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January 19, 2013
Hall of Famer Stan Musial dies
By SPORTS NETWORK
ST. LOUIS - Hall of Famer Stan Musial died Saturday evening at his home in Ladue. He was 92.
A three-time National League MVP and seven-time NL batting champion, Musial played his entire 22-year major league career (1941-63) for the St. Louis Cardinals. Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a 24-time All-Star selection and was a first ballot Hall of Fame selection in 1969.
"We have lost the most beloved member of the Cardinals family," Cardinals chairman William DeWitt Jr. said in a statement. "Stan Musial was the greatest player in Cardinals history and one of the best players in the history of baseball. The entire Cardinals organization extends its sincere condolences to Stan's family, including his children Richard, Gerry, Janet and Jean, as well as his eleven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren." | <urn:uuid:7a9a3b7e-b6ea-478a-bdd0-d2a73a84ff8e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/MLB/2013/01/19/pf-20509961.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981557 | 200 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Feminist Illogic: Suing To Compel Violence Against Women in War
In the aftermath of the election, hard-core feminist ideologues are pushing their agenda on all fronts, including the courts. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing four military women and the activist Servicewomen's Action Network (SWAN), has filed a San Francisco lawsuit demanding that female soldiers be forced into direct ground combat (infantry) battalions.
This is not the first time that the American Civil Liberties Union has tried to misuse the federal courts to impose their own radical agenda on the armed forces. Previously, the ACLU filed lawsuits on behalf of men who demanded that Selective Service obligations be imposed on young women on an equal basis. In every case, the most recent being in 2003, federal courts have correctly deferred to Congress and the Executive branches of government, which have the authority under the US Constitution to make policy for the military.
The ACLU, apparently, does not understand the meaning of direct ground combat, which goes beyond the experience of being "in harms' way." All military personnel and even civilians in a war zone, regardless of occupation, are serving "in harm's way," and some get injured or killed.
The female plaintiffs in this case deserve respect for their service and the injuries they suffered, which were recognized by the awarding of Purple Hearts. Their wartime experiences, however, do not fit the definition of direct ground combat. "Tip of the spear" Army and Marine infantry battalions and Special Operations Forces, which currently are designated male-only, engage in deliberate offensive action against the enemy. Examples of direct ground combat, such as the liberation of Baghdad in March 2003 and Fallujah in November 2004, are fairly recent in military history.
The book Outlaw Platoon: Heroes, Renegades, Infidels, and the Brotherhood of War in Afghanistan, by former Army Ranger Sean Parnell, describes even more recent battalion-level combat operations in Afghanistan. In May 2006 Parnell commanded an elite 40-man infantry platoon that encountered deadly ambushes and repeated attacks by opposition enemy forces using professional infantry tactics. Vivid passages in the book thoroughly discredit the notion that infantry combat in Afghanistan only involves random improvised explosive device (IED) attacks. Infantry combat also differs from interactions with civilian women by female-only cultural engagement teams.According to numerous studies and tests conducted over the past 30 years, in the direct ground combat environment, women do not have an equal opportunity to survive, or to help fellow soldiers survive. The armed forces are not subject to civil rights laws like private employers. Nor is there any legal right to serve in direct combat. The armed forces exist to defend the country, and mission accomplishment cannot be subordinated to "equal opportunity" rules that apply in civilian employment.
Contrary to allegations made in the litigation, for decades going back to the 1980s, women in the military have been promoted at rates equal to or faster than men. These figures, re-affirmed by the Pentagon in February 2012, reflect strong support for women in the military. Equal gender -based "diversity metrics" in three- and four-star ranks, however, are not likely when female colonels and captains forego the family sacrifices required of generals and admirals.
The litigation has four female plaintiffs who are joined by Servicewomen's Action Network - the same group pushing the Department of Defense to stop sexual assaults in the military. The organization is against violence against women, unless it happens at the hands of the enemy.
SWAN claims to "advocate for all military women," but they do not represent the concerns of uniformed women who do not want to be forced into infantry battalions where they would be at a severe, unequal disadvantage. One of these women, Marine Capt. Katie Petronio, rocked the feminist world with her straightforward article in the Marine Corps Gazette taking issue with the feminist women-in-combat agenda, based on her own experiences in Iraq. None of her concerns matter to Pentagon feminists, who have criticized Petronio for speaking up.
It is very likely that the real point of this litigation is to duplicate what happened when the gay activist Log Cabin Republicans sued the Department of Defense on the issue of gays in the military. After a long delay due to procedural issues that never were resolved, a California District Judge engaged in judicial activism to strike down the 1993 law that Congress subsequently repealed.
If the same strategy successfully eliminates military women's exemption (not exclusion) from direct ground combat, Congress and the American people they represent would be wrongly denied the opportunity to make major decisions affecting military women who want nothing to do with close combat assignments. Civilian women would be affected too, since the ACLU will have removed the obstacle that the Supreme Court and other federal courts have cited in upholding the constitutionality of women's exemption from Selective Service obligations.
All of this would violate the U.S. Constitution, which assigns policy-making power to Congress and the Executive Branch, not to the judiciary - the branch of government least qualified to make policy for the military. The fastest way to weaken the finest military in the world is to treat it like just another "equal opportunity" employer. Before this is allowed to happen, Congress must intervene.
Editor's Note: Elaine Donnelly is President of the Center for Military Readiness. | <urn:uuid:148c07d4-242c-4006-a3ea-428733096781> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/elaine-donnelly/feminist-illogic-suing-compel-violence-against-women-war | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961066 | 1,091 | 1.78125 | 2 |
A free community talk, “Creating a Safer, More Secure and Greener Neighborhood” will be presented at Pringle Creek Community on June 27th. The speaker, Jan Spencer of Eugene, is an advocate for urban land use, permaculture and concern for the natural environment and will discuss strategies for helping communities “transform suburbia.”
Spencer’s presentation will include information on how he transformed his own property – grass to garden front and back, edible landscaping all over, passive solar design, 6,500-gallon rainwater catchment system and more. It will call attention to existing allies available in any town for like-minded people. Spencer sees permaculture and holistic design as timely, powerful tools for creating healthy communities and a more peaceful world. Other community organizations will also present their current local projects.
The event is hosted by Northeast Lancaster Neighborhood Association and Pringle Creek Community and is open to the public. It will be held Wednesday July 27, Pringle Creek Community, 3911 Village Center Drive SE at Painter’s Hall. A social time will be at 6:30pm and the presentation at 7pm. | <urn:uuid:dc7c1ba7-1d6d-4cca-87db-b547dd83c09f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.willamettelive.com/2012/news/green-neighborhood-talk-coming-to-salem/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933236 | 239 | 1.671875 | 2 |
The county’s uninsured rate is higher than average for the state of Alabama, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It’s one of the reasons Kazi said he felt that he and his fellow physicians at the Islam Center needed to work together to bring a free clinic to the community.
The other reason, he said, was his faith.
“This is the Lord’s commandment to all of us. And at the Islam Center community, we wanted to give back,” he said. “It is very fulfilling to serve people who need it.”
Kazi, along with Dr. Ebba K. Ebba, founded the Salam Free Clinic at the Anniston Islam Center and saw their first patients earlier this month. The clinic is for uninsured Calhoun County residents who do not have access to health screenings. Patients can come in for free screenings for diabetes, high cholesterol and other conditions. Volunteer staff also provide residents with pediatric and eye care, Kazi said.
On their opening weekend, Kazi said the clinic saw eight patients. By the following week he had already received calls for eight more appointments.
“We’re very excited about this,” Kazi said. “And I think people in the community are very excited about this, too.”
Kazi stressed that the clinic is not just for Muslims, but open to all uninsured residents.
“It’s a complete community effort, regardless of religious faith,” Kazi said. “It’s coming together for our small community, regardless of faith.”
And Kazi has received a lot of help from the community. Regional Medical Center donated an x-ray machine to the clinic, and Stringfellow Hospital provided furniture for the center as well. Although during the clinic’s first weekend volunteers were from the Islam Center, Kazi said — like the patients served by the clinic — help is not solicited exclusively from Anniston’s Islamic community.
“All of us our part of the family of God,” Kazi said.
The Salam Free Clinic is open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Appointments can be made by calling the clinic at 256-419-2041 and leaving a message.
Staff Writer Brian Anderson: 256-235-3546. On Twitter @BAnderson_Star. | <urn:uuid:cc779687-53a1-4ef5-8143-1a9e4b8975c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cleburnenews.com/view/full_story/21506897/article-Doctors-at-the-Anniston-Islam-Center-give-back-to-community-%E2%80%98regardless-of-faith%E2%80%99 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971276 | 503 | 1.703125 | 2 |
In an attempt to appease religious institutions, the Obama administration has again compromised on the free birth control mandate included in the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare) by allowing religious employers to opt out of contraception coverage. In the new policy announced today, faith-based nonprofits can offer coverage that doesn't include birth control, and instead use a third party to provide the contraceptives. Women with "religious employers" will now have a separate insurance policy for contraception paid for by the insurer. Also, what constitutes a religious employer has been broadened, and is no longer defined as an institution with religion in its purpose that employs and serves people with the same values. Houses of worship, such as churches or synagogues, were already exempt, but now religious nonprofits like Catholic universities are included.
The birth control coverage has been the major gripe religious organizations have had against Obamacare. They have said providing women with contraceptives goes against their beliefs, even though free birth control leads to a decrease in abortions, another hot-button issue in the religious community.
Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards said her organization is still reviewing the nitty-gritty of the new rules, but seems optimistic. She said, "This policy makes it clear that your boss does not get to decide whether you can have birth control."
The compromise is meant to show respect to religious organizations while still providing contraception to their female employees. I don't really see how using a third party keeps these companies' hands clean from birth control — since their employees are still receiving free contraception — but I guess out of sight, out mind? Even with this new exemption, I find it doubtful that religious groups will jump on the Obamacare bandwagon. But at least it means women working for religious employers will have access to free birth control. What do you make of the new compromise; do you agree with the changes? | <urn:uuid:bec90109-6c39-47e5-bbe4-b67d767d88eb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tressugar.com/Obamacare-Birth-Control-Compromise-27143604 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974012 | 373 | 1.703125 | 2 |
23 March 2009 00:00 [Source: ICB]
E.ON renewed its pressure on the UK government last week to offer more financial incentives for carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, as it awaits a firm decision on plans to expand its coal-fired Kingsnorth plant and fit it with CCS. The German energy company said that current fossil fuel policy acted as a financial disincentive for generators planning CCS-enabled plants.
Paul Golby, E.ON UK's CEO, said: "Let us complete the technical development of CCS while [the government] funds the difference between abated and unabated fossil."
An E.ON spokeswoman said CCS increased generating costs by about 25%, and the government had to provide financial support to make the investment worthwhile.
She added that if incentives to build and run CCS plants were not put in place, the first generator using CCS would effectively be penalized for doing so.
The spokeswoman likened the development of CCS to the unrolling of flue-gas desulfurization (FGD) equipment, the high price of which fell heavily as soon as more generators applied the technology. She pointed out that incentives and financial support were introduced for FGD, and called for similar support for CCS.
A Department of Energy and Climate Change spokeswoman said that a new consultation was already being planned to assess the high running costs of CCS. But she added that the department had launched its CCS competition - for which the Kingsnorth project has been shortlisted - to help the first commercial developer of carbon capture meet the high costs of development and operation.
E.ON added that it had begun assessing pipeline routes from the Kent coast to transfer the captured carbon from Kingsnorth to North Sea gas fields for storage. The company is also planning to ship the carbon in storage tanks to the fields.
Earlier this year E.ON said the cost of its Kingsnorth 1.6GW expansion had risen by 50% because of planning consent delays.
ENERGY KEY INDICATORS
EU energy firms' pledge will aid power sector consolidation
CEOs from power companies across the 27 EU member states signed a joint declaration last Wednesday pledging to keep climate change, market harmonization and security of supply at the top of their priority list for years to come. Although the 60 CEOs - who published their statement through industry lobby Eurelectric - said nothing fundamentally new, the declaration will help consolidate the European electricity industry around core principles. The declaration, which also referred to €1.8 trillion ($2.5 trillion) in needed investments, was submitted to EU energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs ahead of a European Council, also last week.
Petrochemical weakness tipped to drive up LPG stocks
The collapse of US petrochemical production has driven the country's liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sellers into exporting roles in 2009 and will push up LPG stocks this year as export opportunities dry up, an industry consultant has said. "In January and February, unusually large amounts of LPG were shipped to Europe, Asia and South America," Purvin & Gertz consultant Walt Hart said at the company's international LPG seminar.
NGL futures outpace plastics
Natural gas liquids (NGL) futures trading was off to a flying start on US commodities exchange NYMEX while downstream plastics futures remained on the starting line, due in part to weak market conditions, NYMEX officials said last week. "Some [NGL] contracts that we knew would take longer to get going are now picking up, and we're getting positive feedback," said Joe Raia, managing director of energy and metals products for CME Group, the holding company for the NYMEX exchange.
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|Download the listing here >>| | <urn:uuid:f82de677-31f4-4aa2-bc08-cd9275db657a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.icis.com/Articles/2009/03/23/9201872/icis+heren+energy+news+roundup++data.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96024 | 864 | 1.84375 | 2 |
March 27, 2006 - It was the kind of story you could make a movie about.
Scores of teams from all over the country devise riderless cars for a grand competition, with an elite field of 23 teams facing off in the Mojave Desert for the finals. In the end, it comes down to two teams. One is led by a grizzled ex-Marine. The other is guided by a soft-spoken, German-born professor. The prize? Two ... million ... dollars.
This is no made-up plot line from "Those Daring Young Men in Their Jaunty Jalopies." It's the real-life story of last fall's DARPA Grand Challenge , and it's finally coming to the screen in the form of a "Nova" public-TV documentary titled "The Great Robot Race."
The hourlong show, which makes its debut March 28, turns the Pentagon-sponsored Grand Challenge into a drama on the scale of a "Survivor" episode, even though the outcome of this particular reality-TV program is well-known. The film crews followed some of the teams for months before the race, delving into the personalities behind the pursuit:
- Sebastian Thrun, the German-born robotics professor, and his Stanford University team won the $2 million prize when their robotic Volkswagen, named Stanley, crossed the finish line at the end of a grueling 132-mile course.
- Carnegie Mellon University's Red Team, led by robotics professor and ex-Marine Red Whittaker, entered two vehicles in the Grand Challenge. Sandstorm, a modified Humvee that was a veteran of the first Grand Challenge back in 2004, came in a close second to Stanley. The Red Team's other entrant, a customized Hummer called H1ghlander, came in third.
- Two other teams completed the whole course: Wisconsin's TerraMax and Louisiana's Team Gray, which made a valiant effort just weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit their home base in Metairie, La.
- Then there are the lovable also-rans: Berkeley grad student Anthony Levandowski, whose quirky robo-motorcycle sometimes fell down and couldn't get up ... and Team D.A.D., two brothers who went from tinkering with "Battlebots" to tinkering with an autonomously controlled truck.
The show traces how the teams looked for that winning edge, whether it was the Red Team's sensor-equipped gimbal system or the Stanford team's multilayered steering software. In the end, however, the contest between Stanley and Sandstorm was decided by seemingly unpredictable twists of fortune — just like in the movies.
The end of the race was by no means the end of the line for the racing teams. In fact, the whole point of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency competition was to encourage technologies that could someday be used to save lives in places like Iraq and Afghanistan. By 2015, the Pentagon hopes that a third of its ground vehicles will be autonomous, reducing the risk to military convoys in hostile areas.
By that measure, the Grand Challenge was worth the multimillion-dollar cost to the American taxpayer, said DARPA spokeswoman Jan Walker. "It was a good demonstration of the art of the possible," she told MSNBC.com.
Walker said the agency intended to sponsor yet another Grand Challenge, although she said it was too early to specify what form it might take or how much might be offered as a prize.
Stanford: Self-driving cars
The leading teams are already moving on to new challenges. For example, Thrun's team is trying to develop an autonomous automobile that can go from San Francisco to Los Angeles without a human touching the controls.
"I'm completely obsessed with the idea of making the self-driving car a reality, because it will be such a fundamental change for society," he said. Thrun noted that more than 40,000 Americans die annually in motor vehicle accidents — "about as many people as we lost in all of the Vietnam War" — and he hopes that robotic driving systems could cut that in half.
He said good progress already has been made in developing the components for such systems, including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistants. "We're 60 percent of the way to the car that can go on I-5 and keep driving in a lane," Thrun said.
The goal is to demonstrate the S.F.-to L.A. feat by Oct. 8, 2007 — two years to the day since Stanley won the $2 million.
Some of that $2 million is going into the new effort, Thrun said, but "a good amount" of it also went to create an endowed fellowship for graduate students in engineering.
"We feel this is tax money, so we owe it to the taxpayer to make sure that the money is invested in a responsible way," Thrun said.
Oshkosh: Robo-trucks for the military
Oshkosh Truck Corp., the Wisconsin-based company that was the main sponsor of the TerraMax team, is already adapting the technologies from its Grand Challenge entrant for potential real-world scenarios.
"It went very, very well," she told MSNBC.com. "Now we're really at a stage where, if the U.S. military is interested in getting this on some of their vehicles, we're ready to move forward with that."
Skyba said the cost of installing the autonomous-control kit is "about the price of armoring a truck" — that is, less than $100,000.
Carnegie Mellon: Rovers and robo-farmhands
At CMU, Whittaker's Red Team is morphing into a corporation called Red Team Enterprises. "One of the effects of the Grand Challenge was to shift some of the enterprise from research to development and applications, and so part of the next phase is commercial," Whittaker told MSNBC.com.
To cite just one example, Whittaker's group is working with NASA's Glenn Research Center and Johnson Space Center on technologies that would be suited for the deep craters at the moon's south pole, where rovers would have to descend steep slopes and work autonomously during long communication blackouts. Such robots would have to "reason a great deal about the terrain and intricate movement on the slopes," Whittaker said.
"Agriculture is another arena that we're taking on," he said. The potential applications range from assisted navigation for tractors and self-propelled harvesters to fence-monitoring robots and pasture-clipping machines.
Even though the Red Team didn't come away with DARPA's $2 million prize, Whittaker looked back at the Grand Challenge as a grand success.
"For this team," he said, "it was always about the challenge of the technology, and the challenge of the course. ... In something like this, the only way to lose would be to not play. The Grand Challenge is just one of those things where there was no question that if it's robotics, and it's out there in the world, that's something that this team is going to be up for."
Correction for May 1: This report originally cited an incorrect timetable for the Pentagon's move toward autonomous vehicles.
© 2013 msnbc.com Reprints | <urn:uuid:5c97a345-be7f-4193-8f53-500bc6b4faf2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12041376/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964695 | 1,513 | 1.773438 | 2 |
NEW rules denying asylum seekers work rights for up to five years will be softened in response to a backlash from Labor MPs and one of the principal architects of the Gillard government's policy to stem the number of boat arrivals.
Paris Aristotle, a member of the government's expert panel on asylum seekers, has described the no-work-rights rules as inconsistent with the policy's controversial ''no advantage'' test, punitive and in breach of Australia's international treaty obligations.
Mr Aristotle welcomed a nuanced retreat by Immigration Minister Chris Bowen, who signalled a willingness on Monday to put in place ''some mechanism'' for those found to be refugees, but having to wait several years for permanent protection, ''to be able to support themselves''.
Mr Bowen announced last Wednesday that, ''consistent with ''no advantage'', those who could not be sent to Nauru or Manus Island would be released into the community with ''no work rights and will receive only basic accommodation assistance and limited financial support [of $430 a fortnight]''.
The move followed the recognition that too many asylum seekers have arrived since the new approach was announced on August 13 for them to be transferred to Nauru or Manus Island.
It was an attempt to put those who will now be released on bridging visas on the same footing as those on Nauru and Manus Island, but it prompted warnings that it would create an underclass of refugees who would be ill prepared to build new lives when finally granted protection visas.
It has also escalated unrest and anxiety among the 387 who have been sent to Nauru. They say they have been treated unfairly and warn that one Iranian is close to death after being on a hunger strike for 45 days.
After representations from Mr Aristotle and others, Mr Bowen asserted on Monday that the new rules were ''not actually linked to the no-advantage principle as such'', and were more about the surge in numbers from Sri Lanka and the belief that many were ''economic migrants'' and not refugees.
He also vowed to work with those in the refugee sector to determine ''how we will deal'' with those found to be refugees under the new system, where asylum seekers whose claims are upheld must wait for as long as they would have waited to be resettled if they had stayed in a transit country - a period Mr Bowen concedes could be five years.
In comments welcomed by Labor MP Melissa Parke, Mr Bowen said he wanted ''over time'' to work out how these people had ''appropriate support and care, and where appropriate they have some mechanism in place to be able to support themselves''.
Writing exclusively in The Age today, Mr Aristotle argues the correct response to concerns about economic migration from Sri Lanka is to ''properly and quickly'' establish if this is the case by processing applications. ''Those that are refugees should be protected and those who are not can be returned,'' he writes.
''The announcements last week to disallow asylum seekers work rights and timely access to family reunion, even after they have been found to be a refugee, were not recommendations of the panel.
''The measures are highly problematic because they are a punitive form of deterrence in response to a specific and new phenomenon in people smuggling from Sri Lanka, which the government believes is for economic reasons as opposed to refugee protection.''
Mr Aristotle expresses dismay at the opposition's proposal to slash the humanitarian quota to 13,750 places and reintroduce temporary protection visas, saying it makes little sense.
He laments that the debate on asylum-seeker issues continues to be on a ''destructive and combative course''. | <urn:uuid:66232ad0-e512-4dde-9e26-6877b7597163> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thecourier.com.au/story/1147317/backlash-forces-retreat-on-refugee-work-rights/?cs=7 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972624 | 731 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Most folks in the Bay (Yay) Area are amateur meteorologists. That’s due to the fact that the weather here is so freaking, ridiculously, nonsensical. It’s true that you’re just as likely to need a heavy coat in July as you are in January, and the warmest month of the year is usually either September or October. We’re surrounded by hills and ocean and bay, so there’s all these little pockets where you never know what might happen. For the most part, though, it’s usually just about 60, year round, day in and day out.
Then every once in a while, the wind changes direction. See, that 60 comes from the fact that the wind is blowing in from the ocean, usually bringing cooling fog in with it. In the summer, the fog is with us in the morning, but burns off in the afternoon for a few hours of decent warmth, before the fog returns in the evening. That fog is what “they” call the natural air conditioning. This is more so in The City than in the East Bay where I live, but it’s still not as hot here as in the Central Valley, generally.
However, a few days ago, the winds changed, and are coming out of the East, across greater California, keeping out the cooling fog. It’s toasty. I love it. It’s supposed to be in the 90s in The City tomorrow. For those of you not so great at math, that’s 30 degrees hotter than normal. And in the East Bay where I live, it could hit 100. And to that I say – BRING IT ON! | <urn:uuid:8baf8755-1cb9-46b5-aa6e-c68c609dc087> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://peggyluwho.wordpress.com/tag/the-city/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956765 | 355 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Chaplaincy at BGS
Brighton Grammar School adheres to the principles and practices of the Anglican Church and acknowledges its contributing role in the development of the boys' spiritual awareness.
Our Chaplains play a positive role in developing the full potential of the boys: physical, psychological, spiritual and religious.
By any standards, the work of the Chaplains is challenging. With significant cultural changes impacting on the educational environment in which our young men are growing up, the contribution that Chaplains can make to good schooling is becoming more and more important.
Chapel life is based on the threefold Anglican tradition of Scripture, Tradition and Reason, with the Sacraments a central part of our devotion. Services are inclusive and open to all boys and staff (teaching or non-teaching), regardless of their personal religious convictions.
There are approximately 150 such gatherings each year, with prayers for people who are sick or who have died, prayers for wisdom and compassion, and stories from the many faith traditions that enliven the spirits of the boys.
Each year, Old Grammarians and other community members are also welcomed to Chapel for significant celebrations.
Our regular cycle of prayer and worship is as much the Chapel’s reason for being now as when it was first begun, more than a hundred years ago.
The Chapel year also includes staff and Old Grammarian weddings, baptisms, reunions and funerals. For more details of our Chapel services and special events, and for information on Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion at BGS, Weddings, or Funerals, click the above links.
Throughout their years at Brighton Grammar School, boys and staff can find that their faith and religious understanding deepen as they grow in the community life of the School. They can begin to reflect more critically on spiritual matters.
Any one of our six Chaplains is always happy to discuss any aspect of the Christian faith, and to assist in preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and/or First Communion.
Parents, Old Boys or Staff of the School who would like to have their children baptised are also encouraged to contact one of the School Chaplains.
Baptism is a joyful service involving a public declaration of faith and commitment to God. It offers us a way of entering the fellowship of the Anglican Church. It is another important step on the continual journey towards spiritual maturity.
Confirmation and First Communion are often the next step after Baptism, particularly for those who were baptised as infants. It provides an opportunity for them to affirm for themselves their commitment to the Christian faith.
Confirmation signifies a renewed commitment to the life of the Church, as well as the wider community, through worship and by serving Christ in one another. Those who are baptised as teenagers or adults are normally confirmed at the same service.
Brighton Grammar School has long enjoyed a close association with our neighbouring parish Church of St Andrew, where our School Chapel worship is conducted.
When planning their weddings, staff and Old Boys of the School naturally consider the familiar surrounds of the School Chapel as a possible venue. Before making any firm arrangements, however, it is strongly recommended that you contact one of our Chaplains.
Organising a wedding can be time-consuming and complicated, and we will help in every way we can. We are always very pleased to discuss the possibility of an Old Boy or a member of staff being married in Chapel.
Whether it is regarding a marriage or any other matter, you are welcome to contact a chaplain at any time. | <urn:uuid:8a35bb0c-7a21-4af3-817f-da61f27e2a57> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au/Learn_BGS/Chaplaincy.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963503 | 742 | 1.695313 | 2 |
DULUTH, MN (KDAL) - More than $24 million in disaster assistance has been approved for Minnesota communities affected by the June 2012 severe storms and flooding. The disaster funds are provided by the State of Minnesota’s Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on a 25%-75% cost share basis. Additional funds are expected be obligated in the coming weeks as projects are approved through the Public Assistance (PA) program. Fifteen counties and three tribal communities were declared eligible for disaster assistance as a result of the June 14-21 severe storms and flooding. Under the PA Program, HSEM and FEMA awards grants to assist state and local governments, tribal nations and certain private nonprofit organizations. More than 300 applicants have submitted more than 500 projects for reimbursement totaling more than $24,383,720. The PA program provides financial assistance for disaster-related costs such as debris removal, emergency protective measures, and the repair and rebuilding of public infrastructure.
More than 100 HSEM and FEMA personnel are working with applicants out of the Duluth, Minn. Joint Field Office. | <urn:uuid:9ef33743-3aba-403f-9f71-cbedfd87b929> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wnmtradio.com/news/articles/2012/nov/02/over-24-million-dollars-in-area-flood-assistamnce-approved/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955306 | 232 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Aha I can force it to to 16-bit too, didn't realise that would make such a huge difference. So I shall, in the next quick test, when I've figured out how to fix that small lifecycle problem.
@theagentd: so... basically a Sprite is any little rectangular bit of graphics. Once upon a day on machines like the C64 we'd have only 8 "hardware sprites" and a character-mapped background which could be arbitrarily scrolled 8 pixels in any direction, and people designed games around this curious limitation and did pretty well at it though of course it did rather limit the designs.
These days, every single thing you see on the screen is made up from one or more sprites layered on top of each other. Each sprite can be arbitrarily positioned, rotated, offset, scaled, coloured differently in each corner, and arbitrarily transparent, and also each sprite runs its own independent animation program. One small exception in the Puppygames sprite engine is that things like those expanding circle effects and bitmap fonts are actually psuedosprites injected into the scene at the appropriate point. They're not just simple rectangles but arbitrary bits of dynamic geometry, so they're a bit more expensive to draw than plain sprites but that's why there's not that many of them around - we only use them for text rendering and the odd special effect like a radar range or strobe.
It may not look like it at first but Titan Attacks typically has around 500-1000 sprites on screen in any single frame, drawn at 60fps, and each sprite is animated. Some sprites are huge - for example, the background and HUD consists of a few really big sprites - and some are tiny. This is why it always makes me chuckle when people dismiss Puppygames' graphics as being no better than what you can achieve in Flash
I haven't yet seen Flash reliably demonstrate maybe a tenth of that performance, typically, and we've been able to achieve that in Java for about 8 years now through LWJGL. Our more complex games like Droid Assault and Revenge of the titans have literally maybe 4,000 - 8,000 sprites in every single frame. This is also probably why though many people like to dismiss our "retro" style as being trivial and simplistic, nobody has actually managed to emulate it or copy it yet
because it's actually a lot more involved than it looks.
So anyway: porting Titan Attacks to Android, we're aiming for 30fps on account of the fact that it's almost indistinguishable from 60fps on small phone screens and there's no point in aiming too
high just yet what with Dalvik being so lame. This means we need the average phone to be able to cope with at least 1,000 sprites @ 30fps, just to port our crappy Space Invaders game! We could maybe optimise some of that stuff away - at least 300-400 of those sprites are particles in things like bullet trails and explosions and smoke from ruined buildings in the background, so we'll be looking to tweak in those areas to get the performance we need. | <urn:uuid:d8206fee-fc48-4ebc-9850-6c580f937c84> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.java-gaming.org/topics/crabs/24862/msg/212473/view.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965467 | 630 | 1.710938 | 2 |
An FSU professor with a passion for children's literature has been named to head up the prestigious Newberry Award Committee. That committee selects the best children's book in America.
Eliza Dresang has always loved children's books. The FSU professor has just reached the pinnacle of her career as chair of the Newberry Award Committee. Dresang and 15 other national committee members will have to read every children's book released this year between 600 and 1,000 of them.
"The Newberry Award is something like the Pulitzer Prize or the Nobel Award, something that is a stamp of approval that has had high level consideration and the criteria says this is the most distinguished piece of writing for children in a given year," says Eliza Dresang.
One book a year is chosen to bear the gold seal a seal that can turn the heads of librarians, teachers and parents.
"It'll kind of make me look at it a little more closely and see what a lot of people have recognized, so I think that it's worth looking at," says Doreen.
This week, local book lovers are getting a behind the scenes look at the Newberry as Eliza Dresang leads them through a mock selection process. They're following the same procedure as the real Newberry Committee whose chairwoman is still saying "pinch me."
"There's probably nothing that anyone could offer me to do that I would enjoy more. So, to have to do it as my job is really a delight."
Parents may be interested to know the top children's book in this "mock" process turned out to be "Maggie's Door" by Patricia Reilly Giff. Three others got honorable mentions: King of the Mild Frontier, Tale of Desperaux and Olive's Ocean.
The winner of the real Newberry Award will be announced in January. | <urn:uuid:403f99ac-16c5-4e8e-a974-b41d6aa91f8c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wctv.tv/home/headlines/413612.html?site=full | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980164 | 380 | 1.59375 | 2 |
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Survivors Still Struggle to Recover Six Months after Pakistan Floods
Families need help to rebuild lives in long and invisible crisis, warn agencies
LONDON - March 5 - Hundreds of thousands of people affected by Pakistan’s 2012 floods disaster still need urgent help both to meet their immediate needs and to rebuild their homes and livelihoods in what has become a prolonged and invisible disaster, said a grouping of over 200 Pakistani and international aid agencies on Monday.
Almost five million people were affected when heavy rains flooded parts of Baluchistan, Punjab and Sindh from mid-September 2012. Persistent floodwater meant many were homeless for months, unable to resume their usual way of making a living. Over a million people who did return to their villages found their homes too badly damaged to inhabit at the end of 2012, a UN survey found.
Flood victims have been forced into high level of debt and at increased risk of exploitation, ill health and long term destitution. Women, children, elderly people and flood survivors with disabilities are most at risk, warned the aid organizations.
Financial resources for critical relief and recovery work has almost dried up, said members of the National Humanitarian Network and the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum in a joint briefing published on Monday.
A second disaster
“Many flood survivors are poor farming families who missed the winter sowing season and have gone deeper into debt,” said Dr Manzoor Awan, deputy executive director of Sungi Development Foundation and chairman of the National Humanitarian Network. “If they miss the next one too, it’ll be a second disaster for them.”
The aid organizations said that Pakistani authorities had provided vital life-saving assistance to tens of thousands of families. Additionally, although the federal government had avoided calling for international donor assistance, several donors had responded generously to requests from the UN and other aid agencies to support their floods response. However, the overall relief and recovery effort had not matched the scale, scope and duration of the disaster, the aid organizations said.
“We need sustained efforts by Pakistani authorities, international donors and aid agencies so that flood survivors can keep their families safe and healthy now, and get timely support to rebuild their livelihoods, homes and communities,” said Fayaz Ahmed, country director of Islamic Relief and chairman of the Pakistani Humanitarian Forum.
“A strong recovery and reconstruction strategy should be followed by intensified work led by the government to ensure Pakistanis are better prepared for future disasters,” said Arif Jabbar Khan, country director of Oxfam. “We need to accelerate current efforts. With climate change set to make floods and droughts more frequent and severe, the next government should make this a priority.” | <urn:uuid:6dc55602-3bf6-4bc0-a328-76b22634bc3c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2013/03/05-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956383 | 610 | 1.71875 | 2 |
"Earthmen, it is clear, live behind walls, which they find difficult to escape from, but it was just as clear to me that Aurorans live behind walls, too."
"Aurorans live behind walls made of robots, who shield them from all the vicissitudes of life and who...would build up shielded societies to wall up Aurorans settling new worlds. Aurorans also live behind walls made up of their own extended lives, which forces them to overvalue individuality and keeps them from pooling their scientific resources..."
"The Earthman's walls are crude and literal, so that the existence is obtrusive and obvious--and there are always some who long to escape. The Auroran's walls are immaterial and aren't even seen as walls, so that none can even conceive of escaping. It seemed to me, then, that it must be Earthmen and not Aurorans--or any other Spacers--who must settle the Galaxy and establish what will someday become a Galactic Empire."
--Robot Giskard Reventlov: The Robots of Dawn, Isaac Asimov
I have resumed research for the development of a turn-based strategy game set in the Asimov universe. As I get more information put together, I will post it here. If you have any suggestions that you would like to pass along, then please email me.
1,500 years in the future begins an epic adventure for mankind that spans nearly 30,000 years. This is Asimov's legacy. Far broader than Nostradamus. An optimistic look at the future history of man dominating an entire galaxy. Packed with heroes that use the best qualities of individuals to defeat the worst qualities of societies corrupted by twisted ideals. Where even mutants and evolutionary trends fail. A literary universe with mindstretching technologies and unique thoughts that have already shaped science-fiction for generations. From robotics to neuronic whips to psychic probes, Asimov has blended his own personal knowledge and theories of science and astronomy, which are extensive, into a work that has inspired and terrified readers for decades.
NEW! Soon to be moving to a new location: The Galactic Foundations ProjectHome | <urn:uuid:636273e3-ae66-4053-ae87-c82d68b27327> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://webspace.webring.com/people/cb/badbob/gameinfo.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952621 | 446 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Pakistan – Murder of humanitarian workers involved in polio vaccination campaigns (December 19, 2012)
France strongly condemns the multiple attacks that took place on December 18 and 19 against humanitarian workers conducting a polio vaccination campaign in Pakistan. The most recent reports indicate that 9 people were killed.
France calls on the Pakistani government to prosecute the perpetrators of these terrorist attacks and to strengthen the protection of this campaign.
France renews its support for the humanitarian workers and organizations on the ground, who, with the support of the local authorities, the World Health Organization and the UN Children’s Fund, are involved, on a daily basis, in a vaccination campaign that is fundamental to the protection of Pakistani children.
- Diplomatic Photo Gallery
- France / Pakistan (in French) | <urn:uuid:9e94300f-25ac-4f76-bb37-f3e88a73d47b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/pakistan-504/events-5892/article/pakistan-murder-of-humanitarian | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944833 | 154 | 1.5 | 2 |
Keeping the conflicts out
14 June 1999
27 July 2009
6 May 2008
14 April 2003
29 November 1994
13 June 2005
Running a charity, like any other activity, is subject to changes in fashion, and its own species of political correctness. In recent years two competing fashions have come into conflict. It will be interesting to see how the trendiest charities resolve it.
The enactment of the new charities legislation in the early 1990s heralded a stricter approach by the Charity Commission and greater consciousness on the part of charity trustees of the constraints which their trusteeship placed upon them. Suddenly, trustees of all kinds of charities became aware of the principle that trustees should not benefit from their trust and should not place themselves in a situation where personal interests could come into conflict with their duties as trustees. Declaring an interest has become de rigeur. It is far more common for trustees who feel they could not be seen to be unbiased, to withdraw from decision-making which could be embarrassing to their co-trustees. There have been cases where trustees have even resigned in a situation of conflict.
Concurrently, there has been an opposite movement, where those with a clear and obvious personal interest in a charity's work through membership of the beneficiaries, have increasingly been chosen as trustees. The Housing Corporation is currently urging the appointment of residents to the management committees of housing associations (social landlords). Many are exempt charities. The Charity Commission is currently seeking views on a draft leaflet entitled User Trusteeship in Charities.
Many modern charities have welcomed this new spirit. They have discarded the Victorian values of the old Lady Bountiful. The latter-day Sir Ruddy Bountiful is unlikely to allow any consideration he may feel for the charity's beneficiaries to show, if Ms J Bloggs is sitting opposite him and ready to vote against his pet project. Trustees are likely to be better informed about the needs of beneficiaries and their public face is likely to be less irritating. There are dangers.
Obviously there are some cases in which user-involvement at trustee level will not work. It is unreal to expect children, people living abroad, the very old, the seriously ill or the severely mentally disabled to accept appointment as trustees in any real sense. It would be a mistake to offer them a watered-down form of "trusteeship" giving the appearance of power without the legal responsibility - an essential part of trusteeship. Trustees must be equal or the rule that the majority prevails is liable to be distorted. There are workable alternatives whereby the trustees can obtain better information about, and develop a closer relationship with, beneficiaries. For example, the trustees can obtain advice from bodies set up especially for consultation, without creating any legal burden.
When a user can reasonably be appointed as a trustee, there is a delicate balancing act. It is necessary to ensure the user-trustee makes the maximum contribution to the charity's decision-making. Their experience as a beneficiary is often directly relevant, together with their views on proposed activities. However, the input such trustees can provide comes extremely close to their personal interests in most cases. For example, a resident in a charity's housing accommodation may be the best person to provide information about what rent would be acceptable to the residents in general, but it is unlikely to be wholly unbiased. Responsible presentation to the outside world necessitates transparency.
Trustees could, for example, provide information and contribute to the discussion, yet not take part in decision-making, if it impinges upon them as individuals. The number of conflicts constraining user-trustees is likely to be far more numerous than the conflicts affecting other trustees. Two-tier trusteeships might emerge. This could cause ill-feeling, as could only some of the beneficiaries being appointed as trustees. It will be most enlightening to watch what creative solutions emerge.
Francesca Quint is a barrister at 11 Old Square. | <urn:uuid:5b9da3b6-8c7c-430c-9c7f-d5c915eb093d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thelawyer.com/keeping-the-conflicts-out/90396.article | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962837 | 802 | 1.757813 | 2 |
Some musings before this blessed dawn:
What is a miracle? It's the LORD, the Almighty, doing for us what we could never do for ourselves.
The greatest miracle of all, of course, is the Resurrection, the fact that He went to that cruel Roman cross and died for our sins, and then rose again, delivering us once for all from the eternal penalty of our sin, all as a free gift, one that we don't deserve, one that we could never earn.
But every day since has been filled with additional miracles.
America itself - the fact that we were born and live in the land of the free, where there is no king but Jesus - is a miracle, come to think of it.
Miracles are occurring all around us, every day. Even in the midst of trials and encroaching darkness in the world, so much good, good that we could never bring about by our own power, continues to take place.
Take notice, then praise Him and thank Him for all that He is doing for us, no matter how large or small.
And then speak and act as if the Gospel, the Good News, really is. Rejoice! Allow Him to use you to be a miracle in others' lives, especially on behalf of the weak and the helpless, doing for them what they cannot do for themselves.
God's heart is to save, to give, to help, to heal. Be an instrument of mercy and love in the nail-scarred Hand of the God of Miracles.
-- Tom Hoefling
"To God, Truth is the revelation of His own own character, and the nature of His creation, which can lead men to eternal salvation and happiness if they're simply willing to accept it. But to the devil and his sophist assistants, truth is no more than the bait used to draw men to destruction. God gives freely with both hands. The devil gives with one hand and takes away everything with the other."
-- Tom Hoefling, January 4, 2013
Think of the greatest joys and pleasures you have ever experienced in life. They all pale in comparison to the joys and pleasures of eternity with God our Father, in Christ.
Think of the greatest pain and loneliness you have ever experienced. No matter how excruciating, that is as nothing compared to hell, an eternity separated from God.
Seek Him now, while He may be found.
6 Seek the Lord while He may be found,
Call upon Him while He is near.
7 Let the wicked forsake his way,
And the unrighteous man his thoughts;
Let him return to the Lord,
And He will have mercy on him;
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
8 “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
9 “For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
12 “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
"It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it."
-- Patrick Henry, Give me liberty or give me death speech | <urn:uuid:3ab64dcd-1a73-4431-929f-10a35563ab24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.tomhoefling.com/8/category/salvation/1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954183 | 977 | 1.5 | 2 |
Miami, Florida, October 11, 2011 (PRWeb.com around COMTEX) — Nutri-Med Logic Corp: A not long ago published study, published in Molecular Nutrition as well as Food Research, indicates which extreme immature tea extracts expenditure increases a risk of liver damage, intensity communication with medication drug as well as a possibility to means mistreat when total with alternative rarely renouned herbal remedies.
Catechin is a many abounding components of immature tea. Cachectin is additionally constructed by a tellurian physique as an inflammatory signals. The synonymous word for Cachectin is Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-Alpha), which in cancer patients is a means of cachexia (weight loss). (1) Exogenous (supplemental) expenditure of Cachectin (green tea extract) would have a same outcome as a endogenous Cachectin: weight loss. However, Cachectin (TNF-Alpha) from dietary supplementation would additionally have to same outcome as a inner TNF-Alpha: Insulin Resistance. Amongst engorgement of studies, Harvard School of Public Health reported which TNF-Alpha (Cachectin) is a pass resource for insulin resistance. (2) Continuous Insulin Resistance not usually is a means for diabetes though additionally obesity, right divided even seen in youth. (3) While Cachectin (TNF-Alpha) competence have a place in a care of ongoing diseases, a purpose as well as side goods had not nonetheless been complicated in full of health subjects, until this new study.
According to a study, in 2008, a USP Dietary Supplement Information Expert Committee (DSI EC) evenly reviewed a reserve report for immature tea strong products. Of a 34 box reports indicating hepatotoxicity (liver damage), twenty-seven were personal as “possible causality” as well as 7 as “probable causality”. Additionally, thirteen people in Spain as well as France receiving supplements containing immature tea remove demonstrated towering liver enzymes (ALT as well as AST, indicating liver damage) with an conflict which ranged from 9 days to 5 months. However, serve studies have been indispensable to have a decisive conclusion.
Elevated serum (blood) levels of Cachectin is compared with sub-clinical, ongoing inflammation. Cachectin activates a protein inside all tellurian cells, called NF-kB, which is a master switch of inflammation. While activation of Cachectin (TNF-Alpha) competence be profitable in cancer patients, though a extreme activation of NF-kB has been blamed as a means of ongoing inflammation. (4,5) Green tea, itself, has anti-oxidant properties. Anti-oxidants vacate giveaway radicals.
Free radicals have been imbalanced molecules desperately seeking to change themselves; they demeanour for any proton which could give them an nucleus (hydrogen). In a poke for which hydrogen (Electron), when they strech a mobile membrane, vitamin E inside a surface gives divided an nucleus to a giveaway radicals in sequence to strengthen a dungeon and, as a outcome of a process, Vitamin E becomes inactive.
Vitamin C, which circulates in a blood, when encounters an dead vitamin E, donates an nucleus to an dead vitamin E, creation vitamin E active though digest a vitamin C inactive.
The dead vitamin C can usually be re-activated by an inner anti-oxidant called glutathione. These 3 anti-oxidants: Vitamin E, Vitamin C as well as Glutathione have been called a inner anti-oxidant cycle: Glutathione activates vitamin C, which goes to turn upon vitamin E to safety a firmness of a mobile membranes.
However, a prolongation of glutathione decreases by age as well as whilst glutathione is found in food though a levels in a physique does not increase, substantially, as well as by food nor by glutathione supplementation. As a prolongation of glutathione decreases, a body’s capability to recycle (activate) Vitamin C & E decreases as well as which gives climb to giveaway radicals, then, receiving divided their hydrogen from mobile membranes, to illustrate deleterious a firmness of a cells.
In 1996 a Professor of Molecular Biology during University of Berkley, Ca., detected which an anti-oxidant by a name of R-Alpha Lipoic increases a glutathione levels in a body. R-Alpha Lipoic is done by a tellurian physique though in as well as with a metabolic rate of glucose (sugar). (6).
R-Alpha Lipoic not usually is a manly anti-oxidant, increases a prolongation of glutathione, though additionally it has been used as a co-therapy in Diabetic Polyneuropthay in Germany for some-more than 40 years.
In conclusion, Nutri-Med Logic Corp agrees with a new investigate published in Molecular Nutrition as well as Food Research as well as adds which a promoters of Green Tea Extracts, as a weight-loss product, need to respond, promptly, to this new study.
Nutri-Med Logic Corp (http://www.nutrimedlogic.com) is a writer of dietary supplements such as: R-Alpha Lipoic Acid, a manly anti-oxidant done as well as well known by a tellurian body; A Concentrated as well as Balanced Omega-3 carrying a same thoroughness of EPA as well as DHA, 50% 50%. DHA of Omega-3 resolves inflammation in brain, shaken complement as well as helps to assuage stress. EPA of Omega-3 resolves inflammation in a cardiovascular system. Omega-3 is a many preferred anti-inflammatory nutritious Poly-Enyl-Phosphatidylcholine, a many preferred dietary supplements for liver as well as intestine.
Nutri-Med Logic’s products have been Formulated Based upon Nutritional Logic, done from a top peculiarity tender materials which have been made in curative facilities, encapsulated in curative comforts as well as finished in curative facilities.
It contingency be remarkable which a studies, sources or statements, herein, have not been evaluated by The FDA and, thus, a single should not describe a means of any diseases, settled herein, to miss of a supplements settled above; nor proportion their supplementation to prevention, diagnosis or cure.
1. Am J Physiol. 1989 Mar;256(3 Pt 2):R659-65.
2. Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes. 1999;107(2):119-25.
3. Circulation.2003; 107: 1448-1453.
4. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., Volume 19, Number 2, Aug 1998 259-268.
5. J Dent Res. 2011 Jul;90(7):830-40.
6. Biofactors. 1997;6(3):321-38.
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glutathione – Bing News | <urn:uuid:84c96032-a517-4be1-b590-d25bf7bb5588> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://glutathionewhiteningpills.net/a-recently-published-study-cautions-against-concentrated-green-tea-extract-says-nutri-med-logic-corp-tmcnet/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948357 | 1,509 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent, 1959
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexandra of Kent visited Australia from 14 August to 20 September 1959. The main reason for her visit was to attend the Queensland Centenary Celebrations
During her visit, Her Royal Highness visited the University of Sydney on 15 September 1959 and lunched in Manning House.
The lunch was in Manning House, the home of the University Women's Union to which female members of the University belonged. The lunch was hosted by the President and Board of the Women's Union.
Her Royal Highness's arrival
The Chancellor (Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn) welcomed the Princess on the steps of Manning House and then escorted her up to the entrance, where the President of the Women's Union (Miss Doreen Langley) was waiting to greet her.
The Princess wore the same outfit she chose for her arrival in Brisbane - a turquoise blue silk suit, cut with a slim skirt and the waist of the jacket emphasised with a wide belt. The jacket was softly bloused at the back, and on one of the wide lapels the Princess pinned a Commonwealth gift brooch.
She wore a head-hugging hat of the same shade of turquoise, and her bag and shoes were in an off-white pearl finished leather.
About 150 woman undergraduates, including two representatives of the women students of the University of New South Wales, were at the luncheon, hostessed by the president and board members of the Union.
The buffet luncheon featured a sucking pig, cold chickens, lobsters, assorted salads and strawberries.
The Princess had only a little salad and a small drink of orange juice. She was too busy moving among the undergraduates, chatting to them informally, to bother with a large meal. The Princess chatted animatedly with the students about their work and the type of entertainments they had at university. She was also interested to know whether men were allowed in Manning House.
Adding colour to the occasion were the national costumes worn by woman students from Burma, Korea, Singapore, China and Thailand. The Princess spoke with Hijoo Limb, whose father was the Consul-General for Korea in Sydney. Hijoo, an arts student, was the only Korean girl at the University. She was dressed in a maroon and white coloured silk costume of her country, and the Princess was interested in Hijoo’s gold printed scarf, which spelt out her name.
The Women’s Union presented a white and gold beaded evening bag to the Princess, and Miss Janice Skinner pinned the Women’s Union badge on the Princess’s lapel.
When the Princess was given the handbag she smilingly asked if there was a threepence in it - superstition has it that if a gift handbag is given empty it stays that way. But Miss Langley had made sure on that score - there was a threepence in it.
During the luncheon, outside Manning House
Although it was “women only” at the luncheon, the male students made themselves heard in no uncertain manner.
“We want Alex” both men and women began chanting outside. “We want Alex”.
The Princess made several appearances outside Manning House during the luncheon in response to their calls.
Outside the Women’s Union following the buffet lunch, students staged the wildest scene of any Royal tour to Australia. Their welcome to the Princess developed into a clash with police.
There was a wild surge forward as the Princess left the Union. A crowd of about 80 students threw paper, pennies, orange peel and twigs at the police, who began to wrestle with them to keep a path clear for the Princess and her car.
The 85-year-old chancellor (Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn) was almost bowled over as he walked to the car with the Princess.
The 52-year-old registrar (Miss Margaret Telfer) borrowed a police loud-hailer to try to persuade the students to clear a path for the Princess and her car, but she had little success.
The tour security officer (Colin Evans) almost bundled the Princess into her car as students swarmed around it. The door had to be forced open against the pressing crowd, and Mr Evans slammed it shut after the Princess. Then it had to be forced open again to let the Princess’s lady-in-waiting (Lady Moyra Hamilton) get into the car. Princess Alexandra was smiling and waving as she walked calmly to the car but as it drove off she looked tired and angry.
The vice-chancellor (Professor Stephen Roberts) said afterwards: “It was just normal students ebullience”. “My own feeling is that, apart from all the turmoil, they didn’t play up too much.”
Sir Charles Bickerton Blackburn said afterwards: “It is a tradition of the students.” “I think that on the whole they behaved very well.”
After the visit
In the afternoon, after a one hour and a half launch trip on the Harbour, the Princess received State tour officials at Government House and, in the evening, she attended a small private dinner party at Government House. | <urn:uuid:6169250b-f316-45a1-8333-dbdab4ab61e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sydney.edu.au/senate/PrincessAlexandra.shtml | 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 | 0.975859 | 1,101 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Arthur Slade on audiobooks
Posted by: Mary Burkey
How does an author react when hearing his words interpreted by a narrator? I’m always curious to know the impact that the audiobook recording makes on the person who spent blood, sweat, and years writing those words. I just finished listening to The Dark Deeps, and love Jayne Entwistle’s narration of book two in the steampunk series just as much as that of book one, The Hunchback Assignments (as you can tell from my starred review). When I learned that author Arthur Slade was celebrating the release of The Dark Deeps with a blog tour, I asked him to stop by and share with us his audiobook experience.
So, Art, what was your reaction to the announcement that Listening Library would be producing your book as an audiobook?
Hearing that my novel, The Hunchback Assignments, was going to be turned into an audiobook was the equivalent of hearing it was about to become a movie. Ever since I bought my first iPod several years ago I’ve been making audiobooks a steady part of my diet, so to have my own book available to listeners meant a great deal to me. And, I began to worry. What if the narrator mangles my prose? I’d bought a few audiobooks that I couldn’t listen to because I just didn’t jive with the narrator and I feared the same fate for my story.
Did you have a voice in your head as you wrote?
The Hunchback Assignments is set in a Victorian period and the whole time I was writing it I could hear a deep-voiced British lord narrating the story. So when the producers were in the studio recording the audiobook, I answered a few questions via e-mail about character names and came to find out that a woman was going to be narrating my novel! A woman! Zounds! I had not expected a female narrator and, because I had heard this Male British Lord Voice for so many years, I just couldn’t hear a female narrator in my mind’s ear.
I’m dying to know what you thought when you finally heard the finished audiobook!
Once I got over my initial shock at the choice of a female narrator, I looked to see that it was an actor named Jayne Entwistle. She had done one other audiobook, so she had some experience. That was good. I patiently waited for the release date to arrive. When it did, I dutifully paid for a copy off of iTunes (I do receive free author CD copies but I couldn’t wait for them to arrive) and clicked the play button. It took about thirty seconds for me to realize that Entwistle was perfect for the book. She had captured the mood of the story and did a bang up job on the voices of the characters and, being British, she had the British accent down pat. Now, I can’t imagine any other voice narrating the book (or its sequel, The Dark Deeps). In fact, if I had the money, I’d hire her to do my readings.
Any other author or audiobook insights you’d like to share with readers?
Well, I admit that I’m currently listening to The Dark Deeps myself. Because I’m in the middle of editing the third book in the series it’s very helpful to listen to the previous books to remind me where the characters have been. My own work aside, my favorite audiobook of all time is the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud, Narrated by Simon Jones. I was honestly on the edge of my seat through all three of the audiobooks and would prolong my jogging (ouch) just to get to the end of a chapter. In fact, I’ve listened to them twice.
Thanks for stopping by Audiobooker, Arthur, and giving us an inside look at the author/audiobook connection!
Stop by Art’s Hunchback Assignment website to listen to clips from both audiobooks, plus an awesome bunch of book trailers, videos, study guides and more. And if you’d like to read more of Art’s The Dark Deeps blog tour, check out the links on his blog. | <urn:uuid:c9ecabfc-1667-41a6-abe1-b6757435870c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://audiobooker.booklistonline.com/2010/10/04/arthur-slade-on-audiobooks/ | 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 | 0.980128 | 913 | 1.65625 | 2 |
“When someone works for less pay than she can live on — when, for example, she goes hungry so that you can eat more cheaply and conveniently — then she has made a great sacrifice for you, she has made you a gift of some part of her abilities, her health, and her life. The ‘working poor,’ as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else.”
— ― Barbara Ehrenreich, Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America. | <urn:uuid:3eec7b96-9c2f-4949-9540-5733a06785db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://howtobeterrell.tumblr.com/post/41103879738/when-someone-works-for-less-pay-than-she-can-live | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974543 | 185 | 1.640625 | 2 |
The basics: Chronicling the lives of the Ryrie family, The Grief of Others begins in the present with the death of its newest member, an infant who lived only a couple of days. Then John's daughter, Jessica, conceived in college, shows up pregnant and alone because her mother has kicked her out. The novel jumps back and forth a few times to depict the events and better understand the present and how they all got to this place.
My thoughts: Leah Hager Cohen writes with guts, and she's a strong writer. It's impressive to have a baby die in the opening pages of a novel and it not seem utterly depressing:
"He was a he, too, astonishingly—not that anyone expected him to be otherwise, but the notion of one so elemental, so small, carrying the complex mantle of gender seemed preposterous, the designation “male” the linguistic equivalent of a false mustache fixed above his infant lip."She also introduces some of the key tensions in these opening pages: Ricky, the mother, knew their child would be born with no chance to survive more than hours or perhaps a few days. She chose not to tell her husband John because she feared he would make her do what the doctor suggested: terminate her pregnancy. What I found initially fascinating were Ricky's reasons: they weren't religious or political. She simply followed her gut. This portrait of a clearly troubled marriage was intriguing: preparing for your grief while not giving your husband the same chance. It was a promising beginning.
I knew from the table of contents that The Grief of Others would let us glimpse the Ryries at different times in their lives. While I enjoyed it, and I certainly preferred it to a traditional narrative arc that would have ended with the death of a newborn, the structure ultimately felt gimmicky. Perhaps because Cohen chose to have so many people narrate this novel it left it without a clear focus. The duality of Ricky losing a baby as Jessica appears pregnant also felt heavy handed. Cohen explores some intriguing themes of parenthood and losing children, but I never got so absorbed in this novel I thought it was real. The characters never really came alive for me. As an exercise in theme and writing, it just wasn't enough.
Favorite passage: "Who ever knew what it would take? It was always unexpected, she was learning, the thing that smote your heart, always something untranslatable, irreducible, something that refused to come through in the retelling, so that you felt the absurdity of it increase each time you tried to parse it.The moment that caused your chest to expand, the moment your shortness of breath let you know you had fallen for somebody new."
The verdict: Despite strong writing and interesting characters, The Grief of Others fell somewhat flat for me. Ultimately, the novel's flow felt forced rather than organic there wasn't enough of a payoff for me to love it.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: September 15, 2011
Convinced? Treat yourself! Buy The Grief of Others from an independent bookstore, the Book Depository or Amazon (Kindle version.)
As an affiliate, I receive a small commission when you make a purchase through any of the above links. Thank you for helping to support my book habits that bring more content to this blog! | <urn:uuid:25fc57a7-337c-4783-b29e-8c9a469755d8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nomadreader.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-review-grief-of-others-by-leah.html | 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 | 0.975457 | 692 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Educating and Training Providers on Effective Practices
Behavior Solutions, Inc.
As the number of children diagnosed with ASD increases so does the need for trained providers. the applicant will address the problem by providing education and training on effective practices in teaching and supporting children with autism. the proposal is to replicate an existing program that has been in operation for the last year with successful outcomes in geographical areas the current program can not reach. Participants of the program will be service providers to children with autism. Each participant will receive 10 hours of workshops with topics such as teaching new behaviors, reducing maladaptive behaviors and improving performance in learning situations. After attending the workshop, participants will receive hands-on training by a consultant that will help them apply what they learned in the workshop. Two major goals of the program are to 1) teach participants effective strategies they can use in their services provision that will improve the outcomes and successes of the individuals they work with and 2) to teach participants how to effectively train others on what they have learned in the program. | <urn:uuid:734f7c37-d776-40d2-9130-e8456e189ed2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/grants/educating-and-training-providers-effective-practices?destination=about-us%2Fgrant-search%2Fresults%2Ftaxonomy%3A11456%3Forder%3Dtitle_1%26sort%3Dasc | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952091 | 208 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Quick: when you see the phrase "Don peplums," do you think the second word should be capitalized because you assume it's a proper noun, as in Don Corleone?
Do you, for example, think "peplum" is another word for baby food? Or do you read it as "pe-plum" and think it's a genetically engineered snack derived from peas and plums, something the English might serve on toast?
Perhaps you think it's eco-friendly gravel hybrid containing pebbles since "p" and the "b" sound similar to you, even in print?
Are you, in other words, like most people and have no idea what those two words mean when buttoned together?
Or — and this is the real test — are you one of those hip and stylish fashion mavens who already know "Don peplums" is not only a full sentence but an imperative one at that?
It turns out that "Don peplums" is something women have been saying to other women for several months now.
Had I overheard a conversation between adults where one whispers to the other "Don peplums," I would have leapt to all sorts of false conclusions involving secret codes, foreign assignations, gender reassignment and, quite possibly, the Spanish Inquisition.
Yet I learned recently, through a quick glance at 1,743 magazines I didn't get to read last year after buying subscriptions from a friend's child who needed to go on a day trip with her school to, apparently, Neptune since I ordered so many publications that I could have simply paid for her to spend a week touring the French countryside by private pony cart and still had money to pay for the rest of her class to follow her on foot (not that I'm bitter), connoisseurs of couture have been referring to peplums repeatedly during the last several seasons.
For those of you haven't had a chance to get to the pile of magazines next to your bed since 1997, "Don peplums" can be translated as follows: "Women: Try wearing an extra overskirt flounce sewn onto, and dropping from the waistline, meant to sharpen the already existing shape of your body by using a frill or flounce that comes down the midsection and sits just above your hips. Seriously! Just try it. We'll watch."
You'll have figured out by now that "Don," in this two-word sentence, is the verb. The only other time "don" is commonly appears in that usage is when we sing "Don we now our gay apparel." Coincidence? You decide.
You know who looked good in peplum dresses? Lauren Bacall, Lana Turner and Gene Tierney. Tall, lanky, bedroom-eyed broads who commandeered the script, the studio, and had the contracts for the seamstresses sewn up. But, trust me, if you're old enough or sophisticated enough to recognize the names of these stars, then you're too smart a cookie to don a peplum today.
Because unless you're Kate Middleton or Nicole Kidman, a peplum will have the instantaneous effect of making you look like you've stapled lampshade or tutu to your waist, right over your pencil skirt. It's either that, or the peplum will make you look like you've just opened a diminutive Totes umbrella on your lap and are, rather bravely, keeping it there to disguise a spill.
Apart from glamorous actresses, you know who also donned the peplum? The whole chorus line of my 5-foot-2, 300-pound, 75-year-old Sicilian aunts, that's who. Frankly, these fashionistas couldn't get enough of the additional flaps of material layering over the general waist/hip environs; it was as close as they could come to wearing an apron outside the house.
These women did make real fashion efforts for formal occasions. After all, they hoisted above their majestic knees the white elastic holding up their support hose for weddings and funerals. Except for ceremonious functions or one of the big feast days, that elastic remained snugly in place below the knee.
But my aunts, wise women all, would not have dreamed that anything, certainly not an "extra overskirt," would sharpen the existing shape of their bodies. Frills wouldn't triumph where support hose feared to tread. The only thing likely to be sitting above their hips was a grandchild.
2013's Fashion Rule: Don't know what it is? Don't don it.
Gina Barreca is an English professor at the University of Connecticut and a feminist scholar who has written eight books. She can be reached through her website at http://www.ginabarreca.com. | <urn:uuid:63a73023-e993-43c3-b2ec-27a082664fb6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/hc-op-barreca-unruffled-by-fashion-dictates-peplum-20130110,0,6186461.column | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972788 | 1,007 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Etendeka Mountain Camp
In the foothills of the Grootberg, on the edge of the rugged Namib desert, lies Etendeka Mountain Camp. The landscape is rocky and dramatic as the ancient basalt has eroded away. This area is part of the large Damaraland area, home to a number of desert adapted animals. The camp is run and owned by Dennis Liebenbergand his family; he has a great deal of experience of ecotourism in southern Africa. Arriving by a self-driven vehicle there is a rather bumpy road leading to the camp, which takes around 1½ hours to travel along; there is the chance to see game on the way.
There are a maximum of 16 guests at any time at Etendeka Camp, which helps in keeping a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. The 10 walk-in, shaded tents each have a veranda for admiring the views and there are flush toilets and hot bush showers.
Etendeka have their very own “big five” – trees that is. These are thick stemmed and have adapted to survive on only 100ml of water each year. There is a wide variety of bird life and guests can go on guided nature walks or drives. There may be the opportunity to see oryx, giraffe, Hartman’s mountain zebra, or even desert-adapted elephant or black rhino. | <urn:uuid:5b9ff5a0-4709-4007-8a4e-d5760da8527d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.aardvarksafaris.com/camp/Namibia-Etendeka-Mountain-Camp-a.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956058 | 290 | 1.820313 | 2 |
CILIP KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL SHORTLIST 2003
ANTHONY BROWNE THE
An illustrator looks back on the day that changed his life forever: the day his family (with a great deal of reluctance) visited an art gallery. One by one, each family member is energised by a different picture in the gallery and transported into the imaginative and colourful world of art. Inspired by the period Browne spent working with children at Tate Britain, this is a hugely inventive book, expertly drawn and full of telling detail that repays endless “viewings” and does many different things for many different readers.
ALEXIS DEACON BEEGU
Beegu, a small, luminous creature from outer space pays an unexpected visit to Planet Earth when her spaceship crashes. Missing her mother, she goes in search of friends, but the big Earth creatures don’t seem very welcoming. The small ones however are more promising…A deceptively simple picture book that is beautifully economical with space, detail and colour, but is emotionally completely engaging. A perfect read-aloud book buoyant, touching and excellently produced.
DEBI GLIORI ALWAYS
When Fox dies, his friends, Hare, Otter and Mole think they will never get over their great sadness. Throughout the winter they are inconsolable and a great silence falls on their home. But when spring comes, Squirrel comes to call and a time of healing begins. A beautiful, tender story of loss and consolation, in which a clever use of colour and contrast moves the reader through the seasons to beautifully convey its hopeful message.
MINI GREY THE PEA
AND THE PRINCESS
A brilliant retelling of the traditional fairy tale, from the point of view of the pea! A variety of highly original styles and perspectives are used throughout to great effect, right through to the delightful endpapers. Each page overflows with verdant growth and gorgeous colour, giving a striking twist to a well-loved tale. It is a book to return to again and again.
SHIRLEY HUGHES ELLA’S
Another inventive retelling of a traditional fairy tale: here Cinderella is transported into the 1920s, where we find talented dressmaker Ella, slaving over her sewing machine, whilst her stepsisters parade the latest fashions in her father’s dress shop. Full of vibrant illustrations that leap from every page, Hughes’ use of colour and brilliant expressions of body language enhance the text to give a graceful and balanced composition that is a perfect marriage of words and pictures.
DAVE McKEAN THE
WOLVES IN THE WALLS
Lucy hears noises coming from the inside the walls of her house. She’s sure it’s wolves but her family doesn’t believe her. Until the night the wolves come out of the walls…A scary, strange but highly imaginative picture book for older children in which the text and illustrations on each page are completely integrated to highly unsettling effect! An extraordinary book which combines the bold and modern with fairytale fantasy.
BEE WILLEY BOB
ROBBER AND DANCING JANE
Bob Robber only comes out under cover of darkness and has something of the night about him. He spies on Dancing Jane, and envies her light feet and happy dancing. But what will happen when he steals her shadow? This is a beautifully balanced composition throughout, with a luminescent quality to its illustrations, and a great sense of texture in its use of pastels. A little-known legend, outstandingly supported by its highly distinctive illustrations.
CHRIS WORMELL TWO
Two frogs sit on a lily pad in the centre of a pond and worry about the dangers that lurk all around them. Brilliantly witty, with a wonderfully expressive frog double-act, the illustrator has created great variety of perspective and detail, which coupled with the surreal humour of the text makes this a book to look at again and again. The deceptively simple story builds into a cumulative, humorous tale, with a satisfying punchline. | <urn:uuid:7ac50dca-5a74-4626-95d7-cd0dd1725b0c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.carnegiegreenaway.org.uk/pressdesk/press.php?release=pres_gre_comm_04.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942038 | 855 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Movies: 19854 | TV Series: 3309 | Added today: 0 | Storage: 74837 GB
Directors: Carl Urbano
Available Quality: DivX
Given that Casper is depicted as a ghostly, portly little boy, there is a controversy among fans of the series about whether or not he is a dead child. Early Casper cartoons seemed to suggest this, as they portrayed him "living" beside a gravestone. Specifically, the short There's Good Boos To-Night featured Ferdie, a fox befriended by Casper, coming back from the dead as a ghost. Casper's death (as well as the reason why he became friendly) have been disputed since that time.
Directors: Wolfgang Reitherman
Available Quality: DivX, DVD, iPod
This animated feature is set in medieval times. After the English king dies leaving no heir, in the churchyard of a cathedral in London, a sword appears imbedded in a stone inscribed, "Who so pulleth out this sword of this stone and anvil is rightwise king born of England." Although many try, no one can budge the sword from the stone. Deep in the dark woods, kind, but absent-minded Merlin the Magician begins to teach 11-year-old Arthur, who is called Wart, and lives in the castle of Sir Ector where he's an apprentice squire to burly, oafish Sir Kay -- when he's not washing stacks of pots and pans in the scullery. By being changed by Merlin in... | <urn:uuid:444a9d68-6559-4115-b9f6-3496d469ba24> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.extafilm.com/actors/ginny-tyler-movies-12954.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964844 | 325 | 1.710938 | 2 |
The decision adds to the friction in clean energy trade between the world's two largest economies.
The department said it was also launching a separate probe into allegations of unfairly priced steel wire garment hangers from Vietnam and Taiwan.
The Commerce Department is already investigating charges that Chinese solar panel manufacturers engage in unfair trade practices and will issue a preliminary decision on duties next month.
The Wind Tower Trade Coalition, a group of U.S. producers, is asking for anti-dumping duties of 64 percent on imports from China and 59 percent from Vietnam. They also want additional countervailing duties on imports from China to offset alleged government subsidies.
A separate U.S. government agency, the International Trade Commission, held a hearing on Thursday to probe whether U.S companies have been materially harmed or threatened by the imports. The ITC has the final word on whether any U.S. duties are imposed.
Kerry Cole, president of Trinity Structural Towers, told the panel that domestic producers suffered a severe blow when none of their towers was selected for the 338-tower Shepherds Flat project in eastern Oregon, which is due to be completed next year and is billed as the world's largest wind farm.
"All of it went to China ... This lone lost sale had ripple effects throughout the industry ... After losing this sale, domestic producers were desperate to fill their order books," putting them under tremendous pressure to cut prices, Cole said. (Reporting By Doug Palmer; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Vicki Allen) | <urn:uuid:ac07abcd-851a-4157-9f4f-32593519791f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/2012/01/19/us-to-probe-imports-wind-towers-from-china-vietnam/?test=latestnews | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963289 | 310 | 1.804688 | 2 |
During Occupy Wall Street protests New York police officers obstructed news reporters and legal observers, conducted frequent surveillance, wrongly limited public gatherings and enforced arbitrary rules, a group of lawyers said in a lengthy report issued on Wednesday.
The group, called the Protest and Assembly Rights Project, which included people involved with the law clinics at New York University School of Law and Fordham Law School, said that they had cataloged hundreds of instances of what they described as excessive force and other forms of police misconduct said to have taken place since September, when the Occupy Wall Street movement began.
Although the report referred to some well-known events, including Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna’s use of pepper spray, it also detailed specific instances of alleged misconduct that had not appeared in news reports.
For instance, the report described a cafe employee stepping out of his workplace on Sept. 24 and using a camera to document arrests near Union Square before being confronted by a senior officer. The report went on to state: “Video then shows the officer grabbing the employee by the wrist, and flipping him hard to the ground face-first, in what was described as a ‘judo-flip.’ The employee stated that he was subsequently charged with ‘blocking traffic’ and ‘obstructing justice’.”
In a more recent episode, Sarah Knuckey, a law professor and one of the report’s authors, said she witnessed a police commander grab a man who was complaining of an injured shoulder while being arrested during a student march on May 30. Ms. Knuckey said that the commander repeatedly shoved the man’s shoulder while handcuffing him, then cursed and accused him of lying, when he shouted in pain. Shortly afterward, Ms. Knuckey said, emergency medical technicians determined that the man had a broken clavicle.
The report complained that there had been “near-complete impunity for alleged abuses” and said that the conduct amounted to a “a complex mapping of protest suppression.”
There have been hundreds of gatherings and marches and more than 2,000 arrests in New York City since the Occupy protests began last fall. During that time, Ms. Knuckey said, many police officers had acted in an exemplary fashion. But, she added, multiple episodes of intimidation had created a pattern of disturbing and unlawful behavior.
A police department spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The report’s authors said that senior members of the police department cited continuing litigation in declining to talk with them.
In May, an assistant deputy commissioner in the police department’s legal bureau wrote to the authors, saying that the Police Department considered its actions lawful and added that the police “had accommodated on an almost daily basis since last fall numerous large groups of demonstrators and marchers, all with virtually no cooperation, notice or advance planning from Occupy Wall Street representatives.”
In addition to detailing 130 instances of what was described as excessive or unnecessary force, the report said that officers often stopped news reporters or legal monitors from witnessing such events.
The report also describes instances in which the authors say officers have chilled First Amendment expression through near constant surveillance with video cameras and by sometimes questioning protesters about political activities. The report also described a common practice of preventing protesters from gathering in areas that are open to the public, like parks, plazas and sidewalks.
“Attempts by protesters to understand the basis for the closure, or obtain clear directions from the police are most often ignored or answered perfunctorily,” the report stated. “Sometimes queries are answered with an arrest threat or an arrest.”
The authors called for the city to establish an inspector general to oversee the police department, a review of the city’s response to the protests, the prosecution of officers found to have broken laws and the creation of new guidelines for policing protests. If the city did not respond, the authors said, they would ask the United States Department of Justice to investigate their complaints. | <urn:uuid:6fe50eaa-f6ce-4c8a-915b-987126cdd4fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/accusations-of-police-misconduct-documented-in-lawyers-report-on-occupy-protests/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978497 | 829 | 1.5 | 2 |
The Federal Reserve has declined to change the cap that limits the amount of debit card interchange that large asset debit issuers can make per transaction.
The decision came after a recent Federal Reserve report documented a slip in debit interchange income for community banks and credit unions.
The debit interchange cap for large asset debit issuers was one of the chief regulatory changes mandated by the Durbin Amendment to the most recent financial reform law.
The report, “2011 Interchange Fee Revenue, Covered Issuer Costs, and Covered Issuer and Merchant Fraud Losses Related to Debit Card Transactions,” is the second report the Federal Reserve has issued in compliance with the Electronic Funds Transfer Act.
The document reported the total number of debit card transactions in 2011 along with the interchange they generated and found that small asset debit card issuers, which were supposed to be exempt from the cap, had in fact seen their debit interchange decline on a per transaction basis.
“During this period, 82% of prepaid transactions were exempt from the interchange fee standard. For covered issuers, interchange fees for all transactions averaged 24 cents per transaction, a 52% decrease from the 50-cent average received by covered issuers during the first nine months of 2011,” the Fed reported.
“Over all transactions, exempt issuers received an average interchange fee of 43 cents per transaction, a 4% decline from the 45 cents per transaction average during the first nine months of 2011,” the report said.
This echoes a previous credit union survey, conducted by CUNA, which also reported an interchange decline.
The Electronic Payments Coalition, which opposed the interchange cap from the beginning, hailed the move announced Tuesday.
“The Durbin Amendment was bad policy from day one,” said Trish Wexler, spokeswoman for the Electronic Payments Coalition. “It’s been more than a year, and consumers are still not seeing any of the savings they were promised.
“The Durbin Amendment has harmed consumers by forcing card issuers to eliminate free checking and other consumer benefits to make up for an $8 billion revenue loss," Wexler said. "With today’s announcement, at least the Durbin Amendment wasn’t made any worse than it already is.”
But the Merchant Payments Coalition, interchange cap supporters, were predictably disappointed.
“This report shows that the Fed made a mistake in implementing an effective law. Consumers and merchants should be benefiting more from the reforms," said Jennifer Hatcher, senior vice president, Government and Public Affairs, Food Marketing Institute, a member of the Merchants Payments Coalition.
"No merchants in a competitive marketplace mark up their products and services by 500%. They would be put out of business. It should be the same for banks and credit card companies,” Hatcher said. | <urn:uuid:2d92fa91-ed50-481d-9ab9-36aaa03fc760> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cutimes.com/2013/03/06/federal-reserve-leaves-durbin-caps-unchanged | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965976 | 585 | 1.625 | 2 |
Last night, across the county, citizens’ cast their votes on ballot initiatives ranging from renewable energy portfolio requirements to increasing taxes to fund global warming programs. The results were mixed. Note: Most of the vote totals below are those that I found on the morning after the election on the respective Secretary of State web sites. The vote totals could change but the results are not expected to change.
Viewing all Articles Page 158 of 228
Contrary to common perception, the evidence overwhelmingly indicates independent pharmacies, not Wal-Mart or other chains, usually provide the best value. Continue reading
The Arizona Corporation Commission voted yesterday on the final rules for implementing a 15 percent renewable energy standard by 2025. The rules state that 30 percent of the renewable standard is to be derived from distributed energy resources â€" small-scale technologies located close to where energy is used, such as roof-top photovoltaic projects or solar hot water projects.
Citizens in cities and states across the country will be casting their votes on some interesting energy issues on November 7th. Ballot initiatives ranging from a renewable energy portfolio requirement in Grand Forks, ND to increasing taxes to fund global warming programs in Seattle, WA will give citizens an opportunity to decide directly which path their communities will take. Democratic energy in action!
Some neighborhood business districts in Chicago would be allowed to ban formula businesses under an ordinance drafted by city officials. Continue reading
Gov. Mark Sanford is pulling out all the stops in his bid to block a multi-million dollar subsidy for the huge outdoor retail chain Cabela’s. Continue reading
Turn on the Electric Road by David Morris, Vice President Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) October 8, 2006 – published in the New York Times Last summer, New York State took a page from California’s playbook, using state policy to jump-start a 21st century automobile industry. Albany started a $10 million program to convert its… Continue reading
The fact that a small portion of Public Service Company of Colorado’s (Xcel Energy) ratepayers pay a “green premium” on their electric bills to support 60 MW of wind energy while 1000 MW of wind power costs will be spread over all customers is deemed to make “little sense.” The PUC staff have proposed the elimination of Xcel’s Windsource green power program and for the program’s cost to be absorbed by the entire ratebase.
Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced a pilot program to demonstrate that four state university campuses can make their campuses completely energy independent within the next five years. University of Wisconsin – Green Bay, UW-Oshkosh, UW-River Falls and UW-Stevens Point will take part.
If they meet the challenge, the schools will be the first state-owned facilities capable of acquiring or producing renewable energy equivalent to their consumption. | <urn:uuid:9e9317ce-bdef-4cca-b556-e0ad0e5b7a3b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ilsr.org/content-types/article-archive/page/158/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93786 | 598 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Christmas is a time for giving.
But for one McPherson family, the spirit of the season isn’t about giving gifts. It’s about fostering community and a sense of belonging.
For about 15 years, the family of Verla Thomason has traded time in their own homes to organize McPherson’s annual Community Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner.
Each year, various members of the family will coordinate volunteers, count inventory, prepare the food and welcome individuals and families to what may be the attendees’ only holiday celebration.
Along with other volunteers, the family prepared food for over 600 people. On the menu was ham, salad, potatoes, beans, dessert and other food, all of which was prepared or stored in mass quantity at the McPherson Senior Center.
“This is a way we could work together and give back to the community what they’ve given to us,” Thomason said, secretary of Community Thanksgiving, Inc., event organizing entity. “It’s very rewarding because you feel like you have reached out to those needed somewhere to go for Christmas.”
Although they might not have what some may consider a traditional Christmas gathering, the preparation has been come traditional for four generations of the family.
Avery McCormick, Thomason’s great-grandson, has been involved since he was in elementary school. His job has always been to cut fruit.“It’s not what you’re doing, its more the spirit of everything else....being able to give back what they’ve given us,” he said. “We like to help other people.”
The people that attend all have their own reasons for attending.
“It’s all walks of life,” Kimba McCormick, Thomason’s daughter said, whose favorite jobs is to greet individuals at the door. “It doesn’t matter if you’re financially struggling or if you have money. It helps give people someone to visit with on the holidays.”
Mike McCormick, in-law to Thomason, is president of the Community Thanksgiving, Inc. He said he enjoys organizing these events with his family.
“It’s kind of fun to get them all together,” he said. “We’re a close knit family and try to do lots of things together.”
And in some ways, the McPherson community has become an extension of their own family.
“We know what the giving thing is,” he said. “It is better to give than receive. And we like doing it.” | <urn:uuid:cf8fd76d-9e7e-432a-b9a6-2aaeb4fade9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mcphersonsentinel.com/article/20121226/NEWS/121229592/0/state%20news | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969934 | 565 | 1.546875 | 2 |
By Michael R. Shea, Field & Stream's Atlantic Flyway Duck Reporter
Atlantic flyway duck hunters got what they wanted this holiday season: cold weather. On Christmas Eve temperatures started falling in the northeast, and they have stayed low through New Year. That, plus 4 to 24 inches of new snow in much of New England has ducks pushing south to mid-Atlantic and coastal regions in numbers like we haven't seen yet this season.
Up north on the Ontario breeding grounds, all the birds are gone, said Sarah Fleming, the Ducks Unlimited regional biologist for New York State, and in New England shallow water has locked up in most places and ag fields are white with snow, covering up food.
Still, there are huntable numbers of birds north of New York City, especially on the big-water lakes and reservoirs. New York's Western Zone season opened last week and there are many reports of diver and dabbler concentrations on the Finger Lakes. Geese are also in abundance, including some snows with the snow. Fleming spotted 150,000 snow geese in the southern Finger Lakes region over the holiday week. "They're probably on the move south, too,” she said.
All this New England snow and cold weather is really helping out the Mid-Atlantic States. "We didn't have any ducks at all until New York froze up and got that snow,” said Avery Pro Staffer Kevin Addy, who hunts Pennsylvania and Maryland. "We finally got a good push.” The usual suspects--mallards, blacks and mergansers--are chocking up available inland waters in PA; bluebills, gadwalls, mallards, blacks and few canvasbacks are on Maryland waters, he said. Goose hunting, especially on Maryland's eastern shore, has been A+.
"When it was warm ducks were walking out of loafing areas and eating grass around the pond. Now that its finally cold, they're looking for high protein, cut corn, some wheat, but pretty much corn since the weathers so cold. That makes birds patternable, you can get out and scout them and hunt them,” Addy said. "This is the time of year for the duck hunter.”
Laurence Mauck, an Avery Pro Staffer in central Virginia, said the same things: birds are now in their standard winter pattern of roosting, feeding, and loafing, which makes them huntable. "There's been no consistency this season, but the last week of cold weather has ducks starting to work that winter pattern.”
Further south, conditions are changing, but there hasn't been a big push yet.
"I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but no big changes in the last couple of weeks,” said Greg Balkcom, state waterfowl biologist, Georgia Department Natural Resources. There has been rain, though, in an otherwise dry winter, and impoundments have started to fill and hold water since Christmas. "Just now we have some good water on the ground,” Balkcom said. "Now we need more coolness and weather in the mid-Atlantic.”
With daytime temperatures expected to go up next week, it might be the end of the month before that happens.
Mid-Atlantic Duck Hunters: Go Now!
Find migration and hunting reports in your area on the DU Migration Map. | <urn:uuid:260ba9c4-01c0-4730-9dd4-241d796e3f4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ducks.org/printPage.aspx?documentID=9378 | 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 | 0.959287 | 697 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager Roy Roberts said the district has “accelerated the time line for its return to complete fiscal stability.” But he said he has not determined yet which of the nearly 100 buildings will close. / ANDRE J. JACKSON/Detroit Free Press
The historic enrollment decline in Detroit Public Schools will continue to worsen, leaving the school district with about 13,000 fewer students and 28 fewer schools by 2016, while financial cuts could eliminate the deficit by then, according to a revised deficit elimination plan released Wednesday to the Free Press.
In a letter to employees today, Roy Roberts, the state-appointed emergency financial manager, said DPS has “accelerated the time line for its return to complete fiscal stability.” But he said he has not determined yet which of the nearly 100 buildings will close.
“Earlier I referenced a ‘potentially smaller’ portfolio of schools. I used the word potentially, because no decisions have been made about school closures and nothing is yet set in stone,” Roberts wrote. “However, the reality remains that if we continue to lose students, the district will have no choice but to continue to shrink.”
Roberts was appointed in 2011 and announced that he planned to eliminate the deficit within five years. The revised deficit elimination plan approved Jan. 17 by the Michigan Department of Education would move DPS from a $76-million deficit as of July 1, 2012, to a surplus of $2.6 million by June 30, 2016.
The plan projects enrollment will be 38,448 students, a decline of 12,896 students. The reduction in students will mean reduced funding -- from $750 million this year to $569 million in 2016 -- and result in cutting 470 support services positions and 542 teaching positions between 2014 and 2016.
Before Roberts’ appointment, Robert Bobb, the DPS emergency financial manager in 2009-11, laid out plans to strategically shrink DPS. Bobb had predicted DPS would fall to 58,570 students by 2014.
With the transfer of 15 DPS schools to a state reform district this school year, DPS’s enrollment has fallen to about 50,000, about a third the size of the district a decade ago. If the 2016 enrollment projection becomes reality, it will mark the smallest DPS enrollment in more than a century, according to information compiled by Jeffrey Mirel, author of “The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System: Detroit, 1907-81.”
DPS’s enrollment decline is the result of competition with charter schools and suburban districts, a falling city population, a declining birth rate, and, most recently, competition with the Education Achievement Authority of Michigan, the state reform district that can take over control of the worst performing schools.
In 2012, the Denver-based Education Commission of the States, said DPS's enrollment and financial issues are unique in the nation.
Keith Johnson, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, said he was encouraged that the plan did not project class sizes of 60 students, which was a controversial part of Bobb’s prior deficit elimination plan. However, DPS will face the challenge of increasing academic quality while cutting the budget, he said.
“How are you going to sell to the community that they should entrust their children to you if you’re constantly cutting?” Johnson said. “You can’t do it. … Certainly you’re going to accelerate the exodus from Detroit Public Schools.”
Roberts said he plans for an efficient, long-lasting DPS.
The revised three-year deficit elimination plan calls for a 2% wage increase in 2014-15 and strategic planning to attempt to attract students back to the district.
“We’re going on the offense! No longer are we going to create plans designed around assumptions of failure,” Roberts wrote in the letter to employees. “Instead of planning to fail, we’re planning to win by attracting students to our district's classrooms.”
Contact Chastity Pratt Dawsey: 313-223-4537 or [email protected] | <urn:uuid:3d553b5c-ab8e-4804-b69f-686d138d8ef8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.freep.com/article/20130124/NEWS01/130124047/Detroit-Public-Schools-deficit-elimination-enrollment-decline-Roy-Roberts | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962946 | 857 | 1.726563 | 2 |
I stand here in my father’s house, alone and my heart aching. He’s gone now. Dispatched so quickly, cremated, and inserted into the ground as one more statistic is created for the records. We mourn and we shed tears at his passing and soon we are back to living our lives, his memory committed to the ages.
I stand here in my father’s house, and the memories sweep over me, snapshots of a life lived to the fullest. A young man rugged and a tireless worker doing his best for the family he loved. An older gentleman he began searching for yet another person to help, to touch, and love. The goodness of God taken refuge in this tired old body, he wasted no
time spreading God’s love with everyone he met until
God said, “You’ve done enough, my son. It is now time
for you to rest. Come take my hand, Lawrence Fields your work here is done.
I stand here in my father’s house, with this emptiness here inside. I miss this man whom I called my dad. I miss him so much. Gone are so many things we shared. Gone are the baseball games, antique shops, walks out to Grandma’s, playing catch on a warm summer day. Goodness is a virtue we spend our lives in pursuit, yet for this one man it came with ease. His tired body is gone now, its usefulness no longer needed for his spirit soars on high and dwells in the hearts of all he touched.
I stand here in my father’s house, and I marvel at what he has done. Not a rich man or a man of fame, he left little of himself behind. But ask the black man behind bars in prison or the six year old learning to read, ask them about the hole left inside, ask them if this old man made a difference. For in the final analogy, it isn’t the rich man that God searches for, it’s the man who made a difference. This man came into the world some 85 years ago. He left behind a world that’s just a little better for his being here. There is little doubt in anyone’s mind that he did make a difference.
I stand here in my father’s house a little sadder and yet a whole lot wiser. The march of
is unceasing, it’s cruelty relentless as it devours the last of a generation
gone by. The hopes and dreams of youth are consumed by the passage of time. I silently bow my head in respect for the
passing of my father and the passing of yet another generation into the | <urn:uuid:30d326c6-65cd-407e-92d0-755ed1f43a37> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.scottcfields.com/2012/02/passing-of-another-generation.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960865 | 565 | 1.71875 | 2 |
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KRWG.ORG-The Region's Home Page
Wed October 24, 2012
U.S. Sues Bank Of America For Mortgage Fraud
Originally published on Thu October 25, 2012 12:23 pm
MELISSA BLOCK, HOST:
This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED, from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block.
AUDIE CORNISH, HOST:
And I'm Audie Cornish.
The U.S. government announced today that it is suing Bank of America for more than a billion dollars. It claims the bank stuck taxpayers with losses during the financial crisis by selling dodgy home loans to government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The lawsuit alleges that Countrywide Financial, which was later acquired by Bank of America, sold off large volumes of loans without determining whether they were any good.
With us now is NPR's Ailsa Chang to talk about the case.
And, first, Ailsa, what more can you tell us about the allegations in the complaint filed today?
AILSA CHANG, BYLINE: Well, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan says the conduct by Countrywide Financial was spectacularly brazen in scope. What the lawsuit basically alleges is that Countrywide sold defective loans to Fannie and Freddie without disclosing the poor quality of those loans.
The allegations center on a process used by Countrywide called the hustle, and the idea behind this process was to move high volumes of mortgages off of Countrywide's books at a really high speed. The government says that even Countrywide's own documents said those loans were supposed to, quote, "move forward, never backward." And prosecutors say to move and sell these mortgages as quickly as possible, they removed quality controls.
Countrywide executives allegedly knew all of this was going on and concealed it when they were selling loans to Fannie and Freddie. Meanwhile, Bank of America has now said it has acted responsibly, and it can't be expected to compensate for losses they say were caused by the economic downturn.
CORNISH: And why were Fannie and Freddie buying all these loans in the first place?
CHANG: Well, that's what they do. Fannie and Freddie buy mortgage loans from banks. They package them into securities, and they sell them to investors. That way, banks can make even more loans. So if someone defaults on a loan, Fannie and Freddie will guarantee payment to investors.
The problem is, according to the government, Fannie and Freddie don't have their own rigorous quality control to ensure the quality of the loans they buy. So they have to heavily rely on the quality checks the banks are supposedly doing.
CORNISH: And just a short time left, Ailsa, but this isn't the first mortgage fraud suit the government has brought.
CHANG: No. There's actually been several, but this is the first one involving Fannie and Freddie, which, as you'll remember, got bailed out by taxpayers at a cost of $183 billion so far. And this lawsuit could actually be a way for the federal government to recoup some of that taxpayer money.
The suit was also prominent because it's Bank of America, which is such a huge bank. Two weeks ago, Wells Fargo was also sued by the federal government for alleged mortgage fraud.
CORNISH: NPR's Ailsa Chang. Thank you.
CHANG: You're welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright National Public Radio. | <urn:uuid:b8da1a2b-c98d-4478-8072-c934c5eb897c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://krwg.org/post/us-sues-bank-america-mortgage-fraud | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976098 | 725 | 1.570313 | 2 |
"The garden...is a different Eden for every gardener," says Diane Ackerman. Our neighbors in the new condos next door have finished their landscaping. They scraped the earth flat and bare, then planted from scratch -- truckloads of imported sod, transplanted mature palms, tropical shrubs of every sort, sprayed and trim. Our friend the talented nurseryman Marco got the job, so you can be sure it looks good. This is Eden for a very upscale Adam, an Adam who wants to sit down with God and negotiate a contract: "I'll contribute a rib in return for a suitable trophy Eve -- young, lithe, looks good in a fig bikini."
Our garden is a rather more scruffy thing, a postlapsarian wilderness held tentatively at bay. The love vine and bur grass are as persistent as sin, and -- yes -- there's a snake, a big white boa that tries hard to come across as the Prince of Darkness, but we like him because he keeps down the rats. God knows what our new neighbors make of the sea lettuce that grows with all the abandon of human hubris run amok. The closest thing we have to forbidden fruit are the coco plums; whenever the guys from Darville's Lumber come by with a delivery they wolf them down, thereby acquiring, I would suppose, about as much knowledge of good and evil as it is possible to obtain in this world. And the sea grape, which my own Eve loves with a consequential longing, juts and flops and elbows its way into places it has no business being, like angels in rebellion, fallen choirs. Not so much Eden this as Milton's infernal "all-demon" palace where plants collude and conspire to bring creation to ruin. | <urn:uuid:a6c6fd65-2ea0-44a1-9268-404fa34e23ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.sciencemusings.com/2008/02/pandemonium.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962696 | 364 | 1.617188 | 2 |
A recent CNN article by Blake Snow, entitled “Why console gaming is dying” tried to investigate the reasons behind the current downward trend in both console hardware and game sales. According to Mr. Snow, the roots of this trend are found in the rise of social/mobile gaming, the evolution of consoles as home entertainment devices, the free-to-play business model and a lack of game developer creativity. Perhaps, the article posits, we are facing the last generation of consoles. Last month, NPD Group reported that U.S. retail sales of video-game software, hardware and accessories, the majority of which are console-related, dropped 25 percent in October – the 11th consecutive month of declining sales. But does the future really look so bleak? Although the article concludes that consoles are not dead, not yet anyway, there are several things that it either overlooks or underscores.
Admittedly, consoles really need a refresh. Console generations have been historically bound to a five-year cycle, but this generation is currently on its seventh year and the next generation, currently headed by Nintendo’s newly released Wii U, is just getting started. So what does this mean? With the exception of the Wii U, most consumers that wanted a PS3, Xbox 360 or Wii have already purchased one. Also, as a new generation looms it is usually accompanied by a slowdown of new game releases, and with the exception of a couple of large IPs, this was seen both last year and this year.
Is having a console that doubles as an entertainment system really detrimental for the gaming industry? Although there may be many consumers whose prime motive to purchase a console wasn’t gaming, it does get the hardware into the living room and that is an important first step. Therefore, just like many consumers buy PCs for other reasons besides gaming, just getting consoles through the door opens up the possibility of future game purchases.
What about the free-to-play business model? Since late last year, there have been several free-to-play offerings on PSN and the first free-to-play game on Xbox live was launched earlier this year. This shift in mentality should bring many of the “try it before you buy it” gamers back into the console fold.
And what about stagnating developer creativity? It’s true that many developers have shifted their focus to mobile gaming, but there’s been a lot of creativity in this generation (BioShock, Super Mario Galaxy, World of Goo, Journey, the list can go on and on). The next-gen consoles will still maintain a huge gaming audience – and the potential for tidy payoffs will continue to entice developers to create interesting console games.
As for the rise of social and mobile gaming, its impact on home console gaming should be limited. Why? Home consoles offer a very different gaming experience that is usually longer and more in-depth than what mobile games offer. However, handheld consoles are another story entirely and taking into account the sluggish start of both the 3DS and the Vita, it’s hard not to see them in the cross hairs of social and mobile gaming.
Mr. Snow cautiously concludes that it is too soon to declare the end of consoles while stating that their future appears highly uncertain. Although it’s hard to argue with the uncertainty of the future, it’s also hard not to look at the past successes and envision a similar trend as the new generation takes off. PS4 or Xbox 720 anyone?
By the way, if you are in the market for gaming IT Infrastructure, you might want to read our new White Paper: Five Considerations for Building Online Gaming Infrastructure. | <urn:uuid:8fcdfe2d-4222-45de-99f2-21f8b83a9b0f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.internap.com/2012/12/06/too-much-console-gaming-doom-and-gloom/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959318 | 754 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Debra Dunn discusses the (hopefully) changing role of the modern entrepreneur to one committed to positive social & environmental impacts in addition to profits. She also addresses the increasing emphasis on the individual as opposed to the community and the sorts of problems this emphasis brings. And finally, while reflecting on what she views as the greatest social injustices in the Anthropocene, Debra Dunn takes us to Cuba and the “grand egalitarian experiment” with some surprising revelations on culture, the arts and even the healthcare system.
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1. Building a sustainable future through business
2. Whiskey is for drinkin’ & water is for fightin’ over
Debra believes that entrepreneurs can solve even the toughest social problems. That is why she devotes so much time to advocating for and advising social ventures in the United States, Europe, Africa, India and Latin America. Before joining the corporate world, Debra worked in the non-profit sector with food and housing cooperatives and in the Massachusetts state government, running an energy conservation program for low income residents. Debra joined Hewlett Packard in 1983, starting as a manager in the executive development group and ending as a senior executive. Debra left HP in June of 2005 to catch her breath and focus on the challenges of economic development, poverty alleviation, environmental and social sustainability. She now spends much of her time building bridges building between corporations, government, non- profits, and academia, as she believes that these challenges are best tackled by weaving together the skills and influence of these diverse sectors. She is on the boards of the Skoll Foundation and Global Giving and the faculty of Sustainability. She advises a wide range of social ventures.
Leslie Chang is a senior with a major in Earth Systems and a minor in Creative Writing. She is passionate about sustainable agriculture and food issues, and hopes to work in those fields after graduation. On campus, she is a member of the Stanford Farm Project, and also loves working with kids at EPATT (East Palo Alto Tennis and Tutoring). In her spare time she enjoys writing, hanging out at farmers markets, listening to the radio and podcasts, and getting free coffee samples from Trader Joe’s. | <urn:uuid:69ca5651-61f1-4ff0-9229-fb5c482da6f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stanford.edu/group/anthropocene/cgi-bin/wordpress/an-entrepreneurs-approach-to-the-anthropocene/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956742 | 472 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Nothing says "it's an Eichler original!" like an Eichler home with its interior walls dressed in deep-toned paneling. While this feature may not be quite as prominent as the Eichler's walls of glass, its atrium, or even its low-sloped roof, it is nonetheless quintessential Eichler.
But why did Joe Eichler choose wood paneling for his interior walls? Was it a design decision? An aesthetic one? A structural consideration? Or was it all about cost? And just as important, what are Eichler homeowners' choices today, as they look to restore and refresh their original Eichler interiors?
Philippine mahogany, also known generically as 'lauan' (among other names, depending on its country of origin), is a hard wood that originates from several countries in southeast Asia. It is not derived from one particular tree, but from a family of trees. The commercial product originally used by Eichler is still widely available, though some claim that it is of lower quality today because it now comes from Malaysia, rather than the Philippines.
The product consists of plywood with a thin layer of lauan veneer covering it. The sheets are inexpensive (available today from $10 to 20 per four-foot by eight-foot sheets), thin, relatively lightweight, and easy to use. Lauan can be found at many Bay Area lumber outlets, including Home Depot, Southern Lumber (San Jose), Northern Hardwood (Santa Clara), Jordan International Company (Belmont), MacBeath Hardwood Company (Berkeley and San Francisco), and Western Plywood (San Francisco).
Bill Willis worked for Eichler Homes for 25 years, first as a part of Eichler's construction crew and later as foreman, beginning in the early 1950s. Willis's reflections provide us a window into the past, back to the days when Eichler's building machine was in its prime and paneling was his standard.
Eichler's decision to use interior paneling, Willis points out, was based on design and aesthetics, and was not about cost. "Joe Eichler really loved that wood paneling, and he would have never stopped using it if he hadn't been forced to by changes to the building code [by the mid 1960s]," says Willis. "He had a way with things—and if he liked something, he would not change it, no matter what."
Eichler employed a separate crew that specialized in staining the interior paneling, and Willis recalls that they used the same color mix throughout Eichler's building career.
Eichler's process of developing and finalizing designs and choosing materials had more to do with creativity and aesthetics than one might imagine, especially when considering that Eichler was geared almost exclusively to mass-producing 'affordable' housing. "Eichler got his ideas from many sources," says Willis, "but his architects—especially Claude Oakland—played a key role. Joe got more ideas from Oakland than just about anyone else."
In fact, Eichler met with his architects for several hours each week, recalls Willis, and during those meetings they would review plans and brainstorm ways to improve the new models. Many unique ideas rose out of those sessions, including Eichler's suggestion of extending the exterior grooved siding into the interior of the home. The architects especially liked this aesthetic enhancement, remembers Willis, "and they advised Eichler which models would benefit the most from this technique."
Eichler also preferred interior doors faced with the same mahogany paneling, and would not tolerate the use of mass-produced, pre-hung doors. "I tried for years to get Joe to switch to pre-hung doors," Willis admits, "which were about one-tenth the cost, but he would not hear of it."
According to Jonathan Cooke, an Eichler owner and Eichler-focused general contractor with Renaissance Man Construction, many tract builders of the 1950s and early '60s used wood paneling merely because it was cost effective. Most of them, he says, used an inferior grade of wood paneling, which caused, in part, changes in the building codes to their current requirements of drywall or similar products. "At that time, drywall finishing technology had not been refined," points out Cooke. "It was often more expensive to finish drywall than use some wood paneling products that were available at the time." | <urn:uuid:2463e84b-3c3e-4c96-97d7-c3520eae062e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.eichlernetwork.com/article/your-eichlers-mahogany-paneling?page=0,0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976963 | 930 | 1.6875 | 2 |
if a teleportation system where they rebuild a perfect clone of yourself existed, it'd be just like you, think like you, have your memories and for it, no time'd have passed, but it's not you. you'd have died, and you wouldn't even feel or know it (because hey youre dead)
the only person that'd care is yourself, because for everyone else for all intents and purposes it's the same person
What's to say that your heart would start beating again after being teleported? Even with defibrillators don't they still need there to be at least some sort of heart beat to?
If you have played Eve Online you would know the strange feeling of being cloned then destroyed. At the very start of the game the station AI says "Your previous body has been euthanised with no complications".
When I heard that I felt uneasy. It was a bad feeling playing as a clone of someone who had voluntarily died.
I think the only humane way of using a teleporter is to be concious at all times.
It might be useful for the transportation of inanimate objects, but I don't think its worth running the risk on living beings.
Teleporters as a concept is basically "instant cloning from a scan and disintegration of the original".
The "data" the teleporter would use to assemble you would not be your broken down body, it would be the scanned information telling the destination cloning machine how to create a perfect clone of you.
The clone would think it has been "teleported". It would remember standing at the other side of the scanner, and now it suddenly stands on the cloner. This person will act, look, talk, and feel like you, it will think it is you, and it will never know that the real him died on the other side. The person who goes in the scanner to be "teleported" dies, but nobody will know he is dead because a perfect clone was created of him.
Teleportation has already been done, not on humans but on sub atomic particles, but it would take a few times the age of the universe to teleport a human at the moment using current technology. Knowing how fast technology progresses, we should be able to do it in the future but I doubt it will happen in my lifetime.
I think that anything is possible, We just need to find a way to do it.
This thread made me rethink my idea about teleportation.
...I think I'll take a plane, or a spaceship.
What if instead of breaking you apart and reconstructing you, the "Teleporter" moves your atoms through space and around other particles. So it stretches you out as if the calcium in your bones moves around the oxygen atoms.
Just like the other thread that asks if an exact copy of you is create while you are killed, are you actually dead?
And I think that if you were to be killed and reconstructed in a different spot, you can be considered dead, and the new replica will be a different entity in your image. Everything will seem the same, but you will take consciousness in an otherwise different body.
If you go to a religious sense, it is not possible due to your spirit supposedly leaving your body after death. Meaning, being reconstructed is not possible as a spiritual trip is needed from "birth" (In some cases) and if you cannot achieve that as you have skipped that stage, you are dead spiritually and therefore, cannot live in the new body.
So theoretically speaking, it is possible to an extent in my opinion.
Humanity doesn't have the knowledge to this question. It comes in two parts:
a) If you are disassembled and recreated, will you still function in the same way?
b) Is the transfer technology actually possible?
To A I would say yes, we are simply machines and with sufficient understanding of ourselves we will discover this to be true. To B I would also say yes, because if it isn't that is most disappointing and we will also never have interstellar travel.
I figure beaming/transporting technology in the future will be similar to what we have now. Actually, you could say that it already exists. Think of the internet, it is constantly transporting massive amounts of data across the world. Or maybe think about satellites. "Light" waves are beaming to and from them to give us internet, communications, or television shows.
Transporting something with actual substance may be possible in the future when we figure out how to, say, turn a solid rock into raw data in 1 location, and rebuild it using that same data in another location.
Teleportation is possible. It exists. It happens on atomic levels.
Naturally it becomes much more difficult the more complex the molecule is.
The laws of physics even allow the teleporting of an entire human being but
we probably won't be able to do that for a long time.
1 g lets say Carbon roughly contains 10^22 atoms. Every atom contains the data 3 coordinates (position) and 3 angles (orientation). Every single atom has 6 protons and 6 neutrons which also have a certain alignment and position. Then same for the 12 electrons. Now we just forgot about the quantum numbers (QN) which are main QN n, angular momentum QN l, spin s (just to keep it simple, so we wont take the magnetic m_l/m_j quantum numbers or mixtures of l and s to j) for the electrons. Similar (to keep it simple) accounts for the protons and neutrons.
Lets say, every of those numbers needs 1 byte (which is far too less for the required precision but it's just an example). Then every atom needs 6*(12+12+1) + 3*(12+12) = 222 bytes.
So one gram needs 2*10^24 bytes = 2 yotta bytes "disk space".
Lets now transform this number into something you might be more familiar with. 2,220,000,000,000 Tera Bytes.
Now lets assume you want to transport this via light. The data can only be sent with a lower rate than the frequency used for transport. For light, we have around 100 Tera Hertz. Modulation of the light (to imprint the data) must be lower than the carrier frequency (100 Tera Hertz) so lets say 50 THz. So you can send 50 TBit/s = 6.25 TByte/s.
Lets assume you can do this on two perpendicular polarisations of the light and do this via frequency and amplitude modulation -> You gain a factor of 4: 25 TByte/s. Lets say, we use 10000 Channels simultaneously: 250,000 TByte/s.
This would mean, for 1 g of data transported by light at the physical limits (which we are not able yet to reach technically) we need 8,800,000 seconds = 0,2829 years. This was just for transporting the data at physical limits with enormous channel parallelization.
Now there is still the question how to read out the data non destructively and beat the quantum uncertainty limitiations...
From a physics point of view molecular transport of this form would ONLY work if the object is inanimate. The reason for this is simple. A glass of water for example does not move, if you took a picture of it, then took a second picture of it an hour later the glass and the water inside would still be the same (assuming none of the water evaporated). For matter transportation to work the device would have to save the state of the object it was deconstructing. For an inanimate object this would be easy since the molecular structure could be analyzed then duplicated. However we humans, and all living things for that matter are in a constant state of flux. Right now as you are reading this blood is pumping throughout your body, you're eyes are rapidly blinking, your body is in constant motion. For this to work the machine that is deconstructing us would have to take every differential part of us and make note of the rate of change. If even one changing thing in our body is not reproduce on the exact scale it was before then the whole thing falls apart and the person dies upon reconstruction.
I am willing to bet that someday we will be able to scan the molecular structure of an inanimate object in 3D and be able to convert it directly to energy then reassemble it. But as for moving things, its not as likely. As for the comments on the "soul" that has nothing to do with it. There are constant electrical impulses in your brain that cause your behavior. Neural networks are already beginning to be understand, "consciousness" is is more of a series of electrical impulses and can be reproduced. Even things like memories are encoded in electrical signals much like a computer. As we approach the age of quantum computers we will be able to manipulate more of human memory and experience.
*Looks at thread content*
*See's no math or science*
You're a bunch of idea guys. Keep speculating with your pseudo-science.
(User was banned for this post ("This is not how you post in Mass Debate. Read the rules the next time you come here." - Swebonny))
Why are you making threads out of things that aren't a matter of opinions. Our current science does not know whether it's possible. There's nothing to debate of.
As far as I know current "laws" of quantium mechanics don't allow beaming. It has to do with the fact that you cannot measure a particles state without manipulating it. And to "beam" you need to measure the particle first. I don't really remember that much so maybe someone wiser can correct me.
So, plausible? Yes. Practical? No. Will we see them before our sun explodes? probably not.
what, in 5,000,000,000 years we will not have engineered some way to make perfect clones of ourselves?
(~5 billion years is the remaining lifetime of our sun)
The world is heading towards a paragram shift anyway, kinda like what reedbo is saying. Our current theories are a patchwork mess and we need someone like Copernicus to see the obvious.
I would only step through a wormhole or tear in space, not get recreated through a teleporter. As my current being is destroyed.
I think as the first electrical impulse you ever had in the womb is you, and it developed from there to where you are now. When you are torn apart and stored into information it disrupts that original electrical impulse from birth,
and recreates it it on the other side. But it will not be perfect. It will be a different impulse and the original is gone, killing the original and the original ceases to be.
Anyway just an interesting thought, on what seems impossible | <urn:uuid:c62bcfe4-fbd0-457b-9545-d46f780395a3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.facepunch.com/threads/1147662?p=35851652&viewfull=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95775 | 2,262 | 1.695313 | 2 |
The intonation was sharp on this Patrick Eggle acoustic/electric guitar.
The intonation at the saddle can only be adjusted within it's 1/8th inch thickness, so some intonation problems can only be fixed by either moving the bridge, making a new bridge, or moving the saddle slot. Rather than ship it back to England for those warranty repairs the owner decided we should do the best we could with a new saddle.
There were two adjustments I could make. The original saddle was crowned down the middle, and slightly loose so it tilted forward towards the neck. Because the intonation was sharp I needed to move the string contact points back. The new saddle should be crowned along its back edge, and also be tighter so it wouldn't tilt. (Not too tight because in an acoustic/electric the saddle has to be able to move in the slot in order to transfer sound to the pickup.)
Using sandpaper on a flat piece of marble I sand the blank flat, and close to the final thickness.
I cut it to rough length with a hack-saw, then sand close to final size with a bench disc sander. I use a radius block to shape the top so it matches the fretboard radius:
I marked the flat top with pencil so I could see where the crown was developing as I filed. When this was right I polished the top, then sanded the bottom flat and square, down to the final height.
Finished. The intonation was improved enough to save shipping it to England and back.
A customer brought in a nice guitar that he'd made from a kit. I did a few final touches, including making a new nut.
I sized the blank on flat sandpaper to it's final thickness. To mark the top shape I use a pencil that has been sanded in half. With the pencil resting on the first two frets I can trace the level and radius of the frets.
The initial shaping is done on the belt sander, just shy of the pencil lines.
This is a graduated ruler designed for marking the string slots. The thicker strings have to be slightly farther apart than the thinner ones so the spaces between them will be equal.
I make the initial cuts with my thinnest fret slot file, right on the pencil lines. Then I gradually widen the slots with wider files to match each string width.
With the nut in place and strings on I file each slot to it's final depth and width. It's important that the string slots are sloped down toward the tuning pegs. This is critical for intonation. The high point on each slot needs to be at the very front edge of the nut. I like to tilt the file about half way between the plane of the fret board and the plane of the peg head. This gives full bearing of the string as it crosses the nut.
After final shaping and polishing I glue it in with two small drops of Elmers white glue. This holds well enough but not so tight that the nut can't be removed later. The outer strings hold it in alignment while the glue dries. | <urn:uuid:542581d7-23c7-407f-9c5c-fc465a42999c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.arlingtonfretworks.com/%E2%80%A2nut__saddle | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956026 | 644 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Start liking this
Othello is the game that takes a minute to learn and a lifetime to master. The lead can change hands from play to play and strategy is everything. Play is simple. Players are represented by either black or White discs on the board. On each turn, players flank the discs of the opposing player between two of their own. Once captured, the double-sided discs are flipped over and become the opposite color. If you have a move, you have to take it. Play ends when one player can't make any more moves or the game board is full. The player with the most pieces of their color facing up wins. The more you play, the more certain strategies emerge, and the more likely you are to lead your opponent right where you want them.
Mattel Othello Game - 3165
$14.48 - $25.46
pros: fun, easy to learn
cons: not the best quality
OTHELLO -- Easy to Learn, Difficult to Master
Othello is a classic board game and as it's commericials used to say: it "takes a minute... See Full Review | <urn:uuid:f18cb22a-2489-473f-932c-7140ecf9c2e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mysimon.com/prices/mattel-othello-game?sort_by=store | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954269 | 238 | 1.507813 | 2 |
A NATO statement said the gunman was killed when some of the foreign forces returned fire. It provided no other details, including the nationalities of the slain service members, but the British Defense Ministry confirmed that they were both British.
Ahmadi said the gunman was a soldier in the Afghan army. A NATO military spokesman said officials were investigating.
In the east, a member of an Afghan Local Police force fatally shot a NATO service member as a group of soldiers approached a checkpoint manned by the militia, the military said in a statement. The incident appeared to mark the first time a member of an ALP group opened fire on foreign troops.
A NATO spokesman said Monday night that he could not say whether the ALP gunman was detained or shot.
So-called “green on blue” shootings have become a rising threat this year, following a series of missteps that have created distrust between Afghan forces and their international coalition partners.
Among the most significant was last month’s burning of Korans by U.S. troops. The episode sparked violent riots and retaliatory attacks, and prompted the Taliban to call on Afghan security forces to open fire on foreign troops.
Since May 2007, at least 80 NATO troops have been killed by Afghan security forces, according to military news releases and statistics provided by the Defense Department to Congress last month. Ten of those killings were committed since the Koran burning.
At a Pentagon press briefing Monday, Gen. John Allen, the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, said, “In most cases the relationship [between Afghan and NATO forces] is very strong. They know each other well.”
But, he added, “We have taken steps necessary on our side to protect ourselves with respect to, in fact, sleeping arrangements, internal defenses associated with those small bases in which we operate, the posture of our forces, to have someone always overwatching our forces.”
The death of the British troops is likely to further erode support for the war. Publicly, British Prime Minister David Cameron has sounded his determination to stay the course in Afghanistan. But the growing death toll is feeding a decidedly negative sentiment in Britain about the war.
A poll taken in Britain and released this month by ComRes indicated that the percentage of those saying the war is unwinnable has grown from 60 percent last June to 73 percent, with 55 percent saying British troops should be withdrawn immediately, up from 48 percent in June.
Andrew Hawkins, chairman of ComRes, said, “I think we have reached a tipping point that we haven’t had even six months ago where it’s extremely difficult to get the British public behind the war effort” in Afghanistan.
“When Cameron and President Obama stand up and say they want to get troops out as quickly as possible, that’s picked up by voters as meaning ‘we don’t want to be there,’ and if the political leaders don’t want to be there, then they think, ‘let’s get out.’ ”
He said that the British “don’t have a good understanding of the purpose of the mission; they don’t feel the sacrifice of British soldiers is justified by the cause; they don’t think it’s justified given the threat; they don’t think Britain is a safer place.”
Staff writers Karla Adam and Anthony Faiola in London and Craig Whitlock in Washington contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:91340e34-95c2-419f-950f-5ed84f59e80b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/man-in-afghan-army-uniform-shoots-2-nato-troops-in-afghanistan/2012/03/26/gIQAe8tUbS_story.html | 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 | 0.969632 | 724 | 1.515625 | 2 |
|Increased Risk of Acute Leukemia After Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer: A Population-Based Study|
|Gilles Chaplain, Chantal Milan, Catherine Sgro, et al.|
|Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania|
| Last Modified: November 1, 2001
Reviewers: Li Liu, MD
Précis: Adjuvant treatment for breast cancer increased leukemia risk
IntroductionSince the mid-1970s, adjuvant chemotherapy has been widely used to treat breast cancer with regional lymph-node involvement. More recently, systemic drug therapy has been given to women with localized disease, most of whom survive for many years without a recurrence of cancer. It has been well documented that patients with breast cancer who are treated with chemotherapy, particularly regimens containing melphalan, are at increased risk of secondary leukemia (Cancer Research 1990 May 1;50(9):2741-6). In this study, the researchers evaluated the risk of acute leukemia after adjuvant chemotherapy, especially with topoisomerase II inhibitors.
MethodA total of 3093 French women younger than 85 years who underwent surgery for breast cancer between 1982 and 1996 were evaluated. Approximately 57% of patients received radiotherapy alone and 31% had combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
DiscussionIn this study, combined adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy including mitoxantrone is associated with an increased risk of acute leukemia in women with breast cancer. In patients who are treated with newer chemotherapy agents, such as Taxol, the risk of acute leukemia remains unknown and warrants further investigation. | <urn:uuid:f238d32c-7245-4a85-9e8a-b6147989b147> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://oncolink.org/includes/print_article.cfm?Page=2&id=665&Section=Oncolink_Library | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934199 | 329 | 1.65625 | 2 |
This week, Kidz Book Buzz bloggers have been reviewing and discussing this beautiful children's picture book. Today, I'm going to wrap this up with a little more information on our author, Nancy Bo Flood.
Throughout her life Bo Flood has enjoyed reading, writing, and the sharing of stories. Her work has focused primarily on children and young adults, as counselor, teacher, or parent. She has conducted workshops of child abuse, learning disabilities, play therapy, as well as creative writing.Awards:
Through either work or research, Bo has lived in Malawi, Africa, Hawaii, Japan, the western Pacific, and, most recently, the Navajo Nation Reservation. Legends and folklore are of particular interest to Bo, for they hold the magic and mystery of other people’s – or generation’s – beliefs. When we read, we learn – about ourselves and about someone, somewhere – or sometime – else.
- Outstanding Literary Artist, Governor’s Award: Saipan, Micronesia, 1997
- Outstanding Children/Young Adult Nonfiction Article: Children's Choice Award, 2007
- Notable Social Studies Trade, 2007
I'm gonna have to check this one out!
Please visit these other bloggers too, who are sure to have wonderful insight on this book as well!
SMS Book Reviews, Never Jam Today, SmallWorld Reads, Our Big Earth Media Co., Whispers of Dawn, Cafe of Dreams, The Hungry Readers, My Own Little Corner of the World, Dolce Bellezza, KidzBookBuzz.com | <urn:uuid:5d865f24-b86e-4ca8-b457-87b9eb1635a5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://molcotw.blogspot.com/2010/01/sand-to-stone-and-back-again-by-nancy_27.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934741 | 323 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Another Parliament on another hill
A few years ago Brian Kennedy, the young Irishman who took out joint Australian citizenship after he came from Dublin in 1997 to be director of our National Gallery of Australia, told a dinner of Canberra businessmen: "Putting a price on something can kill a good idea. Cost and value are not measurable in purely financial terms. Why did three people give $500,000 each to help buy a painting by David Hockney for the National Gallery? Why did four people collectively give $3.5 million towards a painting by Lucien Freud? Why did [Melbourne philanthropist] Dr Orde Poynton [who died in 2001] leave some $13 million to the gallery to buy international prints? The answer is because we asked them and they wanted to do it. Money follows a good idea. You have got to have ideas."
Kennedy is no longer director of the National Gallery of Australia. He ended his seven-year contract last year. The Howard Government would have extended it but Kennedy thought it time to go. The self-absorbed arts community in this country was always divided about him. Kennedy had influential and committed friends, and a raft of others besides, but he tired of our multitude of small minds. Kennedy has now accepted an appointment to the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth College, New Hampshire, in the United States. He and his family leave soon, though probably not for good. The loss is ours.
However, this is not a story about evicting Kennedy. It is about money following a good idea. Businessmen understand this, even if only from self-interest. Politicians often don't. Politicians treat ideas like they treat voters: with caution at best, with contempt at worst. The idea that "you have got to have ideas" can be truly novel to a politician, if not dangerous. Ask Mark Latham, if you can find him. Now it seems a couple of blokes have a good idea, or a variation of one. What each wants to do is rebuild the "dead heart" of the nation's bush capital.
First, some essential history.
On March 3, 1989, I wrote on this page: "You think of Canberra as a city of politicians. We think of Canberra as a city without them. The politicians are yours, not ours. We live here, they don't. They are transients, arriving and leaving each week, like contract workers. They belong to you, not us. Today that changes. Today we get politicians who won't leave each weekend. Canberra will never be the same..."
And it hasn't been. March 3, 1989 was the day Canberra got local government. Until then we'd been a government town without government. The national capital of a democracy that had no democracy. Bureaucrats thought they knew best, and they did. They built Canberra and ran it, under the authority of a landlord minister who lived somewhere else in Australia.
We had no city council, no shire council, no local government, no statehood. Nothing. It was wonderful. The best services, the newest schools, the most parks, the best land management, the lowest rates and charges. Money rained every fortnight, on public service pay day. And all of it without politicians. We lived like privileged parasites.
We had a city of lawns and gardens and trees and hills. People cut the lawns but never the trees and nobody could build on the hills. Some of the country's cleanest, most modern buses ran on time but nobody rode in them. Everyone had cars. You never saw a street that wasn't kerbed and guttered and lit by overhead lights from underground cables. You never saw new suburban development without its own school or local shopping centre.
When I moved to Canberra in February 1966 you could buy a housing block for as little as $200. You couldn't speculate. Restricted auctions kept the land sharks and the developers out. You had 12 months to start building or you forfeited your land. High-rise did not exist. Medium-density was a state of mind. Visitors often said the city was as dull and soulless as its bureaucrats. But there wasn't another place like it in Australia.
And then we got our own politicians.
In 1978 Malcolm Fraser, as prime minister, asked Canberra if it wanted self-government. In a referendum 67 per cent said no. Fraser acceded. Nine years later, Bob Hawke, as prime minister, didn't bother asking. In July 1987 Hawke made Victoria's Robert Ray - a Labor hard man adept at convincing others to accept what they didn't want - the minister who would force-feed us our "democratic responsibility". Which is exactly what Ray did on March 9, 1989. Canberra has never been the same.
One other thing you need to know.
All land in the ACT used to be controlled and developed by a federal agency, the National Capital Development Commission - or the NCDC, as we knew it. It was a sensible, transparent system, however quaint NCDC regulations on high-rise (no building to exceed the height of Capital Hill, site of the national Parliament now buried inside it), building materials (no all-glass), and colour (white or off-white only). Really.
However, while the NCDC ran Canberra's land management, the federal Department of the Capital Territory (or its various other names over the years) administered its leasehold system of land tenure. Canberra has no freehold land. Developers hate the system, and always have. Only the Commonwealth can change it. The NCDC has now gone, replaced by the National Capital Authority (NCA), and the federal ACT department has gone, too - replaced by local government. And between the two of them, the federally run NCA and the locally run ACT government, land management has been a dog's breakfast exploited and corrupted by all manner of overlapping responsibilities.
Then there is the Queensland Investment Corp, or QIC. This used to be Queensland Insurance, a state-owned, self-funding authority to manage the superannuation of Queensland's public servants. In 1991 the Goss Labor government rebadged it as QIC, a general fund manager. It now controls funds, according to its website, of $38 billion, including $14.5 billion of the Queensland government superannuation.
And what are the assets in which QIC so successfully invests? Well, everything. Including, would you believe, a large slice of the commercial heart of Canberra. Years ago, the Hawke/Keating Labor government sold QIC a chunk of what later became City Market, Canberra's biggest and glitziest shopping mall. When the mall later expanded to swallow 80 metres of central city streetscape, Ros Kelly, a former Keating minister, represented QIC as a "consultant".
QIC now controls all car parks on the city's eastern side, including a huge swag of land inside an 800-metre boundary being redeveloped, in a $550 million project, from open air parking to retail, hotel, commercial, residential and office space. Kate Carnell's former development-driven Liberal ACT government sold QIC the land, once earmarked by the Commonwealth to be a "people's market", while the Labor Government of chief minister Jon Stanhope, a member of Kim Beazley's staff in the late 1990s, approved the development.
The irony that the commercial heart of the national capital, home of the country's only remaining Coalition government, is owned by a hugely successful state government instrumentality in Queensland, run by the country's most popular Labor government, seems lost on most people. What has not been lost on Canberra is the resurgence of political imagery in hyping up the "revitalisation" of a city centre becoming ever more irrelevant and rundown, despite the QIC project.
The Stanhope Government unveiled a "concept plan" a few weeks ago that envisages a new Supreme Court complex, a new ACT Parliament, and a new "five-star hotel", all of them built around City Hill, the gentle hump at the opposite end of Commonwealth Avenue, across Lake Burley Griffin, from the national Parliament. The Corbell plan, as it's known, is being challenged by a scheme pushed by Terry Snow, a Canberra businessman who made a fortune with his brother George, the Sydney yachtsman, from property trusts and to whom the Howard Government sold Canberra Airport and its adjacent RAAF Fairbairn base in 1998 for $66.5 million.
Snow has upset a lot of people, mostly other Canberra developers, by spending another $120 million on aggressive development at the airport of 60,000 square metres of new commercial buildings, as well as a massive new hangar for Howard's VIP fleet of five jets which the Commonwealth leases from Snow. Consultants to Snow's family company, including an architect and two town planners, have been briefing the Stanhope Government this past week on his scheme to rejuvenate the city of Canberra. One key feature: a new ACT Parliament on top of City Hill, to accord with Walter Burley Griffin's original Canberra blueprint that there is where the capital's Town Hall should be, with a public underground car park for 3000 vehicles - as a government revenue earner - underneath.
Will any of this get anywhere?
Canberra's heart is a poor excuse for a national capital. As Brian Kennedy told that businessmen's dinner more than three years ago: "Australia needs, more than anything else, an enterprise culture that encourages the imaginative, those who try to make things happen. One of my favourite quotes comes from Somerset Maugham who warned: 'Only a mediocre person is always at his best.' "
You would hope our politicians blushed. | <urn:uuid:0e0e5b28-ecbb-4150-8efa-a15ee7b604ee> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.smh.com.au/news/Alan-Ramsey/Another-Parliament-on-another-hill/2005/04/01/1112302233425.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972335 | 2,004 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Legal Services for Students
Higher Education Tax Incentives
There are two federal tax credits and two deductions that may be available to help you offset the costs of higher education. These are the American Opportunity and the Lifetime Learning Credits and the Tuition and Fees and the Student Loan Interest Deductions. These credits and deductions can reduce the amount of taxes that you, or a person claiming you as a dependent, are required to pay. The following information provides only a basic overview of credits and deductions for higher education expenses. For more information, please refer to IRS Publication 970 and Tax Benefits for Education: Information Center.
Tax Credits to Help Pay Higher Education Costs
To qualify for either of these credits, you must pay postsecondary tuition and fees for yourself, your spouse, or your dependent. The credit may be claimed by the parent or the student, but not by both. If the student was claimed as a dependent, the student generally cannot file for a credit. These credits are calculated on Form 8863 Education Credits.
Only one of these credits can be claimed for a student in a single tax year.
Here are some key facts the IRS wants you to know about these valuable education credits:
- The American Opportunity Credit
- The credit can be up to $2,500 per eligible student.
- It is available for the first four years of post-secondary education.
- Forty percent of the credit is refundable, which means that you may be able to receive up to a $1,000 refund based on this credit, even if you do not owe any tax.
- The student must be pursuing an undergraduate degree or other recognized educational credential.
- The student must be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period.
- Qualified expenses include tuition and fees. It also includes expenses for course-related books, supplies, and equipment whether or not you purchased these from the educational institution.
- The full credit is generally available to eligible taxpayers who make less than $90,000 (or $180,000 for married couples filing a joint return).
- Lifetime Learning Credit
- The credit can be up to $2,000 per eligible student.
- It is available for all years of postsecondary education and for courses to acquire or improve job skills.
- The maximum credit is limited to the amount of tax you must pay on your return (i.e. the credit is non-refundable).
- The student does not need to be pursuing a degree or other recognized education credential.
- Qualified expenses include tuition and fees. It also includes course-related books, supplies, and equipment provided they are purchased from the educational institution.
- The full credit is generally available to eligible taxpayers who make less than $61,000 (or $122,000 for married couples filing a joint return).
Tuition and Fees Deduction
You may be able to deduct qualified educational expenses paid during 2011 for yourself, your spouse and your dependents. This deduction can reduce the amount of your taxable income by up to $4,000. You do not have to itemize to claim qualified tuition and fees as a deduction unless you claim them as a miscellaneous or business expense. If you claim qualified tuition and fees as a tuition and fees deduction, the deduction is taken as an adjustment to income on page 1 of Form 1040 or Form 1040A. Qualified expenses include tuition and fees and course-related books, supplies and equipment provided they are purchased from the educational institution.
You cannot take the tuition and fees deduction on your income tax return if your filing status is married filing separately, or if you may be claimed as a dependent on someone else's return. You cannot claim this deduction if your modified adjusted gross income is more than $80,000 ($160,000 if filing a joint return.) The tuition and fees deduction and an American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning credit cannot be claimed for the same student.
Student Loan Interest Deduction
The Student Loan Interest Deduction can reduce your taxable income by as much as $2,500. It is taken as an adjustment to income, which means you can claim this deduction even if you do not itemize deductions on Schedule A of Form 1040. You can deduct interest paid on a student loan for yourself, your spouse, or your dependents. You are eligible to take the deduction if your modified adjusted gross income is $75,000 or less ($150,000 if filing a joint return). The amount of the Student Loan Interest Deduction you are eligible for depends on the amount of interest paid and your income.
Qualified student loans must have been used to fund educational expenses such as tuition, room and board, fees, and books for a student enrolled at least half-time and pursuing a degree, certificate, or similar program at an eligible institution. You cannot claim this deduction if your filing status is married filing separately or if another person can claim you as a dependent on his or her tax return. You can figure your Student Loan Interest Deduction using the Student Loan Interest Deduction Worksheet on page 34 of the IRS Publication 970.
The 1098-T Form
You will receive information about your 2011 educational expenses in a 1098-T statement from the institution of higher education you attended. Schools are required to send this information to each student and to the IRS by Jan. 31, 2011. (You might receive this by mail or electronically. Be sure to save this information, or give it to the person who claims you on their tax return if you don't claim yourself.) If your 1098-T doesn't include amounts you paid for course-related books, supplies, and equipment, and these expenses are allowed for the credit or deduction you are taking, you can use your own records to figure the amounts paid for these items and report the total on your tax return. Additionally, KU reports only the amount billed to you on the 1098-T Forms it issues, which doesn’t necessarily reflect the amount that a student has actually paid through loans and other means besides scholarships and grants. Because of this, please be sure to use student financial records from Enroll and Pay when calculating your qualified educational expenses.
Taxability of Student Financial Aid and Loan Forgiveness Programs
A deduction or credit cannot be claimed based on expenses paid with tax-free scholarship, fellowship, grant, or education savings account funds such as a Coverdell education savings account, tax-free savings bond interest, or employer-provided education assistance. The same rule applies to expenses you pay with a tax-exempt distribution from a qualified tuition plan, except that you can deduct qualified expenses you pay only with that part of the distribution that is a return of your contribution to the plan.
Scholarships, fellowships, and grants that you received and that are reported on the 1098-T may need to be reported as taxable income in certain circumstances, but are often tax-free. In general, if you are pursuing a degree, certificate, or program of training towards gainful employment, and used the funds to pay tuition, fees, or required books, supplies, and equipment, these sources of assistance are not counted as taxable income.
If you've received a student loan that states it can be forgiven, cancelled, or paid if you work for a certain period of time, in certain professions, for any of a broad class of employers, then the amounts forgiven may qualify for tax-free treatment.
For more information about these credits and deductions, and for information about what expenses are considered qualified tuition and expenses, see IRS Publication 970, or call the IRS forms and publications order line at 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). | <urn:uuid:fd002d61-fa63-417a-9553-0c341371c16b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.legalservices.ku.edu/tax_incentives.shtml | 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 | 0.961441 | 1,576 | 1.757813 | 2 |
NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Thursday, June 20, 2013
I am 33 years old and I am normaly always cold because of my rheumatoid arthritis and anemia. Lately I have been getting hot flashes where my face feels like I have a bad sunburn. I also have high blood pressure that I am taking two mendications for and has been stable for about a year now at 130/80. My periods have been strange for about two years now since I start takiing Arthotec and Prednisone for my RA. But right out of the blue I got these hot flashes. I got my thyroid check resently and it is normal Could I be going through premenopause at such a young age?
Check with your primary care physician and your gynecologist to be sure your symptoms are not a drug side effect and to have your "strange periods" evaluated.
Margery Gass, MD
Formely, Professor, Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology
College of Medicine
University of Cincinnati | <urn:uuid:f75501dc-4331-491d-8523-5026850d0b63> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/50153.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946757 | 244 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Former Jets running back Thomas Jones is just one of many athletes who are faced with uncertain futures as they are left to confront the damage sustained from concussions throughout their careers. Jones, who does not recall how many concussions he has sustained, will donate his brain to Sports Legacy Institute upon his death so it can be studied for chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Jones is also in the process of editing a documentary entitled The NFL: The Gift or the Curse? which discusses concussions and suicide.
Thomas Jones, a retired running back who played for five teams in 12 NFL seasons, has decided to donate his brain, upon his death, to the Sports Legacy Institute to be studied for evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Jones said he has no idea how many concussions he sustained, but he’s concerned with what they could mean for his future.
“Honestly, like I couldn’t give you a number because you just play with them,” Jones said. “You can’t know; nobody does. I think the guys counting the concussions were the ones that got knocked out.”
Jones envisions the series as the players speaking directly to the fans about the pitfalls of playing in the NFL. He understands that many people see attaining the dream of playing in the NFL as a dream come true, but he wants to show what it looks like through the eyes of the men who reached that goal.
“The fans look at it as money,” Jones said, “but once you’ve bought everything you want, you realize there is more you want out of life.”
The NFL has taken a much more proactive approach in recent years when it comes to concussion awareness as players arm themselves with information in an effort to help not only themselves but future generations as well. We all love this sport and hope it lasts for years and years to come but stories like that of Jones’ are all too sobering reminders that behind the pads and helmets and millions of dollars there are human beings putting their lives at risk. | <urn:uuid:92e003dc-47be-460f-afd3-fa34f9ab2b27> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thejetsblog.com/nyjets/jones-to-donate-brain/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=1c9f85538d | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982953 | 426 | 1.71875 | 2 |
By Neal Whitman, Poetry Prof
This month, homage to The World Series; my byline, borrowed from title of 2003 book by Doug Hornig, The Boys of October: How the 1975 Boston Red Sox Embodied Baseball’s Ideals and Restored Our Spirits. Though his team lost to the Cincinnati Reds, Hornig, then a Boston cabbie, found that this Fall Classic helped him move on with life. I did not move on until 1986 when first baseman Bill Buckner let a slow ground ball roll between his legs into right field and well, and Dear Readers, wait a sec, I’m O. K. now. Really! An epiphany I put to poetry. [The Rag. December 2009]
Last month, while my wife, Elaine, and I were in San Francisco, we met a father and daughter in Green Apple Books, a wonderful independent shop. They were pretty well pumped to be going to the Giants game that night – their team destined, they felt for sure, to win the World Series this year. And, there on the used poetry shelf, I found a little treasure published by Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s City Light Books in 1978: Big League Poets by performance artist and social commentator, Mikhail Horowitz.
In this now out-of-print book, Horowitz has superimposed the faces of poets onto baseball player’s bodies with a short biography for each. Here are excerpts from nine of my favorites:
1. Lawrence Coney Island Ferlinghetti was a pitcher in the Gone World Series who starred many years for the San Francisco City Lights.
2. Iron Horse Ginsberg: Most visionary player in 56, he still holds the record for his grandslam Om runs.
3. Richard Beanstock Brautigan was a troutfielder in America.
4. e. e. candy cummings was a lower-case baseball player who committed many typographical errors in the field.
5. Jack Ti Jean Kerouac, also known as Doctor Sax of the Blue Sox, was always a gate attraction On the Road.
6. Henry Simple-Simon Thoreau was given to ruminative sitting behind the plate and had a phenomenal thoreau-ing arm.
7. Walt Whitey Whitman was a vagabond outfielder. His magnus opus: Leaves of Astroturf.
8. Franz Bugs Kafka was a futility fielder. Expelled from the game for reasons never specified, Kafka responded by invoking the infield fly rule and turning into a giant fly.
9. Dylan Young Dog Thomas twirled for the Swansea Sweetsingers. He did not go gently into that good night game.
EXTRA INNINGS? I cannot roll out the tarmac without a tribute to my new hometown hero. I give tours at Tor House, the stone cottage this line-drive titan helped build overlooking Carmel Bay. On this same boulder-strewn hill, a solo shot: the 30-foot Hawk Tower he built alone.
10. Jackie Robinson Jeffers had a craggy, jagged fastball that was capable of turning rival bats to stone. A loner at heart, he’d often withdraw from the fields of play and perch himself in the windswept bleachers, watching the ball-hawks dive and swoop below. | <urn:uuid:cfea5522-d4d0-429c-84fa-b33609950a76> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://shortpoem.org/the-boys-of-october/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950683 | 686 | 1.6875 | 2 |
CHARLESTON, S.C. — Workers have found at least 27 graves at the site of a construction project in downtown Charleston.
The city is spending $142 million to renovate Gaillard Auditorium.
But now workers have discovered more than two dozen graves and have more areas to search. Officials are puzzled by the graves since there is no record of a cemetery at that location.
Archaeologist Eric Poplin says it appears the pits date to at least 1780, the time of the American Revolution.
Dustin Clemens with the city says it could take a couple of days to decide what should be done with the remains.
The graves are spread out in two even rows. Heavy machinery, shovel and trowel work removed tons of dirt in an area previously sealed under an auditorium parking lot. | <urn:uuid:0428b292-5f10-490d-bee4-c7beceaf872f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.independentmail.com/news/2013/feb/15/25-graves-found-charleston-construction-site/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963221 | 168 | 1.828125 | 2 |
What or Who is Beethovens's Wig?
Beethoven once said, "If my music had words it'd be a lot more popular." His wish has come true, but he had to wait 200 years for the other half of his team. Modern day “co-writer” Richard Perlmutter, lyricist and lead singer with four-time GRAMMY® nominee Beethoven’s Wig, has, in the Beethoven’s Wig series of recordings, added witty and insightful lyrics to instrumental selections by Beethoven (and Bach, Mozart, et al.) that have zipped the works of the longhairs to the tops of the charts and created a charming, fresh, and memorable introduction to some of the world’s greatest music.
Richard Perlmutter’s first album, Beethoven's Wig: Sing Along Symphonies, was released in 2002. Within a week of its debut, Perlmutter was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, followed by an appearance on NBC’s Today Show. The album shot to the top of Amazon’s Bestseller List, holding the #1 position on both the Amazon classical and children's music sales charts for four months. Over the next year, Beethoven's Wig received 15 national awards including a GRAMMY nomination for Best Musical Album for Children.
When Perlmutter followed up in 2004 with Beethoven's Wig 2 (featuring an additional assortment of classical masterpieces fitted with his brainy lyrics), the two albums simultaneously took over the #1 and #2 spots on Amazon's Bestseller List. The overwhelming success of these two albums created a demand for live performances, and Beethoven’s Wig soon began to appear throughout the country in their own sold out shows and as featured guest performers with symphony orchestras and other ensembles. Meanwhile, Perlmutter received his second GRAMMY nomination for Beethoven’s Wig 2. Subsequent releases Beethoven's Wig 3 (2006) and Beethoven's Wig 4 (2008) also garnered GRAMMY nominations.
To date, the Beethoven's Wig series has broken all records with an astounding 46 national awards. Hailed as opening the door to "serious music" in a way that's fun, Beethoven's Wig is now the most honored musical group in family entertainment.
What is Sing Along Classics?
What Did We Think?
This CD makes me think of a little boy who is forced to sit through a long "boring" piano concert. To keep himself entertained, he sits quietly in his seat, imagining the silliest of stories. When you listen to this CD, you'll hear the beautiful piano classics in the background, paired with this boy's silly stories and you'll find yourself smiling! I sure did! Maggie is still a little young to understand all of the words to these songs, but I know as she gets older she'll love listenning to them. My favorite song is "Poor Uncle Joe." Poor Uncle Joe has a car that won't go and this song tells you all about it! I think this is a great CD that will introduce your children to beautiful classical music, while also keeping them very entertained! I also love that the 2nd half of this CD contains the piano classics with no lyrics. It's lovely to listen to!
You can purchase this CD (available 9/29/11) and the other 4 CD's from Beethoven's Wig at their website, http://beethovenswig.com/. You can also find them at Amazon.com.
On of my readers is going to win their own copy of this cd. Use the easy entry form below to enter. Good luck! | <urn:uuid:64cf83ca-93b9-4d34-a4d9-6219cf76f92a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thriftyniftymommy.com/2011_08_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964561 | 792 | 1.570313 | 2 |
There are many social ills in any society. We are using a hypothetical society where most people are "thieves" as an easy example. We do not want to discuss the definition of thief. We want to discuss the skills needed for our children to survive in such a society.
closed as not a real question by Torben Gundtofte-Bruun♦ Jan 11 '12 at 9:50
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.
Same thing as you do in any society. Teach your your children the skills you feel you benefited from, and then your job is to them give a safe place to develop and question.
"Anyone can give them answers. They'll get plenty of answers in school. And then they'll be tested on those answers. What we give them is an environment where they can question safely. That's our task." - video link of two fathers discussing this kind of topic
In your "society of thieves", you obviously impart the raw skills they need to survive (just to provide a complete answer, I'm guessing a focus on Dexterity, and decent Bluff and Stealth checks), but far more importantly, you need to give them somewhere where they can question why things are done this way, and where they can develop their own worldview without worrying it will bring punishment. | <urn:uuid:c6880a46-d476-4da1-8988-a788f11e1eaa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/4018/in-a-hypothetical-society-of-thieves-what-do-our-children-need-to-learn?answertab=votes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972666 | 311 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Greensboro, NC -- Being homeless while trying to finish high school can be challenging.
However, a Greensboro shelter called Joseph's House Incorporated is helping teens accomplish their dreams.
Nineteen year-old Lawaun McDonald found himself homeless after he was was released from jail on January 17th.
McDonald moved into Joseph's House, a homeless shelter that houses up to nine young men who hope to change their lives.
Since opening in 2006, the shelter has housed more than 300 men across Greensboro and Guilford County.
"It's a blessing to be here and have somewhere to lay my head. I don't have anywhere else to go," said McDonald.
Lawaun McDonald hopes to earn his GED by the fall.
According to staff, there are two beds available at Joseph's House and a wait list with 21 names on it.
The program allows the young men to stay for as long as two years. | <urn:uuid:c41246a7-985e-473d-82d7-825c48343418> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article/228785/57/Shelter-Helps-Homeless-Triad-Teens-Graduate | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984656 | 194 | 1.601563 | 2 |
I love Brussels sprouts.
I love them pickled, roasted, steamed or boiled, each one a perfect bite of sultry, cruciferous deliciousness.
But many, many people do not feel the same. These unfortunates likely were tortured as children by having to choke down overcooked, olive green, smelly, mushy orbs that were called Brussels sprouts but really have absolutely nothing in common with Brussels sprouts that are properly cooked.
If you are served a Brussels sprout that has turned the color of a Boy Scout tent, it’s best not to eat it. Just turn away and don’t look back. A well cooked Brussels sprout is bright green and tender, but not soft.
When buying, you want them to be on the small side and the tiny heads should be tightly closed, like mini cabbages but darker green. If you’re going to cook them whole, slice the dried bit off the bottom then poke an X into the stem end with the tip of a sharp knife. The outer leaves cook much more quickly than the inside does. The X allows for more even cooking by providing a path for the heat to get inside.
When preparing them for roasting, after trimming the ends, I cut each sprout in half the long way, through the stem. I throw the halves into a roasting pan, coat them with olive oil and add some salt and pepper, then pop them into a 450 degree oven. Check on them after about 5 minutes, giving them a stir. Depending on their size, cook them another 5 or 10 minutes, stirring as needed, until they’re tender. Roasting really brings out the nuttiness of the sprouts, almost turning them into a whole new vegetable.
In my collection, this recipe for Brussels Sprouts with Maple-Mustard Sauce is a copy of a long ago newspaper clipping. It doesn’t say where the original recipe came from but a few Googles led me to believe it is from a cookbook called “Thanksgiving Dinner” by Anthony Dias Blue and Kathryn K. Blue.
The rich tanginess of the two kinds of mustard and two vinegars, combined with the sweet, earthiness of the maple syrup really compliment the Brussels sprouts. If you don’t want 10 servings, cut the amount of sprouts in half but make the full amount of sauce. It keeps in the refrigerator for quite a while and allows you to make the same recipe again, a couple of weeks later, with half the work already done.
The Blues call for boiling the sprouts, which I very often do. After they're cooked, I cut them in half before I dress them to make for daintier bites and for more surface area to collect that amazing sauce. You also can roast the sprouts and dress them with this sauce. Either way, they’re delicious.
Brussels Sprouts With Maple-Mustard Sauce
Makes 10 servings
4 cups (2 pounds) Brussels sprouts
2½ teaspoons salt (divided)
2 tablespoons white wine or champagne vinegar (I use rice wine vinegar)
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup (only the real stuff will do)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon coarse-grain mustard
½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
½ cup olive oil
Trim the Brussels sprouts by cutting an X in the stalk end and removing any loose or wilted outer leaves. Drop the sprouts into a large pot of rapidly boiling water. Add 2 teaspoons salt and bring the water back to the boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and drain thoroughly, letting the sprouts cool for a few minutes. (After they’ve cooled a bit, I cut them in half through the stem end.)
Meanwhile, mix the vinegars, syrup, mustards, remaining ½ teaspoon salt, pepper and nutmeg. Whisk thoroughly. Slowly add the oil, a few drops at a time, in a thin, steady stream, as you whisk. The mixture will get thicker and lighter in color as the oil and vinegar emulsify.
Add the Brussels sprouts to the bowl containing the sauce. Toss well to coat each sprout. Serve at room temperature.
Original recipe from “Thanksgiving Dinner” by Anthony Dias Blue and Kathryn K. Blue.
Jill Blanchette works at night at The Day. Share comments or recipes with her at [email protected]. | <urn:uuid:47690354-93a5-4ac6-88e5-e894313bb006> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20121010/INTERACT010314/121019937&CSLoginOnly=true | 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 | 0.939062 | 957 | 1.507813 | 2 |
ARA students earn GEDs, move forward with new confidence
For release: May 20, 2011
Latasha Beechem may have doubted her future when she left high school without a diploma. But today she is overflowing with confidence and eager to take on the next challenge in life because of her time with Community Renewal’s Adult Renewal Academy.
She was one of seven students recognized at a spring banquet celebrating student accomplishments from the past year.
“I wanted to change my life and better myself for my son and give my son a good life. I don’t want him to grow up struggling like I did because of a lack of education,” said Latasha, who wants to be a registered nurse.
A total of 31 students have now earned their GED from the academy, which meets in Community Renewal Friendship Houses and other locations in Shreveport and Bossier City. The Adult Renewal Academy started in 2003 to help adults of all ages broaden their education. Classes in math, reading, life skills and more are taught by certified instructors, including some provided by the Bossier and Caddo Parish school districts.
“I am so proud. This has been an incredible year. Our students have so much dedication and worked so hard. They made astounding progress,” said Gloria Millender, ARA coordinator.
“Many are going on to college or trade school. Some of them made history in their family by being first to get their GED and that is incredibly rewarding.”
Marvin Lane, who dropped out of school in the 10th grade, was unable to find work because of his lack of education. He signed up for the ARA classes at Noel United Methodist Church and earned his GED at age 36. He then started computer classes.
“They are genuinely concerned here. Anyway they can help you, they will. That really motivated me to keep going,” he said. “A lot of people in my family did not graduate and me graduating has motivated other people in my family. I have young kids, too, and me coming here also motivates them.
“Now I am going the right direction instead of the wrong direction. This is something that I accomplished that I wanted to accomplish for many years. It made me feel very proud.”
Shanaivius Lofton said she needed a GED to reach her goals.
“I want to move on further in life, beyond working at fast food restaurants. I want to work in the medical field,” she said. “This made me want to improve myself and it helped me spiritually. There was just something about the Adult Renewal Academy that really got my attention.”
Zavien Warren said attending the ARA and earning his GED made a huge difference in his life.
“They show you real love and they really do care about you. I worked so hard for my GED and I was so excited when I got it. Now I want to go to a trade school and get employed and get a career going,” he said. “This is better than regular school. They really want to build a friendship with you. They show you attention and make you feel like you are somebody.” | <urn:uuid:9718bc4c-ad3a-4416-ab40-fc6f8b5ee0ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sbcr.us/view-news.cfm?id=173 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987096 | 679 | 1.5625 | 2 |
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Current Projects (click a headline to read on)
The InARoaD award recognizes exemplary projects that have made real impact on transport in developing countries; that are innovative, sustainable and represent good practices in this field. Earlier this year Transaid received an Honorable Mention in road safety category for its Professional Driver Training Project in Zambia.
Eighty percent of the Malagasy population live in difficult to access, rural locations which can only be entered by secondary roads, waterways, or paths. Some of the most remote locations in Madagascar can be inaccessible up to 6-8 months of the year due to the rainy season. Transaid uses its expertise to provide those communities with access to health care, ultimately reducing very high maternal and child mortality rates.
Transaid recently joined forces with AMP (Agence de Médecine Préventive) in Benin, West Africa, to improve vaccine distribution and help reduce child mortality from vaccine-preventable disease, in concordance with Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets.
In June Transaid organised the first ever behaviour and attitude change workshop for 100 commercial freight drivers. This was part of the World Bank road safety project that is working to promote cooperation between the road transport operators and the public authorities along the Central Corridor in Eastern Africa which covers Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.
In 2010 Transaid was approached by the Malawian organisation, the Landirani Trust, and asked for an advice on the use of bicycle ambulances for transferring patients in rural areas. Since then Transaid has been working with the trust supporting their mission to help orphaned children in remote villages of Lilongwe district to get to health facilities.
Each day in Zambia, eight women die due to complications during pregnancy and childbirth*. Transaid has been working since 2010 to improve child and maternal health in this country through the MAMaZ programme (Mobilising Access to Maternal Health Services in Zambia).
In a large USAID funded project to improve access to child and maternal health care in rural Madagascar, Transaid's focus is emergency transport for pregnant women and children under five, improving drug supply chain, health worker mobility and access to remote communities.
Wincanton seconded two health and safety experts to the Tanzania Professional Driver Project in Dar es Salaam to conduct a health and safety audit for Transaid’s partner organisation the National Institute of Transport (NIT).
Transaid took part in a workshop funded by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in November 2011 which brought 15 Ugandan Cooperatives from a variety of products together to share their experiences and challenges faced when accessing transport
Earlier this year, National Express sent two driver trainers to Tanzania to work with Transaid partner organisation the National Institute of Transport (NIT) and to kick-start the training of bus driver trainers. Following on from this initial support two more driver trainers visited the training centre in the capital of Dar es Salaam in August. | <urn:uuid:f2cd69dd-5baa-4a86-ad64-4454bdb5ee4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.transaid.org/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947316 | 619 | 1.664063 | 2 |
This morning I made a light proclamation to my daughter, Emma when I said, “Your Great Great Grandpa was Canadian.”
She didn’t find that very funny.
Emma is taking AP World History this year and one of her first assignments is to research where her family roots began. We’re thinking nineteenth century here. Most of her classmates have roots in Europe or Central or South American during that time, but my little Emma’s roots stretch across the United States in that time.
My family of choice goes beyond blood. My family of choice flows words and images as blood. My literary Grandma’s and Aunties, My Artist Cousins and Sisters, these women so many people haven’t heard of yet.
In honor of the spirit of “FLASH” today, I am going to leave you with images of these women and request you visit the links I will leave from my “Women in Literary History from A to Z” series from last Spring.
WORD COUNT 173
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Julie Jordan Scott has been a Life & Creativity Coach, Writer, Facilitator and Teleclass Leader since 1999. She is
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Powered by us.groups.yahoo.com© 2012 by Julie Jordan Scott | <urn:uuid:29908d19-ad49-4bce-bead-e5f955c49dbd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://juliejordanscott.typepad.com/julie_unplugged/2012/08/blogflash27.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946752 | 332 | 1.773438 | 2 |
While waiting in line recently at the grocery store, I was reminded once again how important it is for couponers to remain coupon considerate.
Coupon Information Corp. estimates the annual cost of coupon fraud to be nearly a half billion dollars. Here are some best practices to make sure you stay Coupon Considerate:
• Know the policies of your store. Stores list their coupon policies on their websites.
• Read the coupons. Understand size limitations and expiration dates.
• Printable coupons have become very sophisticated. Do not attempt to photocopy printable coupons. This is actually a criminal offense.
• Stealing newspapers is theft. Whether you are grabbing your neighbor’s paper or taking more than one newspaper from the newspaper box, you are stealing. Dumpster or recycling bin diving is also illegal if you are trespassing. If you are attempting to get multiple copies, share what you don’t use with friends and family.
• Be nice. Cashiers are not on commission. In fact, a few are incentivized to provide great customer service. Make the check out as easy as possible. Have coupons all turned the same way and if you see an error, politely ask.
• My No. 1 coupon pet peeve: shelf clearing. This is when shoppers sweep up an item on sale. It’s greedy. Leave a few for others!
• Coupons in the store are to be shared. Peelies (coupons you find stuck on items) should only be used when you are purchasing the item. Do not remove peelies and save them for later.
• If you are planning a big coupon trip, don’t go at 5:30 p.m. on a weekday. Go when staff can properly process your coupons. | <urn:uuid:fc037460-2a18-46cd-9d28-2ddde9587e85> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/02/22/3871415/how-to-be-coupon-considerate.html | 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 | 0.934821 | 366 | 1.664063 | 2 |
The eye of Horus (a Sun God of Egypt, this is where we get Hours from, thats another story) and our Pineal gland.
Do anything for fame? The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports:
A Henrico County judge Thursday scheduled a two-day trial in June for an aspiring rap star who, according to a prosecutor, apparently believed that he had to sacrifice his friend to reach stardom.
“You are my sacrifice,” El-Amin [was] quoted as saying before he allegedly fired a shot toward his friend’s head inside a Henrico home that was to become a music studio. The trial will delve into the hip-hop music culture and the notion that a secret society called the Illuminati has control over the success of some performers.
It was the belief that a sacrifice had to occur in order to join the Illuminati that allegedly incited El-Amin. Investigators recovered more than a pound of marijuana from the Athens Avenue home, according to the search warrant, as well as literature dealing with the Illuminati and its alleged connection to the music industry.
One of the most astounding mysteries of the world is this ancient tile pattern in Greece, dated to about 1,500 B.C.
It was little more than a curiosity until 2008 when its resemblance to a QR Code was recognized. First photographed in 1871 by the British Antiquities Society, they were known as the “Chinese Box Tiles” owing to the closest thing anyone had seen to the strange pattern. Little was known about the titles except that they were installed along with other beachfront roads on the isle of Igrigoria in ancient times.
In was in 2008 that QR codes became popular enough that a traveler recognized the tiles as bearing an unmistakable resemblance to the computer code which had only been developed 3,500 years after the tiles were first laid. It was another two years before anyone with a QR capable phone traveled to the island to attempt a capture.
The mystery only deepened when the phone was able to recognize the code, which lead to the original Nyan Cat video on youtube.
Crack and Shine - Death is Home [HORFE]
MIND CONTROL VICTIM WITH 13 ALTER-PERSONAS SHARES SOMETHING WITH THE REST OF US THROUGH HER ART. CLICK THE LINK BELOW FOR THE ARTICLE. | <urn:uuid:20cd786a-f581-4ff9-b426-585eeb2645a8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://infoplasm.tumblr.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978892 | 484 | 1.5 | 2 |
What It Feels Like To Live In London
When you live in London, you’ll think that London is the most wonderful place in the world. Crumpets! Big Ben! Prince Harry! Who wouldn’t want to live here? You’ll compare it to your former residence and wonder how you ever survived without living in London. Reveling in your ex-patriotism, you will start drinking tea instead of coffee, root for Manchester United, listen to BBC Radio 1 and become an avid watcher of Doctor Who. To people back home, your best friends are obviously Ricky Gervais, Kate Winslet and Daniel Radcliff, because you saw one of them shopping at Sainsbury’s or reading a book in Regent’s Park. You’ll tell everyone you know that living in London is the greatest decision you have ever made, and you are never coming back, ever.
Soon after however, your Anglophilia will start overwhelm you. A culture you once thought you knew so well becomes incredibly foreign as the studied stereotypes fail to deliver. You’ll realize that no one cares about the Spice Girls or that your favorite film is Love Actually. By accident, you’ll call the Royal Family “archaic,” or not take them seriously as part of the British government, and receive dirty looks from the locals. More severe than that, you’ll insult the bartender/cab driver/grocery check-out girl with your pitiable attempt at a British accent. You’ll notice that the English actually have decent dental hygiene, and when the Tube closes just before midnight, you’ll get lost and somehow end up in Croydon. Your bank account will be drained from the exchange rate, your rent is due every week instead of every month, and you’ll have to pay a fee for a television permit, or risk getting deported.
Suddenly, living in London is no longer the greatest decision you’ve ever made.
This feeling will pass once you’ve discovered places that are genuinely accepting of who you are. They exist, and take a bit of experimentation before committing to them, but you’ll find them, and you’ll feel better. In a smoky pub around the corner from your flat, you’ll play darts with old men whose teeth are missing but whose minds are as sharp as a tack. You’ll go clubbing with Bulgarian tourists somewhere in Clapham and stumble around with the other drunks as you head home on the Night Bus. Up-and-coming designers will sell you their fashions from boutique shops on Brick Lane; you’ll get the rest of your clothing from vintage stores somewhere outside the city limits. The chocolate tastes creamier. The flowers smell sweeter. There will be a tattoo of the Union Jack above your hip, or maybe you’ll get your eyebrow pierced in Camden. Learning to live without peanut butter will become easy. Perhaps you’ll even come to enjoy Marmite, but most of all, you’ll realize that British food is actually really, really good.
You’ll walk along the Thames and stop at that place selling used books under a bridge. You know the one — where the sidewalk is lined with tables piled high with books no one wants to read, or comics people don’t have space in their flats for, or art prints with no resale value. You’ll constantly peruse the merchandise in hopes of finding some cheap novel to pass the time during your commute, but you will never actually buy anything. Sometimes, you’ll go there just because you think it’s the most beautiful place in London.
You’ll meet British men who adore you because you’re different — don’t go home with them. Their flats will be dirty, or filled with blank-looking furniture from Ikea. They won’t know how to cook and they’ll expect you to pay for your own drinks at the pub. You’ll meet British men who are repulsed by your foreign accent — try to go out with these men. Once they’ve gotten to know you, they will like you, and even fall in love with you. They will treat you like gold. They will take you for a weekend of surfing in Cornwall, and if they love you, they will take you to Paris, or Greece. They will dress sharply and style their hair. And when, by force of habit, you look the wrong way while crossing the street, they will save your life by standing between you and a double decker bus that has just stopped within inches of your life.
When you live in London, you’ll never want to leave. When you’re away from London, you’ll long to return. Its efficiency, pragmatism, blending of cultures and embedded history, keep you coming back for more.
When you live in London, you feel like you are truly a part of this world.
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A | A | A
“I used to be afraid of failing at something that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”
I was 24 and, while not gay, ever since college I had been getting more attention from gay men than from heterosexual women.
I realize that one can’t turn heterosexual overnight, but I thought I’d no longer be having gay desires.
Buying organic food is great when you want to feel good about yourself. Buying organic food when you want to save the world is another matter. | <urn:uuid:54bf59d2-81a9-43e4-b7c0-509d01b51068> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thoughtcatalog.com/2012/what-it-feels-like-to-live-in-london/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949118 | 1,196 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Going from darkness to light
By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher
For several months we watched and heard about the miners in Chile being trapped 2,000 feet below the earth’s surface. For 17 days no one knew if these men were dead or alive but through the effort and energies of the company, families, and state officials contact was eventually made with the miners.
It was a tremendous day when the voices were heard from below and how these men congregated together to lean on one another for support. Even after the 17 days of not knowing, it would be another two months before extraction of these miners would come to fruition.
These miners had been well versed in what to do in case of an emergency and the company was properly prepared with life’s necessities should an emergency such as this one happen.
There were many medical concerns about these men as they would come from being under ground with only artificial light into the brightness of the sunlight. The evacuation started at night and continued for 24 hours until each miner was rescued and back above ground.
No medical emergencies existed other than what problems might have been coming from the darkness to the light. To help combat this each miner was given sunglasses to hide their eyes until they eventually could face the light again.
This is a story that ended well, however there are many of our friends and neighbors that walk in darkness everyday and don’t even know it. Just as these miners were trapped and couldn’t see so are many people that are caught in satan’s arms and resist the light of Jesus.
We don’t have to be 2,000 feet below the earth to see total darkness. We may be involved in situations that we don’t need to be in, however we have allowed ourselves to be brought in through sinful actions and desires.
Just as the miners were brought back to light there is hope for us that have fallen short of our Christian morals and values being brought back to the light. Sunglasses were used for them and the Word of God is needed for us. Both of these will supply us the needs of facing the light and getting away from the blinders that has held us captive for so long.
Remember what Jesus told Saul on the road to Damascus. Acts 26:17-18 states, “I will rescue you from you own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.”
Prayer: Lord use me to help those in darkness to see your light. Guide me in my actions and thoughts. Amen.
(Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Acts 13:8-11; Monday - Matthew 8:5-12; Tuesday - Isaiah 50:10-11; Wednesday - Psalm 139:11-12; Thursday - 1 John 1:5-10; Friday - 2 Chronicles 15:1-7; Saturday -1 Corinthians 4:1-5.) | <urn:uuid:e022b151-7861-484a-b96c-99fd5dc27d2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.yazooherald.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1029:going-from-darkness-to-light&catid=44:devotionals&Itemid=61&el_mcal_month=2&el_mcal_year=2013 | 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 | 0.979442 | 642 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Florida applies for Race to the Top Early Learning grant
Florida’s Office of Early Learning announced that today the state Florida will submit its application for the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge grant, which is part of President Obama’s federal education initiative.
Florida is one of four states that is eligible for $100 million (the highest award amount) for early education funding through this federal program. The state’s eligibility to even apply was at one point in question because the state was not participating in a linked program that is funded through the Affordable Care Act. However, state legislators later accepted funds for the program that allows the state to apply.
While some GOP members of the Florida Legislature put up a fight when asked to accept the money so the state could apply for the Race to the Top grant, Gov. Rick Scott has been supportive of the early learning grant throughout the process.
In a press release today, Scott says:
Florida’s decision to compete in the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge is anchored on the bedrock conservative principles of smaller government and local solutions. This application will target at-risk children by offering support and training to existing private sector providers through block grants at the state-level, not by creating new government programs, to ensure every Floridian has a chance to receive a quality education.
The grant application designed by the Office of Early Leaning is the product of extensive consultation with private providers to find creative solutions that address a true need of those Florida children that have fallen through the cracks. The key condition for Florida’s participation in the Race to the Top Program is our commitment to ensuring that no federal strings are attached to any grants awarded and that no new burdensome regulations will be placed on private providers.
Florida’s Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge application is consistent with my vision for a world-class education system in the Sunshine State and meets our goal of ensuring the every Floridian has an equal opportunity to gain a quality education. It is my sincere belief that focusing on these at-risk children will save the citizens of the State of Florida from the economic and social costs that come from long-term dependence on welfare programs that are funded with their tax dollars.
Scott also stipulated that “Florida will only accept these grant dollars if the award comes back with no strings attached.”
“Additionally, if during the process of implementing this grant, the state finds unexpected new regulations being placed on private businesses, I pledge that Florida will not move forward with implementation,” Scott said.
Child advocates, educators and public child care providers have supported of the grant. However, conservative political groups in Florida dislike the idea of Florida accepting money from Race to the Top.
Andrew Nappi, head of Florida’s 10th Amendment Center, told Sunshine State News that Florida legislators have “traded away our education sovereignty by taking Race To The Top funds.”
“Our governor, who is chief executive of a state that is party to a lawsuit to stop Obamacare, has already taken $3.4 million from it so as not to lose further Race To The Top funds,” Nappi said. | <urn:uuid:8dc71c1b-d444-47e6-80d3-76086c7f262c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://floridaindependent.com/53151/florida-race-to-the-top-application/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960163 | 651 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Home prices rise in March in most major US cities
WASHINGTON — Home prices rose in March from February in most major U.S. cities for the first time in seven months. The increase is the latest evidence of a slow recovery taking shape in the troubled housing market.
The Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller home price index shows that prices increased in 12 of the 20 cities it tracks.
Three of the weakest markets reported signs of improvement. Prices increased in Tampa and Miami, while prices in Las Vegas were unchanged.
The biggest month-over-month increases were in Phoenix, Seattle and Dallas. Prices dropped sharply in Detroit, Chicago and Atlanta.
The increases partly reflect the beginning of the spring selling season. The month-to-month prices aren’t adjusted for seasonal factors.
The overall index of 20 cities was essentially unchanged in March, after falling 0.8 percent in February. | <urn:uuid:da185d2d-91cc-4e32-aa06-942c3fed4155> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20120529/PC05/120529069/1010/home-prices-rise-in-march-in-most-major-us-cities | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957938 | 187 | 1.804688 | 2 |
The latest round of budget cuts probably won't be the last if the federal government is intent on returning a surplus in the 2013 election year.
Treasurer Wayne Swan announced yesterday an extra $16.4 billion of budget savings over the next four years to keep its promised surpluses largely intact, after a troubled global economy took a further toll on tax receipts.
Mr Swan's mid-year budget review predicts a $1.1 billion surplus in 2012/13, down from the $1.5 billion surplus forecast in the May budget.
It would still be a massive turnaround from a final $43.7 billion deficit for 2011/12.
The economic growth forecast for this financial year in the mid-year economic outlook was also marked down to 3 per cent, from the earlier 3.25 per cent.
"This mid-year review has been put together amid storm clouds which are hanging over the global economy," Mr Swan said.
"This lower global growth outlook has had another very big whack at government tax revenues and has made it harder to deliver a surplus."
The latest round of savings includes a cut in the baby bonus from $5000 to $3000 for second and subsequent children from mid-2013, further changes to the private health insurance rebate and increased visa application costs.
"Our savings send a very clear message to the world that we have world-beating public finances," Mr Swan said.
Opposition Leader Tony Abbott said all the "incredible shrinking budget surplus" showed was that Labor's economic management was a failure.
"This is a government that will never, ever deliver an honest budget surplus," Mr Abbott said.
Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia's head of leadership Yasser El-Ansary said the budget forward estimates for revenue collections were probably still too optimistic.
"In early 2013, the government's razor gang is probably going to have to do some more work on spending cuts and tax increases if they want to deliver a budget surplus," Mr El-Ansary said.
Business groups were unhappy about the surprise announcement that companies will progressively shift to remitting taxes to the government each month, instead of quarterly, starting from 2014.
This will deliver a revenue gain of $8.3 billion over four years and make the system "more accurate, more timely and more clear," Mr Swan said.
"It's not an increase in tax. It's simply a change in the timing of it." AAP | <urn:uuid:b457c3e4-e0ab-4833-9da7-7b601783f42f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/413892/treasurers-164b-in-tough-calls/?src=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965975 | 504 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Ohio prisoner can sue state over grooming policy
By The Associated Press
WASHINGTON The Supreme Court refused yesterday to intervene in a dispute over prison grooming rules in Ohio, allowing the state to be sued for cutting the beard of a Jewish inmate.
Ohio leaders argued that the case could provoke thousands of lawsuits.
In prisons around the country inmates are forced to follow grooming rules intended to control contraband and gang activity. Courts have generally sided with authorities in rules fights.
But in this case, Wilkinson v. Flagner, an appeals court said Hbrandon Lee Flagner, a Hasidic Jew, had a legitimate case that he was wronged by officials who twice cut his beard and sideburns.
Justices refused to take Ohio's appeal in the case that pits public safety against an individual's freedom of religion.
Flagner claims he is not a security risk and has a First Amendment right to follow his religious beliefs and traditions, including letting his facial hair grow.
Twenty states joined Ohio in urging the Supreme Court to consider the case. Attorneys for those states said if exemptions are allowed, "the ability of prison officials to maintain security will inevitably falter, thereby placing the safety and welfare of prison staff, inmates, and the general public at risk."
Ohio requires inmates to have neatly groomed mustaches, beards and sideburns, cut within a half inch of the skin to keep inmates from hiding weapons or drugs.
Officials put Flagner, a convicted murderer, in isolation for refusing to follow the rule, then eventually cut his hair.
Although a divided three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sided with Flagner in ordering a trial, the judges said he could not try to collect damages from prison officials who have immunity.
A trial challenging the rule has been on hold, pending the high court's decision.
Flagner is incarcerated in the Ross Correctional Institution near Chillicothe. He was sent to prison in 1986 after being convicted in Cuyahoga County of aggravated murder and kidnapping.
Flagner claims to have molested hundreds of girls. He is serving a life sentence in the 1980 disappearance of an 8-year-old girl who was last seen at a convenience store, wearing a T-shirt that read, "Let's face it, I'm cute." Flagner confessed to killing her, but her body was never found.
He became a Hasidic Jew in 1991 while in prison and was at times exempted from the prison's grooming regulations. He said his beard and sideburns were cut against his will in 1996 and 1998.
Ohio Attorney General Betty Montgomery said if Flagner wins this case, other inmates will file challenges of rules dealing with things like library access, visiting procedures, drug testing, job assignments and housing.
"That judgment carries significant real-world adverse consequences for prison administrators," Montgomery told the justices in court filings. "The reactive-not-proactive approach to rule-making and rule-enforcement in the prison context is both dangerous and unworkable."
Yeshiva University law professor Daniel Pollack said prison managers have to balance security with inmates' religious practices.
"When push comes to shove, they're much more concerned about safety issues than what they might consider spiritual niceties," Pollack said.
In 1979, the Supreme Court upheld federal prison restrictions on books and packages for inmates, finding that prison officials must ensure safety. Ohio argues that this case is very similar.
There have been multiple recent court fights over prison restrictions.
In this case, the Cincinnati-based 6th Circuit said that an essential facet of Flagner's religion involves his facial hair and "enforcement of the grooming regulation would require the plaintiff to violate this very tenant."
Federal appeals panel: Jewish inmate can sue Ohio over forced shaving
Judges say prisoner presented enough evidence about officials’ on-again, off-again attitude toward cutting his beard that case should go to trial.
2001-2002 Supreme Court term coverage
Analysis and other coverage of the 2001-2002 U.S. Supreme Court term.
Federal appeals panel upholds Texas inmate grooming policy
Muslim prisoner had argued that rule regulating beard length violated his free-exercise rights. | <urn:uuid:888bf038-8d60-4f66-9288-c2b195c2919a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.freedomforum.org/templates/document.asp?documentID=15511 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963433 | 864 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Preterm Labor Assessment Toolkit
The goal of this toolkit is to standardize the assessment and disposition of women in California who present at the hospital with the signs and symptoms of preterm labor, in order to provide timely interventions for preterm labor when needed. This hospital-based quality improvement project is currently being implemented in over 45 hospitals across California. Results from 15 hospitals show improved patient assessment and increased compliance with PLAT protocols. PLAT has received statewide and national attention from hospitals and health systems, and presentations on the toolkit have been conducted at national public health and obstetrics conferences. The toolkit is currently being revised, and a new edition will be available by early 2012. For more information, visit the Prematurity Prevention Resource Center (registration required).
My Pregnancy Record
My Pregnancy Record is a collaborative effort to combine the portable prenatal records created by Contra Costa County Health Services and Regional Perinatal Systems of San Diego, funded through the March of Dimes, California Chapter Community Grants program. The record is a portable document designed to be used by pregnant women and their health care providers to capture essential information related to their medical history and prenatal visits. It features an educational insert of topics important to expectant and postpartum mothers. My Pregnancy Record can be used as a reference in providing medical care in the event of disaster or emergency situations when paper medical charts or other medical records are not available. It can also be used as a backup medical record in the event that a woman requires urgent care before her prenatal records are sent to a hospital. Please email us with any questions about this record. Files can be downloaded by clicking on the links below.
Files are sized to print on 11 x 16 paper. Acrobat Reader is required to view and download these files. | <urn:uuid:099c2a84-cf0e-48e8-a264-b04149f00ef9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/california/programs_professionalresources.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933979 | 363 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Posted on Dec 10 2012 in General by admin
I think I can say that I am now officially an audio book fan! Ask my friends and family; I am not a big electronics person. Give me a good paperback or hardback book any day. I want to feel the pages… hear them crinkle… smell that great new book smell.
However, as any homeschooling mom will tell you, the life we lead doesn’t leave much time for kicking back with a good book. That’s why I was so excited to accept an offer recently to review three selections from Jim Hodges Audio Books in MP3 format. The selection of audio book choices is wonderful, with rich history just ready to be actively learned. Their extensive collection includes Christian selections, yesterday’s classics, WW II classic heroes brought to life, and one I cannot wait to try out—Old Time Radio! JHAB offers free download sample chapters on many of its products, so you know exactly what you’re getting.
By far, the crowning glory for JHAB is their selection of G.A. Henty historical novel audiobooks--they boast the largest selection on audio anywhere! You can see the list here—and don’t miss the link to the left for accompanying vocabulary lists ($3 extra). One of the audio books I chose this time was a Henty novel, The Cat of Bubastes. My son was scheduled to read this for his ancient literature course, and—can I tell you honestly—he was NOT at all excited about the idea. Henty, wildly popular among homeschoolers, wrote more than a century ago. The language demands attention and is conspicuously absent of words like “epic” or “dude”—and of activities like airsoft or soccer—all things that very much interest my fourteen-year-old boy!
By the time the discs arrived, my son had completed the first four or five chapters of the book. He listened to the rest on his laptop. This mid-story switch made a wonderful review opportunity for a comparison between the two venues. Hands down, he preferred the audio edition, even though he is an avid reader of all kinds of books. Studies have shown that many children absorb and retain more by listening while actively doing something such as a puzzle, Legos®, or drawing. This, for me, was a huge selling point, and I plan to find more Henty audio books for him to listen to while engaged in other ways.
The other books I reviewed were Stories of the Pilgrims from the “Yesterday’s Classics” series and God’s Mighty Hand, Providential Occurrences in World History from the “Overtly Christian” line. Both were fantastic as well. Stories of the Pilgrims suited my nine-year-old perfectly; she absolutely loved the expression Mr. Hodges uses to make the characters come alive, and she loved hearing aloud the names of those we’ve studied about. Hodges read all three of the books himself, and my daughter and I found the inflection and expression he used to be fun, exciting, and soothing all at the same time—sort of like listening to a loving parent reading to you at bedtime. (My son said he could have done without the different voices, but again, he is a teenager!)
All in all, I will definitely be ordering from Jim Hodges Audio Books again. The MP3 format will play on computer CD drives, DVD players, or any MP3-compatible CD player; it can also be downloaded to an iPod® or other mobile device. I suggest the digital download options for a somewhat better rate. (The discs average $25, and digital downloads are about $18.) They will be a great tool as well as a huge blessing to you as a homeschooling parent!
by Jennifer Covington
Jennifer Covington is a wife to wonderful man, a mom to four blessings, and a homeschooler for 10 years. She loves serving the Lord in all aspects of her life! Jennifer is HEAV’s social media manager. | <urn:uuid:3dfc400f-c042-49d6-829e-4c692ca279b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://heav.org/blog/2012/12/10/jim-hodges-audio-books-a-review/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964581 | 860 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Our Favorite Pop Divas’ Vocal Ranges!
Currently, my favorite YouTube channel is jphqvocals, a channel that is all about getting to know our favorite divas’ vocal ranges! The owner of the account has great taste for music, great editing skills and a great ear, breaking down all the notes artists have hit through the duration of their careers in order to show us the versatility (or lack of) of their voices as well as to give new listeners a good taste of what each artist does best!
Ever since I started taking singing lessons last year, I developed a huge interest for these trivialities, and though one’s vocal range doesn’t necessarily measure their skill or quality as an artist, I love listening to the flexibility of others’ voices and how they’re different from that of other artists!
For those who may be a little unfamiliar with the term ‘octave’, an octave is basically the distance between two notes of the same name, or any set of 8 sequential notes in a piano. An example would be the notes do re mi fa sol la si do. A piano may have up to 7 octaves in total, and it’s usually the main reference for vocal range because of its layout, so basically, when we say an artist has an x-octave range, it means that they cover x/7 of a piano in notes. Every person has different attributes to their voice, though, and while some can’t be described by your vocal range (such as the smoothness or brassy qualities of one’s voice), others can (such as the keys one can hit), and there are different terms to describe the variety of notes each person covers, some being depicted below:
Of course there’s an entire study behind all this to describe each of these concepts a lot better than I can in my early stages of music theory, but hopefully I explained them enough for you to get an idea of what exactly it is that this wonderful YouTube channel is laying out for us! In a nutshell, the higher the number of octaves, the wider the range of the artist!
As I took a look through each of the videos I think my greatest surprise came from Koda Kumi, who has a spectacular 4-octave range!
Being a fan of hers, I knew she could hit amazingly high notes but I really didn’t know she had a range that covers almost the same amount of notes as that of Christina Aguilera! (both of them are the only artists with a 4-octave range on the channel so far)
In case you may be wondering what these combinations of letters, numbers and symbols stand for (e.g. F2-F#2-G#2-A2-Bb2-B2-C3-C#3-D3), each set represents a note, so it’s just like a name for the note they’re hitting!
An artist’s chest voice is literally the voice that comes from their chest, and corresponds to their lower and upper registers, whereas their head voice corresponds to their falsetto notes and are much higher (the whistle note, for example, would be within the head voice category) than their chest voice, as made clear by Kumi’s, Christina’s, and even BENI’s vocal ranges!
Other pleasant surprises in the channel are Shiina Ringo, owner of a fabulous 3-octave vocal range,
JASMINE, responsible for a gorgeous range of 2 octaves and 5 notes, (almost 3 octaves!)
and MISIA, the fabulous Japanese queen of soul who loves to give us a piece of her 3-octave pipes!
And last but not least, we have Utada Hikaru‘s flawless 2 octaves and 3 notes, which had to be uploaded to Vimeo since YouTube took it down when it was up:
Feel free to browse through the channel because there are some other great artists there! Unfortunately, there isn’t a Maki Goto video so far, but hopefully we’ll be able to get an idea of her range in the future as well! A highly requested singer, however, seems to be Namie Amuro, which I’m also curious to know about! What’s very lovely about this channel is how the creator took time to go through each of the artists’ entire discographies, selecting singles, b-sides, album tracks, everything! So we get a very good idea of what each musician can do!
Thank you for the wonderful videos, jphqvocals, and keep up the fabulous work! I’m lovin’ it! | <urn:uuid:da7e2f44-4bb4-4a2d-99db-90359454a4ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://4lvy.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/our-favorite-pop-divas-vocal-ranges/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963039 | 994 | 1.648438 | 2 |
The Navhind Times has an interesting article on ‘Jamghat’ a kite festival held in India.
Bracing for kite flying on ‘Jamghat’
UNI Lucknow Oct 29: The day after Diwali, the skyline of the Uttar Pradesh capital would be dotted with numerous ‘Chandtara’, ‘Sooraj’ and ‘Tiranga’ as people celebrate ‘Jamghat’, a traditional festival of kite flying.
Pareva’ — the day after Diwali is considered by many as the day of rest in UP. With festivities beginning well before ‘Navratra’, it is time to take a break after a hectic Dussehra and Diwali.
However, the break is short-lived as the festival of Id is to be celebrated just three days after the ‘Festival of Lights’. While people are busy preparing for the various festivities lined up, there is a hard-core group awaiting ‘Jamghat’ — not to rest but to reach out to the skies via colourful kites.
You can read the entire article on the Navhind Times website.
Kite flying and kite flying bans are hot topic in Pakistan these days. For the last few years there have been calls by activist groups to ban kite flying outright. The issue stems from injuries and deaths caused by the kite line used in the highly competitive passtime, particularly during the Basant festival. Usually the line is manjha or wire; manjha is glass coated line and can cause serious cuts to people as the kite line descends after a kite fight. The line drapes across streets and cars and since it’s so fine it can go unoticed until it’s too late. The wire line causes additional problems, flyers have been electrocuted as the line crosses power lines and even if the flyer is not electrocuted the wire line often results in power outages.
Geo Pakistan news reports
LAHORE: A four-member bench of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Tuesday imposed a one-month ban on kite-flying and manufacturing, buying and selling of kites.
A bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mr. Justice Iftikhar Mohammed Chaudhry had taken suo moto notice of the losses by kite-flying.
The full story can be found on the Geo.tv website
Another article can be found on the ONLINE -International News Network.
A number of other articles have been published over the past few years regarding the Basant festival, which celebrates the begining of spring, and the tragedy that unfolds each year.
January 2005 – The News International – Basant: past and present
January 2005 – The Nation – The economics of Basant
January 2005 – Gaurdian Unlimited – Lahore buckles up for thrills and spills of kite carnival
August 2004 – Pakistani Times –
Complete ban on Kite-flying Demanded in Punjab
June 2003 – Daily Times – Kite-Flying, Thread Works associations’ representatives to meet nazim today
“Angelina” is a kite I built after being inspired by the works of Olivier Reymond of Switzerland and “kelvin” from the kitebuilder.com forums. I have been looking for a way to transform photographs into easily appliqued images for sometime now and I think I have finally hit on a solution. I have often seen posterized photgraphs of faces and wondered how they were done (Andy Warhol’s work comes to mind). I stumbled across a few tutorials on how to create these images using photoshop and started playing around and coming up with my own method. Continue reading
Just finished reading Peter Lynn’s latest installment of his new letter. He alludes to some exciting changes coming for traction kites of all styles. Something truly new perhaps? Something that will revolutionize traction kiting? Perhaps, but according to Peter’s letter it will be some time before we see all these new innovations hit the market.
And now to the main event: **
Here at the kite development front, we’re hyperactive; sleepless nights, no time for patience, pleasantries or distractions. Chris has even taken to staying over in boring Ashburton- something he probably swore he’d never do again after moving up to the beach place.
We’re testing out the relevance of the belatedly recognised new understanding (that I alluded to last month) on various styles of traction kite, a sort of scoping exercise.
It’s either a tool box of techniques or a set of underlying principles, or just stuff we already knew but hadn’t quite connected – depending on the point of view.
In it’s ultimate expression, it provides total luff and overflying resistance and near enough to 100% de-power.
You can read more on Peter Lynn’s site
In parts of South America and Mexico November 1st is celebrated as the Day of the Dead. This festival celebrates death by honoring the dead with flowers, food, and kites as well as celebrating life and vitality through children. The celebration originally took place at the beginning of the summer but with the arrival of Spanish Christian priests during the Spanish Conquest the holiday was moved to the fall and is now celebrated during the first two days of November.
In Santiago Sacatepequez, Guatemala they have a huge kite festival. This festival is part of the tradition of “Dia de los Muertos” and symbolizes the connection people still have with their past relatives and ancestors. Some say that it also helps the soul ascend to the after life. People fly their beautiful graceful kites from graveyards that have been decorated with flowers, food and other items. The kites used in the celebration are circular and are made from bamboo, colorful paper, string, and wire. These are not small kites; some of the biggest kites are up-wards of 30 feet across! Groups of men get together many weeks before the festival to start preparing their wonderful tethered creations. Continue reading
I have been a member of the kitebuilder.com forums for almost 2 years and have met some great people and learned a lot. Over the last 2 years forum members have hosted a few on-line kite building workshops. The latest installment is the Lil’ Genki by Dave Ellis (kiteguy) from Kansas. The Lil’ Genki is Dave’s take on the migenk kite plan by Fred Broadhead. Dave has simplified the construction and has made it a real light wind performer.
The format of the workshops is usually about 4-5 weeks with the next stage being posted each Friday. There is a discussion thread set up for each stage to give people the opportunity to share their designs, ask questions and have a bit of fun. I have been truly impressed with how many people sign up for these classes and the wonderful kites that are produced at the end. I find I always learn something and really enjoy the staged progress. It holds you back, sometimes you can’t help it and you have to surge ahead and keep going with or with out instruction. But it doesn’t matter as you can always make another one (or two.. or three) Continue reading
Littlehampton Today has an article about a 14 year old boy who suffered serious injury while flying his 2.5 m traction kite. The boy was dragged from the beach across the road and into a wall resulting in a 7 day stay in the Hospital. This one was too close for comfort; and of course he wasn’t wearing safety gear. He admits the wind was blowing quite hard but still chose to fly. A 2.5 meter kite isn’t that big, however a 120 lb teenager and a few 25mph gusts and you are in for some trouble.
Littlehampton Today writes
RUSTINGTON mum Christine Elson was stunned to see a teenager flying a kite lifted off the ground by a freak gust, and hurled against a stone wall.
But her shock turned to horror when she realised the crumpled figure lying injured in the road was her 14-year-old son.
Mrs Elson just happened to be passing Littlehampton Swimming and Sports Centre in a car when Aaron Chappell was swept off the beach, narrowly missing a moving car, before hitting a parked van and then crashing into the flint wall next to the road, sustaining a serious head injury.
You can read the rest of the article on the Littlehampton Today website
A group of school children will attempt to break the Guinness record for the most kites flown simultaneously. I am not sure what the current record stands at but according to news reports they must fly at least 675 kites for a minimum of 30 seconds. I first heard this story from Robert van Weers of New Zealand on the kitebuilder.com forums. It was pointed out by a few people that 675 kites doesn’t seem like a big deal. Many festivals can have more than that many kites flying at once, and there are reports of thousands of kites flying at once in India.
Guinness has dropped the ball on a number of kite record attempts and this has spurred the American Kitefliers Association (AKA) to start tracking records. In the past Valerie Govig of Kite Lines magazine validated kite records. Since Kite Lines ceased publication no one has been officially validating records. You can find out more about the AKA Kite Records Committee here.
The Manawatu Standard writes
Children at College Street Normal School were hard at work yesterday making kites.
The 200 children, aged seven to nine, will join hundreds of others flying kites at Coronation Park on Saturday afternoon in an attempt to get into the Guinness Book of Records for the most kites flown simultaneously.
you can read the rest of the story on the Manawatu Standard website.
Bob White of the Niagara Windriders sent this excellent report on the 2005 Homan Walsh challenge . Thanks Bob!
Monday, October 10, 2005
The Homan Walsh Challenge – Attempting a Kite Crossing
of the Niagara Gorge at the Niagara International
Kite Festival – Friday, October 7, 2005
Anyone who has visited Niagara Falls can attest to the majesty, grandeur and sheer awe that is inspired by the Niagara River’s gorge and the water that plunges over the cataract in two main falls: the Horseshoe and the American Falls. On average, every second 2,800 cubic metres (100,000 cubic feet) of water drops over the 176 foot precipice. It is a truly awesome display of the force of water and gravity as the outflow from Lake Erie rushes toward Lake Ontario, dropping an astounding total of 99 meters (326 feet).
Niagara River’s gorge is a total of 24 km (15 miles) long. Over the past 10,000+ years the force of this water has moved the falls upstream and created a deep river canyon. The river rushes with dangerous currents, eddies and whirlpools so fierce that bridging the mighty river was a task that slowed development of the Niagara Region until 1850. Charles Ellet Jr., an American engineer, constructed a suspension bridge to span the gorge and link the two cities of Niagara Falls Ontario and New York for commerce.
The story of young Homan Walsh, an American lad, who flew a kite across the gorge in 1848 is well researched and documented in an historical article by good friends Meg and Bill Albers of Buffalo, NY. Continue reading
The BBC news is reporting another serious kite surfing accident. I think kite flying and kite surfing is getting a bad reputation everytime one of these stories shows up. Yes there are certainly accidents even for experienced fliers, but it’s those people that are using the wrong kite for the wind, or those who are so new at the sport that they don’t understand the dangers that tarnishes the image of the sport everywhere.
The BBC Writes
A kite surfer is recovering in hospital after crashing on a south Wales beach popular with enthusiasts of the sport.
The man, 35, from the Bristol area, was airlifted to hospital in Swansea after the accident at Aberavon on Sunday.
At the same spot last year a teenager sustained critical injuries in a kite surfing accident.
Coastguards, who helped with Sunday’s rescue, said the man was about 20ft in the air when a loss of wind in his sail caused him to fall badly.
You can read the full story at the BBC. | <urn:uuid:5f63531b-135c-4419-8e56-4523b1603821> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.steadywinds.com/archives/2005/10/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954612 | 2,675 | 1.75 | 2 |
What You Should Know
Every Day Health appears to be a website that consists of a panel of many different doctors and experts that cover all sorts of topics and fields that are related to all sorts of weight loss in general. In this review, however, we want to focus more on the weight loss department of this website so that we may see if this is a website that may be able to effectively assist you on your weight loss journey.
This website consists of several different types of doctors and websites that may be able to help you with health issues that you may have. It may also contain tools that may help you along on your weight loss journey.
The website, EveryDayHealth.com, is a website where you can ask professionals about certain health issues and they respond to your question with the best answer that they know how to give. It appears as though the expert that is in charge of the weight management department is Dr. Caroline Apovian. If you have any questions that you may need to know about weight loss, then she would be the one to ask. Also in the weight loss department on this website they have tools that are designed to help you along your weight loss journey. There appear to be different categories in which these tools are placed into. These categories are Living Well, Eating Healthy, and Staying Fit. The tools that fall under the Living Well category are the Glucose Tracker and the My Calorie Counter. In the Eating Healthy category you have Meal Planner, Shopping List, Recipe Box, Calorie Calculator, and Healthy Recipes. Then we have the Staying Fit category which includes the Weight Tracker and Healthy Weight Calculator. It appears as though they recommend foods, exercises, and give you other tools that may help you out to lose weight. On top of that, if you have any questions regarding certain areas of weight loss, then there is a professional that is available for you to speak to, and they may be able to tell you when it is necessary for you to go to the doctor.
- Provides you with numerous tools that may be very helpful on your weight loss journey.
- Has a certified health specialist, and most often an MD that specializes in your area of need.
- Encouragement for eating right and exercising.
- Does not appear to offer any type of appetite suppressant or fat burners so that you may increase your chances of losing weight.
It appears as though we may have stumbled upon a very useful, helpful, and insightful website that may offer some of the encouragement that you need for the duration of your weight loss plan. Although it does not offer any information on what supplements you should take, but it offers plenty of information on what you should not take, including Ephedra and all of the other ingredients that are out there that are just like it, but are yet to be banned. There is also a little information on which ones simply do not work while providing information on ingredients that you should approach with caution or avoid altogether. | <urn:uuid:e62df8dd-8f46-497f-a4e5-442673f6ba55> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dietspotlight.com/every-day-health-review/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96747 | 606 | 1.648438 | 2 |
On the Motion—
That the Bill be read a second time,
§ MR. T. W. RUSSELL (Tyrone, S.)
This Bill proposes to remedy some defects in the administration of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. From certain poor law schools children are sent out to 422 other schools, but in these cases some doubt has arisen whether the institutions can properly be called schools as defined by the Act. The Bill clears up all doubt and enables the costs of such institutions to be paid out of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. The second object of the Bill is this. The Local Government Board at the present time have no power of imposing a limit on the number of children in metropolitan or district schools, although they have this power in regard to workhouses. The Bill will give power to refuse payment out of the Metropolitan School Fund for more than a certain number of children, and so prevent overcrowding in these schools. The third proposal is this: the poor law officers of the metropolis are paid out of a Metropolitan Common Poor Fund, and the Local Government Board practically decide the scale of payment. It happens that boards of guardians, in many cases desire to give a larger payment to certain deserving officers than to others, and the boards have no power to authorise this. The Bill authorises the guardians in these cases to give this excess over the scale out of the union funds, but not out of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. These are the three objects aimed at by the Bill, the Second Reading of which I move.
§ MR. PICKERSGILL (Bethnal Green, S.W.)
I have no objection at all to the first two proposals in this Bill as explained by the honourable Gentleman, but I take most serious objection to what the honourable Gentleman mentioned in the third place, but which gets first place in the Bill. I may say that sub-section I of clause 1 has caused very serious alarm in the unions of the East, and all other poor districts, of London wherever its terms have, become known, because, Sir, that provision, as I submit, seriously impairs the beneficent principle of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. That has been the means of bringing in the rich districts of London to relieve the poorer districts. It is a fund which is paid by an equal rate levied over the whole area of London, and out of that fund certain charges are defrayed in each union, amongst other charges, the salaries of officers. Well, that, Sir, is the law. Now, what is proposed by this Bill is that the guardians of any 423 London union, when they think that, on account of special merit or long service of any officer appointed by them, the salary of that officer should be increased above what is now sanctioned by the Local Government Board, they may grant him a reasonable increase in his salary. I do not object to that. The sting is in the tail. The clause proceeds—But no part of that increase shall be repayable out of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund.Now, Sir, that provision will be grossly unfair to the constituency which I represent, and to many other of the poorer districts of London. Its effect, in one word, will be this: that the richer districts, such as Kensington and St. George's-in-the-West, having larger funds at their disposal, will be able to pay higher salaries, and so attract all the best officers, to the disadvantage of the poorer unions. Sir, if any metropolitan poor law officer, whether it is in the East or in the West, deserves to have an exceptional salary on account of special merit or long service, I say the only fair plan is that the additional salary should be paid out of the same fund from which the body of the salary is now paid. Any other process would undermine the beneficent principle of the Metropolitan Common Poor Fund. The other two provisions of the Bill, I think, are beneficent provisions, as far as I am able to judge, and as I object to only one of the three provisions of the Bill, I shall not oppose the Second Reading, but I shall very strenuously oppose this first sub-section when we get into Committee.
§ Bill read a second time, and committed for To-morrow. | <urn:uuid:aff5c22a-ceaa-427b-9bd3-7648429f0591> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1898/jul/19/metropolitan-common-poor-fund-bill | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964408 | 874 | 1.648438 | 2 |
This component allows you to monitor your application with a Swing based interface, where every method or constructor executions you have decided to track will appear in a UML sequence diagram.
The application will show you one tab per trhead that is running (or has run in your application) and you can
- save a diagram as a png file (usefull for reverse documentation...)
- slow down or accelerate the application while it is running and painting itself
- flush a diagram when you think you have too much data
The original idea comes from Bob Lee. He was the first to implement this application and use a lightweight UML drawing library for that purpose that comes from Alex Moffat.
Bob Lee ' orignal work, back in 2003'
Alex Moffat ' original work
So why having it in AWare ?
We have implemented it in AWare for the following reasons:
We have added the slow down and speed up buttons, that gives more control on the application execution
AspectWerkz rich pointcuts leverage this application
AspectWerkz 2.0 is planned to support aspect deployment / undeployment, and that would be rather neat with this application.
The sample is based on a little application that will start some thread and have different objects invoke each one another.
The component is located in components/sequence.
Run the sample with:
The GUI will appear (launched when the Aspect is initalized by the AOP framework) and the application will run for a while (1000 iterations).
If you want to modify the AOP model, use the components/sequence/test/META-INF/aop.xml file.
(For example: limit the drawing to have only public methods, etc) | <urn:uuid:78a21cd3-69e6-4982-a06f-513813333cd1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://docs.codehaus.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=228164933 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930241 | 363 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Holy Family Academy
by natural and divine law the right and duty of educating offspring belong primarily to those who, having begun the work of nature by begetting children, are absolutely forbidden to leave the work they have begun and expose it to inevitable ruin. For this most necessary task of education the best possible provision has been made in marriage, where the indissoluble bond between parents ensures their collaboration and mutual help in that work will always be available.
-Pope Pius XI, Casti Connubii
Holy Family Academy is dedicated to assisting families in the education of their children in a manner that enhances strong family life. We recognize the fathers and mothers of students as the God-ordained teachers of their children. Hence, we shall strive to cooperate with parents in giving the educational background that they truly desire for them and that the children deserve as sons and daughters of their parents on earth and of God above.
Being given this responsibility calls the Holy Family Academy to strive to help you form children in the light of Christ; that is, to permeate your childrens environment with Catholic truth. Therefore, the entire curriculum will be directed to mirror Catholic truth in contrast to the attempt of the secular world to permeate a childs environment with moral and aesthetic relativism, with economic socialism with ideas that isolate, and collectivize the child into communal confusion.
The primary function of this school is to give your children the truth, which is an understanding to the level of their capability of who they are and why they are here, and of what they are and why they are here, and of what they ought to do. It is to give a clear understanding of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the Ten Commandments, and the Beatitudes, the Sacraments, the Saints, and all the everlasting and unchanging truths of the Catholic Faith. These are to be taught and understood as objective truths and not presented as mere opinion or warm feelings. C.S. Lewis Abolition of Man gives a clear presentation of the dangers of subjectivism in education. He articulates the need for a clear presentation of objective values in both ethics and aesthetics.
|A NAPCIS Accredited School
|7644 Dynatech Court
Springfield, VA 22153
Tel: (703) 924-3996
|Principal: Joe Ammirati
Grades PreK - 8
Where the truth of Catholic teaching takes flesh in young lives.
In 2000, the Woman's Apostolate to Youth, a Public Association of the Christian Faithful in the Arlington diocese, founded Angelus Academy. This independent, non-profit school serves Catholic families in Northern Virginia by supporting parents in their sacred mission to transmit the rich and time-tested traditions of the Catholic faith and culture in a familial atmosphere characterized by mutual respect and generosity of spirit.
Angelus Academy desires to root its curriculum firmly in the reality of God's good creation, training the mind to seek the truth, the emotions to love the beautiful and the will to choose the good. To this end, we are continually working to shape a curriculum that stresses the existence of objective truths, enduring moral values and lasting standards of excellence. We seek to encourage the development of these enduring values in our young students by showing them how they have been embodied in great minds, great works and especially, in great lives throughout our entire curriculum. We are one of a select group of schools using the the challenging Core Knowledge Curriculum as its primary foundation for academic formation. We also use Saxon Math, Saxon Phonics (K-3) and the Faith and Life Series from Ignatius Press. We believe these materials provide the best opportunity for putting into practice the curricular principles we espouse.
Our pre-K program, Little Messengers, provides a carefully prepared environment that invites children to live with traditional virtues and Catholic values, thus allowing each little one's spirit, mind, body and character to develop to his or her fullest potential. The program includes the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and the use of the liturgical year as a structure in which to teach the lives of the saints and Catholic values. The Core Knowledge Preschool Sequence provides the basis for academic formation.
Sodalities for parents meet monthly, offering opportunities for spiritual enrichment and service to the school.
Commending ourselves to the patronage and prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Incarnate Love, and St. Gabriel, Angel of the Incarnation, we invoke the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we seek to cultivate in every child:
a foundation for personal integrity and moral courage by encouraging personal prayer and devotion to Christ, to His sacraments and to His saints as winsome and compelling embodiments of Christian virtue;
a reverence for the sanctity of human life, regard for the dignity of every person and loyalty to the family, expressed in obedience to competent authority, empathy and respect for one's fellows, and compassion for all who suffer;
a taste for excellence and a love for what is lasting and authentically beautiful in all aspects of human culture as the basis for the wholesome development of the creative imagination;
a broad and rigorous intellectual formation through the training of the faculty of reason and a disciplined quest for the truth in every area of life.
To these ends Angelus Academy employs teachers who recognize that no testimony is more eloquent or convincing than personal witness and are therefore committed to their own ongoing intellectual and spiritual formation.
2640 Third Avenue
Sacramento, CA 95818
TEL (916) 451-4963
copyright 1995-2013 NAPCIS | <urn:uuid:d9196381-4f68-4704-afe6-3ff045e44f68> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.napcis.org/Virginia.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93181 | 1,146 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Four executions have taken place at the Washington State Penitentiary under the state's current law.
WALLA WALLA — Want to start a good argument?Begin talking about the pros or cons of the death penalty. Somebody nearby probably will be on the opposing side.Few public policies find such staunch supporters and opponents as the issue of capital punishment.
WALLA WALLA -- It seems the older I get, the harder it is to figure some things out.Issues that were clear to me even a decade or two ago are becoming fuzzy.There's one in particular I want to discuss since it's been in the news lately.
Estimates vary, but the price tag for a death penalty trial is estimated at more than $300,000 more than non-capital cases.
Estimating the cost of a murder trial involving the death penalty versus one that does not is a tricky business. But several past studies indicate costs are significantly higher for capital cases.Nineteen years after the state's current death penalty law
Cost comparisons for murder cases involving the death penalty. (All figures adjusted for inflation to reflect 2009 costs).(1) Status Report on the Death Penalty in Washington state by Chief Justice Richard P. Guy, March 2000.
Defense and prosecution costs, both borne largely by the state, mount in the years after a death sentence is handed down.
One thing can be counted on in a murder trial where the death penalty is possible. It will eventually end, one way or the other.Executions are the same. When one is scheduled, a 30-day countdown starts. If no court intervenes and issues a stay, the end co
The business of executing an inmate includes wages and overtime, travel expenses for officials and witnesses and other items.
WALLA WALLA -- Eight hours before Cal Coburn Brown was scheduled to die, the bill for his execution was more than $75,000 and climbing.It was a warm late afternoon March 12, a Thursday, and preparations were well under way at the Washington State Penitent
Summary of findings in 2004 report Washington's Death Penalty System: A Review of the Costs, Length, and Results of Capital Cases in Washington State, by Mark A. Larranaga, director of Washington Death Penalty Assistance Center, and Donna Mustard, legal
From: Summary of Issues in the Debate on the Death Penalty, Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, March 2009Deterrence: The weight of evidence indicates that the death penalty does deter some murders and saves innocent lives where it is actually enforced.
State of Washington 61st Legislature 2009 Regular Session
Read first time 02/02/09. Referred to Committee on Judiciary.AN ACT Relating to reducing criminal justice expenses by eliminating the death penalty in favor of life incarceration.BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
At the beginning of the third Christian millennium we, the Catholic Bishops of Washington State, reaffirm our Church's teaching that all human life is sacred. We Catholics believe that God is our Creator, and therefore we recognize and respect the dignity | <urn:uuid:321c311d-37dc-47c2-8742-794987a3c17e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://union-bulletin.com/categories/news/death-penalty/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942929 | 632 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Most Active Stories
Valley Public Radio Staff
Tue July 31, 2012
Homes Prices Rise, Consumer Spending Flattens
Originally published on Tue July 31, 2012 8:55 am
Two fresh economic indicators:
-- Home prices rose in May from April in all 20 major metropolitan areas where the Case-Shiller Home Price Indices keep track of them. Overall nationally, prices were up 2.2 percent. While those are encouraging signs, the housing sector's softness was shown by the 0.7 percent national decline in prices since May 2011.
-- Consumer spending was flat in June, the Bureau of Economic Analysis says, even as personal income rose 0.5 percent from May. The Associated Press writes that "the lack of growth in spending follows a decline in the previous month, suggesting consumers are staying cautious with their money."
Update at 11:45 a.m. ET. Consumer Confidence Rises:
The private Conference Board reports that its widely watched consumer confidence index rose to 65.9 in July, from 62.7 in June. Still, says Conference Board economist Lynn Franco, "the overall index remains at historically low levels." As The Associated Press notes, 90 is generally seen as the line between a healthy and ailing economy. The index, the wire service writes, "hasn't been near that level since the Great Recession began in December 2007." Its recent low was 25.3 in February 2009. | <urn:uuid:70316e1f-92e3-4fa9-bd72-47fba3b566d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kvpr.org/post/homes-prices-rise-consumer-spending-flattens | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969592 | 293 | 1.585938 | 2 |
Allah deputed the Prophet when no sign of guidance existed, no beacon was giving light and no passage was clear.
I advise you, O' creatures of Allah, to have fear of Allah, and I warn you of this world which is a house from which departure is inevitable and a place of discomfort. He who lives in it has to depart, and he who stays here has to leave it. It is drifting with its people like a boat whom severe winds dash (here and there) in the deep sea. Some of them get drowned and die, while some of them escape on the surface of the waves, where winds push them with their currents and carry them towards their dangers. So, whatever is drowned cannot be restored, and whatever escapes is on the way to destruction.
O' creatures of Allah, you should know now that you have to perform (good) acts, because (at present) your tongues are free, your bodies are healthy, your limbs have movement, the area of your coming and going is vast and the course of your running is wide; before the loss of opportunity or the approach of death. Take death's approach as an accomplished fact and do not think it will come (hereafter). | <urn:uuid:3d11b213-2f76-4ac3-952a-0feb750a7fa1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.al-islam.org/nahjul/195.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982747 | 246 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Posted by Tom Foremski - February 12, 2013
From left: Peter Burrows, Eric Brown, Mary Dent, Richard Edelman, Jeffrey Pfeffer.
Richard Edelman, the head of the world's largest privately held PR firm, said that the Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual global survey of 31,000 people, revealed a lack of trust for business and government that was "contagious" and spreading to other sectors.
He said that it's the first time that such lack of trust has become viral and it stems from the financial sector.
Jeffrey Pfeffer, co-panelist and professor at Stanford University Graduate School of Business, said, "We are all being tarred with the same brush."
Mr. Edelman said that the survey showed that government ranks lower in trust than business and that this is an opportunity for companies to act quickly and distance themselves from the poor standing of government.
Every company is a media company...
Mr. Edelman also spoke about other trends, such as how "every company is a media company" mentioning Silicon Valley Watcher, and how business is stepping into the empty space becoming vacant because of a shrinking media industry.
Professor Pfeffer told the largely PR executive audience, that there was only one way that businesses can deal with the issue of trust and improve their low standing, "CEOs should tell the truth."
Does the stock market reward 'trust'?
Peter Burrows asked about how "trust" is reflected in the stock market. He pointed out that banks and financial services companies have had a very good year and are doing very well.
Mr. Edelman said that CEOs often look at "trust" as if they are putting coins in a piggy bank, but it's not an equal relationship because a fall in a company's trust can be geometric and not linear. He said CEOs should give up the idea of control of a message, it's less risky, "Let the community decide."
Professor Pfeffer recommended "getting ahead of the story" and "don't let the story dribble out in bits."
Ignore the media...
Eric Channing Brown, GM at Skype, and a co-panelist spoke about his prior PR work at Yahoo! and elsewhere. He said that keeping CEOs out of the media spotlight, away from answering questions about an issue, improved their standing. Ignoring the media led to far more positive results than engaging with the media.
CEOs are role models...
Mary Dent, General Counsel at Silicon Valley Bank, and a co-panelist, said that CEOs have to be role models and that they need to do the right things.
Transparency failure in local government...
David Vossbrink, Director of Communications at City of San Jose, said that greater transparency and openness had not helped raise trust in the government of the city of San Jose. "The more we do the less we are trusted."
- - -
Above, Steve Barrett, Editor-in-Chief of PR Week and Richard Edelman.
It was a pleasure to talk with Richard Edelman, (a sponsor of SVW for six months in 2006.) It was also fabulous that he mentioned on the podium, "Every company is a media company" and that he and "Tom Foremski have been talking about this for many years."
I also liked his advice to CEOs about giving up control. I've often spoken on this topic, saying that companies are constantly trying to have control over how they are perceived but that it's is not possible in today's fractured media world.
However, there is another "C-word" that they should adopt: Consistency. Companies have to be consistent in how they portray themselves: how they talk, what they say, and be. They have to do it once, twice, a thousand times. Consistency will get them to those places where control cannot.
The very low trust levels of business and government was an interesting point and it is a worry, especially during these tough economic times with high levels of unemployment.
Low trust clearly requires good public relations to help fix perceptions and the Edelman Annual Trust Barometer shows the proof and the scale of the problem.
But the Trust Barometer can be very volatile. Over the past few years I've seen large swings in the levels of trust for media, bloggers, peers, experts, CEOs, and industry sectors. What was true last year often isn't true the next.
That might be because of the fickle public's short memories, or it could be because of excellent PR.
- - -
The first exhibit you see at the Computer History Museum... :)
Additional information:Tweet this story Follow @tomforemski
If urgent: send text or call 415 336 7547
Bacon's names Silicon Valley Watcher one of the
most influential blogs in the US.
SF Publicity Club's ninth annual awards
celebrating excellence in media. | <urn:uuid:3bb3a9c0-c536-40a8-964b-9212ec07bc21> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.siliconvalleywatcher.com/mt/archives/2013/02/edelman_global.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970282 | 1,022 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Put your scientific expertise to work in the environmental sector
With the growth of environmental management and regulation, the demand for environmental professionals has never been higher. An Environmental Control graduate certificate from Sheridan offers quick entry into this rapidly expanding field for graduates from a traditional science, engineering or technology discipline. The Environmental Control Program builds on existing knowledge to develop the specialized expertise and skills needed by employers in the environmental sector.
All courses are taught by practicing environmental professionals, ensuring that program content is both practical and current. An advisory committee of industry and government experts developed the Environmental Control Program and continues to assist Sheridan in curriculum design.
Environmental Control students with a grade point average of 3.0 or higher are eligible to apply for a four-month, paid co-op placement providing valuable work experience. Please see Cooperative Education the page for more details.
Environmental Control graduate certificate program classes are held at the Davis Campus in Brampton, Ontario. | <urn:uuid:e0630a93-46c9-481f-915b-cfc3b90746a9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sheridaninstitute.com/programs-and-courses/full-time-programs/programs-a-z-index/environmental-control.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933473 | 186 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Over 8,000 websites created by students around the world who have participated in a ThinkQuest Competition.
Compete | FAQ | Contact Us
This site sheds light on the amazing world of movies. The site covers everything from the history of movies and film to future happenings and prospects. The site includes various sections including actors, actresses, directors, genres, and history. Users can learn about various movie genres and about some of the history of motion picture industry. Information about actors, actresses, and directors along with some of their accomplishments is also available on this site. The site features some interactive pages as well including a guestbook, a search, and a Review (movie review) section where users can post their opinions. There are also some fun pages, which include a favorite quotes page where users can also mail to us their quotes for us to post. There are two pages where users can find out about this site, and about us (or should I say me). In addition, there are various graphics and animation I created and used in this site. Finally, users can also find out about what movies are playing and any other current news.
FahidDr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Jersey City, NJ, United States
MeenaDr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Jersey City, NJ, United States
KatieDr. Ronald E. McNair Academic High School, Jersey City, NJ, United States
19 & under
Robert ToegelMcNair Academic H.S., Plainfield, NJ, United States
Arts & Entertainment > Movies & Animation | <urn:uuid:b0805ff0-f0b1-48c7-bb98-619bc926dc1c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thinkquest.org/pls/html/f?p=52300:100:8352214433955996::::P100_TEAM_ID:501572265 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942912 | 327 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mufti has ignited a needless firestorm. In comments made in Kuwait earlier this week, the Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah called for all Christian churches in the Arabian Peninsula to be destroyed. He bases his opinion on a hadith that purports to state that the prophet Mohammed said there was no room for other than Islam in the region.
It goes without saying that this provocative statement did indeed provoke reaction and outrage from religious groups – including non-Christian groups – as well as the Islamophobes and Saudi-bashers. The outrage is deserved as this is truly the antithesis of the cooperation and mutual understanding that King Abdullah has endlessly sought.
Indeed, if a Christian religious authority, say the Pope or the Archbishop of Canterbury were to call for the destruction of all mosques in Europe, there would be more than a little outrage coming from the Muslim world. That outrage would be correct, as well. This is a breathtaking example of intolerance and deserves to be condemned and mocked.
Destroy all churches in Gulf, says Saudi Grand Mufti
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia has said it is “necessary to destroy all the churches of the region,” following Kuwait’s moves to ban their construction.
Speaking to a delegation in Kuwait, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah, stressed that since the tiny Gulf state was a part of the Arabian Peninsula, it was necessary to destroy all of the churches in the country, Arabic media have reported.
Saudi Arabia’s top cleric made the comment in view of an age-old rule that only Islam can be practiced in the region.
The Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia is the highest official of religious law in the Sunni Muslim kingdom. He is also the head of the Supreme Council of Ulema (Islamic scholars) and of the Standing Committee for Scientific Research and Issuing of Fatwas. | <urn:uuid:94e1f7b5-09c2-42c0-84d4-660df043100b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://xrdarabia.org/2012/03/17/how-not-to-win-friends/comment-page-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962129 | 386 | 1.84375 | 2 |
In the past 20 years, all 14 of these companies have beaten the S&P 500.
Imagine if you had bought these stocks 20 years ago.
If you had, then right now you’d be earning dividend yields of… 27%… 33%… even as high as 65%. And that’s from brand name companies like Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG) and Lowe’s (NYSE: LOW).
They don’t have the patience.
They want big dividend checks now, and in a classic twist of irony, they’re missing out on some of the market’s highest-yielding opportunities.
Let me explain…
When most investors think about buying an income stock, they focus solely on the stock’s current yield.
They think bigger equals better, and they’re most interested in stocks that offer headline grabbing dividend yields.
Don’t get me wrong… to some extent they’re right. Clearly, a higher dividend puts more cash in your pocket.
But as I told you recently, yield isn’t the only key to a good income investment… you also need to consider a company’s dividend growth. Dividend growth can turn lower-yielding stocks into big income producers over time.
For example, right now Proctor & Gamble pays a dividend yield of 3.2%… nothing special. But in the past 20 years, the company has raised its dividend 799%. That means if you had bought the stock back in 1992, then you would be currently earning a yield on cost of 33%.
The same goes for Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) and Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO). If you had bought shares of these companies twenty years ago, thanks to dividend increases, those shares would be paying you over 27% today.
That’s the power of dividend growth… and it’s why I think it’s one of the most important aspects of any income investment.
But that begs the question, how do you know if a company is going to increase its dividend? Dividend increases are decided by a company’s board of directors, and there’s no law that says a company must increase its payout.
That’s why I’ve found its best to look at companies that already have a strong track record of growing their dividend. If a company has a history of increasing its dividend year in and year out, then dividend increases are clearly an important part of the company’s culture. All other things being equal, if a company has increased its dividend consistently for 10, 20… even 50 years or more, then it’s going to be far more likely to keep its dividends growing in the future.
With that in mind, I recently conducted an extensive search to try and find companies that have raised their dividends for 50 years of more.
As you can see, each of these stocks has increased its dividend every year for at least half a century.
The market clearly rewards that kind of behavior. Of the 14 companies on the list, all of them have handedly outperformed the 342% return from the S&P 500 in the last 20 years.
But the real story is what those dividend increases have been able to do for income-oriented investors. Just look at the dividend yields you’d currently be earning if you had bought these stocks just 20 years ago…
As you can see, after 20 years of consecutive dividend increases, each of these stocks offers a very attractive yield on cost. The highest yielding stock on the list – Lowe’s – has a yield on cost of 65%… and that’s from a $37 billion company.
That just goes to show what dividend increases can do for your portfolio. Thanks to dividend increases, some of the market’s lowest-yielding stocks can turn into big dividend payers over time.
Of course with investing, nothing is 100% certain. Just because a stock has increased its dividend for 50 consecutive years, it doesn’t mean it’s guaranteed to increase it for another 50.
But the lesson here is simple — if you’re ignoring dividend increases, then you could be missing out on some of the market’s biggest high-yield opportunities.
– Paul Tracy
The $1.7 Trillion "Dividend Vault" That Could Save Your Retirement [sponsor]
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Disclosure: Neither Paul Tracy nor StreetAuthority own shares of the securities mentioned in this article. In accordance with company policies, StreetAuthority always provides readers with at least 48 hours advance notice before buying or selling any securities in any “real money” model portfolio. Members of our staff are restricted from buying or selling any securities for two weeks after being featured in our advisories or on our website, as monitored by our compliance officer. | <urn:uuid:7fbceab8-d6c9-4c38-ab3a-b598e983768c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailytradealert.com/2012/10/26/14-stocks-that-have-raised-dividends-for-50-consecutive-years/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946126 | 1,068 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Vascular imaging study day course
Authors: Jakub Kaczynski
Publication date: 05 Apr 2012
Trainees in vascular surgery are expected to be competent in performing endovascular procedures and vascular imaging techniques, but currently there is no formal vascular imaging teaching in the surgical curriculum. The vascular imaging study day provided by the Royal College of Radiologists is an opportunity for surgical trainees to bridge this gap. The course is aimed primarily at radiology trainees, but core and higher surgical trainees would also benefit from attending the course.
Why did you do it?
Vascular surgery is rapidly evolving, and there is an increasing demand for vascular trainees to be trained in imaging and interventional techniques, including angioplasty and endovascular aneurysm repair. I attended the course to develop an understanding of present and potential vascular imaging techniques.
How much effort did it entail, and what did it cover?
No preparation is needed for this one day course, and there is no examination.
The course starts with a general overview of the foundations of vascular and endovascular techniques and is run in a lecture format.
I found six of the eight lectures extremely useful, as they not only described the basic knowledge but more importantly explained how to respond and deal with a variety of emergency vascular situations. These sessions covered:
Developments in computed tomography angiography and non-contrast magnetic resonance imaging
Developments in stroke and ischaemic foot imaging
Imaging and management of vascular trauma and abdominal aortic aneurysm (including screening)
The other two lectures, covering recent developments in imaging of the coronary arteries and neuroendocrine tumours, did not directly relate to my job and so were not as useful but did offer a stimulating overview of the subspecialty area of interventional radiology.
In addition to the discussions after lectures, the usual tea and coffee breaks were an excellent opportunity to discuss the sessions further with a wide range of nationally acclaimed faculty.
The course materials included the teaching points of each of the lectures along with a list of key references.
How much did it cost?
The fee for the non-member trainee is £140, which includes tea and coffee, a hot lunch, and course materials.
Was it worth it?
I would recommend this course to surgical trainees, in particular to those who are interested in vascular surgery. Acquiring endovascular and imaging skills takes a considerable amount of time, however, and the one day format of this course will not be enough to provide all the information. As well as covering all the core vascular areas from the imaging point of view, the course also covers the management of the patient, including various treatment options, and gives an opportunity to explore areas of vascular surgery that are currently not covered in the training.
The course is held once a year in London and is provided by the Royal College of Radiologists. For further details look under “Events” on the college’s website (www.rcr.ac.uk).
Competing interests: None declared.
Jakub Kaczynski specialist registrar in vascular surgery, ABM University Health Board, Morriston Hospital, Swansea, UK
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- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Laparoscopic Surgery Clinical Research Fellow Patient Safety Research and Teaching Fellow
- Locum Consultant Breast Surgeon We are currently looking for an experienced Breast Surgery Consultant to Locum at a hospital
- Cons / General Surgery Surgical People requires Consultants in General Surgery with availability for UK locum Consultant contracts.
- BLACKPOOL TEACHING HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST CONSULTANT GENERAL SURGEON With an interest in Breast Surgery
- SHOs - SPRs AND CONSULTANTS required for Locum positions throughout the UK. Immediate start dates as well as full time roles from August. | <urn:uuid:42b3c641-6d76-4f51-82de-33e4816bd224> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=20007067&ga=w_bmj_bmj-com | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933021 | 816 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Wellington to draft cemetery ordinance
The Wellington City Council is getting ready to enact its first ordinance regulating maintenance of the city cemetery. Mayor Ben Blackburn told the council Wednesday that the need for rules at what he called "a very sacred place" is apparent.
Gravestones have been set out of alignment, either by citizens or by monument companies. This makes it difficult to mow the lawn, because misplacement often makes the space between gravestones narrower than the mower blades, he explained. Flat monuments are sometimes installed higher than ground level, which means that both markers and mower blades could be damaged while cutting grass.
The mayor said he and city workers must relocate or reinstall markers. "Not a long way, just three or four inches so the mowers can get through," he explained. Flat markers will have to be reset below the level of the cutting blades. This extra work, not to mention the expense, could be avoided if people knew in advance what is or is not permissible.
Decorative additions, while attractive, also pose some problems, Mayor Blackburn said. Shepherd's hooks - those curved poles that hold flower pots - are an obstacle for lawn mowers. Sometimes the pots are set right in the path of sprinklers, so they block the water and cause the grass to dry out. The mayor said he likes the look of the hooks, but they should be temporary, or at least placed where they don't interfere with upkeep.
Then there is the question of multiple interments in a single plot. During public comment and council discussion, it became apparent that people want to bury more than one loved one in an eight-foot plot. An adult and an infant coffin would fit, or an adult and a cremation urn, or two urns.
The city has no problem with double burials - in fact, they have already been allowed - but there are no hard and fast rules governing the policy. There are no written rules for any of the issues mentioned. So the council, along with City Manager Ken Powell, will be drafting an ordinance.
Councilman Glen Wells commented that the situation is not something that can be fixed in ten minutes. "It'll go on for a hundred years," he said, unless there is a clear, enforceable law. Fellow council member Marvon Wilson expressed concern that family members want to decide what to do to honor their loved ones. "It may be their ground, but it's our responsibility to maintain it," Mr. Wells replied.
Technically, the city owns the property. People get burial rights, not deeds, for the plots. | <urn:uuid:4190892a-4f62-4a3b-827d-87751e57935c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sunadvocate.com/index.php?tier=1&article_id=18675&poll=233&vote=results&poll=272&vote=results | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970005 | 533 | 1.5 | 2 |
(CNN) - The Iowa GOP's touting new voter identification numbers that indicate there are now more registered Republicans than Democrats in the Hawkeye State, a crucial battleground state in November's presidential election. But Iowa Democrats say it's inappropriate for state Republicans to highlight the new numbers.
According to voter registration numbers released Tuesday by the Iowa Secretary of State's office, there are now 608,096 Republicans registered in the state, compared to 599,225 registered Democrats. According to state officials, 669,996 voters are not registered with either the Democratic or Republican parties meaning they're independent voters.
– Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker
In a release Wednesday, the Republican Party of Iowa highlighted that the 8,000 voter advantage for the GOP is an increase from a 4,000 vote gap the prior month, and that it's the first time there have been more registered Republicans than Democrats in Iowa since 2006.
"The Republican Party of Iowa's ideals of individual liberty and lower taxes are clearly resonating with Iowans. We will continue to reach out to voters all across Iowa in the months ahead and I am confident that we will be able to grow our Party even more in the lead up to the general election," said Republican Party of Iowa Chairman A.J. Spiker in a statement.
But the Iowa Democratic Party says it's inappropriate for their GOP counterparts to crow about the new figures, pointing out that the month by month numbers from the state indicate that each party is actually losing registered voters due to a voter maintenance effort by the secretary of state's office. And they add that even after the highly contested Republican caucuses in early January, Democrats maintained a voter registration edge, and point out that 25,000 people attended the Democratic caucuses, even though President Barack Obama was basically unopposed.
"No matter what the voter registration numbers are in the state, Iowans are rejecting Mitt Romney's economic scheme that will hurt the middle class," Iowa Democratic Party Executive Director Norm Sterzenbach told CNN.
Besides being the state that traditionally kicks off the presidential caucus and primary calendar, Iowa's also a battleground, or swing state, which both parties heavily contest in presidential elections.
Vice President Al Gore narrowly carried the state over Texas Gov. George W. Bush in the 2000 election, with President George W. Bush edging out Sen. John Kerry in the 2004 contest. Sen. Barack Obama won the state by 10 points over Sen. John McCain four years ago, but Republicans captured the governor's office in the 2010 midterm elections.
The president has visited Iowa five times since formally kicking off his re-election bid in April of last year.
– CNN Political Editor Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report | <urn:uuid:eabc19ee-a5f6-4e4b-ae08-746723dbb3af> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/05/02/iowa-gop-highlights-increase-in-republican-voters/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949805 | 555 | 1.625 | 2 |
Phnom Penh (Cambodia), June 12 (Xinhua-ANI): Cambodia on Tuesday observed the 11th World Day Against Child Labor with photo exhibition and children music festival.
Presided over by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam On and Information Minister Khieu Kanharith, the photo exhibition attracted about 700 spectators, most of which are found children and teenagers.
Co-organized by Cambodian Ministry of Information, International Labour Organization and China's Xinhua News Agency, the Cambodian children-themed exhibition showcased around 60 photos, which vividly visualized the dramatic changes of local children's life in the past decades.
Some of the pictures also reflected Cambodian senior leaders' caring to the children, from the monarchy to the country's high- ranking ministers.
The event reflects the government's particular attention to enhance children's rights and social activity participation and it also significantly contributes to uplift the value of children, maintain national identification, and develop culture, Men Sam On said at the closing ceremony of the Music Festival for Children, which is organized by the Ministry of Information.
The music festival provides opportunities to children to show their performing abilities and talents, she said, adding that children and teenagers together make up about half of Cambodia's 14.5 million population.
Khieu Kanharith said that the music festival functions as a platform to promote children rights and to preserve and develop national art and culture.
He said the music festival has been opened since May 22 with 22 children-orchestras from various state-owned and private-owned schools. The champion team will be awarded 2,000 U.S. dollars plus a trophy.
As a result, the team from the state-owned School for Music and Fine Arts won the award.
The World Day Against Child Labor was launched in 2002 by the international Labor Organization (ILO) to serve as a catalyst for the growing worldwide movement against child labor.
In Cambodia, the ILO's most recent global estimate found that around 1.5 million children involved in child labour and about 310, 000 in the Worst Forms of Child Labour, for instance, working in salt fields and brick factories.
Besides the government-organized events to mark the day, a well- known local right group Licadho announced that it will mark the day on Tuesday afternoon in Battambang province to promote understanding of child labor and invite some 500 people to join the event.
The event is to encourage parents, guardians, youths, employers, local authorities, and members of the public to participate in the prevention and elimination of the worst form of child labor, said a Licadho's press release.
As the standard of living rises in Cambodia, more people are looking to hire domestic workers, said Sao Seny, Licadho's senior monitor on child rights. A shortage of labor leads some to hire children as domestic workers, and they are most vulnerable to abuses such as physical violence, verbal abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse. (Xinhua-ANI) | <urn:uuid:5cd90826-0e90-437d-987b-d22095f9b9a3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.southasianews.com/809933/Cambodia-observes-World-Day-Against-Child-Labor-with-photos-music-.htm | 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 | 0.941812 | 614 | 1.570313 | 2 |
This should be good news: Washington state added 400,000 people between July ‘00 and July ‘05. We’ve hit 6.3 million (making us the 14th most populous state), and we’re expected to hit 6.8 million by 2010.
This means Washington (King County) might get an additional seat in Congress when they reapportion the seats after the 2010 census. (Right now, each seat in Congress represents about 630,000 people.)
The article doesn’t say where the growth is concentrated, but I’m guessing King County is the hub.
It sure would be nice if we had some speedy elevated mass transit to go along with all the people. | <urn:uuid:34b3651d-9411-4e03-a40f-72e5bc0a8f59> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://slog.thestranger.com/2006/01/size_matters | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962852 | 147 | 1.5 | 2 |
New city ordinance prohibits shortcutsAn ordinance passed by the Dickinson City Commission Monday prohibits taking shortcuts and avoiding traffic control devices, according to city documents.
An ordinance passed by the Dickinson City Commission Monday prohibits taking shortcuts and avoiding traffic control devices, according to city documents.
Local businesses — especially those located on corners near traffic lights and stop signs — have complained of motorists zipping through their parking lots to avoid stop lights and signs, authorities said.
The activity will now cost motorists $20 and a point on their license, said Dickinson Police Capt. Dustin Dassinger.
Dennis Johnson, Dickinson mayor, who voted to pass the ordinance, said he has witnessed people taking shortcuts and avoiding traffic signals.
“Before it was illegal, I know I’ve done it,” Johnson said. “I’m now remorseful that I’ve done it in the past and I won’t do it in the future and I hope others don’t, too.”
Bonnie Wicka, an employee at Java Junction located in the T-Rex Plaza parking lot, said she watches it happen several times a day.
“They cut through here and some of them go way too fast, I don’t like that,” Wicka said.
She has worked there about seven years and said people seem to do it more than ever.
“If I’d step out in front of them, I could be killed,” Wicka said. “That’s what would happen if I didn’t see them coming, you know. They go right by close to the coffee shop.”
DPD Chief Rummel agrees it seems to be happening more often.
“At this point it’s so bad that there could be somebody pulled over daily right now,” he said. “We’re hoping to slow all that down and make it stop, actually.”
Not everyone who takes shortcuts through parking lots speeds, but officers had issues stopping even those who did, Rummel said.
“We can’t enforce speeding ordinances on private property so we needed a specific ordinance to deal with this issue,” he said.
Increased traffic in the city has contributed to the practice, Johnson said.
“When we had less traffic on the streets, people wouldn’t get impatient and they would follow the street rather than take the shortcut,” he said. It’s really an unsafe practice. Be patient and stay on the street.”
It may seem like a difficult ordinance to enforce, since someone could enter a parking lot to go to a business, change their mind and just drive through.
However, Rummel said officers will be able to enforce it.
“It’s more obvious than that,” Rummel said. “You can tell by the turning movements and by the speed at which they’re going through these lots, whether or not their intent was to stop but changed their mind or not. These guys are blowing through the lot.” | <urn:uuid:f38cd78a-a1ab-469b-8c28-4e9175e43d53> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/41073/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969058 | 653 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Photo: The LAPD pistol team puts on a demonstration at the Auto Club headquarters in 1934. Credit: “Three Cars in Every Garage: A Motorist’s History of the Automobile and the Automobile Club of Southern California,” Page 164.
Did they really do this? Yes, they really did.
Photo: LAPD pistol team puts on a demonstration about 1950. Credit: Los Angeles Police Department.
[Update: Oh, lovely. Now they’re holding chalk in their mouths. This photo is from "Los Angeles Police Department" by Thomas G. Hays, Arthur W. Sjoquist and William J. Bratton.]
[Update: Despite the caption in the book, I’m a bit skeptical that these are LAPD officers. The LAPD motorcycle officers wore soft caps like this, but the uniforms don’t seem right. Unfortunately, the scan is from a book, so it’s not sharp enough to show more detail.]
I found this history of the Auto Club in my favorite downtown haunt, the Last Bookstore. It has lots of Auto Club photos of horseless carriages with jaunty captions about the old days. This image caught my attention, however. I almost can’t believe they used to do this (I assume they’re shooting .22s as I imagine anything larger might go through the plywood backstop) but they obviously did. Chief James Davis was a noted marksman and these unidentified officers were certainly good shots. It still makes me uncomfortable. | <urn:uuid:be43fd95-8c75-48de-bc62-d5595c191e51> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ladailymirror.com/2011/08/21/lapd-pistol-team-1934/ | 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 | 0.949215 | 317 | 1.679688 | 2 |
When clients tell me they want to be like Anthony Robbins or Zig Ziglar, my first question is why? Yes, I understand that they may want to be as famous or as rich or as talented, but why would they want to imitate either one of them?
While your audience would probably love to see Robbins or Ziglar in person, they came to hear you. What I love about dynamic public speakers is that part of their greatness lies in their own individuality. On stage, Tony Robbins is nothing like Zig Ziglar. Whereas Robbins’ personality is motivating and invigorating because of his high energy level, Zig Ziglar is much more relaxed. A master storyteller, the latter captivates you with his Southern drawl and marvelous manner in which he describes true life events.
No, these two men are not alike and, while I don’t know this as a fact, I doubt either one would want to be the other. What sells each man is his individuality and that is what you need to sell about yourself.
Trying to be someone other than yourself is acting which is performing. Being yourself on stage is not the same thing. This is also why I do not recommend memorizing your speech or presentation because when that happens, you are no longer communicating with your audience. The result is often a rote delivery that sounds staged in which you are merely spitting out a pile of words at your audience.
The best public speakers are themselves; and, they talk to you just as if they were having a conversation. The only way that can happen is for you to be present in your heart as well as in your head. You need to know your material, but you must be able to deliver it just as if you were talking to someone in conversation.
In days of old, radio announcers often took on a different persona and most definitely a different voice when on air. Remember the Ted Knight character on The Mary Tyler Moore Show? He would speak in a very deep, unnatural pitch when giving the news. Off air, his pitch would rise when he resorted to his habitual voice.
When Anthony Robbins or Zig Ziglar are off stage, they sound exactly the same as they do on stage. That is what makes for success today in public speaking.
If you can understand this concept, your delivery on stage or at the front of the boardroom table will be that much easier. Allow your own personality to shine through because being yourself in public speaking is what sells.
The Voice Lady Nancy Daniels offers private, corporate and group workshops in voice and presentation skills as well as Voicing It!, the only video training program on voice improvement. To see how voice training can improve your presentation skills, visit Voice Dynamic. | <urn:uuid:58648ad4-89e2-4e55-a59b-e892a85f2ff6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/your-individuality-is-one-of-your-greatest-strengths-in-public-speaking | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981866 | 556 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Editor’s Note: Shortly after this WND report was posted, NPR changed its web page to delete the reference to “Kenyan-born” Sen. Obama.
Those crazy “birthers” are citing National Public Radio.
Archives for the tax-supported organization reveal that a 2008 report described then-Sen. Barack Obama as “Kenyan-born” and a “son of Africa.”
NPR’s promotion for the story included a brief description of West African correspondent Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, who “describes the stories that have been exciting, including the U.S. presidential race of Kenyan-born Sen. Barack Obama.”
After discussing various issues developing in Africa at the time – such as Kenya’s violent elections, the attacks in Zimbabwe and the presidency of South Africa – the conversation on the program “Tell Me More” turned to Obama.
At about 9:45 of the audio report, interviewer Michelle Martin said “a son of Africa. Barack Obama is poised to at least have the opportunity to become the next president of the United States.” She asked, “How does this campaign look overseas?”
Quist-Arcton responded by describing Obama as a member of the Kenyan Luo tribe and reporting how Africa viewed the race.
“You know [the campaign] has absolutely fired the imagination not only of American people but of people in Africa,” she said. “For a start Barack Obama’s father is from Kenya. People were very excited and because they had had a failed election in Kenya, and the opposition leader Raila Odinga comes from the same tribe as Barack Obama’s father, the Luo. The joke was going around Kenya that America is going to have a Luo president before Kenya does.”
She continued, “There’s huge interest. Not just in Kenya. All over the continent. … The fact that a black man and one with African blood has managed to get this far … you know, I think has made young people sit up and listen and watch and follow the campaign and made the older generations who lived through the colonization and independence say, ‘Well, well, well. So it can happen in American too.”
The video, posted April 3 on YouTube and forwarded by a score of Internet e-mails, shows Michelle Obama saying, “When we took our trip to Africa and visited his home country in Kenya, we took a public HIV test.”
The reference drew attention because of the claim made in numerous lawsuits and other challenges to Obama’s occupancy of the Oval Office that he is not eligible to be president under the requirement of Article 2, Section 1 of the Constitution that the president be a “natural born citizen.”
But the NPR reference and Michelle Obama’s comment are far from the only ones of their kind.
According to a compilation of images at a military forum, another reference was made in 2008 in the Nigerian Observer.
Under a byline from Solomon Asowata and a Washington dateline, the report says, “Americans will today go to the polls to elect their next president with Democratic Party candidate, Senator Barack Obama largely favoured to win. The Kenyan-born Senator will, however, face a stiff competition from his Republican counterpart…”
A commentary at The Post & Email website said, “It is no wonder that many doubt Obama’s claim of a Hawaiian birth.”
It cited another report from African Travel Magazine that said, “As Kenyan born U.S. Senator Barack Obama jets into Kenya today as part of his African tour, concerns have once again been raised on the security preparations for other visitors and residents. ….”
The Post & Email commentary also cited a report from Indonesia Matters that includes similar references.
The report begins, “Kenyan-born US Senate hopeful, Barrack (sic) Obama, appeared set to take over the Illinois Senate seat after his main rival, Jack Ryan, dropped out of the race on Friday night amid a furor over lurid sex club allegations.”
The article is credited to the wire service Associated Press at the bottom of the page. However, the article could not be found either in the AP archives available to the public online or the archive on the newspaper’s website. WND telephone calls and e-mails to the newspaper did not generate a response.
Last year, an African news site and an MSNBC broadcaster referred to President Obama’s birthplace as being outside of the United States.
Network correspondent Mara Schiavocampo was reporting on the celebratory atmosphere in Accra, Ghana, immediately prior to Obama’s visit to the west African nation.
Interviewing a person who appeared to be a shop operator, she stated, “Barack Obama is Kenyan … but Ghanaians are still proud of him.”
Also, a report at Modern Ghana posted in advance of the president’s visit cited his birthplace on the continent of Africa.
“For Ghana, Obama’s visit will be a celebration of another milestone in African history as it hosts the first-ever African-American President on this presidential visit to the continent of his birth,” the report said.
WND has reported on dozens of legal challenges to Obama’s status as a “natural born citizen.” The Constitution, Article 2, Section 1, states, “No Person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President.”
Some of the lawsuits question whether he was actually born in Hawaii, as he insists. If he was born out of the country, Obama’s American mother, the suits contend, was too young at the time of his birth to confer American citizenship to her son under the law at the time.
Other challenges have focused on Obama’s citizenship through his father, a Kenyan subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom at the time of his birth, thus making him a dual citizen. The cases contend the framers of the Constitution excluded dual citizens from qualifying as natural born.
Complicating the situation is Obama’s decision to spend sums exceeding $1.7 million to avoid releasing an original long-form state birth certificate that would put to rest the questions.
WND also has reported that among the documentation not yet available for Obama includes his kindergarten records, Punahou school records, Occidental College records, Columbia University records, Columbia thesis, Harvard Law School records, Harvard Law Review articles, scholarly articles from the University of Chicago, passport, medical records, files from his years as an Illinois state senator, his Illinois State Bar Association records, any baptism records and his adoption records.
Because of the dearth of information about Obama’s eligibility, WND founder Joseph Farah has launched a campaign to raise contributions to post billboards asking a simple question: “Where’s the birth certificate?”
“Where’s The Birth Certificate?” billboard at the Mandalay Bay resort on the Las Vegas Strip
WND also reported previously when Michelle Obama contradicted Obama’s story that he lived with his mother and father for several years in Hawaii after he was born before his father left to pursue a graduate degree.
Michelle Obama said her husband’s mother, Ann Dunham, was “very young and very single” when she gave birth to the future U.S. president.
Her comments undermine the official story as told by Barack Obama – that Dunham was married to his father, Barack Obama Sr., at the time of birth.
The remarks were made by Michelle Obama during a July 2008 round table at the University of Missouri. Obama was responding to criticism of her husband’s presidential campaign speeches about fatherhood and faith-based initiatives. | <urn:uuid:27725211-56e2-4b1d-9af2-ecc08beba14f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wnd.com/2010/04/138293/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970577 | 1,657 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Maoists ban use of modern music equipments during weddings in Jharkhand
Lohardaga, Jan 29: The Maoists in an audacious diktat have banned the use of modern music systems from wedding ceremonies in Jharkhand, and asked the locals to only use traditional instruments.
The diktat has sent a wave of fear in Lohardaga district of the state as locals have stopped playing any music at wedding and other social functions.
Another reason for the escalating fear was the Maoists barging into a wedding and burning and breaking the music system. They also fined the hosts of the wedding for not complying with the diktat.
Police in the district slammed the diktat, and said that the Maoists had no authority to force their ideologies on the locals.
"This diktat of the Maoists is illegal and crosses all the limits of law. Nobody can force their ideologies on other people. India is a free country for all castes and religions and everyone has the right to celebrate their weddings and other social festival in whichever they like," said Ram Ghulam Sharma, a police official.
But the people in the district are suffering because of the ban. Business of local musicians and bands-for-hire has been severely hit.
"The diktat is wrong. It will increase unemployment in the area. People cannot celebrate weddings because of this ban. So this needs to be stopped," said Rajesh Mehto, a local.
The Maoists have also significantly increased their presence in tribal and rural regions in the states of Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Odisha. | <urn:uuid:e4e1cd6d-3b02-47d6-a64f-6795d1f0c97e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newkerala.com/news/newsplus/worldnews-129769.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957082 | 350 | 1.671875 | 2 |
Journal of the Scientific Study of Religion(48)4, 817-824.
This research study involved two companion projects: (1) a national random survey to determine the prevalence of clergy sexual misconduct (CSM) with adults; and (2) a qualitative study of three groups of women and men: (a) those who self-identified as survivors who had been the objects of CSM, (b) family or friends of survivors, and (c) offenders who had themselves committed CSM. The goal of both projects was to define the scope and nature of CSM, so that effective prevention strategies can be proposed for the protection of religious leaders and congregants.
"How clergy sexual misconduct happens: A qualitative study of first-hand accounts."
Social Work and Christianity
Call it what it is: Abuse of power
Diana Garland, dean of Baylor School of Social Work and co-author of this study, says clergy sexual misconduct with adults is "not an affair" nor is it consensual. Read more.
Key Findings from the Executive Summary:
Of those surveyed: < | <urn:uuid:7ddd7efa-4c22-455e-b45f-a80b803db3a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.baylor.edu/clergysexualmisconduct/index.php?id=62273 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936984 | 225 | 1.75 | 2 |
The Drug Enforcement Administration's International Operations (Redacted)
Audit Report 07-19
Office of the Inspector General
A crucial factor contributing to the success or failure of DEA investigative activity abroad is the relationships DEA foreign office personnel develop with counterpart agencies, including with: (1) other DEA offices – both foreign and domestic, (2) other U.S. law enforcement agencies abroad, and (3) foreign governments and their law enforcement components that combat illicit drug trafficking. Generally, we found that the DEA foreign offices maintained good relationships with their U.S. and foreign counterpart agencies.
Foreign Office Relationships with Other DEA Offices
An important responsibility of DEA foreign offices is to provide information and support to DEA investigations through communication and collaboration with other DEA offices, including other foreign offices, DEA domestic field offices, DEA headquarters, and specialty offices such as the Special Operations Division (SOD) and the El Paso Intelligence Center (EPIC). For example, DEA foreign offices gather and share intelligence on suspects in active DEA cases, arrange for confidential sources to travel into a country, or investigate organizations suspected of having ties to drug trafficking in the United States, among myriad other functions. DEA foreign office managers mentioned that supporting domestic case needs was a chief objective for their office.
DEA Domestic Offices
Initially, to evaluate the relationships DEA domestic offices had with foreign offices, we met with DEA management at three domestic field divisions: (1) the Chicago (Illinois) Division, (2) the El Paso (Texas) Division, and (3) the Washington (D.C.) Division.50 We discussed the quality and timeliness of responses on investigative requests and leads. Overall, the DEA domestic personnel with whom we spoke were pleased with the relationships they had with DEA foreign offices and with the support received from these offices. They believed their offices’ investigations benefited from the DEA’s foreign presence and contacts, and the information they received helped build their cases. Our analysis of DEA case data indicated that over 25 percent of DEA domestic investigative cases opened since FY 2000 had an international dimension.
However, a limited number of DEA personnel in Mexico and Colombia informed us that they believed DEA domestic offices do not utilize the foreign offices as often as they should. Some of these employees believed some DEA domestic personnel did not trust foreign law enforcement, and thus were reluctant to forward appropriate information and leads to DEA foreign offices, fearing foreign law enforcement counterparts would leak sensitive case information. It was believed that this distrust could ultimately hinder the success of DEA cases. Although only a small number of individuals raised this viewpoint with us, it was noted by individuals in two separate offices, each of which represents a significant component of the DEA’s international operations.
Mexico and Colombia DEA personnel also stated that domestic offices and DEA headquarters did not utilize agents who had subject matter expertise and were located in other countries. For example, DEA personnel in offices in Colombia had expertise related to the operations of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a dangerous narco‑terrorist organization in the region. However, we were informed by DEA personnel in Colombia that in certain instances DEA domestic agents did not consult with them on cases involving the FARC. Several individuals in Mexico expressed similar sentiments and said they believed that the lack of use of their subject matter expertise by domestic DEA officials stemmed from a lack of trust that domestic agents place in the Mexico DEA offices because of the systemic corruption among Mexican law enforcement. The DEA personnel in Mexico believed this interfered with the transfer of leads from DEA domestic offices to foreign offices in Mexico.
However, DEA personnel noted to us that as more DEA employees complete foreign assignments and return to domestic offices, the DEA’s overall understanding of how domestic offices can utilize its foreign offices will systemically improve. Yet, the examples of DEA domestic personnel not fully utilizing DEA foreign offices in Mexico and Colombia indicate a need for better understanding of the role of foreign offices. We believe the DEA should better emphasize the utility that its foreign offices can provide to domestic cases, such as presenting best practice examples during training courses and conferences.
Other DEA Foreign Offices
In many instances, a DEA foreign case will generate a connection to another country. Our discussions with DEA personnel in Colombia, Italy, Mexico, Thailand, and Turkey revealed that DEA foreign offices enjoy good relations with one another and that communication and cooperation was open and regular. For instance, DEA personnel in Mexico stated that they routinely contact the DEA offices in Colombia for information on Colombian drug trafficking organizations and their operatives in Mexico. Additionally, DEA personnel in Italy informed us of their coordination with DEA offices in Colombia, Spain, and Turkey. This information was corroborated by our review of the activity logs in the DEA’s Milan and Rome, Italy, offices, which demonstrated these offices’ contact and operational coordination with other DEA foreign offices. Again, however, the DEA’s lack of an agency-wide lead tracking system prevented us from objectively evaluating the DEA’s foreign office-to-foreign office coordination.
Special Operations Division
The DEA’s SOD is integral in the coordination of major DEA cases. According to DEA executive management, the most effective means of ascertaining the breadth of a drug trafficking operation is to track the communication between the parties involved. The SOD is a repository for phone numbers used or called by persons who are part of a DEA investigation. The SOD uses a database to collect these phone numbers and can connect cases with hits on the same phone numbers.51 This allows the DEA to link cases investigated by different offices across the country and throughout the world.
Routinely, the SOD will host coordination meetings on a case, either at its facility in Chantilly, Virginia, or other domestic and international locations. These meetings are usually held when it is discovered that several offices are investigating the same organization in various geographic locations. SOD officials provided us with examples of coordination meetings that discuss cases with an international scope. For example, we were provided evidence of one coordination meeting in Europe that involved the SOD, DOJ, two domestic DEA offices, five foreign DEA offices, and representatives from two foreign counterpart agencies.
According to DEA foreign and domestic personnel whom we interviewed, the SOD’s activities are critical to the DEA attacking the command and control structures of major drug trafficking organizations. Additionally, foreign counterpart officials commented on the benefit SOD provided international investigations.
El Paso Intelligence Center
EPIC was established in 1974 to improve coordination among agencies addressing law enforcement matters related to the Southwest Border. EPIC brings together representatives from many agencies including the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Department of Homeland Security’s Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), who work together on various matters related to drug-trafficking and immigration. DEA foreign offices support EPIC by submitting case information to EPIC, which enables analysts at EPIC to access the information for identification of related cases. Several foreign DEA officials interviewed indicated EPIC was useful in their investigative activity, particularly in providing intelligence on drug trafficker movements and in maritime interdiction efforts.
Other U.S. Law Enforcement Agencies
Other U.S. law enforcement agencies that maintain an overseas presence include the FBI; the USMS; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); ICE; and the U.S. Secret Service.52 The DEA coordinates with other U.S. law enforcement representatives in international cases and may jointly work with these other law enforcement agencies to investigate the same target. We spoke with representatives from the various U.S. law enforcement agencies who work with the DEA in the countries we visited and, except for one instance identified below, found the DEA to have good working relationships with them.
The one exception was the relationship between the DEA and ICE offices in Colombia, both of which acknowledged that there was a contentious relationship between the two agencies and that coordination needed much improvement. ICE officials in Colombia did not believe the DEA coordinated any of its activities with them, and the DEA Regional Director also voiced discontent with the relationship between the two agencies. We were informed of instances in which the safety of DEA, ICE, and Colombian law enforcement personnel was put at risk due to the lack of coordination.
At our audit close-out meeting, the DEA told us that its relationship with ICE in Colombia changed since we conducted our fieldwork in April 2006. Subsequently, we discussed the matter with the DEA Regional Director and ICE Country Attaché in Colombia and both stated that the relationship between the agencies has improved. Additionally, we were provided evidence of DEA efforts to enhance coordination with ICE in Colombia.
Foreign Counterpart Agencies
The DEA’s relationships with its foreign counterparts rely heavily on individual personalities, cultural traditions, and the openness to communication between the parties. We were told that as a result of cultural attitudes in many countries, personal bonds first need to be developed and are significant in fostering a professional working relationship. In the countries we visited, DEA personnel commented that the social culture makes it very important for a foreign counterpart representative to accept and trust an individual on a personal basis. Once this connection is established, a positive professional partnership can develop that will assist the DEA in obtaining the information it requires. Further, DEA personnel commented that a good relationship with their foreign counterparts often resulted in more timely cooperation in response to DEA requests for information. DEA officials told us that they spend a great deal of effort developing relationships with their counterparts.
During our fieldwork, we met with 31 individuals from foreign counterpart agencies (shown in the following exhibit) to discuss their relationships with the DEA.
List of Foreign Agencies Consulted During Review
Direzione Centrale Servizi Anti-Droga
Agencia Federal de Investigaciones
Royal Thai Police
|Source:||OIG interviews with Drug Enforcement Administration foreign counterparts|
The consensus of the foreign officials we interviewed was that the DEA aided their law enforcement efforts, particularly in building international partnerships, providing training opportunities, and supplying useful investigative equipment. For instance, an Italian law enforcement manager commented that the DEA’s international partnerships provided the international law enforcement community with the capability to coordinate multi-nation investigative operations against international drug trafficking organizations. Similarly, a Colombian law enforcement representative told us that the DEA makes the cooperation between the investigative and prosecutorial components of the Colombian government more effective. According to this representative, the communication between these two entities would be deficient without the DEA acting as a facilitator.
An official from one law enforcement agency in Thailand attributed its current level of professionalism and specialization to the assistance received from the DEA. A representative from another Thai agency stated that working with the DEA provides a greater opportunity for obtaining drug-related intelligence that will help to combat illegal drug activities in their country.
During our fieldwork in Turkey, a foreign official told us that DEA-provided intelligence helps to speed up local investigations. Turkish officials also told us about recent operations for which the DEA had provided invaluable assistance. For example, a foreign official spoke of a case in which a DEA-paid informant provided information about a heroin shipment, resulting in the seizure of several tons of heroin. In another instance, foreign officials in Turkey were aware of a Turkish shipment of 41 kilograms of cocaine from Bolivia to Iran, but the smugglers were not going to take the narcotics through Turkey. The vessel used for the shipment was from Denmark, and the DEA assisted in the seizure of the narcotics by facilitating communication between Turkey and Denmark officials.
The DEA’s partnership with agencies abroad has also resulted in other agencies sending officials to DEA offices in the United States. For example, the United Kingdom has personnel from Her Majesty’s Custom and Excise National Investigative Service working in the DEA’s SOD. Also, Italy’s Direzione Centrale Servizi Anti-Droga has an agent stationed in the DEA Miami office.
We observed the interaction between the DEA and foreign counterpart personnel during our fieldwork, and we generally perceived these relationships to be positive. For example, we observed DEA agents in Guadalajara, Mexico, having frequent contact with foreign counterpart personnel regarding local law enforcement matters. In our interviews with them, several foreign officials in Guadalajara spoke appreciatively about their personal and professional relationships with two particular DEA Special Agents and in a large part attributed the success of the interaction between the two agencies to these relations. Similarly, personnel from Colombian counterpart agencies with whom we met in Bogotá and Cartagena expressed satisfaction regarding the interaction between their agencies and the DEA.
The relationships the DEA maintains with all its counterparts – both domestic and foreign – are essential to its mission abroad. We found that the DEA has established effective partnerships with its foreign counterparts.
At these locations we met with Special Agents in Charge (SAC), Assistant Special Agents in Charge (ASACs), and/or group supervisors of DEA investigative squads.
A hit refers to a number entered in the system that is found to match a number already existing in the database.
For a complete listing of the agencies with which we met during this review, see Appendix V.
|« Previous||Table of Contents||Next »| | <urn:uuid:33699859-a1fc-4e18-886e-bc234baa6df4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/DEA/a0719/chapter4.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953417 | 2,688 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Greenpeace Is Rolling In The Big Money Again
Greenpeace received $40 million from the French government as a settlement for the bombing of the Rainbow Warrior back in the 1980s. Now they have won an inheritance dispute with the Salvation Army and will get $27 million. Why don't rich people ever leave money to AAEA?
When H. Guy Di Stefano died his trust left $264 million to eight charities: Greenpeace, Salvation Army, Direct Relief International, Santa Barbara Hospice Foundation, Santa Barbara Visiting Nurse Foundation, American Humane Assoc, Disabled American Veterans Charitable Service Trust & World Wildlife Fund. The Salvation Army opposed the gift to Greenpeace. The gift was a surprise to all of the charities. Socioeconomically disadvantaged means never being invited to these money parties. (Wall Street Journal, 5-15-07) | <urn:uuid:056f4f4d-fdd5-43df-9ee7-ca3cb3fc7802> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://aaenvironment.blogspot.com/2007/05/greenpeace-is-rolling-in-big-money.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94312 | 177 | 1.609375 | 2 |
(Reuters) - Romania's prime minister said on Monday any fraud over horsemeat sold as beef had not happened in his country and he was angered by suggestions it might have been.
The French and British governments have vowed to punish those found responsible for allowing horsemeat originating from Romania to be sold as beef.
The British unit of frozen foods group Findus began recalling its beef lasagne last week on advice from its French supplier, Comigel, which said the questionable meat came from Romania.
"From all the data we have at the moment, there is no breach of European rules committed by companies from Romania or on Romanian territory," Victor Ponta told a news conference. "I am very angry, to be honest."
An initial French investigation revealed that the horsemeat ended up in Comigel's Luxembourg factory, supplied by a French firm, and that a Dutch and Cypriot trader had also been involved. However, the meat originally came from a Romanian abattoir.
Romania exports 10-12 million euros of horse meat a year, the Ziarul Financiar daily said, quoting agriculture ministry data, and authorities had investigated two unnamed abattoirs to check on their possible involvement.
"It is very clear that the French company did not have any direct contract with the Romanian company and ... it has to be established where the fraud was committed and who is responsible for this fraud," Ponta said.
Horse and carts remain a common means of transport in the Romanian countryside and some can even be seen on the edges of major cities, including the capital Bucharest. When horses are too old for work, farmers often sell them to abattoirs.
(Reporting by Sam Cage and Ioana Patran; Editing by Jon Boyle) | <urn:uuid:91e5cec8-3d64-4e76-bd65-c592ec080cd8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://b93radio.com/news/articles/2013/feb/11/no-horsemeat-fraud-committed-in-romania-pm-says/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980636 | 359 | 1.5 | 2 |
SEATTLE -- King County Metro is considering an alternative free-ride program in Seattle to replace the existing free-ride zone when it ends in September.
Metro may add a fleet of smaller buses that would provide free trips to people who can't afford bus fares. The service would operate on a "circulator route" and provide low-income riders access to social service providers located outside the current free-ride boundaries.
The buses would be vans or mid-size buses similar to the Access Vans already operated by Metro.
Metro will make a decision on whether to proceed by the end of this month. After that, the King County Council would need to sign off on it.
An exact cost estimate wasn't available, but Metro believes the program would cost around $300,000 a year. That's far less than the $2 million per year Metro now spends to subsidize the free-ride zone. | <urn:uuid:51c0e8ad-24c4-4f85-8f66-b3dc5745ba38> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.king5.com/news/cities/federal-way/Metro-considering-alternative-free-ride-program-147048515.html?ref=next | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958291 | 185 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Posted by: John Kirk on May 22nd, 2006
My friend and Cryptomundo colleague, Loren Coleman, stated on these pages that there is the prospect that Malaysian biologist Vincent Chow has been able to procure several photographs of the alleged Malyasian Bigfoot, the Orang Dalam or as it is known in this case, Mawas. I want to be excited about this, but given the flops as far as earthshaking cryptid footage and photos of the past are concerned, I do not have much faith that they will be as revealing as one would hope.
Seventeen years ago, the news leaked out that a car salesman from Kamloops had videotaped the legendary Ogopogo of Okanagan Lake in all of its glory. This video footage was alleged to be the best footage of the creature ever obtained and it would put to bed, once and for all, the issue of whether Ogopogo exists. The car salesman was reluctant to allow myself and Jim Clark from the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club (BCSCC) to examine his footage. This sent up the red flags right away in my mind. Clark and I had both seen this creature and we were as qualified as any other witnesses to give our opinion on it. Jim was actually banned from a press conference where the footage was shown to the media.
I was contacted on the phone by a journalist who had seen the footage and she told me it was definitely an animal. I asked for more details and something she related to me in that conversation told me that the car salesman had not videotaped Ogopogo. She told me how the creature very quickly lifted its tail out of the water and then slapped the lake surface. I asked just how fast the slap was, she again emphasized it was very quick. Given that the car salesman said his creature was in the order of 12 – 15 feet long, it would be impossible for a beast that big to slap its tail very quickly as the reporter had described. In that moment, my brain said three words: beaver, river otter.
The journalist said it also had webbed feet. Again, my brain went: beaver, river otter. I heard about this footage in August, but it was not until October that I finally got to see the footage on Unsolved Mysteries. News of this footage had gotten out to the public and some people were positively salivating at the prospect of seeing the best footage of Ogopogo ever. One eminent researcher who had seen the footage said it was a “Rembrandt” compared to all the other footage shot before this.
My belief that the creature was a beaver or river otter was confirmed when I saw the footage. My initial belief that a 12 – 15 foot creature could not have executed the tail slap in such a short time was confirmed when I saw with my own eyes the animal do it on screen. Robert Lincoln, a British Columbia wildlife expert said on the program that he was pretty sure it was a beaver with an outside chance it could be an otter. As Joe Nickell and Ben Radford say in their newly released book Lake Monster Mysteries, this is the most expensive beaver footage ever as Unsolved Mysteries is rumoured to have paid the car salesman $30,000 for the privilege of showing it on their program. Ouch!
Then last year the Sasquatch/Bigfoot world was abuzz with the news that Norway House, Manitoba resident Bobby Clarke had secured the best ever footage of a sasquatch. It was said to be even better than the other seminal footage of a sasquatch – the Patterson-Gimlin film of 1967.
Having been through the whole ‘this-is-the-best-footage-yet’ business with the car salesman Ogopogo video I did not wait with baited breath as some of my fellow sasquatch investigators did to see this footage on A Current Affair on the Fox network. I was braced for disappointment and Clarke’s footage did not fail me.
I would say it is the best “Blobsquatch” video ever. It’s just a hazy dark figure walking by water. There is no scale, no sharp focus and nothing remotely to suggest it is a sasquatch at all other than Clarke’s word. Clarke seems a decent enough guy and he may have seen a sasquatch, but unfortunately there is nothing in his video to confirm that. I don’t know how much A Current Affair paid for Clarke’s footage, but noted sasquatch investigator Daniel Perez spoke to a lawyer with the network and the figure given was $5,000. That makes Clarke’s video the most expensive Blobsquatch video of all time so far.
I guess I have been somewhat immunized against the prospect that the Malaysian Bigfoot photos Vincent Chow intends to publish are going to be the Real McCoy. The disappointments of the past have just reinforced my tendency to not to get excited about any pictures or footage that are supposed to be that good.
I suppose I will do what Ray Crowe, founder of the International Bigfoot Society, has always cautioned people to do that and that is to “keep your skepticals on.” I will certainly be keeping mine on and will make sure that mine won’t have a rose-coloured tint to them.
You can bet I won’t be disappointed. I will not allow myself to be. | <urn:uuid:e06118d1-f24e-4905-90d5-17cbdb59f883> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptotourism/crypto-films/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984046 | 1,139 | 1.734375 | 2 |
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