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Relay for Life is a 12-hour, overnight, fundraising event that is incredibly unique in its own way. It’s not just about raising money. It’s also a life-changing and memorable celebration of life and of our loved ones touched by this disease.
Relay For Life events allow family and friends to celebrate and honour those who have fought, are fighting, or who have lost their battle with cancer. Survivors’ are the guests of honour and walk as a reminder to keep fighting and stay strong.
The Harrow Relay For Life starts at 7pm on June 1st until 7am June 2nd.
If you would like to become a volunteer or need more information on Relay for Life in the Windsor & Essex County area please call Averil Spence-Clarke at 519.254.5116 ext 3984 or email: email@example.com | <urn:uuid:aa6c87cc-016c-441c-9f70-b23e3fc0c3ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://windsorite.ca/events/?event_id=58122 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963987 | 194 | 1.546875 | 2 |
with Eating Disorders
Dana Delany, star of “Desperate Housewives,” recently told Modern Mom magazine she used to starve herself in her ‘20s in order to keep her weight low. However, while shooting “China Beach,” Dana said she decided to adopt more healthy eating habits to help get the energy she needed.
He's a much loved rock'n'roller who's married to one of the world's most beautiful women. But singer Daniel Johns has finally revealed the horror behind his teenage anorexia - a condition which nearly left him dead.
Johns has admitted he was close to suicide a number of times as he battled the eating disorder in his late teens. It is the first time the singer has spoken at length about his anorexia, a problem which is affecting increasing numbers of teenage boys in Australia.
Danielle Fishel, former star of “Boy Meets World,” said she used to be obsessed with her weight as a teen. Focused on achieving a perfect 24-inch waist, Danielle said she took laxatives, would eat only lettuce and threw up. The 5’1” host of the “The Dish” on the Style Network weighed got down to a mere 89 pounds. Danielle said she decided to rethink her extreme diet after she collapsed on the set of “Boy Meets World.”
For years, people have associated Anne Murray with her satin voice and hit songs. But last week in People magazine, Anne revealed a surprising side of herself — one that eight million families can identify with. Anne's daughter is recovering from anorexia nervosa.
Though Anne had noticed some eating problems while Dawn was growing up, she attributed them to typical teenage behavior. Even when Dawn's eating habits became more unusual, it was difficult to pin down their source. "I didn't know what to do," Anne confessed. "She would say, 'I'm fine.' She would eat while I was at home. She always put on a good face, but inside she was dying. She's a great actress."
DEMI LOVATO recently wrote a blog to reach out to people struggling with eating disorders, Hollywood news has learned. And her most important piece of advice is: “speak up and seek professional help.”
Fresh from waging war against the Disney Channel for making a joke about eating disorders in one of its shows, Demi came out with a blog on Seventeen magazine’s website entitled “My Battle With Eating Disorders,” in which she talks about her own struggles with the disease and offers sound advice to others who are going through it as well. | <urn:uuid:b1ba5e7e-3e65-4020-ba00-f907649bfc8d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.caringonline.com/eatdis/celebrities_d.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987854 | 553 | 1.507813 | 2 |
The Cincinnati Museum Center is being recognized for excellence among museums.
It is now accredited by the American Association of Museums, an honor it says only 4.5 percent of museums nationwide achieve.
The museum had to conduct a year-long self study and pass a site visit. It generally takes three years to complete the process.
The Museum Center earned high marks for its youth programs and annual Learning Through Play conference.
The Cincinnati Art Museum, the Taft Museum of Art and the Zoo are also on the accredited list. | <urn:uuid:8627ff49-a0f6-4118-a70f-dfa79a670473> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wmub.org/term/union-terminal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960595 | 107 | 1.5 | 2 |
ABU DHABI (Reuters) – Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said a national dialogue leading to elections was the way towards a solution to Syria’s crisis, in remarks broadcast on Tuesday.
He told Al Jazeera television that war was not the way forward, adding: “There is another way to find a solution, it is national, mutual understanding in order for there to be elections in the future.”
The interview was translated from Persian into Arabic by Al Jazeera.
Iran is a main ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who has been battling an uprising against his rule. Opposition activists say 30,000 people have been killed in the 18-month-old revolt, which has grown into a full-scale civil war.
“Syria’s case is very complex and at the same time is a very important one,” Ahmadinejad said. “Should I follow those demanding war? I don’t think the language of war is a good language.
“There must be a different way to solve problems … I have opposed war, but those who want things to be settled through dialogue are a minority and perhaps the majority are in favour of going ahead in the context of war.”
Ahmadinejad, who made similar comments in a separate news conference in Tehran, said Iran had long had good relations with Syria. He said Tehran had built dams, roads and power stations in Syria and Iranian pilgrims were frequent visitors to the Arab country.
(Reporting by Raissa Kasolowsky in Abu Dhabi and Ahmed Tolba in Cairo, Editing by Sami Aboudi and Rosalind Russell) | <urn:uuid:afa45af4-872e-4e2d-a254-cdb1c02c5370> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.firstpost.com/world/irans-ahmadinejad-says-election-not-war-solution-for-syria-477212.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978396 | 343 | 1.6875 | 2 |
|Keeping good financial records
When planning a wedding, it is important to keep good financial records in order to ensure that you stay within your budget. These records should include all vendor's name, phone numbers, addresses, the total amounts due, the deposits paid, and the remaining balances.
|Money saving tips
If you are on a tight budget, there are ways you can reduce costs. When ordering invitations, one of the best ways to cut back is to shop around. Some people sell invitations out of their homes at a ten to twenty percent discount.
When a couple gets married, a number of financial documents may need to be revised. Insurance policies are one such category of papers. First, there's the matter of health insurance.
|Paying for the wedding
With the average couple getting married at a later age, they're more often in a financial position to help with wedding expenses. Sometimes, in the case of a second wedding, the couple may pay for the whole wedding themselves.
|Renting vs. buying
As newlyweds, it would be great to move right into your dream home. But for many couples, this isn't possible, or even a good idea. While long-term, it's always better to buy than rent, you'll need to consider your immediate situation.
|The newlywed budget
After going through a wedding, reception, and honeymoon, chances are, you'll spend some serious bucks, even if you economize along the way. So it's a good idea to set up a budget for your new household.
|Who pays for what?
Traditionally, the bride's family paid for the entire wedding cost, but today there are many different options. A few include letting the bride and groom pay for the entire wedding themselves, or splitting the expenses equally between both families and the couple. | <urn:uuid:f00abe58-af5a-4e2b-9f19-e70912601181> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.actionnewsjax.com/guides/wedding/budgets/default.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95835 | 379 | 1.796875 | 2 |
The expression ‘don’t play with your food’ simply doesn’t apply to London-based photographer Carl Warner. The talented artist takes common food items and transforms them into stunning works of art known as Foodscapes.Each Foodscape is painstakingly built over several days, from the planning stages to building the 3D food landscape to the final stage of digital retouching. The scenes are photographed in layers from foreground to background and sky, with the elements then put together in post-production to achieve the final dazzling 3D image.Unfortunately, the food is no longer edible after being glued, pinned and fiddled with under the hot lights during the photography process, but the leftovers are shared with the crew or sent to a homeless shelter.
Posts Tagged ‘foodscapes’
June 24th, 2011 Suzi | <urn:uuid:8a5fad57-03df-44a5-979a-a53e8d37ff01> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://worthstar.com/tag/foodscapes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951331 | 174 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Prionics receives marketing authorization for its Tuberculin PPD Kit to detect bovine tuberculosis in live cattle
Zurich, January 7, 2011 - Prionics Lelystad B.V. has received marketing authorization for its Tuberculin PPD in the United Kingdom, Ireland and the Netherlands. The Tuberculin PPD (Bovine and Avian Tuberculin PPD) successfully passed the extensive decentralized approval procedure as laid down in EC Directive 2001/82/EC in these three EU countries.
Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is an important infectious and chronic disease amongst cattle that can result in severe economic losses to farming operations. Transmission of the disease to humans is possible and could cause public health issues. Without appropriate control measures bovine TB spreads quickly. TB control programs in the European Union are obliged to use the intradermal skin test with tuberculin PPD as the primary screening tool for bovine TB (Annex B of Council Directive 64/432/EEC).
The Tuberculin PPD from Prionics has been successfully used throughout Ireland since 1979 and in the United Kingdom (UK) since 2005. A prerequisite for being granted the recent UK and Irish tenders was the timely registration of these products via the official marketing authorization procedure. “By granting marketing authorization the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands have confirmed that our product fulfils all requirements for quality, safety and efficacy”, says Dr. Markus Moser, CEO of Prionics. “With both the BOVIGAM® test (the only validated and OIE approved laboratory test for bovine TB) and the Tuberculin PPD Kit, Prionics is able to make a significant contribution to the control of TB in cattle”, says Ernst Zollinger, CMO of Prionics.
Proven safety and efficacy
The Prionics Tuberculin PPD is controlled for quality according to the standards described in the European Pharmacopoeia monographs and . Prionics has demonstrated the safety and efficacy of its Tuberculin PPD through laboratory studies and with the long-term use in Ireland and the UK. The approval by the UK, Ireland and the Netherlands will facilitate the use of this registered product in other EU countries. Marketing authorization applications will be soon filed for this product in other European countries.
This media release is intended for the professional public only. | <urn:uuid:ad5c50a4-1dbd-4861-b5b7-b57d4c0206ef> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.prionics.com/mediareleases/article/89/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933124 | 496 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Wealthy scramble to make last-minute gifts
Looming changes in the estate tax and gift tax are keeping tax experts busy. But it's hard to make decisions without knowing what measures will be adopted.
This post is by Laura Saunders of The Wall Street Journal.
Many people waited until after the election to decide to give, says Diana Zeydel, an estate lawyer at Greenberg Traurig in Miami. "Now they're concerned the window of opportunity is closing, and we're working till 11:30 or midnight every day, including weekends," she says.
Stacy Singer, an estate expert at Northern Trust in Chicago, says the firm has reviewed 500 new trusts since October, more than double the typical number. "Most appraisers stopped taking new business in early November," she says.
For 2012 the gift- and estate-tax exemption is $5.12 million per individual and twice that per married couple, with the excess taxed at a top rate of 35% — the most generous terms in decades. On Jan. 1, 2013, the exemption is slated to drop to $1 million and the top nominal rate to rise to 55%.
Both the rate and the exemption are part of the current "fiscal cliff" negotiations, however, so the ultimate outcome is uncertain. President Barack Obama favors a $3.5 million exemption per individual, of which only $1 million can be used for gifts made during a person's lifetime, and a 45% top rate. Many Republicans — and some Democrats — would like to abolish the tax altogether.
Meanwhile, a group of wealthy people including Buffett and Bill Gates Sr., the father of the Microsoft founder, recently called for a $2 million-per-individual exemption and a 45% top rate. Some longtime tax experts, based on gut instincts, think the current regime will remain in force.
Since this year's exemption applies both to gifts made during one's lifetime and to assets in an estate after death, people who use up their allowance this year won't get one when they die, unless the law becomes more generous. In many cases such a move makes sense, because it removes future appreciation from the estate.
What happens to this year's gifts if the exemption shrinks or the rate rises? Many experts think they won't be affected. "I don't think Congress's intention was to set up a 'gotcha,"' Zeydel says. At worst — if there is a "clawback" of some assets — she and others think it won't include any appreciation after the date of the gift.
A bigger worry is the difficulty of cramming complex decisions into little time. Givers face a wrenching emotional decision — handing over control of a large sum — and planners must work with myriad legal complexities to do quickly what usually takes at least three to six months.
Last-minute planning is especially difficult when much of a couple's wealth is possessed by one spouse — say, in a large individual retirement account.
Expert opinion is divided about one last-minute technique some planners advocate called a "donative promise gift." Givers using it make an irrevocable promise to deliver assets at a future date. While many agree this technique works in Pennsylvania, where the law is established, it is less clear that it works in other states.
Carlyn McCaffrey, an estate lawyer at McDermott, Will & Emery in New York, is reminding some last-minute givers of a simple place to start: Give cash or forgive loans to relatives or friends.
For gifts requiring an appraisal that can't be made until next year, she says it might be possible to give a fixed-dollar amount of an asset this year, with the percentage determined by the appraisal. In a few other cases a giver might be able to borrow a large sum, put it in trust and have the trust buy assets later.
But, as she warns, "Beware of cookie-cutter approaches." Howard Zaritsky, an estate attorney in Rapidan, Va., who advises on complex cases, agrees. "This rush makes me fear that in four or five years I'll be called to be an expert witness on lots of estate malpractice cases," he says.
More from The Wall Street Journal and MSN Money:
So when wealthy people make legal use of the current tax laws to save taxes it's called dodging taxes, but when a less prosperous individual deducts charitable donations, medical deductions, interest on mortgages, etc. that's just good tax planning.
You don't see the double standard? You, me, Romney, Bill Gates, your neighbor next door abide the best way they know how with current tax law. The LAW is unfair, complicated, and confusing on purpose. It's used by politicians to keep YOU confused and angry so they can direct that anger at people of different income levels. Weather it's your jealousy of those better off than you or discussed with those utilizing the generous freebies provided by the taxes you pay.
ALWAYS remember, if you're angry, it's exactly what they want.
The EVIL lies in the government. NOT the people living by the law.
Nice to know that the only worry some people have is how to dodge taxes on the money the want to give away.
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
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Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information. | <urn:uuid:1fe77d8a-7411-4abb-945d-79c91e0465e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://money.msn.com/tax-tips/post.aspx?_blg=2&post=135d2248-3a34-4376-98ab-b4156cc68772 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956231 | 1,210 | 1.53125 | 2 |
“These are Bishnoi villages. The people here don’t eat non-vegetarian food; and they won’t let you eat either!”
That’s the response that I got from the man who put together our 6-night long desert safari in Rajasthan, India. At that point, I didn’t know anything about Bishnois.
On the first evening of our safari through the Thar Desert I asked our guide; who doubled up as our cook, “what’s this Bishnoi?”
It turns out that Bis (twenty) + noi (nine) = Bishnoi. Guru Jambheshwar, a spiritual master imposed 29 commandments on his followers.
Our camel-men and all the people living in the villages that we trotted through are Bishnois. Our camel-man was most delighted to tell us all about Bishnoism. Please listen to the recording:
I don’t speak the local language i.e. Marwadi. Our guide did his best to translate it for us but then again; at the end of the day, some of it might have been lost in translation. Nevertheless, the Bishnoi tradition is all about protecting the environment, its flora & fauna. The commandments address issues of morality, personal hygiene, to refrain from the use of intoxicants, stealing, insulting, lying, cutting trees, adultery, gossip, cheating etc.
Bishnois were forbidden from wearing blue clothes. During the time of the Guru, natural blue colour was obtained from indigo. The Guru wanted to protect the shrub. Perhaps?
Male goats are not sold/worked. In fact, they’re embellished with earrings and left to their own free will.
The mala /Hindu rosary must be recited twice daily.
Women are prohibited from doing housework & cooking during their ‘time of the month’.
On a new moon night, one must fast and recite the mala.
One must vow to have children and expand the community.
_ BE HAPPY!
I’d like to thank our camel-men for their wonderful service during our 5 nights in the desert. Our guide cum cook was fantastic too. If you’re wondering about the food in the desert… STOP! It’s all here! If you’re planning a trip to the Thar Desert, you should read this. Please leave a comment.
I’m on twitter. Get in touch. | <urn:uuid:ca1fdebc-4b93-4669-a931-7dd96a7d97ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://itravel81.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/bishnoi-traditions-bishnoi-villages-rajasthan-india/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942378 | 549 | 1.796875 | 2 |
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Osama Bin Laden Is Dead. President Barack Obama made the stunning announcement at 11:39 PM EDT Sunday, as this blogger sat in a position of stasis. For almost 10 years, the name Osama Bin Laden had become an indelible part of American Culture, and with an image just equal to that of Adolf Hitler.
The Mastermind of the September 11th 2001 events we call 9-11 and that led to the total destruction of the twin towers of The World Trade Center in New York City was on the run, seemingly forever.
Not any more...
And while the media points to a intelligence gathering process that started back in 2001, the truth is that America's political leaders in charge for much of that time wrongly focused American military resources on Irag, and not Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Now, almost a trillion dollars, and 4,000 lost lives by 2007, then-Senator Barack Obama, just starting what would become his successful presidential run, said that he would end the Iraq War, and go on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden right in Pakistan.
The statement led to a ton of criticism from his major presidential rivals. In a blog post dated Wednesday, November 7, 2007 at Zennie62.com, this blogger pushed-out for distribution what CNN's Ruben Navarrette Jr, wrote:
When Sen. Barack Obama suggested getting out of Iraq and moving "onto the right battlefield in Afghanistan and Pakistan," and then pledged, if elected president, to go into Pakistan if our military was in hot pursuit of "high-value terrorist targets" (read: Osama bin Laden), his opponents pounced.
Rudy Giuliani suggested that Obama should be more accommodating of Pakistan's president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Mitt Romney said that Obama was "confused as to who are our friends and who are our enemies." Sen. John McCain called Obama's remarks "kind of typical of his naivete." And Sen. Hillary Clinton said that Obama's foreign policy views were "irresponsible and frankly naive."
Now, fast-forward to 2011 and while Hillary Clinton is now Secretary of State, and Rudy Giuliani is semi-retired (or so it seems) Mitt Romney is talking about running for President, again. And Sen. John McCain doesn't seem to be in the mood of thanking President Obama, issuing this Twitter Tweet:
SenJohnMcCain John McCain
We finally got him, justice has been done. Read my full statement here http://tinyurl.com/3auckey...
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), made the following statement this evening regarding the announcement made by President Obama that Osama Bin Laden has been killed:
"I am overjoyed that we finally got the world's top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. I hope the families of the victims of the September 11th attacks will sleep easier tonight and every night hence knowing that justice has been done. I commend the President and his team, as well as our men and women in uniform and our intelligence professionals, for this superb achievement.
"But while we take heart in the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, we must be mindful that al-Qaeda and its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies, and we must remain vigilant to defeat them."
That's great. But never forget that it was McCain who wasted no time in saying then-Senator Obama was naive for wanting to go into Pakistan to get Bin Laden. If McCain were POTUS, and not Obama, this day arguably would never have come.
And the list of potential GOP Presidential Candidates who don't have the class to thank President Obama includes Sarah Palin and, of course, Mitt Romney, as of this writing.
What Were We Doing In Iraq?
All of this, this modern V-Jay Day, now brings back the question "What were we doing in Iraq?" It was, indeed, not just the wrong war, but a costly war. And we wasted years in Iraq while Osama Bin Laden gained enough time and money to have the giant compound in Pakistan constructed to keep him safe.
Now, a revisiting of what the USA was doing over that time is in order, especially since it's clear Osama Bin Laden was no where near Iraq.
We got him. In Pakistan. | <urn:uuid:ed142049-f8fc-4774-9989-5c67e197e0ad> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.seattlepi.com/zennieabraham/2011/05/02/osama-bin-laden-is-dead-credit-president-obama/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967594 | 942 | 1.617188 | 2 |
OK, let's assume this is true to some extent, but up until this point all discussion why it would be so has been on densitometry using false assertions and unneeded complications. What I think is that it isn't just a densitometry (amount of dye per amount of exposure) issue.
Originally Posted by Athiril
The "compression" you describe is just a description of the basic densitometry, namely the "shoulder". If you hit the shoulder, you are exactly right, but I claim that you usually do not hit the shoulder with today's color neg film with most subjects. The sunset/sunrise is one of the few exceptions. But well the curve isn't perfectly linear but we are not talking about big differences here. There must be some other reason to your experience.
When we are talking about color saturation, we usually talk about "perceived saturation" which is just contrast, discussed above. Increasing contrast naturally increases perceived saturation and sharpness and vice-versa, but if we are not affecting contrast, then this is not what we are interested in.
However, the real color saturation is defined otherwise. AFAIK, it is dependent on how wide the absorption peaks of the sensitization dyes are. If they overlap much, a large number of hues can be reproduced life-like because there are no deep "valleys" in the sum of the three spectral curves between the primary colors. But at the same time, "color saturation" is somewhat subdued. OTOH, if the dyes have narrower absorption spectra, color saturation can be increased at the cost of "reality" of the hues. Some hues are now reproduced too light and some hues too dark, but that is exactly one of the reasons why the image looks more vivid.
But, is this connected to exposure or densitometry in any way? Or is it just a film design parameter that keeps constant regardless of exposure? How the color saturation is controlled when designing a film? Can we affect the real color saturation, not contrast, in exposure choice and/or processing? This is a question that always goes unanswered. | <urn:uuid:f79028ac-3d1c-4902-be94-47933bd7694f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.apug.org/forums/viewpost.php?p=1167232 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950169 | 441 | 1.804688 | 2 |
In parental notification’s first year, only 8 hearings for judicial waiver
A year ago, when the state began requiring pregnant minors to notify a parent or guardian before having an abortion, pro-choice advocates thought as many as 60 girls a year might choose the alternative and ask a judge for a waiver. The estimate was based on the experience of Massachusetts over 20 years.
Instead, only eight have sought that judicial bypass, according to court spokeswoman Laura Kiernan. All the requests were granted.
What does that say about a controversial law that passed only after several years of debate and an argument before the U.S. Supreme Court? With any real analysis at least a year away, it depends on which side of the abortion debate you ask.
Rep. Kathleen Souza, a Manchester pro-life Republican who sponsored the parental notification law, said Friday the numbers encourage her that few girls had an abortion without a parent’s knowledge.
“The law is a teacher,” Souza said. “And I think the fact that there is a law might have encouraged some young people to go to their parents.”
Souza also believes the year-old law has cut down on the number of pregnant minors coming to New Hampshire for abortions from Massachusetts, which has a tougher law that requires a parent’s consent.
Until New Hampshire adopted its parental notification law, it, like Maine and Vermont, required no parental involvement in a minor’s abortion. But Souza’s evidence is anecdotal.
She knows only what she sees while praying outside the Manchester Planned Parenthood clinic on procedure days. Souza said there have been fewer cars with Massachusetts plates coming to the clinic. Souza also thinks fewer minors are arriving for abortions with just their boyfriends or a best friend.
“I’m sad eight girls (sought a judicial bypass),” Souza said. “On the other hand, I think the law is working.”
What Dalia Vidunas, executive director of the Concord Feminist Health Center, has seen at her clinic suggests Souza might be right. She said she has seen more parents involved in their minor daughters’ abortions since the law took effect a year ago. The center has always encouraged minors to involve a parent when appropriate, she said.
But, Vidunas said, in some cases, that involvement has acerbated, not alleviated, the stress and emotional pain for some pregnant minors. And Vidunas cautioned against reading too much into the fact that only eight girls sought the judicial bypass.
A couple of the center’s patients went that route, Vidunas said, although one reconsidered. But several also expressed interest in going to Maine for their abortions to avoid involving a parent or a judge.
She said although the court staff and judges who’ve held bypass hearings have been “wonderfully” accommodating and sensitive to the pregnant minors, the idea of going to a courthouse and sharing details with strangers is too intimidating for some of the center’s patients.
Vidunas is especially worried about girls who grow desperate enough to order drugs online to abort their fetus at home, alone.
Curious about how easy that option was, Vidunas did a Google search for abortion drugs. Within a half hour, she found a company based in India claiming it could provide the necessary drugs for less than $100. She placed her order and had them within a week, she said.
“There are stories about (those minors) ending up in emergency rooms,” Vidunas said.
Kiernan, the court spokeswoman, declined to provide any details about the age of the girls who sought judicial bypasses. Nor would she say where in the state they lived, citing the confidentiality requirements of the law.
The process, however, is public information. The Concord Feminist Heath Center has devoted a page of its website (feministhealth.org) to detailing the process and providing the judicial bypass forms. The information is also available at the court’s website, courts.state.nh.us.
Any minor who cannot tell a parent or guardian they intend to get an abortion can request a private, confidential hearing before a judge. The judge may waive the notification requirement if he or she finds the minor is mature enough to make the decision on her own.
Any minor who wants one is entitled to a lawyer, at no cost to them, under the measure.
Planned Parenthood of Northern New England recruited and trained a dozen lawyers to provide that counsel just before the law went into place. The superior courts, where the hearings are held, have access to the names of those attorneys, as does the Concord Feminist Health Center.
Jennifer Frizzell, senior policy advisor for Planned Parenthood of Northern New England, said her agency matched 10 pregnant minors with attorneys last year. Seven of them chose to seek a hearing before a judge, she said.
Frizzell said her agency is still evaluating the new law and is working to have medical students do a thorough two-year study of the regulations and how the bypass law is being used.
But she has some early impressions, good and bad.
“We’ve been very pleased with the superior court system,” Frizzell said. “They’ve been able to provide expeditious and confidential access to young women. Courts in multiple locations across the state have really implemented this program in a way that’s very compassionate and very sensitive to the rights and needs of pregnant teens.”
But the law’s requirements targeting minors created complications and delays for some of Planned Parenthood’s adult patients.
The clinics’ staff now must ask abortion patients to prove their age if they are young enough to look under 18. That can be especially difficult for young women who don’t have a driver’s license or ready access to their birth certificate, Frizzell said.
The law can also be a challenge for a minors and parents from other countries. The minor must be able to prove the person claiming to be their parent is their biological parent under the new law. A refugee family may not have that kind of documentation, Frizzell said.
Vidunas and Frizzell are also concerned about the logistical obstacles pregnant minors face if they need to use the judicial bypass. If they don’t have easy access to transportation or are in school, it can be difficult to meet with an attorney and appear again at a court hearing.
Still, Frizzell hasn’t heard that the new law has stopped a minor from having an abortion.
“I have interviewed our counselors and providers about the first year, and I think universally they have seen no evidence that the existence of the new law has led young women to change their mind or alter their decision about ending a pregnancy,” she said.
Frizzell and Vidunas would like to see the law repealed, or in Vidunas’s case, amended to allow girls 16 and older to have an abortion without notifying a parent. “The age of consent (to have sex) in New Hampshire is 16,” Vidunas said.
That’s not expected to happen this year. No lawmaker has filed a bill seeking a repeal. Vidunas and Frizzell said they recognize that the Legislature’s focus this year is writing a budget. Plus, Frizzell said, she’d like to have the results of Planned Parenthood’s planned study before recommending any law changes.
Should a repeal bill emerge this year, it likely won’t have the support of Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan. Next year, however, it likely would.
“Governor Hassan is focused first and foremost on developing a fiscally responsible balanced budget and implementing her innovation plan to help businesses create jobs,” said her spokesman Marc Goldberg in an email Friday. “But she continues to oppose the law passed by the previous Legislature over Gov. Lynch’s veto because she believes it is wrong to force victims of incest to go back to their abusers before making their own health care choices and supports its repeal.”
(Annmarie Timmins can be reached at 369-3323, firstname.lastname@example.org or on Twitter @annmarietimmins.) | <urn:uuid:23d664e8-3a5e-4338-812a-983bfe9ddd32> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.concordmonitor.com/news/3661264-95/law-vidunas-minors-abortion | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962241 | 1,735 | 1.789063 | 2 |
Alzheimer Europe is a non-profit organisation which aims to improve the care and treatment of Alzheimer patients through intensified collaboration between its member associations.
In the longer term, AE is striving to become the coordination and information centre for all organisations working in this specific field, such as day care centres, sitting services, training centres for professionals and related organisations. With the current steady increase in the life-expectancy of Europe's population, the number of people affected by age-related disease such as Alzheimer's disease and related disorders is forecast to increase dramatically in the next few years. More importantly, the majority of Alzheimer sufferers live at home and are cared for by their relatives and friends. Although many organisations are active in supporting them, carers often work alone, and lack in know-how and inspiration which could be given by others.
This section provides detailed information on our current and past projects, as well as on the statutes, finances and the people behind the organisation.
Last Updated: mercredi 21 octobre 2009 | <urn:uuid:6ee09764-65db-4946-9244-9329998e8da7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.alzheimer-europe.org/FR%C3%84%20%C4%80%C2%B5%20%C4%86%E2%80%9E%C4%80%C2%B9%20/Alzheimer-Europe | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963262 | 209 | 1.648438 | 2 |
The rambling house at the corner of Pearl and South streets in Hyannis may not look like an art museum, but it shelters remarkable nautical visions by Cape muralist Vernon Coleman, whose murals are displayed proudly in town hall and the old high school downtown.
New Life, New Artists
With the CPC's vote Tuesday night, a plan to unite 50 Pearl, its neighboring house at number 46, and the Guyer Art Barn as a campus providing gallery space, studios for work, and affordable housing for artists is moving forward. Town Manager John Klimm is expected to give his blessing to the $490,000 purchase of the houses, and the town council may take it up in January.
Community Preservation funds may be used for open space, affordable housing and historic preservation, and the project seems to fit at least the last two categories snuggly.
The Guyer Barn, so named for pharmacist Arthur Guyer, was built as a carriage house in the 1800s and was also a bike shop at one time. In 1986, at the instigation of Hyannis artist Shirley Flynn, the town took it over to operate as a gallery.
Flynn and fellow artist Pat Curcio, the gallery's director for the last decade, talked for years about creating a space for artists built around the gallery. Curcio is carrying the project forward following her colleague's passing.
An emphasis on the arts is vital for downtown revitalization efforts, according to Assistant Town Manager Paul Niedzwiecki.
"Hyannis is really set up to be much more of a cultural Mecca," he said.
Niedzwiecki said the town, along with Flynn and Curcio, first thought of creating work studios and retail space on the first floors of both buildings and living space above. The response from artists ran counter to expectations.
"They said they didn't want to live on top of their work space," said Niedzwiecki. "They wanted to have some physical separation from their work." New plans call for four to seven living units at 46 Pearl.
A peek inside the basement of 50 Pearl St. the morning after the Community Preservation Committee voted to recommend purchasing the property revealed works of imagination that still retain their vibrant colors. A brace of mermaids dives and rises while a skeleton in a skirt (Mrs. Davy Jones?) and Poseidon watch in admiration. Fishing shanties await the return of an old salt as he pulls into harbor.
In one corner sits what might have been a stage prop at the Barnstable Comedy Club: a shingled shack front with a stovepipe sticking out of the roof and lettering that reads, "Cape Cod Capers Club."
"That was the bar," said Coleman's son, Vernon, Jr., as the piece was described to him. "The house was originally owned by Bill and Gladys Whitney. They were friends of my dad."
The murals were probably created in the 1930s as a gift from Coleman, his son said, while his father was making scenery for the Barnstable Comedy Club and the Little Theater in South Yarmouth. Given the era, did it ever serve as a speakeasy?
"No, I don't believe so," Coleman said with a chuckle, "but they did like to party." | <urn:uuid:7bf0b96c-4785-4257-b624-f4b0179036d7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.barnstablepatriot.com/home2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=10888 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978017 | 683 | 1.5625 | 2 |
The National Aquarium’s dolphin colony is a dynamic, close-knit group that is made up of mostly mothers! Nani, Chesapeake and Jade are mothers to three of our young dolphins. Nani gave birth to Beau in 2005, and Foster was born to Jade in 2007. Bayley was born to Chesapeake in 2008 and she will be 3 years old tomorrow!
Spirit and Maya were also born here at the Aquarium in 2001, and this is the first year they produced calves. In late June, we shared the sad news of the loss of these two dolphin calves. The loss of the calves proved to be upsetting and stressful not only for the staff, but also for the dolphins themselves.
From years of working with these animals, we know that dolphins are very social animals. When something of this nature disrupts the group, the animals get upset. In this case, the moms were distressed, which in turn created stress in the entire colony. Social changes can be very upsetting for every dolphin in the group.
The health and welfare of all of our animals is of first importance. In the weeks following the loss of the calves, staff decided that the best thing to do for the dolphins was to discontinue shows and other programs until our Animal Health team and trainers are satisfied that normal social behaviors have returned.
We are continuing to watch the animals and give them every opportunity they need to recover as a social group. Today we are happy to report that the dolphins are stable and responding very positively to their trainers. We anticipate that shows and other programs will return soon.
Until further notice, instead of regularly scheduled dolphin shows, we are inviting all visitors into the amphitheater to watch our dolphins interact with each other, and stay for an impromptu training session or show rehearsal. This experience is included with the general Aquarium admission ticket. As soon as the dolphins are ready, we will add shows back into the schedule, and make tickets available online and onsite.
While visiting the amphitheater, guests may have the opportunity to see the trainers teaching the dolphins new behaviors or engaging with them in enrichment or play sessions. The types of behaviors included in the show are also very enriching for the animals, and they normally respond positively to participating in shows.
Ultimately, our primary commitment is to the health and welfare of our animals. Our animal health experts and dolphin trainers work closely together; every day, they spend time with each individual dolphin to see how he or she is responding. If the animals begin showing signs they don’t want to participate, then we’ll take another step back and give them the time and attention they need.
We appreciate the support we’ve received from our wonderful members, friends and followers. We remain devoted to keeping our visitors and supporters regularly updated on the status of the Aquarium’s animals, who help us all connect to and better understand this great, big, watery planet. | <urn:uuid:c0d4ae86-78b3-4348-baed-bddbd6c150fe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nationalaquarium.wordpress.com/2011/07/26/checking-in-with-the-dolphins/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=d42062ed33 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966271 | 601 | 1.84375 | 2 |
I was wanting to find out if you would be able to help me
I have 8 consecutive 20 dollar bills without the little 20 printed on the back of any of them
I have enclosed a picture of the front of one and the back of another
would you be able to tell me what they are worth
any help would be greatly appreciated
Wow she linked pictures and everything.
And if you thought that would simplify it you were wrong.
This was beyond my knowledge, beyond my Web search, even beyond my books. So I looked into my network of collectors who also never saw this error.
The small yellow "20"s on the back is an anti-copying security feature,
--Check for the nylon thread on the front to the left of the left side-dark seal.
--Check for the watermark of Jackson's head on the front to the right of the right-sided green seal.
--Hold the bill in front of a light to see the hidden features.
If they are not there then you have counterfeit bills. Which also has value.
If they are there then the bills are real and according to my source each bill is worth $200.00 for a total of $1,600.00. (This is only an educated guess since yours are the first reported.)
Thanks for the visit Belinda and sorry for the long delay but it is a new bill and a strange error.
If I have more updates or find them on eBay I'll post a link but I'd try to sell half of them to a local dealer before more are found.
Here is a cool error that sold on eBay for $10,100 in May 2003 and now sold at $25,300.
It's called the "banana note" and has a Del Monte sticker that fell on it midway during printing and was not caught and destroyed.
Do you have note or currency and want to know its value? Leave a comment/question and I will do my best to find out the price and history for you. | <urn:uuid:cedd73cf-dcce-4d4c-b712-6df34847d14f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://coinedformoney.blogspot.com/2006/01/20-dollar-bill-error.html?showComment=1211650320000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970712 | 419 | 1.570313 | 2 |
Looking for Jesus
When we serve someone marginalized or forgotten, we actually serve Jesus.
Also of Interest
On a week-long mission trip just outside of Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, Jesus showed up and shared a powerful ministry lesson with me and my team. Allow me to explain.
Our team gathered every morning for a brief devotional, then we walked to worksites and helped 1) mix cement, 2) build walls, and 3) sweat a lot. The Haitians we worked beside did an amazing job on the first two; I did the best on the last item.
On the fourth morning, the devotion time focused on Jesus' familiar words in Matthew 25 about the sheep and goats. Specifically, we focused on a frequently forgotten word.
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:37-40)
The forgotten word is "one," found in the last sentence: "whatever you did for one of the least of these …" This single word creates a sense of urgency. Or at least it should.
In ministries that directly serve people, such as the one I work for, the desire to "be Jesus" for people acts as a rallying cry. While this sounds good, did Jesus ever suggest we should pretend to be him? A better approach exists.
Jesus clearly says that when we serve someone marginalized or forgotten, we actually serve him. The Message translation stresses this concept: "Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me." (v. 40) So, our team agreed, it seemed like we should go out into the day and look for Jesus. He'd likely be found as someone with a simple, personal need that we could meet.
Certainly an intriguing challenge. Imagine how it felt the next day when Jesus unexpectedly showed up. Fortunately, I wasn't too distracted by cement work.
Day five featured a schedule change; a visit to an orphanage to share a short Bible lesson, work on crafts, and play a lot. Yes, I again led the way in sweating. But it was wildly worth it; the 50 Haitian children were equal parts beautiful and energetic. When we inflated several beach balls, the place erupted in exhilarating chaos.
Except for one little boy. Maybe two years old and not much taller than a beach ball, I noticed him go to a far corner of the wall and sit down. At that same moment, a thought flashed through my mind: Go over to him. Prompted by curiosity, I walked toward him and noticed his tears. After years in children's ministry, and experience as a parent, I knew that these were not tears caused by an injury, a fight, or being wronged in any way. This was sadness working its way from the inside out. In the midst of all the fun going on around him, what could make him feel so sad?
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More from Christianity Today | <urn:uuid:744916e6-b279-4269-a671-11cb911bdda4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.buildingchurchleaders.com/articles/2012/looking-for-jesus.html?action=noadd | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973208 | 719 | 1.617188 | 2 |
LONDON & EDINBURGH, January 17, 2013: The UK government’s proposed changes to the Work Capability Assessment (WCA) which assesses claimants’ fitness to work, will have a ‘huge impact’ on the way peoples’ illnesses are reviewed, experts have warned.
In a briefing co-published by Ekklesia today, a professional disabled community made up of campaigners, academics and freelance researchers cautions that the government’s amendments would result in hundreds of thousands of vulnerable and sick people being found fit for work while losing vital financial support.
Sam Barnett-Cormack, co-author of the briefing, explained: “The government’s proposals, which have not been discussed by Parliament, will reduce entitlement to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), meaning that Work Capability Assessments will find even more genuinely sick and disabled people fit for work.
“These tests are already deeply flawed. Making a series of assumptions without fully understanding a person’s condition, failing to take into account all impairments and putting a spurious division between physical and mental health is going to have a huge impact for the person involved.”
The government’s proposals include:
* Withdrawal of benefit if an assessor believes that medication would reduce the risks posed by a claimant’s condition, seemingly without regard for whether it would be appropriate in a work context.
* Withdrawal of benefit if an assessor believes that a reasonable adjustment could be made in a workplace to reduce the risks posed by a claimant’s condition, without explicit assessment of whether that adjustment is likely to be available.
* The imaginary wheelchair test, where assessors considers the effect on a claimant’s mobility were they to use a wheelchair and bases their decisions on these assumptions, is to be extended to other aids and adaptions such as guide dogs, walking sticks and even prosthetic limbs, without discussing the prospect of such aids with the claimant.
* Dealing with the claimant’s physical and mental health conditions separately, rather than looking at the combined effects that physical and mental health has on a person’s ability to work. This would include ignoring the mental and cognitive side effects of treatments for physical conditions, and the physical side effects of treatments for mental health conditions.
“I have grave concerns about this guidance for decision makers,” Dr Stephen Carty, Medical Advisor for disability activist group, Black Triangle Campaign, said. “For an unqualified decision maker to presume to have a role in chronic pain management, or for that matter in any other element of health care provision, represents an ill-formed leap of faith into the abyss of complex risk management.”
Tom Greatrex, Labour and Co-operative MP for Rutherglen and Hamilton West, added: “The effect of these government changes is deeply concerning. The fact that people can be assessed as fit for work on the basis of an imaginary guide dog, without taking any account of the availability of guide dogs and the time taken to train both dogs and users, highlights just how far the DWP seem to be prepared to go to find people fit for work without the support they need to make work a reality.”
Simon Barrow, director of the beliefs and values thinktank Ekklesia, which is co-publishing the briefing with its authors and project leader, said: “What the coalition is proposing in these ESA/WCA changes runs entirely contrary to its claims to be protecting and supporting sick and disabled people in a climate of austerity, cutbacks and hardship. Equally disturbing is the government’s habit of introducing changes in ways that bypass proper debate, while ignoring the concerns and expertise of those most deeply impacted. Parliamentarians of all parties need to challenge these proposals and seek an independent, cumulative impact assessment of recent and impending welfare changes.” | <urn:uuid:00e7b472-e2c7-436b-bb43-710e268d5460> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://beyondunknowing.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/ekklesia-think-tank-on-benefit-changes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949798 | 805 | 1.515625 | 2 |
Living trusts have soared in popularity as more people discover their benefits. Property in a Living Trust is not subject to probate, which can be quite expensive and tie up an estate for months. It's also private and does not require court supervision.
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Colleen Stiles, LegalZoom Customer
Colorado Springs, CO
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A trust is an arrangement in which one or more people manage or take care of property for someone's benefit. A living trust is a trust that is created during your lifetime. In other words, while you are still alive, you transfer title to your property from your name to that of the trustee of the living trust. You can use the trust to gather your property under one document, so that the property is distributed efficiently after your death.
When you put your property into a trust, the trustee of the trust owns the property - you are no longer the legal owner of the transferred assets. This doesn't mean you have no control of your property. Since you will be your trust's initial trustee, you will still be in charge of your property. You can do whatever you want with it - you can leave it alone, take it out of the trust, or use it as you had been before the trust was created. A living trust is an easy way to organize your assets and manage them as a single unit. Most importantly, a trust allows for an efficient property distribution when you die.
Yes. If you have an individual trust, you can transfer property in and out of it whenever you want - you don't need anyone else's permission. If you have a shared trust, you will need to get your co-trustee's consent if you're transferring property you own together.
Yes. A will deals with any property that was not included in the living trust. This property may have been left out for any number of reasons. For example, property that wasn't properly transferred into the trust will be distributed under your will. Property you bought or received after the trust was created will be distributed according to your will, unless you transfer the property to, or purchase it in the name of, the trust.
A will also lets you name a guardian for your minor children and covers property intentionally left out of the trust (e.g., cars, personal checking accounts). A LegalZoom Living Trust includes a simple pour-over will for this purpose.
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Colleen Stiles used LegalZoom.com for creating and filing legal documents and has been featured in LegalZoom television commercials. | <urn:uuid:4d621603-e357-43a4-bd04-e251065ce177> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.legalzoom.com/living-trusts/living-trusts-overview.html?cm_mmc=aff-_-ck-_-2618-_-na | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94943 | 713 | 1.804688 | 2 |
Ashley Davis Bush
May 18, 2012
The subtitle of Irini Rockwell’s new book, Natural Brilliance: A Buddhist System for Uncovering Your Strengths and Letting them Shine, reads like a self-help book, and, yes, it is emphatically about helping ourselves. Yet, as you might imagine from a Buddhist teacher, the emphasis of the book is very much about helping us out of ourselves. As Irini writes, “When we are fully present … there is a tangible experience of the boundary of self dissolving and a sense of mingling with sights, sounds, smells, tastes.” Throughout “Natural Brilliance,” Irini acknowledges the richness and basic goodness of our inner world and offers a set of teachings that mean to guide …
Aug 27, 2008
Karunachitta introduces us to Ratnasambhava, the Buddha of abundance, and issues a challenge: Dare we discover the extent of our inner riches?
When I was a child I kept going back to certain fairy stories. There was King Midas’s quest for riches. He was so delighted at the beauty of trees and flowers when his touch transformed them into gold but horrified when those he loved became solid gold statues.
Then there was Aladdin with the lamp that could grant all wishes. I used to wonder what I would wish for, especially when in some stories people were granted three wishes but could only think of stupid things that changed nothing.
I had a glimpse … | <urn:uuid:60c76a0a-4fbf-40b3-948a-0db53f8d0969> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wildmind.org/tag/five-jinas | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969365 | 310 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Sunday River in Maine cranked up its snowmaking system last Saturday as it gets ready to be the first ski resort to open in the East
While it’s still too early to pull out the boards, anticipation is building evey day as a new ski season nears.
Already, Sunday River in Maine started blowing snow last weekend. Sure, it was more of a “test” of its snowmaking system (and to blow out a few mice). But it was also a good motivator (and PR pitch) to get people excited about the season.
This is the time of year when there’s a guessing game going on over which ski area will be the first to open in the East. For the past few years Sunday River has jumped the gun by offering top-to-bottom riding on one of its trails, usually before Halloween.
The trail remained open for only a couple of days, but it did secure the bragging rights for being the first out of the gate. In previous seasons, Mount Snow in southern Vermont nabbed the first-to-open laurels, but its sliding on a small slope near the clocktower was extremely limited. The biggest surprise happened about 10 years ago when the tiny Woodbury ski area in Connecticut opened up a slope in early November; the upstart beat everyone.
From an advertising/ PR perspective, this first-to-open publicity is nearly priceless. That’s because nearly every TV weather person in New England will use the footage as they begin their weather report. Unfortunately, this feel good about the coming season is often dampened by some winter-hating anchor person, shaking their head, saying it’s too early for snow.
But there’s an exciting new development in the first-to-open race this year.
Killington in Vermont, which for decades was always the first to open, has constructed the Peak Walkway that will connect the top of the North Ridge Triple to the top of the K1 gondola.
This will solve a problem with upper mountain early season skiing that started when Killington removed the old double chair to the summit in the early 1990s and replaced it with the K1 gondola.
The K1 gondola essentially follows the same path of the old (and miserably cold and long double chair) from the base to the summit. But unlike the old summit chairlift the K1 does not have a mid-station stop.
For decades, Killington usually opened in mid-October. It blew snow on the upper elevation trails around the North Ridge chair (then known as The Glades) along with the upper stretches of Cascade and sometimes, Downdraft. Skiers, (there were very few snowboarders then) slid down to the mid-station and boarded the chairlift down the mountain.
Here’s how Killington explains the Peak Walkway:
“How will construction of the Peak Walkway impact our winter operations? The walkway will provide access, via a 6-minute walk, from our upper-mountain terrain in the North Ridge area, where historically temperatures from about Oct. 15 on are favorable for snowmaking, back to the top of the K-1 Gondola. |
“Simply stated, the Peak Walkway will allow us to open for skiing during periods when we have marginal lower-mountain snowmaking conditions and provide access to upper mountain terrain and our early-season terrain park on Reason,” states our Director of Mountain Operations Jeff Temple.
Our goal for kicking off the season remains the same: We are committed to open as early as possible for our guests with a sustainable quality product. “It is important for us to be open as early as reasonably possible, as it is a critical element in our overall operating plan,” Temple says. A quality product is defined as one that allows for snowmaking mounds to “dry and cure” for a period of time before grooming and opening. This process greatly improves the durability and quality of the snow surface.
“Remember last season when we saw significantly colder temperatures in mid-October, fired up the snowmaking system and buried the upper slopes with deep snow? Then the temperatures moderated into November and we struggled to cover Lower Bunny Buster to get skiers/riders back to the base of the K-1 Gondola. The result was opening and closing four times before we were able to open and remain open for the season beginning the first week of December. Had the Peak Walkway been installed last year, we would have remained open with upper-mountain skiing through that challenging weather period. So the bottom line is we look at the Peak Walkway as insurance for early-season operation.
With the Peak Walkway in place, we’ll be able to focus our early-season snowmaking resources on expanding upper-mountain terrain on Snowdon Mountain (Upper Bunny Buster, Mouse run and Killink), instead of having to utilize a substantial amount of our snowmaking resources to cover lower mountain terrain during marginal weather conditions. Rest assured, that even with the Peak Walkway in place, Killington will remain committed to providing top-to-bottom skiing and riding as soon as conditions permit.
In this Killington photo, Crews poured the first foundations and starting building the Peak Walkway from the top of the North Ridge Triple back to the top of the K-1 Gondola in September.
The Peak Walkway will be approximately 750 feet long and about 4-feet wide, providing access back to the top of the K-1 Gondola from the summit of the North Ridge Triple. The actual distance is the same as walking from the Bay 5 parking lot to the K-1 Lodge. ”
To me it sounds like Killington is ready to regain the first-to-open crown. And even if it doesn’t there should be some find skiing and snowboarding on these trails during the early season.
All of this early season guessing comes down to the weather. Everyone knows, you can’t make snow if it’s too warm.
And there’s a chance that the upper peaks of New England could see some natural snow Thursday night as a nor’easter rolls up the coast.
Most major ski areas are just days away from jacking up prices for season passes. Wait until after the deadline and you can end up paying hundreds of dollars more.
To some, it doesn’t matter because … they’re rich.
So why not buy a season pass for a reserved parking spot at a ski resort?
At the top of the pack is Stratton Mountain in Vermont that charges $899 to park in a guaranteed, reserved parking space at the main base area. The price “drops” to $749 if you have a “premier” season pass meaning you can ski and ride on holidays and weekends from 7:45 to 8:3o a.m. before the everyone else can. The premier pass costs $1,249.
Mount Snow in southern Vermont is selling its parking pass for $300 ($350 after Oct. 11). What you get is “preferred” parking in Lot A, right behind the Main Base Lodge. The pass is good on weekends and holidays only. Unlike Stratton, Mount Snow, however, says that parking is not guaranteed.
Killington was one of the first areas to charge for premium parking. Their permit-only spaces are the upper bay of the K-1 parking lot. Like snow it’s good on weekends and peak days
Preferred Parking Pass provides the most convenient access to the K-1 Lodge and Gondola on peak days all season long. The price? $299 until Oct. 15, then it rises to $349.
You can’t blame ski resorts for charging for these things. They are after all a commodity and obviously there is a demand for it.
Those who frequent a ski area often already know where the best – and free – parking lots are. Three of the best: Mount Snow’s Carinthia area, Stratton’s Sun Bowl and Killington’s lot at the Skyeship gondola on Route 4 and the lots along lower Great Northern. At these lots you can ski right to your car, that is if you get the first row.
The trick is getting there early. Think of all the money you’ll save.
This photo taken at the Wildcat Ski Area in New Hampshire is from the early 1960s. Many of those who skied during those days are still on the slopes.
Don’t be surprised if you’re standing at a ski ticket window when an older skier tells the cashier: ”Don’t forget my senior discount.”
No this isn’t a coffee shop or a WalMart, but a ski area where seniors expect to see a few dollars knocked off the price of their lift ticket.
But things are changing at ski resorts that are seeing an increasing number of senior skiers, especially during midweek days. There was a time not too long ago that if you were still skiing at age 70, resorts would give you a free lift ticket.
While there are still ski areas that offer freebies for seniors, some like the Catamount ski area in New York/Massachusetts, increased the age to 80.
A handful of areas in Vermont including Mad River Glen, Ascutney and Smuggler’s Notch give freebies to those 70 and older, but some limit their discounts to only midweek, non-holiday times.
Part of the reason has to do with numbers; there’s just too many senior skiers out there with the percentage rising every season. And, while ski areas are reluctant to admit it, there are many senior skiers who are often well off, financially, then most of the people on the slopes. Nonetheless, ski areas want them to return (hopefully, with grandkids) and entice them with discounts that will keep them sliding into their golden years.
According to the National Ski Areas Association, the percentage of people ages 55 to 64 on the slopes has more than doubled to 9.2 percent since the 1997-98 season. And the number of skiers 65 and older has been rising as well.
Senior skiers often get some of the best prices for season passes, especially midweek.
At the front of the line is Mohawk Mountain in Cornwall that is offering a $99 midweek season pass to those 65 and other. On Friday, the price of the pass goes up … slightly … to $105.
That’s still half price of what Mohawk charges for an adult mid-week pass.
Up the road at Butternut in Great Barrington, Mass., seniors have to wait until they are 70 to buy a season pass for only $100 that’s good weekends and holidays.
Often senior discounts amount to the same price as a young adult ticket, a discount between $10 and $15.
I wonder … with the millions of baby boomers still skiing or snowboarding nearing retirement … how long this will last.
Already we’re starting to see a new definition of what a senior citizen is. Stratton in Vermont, for example, calls you a senior if you’re between 65 and 69. But if you’re 70 or older, they call you a “super senior,” which entitles you to a bigger discount. Adults pay $149 for a two-day pass, seniors are charged $128 and “super seniors” pay only $105.
At Okemo in Vermont, senior discounts for season passes start kicking at age 70. In fact, most of its season passes are for “all ages” between 7-69. Its “Super Senior” midweek pass goes for $269 ( $100 lower than what others pay).
Stowe in northern Vermont is sticking with age 65 to qualify for a discount. The savings are considerable for a season pass: $755 for seniors, $1,503 for other adults. This season, a one-day ticket at Stowe will cost $84 (on Saturday’s it’s $89). Seniors, however, pay $73 and $77.
So, if you’re old enough, how do you find senior discounts?
The web site www.seniorski.com is the quickest way get an overview. On the site U.S. ski resorts are organized in tables by age. Keep in mind, that some of this info is from last season, so check back in late December for updates. Ski resorts are still in the process of firming up their single ticket prices.
Keep in mind that deadlines are looming at most ski areas for season passes that could rise by a few hundred bucks if you wait just before the season begins. Now’s the time to do a little math and see if a season pass works for you in your specific age group.
By far, the best deals out there are for college students who can ski or ride for less than $300 a season.
Too good to be true? Maybe because ski areas make up the difference from the college students’ bar tabs.
A Sikorsky S61 helicopter is being used to help construct a new ski lift at the Mitterskill backcountry ski area near Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire.
The Stratford, Conn-made chopper is carrying 6,000 pound payloads of concrete that are being used to create footings for new lift towers for the ski area’s new double chair.
“This has been in the works for quite a while,” says John DeVivo, the general manager of Cannon Mountain and the surrounding Franconia State Park. “During the 2009-2010 ski season, skiers had to hike over from Cannon to ski Mittersill’s backcountry trails as they have for years. We ran a shuttle from Mittersill to Cannon, but we knew that adding chairlift access from Mittersill’s base would make a huge difference to backcountry enthusiasts who just can’t enough of the Mittersill experience.”
The project, which is Phase II in a three-year, $4 million investment and improvement campaign at Cannon, was contracted to Doppelmayr CTEC, Inc. of Park City, Utah. The firm is using Construction Helicopters of Michigan to transport the concrete.
According to DeVivo, the construction started several weeks ago along Mittersill’s original chairlift line. “Over the past month, concrete forms for footings were built where the 13 new towers will go. On Thursday the helicopter transported concrete from a truck at the base to these footings. It’s quite a sight: A bucket holding one and a half yards of concrete, weighing three tons, is attached by a line to the chopper and carried up the mountain. Once all the concrete is poured—that’s going to take more than 70 round trips-the chopper will fly out the old towers,
“Then, when the footings have cured, they’ll return to set the new towers in place.” DeVivo expects the entire installation will be complete by the end of the year, with a projected opening of the new double chair in early 2011.”
The State of New Hampshire and Cannon Mountain acquired the remaining piece of the abandoned Mittersill Ski Area in March, 2009 from the US Forest Service through a land-swap and officially opened it as a backcountry skiing area. During the 2009-2010 winter season Cannon opened Mittersill when snow allowed and shuttled guests from the base back to the main ski area at Cannon, but Mittersill could only be accessed by a short hike up from the top of Cannon.
Mittersill has a storied past and was the scene of many legendary ski races. The New England Lost Ski Areas Project has an excellent history of Mittersill on its web site. Check it out by clicking here.
To see a video of the Sikorsky helicopter delivering the concrete, click here.
An expansion at Sugarloaf in Maine will make it the largest ski area east of the Rockies.
Once the tree thinning is completed in three years, it will eclipse Killington in central Vermont, as having the most acreagefor skiing and snowboarding. The key word here is acreage, not more trails and more lifts.
Sugarloaf’s expansion is centered on Burnt Mountain that shares the ridgeline next to Sugarloaf. This season, they plan to add 270 acres of terrain and 655 more over the next three years. Here’s the official announcement.
Once that’s done, The Loaf will have 1,310 acres compared to Killington‘s 752 acres.
Killington in Vermont is now the largest ski resort in the East.
This doubling of terrain is essentially tree skiing, not groomed trails or snowmaking. But it will be a big draw for skiers looking for more interesting and challenging terrain with some steep cliffs and dropoffs. And it could be one of the East’s best powder playgrounds because the area is known for holding snow dumped there by prevailing winds.
Yes it will be “sidecountry” skiing with the added benefit of ski patrols. Yet, Sugarloaf strongly advises people not to ski or ride alone; a smart move.
No doubt the added terrain will open up some awesome glade skiers looking for fresh “pow pow.”
From a marketing standpoint, it’s also a smart move because Sugarloaf will get another bragging right (in being the largest), along with its incredible snowfields off the summit.
To those who have no interest in skiing the backcountry, relax … the huge area will still have long cruisers and steeps on the main mountain, along with grooming and snowmaking.
Don’t rule it out that one day, you’ll see some lift and trail development on Burnt Mountain in the future. A new lift here, a few groomed trails won’t surprise me, especially with all the condo areas belong Burnt Mountain.
The marketing of Sugarloaf as the largest will not be taken by some as a serious boast. Killington, aka ”The Beast of the East,” will still have more trails, lifts and skiable lifted service terrain.
Right now Killington counts 141 trails over 71 miles with 22 lifts.
Sugarloaf now has 118 trails (not including glades) over 56 miles with 16 lifts.
But many may ask: Do acres really county, or matter?
A couple of seasons ago, Mount Snow started counting acres, instead of trails, on its daily snow report. They said it provided a more accurate report on how much terrain is open. I can see their point, but it does help Mount Snow, especially since they have a few super-wide trails like Snow Dance.
The debate of who’s bigger and better will go on for years.
Don’t worry about the folks at Killington; they’ve always been smart at marketing themselves. They’ll likely focus on the “real” trails, mileage, lifts, off-slope nightlife/dining and … easier access.
And who knows … maybe they’ll finally connect Pico with Killington that surely would create some buzz.
Yes, it’s still summer, but not too early to start planning for the 2010-11 ski season.
By getting a head start before most skiers and snowboarders, you can snare the best deals, find the best equipment/rentals and book lodging on the dates you want … at substancial savings.
BOOKING A ROOM FOR A SKI VACATION:You can get the best rates and on the dates you want if you book soon. That includes the popular holiday weeks like Christmas/New Year’s, Martin Luther King weekend in January and President’s Week in February.
Okemo in Vermont has already rolled out its early booking discount. The details, book by: Sept 1 and receive 15% off most holiday periods, excludes Feb. 18-20; Oct 1 and receive 20 percent off weekends; Dec 1, get 30 percent off midweek. Click here for more details
Okemo fine print: “Valid for most unit types in most locations, based on space available and subject to normal holiday and minimum night guidelines. Due to limited unit type availability, Jackson Gore Penthouse and loft units are not available. Reservations must be confirmed with the normal 60% down within 5 days of booking or by the early action date (whichever comes first).”
Strattonin Vermont has its “Best Early Booking Offer.” Book any winter 2010-2011 lodging by Oct. 30 and save 30 percent off midweek, 20 percent off weekends and 10 percent off holidays. Also get special savings on lift tickets, snow school and rentals too. Also includes price protection and a relaxed cancellation policy.
It’s “Easy Package” includes lodging at the Inn at Stratton Mountain and select condominiums, a lift ticket, lunch and rentals all at $89 per person / per night (double occupancy) and available midweek and select weekends. That’s a savings of $75 a day, based on a la carte pricing. Add the kids for just $40 per child/per night. (Two night minimum) Details here.
Stowe in Vermont is offering discounts if you book early. Stowe Mountain Lodge has launched a Countdown to Winter sale, where travelers will save more the earlier they book.
30% off best available rate for all reservations made by Sept. 30
25% off best available rate for all reservations made by Oct. 31
20 % off best available rate for all reservations made by Nov. 30
The fine print: “For stays from November 24 – April 10. 2 night minimum stay required. Blackout dates include Dec. 24- Jan. 1, Jan. 14 – 16 and Feb. 18- 26. Reservations can be made at stowemountainlodge.com using the promotion code SKISTOWE.”
Keep in mind this is a five-star lodge that is very pricey, but if you’ve got a special anniversary or event coming up, go for it; you can save big bucks with these discounts. How much? A midweek studio, normally $499 is $349 with the early discount.
In the least, this is a good time to start talking to friends and family about when and where you want to go skiing and snowboarding.
EQUIPMENT:If you’re looking to buy some new equipment this season, start shopping around. Like last year, many snowsports shops will not overstock their inventory. So If you’re were looking for a particular kind of ski or snowboard realize the supplies will be limited. The same is true for boots. After Christmas, the stock should be pretty much picked over. The downside: don’t expect any big price breaks. But do shop around; I found the same type of ski last season that was more than $100 less than another shop.
Now’s also the time to start thinking about rentals. Don’t run out now, but start to look around by late September. Again, the rentals will be picked over if you wait when the season starts.
TICKETS/PASSES: If you’re thinking about buying a season pass, you already missed the best prices that ended in the spring. But there’s still time to grab some decent prices at the larger resorts in the north.
Discount cards that knock off up to $30 off a lift ticket are a good choice, especially Stratton Vermont’s X2 card, that costs $69 (until Nov. 23 when it costs $10 more). With the card you get a free day of skiing or snowboarding. Visit www.stratton.comor call 1.800.STRATTON to purchase your X2 Card and free day of skiing.
This is just the tip of the the iceberg. I’ll file most posts on the best early season deals as I get them.
The numbers are now in for skier visits during the 2009-10 season. And with the exception of Vermont and other regions of the country, they’re not pretty.
Overall, skier visits in the Northeast declined 2.7 percent from the previous year, according to the National Ski Areas Association. The most likely reason? Below average snowfall in northern New England. In fact, NSAA says average snowfall was down 21 percent in the Northeast.
Yet in Vermont, skier visits were actually up 1.4 percent from the previous year with 4.1 million visits.
In New Hampshire, skier visits were down 2.6 percent from the previous season with a total of 2.6 million visits. Yet Ski New Hampshire says it was the third best season ever. In fact, last season was 4 percent above the 10-year average for Granite State areas.
The Southeast (remember those D.C. snowstorms?) saw a 98 percent increase in snowfall. (What a waste; that was suppose to be OUR snow).
Recession a factor?
It doesn’t seem to be the case because in all other ski regions of the country, the numbers were up and just a little short of all-time records.
The stats from NSAA:
The U.S. ski industry recorded 59.7 million visits, the second best season ever, according to the preliminary 2009/10 Kottke National End of Season Survey.
That’s only 1.2 percent below the all time record of 60.5 million visits achieved in 2007/08.
The Pacific Southwest had a 15.0 percent increase in skier/snowboarder visits.
The Midwest and Southeast also experienced notable gains of 7.2 percent and 6.7 percent respectively.
The Rocky Mountain region continued its dominant overall position in terms of total visis, increasing by 3.4 percent over last year, and again exceeding the 20 millions visit threshold.
The Pacific Northwest also rose from 2008/09, growing by 3.2 percent.
Some positive Northeast Figures
Yet in an indication of widespread solid performance, the industry as a whole exceeded its 10-season average by 3.9 percent in the 2009/10 season, a pattern echoed by all regions, including the Northeast (up 1.1 percent from its 10-season average), Southeast (up 9.9 percent), Midwest (up 2.1 percent), Rocky Mountains (up 4.3 percent), Pacific Southwest (up 4.7 percent), and Pacific Northwest (up 5.7 percent). On an individual basis, 69 percent of responding areas reported increased annual visits.
Visitation gains occurred despite a 14 percent decrease in overall snowfall among ski areas nationwide. Regionally, snowfall totals were mixed, with substantially greater snowfall in the Southeast, up 98 percent; and to a lesser extent in the Pacific Southwest, up 8 percent. However, decreased snowfall was reported in all other regions, including the Northeast (-21 percent), Midwest (-32 percent), Rocky Mountains (-20 percent) and Pacific Northwest (-25 percent). A final Kottke National End of Season Survey will be issued in July. For more information visit nsaa.org.
Good news from Vermont
Parker Riehle, president of the Vermont Ski Areas Association, said, “With below-average snowfall, below-average days of operation and an economy still struggling to pull out of a major recession, the season’s numbers are a true testament to the ski industry’s resiliency and its importance to Vermont’s economy.”
VSAA says the 2009-10 season was most notably marked by a late start and an early finish, with few major snowstorms in between. Still, Vermont ski areas saw strong weekend business and solid holiday bookings that brought skier visits ahead of last year, while other Northeastern states saw an overall 2.7 percent decline as reported by the National Ski Areas Association.
While many of the season’s snowstorms missed the Green Mountains and instead fell in down-state backyards, that proved to be a boon for Vermont as skiers and riders were continually reminded that winter was in full stride, Riehle said. With a core market of 45 million people within a few hours drive who are increasingly vacationing closer to home, Vermont ski areas met expectations with steady mountain snowfall and ideal weather conditions for snowmaking and grooming. Skiers and riders responded with a rebound in spending at resorts which brought substantial increases to the state’s rooms & meals and sales tax collections over last year.
In New Hampshire, businesses were also able to benefit from the successful winter. An economic impact study conducted during the record 2007/08 winter showed a total of $940 million dollars spent by guests visiting NH ski areas. Of that total, only 12 percent was spent directly at ski areas with the remaining 88% spent on ski visit-related expenses such as lodging, restaurants, gas, tolls, retail, and other. This year’s numbers are expected to be comparable to the 2007/08 study due to the minor decrease in business levels and slight price increases due to inflation.
“Once again it was a fun winter that we feel our guests enjoyed. We were able to experience several big snowstorms and fun holiday periods. Unfortunately it was a bit anti-climatic with the lack of fresh snowfall or many spring skiing days in March and April, which ended the season a bit earlier than usual,” noted Karl Stone, Ski NH’s marketing director.
“The ski industry is fortunate to have guests that are passionate about the special experience they enjoy with family and friends on New Hampshire’s alpine slopes and cross country trails. We hope our snowmaking, grooming, and guest service continue to provide good value for their time spent in our state,” summarized Alice Pearce, Ski NH’s president.
Snow falls on blooming rhododendrons Tuesday, April 27, 2010, in Saranac Lake, N.Y. A late-season storm is expected to dump up to a foot of snow across the hills and mountains of northern New York and Vermont before moving east into the rest of northern New England. (AP Photo/Adirondack Daily Enterprise, Lou Reuter)
If you’ve been thinking about buying a season pass for next ski/snowboard season, now’s the time to act quickly if you want to same money.
Why? Because the end of April is the time ski resorts end their discounted season pass rates. Waiting will mean paying hundreds of dollars more if you decide to buy your pass in October. For example, many of Okemo’s passes increase $200 if you buy them after Friday.
Here are details from some of Connecticut skiers’ and snowboarders’ favorite resorts in Vermont.
Killington in Vermont has a Thursday deadline for its discounted passes that range from $999 for an unlimited pass good any day to $329 for college students. The $399 midweek pass (with some blackout days) is a good option. The Beast also has a payment plan where you can pay in three installments. Details here.
Stratton’s season passes will also increase on Friday. By far the best deal is its Midweek Superpass good at Stratton, Okemo and Mount Sunapee for $310. For details check here.
Okemo’s deadline for discounted passes ends Friday. Best deal is the forementioned midweek $310 pass good at three areas. Details here.
Same deal for Mount Snow with a Friday deadline. Wait until mid-October and you’ll pay $300 more for a season pass. Best deals: a $399 midweek pass; $299 for seniors. Its Classic Season Pass, with 12 blackout dates, is $549. Mount Snow also has a three-payment plan. Details here.
You have until Monday to lock into Sugarbush‘s season pass deals. Best ones: $319 for college students, a $499 adult midweek pass and if you’re 80 or older and still ski (God bless you) you pay $139. Rates are lower if you just get a Mount Ellen pass.
Today, the only ski areas remaining opening is Sugarloaf in Maine with 24 trails. They plan to close Sunday. Jay Peak in Vermont will reopen Thursday and close this weekend.
Jay filed this report this morning … it’s not an April Fools joke:
Heavy snow continues to hammer here this morning with storm totals pinned at anywhere from 14-18″ of snow across the resort with at least another 4-6″ headed in today. We’re happy. So happy, in fact, that we’re going to open for an extended weekend.
I expect single-day weekend passes to cost well into the eighty-dollar range next season. So when deciding to buy a season pass, it’s just a matter of doing the math. How many times you plan to ski verses the cost a lift ticket. Often you break even after using the pass six times. | <urn:uuid:53758c6b-84fe-4291-bb43-e92c84cef68f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.ctnews.com/snowzone/category/snowboarding/page/11/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954034 | 6,997 | 1.5 | 2 |
Biking and Cycling in Scandinavia
Scandinavia has loads of cycle paths, from horizontal to almost vertical. Denmark offers expertly marked sea level cycle routes. Use the ferries to cross from island to island in Finland on a cycle tour of the Southwest Islands. Enjoy Sweden’s bike-friendly cities, secluded north, or bucolic farmland in the south. Pedal past lava fields and geysers in Iceland, or majestic fjords and forests in Norway.
Transporting yourself on two wheels lets you go almost as an unnoticed guest in Sweden: you can get really close to the aromas and images of Sweden. Being close to animals and wildlife is oen of the best parts of the biking adventure. You get where you are going easily and safely on Sweden's well-developed bike paths.
In Southern Sweden the flat bike paths are lined with golden fields of corn from March to October and are perfect for family bike tours. Distances between farmsteads and villages are short so it’s easy to stop and take a break, such as for the requisite ice cream cone. If you seek real seclusion, head for the tranquility and serenity of Northern Sweden. The more adventurous can try their hands at mountain biking on Sweden's mountain slopes, or test their metal in one of Sweden's Extreme Challenge events? And for something further off the charts, try cycling the unorthodox way: Pedal a rail trolley along the old railway lines.
Cycling is the ideal way to navigate around Denmark - there are more than 10,000 km of cycle routes. A cycling holiday in Denmark provides exercise and all the fresh air and fragrant breezes that we crave we escape “regular” life. Pedalling along scenic trails prohibited to motorised vehicles and lap up the silence and sweet air. All routes are described in handy and detailed cycling maps, so it is easy to enjoy a 'go-as-you-please' cycling holiday in Denmark.
Norway has sign-posted cycle-routes in many parts of the country, charted on special cyclist maps that you can buy from Bike Norway or at tourist offices or bookstores along the route. The routes are follow roads that have little or no automobile traffic and often have cycle-friendly accommodation along the routes.
Rallarvegen is one of the most scenic cycle rides from "the roof of Norway" right down to the fjord - quite an experience! The North Sea Cycleway passes through several towns along the coast., mostly on flat terrain except for one memorable stretch beteen Flekkefjord and Ogna. You’ll encounter little or no traffic and a mountain bike isn’t necessary. The bike routes between Voss and Bergen are quiet, low traffic roads that ribbon through majestic mountains and clear blue waters of the fjords.
Finland is ideally suited for cycling tours. The roads are mostly pretty flat, with some gently rolling hills, and away from the main routes there's little traffic. The scenery is varied, with lakes and forests, peaceful farmland and small villages.
The Åland islands are quite small, so the biking distances are not long. Get there and back by taking a cruise ship from Helsinki or Turk and use ferries to hop from island to island, where campsites are plentiful, You can also follow the inland waterways and farm landscapes, stopping off at some of the country's best attractions along the way. The King's Road route follows an old postal route through southern Finland between Helsinki and Turku and is ideal for biking. It has been used by kings and courtiers, bishops and townsmen, artists and armies since the 1300s - and now, you! | <urn:uuid:88501e8b-a546-4613-a5aa-8b0efcc474fc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://visiteurope.com/Discover/Themes/Biking---Cycling/Biking-and-Cycling-in-the-Scandinavia?lang=pt-BR | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953589 | 762 | 1.648438 | 2 |
“The greatness comes not when things always go good for you. But the greatness comes when you’re really tested, when you take some knocks, some disappointments when sadness comes. Because only if you’ve been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.” - Richard Nixon, from his resignation speech, 1974
I highly recommend that everyone check out Nixon on American Experience (PBS). I found it on Hulu Plus - it’s a bit long (2 hours, 48 minutes), but so worth it.
5. The Pope Likes to Text Message
Pope Benedict XVI routinely sends text messages of his homilies to mobile subscribers around the world, and in 2009, the Vatican opened up an official YouTube channel to show various Papal addresses and ceremonies. The Vatican even released an iPhone application that contains multilingual versions of the Breviary prayer book and the prayers of daily mass. But the Pope’s enthusiasm for technology isn’t limited to cell phones and the Internet. The Vatican has also added solar panels to the roof of the Pope Paul VI auditorium as part of its commitment to fight climate change.
I stumbled upon (ironically via @wjarch, and not StumbleUpon) this really great article in Forbes yesterday that outlined 10 “stupid-simple” ways to be interesting. I liked where it was headed, but wanted to expand on Jessica’s pointers a bit. Here are some of my own thoughts on the topic.
- Buy a puggle. Name it “Drizzy Drake.” Nothing says “I’m super interesting” quite like acquiring a puppy in the Young Money namesake. Nothing.
- Watch Degrassi: The Next Generation. Speaking of Drake, you should probably also start (religiously) watching Degrassi. These kids are BSC (bat-sh*t-cray) and facing common teenage challenges such as finding a prom date, fighting concealed weapons charges, grappling with drug abuse and recovering from bullet-induced paralysis.
- Pick a favorite Beatle and construct a thesis paper that explains your selection. For example, my paper would be a 20-page analysis of why George Harrison is the quiet backbone of the group, happily infusing his genius into the music from the shadows of Paul and John. Extra points if you’re able to write more than 100 words on what, if anything, Ringo Starr contributed to society before “Photograph” — which btw, was mostly written by George Harrison.
- Place random hashtags in text messages to your parents. It can really be anything - look to the current trending topics list for ideas, i.e. “Miss you too, Mom! #AllWomenAreLiars.”
- Call everybody ‘bro’ — regardless of relation or gender. Traditionally a staple of the classic North American Bro (Bromo sapien), referring to people by this term of endearment really never gets old - especially when you’re addressing your grandmother or a Starbucks barista.
- Listen to Motown. The music that came out of Detroit in the 60s and 70s is so grossly underrated by my generation that it makes me sick. Do yourself a favor and YouTube some old Temptations footage from back in the day. David Ruffin is incred - a maniac, yes - but incred nonetheless. For those unfamiliar, he’s the one at right with the 3D glasses on.
- Get a library card. Use it. Remember the library? Most cities have more than one. And guess what…you can get BOOKS there. FOR READING. FOR FREE.
- Purchase KABOOM! Foamtastic bathroom cleaner. This is so crazy - upon deployment, you’ll notice the cleaning agent is a deep royal blue. But wait… after a few seconds (WHEN YOUR TUB IS CLEAN!!) it turns white. Magical.
- Send obscene songs to your friends via Spotify. I won’t list all the options here but get creative, people. (Three words: Color. Me. Badd.) This maneuver is especially amusing when sharing music with ex-flames.
- Make an iTunes playlist exclusively for tracks 7 minutes and longer. Jam bands aside (vom), most songs over 7 minutes long are epic. “(I Would Do) Anything for Love?” Check. “Jungleland?” Check. “Estanged” (GnR)? Check. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant?” Holy mother of a check.
- When given the option of a classy cocktail, choose Natural Lite. If you live in a big city, chances are you’re being judged on where you work, what you wear, even what you drink. Buck the cocktail trend and order a Natty Lite tallboy.
What would you guys add?
What an awesome year.
1. Ran two marathons — my two fastest to date. Set my PR at 3:15:52 and nearly broke it on a tough New York City course. Also ran a personal best half marathon (1:34).
2. Jumped into the Atlantic Ocean on Jan. 1.
3. Planked on a lot of things. Tebowed even more than that.
4. Five bar crawls.
5. Celebrated Halloween. Four times.
6. Attended seven Yankee games (including Opening Day & a Playoff game), a Knicks game, four Ranger games, a Met game, a Phillies game (woof), a Giants game and two Notre Dame football games.
7. Saw the Foo Fighters, the Roots, B.o.B., Naughty by Nature, Mike Posner and Penguin Prison.
8. Saw the Irish Tenors live at O’Neill’s (by accident).
9. Incorporated “bro” into nearly every facet of my vernacular.
10. Watched my THREE best college friends get engaged!
11. Attended the sickest Indian wedding. EVER.
12. Visited Chicago, Philly and Orlando.
13. Acquired 31 Brother Jimmy’s alligators without actually ever purchasing swamp water.
14. Watched my lil sis graduate high school!
15. Went to my first Bachelorette Party.
16. Sang karaoke on a Brooklyn rooftop.
17. Whatever unfolds tonight…
Well, my beloved Irish lost today in fine fashion. Our “quarterback” Tommy Rees was of no assistance, throwing two picks in our own endzone to seal our eventual 18-14 defeat. All was not lost, however, as I scoured Twitter to uncover some comedy in the tragedy. Here are the best postgame Tommy Rees tweets.
- celebrityhottub: If Robert Griffin III is Superman, Tommy Rees is Jubilee.
- KegsnEggs: Tommy Rees seems poised to transfer to inside sales at a nice corporation.
- TheRealSpankyND: If Tommy Rees and Michelle Bachman were hanging from a cliff and I could only save one. I would save Michelle.
- HLS_NDtex: ”Tommy Rees: the great random event generator” LOL
- ACCSports: Don’t ever change, Tommy Rees. Don’t ever change.
- Dan_Rubenstein: Not saying they’d be good, but I’d at least buy an acoustic EP from Tommy Rees and The Red Zone Turnovers.
- pazpaz: If they can’t find Tommy Rees for Notre Dame’s postgame interview, check Brian Kelly’s trunk.
And now, footage of a real athlete.
- Will: remember how you said you dont think anyone will marry you?
- Will: problem solved
- Will: http://mailorderhusbands.net/order/
Actual comment on SongMeanings.net re: the song “Vindicated” by Dashboard Confessional:
yup. my ex should be singin this to me right about now, cause I had to break up with him over someum [sic] stupid (apparently he stopped liking me, but it was most likely cause we were on spring break, and we couldn’t see each other, or talk to each other much.
This is an actual comment left on SongMeanings.net by the user ‘killah.’
it’s rare that song lyrics stand out to me, but this song immediately grabbed my attention. This “person A” was feeling lost and confused, for whatever reason, and is singing about “person B”, who saved them from heading down a dangerous path. I think there is something keeping them from being together - whether it be distance, etc. This had caused Person B to give up hope of ever being happy and just wanted to settle for less (“swallowed in the sea” of fish), but Person A had completely selfless feelings for them and knew that they deserved better. . I’m not sure if I believe in the idea of soulmates, but I think this song pretty accurately describes it. Two people who are meant to be together in the end, no matter what. Fate only takes you so far, the rest is up to you.
I’m dealing with something like this right now, it’s tough and it hurts - but I have faith. complete faith. it seems ridiculously naive but I can’t change the way I feel. I refuse to settle for less. I kind of feel like a tool for writing this, I just felt like letting it out.
1. Do less. This is my productivity mantra, and it’s counterintuitive. I actually don’t believe in productivity, but instead believe in doing the important things. Do less, and you’ll force yourself to choose between what’s just busywork, and what really matters. Life then becomes effortless, as you accomplish big things while being less busy.
2. Having less is lighter. Start asking yourself if you really need everything you have, or if you just have it out of fear. Start to let go of what you have, so it doesn’t own you. And then, as you have less, you feel lighter. It’s wonderful.
3. Let the little things go. People who struggle often fight over little things. We obsess over things that don’t really matter. We create resistance instead of letting things glide off us. Let the little things go, breathe, and move on to the important things.
4. Clean as you go. I haven’t written about this for a long time, but early in the life of Zen Habits I wrote about the habit of cleaning as you go. Instead of letting the cleaning pile up, put things away when you’re done. Wash your bowl. Wipe the counters clean as you pass them. Sweep up dirt when you notice it. By cleaning a little bit at a time, as you make messes, cleaning up becomes a breeze, and it’s never difficult. By the way, this applies to everything in life, not just cleaning.
5. Make small, gradual changes. Most people are too impatient to follow this advice — they want to do everything at once. We have so many changes to make, but we don’t want to wait a year for it all to happen. As a result, we often fail, and then feel crappy about it. Or we don’t start at all, because so many big changes is intimidating and overwhelming. I’ve learned the hard way that small changes are incredibly powerful, and they last longer. Gradual change leads to huge change, but slowly, and in a way that sticks. And it’s effortless.
6. Learn to focus on the things that matter. This is implied in the items above, but it’s so important I have to emphasize it. Swimming (or any physical activity for that matter) is best done when you do only the motions that matter, and eliminate the extraneous motions. Stop thrashing, start becoming more efficient and fluid. You do this by learning what matters, and cutting out the wasted activity.
7. Be compassionate. This makes dealing with others much more effortless. It also makes you feel better about yourself. People like you more, and you improve the lives of others. Make every dealing with another human being one where you practice compassion.
- Me: anyway i forgot to pick up my laundry so i just dried off with a sheet
- Paula: i did not raise this child
There’s really nothing better than reading through Twitter conversations immediately after a public figure makes an epic fail. I first realized this earlier this summer when the Heat choked in the NBA finals. That said, you can imagine my delight when Tony Romo lost the game for the Cowboys last night [see animated GIF below] and was completely destroyed on Twitter for the entire day that followed.
Some of my favorite tweets, in no particular order:
*Point of reference: Geronimo
CRM_Stephen Stephen Douglas - If Tony Romo and Mark Sanchez played darts it would take weeks and thousands of people would die.
*Point of reference: Air Bud 2 trailer
JayEyeTheKing J.I. - Gucci Mane’s ice cream cone tattoo’d on his face > TonyRomo
*Point of reference: Gucci Mane
harvilla rob harvilla - tony romo with the ‘entourage’ finale of QB performances
Aqua174 Alvin aqua Blanco - Soulja Boy ringtones > Tony Romo
*Point of reference: Soulja Boy “Turn My Swag On”
TravisGarland Travis Garland - Shake Weight Commercials > Tony Romo.
*Point of reference: Shake Weight Commercial
TravisGarland Travis Garland - Whoopi Goldberg > Tony Romo.
*Point of reference: Sister Act trailer
MrKleanKickz The Shuru aka Rob - Tony The Tiger > Tony Romo
*Point of reference: Harold (editor’s note - ZOMG remember him?!)
*Point of reference: The chick from Soul Surfer
*Point of reference: Varsity Blues trailer
- Mom: Where is the picture of your clean room?!
- Me: I was cleaning it but then I cut my finger open on a can of tuna and was placed on the DL.
- Mom: You could write a book on how to not get your room cleaned.
I’ve been sitting here listening to everyone talk about Clarence and staring at that photo of the two of us right there. It’s a picture of Scooter and The Big Man, people who we were sometimes. As you can see in this particular photo, Clarence is admiring his muscles and I’m pretending to be nonchalant while leaning upon him. I leaned on Clarence a lot; I made a career out of it in some ways.
Those of us who shared Clarence’s life, shared with him his love and his confusion. Though “C” mellowed with age, he was always a wild and unpredictable ride. Today I see his sons Nicky, Chuck, Christopher and Jarod sitting here and I see in them the reflection of a lot of C’s qualities. I see his light, his darkness, his sweetness, his roughness, his gentleness, his anger, his brilliance, his handsomeness, and his goodness. But, as you boys know your pop was a not a day at the beach. “C” lived a life where he did what he wanted to do and he let the chips, human and otherwise, fall where they may. Like a lot of us your pop was capable of great magic and also of making quite an amazing mess. This was just the nature of your daddy and my beautiful friend. Clarence’s unconditional love, which was very real, came with a lot of conditions. Your pop was a major project and always a work in progress. “C” never approached anything linearly, life never proceeded in a straight line. He never went A… B…. C…. D. It was always A… J…. C…. Z… Q… I….! That was the way Clarence lived and made his way through the world. I know that can lead to a lot of confusion and hurt, but your father also carried a lot of love with him, and I know he loved each of you very very dearly.
It took a village to take care of Clarence Clemons. Tina, I’m so glad you’re here. Thank you for taking care of my friend, for loving him. Victoria, you’ve been a loving, kind and caring wife to Clarence and you made a huge difference in his life at a time when the going was not always easy. To all of “C’s” vast support network, names too numerous to mention, you know who you are and we thank you. Your rewards await you at the pearly gates. My pal was a tough act but he brought things into your life that were unique and when he turned on that love light, it illuminated your world. I was lucky enough to stand in that light for almost 40 years, near Clarence’s heart, in the Temple of Soul.
So a little bit of history: from the early days when Clarence and I traveled together, we’d pull up to the evening’s lodgings and within minutes “C” would transform his room into a world of his own. Out came the colored scarves to be draped over the lamps, the scented candles, the incense, the patchouli oil, the herbs, the music, the day would be banished, entertainment would come and go, and Clarence the Shaman would reign and work his magic, night after night. Clarence’s ability to enjoy Clarence was incredible. By 69, he’d had a good run, because he’d already lived about 10 lives, 690 years in the life of an average man. Every night, in every place, the magic came flying out of C’s suitcase. As soon as success allowed, his dressing room would take on the same trappings as his hotel room until a visit there was like a trip to a sovereign nation that had just struck huge oil reserves. “C” always knew how to live. Long before Prince was out of his diapers, an air of raunchy mysticism ruled in the Big Man’s world. I’d wander in from my dressing room, which contained several fine couches and some athletic lockers, and wonder what I was doing wrong! Somewhere along the way all of this was christened the Temple of Soul; and “C” presided smilingly over its secrets, and its pleasures. Being allowed admittance to the Temple’s wonders was a lovely thing.
As a young child my son Sam became enchanted with the Big Man… no surprise. To a child Clarence was a towering fairy tale figure, out of some very exotic storybook. He was a dreadlocked giant, with great hands and a deep mellifluous voice sugared with kindness and regard. And… to Sammy, who was just a little white boy, he was deeply and mysteriously black. In Sammy’s eyes, “C” must have appeared as all of the African continent, shot through with American cool, rolled into one welcoming and loving figure. So… Sammy decided to pass on my work shirts and became fascinated by Clarence’s suits and his royal robes. He declined a seat in dad’s van and opted for “C’s” stretch limousine, sitting by his side on the slow cruise to the show. He decided dinner in front of the hometown locker just wouldn’t do, and he’d saunter up the hall and disappear into the Temple of Soul.
Of course, also enchanted was Sam’s dad, from the first time I saw my pal striding out of the shadows of a half empty bar in Asbury Park, a path opening up before him; here comes my brother, here comes my sax man, my inspiration, my partner, my lifelong friend. Standing next to Clarence was like standing next to the baddest ass on the planet. You were proud, you were strong, you were excited and laughing with what might happen, with what together, you might be able to do. You felt like no matter what the day or the night brought, nothing was going to touch you. Clarence could be fragile but he also emanated power and safety, and in some funny way we became each other’s protectors; I think perhaps I protected “C” from a world where it still wasn’t so easy to be big and black. Racism was ever present and over the years together, we saw it. Clarence’s celebrity and size did not make him immune. I think perhaps “C” protected me from a world where it wasn’t always so easy to be an insecure, weird and skinny white boy either. But, standing together we were badass, on any given night, on our turf, some of the baddest asses on the planet. We were united, we were strong, we were righteous, we were unmovable, we were funny, we were corny as hell and as serious as death itself. And we were coming to your town to shake you and to wake you up. Together, we told an older, richer story about the possibilities of friendship that transcended those I’d written in my songs and in my music. Clarence carried it in his heart. It was a story where the Scooter and the Big Man not only busted the city in half, but we kicked ass and remade the city, shaping it into the kind of place where our friendship would not be such an anomaly. And that… that’s what I’m gonna miss. The chance to renew that vow and double down on that story on a nightly basis, because that is something, that is the thing that we did together… the two of us. Clarence was big, and he made me feel, and think, and love, and dream big. How big was the Big Man? Too fucking big to die. And that’s just the facts. You can put it on his grave stone, you can tattoo it over your heart. Accept it… it’s the New World.
Clarence doesn’t leave the E Street Band when he dies. He leaves when we die.
So, I’ll miss my friend, his sax, the force of nature his sound was, his glory, his foolishness, his accomplishments, his face, his hands, his humor, his skin, his noise, his confusion, his power, his peace. But his love and his story, the story that he gave me, that he whispered in my ear, that he allowed me to tell… and that he gave to you… is gonna carry on. I’m no mystic, but the undertow, the mystery and power of Clarence and my friendship leads me to believe we must have stood together in other, older times, along other rivers, in other cities, in other fields, doing our modest version of god’s work… work that’s still unfinished. So I won’t say goodbye to my brother, I’ll simply say, see you in the next life, further on up the road, where we will once again pick up that work, and get it done.
Big Man, thank you for your kindness, your strength, your dedication, your work, your story. Thanks for the miracle… and for letting a little white boy slip through the side door of the Temple of Soul.
SO LADIES AND GENTLEMAN… ALWAYS LAST, BUT NEVER LEAST. LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE MASTER OF DISASTER, the BIG KAHUNA, the MAN WITH A PHD IN SAXUAL HEALING, the DUKE OF PADUCAH, the KING OF THE WORLD, LOOK OUT OBAMA! THE NEXT BLACK PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES EVEN THOUGH HE’S DEAD… YOU WISH YOU COULD BE LIKE HIM BUT YOU CAN’T! LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE BIGGEST MAN YOU’VE EVER SEEN!… GIVE ME A C-L-A-R-E-N-C-E. WHAT’S THAT SPELL? CLARENCE! WHAT’S THAT SPELL? CLARENCE! WHAT’S THAT SPELL? CLARENCE! … amen.
I’m gonna leave you today with a quote from the Big Man himself, which he shared on the plane ride home from Buffalo, the last show of the last tour. As we celebrated in the front cabin congratulating one another and telling tales of the many epic shows, rocking nights and good times we’d shared, “C” sat quietly, taking it all in, then he raised his glass, smiled and said to all gathered, “This could be the start of something big.”
Love you, “C”.— Bruce Springsteen, June 2011 | <urn:uuid:03534cd3-e1fe-4a45-bf19-c79c5aeaad2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://katieperry.tumblr.com/archive | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959957 | 5,355 | 1.679688 | 2 |
The IBM Powers of Ten video is a classic: as the stolid narrator ticks off powers of ten, the camera pulls back or zooms in and a new layer of complexity is revealed. We need a Powers of Ten video for SOPA.
At the initial scale, Hollywood lobbyists convinced Congress to push a bill through that would give Hollywood a measure of control over Internet sites by facilitating DNS takedowns, placing liability on site operators, and generally placing restrictions on Internet businesses designed to benefit existing content distributors. The depressingly smooth passage of the bill meant serious measures were called for: the blackout day. On that day, tens of millions of people became alerted to the consequences of SOPA and wrote to their representatives. SOPA has stalled, possibly died. And there was rejoicing.
But step out a power of ten and you see SOPA was just the latest in a series of legislative manipulations by existing media companies to benefit their coffers. Whether it’s extending the term of copyright, criminalizing the circumvention of DRM, or trying to ban repeat-downloaders from the Internet, these media companies are powerful and use their power to extend their profits. Sometimes they even exploit their access to the user to perpetuate their cause, for example by putting unskippable pre-roll anti-piracy messages on every legitimately-purchased DVD. There’s no indication that a victory over SOPA means there won’t be a SOPA 2.0 in six months time.
Step back further and you see that Internet companies have set themselves up as new distribution channels while the old distribution companies were napping. Amazon can take an author’s book and put it in consumers hands without ever involving a publisher, and Apple are following suit. Amazon, Apple, and Google all distribute movies. The legacy distribution companies are owned by the content production companies, and their “save our business” message muddles whether it’s content production or legacy distribution that’s threatened by these new Internet companies. Congress put their legislative thumb on the scales in a business dispute: old money vs new money, incumbent rent extractor vs upstart.
Step back further and you see that Congress thumbs the scales all the time. Between the money that can be earned from corporations and unions as a lobbyist after leaving Congress, and the money needed to run a campaign to be elected in the first place, there are a lot of reasons for Congressional representatives to be receptive to advances from monied interests. This means their legislative attention is not on the good of society or even the majority, but for the good of those willing to spend money to buy it. This is the big picture view, the root of the problem.
Congress is a flea pit. We can crack the fleas one at a time as they bite us, or we can clean house. I see widespread jubilation on the success of the SOPA skirmish, but only one or two people thinking and talking about how we win the war. We win when we end this stream of Internet-breaking bills, and that will only happen when Congressional election campaigns are no longer paid for by monied interests. An independent Congress will still listen to business and unions, it just won’t have to roll over and beg when money whistles.
This is, obviously, a bigger problem to solve. Lessig has called it a “generational” problem: pernicious money will take 30 years to eradicate, so we may end up cleaning up the country for our children. The size of the change doesn’t make it impossible. It’s a strategy problem, like every other: spend time and money at every power of ten, more where it’s urgent and important, investing in R&D where a way forward isn’t immediately obvious.
What does it mean to attack it at every power of ten? Simply:
- Fight SOPA when it’s urgent. Well done, immediate crisis is over!
- Prepare to fight SOPA 2.0 and TPP and ACTA 2.0 and …. Until we fix Congress, there’ll be more attempts to provide welfare for legacy distributors. Blackouts won’t work. Get the holdouts (Facebook, Amazon, Twitter, etc.) to join in a sustainable coalition to oppose future fuckery. Obama’s election was made possible by incredible tools for mobilizing voters; we need similarly evolved tools. Invest a little now so we don’t have a cold start when the next bad bill comes along.
- Buy online. Be the change you want to see: use your wallet to feed the companies you want to succeed, don’t spend with the ones who want to break your Internet. Low-priority but ongoing.
- Buy and read Lessig’s new book Republic, Lost. He was ahead of the curve when he alerted us to problems with copyright law, and he’s been ahead of the curve in his identification of corruption as an issue. This is research.
- Join rootstrikers or any other group working to eliminate the root cause of Internet-breaking legislation: corruption. At election time, give them money instead of making campaign donations.
- Invent the next thing we can all do which will bring us closer to change.
You’ll notice I don’t have “get Internet giants to lobby Congress” on my list. I’m sure they’ll do that already, but I don’t believe you can fight this fire with fire. They may need to lobby tactically, but strategically you fight fire by taking away its fuel or oxygen and that means taking obligation-creating campaign donations away from Congress.
If we don’t do this, we’ll keep scratching and crushing the fleas one at a time until we’re miserable from all the bites. We need to zoom out a few powers of ten and clean house to solve the underlying problem. | <urn:uuid:04c5ab88-2ca9-4858-9a51-d0edc9c55db0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://radar.oreilly.com/2012/01/sopa-powers-of-ten.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945275 | 1,239 | 1.726563 | 2 |
By Michael Totty
As more of us live longer, we increasingly face the question of how to pay the rising cost of extended care, whether in a nursing home, an assisted-living center or at home. And the potential amounts are huge: The average cost of a private room in a nursing home is $81,030, according to Genworth Financial Inc., an insurer that writes long-term-care policies.
Long-term-care insurance policies pay a cash benefit that helps to pay for those costs, as long as patients can meet certain medical requirements such as needing help with at least two daily activities, like bathing or dressing, or requiring care for dementia.
Typically purchased by people in their 50s and 60s, the policies can substantially ease the financial burden of spending time in a nursing home or getting home care. And because Medicaid – the government program that covers long-term care – typically requires patients to exhaust most of their financial assets before coverage kicks in, long-term-care policies can help the elderly protect those assets.
Still, the policies are expensive, and costs are rising. And they may not be for everyone.
We’re seeking your opinions about long-term care insurance for an upcoming special report. Vote in our poll and comment below for potential inclusion in print. | <urn:uuid:95d37e23-fa54-4cc9-b59c-4b8337b9f1d6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2012/04/19/vote-should-you-purchase-long-term-care-insurance/?mod=WSJBlog | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950444 | 266 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Once the damage is done, it can take three to seven years for a score to fully recover. But some lenders are willing to work with borrowers earlier than that.
Mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, for example, require defaulters to wait five years -- and have a minimum credit score of 680 and put 10 percent down -- before they can purchase a home again. If they don't meet that criteria the wait is seven years, at which point the foreclosure is expunged from a person's credit report.
If defaulters show that extenuating circumstances caused the foreclosure -- such as a health issue that prevented them from working, a layoff, a divorce or other one-time event -- the wait may be reduced to three years.
The Federal Housing Administration allows banks to issue FHA-insured loans to borrowers three years after a foreclosure or a short sale in which the borrower was in default.
Tony and Ginger Read, who live with their three kids outside of Boise, Idaho, took four years to rebuild their credit after they sold their home in a 2008 short sale. Tony had been laid off and the couple had already sold their camper and other valuables in a fruitless effort to keep their home. Eventually, a broker convinced them to sell.
"It was the hardest thing we ever had to do but we couldn't afford the payments," said Ginger.
Tony now has a job supervising a sand and water pumping crew for the fracking industry and the couple's credit score has regained more than half of what it lost.
In January, they were approved for a 4 percent interest FHA loan on a $280,000 house in Fruitvale, Idaho. They close April 12.
Mike Edgar, the broker who worked with the Reads to sell their home and buy a new one, has worked with several clients to help them repair their credit and, when they're ready, buy new homes.
In 2012, he worked with 15 "boomerang" buyers, about a quarter of his sales. He expects that number to double in 2013. | <urn:uuid:a30bf40b-5efc-422f-ae7c-a6694e846afb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.4029tv.com/news/money/Boomerang-buyers-return-to-market-after-foreclosure/-/8897294/19263376/-/item/1/-/jfuj10z/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984988 | 428 | 1.835938 | 2 |
Breast pump makers are having a hard time keeping pumps on the shelves thanks to a small provision in President Obama’s healthcare act, which took effect Jan.1, that requires insurance companies to cover breast pumps at no cost to the patient.
The provision also covers visits to lactation consultants at no cost to the patient! (Hooray!)
“We’re getting a lot of calls from prospective mothers and new mothers,” said Bruce Frishman, president of New Hampshire Pharmacy and Medical Equipment, a supplier based in the District. “We’ve started stocking a lot more pumps that would be purchased through insurance.”
“Yummy Mummy, a New York boutique that specializes in breast pumps and accessories, is in the process of acquiring a warehouse and call center to accommodate the increased demand.”
“I have three employees taking calls right now,” owner Amanda Cole said. “We’re still in the stage where we’re figuring out how to add fax machines and phone lines. It’s all very new to us.”…
“The government does not bear the costs of providing breast pumps. Instead, insurers will have to pay for the new benefit, likely with a slight increase to the premiums they charge their members.
“Administrators of insurance plans still have questions about how to best implement the rule. No state has ever required insurance companies to cover the benefit, although Louisiana did convene a study panel on the issue in 2002, according to the National Center for State Legislatures.”
(There are lots of ins and outs on this law and how insurance companies are handling it so please read the full story on The Washington Post site if you’re a mom who may be able to take advantage of these benefits.)
The law does not specify whether insurance companies must cover certain brands or types of pumps. It only states that health plans should pay for “the costs of renting breastfeeding equipment” in conjunction with each birth.
But the rental pumps are often larger and more expensive so some insurance companies like UnitedHealthcare are offering women the option of buying a personal pump instead.
The article states that insurance companies are now recruiting lactation consultants to join their networks so they can abide by the law and cover their customers who need lactation help.
However, many lactation consultants don’t want to be covered by insurance because the payouts tend to be less than what they would normally charge.
You all know that I am huge supporter of women nursing when possible, and I am so glad this law helps women establish their breastfeeding with free (but invaluable) lactation support!
While nursing my three babies, I made many calls to Piedmont Hospital’s lactation consultant Julie Duncan. She was wonderful to have in your corner, but had Piedmont not provided her help for free I don’t think I could have afforded her help. I am glad that women won’t have to make that choice and can get assistance when they need it.
And by providing breast pumps, mothers can return to work and continue providing milk to their babies (and not have their breasts get infected if they suddenly stopped nursing).
Have you gotten your free breast pump yet? Has your insurance covered your lactation consultation? Did you know you had a right to these things? Will you use these benefits in the future?
Do you think these two items will increase the rate of breastfeeding and the percent of women who stay with it?
Are you outraged and don’t think insurance should cover lactation consultants or breast pumps? | <urn:uuid:e6f3f507-5f8b-4f69-a7c3-51100539c5b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.ajc.com/momania/2013/01/07/breast-pumps-boom-under-obamacare-coverage-lactation-consultants-also-free/?cp=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963866 | 752 | 1.820313 | 2 |
When young, disabled war veterans come home, they face a particular challenge in choosing a vehicle. Minivans make the most sense -- they're easiest to get in and out of if you use a wheelchair -- but they're the last thing many vets want to drive.
"I joined the Air Force at 19, and I was going from high-performance cars and jets to a minivan," one 28-year-old paraplegic vet told The Detroit News
. "On top of everything else, you say, 'I've got to get a minivan?'"
Some are buying converted pickups instead, even though they're more difficult to use. But now there's a glimmer of hope in the form of an edgier new wheelchair-accessible Honda Odyssey
. It could be a precursor for good things to come in the category. The Odyssey is tricked out with a carbon-fiber dashboard cover, leather seats and flashy wheels.
"Our client base is older, and they don't mind minivans," said Doug Eaton of Vantage Mobility International, which produces wheelchair-accessible vehicles, including the new Odyssey. "But we've also got to deal with this shift to young veterans. We're trying to bring a little bling to the table."
With an increase in drivers who use wheelchairs, due both to the rise in the number of Middle East war veterans and to the aging population of baby boomers, the wheelchair-vehicle business is expected to grow by 8 to 10 percent a year from its current annual sales of 15,000 vehicles. But clearly, these two demographics aren't on the same page in terms of their tastes.
Many baby boomers are perfectly happy with minivans, which are ideal conversion vehicles because it's possible to lower their floors 10 to 14 inches without making significant changes to their powertrains, and their large doors are conducive to extendable ramps. For young vets, the only real option is pickups, which can't be reconfigured as seamlessly.
The owner of another wheelchair-vehicle business, Texas-based United Access, is thinking a bit more outside the box. "We need to develop something more like an SUV," Richard May told The Detroit News, echoing the general direction of the industry. Minivan sales dropped to less than 500,000 last year --a sign that disabled war veterans aren't the only ones who don't want to be seen in one. | <urn:uuid:03cff8a0-f17f-46fb-8ba1-096c09a90c25> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://editorial.autos.msn.com/blogs/autosblogpost.aspx?post=b7af4f96-a5d5-4a0e-b983-1b431d127850&_blg=1,1661841 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962388 | 495 | 1.726563 | 2 |
In this season of Young Visionaries, we talk to entrepreneurs tackling social, cultural, and environmental goals by harnessing entrepreneurial principles and out-of-the-box thinking to create positive change.
Brian Linton is the founder of United By Blue, a Philadelphia-based organic apparel and accessories company. His vision provides for the removal of one pound of garbage from the nation's waterways through the sale of each item on the site. Each cleanup involves thousands of volunteers and has resulted in the removal of many thousands of pounds of garbage.
See how the company is growing the business and maintaining its social vision.
Other Young Visionaries videos: | <urn:uuid:a936a475-be93-46fb-bb0c-02dcc17264fd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.entrepreneur.com/video/224794 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937116 | 129 | 1.570313 | 2 |
At dinner in college last night I sat opposite a charming young woman who seemed surprised to learn that I had a FaceBook account. “Oooh”, she said, “Can I be your friend?”. “Certainly”, I replied, with what I imagined to be old-world courtesy, “I’d be honoured”. At which point one of her (slightly inebriated) friends further down the table shouted “Are you stalking her, then?”
Harrumph. But Lo! — here’s a weird report from The Register:
A social networking site has deleted most of its users over the age of 36 because it claims older users pose a danger of sex offending. It claims to be forced into the action by the Government, but the part of a law it cites is not yet in force.
Faceparty has deleted what it describes as “a huge number of accounts” from its social networking site in recent weeks. It lists ‘over 36 years old’ as one of its reasons for deletion.
“We understand that only a minority of older users are sex offenders, but you must understand that we cannot tell which,” it says in its explanation of the deletion of accounts.
“New government legislation means we need to check older users on the sex offenders list,” says its notice. “This legislation is based upon checking email addresses against a government provided list. Faceparty has never insisted on validated email addresses and can therefore not participate in this new scheme.”
I’d never heard of Faceparty, and the Register thinks that the company has misinterpreted the legislation, but it makes you think, doesn’t it?
And the real irony is that I’ve probably been on FaceBook much longer than anyone else at the table last night! | <urn:uuid:0a306d22-539b-42b4-8b58-78f52d488f30> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://memex.naughtons.org/archives/2008/05/24/5134 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964971 | 396 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Shortage of turkeys may leave shoppers scratching around
Premium turkeys could be in short supply this Christmas because retailers ordered too few birds earlier this year, producers have warned.
The two leading premium suppliers, Kelly Turkeys and Holly Berry Hatcheries, told The Grocer that supermarkets had misjudged the impact of the recession on consumer spending and that up to 30% fewer premium turkey chicks were hatched this summer in preparation for the Christmas market.
"Early in the year the major retailers dramatically cut their orders for premium fresh turkeys. They are now wondering if they made the right decision," said Paul Kelly, managing director of Kelly Turkeys.
Roger Finney, chairman of Holly Berry Hatcheries, said orders for his slow-growing turkeys were down by between 15% and 20% on last year. "We've ended up throwing quite a lot of eggs away because of a shortage of orders.
"There was a lot of nervousness about the recession and there are people now scrabbling about for birds. There was a worry about being overproduced for the supermarkets for Christmas."
Premium turkeys are typically slow-growing breeds that take up to 28 weeks to reach slaughter weight. They account for up to 15% of the market, said Finney, who predicted consumers would either trade down to a cheaper bird or opt for another meat such as beef or chicken.
Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Marks & Spencer all said they were confident there was enough supply to meet demand. | <urn:uuid:b4d2c103-9b1e-4bea-b718-319d35d947f6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thegrocer.co.uk/fmcg/shortage-of-turkeys-may-leave-shoppers-scratching-around/204473.article | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980087 | 309 | 1.84375 | 2 |
1969 - Beth
roy's appointment book was dropped in the water and the ink, especially in the first half of the book, ran so badly that not much of it can be deciphered.
One event that I am sure Troy would want me to note is that on January 30th of this year Stark and Vera Shomo arrived from Parkersburg. They spent their honeymoon with us in Winter Park. Stark was Troy's best boyhood friend. They graduated in the same class from Belington High School. After his mother's death Troy spent much of the time with the Shomo family. They had eight children but did not seem to mind having another boy to feed frequently. Stark and Vera had both lost their first mates and were active in the same church in Parkersburg. We tried to see that their honeymoon was a happy one.
It was to our house in Vienna that Stark and his first wife came until they could get settled in Parkersburg. There was only three days difference in the ages of Marion and their only child, Joan. The children were two at that time and we have cute kodak pictures of the two of them together.
This was the year that we took Beth with us on our vacation. We did not leave Winter Park until 1:40 in the afternoon of Sunday, July 20th. We kept the radio on all day. We, along with the rest of the world, were keeping track of the progress of Apollo 11, as it flew toward man's first landing on the moon.
We were very anxious to find a motel with a TV in time to witness the exciting event. We stopped at the Hodges Motel in Claxton, Georgia and paid the $10.30 charge for a barely adequate room, but we were afraid to venture farther. We did not want to miss the biggest happening of the year!
After we settled in the room Beth just could not stay awake for any length of time. She was not yet ten years old, but we did not want her to miss the moon walk of Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin. We woke her up before the actual landing took place. I wonder how much she really remembers of that event that sent shivers coursing up and down the spines of millions who watched it, and heard the first words ever uttered by a man on the moon, as Neil Armstrong exclaimed, "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
In May of 1961 John Kennedy had challenged the nation to be the first to land a man on the moon. In 1957 there was talk and a lot of speculation going on about what we might be able to accomplish in space, but reaching the moon just seemed too spectacular to ever take place in my lifetime! I made the remark to another fourth grade teacher at Keister School in Harrisonburg, that I hoped I would live long enough to see that event. She said, "Do you really think that will ever happen?" I replied, "Yes, I think it will, but we probably will not live long enough to see it." She said very emphatically, "It will never happen! God would not allow it!" That shut me up. How could I argue with someone who seemed to know so much about what God would allow or not allow!
It was a little after 10:30 p.m. when the "Eagle,' the name of the landing craft sat down on the lunar surface. Edwin Aldrin followed Neil Armstrong down the ladder, about fifteen minutes after Neal sat foot on the moon. It was great seeing the two men bounce around gathering their rock and din samples to bring back to the earth for analysis. They left some of their equipment on the moon, along with "Old Glory," which had been stiffened to fly. Fastened to one leg of the landing gear was a plaque which read "Here men from Planet Earth first set foot on the moon. July 1969 A.D. We came in peace for all mankind.”
It is sad that President Kennedy was cut down by an assassin's bullet on November 22, 1963, and did not live to see his dream realized. Jonathon was one year old that day.
The moon landing was the eleventh flight of the Apollo space program. It was certainly the greatest adventure of all time. I remember how excited all of us were at Orange Ridge School in Bradenton, Florida, when the principal asked, over the public address system, all teachers to bring their classes to the auditorium to see the splashdown of John Glenn, a much less spectacular feat! The Russians were away ahead of the United States in space exploration. Glenn was the first American to be put in orbit. He had been in his capsule five hours and had orbited the earth three times. The date was February 20, 1962. Mr. Patterson announced to the children after the landing, "You have witnessed history made."
When we reached our home in Singers Glen our neighbors were waiting for us. And before we got into the house they said there was a death message for us, from my sister, Ruby, in Elizabeth, W. Va. We did not get to the Glen until 7:30 p.m. Of course I called Ruby immediately and learned that her little four year old grandson, David Belt, had drowned on the 19th. Her son, Roscoe, was the father of five girls but David was his only biological son. He had an older stepson, whom he regarded as his own. But David's tragic death was very traumatic for all the family. We left the Glen at 5:30 the next morning and arrived at Ruby's at 10:50. The funeral was that afternoon. We stayed with Ruby two more days before returning to the Glen.
On Sunday, July 27th we drove again over the eight mountain ranges between Shenandoah Valley and Elkins, West Virginia, to attend what we ordinarily think of as the "big" Brady reunion. This was a get-together of the descendents of Troy's grandparents, not just those of his father’s family. It was held in the former United Brethren Church in Junior. Aside from visiting, eating and conversation we had fun watching the family moving pictures, taken at a former reunion many years previously. Roy Brady had taken them and it was enjoyable seeing ourselves as we were twenty or twenty-five years ago. Once Beth exclaimed "Look! There's Mother Brady and she has dark hair." Troy preached before we ate, using the subject, "People of God's Delight," from the text in Luke 12:32. We went home with Bland and Helen to Weston and Troy preached for Bland the next morning, in the Broad Street Church. We did not return to the Glen until late the next day.
We worked most of the next three days on the woodwork in the living room and the bedrooms. Zylpha came over the last day of the month and we all went to Endless Caverns. Zylpha left at 3:15 p.m. We had 3.7 inches of rain that day and it flooded our neighbor’s basement. They were not at home and we saw a regular stream running down the outside steps into the excavated area. We were afraid the rain had polluted our water, so the next day we went to the doctor in Dayton and the three of us had typhoid shots. Later that day we went to Martinsburg to visit Louise and Chris Angelo.
We spent a lot of time painting this year; roof, outside trim and some on the inside. We have a picture of Beth painting the big door on the little building, we were then using for storage.
On August 13th we started for Akron, stopping for our usual overnight visit with Jim and Helen Smith. We visited in Akron until the morning of the 17th and arrived home at the Glen that night. We left the next day for Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, so Troy could attend the Board of Evangelism meeting being held there.
We left Lake Junaluska on the 21st and stopped overnight with my niece and her family in Smyrna, Georgia. Cindy was less than a month older than Beth and the two girls enjoyed playing together. Keith teased the little girls, much to their disgust. Timmy was a tiny baby at this time.
We arrived home the next day and resumed our usual routine, happy in the knowledge that we had accomplished so much at the Glen.
In 1969 Troy married our grandson, Lanny, to Sally Ann Miller at Lanny’s parents' home in Titusville on the last day of August. Some of the '60's will have to come under the next segment.
NEXT - THE SEVENTIES
The Brady Trilogy I Reclaimed Memories - (1991) I Pop Troy's Anthology - ( 1992) I Kinfolk - (1994) | <urn:uuid:f550763b-47de-4f4d-859a-0f25316e830f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://freepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~bradytrilogy/memories/1969-beth.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988325 | 1,819 | 1.71875 | 2 |
BOLOGNA, Italy — As she scoops out some mouth-watering ice cream during training at Italy's "Gelato University", Holy Randrianasolo dreams of setting up the first gelato parlour in her native Madagascar.
The 44-year-old is one of thousands of students from around the world flocking to courses near Bologna in central Italy at the headquarters of Carpigiani, the leading global manufacturer of ice cream making machines.
"My project is to open an Italian ice cream parlour in Antananarivo. There aren't any," said Randrianasolo, currently a textile business executive.
She spoke in an unusual type of university laboratory, surrounded by multi-coloured vats filled with a bewildering array of gelato flavours.
The lab produces traditional tastes like raspberry, hazelnut or lemon, but there are also more innovative flavours like fennel and mortadella.
Sweet-toothed and business-minded students attend technical lectures on traditional gelato methods given in English by Italian veteran ice cream makers, as well as practical courses using gleaming chrome machines.
There are even more advanced lessons in management and marketing.
Students pay around 800 euros ($1,138) a week for the courses and are housed in a hotel in the small town of Anzola dell'Emilia in a region that has given the world Lamborghini cars, Ducati motorbikes and Bolognese sauce.
The school's director Kaori Ito, a 31-year-old of Japanese origin who has lived in Italy for the past seven years, said the stereotype that ice cream parlours are always run by old-school Italian immigrants is changing fast.
"This is the first year in which the participation of Italians is less than 50 percent. We've added courses in English and French and there's been a real boom in people signing up," said the multi-lingual executive.
The school will have 12,000 students this year -- up from 9,000 last year.
Luciano Ferrari, 53, a "professor" at the ice cream university wearing a smock and glasses , said the face of gelato is increasingly non-Italian.
"Before it was always the Italian who brought ice cream abroad. Now ice cream is being exported by foreigners who come here and learn and then bring the skills back to their own country," Ferrari said after delivering a lecture.
"We teach people the art of Italian artisanal ice cream. These traditions go back hundreds of years and have spread around the world," he said.
Gelato as we know it today is believed to have been created for the courts of Italian Renaissance princes and first exported abroad by an Italian pioneer, Procopio Cuto, who opened a cafe in Paris in the 17th century.
Carpigiani, which was set up by two brothers in 1946, also has production sites in China, Spain and the United States and employs around 400 people worldwide. The company is planning to set up a gelato museum next year.
One particularly keen student at the "Gelato University" is 25-year-old Kevin Koh, who works for his father's fruit import company in Singapore.
"I've been a fan of gelato since when I was young," he said.
"There are quite a few gelato and ice cream parlours in Singapore but I haven't really come across one that is of the same standard as in Italy. So hopefully I can come up with something good to bring back home," he said.
Yasmeena Abdel Ghani, 29, said she was attending the course with her husband from Dubai for an original kind of holiday in Italy and to learn how to make some real Italian ice cream to impress her dinner party guests.
"I love gelato a lot and my husband has a passion for it. I'm having lots of fun! I think I'm going to do it more in the future," she said.
"We have a different kind of ice cream. Arabic ice cream is very gummy. They only have vanilla and pistachio," she added.
Nur Schnitzer, 21, a half-Jewish half-Arab Israeli said he was keen to open an ice cream parlour in the port of Jaffa. "It's the best thing I've ever tasted! I've been eating it since I was young," he said.
Among the students from Western Europe and the United States who are on the course, many see the gelato business as a way of changing pace.
Andrea Morelli, 37, a former Italian bank manager, said he really wants to move to Key West in Florida next year with his wife and open a gelateria.
"I decided to change my life around," he said. "I started this course in January and I completely fell in love with making ice cream."
He said he would adapt to American tastes and serve up pancakes and maple syrup as well. "We've decided to call it 'Ambassadors of Gelato'".
Copyright © 2013 AFP. All rights reserved. More » | <urn:uuid:0d1f060b-3f35-4c36-a811-8f6fd82702e4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5ibNgBER645nd-6a4Vy3OADy7QjNw?docId=CNG.3b0855ff24ebe6f8d6775d91268043d9.441 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978971 | 1,064 | 1.734375 | 2 |
by Wendy Egyoku Nakao
During the first week of August, Genro and I took ten people on a three-day street retreat in Los Angeles’ Skid Row. We call this practice a plunge: throwing oneself into an environment radically different from our accustomed habitat, so that we may enter into and be taught by not-knowing.
The Street Retreat demands that we “be one with” whatever is going on. When we chant the Gate of Sweet Nectar, which we do daily on the streets, we invoke the names of the Buddhas. We chant: “Be one with” the names of the Buddhas. I once read somewhere that the word “namo,” which we translate as “being one with” means “to plunge.” It means to throw oneself into whatever, until we are fully saturated and cannot distinguish self and other. It is like plunging a basket into water, and the basket swells so that water cannot leak through. Being on the streets is like this. We start out open, eager, and afraid and by the end, we are fully saturated with the streets.
Our group is five women and seven men. We gather in our street clothes in the Center’s backyard, equipped with water bottles (recommended for all street dwellers during the summer heat) and our driver’s licenses. We carry these things in supermarket plastic bags; no changes of clothing, no toiletries, and no money. the men have not shaved for days; the women have not washed their hair. We chant the Gate of Sweet Nectar before heading off on foot to Skid Row, a two-hour walk across downtown Los Angeles.
It is important to state that we do not consider ourselves to be homeless on this retreat. Nor do we pretend we are homeless, willingly disclosing our retreat to people we meet. It was fascinating that everyone we encountered – from street people to those providing services – were deeply appreciative that we took the time to go on this retreat and to learn about homeless life in this way. | <urn:uuid:67027bf1-9ad5-40d6-b2ff-f29bd0606c89> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://zenpeacemakers.org/zen-peacemakers/who-we-are/zen-peacemakers-sangha/dharma-talks/wendy-egyoku-nakao-dharma-talk-plunge/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9624 | 432 | 1.601563 | 2 |
Originally published in 1950, this account of life among female Free French soldiers in a London barracks during World War II sold four million copies in the United States alone and many more millions worldwide. The novel is based on the real-life experiences of the author, Tereska Torres, who escaped from occupied France. She arrived as a refugee in London and joined other exiles enlisting in Charles de Gaulle’s army, then stationed in Britain awaiting an invasion of their homeland by Allied forces. But Women’s Barracks is no ordinary war story.
As the Blitz rains down over London, taboos are broken, affairs start and stop and hearts are won and lost. Women’s Barracks was banned for obscenity in several states. It was also denounced by the House Select Committee on Current Pornographic Materials in 1952 as an example of how the paperback industry was promoting "moral degeneracy". But in spite of such efforts - or perhaps, in part, because of them - the novel became a record-breaking best seller and inspired a whole new genre: lesbian pulp.
©2005 Tereska Torres (P)2012 Audible, Inc.
I'm Audible's first Editor-at-Large, the host of In Bed with Susie Bright -- and a longtime author, editor, journo, and bookworm. I listen to audio when I'm cooking, playing cards, knitting, going to bed, waking up, driving, and putting other people's kids to bed! My favorite audiobooks, ever, are: "True Grit" and "The Dog of the South."
Tremendously engaging as a novel and informative as a picture of WWII among military women. This was the best selling lesbian novel ever.
Women's Barracks gives a portrait of the many experiences and relationships that form among the women of the free French army. Like Band of Brothers with French sisters.
The lack of "pulp" is what struck me. The Lesbian relationships are not presented with any raised eyebrows, or winks. Not common in the Fifties. It's not nearly as sensational as the cover would have you believe.
No This book was more like a diary from a straight woman with no erotic moments anywhere in the story. It was just a history of time served in the woman's French army corp. With the author talking about relationships she see.But no actual erotica is involved I really felt it was an ok story but should be listed as a historical novel not an erotic one. They only mention very lightly on lesbianism.
The ending was kind of sad but then again had nothing to do with erotica
It was a history of French women serving in England to help support the resistance. That is really about it. It also goes into some personal relationships but NOT HOT and HEAVY
I'm requesting my money back because it was not as advertised, and it was boring.
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If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action. | <urn:uuid:e0ea693d-8bbe-4257-869f-9d013df7c5f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.audible.com/pd/ref=pd_sim_narr_2?asin=B00A4AAC6S | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978218 | 642 | 1.539063 | 2 |
Another electric-car disaster looms.
Get ready for the next Solyndra. Sure, you’ve heard those words before. Over the past few months, several companies that had federal backing — Beacon Power, Range Fuels, and Ener1 — all failed. And another one is almost surely on the way. Here’s my prediction: Within 18 months, A123 Systems, the battery maker that got a $249 million grant from the Department of Energy, will be bankrupt.
My prediction doesn’t have anything to do with the explosion that occurred on Wednesday at a GM laboratory near Detroit, sending one worker to the hospital. The explosion occurred while the worker was testing a battery made by A123. That news came on the heels of the announcement last month that A123 would have to spend $55 million to replace defective battery packs it sold to Fisker Automotive, the car company that is using a U.S. government loan to make high-performance $100,000 vehicles in Finland. But predicting A123’s failure doesn’t depend on the latest news, or require any special analytical skills or inside market knowledge. It requires only a quick look at the company’s financials.
More on that in a moment. First, though, the broader and more essential point to be made — yet again — is that the Obama administration made a huge mistake in backing the electric-vehicle industry. The administration has handed out $2.4 billion in grants to the electric-vehicle sector, as well as nearly $2.6 billion in loans. And it did so despite the EV sector’s dismal history, which is a century of failure tailgating failure. | <urn:uuid:a1a25c04-318e-4f38-83bf-4f2debb62dc9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://junkscience.com/2012/04/16/robert-bryce-the-next-next-solyndra/comment-page-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954506 | 353 | 1.726563 | 2 |
China is a country filled with unexpected surprises. When we visited we were surprised by the warm welcome we received from the people, we were surprised by the beauty of the landscape and by the sheer size and scope of the cities. To truly visit China you would need a lifetime, but here’s a list of what we loved and what we think were the best things to do in China when we visited.
It may seem the obvious choice, but there is a reason that everyone who visits China goes to see the Great Wall. We recommend going to the MuTianYu Great Wall section over the Badaling Section. Badaling may be the more popular section as it is closer to Beijing, but the MuTianYu section is far less crowded. As a matter a fact, when we were there we barely saw another tourist.
Tip: A great time to visit is in December, there aren’t many tourists and the sky is crisp and clear. You can get to the Great Wall via public transportation from Beijing. For more information on the Great Wall, visit our post The Great Wall of China
It is a fascinating tour to walk through the Forbidden City. It housed the Emperors and their families for 500 years before the fall of the Quing Dynasty. In the past, no commoner was ever allowed to step foot in the Forbidden City, but today it welcomes millions of tourists each year. Visiting the Forbidden City is one of the top things to do in China for everyone. Just tell your guide to speed things along. They tend to keep you there for hours.
After the Great Wall, the Terracotta Warriors is the most famous attraction in China and you can’t leave the country without seeing it. Located near the city of Xian, it is a spectacle that must be seen. Thousands of life size clay warriors stand guard at this site that was only discovered in 1974. The Emperors tomb has yet to be excavated but there is plenty to see as you walk the grounds of this amazing archeological site.
For more information on the Terracotta Warriors visit our post, Are They Real or Are They Memorex?
While you are visiting the Terracotta Warriors, it’s worth sticking around the ancient city of Xi’an. It has the most intact wall in all of China and a great activity is to rent a bicycle to navigate around the top of the wall circling the entire old city. Once you are done your cycling, you can visit the Muslim Quarter and enjoy some delicious dumplings. A lot of people don’t think of hanging around Xi’an, but trust me, it will be one of your favourite things to do in China.
For more information on cycling the Xi’an Wall, visit our Good Day in Xi’an
There isn’t a more traditional Chinese moment than taking a bamboo raft down the Li River. Surrounded by beautiful karst formations of Yangshuo, you drift through the mist and take in the scenery as fisherman fish as they have for thousands of years. Get up early to avoid the crowds and capture photos in the best light.
Read all about it at Bamboo Rafting Down the Li River
The Yangzi River may have been flooded a few years ago, but the Three Gorges is still a trip worth taking. The Three Gorges damn was the largest hydro-electric project in the world and was meant to power 10% of China. Since China is growing so rapidly the project only ended up powering 3% of the population, but it is an amazing site to see. The cruise is relaxing and the scenery is gorgeous.
The Three Gorges, China’s Rapid Development
China is filled with Spectacular cities like Beijing and Hong Kong. But no skyline on earth is quite as spectacular as Shanghai. Walking along the bund makes for a wonderful stroll and there is nothing like seeing the new city across the river. Can you believe it only took them 20 Years to build that skyline? Our guide told us that when she was growing up, all that was farmland and people used to dream of crossing the water to be a part of Beijing. Look at it now! No farmers anymore me thinks.
A Hot Pot in Sichuan Province is the most exciting meal you will ever have. Huajiao peppers from the region are so hot they make your tongue go numb. It’s not a hot that burns as much as a hot that excites the senses. Do yourself a favour, when you are in China, make sure to eat a hot pot in Sichuan Province.
Read about our experience at Sichuan Hot Pot a Sizzling Night out.
When you think of China, it’s nearly impossible not to picture the Giant Panda. Pandas are so cute, you would swear that there is a man inside a bear suit pretending to be a wild animal. Sadly, the Panda is gravely endangered, but the Panda Research Base in Chengdu is doing it’s best to raise them in this breeding facility and to keep the official face of China alive and well for years to come.
For more information visit the Giant Panda Research Base in Chengdu
The best way to get to know the locals in China is to hang out at a local park. The people of China know how to enjoy life and you will see that clearly when you visit a park on a Sunday. People sing Karaoke, dance, practice tai chi, strutt the runway and so much more. Believe us, you won’t be disappointed if you hang out at a local park.
West Lake is the romance capital of China and most Chinese spend their honeymoons right here. There is a beautiful legend about ill fated love that takes place on the banks of West Lake. Read all about it at A Romantic Stroll on Hangzou West Lake
Have you been to China? What do you think are the best things to do in China? We’ve heard Tiger Leaping Gorges is amazing, but have yet to be there. That’s ok though, we loved China so much, we’ be sure to go back! | <urn:uuid:2b746874-fcd4-463c-8e51-7e7c5aebbb3d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theplanetd.com/things-to-do-in-china/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957283 | 1,274 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Thursday, January 14 2010 5:26 PM EST2010-01-14 22:26:31 GMT
Although the swine flu vaccine is widely available, the state health department says the highest number of confirmed cases are among young adults. However, it appears that those between 18 and 24 are the least likely to be vaccinated.More >>
Monday, December 14 2009 6:48 PM EST2009-12-14 23:48:57 GMT
Doctors offices and emergency rooms are reporting fewer swine flu cases. But health officials say now is not the time to underestimate the illness.More >>
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SOURCE Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
THE WOODLANDS, Texas, March 1, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: LXRX) announced today that Arthur Sands, M.D., Ph.D., president and chief executive officer, will present at the Cowen Healthcare Conference on Tuesday, March 5, at 10:40 AM EST in Boston. Dr. Sands will provide an overview of Lexicon's clinical development programs and milestones.
A webcast of the presentation will be available through Lexicon's website at www.lexpharma.com. An archived version of the presentation will be available at www.lexpharma.com until April 5, 2013.
About Lexicon Lexicon is a biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering breakthrough treatments for human disease. Lexicon currently has multiple programs in clinical development for diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, carcinoid syndrome and other indications, all of which were discovered by Lexicon's research team. Lexicon has used its proprietary gene knockout technology to identify more than 100 promising drug targets. Lexicon has focused drug discovery efforts on these biologically-validated targets to create its extensive pipeline of clinical and preclinical programs. For additional information about Lexicon and its programs, please visit www.lexpharma.com.
Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains "forward-looking statements," including statements relating to Lexicon's growth and future operating results, discovery and development of products, strategic alliances and intellectual property, as well as other matters that are not historical facts or information. All forward-looking statements are based on management's current assumptions and expectations and involve risks, uncertainties and other important factors, specifically including those relating to Lexicon's ability to successfully conduct preclinical and clinical development of its potential drug candidates, advance additional candidates into preclinical and clinical development, obtain necessary regulatory approvals, achieve its operational objectives, obtain patent protection for its discoveries and establish strategic alliances, as well as additional factors relating to manufacturing, intellectual property rights, and the therapeutic or commercial value of its drug candidates, that may cause Lexicon's actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Information identifying such important factors is contained under "Risk Factors" in Lexicon's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lexicon undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. | <urn:uuid:3fe9c64b-9cf9-4163-bca4-f2781a983882> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nbc12.com/story/21433466/lexicon-to-present-at-the-cowen-healthcare-conference | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945482 | 694 | 1.640625 | 2 |
So why send a thank-you card? Is it just old-fashioned etiquette or does it still matter? Of course, we can pick up the phone or send a quick text but it’s just not the same! Many people still believe that sending a proper thank you note or card is a thoughtful gesture that shows that you have taken the time to show your appreciation. A warm, hand-written message in a well-chosen thank-you card will mean so much – we all like to know that our gifts or acts of kindness are appreciated.
So what is the traditional etiquette for sending thank-you cards? According to Debrett’s “As a general rule, a thank you letter should always be handwritten and sent within a week to ten days of an event or receipt of a present.” We have collected here some gorgeous thank-you cards that will say a special thank you for a birthday, wedding, Christmas or baby gift.
It is traditional too to send a thank-you to those who sent condolences at a bereavement or who sent ‘get well’ wishes during an illness. A note to say how much you enjoyed a dinner party or weekend staying with friends will always go down well. And you can be sure that a ‘Thank you Teacher’ card will be much appreciated at the end of term.
When should children start to say their own thank-yous? With our cute ‘Thank You For My Present’ cards they can start as soon as they can write their name and move on to adding their own messages as their writing develops.
Browse this section to find a card that is just right for your occasion. We have all sorts of lovely designs featuring flowers, birds, shoes, sparkly lettering and classic script. Or why not pick one of our boxes of notecards so you are always supplied with a pretty card at short notice?
And for a really special thank-you there are our personalised greetings cards with a message of your choice engraved on a silver plate attached to a lovely ribbon-trimmed card.
“Manners maketh man” is a quotation from the 14th century – but it still holds true today! | <urn:uuid:0ed46a7f-3bf0-478a-92bd-e4bc8373145f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ohsocherished.co.uk/section/414/1/thank_you_cards/f7583f8c9a45538143e33e248420e4af | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952503 | 459 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Gabellini Design LLC, a little shop at the corner of Allen and Lafayette streets in Allentown, may seem modest. But open the door and you enter a world of design that spans centuries and styles.
In one corner is a tilt-top, circa 1830-60 table that Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Lincoln might have gotten as a wedding present. A modernistic Eames Chair, named for mid-20th century designers Charles and Ray Eames, sits comfortably near the front window.
And, then, there is the Baccarat crystal chandelier. Created in the 19th century by the famous French crystal maker, it was supposed to be hung in an international exhibit. But it was damaged slightly by a workman and was never put on display. Instead of gracing a royal court, (the last Russian czar, Nicholas II, bought hundreds like it for his many palaces), it glitters over a dining room table in Gabellini's Allentown shop.
In the back room around a mid-20th-century dining room table are four wonderful 17th-Century Jacobean-style chairs.
They once graced the Max Hess family dining room at 13th and Hamilton streets.
"Max Hess gave them to my father before they moved," says shop owner and interior designer Christopher Gabellini, 44.
His father is John Gabellini, who from the 1940s to the 1960s worked for Allentown's merchant prince. "He was Hess's assistant and did a lot of his (Hess's) artwork and publicity stunts," Chris Gabellini says.
His father, Gabellini says, designed the chandeliers and created the talking elevator concept for Hess's department store. In 1960, when PPL was talking of abandoning its skyscraper tower building, Hess had the elder Gabellini draw a futuristic restaurant for its roof space.
John Gabellini started the interior design business in 1947. It was located in Emmaus and later moved to Shimerville. In 1990, Chris Gabellini stepped in and took over. Working with him at the Allentown shop are two assistants, Sandy Benscoter and Derek Bilodeau/Cruz. The store's manager is Pat Peck.
"We did the demographics and we decided that the West End of Allentown -- not Easton, not Bethlehem, not Emmaus -- was the best place for us to be," Gabellini says.
Gabellini bought the property, which opened as a butcher shop in 1931, in 1999. Over the years, he worked with contractors Frank and Robert Kocher of General Handyman Services to create just the right space for the business. He was attracted to the wide windows for their display quality. Finally, last April it was ready.
"Somebody said to me, "I've been watching and waiting for this place to open for years,"' says the designer with chuckle.
"We are an interior design and architecture firm," says Gabellini, who has degrees in industrial design and architecture from the University of Wisconsin and a bachelor's of fine arts and interior design from Spring Garden College.
"We design custom furniture and do faux and trompe-l'oeil commercial and residential," he says. "We also sell fine antiques from the United States and Europe. Although we handle a lot of mid-20th century, we have sold items from as far back as the 1700s."
Gabellini has used his skills to design three homes in Carmel, Calif., and others in Boca Raton and Sarasota, Fla. He has done a number in the Lehigh Valley, as well.
"We design around the taste of the client," Gabellini says. "We pick their brain and get to know their likes and dislikes. Good design evolves, like anything has to evolve. Some people who appreciate contemporary art and architecture may prefer to live in a more traditional-style home, and we try to work with them on that."
In July, Gabellini plans to offer a kitchen cabinet line based on New York style but competitive in cost with stock kitchen cabinetry.
"We try to offer the unique and unusual here, but we also offer quality," he says. THE DETAILS
GABELLINI DESIGN LLC
Where: 1952 W. Allen St., Allentown
When: Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, 11 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Thursday, 11 a.m.- 8 p.m.
The following fields overflowed:
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The Taib Crown Jewels
14 Feb 2011
Abdul Taib Mahmud may be merely the Chief Minister of a single state of Malaysia on a modest official income, however he and his family boast a treasure trove of jewelry that even the wealthiest monarchs and sultans of the world would be proud to own. The many women of his family are always happy to flaunt this wealth, usually around their bare necks and bosoms, despite their pretence of strict Muslim customs.
- LTruby18 Regal? Laila, Taib's first wife set a tradition for VERY large rubies!
- LTruby5 Days of formality.
- JTruby2 Ooooh Jamilah!
- EL5 Jewels Fabulous gems
- EL4 Diamonds....
- EL2 Emeralds now!
- EL wed More neckware for Elia
- El rubies Elia Abas/Geneid (centre) received great tracts of Native Customary Rights land from her uncle Taib.
- jamilah jewels2 They must be diamonds!
- jamilah jewels 4 More jewels for Jamilah
- jamilah jewels 3 Jamilah's jewels
- jewels 5 More neckware for nieces
- taib_lebanese_wife Second wedding - did Taib reset Laila's massive rubies or did he spend millions on a new lot?
- taib and tun Rahman - ring Right royal ring!
- elia wedding Wedding tiara
- jewels 9 Sister Raziah lines up with bejewelled daughters
- jewels 8 wedding gifts
- jewels 10 wedding gifts
- jewels 6
- jewels tatler Sister Raziah
- Taib_and_wife_-_jewels Royal couple?
Sarawak Report has gathered some of the many pictures of this display to give Sarawakians a view of where so much of the money that was promised to the people for development and progress actually went.
Spoils of the Jungle
Sarawak’s forests were cut down and in return the people who owned the lands were promised that they would be helped and given modern living standards. But instead they have been left even poorer and without their forests to provide food. Many are starving with their fish, animals and fruit all gone and rice fields turned into oil palm plantations, which hire immigrant workers.
These picturesshow where the profits actually ended up, much of it spent on baubles which can be seen hanging around the necks and stuck on the fingers of the Taibs and their business cronies. We have published these photographs because pictures like these are rarely shown to the ordinary people and we believe they have a right to understand the level of wealth acquired by the governing family in whom they have placed their trust for the last 30 years.
Of course it is not just what these people wear that tell the story of where Sarawak’s vast natural wealth has disappeared to, but it is their houses too. We believe it is only fair that the people of Sarawak, many of whom live in some of the poorest conditions in the world, should know just how grand the lifestyles are of those rulers who promised to make their lives better.
Taib is no sultan
Given the wealth and display shown by the Taibs it is sometimes necessary to remind the people that these are not sultans or princes, they are mere politicians who are elected to serve their people and not to rule over them or take their wealth. The wealth of Taib Mahmud is proof of his dishonesty. This is why he attempts to hide it from the people and why we have decided to publish these pictures. | <urn:uuid:c39aa5a7-7d41-4482-a420-408fd7b91392> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sarawakreport.org/2011/02/the-taib-crown-jewels/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966386 | 769 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Like many iconic coaches, Ohio State football's head man Jim Tressel has parlayed his sideline success into the publishing world. Tressel's latest book, Life Promises for Success: Promises from God on Achieving Your Best (Tyndale, 2011), debuted last month, but the timing has proved less than ideal. Revelations that the coach failed to report NCAA rules violations have landed him in hot water. Email exchanges prove Tressel knew that some of his players were selling team memorabilia in exchange for tattoos. The university has suspended the coach for two games and fined him $250,000.
That undermines the content of Tressel's latest book, a collection of motivational sayings, Bible verses, and stories meant to inspire. More important, perhaps, than whether Tressel's book sells is whether he ever should have written it. Why do so many great coaches feel compelled to publish books on Christian living?
Former Nebraska coach Tom Osborne has penned a pair of books in the last two years, one recounting his vocational journey from athlete to coach to congressman to teacher and the other providing his thoughts on effective leadership. In Beyond the Final Score (Regal, 2009), Osborne does his best to parse the theological differences between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam as part of a broader discussion on developing worldview and character. The section smacks of a living room chat with a thoughtful, though unstudied, man speaking outside his discipline. In Secrets to Becoming a Leader (Regal, 2010), Osborne draws largely from experience and some from readings of Scripture to build common-sense principles that would hardly qualify as secrets.
This tendency of Christian athletic coaches to offer proverbial wisdom through the language of sport often falls into the theological traps of moralism, prosperity, or civic religion. In The Greatest Coach Ever: Timeless Wisdom and Insights of John Wooden (Regal, 2010), dozens of coaches pen essays on topics ranging from preparation to patience to prayer. In a short essay titled "God's Playbook," former Florida State coach Bobby Bowden recounts his practice of daily Bible reading as a means for principled living. He explains how the Scripture's call for sacrifice helped him recognize the merits of working long hours, often into the night: "Excellence cannot be achieved unless coaches and players are willing to sacrifice and suffer."
Yet, the point of sacrifice and suffering in Scripture is not to achieve excellence in ourselves but to see our dependence on the excellence of another-namely, Jesus. Therein may lie the problem with shallow theology. It can become a roadmap to despair.
March gets madder
As if college basketball's season-ending playoff needed an injection of more insanity, this year's tournament expanded from 65 to 68 teams. The new format adds significantly to the already mathematically unlikely scenario of filling out a perfect bracket. The odds of correctly filling in every winner this year are 1 in 147,573,952,589,676,480,000. Or to put it in more meaningful terms, if every person on earth filled out one bracket per second, we could collectively produce every bracket combination in about 700 years. Let's get started. | <urn:uuid:4d83ec59-ccca-4e6b-87a2-65eeb0f3f5f9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.worldmag.com/2011/03/sideline_pastors | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960321 | 644 | 1.65625 | 2 |
Somehow or other, this is one area of Indian cooking that I have sadly neglected, and honestly I'm not sure why. I bother to make my own pastry when required, have enjoyed making bread in the past, do not shy away from spending a few hours in the kitchen when I have the time, and cook Indian dishes on a regular basis. I plead distraction. I could probably fill a small library with my food ideas.
And so I'm thankful Srivalli of Cooking for all Seasons has decided to host Roti Mela to celebrate the goodness of Indian flatbreads. Inspired by the idea, I made these crispy stuffed parathas. Time consuming, yes, but absolutely worth the effort. The dough was an absolute pleasure to work with and will certainly serve as a base for future creations. The possibilities for fillings have occupied my mind since I made these this past weekend. I'm thinking paneer and spice is next.
Paratha with Sweet Potato and Potato Filling
1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups of unbleached white flour
1 teaspoon of salt
2 tablespoons of melted butter
1 cup of water
1/4 cup of oil for frying
1 medium sweet potato
1 tablespoon of oil
1 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of cumin seeds
2 teaspoons of black mustard seeds
2 small potatoes, finely chopped
1 teaspoon of cayenne
3/4 cup of water
Combine the flours, salt, ghee and water in a bowl until a dough is formed. Turn out onto a lightly floured board and knead for about 10 minutes or until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 1 hour.
Peel and boil the sweet potato until tender. Mash and set aside.
Heat the oil in a medium pot until hot. Add the seeds and salt and stir and fry until the mustard seeds begin to pop. Now add the potatoes, cayenne and water. Cook, stirring often, for about 10 minutes, or until the potato is just tender. Stir the mashed sweet potato into the potato mixture.
Shape the dough into a long log and divide into 16 equal portions. Shape each piece into a ball, and roll into 5 1/2 inch rounds on a lightly floured board. Stack the rolled out rounds, separated with plastic wrap.
Spread a few teaspoons of filling over a rolled out round, leaving a 1/2 inch border. Brush the border with water, and top with another rolled out round. Press the edges together firmly to seal. Repeat until all 8 paratha are filled.
Heat the 1/4 cup of oil over medium heat in a large frying pan until hot. Cook one stuffed paratha at a time, until nicely browned on both sides - about 5 minutes a side. Drain on paper towels. The cooked parathas can be kept warm in the oven while you fry up the remainder. Add more oil to the pan as needed.
Makes 8 parathas. | <urn:uuid:40d167a1-825e-4650-988d-ebcc9b2abc8e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://foodandspice.blogspot.jp/2008/05/paratha-stuffed-with-sweet-potato-and.html?showComment=1210770720000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936543 | 623 | 1.5 | 2 |
Everyone knows court records are my very favorite genealogical record, but a very close second are civil war pensions. The depositions from former slaves are one of the few places you’ll find first person accounts of their lives as enslaved people. So, anytime I go to the National Archives in DC, I spend most of my time pulling pension records. As we all know, applicants had to prove their marriages, children, birthdates, service, etc. and for many former slaves, this was a difficult task. Donald Shaffer’s excellent book Voices of Emancipation points out that black applicants had a higher rate of Special Investigations than did their white counterparts, which makes sense since they would not have had the types of “proof” that white and freed people had for many of these life events.
After surviving the process to get the much-needed pension money, some people had their good thing thwarted by those who “dropped dime” on them.
George Holt, later known as George Marsh served in Co. F, 14th Reg, USCT, and provided a deposition that would be solid gold for any of his descendants. Part of it says this:
“ When I was born, I was owned by Solomon Marsh of Dickson County, Tennessee. He also owned my father and mother and my seven brothers and seven sisters [wow!]. All my brothers and sisters are dead, except two: Abraham Marsh now living in Evansville, IN, and my sister Angeline Porter now living in Turnbull, Dickson County, Tenn. When I was a baby, I was given to Elias Holt of Dickson Cty, Tenn.…I was a slave of Elias Holt until the time I enlisted in the army…I served under the name George Holt because I was last owned by Elias Holt…most people now call me Marsh because my father’s name was Marsh.”
However, the local Postmaster Andrew Black attempted to “drop dime” as evidenced by two letters he wrote to the Pension Agent:
“..yesterday I read to George Marsh alias George Holt his Pension Certificate..I was informed by several persons…that he never received the Gun shot wound in his left hip while in service to the U.S. …it could be proved that he received said gun shot wound at the hands of the husband of the wife with whom the said George Marsh was in criminal intimacy with. There is a fine respectable old colored lady in this vicinity who can tell of the circumstances. I considered it my duty as a Pensioner to give this information, and let the matter be investigated…As a favor, I wish my name not to be known in the matter, on account of personal and safety [sic] to property, at hands of either him or his colored friends.”
George Holt was receiving a pension as late as 1912, so it appears the Postmaster’s suspicions were uninformed, or at least, unproven. I think it’s funny how he stressed not to have his name used.
Reason Snowden served in Co. D, 30th Reg. of the USCT from Maryland. His wife Ann applied for a widow’s pension in 1878 and it was approved. Her application states that although she still had children at home under the age of 16 at the end of the war, that she never heard from her husband after 1864. The military determined that he had died.
But in 1894, Charles Sellman, of Poolesville, MD, “dropped dime” on Ann in his deposition:
“I am the person that informed a pension official about 3 or 4 weeks ago that there was a woman named Ann Snowden who was living in open adultery with a man by the name of Ewell, and still drawing a pension as Ann Snowden….she has been living with this man…for over 25 years. She has grown up children by this man. She has at least 8 children by this man Ewell. They have been living together as man and wife.”
C.V. Morrison’s deposition supported these facts:
“I have known Mrs. Ann Snowden for about 7 years now. She lives with a person by the name of J. Wesley Ewell and has quite number of children by said Ewell.”
Unfortunately, Ann Snowden’s pension status was revoked and the letter to her stated:
“..you have violated the Act of Congress of August 7, 1882, having lived in open and notorious adulterous cohabitation with one Ewell since the passage of said law and since the death of your late husband…the penalty for which is the termination of your pension.”
It’s true that fraud was rampant in the pension system, and people had ample reason to manipulate the system for their benefit. Once again, more evidence that human nature essentially hasn’t changed, which is one of the reasons I love genealogy. There were always people ready and willing to snitch!
P.S. Check out Claire’s 2010 article on Civil War Pensions, and also see an article done by the author of Voices of Emancipation .
Dr. Bronson also has one of the best websites for understanding the various pension laws and their requirements–I especially like that he links to the actual statutes. | <urn:uuid:e4e605f1-4ab3-4df1-ae43-216635fccbd7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://msualumni.wordpress.com/tag/civil-war-pensions/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985863 | 1,108 | 1.679688 | 2 |
Mar 21, 2006
A sciencebase visitors attempted to spam the blog recently with an advert for his detox kits. Needless to say, this blog automatically adds a rel=nofollow tag to all comment URLs, so it’s a waste of time spamming us anyway, but moreover, all comments are moderated so that cr*pfloods are easily averted.
Anyway, if you want to find out what a detox kit is check this Google search: detox kits – Google Search
It seems that the marketing spiel claims that these kits can clear out the tell-tale signs of any drug of abuse and so help users pass drugs tests. Looks like bunk to me, nothing can “detox” your body. Metabolites have to be excreted eventually and chemical analysis would reveal the presence of even modified metabolites in your urine.
One thing that does worry me about these kits though. If they do “mop up” drugs and drug metabolites from your bloodstream then they’re going to have to be incredibly selective so as not to interfere with prescription drugs, surely.
I’d be very wary of using them (they’re rather pricey too!) to try and pass a drugs test. Much easier just to avoid those drugs of abuse in the first place. | <urn:uuid:a5313a31-294d-44de-a807-48cfd399f147> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencebase.com/science-blog/detox-kits.html/comment-page-1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934565 | 270 | 1.625 | 2 |
At first blush the latest federal budget didn't seem too bad for the agricultural sector. The farm community was expecting some reductions but no wholesale changes.
Agricultural Minister Gerry Ritz put a positive spin on the whole thing by stating that the changes were mostly in the "backroom" and would not affect farmers.
On the positive side, the government announced $51.2 million over the next two years to strengthen Canada's food safety system. This will be divided between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Public Health Agency and Health Canada.
Other announcements included the expansion of eligibility for the accelerated capital cost allowance for clean energy generation equipment to include a broader range of bioenergy equipment and an additional $60 million for genomics research.
In the area of red tape reduction, government is also committed to implementing the Canada-United States Action Plan on regulatory co-operation and to simplify partnership tax administration, allowing one partner to sign a waiver to administer tax on behalf of all partners.
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) will also consolidate the delivery of grants and contribution programs across the department and streamline management of the farm debt mediation service. As a result of this, it was announced all Canadian Agriculture Adaptation Councils will be closed, including the Nova Scotia council known as AgriFutures.
The CFIA is also facing a $56 million reduction by 2014-15, despite the $52 million investment into food safety mentioned earlier. This is expected to change how CFIA delivers service to industry and consumers.
The planned reductions for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada of 10 per cent are some of the most significant of any federal department, adding up to $17.1 million by 2012-13, $168.5 million in 2013-14 and $309.7 million in ongoing savings.
The only departments facing higher cuts, by review base, are finance, natural resources, privy council transport and treasury board.
Nova Scotia also recently delivered its budget estimates for 2012-13 and for the Department of Agriculture it was pretty much a repeat of the last fiscal year.
There are a few exceptions, most notably with the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Bible Hill scheduled to merge with Dalhousie University in July of this year. This will move 282 staff from the provincial agricultural department to Dalhousie and department expenses will change as this move occurs.
There are also changes in the way the budget is presented with departments realigned from four categories to two.
One of the new categories is called the policy and corporate services branch. It will provide ‘centralized co-ordination, management and support for the departments of agriculture and fisheries and aquaculture in the areas of policy development, corporate management, legislative and regulatory development, ministerial briefings, federal/provincial initiatives and programs.'
It will also lead and manage departmental crown agencies (Crop and Livestock Insurance, Farm and Fisheries Loan Boards, Natural Products Marketing Council) as well as agricultural programs development and implementation and risk management.
The other branch is agriculture and food operations. It will provide ‘funds to support agriculture and food advisory services and food quality and consumer safety.
Responsibilities include regional agricultural support, environmental management and land protection, 4-H and support for rural organizations, agricultural awareness, food safety, inspection and licensing of meat processing, analytical laboratory services and animal welfare.'
Some of the federal information is still coming out and the effects of the changes will take some time to absorb. The provincial picture is a bit clearer since there are no large changes to the budget amounts.
Henry Vissers is the executive director of the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture, which represents the interests of over 2,400 farm families in the province. He lives in Valley. | <urn:uuid:505dd1f7-be5a-4a74-a310-6956ddcf33c2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.trurodaily.com/Opinion/Columns/2012-04-27/article-2965968/Federal-budget-targets-agriculture/1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953487 | 776 | 1.71875 | 2 |
I haven’t posted much recently about the Roes – the family of my maternal grandmother. This is partly because I’ve been absorbed by the Aberdeenshire origins of my father’s family, the Robbs, and partly because I had reached something of a dead end with the Roes.
I had discovered a fair amount about most of the children of Daniel Roe and Mary Blanch (my 2 x great grandparents), except for Mary Ann Blanch Roe, who was born in in October 1856 at 4 Herbert’s Passage, just off the Strand, in the parish of St. Clement Danes. Mary Ann is mentioned in the census record for 1861, when she was 4, and living with her parents and family at 2 Crown Court, in the parish of St. James, Westminster (effectively, in Soho). Then, after the death of her mother (and, we assume, her father), we find all of the Roe children recorded in the 1871 census as living with their widowed maternal grandmother, Kezia Blanch, in Broad Street, Soho. Daniel Ellis Roe is employed as an engineer, but Mary Ann, now 15, is working as a laundress, as is her aunt (Eliza’s daughter) Eliza, while her sister Kezia is described as an ironer.
I could find no later records for Mary Ann, until this week, when I was contacted via Genes Reunited by Sara Calvert, who is a descendant of Mary Ann’s. According to Sara, Mary Ann Blanch Roe married Leonard Kew, a comedian, born in 1855. Even more intriguingly, there is a record of the couple in the 1881 census, when they are in lodgings in County Durham. Both are described as actors, and they go by the stage names of Leonard and Blanch Vincent.
Apparently Leonard and Mary Ann had two children: Ruth, born in 1876 and Leonard, born in 1880. (This suggests that their marriage was some time around 1875, when Mary would have been about 19 or 20.) By his second marriage, to Emily Harris, Leonard junior had a number of children, who bore the surname Vincent-Kew, and who included a daughter Kezia, perhaps named after Leonard’s aunt, his mother Mary Ann’s sister, and suggesting some continuing contact with the Roe family? | <urn:uuid:07a6a886-6fef-474f-a71c-2b7f0bdccfd9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mprobb.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/mary-ann-blanch-roe-actress/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=b0679ce6ea | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985926 | 499 | 1.53125 | 2 |
History Department Response to Student Feedback
HSTY3091: Love and Marriage in the Australian Colonies (2005)
Unit Coordinator: Dr Penny Russell
This seminar was open to students at both third year special entry and fourth year honours level. Fourth year students attended the seminar as part of a year-long unit and were therefore not surveyed at the end of the first semester. USE results were obtained therefore only from nine of the third year students. All were hugely satisfied with the unit, one student confining his or her response to ‘strongly agreeing’ on all questions and the brief remark ‘fantastic course!’ Others remarked on the helpful, relevant, well-directed class discussion and the valuable feedback - ‘the most comprehensive & useful comments I have ever received in a history course’, as one student remarked. | <urn:uuid:2d88407c-4073-4509-a8a6-eabaf8de2781> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://sydney.edu.au/arts/history/undergrad/3091_05.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971973 | 174 | 1.53125 | 2 |
By Raghuraman Krishnamurthy, Cognizant Technology Solutions
Recently, I had the opportunity to quickly look at Chris Potts’s absorbingly written book titled recrEAtion: Realizing the Extraordinary Contribution of Your Enterprise Architects. The best contribution of EA, the book illustrates through a fictitious story line told with finesse, is much beyond IT. Enterprise architects need to be thinking more of business and contribute to strategy coherence by being uniquely able to link business goals with IT.
The word ‘architecture’ has an unfortunate connation with IT resulting in lumping of any architecture into the IT/IS function. That EA is much more than IT/IS has been the uniform rallying point of the community of enterprise architects for several years. There is a degree of success in this effort: for instance, the importance of EA in planning, alignment and program management is well researched and there is evidence in industry of realizing benefits that EA provides in this direction. However, for EA to earn its glorious position of the overall enterprise wide architecture management function, it needs business embracement.
Business architecture is part of enterprise architecture. Let us consider some of the challenges that have business ramification in equal (or perhaps more) measure as technology:
- Gaining customer insight is no longer possible with internal systems alone. There are social sites where the views of the customers are shared and debated within the community. How would this challenge be addressed in business architecture?
- Mobility is opening up enterprise’s business opportunities in innovative ways. Mobility gives the customer the power to do business truly anytime, anywhere. How an enterprise can improve the collaboration in novel ways and generate close customer touch using new channels like mobility? How is business going to measure the effectiveness of this channel and what type of architecture models will be relevant?
- Business processes are keys to realizing business objectives. How the business process, the associated rules, performance of the business process itself can be modeled in business terms? How can workflows and the associated documents be modeled in business terms?
The above could be some areas that EA can focus on giving the business flavor.
‘Evolving EA to Architect the Business’ is a subject that will be discussed in depth during The Open Group Conference, London, May 9-13. Join us for best practices and case studies on Enterprise Architecture, Cloud, Security and more, presented by preeminent thought leaders in the industry. | <urn:uuid:fb40c93e-f15f-4da5-b210-0cb522c45377> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.opengroup.org/2011/04/28/giving-ea-the-much-needed-business-slant-some-thoughts/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=20ee2ea151 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952616 | 503 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Discovering musical talent
A new, improved hit machine
The collapse of music sales has changed the way stars are made
“COME in here, dear boy, have a cigar / You're gonna go far.” By 1975, when Pink Floyd parodied them in song, music executives had developed a reputation for turning unknowns into stars—and for false promises, burdensome contracts and assorted skulduggery. The reputation clings to them still. But a decade of piracy and plummeting sales has radically changed the way artists are discovered, signed and promoted, as it has changed so much else in the music business.
The A&R men who find and sign talent (the letters stand for “artists” and “repertoire”, from the days when their job was to pair performers with tunes written by others) are fewer these days. Ritch Esra, publisher of the A&R Registry, calculates that of the 50 British and North American executives who left their posts in 2010, only ten managed to find another A&R job. Those who remain are playing a role that their predecessors would hardly recognise.
David Joseph, who runs the British arm of Universal Music, says A&R men used to be alchemists, discovering base talent and turning it into gold. “They made dreams come true,” he says.
These days they are venture capitalists. Particularly at big labels such as Universal, A&R executives increasingly expect acts to have built a self-sustaining, if modest, business before they offer them a recording contract.
Large numbers of Facebook friends and Twitter followers help show that a band has traction. But record labels have become wary of social-media indicators. They know that desperate bands may chatter about themselves or hire marketing firms to inflate their online metrics. The labels also want to know whether a band is drawing a steadily growing number of people to its gigs. The bar rises constantly. Mumford & Sons (pictured), a successful folk-rock outfit from bucolic west London, had amassed a large live following and had released several EPs before signing with Island Records in 2009.
This caution is the result of a weak market. Rising single sales through Apple's iTunes store have not nearly made up for lost albums. Overall recorded-music sales have dropped by 33% in Britain and by 50% in America since 2001. Even after cutting overhead and marketing costs, labels find themselves with little money to waste on bands that will not endure. “Ten years ago, if one hit the jackpot it would pay for the other nine,” says Rob Stringer, the chairman of Columbia Records. Today they must have a better hit rate. And the record companies have found other ways of minimising risk.
One is by outsourcing the discovery and promotion of artists to television. Sony Music was quick to realise that singing competitions such as “American Idol” and scripted shows such as “Glee” were a uniquely powerful means of touting artists, especially in America where most radio is local. As The Economist went to press, Scotty McCreery, an “American Idol” winner, was perched atop Billboard's album chart. Earlier this year Universal Music signed a deal with “The Voice”, a new competition show.
An even better way of reducing risk is to bet on acts and albums that have already hit the jackpot. Mr Joseph describes himself as “fairly obsessed” with what is known as catalogue A&R—repackaging old albums. Universal has done splendidly with new editions of the Rolling Stones' “Exile on Main Street” and Nirvana's “Nevermind”. Next month it will release anniversary editions of The Who's “Quadrophenia” and U2's “Achtung Baby”. The 30-, 40- and 50-somethings who buy such records have more money than teenagers, and are less likely to pirate music.
For up-and-coming artists, the challenge is how to build a business bubbly enough to attract the attention of an A&R man. Many acts tour heavily and try to license their songs for use in television adverts. Managers, who can help with such things, are becoming more important to musicians. Mumford & Sons' manager even provided the band with early-stage investment. Expect to see more of that as record labels become more choosy.
Those longed-for record contracts, when they finally appear, are seldom lavish. Robert Horsfall, an artist manager at Sound Advice, says the normal range for a first-album advance in Britain has been stuck at £75,000-150,000 ($119,000-237,000) for many years. And record companies increasingly demand a slice of live-music and merchandise revenues. Bidding wars for talent have become rare, partly because there are fewer record companies. There may be fewer still when EMI is sold, as is expected soon. Small wonder that a few artists, having reached the point where they could get a record deal, decide to go without. | <urn:uuid:35b7123c-1e85-41fc-b059-20f52af0f7be> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.economist.com/node/21533423?zid=292&ah=165a5788fdb0726c01b1374d8e1ea285 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971355 | 1,063 | 1.84375 | 2 |
"At this point, all parties have had their day in court," stated David Garman, Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "DOE will enforce the 13 SEER standard. In the interest of giving consumers and industry the regulatory certainty they need, it is time for the government and for private parties to stop litigating and start working towards complying with the 13 SEER standard."
DOE had promulgated a 12 SEER standard in 2002, but earlier this year, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruled that the department had done so improperly, because it had previously issued a 13 SEER rule in January 2001. Air conditioning equipment manufacturers had challenged the 13 SEER rule, but recently withdrew their challenge.
Publication date: 04/05/2004 | <urn:uuid:262d9580-4553-42c3-82eb-ff8dac4549b3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.achrnews.com/articles/print/april-5-2004-doe-will-enforce-13-seer-air-conditioner-standard | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982053 | 162 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Can it do the same for home medical devices?
At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, iHealth Labs, a start-up in Mountain View, Calif., has unveiled the iHealth Blood Pressure Dock, an attachment for iOS devices that can measure and record heart rate and blood pressure.
The kit, which costs $100, comes with a blood pressure cuff and a battery-powered dock that doubles as a charging station for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad. For now, the hardware is available for sale on the company’s Web site. Eventually, it will also be sold in Apple retail stores and through Apple.com. The kit also requires a mobile application to log the results, which is available for free through iTunes.
Dr. Andrew Brandeis, a practicing doctor in San Francisco and a medical consultant and spokesman for iHealth, said that although the device is primarily aimed at people with hypertension or other chronic health conditions, it can also be helpful for anyone trying to live a healthier life.
“I can give someone a pill for their blood pressure, but what I really want to do is educate them about their habits that cause high blood pressure,” he said. “If you can see your blood pressure is going up, you can try to get an idea about what you’re doing that is affecting it. You start to see correlations between your blood pressure and your life.”
The biggest advantage to those who buy iHealth’s blood pressure system instead of a stand-alone machine, which is much cheaper to purchase, is that it will be incorporated into a patient’s daily routine of waking up and checking their cellphone, the company says.
“You charge your device at night and when you wake up, the blood pressure cuff is sitting right there next to it,” he said.
Taking daily readings at home may also offer more accurate and consistent results than those taken at a doctor’s office, he said.
“White coat syndrome is a term used for what happens when patients come in to see the doctor,” he said. “They are stressed out because they hate going to the doctor and their blood pressure is higher. But if you take it at home, before your coffee and e-mail, you get a much more accurate reading.”
Patients can also share their results with a physician, either via e-mail or by showing them the phone or iPad with the data on it during their next doctor visit.
The application can also push readings to Twitter and Facebook as a way to generate positive reinforcement about good readings among a user’s social network, Dr. Brandeis said.
Eventually, the company hopes to also release other home health kits, including a blood glucose monitor and a connected scale.
“This is a doorway to an entire new ecosystem of self-monitoring and gleaning health information about yourself,” said Dr. Brandeis. | <urn:uuid:0f17d692-ff86-4163-8610-4f25d733c5c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/measuring-blood-pressure-with-an-iphone/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966426 | 612 | 1.804688 | 2 |
PITTSBURGH -- When Edward Gerjuoy started teaching at the University of Pittsburgh in 1964, the Beatles had invaded America, boys played with a new G.I. Joe action figure and a generation reared on the make-believe of television faced harsh Cold War realities.
Almost five decades later, Gerjuoy, 94, has no thoughts of retiring.
"What would I do? I want to be creative, productive," he said from his office in Old Engineering Hall that he visits seven days a week. "I think being active is healthy."
Workers who spend decades at the same shop are exceedingly rare these days.
"This is a dying breed," said Kerry Hannon, an author, journalist and authority on career transitions and retirement. "We 50-somethings may be the last to ride that wave."
Just 1 percent of the workforce -- about 1.5 million people, including almost 53,000 Pennsylvanians -- stayed with employers for 40 or more years, according to the Center for Workforce Information and Analysis at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry.
Once the traditional employment model, the value in staying at a company decreased, said Vera Krofchek, director of research and strategy at the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, which unites job seekers with companies that need them.
"Skills can become outdated really quickly today," Krofchek said. "Most people will hold 10 to 15 jobs before they're 40."
The median number of years workers stayed with an employer was 4.6 in 2012, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said, up from 4.4 years in 2010.
Regardless of whether employees stay or go, researchers say work -- even lots of it -- can be beneficial.
The keys are getting absorbed in worthwhile work, having the resources or management support to do a job well and make progress, and getting along with co-workers, according to Howard S. Friedman, distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The Longevity Project.
"In those circumstances, hard work is likely to help keep you healthy and happy, even after many years," he said.
Gerjuoy, who came to Pitt with a doctorate in theoretical physics from the University of California at Berkeley and received a law degree at age 59, made adjustments over the years.
A professor emeritus in Pitt's department of physics and astronomy, he embraces desktop computers and does research in quantum computing.
Cardiologist Donald Fisher has been on the job even longer than Gerjuoy: 60 years with Allegheny General Hospital.
"I was recruited from Chicago where I was earning $9,000 a year," said Fisher, 93, who was featured in Time magazine in 1952 for using a heart defibrillator he built to save the life of a woman undergoing heart surgery.
It was one of the first defibrillators ever used in the clinical setting.
He goes to the office five days a week and wants to see his latest research project completed before thinking about retirement.
"If I can get that done, I may start thinking about playing the piano, writing an autobiography ... looking up old friends," he said.
About 60 percent of working Americans said they stick with employers for benefits and 59 percent stay for money, according to The Workforce Retention Survey by the American Psychological Association.
Workers in the public sector have almost double the median tenure of private-sector employees, partly because three in four government workers are age 35 or older.
That's compared to three in five private-sector workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics said. | <urn:uuid:87ee86d1-ab86-4fea-9722-aa5ecc259738> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://goerie.com/article/20121124/NEWS06/311249957/Fewer-workers-stay-in-1-job-their-whole-careers | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968659 | 751 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Why enhanced reputation could be the real legacy for Britain of London 2012
Andrew Hammond is an Associate Partner at Reputation Inc, and formerly a UK Government Special Adviser and Senior Consultant at Oxford Analytica. The opinions expressed are his own.
With London 2012 proving a once-in-a-generation global showcase for Britain, a key uncertainty nonetheless remains over whether a substantial, meaningful legacy can be secured in future years from hosting the games. Given that the official public cost of the Olympics is some 9.3 billion pounds (a figure Parliament believes is nearer 11 billion pounds, and Sky News estimates to be a staggering 24 billion pounds) this is a key question, especially as Britain languishes in a double dip recession.
The two most frequently cited legacies of London 2012 are: firstly, securing long-term success from the regeneration of the Olympic Park and surrounding area; and, secondly, inspiring a new generation of sportsmen and women across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
However, above and beyond this, the Government’s ambition is nothing less than enhancing Britain’s reputation across the globe. The goal of its innovative cross-departmental GREAT campaign, of which the Olympics is the high point to date, is to refresh the brand of the home nations as amongst the top places in the world to visit, live, work, study and do business, with key areas of excellence (as highlighted in the Olympic opening ceremony) including Technology and Innovation, Entrepreneurship, Creativity, Knowledge, Green, Heritage, Sport, Shopping, Music and Countryside.
At a time of continued economic uncertainty, the bottom line is to increase business investment and growth: “to sell Britain on the back of British success” in the words of the Prime Minister. The Government estimates that the ‘London 2012 effect’ will stimulate some 13 billion pounds of benefit to the economy over the next four years, and is seeking to underpin this by hosting a global investment conference and 17 business summits during the Olympics.
Two major questions arise. Firstly, can a country’s reputation be enhanced in the same way as a corporate (or other organisation) might do? And, secondly, can this have a significant national economic impact?
On the first issue, boosting country reputation is an ever common ambition in what is an overcrowded global information marketplace. Competition for the attention of stakeholders like investors and tourists is intensifying, and national reputation can therefore be a prized asset or a big liability, with a direct effect on future political, economic and social fortunes.
In general, the most effective country reputation strategies align all key national stakeholders (across the public, private and third sectors) around a single, coherent vision for global positioning. This exercise should not just be the preserve of tourism agencies, let alone government.
A good example here is New Zealand. Since the 1980s and 1990s, the country has transformed itself from earlier perceptions of being a relatively remote economic backwater which, despite its scenic beauty, was not a major global tourist destination.
Especially in the midst of the difficult economic climate of the 1970s and 1980s, partly caused by the country’s loss of preferred trading status with Britain and the Commonwealth (amongst the nation’s then major export markets), New Zealand recognised that a strong country reputation for quality would be hugely beneficial if it was to better compete in global markets.
Here, the untapped potential of the country’s natural environment was recognised (and indeed showcased in films like ‘Lord of the Rings’). And, not just in terms of natural produce exports, but also for building a destination brand for tourism and outdoor sports.
The New Zealand example underlines how even a relatively simple, unified, cross-sectoral vision can be powerful. To be sure, the country is not unique in having an unspoiled environment and quality produce. But it has managed to capture the world’s imagination with its consistent branding that has put natural values firmly at its core as epitomised by the ‘New Zealand 100% Pure’ slogan.
Turning to the second question, top-class country reputation strategies can be one key component of national economic success. In New Zealand, for instance, the tourism sector has enjoyed a boom — visitor numbers from Britain increased by around 60% between 2001 and 2006 alone.
Meanwhile, the success of the country’s agriculture sector, which has become more competitive and efficient, is symbolised by the fact that it now accounts for one third of global dairy exports (that is twice Saudi Arabia’s share of the world oil exports), including significant amounts of milk powder to Chinese consumers wary of safety concerns surrounding local brands. This success helped drive, in 2011, New Zealand’s largest ever trade surplus, with terms of trade at an almost 40-year high.
Whether Britain’s GREAT campaign succeeds in helping secure the 13 billion pounds asserted by the Government will depend, in significant part, on the global economy’s fortunes in coming years. For instance, the Government estimates that the ‘London 2012 effect’ will stimulate an additional 4.5 million overseas tourists over the next four years — resulting in some 2.3 billion pounds of spending, and the creation of 70,000 jobs.
This is speculative, and, in truth, the medium and long-term economic impact of previous Olympics has frequently been overstated for host nations. To maximise prospects of the GREAT campaign helping to enable Britain’s economic recovery, it will therefore need to be sustained well beyond London 2012, and also increasingly utilise the innovation and expertise of Britain’s private sector. | <urn:uuid:eb7a2e98-92aa-4dc7-81e5-62b953dc1c13> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blogs.reuters.com/great-debate-uk/2012/08/08/why-enhanced-reputation-could-be-the-real-legacy-for-britain-of-london-2012/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933165 | 1,164 | 1.53125 | 2 |
Vintage Ming's Ivory & Sterling Warrior Pin & Earrings Set
Ming's began producing and selling jewelry in the early 1940's and continued until the close of their business in the1990's. Most commonly produced with hand carved ivory and sterling silver, pieces typically represented animals, nature and warriors native to the Hawaiian islands. Ming's used only the finest African elephant ivory, which at the time was legally purchased and imported, and sterling silver metal.
This beautiful set by Ming's is from the 1950's and represents a pair of earrings and a large pin that all portray the head of a Polynesian warrior. The ivory has been intricately hand carved and is very detailed. The ivory warrior helmet that sits atop each face is textured and has a hammered sterling silver border. The ivory face of each warrior has been hand dyed/painted a golden brown color and has ivory colored teeth. The earrings have the original screw backs which are both marked "STERLING" twice on each. Ming's signature is on the back of all three pieces: one earring is marked "IVORY MAHIOLE" and the other is marked "MING'S HONOLULU". The pin is marked "MING'S HONOLULU IVORY MAHIOLE". All three markings are hand signed and in black ink.
Measurements: Each earring measures a little less than 1" at the widest point, slightly more than 1" at the longest point and approximately 1/8" thick. The pin measures approximately 2 1/4" at the widest point, a little less than 2 3/4" at the longest point and approximately 1/4" thick.
Condition: The overall condition of the set is excellent. There is no apparent damage to the ivory or the sterling silver. The earring screw backs are in great working condition and sit securely on the ear. The pin clasp fastens securely and is in good working condition. | <urn:uuid:c9ec2960-89f0-4290-823a-53316fcc212f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.abrandtandson.com/Ming's_Ivory_Sterling_Warrior_Pin_Earrings_Set.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961774 | 400 | 1.820313 | 2 |
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is on a snake oil sales tour. To much fanfare, the Governator is traveling the country promoting his "California model" for fighting global warming. But he is an emperor without clothes, his vaunted California model an illusion.
Late last year, Mr. Schwarzenegger became the first prominent state executive to discover that "doing something" — or being seen to be "doing something" — about global warming makes for great politics. His popularity went through the roof after he signed into law the Global Warming Solution Act, the nation's first binding greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
At first, the immediate and favorable reaction from the public and press caught the governor off guard. After all, he had only signed a bill that had already been deliberated and passed by California's Democratic-controlled legislature. Mr. Schwarzenegger, ever the consummate politician, quickly caught on, and soon made climate change his signature issue. He has since managed to remain in the public spotlight preaching to fellow governors the virtues of this scheme.
Mr. Schwarzenegger's California model is premised on the notion that government can facilitate precipitous reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without affecting the economy. Indeed, he claims global warming policies will somehow boost the economy. "We can grow the economy and simultaneously protect the environment," he admonishes, "it's not a choice."
Unfortunately, his rhetoric is catching on. At the National Governors Association meeting last week, Arnold's influence was palpable. Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty told reporters there that emissions reduction policies, "correctly" done, "will be a boost to the economy." Sound familiar?
And the California governor's influence reaches across the country. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist recently hosted a global warming summit in Miami, where Mr. Schwarzenegger was a conspicuous presence. Mr. Crist capped the conference by signing executive orders to reduce Florida's carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 — emissions targets identical to California's. "We will follow the great governor of California's example," gushed Mr. Crist at the signing ceremony. "He has set the lead."
But it is questionable whether Mr. Schwarzenegger's lead is worth following. The Global Warming Solutions Act binds California to drastic and difficult emissions reductions, but offers no ideas on how California might reach those targets. Instead, it delegates responsibility for California's climate strategy to state regulatory agencies. These overwhelmed agencies have yet to propose any significant measures to mitigate California's emissions — which is unsurprising given the enormity of this task. Nearly a year after it was passed, the Act has yielded little in the way of real solutions.
There are other problems with the "California model." The Act stipulates that emissions reductions begin in 2012 — two years after Mr. Schwarzenegger's term expires. His administration even went so far as to direct the lead regulatory agency on climate change to limit "early action" items — emissions reduction measures that could be begun by 2010 — to only three. All the pain of energy restrictions, taxes and mandates will, conveniently enough, be unleashed on citizens only after the Governator is out of office and working on his next film. No wonder he signed the Solutions Act.
Meanwhile, the situation in California puts the lie to the contention that emissions reduction regulations can be painless. In June, the state's lead regulatory agency on climate change, the California Air Resources Board (CARB), nearly disintegrated after the governor fired CARB's chairman for refusing to take it easy on California's construction industry. The board's chief executive officer resigned in disgust.
Now Democrats in the state legislature are holding hostage CARB's budget while they bicker with the Schwarzenegger administration over the proper balance between enforcement and incentives to compel emissions reductions. Because business and environmental regulation are not simpatico, the "California model" is imploding.
Mr. Schwarzenegger and his emulators pose a curious threat to the people who voted them into office. On climate change, any sacrifice they mandate is far off and vague, so, with nothing to lose politically, politicians can promise the moon and the stars to their constituents, and write these promises into law — without any idea of how those promises might work. Yet their promises will carry an enormous price tag to be passed on to future generations.
Iain Murray is a senior fellow and William Yeatman is an energy policy analyst at Competitive Enterprise Institute.
By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
First over-the-counter column approved for fast and effective relief from even your worst media-induced headache.
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Benghazi: The anatomy of a scandal
Vietnam Memorial adds four names
Cinco de Mayo on the Mall
NRA kicks off annual convention | <urn:uuid:36a694fb-2733-4134-91e8-3372b037a586> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2007/jul/31/no-free-lunch-on-emissions/print/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942744 | 1,065 | 1.734375 | 2 |
The Partnership program provides enormous benefit for consumers. It also provides significant benefit to insurance professionals.
One of the most important benefits is the gathering of relevant information. The following is preliminary information gathered from the Partnership States. While the numbers may change, it sheds an important light on the subject of what people pay for long-term care insurance protection. It clearly shows that the majority of consumers are spending far less for long-term care insurance protection than what's reported in the consumer media.
The following data is based on over 70,000 individuals (under age 61) purchasing Partnership long-term care insurance policies between January 1, 2009 and June 30, 2009.
Premium Amount Percentage
Less than $500 18.1%
$500 - $999 33.2%
$1,000 - $1,499 11.1%
$1,500 - $1,999 10.2%
$2,000 - $2,499 7.6%
$2,500 - $2,999 6.0%
$3,000 - $3,499 4.7%
$3,500 - $3,999 3.3%
$4,000 and Over 5.3%
Why are these numbers so important?
Because, here is the number a highly respected organization reports to the media: "The average individual buyer in the first three months of 2009 is paying $2,129 during the first year of coverage." (June 8, 2009)
If consumers perceive $2,129 is the cost (that's $4,258 for a couple) they are going to believe that long-term care insurance is EXPENSIVE. And, they are not going to buy.
BUT 72.6% PAID LESS THAN $2,000. And more than half paid LESS THAN $1,000.
It is very hard to overcome perceptions. Let's hope facts will help. Certainly the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance and our members are doing all they can to properly educate consumers and other professionals.
American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance | <urn:uuid:8f0ea407-292d-4c17-ade9-b124f75d15da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://longtermcareinsuranceinfo.blogspot.com/2009/08/what-do-consumers-pay-for-long-term.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00009-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943965 | 435 | 1.515625 | 2 |
.- More than ten thousand New Zealanders or, “kiwis,” as they call themselves, will participate in the next World Youth Day, which will take place July 15-20 in Sydney, Australia.
According to the Fides news agency, the number is extraordinary for the Church in New Zealand, since at past World Youth Days only a few hundred young people from the country were able to attend. The increase in the numbers this time around is due to the enthusiasm and commitment of young people to encourage their peers to attend.
Bishop Anthony Fisher, World Youth Day coordinator, said last week, “Excitement is high across the Pacific at the idea of hosting WYD for the first time.”
Each New Zealand diocese has formed a group of young people to serve as “Ambassadors of WYD” in a more active role representing their own country. | <urn:uuid:d23cfd32-ec56-4177-97c7-0887346c28fe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/ten_thousand_new_zealanders_join_wyd_in_sydney/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971409 | 183 | 1.601563 | 2 |
GAMBIER — On Friday, the board of directors of the Philander Chase Corp. dedicated a trail and boardwalk on the north portion of the Brown Family Environmental Center trail system to honor Doug Givens for his work in protecting the area.
The newly named Givens Grove features groomed trails, a 300-year-old white oak tree, bald eagles, established trees, new growth and reclaimed wetlands, and is an idyllic, beautiful piece of nature.
“It’s overwhelming,” said Givens of the honor. “About 12 or 15 years ago, I walked this area with a person from the United States Department of Agriculture because of the wetlands area that is here. And I just fell in love with the place at that time. It’s just gorgeous. We’re just a half mile from Kenyon College and you can’t see a single building anywhere. ... I was really quite overwhelmed when the Chase Board decided that they would do the rock and the grove [in my honor].”
Givens served 10 years as managing director of the Philander Chase Corp., which works to preserve and maintain the farmland, open spaces, scenic views and characteristic landscapes surrounding Kenyon College and Gambier. | <urn:uuid:dcd89539-834c-4e5f-bfb8-1e645cc28d7a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mountvernonnews.com/local/11/10/08/givens-grove-dedication-connects-man-land.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944308 | 264 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Summer is a tough time to have a broken arm, especially for active young kids. If you have other kids, summer activities can be quite a challenge while their sibling heals. Rather than spend the entire summer canceling plans, get creative so the whole family can still have plenty of fun.
Here are a few ideas:
Disc golf: Disc golf courses are scenic and fun to simply walk. They're nice for hot days, because they're mostly shaded. Many kids with a broken arm can still play the game, too. Getting started is fairly inexpensive. You can buy a starter kit and bag, or simply grab a plastic disc from home and play recreational disc golf. Search disc golf courses in your area for new places to explore and a fun new activity. Find local disc golf businesses and see if they hold any putting clinics. You can also dye your own discs for fun. For dyes, stencils and directions, visit customdiscgolfdyes.com.
Outdoor games: There are many backyard games that are a lot of fun and don't require the use of both arms. The wonderful thing is, some of them can be made at home. Games such as washers, lawn darts and ladderball can help pass the hours. Create a backyard carnival with games, party foods and balloons. Construct a ring-toss game out of a case of glass soda pop bottles and plastic rings, set up a beanbag toss or do face painting; you can even use two-liter bottles or plastic powdered creamer containers and a ball to make a homemade bowling game.
Nature center: Head to your local nature center for a hike. Many nature centers have self-guided indoor exploration areas. Create a scavenger hunt for playing out on the trails. Look for items in nature such as pinecones, wildflowers, stones, feathers, etc. You can be more creative than simply creating a list on paper and giving your kids a bag. For at home or at the park, write the alphabet out on pavement, then have the kids look for items that begin with each letter and place the item on the corresponding letter. For tougher letters such as X and Z, have kids draw a picture with chalk. Or use an egg carton as a collection container, color-code it with paint or construction paper and have kids gather items according to color.
Movies: Whether it's at home, at a theater or a drive-in, enjoy a summer movie complete with popcorn and boxed candy. If indoors, set up indoor camping with a tent, indoor fort or just pillows and blankets on the floor. To see if there's a drive-in near you, visit drive-ins.com. If there isn't one near you, look for any local establishment that might hold outdoor movie nights with movies projected on a wall or on an inflatable screen.
Sundae party: Gather up a variety of sundae fixings and set up a grand sundae bar. You can make it simple or go all out with toppings. There are so many ways to make this outrageously fun with a variety of cones, ice cream, fruits, syrups, etc. Sundae glasses can be found dirt-cheap at the thrift store. Or check out this awesome sundae trough made from a section of gutters: chicaandjo.com/2011/07/22/ice-cream-party.
Library time: Check out all of the fun summer activities at your local library. Many offer story hours, movie days, magic shows and make-and-take craft days. | <urn:uuid:18443dd4-a69c-4972-b255-98ae23b8f97e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thevalleydispatch.com/regional/ci_21173109/things-do-child-broken-arm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935559 | 739 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Posted Monday Sept. 18, 2006 9:23 a.m. CDT
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Pope apologizes: ‘Medieval text does not express my personal thought’
This crisis aside, Benedict does have a more hawkish approach to Islam than Pope John Paul II
By JOHN L. ALLEN JR.
As Benedict XVI's apology on Sunday plays to mixed reviews, a consensus seems to be emerging around three conclusions about the firestorm triggered last week when the pope quoted a 14th century text asserting that Mohammed brought "things only evil and inhuman":
- In his Sept. 12 lecture at the University of Regensburg, Benedict did not intend to take a swipe at Islam. If he intended to criticize anyone, it was Western intellectuals and their tendency to separate reason from religious faith.
- From a communications point of view, his use of language was at best risky, and arguably ill-advised.
- This crisis aside, Benedict does have a more hawkish approach to Islam than Pope John Paul II, and that promises further delicate moments ahead.
The uproar began last Tuesday during Benedict XVI's visit to Bavaria, when he delivered a 40-minute academic lecture at the University of Regensburg on the relationship between reason and faith. In it, he argued that calls for the "dehellenization" of Christianity, stripping it of its Greco-Roman encrustations and returning it to a state of "pure faith," miss the point. The decision made in favor of the rationality of God under the impact of Greek philosophy was not an accident of history, the pope said, but part of the genetic code of Christianity.
The pope went on to insist that religion and reason need one another, and included a plea against religious violence. Prior to the speech, senior Vatican officials were touting it as a "defining" address of Benedict's pontificate in terms of laying out his core concerns.
Benedict opened the speech with a reference to a 14th century dialogue between the Byzantine emperor Michael II Paleologus and a "learned Persian," in which the emperor criticizes Islam.
|Discuss this topic|
Two tables have opened on the NCRcafe discussing Benedict's apology and his approach to Islam. This is your invitation to join these conversations: Benedict's apology and Benedict's jihad remark
The quote that caused the furor followed: "He turns to his interlocutor somewhat brusquely with the central question on the relationship between religion and violence in general, in these words: 'Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached,'" the pope said, emphasizing that he was quoting the emperor.
Benedict's main interest appeared to be a series of subsequent lines from Paleologous about the importance of reason.
That context was largely lost, however, as reports made their way around the world, sparking wide protest and a handful of acts of violence. Seven churches were attacked in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, while massive rallies took place in majority Muslim states such as Indonesia and Iran, where seminaries were closed in protest.
On Sunday, an Italian nun was shot to death in Somalia after a senior Somali cleric had denounced the pope's remarks, though it was not immediately clear if the slaying was connected to the controversy.
In some cases, according to experts, news agencies in Islamic nations did not indicate that the remarks came not from Benedict but a medieval text that pope had quoted. Descriptions of the lecture also reflected the hasty way the news spread; in one case, an Arabic paper said the pope had been speaking on "technology," apparently confusing the term with "theology."
Despite Vatican statements on both Sept. 14 and Sept. 16 attempting to calm the waters, anger continued to build.
"He has a dark mentality that comes from the darkness of the Middle Ages. He is a poor thing that has not benefited from the spirit of reform in the Christian world," said Salih Kapusuz, a top deputy in the governing Islamic party in Turkey.
"It looks like an effort to revive the mentality of the Crusades," Kapusuz said, predicting that Benedict would go down in history with leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini. Sensitivities in Turkey were particularly raw in light of then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger's opposition to Turkey's entry into the European Union.
In heavy rain during his Sunday Angelus address, Benedict apologized for the furor he had caused.
"I am deeply sorry for the reactions in some countries to a few passages of my address at the University of Regensburg, which were considered offensive to the sensibility of Muslims," he said.
"These in fact were a quotation from a medieval text, which do not in any way express my personal thought. … I hope that this serves to appease hearts and to clarify the true meaning of my address, which in its totality was and is an invitation to frank and sincere dialogue, with great mutual respect."
In an unusual move reflecting the sensitivity of the situation, the Vatican released a translation of just this paragraph of the pope's remarks in both English and French, in addition to the original Italian.
While some Muslim leaders called the apology insufficient, others appeared satisfied. Former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami called for calm, saying, "My impression of the pope was rather an educated and patient man."
Jesuit Fr. Samir Khalil Samir, regarded as one of Catholicism's leading experts on Islam, called the violent reaction "exaggerated and misplaced."
"The pope's thoughts are actually quite close to Muslim criticism of the secularized West," Samir said. "Muslims seem to be saying: 'You have technology, science, everything, except the essential, since you have marginalized spirituality and God. … [The pope] joins Muslims in criticizing the atheist view of reason whilst offering a critique from within in order to broaden it."
Other experts, however, said the pope's decision to cite Michael II Paleologus was perhaps not a good idea.
Jesuit Fr. Daniel Madigan, rector of the Institute for the Study of Religions and Cultures at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, said the central point of the speech was that "if we are really going into a serious dialogue with Muslims we need to take faith seriously." But, he said of the quote from the emperor, "You clearly take a risk using an example like that."
Speaking on background, a senior Vatican official said the failure to adequately vet the pope's speech may have been due to a vacuum of key personnel. In February, Benedict sent the Vatican's top expert on Islam, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, to Cairo as his ambassador, meaning he's no longer in Rome to be consulted. The Bavaria trip also fell in a moment of transition between one Secretary of State and another.
In the end, most observers cautioned that while the Regensburg comments may have been blown out of context, Benedict's generally more hawkish approach to Islam will almost certainly mean further tension ahead.
Desire for a more muscular stance towards Islam has been building in Catholicism for some time.
In part, it's driven by anti-Christian persecution in the Islamic world, such as the Feb. 5 slaying of Italian missionary Fr. Andrea Santoro in Trabzon, Turkey. A 16-year-old Turk pumped two bullets into Santoro, shouting Allah akbar, "Allah is great." He later said he had been agitated by Danish newspaper cartoons critical of Islam.
In part, the more challenging line is driven by frustrations over reciprocity. To take the most notorious example, while the Saudis contributed $20 million to build Europe's largest mosque in Rome, Christians cannot build churches in Saudi Arabia. Priests in Saudi Arabia cannot leave oil industry compounds or embassy grounds without fear of the mutawa, the religious police. The bishop of the region recently described the situation as "reminiscent of the catacombs."
Benedict was sensitive to these concerns prior to his election. In a 1997 interview, then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger said of Islam, "One has to have a clear understanding that it is not simply a denomination that can be included in the free realm of a democratic society." In the same interview, he accused some Muslims of fomenting a radical "liberation theology," meaning a belief that God approves violence to achieve liberation from Israel.
He's taken a similar line as pope.
In a session with Muslims last year in Cologne, Germany, Pope Benedict urged efforts to "turn back the wave of cruel fanaticism that endangers the lives of so many people and hinders progress towards world peace."
On March 23, Benedict summoned his 179 cardinals for a closed-doors business session. Much conversation turned on Islam, and there was agreement with a tougher stance on reciprocity.
His key advisors also reflect the new climate.
Bishop Rino Fisichella, rector of Rome's Lateran University and a close papal confidante, recently said it's time to "drop the diplomatic silence" about anti-Christian persecution, and called on the United Nations to "remind societies and governments of countries with a Muslim majority of their responsibilities."
Cardinal Camillo Ruini, the pope's vicar for Rome, voiced doubts about calls to teach Islam in Italian schools.
"We'd have to ensure [it] would not give way to a socially dangerous kind of indoctrination," Ruini said.
When it comes to Islam, observers say, Benedict XVI is in a sense playing with fire. When he visits Turkey in November, the world will get a better sense of how adept he is at keeping it under control.
[John L. Allen Jr. is NCR senior correspondent. His e-mail is email@example.com.]
September 18, 2006, National Catholic Reporter | <urn:uuid:5a34ff6b-5883-47e2-a0c7-a8efda1c5e07> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nationalcatholicreporter.org/update/bn091806.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969467 | 2,189 | 1.554688 | 2 |
Working hard and playing harder, weekend warriors are often casualties of the game
Harry Hurt III
From the Print Edition:
Raquel Welch, Jul/Aug 01
One thing you can say for certain about the army of amateur sports nuts commonly known as weekend warriors -- they've got balls. Lots and lots of balls. Softballs, baseballs, golf balls, tennis balls, volleyballs, basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, rugby balls, croquet balls, cricket balls, lacrosse balls, Ping-Pong balls, racquetballs, billiard balls, bowling balls, bocce balls, street hockey balls, even paint balls.
They've also got sticks, clubs, bats, gloves, mallets, racquets, cleats, spikes, bikes, inline skates, barbells, boogie boards, surfboards, sailboats, power boats, wind surfers, rafts, kayaks, oars, paddles, pool cues, ATVs, SUVs, RVs, parasails, parachutes, bows, arrows, rods, reels, hooks, lines, sinkers and muzzle loaders.
Never before in history have so many been so well armed and well outfitted to engage in their favorite forms of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, sales of recreational equipment, footwear, clothing and transport are a record $74 billion a year. Not surprisingly, recreational activity is also at an all-time high. The two leading sports -- exercise walking and swimming -- claim more than 138 million participants annually, or roughly one-half of the U.S. population.
Weekend warriors are a special breed of recreational activists whose members are sufficiently abundant, ubiquitous and injury-prone to have prompted the American Physical Therapy Association to disseminate an identifying profile. They are typically highly motivated, achievement-oriented male and female professionals over the age of 30, with a predominant number belonging to the baby-boom generation. Their last regular exercise regimens were either in high school or college, and they spend 60 hours a week working at jobs that require them to sit behind a desk.
What really distinguishes weekend warriors from the rest of the sports-minded pack, however, is their lack of restraint and old-fashioned common sense, especially during the warm-weather months of spring and summer. When weekends arrive, these desk-bound dilettantes take to the playing fields with reckless abandon. Their motto is: work hard, play harder. Their idea of fun is full bore, no holds barred, go at it until your shoulder separates, your lower back cracks, your tendons tear, your muscles cramp, your ankles sprain and your jock drops to your sweat socks as a result of what medical experts call ¿overuse syndrome.¿
Advancing age and immature attitudes only increase a weekend warrior's likelihood of sustaining injuries. According to an informal survey of chiropractors, orthopedists and physical therapists, a disproportionate number of overuse syndrome sufferers are men in the 40- to 50-year-old bracket who fail to warm up properly before they play their games, and almost never stretch out post-game. As one chiropractor observed, "They get hurt because they treat their sport like a hobby instead of a physically demanding athletic activity."
Despite the documented risks, the art of weekend warfare has become more and more militaristic in recent years. While sports ranging from inline skating, aerobics and fitness training to basketball, softball, bicycling, golf and tennis are still widely popular, the sports enjoying the greatest annual percentage gains in participation are kick boxing (65.4 percent), skateboarding (20.3 percent), muzzle loading (14.0 percent) and martial arts (11.8 percent). Another warlike sport on the rise is paintball, which now claims 5 million participants nationwide. One of the capitals of paintball games is a so-called Weekend Warriors Paintball Park on an Indian reservation outside San Diego, whose operators claim their field was named in honor of a 1991 Ted Nugent album.
For better or worse, today's weekend warriors are carrying on an all-American tradition that dates to the Revolutionary War era. Back then, weekend warriors were just that -- men (and occasionally women) who went to war on weekends against invading British redcoats. It wasn't until the baby-boom generation came of age during and after the Vietnam War that the term acquired its present peacetime connotation.
Along the way, several presidents tried to prove their fitness for office by displaying their fitness outside the office, often with dubious results. Gerald Ford beaned bystanders with errant golf shots, Jimmy Carter jogged until he collapsed, and Ronald Reagan struggled to stay in the saddle as he rode his high horse around his California ranch.
The White House weekend warrior without peer was the first President Bush. He prided in undertaking a daily nonstop presidential heptathlon at the family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, that comprised jogging, swimming, tennis, racing his cigarette boat, playing "polo" golf from an electric cart, fly casting and pitching horseshoes. Save for his sexual endeavors, the athletic exploits of Bill Clinton can't hold a candle to that. And for all the family likeness, George W. Bush, the nation's current First Jogger/Golfer, is hardly a multisport man in his father's image. | <urn:uuid:453a7c37-9ee5-450b-a50b-492236f13945> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/Insights-Culture_8036 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00011-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952213 | 1,120 | 1.5 | 2 |
Lessons From the $1 Billion Intel Trade-Secret Theft
Employment lawyer Richard H. Frank dissects the case of Biswamohan Pani and the secrets he allegedly stole from Intel to give to AMD
PHOTO: bilderlounge/Getty Images
24 November 2008—What if the FBI came knocking on your door saying that your employer had accused you of stealing US $1 billion from the company? That’s exactly what happened to Biswamohan Pani, a former Intel engineer who was indicted earlier this month for stealing trade secrets from the chip maker. Instead of raiding the supply closet for some notepads, pens, and paper clips, Pani allegedly downloaded more than 100 pages of data containing details about future Intel chip designs and 19 drawings detailing the chips’ layouts.
It didn’t take much sleuthing to figure out that by the time Pani resigned his position at Intel near the end of May, he had already been hired by Intel rival Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) to work at one of its R&D labs. For nine days after he reported for duty at AMD on 2 June, he was technically still a full-fledged Intel employee, with all the rights and privileges thereof. One of those privileges was access to an encrypted server containing a cache of Intel’s trade secrets. Intel says it has proof that he raided the server. His supposed intent: to advance his career by strategically using the information to make himself indispensable to his new employer.
Pani has since been indicted for trade-secrets theft and wire fraud—charges that could land him in prison for up to 90 years.
How did Intel arrive at that $1 billion figure? ”It’s a very large, very round number designed to convey the value Intel is placing on the material taken,” says Richard H. Frank, an attorney who chairs the International Employment practice group at the San Francisco offices of Cooley Godward Kronish. Frank notes that in criminal cases, one of the criteria by which the courts calculate sentences is the value that is put on the stolen material. ”In a trade-secrets case, one of those criteria would be the value that is put on material that’s stolen,” he says.
Although there are no pending criminal or civil actions against AMD, which insists that it knew nothing about Pani’s actions and hasn’t been privy to the information, there are some steps Intel needs to take to ensure that its rival is not sandbagging—in other words, biding its time before coming out with chip designs based on the information. Among them is aggressively demanding that AMD cooperate in an internal investigation in which witnesses would be interviewed and computers would be reviewed forensically to see if any of the information allegedly taken was transferred to or copied on any of AMD’s systems.
Frank notes that there are some very good reasons why AMD would avoid using the pilfered data. One is criminal prosecution of individuals, which could lead to prison time and restitution for any profits Intel could prove had been lost, plus disgorgement of any of AMD’s ill-gotten gains. AMD could also face a civil action under which Intel could obtain an injunction preventing use of every product that contained Intel trade secrets. Intel could obtain civil damages in the form of lost sales and, again, ill-gotten gains. Intel could even win back its attorneys’ fees if it could prove its case. ”There are also intangibles [that would negatively affect AMD], such as distraction of management time, bad publicity, and other nonquantifiable market risks, such as lost sales, resulting from a taint on the company and its products, which could scare clients away,” says Frank.
A big open question is why Intel didn’t cut off Pani’s systems access the moment he tendered his resignation. Pani lied about where he was going after leaving Intel, concocting a suspicion-diverting story about going to work for a hedge fund. ”One of two things was going on,” says Frank. ”There either wasn’t a procedure in place, or the procedure wasn’t followed to deal with that resignation in terms of data security.” In other words, did somebody have a checklist? Did HR get notified? Did IT get notified? Did someone say, ”This person has given notice. What do we do now?” Frank says that even in the case of a transfer from Department A to Department B, there should be a checklist including termination of access to data from Department A that’s not necessary to the new job.
If Intel had all the right procedures but somebody made a conscious choice to trust Pani, then that person took a calculated risk that, in hindsight, was a poor one. ”What I advise clients is to think very carefully about the cost-benefit calculation in that situation,” Frank says. ”Maybe you trust the individual. But what is the potential cost to the company when that trust is abused?” Frank notes that this comes up frequently during layoffs. ”Are you going to let the person who has just been informed that they no longer have a job go back to their desk and spend an hour tying up loose ends like transferring their personal photos and personal e-mail to a disk? My advice is ’No.’ The company wants to give the person the benefit of the doubt and trust them to do that. But if enough is at stake, my advice is to err on the side of caution.”
Could Pani still have ended up in federal prosecutors’ gunsights if he hadn’t downloaded the materials but simply gone to work for AMD and used Intel data from memory? Frank says it is a distinct possibility. Though you are free to use your skill, knowledge, and experience for the benefit of any employer, you cross a line when you disclose or make use of information that is a) not publicly available and b) is prepared in the course and scope of developing anything—including a product, a business plan, or a database—that provides an independent economic benefit to the company in question.
Frank points out that there is such a thing as a negative trade secret. If Intel was trying to design a chip with greater speed or increased versatility and it spent a fair amount of time trying to develop it using a certain method and concluded that that method was not effective, that knowledge has independent economic value and can be considered a trade secret. ”Even if in the course of Mr. Pani’s work for AMD someone said, ’Hey, let’s do it this way,’ he would not be at liberty to say, ’No, we tried it at Intel and it didn’t work.’” The deterrent factors would be the same: fear of prosecution, fear of civil action, and fear of career opportunity loss.
The Pani case has made a splash, but it’s extremely hard to quantify how common trade-secret theft is, says Frank. Sometimes people get caught, and sometimes they don’t. Sometimes it’s hard to prove a well-founded suspicion, and sometimes companies have smoking guns. ”What I can tell you is that there are many trade-secret matters that nobody hears about, [such as instances] where an employee is caught red-handed and the matter is addressed and resolved quickly between the company and the party involved,” says Frank. Studies use published statistics, looking at trend lines related to the number of criminal prosecutions and civil suits, and making some assessments regarding what percentage of all the cases they constitute. But it’s not an exact science, says Frank.
Companies often aren’t happy to publicly acknowledge their involvement in an intellectual property (IP) theft. A company accused of receiving and using stolen trade secrets doesn’t want there to be a taint on its products in the marketplace, while a company that has suffered a loss doesn’t want customers, stockholders, or potential investors to know that somebody has walked out the door with such valuable information.
Technology that monitors what employees do on systems can help prevent IP theft, says Frank. For example, if employees are downloading unusually large amounts of data or e-mailing such data outside the company, a software monitor could flag it. And companies are wise to repeatedly let their employees know that they have zero-tolerance policies and various means to catch them. But Frank does concede that it’s difficult to discern the intentions of people who have proper access to information during the course of their jobs and difficult to stop those who want to use that access improperly.
Asked if there are ever cases in which companies don’t pursue a reasonable suspicion of trade-secret theft, Frank says, ”It happens. But generally speaking, when companies feel the evidence is strong, they act.” Even if the evidence is a hunch or something that is quite weak, a company will do something like sending a warning letter reminding, say, a former employee who has started his or her own firm, or one who has gone to work for another company, that he or she still has a duty not to disclose confidential information. Failing to do so would put the company at risk of losing trade-secret status for that piece of information, because part of the definition of trade secret is that the company must make reasonable efforts to maintain the secrecy of the information.
Did Intel’s lapses, in not taking Pani’s system access when he tendered his resignation, constitute a failure to take reasonable steps to protect its trade secrets? ”If that’s the best argument [Pani] has, I wouldn’t want to bet on his chances of defeating the indictment,” says Frank. Stronger arguments could be: the information is not a trade secret, and here’s why; or I had the information in my possession, but I hadn’t used it for anything, wasn’t intending to use it for anything, and because I was still an employee at the time, and they hadn’t shut down my access, I had rightful access to it. We’ll see how the case turns out.” | <urn:uuid:4258cebd-d870-45ab-81ad-2e1d64a0a06d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/processors/lessons-from-the-1-billion-intel-tradesecret-theft/0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96888 | 2,140 | 1.570313 | 2 |
- Qur'an & Hadith
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Surah 6. Al-An'am, Ayah 44
|فَلَمَّا نَسُوا مَا ذُكِّرُوا بِهِ فَتَحْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ أَبْوَابَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا فَرِحُوا بِمَا أُوتُوا أَخَذْنَاهُمْ بَغْتَةً فَإِذَا هُمْ مُبْلِسُونَ|
|Asad||:||Then, when they had forgotten all that they had been told to take to heart, We threw open to them the gates of all [good] things,33 until - even as they were rejoicing in what they had been granted - We suddenly took them to task: and lo! they were broken in spirit;34|
|Malik||:||When they neglected the warning they had received, then, instead of punishment, We opened the gates of every kind of prosperity for them; but just as they were rejoicing in what they were given, We suddenly seized them; lo! They were plunged into despair!|
|Pickthall||:||Then, when they forgot that whereof they had been reminded, We opened unto them the gates of all things till, even as they were rejoicing in that which they were given, We seized them unawares, and lo! they were dumbfounded.|
|Yusuf Ali||:||But when they forget the warning they had received We opened to them the gates of all (good) things until in the midst of their enjoyment of Our gifts on a sudden We called them to account when lo! they were plunged in despair! 862|
|Transliteration||:||Falamma nasoo ma thukkiroo bihi fatahna AAalayhim abwaba kulli shayin hatta itha farihoo bima ootoo akhathnahum baghtatan faitha hum mublisoona|
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We are a free service run by many volunteers and we need your help to stay that way. Please consider a small donation(tax-deductible in the USA) to help us improve Alim.org by adding more content and getting faster servers. | <urn:uuid:36777811-e6aa-46a8-b43f-6e15d2931b4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://alim.org/library/quran/ayah/compare/6/44/prosperity-in-this-world-is-not-a-reward-but-a-respite | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958877 | 642 | 1.789063 | 2 |
The work of Australian artist Georgie Roxby Smith challenges the relationship between analog and digital systems, questions materiality and explores new possibilities of virtual reality software. In her recent Watermill Center residency, Smith collaborated with new media and theater
Sandra Bernhard dares us to behold her in all her glory: she is a defiant, self-made beauty queen, a queen who knows that confidence is everything. In the body- and image-obsessed town of Los Angeles, Bernhard has managed to foster a steadily thriving career as an astute and wickedly funny cultural c
On Christmas Day in 1908, a child born in London's drab suburbs was given the incredibly ordinary Christian name of Dennis Pratt. But this child knew right away that the ordinary was not for him. In due time Pratt would give himself a new name, one that befit his true persona: Quentin Crisp.
Rachel Rosenthal spent her early childhood in pre-war Paris among the Monets, Chagalls, and Pissarros in her family's art collection. Her parents, frustrated artists themselves, gave her ballet and painting lessons, and when the war struck, they sent her to the High School of Music and Art in New Yor | <urn:uuid:f72ab03d-4960-4581-9eb0-5a917365edd4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.artandculture.com/browse_artists/show_tag/587-solo-performance?from_id=530 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961761 | 247 | 1.601563 | 2 |
If I were to go to a speacialty school i would like to go to, would be one that teaches mostly about the whole ocean.Also I would like to learn more about the oceans cool and beautiful creatures.I would also like to go there because I could learn about the Great Barrier reef and many types of fish families like cardinals,triggerfish,angelfish and many others. Some stuff I would want to learn are like th homes of deep sea animals like angler or deep sea dragon fish. Somthing I would love to do at the school is go diving underwater to really see with my own eyes to see the great barrier reef. And I kind of sound crazy but it would be cool if the school was underwater.It really intrests me that there is a type of killer whale that is really unkown.
I would really want my teachers in my school to make a new class at my middle school. Because I want to do somthing relly new and somthing that is fun for real. Like maybe a technology class or even better an animal class that teaches about animals like fish,birds,reptiles and other animals. And the teachers could have pets in the classroom and you could bring a pet only into that classroom. But your parents would have to pick you up from schoolif you brought an animal. Also maybe you coud go on feild trips to the Zoo,Aquariums,and Wild Life Reserves.Many people would actually ike it. It will be FFFFFFFUUUUUUUNNNNN. | <urn:uuid:9e82879d-ad8e-4800-86c1-f281e32f9ebf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.studentsoftheworld.info/sites/society/39020.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98275 | 319 | 1.546875 | 2 |
50 Best Business Ideas takes a look back at the business world over the past 50 years, revealing the ideas and innovations that have changed how we do business—from the humble post-it note that we still use and love today to the revolutionary fax machine that changed business for the better and formed the beginnings of the speedier, fast moving business world as we know it today.
50 Best Business Ideas takes a look at the ideas, inventions and innovative practices that made an impact in the business world. Selected by a panel of top business leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists and inventors, this book is the definitive history of the ideas and inventions that shaped the business world over the past 50 years.
Inspiring profiles include:
50 Best Business Ideas profiles how the inspirational concept came about, its development and the hurdles it faced to its ultimate impact on the business and consumer world at the time - plus where it sits today in the business arena and its future in the ever changing and developing landscape of business.
Discover the journey of the business world from the past 50 years and its fascinating development through the best 50 innovative ideas that became the fabric of business today. | <urn:uuid:49f20a88-9a2c-4271-ab73-8df0155241ce> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nationalbookstore.com.ph/books/business-investing/50-best-business-ideas-of-the-last-50-years.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942834 | 231 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Two helicopters spent the daylight hours Thursday dropping giant nets filled with straw mulch onto the land scorched last fall by the devastating Fourmile Fire.
The two choppers picked up loads of weed-free straw, each weighing thousands of pounds, from a staging area in the Sugar Loaf community and dropped them on the rugged landscape around Emerson Gulch, where the fire began. After being dropped from nets, the straw was flung apart by the turbulence of the rotors before falling lazily to the ground.
The Fourmile Fire burned more than 6,000 acres and destroyed 169 homes in the mountains west of Boulder after the blaze began Sept. 6.
The $2 million mulching effort is meant to mitigate flooding and debris flows when the inevitable summer thunderstorms deluge the now-blackened mountain slopes, and when operations are finished, about a third of the burn area will be covered with straw.
"What we're really trying to do is duplicate what would have happened on the mountain as part of natural ground cover," said Bryan Burr, owner of Mountain West Helicopters, which is heading up the mulching efforts.
Burr said the straw on the ground works by breaking up the raindrops as they hit the ground -- just as pine needles would -- lessening the force of the water before it soaks into the burned earth.
Helicopters began dropping mulch on some of the areas that were the worst burned by the Fourmile Fire. Here's a look at the mulching project by the numbers:
$2 million Cost of the project, which is being covered by state and federal grants
2 Number of helicopters making drops
1,960 Total acres expected to be mulched
1,200 Bales of "wood straw" mulch stacked at the Sugar Loaf staging area when mulching began Thursday
1,400 Bales of weed-free straw mulch at the staging area Thursday
2 Number of weeks the mulching operation is expected to last
Residents and workers in the areas being mulched each day will be asked to leave while the mulch is falling. The aerial mulching will also cause road closures when helicopters pass over roads. For up-to-date information on which area is being mulched, call the Fourmile Rehabilitation Hotline at 303-413-7010.
When mulching began, the staging area in Sugar Loaf was stacked with 1,400 straw bales and another 1,200 bales of "wood straw," a mulch that is made from scraps left over from the plywood manufacturing process.
The heavier wood straw can withstand winds of up to 50 mph, Burr said, and it will be dropped in some of the steepest areas of the worst-burned areas, including Nancy Mine Gulch.
"We went with the wood straw because of the wind," said Claire DeLeo, senior resource specialist with Boulder County's open space department. "But we couldn't buy much of it because it's so expensive."
Aerial mulching is scheduled to continue for around two weeks, depending on the weather, especially the winds.
Burr, whose company has worked on 22 previous aerial mulching projects, said his pilots can fly in winds that are 15 to 20 mph and in some rain.
"But you've got to be able to see; you can't have fog," he said. "And you have to be careful of the big wind gusts."
When the helicopters have emptied the straw bales stacked in Sugar Loaf, which could happen in another day or two in good weather, they will begin picking up straw from a staging area in Sunshine Canyon, DeLeo said.
The Sugar Loaf staging area is on private land owned by Jack Thompson and his wife, Michele Nahas, who lost their home in the Fourmile Fire. They also lost a home on another piece of property in the Black Tiger fire, which blazed across Sugarloaf Mountain in 1989.
Part of their land is flat and -- now that the charred trees have been removed -- wide open. When Thompson heard that the county was looking for a staging area, he called the county to offer up his property.
"It's the perfect place," he said.
Thompson -- president of Satinwood Construction Inc. -- was on his land Thursday working to clear an area where his home will go, once he rebuilds it. Despite having lost two homes already, Thompson figures he's safe now that there isn't anything left on his property to burn -- and he's got a great view.
"We can see all of James Peak and Sugar Loaf," he said, looking at the horizon.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider at 303-473-1327 or email@example.com. | <urn:uuid:485ca409-a62e-4e86-a721-8ac6fce5d51e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dailycamera.com/fourmile-canyon-fire/ci_17792604?source=pkg | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971017 | 981 | 1.648438 | 2 |
Coulter-La Torre led the workshop, attended by people who want to understand what they're facing with Medicare. "It's a lot to understand. Whenever I start these workshops I ask, 'Did you ever think the day would come when you'd have to come to a workshop?' They just shake their heads."
Tatiana Fassieux, director of HICAP, says now more than ever people need to understand the daunting program.
"1948 was a busy year for babies. You could say that because according to census and Medicare statistics, 10,000 baby boomers are turning 65 every day. It's a known fact, a consistent figure."
That fact is interesting, but it also reveals a big impact on Medicare and Social Security, even if some of those people continue to work.
HICAP is part of the State Health Insurance Advisory Program, a network of programs that help people with health insurance questions and woes.
It's a big job. Fassieux and her staff spend a considerable amount of time helping people in three counties (see sidebar), including Butte, who are nearing retirement, retired or just plain confused about Medicare and Social Security.
"We get a mixture ... People who are either employed or recently retired, they're sort of used to different
"It's those who've had no health insurance in a long time or were never exposed to such an array of options. They can be perplexed and overwhelmed. It may seem easier to do nothing, or they panic and do the wrong thing," said Fassieux.
Coulter-La Torre said it's often simply a situation of people being in denial.
Fassieux said much of the confusion is understandable. "It's even more confusing because people who are turning 65 are not getting their full Social Security benefits at 65. Those born in 1948 will get their full retirement at 66. They assume, I don't have to do anything until I'm 66."
Fassieux explained that people must enroll for Medicare through Social Security. "You can't get the full amount of your Security pension until you are 66. But you must join Medicare at 65."
She said Medicare always brings myriad questions. "Many people are still working and not sure if they have to join Medicare because they are covered through other health insurance. You don't have to; to join or not to join Medicare is based on your current health care coverage."
Turning 65 herself this year, Fassieux said she had to create a spread sheet to consider all the options. "I'm a visual learner and I had to do the math. I had to choose among eight different options. An employer's plan? Medicare? Into the open market with a supplement? This is what a lot of boomers are facing."
Fassieux cautioned seniors about the media. "What's on the news is often incomplete. There is a lot of misinformation."
She said going online can also be frustrating. Even the official website, medicare.gov, needs interpretation because there are "more twists and turns" in California.
"The Affordable Care Act adds another layer of potential anxiety," she said.
She suggested HICAP workshops are a good way to sift through the sea of fiction and misinformation and find true answers. HICAP has workshops planned March through June in Chico, Red Bluff and Quincy.
Staff writer Mary Nugent can be reached at 896-7764, firstname.lastname@example.org or on Twitter @ER_MaryNugent.
Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program at Passages Adult Resource Center plans the following workshops on Medicare:Red Bluff, 1-3 p.m. March 14, April 11, May 22 and June 19 at Red Bluff Community Center, 1500 S. Jackson St. Chico, 2-5 p.m. March 21, April 18, May 16 at Lakeside Pavilion, 2565 California Park Drive. June 11 workshop is 10 a.m. to noon on Social Security and retirement planning. Quincy, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 26 at Plumas County library, 455 Jackson St.
Call 898-6716 or 1-800-434-0222. HICAP also plans to host workshops for large group employers for their employees. | <urn:uuid:833b4836-f521-40a1-b71a-b7b9d6b79ad2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.chicoer.com/ci_22652999/hicap-workshops-take-anxiety-out-medicare | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974646 | 903 | 1.789063 | 2 |
This Forbes article by Dan Woods brings up some interesting points about the increasingly elastic definition of cloud computing.
First, it continues to drive the notion that private clouds are going to be a large portion of cloud-based deployments. However, Woods argues that some private clouds may be appliance-based. This goes against some definitions around the open cloud – which would have web-based applications housed in a data center and pushed to users via the web and integrating with other data sources and apps using the web as a platform. Woods sees a potential private cloud appliance as a locked-box: managed by vendors and almost inaccessible by end user organizations. The open source proponent in me can’t see this as a good thing.
Second, as Woods questions the cloud-readiness of Oracle, he seems to forget that a lot of the acquired assets of Oracle’s application portfolio do have some web architecture. Woods makes a good point when he says he doesn’t “believe that multi-tenancy is required” to create a cloud environment. We have long seen zero-footprint web architectures in the apps world, but in the new cloud-centered universe – these are private cloud and SaaS models that are viable – they just pre-dated the era of the cloud as a buzzword.
I think there are a lot more private cloud options out there – for vendors and end users alike. My hope is that more tenants of the open cloud thinking are prevalent in these new models, to insure success for end users and drive more innovative application deployment and development models for all of us. | <urn:uuid:295cc50a-62a8-4115-ad31-7e9125065595> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crmoutsiders.com/2009/07/07/more-support-for-private-clouds/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954654 | 325 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Scribner wanted the new edition to show people how to lose weight. We were happy to do that. I’d been planning to devote 2012 to weight loss and obesity blog posts, and then to write an obesity and weight loss book in 2013. We just moved the schedule up and squeezed the ideas into Perfect Health Diet.
Our book offers a unique take on obesity and weight loss. Some of the science is original to us – the ideas do not appear in Pubmed – and the conclusions are unusual for diet books:
The best diet for weight loss is delicious and does not generate cravings or more than mild hunger. You can – and should! – lose weight with minimal suffering.
The popular diets that generate the quickest short-term weight loss are not optimal for long-term sustainable weight loss; they are prone to yo-yo weight regain.
Unlike those diets, the Perfect Health Diet offers a path to lasting weight less and permanent restoration of normal weight and normal body composition.
If we’re right about the science and these conclusions, then our book could be a game-changer for weight loss.
Filling in Some Missing Context
The major defect of squeezing our obesity & weight loss material into Perfect Health Diet, instead of distributing it over two books, is that we didn’t have space to provide a lot of context to the obesity material. Our stage-setting chapters were devoted to the general question of “what’s a healthy diet” and were framed with a discussion of Michael Pollan’s food rules, not with discussion of issues specific to obesity and weight loss.
So let me add some context here.
The Recipe for a Popular Weight Loss Book
The recipe for a popular weight loss book seems to be:
- Declare that doltish mainstream authorities are stuck in some absurdly mistaken view, and their loyalty to this paradigm has led them to overlook the key to weight loss.
- The key to weight loss is simple: give up a single villainous food.
This formula has been followed to good effect by Dr. William Davis (Wheat Belly) who vilifies wheat, Gary Taubes (Good Calories, Bad Calories and Why We Get Fat) who vilifies carbs in general or sugar specifically, and Dr. Robert Lustig (Fat Chance) who vilifies sugar.
The view that authors attribute to mainstream authorities is, often, a straw man. Here is Gary Taubes in his Reddit “Ask Me Anything” describing the absurdly mistaken view that he calls “calories in, calories out”:
Imagine we have a pair of identical twins. Say 18-year-old boys. Every day we measure their energy expenditure and every day we feed them exactly how many calories they expend. So we match calories in to calories out. They get both the same diet with one exception: one gets 300 calories of sugar or HFCS where the other gets 300 calories of a different carbohydrate or of fat. Then we continue this feeding experiment for the next 20 years or so….
If you believe obesity is about calorie-in-calories-out and that’s the only thing that matters, then both twins are going to end up exactly the same weight with exactly same amount of fat on their body and they’re both going to end up expending the same amount of energy.
The view he is describing is that dietary quality doesn’t matter a whit, only quantity of calories matters: the only thing that affects body weight, fat mass, and energy expenditure is how many calories were consumed, and how many calories are consumed isn’t affected by dietary quality.
In other words, a diet of nothing but cotton candy, Twinkies, and Coca-Cola would generate after 20 years exactly the same body composition and health as a diet of fish, rice, and vegetables.
Is there a single person in the world who holds this view?
Here is a review of Dr. Lustig’s Fat Chance:
The book repeats and expands on the main point of contention in the sugar wars: whether our bodies treat all calories the same. The old guard says yes: A calorie is a calorie; steak or soda, doesn’t matter. Eat more calories than you burn, you’ll gain weight. Lustig believes that our bodies react to some types of calories differently than others. [PAJ: emphasis added]
The “old guard” does not always take kindly to the assertion that it never occurred to them that the body might react differently to different foods. The article notes:
[A] leading endocrinologist, who asked to go unnamed, called Lustig an “idiot.”
These are times when I wish our diet approved of popcorn!
Now, let me be clear: these authors are giving good advice. Indeed, we give the same advice. With Drs. Davis and Lustig, we recommend eliminating wheat and added sugar; with Taubes, we believe the average American should cut carb intake roughly in half. Taking these steps will help people lose weight.
But these books have significant flaws:
- The advice is incomplete. There are many factors which promote obesity. Removal of a single factor will rarely normalize weight.
- The scientific background is misleading. It often seems that the goal is not so much to provide insight, as to set up a compelling and entertaining narrative. The story reads like the script of a Hollywood action movie: a frightening and mysterious problem appears which befuddles everyone – a solution is proposed – a hero implements the solution.
Perhaps it is not possible to write books more popular than these, but I think it is possible to write books that provide more insight and have a better chance of delivering lasting weight loss to readers who are willing to invest effort.
Obesity is a complex disorder, and many factors contribute to it. I think we did a fairly good job of addressing many of those factors – enough to enable nearly all readers to lose weight effectively, but also to gain a deeper understanding of obesity and its causes.
The Puzzle of Fatty Acid Ratios
The focus on wheat, sugar, and carbs in the popular diet books ignores what may be the primary cause of the obesity epidemic. In my Q&A with Latest in Paleo readers, I gave six reasons why omega-6 fats promote obesity. Some of these are discussed in detail in the book.
Any explanation for the obesity epidemic should account for the accumulation of omega-6 fatty acids in the body that has coincided with the obesity epidemic:
This is a plot found on p 115 of the book; the data was compiled by Stephan Guyenet of Whole Health Source, the circles are the omega-6 fraction in adipose tissue, and the crosses are the obesity rate among 18-29 year olds. It is hard to make sense of this pattern if omega-6 fats are not causing the obesity epidemic. No carb-centric explanation for obesity will tend to make omega-6 fats accumulate this way. Unlike some of the other weight loss books, we make a good faith effort to explain data like this.
Why Do Low-Carb Diets Work?
The omega-6 accumulation is only one of a number of puzzles that a good theory of weight loss and weight gain should explain. Another is the efficacy of low-carb diets.
If carbs don’t cause obesity, why do low-carb diets promote weight loss?
This issue is explored in chapter 17, where we show reasons why reducing carbs to 30% of energy or less will be beneficial for weight loss, but also why there’s generally little long-term benefit from further reductions in carb intake. Low-carb is good, but very low-carb isn’t better for long-term weight loss.
The Problem of Yo-Yo Weight Loss
Another important puzzle: Why is yo-yo weight loss and regain so common?
Here is Jay Wright’s weight loss history, mentioned in the book at page 184:
Although he had successful short-term weight loss on a number of diets, including very low-carb Paleo, they always made him hungry and sooner or later the weight was regained.
On our diet, Jay reached his normal weight in October 2011. He emailed me a happy new year wish, and remains at his normal weight 15 months later – the first time since college he’s been able to maintain that weight.
Why did our diet normalize his weight permanently without hunger, when other weight loss diets led to hunger and weight regain? That is the primary subject of our chapter 17, and is one of our original contributions to the theory of obesity.
Malnutrition and Weight Gain
We argue that malnutrition is a potent cause of increased appetite and weight gain.
A theme of Weston A. Price’s Nutrition and Physical Degeneration is that pregnancy depletes nutrients in the mother, frequently leading (especially in closely spaced pregnancies) to malnutrition in both mother and child.
If we’re right, then this could be why pregnancies, especially closely spaced pregnancies, tend to produce maternal weight gain.
I got a New Year’s update from Jennifer Fulwiler, another source of a reader report in the book (on p 11). She’s now pregnant with her sixth child, and left a comment noting her much improved health this pregnancy:
I have been following the PHD for this pregnancy. The results have been amazing. In fact, with all five of my previous pregnancies I had debilitating, severe morning sickness. On the PHD, I had almost none!
In an email she gave further details:
My husband and I have a reality show that recently started airing [insert joke here about what we may have done to be deemed "reality show material"], and when the episodes air I’ve been engaging with fans on social media. One of the most common responses I get is that people are shocked that I look so healthy, since I’m pregnant with my sixth child in eight years. A lot of people just assume that women who have many and/or closely spaced pregnancies simply have to be overweight.
I used to assume that too. In fact, that had been my personal experience: I seemed to add a few pounds with each pregnancy, and after I had my fifth child I found myself tired, achy, and 35 pounds overweight. Thanks to the PHD I lost all the weight, and when the show was filmed, in my first trimester of pregnancy with my sixth child, I weighed the same as I did the day I got married, and felt better than I ever had in my life. A lot of people who watched the show asked me what my secret was, and of course I directed them to the PHD!
Here’s the first episode of Jennifer’s reality show:
She does indeed look healthy, energetic, and more than a match for a Texas scorpion!
I mentioned the other day that we got a 4* review at Amazon:
This diet has controlled my cravings. After almost 40 years of interest in and great benefits from proper nutrition, I believe this is as close to perfect eating as we can get…. I didn’t give it 5 stars for two reasons: 1. no recipes…but can get those online and 2. very technical, leaving more explanation or clarification.
That about covers the pros and cons of our book as a weight loss guide. Our story isn’t quite as simple as the other diet books. Perfect Health Diet doesn’t resemble a Hollywood action movie.
But if you want to understand the science and find a successful program for long-term weight loss, we’re the best choice on the market. Perfect Health Diet will eliminate cravings and hunger, get you close to perfect eating, and help you normalize weight for the rest of your life. | <urn:uuid:95de44ee-d26c-4545-bc64-561dd069d027> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://perfecthealthdiet.com/category/weight-loss/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957235 | 2,457 | 1.507813 | 2 |
What Depression Is
by: Mikey Neumann
In the end, your heart is the thing that takes you.
I’m about to put myself out there — like Star Trek out there — because right now I need the one escape that always seems to bring me back. When everything becomes overwhelming and blindingly consequential, you lose track of the ground, and everyone needs his or her own gravity.
Writing is gravity in my world. Family is hope, friends are direction, but finding truth in words is what keeps me on the ground.
So here goes. I hope when you’ve finished reading this, whether friend, family or otherwise, you find some value in my sharing what I cannot overstress my hesitancy in doing so.
After my last trip to an MS specialist, we went over some things that don’t fit neatly into our testing. It’s always important at a doctor that you explain what you are experiencing and how you are dealing with it. This started us down a path on depression.
(If you need background information on my condition and how we got to this point, I would suggest starting at the beginning.)
Depression is the least logical thing I can imagine. It takes over the physical by existing only in the mental. As of the typing of this, in an effort to find the ground again, I am crawling out of my skin. I sent an email to a coworker that said I wanted to kill myself. I’m matter of fact about this, though, in honesty, at the present time it’s true.
Like I said, depression isn’t logical. It’s also not entirely sadness, which is where I think a lot of people can get confused and misdiagnose the severity of depression in different ways. If I were merely sad, even crying for no reason sad (which already happened tonight), I could throw on some magically emotional music like Cinematic Orchestra and get a shitload of writing done. Sadness is useful, even productive.
This is different.
This is drowning.
Actually, let’s run with that metaphor for a moment. Imagine that you’ve been knocked overboard into the deep and vast ocean. You sink for minutes, thrashing against the current, but it keeps pulling you further and further toward the bottom. Given the most basic physical and mental response, at some point any human being will have a moment where they give up and allow the water to take them.
That can be what severe depression feels like. It’s awful. By all logical measures, I should be the happiest person on Earth. I have a great job, working with people I love. I have the most loving family that is probably crashing into every motor vehicle on the highway in an effort to drive over to my house upon reading this. I have great friends, I travel a lot; my life for all intents and purposes is what you could call “privileged.”
Now, the last year hasn’t been the easiest. I’ve been told there is something I am probably also going through that is called “symptom fatigue” where the mental toll can begin to add up on top of whatever mental fabrications you’re already dealing with.
It’s all adding up, and unlike a normal panic attack, it can just keep compounding until there is just nowhere else for it to go. I say all of this, full knowing how cogent and reasonable I sound right now. I thank science above for giving me the faculties to call shenanigans on this Kaiser Soze bullshit my brain is trying to pull on me right now. But there it is, my heart thumping at a thousand miles an hour, weighing on me in the purely physical to try and take me down.
Depression, that’s some next level shit.
So, my gravity for tonight will be to share this. I know in the morning, all will be well, because ALL. IS. TRULY. WELL.
But right now, my body doesn’t believe it.
A lot of people don’t ask for help when things get like this. I almost didn’t. If I hadn’t reached out to a friend tonight (bearing in mind that I still don’t have a phone, so for those of you frantically dialing, you’re going to get a confused thief of a cabbie in Los Angeles), I think we could be having a different conversation.
But logic prevailed and even though I didn’t want him to. I called Chris Faylor (community manager at Gearbox) to come over and just sit with me until I calmed down.
This has helped. Writing this down. How you will react when I share this on the internet, remains to be seen. I hope we can just look at it as another piece of scientific evidence on the elusive mysteries of the human brain — a brain that has seen its share of stresses in between writing pretty words and making silly accents about the catching of various rides.
I hope to see you all back on the ground.
(Originally published on December 13, 2012 at It’s Complexicated (http://diagnosismia.blogspot.com/2012/12/what-depression-is.html). Republished with the author’s permission.)
21 Notes/ Hide
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- takethisproject posted this | <urn:uuid:75bce47d-f870-4115-b153-0796e523c2e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://takethisproject.tumblr.com/post/37841116940/what-depression-is | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.9504 | 1,370 | 1.734375 | 2 |
by Rob Williams on July 7, 2008 in Intel Motherboards
With so much X48 selection on the market, choosing the right board can be tough. To help make the choice easier, we are taking a look at three such boards all at once, ASUS’ DDR2 Rampage Formula and also the DDR3 ECS X48T-A and Intel’s DX48BT2.
There is no better way to evaluate a system and its components than to run a suite of real-world benchmarks. To begin our testing, we will a popular benchmarking suite that emulates real-world scenarios and stresses the machine the way it should be… by emulating tasks that people actually perform on a day to day basis.
SYSmark 2007 Preview
SYSmark, from Bapco is hands-free, using scripts to execute all of the real-world scenarios, such as video editing and image manipulation. Each one of these suites output easy-to-understand scores once completed.
SYSmark grades the overall performance of your system based off of different criteria, but mostly it will depend on how fast it could complete certain tasks and handle multi-tasking. Once the suite is completed, five scores will be delivered, one being the overall. We dedicate an OS and hard drive to this test in order to keep the environment as clean as possible.
Most of the boards performed quite well here, although both the ECS and Intel boards were almost a full 10 points behind the remaining models. SYSmark isn’t the definitive result, however, so let’s move onto our real-world testing. | <urn:uuid:1a14e22c-fc2b-4b10-8d3f-23d7e1356642> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://techgage.com/article/x48_roundup_asus_ecs_intel/8/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946603 | 334 | 1.640625 | 2 |
When EAGnews sought documents to better understand the program, we were met with a $19,969 bill. Nevertheless, we’ll have much more coming out on the program soon.
Why is there such a heavy focus on race in teacher training and preparation? Why can’t colleges prepare educators to simply focus on teaching students the basics, instead of ideologies? The fact that some educrat thinks this sort of “training” is worth college credit says a lot about the mindset of the education establishment.
These eggheads should stop trying to drive wedges between the races and focus on giving the best possible education to children of all racial backgrounds. | <urn:uuid:09cc5949-bf02-4352-846f-041f78444d71> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://townhall.com/columnists/kyleolson/2013/01/26/milwaukee-k12-teachers-offered-college-credit-to-heal-their-racism-n1497870/page/2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96314 | 135 | 1.507813 | 2 |
awards for arts achievement
Public Leadership in the Arts Awards
Lieutenant Governors Arts Leadership Honoree
|Recipient:||Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst (R-TX)|
Texas Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst received the 2009 Lt. Governors Arts Award for his support of the arts and arts education throughout the state. Since being elected in 2002, Lt. Gov. Dewhurst has strongly advocated for continued support of Texas’ arts and entertainment industries. This year, Dewhurst secured $1 million in the state budget for the Texas Cultural Trust’s Create Texas, Put Your ART Into It, a statewide public relations campaign promoting arts education and economic development. He also supported budget allocations for other outreach programs aimed at raising the awareness of the importance of the arts. Last year, Dewhurst helped secure $20 million for film incentives for the state.
His other legislative achievements include the support and passage of a bill that the Texas Commission on the Arts, the Texas Cultural Trust, and Texans for the Arts requested which dissolves an ineffective endowment and provides additional funding of approximately $5 million for grants to the TCA. Lt. Gov. Dewhurst secured the Senate sponsor, and his staff shepherded the bill through the process, rescuing it when the House stalled and many bills died. | <urn:uuid:ec4df40f-c562-4677-bbde-2ec43c74b198> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.americansforthearts.org/news/annual_awards/public_leadership/state/lieutenant_governor/004.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954843 | 262 | 1.601563 | 2 |
What do 2,500 of the world's most influential leaders do at an annual soiree? Play with their smartphones, of course.
At the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, last week, about one-third of the forum's delegates used social media to carry on the conversation. Social media activity peaked during UK Prime Minister David Cameron's speech about G8 priorities.
World-renowned writer Paolo Coelho, author of The Alchemist, continued to build his "Personal Legend" with a few golden tweets. He had the most retweeted post of the conference — which was written in Portuguese — in addition to the most retweeted English-language post.
Let's agree in one point: we can have anything, but we CAN'T have everything #wef
— Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) January 25, 2013
Check out the following infographic, created by Accenture, for more information about the WEF's digital footprint.
Image courtesy of Flickr, World Economic Forum 2013 | <urn:uuid:f3fba3f4-a90b-46e9-9b7f-d6e156caad53> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mashable.com/2013/01/30/davos-social-media-2/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953688 | 215 | 1.6875 | 2 |
The Pa Va is also known as the Labeo Dyocheilus, or the Lotus Fish, the Pla Bua, Boalla and Heel-Gorya.
In Laos, it reaches a maximum length of 45cm although accounts in Luang Prabang suggest this carp can grow even bigger. It's common in the Himilayas and is well-known in India, where it can grow up to a meter. The Pa Va spawns around July to August.
They provide good thick fillets, and good for a soup dish known as Keng Som Houa Pa Va Sai Het Sed, and a dish known as Sa Ton Pa Va, a fish salad that works best with a female fish and its roe. | <urn:uuid:d56a0cd5-d374-4e8a-bf24-eb2d8f1c1f67> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://thaoworra.blogspot.com/2011/09/lao-fish-of-day-pa-va.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96723 | 152 | 1.796875 | 2 |
|Gamblin Relief Inks are made specifically for relief techniques, including woodblock, linocut, monotype, and Solarplate. The highly pigmented, pure colors are designed to give artists a wide range of mixing capabilities. The inks have just enough stiffness and tack to hold fine detail and to spread evenly on the block or plate.|
Though they are great for many relief techniques, the texture of the ink, is most ideal for monotype techniques.
|Sorry your search resulted in no matches.| | <urn:uuid:3d4113b7-4747-43a1-86d3-3716fb15953e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.in2art.com/store/category/9/27/Inks-%26-Mediums/Gamblin-Relief-Inks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941694 | 107 | 1.546875 | 2 |
You are here: Benefits Guides | Employment Support Allowance
Employment Support Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is a new benefit that has replaced Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS) paid on the grounds of ill-health or disability.† Introduced from 27th October 2008.
What is Employment Support Allowance?
ESA will have a new structure that has both a contributory element and a means-tested element, very similar to Incapacity Benefit (IB)†and Income Support (IS) paid previously or now for some with transitional protection.
The test of entitlement to the contributory element will be similar to that currently used for Incapacity Benefit (IB), i.e. sufficient national insurance contributions paid.
The test of entitlement for the means-tested element will be similar to that currently used for Income Support (IS) now i.e. a means tested / income-based assessment.
There will be a 13-week assessment phase for all new ESA claimants. During this period, claimants aged over 25 years will be paid an 'assessment phase' rate of ESA, equivalent to the weekly rate of Jobseekers Allowance payable for people aged over 25 (Currently £71). For those under 25, a reduced weekly rate of ESA will be payable, again in line with Jobseekers Allowance rates (£56.25 for under 25 year old rate).
After the 13-week assessment phase, there will be an additional element payable on top of the basic rate of ESA. Claimants placed in the 'support group' will receive a slightly higher element than claimants in the 'work-related activity group'. The support component is worth £34.05 per week and the work-related activity component is worth £28.15 per week. There are no increases in these components for couples.
Claimants under 25 years that have completed the 13-week assessment phase will receive the full basic ESA rate rather than the reduced amounts payable in the assessment phase referred to above.
For claimants with partners additions are still available†under the new means tested ESA system, as well as various premiums such as the Severe Disability Premium, Pensioner Premium, Carer Premium and Enhanced Disability Premium, currently payable with Income Support (IS), .
All new ESA claimants will have to serve the 13-week assessment phase, before moving onto the higher rates of ESA, regardless of their circumstances, except in cases where the claimant has a terminal illness who will go straight to the main phase rates.
For claimants coming onto ESA from Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), and new ESA claimants who also receive Disability Living Allowance, this appears particularly harsh. It†is possible that such claimants could receive less benefit than they would currently receive on Incapacity Benefit (IB) and Income Support (IS), due to the difference in rates between Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) and assessment phase ESA, and the lack of an equivalent to the disability premium in ESA. | <urn:uuid:8a23f477-0f7c-49cc-8a61-36704fa3cc8d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.welfarerights.net/benefits-guides/Employment-Support-Allowance | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942141 | 610 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Dreamland shows relating to "Labyrinth of Time"
March 8, 2013
Whitley Strieber has had a number of documented 'time slips,' as well as movements through time. Here, he describes some of his experiences to time expert Anthony Peake. Drawing on his extensive knowledge of physics, neurology and psychiatry, Peake explains his theories of how and why they happen.
In this wide-ranging conversation, the subject... | <urn:uuid:09905f6e-b336-4672-978c-30d097ec84b6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.unknowncountry.com/dreamland/tag/Labyrinth%20of%20Time | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974968 | 90 | 1.53125 | 2 |
A few days ago, I watched Cornered (1945) by Edward Dmytryk again — I’ve seen it many times — and while it isn’t one of Dmytryk’s best films, it still has an honesty and a sincerity of purpose sadly missing from too many contemporary films designed simply to make a buck. The film’s plot is simple: at the end of World War II, Laurence Gerard (Dick Powell), a Canadian pilot who had served in the Royal Canadian Air Force with distinction until he was shot down and confined to a German prisoner of war camp, is discharged from the service with a large sum of back pay and reparations.
But Gerard has only one thing on his mind; finding the Vichy hoodlum who ordered the execution of his French wife of only 20 days, before Gerard was called up for service. The name of the person responsible is easily discovered; one Marcel Jarnac. But Jarnac is supposed to be dead, and there seems to be no evidence of his existence; no photos, no dossier, nothing at all. Gerard immediately, and reasonably, assumes that Jarnac has simply gone into hiding, and by following his widow, tracks him to Buenos Aires.
Falling in, much against his better judgment, with a sleazy “tour guide,” the rotund and loquacious Melchior Incza (Walter Slezak), who seems to have connections everywhere, Gerard goes on a no holds barred vendetta to track down Jarnac, despite the pleas of exiled members of the French Resistance to lighten up on his heavy-handed methods. Completely obsessed with his mission, Gerard ignores their advice, and plunges headlong into a whirlpool of double-crosses and deception, until, in the film’s final minutes, he comes to face with Jarnac — alive, well, and ready to start the Third Reich all over again, in ten or twenty years time.
An openly anti-fascist tract, Cornered sadly featured four men who only a few years later would become victims of the Hollywood blacklist; producer Adrian Scott, director Edward Dmytryk, and actors Morris Carnovsky and Luther Adler, who played the role of Jarnac. In an interesting bit of legerdemain, Adler is not listed in the film’s opening credits, and when he finally does appear in the film’s final minutes, he is seen only in the shadows, stepping into the light only for a few minutes before Cornered’s violent conclusion. He is, as he says in the film, “a man you have never seen, a man you don’t know,” and his actor’s credit is shown only at the end of the film.
Cornered is far from perfect, and for some viewers it hasn’t aged well — too complex, say some, though to me it seems absolutely direct and simplicity itself — but for me, the film’s sincerity, sense of purpose, and its resolute moral compass more than redeems the film. It’s a message picture, and Dmytryk made many such films; it would be nice if more such films were made today, with the same skill and concision. | <urn:uuid:81110aaf-682c-4ac2-ac2f-1209d48e264b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.unl.edu/dixon/tag/adrian-scott/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974624 | 689 | 1.5625 | 2 |
Youth Transitions, Inc
Youth Transitions, Inc. trains students with developmental disabilities for summer and Career employment in the foodservice industry. Our program focuses on insuring that students are proficient in three job areas within the foodservice industry. This approach offers the students job skills that will be attractive to any foodservice employer. Moreover, the additional skills will position the student to be a more productive employee.
Three goals for student development are:
1. Develop satisfactory skill levels in “three” foodservice job areas.
2. Student demonstrates satisfactory skills in foodservice sanitation and safety skills.
3. Student demonstrates ability to follow direction.
Our students receive 90 hours of certified training in Culinary Arts. Students attend 90-minute training classes, Monday through Thursday. Classes are designed to replicate the operational environment of most foodservice organizations. Students prepare meals for six local church congregations, including Cokesbury United Methodist Church. We receive revenue from the meals prepared for these congregations which allows us to offer training at no expense to students.
- Monday and Tuesday classes are dedicated to preparatory work for the Wednesday Church meals.
- Wednesday is the day we replicate activity in many restaurants and culinary kitchens. We accomplish this by preparing a four-course meal for 600 members of the six churches.
- Knife skills training and baking practicum held on Thursday and Friday.
We use the majority of all prepared foods at church events as a revenue source to offset program expenses.
Students showing proficiency in three skill areas qualify for summer employment. Students transitioning out of high school qualify for permanent part-time or full-time employment opportunities. We visit participating employers twice monthly as part of job coaching with the student and assisting employers in enlarging the job duties of the student-employee. Finally, returning students will participate in more advanced Culinary activities, including menu design, independent projects, and culinary competitions.
We also offer a Life Skills training class. This class is designed to:
a. Allow students opportunity to explore culinary cooking and the foodservice environment.
b. Students learn to cook meals for themselves, as well their family members. Class begins with Breakfast, followed by Lunch items, dinner entrees, vegetables, and snacks.
Our target population includes individuals with developmental disabilities. Students are referred from the local county school system, home school co-ops, and individuals referred from local advocacy groups. We are very fortunate to have strong support from local church congregations in the community. These groups have assisted us in expanding our community message.
We evaluate our program through review of our daily activities, in addition to feedback from employers. Specifically, we conduct employer entry and exit interviews to improve our training systems and outcomes.
The Mid-Day Café, a revenue-generating restaurant in the Cokesbury Center, serves as a final training point for students. As a subsidiary of Youth Transitions, the Café offers the student opportunities for frontline customer service training in an operating restaurant.
For additional information please call us at 865-660-6680. | <urn:uuid:e5943bdc-e171-4ac8-8e85-aa36ec46fe4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.youthtransitions.net/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950817 | 624 | 1.671875 | 2 |
I blogged earlier on the concern that the "humanitarian intervention" in Libya will not fail to be picked by Israel's enemies as a precedent to pressure the US, EU and UN to apply it to Israel's defensive actions. This was dismissed as nonsensical, even though the Turkish government had already suggested it.
But as I already suggested, the risk grows as Hamas seems intent on forcing another war on Israel. And like clockwork, Tundra Tabloids reports:
It’s come to this. The junior partner in the Norwegian government, the Socialist Left Party of Kristin Halvorsen, (Sosialistisk Venstreparti), plans to vote on a measure calling for military action against Israel if it decides to act against the Hamas in Gaza.
Omri Ceren (European Left Applying Libya Precedent to Israel, Calling for Military Action) also sees what I see:
... with due deference to Norway’s status as a particularly toxic cesspool of anti-Israel incitement, the idea won’t stay in Oslo. Ambassador Rice and President Obama have succeeded in linking the use of national force with a particularly flexible interpretation of international humanitarianism. Contemporary international humanitarianism, in turn, is a pretext seething activists and government officials use to obsess over Israel. With every juridical tool imaginable already being turned against the Jewish state, it’s inevitable that this newer and more expansive precedent will soon become very popular.
Omri has warned about the seriousness of this before (“Responsibility To Protect,” Not Remotely New):
Nothing’s better than when the UN shoehorns “new security and human rights norms” into Chapter VII resolutions:U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon also said on Thursday that the justification for the use of force was based on humanitarian grounds, and referred to the principle known as Responsibility to Protect (R2P), “a new international security and human rights norm to address the international community’s failure to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.”
Once this kind of stuff gets stuffed into the UN, the probability of it being used against israel is 1. After all, what else does the UN do other than obsessing about and delegitimizing Israel?
Those who dismiss this concern underestimate the degree to which anti-Israel and anti-semitic sentiments bordering on the rabid have been instilled by the Western media and elites into their public. It's not the murderous barbarism of the Palestinians--incited by the PA and Hamas--that is conveye, but rather the "extremism" and "racism" of the Jews.
Melanie Phillips, who has been documenting and combating these crimes of omission and distortion by the UK media, was interviewed on Israel TV and pointed out how the UK media systematically presented the Itamar murders as the fault of the victims--extremist settlers who "asked for it". When she called the Palestinian spade the spade it was -- savagery -- she was investigated by police at the complaint of UK muslims (see previous post), who are obviously more concerned with her expressing the truth about the genocidal acts of their Palestinian co-religionists than with those acts themselves.
Given all this, is there any wonder that surveys present Israel as the most dangerous factor in the world, a higher risk to world peace than the Islamists, including Iran? While Arab regimes in Syria, Libya, Yemen and Bahrein kill demonstrators, the UN has, as usual, has accused Israel of misdeeds on the Golan Heights.
In such circumstances, does it make sense to doubt that the Libyan precedent will, in some not too distant future, be applied to Israel? It is, for all practical purposes, made for Israel. What is quite surprising is that it has not been applied already. | <urn:uuid:0f4f7b45-e7d6-4975-96fb-20198963b9d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://fallofknowledgeandreason.blogspot.com/2011/03/r2p-and-israel-i-told-you-so.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955383 | 815 | 1.539063 | 2 |
This isn’t the good news that I want to share.
An article on USAToday says that Chase, the largest credit card issuers in the nation, is adding a $10 monthly fee,or $120 a year, to credit cards with low promotional interest rate. According the the article,
The change affects consumers with low promotional rates who have carried a large balance for more than two years and made little progress paying it off.
Which, I think, essentially describes a situation we call 0% balance transfer. If you are not familiar with the term, then what people like myself do with 0% balance transfer (BT) is that we apply for a credit card that offers 0% introductory APR for a period of time, then either transfer balances from high APR cards to the 0% APR card to save on interests, or simply deposit the money to a high-yield savings account like FNBO Direct to pocket the interests and pay off the remaining balance when the offer is due. The reason why 0% BT works is there’s no fee involved when transferring the balance. However, such offers are getting hard and hard to find as many issuers, such as Citibank, introduced balance transfer fees as high as 3% of the total transferred amount. When most banks only offer sub 3% APY for savings accounts, there isn’t much money you can make from balance transfer. And since there’s no interest for the balance, you only need to pay the monthly minimum while keeping most of the money in bank accounts to keep earning interests until the offer expires. Generally, you can get 0% APR for 12 months, but you can also get a low, but non-zero, APR for much longer time, some time a life time.
As you can see, the key of the 0% BT business is no fee. If you have to pay a fee, let it be a $10 monthly fee or 3% of the total amount, your profit from doing 0% BT will be eroded, or totally vanished, unless there’s a cap on the maximum amount of fees. So what Chase is doing now (BTW, Chase Freedom card is still offering 0% APY for 12 months), charging fees for low, long-term promotional rate, effectively killed the 0% BT, though there’s no word on whether the fee is also applicable to new accounts or only the existing ones.
Either way, it’s a bad news not only to existing card members, but also for potential customers. | <urn:uuid:3ccbc97b-1205-462e-92d0-b639a7a72592> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.personalfinancereviews.com/chase-adds-fees-to-low-interest-rate-credit-cards-no-more-0-balance-transfer-from-chase/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956421 | 523 | 1.75 | 2 |
A Google Street View mapping and camera car drives through Washington,… (Paul J. Richards, AFP/Getty…)
SAN FRANCISCO — New revelations in a full report detailing the Federal Communications Commission's investigation into Google's Street View service are raising questions about whether the search giant escaped scrutiny for capturing personal information from millions of unknowing households across the nation.
Chief among the new disclosures: The engineer who intentionally wrote the software code that made it possible for Street View cars to capture emails, passwords and other data from unprotected wireless networks told fellow engineers and a senior manager that he had done so, according to the report.
Google, which had not wanted to make the entire report public, had wrangled with the FCC over the issue. The company released a copy to the Los Angeles Times late Friday after a number of organizations filed public records requests to obtain an unredacted version.
"We decided to voluntarily make the entire document available except for the names of individuals," Google spokeswoman Jill Hazelbaker said in an emailed statement. "While we disagree with some of the statements made in the document, we agree with the FCC's conclusion that we did not break the law. We hope that we can now put this matter behind us."
Privacy watchdogs say the report reveals as much about the company's disregard for consumer privacy as it does about the lack of oversight from regulatory agencies. Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, an advocacy group in Washington, accused the FCC of botching the investigation.
"This is clearly a consequence of self-regulation, but the fingers really do have to point back to the FCC," Rotenberg said.
An FCC spokeswoman could not be reached for comment.
Jamie Court, president of Consumer Watchdog, urged Congress to hold hearings.
"Once and for all the American people should be able to find out how much tacit approval the renegade engineer had from senior management," Court said.
The engineer who created the software that captured payload data — communication over the Internet including emails, passwords and search history — invoked his 5th Amendment right and declined to speak with the FCC. But the FCC says he told two other engineers, one of them a senior manager, that he was collecting the payload data. He also gave the entire Street View team a copy of a document in October 2006 that detailed his work on Street View. In it, the FCC says, he noted that Google would be logging such data.
Those on Google's Street View team told the FCC they had no knowledge that the payload data was being collected. Google maintains that it did not authorize the gathering of personal information while it was mapping wireless networks in the United States and Europe.
The FCC concluded in its report that collecting the data was not unlawful, but it slapped Google with a fine of $25,000 for obstructing its investigation. Google denies that it stonewalled investigators.
Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, said it strains credulity to assert that the data collection was the work of a lone engineer.
It "wasn't some engineering mistake," Chester said.
According to the report, the Google engineer, who was not a full-time member of the team but was working on Street View as a side project, wrote the code in 2006. He was interested in collecting data from unencrypted wireless networks to see if the data could be used in Google's other products and services. The data provided a snapshot of what people were doing online when the Street View cars drove by.
The engineer weighed privacy concerns but dismissed them because the vehicles would not be near "any given user for an extended period of time" and because none of the data gathered would be presented to users of Google services in raw form, the report says. He did note as a "to do" item that he should discuss the matter with a product counsel, it says.
On at least one occasion, the report says, the engineer reviewed the data to identify frequently visited websites. He thought it might be helpful in determining how much people were using Google Search, but a member of Google's search quality team told him "it had no use or value," and he abandoned the idea, the report says.
Google says it inadvertently started collecting the data in 2008 while mapping wireless networks, a practice it dubbed "wardriving." It continued to collect the data until April 2010.
Google at first denied it collected the data, then said it collected only fragments of data. Finally it admitted it had sucked up entire emails, passwords and search history, and apologized. Google says it also took steps to tighten privacy, such as appointing a privacy director to oversee engineering and product management.
The FCC opened its investigation in October 2010 as the Federal Trade Commission closed its inquiry into the same matter. Google said last week that the Justice Department also investigated, closing its inquiry in May 2011.
The FCC concluded that Google had not violated the nation's wiretapping laws but said it still had "significant factual questions" about why the data was collected, and watchdogs say they do too. | <urn:uuid:737b050f-4740-4859-b9fa-f33fdc8bdc62> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.latimes.com/2012/apr/29/business/la-fi-google-probe-20120429 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976433 | 1,036 | 1.796875 | 2 |
When I was a small child, my grandparents lived with our family. They had separate living quarters, a little like the original 'granny annex' but we came and went and shared a formal living room. In that room there were a number of antiques. Of course then I had no idea of their worth, except that a couple of pieces appealed to me and I was occasionally allowed to touch my favourite, the sculpture of a knight on horseback.
The commanding pieces in the room were two huge framed prints on either side of the fireplace of a curly haired child, called Cupid Awake and Cupid Asleep. These were prints of the photo taken in 1897 by Morris Burke Parkinson of Josephine Anderson. Josephine was the daughter of a friend of Parkinson, a single mother who worked and sometimes left her child in Parkinson's care. Josephine was four when the photos were taken and she continued to model for M.B.Parkinson for many years, some of the photos are in the Library of Congress in Washington, DC. The later prints of Josephine are also very sought after collectibles. Josephine died in the 1970s.
I spent hours staring at the face of the child in these portraits, the child that I was, thinking they really were a fairy of some kind. After my grand father died in the early 1960s, the pieces were sold by my grandmother, money was a factor I presume, and I didn't really think of them again for years until I was given a large Cupid Asleep print for which my sister found in Ottawa. I wanted the Cupid Awake to match it, but had trouble finding one in a similar size. Then a year or two later I was given a small pair for Christmas, which had been hunted down by a friend who is an antique dealer. I have the original larger Cupid Asleep and now the smaller pair which I framed and now keep as a reminder of those large portraits my grandmother had.
Looking at these photos now, I think how well they would look as drawings. The sepia tones and hand tinted pink cheeks, along with the dramatic lighting would make a lovely exercise in values. I may just try one and see what happens. Carbon pencil or charcoal perhaps...
The smaller pair are, I believe, some of the original prints, dated and signed with copyright while the larger print doesn't have any information on it. The colour in the larger print is a reddish brown while the smaller images are much truer to colour in terms of sepia and the pinked cheeks as well the image quality is much crisper.
Parkinson copyrighted his prints in 1897 and they were distributed by Taber-Prang Art Company of Springfield, Massachusetts. In 1908, The Ohio Art Company began selling metal picture frames in which the Cupid prints were displayed, some of them hand tinted. Sold at Kresge’s, Sears, and Woolworth’s, people bought the frames for the pictures. The Cupids were immensely popular and were seen in millions of homes across the country. In 1938, Ohio Art Company (makers of Etch a Sketch) bought the copyright from Taber-Prang after their bankruptcy. Originally sold for a nickel or dime, the Cupid photos now command high prices, as much as $450 a pair in larger sizes.
A hibiscus was on the Weekly Drawing Thread at WetCanvas and I found myself doing a few minutes of work on it at lunchtimes throughout the week. Flowers are not my forte and never will be, but I still like to test myself and push into the dark zone now and then. :) | <urn:uuid:9f11c3d0-4b6e-40c2-ba22-e942b6324b25> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://illustratedlife.blogspot.com/2008/08/cupid.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987068 | 747 | 1.664063 | 2 |
The Japanese* have no obesity while most other industrial people in the world do. The only sub-populations in the US that are not getting obese are the yuppies and my gay friends**. Neither is a demographic group. They just don't eat much.
I have stumbled on my first hypothesis in the realm of obesity, largely based on my personal experience and listening to other people at Weight Watcher meetings. The issue is craving. I think food is getting tastier (not better...tastier). Food evolves.
There are four foods I have eaten all my life that I now crave. Example: Skippy peanut butter. This is a commercial product as opposed to an uncooked fruit or a steamed vegetable. I can eat nearly unlimited quantities of it. Each of my four food cravings can put weight on me in a few days, plenty of weight in a week. I crave these four fattening foods and keep them out of the house.
So what is my hypothesis? 1) Most humans have a few very narrow food taste modalities that are impossible to resist, these modalities are nearly addictive. We call food addiction cravings. 2) There has been a massive increase in the number of commercial foods on the market since 1960 when imports opened world markets. This vast array of food products have moved their specific taste modalities in directions that emphasize specific customer craving. The market is big enough to respond to small changes and the market has found individual cravings to satisfy.
I am not talking about the standard Bogey-men: sugar, salt, butter or other fats. Humans have had these foods and tastes for centuries, in abundance. I'm talking about something else, something more interesting something more subtle. I'm talking about new commercial products that evolved to either have, or omit, some ingredient that makes the particular food irresistible to some group of people. Evolved to focus on a taste modality that some people crave.
I'm talking about a range of narrow tastes that have evolved in the commercial food market either consciously or unconsciously as retail food products have shifted over the past 45 years to hone in on individual popular tastes. Skippy got me, something else may have gotten you.
Since I am not inclined toward conspiracy theories, I am inclined to think that market selection has been the driving force. It is a morally neutral Darwinian selection process. People are buying more of the Skippy jars that they crave and Unilever product managers know the particular ingredients to increase or decrease to stimulate that craving.
Summary: Food evolves in the market. Commercial evolution occurs in our broad market; we get survival and expansion by selection. The market has created narrow specialized retail food ingredients (probably 50 or more) that have honed in on narrow segments of consumer cravings. Our individual taste cravings force the foods to evolve to suiteach of our peculiarities. | <urn:uuid:2d20fb1d-93b1-4b15-a007-24be4bef2aea> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://phillips.blogs.com/goc/2009/08/obesity-and-market-survival.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96097 | 587 | 1.640625 | 2 |
(WHAS11) -- Breaking up is hard to do, closing out a credit card can put a big dent in your credit score if you're not careful about it.
You've probably heard that closing a credit card can actually damage your credit score. But do you know why?
It's your credit utilization ratio, the amount of credit you've used compared to the amount you have available. It's a factor that's about 30 percent of your score.
If you're considering closing an account credit card expert Beverly Harzog says don't do it if it's your only card and if you have others, check the balances.
“Take a look at your other balances on your other credit cards. Are they fairly low? You want to get the balances as low as possible so that you have a low utilization ratio even if you close that credit card and lose that available credit,” said credit card expert Beverly Harzog.
Common reasons consumers close cards are new or increased fees or interest rates. If you're switching to a new card, keep the old one open until you receive it.
"That way your FICO score will start utilizing the new available credit with the new credit card into your FICO score, so you'll minimize the impact a little,” explains Harzog.
It's best to have a zero balance when closing the card. You can close it over the phone, but also follow up later in writing.
After a month or so, check your credit report to make sure the account is noted as "closed."
If you have a consumer issue you’d like WHAS11 to look into send an e-mail to firstname.lastname@example.org. | <urn:uuid:813b8fee-4d91-49d8-8ec8-05645df270d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.whas11.com/news/consumer/Consumer-Watch-Closing-a-credit-card-161469135.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957744 | 354 | 1.71875 | 2 |
The majority of small online businesses are started and run by just one person. This business model is becoming more popular as women leave the work force to raise families, senior citizens search for ways to supplement retirement pay, and students strive to earn enough to pay for college or buy the latest video game. Online businesses are hot, and you can start one by yourself.
Handmatig een schilderij van foto laten maken door een kunstenaar brengt een foto tot leven.
One of the major benefits of starting a small online business by yourself is that you do not have to compromise with another. Find your bliss, and follow it. The first step in building an online business is to determine what you will focus on: insurance sales, video game reviews and sales, child care, dog toys. The sky is the limit for online businesses.
IQ-Test.com´s Free IQ Test assesses your IQ and intelligence.
After choosing your business focus, a website is the usual next step for small online business. . Build one yourself or have one made and learn how to update it. You can easily start a small online business by yourself with a blog, or even use classified ads to sell your product or service.
Expert Washington Birth Injury Lawyer and Washington Birth Trauma lawyers for your law suits in D. C. area. One of our lawyer will help you if who have suffered birth injuries and birth trauma cases.
Starting an online business by yourself requires internet marketing skills. Tutorials, ebooks, and message boards abound that can teach you all you need to know. Starting a business by yourself requires you to learn something about every aspect of online business. Your only other option is to spend money and outsource content creation, design, and marketing tasks to freelancers.
Fast, simple offshore company formation with offshore business accounts & business address.
There are both pros and cons to starting a small internet business by yourself. Benefits include complete control over substance and organization. You will also get to keep all the profits for yourself. However, it also means that you will bear the entire expense of the business, and have to deal with all negative outcomes yourself. | <urn:uuid:6bdb96e4-7847-415c-822c-a7d986c442b5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ciencianarua.com/how-to-start-a-small-online-business-by-yourself/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930537 | 453 | 1.609375 | 2 |
"Hearts, like doors, will open with ease, if you learn to use these keys."
Weekly keys for your fridge: saying thank you, saying please, saying excuse me. Add a new one each week, while reinforcing the others.
The three "B's" to use when correcting bad manners (or for any discipline) :
1) Be brief
2) Be private
3) Be specific
For more, check out Michele's blog on manners.
You may have seen Dr. Michele Borba on the Today Show, Fox News or countless other TV shows. She's an award-winning author and international speaker on character education and social development of children. Michele joined us this morning and had some great insight into helping raise children. We look forward to having Michele join us on a regular basis - if you would like to know more about Michele and her books, click here. | <urn:uuid:f98610f8-ee7c-4f32-a073-a4b0861dd0b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.klove.com/blog/post/2010/07/20/Manners-with-Michele-Borba.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939941 | 184 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Video:Spray Foundationwith Dr. Debra Jaliman
Choosing the right foundation is less about preference and more about skin type. Find out which type of foundation is best for you in this beauty video from About.comSee Transcript
Hi, I'm Dr. Debra Jaliman, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City and author of the book Skin Rules: Trade Secrets from a Top New York Dermatologist here for About.com to talk about foundation: which should you use: Cream, Spray, or Powder?
Foundation for Oily Skin
First you need to know what your skin type is. Let's say you have oily skin and you're acne-prone and you get that 4 o'clock shine, then you probably want to go with a powder foundation, because you want to use an oil-free foundation and the powder tends to be oil-free.
Foundation for Dry Skin
Let's say you have eczema and you have very dry skin, or you have very wrinkly skin, or you're older, then you'd want to look for a cream foundation, one that says it's very moisturizing. Because that will add moisture to your skin. And let's say you used a powder foundation: that would settle in your creases and it would accentuate your lines. Whereas a creamy foundation with a lot of moisture would minimize your lines.
Foundation for Combination Skin
Let's say you have combination skin: you could actually use a lotion or a spray foundation, because that would be intermediate between a powder and a creamy foundation. Or if you had moderately oily skin or combination skin.
So you really need to know your skin when you go shopping for a foundation. It's also good to try the foundation on and maybe even try it, wear it for a day before you actually make your purchase if that's possible. Sometimes they even give you a tester to try.
So, those are some of my tips - so if you have any other questions at all, go to About.com. | <urn:uuid:4156276c-eab9-4c5b-b1af-a54a820fa086> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://video.about.com/beauty/Spray-Foundation.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957162 | 424 | 1.632813 | 2 |
Looking back at the long history of the U.S. stock market it is clear that there are long periods when the trend is distinctly up or down. We call these long trend "secular" markets as opposed to the commonly-known cyclical market trends that last about four years on average. In our view we are currently in a secular bear market that began when the market peaked over 11 years ago in early 2000.
The most powerful secular bull market took place in the 18-year period from 1982 to 2000. In this period the market rose from 777 on the DJIA to almost 12,000 (16% compounded/year); the S&P 500 from about 100 to 1550 (16% compounded/year); and the NASDAQ from about 160 to 5050 (22% compounded/year). Although there were two other powerful secular bull markets such as the periods from 1921 to 1929 and 1949 to 1966, the bull market of 1982 to 2000 was the most significant by far.
The last half-decade of the 1982-2000 advance was accompanied by arguably the most spectacular financial mania of all time. Stocks, most often in the technology sector, typically went public and tripled on the first day of trading. The so-called dot.com stocks often had no earnings while others were merely concepts that didn't even have revenues. To justify the ridiculous prices of these stocks, analysts came up with new and untried metrics such as the number of eye balls that were viewing or would be viewing their websites rather than fundamentals such as earnings or cash flow.
Starting in the late 1990s Comstock constantly warned clients how sick the mania had become. We did this through lengthy bi-monthly reports in print and later through brief comments on our website. Although we were too early, our judgment was finally vindicated for all of the right reasons once the stock market finally peaked in early 2000. At that time we were convinced that the market was entering a secular bear market that would last for many years. The combination of the extremely powerful 1982-2000 bull market accompanied by a senseless financial mania was the recipe for the start of the secular bear market we envisioned.
You would have to think this secular bear market would be extremely severe with the combination of a major bull market followed by a financial mania. The market did decline by about 50% but the powers that be did whatever possible to delay or reverse the secular bear. Fed Chairman Greenspan tried to stop the severe stock market decline by lowering the Fed Funds rate to 1% in mid 2003 and keeping it at that level for a year. This move stopped the bear market in its tracks. The low rate enabled home prices to accelerate to the upside, and congress jumped in to help the Fed with the rescue by passing every law they could to make it easy for virtually anyone to buy a home. We believe that, even knowing the pain would have been severe, we should have just let housing prices and stock prices to fall to a level that would bring in "real" buyers.
The Fed intervention started the housing market on a tear (or bubble) since anyone who wanted to buy a home was able to do so by putting up little, or no money. Many of these loans were called "no doc" loans which meant that there was no documentation (like annual salary) required in order to get the mortgages approved. This caused a housing mania that was exacerbated when investment banks packaged the loans and sold them to their clients. They wound up selling packages of very poor quality mortgages (sub-prime) called "collateralized debt obligations" (CDOs) and convinced the rating agencies (who were paid by Wall Street) to rate these "securitized mortgages" AAA. To make things worse, most of the brokerage firms that understood the toxicity of these CDOs protected themselves by buying "credit default swaps", which were paid off when the loans defaulted.
Now, if the most significant bull market in U.S. history, that drove the stock market to "nose bleed" levels, followed by a dot com financial mania wasn't enough to start the secular bear market, what would? Well the market did drop by about 50% in 2000-2003 and was on its way to completing the secular bear. But, when the Fed induced a housing market mania accompanied by a cyclical bull market in stocks (within a secular bear) you would think that when the secular bear resumed it would be more severe and deeper. So far, it did produce another 50% decline in the stock market in 2008 and early 2009 as a credit crisis in 2007 caused the worst recession since the Great Depression.
The major 50% decline in the market also fit the same path as Japan as one of our "special reports" discussed in 12/2/2010 "Is America Following the Same Path as Japan?" Japan "hit the wall" after experiencing a similar stock market move from 1972 when the Nikkei 225 was trading about 2000 until the end of 1989 when it reached over 39,000 (18% compounded/year). If you recall it was in the late 1980s when everyone believed that Japan would take over all the manufacturing in the world. At one time the U.S. had a robust TV industry until Japan essentially took over the industry and made virtually every U.S. TV in the late 1980s. This move up in Japan was driven by excesses in the non-financial corporate debt side. That was when Japan corporations bought Pebble Beach and Rockefeller Center and anything else that was for sale. Japan paid the price for the excess debt- driven bull market that drove the Nikkei to almost 40,000 and now is under 10,000 over two decades later.
The key 18 year bull market we experienced here in the U.S. ending in 2000 was driven by excesses in household debt. Although wage growth had flattened out, consumers wanted a larger home, a nicer car, and nicer clothes whether they could afford it or not. If they ran out of money with their credit cards and bank loans they would take out a second mortgage on their homes that they felt could never decline in value. Household savings rates, which usually averaged about 9%, fell to near zero. Household debt as a percentage of GDP generally averaged about 50% of GDP and 65% of personal disposable income (PDI). However, starting in the early 1980s (as the stock market started this amazing bull market run discussed earlier) household debt rose to 100% of GDP and 130% of PDI by 2008.
Once the secular bear market started in 2000 we were convinced that the U.S. public had learned their lesson and would start to pay down their debt and begin saving again. We were wrong. After Greenspan lowered rates and started another financial mania driven by home values and the stock market, we were again convinced that the public couldn't be fooled again. However, after enormous bailouts of the largest financial institutions in the country, as well as the auto industry, and even more monetary ease than in 2003 (accompanied by TARP, the stimulus plan, QE, and QE2); we started another cyclical bull market within the secular bear market. The stock market went from severely oversold in March of 2009 to gaining 100% from those levels. We are convinced that, after the latest 100% rally since March of 2009, that this was the last time the public could be fooled again. And this time we are able to determine that consumers are saving more and consuming less; we believe this change in attitude will continue for a long period of time, creating severe headwinds against strong economic growth.
The most important question to ask yourself is, "can we have another major bull market in U.S. stocks anytime in the near future?" We believe the answer is a resounding "NO"! Just look at what took place in Japan after their stock market and economy "hit the wall" at the end of 1989. The private sector corporate debt that was primarily responsible for the most significant bull market in Japan's history continued deleveraging for decades. Government debt rose in order to replace the shrinking of the non-financial corporate debt (the debt that drove their bull market) that was either defaulted on or paid off. If the non financial corporate debt drove the market up during their great bull market, it only makes sense that their stock market (Nikkei 225) would decline as the deleveraging process was taking place. And that is exactly what has been taking place for the past 21 years (since 1989) as the Nikkei declined from almost 40,000 to under 10,000 where it is presently. We also note that during the past two decades Japan's GDP grew at an average annual rate of only 1%.
Why would we expect any different outcome in the United States as the household debt sector (the main sector that rose and drove the U.S. bull market of the 80s and 90s and also continued adding to the debt as the housing market took off from 2003 to 2007) is still in the process of deleveraging since 2007? That is just a little over 4 years, and we can expect a continuation of deleveraging for many years to come-we have a long way to go in order to get back to the levels of household debt relative to GDP or Personal Disposable Income (PDI). (See attached charts)
The U.S. stock market will not be able to rise in a sustained manner if we are correct in believing that U.S. households will continue deleveraging for the next few years to as many as 10 more years. The key is that household debt will have to decline to the levels of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s of 50% of GDP and 65% of PDI. That would mean the weak consumption will continue and that should lead to disappointing economic growth. The average annual growth in consumption over the last 50 years was about 3.5%, but only 0.6% over the seven quarters since the recovery started. That is the lowest growth rate since the Great Depression.
So the next question is, "How will the deleveraging affect the economy? And how will a weak economy affect corporate earnings? " If the deleveraging affects the U.S. economy the way Japan's deleveraging affected their economy over the past 21 years, it will clearly be highly negative for U.S economic growth. Since GDP growth and profits are positively correlated over time, that should negatively affect corporate earnings that have driven the stock market up for the past couple of years.
Now that operating earnings estimates for the S&P 500 have risen to the record levels of $100 again, we suspect that the deleveraging and weak economy will affect this estimate in a similar vein as in 2008, when S&P 500 earnings estimates were over $108 as late as May of that year. Actual earnings came in at less than $50 for operating earnings and less than $15 for "reported" earnings.
The bottom line is that we expect U.S. stocks to stay in the secular bear market that started in 2000 for many years to come. We believe the main factor that drove the most significant bull market in U.S. stock market history (household debt that enabled unrestricted consumption of everything from goods and services to homes) will reverse and continue the deleveraging process that will more than likely continue for a very long time. This deleveraging will act to affect the stock market in the exact opposite manner as the leveraging did in the bull market. To quantify this, if we were to look at historical household debt relative to GDP and DPI we would expect the debt to be in the area of about $7 to $7.5 trillion. Instead this debt rose to about $14.5 trillion at the peak in 2008 before declining to about $13.5 trillion presently. We expect this debt to fall below $10 trillion. This could take many years and be very painful for our economy, corporate profits, and the stock market. | <urn:uuid:09ba188e-6550-493b-943e-32ac657c6016> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://comstockfunds.com/(X(1)S(lwttkofsml1qzq45coyi3kmk))/default.aspx/act/newsletter.aspx/category/SpecialReport/MenuGroup/Home/NewsLetterID/1589/startrow/4.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982264 | 2,459 | 1.773438 | 2 |
jump directly to my letter of response, click here.
I thought that readers might
be interesting in hearing what it is like to be from Ravenna
and a traveler in outside the United States in these prewar
For the past few months I've
been touring India. On this trip I've met very few of my fellow
countrymen. It seems that American tourists are somewhat of
an endangered species in India these days. We are afraid —
afraid that we'll be caught in crossfire, afraid that we will
be the victims of and-American violence, afraid that the war
will disrupt international air travel, or perhaps we are ashamed.
I fall into the later group.
I'm ashamed to be an American. Sometimes though I don't feel
like an American. Sometimes I feel like a German tourist I read
about a long time ago. He was a mountain climber who had come
to India in 1938. His passion was mountains, still he was aware
that his country had been taken over by a madman who was about
to begin an insane war. (In case you have forgotten, Hitler
was democratically elected.) He wrote that before World War
II actually began, many German tourists were in a state of disbelief
— it was not possible, they believed for the motherland
to invade a sovereign nation who had done them no harm.
On this trip I've met Americans
who have similar feelings. They are in deep denial. They simply
can't believe that their government, in their name, is about
to invade a country that is being actively disarmed by the United
Nations. They like to think that it is all a bad dream.
With my shame, whenever I meet
a Frenchman, a German, an Israeli, or a Dutch person, I immediately
apologize for my government. Sometimes I'll tell one of the
George Bush jokes I've read on the Internet other times I'll
tell them that I appreciate the work that their government has
done to stop the Americans and their British poodle, Mr. Blair.
The Indians I've talked to are baffled by the American government's
desire to eliminate, at any cost, the government of Iraq,
but no one has shown me any anti-American feelings. But if
war comes, and everyone starts to hate all Americans, in the
way that some Americans hate all Arabs, will I be able to
blame them? Probably not. We will be getting what we deserve.
Tom Riddle via R-C Online
(Tom Riddle graduated from Ravenna
High School in 1969. He has spent most of his life overseas
My advice to Tom Riddle is if
he is ashamed to be an American (Record-Courier letters, March
18), there are no walls or police at our borders to keep people
in. No one is forcing him to remain an American citizen.
Since he has spent most of his life overseas, why not just go
back to wherever and spend the rest of his life there?
America may not be perfect but it's the best country there is
and we should be proud of it and support, our leaders. May God
protect both our military and all the innocent people who live
in harm's way.
Charlene Mc Daniel
Time to immigrate
Concerning Tom Riddle's letter
("Ashamed American," Record-Courier, March 18): To
quote Mr. Riddle, "We will be getting what we deserve."
This is clearly anti-American, and should be treated as such.
If Mr. Riddle has spent most of his life overseas maybe he should
move there, but perhaps he is making too much money in this
horrible country to renounce his citizenship. Why live in a
place that makes you so miserable? Sounds like sour grapes.
Sounds like it's time for him to immigrate.
Go to Iraq
In response to the letter written by Tom Riddle ("Ashamed
American," Record-Courier, March 18): Sir, you have vehemently
and publicly expressed your shame at being an American. I would
like to suggest to you that you renounce your American citizenship
and consider taking up residence in a country which more closely
parallels your political sentiments.
Might I suggest Iraq! I am confident that they will more fully
appreciate your "George Bush jokes."
Lauren A. Weaver
This letter is in response to Tom Riddle's letter to
the editor ("Ashamed American," Record-Courier, March
I want to preface my comments by saying that I have known Tom
most of my life. We grew up in the same neighborhood and both
graduated from Ravenna High School in 1969. Tom's father, Hugh
Riddle, just recently died and I extend my condolence to Tom
and his family. The Riddle family has made a valuable and lasting
contribution to the Ravenna community.
Over the past 34 years, Tom has kept in touch with me and my
family by visiting (when in town) or writing via the Internet.
He has spent most of his adult working life in foreign countries,
mainly in Southeast Asia.
Needless to say, I was quite disturbed by Tom's remark that
he is "ashamed to be an American." It is one thing
to express a grievance toward our government's political or
military policies; every American has that right of free speech.
However, it is a despicable thing for Tom to say that he is
ashamed to be an American. I believe that Tom has treaded on
foreign soil far too long. He has forgotten his heritage and
now forsakes his country. This is truly shameful.
I thank God Almighty for allowing me to be born a citizen of
the United States of America ... a land that I love. I will
stand up and bravely proclaim that "I am an American."
I support the brave men and women of the military for their
service to our country. These brave Americans and their families
have my gratitude and prayers.
Stay in India
Dear "Ashamed to be American":
You should apply for citizenship in India and stay there. I
am ashamed to live in the same country as you.
The United Nations and our own government agreed this needed
to be done. How many years does someone like yourself give Iraq
to comply? Like it or not, this war is going to happen, so you
can either back our men and women of the military or go stand
guard at Saddam's side in Iraq.
To our military and allies overseas, stay safe. Most of us are
proud of you. To the veterans of all the wars before this, who
have made it possible to speak freely, we thank you.
To Mr. Riddle, I salute your ignorance and hope your life is
complete as an anti-American.
I'm writing this in response to Tom Riddle's letter
("Ashamed American," Record-Courier, March 18).
I feel sorry for him being ashamed to be American. Why does
he feel compelled to apologize to France or Germany, I wonder?
My father and two uncles sacrificed three years of their youth
fighting World War II to defend France from Germany. They are
all old men now in their 80s. Thankfully, they survived to return
home to their families. Many other Americans never made it home.
Rather than being ashamed of his own country and apologizing
for the United States, Mr. Riddle should say thanks to the generation
of men who gave their lives so that he would be free to travel
Also in his globe-trotting — if he can find time between
his apologizing- he should visit France to see the graves of
all of the American boys who did not come home.
Yes, Mr. Riddle should be ashamed, but not of being from America.
He should be ashamed of the ingratitude he shows to the men
who fought to make America and France free.
Americans getting what we deserve, being hated? I don't think
Perhaps Mr. Riddle should give up his American citizenship and
just stay overseas. I'm proud to be American and grateful to
the patriots to whom I owe a debt I can never repay.
ALTHOUGH THE NEXT LETTER WASN’T WRITTEN IN DIRECT
RESPONSE TO MINE, IT REFLECTS THE SENTIMENTS OF MANY OF THE
WRITERS AND IT APPEARED IMMEDIATELY BELOW THE ABOVE LETTER.
While driving around Ravenna
lately, I have noticed there aren't many U.S. flags waving,
as there should be. After 9/11, it was awesome to go down almost
every street and see so many flags blowing in the breeze. Somehow
they have disappeared or just been put away.
Now that our great country is in a crisis, how wonderful it
would be to see them flying again.
Let's all pull together and stand behind this great country,
our president and our men and women who are away from their
loved ones. Dig out Old Glory. Hang it high and proud. And tie
yellow ribbons around the trees to let our troops know we have
them in our prayers. God bless America!
Dick and Fran Cugini
No better country
I wrote a lengthy letter in rebuttal to the individual
who is "ashamed to be an American" (Record-Courier,
March 18). I discarded it. The history of this country stands
in its own defense. It doesn't need help from me.
I had a visitor from Europe this past summer. He sat on my porch
overlooking a peaceful scene. A neighbor walked past. He waved
and I waved back. My friend looked up at me and in a most solemn
way said, "You have heaven here. I wake up in the morning,
sometimes during the night, and I wonder if my family will make
it through the day."
Another friend, a brilliant medical student studying in Hungary,
has been trying to obtain a green card that would accord him
residency in this country. He has spent two years in this seemingly
fruitless effort. His comment to me .was, "You should give
thanks to your Mom and Dad for having the foresight many years
ago to emigrate to the United States.”
A man who contributed far more than I to the growth and development
of our country reflects my view. Many years ago, Stephen Decatur
said, "Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations
may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong."
I challenge anyone to find something better.
When I read the March 18 letter
from Tom Riddle on his "shame" for being an American,
I was first very angry, then thankful and finally sorrowful.
I was angry that he would say such a thing, thankful that we
live in a country that permits him to say what he feels and
finally sorrowful that he doesn't appreciate being born in our
I agree with the many who have written that he should give up
his American citizenship. We can all disagree on policy, positions
and even actions, but I thank God every day that I was born
I went to Haiti in February with my church and when I returned
home, I wanted to get down on my knees and kiss the ground of
our U.S.A. That trip gave me a whole new perspective of how
fortunate we are to live in such a great country.
No, I do not agree with everything we have done in the past,
present and I'm sure there will be things in the future that
I do not agree with, but I would not live anywhere else. I will
pray for you, Tom. God bless America.
This time, finish job
I am writing this letter in
answer to a couple of letters that appeared in the Record-Courier
on March 18. One was entitled, "Ashamed American."
The other, "Alternative ignored," called attention
to the ICC International Tribunal and asked why President Bush
didn't let the court decide if Saddam was an international criminal,
and then bring him to trial. Well, I'm sure the tribunal would
find him guilty. The only problem I see is who is going to go
in and get him out to stand trial? I think the suggestion is
just a bit naive.
The "Ashamed American" is perfectly free to renounce
his citizenship, and leave the country whenever he wants, because
he has the freedom to make that decision.
He made the point that Hitler was also democratically elected,
which sounds like he is computing President Bush to Hitler.
Really? In many countries that kind of comment would be called
treasonous, and have dire personal results.
Like the Ashamed American, I, too, have traveled the international
road in Europe and South America, and have run into anti-Americanism.
I have made comparisons between our lifestyle and theirs, and
with all of our faults, I still like ours a lot better.
When was the last time you heard about an illegal alien problem
in Iraq, North Korea or Iran? Yes, we have our detractors, but
don't offer a group of them a chance to relocate to America,
or you might trampled in the stampede.
For the first time in our short history, mainland America was
attacked without warning, with devastating consequences. Of
the three intended targets, two were successfully hit, and the
third was spared due to some resourceful heroes on an airplane.
The twin towers were both non-military and non-governmental,
so don't talk to me about collateral damage or the suffering
of innocent people. We've been there, done that.
Unprovoked war? The Ashamed American must have a short memory.
The first shoe has dropped. I don't blame the president for
not waiting for the second.
The inspection teams' efforts are a joke at the world's expense.
Saddam has been laughing at the United Nations and all of its
diplomatic efforts for a long time. I don't think he is in a
laughing mood right now, though, because we're about to call
his bluff again. This time, finish the job. I can only hope
the Ashamed American is holding his hand at the end.
I am both shocked and ashamed
of the thoughtless, ignorant remarks made by Tom Riddle last
week ("Ashamed American," Record-Courier letters,
Have you been on foreign soil so long that you have forgotten
where you came from? As a man who is so privileged to travel
the world and see the beauty of our world (as we can see in
your web site), I would think you would be thankful to have
been born in America, a land of freedom and opportunity.
You took advantage of the opportunities that America has to
offer, such as education. People from around the world come
to America to be educated, just as you returned to America a
few years ago to further your education.
I am thankful that I am an American. I thank soldiers from past
and present for our freedom. God bless them all. Support our
troops and pray.
No apologies needed
And then we have poor Mr. Tom
Riddle who finds after years of playing the role of the "Flying
Dutchman," globe hopping from one port of call to another,
that he is suddenly ashamed of being an American (Record-Courier
letters, March 18).
We wonder what his family patriarch, H.W. Riddle, an early entrepreneur
might say of this embarrassment, for America unquestionably
has bestowed her blessings on the Riddle family for many years;
a fact not lost, one hopes, on most of Mr. Riddle's family,
if lost on Tom himself. In which case, it might well be a matter
of who's ashamed of whom.
As one who has lived in Israel, I can confidently say that Mr.
Riddle need not apologize for his country to those good folk
who have learned so well since their Six Day of 1967 that the
best defense is a good offense; a lesson that America, it seems,
has been forced to re-learn.
Peace Corps experience in India has also taught me that despite
what may be said about the world's most progressive democracy
by the world's most populous democracy there would be precious
few in that country who would not gladly trade passports with
any American, even an American in the most humble of circumstance:,.
But then, perhaps Mr. Riddle hobnobs with those precious few;
in which case, he still has a lot to learn about India and perhaps
about the real world as well.
Mike "Tyke" Friend
Meaning of freedom?
I am horrified by the letters
of my Portage County neighbors in response to Tom Riddle's anguished
Mr. Riddle wrote (March 18, 2003), "I thought that readers
might be interesting in hearing what it is like to be from Ravenna
and a traveler outside the US in these pre-war days." He
wrote that he and other American travelers feel ashamed that
the U.S. government, in their name - and yours and mine - was
"about to invade a country that is being actively disarmed
by the United Nations."
Apparently, Record-Courier readers are not interested in hearing
these concerns. Readers responded that Mr. Riddle should renounce
his U.S. citizenship if he insists upon such dissent.
I ask, what is the meaning of the "freedom" for which
Mr. Bush claims he has sent our soldiers into battle?
Living in freedom
As I see it, Tom Riddle's father and grandfathers before
him lived the American dream. Just look around Ravenna —
Riddle St., Riddle Block and on and on. With their help I'm
sure he received some of the best education in America. As he
ventures to come home for his father's funeral this week I'd
like to ask him how difficult it was to enter the United States
of America with his citizenship? It's called freedom.
Do they have that in other countries?
Thanks to Don Kainrad for his
insights into Thomas Riddle and his family (Record-Courier letters
March 29). I have not been friends with Tom as long as Kainrad
has; but over the past 20 years I've come to know him pretty
well. I'd like to share some facts that Kainrad's letter failed
Tom's ancestors have been in America since well before the Revolution.
Locally, they have been pillars of the community. Two roads
and an important building in downtown Ravenna are named for
the family. Tom has taken great pride in his family's contributions
to the region, and he has devoted countless hours to documenting
his ancestral heritage.
Tom could have enjoyed an easy life in the United States. Instead
he joined the Peace Corps — and not for the normal two-year
tour but for a good half dozen. He sacrificed his comfort, and
at times his health, in order to assist impoverished communities
in Thailand and the South Pacific. After the collapse of the
Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, he risked his life to organize that
country's first democratic election. More recently he has worked
as a filmmaker in South and Southeast Asia.
Mr. Riddle is committed to our nation's core ideals: democracy,
compassion, self-determination, empathy, and mutual respect.
He appreciates the opportunities provided by his privileged
position as an American, and he has taken the associated responsibilities
Tom follows world news in American as well as foreign papers,
and he has spoken with hundreds of people in countries that
are normally among our allies. As a patriotic American, he felt
compelled to share his knowledge of how others perceive us,
and to let us know how those perceptions affect him as a U.S.
citizen residing overseas. He has become convinced that we are
making a terrible mistake, and he felt obliged to call that
mistake to our attention before we further damage our position
in the world. America's strength is not freedom per se. Free
speech is a right enjoyed by people everywhere — even
in Saddam's Iraq — as long as they take popular positions
and support their governments. What makes our nation special
is the willingness of citizens to criticize their government
when it gets off track.
Tom's letter ("Ashamed American, March 18) does indeed
reflect a tragedy, but not the one to which others have pointed.
It is that our foreign policy has made a dedicated American
feel apologetic and, as he reported, even ashamed of his national
I began by thanking Mr. Kainrad
for his insights. Let me end by thanking Mr. Riddle. It is because
of patriots like you that, even in our darkest hours, I remain
a proud American.
Grow a beard, grow up
Tom Riddle is ashamed of me and he does not even know me.
He said, "I'm ashamed to be an American. Sometimes though
I do not feel like an American. Sometimes I feel like a German
tourist... With my shame, whenever I meet a Frenchman, a German,
an Israeli or a Dutch person, I immediately apologize for
my government." (Record-Courier letters, March 18)
Tom probably has no idea what he has started. Now whenever
we people from .Ravenna or Portage County meet another American,
we immediately have to apologize for Tom Riddle.
I am proud to be an American. Tom is not. Tom is ashamed of
himself, and by extension of all Americans. Therefore, he
is ashamed of me and my children and of you and your children.
The logic may be false, but the sentiment is not.
American governments come, American governments go. Just because
one dislikes or detests the domestic or foreign policy of
the current government, that is no reason to renounce one's
citizenship, flagellate oneself with the rod of righteousness
or beg forgiveness of every foreigner one encounters.
Poor Tom! No matter how much water he carries for the Third
World, he is still ashamed of himself and his nationality.
When poor Tom looks in the mirror to shave, he sees the ugly
American. My advice for Tom is to stop shaving, grow a beard
and grow up.
Also, just like many Americans, many Germans do not know their
own history. First of all, Germans do not have a motherland,
they have a fatherland and that fatherland did "invade
a sovereign nation who had done them no harm."
Remember Belgium and World War I?
John Heinl Mantua
(intended for publication in the R-C) There is also a shorter
of this letter.)
Around March 10, a few days before I left India and just
before I heard about the death of my father, I wrote this
newspaper a letter discussing how it felt to be an American
traveling overseas “in these pre-war days.” The
15 responses appearing over the past month stimulated me to
rethink my initial letter and compose the following reply.
I enjoyed every letter. I was happy to see that many contributors
copied my writing style by overstating their case and employing
an element of the dramatic. You can find all of the letters
Many commentators were surprised that, “I am ashamed
to be an American.” Ashamed means “Feeling inferior,
inadequate, or embarrassed.” It is an emotion, similar
to other emotions that arise from time to time in everyone.
It comes and goes depending on the circumstances. And as American
folk wisdom says of emotions, “you hurt the ones you
love the most.” A father might feel ashamed and angry
because his son was arrested for driving while intoxicated;
later he might feel proud when that same son is elected to
high public office. Many Americans might feel ashamed when
they think of the way we treated our native Americans in the
19th century and proud when they think of the Constitution
and Bill of Rights. Emotions come and go depending on the
Readers who found it hard to imagine what it was like to
travel overseas just before the current war might gain an
inkling of understanding by reflecting on the early news conferences
with Tommy Franks or Donald Rumsfeld. Every foreign reporter
that I saw at those conferences opposed the war. I recall
one question to General Franks: “Would you consider
becoming a suicide bomber if the Iraqis invaded Middletown,
Texas?” So, imagine that you are living with those reporters
for a few months and imagine that you grow to like and respect
them. Those men and women, who would never hesitate to assert
their moral superiority to British and American “imperialists
and war mongers”, might cause you to re-evaluate your
feelings of pride in American foreign policy and, perhaps,
in being an American. But again, they might not. As we all
know, often people have opposite reactions to the same events.
When the US recently eviscerated the UN and began the attack,
I felt like the Pope did after the invasion began: “deeply
Most of my time in
Cambodia was spent in an office, but I was in the first
UN helicopter to land in Preah Vehear, a remote province
in Northern Cambodia.
The United Nations has a special meaning for me. I spent
18 months in the early 1990s working for the United Nations,
helping to bring peace to war-torn Cambodia. (Search my name
at Amazon.com, if you want to read my book about it.) Although
I have never met Hans Blix or Mohamed ElBaradei, I’ve
known people like them. If they are anything like the people
I worked with in the UN, their qualifications and integrity
are impeccable. When Mr. Blix and Mr. ElBaradei gave their
reports to the UN, the BBC broadcast them live and I heard
them in India. Their reports were masterpieces of diplomacy,
analysis, and investigation. Both men said that disarmament
was basically going well; they just needed more time. Mr.
ElBaradei said that he could find no evidence that the Iraqis
had re-started their nuclear weapons program after the first
Gulf War. If you believed those men, then there was no need
for war. If you believed them, it was clear that officials
in the US government were telling half-truths. And, if you
believed them, you were probably aghast, even ashamed, at
the actions of the United States government.
When I worked for the UN in Cambodia, UN peacekeepers were
occasionally killed. It didn’t have much of an effect
on me though--I didn’t know them and, anyway, they worked
for the office down the street. Then one night two women who
worked with me were murdered by people whom we would now call
terrorists. Their attackers shot them as they slept. At that
time I did what I saw the American soldiers doing on television
a few days ago. I cried. I’ve never completely recovered
from their deaths. I believe that the American soldiers I
saw on television will never completely recover from the deaths
of their fallen comrades either. It is no accident that many
of the members of Congress who most vehemently opposed the
war are veterans. Everyone says that war should be the last
resort; the veterans, however, actually believe it.
Eventually the soldiers who are crying today will, like the
Vietnam veterans of my generation, come to a wider understanding
of the circumstances that caused so much unnecessary death.
Some of them will write poignant and bitter memoirs. Some
will be bitter their entire lives.
In India, and later in Thailand, I asked every person I met
if they had met anyone who was in favor of the war. No one
had. Finally, on the plane home I met a man who wasn’t
opposed to the war. He said he didn’t know enough to
have an opinion. Significantly, he had recently retired from
a senior position in the Veterans Administration. I told him
that I thought the Vietnam Veterans and Gulf War One veterans
(some of whom were my students when I taught in Hawaii) were
never given the support they deserved from the American government.
He strongly agreed. In the end, I’d like to see our
returning veterans left with more than bitterness.
|The British kept some unexploded American
ordnance outside the office I worked in.
Ten years ago I worked with American veterans in Cambodia
who built prosthetics for war casualties and landmine victims;
four years ago I worked with British veterans in Laos who
ran de-mining programs. They were good men and no doubt some
of our soldiers will stay in Iraq after the war to pursue
similar humanitarian projects. We are, on a deep and profound
level, a decent people. It is a pity our foreign policy makes
some of us feel so ashamed.
One of my Cambodian
classes had me pose with them on their graduation day.
I'm in the back, third from the left. Behind me is Anchor
Wat, the Cambodian equivalent of Mount Rushmore, Statue
of Liberty, and Washington Monument, all rolled into
A few people who wrote letters wondered what I do in Asia.
I went to Asia in 1982 to work for the UN in the refugee camps
that were set up after the Vietnam War. Two years later, I
started working in programs that were funded by the US Department
of State in the same camps. As the camps closed, I went to
work for the UN again, this time in Cambodia.
These days I make movies and home pages. I’ve made
home pages for artists in Cambodia, http://reyum.org,
the Church World Service in Laos, http://www.cwslaos.org,
and Islamic scholars in Thailand, http://fellowship.arf-asia.org.
Last year I made a movie about a health care project in Laos
and took lots of pictures of school kids. You can find the
introduction that was on the CD at http://www.thomasriddle.net/saya/welcome.htm.
|Last year I took lots of pictures of school
kids in Laos.
In a few weeks, just before the rains close the roads, I’ll
be in northern Laos making a movie about a small project sponsored
by Save the Children. For my work I’ll be paid about
a third of what a plumber in Ravenna makes. But the money
doesn’t matter; it’s the lifestyle that I love.
At 52, I’m a bit like my father who at 80 said that
if he could re-enlist in the Navy he would. He enjoyed tinkering
with the engines aboard ship and loved the camaraderie and
My anti-war activity was limited to writing letters. Readers
are reminded that some senior British and American government
workers resigned rather than have their names associated with
the governments that caused this war. Clearly it is our most
divisive war since the Vietnam War. Like the Vietnam War,
it is taking an immense toll in our cohesiveness as a nation.
Let us all pray for peace.
See the pictures at a larger resolution
A few readers made comments about my family and how they
would react to my mid-March letter to the Kent-Ravenna R-C.
My late father, in the end, hated the Vietnam war. During
the war at least once he wore a black armband to work, as
a form of protest. Later he never wanted to see any of the
movies about the war or even hear about it. It pained him
to think that his government sent men to die in vain.
A day or so after my letter was published I receive the first
e-mail I've ever received from a leading businessman in downtown
Ravenna. He wrote, "Please keep your letters coming to
the RC and respond to the Ravenna natives who do not understand
or even conceive there could be another side "
I think he summed it up well. Many people do not imagine
that there could be another side. That is strange when you
consider that the rest of the world saw that there could be
another way. It is unbelievable to me that people in my generation,
who lived through the Vietnam War, could listen to our government
leaders speaking in double-speak and not know that they were
not telling the truth. I felt saddened when, in his last address
to the UN before the war, Colin Powell sounded like he didn't
believe what he was saying.
When my plane landed in Cleveland on March 27, a neighbor
picked me up at the airport. He asked me if I had any rope--rope
that would make it easier for certain people in Ravenna to
hang me. I immediately wondered if the R-C had printed my
letter correctly or if I had made an unintentioned ethnic
slur. How relieved I was to see that the Record printed my
letter exactly as I had written it.
My mother saved all of the letters that were written in response
to mine. I was fascinated. The letters echoed the same feelings
of nationalism that you find everywhere in the world, and
those are the same feelings that dictators use to force the
ignorant masses to commit the most horrendous crimes. The
Khmer Rouge (who killed about a million Cambodians) initially
mobilized Cambodia_"to protect our nation, to defend
ourselves from outsiders, to preserve our way of life."
Some of the respondents to my letter clearly were sleeping
when their university history teachers taught the history
of nationalism. Others never bothered to read my letter carefully.
Some don’t know the meaning of tolerance.
Significantly, not one respondent said that I was wrong in
my description of sentiments overseas just prior to the war.
One person said, "I will stand up and bravely proclaim
that I am an American." But no one actually said that
what I had said was incorrect. Or that they had recently stood
up overseas and said that they were proud to be an American.
Before I returned to the US an American who runs a church-funded
NGO told me that these days Americans are "brainwashed."
But I've been impressed by the sentiments of many of my fellow
countrymen. Two women over 75 told me on different occasions
that this war "is the stupidest thing the US government
has ever done." A local community leader told me in support
of my letter that fundamental patriotism is as bad as fundamentalist
religion. One day I went to visit an old friend. At 87 he
can still vividly recall the day he landed at the beach in
Normandy on D-day. When I was a teenager he often expressed
his disgust at "hippies." So I was on guard when
he stepped out of his house as soon as he saw my car in his
driveway. I wondered if he was going to call me some of the
same names I've been called in the R-C. Instead he wanted
to shake my hand and told me that he agreed with everything
I wrote. I asked him if he could write a letter to the paper.
He told me that it was too hard to express himself without
swearing. One of his World War II buddies recently told him
that with the way things are going, he doesn't want to live
much longer. They feel that the country they once fought for
has lost its direction.
A few people have cautioned me to be careful in Asia. In
fact, though, Asians are very good at differentiating between
the American people and the policies of the American government.
(Recently an Arab spokesman said that not one American had
been hurt in the Arab world during the recent anti-war demonstrations.)
Plus the streets of most Asian cities are much safer than
the streets of American cities. So I have confidence that
I'll be okay; but I appreciate your concern.
In fact I'm a little worried about my dear countrymen who
are staying here. If the world is angry at us, have we created
After the Record-Courier told me that they would not accept
a letter over 500 words, I wrote this 496-word shorter version
of the above:
Around March 10, a few days
before I left India and just before I heard about the death
of my father, I wrote this newspaper a letter discussing how
it felt to be an American traveling overseas “in these
pre-war days.” The 15 responses appearing over the past
month stimulated me to rethink my initial letter and compose
the following reply.
I enjoyed every letter. I was happy to see that many contributors
copied my writing style by overstating their case and employing
an element of the dramatic. You can find all of the letters,
including a much longer version of this one, and a few pictures
If you saw any of the early news conferences with Tommy Franks
and noticed the hostile reception he received from the foreign
press, then you can understand what it was like to travel
overseas before the current war. I recall one question to
General Franks: “Would you consider becoming a suicide
bomber if the Iraqis invaded Middletown, Texas?” If
you spent enough time with people like those reporters, who
would never hesitate to assert their moral superiority to
“imperialists and war mongers”, you too might
have done some serious soul-searching.
How you felt about the war partially depended on whether
or not you believed the United Nations weapons inspectors.
I believed them when they said, in their final report, that
disarmament was basically going well; they just needed more
time. Clearly they didn’t get more time and clearly
some of us felt acutely embarrassed when the United States
government ended the work of the inspectors.
Some background: in the early 1990s I spent 18 months in
Cambodia working for the UN. One night two women who worked
with me were murdered by terrorists. At that time I did what
I saw the American soldiers doing on television a few days
ago. I cried. Judging from my own experience with war, those
American soldiers will never completely recover from the deaths
of their fallen comrades any more than I have. It is no accident
that many of the members of Congress who opposed the war are
veterans. Everyone says that war should be the last resort;
the veterans, however, actually believe it.
In Cambodia I also worked with American veterans who made
prosthetics for landmine victims; more recently I worked in
Laos with British veterans who ran de-mining programs. No
doubt some of our soldiers will stay in Iraq after the war
to pursue similar humanitarian projects. We are, on a profound
level, a decent people. It is a pity our foreign policy makes
some of us feel so ashamed. Like the Vietnam War, this war
is taking an immense toll on our cohesiveness as a nation.
Let us all pray for peace. | <urn:uuid:e8285fb4-1a58-4cae-90cd-6df82c237f7a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thomasriddle.net/pre-war/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697974692/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095254-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969671 | 8,447 | 1.609375 | 2 |
234 Acres Saved!
MARYLAND - In late December, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) recorded the donation of a 234-acre conservation easement in Charles County from Mr. Michael J. Sullivan and his wife, Laura. This is the third conservation easement donated by the Sullivans to MET; in December 2000, the couple donated their first easement on 119 acres and in December 2002, they donated their second easement on 91 acres.
With this gift the Sullivans and MET have permanently protected 444 contiguous acres of the historic Mt. Victoria Farm located southeast of Newburg in southern Charles County. The farm is adjacent to 230 acres protected by an easement through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program, creating an expanse of permanently protected land.
“We consider the protection of the farm essential to the overall care of the property, which is why we plan to put the entire 1,700 acres under easement over time,” said Mr. Sullivan, the C.E.O. of Cherrywood Development, Inc. “We also get great satisfaction by making improvements such as restoring outbuildings, the manor house and creating wildlife habitat. It is also important to us to make the property available for community functions so that it can be enjoyed by many.”
This latest donation by the Sullivans makes up the front agricultural fields of the Mt. Victoria Farm which, together with the adjoining Mt. Tirzah property, total nearly 1,700 acres. The Sullivans have owned the farm since 1995 and has worked tirelessly to care for the large property, its outbuildings and the large historic house.
The circa 1905 house, called Mt. Victoria, qualifies for the National Register of Historic Places and replaces a house of much earlier origin which was burned down. The home’s size, slate roof, wraparound porch and arched windows distinguish its most significant architectural characteristics (see photo), and was once part of a 15,000-acre estate. Today the house still sits in a rural landscape, with magnificent views of the countryside and Potomac and Wicomico Rivers, views that may be unrivaled in Southern Maryland.
“We have enjoyed assisting the Sullivans with their conservation efforts and are honored that they plan to preserve the entire property through our program,” said MET Director Nick Williams. “They are very conscientious landowners and we are grateful for their contribution to land conservation in Charles County.”
Charles County landowners have now protected over 5,000 acres of land through the donation of conservation easements. Donated conservation easements allow landowners to protect their properties in perpetuity without giving up ownership of the land. Gifts of conservation easements are charitable donations and their appraised value is tax deductible. In addition, a new Maryland state income tax credit is available to landowners who donate conservation easements to MET. The credit is a maximum of $5,000 a year per individual for up to 16 years. | <urn:uuid:b1a8f92b-c03e-4bcc-93ad-267584782151> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.landtrustalliance.org/land-trusts/ne-success/234-acres-saved/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00012-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956849 | 618 | 1.710938 | 2 |
Thu July 5, 2012
Douglas County asking for the public's help to design a new official seal
Douglas County is looking for a new official county seal, and Commissioners want the public's help to design it.
A contest is underway through August 15. Douglas County residents who participate are asked to design a county seal that includes the name and “1854,” the year the county was incorporated.
Commissioner Pam Tusa says right now, Douglas County has five unofficial county seals, but no background as to their origin or meaning.
The seal can't include images used in the official Nebraska state seal. Douglas County plans to unveil the winning design in October at a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Hall of Justice.
More information is available at www.douglascounty-ne.gov. | <urn:uuid:02cc22f6-6c4c-49be-a52b-3145a851eb6e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://kios.org/post/douglas-county-asking-publics-help-design-new-official-seal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957991 | 170 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Falkland Islanders vote overwhelmingly to keep British rule
By Marcos Brindicci and Juan Bustamante, Reuters, March 12, 2013
STANLEY, Falkland Islands (Reuters)—Residents of the Falkland Islands voted almost unanimously to stay under British rule in a referendum aimed at winning global sympathy as Argentina intensifies its sovereignty claim.
The official count on Monday showed 99.8 percent of islanders voted in favor of remaining a British Overseas Territory in the two-day poll, which was rejected by Argentina as a meaningless publicity stunt. There only three “no” votes out of about 1,500 cast.
“Surely this must be the strongest message we can get out to the world,” said Roger Edwards, one of the Falklands’ assembly’s eight elected members.
“That we are content, that we wish to retain the status quo … with the right to determine our own future and not become a colony of Argentina.”
Pro-British feeling is running high in the barren and blustery islands that lie off the tip of Patagonia, at the southern end of South America. Turnout was 92 percent among the 1,649 Falklands-born and long-term residents registered to vote.
Three decades after hundreds died when Argentina and Britain went to war over the far-flung South Atlantic archipelago, islanders have been perturbed by Argentina’s increasingly vocal claim over the Malvinas—as the islands are called in Spanish.
Local politicians hope the resounding “yes” vote will help them lobby support abroad, for example in the United States, which has a neutral position on the sovereignty issue.
“We’re never going to change Argentina’s claim and point of view, but I believe there are an awful lot of countries out there that are sitting on the fence … this is going to show them quite clearly what the people think,” Edwards said.
The mood was festive as islanders lined up in the cold to vote in the low-key island capital of Stanley, some wearing novelty outfits made from the red, white and blue British Union Jack flag.
“We are British and that’s the way we want to stay,” said Barry Nielsen, who wore a Union Jack hat to cast his ballot at the town hall polling station in Stanley, where most of the roughly 2,500 islanders live.
Argentina’s fiery left-leaning president, Cristina Fernandez, has piled pressure on Britain to negotiate the sovereignty of the islands, something London refuses to do unless the islanders request talks.
Most Latin American countries and many other developing nations have voiced support for Argentina, which has stepped up its demands since London-listed companies started drilling for oil and natural gas off the Falklands’ craggy coastline.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague said the referendum clearly showed the islanders wanted to remain a British overseas territory.
“All countries should accept the results of this referendum and support the Falkland Islanders as they continue to develop their home and their economy,” he said in a statement.
“We have always been clear that we believe in the rights of the Falklands people to determine their own futures and to decide on the path they wish to take. It is only right that, in the 21st century, these rights are respected.”
However, officials in Buenos Aires questioned the referendum’s legitimacy. They say the sovereignty dispute must be resolved between Britain and Argentina and cite U.N. resolutions calling on London to sit down for talks.
Argentina has claimed the islands since 1833, saying it inherited them from the Spanish on independence and that Britain expelled an Argentine population.
Falkland islanders, who are enjoying an economic boom thanks partly to the sale of oil and natural gas exploration licenses, say they do not expect Monday’s result to sway Argentina.
“Argentina’s stance on the Falklands will stay the same,” said Stanley resident Craig Paice, wearing a T-shirt bearing the slogan “Our Islands, Our Decision” as he waited to vote on Monday.
“But hopefully the world will now listen and know the people of the Falkland Islands have a voice.” | <urn:uuid:826d55d6-a936-4bba-ad51-28575aacc810> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://news.tfionline.com/post/45261155714/falkland-islanders-vote-overwhelmingly-to-keep-british | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948716 | 896 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Share this Article
The Open IPTV Forum (OIPF) and the Hybrid Broadcast Broadband TV (HbbTV) Consortium today announced their collaboration on the testing of technologies common to IPTV and enhanced broadcast environments. These include testing the Declarative Application Environment (colloquially referred to as the “OIPF browser”) and the Media Formats specifications that are currently being implemented in retail connected TVs and STBs in those regions where hybrid services based on the HbbTV specification are deployed.
This initiative enhances the cooperation that began a year ago and has now delivered common procedures for the development, review and acceptance of test material by engineers from both OIPF and HbbTV. Test material can be used by any test tool implementing the defined interface specifications which permits its use via IP or broadcast techniques. These procedures and specifications define a testing environment that can be used in product development, acceptance testing by service providers, and formal conformance testing at test centers.
The results of this co-operation will be included in the first release of the OIPF Test Suite expected to be available in the first quarter of 2013 and the second release of the HbbTV Test Suite expected in the second half of 2013. These test suites are essential for improving interoperability between connected TV applications, services and receivers and reduce the costs related to resolving interoperability problems.
Dr Klaus Illgner-Fehns, Chair HbbTV Consortium, commentsed:
“Test material is expensive to develop, and sharing this between the two organisations will result in more test material being created earlier than would be possible without the co-operation.” “Furthermore”, he adds, “reviewing test material is time consuming, and sharing this effort between the members of the two organisations will result in both organisation's test suites also being available faster”.
Dr Nilo Mitra, OIPF President, said:
“Having one set of test material for the common technologies of both organizations delivers significant cost saving for companies who want to benefit from implementing both organizations’ specifications.” “Moreover”, he notes, “the referencing of the OIPF browser by various regional standards throughout the world will lead to greater value of its testing and increase the number of compliant and interoperable devices worldwide.”
Other aspects of the successful cooperation between these two organizations include enhancements to the OIPF browser to support additional requirements arising from the deployment of browser-based television applications. | <urn:uuid:e2f69d95-e0af-49d7-878a-8d255529fcf1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.appmarket.tv/news/1889-oipf-and-hbbtv-collaborate-on-testing-of-common-technologies-crucial-to-global-connected-tv-deployments.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944121 | 514 | 1.5 | 2 |
A startling percentage of the world's automated teller machines are vulnerable to physical and remote attacks that can steal administrative passwords and personal identification numbers to say nothing of huge amounts of cash, a security researcher said Wednesday. At the Black Hat security conference in Las Vegas, Barnaby Jack, …
New laws required
I knwo that hackers are just trying to show vulnerabilities but this is out of hand. If I had a cheap lock on my door and a burglar broke in they would be guilty of break and enter, if I have weak security and a hacker breaks in they should be prosecuted immediately. The fact that these laws are not in place or were slow to be put in place means that hackers are very sophisticated and that they think they are above the law and providing a service.
Just my two cents worth....
WTF are you talking about?
The bad guys already know about this stuff, probably, and the ATM-vendors have basically taken a year to get the most fixes in place.
In the meantime, you (the customer) have been fronting all the losses, together with the losses incurred by ATM-card skimmers etc.
If there were no talks like the one mentioned in the article, vendors could still deny the existence of the problem!
Like the law would stop them
It's not breaking the lock that is the crime (well...it's not robbery, that's criminal damage), it's not entering your property that's the crime (not everywhere has laws on trespass), it taking your stuff (or causing fear etc) that's the crime! You can have as many laws as you like, but people will still do it. They have chosen to ignore (break) the law.
Why not leave your door open and just have a sign out front that says "Dinnae take my stuff, it's illegal!", see how far that gets you.
It is beholden on these companies (they have a duty of care to their customers, and those customers [banks] have a duty of care to me) to ensure their stuff is as secure as is reasonable practical. Seems like they have been sitting on their laurels.
The usual response in cases like this is to attack the person demonstrating the flaw rather than fixing the bloody flaw. This would akin to you suing the person who point out that you have no locks and only a flimsy sign to guard your valuables...
Re: New laws required
If someone breaks into your house, they will be prosecuted already. There are laws covering that sort of thing all over the world. What you're advocating is a new set of laws to protect companies whose shoddy designs aren't fit for purpose, and people who knowingly use defective security systems (hello, DOD) and expect compensation for their own stupidity.
If you use a known-insecure system to protect your property, your insurers will laugh at any claims you might try to make (but I had a sign saying 'no burglars'! they shouldn't have tried to get in!) and quite justifiably so.
ATM manufacturers are clearly avoiding security best practises... or even security *minimum* practises and have done so for such a long period of time that this sort of publicity is the only way that is ever going to shake them out of their complacency.
Hold your horses, dude.
Better that the stuff is presented at Black Hat and fixed than used quietly round the world by real black hats, don't you think? It's a fine deal, really. Companies usually /pay/ for penetration testing, and these lucky folks got something useful without even asking. Would you call the police if a harmless, well-meaning person knocked on your door and politely informed you that the lock you use to keep your motorcycle chained to a post is flimsy and easily defeated with a tack hammer?
The guys who /tell/ you that kind of thing are not the ones you should worry about!
Do you think that your silly knee-jerk ideas about outlawing what these researchers did would do a damned thing to stop the people who would do such things to exploit them for profit? Are you just blissfully unaware of the multibillion-dollar underground trade of stolen bank credentials and such? If a real cybercriminal were reading your post, I wonder if he'd laugh or just smirk in quiet amusement at your misdirected, impotent wrath (while he pilfered your bank credentials via some security flaw whose very investigation you would like to be illegal.)
Already a law for this
In the US the DMCA pretty much does this.
The title is required, and must contain letters and/or digits.
"I knwo that hackers are just trying to show vulnerabilities but this is out of hand. If I had a cheap lock on my door and a burglar broke in they would be guilty of break and enter, if I have weak security and a hacker breaks in they should be prosecuted immediately."
But if someone buys the same door that you have on your house, then takes the door he bought and shows that the lock will fall open if you jiggle the handle, he has done nothing wrong.
In fact, not only has he not broken into your house, if you're paying attention he may even have shown you that perhaps you need to buy a new lock.
The person who gave this lecture bought, with his own money, the two ATMs that he discovered the security flaws in. He did not hack someone else's ATM; it's the equivalent of him buying a door and then showing that the lock on the door is crap.
"If I had a cheap lock on my door and a burglar broke in they would be guilty of break and enter"
Look at your insurance policy. You get a cheaper one if you tell your insurance people your door is locked with a five leaver lock, you have a burglar alarm, etc. Tell them you have a sign reminding the burglar its illegal and you leave your door ajar won't get you anything from the insurers.
Fine, the burglar will get prosecuted if caught, but he might not get caught. He might get caught and have already sold you TV for a bit of blow. You'll never get the money back.
If you can make a cash machine spew money from your neighbours wifi and have your mate walk past with a sack at the time, chances of getting caught and prosecuted are very low.
1990 says Hi
Signed executables - hasn't that been a pretty basic pretty basic security measure for the last decade?
“jackpotting” - Theres an App for that ....
ATM passwords are rudimentary at best.
It's ridiculous that ATM machines are still using 4 number password after all these years.
There's a reason for that
If they required longer PINs, people on average would be more likely to either write them down, or choose something easily guessable e.g. their phone number or date of birth.
Well - not it isn't, not really. You may think that having a 12 digit PIN code would be 100000000 times more secure as there would be 100000000 times as many possible combinations - but the fact is that the machine will still eat your card after 3 or 5 incorrect attempts.
No-one is going to be able to test all 10000 possible combinations of your 4 digit PIN number to break into your account if they get your card.
Security costs money
Call me a cynic but until it starts costing banks MORE money in lawsuits, recovering stolen money and loss of customer confidence they won't significantly increase their effort in securing the ATM's.
At the end of the day all they care about is the money in their vaults, the rest is semantics and marketing BS.
I'm sure that any big ATM manufacturer could increase the security of their machines dramatically, but how do you convince a bank to spend millions on replacing their infrastructure on strength of a few isolated incidents?
Look at HSBC - their online banking system is positively 19th century and it's not as if they lack the funds to invest in development.
I think it all boils down to human nature, as they say in Russia - 'Пока гром не грянет, мужик не перекрестится' which can be loosely translated as 'until the thunder strikes a peasant won't cross'
You're absolutely right that it's all about the money.
An $X loss is justifiable if it costs >$X to repair. But over time it generally makes sense to fix the leak. Considering that the banks haven't eliminating the biggest flaw in banking for several decades now, static CC numbers, it's readily apparent they don't think security is a priority.
"Considering that the banks haven't eliminating the biggest flaw in banking for several decades now, static CC numbers, it's readily apparent they don't think security is a priority."
With credit cards, the situation is actually a bit different. The banks actually PROFIT from credit card fraud.
Let's say that your credit card is stolen and used. You'll get your money back; the banks will not hold you responsible for fraudulent charges.
What a lot of folks don't know is that they don't cover those losses themselves. They will charge back the merchants who the criminals bought goods from. And then, to add insult to injury, they will charge those merchants a "chargeback fee," which varies from $35 to $90 for each fraudulent charge.
So the merchants lose twice: they lose the goods that the criminals bought on the stolen credit cards, then they get hit with chargeback fees as well.
I recall reading a report a couple years back that suggested that for maximum possible profitability, the best-case scenario for banks is if every one of their customers has their credit cards stolen and maxed out about once every twelve months or so.
It's important to realise that these ATMs are not the sort that you see in a bank, certainly in the UK /EU, rather they are the ones run by private companies and stuck into pubs or corner shops.
The ATMs run by banks never use internet or dialup and are always on dedicated leased lines. Furthermore their physical security is significantly higher.
Re: Banks never use...
You mean like that well-lighted booth outside the local supermarket that has "Bank of America" blaring from the light box on top and nothing but a pair of wall banks inside?
Like I said UK/EU, not America... But we have some bank ATMs outside in train stations, supermarkets, etc, they are all 'proper' ATMs, big and built into a wall or shipping type container with high levels of physical and network security (leased lines etc). Very occasionally you see free standing machines, but again they are obviously of much higher security and a more quality machine. They certainly aren't the sort of ATM discussed here, where dialup or Internet connections are used back to a company. These machines do exist in UK/EU, but they are generally operated by a non-bank company and charge you an arm and a leg to get at your cash. They are typically installed where an exclusive contact can be sought by the owners (and no cash-back is allowed on the premises), such as music festivals, motorway service stations, night clubs etc. etc.
Another fail for security by obscurity
As evidenced by this report, obscurity is not security.
Open code review = more good guys looking at the code = fewer trivial vulnerabilities.
If the code cannot be made public, at the very least use proven cryptography. While we're at it, quit outsourcing all the jobs and hence all the expertise which is needed to develop robust products in the first place.
Some cash machines DO run on Windows (I think)
speaks of "Windows Extensions for Financial Services".
Yes, i've seen an ATM local to me that displayed a Windows 2000 screen when it fell over
Worse than Windows
A number of years ago I saw one displaying what looked like a DOS batch error message.
A couple of years ago I crashed an ATM. I watched it reboot DOS . it kept my card.
It gets worse
Guy I know said he saw one running Windows 3.1.
I strongly suspect the "DOS" ATM was actually OS/2 and that the Win 3.1 was WinNT 3.51, if anything.
win 2k atms - me too
What's the big deal - they are pretty closed systems with restricted modes of access. I bet more money gets taken by the brute force method of driving a bulldozer into them and towing them away. Even running on linux wouldn't help there
Has autoerotic premature jackpotulation syndrome.
He attacked NO NAME and STAND ALONE cash machines (which I would NEVER use) ... then said EVERY MACHINE HE LOOKED AT was WEAK ...
Wonder how many BANK style ATM's he looked at ?
Sorry laddie, you're likely to lose on that one.
See, my IT work use to take me inside banks and I've seen the insides of the boxes they put those systems in. NT 4.0 at the time as it was "the only security certified networked os" at the time. All the standalone systems I've seen are just as secure, possibly more so since more people are likely to be in the area around the standalone machine.
Correct me if I'm wrong
But wasn't NT 4 only certified as secure when not connected to a network?
Or was that NT 3.5?
I always thought that was a bit of a disadvantage for a network OS.
You are correct. The machines demonstrated here are not your high street banks machines, but the standalone type that charge you £1.80 per withdrawal at motorway service stations, corner shops and casinos etc.
The ATMs in your high street communicate over dedicated network.
There's ATMs and there's ATMs
A lot of UK bank ATMs (i.e. NCR ones) run OS/2, which is both very stable and (in so much as it isn't a fallacy) secure by obscurity. US Diebold ones are pretty solid too, and altogether different to the nasty built-down-to-a-price MDF monsters that live in dark corners of garages and convenience stores.
IMHO the main vulnerabilities of proper bank ATMs are inside jobs and JCB attacks.
I didn't NCR ATMs running on OS/2 are not supported anymore by NCR, and haven't been supported since 2000 (they wouldn't guarantee that they were year 2K compliant). I very much doubt whether any NCR ATMs in the UK are running OS/2 anymore.
The NCR Aptra machines are all windows based - Either running Win2K, Windows XP.
@ Randall Shimizu
Four-digit PINs are not universal rule. Mine is 12 digits long right now, at Royal Bank of Canada.
Bank staff did warn me, though, that if I travel, I'd have to change my PIN to a short one because many ATMs outside Canada simply won't accept a 12-digit PIN. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.
I know of one ATM manufacturer who employ IT Security professionals to test the security of their cash machines - but they make the big chunky bank ones.
I've also noticed that some standalone ATMs are operated by Alliance & Leicester / The Post Office.
AC due to NDAs with said ATM manufacturer.
Heh, appropiate story
As this morning I tried to withdraw some money and was told that both £10 and £20 weren't multiples of £200. I only wanted a tenner so I didn't continue to try.
A little disconcerting for a bank, really. (And yes, it was a 'real' cashpoint in a 'real' bank)
Did you tell them?
Did you/will you tell them that there is a bug in their software?
Surely it's the banks' decision
The altruistic concern of the hackers for the banks' wellbeing is very laudable I'm sure, but surely it's up to the banks themselves what level of security they are comfortable with for their ATMs (or credit card systems)? They're the ones who take the loss.
It's a bit different if other people's property is under threat (eg. personal data) but in the case of pureless financial loss like this unless the hacker had the bank's permission to test the system it's quite unjustified to break into their systems just to prove a point or boost his ego. As an earlier poster noted, it's exactly analogous to breaking and entering into someone's home or office to illustrate how weak their security is.
(And banks do of course take security very seriously. There are all kinds of threats that they continuously watch out for and protect against, some more obvious than others.)
RE: Surely it's the banks' decision
> ... but surely it's up to the banks themselves what level of security they are comfortable with for their ATMs (or credit card systems)? They're the ones who take the loss
Well yes and no. If the banks alone took the loss then you'd be right. But, when there's a problem and the bank disagrees with the customer then they usually expect the customer top **prove** the bank is wrong against authoritative statements that the bank systems are **fully secure**. So if someone manages to hack an ATM so it gives them a load of cash but the machine says it came from your account - the bank will assume that you withdrew it or you gave someone the card and pin. How are you going to **prove** that their so called secure device isn't as secure as they claim ? Until you do, you won't get the missing money credited back to your account.
The burden of proof is actually with the bank, the law was clarified late last year (or maybe early this year) to make this crystal clear.
but what about...
the picture for this article on the home page denotes a slot machine with a pretty nice payout, but it is NOT a jackpot. I am quite familiar with that model and several variations thereof.
Anon because being a dick draws fire...
ATM vs JCB
Bet they haven't patched against the Irish hack
Good article that responds to this hype
According to Andrew Plato, the annual Black Hat convention advocates vulnerability research hype that hurts the enterprise risk management process. | <urn:uuid:ec0ef639-35e9-4e76-bc4e-088175670164> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://forums.theregister.co.uk/forum/1/2010/07/28/atm_hacking_demo/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00018-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969188 | 3,859 | 1.726563 | 2 |
Wendy Krupnick was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1953, and grew up in Crestwood Hills, a progressive, cooperative community in the Santa Monica Mountains. Over the past thirty-five years she has been involved in nearly every aspect of sustainable agriculture. Her oral history, conducted over the telephone by Ellen Farmer on August 15, 2007, provides a broad perspective on the evolution of this movement.
Krupnick came to UC Santa Cruz as a transfer student from UC Santa Barbara in 1973 and majored in biology. She volunteered in the Chadwick Garden (under Steve Kaffka) as a student, and then returned in 1976-77 as an apprentice at the UC Santa Cruz Farm and Garden. Later she served as the garden coordinator for the Farallones Institute’s Integral Urban House in Berkeley and the Institute’s Rural Center in Sonoma County. At the same time, she worked with pioneering organic farmer Warren Weber at Star Route Farm in Bolinas, California. Through Weber, Krupnick joined the California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) and was the first secretary of that organization.
Krupnick cultivated farm-restaurant connections in the Bay Area, collaborating with Rosalind Creasy on the book Cooking from the Garden, tending a restaurant garden where she grew produce for Jessie Ziff Cool’s Flea Street Cafe and Late for the Train restaurants on the San Francisco Peninsula, and helping organize the Tasting of Summer Produce festival at the Oakland Museum. Still later, Krupnick managed the trial garden and did outreach and marketing at Shepherd’s Garden Seeds in Felton, California. At the time this interview was conducted, she was coordinating the four-acre educational market garden for the Santa Rosa Junior College Sustainable Agriculture Program. | <urn:uuid:6638fb7e-0b0e-41e6-a8fe-48ce54ac89da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://library.ucsc.edu/reg-hist/cultiv/krupnick | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935769 | 363 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Your goal on an interview is to persuade the employer that you have skills, background and ability to do the job, and that you can comfortably fit into they organization
Belgian Job Interview Tips
A job search in Belgium requires more than just the obvious Belgian CV writing and translation - it requires careful preparation. You must pass the Belgian job interview. You will face issues that probably did not even cross your mind when you start planning to go for jobs in Belgium.
Do not misjudge the large impact they can have on the result of your adventure! For example, you will experience the different immigration rules and practices, job application procedures, the selection trends and the management culture.
Most visits to Belgium are trouble-free but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate international terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
Employment in Belgium typically requires excellent language skills. Usually candidates are thoroughly tested for language fluency, especially if the position requires business interaction with Flemish, French, German or English-speaking people.
Prepare yourself for the Belgian job interview. Before an interview find out information about the company you want to work for. Business cards, letters of reference and photocopies of academic certificates at initial job interviews are customary. References are usually verified, so notify your referees in advance. An extra CV can be handy too.
Remember, how you dress is the one of the most important parts in not getting hired.
So, check the Belgian dress code
Practice your one or two-sentence "speech" about who you are and what you do. Do not talk about being jobless. Do not whine. Do not dump on your former employer. Be positive. You will never get a second chance to make a first impression!
Remember, these same keywords you used in your CV will be the foundation for your job interviews. Not only do you need to be able to write about your keywords, but also during an interview, you must be able to talk about them as well, in strong and powerful statements that highlight your successes, contributions and achievements.
Belgians take punctuality very seriously, so arrive at least 10 minutes before a job interview. Turn off your cellphone.
Greet recruiters with a friendly face. Do not sit until invited. Shake hands with everyone present and introduce yourself. Use professional titles, or Mr., Mrs., or Miss with the last name when addressing someone. In Belgium, men are expected to rise when a woman enters the room.
The Belgian job interview starts often with some informal small talk. Avoid discussing personal matters or linguistic divisions with Belgians. During the job interview, expect formality and strong eye contact. Neither arrogance nor negativity is appropriate. Talk effectively demonstrating your knowledge of the industry and/or the company. Do not interrupt the interviewer and criticize former employers.
Belgians are known for compromise, negotiation and common sense. They appreciate clear facts and figures. Be very specific when describing experiences or qualities.
Prepare for all kinds of job interview questions about your skills and weaknesses, and what you can contribute to the company. Belgian job interviewers will pay most attention to experience, motivation and social interpersonal skills. They look for honesty, competence, quiet self-confidence and creativity. Answer questions as fully as you can, avoiding yes and no answers. Ask if you do not understand the question.
Belgian interviewers often ask about your past successes and mistakes on the job. It is a good idea to prepare a few career success stories and couple that had less than favorable outcomes but were learning experiences.
You do not have to answer personal questions, but consider in advance how you are going to respond to them. If you feel uncomfortable with a question asked, simply smile and say, "In my country, that would be a strange question."
Prepare some good questions to ask at interview to ensure you leave a good impression. Ask questions about the job, the lines of authority and your future responsibilities, but avoid raising the issue of salary or benefits early in the process. Do not forget to ask, "When can I expect to hear from you?" (if that has not been discussed).
During the Belgian job interview do not volunteer information that the interviewer does not ask for
At the end of the interview thank for interview and shake hands with everyone present, including the administrative staff.
Do not forget to write a thank you letter and follow-up by letter, email or phone call.
Psychological, intelligence, aptitude and psychometric tests are widely used. Assessment Centres are becoming increasingly popular, especially amongst financial institutions and industrial companies.
Other Belgian Job Interview Info
We hope that your Belgian job interview has been successful. Follow up the job interview with a thank you letter. Employers regard this as an indication of your strong interest in the position.
Good luck with your Belgian job interview! | <urn:uuid:aab4260c-b199-4570-85b2-039cf36334f1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jobera.com/interview/Page-7.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00014-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947138 | 1,002 | 1.632813 | 2 |
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