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Abode Gungahlin is a stylish property that opened in 2010. With 61 apartment-style rooms, you’re sure to find your Abode. Located in Gungahlin Town Centre, one of the fastest growing regions of the nation’s capital and only a short 15 minutes from Canberra’s city centre and all its attractions, including Questacon, The National Zoo and The National Gallery of Australia.
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An optically active color filter for controlling the color of light produced by a light source. The color filter includes an optically active device positioned between a linear polarizer and an adjustable position linear polarizer whose orientation can be controlled mechanically or electrically. In a...http://www.google.com/patents/US7170679?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7170679 - Optically active color filter
An optically active color filter for controlling the color of light produced by a light source. The color filter includes an optically active device positioned between a linear polarizer and an adjustable position linear polarizer whose orientation can be controlled mechanically or electrically. In a preferred embodiment, the optically active device contains a liquid optically active substance such as high maltose corn syrup. The optically active color filter may be used for controlling the color of a light source such as a stage light or spotlight and in other applications requiring a device for controlling the color of a light source.
Images(18)
Claims(35)
1. An optically active color filter comprising:
a linear polarizer for polarizing light from a light source;
an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the polarizer, the optically active device comprising an optically active liquid of randomly oriented and positioned molecules and an adjustable thickness container for holding the optically active liquid, wherein the thickness of the optically active device is changed by adjusting the container; and
an adjustable polarizer for selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light from the optically active device.
2. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the linear polarizer is a fixed-position linear polarizer.
8. The color filter of claim 1, wherein at least one element thereof is removable.
9. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the thickness of the optically active liquid is not uniform such that all polarized light from the light source travels the same distance through the optically active liquid.
10. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the color filter is controlled by a remote control device.
11. The color filter of claim 10, wherein the control device is an electronic control device.
12. The color filter of claim 10, wherein the remote control device is a wireless remote control device.
13. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the adjustable polarizer comprises an electrically controlled polarizing assembly for selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light from the optically active device.
15. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the adjustable thickness container is a piston.
16. The color filter of claim 1, wherein the adjustable thickness container is a bellows.
17. An optically active color filter comprising:
a linear polarizer for polarizing light from a light source;
an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the polarizer; and
an adjustable polarizer for selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light from the optically active device, the adjustable polarizer comprising a circular-shaped rotatable polarizer having a cutout, wherein the rotatable polarizer is disposed offset from a path of the rotated polarized light from the optically active device, and further wherein the radius of the rotatable polarizer extends beyond the light path.
18. An optically active color filter comprising:
a linear polarizing beamsplitter for polarizing and splitting light from a light source into a first polarized light and a second polarized light;
an optically active means for rotating the first and second polarized light from the beamsplitter;
a first adjustable polarizer for selecting a desired first color from the rotated first polarized light from the optically active means; and
a second adjustable polarizer for selecting a desired second color from the rotated second polarized light from the optically active means.
19. The color filter of claim 18, wherein the color filter is controlled by a remote control device.
a first optically active device for rotating the first polarized light from the beamsplitter; and
a second optically active device for rotating the second polarized light from the beamsplitter.
23. The color filter of claim 22, wherein the thickness of at least one optically active device is adjustable.
24. The color filter of claim 18, wherein the optical activity of the optically active means is electrically controlled.
25. The color filter of claim 18, wherein at least one adjustable polarizer is electrically controlled.
26. The color filter of claim 18, wherein the linear polarizing beamsplitter includes an adjustable polarizer for adjusting the polarizing angle of the light from the light source.
27. A lighting effects device, the device comprising:
an adjustable polarizer for polarizing light from a light source;
an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the polarizer, the optically active device comprising an optically active liquid of randomly oriented and positioned molecules; and
a polarizing material for producing a desired color from the rotated polarized light from the optically active device,
wherein the optically active device further comprises a multiplicity of removable layers of optically active liquid.
28. The lighting effects device of claim 27, wherein the lighting effects device is controlled by a remote control device.
29. An optically active color filter comprising:
an adjustable polarizer for polarizing and selecting a desired color from a light source;
an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the adjustable polarizer, the optically active device comprising an optically active liquid of randomly oriented and positioned molecules; and
a linear polarizer for polarizing the rotated polarized light,
wherein the thickness of the optically active liquid is not uniform such that all polarized light from the light source travels the same distance through the optically active liquid.
30. A method for producing a colored light, the method comprising:
polarizing light from a light source;
rotating the polarized light through an optically active liquid of randomly oriented and positioned molecules;
adjusting the thickness of the optically active liquid; and
selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light.
31. The method of claim 30, wherein the selecting step comprises passing the rotated polarized light through an adjustable polarizer.
32. The method of claim 30, wherein the thickness of the optically active liquid is not uniform such that all polarized light from the light source travels the same distance through the optically active liquid.
an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the polarizer, the optically active device comprising an optically active liquid; and
an adjustable polarizer for selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light from the optically active device, wherein the color from the adjustable polarizer has only one peak wavelength in the visible light spectrum and further, wherein the peak wavelength stays in the visible light spectrum for at least 90° of rotation of the adjustable polarizer.
35. An apparatus for projecting colored images, the apparatus comprising:
an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the polarizer, the optically active device comprising an optically active liquid of randomly oriented and positioned molecules and an adjustable thickness container for holding the optically active liquid, wherein the thickness of the optically active device is changed by adjusting the container; and
an adjustable polarizer for selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light from the optically active device.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/411,541 filed on Sep. 18, 2002, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention generally relates to color filters and, more particularly, to an optically active color filter suitable for use with light sources such as stage lights, spotlights and other similar devices.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Typical light sources (e.g., incandescent, fluorescent lights) produce nearly white light. However, color filter devices for controlling the color of lights used for photography, public performances (e.g., stage performances, concerts, sporting events), film-making, architectural design (e.g., wall wash fixtures, spotlights, accent lighting, outdoor lighting), and other similar applications are well known. The most common type of color filter device are dyed gels of various colors that are placed over a white light source (hereafter, “light source”) to create a colored light. In some devices, each gel must be manually placed over the light source and must be manually replaced with another gel if a different light color is required. Other devices comprise different colored gels attached to a rotatable roller located in the path of the light source (e.g., the Coloram II, a color scroller made by Wybron). The roller is rotated to place a desired colored gel in the light path to provide the desired colored light. Unfortunately, the mechanical system used to operate the rollers is expensive and subject to breakdowns. In addition, the movement of the gels can cause the gels to rip or tear. Further, the rotating roller devices are only capable of producing a limited number of different colors because only a limited number of gels are available for positioning in the light path. Furthermore, it takes a significant amount of time to switch between colors. Moreover, a major disadvantage in using gels is that the colors produced by the gels are unsaturated. Further, the gels tend to bleach out after long exposure to the high power light sources used in the foregoing devices.
Prior art devices attempt to solve the foregoing problems but each has a problem in utilization that makes it relatively unattractive to manufacture or use. For example, instead of gels, some devices (e.g., the Vari-lite VL2C™) use vacuum deposited thin film layers of dichroic materials that selectively reflect part of the visible spectrum while passing other parts of the spectrum. The dichroic filters are attached to a wheel that can be rotated to place different color filters in the path of a light source. However, mechanical switching makes these devices slow in switching between colors and prone to mechanical breakdown. In addition, such devices are relatively expensive because of the vacuum deposition process used for producing the dichroic filters. Moreover, such devices are limited to stage lighting or film-making applications. Other devices require complicated and/or expensive mechanisms. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,252,638 to Johnson et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,317 to Miller. Accordingly, it is a broad object of the invention to provide a color filter that is relatively inexpensive, easy to manufacture, reliable, and simple to maintain and operate.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
In the present invention, the foregoing purposes, as well as others that will be apparent, are achieved generally by providing an optically active color filter comprising a linear polarizer, preferably a fixed-position linear polarizer, for polarizing light from an unpolarized light source, an optically active device for rotating the polarized light from the linear polarizer and an adjustable linear polarizer for selecting a desired color from the rotated polarized light coming from the optically active device. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optically active device comprises an optically active liquid such as corn syrup. An advantage of the present invention is that it uses inexpensive components and is relatively easy to manufacture. As such, the present invention provides a cost-effective and economic way of producing and controlling a colored light. Further, the use of a small number of relatively simple components makes the present invention reliable and easy to maintain and operate. Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent when the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention are considered in conjunction with the drawings which should be construed in an illustrative and not limiting sense as follows.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention that is capable of controlling the intensity of the light produced by the color filter.
FIG. 3 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention having an optically active device whose thickness can be varied.
FIG. 4 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention having an optically active device comprised of a multiplicity of removable optically active layers.
FIG. 5 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention that is capable of producing white light.
FIG. 6A is a diagram of another embodiment of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention that is capable of producing white light.
FIG. 6B is a front plan view of an adjustable polarizer of FIG. 6A.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention having an electrically controlled polarizing assembly.
FIG. 8 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention having an electrically controlled optically active device.
FIG. 9 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention having an optically active device of non-uniform thickness.
FIG. 10 is a front perspective view of another embodiment of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the optically active color filter of FIG. 10 taken at the sectioning plane and in the direction indicated by line 12—12 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 13 is a diagram of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention showing the path of the light passing through the filter.
FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of an optically active color filter embodying features of the present invention mounted on a stage light.
FIG. 15 is a diagram of another embodiment of a color filter embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 16A is a diagram of a further embodiment of a color filter embodying features of the present invention.
FIG. 16B is another version of the color filter of FIG. 16A.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A diagram of an optically active color filter (hereafter, “color filter”) embodying features of the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. The path of light through the color filter is indicated by arrows. As used herein, the term “front” or “forward” refers to the side of the color filter or component thereof through which light exits while the term “rear”, “back” or “behind” refers to the side of the color filter or component thereof through which light enters. The color filter generally comprises a neutral, linear polarizer 22, an optically active device 24 and an adjustable, neutral, linear polarizer 26 (hereafter, “adjustable polarizer”). As used herein, the term “adjustable linear polarizer” or “adjustable polarizer” refers to a linear polarizer having a polarization axis whose angle of orientation vis-à-vis the axis of incoming light can be adjusted, e.g., mechanically or electrically. Preferably, the linear polarizer 22 is a fixed-position linear polarizer (hereafter, “fixed polarizer”) and the adjustable polarizer 26 is a mechanically rotatable linear polarizer (hereafter, “rotatable polarizer”). In a preferred embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the linear polarizer 22 is disposed behind the optically active device 24 and the adjustable polarizer 26 is disposed in front of the optically active device 24. However, as discussed in more detail below, the locations of the linear polarizer 22 and adjustable polarizer 26 may be reversed. In operation, unpolarized white light U from a light source 20 enters the color filter through the linear polarizer 22 and the optically active device 24. By adjusting the orientation of the adjustable polarizer 26, polarized light of the desired color Pc exits the color filter.
As used herein, the term “linear polarizer” refers to an optical device that allows the transmission of radiation of which the electric vector is restricted to one plane resulting in linearly polarized radiation. Linear polarizers suitable for use in the present invention are available from commercial sources, preferably, polarizers with uniform behavior over the visible light spectrum. Examples of suitable linear polarizers are VIKUITI™ Linear Polarizers (Type HN22, HN32, HN38, HN38S, HN42, and HN42HE) from 3M and PROFLUX™ Linear Polarizers from MOXTEK, Inc.
The optically active device 24 comprises an optically active substance (not shown) that may be mounted or contained in a housing or container. The term “optically active substance” as used herein refers to a solid, liquid or gaseous substance (e.g., crystalline active quartz rotators, sucrose solutions, corn syrup) that exhibits the property of “optical activity”. Optical activity is the ability to rotate the plane of incident linearly polarized light, with a dependence on wavelength. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optically active device comprises a high maltose corn syrup (e.g., SATIN SWEET® 65% High Maltose Corn Syrup from CARGILL™ Sweeteners).
In operation (see, FIG. 13) unpolarized white light U from a light source (not shown) enters the rear of the color filter through the linear polarizer 84, resulting in linearly polarized white light P. The linearly polarized white light P then passes through the optically active substance 86. When the linearly polarized white light P passes through the optically active substance 86, the plane of polarization undergoes a rotation. The amount of rotation created as a result of optical activity depends on the wavelength of the incoming light. However, since white light is actually composed of different wavelengths that comprise the visible color spectrum, each wavelength (i.e., PW1 to PWn) comprising a particular color is rotated by a different amount. The specific rotation of plane-polarized light of a specific wavelength through an optically active substance can be determined through the Drude Equation (Eq. 1), stated below.
[α]λ=Aλ2-λC2<Eq.1>
Where [α]λ is the specific rotation at the wavelength λ, λC is the wavelength of the dominating interaction, and A is a constant characteristic of the optically active substance. The units for this measurement are in terms of degrees·cm2/gram. The wavelength-dependent polarized white light (i.e., PW1 to PWn) then passes through the adjustable polarizer 88 whose polarization axis can be rotated around the axis of the incoming light. The wavelength having a polarization plane closest to the orientation of the adjustable polarizer 88 will pass through the adjustable polarizer 88 without attenuation. The greater the angle between the orientation of the adjustable polarizer 88 and the polarization plane of the wavelength, the greater the attenuation of that wavelength. All wavelengths leave the adjustable polarizer 88 with an identical linear polarization and the combination of wavelengths of various attenuations causes the appearance of a single color. Thus, the light leaving the color filter Pc is a plane-polarized selected color.
As previously described above, the positioning of the linear polarizer and the adjustable polarizers can be reversed. Specifically, the adjustable polarizer can be placed behind the optically active device and the linear polarizer placed in front of the optically active device. Thus, by rotating the orientation of the adjustable polarizer by some amount, all of the wavelength-dependent polarized white light rotates by the same amount. Since the orientation of the linear polarizer is constant (i.e., not adjusted), then rotating the different wavelengths (by rotating the adjustable polarizer) changes the wavelength whose orientation is closest to that of the linear polarizer, thus producing a specific color in the same manner of combination of attenuated wavelengths described previously above.
Preferably, the color filter is constructed and adapted to produce, at most, one peak wavelength in the 400 nm to 700 nm range (the visible light spectrum) for any rotation angle of the adjustable polarizer. This is because multiple peaks would result in mixed colors and an inability to generate the familiar visible light range of colors. To optimize the range of the adjustable polarizer to match the range of visible colors, the peak wavelength produced by the color filter should, preferably, stay within the visible light spectrum for at least 90° of rotation of the adjustable polarizer. In addition, some calibration may be needed after the color filter is assembled to make up for inaccuracies in manufacturing. This will insure that different color filters will produce very similar filter profiles. One could use a monochromatic light source, adjust the color filter to the point of greatest extinction, and then set this position as the baseline. Alternatively, one could use a broad-spectrum light source and attempt to match a filter profile by measuring the effect of the filter on the light output.
In an alternative embodiment of the present invention (see, FIG. 2), a second adjustable polarizer 28 (preferably, a rotatable polarizer) is placed between the light source 20 and the linear polarizer 22. This enables the intensity of the light leaving the color filter to be adjusted. For example, when the orientations of the two polarizers 22, 28 matches, there is maximum intensity and as the orientations of the two polarizers 22, 28 approach 90° the intensity decreases.
Referring to FIG. 3, in another embodiment of the present invention the linear distance that light passing through the optically active substance (not shown) must travel (i.e., the “thickness”) may be adjustable. This would allow the band profile of transmitted wavelengths of light passing through the color filter to be changed. For example, the optically active substance can be a liquid medium such as corn syrup contained in an adjustable optically active device 30 having a piston or bellows-like construction that allows the thickness of the optically active substance to be increased (in dotted outline) or decreased. Alternatively, (see, FIG. 4) the optically active device 32 may comprise a multiplicity of removable optically active layers 32a, 32b, and 32c, (e.g., sheets, blocks, cartridges or other similar containers holding an optically active substance) so that the thickness can be discretely varied by inserting and/or removing optically active layers. In a further alternative (see, FIG. 8), the degree of optical activity of the optically active substance (not shown) of the optically active device 44 can be altered based on an applied electric or magnetic field 46. For example, the optically active substance can be a crystal whose optical activity is dependent on an applied electric field.
The removal of any single component of the color filter will result in the transmission of all wavelengths in about equal amounts, thereby producing a white light. Thus, in another embodiment of the present invention (see, FIG. 5), one or more of the elements of the color filter (i.e., the linear polarizer 22, optically active device 24 and adjustable polarizer 26) are encased in a cartridge 34 that can be inserted or removed from the light path. Alternatively, (see, FIGS. 6A and 6B) the adjustable polarizer 36 is a circular-shaped rotatable adjustable polarizer that is positioned so that its center is offset from the light path X. The adjustable polarizer 36 has a radius larger than the light path and one quadrant of the adjustable polarizer 36 is removed to form a cutout 38. Thus, when the cutout 38 is rotated to the light path, the effect is equivalent to removing the adjustable polarizer 36 from the color filter. This enables the color filter to allow white light to pass. In addition, since the adjustable polarizer 36 only provides variation over 180° of rotation, no color possibilities are lost because of the cutout 38.
Referring to FIG. 7, in another embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable polarizer is replaced by a polarizing assembly 40 whose orientation is electrically controlled. This is advantageous because it would enable the color filter to operate without any moving parts. In a preferred embodiment, the polarizing assembly 40 comprises a voltage-controlled liquid crystal panel (not shown) (e.g., ferro-electric and nematic liquid crystal polarization rotators available from Boulder Nonlinear Systems, Inc.) mated with a linear neutral polarizer (not shown). The liquid crystal panel would act as a polarization rotator across the band of visible wavelengths. This liquid crystal panel must be substantially wavelength-independent so that all entering wavelengths are equally rotated. In operation, the various plane-polarized wavelengths from the optically active device 24 would enter the liquid crystal panel and experience a measure of rotation that would be dependent upon the applied voltage 42. The wavelengths would then pass through the linear neutral polarizer. All wavelengths leave the linear neutral polarizer with an identical linear polarization and the combination of wavelengths of various attenuations causes the appearance of a single color. Thus, the light leaving the color filter Pc is a plane-polarized selected color. By varying the applied voltage 42, the amount of rotation of the wavelengths entering the liquid crystal display would change and the net effect would be the same as rotating an adjustable polarizer.
In a further embodiment of the present invention (see, FIG. 9), the optically active device 48 is not uniform in its thickness. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the optically active device gradually increases in thickness from the top to the bottom of the optically active device 48. However, optically active devices having other shapes that have a non-uniform thickness are within the spirit of the present invention. Due to the non-uniform thickness, different wavelengths will undergo different rotations depending on the thickness of the optically active substance (not shown) that the different wavelengths pass through. The result will be a pattern of colors corresponding to the thickness profile of the optically active device 48. Thus, changing the orientation of the adjustable polarizer 26 would cause the colors to change, but not the pattern of colors. This allows the color filter to produce psychedelic lighting effects. The quality and degree of psychedelic effect produced would be dependent on the design of the particular lighting system (e.g., the color filter's placement within a particular lighting scheme and the actual control system for controlling lighting effects).
In addition to producing psychedelic colors, having an optically active device not uniform in its thickness can be used to allow the color filter to compensate for light beams that may travel at steeper angles (i.e., non-collimated) through the optical activity substance. Specifically, as individual light beams travel through an optically active substance having a uniform profile (i.e., thickness) the greater the angle between the beam and the axis, the greater the actual distance traveled through the profile. This could distort the color produced by the color filter. However, the thickness of the optically active substance can be varied so that all beams from the light source travel an equal distance through the region. That is, if different regions of the optically active substance correspond to different angles, then the thickness in those regions can be varied so that all light beams travel an equal distance thereby ensuring a uniform color.
FIGS. 10–12 show a preferred embodiment of a color filter embodying features of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 11, the color filter 50 comprises a generally tubular-shaped rotating polarizer assembly 52 and a generally tubular-shaped color cell assembly 70 contained within a generally tubular-shaped main housing 68. The main housing 68, in turn, is attached to a mounting plate 82. The color filter 50 is made of materials that are commercially available and is assembled using conventional methods. Preferably, the color filter is sized, constructed and adapted to enable the color filter to be used with a spot light 90 (see, FIG. 14) or other similar form of lighting devices used in theatrical productions, film-making or other similar activities.
Referring to FIG. 11, the rotating polarizer assembly 52 has a circular-shaped linear polarizing sheet 64 which functions as the adjustable polarizer. The polarizing sheet 64 is sandwiched between a circular-shaped front cover 62 and rear cover 66. The covers 62, 66 are made of a transparent material, preferably glass. The covers 62, 66 and polarizing sheet 64 are affixed within a tube-shaped rotator housing 60. A rotator ring 58 having a rotation pin 56 is attached to the front edge of the rotator housing 60. The rotator housing 60, rotator ring 58 and rotation pin 56 are made from a resilient material such as acrylic.
The cell assembly 70 comprises an optically active device 74 and a linear polarizing sheet 78 which functions as the linear polarizer. The optically active device 74 comprises a tube shaped container 75 holding an optically active liquid 73 (see, FIG. 12). Preferably, the optically active liquid is high maltose corn syrup. The container 75 is mounted within the front portion of a tube-shaped cell assembly housing 76. The polarizing sheet 78 is mounted within the rear portion of the cell assembly housing 76 directly behind the container 75. A transparent (preferably, glass) front assembly cover 72 and rear assembly cover 80 are affixed over the front and rear edge of the cell assembly housing 76 using a sealant or other similar material to prevent the liquid optically active substance from leaking out. The container 75 and housing 76 may be made from any resilient material, preferably acrylic.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the rotating polarizer assembly 52 is placed within the front portion of the main housing 68 so that the rotation pin 56 extends from the front end of the main housing. The rotating polarizer assembly 52 is sized, constructed and adapted so that it freely rotates within the main housing 68. The cell assembly 70 is placed within the rear portion of the main housing 68 so that the optically active device 74 is located behind and adjacent to the polarizer assembly 52. The cell assembly 70 is sized, constructed and adapted so that it fits within the main housing 68. The main housing 68 may be fabricated from any resilient material, preferably acrylic.
The rear edge of the main housing 68 is affixed to the mounting plate 82 over a circular opening 83 in the mounting plate. Preferably, the mounting plate 82 is sized, constructed and adapted to allow the mounting plate to be attached to conventional illumination devices such as spotlights or stage lights. See, FIG. 14. The main housing 68 may be held in place to the mounting plate by an adhesive or removable conventional fasteners (not shown) such as screws or pins. A ring-shaped front cap 54 is placed in front of the main housing 68 to prevent the contents of the main housing 68 from slipping out of the main housing. The front cap may be held in place by snap fit or removable conventional fasteners (not shown) such as screws or pins. The front cap 54 and mounting plate 82 may be fabricated from any resilient material, preferably acrylic.
In operation, the color filter 50 may be mounted on the front end of an illumination device such as a spotlight or stage light. Using the rotation pin 56, the rotating polarizer assembly 52 is rotated to produce light having the desired color. In an alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 14, instead of the rotation pin 56, a driving band 96 operated by a motor 94 is used to rotate the rotating polarizer assembly. Other similar alternative means such as gears (not shown) may be used to rotate the rotating polarizer assembly. The color filter could also be built directly into the light (e.g., a spot light) itself rather that attached as an accessory as showing in FIG. 4. Alternatively, the color filter can be split such that either the linear polarizer or adjustable polarizer is placed in an accessory slot of a light (e.g., a spotlight) and the remaining components are placed in front of the light, i.e., between the light source and the accessory slot.
Another embodiment of the present invention is a lighting effects device useful for producing different colored lighting effects upon an object. As shown in FIG. 15, the adjustable polarizer 26 is placed in behind the optically active device 24 and a target object 104, in this example a clear plate, is coated with a polarizing material (e.g., Vikuiti Linear Polarizers Type HN42 from 3M). When the rotated polarized light Pw from optically active device 24 hits the object, the polarizing material coating the object will produce color Pc. This is because the presence of a polarizing material will block some wavelengths, thereby casting a colored shadow.
In a further embodiment of the present invention (see, FIGS. 16A and 16B), instead of a linear polarizer, the color filter uses a linear polarizing beamsplitter 102 (e.g., beamsplitting polarizers available from United Crystals Company) for polarizing and splitting unpolarized white light U from a light source 20 into two orthogonally polarized light beams, P1 and P2. The direction of travel of the first.and/or second polarized light P1, P2 after exiting the beamsplitter 102 can be adjusted by conventional methods. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, the direction of travel of the second polarized light is adjusted by a mirror 100. However, other suitable devices and methods are within the spirit of the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 16A, the first and second polarized light P1, P2 passes through the optically active device 24 which rotates both the first and second polarized light P1, P2. Alternatively, (see FIG. 16B) instead of a single optically active device, the color filter can have a first optically active device 24a for rotating the first polarized light P1 and a second optically active device 24b for rotating the second polarized light P2. The rotated first polarized light passes through a first adjustable polarizer 26a to produce a desired first color Pc1 while the rotated second polarized light passes through a second adjustable polarizer 26b to produce a second desired color Pc2. This particular embodiment avoids the problem of losing half of the light through the linear polarizer that absorbs the polarization state that it does not transmit (as opposed to reflecting or redirecting it). If the optically active device is a single uniform assembly (see, FIG. 16A) and the orientations of the first and second adjustable polarizers 26a, 26b are appropriately aligned, then both color beams Pc1, Pc2 will exit with the same color, otherwise, each beam will have a different color. The beams Pc1, Pc2 can be focused on the same point for reinforcement or color mixing applications.
One or more color filters of the present invention may be controlled by a remote control device (i.e., a control device located at a distance from the color filter). The remote control device may be a wired or wireless (e.g., infra-red, radio-frequency) remote control device. The remote control device can control the color filter by adjusting power supplied to the color filter, by sending digital or analog control signals to the color filter or other similar methods for controlling the colors, intensity or other lighting effects produced by the color filter. By way of example, the color filter can be connected to an electronic lighting control device (e.g., a Sunn PLC 3200 control console) that can control the color filter using a suitable lighting protocol (e.g., DMX lighting protocol).
Although the invention has been described with reference to embodiments relating to theatrical and film-making lighting applications, it will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications are possible in light of the above disclosure. For example, the color filter can be attached to the end of a camera lens. The color filter may also be placed inside a luminaire to produce colored lighting effects. The present invention may also be used to produce colored lighting effects in outdoor lighting displays, signs, decorative lamps and other similar applications. The color filter may also be mounted inside an image projector that is set up so that different images are projected in coincidence with different angles of the adjustable polarizer. This would allow construction of a multi-color image from a single filter system. All such variations and modifications are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. | {
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BCECE Application Form 2019
Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board will release the Application form of BCECE in online mode. The Bihar CET application form consists of two parts i.e., Part A & Part B. So, candidates have to fill the details in Part A as well as Part B of BCECE 2019 application form. First of all, candidates need to fill the BCECE Part A form and then make the fee payment. After that, they have to complete the Part B form filling process at the time of counselling. The exam conducting board commences the BCECE online application form in the first week of March 2019. So, the applicants can fill the application form until the last date.
Candidates can pay the application fee through either Bank Challan or Online payment gateway (Debit Card/ Credit Card/ Internet Banking). No need to send the hard copy of the BCECE application form 2019 to the office address. Therefore, eligible candidates should fill the BCECE 2019 application form & submit it on or before the deadline. Read this entire article to get the complete details regarding eligibility criteria, dates, apply online steps, required documents for submission application form.
About Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Exam (Bihar CET)
BCECE is also known as Bihar CET exam. Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board organizes the BCECE entrance exam once in a year for providing the admissions into the Undergraduate Professional courses like Engineering, Medical & Agriculture streams in the institutions of Bihar state. Therefore, interested candidates should apply for BCECE 2019 exam. Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination sore is necessary to get the admission. Get the direct link to fill BCECE Application form 2019 on this page. Also, check all Bihar State Entrance Exams application dates through our website.
To make help the applicants, here, we are providing the complete procedure to fill BCECE 2019 application form. Hence, better to refer the given steps while filling the BCECE application form 2019. The steps are followed as
Step 1: BCECE 2019 Registration
Candidates have to visit the official website or click on the link provided below,
Find “Apply for BCECE 2019” link and then press on it.
Thereafter, register for the Bihar CET 2019 exam.
Applicants need to enter the required details in the BCECE registration form 2019.
After the submitting the required details, they will receive an SMS consists of the Activation code.
By clicking on the activation code, applicants need to sign in to the account.
For Sign in, aspirants are required to enter the received username and password.
Step 3: Upload Photograph & Signature – BCECEB Application Form 2019
They will upload the scanned signature in Both English and Hindi languages.
Photograph image consists of a name of the candidate and date.
The images must be in .JPEG format and size should be less than 100 KB.
Step 4: Enter Educational Information in BCECE 2019 Application Form
Here, applicants should enter the X standard/ Secondary and I.S.C/ 10+2 (Intermediate) details in the BCECE Application form 2019.
Step 5: Preview the Filled Application Form of BCECE 2019
After filling and submitting the BCECE 2019 application form, suggested the candidates check the entered details to make the fee payment. No mistakes or found, then you need to press on “Proceed to Payment” button otherwise click on “Back” button and make the corrections.
Step 6: Payment of BCECE Application Fee
Bank Challan: Applicants can deposit the application fee through Challan form at any branch of Canara Bank. For that, they need to download the challan form and deposit fee at Canara Bank. After successful transaction, candidates take the print copy of DD and note down the transaction number/ journal number. Keep it safe for future correspondence.
Step 7: Download Part A and Part B Application Forms
After completion of BCECE Apply online 2019 process, candidates may download the BCECE application form 2019 (Part A and Part B) for further use.
Here, we have provided the total information regarding BCECE 2019 application form as per the previous year notification. So, we will update the data after the official BCECE 2019 notification announcement. So, connected always to our site to check the latest news on all state level entrance exams. | {
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About This Item
A unique departure from traditional case designs, this case is lighter and easier to store. The foam shell guards against temperature changes and impact. Black nylon cover with dark blue or dark red cotton velvet interior. The Go! also features two bow spinners, a built-in hygrometer, string tube, internal accessory pocket, a special shoulder rest compartment under the neck with a Velcro restraint, long external music pocket, subway strap and includes two backpack straps. Available in two sizes: 15"-15.5" and 16"-16.5". Weighs 5 lbs.
A unique departure from traditional case designs, this case is lighter and easier to store. The foam shell guards against temperature changes and impact. Black nylon cover with dark blue or dark red cotton velvet interior. The Go! also features two bow spinners, a built-in hygrometer, string tube, internal accessory pocket, a special shoulder rest compartment under the neck with a Velcro restraint, long external music pocket, subway strap and includes two backpack straps. Available in two sizes: 15"-15.5" and 16"-16.5". Weighs 5 lbs.
What Should You Look For In a Case?
Notes from a SHAR Apprentice - Cases
Overall Rating
Based on 5 Reviews
Reviews By:
Reviewed By:
KIERSTEN SMITH
From EL CAJON, CA
Reviewed On: 12/20/2014
Poor quality
I just got this case today and it will be going back. I have had the Heritage Go! case for my violin for about 12 years and I love it. Even with less than stellar reviews on this one, I thought I would still like it since my violin case has been so good. It looks like in the last 12 years, they have started cutting corners. There is no string tube, as advertised. The workmanship is just very meager. The velcro closure that holds the shoulder rest is already peeling up and I haven't even used it. It's also on the large side and I'm not sure if I would trust it to really protect my instrument. I measured the length inside, the same area that I measure my 15.5 inch viola. This case is supposedly for a 15-15.5 inch viola, however, the space measures 16.5. I guess it's possible I was sent the wrong size, but there is no indication anywhere on the case what size it is. Don't waste your time and money on this case. Invest a little more and buy one that is better made and will hold up longer.
Reviewed On: 12/10/2013
Heritage go case for viola
I have had this case for viola for maybe a year and the hardware on the case has broken off. The fiberglass that the screws were inserted have worn away making instrument hard to carry. Material peeling off handle
Also purchased double case for violin and viola and the lock broke off.
Reviewed On: 12/20/2011
Doesn't Hold Up
I've had this case for a little over a year. In that time, the buckles for the backpack straps have broken off. It appears they are screwed into a material - perhaps foam - that wears over time. I had been using the should strap buckles instead, but now they have broken off. The main reason I bought this case was so that I wouldn't have to lug it around by its handle, but now I have no option.
Also beware that when received, the case carried a very strong chemical smell. It did not dissipate for WEEKS. You would not want to pack your instrument inside without airing it out for a while.
It's too bad too - on the whole, the case is light and inexpensive, and fairly voluminous inside (fits my 16.5" viola). But I cannot recommend a case whose buckle breakage might cause your instrument to fall crashing to the floor.
Reviewed On: 05/18/2009
Love it/hate it
I love that this case is so light-weight, and its very easy to carry around with the shoulder strap. Its also extremely affordable, and still well-made.
However, I wish I hadnt gotten the dark blue because its really hard to see inside. And, putting my viola away/getting it out is really awkward because the shoulder rest is stowed underneath the neck of the viola. This means you have to put the shoulder rest in first and secure it with the velcro while youre still holding onto your viola in the other hand. And when youre getting it out, youre holding the viola and struggling to get the shoulder rest out of the velcro with one hand. I wish it had a storage box at the side instead.
Reviewed On: 05/19/2008
go viola case
I've had mine for 2 years now. It still looks new. Plenty of room for accessories and music. Very light weight. I bought mine when they were a little cheaper for UK buyers. I'm considering buying another one for my smaller viola as it is one of the few cases where you are not expected to pad out a larger hole if your viola is small - and I've been happy with the first one | {
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EveryDayWigs Offers the Best Wigs Out There
28 November 2017 – EveryDayWigs is offering the largest as well as most comprehensive collection of different synthetic wigs that will easily satisfy even the most refined tastes and preferences.
No doubt, we all know the old saying, which is claiming that beauty will help in saving the entire world one day. Well, the saying is a pretty accurate one indeed – to some extent that is. After all, beauty already is incredibly influential and there are plenty of types of beauty, so there is no telling which one you are going to need tomorrow. And seeing how beauty is in the details, it is no wonder that synthetic wig solutions are becoming more and more popular these days.
With that said, while the market these days is pretty much filled with all kinds of different synthetic lace front wigs that are designed in such a manner to easily satisfy even the most refined needs and preferences, odds are, you are going to be very much interested in locating the ideal combination of price and quality. Well, EveryDayWigs is there to provide you with the most extensive as well as genuinely effective collection of synthetic lace front wig solutions that are going to be perfect for just about anyone. The choice is genuinely vast and you will have to make an educated decision in line with all of the gathered info indeed. Hence, one way or the other, you are going to need to make the most from your requirements and in no time at all. There are plenty of sizes and plenty of colors, shapes and styles, so you will surely stumble upon a wig or two that will be perfect for you in just about every single way possible. Hence, if you are inclined to try out a new look or to test out your new appearance, the given resource is more than perfect namely for you.
Unlike many other similar stores and resources, the given one is focusing on delivering the best quality solutions and without asking a small fortune in return, which does make the given choice all the more advantageous and different in so many ways indeed.
About EveryDayWigs:
EveryDayWigs is offering the most effective way to find the best wigs and for the best prices as well. The website is very easy to navigate through and you will not have any issues while trying to find the best product possible.
Contact:
Company Name: EveryDayWigs
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.everydaywigs.com | {
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13 Words: Lemony Snicket + Maira Kalman
A despondent dog, a busy bird, and what iconic illustration has to do with the iPad.
By Maria Popova
We love iconic illustrator Maira Kalman and have a soft spot for the writings of Daniel Handler, better-known under his legal pen name, Lemony Snicket. Not to mention we’re allover a good trailer for a book. Naturally, we’re head over heels with 13 Words, the new book by Lemony Snicket with an illustrated trailer by Maira Kalman, who also illustrated the book itself.
13 Words is essentially a word book, but it’s no ordinary wordbook. Like those brilliantly reimagined alphabet books we featured some time ago, Snicket’s latest gem takes a children’s literature staple, simultaneously honoring it and flipping it on its head.
Snicket curates 13 of the most essential words of all time — OK, we know you’re dying to know: Bird, Despondent, Cake, Dog, Busy, Convertible, Goat, Hat, Haberdashery, Scarlet, Baby, Panache and Mezzo-Soprano — and pairs each with original illustrations in Kalman’s signature simple-loveliness style.
Quirky and irreverent, the book is as much an educational tool for kids as it is a work of cross-disciplinary art for grown-ups. But to take it one step further, we’d actually love to see it as an iPad app that really brings Kalman’s wonderful artwork to life at the fingertips of today’s digital-swazi kids.
13 Words is officially out on October 5, but is available for pre-order this week. And we have one word for it: Unungettable.
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Id Centric
For Pain Management in Torquay without drugs call complimentary therapist Id Centric. There are two sorts of pain. Acute pain which is immediate, occuring after injury for instance, is useful as it tells you something and is probably best treated with drugs. The other is chronic pain which is persistant and useless as it tells you nothing new. Pain relief is also often given with drugs but their effects can diminish over time and have serious side effects if overused.
So a complimentary therapy approach to pain management is often required to allow a person to come to terms with their pain, stress and anxiety by using relaxation and diversion techniques to put you back in control.
This is all very well you think but I want tangible help now with my pain management. I agree which is why I call upon microcurrent electrical therapy using a cranial electro stimulation (CES) device which produces lasting effects at a cellular level to start an immediate and positive change. CES is completely safe as the microcurrent is tiny like the natural current within the human body.
CES produces mild stimulation to the hypothalamic area of the brain resulting in rebalancing of neurotransmitter activity particularly Beta Endorphin and Norepinephrine. This sometimes is refered to as a 'joggers high' or acupuncture without needles.
Uses for CES include pain management, megraine relief, stress and anxiety management, improved sleep and drug addiction withdrawal. CES induces deep relaxation and promotes mental clarity and mood elevation in a similar way to hypnosis.
So if you are looking for Pain Management in Torquay without drugs for migraine, stress, sleep disorders call Anthony Ackroyd 01803 298471 for home visit. | {
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Champion Abbostford for Jetstar Magazine
Locals
On ongoing personal series, pairing local flora picked on the side of the road with the local beer - shot on location around the world. Limited edition prints are currently available for purchase.
2013 - current
Sarah Trotter for Yen Magazine
Editorial interiors photography.
Published in Yen Magazine 2014.
Vocation Vacation, The Kimberley
'Vocation Vacation' was exhibited as part of IPF at the Conduits Art Space in October 2013.
The series documents the journey driven from Broome, Western Australia to Darwin in the Northern Territory. Exploring extreme conditions of the Kimberley region and it's discordant relationship with the man-made environment.
Brown Brothers Wine
Advertising collateral for Brown Brothers Wines, in conjunction with the 'Colourful Conversations' Ad Campaign which is to be launched late 2014.
Parliament House
Documentary photography from Parliament House, Canberra.
December 2014
Lifestyle imagery, for commercial clients
A selection of Australian, predominantly Melbourne, lifestyle photography for commercial and corporate clients.
Shelf Life - Yen Magazine
Editorial for Yen Magazine, published 2014.
Nest Architects
A variety of projects for Melbourne based Architectural firm, Nest Architects.
Chela Edmunds, Potter
Documentary photography in the ceramics studio of Chela Edmunds.
A weekend with Miranda Skoczek for Inside Out Magazine
Editorial for Inside Out Magazine, published 2014.
Mariam Issa for Dumbo Feather Magazine
Editorial for Dumbo Feather Magazine, published 2014.
Wakaru, Japan
A documentary series from Japan. Published in a limited edition book, 2014.
Major Minor Campaign
Kate Ulman for Dumbo Feather Magazine
Documentary photography for editorial of Kate Ulman, an organic farmer based in Daylesford Victoria.
Published in Dumbo Feather Magazine 2014.
St Kilda Music Walking Tour for Jetstar Magazine
Reportage photography, published in the May 2014 edition of Jetstar Magazine.
Rick Amor for Dumbo Feather Magazine
An intimate look at the studio of renowned Australian artist, Rick Amor.
A weekend with Mr Jason Grant for Inside Out Magazine
Editorial lifestyle and interiors photography for Inside Out Magazine, 2014.
Lookbook for House of Maryanne
Fashion photography for vintage label, House of Maryanne.
Winter 2012
Kinfolk Christmas Workshop
A Kinfolk Wreath making workshop, hosted by Stephanie Somebody, 2013
Vetta Pasta Campaign
Rydges Hotel, Melbourne
A selection of promotional images for Locanda Restaurant. Part of the Rydges Hotels and Resorts group, 2014.
Kelly Bros Farm
Promotional images for Kelly Bros Farm, 2013.
Harry's Ice Cream Campaign
Lookbook for Sarah Trotter Vintage
Lookbook for Sarah Trotter Vintage capsule collection, 2009.
Field Notes
Exhibited at C3 Gallery, Abbotsford 2013.
Field Notes: def. observational notes of a specific phenomenonThis series of photographs represents my visual field notes on the subject of collecting, cataloguing, grouping and pattern recognition. The human brain has evolved to see patterns or meaningful connections in random or meaning- less data: to look for patterns and assign meaning, even when none exist.
These photographs are an example of my own brains pattern recognition. They are not specific to a town, state or country. Much like a collector who gathers objects that have little value to anyone but themselves, the objects gather value once they become a piece of the whole.
Three Thousand review 31/1/12 by Nathania Gilson:
If you’re the kind of person who has a tendency towards sentimentality and have been (wrongfully) accused of being a hoarder at least once in your life, chances are you’d probably find a comforting like-mindedness in the photographic world of Lauren Bamford.
Whilst Lauren’s previous work, I Hope You Choke and Neither Excluded Nor Included focused on specific subjects, her newest exhibit Field Notes is an honest attempt at capturing the elusive in-between-ness that exists within all of our humble mind palaces.
A distinctly incidental approach is used throughout the series to collect fragments of memories like souvenirs. Much like a meticulous archeologist of all that subliminal debris floating around inside your skull, Lauren uses these images to attempt asking questions like why we collect things (both on purpose and by accident) and how we create meaning out of the stuff we somehow refuse to get rid of. These particular observations shrug off anything matter-of-fact in favour of giving her own, and inevitably our own, subconscious a meaningful poke.
One of the most popular pieces we’ve ever published was a news piece on a performance/sculptural work involving dogs for the Next Wave Festival last year, dubbed Dachshund UN. People go crazy for pictures of a pooch, especially portraits of them, which is why we really like this new solo show by local photographer Lauren Bamford.
Bamford’s most recent collection of images, titled Neither Excluded Nor Included, consists of around a dozen photos of dogs she has encountered during her travels over the last 18 months, whether in the back of a ute, on a boat or in a host of other uncanny locations.
Neither Excluded Nor Included is part of a continuing body of work that aims to document the evidence of a generational change presenting itself in Australian lifestyle and culture. Each photo in the series has been taken with a 35mm SLR camera, presenting a straightforward, uncontrived account of situations chanced upon. The result is a fantastic, albeit petite, collection of images that chronicle Bamford’s adventures through Tasmania and Victoria.
Like her previous body of work, I Hope You Choke, Bamford’s latest series depicts everyday situations in a distinctly Australian light, showing that by documenting her surrounds, Bamford is forging a distinct aesthetic all her own.
I hope you choke
Exhibited at C3 Gallery, Abbotsford 2011.
“The farm, to me a playland, was to those who lived on it an onerous dead-end. Everything I observed as a marvel, was a back breaking chore to those who had to perform it everyday”
Peter Conrad ‘Down Home, Revisiting Tasmania’
‘I hope you choke’ is a photographic documentary of Tasmanian roadside produce stands and farm gate landscapes. It is a collection of photographs loaded with contradictions. A romanticised social commentary of a dying concept, despite the growing popularity and need for self sustainable living.
These images are faithful and Australian. Even more so these scenes are unique to Tasmania. An offshore island of an offshore continent, regularly omitted from maps of Australia – a lonely and savagely beautiful place, severed from the main land by a rising sea level over 10,000 years ago. Such isolation produces an ache of self doubt, a suspicion of solipsism which has the tendency to evoke an air of unease and underlying tension.
However, with current threats to the Murray Darling Basin, Tasmania has the potential to become Australia’s next food bowl. This threatened agricultural industry could be on the brink of a new dawn. There is an equal chance of these farmers being saved as there is of them being forgotten. Despite either outcome the question remains – will these photographs one day evoke a sense of mourning for our own selfish sentimentality, or for the lives and communities they consumed.
Review in The Age by Penny Modra 08/05/11:
If I see one more "back to basics" magazine spread depicting people eating apple crumble out of a pan with an old spoon while their child plays with a wooden tricycle I will fly into a demonic rage. But these rustic photographs by Lauren Bamford bite back. Documenting rickety produce stands at Tasmanian farm gates, they're portraits of isolation and bitterness. Check out the handwritten threat: "If you choose to steal my produce I hope you choke." An accomplished food photographer, Bamford is in some ways critiquing her own commercial work here, which sharpens the point. Lovely, rustic and murderous.
Two x Two
MELBOURNE'S Lauren Bamford and Karl Scullin - better known by his musical moniker, Kes - bring their photographic practice to a gallery setting for the first time with this series of portraits, each of which feature two indie rock scene subjects. Each artist takes a different approach to portraiture. Scullin's work, much of which has been lifted from album covers he's shot of several Melbourne bands, is loose and situational, relying on texture and hue. At least one of his subjects, which include the late Rowland S. Howard, is often hidden, blurred or obscured from full view. Bamford's work, however, is highly formalised. Her high-contrast monochrome prints, presented as diptychs, capture musical and artistic subjects, centre-frame, posing in their domestic or creative spaces. It's an interesting collection from two very talented photographers. | {
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Laos forum
fewest tourists in Luang Prabang
sunlvr
Joined Travelfish7th August, 2014Posts: 26
In reading up on Laos and Luang Prabang I have read conflicting stories regarding the amount of tourism. Part of the reason of choosing Laos was because of wanting to be away from the hoards that you find at other locations that have become popular these days. By going in October will I miss the main tourism season? I really don't want to travel half way around the World to see and talk with a bunch of people that live near me. Thanks!
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caseyprich
Most of the places you go in Laos will have tourists unless you get a bit off the beaten track. Luang Prabang is a beautiful and captivating city and you'll have opportunities to get to know local people if you spend more than just a few nights there, I highly recommend you check it out. If you are really looking to get off the beaten path then I recommend going to Southern Laos, where you can rent a motorbike and really explore. You'll probably end up staying in areas with travelers (Tad Lo, Paksong, Attepeau, etc.) but get away from all that with ease. Still, I'd recommend you find a travel buddy to rent bikes with, just to avoid any loneliness and also in case something should happen while on your moto.
Captain_Bob
Joined Travelfish27th May, 2006Location ThailandPosts: 1737
The "beaten path" in Laos consists of about 6-8 towns and a couple Mekong islands, and tourism-wise it's significantly less busy than the top-10 in Thailand. Luang Prabang is the number one favorite, and inside the UNESCO Heritage area along the Mekong where most of the accommodation is it's pretty touristy. But in October things are usually relatively quiet, and all you need is a bicycle or short walk to escape the main tourist zone. Of course it's also a matter of choice, if you go up Phousi hill for sunset, walk through the night market, go to Kuangsi waterfall or Pak Ou cave, or do other touristy things you will be surrounded by "those people"
daawgon
Joined Travelfish17th April, 2007Posts: 1039Total reviews: 2
95% of the tourists in Luang Prabang hang out on the peninsula - it's a really simple matter to wander off in different directions (across the Mekong or even down to the older section of town). I don't really think the month of travel will make much of a difference. In my opinion, the very best thing about LP is it's proximity to Kwang Si Waterfall - don't miss it.
Recently I took a cruise on Halong Bay, and just couldn't see what's so great about cruising with a bunch of middle class westerners who did nothing but talk of other countries than the one we were traveling in!
exacto
Personally, I think Luang Prabang is worth the trip no matter how many other tourists are there. Besides, as daawgon says, you can easily escape into the countryside for trips to great spots like Kwang Si.
In my experience, southern Laos sees far fewer tourists than the north. It has been 4 years now, but places like Savannakhet had hardly any other westerners in it during my last visit, and Champasak was nearly deserted. Of the two, I liked Champasak better, and the proximity to Pakse makes for an easy jumping off point for the Bolevans Plateau loop and other spots caseyprich mentions. Phon Savan and the Plain of Jars didn't have many people either when I went, but that was too long ago now to know what it might be like for you. Hopefully someone who has been more recently can say.
Whatever you do, don't be one of those snobs who treats other tourists as an intrusion on their adventure, because in the end we are all JAFT anyway. Laos is lovely. You should have a great time. Cheers.
sunlvr
Joined Travelfish7th August, 2014Posts: 26
Thanks everyone for you replies and suggestions! Don't get me wrong, I enjoy meeting other travelers it was the "Disneyesque" comment that made me a little nervous, if I want something like that I'll go to an all inclusive in the D.R.
I'm looking so forward to this journey and ALL experiences will be loved. (except maybe the buses) lol | {
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Cursed Is the Peacemaker: The American Diplomat Versus the Israeli General, Beirut 1982
A detailed, painstakingly researched study of the efforts of U.S. ambassador Philip Habib to arrest the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, lift the Israeli siege of Beirut, and get Yasir Arafat and his Palestine Liberation Organization safely out. Boykin frames his narrative as a confrontation between an American career diplomat, who had to work with a vague mandate and weak backing from Washington, and Israeli General Ariel Sharon, who misled his own government concerning his ambitions. Readers familiar with today's Israeli-Palestinian conflict will have a sense of deja vu as the author tracks Sharon's modus operandi, Arafat's beleaguered tactics, and America's hesitant stance. They should find Boykin's presentation of Habib in heroic terms convincing, but they may also wryly sense the limitations of individual diplomatic performance when it is not anchored to a coherent foreign policy. | {
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Men's Basketball - F&M vs. Swarthmore Video Highlights
Feb 20, 2017
J.C. McGrath and Ignas Slyka combined for 45 points to lead Franklin & Marshall to a 93-66 victory over No. 21 Swarthmore in Centennial Conference (CC) action. F&M improved to 18-7, 12-6 CC and secured a bye in the playoffs while the Garnet fell to 20-5, 14-4. | {
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About Me
Monday, June 30, 2008
What was Rule 2 again?
I've never had a high opinion of the French military (something about WWII and a house of cards), but this is utter stupidity.
A quick summary: In what appears to have been a simulation/demonstration of a terrorist situation during "open barracks day," where "a crowd of hundreds of visitors [were] watching parachute commandos simulate an assault to free hostages," a soldier in the crowd, playing the part of a terrorist, opened fire on the crowd. This was part of the simulation, and he was using blanks. He then reloaded and fired again, only this time, his second magazine was loaded with live rounds. At least 17 people were injured, including 5 children. At this point they are claiming this was accidental.
There are several points of stupidity here.
1. I don't know how it works in the military (especially the French military), but if I know I'm going to be firing blanks into a crowd, I'm not going to be using any magazine I haven't loaded myself. I want to visually ensure that every single round that goes in those magazines is really, truly, a blank. Then I'm going to mark those magazines in a very distinct, very obvious, and verynoticeable way. Something on the order of day-glow orange tape around the entire body of the magazine.
2. When I reload, I'm going to take a moment to look at that fresh magazine. Is it completely wrapped in that same day-glow orange tape? If not, it doesn't get used. If it is, I'm going to look at the first round, which should be visible at the top of the magazine. I'm going to verify it really is a blank by looking at it.* I'm going to look at it twice. If there is any doubt whatsoever that it really is a blank, the magazine doesn't get used. Period.*(This is assuming that there is a visible difference for blanks that will work with the weapon in question. I've never actually seen one, but not having some visible indication strikes me as incredibly stupid. More so than this particular situation.)
3. I'm not going to be so stupid as to actually point the muzzle of my weapon at any person. Remember Rule 2??!! (Left side of the page, at the top. Read it again. Refresh it in your memory.) Even blanks can kill, in the right circumstances. Remember Brandon Lee? You usually don't realize the right circumstances exist until it's too late. Do you want to kill that child? No? THEN DON'T POINT YOUR GUN AT HIM!!!!!!
I can understand that in military training firing blanks at another soldier may be an acceptable risk. The risk of death or injury from a blank (or an unnoticed live round) is actually pretty low, and the benefits (i.e. training someone to react correctly when someone else is shooting at them) may be worth the risk. But this should never, ever, happen at a simple demonstration, and especially not by firing blanks at civilians or observers. Primary responsibility lies with the soldier who pulled the trigger, but this was a failure at all levels involved in planning and executing this demonstration. | {
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Coming of Age Through 60’s Revival
Drawing from affecting tones of 60’s baroque pop and psychedelic trance, Dutch multi-instrumentalist and producer, Jacco Gardner has created an enigmatic world from the loss of innocence.
From listening to Gardner’s singles such as “The Ballad of Little Jane” and “Where Will You Go,” and “Summer’s Game,” his influences are quite clear. This multi-instrumentalist blends contemporary sounds along with classical ones such as the harpsichord, clarinet, and flute. Influenced by past artists such as The Left Banke and Billy Nicholls, Gardner’s sound can also be attributed to newer artists like Tame Impala, or the Horrors’ recent music.
Adding to the eerie qualities are Gardner’s vocals. There’s an entrancing air to it, which again relates to 60’s pop, contrasting the melancholic tone accompanying it. Furthermore, Gardner’s lyrics complete the fascinating imagery he has managed to create with his music. On Trouble in Mind’s site is a description of Gardner’s LP, alluding to the loss of innocence from ones youth and the significant effects that maturity brings along “It’s a hard realization to discover that the world may not be as magical and wondrous as once you believed.” Jacco Gardner’s bittersweet reverberations mirror the loss of youth and coming of age.
Gardner’s full album, Cabinet of Curiosities, will be available via Trouble in Mind Records on February 12th. | {
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As of July 4, 2011, most of my blogs are on indefinite sabbatical, but you can still keep up with me on Twitter, my writing and Florida blogs, and JSH News!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Something Olde's Ghost
Years ago, during my Lovejoy-esque period as a roving rogue antique dealer, I had booths in flea market/antique mall booths all across central Kentucky, from Mt.Vernon to Lexington to Irvine. And when you're dealing with such a quantity of raw materials from the physical world, soaked with all the history and psychic emotional residue that ends up attached to these items (if you believe in such things), it could drive a man insane.
And, some might say, it did the same to me.
If you believe that objects could have a will of their own and that they can express displeasure about being someplace they don't want to be, imagine surrounding yourself with antiques - much of which originally entered the market because their former owner died - and you can end up getting bad vibes all over yourself like baby powder or craft glitter.
Those were some strange times indeed, and they could provide fodder for countless ghost-story books - no doubt, sooner or later, I will write them. All in time.
But one particular incident that comes to mind was a ghost, poltergeist, entity, manifestation, what-have-you, that haunted the Something Olde Antique Mall on Chestnut Street in Berea. I haven't been by there in a long time, but as far as I know, the mall is still there and the ghost probably is too.
The building itself was converted from an old Western Auto store from the 50s, but who knows what was on the site prior to that. The upstairs of the place was entirely devoted to old books, with an elaborate array of shelves built to accomodate them. Soon after I moved into the place as a dealer, I learned that everyone there was quite spooked by the goings-on above our heads.
Even when nobody was upstairs, you could often hear footsteps walking across the floor directly above our heads. Now, there's no way to convey this via text, but you'll just have to take my word for it that I know the sounds that old creaky buildings can make, and that these sounds were not typical of those red-herring noises of settling foundation, expanding/contracting floorboards, or rattling ductwork. No, these were clear footsteps no different from the ones made when a real person was up there walking - you could even discern that the steps were consistent with a man of some weight, wearing shoes with hard clompy-sounding soles.
"See? There it is again!" someone would shout, and we'd all go running up there immediately. And of course, there was nothing. Those who stayed downstairs would invariably report that the footsteps stopped while we were on our way up. It was, truly, one of the weirdest things I've ever seen - or, rather, didn't see.
Lo and behold, a Google search for Something Olde Antique Mall brought up this old archived news article from Berea Online, and it interviews the shop's owner, Karen Todd, on the matter:
Strange things began to occur after the bookstore opened. People reported hearing the sounds of footsteps overhead when the upstairs rooms were presumably empty. And one piece of furniture back in a dark corner of the store is consistently found out of place when Todd opens the building in the morning.
Since the light switch for the second floor is in that corner, Todd says she makes a point of always putting the chair aside when she closes the store at night - a precaution to insure she has a clear path to the switch. One morning, however, she tripped over the chair, which during the night appeared to have been pulled into the middle of the floor, as if someone moved it to sit down for a good read. "I knew I moved that chair the night before because I always walk out that way," Todd says. | {
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Upcoming Events
When Facebookers began thinking about the design for Timeline, the name for the new look and feel of Profiles, they reached for books more often than browser tabs.
As a result, while the new Facebook Profiles might look a bit like a WordPress or Tumblr theme, they actually have a lot more in common with a physical scrapbook or a box of old photos once you start using them (and most users will be able to activate the new options within a few weeks).
“We looked at a lot of print, and we did entire studies on scrapbooks,” Facebook product chief Sam Lessin told VentureBeat in an interview in San Francisco.
“We’d get out a big box of old pictures, flip through the photos and talk about them. We were watching test users reminisce over these things, and we tried to design with that in mind and create that experience.”
Reminiscence, memory and nostalgia are concepts that came up over and over in our talk with Lessin. He brought up the fictional Mad Men character Don Draper’s pitch for the Carousel slide projector, a presentation that emphasized memory and emotion.
“We must have watched that Carousel video internally fifty times, thinking about nostalgia,” said Lessin.
And that focus shows. When I activated Timeline on my own profile, I was immediately struck by what Facebook had done.
Years-old memories flashed before me — old friends, old places, things I hadn’t thought about in ages. I got sucked back into the past the same way I would have in front of my mother’s old cedar chest, a trunk packed full of childhood tchotckes and pictures that holds our family’s history.
This innocuous social web tool had just made a powerful and convincing bid for more than my information or my time. Facebook was grasping at my emotions by way of my memories, and it was doing a damn good job.
With Timeline, Facebook is succeeding where so many other web companies have failed: It has created a technology with real emotional power.
Under so strong a grip, I think it unlikely that any Facebook user would seriously consider leaving the site. The company would have to do something egregious to make its users abandon such an elegantly organized personal history of memories and relationships.
Is that scary? It’s as scary as you want to make it. You can still easily export all your posts and photos if you ever want to leave Facebook or simply back up your data. But Facebook is also giving you a well-designed, interactive, shareable, cloud-based scrapbook that’s more useful and possibly more interesting than the traditional format scrapbook sitting at the bottom of your mother’s cedar chest.
How Timeline came to be
The first thing I wanted to know from Lessin is where this Timeline idea came from. Facebook is famous for developing features and products with small teams of two or three employees working independently and intrapreneurially. Had Timeline been the work of a couple designer/hackers coding their butts off for a few months?
Lessin told me that Timeline was different from most other Facebook features in that respect.
“The number of people that touched this to make it happen was enormous. A large part of the design team worked on parts of Timeline. It was uniquely, really collaborative, and it took a village to get it done.”
The new user interface has been a long time coming; in fact, a lot of people have been wondering why a bold Profile redesign didn’t roll out sooner. “The most recent iteration took at least a year,” he said, “but even getting to that point took years.”
Lessin continued, “We had a thousand iterations for this. If you look at books, a lot of timelines are horizontal, so we had a bunch of iterations based on that. There were a lot of designs that we built and unbuilt with different designers.”
Also, Lessin confirmed that the Timeline idea “wasn’t something we at Facebook hadn’t thought about before.” In other words, Facebook has been thinking about chronological design and restructuring Profiles for quite some time – years, in fact. So while the thesis was easy and the end was a lot of work, Lessin said, “The really tough part was the middle. It’s hard to know when to go into build mode.”
Ultimately, one point stood out for the team: Facebook users kept going back in time.
That is, people were constantly looking through deeper, older information on their Walls and friends’ Walls. And that desire to quickly, easily navigate through time, skimming over the detritus but not overlooking the gems, was a large part of what motivated the team to structure the new Profiles as a timeline wherein memories are distilled and important events are highlighted. In the end, Facebook made Profiles an algorithmically derived scrapbook that can contain and beautifully display the most important things about you.
“Time is not a new concept,” said Lessin. “People have been making timelines since the Romans and before. So we had a lot of source material to draw from.”
Lessin also said that, as modern citizens, the designers looked to a wide variety of industries, time periods and places for inspiration. They even got into infographics and information design, which led them to two new hires with deep roots in information design.
“The way the project ended up running, we had certain people who spent 24/7 working on this, living and breathing it,” said Lessin. “Nick Felton was one of them, from the time he joined Facebook to the product launch.”
Felton was an information designer with whom Facebook had worked in the past, primarily on collateral for the company’s 2010 f8 developer conference. Felton is known for being a master of weaving time and information into stunning and clear graphical interfaces. His annual reports are visually fantastic, data-rich representations of personal interactions throughout the year. In short, his work represented exactly the kind of thinking Facebook needed behind Timeline.
Ryan Case was another person Facebook brought on specifically to design the new Profiles. Case was Felton’s co-founder at Daytum, a name the duo established to work on personal data visualization projects. So with a pair of infographic gurus at the helm, Facebook was ready to start building what became Timeline.
How and why Timeline works
As a result, said Lessin, “The design is obviously interesting. There’s a lot that may be familiar, but there’s a lot that’s new.”
With a Timeline-enabled Profile, the above-the-fold area of the screen (the information you see first without any serious scrolling) acts like a table of contents for your life and personality. You can read straight through or skip to the good parts, like what music someone likes or highlight posts from the year you met him or her.
The first thing each Timeline page displays is a large header image that Lessin called a “cover photo.” Because of the dimensions of the image space, this isn’t really an appropriate place to plaster up yet another headshot; rather, it’s a space to show people what you’re about. Facebook is channeling its users from narcissism toward genuine self-expression.
“There are a lot of reasons for your profile picture to be a picture of you,” said Lessin, “but people have been hacking that for self-expression. Watching people choose their cover photos, people are really using them to express themselves. It’s a rich storytelling opportunity.”
As you scroll down past the header and initial string of app-related information, the Timeline acts much like a prettier version of the Facebook Wall you already have, but the scrolling never stops. Better yet, it never gets boring.
As you continue backwards in time down the page, you see less detail and more of the bigger picture. You’ll get the highlights of months and years past. You’ll get highly visual content that triggers memories; you’ll be reminded of when you first made important friendships. If you see an event, image, or update that strikes you as particularly important, you can star it; the item will become a full-page-width pictorial display.
“The first few minutes of using the product is zipping through and looking at their memories, things that have always been there but weren’t easy to surface,” said Lessin.
For those who want to dig deeper, the Timeline theme (chronologically organized information that has more detail for recent events and big highlights for later events) carries throughout the applications listed on your Profile. Want to see all your Spotify information? It’s right there in a consistent, easy-to-browse timeline. Even the geographically organized map view, which sorts all your posts and photos by location, has a timeline on the side.
Ultimately, Facebook has managed to make something that is completely and visually personal without resorting to the kind of customization options that made a designer’s nightmare out of MySpace.
“We really wanted to make this feel like it’s yours,” Lessin told us. “It’s designed very differently from News Feed. I don’t know how the rest of the site is going to evolve over time, but the central concept is that if something is yours, it should feel different from other people’s pages and other Timelines on Facebook.”
While the design focus was intense and highly specialized and the engineering behind Timeline involved “a lot of heavy lifting,” Lessin said the most important part of building Timeline was an understanding of how people engage with one another and with information online.
“We had to figure out the interactions that people wanted to have, the social construction … We like to think we have a competency in that,” he said.
Finally, I was left wondering how Facebook users would react to the changes. Historically, Facebook makes incremental tweaks to the interface, and users revolt in agony and frustration. They don’t leave the site, but much to-do is made over the smallest adjustments. Molehills become mountains. So how are users going to handle an actual mountain?
“I think Facebook users prepare each other,” said Lessin. “One of the things we did with our last Profile redesign was we had an opt-in period. Facebook users who got in early taught one another and helped one another. This time, we also have an opt-in period.”
This opt-in period will give users ample time to explore and answer important questions about the new interface. “One aspect is, can you use your own Timeline? How shocking is this to you? Who is seeing what? So this window lets people hide posts and adjust their new Profile before turning it on,” said Lessin.
“It’s a big product, and there are a lot of different features. But learning it really comes when your mom asks you or when you teach a friend. Getting the product early to people who can help with that is how we navigate these things.” | {
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Monday, March 19, 2012
Bicycle Siren /misster Pissta paper blog
officer Fewer- badge 33
I mentioned it before but now it is a reality, the paper blog is now finally complete. I would have posted this earlier today but I spent the better part of the morning at the hall of Justice waiting to get a court date for the citation I recieved last year on Clement street for being within 6 (SIX) FEET (two metres) of a pedestrian in a crosswalk. The officer ,(who I hope shows up in court) flat out told me at the time that for that day he had been given a mandate to only issue citations involving Ped/bike interfaceing. well the cops have almost 500 bucks of mine now until I go to court and then hopefully the judge will give me back at least some of it.
On to the paper blog..
Bill Daniel photographer/zinester (billdaniel.net) says about it:
"Zo's latest info-device -art rivals the world wide web for vastness and the great pyramids for sheer wonder."- "Xeroxgraphy's Zenith"
-- the basic version has 32 full size reproductions o of Black and White polaroid prints hand cut and folded with an index page and a cover page, all pages have large images on the reverse side. finished size is 4.5"X5.75" 6 dollars in person ,$7.50 paypaled and posted to you extra copies at in person price.
the COLOR version has everything in the black and white version has as well as
32 full size reproductions of color polaroid prints with an index and a folded 11"X17" cover page with a large image on the reverse. this comes with an "obi" made of instant film parts and a case made from recycled tetrapacks. size is larger than the B/W version dur to the case.
Trade value is one pack of peel apart film, in person or sent to my p.o.box
In person cash cost is $15 dollars , shipped cost is $16.50 paypaled and posted to you as above for extra copies.
The BOX SET : includes everything in the color version as well as A fuji film box containing a spent film pack with a Fauxlaroid wetprint mounted in it,signed and numberd (limited to 25 peices)on the back
cost is 28 dollars paypaled with shipping.
(the fauxlaroid prints are made in the darkroom using a negative of the orginal instant print on RC paper)
if you have any questions or to paypal use : [email protected]
here are some photos of what they look like--
black and white basic
color version
box set showing fauxlaroid (fauxlaroid images are random)
detail of box set cover
I also have available for 100 dollars-- Library Sets.. these contain all pages of the zine printed Single sided on 25 pound bond uncut for easy display or reproduction these are limited to 5 peices and come with a numbered Fauxlaroid as well .
alright thanks for reading and for your support and have a nice ride...
(avoid crosswalks and cops)
3 comments:
Yea that zine/paperblog looks great! I'll see if my wife lets me buy one from you(She's in charge of the expenses)and I'll get back to you.
The police have really been cracking down on bicyclists. All these years of being a bicyclist and avoiding cars, car doors, and random lunatics on the street and now we have to watch out for the cops trying to fulfill their quotas for ticketing!
Hey ARTpoloagist- I will barter as well... the set trade value for the colour issuse is a pack of peel apart film...also note I will give the inperson price for well conceled cash to my pobox..If you are in San Francisco I am often at the City Darkroom (50 scott st) during the open darkroom hours, in fact they open in an hou and I am heading up there presently.. thanks for the comments and another short posting will be forthcoming...all the best erik ZO/ misster pissta | {
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Tag: considering
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Won't allow anyone to abolish Article 370: NC
Ruling National Conference (NC) Thursday said the party will not allow anyone to abolish the special status of Jammu and Kashmir guaranteed under Article 370 of the constitution.
"I assure you that our party under the leadership of (chief minister) Omar Abdullah will never let anyone alter or abolish Article 370," NC provincial president, Kashmir, Nasir Aslam Wani said while addressing party workers at Shangus in south Kashmir's Anantnag district.
Wani said there are vested interests, who want to change the special status of the state and cautioned people not to "fall prey" to their "machinations".
The NC leader claimed that the opposition PDP can go to "any extent" to grab power and every time their attempt fails, it results in their "cheap theatrics".
"Do not go by their promises. False propaganda and divisive politics is the trait of PDP and it tries to survive on falsehood and blame game," he said.
He added that the NC represents the voice of people of the state and rendering public service equitably and holistically. | {
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FRANKFORT — A state Senate panel approved along party lines Wednesday a bill to set up medical review panels in hopes of curbing frivolous lawsuits against nursing homes.
Senate Bill 9 generated strong testimony from proponents and opponents, but those against the proposal only got to speak after the Senate Health and Welfare Committee took a 7-4 vote to send the bill to the full Senate.
Chairwoman Julie Denton, R-Louisville, said that was done because several committee members had to leave to attend other meetings.
In a floor speech later in the day, Sen. Ray Jones, D-Pikeville, said it was "blatantly wrong" for the Senate committee to vote on the bill without hearing from its opponents.
The measure would set up medical review panels to hear complaints against long-term care facilities. Each panel would be made up of one attorney and three physicians. The attorney would serve as panel chairperson but would not be able to vote.
Each side represented in the case would select a panelist, with the third panelist being agreed to by the other two physicians. The panel would then offer an opinion on whether the evidence supports a complaint against the nursing home.
Denton said the panel would be advisory and its opinion would be admissible in court. She predicted that this would mean fewer frivolous lawsuits. | {
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It’s never too early to begin year-end planning
With the weather as nice as it’s been, it seems a little early to write a column like this, but the calendar says otherwise. What I am referring to is year-end planning. It’s hard to believe we’re talking year-end, but as we enter the fourth quarter of the year, we realize there’s not much time left to 2018.
This year’s year-end planning is going to be very different for many people because of our new tax laws. In prior years, one of the strategies was to decide whether you should accelerate deductions such as charitable contributions into the current year; that all changes because of the new tax law.
The first thing everyone should do with regard to year-end planning is figure out whether they are itemizing their deductions or taking the standard deduction. With the standard deduction doubling in 2018, I’d imagine the great majority of people will find they are no longer itemizing, but using the standard deductions. It is also important to figure out where you are from a tax bracket standpoint. Brackets have changed and it’s important when doing any year-end planning to know what bracket you’re in. The first step in regard to doing any year-end planning is to figure out where you are from a tax standpoint.
From a tax and economic standpoint, one thing everyone should consider is whether they should convert existing IRA money into a Roth IRA. As I’ve mentioned in the past, one benefit of this is that it allows you to take tax-deferred money and convert it to tax-free money. The other benefit of doing a Roth conversion is money in a Roth IRA is not subject to minimum required distributions. At 701/2, you can continue to leave the money in a Roth IRA growing tax-free.
The rules I use to determine whether someone should convert an existing IRA into a Roth IRA are relatively straightforward and simple. The first is you must have the money to pay the taxes on the conversion without touching any of the money you are converting. When you convert a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, you are paying taxes on that transaction. That is one of the downsides, but it’s important to remember you are not paying more taxes — you’re just paying your taxes earlier.
My second rule is that, by converting your money, it won’t throw you into a higher tax bracket. That’s why it’s so important, particularly this year, to look at your tax situation and understand where you stand. You could use last year’s tax return as a guide, but it is important to pull out the new tax laws and determine exactly where you are.
My third rule is that you are able to let the money grow in the Roth IRA for at least five to seven years. If you meet all three criteria, then the Roth conversion makes sense.
Remember, a Roth conversion is time-sensitive. The transaction must be completed by the end of the year. While there is still plenty of time and you won’t feel under pressure, now is the time to make the calculations to determine whether a Roth conversion is viable or not.
For those of you over 701/2 and taking a required minimum distribution, it’s important to remember that you cannot convert your required minimum distribution, but you can convert anything above and beyond that.
Many who are still working have flexible spending accounts and now is a good time to go through those accounts to make sure that the money is spent. Not all employer plans are the same and it’s important that you understand the terms of your plan. Some plans provide that if you don’t use the money by the end of the year, you’ll lose it. Other plans are a little more generous. Either way, it is important that you go through your flex spending accounts to make sure that you don’t lose the money or wait until the last second and then use it on something you really don’t need.
The year-end is just around the corner and, if you are going to do any year-end planning, it is important to begin the process as soon as you can. Before you know it, the leaves will be on the ground and winter will be around the corner. | {
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Mississippians support several potential policy changes to help improve the state’s electoral process, including the expansion of early voting and automatically registering eligible voters upon turning 18 years of age. According to the newly released July 2018 Millsaps College-Chism Strategies State of the State Survey, voters strongly favor the state’s existing Voter ID law and are evenly split on whether state and municipal elections should be moved to weekends instead of Tuesdays. Meanwhile, the survey finds that voters are skeptical of treating Election Day as a holiday for Mississippi workers, using a vote-by-mail system, and allowing for online voter registration.
Voters ranked repairing the state’s roads and bridges as their top policy priority, making this the fourth consecutive quarter in which the electorate indicates that they want Mississippi’s leaders to address this problem above all else. According to the survey, 35% of respondents believe that the state is on the right track as opposed to 29% who sense that it is on the wrong track.
The survey also includes approval ratings of numerous elected officials and finds that Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann remains among the most popular elected leaders in the Magnolia State. Nearly 50% of Mississippi voters approve of the job being done by Hosemann as opposed to just 14% who disapprove of his work.
“Mississippi is entering a three-year period of perhaps the most important consecutive election cycles that the state has seen in decades,” said Dr. Nathan Shrader, assistant professor of political science and director of American Studies at Millsaps College. “The 2018, 2019, and 2020 elections will be vitally important to the state and her citizens, yet voter participation in the 2018 primary and primary runoff elections was distressingly low. Our objective with this survey was to explore the extent to which Mississippians are open to modernizing or adjusting our current electoral system to perhaps improve our weak voter participation rates. Among our most consequential findings is that Mississippi voters have identified fixing roads and bridges and increasing funding for public schools as their top policy priorities for the fourth consecutive quarter. This demonstrates stability among the public’s policy preferences in these areas.”
Election Laws
57% favor allowing for early voting while just 25% are opposed.
49% support and 37% oppose automatically registering eligible Mississippians to vote when they turn 18 years of age.
39% oppose moving all Mississippi elections to weekends while 38% support the move.
49% oppose making Election Day a holiday for workers in Mississippi and 42% are in favor.
56% support continuing with in-person voting while only 6% back using mail-in-voting. Another 37% favor utilizing a mixture of in-person and vote-by-mail elections.
81% favor maintaining Mississippi’s Voter ID law.
47% oppose online voter registration while 38% support such a change.
Elected Official Ratings
48% approve of Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann’s job performance while 15% disapprove.
Insurance Commissioner Mike Chaney has a job approval rating of 31% and a disapproval rating of 14%.
29% of Mississippi voters approve of Commissioner of Agriculture and Commerce Andy Gipson’s work while 11% disapprove.
Public Service Commissioner Brandon Presley has a job approval rating of 29% and a disapproval rating of 13%.
State Representative Mark Baker (a declared candidate for Attorney General in 2019) has an overall approval rating of 14% and a disapproval rating also of 14%.
Only 22% approve of the work being done by the State Legislature with 35% disapproving. The difference between those who approve and disapprove of the legislature’s performance is consistent with the previous two State of the State Surveys.
Policy Priorities
25% of respondents say that fixing roads and bridges is their most important priority. This is the fourth consecutive quarter where it has topped the list of concerns expressed by the voters.
More funding for public schools (22%) and making healthcare more affordable and accessible (18%) were the second and third highest ranking policy priorities.
Chism Strategies is pleased to team with Millsaps College to measure public sentiment on different ways to make voting easier in our state,” said company president Brad Chism. “We look forward to the legislature’s consideration of all the options for increasing voter participation in Mississippi and this data should make for an informed debate.”
The survey was conducted June 28-29. The sample size of 623 with 67% of interviews conducted via landline and 34% via cell phone. The survey has a Margin of Error of +/-4.0 %. Results were weighted to reflect likely 2018 general election turnout for age, race, gender, and partisanship. | {
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Suffolk Downs owner not waiting for news from Amazon to seek approval for massive redevelopment
The HYM Investment Group, headed by a former BRA director, yesterday filed an initial plan for its project to turn a tired old race track on the East Boston/Revere line into a development that could ultimately include 10,000 housing units, two malls and lots of office space when completed in 15 or 20 years.
The company had begun working on its plans for the 161-acre site well before Boston submitted a proposal for Amazon's second headquarters to based there. But in its letter of intent to the BPDA, HYM says it might seek early approval for the 500,000 square feet of office space Amazon wants built before 2019, separate from the "planned development area" designation the company wants for the 109 acres on the East Boston side of the line. A PDA would essentially wipe out all existing zoning on the land and let HYM and the BPDA negotiate on just how much of what HYM wants it can get.
The BPDA is holding three site visits and discussions on the proposal, open to the public, at Suffolk Downs: Nov. 15, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and Nov. 28, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. All start at the clubhouse entrance, 525 McClellan Highway.
HYM has made the presentation to the various East Boston community groups. Like that the principals made the presentation without either of the 2 attorneys that represent all the other developments in EB. | {
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Danny Brown Reveals Title Of Upcoming Album
The album is due out in September.
Danny Brown made his grand return last month with the release of the wild single "When it Rain." Sunday night, he continued to generate anticipation for his upcoming album by revealing its title: Atrocity Exhibition.
"Atrocity Exhibition" is also the named of a Joy Division song and a J.G. Ballard novel.
Despite the acclaim showered upon Old, Brown insisted in an April interview that the follow-up would be even better. “I feel like I’ve found my sound since," he said. "This album is not necessarily about me experimenting so much, but more so about me just doing what Danny Brown does. It’s just my sound, you know? A lot of those ideas I used to have before, I’ve just built on those ideas and made them bigger. They’ve finally come full circle.” | {
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Chase Vinson, 22, pleaded guilty to two facilitation of first-degree murder charges for his involvement in helping a Cottontown, Tenn., teen kill his parents in 2011.
Written by
Alexander Quiñones
| Gannett Tennessee
A Robertson County man accused of helping a Sumner County teenager kill his parents has pleaded guilty to lesser charges in the case.
Chase Vinson, 22, of Cross Plains, had been facing first-degree murder charges but accepted a deal in which he pleaded guilty to two facilitation of first-degree murder charges.
Prosecutors said the deal reflected to what extent Vinson helped Morgan Moore, 19, kill his parents, Gary Moore, 54, and Tammy Moore, 51. Morgan Moore pleaded guilty to first-degree murder Feb. 19 and was sentenced to two life sentences to be served together. ... | {
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Watch This Man Propose in a Whole Foods!
The couple initially bonded over a shared love of organic food. Seriously.
Could this be the best pick-up line ever for organic and clean-eating fans? "So you shop all organic, huh?"
At least, it worked for one man in Florida. That man, Vladimir, used it on a woman named Monica at Cash Register Two of a Coral Gables Whole Foods a year ago, and the two have been dating ever since, as covered by Florida news station WPTV.
While the couple was in the store, an announcement came over the intercom: "Attention, customers: Monica and Vladimir, please report to Register Two," and Monica's favorite John Legend song started playing. Then, well… Watch the proposal in the video below (and prepare to be disappointed every time you go grocery shopping and only leave with groceries from now on): | {
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Brightness
Keep the Vive or upgrade?
I've had the original HTC Vive since its release in 2016, and now I'm seeing all of these newer headsets coming out. I really like the sound of the Rift S, but all of its compromises make it not seem like a worthy upgrade. Should I keep the Vive and maybe get the audio strap and wireless adapter? Or go for the Rift S, with its practicality? | {
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Hey everyone! I haven't written in too long, and I litterally wrote this in a couple of hours. It's my first Bandslam fic so it may be a little rusty. Thanks Tamy for fixing my English-ism. :P
Happy reading! xo
Comfortably Numb.
Dear Journal,
I don't know why I'm writing in this journal, but I have nothing else to do. So, I guess I better introduce myself. I'm Sa5m. The five is silent. Don't ask why, it just is okay? Okay now I'm asking a journal to not ask why. I'm losing my mind. I guess you'd probably call me unpopular. An outcast. Introverted. Whatever. But that's only because no-one's ever tried to change that. No-one's ever even tried to get to know me. I'm a little bit different, so what? Don't I deserve a chance? I've never had a proper friend. Well I did in kindergarten, but that was before I could talk. It all went downhill when I could. I'd hate to think people are that shallow, but the truth is they are. I use to have a stutter and as soon as people discovered that, they didn't want to know. Who wants to wait five minutes for someone to complete a sentence?…That's what I thought. Thank goodness I'm writing this, because you'd get bored of my monotonous voice. But I've always said; emotion is overrated. I said "I've always said" but what I mean is, I've always said to…myself. You can't say that to high school kids without getting a colossal amount of raised eyebrows, and I get that just walking down the halls anyway. I guess I'm not a "normal" high school student, I'm not popular, or cool. I like to listen to music by Bread and The Sex Pistols, not The Backstreet Boys or Fergie. I like to watch movies like Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Evil Dead 2, rather than The Notebook and Along Came Polly. With Martin Van Buren being a school known for it's Battle Of The Bands, more well known as; Bandslam, you would think this school would live for music, breathe for music, like I do, but I guess this student body's idea of rock n roll is slightly different to mine. I've always been old-fashioned in my tastes in music, The Clash, and Velvet Underground is my kinda thing, whereas most of Van Buren's students rock knowledge goes as far as Pink and Evanescence. I mean, those artists are great. But my feelings for music just go further than listening to people you hear on the radio everyday. I pride myself on being able to listen to something and wondering "how many other people have even HEARD of these guys?". It may sound stupid, but I don't care. I love it. I have yet to find someone who feels the same, I wonder if I ever will.
So yeah, as we've clarified I'm not a natural high school student, because natural high school students have friends, no? I am actually a nice person, ask…my mom. She's the only person who'd know I guess. My dad would probably say the same, but he died when I was eleven. I miss him more & more everyday. He was the one who got me into all of the music I love today. There wouldn't be a day gone by where he wasn't blasting out Chuck Berry or Jerry Lee Lewis from his tatty old radio. He'd always say "This is REAL music, Samantha. Don't you forget that." with one of his famous winks, one of the winks that captured my mom's heart in the late 70's. She's never had the same twinkle in her eye since he died… Man, this is depressing, this is basically counselling. I've not told anyone at all about these feelings, because I've never had anyone to tell it too, no friends remember? But…you're my friend journal, aren't you? Sheesh. I think I may go now journal, this is bringing me down majorly, and that's saying something, since my natural facial expression looks like my dog just died. But if you were me, wouldn't you be the same? I don't expect you to reply. No-one ever does. | {
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Melt butter, put in crock pot. Mix all but stew, pour on top of butter. Dump stew on top. Do not stir. A cheesy dough will bake up around the stew. Cook on LOW for 10 to 12 hours or on HIGH for 4 to 6 hours. | {
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Man, I really loved this game mechanic and I wished it had remained in the series. Who else loved these?
Neptunia
06-28-2014, 10:44 PM
muscle belt for 500 gill? sure I liked them. nice seeing things happening elsewhere at the same time. FF12 tried the same thing, showing what was going on with vayne and the like.
Pumpkin
06-28-2014, 10:46 PM
THEY WERE EXCELLENT
Sefie1999AD
06-29-2014, 01:02 AM
A great way to give other characters some development! :jess:
Rantz
06-29-2014, 01:13 AM
Yeah, they're fun :D I never really got the whole concept of having to go and activate them/choose between scenes rather than just being able to skip optional scenes, but it's all good.
Christmas
06-29-2014, 03:56 AM
One of the best feature of the game! :bigsmile:
with the exception of Quina, :quina:
and Queen Brahne. :bigsmile:
Shiva95
06-29-2014, 02:14 PM
It's really great and it is interesting to see other characters' development :)
Rez09
06-29-2014, 05:53 PM
It kind of reminded me of earlier Star Ocean titles where you could run into your party doing stuff in the towns you visited, which I always really liked; much like everyone else, I think it was a great feature.
Sephex
07-03-2014, 05:31 AM
I liked it. I thought it was a creative way to show more of the story and it made me go out of my way to try to activate as many as these scenes as I could.
Ayen
07-19-2014, 05:28 AM
They were a lot of fun to watch. I made sure to watch them all.
Dat Matt
07-19-2014, 12:17 PM
The tales of games use these in the form of Skits, which are usually entertaining. Maybe Namco Bandai bought the rights to having optional cut scenes in gameplay so Final fantasy games weren't allowed to do them anymore. If I recall they did the same with mini games during loading screens which is why you only see them during Dragonball Z games. | {
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Ingredients
Devices
Brands
Spotlight
The revolutionary and redesigned Foreo LUNA 2 is designed and created to give you a personalized, 2-minute daily gentle cleansing experience like no other and unveil a more luminous, refined, and youthful new you!
Cellex-C Advanced-C 2-Step Starter Kit includes the Advanced-C Serum and the Skin Hydration Complex. Both oil-free products work together to rejuvenate your skin by diminishing fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and sagging skin. This powerful blend of Ascorbic acid, Tyrosine, Zinc, Bioflavonoids, Ellagic Acid, Hyaluronic Acid, Proline and Glycine are key ingredients that restore youthful translucency and buoyancy to the skin. Ideal for all skin types with the exception of sensitive skin.
Benefits:
This formulation is extremely well tolerated and can be used by men and women without fear of troublesome skin reactions such as sunlight sensitivity. | {
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Vaximom
Vaximom is is a mother to two three beautiful boys who has taught countless other beautiful children the value of critical thinking and the scientific method. She spends her free time debunking sloppy thought and scientific denialism in order to make the world a safer, smarter place. | {
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A bureaucratic custody battle is being fought over the infamous note written by an outgoing Labour minister to his successor admitting there was ''no money'' left.
Liberal Democrat David Laws broke with convention when he disclosed details of the letter Liam Byrne wrote in 2010 as he was clearing his Treasury desk.
The fifteen- word note was repeatedly used against Labour as proof it failed to take the country's finances seriously.
Mr Laws, who lost his seat in the last general election, said former Treasury permanent secretary Sir Nicholas Macpherson had written to him demanding he handed over the note.
According to the Mail on Sunday, he wrote: "You will obviously be aware that since the Byrne letter was addressed to the office of Treasury Chief Secretary and not to you in person, it is the copyright of HM Treasury.
"While I understand you may be reluctant to part with it, it is our duty to retain historic documents and I must ask you to repatriate it."
Mr Laws also received a separate demand from the Government's National Archives, which said it was "an important political document which must be preserved for the nation".
The former Treasury chief secretary, who lasted just 17 days in the job, revealed the battle over ownership of the note at the Henley Literary Festival.
According to the Mail on Sunday, Mr Laws has ignored demands to hand over the note, sending only a photograph of it to the Treasury.
"As far as I am concerned, it's mine," he said. "I don't see why I should hand it over. It's in safe keeping and I'll leave it to the nation in my will."
Mr Byrne wrote the note on April 6 2010 as the country prepared to choose a new government.
It said: ''Dear chief secretary, I'm afraid there is no money. Kind regards - and good luck! Liam.''
Mr Byrne has since admitted that every day he had "burnt with the shame of it". | {
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Golden Syrup
Our theme for this week is “Gold” and as I am in charge of food series, today, I am going to share with you a recipe of golden syrup. Check out the second series of Gold theme at here and last series at here!
Golden syrup is a thick form of inverted sugar syrup used in a variety of baking recipes and desserts! And it is often used as a substitute for honey! So, basically, instead of buying a jar of honey, why not make our own golden syrup? | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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Per your request, the bank account information associated with your seller account has been changed. Your future transfers will be submitted to this new bank account. This change will not affect any transfer of funds initiated prior to this change. あなたの要求によって、あなたのセラーアカウントに関連づけられた銀行口座の情報が変更されました。今後のあなたへの送金転送は、新しい銀行宛に送られます。この変更は、この変更以前に開始された資金の送金には影響しません。
Note: There is a mandatory 3-day security hold before any changes to bank account information take effect. Transfers of funds cannot be initiated until after that period, which starts on the date you submit your new bank account information in your seller account. 注意：セキュリティ対策のため、銀行口座情報の変更には３日間のセキュリティホールドがあります。資金の転送は、あなたのセラーアカウントに新しい銀行口座情報を登録した日からかその期間の終了するまで開始することができません。
You can update your bank account information at any time in the Settings section of your seller account. For additional information, please visit our online Help pages. あなたは、セラーアカウントの管理画面の「Settings」セクションから、いつでも銀行口座を更新することができます。詳細については、オンラインヘルプページをご参照ください。 | {
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} |
Photos: Wicked -- Famous Pop Culture Witches
CaptionThe Evil Queen from 'Snow White and the Huntsmen'
Universal Pictures
From: The movie "Snow White and the Huntsmen" Famous for: A real emphasis on that evil part. In this 2012 remake, The Evil Queen not only tries to off poor Snow White, but this sorceress actually eats birds - raw! We say Yikes.
From: The movie "Snow White and the Huntsmen" Famous for: A real emphasis on that evil part. In this 2012 remake, The Evil Queen not only tries to off poor Snow White, but this sorceress actually eats birds - raw! We say Yikes. (Universal Pictures)
From: The cable series "True Blood" Famous for: Jesus is the boyfriend of Lafayette Reynolds, the local outrageously gay cook. It was revealed this season that Jesus is also a warlock. Ooh stay tuned!
From: The cable series "True Blood" Famous for: Jesus is the boyfriend of Lafayette Reynolds, the local outrageously gay cook. It was revealed this season that Jesus is also a warlock. Ooh stay tuned! (NBC Photo by Chris Haston)
From: The 1997 TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Famous for: Willow is a witch with some "Mommy Dearest" issues. She's a smart high school teen who happens to be Buffy's BFF and decides to aid her good friend in the battle against evil, vampires and injustice. Talk about a full class load.
From: The 1997 TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Famous for: Willow is a witch with some "Mommy Dearest" issues. She's a smart high school teen who happens to be Buffy's BFF and decides to aid her good friend in the battle against evil, vampires and injustice. Talk about a full class load. (Photo by Robert Voets/UPN)
From: Harry Potter series Famous for: Professor McGonagall is the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. She's a true supporter and friend to the chosen one Harry Potter. She loves the underdog. Did we mention she can turn into a cat ? Yep, awesome.
From: Harry Potter series Famous for: Professor McGonagall is the deputy headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardy. She's a true supporter and friend to the chosen one Harry Potter. She loves the underdog. Did we mention she can turn into a cat ? Yep, awesome. (Warner Bros./amazon.com)
From: "The Witches of Eastwick" Famous for: Following the life of three repressed women in a small New England town -- read that as three single ladies ( Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer) tap into their inner witchhood to take on Jack Nicholson. Hmm..
From: "The Witches of Eastwick" Famous for: Following the life of three repressed women in a small New England town -- read that as three single ladies ( Cher, Susan Sarandon and Michelle Pfeiffer) tap into their inner witchhood to take on Jack Nicholson. Hmm.. (Courtesy of Warner Bros.)
By the prickling of our thumb something wicked this way comes. Well, by wicked we mean really cool witches from our pop culture. So, grab your broomstick and get your black magic on as we count down the top witches (and a warlock or two) of all time. Did your favorite sorceress make the list? | {
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Related
A European court on Monday cleared Iceland of wrongdoing over its refusal to repay depositors' money lost in the country's 2008 banking collapse.
The Luxembourg-based European Free Trade Association Court ruled that deposit-guarantee laws did not cover "a systemic bank failure of the magnitude experienced in Iceland."
A tiny North Atlantic nation with a population of just 320,000, Iceland went from economic wunderkind to financial basket case almost overnight when the credit crunch took hold.
Some 340,000 British and Dutch savers lost deposits when Icesave, an online subsidiary of Iceland's Landsbanki, collapsed along with the country's other banks in 2008.
The savers were repaid - to the tune of $5 billion - by the British and Dutch governments, who have been trying ever since to get their money back. Icelandic voters have twice rejected deals brokered by their government to reimburse the two countries.
Iceland's foreign ministry said it was "a considerable satisfaction that Icelands defense has won the day" in court.
"Icesave is now no longer a stumbling block to Iceland economic recovery," it said in a statement.
The country says it is nevertheless repaying Britain and the Netherlands from money it is raising by selling off the remaining assets of Landsbanki.
The court case was brought by the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority, which makes sure that Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway comply with European Union regulations. The countries are not EU members but belong to the European Economic Area. | {
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String of violent crime in west Houston
Shots fired, guns drawn and customers threatened with their lives -- a violent crime spree in west Houston has police working overtime and investigators trying to figure out their next move. A rash of aggravated robberies on the west side has caught the attention of police and they're now stepping up patrols. [SIGN UP: Get headlines and breaking news sent to you]
This comes after a robbery Friday night at a crowded restaurant on Westheimer. The previous weekend, people were held up at a pool hall in the same shopping center. This all follows the shooting death of a woman at a gas station on the west side in late November.
Violent crime in an area like this is bad for business, plain and simple. Local business owners, who've been here for years, know that all too well. In addition to requesting more patrols, some are even taking precautions of their own as police try to track down the suspects.
Thirty-three years ago Joe Mannke opened a restaurant in west Houston.
"People were laughing," he recalled. "They said this is still Indian territory."
Mannke eventually shut it down and opened a new one seven years ago on Westheimer. Businesses may come and go, but Mannke's love for the west side has remained constant.
"It's a very, very fast growing area," he said. "I think it's the fastest growing area in Houston."
But being a business owner here, Mannke says, has its drawbacks. There have been two recent armed robberies on Westheimer -- one Friday night at the nearby Le Viet restaurant and the other at a nearby pool hall last Sunday -- as well as the murder of a young woman two months ago at a gas station down the street. These violent crimes have him and so many other neighboring businesses on alert.
Police, who are now connecting the two robberies, are not taking their concerns lightly.
Officer Stephen Hendrie with the Houston Police Department said, "These guys are dangerous and bold individuals. It's obviously high on our radar right now. We're definitely giving it a high priority."
While patrols in the neighborhood have been stepped up, Mannke, who uses security cameras and silent alarms, hopes the bad guys can take a hint.
He said, "It's always good to see more cars around, constable, police cars driving up and down. The more the better. That, of course, will scare people away." | {
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This Is Only a Test
More than a million DTV-to-analog converters were requested in the first two days of the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA) converter-box subsidy program last week. We don't know whether that means the converter-box education message has gotten out to key target populations like the elderly and minorities, or whether, as we suspect, it is the techno-friendly early adopters who want to make sure they get theirs before the coupons run out.
Either way, the switch to digital is officially on in earnest, at least if interest in the coupons is any gauge.
And not a minute too soon. There is just over a year until all of the full-power DTV stations have to pull the plug on their analog signals, and the FCC last week, in emphasizing the point, said any full-power station broadcasting in analog after the stroke of midnight on Feb. 17, 2009, will be treated as an unlicensed operator and dealt with accordingly. That message came in the FCC's release of its long-awaited rules of the road for the DTV transition.
Around the FCC, the idea has been floated that maybe the commission should authorize a kind of test kitchen for the analog-to-digital switch, just to see what kind of problems it had not anticipated. That would mean picking a small market or community, outfitting anyone who needs them with converter boxes, going all-digital and seeing what does or does not hit the fan.
That's probably unfeasible, however, and it also avoids answering a central question: Without government help, will publicity about the switchover be understood and heeded by the elderly, poor and minorities? And for stations, what other kinds of technical problems will there be?
Testing is a smart idea. We'd suggest the FCC, which now has some practice with town meetings, organize some sessions at community centers and target the audience that some fear won't ever get the word or understand the analog-to-digital concept. It is an inelegant solution, but it could work.
And, we think, PBS could help. Public television already has a big commitment to the transition because it serves the same audience the FCC and others fear will miss out on transition. But as a public service, PBS could broadcast meetings with poor, elderly or Hispanic viewers, and thereby serve a larger audience.
There are myriad technical issues to consider, which is why a test market sounds prudent. The FCC should explore the possibilities. If nothing else, the exercise of imagining what may happen with real, live consumers could shape the coordinated transition that Capitol Hill and commission Democrats fear is tottering now. | {
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Apple yet again voiced frustration in a report it published on its suppliers' working conditions. It found employees being overworked and child labor being used to assemble its products. (Source: Apple)
Some say Apple's hard-to-satisfy demands of high quality at ultra-low prices create an environment conducive for corner cutting. They say Apple is thus ultimately responsible for many labor and environmental abuses. (Source: AP)
Report from Cupertino's top tech firm says Foxconn "saved lives" by its reaction to suicides
Every
year Apple hires private inspectors to perform an independent audit of its vast
network of global suppliers. These inspectors scour the partners for
signs of labor abuses. That's a bit unusual in the corporate world that
usually casts a blind eye to such things. What is more unusual is that
Apple publishes the report airing its "dirty laundry", so to speak,
for all to see.
Like the last
couple years, this year's report [PDF]
wasn't all roses. The report found abuses at many of the 127 plants
worldwide that make Apple products.
One of the biggest problem areas was child labor. By law in China
children cannot work until they turn 16. But Apple found that 91 children
were working at 10 of its suppliers' Chinese plants. In one case Apple
discovered that a plant had cooperated with a vocational school to fake
documents for 42 children to work. Apple terminated its relationship with
that factory.
Another major problem was unsafe working conditions. In one case, workers
at a Wintek plant were using the toxic industrial solvent n-hexane in an
assembly and cleaning process. The company had allowed the building's
ventilation system to fall into disrepair and vapors from the organic solvent
poisoned dozens of workers. Apple has demanded the plant fix the
ventilation system and stop using the n-hexane.
Other problems discovered include excess working hours and workers being
shorted overtime pay. Also suppliers overcharged migrant worker
employment agencies in Southeast Asia $3.4M USD. Apple is forcing them to
repay this sum.
Interestingly, Apple praised embattled supplier Foxconn for its steps it took
to prevent more deaths following a spate
of suicides early last year. Foxconn, which employs 920,000
people in China, responded by raising
pay rates and installing
"anti-jumper" nets on high buildings in its factory towns.
Apple says these measures "definitely saved lives", though it
adds, "We were disturbed and deeply saddened to learn that factory workers
were taking their own lives."
Despite Apple's unusual openness about its labor problems and its apparent
attempts to fix them, it often is criticized as one of the electronics
industry's most destructive players in terms of labor and environmental abuses.
The key reason for this is Apple's demand for utmost performance and quality at
the lowest cost. Apple maintains huge margins on its high-end gadgets and
it is ruthless in its negotiations to obtain lower prices, dropping suppliers
if they can't keep up.
As a result some manufacturers are looking to cut corners in various ways.
For example Wintek used n-hexane at its factory in Suzhou, near Shanghai,
because the compound cleaned device screens better than alcohol, leading to
lower defect rates. Wintek never told Apple about the switch, hoping it
would give it a secret edge over contract competitors. The plan obviously
backfired.
Chinese environmentalist Ma Jun, of the Center for Public and the Environment,
has helped various activists in China to compile a rival report entitled "The
Other Side of Apple" [PDF]. The report blasts Apple's quality
and price demands, accusing the company of setting up an environment conducive
for abuse.
The report surveyed multiple companies and found that Apple was the worst at
dodging requests by environmental advocates for investigations, despite its
yearly internal study. Mr. Jun told the
San Francisco Chronicle, "We originally thought that Apple, as a
corporate citizen, would take a leadership role, but now we feel they ended up
as the most obstructive." | {
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Kiwis bank on "Hobbit" hype
FROM a giant Gollum sculpture at Wellington Airport to huge banners on office block, "The Hobbit" is impossible to ignore in New Zealand.
Tourism chiefs, hoping to recreate the surge in visitors inspired by the original "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, have launched a massive marketing campaign around director Peter Jackson's latest Middle Earth three-parter.
Like the first trilogy, "The Hobbit" movies use New Zealand's mountainous scenery as a backdrop, amounting to what some tourism insiders gleefully describe as a nine-hour long advertisement for the country's rugged charms.
Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler does not go that far but says the films offer the country invaluable global exposure that can be converted into increased visitor arrivals.
"We aim to show potential travellers that the fantasy of Middle Earth is in fact the reality of New Zealand," he said.
But behind the hype, official figures show the first of the new movies "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" cannot come soon enough for an industry struggling for momentum almost a decade on from the original Middle Earth saga.
New Zealand's international visitor arrivals jumped from 1.5 million to 2.4 million between 2000 and 2006 on the back of "The Lord of the Rings" but have remained flat at about 2.5 million for the past four years.
A recent Tourism Industry Association report expressed concerns New Zealand had "lost its edge" and was no longer regarded as a must-see destination.
"New Zealand is perceived to have fallen off the global radar as a desirable destination to some extent," the report found.
"In part, as a result of increasing competition from other destinations and in part because of economic conditions in [tourist] generating countries."
The earthquakes that devastated Christchurch in 2011, resulting in 185 deaths, and a local currency pushing record highs have also not helped matters.
Tourism operator David Gatward-Ferguson said that when the first "Rings" film was released in 2001, the industry was surprised by the influx of visitors wanting to travel to places featured in the movie.
"We were initially caught out, yes, and geared up over the next year or two to meet demand," he said, recalling a time when the currency was at a 25-year low and international travel was buoyed by a booming global economy.
Gatward-Ferguson's Nomad Expeditions soon revamped its eco-adventure tours along a Middle Earth theme, taking tourists speaking elvish and wearing Tolkien costumes to set locations in the South Island.
With the entire tourism industry abuzz over potential spin-off benefits from Jackson's latest project, there is little chance operators will be wrong-footed when the first "Hobbit" film premieres on November 28.
Tourism New Zealand has changed its "100% Pure" global branding to "100% Middle Earth" and Wellington has dubbed itself "The Middle of Middle Earth" for the premiere, contributing $905,000 to the event.
The national government is so convinced of the benefits to the tourism and movie industries that when a union dispute threatened to send filming offshore in 2010, it amended the country's industrial laws to ensure it stayed.
Glen Croy, a specialist in film-driven tourism at Australia's Monash University, said research showed any jump in visitor numbers would not be driven by hard-core Tolkien fans sporting prosthetic Hobbit feet and pointy Gandalf hats.
He said the film's value lay in putting New Zealand on the agenda as a destination for ordinary travellers considering a long-haul holiday, adding that the country had become synonymous with Middle Earth and each movie release reinforced the association.
"People still talk about 'Lord of the Rings', people still remember the films. You choose to watch a film, which you don't do with an advertisement, and that makes people more receptive."
He said the incidental benefits from filming in New Zealand - such as Orlando Bloom raving about Kiwi ski-fields or Stephen Fry waxing lyrical on Twitter about Wellington's coffee - also drew people in.
Tourism New Zealand is not specifying how much of a lift it expects from "The Hobbit" but Gatward-Ferguson said the high local dollar and tough economic times meant it was unlikely to match "The Lord of the Rings".
"It'll be positive but it'll be muted," he said.
"There's a lot of naysayers out there and we're not going to get another wall of visitors but New Zealand is small enough that we only need to win over a small proportion of the world market to make a big difference."
The Kiwi dollar has almost doubled against the greenback since the first movie, currently around 83 US cents and tipped to threaten a record high of 88.43 US cents set in August 2011, compared to 43 US cents in late 2001.
The doubters have not prevented Gatward-Ferguson from expanding his fleet of off-road expedition vehicles by five and buying Hobbit-themed licence places to adorn them, including "Bilbo", Smaug" and "Thorin", all characters in the movies.
"We've come to our own conclusions, made our investment and now we've just got to wait and see if we were right," he said. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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The growing activism of Turkish President Erdoğan over US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has succeeded in diverting the public debate from the burning foreign issues facing his country at the beginning of 2018, and especially from the Syrian issue, which exacts a heavy political, economic and social price from Turkey.
The war in Syria has just entered its sixth year, and Turkey is examining the crisis more soberly and cautiously, and is gradually changing its policy. Among other things, the change is reflected in its acceptance of the Syrian regime’s stamina and in its desire to serve as a regional player contributing to regional stability and the reducing of political tensions.
At the same time, there is no change in Ankara’s hawkish approach to the autonomous aspirations of the Kurds in northern Syria, which it regards as no less than a threat to its national security. This approach continues to create a negative impact on its relations with the United States, which views the Kurds as a vital force in the Western effort against the continued expansion of the Islamic state (Da’ash) in the region.
Defining Turkey’s political objectives in relation to the Syrian crisis derives from its complex strategic position vis-à-vis the other parties involved in Syria, especially in light of its conspicuous inferiority vis-à-vis Russia, which is projecting strength and positioning itself as the leader of the crisis. The Turks understand that in light of the Syrian regime’s survival, they have no choice but to conduct a dialogue with Russia and Iran, which are the main supporters of Assad.
Along side that, the turnaround in the relations between Turkey and Russia after the apology for the downing of a Russian aircraft in late 2015 and the Russian support for Erdogan on the eve of the coup attempt against him, also serves as a significant factor influencing Ankara’s policy, which follows Russian dictates. Several media outlets also reported last month that President Assad’s plane had passed over Turkish airspace on his way to a meeting with President Putin and increased speculation about Russian pressure on Turkey.
Even though Turkey is at odds with Russia over various issues in the Syrian arena, it is exhibiting increased tolerance towards it, because in Turkey’s view, as is the perception of various power elements, Russia is the main executor of processes in Syria. Turkey’s tolerance is manifested, among other things, in the context of Russia’s over all relations with the Kurdish forces.
Throughout the years of the Syrian crisis, Ankara has exploited every opportunity to attack the United States, which is arming the Kurds and helping them in the fight against the Islamic state, yet it does not criticize Russia’s tactical cooperation with the Kurdish forces in various combat zones.
For example, last month a joint statement was issued by the commander of the Russian forces and the spokesman for YPG, the Kurdish militia in Syria. The two sides announced joint activity against the Islamic state in Deir al-Zour, located east of the Euphrates River, a statement that was ignored by the Turks.
Additional round of Talks
At the end of the month, a further round of talks between the Syrian regime and the opposition is scheduled to take place in the Black Sea city of Sochi. It is reasonable to assume that, like the past talks, the sides will not reach far-reaching understandings. In Russia’s view however, the importance of the conference is its very existence, since the establishment of Russian legitimacy is influenced by its ability to move a process in which as many political and ethnic groups are represented in Syria.
The Russian-Kurdish dialogue also corresponds to the Russian policy, which strives to negotiate with a large number of factors in order to increase the power base and not to concentrate all the eggs in one basket. The Russians aspire to include the Kurds as part of the Syrian regime and not as an opposition, but also recognize the importance of Turkey in the process and try to show some consideration for Ankara’s natural sensitivities against Kurdish representation in the talks.
The Astana Talks (Wikipedia)
Turkey, for its part, is not interested in being perceived as contributing to the collapse of the dialogue, and it is reasonable to assume that it will have to accept significant Kurdish representation of one kind or another in order to maintain its relevance in the region. Perhaps Erdogan’s surprising statement against Assad, whom he called “a terrorist who can simply not remain,” is indirectly linked to the Turks’ attempts to protest against the outline proposed by Russia.
Erdogan’s spokesman, Ibrahim Kalin, claimed last week that the PYD (the Kurdish party in Syria) is a terrorist organization that can not represent any part of the Syrian people and stressed that all groups invited to the meeting will be approved by Russia, Iran and Turkey. The Turkish hostility towards the Kurds regarding the Sochi talks though, is also largely related to developments in Turkey’s political arena.
Meanwhile, Turkey launched a military operation (if the somewhat ironic name “olive branch”) at the end of the week against the armed Kurdish militias in the northwestern enclave of Afrin. In recent weeks, Turkey has stepped up its sharp rhetoric against the Pentagon’s announcement of the establishment of a military force of about 30,000 Kurdish, Arab and northern fighters in northern Syria in order to prevent the establishment of jihadist elements on the ground and President Erdogan said in response that the operation would ” Suffocate the terror army before it is born.”
Map of Turkish troop movements in Operation Olive Branch (Wikipedia)
Even before Erdogan ordered the Turkish army to begin preparing for the operation, the chief of staff and the head of Turkish intelligence went to a hastly arranged meeting with their Russian counterparts. Although Turkey has ostensibly received a kind of “green light” from Russia for limited military action in Afrin, the possibility of expanding the operation and leaving Turkish troops on the ground over an extended period of time is low, as this contradicts the Russian interest in preserving Syria’s sovereignty under Assad’s control.
In recent years, President Erdogan has been adopting a more nationalist line, and the presence of senior PYD officials in the Sochi discussion rooms may create cracks in his image at home. However, it is reasonable to assume that Erdogan will enlist the establishment media to present Turkey as a player with a growing regional influence, in order to generate political profits in anticipation of the presidential campaign expected to take place in Turkey in 2019.
The Turkish aspiration to influence Syria though, is not limited entirely to the Kurdish issue. Even if, in the immediate term, leaving President Assad in power contradicts Turkish interests, Erdogan aims to influence the political outcome in Syria and take a significant part in its rehabilitation. It should be noted that at the end of the day, the crisis in Syria and the large waves of refugees that it created have an adverse effect on the socio-economic fabric of Turkey, so that ending the crisis is a clear Turkish interest.
*(Translated from Mida.org.il Hebrew)
____________________
Yaniv Avraham is a former Turkey researcher at the Foreign Policy Research Center of the Foreign Ministry
[Find this article interesting? You can find more in depth articles on Israel and the Middle East @en.mida.org.il] | {
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Kmaro72
The wife and kid are going out of town for a week, which leaves me with some free time to engross myself in something new. Not sure what to get though. My internet kinda sucks, so online multiplayer isn't an ideal choice. I was leaning toward FF:XV or maybe NieR. Any suggestions or opinions?
I was a little disappointed in Bethesda this year. Although, I am excited about the Skyrim remaster coming to PS4/XBONE. I wish they would have shown more. It wouldn't have hurt to show more FO4 DLC content either. Other thoughts:I'll probably get Titanfall 2 for PS4 after watching the videos. Definitely getting Horizon: Zero Dawn. That shit looks awesome as hell. Taming your own wild mechanized deer creature to ride, who wouldn't want that, right? Mechanical dinosaurs, hell yeah, I'm all in! This is the game I'm most excited about right now. Mass Effect Andromeda looks good, I'll be grabbing that one too. If it's as good as ME 1-3, it'll be well worth it. God of War! Yep. Getting it. I like the route they took with it. It breaks away from the traditional GoW gameplay, but I think that's a good thing. The old GoW games were fun, but they were mostly button-mashers. Detroit looks cool, but I doubt I get it. I'll probably just watch YouTube videos of the cinematics. That's all Ive got right now. Hoping to see more of NMS before the week is over.
I put in TW3 disc for the first time since getting a bigger HDD (January), and it won't play the disc. It sounds like it's trying to spin up, but never quite makes it. It does this for 2-3 minutes and then the system shuts off. HDD based games work fine. Haven't found anything through Google that matches my problem. The TW3 software is still updating, if that matters.
We currently have AT&T U-Verse, which I haven't had any trouble with, but my contract is up and the price increased over 30%. I intend on calling them and negotiating the price back down but if they won't drop it back to where it was I'm switching service providers. I know Brighthouse operates in my neighborhood, but don't know how their QoS is. Does anybody have any experience dealing with Brighthouse? Or any advice on service providers? | {
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Decoração de quarto de bebê
A break from the traditional primary color scheme for baby boys, we're fans of the softer, lighter, sweeter colors used in this nursery. Also, this room proves that you don't need to paint an entire wall in stripes in order to get the great effect. | {
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“The fact is what we should have done is... we should have asked
the rebels, when they came to us, and the came to us... they were
decimated. We should have said ‘We’ll help you but we want 50% of
your oil.' They would have absolutely said ‘OK,' a hundred
percent. In fact, they would have said ‘How about 75%?’”
Now he says what we're left is, is nothing. They're going to "rip
us off." | {
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Gravity was one of the unqualified successes of 2013, earning universal acclaim, awards season love, and approximately a gazillion dollars at the box office. But the road to the theater wasn’t exactly easy. One of the tricky aspects was the casting. In 2010, Gravity was practically a revolving door of movie stars.
Two that were attached to star for some time were Angelina Jolie and Robert Downey Jr. Eventually, both dropped out and were replaced by Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. In a new interview, director Alfonso Cuaron explains why, exactly, the original casting failed to work out. Hit the jump to read his comments.
Please Recommend /Film on Facebook
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts unveiled the winners of their 2014 awards this weekend, just two weeks ahead of the Academy Awards. The biggest winner of the night was Gravity, which took home six awards, but Best Film remained out of Alfonso Cuarón‘s grasp. That prize went instead to 12 Years a Slave, which secured only one other win last night, for lead actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.
Elsewhere, American Hustle, widely considered this season’s other Best Picture frontrunner, nabbed three prizes including one for supporting actress Jennifer Lawrence. The corresponding male category offered perhaps the biggest surprise of the night — a win for Captain Phillips‘ Barkhad Abdi, who beat out the likes of Bradley Cooper and Michael Fassbender.
Best director Oscar nominee Alfonso Cuaron did a Reddit AMA Thursday, promoting his film Gravity, which is still in theaters and hits Blu-ray February 25. As tends to be the case with these, topics were all over the map, and we’ve grabbed the most interesting bits.
Among them are an alternate ending to Gravity, how he felt about scientific criticism directed toward the film, his outlook on the future of cinema, his feelings on digital formats, if he’d do a superhero movie, why he only did one Harry Potter, Guillermo del Toro’s contributions to Gravity and much more. Read the quotes below. Read More »
The Directors Guild of America handed out its awards tonight for directorial achievement in 2013. Alfonso Cuarón took the top prize, Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film, for his work on Gravity. That all but locks him in as the Best Director Oscar winner. Steven Soderbergh won as best director of a TV movie or mini-series for Behind the Candelabra, and Vince Gilligan won the award for direction in a dramatic series for the Breaking Bad episode ‘Felina,’ beating out fellow Breaking Bad nominee Bryan Cranston, and also David Fincher, who was nominated for the pilot of House of Cards.
Who will be nominated for the Best Director Oscar this year? We’ve got a pretty good idea now that the nominations for the Directors Guild of America’s own awards have been handed down. Steve McQueen (12 Years a Slave), Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity), David O. Russell (American Hustle), Martin Scorsese (The Wolf of Wall Street) and Paul Greengrass (Captain Philips) have been honored with nominations for the 66th DGA award. Three of those (McQueen, Cuaron, Greengrass) are first-time DGA nominations.
Historically, this nomination set is a very good predictor of where the Oscars will go, but last year was a bit of a tradition breaker, as only two of the five DGA nominees got Oscar nominations, and the DGA winner, Ben Affleck, was not among them. (Ang Lee won the Oscar.)
Meanwhile, this is another major guild that has looked past Joel and Ethan Coen and Inside Llewyn Davis; Spike Jonze is another director of significant achievement in 2013 who didn’t get a nomination.
The full list of feature directorial nominations is below, with accompanying notes from the DGA. Read More »
The story of Alfonso Cuarón‘s efforts to create Gravity are already big for everyone interested in filmmaking — we know the movie utilized an intense blend of CG imagery and footage captured on stark stages, but there’s a lot more we don’t know about the making of the film. A five-minute clip of behind the scenes info isn’t going to tell us everything, but this new “script to screen” featurette on Gravity is a good start as it explores the intersection between the script from Alfonso and Jonas Cuarón, the elder Cuarón’s direction, and the work of cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki. Read More »
End of year lists can be great for highlighting stuff you may have missed, and the annual poll from UK film magazine Sight & Sound, one of the first 2013 year-end lists out of the gate, has a number of films included that are worth tracking down. The magazine polls over 100 “international critics, curators and academics,” taking a top-five list from each. The magazine’s list of top films (with some tied for a couple berths) is generated from those votes.
Documentary The Act of Killing, which follows as men responsible for genocidal killings in Indonesia confront and recreate their crimes as film scenes, took first place by a margin of five votes. Gravity and Blue is the Warmest Colour are the second and third place choices.
The full list is below, complete with trailers for each film, so you can be introduced to whatever films on the list are unfamiliar. Read More »
Whether you want to read Keanu Reeves‘ regrets about the (non-existent) Constantinesequel, Robert Englund‘s hopes for a (theoretical) Elm Streetprequel, or Alfonso Cuaron‘s thoughts on the Harry Potterspinoff, there’s a little something for everyone here. Also after the jump:
Gareth Evans breaks down the trailer for The Raid 2: Berandal
Michael Bay hints at a big theme from Transformers 4
Steven Spielberg gets a bit political while in Hawaii for Jurassic World
As we mentioned a few days ago, one of the great pleasures of the award season, which does arrive each year with a grand set of problems and irritants, is that filmmakers are given more opportunities than usual to discuss their work, and some of those opportunities are more extensive than others. THR has created a series of “creative roundtables” over the past few years, in which likely Oscar candidates talk with each other about their work.
Below you’ll find the new directors roundtable, in which Steve McQueen, Paul Greengrass, David O. Russell, Ben Stiller, Alfonso Cuaron and Lee Daniels discuss all manner of topics related to filmmaking. Make time for the 50-minute talk; it’s very much worth it. Read More » | {
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Back to Hell
After two month of living the high life in my parent’s cozy little house in upstate New York, with a committed slave to wash my clothes, make my dinner, and clean up after me (my mother), I am now back in Squallyoaks, and it’s fucking hell.
I don’t know if it’s because I’ve become accustomed to a life of luxury, or if it’s just that my memory of what our squat used to look like is completely warped, but I swear it was never this bad. The place is a fucking heath hazard. I feel like I’m going to AIDS just looking at the photos of it. There are giant piles of garbage everywhere. Everywhere you go smells like mold. Most of the windows are broken so the entire house is freezing. There are empty tubes of toilet paper with poop on them in a bathroom garbage can from when the toilet paper ran out and people got desperate. It’s like something off Intervention.
And to make the whole situation just that tiny bit easier, in the two months that I was away my sheets, my duvet, my heater and my light bulb were all stolen out of my room. So now my room is basically just a dark, damp, freezing pit of sorrow with a bare mattress lying on the floor in the corner. Also, though I didn’t think it was possible, all the people I live with seem to have grown uglier over the Christmas holiday. Despair. It’s not looking good.
So, in light of this tragedy, after two years of living in the notorious Squallyoaks, I think it’s finally time to say goodbye. For my sanity. At the moment I’m squatting my boyfriend’s bedroom. It’s great. I feel very domesticated. Doing normal people things can be fun- going to the supermarket, taking showers, using toilet paper, opening the refrigerator without having to plug your nose. My eyes have been opened to the wonders of normality, and I like what I see. Now I just have to get a juicer and one of those tiny little phones that fit in your ear so you can have your hands free to make lots of hand gestures while you’re talking, and I’ll be all set.
15 Responses to Back to Hell
Yeah, that’s basically what my old flat used to look like, but I used to add to the fun by leaving the sharp knifes pointed upwards in the hope my flatmates seriously hurt themselves. P.s. Mission completed
wait just one minute this is more than a little hypocritical lady!! are you or are you not the slob generations answer to hansel and gretel leaving a trail or filth and rubbish in you wake?? step down into the gutter where you belong xx
p.s living with 12 people in any building things do get rank when these picks were taken squally was at its lowest! its now clean (well as much as its going to be) .we have a slave we found on gumtree starting next week who is going clean squally from top to bottom, fix all the little fuck ups we create weekly and paint the walls!! all for the price of being spat on and called a twat by the girls of the house!!why have a cleaning router when you can have a 28 year old barrister!!! | {
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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com |WASHINGTON "My job as commander in chief," an exasperated President Obama told critics this week, "is to deploy military force as a last resort, and to deploy it wisely. And, frankly, most of the foreign policy commentators that have questioned our policies would go headlong into a bunch of military adventures that the American people had no interest in participating in and would not advance our core security interests Ö
"Many," he went on, "who were proponents of what I consider to be a disastrous decision to go into Iraq haven't really learned the lesson of the last decade, and they keep on just playing the same note over and over again. Why? I don't know."
Thus our president, whom ex-administration officials say privately is all-too-cloistered among White House acolytes, dismisses his foreign policy critics as robotic force-first neoconservatives, and he makes clear that he views Iraq as the all-consuming cautionary tale of contemporary U.S. foreign policy.
But, in absorbing a lesson from one troubled engagement, the president ignores a host of other lessons from foreign policy challenges that date back decades about sending clear messages, fulfilling commitments, confronting aggression, understanding adversaries, and viewing the world as it is.
Thus, notwithstanding Obama's belief, his critics span both parties and include not just neoconservatives but also liberal internationalists and realists; their complaints extend far beyond Obama's reluctance to use force; and their concerns run from the Middle East and North Africa, to Russia and the Baltics, and to China and the Pacific.
Space does not permit a comprehensive critique of Obama's foreign policy, but here are some top-line thoughts.
For one thing, Obama lacks credibility on the world stage. Our allies in Jerusalem, Riyadh and elsewhere don't trust him, while our adversaries in Beijing, Moscow, Tehran and elsewhere don't fear him.
Obama promises to promote human rights in the Greater Middle East but looks away as Turkey's Recep Erdogan silences his critics and gradually transforms his nation from a democracy to an autocracy. He says the world must act to stop genocide but professes powerlessness as Syria's Bashar al-Assad slaughters his people.
Obama warns other global leaders against this move or that, and he threatens them with serious consequences, paralyzing sanctions, or even military action but, at crunch time, he backs away or acts meekly.
p class=krtText>Obama said nearly three years ago that it was time for Assad to go but, other than naively pinning his hopes on an international conference that would somehow coax Assad to depart, he did little to make it happen. The Syrian strongman remains ever-more firmly ensconced and, in fact, announced plans this week to seek another term (which, as an autocrat, he will surely "win").
Obama drew a red line on Assad's use of chemical weapons but, after the dictator crossed it, reversed himself at the last minute and let Assad escape the military strike that he and his team had promised. He deems the Russian-engineered deal for Assad to relinquish his chemical weapons a success, even though the deal doesn't cover all chemical weapons and evidence mounts that the dictator has since used such weapons again.
The message of promises not kept is received clearly in Tehran, which continues to maintain its right to pursue its nuclear program; in Jerusalem, which fears an Iranian nuclear weapon and says it will do whatever is necessary to prevent it; and in Moscow, where Vladimir Putin dreams of a restored Soviet empire, has annexed Crimea, and is orchestrating chaos in Ukraine to serve as a pretext of invasion.
For another thing, Obama seems not to recognize that our adversaries do not share his world view.
He speaks of peace and prosperity, shared interests and international law, collaboration and engagement, as if that will appeal to the tough-minded autocrats who crave power more than anything else.
"Russia has never been more isolated," Obama says proudly, referring to U.S.-led actions in response to Moscow's mischief in Ukraine. "And Russia is having to engage in activities that have been rejected uniformly around the world. And we've been able to mobilize the international community to not only put diplomatic pressure on Russia, but also we've been able to organize European countries who many were skeptical would do anything to work with us in applying sanctions to Russia."
But, Putin will happily accept U.S. disdain to reap expansionist success. He will, as well, scoff at diplomatic pressure as long as Obama refuses to impose the kinds of sanctions that would truly bite him or threaten his hold on power.
For still another, Obama sees the world as he wishes it to be, not as it is.
He fell for the old and plainly ridiculous canard that Israeli-Palestinian peace is the gateway to more positive regional developments and, in encouraging Israel to make peace, he portrayed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in brave, almost heroic, terms that simply don't comport with reality.
While Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry spent valuable time on an initiative that offered little hope of success, they let far more consequential regional challenges such as Iran's hegemonic rise, Syria's bloodshed, and Turkey's autocratic turn grow worse on their collective watch.
To be sure, Iraq is a cautionary tale about the limits of U.S. military power. But, in applying its lesson to challenges so far and wide, Obama is leaving the United States decidedly weaker on the world stage.
Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here. | {
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Modern Christianity considers Christ’s crucifixion as THE turning point of all biblical doctrine and practice. Is this a correct teaching?
According to its proponents, all beliefs and practices from the Old Testament and continuing into the crucifixion supposedly come to a stop and are now considered obsolete when Christ supposedly said of them: “It is finished.”
In this regard, let us consider the implications of this popular teaching on the particular case of Pentecost, one of the seven annual Holy Days of God originating from the Old Testament.
Because of such teaching, most modern-day Christians believe that Pentecost and all the other annual Holy Days of God — plus the Sabbath, among other practices — were already abolished at the cross. Thus, their continued observance in this New Testament era is totally unnecessary because these were already “finished and fulfilled” in Christ.
Is this popular teaching really logical and true? If the answer is yes, where is the clear biblical basis to support such teaching? What does the evidence of the biblical record really say on this matter? You might be surprised with the biblical answers when you read them.
In our unrelenting quest for pure biblical truths and in exposing rampant and blatant religious deceptions extant in our world today, let us objectively look into this particular issue. Let’s start by asking this crucial question:
Is the cross really the turning point for all doctrine?
Those who hold to this teaching believe that all practices and commands before the cross become null and void at Christ’s crucifixion. Only those specifically restated by Christ after His resurrection are considered part of New Covenant practice. (For example, please see here and here.)
Some glaring conflicts with this false interpretation
Please remember that:
The New Testament Passover was commanded by Christ before His crucifixion with new foot-washing practice, and new symbols of bread and wine (John 13:14-17; Matthew 26:26-29). Why is it that most Christians still follow this pre-crucifixion command?
Christ’s new teaching on love (going beyond merely loving one’s neighbor as one’s self, but magnified into loving them as Christ loved us) was commanded before His crucifixion (John 13:35). Why is it that most Christians believe this pre-crucifixion command to still be valid?
Christ’s promise to go and prepare a place for us and return to take us unto Himself that where He is, there we will be also, was said before His crucifixion (John 14:1-3). Why is it that most Christians still ardently believe and wait for this pre-crucifixion promise?
Christ’s promise of giving us the Holy Spirit as our Comforter to dwell in us was said before His crucifixion (John 14:16-18). Why is it that most Christians today believe this pre-crucifixion promise, and actually expect God’s Holy Spirit to dwell in them and work in their lives?
NOTE: We can add more, but these are just a few examples of events, commands, and promises before Christ’s crucifixion. Yet we find them all valid even after the crucifixion, without the need to restate them. Therefore, the claim that there is a clear demarcation, break or turning point before and after the crucifixion is just a man-made theory without any biblical basis.
Were God’s Holy Days including Pentecost abolished?
Continuing to analyze that popular teaching, how do we account for the biblical evidence that the Day of Pentecost was still observed by the original apostles more than seven weeks after the crucifixion of Christ (if the cross was indeed the turning point of all doctrine)? Before proceeding with this main topicabout Pentecost, let us first understand what it is.
What is Pentecost?
In the Old Testament, this third among the seven annual Feasts of God (though considered as second among the group of three Festival seasons) was then called the Feast of Weeks because the Israelites were required to count seven weeks starting with the morrow after the Sabbath when the Wave Sheaf Offering ceremony occurred (Leviticus 23:11). Starting from that Wave Sheaf Offering ceremony, they were to count seven weeks [or seven Sabbaths], and designate the following day as the Feast of Weeks (Leviticus 23:15-16; Deuteronomy 16:9). It was also called the “Feast of Harvest of the Firstfruits” or Feast of First Fruit Harvest because it occurred at the time of the early Spring Harvest season (Exodus 23:16; Numbers 28:26). This early first harvest season should be understood in contrast with the larger Fall Harvest Season.
In the early New Testament period, due to the predominant use of the Greek language at that time, it became known as Pentecost (Greek: “pente” + “kostes”), which literally means “fifty + count.” Or for better grammatical construction, we say “count fifty.” It is because seven weeks (7 x 7) is equal to 49 days and the following day (+1 day) brings us to the 50th day. Please note that this [Pentecost] Festival or celebration is commanded to “be a statute for ever” (Leviticus 23:21).
8 clear proofs that Pentecost was not abolished:
Before His death, Christ never indicated that His death would abolish such Festivals.
After Christ’s death, Scriptures never state that the Festivals were done away at the cross. Rather Christ commanded His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for that day (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4).
Fifty days after Christ resurrected, on Pentecost day, the disciples in their upper room lodging place were joined in by others to reach about 120 believers (Acts 1:13-15).
As a result of their faith and obedience, all of those believers who gathered on that day of Pentecost “each” received the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4; note verse 3: “each of them…”).
About 18 various nationalities and peoples gathered in Jerusalem on that Day of Pentecost, composed of Gentile converts and Jews, all observing that day (Acts 2:9-11).
Out of this big crowd of believers, about 3,000 new people were baptized on that Day of Pentecost. Yet, in spite of persecutions, the number of disciples eventually grew to about 5,000 (Acts 2:41; Acts 4:4).
Decades into the history of the original church (about A.D. 57), Paul who was then preaching in Gentile areas still hurried to attend Pentecost in Jerusalem (Acts 20:16).
At another year (reckoned by some historians to be about A.D. 54-55), Paul (who was the apostle to the Gentiles) waited in Ephesus until the Day of Pentecost (1 Corinthians 16:8).
The Bible proclaims it to be a perpetual observance
The Bible commands His people to proclaim this [Pentecost] Festival to be an ordinance (DRA, GNV, NIV) or a statute (ESV, KJV, NAU, NKJ, RSV) or a permanent law (NLT) in all your dwellings [“wherever you live,” NIV, NLT], throughout your generations (Leviticus 23:21).
A command worth risking the disciples’ lives for
Knowing that after His resurrection, the very next Festival that was coming up then was Pentecost, Christ still commanded His disciples to wait or tarry [“stay,” DRA, ESV, NAU, NIV,NLT, RSV, or “abide,” YLT] in Jerusalem [even if this was the most dangerous place for them then, due to the recent events which led to the crucifixion of their Master] until they were endued [“clothed,” ESV,NAU, NIV, RSV, YLT] with power from on high — among His last instructions to them before He ascended into heaven (Luke 24:49). Yet, they all faithfully and humbly obeyed.
Pentecost is symbolic of Christ and the Firstfruits
Just as the Old Testament Scriptures describe this Festival as the Feast of First Fruits (Exodus 23:16), in the New Testament, Christ is also called the First Fruit. Therefore, this Festival points to Christ in His role as the “Firstfruit” from among those who have died (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). As the Firstfruit from the dead, this also gives us the hope that we can become part of that blessed first resurrection harvest of souls as well (Revelation 20:6).
In fact, James, the physical half-brother of Christ (echoing the previous statement of Paul) says to the effect that God has chosen to beget us with the word of truth, so that we can be a type of “firstfruits” of all that God created (James 1:18, NIV).
The NIV Study Bible has a footnote on James 1:18 which says in part: “Just as the first sheaf of the harvest was an indication that the whole harvest would eventually follow, so the early Christians were an indication that a great number of people would eventually be born again” [“into God’s coming Kingdom”] — my addendum.
Historical roots of Pentecost
In the Old Testament, the observance of what is called in the New Testament as “Pentecost” has a deeper historical meaning and significance. One of these is that it was associated with the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai. This was when YHWH, amidst flashes of lightning — plus the mountain smoking and the earth beneath the feet of the Israelites shaking — thundered out the Ten Commandments, for which the people trembled, feared, and ran away (more details on this can be read in the Appendix found at the end of this article).
In the New Testament, Pentecost is historically associated with two major events:
The visible granting of the Holy Spirit (“tongues of fire”) on the believers.
The start of the apostolic Church of God in the New Testament era.
Conclusion
Far from being abolished, Pentecost is one of the most important among the seven annual Festivals of God. Its significance is magnificent, and its meaning in history and at present is deep. Its future typifies the Elect or Firstfruits of God’s called-out ones, who are destined to serve and rule in God’s coming Kingdom which will be set up on this earth.
If you believe, obey, overcome, and have the Holy Spirit, you may be one of the blessed ones!
Do You Have A Question?
Do you have a question about life, God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, or any aspect of Christian doctrine or practice? Do you need help in correctly understanding a Bible verse or passage? Are there any spiritual issues in your life for which you need counsel or advice? Please feel free to email us at . | {
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Post
Our annual student work exhibition was held at our North York campus on May 5th and May 12th 2018. Over 300 students participated and had their work displayed in the grand event.
All students from SK to Grade 9 in both Happy Mandarin and Standard Mandarin categories took part in this exhibition, and showcased their learnings in a wide variety of format including drawings, stories, poems, posters, comics, letters and picture books. Parents and visitors were very impressed by the achievements of our students and highly appraised the quality of teaching offered by TMS.
The Year of the Dog came on Feb 16. Toronto Mandarin School held various events to celebrate the lunar new year with families and friends.
At the weekend school, more than 600 people attended the event on Saturday, Feb 10. The theme of the event is named the “Carnival of the Year of the Dog”. The crowd was wowed by the students’ performance and the traditional lion dance. This year we also invited students and staff from different sites to perform on the stage. 14 market stands were festively decorated, where students learned how to make dumplings, practice Chinese calligraphy and brush painting, make traditional arts & crafts, or bought New Year items, home-made food, fresh fruits and candies. There was also a playing station for preschool children to play fun interactive games. Many staff, students and parents dressed up in traditional clothing and made such a festive scene.
Children at four preschool sites（JINGBAO Bilingual Children’s Center) all dressed up in beautiful festive colors, performed songs and dances for the parents and guests.
Students from our Adult Training Center threw a big Spring Festival party on Friday, February 3. We learned how to make dumplings from the scratch. Everyone received a red envelope for good fortune in the new year.
If you are looking for a fun, yet educational Mandarin learning after-school class for your children in Downtown area, consider our SMILE program. To learn more about the program, please come to our OPEN HOUSE event.
Time: Jan 26, 2018, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Address: 96 Denison Ave.(Ryerson Community School Library)
Please contact [email protected] or call 416-393-1340 for more information.
Toronto Mandarin School has successfully collaborated with Rosedale Day School in Toronto and started a new after-school program of learning Mandarin in November 2017.
Both parents and students were very excited about learning Mandarin! The parents believe that Mandarin is a must-know language and communication skill. 30 students from Kindergarten to Grade 6 registered in the new program.
Ms. Suellen Zhou from our school took the lead as the head teacher for this program. A graduate of Beijing Language and Culture University and later OISE of the University of Toronto with professional training in Teaching Chinese as Foreign Language, Suellen is an enthusiastic teacher with years of experience in teaching Mandarin in China and overseas. Her class is always packed with fun and creative activities and her students are fully engaged and enjoyed the new experience of learning Mandarin.
Collaborating with Omeida Chinese Academy(欧美达中文学院），we are organizing a Mandarin Immersion Summer Camp in Yangshuo in July 2018. The 15-day program offers customized Mandarin classes, authentic Chinese cuisine, cultural experience and many beautiful places to explore. Join us and immerse yourself in the Chinese language and culture! Individuals and families are all welcome.
On October 25, our school was invited by Richmond Hill Board of Trade (RHBOT) to present the Business Mandarin Workshop at its head office. 15 members of different profession registered and participated in this workshop, including financial planners, realtors, insurance brokers, dentists, etc.
The two-hour workshop was focusing on intercultural communication, business etiquette, as well as basic business language knowledge and skills.
Our experienced instructor, Ms. Lauren Liu (Liu Laoshi), delivered a fun-filled workshop with great enthusiasm. Ms. Michaella Lavarini, the Community Liaison Coordinator, gave high marks to the event. “It was so much fun! I was totally engaged in Lauren’s class! As we live in a diversified community, everyone should learn Mandarin.”
JINGBAO™ Bilingual Montessori School held its first Open House on Friday, Oct 13. More than 20 families came for the visit and shared a great night with our team.
Parents were pleased with high interest while touring the brand-new facility and exploring the programs.
One parent said “I have been looking for such a program for my child and this school is exactly what want my child to be in. I believe young children are natural language learners. In this school, not only my daughter can learn three different languages, but also other subjects such as art, math, music, and science.”
Families were also invited to sample our nutritious meals and snacks that were freshly cooked/prepared on site.
If you missed the open house and are interested in learning more about our program, please contact us at:
Tel: (416) 304-0260 (Mandarin）OR (905)889-2121 (English)
email at [email protected]
Royal LePage, one of the largest Canadian real estate franchisers and owner-operators, has invited Toronto Mandarin School to teach Real Estate Business Mandarin at their Richmond Hill and Aurora office. Two groups, ten agents including the top sales performers started their first Monday class on October 17th, 2017.
In their first class, the group learned how to greet Chinese customers, introduce themselves to Chinese buyers and give the basic description of a property. Everybody was amazed how much they learned and were capable to do after one hour lesson.
The training was led by our experienced instructor, Ms, Ouyang.
“The purchasing power of Chinese people can never be neglected and it is extremely important for the realtors to learn Mandarin if you want to do business with the Chinese client.” Ms. Michelle Risi, the Executive Vice President at YCR Real Estate Academy, and broker of Royal LePage Your Community Realty commented.
Yes, if you want to do business with Chinese people, you’d better speak the language. Contact us at 416- 304-0260 for a free consultation.
Toronto Mandarin School is the leading language school located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We teach Mandarin Chinese and offer a variety of programs for children, youth, adults, businesses and organizations. We are dedicated to helping our students reach their goals and see results. | {
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You are here
Italoamericana: Writing for a Cause
At a time when Italy has transformed itself into a country of arrival, dealing with the issues of social misunderstanding and bigotry that accompany immigration, this anthology reminds Italians of their own citizens who left the country well over a century ago facing innumerable trials and tribulations in their new locales.
With his anthology of Italian writing produced in the United States from 1885 to 1942 circa, Italoamericana (Mondadori, 2005), Francesco Durante introduced Italy to a literary tradition — a canon — that was totally unknown to the Italian literary establishment.
A wake-up call for Italians
Like Gian Antonio Stella’s L’orda, quando gli albanesi eravamo noi (Rizzoli 2002), Durante’s anthology put Italy on notice. At a time when Italy had already transformed itself into a country of arrival, dealing with the coincidental issues of social misunderstanding and bigotry that accompany immigration, Italoamericana reminds Italians that their own citizens had left their country well over a century earlier and, in their new locales, faced innumerable trials and tribulations brought on by the citizenry of their host countries. It is, de facto, a wake-up call for Italy; how it now behaves — or does not — vis-à-vis its current immigration phenomena.
A true literary tradition
Yet, Italoamericana is more. It is proof positive that the immigrants who came to the United States was not the illiterate bunch that many would want us to believe. From fiction to poetry and to theater, we find a literary tradition that was vastly productive and, for the most part, aesthetically successful.
The creative writers were serious in intent — at times comical and sarcastic, other times sober and prescriptive — in dealing with their local surroundings as theme. What we thus find is the birth of a literary canon in Italian outside Italy. As far back as 1885, people here have been producing literature in Italian, that was also published locally, as there were numerous local Italian-language publishers.
The essayists and journalists, in turn, spoke to a variety of issues that plagued the Italian community at that time: analogous, indeed, to those that now plague the new immigrants in Italy. Gino Speranza’s essay (“How It Feels to Represent a Problem ”) discussed “how few Americans ever consider how very unpleasant, to say the least, it must be to the foreigners living in their midst to be constantly looked upon either as a national problem or a national peril” (52).
Alberto Pecorini (“The Children of Immigrants”) examined the conflict between immigrant parents and their children, where education and personal growth were strange concepts to the former.
Alfredo Tarchiani (“Neither Foreigners nor Americans”), similarly, spoke to identity: “The Italians of America are Italian-Americans and so shall they remain. They cannot dissolve their bonds of affection for their homeland regardless of how many naturalization cards they acquire or how many oaths they take. They can, however, be equally obedient, devoted, and productive citizens of the United States…” (72).
These are some of the writers today who have lived here for numerous decades and have negotiated, each in his or her own way, themes analogous to our earlier authors; writers today, as Tarchiani said of his time, who “cannot dissolve their bonds of affection for their homeland regardless of how many naturalization cards they acquire or how many oaths they take.” | {
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Digitaltveurope.com
News
Dawn Airey joins Yahoo!
Airey will run Yahoo!’s business in the region filling a role that was being occupied on an interim basis by Christophe Parcot, who will take a new business development role at the company.
The seasoned TV executive will report to Yahoo! COO Henrique de Castro.
“Dawn is well known for her visionary thinking, operational discipline and leadership skills, and I can’t wait to work with her as we position Yahoo! for growth throughout the EMEA region,” said de Castro. “I’d like to thank Christophe for his leadership of the past one and a half years.”
Airey said: “To be part of the Yahoo! renaissance was simply irresistible for me and I am very much looking forward to driving change, innovation and growth for the EMEA region.”
Airey’s last media role was at RTL, which she vacated in April.
Prior to RTL she ran Channel 5 and was managing director of global content at ITV. She has also worked at commercial broadcaster Channel 4 and pay TV platform BSkyB.
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This was an unfortunate copypasta error that slipped in with 9836d6d.
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the library, not the unit files, since the units are useless without the
library support.
Add flags and libraries to the respective environment vars and let make
figure out the order on its own. This provides support for unmentioned
vars such as LDFLAGS implicitly, as the compilation rule isn't
explicitly defined. | {
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Farmington police blotter for Nov. 9
ArrestsThe following arrests were reported by the Farmington Police Department. All parties are considered innocent unless proven guilty.
• Derek Clah was arrested on Nov. 9 at 12:43 p.m. at the intersection of Francis Avenue and Walnut Drive in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Ryan Tapaha was arrested on Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. on the 3700 block of English Road in Farmington for alleged consumption or possession of alcoholic beverages in open containers in a motor vehicle prohibited.
• Trina Henio was arrested on Nov. 9 at 10 a.m. on the 3700 block of English Road in Farmington for alleged criminal trespass.
• Wil Begay was arrested on Nov. 9 at 9:47 a.m. on the 2100 block of Farmington Avenue in Farmington for alleged possession, consumption, sale or service in public places.
• Martijn Yazzie was arrested on Nov. 9 at 12:30 a.m. on the 600 block of Monterey Avenue in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Shane Clyde was arrested on Nov. 9 at 12:32 p.m. on the 900 block of Municipal Drive in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Jonathan Barney was arrested on Nov. 9 at 3:12 p.m. on the 2600 block of East 20th Street in Farmington for alleged resisting or obstructing an officer, paraphernalia for controlled substances, disorderly conduct and shoplifting.
• Shannon Bedonie was arrested on Nov. 9 at 4:02 p.m. on the 900 block of Municipal Drive in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Bobby Lucero was arrested on Nov. 9 at 4:02 p.m. on the 900 block of Municipal Drive in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Caroline Garnenez was arrested on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. on the 1600 block of Bloomfield Boulevard in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Ernest Marez was arrested on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. on the 1600 block of Bloomfield Boulevard in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Joshua Couillard was arrested on Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. on the 1600 block of Bloomfield Boulevard in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
• Lyman Spang was arrested on Nov. 9 at 6:32 p.m. on the 2800 block of Ladera Drive in Farmington for an arrest warrant.
Calls for serviceBelow is a digest of service calls performed by the Farmington Police Department. Full printed records are available in the department’s lobby at 900 N. Municipal Drive.
Nov. 9, 2017
• Police responded to a report of a domestic fight at 2:10 a.m. on the 1000 block of North Butler Avenue. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of shoplifting at 8:13 a.m. on the 1000 block of Bisti Highway. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of an accident with injuries at 8:43 a.m. at the intersection of West Apache Street and North Auburn Avenue. A report was taken.
• Police investigated a report of a recovered stolen auto at 10:25 a.m. on the 100 block of County Road 6500. A report was taken.
• Police investigated a report of criminal damage to property at 10:58 a.m. on the 5700 block of College Boulevard. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of a domestic fight at 11:15 a.m. on the 4700 block of Gila Street. No report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of an armed subject at 11:59 a.m. on the 400 block of South Behrend Avenue. No report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of breaking and entering at 12:18 p.m. on the 500 block of North Auburn Avenue. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of an accident with injuries at 12:36 p.m. on the 3700 block of East Main Street. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of an accident with injuries at 1:04 p.m. at the intersection of East 30th Street and Farmington Avenue. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of narcotics at 1:26 p.m. on the 2200 block of Sunset Avenue. A report was taken.
• Police responded to a report of larceny at 1:34 p.m. on the 1200 block of West Apache Street. A report was taken.
• Police investigated a report of criminal damage to property at 2:30 p.m. on the 4400 block of Wildflower Mesa Drive. A report was taken.
• Police investigated a report of a burglary at 3:27 p.m. on the 900 block of West Main Street. A report was taken.
Read or Share this story: https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/crime/2017/11/14/farmington-police-blotter-nov-9/862642001/ | {
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Rape trial scheduled for Springfield man
McGarvey with his attorney, Michael Morocco, at his arraignment on Monday afternoon.
A Springfield, Ohio, man pleaded not guilty to charges of rape and kidnapping Monday afternoon in Delaware County Common Pleas Court.
Javier R. McGarvey, 19, entered a not guilty plea to two counts of rape, first-degree felonies; a count of kidnapping, a second-degree felony; and one count of gross sexual imposition, a fourth-degree felony.
Delaware County Common Pleas Court Judge David Gormley accepted his plea and scheduled a jury trial March 2. He set McGarvey’s bond at $100,000 and scheduled a pretrial hearing for Feb. 13.
Prosecutors allege that on Aug. 13 McGarvey was visiting a family friend in Columbus to play Pokemon Go and afterwards they went to the girl’s home in Delaware. Assistant Delaware County Prosecutor Brian Walter said at the home McGarvey and the 17-year-old were alone in the basement. He said that McGarvey wrapped his arms around the girl and sexually assaulted and raped her.
Walter alleged that McGarvey told the girl that “it’ll go quicker if you go along” during the assault.
Walter said McGarvey initially denied the allegations, but after hearing the girl’s statement, he acknowledged it. McGarvey’s attorney, Michael Morocco, said Monday that he disagreed with the prosecutor’s presentation of the case and said the sexual conduct was consensual.
At the arraignment, Gormley told McGarvey that he faces between three to 11 years in prison for the rape charges; between two to eight years for the kidnapping charge; and up to 18 months in prison for the gross sexual imposition charge.
McGarvey was indicted on Dec. 2 by a Delaware County Grand Jury and arrested on Dec. 9 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he attends college.
McGarvey was in the Delaware County Jail Monday afternoon.
McGarvey with his attorney, Michael Morocco, at his arraignment on Monday afternoon.
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/40/2016/12/web1_DSC_0907.jpgMcGarvey with his attorney, Michael Morocco, at his arraignment on Monday afternoon.
By Glenn Battishill
[email protected]
Glenn Battishill can be reached at 740-413-0903 or on Twitter @BattishillDG. | {
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Your resources are limited. You only have so much time and money to do your work, including the time and money needed to keep your knowledge, skills, and tools up-to-date. You can only work so hard, so fast, so smart, and so long. Your tools are only so powerful. Your target machines are only so powerful. So you have to know the limits of your resources.
How to respect those limits? Know yourself, know your people, know your budgets, and know your stuff. Especially, as a software engineer, know the space and time complexity of your data structures and algorithms, and the architecture and performance characteristics of your systems. Your job is to create an optimal marriage of software and systems.
Space and time complexity are given as the function O(f(n)) which for n equal the size of the input is the asymptotic space or time required as n grows to infinity. Important complexity classes include f=ln(n), f=n, f=n*ln(n), f=n**e, and f=e**n. Clearly, as n gets bigger O(log(n)) is ever so much smaller than O(e**n). As Sean Parent puts it, for large enough n all complexity classes amount to near-infinite, near-linear, or near-constant.
Complexity analysis is in terms of an abstract machine, but software runs on real machines. Modern computer systems are organized as hierarchies of physical and virtual machines, including language runtimes, operating systems, CPUs, cache memory, random-access memory, disk drives, and networks. Typical limits on time and space include:
register
< 1 ns
64 b
cache line
64 B
L1 cache
< 1 ns
64 KB
L2 cache
< 4 ns
8 MB
RAM
~ 20 ns
32 GB
disk
~ 10 ms
10 TB
LAN
~ 20 ms
>1 PB
Internet
~ 100 ms
>1 ZB
Random access time
Storage capacity
Note that capacity and speed vary by several orders of magnitude. Caching and lookahead are used heavily at every level of our systems to hide this variation, but they only work when access is predictable. When cache misses are frequent the system will be thrashing. For example, to randomly inspect every byte on a hard drive could take 32 years. Even to randomly inspect every byte in RAM could take 11 minutes. You can learn the limits of your systems from the manufacturers' literature, and can monitor the performance of your systems with tools like top, oprofile, gprof, ping, and traceroute.
Search time (ns)
n
vEB
binary
linear
8
40
90
50
64
70
150
180
512
100
230
1200
4096
160
320
17000
Algorithms and data structures vary in how effectively they use caches. For instance, linear search makes good use of lookahead, but requires O(n) comparisons. Binary search of a sorted array requires only O(log(n)) comparisons, but tends to be cache-hostile. And searching a von Embde Boas array is O(log(n)) and cache-friendly. Search for "cache-aware algorithm" and "cache-oblivious algorithm" to learn more. | {
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Salt Lake City won't bid for 2016 Democratic National Convention
By Lisa Riley Roche , Deseret News
Published: Sunday, Aug. 2 2015 5:19 p.m. MDT
President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama, their children Malia and Sasha, and Vice President Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden, wave on stage on the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais, Associated Press)
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah's capital city isn't competing to host the Democratic National Convention in 2016, despite being asked to bid to be the site for formally selecting the party's next presidential nominee.
"Nobody really had the energy to do it," Utah Democratic Party Chairman Peter Corroon said Monday after the announcement that Birmingham, Alabama; Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio; New York, Philadelphia and Phoenix are in the race.
Corroon suggested the possibility of a Salt Lake bid was quickly dismissed after the city was named in April by the Democratic National Committee as one of 15 potential hosts invited to submit a bid by last Friday.
"We did discuss it briefly," Corroon said. "I don't think anybody really had the belief that we could raise $40 (million to) $50 million. Plus, we're not a swing state. I think that has a lot to do with who's chosen as well."
Utah, of course, is one of the most Republican states in the country and had been a runner-up to host the 2012 Republican National Convention held in Tampa, Florida. The Utah GOP decided against bidding again for 2016.
Former Utah congresswoman Enid Mickelsen, who's heading up the Republican National Committee's site selection committee for 2016, said Salt Lake probably isn't ready for either party's convention.
"I don't want to say never," Mickelsen said between site visits to the four cities still in the running for the GOP convention — Cleveland, Denver, Dallas, and Kansas City, Missouri. "You can shoehorn a convention into lots of places."
But she said Salt Lake's 2012 bid suffered because too many high-end hotel rooms are in Deer Valley and other mountain resorts, creating transportation issues to attend a convention at EnergySolutions Arena downtown.
And the amount of money that must be raised is also prohibitive for a city the size of Salt Lake, especially now that Congress is no longer contributing to the cost of the conventions, Mickelsen said.
"The community will have to want to spend the money on this rather than something else," she said. "I think Salt Lake could do it. The problem is you have other cities that are bigger with more resources that are going to step forward."
Art Raymond, spokesman for Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker, said Monday the city was "very honored to make the short list of potential host cities" but decided not to go forward with a bid.
"Recognizing that a handful of other contenders were already making heavy investments of time and resources in their bid efforts, city leaders opted to sit out of this round of competition," Raymond said.
But even though "the timing was not right" for 2016, Raymond said the city would welcome opportunities to host future political conventions — either Democratic or Republican.
Corroon said he hoped the completion of the planned convention hotel by the Salt Palace Convention Center would boost another bid, even though the city still likely would fall short of having enough high-end hotel rooms.
The party chairman said bringing Democrats to GOP-dominated Utah is always going to be tough.
"We had the atheists convention here, so I think we could have the Democratic convention here," said Corroon, a former Salt Lake County mayor. "It's just that much harder for Democrats." | {
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Who Are The Children Of God?
38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father.”39 “Our father is Abraham!” they declared. “No,” Jesus replied, “for if you were really the children of Abraham, you would follow his example. 40 Instead, you are trying to kill me because I told you the truth, which I heard from God. Abraham never did such a thing.
41 No, you are imitating your real father.” They replied, “We aren’t illegitimate children! God himself is our true Father.” 42 Jesus told them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
43 Why can’t you understand what I am saying? It’s because you can’t even hear me!44 For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.
45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don’t believe me!46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don’t you believe me?47 Anyone who belongs to God listens gladly to the words of God. But you don’t listen because you don’t belong to God.”
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
This passage is the second of three in which Jesus is talking specifically with those who were professing to say that they believed in Him. Go back to verse 31 and you will see how Jesus switches His audience from the whole crowd of Jews gathered there in the temple in Jerusalem, to “the people who believed in Him.”
Having said that, this makes it even more shocking as we look at what it was that Jesus says to these people. In this passage, Jesus accused these people of not being true descendants of Abraham, but rather that they were liars, rejecters of Jesus and His teachings, and doers of evil like their father the devil. Ultimately, Jesus says that they were not true believers in Him.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
Wow!! That sounds extremely harsh, doesn’t it? Especially in light of verse 31 which identified them as “people who believed in Jesus.” I encourage you then to go back and read last week’s article, “The Truth Will Set You Free.” In that article, I suggest that while these people may have given mental assent to the truth statement that Jesus was the Messiah, they were not prepared to give their whole lives over to Jesus and move from theoretical knowledge about Jesus to experiential knowledge of Jesus.
Now before we look at the details of this passage, let us remind ourselves that just as other verses in the Gospels point out, Jesus always knew what was in the hearts of the people with whom He talked. So let us look for clues in this passage which will help to reveal to us what was really going on in the hearts of the people.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
As I looked more closely at this passage, I believe I discovered at least four places which give us some insights into the state of their hearts. First of all, in verse 38, see how Jesus refers to “my Father” and “your father”? Everyone by this point would know that Jesus was stating that “His Father” was God. So note the response of the people when Jesus mentioned “your father”. They immediately state, “Abraham is our father.”
Sorry folks, that’s the wrong answer. We should never place a person in the place of God. And this obviously shows that these people were concerned more about their blood lineage to a man of faith, than being concerned about their relationship with God. They were believing that by following the examples of Abraham, that they would be found worthy by God.
But even if rituals could win over relationship with God, Jesus went on to point out that they were not really following Abraham’s example anyways. Scripture tells us that “Abraham believed God and was then considered righteous.” But his righteousness was backed up with obedience to God’s words. And these people were even thinking about killing Jesus because they could not accept His words of truth.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
So Jesus implies that they follow the pattern of a different father, meaning Satan. The people catch that barb and throw one right back by saying, “We are not illegitimate children!” Here again, the old rumor surfaced about the idea that Joseph and Mary conceived Jesus outside of marriage and that would make Jesus an illegitimate son. They turned the attention off of themselves who were not obedient children of God, and they turned instead to name calling and mud slinging (false) accusations at Jesus.
Finally, Jesus makes it quite plain. Not only were these people not really wanting to receive His teachings, and thus they find they were not even in a position to understand what He taught, but Jesus clearly pointed out that they “love to do evil things” just like the devil would have them do.
So we can now clearly see, the hearts of these people were still being ruled by sin and Satan. There is no room in such a heart for God to do His work of forgiveness and make such a person a child of God. No, a true child of God has turned his/her back on sin and renounced Satan and accepted Jesus and His teachings into his/her life. And so I ask in closing, “Are you a true child of God?”
* If this article has been helpful to you and a blessing, please share it and invite your friends to come visit this devotional blog site. | {
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Ancient hunting camp found beneath Lake Huron
7:56 AM,
Apr. 29, 2014
A diver works with a remote-controlled vehicle to search the bottom of Lake Huron where researchers uncovered an ancient hunting ground. Some 9,000 years ago when this part of the lake had a land bridge, early hunters fashioned stones and walls to funnel migrating caribou into a spot where they could be hunted more easily.
Written by
Traci Watson
Special for USA TODAY
Deep below the surface of Lake Huron, scuba-diving researchers have found an elaborate network of hunting blinds and animal-herding structures dating back roughly 9,000 years.
Lake levels of the day were some 250 feet lower, exposing a narrow bridge of land running from one side of Huron to the other. Prehistoric people evidently thought this isthmus was a perfect place to intercept caribou on their seasonal migrations. The hunting site they built, now inundated, opens a window onto prehistoric America and provides valuable evidence in a region where such artifacts are practically ... | {
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New and Used Forest River5th Wheel RVs For Sale in JacksonMichigan
There are 1 Forest River 5th Wheel RVs currently for sale in this region. On average, Forest River 5th Wheel RVs in this area are selling for $13,500. Currently there is 10 sellers in Michigan selling Forest River 5th Wheels | {
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1st : "That my slider measures from a 0 to 10 with a precision of 0,01" : It can be made in advanced setting , but remind: 0.01 not 0,01 (dot). (Slider minimum value: 1 and Slider maximum value: 10 and Slider accuracy: 0.01 )
2nd: "the text at each side of the sliders, like putting BAD---GOOD" Try to put The sub question|BAD|GOOD and Slider left/right text separator to | | {
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Why is Hosni Mubarak clinging to power? Maybe because the
life of an exiled dictator isn't what it used to be.
By Scott HortonScott Horton, an attorney and lecturer at Columbia Law
School, has advised sovereigns on the pursuit of kleptocratic predecessors. He
is also a contributing editor at Harper's Magazine.
February 2, 2011
Time was when a dictator like Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak, watching his hold on power crumbling in the face of an uprising, had plenty of retirement options. Odds were he could find a quiet life in one of Europe’s posher watering holes: Mougins in the hills above Cannes, on the shores of Lake Geneva, or maybe a smart Belgravia townhouse. He generally had plenty of cash parked outside the country and often would take a last dip in the treasury on the way out the door. To be sure, he had to keep his wits about him to avoid anarchists and assassins, and he had to avoid too much obvious meddling in his homeland’s politics lest this jeopardize his host’s grant of asylum. But he could usually look forward to a peaceful and comfortable run for his waning days.
So why is Mubarak trying to squeeze a few more months out of his three-decade career in office and avowing his intentions to stay in Egypt rather than packing for the Riviera? It may be because exile isn’t what it used to be; over the last 30 years, things have gotten increasingly difficult for dictators in flight. Successor regimes launch criminal probes; major efforts are mounted to identify assets that may have been stripped or looted by the autocrat, or more commonly, members of his immediate family. I witnessed this process myself, twice being asked by newly installed governments in Central Eurasia to advise them on asset recovery measures focusing on the deposed former leader and his family.
More menacingly, human rights lawyers and international prosecutors may take a close look at the tools the deposed dictator used to stay in power: Did he torture? Did he authorize the shooting of adversaries? Did he cause his enemies to “disappear”? Was there a mass crackdown that resulted in dozens or hundreds of deaths? A trip to The Hague or another tribunal might be in his future. Slobodan Milosevic, who died while on trial there, and Charles Taylor, whose prosecution there is expected to wind up later this month, furnish examples that any decamping dictator would need to keep in mind.
The dictator may well proclaim his altruistic, patriotic motives, tout his service to the country, and insist on his intention to die on his native soil, as Mubarak did in his rambling non-concession speech on Feb. 1. But more likely than not, a frantic effort is under way behind the scenes to ensure that, if he leaves, he will not face the nightmare of criminal probes and battles over assets. A friendly government offering sanctuary may quickly conclude in the face of such a barrage that its old friend just isn’t worth the effort and the damage to reputation associated with sheltering him.
There’s no doubt that the endgame for Mubarak involves many of these concerns and backroom machinations. So, how can Mubarak protect himself if he eventually makes an escape from Cairo? He’s taking the usual steps now. Start with his decision to install foreign intelligence chief and CIA confidant Omar Suleiman as vice president and constitutional successor. (Mubarak himself came to the presidency through this route; he had been Anwar Sadat’s vice president.) This comes close to matching what in the Russian-speaking world is known as the “Putin option,” a reference to the exit strategy adopted by a teetering Boris Yeltsin: Fearing possible retribution from opposition figures, Yeltsin opted to surrender power through a transitional period to a wily senior player in the intelligence community. In exchange, Yeltsin is said to have extracted a firm commitment from Putin that the full machinery of the Russian state would be mustered to protect him. There would be no criminal probes or inquiries, and no cooperation with foreigners who undertook the same. Yeltsin would be free to live his final days shuttling between Moscow and the French Riviera. Putin scrupulously kept his end of the bargain.
Suleiman, a close and loyal advisor to Mubarak, had of course long been expected to emerge as vice president, but his assumption of the office had been blocked by his bitter rival, Defense Minister Mohamed Hussein Tantawi. With the forces of opposition swirling out of control, appointing a successor who was both credible and capable of protecting Mubarak in exile was a priority move, and identifying someone with the tightest possible connections both to the United States and Israel was doubtless an added advantage.
This is not to say that such a maneuver is always successful, as Tunisia’s Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali already discovered. When Ben Ali fled to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he left his trusted prime minister, Mohamed Ghannouchi, in control. But Ghannouchi’s presidency lasted barely a day before power passed to more hostile hands. Within two weeks, the new Tunisian government had issued warrants against Ben Ali. The European Union — acting on Tunis’s request — froze his bank accounts, and even Interpol requested his apprehension and extradition.
This is now standard practice for dealing with an ousted leader whose escape plans don’t work out quite as neatly as hoped. When the old regime falls and opposition figures come to the fore, they will consult lawyers who invariably recommend a series of procedures. Domestic criminal inquiries are launched into corruption and theft involving the old leader and his family, with a hard focus on hard cash. Did they loot state assets or leverage their position with the government to seize commercial opportunities? A quick check of bank transfers in the last desperate days of the regime is organized, and forensic investigators are put on the trail of the cash.
Quick letters go out: to the U.S. government, requesting the assistance of the FBI in a probe of the old dictator’s thievery; to Britain, asking Scotland Yard’s help in the same sort of investigation; to Swiss authorities; and to other jurisdictions that appear in the internal investigation whenever evidence surfaces of banking activities. (These days Latvia, Dubai, the Cayman Islands, and various other island jurisdictions figure prominently in such probes.) Sometimes the efforts strike instant paydirt, as when a Swiss court froze the assets of former Zairian dictator Mobutu Sese Seko and a U.S. court arrested the holdings of Filipino dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
These letters are always accompanied with a request that the state use its power to identify and freeze any bank accounts or investments associated with the deposed leader, to be held pending further development and proof of claims. One of the major game changes comes on this point: A generation ago, such requests usuallygot a polite brush off. Today, more often than not, the government on the receiving end is delighted to comply. Some argue that this is the result of stronger international cooperation in efforts to combat money laundering; the more cynically minded, however, point out that banks themselves are generally delighted about a freeze, since it leaves them managing the money, often for a decade or longer, as litigants battle over who really owns it.
Once assets are identified, a litigation strategy is formed. The hub for such activities is now well established: the Royal Courts of Justice in London. Because London plays a central role in global finance and because English courts pioneered the concept of a global freezing order (known as a “Mareva injunction” or simply a “Mareva”), English lawyers have been center stage in such struggles for more than a decade. Getting such a freezing order, enough to clip the financial wings of the fleeing dictator, is usually the first step of litigation; actually seeing the case through to the end is a more difficult proposition. Doing so may be too expensive a burden for a poor country to bear, but a patient and tenacious prosecution is often rewarded.
Then there’s the criminal side of the ledger: a more perilous matter, especially to the dictator with blood on his hands. The days when head-of-state immunity was a show-stopper are now long past. Sixty-nine current and former heads of state have been successfully prosecuted for international crimes since 1990, and the trend has been moving steadily towards more prosecutions. The turning point came in Latin America, where courts and prosecutors gradually overcame the grants of amnesty and statutes of limitation that had previously hamstrung investigations into the brutal regimes of the 1970s and 1980s, essentially arguing that no legal immunity could be granted for certain gross human rights violations. Mubarak’s regime, with its well-documented record of torture and brutal methods of repression, is a prime candidate. His government provided a key spoke in the CIA’s extraordinary renditions program, which squarely falls within the international crime of “disappearing” — a program that was run, incidentally, by Omar Suleiman.
Mubarak might cut his losses by avoiding a bloody exit from office (though the escalating violence in Cairo suggests that may not be an option), but the past may come back to haunt him. Consider the cautionary tale of deposed Chadian dictator Hissène Habré. Human rights investigators documented thousands of politically motivated murders and instances of torture carried out by his regime, and Habré was ultimately indicted in Belgian courts using universal jurisdiction concepts. He secured asylum in Senegal after he was toppled, but the Senegalese were forced to place him under house arrest and are now coping with aggressive efforts to have him extradited to stand trial. Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir also faces an indictment, and Uzbekistan’s Islam Karimov is widely expected to face prosecution efforts if his grip on power loosens.
If Mubarak leaves, he will need a safe haven: a government that will protect him from lawsuits and criminal charges. It is increasingly difficult for any Western state to make such promises. And that leaves him with few and generally unappealing exit options. He may find a welcome in Saudi Arabia or under the roof of an equally unstable dictator in the region. But his troubles are not likely to end when the wheels go up on his jet from Cairo.
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MARY-ALICE WATERS: We’ve had some experiences here in Cuba
that are the opposite of what you’ve been describing. We
have a friend in Matanzas, for example, a university professor
who also gives classes in prison and takes pride in it. She told
us about using some books Pathfinder has published in her classes
and the interest they generate. We’ve read about Silvio
Rodríguez and other musicians giving concerts inside the
prisons. …
We know things in Cuba are far from perfect. But social relations
— the way people relate to each other — are the
opposite of what you experienced in the US. And that’s
true in the prison system too. In Cuba the revolution carried out
by the workers and farmers eliminated the economic and social
system built on class exploitation, on retribution and
punishment, social isolation, punitive deprivation of medical
care, denial of culture and education. That’s why the US
government is so determined to punish the Cuban people and
destroy your example.
GERARDO HERNÁNDEZ: We were with many Cuban prisoners in the
United States who had been inmates in Cuba as well. …
They’d often say, “Yes, material conditions in
prison” — especially in the newer ones —
“are a lot better than where I was in Cuba.”
Obviously you can’t compare living conditions in the
richest country in the world with the economic resources in Cuba.
But most of them recognized that prison personnel here in Cuba
make a real effort to rehabilitate inmates, to help them. In the
United States, a prison counselor is someone who puts in his
hours at work and does his best not to ever have to see you.
…
The human part is essential. I often give the example of a young
neighbor of mine. When he was in high school, he was involved in
something that rarely happens in Cuba — what’s
known in the US as “bullying.” He was studying in
the countryside on a scholarship program and he was being
pestered and harassed. One day he took a knife, scuffled with the
other boy, and stabbed him in the wrong place, killing him.
That boy was sentenced to seven years. During that time he
completed high school and went on to university. … He took
classes all day, and the bus brought him back to prison. …
I recently had a conversation with a very prestigious young
artist here in Cuba, Mabel Poblet. She showed me some samples of
her work. One stood out to me — an installation with
hundreds of red plastic flowers. “Look at these
flowers,” she said. “They were made by a woman who
is a prisoner in Holguín.”
“We visited the women’s prison there and met an
inmate, Betsy Torres, who was making flowers,” Mabel said.
“I had in mind doing an installation using flowers, so I
asked her to make some for me — the ones you see here.
After she was let out for good behavior, I invited her to the
opening of my exhibition.”
This type of exchange is the opposite of the dehumanization that
takes place in the US prison system. …
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Look at what the Bureau of Prisons calls
its Program Statement. It says the Bureau of Prisons encourages
social contact with the outside. But in practice it’s the
opposite. They put up obstacles to everything, including visits.
It’s not enough that the prisoner is 1,500 miles or more
from his family. It’s not enough that many families
can’t afford a plane ticket and a weekend in a motel to
come see you. On top of all that, the searches and other
alienating procedures family members and friends have to go
through to get into the prison, not to mention the tense,
uncomfortable layout of the visiting room. …
GERARDO HERNÁNDEZ: “The most important difference,
what I miss most,” some Cuban inmates in the US would tell
us, “is that in Cuba I had the right to conjugal visits,
or to get a pass to see my family.” But not in the United
States.
In federal prisons and in all but four of the fifty states,
something so elementary as conjugal visits are not permitted. If
they were, it would greatly reduce tensions. It would humanize
people. It would be an incentive for good behavior. …
RAMÓN LABAÑINO: They don’t care whether
there’s money in the budget for another handball court.
That’s a big issue I had, since — in addition to
reading, studying, and playing chess — sports was one of
the ways I handled all those years in prison. I exercised, lifted
weights, and played lots of handball. But prison officials
didn’t want to paint the floor of the handball court with
the kind of rubber compound that makes it easier on your knees.
That’s how I injured my knee, in fact. But medical care in
prison in the US is terrible; they don’t want to spend
money on that either. I went to the doctor and he told me,
“Take two aspirin. Put ice on it, keep your feet up, and
tomorrow you’ll be better.” They only really take
care of you when you’re on the verge of dying. …
There’s money in the budget to buy better food for the
cafeteria too, but it’s never fully used. I know. I worked
in the cafeteria several times.
Actually, I didn’t like working in the cafeteria, because
a lot of people take those jobs in order to steal food. But we
don’t steal. It’s not our philosophy, not the
social values we learned in Cuba. With what I ate I had enough.
Frankly, I’m no good at stealing.
Here in Cuba it’s different. Our officers may not have
resources, but they are trained to really help you. I’d
venture to say that ethic goes far beyond the framework of the
prison system to the broader society here.
In Cuba a prisoner is another human being. He’s someone
who made a mistake and is in prison for that reason. It’s
not like the US, where the prison population is the enemy
— just as uniformed officers there see the people as the
enemy. Why? Because on some level they understand there could be
a social revolution in the United States some day. And their job
is to contain that revolution, in order to protect the social
layer that’s in power.
That’s pretty elementary. You don’t even need
Marxism-Leninism to see that. But if you don’t understand
this, you’ll never see why things happen the way they do
in the United States. Why the police act the way they did in
Ferguson, Missouri, last year. Why there’s no solution
within that system. …
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: In Miami we saw women who were pregnant
when they were arrested. When the time came to give birth, they
were taken to the hospital …
RAMÓN LABAÑINO: …in chains.
FERNANDO GONZÁLEZ: Yes, in chains. They gave birth in the
hospital, and two days later they were brought back to their
cells without their baby.
Recently I visited a women’s prison here in Cuba. …
In the United States, you know from miles away you’re near
a prison. You see the walls, fences, razor wire, towers, lights,
surveillance vehicles. But in Guantánamo, as we got closer, I
asked, “Where’s the prison?” There was a
wall you could easily jump over. Even as fat as I am, I could
have jumped over it!
Inside, some rooms are like small apartments. If a woman is
pregnant — or becomes pregnant, because they have conjugal
visits — she can stay in one of those rooms until the baby
is a year old. It’s a small room with a kitchen, where she
can cook. The prison provides food for the baby and other
necessities. There’s also a sewing shop.
Havana (PL) Nanotechnology science and it’s application to the life
sciences in particular, could become, in conjunction with other
scientific sectors, one of Cuba’s development bases in the not too
distant future.
The role of this branch of science in the social and economic
transformation of Cuba, is a key element of the Cuban Center for
Advanced Studies (CEAC from it’s acronym in Spanish), a new
institution in the west of Havana currently preparing for the planned
commencement of operations next year.
The staff presently research distinctive therapeutic cancer medicinal
nano-formulations and nano-particles for the controlled release of
drugs whilst simultaneously seeking to extend the diagnosis of a
greater number of diseases from the same blood sample.
Ariel Felipe, program director of the Council of State’s scientific
advisory office, told The Havana Reporter that in Cuba, the priority
focus for this science were nano-biotechnology and medicine, ranging
from medications and tissue regeneration to disease detection devices.
He added that the existence in the country of a robust biotechnology
industry was something positive that lent itself to future
advancements in this regard.
Through the Center for Advanced Studies, Cuba is endeavoring to boost
its presence in the rapidly growing sphere of nanotechnology and to
establish a presence in both the domestic and Latin American
biotechnology markets.
Another aim is to provide Cuban engineers and scientists with the
tools to create miniature devices that could revolutionize the health
care, environmental care and energy sectors.
The 10.3 hectare CEAC site will comprise various nano-chemistry and
nano-biology research laboratories and computer simulation and
modeling facilities.
According to its directors, the installations will be open for
national and international investigations and will serve as a training
center for advanced micro and nano fabrication, facilitating the
formation of human resources for Latin America.
The entity will have nano-characterization, nano-engineering,
standardization, energy and environmental laboratories. It will also
promote the obtaining of nano-structures, nano-metric visualization
and high resolution analysis of composites and structures.
It will also develop tools and devices for the controlled release of
medications, disease diagnosis and environmental controls and new
devices for the production and storage of energy.
Ozone Technical Office (OTOZ from the Spanish acronym) specialist,
Natacha Figueredo MSc, explained to the Havana Reporter that this
modern installation cosntructed in the Siguaney cement factory in the
province of Sancti Spiritus, commenced operations last April and is
presently in a functional stabilization phase.
During the first stage Ozone depletion substances (SAO from the
Spanish acronym) collected during the substitution of more than
2,500,000 refrigerators and almost 300,000 air conditioners in the
residential sector are to be destroyed.
The works form part of the “Energy Revolution” which fully eliminated
the use in Cuba of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in domestic
refrigeration.
Hydro-fluorocarbons (HCFC) will later be destroyed in the plant which
will, over the coming months, be collected from refrigeration and
climatization units around the country.
Through this initiative, Cuba has attained the destruction this year
of some 258.4 kilos of SAO, a result which places the island within an
elite group of nations in the region with the capability to undertake
this complex process. Capacity will increase once the plant
stabilizes.
The installation is part of a demonstrative collection, recovery,
storage, transport and regeneration of substances detrimental to the
ozone layer initiative, that is the result of a strategy developed by
the OTC and the Montreal Multilateral Protocol Fund, via the United
Nations Development Program (PNUD).
Cuba is the first country to totally eliminate CFC consumption in
domestic refrigeration, a significant contribution to the
confrontation of climate change related issues that affect the planet,
because the gasses that impact on the Ozone Layer have a potent
greenhouse effect. According to OTOZ data, the actions undertaken on
the island have reduced CO2 atmospheric emissions by 4 million tons
per year.
OTOZ director and doctor in Sciences, Nelson Espinosa explained that
one of the most notable Cuban achievements of the past twenty years is
the total elimination of a group of substances that deplete the Ozone
layer, including the use of CFC’s in the manufacture of pharmaceutical
and industrial aerosols and methyl bromide in the fumigation of crops,
storage units and other industrial installations.
Health care for Cubans and the care Cuba extends to the world have gained high praise. Cuba’s health care reforms, in the making for 50 years, became the basis for health care planners and providers to be able to extend medical care, medical education, and disease prevention throughout the world. This report surveys Cuban health care both at home and abroad.
1.Health Care in Cuba
Numbers and narrative alike tell the story of a health care project comprehensive, effective and accessible to all Cuban people. Actual health care in Cuba and public health – for U.S. health care planners, a separate entity – are identical. Both the community and individual are at once objects of care in Cuba. Payment for care is not an individual responsibility. Cuba has emphasized provision ofhealth facilities, services, and practitioners to rural areas in response to deprivations there prior to the Revolution. Health authorities have emphasized data collection, prevention strategies, health education for all, biomedical research, and medical-education capabilities. Cuba has devised full-spectrum health care, from specialty hospitals for complicated and unusual illnesses, to mid-level centers providing consultations, emergency care, and laboratory services, to thousands of family doctor-nurse teams providing first – contact care in rural areas and crowded cities alike. In developing their system of care, health care leaders frequently have resorted to improvisation, taking advantage of innovative examples elsewhere.
Article 50 of Cuba’s revised 1976 Constitution proclaims that, “Everyone has the right to health protection and care.” Political commitment is what drives planning. In 1965, Fidel Castro led 475 new doctors, the first to be educated under the Revolution, to the summit of Pico Turquino, Cuba’s highest mountain. There the students vowed “to expand rural medical services, to promote preventive health care among the population and to providing selfless aid to needy peoples.” (1) Describing “RevolutionaryMedicine” to a group of soldiers in 1960, Che Guevara established the duty of the state, “to provide public health services for the greatest possible number of persons, institute a program of preventive medicine … and to orient the creative abilities of all medical professionals toward the tasks of social medicine.”
The role of political leadership was clear in 1983 when Fidel Castro urgedspecialists at Cuba’s principle infectious disease institute to make certain that the oncoming HIV/AIDS epidemic “does not constitute a health problem for Cuba.” (2) Thus preventative measures were already in place when Cuba’s first case of the disease was diagnosed two years later. Infection rates are still the lowest in the region.
Data from the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization confirm Cuba’s own figures on health outcome. (3) Estimates of infant mortality rates (IMR) during the 1950’s, prior to the Cuban Revolution, vary widely, from 65 babies dying in their first year of life (out of 1000 births) to 39 infant deaths (in 1960). Life expectancy at birth was 64 or less, according to varying tallies. Cuba had one medical school, eight small nursing schools, and 6286practicingand teaching physicians, two thirds of whom were based in Havana. Within two years 3000 physicians would leave for foreign exile.
Data from the World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization confirm Cuba’s own figures on health outcome. (3) Estimates of infant mortality rates (IMR) during the 1950’s, prior to the Cuban Revolution, vary widely, from 65 babies dying in their first year of life (out of 1000 births) to 39 infant deaths (in 1960). Life expectancy at birth was 64 or less, according to varying tallies. Cuba had one medical school, eight small nursing schools, and 6286practicing and teaching physicians, two thirds of whom were based in Havana. Within two years 3000 physicians would leave for foreign exile.
In 2013 Cuban life expectancy was 78.5 years (79 in the United States). Cuba’s 2014 IMR was 4.2. The U. S. rate in 2011 was 6.1 and is unchanged since, with black infants dying at twice that rate. (The IMR for Canada was 4.8 recently – 15.7 for all of Latin America.) Cuba’s rate of child deaths under age five, per thousand births, was 5.7 in 2014; the most recent U. S. rate was 7.1. Cuba has recently spent 10 percent of its GDP on health care; the United States 17.6 percent; Canada 11.4; and the UK 9.6 percent. Cuba has one physician for 149 persons, 85,563 in all; the U. S. rate is one per 413 persons. Cuba, with 24 medical schools, graduated more than 10,000 physicians in 2013; the United States graduated 18,154 that year.
Cuban health care extends to biomedical research and production, also export of multiple vaccines, diagnostic test kits, and generic drugs – including anti-HIV agents. That sector has prioritized immunotherapy products and anti-cancer vaccines. “In one section of Havana,” an observer notes,” there are 24 research and 58 manufacturing facilities, employing some 7000 scientists and engineers, and [that] accounted for $711 million (USD) in export earnings in 2011.” (4) Cuban scientists have developed innovative products, among them: interferons, a vaccine against Type B meningococcal meningitis, a drug directed at foot ulcers caused by diabetes, recombinant streptokinase used for myocardial infarctions, and epidermal growth factor helpful in the treatment of burns.
2.Cuban International Medical Solidarity
It started in 1960. Cuba sent a relief team of health workers to Chile after an earthquake there. They went to Algeria in 1963 to establish a public health system. Since then, according to Professor John M. Kirk of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, over 325,000 Cuban medical personnel have provided assistance in 158 countries. (5) Indeed, the Cuban Constitution refers to “proletarian internationalism, brotherly friendship, help, cooperation, and solidarity with the peoples of the world.”
Kirk believes that, “Cuba has provided an example for the planet, showing how its successful medical collaboration programs have been far more successful, and more far-reaching, than anything provided by all of the G-8 countries’ efforts combined. For over fifty years Cuban medical personnel have served the poorest and most neglected areas of the world, going where other doctors refused to go. At present they are looking after the well-being of some 70 million people.”
He adds that, “As of January 2015 there are 51,847 Cuban medical personnel (of whom 50.1% are physicians) working in 67 countries–mainly in the developing world … [I]n Africa over 4,000 medical personnel are working in 32 countries” The situation, he says, is comparable to “having 223,000 US doctors serving in developing countries.”
Some notable examples:
·Cuban medical teams went to Sub-Saharan Africa in the 1970’s in conjunction with anti-apartheid military actions there.
·Beginning in 1990 Cuba developed comprehensive medical-care programs centered in Tarará, Cuba, for the 21,874 children and 4,240 adults who were victims of the 1986 nuclear disaster in Chernobyl, Ukraine. Cuba provided medical care and provisions at no cost.
·During the 1990’s, disaster relief efforts culminated in help given to Haiti and Central American countries following Hurricanes George and Mitch in 1998. The latter took tens of thousands of lives.
·Hundreds of Cuban doctors remained in Haiti and were there when the disastrous 2010 earthquake occurred. New physician arrivals took the lead in providing care and rehabilitation for injuries and responding to the cholera epidemic that followed. They stayed; currently 700 Cuban doctors are working in Haiti. In all 11,000 Cuban health workers have served there since 1998.
·Cuban doctors have cared for patients in East Timor since 2003; 350 were there in 2008, and four years later hundreds of that country’s young people were training as physicians in Cuba, also in an East Timorese medical school established and staffed by Cubans.
·From 2004 on, as part of “Operation Miracle,” Cuban eye surgeons with logistical support from Venezuela have performed sight-restoring surgery, mainly for cataracts and glaucoma, for 3.4 million patients in 31 countries.
·In 2005 in Pakistan within two weeks of an earthquake that killed 250,000 people, over 3000 Cuban medical personnel were caring for the injured in 32 field hospitals, in the snow and mountains. They stayed for six months.
·Earlier that year Cuban disaster-relief teams working abroad became the “Henry Reeve Brigade,” named in honor of a young U. S. soldier who joined rebel forces in Cuba’s first War for Independence. Some 1500 Cuban doctors preparing to go to New Orleans in the wake of Hurricane Katrina – The U. S. government turned them down. – were the first contingent to be so designated. By that time 36 disaster relief teams had already worked in 24 countries.
·In late 2014, 251 Brigade members traveled to East Africa to combat the Ebola epidemic. Recruited from 15,000 volunteers, they stayed for six months. For its anti-Ebola contribution, Norway’s Conference of Trade Unions in February 2015, nominated the Henry Reeve Brigade for the Nobel Peace Prize.
·“Brigade 41” of the Brigade, with 49 health workers, arrived in Katmandu, Nepal, in May 2015 to deal with suffering caused by a major earthquake. This was the 41st mobilization of the Brigade since its formation in 2005.
·In August 2015, 16 Cubans – physicians, nurses, and epidemiologists – were on the Caribbean island of Dominica helping victims of flooding caused by Hurricane Erika. They brought 1.2 tons of medical supplies and provisions.
·Since 2005, Cuban physicians, usually from 12,000 to 15,000 at a time, have served in Venezuela as practitioners and medical teachers. In return, Cuba gains an assured, reasonably priced supply of Venezuelan oil.
·Some 11,000 Cuban physicians, the majority of them women, have been working since 2013 in underserved areas of Brazil, whose government reimburses its Cuban counterpart.
Medical education is a big part of Cuban medical internationalism. Kirk reports that in Africa, for example, 5,500 Cuban professionals were working there in 2012, and also that “40,000 Africans have graduated from Cuban universities and there are currently 3,000 studying in Cuba.”
Cuba has established medical faculties in 15 countries and provided teachers for 13 of them. According to <spanstyle=”” id=”yui_3_15_0_1_1442845244782_1020″>journalist Salim Lamrani, Cuba annually provides training in medicine, nursing, or medical technology for some 29,000 students from over 100 foreign countries. (6) Every year half of Cuba’s medical graduates are foreign students. Cuba-Venezuela cooperation has resulted in some 25,000 Venezuelans now studying medicine under Cubans’ tutelage as part of an innovative program that has students studying in their own communities. Kirk reports that Cuban teachers have helped train “more than 80,000 midwives, 65 health promoters and 3,000 nurses” in developing countries.
The jewel in the crown of Cuba’s overseas medical work is the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM). Formed in 1999, the Havana-based institution, which utilizes teaching hospitalsacross the island, provides medical education at no personal cost to students who arrive from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and from the United States – almost 100 counties in all. Up to 1500 students graduate from the School every year and, as of August 2015, some 23,000 physicians have returned to their own countries, where, as promised, they will be serving where they are most needed. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, visiting the School, told students, “ELAM does more than train doctors. You produce miracle workers.”
Perhaps the most remarkable aspect of Cuban health care relates to the community orientation of practitioners and teachers alike, in Cuba and abroad.
<fontcolor=”#1e1c11″>Kirk quotes El Salvador’s Public Health Minister María Isabel Rodríguez: “The Cubans treat them [their patients] as individuals, recognizing their human quality, and spending time with them. Their medical treatment is different – the Cuban doctors respect their patients and listen to them.”
Kirk suggests that patients “are not seen as suffering from a singular ailment … instead they are viewed in the wider bio-psycho-social context.” And, “the system is based upon medical training in which ethical considerations and the responsibilities of professionals are emphasized far more than in medical schools of the industrialized world. … The result is that the Cuban system has developed a cost-effective, pragmatic, highly ethical and sustainable system of public healthcare.”
In January 2015 Professor Kirk wrote to the Norwegian Nobel Committee indicating he was “delighted to nominate the Cuban medical internationalism program for the Nobel Peace Prize.” Ban Ki-moon would concur: Cuban “doctors are with communities through thick and thin – before disasters strike … throughout crises … and long after storms have passed. They are often the first to arrive and the last to leave.”
The Henry Reeve Brigade, named for a U.S. born medical doctor who participated in Cuba’s war of independence from Spain in the 19th century, and which was formed in 2005, consists of doctors, nurses and other health care workers who volunteer to provide care in dangerous and unusual emergency situations around the world.
When the Ebola outbreak began in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone in West Africa last year, 461 members of the brigade, trained by the Pedro Kouri Institute of Tropical Medicine in Havana, were quickly sent out to do the extremely dangerous direct face to face work with patients in a region where health care facilities and even basic infrastructure such as roads and communications systems are minimal. Cuba’s role, far out of proportion to the countries small size and modest material resources, has been widely praised worldwide, including by the World Health Organization.
The Ebola epidemic has infected at least 22,000 people in the three countries, of whom 9,000 have died. At least one of the Cuban Reeve Brigade participants, Dr. Felix Baez, came down with the disease, but has survived. One Cuban administrator died, but of malaria, not Ebola. Currently the epidemic has been beaten down, but could flare up again, either in that area or somewhere else.
Surely there are few entities that are more deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize nomination!
BY SETH GALINSKY
With only one new case of Ebola in Liberia in the last few weeks and a steep drop in new infections in Sierra Leone, Cuban volunteers, who have been at the forefront of combating the epidemic in those two countries, are returning home. The 38 internationalist volunteers in Guinea-Conakry, where the epidemic is not yet under control, continue to fight the virus.
At the outset of the epidemic, Cuba’s revolutionary government organized the largest delegation from anywhere in the world of medical personnel, all volunteers, to fight the disease.
“The Cuban doctors didn’t care about the risk, they said they were brothers from across the ocean and they came to help us as brothers,” Liberian Foreign Affairs Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan told Cuban reporters in late March.
Juventud Rebelde reported that 150 Cuban doctors and nurses who have been fighting Ebola for the last six months in Liberia and Sierra Leone returned home March 23. The 66 volunteers remaining in Sierra Leone will return April 1. All will spend 21 days in quarantine to ensure that the disease is not introduced onto the island.
Dr. Leandro Castellanos Vivancos described his experience in Sierra Leone in an article on the Cubadebate website. Castellanos was stationed in the Port Loko district, a rural area 35 miles from the capital Freetown.
“We first arrived at a small camp very similar to what in Cuba are known as rural schools, with the difference that we had air conditioning for 12 hours a day,” Castellanos wrote.
“We could see all along the road some of the customs of the people, for example, the long treks of women, with huge logs on their heads and an ax in their hands,” he said. “Yes, here the women do the hard work and sometimes the men accompany them as if to raise their spirits.”
“The patients were not used to being in beds and we would find them on the floor. Some of them feared us, they didn’t have even a little bit of faith in the ‘astronaut’ they had in front of them,” Castellanos said, referring to the protective clothing doctors and nurses have to wear.
“Little by little we did what was necessary, it wasn’t easy,” he said. “Sometimes we had to communicate with gestures, crazy antics, since just a few of them spoke English.”
Brought down death rate
The Cubans worked out of a field hospital with volunteers from other countries, including the United States, and with local personnel, succeeding in bringing the death rate down from 70 percent to 30 percent, Castellanos said.
“We’ve done our duty, with revolutionary ethics, with medical ethics,” Dr. Leonardo Fernández, one of the Cuban brigadistas in Liberia, told Granma in an interview published in the March 20 issue.
Fernández said that the training they received at Cuba’s Institute of Tropical Medicine was excellent. “We left knowing what we faced, knowing the dangers, and prepared psychologically and technically,” he said. “During the first week we started out with a tremendous fear, but as time went by we had to slow down some of the volunteers, because they wanted to do more than what we had been asked to do.”
“We saw entire families die, children who were alone, their mom, their dad, three little brothers who died, it was terrible,” Fernández said. “But we also saw how Ebola survivors picked up and adopted orphan children. There isn’t any better pay for us than seeing this solidarity among the Liberians themselves.”
Fernández noted that when the brigade first arrived in Liberia the streets were deserted because of fear of contracting the disease. “Now, what a difference,” he said. “People on the street greet us, whenever we go out to eat or buy anything, they treat us with tremendous affection.”
Like other volunteers, Fernández has been on previous internationalist missions, including in Pakistan after an earthquake, in Nicaragua, East Timor and in Haiti.
‘I always volunteer for missions’
“Whenever they ask for volunteers I raise my hand and then I ask later what I’m volunteering for,” he said.
All the Cuban volunteers agreed to serve for at least six months. Only one of the Cuban volunteers, Félix Báez, contracted Ebola. He survived and returned to complete his assignment in Sierra Leone. Two Cuban volunteers were infected with malaria and died during the mission.
Fernández said he didn’t see what they did in Liberia as heroic. Thousands of Cuban internationalists have carried out missions around the world, he said, pointing to medical brigades deep in the jungle in Brazil, in indigenous communities in Venezuela and in villages in other parts of Africa. “The only difference is that this international mission is well known in the media,” he said. You had to be brave, “but it was just another assignment.”
“The first thing you feel is satisfaction at having carried out our assignment,” Dr. Ronald Hernández, who was part of the Liberia brigade, told Cubadebate. “Having helped those peoples is one of the best things I have personally ever done.”
“The people of Africa deserve a better destiny,” Hernández said. “I have seen social problems in my previous missions, but in Africa everything is more complicated. They need a few Fidels over there.”
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A 52-year old ration card that guarantees a limited amount of staples for the peoples’ basic food basket at highly subsidized prices is still considered as necessary given unstable presence of certain products at the offer-and-demand domestic market and their very high prices, which most pockets cannot afford.
Every January, all Cuban families receive a new card containing 12 pages according to the months of the year in which the products are allocated at grocery stores in charge of distributing a series of staples like rice, beans, cooking oil, sugar, coffee, eggs, bread, powder milk, chicken and others, in a limited amount which must be complemented with purchases at other market modalities on the island.
This historic state subsidy, which also includes special diets for the sick and pharmacy products, translates into over one billion dollars spent by the country each year to at least guarantee the equalitarian distribution mechanism.
Though, the Cuban government has been applying a policy to eliminate unnecessary subsidies for some years now, the ration card continues to be a savior for many Cubans, despite the fact that it was largely criticized for being obsolete and a symbol of this egalitarianism that characterized Cuban socialism in its first decades. The ration card was the target of jokes on the streets and the media and it still has its detractors.
For those who are not very acquainted with this issue, I would say that Cuban society has lived on many subsidies, unbelievable ones for many around the world and this has brought a heavy burden on the state, which has to buy products at high cost at the world market. I could just cite examples like the tariffs on water and phone services , the cost of a home, and other services like sewage, gas, electricity; all of them so highly subsidized that not everyone understand, unless you touch it with your hand.
Now if we look at some vivid examples, Amanda a 57-year-old woman and worker says that for her, buying a pound of rice at five Cuban pesos (twenty five cents of a dollar) is a problem, on the ration card a pound of rice is just few cents of a Cuban peso.
Amanda buys rice at five pesos by the end of the month at the offer-demand market after she consumes her ration quota, but she says that “I could not afford that rice during the whole month. For me the ration card is a big relief, actually.
According to studies, the staples that Cuban families purchase on the ration card guarantee about 36 percent of the daily calories every person needs during 12 days, while proteins cannot cover more than 10 days, fats and oils only nine days.
A UN document issue by the United Nations Assistance for Development in Cuba says that the access to that rationed food basket is a right guaranteed to all citizens.
The ration card that still survives today in Cuba is quite different from that that existed in the 1960s, since in those times it provided many more products. It cannot either guarantee a full provision of food for the whole month, but many it is an important means to access food.
Although the gradual elimination of the ration card was officially announced in December 2010, many Cuban still defend that familiar distribution mechanism, since they say that if it disappears they will face more problems and lose benefits.
In Cuba there are several market modalities, some work on offer-demand, intermediaries in between, and prices very high. Others are linked to cooperative farms with lower prices and other with topped prices managed by the army, which dedicates part of their forces to producing food for the population. State markets, which have the poorest supply, also sell at very low prices.
Some experts think that its elimination is possible, while subsidizing persons and not food as part of a systematic process, but I insist, there are many Cubans that cannot imagine their everyday life without that 52-year old friend, La Libreta or the ration card.
Cuba has a lot more to offer the United States than just rum and cigars.
By Felicia Gustin,
This March, representatives from the United States and Cuba met in a third round of talks geared toward normalizing ties between the two long-estranged countries.
Ever since President Obama’s announcement last year that the diplomatic freeze was coming to an end, speculation has abounded on what this will mean. There’s no question that the Cuban people stand to benefit immensely from increased trade and tourism. But few seem to be talking about what the benefits might be for the people of the United States — except for access to Cuban cigars, rum, and beaches.
Yet this small, poor country has surpassed the United States in more than just nightlife and baseball. So here are three more serious ways the American people might benefit from lifting the embargo:
1 Disaster Preparedness
Cuba’s location puts it right in the path of devastating and frequent hurricanes. Yet the country’s disaster management infrastructure is considered an exemplary international model for disaster preparedness and relief by the United Nations, the International Red Cross, and Oxfam.
How is it that a country with fewer resources than the United States is better able to evacuate millions of people in the path of a hurricane and significantly reduce fatalities and property damage?
What sets Cuba apart is the level of grassroots community engagement before, during, and after a hurricane strikes. All Cuban adults take part in civilian defense training programs designed to educate them on how to assist in evacuation procedures. And once a year, they participate in a hurricane drill in which these procedures are simulated and government officials are better able to identify vulnerabilities.
The level of national coordination is massive, and each of Cuba’s 14 provinces and 169 municipalities has intricate disaster plans in place. Strategic locations, such as hospitals, bakeries, food processing centers, telephone providers, and educational centers are provided with power generators that operate independently for up to 72 hours.
In addition to preparing for natural disasters and providing immediate relief, the Cuban public health system, with its extensive network of hospitals and neighborhood clinics, has been fine-tuned to provide medical care to victims of hurricanes and other catastrophes.
There are elite medical brigades, specifically trained in the emerging field of disaster relief medicine, who have also been dispatched on numerous occasions to other countries.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, the Henry Reeve Brigade — made up of over 1,500 medical doctors and named in honor of the young Brooklyn man who fought alongside Cubans in their 1868 War of Independence against Spain — was poised to offer medical assistance to victims along the U.S. Gulf Coast. But Washington rebuked the offer, citing “national security concerns.”
Now, with the normalization of relations unfolding, the U.S. people can benefit from Cuba’s experience, expertise, and infrastructure, which can help save lives in the face of not only hurricanes but earthquakes, tornados, floods, and wildfires.
2 Health Care
Cuba has one of the most advanced medical biotechnology industries in the world. With 12,000 employees, including 7,000 scientists and engineers, it enjoys hefty government investment and prolifically produces new treatments and medications.
All told, according the World Health Organization, the Cuban biotech industry holds around 1,200 international patents and markets pharmaceutical products and vaccines in more than 50 countries — but not in the United States.
Ending the embargo on these products could make life better for millions of Americans suffering from a range of diseases.
For the 26 million people in the United States who have diabetes, this has special significance. Each year, some 80,000 American diabetics suffer amputations. Cuba has developed a safe and effective medication — Heberprot P — that reduces the risk of amputation by as much as 78 percent. It’s being used successfully by tens of thousands of patients in Cuba and in over 20 countries.
There’s also great potential to open up treatments for less familiar diseases.
Dengue fever, carried by the aedes aegypti mosquito, was previously only found south of the U.S. border. Yet according to Gail Reed — founder of the group Medical Education Cooperation with Cuba — due to climate change, the mosquito has been spotted in Florida, Texas, and California. “Cuba has the most expertise in dengue of any country in the hemisphere,” she pointed out. “They know more about this killer disease than the CDC.” Cooperation on dengue prevention and treatment is going to be crucial.
Cuba is also a leader in the development of therapeutic vaccines for lung, throat, and childhood brain cancer. A number of anti-cancer drugs and vaccines are in development at the Center of Molecular Immunology in Havana. Imagine the potential when these researchers are allowed to collaborate with their colleagues in the United States.
The list goes on and on. Cuban scientists have developed an advanced drug that effectively destroys coronary clots, an innovative burn treatment, and vaccines for meningitis B and hepatitis B and C. They’ve also made advances in developing a vaccine against HIV-AIDS.
“More than 90 new products are currently being investigated in more than 60 clinical trials,” says Dr. José Luis Di Fabio, head of the WHO Country Office in Cuba. “These numbers are expected to grow.”
For Americans who can benefit from these medical advances, ending the embargo isn’t just an ideological question. It’s a matter of their health, even life or death.
3 Arts and Culture
Art and culture help bring us together in ways that politics and ideology cannot.
Cuba and the United States, joined by shared histories and separated by just 90 miles of sea, have been exchanging art and culture for centuries.
In recent years, artists from both countries have found ways to circumvent the U.S. embargo.
U.S. musicians have performed at Cuban jazz festivals, U.S. ballerinas have danced in international ballet festivals Havana, and U.S. actors and directors have flown to the island to attend film festivals. Cuban bands have performed on U.S. stages, Cuban films have made their way into a few film U.S. festivals, and Cuban painters have exhibited in U.S. galleries.
From jazz to ballet, fine arts to folklore, and cinema to architecture, U.S. and Cuban artists have collaborated despite the limitations of the embargo and travel restrictions. The potential for expanding these collaborations as relations normalize is huge.
Edmundo Pino is a musician with the internationally acclaimed Cuban band Los Van Van. “The immense popularity of Cuban art and culture in Europe and throughout the world demonstrates how much we have to offer,” he says. He pointed to Cuba’s inexhaustible pool of musicians and its world-class bands and dance companies, who fill theaters and stadiums wherever they perform.
“For the American people to be able to enjoy Cuban artistic performances,” he adds, “to experience the evolution of our music for example, would go far in building people-to-people relations. The American people should have the opportunity to experience all that Cuban art and culture have to offer.”
These are but three examples of areas where normalization can benefit the U.S. people, but there are others — in the fields of agriculture, race relations, the rights of women and children, sports, education, and environmental sustainability, to name a few.
And there’s a great lesson in the fact that a country with significantly fewer resources can make major inroads in so many arenas. It’s about values that place people before profits, where taking care of the public is not market-driven.
Unfortunately, real collaboration won’t be possible with just presidential decrees. The embargo cannot be lifted without congressional action. Given the Republican-controlled Congress’ penchant for opposing everything President Obama favors and the superfluous influence of a handful of Cuban-American hardliners, overturning the laws that uphold the embargo is going to be a slow and lengthy process.
It’s going to take pressure on Congress by those who will benefit most from normal relations — that is, the American people themselves — to bring about these changes.
Felicia Gustin is a writer who first visited Cuba in 1974. She lived in Havana for ten years, working as a journalist from 1982-92 and travels to the island regularly. She has been a blogger at War Times/Tiempos de Guerra, works at the educational organization SpeakOut, and collaborates with BASAT (Bay Area Solidarity Action Team) and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice).http://fpif.org/3-big-benefits-for-americans-to-ending-the-cuba-embargo/
Cubans thanked as Liberia marks the second week of zero cases of Ebola
As Liberia marks the second week of Zero cases of Ebola, the Cuban medical team through the Cuban Government Health Attaché announced conclusion of the team’s successful Ebola Response mission in the country. The Attaché was addressing a ceremony organized by the Ministry of Health in partnership with UNMEER, World Health Organization and US CDC to bid farewell to the team.
The Cuban team was comprised of 53 medical officers including, doctors, nurses, epidemiologists, intensive care doctors, general practitioners, surgeons, pediatricians, intensive care nurses, anesthetists, and license nurses. They were among the first largest foreign medical team from a single country to respond to this outbreak. Before deployment, the team underwent basic initial training on Ebola in Cuba and on arrival in Liberia received second training equipping them to safely work in an Ebola Treatment…
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Rural doctor Arianna Toledo heats water on her biogas stove at her home in the town of Cuatro Esquinas in the western Cuban province of Matanzas. Credit: Courtesy of Randy Rodríguez Pagés/Diakonia-Swedish Ecumenical Action
LOS ARABOS, Cuba, Feb 20 2015 (IPS) – On the blue flame of her biogas stove, it takes half as long for rural doctor Arianna Toledo to heat bath water and cook dinner as it did four years ago, when she still used electric power or firewood.
The installation of a biodigester, which uses pig manure to produce biogas for use in cooking food, cut the expenses and the time spent on food preparation for Toledo’s five-member family, who live in the town of Cuatro Esquinas, Los Arabos municipality in the western Cuban province of Matanzas.
“The main savings is in time, because the gas stove cooks faster,” Toledo told Tierramérica. She and the rest of the women in the family shoulder the burden of the household tasks, as in the great majority of Cuban homes.
Another 20 small biogas plants operate in homes in this town located 150 km from Havana, and over 300 more in the entire province of Matanzas, installed with support from a project run by the Christian Centre for Reflection and Dialogue (CCRD-C), based in Cárdenas, a city in the same province.
The ecumenical institution seeks to improve living conditions in rural areas by fomenting ecological practices, which mitigate environmental damage, soil degradation and poor use of water.
Another key aim of the biodigester project is also to ease the work burden and household expenses of rural women.
“Our monthly power bill has been reduced, and we spend less on cooking gas cylinders, while at the same time we’re protecting the environment by using a renewable natural resource,” Toledo said.
In Cuba, 69 percent of families depend on electricity for cooking.
Toledo’s husband, Carlos Alberto Tamayo, explained to Tierramérica that using the biodigester, the four pigs they raise for family consumption guarantee the fuel needed for their home.
“And the organic material left over is used as natural fertiliser for our garden, where we grow fruit and vegetables,” said Tamayo, an Episcopal pastor in Cuatro Esquinas, which has a population of just over 2,300.
He said the biodigester prevents bad smells and the spread of disease vectors, while the gas is safer because it is non-toxic and there is a lower risk of accidents or explosions.
With the support of international development funds from several countries, for 15 years the CCRD-C has been promoting household use of these systems, reforestation and renewable energies, which are a priority for this Caribbean island nation, where only 4.3 percent of the energy consumed comes from clean sources.
The biodigesters, which are homemade in this case, will mushroom throughout Cuba over the next five years.
The organic fertiliser produced by this biodigester effluent tank is used on a family garden in Los Arabos in the Cuban province of Matanzas. Credit: Courtesy of Randy Rodríguez Pagés/Diakonia-Swedish Ecumenical Action
The Swine Research Institute’s Biogas Promotion and Development Centre is designing a national plan to promote the use of biodigesters in state companies and agricultural cooperatives.
In 2014, the Centre reported that there were 1,000 biodigesters in these two sectors, which benefited 4,000 people, in the case of the companies, and 8,000 people, in the case of the farming cooperatives.
The plan projects the construction of some 1,000 biodigesters a year by 2020, through nine projects implemented by the Agriculture Ministry and the non-governmental National Association of Small Farmers, which will receive financing from the United Nations Small Grants Programme.
According to Rita María García, director of the CCRD-C, monitoring of the project has shown that replacing the use of firewood, kerosene and petroleum-based products with biogas makes household work more humane.
Women gain in safety and time – important in a country where unpaid domestic work absorbs 71 percent of the working hours of women, according to the only Time Use Survey published until now, carried out in 2002 by the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI).
The study found that for every 100 hours of work by men, women worked 120, many of them multitasking – cooking, cleaning, washing and caring for children.
“In general, women manage the household budget, which becomes a burden,” said García. “That’s why they are thankful for the biodigesters, and many of them have been motivated to raise pigs and get involved in farming as a result.”
The methodology followed by the CCRD-C projects first involves training for the beneficiaries in construction and maintenance of the biodigesters, and in ecological farming techniques using organic fertiliser, said Juan Carlos Rodríguez, the organisation’s general coordinator.
The CCRD-C also promotes reforestation by small farmers and the use of windmills, to reduce the use of electricity in a country that imports 53 percent of the fuel it consumes.
An additional benefit of the biodigesters is that they offer an alternative for the disposal of pig manure, which contaminates the environment.
In 2013 there were 16.7 million pigs in Cuba, 65 percent of which were in private hands in this highly-centralised, socialist economy.
Because pork is the most widely consumed meat in Cuba, and many private farmers and families raise pigs, the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment are fomenting the installation of biodigesters, to help boost production.
The authorities require those who raise pigs to guarantee adequate disposal of their waste.
Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide produced by the bacterial decomposition of organic wastes. It can be used for cooking food, lighting, refrigeration and power generation.
Biodigesters help reduce soil and groundwater pollution, and curb the cutting of trees for firewood.
Cuba introduced their use in the 1980s, with U.N. support. But they began to take off a decade later, thanks to the National Biogas Movement.
Studies reported by the local press say the annual national potential for biogas production is over 400 million cubic metres, which would generate 700 gigawatt-hours per year.
That would reduce the release of carbon dioxide by more than three million tons, and would reduce oil imports by 190,000 tons a year.
Edited by Estrella Gutiérrez/Translated by Stephanie Wildes
This story was originally published by Latin American newspapers that are part of the Tierramérica network. | {
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This can be kind of drying on the skin as it’s a foam. But I moisturize early in the day, apply before bed and quick shower off in the morning. Lots of moisturizer post shower. The tan is a lovely natural colour and lasts a few days. Smells really good too. | {
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Washington New Jersey Drama Major
Information about Washington, New Jersey drama major options. It's a smart idea to compare all available schools
in your target area, as well as consider taking some of your elective courses online. Check with each acting school below for assistance with theater certificate program requirements, degree prerequisites,
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Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
To request course information, please complete this form.
Think about what career is best suited for you, and where you want to study. Request more information now.
Find info concerning Warren County Community College drama major, and registering for elective lectures and seminars. Which college degrees give you the best chances of entering a successful career path after graduation? Qualifications for graphic design programs may vary widely. Learn about commercial art specializations, such as website design, 3D animation, or video game development. If you choose a drama major, taking theatrical acting classes for example, you may attract competitive starting salary offers,
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Teaching internships provide the opportunity for current students to gain experience. A teacher's aide works in a classroom setting, under the supervision of an experienced teacher, including a number of weeks leading the classroom. The Praxis Exam, given by the Educational Testing Service, is required for new teachers in most states. In order to complete the teacher certification program, Los Angeles Valley College Wordpress pages information may be used in order to fulfill computing breadth requirements.
Each school district has particular application procedures in place, so you must know the teacher certification or licensing requirements of the state board of education in the particular state in which you are seeking a teaching position. Schools and other educational organizations may require a curriculum vitae (CV) instead of a resume. A curriculum vitae should be around three to four pages, as compared to a one-page resume. The average annual salary for high school teachers was $57,200, in May 2015, with teaching job growth due to larger class sizes and increasing student enrollment. Alternatively, focusing on business study via University of Colorado Boulder restaurant management, for example, can help you find a rewarding position in corporate consulting services.
Technical programs are a low-cost alternative to attending a regular four-year university, and you can earn good money as a highly-skilled, technical specialist. By remaining true to your career interests, your overall job earnings will increase as you gain experience. If you're currently employed in a technical field, you may consider Southern Crescent Tech bioengineering classes as an option to advance your career. Massive open online courses are known as MOOCs, utilizing interactive platforms such as Blackboard, and mobile apps. For example, Khan Academy now offers free lecture videos served through YouTube. Then there's Spelman College website design certificate, with enrolled students from around the world.
Multiple Choice Tests - Free Practice!
This section offers practice tests in several subject areas. Each of the following multiple-choice tests
has 10 questions to work on. No sign-up required, just straight to the test.
3D Animation in Engineering
Truss Analysis | Method of Sections
43,709 views
Method-of-sections is a powerful tool facilitating truss analysis of determinate plane trusses. In the following video, method-of-sections is introduced in stepwise manner. The procedure will follow analyzing a truss via diagrams, determination of reaction forces, and equilibrium stasis of joints to determine unknown forces in truss members.
Theories of Failure | Strength of Materials
113,545 views
The following lecture constitutes a good introduction to theories of failure analysis in materials science. Learn more about industrial applications of composite structures as well as materials theory.
How does a Thermal power plant work?
944,281 views
The operation of a thermal power plant is explained via animation in the following video lecture. A conceptual overview of the Rankine cycle is provided, as well as topics such generators, steam turbines, condensers, feed pumps, and boilers. Further, the basic Rankine cycle may be modified to increase productivity, including the use of super-heating, re-heating, and feed water heating.
Understanding Degrees of Freedom
203,254 views
The concept of Degrees of Freedom (DoF) is well-established in the following video lecture, with help of animation of mechanisms involved. The lecture covers degrees of freedom of 4-bar linkages, cam and follower mechanism, and 5-bar linkages.
Kaplan Turbine Working and Design
402,797 views
With help of 3D-animation, the design aspects of Kaplan turbines are elaborated in the following video lecture. Functions of spiral casings, guide vanes, runner blades, and blade pitching are explained. Special importance is given to Kaplan turbine blade design. Kaplan turbines are foremost, in terms of installed capacity for wind-power development.
How does an Alternator Work?
2,000,072 views
The following video gives an elaborate explanation of Alternators and AC Generators. In fact, alternators are also referred to as synchronous generators. Along with the construction details of a generator, functions of slip rings, armature coils, automatic voltage regulators (AVR), and pole cores are included.
Machining | Cutting Velocity Analysis
44,547 views
In the following lecture, an introduction to the mechanics of machining is given. Further, analysis of predicting shear plane angle is detailed.
Washington New Jersey Drama Major Application
Apply to several colleges and universities simultaneously, and if you have the grades and test scores,
give yourself the opportunity to get into an accredited graphic arts program by doing something outstanding in either high school
or community college. Warren County Community College applications may be submitted by using the contact form
at the top of this page. It may be possible to complete some of your major requirements online, saving money on tuition and course fees.
Alternatively, if you're currently employed, you can study line drawing or 3D animation part-time.
It isn't as hard as you might think to find articles in Forbes magazine written about
Chipola College campus address.
An advanced fine arts degree will stick with you for a lifetime, so apply yourself and develop a strong commercial at portfolio, graduating from the best
graphic design program that you can get into.
Warren County Community College has a reputation for academics, allowing you to pursue the degree program that's right for you.
Additionally, career placement services can help you to structure your job search after graduation. If you'd like to request course information,
please use the inquiry form at the top of this page.
Biomedical engineers combine biological research with instrument design to fabricate medical equipment and surgical
devices used in healthcare facilities. Reviewing Carleton College community health can help you to choose elective subjects. The field of biomedicine focuses on the technical requirements of surgery, as well as nursing methodology. Coursework relating to Dakota State University mathematics major degree requirements may include
lab courses such as organic chemistry, biomechanical design, or molecular engineering. Finally, a pharmaceutical internship may be required to gain exposure to the drug development process. The average salary in biomedical engineering was $85,620 in May 2017, according to the US Department of Labor statistics. | {
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ZIP: Mila J – April 2018 (EP)
Mila J releases April 2018 EP – Download Zip
Last month Mila J came throuGh with the February 2018 EP, and today we are seeing April 2018 EP, who knows what next might happen next month, Maybe she might just roll out May 2018 EP aswell but for now check out April 2018 Full EP zip download below, share and enjoy!. | {
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Hi everyone, this is the second IC that ZA organizes, so we really want to invite every editors in the world This IC it’s not different from others, but is really special for our community, we’ll be glad if you want to join us and show us your potential ;D
Judges:-Tritio-Wito -Bir
Rules and other specifications:1. - No logo, no subtitles.2. - The clip must to be edited on your own; it’s forbidden to make use of other people (editor’s) work.3. - It’s forbidden to use of hentai and other stuff that includes excessive violence, racism etc.4. – Length: The Length of the clip must be at least 1 minute and 30 seconds5. – Valid Formats:
-video codec: x264, xvid, divx-Containers: mp4, avi, mkv, wmv
6. - The amv must be uploaded to any host (mediafire, sendspace etc.) and must be sent to the next e-mail: [email protected] with the following info:
-Nick/Username-Category-Download link
Note:The music pack won’t be divided in categories, so: you’ll have to choose the song and the category. For logic, the song and the concept must match with the category.
Dates:Music Pack: Will be released on Thursday March 7th at 24:00hrs Mexico’s time (UTC/GMT -6 hours)Deadline for register: Friday March 8th at 24:00hrs Mexico’s time Video reception: Starts on March 7th and ends on Monday March 11 at 24:00hrs Mexico’s time | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Features |
February 5, 2013
Pay to Play
Read this next
AngelList offers a fresh look at industry comp
While the internet has ushered in an open office – no self-respecting startup would dream of cubicles or a dress code – there remains one aspect of the workplace hidden away, talking money.
With a few notable exceptions, the open discussion of salary is still verboten in the workplace of the future. Which makes an app like AngelList’s newly released Startup Salaries & Equity Finder both an invaluable tool and a great way to feed curiosity.
As part of our reportorial duty (and out of a natural nosiness), we spent a few hours poking around the site – which allows you to filter by job, location, skillset, and market to find the salary dispersal.
Some of our initial findings:
There’s an Apple bump. A mid-level iOS developer can look forward to an average salary of 98k nationwide, whereas a similarly experienced Android dev can only expect an average salary. More notably, the number of available iOS jobs is more than double that of Android.
If fashion’s not your passion, forget it. Of all the markets AngelList tracks, average salaries in the fashion industry rank next-to-last (hardware takes the prize). And forget about equity – it’s the worst in class.
Consider Colorado. Boulder ranks third in average salary, behind only Silicon Valley and San Francisco. Now consider the fact that the cost of living in San Francisco is nearly 50% higher than in Boulder – perhaps it’s time to rethink your relationship with the cold.
Don’t mess with the number crunchers. Thanks to the efforts of big data boosters like Nate Silver and Chris Anderson – andwhoever first coined the term “big data” – skills here come with big rewards. The industry average is $103k and can top $120k.
Looking to feed your salary envy? Check out the site for yourself here. | {
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} |
During the first years of the Baltic Assembly's activities the need for closer links between the Baltic Assembly and the governments of the Baltic States arose.
On 26 January 1992, the Baltic Assembly adopted the Final Document of the First Plenary Meeting by inviting the governments of the Baltic States to prepare interstate agreement with aim of creating a legal basis for mutual cooperation. On 31 October 1993 in Tallinn, the Baltic Assembly adopted Resolution on the Baltic Council by asking the governments of the Baltic States "to draft, as soon as possible a respective tripartite agreement providing for the formation of the Council of Ministers of the Baltic States and its budget." On 25 April 1994, the governments of the Baltic States agreed about the draft Agreement on Baltic cooperation and cooperation formats between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers. On 15 May 1994, the Baltic Assembly adopted Resolution concerning the Draft Agreement on Baltic Cooperation between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania by recommending to sign this Agreement as soon as possible.
On 13 June 1994 in Tallinn, Agreement on Baltic Parliamentary and Governmental Cooperation between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania was signed. The Agreement defined the responsibilities of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers; and designated the Baltic Council as the main forum of both organizations.
As of 2003 the same country holds the presidency in both organizations for one year, thus enabling the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers to identify common priorities and tasks more efficiently and to coordinate the work of their organizational units more successfully. In accordance with the Protocol Amending the Protocol on Cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers, adopted by the 10th Baltic Council on 18 December 2004, the key cooperation forms between both organizations are the following:
Annual meetings of the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers are held during the Baltic Council
Joint meetings of the BA Presidium and the Cooperation Council of the BCM, which is composed of foreign affairs ministers
Report of the Chairman of the Cooperation Council of the BCM about the work accomplished during the year of presidency
Answers to the questions submitted by the members of the Baltic Assembly provided by the Chairman of the Cooperation Council of the BCM
Cooperation among committees and secretariats of both organisations
Cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2019
In 2019, Latvia was holding presidency in the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers. Parliamentary and governmental cooperation focused on three main priorities:
Strengthening security in the region;
Developing regional connectivity with a focus on energy and transport infrastructure and digital agenda;
Promoting common interests within the EU.
On 29 November 2019 in Riga, the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers convened for the 25th Baltic Council to discuss cooperation in security and defence, to review progress in developing regional energy and transport infrastructure projects and to discuss common position of the Baltic States on the 2021-2027 EU Multiannual Financial Framework and to define objectives of Baltic parliamentary and governmental cooperation in 2020. President of the Baltic Assembly and Chairman of the Cooperation Council of the Baltic Council of Ministers signed Joint Statement of the 25th Baltic Council.
Cooperation between the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers in 2020
In 2020, Estonia is holding the presidency in the Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministers.
The Baltic Assembly and the Baltic Council of Ministersjoint priorities for cooperation in 2020:
Protocol amending the Agreement on Baltic Parliamentary and Governmental Co-operation between the Republic of Estonia, the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania on 28 November 2003 in Vilnius, Lithuania | {
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The banger section from the NORA Cup nominated video “Mediocre at Best” has dropped and it features the undeniably smooth, incredibly gnarly, Shadow pro Lahsaan Kobza destroying it. From smooth lines to huge drops, Lahsaan does it all in this wild section. Hit play and watch. | {
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} |
THE WAY THINGS STAND
It's friday night. You haven't gone out in a while. You've rounded up six of your closest friends and you want to have a good time. You feel that tonight can be a complete success or an absolute horror. Choose wisely!!! You've heard of this new club in town
that has an alternative mix of people. You also enjoy going to your favorite club, LUSH.
YOU CAN:
CHOICES
Try the New club. You've never been before, but it will be a change
from your usual routine. You haven't heart much about the club.
Go to LUSH. You know you always have fun when you go to LUSH. It's a sure bet, but you always go to LUSH and
always know what to expect. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Qatar
Qatar paid up to $1bn to release members of its royal family who were kidnapped in Iraq while on a hunting trip, according to people involved in the hostage deal — one of the triggers behind Arab states’ dramatic decision to cut ties with the government in Doha.
Al Jazeera is funded, at least partially, by the Qatari ruling family.
Let’s turn our attention to the underlying activity at issue here: Russia’s hacking into those e-mails and releasing them, and the allegations of collusion. Do you believe Donald Trump colluded with Russia?
President Trump has a magnetic personality and exudes positive energy, which is infectious to those around him. He has an unparalleled ability to communicate with people, whether he is speaking to a room of three or an arena of 30,000. He has built great relationships throughout his life and treats everyone with respect. He is brilliant with a great sense of humor … and an amazing ability to make people feel special and aspire to be more than even they thought possible.
Aftershow
Much like email, which is quite traceable, Bitcoin is pseudonymous, not anonymous. Further, every transaction in the Bitcoin network is tracked and logged forever in the Bitcoin blockchain, or permanent record, available for all to see. As a result, Bitcoin is considerably easier for law enforcement to trace than cash, gold or diamonds.
Show Notes
AJ is close to impeaching his cohosts, similar to how America is close to impeaching Donald J. Trump. We’re talking about impeachment today, and butchering it. Ruchit believes that Mike Pence is the Frank Underwood
Mechanics of Impeachment
If Orin Hatch were to be impeached, how would it go?
Article 2, Section 4: The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Article 1, Section 2, Clause 5: House has the “sole” power of impeachment. Articles of Impeachment are adopted by a simple majority vote in the House
Donald Trump fires Jim Comey
DONALD TRUMP: He made—he made a recommendation, he’s highly respected, very good guy, very smart guy, uh the Democrats like him, the Republicans like him, uh he made a recommendation but regardless of recommendation I was going to fire Comey knowing, there was no good time to do it. And in fact when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story, it’s an excuse by the Democrats for having lost an election that they should have won.
“We want this to come to its conclusion, we want it to come to its conclusion with integrity,” [Huckabee Sanders] said, referring to the FBI’s probe into Moscow’s interference in last year’s election. “And we think that we’ve actually, by removing Director Comey, taken steps to make that happen.”
Everything We Know about this Supreme Court
Sidebars
As the clock ticked — and Freedom Caucus members used tactic after tactic to stall — other lawmakers watched as the chances dimmed for their bills to pass. State Rep. Drew Springer, R-Muenster, delivered a tearful speech begging the chamber to hurry up so it could get to a bill on experimental stem cell treatment that could benefit his wife, who suffered a spinal cord injury. | {
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Twin River is adding self-service kiosks for sports betting
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Twin River Casino is trying to add self-service kiosks for sports betting in time for the start of the NCAA basketball tournament.
The Rhode Island Department of Revenue said this week that testing is on schedule, with the goal of getting them running for March Madness next week.
Twin River is adding 17 kiosks to its Lincoln location and five in Tiverton, which would reduce lines at ticket windows.
Rhode Island is the only New England state that allows betting on sports.
State officials said in February that gamblers had placed $32.8 million in wagers, with $31.6 million paid on winning bets, since the late November launch of sports betting. That leaves $1.2 million in revenue. They're counting on March Madness bets to help meet revenue projections for the fiscal year. | {
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MOBILE WORLD
The New World of Mobiles
Probably most middle age generation will remember the times that the only mode of mobile communication that was possible, just 15 years ago was just by using beepers to receive messages about people who had called.
However with the advent of cellular phones or mobile GSM phones, the concept of communication changed thoroughly to create a different world for every one.
In today’s world, many people use mobile phones and the internet to communicate with each others.
There are several reasons as to why the mobiles have gained such tremendous popularity amongst people worldwide. Imagine the days when there was no mobile and the world talked on landlines. If you have lived in those days you would surely also be aware about the problems that one had to face. Just imagine those cracked voices and wrong numbers and the helplessness of talking from near the phone.
Well, mobiles came in and everything changed and changed drastically. All of a sudden cracked voices, wrong numbers, the torture of talking from near the phone and the helplessness of not being able to talk while on move became a thing of past. Mobiles ensured that communication on phone became extremely smooth and a pleasure. Mobiles can easily be carried and as such talking while on move also became a possibility.
Then again it was not only the call making and receiving facility that offered instead there was a whole range of benefits that can be reaped of a mobile. For the first time people saw a phone that was also a music player. Yes! It was now possible to listen to music on phone. Also was possible was to play games, calculate difficult sums, send and receive SMS, e-mails, video and still photographs and to download picture, video, favourite music and ring tones.
Mobiles come in various colours and sleekest designs and there is a huge variety to select from. It therefore should not come as a surprise to anyone about the mammoth fan following that the mobiles enjoy across the world.
The fact that mobile phone users are increasing day by day cannot be ignored. Today one can find mobile phone users in different layers of the society– from the cute little teen to those oldies, the brainy boss to practical businessman. Perhaps mobile phones are the most sought after communicative device today. With its growing demand as a communicative device these gadgets are also acquiring a special position among the users as a handy alternative for digital cameras.
Consumers can find a plethora of mobile phones with a built-in camera which could satisfy ones photography needs. Virtually all new mobile phones now have a camera whether it may be the basic VGA 0.3 megapixel varieties or the current generation of 21 megapixels. Though very few users use the camera features of the phone for photography in the actual sense, there are many who are quite fond of photo messaging and sharing. Even manufacturers are also in a constant competition to provide the best camera phones in a most bargainable rate.
A Report on USE OF MOBILE DEVICES RISES
A report by Google found that smartphone usage rose 44 percent during the first three months of last year. Smartphone users are relying more on their devices, with 66 percent of people accessing the Internet daily from a cell phone. Since smartphones have become so integral, businesses that have a mobile strategy benefit from constant connectivity with their customers.
According to CNET, there are 2.1 billion Internet users in the world today, which accounts for 30 percent of the world’s population. With mobility, people can now access the Internet wherever they are, and employees can work remotely wherever there is Internet access.
The Google report noted that 80 percent of people don’t leave home without their smartphone. When looking up information on a local business, 94 percent use their smartphone and 90 percent of those people follow it up by contacting the business or making a purchase. People who used their smartphone to make a purchase made up 35 percent or people surveyed.
Seventy percent of people have bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies at their office, said VentureBeat. Workers are increasingly using smartphones, tablets and laptops to conduct their business. With so many employees working outside of the office, mobile virtualization has become a legitimate and necessary option.
A study by Gartner found that 33 percent of office software will be cloud based by 2017. There’s approximately 50 million cloud-based enterprise systems currently. Employees are more frequently conducting work in the cloud, using mobile business applications to create spreadsheets, presentations and documents. Gartner expects cloud computing-based office systems to steadily grow through 2015 and increase speed as service is moved into the cloud and as the average number of devices employees use increases.
Latest mobile phones have taken the mobile phone market by storm with their futuristic features and state-of-the-art technologies. These handsets incorporate all the entertainment options like video playback, music player, camera, etc. These high-end handsets bring various user-friendly features to facilitate all of the user’s tasks. With so many slim and sophisticated gadgets available around, the consumers can select their desired handset according to their preferences. The most reliable brand, Nokia is catering to the needs of all the people. All these advanced technology gadgets have become smart phones with features like document viewer option. These fashion accessories allow you to stand out in the crowd.
Henceforth We shall come up with various aspects and faces as well buying and utility topics related to Mobile Phones in our blog.
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THE GIST
Now We are living in a world of shifting sides, of terrorism enacted by shadowy entities and populations indirectly under arrest by the system and power, of mass restriction of information, freedom, movement, natural resources and, importantly, technology — technology that would remove the need to fight over resources.
today, the endless (unwinnable) War On Terror and numerous false flag attacks have proven to be effective (albeit transparent) ways to drive both corporate profits and tighter legislative controls of the citizen's, literally taking control of the collective consciousness of humanity.
One of the best ways to gain and maintain power over people and support for doing anything is to keep the people in constant fear — in fear of wars, of outsiders, and more recently, of “terrorism”.
If you want to understand how major world events in the past have happened and happening in your nation are by design and not by mistake keep your seats reserved at Arrested Developments.
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AD
Painting: Ramesh Patel, source: www.artzolo.com
DABANGG: means “Courageous and Daring”
Text Widget
This is a text widget. The Text Widget allows you to add text or HTML to your sidebar. You can use a text widget to display text, links, images, HTML, or a combination of these. Edit them in the Widget section of the Customizer. | {
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German Pastry – Nut Rolls – Nussschnecken
In this video I will show you how to make an amazing moist German Pastry named Nussschnecken. “Nuss” means nuts and “Schnecken” is German for snails. But no worries this chewy pastry has no snails in it. The name is inspired by the spiral look of the rolled-up cinnamon bun look-alike pastry. | {
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LONGVILLE MAN LITTERS NATURAL SCENIC RIVER
On Jan. 23, Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents cited a Longville man for allegedly littering on Barnes Creek, which is listed as one of Louisianas Natural Scenic Rivers.
Brandon Harris, 18, was cited for gross littering and for littering a natural scenic river by allegedly dumping 14 bags of trash into Barnes Creek in Beauregard Parish.
Police Juryman Vance Whittington notified agents that he had discovered the trash on the river banks at the Barnes Creek Park in Longville. Agents conducted an investigation through which the trash was linked back to Harris.
Harris admitted to dumping the trash at the park. Because Barnes Creek is designated by the state legislature as a Natural Scenic River, it is protected by special laws dedicated to the preservation of these waterways.
The penalty for gross littering is a fine up to $5,000, up to 100 hours of community service, jail for up to 30 days, possible drivers license suspension for up to one year plus court costs. Littering a Natural Scenic River carries a fine of up to $500, or up to 90 days in jail, or both plus court costs.
Agents participating in the case were Sgt. David Liles, Sgt. Keith Aucoin and Lt. Jesse Savoie. | {
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Meetup Groups
Meetup is international and groups throughout the world. I have founded the Everton New Forest Photo & Art meetup group aimed at going out with others taking photographs for fun,
from beginner to advanced, and for artists to join in and possibly scetch. I also belong to a number of other meetup groups in the south. | {
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} |
Barnes & Noble to sling their Nook - report
As Barnes & Noble prepare investors for disappointing quarterly results on Thursday, the company will move away from making hardware and put more emphasis on shifting digital books, a New York Times source says.
The company - America's biggest bookseller and the maker of the Nook tablet - has announced that yearly revenue for the Nook division (device sales and ebooks) will be below the $3bn predicted, and that the division will once again make a loss. B&N issued the advice ahead of its full Q3 results on Thursday.
B&N had a total revenue of £7.1bn in the fiscal year 2012. Revenue from Nook sales and digital content sales in 2012 was $933m for the full year in 2012, with the division making an overall loss of $261.7m. It seems like the division was unable to pull off the tripling of sales expected this year, and crucially, that the division was unable to turn a profit.
Recent holiday results for the Christmas just gone showed Nook section revenues fell by 12.6 per cent in the nine-week period to Christmas, compared to the year before. It was the device that was dragging profits down: digital content sales increased 13.1 per cent, but Nook device unit sales declined compared to the prior year.
Since the tablet was launched in 2009, Barnes & Noble has put significant investment into producing the Nook hardware and platform. But it looks like the forthcoming gloom will force the bookseller to change its policy:
“They are not completely getting out of the hardware business, but they are going to lean a lot more on the comprehensive digital catalog of content" said the NYT source.
The death of the Nook hardware would remove one small-scale competitor from the cut-throat tablet market, where it is hard to compete against Amazon, Apple and Google. B&N's deal with Microsoft in April last year could signal a direction for the Nook as a etail store rather than a physical device. ® | {
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WHAT THE BROKER SAYS:
“The search was a little tougher than I expected because they were looking for a two-bedroom for less than $3,000, but they were awesome and responsive to all my e-mails. I saw a lot of places that were dark and small, nothing that I felt comfortable putting a couple and a child in, but this one was a great find.”
WHAT THE CLIENTS LIKED:Christine: “The kitchen’s nice and clean—there’s counter space. The master bedroom’s big enough for my drafting table.
It feels like a real home, this one. I like this area—it’s quieter. Where we are now is noisy
at night. We hear the college students screaming for world peace, and I support that,
but . . . ” Andrew: “I like it. I like it quite
a bit.” Christine: “It’s got a nice charm
to it. As soon as I saw the
façade outside, my heart started beating.” Andrew: “What I really like is that Josie would have a room
of her own. And we’d have
a nice-size one. But the price
is ‘to be determined’?”
WHAT THEY DIDN’T:Christine: “I love it—but there’s no tub! I’m bummed about
the tub! It may seem so minimal to someone else, but Josie
loves baths.” Andrew: “Sooner or later she’s going to have to learn to take
a shower, right?” Christine: “The living room
has no place for a dining table,
and there’s no place to put
it in the kitchen. We’d have
to eat Japanese style.” | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
AnyTrans – Helps You Delete Bookmarks on iPad
Download AnyTrans to enjoy the powerful features on iOS content management after reading this guide on how to delete bookmarks on iPad.
Q: "Updated iPad to 8.1. On safari now I have a bookmark/reading list/link column on left of screen. It takes up about 1/3 of the screen and I want to delete it. I can not figure out how to do so."
-- A User from Apple Stackexchange
Surfing the Internet on an Apple iPad has become more and more popular and convenient. iPad is equipped with a built-in Safari browser and the ability to add bookmarks. Bookmarks let you save favorite URLs, frequently visited websites, and all others. By simply clicking the bookmarks toolbar on iPad, you don't need to type a site address over and over again to visit it every time.
However, after you have piled up many bookmarks or you thing some websites you previously bookmarked are no longer meaningful, you can delete them with the following two methods.
Method 1. How to Delete Bookmarks on iPad from Safari
Step 1. Open your Safari Browser on iPad.
Step 2. Tap the "Bookmarks" button, which looks like a little-book situated on top.
Step 3. Hit "Edit" button located on bottom right corner.
Step 4. Click the Minus signs next to the bookmark. Tap Delete, and then Done.
Image Credit: sharechair.wordpress.com
Note: If you need to mass delete bookmarks on iPad, you can get a fast & quick way in the next part – with the help of AnyTrans.
Method 2. How to Delete Bookmarks on iPad with AnyTrans
AnyTrans is a professional iPhone iPad file manager that allows you to manage your iPad content on computer. You can massively delete bookmarks and search histories on your iPad. It is also capable of accessing iCloud backup, and you can view bookmarks, notes, messages, and contacts in iCloud backup and even export them to computer. Moreover, it supports transferring photos, videos, music, notes, contacts, messages, bookmarks, and more from iPad to computer as backup.
Step 1. Download AnyTrans and install it on computer. Run AnyTrans, and connect your iPad to computer with a USB cable.
Step 2. Scroll down to click Safari, and choose Bookmarks.
How to Delete iPad Bookmarks with AnyTrans – Step 2
Step 3. Select the bookmarks you want to delete, and click the trash icon on the top right corner.
The Bottom Line
In order to better manage your Apple Devices content, you can download AnyTrans to have a try. If you have any questions on this guide, please leave a comment in the below section. Don't forget to share this post with your friends if it is helpful. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The new stream-lined outside-waistband OWB Hot Rod Vertical Holster for Beretta 92FS/96FS was built from the Alpha Holster chassis and then stripped down for a reduced kydex footprint. With its extremely minimal presence and maximum comfort, the Hot Rod is like the “summer” version of other larger pancake-style holsters. The vertical non-canted grip angle was added as an option based on customer feedback and is compatible for IDPA competition use. Added benefit- the Hot Rod Holster is perfect for running handguns with threaded barrels! Assembled and finished with the attention to detail and quality construction you can always expect from DSG brand gear. | {
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} |
This soup is made almost entirely in the slow cooker so you can sit back and not worry about cooking. The only thing you have to do is purée half of it — but you can do that directly in the slow cooker if you have an immersion blender. Get the recipe.
This soup is made almost entirely in the slow cooker so you can sit back and not worry about cooking. The only thing you have to do is purée half of it — but you can do that directly in the slow cooker if you have an immersion blender. Get the recipe.
This soup is made entirely in one pot and cooks in less than one hour. Most of the time will be spent waiting for the beans to soften, so if you want a dinner you can walk away from as it cooks, this is your recipe. Get the recipe.
This soup is made entirely in one pot and cooks in less than one hour. Most of the time will be spent waiting for the beans to soften, so if you want a dinner you can walk away from as it cooks, this is your recipe. Get the recipe. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The smell of car exhaust and coal and tar, the smell
of sap and vitriol
The smell of squalor, diapers, dogwood blooms, the
smell of sex
The smell of sharkskin, selfishness, anemones, the
smell of wine
The smell of eucalyptus, locust droves, axel grease,
and lemon rinds
The smell of boiling bones, of caulking and pickle
barrel brine
The smell of goldenrod and ragweed, paint fumes,
rotten fruit
The smell of sweetened gelatin, cream puffs,
fresh-baked bread
The smell of gunpowder, oily, oak hewn hulls,
hydrogen peroxide
The smell of diesel, tar, mud flats, cat clay, peat
moss, gasoline
The smell of weariness, of dog-tiredness, of autumn
in the wind:
Forgetting is a measure of the heart in a city that’s
found at rest.
This
series of poems looks at the smells, sights, sounds
of mid-nineteenth century America, in New York (around Newtown Creek,
Brooklyn)
partially through the eyes of Peter Cooper, at once abolitionist and
candidate
for the U.S. Presidency, pre-Gilded Age self-made man, railroad, steel,
and
manufactory entrepreneur and social reformer interested in the rights of
working men and women, but also a grand polluter of the New York
waterways. The 14 poems are written in 14 lines each, using a loose
sonnet form, as well as echoing the Persian ghazal (using the name of a
persona
within the poem), with an emphasis on the smelly things we pass every
day living
in the city. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The department of medical science presents, through bachelor and diploma majors, lots of important majors that interested in medical aspect. Students are trained on the latest practical technologies in order to keep up with age development and community needs. Hence they are qualified to work within a large scale of private and public institutions such as hospitals and medical sections that follow municipalities, ministry of supply and food testing laboratories and that under the supervision of a special commission which has an advanced efficiency and extended experience. | {
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Believe it or Not? You tell us
This website has always been about sports other than AFL, however the verdict of “Not Guilty” by the AFL’s internal Anti Doping Tribunal into the alleged doping of players at Essendon Football club has caused us to dedicate one story to this issue.
First of all was any other outcome ever likely? Seriously, were the AFL ever going to find a club as big as, and with as much history as Essendon guilty and then possibly have to expel them from the competition? For those outside of the tight-knit AFL propaganda wheel this was never going to happen.
Despite not covering this sport, it has been common knowledge amongst most people in the media that the drug testing in the AFL has been some of the slackest in Australian sport. Rumours abound of clubs being tipped off that certain players are due to be tested and the clubs telling those players not to come to training, so they cannot be tested; another player then being tested in their place. Why have they not gone to said player’s house and tested him? Then there were rumours of players who did test positive being told that they had a “hamstring strain” and would have to sit out a few weeks until they could be tested again and were clean.
The Tribunal found that there was “insufficient evidence” to uphold the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority’s belief that the 34 past and present Bombers were injected with the banned drug Thymosin beta-4 during 2012. Which many will read to say there was evidence, but the AFL felt not enough to tarnish their competition or expel one of their top clubs.
Not surprisingly the Australian Sports Anti Doping Association (ASADA) were very disappointed with the findings; although they honestly cannot be surprised as when it comes to this sport in Australia the normal rules do not apply. After all it is called our “national game” when clearly other sports have far more right to be named as such.
ASADA CEO Ben McDevitt has said that he was disappointed by the decision and still insists that Essendon’s behaviour in 2012 was “absolutely and utterly disgraceful.” “It was not a supplements programme but an injection regime and the players and the fans were so poorly let down by the club,” he said in a statement released by ASADA. ASADA will hold a press conference tomorrow and still have 21 days in which to take up the right to appeal the decision, although one wonders what good that will do.
So as a sports fan do you believe this verdict? We would love to hear what the average fan thinks, and whether the AFL by reaching this decision have in fact further harmed their credibility.
Personally believe guilty as hell, and as you say because it is AFL swept under the carpet and all the AFL puppets like every presenter at the ABC will praise the sport for sorting it out. It is not the Number 1 sport in Australia, Football, Netball and Cricket are all ahead on every level, so lets stop pretending! Would love one of these to start using that as a tag line – Australia’s number one sport! That would shut AFL up, as then they would have to actually justify why another code cannot use that term, and they would have to be honest re participation numbers. | {
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Sunday, May 25, 2008
Dead tired...
This will probably be short and sweet.
I said I would show what I picked up at our thrift store outing, so here we go:
Set of sheets - New - $5
Quilt - hand quilted $5
Close-up
Can you believe someone would basically throw this away? I always wonder about things like that. Who made it? Did they give it to someone who really didn't know how much time and love was put into it? Maybe it's just me.
Now, I hate to put ya'll through this, but I'm also using my blog to show my progress on my remodeling projects. That's why I'm so tired. I finished taking down all the wallpaper in the master bath, cut the sheetrock to put in cement backerboard and was going to replace the faucets when I found a leak...so now all progress is halted there until the plumber comes...there's only so much I can do...plumbing and electricity are the two I don't mess with!
So I went to the kids/guest bath and started work in there. I got all the wallpaper off, and now that I can't use the master bath, 'Bama girl and I are sharing this one. Fun times! NOT!
This is what we're sharing!
Auburn Guy is thinking about coming home for a visit...maybe he should read this and think twice!
Ugly wallpaper...what was I thinking?
Well, enough of that! At least for tonight. And I'm really having trouble getting this to space right, it's double spacing everything. I'm beginning to have a complex...nothing is going right! And yes, I know I use {...}'s too much...sorry! I write the way I talk!
You need to relax and do something fun! Maybe go thrifting again. You have great thrift stores! Ours are so so in Riverside. Or else I don't look often enough.
I wish I had your energy. My house is a mess and I'm blogging and reading blogs and being lazy. I have to work soon because I want the house painted inside before hot weather hits. I better get up off my buttina!
So do you think you could stand meeting me - my son in love has to come over and help open the Chili's in Decatur and I said I want to come and see if my blog friend will meet me for dinner, maybe I can bring Valerie. He said yes and he will make sure we get the royal treatment.What do you think?Lorie
WOW !! You are an industrious gal!!! Those renovation projects would probably send me over the deep end.... you go girl!!! I'm sure your bathrooms and whatever else you decide to tackle will come out GREAT!!.....oh, and did you EVER strike the mother lode with that quilt!!! Five BUCKS ?!?!?! WOW ! | {
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Rd 1: Five things we’ve learnt in five games
The Sydney Roosters title defence got off to a painful start with a twenty point defeat to rivals South Sydney. SBW looks like he could be out for a few weeks following a shoulder charge. They should account for a new Eels side next week, but face the Broncos on Friday night in Brisbane and Sea Eagles in round four. The latter two sides will be keen to knock off the defending Premiers.
2. 40/20 fully rewards the attacking side
When Penrith’s Jamie Soward sent a long 40/20 kick down Newcastle’s end of the field at SportingBet Stadium yesterday, the Panthers received a ‘tap’ restart and were instantly rewarded through a try to Josh Mansour. What we could see in the next few months as the season progresses, teams will be quicker at restarting after this kind of play. Yesterday there was some confusion as to whether it would be a scrum feed under the new rules. That will disappear over time.
3. Never write off the Storm
Manly turned up for forty minutes and were cruising to victory. Melbourne without Cooper Cronk still managed to claw their way back into the game. A golden point field goal to Cameron Smith and the game went to the Storm. Anyone doubting the ageing Storm side would have sat up and taken note of the incredible performance.
4. Canberra might go well with new management
No one expected the Raiders to be anywhere near the Cowboy’s at full-time in their pre-game predictions. Through some passion and guts shown by the visitors, not only did they lead, but looked certain to provide an upset. JT lived up to his best and the Cowboys got home. Kudos to the Raiders, but that type of effort will be required week-in, week-out. They face the Knights away next Sunday.
5. Canterbury depth will be tested
The Bulldogs missed Sam Kasiano and Krisnan Inu. Inu’s replacement Corey Thompson tried hard but was not in the class of Inu. As for Kasiano, he could have been handy to back up Frank Pritchard. Pritchard lifted the team mid-way through the second half when it looked certain the Dogs would finish the better of the two teams. The Dog’s can’t afford to have too many long-term injuries otherwise their campaign may be over before it starts. | {
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Jada Pinkett Smith: ‘I would love to see ‘A Different World’ back on TV’
It’s hard to believe A Different World went off the air 20 years ago. The TV sitcom which aired from 1987-1993 on NBC, and centered on the life of students at the fictional Hillman College, remains a source of inspiration for people still today.
It’s hard to believe A Different World went off the air nearly 20 years ago. However, the TV sitcom, which aired on NBC from 1987-1993, and centered on the life of students at the fictional Hillman College, still remains a source of inspiration for many people today.
Jada Pinkett Smith starred as Lena James on the series for two seasons and says that she would love to see a rebooted version of A Different World back on TV.
“I would love to see something like A Different World back on television,” Pinkett Smith told theGrio’s Chris Witherspoon. “I would love to see kids of color back in school, and what college life is like, and the trials of going into the world with a college diploma, and what does that mean today versus what it meant during the era [in] which we were doing a different world.”
“I would love to re-ignite that world again,” she continued.
Last year the legendary producer and choreographer Debbie Allen made headlines when she took to Twitter to reveal that she wanted to reboot A Different World, the show which she executive produced for five seasons.
“We need to recap this groundbreaking series that is so missed in TV today…can I get an AMEN #ADifferentWorld,” Allen tweeted.
Pinkett Smith says that this time around she wouldn’t want to star in A Different World, but would rather serve as producer.
Up next Pinkett Smith will produce a remake of Annie, along with her husband Will Smith and rapper Jay-Z. The Smith’s daughter, Willow, was originally slated to play Annie, however weeks ago it was announced that 9-year-old Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis had been cast in the lead role.
“We love Ms. Wallis,” Pinkett Smith said. “I think that this is going to be a very powerful film in its own right. We’re very excited to have her on board for this project.”
Annie is planned for release during the 2014 holiday season, and Pinkett Smith said the film will definitely have some hip-hop flavor.
“There will definitely be some hip-hop elements to it. We’re still working out all of the details as far as the musical approach, the choreography and all that, but definitely there will be some hip-hop elements.” | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Malaysia
About NCSI (Malaysia)
In line with NCS' regional expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, NCS Malaysia was established to spearhead our business growth in the country. The local office also complements the resource needs of other NCS subsidiaries in the delivery of IT projects.
NCS Malaysia is committed to building IT infrastructure and application solutions that deliver long-term value without a cost premium. We also constantly strive for improvement and innovation to ensure that our products and services are always aligned with market demands. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Daniel June: Practicing to Master
Practicing to Master
This is an essay I’m writing out to help structure my practicing schedule. I am going to sit on it for a while—just a rough draft. Your feedback is welcome.
Postmodern writing lacks content, other than its obfuscating style, and this is consistent for Derrida, Lacan, Delueze, where the main message is in how it is side, not in important ideas, but in a sneering attitude. The tone is clear, though the ideas are not, a sort of mood music, an incantation or magical spell over the intellectuals, a style aiming to paralyze, bully, and ultimately seduce the weak to join the intellectual bully. Postmodernism, which could be called the rise of the mediocre, or slave morality gone intellectual, is best ended by the tyranny of a master morality and its discipline: great art requires great practice – and greatness is the only proper goal to a noble man.
Great prose takes much practice, and not only practice at writing, but the creation of a strong consciousness able to face the biting truth of reality, and sooth it into eloquence. Style is the setting of a piece, the tone and mood. More than anything else, a world is defined by the consciousness which creates it, the style of consciousness that structures it into an experience. Within one universe, there may be as many worlds as there are perspectives. The strongest minds will be able to reduce it to simplicity, to directly express its nature. In this, ornament is central, for just as syntax and grammar imitate the moves and attempts of a mind in time, so too does ornament and rhetoric evoke the heart that supports and feeds the mind in action.
A walk through the woods is richer if you know the names of trees: names allow a man to see individual things separate from their surroundings. The ability to name a thing requires eyes that see without words, a vision that knows how to paint an object into existence by naming it.
Language becomes a playing field, a recess of the mind from the work of life, with the joy of syntax, the idiosyncrasies of diction, the poetical densities, the genius of the perfect word, and the resonance of words with words, the long strong focus required to construct a period, balanced with antithesis, climax, and even teased out with rhymes, puns, and subtle games of self-reference, such as a sentence within a sentence, a play within a play, a god before the mirror, a child giving birth to herself.. What is deep speaks to what is deep; what is superficial speaks to what is superficial: we must be masters of both: the depth of truth, and the superficiality of beauty.
Read your work out loud several times, and read your favorite authors the same way. Combine all the senses, especially voice and vision. Style is joy, the joy of personality. A personality is nothing more than a conscious style. Mind is a willing, unified, changing, self-owned focus, but it is language insofar as it thinks in time, through images, and the handles it places on them, words, names, or images, so to skip from one to the next easily.
Master morality requires the antidemocratic morality, the morality of subordinating that which produces more subordinated, and ordinating that which produces more ordinated. This is de facto life, each man resolves into his place, like a marble down a hill, finding his nook to perch, as high as he can, but more importantly, as stable as he can.
Cut your works by 50%, read them aloud, construct your sentences in parallel construction, plan your essays as an architect plans a building, prefer the thing to the commentary of the thing, and show thing in such a way that the commentary silently shows itself, be specific, be likeable if you can, but authentic even if you cannot, write about people, use anecdotes, examples, quotes, and quotations. Over years of work, develop a theme.
It becomes apparent over an author’s career the undersense of a theme in his work. More and more his novels resolve to retelling the same story over and over again. Melville’s quest repeats through all his work, Whitman’s motherdeath romance never leaves him.
Aristotle wrote that “no great genius was ever without some mixture of madness, nor can anything grand or superior to the voice of common mortals be spoken except by the agitated soul.” You must take your whole life, subordinate the difficult, but do not cut it off nor cut off the best in deference to it. The allistic method is to use all, leave each part as much itself as possible, but relate all things to a larger schema. Your goals must be cemented together into one goal, hardened into a unified purpose.
Each man shines brightest in one narrow direction; his success is in aligning that light to the world, and working especially through that aspect. Every style is based on a trick, a sort of metatrope, by which, once mastered, you could predict him. In the same way, the skeleton of a situation is transparent enough to the piercing eye, but a full ambience requires a lifetime of study.
True practice is struggling at the edge of your ability, to continually test yourself, to plan on it, to stretch yourself further and further, to set yourself to make many honest mistakes, and to continually wrestle to overcome them. In this way, your skill circuits in your brain will be well-myelinated, and you can exact the best effect from a little bet of practice. Practice a new style, a new trick a new idea, slowly, perfect, and then build up moment. Set yourself for immediate critical feedback, a ruthless commentary on your work – get that coach and internalize him. Practice deeply and obsessively. Practice in the boiler room: make conditions as difficult as possible. Minimize the slack space, so your practice is much harder than the performance you must make.
See the gestalt, and break it into smaller bits, which you can repeat each till you have mastered them. Break a skill into small circuit – cut up your poems, memorize the small parts. Slow your sentence down – take a day on a single phrase. Observe, judge, and strategize your performance: coach yourself. Learn to feel what optimum practice is, and sink into it every time.
Your long term self image, how you imagine yourself in the end, determines your success more than anything: let this image become your eidolon, a symbol of your purpose.
The unconscious can compute 11 million pieces of information per second, the conscious only 40 pieces: so practice continually to make it all second nature. Acquire that one powerful idea that moves everything else in your life, and tie it into your primal drives for survival, importance, and love.
Even Whitman, a loafer who slept late, and was lax with his schedules, was “all urgency and strain when it came to his writings.” So you must economize your mental energy, herd it away even from duty, and let your slowly building reservoirs of stay energy by directed again to the same goals. Energy slowly builds until it is ready to burst, and we seldom get excited about what we expected to, but if we learn to reinterpret every novel excitement as a part of the same immortal goal, we will have maximized our effort towards it. The ability to interpret a book becomes again our greatest tool in structuring our own lives.
It takes 10, 000 hours of deliberate practice to master an art: monomania wins the day. Learn to practice as effectively as possible. | {
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Fidget Cube Set with Zipper Box and Case
Whether you want a fidget cube to help keep your hands busy so your mind can be still or simply want to be part of the latest trend; for an affordable, high-quality fidget cube with a case to keep it looking it's best you won't find a better option than this fun Fidget Cube and Case. With super soft buttons that are comfortable to press and durable enough to withstand being pressed often, the case will protect the edges for an overall long-lasting toy. Offering 11 color combinations to choose from, be part of the latest trend without breaking the bank. | {
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Creative Market – February Big Bundle
Work with the same tools as the world’s top designers! Show your love for creativity with 97% off 91 beautiful design products worth $1,481 for just $39! The WordPress themes in this bundle are licensed under GPL. All other bundle items come with our Standard License.
The Creative Market February Big Bundle is valued at $1,481, but you can pick it up today for just $39. They’ve handpicked 91 top products from the marketplace for this very special bundle. Download and use your products right away and access them any time via your Creative Market account. This deal is available for a limited time only! | {
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Cam Newton honors son with dabbing shirt and cleats (Photo)
The Carolina Panthers are looking to advance to the NFC Championship today when they host the Seattle Seahawks in the second NFC Divisional playoff game. Cam Newton has been known to love dabbing and everyone knows he loves to wear hilarious shirts. Before the game, Newton rocked a shirt that only he would wear. A shirt that involves father and son emojis dabbing.
That's simply incredible. Well played by Newton to have that custom made by Under Armour. A nice touch to give a subtle shout out to his newborn son named Chosen. He gave a far less subtle shout out to his child by putting his name on his cleats.
Cam Newton hopes to lead his Panthers past the Seahawks in a rematch from October. The Panthers won that game 27-23 after coming back from a 20-14 deficit. Newton completed 20 of 36 passes that day for 269 passing yards. He threw one touchdown and two interceptions while running for another touchdown. Russell Wilson threw for one touchdown while completing 18-of-30 for 241 yards.
The winner of this game moves on to face the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship after the Cardinals won a wild one in Arizona.
See photos of Cam Newton
27PHOTOS
Cam Newton through his career
See Gallery
Cam Newton honors son with dabbing shirt and cleats (Photo)
Auburn quarterback Cam Newton helps fire up his team prior to the start of the fourth quarter against Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, on Friday, November 26, 2010. The energy served his team well as Auburn rallied to defeat Alabama, 28-27. (Photo by Robin Trimarchi/Columbus Ledger-Enquirer/MCT via Getty Images)
NEW YORK - DECEMBER 11: 2010 Heisman Trophy candidate Cam Newton of the Auburn University Tigers speaks at a press conference at The New York Marriott Marquis on December 11, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 11: Quarterback Cam Newton of the Auburn University Tigers speaks after being named the 76th Heisman Memorial Trophy Award winner at the Best Buy Theater on December 11, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for The Heisman)
NEW YORK , NY - DECEMBER 12: ( L- R ) Bo Jackson (1985), Cam Newton (2010) and Pat Sullivan (1971) the three Heisman Trophy winners from the Auburn University Tigers pose during a portrait session on December 12, 2010 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: Photographer approval needed for all Commercial License requests. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Getty Images for the Heisman)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 27: Cam Newton passes the ball during the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 27, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - CIRCA 2011: In this handout image provided by the NFL, Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers poses for his NFL headshot circa 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by NFL via Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers quarterbacks Derek Anderson, left, and rookie Cam Newton stand on the sideline during the first quarter against the New York Giants at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina, Saturday, August 13, 2011. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT via Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks downfield for a pass in their game on Sunday, November 27, 2011, in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Panthers won the game 27-19. (Sam Riche/MCT via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - DECEMBER 11: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers meets Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons after the game at Bank of America Stadium on December 11, 2011 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Falcons defeated the Panthers 31 to 23. (Photo by Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - FEBRUARY 04: Professional Football Player Cam Newton speaks during the 2012 NFL Honors at the Murat Theatre on February 4, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton answers questions from the media following the team's game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 7, 2012, at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Seahawks won, 16-12. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT via Getty Images)
Carolina Panthersquarterback Cam Newton grimaces as his left ankle is tended to by team personnel following an injury in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, Sunday, December 30, 2012. The Panthers defeated the Saints, 44-38. (Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - AUGUST 09: Quarterback Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers takes the field before a preseason NFL game against Chicago Bears at Bank of America Stadium on August 9, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 24-17. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 22: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers stands on the sidelines with his trademark Gatorade towel during the final minute of a win over the New York Giants during play at Bank of America Stadium on September 22, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 38-0. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - OCTOBER 20: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on October 20, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 18: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers warms up for a game against the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium on November 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers won 24-20. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 18: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates with fans after the game against the New England Patriots at Bank of America Stadium on November 18, 2013 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - JANUARY 12: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers celebrates after a touchdown pass to Steve Smith #89 in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Bank of America Stadium on January 12, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 31: Cam Newton rings the closing bell at New York Stock Exchange on January 31, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Steve Zak Photography/WireImage)
SANTA MONICA, CA - FEBRUARY 15: NFL player Cam Newton attends Cartoon Network's Hall of Game Awards at Barker Hangar on February 15, 2014 in Santa Monica, California. (Photo by David Livingston/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 21: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers makes his entrance against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the game at Bank of America Stadium on September 21, 2014 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - SEPTEMBER 20: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers during their game at Bank of America Stadium on September 20, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FL - OCTOBER 04: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers runs across the field after the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 4, 2015 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 02: Cam Newton #1 of the Carolina Panthers takes the field before their game against the Indianapolis Colts at Bank of America Stadium on November 2, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) | {
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World Bank Unveils XL Africa, a Business Accelerator That Will Invest Between $250,000 And $1.5M To Startups
The World Bank Group launched XL Africa (www.XL-Africa.com), a five-month business acceleration program designed to support the 20 most promising digital start-ups from Sub-Saharan Africa. Start-ups will receive mentoring from global and local experts, learn through a tailor-made curriculum, increase their regional visibility, and get access to potential corporate partners and investors. With support from prominent African investment groups, XL Africa will help the 20 selected start-ups attract early stage capital between $250,000 and $1.5 million.
“Digital start-ups are important drivers of innovation in Africa,” says Makhtar Diop, Vice President for the Africa Region at the World Bank.“To scale and spread new technologies and services beyond borders, they need an integrated ecosystem that provides access to regional markets and global finance; pan-African initiatives like XL Africa play a critical role by linking local start-ups with corporations and investors across the continent.”
The program comes at a time of increasing interest in the African digital sector. According to a recent report by Disrupt Africa, in 2016, the number of tech start-ups that secured funding increased by 16.8% compared to 2015.
“XL Africa aims to put a spotlight on the continent’s growing digital economy by scouting for and supporting the most innovative tech start-ups,” said Klaus Tilmes, Director of the Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice at the World Bank Group. “The success of these ventures will create a demonstration effect that can attract much-needed growth investment in the sector and catalyze scaling of transnational businesses in the region.”
The program’s flagship activity includes a two-week residency in Cape Town, South Africa, where the ventures will have the opportunity to interact with and learn from their mentors, peers, and local partners. The Cape Town residency will conclude with the Venture Showcase, a regional event in which the entrepreneurs will present their business models to a select audience of corporations and investors.“The program’s unique combination of targeted mentorship and access to investors represents a vital resource for digital ventures ready to grow,” said Lexi Novitske, Principal Investment Officer for Singularity Investments, a venture group based in Lagos, Nigeria. “By connecting innovative business ideas with the knowledge and resources available in the ecosystem, XL Africa will create a pipeline of investment-ready companies, unlocking better investment opportunities for regional and global investors.” | {
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Layoff Costs Pared Profit at Times Co. in 4th Quarter
The New York Times Company said yesterday that its fourth-quarter profit fell 41 percent, largely because of expenses related to job cuts.
Net income fell to $64.8 million, or 45 cents a share, compared with $110.2 million, or 75 cents a share, in the quarter a year earlier. Total revenue in the period rose 3 percent, to $931 million.
Excluding one-time items, the results beat estimates based on a forecast the company issued late last month, and its shares rose 81 cents, or about 3 percent, to $28.12. They are down about 29 percent over the last year.
The company announced that it was raising its rates for home delivery of The New York Times by about 4 percent, starting Feb. 6. The seven-day rate in the New York metropolitan area will rise to $9.65 a week, up from $9.25; rates outside the metropolitan region are higher.
At The New York Times Media Group, which includes the flagship newspaper, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune, NYTimes.com and the radio station WQXR, advertising gained 7.9 percent in the quarter. In a conference call with investors, Janet L. Robinson, the chief executive, attributed the gains to an increase in color printing capacity and to strength in the transportation, telecommunications and financial services sectors.
But advertising revenue at the company's New England media group, which includes The Boston Globe, fell by 3.8 percent, largely because of weaknesses in the automotive, home furnishings, travel and department store categories, a reflection of the sluggish Massachusetts economy. In addition, revenue in the broadcast group fell 10.2 percent because of lower levels of political advertising.
Over all, advertising for the entire company rose 6.2 percent, to $653.9 million, largely because of strong revenue in December. But the company said that January had been off to a slow start.
Total revenue from circulation fell 2.3 percent, to $218 million. It was down 1.3 percent at The Times media group, down 7.4 percent at the New England media group and up 1.7 percent at the regional papers.
The company's digital properties, which include About.com, NYTimes.com, Boston.com and the Web sites of 15 regional papers, generated $198 million in revenue, accounting for about 6 percent of the company's total.
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Total costs and expenses were up 12.6 percent in the quarter, to $809.7 million, largely because of costs related to job cutbacks and stock-based compensation, which the company began expensing in 2005. In addition, newsprint expense rose 9.1 percent.
The company announced in September that it would cut 500 jobs, many of which have been achieved through buyouts. The cuts will save $50 million to $70 million by 2007, depending on the seniority of the employees who leave and when they do so.
The increase in the price of home delivery of The Times is expected to generate $7 million to $8 million in additional revenue in 2006.
Lauren Rich Fine, an analyst with Merrill Lynch, raised an eyebrow at the price increase. She said that while The Times had been able to raise its price in the past without much decline in circulation, "the paper is getting relatively expensive," especially outside New York. She also said that while subscriptions to the national edition continued to expand after the last price increase in 2002, they probably would expand more slowly after the next one.
Executives said in the conference call that they expected minimal fall-off because the price increase was modest and the paper was offering more coverage than it did in 2002, including Thursday Styles, the Escapes section on Fridays and T: The New York Times Style Magazine, as well as enhanced coverage of the arts, travel, business and real estate.
They said that they expected business to improve this year, with the television stations benefiting from more advertising during the Olympics and the midterm elections. They predicted advertising rates in 2006 would climb about 5 percent at The Times and about 3 percent at The Globe and other regional papers.
They also expect double-digit revenue and operating profit growth from About.com, where advertising revenue climbed about 51 percent in the quarter over same period a year ago. And they expect a new sports magazine, called Play, which is to make its debut on Super Bowl Sunday on Feb. 5, and appear four times this year, to provide advertisers with a new audience.
Correction: January 26, 2006, Thursday An article in Business Day yesterday about fourth-quarter financial results for The New York Times Company referred imprecisely to revenue generated by the company's digital properties. The $198 million figure was for all of 2005, not just the fourth quarter. | {
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(1) In a decision announced late on May 17, Colombia’s Constitutional Court appears to have dealt a severe blow to implementation of the FARC peace accord. In a 5–3 vote, the magistrates did away with key parts of “fast track,” the special legislative authority the Court approved last December to allow swift passage of laws to enact the November 2016 peace accord’s commitments.
The new changes result from the Court’s consideration of a suit brought by Iván Duque, a senator from the opposition party led by former president Álvaro Uribe, the peace accord’s most vocal opponent. The Court struck down the ability to get a vote on a full bill without amendments or modifications (votar en bloque, similar to how the U.S. Congress approved free-trade agreements in the 1990s and 2000s). It also struck down a requirement that the executive branch approve of changes to implementing laws under “fast-track” (a protection against changes that might violate the accord’s commitments). The decision does not undo the few peace-implementation laws that have already passed, like the amnesty for ex-guerrillas not accused of war crimes.
Without “fast track,” the danger is that Colombia’s Congress might treat what was agreed after four years of negotiations in Havana as a mere suggestion. Legislative wrangling could delay, change unrecognizably, or quietly kill some of the government’s accord commitments.
We still need to see the actual text of the decision to interpret the potential damage. In the meantime, here is a sample of what analysts are saying.
The government’s lead negotiator in the FARC talks, Humberto de la Calle, said the Court’s decision “opens the door to a cascade of modifications to what was agreed,” calling it a “swindle.”
Juanita León and Tatiana Duque of La Silla Vacíadiscuss the “hard blow” that the Court’s decision represents for the peace accord’s implementation, which they say is a “triumph” for Uribe’s right-wing opposition party. On the bright side, though, León and Duque say that congressional deliberation and compromise might restore to the accord some of the credibility it lost when voters rejected it by a 50.2 to 49.8 percent margin in an October 2, 2016 plebiscite.
“The legalistic complexity of the debate is such that few Colombians have managed to understand the devastating effects that this decision has on the future of peace in Colombia,” wroteSemana columnist María Jimena Duzán.
Rodrigo Uprimny, a much-cited legal scholar from the think-tank DeJusticia, believes the decision was “legally incorrect” and worries that it might “make accord implementation slower and harder, as political groups opposed to or skeptical of peace could use the ability to introduce changes, and to vote article by article, to attempt, in bad faith, to block the accord’s implementation.”
Semana magazine lays out seven pessimistic effects that the decision will have on the peace process, concluding that “the ball is now in Congress’s court” at a bad time–just 10 months before the next quadrennial legislative elections.
(2) President Juan Manuel Santos visited Washington and met with Donald Trump at the White House. Trump appeared not to have been well-briefed about Colombia. “Trump did not mention Colombia’s hard-fought peace process until a reporter asked about it,” the Los Angeles Timesreported. “He then praised Santos’ efforts. ‘There’s nothing tougher than peace,’ Trump said, ‘and we want to make peace all over the world.’”
Santos’s visit came just 13 days after the 2017 foreign aid budget became law, including the $450 million post-conflict aid package (called “Peace Colombia”) that the Obama administration had requested in February 2016. (The link points to $391 million in aid, because it doesn’t include assistance through the Defense Department budget and a few smaller accounts.)
As the Trump administration prepares to issue to Congress its request for foreign assistance in 2018—which is expected today—two senators appear to be occupying the Republican legislative majority’s “turf” on Colombia policy. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) explained in a Miami Herald column that he opposes the FARC peace accord, but supports the “Peace Colombia” aid package with conditions. Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Missouri) supports a more generous approach to lock in the peace accord’s security gains. Sen. Blunt, along with Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Maryland, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee), co-chaired an Atlantic Council task force that issued a report coinciding with Santos’s visit, which endorsed aid within the “Peace Colombia” framework.
(3) The Colombian Presidency’s post-conflict advisor, Rafael Pardo, says the government will launch 12 pilot projects this year to start work on one of the most ambitious parts of the peace accord’s rural development chapter: a cadaster, or mapping of all landholdings in the country.
Ex-presidents and peace process opponents Álvaro Uribe and Andres Pastrana had either a conversation or a brief contact with Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort on Good Friday. They were guests of one of the resort’s members, and the Miami Heraldreports that Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) may have helped arrange the meeting, or encounter, or whatever it was. The ex-presidents no doubt had at least a brief opportunity to express to Trump their opposition to the FARC peace accord.
Ex-president and sitting Senator Uribe sent a blistering missive to the U.S. Congress, and to much of the Washington community interested in Colombia, attacking the peace accord. The document included many false claims, which were rebutted by WOLA, by Colombia’s La Silla Vacía investigative journalism site, and by 50 members of Colombia’s Congress (PDF).
The dilemma of ex-FARC splinter or “dissident” groups is the subject of reporting by Verdad Abierta in Tumaco, Nariño, and Medellín’s daily El Colombiano, looking at the roughly 110-member “1st Front” in Guaviare.
FARC leaders are hinting that the disarmament process may be delayed as much as 90 days beyond the originally foreseen 6 months. They blame government slowness in complying with commitments. The government is reluctant to bear the political cost involved with granting such an extension.
The FARC is also hinting that it may want to allow its members to stay in the 26 disarmament zones after the 6-month (or perhaps 9-month) process concludes, or even to settle in them permanently.
President Juan Manuel Santos paid a surprise visit to one of those zones, in Puerto Asís, Putumayo, after visiting the site of a massive mudslide that killed hundreds in Putumayo’s capital two weeks earlier. VICEdocumented a visit to the site in Tumaco, Nariño.
Speaking of extensions, Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo said that, due to the legislature’s slowness in approving legislation to implement the peace accords, the government may seek to extend “fast track” lawmaking authority for another several months. The six-month authority expires at the end of May.
Colombian soldiers and police found a FARC arms cache in Putumayo. Opposition politicians called it a sign of guerrilla bad faith in the disarmament process. Maximum FARC leader Rodrigo Londoño said the guerrillas are working with the UN mission to collect 900 arms caches hidden around the country.
WOLA called for the UN’s post-disarmament mission to make guaranteeing human rights, and the security of human rights defenders, a central focus of its work. This should include a prominent and autonomous role for the Colombia office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
An essay in Semanalooks at the international community’s growing concerns about the Colombian government’s continued stumbles in implementing the peace accord.
Verdad Abiertaasks what will happen if the military’s thousands of “false positive” killings end up being tried by the special transitional-justice system established by the peace accords. Since many involved hiring criminals to murder civilians so that soldiers could win rewards granted for high body counts, these cases’ link to the armed conflict is tenuous at best.
On Easter Sunday Colombia’s former president, Álvaro Uribe, wrote a blistering attack on Colombia’s peace accords with the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrillas. He sent it in English as a “message to the authorities and the Congress of the United States of America.” It went to every U.S. congressional office, as well as to Washington’s community of analysts, advocates and donors who work on Colombia.
Inaccurate=pink. Debatable=orange.
Uribe, now Colombia’s most prominent opposition senator, is the most vocal critic of the peace process led by his successor, President Juan Manuel Santos. The ex-president’s missive leaves out the very encouraging fact that 7,000 members of the FARC, a leftist guerrilla group, are currently concentrated in 26 small zones around the country, where they are gradually turning all of their weapons over to a UN mission. One of the organizations most involved in the illicit drug business has agreed to stop using violent tactics for political purposes and to get out of the drug economy. The process currently underway is ending a bloody conflict that raged for 52 years, and holds at least the promise of making vast areas of Colombia better governed, and less favorable to illicit drug production.
Colombia’s peace accord implementation is going slowly, and faces daunting problems. There is a responsible, fact-based critique that a conservative analyst could make. Uribe’s document is not that critique. It suffers from numerous factual inaccuracies and statements that are easily rebutted. Its fixation on the FARC, a waning force, deliberately lacks important facts regarding other parties to the conflict and it does little to explain how the United States can help Colombia address post-conflict challenges.
Here is WOLA’s evaluation of several of the points made by Álvaro Uribe in this document, and evaluations of their accuracy. The vast majority of his claims are either inaccurate, or debatable.
Statement:
“Coca plantations were reduced from 170,000 ha to 42,000 ha, now there are 188,000 ha according to the lowest estimate.”
Inaccurate. Two sources estimate Colombian coca-growing: the U.S. government and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (working with the Colombian government). Their highest, lowest, and most current estimates of Colombian coca-cultivation are as follows.
Source
Highest before current
Lowest
Most current
U.S. government
170,000 (2001)
78,000 (2012)
188,000 (2016)
UNODC
163,300 (2000)
48,000 (2012-13)
96,000 (2015)
No estimate shows a drop from 170,000 to 42,000 hectares. Both show the lowest estimate in 2012, two years after Uribe left office. 188,000 hectares is not the “lowest” current estimate, it is the higher of the two. Using the 188,000 hectare (U.S.) figure yields an increase from a baseline of 78,000, not 42,000.
Nobody denies that Colombia’s post-2012 coca boom is a problem, but Uribe’s statement exaggerates its severity still further.
Statement:
“THE CAUSE OF THIS DANGEROUS TREND: The government has stopped spraying illicit crops to please the terrorist FARC.”
Inaccurate. First, the October 2015 suspension of “spraying illicit crops” with herbicides from aircraft is one of seven causes for the boom in coca cultivation, which WOLA explained in a March 13 report. (The other six are a decline in manual eradication, a failure to replace eradication with state presence and services, a drop in gold prices, a stronger dollar, a promise that people who planted coca would get aid under the FARC peace accords, and an increase in organized coca-grower resistance.) Giving all explanatory weight to the suspension of herbicide fumigation is misleading, as even the State Department recognized that the program’s effectiveness was “significantly reduced” by “counter-eradication tactics” like swift replanting and pruning sprayed plants.
Second, the suspension of aerial spraying had nothing to do with the FARC. Colombia’s Health Ministry pushed to end spraying with the herbicide glyphosate after a 2015 World Health Organization literature review concluded that the chemical is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” (In March 2017, California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment came to a similar conclusion.)
Third, the FARC-government peace accord (PDF) does not prohibit aerial spraying. It reads, “If crop substitution does not prove possible, the government does not renounce the instruments it believes to be most effective, including spraying, to guarantee the eradication of crops of illicit use.” And today, government personnel continue to spray coca fields with glyphosate from the ground, even though this may “displease the FARC.”
Statement:
“Manual eradication was reduced and it moves forward preferably with communities’ consent, that is, with FARC’s consent.”
Debatable. The equation of rural “communities” with “the FARC” exaggerates the FARC’s power—many if not most of these communities’ members are not FARC supporters (PDF). By implicitly tying them to what until recently was a violent, radical group, this formulation also marginalizes and endangers these communities’ residents.
Statements:
“FARC has designed its own justice.”
“FARC’s kingpins and their aides have been granted impunity”
Inaccurate. If the FARC were allowed to design its own justice, its members who violated human rights would be amnestied, and their denials of their crimes’ severity would go unchallenged. Also the transitional justice system established by the accords, the “Special Jurisdiction for Peace,” would include the full participation of international judges. Instead, FARC members accused of war crimes must provide full confessions, a full accounting of their assets, and carry out reparations to victims. An independent tribunal will issue sentences of up to eight years of “restricted liberty,” to be served in spaces the size of a small village or hamlet. If FARC members do not abide by the conditions stated in the accord, then they will be subject to ordinary justice that includes longer sentences in regular prisons.
The judges will be Colombian. The negotiations between the two parties on the issue of justice were greatly influenced by international jurists, the International Criminal Court, and the current state of practice within international law. Most importantly, the agreed-upon justice system prioritizes the recommendations that truth, justice and reparations prevail over jail time made by the over 60 victims who traveled to Havana to demand that the process respect their rights.
This is not “prison,” as Uribe points out, and the austerity of conditions in the restricted-liberty zones remains to be determined by the sentencing judges in each case. But it is far from impunity, and far from what the FARC would “design” for its members. Given the sheer number of cases of abuses that took place during five decades of conflict, this special jurisdiction for peace will ensure that emblematic cases are tried. This greatly contrasts with the current justice system, which is unable to produce quick and effective sanctions.
Statement:
“Judges will be appointed by people permissive with terrorism and akin to FARC’s alleged ideology.”
Inaccurate. The judges are being selected by a committee made up of a representative of the UN Secretary General, the European Court of Human Rights, the Criminal Chamber of Colombia’s Supreme Court, the non-governmental International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), and the Permanent Commission of the Colombian State University System. (The list of appointing bodies, agreed in August 2016, also included the Vatican, which declined to participate.) None of these institutions, or their representatives, can seriously be considered “permissive with terrorism” or sharing the FARC’s political views. Not only is this statement inaccurate, it stigmatizes judges in a manner that can undermine their security.
Statement:
“These sanctions are inadequate, they lack incarceration, and are inapplicable because those who are guilty will enjoy simultaneous eligibility for Congress or any other political post.”
Debatable. These sanctions are only modestly less “inadequate” than the 5-8 years in prison given to pro-government paramilitary leaders under a process developed under Uribe’s presidency. (The paramilitaries didn’t kidnap, recruit children, or lay landmines as often as the FARC did, but during their years of greatest activity they killed and displaced far more civilians.) It remains to be seen how austere conditions will be in the village-sized zones where FARC members will serve sentences for war crimes. It also remains to be seen whether sentencing judges will even allow FARC members to hold political office in locations outside their zones of confinement.
Statement:
“Narco trafficking is accepted as a political related crime for funding rebellion, with full impunity, eligibility and no extradition.”
Debatable. Narcotrafficking will be amnestied if it can be shown that the demobilizing guerrilla channeled all profits into the FARC’s war effort and did not profit personally. Demobilizing paramilitary group members were held to the same standard during Uribe’s presidency. Each demobilizing guerrilla must declare his or her assets, and if found to be lying, will be kicked out of the transitional justice system and face regular, criminal justice instead.
Statement:
“Simon Trinidad serves a sentence in the United States because of narco trafficking and the kidnapping of three American citizens, however, his accomplices enjoy impunity in Colombia.”
Inaccurate. FARC leader Simón Trinidad, who was captured in 2004, is in a U.S. prison for his indirect role in kidnapping three U.S. citizen defense contractors. He was not found guilty of narcotrafficking. FARC members who participated in kidnapping will not be amnestied, they will serve sentences in the transitional justice system.
Statement:
“Our Constitution has been substituted by the agreement with FARC. This amendment will be in place during 12 years.”
Inaccurate. The peace accord does not substitute for anything, as nothing in it suppresses or substitutes anything in Colombia’s constitution. For 12 years, the accord has a legal standing that prevents Colombia’s Congress from passing laws that might violate or undermine its commitments. That is a sound mechanism, and it’s hard to imagine any peace accord going forward without a similar protection, even if it may resemble a temporary constitutional amendment.
Statement:
“The NO VOTE won the Plebiscite.”
True with a caveat. Uribe’s U.S. audience should be aware that the “NO” victory was not overwhelming: the margin was 50.2 to 49.8 percent. More troubling was the remarkably low level of voter participation: 63 percent of eligible Colombians failed to vote on October 2, 2016. The majority of Colombians in regions currently impacted by the conflict voted in favor of the accord. Indigenous and Afro-Colombian communities, who are disproportionate victims of displacement, violence and conflict, resoundingly voted in favor of peace.
Statement:
“The Government did not include substantial changes, and, with the non-understandable support from the Constitutional Court, did ratify the agreement through a proposition in Congress, in clear contradiction to the Plebiscite outcome.”
Debatable. After the original August 2016 accord was defeated by the October 2 plebiscite, Colombia’s government heard proposals from leading opponents, which it took to the FARC for several weeks of re-negotiation. The resulting November 2016 accord included over 500 changes. Substantial adjustments included severely restricting the size of zones to which FARC war criminals would be confined, requiring FARC members to declare all of their assets and provide “exhaustive and detailed” information about links to the drug trade, and requiring case-by-case consideration instead of blanket amnesty for drug trafficking. One change that Uribe and other accord opponents did not get was a revocation of the 10 automatic seats in Congress (5 in the 166-person House and 5 in the 102-person Senate) that FARC members will occupy between 2018 and 2026.
Uribe’s complaint that the government, the Constitutional Court, and the Congress overruled the Plebiscite outcome is, in fact, a recognition that three branches of government unanimously approved an accord that was significantly amended after losing the October 2 vote by a hair-thin margin.
Statement:
“the current Government has not gone as far as Maduro in Venezuela, but the inheritance will allow the possible weak or pro FARC Governments of the future to adopt the same path”
Inaccurate. The government of Juan Manuel Santos, which will be in office for one more year, has weakened neither free speech nor judicial independence: in fact, the Constitutional Court already struck down one of its first decrees for implementing the peace accords. It is not clear why Uribe thinks that Colombians might suddenly opt for a pro-FARC, pro-Venezuela political path. The latest bi-monthly Gallup poll (February, PDF) gave the FARC a 19 percent approval rating and 2 percent for Nicolás Maduro’s government in Venezuela. (It also showed Uribe’s own rating at 49 percent with +3-point net favorability, down from consistent measures over +40 during his presidency.) This statement is completely unfounded.
Statement:
“Colombia has poverty and unequal income distribution not because of the private sector, but because the lack of many more and robust private enterprises.”
Inaccurate. It is frankly odd to assert that Colombia’s poverty and inequality have a single cause. It is further bizarre not to include corruption and a weak rule of law among the causes. Meanwhile, the World Bank places Colombia in 53rd place, out of 190, among the world’s most business-friendly countries: not a stellar ranking, but not low enough to be the single explanation for poverty and one of the world’s worst rates of inequality (PDF). If anything, peace in conflictive regions would do much to improve security and opportunities for international investment in Colombia.
Statement:
“Only a few children have returned to their families out of more than 11,000 that were kidnapped.”
Debatable/Inaccurate. The statistic refers to all FARC recruitment of minors between 1975 and 2014. Obviously, the overwhelming majority of these children have long since grown up. Many deserted, were captured, or were killed by government forces. Some became guerrilla leaders. As of January, according to Colombia’s Defense Ministry, there were about 170 child combatants still in the ranks of demobilizing FARC; though turnovers to the Red Cross have begun, the process has been too slow.
Statement:
“Our secret services, some years ago, estimated at 40,000 the number of guns in the hands of FARC. The President of Colombia expressed recently that the organization was going to give up 14,000, however, FARC ́s members have announced that 7,000 guns will be let down.”
Debatable. There is no way to verify a statistic that comes from “our secret services,” but since the FARC are demobilizing about 7,000 fighters, a statistic of more than five guns per combatant seems laughably high.
Uribe’s statement doesn’t refer to FARC “militia” members: part-time, non-uniformed guerrilla supporters who operate mainly in urban areas. About 6,000 militia members—nobody knows the true amount—are expected to report to disarmament sites, where they are required to spend a few days registering and handing over whatever weapons they possess. This may increase the final weapons count beyond the 7,000 of which the UN mission is currently aware.
Statement:
“Nothing has been informed about the missiles and other dangerous weapons owned by FARC.”
Debatable. If the FARC have, or had, missiles, they did not use them during the conflict. The only evidence we’ve seen is in a 2012 video of a single unsuccessful use of a SAM-7 shoulder-fired missile.
Statement:
“Chavez and Maduro have been the supporters of terrorism in our country.”
Debatable. The Venezuelan government has done very little about the freedom with which Colombian guerrilla groups operate on the Venezuelan side of the common border. However, Colombian organized crime and paramilitary groups have also operated with great freedom in these poorly governed territories. Captured guerrilla communications indicate that FARC leaders discussed financial support with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, especially during a 2007 period when Uribe authorized Chávez to serve as a go-between in a failed effort to free guerrilla hostages. We don’t know whether any financial support was actually delivered.
In their contacts with guerrillas, Venezuelan leaders encouraged them to negotiate peace and to win power, as they did, through non-violent electoral politics. Venezuelan diplomatic and logistical support, too, contributed importantly to the success of Colombia’s peace talks with the FARC. If Venezuela was trying to promote “terrorism” in Colombia, why did it so robustly support peace negotiations?
By now, the UN mission in Colombia has inventoried more than 7,000 weapons that over 6,900 FARC members have brought to 26 disarmament sites around the country. The FARC is handing these arms over to the UN in phases.
FARC members concentrated at the disarmament site outside Puerto Asís, Putumayo, have offered to help with rescue and rebuilding efforts after mudslides and flooding destroyed much of the departmental capital, Mocoa, which is about two hours’ drive away.
Two former presidents, José Mujica of Uruguay and Felipe González of Spain, visited Colombia in their role as international representatives of a government-FARC commission to monitor compliance with the peace accords’ commitments.
The investigative journalism website Verdad Abierta finds some truth to FARC allegations that elements of Colombia’s military have been trying to coax guerrillas away from the sites where they are to disarm collectively, so that they might enter the Defense Ministry’s program for individual deserters.
The new administration in the United States has said almost nothing about future U.S. support for peace implementation in Colombia. So every statement that does come out is important, like this one from April 3:
“Right now as the United States works through its budget process both for the current budget here that we’re in right now, Fiscal Year 2017, as well as the next budget year, we are evaluating how our assistance funds can be best utilized to support the highest U.S. priorities. Supporting the peace process in Colombia has traditionally been a high priority for the United States. We look forward to working with the Colombian Government in order to make sure that our assistance dollars are utilized as effectively as possible.”
On the evening of March 28, Colombia’s Congress approved the transitional-justice system envisioned in the peace accords. This system, the “Special Peace Jurisdiction,” will try and punish war crimes that were ordered, planned, or committed by the FARC, the Colombian government, or private citizens. WOLA, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and others have criticized some of the changes to the original accord that Colombia’s Congress added, and that we hope Colombia’s Constitutional Court will correct.
Two prominent generals imprisoned for their role in human rights crimes have signed up to have their cases considered by the new Special Peace Jurisdiction. This holds out the possibility of reducing their sentences in exchange for full confessions and reparations. As many as 2,000 convicted or accused military personnel may choose the transitional justice route.
“The discourse rejecting indulgence for the eternal enemy—the FARC—helps avoid speaking of what is truly feared: that economic, military, and political elites’ ties to atrocities might be placed in evidence,” reads a tough analysis of transitional justice by human rights lawyer Michael Reed Hurtado at Razón Pública.
A coalition of Colombian human rights groups voiced strong concern that the country’s new transitional justice law does not give “high level entity status” to a new Unit for the Search for Disappeared Persons in the attorney-general’s office, as envisioned in the peace accord.
As peace talks with the smaller National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrillas continue to struggle, violence continues. An ELN ambush in the northeastern department of Arauca, where the guerrilla group is at its most active, killed two soldiers on March 27. A Colombian armed forces aerial bombardment killed 10 ELN guerrillas at an encampment in the Catatumbo region, also in northeastern Colombia, on April 1. Meanwhile the La Silla Vacía investigative journalism website denounced an intimidating message from one of the ELN’s most powerful leaders, and Jesuit peace activist Francisco de Roux, in his regular El Tiempo column, criticized arrests of civil-society leaders charged with ELN ties, and called for an immediate bilateral ceasefire.
A potentially fatal flaw in the FARC peace accords is their failure to address the “partial collapse” of Colombia’s state, argues the University of Chicago’s James Robinson in a speech at Bogotá’s Universidad de los Andes.
Colombia’s draft law creating a transitional justice system to try war crimes, two elements of which WOLA strongly critiqued last week, has not yet passed. The legislature failed to reach a quorum last Wednesday night. A new vote will be attempted the night of Tuesday the 28th.
FARC and government representatives met in Bogotá over the weekend to review the peace accords’ implementation so far. It was the two teams’ first formal meeting since the accords’ November 24 signing. A joint communiqué commits the government to finishing construction of disarmament zones by April (finally), and to speed up mechanisms to guarantee security for political activists. The FARC promised to turn over its final list of all its members.
Two former presidents, José Mujica of Uruguay and Felipe González of Spain, will be named on March 30 as international representatives to the FARC peace accords’ Committee of Oversight, Stimulus, and Verification of Implementation. This body, with the Spanish acronym CSIVI, will produce regular evaluations of both sides’ compliance with their accord commitments.
According to government estimates, about 5 or 6 percent of the FARC’s membership refused to demobilize and are considered “dissidents.” Another 2 percent are deserters from the demobilization process. This is considered low by the standards of post-conflict processes, but there are many months to go.
One of the main FARC dissidents, Carlos Carvajal alias “Mojoso” of the 14th Front in Caquetá, turned himself in to authorities. He had led a group of dissidents of unknown size: estimates run from eight to sixty. “Mojoso” will be tried within the regular justice system. He may have yielded in the face of dogged pursuit by his former comrades in the FARC, even though the guerrillas have purportedly been observing a ceasefire.
The acting mayor of Tumaco, the Pacific coast port that is the seat of Colombia’s number-one coca-growing county, alleged that undemobilized FARC members were illegally campaigning in favor of a candidate for an upcoming special mayoral election.
Disarmament
“There is now an inventory of 14,000 FARC weapons that will soon pass into the UN Mission’s hands,” President Juan Manuel Santos tweeted shortly after Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas announced that figure. Villegas added that around 11,000 of the arms that the FARC will “leave aside” are rifles. The UN verification and monitoring mission has so far received 507 arms, most of them from FARC members who have been authorized to act as the organization’s representatives outside the disarmament zones. The FARC has also turned over to the UN the coordinates of its arms caches and stockpiles. A new overview (in Spanish) of how the “laying aside” of weapons is to occur, produced by the Bogotá-based Fundación Ideas para la Paz, points out that the process is likely to take more than the originally planned 180 days.
Construction continues to go painfully slowly at the 26 zones where 7,200 FARC members are gathered to turn in weapons over six months. The UN mission reported [PDF] March 14 that no zone has reached 90 percent completion, and 13 are still at less than 10 percent. “Despite months of planning,” the Miami Herald’s Jim Wyss reported, “many of the camps don’t have adequate potable water, bathrooms, cafeterias, recreational facilities and other amenities that the guerrillas say they were promised,” which is hurting morale at the sites. Poor conditions at the zones appear to be causing a trickle of guerrilla desertions, which is in danger of becoming a flood.
“There is still time to correct the government’s inability to implement the accords,” Sen. Claudia López said. “There seems to be no problem introducing legislation, but to carry something out 200 kilometeres away from Bogotá seems to be too much to ask.”
Uncertainty meanwhile surrounds how the demobilization process will incorporate somewhere between 6,000 and 10,000 FARC militias—part-time support personnel—whom the revised peace accord expects to report to the 26 concentration sites for up to a week of registration. About 700 have already done so. The actual number of militia members is unknown, and as most live in cities, it is unlikely that many will bother to emerge from clandestinity and journey to the FARC’s remote rural sites.
Transitional Justice
Defense Minster Villegas announced that he has signed a list of 817 imprisoned members of the security forces who are to request parole under the transitional justice system foreseen in the FARC-government peace accord. Contagio Radio obtained a list of 150 of them that includes some generals and colonels notorious for high-profile cases of human rights abuse.
Much press coverage during the week surrounded the 72 changes that Colombia’s Senate made to a bill creating a transitional justice system to judge guerrillas, military personnel, and civilians who committed war crimes and crimes against humanity. Reaching agreement on this topic was the most difficult part of the four-year negotiation between the government and the FARC.
The Senate did a favor to civilians accused of contributing to war crimes by making their participation in transitional justice “voluntary” and raising the threshold of evidence needed to bring cases. The Senate did a favor to retired military officers by redefining commanders’ responsibility for their units’ behavior in a way that might allow many to avoid punishment. And it upended the accord on political participation by banning ex-FARC members from politics until they get a sort of certificate stating that they have complied with their peace accord commitments.
Because of these changes, two prominent Green Party senators who are strong negotiation supporters—Claudia López and Antonio Navarro Wolff—voted against the Senate measure. The bill must now go to reconciliation with the House version, then it becomes law, then the Constitutional Court must review it. Meanwhile, Congress must pass a separate law to establish the new justice system’s operational procedures. The International Criminal Court may also choose to review the law, and if the Senate language on “command responsibility” is still in it, the ICC may decide that Colombia is not complying with its international human rights commitments.
Human Rights
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ (OHCHR) annual report on Colombia (English – Spanish – summarized in an earlier blog post) expressed concerns about legislative efforts to water down transitional justice, attacks on human rights defenders and social leaders, and the slow pace of the government’s peace accord implementation so far.
For the first time, a FARC leader was a panelist at the report’s launch press conference at a Bogotá five-star hotel. Julián Gallo, until recently known as “Carlos Antonio Lozada,” sat two spots from Police General Carlos Mena at the panelists’ table.
Interviewed by the daily El Espectador, Todd Howland, the longtime director of the OHCHR office in Colombia, did not hide his anger at the changes Colombia’s Senate wrought to the transitional justice bill.
At the dialogue table we worked hard to comply with international standards. In the end something was obtained that isn’t perfect, but isn’t bad. That took years of work. It was too big an effort for the Congress not to take it seriously afterward. That effort was based on an interest in victims’ rights, but now the congresspeople acted as though nothing had happened in Cuba.
Transitional justice
With the right-wing opposition abstaining, the pro-government coalition in Colombia’s Senate passed, by a 61–2 vote, a law to create the “Special Jurisdiction for Peace” (Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz or JEP), the new transitional-justice system. Tribunals will judge ex-guerrillas and military personnel who carried out war crimes, as well as civilians who may have ordered, planned, or funded them. The next step is reconciling differences in the law’s House and Senate versions.
The Senate’s major changes to what was agreed in the peace accord are:
Defining “command responsibility” for war crimes to a standard below that of the Rome Statute ([PDF], the international law creating the International Criminal Court), to which Colombia is a signatory. Article 28 of that statute says that commanders are legally responsible for war crimes that they, “owing to the circumstances at the time, should have known” about. The Senate version of the law, reflecting strong pressure from retired military officers, waters that down to commanders having “effective control of the conduct” of those who committed the crime. Former officers are likely to try to evade accountability by claiming that killers under their command were not under their control. If it stands, this is not going to go down well with the International Criminal Court or with human rights groups, including WOLA.
Weakens the JEP’s ability to punish civilians who aided war crimes: they now cannot be tried if the evidence against them comes only from the JEP’s own proceedings.
Puts off for a later law to determine how the JEP will go about deciding, case-by-case, what past drug-trafficking activity is a “political crime” that can be amnestied.
Colombia’s ability to implement the accords
Analysts are voicing worry, or outright pessimism, about the Colombia’s government’s ability—or will—to honor its peace accord commitments. Alejandro Reyes, a prominent Colombian scholar who advised Santos’s first agriculture minister, told the Los Angeles Times that he sees big pushback coming from a nexus of landowners and organized crime:
Researcher Reyes said carrying out those ambitious plans is a tall order for the government because as much as one third of the 15 million acres in question is now controlled by violent drug traffickers and other criminal groups.
“Many narcos and mafiosos have tried to seem legitimate by becoming huge landowners, mainly for cattle ranches,” said Reyes. “You can be sure they will react against any efforts to implement agrarian reform.”
In a piece published at Spain’s daily El País, Enrique Santiago, a Spanish lawyer who served as legal advisor to the FARC during the peace talks, ripped into the Colombian government’s poor implementation of the accords so far.
“The ZVTN [disarmament zones] were to have been built before December 1… but today it is an exception to see one with even half of its infrastructure built,” Santiago observes. “On December 30 the amnesty law was approved… however, judges haven’t applied it.… As of today they have approved less than 70 amnesties of guerrillas, five authorizations of transfer to ZVTNs, and no paroles.” The guerrillas’ own security is also at stake, Santiago adds: “One of the accord’s most important measures is the creation of a specialized Investigative Unit for the dismantling of paramilitary organizations… but the current Prosecutor-General, ignoring the peace accord, seeks to impede this special unit’s launch.”
El Tiempo reporter Marisol Gómez visited a FARC demilitarization zone in the northwestern department of Chocó that had only 31 guerrillas present because facilities still weren’t ready yet.
Violence in Chocó
Chocó, Colombia’s poorest department, has also been the site of numerous recent paramilitary incursions into zones of former FARC influence. These, along with fighting between the Urabeños neo-paramilitary group and the ELN guerrillas, have already displaced hundreds in the Upper Baudó River region, in the almost completely stateless southern half of Chocó.
The military
More than two dozen retired generals and admirals wrote a letter to President Juan Manuel Santos voicing concern that the FARC’s disarmament sites will become permanent “independent republics,” the Los Angeles Timesreported.
Meanwhile Defense Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said that 420 military personnel accused of war crimes (or perhaps accused or already sentenced for war crimes, it’s not clear) have already agreed to have their cases tried by the new Special Jurisdiction for Peace.
In the vast areas of Colombia’s countryside where evidence of government is scarce, you can see the bright green bushes once again growing up to the roadside. They’re usually knee-high, indicating that they were planted recently. They’re in the same parts of the country as before: farmers don’t seem to be cutting down new forest and growing in new areas. Usually, it is one of several cash crops on a farmer’s land: at least some of the legal crops are more profitable, he or she will tell you, but with prices fixed by armed groups or organized crime, coca offers the steadiest income.Colombia is in the midst of a coca boom, perhaps its largest ever. The numbers show an explosion in plantings of the bush that produces leaves indigenous people in Peru and Bolivia (and a few in Colombia) have used for centuries, and drug traffickers today use to make cocaine. Using methods that it does not discuss, the U.S. government estimated 159,000 hectares of coca planted in Colombia in 2015 (a hectare is about two and a half acres). When it releases its 2016 estimate—reportedly on March 14—the U.S. number could reach or exceed 180,000 hectares for the first time ever. (The United Nations releases its own estimates, in cooperation with Colombia’s National Police, usually in June. Using a methodology that its reports endeavor to explain, the UN found 96,000 hectares in 2015. Though the U.S. and UN estimates diverge widely, they tend to follow similar trendlines—and both are increasing.)
Cocaine production is increasing along with the coca bushes. In 2016, Colombian security forces, mostly the police and navy, seized 379 tons of the drug, shattering earlier records and more than doubling the annual haul between 2010 and 2014. And Colombia has already interdicted 51 more tons in the first two months of 2017.
Though evidence-based research has cast doubt on illicit drug supplies’ ability to drive demand, U.S. authorities say that the coca boom is affecting cocaine consumption in the United States, which—though still at decades-low levels—is increasing for the first time in several years. In 2015, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health [PDF] found a second consecutive annual increase in past-month U.S. cocaine users. The State Department’s March 2 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) stated [PDF] that “the number of overdose deaths within the United States involving cocaine in 2015 was the highest since 2007.” U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized 56.7 percent more cocaine in 2015 than in 2014, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration [PDF].
The U.S. government, the UN, and analysts cite several reasons for the increase in Colombian coca production. These include:
In October 2015, the Colombian government suspended its U.S.-backed program of “fumigation”—aerial spraying of the herbicide glyphosate—and has been slow to replace it with any other policy, whether punitive or assistive. The suspension came after a World Health Organization literature review) determined that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” The fumigation program was controversial throughout its 22-year existence, as rural dwellers complained of health ailments, growers found ways to work around the spraying, and eradication was poorly coordinated with efforts to build a state presence in abandoned areas.
Colombia reduced other, ground-based forced eradication. Massive forced manual eradication—soldiers, police, or paid civilians pulling coca crops out of the ground—contributed to post-2008 decreases in coca growing. But they proved costly too, as more than 200 eradicators or their police and military protectors have been killed over the past decade, and another 1,000 have been injured, mostly by guerrilla or paramilitary ambushes, sniper attacks, and landmines and IEDs planted in the coca fields. More recently, eradication efforts have met with organized opposition, like protests and blockades. Manual eradication in 2015 was less than one-fifth the peak amount of 96,000 hectares in 2008. Besides danger and conflict, Colombia’s government argues that the manual eradication program is very expensive at a time when falling commodity prices have tightened budgets.
Efforts to bring government into coca-growing zones, as well as alternative development and voluntary eradication programs, did not increase after the suspension of fumigation. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime’s July 2016 report on Colombia [PDF] noted “a general reduction in alternative development in the entire country.” This is only changing now, as Colombia takes first steps toward implementing the November 2016 peace accord with the FARC guerrillas.
The price of gold fell. Illicit precious-metals mining served as a sort of “alternative development program” in many areas during the early 2010s, when the worldwide financial crisis pushed gold prices to stratospheric levels. The price has since fallen, causing organized crime to turn back to cocaine.
The dollar has become stronger, rising from 1,800 pesos in 2013 to about 3,000 Colombian pesos today. While farm-gate prices of coca didn’t increase in dollar terms, they did increase handsomely in peso terms: a kilogram of coca leaf jumped from about 2,150 pesos in 2014 to 3,000 pesos in 2015, the UN reports. This likely has enticed more would-be growers.
Word spread about the benefits coca-growers would receive from the peace accords, encouraging some farmers to become coca growers. In May 2014, the Colombian government and FARC announced a draft accord on “solution to the problem of illicit crops.” It committed the government to signing agreements with communities of coca-growing families, in which they would voluntarily eradicate their coca in exchange for benefits. (Most of these benefits, like land titles and access to markets, are things that governments should be doing anyway.) Over the next two and a half years, word spread that the government would be essentially subsidizing people who planted coca, a message that, according to the State Department INCSR, the FARC spread actively.
Coca-growers’ organized resistance halted manual eradication in several areas. The government, in the middle of peace talks with guerrillas, decided not to respond in a way that would trigger a wave of violent confrontations with farmers in areas of FARC influence. Unfortunately, neither did the government respond with an increase in non-security presence or basic services.
The coca boom’s causes are complex, and Colombia’s government is hoping that the U.S. government will respond in a manner that recognizes this complexity and joins it in pursuing a lasting solution within the peace accords’ framework. Colombian media have expressed worry that, with a conservative U.S. administration and Congress, the bilateral relationship might once again “narcotize.” The term refers to making drugs the main thing the two governments talk about, along with a return to 1980s rhetoric and get-tough policy prescriptions that yield only short-term results.
This is accompanied by a fear that U.S. support for implementing Colombia’s peace accords may also dampen. Washington hardliners, alarmed by the coca numbers, may call on Colombia to get tougher with coca-growing families and bring back fumigation (which the FARC peace accord discourages but doesn’t prohibit).
William Brownfield, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, was in Bogotá last week to discuss the coca situation. During the Obama administration, he and other U.S. officials voiced disagreement with Colombia’s decision to suspend fumigation. It’s not clear exactly what assistance Brownfield was able to offer, as the White House’s deep proposed cuts to worldwide U.S. foreign assistance—as much as 37 percent—have placed in jeopardy any post-accord increases in aid to Colombia.
One troubling outcome could be cuts to U.S. support for the essential tasks of implementing peace accords—increasing governance and territorial presence, implementing programs for victims—in order to pay for forced eradication. This would be a grave mistake.
Colombia has a plan for reducing coca cultivation: it’s in the peace accord on “solution to the problem of illicit crops,” and it is to include the participation of thousands of former FARC members. This plan deserves support, as long as Colombia is serious about implementing it.
Implementation has started—slowly—as the government has signed agreements with local associations of coca-growers in a few parts of the country. But the overall government response is muddled. In response to mounting concerns about the coca boom, President Juan Manuel Santos has announced plans to eradicate 100,000 hectares of the crop this year, up from less than 18,000 in 2016. Of these, 50,000 hectares are to be the result of forced eradication, and 50,000 are to come from voluntary agreements. But the two objectives both seem wildly ambitious, and may not be running in parallel.
With U.S. backing, the eradication side is off to a faster start. It is taking place with an increased military role: Colombia’s army has already eradicated 6,000 so far this year, and the Defense Ministry has created Strategic Operations Centers to manage eradication campaigns in three locations (Antioquia, Nariño, and Norte de Santander). Sometimes, the eradicators (who may also be police or civilians) pull the plants out of the ground. Increasingly, they are spraying glyphosate—not from aircraft flying from dozens or hundreds of feet above, but from shoulder-mounted backpack sprayers. The arguments for using the chemical are that IEDs and landmines make it too unsafe to get too close to the plants, that this form of spraying is far less indiscriminate than aircraft (avoiding spraying homes, schools, water supplies, legal crops, and livestock), and that coca-growers themselves usually use glyphosate to kill weeds in their fields.
The “voluntary eradication” effort foreseen in the peace accord is already underway, but on a more pilot basis. Coca-growers’ associations have formed in several parts of the country to negotiate eradication agreements with the government, and many are affiliated with a national structure called the Coordinator of Coca, Poppy, and Marijuana Cultivators, or COCCAM. Communities have signed eradication pacts in parts of Caquetá, Guaviare, Norte de Santander, Putumayo, and Vichada. Taken together, the pacts signed so far involve 55,000 families growing about 38,000 hectares. Each family may receive assistance valued at about US$10,000 over two years, as long as they verifiably eradicate their coca within a year. (These accords alone will cost about US$275 million per year for two years.) Assistance is reportedly to include land titling, which is desperately needed, but may not—at least not for a while—include necessary elements like farm-to-market roads and a more permanent government presence.
Troublingly, there have been reports of forced eradication in communities that are either negotiating or have signed crop substation agreements with the government under the terms of the accord. On March 1, coca-growers in Los Alpes, Guaviare saw police forcibly eradicate their crops the day after they signed a voluntary eradication accord (the government has since suspended forced eradication in that zone, for now). This stands in stark contrast to the spirit of consultation and collaboration with local communities enshrined in the peace deal. Even if they owe more to lack of coordination than to bad faith, such practices could undermine accord implementation in certain areas of the country.
Whether Colombia can implement these voluntary coca reduction agreements quickly is uncertain, especially since the cash-strapped Santos government is now in its final 17 months. Daniel Rico, an analyst who has worked in Colombian government eradication programs, calls the voluntary eradication plan “disproportionate and lacking any sense of reality.”
Another concern is the Colombian government’s capacity to implement what it has promised to do, whether in the peace accords or elsewhere. Its sorry performance in setting up twenty-six small sites for the FARC guerrillas to disarm—after months of advance notice, most were patches of dirt when guerrillas began arriving in early February—is perplexing. Establishing a functional, low-impunity state presence in vast ungoverned territories is essential if Colombia is ever to lock in permanent reductions in coca cultivation, to halt the terrifying current wave of attacks on social leaders, and to prevent other illegal armed groups from assuming control of previously FARC-dominated areas. Governing abandoned areas is a complicated task, but it should be eased by the historic exit of a hostile insurgent group.
Colombia has a plan and recognizes the problem, and the U.S. government can help. But this plan won’t achieve immediate results. Yes, Colombia needs to move faster to implement its commitments. But we strongly counsel against demanding action for its own sake, “narcotizing” the relationship and urging Colombia to return to policies that look tough but didn’t work in the past. Do not force Colombia to give up territorial governance for forced eradication, especially not aerial spraying.
Our two countries have built a close working relationship. That relationship is close enough to allow the U.S. government to trust its partner to implement the voluntary eradication plan that it has laid out. This trust, though, must come with monitoring. The United States, other donor governments, international organizations, and non-governmental groups like WOLA must keep close watch over the coming year or two, to verify that Colombia, the FARC, and coca-growing communities are fulfilling their peace accord commitments.
A “trust, but verify” approach starts with patience. Rather than giving political leaders a quick but evanescent “win” for next year’s press release, the new strategy promises to lock in permanent reductions in coca cultivation. And in its remaining year and a half, the Santos government must prove through actions that it is seizing the historic opportunity that the FARC peace accord provides.
With the end of 52 years of conflict between the Colombian government and armed rebels, civil society activists are playing a key role in constructing a lasting peace and democracy in Colombia. Sadly, the human rights defenders, trade unionists, Afro-Colombian, indigenous and other community leaders conducting this vital effort are under threat. Since the signing of the peace accord between the Colombian government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the start of its implementation, attacks against civil society activists have increased at an alarming rate. While the FARC accord has significantly reduced overall violence in the country, the demobilization of these fighters has created vacuums throughout the country, which are in turn being occupied by paramilitary successor organizations that are making their presence known through selective killings and death threats.
If implemented accordingly, the peace accord is has potential to further a number of promising social reforms. Among other things it is designed to lead to rural land reform, guarantee political participation for historically-excluded political sectors, facilitate the reincorporation of FARC guerrillas into civilian life, deepen consultation with marginalized ethnic groups, provide alternatives to rural farmers who grow coca, and fulfill the rights of truth, justice and reparations for millions of victims. But these goals necessarily clash with certain interests, and the possibility of achieving them is leading to illegal armed groups’ attacks against activists. Worst affected are members of newer political movements like the Marcha Patriotica, ethnic minority activists and community organizers in rural areas. The Colombian government must prevent further harm from taking place to these activists. Perpetrators of these acts should be prosecuted and brought to justice immediately. If these attacks continue, the peace accord with the FARC and nascent peace talks with the National Liberation Army will be seriously undermined. Ultimately, the success or failure of a lasting peace in the country will depend on the government’s ability to ensure justice for these crimes.
The Statistics Alone are Sobering, But the Story is Deeper
Unfortunately, the news on the ground has been bleak: a number of Colombian organizations report that since September 2016, the security situation faced by civil society activists has been rapidly decreasing. While the numbers differ depending on multiple definitions of human rights defenders, activists and community leaders, what is certain is that all reports point to the problem getting worse. Somos Defensores reports that from January to December of 2016, 80 social leaders were killed. The majority of these murders took place in Cauca Department. INDEPAZ, on the other hand, reports that during that same period, 117 social leaders and human rights defenders were killed. They also add that in Valle del Cauca (5), Cauca (43), and Nariño (9) departments, a combined total of 57 activists were killed (two thirds of the total). The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights’ office, meanwhile stated that since the November 24, 2016 signing of the accord, 13 of the 53 killings of civil society figures recorded by that office in all of 2016 took place.
The trend has not gone entirely unnoticed. On November 2, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) issued a statement of concern regarding the killings of human rights defenders in Colombia in 2016. The Commission found that while the numbers of death threats and intimidation faced by human rights defenders are down from 2015, the number of actual killings is up. It also urges Colombia to include in its investigations the premise that these individuals were murdered due to their work defending human rights. On February 7 the IACHR condemned the killing of another 7 people in 2017. It is particularly concerning that five of the seventeen killed were ethnic minorities, including two women.
The impact of murders, attempted murders, threats and aggression against activists has a disproportionate impact on indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples. This disproportionate impact is true numerically speaking–one source states that 30 percent of those civil society activists killed are ethnic minorities—as well as sociologically. Such killings cause disastrous effects on ethnic minorities’ collective, organizational processes and their ability to work together to advocate for their land, ethnic and cultural rights. .
In addition to the threats faced by community leaders, we also see illegal armed groups targeting ethnic leaders’ extended family members. Given this, it is necessary that a differentiated approach is taking when creating prevention and protective measures for these leaders and their communities. Constitutional Court Orders 004, 005 and 092 on Afro-Colombian, Indigenous and Women IDPs contain useful information on how to prevent the displacement of key communities. In many circumstances collective protective measures are required rather than individual ones. With U.S. Embassy support the Association for Internally Displaced Afro-Colombians (AFRODES) worked to help develop collective measures for Afro-Colombian leaders and displaced communities at risk in urban and rural environments. However, Colombian authorities never followed through with implementing what was required. Access to justice for these communities is often more challenging, so it is the clear responsibility of the government to break down the barriers that exist for ethnic groups’ entry into the judicial system.
When it comes to the exact number of killings and attacks against Afro-descendant and indigenous leaders and communities, there are, generally speaking, no comprehensive statistics available. The reasons for this are many: institutional racism, underreporting by ethnic minorities due to fear of reprisals, corruption of local officials and the complex geographical dynamics found in the rural and urban areas they live in. Given this, it is likely that the problem is worse–and less addressed–than what is actually reported. When looking at the Somos Defensores figure of 80 leaders killed in 2016, it is noteworthy that 22 of those killed or, 27 percent of the total, were ethnic minorities (15 indigenous and 7 Afro-Colombians).
Recent Cases of Concern to U.S. Policymakers
WOLA issues periodic action alerts about threats and attacks against civil society. While all cases are of concern, there some are of particular interest to U.S. policymakers. In January, three members of the Communities Constructing Peace in the Territories (CONPAZ) were killed: Afro-Colombian Emilsen Manyoma Mosquera and her husband Joe Javier Rodallega from Valle del Cauca Department, and Wiwa indigenous leader Yoryanis Isabel Bernal Varela of Cesar Department. Ms. Bernal Varela was an outspoken leader for the rights of indigenous Wiwa, Kogui and Arhuaco women. She was disappeared and fifteen days later found dead with a bullet in her head. Ms. Mosquera was a tireless advocate for the rights of youth in the Community Council of Bajo Calima. She and her partner were killed in Buenaventura. Meanwhile, the Inter-Ecclesial Commission for Justice in Peace that legally represents CONPAZ suffered security incidents. Also in January, Marino Cordoba of the AFRODES and the Ethnic Commission suffered the murder of two of his relatives at the hands of Gaitanista paramilitaries in Chocó. This came just a few months after his son was killed by these same men in October 2016. AFRODES leaders continue to face security challenges throughout the country.
The Indigenous Association of Northern Cauca (ACIN), the Wayuu territorial authorities, and the Afro-Colombian Community Councils of Northern Cauca (ACONC) continued to face assassination attempts, attacks and death threats. The ACIN and ACONC are engaged in defending their ancestral lands from illegal mining, environmental damage and the encroachment of illegal armed groups. After the many publicized deaths of indigenous children due to malnutrition, dehydration and the humanitarian crisis in their region, Wayuu authorities advocated for cleaning up corruption and mismanagement of funds by Colombia’s Child Welfare Agency (ICBF). They have also denounced the environmental damage caused by the Cerrejon coal mine. The latter has resulted in stigmatization of Wayuu communities in the press and death threats. Particularly worrisome is the deteriorating security situation faced by members of the San Jose de Apartadó Peace Community in Antioquia, and Operation Genesis victims in Cacarica, Chocó, who have denounced paramilitary activity in their regions.
Relevant Mechanisms in the Accords and Steps Forward
The peace accord with the FARC signed on November 24 includes mechanisms that guarantee the physical protection for human rights defenders and guarantees for them to do their work. In the political participation (point 2 of the accords) it stipulates that adequate normative and institutional prevention, protection, evaluation and monitoring of will take place to guarantee the security for leaders and organizations of social movements and human rights organizations. The accord states that “security guarantees are a necessary condition for consolidating the construction of peace and coexistence.” It also highlights the importance of civil society activists in the implementation of the plans and programs set forth by the accord.
The third point of the accords, the end of the conflict section, includes an agreement “to guarantee security by fighting criminal and other organizations responsible for homicides and massacres that target defenders, social and political movements, or who threaten persons who participate in the implementation of the accords and construction of peace.” This includes actions against “organizations referred to as successor paramilitary organizations and their support networks.” This point then proceeds to include the agreement that several mechanisms will be developed to address this problem. These include a National Commission to Guarantee the Dismantlement of Criminal Organizations, which would be responsible for attacks against defenders, social and political movements that include paramilitary successor groups. It calls for the creation of a Special Investigation Unit to dismantle these criminal organizations and their networks, the integration of an Elite Corps within the National Police and an integral security system for policy development. Lastly, it sets forth basic guarantees for prosecutors, judges and other public servants involved in this fight.
The press coverage reveals that in his conversation with President Juan Manuel Santos, President Donald Trump indicated that he would personally see to it that Colombia receives the assistance package needed to consolidate peace, which will first require approval from the U.S. Congress. Such an indication of support for Colombia’s peace is a positive first step. We would also encourage policymakers to prioritize operationalizing the commitments found in the accord pertaining to protecting human rights defenders, community leaders and political parties, and dismantling paramilitary successor groups.
After a months-long delay, today the Colombian government is finally starting formal talks with the country’s second-largest guerrilla group, the National Liberation Army (ELN). The negotiations are sure to raise questions about Colombia’s post-conflict future, the implementation of the peace accords with the larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), and ongoing human rights issues. With today’s launch of the peace negotiations’ public phase in Quito, Ecuador at 5:00 p.m. local time, here is an overview of the process.
Talks with the ELN were first announced in 2016. Why the delay?
While a joint statement announcing the beginning of talks was released in March 2016, the beginning of the Quito negotiations was delayed over the government’s insistence that the rebels release all hostages and kidnapping victims. (The government held the FARC to the same standard in 2012; the larger group renounced kidnapping months before the announcement of formal talks.) This included Odín Sánchez, a former lawmaker and member of a political family dynasty that has been linked to paramilitary and corruption scandals in the department of Chocó. Until his release from captivity last week, Sánchez had been held since agreeing to swap places as an ELN hostage with his brother, former Chocó Governor Patrocinio Sánchez Montes de Oca. Odín Sánchez’s February 2 release, on top of the February 6 release of a soldier taken captive by the group in January, removes a final barrier to the formal start of talks.
Why are the ELN talks important?
While most attention on Colombia’s armed conflict has focused on the roughly 7,000-strong FARC, the ELN—with up to 2,000 members—retains an active presence in the country, mostly in northeastern Colombia though their influence also extends to Chocó and other parts of the Pacific coast. With the FARC beginning to demobilize, there is concern that the ELN, along with criminal organizations and neoparamilitary groups, could move to fill territorial and economic power vacuums that the FARC leave behind. Reaching a peace accord with the ELN would help ensure that the group does not expand its area of influence or recruit disenchanted FARC deserters. And it would offer an opportunity for improved governance in ELN-controlled areas that have long suffered from a lack of state presence and strong democratic institutions.
For the United States, a peace deal would ultimately mean the effective dissolution of another group on the U.S. list of foreign terrorist organizations, as well as a potential boost to anti-drug efforts at a time when authorities are slowly taking steps toward a new strategy to address coca production in rural Colombia.
What will the negotiations look like?
It has taken more than two years of intricate exploratory talks—a period marked by setbacks like the kidnapping of Odin Sanchez as well as that of Spanish journalist Salud Hernández—to finally reach a point where both the government and the ELN can pursue dialogues with a formal agenda.
Moving forward, the two negotiating teams will be headed by former Agriculture Minister Juan Camilo Restrepo and the ELN’s Israel Ramírez Pineda, alias “Pablo Beltrán,” who is viewed as a moderate among the ELN’s five-member Central Command. On paper, the talks’ agenda and methodology remain quite vague. However, from the joint statement on the negotiations (PDF) it appears the process will seek to include the perspectives of civil society and community actors. According to the negotiating parties the agenda will cover the following points:
Participation of society in constructing peace
Democracy for peace
Transformations for peace
Victims
The end of the armed conflict
Implementation
How will talks with the ELN differ from the accords signed with the FARC?
From a practical standpoint, negotiating with the ELN will be a different experience than with the FARC. Unlike the larger guerrilla group, the ELN’s command structure is not as centralized. While it is headed by a five-person Central Command, and a 31-member National Directorate below that, ELN columns operate with a high degree of regional autonomy. This means that decision-making processes and internal deliberations could take longer, and the risk of dissenting factions—or subordinate units that simply ignore orders—is higher.
Although the last two points of the agenda echo items discussed in the FARC talks, it remains to be seen how already agreed-upon elements of justice, reparation, non-repetition, and truth will be harmonized with the accord reached with the FARC in Havana. The government would be wise to avoid revisiting these areas after undergoing a long and unfinished process of designing a new set of transitional justice institutions. Reopening themes covered with the FARC would delay a process that is already destined to face the pressures of an upcoming presidential election in 2018, after which President Juan Manuel Santos will leave office.
The challenge the parties will face during the negotiations’ initial phase is to decide who will participate in this process, and what will be the mechanism to receive thousands of proposals and ideas generated by Colombia’s diverse civil society. As Ariel Ávila of Bogotá’s Peace and Reconciliation Foundation think-tank has pointed out, a key difference between the ELN and FARC talks will be the former’s insistence on expanding talks to include a broader social base. And the government, for its part, appears to recognize that: Juan Camilo Restrepo has assertedthat “dialogue with the remote communities of Colombia will be decisive in the negotiations with the ELN.” In this process, groups like the Ethnic Commission and other victim’s organizations who were heard in Havana may play a large role in organizing communities in rural Colombia for participation in the talks.
International facilitation of this process will be provided by Ecuador as a hosting country. Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and Venezuela pledged to serve as guarantors and will reportedly also host subsequent negotiating rounds, while Norway will play the same guarantor role it played during negotiations with FARC.
What would a constructive U.S. role in the ELN process look like?
The U.S. role in this peace process will likely be drastically different than with the FARC talks, which hosted a full-time special U.S. envoy who played a constructive role in moving the accords along. By contrast the Trump administration has been relatively quiet on the peace accords in Colombia so far, although on February 6 a State Department spokesperson issued a statement confirming U.S. support for the search for peace in Colombia, as well as praising “advances in demobilization.”
This is a welcome remark following recent statements from Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who in written responses to questions submitted for his nomination hearing process expressed an intent “to review the details of Colombia’s recent peace agreement [with the FARC], and determine the extent to which the United States should continue to support it.”
WOLA is confident that a review of the Havana accords will in fact give the administration every reason to support them. We also believe that the talks with the ELN are worthy of support, though we caution that they will require much patience. In the meantime, we call on both sides in the talks to move quickly toward a bilateral, verified ceasefire, or at least a series of gradual de-escalation measures. While the guarantor countries have already pledged to provide key support, the United States can play a positive role by refraining from opposing or making destructively critical statements about the ELN process, and encouraging a discussion that is both inclusive of civil society, as the ELN wants, and carried out with discipline, clarity, and purpose, as the government and most stakeholders want. | {
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Roger Clemens Rumors
ESPN's Buster Olney relays (via Twitter) a stat from the Elias Sports Bureau, noting that the Astros have received just 15 1/3 innings from their starters over the past six games — tied for fewest in a six game span in the past 35 years. Offseason acquisition Brad Peacock will look to turn that trend around tonight when he faces a struggling Mariners offense. Here's more on the Astros in their first year in the American League…
General manager Jeff Luhnow told reporters, including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, that the team's bullpen can't take much more of the past week's trends: "We can't take too many more hits before we have to go out and make some moves."
Luhnow has no plans to trade Bud Norris anytime soon, reports McTaggart. Luhnow told McTaggart that Norris is a "critical part of the team" and noted that the constant rumors are unfortunate for all parties involved. Norris hasn't been on the trading block for quite some time, according to Luhnow.
Luhnow also said that Erik Bedard is basically "going through the finishing touches of Spring Training" (Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle reporting via Sulia). The Astros have limited Bedard to four innings per appearance thus far, which has contributed to the aforementioned 15 1/3 innings stat.
McTaggart reports that the Astros have sent Roger Clemens out to scout potential No. 1 overall draft picks (Twitter link). The Astros seem to be focused on college players, as McTaggart goes on to list right-hander Mark Appel (Stanford), right-hander Jonathan Gray (Oklahoma), left-hander Sean Manaea (Indiana State) and third baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant (San Diego) as players of interest.
Grantland's Jonah Keri wonders if the Diamondbacks lost leverage in Justin Upton trade negotiations after their deal with the Mariners fell through. Keri also examines several trades from the past 30 years in which a well-regarded player who had fallen out of favor with the franchise was traded.
The Rangers are "keeping the lines of communication open" when it comes to free agent Michael Bourn and trade candidate Justin Upton, tweets Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. If either's price comes down to the liking of GM Jon Daniels, Texas is prepared to take action.
Jerry Hairston Jr. is in the final year of a two-year, $6MM contract, and he told Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times that he'll retire if the Dodgers win the World Series this season. Hairston already has one World Series ring, having been a part of the 2009 Yankees and says "you can't get any better" than retiring after a World Series win.
Roger Clemens sat down with CSN Houston's Steve Bunin to discuss his 2013 role with the Astros and confirmed again that he will not pitch next season. Clemens said he would've had to start training in November to make a serious run at a comeback. Instead, he'll help Houston by mentoring their young arms in Spring Training. For the time being, he's not interested in a full-time role with the organization, however.
Wendy Thurm of Fangraphs takes a look at a potential Posey extension and notes the risk involved in doling out a massive contract for a player whose career only includes 1255 plate appearances to date.
Speaking at today's Astros Legends Luncheon, Roger Clemens left the door open for pitching again next year according to Zachary Levine of The Houston Chronicle (on Twitter). Earlier this month we learned that the seven-time Cy Young Award winner would like to be with Houston in 2013.
Clemens, 50, has made two starts for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters in recent weeks. He threw eight shutout innings total and ran his fastball up into the upper-80s. The Astros did scout his outings and team owner Jim Crane did confirm that he's open to signing the veteran right-hander. Clemens is scheduled to appear on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time next year, but pitching in a big league game would rest his five-year waiting period.
The Astros have won 10 fewer games than any team in baseball, setting them up to have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft for a second consecutive season. Having already added Carlos Correa and Lance McCullers Jr. to his system, Astros general manager Jeff Luhnow should have another opportunity to add some top tier talent to his organization. Here are some Astro-centric links for your Monday reading pleasure (all links go to Twitter)…
Owner Jim Crane told reporters, including MLB.com's Brian McTaggart, that the team has begun interviewing managerial candidates. The Astros' list of candidates contains six to eight candidates.
Crane also added that Craig Biggio, who spent 20 years playing for the Astros, is assisting in the interview process (McTaggart reporting).
Luhnow told reporters today that the team has scheduled out its rotation for the remainder of the season, and it doesn't include Roger Clemens, who won't pitch in the Major Leagues in 2012 (via McTaggart). Clemens recently told reporters he hopes to be with the Astros in 2013, though he conveniently neglected to specify whether that meant as a coach or a player.
Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports that Crane still wants Clemens to pitch in 2012, but not against a contender. Sullivan adds that Cubs manager Dale Sveum thinks it would be good for his team to face Clemens.
Fifty-year-old Roger Clemens made his second start for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters last night, throwing 4 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out one, walked zero, and allowed two hits while his son Koby was behind the plate. In his two starts for the Skeeters, he's allowed no runs on three hits in eight innings. Following the game, Clemens spoke to reporters (including Fran Blinebury of The New York Post) about what's next…
“Well, not this year,” replied Clemens when asked if he'll pitch in the big leagues this season, reiterating what he said a few days ago. “But we’ll see what happens after that. I’m not going to rule anything out. I don’t know what Koby is going to do, where he ends up. I hope to end up probably in February with the Astros, put on a uniform and help those kids. That’s probably next.”
He didn't specify if he would like to wear that uniform as a player or coach, though I think it's fair to assume he would prefer to be an active player. Astros owner Jim Crane is open to signing Clemens and they have been scouting his recent outings, but it doesn't sounds like the two sides have had any dialogue about a contract yet.
"I'd listen to [Crane], but I'd have to do some work again," said Clemens. "I just don’t think I'm close to pitching in a Major League game."
ESPN's Buster Olney says (on Twitter) that Clemens opened last night's outing by throwing 79 mph in the first inning, but that climbed to 84 in the second, 86 in the third and fourth, and then 87 in the fifth. That is obviously way down from his prime, ditto the 90.3 mph he averaged with the Yankees during his final season in 2007.
Returning to a Major League club as an active player (and appearing in a game) would restart Clemens' five-year waiting period for the Hall of Fame. He will appear on the ballot for the first time next year along with Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, Mike Piazza, and others. Despite his seven Cy Young Awards and historic playing career overall, Clemens seems unlikely to be inducted into Cooperstown on the first ballot due to the PED shroud. Delaying his candidacy five years could improve his chances for induction.
The Yankees will reach a crossroads with three of their most productive players this offseason when Nick Swisher hits free agency and Curtis Granderson and Robinson Cano get a little closer to the open market. Jayson Stark surveyed MLB executives about the value of those Yankees and passed along the results in his latest column at ESPN.com. Here are the details and more notes from Stark…
Two National League executives had no reservations about spending on Cano. “Pay him what he's worth," one said. The other said Cano has a legitimate case for a $200MM extension.
The execs praised Granderson as a person but questioned his value on the field. A $100MM contract would be excessive in the view of one executive. Both Cano and Granderson will be eligible for free agency following the 2013 season, assuming the Yankees exercise their '13 club options.
The Nationals have considered picking up their side of Adam LaRoche’s $10MM mutual option for 2013 and keeping Bryce Harper in center field, Stark reports. Alternatively, they could sign Michael Bourn when he hits free agency, move Harper to a corner spot and trade Michael Morse. I examined LaRoche’s option in detail last week, before his recent hot streak.
The Phillies are looking at third base and left field options for next year and that search includes players already in the organization. One scout has been impressed by 26-year-old Darin Ruf, who hit 38 home runs at Double-A this year. "He might be Matt Holliday," the scout said, praising Ruf's hitting ability.
An old friend of Roger Clemens doesn’t believe the seven-time Cy Young Award winner when he says he’s not thinking about playing at the MLB level. The person expects Clemens to sign with the Astros this month.
Roger Clemens said he doesn't expect to pitch for an MLB team in 2012, according to Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun (Twitterlinks). Clemens, who's scheduled to make his second start for the independent Sugar Land Skeeters three days from now, said he's just having fun. A comeback to the MLB level isn't on his mind, he said.
"I don't see it happening," Clemens told reporters.
The Astros will scout the 50-year-old's next start, but the Rangers and Royals don't appear to have interest. Clemens, who last pitched in the Major Leagues for the 2007 Yankees, could delay his appearances on the Hall of Fame ballot if he appears in an MLB game this year. Astros players have told their friends they think Clemens will sign with Houston, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark reported last week.
In his latest column, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark writes that Astros players have told their friends on other teams that they already think Roger Clemens' arrival in Houston is a done deal. An old friend of Clemens himself also told Stark that he is convinced The Rocket is gearing up for a big league comeback. Here's more from Stark..
The Dodgers have $181.3MM committed to 17 players for next season, putting them at $3.3MM over the $178MM tax threshold. However, team president Stan Kasten says that he isn't terribly concerned about it. "I don't know. It's not something we've focused on yet," he said. "To us, that's a secondary issue. First, we want to put the best team on the field now and worry about other things later. We're not focusing on that yet." In the long term, Dodgers' brass wants to lean heavily on scouting and player development with a payroll close to what other teams in "similar markets" have, according to Kasten.
The Red Sox are giving agents and other teams the vibe that they aren't in a rush to spend just because of their new found payroll space. People who have talked with Boston predict that they're more likely to make creative moves this offseason rather than eat an undesirable contract like that of a Joe Mauer or Cliff Lee.
Speaking of Mauer one exec that checked in on him says trade talk surrounding the catcher lately is "garbage." As for Lee, Stark writes that he is also likely to stay as the Phillies made it clear earlier this year that they have no interest in moving him.
Stark asked an AL scout and an NL scout about their thoughts on Dan Haren, who will be a free agent after the Angels buy out his final option year. Both said that while there are concerns about his velocity and his all-around stuff, he could be an intriguing one-year pickup at the right price.
The scouts were also asked about Jeremy Guthrie and neither scout was terribly high on him. The NL scout pointed out his high volume of mistakes over the plate but said that he would install him in the back of a rotation on a one-year deal. The AL scout on the other hand said he would rather take his chances with Daisuke Matsuzaka or Haren.
The Astros plan to scout Roger Clemens' upcoming start for the independent league Sugar Land Skeeters on September 7th, General Manager Jeff Luhnow told Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com (story by Danny Knobler). Knobler writes that the strong speculation in baseball is that if Clemens pitches well, he will then pitch for the Astros five days later, on September 12 versus the Cubs.
The 50-year-old hurler last pitched in the majors in 2007 for the Yankees and can likely delay his Hall of Fame eligibility for another five years if he returns to the big leagues with Houston. While the Astros have been linked to Clemens recently, the Rangers and Royals are reportedly not interested in his services.
Chris Corrigan of the High-A ball Palm Beach Cardinals made history tonight by throwing a perfect game in his start against the Charlotte Stone Crabs. Corrigan, 24, was a 30th-round selection for the Cardinals in the 2009 amateur draft and carried a career 4.04 ERA in 102 minor league games (25 starts) entering tonight. Corrigan's gem was the first minor league perfect game since Jeanmar Gomez threw a perfecto for Double-A Akron in 2009. As for the Stone Crabs, they're an affiliate of (who else?) the Rays, who have been perfecto'd three times in the last four years at the Major League level.
Chase Utley took some groundballs at third base before today's game and he told reporters (including MLB.com's Todd Zolecki) that he had approached the Phillies about getting some reps at third in order to "create some more flexibility as far as the organization is concerned." Utley spent a season playing third in 2002 in Triple-A before but hasn't played at the hot corner since.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. commented on Utley's trial, noting that "in a perfect scenario," Utley could hold down third base until prospect Cody Asche is ready, theoretically for the 2014 season. Amaro cautioned reporters (including Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer) that it's hypothetical since Asche has yet to play above Double-A.
Billy Hamilton will "probably not" be called up for September, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty tells MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Jocketty noted that the decision wasn't finalized yet, however, and that he was going to watch Hamilton play in person this weekend.
Roger Clemens is planning to start again for the Sugar Land Skeeters on September 7, according to a text the pitcher sent Mark Berman, sports director of FOX 26 KRIV (Twitter link). Clemens, 50, threw 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his first start with the Skeeters on August 25. | {
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Pearl Compound in Al- Khobar-Saudi Arabia
04 March 14
esolution construction & Engineering awarded the design and construction of post tension floors in Pearl compound , the project consist of eight different type of building , each is repeated two times , the project ran through some changes due to the value Engineering requested by the owner in return there were so many repair to be made in the project first floor slabs that is made of precast concrete slabs on cast at site beams .
esolution once awarded the project has ran an design check on the whole project as requested by Main contractor , the foundation design were found unsafe , the consultant has made his own check parrallel to esolution deisgn check and results found same
esolution consturction and Engineering awarded to do the repair of the foundations based on the new design and submitted all calculations and drawings to consultant , where it been approved for construction , then proceeded with the construction of the slabs | {
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Lego 10258
The London Bus comes with an array of brick-built features and details, including large windows, bright red curved bodywork, panoramic windshield, reversible transit advertising posters provided as printed labels, specially made standard-tread tires and a destination sign. It also has an opening hood with engine, detailed driver's cab with sliding door, and a removable roof and upper deck for access to the detailed interior.
Celebrate iconic design with this charming double-decker London Bus, featuring a wealth of authentic details, including a bright-red color scheme, panoramic windshield, specially made standard-tread tires, destination sign, and an open rear boarding deck with a hand pole, ticket bin, fire extinguisher and a half-spiral staircase that leads to the upper sightseeing deck. Functions include an opening hood with engine, detailed driver's cab with a sliding door, and a removable roof and upper deck f | {
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Abstract
From holding worldwide companies' information hostage to keeping several distributed systems down for hours, the last years were marked by several security attacks which are the result of complex software and its fast production. There are already tools which can be used to help companies detect vulnerabilities responsible for such attacks. However, their reliability is still not the best and well discriminated. In software testing, researchers tend to use hand-seeded test cases or mutations due to the challenges involved in the extraction or reproduction of real test cases which might not be suitable for testing techniques, since both approaches can create samples that inadvertently differ from the real vulnerabilities and thus might lead to misleading assessments of the tools' capabilities. The lack of databases of real security vulnerabilities is an issue since it hampers the tools' evaluation and categorization. To study these tools, the researchers created a database of 682 real test cases which is the outcome of mining 248 repositories for 16 different vulnerability patterns.
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1. Introduction
Under the rush of companies trying to outdo each other, fast updates and software supporting new features in every new release, testing tends to be one of the most forgotten phases of the software development life cycle (Figure 1). Not only due to the lack of reliable automated tools to test software but also due to the high costs associated with the manual process. Some companies do not even pay attention to the process of finding security vulnerabilities before shipping software and the ones that do care, typically have two choices:
•
They try to tackle the issue hiring testers and the best developers they can; perform extensive manual code reviews and outsource to find bugs (bug bounty programs)
•
Or, they ship the product based on a possible “well-thought-out” balance between the damages of a vulnerable version and the fact that the vulnerable code will never be disclosed
Companies tend to embrace the second one since the first option is too time-consuming and monetarily unbearable. Although dangerous, corporations are used to escape attacks with the second approach, but now, and more than ever, it rarely happens, and the proof is the increase of security vulnerabilities reported by annual security reports (IBM Security Department USA, 2017; European Union Agency for Network and Information Security, 2017).
Figure 1.
Software development life cycle (SDLC)
According to IBM's X-Force Threat Intelligence 2017 Report (IBM Security Department USA, 2017), the number of vulnerabilities per year has been significantly increasing over the past six years. IBM's database counts with more than 10K vulnerabilities in 2016 alone. The most common ones are cross-site scripting and SQL injection vulnerabilities - these are two of the main classes that incorporate the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP)'s 2017 Top-10 security risks (The OWASP Foundation, 2017). The past years have been flooded by news from the cybersecurity world: exposure of large amounts of sensitive data (e.g., 17M of zomato accounts stolen in 2015 which were put up for sale on a dark web marketplace only now in 2017), phishing attacks (e.g., Google Docs in 2017), denial-of-service attacks such as the one experienced last year by Twitter, The Guardian, Netflix, CNN and many other companies around the world; or, the one that possibly stamped the year, the ransomware attack which is still very fresh and kept hostage many companies, industries and hospitals information. All of these attacks were able to succeed due to the presence of security vulnerabilities in the software that were not tackled before someone exploit them. Another interesting point reported by IBM is the large number of undisclosed attacks, i.e., attacks through exploits that do not yet belong to a specific attack pattern or cannot be remediated by a software patch - the so-called zero-day exploits (IBM Redbooks, 2011) - which can be harmful since developers have been struggling already with the disclosed ones.
The identification and correction of defects take more than 50% of the software development costs (Tassey, 2002) which is extremely high given all the phases involved in the SDLC (Figure 1). Several static analysis tools (e.g., Infer, Find Security Bugs, Symbolic PathFinder, WAP, Brakeman, Dawnscanner and more) can detect security vulnerabilities through a source code scan which may help to reduce the time spent on those two activities. Unfortunately, their detection capability is not the best yet (i.e., the number of false-negatives and false-positives is still high) and sometimes is even comparable to random guessing (Goseva-Popstojanova & Perhinschi, 2015). | {
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