Game and fuel your World Cup Craze:
This new children's picture book from Candlewick Press is a wonderful story to read to your children. The story is about a poor young South African and his friends, playing in the dirt with their most prized possession: a brand-new, federation-size soccer ball. They fantasize about being football champions, but they need to become real-life heroes when a group of bullies comes to steal their ball. It's a wonderful book that clearly shows the passion that people all over the world have for the Beautiful Game, but it's also a heartwarming tale of courage and friendship.
This is a book for the very youngest football fans! Goal! It's a simple and funny story about Biggie Bear, who has never played football in his life and finds being cajoled into joining a team because they need someone big and strong to win the game. Once they're out on the field, Biggie realizes it takes more than size to win a football game. 3Po and Jammy loved this book because it's easy enough for them to read all by themselves, and they giggled all the way to the surprising and amusing (but happy) ending. As the publisher says, Kids of all sizes (and soccer abilities) will get a kick out of this humorous tale of high expectations -- and the rewards of being yourself.
The World Cup isn't just about football; it's about sports and competition and doing your best and teamwork and working hard to achieve your goals. Even if your child hates football, or is already passionate about another sport, they can be inspired by the teams and players fighting to win the World Cup. Winning Words by author/illustrator Charles R. Smith Jr. is a book that can inspire kids in any sport to keep trying and do their best. It's a collection of sports stories about kids with challenges to overcome -- from saving a disastrous football season to sharing the glory on the girls’ soccer field, from a solo punch in karate to thrilling teamwork on the basketball court. I loved the stories because they're told from the point of view of a child playing the sport (which makes it more interesting and real to kids reading the book) these riveting stories and inspirational quotes capture a striving for personal best -- and the exhilaration of mastering your fears.
With their fast-paced narration and dynamic, dramatic photos, these stories are guaranteed to pump up confidence, no matter your sport of choice.
Cheer your favorite team on with a World-Cup themed tshirt! Cafe Press has so many World Cup themed shirts that you won't have much trouble picking out a favorite. They have shirts for every country competing in the world cup, and almost as many designs as there are football fans in the world. Okay, not almost as many, but they have tons, from flags to logos to cartoons to mascots to slogans. If you don't like any of the designs you see, you can create your own! The shirts come in so many colors and designs, and you can order other products with your favorite design -- hats, mugs, water bottles, and more. Because when your team does win the World Cup, you gotta be prepared to rush out into the streets in full regalia!
As Alfie will tell you, it's never too early to turn your child into the next Diego Maradona, David Beckham or Ronaldo! Your baby may not be able to walk yet, but he can kick, can't he? Even the youngest children love playing with balls, and they're a great way to develop both fine motor and gross motor skills. This Flexi Ball by Bright Starts makes a great first ball for a baby because it's colorful, it's makes fun noises, and it's easy to grip. And if your baby would rather throw or chew on the ball than kick it? Not to worry, there's plenty of time to infect him with the football bug.
Disclosure: I received a product samples of various items on this gift guide, but was not paid to feature them on this special gift guide. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own. | <urn:uuid:b48ccec7-c804-4297-bf0d-bcb383f5559a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bonggafinds.blogspot.com/2010/06/world-cup-2010-gift-guide.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975118 | 1,090 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Crystal Brown-Tatum, 39, of Blanchard, Louisiana, was terrified when she was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer in 2007. "I knew that chemo would be the next step, but I was too scared to do it," she says. "I envisioned myself frail, bald and throwing up all the time."
Feeling low, Brown-Tatum called her friend Tarsha, and they talked for three hours. Tarsha encouraged her to "fully embrace the experience" and eventually talked her into undergoing treatment. "Her support gave me the courage to do chemo — and most likely saved my life," says Brown-Tatum, who is cancer-free today.
We all know it: Friends matter. And when we're scared, in pain, sad or ill, that goes double. Trouble is, we don't always know the right way to help. We might think we're building a friend up after a miscarriage when we say, "You can always try again." But those very words could make her feel her pain isn't legitimate. And many of us are so uncomfortable with another's suffering, so afraid of doing or saying the wrong thing, that we shy away. But that, experts say, is the worst lapse of all. "Avoiding a friend who's sick or grieving can damage the friendship, sometimes beyond repair," says Joyce Morley, Ed.D., a psychotherapist and relationship expert in Decatur, Georgia. Here's how to be the kind of friend you'd want by your side in a critical situation.
A Sudden Health Crisis? Show Up
When Erin Calvin Thomas, 35, of Little Rock, Arkansas, had a stroke five years ago, her friend Katina left work to come to the hospital — and stayed for the better part of the week. "My other girlfriend, Brandy, brought me magazines to read, and my mom brought me gorgeous pajamas and fancy lotions for my hands and feet. I felt very loved and cared for," says Thomas.
Thomas' friends and family did the single most important thing: They showed up. "Just being there shows you care," says Lori Hope, a cancer survivor and author of Help Me Live: 20 Things People With Cancer Want You to Know. Showing up can be as simple as driving a friend to a biopsy or sitting with her after surgery. "Being thoughtful lets her know she's a priority in your life." Ask her how she feels. Or try to imagine. Is it fear? Anger? Sadness? But don't presume anything. "Listen to her without judging or offering advice," says Hope. "Give her permission to feel however she's feeling, and support her by saying things like, 'That must be so hard.'"
Comments like that are more helpful than they sound, says Maxine Simpson, 42, of Raleigh, North Carolina, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma several years ago. Despite the treatments, "I know my life expectancy might be shorter because of the illness, and it's scary," she says. "Sometimes I just need friends to listen and empathize."
A Chronic Illness? Stay in Touch
Nearly seven years ago, Tocombamaria K. Murphy, 37, of Shaker Heights, Ohio, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease, a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. "The initial fear subsides and you learn to live with it, but it's not easy," she reflects. "My friends check in, and if they think I sound tired they'll say, 'Are you having a flare-up?' or 'Would you like me to bring you dinner?' Those kinds of questions let me know I'm not alone."
Studies show people with long-term illnesses like diabetes are at increased risk of depression. It's likely because they feel out of step with the world — more tired, more restricted in their activities. That's why it's especially important to stay in touch. Call frequently or have a weekly date to see a movie or go for a walk. But beware: Supporting someone with a chronic illness can wear on you too. "It can be tough to be super supportive over the long haul," notes Hope. "And if your loved one senses she's a burden, she may feel bad." If you feel your compassion wearing thin, minimize telephone or face-to-face contact for a while, and replace it with sending cards or e-mails. You might also clip and send newspaper stories on new studies related to their illness or organizations that can help. "What's most important is that she knows you love her and really do care," says Hope.
Loss and Grief? Let Her Talk
When Nicole Barnes's father passed away in 1999, she flew from her home in Michigan to Alabama, where her dad lived and stayed with her grandparents. A day after she arrived, her grandma's doorbell rang and standing on the threshold was Yolanda, an old friend of Barnes's from high school who now lived in Ohio. "I couldn't believe it," says Barnes. Yolanda pitched in — cleaning, answering the phone, picking up people at the airport. "There were days when I was inconsolable and she'd just sit with me and let me cry," says Barnes. "That was just what I needed."
Listening is key, says Val Walker, a grief educator and author of The Art of Comforting: What to Say and Do for People in Distress. "We're taught to try to make things better, but when someone's grieving there's nothing to fix," she says. Because grief impacts your emotions and your ability to make decisions during the first few weeks, treat your grieving family member or friend as if they're in intensive care, says Nyasha Grayman-Simpson, Ph.D., a counselor in Baltimore. "Don't ask them if they'd like to eat. Just make sure they get fed."
People often rally around during the first weeks and months after a loss, but over time the support falls away. "That may be when your friends really need you," says Grayman-Simpson. Indeed, her friends' long-term support is "the reason I'm still standing," says Manon P. Matchett, 40, of Washington, D.C., who gave birth to a stillborn daughter, Daisy, in 2008. "You want people to remember and to talk about it, because the truth is, you live with the pain every day. Telling someone, 'I'm here for you' means a lot." | <urn:uuid:d1678b78-5f15-433d-bfbb-68ddf3d279e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.essence.com/2011/04/28/comforting-girlfriend-in-need/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98012 | 1,352 | 1.523438 | 2 |
The housing market is gaining strength thanks in part to government programs aimed at helping struggling homeowners, the latest Obama Administration Housing Scorecard found.
"The Obama Administration's efforts to speed housing recovery are showing clear signs of traction," said Erika Poethig, Acting Assistant Secretary for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) which releases the report in conjunction with the Department of the Treasury.
Home values are back to levels not seen since the beginning of the Obama administration and the number of homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage is down 11% since last year, the report said. In addition, more than half a million borrowers have had their loans refinanced through government efforts like the Home Affordable Refinance Program this year.
"It is clear that we're making progress. But with so many households still struggling to make ends meet, we have important work ahead," Poethig said.
Another boost to the housing market came last April, when the attorneys general of 49 states and the District of Columbia inked a $25 billion settlement deal with the nation's five largest banks over so-called robo-signing foreclosure abuses. That deal is expected to help another couple of million borrowers reduce their mortgage payments.
Since the administration started rolling out its programs in April 2009, more than 5.4 million borrowers have received aid, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) said.
Here's a rundown of the government's mortgage relief efforts and how they've fared:
Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)
Launch: March 2009
Borrowers affected: As of July 2012, there have been 1.9 million trial modifications started. More than 1 million have made the transition into permanent modifications. Some 235,000 of those have been canceled due to re-defaults or because borrowers sold their homes. | <urn:uuid:ada203fd-4e39-47d9-bb17-b00757713d18> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wtae.com/news/money/Housing-market-gains-strength/-/9680890/16601434/-/vrvgg5/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969348 | 371 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Posted on September 6, 2002
Congress Holds Session in New York City
PND Connections - Congress Holds Session in New York City
The Annenberg Foundation in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, has donated $1 million to help cover the expenses of today's special session of Congress in New York City. The session, which originally was proposed by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), is intended to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, show support for the city, and demonstrate the nation's resolve in the war against terrorism. The session will be held in the Neoclassical-style Federal Hall, a national historic monument at 26 Wall Street that was also the 18th-century site of New York's City Hall, where the the first session of Congress met and George Washington was inaugurated as president on April 30, 1789. | <urn:uuid:2fb5f98a-77f9-4510-be19-0c301f6c15f8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/connections/conn_item_print.jhtml?id=12500046 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959525 | 179 | 1.75 | 2 |
"In a few short years, The New York Collegium has earned a reputation as one of North America’s very finest baroque bands. Renowned conductor, author, and historian Andrew Parrott has distinguished the work of The Collegium with performances of the highest caliber and programs that connect music making to the social, political, religious and literary milieu of its creation. The ensemble’s players and singers are all specialists in performing in the musical styles of the 17th and 18th centuries; many were pioneers in the field of historically informed performance and have regularly performed in the most prestigious festivals and ensembles in Europe. The New York Collegium has been featured on broadcasts on WNYC New York Public Radio, WGBH in Boston, Colorado Public Radio and NPR’s Performance Today, and has made guest appearances at BAM (Brooklyn Academy of Music), The Metropolitan Museum and The Savannah Music Festival. A concert by The New York Collegium will be the featured performance to open The Bach Festival of Philadelphia in March 2007.
The Collegium also maintains an innovative teaching residency in New York City public schools, providing recorder, percussion and classical guitar instruction to entire classrooms of 2nd to 8th grade children. Recorder virtuoso Nina Stern, the Director of Education for The New York Collegium, has received honors for her educational work, including an Endicott Fellowship in 2003 and the “Early Music Brings History Alive” award from Early Music America in 2005. " Visit website for more information. (ed.)
Category: Ensembles/Performers/Associations/Societies / Orchestras/Chorus
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Expect Labs thinks it has what it takes to read your mind, and it’s building the MindMeld iPad app equipped with its “anticipatory computing engine” to prove it. The company has certainly set an audacious goal for itself, and it’s now one step closer after announcing a partnership with Nuance for the voice recognition technology in its upcoming app.
MindMeld, which is listed as “coming soon” on the company’s website, will act as a voice chat/VOIP app that intelligently listens to the conversation and offers up related content that it thinks you want to see. For example, if you were talking with a friend to plan a trip, it would automatically pull up information about your destination. Frankly, it sounds kind of like being stalked by Siri.
Nuance highlighted MindMeld as exactly the kind of application of its technology that it hopes to see from members of its developer program:
“We launched NDEV Mobile Platform to inspire mobile developers like Expect Labs to create breakthrough applications with our industry-leading speech recognition platform. MindMeld is a great example of the types of innovative applications that we’re seeing across the NDEV program,” said company vice president Matt Revis.
Expect Labs’ predictive computing engine isn’t just reliant on speech, as it will also monitor Web use and location data. The technology has similar aspirations as Google Now, in that it is meant to continuously track activity and usage and produce smart recommendations.
Mind reading technology requires research, and research requires money. Expect Labs has already raised $2.4 million from high-profile investors such as Google Ventures and Greylock Partners. The startup has been working on its engine for over two years, and it emerged from stealth mode in September.
Nuance seems to be making a habit of delving into these kind of futuristic projects. Intel recently added Nuance support to its Perceptual Computing SDK, which provides developers with tools for advanced interfaces like speech recognition and motion tracking.
Image via Flickr / Kevin Dooley | <urn:uuid:20952663-939c-4c77-9878-4edb9f4bc13b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thenextweb.com/insider/2012/12/12/nuance-to-provide-voice-recognition-for-expect-labs-mindmeld-predictive-computing-app/ | 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 | 0.960377 | 434 | 1.5 | 2 |
Who knew deciding what to do with the cloud could be so difficult?
While the cloud is being swiftly adopted by businesses (some of which are building private networks, while others are using outsourced service providers), according to industry observers, the introduction of this innovative technology solution is becoming disruptive and raising more questions than it's answering.
In a recent report, McKinsey aptly describes the dilemma facing companies as adoption of the cloud grows, and the challenges arising from its use multiply. Here's how the consulting firm describes part of the current problem:
As attractive as cloud environments can be, they also come with new types of risks. Executives are asking whether external providers can protect sensitive data and also ensure compliance with regulations about where certain data can be stored and who can access the data. CIOs and CROs are also asking whether building private clouds creates a single point of vulnerability by aggregating many different types of sensitive data onto a single platform.
After reviewing the McKinsey report, I drew up a list of questions that I believe CIOs at many companies are asking themselves and their senior management. The consultancy addressed some of these, and I'll put the answers offered by the McKinsey analysts (James Kaplan, Chris Rezek, and Kara Sprague) after each question.
I'd like to know what you think. My questions are in bold. Here goes:
Should companies refuse to use the cloud because of its inherent dangers?Refusing to use cloud capabilities is not a viable option for most institutions. The combination of improved agility and a lower IT cost base is spurring large enterprises to launch concerted programs to use cloud environments.
How much are companies spending on the cloud?Corporate spending on third-party-managed and public-cloud environments will grow from $28 billion in 2011 to more than $70 billion in 2015, according to IDC. However, total spending on the cloud is much larger than these estimates indicate because the figures do not reflect what enterprises spend on their private-cloud environments.
How much of enterprise resource management activities will companies host in the cloud?Eighty percent of large North American institutions surveyed by McKinsey are planning or executing programs to make use of cloud environments to host critical applications -- mostly by building private-cloud environments. At several of these institutions, executives predict that 70 to 75 percent of their applications will be hosted in cloud environments.
What kind of savings do companies expect from using the cloud, and how does this differ between private and external systems? Cloud environments will enable savings of 30 to 40 percent compared with current platforms. Using external cloud offerings can yield even more pronounced savings. Some executives cite examples of 60 to 70 percent savings by replacing custom-developed internal applications with software-as-a-service alternatives sourced from the public cloud.
What are the likely dangers from using the cloud?Using the cloud creates data-protection challenges in public-cloud services as well as private-cloud environments.
The cloud obviously offers a lot of advantages to enterprises, but as the McKinsey report shows, companies are still in the early stages of trying to develop best-practices for using the technology. That's not all. They are also struggling with the trade-offs that come from adopting the cloud as opposed to current conventional storage and ERP systems.
The greatest challenge, which hasn't been widely discussed yet, is the potential for widespread disruption if a major virus gets into the cloud and infects entire networks. The assumption is that this won't happen, and as a result, CIOs aren't directly focused on this problem. It's the next frontier in cloud business opportunity for hardware, software, and service providers.
Flying scot, that's the main disadvantage of any centralized system. But now a day's there are technologies in cloud for redundancy. So if the main system happens to be down, mirror image from redundant machine will take the control and make sure that the services are always up.
Another advantage of cloud based computing is the ability to centralize support. As such, maintenance costs are reduced and revision control should be made easier. However the whole thing goes "pop" if the hardware or software network goes down.
@ Jacob, you're correct cloud is a big thing. It offers a lot of advantages to enterprises. But, I think technology providers should be made aware of the potential challenges associated with Cloud? What's your thought?
t.alex, cloud has various offerings in IT domain, especially with IaaS, PaaS, SaaS etc. When it coming to non-IT domains like Automotive, Aerospace, supply chain, Electronic etc; as of now limited to certain areas. There is no doubt that these domains may get implement various solutions of cloud in near future.
Anna, now a day's cloud plays a vital role in all most all sectors. Some of the recent implementations are project management, design documentations etc through cloud solutions. There is no doubt that within a couple of days/months, cloud will play its own role in supply and inventory management too.
Cloud for storage and for hosting applications is definitely the trend. I can see there is a blurred line between cloud and traditional service. A number of hosting companies simply market their products as cloud-based while it is not very clear how we define 'cloud' in this case. Can we tag something 'cloud' because it is running off from the internet? I think when it comes to CIOs decision, they still have to put all options on the table and decide.
The new government rules and regulations may prove to be a double-edged sword: achieving some positive goals but costing organizations a great amount of money and work and, perhaps, lost sales as well.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges. | <urn:uuid:3eb14221-f61a-4019-8043-b7ae9582b43c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ebnonline.com/author.asp?section_id=1115&doc_id=256758&piddl_msgid=895093 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950491 | 1,634 | 1.5 | 2 |
London: World shares edged lower and the dollar rose before US jobs data on Friday, which investors will watch even more closely than usual after Fed officials raised concerns about possible side effects of its stimulus program.
Minutes from the Federal Reserve’s December policy meeting unsettled financial markets on Thursday after they showed some policymakers were worried about the program’s longer-term impact.
Fed bond-buying has underpinned appetite for risk and the comments reopened debate on how much longer the central bank will keep stimulating the US economy, unnerving investors before the US employment figures.
European shares echoed their Asian peers to edge lower. But following a sharp jump on Wednesday after the US edged back from the “fiscal cliff” budget crisis, they were on track for weekly gains of almost 2.7%.
Tentative signs that the euro zone economy may have passed the worst of its downturn also helped to restrict the moves.
Markit’s Euro zone Composite PMI, which gauges business activity across thousands of the region’s companies, rose in December to 47.2 from 46.5 in November—below the 50 line which divides growth from contraction but at its highest level since March last year.
“The surveys at least bring some substance to the belief that the worst is over and that a return to growth is in sight for the region in 2013,” said Chris Williamson, chief economist at Markit.
London’s FTSE 100, Paris’s CAC-40 and Frankfurt’s DAX were down 0.1-0.5% by mid-morning, while the MSCI index of world shares was just over 0.2% lower at 345.85.
Wall Street was expected to open slightly higher though, with S&P 500 futures up 0.1% and contracts for the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 up 0.2%.
US stocks will largely depend on the non-farm payrolls report due at 8.30am ET and any clues it gives on the health of the US and global economies.
Analysts polled by Reuters expect a 150,000 rise in jobs, with unemployment holding steady at 7.7%. However, after a better-than-expected ADP employment report on Thursday, many may now be betting on an above-consensus jobs number.
“The Fed has made it clear that it will keep policy loose until unemployment drops to 6.5% or below, so strong jobs data will undoubtedly raise expectations of a more hawkish Fed,” analysts at Tradition brokerage said in a note.
The Fed’s concerns about the longer-term impact of its policies gave fresh momentum to the recent slide by low-risk bonds including US and German debt.
Bund futures slipped almost half a point to 143.12, having already fallen steeply from last week’s close of 145.64.
Benchmark US Treasury yields continued their climb, hitting an eight-month high of 1.96%, while in Asia, 10-year Japanese government bond yields touched a three-and-a-half month high of 0.83%.
In the currency market, the dollar hit its highest level against the yen since July 2010 at 87.835, while the euro fell to a three-week low of $1.3006. The dollar also touched a six-week high against a basket of currencies.
“We have seen quite a broad-based dollar rally after the minutes which has ignited a fresh debate about how much liquidity the Fed is going to pump into the economy,” said Daragh Maher, FX strategist at HSBC.
The yen has fallen in recent weeks as investors bet the new government will push the Bank of Japan to weaken the currency by implementing aggressive economic stimulus.
“Breaking through 88 in dollar/yen is a significant move. It was a target for a number of people in the market and the question is now whether we have a mindset of taking profit or we look to extend,” added Maher.
The dollar’s recent climb makes dollar-based assets more expensive for non-dollar investors and this hit precious metals and oil.
Brent crude shed 0.6% to $111.47 a barrel while gold fell 1% to $1,645, dragging silver down more than 2% to $29.48. Reuters
William James and Anooja Debnath also contributed to this story. | <urn:uuid:2e656050-6e46-499b-bb2e-0537450a7aac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.livemint.com/Money/ziVo3TYfuvedpw18jibBqL/Asian-shares-drop-on-Fed-minutes-dollar-extends-gain.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95351 | 921 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Friday, July 1, 2011
Rainbow Dash Actually Obeys Laws Of Physics For Once
Today we're taking a break from talking about rainbows in the sky and instead talking about how awesome Rainbow Dash is.
She's not as awesome as Rarity, but she comes pretty close sometimes. It's not her fault, really. It's tough to come close to perfection. It's like coming close to the speed of light- the closer you get, the harder it gets to actually reach that plateau of pristine pony perfection. Although, supposedly the way that warp drives work is by squeezing the space time in front and behind the ship with a projected field of some kind so that you never have to deal with the relativistic effects and energy consequences of approaching the speed of light. It's called the Alcubierre drive. Look it up.
Anyway, so, in an episode whose name I can't remember just from the above picture, Rainbow Dash flew through some clouds, making some nice holes. At first I think we all assumed it was cartoon physics and left it at that. However, supposedly this can actually occur if the object is moving fast enough through said cloud, as soon above.
I don't have an article to go along with the post this time, but, it's hard to argue with those kinds of results. | <urn:uuid:0559656e-d12a-45f4-a54b-d0381ec7ed93> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/07/rainbow-dash-actually-obeys-laws-of.html?showComment=1309587466977 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976478 | 271 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Memorandum by Smoke Free Liverpool (WP
SmokeFree Liverpool is a partnership which comprises
Central, North and South Primary Care Trusts, Liverpool City Council,
the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce,
North West TUC, Health@Work, Scarman Trust and Liverpool Health
Our aim is to restrict smoking in all enclosed
workplaces in Liverpoolfor the benefit of all who live
and work in Liverpool. As you may know, Liverpool City Councillors
voted in October by an overwhelming cross-party majority to seek
the powers to restrict smoking in enclosed workplaces places,
by a local Act of Parliament. This cross-party majority vote was
confirmed by a further vote on the 26 January.
Smokefree Liverpool welcomes the Health Select
Committee's Inquiry into the Government's White Paper on Public
Health and is pleased to submit written evidence.
Will the proposals enable the Government to achieve
its public health goals?
1. We congratulate the Government on the
White Paper's proposal for workplaces to be free of second hand
tobacco smoke. Smoking is the major cause of preventable death
in our city. We are also deeply concerned by the serious health
and safety risk other people's smoke poses to employees and the
general public, particularly but not exclusively in the hospitality
trades. The White Paper offers a golden chance to provide protection
to non-smokers and to achieve a sharp cut in smoking prevalence
2. However, we believe that the Government
has missed an opportunity to save lives by not imposing a complete
ban in all workplaces, including pubs and private clubs. Smoke
Free Liverpool does not believe that it can be acceptable for
a worker in a non food pub or private members club to suffer the
damaging effects of second hand tobacco smoke. We believe the
evidence on the harmful effects of second hand smoke is clear
and we note the comments of the Chief Medical Officer to this
effect. We also note that the report of the Scientific Committee
on Tobacco and Health, whose report was published alongside the
White Paper, identified bar workers as the occupational group
at most risk from other people's smoke. In Liverpool, people frequently
do not have a choice about where they work and employees in exempted
premises would therefore be exposed against their will and they
will continue to suffer the same health inequalities.
3. Smoke Free Liverpool are concerned that
the proposals in the White paper will actually contribute to widening
health inequalities both locally and nationally and for Liverpool
we believe that these proposals will be a disaster.
Are the proposals appropriate, effective and do
they represent value for money?
4. The Government has failed to act on the
conclusions of the report it commissioned from the Scientific
Committee on Tobacco & Health (SCOTH), which was published
at the same time as the White Paper, these are:
"knowledge of the hazardous nature of second-hand
smoke (SHS) has consolidated over the last five years, and this
evidence strengthens earlier estimates of the size of the health
"This is a controllable and preventable
form of indoor air pollution."
"It is evident that no infant, child or
adult should be exposed to SHS".
"This update confirms that SHS represent
a substantial public health hazard."
5. The proposal to prohibit smoking in the
"bar area" of exempted pubs cannot provide adequate
protection for employees or members of the public. Smoke cannot
be confined to one area of a pub. Ventilation systems are expensive
and at best only partly effective. We believe it would be cause
significant economic damage in Liverpool if hospitality venues
were required to install expensive and inefficient systems of
this kind. The proposed exemptions would add unnecessarily to
the regulatory burden on business. A comprehensive end to smoking
in all workplaces and enclosed public places would be simpler,
cheaper and more effective.
6. We believe that most pubs in Liverpool,
which may be covered by the proposed exemptions, will be in poorer
communities. These communities will have higher than average smoking
prevalence rates and largely as a result will be at the wrong
end of sharp health inequalities. Liverpool has the highest lung
cancer rates in England. The communities where those rates are
highest are those in which the vast majority of pubs do not serve
prepared food. SmokeFree Liverpool is currently undertaking a
piece of research in conjunction with Liverpool John Moores University
to provide clear evidence that this is the case.
7. The social and economic costs of smoking
in Liverpool are unacceptably high:
Smoking prevalence in Liverpool is
well above the national averageat 34%.
Around 1,000 people in Liverpool
die each year from smoking.
Around 100 people in Liverpool who
have never smoked, die each year from cancer or heart disease
because of exposure to second-hand smoke.
Smoking costs the NHS in Liverpool
about £12.7 million per annum.
The economic costs to employers of
smoking amongst the Liverpool workforce is approximately £28.5
million per annum.
8. There is strong support across the city
for smokefree legislation: 71% of people in Liverpool stated that
they would support or strongly support a law to make all enclosed
workplaces smokefreeincluding restaurants and pubs.
Does the necessary public health infrastructure
and mechanisms exist to ensure that the proposals will be implemented
and goals achieved?
9. The proposals in the White Paper give
no clear definition for "pubs that serve food", would
be extremely difficult to enforce and leave many opportunities
for loopholes to be found. The Chartered Institute of Environmental
Health has judged the Government's proposals to be unenforceable
and contrary to the principles of health and safety legislation.
10. The goal of reducing health inequalities
cannot be achieved unless the proposals are amended to include
legislation to make all workplaces smoke free including those
pubs that do not serve food and all private clubs. Indeed health
inequalities in cities like Liverpool can only be increased.
11. While SmokeFree Liverpool welcomes the
Government's proposals, we must continue to pursue a Local Act
of Parliament to ensure all workers in Liverpool are protected.
As our understanding is that other cities are considering the
same legislative route, we urge the Government to reconsider and
strengthen its proposals.
12. We ask the Committee to urge the Government
to include a commitment to legislate to prohibit smoking in all
workplaces in the United Kingdom in its first legislative programme
after the General Election. | <urn:uuid:fbd48f15-556f-490a-8888-f9875053b3c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200405/cmselect/cmhealth/358/358we71.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932401 | 1,373 | 1.601563 | 2 |
An Omaha church is making safety a top priority by instituting a training course for all volunteers working with children or vulnerable adults.
Any parent will tell you trust is hard to earn when you are working with someone else’s children.
“I have three children that belong to this church and it’s important for me to know that the adults that work and interact with my children have some training,” said Alison Alderman-Dreher. She fully supports a program at First United Methodist Church in Omaha that any staff member or volunteer must be cleared criminally and trained in a Safe Sanctuary course.
“It is self-assuring to me that these background checks are done,” said Alderman-Dreher.
No one with a criminal past or on any registry is allowed to participate in volunteer work dealing with children at the church. Barren Scroggs is teaching the course for those who do pass that check and want to work with children or vulnerable people.
“After three years, anyone who is working with these populations has to get retrained,” said Scroggs. “We're constantly staying up on those things.”
As part of the course, participants learn about warning signs to watch for and when to call Child Protective Services. As part of the course, participants learn about warning signs to watch for and when to call Child Protective Services. They learn ways to identify if a child is being abused at home or anywhere else.
“We get to make sure we're brainstorming ideas of how to figure out these conversations,” said Scroggs.
First United Methodist Church requires there are always two adults in a room when children are present. Rules like that establish trust with families, something Alison Alderman-Dreher says is hard to come by these days.
“It’s important to know as a parent if they're going to get in the car and go on a field trip to a shelter and volunteer that someone's done background checks and knows who these volunteers are.” | <urn:uuid:e2d237ab-6d3a-4d28-afa2-28f8db448d78> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ketv.com/news/local-news/Omaha-church-mandates-training-to-keep-kids-safe/-/9674510/18117070/-/r0csxt/-/index.html?absolute=true | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964346 | 429 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Breakfast In Harney
Morning sun flourishing with a slight cast of mist in Harney County, Oregon as Katie eases from her kitchen, down a few stairs, navigating uneven gravel where three cowdogs and silent tractor wait with a hay trailer in tow. It is with a single crank of the motor that all the cow heads turn up in the field and in that succinct moment, the tractor with hay and the swath of cows move toward each other.
Harney, a documentary film in production is entering the Winter months of ranching in Harney County, Oregon. Saddle up for a great ride through four seasons of ranching being captured from the perspective of a woman in ranching by way of the womb, the tomb, or the altar. | <urn:uuid:498c37c9-ab51-412c-bb46-1cd583fc5092> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://harney-thefilm.com/breakfast-in-harney/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949272 | 152 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Is one.” With that, the little child sighed out,
“O master! master! I am out of heaven
Since noonday, and I hear them calling me.
If you be ready, great one, let us go:—
Hark! hark! they call.”
Then did the beggar lift
His face to heaven, and utter forth a cry
As of the pangs of death, and every tree
Moved as if shaken by a sudden wind.
He cried again, and there came forth a hand
From some invisible form, which, being laid
A little moment on the curate’s eyes,
It dazzled him with light that brake from it,
So that he saw no more.
“What shall I do?”
The curate murmured, when he came again
To himself and looked about him. “This is strange!
My thoughts are all astray; and yet, methinks,
A weight is taken from my heart. Lo! lo!
There lieth at my feet, frail, white, and dead,
The sometime beggar. He is happy now.
There was a child; but he is gone, and he
Is also happy. I am glad to think
I am not bound to make the wrong go right;
But only to discover, and to do
With cheerful heart, the work that God appoints.”
With that, he did compose, with reverent care,
The dead; continuing, “I will trust in Him,
THAT HE CAN HOLD HIS OWN; and I will take
His will, above the work He sendeth me,
To be my chiefest good.”
Then went he forth,
“I shall die early,” thinking: “I am warned,
By this fair vision, that I have not long
To live.” Yet he lived on to good old age;—
Ay, he lives yet, and he is working still.
* * * * *
It may be there are many in like case:
They give themselves, and are in misery
Because the gift is small, and doth not make
The world by so much better as they fain
Would have it. ’Tis a fault; but, as for us,
Let us not blame them. Maybe, ’tis a fault
More kindly looked on by The Majesty
Than our best virtues are. Why, what are we?
What have we given, and what have we desired
To give, the world?
There must be something wrong
Look to it: let us mend our ways. Farewell.
Who pipes upon the long green hill,
Where meadow grass is deep?
The white lamb bleats but followeth on—
Follow the clean white sheep.
The dear white lady in yon high tower,
She hearkeneth in her sleep.
All in long grass the piper stands,
Goodly and grave is he;
Outside the tower, at dawn of day,
The notes of his pipe ring free.
A thought from his heart doth reach to hers:
“Come down, O lady! to me.”
She lifts her head, she dons her gown:
Ah! the lady is fair;
She ties the girdle on her waist,
And binds her flaxen hair,
And down she stealeth, down and down,
Down the turret stair. | <urn:uuid:45d3e01a-a822-4574-9231-71d18582c18b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/13224/101.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956576 | 750 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Update with Dunnington and Core i7 photos, text.
The latest and greatest silicon and derivative products is what the Intel Developer Forum is all about. Moorestown, Tolapai, and Canmore are just a few of the chips detailed at IDF this week, while UrbanMax, new netbooks, and the first laptops based on the quad-core mobile processor were among showcased products.
Intel Chairman Barrett brought out Carnegie Mellon University's Johnny Chung Lee, who demonstrated how cheap, off-the-shelf technology--in this case a makeshift whiteboard--can go a long way. "To be interesting today, technology has to be the fastest, the best, the brightest, the lightest, but here you can see if you sacrifice a little bit of capability and performance for dramatic savings in cost, you can have a pretty dramatic impact," Chung said.
One of the more novel devices demonstrated was the 10-inch Intel UrbanMax a computer that can switch between a laptop and tablet. This by itself isn't groundbreaking because tablet PCs from Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba already do this. The novelty is the size and design: it is smaller than an ultraportable--like the Toshiba Portege--yet is designed like an oversize mobile Internet device such as Compal JAX 10. When configured as a tablet, the keyboard is hidden but can morph into a laptop by sliding out the keyboard, which tilts the screen.
An Intel official demonstrating the device said that "UrbanMax is an innovation platform from Intel. This is a product-ready concept." UrbanMax uses "Montevina" Centrino 2 small form-factor (SSF) silicon. SSF chip packaging is used in the MacBook Air and results in lower voltage and smaller size than typical Intel low-power mobile processors.
It is interesting to note that major PC makers have adopted Intel concept designs in the past. Last year, Intel offered a ultra-thin laptop concept design that was eventually adopted by HP for its Voodoo Envy 133 notebook. … Read more | <urn:uuid:dc7839d5-c3c5-494c-b7d4-034a8a7a5664> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cnettv.cnet.com/8300-5_53-0-10.html?keyword=Fujitsu | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93945 | 421 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Sir.—Majeed et al1 suggest that the current approach to long-term anti-streptococcal chemoprophylaxis for children with acute rheumatic fever (ARF) should be modified. According to these authors, children with rheumatic carditis should receive such prophylaxis probably indefinitely, whereas those children with arthritis alone should receive it for only five years. However, recent data from several countries, including their own country, raise serious concern about the applicability of these recommendations.
In a recent five-year prospective follow-up of ARF in children from north India,2 we observed 24 recurrences in 22 of the 85 patients. Twenty-two of these recurrences were directly related to omission of continuous anti
streptococcal chemoprophylaxis. Of the ten recurrences among children who had carditis during the initial attack, each recurrence manifested as carditis. Equally important, recurrences produced further cardiac damage in five children, including two children in whom heart murmur had disappeared totally two to three months | <urn:uuid:ae50a40a-ad1c-4bcb-8df6-8bf117faf68d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=511996 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958099 | 220 | 1.625 | 2 |
ReutersAn aerial view of the Syncrude oil sands mine north of Fort McMurray, Alberta.
Nebraska’s state environmental agency seeks a long list of data from TransCanada, the operator of the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, including the mix of chemicals used to dilute the heavy Canadian oil sands crude that it would carry to the Gulf Coast. The agency has been reviewing a proposed new path for Keystone XL that aims to avoid the permeable soil and high water tables of the state’s Sand Hills region. [E&E]
A decision this spring by United States trade officials to impose tariffs on Chinese solar panel imports that have shipped since February has proved painful for American companies that purchased them. All told, American importers of the Chinese panels could have to pay about $100 million in retroactive tariffs, according to their lawyers’ estimates. [InsideClimate News]
The logging company Sierra Pacific agrees to pay the United States government $122.5 million in damages to settle a lawsuit over a 2007 wildfire that was among the most devastating in California history. The settlement will include a $55 million cash payment and 22,500 acres of land in California owned by Sierra Pacific. The Forest Service will choose the land, which is expected to bridge gaps between existing national forests and support critical watersheds and sensitive species habitats. [Reuters]
After an extremely bumpy start in 2007, Paris’s bike-sharing service is now judged a success. Some 138 million people have used the bicycles, 225,000 subscribers have signed up, and the service achieved profitability last year. [Inter Press Service]
American companies that provide oil-field services are seeking to gain a foothold in China by investing in local partners before the country opens a second round of bidding for its huge reserves of shale gas. Last year Chinese state-owned companies were allocated shale-gas blocks in the first round. [The Wall Street Journal]
As the public comment period ends this week on a proposal to develop oil shale and oil sands in vast areas of the Rocky Mountain West, conservationists are making a stand on behalf of the area’s national parks. The National Parks Conservation Association, a 90-year-old organization, is concerned that eight national parks and monuments are at risk from energy development of this type and scale.
for The New York TimesRafters enter the Split Mountain Canyon on the Green River at the Dinosaur National Monument in northwestern Colorado.
The Bureau of Land Management is considering whether to open roughly 2.3 million acres of land in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming to these two types of energy development, both highly controversial because of their environmental impacts. Oil shale is fossilized algae trapped inside rock that must be mined, ground up and heated to 900 degrees Fahrenheit to yield oil. Oil sands contain bitumen, a heavy black viscous oil that is extracted through open pit mining. Both types of production involve intensive use of water, a scarce resource in the region.
Among the parks that the conservation group deems to be at risk are Dinosaur National Monument, Arches National Park, Capitol Reef National Park and Black Canyon National Park. Dinosaur is bordered on three sides by land that could be allocated for oil shale. “There’s a tendency to discount what the external threats are to our national parks,” said David Nimkin, the conservation association’s senior regional director for the Southwest region. Mr. Nimkin’s list of worries includes air pollution, noise pollution, light pollution, water scarcity, obscured nighttime skies, impacts to wildlife corridors and the ruining of views. Read more…
Fred R. Conrad/The New York TimesA site in Dimock, Pa.., where natural gas is being extracted through hydraulic fracturing.
Are we entering a golden age of gas?
The answer is yes, according to a report with just that title released on Monday by the International Energy Agency — as long as the price for natural gas remains low and governments adopt strong regulations to overcome environmental concerns about hydraulic fracturing.
The report projects that natural gas could make up 25 percent of the global energy mix in 2035, up from 21 percent now, replacing coal, nuclear and some power from renewable sources like wind and solar. The drivers of the fuel’s growing popularity are uncertainty about nuclear power after the recent Japanese disaster, an anticipated boom in demand from China and, most important, the widespread development of gas fields from unconventional sources like shale rock.
The I.E.A. study made the point that natural gas deposits are spread around the world and offer many countries more energy security. But it cautioned that “an increased share of natural gas in the global energy mix is far from enough on its own to put us on a carbon emissions path consistent with an average global temperature rise of no more than 2 degrees Celsius,” or 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. Read more…
Using a weather balloon, a foam box, some duct tape, a video camera and a G.P.S. tracking device, two British students capture extraordinary images of Earth from the edge of space. The project cost about $560. [BBC]
Gov. Jerry Brown of California faces an array of energy and environmental policy questions, including whether to press forward with ambitious pollution and renewable energy regulations backed by his predecessor, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Several measures have the potential to drive billions of dollars in spending and private-sector investment. [The Los Angeles Times]
A persistent drought in northern Iraq is fanning tensions between the region’s Arab and Kurdish farmers, who are competing for the same scarce water. A dam located in autonomous Kurdistan, which controls the flow of water crucial to farmers in the multi-ethnic enclave Kirkuk, is at the center of the dispute. “We are harmed by the Kurds, and the officials responsible for Baghdad and Kirkuk will not lift a finger,” says a prominent Sunni leader in Kirkuk. [Agence France-Presse]
The major factors dominating the national electricity market are the recession, which has caused the biggest reduction in demand in 60 years, and the low price of natural gas, which has made every other energy source look pricey by comparison.
But a new year-end analysis by Black & Veatch, an engineering and consulting firm that is involved in power plant construction of all kinds, predicts that over the longer term, growth in power demand will resume and concern over global warming will reassert itself. This will result in a greater reliance on renewable energy, more nuclear reactors and a continuing shift from coal to gas, it says.
Underlying the analysis is the calculation that growth in the gross domestic product and growth in electricity demand are now disconnected; with more efficient motors, lamps, air-conditioners and everything else that runs on electricity, the thinking goes, the economy could grow by 2.5 percent while the demand for the generation of electricity rose by only 1.1 percent. Read more…
How about the news for oil’s hydrocarbon cousin, natural gas?
Some experts say that oil’s recent bad luck could translate into good luck for gas, which is plentifully available in the United States, is cleaner-burning than oil and can be used as a transportation fuel – either directly, through compressed natural gas, or indirectly as a utility source for powering electric cars.
The drilling craze in shale fields in Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and Pennsylvania has been slowing over the last year, but a recent firming of natural gas prices is bound to make gas drilling more profitable again. And whatever jobs will be lost from a moratorium on deepwater drilling could be compensated for by more drilling on land for gas. At least, that is the argument of the gas drillers and their supporters.
The brightest news, at least potentially, was the announcement a week ago by Cheniere Energy that it will seek to construct export capacity at a Louisiana gas terminal for liquefied natural gas. Such a facility, which could export up to two billion cubic feet a day, could be a path to making the United States a major gas exporter to Europe and Asia. Read more…
Bloomberg NewsThe natural gas keeps flowing at the Barnett Shale field in Texas — despite falling prices and decreased demand.
Natural gas prices are about a third of what they were last summer, and oil and gas companies are cutting their capital spending to the bone. But it’s hard to turn off the spigots in the enormous shale fields that have been developed from Pennsylvania to Texas over the last few years.
The Dallas Morning News noted on Thursday that the three largest natural gas companies operating in the Barnett Shale of north Texas — thus far the motherload of shale fields — produced significantly more gas during the first quarter of this year compared to last.
This comes despite a plummeting number of rigs and dwindling industrial demand for gas due to the current economic slowdown. The abundance of the gas output reflects the fact that new shale wells are extremely productive in their first year or two, and it means that it could take several more months for the price of gas to rebound as production slows and balances with reduced demand.
“We really have a hard time slowing Barnett growth down,” said Keith Hutton, chief executive of XTO Energy of Fort Worth on a conference call.
Beach nourishment projects will restore shorelines but require expensive upkeep and affect ecosystems; federal taxpayers will foot the bill.
How are climate change, scarcer resources, population growth and other challenges reshaping society? From science to business to politics to living, our reporters track the high-stakes pursuit of a greener globe in a dialogue with experts and readers. | <urn:uuid:70a4a757-6113-4a28-963c-56ca92640f4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/shale/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942507 | 1,971 | 1.789063 | 2 |
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REAL WORLD EVENT DISCUSSIONS
Just something nice
Sunday, May 06, 2012 5:03 AM
Gettin' old, but still a hippie at heart...
Quote:For the last week, Archibald Downer -- a 65-year-old on dialysis -- has been painfully poked and prodded with needles as doctors try to figure out why his fever and blood pressure won't go down.
He is bedridden among others who are sick and dying in the palliative care unit at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, where the days and sometimes the pain seem endless.
But once a week, a warm and loving spirit sweeps through the stressful New York City hospital, and is greeted like a breath of fresh air -- Spirit, the therapy dog, that is.
Spirit has been trained as a pet enrichment therapy dog, a role he takes seriously in the palliative care unit at Montifiore Medical Center in the Bronx in New York City as seen here in this undated handout photo
With his sparkling blue eyes and friendly demeanor, the 6-year-old mutt is certified to work with patients, lifting spirits, lowering anxiety levels and easing pain -- both psychological and physical.
"He jumps on my bed and lays on my legs, getting comfortable," said Downer, a retired plumber. "It's a nice way to help those who are crying from pain. The dog makes a whole lot of difference. My arm was stinging [for repeated blood draws] but it don't bother me no more."
"Every day, I ask the doctor if I can leave," he said. "But the dog changed my mind."
Animals have provided emotional comfort to humans for thousands of years. According to the Society, animal-assisted therapy can help children who have suffered abuse or neglect and patients undergoing cancer treatments.
Pets have also forged strong bonds with veterans' families who are coping with the effects of wartime military service.
A 2011 study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants reveals that patients report "feeling better" when they interact with an animal.
"It brings us closer not only to the patient, but to their family, as well," said Dr. Rose Guilbe, medical director of the palliative care unit and a family physician. "It creates a nicer working environment and takes away from the stiffness of medicine."
Spirit must follow strict hospital guidelines. His paws are disinfected before he enters the unit, he is on a leash and he wears a photo ID.
"Spirit needs his own insurance and has to be cleared by a veterinarian for infection control," adds Guilbe.
And he only visits those patients who have given their consent. Not all people love dogs, and the staff understands that.
"It brings out a part of the patient we don't usually see -- some joy in their personality that we don't get with opioids and other medical treatments," she said. "It also increases the communication among us in the medical community."
Spirit loves his work as much as patients do, according to his owner Linda Koebner, who found him at the pound while working in Shreveport, La.
"He looks a lot like a Siberian husky or Australian shepherd," she said. "I have been told he has a lot of [Louisiana] Catahoula in him."
Spirit had been badly abused as a pup, but remains "so gentle and sweet and just exudes affection," said Koebner, 61. "He's definitely not a testosterone-infused dog."
"Animals can have such an amazing impact on people," she said. "From what I've observed, it's the nonjudgmental piece of it. They touch something soft that is totally there for you in that moment and you don't have to do anything."
Koebner is getting her master's degree in health advocacy and has had a growing interest in end-of-life issues. She had Spirit certified in pet therapy and approached Montefiore a year ago.
A committee was formed to establish protocols for the health and safety of patients.
When he arrives in the palliative unit his water bowl is waiting.
"Everyone is happy to see him and he is so excited to go," said Koebner.
"It's a stressful environment and to have someone show up with love and kindness is great. Everyone wants their picture taken with him."
Spirit greets the patients in the hallways, those in wheelchairs and those who are confined to bed.
In one room an elderly woman lay unresponsive with her two children, both in their 50s, at her bedside.
"The minute Spirit brushed against her, she woke up and became aware and totally animated for 20 minutes and talked about the dogs she'd had," said Koebner. "It was a poignant conversation for the three of them together."
Guilbe, who is sometimes jaded by 20 years of conventional medicine, said she has seen the holistic healing power of Spirit's visits.
Just this week the dog jumped in bed with a woman who has chronic, incurable illness.
"She had been raised on a farm in Massachusetts and just the touch and feel of the animal brought back to her the wonderful years when she was a child and there were so many dogs running around," she said.
"It opens up another piece of my heart," said Guilbe of the interaction. "We are trained to be such stoic medical providers. I learned something about Ms. G that I would not have gotten had I just treated her symptoms. I really see her as so much more human ... It makes such a difference." http://abcnews.go.com/Health/therapy-dog-spirit-abused-comforts-sick-dying/story?id=16270952&page=2 see both the Catahoula (also known as Leopard Dog) and some husky in him; both can have blue eyes, but catahoula's blue eyes are usually--for lack of a better word--"weirder"...they come in many colors, frequently bi-eyed (each eye a different color)
or parti-eyed (two separate colors in one eyes)
and even can have eyes so devoid of color (or so pale blue, if you wish) that there's a name for them: "glass eyed"
or even "cracked-glass eyed", parti-eyed with glass eye:
Huskies can have the same kind of eye coloring, but it's not as common as in Catahoulas.
There. Your useless piece of trivia for the day. And just to remind you there are SOME good things going on in the world. AND how neat dogs are, again. ;o)
Sunday, May 06, 2012 8:59 AM
Sunday, May 06, 2012 5:09 PM
Monday, May 07, 2012 3:12 AM
... fully loaded, safety off...
Quote:Originally posted by Niki2:
AND how neat dogs are, again. ;o)
Monday, May 07, 2012 3:21 AM
Monday, May 07, 2012 12:02 PM
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This website IS NOT affiliated with the Official Firefly Site, Mutant Enemy, Inc., or 20th Century Fox. | <urn:uuid:9d02e456-41b6-48a9-bd14-6e76b85222af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.aspx?tid=51835 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976599 | 1,584 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Sorry, maybe this has been covered before or something but searching has returned nothing.
So I came across this image:
and thought it raised a good point. Although I couldn't really see the moon there myself, I had never really thought about it - why was there a giant ball of fire and rock up there? It's not like it's a normal mountain formation... Could it actually be the moon? So I went through of the files on TP and looked for a model that had that giant ball. Well, it's definately big enough, and it looks like it had craters of some sort:
And then I checked the profile of it:
Any one else clearly see a nose and spots for the eyes and mouth? Or am I just crazy? Seriously, I know the games are in 2 seperate universes and all that, but even though the moon is facing the opposite direction than it is in Majora's Mask here, is it possible that it fell through some portal into the opposite land (Hyrule), effectively making it reversed? I mean. this is pretty convincing if you ask me... maybe it was even a twilight portal - Midna's helmet does look like Majora's Mask. I might be stretching it, but could Midna have been in Termina and got a hold of Majora's Mask, then created a portal to Hyrule to move the moon? Or is there something that makes more sense here, cause I'm defineatly seeing a connection.
I think you're definately reading too much into it....
If Nintendo wanted something like that they wouldn't have buried it in code. I also see nothing resembling a face. I think it's just a big burning rock on int mountain.
Oh, you don't have to go into the code or anything, it's visible in the game, I just wanted a better angle to confirm. But it couldn't just be a burning rock - even if it isn't the moon ,somethings crashed there. Giant, mountain sized boulders don't spontaneously appear at the top of mountains on fire and with a giant crater surrounding it.
Death Mountain is an active volcano. It probably just erupted, explaining why it went from a serene mountaintop to a colossal ball of jagged stone and magma. Like Mattocks, I cannot see any sign of a face. Finally, in the ending of MM, the moon disintegrated and became a rainbow. There's no way it could have wound up in Hyrule.
I'm impressed that you checked TP's files, but this theory really doesn't have a foundation to stand on.
Originally Posted by Fintin O Brien
Originally Posted by Arcvalons
Vaati is the oldest villain in the Zelda chronology, and the oldest are always the most powerful.
Man, I've disproved this point every time I've dropped by the old folk's home.
OK then, thanks for the clarification. I actually haven't beat MM yet (got to the Snowhead temple last summer, game froze, corrupted save file, discouragement ensued), so I didn't know the mo0on disintegrated.
I think it looks a bit like MM's moon. I don't think it has any significance on what happened at the end of MM, or anything that happened in TP. Maybe Nintendo just wanted to throw a Jay and Silent Bob in there. A non cannon cameo for fans of the series.
I would have to look at it in the game rather than that itty bitty picture though, so I can properly decide what I think about the whole thing.
I can kind of see the face, except it looks like there's one on the other side to me.
It's interesting that you could dig that out with code. I imagine, like others, they were probably considering putting it in (somewhere more visible) as an easter egg. I don't think that the artificial moon from MM, that was destroyed, would appear in Hyrule, canonically.
Although, even if it was a non-canon easter egg, it may have been them continuing to hint at the connection between the Fused Shadows and Twili and Majora's Mask.
Before life began, before the world had form, three golden goddesses descended upon the chaotic land of Hyrule. They were Din, the Goddess of Power, Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom, and Farore, the Goddess of Courage.
I guess it looks like a giant meteor or somthing from those angles but what you see of it in the game it just looks like the side of the mountains colapsed into the cone and created a giant hole, i never got a giant boulder from it at all. The orange gash, while technicly a flat surface on the model, was probably potraying the orange glow of the magma coming from the centre of the crater, not just orange rock.
And besides, how the hell could the evil moon from another dimension crash into death mountain?
By the way rocks and boulders are never anywhere near round irl.
Well, I can see the resemblance between the moon and the rock on Death Mountain, but I doubt that it was put there as anything more than an easter egg. I can also kind of see a resemblence between the eye on the fused shadow and Majora's Mask. Perhaps they're parallels of each other, like most of the people in Hyrule had counterparts in Termina. They are both dark objects that grant their wearer immense power. They are both considered evil, although Majora's Mask can act on its own, whereas the Fused Shadows cannot.
If you use the Back in Time (BiTE) Glitch you can see Death Mountain close up.
This is only for Wii. (I"m not sure if you can do the BiTE on the Gamecube)
First, do the BiTE Glitch and exit the bridge. When you run into the flowers that call Epona, use it. Then, head to the dircetion where the mini shows. Eventurlly, you will run into Epona. Get on her and travel to the enterance of Kakrioke Village. Normally you would end up in Kakrioke Village, but you keep going. Soon, you will pass the game scenery and will be floating. (WARNING: DOn't dismount or you will fall and have to start over). Turn right and you will see Death Mountain. Ride all the way there and you will be able to see it as a round Mountain.
Does Termina even have it's own moon? I just supposed that it was the moon we all know and love that was coming down to destroy the land. Anyways, if the moon were to actually come down, life on earth would become close to non-existent, and that's being optimistic. I always wondered if Termina was actually in an alternate dimension/ reality where this could be possible.
How did that rock get up on top of Death Mountain, I wonder? Maybe a Biggoron put it up there? Wait, why aren't there any Biggorons in Twilight Princess? O_o | <urn:uuid:15a63cfc-2676-43cd-a322-b3f824b66080> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/zelda-theorizing/107116-fireball-on-death-mountain-tp-is-mms-moon.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975374 | 1,477 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Sustainment eats salad or vegetables, refrain from proteins, dairy products, delete and dinner to reduce the number of calories.
You sentence really makes no sense at all. Sustainment is the subject of your sentence. It cannot eat salad or perform any other actions. The individual parts of your sentence don’t explain what sustainment is, so I can’t figure out what you intended to communicate with your sentence. It seems as though you are describing what a person should do to lose weight, but then sustainment doesn’t fit in with that list. You’ll need to start over with this sentence.
|link comment||answered Feb 25 at 12:42 Patty T Grammarly Fellow|
Hero of the day
Person asked the most questions. | <urn:uuid:434e1166-9bef-42ef-8feb-e7ce09190f92> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.grammarly.com/answers/questions/12719-confusing-modifiers/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938979 | 161 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Posted 12/19/12 (Wed)
By Neal A. Shipman
At a time when McKenzie County Public School District is experiencing the most rapid student enrollment in the district’s history and struggling to maintain a budget, the last thing that it needs to have happen is for some of its revenue stream to be short-circuited.
But, according to Steve Holen, superintendent of McKenzie County Public School District No. 1, that is just the situation that the district is now facing as the state of North Dakota does not have necessary money to adequately meet the needs of the state’s school districts which qualified for Rapid Enrollment Grants.
During Monday night’s meeting of the McKenzie County Public School District No. 1’s regular meeting, Holen informed the board members that the district will only be receiving $288,000 of the $640,000 it was to have received in Rapid Enrollment Funds.
And, according to Holen, that loss of $352,000 in state money means that the school district’s proposed deficit budget is going to swell from $200,000 to nearly $600,000. Or at least it will unless the state law makers put more money into the fund during the upcoming legislative session.
“The fund that provides for the Rapid Enrollment Grants to the school districts didn’t have enough money in it to pay the districts that met the requirements,” stated Holen.
While Holen noted that the law that created the Rapid Enrollment Funds was well intended, legislators failed to realize that school districts outside the oil impact area could also qualify for the program, which was funded through oil impact funds.
“The bill was intended to help meet the growing enrollment in the oil-impacted school districts,” stated Holen. “What was not anticipated was that school districts like West Fargo and Hillsboro would also meet the rapid enrollment criteria and thus be eligible to participate in the grant program.”
During the past year, McKenzie County Public School District No. 1 increased enrollment of 159 students made it eligible to receive $640,000 in Rapid Enrollment Funds.
But, according to Holen, with the West Fargo school district’s enrollment increase of 575 students, that school district also became eligible for $2.3 million from the same fund.
“When you take into account that the fund only had a total of $2.5 million available, the problem becomes pretty clear,” states Holen. “The only solution that the state had was to reduce the amount of money each of the school districts received.”
The solution as Holen sees it is for the legislature to revisit the law and either fund it directly out of state funds or to change the law so that the fund is only available to oil-impacted school districts.
“The use of oil impact funds to provide the money for the rapid enrollment grant program was wrong if that program could be used by any school statewide,” states Holen. “The deficit that we are now facing has left us in a very difficult situation. As all of our other sources of revenue are capped, we don’t have any option but to increase the amount we are going to deficit spend.”
In other business, the school board also accepted the early retirement resignations from six teachers with a combined 190 years of teaching experience in the school district. Those teachers taking early retirement are Sue Wold, Mark Jokela, Kaylene Jepson, Celeste Berg, Judy Rolfson and Janet Johnsrud.
The board also accepted the resignation of Kari Kingsolver as the elementary school guidance counselor. | <urn:uuid:378cbf0e-abbd-40ea-9e70-2c4071f276af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.watfordcitynd.com/?id=10&nid=1957 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973503 | 764 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Fellows of Senate
Sir Charles George McDonald KCMG KSG
Sir Charles McDonald KCMG KSG was a Fellow of Senate from 1942 to 1970, Deputy Chancellor 1953 to 1954 and Chancellor 1964 to 1969.
(1892 – 1970)
KCMG KSG, MB ChM Sydney, FRCP FRACP
Fellow of Senate 1942 - 1970, including election by Senate as
Deputy Chancellor 1953 - 1954
Chancellor 1964 - 1969
His early years
Charles George McDonald, born in Newcastle New South Wales, was educated at Singleton Superior Public School and Sydney Boys High School after he was awarded a scholarship.
As a student at the University of Sydney
After completing senior public examinations with honours in four languages, he won a bursary and elected to study medicine at the University of Sydney. He graduated MB in 1916 and ChM in 1928.
Although he did not serve overseas, he gained experience in the treatment of chest diseases during the First World War treating returned soldiers. He was appointed Honorary Advisor on Tuberculosis to the Australian Red Cross Society.
In 1916, he commenced a long association with Royal Prince Alfred Hospital as firstly resident medical officer and from 1920 as Honorary Assistant-Physician in the Tuberculosis Clinic. He remained at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital as an Honorary or Consulting Physician until his death and was a member of its Board (1964-70).
From 1938 he lectured in Clinical Medicine at the University. After service in World War Two in Greece and Palestine, he resumed his position in 1943 where he lectured until 1952. He was a founder of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1938 and was its President from 1954-56. In 1956, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, London. McDonald was a Trustee of the Public Library of New South Wales, and, a staunch Catholic, was a founder of the Newman Association of Catholic Graduates and from 1953, was the Chairman of the Sancta Sophia College Council.
The biographical notes on the Chancellors contain information derived from a variety of sources including: Australia’s First: A History of the University of Sydney; University News; University of Sydney Archives; and Lawlink NSW: Law and History.
His membership of Senate
In 1942, McDonald was elected Fellow of the Senate of the University. He served as Deputy Chancellor between 1953-54 and succeeded Sir Charles Blackburn as Chancellor in 1964, serving until 1969.
Senate's tribute 1970
The Chancellor, Sir Charles McDonald, died on 23rd April, 1970, at the age of 78.
Charles George McDonald was born on March 25, 1892, in Newcastle, NSW. He entered the Faculty of Medicine in 1911 and graduated Bachelor of Medicine in 1916 and Master of Surgery in 1928. He was Lecturer in Clinical Medicine from 1938 to 1952, with a period of interruption by military service overseas.
He became a Fellow of the Senate of the University in 1942, was elected Deputy Chancellor in 1953 and 1954 and Chancellor in 1964.
He had wide interests backed by a wide knowledge. As an undergraduate, he edited Hermes, the students' literary magazine. He was active in union debates and was a member of the University team which debated an Oxford team in 1926. He could, when occasion required it, produce extempore the appropriate Latin quotation or give the apposée literary allusion. His memory for detail was prodigious.
He had an equally distinguished career outside the university in his beloved medical profession. He acted as honorary physician or as a member of the board of several hospitals: Royal Prince Alfred, Royal North Shore and Lewisham. He was for a time a Member of the Medical Board of New South Wales. He played an active and leading role in the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, being Secretary from 1944 to 1948, Vice-President from 1948 to 1950, Censor-in-Chief from 1950 to 1954, and President from 1954 to 1956. He was also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of London.
He served as a Captain with the First AIF, and from 1940 to 1943 as Lieutenant-Colonel in the Second AIF Medical Corps. On the latter occasion he served in Palestine, Greece and Crete.
He served the community in many other ways by serving on committees and boards. Notable here was his Chairmanship of the Australian Rheumatism Council from 1953 onwards.
Sir Charles was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory in 1960, made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1956, a Knight Bachelor in 1962 and a Knight Bachelor of the Order of the British Empire in 1970.
From the 1972 University Calendar | <urn:uuid:524b0c41-8495-4ab5-9abd-f7847b80cab2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sydney.edu.au/senate/McDonald.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978347 | 962 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Bailey Gatzert Elementary school will bring their 5th grade to go climbing, learn navigation, and do other activities.
Bailey Gatzert has an enrollment of 324 students. With 94% of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch, the number of children enrolled at Bailey Gatzert who are from families living at or below the poverty level is one of the highest in the Seattle school system (Seattle Public Schools).
Please sign up to volunteer! Thank you!
The Bailey Gatzert Elementary School will come to the Mountaineers to learn various outdoor skills, and learn how to climb. We will meet at the program center at 8:45am, and they leave around 12pm.
Please sign up to Volunteer! Thank you! | <urn:uuid:3ba0a5e0-c22a-4832-9c6e-ce8278c5ed13> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mountaineers.org/source/aTrips/TripRegister.cfm?Event=33512 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954213 | 154 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Lost Memphis: Ray Gammon's Restaurant
I don't mind giving away a secret here: Sometimes yearbooks can be good sources for photographs of long-gone landmarks.
Case in point: Ray Gammon's Restaurant, a popular Memphis eatery for some 25 years. I had known about this establishment for a long time, but had never located a halfway-decent photograph of it until I was leafing through a 1960s yearbook from Southwestern at Memphis (better known today, of course, as Rhodes College) and discovered the photo you see here.
No, I have no idea who all those people are. Get down from the roof, you crazy college kids!
As you can probably tell, it was a rather nondescript — even rustic-looking — two-story brick and wooden place with a big neon sign across the front. Before Gammon moved in, the old building at 3774 Summer had housed an eatery called the Wright Diner and, later, Grisanti's Cafe.
Gammon's served heapin' helpings of catfish, steaks, chicken, "pit-cooked" barbecue, and all sorts of home-cooked meals, and was quite a hangout for students and their families.
Gammon himself was an interesting fellow, well-known around town since he was the former golf pro at Galloway, Cherokee, and the old Alicia golf courses here. At one time, he also operated The Pit, a very popular drive-in at Poplar and Hollywood. Sometime in the early 1950s, he opened Ray Gammon's on Summer, close to Hollywood, running it until poor health forced him to retire in the 1970s.
Gammon died in 1975, and the restaurant closed soon afterwards, I believe. The site is now a Family Dollar store. | <urn:uuid:965edd4b-d7e5-474a-b547-5b709f26f971> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.memphismagazine.com/Blogs/Ask-Vance/August-2011/Lost-Memphis-Ray-Gammons-Restaurant/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982896 | 373 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Renée Perle, was a Romanian Jewish girl who moved to Paris. She became a fashion model and in 1930 she met famous French Photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue (1894-1986) who is considered to be one of the leading photographers of the twentieth century (and my personal favourite). Renée became his muse and lived with Lartigue as his girlfriend.
As you can see from the photographs Renée had a great sense of style. Lartigues fabulous photographs of her capture the essence of 'The Jazz Age' and at the same time they are so classical that they have a timeless quality to them. These photographs continue to inspire fashion designers and stylists today.
Renée passed away in the South of France in 1977.
From Jacques Henri Lartigues Diary, Paris, March 7, 1930.
“Half past five at the Embassy. I wait for my “parasol” from last night. I need a whisky. I’m very shy deep down, and ready to be furious if she doesn’t show up. It’s my curiosity that would be most disappointed…Five thirty-five. There she is! Can it really be her? Ravishing, tall, slim, with a small mouth and full lips, and dark porcelain eyes. She casts aside her fur coat in a gust of warm perfume. We’re going to dance. Mexican? Cuban? Her very small head sits on a very long neck. She is tall; her mouth is at the level of my chin. When we dance my mouth is not far from her mouth. Her hair brushes against both.
“Romanian. My name is Renée P… I was a model at Doeuillet…” Delicious. She takes off her gloves. Long, little girl’s hands. Something in my mind starts dancing at the thought that one day perhaps she would agree to paint the nails of those hands…”
John Galliano calls Renée Perle, the inspiration behind his fall show (2007), "a kittenish Parisian coquette." Jacques Henri Lartigue, who immortalized her in his pictures, had another term: angel. The revered photographer met his muse in 1930 on the Rue de la Pompe. He thought she was Mexican, but he guessed wrong; Perle was Romanian, and a model once employed by the French dressmaker Doeuillet. "She is beautiful," Lartigue told his diary. "The small mouth with the full painted lips! The ebony black eyes. From under her fur coat comes a warmth of perfume. The head looks petite on her long neck." The pair spent two years together, cavorting as if on eternal vacation in Cannes, Juan-les-Pins, and Biarritz, with Lartigue's camera always at the ready. In the "shadowless heaven" of his photographs, glamorous women, including his first and second wives, Bibi and Florette, abound, but Perle's lacquered hair, slender silhouette, modern T-shirts, armfuls of bangles, and talonlike nails shone the brightest. "Around her," Lartigue wrote, "I see a halo of magic."
There are plenty of books chronicling Lartigue's work. | <urn:uuid:147ce106-3649-44ee-90eb-8c27ce373a1e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thefrenchsampler.blogspot.com/2010/06/renee-perle.html?showComment=1318877796942 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968042 | 683 | 1.679688 | 2 |
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