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Social Media and Brand Evangelism
So why are brands going beserk about social media, every brand seems to be connecting with people on the virtual world. Why this sudden surge in creating buzz over social networks? What is it about social networks, that brands see?
Creating and maintaining a happy customer base is one thing every marketer would like to do. But what every marketer would dream of is having a group of people, who not only give you business, but also urge other people to use the brand/product. Whether you like it or not, the truth is, people believe other people more than they believe an organization/brand(however big). The experience, of one person, says more about the brand, than what millions of dollars can, through advertising. Welcome, to the world of brand evangelism.
Getting people to talk about your brand, is what will give you sustainable business. The emphasis on brand evangelism has only increased with the increasing impact of social media. The value of the brand now lies in how people talk about it, or rather, talk for it.
Who are evangelists and what do they do?
Evangelists are those people, mostly customers (may also be internal and external partners, like employees, distributors, retailers, and suppliers), who try to propogate their positive beliefs about your brand, into others, especially non-believers. In short they are advocates for your brand. Studies have shown that evangelists not only spend more than the average customer, but also refer business close to 45% of their spend value.
1. Evangelists do not need gifts/promotions for them to do what they do. Evangelists love the product/brand so much that they would willingly promote it for free.
2. Evangelists tell you, the brand, what is wrong, and in most cases will help you fix it, and once it is fixed, feel immensely happy, and tell others about it.
3. The success of the evangelists lies in the success of the brand. They want you to win, so that they become victorious too!
So how do you create evangelists?
1. Understand who your customers are, and what is the driving force, that draws them to your brand.
2. Create products, services, and campaigns, that not just touch the customer, but also connect with, and move them.
3. Listen, and interact with your customers, and try to engage them in your brand activities (Hint: Facebook Page, Twitter, etc.)
4. Social media offers very less control, so you should maintain strict vigil over what your fans are talking about, and respond where required.
5. Acknowledge the evangelists, empower them to do exciting stuff, and thereby encourage more people to become evangelists.
How is social media influencing evangelism?
Well, in a big, big way. For example, earlier, If you were owning a Honda car, and you love it, and your friend comes to you and says that he is looking for a new car, you would immediately start telling him about how you love your Honda. He may/may not be influenced by your talk. Net result, the chances of Honda having a sale, because of your efforts, are rather significantly low.
No, lets say that the same thing happens over social media like Facebook. You love your Honda so much, that you put up a picture of the car with a short description of how much you love it. You get 50 unique likes and 20 unique comments. Your friend, who is in the lookout for the car, also sees the picture, read your experience, and also sees the number of positive likes, and comments.
Now what happens in the background is, For every person who clicked the like button on your picture, the picture gets posted on the news feed of their respective friends. Lets say, each person has around 200 unique friends each, so the visibility of the picture lands at 50*200= 10,000 views. For every person who commented on your picture, the same is visible to all mutual friends between him/her and you. Lets say you have 20 unique mutual friends with each person that commented. Here the visibility would stand at 20*20=400. Your upload has collectively garnered 10,400 views. Out of this, depending on how influential a person you are, the chances of Honda getting a sale is significantly higher than the normal conversation.
Also on social media, the conversation does not have an end. What might seem to have ended, might be picked up and talked about months later. And if someone on the network shares this with the Honda page, this again sets the like and comment ball rolling. This creates a temporary snowball effect, but the size of the ball and the speed, is definitely going to change the perspective of atleast one person, all with one picture from a Honda lover!
Evangelism, doesn’t translate into influencing sale. Evangelism leads to a change in beliefs. These people, who have been led to believe in your brand, if not today, will one day get the cash registers rolling! (And you, the brand, have not put in any effort to change them!) | <urn:uuid:54559c5a-01a0-4c71-8d48-1dacdc12c377> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://marketingfaq.net/2012/02/social-media-brand-evangelism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96096 | 1,072 | 1.75 | 2 |
Joe Wolverton, II, J.D.
Jan 7, 2013
North Dakota State Representative Rick Becker (R-Bismarck; pictured) knows a threat to liberty when he sees one.
Becker, a plastic surgeon serving his first term as a legislator, is proposing a bill to the North Dakota State Legislature looking to limit the use of drones by law enforcement. A story in the Huffington Post reports that Becker’s bill is “gaining bipartisan support and fostering unlikely political alignments.”
Despite the legislative restrictions he wants to impose on the use of the drones, Becker says he isn’t trying to offend police, but to defend the Constitution.
“It’s a new technology that has really amazing capabilities and can be used in excellent ways for our communities. I don’t want to say that drones can’t be used,” Becker said. “But with the new technology there are also issues, primarily privacy issues, which can come into play.”
Cass County Sheriff Paul Laney, resents Becker’s meddling in police business and argues that the new law would, as reported by the Huffington Post, “set a troublesome precedent.”
“Some people have this idea that these drones are some sneak and peek into their private lives,” said Laney. “It’s no different than a routine patrol when we drive by in a squad car on the road and look down the driveway. We are just doing it from a higher level.”
That’s where Laney is wrong.
With the rise of the drones comes the rise of several critical questions of constitutionality of their potential uses. One of the most crucial of those inquiries concerns the application of the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition against “unlawful searches and seizures” and the requirement that warrants be supported by affidavits “particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
To shore up the strength of this constitutional barrier, in June 2012, Senator Rand Paul introduced a bill to “protect individual privacy against unwarranted governmental intrusion through the use of unmanned aerial vehicles commonly called drones.”Paul’s bill mandates: “A person or entity acting under the authority [of], or funded in whole or in part by, the Government of the United States shall not use a drone to gather evidence or other information pertaining to criminal conduct or conduct in violation of a statute or regulation except to the extent authorized in a warrant that satisfies the requirements of the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States.”
Senator Paul explained, “Americans going about their everyday lives should not be treated like criminals or terrorists and have their rights infringed upon by military tactics.”
Constitutional conflicts rising in the wake of the domestic deployment of drones have already come up in court in the case of North Dakota resident Rodney Brossart, who became one of the first American citizens (if not the first) arrested by local law enforcement with the use of a drone owned by a federal agency. Police launched this loaner after Brossart held the police at bay for over 16 hours.
It is likely Brossart’s case that inspired Becker to put legislative brakes on the runaway zeal of law enforcement to get these all-seeing eyes airborne.
Brossart’s run-in with law enforcement began after six cows found their way onto his property (about 3,000 acres near Lakota, North Dakota), and he refused to turn them over to officers. In fact, according to several sources, Brossart and a few family members ran police off his farm at the point of a gun. Naturally, police weren’t pleased with Brossart’s brand of hospitality, so they returned with a warrant, a SWAT team, and a determination to apprehend Brossart and the cows.
A standoff ensued, and the Grand Forks police SWAT team made a call to Grand Forks Air Force Base, home to one of the Department of Homeland Security’s squadron of Predator drones. No sooner did the call come in than the drone was airborne, and Brossart’s precise location was pinpointed with laser-guided accuracy. The machine-gun toting SWAT officers rushed in, tased, and then arrested Brossart on various charges, including terrorizing a sheriff.
At a legal hearing on the matter, Bruce Quick, the lawyer representing Brossart, alleged a violation of the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unwarranted searches and seizures. Although the police possessed an apparently valid search warrant, Quick asserts that no such judicial go-ahead was sought for or obtained for the use of the Predator drone to track Brossart. Therein lies the constitutional rub.
Notably, the Associated Press reports that one provision of Becker’s planned proposal “would require a warrant when drones are used as a part of a criminal investigation.”
This could be an important requirement. In an interview regarding the Brossart case, attorney Quick claimed that the police exceeded their authority in several instances, especially when they decided to bypass the Fourth Amendment and illegally search Brossart’s farm. “The whole thing is full of constitutional violations,” he says.
North Dakota state prosecutor Douglas Manbeck defends the deployment of the drone, claiming, “The use of unmanned surveillance aircraft is a non-issue in this case because they were not used in any investigative manner to determine if a crime had been committed. There is, furthermore, no existing case law that bars their use in investigating crimes.” On August 1, Judge Joel Medd, agreeing with Manbeck, denied the defense’s motion to dismiss.
Predictably, Senator Paul’s drone-limiting bill died in committee. Had it been enacted, it would have provided specific guidance to the judicial branch’s understanding of the Fourth Amendment and the scope of its prohibitions. It would prevent citizens from being subject to surveillance without notice.
In practice, this would help judges apply the principles of the Fourth Amendment to drones in a very specific way. The standards presently used to judge the constitutionality of observation by helicopter or patrol car, for example, would be altered appropriately to fit the rapidly advancing drone technology. The improved legal framework would help law enforcement avoid legally suspect surveillance and would maintain the public’s protection against unconstitutional searches and seizures.
The potential weaponization of police drones is another important consideration, one that combines both constitutional issues of due process and the Fourth Amendment’s search and seizure limitations.
Glenn Greenwald, of the Guardian (U.K.), warned of the likelihood of the gradual shift in the use of drones from surveilling suspects to shooting them:
Many dismiss this concern insisting that when it comes to surveillance drones are no different than police helicopters. Some of these same people dismiss concerns over weaponized drones arguing that there’s no difference between allowing the police to Taser you or shoot you themselves and using a drone to do the dirty work. History teaches, however, that creeping police state powers are entrenched one step at a time.
This warning should be heeded. Take the example of the Harris County, Texas, sheriff’s department. This agency purchased a $300,000 ShadowHawk drone and is apparently excited about its potential. “We envision a lot of its uses primarily in the realm of public safety — looking at recovery of lost individuals and being able to utilize it for fire issues,” Chief Deputy Randy McDaniel said. But in the future, the drone could be equipped to carry nonlethal weapons such as Tasers or a bean-bag gun, McDaniel mused.
Taking such comments at their face value, it must be asked, what level of weaponization is permissible for the police? Does local law enforcement need the type of weaponry used by the military, whose mission is very different from that of law enforcement?
Of course, drones aren’t bad per se. There are many lawful possible uses of drones, including wildfire control, tracking suspected criminals for whom a qualifying warrant has been issued, tracking of stolen vehicles, etc. It is the unconstitutional use of drones that is objectionable and that Americans must be vigilant against.
State Representative Becker deserves the support and gratitude of constitutionalists and civil libertarians alike. Fortunately, he is not alone is his mission to preserve the privacy of citizens from prying eyes of unmanned aerial vehicles controlled remotely by law enforcement. The Washington Post reports that similar measures will be debated in the state legislatures of California, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Oregon, Missouri, Michigan, and Indiana.
And, as The New American has reported, in a joint statement released July 17 by Virginia Delegate Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and the Virginia Chapter of the ACLU, the seemingly disparate pair announced plans to work to fight the unregulated use of drones by law enforcement in the Old Dominion, as well.
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The Federal Trade Commission stepped up enforcement of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in the last year by cracking down on collectors who allegedly used abusive tactics to intimidate consumers, misled consumers while seeking payment on time-barred debts, used faulty data to identify debtors and the amount they owe, used deceptive tactics to collect on payday loans, and otherwise committed egregious violations of the Act and other federal laws, according to a letter the FTC sent to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
“Protecting consumers from deceptive or abusive debt collectors is one of the most important things the FTC does,” said David Vladeck, Director of the agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the CFPB is required to submit annual reports to Congress on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a task previously assigned to the FTC. The first CFPB report is due on March 20, 2012, and to assist the CFPB in preparing its report, the FTC’s letter summarizes its own recent work on debt collection issues.
Over the past year, the FTC has brought or resolved seven debt collection cases affecting hundreds of thousands of consumers. This is the highest number that it has brought or resolved in any single year. In two cases that included civil penalties, the FTC obtained $2.8 million and $2.5 million, respectively, for West Asset Management, Inc., and Asset Acceptance, LLC, the two largest civil penalty amounts the agency has ever obtained for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The FTC also filed actions against payday lenders American Credit Crunchers, LLC for allegedly making misrepresentations to collect on payday loan debts that they in fact weren’t authorized to collect on, or that consumers did not owe; and LoanPoint, LLC and Payday Financial, LLC for allegedly misrepresenting that they could lawfully garnish supposed debtors’ wages without obtaining a valid court order. The FTC charged two other debt collectors with especially egregious practices: Defendants in Forensic Case Management Service, Inc., doing business as Rumson, Bolling & Associates, allegedly threatened physical harm to consumers, desecration of their deceased family members, and killing of their pets to persuade consumers to pay. They also allegedly retained more fees from their clients than they had agreed to take. Defendants in Rincon Debt Management Services, LLC targeted English- and Spanish-speaking consumers, impersonating process servers and other officials, and falsely threatening to sue and arrest those whom they claimed owed money, the FTC alleged.
In outlining the FTC’s other debt collection enforcement efforts, the Commission noted its new policy statement addressing whom debt collectors can contact if an alleged debtor has died and what collectors can do in collecting on debts in these circumstances. The FTC also filed two “friend of the court” briefs in federal court. The first amicus brief opposing a proposed class action settlement with debt buyer Midland Funding LLC argued that the settlement would require consumers to surrender important protections provided by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in exchange for a minimal payment. The FTC also joined the Solicitor General’s office in filing an amicus brief in Fein, Such, Kahn, & Shepard PC advocating that the U.S. Supreme Court decline to hear an appeal from an appellate court decision addressing whether the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to collector communications with consumers’ attorneys.
The letter also references the FTC’s consumer education work, as well as its 2011 Debt Collection 2.0 workshop on protecting consumers amid technological change in the industry, a pending study of the debt buying industry, and follow-up work from the agency’s 2010 report on debt collection litigation and arbitration, Repairing A Broken System: Protecting Consumers in Debt Collection Litigation and Arbitration.
The Commission vote approving the report was 4-0.
The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint in English or Spanish, visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357). The FTC enters complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to more than 2,000 civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad. The FTC’s website provides free information on a variety of consumer topics. Like the FTC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. | <urn:uuid:ff149888-3582-424e-8d39-430054fb8bd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www1.ftc.gov/opa/2012/03/cfpb.shtm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935668 | 924 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Maybe it's time for a New Year's change of pace, maybe this year we should be a little more kind to ourselves, no more outrageous resolutions, no more unrealistic resolutions, maybe even no more resolutions at all. Of course it's good to set goals, to try to improve, to better oneself, but how many times have you chosen a New Year's Resolution and stressed yourself out more because of it? felt like you failed simply because you didn't complete or meet an expectation? Maybe it's time to put the improvement and bettering of oneself into perspective. We can change ourselves any day, any time, any way we want we don't need to wait until one calendar ends and a new one begins. Granted, the ending of one year and the start of another seems to trigger a sense of new beginnings but the fact is
Most of those are no surprise, and most of those are honorable resolutions, if you must make one. There are a couple that are puzzling however, #9 for example, if falling in love is the result of a New Year's Resolution is it really falling in love? And #8 is a bit puzzling as well, how? which dream? the one where they feel like they're falling?
Resolutions are fun, honorable, sometimes even successful, but the fact is only 8% of people claim success in achieving their New Year's Resolutions (Statistic Brain).
A dirty air filter can increase your energy costs and lead to early equipment failure. Clean or change the air filter in your heating and cooling system monthly. Some filters only need to be changed every 3 months. Also, have your equipment checked seasonally to make sure it's operating efficiently and safely, check-ups can identify problems early. Dirt and neglect are the #1 causes of system failure.
Hidden gaps and cracks in a home can add up to as much airflow as an open window. The more heat that escapes, the more cold air enters, causing your system to work harder and use more energy. Home Sealing can improve your home "envelope" the outer walls, ceiling, windows and floors, and can save up to 10 percent in energy costs. Start by sealing air leaks and adding insulation, pay special attention to your attic and basement, where the biggest gaps and cracks are often found. If replacing windows, choose ENERGY STAR qualified ones.
If you have a forced air furnace or heat pump, then a duct system is responsible for circulating warm air throughout your home. Leaky ducts can reduce your system's overall efficiency by 20 percent. Sealing your ducts can save up to $140 annually on energy bills and help you consistently heat every room.
If you're replacing old equipment, make sure your new equipment is properly sized for your home - bigger isn't always better. An oversized system will cost more to buy and operate and will cycle on and off too frequently, reducing your comfort and leading to early system failures and repair costs. Correct size and proper airflow will ensure that your equipment works efficiently, saves you money, and helps protect our environment.
If your heating equipment has been poorly maintained and is 15 years or older, it's probably time for a more efficient replacement. Ask for an ENERGY STAR when buying the following equipment: Furnaces, Heat Pumps, Boilers and Programmable Thermostats.
Speaking of Wishbone, it has come to our attention that there are skeptics out there, unbelievers, nay-sayers. For every person that simply believes - there is someone else that needs proof. Fair enough. The fact is, Wishbone Salmon a.k.a. Wishbone, Wish, Wishy, Boss, Sir, O Great One, does actually work at Jim Salmon Home Inspections, does actually participate in all office endeavors (just ask the UPS delivery guy), does occasionally write his own articles for jimsalmon.com, sort of. No one claims this was a wise business decision but to date there have been
It's understandable that there are those who find Wishbone's participation difficult to believe, he is a dog after all, what those of you nay-sayers don't understand is that while Wishbone is a dog, he doesn't know it. First of all, how many dogs do you know that actually read the newspaper? Granted it was only the sports section and not the business & financials but still...
JimSalmon.com would like to wish a warm welcome to Big City Sportswear & Graphics, the OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF THE 2013 WORLD TOUR HRC T-SHIRT!! 2013 is going to be an exciting year and we are so happy that Big City Sportswear & Graphics is going to be a part of it!
There are so many reasons why we are excited to work with Big City Sportswear & Graphics. The company was established in 2008 and it's just amazing how large they are already, they currently occupy twenty thousand square feet! That just doesn't happen, it's a testament to how committed they are to quality, service and price, as a matter of fact they even state on their website that if they have any doubts in the quality of their work they will re-do it until it's perfect!
Big City Sportswear & Graphics, a family owned business located at 3861 Buffalo Rd in Rochester, specializes in screen printing, embroidery, digital printing and much more. They are direct retailers of quality clothing lines such as Carhartt, Columbia, Dickies, Nike, Adidas, and many others. They have the equipment for large production run jobs and in their print department they have a machine capable of printing five hundred garments per hour! There is no doubt about it, Big City is capable of any printing job you could ask for...and did that say CARHARTT?!
Don't think for a minute that clothing is all they do, they do it all! Window signs, banners, stickers, they state on their website that they can put your logo on over 500000 items! Maybe it's time to direct you to their website!! Big City Sportswear & GraphicsWe at JimSalmon.com are very excited and proud that Big City Sportswear & Graphics is
THE OFFICIAL SUPPLIER OF THE 2013 WORLD TOUR HRC T-SHIRT
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New. Used. Parts. Sales. Service. Where are we going with this? Hint... Tractors. Construction Equipment. Farm Machinery Attachments. EMPIRE TRACTOR of course! Empire Tractor located at 5072 East Main Street in Batavia (next to the Genesee County Fair Grounds) is the only place to go if you want service, quality, commitment and excellence that is second to no one, unless of course you are closer to one of their other locations in Atlanta N.Y., Cazenovia, Cortland, Syracuse or Waterloo.
Empire Tractor sells only the very best products including New Holland, Case IH, Kubota and a wide range of short line equipment. They have an online Parts Store that is open 24 hours a day for your convenience. And, they offer the largest selection of pre-owned equipment for you to choose from. Why go anywhere else?
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Print this newsletter | <urn:uuid:e5d75287-62bd-43a5-8970-2316c695085f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jimsalmon.com/homepage.cfm?goget=6568 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961219 | 1,713 | 1.671875 | 2 |
In what is possibly one of the largest anti-trust cases, Visa (V), MasterCard (MA), credit card issuing banks and retailers reached a settlement worth $7.25 billion, which is subject to approval of the judge. The deal involves payment of $6 billion from credit card issuers to merchants and reducing some of the fees to save merchants another $1.25 billion for the next 8 months. This is a big event with many implications for credit card issuers, retailers and consumers.
Currently, when someone uses a credit card to purchase an item or a service, credit card issuers deduct a fee from the total sales number in order to process the payment. This fee eats into profit margin of merchants, something they are not too happy about. Visa and MasterCard don't allow merchants to charge extra fees for using their cards. Merchants have been trying to find a way to pass some of the processing fees to customers in an effort to discourage them from using credit cards for payments. For example, some gas stations offer discounts to customers that pay their balance with cash. With this new settlement, passing the swiping fees to customers using credit cards may actually materialize. According to the settlement, the merchants will have to disclose the rate of swiping fees and these fees will be capped at a certain rate. The swipe fees currently paid by merchants to credit card issues exceed $50 billion annually.
Banks such as JP Morgan (JPM), Wells Fargo (WFC) and Bank of America (BAC) were also part of the deal and they will have to pay part of the sum. Visa will pay the largest chunk of the settlement fee as the company will pay more than $4 billion for the case. The company has already set aside $4.4 billion for the case and it will be able to cover its part of the settlement. According to an agreement between Visa and MasterCard last year, Visa will take on twice as much of the damage as MasterCard will. In addition, the banks mentioned above will jointly pay nearly half of MasterCard's settlement fee.
If merchants start charging customers extra fees for using credit cards, they may lose a lot of costumers - for example me - and see decline in revenue. Merchants will have to find a balance between increasing their profit margins and keeping their revenue growth steady. If all merchants charge clients extra for using credit cards, this may not backfire, however, if some merchants end up charging clients extra and others don't, the clients will probably have a preference for those that do not. I really don't think many merchants will end up surcharging their clients, given the weak status of economic and price sensitivity of clients. These days, customers have so many alternatives that it is very easy to get merchandise or services from another company if one isn't happy with the company that he or she has been using.
The extra charges, if implemented, will be limited to what merchants pay to credit card issuers, and this number usually ranges from 1.5% to 3.0%. Debit cards, in addition to the credit cards issued by American Express (AXP) and Discover will not be part of this settlement; however, merchants might file additional lawsuits in an effort to bring similar outcomes for those cards too. In addition, there are 10 states that will not allow merchants to charge their clients extra for using credit cards, namely: California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Oklahoma and Texas.
Earlier, the U.S. Department of Justice targeted Visa and MasterCard for their practice of keeping merchants from rewarding clients for using cheaper methods of payments. At the end, the two companies reached a settlement with the Department of Justice; however the policies were not changed. In this case, the policies will change too.
The settlement is bullish for Visa and MasterCard. The price tag could have been much higher. Both the companies have enough resources to pay off the settlement fee as they were already prepared for this. Moving forward, Visa is expected to earn $6.06 this year, $7.10 the next year and $8.21 the year after. Given the current stock price of $126, the company is looking at forward P/E ratios of 20, 17 and 15 respectively. MasterCard is expected to earn $22.06, $26.16 and $30.34 in the next 3 fiscal years. The company's current stock price is $437 and it is looking at forward P/E ratios of 19, 16 and 14 respectively. This is after a number of analysts reduced their earnings estimates for the two companies due to the slowing economy. The two companies are increasing their global exposure in order to offset effects of a slowing economy, and both companies are expected to see strong growth for the foreseeable future.
Having exposure to either of these companies is a great way of getting exposure to the global economy without having to diversify one's portfolio with hundreds of different stocks. Visa and MasterCard earn money from such a large variety of industries in such a large number of countries that it would take a major economic catastrophe to take either of these companies down. | <urn:uuid:0a8e4437-84d3-4229-8715-923bc0ae2da1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://seekingalpha.com/article/727011-visa-and-mastercard-reach-settlement-with-merchants?source=cnbc | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972874 | 1,049 | 1.53125 | 2 |
MELBOURNE: A new design of cricket bat, likely to find acceptance in Twenty20 format of the game, which will allow batsmen play shots using both sides of the willow has been developed by bat-makers Gray-Nicolls.
Batsmen, including Andrew Symonds, have been experimenting with using the back of the bat but have been restricted by its angular shape.
The new bat, which will need ICC approval, is expected to open scoring options for the batsmen in the Twenty20 version of cricket with its smaller and pressed hitting area on the reverse side of the blade.
By using the back of the new bat, batsmen will be able to negotiate better full-length yorker deliveries.
The bat maker Stuart Kranzbuhler, however, doubts Test batsmen would even consider the new model -- but young hitters, looking for an advantage in Twenty20 cricket, are already interested.
"It's a pretty unconventional shot (you play off the back) so I think true batsmen won't even look at doing something like that.
"It would really be a player that's developed himself purely for T20 cricket, who would play that sort of shot," Kranzbuhler was quoted as saying by 'Sydney Morning Herald'.
He said the new bat would meet current ICC specifications and could be made without reducing hitting power from the front as pressing the back would make it about 10 millimetres thinner.
"We've looked at having an area on the back of the bat that's pressed as well (as the front), just in the centre area. That's as far as we've got and we've made a few prototypes but they look pretty rank," he said.
6 months ago | <urn:uuid:94a0b85e-2f7c-4fd8-87ac-37045f0abb5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://spoonfeedin.blogspot.com/2008/11/sports-cricketnew-t20-bat-to-add-to.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983862 | 359 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Young monk in Sera Mey Monastery
It is 8.30pm and outside the young monks are chanting their studies. Tonight there is a swarm of crickets outside my room, attracted by the flourescent light on the balcony. I have mosquito netting on my windows, but unfortunately I did not close the door properly and an increasing number of crickets is sharing the room with me and the colony of ants that inhabits the gaps in the walls. A few weeks ago it was flying termites that plagued the guesthouse and settled all along the balcony after a day’s rain. The ants are, I have discovered, invaluable at clearing away the dead bodies.
I am staying in the guest house of Sera Mey monastery, Southern India. The monastery is located within the Tibetan settlement developed on land given to these refugees by the Indian government after their displacement from Tibet. There are around 5,000 monks here between Sera Mey and its larger cohabiting partner, Sera Jey. I am here teaching English to the monks at Sera Mey Monastic University, which is a rather grand name for what is just a school. Most days are the same here, except for Tuesday’s holiday. ‘Tuesday is the new Sunday’ the school principal told me ‘because it is market day in Kushalnagar.’
Today is Monday and normally a school day, but today the students have a different activity.
This morning we march together from the school to demonstrate against China’s occupation of Tibet, China’s deforestation of Tibet, and the treatment of Tibetan religious people. These Tibetans want human rights and freedom. A young monk set fire to himself in Tibet recently, and the monks celebrate his life and the motivation behind his actions. We leave the school at 8.30am and the young monks carry banners and home-made placards. Pictures of the burnt monk are printed proudly on the largest of the banners. As we walk the half hour in the early morning heat of this India summer the students chant in unision. ‘What are they saying?’ I ask one Geller (teacher). ‘Ah-ha,’ he smiles (he smiles a lot), ‘they are praying to be blessed with Bodhicitta.’
Bodhicitta is the compassionate wish for oneself to attain complete enlightenment (or Buddhahood) in order to be of benefit to all sentient beings trapped in the cyclic existence of samsara who themselves have not yet reached Buddhahood. In basic terms it is the wish for oneself to be filled with compassion and to want this for everyone else.
While we walk in the heat, the monks chant and chat until we reach an open area where they sit down. I find the shade of a tree with some of the teachers and watch from here. There are speeches, and the National Anthem, and through all this the monks sit or stand patiently in the heat. Some take umbrellas and the view becomes a collection of maroon-red robes beneath multicoloured sunshades.
An Indian man with a bicycle carrying bananas approaches our slightly removed vantage point beneath the shade of the tree and we share bananas. The event winds to a close after an hour and a half and we make our way back to the monastery in the rising temperatures of approaching midday. It has been a peaceful demonstration and the media has come to witness it here, and in other Tibetan settlements across India.
Two days later in class, after the Tuesday holiday, we talk about the march. The students, teenagers of 12, 13, 14 and 15, smile as they tell me how they enjoyed the day. These people, dislocated from their home country and their families, bear witness to atrocities that I could not imagine when I was their age, yet they fill themselves with compassion and I am humbled by their actions. It is true what one teacher told me: Sometimes we teachers learn from the students as much as they learn from us.
- Tibet Trouble
- Tibet goes offline
- Travels – and Troubles – in Chinese Tibet
Copyright © 2011 Anna Greenwood | <urn:uuid:7d771bd3-4695-4996-90c0-129fd1718321> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://travelmag.co.uk/?p=4261 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96602 | 855 | 1.789063 | 2 |
The U.S. Department of Education is awarding $25 million in Race to the Top funds to Arizona, it was announced early Friday.
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction John Huppenthal and Gov. Jan Brewer made the announcement.
"I am extremely pleased and encouraged by Arizona being awarded this money to further our state's educational goals of creating highly effective classroom learning environments for our students," Huppenthal stated in the news release. "We are excited to have been provided additional funds that will benefit our schools all across the state and improve our capabilities to prepare students to become college and career ready by the time they graduate."
The funds come in the third round of the federal program. States submitted applications each time. This is the first time Arizona is being awarded funds.
Six other states -- Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania -- will join Arizona in receiving a share of the $200 million in the third round of Race to the Top funds to advance reforms aimed at improving student achievement, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.
As runners-up in last year's competitions, nine states were eligible for round three awards to invest in a portion of their round two plans. South Carolina opted out and California submitted an incomplete application.
Arizona plans to use the funds to build a data system that will create a uniform way of tracking students' progress and give a clearer picture of how schools are doing.
Half of the grant funding will be devoted to use by local school districts and charter schools.
A portion of the dollars also will be devoted to the advancement of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education, which businesses consider key to Arizona's future economy.
"A top-flight education system is critical to a working economy," Brewer said in the release. "This funding will play an important role as Arizona sets higher standards for its students and teachers, and strives to provide the information that parents need in order to make informed decisions about their children's education."
Congress recently passed an omnibus spending bill for fiscal year 2012 that includes an additional $550 million for Race to the Top, according to the U.S. Department of Education website.
• Contact writer: (480) 898-6549 or [email protected]
Michelle Reese, East Valley Tribune | <urn:uuid:6a682ceb-657f-4a42-a55d-f23fc6e8a637> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/article_62c4e542-2d7d-11e1-a978-001871e3ce6c.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961758 | 477 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Hello, Donald, Come on over and we will sled ride. What is Santa Claus going to bring you. ~Carl
On the third day of the Postcard Advent Calendar I again reveal a Santa, but this toy-bearing gent is more St. Nickolas than Santa Claus. Influenced by the artist’s Saxon* roots, this illustration depicts a St. Nick clad in heavy black boots and a long, hooded red robe tromping through the snow, his waist-length beard catching the wind. A mittened left hand clasps the fir tree which is big enough that it must stand on the floor in some fortunate home! Under its branches St. Nick will leave dolls and drums pulled from his basket and sack.
Carl Corbly Minor extended his sledding invitation to his five year old cousin, Donald Minor, in December of 1907. The 28 year old son of Alfred (1855-before 1900) and Anna (1860-?) lived down the road from Robert, May, Helen and Donald, running his family’s farm with his mother. Imagine these rolling hills of southwestern Pennsylvania covered with a good snowfall. I am certain Donald had a fast trip down!
*Saxony is a southeastern state of current day Germany and is home to Dresden, Leipzig and Seiffen. It is also the home of many Christmas customs, like the Christmas tree. | <urn:uuid:0123228b-f290-4269-9b39-e87faf0ddd51> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dkaysdays.com/2010/12/16/postcard-advent-calendar-a-merry-christmas-european-style/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=fd9f0e7c6a | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954885 | 287 | 1.820313 | 2 |
The Important Things
In case the idea of doing crazy things to my hair overshadows the greater purpose here, I just wanted to remind you all of the cause for which I'm trying to raise money.
400,000 are now dead in Darfur and there looks to be no end in sight to the violent attacks carried out by the Sudanese government-backed Janjaweed militias. With violence now spreading across the border into Chad, the threat of widespread regional instability has increased. And yet, the international community has not stepped up and taken the strong actions it must. Sadly, the minimal effort that the United States has put in to addressing the genocide is far more than what political leaders throughout the rest of the world have done.
Hopefully last week's actions in the House will begin to generate momentum here in the US to take a bigger role in ending this tragedy. Of course, politicians will do nothing if people don't speak up. And unfortunately, as the U.N. special adviser on prevention of genocide said last week in comments comparing this genocide to the one in Rwanda, there's still a great amount of apathy towards action in the international community: "My sense is there's the same kind of wariness," Mendez told a news conference Friday. 'Let somebody else do it' is still very much in place."
Save Darfur.org noted earlier this week that Senator Paul Simon commented, in retrospect, with regards to the genocide in Rwanda in 1994: "If every member of the House and Senate had received 100 letters from people back home saying we have to do something about Rwanda, when the crisis was first developing, then I think the response would have been different."
Now's the time we must all speak up. Spread the word, lobby your elected officials, participate in rallies — make the world be serious when it says "never again." | <urn:uuid:c1580d2b-aea6-4b1e-b54c-e66bcc895e10> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thehairproject.blogspot.com/2006/04/important-things.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968515 | 379 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Vilate Bolanos lays out this spiritual truth in her reflective and philosophical book, Forks in the Dishwasher. After reflecting on her spiritual path, she began a letter to her children, encouraging them to consider thought-provoking questions on diverse topics. And now, in her letter-turned-tome, you'll be able to discover not only her spiritual path but also your own. Join Vilate on a life-changing spiritual journey that begins by loading the Forks in the Dishwasher. 'Forks is a transformative guidebook for exploring this profound yet surprisingly simple spiritual philosophy. Written by one of the finest young spiritual guides of our time. Be prepared for something fresh and extraordinary.' Brenda Lowe, Holistic Nursing Provider 'I loved this book! I laughed, cried, and felt completely changed after I read it. It opened my mind to think about life and God from a different perspective.' Lindsey Cavanaugh, RN
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Forks in the Dishwasher 2012-09-08 11:10:36 Sarah-Beth
Forks in the Dishwasher is an inspiring little book that will really get you thinking. Written by Vilate Bolanos, a registered nurse, it shares her refreshing wisdom and philosophies for life. Vilate began writing after her children were born, to encourage them to consider thought-provoking questions on a variety of subjects. This led her on a spiritual journey that she shares with us here. | <urn:uuid:4f87a428-78fa-4f20-ab49-c6e56f071362> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ncreview.com/self-help/forks-in-the-dishwasher | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935207 | 327 | 1.523438 | 2 |
( December 16, 2011)
The Nesbitt Fruit Products Company was founded in 1924 by Hugh S. Nesbitt. The company produced syrups to be used in soda fountains. The company produced a full line of fountain products through the years including various fruit flavors to be mixed with soda water, toppings for ice cream, including chocolate, hot fudge, crushed pineapple and strawberrys, and, a hot chocolate base. They also marketed branded dispensers and other fountain supplies (see 1959 fountain list).
1927 the company began producing Nesbitt's
The back of the bottles had the following slogan:
Nesbitt Fruit Products Company was sold to Clorox in 1972. The following is the Clorox Chronology:
July 1972: The Clorox Company acquires, in exchange for 161,894 shares of Clorox stock, Nesbitt Food Products, Inc. Nesbitt manufactures a variety of specialty food products for soda fountain service and operates a franchise bottling business for the consumer market.
March 1973: The Food Service Industries Group is organized and consists of five profit centers, including Nesbitt Franchise Bottling, which manufactures and markets a full line of fruit-flavored soft drinks through a network of more than 200 franchised bottlers.
1975: The Nesbitt Franchise
Bottling operation is sold to Moxie Industries, Inc., of
1975: Independent contract manufacturers begin production of Nesbitt
beverage concentrates, syrups and other specialty fountain products for
Clorox Food Service Operations. The Nesbitt Franchise Bottling plant in
March 1976: The plant, land, machinery and equipment of Nesbitt Food Products, Inc., are sold.
June 1976: Nesbitt Food Products, Inc., is merged into The Clorox Company and ceases to exist as a separate company.
1999: Big Red, Ltd of Waco, Texas acquires Nesbitt's brands from the Monarch Company in Atlanta.
The Nesbitt's Trademark has had the following history since then:
Nesbitt's is US trademark of:
My grandfather, B. R. Murphy, joined the company in 1926 and became operations manager. He served as President from 1933-1938 while Mr. Nesbitt took a leave to work for Goebel Brewing in
Click on the following links for some additional history:
Nesbitt’s Orange Soda: Bright Star Went Black, Now Twinkles Dimly
U.S. Government Alleged Base for Nesbitt’s Orange Adulterated
Nesbitt's Orange Wikipedia Page
Marilyn Monroe was a model for Nesbitt's Orange in 1946.
Click for larger view added 1/1/2008
Nesbitt's Orange was the "Official Orange Drink" for Disneyland from the time it opened in 1955 into the 1960's. It was the only orange drink sold in the Park.
Click for larger view added 1/1/2008
It is said that Elvis Presley loved Nesbitt's Orange. "He always had the weirdest eating habits I ever saw," a friend was quoted as saying at the time (1960's). "Burnt bacon, olives, vegetable soup and peanut-butter and banana sandwiches." He'd wash all this down with Pepsi or Nesbitt's Orange soda."(source link)
Nesbitt's was the sponsor of an early television show in Los Angeles called "Ricky and the Magic Trolley." It was a puppet show that was done circa 1952-1953. I remember going to the set with my grandfather when I was 6 or 7 years old along with my two younger sisters. We went to do a live TV commercial with a couple of other kids who were the daughters of the Nesbitt ad agency guy. It was in the same studio as "Space Patrol," one of my favorite TV shows at the time. I was thrilled to sit in the cockpit of the space ship. The Ricky puppet show set was raised off the floor so the pupeteers could stand up under it. When I stood on a box and looked over the top edge of the set a real snake that was in a little pond on the set popped it's head up out of the water right in front of my face and I fell back off of the box. That same night us kids did a live TV commercial for Nesbitt's. On cue we were all supposed to take swig of Nesbitt's Orange and then say "uuum good." I remember my sister blowing the cue by doing it too early. I remember the images from that day vividly. Click here to see postcards that were sent to fans who wrote the show. Thanks to Gary Frank for sharing these with me.
In 1957, the "Nesbitt's Orange Special" dragster set 1/4 Mile speed Record of 9.445 seconds (159.02 mph). It is believed that this was the first "commercially sponsored" dragster.
Click on the player below to listen to the song: | <urn:uuid:624ca759-d0c2-4e74-8c28-3a82db254268> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nesbittsorange.com/facts.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966309 | 1,078 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Maggie Tait, who visited Bamiyan with Prime Minister John Key in May, reflects on life on the New Zealand base there in the wake of its first combat death.
There will be three empty bunks at the Kiwi base in Bamiyan tonight. Two of the soldiers that slept in them will be in hospital beds, while the body of a third will be prepared for a coffin.
The death overnight of a young New Zealand soldier and severe injuries to two others when their patrol was attacked will have shaken the tight-knit group to the core.
There are about 140 men and women in the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Bamiyan province, one of the more peaceful areas in Afghanistan. The team has been there since 2003, and personnel have returned more than once.
They live in a village-like base with life centring around the mess and common room. Neat gravel tracks wind between the tidy wooden buildings nestled on a plateau uphill of the main Bamiyan town that is home to about 60,000.
The New Zealanders have a spectacular view of surrounding mountains that causes you to catch your breath -- that and the rarified air at an altitude of 2800m, which also leaves newbies gasping.
But everywhere are reminders of danger. The walls, high and lined with barbed wire, are constantly monitored.
There are little "gardens" where different types of improvised explosive devices sit encircled by painted white stone.
As they smoke outside the mess waiting for dinner, Men casually talk about donkey bombs -- when a poor animal's bags are packed with explosives before being sent on its way to kill and maim.
Dinners in Bamiyan are legendary and the soldiers proud of what they turn out -- perfectly roasted chicken and delicious roasted vegetables were on the menu for the first night of the Prime Minister John Key's visit, in contrast to the servings of mushy pasta and deep fried everything else at the base in Kabul, 240km away.
Bathrooms are kept neat and clean and rules about short showers are followed. Consideration is the norm for the group as they work together with limited resources.
Bunk rooms are functional and plain and no one bats an eyelid when the lights are turned on briefly for a returning patrol.
The only sharp comments are to tease about the rank smell of those who have been out in steaming heat wearing kilos of military gear and protective clothing. They don't complain, proudly stating what kind of missiles their vests can resist.
But when next foray heads outside the heavily protected gates, it will be hard for those in it not to think of the patrol that never returned, the beds that lie empty at the base, and the brother-in-arms whose words and laughter will no longer be heard.
- NZPABy Maggie Tait | <urn:uuid:cb648a72-55c3-48f8-b680-939903dfe2c7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10663525 | 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 | 0.957285 | 587 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Gender and Social Movement Decline:Shantytown Women and the Prodemocracy Movement in Pinochet's Chile
AbstractSocial movement decline is an understudied topic in social movements research. This article takes the case of the prodemocracy movement in Pinochet's Chile to focus on one aspect of movement decline: the question of what activists do at the end of their movement and, in particular, how what they do is gendered. The question of what activists do is an important one, both because activism often profoundly affects the lives of those who engage in it and because what ex-activists do can affect the societies in which they live. The author uses ethnographic data to examine what Chilean shantytown women did after their prodemocracy movement ended, demonstrating that their continued involvement with what remained of the movement, their work lives, their political attitudes and activities, their geographical mobility, and their social networks were profoundly affected by the gender regime in which they lived. | <urn:uuid:0a585250-0c87-45d4-9b99-44bd2ad91c42> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.deepdyve.com/lp/sage/gender-and-social-movement-decline-shantytown-women-and-the-0WsUF0sY8K | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976285 | 192 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Technical Ben wrote:Is it that we cannot know "any part" of the mind of God, or just that we cannot know "all the parts" of the mind of God? As I am certain I can comprehend a mind in it's simplest form, so the phrase "you cannot know any part of the mind of God" is false.
So it's not an impossibility to consider such a thing. Even you admit we can deduce "He probably didn't go there to buy a camel" in the example you gave. We can see what Tony brought back from the shops in your example, right? We can look and see he got oranges. The scriptures suggest they saw what God did and thus could make a conclusion from those actions. Would you consider that open for interpretation or an example of how to get a definite result?
Woah, man. You just tore up those goalposts and ran out of the stadium with them. The question was about "A god" not specifically the Christian god! And my comment on Christians was about knowing the /mind/ of god. You can't know what god decided, you can only know what he's told you. No one was around to see him create anything, after all -even the bible is all after the fact.
For the Christian god, yeah, duh, the only rational conclusion, on the part of someone who holds the Bible to be accurate, looking back, is he didn't create anyone equal to or greater in power than him. Of course, say for a minute God DID create someone, and get overthrown. Even destroyed! How would we know?
We wouldn't. Everything else would be pretty much exactly the same, assuming the new God was fairly similar to the old. Unless he had some desire to gloat about overthrowing his daddy, like Zeus did, but that doesn't seem likely (for the Christian god). But that wasn't what you asked me, and wasn't the question I answered! If we're talking generic possible gods, we've got no evidence he brought back oranges, as you were. And if we're talking omnipotent beings, there's no real camel-level limitations we can impose - a man can't get camels form the grocery store, because they have no camels. A god can do whatever he wants, pretty much!
Is there evidence to see if we have an orange, meat or a pizza? What would we expect to see from a multitude of gods, a less powerful god, or an all powerful God? We know what such systems look like when people are involved. How do they decide who a ruler is? If there is a contested rule, an imposter, a shared rulership. Is there a difference with these that can be observed?
In some traditions, yeah. Greek tradition, multiple gods was a "duh" thing, because evidence of them is clear. Whole world looks to be full of conflicting influences! Clearly these are merely the clashing boundaries of different beings influence. This is why the Christians created the devil, after all. To explain away evil, they had to create a conflicting deity, even if a significantly weaker one. In some, of course, he's only a demigod, a servant of god, but in other traditions he is god's arch-nemesis. Either way, there's good evidence, should we accept divine influence, of conflicting
divine influence, and thus multiple gods.
Even if he did create other beings of equal power, how would we know? What if they just sort of chill with him, or generally do his work, or don't do his work but share his goals so there isn't issue?
We very very very much do not have enough information to decide that any of these options would make a more rational belief than the others. (The rational belief here would be to assume no gods exist at all, since that's the null hypothesis)
Personally, if there are gods, I'm going with the option of there being a lot of them from the get-go. Because its experientially and experimentally aberrant to be one of any class of thing. This isn't a whole lot of good at the level we're operating on, but its the best sort of evidence we've got. If you want to impose monotheism on that, you can say there's a fuckton of gods, but only one of them is interested in us
, and you'll have pretty much the same interactions record as what we've got.
Maybe the others just have some sort of fascination with blackholes, or each god got its own planet, etc. and so.
So, there is a multitude of gods proposed (a polytheism) and some of those gods are found to be imaginary or false. Would someone then reason it correct to remove them from their beliefs?
If this a reaction to the Egyptian god thing, I was under the impression it wasn't so much that the other gods were found false as that the hebrew god was shown to be significantly more powerful. After all, the Egyptian gods had been doing there things for a long time, but it was pretty normal Egyptian tradition for newer, more powerful gods to elbow the old ones out of the way. | <urn:uuid:4ae7f127-347e-40b6-9ec0-53392025c765> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.xkcd.com/viewtopic.php?p=2995647 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980715 | 1,078 | 1.664063 | 2 |
(672) A landscape executed in worsteds by Lady Ailesbury. It is now at Strawberry Hill.
Sir, I am extremely obliged to you for the favour of your letter, and the enclosed curious one of Sir William Herbert. It would have made a very valuable addition to Lord Herbert’s Life, which is now too late; as I have no hope that Lord Powis will permit any more to be printed. There were indeed so very few, and but half of those for my share, that I have not it in my power to offer you a copy, having disposed of my part. It is really a pity that so singular a curiosity should not be public; but I must not complain, as Lord Powis has been so good as to indulge my request thus far. I am, Sir, Your much obliged humble servant, H. W.
My dear lord, Though I wrote to you but a few days ago, I must trouble you with another line now. Dr. Blanchard, a Cambridge divine, and who has a good paternal estate in Yorkshire, is on his travels, which he performs as a gentleman; and, therefore, wishes not to have his profession noticed. He is very desirous of paying his respects to you, and of being countenanced by you while he stays at Paris. It will much oblige a particular friend of mine, and consequently me, if you will favour him with your attention. Every body experiences your goodness, but in the present case I wish to attribute it a little to my request.
I asked you about two books, ascribed to Madame de Boufflers. if they are hers, I should be glad to know where she found, that Oliver Cromwell took orders and went over to Holland to fight the Dutch. As she has been on the spot where he reigned (which is generally very strong evidence), her countrymen will believe her in spite of our teeth; and Voltaire, who loves all anecdotes that never happened, because they prove the manners of the times, will hurry it into the first history he publishes. I, therefore, enter my caveat against it; not as interested for Oliver’s character, but to save the world from one more fable. I know Madame de Boufflers will attribute this scruple to my partiality to Cromwell (and, to be sure, if we must be ridden, there is some satisfaction when the man knows how to ride). I remember one night at the Duke of Grafton’s, a bust of Cromwell was produced: Madame de Boufflers, without uttering a syllable, gave me the most speaking look imaginable, as much as to Say, Is it possible you can admire this man! Apropos: I am sorry to say the reports do not cease about the separation,(673) and yet I have heard nothing that confirms it. | <urn:uuid:2493cb93-0a2a-4786-bc63-d9c81cbaf98c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/4773/328.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977046 | 593 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Identity. Is that really the core issue with us? Are we all really just trying to operate according to what we think defines our worth?
Had an interesting conversation with a parent tonight after services. Her philosophy of parenting stems from identity – basically, you embed in your children’s mind from the very beginning that their worth and value come from God and in her estimation, that will solve a great deal of future rebellion – at least the severe sort.
Not sure how to process it. I mean, I agree of course (how could you not?), that our perceived worth and where we derive it from certainly will alter our behaviors. (i.e., if we think we have value only because we are pretty, then we’ll strive for exterior perfection or if we think our value is based upon how we are viewed by the opposite sex, well then….)
It makes me think about myself. From where do I ACTIVELY derive my personal self-worth? I know in my brain that I have value because I am made in the image of God. That’s a Sunday School answer – but how do I live that out? That may be the “right” answer, but do I live out that “right” answer? Or in my HEART do I feel less valuable when my clothes are less fashionable, or when my weight is STILL up after having a baby a year ago, or when I’m around “accomplished” women? Honestly, I’m not sure. I know that insecurity has to stem from confusion over our value – perceived value, that is. I’m just not sure where I fall on the totem pole. Sometimes I feel confident in who I am and in my place in the world, and then at other times I think, “Man….”
Sometimes it’s good to be motivated by outside sources – I see a woman who knows the Word, and it makes me want to be a better student of the Word myself. That’s healthy. But where does the line fall between improvement and insecurity??
Maybe when it comes to a place of whether or not we accept ourselves and the things that don’t really matter. Not talking about accepting sin in our life, or blatant unholiness, but accepting that we are on a journey and that we must always strive, realizing that we are being formed into the image of Christ, and that that journey is going to look different in each of our lives.
So, here’s to the journey!!
On a practical level, I’m going to make it my goal to be more aware of my thought life as it relates to identity. When I find myself slipping into insecurity (which my husband HATES and can spot a mile away), or being passive when I should be assertive (on a spiritual issue) I’m going to work harder at recognizing what I am basing my worth on at that moment……this should be interesting!
On a slightly separate note – when you want to think about identity in Christ alone read THIS article over at www.gracefullmama.com that I stumbled upon tonight (after drafting this!! Isn’t God’s timing something!). VERY good stuff…. | <urn:uuid:0a3a8ffb-1520-4435-8ace-446a70c181fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abideathome.com/2011/11/30/defining-my-identity/ | 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 | 0.959395 | 679 | 1.640625 | 2 |
Sermons are part of a conversation between the preacher and the congregation.
You can read most of the sermons preached at Faith in the past few years here. This archive is a blog, which is duplicated on Blogger. You may add comments here or in the blog if you wish.
If you would like to see the readings planned for the next few weeks, click here.
Psalm 23 and Eternal LIfe
Test: Psalm 23
Note: This sermon preached by Vicar Craig Simenson
Psalm 23 is a favorite psalm. It is a familiar psalm. So familiar and etched into our memories through its frequent repetition—(didn’t we just hear this a few months ago?)—that we may have stopped paying much attention to its nuances. When we do stop to take notice, the different translations that we might (or might not) be familiar with pose interesting interpretative questions for us to make meaning of.
For example, in the end, is that I am to dwell in the house of the LORD forever (as the King James and this morning’s version goes)?
or is it only my whole life long (as the New Revised Standard Version, the Bibles that are in our pews) renders it?
As Pastor Stein highlighted for us in his sermon on the psalm this past summer, attention to the actual Hebrew used suggests that the psalm does not here refer to any notion of an eternal life. Rather, more literally, the psalm here speaks to the length of these days, on this green earth, beside the still waters of this time and place. Psalm 23 speaks to the comfort that is available to us even now in the darkest valleys of this life.
Interestingly, attention to the actual Greek used in John’s gospel this morning poses similar interpretative complexities.
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
Yet, what is translated here as eternal life, while denoting life that is ever-lasting or eternal (in other words, infinite) can also mean life lasting for a definite period of time: an age, a generation or a lifetime.
Similarly, when John tells us that Jesus says that his sheep will never perish, the Greek literally (and perplexingly) tells us that they will never perish into the age.
With this in mind, we come to an important interpretative question:
What age exactly does John refer to here?
My own guess (for what it’s worth) is that behind John’s words is belief in an age that is to come. An age, a world, a new way of life that Christians continue to speak about, when in the words of the Nicene Creed, we say that we look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.
Importantly, this notion of ever-lasting life that we find both in John’s gospel and in the Creed does not seem to be a life that we can necessarily wholly abstract from our experiences of this life: a life lived within and bound to a particular world and a definite period of time. There is the life in this world, and there is the life in the world to come—each life bound to a particular, though apparently different, kind of world.
Yet, picking up the puzzling language used in John’s gospel would also seem to hold open the possibility this morning that we each re-examine and reflect on the ways in which we, as Christians, might often—and mistakenly—go too far in distinguishing our lives in this time and place from the ever-lasting life that is to come.
When John tells us that Jesus’ sheep will never perish into the age, the use of the preposition here suggests not a disconnection between this world and the next, but a certain continuity. Rather than abstraction, John’s language here would seem to suggest that those who follow Jesus now already live into the age that is to come.
This morning, Jesus speaks to us of an ever-lasting life that does not exist wholly beyond the length of these days, on this green earth, beyond this time and this place:
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
Importantly, Christian faith cannot be limited only to the life that awaits us. For Christians, ever-lasting life is not apart from, but inclusive of the lives that we live into now. Inclusive of who we choose to listen for and follow now.
Importantly, for Christians, the life in this world and the life in the world to come are bound together.
Importantly, for Christians, the resurrected Christ who appears to us this Easter season is the Christ whose resurrected body still bears the marks of his former death. This life and the life of the resurrected world to come are bound together.
In our readings from the Acts of the Apostles, even the Christ already gone away into the clouds in chapter 1, already seemingly passed into the world to come, is the Christ who is still present among us—the Christ who is still healing the sick and bringing the dead to life.
Importantly, the Easter storyline is not one in which ever-lasting life stands wholly removed from this life. Rather, Easter is the story of resurrected life breaking into this one.
Even Revelation, a book often characterized in over-simplified terms of future happenings, arguably offers Christians not a picture of the life that is only to come, but also a vision of who we are already becoming. A vision of how God is already shaping us.
From every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, crying out in worship, singing to our God, Revelation reveals to us who we are when we gather together every week. Revelation’s words are our words.
Blessing, honor, glory to the Lamb. Holy, righteous, worthy is the Lamb.
Revelation’s words are our words.
And the Easter storyline is our story. The story of the slain Lamb who has already overcome death, who—by his resurrection—shows us just how expansive life is. The God who is and who was and who is to come. Who reveals to us ever-lasting life stretching out in every direction, in every time and place, in every life and lifetime.
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
Christ, speaking to us still, speaking to us always. Who leads us in right paths, but not necessarily always easy ones.
The Christ who, instead of eternal safety and security, promises ongoing relationship. I know them, and they follow me.
The resurrected Christ who leads us beside still waters, where God wipes away every tear from our eyes that they might become the water of life. Where even betrayal, violence, and criminal execution are turned into empty tombs, resurrected lives, healing, and hope for this world and the world to come.
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life—life that does not end, life in these days and in the days to come—and they will never perish.
May we keep on listening for that shepherd’s voice.
May we keep on following this resurrected one in our midst calling us to love one another.
To give our lives to one another without fear.
To live abundantly into the ever-lasting life already here. | <urn:uuid:168ff8a7-6be2-43f3-9161-64ea2f0e0391> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://faithcambridge.org/sermons/archives.php?id=6623427180239491976 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955777 | 1,565 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Happy Earth Day! Did you know that today marks the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day? That just means that this is the perfect time to begin taking steps to help make the environment a better one. Here are a few “Acts of Green” for you and your family to do today and start incorporating
We’re pretty pumped that it’s Friday. What about you? We’re one week closer to summer, and that’s definitely something to be excited about. We hope as you start planning your summer vacations, you’ll keep being green top of mind! This week we shared some great updates about some of our corporate responsibility programs. On Monday,
It’s National Stress Awareness Month. Did you know that 77 percent of people in the United States experience physical symptoms caused by stress? Stress can largely impact your health and quality of life. Here are a few ways to minimize stress in a completely eco-friendly way! Start a garden! Gardening is a relaxing activity that’ll
As result of an innovative program between the Pittsburgh Promise and Direct Energy, the organization is receiving a $7,433.10 donation. For each new customer in the Promise community that signed on with Direct Energy, Direct Energy gave a portion back. The 1,000+ families that enrolled in the program were given a special electricity rate that
Direct Energy recently announced Harrisburg’s second annual Volunteer Citizen of the Year and introduced the program for Central Central Illinois. Second Annual Harrisburg Volunteer Citizen of the Year Award Direct Energy, PennLive and The Patriot-News of PA Media Group are honoring Paul Garrett of Camp Hill, PA as Harrisburg’s second annual Volunteer Citizen of the Year.
TGIF! We’re pretty excited about the weekend, spring has sprung here in Houston and we’re looking forward to enjoying the sunshine outdoors. What do you have in store for this weekend? How about a trip to your local farmers market, or a bike ride to the park? This week we gave you some pretty handy
How green is your lawn? Nobody wants to be the house on the street with brown grass. However, it’s important to look closely at what you’re doing to maintain your lawn and how your actions affect the environment. Learn how to reduce your use outdoors by making some of these simple adjustments. Choose your pesticides | <urn:uuid:3a6fcabb-9cd9-4583-aeef-cc1d2bc1953c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.directenergy.com/page/6/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955609 | 489 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Journal Entry #463
June 5th, 2011
We are still just a bunch of tribes that are divided fighting for our place in this world. If we are not divided by where we live then it will be something else, religion, race, ideals and any other division you can think of. Then these tribes are divided into smaller tribes. I find this sad as we try to be so different while not realizing we are so similar. We all originate from the Savannahs in Africa.
Each position in any conflict will think they are right and will not be willing to empathize with the others position. Unfortunately at times these divisions promote violence and create misery.
I can use the example of the Israeli / Palestine conflict and how this is basically a tribal conflict but you can see this everywhere within humanity. I see this as weight around our necks preventing us from moving forward.
Each year approximately 700 Palestinian children, some as young as 12 years, are detained and prosecuted in the Israeli military court system. The most common charge is for throwing stones. The overwhelming majority of these children are detained inside Israel in contravention of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Gary David Currie……… The terrible result of religious conflict which is the core issue here and addressing this in my view will lead to the solution.
C____….I disagree that it’s the core issue, but how would you go about addressing it if you were in a position to do so?
Gary David Currie…… The same way I do every day by championing the ideal of truth. There are so many atrocities and much misery on both sides but this is the real issue. Let me rephrase…It is believing in and acting on lies that have manifested itself into religious conflict and division.
I have actually proposed a solution for this. I call this syndrome “Sandbox Junkies.
Thanks for your question it is refreshing instead of just telling me your position you asked for mine. Awesome as this is part of the solution..
Gary David Currie………. If one is constantly putting out fires but does not address the source of the fire the fire will continue. It is noble to champion a particular issue in these conflicts but it will not solve the problem. Each position must be willing to let go of the past and come to the table with what they are willing to concede not what they want for this to have a chance at a peaceful resolution.
C____….. No worries, it is not an easy subject for me to discuss at length because of what I have witnessed and experienced over there. At some point I grew very tired of trying to show the rest of the world what it seemed to me didn’t want to be se…en.
Even religious conflicts have an historical basis and are fuelled by political powers, acting in accordance with definite social and economic interests. I think the problem is bigger than most folk imagine, but who can say how or when it will actually see a worthwhile resolution. We are talking about some extremely barbaric practices here.
Gary David Currie………… Agreed.. There is no good guy bad guy here that is clear. There is just conflict and misery.
C____…..Behind every religious conflict there’s an economic one. The veneer of religion is thrown on top to hide the economic motives from the (generally) impoverished people who do the actual killing and dying.
C____……Well I don’t know about that… when you have hundreds of children being criminalised every year for throwing stones at armoured tanks, and a ruthless military apparatus guided by successive administrations that clearly intend to continue its occupation and oppression of a people, I think you can say that one is definitely the bad guy. Of course there is more to the story than that, but essentially this is what disturbs me. And this is a popular misconception, that the “two sides” are even remotely balanced.
Gary David Currie……. I think you missed my point. Each position will see what they want to. Each side is the good guy and the other the bad guy. My point is that these sides are a product of division. There was a starting point, when I don’t know and I… am sure it was based on some sort of religious division based on delusional thinking. Everything else is just a product of this thinking. You say Israel is the bad guy others say Palestine is.. I say it is all wrong to hurt each other and if we want a solution many concessions will have to be made and the past forgotten or else it will continue. One tribe is always trying to conquer another. I am not in the delusion and can view it from an unbiased perspective. Each side will promote its misery and unjust acts but the point is it must stop so that should be the focus. How to stop it is to address why it started. Easy? NO but the only solution I see. It is all about what is true.
Gary David Currie……………. personally while it is interesting to talk about this conflict I feel the ones that have a direct stake in this should be the ones who are trying to work it out and until they are willing it will continue.
CHR____…… A lot of people there *are* willing. It’s not as if no one’s working at it.
Gary David Currie…….. Well willing or not the bottom line is it is not working so something needs to change. Maybe the approach is not working as the foundation is usually based on division formed by religious and other views.
H__…… Gary, do you really think that the conflict is based on theological matters?
Gary David Currie………. Yes which are fuelled from acting on lies? Don’t you? This goes way back
H____………..No, I don’t think the current conflict is based on religion (at least, not more than superficially). I would expand on this more, but I’m on my way out the door. Perhaps Chadwick could elaborate more on the actual conflict when he checks in.
Gary David Currie……. Really, Islamic fundamentalists, Jews same holy spot. If you are telling me that religious differences are not heavily involved in this I would be very surprised. If people truly wanted peace they would work it out, they all want to win and get what they feel they are entitled to. Look to me religion is just another lie that people follow and use to justify acts in life. Greed and power same idea.
CHR___……….There are a lot of Palestinian Christians as well. It’s a contested spot, but it has *also* been a spot in which all three of these populations *have* lived pretty peacefully before. There’s a lot more to this than religion.
C____……… There is not much I can add right now that hasn’t been mentioned – I think one of the previous comments actually sums it up well enough:
“Behind every religious conflict there’s an economic one. The veneer of religion is thrown …on top to hide the economic motives from the (generally) impoverished people who do the actual killing and dying.” | <urn:uuid:0057ba91-0f51-4181-9348-7da7b8296884> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thefreeman.net/journal/?tag=tribes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96593 | 1,478 | 1.578125 | 2 |
ZIFFEL, Fred & wife, Doris
c/o Fred & Doris Ziffel
Fred is a farmer. Doris is a homemaker. Arnold, a farm pig is the family pet.
Fred & Doris considered Arnold the son they never had. Arnold could play the
piano, drink lime soda from a straw, deliver letters from the mail box, turn the
channels on the television (he loved to watch THE CBS EVENING NEWS with Walter
Cronkite), predict weather with his curly tail, and play cricket with his own
miniature cricket bat. He often interacted with Oliver Wendell Douglas and his
eloquent wife, Lisa, two city slickers who moved to the country. Once, while
playing checkers, storekeeper Sam Drucker said to Fred "You treat that pig
better that your wife." Fred replied '"Have you seen Doris, lately?"
ZIMMERMAN, Doctor Lewis (See EMH Mark 1) | <urn:uuid:705805de-2c4c-419a-89ca-a6d4f8eb3bff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tvacres.com/add_Zi-Zn.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930512 | 206 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The paper says banks are using a legal accounting trick to keep from reporting the write-downs on their income statements. It mentions Merrill Lynch, which last week took $6.6 billion in write-downs in the first quarter that resulted in a $1.9 billion loss. But the firm has another $3.1 billion in write-downs, too, but didn’t count those as a loss.
Analysts also are sounding the alarm that these losses may eventually come back to bite investors, even if they are presently tucked away in a little-noticed corner of the balance sheet. In a recent report, Credit Suisse analyst David Zion estimated that companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index were sitting on about $80 billion of these unrealized losses as of the end of last year.
After Merrill reported its results, Punk Ziegel & Co. analyst Richard X. Bove threw up his hands in frustration over the way corporate results were being masked by accounting practices, including the ability to book some losses in shareholders’ equity rather than profit.
“It would be disingenuous of me to indicate that I understood what has happened at Merrill Lynch in the first quarter or that I had any rational way to estimate what the company’s earnings are likely to be going forward,” Mr. Bove wrote in a note to clients.
Borrowers gone wild!
The Los Angeles Times has a problematic story that reports that insurance companies and cops say they’re seeing an increase in house and car fires allegedly set by people who can’t pay their debts. It’s another in a proliferating line of Crazed Borrower stories.
These financially motivated fires are surprising some officials because they come after a decade-long decline in overall arson rates nationwide. Few state or federal agencies categorize arson in terms of the financial status of liens on the property, making nationwide figures elusive. Still, pockets of the country are showing a significant increase.
Insurers referred 14 cases of questionable home fires, with foreclosure as a possible factor, to the California Department of Insurance last year, up from seven in 2006 and two in 2005. In the same three-year period, reports of auto arson increased by a third, to 343 cases last year. On Friday, the Department of Insurance announced the arrests of seven people in two investigations of possible automobile arson and insurance fraud.
Fourteen whole cases, huh?
In the current economic environment, the temptation to commit arson can be too much for some. There were 2.2 million foreclosures last year, up 75% from the previous year, according to RealtyTrac. In addition, a study by Moody’s Economy.com and Equifax found that 4.5% of all mortgages were delinquent in the first quarter of 2008. Auto loan delinquencies hit a 10-year high in January.
Frank Scafidi of the National Insurance Crime Bureau, a membership organization that tracks insurance fraud, says his group has not identified a rise in financially motivated arson. “Everything we’ve found does not support that,” he said.
That’s interesting info buried in the sixteenth paragraph. The Times rationalizes it by quoting “observers” saying industry folks like Scafidi downplay the crimes so as not to inspire copycats. | <urn:uuid:41f12efd-0008-4e51-b28d-32983b3c874a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cjr.org/the_audit/opening_bell_frankenfood_1.php?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962925 | 694 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Werner Herzog, the acclaimed German director of Aguirre The Wrath of God, Fitzcarraldo, Nosferatu, Encounters at the Edge of the World, and dozens of other films, including a large number of documentaries and shorts, spoke Friday night, June 26 before a packed crowd of 150 or more persons at the McNally Robinson bookshop in Soho.
Herzog, known for his extraordinary film making voyages through the Amazon, to the edge of a volcano in Guadeloupe about to explode , to Antarctica,and numerous other remote corners of the world, gave the audience a trip instead through his mind while making Fitzcarraldo. This is the film about an obsessive early 20th century entrepeneurial dreamer who wants to build an opera house in the jungle town of Iquitos so Enrico Caruso can sing there. In a cracked effort to corner the rubber market,he attempts to pull a 320 ton steamboat across the jungle hills and an isthmus separating two rivers. The film starred Klaus Kinski in one of his memorably insane roles with Herzog as director and the film was itself the basis of a documentary by Les Blank about its making entitled Burden of Dreams.
Now 30 years later, Herzog has written a memoir of those days, entitled Conquest of the Useless, following the pattern of diary entries from his unique mind- It is witty, profound and surreal- and was sold along with a copy of a newly translated short prose work "Of Walking in Ice", first published thirty years ago about a walk Herzog took from Munich to Paris in the late fall snows of 1974 because he had convinced himself it would help save his friend Lotte Eisner, who was seriously ill in Paris at the time.(He reached her and she lived for many years afterward) Herzog , who is a self-taught scholar,writes powerfully descriptive,almost surreal passages, but as his mother once said, his powers of description dwarf his abilities to explain-Never mind- he is a genius at what he does.
Herzog was brusquely funny in his repartee about our"bastardized culture"- he deplores shamans,ayuahasca(the legendary tryptamine on the vine), loathes the drug culture, and cinema verite and believes his documentaries are "fiction in disguise."He spoke of the famous scene in Nosferatu, when he convinced the city of Delft, Netherlands to allow him to release 11000 painted rats upon the arrival of Dracula(Nosferatu's) boat-This was done upon the payment of substantial sums and the promise to recapture all of them- Actually 11400 were captured as they had rapidly propagated in the interim.(This film, by the way, is so good it creates the illusion it is presenting almost an anthropolgical view of the gypsy settlements depicted in thevampire-savaged countryside.)
And as for nature,it is not there to be venerated but feared-it is erotic , obscene and murderous..no pastorals here.
Compare this wild work with David Abram's Spell of the Sensuous,where Abram treats of ecological magic and demonstrates that our truest human attributes spring as in oral culture from our relationships wth the senses and the elements and the earth and animate natural world. We have lost a great bit when we solely depend on written language and alphabets- even as we have in Kabbalah the concentrated and refined magic of the written word , compared to the wild and multiplicitous magic of the natural intelligent world.
Abram, who is associated with the Alliance for Wild Ethics, is one of the greatest teachers on the planet- I cannot too highly recommend his text..You read the book with the sense that all life, rocks, and plants are charged with the life force. You will likely feel very different about bird song as well after you dabble in its pages.
More of Abram and of Jay Griffiths, and The Welsh writer's brilliant study "Wild' in the near future. | <urn:uuid:0b7e6f4a-0374-4775-8212-18bfda250353> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://edgylit.blogspot.com/2009/07/werner-herzog-and-spell-of-sensuous.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966525 | 842 | 1.648438 | 2 |
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ALBANY -- The public will have an opportunity Tuesday night to talk on a proposed law to ban the sale of cigarettes and tobacco products in pharmacies throughout Albany County.
The local law was introduced by Legislator Wanda Willingham earlier this month and sent to the Health and Audit and Finance committees for review.
The legislation is designed to broaden existing laws affecting tobacco sales, such as ordinances that prohibit selling to minors. Because it's in committee, no date has been set for the new measure to be voted on by the 39-member Legislature, but the public hearing will be at 7:15 p.m.
The law would prohibit the sale of tobacco products in pharmacies or retail establishments that contain pharmacies, such as supermarkets and big box stores.
Marra's Pharmacy in Cohoes, one of a few privately owned drug stores in the county, stopped selling tobacco products 20 years ago, becoming the first pharmacy in the county to go tobacco-free, said Cohoes Mayor John McDonald III, owner of the pharmacy who is familiar with the proposed legislation.
"There is a hint of contradiction," he said, "for stores promoting themselves nationally as a place for health care services, while selling an item that's adverse to the health (of customers). At the same token, I do believe that after a while businesses do get a little tired of government telling them what to do."
County lawmakers have approved a littany of bans within the last few years, including the use of trans fat products by restaurants and bakeries as well as regulating where convicted sex offenders can live, a law that is being challenged in court.
One group geared up to speak at the hearing is the Capital District Tobacco-Free Coalition. Judy Rightmyer, its director since 2001, said during the last decade, the "smoking rate in New York dropped from 23 percent of the population to 17 percent," primarily because of the ban on smoking in public places like bars, restaurants and work places.
The coalition, she said, finds a direct correlation between the skyrocketing taxes on cigarettes to fewer young people taking up the habit. She will be joined at the hearing by high school students from the Albany Leadership Charter School for Girls.
"Pharmacies are places of health, and tobacco does not belong in a place of health," Rightmyer said. "Pharmacists are one of the most accessible health care providers that we have in our community. People can speak with them. They provide flu shots. Blood pressure can be checked. They provide health advice."
Nationwide, "pharmacies are marketing themselves as places of health, and it's incongruous that they sell tobacco when it's been shown to cause death," Rightmyer said.
The Albany County law points out that each year 13,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with lung cancer and 9,400 men and women statewide died of the disease.
In 2008, San Francisco became the first municipality in the nation to ban tobacco sales at pharmacies. A year later, a similar law took effect in Boston. Ten municipalities in Massachusetts require tobacco-free pharmacies, she said.
Rightmyer said she met with the Albany County Board of Health last fall to win its support.
For Michael Rosen of the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, a trade association representing retail food stores, the part of the law banning tobacco products in supermarkets that also contain pharmacies, is troubling. Of the 19 Hannafords and Price Choppers in the county, 11 have pharmacies, he said.
"The argument is, if you sell or dispense prescription drugs, it is confusing to the public if you also sell tobacco products," Rosen said. "In these stores, tobacco is not sold from the pharmacy. Pharmacists never handle tobacco. It is sold in other parts of the stores.
Supermarkets typically carry 50,000 product items, "some are healthy and some may not be, such as soda and snack foods," he said. "The public knows the difference. In our view, in a free society, people should be allowed to choose. It's the government telling the shopper where they have to go."
Price Chopper and Hannaford have made "strong efforts to guard against underage sale of tobacco to minors," he said. The training of cashiers has been certified by health officials. "If the bill were to pass, you would take some of the most diligent and safe retailers out of the business."
Kirby Hannan of K. T. Hannan Public Affairs, a lobbying firm in Albany that represents Hannaford supermarkets, said of the proposed law, "We're definitely watching it, concerned about it, but not opposed to it." He said he's interested to "see how it plays out at the public hearing."
Reach Carol DeMare at 454-5431 or [email protected].
The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. in the Cahill Room on the first floor at 112 State St., Albany, the county office building. | <urn:uuid:28f55520-145c-4123-a6bf-76e358d6e9ee> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.timesunion.com/default/article/Keeping-tobacco-out-of-drugstores-1392496.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970641 | 1,034 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Gadhafi warns of 'long-drawn war' after airstrikes by U.S.,
Sun Mar 20, 2011 08:46
Gadhafi warns of 'long-drawn war' after airstrikes by U.S., allies By the CNN Wire StaffMarch 20, 2011
Tripoli, Libya (CNN) -- Libyan ruler Moammar Gadhafi promised "a long-drawn war" Sunday after an international coalition hammered the nation's air defense as part of an operation to enforce a no-fly zone.
Gadhafi said the strikes were a confrontation between the Libyan people and "the new Nazis."
"You have proven to the world that you are not civilized, that you are terrorists -- animals attacking a safe nation that did nothing against you," Gadhafi said in a televised speech.
Throughout the address, an image of a golden fist crushing a model plane that said "USA" filled the screen.
At the same time Gadhafi spoke, his regime was shelling the city of Misrata on Sunday morning using tanks, artillery and cannons, a witness said.
Tripoli resident describes experience
U.S. fires missiles on Libya
Gadhafi responds to air strikes
Gallery: Civil war in Libya "They are destroying the city," said the witness, who is not being identified for safety reasons. He said rebels were fighting back.
Sounds of heavy gunfire could be heard during a telephone conversation with the man. There was no immediate word on casualties.
International military coalition targeted air defense positions near the capital for a second day Sunday.
Some Libyans welcomed the American, French and British military forces.
Others remained fearful of Gadhafi.
Libyans are "afraid to come out because when they do, he attacked them very, very severely," a woman in Tripoli said Sunday. "This is putting terror in all neighborhoods."
The multinational military forces launched the attacks Saturday, convinced that Gadhafi was not adhering to a cease-fire mandated by the United Nations.
American and British ships and submarines fired more than 110 Tomahawk cruise missiles and hit about 20 Libyan defense targets in western portions of the country, U.S. Vice Adm. William Gortney said at a Pentagon briefing.
Nineteen U.S. warplanes, including stealth bombers and fighter jets, conducted strike operations in Libya on Sunday morning, officials said.
Tomahawk cruise missiles are unmanned and fly close to the ground, steering around natural and man-made obstacles to hit a target programmed into them before launch.
A senior U.S. military official, who was not authorized to speak on the record, said the cruise missiles landed near the city of Misrata and the capital, Tripoli.
Scores of missiles were fired in the pre-dawn darkness, and the exact results of the mission were not immediately clear. The United States is expected to conduct a damage assessment of the sites.
The salvo, in an operation dubbed "Odyssey Dawn," was meant "to deny the Libyan regime from using force against its own people," Gortney said.
British Defense Secretary Liam Fox said the Royal Air Force deployed Tornado GR4 fast jets, which flew 3,000 miles from the United Kingdom and back -- making the venture the longest-range bombing mission conducted by the force since the Falklands conflict in 1982.
British Prime Minister David Cameron said the international mission "is necessary, it is legal, and it is right."
"I believe we should not stand aside while this dictator murders his own people," Cameron said late Saturday night.
Warplane falls from sky
Libya cease-fire ignored
France convenes summit on Libya crisis
Libya forces advance on main rebel base RELATED TOPICS Libya United Nations Security Council Middle East Conflict But Gadhafi remained defiant, saying Libya will fight back against undeserved "naked aggression."
In a statement broadcast on state TV, his military said the strikes killed 48 people -- "mostly women, children and religious clerics."
"The majority of these attacks were on public areas, hospitals and schools. They frightened the children and women near those areas that were subject to this aggression," the military said.
CNN could not immediately confirm the claim.
The first international strike against Gadhafi's military took place Saturday when French fighter jets fired at a military vehicle.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has called the regime's violence against civilians "murderous madness."
But China's foreign ministry said Sunday it did not agree with the use of force in international relations. And Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez also denounced the military intervention.
"They (the United States) want to appropriate the oil in Libya; they don't care about anyone's life in that region," Chavez said.
Gadhafi vowed to open weapons depots and said the U.N. charter provides the nation the right to defend itself in a "war zone." He has also issued messages to international powers and said Libyans are ready to die for him.
Some residents said they could receive weapons to fight back.
"We received a phone call around 3 a.m. that everyone should head out in the streets," a woman in Tripoli said. "Normal civilians are being able to have machine guns and take anti-aircraft machine guns ... to fire back at the airplanes."
In Misrata, a witness said Gadhafi's forces are targeting fuel and power stations to make citizens believe the damage is being done by coalition forces. The witness, who was not identified for security reasons, said people celebrated allied airstrikes on loyalist positions in the city.
CNN could not verify the account.
In the city of Benghazi -- a stronghold for rebels that was attacked by Gadhafi forces -- fighter jets flew overhead Sunday. It was not immediately clear whom the jets belonged to.
U.S. President Barack Obama is planning for the U.S. portion of the military action in Libya to only last for a few days.
"After that we'll take more of a supporting role," said a senior administration official who was not authorized to speak about sensitive military matters.
Obama authorized U.S. military force on what happened to be the eighth anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq.
In the next few days, U.S. military officials expect to hand over control to a coalition commander. Canada and Italy are also part of the coalition.
Violence has raged in Libya following protests calling for democracy and demanding an end to Gadhafi's almost 42-year-long rule. The protests have been met by force from the Gadhafi regime, and some members of his military defected to the opposition.
Another witness in Tripoli said she's terrified about how Gadhafi might respond to the airstrikes.
"We're scared. We're not sure what will happen next," she said. "To be honest, I'm scared for my life."
CNN's Nic Robertson, Arwa Damon, Yousif Basil, Chris Lawrence, Jill Dougherty, Elise Labott, Ed Henry, Jim Bittermann, Paula Newton and Richard Roth contributed to this report
STOP THE U.S. WAR AGAINST LIBYA AND BAHRAIN! The International Action Center calls on all anti-war and social justice activists to call Emergency Response STOP THE U.S. WAR AGAINST LIBYA AND BAHRAIN... more
The U.S.A. And Imperial Suicide Jul. 11 2011 -Posted by Bill Bonner Back when the Beach boys were singing, the U.S. was a winner. Image by Epiclectic via Flickr We always take my car ‘cause it’s... more
Tutu: Bush, Blair Should Face Trial at the Hague By DAVID STRINGER Associated Press LONDON September 2, 2012 (AP) Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Desmond Tutu called Sunday for Tony Blair and George Bush... more
Arab League condemns broad bombing campaign in Libya Video: The Pentagon held a briefing about operation "Odyssey Dawn." Vice Admiral William Gortney gave statement on the specific goals of the... more
Turkey and France clash over Libya air campaign Tension mounts over military action as Ankara accuses Sarkozy of pursuing French interests over liberation of Libyan people Ian Traynor in Brussels... more | <urn:uuid:8ae3a93a-962e-49af-93f8-ba595171a0b9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://disc.yourwebapps.com/discussion.cgi?disc=219621;article=53966;title=Death%20Row%20News%20to%20fight%20the%20Death%20Penalty | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962359 | 1,706 | 1.546875 | 2 |
U.S. seeks proposals for offshore wind projects
Coastal Review Online
In what’s seen as a significant first step toward developing wind energy off the N.C. coast, the federal government has asked for project proposals for three offshore areas, one off the Outer Banks and two near Wilmington.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, part of the U.S. Department of Interior, has identified an area 6 miles off Kitty Hawk and two areas 7 to 13 miles from Cape Fear as having potential for commercial wind energy. The three areas total about 1,400 square miles.
This week’s “Call for Information and Nominations” is meant to gauge the industry’s interest in developing wind projects in the areas. It will be followed with a formal announcement in the Federal Register along with a request for public comments for the environmental assessment that will be done on wind-energy development in the any of the three areas.
These are the first steps in the federal planning process that could lead to leasing all or part of the areas to companies that would build the giant wind turbines.
North Carolina is considered to have to strongest and most consistent wind on the East Coast for commercial wind-energy development. Studies have concluded that if it were harnessed to make electricity that wind could theoretically supply all of the state’s energy needs.
“This is good news and an important step in North Carolina’s responsible development of our offshore energy resources which will move our nation closer to energy independence,” Gov. Beverly Perdue said yesterday in a press release. “The development of offshore wind energy diversifies the state’s energy sector, creates much needed jobs in our coastal communities and positions our state for a 21st century economy.”
Following the formal announcement in the Federal Register, the bureau will accept public comments for 45 days about environmental and social issues that should be addressed in the assessment. Comments can be transmitted electronically. Click on the “Open Comment Documents” link and follow the instructions to view relevant materials and submit comments.
Comments can also be mailed to The Office of Renewable Energy Programs,
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 381 Elden Street, HM 1328, Herndon, Va., 20170-4817.
The bureau will soon schedule public information meetings to provide additional opportunities to comment. Once scheduled, information about the public information meetings will be found online.
Other East Coast states have already gone through this process, and leasing has moved forward in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Virginia, noted Zak Keith, the offshore wind coordinator for the N.C. Sierra Club.
“The bottom line is that we are one step closer to developing North Carolina’s tremendous wind resource off our coast,” he said in a press release. “We have a strategic energy reserve right off our coast and we don’t have to risk an oil spill to get to it.”
On the cover: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers photo.
See what people are saying:
Join the discussion: | <urn:uuid:f4a533b8-f040-4591-8595-69ce4dc4c4a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://outerbanksvoice.com/2012/12/13/u-s-seeks-proposals-for-offshore-wind-projects/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931103 | 637 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Yolo County's Integrated Waste Management department has a free program for senior citizens and the disabled -a free Saturday pickup service of hazardous materials like old medication, syringes, batteries and paint.
Pamela Hedrick with Yolo County says they're able to recycle some of the stuff, "If people are giving things like paint or old cleaning supplies that are still in the original containers half-full or fuller, they go into our re-use facility."The materials that are kept are available to the public for free. Hedrick says drivers currently make two pickups a week from the disabled and seniors. The county's goal this year is to make five times that many of collections. | <urn:uuid:84854bb2-ebd6-42c6-a4ca-a2621a7c0071> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.capradio.org/articles/2012/09/04/program-gives-seniors-and-disabled-a-way-to-get-rid-of-toxic-waste | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967561 | 139 | 1.703125 | 2 |
I made this as a birthday card for my sister, but it's also a great cheap way to display photos without having to buy a frame. It would also make a lovely personalised bauble or gift box.
Step 1: What you need
The first thing you need is six photographs to make your cube. They will end up cropped square in the middle, so to make sure I got the crop I wanted I used the attached mask in photoshop to make all my images fit the same square.
You will also need a knife, cutting board, double-sided tape (glue if you prefer), metal safety ruler (don't risk fingers!) and something to score with. I used a parchment tool, but an empty ballpoint pen or something similar would probably do. This is to make sure you get a good, clean fold in your prints.
Step 2: Marking out for the scoring
Measure the height of the sqaure photo and work out how much to subtract from either end of the width. On 6x4 prints, this will be an inch, or 25.4mm, so mark this at either end, top and bottom.
Step 3: Score the prints
Here you can see the parchment tool in operation, making a nice indentation rather than the cut scoring card with a knife would make.
Step 4: Cut off the corners of the flaps
Now cut off the corners of the flaps, so as to make it easier to stick together later on. What you can't see in this picture of course, is the hand firmly holding the ruler so that the knife doesn't fly off accross the print and into your leg.
Step 5: Fold the flaps
Now you can see where things were going with the scoring and cutting. Note the difference between a perfect corner on the left and the slight excess on the right corner. It's better to err on this side though, otherwise you might cut through the square which will show.
Step 6: Stick on the double-sided tape
Now stick the tape on the flaps, getting as close to the edge of the square and into the corners as you can. The bits of tape will ideally be trapeziod-shaped, which just means alternating diagonal cuts. You can make up too-short tape with little parrallelograms.
Step 7: Lay out the cube net
Here's the science bit: lay out the sides of the cube, paying attention to which pictures will end up next to each other and where all the flaps will attach. If you havn't made any paper cubes from a net before it might help to image search for "cube net", print one out and try making it so you understand how the sides join up.
Step 8: Stick the flaps down for the net
Now peel off that tape backing and get sticking! To do a neat job, it's best to look at the front edge where the pictures join rather than doing it from the back.
Step 9: Fold it all up!
This could be the hardest part, I don't know as I have so far left it flat so I can put it in an envelope. That's where cube-making practice comes in handy. You might need to use a pin in the corners to push down the last flap
The final product is very light, so it's a good idea to put in a ball or blu-tack, a penny or somesuch weight so that it doesn't blow accross the room with the slightest breeze. You could also tape a little loop of string inside poking out of one corner to make it into a hanging cube; from the ceiling or even a christmas tree! | <urn:uuid:fd331355-09f2-43cf-b748-cad948132b62> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.instructables.com/id/photo-cube---frameless%2C-cheap-and-easy!/?ALLSTEPS | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949534 | 760 | 1.625 | 2 |
I don't know if anyone can help, but a point in right direction would be great.
I'm a language teacher and I would like to build a set of very cheap digital sound recorders for use by students. At the moment the whole class listen to the tape recorder at the same time and so have no power to stop, start and rewind as their individual needs demand. I would eventually like each person to have a digital player/recorder with headphones which first, can all plug into a sort of central console so that i can record a listening exercise onto all of them at the same time. They then take the player/recorder and listen to the exercise, stopping and playing again as often as necessary. I'm hoping it will work out cheapish, as they will only be required to record up to 1 minute of speech and don't need a speaker
I know it's a tall order, but does anyone know where I can get information on how to do this? | <urn:uuid:f8e3eb8e-5902-4e92-bb56-6735499a226e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.electronics-lab.com/forum/index.php?topic=1673.msg10235 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981542 | 200 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Back in the '60s, what would become the Internet was invented to help researchers at major universities communicate during the Space Race. Today its secondary function, behind the efficient distribution of porn and pirated music, is for people who don’t have sex to endlessly debate the very things that prevent them from having sex: including the Lord of the Rings movies and home theater technology.
You may have missed it (in fact, you almost certainly missed it), but there has been a wee bit of a tempest in a teapot over the new Blu-ray editions of the extended Lord of the Rings trilogy. Apparently, before this set reached the stores, some screen shots from the first film surfaced that showed a sickly green cast over entire scenes. They did look horrible. Allegedly, director Peter Jackson had redone the color grading for the first film and, if the Internet screen shots were to be believed, the cumulative effect was horrific, like The Matrix had invaded Middle Earth.
Put simply for those of you not hip to film lingo, “color grading” is the process of changing the color balance of a scene after it was shot. It may simply be a matter of unifying the color of different shots in the same scene, but it can be used creatively to impose a particular “color scheme” over an entire movie. This is especially common these days in fantasy and science fiction. The greenish hue of the Matrix films is an easy example to spot, but it’s being done to almost every non-animated movie you see, whether you notice it or not.
And it isn’t as if color grading were new to the Lord of the Rings films. All three films had been extensively color graded before they ever hit theaters early in the previous decade (ye gods, was it really that long ago?). The second two films were able to benefit from Wingnut's experience while creating the first, and Fellowship of the Ring was not originally graded with the same consistency as the others. Supposedly, Peter Jackson went back and reworked Fellowship to give it an end-to-end color grading similar to The Two Towers and Return of the King.
I have the new Blu-ray set in my hands. Well, not at this second or else it would be rather difficult to type. I have, however, had the chance to watch the first film and I’m happy to report the Chicken Littles should be looking a little red in the face, because while the color grading of Fellowship of the Ring has been reworked, the horrific Matrix-like green cast is nowhere to be seen. The picture quality is gorgeous, especially in comparison to the Blu-ray release of the theatrical version, the best this movie has looked since I saw it on the big screen in 2001. Fine detail is nicely reproduced and the overall picture has that lovely film-like quality that I demand from my Blu-ray experience. | <urn:uuid:c36be672-5f38-4c3d-9b4d-3fa407d5bf35> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogcritics.org/video/article/color-grading-lord-of-the-rings/ | 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 | 0.973826 | 603 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Posted on Tue, Jan. 11, 2011
last updated: January 11, 2011 04:37:45 PM
WASHINGTON — Capitol Hill lawmakers, still reeling from the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., will get detailed security briefings Wednesday, but experts and lawmakers themselves concede that not a lot more can be done to protect them.
Providing tight presidential-level security for 535 members of Congress, virtually all of whom scatter across the country every weekend and for extended recesses, is "nothing short of impossible," said Ralph Basham, a 28-year Secret Service veteran who directed the service in 2003-06.
Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., stressed a point that many of his colleagues share: "What has to be protected is the citizen's right to unfiltered access to us, and vice versa."
At the Capitol, he said, lawmakers interact with witnesses whose testimony has been carefully written or lobbyists with sophisticated pitches. But back home, "we've got to be able to get out on the streets and talk to people. They can't talk to the president or the IRS or immigration officials. We are their link to the government."
That makes it hard to put lawmakers in the kind of security "bubble" the president gets from the Secret Service.
Even if someone could devise a workable plan to protect everyone in Congress, "It's tremendously expensive, and it's unclear it's even warranted," said Chris Falkenberg, a former Secret Service agent and the president of New York-based Insite Security, whose clients include corporations and rich people.
Still, there's a general sense on Capitol Hill that more needs to be done in the wake of Saturday's shooting of Giffords at a Tucson shopping center. The gunman killed six people and wounded 13 others.
About 800 members of Congress, their staffs and spouses tuned in to a conference call Sunday with Capitol Police, FBI and other security officials.
Newly elected lawmakers and their spouses were particularly worried about security threats, said House Democratic Caucus Chairman John Larson, D-Conn.
The 1,800-member U.S. Capitol Police force secures the Capitol complex, which includes the grounds and office buildings. Those entering office buildings pass through a metal detector, then go through a second checkpoint before they can get into the Capitol building itself.
Once inside, they go through another metal detector before being allowed to enter the chambers of the Senate or the House of Representatives.
Violent incidents are rare. The last was in 1998, when a gunman burst into an east front entrance open only to members of Congress and their staffs, and killed two police officers.
Capitol police won't discuss security tactics, and this week there's been no visible change in procedure for entering the buildings. There's a more visible police presence outside, however.
Back in congressional districts, lawmakers are advised to coordinate security efforts with local law enforcers, and many do. Kingston and others have suggested that in the wake of the Giffords shooting, Capitol Police should coordinate more closely with local law enforcement officials if there appear to be threats.
The way that Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., handles security at events in her southeastern Florida district is typical.
"We work with law enforcement to make sure they understand some people will be expressing an opposing viewpoint or frustration, and that is fine," said Jonathan Beeton, Wasserman Schultz's communications director.
"We want, and the police want, security to be there to deal with a problem that may arise," he said, "but not have it be such a heavy show of force that people would feel intimidated to show up.
"If someone becomes a threat or is intentionally disruptive, then we ask law enforcement personnel to escort them out of the event."
Such incidents are rare, however. Monday, Wasserman Schultz joined two other South Florida House members for a ceremonial swearing-in on the steps of the Fort Lauderdale courthouse. About 100 people attended the outdoor event, and there were no incidents.
Since the Giffords shooting, lawmakers have sought other ways to enhance security. Rep. Robert Brady of Pennsylvania, the top Democrat on the House Administration Committee, wants to make it a federal crime to threaten a member of Congress or staff. Others are discussing whether to give the Capitol Police more resources.
But security consultant Falkenberg cautioned that change probably needs to be nuanced. Increasing the size of the police force or giving it more duties at some point becomes impractical, and could require creating a virtually new agency.
Instead, he said, police should focus on threat assessment.
"That's a mechanism Capitol Police have already," Falkenberg said, "and I suspect it will dramatically increase."
Former Secret Service chief Basham suggested that instead of adding another layer of security between politicians and the people, Congress should consider dedicating resources to training lawmakers and staff on "recovery and response": how to react to an attack.
"Cover, evacuate, get them out," Basham said. "As long as there are weapons out there and people have access to politicians, there are going to be possibilities."
MORE FROM MCCLATCHY
For more McClatchy politics coverage visit Planet Washington
McClatchy Newspapers 2010 | <urn:uuid:2fd2e452-c7f9-40d2-aea6-fe69b51c2aa7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/01/11/v-print/106597/how-might-security-be-tightened.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963537 | 1,082 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Coach Development and Education Program Goals
1) To establish and maintain a classification of coaches that allows for identification of personnel based on characteristics deemed important by USA Judo for coaching activities at all levels, from grass roots local levels to top-level international competition;
2) To establish and deliver a program of development and education for all coaches within the system that will provide meaningful learning experiences to them to improve their skills as coaches, and to meet criteria necessary for advancement in the system;
3) To establish and monitor a mechanism for continual updating of individual coaching experiences relevant to placement within the system.
Sub-Committee Members: Pat Burris (Chair), Humberto Lopez, Sgt. Major Mayfield, Grace Jividen and Sami Tadahara.
Overview of the Program
All individuals wishing to work in the USA Judo Development Committee's activities as coaches must make application as a coach to the Coach Development and Education Subcommittee. Applicant's experiences are reviewed and used as a basis for classification according to the system as outlined below. Only coaches who meet all criteria, including service and educational requirements, will be allowed to be a coach. Coaches will update their personnel files at the end of each calendar year, and reclassified for the following year. | <urn:uuid:e7b647e2-2c96-4856-8252-4327b77be116> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.teamusa.org/USA-Judo/Coaches/Coach-Development-and-Education-Program.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954418 | 254 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Being quite outgoing and sociable, I love social media. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn – you name it, I know it.
I remember the month I joined Facebook in 2008. As friend requests were sent and received, I remember the joyful feeling of being able to socialize with friends and family members without having to plan a reunion or attend an event. At the time, I was a stay-at-home-mom, and Facebook was a connector for my group of friends very early.
I recently posed a question to our Facebook fan page and received hundreds of responses to one simple question:
If you could suggest a side item for restaurants to offer with their children’s meals, what would it be?
Below is just a sampling of the responses:
Grapes, Salad, Baked Potato, Baked Sweet Potato Fries, Honey Glazed Carrot Sticks, Steamed Vegetables, Black Beans, Celery Sticks & Peanut Butter, Pretzels & Nutella, Yogurt, Green Beans, Whole Grain Pasta Salad, Cup of Soup, Broccoli, Baked Sweet Potato, Strawberries, Blueberries, Apples, Pineapples, Unsweetened Applesauce, Graham Crackers, Mandarin Oranges, Whole Grain Mac & Cheese, Banana, Mixed Nuts, Brown Rice, Couscous, Pickles, Veggie Straws, Cucumber Slices, String Cheese, Apples Cut Like Fries
The bottom line is this: Fried Chicken Fingers and Fried Potatoes are not good for kids. Or anyone for that matter. And in offering a limited menu for children with unhealthy choices, you are excluding families that may want to dine out at your restaurant but do not because of the children’s menu. Families want choices – Chicken Fingers/Fries, Pizza, Hot Dog are quickly becoming second & third choices. My 7 year old knows these are unhealthy choices. She chooses fruit over French fries and enjoys a salad over chips. It’s all about choice. (I'm still working on her brother)
The list above was generated in just a couple of hours on Facebook. Imagine what restaurants could cook up if they put just a little effort in developing a delicious, healthy kids’ menu that offered choices. The effort is certainly made for the adult menu – why not make mini versions of a few of the adult meals?
The National Restaurant Association recently launched the Kids LiveWell program in conjunction with Healthy Dining. The Kids LiveWell program features restaurants that offer healthy choices on their kids’ menus. Having these choices available and teaching our children how to make healthy choices when eating will encourage a lifestyle of better health for our kids. Who can say no to that?
Need help? Contact the National Restaurant Association about becoming a Kids LiveWell participant. Check out our Pinterest boards for ideas on how to make your children’s meals healthy and exciting! And will have kids begging to go back to YOUR restaurant! Couple that with a stand-alone kids' special - and you've got a winning combination for families that WANT to dine out economically and healthfully.
Jennifer Bilbro is the Founder of OutToEatWithKids.com, an online resource and mobile application designed to help families search for economical & healthy children’s meals. Visit OutToEatWithKids.com for more information. Find us on Facebook. Twitter, and Pinterest. | <urn:uuid:2e4b66df-9344-421b-82d3-f6f7950c542a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://columbia-sc.patch.com/blog_posts/you-want-fries-with-that | 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 | 0.935683 | 708 | 1.546875 | 2 |
With just 0.8% unemployment in the borough, competition for staff in Basingstoke and Deane is high:
89% of the borough’s employers say they have problems recruiting suitable staff
29% of local unemployed people do not have any qualifications.
Investing in the training and development of your current workforce is one of the easiest ways for you to ensure you have the right staff and skills for your business.
This section of the website takes you through the wide range of options available to employers, including apprenticeships, essential skills training, degrees and evening courses.
Adult and community learning
Basingstoke and Deane offers a wide range of adult and community learning opportunities, which may provide you and your staff with a flexible way of learning.
You can learn anything from an introduction to computing or web design, languages, setting up your own business, maths and much more. Many of these courses lead to qualifications.
Click here for a list of adult and community learning providers in Basingstoke and Deane.
Apprenticeships offer training in a wide range of areas from business administration to specialist skills like engineering. They make a contribution to your business from day one and help you retain motivated people to help your business stay ahead.
Click here to find out how Apprenticeships can help your business.
Colleges and university
We have two main colleges in Basingstoke and Deane: Basingstoke College of Technology and Queen Mary’s College where you can study from GCSE to degree level.
The University of Winchester is now also in the town offering Foundation degrees and much more.
Click here to learn more about the learning opportunities available at these institutes.
One in four adults needs to improve their English and maths skills to get on at work, or in the home. If you feel your staff could benefit from improving their numeracy, literacy or communication skills, there are lots of courses to choose from. Any essential skills courses your staff attend will be FREE and many will help them to work towards a first qualification.
Click here to find out how the Essential Skills Support Unit (ESSU) can help your business.
Or contact their Outreach Worker, Gillian Bennett on:
learndirect Advice is a free and confidential telephone help-line and website for adults looking for impartial information and advice on courses and careers.
Our 200 qualified advisors can give information on around one million courses, plus advice on funding learning.
Click here for more information, or call free on
0800 100 900 seven days a week between 8am and 10pm.
Basingstoke Consortium – promoting partnership between education and business
The Basingstoke Consortium brings together representatives from secondary schools, colleges, training providers and local industry to promote more effective education and training for young people.
The Consortium aims to:
- Extend and enhance the activities of young people in learning related to work
- Improve local understanding of skills issues
- Agree priorities for action with local economic development partners.
Recent Consortium activities include:
- Extended work placements for young people
- Employability / taster days
- Business challenge
- Young Enterprise
- The local labour market website project.
If you are a local business and would like to know more about working with the Basingstoke Consortium to promote work related learning to young people please contact: Jackie Calvert
Whether you’re looking for a full-time, part-time or day release course, GCSE, NVQ or professional qualification, hundreds of courses are available throughout Basingstoke.
Click here to start your search. | <urn:uuid:f72b78d5-76b0-4a02-8add-2f9845310e3a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/browse/community-and-living/education-and-learning/training-and-development/learnopps.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931132 | 750 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Buy an Axon, Axon II, or Axon Mote and build a great robot, while helping to support SoR.
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
This is a question directed mostly towards the beginners out there.If you were to buy a device, say a motor controller or a microcontroller, would you feel more intimidated by it if it was colored black?I mean, even if it looked cooler in the color black, would you be more afraid of learning how to use it as opposed to the normal green color?(I'm trying to understand the psychology of PCB colors )
You could categorize the boards by colour. Processor boards in black, motor controllers in blue, servo controllers in red, sensors in yellow etc.
this is the first micro controller i hadIt looks cooler black but i personally think green is more professional
Straining to reach for any impressions on a black PCB, I do get a vague sense that a device on black PCB is somehow "sturdier" or less susceptible to damage. I can't explain it but that is a very vague sense I have. This could both be a positive and a negative.
Admin, Can you render a picture of the Axon 2 in black for us?
Personally, I think black PCBs look totally BA
Started by ArcMan
Started by dellagd
Started by JT
Started by ErikY
« 1 2 » | <urn:uuid:114d3257-eb86-41e3-8420-9115f6279423> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.societyofrobots.com/robotforum/index.php?topic=7675.msg59284 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952785 | 300 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Four semi-historic houses bordering Lake Eola Park will soon be either demolished or given away, but if you really want one, you'd better act fast.
The houses need to be moved to new lots — a costly proposition — and prospective owners only have until Dec. 28 to put $100,000 in escrow to show they're serious.
"After working with a number of house-moving companies to determine the feasibility of moving these homes, it is quite clear that it will be extraordinarily expensive, and it is likely the structures can only be moved a short distance," Greg Chelius of The Trust for Public Land wrote in an e-mail to about 60 would-be owners on Friday.
The Trust for Public Land is helping the city of Orlando acquire the land to expand Lake Eola Park. City officials wanted to buy the property in 2009 to stop a proposed office tower from being built there, but there was no money in the budget. The nonprofit organization stepped in and made the purchase.
In August, the City Council voted to exercise an exclusive option to purchase the property from The Trust, at a total cost of $8.5 million. But Mayor Buddy Dyer's administration wants the land for additional recreational space — not the old houses.
There are five houses that are surrounded on three sides by Orlando's signature downtown park, but only four are available.
The city is keeping one of the homes — a 4,300-square-foot house The Trust bought for $2.2 million in 2009 — to use for community meetings and a new park office. Of the five houses, it's the one closest to the lake. Like many older buildings, it needs a little work, including plaster and wood-rot repairs, city spokeswoman Cassandra Lafser said.
The other four were built between 1915 and 1925, and are surrounded on three sides by the park. Three are along East Washington Street, and the other is on Eola Drive.
Some residents pushed to save all of the houses, perhaps for some type of public use. But Dyer and other city leaders objected, saying the city can't afford to maintain the aging structures.
In August, The Trust was deluged with calls and e-mails from people who wanted a free house. But desire isn't enough.
Chelius said any takers would be responsible for all expenses, including hiring a moving company and paying to temporarily relocate electric lines and other utilities that hang too low to allow a house to drive past. That doesn't include the cost of a new lot, repairs and permitting fees.
Anyone who has a vacant lot and the money must, by Dec. 28, send The Trust a check for $100,000 to be held in escrow, along with the location of the new lot and the proposed route.
The buildings are expected to be either moved or demolished before March.
"If there are no takers we will salvage everything of value in the homes and then demolish them," Chelius said.
There are currently tenants in some of the buildings, and security guards are keeping an eye on the property to discourage trespassers. | <urn:uuid:dd6605d9-7c2c-4d1d-a0f8-d03dcbd7b067> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-12-17/news/os-lake-eola-houses-20121217_1_houses-lake-eola-park-public-land | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972433 | 639 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Windswept Hood River a town for all seasons
Appeared in print: Sunday, May 8, 2011, page E1
HOOD RIVER — This small Columbia River town, an hour’s drive east of Portland, is known to most Oregonians for two things — its fruit orchards and its wind surfing.
The orchards are at their full glory twice a year. The first round is just coming to an end. A cloak of white and pink blossoms, arriving later this year than is usual, still blankets the Hood River Valley with its sweet floral scent. It promises a bumper crop of apples, cherries and pears come autumn, when roadside fruit stands line the country roads, wineries release their new vintages and harvest festivals seem to take place every weekend.
River sports lovers, meanwhile, are already impatient for summer’s warmth. A wind-tunnel effect on the Columbia River Gorge has made Hood River a perfect location for wind surfing since the sport took off in popularity in the early 1970s. (It was invented around 1964.) Today, Hood River is the headquarters of the U.S. Windsurfing Association and is considered by many to be the “wind-surfing capital of the world.”
But wind surfing is no longer the only game in town. Kite boarding made its debut at the start of the 21st century, and now, on any given day, there are as many or more recreationists harnessing themselves to giant kites (and soaring on and over the river) as there are wind surfers.
The place to learn wind surfing or kite boarding is Port Marina Park, opposite a large, sandy spit where the Hood River merges with the Columbia. This is the hub of the Columbia River boarding scene. Several companies offer budget-priced lessons from their trucks, but Hood River WaterPlay (www.hoodriverwaterplay.com) is the only one with a permanent structure.
Around the town
The town of about 7,000 citizens is charming. Flowing over a hillside on the south side of the river, just above Interstate 84, the downtown core features a four-block concentration of early- to mid-20th century buildings. Oak Street is the main drag; its merchants include a disproportionate number of outfitters, including specialists in whitewater kayaking, bicycling, fly fishing and skiing — all of them local favorites — as well as wind surfing and kite boarding.
A popular hangout for residents and visitors alike is the Full Sail Brewing Co. (www.fullsailbrewing.com), an employee-owned pioneer in craft brewing. The town also has several fine restaurants and a couple of renovated historic hotels.
And it has several intriguing small museums, notably a handful of art studios, a local history gallery and a new Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum (www.waaamuseum.org). The International Museum of Carousel Art has an amazing collection, but it is presently in storage as it awaits a new permanent home.
One of Oregon’s finest museums is located 20 miles east of Hood River, just off I-84 near The Dalles. The Columbia Gorge Discovery Center (www.gorgediscovery.org) tells the geological and cultural history of the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, which this year is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It also has sections on the 1803-06 Lewis and Clark expedition and the region’s more recent human history, all in an impressive facility at the edge of the great gorge.
Hood River Valley
Extending south from Hood River is its namesake valley, six miles wide and 15 miles long to the northern flank of Oregon’s highest peak, 11,240-foot Mount Hood. The three forks of the Hood River support the agricultural industry, which yields cherries and apricots in July; peaches, Bartlett pears and Gravenstein apples in August; Anjou and Bosc pears, Red and Golden Delicious apples in September; Heirloom and Honeycrisp apples in October.
At this time of year, a great place to get a perspective on the Hood River Valley is Panorama Point, a county-maintained viewpoint just off state Highway 35 on East Side Road. Keep an eye out for a directional sign just a couple of miles out of the town of Hood River, and come in the morning to take in the southwesterly view up-valley. Be sure to look to the north, as well, where Washington’s 12,307-foot Mount Adams, a magnificent snow-capped peak dwarfed only by Mount Rainier, dominates the landscape.
At the head of the valley, the hamlet of Parkdale is the inland terminus of the 100-year-old Mount Hood Railroad (www.mthoodrr.com), which plies a 22-mile route from Hood River most days from spring through fall. There are dinner trains, weekend brunch trains, murder-mystery trains and simple excursion trains. It’s a great way to explore the valley in comfort.
Eat and sleep
My favorite place to dine in Hood River is quaint Stonehedge Gardens & Bistro (www.stonehedgegardens.com), nestled in a private woodland on a bluff at the west end of town. Owner Mike Caldwell, a Hood River native, used his experiences as a former winery cellar master in writing his mystery novel, “Varietal Tendencies.” The restaurant menu is strong on Northwest cuisine with Mediterranean and Asian-fusion influences.
Also very good is the Celilo Restaurant and Bar (www.celilorestaurant.com), named for the great rapids, a traditional Indian salmon-fishing site, that were flooded by The Dalles Dam construction in 1957. The moderately priced menu is especially strong in pastas and other Italian-styled plates. Meanwhile, the Sixth Street Bistro & Loft (www.sixthstreetbistro.com) serves outstanding beef and pork from local farms along with Thai curries that delight vegetarian diners.
Two historical lodging options stand front and center. In downtown Hood River, the Hood River Hotel (www.hoodriverhotel.com), celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2011, has 41 boutique, European-style rooms, a cozy restaurant and a resident ghost. Nightly rates range from $99 to $159. At the west end of town is the venerable Columbia Gorge Hotel (www.columbiagorgehotel.com), which welcomed presidents and Hollywood actors when it was built in 1921 beside a 208-foot waterfall on the brand-new Columbia Gorge Scenic Highway. Rates here begin at $139 and go as high as $249 in summer.
John Gottberg Anderson can be reached at [email protected] or through his blog, nwpassages.wordpress.com.
<div class="QuickFacts" id="DTElementID-26418648"> <p class="QuickFacts-QuickFacts_Head"> IF YOU GO </p> <p class="QuickFacts-QuickFacts_Text_Bold_Nested"> Hood River County Chamber of Commerce: 720 E. Port Marina Drive, Hood River; 541-386-2000 or 800-366-3530, www.hoodriver.org </p> </div> | <urn:uuid:50828454-6c45-473c-a5c2-f633edaa6535> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://special.registerguard.com/web/livinglifestyles/26206750-41/river-hood-www-columbia-wind.html.csp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933707 | 1,544 | 1.578125 | 2 |
The lovely lady who cares for my children when I work is peeved. A few weeks ago her brother-in-law moved in with her family to live closer to work. He cleans up after himself and makes pleasant conversation. The problem is he’s often home first in the evenings but never starts a pot of spaghetti or tosses a salad. Instead he waits for his hosts to cook and serve him dinner. They are just as tired and hungry as he is at the end of the day. He can see this. It makes him uncomfortable enough for my babysitter to notice. He shifts in his chair. He almost-gets-up five-times-a-minute. But he never learned to cook and now he is stuck between cowardice and lack of skill. What should he do? It’s obvious to his hosts. He should learn to cook.
I’m reading Rollo May’s wonderful The Courage to Create and came across the following quote:
If you do not express your own original ideas and listen to your own being, you will have betrayed yourself.
Also you will have betrayed our community in failing to make your contribution to the whole.
I thought about my babysitter’s brother-in-law’s failure to contribute for lack of courage to boil water.
This is where I am this morning, needing courage to contribute something to my community, something that is my own, that I have made or written. Like my babysitter’s brother-in-law I stand between cowardice and lack of skill. Rollo May reminded me Creative work is about feeding my Self and about contributing . If I do no creative work today I am letting more than myself down. I am failing to make my contribution to the whole.
Courage to do creative work comes and goes with mental energy. On days when I am lost my to-do-list (made in days past) saves me. It is my source of courage. Item #1 on my list: write three pages of long-hand dribble to get your mind flowing again. So today I will carry my notebook and write when I can– no pressure, except to put ink to paper.
As for my babysitter– she confronted her husband last night. You have to teach your brother how to cook, she said.
Today her brother-in-law will learn how to fry eggs. He’ll write the steps so he can repeat the feat tomorrow without help. Item #1 on his list: Remove 4 eggs from fridge. | <urn:uuid:38ed8771-6906-4eed-9d00-c46053c13606> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://creatingbrains.com/tag/courage-to-create/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97499 | 527 | 1.625 | 2 |
the great and allmighty atheist religion which teaches how the world was created by the flying spaghetti monster who happened to be drunk which thus explaines why bad things happen. the pastafarians follow the church of the flying spaghetti monster and when they go to heaven they will enjoy a beer volcano and a stripper factory, however in hell the beer is stale and the strippers have VD! in pastafarian terms agnostics are known as spagnostics and all prayers must end with RAmen. september 19th is the national talk like a pirate day and the religions founder Bobby Henderson has published a "Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster".
the 8 id realy rather you didnts are
1)I'd really rather you didn't act like a sanctimonious holier-than-thou ass when describing my noodly goodness. If some people don't believe in me, that's okay. Really, I'm not that vain. Besides, this isn't about them so don't change the subject.
2)I'd really rather you didn't use my existence as a means to oppress, subjugate, punish, eviscerate, and/or, you know, be mean to others. I don't require sacrifices, and purity is for drinking water, not people.
3)I'd really rather you didn't judge people for the way they look, or how they dress, or the way they talk, or, well, just play nice, Okay? Oh, and get this into your thick heads: woman = person. man = person. Samey = Samey. One is not better than the other, unless we're talking about fashion and I'm sorry, but I gave that to women and some guys who know the difference between teal and fuchsia.
4)I'd really rather you didn't indulge in conduct that offends yourself, or your willing, consenting partner of legal age AND mental maturity. As for anyone who might object, I think the expression is go f*** yourself, unless they find that offensive in which case they can turn off the TV for once and go for a walk for a change.
5)I'd really rather you didn't challenge the bigoted, misogynistic, hateful ideas of others on an empty stomach. Eat, then go after the b*******.
6)I'd really rather you didn't build multi million-dollar churches/temples/mosques/shrines to my noodly goodness when the money could be better spent (take your pick):
Living in peace, loving with passion, and lowering the cost of cable
I might be a complex-carbohydrate omniscient being, but I enjoy the simple things in life. I ought to know. I AM the creator
7)I'd really rather you didn't go around telling people I talk to you. You're not that interesting. Get over yourself. And I told you to love your fellow man, can't you take a hint?
8)I'd really rather you didn't do unto others as you would have them do unto you if you are into, um, stuff that uses a lot of leather/lubricant/Las Vegas. If the other person is into it, however (pursuant to #4), then have at it, take pictures, and for the love of Mike, wear a CONDOM! Honestly, it's a piece of rubber. If I didn't want it to feel good when you did it I would have added spikes, or something.
in the words of the flying spaghetti monster himself, (and written by Bobby Henderson, the creter of pastafarianism)
a new religion that worships Flying Spaghetti Monster, initially created to protest the Kansas State School Board's decision to teach "Intelligent Design" in schools.
Also known as the FSM cult
Codes of conduct:
# Prayers are ended with the word RAmen rather than Amen.
Benefits of conversion:
# Like the great noodles they worship, Flying Spaghetti Monsterists have flimsy moral standards.
# Promise of a stripper factory and a beer volcano in Heaven.
A rival faction, based on SPAM (Spaghetti & Pulsar Activating Meatballs), has formed and is calling for a Holy War against FSM. SPAMation claims to have the One True Letter to the Kansas School Board.
paw-stah-FAR-ee-an-ism n. the recent emergence of a well illustrated and expressed “belief” that all existence was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster through the use of its "noodly appendages."
Person A: "This hilarious and satirical movement (called pastafarianism) came about after the Kansas School Board moved to put spiritualist creationism on par with scientifically supported evolution in Kansas public schools."
Person B: "This movement/definition (of religion) lacks the necessary mention of its reliance upon supernatural authority and thus the inescapable role of faith, which has been defined as having the purpose of "giving credence to things that never happened."
Person C: "Of course, there's bias inherent in that definition as well but, suffice it to say; the primary role of faith is to demand that one ignore logic and suspend reason so as to accept things as true which violate proven laws of science and often have not a shred of supporting evidence."
The belief that a real prophet should be college educated
Look at that Bobby Henderson guy, he's a total believer of pastafarianism.
No he's not, he's just a college-educated prophet
Yeah yeah, whatever. | <urn:uuid:1d918f5f-17cd-4ee3-8cd7-1de0db9cc194> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pastafarianism&defid=2688078 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965648 | 1,170 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Get your chocolate fix and retain diet goals – ‘Healthy’ chocolate bars in the form of dairy free chocolate. We all know that eating chocolate is one of the biggest sins a dieter can make. Although because this delicious, dark, creamy snack is so hugely enticing, it can often be the perpetrator in making our diets go haywire.
If you are finding it difficult to diet without giving into the prevailing charms of chocolate than you’ll be pleased to know that it’s not all bad news and that you can actually satisfy your chocolate cravings and retain your target weight loss goals.
Dairy products contain calcium, which is good for strengthening bones and teeth and while babies and children require plenty of dairy to help grow strong and healthy bones and teeth, adults require considerably less dairy, as a diet too reliant on dairy produce can easily result in weight gain.
Therefore whilst a certain amount of dairy in a diet is good for one’s health, the dairy found in chocolate can be a big sinner in helping to expand our waistlines – The alternative? Opt for dairy free chocolate.
Milk chocolate, which contains dairy products, refined sugar, milk fats and quite possibly lard or hydrogenated oils, is by far the least healthy and most fattening type of chocolate.
Dairy free chocolate and unsweetened dark chocolate are the healthiest and least fattening chocolate for you, as not only does it contain the least amount of calories but it also bursting with antioxidants ready to zap the toxins from the body!
Whilst it’s significantly less healthy sibling, milk chocolate, is not only lagging well behind in the health stakes by containing considerably more calories than its non-dairy counterparts, but as dairy products block the absorption of the many antioxidants found naturally in raw cocoa powder, its nutritional value is considerably poorer.
The net result – If you are on a diet and a lack of chocolate is causing pain and misery, opt for dairy free chocolate options, although similar to all types of food and successful dieting, moderation and balance is the key.
Trion:Z United Kingdom | T: +44 (0) 844 561 6694 | F: +44 (0) 845 834 0975 | E: [email protected] | <urn:uuid:ccac33c6-0839-4ceb-ad30-baca2da3a99d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.trionz.co.uk/blog/index.php/is-there-such-a-thing-as-healthy-chocolate-bars/%20 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936397 | 477 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Is Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) starting to step away from his image as a relative GOP moderate? He’s now calling for a constitutional amendment to end birthright citizenship for the children of illegal immigrants, an idea that has become a cause célèbre on the right.
“But there’s another problem we have in this nation that I think is novel and needs to be fixed. If you come across the border illegally and you have a child in America, automatically, that child becomes an American citizen. Under the 14th Amendment, three court cases says there’s a constitutional right to that,” Graham said in an appearance Wednesday on Greta Van Susteren’s show.
He also added: “But I may introduce a constitutional amendment that changes the rules if you have a child here. Birthright citizenship I think is a mistake, that we should change our Constitution and say if you come here illegally and you have a child, that child’s automatically not a citizen.”
Birthright citizenship is a legal principle based in the 14th Amendment: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.” In the absence of birthright citizenship, it is possible for someone to be born without having citizenship in any country at all, due to failure to meet some extra requirement that could be imposed, such as ancestry or other circumstances.
(Via Adam Serwer.) | <urn:uuid:623987f0-e2f7-409d-be86-487794dd0dfe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/07/lindsey-graham-birthright-citizenship-is-a-mistake-video.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96089 | 319 | 1.84375 | 2 |
The proposal is the result of a traffic study in the eastern part of Glendale that found out of an average of 75 cars between the hours of 5 and 6 a.m. are traveling an average speed of 32 mph.
The proposal does not make all of Doran Avenue one-way, but according to DOT Queens Borough Commissioner Maura McCarthy, "this gives you more options," as it would allow motorists to travel down 89th and 88th streets.
Kathleen Crowley Hayden, of Rutledge Avenue, was critical of the proposal.
“We have our traffic,” she said. “I don’t want traffic from Doran just pushed on my block.”
Another resident of Rutledge Avenue, Toby Bloch, said the changes would make the neighborhood less safe.
“These changes will make Doran and the surrounding streets more dangerous, generate more traffic, unfairly divert traffic to the surrounding streets, and make travel by car around the neighborhood more inefficient and inconvenient," he said.
The area's councilwoman, Elizabeth Crowley, also argued that the change would just divert traffic to other streets.
"We can't push the burden from one block the other," said Crowley, noting that an eastbound one-way street would increase traffic in the area surrounding Doran Avenue. "I would like to see a stop sign, and if not that, a speed bump."
But Regina Crowley, who lives at the intersection of 89th Street and Doran Avenue, supported the proposal.
"I want a little tranquility and piece,” she said. "I sit on my stoop with my sister and mother and cannot believe the speed that cars go down my block." | <urn:uuid:d2c83a1a-2cc1-4870-b7c3-4d065b6be735> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://glendaleregister.com/pages/full_story/push?article-DOT+considering+making+Doran+Avenue+one-way%20&id=19363991&instance=home_news_right | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96991 | 352 | 1.53125 | 2 |
things that scare me
Europe without basic freedoms could become our problem. An excerpt from Native Revolt: A European Declaration of Independence, a blog at The Brussels Journal.
Although the EU warns against "Islamophobia," those who live in the real world know that there has been an explosion of violent infidelophobia in Western Europe staged by Muslim immigrants. This wave of violence especially targets Jews, but the attacks against Christians that are going on in the Middle East are increasingly spreading to Europe as well. In more and more cities across the continent, non-Muslims are being harassed, robbed, mugged, raped, stabbed and even killed by Muslims. Native Europeans are slowly becoming second-rate citizens in their own countries.
This violence by Muslims is usually labelled simply as "crime," but I believe it should more accurately be called Jihad. Those who know early Islamic history, as described in books such as The Truth About Muhammad by Robert Spencer, know that looting and stealing the property of non-Muslims has been part and parcel of Jihad from the very beginning. In fact, so much of the behavior of Muhammad himself and the early Muslims could be deemed criminal that it is difficult to know exactly where crime ends and Jihad begins. In the city of Oslo, for instance, it is documented that some of the criminal Muslim gangs also have close ties to radical religious groups at home and abroad. As Dutch Arabist Hans Jansen points out, the Koran is seen by some Muslims as a God-given "hunting licence," granting them the right to assault and even murder non-Muslims. It is hardly accidental that while Muslims make up about 10% of the population in France, they make up an estimated 70% of French prison inmates.
Read the whole thing, even if it is hard to stomach at times. Hattip Instapundit, and he has as associated book recommendation as well.
Violence against women is another big concern of mine. For the most part I feel like I can protect myself and that I live in a fairly safe environment, but I've had training and plenty of studly man friends. I'm no feminist, but you would think they would be up in arms about this kind of thing. Evan Coyne Maloney agrees:
A Saudi woman who was kidnapped at knifepoint, gang-raped and then beaten by her brother has been sentenced to 90 lashes — for meeting a man who was not a relative.
In the 1980s, scores of activists and celebrities spoke out quite publicly against the racial aparthied system in South Africa. But today, an apartheid of gender exists throughout much of the Middle East, and these activists are largely silent.
Associated article from MSN here.
If you value your free speech and basic freedoms, do not let these issues fall through the cracks, because when we realize that the problem is bigger than we thought, it may be too late. | <urn:uuid:8c92f4f9-e2cf-43ac-9b60-5aaba85da4cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://chicpilot.blogspot.com/2007/03/things-that-scare-me.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978808 | 590 | 1.703125 | 2 |
John McCain: Zuckerberg made North Africa revolutions possible
Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, made the revolutions in North Africa possible, American Senator John McCain said at the Brookings Institute on Thursday after returning from a trip to the region.
He added that Zuckerberg was the most popular person in the Middle East as a result of the importance of Facebook in organizing people to the streets.
“This social networking cannot be underestimated in how all of these events, really the driving force in how all of this transformed and took place,” McCain said in his comments.
McCain and fellow senator Joseph Lieberman both participated in the discussion at the Wasthington-based institute following their trip to the region and a way to inform public discussion of the ongoing unrest in the MENA region.
Lieberman said that the changes, “Even more consequential than the collapse of the Soviet Union” and suggested, “It’s in our strategic interest at this moment to help history move in the right direction.”
Further emphasizing the role technology played in Egypt, McCain told of a story he heard from a young man while in Egypt, who held up his blackberry and said, “I can get 200,000 people in the square in two hours.”
“Egypt is the heart and soul of the Arab world,” McCain said. “What happens in Egypt will be vital to what happens in the rest of the region.”
By Joseph Mayton | <urn:uuid:8a593ada-da93-444f-86f4-d2e875f6c160> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.itnewsafrica.com/2011/03/john-mccain-zuckerberg-made-north-africa-revolutions-possible/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95313 | 303 | 1.648438 | 2 |
After surgery and anesthesia many people get nauseated and vomit, which is a major source of patient dissatisfaction and expense. Dr. Geiger is a board certified anesthesiologist who has integrated the technique of combining aromatherapy with nasal and cutaneous absorption of essential oil of ginger at the time of surgery to prevent two dreaded complications of anesthesia; postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV).
“I am much more optimistic for my patients now that I am using oil of ginger, having determined about a 30 percent decrease in the incidence of nausea in patients at high risk for PONV during recovery from anesthesia,” said Dr. Geiger. “In my experience, problematic nausea has gone way down and patient satisfaction has gone way up,” he said.
The problem of nausea is so troublesome for patients and hospitals that special protocols are utilized to aid in the management of PONV. Dr. Geiger has published an article describing his clinical treatment series in the International Journal of Aromatherapy, Ginger, Zingiber officinale and Anesthesia, which explains the science of essential oils at the cellular and clinical level. Dr. Geiger said he would like to see more clinical investigation to make oil of ginger part of the multi-modal management of PONV.
Integrative services are becoming more available as certain facilities and more open minded doctors are obtaining advanced education in integrative therapies like aromatherapy. | <urn:uuid:d469fc54-52e8-4214-ab5f-2d775c7e076f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.spiritindia.com/2006/aromatherapy-fighting-post-surgery-nausea-n-vomiting-by-aromatherapy-1695/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950214 | 293 | 1.523438 | 2 |
11-30-04 AP WASHINGTON - Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, whose name became synonymous with color-coded terror alerts and tutorials to the public about how to prepare for possible attack, is resigning, U.S. officials said Tuesday. Ridge submitted his resignation in writing to President Bush on Tuesday morning, said officials who confirmed the departure only on grounds of anonymity. In an e-mail circulated to Homeland Security officials, Ridge praised the department as "an extraordinary organization that each day contributes to keeping America safe and free." He also said he was privileged to work with the department's 180,000 employees "who go to work every day dedicated to making our country better and more secure." A Washington news conference was scheduled for mid-afternoon. A Homeland Security Department official said Ridge is expected to stay on his job for a few months, until a successor is found. Some officials expect the U.S. may face increased terror risks around the holidays and the Jan. 20 inauguration. Among those mentioned as possible candidates for Ridge's replacement are Bernard Kerik, interim Minister of the Interior for Iraq and former New York City police commissioner, former Federal Emergency Management Agency Director Joe Allbaugh and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Mike Leavitt and White House homeland security adviser Fran Townsend. Others are also believed to be interested in the job, including Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security in the Homeland Security Department. Six other Bush Cabinet figures are leaving, including Attorney General John Ashcroft, Commerce Secretary Donald Evans, Education Secretary Rod Paige, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman; Secretary of State Colin Powell and Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham. Bush has chosen national security adviser Condoleezza Rice for the State Department, White House counsel Alberto Gonzales for the Justice Department and Carlos Gutierrez for Commerce. In October 2001, Ridge became the nation's first White House homeland security adviser, leading a massive undertaking to rethink all aspects of security within the U.S. borders in the wake of the terror attacks of September 2001. Congress subsequently passed legislation establishing the Homeland Security Department, merging 180,000 employees from 22 government agencies. Ridge became the department's first secretary in January 2003. He has presided over six national "orange alerts" when the government boosted security out of concern that an attack may be coming. An attack in the United States never happened on his watch. Ridge has said, however, that he believes an assault by the al-Qaida terrorist network was averted last summer during the Fourth of July holiday period, when intelligence reports indicated terrorists might be targeting international flights to attack the United States. Passenger manifests were scrutinized and flights were canceled. Yet Ridge, a politician by nature, fought criticism leading up to the election from those who said he was using terror warnings to boost support for Bush. Ridge repeatedly said: "We don't do politics in the Department of Homeland Security." Ridge, 59, has privately expressed his interest in moving out of the time-consuming, stressful post. However, those who know him said his loyalty to Bush was always a factor to consider. Ridge, who has spent most of his adult life in public service, came home from Vietnam, earned a law degree and went into private practice in Pennsylvania. He later served as an assistant district attorney and ran for Congress in 1982. Ridge was re-elected five times. He became the Pennsylvania governor in 1995, leaving the state capital in October 2001 after the White House called. ___ Associated Press writer Ted Bridis contributed to this report.
- ARDMORE, Okla. —The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation announced the 2013-2014 recipients of the Sam Noble Scholarships this week, awarding $140,000 in scholarships to 10 southern Oklahoma students. | <urn:uuid:f9bfb7b5-70e3-4120-9f8b-c83eb560de11> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kxii.com/news/headlines/1112527.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974048 | 745 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Yeshua and his entourage were easily outmaneuvered. The Romans swooped on them in the garden of Gethsemane while Jewish residents slept. John claimed a cohort of soldiers was consigned to collar him:
“Judas the traitor knew the place well, since Jesus had often met his disciples there, and he brought the cohort to this place together with a detachment of guards sent by the chief priests and Pharisees, all with lanterns and torches and weapons” (John 18:3 JB). Judas had betrayed him to the Romans. A cohort was six hundred Roman soldiers, one tenth of a legion. Pilate wouldn’t have sent this many men to arrest an agreeable, unarmed, peace-loving preacher who thought he was God. Yeshua was a big fish with an entourage of admirers, and a city packed with potential patrons, so he needed to be decisively dealt with before things got out of hand.
Some of his disciples were with him at the time of his arrest. One or more of them was supposed to be on watch. It must have been intimidating to have that many soldiers tramping toward you in the dead
of night, torchlight reflecting off their swords and armor, shining up a silhouette of trees in the distance. It was no contest. There may have been a minor scuffle, but it’s obvious most of his mates dashed off into the dark, leaving him to his fate. They were taken by surprise, outplayed by a more experienced and professional opposition. Much is made in the Gospels about the guilt Peter felt at abandoning Jesus. There were others in the troop too terrified to put their lives on the line, and they must have felt just as guilty.
Yeshua supposedly surrendered meekly. He was trumped before he’d made his master move. He was taken into custody and unable to issue instructions. His allies had let him down, and he must have known what was in store. Luke claimed he was sweating blood (Luke 22; 44), which is not physiologically possible. Luke was trying to tell how terrified Jesus was about his impending crucifixion.
Yeshua would’ve felt abandoned not only by his friends but also by his god. His work and dreams had come to nothing, and I imagine he may have played the last card of a wretched man by begging his god for a miracle.
Matthew claims Jesus was arrested because he claimed he was divine, but Yeshua didn’t fantasize he was God. Jews believed in only one god, Yahweh, and he wouldn’t have had any helpers if he’d made such a blasphemous claim. Nor could the Romans have cared less about a peasant’s delusions of grandeur. They were wise enough to never get involved in Jewish religious disputes unless they turned into a security issue. The high priest, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, Pilate and his army all knew Yeshua had hoped to start a rebellion against Rome.
He was taken before Pilate and the accusation made:
“We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ, a King.” (Luke 23:2 NKJ). Pilate asked Jesus if he was king of the Jews and Jesus answered,
“It is as you say it” (Luke 23:3 NKJ). This perfectly described the crux of the issue: Jesus was accused of undermining the government and the taxation system. He effectively signed his own death warrant by admitting he thought he was king of the Jews. Genuine Jewish kings didn’t pay Roman tax, so this contradicted Jesus’ earlier injunction to render unto Caesar that which belongs to Caesar (see Matthew 22:21). (http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/james_still/jesus_trial.html)
Luke was the only author who had Jesus appear before Herod, and he related that Jesus refused to talk to him. Yeshua would have hated Herod, the man who had his cousin killed. Herod allegedly found him not guilty, which is impossible to believe, as the same author had earlier claimed Herod wanted him killed. (Luke 13:31).
Then a Jewish crowd allegedly turned en masse against Jesus. Mark claimed,
“the chief priests however had incited the crowd” (Mark 15:11, NJB). This poorly explained excuse was the only reason given in any of the Gospels for “the crowd” turning against him. They shouted they wanted him crucified, and that they’d rather have Barabbas, a common criminal, freed in preference. No such custom of releasing the crowd’s favorite was ever recorded in any non-biblical document. There was probably no public trial. A trial with a Jewish crowd in attendance at that time of year would be just asking for trouble.
It’s implied this crowd was made up from the people of Jerusalem, who had been earlier described as the “multitudes” that had welcomed their king as a hero in an ancient ticker tape parade as he rode into the city. They’d allegedly thought he was a prophet and laid clothes and branches at his feet. The chief priests feared they’d create “an uproar” if Jesus was arrested. Can anyone imagine this crowd had a complete change of mind about their hero?
Romans were made to look as if they were innocent bystanders during the trial. Pilate read a letter from his wife about a dream she had that Jesus was innocent. Pilate supposedly said,
“I find no fault in this man” (Luke 23:4 KJV). He tried to talk the angry Jews out of having Jesus crucified, but gave in to the public clamor, because
“in fact a riot was imminent” (Matt. 27:24). So the crowd that was going to riot if Jesus was arrested (see Matt. 26:3–6) was now about to riot if he wasn’t crucified!
Pilate washed his hands of any responsibility for the decision to kill Jesus. This didn’t happen; it was theatrical propaganda, not real history. To pronounce a man innocent, then command your troops to kill him anyway, is preposterous.
Pilate’s job was to keep the peace and make sure Jews paid tax. From Pilate’s perspective Yeshua was nothing more than a vagrant and a dangerous subversive, so he would have regarded him with contempt and couldn’thave found him innocent.
The man described by secular historians was notorious for his cruelty toward the Jews. Philo, an Alexandrian Jew, writing in 41 CE, stated that Pilate’s tenure was associated with
“briberies, insults, robberies, outrages, wanton injustices, constantly repeated executions without trial, and ceaseless and grievous cruelty” (Legatio ad Gaium, 301–302). Josephus too reported several instances of Pilate flagrantly inciting an insurrection, which he then ruthlessly purged with his soldiers. In 36 CE, Vitellius, the Roman Syrian governor, removed Pilate from his office after a particularly violent attack on the Samaritans (Josephus, Antiquities 18.4.85). He was ordered to Rome to face complaints of excessive cruelty against the Jews, found culpable, and exiled to Vienne, France. His true colors come across in secular history, not in the Gospels. He clearly wasn’t a character wracked with ambivalence about whether to crucify Yeshua.
The gospel authors couldn’t have Romans responsible for killing the son of God, because the Catholic Church became the Church of Rome. The solution was simple; they accused the anonymous Jewish rabble of wanting Jesus dead.
One of the authors of Matthew had Jews say,
“His blood be on us and our children” (Matt. 27:24–25, NJB). Jews publically cursed themselves for being Christ-killers, which is highly improbable.
The Jewish passersby allegedly mocked him:
“The passersby jeered at him; they shook their heads and said ‘if you are God’s son, come down from the cross!’” (Matt. 27:39–40, NJB). The crowd wouldn’t have been that callous to one of their own. The average Jew would have been appalled that one of their own was dying such a degrading death.
What’s more, if Jews had wanted to kill him, he would’ve been stoned, which could only have happened if the Romans gave them permission. Crucifixion was an agonizing, demeaning, public death, one reserved for insurgents. It was used only by Romans to intimidate anyone who might undermine their authority. The Roman soldiers always nailed zealots up naked on a cross; it was part of the humiliation. The degrading death was designed to discourage other charismatic leaders from having their own dangerous dreams.
The sign or “titulus” (Latin for “inscription” or “label”) was the Roman way of exhibiting the explanation for the execution. It was written by Pilate, and read “King of the Jews,” a reflection of Jesus’ real crime.
Luke had a dying Jesus say
“Father, forgive them, they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34, NJB), referring to the Roman
soldiers who had just scourged, mocked and nailed him to a cross. Yeshua is more likely to have damned these soldiers with his dying breath.
A centurion supposedly said,
“In truth this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54, NJB). Yet Christianity, which claimed Jesus was the son of God, had yet to be invented!
The men Yeshua was crucified with were labeled as “lestai,” incorrectly translated in some Bibles as “robbers.” In fact “lestai” was a derogatory term for insurrectionists, who, by armed action, opposed Roman rule (http://www.drabruzzi.com/jesus_movement.htm and http://haqol.wordpress.com/2010/12/30/the-updated-niv-translates-translates-lestai-rebel/). So Jesus was crucified between two zealots, but we’re told wasn’t one himself. I think informed readers are too perceptive to fall for that.
Roman law allowed no burial rights to those killed by crucifixion. Yeshua’s emaciated body would have been left for the scavenging birds and dogs as a deterrent to others who might disobey Rome, although it’s possible Pilate made an exception and gave permission for the body to be buried.
Jesus’ death was a deeply disheartening development. Any military muscle the movement may have mounted in Jerusalem had not come to anything, and their commander had been crucified. The kingdom of God must have seemed like an unattainable dream. Yet all was not lost. Yeshua was only one man. The Nazarenes could bounce back, just as they had after John’s demise. Someone charismatic needed to take control. That person was James, Yeshua’s brother, | <urn:uuid:df129a4d-1284-4f7b-ab86-4bb3e3ebd3a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.markfulton.org/romans-not-jews-killed-jesus | 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 | 0.98621 | 2,410 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Each year the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in conjunction with Brigham Young University, offers a week-long summer program for teens ages 14-18 called “Especially For Youth” (“EFY” for short). The first EFY program was held in 1976 in Provo, Utah.Since then it has grown and expanded into many locations throughout North America, and a few are held outside the USA. It is now attended by more than 50,000 youth per year [in fact, there is such high demand a new "priority registration" process is being tried this year, where applicants are assigned a date to log in and register through a random drawing].
EFY creates a setting where teens can have fun in a wholesome environment, and develop spiritually, intellectually and socially. The program is open to youth of all religions who agree to follow the dress & appearance code. Sessions are supervised by young-adult counselors between the ages of 20-25 who act as positive role models, and the program is directed by adult instructors. My own children have loved attending EFY. They have made memories and friends to cherish for a lifetime, and it has strengthened their faith and self-esteem.
In conjunction with the EFY experience, each participant is given a special CD recording of new songs performed by LDS artists specifically written for that year’s EFY theme. In 2004 the theme was “Stand In The Light” (John 8:12). The following video highlights one of the beautiful songs from that CD, (available on iTunes) entitled “His Love“, by Jake Rau. A nice musical Valentine!
video courtesy jasonandarianne | <urn:uuid:5f38d1fe-7826-466e-89e8-c08661e95a06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mormonsoprano.com/2010/02/12/his-love-especially-for-youth/?like=1&_wpnonce=84af3d0b4c | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963325 | 346 | 1.789063 | 2 |
By Joe Palazzolo
U.S. sanctions on Sudan will not apply to the nation of Southern Sudan once it is formed, the Treasury Department said on Tuesday.
An overwhelming majority of South Sudanese voted to break away from the North in January. The split is expected to become effective July 9.
The sanctions on Sudan prohibiting U.S. people and companies from exporting goods and services to the country and doing business with the Sudanese government will remain in place, Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said in guidance published on the agency’s website.
In most cases, U.S. people and companies will still need to seek approval from OFAC to provide services to the petroleum industry in the new state if the services would benefit the Sudanese government.
Sudan’s North and South are discussing the possibility of sharing the ownership of oil and gas blocks on both sides of their borders when the country splits.
If they reach a revenue-sharing agreement in which the new state makes payments to the Sudanese government, U.S. persons would generally have to seek approval from OFAC before engaging in transactions involving the oil industry in the South, Treasury said. | <urn:uuid:8de02b68-dcf6-42d7-b751-a62856942227> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.wsj.com/corruption-currents/2011/04/12/sanctions-will-not-apply-to-southern-sudan-ofac-says/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965123 | 244 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Senior Palestinian officials say they will not back away from plans to apply for full statehood in the U.N. Security Council on Friday despite pressure from the United States and Europe. French President Nicolas Sarkozy said Wednesday Palestinians should, for the time being, accept upgraded U.N. observer status and return to direct peace talks with Israel.
The Palestinians are facing heavy pressure to shelve their U.N. membership bid, including an admonition from U.S. President Barack Obama Wednesday that the “short cut” of U.N. action will bring neither statehood nor self-determination.
But top Palestinian officials insist that full U.N. member status would strengthen their hand in eventual negotiations with Israel to end its West Bank “occupation,” and that Palestinian authority needs action to preserve its political credibility.
Speaking after Mr. Obama’s U.N. General Assembly speech, veteran Palestinian official Nabil Sha’ath said Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will ask U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon Friday for a statehood vote in the U.N. Security Council.
He said a parallel request for elevated observer status in the U.N. General Assembly would suggest the Palestinians aren’t really serious about their statehood aspirations.
“We will give it real try," said Sha’ath. "We’re not bluffing. We’ll really give it a real try. And if we fail, we will keep knocking at the door of the Security Council later. But when do we go to the General Assembly? It is a decision that has not been made yet. Most likely we will, but when is a decision has not been made yet.”
IThe United States and European allies fear that a statehood bid in the Security Council, that would face a certain U.S. veto, would inflame Middle East tensions and set back peace hopes.
Members of the U.S. Congress have threatened to cut funding to the Palestinians, and even the United Nations itself, if statehood advances in the Security Council.
In a General Assembly speech widely seen as a compromise effort, French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed that Palestinians be given upgraded observer status while setting out a roadmap for direct talks with Israel to be concluded within a year.
“Let us begin negotiations and adopt a precise and ambitious timetable," said President Sarkozy. "Sixty years without moving one centimeter forward. Doesn’t that suggest we should change the method and scheduling here? Let’s have one month to resume discussions. Six months to find an agreement on borders and security. One year to reach a definitive agreement.”
President Obama told the assembly “there is no shortcut” to ending the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and that peace will not come through U.N. statements or resolutions.
Later in bilateral meeting with Mr. Obama, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said standing with Israel and supporting direct talks is a badge of honor for the United States.
“I think the Palestinians want to achieve a state through the international community, but they’re not prepared yet to give peace to Israel in return," said Prime Minister Netanyahu. "And my hope is that there will be other leaders in the world, responsible leaders, who will heed your call, Mr. President, and oppose this effort to shortcut peace negotiations - in fact, to avoid them. Because I think that avoiding these negotiations is bad for Israel, bad for the Palestinians, and bad for peace.”
The Israeli prime minister has said he is ready to meet Mr. Abbas this week in New York to resume direct peace talks without preconditions.
Palestinian spokesman Sha’ath, however dismissed the Netanyahu offer as theatrics. He said the Palestinians would resume the stalled talks tomorrow, if Israel would show good faith by freezing settlement activity and ending the siege of Gaza. | <urn:uuid:eade4e72-36a6-4bc1-876d-1e10f39ba649> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.voanews.com/content/france-offers-palestinian-statehood-compromise-at-un-130298973/145529.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9482 | 803 | 1.546875 | 2 |
They have backed off from demands that any immediate extension of the government's borrowing authority be accompanied by stiff spending cuts.
But the retreat came with a caveat aimed at prodding Senate Democrats to pass a budget after almost four years of failing to do so - a threat to cut off the pay of politicians in either the House or Senate if their chamber fails to pass a budget this year. House Republicans have passed budgets for two consecutive years.
The idea received a frosty reception from House Democrats, but a more measured response from the White House and Democratic Senate majority leader Harry Reid.
Republicans had not settled on full details, but the measure would give the government about three more months of borrowing authority beyond a deadline expected to hit as early as mid-February, number two House Republican Eric Cantor said.
The legislation would not require immediate spending cuts as promised earlier by Republican leaders like House speaker John Boehner. Instead, it is aimed at forcing the Democratic-controlled Senate to join the House in debating the budget. "We are going to pursue strategies that will obligate the Senate to finally join the House in confronting the government's spending problem," Mr Boehner told Republican politicians at a retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia. "The principle is simple - 'no budget, no pay'."
Republican leaders have been grappling with how to gain leverage in their battles with Mr Obama over the budget. Mr Boehner successfully won about two trillion dollars in spending cuts as a condition of increasing the government's borrowing cap in 2011.
Mr Obama, however, was dealt a stronger hand by his re-election in November and successfully pressed through a 10-year, 600 billion-dollar increase on upper-bracket taxpayers earlier this month.
Other choke points remain, including sharp, across-the-board spending cuts that would start to strike the Pentagon and domestic programmes alike on March 1 and the possibility of a partial government shutdown with the expiration of a temporary budget measure on March 27.
Failing to meet those deadlines would have far less serious consequences than defaulting on US obligations like payments to bondholders, recipients of Social Security pension payments and myriad other commitments when the government confronts a cash crisis and can no longer borrow to make payments. That could cause a meltdown in financial markets and would inflame voters already disgusted with Congress. | <urn:uuid:f44edacd-b529-4334-afe8-997ba7a6006b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/world-news/obama-offered-debt-crisis-reprieve-28960903.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968993 | 461 | 1.601563 | 2 |
What is the most grueling and intense bicycle race in the world? Most people would probably immediately think of the Tour de France, in which riders cover 3600 km (2200 miles) over the course of three weeks. Child’s play: the annual Race Across America (RAAM) requires its participants to bike from the west coast to the east coast – 3000 miles – over the course of only ten days.
The race is intense. The course involves diverse extreme conditions, including the scorching heat of the Mojave Desert and the treacherous mountain roads of the Rockies and Appalachians. Participants have to ride an average of 300 miles per day to reach the goal on time, and many drop out of the race before even finishing.
Tonight Village 8 Theater presents a special one-time screening of the documentary “Bicycle Dreams” which follows the 2005 Race Across America. Filmmaker Stephen Auerbach reportedly went for long stretches without sleep – up to 36 hours, matching the marathons of the participants – in order to realize and appreciate a semblance of what the riders must go through to reach the goal.
Eighteen cameras were employed to capture the race, many of which were included in individual riders’ crews in order to obtain a more intimate and personal view of the ordeal. The result was 450 hours of raw footage which was cut down to 104 minutes. The result has achieved great acclaim, winning the Best Documentary Feature award in no less than eight film festivals.
“Bicycle Dreams” plays tonight at Village 8 Theater at 7:00. Tickets for the film are $11.00 and can be purchased in advance here, or at the theater box office on the night of the show. Village 8 is located at 4014 Dutchmans Lane.
More information about the documentary can be found at the film’s website.
Image: Internet Movie Database. | <urn:uuid:5e1106b4-4c7d-48c1-bb64-97b817ca3a0d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://m.louisville.com/content/village-8-presents-one-night-screening-bicycle-dreams-movies?device=mobile | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954866 | 385 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Our Little School
After spending the summer talking to other homeschooling moms, I realized that sometimes less is more. I spent more time browsing free curriculum sites than I did playing Bubble Safari on Facebook. However, it paid off because I believe I found some really good curriculum.
We are using Math Mammoth for math. It was fairly inexpensive and I like the author's approach. She not only tells you how to do it, but why you do it. I'll post more about it later once we have used it a bit, but Bridget likes it so far.
I found a free phonics curriculum http://www.progressivephonics.com/~suzettew/ and although she is reading very well (I suspect she is at a 2nd grade level), I want her to have a better grasp of advanced phonics. She has difficulty with annunciation sometimes and I am thinking this will help. And it never hurts to read more...right?
1st day of 1st Grade. Spelling
All the other subjects she is learning such as reading comprehension, social studies, science, grammar, spelling, and fine arts...well, I'm pulling from different areas to suit our needs. We are following the Texas guidelines although we actually go beyond most of them because she is ready.
Time wise, we are spending about half an hour per subject with some topics only twice a week. No school on Friday! As per my homeschooling sister-in-law Aimee. She is my go-to person whenever I have a question.
I would love to hear about your first day of school so leave me a comment if you stop by. | <urn:uuid:fcce830d-bc4c-4825-a865-b51d4177397c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://bridgets-mom.blogspot.com/2012/08/1st-day-of-school.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976116 | 344 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Life is all about friendships. One of the things that I am learning more about is growing a deeper friendship with Jesus. Some of you have been raised in churches — as was I! — where this may sound strange. Yes, Jesus is God’s Son and completely divine. That is rather intimidating, but we should not stop there. Please bear with me on this.
In the Gospel of John, some of the last teachings of Jesus are recorded for us before his sufferings and passion are fulfilled. Please read John 15:12-15. Jesus talks about the definition of true friendship. He says, “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (verse 13). Jesus died on the cross to show us his deep desire to be our friend.
OK, I get it that the cross was about more. By his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53). Without the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God, we could not be freed from the penalty of sin. But it gets too easy to forget that Jesus also died on the cross as the ultimate act of friendship toward all of humankind. These words from John 15 call to us to approach Jesus as a friend, learning to love just as he loved us. If you want to learn to love, learn from the best friend you can ever have, Jesus.
There is so much here to prove friendship. Jesus had to leave Earth, but he did not leave us alone. A good friend never deserts you. Our friend Jesus sends the Holy Spirit as a guide and counselor to all who are born again (John 3:3-6, 14:15-18, 25-27). Jesus even promised that he was going to prepare a place for us and would return to take all his friends to that special place (John 14:1-6).
Of all the disciples, John was perhaps the closest (John 21:20-24). Their mothers were possibly sisters, making John and Jesus cousins. More than that, they were friends. When John pens his gospel, that friendship comes through loud and clear. One only needs to read the entire Gospel of John to see Jesus explained on many different levels. Jesus is the Christ, the Word of God come in the flesh with the fullness of God’s glory in him. Jesus was healer, hope giver, incredible teacher, protector of the weak, challenger of the establishment and friend.
Need to learn more about a friendship with Jesus? Look me up, neighbor. It would be my honor and pleasure to talk more about my friend Jesus with you over something sweet to eat or drink. Take care, neighbors.
The Rev. Ken Hasekamp is pastor of Adventure Christian Church. Sermon Notes is a column by local religious leaders. | <urn:uuid:0571dfc4-5a78-4e00-8bc6-b6d052b9b43c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pattersonirrigator.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Life+is+about+friendships%20&id=21496046&instance=faith%20secondary_stories_left_column | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981483 | 573 | 1.648438 | 2 |
PAHRUMP, Nev. — It's usually past midnight when Ron Wayne, co-founder of Apple — colossus of the tech world, and Silicon Valley's most adored franchise — leaves his home here and heads into town. Averting his eyes from a boneyard of abandoned mobile homes, he drives past Terrible's Lakeside Casino & RV Park, then makes a left at the massage parlor built in the shape of a castle.
When he arrives at that night's casino of choice, Wayne makes a beeline for the penny slot machines. If it's the middle of the month and he has just cashed his Social Security check, he will keep battling the one-armed bandits until 2 a.m. Wayne is waiting to hit the jackpot, and he is long overdue.
If Ron Wayne, now 76, weren't one of the most luckless men in the history of Silicon Valley, it wouldn't have turned out like this.
He was present at the birth of cool on April Fool's Day, 1976: Co-founder — along with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak — of the Apple Computer Inc., Wayne designed the company's original logo, wrote the manual for the Apple I computer, and drafted the fledgling company's partnership agreement.
That agreement gave him a 10 percent ownership stake in Apple, a position that would be worth about $22 billion today if Wayne had held onto it.
But he didn't.
Afraid that Jobs' wild spending and Woz's recurrent "flights of fancy" would cause Apple to flop, Wayne decided to abdicate his role as
In a place where risk and innovation are part of the accepted equation of change, he became Silicon Valley's ultimate what-if story — Apple's iMadeAHugeMistake.
No second guesses
"If he'd had the foresight and, more importantly, the fortitude to hang on for another six months, it would be a completely different situation for him," says Tim Bajarin, an analyst for Creative Strategies, who has covered Apple since 1981.
Though Wayne remains an obscure figure whose story is rarely told — and then usually as a cautionary tale — he refuses to second-guess himself.
"I don't waste my time getting frustrated about things that didn't work out," he says. "I left Apple for reasons that seemed sound to me at the time. Why should I go back and 'what if' myself? If I did, I'd be in a rubber room by now."
Moments later, however, he turns somber. "Unfortunately, my whole life has been a day late and a dollar short," Wayne says.
When Apple unveils its next-generation iPhone this month, the company's other co-founders can expect to see their personal fortunes rise. Again. Since the release of the first iPhone two years ago, shares of Apple stock have more than doubled in value. After selling and buying stock over the years as Apple became a public company, Jobs' stake today is worth $1.5 billion. Wozniak's Apple holdings are not a matter of public record. Neither responded to interview requests.
But even a few million would go a long way here in the high desert, especially in a town so near the middle of nowhere that it didn't get telephones until the 1960s.
He was 42 and chief draftsman at Atari when he first encountered 21-year-old Steve Jobs, who was freelancing at the pioneering video game company after dropping out of college. Jobs had already met Wozniak, whose designs for a computer in a box he had seen at the Homebrew Computer Club, and now he was thinking about trying to sell them.
Wayne, who still lived with his mother, served as a frequent sounding board. "He was talking about the possibility of coming up with a personal computer," Wayne says of Jobs. "There were all these other things he wanted to do, so should he waste his time being focused on that? I told him that whatever he wanted to do, he could do it more easily with money in his pocket."
But he cautioned Jobs never to forget that the money was just a vehicle for creating things. "But he forgot," Wayne says now. "He probably won't like me for saying this, but I think he got caught up in the business of business. He became so enamored with succeeding at this stuff that he began doing it for the sake of itself. He began making money for the sake of making money. What can somebody do with $200 million that they can't do with $100 million?"
In Wozniak's autobiography, "iWoz," he recalls meeting Wayne and thinking, "Wow, this guy is amazing "... He seemed to know how to do all the things we didn't. Ron ended up playing a huge role in those very early days at Apple."
But in those early days the free-spirited Woz was reluctant to commit himself, and it was driving Jobs crazy. "There were bits and pieces of the circuit for the Apple computer that Wozniak wanted to use in other places," Wayne recalls. "Jobs said, 'You can't do that. This is the property of Apple Computer.' He had an awful time with Woz because of the difference in their personalities."
Jobs quickly figured out that their budding partnership would require adult supervision, and asked Wayne to step in as the "tiebreaker." The two Steves came to Wayne's Milpitas apartment, and after two hours of thrashing it out, the older man explained to Wozniak that the electronic architecture he was creating was critical to the ongoing existence of Apple. "He finally got the message," Wayne says. Jobs was agog.
"It was at that point he said, 'Let's form a company,' " Wayne recalls. Like a quarterback drawing a play in the dirt, Jobs came up with the idea of giving himself and Wozniak each 45 percent, the final 10 percent going to Wayne, who would mediate disputes between his headstrong partners. "That would resolve any problems forever and ever," says Wayne, who drew up the contract on a typewriter. There was no such thing as a word processor yet. They were about to invent it.
'Just wasn't ready'
After the agreement was signed by all three, Wayne took it to the county registrar's office. "And Apple Computer was born as a company," he says.
Jobs immediately plunged the company into debt, agreeing to fill an order for 50 computers from the Byte Shop in Mountain View, then borrowing $5,000 cash and parts worth $15,000. Wayne was impressed with Jobs as a promoter — "His psyche was already fully matured," he says — but was astonished to discover huge gaps in his new partner's knowledge of electronics, such as aluminum's ability to conduct electricity. "I almost lost my uppers," says Wayne.
He also fretted that the Byte Shop — one of the first retail computer stores — "had a terrible reputation for not paying its bills." Jobs and Wozniak were essentially penniless, which meant that creditors would eventually come looking for Wayne.
"I just wasn't ready for the kind of whirlwind that Jobs and Wozniak represented," he says. "I felt certain the company was going to be successful; that wasn't the question. But how much of a roller coaster was it going to be? I didn't know that I could tolerate that kind of situation again. I thought if I stayed with Apple I was going to wind up the richest man in the cemetery."
It all might have turned out differently if Wayne hadn't suffered a traumatizing failure in business with a slot machine company he started five years earlier in Las Vegas. "That was before I realized I had no business being in business," he says. "It came to a disastrous end."
Twelve days after Wayne wrote the document that formally created Apple, he returned to the registrar's office and renounced his role in the company. When Jobs and Wozniak filed for incorporation a year later, Wayne received a letter asking him to officially forfeit any claims against the company, and he received another check, this time for $1,500. Taken together, the $2,300 he made as one of Apple's founders is almost exactly one-millionth what his shares would be worth today.
Enamored with money
These days, Wayne sells stamps, rare coins and gold out of his home to supplement his monthly government check. When his precious metal clients drop by, he straps on a .38 caliber Police Special, just in case one of them tries to rob him. He has never owned an Apple computer, or any Apple product, and when Wayne recently bought his first desktop, it was a Dell. It's been years since he last heard from Jobs.
Wayne insists he has no regrets about the choice he made then, though he's careful not to say he would do the same thing again. "I'm as enamored with money as anybody else, and there are all sorts of things I'd love to do if I had it," he says.
After Apple, he spent two years creating the model shop at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, then was chief engineer at Thor Electronics in Salinas for 16 years. He holds a dozen patents, but he has never had the money to develop them into products.
"There were at least six times in my life when I really thought that I had the world by the tail," Wayne says, "when I thought, 'I have an invention here that's going to make me a fortune.' And six times it blew up. I don't know why, it just never happened. It's probably because I'm not the businessman I should be."
Contact Bruce Newman at 408-920-5004.
More Apple news at www.siliconvalley.com/apple. | <urn:uuid:d6da20f4-587f-4f8e-944f-343ea61170f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_15214122?nclick_check=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988636 | 2,059 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Soldiers join the Army for a variety of reasons: college money, a skill, pride, patriotism, discipline, and many more. Some just want to try something different. Recruiters just have to leverage all of the benefits of joining this great Army. Somewhere out there right now is the 22nd SMA waiting on a recruiter to sell him or her the Army as a career.
SMA Robert E. Hall
Recruiting is everyone’s responsibility. NCOs must become visible in the community and help the
community know what programs are available, and they must present a positive image of the Army. In this way, NCO leaders become the force multiplier needed to reach America.
SMA Gene C. McKinney
Adventure, challenge, being part of a team, and facing and overcoming obstacles are all part of why young men and women join and soldiers stay in the Army. I stayed in the Army because a number of great NCOs and officers really showed me what the Army is all about: the camaraderie, the cohesiveness, the duty, honor, and country.
SMA Richard A. Kidd
Confidence and satisfaction developed through meaningful training will cause soldiers to reenlist. It will cause soldiers who return to hometown USA to become our most effective recruiters by using positive word-of-mouth influence. Quality attracts quality.
SMA Julius W. Gates
Today, our Army puts a lot of emphasis on individualism, professionalism, and leadership. Our recruiting slogan, “Be all you can be,” is aimed precisely at the attitude of our country’s youth.
SMA Glen E. Morrell
The best recruiting tool we have is a reserve soldier who feels he or she is making a meaningful contribution; being trained well to do the job, and who relates that satisfaction to friends at work and in the community.
SMA William A. Connelly
The bar to reenlistment signals the fourth quarter in a contest where there is no overtime for a lucky play in a sudden-death play-off. The final score is for keeps. It is a blunt warning that professionalism is the norm and not the exception.
SMA William G. Bainbridge
Many times in recent years, I have heard it said that reenlistment decisions are often made at the kitchen table. In an Army where 55 percent of the force is married and another eight percent are single parents, soldiers' spouses and children play a key role in the decision. Never in more than three decades of marriage have I ever doubted who was in charge around my house, and I know that how a family feels about its collective welfare has an impact on retention.
SMA Jack L Tilley | <urn:uuid:b1234873-49d7-4733-9b73-b7b3551e9922> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ausa.org/resources/nco/training/quotesforwinners/oneteamonearmyonefuture/Pages/RecruitingandRetention.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964934 | 563 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Photo Gallery | PHOTOS: Grand Opening of Public Charter School in Prince George's County
Chesapeake Math and IT (CMIT) Academy located at 6100 Frost Place in Laurel, hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and private tour on Wednesday to officially celebrate the school's inaugural year.
The Academy opened in August 2011 with close to 300 students in sixth and seventh grades. Each school year, a grade will be added until the school reaches maximum capacity of 700 sixth through twelfth grade students.
For the 2012-2013 school year, approximately 50 new students will be admitted through the school district's specialty program application process.
"This Public Charter School is paving the way for innovation within our county with a strong focus on the growing fields of science, math, and technology," said County Executive Rushern L. Baker, III. "One of the things we talk about in our education system is how we can provide innovative ways for our children to grow academically, this is it."
With 14 classrooms, two computer labs, two science labs, and one media center, The vision of CMIT is to provide multiple opportunities for Prince George's County youth to prepare for post secondary education in a globalized and technology-based society through strong academic programs.
"We are drawing children from all over Prince George's County to attend this Technology and Math Center, bringing the county together for better academic success in the future," explained Rushern L. Baker, III.
The school's academic program features research-based instructional methods, such as hands-on and project-based learning, computer-assisted instruction and digital storytelling. They also promote an Ivy League education throughout the school with banners, posters, and classroom names.
"I think the school is better than other schools because the teachers challenge me a lot. They provide me with harder questions, and are very supportive of me and my fellow students," expained CMIT seventh grader, Sianni Ward. | <urn:uuid:530f558e-d185-40a0-87f9-908a65a8f96f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://greenbelt.wusa9.com/photo-gallery/schools/101830-photos-grand-opening-public-charter-school-prince-georges-county?page=8 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958553 | 396 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Compelling, sad, poignant... Hannah Baker committed suicide and left a note of sorts, in the form of cassette tapes. With insight and understanding beyond her teenage years, Hannah recounts the people, experiences and interactions that led to her death. Each person she holds responsible will receive the tapes and hear their impact on Hannah's life. A map accompanies the tape, allowing the listeners (and readers) a tour of Hannah's last few months and the places that were significant to her.
I'm not quite so old that I don't remember my teenage years and the strong emotions that characterized them. Love, jealousy, fear... REAL feelings. Asher honors the strength and effect of such emotions in this book.
Besides serving as a warning about teenage suicide, this book reminds us to treat each other well. It's biggest lesson is that you never know what breif encounter might mean to another person, or the lasting imprint you will leave in another's life.
View all my reviews | <urn:uuid:acd1dfc4-0f28-40cb-8ae2-5d4493fd4b96> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://reflectionsbyrebekah.blogspot.com/2012/01/book-review-thirteen-reasons-why-by-jay.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949818 | 215 | 1.703125 | 2 |
The Fed will keep interest rates low while continuing its quantitative easing, according to a Federal Reserve statement released today.
Since the Board of Governors last met in January, the labor market, housing market, and business conditions have all showed signs of improvements. However, the Fed also noted that the unemployment rate remains high, fiscal policy is more restrictive, and inflation is slightly below the Fed's long-term 2% target.
To help aid the economic recovery, the FOMC voted 11-1 (Kansas City Fed President Esther George dissenting) to continue its economic stimulus plan, buying $40 billion of mortgage-backed securities and $45 billion of longer-term Treasury securities each month. Proponents of the plan believe that this, along with other actions, will keep interest rates low while supporting mortgage markets. George voiced concern with long-term risks and imbalances associated with continued monetary accommodation.
Looking ahead, the Fed expects to keep interest rates between zero and 0.25% until the unemployment rate drops below 6.5%. It currently is 7.7%. As of now, the Fed does not see inflation as a major threat, and expects that inflation over the "medium term" likely will run at or below its 2% objective. | <urn:uuid:43eedf02-1df1-489a-aed9-7789674b9172> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2013/03/20/fed-continues-qe-keeps-interest-rate-low.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962009 | 251 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Gulfstream has launched the G650, a clean-sheet aircraft the US company calls the biggest, fastest and furthest-flying purpose-designed business jet yet.
Joining Gulfstream’s product line-up above the G550, which will continue in production, the G650 offers a 7,000nm (13,000km) range at Mach 0.85, a maximum cruise speed of M0.925 and the largest cabin in its class, the company says.
The G650 offers the same cabin cross-section as the Bombardier Global Express XRS, but longer ranges at higher speeds (more details). The new Gulfstream will also become the fastest civil aircraft in production, beating Cessna’s Mach 0.92 Citation X.
First flight is scheduled for the second half of 2009, with US and European certification to follow in 2011 and entry into service in 2012. Completed price will be in the $58.5 million for aircraft delivered in 2012, rising to $58.5 million from 2013..
“Gulfstream customers tell us they’d like to see more size, range and speed,” says Press Henne, senior vice-president for programmes, engineering and test.
Design requirements included a bigger, quieter, more comfortable and reliable cabin; a range of 7,000nm at M0.85 and 5,000nm at M0.90; and a maximum take-off weight no greater than 45,360kg (100,000lb) for access to key airports like New York’s Teterboro.
The G650 has a metal fuselage and wing, but with bonded fuselage panels for fewer parts and increased use of composites, including the horizontal stabilizer, elevator and rudder, as well winglets, fairings, cabin floor and aft bulkhead.
The G650 has an advanced high-speed wing, with greater area than the G550's and higher sweep, but as with previous Gulfstreams there are no leading-edge devices and all fuel is in the wing. Spirit AeroSystems will supply the wing, while Fokker will provide the empehhage and bonded fuselage panels.
Gulfstream’s first fly-by-wire aircraft, the G650 has an evolution of the PlaneView integrated flightdeck now fitted across the company’s large-cabin business jets. The new aircraft will have a common type rating with the G550 (more details).
The G650 is powered by 16,100lb thrust (71.6kN) Rolls-Royce BR725 engines, 4.6% more powerful than the BR710s powering the G550. A new swept-blade fan reduces fuel burn and noise, while a new combustor reduces emissions (more details).
“The cabin was the starting point,” says Henne. Taller, wider and longer than the G550’s, the cabin has 38% more volume and 30% more floor area (more details). Cabin altitude – 4,850ft at the G650’s 51,000ft ceiling – is the lowest in its class, he says.
The Gulfstream-signature oval windows are 16% larger and there are two more of them – eight per side. The distance between windows is increased to provide a greater seat pitch. The cabin entry door is larger and there are two new large overwing exits per side.
Cabin systems, including waste, water, power and lighting, are designed with fail-operational redundancy, which Henne describes as a “convulsion” in the industry that will be a “tremendous advantage for the traveller”.
The G650 will be assembled in new manufacturing facility at Gulfstream’s Savannah, Georgia headquarters, The new facility has the capacity to build 90 aircraft a year on two lines, but will begin at 35-45 a year. Gulfstream will start taking orders in April.
More images on the AirSpace Gulfstream gallery | <urn:uuid:77ede9b2-1625-48aa-8348-001ab1e052c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/gulfstream-launches-biggest-furthest-fastest-g650-business-jet-222192/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932491 | 835 | 1.546875 | 2 |
It's June 1st so it must be Hurricane Season!!!
Published Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 7:20 a.m.
Last updated Sunday, June 1, 2008 at 7:20 a.m.
MIAMI — Check the expiration date on that canned food and dust off the hurricane shutters, the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season has officially begun.
Hurricane season began Sunday, the first day of June, and runs through November. The first tropical storm of the season, Arthur, didn't wait for the start of the season. It formed Saturday and quickly made landfall at the Belize-Mexico border.
Federal forecasters in May said there was a good chance the Atlantic season would produce 12 to 16 named storms and two to five major hurricanes. They put the probability of that outcome at 60 to 70 percent. Overall they said there's a 90 percent chance the season will be normal or above average. | <urn:uuid:20c201f9-dded-4cf0-ab75-c439f80b2009> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.conservativeunderground.com/forum505/showthread.php?165-Hurricane-season-begins-with-storm-present | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973467 | 187 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Milwaukee's insistence that any sale of Lake Michigan water to the City of Waukesha prohibit distribution beyond Waukesha's current service area appears to be a deal breaker.
In a letter to Waukesha, Department of Natural Resources Water Division Administrator Kenneth Johnson says state law prohibits the department from using municipal boundaries to limit a community's water service area.
Johnson tells Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak in the letter that the city's future water service area must align with an earlier state-approved future sewer service area that encompasses portions of neighboring municipalities.
Johnson sent his letter to Duchniak this week as Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council President Willie Hines sent a letter of their own to Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp, asking for her opinion on the same issue.
The dispute between Milwaukee and Waukesha over distribution of Lake Michigan water has derailed talks between the two cities for a possible water deal.
They are at an impasse, with both sides unwilling to budge and not talking, even though Waukesha has been negotiating a water purchase deal with Oak Creek and Racine for nearly a year.
In a letter to Stepp, Barrett and Hines ask for the department's official position on whether a supplier of lake water to Waukesha must allow the water to be distributed to a future service area extending miles beyond current city limits.
The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission designated a larger future service area for Waukesha reaching into portions of four neighboring municipalities: the City of Pewaukee and towns of Waukesha, Genesee and Delafield.
Waukesha has said state law obligates it to distribute water to the commission's designated future service area, and that is the area included in the city's Great Lakes water diversion application.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Barrett, Waukesha Water Utility General Manager Dan Duchniak says Milwaukee has disqualified itself from being considered a possible supplier by its insistence that lake water could not be distributed beyond Waukesha's current service area.
At Barrett's request, the Milwaukee Common Council on July 6 approved a resolution authorizing talks with Waukesha for distribution of lake water only to that city's current service area.
"There is no value in engaging in any discussions or negotiations considering the limitations created by Milwaukee's action," Duchniak says in his letter.
"Unless the Common Council authorizes discussions that actually comply with state water supply plan laws, there is nothing for us to negotiate."
Of equal significance to Waukesha, DNR Water Use Section Chief Eric Ebersberger has said in an interview and in informal conversations with Milwaukee representatives that the department will not accept a water deal that does not distribute water to the entire future service area.
Ebersberger's comments conflict with Milwaukee's interpretation of state law and a 2008 Great Lakes protection compact, according to Barrett.
For that reason, Milwaukee officials want Stepp to clarify the department's position and put it in writing. A resolution is needed before Waukesha can select a supplier from among the three lakeshore communities, Barrett and Hines say in the letter to Stepp.
Now Johnson has added his opinion in support of Ebersberger.
Extending sewer but not water service beyond the city's boundary would violate one Great Lakes protection compact requirement, according to Johnson. Well water from a new sewered area would be flushed and treated at Waukesha's sewage plant and returned to the lake. That would conflict with the compact's goal of minimizing water from outside the Great Lakes drainage basin being pumped into one of the lakes.
Though the compact generally prohibits diversions of water out of the Great Lakes drainage basin, it does provide an exception to a community outside the basin if it is within a county straddling the sub-continental divide. When the eight Great Lakes states approved the compact, officials were aware that Waukesha was waiting to ask for such an exception.
A diversion exception could be permitted only if the community was without adequate supplies of potable water, Barrett says in the letter to Stepp.
Milwaukee officials recognize that Waukesha faces a challenge in providing a potable supply for its residents because it depends on deep wells drawing radium-contaminated water from sandstone, according to Barrett.
But Waukesha's diversion application does not describe current water supply problems in portions of four municipalities included in a future service area, the letter to Stepp says.
"We are not aware that those municipalities have provided evidence that they lack an adequate potable water supply," the letter says.
In an interview, Barrett said the DNR must confirm which state law requires water distribution to the entire future service area and whether the outlying communities must pass the same potable water supply test as Waukesha under terms of the compact.
Duchniak said Thursday that it was unfortunate Milwaukee did not ask for the clarification before the Common Council's July 6 vote.
"The DNR is the enforcement agency for Wisconsin's water supply plan, and we are confident they will provide a thorough explanation to Milwaukee," he said. | <urn:uuid:8c97e50e-5905-4f80-8acc-3f0d65c6aba7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/put-in-writing-states-stand-on-waukesha-water-issue-milwaukee-asks-dnr-ea6633p-163041376.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950317 | 1,068 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Each year, the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) sponsors an awards program to honor outstanding achievement in transportation engineering and distinguished service to ITE. The awards bestow international recognition upon the recipients and increase the public’s awareness of the role and responsibilities of the transportation professional.
Transportation plays a vital role in the economies of all countries. Yet transportation professionals currently are in short supply. As part of its program to attract bright and articulate individuals to the transportation engineering profession, ITE also has established several fellowship and scholarship awards specifically for graduate study in the field of transportation. These fellowships provide financial aid for qualified students to pursue graduate degrees in transportation in a variety of programs. | <urn:uuid:fd647ce3-4abf-419f-a4d6-68c56e011adc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ite.org/awards/index.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938881 | 137 | 1.5625 | 2 |
For Canada, this is welcomed news. Any shift in Israel's government would pose a challenge for this country's Israel policy, which often confuses support for Netanyahu with support for Israel.
An assertion that Israel has "no greater friend in the world than Canada" might not work if Israel was led by a left-wing labour government or the centrist Kadima party, unless Canada was prepared to offer a mea culpa and sail with the winds in a new direction, abandoning the principles behind its so-called principled stance vis-à-vis Israel.
There is no better example of the hole Canada is digging itself as a result of its unyielding commitment to Netanyahu, mistaken for a commitment to Israel, than the Netanyahu government's recent decision to expand settlements.
In April, Netanyahu's government legalized three settler "outposts" in the Occupied-Palestinian Territories. For over a decade, these and other similar outposts have been considered illegal by Israeli governments and did not count as established "settlements."
The Supreme Court has ordered certain outposts dismantled and criticized the government for not following through. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, or more accurately a Supreme Court and a yet-to-be state of Palestine, the Netanyahu government pre-emptively decided to turn these outposts into official settlements, also illegal under international law.
The legalization of the outposts was the first time Israel established new settlements since the 1993 Oslo Accords. It was a move by a Prime Minister who in September stood before the UN General Assembly and proclaimed, "I want peace" and that the settlements were "an issue that has to be addressed and resolved in the course of negotiations."
Negotiations -- for too many meaningless reasons where it is possible to apportion blame on both sides, have not been forthcoming. Should they resume, Netanyahu can now benefit from new "facts on the ground" making the matter more complicated. Israel's settlement enterprise has expanded; Palestine has gotten smaller.
Prime Minister Netanyahu is not ignorant. He would not have permitted the settlement approval now only to have them dismantled later; they are here to stay. The only issue to be "resolved in the course of negotiations" is for the Palestinians to now accept this.
Canada had no reaction to this troubling development. It never saw fit to express so much as concern, let alone disapproval, at this detrimental, unilateral, and above all, illegal move. Instead, our silence spoke louder than words.
Would Canada have reacted with similar silence if an Israeli government decided, as per Israeli and international law, that the outposts have to go -- that radicals who have taken up illegal residence have undermined Israel's commitments to democracy and the rule of law for too long.
Netanyahu will not be Prime Minister forever. Will our priorities and concerns then shift to whatever the new ruling party sees them to be? Alternatively, if the outpost legalization was one that Canada supported out of principle, because it genuinely believed it to be in this country's best interest vis-à-vis Israel and not just because it was carried out by Netanyahu's government, would Canada speak out against the dismantling of West Bank outposts? Would Canada express concern that one party was making unilateral moves that were unhelpful in bringing about a resolution to the conflict?
The answer to that ridiculous question is "No." And the reason is simple: more so than 100 speeches, dismantling illegal outposts is one of the surest, unilateral moves Israel can make to display a seriousness about its commitment to peace and a two-state solution. This is not about evacuating the entire West Bank or uprooting and demolishing established settlements with tens of thousands of inhabitants.
On the contrary.
Taking down illegal outposts signifies that Israel is standing up to small contingents of radical Israelis bent on destroying the prospects of peace, bringing Biblical prophesy to the 21st century at the expense of justice and equality, and undermining Israel as a democratic state built on the rule of law.
If Canada's policies on Israel/Palestine demonstrated the slightest bit of nuance and desire to use its credibility with the Israeli government to help end the conflict, our government would have indicated this to its "best friend" and suggested a more prudent course of action. But instead it said nothing, leaving two equally troubling conclusions.
Either the Canadian government doesn't understand the significance of the outposts, what their legalization means, and the effects on the peace process, or it doesn't care. | <urn:uuid:3a35bc0b-4434-4435-b223-461934abfa1f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/josh-d-scheinert/israel-election_b_1499208.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966174 | 912 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Who Knew? (Petraeus Scandal Edition)
The sexual affair that forced the resignation of CIA Director David Petraeus was one of the worst-kept secrets in Washington, or at least that's what The New York Times would have us believe.
In a report published yesterday, the paper said that House Majority Leader Eric Cantor of Virginia had a discussion about the matter with an FBI official in October. The Times' implication is clear: leaders on both sides of the Congressional aisle were aware of Petraeus's misdeeds, but said nothing with the election looming.
But, as with many accounts offered up by the NYT, you need to read a little further to get to the gist of the story; here's a CNN account of the latest twist, based on the paper's original article:
[Cantor spokesman] Doug Heye said the Congressman had a conversation with the whistleblower about the affair and the national security concerns involved in the matter (emphasis ours).
The New York Times reported Saturday that on October 31, Cantor's chief of staff phoned the FBI to inform the agency about the call between the Congressman and the FBI official. The Times reported Cantor learned of the whistleblower through Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Washington.
A spokesman for Reichert told CNN Sunday that the Times article was accurate, but that the Congressman had no further comment on his involvement in the case.
The key word, obviously, is whistleblower. Why did an FBI official approach Congressman Reichert when the bureau had been investigating the Petraeus matter for months? Why didn't the official simply raise his concerns internally?
One possibility is the official was concerned about how the probe was being handled, and feared recrimination if he or she voiced their objections at the bureau. Congressman Reichert does not serve on the House Intelligence Committee, but is co-chair of the Law Enforcement Caucus and was sheriff of King County, Washington before being elected to Congress. It's rather curious that Reichert referred the matter to Cantor; perhaps he thought the matter was so serious that (a) Congressional leadership needed to hear the the whistleblower's story, and (b) the FBI would pay more attention if the concern was voiced by the majority leader and not an "ordinary" member of the House.
The timing of Mr. Cantor's involvement is equally interesting. Both the Washington Post and the NYT confirm that the majority leader contacted the bureau in late October, a little more than a week before the presidential election. By that time (according to earlier reports), the investigation had been underway for several months. Was the FBI official that approached Congressman Reichert worried that the bureau was about to sweep the affair under the rug, or was it a set-up, aimed at creating "bi-partisan" knowledge of the matter, less than two weeks before Petraeus's affair would become public knowledge?
Here's another reason to keep the Cantor timeline in mind: the same Washington Post account insists that both the President and the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper, did not learn of the investigation until election night:
A senior administration official defended the decision not to notify the president earlier, saying staffers "needed to get their arms around" the matter before briefing Obama, who had returned from his election trip to Chicago on Wednesday night.
So, in other words, the nation's highest-ranking intelligence officer and the commander-in-chief didn't learn of the Petraeus investigation until Tuesday night? Call that one highly implausible, to say the least.
Lest we forget, the probe into the CIA Director's activities began over concerns that his e-mail had been hacked, and sensitive information might have been compromised. Yet, neither the FBI Director or his boss, the attorney general, saw any need to notify the DNI or the President? If that's the case, then Eric Holder and Robert Muller should be fired immediately for gross incompetence.
Of course, Mr. Holder is no stranger to controversy, or putting his department in the midst of a political imbroglio. If the "Fast and the Furious" scandal is any indication, Mr. Holder knew about the Petraeus affair long before the final stages of the presidential campaign--and so did the White House. Mr. Mueller, on the other hand, is well-regarded in Washington and has done a credible job running the FBI; given his track record, it's difficult to envision the bureau conducting a probe of General Petraeus without Mueller's knowledge. In fact, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday that Mr. Holder was aware of the investigation "for several months." That means that Mr. Mueller was in the loop as well.
If the "who knew" (and when) timeline already seems a bit shaky, one thing is clear: David Petraeus will not be testifying before Congress on the Benghazi scandal anytime soon. Appearing on ABC's This Week, Georgia Senator Saxby Chambliss (the ranking Republican on the Intelligence Committee) said General Petraeus will "eventually" testify on the matter, but he is not expected to appear during closed-door hearings this week. "He's trying to put his life back together and that's what he needs to focus on," Chambliss said. The committee chairman, Senator Diane Feinstein of California, offered similar thoughts on CBS's Face the Nation.
That puts Republicans in a rather inconvenient position. If Petraeus doesn't testify soon, the investigation loses steam and it may prove impossible to sort out what happened at Benghazi. But if they subpoena the former CIA Director, they will lose the public relations battle, viewed as "harassing" a military hero at a low point in his life. And rest assured, the White House is shrewdly calculating that Congressional Republicans--one week after a major electoral defeat--won't pressure Petraeus to testify.
If it all seems a little pat, give yourself a gold star and move to the head of the class. It's evident that many in the administration don't want General Petraeus appearing before Congress in the near future. And one reason was provided, strangely enough, by the CIA Director's former paramour, Paula Broadwell. Israel National News reporter Gil Ronen was (apparently) the first journalist to discover a lecture Ms. Broadwell delivered at her alma mater, the University of Denver, on October 26th.
Broadwell's address, part of an annual alumni seminar, have been posted at YouTube. Beginning at 34:52 into her remarks, Broadwell answers a question concerning General Petraeus and the Benghazi incident. She affirms the CIA Director was aware of requests for assistance from American personnel on the ground, then adds a couple of tantalizing details: first, the CIA was holding two Libyan prisoners at the Benghazi annex, which was attacked after the consulate fell. That certainly provides another rationale for the assault on the annex.
To our knowledge, no one has previously acknowledged the presence of Libyan prisoners at that facility. That sort of information would come from someone in a position to know--say, the CIA Director. It also suggests that the affair between Broadwell and Petraeus did not end (as originally reported) when the retired general took over the agency in 2011. Divulging that type of "insider" information indicates that Petraeus and Broadwell were in regular contact through the attack in Benghazi and discussed events that transpired on the night of September 11th. Yet, the FBI claims that national security wasn't jeopardized by their relationship. Based on the prisoners claim, it sounds like Congressional Republicans should add one more name to their witness list--Paula Broadwell.
In her Denver speech, Ms. Broadwell also revealed that besieged CIA operatives in Benghazi made a specific request for a "command in-extremis force." These elite units, assigned to every regional command, consist of Delta Force operators and other special forces personnel. One of their specialties is providing quick reaction assistance to American facilities under attack.
Why is that nugget so important? According to the official Pentagon timeline, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta (and other senior officials) discussed the deployment of SF assets from Croatia and the United States to Benghazi, if violence flared anew. The discussions took part between midnight and 2 am (Benghazi time) on September 12th. The in-extremis force is never mentioned, assuming it is not the unit that was training in Croatia at that time.
And that, in turn, leads to another report that has been making the rounds since the Benghazi incident occurred. Some in military circles claim there was a sharp disagreement between officials in Washington and General Carter Ham, the commander of U.S. Africa Command. Libya is part of AFRICOM's geographic region, and the "in-extremis" force that would have been dispatched belonged to General Ham. The CINC reportedly wanted to send forces to Benghazi, but was told to stand down by his superiors in Washington. We should note that these claims have been sharply denied by the Pentagon. It was also announced late last month that General Ham will be leaving his post in March 2013, well ahead of schedule. DoD spokesmen told the Washington Times the leadership change was in the works well before Benghazi, though Ham's tenure will be shorter than other MAJCOM leaders.
"Curiouser and curiouser," as Lewis Carroll's Alice once observed. This much we know: the Petraeus scandal--and its connection to events in Benghazi--won't magically disappear, as much as the Obama Administration might prefer. General Petraeus is going through a rough patch right now--completely of his own making--but that doesn't negate his obligation to testify before Congress. Republicans in the House and Senate should demand that he appear this week, and issue a subpoena, if necessary. The families of four dead Americans deserve that much. | <urn:uuid:3a7d7c0b-c7e0-4f90-b823-c1bf295ecc6d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://formerspook.blogspot.jp/2012/11/who-knew-petraeus-scandal-edition.html?showComment=1352735997407 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972767 | 1,992 | 1.671875 | 2 |
DGL PAYS TRIBUTE TO RW BRO AFEEF LAZARUS PDistGM
"At the Half Yearly Communication in January 2010 District Grand Lodge paid tribute to Past District Grand Master RW Bro Afeef Lazarus. The Celebration continued at the banquet which followed when the DistGM RW Bro Walter Scott made a special toast to RW Bro Lazarus and made a presentation to him and his wife, Maggie, for their unselfish service to the Craft over 17 years. At the Communication, the District Grand Director of Ceremonies, W Bro Dr. Orrin Barrow, gave the following citation. "
RWDistGM and Brethren all: As a prologue to today's formal tribute to our Immediate Past District Grand Master, I would like to recall an incident that occurred at the beginning of what in England is known as the Edwardian period.
After the death of Queen Victoria in 1901, her eldest son Edward Albert became King of England ten months before his 60th birthday, and chose to reign under the name Edward VII. The Edwardian period which covered his reign and was named after him, coincided with the start of a new century and heralded significant changes in English society.
Also in 1901 another Edward - Edward William Elgar, the preeminent British composer of his generation and later to become Sir Edward Elgar, 1st Baronet and Master of the King's Musick, wrote the first of his six Pomp and Circumstance Marches. In the following year and allegedly at the suggestion of the King, words were provided for a section of that march, and the result incorporated into the final movement of an Ode he was asked to compose, to mark the Coronation of the King and Queen Alexandra. Due to the King's illness the Coronation was postponed, and during the hiatus Elgar rearranged the words and music of the finale of the Ode to create a separate patriotic song entitled 'Land of Hope and Glory'. I doubt there is anyone present who attended primary or secondary school when our countries were part of the British Empire, who does not remember singing on Empire Day: "Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee"? Today brethren, for us as well as for the Immediate Past District Grand Master, other words of the song become relevant 'How may we extol thee, praise thee, honour thee'?
I will begin by saying that historians will opine that 1948 was not a prosaic year. It is true that for lovers of music the most popular song was arguably Nat Cole's 'Nature Boy', and for lovers of Westerns the most popular movie was undoubtedly 'Red River' starring John Wayne - a striking and dramatic change from its forerunners which featured the likes of Tom Mix, Hopalong Cassidy, Gene Autry, and Roy Rogers.
But at a different level, successful coups were engineered in Venezuela, Peru and El Salvador, Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, the State of Israel came into being, and in contrasting examples of man's inhumanity to man President Truman ended racial segregation in the US Military, while the National Party won the general election in South Africa and immediately enacted institutionalized racial discrimination - apartheid.
And at yet another level, the records of the District Grand Lodge of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands will reveal that on Saturday the 24th day of July in that year, a male child was born in the Hargreaves Memorial Hospital in Mandeville to Assad Saleem Lazarus and his wife Adlyn.
It was by all accounts a commonplace and uneventful day for the patients and staff of that hospital. There were no fanfares, no pious ejaculations, and no fervent exclamations of praise. Instead, as the news was relayed from the delivery room, there was only extreme happiness in the hearts and on the faces of thankful parents for the uncomplicated birth of a mewling infant, later to be christened Afeef Assad.
The absence of trumpet sound, cymbals clash or angelus, lulled many residents of that town into believing that his future would comprise nothing more than mundane accomplishments. But history will not allow us to forget how wrong they were!
His entrance into Freemasonry by way of the Friendly Lodge No. 239 and his subsequent ascent on its ladder of preferment, have been well chronicled and on this occasion are impatient of repetition. Suffice it to say that during the seventeen years that represented his tenure of office as District Grand Master, both by precept and example he ruled us wisely and well, and as a consequence we are still the happy and contented beneficiaries of his knowledge, his wisdom, his intellect, his love for the brethren, and his boundless benevolence.
The high esteem in which he is held by all those privileged to know him, is due as much to his unassuming manner and ease of address, as it is to his civility and graciousness; his unquestioned integrity and dependability; his uncompromising honesty and trustworthiness; his insight and vision; all allied to a passion for freemasonry that is driven by high-powered twin engines of fervency and zeal.
“How shall we extol him who is born of thee”?
Be it known – from Negril to Morant Point, and from Kingston to East End in Grand Cayman - that Afeef Assad Lazarus of Millsborough Crescent in the City of Kingston, an Attorney-atLaw of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Jamaica and a Notary Public for the Island of Jamaica; Past District Grand Master for the District of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the United Fraternity of Antient, Free and Accepted Masons of England; Past Grand Superintendent in and over the District of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of England; Past Grand Junior Overseer in the Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of England, Wales and its Districts and Lodges Overseas, and holder of Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank in the Ancient and Honourable Fraternity of Royal Ark Mariners; Past Great Herald in the Great Priory of the United, Religious, Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple, and of St. John of Jerusalem, Palestine, Rhodes and Malta, of England and Wales and its Provinces and Preceptories Overseas; Sovereign Grand Inspector General 33rd Degree, and Inspector General for the District of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands in the Ancient and Accepted Rite, under the Supreme Council 33rd Degree, for England and Wales and its Districts and Chapters Overseas; Past Grand High Almoner and Past Deputy Intendant-General of the Division of Jamaica in the Grand Imperial Conclave for England and Wales and its Divisions and Conclaves Overseas of the Masonic and Military Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Orders of the Holy Sepulchre and of St. John the Evangelist; Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of England, Wales and its Districts and Councils Overseas; etc., etc., etc.
Whom may the Great Architect of the Universe long preserve; not only exemplifies Freemasonry, but has earned the right to be forever smothered with love, respect and admiration, by the brethren of this District.
And whereas the would-be gurus on masonic protocol may look askance, and may even have the temerity to meddle in matters that are beyond their ken, that love, respect and admiration – unrivalled, unreserved, unremitting, unrepentant, uncompromising, unfettered and unmitigated, allows me on this 23rd day of January in the year 2010, to request ALL present to be upstanding; face him; and salute another colossus of Freemasonry with SEVEN, in the time that has been determined by me.
Prepared and presented by W Bro Dr. Orrin Barrow DistGDC, PJGD.
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The Five Kage Summit (五影会談, Gokage Kaidan; Literally meaning "Five Shadow Summit") was a meeting between the five Kage of the ninja world to discuss recent developments concerning Akatsuki and the tailed beasts.
Since its formation, Akatsuki had been working on capturing the nine tailed beasts or their jinchūriki. At the start of Part II, Akatsuki had captured two tailed beasts; the Five-Tails and the Seven-Tails in the anime. As Part II progressed the organisation also obtained the One-Tailed Shukaku, the Two-Tails, the Three-Tails, the Four-Tails, and the Six-Tails in the anime. The capture of seven tailed beasts had come with great losses for Akatsuki, so the organisation's founder, Tobi, dedicated extra resources to the remaining beasts' capture.
To capture the Eight-Tails, Tobi sent former Konoha ninja, Sasuke Uchiha, and his team to the Land of Lightning to apprehend Killer B. Much of the Valley of Clouds and Lightning was destroyed during the battle, and at its conclusion Killer B appeared to be captured. Killer B's brother, the Fourth Raikage, was enraged by the news and demanded a meeting of the Kage to finally do something about Akatsuki and possibly save B. In reality, B only pretended to be captured, and Akatsuki continued searching for him.
As summons for the summit were sent out, Konoha was attacked by the recognised Akatsuki leader, Pain. Tobi had sent Pain to find Naruto Uzumaki, the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox. Naruto was able to elude capture and defeat Pain, but most of the village was destroyed. Additionally, the Fifth Hokage was left in a coma, necessitating she be replaced by Danzō, the candidate for the position of Sixth Hokage.
For the meeting, the Kage were allowed to bring two bodyguards. The Kage and their bodyguards departed for the Land of Iron, a neutral, samurai-controlled country. Mifune, the general of the Land of Iron, presided over the summit. When all were present, the Fifth Kazekage began the discussion. As the former host of the One-Tailed Shukaku, he had long considered Akatsuki a serious threat and requested cooperation between the villages, something only the Fifth Hokage had agreed to. The Third Tsuchikage scoffed at the idea of the villages working together, citing the need for the villages to look after themselves. Nevertheless, he expressed concern for how many tailed beasts Akatsuki had obtained. The Fifth Mizukage opined that they shouldn't be so concerned about the loss of the tailed beasts, as controlling them was a difficult task that required lots of time and skill, even for Akatsuki. The Tsuchikage and Danzō agreed on this point.
The Raikage, frustrated with the discussion thus far, crushed the table in front of him. The bodyguards came to their Kage's aid but order was quickly restored. The Raikage voiced his distrust of the other villages, all having previously employed Akatsuki and all having had an Akatsuki representative at some point in time. Only his own Kumogakure had never employed the organisation. The Tsuchikage defended Iwagakure's actions, saying that he was forced to employ Akatsuki because of Kumogakure's relentless efforts to amass power and techniques. Danzō made no comment, and the Kazekage, having been unaware of Sunagakure's use of Akatsuki, was disgusted. The Fifth Mizukage, when confronted with allegations that Akatsuki had been created in Kirigakure, offered only her desire to find out how Akatsuki worked in to her village's history.
To get the meeting back on track, Danzō revealed "Madara Uchiha's" involvement with Akatsuki. Because of this revelation, Mifune proposed having the ninja villages join forces against Akatsuki, to be led by one of the Kage. For this position he nominated Danzō, believing that Konoha's Nine-Tails to be the only tailed beast not yet captured by Akatsuki. When questioned by the remaining Kage, Mifune pointed out why they were unfit for the job: the Kazekage was too young; the Tsuchikage was too old and had used too much of Akatsuki in the past; Kirigakure had suspicious connections with Akatsuki; and the Raikage's destruction of the table showed him to be too easily swayed by his emotions.
Before the Kage could come to an agreement, Ao, one of the Mizukage's bodyguards, revealed that Danzō was manipulating Mifune's actions through a unique genjutsu. Before he could be pressed on this matter, Zetsu of Akatsuki appeared and told the Kage that Sasuke Uchiha was nearby. The Raikage apparently killed Zetsu and left with his bodyguards to fight Sasuke, and the Kazekage followed with his own bodyguards soon afterwards. While the Raikage was gone Danzō explained that his manipulation of Mifune was because what he perceived to be a need for the ninja world to be brought together in order to stop the endless conflicts. When Sasuke arrived at their location Danzō fled with his bodyguards, he being Sasuke's target.
Sasuke was unable to follow Danzō, being stopped by the Mizukage and Tsuchikage. Before he could be killed by the latter he was saved by Tobi, who sent him away to recuperate. When the Raikage and Kazekage returned, Tobi told those in attendance about his Eye of the Moon Plan: his desire to unite the tailed beasts back into the original Ten-Tails so that he might bring the whole world under his control. To that end he requests the Kage give him the Eight-Tails and the Nine-Tails. When the Kage refuse, Tobi declares the start of the Fourth Shinobi World War and leaves.
With these new developments, the Kage and Mifune agreed to form the Allied Shinobi Forces, pooling their resources to battle Akatsuki and their seven tailed beasts. With the revelation that Kumogakure still had Killer B, and the Hokage's previous actions, A was selected as the group's leader. They choose not to work with Danzō but, knowing Konoha's contributions would be vital to the war effort, agree to inform Konoha of their plan through other channels: Kakashi Hatake.
In terms of tactics, the Kage decide to immediately secure B and Naruto to make sure they do not fall into Akatsuki's hands. The Tsuchikage suggests using the two on the battlefield to bring the war to a swift end, but the other Kage disagree, believing that would make it too easy for Akatsuki to capture them. Instead, protecting them both will become a top priority. The Kage Summit ends, and the Kage depart to inform their respective villages and daimyō of their decisions. | <urn:uuid:4b130af8-c028-42ea-8950-66d983822952> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://naruto.wikia.com/wiki/Kage_Summit?direction=next&oldid=672135 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97452 | 1,498 | 1.75 | 2 |
This post provides my tips on grooming the product backlog. It answers questions I am often asked by product owners: Why is grooming important? What does grooming entail? Who should carry it out? When should grooming take place? Which tools and techniques are helpful? Where should the initial backlog be derived from? And how much grooming effort is required?
A well-groomed product backlog facilitates the development of a successful product. Your product backlog should change based on the learning obtained from developing software and exposing it to customers, users, and other stakeholders, as the image below illustrates. Integrating the latest insights ensures that you develop the right product for the right people.
Grooming the backlog also makes sure that there are enough ready items to continue developing the software in a meaningful way. To put it differently, the backlog provides the team with work.
Grooming the product backlog consists of the following five steps, which are described in more detail in my post “The Product Backlog Grooming Steps“:
Carrying out the grooming steps should result in a product backlog that is DEEP: detailed appropriately, emergent, estimated, and prioritised. You should also ensure that your backlog is concise and visible for everyone involved in the development effort. A concise product backlog allows to effectively integrate the insights gained. A visible backlog encourages creative conversations.
Grooming the product backlog should be a collaborative effort that involves the product owner and the development team. This helps to analyse the data correctly and to draw the right conclusions. It encourages collective ownership, and leverages the creativity of the entire team. It reduces the work load of the product owner, and helps ensure that the high-prirority items are ready.
Grooming can take place before new development work starts or while it is being carried out, for instance, during the next sprint. If you require user and customer feedback to ensure that you are taking your product in the right direction, then you should first obtain and analyse the relevant data, and integrate the learning into the backlog before you continue coding, as the image below illustrates.
You can find out more about the right point in time to groom you backlog in my post “When should the Product Backlog Grooming Take Place?“.
I prefer to work with the Product Canvas, a structured, multi-dimensional product backlog. The canvas allows me to capture all relevant aspects of a product, which is particularly helpful for new products and for product updates aimed at new markets.
A great way to do the grooming work is to organise a product backlog grooming workshop. The workshop involves the product owner and the development team, and carries out the five grooming steps listed above.
You may have notices that my grooming process starts with “Analyse the customer and user feedback”. This implies that we have already built a first product increment. But how is this possible? I do the following: I derive the initial backlog from the Product Vision Board, as the picture below illustrates. The vision board captured the product vision and the product strategy.
Product owner and team then decide which assumption is most critical, build a product increment to test the assumption, expose it to the customers and users, and collect the feedback. You can find out more about the Product Vision Board by reading my blog post “The Product Vision Board“.
While this answer depends on your cycle length, I find that a two-week sprint usually requires 2-4 hours of focussed grooming work that involves the product owner and the development team.
Product backlog grooming is an important part of managing a product in an agile context. Done correctly, it helps create a successful product, a product that benefits the customers and users and the organisation developing it. To learn more, explore the links above, book a place on my Mastering the Product Backlog training course, or get in touch. | <urn:uuid:19faf243-7048-4384-9524-3abb88d7a046> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.romanpichler.com/blog/product-backlog/grooming-the-product-backlog/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937553 | 788 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Prime Minister David Cameron’s decision to veto Germany’s demand for a new European fiscal union will define his premiership.
More than that, Cameron has raised a banner for patriots everywhere fighting to retain their national independence.
With his no vote on fiscal union, Cameron declared to the EU: “British surrenders of sovereignty come to an end here. And Britain will deny Brussels any oversight authority of any national budgets or any right to sanction EU members.”
The euro-skeptic right is understandably ecstatic.
“He Put Britain First,” thundered the Daily Mail. “There is now a wonderful opportunity for Britain gradually to loosen itself from the shackles of a statist, over-regulated, anti-democratic, corrupt EU.”
The Sun featured Cameron as Winston Churchill, flashing a wartime V-for-Victory sign over the banner headline: “Up Eurs — Bulldog PM Sticks up for Britain.”
The British left, however, almost took to bed.
“Cameron Cuts U.K. Adrift,” wailed the Guardian. “The EU Leaves Britain,” moaned The Independent.
Coalition partner Nick Clegg of the Liberal Democrats went weak in the knees, claiming the prime minister had left Britain “isolated and marginalized … hovering somewhere in the mid-Atlantic.”
Yet one imagines that Britain will somehow survive.
And while he may have been unaware of the firestorm that would follow his decision, Cameron has exposed the backroom game that is going on in Europe. The Germans have seized on the crisis caused by the fiscal promiscuity of Club Med — Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal — to effect a giant leap forward into European fiscal and political union.
Berlin is basically offering the bankrupts a bribe, saying:
“All right, we will bail you out. But, in return, all 17 members of the eurozone shall accept revisions to the EU treaty under which they submit their budgets to Brussels. And if their deficits and/or debts exceed permissible limits, those nations will be sanctioned and fined.
The Germans are exploiting the crisis to impose their model on the eurozone today and all of Europe tomorrow.
Well, some may ask, since Germany is the most successful economy in Europe, why not impose that model?
Answer: For a nation to submit its budget for review by a higher authority, and accept the right of such an authority to alter that budget or punish that nation, is to cease in a fundamental way to be free.
Cameron may seem isolated, but he speaks for tens of millions outside Britain — Italians, Greeks and others fed up with the imposed austerity, North Europeans fed up with having to bail out Club Med deadbeats who do not work as hard or as long.
Nationalism is on the boil across Europe, and it is impossible to believe the leaders of those 26 EU countries, by cutting some deal with Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, can bind their countrymen forever to cede veto power over their future budgets to Brussels.
Will Greeks and Italians really accept a decade of austerity to pay off debts larger than the national economy, to banks and bondholders, for hundreds of billion of euros already spent?
Were Italy and Greece U.S. citizens rather than EU countries, both would long ago have declared bankruptcy, been forced to pay what they could, then been released from remaining obligations, while their creditors would have been forced to swallow their losses.
Moreover, there are pragmatic reasons for rejecting the German plan. Europe appears headed for stagnation or recession. Yet under the fiscal union scheme, virtually all eurozone nations would have to raise value-added and income taxes to balance budgets where the domestic welfare states consume almost all of the national economy.
Does raising taxes make sense in a recession? Would it not risk deepening the recession, raising debt-to-GDP ratios, forcing interest rates to rise to attract investors to new national bonds as old bonds came due?
All of this raises the larger question. Can the eurozone survive? And if it cannot, can the EU?
Given the hostile attitude of Greeks, Italians and many others to years of austerity to pay back debts, given the growing reluctance of the European Central Bank, Germany and Northern Europe to bailing out deadbeats, given the lack of resources available, are not defaults in the eurozone almost inevitable?
And if that happens, given the size of the debts, the result would be like the collapse of Lehman Brothers raised to the third power.
Trillions of euros of debt that appear today as assets on the balance sheets of giant banks and within the portfolios of millions of investors would vanish overnight.
Like the “fire bell in the night” Thomas Jefferson heard in 1820, a harbinger of civil war, Cameron’s declaration that European fiscal and political union goes forward, only without Britain, may be a harbinger of the breakup that is coming.
And if the eurozone collapses, and the EU follows, what, then, is Europe — other than a geographic expression?
Copyright 2011 Creators.com | <urn:uuid:37d12497-6242-4343-a5e0-62c1bbd68d94> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theamericanconservative.com/david-camerons-finest-hour/comment-page-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936375 | 1,064 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Stonington — It seemed only appropriate that Jim Henry died peacefully early Sunday morning at The William W. Backus Hospital surrounded by the two things that meant the most to him — his family and a good book.
Henry, the Stonington man who gained international acclaim when he learned to read at 91 and published his first book at 98, died shortly after his family had gathered around his hospital bed to read the book “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” to him. He was three months short of his 100th birthday.
“He’s been such a wonderful example of strength, dignity, pride, faith and good old fashioned hard work,” said his granddaughter, Marlisa McLaughlin, who said Henry had been suffering from pneumonia for the past week. “We realize how blessed we were to be his grandchildren.”
Henry, a former fisherman, taught himself to read and write after being inspired by the story of the grandson of a slave who also learned to read and write in his 90s.
“It changed him so much and made his life come together,” McLaughlin said. “He just loved books and loved literature.”
With the help of Mark Hogan of Literacy Volunteers of Eastern Connecticut, Henry wrote and published a collection of short stories about his life called “In a Fisherman’s Language” in 2011.
Henry received many accolades includes a congratulatory letter from President Barack Obama. His book was accepted into the collection of the Library of Congress, stories about him appeared in People magazine and on CNN and a New York independent film company was signed to make a movie about his life. But most of all he received letters from people around the world who said they had been inspired by him to learn to read and write. He became friends with a class at Ledyard Center School.
“He really wanted people to improve themselves, overcome their weaknesses and make changes,” McLaughlin said.
Hogan, a retired East Lyme teacher who lives in Mystic, said Sunday that the man he was assigned to tutor turned out to not only become his favorite client but a good friend.
“We had special kinship,” he said. “I can’t say enough about my friend. He will be missed. I’m just sorry he couldn’t make it to 100.”
Hogan called Henry an “amazingly brilliant man” even though he didn’t think so.
Hogan said he was surprised by the acclaim Henry received because he never thought the word would get out about him.
“But man did it ever take off. I was just along for the ride,” he said.
When Henry’s book was published in 2011, he said that becoming an author made him feel like he was just born.
“Here I am, nothing but a fisherman before and now everyone is looking up to me. It makes me feel so happy,” he said. “I have tears in my eyes when I go to bed at night and think about all the nice things that have happened to me lately.”
When Henry was a third-grade student, his father made him and his brother quit school so they could work odd jobs.
When he was 18 he moved to Stonington Borough, and he went on to not only captain a lobster boat, but also work at Electric Boat and serve in the National Guard. He became a skilled carpenter and plumber and even designed and built his own home in Stonington. He helped found the annual Blessing of the Fleet ceremony and ran it for years.
Over the years, he hid his illiteracy from friends and relatives by employing a variety of tricks, such as ordering what he heard someone else ask for when he went to a restaurant. He could write his name just well enough get by. He felt ashamed he never learned how to read.
Then, seven years ago, at 91, Henry was inspired after learning about the story of George Dawson, the grandson of a slave who wanted to earn his high school diploma by learning how to read and write at 98. Dawson went on to write the book “Life is So Good.”
“He had the same problem I did. It was identical. I figured if he could do it, I could do it. So I said, ‘I’ll try it,’” Henry told The Day in 2011.
He began by reading books designed for first-graders and spent countless hours practicing how to write, first the alphabet and his name, then small words.
He was also inspired by grand-nephew Bobby Henry, who when he learned about Henry’s desire to read and write told him he would no longer take phone calls from him. He wanted a letter. Henry finally wrote that letter.
Henry’s family is finalizing his arrangements and plans to start a literacy fund in his honor.
McLaughlin said Henry had been working on a second book right up until he died.
“One of the last thing he said to us, was a book gives you life,” she said. | <urn:uuid:bf1b1457-3e24-4942-a3bd-92c0c849e3af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130106/NWS01/130109857/1070/ENT05 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.994162 | 1,083 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Bahrain expels protesters from Pearl Roundabout
Bahrain's clearing of the main protest site in its capital city escalates the conflict between the Sunni ruling family and the majority Shiite protesters.
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Security forces in Bahrain’s capital early Wednesday forcefully drove out hundreds of protesters from the Pearl Roundabout, the symbolic center of the month-long uprising, escalating the conflict between majority Shiite protesters and the Sunni ruling family and sharply reducing the chances of political reconciliation.
The move came a day after Bahrain’s King Hamad declared a state of emergency and two days after Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations sent troops into fellow Gulf Cooperation Council member Bahrain to help the kingdom’s security forces confront protesters, a development that deeply angered opposition groups. It is unclear whether the foreign troops participated in the attacks on protesters Wednesday morning.
The last time that Bahrain forcibly cleared the Pearl Roundabout in February, killing seven people in the process, the use of force only mobilized the protesters, who later retook the square. Wednesday’s crackdown is likely to only harden their resolve. The uprising began with calls for a more representative constitutional monarchy, other political reforms, and equal rights for Shiites, who make up about 70 percent of the population and complain of strong discrimination. But as the government has cracked down, demands have turned to dethroning the ruling family.
The Associated Press reports that at least two protesters and two policemen were reported killed when soldiers and riot police stormed the roundabout at dawn, using tear gas and armored vehicles. The New York Times reports that the troops also used tanks, helicopters, and jeeps mounted with machine guns to disperse the protesters. Witnesses said the forces lit protesters' tents on fire; they also reported that pillars of black smoke were rising from the square. Mobile phones in the area were jammed, according to the AP.
CNN reports that security forces also stormed the main hospital. Doctors and nurses at Salmaniya Medical Complex told CNN that security forces cordoned off the hospital and beat personnel inside the hospital. Doctors were hiding from the forces, unable to do their work. The same scenario was reported at a private hospital, reports CNN. The Washington Post reported that forces were preventing any new patients from entering the hospitals.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Bahrain’s main opposition groups released a statement condemning the regime’s attempt to solve a political problem by using military force. Abdul Khalil, a senior member of the leading Shiite opposition bloc Al Wafaq, said recent developments dashed any hopes of dialogue.
"We can't start dialogue with violence everywhere in the country," Mr. Khalil said to the Journal. "We don't need more guns. Security forces from Gulf countries will put oil on the fire."
The Washington Post reports that there were fewer protesters than usual in the Pearl Roundabout when it was attacked Wednesday morning because many had returned home to their villages to protect them against attacks by pro-government vigilantes and security forces. The Journal reports that clashes or attacks occurred in six villages, including the Shiite town of Sitra, when witnesses said pro-government mobs went on a rampage with knives, swords, and guns. | <urn:uuid:fc8d9b42-3504-4610-8b7b-f6647196c40b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.csmonitor.com/World/terrorism-security/2011/0316/Bahrain-expels-protesters-from-Pearl-Roundabout | 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 | 0.94955 | 738 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The cats rest comfortably on the red-and-black furniture in the new Cat Depot adoption center. Of the 150 cats in the 10,000-square-foot building, 90% are free-roaming, kept in “pods” or “suites,” which give them outdoor access. Ken Slavin, who, with his wife, Linda, was a main co-founder of the Cat Depot, jokes that some people might see the facility and hesitate to adopt its cats, because they think that the felines already live the good life. But the Cat Depot can only take in a small fraction of the cats it is asked to help.
“The need is greater than ever,” Ken Slavin said. “We have to (have people) adopt cats before we can take in more cats.”
The new Cat Depot adoption center, 2542 17th St., Sarasota, opened to the public Friday, Oct. 30. It is approximately four times the size of the previous facility on U.S. 301.
The Slavins didn’t expect to become involved with animal rescue when they took a feral cat they found near their Longboat Key home to the former Cat Woman shelter. Around that time, the city of Sarasota found 262 cats in the facility, many of which were sick or malnourished. The Slavins, along with other animal-lovers, agreed to help find homes for the cats, so they opened the Cat Depot in 2003.
But the calls kept coming. Approximately three years ago, the Slavins began looking for a larger building with better visibility. In 2007, they purchased the former Décor Direct building on 17th Street.
Since it was founded, the Cat Depot has helped more than 4,000 cats, approximately 2,000 of which have been adopted.
Linda Slavin says she feels good about the work that the no-kill shelter does with its staff of 10 and help from approximately 50 volunteers.
“They aren’t all in cages, and that’s what I feel good about,” Linda Slavin said.
The Cat Depot
Location: 2542 17th St., Sarasota
Hours: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Adoption fees: $60 for adult cats; $75 for kittens
Contact Robin Hartill at [email protected].
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Hat's off to Dee Pelton, volunteers
Dee Pelton held a luncheon that will be tough to top.
Youth sailors descend on City Island
Approximately 250 people hit the water Saturday, April 20 through Sunday, April 21, for Sailfest. The regatta, Sarasota Youth Sailing's biggest fundraiser of the year, included four classes of competition — Optimus, 420, Laser and Multi-hull — and a barbecue feast.
Book club sunsets for the season
The Sunset Beach Book Club, in its 10th year, ended this season with a luncheon and discussion of the book “Gone Girl,” by Gillian Flynn, April 18, at Lazy Lobster. Discussion moderator was Ricki Carroll. Together, the group read five books this season. | <urn:uuid:4017680d-eef9-4586-ae8b-1c2c6ab96e43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yourobserver.com/news/longboat-key/Front-Page/110420092846/Key-residents-adopt-generous-outlook?page=408 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967273 | 693 | 1.609375 | 2 |
In VDARE.com, I have a long review of famed biographer David Maraniss's gigantic, obsessively researched book on Barack Obama's early years. It is supposed to be a pro-Obama book, but ...
Perhaps Maraniss’s most striking revelation: virtually nobody who knew Obama in the first quarter of a century of his life ever thought of him as their leader in anything. When he got to Harvard Law School at age 27, he was instantly proclaimed The First Black President. But before then, those who knew him found his passivity and disengagement frustrating. ...
Consider Obama’s role in the “Choom Gang” of a dozen potheads at Punahou Prep. You might think that a future Leader of the Free World would inevitably, through sheer force of charismatic personality, exert a disproportionate influence on his fellow teens in their debates over, say, which drug to take next. That’s a pretty low hurdle for leadership skills, right? However:
“There was not even a designated leader. …. The other members considered Mark Bendix the glue; he was funny, creative, and uninhibited with a penchant for Marvel Comics. … Without exerting himself in overt ways, Barry Obama held as much respect as anyone within the group.”
Got that? The future Nobel Peace Prize laureate was among the most respected dudes in the Bong Brothers. Granted, Barry was not the glue in the Choom Gang like Mark Bendix was. But he was right up there with any of the non-Bendixian Maui Wowie tokers.
By this point, you may be wondering: “Who was Mark Bendix? And what does this Bendix fellow’s penchant for Marvel Comics have to do with anything?”
Read the whole thing there. | <urn:uuid:466f7893-8acb-4ac9-9fc0-33ed2495fbb2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://isteve.blogspot.com/2012/08/barack-obama-story-by-david-maraniss.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979175 | 378 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Posts Tagged ‘Sexual Orientation’
New York, NY- the NFL has long-standing anti-discrimination policies already in place, but they have agreed to additional actions to ensure openly gay players are not subjected to harassment based on their sexual orientation.
The NFL and New York’s attorney general Eric Schneiderman have been in negotiations to make the athletic league “more inclusive” for gay players. According to CBS sports, the NHL has taken similar steps to protect gay players, but it has not been done in football before
Talks between Schneiderman and the NFL began shortly after players were asked questions about their sexual orientation in the scouting combine. Some prospective players were asked if they liked girls, or if they had a girlfriend. Any employer whether it is the NFL or a fast-food restaurant is prohibited from asking about an applicant’s sexual orientation under the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
After the controversy, the NFL said they found no specific violations, but agreed to improve upon their existing policies to avoid these incidents in the future.
Shneiderman’s office began working with the NFL in attempt to change the environment and to make certain players and recruits are faced with these types of questions in the future.
“We reviewed our long-standing anti-discrimination policy with our teams at our league meeting in March,” said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello, according to CBS sports. “We more recently met with the New York Attorney General’s office to reiterate that policy and our plans to reinforce it to our players, teams and staff in the near future.”
The NFL will take steps to prevent sexual harassment and discrimination by placing posters in locker rooms which clearly state their anti-discrimination policies. The league also promised to thoroughly investigate complaints of harassment and discrimination based on sexual orientation, and keep the identities of complainants confidential. Their policies will also be included in employee handbooks and will be covered in their new recruit symposium.
The NFL will also regularly report to Schneiderman’s office to review their progress in enforcing the anti-discrimination policy.
“My office is committed to ensuring equal protection under the law for all employees and job applicants no matter where they work,” Schneiderman said, “and I applaud the NFL for working cooperatively with our office to address these issues. Together we are sending a powerful message that discrimination and harassment will not be tolerated in any form.”
Even though it against federal law to discriminate against an employee because of their gender or sexual orientation, it happens to an alarming degree. Last year the EEOC received over 30,000 complaints of sexual discrimination—sexual harassment is considered a form of sex discrimination. And those were just the official complaints.
Many men and women are sexually harassed or discriminated against are afraid to report the incidents because they believe they will face retaliation for raising these issues. Over fifty percent of women admit that they have been sexually harassed at least once in their working lives or on a college campus.
Memphis, TN- Working is a fact of life, it’s just something we have to do, but for many Tennessee workers, going to work creates anxiety. On top of the normal amount of stress people experience at work, many men and women are subjected to sexual harassment or discrimination at the hands of a coworker or a boss. Workers need to know they don’t have to just tolerate this kind of behavior and actually have steps they can take to stop. In spite of the laws, thousands of people are sexually harassed every year.
First you have to consider what exactly constitutes sexual harassment.
Sexual harassment can include unwanted sexual comments, touching, and advances, requesting sexual favors in exchange for pay raises, promotions, etc. – this is referred to as quid pro quo. Sexual harassment can also include singling-out a person for their sexual orientation.
Certainly, every worker at one point in time has heard or told a sexually-charged joke. Maybe they have been complemented on how good they look in a certain item of clothing, or told how attractive they are. This often is just a one-time incident that may make a person uncomfortable, but isn’t necessarily a recipe for a hostile work environment, and is not always grounds for a civil lawsuit.
In order to for sexually harassing behavior to be in violation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, it must be pervasive and repeated, causing the workplace to be hostile and leading to extensive emotional distress, anxiety or depression for the intended target.
The Tennessee courts additionally defines sexual harassment as “any unequal treatment of an employee that would not occur but for the employee’s gender,” according to the Tennessee Employment law center. The state law doesn’t require that the harassing behavior be sexual in nature, but it must be unwelcome and prevalent enough for the victim to feel intimidated and uneasy.
Anyone who is subjected to sexual harassment and works at a company with 15 or more employees can file a civil lawsuit, but there are a couple of steps they must take before filing a legal complaint.
First, the harassed individual must report the behavior to the human resources department to handle the behavior internally by appropriately disciplining the harasser. If reporting the harassment still doesn’t stop it, or the reporting employee finds their employer punishes them either by subjecting them to additional harassment, cutting their hours or firing them.
It is only after an employee complains to their employer and no action is taken does the harassment victim have the right it file a civil lawsuit. Before contacting a Tennessee sexual harassment attorney, the harassment victim must also file a formal complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Under state law, sexual harassment victims in Tennessee are eligible to seek compensation from their employers for lost wages, future wages, and emotional distress caused by the behavior. Sexually harassed employees are entitled to a significant settlement, which can be greatly increased, with when the victim enlists the assistance of a Memphis sexual harassment attorney.
The University having just emerged from a flurry of scandal following the hazing death of a marching bands member last year took the step to protect the school from being further mired in controversy. In a statement the attorney for FAMU, Avery McKnight said the university was taking the appropriate steps to dismiss Coach Brown, according to the Washington Post.
The letter written to Brown said, “An investigation has been concluded by the office of Equal Opportunity Program pursuant to a complaint that was filed against you alleging sexual harassment. You were found to be in violation of Florida A&M Board of Trustee regulation.”
Former walk-on infielder Vanard Williams II filed his complaint last November which included numerous allegations of sexual harassment, including being harangued about his sexual orientation and berated about his weight.
In a November report, the Tallahassee Democrat stated that Coach Brown told teammates that Williams had “the worst body he has ever seen.” But, according to Williams the harassment didn’t stop there, Brown allegedly made obscene gestures on numerous occasions.
In some instances, witnesses said they heard Brown say things but though he was trying to humorous. According to USA Today, several witnesses were asked if they ever heard Brown use foul language or they heard Brown tell Williams to wear a bra and panties.
When Williams first filed his complaint he retained counsel knowing an investigation would ensue. Brown’s attorney began to question teammates and provided several sworn affidavits to the university to prove his client’s innocence.
In many of the sworn affidavits, witnesses stated they did not observe any of the hostile behavior that Williams claimed he was forced to endure.
Some of the witnesses even told Brown’s attorney, Steve Andrews, that Williams threatened to file a formal complaint against Brown for harassment and hazing if he threw him off the team.
After being kicked off the team for a second time, Williams filed a formal complaint and Coach Brown was put on paid leave while an investigation was conducted.
Upon hearing of the dismissal Andrews once again reiterated that the allegations were baseless and said he planned on filing a defamation lawsuit against the university.
“It’s unfair,” Andrews said in a statement to USA Today, “It’s unwarranted and by their own report it’s unproven. We are going to fight it in front of an independent, unbiased tribunal; it’s a battle we can win. Sure.”
“It places every NCAA coach in a position of having to worry about their jobs because a student player’s mother is unhappy with their playing time,” Andrews said, referring to William’s threat.
While the allegations in this case may be unfounded, universities and employers have to allegations of sexual harassment seriously. Florida A&M is being especially cautious after their previous legal issues with hazing incident which led to a civil lawsuit filed by the parents of the deceased student.
Dustin Proffitt, a former underwriter for the Chubb Group of Insurance Companies, has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit with the Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) following an unlawful termination on what he claims was because of his sexual orientation.
In the complaint, Proffitt alleges he was harassed by fellow employees and supervisors because of his sexual orientation. He also claims that after complaining to his human resources department, he became the target of retaliation, being given a poor performance review and was later terminated after taking two leaves of absence.
IDHR is currently investigating the incident and a conference regarding the matter has been scheduled for November.
The Chubb Group of Insurance Companies have denied that any sexual harassment took place, or that Proffitt’s termination was the result of discrimination.
Sexual harassment is a serious crime, but unfortunately, too many cases go unnoticed. Victims often refuse to come forward out of fear that their harasser will retaliate or because they are embarrassed. However, sexual predators rarely cease their behaviors unless something drastic is done to stop them. If you or someone you know is suffering unwanted sexual conduct, speak to a top sexual harassment lawyer right away to stop workplace hostility.
Sexual harassment can include anything from a general sexual joke to a physical attack such as rape. No matter what unwanted sexual act you have suffered, sexual harassment lawyers work diligently to ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice and work hard so that you may receive compensation for your pain and suffering.
For more information on your case, speak to a leading sexual harassment attorney immediately to file a complaint and fight for your rights.
Sexual harassment is something everyone has to worry about, regardless of their age, gender or race. Incidents that involve unwanted sexual behaviors can take place anywhere, creating a hostile work environment for not just the direct victims, but for anyone else who is around and noticing when the harassment is happening.
Instances of sexual harassment can include verbal incidents, such as lewd jokes, comments about a person’s figure or clothing, discriminative remarks about someone’s sexual orientation, or quid pro quo requests for sex in exchange for benefits like a raise or promotion. Physical sexual harassment can include someone blocking your way if you are trying to pass them, someone looking at another person up and down in a sexually provocative manner, or an actual assault attack that may include fondling – or more severely, rape.
No matter what the incidents entail, sexual harassment is unacceptable and victims are entitled to seek help immediately to stop the unwanted actions and ensure the harasser is brought to justice. If you or someone you know experienced sexual harassment or assault at work, in school or at any other place, turn to a sexual harassment lawyer immediately to file a case and protect your rights.
Victims of sexual harassment may be entitled to compensation for their pain and suffering, which may include money damages, medical care and lost wages. Sexual harassment lawyers do everything in their power to help victims obtain the maximum recovery possible and work diligently to ensure the incidents never happen again.
While victims can stop sexual harassment, many are scared to come forward out of fear that the offender will retaliate or embarrassment. Sexual harassment attorneys encourage all victims to come forward because doing nothing about the situation will undoubtedly ensure it gets worse. Schedule a consultation today.
Chicago, IL – A sheriff’s deputy from Chicago’s Cook County has filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against his department, claiming his superiors did nothing to prevent his colleagues from harassing him because of his sexual orientation.
David Nardi alleges several officers and a supervising sergeant have harassed him for being gay since he started working at the sheriff’s office in 1999. He claims his co-workers would make lewd noises when he was around and would make homophobic comments. Nardi also says that some of his co-workers would refuse to help him with duties because of his sexual orientation.
The suit also alleges that one sergeant allegedly “continually tormented” him by flaunting a sign that read, “I am gay.”
The lawsuit shows that Nardi filed a sexual harassment complaint, but his supervisor refused to forward it to the Office of Professional Responsibility so the incident could be further investigated. Nardi eventually filed a discrimination suit with the Illinois Department of Human Rights but claims his department retaliated against him and assigned him to inferior assignments.
Sexual harassment can occur between people of opposite genders, or as in this case, same-sex individuals. Discrimination against sexual orientation, along with race, ethnicity and handicaps, are all considered forms of sexual harassment and victims have a right to seek legal help. If you or someone you know was victimized by a sexual offender in Chicago, Illinois, turn to a sexual harassment lawyer immediately to file a claim.
Chicago sexual harassment lawyers will make sure the unwanted behavior ceases immediately and that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. They will also work diligently to help you obtain compensation for your pain and suffering.
Call a sexual harassment attorney near you today to file a case.
Chicago, IL- A gay Sherriff’s Deputy for Cook County is suing his employer because he alleges they did nothing to stop his co-workers from harassing him over his sexual orientation, according to CBS Chicago.
David Nardi began working for the department in 1999, and he claims that for the entirety of his career, other officers and a supervising sergeant sexually harassed him for being gay.
In the suit, Nardi states that officers would make lewd noises in presence, whistle at him along with using homophobic slurs. In one incident a fellow officer talked about his orientation in front prisoners, putting his safety in jeopardy. His peers would also refuse to offer him assistance with duties simply because he was gay.
One sergeant allegedly “tormented” him with a sign that read “I am Gay.” One morning as the officers were gathered for their morning roll call, officers began singing “having a gay old time” when Nardi entered the room.
According to the suit, Nardi told a supervisor, who was allegedly complicit, about the harassment, but he refused to forward the complaint to the Office of Professional Responsibility for an investigation. With the lack of action, Nardi filed a discrimination complaint with Illinois Department of Human Rights. After filing the complaint, he was given undesirable assignments which he believes is a form of retaliation.
This among the many sexual harassment complaints levied against law enforcement agencies across the country.
In the wake of unaddressed sexual harassment, the objects of this behavior have no choice other than to hire a sexual harassment attorney to make their employers identify and address the pervasive problem, along with compensating them for their emotional distress.
KAUAI, HI – A federal lawsuit against a Kauai Panda Express franchise has been filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) filed a sexual harassment lawsuit on behalf of three teens who worked at a Panda Express restaurant. The lawsuit alleges a male supervisor at the chain’s Kapaa location sexually abused at least three teen female workers since 2008.
One of the alleged victims claims the manager groped her and made sexual propositions. When she reported the harassment to the restaurant’s general manager, she had her hours cut, according to the suit.
Another victim also alleged she was forced to quit in order to avoid sexual advances from the same supervisor.
“Subjecting teenaged workers — who are especially vulnerable — to this kind of abuse is especially unconscionable,” said Timothy Riera, local director for the EEOC’s Honolulu office.
Sexual harassment can happen to anyone, regardless of age, race, gender or sexual orientation. It can involve mild incidents, like a general sexual joke, or repeated harassment, including physical abuse. Regardless of the individual circumstances, victims are entitled to seek help for their pain and suffering. If you have been victimized by a sexual predator, turn to a sexual harassment lawyer immediately to file a case and protect your rights.
Sexual harassment lawyers ensure the offender is brought to justice and never harms you again. They will also see to it that you are compensated for your pain and suffering, which can mean millions of dollars in money damages and medical care if you qualify. Don’t wait another minute for the unwanted sexual behavior to escalate. Call today and schedule a consultation with a Hawaii sexual harassment attorney or lawyer in your area to rid your workplace of hostility.
Most people are under the misconception that sexual harassment is something that occurs between a man and a woman, with the woman usually depicted as the victim. However, the reality is that victims and offenders have no stereotype. A victim can easily be a man while the harasser can be a woman, or both victim and harasser can be the same sex. What’s more, both victims and harassers can be of any age, race and sexual orientation.
When it comes down to what actually constitutes sexual harassment, most people also believe that it involves constant and aggravated behavior, but not so. Sexual harassment can be any action or behavior that involves unwanted sexual conduct and can occur just once or over a period of time. Incidents can be as mild as a sexual joke someone overheard at work that had nothing to do with any one person in particular or can be as severe as rape. They can even involve Quid Pro Quo requests for a sexual favor in exchange for benefits, like a promotion or good grades.
The one thing that should be the same across any context is that sexual harassment is a direct violation of someone’s rights. Anyone who has been victimized is entitled to seek legal help with a sexual harassment lawyer to ensure those responsible are held liable for their actions. In addition, sexual harassment lawyers can help secure victims compensation for their pain and suffering and can even educate fellow co-workers on the dangers of workplace abuse or discrimination or help instill new policies that will crack down on sexual offenders.
If you have been hurt by a sexual predator, turn to a sexual harassment attorney today to file a case. | <urn:uuid:c5464c31-354c-4878-b3e8-70e4f1f3bb64> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sexual-harassments.org/tag/sexual-orientation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973082 | 3,902 | 1.65625 | 2 |
In our information-hungry society, technology has rapidly transformed the way consumers make purchases today. And as our methods of communication evolve, businesses must embrace new approaches for engaging with their customers. In the lodging industry, this has prompted many hotels to develop mobile apps for on-the-go travelers and offer direct bookings via smartphone and Facebook. Once these digital explorers check-in, they still keep one foot firmly planted in the tech realm, even when they’re on the hunt for dinner and drinks. Digital menus and QR codes are changing the process in which guests make their food and beverage decisions at hotels, impacting the overall guest experience.
Gene Zell, CEO of the 1-year-old digital menu solution provider Aptito, says restaurants are lagging behind many other industries in regards to digital technology. “Restaurants have used paper menus since the early 1800s. Everything has changed since then except the way we dine out,” Zell says. “I found that to be particularly ridiculous, with the amount of cheap technology available these days. Somebody needs to step up and figure things out where it accommodates the client as well as the restaurant establishment and hotel.”
With the release of the iPad in April 2010, and the wave of tablets that followed, some forward-thinking restaurateurs began experimenting with digital wine lists and menus. Customers now had searchable, interactive information at their fingertips, with detailed descriptions, photos, ratings, and the power to make more educated, and perhaps bolder, decisions.
“Many people don’t like to try dishes they never heard of before, but after looking at some pictures, as I found out for myself, they don’t look as bad as they may sound,” Zell says.
In addition to potential sales increases, restaurants can benefit from the ability to easily update specials, add or remove items, and change prices on the fly without spending money to reprint hundreds of menus. As the concept progresses, digital menu capabilities are expanding to allow customers to place their orders, make special requests to the kitchen, and even pay their bill.
While some skeptics fear that technology will depersonalize the dining experience, and limit the amount of personal interaction between the employee and customer, others feel it improves communication and increases staff productivity.
“If a customer has a particular question about a dish or about the restaurant, instead of looking for the waiter, and waving their hands trying to get attention, they can click one button and get attention,” Zell says.
Customers using Aptito’s digital menu software, on either iPad or Android tablets that have been purchased or leased by the property, can browse photos of dishes, contact their server, rate their meals, and recommend restaurants to their Facebook friends.
Aptito’s other services include a smartphone app, from which customers can access the restaurant’s menu, book a reservation, or place an order; a hotel app for accessing services and amenities such as room service; and a tablet, cloud-based POS system. “It makes all the sense in the world for establishments to start jumping into the digital world,” Zell says.
Although the cost of tablets continues to decrease, it can still be an expensive investment for certain properties. QR codes offer an inexpensive and in some cases cost-free way to interact and engage with customers.
Retail Application Deployment (RAD) Systems LLC, an Orlando-based company that uses mobile barcode technology to deploy digital content at physical locations, developed a service called Scan4Beer that allows resort patrons, golfers, and sports fans to place drink orders via smartphone, without interrupting their leisure activity.
In a resort environment, guests can scan a QR code, whether it’s fixed on their cabana chair, table or umbrella, and the order will be delivered directly to their location.
“The QR code is the means to allow the location to engage with the customer,” says Matt Roberts, vice president of RAD Systems, which officially launched Scan4Beer nationwide in February. “It’s like a portal. Customers whip out their phone, take a picture of the code, and now they’re communicating to the hotel.”
Roberts says by using a technology service such as this, properties can increase staff productivity and make the ordering process more efficient. Servers don’t have to constantly canvas the grounds asking guests if they are ready to place an order, and guests don’t have to get up and wait in line at the bar.
“Customers can engage as much as they want with servers, but they’re engaging on their terms, when they want to,” Roberts says.
Customers access the menu on their own phones through a specially designed Web app, or by downloading a free application from iTunes or the Android Market. Once guests place an order, it opens up a ticket to the bartender on the establishment’s POS system and the server delivers the drink once it’s prepared.
Because there is no cost for participating hotels, Scan4Beer earns revenue by charging liquor and beer companies a nominal fee when guests purchase one of their products from a premier menu page. The “more” button leads customers to a more in-depth menu that the hotel creates.
Other hotels are opting for a more subtle way to incorporate technology that gives guests a choice as to how interactive they want to get. Interstate Hotels & Resorts’ “Cocktails” menu isn’t digital, but it features QR codes for inquisitive guests who want access to more information. The current menu rolled out in June 2011 and is in use at more than 40 Interstate hotels, with more properties implementing it each week.
The content is separated by spirit type, so guests can easily search for a signature cocktail that is prepared with the spirit of their choice. Cocktail options are highlighted by flavor profile and a traditional description. Each spirit section includes a unique QR code that will pull up a photo and recipe of the featured drink on a particular page.
“When guests choose to use a smartphone and snap the QR code, they are taken to behind-the-scenes information and education on how they can duplicate the delicious creation at home,” says Bradley Moore, director of food and beverage for Interstate Hotels & Resorts.
Guests can also choose to email, Facebook post, and tweet the contents of the site directly to their pages.
“The more that our guests rely on social media outlets for their information, the more engaged we have to be with social media,” Moore says. “Our hotels have robust email, Facebook, and Twitter campaigns, which they use to continuously drive traffic in the hotel outlets.”
Consumers are more knowledgeable than ever about what they eat and drink, and the Cocktails menu helps guests discover their flavor profile preferences and encourages experimentation with new and different types of spirits. “In general, consumers are becoming more aware of their food and beverage choices, and some are very educated on the subject,” he says.
“Guests are entering our hotel outlets asking if their fish was caught wild or farm raised, they understand the benefit of being served locally-raised meat and produce, and they are educated on the differences in organic and all-natural products.
“This definitely carries over to beverage,” Moore continues, “with consumer knowledge on the nuances of how various bourbon and scotch products are aged, the farming practices of different wineries, and the growing number of microbrew beer varieties.”
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Arab Americans Heckle Pickering for US Policy on Iraq
By Munir K. Nasser
Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas R. Pickering was heckled and booed by an angry Arab American audience in Washington as he was delivering a speech outlining the United States' policy towards Iraq at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee's (ADC) 17th National Convention June 9.
Pickering was interrupted by a storm of shouts and banging on tables when he told the audience that the lifting of sanctions on Iraq “would not lead to a dramatic improvement in humanitarian conditions in Iraq.” He went on to say that those who advocate this course overlook several critical factors:
"First, there is no limit on the amount of oil Iraq can export for food, medicine, and other help for the Iraqi people.
"Second, the most recent report of the UN Special Rapporteur for Human Rights noted that the gravity of the human rights situation in Iraq has few parallels since the end of World War II.
"Third, sanctions deprive Saddam Hussein of the financial resources he needs to pursue his weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programs.
“Finally, lifting sanctions would free Saddam to rebuild his military and WMD programs, but would not guarantee more money or a better life for the average Iraqi."
The heckling and shouting went on for several minutes, while Pickering stood on the podium waiting for a chance to resume his speech. "Saddam Hussein bears responsibility for conditions in Iraq, he declared. “The willingness of well-meaning people to ignore that fact simply reinforces his inclination to trade on the suffering of his people by withholding supplies," Pickering said.
In the question and answer that followed his speech, Pickering tried to justify his government’s policy towards Iraq. A member of the audience asked him: “What right does your government, and the British government has to bomb Iraq in the North on a daily basis?” Pickering responded: “
“We should make it clear, that the use of air power in Northern and Southern Iraq, particularly to oppress Iraqis by their government, would not be permitted by the United States and Britain. I do not think that it is not authorized; I do not accept that it is aggressive; I accept the fact that it is responsive, and I could tell you that it would stop in one minute, if Iraq will stop attacking American and British warplanes,” he said.
Pickering said that he recognizes the deep-seated sense of hurt that people feel to what has happened to them in the Middle East and beyond. “I cannot deal with the past, I can only help with the future,” he added. “I tend to believe that the policy of my government in the Middle East is the right policy,” he said. “I tend to believe that over the last 25 or 30 years we have made progress. If ten years ago you’ve told me that Chairman Arafat will come frequently to the United States and will be received in the White House as an honored guest. I would have said ten years ago that you are going to lose your sanity. This has been a remarkable change. It also my belief that things in Israel are also changing and will continue to change, just as things among Palestinians are changing,” Pickering said.
In response to a question about the Jewish origin of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and her obvious bias towards Israel, Pickering said: “Based on my experience with Albright, I reject utterly what you have said about her and your conclusion about her motivation as a Secretary of State. She is, like you, an American, but I never seen a Secretary of State who has been engaged in the process of peace as less intensively as she does, but I believe you can count on her to do her best to make sure that every minute she is in office, that we have an effective, fair and a just peace process, and I think the results have already begun to prove that.”
Another questioner accused Pickering of being anti Arab. “You record have proven that you are anti-Arab and anti Muslim,” he told him. “I remember when you were Ambassador in Israel the doors of your embassy were closed and Palestinian Americans were dragged away from the embassy and have not been taken care of as American citizens,” the questioner said.
Pickering responded by saying: “To my knowledge, I have never refused to see an Arab American in Israel or in the US, but you can ask about my record in Israel in meetings with Israel’s Arab community which was unparallel. In addition to that, I made it a point to meet with mayors and other leading officials in the occupied West Bank and Gaza when I was there, and you can ask them. I also would like to remind you that seven months before the Intifada, I gave a speech in Jerusalem pointing out yet again that I thought the Israelis must change the way they are dealing with the Palestinians. The speech was applauded by some Israelis, and a conservative member of the Israeli Parliament called me “the unfriendly ambassador of a of a friendly country. At least I believe I tried to be fair,” Pickering said.
In her reaction to Pickering’s comments, Hala Maksoud, ADC President, expressed her satisfaction at the position taken by the audience. “I am glad that he was able to hear the depth of the feeling of our community towards this issue,” she told Albawaba.com.
“We have been trying to communicate this feeling to the State Department and policy makers for a long time, and I guess that they do not get it. By seeing the mood of the people who represent the community and who are intellectuals and professionals at all levels, expressing their feelings strongly by booing and shouting because they feel strongly about the issue. I think this is good and he has to hear that. The message they got at the State Department is how angry is our community and the Arabs in general about the US policy towards Iraq that does not make sense, and towards the pressure the Administration is putting on Arafat to give more concessions in the name of peace,” Maksoud said.
Naseer Aruri, professor of political science at the University of Massachusetts told Albawaba.com that ”what happened today really reflects the sentiments of the Arab American community represented in this audience.
“We may disagree with the manner it was expressed today,” he said, “but it represents the sentiment of the community telling the United States enough is enough. It is not enough that they are committing genocide against Iraq through the sanctions which the whole world condemns, but he is telling an Arab audience to continue to condemn Saddam Hussein.”
Aruri believes the message the State Department got is that Arab Americans are not afraid to express their point of view, and a testimony to the fact that they should be put on notice that this a bankrupt and genocidal policy. “I thought he was smart enough to not to talk about that in front an Arab audience,” he noted. “I think it would be hard for me to imagine that someone would be addressing a meeting at AIPAC, let us say, and tell Israel it must respect the right of return. I would imagine that he would not be able to stay at his job for a long time,” Aruri said.
Clovis Maksoud, former Arab League Representative in Washington thinks the frustration about sanctions against Iraq hurt many people’s deep feelings. He told Albawaba.com that Pickering should have put his statements in a much persuasive manner.
“Unfortunately, the US policy towards Iraq have become in a way for the last ten years a crime against humanity,” he said.
Maksoud, however, thinks the audience should have behaved better. “I think the outburst of anger, although authentic, should have been tailored in a much better reaction, and more forceful, yet with less shouting,” he explained. “I think sometimes the anger would be much more productive if it is articulated in a more subtle and calmer way. Explosion of frustration is understandable, but it is not the way to communicate the authentic feeling of the population” – Albawaba.com
© 2000 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
- Indonesian President to Visit Iraq in November
- Arab Americans Aspire for a Role in the US Political Game through ADC Convention
- Albright: Wahid's Visit to Iraq will Harm Indonesia's Stature
- Assad: Israel doesn't want peace, US-Iraq security pact is dangerous
- Report: US Plans to Topple Saddam Hussein Underway | <urn:uuid:8596b760-b8fe-42cb-a19d-352f35d196a5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.albawaba.com/news/arab-americans-heckle-pickering-us-policy-iraq | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979378 | 1,833 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Houses in the Hill Section promise spectacular lake views, an energetic community, and a good, long life. In fact, last year Burlington was ranked the country's healthiest city by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
. Nestled between the Adirondack and Green mountains, the picturesque college town has a population of 40,000 that skews toward the young and active, so finding a partner to go hiking or skiing with should never be a problem. And it's not just the people who are in good shape. The historic Hill Section is in the center of the city, and you'll find that much of its mid-19th-century housing stock has kept its architectural character and charm. The Hill is walking distance from beautiful Lake Champlain (where you can spend a Saturday afternoon paddling a kayak or fly-fishing for trout, bass, or salmon) and the open-air Church Street marketplace (where you can find plenty of boutiques and restaurants). The Houses
While the town hosts an eclectic hodgepodge of architecture built between
the 1850s and 1920s, some of the more popular styles include Colonial Revivals, Tudors, and Italianates. Remember to look up because some of the houses, which range in price from $300,000 to $1,500,000, feature widow's walks, where ship captains' wives would stand to watch for their hubbies in the nearby Burlington Harbor of Lake Champlain. Why Buy Now?
The economic downturn has eased the fierce competition in this real estate hot spot. Still, homes often sell in less than a month, so you have to be ready to move quickly.
Among the best places for: Walking
, Healthy Living
, College Towns
, Single Women Buyers
, Food Lovers
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by Samuel Breidbart and Sarah Lavery
The Village Voice
After hearing that Mayor Bloomberg casually dismissed the failures of his administration’s Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprise initiative, state Senator Bill Perkins had a clear message to the mayor: it’s time to confess.
"He's lying. He knows he's lying. He needs to just face the problems so we can start to fix them," Perkins said at a Thursday press conference for a new statewide minority and women-owned business initiative introduced by Governor Paterson.
“It’s hypocritical to sign these programs into law and then go to sleep on implementation,” said Perkins, a Harlem Democrat who had been in the City Council at the time that the initiatives were first introduced with the mayor's blessings.
For his part, Governor Paterson, who reportedly had very strong words for the mayor a few weeks ago, was much more measured in his remarks.
Calling the mayor an "advocate" of such programs, Paterson expressed faith that, "he'll clear up any discrepancies just like we're doing in the state."
On Monday, the mayor praised the city's failing initiatives, calling the Department of Small Businesses, which runs the programs, "spectacular." He refused to acknowledge any discrepancies. But even his own representative at a Tuesday City Council hearing on the issue gave statistics that were starkly to the contrary.
For Perkins, Bloomberg's contented attitude is more than an over-generalization. In fact, Bloomberg referring to SBS as "spectacular" makes Perkins want to reevaluate "everything he's taken credit for." | <urn:uuid:f146759b-f03d-443c-b315-04182c4db03f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nysenate.gov/print/14267 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97788 | 334 | 1.601563 | 2 |
The Ministers Index is designed to lead researchers to genealogical information found in church records, such as baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths. This is a valuable alternative source for information, since the state of Indiana did not officially begin keeping birth and death records until 1882, and there are no marriage applications for Vanderburgh County before 1882.
The index includes minister names and church names, and includes the churches of the Catholic Diocese. Discovering a minister's name could lead to knowledge of a family's church affiliation.
In addition to the records found in this index, Willard Library has many other church records on microfilm that are not indexed. Some of these records are in German. All of the records are available for viewing and copying.
For more information, contact Willard Library. | <urn:uuid:4ae69bab-2840-4f19-a23a-b659b150580d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.willard.lib.in.us/online_resources/ministers.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957908 | 165 | 1.6875 | 2 |
’Ex-Gay’ Researcher Apologizes for Study of Gay Therapy
NEW YORK (AP) - A prominent retired psychiatrist is apologizing to the gay community for a decade-old study that concluded some gay people can go straight through what’s called reparative therapy.
Dr. Robert L. Spitzer, formerly of Columbia University, now says he no longer believes his work showed that.
For the study, Spitzer had interviewed 200 people who’d claimed some degree of change. The "fatal flaw" is that there is no way to judge the credibility of their accounts, Spitzer says in a letter he submitted last month to a journal that published his work in 2003.
The work made headlines when he presented it at a 2001 meeting of the American Psychiatric Association. One reason for the attention was that Spitzer had played a leading role 30 years before in removing homosexuality from the list of mental disorders in the association’s diagnostic manual.
Spitzer’s study was attacked by critics who questioned the reliability of the accounts from the people he interviewed. At the time, Spitzer acknowledged that he had no proof their stories were accurate, but said several aspects of their accounts suggested their statements could not be dismissed out of hand.
Now he says his reasoning was wrong, and that "there was no way to determine if the subject’s accounts of change were valid," he wrote in a letter to the editor of the Archives of Sexual Behavior. Spitzer, who lives in Princeton, N.J., sent a copy to The Associated Press after a reporter interviewed him about his change of heart.
"I believe I owe the gay community an apology for my study making unproven claims of the efficacy of reparative therapy," Spitzer wrote. "I also apologize to any gay person who wasted time and energy undergoing some form of reparative therapy because they believed that I had proven that reparative therapy works with some ’highly motivated’ individuals." | <urn:uuid:736ab61e-4dea-4455-a11f-93577b814e00> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.edgenewengland.com/news/national/133293/’ex-gay’_researcher_apologizes_for_study_of_gay_therapy_ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981968 | 408 | 1.710938 | 2 |
After initial signs that India’s government might move to censure controversial remarks by novelist and activist Arundhati Roy, it appears New Delhi has sidestepped a potential political minefield with U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to the country only a week away.
On Sunday, Roy told a conference in New Delhi that Kashmir has “never been an integral part of India”, sparking a strong backlash.
Opposition politicians called for “the strongest possible action” against her “seditious” remarks and Law Minister Veerappa Moily declared the comments “most unfortunate”.
Responding to the charges against her, Roy countered: “Pity the nation that has to silence its writers for speaking their minds.”
With its recent election to the United Nations Security Council with a view to making it permanent and Obama’s arrival next Saturday, India appears to have concluded — as influential Indian newspaper The Hindu wrote on Tuesday — that the media furore over Roy’s remarks is “essentially much ado about nothing”. | <urn:uuid:1d3078ce-0c35-49bc-9f27-2b4217f1f208> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.reuters.com/india/tag/controversy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967281 | 231 | 1.664063 | 2 |
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Pressure washer can be used, despite noise concerns
A HAND car wash business in Amesbury has been allowed to continue using a pressure washer despite concerns about noise pollution.
The business on a former car sales site in High Street was granted planning permission by Wiltshire Council for a change of use in April last year with a condition that washing of cars should only be carried out by hand and not with any mechanical equipment, including pressure washers.
When Zubair Ali applied for permission to alter the condition the council received comments from South Wiltshire Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE_ and Environmental Health raising concerns about the excessive noise levels that would result from high pressure water supply equipment.
The council refused to alter the condition butMr Ali appealed against the decision.
Planning inspector David Morgan has now allowed the appeal and put in place a new condition that the business can use a pressure washer as long as it is only used in an area at the back of the building and the doors to the washing area remain closed throughout the process.
Mr Morgan said: “The council is right to be concerned about the intermittent though sustained levels of noise generated.
“However, the garage (now washing) enclosure is well set back from the street with a broad apron of concrete partly covered by a canopy.”
He also said High Street is a busy thoroughfare with a lot of commercial traffic and at a site visit the equipment was demonstrated and the noise levels were not considered detrimental to neighbours. | <urn:uuid:6529e83f-a0bb-464f-b881-8168c1fe8660> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/9449046.Pressure_washer_can_be_used__despite_noise_concerns/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963969 | 343 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Tax documents reveal that an anti-teen pregnancy foundation paid Bristol Palin seven times what it spent on actual teen pregnancy prevention programs.
Bristol Palin, the 20-year-old daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, was appointed as a teen ambassador for the Candie’s Foundation in 2009. Actresses Jenny McCarthy and Hayden Panettiere have also served as ambassadors for the foundation.
The “Sarah Palin watchdog” website Palingates first reported that Bristol Palin received at least $262,500 from the Candie’s Foundation in 2009.
Jezebel reported that the foundation paid $25,000 to the Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center and $10,000 to the National Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy in 2009, a little over a tenth of what they gave to Palin.
“If I can prevent even one girl from getting pregnant, I will feel a sense of accomplishment,” she told the Associated Press in 2009. “I don’t think anyone realizes how difficult it really is until you actually have a screaming baby in your arms and you’re up all night.”
The Candie’s Foundation was launched in 2001 and is a division of the clothing brand Candie’s.
Raw Story is a progressive news site that focuses on stories often ignored in the mainstream media. While giving coverage to the big stories of the day, we also bring our readers' attention to policy, politics, legal and human rights stories that get ignored in an infotainment culture driven solely by pageviews.
Founded in 2004, Raw Story reaches 5 million unique readers per month and serves more than 19 million pageviews. | <urn:uuid:0530b8ba-a72b-47a3-a134-69f71d08dc13> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/05/abstinence-foundation-paid-bristol-palin-262k-spent-little-on-prevention-programs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944405 | 348 | 1.6875 | 2 |
18 JunLocal Time: 00:23 CEST UK Time: 23:23 BST
- Sunrise 06:21
- Sunset 21:19
- Moonrise 15:47
- Moonset 02:19
|Temp feels like:||22°c (71.6°f)|
|Length of Day:||9h 25m|
|Dew Point:||18 °c (64°f)|
|Pressure:||29.86 " (1011 hpa)|
Average for June: 22°c (72°f)
Weather Overview for Cala Bona
Cala Bona is a small fishing village that caters to the tourist market. Cala Bona translates to “The Good Bay”. It is situated on the east coast of Majorca, or Mallorca, and is a favourite with families looking to relax. The climate is Mediterranean, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. An ideal holiday destination, the best time to visit is in the months of June, July and August.
It can sometimes be battered by strong winds so it is best to check the weather before stepping out. The island also has very strong rip currents around it so use the flag system that most places in Mallorca have in place, where green indicates that there is no danger, yellow indicates that you should be careful, and red means you should not enter the water under any circumstances.
The summer months of June, July, August and September in Cala Bona are hot, with temperatures that can rise to about 30°C, and the average temperature over this season is about 21°C to 25 °C with lows around 16°C. Ensure that your hotel has air-conditioning as you will need it. The sea is lovely and warm with temperatures between 21°C and 26°C, which is great for swimming and taking part in water sports like sailing and water skiing. There is a bit of rainfall in June and July, but it slowly increases in August and reaches a high of 50mm in September. You will have the added delight of having long days of brightness, with sunshine for about 12 hours in June, 13 hours in July and August and 10 hours in September.
Autumn is a lovely cool season with the temperature in October seeing highs of about 23°C and lows of 13°C. In the month of November, the temperatures drop to highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C, so if you visit during this time, you will need a sweater in the evenings. The average sea temperature is still good at about 19°C to 22°C. October generally sees the most rainfall with an average of about 63 mm. The daily amount of sunshine drops to about 7 to 8 hours a day, giving you less time to enjoy the sea.
The months of December, January and February only see high temperatures of about 14°C to 15°C. Night-time temperatures may drop to lows of 4°C to 5°C. The average sea temperature is about 15°C to 17°C, so it would be rather cold to swim in. Rainfall is not too high and is between 35 and 44 mm, and the sun shines for only about 6 to 8 hours per day. The winter is not the best time to visit Cala Bona as the town is quiet, and because of the cold, there is not much that you can do in regards to the sea.
March, April and May see temperatures rising after the winter, which is fairly cold. March sees temperatures of 17°C, but at night this could dip to as low as 5°C, so you would still need a sweater or a jacket for the evenings. April and May are slightly better with temperature highs of about 19°C to 23°C, and lows of 8°C to 12°C, and the daily amount of sunshine goes up to 9 to 12 hours. The sea, however, is still quite cool at 15°C to 18°C. You would also get about 30 to 39 mm of rain per month, so it would be a good idea to have an umbrella handy if you choose to visit during this time.
Cala Bona is a great holiday resort in Spain if you want to get away from the grind and humdrum of daily life. It is near Cala Millor, and has a number of small, sandy beaches between its rocky outcrops. Though it is hot during the summer, it escapes the arid, dry heat because of its location near the coast. Ideal holiday weather during the summer makes it a popular destination.
Latest Cala Bona Reviews
recent visit to cala bona
4 I was in cala bona from the 29th september 2008 until the 5th October - the weather was mixed, but never stopped us goin... Read full review | <urn:uuid:83018db9-2131-4467-9a5d-13afffb2579c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.holiday-weather.com/cala_bona/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970673 | 1,003 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Every time there is a bomb blast somewhere in India, travel advisories are issued by the governments of the US, west European countries and Australia. The intent of these advisories is to restrain their citizens from moving around in India because the law and order situation is not safe.
Now it is time for the Indian government to issue an advisory to the student community that it is not safe to go for education in Australia. This advisory wouldn't be for students who are already there and know the ground reality better than us back home. This advisory should basically be directed towards students in various Indian cities mulling over the prospects of going Down Under. Such a move will be a strong message from the government of India that it views with concern the events unfolding in that country. More than that, it will put pressure on the universities which are the main beneficiaries of the presence of Indian and other students in Australia.
Reports suggest that the universities in Australia are trying to keep a hands-off approach to the whole problem. Their take seems to be that it is a law and order problem best left to police. All the attacks are taking place outside the campuses, so what can we do, is what their contention is. That may be true, but the universities do not have the moral right to maintain a hands-off approach. Students travel thousands of kilometres spending precious savings of their parents only because they feel that not only will they get a good education but also feel that they are going to an institution which will be responsible for their welfare, at least in the broad sense.
The advisory would also pressure the universities to lobby with their own governments to ensure better living conditions for Indian students. Like in many other countries, India does not have a strong lobby in Australia. So it is imperative that local interest group lobbies are activated for this purpose.
If the attack on Indian students goes on unabated for some more time, it would soon degenerate into attacks on Indians and not just students. Be sure of this. Sooner than later no Indian techie, doctor or businessman will be safe Down Under. In fact anticipating this, Indian community leaders in Australia have started scurrying for cover. This fear is the reason why they are trying to articulate a contrarian view and saying that what is the use of Indian students agitating on the streets of Sydney or Melbourne. "This is a futile exercise because their concerns have already been conveyed to Australian authorities," these community leaders have been quoted as saying. This is only way to telling the extreme elements in Australian society that "we are not with them" (Indian students).
To allay the apprehensions of Indians in Australia, Indian trade bodies like FICCI, Assocham and CII who have joint business council agreements or other trade agreements with these countries must immediately take these matters up with their Australian counterparts and prevail upon them to start working actively to broker peace. Otherwise it will be too late. Such a move will comfort Indian students and the community there.
From the look of how things are proceeding the Indian government is unable to do anything other than summoning the Australian high commissioner to South Block. Student bodies and other organizations in India must also step up campaigning with the Indian government via petitions and demonstrations to ensure that it at least issues this advisory.
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Networkingitimes | Dating & Chat | Email | <urn:uuid:3e875d1a-9835-4858-b641-a236bfddce6d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/masala-noodles/entry/govt-must-issue-advisory-on | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968129 | 677 | 1.84375 | 2 |
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The €204,000 ($250,920) Ferrari 458 Italia has never been a common sight, even on the autostrade of its native Italy. Today it’s becoming even rarer as austerity measures spur owners to export supercars by the truckload. A tax crackdown on luxury goods, combined with budget cuts that have pushed Italy deeper into its fourth recession since 2001, is souring demand for sporty cars and other symbols of the country’s fashionable lifestyle. The number of secondhand high-performance cars exported from Italy nearly tripled to 13,633 in the first five months of 2012, from 4,923 a year earlier, according to auto industry group Unrae.
“Italy is one of the strongholds of supercars, and those vehicles are now disappearing from the streets,” says Giuliano Noci, associate dean of Milan Polytechnic’s business school. “This has a huge symbolic value and shows how deep the crisis is.”
The exodus reflects weaker overall demand for high-end autos in the home of Ferrari and Maserati, Fiat’s (FI) most profitable brands. Sales of super-luxury cars in Italy are forecast to plunge 47 percent to 593 vehicles this year from 1,116 in 2008, according to IHS Automotive (IHS), which predicts that sales won’t return to pre-crisis levels before 2016.
Prime Minister Mario Monti’s government is implementing €20 billion in austerity measures as the country grapples with its €1.9 trillion debt. The economy has contracted for four straight quarters, and unemployment has surged to a near-13-year high as consumer spending and industrial output slump.
The downturn prompted Fiat, Italy’s biggest manufacturer, to temporarily halt investments in the country. Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne may close another factory after shuttering a plant in Sicily last year. Weaker demand for supercars could further sour Fiat on Italy and accelerate a shift to stronger markets such as the U.S. and China.
Italy has become a declining source of supercar profits ever since Monti raised ownership levies on high-performance vehicles as part of his budget reforms. After the changes, owners of the €316,000 Lamborghini Aventador pay about €8,400 a year in taxes, an increase of €6,600.
Since December 2011, Italian authorities have conducted dozens of raids in wealthy areas, including the ski resort Cortina d’Ampezzo and Portofino on the Riviera, in search of tax evaders. Officials stop high-priced vehicles to check whether their owners declared sufficient income—and paid enough taxes—to support their lifestyles.
Near Venice last month, the financial police, a separate force from regular cops, arrested a 44-year-old man driving a Ferrari F40 for not paying €8 million in taxes since 2006. In a July sweep in Bergamo, police found that the driver of a €200,000 Ferrari F131 had evaded €3 million in taxes since 2007. “Many Ferrari owners want to get rid of their supercars after the financial police came to one of our events near Rome and checked every driver,” says Fabio Barone, who heads the Ferrari owners’ club Passione Rossa. One of the members put a Ferrari 458 up for sale for €143,000 after buying it for €224,000 last year, he says.
Photograph by Joker/Sueddeutsche Zeitung Photo/The Image Works
Barone says he has received calls from dealers in France, Germany, and Eastern Europe inquiring about vehicles that might be available. Some owners looking to unload their cars are simply listing them on automotive websites. Others sell them via Ferrari’s pre-owned car program. The number of secondhand Ferraris and Maseratis leaving Italy jumped to 424 cars from 142 through the first five months of the year, according to Unrae.
It’s not just Ferraris. Every week about 200 secondhand Porsches leave Italy for other European countries, according to Loris Casadei, head of Porsche in Italy. Exports of used Porsche Cayennes more than tripled to 1,134 vehicles in the first five months of 2012. “The high-end car market is one of the more resilient to the crisis, and Italy is punishing it—not a wise decision,” says Romano Valente, general manager of Unrae, which represents foreign automakers in Italy. “The luxury tax has created a perverse mechanism.”
While Ferrari’s sales in Italy were hurt by an “anti-rich” political campaign, demand abroad for cars such as the four-seat FF will help the automaker increase sales to more than 7,000 vehicles this year, Chairman Luca Cordero di Montezemolo said at the Geneva Motor Show in March. Although Montezemolo supports the fight against tax evasion, he disagrees with the “demagogic spectacularization” of those efforts.
The global expansion by Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini won’t help Italians like those in the Passione Rossa club. In June more than 40 members were checked by police who were waiting when a ferry carrying them docked at the port of Palermo for a driving event in Sicily. “The situation is dramatic,” says the club’s president, Barone. The Dolce Vita era “is far behind us.”
The bottom line: Prime Minister Mario Monti hopes to raise €168 million by boosting taxes on luxury cars. He may get less as Italians sell them off. | <urn:uuid:7199a8b3-62ad-4bb0-946d-d324eadbd278> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-08-23/italys-austerity-leads-to-ferrari-sell-off | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956426 | 1,201 | 1.617188 | 2 |
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Saturday, May 25, 2013
Exercise and Fitness
Hello, I wanted to know what I need to do to loose my belly flab, or a pouch as others call it. The thing is I really do not want to loose any weight, because I am skinny as it is. I weigh about 110 lbs and I am about 5`1. The only part on my body that is actually fat is my stomach area, and I wanted to know what kind of exercises and how many times I should be doing it so I can get rid of my "flab". I want to run every day, but I am afraid I will loose weight if I do that.
When toning the body, balancing your exercise program is an important component to remember for optimal results. Always strive to balance your workout with a combination of strength training and cardiovascular exercises. By adding strength training exercises to a running program, you will be adding muscle which will help tone your body in addition to burning calories from running.
The American College of Sports Medicine recommends a strength training program 2-3 days a week or every other day. I would suggest that you perform equal ab exercises. For example, perform one exercise for your rectus abdominus, which is your front abs (crunches). Perform one exercise for your transverse abs, which is the deep muscle tissue surrounding your abs (planks). Lastly, perform one exercise for your internal and external obliques, which are the sides of your abs (bicycle kicks & pendulums). These are just a few of the most popular abdominal exercises, however, there are several others.
A good tool to use for ab exercises is a stability ball. A stability ball can really help with targeting your core muscles. Remember to start at your own pace and slowly build up to your tolerance. Hard work and determination always pays off in the end.
Henry Marshall, BS
Fitness Center at CARE\Crawley
University of Cincinnati | <urn:uuid:be4b3f07-88d7-4a20-9686-575c3644202b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/57749.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950735 | 435 | 1.765625 | 2 |
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in The potting shed
i bought some very expensive tomatoberry seeds ( 6 for £3.55) and only one as germinated . Also only 2 of my cucumber seeds( sowed 8) have germinated aswell as only 3 of my pumpkins seeds( sowed 7) is it me doing something wrong they have all been planted the way they should be
I don't know about tomatoberry seeds but cuke and pumpkin seeds need decent warmth to germinate. How have you been germinating them?
all i've done is compost, seed, abit of grit and water all pots were done in the same way but have sown some so am just waiting
It pays to be sparing with the water. The mix should be just damp. Too wet and the seeds can rot.
ok thanks might of overdone the wateing now i'm hoping my runner beans will survive the frost forgot to bring back in last night
Fingers crossed! And further to the decent warmth that cukes and pumpkin seeds need to germinate, we're talking at least 20C, hopefully more. Of just about all the vegie seeds, they crave warmth the most. You'd need either a heated greenhouse or a propogator with a warming facility.
Or a radiator just below them if you don't have either of the above. | <urn:uuid:cebff0de-7dec-4d59-b49b-87576275793d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/the-potting-shed/seeds/2453.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948423 | 289 | 1.84375 | 2 |
According to the New Jersey State Police, from January to April of this year, violent crime dropped by 39 percent, with 709 fewer incidents in the categories of murder, robbery, assaults, and rape from the same time period last year. Also, non-violent crime dropped 43 percent in the areas of burglary, theft, including car theft, and arson. In announcing the crime statistics, city officials took issue with the media for not reporting the "good news" of the falling crime stats with the same attention given to city crime being up in 2005, a year that saw dozens of murders. In a press release issued on May 24, the city's Director of Communications and Police Spokesperson Stan Eason challenged editors at various media outlets, "It's good news, will you report it?" However, he said he saw no reason to hold a press conference to announce those positive statistics. Police Chief Thomas Comey said the "good news about the crime stats should be reported by all outlets because it will remind people that the police are always proactive. "I am happy that the crime stats are going down, but I won't rest on my laurels," he said. "I will continue to work to see it go down even further." Comey, along with Mayor Jerramiah Healy also credited the hiring of over 140 new police officers in the past two years. Yet, some of the good news doesn't quite add up. An analysis done by the Reporter found some errors in the number of incidents in various crime categories cited in the city's press release. Uniform numbers?
In the recent press release, the city claims huge decreases in specific crimes. The greatest drop was said to occur in homicides, which were down by 60 percent. In four months of 2006, there were 10 murders, compared to four in 2007. There was also a 50 percent decline in street robberies - 274 in 2007, down from 543 in January to April. But an examination of those numbers in the Uniform Crime Reports on the Jersey City Police Department's Web site (www.njjcpd.org) revealed that although crime went down overall, there were discrepancies between the numbers on the website and the numbers reported to the media. When calculated from the numbers posted on the Web site, the percentage drop in overall crime comes to 27.5 percent, as opposed to the reported 39 percent. What explains the differences in the crime numbers?
Eason, when asked about the numbers, said the information in the press release was sent to him from the Jersey City Police Department. He provided a copy of the sheet with the numbers sent to him. He also said the information was confirmed this year by the state. However, after looking into the matter, Eason found that the Police Department had accidentally omitted the April numbers before they sent the information to him. Police Chief Thomas Comey said a computer glitch tallied the numbers for January to March only. Comey went on to say that he is instructing his staff to "manually" add the numbers in the future, rather than depending on a computer to insure accuracy. But he did verify that the information on the Uniform Crime Reports from January through April of this year was updated and correct. There is a process by which crime statistics are reported to the state's Attorney General Office. With Jersey City, the Police Department submits their uniform crime statistics to the Attorney General's office. It's all about good news
Comey said the "good news" about the crime stats should be reported by all outlets because it will remind people that the police are always proactive. "I am happy that the crime stats are going down, but I won't rest on my laurels," he said. "I will continue to work to see it go down even further." Comey, along with Mayor Jerramiah Healy credited the hiring of over 140 new police officers in the past two years. He also credited the COMPSTAT management system. Eason, in the press release, took the media to task for not reporting when crime is going down, but being eager to report when crime is up. "Despite our success, you have a tough time getting the word out to the public when a 'shock-and-awe' inclined media refuses to share the good news with the public," said Eason in the press release. Eason, a former print journalist with 15 years experience, said what led him to express his frustration was the struggle he faced to get those in the media to report the falling crime stats. He said that he saw newspeople constantly coming to Jersey City in 2005 when homicides were at their highest level in nearly 25 years. "I had to beg various reporters, some of whom are good friends of mine, to do a report on the falling crime," Eason said. "When crime stats are up, you couldn't get them to leave Jersey City." Eason was asked if Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Police Chief Comey should have held a press conference to announce the crime statistics if they were so important, he disagreed. "I have sent out press releases with the falling crime stats to every media outlet," Eason said. "I have sent the press releases out with the tax bills. The press conferences are unnecessary. Are you going to have one every time we announce crime stats are going down?" But Eason did say Mayor Healy and DeFazio were scheduled to do a show on the city's public access TV station, JC1TV, where the mayor would announce the falling crime stats and DeFazio would speak about a gun control initiative he is pursuing. Last week, Healy said he agreed with Eason about his assessment of the media. But said that he found fault mostly with the reporting of a local daily newspaper and not with media outlets in general. "You had the [local daily reporting] when we had a spike in crime from 2004 to 2005. They kept a daily vigil. They recited every day that crime went up," Healy said. "Now, when crime is down, do you see them reporting it? No, they just continue to engage in yellow journalism." Healy also expressed skepticism about the benefits of a press conference announcing the lower crime statistics. However, Comey said he would have no problem standing in front of reporters for any announcement on the falling crime stats. Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at [email protected] | <urn:uuid:763fadb4-629e-466b-b0fa-c628c1a118ab> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/2412464/article-Is-crime-down-in-neighboring-Jersey-City--City-scolds-media-for-not-reporting--good-news- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983435 | 1,303 | 1.585938 | 2 |
The multidisciplinary artist Beili Liu created an art installation made primarily of hundreds of thistle plants entitled Encirclement. This installation and performance was created as part of an artist residency program called Djerassi Artist Residency which is located in California. Her work reminds the viewer of nature and it’s fragility. Her materials are simple, however they convey rich metaphors of time, energy, and complex cultural narratives.
Photos by Tina Chang | <urn:uuid:1cec7421-d748-4fa4-bcd2-4cfb0d7b5eef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hifructose.com/2012/10/11/beili-lius-thorn-and-thistle-installation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969291 | 91 | 1.75 | 2 |
It's unclear how William Spengler, a convicted felon, got the gun he used to shoot at firefighters he'd lured to the scene of a blaze. But data suggests that an NRA-supported loophole makes it pretty easy for anybody to buy a gun, regardless of his or her background. Think Progress points us to the "gun show loophole," an exception to the Brady Law -- ironically, the same one that bans felons from being able to buy or posses a firearm -- allows for the purchase of firearms at gun shows without a background check. More specifically, it does not require a background check if the gun is bought from an unlicensed firearms dealer. As many as half of the dealers at gun shows are unlicensed.
This is a problem. "Not surprisingly, criminals exploit the private sales loophole," reads a 2009 study from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research. "Data from a national survey of inmates indicated that nearly 80 percent of those who had used a handgun in a crime had acquired it through a transaction with an individual who was not a licensed gun dealer." It's hard to know how many of those came from gun shows and how many came from the black market, but it's easy to see how closing one little loophole could have a pronounced effect on gun violence. And the horrible Christmas Eve shooting in Webster, New York provides a pretty powerful case study.
The NRA does not want this loophole closed. When Minnesota tried to tweak its gun laws to require background checks at gun shows, the organization flipped out, calling the proposed measures "a stepping stone for gun control advocates seeking to ban all private sales, even among family and friends." Not that it's a surprise. This is the same organization who said that the solution to gun violence is more guns, after the unprecedented school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut a couple of weeks ago. Nevertheless, that rhetoric doesn't bring back any of the children from Sandy Hook, and it certainly hasn't stopped more gun violence since then.
Inevitably, we learned -- or rather, we were reminded of -- one thing after the shootings on Christmas Eve. It is not difficult for people who want to fire guns at other people to find the guns they need to do it. And if it were harder, there's a chance we could've avoided the tragedies in Newtown and Webster. Unfortunately for everyone, there are more ifs than that. | <urn:uuid:f3d14432-0269-4211-b0f1-e64054ede1f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.akronnewsreporter.com/politics-national/?third_party=how-criminals-get-their-guns | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972583 | 485 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Search giant Google has launched a TV service that unites live television with the web.
The “smart TV” service allows people to search both live channels as well as content from websites such as YouTube.
Special TV sets – or normal TVs connected to a Google box – will also allow people to access the web and download applications. The first TV sets will be produced by Sony and should be available in the Autumn. “Video should be consumed on the biggest, brightest, best screen in your house – the television,” said Rishi Chandra of the firm. “That’s not the PC, or mobile.” He said that there were currently 4bn TV users worldwide and that around $70bn (£50bn) was spent annually on adverts in the US alone. “There is no better medium to reach a wider and broader audience than TV,” he said.
Google generates the lion’s share of its revenue from selling web ads and many analysts speculate that its move into television is an extension of the business.
Dan Cryan, an analyst at Research Firm Screen Digest, said that television was a “very natural space” for Google. “Its stated ambition is to organise the World’s information, so why not move into it,” he told BBC News. He said that there had been several attempts to connect televisions to the internet in the past but none had been “terribly successful”. “Things have changed recently with an increasing number of higher quality web TV services available on TV sets.”
Google showed off the service at a launch event in San Francisco that was plagued by technical glitches. So many people in the 5,000-strong audience were using the conference wi-fi that the demo ran into repeated problems. Google finally had to ask people to disconnect their phones from the wireless network to free-up enough bandwidth. The service is built around an onscreen search box, similar to Google’s web offering, that allows people to search for content on live channels or the web. M
Mr Chandra showed how searching for the television programme House brought up results from live channels as well as web services such as Hulu and Amazon. “The TV becomes a natural extension of the web,” he said. “You spend less time finding your favourite content and more time watching it.” The service streams shows from the web using Google’s Chrome browser.
Mr Cryan said the approach opened up an “interesting question” about whether people would use the service to watch pirated content. “Google is great at organising information, both legal and illegal,” he said.
The browser also allows people to search non-video content from the web. “We can make your TV into a games console, a photo viewer or a music player,” Mr Chandra said.
The first television sets will be built by Sony, who will also build the service into a Blu-Ray DVD player. Set top boxes and peripherals will be built by Logitech, although the service can also be controlled from a mobile phone running Google’s Android operating system.
The TVs and boxes will also use Android and will rely on an Intel microprocessor. “We want to have the same impact on TV that the smartphone had on the mobile experience,” said Mr Chandra.
The firm has also used the conference to launch various initiatives, including an update to its Android operating system and an open source video project called WebM.
The WebM project will make the VP8 video codec, which it acquired when it bought On2 for $133m (£92m), open source.
Codecs are used to encode and decode web video. Various formats are currently competing to become the default standard for web video in the future.
Several web browser makers, including Mozilla, which makes Firefox, and Opera, have agreed to support Google’s new format, which will be offered for free. Another codec called H.264 has the support of Apple and Microsoft. Whilst it will be free for the next five years, it is encumbered by patents and its owners MPEG LA plan to charge for its use. | <urn:uuid:b7a1e038-e9f7-4d03-9398-f092dcd44688> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://moza74.wordpress.com/2010/05/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969295 | 870 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Knowledge & Wisdom: Earl Proulx Knew Everything
When Earl Proulx died in March 2002 at age 88, he’d written Yankee‘s “Plain Talk” advice column for 22 years. Jamie Trowbridge, Yankee Publishing’s president, wrote about him on his passing. Even then, Earl Proulx was able to offer advice to readers.
“Earl taught me that you should never buy a piece of glass. There were always storm windows at the dump that could be cut to size, and as for any leftover pieces, those could be cut into sharp, disposable cabinet scrapers for woodworking….
“One winter a family of mice made their nest inside the walls of our gas range. I took the range completely apart to get the mouse-infested insulation out of it. But when I turned the oven back on, it still smelled like mice. Without hesitating, Earl offered a solution: ‘Take the stove apart again and rub vanilla on the metal.’ If anyone else had recommended this, I would have hauled the stove to the dump. But I took his advice, and that was the end of the unpleasant odor. …
“Earl’s father once told him, ‘Always do a little more work than you’re being paid for, and you’ll never have to worry about a job.’” –May 2002 | <urn:uuid:43dee4fd-4733-4293-aeb7-4f2bd2d578ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yankeemagazine.com/article/features/earlkneweverything | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982223 | 301 | 1.773438 | 2 |
By Christina Camara
The IRS processed most tax returns on a timely basis during the last tax season, but challenges included problems with tax credits and more fraud attempts than the previous year.
As of April 28, 2012, the IRS had received more than 133.4 million individual income tax returns and had issued about $269 billion in tax refunds, said the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) in a new report. For the majority of filers, tax returns were processed within forty-five days, but some who filed electronically early in the season experienced delays due to problems with computer filters established to identify fraud.
The IRS determined that these filters were incorrectly identifying some taxpayers. The problem has since been corrected. Peggy Bogadi, commissioner of the IRS Wage and Investment Division, said in a written response to the audit that the filters more than doubled the number of fraudulent returns identified and refunds prevented.
Some tax credit programs continue to be problematic. While the TIGTA said processing of First-Time Homebuyer Credit repayments has improved, almost $2.6 million in refunds were given in error. "In addition," the report said, "125,684 taxpayers also claimed more than $29.7 million in erroneous Nonbusiness Energy Property Credits, and 109,618 taxpayers claimed more than $159 million for the American Opportunity Tax Credit for students who, based on age, are unlikely to be pursuing an undergraduate degree or vocational certification."
The TIGTA made a number of recommendations, and based on the recommendations, the IRS is updating two major business systems, updating processing procedures, and initiating recovery procedures for credits that were refunded in error.
The report also noted that more fraud is being caught and stopped by the IRS. The agency identified $6.4 billion in false claims for tax refunds and prevented the issuance of $6.1 billion, or 95.3 percent, of these fake refunds. The IRS last year identified 39.1 percent more fraudulent tax refund attempts than the previous year. For example, the IRS identified 210,473 tax returns filed by prisoners for fraud screening, a 5.3 percent increase compared to last year. | <urn:uuid:0380eeab-2622-4df4-bc15-4701c62918c5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.accountingweb.com/print/220236 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969809 | 438 | 1.820313 | 2 |
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) - The agency that operates the New York City area's three major airports wants passengers who don't turn off their cellphones or tablets before takeoff to pay up or go to court.
The executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Monday the agency is considering levying fines that could reach tens of thousands of dollars for behavior that causes flight delays.
"We think that with the economic costs of delays and with the passenger inconvenience and the effect on our airports' ability to serve 100 million passengers a year, it's the right thing to do," Pat Foye said.
The issue of electronic devices on planes received national publicity in December when Alec Baldwin was kicked off a New York-bound flight in Los Angeles for refusing to turn off his cellphone. Baldwin, who stars on NBC's "30 Rock," later issued an apology to fellow American Airlines passengers who were delayed but mocked a flight attendant on Twitter.
The use of electronic devices on planes generally is prohibited during takeoffs and landings, and passengers are warned by public announcements. The Port Authority initiative is believed to be the only one of its kind being contemplated at a domestic airport, but it's unclear whether the agency would have the power to implement it. News of the Port Authority's plans was first reported in the New York Post.
According to Foye, Port Authority police last year responded to about 400 calls involving passengers who refused to turn off their electronic devices at John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International airports. Foye said he believes for every one of those episodes there may have been dozens more in which police weren't called but delays may have ensued.
New York has some of the most crowded airspace in the country, and delays at any of its three major airports can cause havoc around the globe, such as in January 2009 when a security breach closed a terminal for six hours. Flight delays caused by storms in New York often have a ripple effect across the rest of the country.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration announced it is looking at ways to test devices to see if they are safe for passengers to use during critical phases of flights such as takeoffs and landings.
Foye said the fines would be targeted primarily at repeat offenders and egregious behavior that causes lengthy delays. He didn't give specifics on how the fines would be calculated but said the airlines would receive some reimbursement.
"The Port Authority legal department has been looking at options we have for bringing civil litigation, and we're prepared to bring that," he said. "We wanted to put people on notice that that is a potential remedy."
Attorney David Stempfler, head of the Air Travelers Association advocacy group, said there could be jurisdictional issues because, while the Port Authority polices the airports, federal agencies such as the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration govern what takes place inside airplanes.
"It seems like the injured party here is the airline, not the Port Authority," he said. "It's the airline that needs to be taking action against the passengers for doing this. The concept needs to be fleshed out more."
United Airlines, Newark Liberty airport's largest tenant, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.
Air traveler Jamie Williams, a resident of Portland, Maine, who was typing on his laptop Monday at a Newark Liberty airport coffee shop, said he favored the Port Authority's plans even though he hadn't experienced a delay due to an unruly passenger.
"I would have no problem with that," he said. "I think it's a good idea."
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. | <urn:uuid:7753355e-26cc-45de-a50a-26f284fb437c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.journal-news.net/page/content.detail/id/577235/NYC-area-air-travelers-could-face-cellphone-fines.html?nav=5196 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979047 | 748 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Laura Flanders and Rashad Robinson on Fighting ALEC
For over 30 years, American Legislative Exchange Council, (ALEC) has been working for the advance of corporate and conservative political interests. Until most recently with the Trayvon Martin shooting in Florida, most people knew very little about the organization ALEC. The death of Trayvon and the controversial "Stand Your Ground" law is one particular issue that has been promoted by ALEC over the years. Many high-profile US companies that participated and contributed to ALEC have defected following the tragic death of Trayvon Martin. | <urn:uuid:858abfc3-d831-46c3-9559-39506860fed3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nationofchange.org/laura-flanders-and-rashad-robinson-fighting-alec-1349103263 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968487 | 109 | 1.617188 | 2 |
"Audit and financial management adding public value" was the theme of ACCA’s (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) third international public sector conference held on 15 December 2011.
Ian Mulheirn, director of the Social Market Foundation (SMF) delivered the key note address, while the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge MP, chair of the Public Accounts Committee took part in a session on audit and scrutiny with Lazaros Lazarou member of the European Court of Auditors and John Doyle, auditor general of British Columbia Canada.
The conference was organised to draw out lessons learnt over recent years, and understand the key challenges from a range of high profile international speakers and focus on new developments, such as strengthening the role of audit and whole of government accounts.
Gillian Fawcett, head of public sector at ACCA, said: "At our first conference three years ago we asked attendees ‘how long will the downturn last?’ and 50 per cent said for 10 years or more; we thought this was an overly pessimistic prediction at the time, but it is now abundantly clear that we are in this together for the long term.
The conference considered how audit and financial management can and do add public value. The value of audit and scrutiny are in the spotlight unlike never before. Auditors in the public sector are operating in financially constrained environments which bring new pressures and risks, as well as having to take account of the environment and climate change. Similarly, at the same time the demand for efficient and effective public finances and financial reporting are growing around the globe."
In the session on audit and scrutiny, Ms Hodge said that more can and should be done by government to identify systematic issues around value for money. Ms Hodge added that the Public Accounts Committee makes value for money the focus of its work, adding: "Parliament needs to improve its track record on financial scrutiny as a whole. By ensuring all Select Committees take a closer look at the budgets and expenditure, massive savings can be realised in future. At the moment, there is not enough thorough analysis of the risks involved within potential projects, prior to their commencement. Billions of pounds are being lost because of a lack of proper scrutiny of the available data."
Ms Hodge added: "Government needs to step away from being too focused on defining policy and instead needs to begin looking at how to best implement policy. Thorough analysis is required before implementation in order to ensure a fool-proof system. For example, it is counter-productive to cut expenditure on education and training for young people as is happening at the moment. The effect of this will be an increase in the future bill of benefits to be paid out."
Mr Mulheirn’s key note speech ended the event, where he said there is an unprecedented squeeze on public finances that will continue into 2017: "Restoring sustainable public finances in the years ahead will require three ingredients: spending cuts or tax rises; making public service delivery more efficient; and stimulating economic growth in the private sector. On the last of these, a reformed Private Finance Initiative will be essential to boosting the investment in infrastructure that is so badly needed if the British economy is to flourish once the crisis has passed."
The event also attracted public sector financial experts from around the world, including:
- Ibrahim Fazeel, director of audit, Auditor General’s Office, Maldives
- Jill Goldsmith, director of climate change and VFM, National Audit Office UK
- Professor Ron Hodges, Sheffield University
- Alan McGill, Sustainability and Climate Change reporting lead, PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Emmanuel Millard, head of the mission, performance of the public administration, directorate of the budget, France
- Karen Sanderson, deputy director, financial management and reporting group, HM treasury, UK
- Ian Trumper, trustee and treasurer, Transparency International (UK)
- David Watkins, head of strategic technical resource planning, Foreign and Commonwealth Office
These experts gathered to discuss:
- Environmental audit, reviewing the role of the auditor, techniques and developments from across the world to audit and assess environmental and climate change impacts.
- Audit and scrutiny adding public value, discussing the value of audit and scrutiny for ensuring accountability, governance and the stewardship of public funds. It will draw out lessons learnt and key challenges and focus on developments such as strengthening the role of audit committees in public bodies.
- Financial management and reporting adding public value, which looked at the actions taken to tackle the on-going challenges and the actions being taken to turn around public financial management and provide more transparent financial and performance reports by governments.
Gillian Fawcett concluded: "The public sector is facing a tough future, but it is its finance professionals and experts who will steer it through choppy waters. Clear thinking and clear policy lines will also help, and this is why ACCA also launched at the event two research reports about public sector finances- PPP/PFI around the globe and Parliamentary Financial Scrutiny in Hard Times." | <urn:uuid:109c8ff0-ac4a-4038-8791-3164b2197cf6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.accaglobal.com/en/press/tough-times.html?from=1318460400000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942088 | 1,033 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Senate Filibuster Threatens Texas Budget
A filibuster in the Texas Senate Sunday night appears to have killed a bill lawmakers needed to help balance the state budget and cut funding to public schools. The same bill was able to pass the House Sunday, only to get stuck in the Senate. And since Monday is the final day of the regular legislative session, a special session appears inevitable.
Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) ended her 75 minute filibuster reading a list of how much each of the more than 12,000 Texas school districts would lose in funding if proposed budget cuts were allowed to become law. She only got to the “B’s” before midnight. She started her efforts reading letters from constituents asking for additional school funding.
“I did my part, the small part I could play, in stopping a failed public policy because I’m listening to those voices and I know that we can do better and that we must do better,” Davis said.
Her short filibuster has all but ended chances to pass a bill that would have given lawmakers $2.5 billion needed to help balance the budget – along with making about $4 billion in cuts to the state’s public schools. Without the bill, Senator Florence Shapiro (R-Plano) says it’s hard to certify the state’s entire budget for the next two years.
“You have to have these as revenue in order for the budget to balance,” Shapiro said, “They were perfectly matched – ready to balance. And without these pieces the budget doesn’t balance.”
Another concern for lawmakers from both parties is what will happen in a special legislative session to fix the budget. Would it only focus on school spending or start from the beginning? And if everything is reopened could that lead to outcomes worse than those Sen. Davis worked to block Sunday? The current budget bill spent more than the House originally passed. Lt. Governor David Dewhurst told reporters he worried what could happen if the House was given another chance.
“I hope that Senator Davis’ actions don’t result in less funding for our schools. I hope that this doesn’t get re-opened in the House,” Dewhurst said, “so I’m very disappointed.”
If the school finance bill is indeed dead for this session, Governor Rick Perry’s office says he’ll call lawmakers back as early as Tuesday for a special session to fix the budget. Any extra session would most likely include other bills, such as the Governor’s emergency items for the session, including a so-called “sanctuary cities” bill. Democrats don’t think that bill merited “emergency” status. But Representative Scott Hochberg (D-Houston) doesn’t care what the governor calls an emergency, as long as actual emergencies like public school funding aren’t left off the list.
“The lack of putting this on the agenda so that we’re down here at the last night,” Hochberg said, “trying to pass this with a gun to our heads, that’s not leadership and that’s bad for the people of Texas.”
The school finance bill has one more chance in the Senate Monday. It would take a 4/5ths vote of Senators to suspend the Senate’s rules and take up the bill. | <urn:uuid:5862bd05-9d66-4a0c-a140-d3357bdd58ea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kut.org/2011/05/senate-filibuster-threatens-texas-budget/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964095 | 719 | 1.789063 | 2 |
photo of Chabad emissary to Lithuania Rabbi Sholom-Ber Krinsky appears under a headline that reads: THE JEWS see no need to pay 'Sodra' taxes.
Vilnius, Lithuania - The Simon Wiesenthal Center today expressed disgust and outrage in response to the December 21 front-page of the Lithuanian tabloid Vakaro Zinios which can best be described as a “blatantly anti-Semitic attack on the Lithuanian Jewish community”. The front page bore an unusually large lead caption with only one word Zydai (The Jews) and an extremely large photograph of local Chabad rabbi Sholom-Ber Krinsky in ultra-Orthodox attire.
In much smaller letters, the explanation is given that the Jews, in this case, the local Chabad school, “see no need to pay their Social Security taxes.” Thus the impression is created that Rabbi Krinsky is the major offender in this regard, but if one bothers to read the accompanying article which begins on page one and continues on pages 3 and 5, it emerges that Chabad is only one of numerous institutions and companies (such as Western Union for example) which are guilty of the same offense and it is not even among the worst offenders who are specifically listed. In a statement issued today in Jerusalem by its Israel director Dr. Efraim Zuroff, the Center denounced the singling out of Chabad and noted its dangerous implications.
According to Zuroff:
“The caption and photograph on the front page of Vakaro Zinios clearly create the mistaken impression that it is the Jews who are robbing the Lithuanian people. This type of blatant anti-Semitic lie is particularly reprehensible and dangerous in financially-beleaguered Lithuania and what is even more shocking is that this anti-Semitic incitement, which threatens the entire Lithuanian Jewish community, has not elicited a single negative reaction from any government official, religious leader or foreign ambassador.” | <urn:uuid:59307ce5-0cf8-4f6e-b850-542ddfd8d755> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://privateinvesigations.blogspot.com/2011/12/lithuania-outrage-over-anti-semitic.html?m=0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948054 | 411 | 1.539063 | 2 |
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