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As a teacher with over twenty years experience, I've had the privilege of dealing with a wide variety of students at various levels of literacy. My educational emphasis is on literature, plays, stories, and poetry. I have also conducted classes in creative writing.
In my own schooling, I took a class in teaching reading in content areas for other subjects (identifying key words, ideas, and phrases to help students focus on the question being asked, and to weed out unnecessary information). I also have several online tools available that help students with research papers and test preparation.
I am a member of ASCD, PASCD (Assoc. for Supervision and Curriculum Development and its local PA chapter), the The National Council for Teachers of English (NCTE), and Library of America (LOA).
I have a Bachelor's in Broadcast Communications including theater, audio/video production, and film. Currently, I am pursuing a M.Ed at Strayer University here in the Lehigh Valley area and working on my state certification through the American Board for Certification for Teacher Excellence, a state recognized online program affiliated with Point Park University in Pittsburgh.
Overall, I find the idea of teaching how to take a test, instead of how to master a skill, a waste of everyone's time. The same skills are taught year after year with the same dismal results for some students because they only remember the skill in order to take the test, and once the test is done, immediately forget what it is they studied.
Through WyzAnt I have recently worked with high school students for vocabulary and test prep, and adult students returning to school who want to work on their writing skills.
It is my goal with every student to get to the level of skill mastery you will need to be successful for the long term, not just for the test.
I look forward to working with you.
back to top | <urn:uuid:d12c631d-0c00-4a01-bfc4-b77f2fb1234d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wyzant.com/Tutors/PA/Bethlehem/7289964/?g=3JY | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969175 | 389 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Last fall, musician Esperanza Spalding was absolutely delighted to donate her dress, one that she wore to sing for President Obama at his Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, to the Smithsonian Museum of American History. This fall, she was chosen by Smithsonian Magazine to be part of its inaugural American Ingenuity Awards.
On Wednesday night, she entertained the crowd as the award show's final act, giving them a breathy speech and then a breezy song. "Thank you, thank you for all the work that you did and continue to do, whether or not you were going to get an award, thank you for all of those manifestations that you've contributed to the fabric of the world," she said, addressing the other eight honorees.
Among them was high school sophomore Jack Andraka, who pioneered a new test that would provide an early diagnosis for pancreatic cancer. Taking home the Youth Achievement Award, Andraka compelled the audience to use their brains for innovation. "So instead of taking pictures of your food tonight and posting them on Instagram, how about instead ... change the world with your ideas," he suggested. "If a 15-year-old who knew nothing about medicine and didn't even know he had a pancreas could find a new way to detect pancreatic cancer through just using Google and Wikipedia, just imagine what you could do," he added.
The Smithsonian as an institution got plenty of recognition throughout the night too. DonorsChoose.org founder Charles Best, presenting the Education Award to Udacity creator Sebastian Thrun, had the best anecdote. "This is my first time at the National Portrait Gallery but I owe this incredible place a debt of gratitude for facilitating the most unorthodox donation ever received by the charity I'm with, DonorsChoose.org," he began. Best then retold the tale of how comedian Stephen Colbert commissioned a painting of Stephen Colbert and requested that it be hung "in the most prestigious location in the world," which of course was the National Portrait Gallery, where Wednesday night's dinner was held. "They hung Stephen Colbert's portrait of himself in the men's bathroom and Stephen would go on to auction off that very portrait and donate all the proceeds to classroom project requests on DonorsChoose.org -- so for me this is a momentous setting," Best said. | <urn:uuid:ddcc90ee-abcc-440f-9413-c427f7b79587> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://washingtonexaminer.com/the-smithsonian-loves-esperanza-spalding/article/2514691 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972121 | 471 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Who am I?
Emirati culture is under threat – and news that UAE nationals will soon account for just 13.3 percent of the population could make this identity crisis more severe.
January 25, 2010 1:23 by Aarti Nagraj
The UAE’s population is expected to increase to 7.5 million this year, up from 5.6 million in 2006, according to a report from the National Human Resources Development and Employment Authority (Tanmia). The UAE population doubles every 8.7 years – much faster than the global rate of 55 years, according to the report, a copy of which was seen by official news agency WAM.
But while an increasing population could bring economic benefits, there is one area of major concern: the gradual erosion of Emirati identity.
According to the Tanmia report, UAE nationals made up 24.4 percent of the total population in 1995, but this dropped to 15.4 percent in 2006. And Emiratis could account for just 13.3 percent of population this year if “appropriate correctional procedures and policies were not taken to address the issue”. As the report warns: “The growth of both UAE nationals and expatriates would lead to exacerbation of the demographic imbalance in the country.”
While the number of Emirati nationals is falling relative to the overall population, officials in the UAE have been fighting to protect their identity and promote their culture.
Earlier this month, the interior ministry said that children left behind by Emirati fathers in other countries would be brought back to the UAE, so that they could “reunite and blend with their fathers and their families,” reported The National. | <urn:uuid:9decf35a-7cc1-4dbf-8613-a018e7d07c85> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kippreport.com/fcs/who-am-i/ | 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 | 0.957488 | 346 | 1.53125 | 2 |
And now it's just about here. The college will break ground Tuesday for a new building, the Drawing/ Painting and Photography studio. Designed by Charles Rose Architects Inc. and COLAB Architecture + Urban Design LLC, the roughly 15,000-square-foot building will be home to new drawing and painting studios, photo studio space with darkrooms and digital labs, as well as classrooms.
The new building is part of a large-scale upgrade of the college's entire facilities planned by Portland's BOORA Architects. Ultimately, the plan calls for adding about 55,000 square feet, which would double the college's space. Right now, there isn't even enough room for appropriate student studios and classrooms.
The 101-year-old college has been partnering with other local firms, including Ziba Design and BOORA, to strategize and shape a new educational message and mission for the 21st century. It's also in the midst of a $14.5 million capital campaign.
The new building is scheduled to be finished by next summer.
Oregon College of Art & Craft, 8245 S.W. Barnes Road. | <urn:uuid:68777587-c38c-4dcb-9593-2b6c2f7b75ce> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.oregonlive.com/visualarts/2008/09/groundbreaking_at_the_oregon_c.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962289 | 231 | 1.515625 | 2 |
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) -- NJ Transit is getting a boost from the federal government to upgrade and expand its bus service in New Jersey.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that NJ Transit will receive $76 million in federal funds. The grant is part of $787 million being given out to support projects in 48 states.
About $46 million will go to replace aging NJ Transit buses with newer, more fuel-efficient models.
Another $27 million will go toward putting hybrid buses on the road between southern New Jersey and New York City.
And $2.6 million is earmarked for expanded bus service between Camden and Philadelphia.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:ee0c375e-464b-4dd6-b011-21cd79133337> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/19088623/nj-transit-gets-76m-for-bus-upgrades | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934145 | 160 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Papers of Barbara G. Myerhoff, a University of Southern California professor and noted anthropologist, consist of manuscripts,
notes, printed material, publications, audiotapes, correspondence, and photographic material related to her teaching, field
research, and publishing activities.
Barbara Gay Myerhoff was born on February 16, 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio. She received a B.A. degree in Sociology from the University
of California, Los Angeles in 1958, a M.A. in Human Development at the University of Chicago in 1963, and returned to the
University of California, Los Angeles to receive her Ph.D. in Anthropology in 1968. Myerhoff taught in the Department of Anthropology
at the University of Southern California for the duration of her professional career. Her areas of research included the Huichol
Indians of Mexico; youth movements of the 1960s; ritual and symbols; performance and narrative; women, feminism, and friendship;
and aging and ethnicity among Jewish communities in Los Angeles. A prolific writer and researcher, Myerhoff edited and authored
several monographs in addition to numerous articles and essays, and contributed to major collaborative projects on aging and
ethnicity. In the 1970s, Barbara G. Myerhoff began an extensive study of the elderly Jewish immigrants living in Venice, California.
Her award-winning documentary film and book of the same title,
Number Our Days, showed how aging Eastern European immigrants made everyday life meaningful, surviving amidst hardship, invisibility and
poverty. She redefined academic and public perceptions of the elderly and was a pioneer in her scholarship on women and religion.
Her research took a personal turn with her final documentary,
In Her Own Time, which documented Myerhoff's fatal cancer diagnosis and her participation in Hasidic healing rituals. In addition to the
above, Myerhoff was also a consulting editor to Parabola (a journal of myths and traditions), a lecturer at the Center for
the Healing Arts in Westwood, California, and a consultant and lecturer for psychiatric residents in the Department of Social
Psychiatry at the Los Angeles County General Hospital. Barbara Gay Myerhoff died on January 7, 1985 at the age 49.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian.
Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended
to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained. | <urn:uuid:806c0880-ebfb-46eb-9ac6-8ba66e38c2fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt4b69q3tb/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945152 | 521 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Former Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney was remembered Friday for his love of the community and the police department he served.
Maloney was shot and killed in the line of duty six months ago. On Friday, the police department's patrol room was named the Michael P. Maloney Memorial Patrol Room in his honor.
About 100 friends, family and law enforcement officials were on hand for the ceremony.
Maloney was killed while serving a warrant on Cullen Mutrie on April 12 in Greenland. Four other police officers were also wounded in the exchange of gunfire before Mutrie killed his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself.
Gov. John Lynch spoke of Maloney's love for the Greenland Police Department and the community he served.
Maloney was instrumental in building Greenland's police station back in 2003, but the patrol room was under-furnished and difficult to work in, police officers said.
After Maloney was killed, several local businesses and service organizations pitched in to renovate the patrol room. All of the supplies and work were donated at a cost of about $15,000. It took several weeks to complete the work.
A portrait of Maloney hangs on the wall, as well as the state Medal of Honor that was awarded to him posthumously.
Maloney's wife, Peg Maloney, said it has been a difficult six months, but she and her family have been able to get through their grief with the help of friends and members of law enforcement.
She said her husband would be proud of the patrol room and pleased that his department can now better serve the community. | <urn:uuid:1171e33b-8eed-499c-8449-02bf64451e44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Fallen-Greenland-police-chief-remembered-for-his-sacrifice/-/9857858/16963504/-/yoih99/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.992617 | 326 | 1.617188 | 2 |
I have a bunch of Python modules I want to clean up, reorganize and refactor (there's some duplicate code, some unused code ...), and I'm wondering if there's a tool to make a map of which module uses which other module.
Ideally, I'd like a map like this:
main.py -> task_runner.py -> task_utils.py -> deserialization.py -> file_utils.py -> server.py -> (deserialization.py) -> db_access.py checkup_script.py re_test.py main_bkp0.py unit_tests.py
... so that I could tell which files I can start moving around first (file_utils.py, db_access.py), which files are not used by my main.py and so could be deleted, etc. (I'm actually working with around 60 modules)
Writing a script that does this probably wouldn't be very complicated (though there are different syntaxes for import to handle), but I'd also expect that I'm not the first one to want to do this (and if someone made a tool for this, it might include other neat features such as telling me which classes and functions are probably not used).
Do you know of any tools (even simple scripts) that assist code reorganization?
Do you know of a more exact term for what I'm trying to do? Code reorganization? | <urn:uuid:1f733c65-23ce-423d-857b-3cfdceabbbd9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3573694/mapping-module-imports-in-python-for-easy-refactoring | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940181 | 299 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Many Non-Resident Indians will assemble at the Indian Consulate office at 6.30 pm (local time) to pray for peace, well-being and amity and also present a memorandum to the government through the Consulate demanding actions to stop such incidents of rape and molestation across the country.
The girl was gang-raped and brutally assaulted in a moving bus on December 16 in Delhi.
The girl, battling for life for the past 10 days at Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi, remained on ventilator support during most part of her treatment in Delhi.
She was shifted to the Singapore hospital this morning where her condition remains critical.
Describing itself as a group of social networking users, the Melbourne Indians Solidarity Group said, "We feel strongly about the recent gang rape incident in Delhi and the rising cases of rape and molestation of women all over India. We condemn the recent gang rape of a medical student in Delhi and all such heinous acts of rape and molestation anywhere."
The group said it would also submit a memorandum to the Indian Consulate urging actions like improving security of women and restoring confidence in people.
"It is important that the Government of India acts in the most expeditious manner in relation to the above extremely serious situation," the memorandum would note.
Australia-India Business Council-Victoria president Ravi Bhatia said, "We urge the Indian government and state governments to initiate urgent steps to prevent rape and other crimes against women. Indian citizens and people of Indian origin can provide valuable input because of their exposure to other cultures."
Neeraj Nanda, editor of a local ethnic paper South Asia Times, said, "The Indian government should take immediate steps to curb them and take long term measures to protect women in urban and rural areas. Overseas Indians should also be consulted on any changes the Government intends to bring to penal or social laws in this matter".
An Australian graduate of Oxford University and the incoming development Fellow at Operation Asha, a Delhi-based NGO, Esmerelda Jelbart Wallbridge, has asked Australia to join the cause.
"At a time when Australia is making its largest concerted effort to strengthen bilateral ties with India and pundits are pointing to all the points of convergence (democratic values, shared love of cricket, common language, mutual gains from trade) it is important that we make a clear-eyed assessment of the status quo," she said.
Melbourne: The Indian diaspora here will hold a peaceful rally on Thursday and offer prayers for the recovery of the 23-year-old Delhi gang-rape victim who is now being treated at the Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore.
First Published: Thursday, December 27, 2012, 11:02 | <urn:uuid:3efc9ddf-9a7e-405d-b5d0-2eb6e38008b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/indians-in-oz-to-rally-in-support-of-delhi-rape-victim_819134.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947394 | 557 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Submitted by Daniel.
I, like many of you out there, have had a love affair with Butterscotch all my life. As a child, I used to snatch up those little Butterscotch hard candies from Brach’s in the yellow wrapper that no one else liked. All buttery and- well, certainly not Scotch-y, as I later would find out.
The thing is, I don’t really like butter. Okay, okay, I don’t like butter on bread, since the butter just takes over the taste of the bread, and I really dislike how Germans put butter on sandwiches that you get at a bakery. It’s funny, because, in the States, you would probably get mayonnaise. When I make sandwiches, I tend to counterbalance the flavors. Mustard on one side, and either Tomato Jam or Fig Jam on the other. Just to get a half-savory sweetness to cut the mustard.
Butterscotch, on the other hand, is almost the polar opposite of mustard. Sweet and buttery and- well- you can’t really describe the flavor. It’s almost as though you made candy out of butter. Although I’m not a straight-butter fan, I am a fan of butter in things. Pound cake, muffins, a very light coating of butter on sourdough pancakes? Butter caramels, Lemon curd, Butter Pecan Ice Cream? Vegetables sauteed in butter and thyme? Broccoli soup where the ingredients are butter, water and Broccoli? Yes. Yes to all of them.
So, when I found out that The Modern Baker Challenge was making Butterscotch Scones, I jumped on them. I mean, who doesn’t love Butterscotch in things?
In case you’re wondering, the Butterscotch flavor comes from the butter, cream, and the brown sugar. Though I doubt that creaming them together will give you Pure Butterscotch Heaven (as found on the Smitten), you can certainly try. In the case above, and on the advice of other Modern Bakers, I also added a handful of Butterscotch chips, imported into Germany from the States, just to up the ante.
I have to let you in on a dirty little secret of mine- I don’t sift the flour. I used to when I used measuring cups, but now, I just sort of throw the dry ingredients together and just stir with my Zeigefinger. Part of the reason is that my old, really good sifter gave up the ghost, and I replaced it with a really cheap one from IKEA. Unfortunately, you really do get what you pay for, since the sifter can’t handle more than a handful of very white flour.
After following a lifetime of recipes, I also tend to skim recipes instead of reading them, unless I’m reading them for fun, in which case I tend to visualize the process. Here, for scones like for many cakes, you mix the dry ingredients together, cut the butter into the flour, and then mix in the almost dry.
Since I don’t have a food processor, I tend to do most things by hand. In this case, the eggs and cream are whisked together separately, then poured into the dry-ish ingredients instead of pulsed in a food processor. I have, however, been thinking of getting one, just for the singular purpose of making killer hummus.
When the batter dough looks like it’s remotely coming together, you turn it out on to a floured board. You’re actually supposed to fold the dough over on itself to give it a final mixing, but, because my bread habits tend to sneak into everything, I kneaded it just a little bit.
But since I actually managed to read this part of the recipe, I decided to trust Nick Malgieri and divide each third of dough into a further four.
Although on second thought, some Butterscotch sauce drizzled on these might not be half-bad. Would that be overkill? Well, considering there is a recipe for Triple Chocolate Scones in the book, I would say that Triple Butterscotch Scones would fit right in with the rest of the quick breads.
For more of these wonderful scones, check out these other Modern Baker Lovers (though no Jonathan Richman, so don’t ask!):
Phyl from Of Cabbages and King Cakes
Andrea from Family & Food & Other Things
Heather from Tease-spoon of Sugar
Renee from Every Pot and Pan is Dirty
Abby from Stir It! Scrape It! Mix It! Bake It! | <urn:uuid:7ddfaad1-385b-414b-83df-dedf70f88a43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://modernbakerchallenge.wordpress.com/quick-breads/butterscotch-scones/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933752 | 1,010 | 1.53125 | 2 |
The class of 2001 is missing a few people. In fact, it is missing a million and a half people on each level of graduating classes. These missing students deserve a remembrance in the graduation liturgies and ceremonies that will soon take place.
Such remembrance can take the form of a moment of silence, a lit candle, an empty chair, or a brief prayer. Symbolic actions can be accompanied by words like these:
"On this day of joy, we give thanks to God for our accomplishments. At the same time, we cannot ignore those whose lives have been lost, and who otherwise would have been with us to share the joys of this day.
With charity toward all and condemnation toward none, we, the Class of 2001, wish to honor and remember those who have lost their lives because they were aborted. (We pause now for a moment of silence. Or We now light this candle in their memory. Or We set aside these empty chairs in their memory.)
As we move into a new chapter of our lives, we commit ourselves to building a Culture of Life, in which parents never have to feel that the only way to solve their problems is to abort their child, and in which the precious dignity of every human life, especially the most defenseless, is cherished and protected. We invite you all to join us in striving for this goal."
The former "Jane Roe" of Roe vs. Wade, Norma McCorvey, just sent me a special message to pass along to the graduates of 2001. It reads,
"Mom, Where is the back of my earring? Do I look fat in this dress? Mom, are you listening? Dad, will you rent us a limo for tonight? Oh Dad, please just this one time It would mean so much. I promise not to be out all night."
These are the words echoing all over America this spring as students are getting ready for their commencement exercises at high schools and colleges.
But there are many children who do not have this privilege because of their deaths, deaths that have been occurring for the last 28 years of legal abortion. Each year children will never have the chance to say any of those words, or have the joy of graduating. They were taken, before they were born, from their mother's womb. They had a coffin instead of a bassinet for their birth. So, in this year of 2001 the graduating class has much to be thankful for....Life! Let us not forget those who were not so fortunate! " Norma McCorvey
If a member of the class of 2001 died during her senior year, is it conceivable that she would not be remembered? Let's see to it, then, that those who died at a younger age are not forgotten. After all, what matters is not the timing of their death, but the value of their life! | <urn:uuid:4469771f-164e-45ff-be49-c8b96aab1e93> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.priestsforlife.org/library/document-print.aspx?ID=318 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982132 | 585 | 1.625 | 2 |
Maximizing the Success of a Business Acquisition
In order to reduce risks and maximize success of a corporate acquisition, a clear understanding of the company’s business strategy and the potential impact the acquisition will likely have on that strategy is essential.
Establish a clear business strategy
This is the first stage that any buyer should go through in the M&A process. Examining strategic objectives is vital, as is looking at any potential risks that could arise as a result of the deal. Action can then be taken to prevent damage to the ongoing business operations, while ensuring the deal goes smoothly.
Only with a clear business strategy and understanding of the core competencies of the buyer and seller can the strength of a potential deal be assessed. Thus, the acquisition deal can be looked at in terms of what impact it will have upon the business’s core strengths, whether it will introduce weaknesses or create new opportunities or threats.
Is an acquisition the right option?
To establish whether a specific acquisition is the right option is the responsibility of the management team, who should also be asking each other if an acquisition of any company is the right or only option. M&A can be risky, as it is relatively easy to overpay and damage solvency. Integration of a new business unit can often be disruptive on several fronts, from a human resources level through to technology and legal areas. For this reason, the management team needs to examine other strategic possibilities including alliances or even new business launches before settling on inorganic expansion as the way forward.
Accountancy specialists claim that some of the most successful acquirers of businesses tend to be the ones who buy several smaller companies as opposed to one large firm — so remember, bigger isn’t always better.
Once it has been established that the purchase of a company is the best way to meet the company’s objectives, a number of potential targets should be examined in order to ensure that the right deal is selected. Choosing from a large pool of potential deals gives buyers the best chance of making a lucrative deal with a firm that fits its objectives, while keeping costs down. Due diligence obviously also plays a part here — particularly in reducing risk and maximizing potential opportunity.
Get the right price
Buyers can benefit from establishing a price at which they will walk away from the deal before they enter the negotiation phase. The merger is only a financial success if the post-merger income increases at a reasonable rate compared with the price paid. Without the walk-away price, buyers often find themselves succumbing to small increases and adjustments throughout the deal process, which can result in paying too much.
A common mistake on the part of buyers is agreeing to a purchase price that is based on value created post-merger through synergies. This technique basically has the buyer paying for value it will create through the deal itself, which fails to make financial sense as these values are produced by the buyer’s efforts after the deal is made.
Call in the experts
The use of outside experts can considerably reduce risks and improve chances of maximizing the success of any M&A deal. Legal and financial service providers, alongside accountancy, HR and operational experts are vital in the creation of a successful M&A strategy. As well as helping to secure an effective deal, they will also enable the fulfilment of post-merger objectives.
A number of firms get through the M&A deal process unscathed only to then find themselves struggling under the magnitude of the task ahead in terms of optimizing the opportunities for synergies and economies of scale. External experts offer invaluable support at this stage and can ensure the day-to-day running of the business thrives under its new pressures. Creative value from an acquisition is the most important objective in the post-merger phase of a deal for most buyers and external legal and financial advice often proves invaluable. | <urn:uuid:60b08ca1-77e0-42f7-bd4a-327b7d2ac46d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.datasite.com/maximizing-success-business-acquisition.htm | 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 | 0.955097 | 788 | 1.609375 | 2 |
When University of Michigan faculty or staff need to find someone to watch their kids, clean the house or help with yard work, they can log on to the school's “Family Helpers” database and get a list of pre-screened students willing to assist.
At Middlebury College in Vermont, professors heading toward retirement can ease into this major transition by phasing out their duties over several years.
Princeton University faculty, staff and students receive free flu shots at any of several campus wellness fairs.
And if a family emergency arises, faculty at Virginia's Washington and Lee University may do some of their work virtually, using Internet chats or conference calls for conversations with students and others.
Those are just some examples of the employee-friendly programs that higher learning institutions are offering to boost worker satisfaction. Despite the recession, a May study by the Families and Work Institute found that 13 percent of U.S. employers are increasing their family-friendly and flexible workplace policies — and 81 percent of U.S. employers are maintaining the ones they already have in place.
Higher education has taken up the cause as well, offering employees everything from subsidized child care to access to extended time to meet the requirements for tenure as a way to keep talented employees from leaving for more lucrative industries, says Kate Quinn, PhD, a program director at the American Council on Education. The topic has broad appeal: The need for more family-friendly policies at universities was even on the agenda of the spring Council of Graduate Departments of Psychology conference.
It's a move that seeks to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse faculty, Quinn says, and an essential element of staying competitive in the 21st century.
“Generation X and especially the Millennials want more balanced lives, so if we want to be able to recruit and retain younger generations, we need to rethink what faculty careers look like,” Quinn says.
The American Council on Education is rewarding such flexibility. Since 2006, the council has awarded 24 colleges and universities each with a $200,000 ($250,000 for research universities in the program's first year) Alfred P. Sloan Award for Faculty Career Flexibility, all in an effort to honor innovative family-friendly practices. Alfred P. Sloan Foundation's Kathleen Christensen, PhD, says they want to promote the idea that universities, just like businesses, need to restructure outdated models of work that assume scholars have a spouse taking care of needs at home. The incentive seems to be increasing awareness of the need for work-life balance on campuses as the grants are now a highly sought-after prize, says Claire Van Ummersen, PhD, vice president of the American Council on Education's Center for Effective Leadership.
And, according to a preliminary survey of the 2006 Sloan award winners, faculty report a greater awareness and use of family-friendly policies and say they believe support for these policies has improved, Quinn says.
“Cultural change doesn't happen overnight, but even small improvements we take as promising,” she says.
The most effective university work-life policies and programs have been those that meet employee needs across their career and life paths, and that build awareness among faculty, staff and students that these supports exist, adds Quinn. For example, after receiving a 2006 Sloan award, the University of Washington launched a work-life balance plan that offers flexible work schedules, lactation stations, parenting seminars, elder care and “new mom” support groups, onsite child-care facilities and child-care vouchers for students. The university also tracks faculty use of the policies as a way to measure whether programs are truly meeting employee needs. It even trains university administrators and department chairs on how to erase the stigma employees may feel when they choose to take advantage of these policies, she says.
“When faculty — particularly junior faculty — don't know about these programs, they're often hesitant to ask [about them] because they're nervous about appearances and still trying to prove that they were a good hire,” Quinn says.
It's also helpful for universities to communicate with employees about the importance of finding a good balance between work and home life, to send a clear message that it is acceptable to seek support for the many competing demands of home and work, says Jennie McAlpine, director of work-life resources at the University of Michigan.
“All of us as individuals have to make choices in our lives about what we're trying to do and figure out where our stresses come from,” McAlpine says. “Part of our responsibility in the work/life resource center is to encourage people to take a good look at what they're spending their time on and make conscious choices, whether at home or at work, that will help them address that stress.”
Room for improvement
Despite these advances, many colleges and universities are still less than family-friendly. A 2007 national survey of more than 500 four-year colleges by the Center for the Education of Women at the University of Michigan found that the average university offers only 1.9 of 7 possible family-friendly policies (they included benefits such as paid dependent care, separate from other leave; unpaid leave to care for dependents; a period of modified duties; and tenure-clock extensions). While that number is up from the 1.64 they found offered in a similar survey conducted in 2002, flexibility on campus is still not as prevalent as it should be, says Louise August, PhD, a research associate at the center and lead author of the study.
Not surprisingly, she notes, the survey also shows that the most commonly offered policies are those that cost institutions the least, such as tenure-clock extensions and unpaid leave, which are provided by 65 percent and 44 percent of colleges, respectively. Less popular, and more expensive, are benefits such as allowing faculty or staff to reduce their duties for a semester without a reduction in pay (offered by 21 percent of colleges) or paid leave, outside of sick time or vacation, to care for a child, partner or parent (18 percent).
Another survey, conducted by University of California, Berkeley, law professor Mary Ann Mason, PhD, JD, and Marc Goulden, director of data initiatives in academic affairs at the school, asked 8,373 University of California system doctoral students about their perceptions of the flexibility available in a future career in academia. The results, published in the January-February issue of the American Association of University Professors newsletter Academe (Vol. 95, No. 1), show that 84 percent of them are somewhat or very concerned about the family-friendliness of tenure-track faculty positions in research-intensive universities — so concerned that 42 percent of men and 41 percent of women say they plan to pursue work in business, government or another industry.
“The perception is that there are many better options outside of academia,” Quinn says.
That doesn't have to be the case, says Diane F. Halpern, PhD, a psychology professor at Claremont-McKenna College and APA's 2004 president. In fact, past research shows that more flexible policies can benefit universities as much as professors.
Research conducted earlier this year by the Corporate Executive Board found that employees who feel they have a good work-life balance work 21 percent harder than those who don't feel like their employer provides much flexibility. While the survey mainly reflects the views of workers in larger corporations, Halpern says the research would probably hold true in academia as well.
If universities continue to work toward family-friendly policies, and if psychologists back them with research on how a poor work-life balance affects child development and attachment, stress management and one's ability to provide adequate caregiving, there may come a day when academia is seen as a good option for people regardless of their family demands.
“Psychology really needs to take much more of a leadership position on the development of these policies and on providing the research that's needed in the area of work-life,” Halpern says.
Amy Novotney is a writer in Chicago.
FURTHER READING, RESOURCES
Drago, R.W. (2007). Striking a Balance: Work, Family, Life. Boston: Dollars & Sense.
Halpern, D.F. & Cheung, F.M. (2008). Women at the Top: How Powerful Leaders Combine Work and Family. New York: Wiley-Blackwell.
Lester, J. and Sallee, M. (Eds.) (2009). Establishing the Family-Friendly Campus: Models for Effective Practice. Sterling, Va.:Stylus Publishing.
The Center for the Education of Women at the University of Michigan: www.cew.umich.edu
American Association of University Professors: www.aaup.org/AAUP/issues/WF/
American Council on Education: www.acenet.edu
College and University Work/Family Association: www.cuwfa.org
Work and Life Families Institute: www.familiesandwork.org | <urn:uuid:de5077d1-4538-4592-90a8-5e44880e4feb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apa.org/monitor/2010/01/flexibility.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958447 | 1,864 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Higher Education and Career Readiness Advisory Task Force
I recently returned from two days of meetings in Anchorage focused on state education, and wanted to share with you how that went.
Senate Bill 221 created the Higher Education and Career Readiness Advisory Task Force, which consists of 20 members from state government, the legislature and a broad spectrum of Alaska education and education support system leadership. The group represents the state’s urban and rural regions and will look at grade school through college.
In a series of meetings, the group will examine the growing need for remedial coursework upon entrance to college or workforce training. The goal is to draft a set of recommendations that can improve retention and graduation rates at colleges, universities and postsecondary vocational or technical training programs in the state.
The first session, held July 22 and 23, concentrated mainly on expressing the current state of play and highlighting successes as well as problem areas. Much talk centered on education as a continuum that runs into coherence trouble when any part of it becomes broken or dysfunctional. Discussion about the impact of overall U.S. and Alaska social cultures on student ways of learning proved to be very interesting and certainly relevant to future outcome recommendations.
It was clear to all members that we have our work cut out for us. Recommendations will probably develop as a complex solution set, rather than promoted as a single unified recommendation. Funding will, of course, be a central issue.
I’ll keep you posted as the task force’s work continues. | <urn:uuid:cff863a1-2943-4bbd-9271-bdf2b5524be5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alaska.edu/voice/2010/July_2010/president/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966332 | 306 | 1.695313 | 2 |
No Tail Lights
Posted 11 December 2012 - 06:56 PM
I have a 2003 Mondeo. The drivers side tail light has stopped working. Checked bulb, that was ok. I swapped anyway just incase, but it still isn't working.
I checked with my test lead and there's no power to the lamp holder.
All other lights are working, breaks, passenger tail light, front lights etc.
Checked all fuses in both boxes and all were ok.
So, I ran a temporary lead from the working tail light to try and get it going, but that took the working one out too!
Checked all fuses again, but still all OK.
Where do I go from here? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Is there some kind of computer controlled safety overload that might have kicked in? if so, how do you go about resetting it?
Many Thanks for any help.
Posted 12 December 2012 - 02:20 PM
Posted 13 December 2012 - 12:13 PM
Posted 13 December 2012 - 02:16 PM
Posted 13 December 2012 - 02:54 PM
Posted 13 December 2012 - 07:33 PM
Plus, wouldn't a bad earth affect other lights in the cluster? As all other lighting is working as it should.
Posted 13 December 2012 - 07:48 PM
My advice is always to check the things you can easily check (fuses, bulbs, connectors, earths, relays etc), and if you've done all that and still have a problem, let a pro have a look because you could really be looking forever.
When you say you checked 'all fuses' do you actually mean ALL? Or just a couple? Because it might be wise to do a close inspection of all fuses pertaining to lights, even if you think it can't be anything to do with it, because you'd be surprised.
Posted 13 December 2012 - 08:11 PM
Posted 14 December 2012 - 05:58 PM
When you say check relays,. what can I do with them, and which one is it that works lighting etc?
Posted 14 December 2012 - 06:18 PM
For reference, you can check a relay by removing it, and connecting it to a 12v battery. You'll hear a click as the gate opens/closes when you touch the +/- pins on the relay (they usually have a diagram on showing which pin does what). If it isn't clicking, it needs replaced.
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0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users | <urn:uuid:0fc68678-d63f-48ef-9363-cb410aa547a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/38535-no-tail-lights/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968957 | 533 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Let's get something straight. Islam is NOT a "religion of peace", but instead a violent, misogynist, barbaric religion right out of the pits of hell.
All humans are born with sinful natures, but Islam, if it's devoutly practiced, has a way of turning a regular sinner into a monster.
Read about one such example to support my claim, via Weasel Zippers:
Libya: Father Slit Throats Of Three Daughters In “Honor Killings” After They Were Raped By Gaddafi’s Forces…
(Daily Mail) — A Libyan father killed his three daughters after they were raped by Gaddafi’s troops to lift the shame on his family, a human rights group said today.
The girls, aged 15, 17 and 18 were allegedly assaulted by soldiers at a school in the town of Tomina, near the war-shattered city of Misrata, during a two-month siege.
When they returned home, their father slit their throats in a so-called honour killing, according to Physicians for Human Rights (PHR).
The horrific story was one of a number to emerge from Misrata after the group sent in a team of interviewers in June to catalogue human rights abuses just after Libyan forces expelled Gaddafi loyalists.' | <urn:uuid:559546c2-0f99-4b10-8add-ea1dc7f235a1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://exposingliberallies.blogspot.com/2011/08/cleansing-family-honor-in-libya.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969737 | 270 | 1.539063 | 2 |
WELDON, Calif. — A few minutes after 4 a.m., agents in camouflage cluster in a dusty field in Kern County. "Movement needs to be slow, deliberate and quiet," the team leader whispers. "Lock and load now."
They check their ammunition and assault rifles, not exactly sure whom they might meet in the dark: heavily armed Mexican drug traffickers, or just poorly paid fieldworkers camping miserably in the brush.
Twenty minutes later, after a lights-off drive for a mile, the agents climb out of two pickup trucks and sift into the high desert brush.
The granite faces of the Southern Sierra are washed in the light of a full moon. Two spotters with night-vision scopes take positions on the ridge to monitor the marijuana grow, tucked deep in a cleft of the canyon.
The rest of the agents hunker down in some sumac waiting for the call to move in. The action has to be precisely timed with raids in Bakersfield, where they hope to capture the leaders of the organization.
They have no idea how many people are up here. Thermal imaging aircraft circling high above was not detecting anyone on the ground. And trail cameras hadn't captured images of men delivering supplies for more than a week. Maybe the growers have already harvested and cleared out.
Word comes on the radio to go into the site.
The agents fan out in the gray of dawn. A U.S. Forest Service agent unleashes a German shepherd and follows it up a piney slope. After several minutes, the dog begins barking furiously.
"We have movement," shouts the Forest Service officer. "Hands up."
Such raids have become commonplace in California, part of a costly, frustrating campaign to eradicate ever-bigger, more destructive marijuana farms and dismantle the shadowy groups that are creating them.
Pot cultivated on public lands surged in the last decade, a side effect of the medical cannabis boom. In 2001, several hundred thousand plants were seized in the state. By 2010, authorities pulled up a record 7.4 million plants, mostly on public land.
Law enforcement long called these grows on public land "cartel grows," and hoped to work from the busts in the forest up the drug hierarchy, maybe all the way to the Sinaloa Cartel or the Zetas.
But after years of raids and work with informants and wiretaps, agents realize the operations seemed to be run by independent groups of Mexican nationals, often using undocumented fieldworkers from their home regions.
Tommy Lanier, director of the National Marijuana Initiative, part of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, said there was scant evidence that the cartels exerted much control over marijuana growing in the national forests.
"Based on our intelligence, which includes thousands of cellphone numbers and wiretaps, we haven't been able to connect anyone to a major cartel," he said.
Lanier said authorities have long mislabeled marijuana grown on public land as "cartel grows" because Mexican nationals are arrested in the majority of cases, and the narrative of fighting drug cartels helps them secure federal funding.
He doesn't rule out that some of the cash flowing south of the border makes its way to members of those groups. He just doesn't believe they are actively directing activities up here.
"We've had undercover agents at the highest level of these groups, breaking bread and drinking tequila," says Roy Giorgi, commander of the Mountain and Valley Marijuana Investigation Team, a multi-agency organization headquartered in Sacramento. "Even at their most comfortable, the leaders never said, 'Hey, we're working for the Zetas.' " | <urn:uuid:97e697f0-9be8-4ae7-8ea8-2c90e4606047> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chicagotribune.com/topic/la-me-mexican-marijuana-20121226,0,3553905.story | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961053 | 749 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Ensler: V-Day Focusing on Iraqi Women This Year
by Howard W. Hewitt
February 14, 2005
Eve Ensler, the Obie-Award winning playwright of the Vagina Monologues, spent a half hour with the press Feb. 13 before the play’s debut at Wabash College.
She covered a range of issues but spent a good portion of the time discussing the War in Iraq and gender issues. Ensler is the driving force behind V-Day, celebrated each year on Valentine’s Day and designed to bring heightened awareness to violence against women.
In recent years the V-Day movement has highlighted a particular group of women as it educated the public and raises money for programs across the world.
The following are excerpts from Ensler’s press conference:
Why focus on the women of Iraq this year?
"One of the things I’ve learned is if any woman in the world is impacted in terms of violence it impacts all of us. If Afghanistan didn’t tell us that more clearly on Sept. 11l then I don’t know what does.
"One thing we all have to wake up to is there is a systematic undoing globally of women everywhere – it’s called patriarchy and it exists in every different culture. It has different cultural forms i.e. there is acid burning in Pakistan, date rape in America, there’s sex trafficking, but it’s the same story – it’s the systematic undoing and undermining of women as a gender.
"This year we all thought it was really crucial to think about what’s happening to the women in Iraq, particularly because there is an illusion put out by this particular government that there has been some sort of freedom that’s happened in Iraq and democratization and liberation and in fact the opposite is true. The condition of women in Iraq since the United States’ bombing has rapidly, rapidly deteriorated.
"Since the U.S. bombing and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, which has been the direct result of the so-called demise of Saddam Hussein, we have seen the rise of Islamic fundamentalism. That has been the Talibaninzation of the women of Iraq. So in these recent months what we’ve seen are abuctions, probably 70 a month, women who are being raped and sold, an incredible rise in honor killings. (Honor killings) is part of Islamic tradition – stoning and killing of women for flirting or dating or walking around being uncovered."
What’s the difference now than when Saddam was in power?
"Women weren’t covered in Iraq under Saddam Hussein. Then we have the fact that women who were highly educated in Iraq, doctors and lawyers, under the current non-regime and lawless state that’s been unleashed by the irresponsible, irresponsible war on this country, are staying in their homes.
"We as a world, especially this country which is directly responsible for the desecration and rights of women in Iraq, need to be standing up for our sisters there and saying, what can we do?’"
Obviously, you do not support the administration’s decision to go to war, are you saying women were better off under Saddam Hussein? Could this country have done anything different?
I do think the women are worse now than they were under Saddam Hussein. We don’t know Iraq. We don’t know the structures of Iraq. The fact the neoconservatives had this fantasy they would be welcomed in the streets of Irag is a clear indication they don’t know Iraq. They don’t know the years of tribalism, the years of wars between Sunnis and Shiites and the Kurds. First of all, I’d never pretend to assume what other people would want. I barely know what I want.
"For me to assume that I know what the people of Crawfordsville need would be a highly ridiculous assumption. I don’t know the ways, the customs because that’s what happens in Crawfordsville. For the U.S. government to first of all have the arrogance to think they would know and then the stupidity to never develop a plan … "
"Basic common sense would tell you if you’re going to go and drop bombs and destroy a country and annihilate the leadership, don’t you think you’d think about what would come next? Don’t you think you’d think, ‘Umm, ok, after Saddam Hussein goes what will be the next people who will rise up?’ It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out it was going to be Islamic fundamentalism.
"So what it indicated to me is a sloppy, random rapist mentality. It’s like ‘I want it, I take it, I get it, I dominate it, I occupy it, and I let the chips fall where they will. I don’t care about your body after I take it. I don’t care what happens to the land after I violate it. I don’t care what happens to the people after I get my way with it."
And the result of these attitudes?
"I believe we’ll look back on this period of time and will see it was when the whole Earth changed. Not only has it been a very bad war on the level of destroying the infrastructure of Iraq but it has alienated and absolutely multiplied terrorism in the Arab world – which in theory was exactly the opposite of what we were trying to do."
Much has been written and said about the Vagina Monologues. Many have even suggested someone should write The Penis Monologues. Your reaction?
"Wouldn’t it be redundant? I think we’re living in a penis monologue far as I can tell. And what would you say that isn’t being said every minute of our lives. Let’s just take a look at the shape of our buildings. Do we need more penis shaped buildings? (she asked rhetorically with a laugh).
"Seriously, I would be interested in men writing pieces about what it means to be tyrannized, to have to perform with a penis, for having always to be worried about your penis. What does it mean to be a man? What does it mean to have to hold that banner and be fraught all the time that you’re having to prove you know everything - that you’re in charge, that you can’t cry? I’d be totally interested.
"I’ve talked to a lot of men in my life who have been really fraught with performance anxiety and fraught with proving how strong and tough and hard and cool and defensive they are for every minute of their lives.
"We live in a culture, particularly in terms of literature and art, which since the time I was born has been dominated by white men – that’s not good or bad, it’s their point of view, their politics, their way of thinking, being, dealing or not dealing. It’s what has created our pathology and our thinking. So for a woman or anyone who moves through the world with feelings – that is always seen as second class. Emotions are still seen as less than thoughts; we still don’t value them equally. That’s a male idea, that comes from patriarchy. Until you understand emotions and thinking are equal partners, we are living in a penis monologue." | <urn:uuid:5e80c1cb-3e11-4b08-95b6-9bb787864947> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wabash.edu/news/displayStory_print.cfm?news_ID=2247 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9696 | 1,582 | 1.5625 | 2 |
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Cradley Heath school to get extra class to solve shortage
7:50am Thursday 29th November 2012 in Local
AN extra 30 classroom places are to be created at a Cradley Heath school to overcome shortages, which left some children unable to start school in the town this term.
Public consultation will then take place before a decision is made to make the extra class permanent at the school in Trinity Street.
Ward councillor Ann Shackleton called for urgent action early last month when it emerged that more than 60 children did not get their first choice and several were either still at home or are having to travel to schools in other towns six weeks into the new school year.
“The council will cover the staffing costs and I am very pleased that they have moved on this,” she said.
Initially, 18 rising fives who did not get places at their local schools have been offered places at Reddal and so far 10 have accepted.
Six children are staying where they are and parents of two children who have failed to accept any offers so far have refused places at Reddal. Legally, children do not have to attend school until they are aged five.
Cllr Shackleton said the new class would free up places at other schools which would enable them to offer places to other youngsters on their waiting lists.
Over-subscribed Timbertree Primary, which has a dozen children on its waiting list, has the space but not the building.
Cllr Shackleton said Reddal Hill Primary had been chosen for an extra class because it has existing provision, with only minor adaptations required.
“We have to look at the lowest cost implications,” Cllr Shackleton said.
She added that for some children who have settled into their classes, parents my feel it will be too disruptive to move them to preferred choice schools nearer their homes.
Reddal Hill headteacher Ceri Neslon declined to comment on the decision to set up the additional class at her school. | <urn:uuid:89cc1b5e-c985-4fe5-800d-fc6c4ce9a392> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/local/10076023.Cradley_Heath_school_to_get_extra_class_to_solve_shortage/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98068 | 437 | 1.625 | 2 |
As mentioned many times on this blog, construction of natural gas pipelines throughout the Marcellus Shale regions of Pennsylvania is moving ahead at record pace. Transporting natural gas produced in counties such as Bradford, Lycoming, Susquehanna, Wyoming, Tioga and elsewhere to markets and ports on the Coast is top priority for natural gas drilling companies. With the rapid growth has come concerns. Today reports note that environmental groups are upset with the DEP over construction of a pipeline compressor station in Susquehanna Count. A public hearing was held in August however DEP never issued a report on the comments. The compressor station was built without the comments. Environmental groups are claiming foul. The pipeline folks deny any violation and are moving forward with construction.
The Marcellus Shale Trial Team at DLP continues to follow and blog all issues arising from the growth of the natural gas drilling business in Pennsylvania. DLP is a leader in representing workers and victims of gas drilling rig, gas pipeline and gas truck accidents. DLP has recovered millions of dollars for injured and killed clients and families. DLP has handled and tried cases in Federal Courts and in Courtrooms located in Wellsboro, Williamsport, Towanda, Montrosem dushore, Tunkhannock and eleswhere in Northeast and Central Pennsylvania. | <urn:uuid:87ed2606-ed06-4640-99f2-200543f1b622> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dlplaw.com/dlp-law/dlp-gas-drillingpipeline-constructiongas-truck-accident-team-fights-for-injured-in-wellsboro-williamsport-montrose-and-towanda-regions-as-pipeline-construction-challenged/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959797 | 267 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Next week’s election really is going to be a big one. By the time the election ends on Tuesday, well over $1 billion will have been spent by the campaigns, political action committees, and private interests. There is a lot at stake on issues ranging from health care, women’s rights, and energy, to the debt, unemployment, and the war on terror.
In other words, failing to vote should not be an option.
Here in Kentucky, it’s widely accepted that our eight or so electoral votes will go to former Gov. Mitt Romney, the Republican challenger. President Barack Obama is hardly popular in our neck of the woods, where coal jobs are on the decline and the president, rightly or not, has received most of the local blame via his policies regarding coal-fired power plants.
But regardless of what the polls say, the fact remains that this and every election is one in which every voice should be heard and every vote should be cast.
Here in Perry County, the presidential election is not the only race in which our voters will have a chance to have their say through the ballot box. Teresa Reed and John Hansen are vying for commonwealth’s attorney, while Charles Patterson and Tom Eckert are both in a contest for circuit clerk. Both of these are for six-year terms, and important offices in our local judicial system.
In the city of Hazard, there will be at least one new commissioner who will vote on issues in the city, including how the city’s money is spent. There could be up to two new commissioners, depending on how the votes total on Tuesday. For the future of Hazard, this is indeed an important race and one in which the city’s voters should turn out to the polls.
And in Vicco voters will choose a mayor to lead the city for the next four years.
In truth, there is too much at stake, both locally and on the national scene, not to vote. No matter your views, your politics, or your party, we urge you, on Nov. 6, to vote.
— The Hazard Herald | <urn:uuid:83b9cd99-0860-42fe-ab13-a3dbda31107b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hazard-herald.com/view/full_story/20655874/article-Election-will-be-a-big-one--so-go-out-and-vote | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966598 | 437 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Has contemporary science moved from fact to faith – from experimental demonstration to dogma? Here’s a dogma of our present day science:
Nothing produced something and then something somehow exploded and slowly transformed itself into everything (including you and me).
There is no proof of this statement, but if you don’t believe it you are considered to be unscientific and irrational. Perhaps the truth is, however, the idea of time (nothing plus time equals everything) producing everything is what is unscientific and irrational. | <urn:uuid:4f616256-29fb-4b2d-8549-a4e693b49e4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://stevesimms.wordpress.com/2012/10/23/contemporary-science-dogma-1/ | 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 | 0.934107 | 106 | 1.65625 | 2 |
N. Korea warned US before nuclear test
- From: AAP
- February 13, 2013
NORTH Korea warned the United States before carrying out its third nuclear test, the State Department says, without specifying how much notice Washington was given.
"The DPRK did inform us at the State Department of their intention to conduct a nuclear test," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters. "We were advised."
She stressed Washington had again told North Korea, also known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in the "strongest terms" that it opposed such plans.
"I'm simply going to tell you that it was prior to the event. I'm not going to get into any further details," she said, adding the warning came through the usual diplomatic channels.
Washington does not have diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and usually is represented in its diplomatic dealings with the North Korean leadership by Sweden.
The United States was now pushing for "consequences" at the United Nations, Nuland said, agreeing that another layer of sanctions would be one option.
"Without getting ahead of policy, I would simply say that it is fair to say that we are looking at the full suite of options to try to get the DPRK to change course," Nuland told journalists.
North Korea is already one of the most isolated countries in the world, and has been hit by a slew of international sanctions to try to force it to rein in its nuclear program.
But the US had found that internationally there was "quite a bit more that we could squeeze in terms of the DPRK's access to international finance ... in terms of cutting off its proliferation activities," Nuland said.
The UN Security Council met in emergency talks on Tuesday and all the powers backed a statement saying the North was in "grave violation" of council resolutions.
"In line with this commitment and the gravity of this violation, the members of the Security Council will begin work immediately on appropriate measures in a Security Council resolution," it added. | <urn:uuid:5ef9e117-574c-45ae-9cb6-1d907a2f8807> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/n-korea-warned-us-before-nuclear-test/story-e6frfkui-1226576652649 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980019 | 414 | 1.765625 | 2 |
New York Immigration Defense - Aggravated Felonies
What are aggravated felonies?
The list of which crimes are considered aggravated felonies has continued to evolve since the term was first introduced in 1988 in the Immigration and Nationality Act. In fact, it now includes some crimes which are neither aggravated offenses nor felonies. The term, however, is used to refer to offenses for which a non-U.S. citizen may be deported or suffer other specified immigration consequences. Certain aggravated felonies may only be considered such in certain circumstances, depending, for example, on the length of sentence imposed by the court. It is imperative you have a
New York immigration defense lawyer fighting for your rights and freedom if you have been accused of any of the following:
New York Criminal Attorney
The Portela Law Firm, P.C. will take all possible measures in the fight to protect you from exclusion from asylum, citizenship, or entering or remaining in the United States. As the debate regarding which crimes may result in deportation continues, it is vital you have a legal team intimately familiar with both criminal law and immigration law. The firm's legal team comes from diverse and illustrious backgrounds, pooling their resources to aggressively assert and protect the interests of their clients and the diverse population of New York. They can provide service in English or Spanish and are standing by to help you in any way they can.
If you are an alien accused of an aggravated felony, it is vital you contact a New York criminal defense lawyer immediately. | <urn:uuid:eac14163-934b-487f-8abe-84722508eecb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newyorkimmigrantdefenselawyer.com/Criminal-Defense/Aggravated-Felonies.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964004 | 306 | 1.585938 | 2 |
A Welcome from the Director
The field of public administration concerns itself with government, public purposes, and getting the job done. The faculty of the School of Public Administration are here to build knowledge in the discipline through scholarship, and also to provide educational opportunities for those who wish to know more. There are many stimulating challenges facing the public sector, and we offer our five degree programs knowing that our students seek a superb education at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.
The Bachelor of Public Management (BPM) places emphasis on the critical cognitive knowledge and practical skills essential for professional positions in public and nonprofit agencies and organizations.
The Bachelor of Public Safety Administration (BPSA) is a unique undergraduate degree program for South Florida professionals and pre-professionals interested in police, fire, and disaster response practice and administration.
The Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree is a nationally ranked and accredited. Students were first admitted to the FAU MPA program in 1967 and the first degrees awarded in 1969. The mission of the MPA is to provide intellectual, technical, analytical, and pragmatic education to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of those working to solve problems in the public sector.
The Master of Nonprofit Management (MNM) degree recognizes the growing importance of the nonprofit sector in solving public problems. The curriculum was developed with the unique needs of the nonprofit sector in mind, and so contains specialized content on board governance, fund raising, nonprofit management, and finance.
The Ph.D. in Public Administration is a high quality research degree delivered by nationally and internationally recognized scholars who hold tenured senior positions on the faculty. It is designed for people interested in public administration and public policy careers, public sector research centers, or the public sector itself. Many of those who graduate with the Ph.D. take faculty positions at other distinguished universities offering public administration degrees.
Khi V. Thai
Professor and Director, School of Public Administration
All Pages maintained by College Webmaster | <urn:uuid:f8ce3df4-6e5a-4477-a53e-fc5c93d67f18> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fau.edu/cdsi/spa/welcome.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945684 | 404 | 1.5 | 2 |
||photo book review
Anyone who has taken a road trip through the American Southwest has passed through towns like Higley: unlikely tough-scrabble little communities that crop up like weeds and cling to inhospitable territory, lingering, lonely, and surviving like a desert cactus.
Towns like Higley start out not even on the fringe of a larger metropolitan area. They exist seemingly in the middle of nowhere, and few people take notice that they are there at all.
Like so many similar tiny pioneer towns in the Wild West, they attract and nurture quirky behavior, social misfits, outsiders, and quiet people who just like to get on with their lives with nobody near to bother them. There is little concern with status or conspicuous consumption. Architecture is shelter and not much more. Anonymous and unambitious, these places are dots on a map that you might miss if you blink as you blast past on a highway.
Photographer Andrew Phelps grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. His grandparents, all four of them, had lived in Higley, quite a few miles east of the influence of Phoenix. Phelps remembers childhood visits to Higley, where people farmed, and raised horses, and lived quiet, uninteresting lives. It was dull, hot, dry, lifeless and rather boring for a young energetic boy.
So, it was quite a surprise — and an intellectual disconnect — when Phelps heard by phone that his sister and her family had just bought a home in Higley. At the time, Phelps had been living in Salzburg Austria for several years, with his wife and family, and he could not imagine why in the world anyone, much less his sister, would want to stake a new life in Higley. But then he understood. That sprawling monster of a western town, Phoenix, had steadily crept across the desert and was about to swallow up Higley as it continued to spread out like a fast-growing cancer.
Phelps said, “What I didn’t know is that the turn of the [21st] century had changed Higley from a community of farms to a community of bedrooms... Higley supplied what progress demanded: great expanses of flatland and no historical infrastructure to stand in the way of the giant strip malls, fast-food chains, and freeway turnpikes that would become the brightly-lit circulatory system of this new, affordable Higley.”
That’s when he felt compelled to go back home to document the changes with his 4x5 camera. The result of the three-year project is a great photo book (part love story, part sociological documentation, part bemused amazement) that shows the transformation of an individual community that describes in a more general way the new face of the American West.
Alec Soth writes, “Why do we take pictures? To preserve memories? Stop time? Tell stories? Andrew Phelps’ photographs of Higley, Arizona do all of these things. But most of all they make me want to go out into the world. Stripped of the usual tendency toward cynical sensationalism, Phelps’ pictures depict Higley with a mixture of clarity and affection. After looking at this remarkable book, I feel like going outside to chat with my neighbor.”
Lens Culture is happy to share a handful of the images from the book with you here. But to appreciate the richness of the story, and the beauty of the photos, buy a copy of the book, and enjoy it in a slow, leisurely way.
— JIm Casper
by Andrew Phelps
Kehrer Verlag (November 1, 2007)
11.3 x 9.8 inches
Buy on Amazon | <urn:uuid:0b7b65df-2e03-4976-beae-c8e739da9300> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://lensculture.com/phelps.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964489 | 759 | 1.78125 | 2 |
US businessmen could enhance cooperation between the two countries in the Indian aviation sector through pubic and private partnership, American ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer said today.
Speaking after the inauguration of the US Pavilion at the 'India Aviation-2010', a five-day exhibition and conference on the global aviation sector which began in Hyderabad today, Roemer asked the US business community to seize the opportunity by participating in modernisation of the sector.
"The USA would work with Indian public and private sector partners to create economic opportunities and jobs in both the countries. US companies participating in the show are ready to partner India for its goal of modernising and upgrading airports, improving air traffic flow and making it a regional aviation hub," he said.
''I would encourage American and Indian business leaders and policy makers to take this opportunity to share ideas on how our countries can work together better,'' Roemer said.
Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel said India needs at least 400 airports and 3,000 aircraft in the next 10 years to keep pace with the growing demand.
The aviation industry has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18 per cent, he noted.
The ambassador also paid homages to the Indian pilots who were killed in the crash during the opening ceremony (See: Two pilots killed during Indian Aviation 2010 show opening)
"What began as such a promising day has sadly ended so tragically. As the full extent of this tragedy is still becoming known, all of our thoughts and prayers are with those who lost their lives or were injured, and with their families. These heartbreaking losses have even more piercing impact when you are part of the event," Roemer said in a statement issued by the US embassy. | <urn:uuid:86fc1fe4-e8f3-4c6b-be26-90f6a0a6f986> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://domain-b.com/aero/aero_general/20100303_aviation_hub.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973239 | 351 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Bill Nye the Science Guy was recently a guest on the Nerdist Podcast where he talks about “his friendship with Carl Sagan, why science is the best idea EVER…” and announced the return of the Science Guy videos. He also spent a bit of time teaching Chris Hardwick how to tie a bowtie. In this gem of a clip, watch as Nye shares his bow-tie tying knowledge with Hardwick, who like many never learned how to in the first place.
Ever learn how to tie a bow tie? Chris Hardwick didn’t, but he got a personal lesson from an expert: Bill Nye, the Science Guy. Learn along with Chris and you’ll find out how much a “schminkity-wink” is.
“It’s just that simple!” Yep. | <urn:uuid:45dcf190-b2e9-45b6-a384-a77b82154e83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://laughingsquid.com/bill-nye-the-science-guy-teaches-chris-hardwick-how-to-tie-a-bowtie/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949884 | 177 | 1.757813 | 2 |
ArticleOur Psychic Living Room
Why It's Particularly Important to Read David Foster Wallace
Two years have now passed since the death of David Foster Wallace in the fall of 2008. His legacy as a writer has been the subject of nonstop debate since the day of his suicide. I’ll cut to the chase: I believe he was, in his own way, a literary genius. Let me explain why.
You may have opened Harper’s or Rolling Stone back around the turn of the century and read a really funny essay by a chatty, neurotic writer who had Rain Man–like abilities to recall and describe experiences as diverse as attending the Illinois State Fair, playing tennis during a tornado, and following John McCain’s presidential campaign. You may have found the essays hilarious, or quite brilliant. You may have gone so far as to say, as the critic Michiko Kakutani did in the New York Times, that they described modern life with “humor and fervor and verve,” and you may have wanted to read more of them. Regardless of how you felt, you probably dealt with the situation in a normal, adult way. That is, you looked up the essayist’s name online and maybe bought some of his collections, like Consider the Lobster or A Supposedly Fun Thing I’ll Never Do Again. I’ll go ahead and assume you didn’t form an obsessive attachment to the author and delve perilously deep into his essays and fiction and then have to purge all your David Foster Wallace emotional attachment errata onto a blank page and call it an “essay.” Because that’s what I did—and let me tell you, gentle reader: it hasn’t been fun.
But it has given me something to do with my time, and it’s also given me this sort of quixotic sense of purpose, this mission to Tell the People about David Foster Wallace—because the people, being a well-educated and discerning people, deserve to know. But this is an embarrassing mission, to be sure, because what if the people already know about David Foster Wallace? The majority of readers of this magazine will probably test out of David Foster Wallace 101, having already read some of his essays and maybe some of his fiction or, failing that, the numerous adoring profiles.
But what do these readers actually think about David Foster Wallace? Isn’t all the postmortem hype confusing and disorienting? Isn’t he the kind of dense novelist who gets touted by stoner twenty- and thirty-somethings? Is liking Wallace just a grad school affectation, like watching Danish art films? Is liking Wallace a fun and cool thing to do because he had a history of substance abuse and underwent electroconvulsive therapy? Or does liking Wallace have nothing to do with grad school or stories of Genius in Its Byronic Youth and everything to do with patience and an earnest desire to be a better human being? I think so. I think it’ll become quite obvious if you grit your teeth and hack away at all the melodramatic bullshit.
Among nonmembers of the literary in-crowd, there tends to be no controversy about Wallace’s greatness as an essayist—everyone agrees that he was hilarious and engaging and that his essays are a joy to read. The real war is being fought in the trenches of his fiction, where even the most well meaning people are putting down his books a hundred pages in and complaining of pretentiousness and overwriting. For a remarkably biased person such as myself, this seems like an interesting conflict to get in on. Let me be completely transparent here and say that I’m not an ecstatic reviewer from Salon magazine. I’m not currently in possession of a Ph.D. in English, nor do I live in a Tribeca loft and subsist on Red Bull and sushi. I’m just like you, except for (maybe) this one difference: I really, really love David Foster Wallace’s fiction. And I want to make a case not merely for his writing but for his fiction writing. I want to make a case for its earnestness and honesty, and then I want to make a similar case for the writer himself. So please bear with me.
The Hyper-Articulate Tin Man
David Foster Wallace’s 1,079-page magnum opus, Infinite Jest, is set in the year 2009 in the Organization of North American Nations, a political fusion of Canada, Mexico, and the United States, where giant corporations subsidize everything from cars to calendar years. The book chronicles the stories of students at the elite Enfield Tennis Academy (ETA) in Boston, as well as a group of recovering drug addicts at the nearby Ennet House Drug and Alcohol Recovery House. Hal Incandenza, one of the novel’s protagonists, is a lexical prodigy and tennis star at the ETA who goes to great lengths to conceal his marijuana addiction from all but his closest friends. The other putative protagonist is Don Gately, a former burglar and Demerol addict who’s gone straight and now works the graveyard counseling shifts at Ennet House, listening while the likes of coke-addicted Randy Lenz and marijuana-addicted Kate Gompert recount their nightmares. The book’s plot is massive and unwieldy and mainly concerns attempts of a Quebecois separatist group to obtain the original print of a film called Infinite Jest, which was written and directed by Hal’s father, the cinematic auteur James Orin Incandenza (aka Himself, aka the Mad Stork). A character in the film—and by extension the film itself—is apparently so beautiful that viewers have actually been known to die from pleasure. In the hands of the Quebecois separatists, such a film would be a powerful WMD. There’s much talk about the American addiction to pleasure and our tendency to take the path of least resistance, and so on. | <urn:uuid:d1be0865-e19c-475a-9cf2-cc3741b4e579> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thecommonreview.org/nc/article/archive/2011/01/article/our-psychic-living-room.html?tx_comments_pi1%5Bpage%5D=12 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963072 | 1,257 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Buy a Book
Author Web Site
Writer and artist WOPASHITWE MONDO EYEN WE LANGA
(formerly known as David Rice) was born in Omaha in 1949, graduated from Creighton Preparatory
School and took courses at Creighton University.
He has created art, written short stories, poetry and journalism.
Five books of poetry were published between 1973 and 1978, and he has contributed poems and
stories to such literary journals and magazines as Prairie Schooner, The Black Scholar,
ARGO, Black American Literary Forum, Shooting Star Quarterly Review, Pacifica Review,
Obsidian, Black Books Bulletin, and over thirty others.
In addition, his poem, "Great Babaleur"
was featured in Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers (Scholastic, Inc,
1993). Two of his plays, Different Dances and We Dance in Our Neighborhood, were
performed by Ujima Youtheatre in Nebraska, as well as in New York City.
From 1969-1970, he wrote for the local underground paper,
Buffalo Chip, and joined the Black Panther party.
In 1970, he and fellow Black Panther Ed Poindexter were convicted for the bombing murder
of Omaha policeman Larry Minard, and given life sentences. Both have consistently denied any
connection with the crime, and Amnesty International has
called for either a new trial or immediate release.
He is one of several co-authors (including Yosef-ben-Jochannan, John Henrik Clarke, et al)
of The Race: Matters Concerning Pan Afrikan History, Culture, and Genocide (Native Sun
Publishers, 1992). He is a contributor to Nebraska Voices, the anthology commissioned by
the Nebraska Humanities Council in celebration of the sesquicentennial of Nebraska statehood. | <urn:uuid:44c7e93e-d123-4dd2-9a7e-bc5fc9db76b7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/ncw/langa.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948567 | 386 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Here we are in November already, and if you are anything like me, you still have work to do in the garden. We will have to hope for a few more nice days to get everything tidied and put away for the winter.
There is still time to plant bulbs, and you might be lucky enough to find some bargains as retailers try to move out the last of their supplies. The sooner you can get the bulbs into the ground, the better. Some bone meal in the planting hole will be helpful.
When I plant bulbs, I do not fiddle with those awkward tools sold for the purpose.
Most tulips, crocus and daffodils look better in clumps, so just dig a wider hole and place several of them in together.
Most of my tulips are several years old, and have reverted to red, and you know my feelings about red tulips, so they need to be replaced.
This is a good time to pay some attention to the compost pile. Give it a good turnover, and dig out some of that wonderful black and crumbly material to spread around the flower and vegetable beds.
Janet Del Turco is a local gardener and a graduate of the Ohio State University Master Gardener program. Contact her at [email protected].
Every summer, I get bonus plants from my pile as the seeds in the vegetable scraps put in there sprout and flourish in all that good, rich material. This year, I had several potato plants, a thriving cherry tomato vine and three acorn squash.
The experts will tell you to cover the pile (or put the lid on your bin), but I find that mine does just fine putting up with snow and ice just as the rest of us have to do. The freezing and thawing cycle that is bad for the perennial beds is just fine for the compost, and seems to hasten breakdown.
Usually in November, I remind people to keep watering trees and shrubs until the ground freezes. This year, that advice is not necessary because Mother Nature is doing a good job of watering without our help.
As you remove garden debris, be sure you collect anything that was diseased or affected by pests. These hardy insects and fungi will lay low all through the winter, getting ready for a new offensive in the spring.
I have a couple of saucers by the back door that I inspect every day, and I always find baby black slugs, wireworms and an assortment of little scurrying things that all meet their end in a bucket of salty water.
Powdery mildew and rust took a toll on the flowerbed that houses my treasured black hollyhocks, and I am going to give up on them and allow the ornamental grasses to spread.
I bought a new hose this summer after leaving the old one out all winter last year. Naturally, it has sprung leaks. Even though I only used it twice this year, I did remember to drain it and take it into the garage for winter storage.
There were a few other tools still outside when I started on my final clean-up. I found a long-lost favorite knife in the compost pile, and these things were cleaned and stored.
And finally, if you are planning to move any perennials, you may just have time to get this accomplished before the snow flies and the ground freezes. Dig as large a root ball as possible, and have the new planting hole ready because the roots need as little time as possible exposed to the air.
They should settle in the new spot for their dormant cycle and be ready for new growth in the spring.
Very optimistically, I brought in pots of bay, thyme, parsley, rosemary and sage, which are living on the kitchen window sill for a while. I know from experience they will not survive all winter, but I will be able to have fresh herbs for a few weeks.
And who knows? This may be the year for a miracle. | <urn:uuid:35f4fddb-b7c2-4856-a237-0635c2fd9bcc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://advertiser-tribune.com/page/content.detail/id/541958/November-is-not-too-late-for-garden-chores.html?nav=5063 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967851 | 829 | 1.765625 | 2 |
First off I had to find the meaning of a back-link which I did at http://www.backlinksaddurl.com/ …
What is a back link? A back-link is a link on another website that leads to your own blog or website. Why is it important to get backlinks? Finding back links is important for search engine optimization, also known as, SEO.
The more links that lead to your site will equal more traffic and readers. The more quality backlinks you have, the higher your site will rank in the search engines. Also, if you want to increase traffic to your site then you will need to build backlinks. It is also important to get good, quality backlinks. Google does not raise your page rank if most of your backlinks come from spammy-type sites. The higher the rank of the site that links to you, the better “link juice” you will get. Ultimately, Google will rank your blog or website based upon how many good, quality backlinks you have that relate to your topic.
When you have a higher page rank you will rank higher in the search engines.
It is estimated that 70% of the criteria used by Google to determine what web sites rise to the top of their listings is the quantity and quality of the back links. And that makes sense. If hundreds or thousands of websites think you rate a mention, you must be doing something right.
Google relies on the voting public and rewards you by pushing your site to the top of the search results.
Back links allow your site to stay connected with other existing sites. They provide the needed traffic for your site’s popularity and ranking. Take a look at how you can create strong back links to your website that will boost your chances in the dynamic world of search engine optimization.
With link building we can get good back links to your website. How? Through book marks, directories, forums we can get good back links.
So just do link building for your website
This article about article directories and blog directories seemed pretty easy to read and very informative to assist a newbie like me with the importance of how to acquire and “how to” acquire back links to my website using blog directories. I still haven’t had time to keep up with articles in my own profession of interior design and preventative maintenance and carpentry and cabinetry, much less what I need to learn regarding this subject.
I find it all so mind boggling or should I say mind blogging!
Readers that agree with me that SEO should mean Seeking Every Opportunityand are new to this foreign language of Internet marketing, traffic, links, blogs, and time consuming research for accurate blog posts, please write me a note on my blog.
I would love to start a conversation. Maybe exchange links, who knows what may come of asking for help on this electrical universe! | <urn:uuid:298c847d-c1b5-4df5-9096-639a7b78aebb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pbstjsinteriors.com/blog/tag/seeking-every-opportunity/ | 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 | 0.938867 | 595 | 1.546875 | 2 |
Photo: Utah Gov. Gary Herbert
On Tuesday, Gov. Gary Herbert signed four immigration reform bills officially starting Utah’s attempt to “force the federal government to engage” in a debate that they have so-far ignored.
These bills, referred to as the “Utah Solution” are in response to lawmakers claiming the federal government isn’t doing enough to stop and punish undocumented immigration.
Arizona and a number of other states have butt heads with the Obama administration, because they believe that since the feds are not doing enough, the responsibility to address immigration issues falls on the state. Bills have been drafted and laws have attempted to pass, but each time, litigation delays the laws’ implementation.
“Part of the overall strategy here is to, in fact, force the federal government to engage,” said Herbert. “They’ve been on the sidelines way too long. They need to get in the game.”
Herbert’s signing of these four bills has not satisfied Utah’s Tea Party however. The Gov. was told by the party to veto guest-worker bill HB116, and he has so far not done it.
One of the people behind the state’s Tea Party, David Kirkham, was quite straightforward with the governor, who is running for re-election in 2012.
“The campaign started today,” Kirkham said. “He will be challenged, and we will be actively supporting someone else.”
HB116 would not take effect for another two years, but would allow the estimated 110,000 undocumented people in Utah to obtain work permits by paying a $2,500 fine or $1,000 fine if they overstayed their visa.
The permits would be issued through the Utah Department of Public safety and would require criminal background checks. They would also allow families to stay together, as they’d be included under the permit. This was an addition endorsed by the LDS Church. | <urn:uuid:ff84e255-6659-48cc-94ba-97c4cec6a25e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hispanicallyspeakingnews.com/latino-daily-news/details/utah-gov.-herbert-signs-solution-to-immigration-issue-still-angers-tea-part/6136/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977969 | 413 | 1.632813 | 2 |
I'm sure we can all agree that the very moment we make a new discovery, a big discovery, in the course of our genealogical research is a happy and exciting moment. It's the event that gives us cause to do the "happy dance". It goes beyond "feels good" to somewhere in the neighborhood of euphoric. Some have even referred to it as a "high".
But what about all the other hours, days, months, and years we put in to our genealogical research? Is that time boring, soothing, exciting, numbing, frustrating, puzzling? What feelings does genealogy research evoke in you? I'm sure most of us have run the gamut of feelings at one time or another but what would you say is the most common feeling you get from doing research?
Have you ever turned to research to bring you up when you're feeling blue or calm you down when you're anxious or worried? Have you entered data in a genealogy software program to get your mind off pain or sorrow? Have you turned to the task of combing through a reel of microfilm in search of pertinent records when your life was in turmoil and you didn't know which direction to turn? Has genealogical research ever been therapeutic for you?
I find genealogical research and related organizational tasks to be very therapeutic. I can't tell you how many times I've turned to my genealogy when I was anxious and couldn't get my mind to relax. I find the focus required to comb through films, enter data, analyze documents, search databases, or review notes to be a soothing distraction when I need it to be. The same could be said for those days when my aging hormones are having a field day with my emotions and I'm feeling bluer than blue. It isn't exactly what I'd call a mood elevator but I can almost always count on it to be a mood modulator, helping me find the emotional middle ground.
There have been many times when my genealogy research has been a stress reducer for me. I wasn't into genealogy when my kids were really young but it was a great escape and de-stressor when my kids were teenagers. Anticipating an argument or dealing with the hurt and anger after one were times when I turned to my genealogy to help me cope. It was something steady, the routine of it comfortable and comforting. It was comfort food for my raw emotions... something solid to fill me up when I was emotionally spent.
My genealogy has also been invaluable to me in helping me put things in perspective. This was especially true in the days and weeks immediately after my mom died when I was going through a period of profound grief. I believe seeing the cycle of life and death in my genealogy records helped me to get a grip on the normalcy or universality of my experience... especially when looking back hundreds of years ago when babies died quite regularly, mothers died giving birth, and a bout of diarrhea could kill and often did.
And then there are those pesky sleepless nights... yeesh! I often turn on my computer and immerse myself in "genealogy stuff" when I have a case of insomnia. Sometimes it puts me back to sleep, sometimes I get a "second wind" and find myself even more wide awake, and sometimes it just fills the lonely, empty, hours of darkness. It's not always predictable but it is usually appreciated.
Genealogy is more than just something that relieves me from stress, worry, sadness, and insomnia. It also provides me with a great deal of satisfaction. There's satisfaction in knowing I've found my roots and in looking at the amazing amount of information I've been able to put together about people who lived long ago in a foreign land. And they're not just any people, they're my people. And the information I've learned about them is not just sweeping generalizations about life and times like you'd find in a history textbook but specific information about their homes, occupations, families, and faiths. I take pride in that... which is good for my self worth. I feel a real sense of competency when I step back and look at all that I've accomplished.
And lastly, genealogy is often just plain fun. In the same way a child plays "let's pretend" for the shear joy of doing so, so do I play with my genealogy for the pure pleasure of doing so. It's fun to let go of the real world and mentally escape to one of the many villages in Poland where my ancestors lived so long ago... or let my imagination wander as I picture my great grandparents walking the dark snow-covered streets of turn-of-the-century Detroit on Christmas Eve making their way to Pasterka (midnight Mass) at Sweetest Heart of Mary Church. It inspires my imagination, challenges me to discover who or what I might find in the next document, and helps me feel a connection with our oft times impersonal world.
I get a lot out of doing genealogical research, so, so, so much more than just adding names to a family tree. For me it can be and often is therapeutic. What about you? How does genealogy touch your emotional life? | <urn:uuid:0e5a0b67-416b-4d2a-be5e-ded556732092> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://creativegene.blogspot.com/2010/03/genealogy-as-therapy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969463 | 1,077 | 1.570313 | 2 |
The Dream Team is all the rage, the 1992 U.S. Olympic basketball team of Magic, Jordan and Bird. They restored America's glory.
Truly a historic team, but I respectfully submit that when it comes to Dream Teams, that '92 U.S. team was the JV squad.
The real Dream Team was the 1968 U.S. team at Mexico City.
While the '92 team reclaimed America's basketball superiority by using NBA players, ineligible for the Olympics until then, the '68 team averted a colossal U.S. disaster by trotting out a ragtag team of nobodies.
Dream Team? The '68 group was more like a Prayer Team.
To set the stage: Starting in 1936 in Berlin, the U.S. Olympic men's team was undefeated - six gold medals, 45 consecutive wins. Gold medal No. 7 was all but assured in '68 since the U.S. team would have college stars and future Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductees Lew Alcindor (later Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), Wes Unseld, Elvin Hayes, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Calvin Murphy and Dan Issel.
But none of them played for that U.S. team. Maravich, Issel and Murphy did not make the cut. Alcindor, Unseld and Hayes (and many others) did not try out, honoring the call of charismatic Professor Harry Edwards for African Americans to boycott the Games in protest of civil rights abuses and exploitation of black athletes.
The deep U.S. basketball talent pool became a dry gulch. With Russian and Yugoslavian basketball on the rise, America's gold medal chances were dim.
Haywood was 18 when he got the invitation to try out. He was a 6-foot-8, 220-pound center at a Colorado juco, Trinidad State. Haywood survived a JC tryout camp in Kansas to advance to the three-day U.S. trials in Albuquerque, N.M., where 88 players vied for 12 spots.
Haywood made the team the first morning, during layups. Coach Hank Iba had never seen the kid, but when Haywood almost tore down the backboard with several dunks, Iba confronted the selection committee and demanded that Haywood be on the team. "Wood" would become the special project of the man the other players kiddingly referred to as Haywood's "Daddy Hank."
Haywood's main obstacle was a passport. He was born in rural Mississippi, where black births were not officially recorded. The State Department scrambled frantically, ultimately verifying Haywood's birth through the handwritten records in his mother's family Bible.
"Right then we knew we could win the Olympics," Scott would say later.
Cakewalk through the Olympics? Not quite. More plot lines.
At Mexico City, Haywood fell madly in love with U.S. sprinter Willye White, who was nine years older. That didn't derail him. Nor did a bout of Montezuma's revenge. What almost did Haywood in was the race-related tension hovering over the U.S. Olympians.
It was the height of the civil rights movement, and Edwards' call to protest resonated deeply. Edwards told Haywood that by competing, "You're just picking cotton for the man."
That hit home. Haywood started picking cotton under the Mississippi sun at age 6, and had felt the sting of the overseer's bullwhip.
Haywood and Scott were very much in sympathy with the protesters, but they factored in U.S. pride and their futures. By protesting, they would endanger their pro careers.
When White heard Haywood and Scott talk of boycotting the medal ceremony, she and Wilma Rudolph leaned hard on their young teammates. Tommie Smith and John Carlos staged their famous medal-stand protest, but when U.S. sprinter Lee Evans subsequently won the 400 meters and did not protest, Haywood and Scott felt they were off the hook.
Haywood would say years later, "The civil rights movement was about fighting for equality, so why should we give up equality in one of the few areas where we had battled for it and earned it?"
What was left was basketball, and the world couldn't touch Iba's makeshift crew. The U.S. team went 9-0, defeating Yugoslavia 65-50 in the gold-medal game, with Haywood scoring 21 and Scott 19. For the tournament Haywood averaged 16.1 points, shot 71.9 percent (not a misprint) from the floor and was named MVP.
Mexican fans booed the American hoopsters for two weeks, but Haywood and the lads wore 'em down. The Mexicans cheered the Americans' final win, and when Haywood's name was announced on the medal podium, he received a five-minute standing ovation.
"I didn't feel great about not being involved in the protests," Haywood would say years later, "but I cried when 'The Star-Spangled Banner' was played."
There's your Dream Team fade-out scene, Hollywood.
The Spencer Haywood story
Spencer Haywood, 63, lives in Las Vegas and owns a construction company.
After the 1968 Olympics, Haywood played one season at the University of Detroit (32.1 points per game, 22.1 rebounds per game), then signed with the Denver Rockets of the American Basketball Association, an upstart rival to the NBA. He was league MVP as a rookie (30.0 points, 19.5 rebounds), then jumped to the NBA's Seattle Supersonics.
By rule, players were not eligible for the NBA until four years after high school. That rule died when Haywood took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court and won 7-2.
Haywood played 12 NBA seasons. He was All-NBA first team in 1972 and '73, second team in 1974 and '75. He was Nike's first poster athlete, in '73 and regrets accepting money for his services, rather than Nike stock, which soon was worth millions.
Before the 1979-80 season, Haywood was traded to the Lakers of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and rookie Magic Johnson. Haywood got caught up in the Los Angeles/NBA cocaine culture and during the NBA Finals, "Driftwood" (as his teammates called him) was thrown off the team. He briefly considered putting out a mob-style hit on Lakers coach Paul Westhead.
In 1986 Haywood kicked drugs, and he has been clean and sober since. He worked in urban renewal in Detroit before moving to Las Vegas. He has been married to Linda, his second wife, for 22 years. He has four daughters (one with his former wife, Iman, the supermodel), two of whom play college basketball.
At the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles, Hank Iba introduced Haywood to the U.S. team, saying, "Gentlemen, the greatest basketball player ever is here tonight: Spencer Haywood."
- Scott Ostler
Scott Ostler is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist and co-authored Haywood's autobiography in 1992 titled "Spencer Haywood: The Rise, the Fall, the Recovery." E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @scottostler | <urn:uuid:737210cd-6dbb-4603-b0f0-ba333fd63b01> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sfgate.com/sports/ostler/article/Hoop-dreamers-who-didn-t-have-a-prayer-3650789.php | 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 | 0.976744 | 1,540 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Telecommuting makes sense for a lot of employers and employees. Companies save on physical plant costs and utilities; workers save a bundle on commuting when they work from home.
The problem is, of course, that supervisors can’t directly monitor exactly what people are doing when they’re not in the office (which may explain why half of employers are opposed to the practice.)
So what, exactly, are people doing when they’re supposedly working off-site? Check out this infographic, courtesy of onlinedegrees.com.
Courtesy of: Online Degrees | <urn:uuid:77e70849-b98f-402b-b4ae-29451814a642> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.hrmorning.com/what-your-people-are-doing-when-they-work-from-home/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933402 | 119 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Next to everything, at the lively historic crossroads of Washington Street and Somerville Avenue, Union Square is just one mile from Harvard Square and Kendall Square and is closer to the downtown Boston than most of the City of Boston.
Union Square has the most genuine international flavor of any business district in New England. Union Square has food markets, retail boutiques, and dining & nightlife from all over the world. A growing personal, business, and professional services sector is supported by the City's central U.S. Post Office and is served by the city's community access television studio. The area is now the focus of a special city/business/resident initiative called Union Square Main Streets.
Washington Street was originally The Road to Newtown (Cambridge) in 1630. Somerville Avenue was Milk Row. Union Sq's history goes back over 375 years. General George Washington ordered the first raising of an American flag, the Grand Union Flag, on Prsospect Hill during the Siege of Boston. In the 19th Century the hill became a residential enclave for literary and merchant Boston and Cambridge. In the days of streetcars and commuter rail, Union Square was this City's central commuting hub and major business district. The Union Square area boasts some of the finest architecture in the urban region. In the future, a Green Line transit spur is expected to once again serve this major hub. © 2006 -2012
Helping to make all of Somerville a great place to visit, live, work, study, play and shop, the members of the Chamber's Union Square Business Group are: | <urn:uuid:5916a160-e4ae-44a8-abc7-c95a4e5fc3c8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://somervillechamber.org/member_directory_district.php?DID=334 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947551 | 321 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Opposition parties are scorning Prime Minister John Key's state of the nation speech, describing it as a rehash of tired old ideas and policies.
Labour leader David Shearer says the centrepiece announcement of 14,000 more apprenticeships over the next five years is too little, too late.
"Apprenticeships have declined 20 per cent under National - the lack of apprentices is a direct result of four years of inaction," he said.
Mr Shearer says the government had previously announced its intention to change the Resource Management Act and cut red tape.
"The speech contained no fresh thinking or big ideas to get the economy back on track," he said.
"It's the same tired, hands-off approach that has delivered an unemployment rate of 7.3 per cent, stagnant growth and a housing affordability crisis."
Green Party co-leader Metiria Turei says the "underwhelming" speech lacked vision and repeated "faded old excuses".
She says there were 12,933 apprentices in 2009 and under National they had dwindled to 10,434 by the end of 2011.
"Blaming his failure on jobs and the economy on the previous government just doesn't cut it after four years," she said.
"It's no longer credible for Mr Key to blame his economic failures on the rest of the world when unemployment is rising here while it is steady or falling in most developed countries."
The Council of Trade Unions (CTU) says increasing the numbers of apprenticeships is a good start but 14,000 new places over five years is a drop in the bucket.
"In its last term the government cut $55 million from industry training and it's vital they reinvest significantly to upskill the workforce," said CTU secretary Peter Conway.
BusinessNZ says employers want quality apprenticeship training and it's important the schemes work well.
"More funding and focus on apprenticeships is the right approach," said BusinessNZ chief executive Phil O'Reilly.
"More overall funding, higher requirements for educational content and financial incentives to enter into apprenticeships are useful changes." | <urn:uuid:451ebaa0-ca81-43bd-b25e-3f70a772ceb0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/opposition-parties-scorn-keys-speech-011101471.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 | 0.969285 | 430 | 1.65625 | 2 |
I think there’s a statement that people will agree with me to some extent: China is known for counterfeiting products, from fake brand-named bags to ‘fake powder milk’ for infants, to believe it or not, WINE! Ever since the Fall of 2010, there have been reports on China counterfeiting goods such as wine. You’re probably wondering how is that possible?
I know I’ve mentioned this really briefly in a previous blog that was on the credibility of a wine blogger, but I wanted to go further in depth on this issue.
In late December, several corporate accounts were frozened and any tainted wines were pulled off the shelves after they had been made in Hebei Province. These wines were both chemically altered as well as falsely branded as a higher quality product; the irony of it all was that China produces a third of their local grape wine and was nicknamed as ‘China’s Bordeaux’.
CCTV’s footage showed a local sales manager admitting that some wines made in the coastal city of Qinhuangdao contained only 20 percent of fermented grape juice, with the rest being composed of sugar water mixed with chemicals, including coloring agents and flavorings.
With all the publicity and buzz around the wine scandal in China, many esteemed members in the wine industry, such as Zhang Yongjian (the executive director for the development and regulation of the food and drug industry), are afraid of the destructive effects to the wine industries in China.
“It will be hard for the county to restore its current status or gain recognition among nationwide consumers,” Zhang said.
Even as a person who is proud of my Chinese heritage, I was extremely disappointed in China. I’m not going to lie, I’m one of the people who’ve bought fake brand-named purses when I’ve gone to visit China, yet you may call me hypocritical when I’m against the issue of counterfeiting wine. I would argue however, that this is a totally different ballpark. Purses are merely things that we carry, clothing are merely fabrics that we put on our bodies, but wine is something we drink. Just like food, it can be affect our bodies negatively if too many chemicals are added. Anyone who counterfeits food should receive SEVERE PENALTY because you’re harming someone else by producing an impure product. I’m furious that any decent human being could allow such corruption – allowing products to be ‘altered’ so you can earn money faster is purely selfish. Unfortunately, I could find reports as to what happened to those who were caught counterfeiting wine but I do hope in the future, stricter policies can be regulated.
This poses a question I have for you, which I hope you can share with me your thoughts: how do you go about changing people’s view on counterfeited items in China?
Anyone that I know of who goes to China to buy goods is always cautious of it being a counterfeit item. From a poll that was done on 1,365 people, 99.5% of them said that they had experienced with forgeries at some point in their lifetime – this, in my perspective, is not only shocking, but also sad that people just accept it for the way it is.
Wine of the Day: Vino Nobile di Montepulciano Incanto (2007) | <urn:uuid:e8d1568e-3c8c-4787-8134-055f6c6d6623> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://annienvino.wordpress.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982384 | 713 | 1.789063 | 2 |
KNF celebrates International Aflatoun Day
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Kaira Nyining Federation (KNF), a ChildFund affiliated body
based in Faraba Banta village in Kombo East, West Coast Region, Friday
celebrated the International Aflatoun Day at Basori Lower Basic School.
Aflatoun is a ChildFund pilot project in 18 schools in the West Coast Region, and Kaira Nyining Federation is piloting the initiative in three lower basic schools in Kombo East. It is a project that provides children with the building blocks of life, encouraging them to save their resources and start social and financial micro-enterprises. Through social and financial education, children are empowered to make a positive change in their lives and in their communities, which may eventually break the vicious cycle of poverty.
Speaking at the occasion, Famara Kujabi, senior education
officer, Region Two, said since his office established collaboration with
ChildFund on the project, it has immensely helped a lot in inculcating in the
students the culture of saving for the future. The Aflatoun programme, he explained has come at a right
time and has proven successful in the three schools in Kombo East and other
schools in the region.
Kujabi used the occasion to call on the parents to
collaborate with ChildFund and the Regional Education Office, with a view to
providing proper upbringing of the children and to prepare them for the future. The child and youth officer of Kaira Nyining Federation,
Lamin Darboe, saidAflatoun and
its partners are helping children learn about their rights, save and start
enterprises in 80 countries.
He underscored that the Aflatoun habit in children has helped to ease financial burden on parents in Kombo East as the children save to buy materials such as pens, pencils and books. “It has even helped pupils who saved money from grade one to six pay part of their school fees for themselves,” he said.
Darboe went further to state that the objective of Aflatoun is the reduction of poverty with the help of socially and financially empowered children. “We believe that children should be taught to understand their rights and responsibilities and strive to ensure that child financial education is viewed as a right for every child across the globe,” he added. He told the gathering that Aflatoun also teaches school children to understand that they also have certain responsibilities to play in families, communities as well as societies and the nation.
While assuring parents that ChildFund The Gambia and Kaira Nyining will always be in support and stand for the development of the children, Darboe also assured the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and others of his Federation’s unreserved commitment to the cause. The day also witnessed the presentation of Aflatoun’s annual report by three schools in Kombo East that implemented the initiative.
Author: Amadou Jallow | <urn:uuid:ef532d28-4b38-460e-88d2-51d81bc40266> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://observer.gm/africa/gambia/article/knf-celebrates-international-aflatoun-day | 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 | 0.96578 | 622 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works. – Steve Jobs
Let’s face it, first impressions matter. A foundation of good content is going to keep your readers engaged but you need to hook them first. You do that by having a good design. That design extends beyond more than just how it looks (graphics, colors, etc.). Layout and navigation (how it works) matters too.
- If I’m searching for homes, can I access your home search page with one-click?
- What if I’m looking for info on a specific neighborhood? Do you have a resource/landing page for that? Can I get to it easily?
- What if I need to contact you because I have a question, do you have a form readily available on your page? (Note: Every listing page should have a contact form).
Usability & Navigation:
When designing your site, remember, if a site visitor can’t quickly and easily find what they’re looking for, they’re going to get frustrated and leave. So think about what it is your site visitors need access to and ask yourself if that’s easily accessible with one click from your home page. Your navigation buttons should summarize the major content areas of your website. To me, that includes pages like:
- About – Who are you? Why should I work with you?
- Home Search – This one is obvious and one of the main reasons consumers are coming to your site…to search for homes.
- Featured Listings - (I’m 50/50 on this one but I can see where you’d want to bring attention to your own listings)
- Neighborhoods – Do you have landing pages for each of these items? Real Estate Agent Irina Netchaev for example built “Local City Guides” for varying neighborhoods in her area.
- Testimonials – Frankly, what others say about you matters more than what you can say about yourself. Have you collected testimonials from past clients to share? If not, you should. Here’s a great testimonials page from Real Estate Agent Cyndee Haydon.
- Contact – How easy are you making it to contact you? The more hoops you make people jump through just to get in touch, the less likely they are to do so.
Remember, think about WHY people are coming to your website. What are they looking for? Then, what can you trim, or re-arrange to make it easier for them to find those things?
Click here to subscribe to the Build a Better Real Estate Blog Series. | <urn:uuid:ba49b274-916f-4114-971c-4e27c5459359> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ricardobueno.com/keep-it-simple/comment-page-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934456 | 557 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Fluffy Cat Ears - The Latest Fashion Accessory From Japan
The Japanese are always coming up with cool fashion ideas. First there was the LED teeth, then an air-conditioned jacket and now, this really awesome headband that can read your brainwaves. While it might sound sort of creepy and weird, it actually is quite brilliant.
The Necomimi, (a combination of the Japanese words for cat and ear) is a cool headband that is fitted with two furry cat ears that respond to what is going on in your mind. If you are seriously concentrating on your school work or any other activity, the ears will be upright. Relax a little and down they go, all droopy. The best part is, you can make them swirl up and down actively, if you take turns concentrating and relaxing.
While it may sound magical, the headbands are just fitted with battery-powered brainwaves sensors - A technology that has been used for many years in the medical field. Also, though they are currently being made just for fun, with some additional tweaking the Necomimi could become a useful tool in helping to decipher the feelings of people with mental disabilities or those, who cannot speak.
if you are planning on getting yourself a pair, be warned that these cat ears do not come cheap and will set you back at least a few hundred dollars. Also, try not to wear them at school and help your teacher figure out the exact moment you dozed off in that social studies class!
Resources: BBC.co.uk, odditycentral.com, globalpost.com | <urn:uuid:968f45da-326e-4229-8ba1-2455b8e80b61> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dogonews.com/2011/11/14/fluffy-cat-ears-the-latest-fashion-accessory-from-japan/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958986 | 325 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Many Aucklanders would wonder why tolls were ever taken off the harbour bridge, mayor Len Brown says.
But the possibility of reintroducing tolls on the existing bridge to pay in advance for an additional Waitemata Harbour crossing isn't something the mayor is willing to expand on just yet.
Mr Brown raised the idea during a visit to Glenfield College where he questioned students on important issues facing the city.
He told students that a second harbour crossing in the next 10 to 15 years and the possibility of tolling the harbour bridge to fund the project is one option that's being looked into.
Suburban Newspapers asked him if he is talking about tolling the existing harbour bridge before the new one was built. But Mr Brown says a number of funding options are still being investigated.
"Billions of dollars of investment in transport infrastructure is required to get Auckland moving and unleash the potential of all of Auckland, including the North Shore," he says.
"It would be unfair to burden taxpayers and ratepayers with all that cost and that's why we are now looking at alternatives," he says.
Mr Brown says many Aucklanders might question why tolls were ever taken off the bridge.
"Any decision about alternative funding options, including tolls, is some way off," he says.
A variety of options for alternative funding of transport infrastructure, including an additional harbour crossing have been put out for public consultation.
Submissions are being considered and an announcement on the next stage in that process is expected soon.
Mr Brown says he will not talk about his preferences for alternative funding until that time.
Alternative sites, routes and methods for providing an additional Waitemata Harbour crossing have been under consideration for over 20 years, since 1986.
There have been five separate studies.
The last, in 2008, saw five regional partners, including NZTA's predecessor Transit NZ, Auckland and North Shore City Councils, Auckland Regional Council and the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, consider 159 crossing options.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Do you think the existing bridge should be tolled to pay for a new one? Comment Below.
- © Fairfax NZ News | <urn:uuid:06b033d5-acda-4fd1-b091-dd9a66fac4a5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/north-harbour-news/7103274/Mayor-hints-at-bridge-toll | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969945 | 439 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Phoenix Real Estate Demographics
As of the 2005-2007 US Census Bureau’s American Community Survey estimate, there were 1,440,018 people, 483,915 households, and 308,584 families residing in Phoenix, Arizona. The racial makeup of Phoenix was 76.5% White, 41.5% Hispanic, 2.3% Asian, 5.5% Black or African American, 2.0% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 13.5% from other races.
Of the Phoenix real estate households, 38.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.8% were married couples living together. Individuals accounted for 28.4 % of all Phoenix real estate households and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.67.
In the city the population age distribution was 31.7% under the age of 20, 6.9% from 20 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 7.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.5 years.
The average income for a family in Phoenix, Arizona was $73,069. Per capita income for the city was $23,369. 15.8% of the population and 11.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 24.8% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Phoenix real estate is comprised of 543,568 housing units of which 67.3% is owner-occupied and 32.7 is renter-occupied.
Phoenix Real Estate and Economy
Our strong economy plays a large role in Phoenix real estate values. Phoenix is currently home to seven Fortune 1000 companies: waste management company Allied Waste, electronics corporation Avnet, education provider Apollo Group (which operates the University of Phoenix), retailer CSK Auto, mining company Freeport-McMoRan, retailer PetSmart, energy supplier Pinnacle West. Honeywell's Aerospace division is headquartered in Phoenix, and the valley has many of their mechanical and avionics facilities. Intel has one of their largest sites here, employing about 10,000 employees and 3 chip manufacturing fabs, including the $3 billion state-of-the-art 300 mm and 45nm Fab. American Express hosts their financial transactions, customer service, and their entire website from Phoenix. Nearby, US Airways Group, a Fortune 500 company is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona as well as Insight Enterprises (also listed on the Fortune 500). Phoenix is also home to Best Western, a hotel chain, and U-HAUL International, a rental company and moving supply store.
In recent years, Phoenix real estate has become home to many Internet companies have. Internet companies like GoDaddy.com, eBay, IPowerWeb, Google, AOL, and Easynews all have major offices located in Phoenix.
The military has a significant presence in with Luke Air Force Base located in the west of Phoenix.
Phoenix Real Estate and Climate
Due to the warm climate in winter, Phoenix real estate benefits greatly from recreational and seasonal tourism, and has a particularly robust golf industry. Phoenix has an arid climate, with hot summers and temperate winters. Annually, the temperature reaches or exceeds 100°F (38°C) on an average of 110 days, including most days from late May through early September. Highs can top 110 °F (43 °C) an average of 18 days during the year. Throughout the year, the night time low will bet at or above 80 °F (27 °C) for 67 days .
Phoenix, Arizona averages 85% of possible sunshine and averages 8.3 inches annual rainfall at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. March is the wettest month of the year (1.1 inches) with June being the driest (0.1 inches). Precipitation is light during a large part of the summer, but the influx of moisture during Phoenix’s monsoon season, which usually starts in early July and lasts until mid-September, raises humidity levels and can cause localized heavy precipitation and flooding. Winter months are mild, with daily highs ranging from the mid-60's to low 70's, and lows rarely dipping below 40 °F (4 °C). Winter storms moving inland from the Pacific Ocean into Metro Phoenix occasionally produce significant rains but occur infrequently. Fog is rare but can be observed from time to time during the winter months.
Phoenix Real Estate and Sports
Phoenix is home to several professional sports franchises, and area residents enjoy year-round games. Phoenix real estate benefits from this lifestyle.
The first major franchise was the Phoenix Suns of the National Basketball Association (NBA), which started play in 1968. In 1997, the Phoenix Mercury was one of the original eight teams to launch the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). Both teams play at U.S. Airways Center. The U.S. Airways Center was the setting for both the 1995 and 2009 NBA All-Star Games. The Arizona Flame of the International Basketball League began play in the spring of 2007 and play at the Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
The National Football League's Arizona Cardinals moved to Phoenix from St. Louis, Missouri in 1988. The team, however, has never played in the within Phoenix itself; they played at Sun Devil Stadium on the campus of Arizona State University in nearby Tempe until 2006. The Cardinals now play at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. University of Phoenix Stadium hosted Super Bowl XLII on February 3, 2008, when the New York Giants defeated the New England Patriots. University of Phoenix Stadium is also the home of the annual Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, a college bowl game that is part of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). Phoenix is also home to the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League, and games are played at US Airways Center.
The Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League moved to the area in 1996 (formerly the Winnipeg Jets), and play at Jobing.com Arena adjacent to University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Longtime minor league hockey team, the Phoenix Roadrunners, play at the US Airways Center.
The Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball began play as an expansion team in 1998, and plays at Chase Field in downtown Phoenix. In 2001, the Diamondbacks defeated the New York Yankees 4 games to 3 in the World Series. Due to the Arizona’s mild climate, nine Major League Baseball teams conduct spring training in metro Phoenix and nearby Tucson, and play in the Cactus League.
The Phoenix International Raceway is a major venue for two annual NASCAR auto racing events. Boat racing, drag racing, and road course racing are also held at Firebird International Raceway on the Gila River Indian Community. Sprint car racing is held at Manzanita Speedway.Phoenix has also hosted several major professional golf events, including the LPGA's Safeway International and The Tradition of the Champions Tour.
Phoenix Real Estate and EducationPublic education in the Phoenix area is provided by over 30 school districts. The Phoenix Union High School District operates most of the public high schools in the city of Phoenix.
Arizona State University is the main institution of higher education in the region, with campuses located in Tempe, Northwest Phoenix (West Campus), Downtown Phoenix (Downtown Campus) and Mesa (Polytechnic Campus). The University of Arizona College of Medicine in partnership with Arizona State University is located at the Downtown Phoenix campus. ASU is currently one of the largest public universities in the US with a 2008 student enrollment of 64,394.
Grand Canyon University is the nation’s only private, for-profit, Christian university. It currently has over 10,000 students; almost 85% attend the school online.
Midwestern University - Glendale is located in Glendale, Arizona northwest of Phoenix. It is home to a number of health care education programs at the doctorate and master's level. The degrees offered include the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Master of Medical Science (MMS) in Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD), Doctor of Clinical Psychology (PsyD), Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT), Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD), and Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (DPM).
Thunderbird School of Global Management is regarded as a (if not the) leading institution in the international business education of global managers and has operations in the United States (Glendale, AZ), Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Mexico, Central and South America and China. American Indian College is a private, Christian college located in northwestern Phoenix.
The Art Institute of Phoenix is a small, private college which offers various majors in the areas of design, fashion, media, and culinary arts.
Western Governors University is an online, non-profit university. WGU has employees and students in Phoenix and throughout Arizona, and passed enrollment of 10,000 students throughout the U.S.
University of Phoenix is the nation’s largest for-profit university with over 130,000 students at campuses throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, and the Netherlands, as well as online.
University of Advancing Technology is a small, for-profit, technology-oriented university. The university is composed of four colleges, along with an online program for continuing adult education, and has about 1200 undergraduates and 50 postgraduates students.
Collins College is a for-profit college. The Phoenix Business Journal ranked Collins as Arizona’s top computer training school.
DeVry University and Argosy University are for-profit institutions with small campuses across the country and a large online presence.
Maricopa County Community College District includes 10 community colleges and two skills centers throughout Maricopa County, providing adult education and job training.
Phoenix Real Estate and Transportation
Phoenix real estate is served by Sky Harbor International Airport located near several major freeway interchanges east of downtown Phoenix. Sky Harbor is one of the 10 busiest airports in the U.S. and 17th in the world for passenger traffic. The airport serves more than 100 cities with non-stop flights.
The Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, in neighboring Mesa, Arizona, also serves the area’s commercial air traffic. This airport now serves Allegiant Air as a focus city operation with non-stop service to over a dozen destinations. Smaller airports that primarily handle private and corporate jets include Phoenix Deer Valley Airport, as well as municipal airports including Glendale Municipal Airport and Phoenix Goodyear Airport. | <urn:uuid:11605331-55cc-45da-ad57-1bc2caca6993> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.christineluna.com/phoenix/phoenix-az-real-estate.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956552 | 2,206 | 1.695313 | 2 |
So much for the two classic relationship types, not everyone is just one type or the other, that is: not everyone is either simply the red-bordered StarType (T-Square) or the green-bordered StarType (Grand Trine). Some charts have both archetypes present in a single chart. What about these Two in One StarTypes?
For starters, while the other main StarTypes need each other to have a relationship, here we have a StarType that is in no way that needy. They have the role of the Lover and the Loved One locked up in one birth chart. They can go both ways. In fact, they may not require much in the way of outside relationship at all, and this is a common complaint against them: they can live without you and don't mind being alone and on their own - insular.
In other words, this StarType is self-sufficient to a marked degree and thus this type has earned the nickname of Independent, and you can spot them because their StarType Astro*Image cards all have blue borders.
The Blue Cards: Independence
As mentioned, with this group of StarTypes (the blue cards), we have a combination of The Lover and the Loved One in a single StarType. We could say that they are capable of loving themselves, and that is so true. They really are self-sufficient and often somewhat independent of relationships in general from time to time. This is not to say they do not have or enjoy relationships, for they most certainly do. However, they are not as dependent on relations as, let's say, the red and green types. They can take relations and they can also be quite content just being out there on their own, oblivious to their partners needs.
Perhaps because they contain within themselves all the necessary elements of a basic relationship (the lover and the loved one), this StarType can play either role with an external partner, giving care and loved to a red StarType and receiving care and attention from the green types. In this way, they are ambidextrous, so to speak, having it both ways or having none at all.
Perhaps most important, they have the vision and foresight of the green StarTypes and the charisma and fun-loving nature of the red StarTypes. As mentioned, depending on their partner, they can play either role. They can see what to do and also how do it, and all this without any outside help, thus the term independent, which indeed they are.
Blue Cards: The Flip Side
As for a downside, there is not too much. They do kind of have it all, if being self-sufficient is the goal. If anything, they can be somewhat lazy, because it is easy in this society to fall into the habit of playing the loved one, and being taken care of, being served. The blue StarTypes often end up in this role, and don't get a lot done because of this habit. Because they are already somewhat complete, they are not driven to the same extent as the red and green card StarTypes are. They are not needy, but they also are not driven by needs to do much of anything at all at times.
And being a bit to themselves (and not dependent on others), this lack of dependency on others can make them appear aloof and even a little cool. Perhaps they play some small social price for this condition, but mostly they are quite content just to be with themselves. Other StarTypes may find this annoying. You get the idea. When you are dealing with a blue-bordered StarType, be careful not to interpret their independence too personally. It is not you that they mean to offend. They just don't need anyone all that much, including you - nothing personal. | <urn:uuid:e5a49c53-f277-4bf6-b537-d24f985e7ce9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://[email protected]/startypes/independent.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977507 | 774 | 1.695313 | 2 |
22nd, September 2006
An advocacy workshop was conducted for some of the YMCA Advocacy Desk staff and Youth Group on the 22nd of September, by the desk coordinator Adnan Ateyah.
The workshop covered:
The workshop lasted for the whole day, after which the participants evaluated it as very useful informative, were it was agreed on the date for the coming workshop, as it is a series of workshops on Advocacy conception and skills.
The workshop was based and a follow up of a course attended by the YMCA and YWCA Advocacy Coordinators, organized in Ramallah by Christian Aid. | <urn:uuid:ee2e5133-ff19-4f90-bc3f-6cea67e2d1f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jai-pal.org/content.php?page=394 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985405 | 128 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Baby Teleah returned to biological father; decision called a victory for father's rights
PROVO — An Army drill sergeant gaining custody of his nearly 2-year-old daughter, who was put up for adoption at birth without his knowledge, is an important legal victory for father's rights in Utah, says the president of the Utah Council for Ethical Adoption Practices.
"I think it's still a landmark case, even though we haven't received an appellate decision on it yet," said council president Wes Hutchins, an adoption attorney who is not involved in the case.
Teleah Achane, now 22 months old, was placed for adoption at birth in 2011 by her biological mother, Tira Bland. At the time, Bland was married to the baby's father, Terry Achane, who is serving in the Army. Bland traveled to Utah from Texas to sign off on the adoption without Achane's consent, claiming he had abandoned them.
A Utah County couple, Jared and Kristi Frei, adopted Teleah through Utah-based Adoption Center of Choice and have raised her since she was a newborn.
Although Achane was "very happy" to be reunited with his daughter, he acknowledged the pain of all involved in the case.
"They love my daughter just as much as I do," Achane said of the Freis. "I think they're going through the pain I went through in the earlier months."
Upon learning in June 2011 that his daughter had been adopted without his knowledge, Achane immediately contacted the adoption agency and demanded her return. Neither the agency nor the prospective adoptive family would return the child and the adoption moved forward.
Late last year, 4th District Court Judge Darold McDade ruled that Achane’s parental rights had been unlawfully circumvented by Bland, the adoption agency and the Freis. McDade dismissed the Freis' adoption petition and ordered the couple to transfer custody of Teleah to her father.
Attempts to stay the order were denied by McDade and the Utah Supreme Court.
The Freis turned over the child to Achane on Thursday. On Friday, the parties attended a closed hearing to clarify visitation arrangments for the Freis.
Visitations will take place in South Carolina until Achen is transferred to Hawaii in March. Then, the visits will take place there, said Mark Wiser, Achen's attorney.
"We actually want them to be part of the transition to help. They'll be able to come out in two weeks if they'd like to and spend some time with that transition. We're very supportive to help Tuleah adjust to her new life," Wiser said.
Hutchins said the case is instructive to all involved in adoptions.
"Adoption agencies, prospective adoptive parents and everyone involved in adoptions should be very careful about biological fathers and whether or not they are wanting to raise their children, whether or not the birth mother's been upfront about their involvement and their desire to be involved in raising the child.
"I think everyone's on notice that these are all issues now that ought to be handled ethically and legally as opposed to cutting corners."
Achane said the legal victory was a long time coming.
“It’s 22 months too long — but the wait was worth it. I wish it wouldn't have happened but it did. I fought, I got the outcomes here. I got my daughter back. She gets to go home with me to South Carolina now.”
The girl and her grandmother spoke on the phone briefly last night, Achane said. "It brought her (the grandmother) to tears so she wants to see her in person," Achane said.
The case remains on appeal but Wiser said it is doubtful that the Freis would prevail.
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- Couples registry gets preliminary nod... 12 | <urn:uuid:a57b318c-0d99-4e95-911c-5129daf11a8f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865571541/Baby-Teleah-returned-to-biological-father.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979536 | 966 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The Seven Generations Charter School in Emmaus says teachers and staff will report back to school Monday, Dec. 12, and students the following day following a mold investigation at the school building at 154 East Minor Street.The school issued a press release today saying that tests this week revealed airborne Penicillium/Aspergillus mold in five classrooms along the back wall of the school. It also was found in the basement of the building, an area not leased by the school.
The school, which has about 300 students, has been closed since Wednesday. The administration and board anticipates that remediation work will be completed by Monday. Testing will be done to confirm that every classroom is safe.
Aspergillus and penicillium are very common in the environment, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It is found in soil, on plants and in decaying plant matter. It is also found in household dust, building materials, and even in spices and some food items.
The CDC says that indoor mold exposure does not always present health problems. However, it says people sensitive to molds can experience nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation when exposed to mold. Severe reactions may include fever and shortness of breath.
The school says mold remediation will take place over the next several days by RestoreCore, which it says is a "highly regarded restoration and mold remediation firm."
"Once the remediation is completed, a post-remediation verification will take place," the release says.
The school says its Board of Trustees is developing alternative plans for students. Those plans will be announced once they're put in place.
Mold was discovered in the school earlier this week. Because preliminary testing did not provide conclusive information, the school ordered more comprehensive tests throughout the building.
"With an abundance of caution and putting their primary concern for the safety an staff first, Seven Generations' Board of Trustees and administration closed the school for the remainder of the week.
A spokeswoman for the school said there are no statutory regulations for mold remediation in the state. She said Hillman Consulting, an environmental consulting firm, has been retained to develop protocols for the cleanup that comply with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings guidelines. | <urn:uuid:f1db3c97-39b1-49d9-b732-b7b2a47709bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.mcall.com/valley610/2011/12/seven-generations-school-dealing-with-low-levels-of-mold.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975545 | 472 | 1.664063 | 2 |
Today's Wall Street Journal has a fun piece on the ever-expanding Janeiverse on the web and on Austen's growing appeal with the young.
Makes sense, don't you think? After all, Austen wrote what could arguably be called the first classic YA coming-of-age novel, NORTHANGER ABBEY. The oldest heroine of Austen's six major works was 27-28 (Anne Elliot of PERUSASION), and the youngest was 17-18 (Catherine Morland of NORTHANGER ABBEY).
The latest Austen adaptations--both of which this blogger loved--clearly targeted a young demographic.[Romola Garai, L, as Emma Woodhouse; Felicity Jones, R, as Catherine Morland]
I'm just happy that a 27-year-old is no longer considered past her sell-by date, and a 17-year-old is usually more concerned with starting her freshman year of college than starting a family.
And on that note, I shall close with one of my favorite episodes of SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, which focuses on this very topic:
[SEX AND THE AUSTEN GIRL, babelgum.com/sexandtheaustengirl, is inspired by the novels "Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict" and "Rude Awakenings of a Jane Austen Addict" and stars Arabella Field and Fay Masterson.] | <urn:uuid:7b408a27-910c-4e67-87aa-0e69617fa43c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.janeaustenaddict.com/webtech/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939969 | 309 | 1.523438 | 2 |
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says the arrest of defeated Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo sends a message to dictators that they cannot disregard the verdict of free elections. The United States had strongly backed the internationally-recognized winner of last year’s election, Alassane Ouattara.
The United States had supported the African Union and United Nations effort to dislodge Gbagbo with financial and travel sanctions. And welcoming his surrender, Clinton said the episode makes clear there will be consequences for leaders who defy the results of free elections.
“This transition sends a strong signal to dictators and tyrants throughout the region and around the worlds," she said. "They may not disregard the voice of their own people in free and fair elections, and there will be consequences for those who cling to power.”
Clinton, who spoke at a joint press event with Finnish Foreign Minister Alexander Stubb, called for all Ivory Coast citizens to remain calm and help build a peaceful future for the country, saying that after the five-month crisis, the hard work is only now beginning.
In early December, The United States congratulated Mr. Ouattara as the rightful winner of the country’s November 28 election and called for then-President Gbagbo to accept the internationally-endorsed outcome and step aside.
With Gbagbo, the country’s leader since 2000, refusing to yield, the United States joined in international sanctions against his government, and imposed targeted U.S. travel and financial curbs against Gbagbo, his wife, and other close associates.
Clinton said the United States looks forward to working with President Ouattarra as he implements plans for reconciliation, economic development and recovery.
The political conflict, which devolved into warfare between supporters of the two political rivals, dealt a severe blow to the Ivory Coast economy, with Gbagbo looting local banks and businesses as the world community severed economic ties with his government. | <urn:uuid:1b6b4a1f-2c69-4657-b814-fd1ae02103e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.voanews.com/content/us-gbagbo-capture-sends-signal-to-tyrants-119608334/137823.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967896 | 403 | 1.703125 | 2 |
Last December I wrote a post about Sao Paulo, Brazil's economic capital and one of the world's largest metropolises, enacting a radical ban on almost all outdoor advertising under the "Lei Cidade Limpa", the clean city law, pushed by the city's mayor Gilberto Kassab. As I described in that post, the measure was a response to the excesses of advertising, which had become "conspicuous visual pollution", in the words of the mayor. Since January 1st, when the law went into effect, thousands of billboards, oversize signs and logos, big video screens, ads on buses and taxis have been eliminated, leaving behind, writes AdBusters, "blank marquees, partially torn-down frames and hastily painted-over storefront facades". The magazine also says that according to surveys, "the measure is extremely popular with the city's residents, with more than 70 percent approval".
Photographer Tony de Marco has published a photoset on Flickr on " São Paulo No Logo". Here just three of his telling images:
Apart from creating a different visual experience of the city, the ad ban has also had some unexpected side effects. In the same article, AdBusters reproduces a transcript of an NPR interview with Vinicius Galvao, a reporter for Folha de Sao Paulo, Brazil's largest daily. Excerpt:
What did São Paulo look like up until the ban took place?
São Paulo’s a very vertical city. That makes it very frenetic. You couldn’t even realize the architecture of the old buildings, because all the buildings, all the houses were just covered with billboards and logos and propaganda. And there was no criteria.
And now it’s amazing. They uncovered a lot of problems the city had that we never realized. For example, there are some favelas, which are the shantytowns. I wrote a big story in my newspaper today that in a lot of parts of the city we never realized there was a big shantytown. People were shocked because they never saw that before, just because there were a lot of billboards covering the area.
No writer could have [laughing] come up with a more vivid metaphor. What else has been discovered as the scales have fallen off of the city’s eyes?
São Paulo’s just like New York. It’s a very international city. We have the Japanese neighborhood, we have the Korean neighborhood, we have the Italian neighborhood and in the Korean neighborhood, they have a lot of small manufacturers, these Korean businessmen. They hire illegal labor from Bolivian immigrants.
And there was a lot of billboards in front of these manufacturers’ shops.And when they uncovered, we could see through the window a lot of Bolivian people like sleeping and working at the same place. They earn money, just enough for food. So it’s a lot of social problem that was uncovered where the city was shocked at this news.
I want to ask you about the cultural life of the city, because, like them or not, billboards and logos and bright lights create some of the vibrancy that a city has to offer. Isn’t it weird walking through the streets with all of those images just absent?
No. It’s weird, because you get lost, so you don’t have any references any more. That’s what I realized as a citizen. My reference was a big Panasonic billboard. But now my reference is art deco building that was covered through this Panasonic. So you start getting new references in the city. The city’s got now new language, a new identity. | <urn:uuid:8c312e68-f4ca-48f3-ad38-4f26d1eb0c49> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lunchoverip.com/2007/08/so-paulo-no-log.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975555 | 767 | 1.820313 | 2 |
The following article was written by Gail O’Neill, PT, a specialist in pelvic floor physical therapy at ShiftPT in New York City. ShiftPT and Gail are friends of the YinOva Center, and offer valuable information and care to our community.
Finally, your bundle of joy has arrived! Those first several weeks just seem to fly by, don’t they? Adjusting to feeding schedules and sleeping routines (or lack thereof) can be overwhelming at best. Sadly, many women also live with pain, especially during intercourse, and even embarrassing urine leakage (incontinence). While medication, and in some situations even surgery are recommended, these are certainly not the only treatment options.
There is a solution that could be right for you.
Women’s Health Physical Therapy (PT), also know as Pelvic Floor PT, is a specialized type of therapy that can alleviate and in most cases eliminate some of these problems following your delivery. There have been numerous published studies to support the effectiveness of Women’s Health PT.
Most women don’t talk about it.
Many women are a bit reticent to discuss these very important issues usually due to embarrassment, and also because they don’t believe there is a solution. Usually following childbirth, the tissues should heal by your 6-week check up. If you are still having pain, you must tell your Dr. If he or she is not aware of this type of PT, you may want to suggest this as a plausible avenue for treatment.
What you need to know.
It is normal to feel vaginal discomfort the first few times you have intercourse following a vaginal delivery. But, it is important that you do not push past the discomfort to avoid pain. This discomfort may be due to vaginal tears, episiotomy scars, forceps or vacuum delivery, the baby’s pressure on your pelvis during the birthing process, and/or low estrogen levels during breastfeeding.
Some women may experience urinary leakage when they lift, cough, sneeze or laugh which is termed stress incontinence. This occurs when the abdominal pressure increases. Normally, one’s pelvic floor muscle strength can counteract this, but following the birthing process, these muscles may be weakened and in some cases torn. Your PT will help with retraining your pelvic floor musculature.
Some women may also experience joint pain. This may be caused by physical strain while carrying the fetus, the secretion of the pregnancy hormone relaxin, which relaxes the ligaments, and the rigors of labor. There are many traditional types of PT treatments available to help with this. They may include: stretching and strengthening exercises, hands on techniques, modalities and posture retraining. These exercises will be specifically tailored to a body recovering from childbirth, as traditional exercise may not be appropriate. She will also teach you breastfeeding, burping positions and proper lifting techniques to reduce the stress on your joints.
What treatment involves.
Your PT will use a variety of hands on treatment techniques to stretch, release, balance and desensitize some of the tissues involved. She may use biofeedback, electric stimulation, as well as manual techniques to help jump-start these muscles in order for them to contract normally.
PT visits are generally weekly. Typically, postpartum pain patients require 10-12 visits for vaginal pain, 4-6 for incontinence, and 6-8 visits for joint pain (unless there is a pre-existing condition). At the end of the course of treatment, most women feel significantly or completely better. In the state of New York, you can see a PT without a script from a physician for as many as 10 visits spanning a four week period of time. The costs range per visit depending on treatment and many insurances will provide coverage for the visits. | <urn:uuid:1d776d77-8ae2-4544-a554-ba2ec385299d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://yinovacenter.com/blog/archives/18164/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959709 | 784 | 1.625 | 2 |
Guest Contributor – William Culp, VMD, Diplomate ACVS
William Culp, VMD, Diplomate ACVS
Dr. William Culp graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Veterinary Medicine. After graduation from veterinary school, he remained at the University of Pennsylvania to complete a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery followed by a surgical residency. Dr. Culp is board-certified as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, and he has pursued additional training in cancer surgery at the Colorado State University Animal Cancer Center, during which he completed a Surgical Oncology Fellowship. Additionally, he has participated in an Interventional Radiology Fellowship at the Animal Medical Center in New York City.
Dr. Culp is currently a member of the soft tissue surgery service at the University of California – Davis. He is interested in many areas of soft tissue surgery, but his major focuses are surgical oncology and interventional radiology. The specialty of surgical oncology focuses on utilizing advanced surgical techniques in the treatment of cancer. Interventional radiology is a rapidly developing specialty in veterinary medicine that utilizes diagnostic imaging modalities to diagnose and treat diseases in veterinary patients in a minimally invasive manner. Combining these two specialties allows for advanced, minimally invasive treatments to be pursued for veterinary cancer and non-cancer patients.
Diseases of particular interest to Dr. Culp include malignant obstructions (cancer resulting in blockage of the urethra, trachea, esophagus, and colon), non-resectable tumors (tumors that cannot be removed with traditional surgical techniques), tumors that can be treated with direct delivery of chemotherapy to their blood vessels, vascular abnormalities (portosystemic shunts, arteriovenous malformations) and benign and malignant obstructions of the ureter. | <urn:uuid:7c7d7012-28b3-42ce-977b-e3bfa648d752> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://vetforum.com/guest-contributer-william-culp-vmd-diplomate-acvs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945742 | 381 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Colleges bank on early retirement to balance budgetsby Tim Post, Minnesota Public Radio
St. Paul, Minn. — Minnesota colleges hope to use early retirement as a way to help balance their budgets.
Higher education officials say offering retirement incentives to older employees is a better option than laying off younger workers. But some wonder if early retirement has much appeal in these tough economic times.
Most days you'll find Ted Sherarts taking photos near downtown St. Cloud's Lake George. Sherarts has snapped the same photo of the city's skyline, from the same spot, nearly every day for seven years.
Sherarts, 75, taught photography at St. Cloud State University for 43 years. He has plenty of time to concentrate on his own photography now. He retired less than two months ago, after passing up early retirement incentives in years past.
"I went against the advice that most of my colleagues gave me and that is to retire as soon as you can, because the incentives were out there to retire early," Sherarts said.
Next month, the MnSCU board of trustees is expected to come up with another package of incentives to try to convince people like Sherarts to get out earlier.
Under the program, employees who are 55 and older and have worked for MnSCU at least five years, can retire. Their health benefits would remain in place until they turn 65. In addition, some employees could receive a cash payment. Presidents at each college would determine who would be eligible for the early retirement deal.
Bill Tschida, vice chancellor for human resources at MnSCU, said he understands why the promise of health care coverage might encourage workers to leave their jobs a few years early.
"The major impediment you hear to people separating or retiring is the cost of health insurance and how are they going to make those payments once they stop working," Tschida said.
Encouraging retirement is a way to decrease payroll and benefits obligations when budgets are tough, letting schools avoid at least some layoffs.
The U of M just wrapped up its own retirement incentive program.
"It was huge for me, because they paid for our healthcare for three years," said Gail Eckel, who recently retired from the U of M.
Eckel worked at the U of M for 18 years, the last 12 spent in the president's office. She retired a month ago.
The University of Minnesota retirement incentive allowed Eckel to retire at 62. She'll keep her U of M healthcare benefits until she's eligible for Medicare at the age of 65.
"I figure it's about $36,000," she said. "Because I figured it would be about $1,000 a month to have health care."
The U's retirement incentive option or RIO as it's called, just ended with 449 employees retiring under the program.
Carol Carrier, the U of M's VP for human resources, said it relieves some pressure as the school looks to reduce its overall budget.
"With the budget situation we'd like to encourage as much natural attrition as possible so that people don't have to lose their jobs if they don't want to leave," Carrier said.
Carrier said if the positions of all 449 who retired went unfilled, it would save the U nearly $35 million.
Of course many of those positions will need to be filled, but Carrier doesn't know just how many at this point. Still, the U will save money by replacing some of the newly retired employees with younger, less experienced and lower paid employees.
Does the U's experience mean MnSCU can expect similar results from its proposed retirement incentive?
"It has real potential but I think we have to be cautious in what we expect to get out of this program," said Russ Stanton, a lobbyist for the Inter Faculty Organization, the union that represents 3,300 MnSCU faculty.
Stanton is in favor of the retirement incentive and said it would likely mean fewer layoffs as MnSCU deals with shrinking state funding.
But he thinks employees worried that the poor economy has hurt their pension plan, might just keep working.
"A lot of them think that holding on to their job is their best security right now," he said. "So I'm not sure how this is going to work but it's worth a try."
Stanton said when colleges ask their most experienced employees to retire early, they risk losing workers with years of valuable experience. But, he said, that's better than laying off younger employees with plenty of energy and new ideas.
- Morning Edition, 07/07/2009, 8:45 a.m. | <urn:uuid:cc45c444-0ce4-46b6-9cb2-4e649cf9fcd8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/07/06/early_retirement | 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 | 0.982211 | 955 | 1.632813 | 2 |
By Kim Belshé
California enters 2010 in extraordinary fiscal circumstances, with a significant structural budget deficit that continues to require spending reductions in all areas of state government.
At the same time, caseloads in our state’s biggest health and human services programs have grown dramatically in recent years, a reflection of both policy decisions to support the state’s safety net as well as the more recent dramatic economic downturn.
We are facing something akin to a perfect storm of growing need and reduced resources – with a downward spiraling economy that is driving more residents out of jobs and into public safety net programs at the very time state revenues to meet essential public needs have dropped dramatically.
* Next year, Medi-Cal is expected to serve 7.5 million people, an increase of more than 870,000 people, or 13 percent, in the last three years.
* CalWORKs cases have increased more than 14 percent in the last three years, with more than 71,000 new cases added to the state’s main welfare program for families.
* The number of developmentally disabled individuals in California continues to climb as autism diagnoses increase, with a 45 percent increase in the caseload in the last decade.
* The In-Home Supportive Services program has grown dramatically as well, with a 71 percent increase in the number of recipients in the last 10 years.
Health and Human Services (HHS) expenditures have grown by 43 percent over the past 10 years, while state revenues have increased by 23 percent.
California faces a fundamental disconnect between the revenues coming into the state and the expenditures required by current program obligations – an extraordinary gap that requires a serious and sober discussion of the state’s priorities and values. With budget crisis after budget crisis, we face the same challenging question: how do we manage the cost of health and human services programs as demand goes up and revenues go down?
In January, Governor Schwarzenegger proposed solutions to bring California’s budget back into balance for fiscal year 2010-11.
These proposed solutions reflect the Governor’s priorities for the state: no new taxes; full funding of education’s Proposition 98 guarantee; better alignment of prisons and HHS spending with other states; and greater federal program flexibility and more equitable federal funding.
Proposals to reduce or eliminate a number of HHS programs – such as the elimination of the Medi-Cal optional adult day health care program and the dramatic reduction in In-Home Supportive Services — represent reductions in optional benefits not offered by most states.
These proposals have been met with tremendous opposition. Concerns have been raised that services reductions will harm some of our state’s most vulnerable, disadvantaged residents. Opponents also argue we are sacrificing federal funds by not investing in programs that bring federal support. By definition, these proposed reductions will impact people in need and will have real consequences. It is also true that reducing state funding does result in a loss of federal support. That being said, we have to have the dollars to begin with to maintain our investment in these programs.
Some believe more tax revenue is the answer and that Californians must be persuaded to pay more taxes to support the state’s growing health and human service needs and protect the safety net from any cuts. It is an intellectually honest approach.
Unfortunately, it’s not a realistic one in this economic and political climate.
It is well understood in the corridors of the Capitol that health and human services will face reductions next year.
History shows us that when budgets fall out of balance, legislators and governors prioritize spending for education over funding for health and human services. Absent the Constitutional protections afforded K-14 spending and the judicial interventions that direct much of the state’s correctional spending, HHS is vulnerable to budget reductions. It is a difficult and unfortunate irony that the Agency that is charged with overseeing services and supports to our state’s most vulnerable, at-risk and underserved residents is the Agency most vulnerable to budget reductions.
While much of the policy and political debate will be about where budget solutions are best secured, there can be no doubt that reductions will occur in HHS. The salient question for advocates, stakeholders and recipients is how do we achieve savings in health and human service programs in ways that make the most sense and do the least damage?
As the second-largest program in state government and one of its fastest growing, Medi-Cal has to be part of the solution.
In fiscal year 1998-99, the annual cost per Medi-Cal recipient was $2,925. Ten years later, the cost had grown to $4,549 per recipient. The overall cost of Medi-Cal has nearly doubled in 10 years, from $19 billion in total funds 1998-99 to $37 billion in total funds in 2008-09.
The growth in Medi-Cal is putting significant and growing fiscal pressure on the state’s general fund.
In recent years, Governor Schwarzenegger and the Legislature have attempted to modify optional benefits to those most in need, change eligibility processes for some groups, and lower the rates paid to physicians and facilities for medical care. Many of these changes have been blocked by federal law or federal Court decisions, and $1.4 billion in savings has been lost. With optional benefits, for example, federal court decisions have effectively left the state with an untenable choice: either eliminate an entire optional Medi-Cal benefit – which Courts have upheld – or continue to provide a benefit that, as currently structured and governed by federal rules, is unaffordable to the state.
Now we must look to find other ways to save. Among them, the Governor’s budget proposes saving $750 million by instituting beneficiary cost-sharing, service limits or benefit caps – an approach adopted by many states.
It’s not easy to make changes that reduce Medi-Cal costs in these ways, but we have to find ways to come together to slow the rate of growth in the program if it is to survive. And, we must find ways to stabilize the program so that it can successfully serve as the foundation for more comprehensive health care reform when and if it comes.
Medi-Cal is not the only area where we need to achieve savings. Many other health and human service programs face reductions in the proposed budget as well.
However, an equally significant aspect of the budget is the Governor’s call for the federal government to provide California with billions of dollars in monies owed as well as flexibility to manage program costs within state resources.
It’s difficult to overestimate how critical it will be to secure the $6.9 billion in federal funding owed to the state next fiscal year and relief from federal rules and court decisions. President Obama’s proposed budget would extend the stimulus act, providing roughly $2 billion of these funds – an important down payment. We urge stakeholders to join the Governor and legislative leaders in their advocacy for federal funds owed, more equitable funding formula, and greater program flexibility.
In the absence of the federal government being a fuller partner with the state in support of the nation’s lowest-cost Medicaid program, the Governor’s budget proposes $3.5 billion in additional HHS spending reductions – cuts that reflect programs that are not required by federal law, including Healthy Families, CalWORKs and the In-Home Supportive Services program.
The years of making minor adjustments to health and human service programs to achieve modest savings are behind us for some time. With court action blocking bipartisan efforts to achieve savings in these programs, our options are getting narrower every year. Real conversations must begin now on how we control the growing costs of health and human services in our state, and how we preserve them going into the future.
There are opportunities before us in the near term to advance necessary and overdue program improvements and more responsible cost control strategies through delivery system reforms – namely, through renewal of the Medi-Cal financing waiver.
The waiver provides an opportunity to “bend the Medi-Cal cost curve” by supporting organized heath care delivery systems that ensure better coordination of care and more efficient use of public funds to assist seniors and persons with disabilities – the vast majority of whom receive their care through an uncoordinated fee for service system that does not integrate primary, acute, substance abuse, mental health, social and long-term care support needs.
The waiver also offers an opportunity to expand health coverage beyond the150,000 low-income Californians covered by our current waiver. Through the current waiver, counties have advanced innovations in specialty care and network development, and creating efficiencies in health care delivery. Through the new waiver, California can build upon and strengthen that foundation.
We recognize and anticipate the issues and concerns regarding pending budget proposals raised by stakeholders, advocates and others. We understand and acknowledge the advocacy efforts that advocates have and will continue to bring to the difficult decisions facing our state.
Reasonable people can disagree on the scope and nature of the proposed budget reductions, but there can be no disagreement regarding the gravity of the budget crisis, the urgency for action and the need for leadership to chart a course through difficult fiscal times.
The Governor’s proposed budget can begin the discussion.
Kim Belshé is secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency. | <urn:uuid:816afc52-ca0d-47c1-8c47-a551a569f325> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.healthycal.org/tag/medi-cal/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951805 | 1,909 | 1.765625 | 2 |
A "new survey" says that more than 27 percent of women said they'd wear skimpier clothing to the office if they thought it would help them get a promotion.
So, take this for what it's worth but, a survey conducted by theragtrader.com, based on 3,000 workers, finds that, according to the New York Post, "one in four women think the secret of success is how they dress and are willing to show a little more skin to get ahead," while one in 20 women admitted to dressing in a deliberately provocative way on a regular basis.
This is depressing and lame enough to hardly require further analysis, but it also strains credulity. In my own experience, at one of my jobs someone had to take one woman aside to ask her to dress less provocatively, which was humiliating for everyone and seriously uncomfortable. Or, take Katie on Stylista: her cleavage hardly served to advance her career. Sure, these were women-heavy industries, but in what world does showing skin equal "getting ahead?" I'm not questioning that it gets some male attention, maybe some admiration, but executive material? These seem like some seriously misguided dames.
The rest of the findings were less than revelatory: 78 per cent of women believe the way they dress affects their day at work, feel and perform better when they look "smart," and, presumably, feel at a disadvantage when they're ill-kempt and shleppy. "Even when working from home, it's incredible how clothing can influence your productivity." (Anyone who's had to strategically position cardigans to conceal stains can vouch for this.) In terms of industries, marketing and advertising were found to be the most sartorially competitive, followed, allegedly, by "media workers," presumably of the Devil Wears Prada varietal.
Oh, then there were the humiliations, like the more than a quarter of women who, says the Telegraph, "had to face the embarrassment of someone else in the office wearing the same outfit as them," plus the 63% of workers who deal with "wardrobe malfunctions" like runs in tights and open flies - horrors that make massive worlwide unemployment a palliative indeed! "Fourteen per cent have even split their trousers while in the office."
Women Prepared To Dress Provocatively To Climb Career Ladder [Telegraph]
Third Of Women Happy To Wear Skimpy Clothing At Work To Win Bonuses And Promotion [Daily Mail]
Poll: Skimpy Dress Gets You Ahead At Work [New York Post] | <urn:uuid:4c87e504-4cc0-4471-9509-b9866458eeb4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jezebel.com/5133158/do-revealing-outfits-lead-to-career-advancements-we-say-no | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973522 | 535 | 1.609375 | 2 |
The Situation of Financial Risk-Taking
Posted by The Situationist Staff on September 24, 2008
In 1986, Salomon Brothers, an investment bank, was known as “the King of Wall Street.” The Salomon atmosphere has since been hilariously depicted in Michael Lewis‘s now-classic Liar’s Poker, in which he recounts his experiences at the firm. He opens the book with the following anecdote.
It was sometime early in 1986, the first year of the decline of my firm, Salomon Brothers. Our chairman, John Gutfreund, left his desk at the head of the trading floor and went for a walk. At any given moment on the trading floor billions of dollars were being risked by bond traders. Gutfreund took the pulse of the place by simply wandering around it and asking questions of the traders. An eerie sixth sense guided him to wherever a crisis was unfolding. Gutfreund seemed able to smell money being lost.
He was the last person a nerve-racked trader wanted to see. Gutfreund (pronounced Good friend) liked to sneak up from behind and surprise you. This was fun for him but not for you. . . . You felt a chill in your bones that I imagine belongs to the same class of intelligence as the nervous twitch of a small furry animal at the silent approach of a grizzly bear. An alarm shrieked in your head: Gutfreund! Gutfreund! Gutfreund!
Often as not, our chairman just hovered quietly for a bit, then left. You might never have seen him. The only trace I found of him on two of these occasions was a turd-like ash on the floor beside my chair, left, I suppose, as a calling card. Gutfreund’s cigar droppings were longer and better formed than those of the average Salomon boss. I always assumed that he smoked a more expensive blend than the rest, purchased with a few of the $40 million he had cleared on the sale of SalomonBrothers in 1981 (or a few of the $3. 1 million he paid himself in 1986,more than any other Wall Street CEO).
This day in 1986, however, Gutfreund did something strange. Instead of terrifying us all, he walked a straight line to the trading desk of John Meriwether, a member of the board of Salomon Inc. and also one of Salomon’s finest bond traders. He whispered a few words. The traders in the vicinity eavesdropped. What Gutfreund said has become a legend at Salomon Brothers and a visceral part of its corporate identity. He said: “One hand, one million dollars, no tears. “
One hand, one million dollars, no tears. Meriwether grabbed the meaning instantly. The King of Wall Street, as Business Week had dubbed Gutfreund, wanted to play a single hand of a game called Liar’s Poker for a million dollars. He played the game most afternoons with Meriwether and the six young bond arbitrage traders who worked for Meriwether and was usually skinned alive. Some traders said Gutfreund was heavily outmatched. Others who couldn’t imagine John Gutfreund as anything but omnipotent-and there were many said that losing suited his purpose, though exactly what that might be was a mystery.
The peculiar feature of Gutfreund’s challenge this time was the size of the stake. Normally his bets didn’t exceed a few hundred dollars. A million was unheard of. The final two words of his challenge, “no tears, ” meant that the loser was expected to suffer a great deal of pain but wasn’t entitled to whine, bitch, or moan about it. He’d just have to hunker down and keep his poverty to himself. But why? You might ask if you were anyone other than the King of Wall Street. Why do it in the first place? Why, in particular, challenge Meriwether instead of some lesser managing director? It seemed an act of sheer lunacy. Meriwether was the King of the Game, the Liar’s Poker champion of the Salomon Brothers trading floor.
On the other hand, one thing you learn on a trading floor is that winners like Gutfreund always have some reason for what they do; it might not be the best of reasons, but at least they have a concept in mind. I was not privy to Gutfreund’s innermost thoughts, but I do know that all the boys on the trading floor gambled and that he wanted badly to be one of the boys. What I think Gutfreund had in mind in this instance was a desire to show his courage, like the boy who leaps from the high dive. Who better than Meriwether for the purpose? Besides, Meriwether was probably the only trader with both the cash and the nerve to play.
The whole absurd situation needs putting into context. John Meriwether had, in the course of his career, made hundreds of millions of dollars for Salomon Brothers. He had an ability, rare among people and treasured by traders, to hide his state of mind. Most traders divulge whether they are making or losing money by the way they speak or move. They are either overly easy or overly tense. With Meriwether you could never, ever tell. He wore the same blank half-tense expression when he won as he did when he lost. He had, I think, a profound ability to control the two emotions that commonly destroy traders fear and greed and it made him as noble as a man who pursues his self-interest so fiercely can be. He was thought by many within Salomon to be the best bond trader on Wall Street. Around Salomon no tone but awe was used when he was discussed. People would say, “He’s the best businessman in the place,” or “the best risk taker I have ever seen,” or “a very dangerous Liar’s Poker player.”
Meriwether cast a spell over the young traders who worked for him. His boys ranged in age from twenty-five to thirty-two (he was about forty). Most of them had Ph.D.’s in math, economics, and/or physics. Once they got onto Meriwether’s trading desk, however, they forgot they were supposed to be detached intellectuals. They became disciples. They became obsessed by the game of Liar’s Poker. They regarded it as their game. And they took it to a new level of seriousness.
John Gutfreund was always the outsider in their game. That Business Week put his picture on the cover and called him the King of Wall Street held little significance for them. I mean, that was, in a way, the whole point. Gutfreund was the King of Wall Street, but Meriwether was King of the Game. When Gutfreund had been crowned by the gentlemen of the press, you could almost hear traders thinking: Foolish names and foolish faces often appear in public places. . . .
At times Gutfreund himself seemed to agree. He loved to trade. Compared with managing, trading was admirably direct. You made your bets and either you won or you lost. When you won, people will the way up to the top of the firm admired you, envied you, and feared you, and with reason: You controlled the loot. When you managed a firm, well, sure you received your quota of envy, fear, and admiration. But for all the wrong reasons, you did not make the money for Salomon. You did not take risk. You were hostage to your producers. They took risk. They proved their superiority every day by handling risk better than the rest of the risk-taking world. The money came from risk takers such as Meriwether, and whether it came or not was really beyond Gutfreund’s control. That’s why many people thought that the single rash act of challenging the arbitrage boss to one hand for a million dollars was Gutfreund’s way of showing he was a player, too. And if you wanted to show off, Liar’s Poker was the only way to go. The game had a powerful meaning for traders. People like John Meriwether believed that Liar’s Poker had a lot in common with bond trading. It tested a trader’s character. It honed a trader’s instincts. A good player made a good trader, and vice versa. We all understood it.
* * *
The game has some of the feel of trading, just as jousting has some of the feel of war. The questions a Liar’s Poker player asks himself are, up to a point, the same questions a bond trader asks himself. Is this a smart risk? Do I feel lucky? How cunning is my opponent? Does he have any idea what he’s doing, and if not, how do I exploit his ignorance? . . . .
The code of the Liar’s Poker player was something like the code of the gunslinger. It required a trader to accept all challenges.
* * *
You can can read the end of the anecdote here. Our point is to illustrate just how significant the craving for financial risk-taking often is, particularly among those who spend a great deal of time taking such risks. Fascinating recent research by neuroeconomists is teaching us more about the nature and extent of that urge. In yesterday’s New York Times, Jenny Anderson has an article, titled “Craving the High That Risky Trading Can Bring,” summarizing some of those findings. To provide a sense of her article, which is worth the read, we’ve included a few tidbits below.
* * *
A small group of scientists, including some psychologists, say they are starting to discover what many Wall Street professionals have long suspected — that people are hard-wired for money. The human brain, these researchers say, responds to high-stakes trading just as it does to the lure of sex. And the riskier the trades get, the more the brain craves them.
. . . . That is no surprise to Brian Knutson, a professor of psychology and neuroscience at Stanford University and a pioneer in neurofinance, an emerging field that combines psychology, neuroscience and economics, to examine how the brain makes decisions.
Mr. Knutson has sent volunteers through high-power imaging machines to map their brains as they trade. He concludes that sometimes, people get high on making money.
“The more you think you can gain from the risk, the more you take the risk and the more activation in the circuitry,” Mr. Knutson said.
* * * Daniel Kahneman, a Nobel Prize-winning psychologist, showed that individuals do not always act rationally when faced with uncertainty in decision making. When faced with losses, individuals may seek to take more risk rather than less, contrary to what traditional economic thought might suggest.
“When you are threatened with extinction, you act like nothing matters,” said Andrew Lo, a professor at M.I.T. who has studied the role of emotions in trading. . . .
Mr. Lo and Dmitry V. Repin of Boston University have studied traders to determine how stress and emotions affect investment returns. They monitored traders’ vital signs like heart rate, body temperature and respiration as their subjects darted in and out of trades.
The findings, while preliminary, suggest — perhaps unsurprisingly — that traders who let their emotions get the best of them tend to fare poorly in the markets. But traders who rely on logic alone don’t do that well either. The most successful ones use their emotions to their advantage without letting the feelings overwhelm them.
“The best traders are the ones who have controlled emotional responses,” Mr. Lo said. “Professional athletes have the same reaction — they use emotion to psych them up, but they don’t let those emotions take them over.” | <urn:uuid:cb36acbe-3cec-47fc-bbe8-e41bbc3b0a4c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thesituationist.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/the-situation-of-financial-risk-taking-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979763 | 2,536 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Gov’t reforms will cut pensions spending by 40%, OBR
Office for Budget Responsibility figures show that pensions costs will fall from 1.5 per cent of GDP to 0.9 per cent.
The package of reforms to the way state pensions are uprated and the calculations on which public sector pension benefits and contributions are determined will cut the cost of retirement provision by around 40 per cent over the next 50 years, according to official figures.
Data published by the Office for Budget Respionsibility in its latest fiscal sustainability report show that reforms introduced by the coalition government will decrease government pension spending from a forecast 1.5 per cent of gross domestic product in 2061-2062 to around 0.9 per cent of GDP.
According to Danny Alexander MP, chief secretary to the Treasury, the shift in spending will amount to around £430bn in current GDP terms over the period.
According to the research, the current level of spending on pensions is around 2 per cent a year but the OBR said before any reforms are considered this was projected to fall to around 1.5 per cent.
The additional spending falls will come primarily from the move to indexation based on consumer price index inflation rather than retail price index, which will reduce costs by 0.4 per cent of GDP a year.
Reform of contribution levels and the introduction of new scheme designs will account for a further drop of 0.1 of GDP each. The OBR said that further savings to pension spending may emerge from these changes.
Danny Alexander MP, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “The government’s reforms will bring total spending on public service pensions in line with the long run average over the last 40 years.
“This will save 40 per cent of net expenditure by 2061-2062, so freeing up funding for other services. The Treasury estimates that this represents around £430bn of savings in current GDP terms over the next 50 years.
“This shows that the deals confirmed last week are good for taxpayers, as well as public sector workers, who will continue to receive pensions that are among the very best available, providing a guaranteed pension level for all members.” | <urn:uuid:c3be14c5-8a32-4f2c-8ad0-971d39fce47e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ftadviser.com/2012/07/13/investments/economic-indicators/gov-t-reforms-will-cut-pensions-spending-by-obr-uRpIZm7zSf1s3HxTm30Q9M/article.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94102 | 446 | 1.5 | 2 |
Replacing RAM in Inspiron 2600/2650
My Girlfriend's computer died.
It was sad.
Then I started troubleshooting. It would sort of boot up....ahhh, I can't remember. I need to write these darn blog posts right after the incident.
Anyhow, I thought maybe bad RAM. I used the <God Voice>Ultimate Boot CD</God Voice> to do a memtest and yeah, bad RAM.
("BAD RAM! Get back under the trailer!" )
Luckily I just happened to have a spare module hanging around. I got my jewelers screwdrivers and started taking plastic bits off the bottom of the laptop. And Lo! There was only one RAM stick accessible by this route. WTF? And, it wasn't the RAM that I needed to replace. ARGH! Where the heck did they put the other RAM, and what kind of muttonhead engineer would put it in a place where you can't easily get to it?
I unscrewed all the rest of the screws on the bottom of the laptop, and then, when the bottom didn't come off easily, I paused.
- This was not going to be easy to take apart. Laptops can be a real pain to get apart, and back together again. Like, 4 layers and little plastic snap tabs, and tiny hidden screws pain.
- Upgradeable parts are usually easy to get to.
Even though it is against the Man Code to read directions, I have learned through painful experience that it is usually faster to follow directions than to try to strike off into the wilderness of little plastic snap tabs.
So, I found this site: How to disassemble a Dell Inspiron 2650. This guy is SOO awesome for going to the trouble to post all the pics of the Inspiron 2650 disassembly procedure. I just wanna click all over his Google ads. But he doesn't have any
Turns out that the RAM module was pretty easy to get to. I just had to lift out the keyboard which was actually fewer screws than those that hold the bottom plate on.
The new RAM is playing nicely with the old RAM and the old computer is humming along nicely on its mission of email and web browsing. | <urn:uuid:a3eb2d25-87be-485d-b8a8-7acb6a2df8d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.northforkmedia.com/blogger/2010/02/replacing-ram-in-inspiron-26002650.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 | 0.96466 | 464 | 1.5 | 2 |
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in Problem solving
I've had to repot my sambucus as the pot it was in was broken by workmen and in doing so , I noticed some stems had also been damaged due to the accident.
It now looks rather lob-sided so I was wondering if I could give it a small prune now just to even it out or would I be better leaving it until Spring which is when it really should be pruned ?
Thanks in advance,
I have the one with the black leaves, it gets pruned when I get round to it and hasn't complained yet. It's in the garden not in a pot. Don't know if that would make a difference.
I would leave it until spring, then prune as normal which should sort it out.
Ok , thanks Nut and Susy. Think I'll leave it until Spring. Guess I can live with it being lob-sided.This one is black lace , looks a little like an acer. I bought another last Spring - black beauty. I'm quite taken with them.
Love to have them in our garden but I haven't got the room so that's why they are in pots - I can restrict the size
I have a Sambucus Black Lace. I normally prune it quite hard in March and it grows like mad as soon as the weather warms up. But one year I pruned it in autumn and it didn't seem to make any difference. The only year it didn't grow well was last year when we had a drought in spring and early summer (in Dordogne) and I forgot to water it (but we did have water restrictions).
This subject was discussed in a previous forum http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/sambucus-black-lace-cutting-back-confusing-advice/1875.html | <urn:uuid:d3bcb52c-6521-4b4c-bd76-e6b7cb579fd7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/problem-solving/pruning-sambucus-in-autumn/50249.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987564 | 400 | 1.578125 | 2 |
You’re new in town, and you wake up with a splitting headache after spending half the night throwing up. In short, you need to get to a GP.
So what do you do? Grab the Yellow Pages and check the medical lists until you find the first name in your area? Well, it’s a start, as you need medical attention right away. But when choosing a GP for the long haul, there are a few other factors to consider:
Coming recommended. There are few things as reliable as someone who comes recommended. If your new neighbour or a colleague has been going to a particular GP for years and has found his/her services great, you can’t go far wrong. If there were any problems, they would probably have surfaced by now. Another good person to ask for a recommendation is the local pharmacist – they deal with all the doctors in the area.
Within easy reach. For a really good GP you might want to travel a few extra kilometres, but remember most of the time you will be travelling there, you won’t be feeling that great. Minimise the driving, and find one with in a few kilometres of where you live or work.
The age thing. With age comes experience, yes, but younger GPs also qualified more recently and might be more up-to-date with what’s happening in the medical world. The choice is yours. Just remember, if you choose a GP who is a few years younger than you are (given you are at least 32!), he or she might see you through to the end. Older GPs retire, and then you’re back to square one again. And remember, some people feel more comfortable with men – others with women. Let that influence your choice.
Areas of speciality. If you have a specific condition, it is quite in order for you to ask whether your GP has up-to-date knowledge on the subject. If not, ask for a recommendation to someone else who does. While you’re about it, find out a little about their qualifications, such as when and where they qualified.
Bedside manner. This is important. Very important. If your GP makes you feel uncomfortable, or that you’re wasting her time, your search is not over. You are the client, you are paying for the service and deserve to be listened to and checked thoroughly. A bit of sympathy and a sense of humour will also not be out of place. And of course the ability to deal with your kids, and your parents, if needs be.
Willingness to refer. Good GPs know when something is beyond them, and they will refer their patients to specialists in the field. Beware of GPs who will prescribe endless courses of antibiotics, without getting to the root of the problem.
Parking. This might sound silly, but if you have a child in the car vomiting and running a high temperature, you don’t want to drive round the block five times while looking for that elusive parking spot. You want to know you will find parking right there at the front entrance.
Equipment. If you get the feeling that there is some basic equipment lacking in the GP’s office, or that it is not as clean as you think it should be, take heed and hit the road. All is not well.
Reasonable fees. Going to the doctor can be a costly expedition, but if your GP charges much more than other GPs in the area (remember you can phone to find out), either ask for a discount, or keep searching. It is also much more convenient to get a GP who is contracted in to medical schemes.
Receptionist. This is an important person. She is your first port of call, and any messages and information between your doctor and yourself might need to go through her. If she treats the waiting room as her personal parade ground, or is indiscreet about medical matters, or impolite in any way, mention it to your doctor. If things don’t improve, remember that you do not have to deal with Attila the Hen – especially if you’re feeling sick.
(Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated January 2010) | <urn:uuid:c408d1c6-e5c1-449f-aa60-71da13062b3e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.health24.com/Syndication/Yourhealth/News/Choosing-the-right-GP-20120721 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967062 | 876 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Excerpt of The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman
(Page 1 of 7)
Printer Friendly Excerpt
The Lake Of Dead Languages
I have been told to make the Latin curriculum relevant to the lives of my students. I am finding, though, that my advanced girls at Heart Lake like Latin precisely because it has no relevance to their lives. They like nothing better than a new, difficult declension to memorize. They write the noun endings on their palms in blue ballpoint ink and chant the declensions, "Puella, puellae, puellae, puellam, puella . . ." like novices counting their rosaries.
When it comes time for a test they line up at the washroom to scrub down. I lean against the cool tile wall watching them as the washbasins fill with pale blue foam and the archaic words run down the drains. When they offer to show me the undersides of their wrists for traces of letters I am unsure if I should look. If I look, am I showing that I don't trust them? If I don't look, will they think I am naive? When they put their upturned hands in mine--so light-boned and delicate--it is as if a fledgling has alighted in my lap. I am afraid to move.
In class I see only the tops of their hands--the black nail polish and silver skull rings. One girl even has a tattoo on the top of her right hand--an intricate blue pattern that she tells me is a Celtic knot. Now I look at the warm, pink flesh--their fingertips are tender and whorled from immersion in water, the scent of soap rises like incense. Three of the girls have scratched the inside of their wrists with pins or razors. The lines are fainter than the lifelines that crease their palms. I want to trace their scars with my fingertips and ask them why, but instead I squeeze their hands and tell them to go on into class. "Bona fortuna," I say. "Good luck on the test."
When I first came back to Heart Lake I was surprised at the new girls, but I soon realized that since my own time here the school has become a sort of last resort for a certain kind of girl. I have learned that even though the Heart Lake School for Girls still looks like a prestigious boarding school, it is not. It is really a place for girls who have already been kicked out of two or three of the really good schools. A place for girls whose parents have grown sick of drama, sick of blood on the bathroom floor, sick of the policeman at the door.
Athena (her real name is Ellen Craven, but I have come to think of the girls by the classical names they've chosen for class) is the last to finish washing. She has asked for extra credit, for more declensions and verb conjugations to learn, so she is up to her elbows in blue ink. She holds out her forearms for me to see and there is no way to avoid looking at the scar on her right arm that starts at the base of her palm and snakes up to the crook of her elbow. She sees me wince.
Athena shrugs. "It was a stupid thing to do," she says. "I was all messed up over this boy last year, you know?"
I try to remember caring that much for a boy--I almost see a face--but it's like trying to remember labor pains, you remember the symptoms of pain--the blurred vision, the way your mind moves in an ever-tightening circle around a nucleus so dense gravity itself seems to bend toward it--but not the pain itself.
"That's why my aunt sent me to an all girls school," Athena continues. "So I wouldn't get so caught up with boys again. Like my mother goes to this place upstate when she needs to dry out--you know, get away from booze and pills? So, I'm here drying out from boys."
I look up from her hands to her pale face--a paleness accentuated by her hair, which is dyed a blue-black that matches the circles under her eyes. I think I hear tears in her voice, but instead she is laughing. Before I can help myself I laugh, too. Then I turn away from her and yank paper towels from the dispenser so she can dry her arms.
I let the girls out early after the test. They whoop with delight and crowd the doorway. I am not insulted. This is part of the game we play. They like it when I'm strict. Up to a point. They like that the class is hard. They like me, I think. At first I flattered myself that it was because I understood them, but then one day I retrieved a note left on the floor.
Excerpted from The Lake of Dead Languages by Carol Goodman Copyright 2002 by Carol Goodman. Excerpted by permission of Ballantine Books, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher. | <urn:uuid:8042f8ac-a625-4b78-84bf-9abf2c13bf9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bookbrowse.com/excerpts/index.cfm/book_number/1020/the-lake-of-dead-languages | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974809 | 1,078 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Stickers first emerged as decalcomanias, which were layers of ink bound between layers of water-soluble glue. Although initially used to economically mark and identify everything from water heaters, propane tanks and truck doors; this type of decal is most popularly used today in model kits for airplanes, boats, and cars.
Today, adhesive stickers are a durable way to mark and identify cars, boats, trailers, airplanes, golf carts, motorcycles and trucks as well as all types and size of equipment, facilities and even sidewalks, windows, walls and doors.
Douglass Screen Printers uses an array of vinyl and mylar materials, brilliant fade-resistant inks and bold design to create sticker graphics that make your message clear.
Say what you like, we’ll sign it…with stickers. | <urn:uuid:b2d90b1b-1aff-48d6-8ec1-ed02bc02b435> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dsp-cando.com/stickers.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00022-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934444 | 168 | 1.5 | 2 |
Get this report today!
Table of Contents
Mobile devices such as Smartphones and Tablets are seeing rapid adoption rate not only globally but also in India. With consumers carrying mobile devices along for the majority of the time, it has become the most efficient medium to reach larger number of consumers with advertisements and promotions. Mobile advertising platform and technology allow advertisers to use advance targeting technologies to reach the desired consumers of differential characteristics & criteria. The extensive measurability is further driving the mobile advertising market in India.
The report begins with a ‘Macroeconomic Indicators’ section where a generic overview of the economic health of India has been provided with the help of statistical data. The report proceeds with ‘Introduction’ section covering ‘Mobile Advertising Overview’ where generic idea about mobile advertising are discussed with diagram depicting the basic elements of mobile marketing activities. ‘Mobile Marketing Ecosystem’ illuminates the basic flow of the mobile marketing from advertiser to consumers or target audience. ‘Mobile Marketing Value Chain’ describes the specific process of mobile ad via the various stages in terms of pictorial representation. It is followed by an elaboration on mobile advertising benefits. The section end with ‘Mobile Marketing Frameworks’ briefs about the various types of mobile advertising through the common process of brand awareness & image building, promotional activity and processing & viral promotion.
It is followed by a section on market overview named ‘Mobile Advertising Overview’ which elaborates global and Indian market scenario for mobile advertising, with the help of plethora of statistical and information such as mobile advertising spending, region-wise spending of mobile ads, data on mobile ad servings, mobile ad type share and mobile ad type revenue, amongst others. The section ends with SWOT analysis of Indian mobile ad market. It is followed by ‘Drivers & Challenges’ section elaborating the major furtherance and impediments for mobile advertising in India. Both the ‘drivers’ and ’challenges’ are equally stressed upon to provide clear idea regarding the probable obstacles and rewards in the line of business and help vendors take necessary measures. Next the prominent trends in the market are captured under ‘Market Trends’ section, accompanied by recent developments associated with the trends and key takeaways for each of them. ‘Market Opportunities’ section highlights the various verticals that stand to be benefited greatly when using mobile advertising media & formats. Each of these sectors is detailed with their market size and growth along with role of mobile advertising in the sectors. It also elaborates on government initiative which can fuel the growth in mobile ad market furthermore. Various opportunity areas are covered as well in this section, illuminating specific services or aspects of mobile ads.
In the ‘Competitive Landscape’ section, the key mobile advertising companies are profiled. The section begins with a Porter’s Five Forces analysis for Indian mobile ad market. It also consists of ‘Competitive Benchmarking’ where key ratios of top 3 companies are compared extensively. The section further continues with company profiles, comprising information such as corporate and business highlights covering operational & recent information regarding each company’s contact information, location, key product and service offerings and key contacts for each of the players. It also provides financial performance for a period of time including revenue and profit, key ratios, financial summary and key financial performance indicators. Key business segment and key geographic segment for each player are provided as well to provide further clear idea regarding the companies. The section also features SWOT analysis for each of the players profiled.
It is followed by ‘Case Studies’ section which presents relevant cases on mobile advertising campaigns in India with objective, technology used, outcome & details regarding measurement techniques. The objective of the section is to give a basic idea about the possible outcome that can be achieved using mobile advertising campaign. It concludes with some mobile advertising examples which are accompanied by snapshots of the mobile ads as seen on mobile devices with brief information regarding the campaign. The report concludes with the section ‘Strategic Recommendation’ which is derived after a comprehensive analysis of the market state and scope. It suggests key strategic moves which can help enhance and accelerate adoption of mobile advertising in India.
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TechNavio's analysts forecast the Global Location-based Search and Advertising market to grow at a CAGR of 49.49 percent over the period 2012-2016. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth ...
Executive summary The mobile channel is gradually strengthening its position in the marketing media mix as smartphones are becoming ubiquitous and drive mobile media usage. One of the key developments ...
... Enable advertisers and publishers to track user activity as they move across the internet and target them with relevant ads. Algorithmic models: these can be used in conjunction with cookies ...
... Hello fellow marketer Welcome to our 5th annual study social media marketing is still growing. And for businesses, social media is essential, as you'll see detailed in this year's report ...
Reportlinker.com © Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:fceae62f-8573-4dc4-9b26-2ba6540f1227> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reportlinker.com/p0684122-summary/Mobile-Advertising-Market-in-India.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931542 | 1,100 | 1.703125 | 2 |
It's All Politics
Mon December 17, 2012
Some Senators Show Willingness To Take On Gun Laws
Originally published on Mon December 17, 2012 5:19 pm
As President Obama spoke to mourning families in Newtown, Conn., on Sunday night, he clearly seemed to suggest a need for tougher gun laws.
"Are we really prepared to say that we're powerless in the face of such carnage? That the politics are too hard?" he said.
For Congress, the politics have been too hard.
The combination of a powerful gun owners' lobby in the form of the National Rifle Association and a loss of public support for gun control has stymied efforts in recent years to tighten gun laws.
But there are signs the Newtown massacre may prompt change on Capitol Hill.
On Monday, the first session of the Senate since the shootings opened with a pointed prayer from Senate Chaplain Barry Black: "Make our lawmakers willing to act promptly, remembering that time is fleeting."
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid then called for a moment of silence. Reid has not been a proponent of tougher gun laws — he has a "B" rating from the NRA, though he got no endorsement from that group in his last election.
On Monday, though, the Nevada Democrat signaled a willingness to explore how to prevent more gun slaughter. "We need to accept the reality that we're not doing enough to protect our citizens," he said. "In the coming days and weeks, we'll engage in a meaningful conversation and thoughtful debate about how to change laws and culture that allow this violence to continue to grow."
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, a California Democrat, announced Sunday on NBC that on the first day the new Congress meets next month, she'll introduce a bill similar to the now-expired assault weapons ban she sponsored 18 years ago.
"It will ban the sale, the transfer, the importation and the possession — not retroactively, but prospectively," she said. "And it will ban the same for big clips, drums or strips of more than 10 bullets."
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat, announced Monday that he will hold a hearing next month on preventing more shooting sprees. "If there are practical and sensible and workable answers to prevent such unspeakable tragedy, we should make the effort to find them," he said. "Then, Mr. President, we should have the courage — each and every one of us — to vote for those steps."
Some conservatives are joining the calls for reviewing gun laws, including Mark DeMoss, who has close ties to evangelical groups and was an adviser to Republican Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.
"We can't keep having occurrences like these, and mourn and have memorial services for a week or two, and then go on until the next one," he said.
West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin, one of 31 senators with an "A" rating from the NRA, said Monday that the shooting "really has changed us. It's changed me."
Manchin questions why anyone would need the kind of Bushmaster AR-15 semi-automatic assault rifle used in the Newtown killings.
"I don't know of anybody that goes hunting with an assault rifle. I don't know anybody that needs those types of multiple clips as far as ammunition in a gun," he said on MSNBC. "The most that I've ever used in my hunting rifle is three shells. Usually you get one shot and very seldom ever two. ... This doesn't make a lot of sense, and this has to be brought to this level now, and it's a shame."
Sen. Mark Warner, a Virginia Democrat, told WTVR-TV in Richmond on Monday: "I had an NRA rating of an 'A.' But, you know, enough is enough. ... I'm the father of three daughters, and this weekend they all said, 'Dad ... how can this go on?' And I, like I think most of us, realize that there are ways to get to rational gun control."
And yet for all the signs of a renewed debate in the Democratic-controlled Senate over gun laws, the Republicans who run the House have remained largely silent. | <urn:uuid:6a8254af-dca0-436a-a23e-e04f12e5b7d8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://ktep.org/post/some-senators-show-willingness-take-gun-laws | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969565 | 860 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Return to Nicholas Johnson's Iowa Rain Forest ("Earthpark") Web Site
to Nicholas Johnson's Blog, FromDC2Iowa
About 40 attend project question-and-answer session
Iowa City Press-Citizen
August 4, 2006
[Note: This material is copyright by the Press-Citizen, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of the Iowa City Press-Citizen.]
RIVERSIDE -- For Becky LaRoche, landing the Earthpark project here would be an economic boon and an educational benefit for area children.
But had Rick and Kathy Funk known about Earthpark, and also the soon-to-open Riverside Casino and Golf Resort, the couple said they would not have built their retirement home here two years ago.
"We moved down here for the country life and some quiet," Kathy Funk said. "I haven't heard anyone say, 'I'm going to move to Riverside because of the casino and Earthpark.'"
LaRoche and the Funks were among about 40 people who attended a Riverside City Council meeting Thursday that included a presentation and question and answer session with Earthpark officials. Earthpark announced last week that Riverside and Pella are the two finalists for the $155 million project, which features an indoor rain forest.
The final site is expected to be chosen during the next Earthpark Board of Directors meeting next month.
"I think this is a good, positive opportunity for not only Riverside and Washington County, but all of Eastern Iowa," Riverside Mayor Bill Poch said. "It's an impetus to start a lot of good, positive growth in the area."
The educational and environmental facility would include a 3.5-acre indoor rain forest with three ecosystems, a 600,000 gallon aquarium, learning and performance space and outdoor prairies and wetlands.
Earthpark leaders promise 400 to 500 construction jobs over two and a half years, 150 permanent jobs, 1 million annual visitors and an economic impact of $130 million annually or $10 billion in a decade.
"We're not talking about a regional project or even a state of Iowa project," Earthpark executive director David Oman said. "We're talking about a national environmental center. We're here tonight because Riverside has gone through a very, very tough site process."
Earlier this year, Earthpark had 16 possible sites to choose from. The list was narrowed down to four including Riverside, Tiffin, Grinnell and Pella. Grinnell and Tiffin dropped out of contention last month.
Oman said Riverside and Pella were chosen because both cities submitted financial packages that met or exceeded the $25 million in local funding.
Riverside Casino and Golf Resort CEO Dan Kehl said his family would contribute $2 million and the casino would pay $10 million over the next 10 years. The Washington County Riverboat Foundation could contribute $8 million over the next 10 years, and remaining funds could come from revenue from a hotel/motel tax or a sales tax rebate from the state, Kehl said.
In addition to the local funding, officials say the project will be funded by a $50 million Department of Energy grant secured by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, and state funding they hope will be between $15 million to $20 million. The rest, they said, could come from debt financing.
Riverside City Councilor Mariellen Bower said she's not sure if Riverside would be able to support such a large project such as Earthpark and would like to hear more community input before moving forward.
Some suggested the city hire a lawyer to help guide them through the process.
"I'm just worried that this thing might be a little over our heads," Bower said. "The concept of it is great. I'm not talking against the concept of what these people are trying to do, but we need some community input, and we need to get help from a highly qualified professional."
In the meantime, Poch invited the residents of the town to submit additional questions for Earthpark to the city within a week.
LaRoche, who owns the Kwik N EZ convenience store in Riverside, said the city could use the extra income generated by Earthpark.
"I'm a positive person, and I tend to believe them because they haven't said anything for me not to believe them, but I guess I'm for the future, and I think to grow, you need to stay at it," LaRoche said. "We are very fortunate they are looking at us."
However, coupled with the increased traffic with the casino, Rick Funk said Riverside is headed down the wrong road. Earthpark would be built south of Highway 22 across from the casino and golf resort, which is set to open Aug. 31.
"If I would have known this was going on, I would have never moved down here," said Rick Funk, who moved to Riverside from Iowa City about two years ago. "It seems like it's a matter of the all-mighty buck."
Construction is expected to begin next year with the Earthpark scheduled to open in 2010.
August 4, 2006
[Note: This material is copyright by The Gazette, and is reproduced here as a matter of "fair use" for non-commercial, educational purposes only. Any other use may require the prior approval of The Gazette.]
RIVERSIDE — Though Riverside is one of two finalists trying to land the proposed $155 million Earthpark indoor rain forest, people here still have many questions about the project.
Those concerns were aired last night during a City C o u n c i l meeting attended by about 35 residents that included a presentation by Earthpark officials. The meeting, which began with a 65-minute presentation by Earthpark officials, was not finished as of press time.
‘‘There’s a lot of ifs and buts there we need to watch out for,’’ Riverside resident Jim Rose said.
City council members focused their questions on the financial responsibility of the city.
Earthpark is requiring $25 million in local funds for the project.
‘‘If Earthpark would happen to fail, who does that come back on? The city?’’ asked council member Mariellen Bower.
Riverside and Pella are finalists for the project, formerly The Environmental Project, a four-acre indoor artificial rain forest that would include a 575,000-gallon aquarium, exterior prairie and wetland exhibits and galleries about environmental science issues.
Earthpark officials already have had a falling out with one community.
For five years, Coralville was the presumed site for the project until talks broke down late last year after the two sides failed to reach an agreement over land.
Final site selection is expected to be made next month.
Earthpark Executive Director David Oman said he has been to the Riverside site — directly south of the soon-toopen Riverside Casino & Golf Resort on Highway 22 — several times and is impressed.
Earthpark officials said the city carried little risk because city money would not be used.
Riverside Casino CEO Dan Kehl said the casino and his family would contribute $12 million toward the $25 million local match. He also suggested the Washington County Riverboat Foundation would consider donating $8 million over 10 years. The rest of the money could come from taxes from future development, he said.
But earlier on Thursday, Patty Koller, the casino foundation’s vice chairwoman, said the organization has not discussed giving any money to the rain forest.
It is estimated that the foundation will receive $3.2 million per year from the casino, and board members already have said 25 percent would go to cities in Washington County.
a teacher in Washington, said she was a fan of the rain forest and thought
it would meet the foundation’s goals of promoting education and economic | <urn:uuid:5a7bd8ea-e509-4e48-8617-91e9ec7c0cb2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nicholasjohnson.org/politics/IaChild2/pctg0804.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967763 | 1,643 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Inventory of the WXDU Records, 1977-2001
WXDU, as a member of the Duke University Union, exists to inform, educate, and entertain both the students of Duke University and the surrounding community of Durham through quality progressive alternative radio programming. WXDU was founded in 1983 when former station WDUK-1600AM switched to a FM signal.
Collection contains public records files, including correspondence and other materials related to FCC matters, program guides, clippings, a DJ handbook, and other materials. Materials range in date from 1977-2001.
- University Archives, Duke University
- WXDU (Radio station : Durham, N.C.).
- WXDU Records, 1977-2001
- Language of Material
- 0.5 Linear Feet, 250 Items
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection contains materials pertaining to FCC matters including correspondence, employment reports, insurance policies, license applications and renewal, public service announcements, program guides, and other materials concerning the operation of the station. Other materials include a DJ Handbook, April 2000, list of board members, announcements, flyers, and clippings. Materials span the dates of 1977-2001.
Patrons must sign the Acknowledgement of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
For a period of twenty-five years from the origin of the material, permission in writing from the office of origin and the University Archivist is required for use. After twenty-five years, records that have been processed may be consulted with the permission of the University Archivist.
In off-site storage; 24 hours advance notice is required for use.
Copyright for Official University records is held by Duke University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
WXDU, a non-profit student run radio station, was founded in 1983 when former station WDUK-1600AM switched to a FM signal. Whereas WDUK broadcasts were limited by the Federal Communications Commissions (FCC) to a range that barely covered the Duke University campus the new FM station WXDU could broadcast throughout the entire Durham community as well as the Duke University campus. The mission statement of WXDU proclaims that, as a member of the Duke University Union, [it] exists to inform, educate, and entertain both the students of Duke University and the surrounding community of Durham through quality progressive alternative radio programming.
- WDBS collection, 1949-1983. (University Archives. Duke University.)
[Identification of item], WXDU Records, University Archives, Duke University.
The WXDU Records were received by the University Archives as a transfer in 1980, 1995-1996, 2001 .
Processed by Sherrie Bowser, October 2006
Encoded by Sherrie Bowser, November 2006
Accessions 80-190, A95-70, A96-19, A2001-18 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and our local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant. | <urn:uuid:1760095a-e2e1-4583-b53e-3820f933f857> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://library.duke.edu/rubenstein/findingaids/uawxdu/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93143 | 680 | 1.609375 | 2 |
TEHRAN - Tehran, July 25. I’ve been in Iran since the first days of Ramadan. When I take a taxi to go to Maydan Tajrish, one of the main squares located in the north of Tehran, I realize that the driver, like many bus drivers, is smoking a cigarette. As we go along Valiasr, the main avenue, I see several people drinking water, eating fruit or smoking a cigarette in public, as Iranians stand by, indifferent.
The next day, I go to Darakeh to hike in the Alborz mountain range, which Tehran wraps around. As I walk several hundred meters, I meet couples laying down under the shade of plane trees, young unveiled girls, families having a picnic on the water’s edge and hikers quenching their thirst.
These Tehranis who drink, eat and smoke before the breaking of the fast during Ramadan are at risk of arrest by the Gasht-e-ershad brigades, who are tasked with enforcing “Islamic morality” in public spaces. This moralilty police can clamp down at any time, but the Tehranis who do fast, or who prefer to respect religious instructions in public spaces, are indifferent to these daily daredevils.
Testing the limits
Why do these Tehranis defy the rules imposed buy the Republic, and why do they take the risk of being arrested by the moral police? They aren’t so much trying to provoke as they are trying to maintain their lifestyle despite the regime’s moral control over public spaces. Out of respect for those who fast, most Iranians who chose not to, don’t do it in public.
If provocation there is, it isn’t aimed at religious rules or at fasting Iranians but against the regime’s moral authoritarianism. It is true that since the 1979 revolution, a minority of the population has always refused the mullah’s behests. But this rejection has more wind in its sails with the young Iranians born in the 1980s and 1990s, who don’t identify with the regime’s moral austerity and who have created moments of freedom in private spaces.
Described by Western media as completely impervious to individual liberties, Iran can surprise those who don’t know much about the country. Moments of individual freedom and satisfied desires do not exist solely as transgressions, in the privacy of homes or hidden from others.
Sexual relations outside of marriage are forbidden, but it is still possible for young people who wish to go to “San Francisco” – the nickname sometimes used to designate intimate moments – to choose a “legal” sexuality with a sigheh, a “marriage of determined length.”
Some travel agencies are even specialized in selling temporary marriage trips on the Caspian seaside to couples who do not want to risk the 100 lashes legal sanction for non-marital sexual relations.
It isn’t even anecdotal to meet veiled transsexuals in Tehran’s bazars and main avenues. Since the 1980s, with the approval of Imam Khomeini, the Islamic Republic of Iran gives a legal framework and public financial help to nearly 150,000 transsexuals and to all of those who want to change gender.
The regime in Tehran that grew out of the 1979 Islamic revolution has become fully aware of the changes Iranian society is undergoing, and it is trying to provide answers to the Enqelab-e Jinsi (sexual revolution) and the Enqelab-e Farhangi (cultural revolution) with legal and theological adjustments that are still far from satisfying most of Iran’s youth.
The regime’s approach to individual liberties has been less about banning them totally than regulating them in a normative framework. By formulating norms authorizing practices that would normally be contrary to religious morality, the state jurists support social change and individual liberties without ending the transgressions to the moral order in public spaces.
Thus, the handling of men and women mixing in public spaces is less and less linked to moral imperatives and increasingly bows to daily economic and social realities. The gender separation imposed in public transportation (buses and subways) isn’t respected anymore, and gender mixing has become the rule in private transportation (minibuses and taxis) for several years.
This situation reveals the formidable tensions between the formulation of norms governing public spaces and the reality of their enforcement, these very tensions that the 2009 presidential candidates said they would appease, supported by the young protesters of the Green movement.
Ahmadinejad’s reelection only postponed the formulation of satisfactory answers to these pressing demands from important, dynamic swaths of Iranian society to the next elections.
*Youssef Belal is a political scientist. | <urn:uuid:bafbe67e-7339-473c-9fdc-d180b9418822> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://worldcrunch.com/culture-society/the-new-generation-unhinging-iran-039-s-moral-authoritanism/iran-islamic-republic-ramadan-morality-religion-rules-sexuality-repression-authoritarianism-youth-green-movement-ahmadinejad/c3s9328/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949867 | 983 | 1.578125 | 2 |
The United States has declined to fully recognize a newly formed Syrian opposition coalition, saying the group must first prove its worth after its predecessor was dogged by feuding and accusations of Islamist domination.
Fiscal year 2012/2013. Source: USAID
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Wednesday the formation of the coalition, which supersedes the widely discredited Syrian National Council, was an important step, but did not offer it full recognition or arms.
She also urged the new group - the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces - to support the commitments it made recently in Doha and start influencing events on the ground.
"So, good beginning, highly welcomed by us and others, and we want to see the steps taken that have been promised," said Clinton. "And we stand ready to assist this new opposition in standing itself up and representing the Syrian people to the regime and the international community."
Syria denounced the organization, which it said had closed the door to a negotiated solution with President Bashar al-Assad.
France had fully recognized the new coalition of opposition groups on Tuesday becoming the first Western power to do so.
The six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council has also recognized the rebel group.
Clinton also announced the U.S. is providing $30 million in extra humanitarian aid for those affected by the Syrian conflict.
Clinton's remarks come as Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the fifth meeting of the Friends of the Syria will be held on November 30 in Tokyo. Japan will chair the meeting.
Syrian refugees try to cross the border fence from the northern Syrian town of Ras al-Ain into Turkey during an air strike on Ras al-Ain, in the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, November 13, 2012.
Newly arrived Syrian refugees are seen at Ceylanpinar refugee camp, Sanliurfa province, Turkey, November 10, 2012.
A Syrian girl who fled with her family carries a plastic container over her head as she walks to fill it with water at a displaced camp in the Syrian village Atma, near the Turkish border with Syria, November 10, 2012.
People from the northern Syrian town Ras al-Ain attempt to cross into Turkey, as seen from the Turkish border town of Ceylanpinar, Sanliurfa province, November 13, 2012.
A Syrian family who fled from violence sits next to their belongings at a displaced camp in the Syrian village Atma, near the Turkish border with Syria, November 7, 2012.
A Syrian baby cries as he lays on a swing attached to a tree at a camp in the Syrian village Atma, near the Turkish border with Syria, November 5, 2012.
A Syrian boy, who fled his home with his family due to fighting between government forces and rebels, plays near his tent at a refugee camp near the Turkish border, Azaz, Syria, October 7, 2012.
A Turkish police officer checks identification cards of Syrian men after they crossed from Syria to Turkey at the Akcakale border gate, October 4, 2012.
A Syrian man, who fled his home due to government shelling, holds his son at Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, hoping to cross to a refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town Azaz, September 12, 2012.
An elderly Syrian man, who fled his home due to fighting, takes refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, August 23, 2012.
A Syrian girl, who fled her home with her family due to violence, looks back while checking her laundry, at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing near the Syrian town of Azaz, August 26, 2012.
Syrian refugees walk through the Dumez refugee camp in Dahuk, northwest of Baghdad, Iraq, August 13, 2012.
In fresh fighting Wednesday, Syrian troops used aircraft and artillery in an attempt to dislodge rebels from a town next to the border with Turkey. Ankara scrambled fighter jets to its southeastern frontier in response to the renewed Syrian air assault of the rebel-held frontier town of Ras al-Ain.
President Assad's air force has been bombing the area for days, trying to dislodge anti-Assad rebels who overran the town last week during an advance into Syria's mixed Arab and Kurdish northeast.
Also Wednesday, Israel's defense minister said Syrian rebels have taken control of nearly all villages near the Israeli-held Golan Heights. Ehud Barak said Assad's forces were "displaying ever-diminishing efficiency." | <urn:uuid:3a18b230-f8c4-4aab-8485-01c8641f232b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.voanews.com/content/us-to-give-30-million-in-syrian-aid/1545214.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00030-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9762 | 953 | 1.648438 | 2 |
PLO negotiators condemn killing of US ambassador
Published Thursday 13/09/2012 (updated) 16/09/2012 15:25
A demonstrator holds a placard during a rally to condemn the
killers of the US envoy to Libya and the attack on a consulate,
in Benghazi on Sept. 12, 2012. (Reuters/Esam Al-Fetori)
BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Palestinian negotiators on Thursday remembered US ambassador Christopher Stevens as fair-minded and described his death in Libya as a major loss for American foreign policy.
Stevens, who was killed with three colleagues Tuesday in an attack on US institutions in Benghazi, had served years earlier as a political officer at the US consulate in Jerusalem.
"It's just tragic," said Hanan Ashrawi, a PLO leader and veteran negotiator with Israel. "It's very sad. I thought he was a person who was not just intelligent but also caring."
As a mediator, the Arabic-speaking envoy "understood the Palestinian situation well. He was very understanding and he listened; he didn't repeat talking points," Ashrawi said in an interview.
"He could have made a big difference in people's lives and, really, to America's standing and credibility. His loss is a loss not only to US foreign policy but also to its standing with other states."
Stevens and three other Americans died after gunmen attacked the US consulate and a safe house refuge in the eastern city of Benghazi on Tuesday night. The attackers were part of a mob blaming America for a film they said insulted the prophet Mohammad.
Demonstrators later attacked the US embassies in Yemen and Egypt in protests against the film, and American warships were moved closer to Libya.
Senior PLO negotiator Saeb Erekat blasted Stevens' murder as an "ugly act of terror."
"He was a really close friend of the family, and I am really shocked," Erekat told Ma'an. "He was murdered in a very ugly act of terror, and it's so despicable."
Erekat said he had personally communicated to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton the Palestinian people's condolences.
"Such a good man, such a great loss. His heart was in the peace process, and I'm sure his heart was also in the building of Libya," Erekat said.
"Of course no one tolerates the discrediting of our prophet Mohammad, but what did Stevens have to do with it? That's really unacceptable," he said of the alleged motive.
Earlier Clinton said Washington had nothing to do with the video, which she called "disgusting and reprehensible".
In Ramallah, President Mahmoud Abbas offered his condolences to the White House upon learning of the killing, the Palestinian Authority's official news agency reported.
"On behalf of myself, personally, and all Palestinian people, we offer sincere condolences to the US president after the US ambassador in Libya was killed in a criminal attack," Abbas said.
Israeli officials also condemned the string of attacks against US diplomatic missions and said they were "evil terrorist attacks" against the West, a Foreign Ministry statement said.
In Tripoli late Thursday, Libyan deputy interior minister Wanis Sharif said authorities had made four arrests in the investigation so far.
"Four men are in custody and we are interrogating them because they are suspected of helping instigate the events at the US consulate," Sharif said.
He gave no more details.
President Barack Obama has vowed to bring to justice those responsible for the Benghazi attack, which US officials said may have been planned in advance.
Reuters contributed to this report. | <urn:uuid:7d387b48-dcd0-47f8-a254-1b8109856f6a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=519983 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981266 | 748 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Lille capitalizes on ties to Lille University, where Louis Pasteur developed the purification process now known as pasteurization. The Pas de Calais area around Lille has some 800 healthcare and biotech companies. The Eurasante Bio-business Park, based in Lille, currently has about 30 biotech firms employing some 3,700 people. It is growing quickly because of its proximity to major universities, seven hospitals, the Pasteur Institute, and other international institutions. The region has a well-developed infrastructure to support life science research and development.
Tokyo’s biotech cluster is patterned after the bionetworks in Chiba, Yokohama, and Tsukuba. Tokyo has a large concentration of companies focused on monoclonal research and also on stem cell research.
Universities in the city include the University of Tokyo and the Tokyo Institute of Technology, which both have graduate-level biotechnology programs. Tokyo University of Science and a long list of other schools also contribute to the scientific acumen of the city, as does its strong IT industry. The three cities comprising the Tokyo Bay Biotech cluster are close by. | <urn:uuid:9a216094-20d3-41fb-99bd-dac74d8e5754> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.genengnews.com/gen-articles/emerging-biotechnology-clusters/2883/?page=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94482 | 233 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Postedon Apr 01, 2013 at 03:29 pm
In the past week, nine U.S. Senators have announced their support for the freedom to marry, explaining how their views have evolved and how they have come to understand that now is the time to stand on the Right Side of History.
Postedon Mar 19, 2013 at 12:30 pm
It is important to embrace and celebrate the journey stories of American politicians and political figures. These stories often allow even more Americans to challenge their own perspectives and begin to complete their own journeys. Here are ten great quotes from prominent political leaders who now support marriage for all couples and their families.
Postedon Mar 07, 2013 at 12:00 pm
A new analysis of national polling data and trends on the freedom to marry by two top Democratic and Republican pollsters indicates that the majority national support for marriage for same-sex couples is broadening and diversifying while resistance is diminishing and becoming isolated to just a few narrow demographic groups.
Postedon Jan 11, 2013 at 04:15 pm
A new poll from Political Insiders in The National Journal indicates significant growth in support of ending the exclusion of same-sex couples from marriage. 97 percent of Democratic respondents and 27 percent of Republican respondents said that their respective parties should support the freedom to marry.
Postedon Oct 04, 2012 at 11:30 am
Yesterday, Freedom to Marry's Federal Director delivered a letter thanking the Democratic Party for adding a plank supporting the freedom to marry to their official national party platform. Nearly 35,000 Freedom to Marry supporters signed the letter.
Postedon Sep 24, 2012 at 01:00 pm
This week, Congressman James Clyburn became the 157th member of the House of Representatives to sign on as a cosponsor for the Respect for Marriage Act, the bill that would repeal the so-called Defense of Marriage Act. He also rounds out the support from the Democratic Leadership in the House.
Postedon Sep 07, 2012 at 10:00 am
In President Barack Obama's speech accepting the Democratic nomination for president, which closed the Democratic National Convention, he continued discussing LGBT issues in what amounts to a historic level of visibility for the LGBT community at a convention for a major U.S. political party.
Postedon Sep 05, 2012 at 12:30 pm
The unveiling of the national party platform wasn't the only historic step forward last at last night's convention. We also saw one of the most pro-LGBT, pro-marriage slate of Democratic speakers ever take the stage and talk about how we can make this country better. It was almost unbelievable to see that speaker after speaker after speaker was an outspoken LGBT ally or openly gay or lesbian themselves.
Postedon Sep 04, 2012 at 09:45 am
Today, the Democratic Party officially ratified their party platform - their vision for where the future of the United States should be headed on a wide range of policy issues. Now, join us in saying "thank you" to President Obama and the Democratic Party for becoming the first major political party in U.S. history in favor of true and full equality for same-sex couples.
Postedon Aug 29, 2012 at 12:45 pm
When the Democratic National Convention officially kicks off on September 3 in Charlotte, North Carolina, the LGBT community will be represented more prominently than any previous DNC. According to the National Stonewall Democrats, over 530 openly LGBT participants will be official participants at the event. | <urn:uuid:13f5baae-efcc-4983-86d4-06e568745dc9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.freedomtomarry.org/blog/c/democrats-say-i-do/P0/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949623 | 702 | 1.796875 | 2 |
Hot cross buns were traditionally served on Good Friday because of the cross on top. Today, they are available in bakeries and supermarkets weeks before Good Friday because so many of us love these sweet, spicy rolls.
You can make these rolls ahead. After you have shaped the dough into buns and snipped the cross in top of each, cover with plastic wrap. You can refrigerate them from 4 hours up to 24 hours. Before baking, remove the buns from the refrigerator and remove plastic wrap. Cover with kitchen towel and let rise in a warm place about 2 hours or until double. Then brush the tops and bake as the recipe tells you above.
If your bread machine doesn't have a Raisin/Nut signal, add the raisins 5 to 10 minutes before the last kneading cycle ends. Check your bread machine's use-and-care book to find out how long the last cycle runs.
Traditionally hot cross buns contain raisins or currants. You may substitute the dark or golden raisins in this recipe with equal amounts of the more traditional currants or try chopped candied fruit.
We like to use only butter to make these rich-tasting buns. | <urn:uuid:0d52b57b-f3ed-4669-813f-230b6ee1c99e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/bread-machine-hot-cross-buns/3e4b81b9-a37b-485a-988d-350dff16756d?sc=Yeast%20Bread%20Recipes&term=Yeast%20Bread&itemId=b035e5bd-fa03-48e3-8c9a-b50ebff90d48 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932563 | 250 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Forget Batmanning. Here’s a stunt that’s both geeky cool and far more dangerous than planking. Because “Supermanning” only works in a moving vehicle…
Imagine this: You’re driving down the street in your car, when right outside your window your buddy zooms into view, one arm extended in front of him, the wind blowing through his hair, just like Superman. This is Supermanning, a new craze that distinguishes itself by requiring participants to perform it in a moving vehicle.
First uncovered by TV show RightThisMinute, several examples of Supermanning are already popping up online. As you can see in the video, Supermanning is accomplished by a backseat rider sticking half their body out of their window, presumably holding onto the car with one arm while pretending to fly with the other. Some people are even dressing up in Superman costumes to add authenticity to their Supermanning.
It should go without saying that Supermanning is extremely dangerous — not to mention illegal, since there’s no way a seat belt can be worn while doing it. So please, if you decide to join the craze… Go Supermanning responsibly.
[Hat tip: RightThisMinute.com.] | <urn:uuid:57c5171b-e5f3-40fa-9004-6bd909d1e7b4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.forevergeek.com/2012/02/supermanning-the-new-planking/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931065 | 257 | 1.765625 | 2 |
As much as stealth might not be the best for cyclists since they should be visible at all times to pedestrians, drivers and fellow bikers, it cannot be denied that the X9 Nighthawk bike is one hell of a good-looking ride. Inspired by the fighter plane of the same name, the X9 Nighthawk bike uses flat-sided frame components made from an aramid fiber honeycomb wrapped in carbon fiber in place of standard steel tubing.
Designed by Slovak engineer Brano Meres, the X9 Nighthawk bike benefits from these lightweight materials by weighing no more than three pounds. Although not as light as a feather, this bodes well for optimal performance. In addition to that, the sharply edged, all-black aesthetic will have people turning their heads as it zooms right past them.
Stealth Black Bicycles
12,923 clicks in 58 w
More Stats +/- | <urn:uuid:ef63499f-7bd8-4ae2-ac95-a97e80f3c779> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/x9-nighthawk-bike | 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 | 0.958929 | 188 | 1.515625 | 2 |
The FTTH Council Middle East and North Africa is an industry organization with a mission to accelerate FTTH adoption by all broadband stakeholders through information and promotion, in order to accelerate the availability of fiber-based, ultra-high-speed access networks to consumers and businesses. We promote FTTH because it delivers a flow of new services that enhances the quality of life, contributes to a better environment and boosts competitiveness.
Our vision : an enhanced life enabled by Fibre to the Home
Creating a sustainable future is not just about protecting the environment, but it is also about wider benefits to society and its citizens, and the economic health of communities and nations. Fibre to the Home has a positive impact on all three of these areas. | <urn:uuid:573cf63e-6365-47c9-817d-836f03a1c261> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ftthcouncilmena.org/about-us/about-us | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943981 | 146 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Churchill College, the national and Commonwealth memorial to Sir Winston Churchill, is a college of the University of Cambridge. The foundation can be dated to October 1960 when the royal charter was granted and the first students arrived. The College has been keeping its own records since foundation, most of which are now stored in the New Wing of the Churchill Archives Centre. Churchill College Archive is committed to collecting, documenting and providing long term access to those records which reflect and illustrate the history of the College and its members.
The College Archive consists of the official records generated by the College administration, including records of the Churchill Archives Centre and the Moller Centre. It also includes records of related bodies such as College and student societies and organisations, personal papers of prominent past members, and a collection of artefacts, ephemera and images relating to the College and its members. The records are classified under the following headings: Governance; Administrative; Tutorial and Academic; Clubs, Societies and Organisations; Photographic and Image Collection; Personal and Private Papers; Historical Reference Collection.
The College Archive receives significant annual and ad hoc accruals from College departments and individuals.
College records are appraised according to established retention schedules.
The College records are divided into functional classifications and collections. | <urn:uuid:b895fe57-bd1f-4bc3-b7f7-0d7a01e111e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0014%2FCOLL | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94778 | 257 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Judy Rehmel remembers her first attempt at sewing. She selected a piece of fabric, carefully folded it and ran it through the machine. The feat surprised her mother because Rehmel was 3 years old.
Rehmel, a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Richmond, Ind., has advanced in skill quite a bit. Now a quilter of wall hangings, she has become one of the state’s most celebrated artists in the craft field. This year she was honored as the “signature artist” for the Indiana Art Fair held at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis.
|Judy Rehmel is well-known for her wall hangings, including those with liturgical themes. The silhouettes in her Christmas artwork (below) are designed to emphasize the season, not individual personalities. |
All of these accomplishments have come as a second career. Rehmel first taught needlework and wrote several books on quilt patterns. “Then about 1990 I was looking for something I could do as a retirement business,” Rehmel said. “I looked at art shows to see what people were doing and realized I had better choose something I really knew. And I was able to find my niche with wall hangings.”
The rest of this article is only available to subscribers. | <urn:uuid:b87106f9-e688-4d35-b23d-11ea9c2faf7f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thelutheran.org/article/article.cfm?article_id=7625 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987482 | 275 | 1.625 | 2 |
By Kyle MacMillan, Denver Post
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg seems to have an opinion on everything — including Colorado’s most controversial arts issue. Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s proposed “Over the River” art project has the potential to bring an edginess to Colorado’s image and boost tourism for years after, Bloomberg said during a visit Thursday to Denver. The couple’s last project, “The Gates” in Central Park, was a major boon for his city.
“It isn’t that everyone is going to go to the river,” he said. “But it is that Colorado is ‘with it,’ that people from Colorado are open to new ideas and want to try new things. “This is something that will put Colorado on the map around the world.” | <urn:uuid:7fd70f26-97ed-4392-b4ad-c1be45276620> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.overtheriverinfo.com/index.php/news/new-york-mayor-bloomberg-supports-christo-river-art | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970795 | 181 | 1.625 | 2 |
Jacques Bloch, founding president of ASHFA (American Society of Hospital Foodservice Administrators) and the only member of the healthcare foodservice community to win the prestigious IFMA Gold Plate Award, passed away September 20 at age 91. Bloch worked in foodservice his entire career, starting out in restaurants and going on to spend 37 years as director of the nutrition department at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.
In 1982 he was awarded the coveted Gold Plate Award from IFMA. At the time he said he viewed the award as recognition of change in the healthcare foodservice industry.
"We kept Jacques in mind two years ago when AHF created our lifetime achievement award—the award recognizes members who best exemplify the leadership and spirit of Jacques Bloch and Angelo Gagliano, the founders of our legacy organizations," says current President Patti Oliver of the Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF).
Those wishing to make a donation in Bloch's memory to the American Ex-Prisoners of War Association can do so here. Bloch had been a prisoner of war during World War II. | <urn:uuid:179cf1c9-8cb2-458a-9296-05827f8acce4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://food-management.com/news-amp-trends/jacques-bloch-passes-away-91 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957038 | 228 | 1.625 | 2 |
REDISTRICTING MAPS RELEASED
Thu March 31, 2011
Negative feedback for Mo. House committee's redistricting map
The state is losing a seat in Congress based on the latest U.S. Census figures.
Republican Marc Ellinger is the presiding Commissioner for Cole County, located in central Missouri and home to the State Capital. He doesn’t like the proposed map that puts his county and Jefferson City into the same congressional district with portions of metro St. Louis.
“The current map, from my analysis, indicates that approximately half the population will actually be (the) St. Louis metropolitan area," Ellinger told the House Committee on Redistricting. "(That) does not, I think, serve the best interest of my constituents in Cole County, of the folks in Central Missouri, and frankly, of the state as a whole.”
Meanwhile, St. Louis resident Martin Baker suggested that some city and suburban citizens would be underrepresented.
“Now, I’m not asking, obviously, nor are the citizens of the city...asking for any sort of preferential treatment here…no, that is not my intent," Baker said. "We just want to make sure that we are heard.”
Committee chair John Diehl (R, Town and Country) defends the proposed map as fair and the best plan he’s seen so far.
Democrats on the committee are expected to unveil their own proposal next week.
Redistricting Maps Released | <urn:uuid:e6f06607-121e-4ba7-a30e-a7b33cd414f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/negative-feedback-mo-house-committees-redistricting-map | 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 | 0.950575 | 312 | 1.5625 | 2 |
So what do we do? Keep on sinning so God can keep on forgiving?
I should hope not! If we've left the country where sin is sovereign, how can we still live in our old house there?
Or didn't you realize we packed up and left there for good? That is what happened in baptism. When we went under the water, we left the old country of sin behind; when we came up out of the water, we entered into the new country of grace - a new life in a new land!
When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus.
Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.
Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the Cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life - no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this:
If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection.
We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word.
When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us.
From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That's what Jesus did.
That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don't give it the time of day.
Don't even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time - remember, you've been raised from the dead! - into God's way of doing things.
Sin can't tell you how to live. After all, you're not living under that old tyranny any longer. You're living in the freedom of God.
So, since we're out from under the old tyranny, does that mean we can live any old way we want? Since we're free in the freedom of God, can we do anything that comes to mind?
Hardly. You know well enough from your own experience that there are some acts of so-called freedom that destroy freedom. Offer yourselves to sin, for instance, and it's your last free act. But offer yourselves to the ways of God and the freedom never quits. All your lives you've let sin tell you what to do.
But thank God you've started listening to a new master,
one whose commands set you free to live openly in his freedom!
I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing - not caring about others, not caring about God - the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
As long as you did what you felt like doing, ignoring God, you didn't have to bother with right thinking or right living, or right anything for that matter.
But do you call that a free life? What did you get out of it? Nothing you're proud of now. Where did it get you? A dead end.
But now that you've found you don't have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way!
Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God's gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved. (The Message Bible Online) | <urn:uuid:44be8151-570e-4b92-b116-f81a4c41d5cc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.biblestudytools.com/msg/romans/6.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00032-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966628 | 892 | 1.570313 | 2 |
A student who stole 299 rare bird skins from the Natural History Museum at Tring to fund his studies has been ordered to pay £125,150 under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Edwin Rist, aged 22, from the USA, was sentenced in April for the burglary, which took place on 24 June 2009. He was previously given a 12-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and a supervision order for 12 months.
Following a hearing at St Albans Crown Court today he was also given a confiscation order to pay back £125,150, after also pleading guilty to money laundering offences.
This is the amount that it is estimated he later made by selling the bird skins, stolen from a private collections area in the Museum, on places like Ebay.
Detective Sergeant Joe Quinlivan, from Herts Constabulary’s Economic Crime Unit, said, 'This is a very positive result for us and sends a strong message that making money through crime never pays.
'My team and I were determined that Rist should not benefit financially from his crime, which robbed this country of part of its heritage, and today’s result is testament to the hard work of the Economic Crime Unit.
'For anyone who is involved in or considering making money through crime – be warned. If caught, we will be seeking your ill-gotten gains through the courts from you through the Proceeds of Crime Act.'
Rist has £13,371.98 available to pay and has six months to pay it. If he does not pay this amount within six months, he will be required to serve his 12 month prison sentence.
If Rist should come into more money at a later date, the Economic Crime Unit will be seeking this money from him up to the total outstanding figure.
Anyone with information is asked to contact either the police on non-emergency number 0845 33 00 222 or the Museum on +44 (0)20 7942 5065.
The stolen birds were a number of brightly-coloured tropical birds, including cotingas, quetzals and birds of paradise, some being endangered species, irreplaceable and, therefore, of special scientific concern.
In total 191 intact birds have been recovered to date, but only 101 still retain their labels, which are critical scientifically. In addition, parts (feathers, etc.) from an estimated 31 further birds have also been recovered.
The birds that were stolen form part of the nation’s natural history collection, assembled over the last 350 years. The 70 million specimens looked after by the Museum are a resource of international importance in the development of scientific knowledge.
The ornithological collections are amongst the most heavily used and are consulted by researchers throughout the world, who either visit the | <urn:uuid:847d2f8e-037b-45d2-bb03-25b63c32b30a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nhm.ac.uk/about-us/news/2011/august/museum-bird-skin-theft-man-ordered-to-pay-money99799.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967916 | 572 | 1.78125 | 2 |
April 27, 2000
Jewish In OC
After a slow start, the Jewish community to the south has exploded in recent years
When my husband and I told my relatives in the San Fernando Valley in 1978 that we were moving to Orange County, they responded, "Why would you want to live in such a place?" What they meant, of course, was why were we moving to a place which had such a gentile stamp on it and, indeed, which had the reputation of being home to advocates of the John Birch Society.
Our initial visit to the Orange County Jewish Federation only confirmed their view. We learned, among other things, that there were no neighborhoods that could be identified as Jewish.
Nonetheless, we found a synagogue -- one of 14 in the area at the time -- and managed to replicate our existence in my native Cleveland by joining groups such as B'nai B'rith, B'nai B'rith Women and ORT. Within a few months we attended the annual Orange County Israel Cultural Fair, along with 8,000 to 10,000 other Southern California residents. That phenomenon, which began in 1972 and continues today, brought more Jewish people together in one place than I had ever seen.
While Orange County may not have the geographically cohesive nature of a mature Jewish community in the Northeast or Midwest -- or even in Los Angeles or San Francisco -- demographers describe it as typical of the new Jewish communities of the West. As compared to other places, Western Jews are less likely to live in Jewish neighborhoods, have primarily Jewish friends, belong to a synagogue or contribute to Jewish charities. They tend to be less observant and less concerned about intermarriage or Israel. In short, they seem less ethnically identified.
This tends to make it difficult to track the number of Jews in Orange County. While a 1994 survey by the Council of Jewish Federations and another by the Maccabee Institute place the figure at 75,000, the American Jewish Year Book and the Orange County Jewish Federation estimate the Jewish population of Orange County to be 70,000, though less formal recent estimates place the total much higher.
Still, there are 50 Jewish institutions, including 26 congregations representing Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Chassidic Judaism, three Jewish day schools and a Jewish Federation campus that serves as the home of eight Jewish agencies. The numbers are misleading though. In reality, the Jewish presence, while growing, is nevertheless fragmented. Many Jews in the County are not involved in Jewish organizations. The Jewish Federation of OC reaches at best 20 percent of the Jewish community and its annual fundraising drive last year raised just over $2 million, a relatively small figure compared to cities with even smaller Jewish populations. The question remains an open one: Does OC represent the Jewish wave of the future?
If there is a central Jewish address in Orange County, it has moved south from Santa Ana and Anaheim to Irvine, Newport Beach and Laguna Hills. Mirroring this movement of the Jewish population is the location of Jewish institutions. By the end of the 1960s, for example, temples began to dot the Orange County landscape -- Temple Sharon in Costa Mesa, Harbor Reform in Newport Beach (now Shir Ha-Ma'alot in Irvine), Temple Beth David in Westminster, Temple Beth Tikvah in Fullerton and Temple Judea in Leisure World/Laguna Hills. The Orange County Board of Rabbis was founded in 1965. Meanwhile the new University of California at Irvine (UCI) and new industrial centers were attracting more and more people, including Jews, to southern Orange County. They comprised a new generation, some of whom eagerly turned to the synagogues. According to Rabbi Bernard King, who has been spiritual leader of Shir Ha-Ma'alot since 1969, "In 1969 Jews were generally skittish.
There were still areas restricted to Jews -- the Santa Ana Country Club, Emerald Bay and Crystal Cove. UCI changed the complexion of Orange County. It was a magnet for attracting Jewish faculty."
Rabbi King added that his congregation wanted to join the Harbor Council of Churches in 1969 and was refused. However, when the organization disbanded in 1978 and became the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council, it elected King as its first president.
Elsewhere in south Orange County, Jews were establishing homes -- and feeling isolated. "We discovered that we had moved to a Jewish desert -- no temple, no Jewish center, no kosher deli, no place to buy Pesach goods, not even a bagel store," Polly Sloan of the Jewish Historical Society said of Laguna Beach in the 1970s. She joined the Women's Division of the Jewish Federation and traveled to Garden Grove for meetings and socializing. Her family joined the Israel Academy, an experiment in Jewish education created in Irvine by Rabbi Robert Bergman, but it lasted only a few years.
When the Women's Division held a tea in Laguna Niguel, people began to talk about creating a Jewish community center. Nine couples put up $100 each to rent a storefront in Laguna Beach, and "Jews came out of the woodwork, "Sloan said, to attend the center's grand opening in 1973. The Jewish Community Center in Laguna Beach attracted 500 people to its first Chanukah party in 1973. Meanwhile, other community-wide institutions -- Federation, Jewish Family Service and the North Orange County JCC -- shared space with Catholic Welfare Services in Garden Grove.
General migration to the Sunbelt boosted Orange County's Jewish population in the1970s. Overall prosperity in the county brought new industrial centers, new homes and new Jewish residents in the 1980s and 1990s, with growing concentrations of Jewish population in Irvine, South Orange County and East Orange County.
The early 1990s saw a major turning point for the Orange County Jewish community with the gift of a building and campus in Costa Mesa by the families of Ruth and Arnold Feuerstein and Sandy and Allan Fainbarg. Over the next few years and after significant renovations, it officially opened as the Jewish Federation Campus in 1995.
Indeed, the irony is that as many Jews became more accepted within American society, and more distant from Judaism, other Jews began asserting their ethnicity.
Another boom has increased the number and kind of Jewish institutions during the past 10 or 15 years, according to Hazel Dyer, coordinator of travel and tours at the JCC. Dyer said more than 75,000 South Africans have emigrated to Southern California in recent years and estimates that 30,000 of them are Jewish, with a large concentration of them in Irvine. "They are used to Yiddishkeit and brought it here," she said. "They have supported Orthodox congregations and Jewish day schools."
Penina Bergman, who tutors B'nai Mitzvah students for Temple Beth Sholom, Temple Bat Yahm in Newport Beach and Congregation B'nai Israel in Tustin, notes the impact of another trend -- a lower birth rate. "In the 1960s our temple had only 450 families but 600 children. Today, with 650 families, we have far fewer children."
"There has been a real dichotomy between strongly identified Jews with leadership abilities and other Jews wanting to isolate themselves in Orange County," King said. "While there still is no real center of Jewish population as of yet, we're just beginning to create a real community."
The Demographic Jewish Factor
As the Orange County Jewish community matures, second- and third-generation families are assuming leadership roles in their synagogues and other organizations.
Dale Glasser is director of the UAHC Ida and Howard Wilkoff Department of Synagogue Management in New York and the grandson of Orange County Jewish community pioneer Sam Hurwitz. "Temple Beth Sholom [in Santa Ana] continues to provide a strong sense of community for my father, who proudly proclaims that he has been a member for over 50 years," Glasser said.
Meanwhile a 1992 U.S. Jewish population study by the National Council of Jewish Federations affirmed that Jewish education is one of the most effective tools for producing strongly identified Jewish adults, and education programs for children and teenagers are on the rise in Orange County.
Since its formation more than 22 years ago, the Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE) has attempted to ensure the continuity of Jewish life in Orange County through education, according to Joan Kaye, who is in her ninth year as BJE director. Young people who participate in the BJE programs often resurface as camp counselors and other community leaders, she says.
BJE programs include weekend retreats for elementary and middle school students from all over Orange County; the Adat Noar program for ninth graders; the Teens are Leaders-in-Training (T.A.L.I.T.) program that prepares Jewish teens in grades 10 through 12 for leadership roles in their schools and youth groups, as well as in daily camps, synagogue classrooms and other community settings; the TIES (Teen Israel Experience for the Summer) program, which offers five-and-one-half weeks of living, learning and exploring Jewish life in Israel to high school students; and family education programs for teenagers and their parents.
However, overall demographics in the Jewish community make it difficult to identify and understand the preferences of secular Jews in Orange County. According to the American Jewish Year Book (1998), of the 5.5 million core Jewish population in the U.S., 1.1 million, or approximately 20 percent, say they have no religion. | <urn:uuid:3181c0b8-d713-4641-a41d-1dfdce10aaac> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jewishjournal.com/articles/print/jewish_in_oc_20000428 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962033 | 1,950 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, or a "straight bankruptcy" is the legal tool used by individuals to eliminate debts that they cannot repay, or repay over a reasonable period of time. There are a number of requirements that individuals must meet to qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy relief. Additionally, businesses are treated differently than individuals in Chapter 7, but Chapter 7 can be an effective tool for a business to end it business operations in an organized manner.
Some common reasons that individuals file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Relief include:
- Credit Card Debt
- Medical Bills
- Lawsuits and Judgments for Unpaid Debts
- Lawsuits For Which There Is No Valid Defense
- Deficiency Balances Following Foreclosures On Real Estate or Repossessions of Vehicles
- Unemployment and Underemployment
- Reduced Income
- Rental or Investment Property Without Rental Income or Tenants
- Inability to Sell Real Estate
- Separation or Divorce
When an individual or married couple cannot pay their ongoing monthly bills, Chapter 7 can be an effective way to address these issues. When your monthly income is less than your regular monthly expenses, bankruptcy relief should be considered.
To file for Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, you must complete a bankruptcy petition, bankruptcy schedules, and statement of financial affairs. You must completely and truthfully list all of your assets and all of your debts.
You are entitled to a number of exemptions under state law and federal law to protect some, most, or all of your property depending upon your situation. In Chapter 7, the primary job of the Trustee is to determine if you have any assets that can be sold for the benefit of your creditors. The Trustee cannot sell any assets that are protected by your exemptions. Most Chapter 7 cases are determined to be "no asset" cases, which means that you do not lose any property. However, it is very important to discuss your situation with an experienced bankruptcy attorney to determine if you may lose any property by filing for Chapter 7. In cases where an individual may lose property in Chapter 7, other options may include filing for Chapter 13 instead, or negotiating a "buyout" of the asset with the Chapter 7 Trustee.
All creditors must be listed on your bankruptcy schedules, notified of your bankruptcy filing, and have the opportunity to attend your Section 341 Meeting of Creditors. However, it is not common for creditors to appear at the § 341 Meeting, and most of the time, the only people that are present at the § 341 Meeting are the Debtor(s), the Trustee, and the bankruptcy attorney. Creditors are given an additional 60-day period following the § 341 Meeting to object to your discharge or file a complaint for an exception to your discharge. This is a mandatory statutory waiting period, and unless you have a debt that is nondischargeable (which is easily identified if you have disclosed everything to your bankruptcy attorney and the Bankruptcy Court), you will receive your bankruptcy discharge soon thereafter.
Most debts can be eliminated with a Chapter 7 Discharge. The Discharge is the Order issued by the Bankruptcy Court at the conclusion of a bankruptcy case which states that you are no longer legally responsible for your debts. However, some debts are not dischargeable and cannot be elminated in Chapter 7, including the following:
- Most Taxes
- Student Loans
- Child Support
- Alimony, Post-Separation Support, or Other Spousal Support
- Equitable Distribution or Property Settlements Relating to Divorce or Separation
- Debts Incurred by Fraud or Obtained As a Result of Fraud
- Debts Relating To Intentional Torts or Intentional Injuries
- Certain Recently Incurred Debts
- Debts That Have Been Reaffirmed Through a Reaffirmation Agreement
A Chapter 7 Bankruptcy can appear on your credit report for 10 years. In the short term, your individual credit score will probably be in the high 400s or low 500s. However, many of the credit effects of a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy filing will not remain for more than 2 to 3 years, as long as you do not incur debt that is beyond your ability to repay it. Additionally, if your credit score is already low due to issues with debt to income ratio, delinquent payments, and/or judgments, a Chapter 7 bankruptcy discharge will actually help to begin the credit repair process. Many individuals who have reliable income and do not incur substantial new debts following a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing can obtain substantial increases in their credit scores within 12 to 18 months after receiving a Chapter 7 discharge.
To schedule an initial consultation, please call Levy Law Offices at (919) 846-0125, or complete the contact form on the right-hand column of the website. Levy Law Offices provides a free initial consultation in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy cases for individuals. Levy Law Offices welcomes complex bankruptcy cases and emergency bankruptcy cases. | <urn:uuid:6653be42-042b-48ad-9433-60e1ecacdd84> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.jnl-law.com/Chapter_7.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940009 | 1,019 | 1.789063 | 2 |
[Ed. Note: And yet one more way people find to justify abusing animals.]
By Thomas Francis, MiamiNewTimes.com
During his sophomore year in high school, Cody Beck finally got fed up with hearing homophobic cracks. If his classmates thought being gay was weird (Beck was openly bisexual), he had a confession that would blow their minds. He told them he is sexually attracted to dogs and horses.
"I just couldn't keep it in anymore," Beck says. "Just for the hell of it, I figured I'd throw it out there and have them make fun of me even more." Which they did. An 18-year-old from Arizona who graduated from high school this past year, Beck says classmates taunted him by calling him "Bestiality Dude."
Being a "zoophile" in modern American society, Beck says, is "like being gay in the 1950s. You feel like you have to hide, that if you say it out loud, people will look at you like a freak."
Now Beck believes he and other members of this minority sexual orientation, who often call themselves "zoos," can follow the same path as the gay rights movement. Most researchers believe 2 to 8 percent of the population harbors forbidden desires toward animals, and Beck hopes this minority group can begin appealing to the open-minded for acceptance.
But if those like Beck are to make the same gains as gays, it's apparent they will have to do so without the help of gay rights groups, which so far want nothing to do with a zoophile movement. What's more, they will have to wage battle with well-funded and politically connected animal-protection activists.
And the most difficult task will be to take possession of their public image. In an Internet age, zoophiles are more exposed than ever. Bestiality-themed websites are a Google search away. Hometown newspapers have learned that police reports of sex with animals become the best-read stories on their websites.
State lawmakers across the country have taken their cues by proposing anti-bestiality laws. In Florida, state Sen. Nan Rich of Sunrise proposed legislation earlier this year that would make bestiality a felony. Her bill was in response to news reports from January 2007, when a man from Mossy Point was suspected of sexually assaulting and strangling a female goat; he was arrested months later in the abduction of another goat. Rich's bill unanimously passed in the Florida Senate but died in the House, where conservative legislators might have been bashful about devoting time to a bill about sex with animals.
A similar bill was proposed this year in the Alaska Legislature, where it was known derisively as "The Ididadog." That bill failed for similar reasons — certainly not because of organized opposition. In Arizona, police arrested a Mesa deputy fire chief in 2006 for sex acts with his neighbor's lamb, which spurred state legislators to make such acts a felony. That same year, Washington state finally made bestiality illegal, inspired by a man in Enumclaw who was killed while having sex with a horse — a case that also prompted a bill last year by a Tennessee legislator. The past few weeks have brought perhaps the most famous animal sex case — a South Carolina man charged for the second time with committing buggery against the same horse.
Of course, the Internet has a way of turning exposure to strength. It has allowed zoophiles from around the world to interact — not only to swap erotica but also to form a community and rehearse their arguments for the political stage. The Internet also makes zoophiles accessible for the first time. They can be found in chatrooms, through websites that advocate their cause, and virtual-reality meetups.
As this group gains confidence, zoophiles figure to be more open and then more outspoken in their demands for personal liberty and against discrimination. Improbable as it may seem, zoophiles might yet prove the new frontier in the battle for sexual civil rights. | <urn:uuid:65ce4f5a-5c77-4691-aa58-975b185aa859> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.all-creatures.org/articles/ar-instincts.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976435 | 817 | 1.789063 | 2 |
New London — Robert Kearney of Mystic had just left his doctor's office Wednesday morning and was heading home when he spotted two people dressed in religious vestments standing by the train station.
A sandwich board in front of Grace Barnum and Ron Steed, both parishioners of St. James Episcopal Church, read "Ashes to Go."
Kearney pulled over his car and stood before Steed, who dipped his thumb into a small jar and smudged the sign of the cross in ashes on Kearney's forehead.
"I've never seen this before, but I think it's outstanding," said Kearney, who attends St. Patrick Church in Mystic. "The way the world is going, 'round and 'round and 'round, I think it's good they're keeping up."
Kearney, who said he wanted ashes but wasn't sure of the hours they would be offered at his own church, was one of several people who took advantage of the St. James program aimed at helping Christians observe the first day of Lent.
Lent, the six weeks leading up to Easter Sunday, is a time of repentance and reflection for Christians and is marked by prayer and fasting. The ashes, which are made from palms from the previous year's Palm Sunday observance, remind believers of their mortality.
"This is another way to engage people,'' said Steed, who is a layperson but was dressed in traditional black-and-white religious robes. "We thought we'd take church to the people."
Once the ashes are blessed — Steed was using a jar of ashes consecrated by the Rev. Michel Belt, pastor of St. James — any lay person can dispense them, he said.
"No special powers are needed to give out ashes,'' he said.
There are many people, he said, who want to participate in church but are busy.
"And some folks aren't ready to go back to church yet, but they're thinking about it,'' he said.
In addition to dispensing ashes, Steed and Barnum also handed out brochures explaining Ash Wednesday.
Although it was the first time St. James offered ashes outside of its Federal Street church, Ashes to Go is a national movement that began in 2007 in St. Louis, Mo., according to ashestogo.org. It was a way to encourage churches to bring the ritual to the public rather than wait for people to come into the church.
Across the country Wednesday, clergy and lay people were on street corners and outside coffee shops. In Madison, Wis., drive-thru ashes were offered at busy intersections. Drivers did not have to get out of their cars.
"We want people to think about Lent,'' said Steed as he waited on the sidewalk. "To think about things they might be sorry for." | <urn:uuid:fa33d8a3-1d30-4e5b-a63a-42e0d9e7c1d3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.theday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130213/NWS01/130219895/1070/rss11 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988083 | 582 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Just being my colorful self. :-?
Regardless, take the white dwarf Sirius B serious.
Its surface temp. of 25,000 K is up there with the big blue O stars. Even B stars (11,000 - 25,000 K)and A stars (7,500 K to 11,000 K)are considered "blue".
I don't see how it's size would make the difference to our eyes.
Is my thinking off here? #-o | <urn:uuid:aaec882d-f721-493f-b89f-76dde431e608> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cosmoquest.org/forum/showthread.php?12948-What-color-is-a-white-dwarf | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932149 | 99 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Why Cacao Nibs with Cacao Powder
What's the Difference?
This is good to know because a lot of very excellent recipes just use the cacao powder and cacao butter. So... "why cacao nibs with cacao powder" - here's the difference.
The cacao nibs are the broken parts of the whole cacao bean (without the skin). The cacao powder is separated from the cacao butter during further processing of the nibs.
Here is an excellent video that will give you the details in how this comes about. You'll really be able to see the differences in cacao nibs, cacao powder and also the cacao butter and paste. Then read the rest of my article for more answers.
They each have their own unique taste and characteristics. (You can learn more about the Sunfood cacao products by visiting their website.)
Here's Why Cacao Nibs with Cacao Powder is My Choice
When I tried taking the cacao powder and mixing it with the cacao butter, it did not result in a good recipe. I had the idea that I would be recreating the nibs without having to grind them. This was not the case.
- I couldn't tell how much cacao powder should be mixed with the cacao butter to bring back that cacao nibs taste.
- And... I'm not sure if I would get the same taste if I worked that out.
- The cacao nibs do not get any more processing than what you see in the video above.
- The cacao powder and butter have gone through more changes.
- I believe the nib's unique taste is lost when trying to mix the cacao powder with the cacao butter to replace the nibs.
I've gone through many recipes wanting the easiest way to get the best taste and most wholesome result. So I have to conclude the reason why cacao nibs with cacao powder works best for me is this - I have in mind a specific result and it matches when I use the nibs and powder.
But, if you have something else in mind, the cacao powder and the cacao butter may be adequate. These chocolate recipes using raw cacao products can be fun. We can all experiment and learn from each other.
More Information About Cacao
Please feel free to email me if you have questions or comments. I am always happy to respond.Or... Go here right now to Ask a Question. You'll be sharing your question and responses with others.
If you'd like to know where we are currently buying our cacao products...
Go to Cacao Beans - Where to Buy from Why Cacao Nibs | <urn:uuid:65411d90-9c87-463f-879b-bd852fdf1649> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.natural-healthy-eating.com/why-cacao-nibs.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945045 | 564 | 1.601563 | 2 |
NEW DELHI (AP) — Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged Indian companies on Monday to invest in his country, and India's leader said economic development in the war-torn nation would contribute to stability in the region.
"Investment opportunities are better today in Afghanistan, a country that is more confident of its future," Karzai told reporters after meeting with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
Karzai's five-day visit is viewed as a bid to shore up security in the faction-ridden region before the planned departure of most NATO troops from Afghanistan in 2014.
India has invested more than $2 billion in Afghan infrastructure, including highways and hospitals and rural electricity projects. New Delhi is hoping to gain some influence in the country after 2014, when Afghan forces become responsible for the entire country's security.
"India has been a generous front-line partner in Afghanistan's rebuilding and reconstruction efforts," Karzai said.
Singh said his talks with Karzai covered bilateral relations and regional security.
"I reiterated to President Karzai our belief that Afghanistan's regional economic integration will contribute to the overall prosperity and stability in the region," Singh told reporters.
The two countries signed four agreements, including ones on mining and development of small enterprises.
Karzai, who arrived in India over the weekend, said one of his priorities during the visit is to urge Indian companies to invest in his country.
"Indian businessmen need not shy away. The Chinese came five to six years before you and they have already got two or three major contracts," Karzai told business leaders in Mumbai on Sunday.
He said Afghanistan would lay out a "red carpet" welcome for Indian businesses. "You should come in large numbers," Karzai said.
The two leaders also reviewed a strategic partnership agreement that the countries signed last year, Indian officials said.
India is helping the Afghan government rebuild its police forces, judiciary and diplomatic services. Small batches of Afghan soldiers are undergoing training at military schools in India.
"India is involved in capacity building in various fields including the security sector," said Yash Sinha, a top official in the Ministry of External Affairs. He refused to say how many Afghan soldiers had been trained in India.
India and Afghanistan are careful that their cooperation is not viewed as a threat by Pakistan, which lies sandwiched between them.
The governments of India and Afghanistan share a distrust of Pakistan. Afghanistan says Pakistan contributes to Afghan instability by offering a safe haven to Taliban insurgents. India accuses Pakistan of harboring and nurturing terrorists who have carried out attacks in India.
Karzai, who earned his college degree in India, has visited New Delhi more than a half dozen times in the past few years, most recently in October 2011. | <urn:uuid:cd385724-6309-495d-8bde-f5af105d4136> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://townhall.com/news/politics-elections/2012/11/12/karzai_in_india_to_woo_investment_in_afghanistan | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97722 | 556 | 1.71875 | 2 |
The identity tools consist of our promise, our positioning statement and our key messages. Our identity integration is an example of how the elements of identity can be pulled together in an evocative, cohesive statement.
Promise - The College at Brockport promises to reveal to each student each day his or her capacity for intellectual, physical and creative accomplishment.
Our promise is the fundamental statement of the work of The College at Brockport. Through our unwavering commitment to our students – each student, each day – we help them to see their potential – reveal their capacity – in the three main modes of human expression – the intellectual, the physical and the creative – so that they may accomplish their dreams.
To fulfill this promise demands the tireless dedication of the campus community, strong and supportive faculty-student relationships, and respect for and recognition of all areas of study and human endeavor as worthwhile to the development of the whole person.
The public identity of The College at Brockport is built on the truth of this institution; it is a reflection of those who know the College best and care for it most. Our brand promise, positioning statement, and key messages are tools that will allow our community to consistently describe the distinctive academic tradition at Brockport, our unique and engaging learning environment and the lifelong impact that this institution has on our alumni, their families and the communities in which they live.
Through consistent use of these messages, we can strengthen the image of the College not only in the hearts and minds of our campus community but we can also reach out and connect with others across the region, the nation and the world, making a clear and powerful statement about the quality of the educational experience that can be found here. | <urn:uuid:516d2b60-0294-4231-b9d4-127e2d31b5cd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.brockport.edu/about/identity/tools.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94223 | 343 | 1.5 | 2 |
AKDN’s activities in Mozambique are concentrated in Cabo Delgado, the
northernmost, and poorest, province of Mozambique. The Aga
Khan Foundation (AKF) supports three programmes in the province: the
Rural Support Programme (CRSP(M)), the Entrepreneur
Development Initiative (EDI), and the Bridges
to the Future (B2F) programme.
CRSP(M) was initiated in 2001 as an integrated programme of activities in health, education and rural development. It is working in five districts of Cabo Delgado province (Quissanga, lbo, Meluco, Pemba Metuge, and Macomia) with the aim of increasing food security and income generation opportunities, as well as health and education, for rural households, particularly women.
Bridges to the Future (B2F) works to strengthen the human resources of the province. In 2006, it provides scholarships and facilitates internships. English language courses and management training are also being delivered.
The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) works in concert with AKF’s activities in the same province. Its primary objective is to provide loans to microenterprises and small businesses for income generating activities such as small-scale agricultural, fishing, retail and industrial enterprises.
AKDN has also made investments in the tourism infrastructure, first through purchase of the Polana hotel in Maputo. The Aga Khan fund for Economic Development has made significant investments in the refurbishment of the historic hotel.
The vast majority of AKF beneficiaries are small producers whose livelihoods depend on income from selling their crops or the products they make. Their incomes are strongly affected by factors such as the level of technical knowledge, physical distance to markets, uneven competition due to national and international trade policies, devastation of war and limits on productivity caused by environmental degradation. More | <urn:uuid:3c1ec7b8-1078-4f63-b2db-da4e56be421b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.akdn.org/mozambique | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942023 | 391 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Stealing home, saving the world
The season's most heavily promoted book for kids is a rough ball game
Don't be surprised if you get lost looking for the children's section of your bookstore this fall. More and more "adult" authors Joyce Carol Oates, Isabel Allende, and Carl Hiaasen, to name three are cropping up next to Beatrix Potter and Judy Blume. Not since the days of E.B. White and James Thurber have so many literary heavyweights gone tromping into fairyland. (Let's hope the Yellow Brick Road doesn't crack under the weight of all the awards.)Skip to next paragraph
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Perhaps none is so anticipated as "Summerland," Michael Chabon's first novel since his Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay" (2000) and his first book for young adults. Hyperion hopes to push the book into Harry Potter status with a $250,000 marketing campaign.
Chabon tries for an epic with an all-American swagger and a mythology as big as the Wild West. It's wildly inventive, but the core premise that baseball is a metaphor for life is ground as well-trodden as home plate.
Eleven-year-old Ethan Feld, the worst player in the history of baseball, gets recruited to the hero leagues by a former Negro League ballplayer named Ringfinger Brown. Turns out, the rookie's been tapped for the "real" World Series in which the existence of four parallel worlds depends on him winning the big game.
Along with teammate Jennifer T. Rideout, two native American fairies (ferishers), a pint-sized giant, and a Sasquatch named Taffy, Ethan journeys in his dad's beat-up Saab across the Summerlands to a nine-inning showdown with Coyote and his demon ball club. On their way to Diamond Green, they play pickup games with hungry giants and Paul Bunyan.
In this sprawling 500-page book, Chabon references everything from native American lore to "Beowulf." And, in a welcome change of pace from the major leagues, none of his roster is in it for the glory (or the paychecks). Ethan, for one, is trying to save his dad, an inventor of Zeppelins, whom Coyote kidnapped for his nefarious scheme the ultimate "game over."
Ethan's mom (a vet whose motto was "People could learn a lot from llamas") has recently died. Several characters come from fractured families, and the struggle not to let all the love pour out of the cracks gives the novel its poignancy.
The publisher is promoting the book for "all ages," but that's patently ridiculous. "Winnie the Pooh" is for all ages. This epic isn't for anyone under 12. The violence ranges from robust to graphic including decapitations, frost-giant feeding frenzies, and a particularly ooky lab experiment. The book also contains references to liquor, swearing, hand-rolled cigarettes, and parts of anatomy not typically found in children's literature.
"Summerland" is more of a solid double than a home run, but it's hard not to root for someone who's so willing to swing for the fences.
Yvonne Zipp is editor of the Monitor's Arts & Leisure section. | <urn:uuid:cfe9aa49-dd42-4728-8d2c-10898e292565> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.csmonitor.com/2002/0912/p16s04-bogn.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960706 | 698 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Only two? Jonathan Miller, famous practically since puberty, first burst upon the world as part of the legendary Beyond the Fringe team.
The reinvention of British comedy would be enough for most people, but Miller was running a concurrent career as a neurologist and also displaying his transformative genius as a director of theatre, television and opera.
Kate Bassett’s brilliant, exhaustively researched biography gathers it all together and reminds us what a truly astonishing man he is. Just try to imagine postwar British culture without him — he made opera singers act properly, and for that alone he deserves a statue.
Bassett is fascinated by the central dilemma of Miller’s life: the struggle between art and science. “Miller views medicine as his lost ideal,” she writes, “and comedy as his tragic fall.” There are other conflicts, too; notably between Miller and his own Jewishness. He both advocates assimilation and — as a snooty, upper-middle-class, public schoolboy — typifies it. “I’m not really a Jew,” he famously said in Beyond the Fringe; “Just Jew-ish. Not the whole hog, you know.”
Behind the joke lay a serious division between Miller and his father. After the Holocaust, the atheist Dr Emanuel Miller embraced his heritage and suddenly turned religious, alienating young Jonathan. “I didn’t know what was going on,” he recalls. “I used to be bullied into going to synagogue… To me it was as odd as going to a mosque… I was just more English than he understood.”
Bassett paints a brief but vivid picture of Miller’s extraordinary childhood. His parents, though loving, were chilly, undemonstrative and hard to please. The famous names crop up early. Emanuel Miller, son of a Lithuanian Jew, grew up in London’s East End alongside artists Isaac Rosenberg, David Bomberg and Mark Gertler, and became a founding father of child psychiatry in Britain.
Jonathan’s mother, Betty Spiro (also of Lithuanian Jewish origins) was a novelist related distantly to Henri Bergson and Marcel Proust. When Jonathan (born in 1934) was a crazy, ungovernable little boy, the poet Stevie Smith spent a holiday with the family, and left a very unlovely picture of the future Renaissance genius: “Oh why is that child so spoilt and horrible?”
Miller’s closest friend at St Paul’s School was the very-nearly-as-brilliant writer and shrink, Oliver Sacks. He gives Bassett an entertaining account of the young Jonathan as a tall, gangling nut-case with a mop of reddish hair and a face like putty. He’s hilariously funny and a superb mimic, but he’s also fiendishly clever. Already the struggle has begun — Miller worships Danny Kaye but he’s also obsessed with his microscope.
While still at Cambridge, he’s making a name for himself as a comedian at the same time as qualifying as a doctor.
Bassett doesn’t shy away from the notoriously splenetic, grumpy Miller of the last few years — the man who says: “All religions are equally repulsive”; who has petty feuds with Frederic Raphael and Sir Peter Hall, who rails against women and homosexuals and distances himself from his oldest friends. At one point, she asks herself: “Should I re-entitle the biography ‘What’s With the Long Face?’”
But she balances this with the affectionate mockery of the great man’s wife and children (apparently he’s just an ordinary miserable old git at home), and her own admiration for Miller as “a leaper of boundaries… the best-known polymath of late 20th-century Britain.” | <urn:uuid:0a14d4bc-c0e1-4ca2-b34f-27b8deaef447> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thejc.com/print/96607 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972799 | 835 | 1.84375 | 2 |
Recalling the shooting rampage that killed 20 first graders as the worst day of his presidency, President Barack Obama pledged to put his "full weight" behind legislation aimed at preventing gun violence. . . .
The president said he intends to press the issue with the public.
"The question then becomes whether we are actually shook up enough by what happened here that it does not just become another one of these routine episodes where it gets a lot of attention for a couple of weeks and then it drifts away," Obama said. "It certainly won't feel like that to me. This is something that -- you know, that was the worst day of my presidency. And it's not something that I want to see repeated."
-- Jim Kuhnhenn, "Obama wants gun violence measures passed in 2013," Associated Press/Yahoo!News, December 30, 2012
The Newtown Massacre understandably produced cries of grief and outrage, politicians' speeches for constituents and prayers by and for all, demands for solutions and a number of suggestions as to what those solutions might be.
Suggestions have included, as they have in the past, bans on sale of assault weapons and multi-round magazines, trigger locks, background checks, restrictions on permits and gun show sales, and especially this year, expanded mental health services. The NRA argues more good guys with guns, especially in schools, will decrease random attacks by armed bad guys. It also emphasizes education and training of new gun owners. I don't, now, express an opinion about these and other ideas. Rational, data-driven public policy proposals are almost always an essential element of progressive change -- and almost never, alone, enough to bring it about.
In a democracy, a prerequisite to change is that the political stars be properly aligned, whether the issue be the "fiscal cliff," immigration policy -- or gun violence. That alignment is, admittedly, disproportionately influenced by the "special interests" and their campaign contributions. But it is also, in no small measure, driven by public opinion.
President Obama, in the quotes at the top of this blog entry, says "he intends to press the [gun violence] issue with the public." He can be commended for his hope that the Newtown Massacre "does not just become another one of these routine episodes where it gets a lot of attention for a couple of weeks and then it drifts away."
The President is less clear as to how he will prevent that from happening. He will have a lot on his plate during 2013. There's a limit to how many speeches, on how many occasions, he can make about gun violence, or how effective they would be if he could.
Public opinion is also driven by media coverage -- news, opinionated discussions, TV shows and feature films. And the media, like the President, will have a great many things to talk about during 2013 besides gun violence.
So here's an idea, suggested by something television has already shown its willingness to do.
We are regularly shown pictures of the members of our military killed in Iraq and Afghanistan -- ABC's "This Week" on Sunday mornings, PBS' "Evening News Hour" every evening, and probably others as well, once names are released and pictures are available.
Many Americans have questioned the wisdom of the Iraq War from the get-go; others have been urging for months and years that we should get out of Afghanistan. But no one in my acquaintance questions the patriotism and courage, and the debt we owe, to those willing to say "Yes, Sir," salute smartly, and march off to war when asked to do so. Putting a face, their faces, on their sacrifice keeps those wars from "drifting away" from our consciousness.
One source puts the number of U.S. military killed in Afghanistan from 2001 to December of 2012 at 2173. "Operation Enduring Freedom," iCasualties.com. Watching their pictures, along with their names, ranks, ages and hometowns on our television screen has always been a solemn moment in our house. All multi-tasking and conversation ceases as we concentrate on the seriousness of what we're watching, as if at a funeral service.
Those 2173 deaths are 2173 deaths too many. But at an average of 181 military killed outside of our country each year, it is but a small fraction of the 32,000 who die from firearms inside our country each year.
"Firearm injury in the United States has averaged 32,300 deaths annually between 1980 and 2006 . . .. An estimated two nonfatal injuries occur for every firearm death. The 2006 age adjusted [per capita] death rate from firearm injury is 10.2/100,000 with an estimated nonfatal injury rate of 23. Firearms are involved in 68% of homicides, 52% of suicides, 43% of robberies, and 21% of aggravated assaults. Deaths peaked in 1993 at 40,000 in the early 1990s . . .. [F]irearm injury represents a significant public health impact, accounting for 6.6% of premature death in this country."Firearm Injury in the U.S. (Version 2009)," Firearm & Injury Center at Penn.
Imagine the impact it could have in preventing public concern regarding gun violence from "drifting away" if we could put a face on these 32,000 faces.
And putting a face on domestic gun deaths need not be any more argumentative than displaying the names and faces of those killed in Afghanistan. Pacifists undoubtedly see them as evidence of the folly of war; hawks see them as a necessary cost of national defense and glory. Similarly, the NRA could view the domestic deceased as evidence of the need for more "good guys with guns." It could point out how many were killed with guns that did not have multi-round magazines, or that were brought about by killers who needed mental health services.
Why should we not be as reminded of the 75 to 100 people killed with guns throughout the United States each day as we were of the 26 who were killed in one town (Newtown) on one day (December 14, 2012)? They are all just as dead. They were all killed with firearms. Aren't they all entitled to the same respect, and the same calls for solutions?
Of course, 32,000 deaths a year would average 88 a day. Even if an entire 20-minute network newscast were devoted to nothing but these 88 individuals they would only get about 13 seconds each. So showing them all may not be practical. Maybe only a few could be selected. Maybe it would prove to be impossible to get the names and photos of everyone anyway. Maybe they could be streamed fast, at a second or two each.
Of course, there is no way, and should not be any way, that television stations could be forced to adopt a feature like this. But if we as a caring people, and the President as our leader, are ever to be able to make a real and successful effort at reducing these 32,000 deaths, something like this proposal will have to be a part of doing so.
The main area where the U.S. exceeds the firearm violence of other nations is in comparison to other affluent nations. Using the U.N. data, European nations -- even former eastern bloc countries -- typically have rates well below 1 per 100,000, or far less than one-third the frequency seen in the U.S. The pattern is similar in other advanced industrialized nations, such as Canada, Taiwan, Japan, Australia and New Zealand."Facebook post says the U.S. is No. 1 in gun violence. Is it?" PolitiFact.com.
One study published in 2011 confirms this finding. The study, published in the Journal of Trauma -- Injury Infection & Critical Care, found that firearm homicide rates were 19.5 times higher in the U.S. than in 23 other "high income" countries studied, using 2003 data. Rates for other types of gun deaths were also higher in the U.S., but by somewhat smaller margins: 5.8 times higher for firearm suicides (even though overall suicide rates were 30 percent lower in the U.S.) and 5.2 times higher for unintentional firearm deaths.
America ranks number one in the world for the number of guns per 100 individuals: 88.8. Virtually all the other countries are less than one-half our rate; over 100 countries are one-tenth or less. "Number of Guns Per Capita by Country," wikipedia.org.
We are only marginally better when measured by the annual number of firearm deaths per 100,000 population -- at 10.2, the rough equivalent of Mexico (11.14). "List of Countries by Firearm-Related Death Rate", wikipedia.org. | <urn:uuid:8de7cfae-a2bd-42c8-b641-e811bcee5080> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fromdc2iowa.blogspot.com/2012_12_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971577 | 1,800 | 1.742188 | 2 |
Says Maliki Threatening Iraqiya Leaders
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi has co-authored article in the New York Times today, along with fellow Iraqiya members Osama al-Nujaifi (Iraq’s parliament speaker) and Finance Minister Rafe al-Essawi, warning that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is taking the nation down the path of “sectarian autocracy.”
Tensions have been on the rise in Iraq since Maliki ordered the arrest of his Sunni Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi as a terrorist, leading the mostly Sunni Iraqiya and both major Kurdish blocs to withdraw from the government.
Maliki’s efforts to centralize power, and his warnings that those blocs that withdraw from the government won’t be allowed to participate in Iraqi politics any long, have many openly wondering if he is following Saddam Hussein’s example in his style of rule.
Interestingly, however, most Iraqis are so fatigued by the political circus of Iraq during US occupation that many see the latest row as a cynical “political theater” aimed at keeping Iraqis uncertain while the regime continues to fail at bringing basic security to the nation.
Efforts at negotiating some sort of direct talks on the situation still aren’t successful, with Allawi saying he will only take part if Kurdish leaders and Moqtada al-Sadr do, and Kurdistan’s President Barzani refusing to travel to Baghdad over fear that Maliki would arrest him.
Last 5 posts by Jason Ditz
- US Slams Russia's Missile Sales to Syria - May 17th, 2013
- Nine Killed, 70 Wounded in Bombings Near Kandahar - May 17th, 2013
- Envoy: Russia May Deploy Troops to Tajik-Afghan Border - May 17th, 2013
- Pentagon in Afghan Budget Crisis, Seeks to Shift $10 Billion in Funds - May 17th, 2013
- Nigeria Launching Massive Offensive Against Boko Haram - May 17th, 2013 | <urn:uuid:208f1233-3eb9-4160-9b1f-40e78b9ccb5a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.antiwar.com/2011/12/28/allawi-accuses-maliki-of-turning-iraq-into-sectarian-autocracy/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952055 | 424 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Lacan (2007) “for string quartet with electronic sounds” is Malsky’s take on a medium reified by Steve Reich’s Different Trains (1988). Like Reich’s composition, Malsky’s incorporates recorded speech and is built around a historical-political program. Unlike Reich’s, though, Malsky’s is free-wheeling and whimsical (with a touch of cynicism)–successfully evoking, in his own words, “the sound of vivid dreams, inspired by a mix of half-heard news reports and other thoughts bouncing around my unconscious.” The QX Quartet keeps up admirably with a rhythmically challenging score, injecting humor into each glissando, tremolo and pizzicato.
Although the string writing is characteristically rhetorical–sometimes in a four-way conversation or debate and at other times in homophonic declamation–it rarely bears a readily apparent relation to the spoken words of the electronic track. The electronics feature snippets of political figures “posturing” (Malsky’s word) on the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, interspersed with recordings from that same day in the composer’s own life. (At one point, we hear the composer talking with his children about dandelions, broccoli, and brussel spouts.) In contrast to Different Trains, whose rhythm and tonal shape is informed at every turn by spoken words, the quartet in Lacan seems to comment on or around the public and private speech without reacting to it directly. In some places, the electronics seem merely incidental to the strings. A tighter relationship between the two would have been more aesthetically satisfying, but perhaps less dream-like.
The one-movement work is an arc divided into seven sections, framed by a question and answer posed to and given by the psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. But don’t listen too carefully for discrete parts. The piece carries its dream conceit through to the end, playing on liminal states of wakefulness and the blending of disparate speech-influenced dreams. Twice, the strings break into an unexpected tango before morphing back into the more abstract forms that characterize the piece.
The highlight of the disc is Malsky’s Berlin, Symphony of a Great City (2009), his anachronistic accompaniment to a 1920′s silent film of the same title. You can watch it with music here, but the Malsky’s score stands alone well thanks to its quasi-minimalist construction. Several micro-motifs interact in a charming whole: Rippling water at the beginning of the film inspires a two-note oscillation; an arpeggiated triad traces the grandeur of its buildings; a driving mollosic meter (strong-strong-strong) suggesting the city’s mechanization–its locomotives and factories–but shifts into antibacchic meter (strong-strong-weak) to depict the heartbeat of Berlin’s citizens. QX renders with feeling and precision the human and mechanical elements that make this piece a success.
The disc ends with Valley of Dying Stars (2003), which Malsky describes as a “literal but wordless setting of T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Hollow Men.’” To this listener, the music gets too caught up in its program to succeed musically. It lacks the somewhat more self-evident structure of Lacan and the transparency of Berlin. The piece nevertheless keeps one’s attention all the way to its anticlimactic “whimper” of an ending, thanks to rich phrasing and rhetorical pathos inspired by the poem and convincingly conveyed by QX. | <urn:uuid:6a9863d2-66a0-4807-a5a4-4028cd907def> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sequenza21.com/cdreviews/tag/matthew-malsky/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934388 | 795 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Buster the Beagle Gets the Bed Bugs Out
Courtesy of Padraic Reagan
Buster the bed-bug sniffer
Got bed bugs? If so, Buster the beagle could be your new best friend. The 4-year-old pooch is a trained bed-bug-sniffing hound with Vermont Bed Bug Dog of Burlington. For a modest fee, Buster and his handler, Padraic “Paddy” Reagan, will visit your home or business in search of the tiny bloodsuckers and their larvae.
You could say that Buster and Reagan are a match made in hell. A few years ago, Reagan and his girlfriend, Jennifer Martin, had a devil of a time getting rid of the bed bugs that had infested their public-housing apartment in Burlington. Although the Burlington Housing Authority bombed their apartment with chemical pesticides, when the couple returned, the bed Bugs were still alive and nipping.
Frustrated and itchy, Reagan and Martin eventually had to toss out most of their furniture and personal belongings. It wasn’t until they hired a pair of bed-bug-sniffing dogs from Connecticut to pinpoint the trouble spots that they were able to fully eradicate the problem.
“The dogs ended up being our best friends through the whole thing,” Reagan recalls. “They really clarified the situation for us.”
Reagan was so impressed with the bug hounds that he decided to invest in one himself. In November 2010 he adopted Buster, who had already been trained by J&K Canine Academy in High Springs, Fla. Reagan launched his business soon thereafter.
Business has been booming ever since, he reports, especially as bed bugs have crept their way back into social prominence, infesting even some of the toniest five-star hotels around the country. Today, about half of Reagan’s work is in summer camps, hotels, school dormitories and other places where transients — and their parasites — routinely bed down for the night.
“A dog is the most efficient way to check for bed bugs,” Reagan argues. “In my opinion, it paints the clearest picture of where they are.”
As Reagan explains, bed bugs today have largely evolved a resistance to chemical pesticides. As a consequence, about the only way to kill them is to heat a room above 130 degrees. But to do so cost effectively, he explains, requires knowing precisely where the bugs are hiding out.
Compared to a team of human observers, who would take hours — or even days — to find all the bed bugs, Reagan says he and Buster can work an average-size home in about 20 minutes, for about $225. During that inspection, Buster will alert Reagan to where bed bugs are hiding or have left behind their shells, eggs or feces.
How does Reagan keep Buster’s nose honed? He keeps a colony of bed bugs at home, which he uses to train the dog. On a recent weekday morning, the team was inside the Monkey House bar in Winooski, where Reagan works part time. He had stashed several sealed vials there for Buster to find.
After a command of “Find your Bs!,” the eager beagle got to work, circling the room clockwise and sticking his sensitive sniffer under chairs, tables and couch pillows — even electrical fixtures. At one sofa, Buster stopped and scratched eagerly. He discovered the first of several vials and was immediately rewarded with food.
Thus far, Reagan says business has been “sustainable.” It shows no sign of letting up.
“People always ask me how things are going,” Reagan says. “It’s hard, because if it’s good for me, that means bed bugs are still an issue.”
Vermont Bed Bug Dog, 540-0839, [email protected]. vtbedbugdog.com | <urn:uuid:77b69488-bbdb-4f9e-ad64-a72753e58c1f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.7dvt.com/2012buster-beagle-gets-bed-bugs-out | 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 | 0.961289 | 826 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Since writing this post about The Kissing Sailor, its reach has completely exceeded all my expectations, and has generated more discussion on my blog than ever before. As I read the comments though, I come across a couple of misunderstandings, and though many excellent people have responded with clarification, I see the same misconceptions popping up again and again.
So I thought I’d clear up some confusion once and for all. Here are some of the most common misconceptions.
Misconception #1: That kiss happened in a different time! How can you judge him using modern values?
The purpose of my original post was not to demonize George or to recommend that he be packed off to prison. A user on Reddit called MBlume gave a succinct response to someone who had Misconception #1. I’ll post it here:
“You’re…completely missing the point. The point isn’t that it happened. The point is that there’s three modern articles discussing the picture, all of which basically quote the woman in the picture as stating that it was sexual assault, and in none of the articles does the editorial voice acknowledge that that’s fucked up.”
This is spot on. Thanks, MBlume.
Misconception #2: Greta herself doesn’t call it a violation and actually seems alright with it. So your argument is invalid.
Indeed, in an interview given to Patricia Redmond, Greta does not seem traumatised by the kiss, and describes the fame that resulted from the photo in a positive manner.
However, I do think it’s worth taking into account that, even in today’s society, there is a lot of pressure on women to smile and get along, to ‘let boys be boys,’ to accept unwanted sexual contact like groping or kissing, and not to make a big deal out of it. Many of the comments have confirmed this, with gems like, “It’s just a kiss, get over it,” and how women should “stop whining” about such matters. In Greta’s case, the pressure would undoubtedly be much higher.
But one thing Greta consistently asserts is that the kiss was sudden, that she was grabbed before she even became aware of his presence. Her remarks about his strength and “vice grip [sic]” don’t sound like the words of someone who had enjoyed the kiss. The fact is, consent was not given, and her feelings about it afterwards don’t change the nature of what George did. To give an extreme example, if you were to kidnap and torture someone, only to find out later that you’d just fulfilled their deepest fantasy, does that make you less culpable?
Misconception #3: The picture on your site is not the original photo. What’s going on? Is this a trick?
Well no, it’s not a trick. Alfred Eisenstaedt, the photographer, took a couple of shots over a 10 second period, in various stages of the kiss. In one of the comments isalu507 provided some links, showing the photos in chronological order:
As isalu507 points out, the third picture shows Greta further on in the kiss, with her left hand clenched in a fist up against George’s face, seemingly pushing him away. I had never seen that photo before, and found it really interesting.
(edit: commenter ‘timd’ has provided some links showing that this is in fact the first photo of the series, not the last)
Misconception #4: People celebrated this photo as an icon; for a long time no one knew the story behind it. So how can you say that our celebrating it was a result of rape culture?
I’m not saying that at all. Most people believed that it was a picture of a couple, expressing their joy after the war. I don’t blame them. What I was referring to when I spoke of rape culture was the silence on the part of the news articles on the subject of Greta’s non-consent, even while publishing quotes from her which make it clear that George had simply grabbed her. This ignoring of inconvenient truths in favour of maintaining the illusion of romance is symptomatic of rape culture.
Misconception #5: Rape culture? The sailor never raped her. We shouldn’t compare this to rape, since that diminishes the experience of actual rape victims.
I think there are two misconceptions embedded in this. Firstly, just because George hadn’t raped Greta doesn’t mean it’s no big deal, nor does calling it out as sexual assault diminish the experience of rape victims. Yes, there are different levels of every crime, and no one is trying to say that the experience is the same across the entire spectrum of sexual assault. But they do stem from the same culture, and just because there are greater evils does not mean we should just ignore the lesser ones.
Also, many seem to be confused as to what is meant by the term ‘rape culture’. Our living in a rape culture doesn’t mean that everyone thinks rape is fantastic. What it does mean is a culture where rape and other forms of sexual violence are normalised, to be expected. It’s a culture where attitudes towards women’s bodies and attitudes towards perpetrators combine to tolerate and condone sexual violence, even while we pay lip service to the monstrosity of rape. It’s a culture where victims are criticised for their choice of clothing, their behaviour, and their sexual freedom, as though they are partly to blame for their fate. It’s a culture where women’s bodies are public property; they undergo scrutiny in the media, and weight gain in female celebrities like Christina Aguilera or Lady Gaga seems like a justification to hurl abuse at them. And the fact that Greta’s comments were given no attention in the news articles is certainly a manifestation of rape culture, contributing to and reflecting it.
I’m sorry that the term ‘rape culture’ makes people uncomfortable. But perhaps it’s time we stopped being comfortable. After all, it is when we start to acknowledge that society isn’t as perfect as we thought it was, that progress can be made. | <urn:uuid:3927168e-552a-4454-8dcb-279736e671d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cratesandribbons.com/2012/10/05/the-kissing-sailor-part-2-debunking-misconceptions/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=cb62af4429 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967782 | 1,337 | 1.570313 | 2 |
“Hi, my name is Hajira and I’m addicted to the Internet.”
Phew, you say to yourself, that cow is finally getting the help she needs. You might be right about the cow part, but the only problem is that the support group is an online one…
It’s a common problem faced by many of us – we spend so much time on the internet that our relationships, activities and work in the real world come off second best at times.
Remember the real world? The place where you could reach out and grab somebody’s hand, feel the blood pulse beneath the skin? The place where you could be reasonably certain that your friend is actually a young lady and not a middle-aged man who breathes heavily and keeps the Kleenex handy whenever you post a new profile picture of yourself?
I think the only thing that keeps us coming back to the real world is food. When we can eat food on the internet, we won’t ever bother to press the disconnect button.
That sign on the door that says “On lunch - back in 15 minutes!” will be staying up much, much longer than that. Even the prospect of real, sweaty, fumbling sex can be passed up these days in favour of, ahem, “researching” one’s more taboo proclivities in a much more glamorous format.
Recently, a Korean couple who starved their baby to death while they looked after a virtual baby at the internet cafe showed the world how far this thing can go. Just give them a bowl of shark fin soup in their virtual world and they wouldn’t have even resurfaced to find out that they had killed their own kid.
So now there are only three categories of people who still exist in the real world. They are as follows:
1. “Celebrities” – these people have to go into the real world to have pictures taken of them passed out in the gutter with their underwear around their ankles. Otherwise, they wouldn’t be famous for anything. They do occasionally pass their time in cyberspace by having Twitterfeuds with other "celebrities".
2. Politicians – often found running amok (impregnating random women, embezzling taxpayers’ money, running over joggers, etc.) in the real world because everyone else is in cyberspace stalking other people they don’t like and playing Farmville.
3. Poor people – these people don’t have computers so we think their opinion doesn’t really matter until we realise it’s election time again. Can often be found burning tyres in service delivery protests, but still can't be expected to think outside the box when putting a tick in the old ballot box.
On the other hand, living completely in the virtual world might mean that we get to eat whatever we want and still stay virtually thin. If they develop a decent mutton biryani then I’m buying myself a plot of land in Farmville. Hyuk.
Just recently I have had cause to question the ability of the human race to rear children decently and responsibly. I therefore propose that we implement legislation to enforce child licenses. Psychiatric evaluations, home inspections and competency tests should be compulsory on prospective parents to ensure that children brought into this world are brought into it by loving caring people who will give children stability and love.
It’s difficult to adopt a kid, right? There are all kinds of procedures involved to ensure that the orphaned child in question doesn’t end up being abused by the adoptive family, trafficked into a child sex ring or enslaved. So where are the checks on people who just go the easy route and just manufacture them themselves?
Unless you are Angelina Jolie or a person who is infertile but really desperate to have a child, you are not going to adopt. Why go through all the trouble and paperwork to prove that you would be a fit parent when you could just knock yourself or your partner up?
The sad reality is that all the sick paedophiles and child abusers out there are parents themselves and are quite happily using their own children as punching bags or pawns in their little sick games. So if we are really so concerned about preventing child abuse, why not implement child licenses?
The social services in any country can only step in AFTER some kind of terrible, noticeable abuse or neglect has taken place. The damage is already done by that time. There is no cure for a child who has been abused, so why are we not paying attention to prevention?
Children grow up to be the society of tomorrow. Today’s society is already filled to the brim with the damaged children from yesterday’s abuse.
There are many different theories floating around out there about the meaning of life, why we are here, what the hell forty-two has to do with any of it, et cetera.
Whatever your personal or religious beliefs, whether you are a by-the-book religious type, a New Age spiritual sort, a hedonistic atheist or anything inbetween, I think the one thing we cannot possibly argue with is that life is hard. It sucks sometimes. Of course, then sometimes it doesn’t, but there’s always that moment when you think, “really? Does it really have to be this stupidly hard?”
Perhaps it would be better to think of life as a great video game, filled with tough challenges and levels. Only you don’t get given a bazooka to blow up anybody that irritates you and sadly, you only have one life.
Whether you live in a shack or a mansion, you will be faced with challenges and burdens. No-one has the right to say that their life is harder than the next person’s. It is also stupidly pointless to play the blame game. We could all blame our parents for traumatising us beyond repair by making us listen to Billy Ray Cyrus singing “Achy Breaky Heart” on repeat in the car all the time. All the time!
But this is not about me. Whatever gave you that silly idea?
If someone did something to hurt you in the past, you can’t carry on living your life until you have truly forgiven that person. Some things can’t be changed. Sometimes we have to accept a reality that we don’t like.
If you live with any bitterness or hatred in your heart for any person, situation or event, it begins to define who you are, and the negativity slowly seeps through into every aspect of your life, your being and your attitude.
We may not be able to change what has happened in the past, but we can change how we react to it. It is not an easy process, and may take years to successfully achieve.
There will always be negative people in the world out there. You will come into contact with them, you will work with them, you may even have the misfortune of living with them.
Negativity is a chain reaction. Let’s say this morning you woke up and found that your neighbour (who found out a week ago that his wife was cheating on him with her best friend’s husband) smashed your car’s windscreen and put a sizeable dent in the bonnet with the half-brick he threw over your fence to shut your dog up in the wee hours of the morning. You get into a screaming match with him, he tells you he’s not paying for the damage and you go to work fuming.
During the course of your day, you get a quote for the damage to your car, which is astronomical. You snap on the phone to your colleagues, you bite the cashier’s head off at the bank because the queue was long, there was a big sweaty fat guy who had just eaten what smelled like a steak and kidney pie breathing down your neck while you were in said queue and your lunch break was over half an hour ago. Then, when you get home, you pick on your kids because they haven’t done their homework and get into a fight with your spouse because he’s not sympathetic enough when you start bitching about what a crap day you had.
All those people who you acted negatively towards during the course of the day, will in turn feel very wronged and injured and will proceed to take it out on the people whose paths cross theirs. Then those people will take it out on other people. And lo and behold, you have just spread a tsunami of low-grade negativity over the whole city in just one day. Happy now? Who can you blame it on? The neighbour? The neighbour’s wife?
The wave can stop with you. Only you can decide not to pass on the negativity to others by calming down, looking at the problem objectively and deciding that you are not going to allow it to turn your day into something brown and smelly.
You can do it – put a smile on that face and kill ‘em with kindness, charm and wit… and if you are having a rough day, just remind yourself that it takes thirty-six muscles to frown and none whatsoever to think to yourself “you’ll be dead from a heart attack in two years’ time, asshole”.
1. You get the benefit of skiving off work on Friday afternoons long after you’ve finished at mosque. Unless you work for a fellow Muslim, in which case, you’ll be lucky to get fifteen minutes.
2. You get to play practical Al-Qaeda jokes on the conservative old couple sitting next to you on the plane.
3. You can name your kid Osama and take him to the park, saying his name at least five times per minute. Have fun watching all the non-Muslims clear out.
4. If you go out in traditional Muslim clothing, you will always have plenty of personal space, no matter how busy your surroundings are.
5. You can invite a non-Muslim colleague from work to your house for supper and tell your mother / wife to make the curry diabolically hot.
6. If you send your toddler to a pre-school where there are lots of non-Muslims (especially teachers), teach him to scream at the top of his voice “Infidel!” When the teacher gets around to complaining, you can look all innocent, shake your head and say, “Haha! I just don’t know where he picks these silly things up!”
7. You can brush up on your Arabic alphabet and write all your work notes in your own Arabic secret code. Anybody that works with you will be totally screwed.
8. If one of your colleagues does something requiring disciplinary action, suggest at the next office meeting that he / she should be stoned in order to save his / her immortal soul. The looks you’ll get will be worth it.
9. Make friends with a Jewish person and then tell everyone at work one week that you are converting to Judaism, then the next week tell everyone that your friend is converting to Islam. Then send everyone an email announcing that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is over.
10. Go to the office Christmas party and suggest that all the guys go to Teazers afterwards. When you arrive, pass all the strippers full-body burkas and ask them to put them on for the sake of your soul. Then ask for the Halaal menu.
Yesterday, while my seven-year-old daughter was at school, I decided I would write her a little letter to tell her I loved her and leave it on her pillow for when she came home. After completing the letter (along with a very badly-drawn pumpkin in it), I decided to fold it up in the shape of a heart. She would really like it if I did that, I thought, seeing as how she is such a girly-girl.
Then the realisation struck: I had lost the ability to fold pieces of paper into hearts! Calamity! This is the slippery slope to old age, people, the slippery slope!
This made me think back to my high school days – yes, this was before the age of the cell phone, and yes, I really am that old, shhh! – when my friends and I used to write letters to one another, seemingly incessantly, then fold them up in our own unique ways and give them to one another, usually in the mornings before we all went to our separate classes or just before it was time to go home (that’s what Accounting was for - don’t you judge me!)
So I thought to myself, I should go into my little shoebox and go through the letters to see if there was a heart-shaped one there, and this would perhaps help me veer away from the seemingly-inexorable path I am travelling on towards Alzheimer’s.
I didn’t find any heart-shaped letters, but I did end up going through the lot and reading some of them. I laughed hysterically at most of them. I have always picked my friends on the basis of their kookiness. They have never, ever disappointed me on that level.
There were a few letters I opened that brought back some awful memories. Adolescence – it’s awkward, there are pimples and you mostly crave death. All the time. Mental note: have daughter induced into a coma from the age of 13 to around about 25. That should do it.
I thought I’d post a picture of some of the most interestingly-folded letters. Most of them are from Michelle. Coincidence? (Click on the images to enlarge) | <urn:uuid:5045e830-553f-43c8-8e22-92b7d167ee02> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://haj-uncensored.blogspot.com/2010_03_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967375 | 2,874 | 1.625 | 2 |
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